Title: Mirian
Author: D.S. England
Published: June 19, 2013 by CreateSpace
Genre: Fantasy
Page Count: 392
Book Description: “This station is responsible for protecting Mirian’s market district. You’ll be dealing with theft, murder, violent gangs, angry shopkeepers, fires, drunks, lost cats and everything in between...you’ll see the best and worst of people. You’ll see enough blood to rival the city’s busiest fish mongers and surgeons and there will be times you’ll want to crawl into a hole or a bottle and not come out. But if you can keep a keen eye on the man beside you and remember that in this district you follow my orders, not the Commander's, the Count’s or the God's if you can handle all of that then I’m happy to have you...if not I’m sure the Talon are looking for men...” – Watch Captain Nathan Tam
Follow the overworked and underfunded City Watch as they endeavour to keep the port city of Mirian and themselves alive whilst competing against a vicious mercenary group to enforce a brutal crackdown on crime which forces a group of thieves to take whatever jobs they can to survive. However unbeknownst to all, a new threat moves through the city’s catacombs intent on transforming Mirian into a fetid grave for its inhabitants.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
A: There's about six characters we follow through the book, mostly the City's Watch and criminals. All from different walks of life with different morals and ideals but despite their differences of opinion and life choices, they're strangely united by hardship and have a begrudging sense of respect for one another. They're cold, not in the emotionless sense I mean they're really cold. They live in a fantasy port city struggling through a nasty winter and an attempted crackdown on crime. Friendly banter and a good sense of gallows humour helps see them through their hardships and hopefully lets the reader relate, despite the fantasy setting.
Q: How long have you been writing, and when did you first consider yourself an author?
A: I've been writing for going on eight years now. I started out writing screenplays and had some prospects but as they say, life got in the way and writing had to take a back seat to everything else until last year, when I sat down and decided to write my first novel.
I'd say I first considered myself an Author when I typed the last few words of the book, sighed and slumped in my chair with a big 'I did it' grin on my face. Selling the first copy was a milestone obviously but, finishing the project is the moment for me.
Q: What do you see as influences on your writing style?
A: Honestly...hard to read books, life experiences and a sense of humour.
I've been inspired and urged on by numerous arts and artists but remembering the hard reads where I'd struggle to really get a sense of what is happening in the scene made me really focus on conveying easy to read, yet powerful description.
Q: What is the best advice you have been given?
A: "Expect hate, just make sure you're happy with it."
A friend that once upon a time wrote for a TV show featuring puppets told me that...so far I've not received any hate but I'm sure it's out there...staring at me...rubbing its hands together, licking its lips and doing a half decent maniacal laugh.
Q: As a new author yourself, what do you see as the biggest challenge for new authors and what have you been doing to overcome that?
A: I'd say the biggest challenge is getting noticed and hoping that those that do read the book leave positive reviews so your book at least makes it onto a 'highly rated' list as the front pages of websites can be quite daunting to look at and accept that most people will not flick through five hundred pages of new releases and best sellers to find your book.
Q: What do you keep yourself busy with when you're not writing?
A: When I have the time I like to read, watch TV & films and whittle away the hours with my nearest and dearest but my eleven month old son sees to it that most of my time is spent on him and I couldn't be happier about it! Although a few less four a.m feeds whilst I'm writing would be appreciated.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
A: Before having my son I'd have said something like "super-strength, super-speed or telepathy" but now...I'd freeze time and I would sleep! I'd use it for housework and projects etc of course but primarily...sleep.
Q: What book are you reading now?
A: "The Farmyard Tales Collection"....what? I have an eleven month old to read to!
About the Author: I never know where to begin when writing a biography, the 'about me' sections on profile pages usually result in me staring at a computer screen for a length of time, wondering if one more coffee would help. But this time I'll just start with the basics and see where it leads.
My name is David Stephen England, I was born in the 'radical!' eighties and was an army brat, which meant a fair amount of moving from base to base but my roots have always been firmly planted in Leicester.
I had been writing for a number of years as a hobby whilst doing the nine to five grind either behind a till or a computer but after being made redundant then later bankrupt I decided to attempt turning writing from a hobby and into my profession... and here I am!
My debut book 'Mirian' is now out and if I'm lucky, it will be well received enough that I can keep writing and release a few more.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveSengland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSEnglandOfficial?ref=hl
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7143763.D_S_England
Author: D.S. England
Published: June 19, 2013 by CreateSpace
Genre: Fantasy
Page Count: 392
Book Description: “This station is responsible for protecting Mirian’s market district. You’ll be dealing with theft, murder, violent gangs, angry shopkeepers, fires, drunks, lost cats and everything in between...you’ll see the best and worst of people. You’ll see enough blood to rival the city’s busiest fish mongers and surgeons and there will be times you’ll want to crawl into a hole or a bottle and not come out. But if you can keep a keen eye on the man beside you and remember that in this district you follow my orders, not the Commander's, the Count’s or the God's if you can handle all of that then I’m happy to have you...if not I’m sure the Talon are looking for men...” – Watch Captain Nathan Tam
Follow the overworked and underfunded City Watch as they endeavour to keep the port city of Mirian and themselves alive whilst competing against a vicious mercenary group to enforce a brutal crackdown on crime which forces a group of thieves to take whatever jobs they can to survive. However unbeknownst to all, a new threat moves through the city’s catacombs intent on transforming Mirian into a fetid grave for its inhabitants.
Buy Links: Amazon Smashwords
Mirian will be FREE on July 17!
Make sure to get your copy!
Q & A with D.S. England
Q: Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
A: There's about six characters we follow through the book, mostly the City's Watch and criminals. All from different walks of life with different morals and ideals but despite their differences of opinion and life choices, they're strangely united by hardship and have a begrudging sense of respect for one another. They're cold, not in the emotionless sense I mean they're really cold. They live in a fantasy port city struggling through a nasty winter and an attempted crackdown on crime. Friendly banter and a good sense of gallows humour helps see them through their hardships and hopefully lets the reader relate, despite the fantasy setting.
Q: How long have you been writing, and when did you first consider yourself an author?
A: I've been writing for going on eight years now. I started out writing screenplays and had some prospects but as they say, life got in the way and writing had to take a back seat to everything else until last year, when I sat down and decided to write my first novel.
I'd say I first considered myself an Author when I typed the last few words of the book, sighed and slumped in my chair with a big 'I did it' grin on my face. Selling the first copy was a milestone obviously but, finishing the project is the moment for me.
Q: What do you see as influences on your writing style?
A: Honestly...hard to read books, life experiences and a sense of humour.
I've been inspired and urged on by numerous arts and artists but remembering the hard reads where I'd struggle to really get a sense of what is happening in the scene made me really focus on conveying easy to read, yet powerful description.
Q: What is the best advice you have been given?
A: "Expect hate, just make sure you're happy with it."
A friend that once upon a time wrote for a TV show featuring puppets told me that...so far I've not received any hate but I'm sure it's out there...staring at me...rubbing its hands together, licking its lips and doing a half decent maniacal laugh.
Q: As a new author yourself, what do you see as the biggest challenge for new authors and what have you been doing to overcome that?
A: I'd say the biggest challenge is getting noticed and hoping that those that do read the book leave positive reviews so your book at least makes it onto a 'highly rated' list as the front pages of websites can be quite daunting to look at and accept that most people will not flick through five hundred pages of new releases and best sellers to find your book.
Q: What do you keep yourself busy with when you're not writing?
A: When I have the time I like to read, watch TV & films and whittle away the hours with my nearest and dearest but my eleven month old son sees to it that most of my time is spent on him and I couldn't be happier about it! Although a few less four a.m feeds whilst I'm writing would be appreciated.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
A: Before having my son I'd have said something like "super-strength, super-speed or telepathy" but now...I'd freeze time and I would sleep! I'd use it for housework and projects etc of course but primarily...sleep.
Q: What book are you reading now?
A: "The Farmyard Tales Collection"....what? I have an eleven month old to read to!
About the Author: I never know where to begin when writing a biography, the 'about me' sections on profile pages usually result in me staring at a computer screen for a length of time, wondering if one more coffee would help. But this time I'll just start with the basics and see where it leads.
My name is David Stephen England, I was born in the 'radical!' eighties and was an army brat, which meant a fair amount of moving from base to base but my roots have always been firmly planted in Leicester.
I had been writing for a number of years as a hobby whilst doing the nine to five grind either behind a till or a computer but after being made redundant then later bankrupt I decided to attempt turning writing from a hobby and into my profession... and here I am!
My debut book 'Mirian' is now out and if I'm lucky, it will be well received enough that I can keep writing and release a few more.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveSengland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSEnglandOfficial?ref=hl
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7143763.D_S_England
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