Available in Paperback and Ebook!
Authors: Piers Anthony, Kenneth Kelly
Visit Piers at hipiers.com
Publisher: Dreaming Big Publications, website dreamingbigpublications.com
Virtue Inverted is the first book in a hard-hitting sword and sorcery trilogy by bestselling fantasy author, Piers Anthony, and collaborator Kenneth Kelly. Benny is a poor mountain boy who has found true love in Virtue the vampire. However, Virtue is no ordinary vampire; she's actually a very nice girl. Her bites contain extraordinary power, but will that power be enough to combat the evil that awaits them?
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Virtue-Inverted-Pakk-Trilogy-1/dp/1947381008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500614685&sr=8-1&keywords=virtue+inverted
Bloggers, Vloggers, and Reviewers: We have PDF and MOBI electronic copies available for review. Please contact Kristi at dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free copy. Your reviews are much appreciated, and are a great help! Don't have time to do a full review? Please consider doing a blog spot promotion on your website! You can utilize the promotional video (link above), the cover art, and request author photos and bios. We also have written author interviews available upon request!
From the publisher: As always, it is an honor to work with my all-time favorite author, Piers Anthony. Those of you who follow Dreaming Big are aware of how I came to work with Piers. I am continually honored to be his publisher, and was excited to be asked if I would consider this collaboration. Collaborations are always interesting to me, because there are hints of the author I know and love, but the other author also, of course, adds his or her own style to the book, and if I am not familiar with the other author, I don't know what I'm going to get! Piers Anthony's style is evident in these pages, but Kenneth Kelly's style adds a richness and depth that I'm sure fantasy fans will love! I know I have. Enjoy!
Kristi King-Morgan
Authors: Piers Anthony, Kenneth Kelly
Visit Piers at hipiers.com
Publisher: Dreaming Big Publications, website dreamingbigpublications.com
Virtue Inverted is the first book in a hard-hitting sword and sorcery trilogy by bestselling fantasy author, Piers Anthony, and collaborator Kenneth Kelly. Benny is a poor mountain boy who has found true love in Virtue the vampire. However, Virtue is no ordinary vampire; she's actually a very nice girl. Her bites contain extraordinary power, but will that power be enough to combat the evil that awaits them?
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Virtue-Inverted-Pakk-Trilogy-1/dp/1947381008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500614685&sr=8-1&keywords=virtue+inverted
Bloggers, Vloggers, and Reviewers: We have PDF and MOBI electronic copies available for review. Please contact Kristi at dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free copy. Your reviews are much appreciated, and are a great help! Don't have time to do a full review? Please consider doing a blog spot promotion on your website! You can utilize the promotional video (link above), the cover art, and request author photos and bios. We also have written author interviews available upon request!
From the publisher: As always, it is an honor to work with my all-time favorite author, Piers Anthony. Those of you who follow Dreaming Big are aware of how I came to work with Piers. I am continually honored to be his publisher, and was excited to be asked if I would consider this collaboration. Collaborations are always interesting to me, because there are hints of the author I know and love, but the other author also, of course, adds his or her own style to the book, and if I am not familiar with the other author, I don't know what I'm going to get! Piers Anthony's style is evident in these pages, but Kenneth Kelly's style adds a richness and depth that I'm sure fantasy fans will love! I know I have. Enjoy!
Kristi King-Morgan
INTERVIEW WITH KENNETH KELLY:
Tell us about your book.
Virtue Inverted started off as a story I began in high school. I was very proud of it, showing it off to all my friends and English teachers. But it wasn’t anywhere close to the work it is now. Benny Clout’s character was essentially the same, but almost everything else (setting, plot, characters, etc.) was unrecognizable to how it is now. After I graduated and began college, I quickly realized it wasn’t the masterpiece I’d hoped it would be and sat on it for a few years until I contacted Piers Anthony in 2015 in regards to another book I’d written. We began to discuss this old story of mine, collaborated and before I knew it we’d completed Virtue Inverted and the following installments. I don’t want to discuss too much of the story, but I’ll describe it as a hard hitting vampire fantasy. However, it’s not your typical vampire story.
Who are your favorite authors?
This is a hard question because there are so many writers I admire. I’m obviously a big Piers Anthony fan, and I love the big names of sci-fi/fantasy like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Stephen King. I love the more modern, popular writers like Robert Jordan, Isaac Asimov, David Farland, etc. But there are a lot of lesser known writers I don’t feel received the recognition they deserved: John Bellairs, H. Beam Piper, Niel Hancock, Brad Munson, and John Ruskin. If I typed the names of every writer I consider a favorite this interview would go on forever. An easier question would probably be “which writers aren’t your favorite?”
What advice do you have for other writers?
Keep writing and never give up. It’s hard to become well established as a published writer; I’m still working on that. If one project doesn’t take off, set it aside and move on to the next. You’re first big idea won’t always take off like a jet plane, so don’t become discouraged if your ‘magnum opus’ doesn’t get the reception you think it should. Look at my example: it took over half a decade and the aid of a bestselling writer before Virtue Inverted was picked up by a publisher. Also remember that I got lucky, and not everyone will get the chance to write with a man like Piers Anthony like I did. So I’ll go back a hundred times to the same advice: don’t give up and keep writing no matter what! It’s easy to let everyday life and limited success steal your motivation. Don’t let it happen. The only way to be a writer is to write.
What’s your favorite quote about writing/for writers?
A now deceased English teacher, poet and father figure of mine, Kurt Van Wilt, once told me “write what you know.” I’ll remember this advice after everything else is forgotten. You have to know what you’re writing about, even in a genre like fantasy. I’ve never served in the military let alone gone to war, and I’ve never devoted much research to the idea, so for me to write a novel from the point of view of a soldier as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, or something similar, would be ludicrous and any readers who have experienced this would pick up on it. It’s sort of like that. Writing what you know is what makes your work believable and gives it credibility.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
I’d have to say Dale Beranger. He’s a tortured soul with a complicated past, who was a well seasoned adventurer who could handle any situation imaginable at any given time. You never know what to expect with him. Having him as a main antagonist and villain is what I feel makes Virtue Inverted the story it is. I’ve always thought that the villain of a story is what made it compelling, and my own work is no exception.
Why do you think readers are going to enjoy your book?
Virtue Inverted is a compelling, fast paced and action packed story. I know how much I hate a boring book, and I don’t want readers to find my work dull. The narrative is complex, with many twists and turns that will keep the reader on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Who Designed the Cover?
The cover for Virtue Inverted was done by Mitchell Bentley from Atomic Fly Studios. I stumbled across his website a while back and loved his work. So, Piers and I agreed to let him to the cover for our works. I came up with the general idea for the cover, which Mr. Bentley used to design the finished art.
Who inspires you?
A short, simple answer would be God, family and friends. So many people have aided and supported me throughout my writing and life. My parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, and friends, living and dead, have always pushed me to give nothing less than my 110% at any task I set before me. I feel compelled to make them proud, and to help others in the way they’ve helped me.
Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
It may seem like a childish inspiration, but an old VHS tape is what inspired me to become a writer. When I was a toddler, a neighbor gave me some old video tapes full of old cartoons that I would watch on a daily basis. As a child, I was mesmerized by the colors, characters, places and things I saw, and I would become lost in these amazing worlds I witnessed. This inspired me as a child to create and tell stories to my parents, who would write my tales down before I knew how to write. There were few things that stirred my soul more than a compelling story. Each movie or book I watched or read became a real place, with real friends where I escape the boredom of everyday life. They kept me motivated and gave me something to live for. Every story I watch or read inspires me to this day, but it was those old VHS tapes, which I still have, that set me on the path to become a writer, so that I could help inspire and motivate others with my own work.
Tell us about your book.
Virtue Inverted started off as a story I began in high school. I was very proud of it, showing it off to all my friends and English teachers. But it wasn’t anywhere close to the work it is now. Benny Clout’s character was essentially the same, but almost everything else (setting, plot, characters, etc.) was unrecognizable to how it is now. After I graduated and began college, I quickly realized it wasn’t the masterpiece I’d hoped it would be and sat on it for a few years until I contacted Piers Anthony in 2015 in regards to another book I’d written. We began to discuss this old story of mine, collaborated and before I knew it we’d completed Virtue Inverted and the following installments. I don’t want to discuss too much of the story, but I’ll describe it as a hard hitting vampire fantasy. However, it’s not your typical vampire story.
Who are your favorite authors?
This is a hard question because there are so many writers I admire. I’m obviously a big Piers Anthony fan, and I love the big names of sci-fi/fantasy like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Stephen King. I love the more modern, popular writers like Robert Jordan, Isaac Asimov, David Farland, etc. But there are a lot of lesser known writers I don’t feel received the recognition they deserved: John Bellairs, H. Beam Piper, Niel Hancock, Brad Munson, and John Ruskin. If I typed the names of every writer I consider a favorite this interview would go on forever. An easier question would probably be “which writers aren’t your favorite?”
What advice do you have for other writers?
Keep writing and never give up. It’s hard to become well established as a published writer; I’m still working on that. If one project doesn’t take off, set it aside and move on to the next. You’re first big idea won’t always take off like a jet plane, so don’t become discouraged if your ‘magnum opus’ doesn’t get the reception you think it should. Look at my example: it took over half a decade and the aid of a bestselling writer before Virtue Inverted was picked up by a publisher. Also remember that I got lucky, and not everyone will get the chance to write with a man like Piers Anthony like I did. So I’ll go back a hundred times to the same advice: don’t give up and keep writing no matter what! It’s easy to let everyday life and limited success steal your motivation. Don’t let it happen. The only way to be a writer is to write.
What’s your favorite quote about writing/for writers?
A now deceased English teacher, poet and father figure of mine, Kurt Van Wilt, once told me “write what you know.” I’ll remember this advice after everything else is forgotten. You have to know what you’re writing about, even in a genre like fantasy. I’ve never served in the military let alone gone to war, and I’ve never devoted much research to the idea, so for me to write a novel from the point of view of a soldier as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, or something similar, would be ludicrous and any readers who have experienced this would pick up on it. It’s sort of like that. Writing what you know is what makes your work believable and gives it credibility.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
I’d have to say Dale Beranger. He’s a tortured soul with a complicated past, who was a well seasoned adventurer who could handle any situation imaginable at any given time. You never know what to expect with him. Having him as a main antagonist and villain is what I feel makes Virtue Inverted the story it is. I’ve always thought that the villain of a story is what made it compelling, and my own work is no exception.
Why do you think readers are going to enjoy your book?
Virtue Inverted is a compelling, fast paced and action packed story. I know how much I hate a boring book, and I don’t want readers to find my work dull. The narrative is complex, with many twists and turns that will keep the reader on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Who Designed the Cover?
The cover for Virtue Inverted was done by Mitchell Bentley from Atomic Fly Studios. I stumbled across his website a while back and loved his work. So, Piers and I agreed to let him to the cover for our works. I came up with the general idea for the cover, which Mr. Bentley used to design the finished art.
Who inspires you?
A short, simple answer would be God, family and friends. So many people have aided and supported me throughout my writing and life. My parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, and friends, living and dead, have always pushed me to give nothing less than my 110% at any task I set before me. I feel compelled to make them proud, and to help others in the way they’ve helped me.
Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
It may seem like a childish inspiration, but an old VHS tape is what inspired me to become a writer. When I was a toddler, a neighbor gave me some old video tapes full of old cartoons that I would watch on a daily basis. As a child, I was mesmerized by the colors, characters, places and things I saw, and I would become lost in these amazing worlds I witnessed. This inspired me as a child to create and tell stories to my parents, who would write my tales down before I knew how to write. There were few things that stirred my soul more than a compelling story. Each movie or book I watched or read became a real place, with real friends where I escape the boredom of everyday life. They kept me motivated and gave me something to live for. Every story I watch or read inspires me to this day, but it was those old VHS tapes, which I still have, that set me on the path to become a writer, so that I could help inspire and motivate others with my own work.
INTERVIEW WITH PIERS ANTHONY:
Who are your favorite authors?
If I lost my memory and had my choice of reading matter, I hope my favorite would be Piers Anthony. I try to write what I would like to read. As for other authors, I have admired many in the Science Fiction and Fantasy fields, from Robert A Heinlein on down. I am also an admirer of the plays of George Bernard Shaw, and not just because he was a vegetarian.
What advice do you have for other writers?
Publishing is changing so much now that much of what I might say would become dated about ten minutes after I wrote it. So I’ll just say read and study the genre you are in, keep writing and improving, and may the world go well with thee.
What's the best thing about being a writer?
For me the best thing is getting to exercise my imagination and being independent. I can’t be fired for someone else’s mistakes.
What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?
It used to be dealing with publishers, who were like insensitive robots interested only in money, regardless what they claimed. But the old order is passing and the new publishers I am dealing with are generally more compatible. Some of them even like good fiction. So now the hardest thing is facing the prospect of my declining ability with advancing age. I’m not capable of simply letting it go and retiring. So when I no longer write well, I hope I am the first, not the last to know it.
Where can people find out more about you and your writing?
My web site is www.hipiers.com where I have a monthly column, commenting on whatever is on my mind, and background information on my titles. I have also written two autobiographical books: Bio of an Ogre and How Precious Was That While.
What are you doing to market the book?
Precious little. I’m a writer, not a marketer.
Who inspires you?
The world inspires me.
Have you written other books? Where can readers purchase them?
I have written about 175 other books. Readers can find many of them listed on Amazon. Many readers like my Xanth fantasy series, which now number 42 novels, not all in print yet.
Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
I needed to decide on my college major. I pondered a day and a night, and it came to me: I wanted to be a writer. It was like a light turning on and it has guided me ever since.
Does your family support you in your writing career? How?
My wife supported me. She went to work so I could stay home and try to be a writer. That was when I broke through with my first story sale – for $20.00. But it led to greater things, in time.
What are you currently reading?
I am usually reading something, often a novel for review or blurbing. At the moment I’m between books.
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
Writing is my passion and my life. All else feels like dross. But I do make the meals and wash the dishes, as my wife is infirm. I also like to play cards on the computer, mainly Free Cell, which I believe is the best card game ever.
What is your favorite line from a movie?
Great lines in movies are myriad, but it’s the quiet personal ones that get to me the most that others may not even notice. There was one whose title I don’t remember, where a man, a widower, got a girlfriend he was considering marrying. His early teen daughter lived with him. When the woman made them a meal, the man told the teen to do the dishes. The girlfriend intervened. “No, she doesn’t have to do that. I’ll do it.” Why? “She’s your daughter and I want her to like me.” That disarming candor surely ensured that the girl would like the woman.
What do you like to snack on while you write?
I maintain my college weight, and I exercise seriously. I don’t eat between meals. I’m pretty fit for my age, pushing 82, and mean to stay that way.
When you walk into a book store, where is the first place you go?
The last local book store closed down.
What is the funniest thing that you’ve been asked during an interview?
At the moment I’m not thinking of anything funny in an interview. But I was amused by a sentence in my fan mail: “Ha! Caught you reading fan mail!”
Sometimes I do learn things from my fan mail .
I had a suicidally depressive girl in one of my novels (Virtual Mode, if you must know) who regularly cut her wrists so that they bled. So she wore red bands on her wrists to conceal the blood. A reader wrote that I had it wrong: blood dries black, so she needed black wristlets. I suspect she spoke from experience.
Who are your favorite authors?
If I lost my memory and had my choice of reading matter, I hope my favorite would be Piers Anthony. I try to write what I would like to read. As for other authors, I have admired many in the Science Fiction and Fantasy fields, from Robert A Heinlein on down. I am also an admirer of the plays of George Bernard Shaw, and not just because he was a vegetarian.
What advice do you have for other writers?
Publishing is changing so much now that much of what I might say would become dated about ten minutes after I wrote it. So I’ll just say read and study the genre you are in, keep writing and improving, and may the world go well with thee.
What's the best thing about being a writer?
For me the best thing is getting to exercise my imagination and being independent. I can’t be fired for someone else’s mistakes.
What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?
It used to be dealing with publishers, who were like insensitive robots interested only in money, regardless what they claimed. But the old order is passing and the new publishers I am dealing with are generally more compatible. Some of them even like good fiction. So now the hardest thing is facing the prospect of my declining ability with advancing age. I’m not capable of simply letting it go and retiring. So when I no longer write well, I hope I am the first, not the last to know it.
Where can people find out more about you and your writing?
My web site is www.hipiers.com where I have a monthly column, commenting on whatever is on my mind, and background information on my titles. I have also written two autobiographical books: Bio of an Ogre and How Precious Was That While.
What are you doing to market the book?
Precious little. I’m a writer, not a marketer.
Who inspires you?
The world inspires me.
Have you written other books? Where can readers purchase them?
I have written about 175 other books. Readers can find many of them listed on Amazon. Many readers like my Xanth fantasy series, which now number 42 novels, not all in print yet.
Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
I needed to decide on my college major. I pondered a day and a night, and it came to me: I wanted to be a writer. It was like a light turning on and it has guided me ever since.
Does your family support you in your writing career? How?
My wife supported me. She went to work so I could stay home and try to be a writer. That was when I broke through with my first story sale – for $20.00. But it led to greater things, in time.
What are you currently reading?
I am usually reading something, often a novel for review or blurbing. At the moment I’m between books.
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
Writing is my passion and my life. All else feels like dross. But I do make the meals and wash the dishes, as my wife is infirm. I also like to play cards on the computer, mainly Free Cell, which I believe is the best card game ever.
What is your favorite line from a movie?
Great lines in movies are myriad, but it’s the quiet personal ones that get to me the most that others may not even notice. There was one whose title I don’t remember, where a man, a widower, got a girlfriend he was considering marrying. His early teen daughter lived with him. When the woman made them a meal, the man told the teen to do the dishes. The girlfriend intervened. “No, she doesn’t have to do that. I’ll do it.” Why? “She’s your daughter and I want her to like me.” That disarming candor surely ensured that the girl would like the woman.
What do you like to snack on while you write?
I maintain my college weight, and I exercise seriously. I don’t eat between meals. I’m pretty fit for my age, pushing 82, and mean to stay that way.
When you walk into a book store, where is the first place you go?
The last local book store closed down.
What is the funniest thing that you’ve been asked during an interview?
At the moment I’m not thinking of anything funny in an interview. But I was amused by a sentence in my fan mail: “Ha! Caught you reading fan mail!”
Sometimes I do learn things from my fan mail .
I had a suicidally depressive girl in one of my novels (Virtual Mode, if you must know) who regularly cut her wrists so that they bled. So she wore red bands on her wrists to conceal the blood. A reader wrote that I had it wrong: blood dries black, so she needed black wristlets. I suspect she spoke from experience.
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