Daniel Varona's Blog - Posts Tagged "first"
A New Chapter in my Life
Hey all!
On the 1st of February, my very first book is being published and it feels surreal. Since 2015, I have been working on a novel that turned into the Cycle of Eden series. What the story was then has totally changed but thinking about the journey we as authors go on to finish a novel is nothing short of valuable. As excited as I am about you getting the 1st Part of this series, there is still so much I have to share with you all that needs to be published! My three other parts, written beginning to end, are also waiting to be released. From very early on, I planned out how I wanted this tale to end, using it as a goal post to fill in the gaps easier, using that as a path to follow. As fast paced as my writing style is, almost like a script from a Video Game or Movie, every sentence has a purpose, some holding much bigger clues to world building elements than you think at the time. There are aspects and ideas mentioned in The Young Revolution that come back to bite the characters in Part 4, the Finale! That to me was the most fun part of writing this series, connecting those dots that strengthen the world's history. Nothing is forgotten, because I want this reading experience of the entire series to be rewarding beginning to end. I hope you all enjoy the character growth and high-octane action throughout. Thank you for checking out the first part of my series and I promise you will love Part 2's twist! While getting things situated as an author for The Young Revolution, I have been hard at work still reading Parts 2-4 daily to make this story as concrete as possible. I plan on doing an Author Reading of the entire prologue on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheLOAFSquad) so look forward to other content dealing with the series soon!
Peace and Love!
On the 1st of February, my very first book is being published and it feels surreal. Since 2015, I have been working on a novel that turned into the Cycle of Eden series. What the story was then has totally changed but thinking about the journey we as authors go on to finish a novel is nothing short of valuable. As excited as I am about you getting the 1st Part of this series, there is still so much I have to share with you all that needs to be published! My three other parts, written beginning to end, are also waiting to be released. From very early on, I planned out how I wanted this tale to end, using it as a goal post to fill in the gaps easier, using that as a path to follow. As fast paced as my writing style is, almost like a script from a Video Game or Movie, every sentence has a purpose, some holding much bigger clues to world building elements than you think at the time. There are aspects and ideas mentioned in The Young Revolution that come back to bite the characters in Part 4, the Finale! That to me was the most fun part of writing this series, connecting those dots that strengthen the world's history. Nothing is forgotten, because I want this reading experience of the entire series to be rewarding beginning to end. I hope you all enjoy the character growth and high-octane action throughout. Thank you for checking out the first part of my series and I promise you will love Part 2's twist! While getting things situated as an author for The Young Revolution, I have been hard at work still reading Parts 2-4 daily to make this story as concrete as possible. I plan on doing an Author Reading of the entire prologue on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheLOAFSquad) so look forward to other content dealing with the series soon!
Peace and Love!
"What-If" Scenarios
Recently, in order to make the world of Eden feel more concrete, I've been thinking and organizing thoughts about alternate paths or "What-If" scenarios. These are related to all the choices the characters "could" make but not the ones that are chosen in the Golden Path, a.k.a. the actual storyline. For Example, "What if Seth accepted to join Cain on the Airship escaping Haven at the beginning of The Young Revolution?" These outside the box thoughts are not only fun to think about but also help dig deeper into a character's motives and goals in the main storyline. I've tried hard with coming up with answers to these alternate storylines, but I will obviously miss a few. In the grand scheme this doesn't matter too much, but it's a fun activity to do when you need help with brainstorming or expounding certain sections you may feel are lacking. I wish I could speak about some of these answers here, but that is huge spoiler territory, so I'll have to hold off for now!
Daniel VaronaThe Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution
Daniel VaronaThe Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution
"A rollicking, otherworldly tale that’s only just getting started." — Kirkus Reviews
"A young warrior battles sinister forces in a world besieged by darkness in Varona’s fantasy debut and series launch."
"Lady Eve was once a queen in her utopian world of Eden. But evil has corrupted the Age of Light, and Eve now leads the Reclaimers in fighting to bring that Light back. A prophetic dream shows her that her youngest son, Seth, is the Chosen One who will ultimately triumph over the darkness. Eve trains him for combat, but a sudden attack at the Reclaimers’ base leaves most of them dead, and the boy is left alone. Six years later, Seth wanders the landscape with his trusty dog, Chase. He resolves to avenge his mother and all who’ve suffered, starting with taking out a diabolical group called the Hand of Sin. This pits him against the likes of Gomorrah, the Gluttonous King of Sodom, along with any number of deadly creatures and lethal mechanical beings. Luckily, he gathers allies along the way, including the skilled warrior Valentina and Ryder, who leads a band of “messengers” on their “speedy vehicles,” which resemble motorcycles. The author delivers an epic series opener reminiscent of the video games that served as his inspiration: Seth drinks a rejuvenating elixir; embarks on a side quest (winning a race to get a ride to the kingdom of Babylonia); and goes head-to-head with boss-level baddies like Gomorrah. The heroes engage in copious exhilarating action scenes as they battle ghouls, monsters sporting large “bone-like spikes,” and seriously depraved villains. Despite all of these evils, the story often feels lighthearted. Chase regularly converses with Seth; the text translates his barks (which Seth understands). The prose includes contemporary-sounding dialogue, breezy similes (a tremor shakes barracks “like a plucked guitar string”), and one-liners. The explosive final act ends on a stellar cliffhanger that will leave readers craving a sequel."
"A rollicking, otherworldly tale that’s only just getting started." — Kirkus Reviews
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Daniel Varona
The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution
"Lady Eve was once a queen in her utopian world of Eden. But evil has corrupted the Age of Light, and Eve now leads the Reclaimers in fighting to bring that Light back. A prophetic dream shows her that her youngest son, Seth, is the Chosen One who will ultimately triumph over the darkness. Eve trains him for combat, but a sudden attack at the Reclaimers’ base leaves most of them dead, and the boy is left alone. Six years later, Seth wanders the landscape with his trusty dog, Chase. He resolves to avenge his mother and all who’ve suffered, starting with taking out a diabolical group called the Hand of Sin. This pits him against the likes of Gomorrah, the Gluttonous King of Sodom, along with any number of deadly creatures and lethal mechanical beings. Luckily, he gathers allies along the way, including the skilled warrior Valentina and Ryder, who leads a band of “messengers” on their “speedy vehicles,” which resemble motorcycles. The author delivers an epic series opener reminiscent of the video games that served as his inspiration: Seth drinks a rejuvenating elixir; embarks on a side quest (winning a race to get a ride to the kingdom of Babylonia); and goes head-to-head with boss-level baddies like Gomorrah. The heroes engage in copious exhilarating action scenes as they battle ghouls, monsters sporting large “bone-like spikes,” and seriously depraved villains. Despite all of these evils, the story often feels lighthearted. Chase regularly converses with Seth; the text translates his barks (which Seth understands). The prose includes contemporary-sounding dialogue, breezy similes (a tremor shakes barracks “like a plucked guitar string”), and one-liners. The explosive final act ends on a stellar cliffhanger that will leave readers craving a sequel."
"A rollicking, otherworldly tale that’s only just getting started." — Kirkus Reviews
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Daniel Varona
The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution
My Debut Novel Won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award for May 2023!
My debut action fantasy novel, The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution, recently received the Literary Titan Gold Book Award for May 2023! This was awesome to see as an indie author, a real confidence booster as I start the publication process for its sequel!
Award Page: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/05/...
I also participated in a small interview that brings more insight of my investment and future with the Cycle of Eden series. The title of it is quoted from one of my answers, "Make My Readers Question That Norm."
Interview: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/26/...
You can read their amazing review of The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution on their website as well! Here is a sneak peek:
"Varona’s prose takes readers on an exhilarating ride as Seth and his companions encounter a host of creatively written monsters and face a variety of challenges that are both well-described and original. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is the inner dialogue of the characters, particularly Seth, whose thoughts are laugh-out-loud funny and offer a lightness to the otherwise tense situations they find themselves in. The world-building and plot are intricately woven, and readers will appreciate the vivid descriptions of the various landscapes and characters that populate this richly imagined universe." - Literary Titan
Review: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/21/...
Daniel Varona
Award Page: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/05/...
I also participated in a small interview that brings more insight of my investment and future with the Cycle of Eden series. The title of it is quoted from one of my answers, "Make My Readers Question That Norm."
Interview: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/26/...
You can read their amazing review of The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution on their website as well! Here is a sneak peek:
"Varona’s prose takes readers on an exhilarating ride as Seth and his companions encounter a host of creatively written monsters and face a variety of challenges that are both well-described and original. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is the inner dialogue of the characters, particularly Seth, whose thoughts are laugh-out-loud funny and offer a lightness to the otherwise tense situations they find themselves in. The world-building and plot are intricately woven, and readers will appreciate the vivid descriptions of the various landscapes and characters that populate this richly imagined universe." - Literary Titan
Review: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/21/...
Daniel Varona
My Publisher, Atmosphere Press, Interviewed Me!
Hey Everyone!
Atmosphere Press released an interview I did with them that gives more behind the scenes insight and tips to aspiring indie authors. You can find the Interview here: https://atmospherepress.com/interview...
If you'd rather listen than read, I also made a video including this interview and an update on my debut novel, The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution.
I go over other reviews the book has received and my brand new Website!
Book #2 is soon to arrive in the coming months and I'm very excited for you to get your hands on it :)
Atmosphere Press released an interview I did with them that gives more behind the scenes insight and tips to aspiring indie authors. You can find the Interview here: https://atmospherepress.com/interview...
If you'd rather listen than read, I also made a video including this interview and an update on my debut novel, The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution.
I go over other reviews the book has received and my brand new Website!
Book #2 is soon to arrive in the coming months and I'm very excited for you to get your hands on it :)
