VBT Vengeance of Grimbald by Richard Hacker

Vengeance of Grimbald

by Richard Hacker

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GENRE:   Fantasy Thriller

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BLURB:

Addison and Jules, members of the League, a secret alchemist society of Inkers who protect the time continuum, believe they defeated their enemy, Cuthbert Grimwald, known to them as Kairos. When he resurfaces filled with vengeance, intent on destroying the League, and acquiring the Alchimeia, a book of such power the League has hidden it for millennia, Grimwald leaves a path of destruction across centuries. As he quests for absolute control of reality, Addison and Jules pursue him through time and death in a desperate struggle to save the world from his vengeance.

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Excerpt Two:

Addison glared at her.

“You inked in, blind to everything around you. You were so focused on getting revenge you forgot why we were there.”

“Okay, I screwed up. Is that what you want to hear?”

“I want to hear you say you’re my partner and we’re in this together. I want to hear you say you’re not going to run off again on a personal crusade.”

They locked eyes, Jules wanting her partner back, Addison not yet able to give her what she wanted.

“One more thing.”

“Come on, Jules. Give it a rest. Feels like the damned Inquisition.”

“We inked into the Inquisition, so we both know how much your exaggerating right now. It’s about me. What did Kairos’ minion mean when he said you loved another Jules?”

“He was crazy. Ranting. I don’t know what he meant.”

Jules studied him, sitting back, arms crossed. “I’m not saying you’re lying to me, but you are holding something back. Something significant enough for you to lose control like you did under the citadel. We’re partners, Addison. Whatever goes on in your head effects both of us. Secrets lead to lies on top of more secrets. Secrets corrode relationships.

“There is no secret, Jules.”

“Okay. But if there is, I hope you won’t wait until it’s too late to tell me.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Richard Hacker, lives and writes in Seattle, Washington after living many years in Austin, Texas. In addition to the science fiction/fantasy novels of The Alchimeía Series, his crime novels ride the thin line between fact and fiction in Texas. Along the way, his writing has been recognized by the Writer’s League of Texas and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. As a judge in literary contests shuch as PNWA and ChicLit, and as a freelance development editor, he enjoys the opportunity to work with other writers. In addition, he is the Sci-Fi/Fantasy editor for the Del Sol Review. DIE BACK was his first novel in the Alchimeia series.

Del Sol Press books by Richard Hacker are available at Amazon

The Alchimeía Series

DIEBACK: Book One

VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD: Book Two

Other books by Richard Hacker:

Nick Sibelius Crime Series

KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE

BUZZARD BAIT

ALL HAT AND NO CATTLE

Follow the author at www.richardhacker.com

Or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RWHacker

Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Vengeance-Grimbald-Alchime%C3%ADa-Richard-Hacker/dp/0999842595/

Interview withRichard Hacker 

1. Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reins of the story?

First, thanks for having me on your blog. That’s great questions about characters. I’d say, at least for me, it’s a combination of the two. I certainly have a sense for where the story is going at a meta level, but I do like to let the characters dictate their specific reactions to circumstances. For example, early in VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD, Addison and Jules visit a mentor who is supposed to teach them about hand to hand combat. Instead, the lesson really centers on the relationship between Jules and Addison. In a fight sequence, Jules initially enjoys Addison losing to the mentor until the losing begins to feel like a physical beating. The character really determined when and how she intervened in the fight, how the two characters reacted to their mentor seemingly turning on them, and what they did moving forward.

2. Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

In in the fantasy world, many of the books lean toward fantastical world building far from our own reality. The Alchimeia Series has its feet on the ground, anchored in the actual. There’s a sense that, even though the story is fantasy, the speculative and historical elements feel very possible. I once heard Ken Burns say the attraction of professional baseball is that you can watch in the stands and think you can actually play the game. But of course, it takes tremendous skill to hit a 95 mph fastball. But it sure is fun imagining the possibility! In VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD, readers can realistically imagine they could do the things these characters are doing. It seems possible. Which I think is an important message in our day and time. When life looks hopeless, when everything seems to be turned upside, the people who make a difference are not superheroes, but people like you and me, people who persevere in spite of the odds and do the best we can.

3. Have you written any other books that are not published?

On the published side, there’s the first book in the Alchimeia series, DIE BACK. And there are three books in a humorous crime series, the first being KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE. I’ve got a humorous sci-fi novel, along the lines of Tom Holt or Douglas Adams that I’m hoping to get published this year. So look for THE BIFURCATION OF DUNGSTEN CREASE. And I’ve also got the third book in the Alchimeia series and an as yet untitle, sci-fi novel underway.

4. Pen or type writer or computer?

I love a good fountain pen, but for my writing I’m a computer guy. Specifically at Mac Pro laptop using Scrivner software. And there’s a time in the development of a book when I transition the manuscript to Word for final editing. Technology has really made the work of a writer so much better. We can write, edit, and format our work. We’ve got access to information at a keystroke. I know this dates me, I do recall carbon paper, typewriters, manually formatting text, liquid ink to remove mistakes, etc. I’m very pleased all of that is in the past. I met a guy a few weeks ago pounding away on a manual typewriter—yes, a manual typewriter. He told me he liked the physical connection to the words on paper. Of course, once he gets those words on paper, then there has to be some process for digitizing the material. I don’t think there are any publishers out there who accept paper manuscripts in the mail anymore! 

5. Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?"

Two things I’d like to add. First, the underlying message of the Alchimeia series is about courage and perseverance. When life looks hopeless, when everything seems to be turned upside-down, the people who make a difference are not superheroes, but people like you and me, who persevere in spite of the odds. And second, readers are the reason for the season. Without you, writers would be lonely people sitting in coffee shops pounding on laptops. With you, we become the tellers of fantastical stories, entertainers, philosophers, and poets. And together, a writer and a reader, we make magic. Thank you for sharing some of your life with me.

I hope you’ll check out DIE BACK and now book 2 of the Alchimeia, VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD. Both are available on Amazon. And you can find me at www.richardhacker.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RWHacker

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Richard Hacker will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2020/02/vbt-vengeance-of-grimbald-by-richard.html