Comedy/Fantasy/Mythical Realism/Fiction
Date Published: 02-07-2023
Publisher: Balkon Media
Internationally published bestselling author Jon Smith makes his adult debut with The Fifth Horseman, a modern comic fantasy that rides roughshod over established mythology and the rules of life… and death.
The Fifth Horseman is a darkly comic tale of two thirty-somethings caught between our world and the afterlife, who must embrace their role as reapers to prevent the End Times. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Father Ted, perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman.
Death is just a day job you can’t quit…
Emma and Mark had a bad day. The worst part of it was dying. But, according to Death, the Rider on the Pale Horse and first horseman of the apocalypse, things aren’t that simple. Turns out the sand in their hourglass is stuck in place. Somewhere between life and death, they’re put to work as Death’s assistants, reaping the souls of the living until it’s time for their final clock out…
To compound matters, despite their omnipotence, the four horsemen are facing an existential threat – one they’re ill-equipped and ill-prepared to combat.
Emma and Mark must reap like their afterlives depend on it, to help prevent the End Times – even if it means scuppering the one opportunity they have at being granted a second chance at life.
Filled with humour, romantic tension, and suspense, Jon Smith utilises a witty, lightly sarcastic ensemble of flawed but loveable characters. It will appeal to mainstream fantasy readers and hopeless romantics, as well as those who enjoy a good story and a good laugh.
What is
the hardest part of writing your books?
Knowing when
to stop tweaking! Even when I’m really happy with a manuscript and it’s been
through multiple edits and then proofread, there’s a temptation to just
continue tinkering. I think it’s less about trying to improve the book and more
about not wanting to let go of the characters, and the world that they inhabit.
There’s potentially no end to that and thankfully publisher deadlines mean
there’s a point when you have to attach a document and click ‘send’.
What songs
are most played on your Ipod?
It’s been a
long time since I had an iPod! I have an eclectic (read: weird) taste in music
that can range from piano solos through to hard drum and bass. I can’t listen
to music with lyrics when I’m writing, it has to be instrumental. I like background
or white noise when I work and more recently I’ve begun to play recordings I’ve
found online made in cafes with background chatter and the clinking of cutlery.
Do you
have critique partners or beta readers?
Asking anyone
to read your manuscript (especially if it’s in early draft format) is a big commitment,
so I tend to target different people each time who I know love that genre or
they’re big fans of comparable titles. I then send an edited first draft to a
developmental editor, who has worked on a number of my manuscripts, for a sober
assessment of the plot, story, characters and pace. From there the real work
begins honing the words on the page, line by line, battering the story into
what will eventually become the finished book. The manuscript then gets a line
edit and a final proofread.
What book
are you reading now?
I’m a bit late to the party but I’m
currently reading Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas and I’m also reading The
Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin.
How did
you start your writing career?
I talked
about writing for years. All through sixth form college and then University I
told anyone who would listen that I was going to be an author. When they asked
what I’d written, or what sort of stuff I wrote, I mumbled something about
being late for a lecture and wandered off… because the truth of the matter was I
wasn’t doing any actual writing… it took the birth of my first daughter to be
the catalyst for actually putting pen to paper (or more accurately, fingers to
keyboard) and I wrote The Bloke’s Guide To Pregnancy.
Tell
us about your next release.
My next book is
a YA gothic fantasy entitled The Arb. It’s a
dark coming-of-age tale that follows two neurodiverse teens who struggle to be
accepted by a society that has little time, or empathy, for anyone who’s
different. The book blends
the primal nature of gothic horror with the tension of paranormal suspense. The unique supernatural force that lies within the mysterious
mansion house will engage anyone who geeks out about YA horror, folklore, or Arthurian
legend. It will be published later this year.
About the Author
Jon Smith is the bestselling author of 14 books for children, teens, and adults. His books have sold more than 500,000 copies and are published in seven languages.
In addition to writing books, Jon is an award-winning screenwriter and musical theatre lyricist and librettist with productions at the Birmingham Hippodrome, Belfast Waterfront and London’s Park & Waterloo East theatres.
Jon enjoyed a happy childhood—making daisy chains, holidays in the sun and an obsessive interest in all things fantasy. No brace, few spots and only one broken bone and one broken heart (not his). It all went swimmingly.
Father of four, he lives near Liverpool with his wife, Mrs. Smith, and their two school-age children. When he grows up he’d like to be a librarian.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Posts
No comments: