Gary Ballard

About

I began writing things down at the age of eleven, and I haven't stopped since. I have written far too many things that have gone unpublished, from very terrible horror novels in my teens, to comics during my time at Belhaven College until finally settling on cyberpunk science fiction after graduation. My first novel (Under the Amoral Bridge) is part of a larger series called The Bridge Chronicles, which I reveal in weekly updates on the blog at http://amoralbridge.blogspot.com. The Bridge Chronicles in turn is one slice of cohesive universe that began as a pen-and-paper roleplaying game.

I currently live with my beautiful wife and three very insane dogs in Mississippi, where I continue to write my novels and blog on my personal blog at http://gameangst.blogspot.com.

A King Under Siege: Book One of The Plantagenet Legacy

0.0

0 ratings

Description

Richard II found himself under siege not once, but twice in his minority. Crowned king at age ten, he was only fourteen when the Peasants' Revolt terrorized London. But he proved himself every bit the Plantagenet successor, facing Wat Tyler and the rebels when all seemed lost. Alas, his triumph was short-lived, and for the next ten years he struggled to assert himself against his uncles and increasingly hostile nobles. Just like in the days of his great-grandfather Edward II, vengeful magnates strove to separate him from his friends and advisors, and even threatened to depose him if he refused to do their bidding. The Lords Appellant, as they came to be known, purged the royal household with the help of the Merciless Parliament. They murdered his closest allies, leaving the King alone and defenseless. He would never forget his humiliation at the hands of his subjects. Richard's inability to protect his adherents would haunt him for the rest of his life, and he vowed that next time, retribution would be his.

Story Behind The Book

The novel was originally released on the aforementioned blog in regular, serial installments. It was meant as a free showcase for my work to attract attention, but the main character of Artemis Bridge was so interesting, I decided to make a series around the character's life and called it The Bridge Chronicles. The second novel, The Know Circuit, is also available on the blog and will be published in paperback and ebook in early 2010.

Media Links

Review by The Book Journal

🔗 http://thebookjournal.com/2009/12/under-the-amoral-bridge-a-cyberpunk-novel-by-gary-a-ballard/

↗

Guest blog on Babbling about Books

🔗 http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2009/12/gary-ballard-self-publishing-exposed.html

↗

SciFiMafia Review

🔗 http://scifimafia.com/2009/12/book-review-under-the-amoral-bridge-by-gary-a-ballard/

↗

Guest Blog on Book Obsessed

🔗 http://bookobssessed.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/guest-blogthe-genesis-of-inspiration-by-gary-ballard/

↗

Interview with Fantasy Book Critic

🔗 http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2009/11/interview-with-gary-ballard-interviewed.html

↗

Fantasy Book Critic Review

🔗 http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2009/10/under-amoral-bridge-by-gary-ballard.html

↗

Reviews

"...well written and a joy to read, Ballard paints imaginative scenarios and environments" "Ballard does a complete and thorough job of world building." "It’s a great story, great characters (whether you like or dislike them personally, you still get involved with them) and has a great reading rhythm."

Sponsors

Sponsors