Category: Uncategorized

  • BLOG TOUR: NEON EMPIRE – DREW MINH

    Rare Bird Books and California Coldblood Books are proud to bring you the remarkable debut novel from social media maven and marketing expert Drew Minh, Neon Empire.

    About Drew:

    Drew Minh is a digital advertising executive in Los Angeles, with firsthand knowledge of our current social media revolution. He’s lived in Barcelona and Paris, where he worked as a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and digital consultant. He’s had fiction published in 3AM magazine, Word Riot, Litro Magazine, and other publications. He also wrote a fictional crime column for weekly newspapers in Spain.

    NEON EMPIRE

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    In a state-of-the-art city where social media drives every aspect of the economy, a has-been Hollywood director and an investigative journalist race to uncover the relationship between a rising tide of violence and corporate corruption.

    Bold, colorful, and dangerously seductive, Eutopia is a new breed of hi-tech city. Rising out of the American desert, it’s a real-world manifestation of a social media network where fame-hungry desperados compete for likes and followers. But in Eutopia, the bloodier and more daring posts pay off the most. As crime rises, no one stands to gain more than Eutopia’s architects―and, of course, the shareholders who make the place possible.
    This multiple-POV novel follows three characters as they navigate the city’s underworld. Cedric Travers, a has-been Hollywood director, comes to Eutopia looking for clues into his estranged wife’s disappearance. What he finds instead is a new career directing―not movies, but experiences. The star of the show: A’rore, the city’s icon and lead social media influencer. She’s panicking as her popularity wanes, and she’ll do anything do avoid obscurity. Sacha Villanova, a tech and culture reporter, is on assignment to profile A’rore―but as she digs into Eutopia’s inner workings, she unearths a tangle of corporate corruption that threatens to sacrifice Cedric, A’rore, and even the city itself on the altar of stockholder greed.

    The Blog tour is just getting started. Check out these other sites.

    September 1 Booklover Book Reviews Q&A and Giveaway
    September 2 Bookshine and Readbows Review
    September 5 AL Kaplan blog
    September 6 Books, Life and Everything Blog
    September 7 Tehben Review
    September 8 Books of All Shades
    September 9 The Bookwormery
    September 10 (release day!) Suanne Schafer interview
    September 14 Don Jimmy Reviews
    September 19 Suanne Schafer review

    Thanks for visiting ALKaplanAuthor.com. Check out some of my other posts before you leave and stop by again.

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    Star Touched

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    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

     

    Wolf Dawn

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    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

     

  • PURPLE GRASS AND GREEN COWS: HOW TO CREATE BELIEVABLE WORLDS IN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY

    Having a great story isn’t enough. If the world your characters live in isn’t believable, it won’t hold your readers. Learn how to create an environment that will grab your readers. 

    Join me at the Maryland Writers’ Association Baltimore Chapter meeting for a hands-on workshop. Don’t forget to bring writing materials.

    August 29, 2019
    7:00 – 8:30 PM – Cockeysville Recreation Center (across from the Cockeysville Library)
    9836 Greenside Drive
    Cockeysville, MD 21030

    Star Touched

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    Wolf Dawn

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  • Check out the interview I did for JVJ Podcast

    mic 5I had fun chatting with Josh and the gang at JVJ Podcast. Stop by their website and give it a listen.

    Don’t forget to get your copy of Star Touched

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  • Fantasy Journeys Book Signing at Cupboard Maker Books – May 18,

    Looking for something to do on Saturday?

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    Join us at the Cupboard Maker Books in Enola, PA to meet three fantasy authors: Elana Mugdan; A.L. Kaplan; and Devon Taylor.

    Elana Mugdan is the author of Dragon Child and Dragon Speaker, the first two books of her Shadow War Saga, the story of a crippled magic user chosen to save the world by a dragon god. Find out more about Elana and her books at allentria.com

    A.L. Kaplan is the author of Star Touched, the story of a healer cursed with fire powers in a post-apocalyptic world, and Wolf Dawn.

    Devon Taylor is the author of the YA fantasy The Soul Keepers, the first book of his Soul Keepers series about a deceased teen finding a job aboard the ocean liner tasked with ferrying souls of the dead. Find out more about Devon and his books at devontaylorauthor.wordpress.com

    1:00 – 3:00 PM
    157 N Enola Rd (Routes 11/15)
    Enola, PA 17025
    717-732-7288
    cupboardmaker.com

    Don’t miss out on news. Sign up for my newsletter.

     

  • What People are Saying about STAR TOUCHED on Audible

    Startouched AL Kaplan

    There have been some great reviews of Star Touched on Audible. Here are a few.

    Overall 5 out of 5 stars
    Performance    5 out of 5 stars
    Story  5 out of 5 stars
    Rebecca Azizov
    04-15-19
     “Unusual and unexpected” 

    Overall 5 out of 5 stars
    Performance    5 out of 5 stars
    Story    5 out of 5 stars
    Tracie Poling
    04-08-19
     “Interesting, and original”

    Overall    5 out of 5 stars
    Performance    5 out of 5 stars
    Story    5 out of 5 stars
    Kayla Krantz
    05-03-19
     “Powerful Fantasy” 

    Overall    5 out of 5 stars
    Performance   5 out of 5 stars
    Story   5 out of 5 stars
    Amazon Customer
    04-03-19
     “Surprisingly epic!” 

    Star Touched on Audible

  • My Balticon 53 Schedule

    Balticon is only a few weeks away.

    Here is my schedule.

    Saturday, May 25th

    Balticon Short Takes – Bite-sized readings from your soon-to-be favorite writers
    2:00 PM in Kent

    Sunday, May 26th

    World building for Fantasy and SF Novels – Authors describe their world building process, what they have to research, and what they have to make up.
    2:00 PM in Kent

    Making Props – Come hear about the many techniques of making or modifying the props your costume needs.
    3:00 PM in room 7006

    Autographs – I’ll be signing books with Sarah Avery
    5:00 PM on the 5th floor lobby near the Con Suite.

    Poetry Open Mic – Come share poetry inspired by science, science fiction, and fantasy. Bring your own or your favorites.
    8:00 PM in room 7029

    Monday, May 27th

    Readings: Authors A. L. Kaplan, Gwendolyn Clare, and Sabrina Vourvoulias read from their works.
    10:00 AM in St. George

    Hope to see you there.
    (There may be a few last minute updates so make sure you check the schedule when you get there.)

  • Remembering My Visit To Notre Dame Cathedral

    In 2017 I had the pleasure of visiting Notre Dame Cathedral. These are a few of the photos I took from the outside.

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    These were taken from a little cafe across from the Cathedral. While we ate, some gray clouds swung by, but passed withing a few moments. 20170328_18511520170328_19185020170328_164907

    The interior was stunning, but I felt uncomfortable taking pictures inside a place of worship. Luckily others did. I’d like to go back once the cathedral is rebuilt.

  • MEET ME THIS SATURDAY

    If you’re looking for something fun to do this Saturday in the DC area, stop by the 7th Annual Book Festival in College Park. I’ll be there signing books. I’ll even have a few special hand-bound copies of WOLF DAWN. Come by and say hi.

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    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

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    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.