Interview with fellow author Blakely Benett

Please check out my interview with Blakely Bennett at http://bit.ly/1wiifzq
as we discuss The Death Wizard Chronicles, my six-book epic fantasy. Blakely and her husband Dana are both novelists who write sensual and historical romance, as well as suspense novels. Blakely regularly interviews fellow authors on her popular site, which is always an awesome thing to do! Please check out her books, as well.

Check out this excellent contemporary romance

We authors stick together, and Jill Prand is an great example of this. She is the first to unselfishly promote another author's work, while remaining humble about her own. So it's time for one author to return the favor to another. If you are into contemporary romance, please check out two of Jill Prand's excellent books: "Watch Me Walk Away" and "Walk Into Me." Both are on sale through Sunday for 99 cents. So, truly, at that price, what do you have to lose? Go to  http://amzn.com/B00D9UVAX4 and http://amzn.com/B00JYP9BJI. The writing, by the way, is excellent.

Watch my interview on Mr. Media!

I recently had the pleasure of appearing on Mr. Media, a podcast site that is the brainchild of longtime friend Bob Andelman. Bob is the author of a slew of best-selling books. But that is only one of his many talents. As Mr. Media, he has interviewed more than a thousand celebrities, including actors, musicians, athletes and writers. And now ... me. Please watch my lively video interview with Bob about The Death Wizard Chronicles, my six-book epic fantasy. Grab your favorite beverage, sit back and relax, and go to www.mrmedia.com. You can even buy my books straight off his site. I had a lot of fun doing the interview and I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun watching it. And please share on Facebook and elsewhere. :) Thanks so much.

Newly released Book 5 (Blinded in Power) has been reduced to $4.39. The first four books are $1.99 each. This might be the best bargain in the WORLD! :) The Death Wizard Chronicles, a six-book epic fantasy, for mature audiences. Monsters, magic and mayhem -- and sexy too. The finale of the series, Book 6 (Healed by Hope), should be out by fall. Please share!!!!!  http://amzn.to/1qcq5Yx 

Listen to my interview on ETV Radio

Today  I appeared on Your Day to discuss "The Death Wizard Chronicles" during an interview with Anna Simon. For those of you who might not know, Your Day is a statewide (and very popular) program aired by South Carolina ETV Radio. 

Listen to the podcast HERE. And visit Your Day HERE.

Listen to my Your Day radio interview live!

On Monday (June 23) some time between noon and 1 p.m. (ET), I will appear on Your Day to discuss "The Death Wizard Chronicles" during an interview with Anna Simon. For those of you who might not know, Your Day is a statewide (and very popular) program aired by South Carolina ETV Radio. For more information, visit http://yourday.clemson.edu/

The interview can be heard on the following stations, and for those who miss it, I'll post a podcast link:

ETV Radio Stations:
WRJA-FM/88.1 Sumter
WNSC-FM/88.9 Rock Hill
WLJK-FM/89.1 Aiken
WJWJ-FM/89.9 Beaufort
WHMC-FM/90.1 Conway
WSCI-FM/89.3 Charleston
WEPR-FM/90.1 Greenville
WLTR-FM/91.3 Columbia

Bhayatupa The Great is slowly coming to life

I'm now 12,000 words into "Bhayatupa The Great: The Dragon Wars," a prequel to The Death Wizard Chronicles that occurs 30,000 years in the past. It stars Bhayatupa, the most magnificent dragon who has ever lived but who is haunted (in a larger than life way ... get the symbolism? wink, wink) by the fear of death. It also will contain many of DW's most popular and long-lived characters: Vedana the demon, Izumo the dracool, Slag the Stone-Eater, Urbana the vampire, Chal the Warlish witch, etc. And even the snow giants and cave monkeys. But it will be written in a way that it will be able to be read as a standalone, so that you won't have to have read DW to read this book. I'm still uncertain whether this will be a single book or a series. If a single book, it will be quite long, because I have a lot of ideas and a lot of area to cover. I'm aiming to be finished before the end of the year.

Book 5 is now available!!!

To my friends and dear readers .... Book 5, Blinded by Power, is now available on Amazon! For just $3.99. You can purchase it HERE! Please share and spread the word! Anyone who shares gets to borrow a Tugarian warrior for one day to kick the ass of anyone you choose. :)

Books 1-4 still $1.99 each

Today at Jimmy John's, I got a sub, chips and soda for $8.50. You can get the first four books of The Death Wizard Chronicles for less than that. Pretty amazing, if you think about it. Order them HERE.

Forged in Death just $1.99 on May 2-3

NEWS ALERT: Starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time on May 2 (Friday) and continuing through 7 p.m. on May 3 (Saturday), book 1 of The Death Wizard Chronicles, a six-book epic fantasy, will be featured on Kindle Boards' "Book Discovery Day." The Kindle version of Forged in Death will be reduced to just $1.99 on May 2-3, and books 2-4 (Chained by Fear, Shadowed by Demons and Torn by War) also will be reduced to $1.99. Forged in Death reached best-seller status earlier this year on Amazon. The best place to purchase book 1 and also the other three books is HERE!. An announcement will be coming soon on the release of book 5 (Blinded by Power). Book 6 (Healed by Hope) is planned for a late summer or early fall release. Please take advantage of this great promotion! And leave reviews. 

Epic fantasy takes an epic ride

The Death Wizard Chronicles has been on a wild ride lately. Book 1 (Forged in Death) of the six-book series became an Amazon best-seller on March 9. Books 2 (Chained by Fear), 3 (Shadowed by Demons) and 4 (Torn by War) also have been selling well, on a variety of venues. Book 5 (Blinded by Power) will be out in just a few weeks. and maybe sooner. And Book 6 (Healed by Hope) is waiting in the wings, chomping at the bit. This series is action-packed, and definitely heavy on magic and monsters. If you prefer epic fantasy that only uses magic as a fringe element, then my series probably isn't the best for you. But if you like epic fantasy that is bursting with magic -- not to mention monsters, zombies, vampires, trolls and a wide variety of new creations -- then you should be all in! There's a lot going on between the lines, but also a lot of fun going on on the surface.

Only a Death-Knower can die. And live again.

Only a Death-Knower can return from death. And remember.

Only a Death-Knower can tell the world what he's seen. Not all care to listen.

http://amzn.to/1nqxYbA

Black Fortress wins award

One of my free short prequels to The Death Wizard Chronicles series titled The Black Fortress has won a top award for cover design at the EPIC Awards. Congrats to BBB's Debra Dixon.

Here's what happened March 9!!!

Book 1 (Torn by War) becomes a No. 1 best-seller

Torn by War reached No. 1 on March 9 (Sunday) on Amazon's best-seller list for epic fantasy/magic and wizards!

Epic Fantasy Daily Deal now in full swing on Amazon for Death Wizard Chronicles

My Death Wizard Chronicles Amazon Daily Deal at http://amzn.to/1n8RsF9 is now in full swing. Please check it out. Scroll to science fiction and fantasy on the left or go directly to http://amzn.to/1kFIs8H. Books 1-4 will be featured all day for just $1.99 apiece. Anyone who'd be willing to share this would be doing me a huge favor. 

DW newsletter

To any who would be interested in receiving an occasional newsletter about the series, please sign up at www.jim-melvin.com. Newsletter members will be the first to know about the release date of books 5 and 6 as well as any related discounts and promotions. Your emails will be fully protected and not given to anyone else, and there will be an "opt-out" button for anyone who decides it's not for them.

The frenzy to finish book 5

In addition to my quite-demanding day job (which is actually a 4-midnight kind of job), I have been in an editing frenzy. At the advice of my editor at Bell Bridge Books, I did a very large structural reworking of Book 5 (which should be out within a few weeks). The restructuring took a long time and was frustrating, but the book is definitely the better for it. I hate to say that my editor was right, but to this point she always has been, so I pretty much need to give up and just do what she says without any moaning. :) Anyway, in a few more days my series will be featured in yet another promotion, and this one will be the biggest yet in terms of the exposure the series will receive. I'll post updates as the event nears. Thanks to any and all who follow this page. Every person who has ever read one or all of my series has provided me a special honor, and it is much appreciated.

Thanks to readers everywhere

The KBoards promotion is over, although all four books remain reasonably priced. Thanks so much to all who purchased one or more of the books. For me, it's an honor each and every time.

Big promotion on KBoards!

Books 1-4 of The Death Wizard Chronicles, a six-book epic fantasy, are now being featured on the very popular Kindle Boards site. For a short time only, Book 1 is 99 cents, and books 2-4 are only $1.99. Get all four for less than $7. Please check it out HERE. Also, please go to my author's website.

Favorite lines you use in real life

One of my favorite all-time lines in epic fantasy came in "Fellowship of the Ring," when the monstrous Balrog finally makes its appearance, and Gandalf reacts to Legolas' frightened comments by saying, "A Balrog. Now I understand. ... And I am already weary."

Ever since reading that line, I've used it myself for whenever something bad happens .... like .... "I have to do my taxes. And I am already weary."

Anyone else have any favorite lines that they recite in their ordinary lives?