I’m pleased to welcome Jan Sikes here today on her Jonah Blog Tour. This was a fantastic story and my review will be posted here this month:)
GIVEAWAYS: The author is giving away (3) $5 Amazon Gift Cards during this tour! For your chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment below as well as leaving a comment on the author’s 4WillsPub tour page. GOOD LUCK!
Welcome to day two of the blog tour to promote my new release, JONAH!
Writing fantasy was a completely different genre for me. I honestly think that is one of the reasons I enjoy writing short stories so much. It gives me the opportunity to try many different styles of writing in varied genres. Jonah is told in first-person POV.
In writing fantasy, almost anything can go. However, it still must be believable on some level. In creating the mythical creatures in Jonah’s story, I searched the internet to get some visuals, then went from there.
The animals I created are half-animal and half-mythical, have red glowing fangs, and claws like that of an Eagle. Yet, I pictured them to have a warthog like body, short, stout and able to easily navigate through tangled underbrush.
They are a real threat to Jonah. Here’s a short excerpt from the story that shows Jonah’s first encounter with these dangerous animals.
Sure, they’d given him the dagger and a few supplies. Everything else, he had to get on his own. And, it didn’t help that the island was covered with thick tangled nettles that stung the skin when touched, flowers filled with deadly venom and blackbirds that swooped down without warning and pecked at his head. But the creatures were the worst of all. He’d never forget the first time they showed themselves. Fangs that glowed red when they growled and claws like that of Eagles had sent him clamoring through the brush despite the stinging nettles and prickly thorns. Their claws allowed them to easily trample through and he was left with no option but to run. It wasn’t until exhausted and unable to run anymore, he finally turned and drew his dagger. He prepared to die. But instead, they backed down.
Jonah had no idea whether it was the glint of the sun off the metal blade, the scream that burst from his chest, or the aggressive running toward the animals, but the combination worked and they would slink back into the underbrush each time.
BOOK BLURB:
Fantasy meets reality when a young man is forced to choose his punishment for crimes committed. Jonah must decide between imprisonment in a concrete box beneath the earth or be exiled to a deserted, barren island. He chooses the island, but nothing can prepare him for the deadly creatures, and poisonous plants at every turn. Then there’s the maddening isolation that drives him to the brink of insanity. There is only one way off this island and it’s more difficult than anything he’s ever imagined. It’s much easier to face mortal danger than the demons within. Will Jonah find redemption, or another unexpected offer?
AUTHOR BIO:
Jan Sikes openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. You simply can’t make this stuff up. It all happened. She chose to create fictitious characters to tell the story through, and they bring the intricately woven tale to life in an entertaining way.
She released a series of music CDs to accompany the four biographical fiction books and then published a book of poetry and art to bring the story full circle.
And now that the story is told, this author can’t find a way to put down the pen. She continues to write fiction and has published many short stories with a series of novels waiting in the wings. She is a member of Authors Marketing Guild, The Writer’s League of Texas, the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB (RRBC), the RAVE WRITER’S INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHOR (RWISA), sits on the RWISA Executive Council and hosts a monthly RAVE WAVES blog talk radio show, ASPIRE TO INSPIRE.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
PURCHASE LINK:
Thank you for hosting today, Denise. I’ve yet to read Jonah, but it is lined up on my Kindle. ♥ After reading Jan’s explanation about writing short stories, I’m even more intrigued. Best wishes to Jan!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, Gwen! I’d love for you to jump into the 90-Day Alpha/Omega Beginning To End Short Story Challenge and give it a try! 🙂
I’m sure you will enjoy Jonah, Gwen:) Always happy to host xo
Fantasy is such a fun genre to both read and write. It’s limited only by your imagination. But, as you said, the world still has to be believable… no palm trees in cold climates. 😉 I’ve been doing a lot of researching and writing about folklore (Bulgarian and Eastern European, in particular), and there is so much wonderful material that can be used in a fantasy setting. I find it helps to have an idea to start with.
Rebecca Carter, writing as Ronesa Aveela
Hi, Rebecca. Thank you for such an awesome comment. Researching myths and folklore is fascinating! I hope that means you have a new story coming. I appreciate your support!
Hi Rebecca:) I look forward to reading about the folk lore. Thanks for dropping by!
I’m excited to read the adventure of Jonah. Sounds like great work, Jan! Thanks for hosting, Denise.
It was, Linda! Happy you stopped by:)
Hi, Linda. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I hope you enjoy Jonah!
Linda, thanks for dropping in to support, Jan!
Denise, thanks for the host!
I’m happy to, Nonnie:)
Hi, Denise! Thank you SO much for hosting Jonah today on your lovely blog site! I appreciate your amazing support, always! Hugs!
i am always happy to support you and your work, Jan:) I hope you get many new readers.
Jonah is a compelling story Denise, I liked it. Wishing Jan a wonderful tour. 🙂
Thank you, Balroop! I appreciate that you took the time to read and review Jonah!
it was very compelling, Balroop. I’m happy you stopped by:)
Jonah sounds like a very interesting read, Jan. Enjoy your blog tour. Thanks for hosting, Denise.
Hi, Peggy! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I appreciate you!
I’m happy to host, Peggy:) So glad you dropped by!
Ooh, the blurb sounds interesting!
It’s a good read, Jacquie:)
Thank you, Jacquie!! I hope it intrigued you enough to pick up a copy! Thanks for stopping by!
Reinventing animals for a fantasy story is so much fun. I remember I had a middle school teacher who had us create a new animal by using other animal parts. We then had to classify the species by using affixes and root words. Then, she brought out various materials for us to then create the animal. At the end, we had to write a story with the animal. It was so much fun, and I’ve loved re-imagining animals ever since. Thanks for sharing this with us, Jan. It brought back great memories. I look forward to reading Jonah! 🙂
That sounds like a fun experiment you did, Yvette:) I know you’ll enjoy Jan’s story. I’m happy you stopped by!
What a fun exercise, Yvette! I can see where it would fuel the imagination and get creativity flowing. I’m glad I brought back such a cool memory! Thank you for sharing!
What horrid choices for a young man. Sounds excellent, Jan and Denise!
It was a horrid choice, but a great read, Jacqui!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, Jacqui. Yes, sometimes we bring circumstances to our lives that leave us with only horrid choices and that is exactly what Jonah did. I hope you’ll be intrigued enough to pick it up!
Is a good story. Congratulations, Jan. Thanks for hosting, Denise.
Thank you, John! I appreciate your support!
Always happy to host and support, John.
I have “Jonah” on my radar. Congratulations Jan!
Music to my ears, Shirley! Thank you!
Thanks for dropping by, Shirley:) You will like this story!
I wish you lots of lock as you tour with your new book, Jan. The book is indeed an interesting read.
Thank you so much for your comment, Joy!
Thanks, for stopping by, Joy:) It is a very interesting read!
Right there in the jungle alongside Jonah!
Whoo Hoo, Wendy! Thanks for joining in!
Thanks for dropping by, Wendy:)
Love the excerpt, Jan! And the incredible visualization! Definitely another book for my kindle. Thank you so much for hosting, Denise!!
You’ll enjoy it, Marlena:) I’m happy you stopped by!
That is music to my ears, Mar! I hope you enjoy it!
This excerpt whetted my appetite to dive right into “Jonah”, Jan! Well done! Thanks for hosting Jan today, Denise!
Whoo hoo,John! Iam glad it whetted your appetite! Thank you for stopping by!
I’m happy to host Jan:) Thanks for dropping by, John, and I know you will enjoy the story.
Wow, Jan, I don’t think I would like to live on that island! I have a hard enough time with bugs, let alone things with claws! 😄
Denise, thank you for hosting.
I’m happy to host Jan:) I have to agree about the bugs and claws, Rhani…lol.
Hi, Rhani. Thanks for your comment. No, the island isn’t supposed to be a pleasant place. After all, he is being punished for his crimes. 🙂 I definitely wouldn’t want to be there!
Lovely to see Jan getting around with her new book, Denise.
I’m glad its getting a lot of deserved attention:)
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, Robbie!
Jonah is an amazing story, Denise. Congratulations, Jan! Thank you for hosting the blog tour, Denise!
Thank you for your awesome comment, Miriam!!
You’re welcome, Jan! I read your interview about your book previously. Congratulations.
It was, Miriam and I was happy to have Jan here.
It’s a wonderful tour, Denise.
That is a creature from nightmares, Jan. Oh my–he better have a dagger and then some!
Hi, Jacqui! I’m glad my creature sparked your imagination. Yes, Jonah needs all the help he can get! Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment!
it wasn’t an island I want to be put on, Jacqui!
Another wonderful tale by Jan! Thanks for hosting, Denise. 🙂
It was, Mark! Happy to host.