Annually for the last 7 years, the noted fantasy author, Mark Lawrence, organizes a competition to identify the best new, self-published fantasy novel. This is SPFBO (‘Self Published Fantasy Blog Off’). It’s gotten bigger every year and this May 300 authors submitted in less than 24 hours (the contest is limited to 300 books).
The contest’s judges are 10 established fantasy book bloggers. Usually it’s tough to get recognition as a newer author, so this contest is valuable in making readers and reviewers aware of your work; of course, I grabbed the chance to submit THE LORDS OF THE SUMMER SEASON. More info about the contest is on Lawrence’s site ( https://bit.ly/3i6lJGr ).
THE LORDS OF THE SUMMER SEASON is a modern fantasy set during San Francisco’s ‘Summer of Love’ in 1967 when the creative scene was exploding and everything was limitless. Until it wasn’t. My book uses the fantasy genre to look at the exuberance and potential of that time as well as its darker, seamier side (check it out at Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3yCE97o ).
Anyway, the Facebook link below is to praise my novel has gotten from one of the judges, Esme Weatherwax who edits the Weatherwax Report. She says:
“One of my books opens with a dude who is tripping on acid while riding a ‘haunted’ motorcycle in the middle of a thunderstorm as The Wild Hunt chases him down a California Big Sur ocean side highway. The next chapter is a flashback to when this same dude was chilling with King Arthur and Merlin. This is nuts and I love it.”
No guarantee that THE LORDS OF THE SUMMER SEASON will win or even place, but it’s nice to see that one of the judges enjoyed it!!
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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Blaisdell Literary Enterprises 