Showing posts with label Leland Dragon Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leland Dragon Series. Show all posts

Monday, February 23, 2015

Series Spotlight on Jackie Gamber's Leland Dragon Series and One Day eBook Sale on Redheart


Today we are bringing the Series Spotlight to Jackie Gamber's Leland Dragon Series, a fantastic YA Fantasy adventure that takes readers into an imaginative world of dragons and humans.  Today's spotlight features a special 99 cent eBook special on Book One, Redheart, at Amazon.com, Nook, and Kobo.

We invite to read the review quotes and synopsis of the books in the series.  If you have not done so already, pick up Redheart today on eBook for just 99 cents on the Kindle, Nook, and Kobo platforms!






Here's what a few reviewers had to say about Redheart, the first book in the Leland Dragon Series!

"Redheart is a captivating and enthralling book. A lot of things were done right; the language is beautiful, the writing is solid, the pacing is great, the characters, while sometimes their actions were a little haphazard and unpredictable, are fully fleshed out with their own unique complexities." - Evie Bookish

"So I'll end by declaring "REDHEART is like SNICKERS - it satisfies the hunger. Jackie Gamber is like MARS - she's created a craving!" - Amazon customer review

"Gamber has created loveable and despicable characters. She imbues them with real feelings, emotions and frustrations. Jackie Gamber brings alive dragons and adventure with colorful, involved storytelling." - Azure Dwarf


Synopsis:  Enter the lands of Leland Province, where dragon and human societies have long dwelled side by side. Superstitions rise sharply, as a severe drought strips the land of its bounty, providing fertile ground for the darker ambitions of Fordon Blackclaw, Dragon Council Leader, who seeks to subdue humans or wipe them off the face of the land.

As the shadow of danger creeps across Leland Province, a young dragon named Kallon Redheart, who has turned his back on dragons and humans alike, comes into an unexpected friendship. Riza Diantus is a young woman whose dreams can no longer be contained by the narrow confines of her village, and when she finds herself in peril, Kallon is the only one with the power to save her. Yet to do so means he must confront his past, and embrace a future he stopped believing in.

A tale of friendship, courage, and ultimate destiny, Redheart invites readers to a wondrous journey through the Leland Dragon Series.


Available for just 99 cents today on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo eBook platforms! 


Purchase Links







What some reviews had to say about Sela, Book Two of the Leland Dragon Series!

"Final Verdict: Sela delivers a rich cast of characters and an outstanding plot that will blow you away." - The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia Blog Site

"Jackie Gamber is a master story teller who draws you in and keeps you going with twists and plots that surprise and delight with every turn of the page." - Amazon customer review

"Once again Gamber has constructed a novel with care and executed it with precision. With themes as far ranging as deception, prejudice, misunderstanding, redemption and forgiveness this is certain to appeal to children and adults of all ages. Magic!" - Daniel Cann



Synopsis: Peace was fleeting. Vorham Riddess, Venur of Esra Province, covets the crystal ore buried deep in Leland's mountains. His latest device to obtain it: land by marriage to a Leland maiden. But that's not all.

Among Dragonkind, old threats haunt Mount Gore, and shadows loom in the thoughts of the Red who restored life to land and love. A dragon hunter, scarred from countless battles, discovers he can yet suffer more wounds.

In the midst of it all, Sela Redheart is lost, driven from her home with only her old uncle to watch over her. As the dragon-born child of Kallon, the leader of Leland's Dragon Council, she is trapped in human form with no understanding of how she transformed, or how to turn back.

Wanderers seek a home, schemes begin to unfurl, and all is at risk as magic and murder, marriage and mystery strangle the heart of Esra. A struggle for power far older and deeper than anyone realizes will leave no human or dragon unaffected.

In a world where magic is born of feeling, where the love between a girl and a dragon was once transformative, what power dwells in the heart of young Sela?

Purchase Links


What some reviewers had to say about Reclamation, Book Three of the Leland Dragon Series



"Reclamation is a tale of thrilling action and suspense, plus mystery and sage advice, with some well-drawn myths and pleasingly complex social structures. It’s enthralling and thought-provoking both at once, and it’s highly recommended." - Sheila Deeth Blog Site Review


"I highly recommend this book to all ages and all genre lovers. This rich, complex book will grab on to the reader and hang on tight until the end. It was a brilliant ending to the trilogy." - Bees Knees Reviews

"This was a fitting end, and I love the characters and feeling of friendship and acceptance that this book portrays. It’s a very uplifting and positive series, and I want more stories from it." - Workaday Reads Blog Site

Synopsis: The exciting conclusion of the Leland Dragon Series!
Leland Province remains in danger. The sinister Fordon Blackclaw has returned from the shadows to strike at the heart of neighboring Esra, killing its Venur and making clear his intentions to retake what was once his: Mount Gore, seat of the Leland Dragon Council.

All around, the land grows weaker and weaker. Leland, once thought saved by Kallon Redheart, is without purpose, and within its borders, Murk Forest, a place of mystery and danger, has driven its inhabitants to seek aid. Esra is in flames, and the Rage Desert grows. Dragon and human alike struggle to find their way, and the wizard Orman can sense that there may be more at stake than the affairs of dragons.

Hope remains, yet it is not without obstacles. In Esra, Sela, the daughter of Kallon and Riza, found the well, a source of life, and made herself whole again. But her homecoming is not what she had imagined.

Old wounds buried deep must reopen if life is to continue. Dragons, humans, wizards, and shape shifters are all at risk as the peace between dragon and human has finally been broken.

War is here.
The stakes?

Perhaps the whole world.



Purchase Links


About Jackie: Jackie Gamber is an award­-winning writer and editor of genre ­bending science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal short stories, novels, and screenplays. Jackie is a member of the professional organizations Science Fiction Writers of America and Horror Writers Association. She was named honorable mention in L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Award, received a Darrell Award for best short story by a Mid­South author, and is winner of the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award for Imaginative Fiction.

During Jackie’s tenure as Executive Editor of Meadowhawk Press, the indie publisher captured Science Fiction’s Philip K. Dick Award. At the time, only the fourth small press to win the coveted award. Jackie also edited the award-­winning benefit anthology Touched by Wonder, and has been guest editor of the acclaimed dark fiction magazine Shroud. Jackie is also co­founder and writer/director of Big Imagine, a creative studio established to explore breakout visual fiction. Because she believes there’s more than one way to tell a good story.


Connect with Jackie online at: 


Friday, December 20, 2013

Jackie Gamber's Reclamation Cover Reveal, eBook Now Available!

Just in time for Christmas! Seventh Star Press is proud to reveal the new cover art by Matthew Perry from Jackie Gamber's Reclamation, the exciting conclusion to the Leland Dragon Series! In addition to revealing the cover art and illustrations, we are also pleased to announce that the eBook version of this fantastic YA Fantasy title is now available!



Here's a look at the interior illustrations, also created by Matthew Perry




Now Available on Kindle and Nook for just $3.99! 






Synopsis: The exciting conclusion to the Leland Dragon Series!

Leland Province remains in danger. The sinister Fordon Blackclaw has returned from the shadows to strike at the heart of neighboring Esra, killing its Venur and making clear his intentions to retake what was once his: Mount Gore, seat of the Leland Dragon Council.

All around, the land grows weaker and weaker. Leland, once thought saved by Kallon Redheart, is without purpose, and within its borders, Murk Forest, a place of mystery and danger, has driven its inhabitants to seek aid. Esra is in flames, and the Rage Desert grows. Dragon and human alike struggle to find their way, and the wizard Orman can sense that there may be more at stake than the affairs of dragons.

Hope remains, yet it is not without obstacles. In Esra, Sela, the daughter of Kallon and Riza, found the well, a source of life, and made herself whole again. But her homecoming is not what she had imagined.

Old wounds buried deep must reopen if life is to continue. Dragons, humans, wizards, and shape shifters are all at risk as the peace between dragon and human has finally been broken.

War is here.

The stakes?

Perhaps the whole world.



About Jackie: Jackie grew up in Michigan, communing with trees when she wasn’t writing angsty teen poetry. These days, she still enjoys nature,but does most of her communing from the backseat of an adventure motorcycle in between writing projects.

Jackie still resides in Tennessee with her husband. Her two children are now grown and forging their own paths while Jackie is actively  pursuing crossing items off her bucket list. She has written and directed screen plays, been a professional baker, and beaten a complete RPG video game without the help of her kids.

Visit Jackie and her mosaic mind online
at www.jackiegamber.com


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Jackie Gamber's Sela Blog Tour Underway Today!



Sela Blog Tour Begins Today!

Today is the first day of Jackie Gamber's Sela Blog Tour! Expect lots of fun interviews, guest blog posts, contests, reviews, and more, over 36 straight tour dates!

Today Jackie interviews her own character, Jastin Armitage, from the Leland Dragon Series. Lisa's World of Books is the host!

Visit and be sure to leave a comment!

The full list of tour dates is as follows:

March 27 Lisa's Book Reviews
March 28 Watch Play Read
March 29 Stuck In Books
March 30 Fade Into Fantasy
March 31 Ian's Realm
April 1 Jelly Bean Chair Reviews
April 2 Once Upon A Time
April 3 A Book Vacation
April 4 Jess Resides Here
April 5 Soliloquy
April 6 Vilutheril Reviews
April 7 Ritesh Kala's Book Review
April 8 Sci Fi Guys
April 9 Unputdownable Books
April 10 Edi's Book Lighthouse
April 11 Workaday Reads
April 12 Eva's Sanctuary
April 13 Book and Movie Dimension Blog
April 14 Babs Book Bistro
April 15 Azure Dwarf Horde of Fantasy and SciFi
April 16 Fade Into Fantasy
April 17 Reading Away the Days
April 18 Splash of Our Worlds
April 19 Ali's Bookshelf
April 20 Sheila Deeth
April 21 I Heart Reading
April 22 All-Consuming Media
April 23 Spellbound By Books
April 24 One Thrifty Gurl
April 25 Evie Bookish
April 26 Booklady's Booknotes
April 27 Ella Bella Reviews
April 28 I Smell Sheep
April 29 The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia
April 30 Darlene's Book Nook
May 1st From The Bookshelf of T.B. (special tour encore and wrap-up visit)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Jackie Gamber's Sela Blog Tour Dates, Sela Cover Unveil, and Limited Hardcover Edition Announced

For Immediate Release
March 3, 2012

Jackie Gamber's Sela Blog Tour Dates, Sela Cover Unveil, and Limited Hardcover Edition Announced








Seventh Star Press is proud to announce 36 blog tour dates for award-winning author Jackie Gamber's Sela, Book Two of the YA fantasy Leland Dragon Series, and the follow-up to her highly-acclaimed novel Redheart. In addition, Seventh Star Press is unveiling the cover art and two interior illustrations created by award-winning artist Matthew Perry for Sela.






The Sela Blog Tour is being hosted by Babs Book Bistro, and will feature 35 blog sites over 36 days, beginning March 27th and running through all of April. The tour will include a mixture of reviews, giveaways, interviews, and guest posts from Jackie. The tour will culminate with a special encore and wrap-up visit at From The Bookshelf of T.B. on May 1st.

Sela picks up a few years after the events of Redheart. Vorham Riddess, Venur of Esra Province, covets the crystal ore buried deep in Leland's mountains, and his latest device to obtain it is by marriage to a Leland maiden.

Among Dragonkind, old threats haunt Mount Gore, and shadows loom in the thoughts of the Red who restored life to land and love. A dragon hunter, scarred from countless battles, discovers he can yet suffer more wounds.

In the midst of it all, Sela Redheart is lost, driven from her home with only her old uncle to watch over her. As the dragon-born child of Kallon, the leader of Leland's Dragon Council, she is trapped in human form with no understanding of how she transformed, or how to turn back.

In a world where magic is born of feeling, where the love between a girl and a dragon was once transformative, what power dwells in the heart of young Sela?

Sela will be released in softcover and eBook versions during the first week of April, following the launch party at MidSouthCon in Memphis, TN during the March 24-26 weekend. Continuing the Seventh Star Press tradition of releasing collectible, limited edition hardcovers, Sela is now available for pre-order in a beautiful hardcover edition that is strictly limited to 75 copies.

The limited hardcover edition is signed and numbered by Jackie Gamber, and includes a bonus illustration from Matthew Perry not included in other editions. It will be accompanied by an assortment of collectibles, including a set of glossy art cards, bookmarks, and magnets. The limited edition hardcovers will also be bundled with the eBook version, with buyers able to choose an ePub, Kindle, or Nook version. Those interested in securing one of the 75 limited hardcovers can place a pre-order at: http://seventhstarpress.com/documents/pre_orders.html

The Sela Blog Tour Dates and Participants Are As Follows:




March 27  Lisa's Book Reviews          
March 28  Watch Play Read                  
March 29 Stuck In Books                   
March 30 Fade Into Fantasy                 
March 31  Ian's Realm                      
April 1   Jelly Bean Chair Reviews     
April 2   Once Upon A Time             
April 3 A Book Vacation                      
April 4 Jess Resides Here                
April 5   Soliloquy                        
April 6   Vilutheril Reviews                
April 7   Ritesh Kala's Book Review         
April 8 Sci Fi Guys                          
April 9   Unputdownable Books                 
April 10 Edi's Book Lighthouse         
April 11  Workaday Reads                 
April 12  Eva's Sanctuary                 
April 13  Book and Movie Dimension Blog
April 14  Babs Book Bistro                 
April 15  Azure Dwarf Horde of Fantasy and SciFi
April 16  Fade Into Fantasy                
April 17  Reading Away the Days         
April 18 Splash of Our Worlds                 
April 19 Ali's Bookshelf                 
April 20 Sheila Deeth                         
April 21  I Heart Reading              
April 22  All-Consuming Media           
April 23  Spellbound By Books                 
April 24 One Thrifty Gurl                  
April 25  Evie Bookish                    
April 26  Booklady's Booknotes                
April 27  Ella Bella Reviews                 
April 28  I Smell Sheep                   
April 29  The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia 
April 30  Darlene's Book Nook                
May 1st From The Bookshelf of T.B. (special tour encore and wrap-up visit)



Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames@seventhstarpress.com


Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

3 Excellent New Redheart Reviews, a Thrall Review, and a Jackie Gamber Guest Blog

We have had quite a good week with Jackie Gamber and her book Redheart, and also have a nice new Thrall review to pass along to you.


First, there's a great new post by Jackie up at My Love Affair with Books. It explores Jackie's own "love affair with books", and how it started. Check it out and leave a comment!

http://books-love-affair.blogspot.com/2011/05/guest-post-my-off-and-on-again-love.html


Then, there wasn't just one, or two, but three excellent new reviews of Redheart! We hope that you take a look at them, and don't forget that you can get Redheart for your eReader for a couple of weeks longer at just $1.99. Request it at your library or ask your favorite bookstore to carry it, and help us spread the word. It is getting a great response with reviewers and readers, and you can really be of help in making this series grow.


Here's the Redheart review at From the Bookshelf of T.B.:
http://ftbotbblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/redheart-by-jackie-gamber.html

Here's the Redheart review at The Prairie Library:
http://www.theprairielibrary.com/2011/05/review-redheart-by-jackie-gamber.html

Here's the Redheart review at Evie Bookish:
http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/2011/05/redheart-by-jackie-gamber-book-one-of.html


We also wanted to pass along this link to a fine review of Steven Shrewsbury's Thrall, on Edi's Lighthouse. Don't forget that you can get Thrall on eBook for just $1.99 on Kindle, Nook, iPad, and more as well! Thrall is great for readers that like action-heavy heroic fantasy. With the new Conan movie coming out later this summer, it is a perfect time for Thrall!

http://edisbooklighthouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/edis-spotlight-thrall-by-steven.html

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Jackie Gamber's Redheart Cover Art and Illustrations Revealed! Limited Hardcover and First Softcover Edition Pre-Order Window Now Open!




Seventh Star Press is proud to unveil the new cover art and illustrations for Redheart, Book One of the Leland Dragon Series, from Mary Shelley Award winning author Jackie Gamber.

The cover art and interior illustrations were created by Matthew Perry, who has done illustration and cover art work for other Seventh Star Press authors such as Steven Shrewsbury and Stephen Zimmer. Three brand new, full page illustrations were created for Redheart, two of which are featured in the regular edition of the novel, and one that was created especially for the limited hardcover edition.



(Kallon and Riza Illustration, by Matthew Perry)


(Fordon Blackclaw Illustratoin, by Matthew Perry)

The Pre-Ordering window is now open for Redheart, for both the softcover edition and a special, limited edition hardcover (only 75 will be issued).

The softcover pre-orders are just $15.95, and include a set of 4 5X7 prints, 2 bookmarks, and one circular magnet.

The Limited Edition Hardcovers are just $35.95, and that also includes a full-size poster of the Kallon Redheart illustration (14X20), a set of 4 5X7 prints, bookmarks, and a set of 4 Redheart circular magnets featuring images from the illustrations. Click here to visit the Seventh Star Press Online store to reserve a copy today.





Below is the text of the full press release, including a synopsis:

For Immediate Release
March 9, 2011

Jackie Gamber's Redheart Cover Art and Illustrations Revealed


Seventh Star Press is proud to unveil the cover art and illustrations to Redheart, Book One of the Leland Dragon Series, from Mary Shelley Award winning author Jackie Gamber.

The first installment of the exciting new YA fantasy series is slated for release on April 19th. The cover art and illustrations were created by Matthew Perry, whose artwork appears on the covers and interiors of other Seventh Star Press authors such as Steven Shrewsbury and Stephen Zimmer.

A pre-ordering window is now open for readers interested in a limited edition hardcover of Redheart, which features an illustration created especially for that version. There is also a pre-order offer for the regular trade paperback edition. Both of the pre-order offers include packages of bonus materials, ranging from 14X20 posters of one of the illustrations, to a set of four 5X7 glossy prints.

Redheart invites readers into the lands of Leland Province, where dragon and human societies have long dwelled side by side. Superstitions rise sharply, as a severe drought strips the land of its bounty, providing fertile ground for the darker ambitions of Fordon Blackclaw, Dragon Council Leader, who seeks to subdue humans or wipe them off the face of the land.

As the shadow of danger creeps across Leland Province, a young dragon named Kallon Redheart, who has turned his back on dragons and humans alike, comes into an unexpected friendship. Riza Diantus is a young woman whose dreams can no longer be contained by the narrow confines of her village, and when she finds herself in peril, Kallon is the only one with the power to save her. Yet to do so means he must confront his past, and embrace a future he stopped believing in.

A tale of friendship, courage, and ultimate destiny, Redheart invites readers to a wondrous journey through the Leland Dragon Series.

Redheart will ultimately be available in trade paperback, hardcover, and a variety of eBook editions.

Sela, Book Two of the series, is targeted for a third quarter release in 2011, with Book Three scheduled for mid-2012 release in all of the aforementioned formats.

Updates and additional information can be obtained at the official site for Seventh Star Press, at www.seventhstarpress.com , or at the author's site at www.jackiegamber.com


Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames@seventhstarpress.com
Seventh Star Press Mailing Address:
3801 Dylan Place Suite 116, #7
Lexington, Ky. 40514-1062

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Seventh Star Press Proudly Announces the Acquisition of Award-Winning Author Jackie Gamber’s Leland Dragon Series

We are proud to welcome Jackie Gamber into the Seventh Star Press family. The full press release announcing the acquistion of her Leland Dragon Series is below!





For Immediate Release
October 27, 2010


Seventh Star Press Proudly Announces the Acquisition of Award-Winning Author Jackie Gamber’s Leland Dragon Series

Seventh Star Press is proud to announce the addition of award winning author Jackie Gamber to its family of writers, with the acquisition of her YA Fantasy saga, The Leland Dragon Series.

The first book of the series, Redheart, was originally released by Meadowhawk Press, an exceptional small press publisher based in Memphis, TN, one of only four indie presses to ever win a Philip K. Dick Memorial Award (for the David Walton novel, Terminal Mind). When Meadowhawk Press decided to close its business operations, Seventh Star Press was thrilled to have the opportunity to sign Jackie Gamber, and commit to the entire Leland Dragon Series.

“I'll always have a heart for indy press, and Seventh Star is the epitome of what it's about: dedication to a vision and enthusiasm for writers. Seventh Star Press is an exciting ride, and I'm thrilled they offered me a seat,” commented Jackie about coming aboard with the Lexington, Kentucky-based publisher.

A wondrous coming of age tale, Redheart tells the stories of village girl Riza Diantus, and the dragon Kallon Redheart. Both are outcasts, struggling with the conventions of their respective societies, during an age in which tensions are high between dragons and humans. The Leland Province teeters on the edge of war, as the Dragon Council Leader, Fordon Blackclaw, seeks to drive humans into submission, or outright destruction. Under a blackening cloud of danger, the friendship grows between Riza and Kallon, as both face their respective destinies, embracing a host of challenges and threats, not the least of which includes regaining hope, and confronting the difficult things of one’s past.

Jackie Gamber is a versatile and prolific writer, whose work has appeared in an array of anthologies and magazines, in addition to published novels. Among her accolades, Jackie was the winner of the 2009 Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award for Imaginative Fiction, was named honorable mention in L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Award, and has been selected as the Editor Guest of Honor for the 2011 MidSouthCon, one of the southern United States’ premiere genre conventions.

“Jackie truly embodies the spirit of the growing family at Seventh Star Press,” fellow Seventh Star Press author Stephen Zimmer said. “Her talent as a writer is well established, and she is a very popular, well-loved guest at conventions and events, in addition to being a dedicated educator. She will be a fantastic ambassador for Seventh Star Press, and I know that everyone here, from our editors like Amanda Debord, to our art director Matthew Perry, to authors like myself and Steven Shrewsbury, will be fully committed to raising awareness of Jackie and her exceptional work.”

The Seventh Star Press edition will feature cover art and additional illustrations from fantasy artist Matthew Perry, whose work has been rapidly gaining attention on the convention circuit. The projected release date window for the new edition of Redheart is late February/March of 2011, in hardcover, trade paperback, and several eBook formats, covering owners of the Kindle, the iPad, the Nook, Sony eReaders, and other electronic reading devices.

Sela, Book Two of the series, is targeted for a mid-late summer release in 2011, with Book Three scheduled for mid-2012 release in all of the aforementioned formats.

An extensive series of special events and signings in support of the novels are in the planning stages, slated to begin in early 2011.

Updates and additional information can be obtained at the official site for Seventh Star Press, at www.seventhstarpress.com , or at the author's site at www.jackiegamber.com




Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames@seventhstarpress.com
Seventh Star Press Mailing Address:
3801 Dylan Place Suite 116, #7
Lexington, Ky. 40514-1062

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Jackie Gamber's Redheart Beats Strong and True!

I first met Jackie Gamber while attending MidSouthCon27 in Memphis, TN, which is where I was introduced to the book Redheart, the first installment in the Leland Dragon Series. The publisher of Redheart is the rising Meadowhawk Press, which is one of only four small press publishers to ever win the Phillip K. Dick Award (for the novel Terminal Mind, by David Walton ).

Jackie is, without a doubt, one of the more vibrant and genuine personalities that you will encounter in the arenas of writing and publishing. She often participates in panels, workshops, and lectures covering the writing realms, gladly willing to share her experiences and expertise with aspiring and established writers alike. She keeps a busy schedule, and even started a dragon-support network called Humans Against Dragon Stereotypes!

Based out of Memphis, TN, Jackie has a number of published short stories, including one relatively recently that is set in the same world as Redheart (“The Time Scar”, which appears in Dragons Composed, an anthology from Kerlak Publishing that was launched at MidSouthCon27).

As I often say, there are a lot of gems to be discovered in the small press world, and Jackie Gamber is a prime example of what I’m talking about. Redheart was a greatly enjoyable reading experience, and I am definitely on board when the second one in the series comes out.

So let’s visit with Jackie for an interview, and then we’ll give you my review of Redheart!

-Stephen Zimmer for Seventh Star Press Blog/Interview Series, August 27, 2009

SZ: Did Redheart start out as a stand-alone project, or did you conceive of a full series from the start?

JG: Redheart began as a single book idea. I began to sense, though, as I worked on it, that some of characters weren't going to be fully developed by the end of it. Also, the over-arching theme of war between dragons and humans felt "unfinished" as well. Somewhere around the 3/4 point, I realized I was going to have to write more Leland books to see some really satisfying character experiences.


SZ: How long did it take you to complete the first book?


JG: Well, this is a little embarrassing to confess, but I spent a number of years with the first 7 or 8 chapters languishing on yellow legal pads, and then on an old green-monitored word processor my dad gave me. When my husband and I invested in a real, honest-to-goodness computer with a word processing program, I learned I could visit my chapters, fiddle with them on and off, and call it "writing". I spent a number of years doing that! Once I finally decided to really study the craft of writing and then finish Redheart as a sort of promise to myself, it took about eight months. This final version of the novel is only vaguely similar to my original chapters.


SZ: How did you approach the creation of your dragon characters and the society they have in Redheart? How did you seek to distinguish them from previous usages of dragons in fantasy?

JG: I really started with the main characters, and worked to define their personal conflicts. In doing so, there was a natural need to establish a world where fears and failures are a part of the whole shebang. And I remembered some advice I'd picked up along the way--that for research, one of the best ways to get information is to pick up a children's book about a topic! Back before our now-familiar "Life for Dummies" sorts of books, it was a way to get good details written clearly and easily. For Redheart, I read a book entitled "Inside a Real Castle" or something like that...and so many things clicked!

In fact, I still often rely on children's books for research.


SZ: Prejudices between dragons and humans play a significant role in Redheart, and you founded an advocacy group for dragons, called Humans Against Dragon Stereotypes. Tell us a little about HADS.

JG: It turns out that as I delved into research, and established some tenuous relationships with dragon friends (they're very shy, but incredibly kind once you get to know them), I came to see how the media has really fed the stereotypes of dragons as fearsome beasts, or greedy treasure-hoarders, or maiden-stealers and the like. There is a lot of misinformation out there, and I felt it was time someone took a stand. It's why I became the founding member of Humans Against Dragon Stereotypes. Specism just shouldn't be tolerated.

SZ: In terms of quality, Redheart belongs side by side on a bookstore shelf with anything being put out by major press. When you have a quality book, but are faced with the obstacles put in place by several of the big bookstore chains, how are you working to get past the hurdles faced by small press authors in raising awareness of your series?

JG: Thank you, Stephen, for the compliment! I believe strongly in the "grass-roots" approach in finding readers. I look to connect with them as often as I can on a handshake level. Book signings are great, but I love science fiction conventions where I really get to connect with people. I have started spending more time speaking with teens at public schools and homeschool groups. Plus the online community is a real tour-de-force when it comes to spreading the word!

SZ: Why did you choose small press? What are some advantages that you see in
small press?


JG: I have strong convictions about small press having a legitimate and powerful presence in the publishing industry; the science fiction genre itself has deep roots in independent publishing. One important advantage for authors in small press is *time*: to establish readers, to grow a reputation and backlist, to build momentum. With the more modest advances and inventory investments of small press, an author doesn't need to feel the pressure of the 6 week window for success or failure, do-or-die demands of publishing.

Most books rely on word-of-mouth to garner attention; a book with a small press can take advantage of a slow but steady pace, long after a Big House Publisher would cut a book to "out of print".

SZ: Who are some of your writing influences?

JG: Ray Bradbury is my hero. I read him as a teen, and have continued to read and admire his work to today. Also Terry Brooks, and Orson Scott Card.

SZ: What's next for Jackie Gamber? And when will book 2 in the Leland Dragon Series be out?

JG: Just out is my novella "Hologram Bride", published in two parts in Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show. And my dark tale "Rose-Colored Eyes" will be available in the next issue of Shroud Magazine.

I've also just finished an alternate history/time-travel novel involving a romance between Adam Worth (the mastermind criminal who was Doyle's inspiration for Sherlock Holmes's nemesis Moriarity) and Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire: two people born one hundred years apart. It was a two-year project of research and writing.

And I'm currently working on book 2 for the Leland Dragon series! We're aiming for publication around Summer of 2010.


SZ: For those that wish to purchase Redheart, learn more about you, or explore HADS, what are some ways to connect on the web or on social networking sites?

JG: Redheart can be purchased at www.meadowhawkpress.com, Amazon.com, barnesandoble.com, or can be ordered from any local bookstore.

www.jackiegamber.com - For information about my publications, appearances, or tidbits such as my blog. There are also links to my social networking venues. I enjoy chatting with my readers on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter. Drop me a note!

www.LelandDragons.com - For sample chapters of Redheart, plus other stories related to the Leland world.

www.hads.us - For dragon safety tips and positive articles for spreading dragon awareness. Have you hugged a dragon today?



Redheart Soars Into The Skies of Compelling Fantasy Literature
Review by Stephen Zimmer, for Seventh Star Press Blog Site, August 27, 20009

It is always wonderful to take the first steps upon the road of an enticing, well-crafted fantasy series. Redheart (Meadowhawk Press, ISBN:978-0-9787326-0-8), Book One of the Leland Dragon Series by Jackie Gamber, takes readers on the first strides of what is going to be a very satisfying foray within fantasy literature.

The story itself centers around a couple of key characters.

One is a young girl, named Riza, who is working to find her place in the world after leaving the choking confines of a rigid, mundane village life. She can no longer tolerate an existence where one’s place in the world is set firmly from the beginning, and even mild curiosity is discouraged.

The other is Kallon, a young red dragon who is enduring a largely self-imposed exile following the traumatic loss of his father years before. His interactions are largely limited to a solitary wizard named Orman, and he initially has no desire to return back to live among dragon-kind.

The backdrop of Redheart features a world in which dragons have a fully developed society, much like humans, though the relationship between the two races has been anything but tranquil over the course of the years. Mistrust, rumors, and wars litter the history of dragon and human-kind.

Leland Province, where the dragons live, is undergoing a very troubling time in which the land is drying up in the midst of a terrible drought, adversely affecting humans and dragons alike.

The story begins when Riza finds herself in mortal trouble in the woods with a band of hooligans bearing unsavory intents. When Kallon hears her outcry, their paths intertwine as they both begin a path of adventure and self-discovery. This journey has some very unexpected twists and turns, as the reader soon comes to find out.

Jackie Gamber has done an excellent job of taking popular fantasy creatures, dragons, and making them live and breath with a fresh air. She infuses the kind of depth and character that gives each of them a very unique identity. The dragon Blackclaw, who holds the highest position in dragon-society at the time of the story, is particularly malevolent in nature, and proves to be a very effective villain. Others in the supporting cast, such as Whitetail, Grayfoot, and a female Brown dragon, are very distinctive, fleshed out characters that contribute significantly to the dynamics and tension in the plot.

One of the most fascinating characters in Redheart is Jastin Armitage, who I found to be very enigmatic throughout the story. When we first meet Jastin in the book, the scene plays out like the beginning of the arrival of a gunslinger in an American Old West tale. A mercenary dragon hunter, Jastin encounters Riza not long after she has met Kallon. He takes an interest in her early in the story. It is difficult to tell whether his intentions and interest in Riza are of a more honorable nature or not. At times he comes across as a rogue, and at other times more endearing, and perhaps his motivations are a blend of both. The way the story ends up has me really wanting to see where Jackie takes this character in future installments of the series.

The book also has subtle undercurrents of the mystical and spiritual, centering in the story upon a sagely Gold Dragon. This touch of things more supernatural gives Redheart an added dimension that is all too often lacking in speculative fiction. Spiritual or religious elements are prevalent in the genre, but quite frequently seem like window-dressing within the greater story. This is not the case in Redheart, where the hint of something profound and greater, and the light of hope, beckon at the edges of the plot without becoming too overindulgent.

The beginning of a very promising fantasy series has certainly been achieved in Redheart. It is a series that I feel will have a strong appeal to a number of types of fantasy readers, from those that enjoy world-building elements, to those that focus more solely on characters, to those that seek surprises and good plot twists.

There is a good balance of action, humor, and the dramatic, and the characters are very believable and consistent. I am certain that fans of popular-selling fantasy series such as E.E. Knight’s Age of Fire would definitely find themselves embracing the Leland Dragon Series, with its thoroughly developed dragon characters.

Jackie Gamber is a fantasy author who most definitely is an emerging force to be reckoned with. Redheart hooked me instantly for the Leland Dragon Series, and I am eagerly anticipating the next step of the adventure!

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