Modern Good Reads discussion

Hello, Readers, Authors, and Book Industry Professionals;


My name is Christopher Shields, Chris to most, and I just wanted to share a little bit about myself so I've done something for us to get to know one another. I am the Chief Moderator for this group, Modern Good Reads, and manage events along with our Read For Review campaign.

I am also a Young Adult Fantasy author, and enjoy reading both within the genre and and across many book classifications. Among my favorites recently have been the Hunger Games, and of course Harry Potter. I believe both authors are astounding, and reading them has been a pleasure throughout their series developments.

By day, I am a professor of criminal justice at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where I teach in the subjects of law, evidence, serial crime, and criminal procedure. I don't know how fun those subjects sound to you, but they really are. My students are always surprised at how interesting and fun the subjects can be (serial crime is a little dark, so not as much fun as fascinating). At night I write. And play my sax.

I'm often asked, "Why fantasy? And why young adult fantasy?" I really have two answers for that, and I typically give them as one: I love the escape the plot and world building in the genre provide even more than I love the escape reading the genre provide, and the kids of my friends and family have always loved the stories I tell them when we get a chance to visit. That's it. It's the stories, and how magnificent they can become in the imagination. I love talking about fantasy, reading fantasy, and researching the foundations of fantasy in the myths and lore of many cultures.

I have written two books of a four book epic saga about a teenage girl's struggle to hold her life, family, and friends together during the rise of a Fae plot to decimate humankind, and I thoroughly enjoy all I mentioned previously toward the development and creation of the series. I hope you'll read it, but even more, I hope you'll just say hi, and let me know what you're interested in and enjoy about reading. This group is all about the joy of stories, any stories, and I hope you'll drop me a note about your favorite aspects of the joy.

You can find out more about my work on my blog: http://www.wealdfaejournals.com

And you can find my series, the Weald Fae Journals, both here on Goodreads, and on all major booksellers.

Here are the first two in the series:

The Steward (Weald Fae Journals, Book 1)

The Changeling (Weald Fae Journals, Book 2)

The Aetherfae (Weald Fae Journals, Book 3) is due to be released in June.

Please comment with any questions or notes, or just to say "Hi, Chris!" I'll be sure to answer back. Please friend me if you would--I like new friends.

Take care, and Happy Reading,

Chris Shields

Okay, I've moved beyond impressed now.

On top of everything else, you play the sax, too?

:D

Thanks for this group. I'm loving it.

I've read your book and also the chapters on your website. I love the Fae world and The Steward was excellent. When I can get off the computer or get away from family and babies, I plan on sitting down, relax and enjoy the next installment, The Changeling.

Hi Chris! So you're a professor of criminal justice? I find it interesting that you enjoy writing YA fantasy rather than crime novels. Can't blame you one bit (the fantasy world truly can be an enticing one). Have you ever thought about dabbling in the crime, mystery or suspense genres? Based on your background, I bet you could come up with some pretty compelling stuff!

By the way, speaking of writing that draws a reader in, I just had a look at The Steward. The writing sample on your website was incredibly impressive and left me wanting more. I bought The Steward then and there and I greatly look forward to diving into it. :)

I just started the Changeling last night. Fell asleep with it in my hands. Very compelling reading.

:)

Hi Chris. I enjoy many types of books as well, including fantasy. I don't spend a lot of time on social media but I like to see what others are reading and their opinions. I will make a point of commenting around here occasionally. Have a good day!

Today is my birthday, my friends. I turned Forty-Something at 8:37 a.m. I will be frolicking all day, so I'll catch up with you all tomorrow. Take care,

Chris

Christopher wrote: "Today is my birthday, my friends. I turned Forty-Something at 8:37 a.m. I will be frolicking all day, so I'll catch up with you all tomorrow. Take care,

Chris"

Have a great day and enjoy!

Happy Birthday Chris! Have fun, but don't do anything I would do.

:)

Christopher wrote: "Today is my birthday, my friends. I turned Forty-Something at 8:37 a.m. I will be frolicking all day, so I'll catch up with you all tomorrow. Take care,

Chris"

Happy birthday. Ah, I remember 40 like it was only just under 3 years ago...

Hope you're having a terrific birthday, Chris! Your celebration is much deserved! :)

Christopher wrote: "Today is my birthday, my friends. I turned Forty-Something at 8:37 a.m. I will be frolicking all day, so I'll catch up with you all tomorrow. Take care,

Chris"

40-something, 40-something!? I wish I could remember 40-something. Happy birthday. Take lots of pictures so you can tell people 15 years from now that you remember 40-something. ;-)

Well, first I wish you a great birthday, to be happy of course is up to you! Of course you do realise soon you will not celebrating so fiercely, like many of us you will start the count down...hell I have been counting down for a long time, but you have long ways to go. We, the members of Good Reads, we hope you have many more great birthdays!

Happy birthday, and thanks for keeping this thing going!

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes. I enjoyed it very much--had Chicago style pizza and saw Star Trek: Into Darkness. Great movie, by the way. Again, I truly appreciate you all so much, and am humbled by your sentiments. Take care.

happy belated! hope you rocked out at forty-something! mr professor! \m/

Hi, everyone,

Just wanted to give you an update on my third book publication:

My copy editor is handing The Aetherfae back over to me on Monday, July 8. I will get it downloaded on Amazon by the 9th. It typically takes 24 hours (and up to 48) before a download goes live. So look for it late on the 10th or early on the 11th. Thanks for your patience. She had a hectic schedule during her review of my book, so we were a bit behind. Take care, and I know you're going to love this one--the action is fierce and the pace is breakneck,

Chris

A friend of mine recommended this group to me. You're the moderator who best matches my writing. I'll be reading your book this summer, that's for sure!

Thanks so much, S.M. I really appreciate it. Hope you enjoy the group, and please let me know if you like it. Take care, and I look forward to your comments on the boards,

Chris

Hi, all, I still have four gifts of all three books for R4R. My post is in the R4R folder, under Founder's R4R.

Epic Fantasy: 4 FREE short stories. Weald Fae Journals Preludes: The Fae Wars. Read all four on my site. Exclusive content in association with my epic fantasy series.

Find Them Here: The Fae War Episodes



I hope you enjoy them. If you do, please try out the series, Weald Fae Journals:

The Steward (Weald Fae Journals, Book 1)

The Changeling (Weald Fae Journals, Book 2

The Aetherfae (Weald Fae Journals, Book 3)

Book 4 is coming very soon. Look for it: The Maebown (Weald Fae Journals, Book 4)

Thank you so much for trying out the Weald Fae Journals series.

You can also find them on my Amazon Author Page at:

Christopher Shields on Amazon

Happy belated birthday, Chris.

Great News: THE MAEBOWN (Weald Fae Journals, Book 4) is now available on Amazon. It will soon be available all over. I'm so happy to present this fourth and final installment of the series. Four years in the making, the Weald Fae Journals has been a great journey both in story exploration and personal exploration. I want to thank everyone who has helped make it the success it's becoming, and those who have yet to find it. I appreciate you all,

Chris Shields,
Author, Weald Fae Journals
Founder, Modern Good Reads

Christopher wrote: "Great News: THE MAEBOWN (Weald Fae Journals, Book 4) is now available on Amazon. It will soon be available all over. I'm so happy to present this fourth and final i..."

That's wonderful! I will gladly share all over!

Yelle wrote: "Christopher wrote: "Great News: THE MAEBOWN (Weald Fae Journals, Book 4) is now available on Amazon. It will soon be available all over. I'm so happy to present thi..."

Thank you so much, Yelle. You're a great friend, and I appreciate you very much.

Christopher wrote: "Great News: THE MAEBOWN (Weald Fae Journals, Book 4) is now available on Amazon. It will soon be available all over. I'm so happy to present this fourth and final i..."

Wonderful news, Chris! Congrats! So fantastic to see a new book from you & you are back! Cheers!