Once We Were Kings Virtual eBook Publicity Tour September 2011

Once We Were Kings

Join Ian Alexander, author of the YA epic fantasy novel, Once We Were Kings (Dawn Treader Press), as he virtually tours the blogosphere September 5 – 30 2011 on his second virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About Ian Alexander (aka Joshua Graham)

Ian Alexander Winner of the 2011 International Book Awards, Joshua Graham’s #1 bestselling novel (Barnes & Noble ebooks) BEYOND JUSTICE is taking the world by storm, one reader at a time. Many of his readers blame him for sleepless nights, arriving to work late, neglected dishes and family members, and not allowing them to put the book down.

BEYOND JUSTICE, THE ACCIDENTAL EXORCIST, THE ACCIDENTAL HERO, THE ACCIDENTAL HEALER, and DEATH AND TAXES, have reached the top of multiple bestseller list on Barnes & Noble topping titles by John Grisham, Linda Fairstein, Scott Turrow and James Lee Burke, Ted Dekker and Steven James. Soaring to the top of the Barnes & Noble lists, BEYOND JUSTICE recently hit #1 in the Legal Thriller and Christian Thriller categories, topping by John Grisham, Joel C. Rosenberg, and Michael Connelly.  It has also remained on the Amazon.com top 100 bestselling Kindle bestseller list months after its release.

Suspense Magazine listed BEYOND JUSTICE in its BEST OF 2010, alongside titles by Scott Turrow, Ted Dekker, Steven James and Brad Thor.

Publishers Weekly described BEYOND JUSTICE as:
“…A riveting legal thriller…. breaking new ground with a vengeance… demonically entertaining and surprisingly inspiring.”

Under a different pen name, Joshua has been published in three Simon & Schuster anthologies. He’s a graduate of the Oregon Professional Writers Masterclass run by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

Joshua Graham grew up in Brooklyn, NY where he lived for the better part of 30 years. He holds a Bachelor and Master’s Degree and went on to earn his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University.   During his time in Maryland, he taught as a professor at Shepherd College (WV), Western Maryland College, and Columbia Union College (MD).

Today he lives with his beautiful wife and children in Southern California.  Several of Graham’s short fiction works have been published by Pocket Books and Dawn Treader Press.

BEYOND JUSTICE is now available in Trade Paperback through Amazon.com as well as Barnes and Noble.  It’s available at the Kindle store, and can be purchased for other ebook readers at Smashwords.  It als available for the iPad, SONY E-Reader and Nook.

A member of the Oregon Writers Network, Graham is a graduate of the Master Classes and professional writing workshops held by Dean W. Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch.  Dean and Kris and the entire OWN, have been a major influence in his career.

Joshua’s latest book is the YA epic fantasy, Once We Were Kings, written under the pen name of Ian Alexander.

You can visit his website at www.ianalex.com.

About Once We Were Kings

Once We Were Kings - Kindle Two kingdoms, five centuries, one destiny.

In a world where the Sojourners, a nearly extinct race with preternatural abilities struggle to preserve their faith and heritage, destiny thrusts two youths from opposing nations into the heart of a centuries-old conflict.

Render, an orphan from the outskirts of the culturally enlightened Kingdom of Valdshire Tor, escapes slavery and seeks the truth about his true identity only to discover a web of conspiracies.  This quest leads to the revelation of his uncanny ability to wield the destructive forces of nature.

Ahndien, sole survivor of a heinous raid on her peaceful village in the Eastern Kingdom of Tian Kuo, embarks on a journey to find her father, now a captive of Torian troops.  What she uncovers surpasses anything she can imagine as she masters the ability to manipulate fire.

Guided by shape-shifting spirits, Render and Ahndien’s fates collide when first they meet as mortal enemies.  However, to save their people from annihilation, they must unite both kingdoms against a terrifying enemy that threatens to destroy both realms.

But how can a young slave and a peasant bring sworn enemies of half a millennium together?

ONCE WE WERE KINGS: The first book in a saga of destiny and redemption, in a world of dying hope.

Book Excerpt:

In the blackest of nights, a fortnight before the seventeenth birthday of a slave named Render, the moon, full and blood-red glared down upon Talen Wood, a ways from the Citadel walls of Valdshire Tor. Three boys bent upon nothing good approached the lad as he lay down, trying to sleep. Renders’s master—last seen with his beard bathed in drivel—reclined in his chair, a drunken stupor barely veiling his cherry-nosed countenance.
Outside the damp broom closet better known as Render’s room, in that fetid cottage in which he and his master dwelled, one of the boys tapped furtively on the wall.
“Render. Hssst! Render.”
“What? Who’s there?” So poor was his vision he could barely see the fingers before his face, for the sands of slumber had encrusted his eyes.
“Come on, Render. Are you going join us or not?” He recognized the voice of Kaine, his elder brother. He too was a slave belonging to an old master on the other side of Talen Wood. Some two years his senior, Kaine led this band of mongrels who, despite all their capers, had always eluded capture. They were the closest thing to a family he had.
Atop the ledge of the window sat a black cat, not unlike the one he had seen a day or two prior. It ceased licking its paw and washing its face. With turquoise eyes, it stared straight into Render’s. Throughout Render’s life, black cats appeared frequently, though he had never been able to take one as a pet. The cat looked over to Kaine and his companions, then back at Render. It leapt down from the ledge, almost daring Render to follow.
Kaine appeared in the window and grinned. “Coming or not, Rend?”
“After last time? I shouldn’t go anywhere with you again.” But something about that cat drew Render’s curiosity. The way it regarded him, as if it knew of something interesting, an adventure or a pirate’s chest full of gold and trinkets. Perhaps a magical sword.
Render stole past his snoring master and out the door.
“Come now, you old tortoise,” said Kaine, the oldest of the boys. He stood at least a head taller than Render. Kaine brushed his fire-red hair out of his eyes, smiled and slapped a heavy hand onto Render’s shoulder. “Hungry?”
“Do birds fly?” Render’s master afforded him but one meal each day, though he toiled without respite in his stables and fields and barnyard from the rising of the sun till dusk.
“Well, they’re hungry.” Kaine tossed a glance to Folen and Stewan, the twins. When they faced each other, they looked like reflections. Beneath the dirt lay bespeckled cheeks which in the daylight took the hue of apples. This more than betrayed their tender age of eight years.
How diverse a band.
Yet one thing bound them in common. They were orphans, all of them. And all of them slaves.
Searing pain like a branding iron scathed Render’s back when he stretched his arms to yawn. Wounds from yesterday’s lashing reopened. He winced and groaned but dared not reach back to touch it. “You’d better go on without me,” he said. “If Bobbington catches me…”
“On then,” Kaine said, raising up fistful of tree branches fashioned into spears. “I heard dinner grunting by the stream.”
Render’s eyes opened wider, though it brought no clearer vision in the gloom. “You don’t mean—?”
“A boar,” whispered Stewan, excitedly.
“Wild, fat boar.” Kaine handed Render one of his spears.
“Do let’s go,” Folen said, pulling Render’s sleeve. He held up a glinting dagger which he’d undoubtedly stolen from a traveler who’d taken pity on him, and stopped to give him a piece of bread.
“Yes, do let’s,” Stewan echoed.
“I don’t know.”
Kaine leaned down and whispered, “Big. Fat. Juicy boar.”
Charging into the wood, Render joined in and let out a mighty cry of ancient hunters. The thought of fresh meat teased the tips of his tongue.

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Once We Were Kings Book Publicity Tour Schedule

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books kk Monday, September 5

Book reviewed at Bookish Delights

I know that many people have probably used this word to describe Once We Were Kings, but I can’t think of anything else that would fit it so perfectly: EPIC!”

Tuesday, September 6

Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking

“Life is no picnic if you’re the character in an epic fantasy book.  It’s full of conflict, challenges, disappointments and the occasional pesky dragon.  But despite the difficulties, there are wonderful things that happen as well.”

Wednesday, September 7

Book reviewed at Day by Day in Our World

“When I began reading, Mr. Alexander’s writing drew me into the story.  I could easily envision the way different characters would sound and how they moved.  Kudos to him for doing a great job setting up the scenes and characters.  Putting my Nook down to go to bed was a challenge that first night!”

Friday, September 9

Book spotlighted at Book Marketing Buzz

“In the blackest of nights, a fortnight before the seventeenth birthday of a slave named Render, the moon, full and blood-red glared down upon Talen Wood, a ways from the Citadel walls of Valdshire Tor. Three boys bent upon nothing good approached the lad as he lay down, trying to sleep. Renders’s master—last seen with his beard bathed in drivel—reclined in his chair, a drunken stupor barely veiling his cherry-nosed countenance….”

Monday, September 12

Interview at Pen Dragon

“I would say that the Bible, life experience, and my faith have influenced my writing most profoundly.  While I try my best not to make my books religious, they cannot help but have a strong influence from my faith in Jesus Christ.  This has drawn some very negative reactions from a couple of readers, but for the most part, it has been well-received, thank God.”

Guest blogging at Cafe of Dreams

“First off, rumors of my return to the classroom have been highly exaggerated.  After twelve years of college studies, three degrees, and then later teaching in three different colleges, I’ve done my time, thank you very much.”

Tuesday, September 13

Book reviewed at She Known as Jess

A definite read for upper middle grades and high school readers, especially those that like stories about good versus evil without a heavier spiritual emphasis. At four hundred pages, a full-bodied read that students will devour.”

Thursday, September 15

Guest blogging at Everyday is an Adventure

“Just when you think you’ve learned the ropes and mastered your system, things change. Isn’t that just the frustration of life? You can lament the fact that things keep changing and throw your hands up in defeat. Or you can embrace it and use the changes to your advantage.”

Friday, September 16

Book reviewed at Everyday is an Adventure

“This book has been dubbed an “epic fantasy” and wow, this book was definitely EPIC! I cannot believe how much I enjoyed this read, and being not much of a fantasty fan it exceeded ALL of my expectations! Pick this book up, you won’t be disappointed.”

Wednesday, September 21

Book reviewed at Words I Write Crazy RESCHEDULING

Monday, September 26

Book reviewed at The Book Connection

“This is a fast-paced, action-filled adventure story that will draw in older teens and adults alike.”

Friday, September 30

Chat with Ian at Pump Up Your Book Live! Chat Book Giveaway

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Ian Alexander’s  ONCE WE WERE KINGS VIRTUAL BOOK PUBLICITY TOUR will officially begin on September 5 and end on September 30 ’11. Please contact Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife(at)gmail.com if you are interested in hosting and/or reviewing his ebook or click here to use the form. Thank you!

If you would like to book your own virtual book tour with us, click here to find out how!

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