So? What's the deal?!

Go on... ask it.

You know you want to. ;)

Everyone asks this question: "What's the book about?"

Well, before you ask the next inevitable question ("What's it look like?"), check out this nifty shot of the front cover (Image copyright 2007 by Nicole Cadet, all rights reserved).



Cool, huh? Nicole's a great artist. As she lives in Australia and I in upstate New York, the wonders of the internet made our working together possible.

On to the story...

"Dark Brand" follows the path of a former master thief by the name of Duncan Runehand. Duncan is a member of the race of the Migans who, as you can tell by the cover, aren't exactly human. These beings resemble humans (known as Atumites in the book), but have a fine coating of fur on their bodies, bright golden eyes like wolves, and other slightly otherworldly features.

Furthermore, Duncan himself is not like most Migans. He has a "gift" that has allowed him to become one of the most feared men in Erin, the dark city where he lives. For years, he arrogantly assumed that he was beyond the law and untouchable, answerable to no one.

Until the day the Migan set his greedy eyes on an ancient relic guarded by a brotherhood of wicked fanatics: a jewel whose origins have been obscured by myth and legend; a mysterious artifact of a long-dead age whose destiny will be forever intertwined with Duncan and with his world.

Duncan stole it. And the horrible Black War followed. Now the land of Aderet, the fantasy world of "Dark Brand," is under the curse of a horror from the past. The skies are forever shadowed and the land broods under a cloud of lurking fear.

What's a thief to do? What would you do if your actions led to the deaths of thousands and the slow, rotting demise of your very world?

Well, to answer that completely you'll need to read the book!

According to Lulu.com, the publisher I'm using to distribute the book, I've got a target release date of late March or early April, 2008. It'll be available from Amazon.com or directly from Lulu (where you can get it in print or PDF format).

Stay tuned for further ramblings,
Bob F. :)

Countdown to Launch

My name is Bob Fountain and I am a man on a mission.

This mission, like many other of its kind, is to bring a work of fiction to you, the reader. Inspired by such writers as Tolkien, Lewis, and Lawhead, I was heartened to see the increase in the level of interest shown toward the fantastical genres, particularly those that had been penned by authors who claimed a heartfelt and informed faith.

For the longest time, I had a particular story in mind that had been haunting the dark corners of my brain, and, though I had a few smaller works that had been published in several obscure arenas, I had always wanted to bring something truly special to the fiction community.

Thus "The Forge of Atuma" was born. And now, Volume 1 of this series, "Dark Brand" is in the final stages of approval. What an amazing journey it's been.

When I set out to write this series of novels, I desired several things: first, I wanted to write a great story that almost anyone could enjoy; a story that could transport you to another, fantastic, world where almost anything could happen. A world where the emotions of wonder, fear, love, and hope could all mingle freely and sweep someone into an experience that both transcended and reflected the human condition. In short, a world that felt like home but magnified through an almost preternatural medium.

Secondly, I desired earnestly to write from the perspective of a person of faith. I believe with all my heart that the world of the material is only part of what we perceive, that the universe is far grander than humanity suspects. I also believe that humanity has an empty, dark place that longs to be filled. My experiences have shown me that the man Jesus Christ is what can fill this void. Stories that show this message (without cramming religion down someone's throat) are the dearest to my heart as they contain the most lasting value.

So why do I write? Why shall I continue to write? In a word, I feel called to express the deepest longings of my heart and of the hearts of my fellow travelers on Spaceship Earth. I welcome comments and questions. My hope is that whoever reads my work will see the passions and desires that drive the characters reflected in one's own heart. Any novel, even at its best, can only serve as a pointer to something beyond itself. My hope is that these stories, while enfolding you in their sometimes bright, sometimes dark, embrace, will point toward a certain someone whom you just might want to get to know a little better.

Until the next post,
Bob