This book feature is part of a blog tour organized by 4WillsPublishing. Join me and author D.M. Cain, as she explains her fascination with ravens.
Cover by Amalia Chitulesku
Why is there always a ‘Raven’ in my books?
The raven: A stunningly majestic bird, imbued with both power and grace. I’ve long admired and respected ravens, ever since visiting the Tower of London as a child and watching them prowl the grounds menacingly. I remember being frightened as they hopped closer to me and my mother. Frightened, yet fascinated. The frequent use of ravens as an omen of death and ominous portent in popular literature such as Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ added to my fascination with the birds.
So, when it came to naming the dark and brooding protagonist of my novel, ‘The Phoenix Project‘, what other name would fit him more perfectly than Raven?
He became a character very close to my heart. I loved and nurtured him throughout The Phoenix Project (he has a very rough ride in that book!) and I felt even closer to him when I had finished his story (so close to him in fact that I had a tattoo of a raven on my shoulder!)
But Raven’s journey isn’t over. He is also a major character in my fantasy series, ‘The Light and Shadow Chronicles.’ He is a much happier character in this set of books, though some of the darkness that broods inside his soul still surfaces now and again. This incarnation of Raven is a sort of parallel universe version of my beloved character; what he could have become if his life had taken a different path.
Raven has a long journey ahead of him. The Light and Shadow Chronicles are immense, stretching over a period of hundreds of years and with more than 20 books planned to weave in and out of the timeline, and Raven appears in the majority of those stories. He will have to battle through love and hate, victory and defeat before I can finally say his story is complete. But through it all, he will always have a special place in my heart – my beautiful and majestic raven.
Who is D.M. Cain?
D.M. Cain is a dystopian and fantasy author working for US publisher Booktrope. She has released three novels: The Phoenix Project – a psychological thriller set in a dystopian future, Soren – a middle-grade fantasy, and A Chronicle of Chaos – the first in a dark fantasy series. She is currently working on the next novel in the series, ‘The Shield of Soren‘, and a novella to accompany it.
D.M. Cain is also a member of the International Thriller Writers and is one of the creators and administrators of the online author group #Awethors. Her short story ‘The End’ was published in Awethology Dark – an anthology by the #Awethors.
Cain lives in Leicestershire, UK, with her husband and young son, and spends her time reading, writing and reviewing books, playing RPGs and listening to symphonic metal.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMCainauthor
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMCain84
- Mailing List: https://eepurl.com/XevZH
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dmcain84/
- Website: www.dmcain84.com
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DMCain/posts
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7888430.D_M_Cain
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzt_E8st1pyfkoTiA4E5jNg
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/D.M.-Cain/e/B00LTTX3PA/
Read The Phoenix Project on:
Nook: https://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/the-phoenix-project-by-dm-cain/2940157645656
Amazon:
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-phoenix-project-dm-cain/1123117161
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/book/id1066900946
Don’t miss her Author Party Event on Friday, January 15th at 1pm CST!
GIVEAWAYS: (2) book bundles – (1) paperback of THE PHOENIX PROJECT along with (1) paperback of her children’s book, SOREN!
To be eligible to win one of these sets, merely leave a comment on any stop along the tour, including this one, and you could be one of our two lucky winners!
Interesting insight about your use of that majestic, and fearless bird named Raven in your stories. This bird is also ominous in my culture. Sighting a Raven in my culture means waiting for something terrible to happen. 🙂 Congrats as you continue to journey. Thanks Nicholas for hosting.
Oooh! I wasn’t aware of that. but I love the idea of ravens as a portent of ill fortune. Cool 🙂 Thanks for reading the article. I appreciate your support
A pleasure. Thanks for visiting 🙂
I’ve always been fond of the raven too, so I’m intrigued.
Yes, I remember a certain bird-related scene in Marred 🙂
So very intriguing! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you for reading 🙂
Excellent post. Thanks for introducing me to another fantasy author. The books sound great and I love the cover. Well done 🙂
Thank you so much, D 🙂
Nicholas, thanks for hosting and supporting DM. She truly is worthy of support.
Thanks for reading, Beem, and happy 2016! 🙂
I love this, DM–right down to your tattoo! I’m very interested in the thought of using the same character in two different series. Thanks for hosting, Nicholas!
Thanks for visiting, Rebecca 🙂
The Raven is a bird of mystery and courage and I can see why it would be a symbol for your character. Thanks for hosting Nicholas.
Thanks for reading, John! 🙂
A very interesting expose of your main character and his evolution, D.M.! Good luck with all of your books! Thanks for hosting, Nicholas!
Thanks for reading, John! 🙂
I always feel sad for the Ravens at the Tower of London – their wings are clipped so they can’t fly away because of the ‘prophecy’ that the Tower can never fall if there are ravens living there… 🙁 They’re magnificent birds to watch in flight and really intelligent as well which is why Tolkien had them as sentient creatures in The Hobbit – they were the messengers who brought Dain to Erebor to help Thorin Oakenshield and the Dwarves at The Battle of the Five Armies!
Really enjoying your tour DM! Thanks for hosting Nick 😀
Fascinating! I didn’t know that about the Tower. I’m surprised at this time and age it’s adhered to.
Thanks for reading, Jan 🙂
Yes, I feel sad for them too. When I was a child I didn’t know that, but when I got older I found out and then seeing them trapped there brought up different feelings. My fascination remained though – they are incredible birds.
Not really my thing, but it looks very good, and I wish DM well with her work. (And sales!)
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you so much, Pete 🙂
enjoyable and amazing view of interview…
Thank you so much, Mihran! 🙂
Loved this and I love the Raven
Yay! Thank you 🙂
Good review of the book and this author’s work. Nick, you do a wonderful job, promoting these authors !
Susie
Aw, you! Thank you 🙂