Kasper's Ramblings from Kasper Beaumont - Hunters of Reloria

Hunters of Reloria

Review: An enchanting children's book by Nicholas Rossis @Nicholas_Rossis #fantasy #childrens

12/31/2015

'Runaway Smile' is an enchanting story, capturing the innocence of a young boy's quest to find his missing moniker.
The story appears to be quite a simple tale of the boy's adventure, but there is embellishment with delightful touches of a vivid imagination everywhere you look. For example: rather than just a bear passing by, it is a bear riding a unicycle. I did also like the understatement where the simple description of a fob watch spoke volumes about the mother.
The illustrations by talented Dimitris Fousekis foster an air of whimsy and are a welcome enhancement to the story.

The tale is easy to read and would be suitable for parents to read to their children, or emerging readers to discover on their own as a first chapter book.
My only regret would be that it ended so soon, and I will definitely by exploring more of Nicholas Rossis' repertoire.
You can view Runaway Smile on Amazon for more reviews and to pick up a copy of your own. It is free today.

Runaway Smile

I'm teaming up with awesome authors for the #FSFNet YEAR'S END BLOCKBUSTER #fantasy #scifi SALE

12/20/2015

The Fantasy Sci-Fi Network is having a terrific blockbuster sale this holiday season! December 19th begins our e-book extravaganza of free books, 99 cent deals, and deep discounts on fantasy and science fiction books from award-winning and bestselling authors like Patricia Reding, A.R. Silverberry, L.R.W. Lee, and J.D. Hallowell; and up-and-coming authors including Charles D. Carpenter/D.W. Jones, Kasper Beaumont, Joshua Grasso, Robin Lythgoe, and many more .....

My contributions to the sale are Elven Jewel, which is discounted by 80% for the sale, and also my brand new release collaboration with Kyla Milne: a short story called 'Sienna the Huntress.'

Links:

Elven Jewel
Sienna the Huntress

Year's End Blockbuster

Movie review: Star Wars: the Force Awakens. A must see for fans young and old. #StarWars

12/20/2015

Our 3 children were too young to see any of the previous movies in their original cinema releases, so it was with child-like wonder that we attended Star Wars: the Force Awakens. There is something magical about watching it with youngsters and enjoying their gasps of surprise, giggles and cheers of elation. It is not a movie I would recommend for the pre-schooler age, but our children of 14, 12 and almost 8 were delighted with it. There are a couple of scary bits in there, the usual kind of Star Wars violence and lots of awesome loud music and special effects.

As you will read in I daresay many other reviews, it is best not to talk about the plot due to spoilers. I can say that I appreciated the emotional connection to the new characters, although it did take me just a little while to get used to Luke, Han and Leia not being the lead stars. Yes, they are all there to some degree, but the story has moved on, which I think was necessary, but a little hard for the original fans to process right away.
Finn and Rey are two great new lead characters and there is a mysterious Darth Vader-like baddie (of course it wouldn't be Star Wars without the bad imperial storm troopers.) I think I'll leave it there plot-wise. Just go and see it and judge for yourself. The galaxy is kinda familiar, but so many things are new and different that we can feel that this is a new movie and the start of a new adventure. Will there be 3 or 6 movies from Disney? I don't know, but if they are of this quality, then the more the merrier for me.
Excuse me while I go and play with my lightsabre. Buzz buzz

By the way, check out the cool clip below. Such fun!

Here they are (drumroll please) the fantastic art competition winners #fantasy #art

12/7/2015

The 7 winners of the $50 prize and publishing the picture in the Fandri's Adventures novel are:
Michele Rene Goodhew for 'Tsunami'
Ruby, grade 5 for 'Fairy'
Hecate Jerrett for 'Queen Liara-Star'
Tania age 11, for 'Dragon'
Susannah age 14, for 'Fandri Wrestling with a White Bear in the Snow'
Hecate Jerrett, for 'Fandri-La'
Madison, age 12, for 'Queen Liara-Star'

An additional prize of $100 plus the book cover picture was awarded to
Brighid Walton for 'Fandri and the White Bear'

Congratulations to our winners, and a huge thank-you to all who entered the competition. We appreciate all your hard work, from Kasper and the two art teacher judges.

You can view all the competition entries here and on Youtube https://youtu.be/5ePsDuDHQjo

Announcing our 12 runners up in the fantasy art competition #fantasy #art

12/7/2015

As you can imagine, the three judges had a hard time choosing just 8 worthy winners for the 'Fandri's Adventures' art competition, so these 12 additional prizes of $10 and publication in the upcoming novel were added to the original prizes. We are delighted to award the runner up prize to the 12 fantastic pictures you see here below.

Lucky last art competition entry was worth the wait #fantasy #art

12/2/2015

This beautiful elf sparkled her way into the competition just before closing time. It is 'Queen Liara-Star' in watercolour by Hecate Jerrett.
Hecate sent a message on her fondness for the original crown and I agree that it really stands out in the picture. I also like the elf's features and lovely dress and hair. Vey regal indeed.

Of course the high calibre of entry is going to make it very hard to pick just 8 winners. I'm so pleased that I am getting some help with the judging. The results will be announced on the weekend. Thank you to everyone who took part and remember to vote for your favourites on Facebook.
The fantasy art competition has now closed. You can view all the entries on the website at http://huntersofreloria.weebly.com/art-comp-entries.html.
You can vote for your favourite entry on Facebook until 12MD December 13th, 2015 Eastern Australian time.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.549636235203121.1073741841.121244861375596&type=3
It really has been a fun competition and I hope you will all enjoy the Fandri's Adventures novel when it is published late next year.

The 49th entry is 'Celdar-Moon' in watercolour by Hecate Jerrett #fantasy #art

12/1/2015

Celdar-Moon is quite a complex character in the Hunters of Reloria series and I like the way Hecate has depicted him here. His vanity is shown in the fine clothes he wears with a small amount of armour which is covered in jewels. I like the way his cloak is caught in the breeze. The sword is ornate and has a good shine to it. His face is rather a neutral expression, which I can imagine, because he is a serious and sometimes quite negative person. Great entry.

The art competition is to uncover new chapter art for Kasper's next novel, which is a prequel to the Hunters of Reloria trilogy. There is $500 up for grabs in prizes and the competition closes today, so hurry to enter.

Click here for more details:
http://huntersofreloria.weebly.com/art-competition.html

Justin from grade 5 sends in a fearsome-looking dragon #dragons #art

12/1/2015

I must admit a little trepidation when a piece of paper was passed to me with a dragon image that looked like it was about to leap from the page and tear off my arm.
Well done to Justin for drawing such a great dragon with its angry eye, sharp teeth and spikes.

The art competition is to uncover new chapter art for Kasper's next novel, which is a prequel to the Hunters of Reloria trilogy. There is $500 up for grabs in prizes and the competition closes today, so hurry to enter.

Click here for more details:
http://huntersofreloria.weebly.com/art-competition.html

Entry 47 'Dragons flying around the volcano' digital painting #dragons #art

12/1/2015

Michelle Rene Goodhew has sent in another cool digital painting. This one is of a large green dragon in flight. I really like the sunset colouring of the volcano background and sky in this painting. Looking good.
The art competition is to uncover new chapter art for Kasper's next novel, which is a prequel to the Hunters of Reloria trilogy. There is $500 up for grabs in prizes and the competition closes today, so hurry to enter.

Click here for more details:
http://huntersofreloria.weebly.com/art-competition.html

2 pictures of Fandri by Michelle Rene Goodhew #fantasy #art

12/1/2015

Michelle is a book cover designer at Ravenswood Publishing and Mundus Media Ink and also an illustrator at Transformational Authors and I'm delighted she has sent in so many cool pictures for the art competition.
This one is a picture of Fandri working on a farm before his adventures begin in the upcoming story. I do like this dissatisfied look on his face which shows his opinion of his lot in life. Definitely someone who looks like they might be inclined to run away with knights and elves on a quest.
The use of colour is really good and I appreciate the entries, thank you.

The art competition is to uncover new chapter art for Kasper's next novel, which is a prequel to the Hunters of Reloria trilogy. There is $500 up for grabs in prizes and the competition closes today, so hurry to enter.

Click here for more details:
http://huntersofreloria.weebly.com/art-competition.html