Brand New Science Fiction Series

I wanted to write a blog post as I've recently published a brand new science fiction series called 'Phantom 500' for kindle. Its about Captain James Riker, a veteran of the Mars Wars, his blue-haired pilot, Aurora, and his large, alien weapons expert, Kakura who fly on the ship the Phantom 500. They are trying to create a legitimate merchant business by importing the valuable frozen water from Jupiter's moon of Europa to Earth. Space is not a safe place though, but the business is extremely lucrative. So, Riker and his crew think the risk of lurking Lycan Destroyer's and a corrupt Starfleet is worth the gamble.

At the time of this blog post there are currently 5 episodes available for kindle and a sixth book that is an anthology of all five of the first episodes. For a limited time between the 19th of April, 2015 and the 21st of April, 2015, the first three episodes in the series are free. However, if you are reading this blog post after those dates don't worry, I plan to have future giveaway days. Plus if you purchase the first episode in the series you can get up to episode 4 for free if you leave a review on amazon. Just a small way of me saying thanks for taking the time to leave your opinion for other readers.

I have always been fascinated by Europa's moon of Jupiter and I began developing this story when I took a writing course at University. It fascinates me how some scientists believe that there could actually be a moving ocean underneath the frozen surface of the moon. Of course, as a writer, I have taken some poetic license and created a world where Europa water is extremely expensive and sought after due to its anti-aging properties. 

The universe where 'Phantom 500' is set, is a place where human's explored their solar system and finally landed on Mars. However, what human's found was something nobody could ever have imagined. Remnants of a super-advanced civilization. 

However, when they turned on the technology it alerted the Lycan's. A savage warring race, bent on taking the technology discovered by human's. Scientist's were able to quickly assimilate the technology and soon created an army that defeated the Lycan's. This was known as the Mars Wars.

'Phantom 500' is set after the Mars Wars and Captain James Riker is a retired and decorated veteran.

There will be more episodes of 'Phantom 500' for lovers of science fiction to enjoy soon! 

A Sequel and More

Hi there everyone, thanks for visiting my blog. If you are here for the first time...welcome! For those of you who have visited before...welcome back!

My post today is about my book 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp' and what is planned for the future of this brave young heroine. If you haven't come across Jasmine yet then let me introduce you to the cover of the first book of the series; 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp'.

You can pick it up for only 99 cents right now on amazon. Here is the link;

http://goo.gl/xngbe4

It's received some great reviews from people I don't know, which is inspiring as I hoped it would find readers who loved this kind of adventure. What reviewers are saying;

"It has that type of magic about that can't be taught."

"Fast-paced and dynamic."

..and my personal favourite...

"The book is awesome..."

Thanks to those readers who have taken the time to review my book on Amazon. There'll be receiving a free copy for their kindle or electronic reading device of the next book in the series. Titled 'Jasmine Evans and the 40 Thieves' when it is released.

This brings me to revealing what plans I have for the series. Right now there are three books planned for the series.

Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp - Available Now

Jasmine Evans and the 40 Thieves - Draft Finished

Jasmine Evans Untitled - Plan for book completed

I do have a title in mind for the third book in the series, but I don't want to reveal it just yet as it may change. I also plan to write and publish a short novella titled 'Aladdin and the Magic Lamp', which will be the story of Aladdin in the context of the Jasmine Evans series. In later plans, I would like to write more stories from the Arabian Nights/A Thousand and One Nights stories. Such as; 'Alibaba and the 40 Thieves' and 'Sinbad the Sailor'. If you have read 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp' expect an extended version of the story of Aladdin told in the book to be available closer to the end of 2015. (Big battle scene is afoot.)

The big news is that I have just received my editors initial notes about my first draft of 'Jasmine Evans and the 40 Thieves' and they have been extraordinarily positive. However, there are a lot of notes and many points for me to consider. So, I'll be working hard to get the story ready. I have told one reader, who e-mailed me, to expect an April release. I'll do my best, but above all I want the book to be good. If there are any delay's I'll announce it on my Facebook page, Twitter page and here on my blog. One teaser I can let you know about though is Jasmine is going to learn more about the laws of wish-granting.

Thanks for reading my blog. If you have or do pick up a copy of 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp' and you leave a review, you'll be one of the first to get a copy of Jasmine Evans and the 40 Thieves' for your kindle or ebook reader for free.

Have a good day!

Alex C. McDonald is the author of the urban fantasy novel, 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp'.

alexmcdauthor@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter @AlexMcDauthor

http://alexmcdauthor.wix.com/writer#

My Book is Now Permanently Free

Yep, that's right.  'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp' is completely free on Smashwords! If your into Young Adult Fantasy novels go and get yourself a copy now. Here is the link;

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/428088

All her life Jasmine has moved from place to place with Dad never settling anywhere for long. When they move to a small coastal town in Australia Jasmine Hopes that all this will change and she will have the change to be an ordinary girl. However, things do no go according to plan and one fateful afternoon she discovers that she has the power to grant wishes. Ger new powers unlock a dangerous secret that threatens her new home, her friends and her very existence.

Now as she begin to solve the mystery of her past with the help of ancient societies and mythical creatures, she realizes she is being stalked by a dark enemy and must race against to to stop them from imprisining her forever in the mystical and fabled lamp of Aladdin

"It has that type of magic about it that cannot be taught."
Samantha Grayson, top amazon reviewer

"A skillful and earnest integration of realism and fantasy, complete with action and a girl's search for connection."
Amazon Review

If you would like to send me a message or leave a review would be very much appreciated.

Alex C. McDonald is the author of the urban fantasy novel, 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp'.

alexmcdauthor@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter @AlexMcDauthor

http://alexmcdauthor.wix.com/writer#

What Happened to Aladdin's Genie?

Growing up my family had a huge collection of Disney Home Movies and for me, 'Aladdin' was my favourite. I loved the thought of finding a magical lamp and instantly being able to wish your dreams true. Plus, I loved the character of the genie and how Aladdin almost didn't set the genie free, but showed his true good nature in the end and the genie gained his freedom.

Most version's of the Thousand and One Nights story of Aladdin end in the same way, the genie being set free. When I first devised my Young Adult Fantasy novel 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp', it made me think about what could have happened to the genie after he was set free?

My brainstorming came to the idea that if the genie in Aladdin was set free, then essentially he would also become a mortal. This means that the genie could also marry and have children. However, the genie that came from Aladdin's Lamp would never lose his wish granting powers and when the genie died (Because the genie is mortal) they would pass the power to grant wishes onto his first born child.

Hence, we come to the modern day, where my main protagonist, Jasmine Evans, discovers she has the ability to grant wishes. The story is a magical adventure where Jasmine uncovers her family tree and learns that she is descended from Aladdin's genie.

This is where the lamp comes in. An ancient society, known as the Antediluvian Order, has possession of the lamp and they send Vishka, an ex-Russian KGB operative to capture Jasmine and imprison her in the lamp.

Disney's version of Aladdin is the most well-known and the naming of my main character, Jasmine, is in no relation to Disney's character, Princess Jasmine. In fact, the Princesses name in the original version of Aladdin is, Badroulbadour. Princess Badroulbadour appears in my novel when Jasmine travels back in time with an inter-dimensional spider, called Hoonhay. The name of Jasmine actually two students in a class that I was teaching when I first began writing the book. In fact, most of the names in the book are actually named after people I have taught. I find it an easy way to name characters.

I also have two genies that appear in 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp'. Jasmine is the first and the second is an old, eccentric genie called Eduillian or simply 'Ed' for short. Ed is still imprisoned by a ruby ring that Vishka wears and he is called upon to help Vishka instantly travel from place to place. This is the limit of Ed's powers and he cannot grant any other wishes, besides travel.

This first book in a planned trilogy is set in the Australian town of Albany. A place that I have visited many times. It was the perfect setting and has many natural landmarks that feature in the book. It culminates in an epic battle where Jasmine and her new friends must decide who is the Master of the Lamp.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

If you're interested in reading 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp' it is available on kindle for only 99c. If you leave a review and send me an e-mail to let me know, I'll give you the sequel 'Jasmine Evans and the 40 Thieves' due out in April for free.
Here is the link;

http://goo.gl/d7lcch












Alex C. McDonald is the author of the urban fantasy novel, 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp'.

alexmcdauthor@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter @AlexMcDauthor

http://alexmcdauthor.wix.com/writer#