Kasper's Ramblings from Kasper Beaumont

It was a great feeling to have fans coming to the Hunters' Quest book launch and some wonderful costumes too.

3/29/2014

Thank-you to everyone who attended. Young Kyla here gave a wonderful book review and said how much she enjoyed reading the books and that her favourite character is Sienna the huntress.
There were many other wonderful pictures taken at the book launch and I will only post ones given parental approval. Thanks to all my wonderful Hunters fans - young and young at heart. Big dragon hugs, from Kasper.

I'm so excited about the Hunters' Quest paperback book launch today

3/28/2014

We're heading off to the book launch and have lots of different cover pictures done by many awesome artists. I can't wait to show everyone all the exciting artwork, reviews and Youtube clips. Woot!
If you can't make it today, the books are available through Kasper, Dymocks North Lakes, many libraries and also Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H05039Q
Check the website for more information:
http://huntersofreloria.weebly.com/get-a-book-here.html

5 stars Jewel of a fantasy, March 25, 2014. By Chris.

3/25/2014

5 stars Jewel of a fantasy, March 25, 2014
By Chris.

One of the things I have loved about fantasy since I got hooked as a very young reader was the ability to travel to worlds where nothing was impossible but dragons, fairies, elves and gnomes all existed and so vividly that you became part of that world. Well in Elven Jewel I was once again transported to a new world, it was like finding this genre all over again and in a beautifully written book that will make you forget your surroundings but become part of the Hunters of Reloria as they set out on their quest.
It starts a little slow but this is forgiven because the stage is being set for a much wider show and there has to be sone groundwork first.
Most of the action is seen through the eyes of the young halflings, peace loving inhabitants who are suddenly thrust into the center of an invasion and war that will be life or death for their land.
Fendi and his bond-fairy quickly became my favourite, quieter than his friend Randir he learnt and grew as the story progressed, another favourite was Asher who was exiled from his own people but a man of honour, and Sienna a young female halfling who was an experienced huntress.
This story will take your imagination for a holiday to the land of Reloria so sit back and enjoy the trip, this is the first in the series and I can't wait to read the rest.
I received a free copy for an honest review

www.amazon.com

FREE paperback giveaway of Hunters' Quest on Goodreads. Enter here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/86576-hunters-quest?utm_medium=email&utm_source=giveaway_approved

3/24/2014

FREE paperback giveaway of Hunters' Quest on Goodreads.

Enter here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/86576-hunters-quest?utm_medium=email&utm_source=giveaway_approved
Get in quick for your chance to WIN!

A great new 5 star review of Elven Jewel from Egypt

3/24/2014

"I must say that it has been a long time since I read a fantasy as good as Lords of The Rings. I simply loved this book and cannot wait to start reading the next one. Elves, halflings, fairies, lizard-like-scaly creatures, a plan for invasion, a quest to save a land, and what not! This books has it all. It is a fantasy worth reading and I applaud the author for writing such an original, refreshing tale, which will lead the readers to a mystical land they will never want to leave.
"Two Halflings and their fairies are the first one to see the scaly invaders, and now it is their task to reach Elves and warn them of the impending danger. Their land is rich in food and the fear of invasion is the reason why elves used their magic to build a shield around it. Now these invaders have found a way to penetrate through it and their mission is to break the shield and lead their army in. They want to capture this rich in resources land. But will they succeed in their evil plans or not is yet to be seen.....
"This book is so well written that once started reading you will not be able to put it down. Fantasy is one of my preferred genre and Elven Jewel did not disappoint me in any way. I will recommend this book to any fantasy lover. In fact even if you weren't a fantasy lover, read this, and you may change your opinion about fantasies."
Review by: Fizza Younis on March 24, 2014 on Smashwords. Thank-you so much, from Kasper

Movie review: The monuments Men

3/21/2014

I took 3 children including a 4 year-old on a 24 hour flight to see the Louvre, which may give you an inkling of my penchant for a bit of art culture. That and my regular fantasy art competitions, of course. I remember backpacking in Dresden in the 1990s and seeing their Frauenkirche Cathedral in thousands of pieces on the ground awaiting restoration. We have also been to Rouen and played on the bombed church ruins there.
So, in a pleasant change of Hollywood pace, this movie is more about the war and saving art than about George Clooney. I had been a trifle concerned that it was another Ocean's 11 brat pack movie, but thank goodness it was a touching movie with real characters and a good cause. I felt it captured the era quite well with the heartbreak and misery of the war-torn era interspersed with the occasional ray of hope. It's nice to see a bit of grit and some wrinkles (yes you, beautiful Cate Blanchett), as well as so much beautiful artwork. Good on you Monuments Men for saving some of the most important artworks ever made. (Are you sure I can't add an apostrophe to Monuments?) ;-) by Kasper.

Dresden's Frauenkirche after the bombing

Restored in 2005

I joined a writers' group

3/20/2014

So, in true Kasper style of doing everything backwards, I published 2 books and then joined a writers' group. Maybe I'll take a writing lesson next eh?
NL Writers' Group are a friendly bunch and seemed unfazed by my knee-knocking reading of Dragon's Revenge. They even passed me little love notes saying they enjoyed it. I think I got far more out than I put in, being the shy, retiring type that I am, but I did make a few constructive comments for everyone.
We listened to a range of genres from fantasy, sci-fi, christian, general, emotional and descriptive writings. I had a great time and would love to go again if they'll have me. It's fun to connect with other authors and get critiqued on a 5 minute reading.
Happy writing folks, cheers, Kasper :-)

Hunters' Quest review - I think that it is very well written and it captured my imagination

3/16/2014

"I really love Hunters' Quest. I like everything about it; the storyline, the characters, and the cliff hanger at the end. I think that it is very well written and it captured my imagination, I couldn't put it down. In my opinion, it is even better than the first book. I can't wait to read about what happens next in the 3rd book."
by Clare age almost 10.

I find it wonderful that a clever 9-year-old read my book and wrote such an eloquent review. Many thanks to you Clare and I'll send a pre-release draft of Dragon's Revenge for your feedback. Cheers, Kasper :-)

All About Children's Books Blog says, "I always enjoy a good quest with mythical creatures, magic, elves, dwarfs, knights, a dragon, high action and dangerous adventures, and characters that run me through a gamut of emotions."

3/14/2014

"About the story: The story is a fantasy adventure about good versus evil. Four halflings, along with their bond fairies, set out to save their land, Reloria, from the evil Vergais (large, scaly creatures). There are also dwarfs, elves, knights and a dragon that team up with the halflings on their adventures to return the stolen Elven Jewel and, in turn, save their homeland.
What I thought: The story started out slow for me, but as I read more into the adventure and got closer to the characters, I couldn't help but become drawn into this fantasy world. This world is in some ways familiar to the reader, yet has its own uniqueness in the diverse, entertaining characters and plot to make it an original fantasy tale.
The characters are original, well-rounded, and believable. The reader comes away from the story with the sense that not all beings are evil, that their is hope for the future, that friendship is worth fighting for, that sometimes good can come out of adversity, and not to give up on what is important.
I always enjoy a good quest with mythical creatures, magic, elves, dwarfs, knights, a dragon, high action and dangerous adventures, and characters that run me through a gamut of emotions. This book has all of that and more."

Posted on the All About Children's Books blog at:
http://www.dianemaerobinson.com/2014/03/book-review-elven-jewel.html

Movie review: Vampire Academy

3/10/2014

It hasn't happened much of late, but I emerged from the Dragon's Revenge writing bubble and ventured out to the movies with a girlfriend to see the Vampire Academy movie. I quite enjoyed reading the series a few years back and was keen to see how it turned out.
As you may know, it has received fairly average reviews and had several rotten tomatoes hurled at it online. I often think that some of these reviewers don't even like paranormal movies and just see them to fulfill their quota. They panned Twilight too, but that movie made a lot of ladies very happy. So here is a review from a fan of the books and also a bit of feedback from a couple of my vampire-loving friends.
Vampire Academy tells the story of Lissa Dragomir, the last of a royal line of Moroi vampires who goes into hiding because someone has attempted to kill her. Her Dhampir guardian, Rose, becomes her blood sister and they are psychically linked. Rose can see visions of Lissa and is sometimes used as her blood source. Dhampirs are half human and can go in the sun unlike the full-blood Moroi vampires. There are also badder vamps called the Strigoi who act a bit like blood-crazed zombies. The escaping friends are tracked down by a bad-ass guardian named Dimitri and returned to their Vampire Academy.
Here is when it all slowed down and got a bit dull for me. The wicked headmistress wasn't really scary and it felt like we were in a regular teen movie like Mean Girls. My recollections of the books made the vampire magic much more exciting, but it is downplayed here. Vampire Academy is not quite as straitlaced and sparkling as Twilight, but neither is it a neck-ripping bloodbath. It's more like a Vampire Diaries hot sexy mess kinda thing.
Thankfully the forbidden relationship between cleavage-baring Rose and her man-mountain instructor Dimitri has some serious chemistry going on. Woo hoo, those two are smoking hot! Lots of long lingering looks and plenty of physical contact during their weapons training make for great viewing.
Here are my friends opinions: 1: "I really enjoyed it but didn't like Dimitri" (what the? Oh well, all entitled to their opinion). 2. "I love, love, love Rose and Dimitri" (oh yeah, me too).
So my advice is to go and see it if you're a fan of the books or like a bit of Twilight or the Vampire Diaries. It's definitely a guilty-pleasure movie for the ladies and I might be seeing it again sometime soon.

Dimitri and Rose in action