Blog's URL is reverting to its original URL: MUST READ

www.jointhestarcrafters.blogspot.com THIS IS THE NEW NEW ADDRESS. Due to too many complications with authorbrianmcbride.blogspot.com, I will be changing it back, though the title of the blog will still be Shattering the Darkness: The Author Blog of Brian McBride. The look of the blog will remain the same, only the URL is changing.

God bless,

Brian

Un-official Paradox Book Trailer

    I have (finally) created the unofficial book trailer for Paradox book one of The Starcrafters' Saga!

Here it is! Enjoy!

God bless,

Brian

Changes to the Blog

    NEW BLOG DOMAIN: authorbrianmcbride.blogspot.com
    I've decided that now that I am getting closer and closer to publishing my book, that I will change this blog from just a writing blog to an author blog. The title will be changed, as will the domain name. This post is to inform you of such. The new title will be Shattering the Darkness: The Author Blog of Brian McBride.
    The reason, you ask? Because Shattering the Darkness represents every project I have and will work on. Good versus evil, light versus darkness, God versus Satan.
    I have created the banner already! Here it is!

    So what do you guys think?
    Also, the new address is www.authorbrianmcbride.blogspot.com

God bless,
Brian

Christian Fantasy or Just Fantasy Written By Christians?

    This is a question that plagues a lot of fantasy-fiction writers, like myself. We have to decide what message we want to send and if we want it to be explicitly Christian or just fantasy with Christian morals and messages.
    For Paradox, I chose to write explicitly Christian, though not in a preachy way - save for a short "church" scene, which may be removed at a later date. Why did I choose to write that way? Mostly because I felt that's what I should write, but also because it fits the theme of the book, which is destiny. Without God, we have no destiny, therefore, God came into the picture.
    Now, this doesn't mean that I prefer Christian Fantasy over just Fantasy, it just means that that is what I chose to write with at that time. For some Christian writers who write just Fantasy, like D. Barkley Briggs, author of The Book of Names, Corus the Champion, The Song of Unmaking, The Ravaged Realm, they way they write really works for them and they are still able to portray their Christian message of hope, salvation, redemption, etc...
    I personally like both, and, depending on Paradox's reception, I might continue to write Christian fantasy. However, I do have some regular fantasy novels planned, so if you were worried that I would continue to write explicitly Christian, you can fret no longer. That doesn't mean, though, that I won't write anymore Christian books. Just for your information. ;)
    Anyway, what do you prefer? Christian Fantasy or just Fantasy written by Christians?

God bless,
Brian
   

Great News!

    Most of you know that I have entered a contest with Westbow Press. Well... I just got a call from one of the reps today. He said that Paradox sounds very interesting and like something that would fit really well with their publishing house. We went over all the details, publishing packages, what other houses I'm looking at, word count, how far along I am, book covers, platforms for marketing, etc...
    It is very exciting when you talk with someone who is interested in publishing your book for you, and now I believe that Westbow is a definite possibility, whether I win the contest or not!
    I've never answered what you would call a "business phone call" before. This was my first time. I feel pretty confident that I successfully represented myself in a proper manner.
    Have any of you ever had something like this happen to you?

God bless,
Brian

"The Dreamers" by Oliver Dahl - A Book Review

Sam Kullen is a Dreamer. Every night he dreams, and he lives each one. Together, the Dreamers must stop Malfix from taking over the Dream Realm, and Earth itself. The Dreamers also have the ability to control events on Earth through their dreams. Sam and the Dreamers must prevent Malfix from controlling things... for the worse.


Okay, I actually finished this book a couple of days ago. I just am now finally getting around to reviewing it.
    First off, I must commend Oliver Dahl for his wonderful writing skill and ability to catch a reader's interest from the start.
    I'd love to say that this book was perfect, but it's not. No book is.
Though the vast majority tend to be very enjoyable, they're not perfect. Each book has its quirks, as does The Dreamers.
    I don't like to beat people down, so I'll make this quick then move onto the good points.
    The story seemed to move a little fast, but that is just my opinion. For others, it could move at a perfect rate. I, on the other hand, prefer my stories to be a little more fleshed out.
    Another point to note was that there seemed to be quite a bit of mild language that I didn't expect. "Cr*p" is used, as is "fre*k*ng"; the phrase "h-e-double-hockey-sticks" is used in place of "h*ll"; the abbreviation "P.O." is used in place of "p**s*d off".
    On the other hand, the story was fantastically written, the characters were great. The plot was great and I commend Oliver Dahl for writing and successfully self-publishing his masterpiece, The Dreamers.
    All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will most definitely return to it someday.
    I recommend The Dreamers to anyone 10 and up, who are interested in a fascinating young-adult science fiction novel written by a fellow teenager.

God bless,
Brian

(Please, do not take offense by anything written in this review. This is my honest opinion and should not be judged as fact. Also, any offense is unintentional.)

New Things

I know that I canNOT be the only one here who loves finding new things; bands, books, authors, blogs, friends, websites, etc...
    I would like to share some new things with you.

    NEW THING #1
    I am now a fan of the band Fireflight. This is all thanks to the folks at The Sharpening Stone, a random blog that I stumbled across through another blog.

    NEW THING #2

    I have just placed two orders for a Knight's Dagger and a Crusader Chivalry Knight's Sword. This is thanks to the job that I am blessed to have.

    

    NEW THING #3

    I have been introduced to the wonderful and exciting world of author Estevan Vega. This is thanks to those who run Ted Dekker's Facebook page!

    NEW THING #4

    I have been introduced to the wonderful world of The Dreamers, thanks to Oliver Dahl, the creator of the novel.

    NEW THING # 5

    I have been given a chance to enter into a Westbow Press contest and have my book published for free IF I win. This is thanks to my grandmother, Esther Seaton Dummer (author of Elusive Faith and Bedrock Faith) for sharing it on Facebook.

    Most of us love new things, do we not? We love the feel and the SMELL of brand new books when we open them, when we look upon their covers. We love to pop a CD into our CD players or computers and listen to never-before-listened-to songs. We love to buy new things; clothes, books, etc...

    You'll notice, that for each new thing I listed, I had someone to thank for each thing.

    So what are some new things you've done, got, and who do have to thank for those who gave you/introduced to you those new things?