Malketh and the Undead: Raven, Romda and Ravai Vol. II by Dave Maruszewski - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Dave Maruszewski and his new book, “Malketh and the Undead: Raven, Romda and Ravai Vol. II,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on his Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Dave and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Malketh and the Undead:

Raven, Romda and Ravai

Vol. II

by Dave Maruszewski

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:   Middle Grade, Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BLURB:

Raven, Romda and Ravai are settling into their new knightly duties well. With the Dark Beast defeated, their normal tasks almost seem mundane.

Amidst the boredom, Ravai asks, “Why does no one talk about villains from the past?”

Romda reasons, “What would be the point?”

There is a point. Even though villains may have been defeated in the past, they may still be around, waiting in the background ready to resurface once again.

Malketh has returned to the kingdom, but something is different about him this time. He is back with an entire army … an entire army of undead soldiers!

“Whether you want to read this aloud to your little one or let them explore this magical world on their own, parents can rest assured that this second installment in the Raven, Romda, and Ravai series will be a playful, whimsical addition to their bookshelves.”

~ The Book Review Directory

“… the squires are appealing characters, as is their comical banter.”

~ Blue Ink Review

A great story for the fantasy loving youth, this adventure will appeal to those who like action and humor in an easy reading environment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT ONE:

They keep going until they hear a large rumble.  A small mass of rocks fall to the ground.  The three look up and see a gigantic figurine of a man holding a giant emerald.  Romda puts her lantern up to the emerald, and the light refracts and bounces off the many faces such that the whole room is lit.  This brings relief to the three.

Unfortunately, they notice something else.  When the room comes up from the dark, Raven, Romda and Ravai notice all these eyes staring at them.  The undead are here.  The three are surrounded.

Perplexed, Raven, Romda and Ravai freeze.  They are scared.  However, the entire horde of undead does not approach them.  What is wrong with them?  What do they want?

At last, the undead begin to slowly stir.  They begin to walk slowly.  At first they seem to move in random directions.  Then, a pattern to their motion becomes apparent.  They move about, revealing an opening in their numbers in the shape of a small circle.  That opening reveals a hooded figure.  The hooded figure says…

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GUEST POST:

Satisfying Ending?

I’m becoming outdated.  It’s true.  I like a happy ending.  However, with what you watch and read, it is clear that the industry does not favor that.  I think they feel that it has milieu of naiveté.

I get it.  Gray characters can be intriguing.  They can produce unexpected results.  They allow for plot twists to occur easier and with more surprise.

The problem that I have with gray characters is that they often become inconsistent.  A seeming villain turns into a hero.  Then, I wonder how it happened.  Didn’t this person kill someone on page thirty-seven?  Is it now justified, or do we just overlook it?  Many times it is hard to truly explain away the bad behavior of the past chapters.

The other problem comes from an occurrence I’d observed when I used to teach video game design.  In an open sandbox games, players have the freedom to do almost whatever they want.  It can be very inviting and give an atmosphere of creativity.  The problem is that there is no one to guide them.  So, left with their own devices, they meander.  No real conclusions happen.  Hence, a feeling of boredom would often overtake the players.

That is where I worry about today’s story telling.  Without an easy measuring stick to see who is good, bad or ugly, we might meander into making no judgments about how we feel about the ending situation. A book can be exquisitely written, with riveting character interaction and no knockout punch.  Many times, I can even be left with the feeling of “What just happened here?”  I shrug my shoulders and then move on to the next book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

Dave Maruszewski is blessed with a great family.  He was originally inspired to write stories by his wife and son.

He strives to develop stories with sound moral values that will be enlightening as well as entertaining to youths and adults.  The Raven, Romda and Ravai books are targeted especially for children who shy away from reading.  His stories are created from an accumulation of experience from careers/backgrounds as a physicist, engineer, teacher, artist, video game designer and software developer.

In between writing stories and running his own company, Digital Tumult (DigitalTumult.com), Dave enjoys video games, watching internet videos and hanging out with his family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONNECT WITH DAVE:

Website:

https://www.ravenromdaandravai.com

Newsletter:

https://ravenromdaandravai.com/index.php/newsletter

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Dave-Maruszewski-Books-100693982454237

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7tomZ4IBch3ZcIKzNxUKlg

NetGalley Author Page:

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/publisher/84200

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dave-maruszewski

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/malketh-and-the-undead-by-dave-maruszewski

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21946064.Dave_Maruszewski

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/86281595-malketh-and-the-undead

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3HBmpx7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PRE-ORDER BOOK BUY LINKS & INFO:

**Malketh and the Undead: Raven, Romda and Ravai Vol. II is currently available for Pre-order and will be released on April 18^th, 2023**

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3Kdm71X

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3m6Vync

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Malketh-Undead-Raven-Romda-Ravai-ebook/dp/B0BT3FD25L

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Malketh-Undead-Raven-Romda-Ravai/dp/1667880098

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/malketh-and-the-undead-dave-maruszewski/1142993225

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Dave will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

The Dark Beast: Raven, Romda, Ravai Vol. I by Dave Maruszewski - Book Tour - Book Sale - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Dave Maruszewski and his new book, “The Dark Beast: Raven, Romda, Ravai Vol. I,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on his Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Dave and to increase your chances of winning!!

This eBook is on SALE for ONLY $0.99 during the book tour!!  See below for more details.

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

The Dark Beast:

Raven, Romda, Ravai

Vol. I

by Dave Maruszewski

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:   Children's / Chapter Books / Middle Grade

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Recently knighted squires Raven, Romda, and Ravai are tasked to help a nearby priest. However, this simple errand turns into much more.  They cross paths with the Dark Beast.  After that brief encounter, they soon realize the Beast’s plans to destroy an entire town.  They journey to this town, meeting residents who tell large tales about the Beast.  How much of stories are true?  The three will find out.  The Dark Beast is coming.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT ONE:

“Wow, that was crazy,” Ravai practically shouts.

“Crazy, but true,” says the driver. “But you all look like you could fall asleep.”

“Why do you say that?” says Ravai.

“Well, for one, your friend keeps falling asleep,” he says, and the driver’s friends snicker. “And your female friend hasn’t said a word since we teamed up. Maybe you should rest. We can stop here.”

Ravai doesn’t feel that tired, but he sees the look in Romda’s eyes that it might be a good idea. He acknowledges the stranger’s words, and they stop. It is in the middle of nowhere, trees and small fields all around.

Raven crawls to the nearest log and tries to lie on it. Romda isn’t so easily satisfied. She instead starts to pitch tent and gets out her small bedroll. Her movements are so slow it looks like she won’t be done for an hour.

Ravai continues to talk to the driver. “Turning people into beavers? That’s not possible. You are pulling my leg. How can that be true?”

“It is, I swear,” the driver says.

“How would you know?” Ravai challenges the driver.

“Because my grandfather gave him the rune and spell to do so…and now I serve the master,” the man says coldly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUEST POST:

Writing This Book Has Taught Me…

1.)  How to Be Creative and How to Get Organized

I’ve always been somewhere between right and left brained.  I wish it would just choose a side.  When I started writing this book, I had to hone both.

I was sloppy in both areas.  My creative side wanted to write and just get whisked away during the experience.  I ended up going in circles, devolving, twiddling thumbs, and just getting bored.

That caused me to get more organized and procedural.  That worked for a while doing small outlines, writing at certain times and things like that.  It worked great until I became stiff, rote, and boring (again.)

I had to work out a compromise of sorts.  I found times to be creative as a way to break from routine and even had created fun creative exercises.  I also started becoming more observant in when I needed structure.  It ended up being better for me as I got to work out both sides of my brain.  I think that it is happy now.

2.)  How to Reach My Son

This story and some of the ones to come were created as bed time stories for my son.  It was a nice way to get to know him better and have Father/Son bonding time.

It also taught me what youth find interesting.  Often, I would come up what I thought was a deep profound statement in the midst of our story only to see my son total unmoved.  Then, later, I’d throw in a fart joke to lighten things up heavier parts, finding my child in endless giggles.  You have to know your audience.

3.)  That It’s Fun to Be Creative, But It’s Scary to Get Judged on Your Creativity

When I started this project, it was almost endlessly satisfying.  There were some hard days but it was also gratifying and hopeful.  Then, I realized that someone would be reading my work.  They could and either like it or completely not.

I’m a person who likes to please everyone if I can.  There is no way to do this when you write.  At the very least, you won’t be someone’s cup of tea.  Rationally, I understand this.  Emotionally, I worry about the rejection.

4.)  There Are Many Books Out There

I knew many books are published in the world/US, but then I heard the actual number and was shocked.  I have to compete with all of these?  Frightening at first, but it is also a good thing.  Many people like me want and get to chase their dream of publishing or just sharing a story.

5.)  Writing a Book is About ¼ of the Work Required to Make a Book

When I finished my book, I knew that there would be an extensive editing process.  I wanted that.  I’m not a careful writer.  By that, I mean that I’ve always thought that it is better to get all of the words out and onto a page, changing it later.  This is more preferable to me than to meticulously craft each sentence.  I was prepared for the refining process.

However, even all of that editing is still just an early step.  What I found out was astonishing: book tours, KDP, Facebook ads, book rankings, press releases, who to market, metadata, street teams, writing societies, NetGalley, bookcrossing.com, etc.  I’m a person that likes to learn and understand processes.  This was almost overwhelming at first.

If you don’t recognize one of the aforementioned listed marketing items, have some fun and look them up.  They aren’t all needed for sure, but each can help even in a little way.  Where do you stop?  I’m guessing where you are required to do so.  The more you do, the more successful your book will become.  Nonetheless, launch day comes for everyone, and that is a good thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

Dave Maruszewski is blessed with a great family.  He was originally inspired to write stories by his wife and son, when they encouraged him to put his bedtime stories on paper.

His stories are created from an accumulation of experiences from careers/backgrounds as a physicist, engineer, teacher, artist, video game designer and software developer.  He strives to develop stories with sound moral values that will be enlightening as well as entertaining to youths and adults.

In between writing stories and running his own company, Digital Tumult (DigitalTumult.com), Dave enjoys video games, watching internet videos and hanging out with his family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONNECT WITH DAVE:

Website:

https://www.ravenromdaandravai.com

Newsletter:

https://ravenromdaandravai.com/index.php/newsletter

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Dave-Maruszewski-Books-100693982454237

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7tomZ4IBch3ZcIKzNxUKlg

NetGalley Author Page:

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/publisher/84200

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-dark-beast-by-dave-maruszewski

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21946064.Dave_Maruszewski

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59436844-the-dark-beast

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3HBmpx7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BUY LINKS & BOOK SALE INFO:

**The Dark Beasts: Raven, Romda, and Ravai Vol. I eBook is on SALE for ONLY $0.99 during the book tour!!!**

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3B98X0Z

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/335g2Dh

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Dark-Beast-Raven-Romda-Ravai-ebook/dp/B09JSX3ZGG

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Dark-Beast-1-Dave-Maruszewski/dp/1098394771

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dark-beast-dave-maruszewski/1140406541

BookBaby Bookshop Paperback:

https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-dark-beast

Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Dark-Beast-Dave-Maruszewski/9781098394776

Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Dark-Beast/Dave-Maruszewski/9781098394776

Bookshop Paperback:

https://bookshop.org/books/the-dark-beast-1/9781098394776

Booktopia AU Paperback:

https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-dark-beast-dave-maruszewski/book/9781098394776.html

Indigo Chapters CA Paperback:

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-dark-beast/9781098394776-item.html

Target Paperback:

https://www.target.com/p/the-dark-beast-1-raven-romda-and-ravai-by-dave-maruszewski-paperback/-/A-85687888

Thriftbooks Paperback:

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-dark-beast_dave-maruszewski/31520376

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Dave will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.