Cold Coffee Press Endorses Legends of Windemere by Charles E. Yallowitz
Dedication: To everyone who enters Windemere
and leaves their mark upon its soul.
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Legends Of Windemere: Book Eleven
Charms of the Feykin
(Legends of Windemere Book 11) by Charles E. Yallowitz
To make a champion fall, one must wound their very soul.
Nyx is leading the charge to rescue Delvin and Sari, who have gone missing in the southern jungles of Windemere. Battling through the local predators, the champions are surprised when they reunite in the Feykin city of Rhundar. Instead of captives, the missing heroes have become the city’s rulers and are on the verge of starting a war with those that want to exterminate their new followers. Even with such a noble cause, Delvin and Sari have changed into brutal warlords that may kill each other and their friends long before they step onto the battlefield.
Have Delvin and Sari really changed for the worst or is there a greater threat pulling the champions’ strings?
Welcome to the jungles of Windemere where Delvin and Sari have gone missing.
Escape reality and enter into this mystical world where the author’s story telling will draw you into a fantasy world that you will never want to step out of.
The story opens with Baron Kernaghan surveying his kingdom from his balcony expecting visitors with gifts for his infant noble son.
Join Nyx in the jungle where the champions execute a plan to rescue Delvin and Sari. Without spoiling the story, let me draw you in with this quote.
“With Dariana meditating on a log and the others sleeping in a sealed tent, Luke keeps watch from the branches. The end of summer heat has forced him to shed his shirt and boots, the damp clothes left on the ground with his friends. Unlike the trees of his homeland’s forests, the jungle flora is denser and their levels are much more distinct. At first, the half-elf tried to stay in the highest branches, but he quickly realized that he could not react to any danger below. Now Luke remains hidden among the leaves of the lower canopy, his sound sight and Stiletto’s borrowed sense of smell working hard to decipher every noise. The warrior’s eyes are practically useless in the thick darkness, which puts his nerves on edge. Only a single shaft of red and yellow moonlight is coming through the trees due to a hole in the network of branches that will be closed within a week. Even with the constant threat of an attack, Luke is in awe of the jungle’s natural beauty. The vivid noises and scents of life are intoxicating, every piece of the tapestry making him want to wander blindly into the wilderness. His excitement sours when he senses a fist-sized spider that has snared a bat only a few feet above his head.
“So much for spending more time here,” Luke whispers, his dry throat quenched by a sip of water. Movement in the lower branches causes him to freeze, but he relaxes when a familiar voice curses under her breath. “Do I have to ask why you’re climbing a tree in the dark, big sister? You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“I can see in the dark,” Nyx declares as she inches around the vine-covered trunk. The channeler’s eyes have become yellow and cat-like, which matches the retractable claws that help her cling to the tree.
“Transformation isn’t something I do a lot, but small things are easy. I decided to imitate a calico, which wasn’t a great idea. I went too far and gave myself a tail that keeps tickling my leg. Makes me think those fuzzy caterpillars we keep seeing are crawling up my skirt, but I’m too tired to fix it. Anyway, I couldn’t sleep and you’re the only one awake. Do you want to talk or sit quietly?”
Important questions to answer:
Will they find Delvin and Sari?
What surprises will they encounter?
What threats do the Champions face?
I invite you read ‘Charms of the Feykin’. Each book in the Legends of Windemere series stands alone, so I invite you to read book one through book 11 so you will be ready for book twelve where the final temple will be challenged in ‘The Spirit Well’. This 5 star book series is worthy of the silver screen.
Cold Coffee Press endorses Charms of the Feykin (Legends of Windemere Book 11) by Charles E. Yallowitz. We received this book in a Kindle/PDF format for review. The review was completed on September 16, 2016.
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Legends Of Windemere: Book Nine And Ten
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The Mercenary Prince
(Legends of Windemere Book 9) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Delvin Cunningham has left the champions.
Lost to his tribe in the Yagervan Plains, fear and shame have kept the former Mercenary Prince away from his homeland. With his confidence crumbling, he has decided to return and bring closure to his past. Reuniting with his old friends, Delvin’s timing could not be worse as a deadly campaign is brewing within Yagervan’s borders. Dawn Fangs are on the march and these powerful vampires are determined to turn the entire region into a graveyard.
To protect his family, friends, and two homelands, Delvin will have to push his doubt away and become the cunning Mercenary Prince once again.
Follow-up The Merchant of Nevra Coil with The Mercenary Prince as it rings in 2016 for Author Charles E. Yallowitz’s loyal fans yearning for another episode in the Legends of Windemere. True to form the reader will be drawn even deeper into this mystical world of Windemere where each character casts you under a unique spell.
Delvin, given the title Mercenary Prince struggles within his mind as he sets out on a rigorous journey that will bring him back home, reunite him with old friends and bring reconciliation from his past. The warrior within comes to life as he runs through Visindor Forest. He instinctively focuses on the sound of his boots hitting the ground and the rhythm puts his mind into a trance allowing him to ignore his aching body.
I quote the section below to whet your appetite without spoiling the story.
“The banyan tree sits among the maples and oaks, its horizontal branches with aerial prop roots giving it a unique appearance among the other plants. Delvin groans as he touches the smooth trunk with his forehead and he gladly lets the metal orbs fall to the ground. Songbirds flit through the treetops and fill his ears with a soothing song, which nearly causes the warrior to fall asleep. Tearing strips off his shirt, he binds his bleeding hands and massages his arms to prevent them from getting stiff. He spends the next hour lifting the orbs like weights, stretching his legs, and using a low branch to do pull-ups. A skunk wanders over while Delvin is hanging from the tree, forcing him to remain in the air until the animal waddles out of spraying range. Dropping to the ground, his knees buckle and the forest seems to spin haphazardly around him. Expecting to find a waterskin, he reaches for his side, but the warrior realizes he left it behind in his rush to clear his mind.
‘Guess it’s to the pond with me,’ he mutters as he gathers the orbs.
Delvin grabs a fig off the banyan tree as he jogs to the west where he knows a decent-sized pond can be found. As he moves through the forest, his mind wanders to thoughts of his friends who he hopes are still recovering in Nevra Coil. He is struck by a pang of guilt for not letting them know that he arrived at Hamilton Military Academy. The warrior can only imagine how angry at least one of them might be considering it has been over a week since he left the other champions. His thoughts continue down a path of worry, so he is caught by surprise when he comes to the pond and finds a slender figure with short, black hair at the shore. Delvin sees pointy ears and what he thinks is a red shirt, which causes him to skid to a stop and nearly crash into the woman. His battle-honed reflexes are the only thing that allows him to spin to the side and avoid a humiliating collision.”
Whether this is your first or the ninth book in this epic 5 Star Legends of Windemere fantasy series; you will become one with this mystical world and you will follow the path where The Hobbit and Dungeons and Dragons once took you. Join with me and the band of followers that hunger for Legends of Windemere.
Cold Coffee Press endorses The Mercenary Prince (Legends of Windemere Book 9) by Charles E. Yallowitz as the author’s imagination brings legends to life. Purchase and read all nine books in this series from Amazon. I received this book in a Kindle/PDF format for review. The review was completed on January 11, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com
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Timoran Wrath has a shameful secret that is about to see the light of day.
The noble barbarian has always been a constant source of strength and wisdom for his beloved friends. His loyalty has been unwavering and they know that he would never hesitate to lay down his life for them. Even in their darkest hour, the champions know that Timoran will come through and fight to the bitter end. Now they must return the favor as he reunites with his tribe and willingly faces the executioner’s blade.
Is it possible that the honorable Timoran was nothing more than an illusion?
For all you loyal fans of the Legends of Windemere series, book ten titled Tribe of the Snow Tiger has just been released.
You will find yourself once again drawn into the imagination of the author who brings legends to life. I hope the following quotes will pull you back into the mystical world of Windermere.
The prologue finds: “Baron Arthuru Kernaghan rises from his throne and takes Trinity by the hand, she stares out at Shayd’s stony landscape, an emerald lightning storm in the distance mesmerizing her for several seconds. Groups of her people toiling in the dirt can be seen in every direction and the nearest ones risk a glance at their beloved queen.”
The story continues, “Delvin yawns and rubs at his eyes, his fingers lingering on the dark circles that have appeared after several days of exhausting travel. Glancing out the tavern window, he watches waves of heat rise off the river that cuts through the coastal city. “It looks like Queen Ionia called in a favor to get us a ship,” Delvin says as he picks up his shield. Seeing a scrap of pie left, he spears it with his fork and eats it before the groggy drite can stop him.”
Now home he can put worries to rest for a while: “Sitting cross-legged at the cliff’s edge, Timoran enjoys the peaceful evening that has enveloped his homeland. The snow has melted to reveal crisp grass and rocky patches of earth, which lead to the lower mountains. Being on the southernmost cliff of the curved range, the mellow warrior can see the vast expanse of wilderness to every side, except behind him where the encampment sits among the stones. The grunt of a bear rumbles over the mountains, the large predator a faint shadow among a collection of boulders atop a distant rise. A herd of caribou are grazing to the west, the cautious beasts close enough for him to make out their antlers in the crimson moonlight. Huddled on a lower cliff is a snow leopard and her cubs, the family feasting on a recent kill that threatens to topple over the edge. The other goats have already galloped along the sheer cliffs to seek refuge within the craggy walls, only the occasional bang of butting heads revealing their presence. After watching the calming display of brutal nature for several hours, Timoran finds himself happy to be home and his worries remain shoved to the back of his mind.”
What secrets are Timoran Wrath pushing to the back of his mind? How will this affect the champions?
Adventure consumes them: “Lightning strikes the earth and thunder rumbles, causing the travelers to sprint along the flooded path. Risking the use of her powers, Sari runs along the top of the water while Delvin sloshes behind and waves for her to slow down. They take the crumbling stairs in twos as another bolt hits the top of the ruin, the electricity absorbed by metal veins that run along the stone structure. Desperate to get out of the storm, the trio burst into the building and are met by a wave of sweltering heat. They find themselves in a chamber where the gentle echoes of the rain hitting the roof bounce from corner to corner. A small dais is in the back with a large sconce built into the wall, a piece of moldy wood still set in the metal holder. Two wide stairwells are built into the floor, their shadowy entrances flanking the doorway. Bones and other signs of animals living in the ruin can be found in the unfurnished room, but the champions can only see a few snakes and a small tortoise. If there is a predator calling this building home then it is either downstairs or out on a hunt. Either way, the travelers are too tired to go searching for a new refuge.”
I invite you to read Tribe of the Snow Tiger and see for yourself how they fit into Windemere?
If you are just beginning your journey into the Legends of Windemere and you love fantasy, author Charles E. Yallowitz’s imagination and great story telling will keep you engaged. I encourage you to purchase and read all ten books in this 5 Star Series.
Cold Coffee Press endorses Tribe of the Snow Tiger (Legends of Windemere Book 10) by Charles E. Yallowitz. We received this book in a Kindle/PDF format for review. The review was completed on June 1, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com
Amazon Reviews
Kindle Purchase Link
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Legends Of Windemere: Book Seven And Eight
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Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue
(Legends Of Windemere Book 7) by Charles E. Yallowitz
The final champion stirs and reaches out to any who can hear her voice. Yet all who heed her call will disappear into the misty fugue.
Awakening their new ally is only the beginning as Luke, Nyx, and their friends head south to the desert city of Bor’daruk. Hunting for another temple once used to seal Baron Kernaghan, they are unaware that the game of destiny has changed. Out for blood and pain, Stephen is determined to make Luke wish he’d never set out to become a hero.
By the time the sun sets on Bor’daruk, minds will be shattered and the champions’ lives will be changed forever.
Experience for the first time or continue reading as the ‘Legends Of Windemere’ captures your imagination as ‘Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue’ continues this epic fantasy with book 7 by Charles E. Yallowitz.
If you were mesmerized by the game ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ or enjoyed reading ‘The Hobbit’ series you will not want to miss the mystical inhabitants of Windemere! Author Charles E. Yallowitz weaves an intriguing tale in a world where good and evil collide and is quite often underestimated.
Well defined characters who add depth, personality and the ability to draw the reader into the fantasy world of Windemere will hold your attention as the drama unfolds in this mystical place. The creative thought process of the author brings Windemere to life with fast paced descriptive intrigue. I quote two sections below to show the author’s writing style without spoiling the story.
“Several silent minutes after Gabriel disappears, Zaria lets out a musical sigh and merges with the mist. She weaves among the trees and cursed mortals, none of them noticing her presence. The goddess is near the edge of a clearing when a purple barrier appears and deflects her rapid approach. She returns to her solid form and gets as close to the powerful shield as she can. Sparks of magic burst from the glistening dome, leaving burn marks on her dress that she ignores. All of Zaria’s attention is on the canopy bed in the middle of the clearing where a cloaked form is sleeping.”
“Only a matter of days now, Dariana,” the goddess whispers, wiping a pristine tear from her cheek. “Only a matter of days.”
I invite you to start reading the Legends Of Windemere' series today!
Cold Coffee Press endorses ‘Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue’ (Legends Of Windemere Book 7) by Charles E. Yallowitz as an epic fantasy where the author’s imagination brings legends to life. We received this book in a PDF format for review. Review was completed on April 12, 2015. For more details please visit Cold Coffee Press. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com
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The Merchant of Nevra Coil
(Legends of Windemere Book 8) by Charles E. Yallowitz
When the mischievous and random Goddess of Chaos gets angry, all of Windemere becomes her plaything.
It all starts with a collection of toys that have taken the populace by storm. People of all races flood the marketplaces to gather figurines of the champions whose adventures are starting to spread across the land. Stemming from the flying city of Nevra Coil, these toys bring with them a terrible curse: Fame. Every town becomes a mob of fans that hound their new idols and the delay is bringing the world closer to the hands of Baron Kernaghan. Perhaps worst of all, the creator of these toys forgot to include a certain exiled deity who is now out to earn herself a figurine.
Who would have thought a bunch of toys could cause so much trouble and lead to the breaking of a champion’s confidence?
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Legends Of Windemere: Book Five And Six
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The Compass Key
(Legends Of Windemere Book 5) - by Charles E. Yallowitz
The city of Gaia will be rocked by battles now that the Compass Key has awoken beneath her cobblestone streets.
From the Caster Swamp to the Island of Pallice, the race for the long lost relic has begun and only one side can claim victory. The Compass Key will open the path of destiny for Luke and his friends, but it may also awaken an ancient monster. With Queen Trinity and the chaos elves invading Gaia, every misstep will be costly and each battle will bring the weakened champions closer to exhaustion.
Each hero will need to draw from the depths of their soul to survive, but will it be enough when they face an enemy more sadistic than anything they have ever fought?
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Curse Of The Dark Wind
(Legends Of Windemere Book 6) by Charles E. Yallowitz
With every putrid belch, Gale Hollow spews more of the toxic Dark Wind into the winter-chilled breeze.
To control Nyx, Stephen has unleashed a sentient curse on Luke, her ‘little brother’. As the infected warrior battles against the Dark Wind coursing through his veins, his friends will do whatever it takes to keep him alive. Time is steadily running out and sacrifices will have to be made to prevent Stephen from removing two heroes of Windemere.
Luke’s courage and defiance have always seen him through his adventures, but where will he find strength when his own body fails him?
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Legends Of Windemere: Book Three And Four
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Allure Of The Gypsies
(Legends Of Windemere Book 3) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Reeling from broken trust and a battered spirit, Luke leads his surviving friends to the town of Haven where his past will catch up with him.
While Luke faces his family and the woman he abandoned at the altar, his enemies have recruited a deadly ally. Kalam the vampire marches on Haven with an army of undead that will leave a hero at death’s door. To revive the fallen warrior, Luke and Nyx must plunge into the mountain lair of Kalam and steal his spellbook. Exhausted and lost within enemy territory, the pair are going to need the help of a gypsy girl named Sari who may be more trouble than her new friends expected.
Against a strong and experienced adversary, what will Luke and Nyx need to claim victory on the charred battlefield?
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Legends Of Windemere:
Family Of The Tri-Rune (Book 4) by Charles E. Yallowitz
In Windemere, not every mistake disappears into the past. Some return with sharp
In Windemere, not every mistake disappears into the past. Some return with sharp teeth and ravenous appetites.
With Luke Callindor and Sari by her side, Nyx returns to the city of Hero’s Gate to face her nightmares. Cursed by her accidental unleashing of the Genocide spell, the land has been invaded by threats that have plunged the people into misery. The deadliest of all are the Krypters, a new breed of undead born from Nyx’s corrupted magic. These terrifying creatures want to devour the flesh and spirit of their ‘mother’ and the only thing they fear is a solitary warrior named Timoran Wrath.
On a quest for redemption, how much will Nyx have to sacrifice to earn the peace she desperately desires?
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Legends Of Windemere: Book One And Two
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Legends Of Windemere:
Beginning Of A Hero (Book 1) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Every hero must take the first courageous step into adventure. For Luke Callindor, it’s more of a blind stumble.
Depending more on bravery than common sense, Luke sets out to protect a royal heir who is attending the prestigious Hamilton Military Academy. With a demonic assassin in the shadows, the determined warrior will have to think on his feet to defend his charge. If only he waited long enough to find out which student is the hidden noble.
With Luke’s dream on the horizon and a deadly enemy on his path, how will he transform from a reckless adventurer to a true hero of Windemere?
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Legends Of Windemere:
Prodigy Of Rainbow Tower
(Book 2) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Luke Callindor and his friends are about to learn that the life of an adventurer can be brutally unforgiving.
Hungering for another adventure, Luke agrees to escort the heir of Serab along the L’dandrin River and into the safety of Gods’ Voice. A deadly gauntlet of cunning traps and savage creatures lay before the young warrior and his companions. Lacking the powerful magic needed to combat his enemies, Luke’s survival and victory may be in the hands of his newest ally. That’s if the temperamental Nyx doesn’t set him on fire first.
Luke will bravely face everything that is thrown at him, but how can he defend himself when he’s ignorant of the truth behind his mission?
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Stand Alone Novels by Charles E. Yallowitz
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Bestiary Of Blatherhorn Vale by Charles E. Yallowitz
Found in a battered notebook, these poems are the remnants of an expedition to the legendary Blatherhorn Vale. Cut off from human contact, the creatures of this mysterious land are nothing more than rumors. At this time, we cannot determine if these are true reports of unknown creatures or if they are the ramblings of a madman. You be the judge.
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Catalysts by Charles E. Yallowitz
When trapped in an elevator together, Jeffrey and Darla learn that misery doesn’t always love company. With the screams of death and chaos echoing from outside, they find themselves slowly slipping into a world of fear and darkness they may never recover from. All the while, something is terrorizing the convention outside and turning the guests and celebrities into psychotic monsters.
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The Hopeteller by Charles E. Yallowitz
Humanity has been driven into the wilderness by the ‘Invaders’. They have been forced to live as colonies in the wilderness where survival is a daily struggle. Hope becomes harder and harder to hold onto as the years pass.
Then one day, a young man tells a story to an injured friend and the Hopeteller is born. Unsure of the power of his words, he finds himself moving the colony with his fairy tales. He will see his people through death and fear as they continue to fight for survival.
Enjoy this novella that is part post-apocalyptic journal and part fairy tales.
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Cold Coffee Press Endorses Crossing Bedlam by Charles E. Yallowitz
Crossing Bedlam by Charles E. Yallowitz
The United States of America has been crippled. Violently contained by a global military force and left without its leaders, the country has become shattered and chaotic. A decade has passed since the first strike and a new landscape has emerged where survival is more important than anything else. Who will uncover the truth behind the attack and revive this once great nation?
It certainly won’t be Cassidy and Lloyd since they couldn’t care less about that stuff. She is a young woman on a mission to honor her mother’s dying wish, which is to toss her ashes off the Golden Gate Bridge. He is an infamous serial killer she broke out of Rikers Island since hiring a bodyguard wasn’t working out. Not the perfect plan, but having an insane, oddly charming murder-junkie on your side is a plus in the Shattered States.
Bullets and swear words are going to fly as Cassidy and Lloyd travel coast to coast, facing one challenge after another . . . including Nebraska.
Genre: Rate R, Action & Adventure, Apocalyptic Action, Comedy Adventure
Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Crossing Bedlam by Charles E. Yallowitz
Author Charles E. Yallowitz moves away from his usual epic fantasy novels to write this Apocalyptic Action Comedy Adventure. The Cover Design & Illustration is the creation of Jon Hunsinger.
Sixteen chapters of adventure where the characters are raw, rough and tough in a world where the United States is now under the control of a global military force where the borders are defined by a new meaning and the States are on their own.
Main character Cassidy is a young woman on a personal mission “tempted to draw her gun and make a stand, but she knows the prison guards are only doing their job.” She is among the escapees from Rikers’ Island. Even though they are all “Sadistic murderers and traitorous thieves though they may be, she broke them out for a reason.” “There is an air of tension and aggression that is growing stronger by the hour even though nobody has spoken since escaping Rikers Island.”
I quote Cassidy here, “Then you’re not going to like being out in the real world,” the young woman replies, her fingers tracing random designs on her mug’s condensation. Seeing the question on the tip of the man’s tongue, she runs her hands through her hair and taps at her forehead scar. “Money is useless in most of the Shattered States. That’s what the country is called now because every place has its own laws and systems. One of the few things that carries over the borders is bartering. For example, this meal is being paid for by a full set of silverware and two packages of pre-sliced pepperoni. It’s why we’re eating a full pie and can get another for the road. You’ll either figure things out or become a violent scavenger to survive. Everyone picks one way or the other at some point.”
Follow Cassidy and the others in this new world where law, order and survival take on a new meaning. “Standing at the street corner, Cassidy stares at the lakeshore building that is on the other side of a concrete clearing. A garden is in the center of the circular area, half of it an attempt at nurturing vegetables and the other an array of flowers. The distant structure is like nothing she has ever seen before with the more visible part a glass pyramid and a square tower on its backside. Blocky additions are on the right hand side of the building, which has been covered in vivid pictures that make Cassidy think the residents keep changing their minds about the decorations. Coming off the left and sitting on Lake Erie is a circular structure that is adorned with a patchwork of old concert posters. With the warm and calm weather, there are people fishing along the shore and in small boats, which are meticulously tethered to pylons to avoid floating away. Far in the distance, the outlines of military vessels can be seen waiting to stop anyone from trying to escape into Canada. Not wanting to dwell on darker times and how the rest of the world is going on without her, Cassidy turns her gaze back to their destination.”
If you like reading action adventure and epic fantasy tales, please read Crossing Bedlim and all the novels in Charles E. Yallowitz’s Legends Of Windemere series.
Cold Coffee Press endorses Crossing Bedlam by Charles E. Yallowitz as a new Apocalyptic Action Comedy Adventure where violence and language create an adult reading experience. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on February 16, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com
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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Charles E. Yallowitz
Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn't working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. 'Legends of Windemere' is his first series, but it certainly won't be his last.
Interview:
What makes you proud to be a writer from Long Island, NY? I never really factored in my location before, so I think I’m just proud to be a writer in general. Long Island is where I grew up, which does have a level of familiarity and comfort that helps me keep some semblance of sanity when writing. My time in Upstate New York and Florida helped me grow as an author too, but there is definitely something about being back here that soothes me when I’m stressed.
What or who inspired you to become a writer? I’ve loved writing since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until I read books by Fred Saberhagen that I decided to become a fantasy author. That was the spark and I’ve absorbed inspiration from so many other sources. Not just authors in my genre, but anything that tells a good story and entertaining characters. Timeless figures such as Conan the Barbarian or Indiana Jones really make me want to create something that will last long after the books are done.
When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? My second year of high school is when I outlined my first story and began writing with no clue what I was doing. It was about teenagers with super powers that protected the universe from evil immortals. I read a lot of comics back then. I didn’t go beyond self-publishing the first book through a Vanity Press and learning some hard lessons on how the industry works. By the time, I had designed Windemere and was improving through my college courses.
Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? There is definitely an environmental factor with my writing. I was never dissuaded from using my imagination, so I’ve retained a lot of the childhood wonder and craziness that I had in my youth. This helps me with world creation and coming up with monsters for my action scenes. I think it also helps me think on my feet, so I can handle plot diversions without running into a wall. There’s always an answer somewhere in my head as long as I remain calm.
Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? I come up with a title before I make an outline. Then I make a new title once I finish the outline. After that, I have a 50/50 shot of needing another title once I finish the first draft.
Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? My genre is Epic Fantasy. I really enjoy building a world from the ground up and I’ve always loved tales of magic. Fantasy is my comfort zone and I feel my strongest when writing in the genre.
What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? This is actually the 7th book of a series, so I’ll mention the spark for the entire LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE adventure. I was in a college Dungeons & Dragons game and I thought it would make a fun story. The other players agreed to let me be the group scribe and I started taking notes. Early on, I realized that a game doesn’t translate well to a book and I had the series go in a different direction. At this point in the story, we’re only seeing scraps of the final adventure in the game and everything else was created from various inspirations. In terms of the characters, I did a lot of alterations with permission from the players behind them. Especially with story romances because that didn’t really happen in the game.
What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? Interacting with readers through my blog and getting feedback. Discovering that readers are continuing with the series makes me happy since it’s nice to know people are getting invested in the adventure. My favorite thing to hear is if a person really connected to a character or an event caused an emotional reaction.
Have you had a negative experience in your writing career? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? The only real negative is that I feel like I waited too long before going the independent author route. It was something I kept wondering about, but didn’t look into it until 2012, which was 27 years after I decided to work toward being an author. I took many years off from my desired path and thought it would happen eventually, which was foolish and I do regret wasting all that time. This is by my own hand, so the only advice I would have to avoid it is for a new author to follow his or her gut. If you feel that a path is right or wrong then go with that instinct.
What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Seeing my book appear on Amazon after hitting publish and waiting for it to go live. I always get a thrill from that every time I do it. There’s this sensation of taking a big step that many people never get to.
Have you had a negative experience in your publishing journey? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? Being an independent author, everything is within my control, so I haven’t had too many negative experiences. Most of them were hiccups caused by my own lack of knowledge or taking a risk that simply didn’t work out. These are closer to disappointments that I’ve shrugged off and kept going. So I don’t think an author can avoid all negative experiences especially at the beginning. It’s smarter to accept that it will happen and keep pushing forward. Also to do your own research on promotional venues.
What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Never give up and stick to the story that is in your head. You know how it is supposed to work out, so trust in your own abilities. I’m not saying an author doesn’t evolve, but you need to remember that you’re the one in charge of your books.
Who is your favorite author and why? This changes so often for me. I could probably fill several pages with a list of authors that I love because I try to take something from each one. I love the world-building and mythology of Tolkien and Lewis. The solid character of Conan makes me enjoy books by Robert E. Howard. Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson, and the list keeps going for me. As long as the author writes a great story that makes me want to read it again, I’m hooked.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? One of my biggest focuses in my stories is the evolution of my characters and how their adventures shape them. It has made it that the actual story isn’t so much ‘good vs. evil’, but how the heroes handle their roles. For example, Nyx is an extremely powerful caster and has worries that she is nothing more than a living weapon. This affects her actions and mentality, especially when somebody treats her like a tool. So each character has a fight for identity as well as against the outside forces that threaten Windemere.
How many published books do you have? I currently have 11 books published. 8 volumes of LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE, 1 fantasy poetry book, 1 horror novella, and 1 fairy tale/post-apocalyptic novella. The last three were experiments in genres outside of my comfort zone.
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Start Reading The 'Legends of Windemere' Today!
Author Charles E. Yallowitz’s Published Books:
Allure Of The Gypsies (Legends Of Windemere Book 3)
Bestiary Of Blatherhorn Vale
Catalysts
Curse Of The Dark Wind (Legends Of Windemere Book 6)
Legends Of Windemere: Beginning Of A Hero
Legends Of Windemere: Family Of The Tri-Rune (Book 4)
Legends Of Windemere: Prodigy Of Rainbow Tower (Book 2)
Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue (Legends Of Windemere Book 7)
The Compass Key (Legends Of Windemere Book 5)
The Hopeteller
The Merchant of Nevra Coil (Legends of Windemere Book 8)
The Mercenary Prince (Legends of Windemere Book 9)
Tribe of the Snow Tiger (Legends of Windemere Book 10) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Charms of the Feykin (Legends of Windemere Book 11) by Charles E. Yallowitz
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