One of the joys of being a fantasy author is being interviewed about writing fantasy (which is, after all, my favourite subject). Nerine Dorman interviewed me for The Star (part of the Independent News and Media group in South Africa). We talked about Ametheus, my relationship with Twardy Zarost and Tabitha’s inspiring nature, as well as my favourite scenes and sources of inspiration.
Read the full interview on their website:
Enter South African fantasy author’s world of music and magic.
A few days ago, a box arrived containing these proofs for the shiny new version of the Tale of the Lifesong fantasy series. I’m impressed with the print quality and have approved the production, so The Riddler’s Gift and Second Sight are now available in the USA.
Although my books and specials are still available to US customers on greghamerton.com, the cost of international airmail makes some of the options expensive. So I’m delighted to announce that you can now buy the Tale of the Lifesong series from Amazon and save on the postage costs! See the bottom of the special deals page for details and links.
The Riddler’s Gift has been released in two parts, to make it more affordable for new readers who haven’t yet heard the Lifesong. Second Sight is in one volume, because if you have read The Riddler’s Gift, you’ll be wanting the whole of the sequel! It was also impossible to split Second Sight in the middle; the story is complex and spans more than 600 pages. The Riddler’s Gift was originally written in two parts, and so divides neatly in the middle of the story.
Come and join me for a bit of release day fun. At 5pm (GMT) on 1 August 2010 there’s a launch party for Second Sight on Facebook and you’re welcome. This is a virtual party … just wander over to the Tale of the Lifesong group page then post whatever you like on the wall.
Bring an image from Eyri … a sprite, a mote, the last photo your friend took on his phone when he tried to raise a morgloth. Come surprise us with the image post, scratch a secret you stole from the Shadowcasters on the wall or simply hang out and enjoy the essence.
Dress code: Oldenworld style … so dress up your avatar (that’s your profile photo, dummy) Come fan the flames or just cause some Chaos.
You’ll be instantly famous! Your name will be sung in worship songs for years to come. You may even end up written into the future books as something memorable, like a mote … there’s three of ‘em, all huddled together.
Then the afterparty starts at 6pm over at The Crowbar (it will appear, as if by magic, on the homepage of greghamerton.com) I’ll be having a live chat there for as long as the party goes on for! Come terrify the guests.
Another 5 star review, this time from Liviu Suciu of Fantasy Book Critic, 
a seasoned reviewer in the US who reads more fantasy novels than anyone I know. If you enjoy deep insight into the latest fantasy novels, I highly recommend checking out the website by clicking on the image.
Liviu wrote: “Second Sight” is the second Tale of the Lifesong following the author’s debut “The Riddler’s Gift”. While quite a traditional fantasy tale – the destined girl, the magical artifact, the mentor of the title, the nasty and tricky villains, the pseudo-medieval setting – “The Riddler’s Gift” enchanted me from the first pages with its beautiful and lyrical style and I followed the adventures of Tabitha Serannon and the assorted cast of characters to the superb and complete ending of the novel’s main thread.
However the big picture remained in the background with only hints and snippets given and indeed “Second Sight” picks up where “The Riddler’s Gift” ends and deals with the monumental – the creation and destruction of worlds, the relationship between Order and Chaos or Dark and Light – all embodied in the eons long conflict between Wizards of Order, Sorcerers of Chaos and Gods and Goddeses of Creation and Destruction.
Very high magic and big-words stuff, but despite my general avoidance of such, the beautiful writing and the great characters, especially Tabitha and The Riddler, compelled me to read and greatly enjoy this tale too.
Continue the review here >
Second Sight just got a 5 star review!
A few advance reading copies of the new fantasy novel Second Sight went out last week. The first review has just come in from Samantha Shove:
“This book continues the promise of the epic fantasy laid down by Riddler’s Gift and follows the story with all the dry wit, humour, tenderness, magic, mystery and mayhem (actually there’s a hell of a lot more mayhem in this one, unsurprisingly considering where they’re travelling through) found in the first tale. Once again Hamerton’s writing pulls you deep into the story so you feel everything as they experience it, every victory and defeat, every moment of honesty and kindness, treachery and deceit, love and hate and most of all every moment of battle between Order and Chaos and of course the power of the Lifesong. Hamerton has definitely created a world and story to rival Tolkien’s LOTR (although this will always be the original and the best of the fantasy world) in all aspects of story-telling, character creation, other world creation and sheer epic-ness (not a real word, I know, nothing else would do). The only question left is…when oh when is the third instalment, so subtly alluded to by Twardy, going to be out?” > Read the full review on Goodreads
I’ve had a fantastic response from the community of readers on Goodreads. I started a competition two weeks ago, to spread the word about the upcoming release of new fantasy novel Second Sight. Today was the draw, and 812 people entered! Seems like everyone wants a copy. Five lucky winners will soon have their free books.
It’s a great system … I (hopefully) get some enthusiastic reviews of the book to help the publicity, and readers get the kind of books they are interested in.
If you’re not already on Goodreads, why don’t you sign up? It’s a simple process and is free. Once you’re in, you’re looking for something like my giveaway below (the draw is over, but it will take you through to the site and you can start from there). See what’s on offer this month by going to find books > giveaways.
Today’s winners are: Susan Mann, Evan Paul, Cynde Mitchell, Ricci Groomes and Jolene Bitton.
Well done! You’ll get your books just as soon as the mailman from Oldenworld arrives on his horse…
Two pallets of books departed from India today, bound for South Africa and the UK. Thomson Press did the printing again, and I’m expecting the same excellent quality that they delivered with The Riddler’s Gift. I’ve seen the advance copies and they look amazing! I’m so glad I chose to go with hardcover for this limited first edition. It’s light and feels solid. Shiny!
Here’s a sneak preview of what’s coming on August 1.
