Showing posts with label Drazenka Kimpel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drazenka Kimpel. Show all posts

Monday, May 31, 2021

A Tree after 30 Years of Teaching



After 30 years of teaching, my school planted a tree in my name. Actually, I have taught at Upper Valley Career Center for 31 years. But, due to delays brought on by COVID-19's impact, the purchase and subsequent planting was delayed a year. 

Actually (#2), I have 33.6 years of teaching service, counting teaching and substitute teaching at the Toledo Public Schools early in my career.

I expect to teach at least another decade. I get up every morning and look forward to the work day. That's a definite plus. Dreading each workday would be difficult, although, for a myriad of reasons, I know some people manage it.


One of the advantages of working at a Career Tech school is that the Landscape Management class picked the spot (near where I park each morning so I can see the tree) and planted it.

If you cannot tell from the picture, it is a dogwood tree. I picked the tree, thinking that having the tree featured on my novel Fairyed's cover would be neat. (Cover art created by Drazenka Kimple) Plus, it's an attractive tree, especially in the spring. 

I'd wanted a white pine, but the Landscape Management instructor said the soil and other factors made it a poor choice, so I went with the dogwood.


My planned third choice was a hawthorn. However, the thorns, and the odor of the otherwise nice blossoms, would've probably made it a less than optimum alternative. And a tree that produces hedge apples, even less so.

Maybe that all says something about me.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Outpost: 100 Ratings on Audible

Hey Folks,

Outpost has achieved a sort of milestone for one of my works. It's earned 100 ratings on Audible. It's the first of any of my novels to reach 100 ratings/reviews on any single platform.


A major thumbs up to Drazenka Kimpel for the cover art and Jonathan Waters for the narration, making Outpost's success possible.

If you might be interested in checking it out, or any of my titles (in print, audio or ebook) here is an easy link: Where Available


Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Fairyed Manuscript Sent to Gryphonwood Press


As an update, this week I sent the manuscript for Fairyed (the 4th installment in the Monsters, Maces and Magic Series) to my publisher. There it'll be assigned an editor, and the process continues.

Drazenka Kimpel has been commissioned to create the cover art! For my novels, her art has been featured on the covers of Outpost, Betrayal and Relic Hunted.



While there is still a lot that has to happen before Fairyed is available, it's definitely getting closer to the final stages before release.

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Outpost's Audiobook Remains #1



Outpost remains #1 on Amazon for Releases in Games (Literature)

A reminder where Outpost in audiobook is Available:

   Audible
   Amazon
   iTunes

Of course, it's also available in print and ebook!

Amazon and B&N (Print)
Ebook Vendors

Many thanks again to Gryphonwood for publishing, Drazenka Kimpel for the fabulous cover art, and Jonathan Waters for his excellent narration of the tale.





Friday, July 20, 2018

The Outpost Audiobook Continues to be Well-Received


Readers and Listeners,



As illustrated above, Outpost continues to earn overall positive ratings and remains #1 in its Amazon category. You might note that the narrator, Jonathan Waters, earns very high marks for his skill in giving voice to the tale.

Note: my publisher reports that Jonathan Waters has been contracted to narrate Betrayal, and it's in his queue.

A reminder where Outpost in audiobook is Available:

   Audible
   Amazon
   iTunes

Of course, it's also available in print and ebook!

Amazon and B&N (Print)
Ebook Vendors

Many thanks again to Gryphonwood for publishing, Drazenka Kimpel for the fabulous cover art.


Thursday, July 12, 2018

Outpost Well Received Thus Far


Outpost is doing well among early listeners, and it remains #1 in its Amazon Category.


Maybe give it a listen s well.

   Audible
   Amazon
   iTunes

Of course, it's also available in print and ebook!

Amazon  (Print and Ebook)
B&N  (Print and Ebook)
Smashwords
Kobo

Many thanks to Gryphonwood for publishing, Drazenka Kimpel for the fabulous cover art, and Jonathan Waters for the excellent narration.


Monday, December 4, 2017

New Series with Gryphonwood Press


Hey Folks,

Gryphonwood Press has accepted the first two novels in a new series for publication!

Monsters, Maces and Magic: Outpost
and
Monsters, Maces and Magic: Betrayal

Monsters, Maces and Magic is a LitRPG series, a fantasy sub-genre that has a connection to role playing games.

The cover artist, Drazenka Kimpel, has already been contracted. She did the cover art for Relic Hunted.

Outpost needs one more revision pass before I turn it in to Gryphonwood to be edited, and I am busy working to complete the first draft to Betrayal.

I will strive to keep you updated.

In any case, expect release of Outpost in early 2018, followed shortly there after by Betrayal.