Good afternoon everyone, I have a treat. Guest blogger and fellow author, Matthew Blackmoore agreed, (after consistent prodding and a good night of steaks and beer as payment) to share. I am excited to share his thoughts with you.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
– Frank Herbert, Dune
When I read Jonathan’s book it reminds me of the olden days when there was a deeper meaning and purpose to writing. Where quotable lines are sprinkled throughout the story, and memorable moments abound. From the breathtaking moments where the characters take the deep plunge into the dark and aphotic abyss; however dark, it still somehow manages to be profoundly tender, and hopeful. We both share a love of writing. I’m writing my own book series as well, however, I have to say, Jonathan taking the deep dive with such good work has given me the confidence needed to not only finish mine, but do it with a renewed sense of purpose. Jon and I both have a love for books that span from H.P Lovecraft to JRR Tolkien to Neil Gaiman. I think we both share a deep, intimate romance with the deeper intrinsic nature of storytelling, where more focused character development attempts to break tropes, but also tries to reinvent why tropes bother us in the first place or better yet, just try to create something original to begin with that engages, catches the reader’s attention, and asks deeper questions about love, life, death, and purpose. Sometimes, as readers and writers we all feel like things that have been written that are wildly successful (I’m guilty of this too) tend to corner a market for a long while if not for too long, such as Tolkien’s seeming monopoly on the fantasy genre. But as time would prove to us, with a deep well of imagination that consists of darkness, old gods, zombies, and numerous religious allegories; Game of Thrones came for that throne, and instead of destroying Tolkien’s legacy, it instead at least from my angle, made people appreciate a different type of fantasy all together. Proving to me at least, that there is no such thing as not original, and I rail against the phrase “We’re just scrambling ideas at this point for fiction to appear original” -Random detractor. That’s the realm of Hollywood, and not writers of novella. Instead, I argue quite the opposite. Like the trend setters of yore, I find that my friend Jonathan, and I, seek to create something original, emotionally evocative, heart beat inducing, and a tale that hopefully with enough glitter from the fairies’, will stand the test of time as some of our great forefathers’ work has done. I hope you will take a gander and appreciate the deep story as I have.
Take a journey with relatable characters as they struggle through trial, tribulation, and watch in suspense as they navigate through the wasteland of America, in a post-apocalyptic fantasy land; it will make you whisper quietly to yourself while reading, “Is this possible?” As your heart flutters in suspense.
Matthew Blackmore
Jonathan Dominguez 