Guiding the Blue Flame Tour w/ Giveaway~Interview

Genres: Sword and Sorcery, Coming of Age, Dark Wizard Fantasy

Promo: Book Three "The Coming of the Light" in the Guardian Series will be available for FREE on Amazon in ebook format on March 15th and March 16th.

Blurb:

The Elemental Crystals were originally created to protect the earth. However, Abaddon the Demon Lord plans to use them to transform the earth into a realm of haunting darkness and witchery, forever. In Guiding The Blue Flame, a young but powerful Nasharin Warrior, Darshun Luthais is drawn to one of these magical crystals of immense power. He learns he‘s the fulfillment of the two thousand year old Prophecy of the Guardian. The Wizard Olchemy informs him that he is the protector and guardian the earth has been waiting for. With Darshun‘s ability to sense the Elemental Crystals, Olchemy devises a plan to obtain them. Accompanied by a small group of companions the hunt is on, in hopes to retrieve the long lost crystals before the Demon Lord claims them. During the journey, Darshun encounters Aurora, the sole survivor of a now extinct people. He falls in love for the first time, and now resents the so-called Guardian of the Prophecy role. Due to Darshun‘s naïve spirit he‘s caught off guard by Nayland, a mysterious dark warrior who confronts him about his abandonment of the quest. He reveals that he too, is a Nasharin warrior, though far exceeding Darshun in skill and power. Darshun‘s father, Mirabel saves him from death at the hands of Nayland. Outmatched and in bewilderment from the attack, a fire awakens in Darshun. He plans on reaching his father‘s level of power with a journey to Shajin Island, where Nasharin Warriors train. He‘ll be gone for only one day in Earth realm time, but due to the magic of the rigorous island, it will be seven long years for him. Entering the mystical realm of Shajin, he eagerly awaits its life threatening challenges.

Excerpt:

From Chapter Three of "Guiding the Blue Flame."

Later that night, when Darshun lay in his bed, he kept thinking about the stories Damacoles shared with him, wondering if any truth dwelled in them. A sacrificial goddess of fire? A mischievous god of theft and murder? Surely, such tales were legendary, meant to scare children into behaving. For it was never a good thing to play with fire or to prowl the outdoors during the dark hours. No wonder the elders would conjure up such stories.

These thoughts were cut short when Darshun heard noises outside his window. They sounded like stones hitting the house and a rustling of leaves. He wondered if Repsi might be there, creeping around stealing belongings or anything that was precious to him.

Then came the worst of it yet; a voice, coming from under his bed, whispering—hissing his name twice: “Darshun...Darshun.” Then, there was an impish laugh.

Darshun closed his eyes, covered his ears and remained still, shaking, sweating—praying it would go away! His fists were clenched so tight, he could feel the veins popping out of his forearms. Then, after a while, when the noises stopped he felt ridiculous, thinking himself to be a fool. “They’re just tales.” He laughed. “And I'm scaring myself into hearing things. Heh, yes...” Sleep began to take hold, his eyes feeling heavy. “They are tales—that's all. Just—tales...”

****

A clutter of loud noises outside Darshun’s window awakened him. It sounded like colossal boulders rolling across the ground and hitting the side of the house. He lay in bed, trembling, not daring to see what it could be and remembering the same business earlier in the night.

Then the noises stopped, and he heard heavy footsteps trotting away over the fallen leaves. “Someone’s out there.” He climbed out of bed and walked to the window, peeped outside and saw nothing. It looked pitch black. That’s strange—a few hours ago there was a full moon. There came another crash in the distance, but this time it sounded like a crackling, furious, like the stone castle collapsing. Darshun leapt away from the window, sinking to the floor in darkness. “What is going on?” He panted with fear. “I better wake up Father.”

Stepping across the room in shadow, he grabbed a candle off a stand and set it ablaze, then made his way down the short hall to Mirabel’s room. But when he got there the bed was empty, the blankets lying on the floor. “Ah, Father. Where did you venture off to now?”

Not wanting to be alone, he decided to go outside and look for him. Darshun hoped he would find his father before whatever else lurking within the city found him. He grabbed his sheathe and sword along with a dagger, slipped into his brown leather ankle boots and cloak, then ventured outside. The darkness seemed so thick he couldn’t see two feet in front of him. “Where in the world could he be? Perhaps at Uncle Seth’s?”

Unexpectedly, a scream sounded, a horrible sounding scream like that of a frightened young girl. It echoed from every direction of the city. Then there were crackling noises and a rustling of leaves in the woods, like someone or something running through the brush.

Darshun stopped and pulled out the sword. Seconds later, the noises went silent and a wet wind came. Lightning flashed, followed by bangs of thunder. “Father!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the night-shaded city. “Where are you?” A second flash of lightning lit up the sky for a few moments revealing much of Loreladia. During this time, he saw something about a hundred feet away. It sent chills down his back.

A creature stood there and it looked to be at least eight feet tall. A set of horns rose off its skull like a bull. It had unnaturally long arms, dagger-sized claws, three wide legs—the third extending down where the groin would naturally be behind it. He swung a swaying tail while possessing dark red skin and yellow eyes. Its eyes were terrifying, glaring at Darshun with hatred. The stench it exuded was indescribable.

His heart raced. But when another wave of lightning split the sky, the creature disappeared. “Di-did—I imagine it?” Swiftly, the storm elements struck a tree, bursting it to flames. The fire lit up the surrounding area. When Darshun turned around he witnessed the creature again, this time standing about ten feet away! Its eyes flashed. He screamed and ran.

The creature chased after him.  It moved like a large puppet, unsteady and off balance, probably due to its additional leg which made the thing all the creepier.

“Help me!” Darshun shouted, but no one came to his aid. He continued to run through the dark city until he reached Uncle Seth’s house, staggering into the yard. He banged on all the doors and all the windows. There came no answer. Everyone seemed to have vanished. Kicking open the back door, he ran into the house and looked around for a candle, blindly touching the small round tables in the living room. Instead, he discovered an oil lamp, recently put out, its smell spreading through the house. He ignited it and searched for Seth and Mirabel, scurrying through every room and still, they were nowhere to be found.

Darshun blew out the wick and stood still, listening to the rain beating down on the house, praying the creature wouldn’t find him. Then he felt a warm liquid hit his face and drip down his cheeks. Curious, he relit the lamp and looked above, witnessing fresh blood splattered completely across the ceiling, along with intestines driven into cracks, dangling to and fro. Darshun screamed, then put a hand over his mouth, realizing his stupidity. “Oh no,” he whispered.

As though it’d been waiting for this precise moment, the creature crashed through the front door, kicking the wood apart tightly grabbing his arm and tossing him across the room like a doll.

He hit the wall and fell to the floor.

The creature walked over, its stench unbearable, like a rotten corpse.

Adrenaline rushing, Darshun quickly stood up, drew his sword and struck the creature in its left leg, hacking off a chunk of flesh. Then he ran to the nearest window and jumped through it. He tumbled onto the muddy ground, smashing his jaw and dropping the sword. The creature reached through, grabbed his leg and began to pull him back in. Its claws dug into his skin, piercing to the bone and he screamed in agony. Punching the thing in its face didn’t seem to faze it either, it only hurt Darshun's hands. Then, he remembered the dagger he’d brought. He took it off his girdle and stabbed the creature’s hand.

It roared terribly, saliva shooting out its mouth—then released him.

Darshun picked up his sword and ran into the woods as fast as his little legs would take him. He ran and ran until he ended up being a long way off and found a thicket of bushes to hide under. He was soaking wet, and the temperature had dropped so much his breath now showed. Trying to calm down, he rubbed his sweaty face and wounded leg, which began to swell with severe pain. Soon, he would need medical attention. But these thoughts vanished when he heard a crackling of sticks. Something was coming toward him. Darshun gripped his sword and remained still. The noises stopped…nothing sounded now except the rain. Perhaps it was an animal?

Lightning struck a tree near-by and in fear, he hurriedly climbed out of the thicket. The fire burned high, giving off much light, and he knew he needed to abandon the area fast. Then, as if things weren’t bad enough, he felt a cold breath on the back of his neck—shivers of fear ran down his spine. Slowly, he turned around and there the creature stood, face-to-face with him. It grabbed his throat, lifted him off his feet and slammed him against a tree.

Its face was hideous—cut, mangled as if it’d been mutilated while decaying with disease.

Darshun vomited onto it, the vomit dripping down its bloody cheeks. “My father?” he asked tired and weary. “Where’s my father?”

Grinning, the creature pointed up at the trees.

Darshun eyes widened. Hanging by two ropes tied to their legs were Mirabel and Seth. Their bellies had been torn open and their throats cut, blood oozing like a river.

Hideously, the creature laughed and rose up its other hand, extending blood stained claws.

After the loss of his loved ones, nothing else mattered—nothing except justice or perhaps revenge. An uncontrollable desire began to overtake Darshun. Dramatic emotions of hate, love, desperation and madness surged within while sleeping beast began to awaken. “Father—Uncle Seth...” Suddenly, it happened. “Nooo!!!” he screamed in rage and fury as a red fire exploded around him, blowing the creature off its feet. The fire surrounded Darshun’s entire body. Even his pupils consisted of flame.

At first, he didn't understand what could be happening. His anger ignited, awakened or unleashed something inside of him, perhaps lying dormant and the energy magnified. He felt a bodily change in every pore, a sensation within his eyes, a tingling throughout his hair. His body became different—he seemed different, transformed.

The creature, now terrified, desperately ran for its life.

Darshun raised both hands, naturally understanding what to do and shot two streams of blistering red flames out of them. Burning through every tree in their path, the flames struck the creature and disintegrated it.

A fierce yellow light shined all around him as Darshun awoke. He screamed, crashing his head back and forth, confused, disoriented, unaware of his surroundings until the light vanished and he saw Mirabel. “Fa—father?”

“Yes son, it is I. Everything is going to be all right.”

“It was a dream—only a dream.” He sighed and collapsed, out of energy. Within moments, he fell back to sleep.

****

Upon seeing the flames, many Loreladians rushed over speedily, standing in the middle of the street, gazing upon Mirabel’s house—nearly ash. Seth Caelen stood there too, having sensed the disturbance in Darshun.

“Good heavens,” Mythaen greeted, running up to Mirabel. “Are you and Dar all right?”

Mirabel glanced over, then fixed his eyes back on Darshun. “Fine,” he answered.

“What happened?”

“A candle fell.”

“A—candle?” he asked, confused. For not only was it highly unlikely for Mirabel to make a mistake like that, but candle fire burns a beautiful orange-yellow, where this fire seemed to be a blistering red. “Are you positive?”

“Yes! It was a candle, a molding of wax!” Mirabel’s tone sounded fierce, his words sounding more like a growl. He sighed, and then finished in a calmer tone, “Just an accident started from an old Wizard's candle. Everything is fine now.”

All right, that made a little more sense to the small crowd. After all, Mirabel was a keeper of magical souvenirs.

“Well, if you like, you and Dar can stay at my place tonight,” Mythaen offered. “Or perhaps in the castle?”

“You can stay with me!” Elwin blurted out, wishing to be with Darshun. “Mother won’t mind.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I will pass.” He picked up Darshun and held him in his arms. “The danger has passed and the fire is out. You can all return home now.” He turned to Seth, speaking almost in a whisper, “Accompany me for a short time?”

“Of course.”

They walked out of the city and into the woods, abandoning the perplexed crowd. Mirabel ventured only a short distance then stopped, setting Darshun down on some soft leaves. He then swiftly made a fire.

“That was no candle accident, was it?” Seth asked, though he knew the answer.

“No, it was Darshun. Come here, look! They’re still visible.”

Seth gazed and saw claw marks around his neck with trickles of fresh blood. He also saw the wound on Darshun’s leg and shadow-like markings across his face, arms, and chest. They were now beginning to fade, like ghostly hands releasing their grasp. “Is it possible?”

“Yes. A Dream Assassin attacked him.”

“Sorcerer Dream Assassin spells are difficult to achieve. They must have the blood of the one they intend to kill. Darshun has either lived in Loreladia since we rescued him or been with you.”

“I know, I know. It doesn’t make sense. But whoever cast the spell must possess a bit of his blood. Someone wants him dead.”

“The Northern Cullach?”

“I was thinking the evil ones in command of them. Remember what Deloth spoke of? About Darshun having to be sacrificed because he was a creature of the Light, and if he lived disaster could fall upon them.”

“I remember, but what does it mean?”

“Seth, tonight I felt a power within Darshun that even I fear. It’s what awoke me earlier. The very house trembled. I heard him scream and fire shot out everywhere. He unlocked his element in his dream, his element of Fire and at only age twelve, something no Nasharin has ever achieved. His inner power is so strong—I could barely contain him. Then I carried him into the street and shielded his fire. Everything within the house was gone, everything except that—golden ball. Somehow, it rolled into the street and stopped at Darshun’s side and once again—it was glowing!”

“What are you saying?”

“The Prophecy of the Guardian and the Second Great War could be upon us.”

Seth stared at Darshun in amazement, thinking about the signs, the golden ball and the extraordinary power of this boy. Along with the threat of the Dark, Darshun’s dreams and the presence of the Archangel. “Yes, the pieces do add up. Incredible!”

“I’m not certain of it. Nevertheless, for now I will remain in the forest and continue to train him. He needs to learn how to control his element and strengthen his mind, lest another attack come.”

“All right. Don’t fret about your house. I’ll build another.”

“Thank you, my friend. And please, until I understand for certain what’s going on, do not tell anyone about this.”

Seth nodded, and his eyes darkened. “Mirabel, if the prophecy is at hand, then you know what kind of evil shall threaten not only us, but all of the earth!”

Mirabel sighed. “I know. Our only hope shall be this little Nasharin.”

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About the Author:

J.W. BACCARO is the author of the Guardian Series. In his free time he enjoys literature--fiction and non-fiction, playing electric guitar in the heavy metal band Rigor Hill, Consciousness and NDE studies, and thinking how to intertwine his thoughts about the world's myths, legends and distinct truths into his next novel. He lives in upstate NY with his wife Melissa, his son Alexander, his two German Shepherds and his three cats.

Connect With The Author:

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Radio Interview with Author J.W.Baccaro


Giveaway:
This giveaway will have three winners!
Giveaway One: One winner will receive books 2-5 of the Guardian Series in ebook form, in addition to a 25 dollar amazon gift card.
Giveaway Two: One winner will receive books 2-4 of the Guardian Series in ebook form, in addition to a 15 dollar amazon gift card.
Giveaway Three: One winner will receive books 2 & 3 in ebook form of the Guardian Series, in addition to a 10 dollar amazon gift card.
Enter 3/12/14-3/27/14 at midnight eastern time! USA only, please.


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Describe your books in 3 words?

Totally kick ass!

If you could be any character from one of your books who would it be?

The Protagonist Darshun Luthais.

What is your greatest fear about being an author/publishing your book(s)?

I have to admit…to never get noticed.  I’m sure many authors share that fear.  However, expectations are a part of the problem.  To expect something can lead one into a depressive state.  This comes from fear, the subject of your question.  It’s part of the natural ego we humans possess.  Therefore, I strive to be satisfied with what I have created.  Writing the story was therapeutic for me, and I’ve also received a few emails and comments from people telling me that my books helped them in their life.  There are parallels of forgiveness, mending an egotistical attitude, following your heart and many other factors in existence we all share. I’m happy to have helped those individuals.

Would the 10 year-old version of yourself kick your butt or praise you for what you've accomplished in life?

I was writing my own little story books when I was ten, so I’m sure my ten year old self would be pleased.

What do you do when you finish your book and turn it in to the editor?

I’m excited to get it back, see what my errors were, learn how to improve, and adore the new polished version my editor has made for me.  J

What is your favorite Genre and why?

That’s difficult to answer.  I love Fantasy, Urban Fantasy and Dark Erotica.  I love the mystical attributes and imagery of fantasy, and the steamy hot BDSM scenes within Dark Erotica.  The book I’m currently working on has all of those elements.

What is one thing that would surprise us to know about you?

I study Consciousness and Near-Death Experiences. And I probably read more non-fiction books in relation to that than I do fiction.

Was there an Author who inspired you to write?

J.R.R. Tolkien and Akira Toriyama.

How did you come up with the characters in your books?

In answering that I’ll say this: except for the expertise in the martial arts, Darshun is I, and I am Darshun.  I really wanted to see what it would be like if I could imagine myself into a world faced with a dilemma such as Dar.  In a sense, we are in a world like that.  We have wars fought over political corruption and selfish gain, wars that are necessary to fight for our freedom and existence, times of trial and tribulation we all without a doubt face, etc.  And while we’re going through those difficult times, all of us, I’m sure, are hoping for a helping help, someone to be there with us, give us strength and encouragement, so we do not feel alone in our time of crisis, so that we can push through that piercing darkness—whatever that darkness may be, and hopefully surpass it and rise out from the ashes stronger.

Such is the case of myself intertwined with Darshun in my series.  In fact, one of my favorite parts in my series is in “Guiding the Blue Flame,” chapter seven, where Darshun first discovers his “calling,” what he has to do, and what he will face, sitting outside of the Wizard’s lair, pondering “why” it must be himself to save the Light from annihilation, and should he fail, the world will fall.  When someone is as close to nature as Darshun is and cherishes life, the fear of losing it—because of one’s own faults, is a heavy burden.  Sure many can say, “stop being a coward, and march through it!”  But it’s not cowardice.  When you ponder the situation, it’s much easier said than done.

For what if you were granted a vision of the future, laying witness to the end of the world—not the world, but your world; where the beautiful landscapes—from evergreen to meadow, drowned in a sea of blood?  Where every majestic animal, every spouse, child, and all who you have befriended lay scattered, broken and dead before your feet.  And the light of day swallowed into an eternal darkness.  And what if someone told you the entirety of the earth, as you know it, depends solemnly on you-and you alone?  That you were born a Guardian, a Defender, a Protector of what this world holds sacred?  Would you stand up and fight?  Would you persist in suffering and tragedy, facing the unknown, the darkness, striving to accomplish your objective, even if it meant giving up your very life?  Well that is Darshun’s mindset.

Regarding the other characters such as the Dark Queen Talvenya, Nayland, Minevara and even Abaddon the Demon Lord, they are all entities of thoughts and ideas within my mind.  To write them out in a world was an awesome experience I will say! 

Do you prefer to write alone or do you like to collaborate with other authors?

Mostly alone.  When I have dreadful writer’s block I call for the better half of me for assistance…my lovely Wife.  J

Everyone uses computers, tablets, phones and no one uses handwritten form or typewriters, what do you prefer to use?

Computers.  My handwriting is hideous!  lol

Is there a ritual you do before you begin your book?

Coffee…more coffee…and my electronic cigarette, usually coffee and cream flavor.

What do you do when you finish your book and turn it in to the editor?

Is this a trick question? The same answer I gave you above.  J

Fast Fairy Questions

Apple or Windows?

If I’m hungry, apples. If it’s 90 degrees outside, windows so I can put my AC in.  Oh, you mean computers? Windows.  J

Dog or Cat?

Dog. 

Pepsi or Coke?

Boylans’ Cane Cola!

Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook

Summer or Winter?

Summer

Fairies or Angels?

Angels

Dark or Light Fae?

Light

Vampires or Werewolves?

Female Vampires in leather and adorned in leather high heel boots!

Amazon or Barnes and Noble?

Amazon

Funny or Serious?

Depends on my mood, seriously! 

Print or E-book?

E-book

Eyes or Smile?

Oh the eyes…love the eyes so much!

Dream spot to visit?

Anywhere I choose while having an Out of Body Experience.