My latest novel, The Lords of Powder ( https://amzn.to/2IdGduy ), meshes (or mashes) together three distinct genres: modern fantasy, historical fiction, and action/adventure.
Leveraging motifs from several genres allows the author to imbue The Lords of Powder with contrast. It also provides the flexibility to address diverse themes all in one story.
Primarily, the novel intends to be an entertaining, fast-moving narrative overlaying a morality tale. Perhaps a bit pretentiously, additional themes include the appeal of wrongdoing and the ease of slipping into a criminal weltanschauung; the protagonist teeters between trafficking marijuana in late 70’s Miami and ‘going straight’. Many of the secondary characters are either immoral or amoral. Further, The Lords of Powder considers the nature of borders both geographic and attitudinal. The main character is a smuggler and might well reflect on crossing all manner of frontiers so this fit naturally into the novel. In addition, the story touches on the relation between creativity and power in flashbacks to the Viking sack of Lindisfarne and a battle of wits between a magician and the Caliph of Cordoba in 10th century Andalusia.
Thus, mixing genres can sometimes be a better authorial strategy than sticking to a single genre. I’ll write more on this topic in future posts.
For those interested, links to The Lords of Powder:
I write modern fantasy novels that are hopefully both exciting and literate. These novels include an on-going series about a near-immortal magician who grew up in Camelot and grew famous in San Francisco's 'Summer of Love'. He's still having adventures to this day described in The Lords of the Summer Season, The Lords of Powder, and The Lords of Oblivion. The books can be read in any order.
As author S Alessandro Martinez has stated about the series:
"Lords of Oblivion
A 1500-year-old wizard. A pair of savage druids raised from the dead. Modern day San Francisco. A wolf that takes no gruff. Blaisdell creates a fascinating world in this magical realism novel with smart writing, complex characters, and clever use of history and mythology. I was sucked in from the very beginning. I look forward to more of Bradan and Tintagel's mystical adventures.
Lords of Powder
Merlin's former apprentice, Bradan, is back! The 1500-year-old wizard, who is sometimes too smart for his own good, returns for another exciting adventure, this time in 70s Miami as he takes on the criminal world of drug trafficking. Blaisdell's smart, fast-paced writing and use of fascinating history and mythology keeps you on the edge of your seat as Bradan uses his wits, charm, and illusions to navigate the modern era and get himself into plenty of trouble.
Lords of the Summer Season
Being Merlin's former apprentice and living for 1500 years is bound to make you a few enemies. Travel back to the 60s with Bradan the wizard and his otherworldly wolf Tintagel. As Bradan juggles careers as a professor and musician, he must defend himself from his greatest threat yet: a literal god. Blaisdell continues with his clever, skillful, and imaginative writing that will keep readers eagerly turning the next page. My favorite of the Bradan books, Blaisdell dives deeper into the Arthur mythology, and brings the reader even more elements of magic and folklore, all the while weaving an entertaining tale of gods, wizards, ghosts, and 60s acid rock. Thoroughly enjoyable!"
Besides the literary side of my life, my background includes membership on a scientific advisory board for a non-profit professional organization promoting the biomedical and digital health business community in the greater Los Angeles area.
I’ve authored both basic research publications and business management articles focusing on the bio/pharma industry. My Ph.D. is in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota where I also conducted post-doctoral research in microbiology. And my BS is from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) with a double major in chemistry and cell biology.
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Peter W. Blaisdell, Fantasy Author 