N.B. Austin

Author of the Civilands Series

Bonus Content for Novels

How Black Mirror Reminded Me of Civilands: Charles Langston

Black Mirror is a TV series which always manages to make you wonder. The ‘what-if’ scenarios presented in this re-imagined Twilight Zone range from twisted to trippy to hopeful and back.

Civilands, my own dark-fiction adventure series, isn’t nearly as tech-driven and modern as this show. However, there was a parallel I couldn’t help but reflect on. What is this common bond you might ask? The characters Robert Daly (Jessie Plemons), of the episode USS Callister, and, “Mayor of Harran,” Charles Langston.

Black Mirror parallels to Civilands.

Robert Daly

Robert is a genius coder and co-founder of the game Infinity, a virtual-reality version of his favorite TV show, Star Fleet. The show (equivalent of Star Trek) involves classic space adventures which are carried over into the game. However, Daly’s role in his company is diminishing, due to his being at odds with his partner and CEO, Walton. Along with setting deadlines Robert doesn’t feel he can make, Walton also connects better with the other people in the office. Some of those employees are hardly even aware of Robert’s role as founder.

Charles Langston

As he tells the people of Harran, Charles was designated the Mayor of the small town by governing forces in the cities of Eastern Duresia. No one knows the comings and goings of Harran better than Charles. Whether it is the history, people, or environment, he’ll have an answer. He also claims to know what’s best for its future, having guided it for so many years and seeing its people grow as a community. Moving to the Murrieta Territory was the best thing he thinks ever happened to him, because of his position.

Why are they similar?

The above section is mostly from their own point of view. In reality, both characters are bastards.

  1. Anti-social – If you’re at odds with everyone, I imagine it’s probably something like 95% of the time your own fault. That’s both of these characters. At his company, no one is aware of Robert’s position because he makes no effort to make it known. Not only that, but he is also impolite and straight up steals their DNA, which is totally uncool. As for Charles it’s much the same. No one in his town respects or acknowledges his position as mayor. The problem is, he doesn’t make any effort to earn their respect either.
  2. Delusional – If these were ranked by importance to the stories, this would be #1. The opinion Robert has of himself makes me question whether new-hire, Annette Cole, is actually even saying nice things to him at the beginning. She is in awe of him and the genius of his code, but it almost feels like we’re in his own head when he reacts to it. He almost certainly tells himself these things on a daily basis. In Charles’ case, he was actually never even designated mayor. In fact, there are no formal “governing forces” in Duresia at the time of his settlement in the Murrieta, let alone ones that delegate positions in this separate territory. Since the people of Harran certainly never elected him, he truly has no claim at all to the title.

More about Black Mirror

Moving past the similarities of these two characters, I highly recommend Black Mirror for a binge-watching session. It’s not for the faint of heart or those who don’t wish to be challenged mentally while watching a TV show. The concepts are meant to make you think and typically not in a comfortable way. However, this makes for some great episodes which are also relevant to our ever-changing society.

Thanks for reading and hope you’re enjoying the Civilands series. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, feel free to subscribe for more blog updates, and click here for free book giveaways, including best-sellers!

The Resourceful Illusionist: Who is Dominic Turner?

For the second character bio post of the Civilands series, we will be talking about Dominic Turner. Time to find out what makes this crafty illusionist one-of-a-kind!

The resourceful illusionist. Dominic Turner.

Background

As industrialization grew in the eastern cities of Duresia, demand for entertainers shrank. Like many, this shift hit illusionist Dominic Turner hard and prompted him to make a move to the Murrieta Territory. What he was to find there however, would be more impactful than any trick he could perform.

Dominic’s journey into the territory was dangerous and his early days of inhabiting it were lonely. The struggle of not finding work back home was hardly worse than the isolation he felt in the tiny settlements of this massive place. Though he loved the adventure, it all made him feel so small as he went it mostly alone. Devastating winters and intimidating wildlife became harder to adjust to as well without support. Once all other options were exhausted, he had no other choice but to turn to the gangs.

Gangs were expanding quickly in the territory as a means of safety and fraternity for easterners. In the early days of Dominic’s involvement, he was provided just those things. Food, shelter, and regular relationships were no longer luxuries. It was all just starting to feel right when he started noticing a change.

A Day That Doesn’t End

As more gangs formed, so too did rivalries. Dominic’s group was no exception, as its leadership began arming followers. Orders were given to conduct raids he felt he couldn’t refuse in his debt to them. Over time, he started utilizing his resources as an illusionist to steal goods for the gang. This caused his skills to improve significantly. Though he still felt a pit of guilt in his stomach, he couldn’t deny his enjoyment to be doing his craft in any capacity.

The gang soon started expanding in influence thanks to people like Dominic, prompting its leaders to grow more power hungry. One day though, a red line was finally crossed . . .

An order came one morning for Dominic to kill a member of a rival gang–something he’d never had to do. This enemy group was also growing, and went by the surname of the brothers who led them, the Keagans. Whether or not he follows through on the order is answered in the books, so you’ll have to read them to find out! 😉 The event changes him as a person and has a big impact on his development in the series. It is also the subject of the soon-to-come short-story prequel blog post series, An Illusionist’s Tale.

“And from your pain, your fortunes will be awoken. Because what you see here isn’t beyond your own reach or ability. This ‘magic’ as you will see it, it’s drawn only from the magic you provide back to the world.” ~Dominic Turner in Crystal Eyes (Civilands #2)

Ready to see what this crafty, Daryl Dixon-esque illusionist is made of? Come one, come all because the show’s about to begin. Start the series now readers are hailing a “wilder, richer adventure,” available at the links below:

Crimson River Amazon linkCrimson River nook linkCrimson River Kobo link

Thanks for reading and hope you’re enjoying the Civilands series. Feel free to subscribe for more updates, or click here for your chance to earn free books, including best-sellers!

From Fearful Hermit to Fierce Female Lead: Who is Latera?

Welcome to the first character bio post of the Civilands series. Today I detail as fierce a female lead as you’ll find, Latera of the V’ahani!

Fierce female lead. Latera.

Background

Latera is the daughter of the V’ahani Chieftain Arkouda and sister of Hanzah. Her clan, the V’ahani, are known for their ancient connection to the land and ability to control of the great grizzlies of the Murrieta Territory’s Riverlands.

Under the tutelage of her late mother, she learned to be a nurse for wounded clan warriors. Even now though, Latera remains sheltered and disengaged in the politics of her clan. The larger world of the Murrieta Territory is simply not a worry of hers in the harsh, northern Riverlands.

Will she be able to remain closed off from the world when the Keagan gang makes their presence felt?

Ground to be Gained

Latera is one of my favorite characters to write because there is so much for her to still figure out about herself. Let me be clear, she isn’t the youngest point-of-view by any means at age 20. However, when we first meet her she is in a state of misconceiving her own identity and desires. Because of this, there is a lot she needs to unlearn, before she can learn.

This forced cloudiness is something many of us go through, myself especially included. Too many times I’ve experienced periods where I pretended I was satisfied with my circumstances, while simultaneously knowing I could achieve more. Have you gone through something similar? If so, how important was this period of transition to you becoming stronger today? Most of the time, we are broken out of this haze by some shock event. Latera is no exception to this rule.

Her own trauma will shake her in a way that doesn’t turn her into something. Instead, it makes her realize what her potential is and pushes her to turn it into her reality.

“The characters are all well drawn and I felt that, with Latera especially, there is great growth throughout.” ~Amazon Review for Crimson River (5 stars, User PeaceLoveHope)

So can you wait another year or more for Daenerys Targaryen’s return to satisfy your kick-ass craving? Let Latera quench your thirst now and start the series readers are hailing a “wilder, richer adventure,” available at the links below:

Crimson River Amazon linkCrimson River nook linkCrimson River Kobo link

Thank you for reading and for everyone’s continued support for the Civilands series. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, feel free to subscribe for more blog updates, and click here for a FREE e-book!

World Building the Western That Wasn’t

World building in the Civilands series was an interesting process. The story didn’t begin with the continent of Duresia or the Murrieta Territory within it. It started only with Jeannie Morrell and a chase through the woods. So how did it expand as a function of my own experience? And how will it relate to you?

World building the Civilands series.

The Western That Wasn’t

In book 1, Crimson River, the focus is on the Murrieta Territory. The power struggle which occurs there is also the major point of conflict in the series. Its story develops from an interest in nature, manifest destiny, and the west.

However, I’m not from the west, nor am I ready to abandon my roots altogether just yet. The big city is a part of my non-fiction story as much as it is this fictional world. So, starting in book 2, Crystal Eyes, we start to see more of Duresia’s east and its sprawling cities. This is where it all began for many of the main characters like Jeannie and the members of the Keagan gang. Their transition to what are literally greener pastures is a major theme throughout.

And thus, from the country-convert that isn’t yet, comes the western that wasn’t!

How World Building Will Be Familiar to Readers

Whether you’re the type to start east and go west or do it the other way around, the transition to the unfamiliar will be familiar. Supplanting ourselves into new environments shapes the way we see the world. If you’ve experienced this in any capacity, the following concepts should be all too familiar and presented in exciting ways. If you haven’t yet, the journey will be more enlightening! 🙂

1. Personal Growth Through Change

When you leave home you observe a new way of living. When you do return though, you get to see the contrast in-depth. In Crystal Eyes, William Keagan goes through this during his trip back home to the city of New Berkeley. Along the way he’ll come to discover more about the place he left and whether his decision to leave was the right one.

2. Figuring Out Where You Belong

Not a fan of westerns? Good–industry is on the rise in New Berkeley. Do you prefer the more natural west? Good–let’s go to the Murrieta for a wild ride. Not sure which is for you yet? Even better to find out the hard way! And you will not be alone. Some of the characters also have these same questions to answer for themselves.

3. Sociological Impact

If you’re one of the less selfish among us, you’ll get to see how these budding societies will either come together or fall apart. Will responsible governments develop or will power be controlled by the few? Also, how will new relationships impact connections with longtime family and friends? Will you change too much while you’re away for their liking?

Find the answers and more in Civilands and thank you for reading with me thus far! Let me know in the comments about a time you changed environments. How did it impact you either positively or negatively? Which place did you prefer and why? If you do share, I’ll tell you which character you’d most relate to in the series 🙂

I Created a New Religion, Here’s What I Found

World-building is one of the most exciting parts of creating a series. One aspect of world building is developing a new religion. In the Civilands series, there are actually two major religions. In this post I will highlight each briefly, but will end with something more profound I realized once they were created.

New Religion created in the Civilands series.

Cerebism

This is the most prevalent belief system amongst Eastern Duresians. It is monotheistic and views the mind as man’s greatest gift. Cerebs are conscious of the world their deity, the Enigma, grants them. If they follow the Cereb Hymnal, they will perceive a better world in the next life. Their favorable reincarnation is what gives them faith and drives the expansion of their religion.

The Murrieta Maiden

The natives of Western Duresia (the Murrieta Territory) follow the will of their own deity, the Mother. Unlike Cerebism though, the followers of the Maiden are more focused on their world around them as its own entity and gift. They draw faith from what the Territory gives them and their unique connection to the place itself. For more on this connection, read on in the series!

What Creating a New Religion Taught Me

Perception on one side and secular appreciation on the other. It wasn’t an entirely intentional effort for these belief systems to be based around each of those concepts, respectively. However, I realize now it was no coincidence either.

Since my college years I’ve come to understand the power of the mind. It can be influenced by so many things. When it is though–whether in a positive or negative way–the world around us and what it all means, can change. The loss of a loved one might make life seem cruel the same way a new relationship can make it heavenly. Our world can shift over time with a switch of thought and to me, there is a spirituality in that.

On the other hand, the Earth is a magnificent place and there is more to it than just what we perceive. It is a privilege for us to be a part of the life that exists here. Personally, I love to hike and explore different environments. Doing so provides a type of energy. It runs through you and gives you purpose. It is a connection which feels as spiritual as it does physical.

Discovery: The Combination Makes Up My Concept of Spirituality

In a way I guess you could say it’s my own little belief system. A balance between there being a greater purpose than life here in our world and the great purpose of life here in our world. Maybe this qualifies as “religious” and maybe it doesn’t. Either way, it was really cool to me to see somewhat subconscious values come to life this way 🙂

Look for the conflict of these two belief systems to really build in book 3, Crescent Heart, coming March 2018. Thanks so much for reading!

The Civilands Series: A Case for Healthy Vengeance

Author N.B. Austin - My Case for Healthy Vengeance
Being super moody here and thinking about revenge while walking through an alley. You know, a typical Wednesday.

The Civilands series begins with 13-year-old Jeannie Morrell. Unfortunately for poor Jeannie, her home has been burned to the ground with her family inside. The culprits of the crime are a power-hungry bunch called the Keagan gang. If there’s one thing this scene sets up from the beginning it’s that Civilands is a story of vengeance. However, this is not a simple tale of find your foe and slaughter them. Instead, some of the characters undergo transformations as they cope, which I like to refer to as healthy vengeance.

Healthy vengeance? Explain, strange author man…

Consider being broken up with or getting bullied in school. Both are real world problems. Either option is responded to with pain, frustration, and/or a need to prove oneself. We feel this hurt because whatever it is the person did made us feel inferior. Since no one wants to be stepped on in this way, we seek to prove we shouldn’t be again. We need to prove it to ourselves, to others, or both. The method with which one chooses to do so is the distinction I aim to make here and in my series.

Below I will highlight the two methods:

  1. Straight vengeance – Eye for an eye, or worse. The Keagan Gang killed my family. I’ll be damned if I don’t take them all out one-by-one. Think Arya Stark in Game of Thrones here. In a real world senario, maybe a key to someone’s car or some other form of vandalism. Bottom line: it may not bring back what I’ve lost, but damn if it doesn’t feel good releasing the anger.
  2. Healthy vengeance – They are miserable people and will always remain as such. What they did won’t bring them any closer to happiness, nor will it better me to strike them the way they have me. Instead, I will do everything in my power to restore my place while they watch helplessly from their pit of hell. Back to Game of Thrones, this is Jon Snow and Sam Tarly. When you get put down, work harder than anyone else. Use the pain as fuel. Bottom line: with time and effort, you’ll look down and they’ll be there beneath you. However, by then you won’t even be able to spot them anymore. Your drive will have refocused your vision. “Latera now stood above it all. There on her perch she was higher than the Riverlands, higher than … all those who had wronged her thus far” (Crimson River, Chapter 7 – What Once Was Whole).

Though the latter is a more positive behavior and a favorable response, both of these are natural. Analyzing the path certain characters will decide to take is why I love this type of story.

Next, I’ll highlight specific character relationships we see this develop in within the Murrieta Territory.

Latera Crystal Eyes Cover - Healthy Vengeance

In the Civilands series

  1. Jeannie Morrell v. the Keagan Gang – as mentioned above, Jeannie’s family has been attacked. Her father, Adonis Morrell, helped shape the Riverlands and the Murrieta Territory as a whole. Not only was he a loving father, but was a uniter of the native V’ahani and Easterners in the region. How will young Jeannie fill the void left while also coping with her loss?
  2. Latera v. “the World” – Latera is a young, sheltered nurse and daughter of Riverlands Chieftain, Arkouda. The fire on the Morrells’ home sets into a motion a series of events that shake her people. What will she find about the outside world she so avoided before? What might she find out about herself?
  3. Dominic Turner v. Collin McCormack – Crafty illusionist Dominic Turner embarrasses Keagan gang member Collin McCormack during an escape. It is an unacceptable act and one which forms a fierce rivalry between the two. Vengeance in this duel is not focused on one side, but comes from both men as they collide relentlessly. Who will come out on top?
  4. Read the series for the rest 😉

Have you ever gotten your revenge? If so tell me about it below and which kind. Also, if you’ve had any thoughts on the actions of the characters mentioned above let me know about that too!

Thanks for reading as always and hope you’re enjoying the Civilands series. If you haven’t started it yet, you can do so FREE with a sign-up here!

Crystal Eyes (Civilands #2) Now Available!

Crystal Eyes (Civilands #2) Now Available

I’m so excited to say book 2 of the Civilands series is now available in e-book and paperback! Find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Kobo.

Crystal Eyes picks up right where Crimson River left off, starting in a place of uncertainty.

In Latera’s case, she feels trapped in a new region which isn’t at all what she’d expected. Now feeling responsibility for keep her people safe, she’ll need to figure out how to do so while being imprisoned herself.

In Harran, Daniel Keagan is working his magic, trying to secure alliances to allow his gang’s influence to spread. But when a new threat presents itself, what will he realize about the power dynamic in the Murrieta?

For William Keagan, Daniel’s brother and leader of the Keagan gang, it’s time to go East. The time to make the deal he’s been working so hard to make with his father, Leonard, has come. Who will he find and what has become of his former city of New Berkeley across the mighty Chorisma River?

Searching the Mountainlands for Jeannie, Harrison, and Dominic, will Hanzah find his new friends after an avalanche separated them?

Crystal Eyes features your favorite characters from book 1, as well as some new favorites. The world of Duresia will also expand like never before. Adventures and twists experienced along the way will shake you to your core. This is a novel that will inspire any reader who dares to try their luck in the Murrieta Territory.

From the Editor, Katrina Diaz-Arnold of Refine Editing:

“N.B. Austin has done it again. In Crystal Eyes, his latest installment in the fantasy western series, Civilands, the thrills are sharper, the twists more shocking, and the characters more engaging than ever before. As we dive further into the world of the Murietta, we witness how power can affect an individual in a myriad of ways. Whether they sing on its poisonous edge, teeter over the abyss of its questionable morality, or grapple with the danger it brings head on, the characters in Austin’s world learn that any victory, small or large, always comes with a price, and power is always easily and unforgivingly corruptible. In Crystal Eyes, the stakes are upped and now everyone is playing the game—whether they want to or not.”