Hey, I get it. You like to read, but there are a lot of indie books on the market these days. In fact, there are really a lot of them, they number in the thousands, and they're all vying for your attention (not to mention, hard-earned cash). Add to that the simple fact that many of these books are kind of... not so great. Between under-developed writing skills, poor spelling and grammar, and a basic lack of editing, many of these books just aren't worth your time. The purpose of this blog post is to explain why Echoes of Olympus is worth your time (not to mention, the small amount of money associated with its enjoyment).
Echoes of Olympus has been out for a while, but its original publisher has gone out of business, leaving me, the author, to re-publish it on my own. To celebrate this, I've given it a shiny new cover and finally, a series title (The Atheniad). But in a market awash with indie authors clamoring for your attention and hoping you'll buy their book, why should you give Echoes of Olympus a read? Well, look no further. Here are ten reasons you should read this book...
1. Ancient Greece, mythology, and fantasy come together
Have you read a lot of fantasy, but ever wondered why they always pick pseudo-medieval settings for these fantastic tales? Sure, it makes some sense, considering that the most well-known titles in the fantasy genre had that feel, for example, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Forgotten Realms, Wheel of Time, and the Shannara series. Despite the prevalence of the medieval period in fantasy, there are other periods in our history that would fit fantasy just as well, if not a little better. I picked Ancient Greece because on a fundamental level, the world was actually better suited to many of the fantasy tropes we're familiar with. I'd go on about this here, but that would be a multi-page discussion, which just happens to be the Historical Note, located at the front of the book.
2. I'm a Veteran Writer
Hello and well met! For those who aren't familiar with me, which I assume, is most, I was a consistently published roleplaying game writer for a dozen years before releasing my first novel. I first found success writing the Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 supplement, Book of Exalted Deeds. Alongside others, I helped write Forgotten Realms: Serpent Kingdoms, Forgotten Realms: Mysteries of the Moonsea, D20 Apocalypse, and many other roleplaying game books, as well as dozens of game-related articles, which have been published by Wizards of the Coast, Mongoose Publishing, Paizo Publishing, and more. As if that weren't enough, I spent two years writing dialogue and backstory for an MMO video game.
3. Endorsed by Ed Greenwood.
Yes, THAT Ed Greenwood-creator of the Forgotten Realms, an ongoing roleplaying game setting, video game setting, and massive series of novels dating back to the mid-1980s. Sage, luminary, and builder of fantasy worlds, Ed Greenwood has this to say about Echoes of Olympus: "...Echoes of Olympus brings us an alternate Ancient Greece-and really brings it to life. Fascinating characters and no shortage of battle and derring-do. MORE PLEASE!"
4. I'll Be Writing a Novel for Ed Greenwood
Speaking of Ed Greenwood, he recently launched an all new fantasy setting called Stormtalons. The first couple novels are out, and they're pretty excellent. Although magic features prominently, it's not nearly as common as it is in the Forgotten Realms, making the setting distinctly unique, yet spiced by Ed's delightful and unmistakable fantasy flavor. When Ed launched his own group of creatives, I happily joined up, floated a novel proposal past him, and that's been accepted. I have a book on the schedule, though it is a ways downstream, at least for the time being. I can't wait to get going on it.
5. Inspired By Titles You Might Remember
Echoes of Olympus came from my day-dreaming mind in college history and science classes just as much as it was inspired by books and movies you might enjoy. I took inspiration from movies like Clash of the Titans (the original, not the horrific remake), Immortals, 300, and Troy (incidentally, I can't think of a better casting choice for Odysseus than Sean Bean. The literary inspirations for the book came from the Troy series, by David Gemmell, which is another quasi-historical re-imagining, and other fiction from the period. Put simply, if you like those, or even the ever-cheesy Hercules and Xena, you might just enjoy Echoes of Olympus.
6. Professional Editing by Daniel Rider
Many people who write will happily tell you that editors are the unsung heroes of publishing. Even some of the most published writers look like amateurs without them. The editor steps in, looks at everything from plot consistency, to word arrangement, spelling, and grammar. It's their job to spot your plot holes, be your worst critic, all the while navigating around the troubled waters of an author's overly-inflated ego. Daniel Rider is over-qualified to be an editor of fiction, having a lengthy background in academia in English, and having taught writers for many years. The amount of time he spent reading, critiquing, and re-reading this novel really contributed to it being released as a solid work of fiction. It would be impossible to over-state the importance of Daniel Rider to this work.
7. Well Researched
Echoes of Olympus grew out of my imagination as well as the classroom. While it is an alternate take on history, I spent a great deal of time digging into the details of the period so I could make it as authentic as possible. From the little things, like cities being referred to as "polises," to authentic weapons from the period, to the inclusion of certain stories from the the time (the fate of Syrpax, Alexander's march East, and some of the people, such as Demosthenes, and Aristotle, it strives to present a Classical Greece in a way that brings it to life for the reader.
8. Not the Ancient Greece You Studied in School
While I wanted a certain degree of believably and authenticity, I also wanted the book to be fun and relatable, so I had to pick and choose which details to include, which to omit, and which ones to change. There is magic in this world. There are magical artifacts. There is divine magical healing. The mythology you know remains mostly unchanged, but much is different behind the scenes, so it might not match up exactly with the myths you've studied in your literature classes. This is heroic fantasy, not a history lesson, but I was well aware of the history I was changing.
9. It's a Fun Read
If you've read this far, I can only assume you enjoy stories about heroes and villains, swordplay and adventure, magic and mystery. You might even enjoy reading about a touch of romance.Echoes of Olympus has all these things and more. From memorable characters to intense battle scenes, this nicely sets up the next two books well, while taking the reader on an adventure they won't soon forget.
10. Lovecraftian Tenatacular Goodness
Without giving away too much of the plot line, let's just say that Greek myth wasn't the sole inspiration for this book. Lovecraftian horror has been a major inspiration for decades, and has spawned a fair number of movies, original novels, and notable novelists such as the master of horror, Stephen King, and the creator of Conan the Barbarian, Robert E. Howard.
Echoes of Olympus is available for sale here, in Kindle and print formats.
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