The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom: Interview and Giveaway-The Megalith Union by Brad A. LaMar

Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

My name is Brad A. LaMar and I am an author and educator from Indianapolis, Indiana. I have taught science and am currently responsible for professional development at my school. I have two wonderful kids and am married to Lori, a high school science teacher, an expert organizer, and a mom-through-marriage. I enjoy writing science fiction and fantasy, historical fiction, and will be penning a book about organization with my lovey wife at some point in the future.

Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

My new book is titled The Megalith Union and it is the second book in my best selling YA fantasy series Celtic Mythos. Here is the official book blurb:

Just as life was returning to normal for Brendan as a college freshman, the hands of fate intervene and adventure besets him again in the second installment of the Celtic Mythos series. The golden god of Celtic Lore, Elathan, reborn out of the ashes of a dead king and evil witch, maneuvers the tendrils of destiny, intending to gain ultimate power at the expense of all humanity. Dogged by giants, alphyns, and ruas Brendan, Dorian, Lizzie, and a new cast of characters risk it all to unravel the mystery of the ultimate foe. With Corways under attack and Brendan’s father captured by a forgotten enemy, can Brendan and his allies do enough to prevent the end of days? As the megalith union looms, Brendan and his friends must look to the past to prevent a future where Elathan reigns supreme.

The fate of mankind teeters on the edge of the megalith union…

Are you a mom (or parent)?

I am the father of Evan (12) and Paige (10). They are fantastic kids that show a knack for being creative, a broad sense of humor, and great ideas of their own.

If yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and parenting?

The hardest part about being a parent and an author is the time issue. Kids are involved in sports and activities at school so there are needs that arise. I try to write when they are busy with homework.

Have you ever based your book or characters on actual events or people from your own life?

I have based characters on personality types that I have encountered, but I have not made a character totally about someone I know. I do plan on writing a book about my father when he was a teen since he has an interesting story, but that’s down the line.

Is there a theme or message in your work that you would like readers to connect to?

Themes and messages are dependent on the book itself. In the case of The Megalith Union, I expect readers to walk away with a sense that the characters have grown and an appreciation for the situation that they find themselves in the novel.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I think readers would be surprised to see that a science teacher became a novelist. Everyone I tell that I am a teacher to always guess that I teach English. Science teachers apparently can’t write novels.

When you’re not writing what do you do? Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?

When I’m not writing I like to spend time with my family and do things with the kids and my wife. I enjoy movies a great deal, reading, watching sports, working out, and brainstorming for new stories.

Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

I think Larry Correria’s Monster Hunter series is amazing and extremely entertaining.

Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?

One genre that I have not yet written but intend to is nonfiction. My wife is incredibly organized and has so many great ideas about helping people to become organized that I think it would make a great book.

Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

I can answer this question two ways. I wrote many stories for my children that I called “Evan and Paige Stories” where I would of course say that my kids are my favorite characters. As far as the Celtic Mythos series goes, I would pick Brendan and Lizzie whom I modeled after my kids. Both characters go through big growing pains in the first two novels, and I like when a character shows growth and a reader can see the progression.

If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?

The Megalith Union is the second book in my best selling series Celtic Mythos. The first book is titled The Obsidian Dagger and has been meet with a lot of enthusiasm and positive responses. I am currently working on the third book in the series called The Dominion Pulse. In the third installment, our heroes will finally realize what they are up against as a new group of villains emerges.

What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?

Currently I am writing the third book in the Celtic Mythos series called The Dominion Pulse. I tend to write a few books at a time, so I am also working on a futuristic story called Henry Risen and a historical fiction story called American Pirate.

What book are you reading now?

I just finished a book from Stuart Moore called Civil War and The Automatic Detective by A. Lee Martinez.

What is in your to read pile?

I hope to find time to begin reading Monster Hunter Legion by Larry Correria soon.

The Megalith Union

Celtic Mythos

Book Two
Brad A. LaMar

Illustrator: Igor Adasikov

Genre: Fantasy, Myth & Fairy Tale, Middle Grades / YA

Publisher: Light Messages Publishing

Date of Publication: October 24, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-61153-070-4 paperback

ISBN: 978-1-61153-071-1 ebook

ASIN:

Number of pages: 342

Word Count: 65,000

Cover Artist: Light Messages (design);

Igor Adasikov (artwork)

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/EyWf2pWEFrQ

www.balamar.lightmessages.com

Book Description:

The fate of mankind teeters on the edge of the megalith union…

Just as life was returning to normal for Brendan as a college freshman, the hands of fate intervene and adventure besets him again in the second installment of the best-selling Celtic Mythos series.

Elathan, the golden god of Celtic lore, is reborn out of the ashes of a dead king and evil witch. Through Brendan and his family, Elathan maneuvers the tendrils of destiny, seeking to gain ultimate power at the expense of all humanity.

Dogged by giants, alphyns, and ruas Brendan, Dorian, Lizzie, and a new cast of characters risk it all to unravel the mystery of the ultimate foe.

With Corways under attack and Brendan’s father captured by a forgotten enemy, can Brendan and his allies prevent the end of days?

As the megalith union looms, Brendan and his friends must look to the past to prevent a future where Elathan reigns supreme.

If you liked Percy Jackson and the Olympians or Fablehaven, you won't want to miss The Megalith Union!

The Obsidian Dagger (Celtic Mythos, Book 1)

was a #1 Contemporary Fantasy Best Seller on Amazon

Praise for The Obsidian Dagger:

"An excellent young reader fantasy novel! …There's a satisfying conclusion to the events of this book, but the witch is only the beginning, and LaMar hints at a more terrifying evil threatening to change the world as we know it.
I can't wait for more in this series!"
–Tricia Lewis, Owner, Robots & Rogues Bookstore

“Hooks the reader right from the start... This is a must read!”
–Wendy Eckstein, Middle School Teacher

“Brad LaMar hits a homerun with this exciting tale!”
–Michelle Bridgewater Allee, Librarian

“A fun, exciting, fast paced adventure with a touch of humor.”
–Michelle Parsons, Love2ReadAlways.blogspot.com

About the Author:

Brad A. LaMar is an author and educator who resides in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area. He has worked with middle school age students for fourteen years and loves the enthusiasm they can bring to learning. Sure, he enjoys long walks on the beach at sunset, but it’s hard to beat getting into a great story whether he’s writing it himself or enjoying the fruits of someone else’s imagination.

He is married to Lori, a beautiful and supportive woman, and together they’re raising Evan and Paige, two intelligent and wonderful children. He loves the way a story can make a reader think, laugh, react, and experience a wide range of emotions. Brad has tried to deliver those experiences in his best selling YA fantasy series, Celtic Mythos, and he is thrilled to be able to continue the adventure in The Megalith Union.

Brad’s imagination is bursting with stories and he can’t wait to share them with his readers. In fact, you can look for The Dominion Pulse, book three in the Celtic Mythos series, to be released soon.

Learn more about Brad and the bestselling Celtic Mythos series at

balamar.lightmessages.com

www.facebook.com/bradalamar29

www.twitter.com/bradalamar29

www.goodreads.com/bradalamar

www.bradalamar.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway