SOUL BORN

Kevin James Breaux, Author, Level One

2012-02-15T13:34:00.000-08:00

D&D Monster Manual.

(this is an article I wrote a year ago for a guest post on another person's blog. I just wanted to share it here now)

Kevin James Breaux, Author, Level One

You know how they say one event can change your life forever. Looking back at my childhood I think I can pinpoint a single moment that created a wide spread butterfly effect that rippled throughout my years.

On my seventh birthday, back in 1981, my friend Matt, who was a few years older than me, gave me my first Dungeons and Dragons book. It was the OFFICIAL ADVANCED DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS MONSTER MANUAL by Gary Gygax and it had the most amazing painting of a bunch of pegasi fighting a big red dragon on the cover. The book was hard bound and large, unlike all my other little children’s books. Holding it here in my hands now, I recall those very happy days.

Of all the gifts I got from my friends and family that birthday the Monster Manual is the only one I remember, and still own to this day. Yes, I’m sure I got a football, some Star Wars action figures, maybe even some Batman Underoos, but those items did not make a lasting impression on me. (Underoos were boys underwear that looked like a superhero costume and were quite the trendy fashion statement of their day).

I vividly remember feeling that Matt had given me a very special gift. At the same time I was curious and excited; what was this book and what secrets did it hold inside?

I admit at seven years old I probably did not comprehend half of what I was reading, but the pen and ink pictures hypnotized me. Massive snarling dragons, swirling wind elementals, giants as big as trees, squid-headed mind flayers and even shambling zombies; these 112 pages kept my attention for hundreds of hours. I wanted to draw everything I saw, and tried my best to copy my favorite pages.

My parents must have wondered if this book was secretly enchanted with kid-tranquilizing magic due to the simple fact that, short of cartoons, nothing quite held my attention so solidly. Thinking back all those years I cannot remember if I begged my mother to take me to the hobby store in the Village Mall that week to buy more books like this one, or if she raced me over there just to find more of these “hardbound baby sitters”. Either way, it worked out nicely and I added MONSTER MANUAL 2, FIEND FOLIO and DEITIES AND DEMI-GODS to my collection.

Seeing my excitement over his gift, Matt wanted to teach me how to play the game behind the “cool drawings”. He and his friends were just learning it too and they needed one more player. I’ll never forget the feeling of amazement that washed over me when I saw all the little metal knights and wizards used to play D&D. Unlike the plastic army men I had buckets of, each of these metal soldiers and monsters seemed to have a story about them, and the way Matt explained it those tales were yet to be told. Yeah, I was instantly hooked, time to play.

You know how kids play; they kinda make things up as they go along. Did I know all the D&D rules back then? NO WAY! I probably knew 5% of them, if even that. Basically I understood how to make and equip my character and when to roll my dice, other than that I just followed the leader. I had a good imagination and was easily amused, the best I can explain it is that the game of D&D was all just one big puppet show, and from time to time I was allowed to dance my very own puppet.

It’s hard not to credit D&D for the onslaught of fantasy related things my parents put in front of me from that day forward. Toys like the LEGO Castle and movies such as Excalibur and Hawk the Slayer; it all shaped me as a future writer in the genre. After years of enjoying other people’s creations I realized I could make my own. It wasn’t until recent years that I realized it was not the act of playing games like D&D, Ultima: Exodus, Final Fantasy or even World of Warcraft (I miss you WoW) that I truly enjoyed, it was actually the process of character creation that excited me.

(2012 side note. I'm seriously at least a level five now!)

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

BLOOD DIVIDED Giveaway! Starting Jan. 25th.

2012-01-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the release of BLOOD DIVIDED in paperback and its recent scoring of 7th place in the P&E reader's poll... along with, well, my birthday, I have set up this Goodreads.com Giveaway! It begins Jan. 25th.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Blood Divided

by Kevin James Breaux

Giveaway ends February 05, 2012.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

I hope you all enter. Don't worry there is no spamming or information shared from these giveaways. That being said, if you would rather not wait, Amazon has BLOOD DIVIDED on sale RIGHT NOW!!!

Click this Amazon.com link. http://amzn.com/1937051242

Thanks all and good luck!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Great new Soul Born review!!! Its... Wow!

2012-01-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

"Soul Born is a fantastic page-turning beginning to Kevin Breaux’s fantasy trilogy."

There is a new review over at Bookspotcentral and wow... just wow. I've read this one probably ten times already. I'm so impressed. I'm also extremly happy the reviewer, Douglas Cobb, enjoyed it so much. There was a lot of things I was trying to do with Soul Born... and well, he seemed to have realized much of it.

http://www.bookspotcentral.com/2012/01/07/soul-born-by-kevin-breaux-review/

Check out the review and let me know what you think. Post some comments over on Bookspotcentral.

Thanks all,

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Excerpt from BLOOD DIVIDED book 2 of Soul Born Saga

2011-12-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Here is an excerpt from Blood Divided. It might feel a little out of context, but trust me it's an important part. This excerpt ties some aspects of Soul Born to Blood Divided and then also ties it to book three. Some small teasers here, no spoilers.

Note: Blood Divided takes place 20 years after Soul Born. So when in the excerpt in mentions 16 year ago, we are actually taking about 4 years after the end of the events of Soul Born.

I hope you like this peek into what Opal has been doing.

***(please note, if you purchased or were gifted an early copy ((before Dec. 6th)) of Blood Divided on Kindle this flashback will be new to you. It was one of the late additions/corrections to the book, and is being updated into a new Kindle file soon. I kept the lead in to this part so you would know where it goes in the story.)

Page 70 of BLOOD DIVIDED - Book two of the Soul Born Saga

Khaos forcefully sheathed his sword before running after Cynthia through the brush. As he disappeared into the forest, Opal stood stunned her mind on one thing; power.

“I-I was powerful… I was powerful… I was powerful…”

Sixteen summers ago, Opal made a decision that would forever change her life and reshape the lives of all those she knew.

***

Standing on the shore of the small island of Velencia, Opal addressed her two oldest friends: Lorek, a former student of the High Council, trained by the archmage Dusk, and Willa, one of the first Illyian mages she had rescued way back when she still pregnant and called that dreaded land home.

Opal asked both of them to meet her on the coast of their new homeland so she could reveal her latest plan and show them the first step she was taking to see it to fruition.

Having saved seven adults and twelve children from persecution due to their magical powers over the past five years, Opal first explained they had finally reached a point in time when they needed to officially form a group. This New Guild, as she called it, would offer not only safe haven to its members, but also training for those who needed it or wished to develop their powers to protect themselves.

Both Lorek and Willa had been studying with Opal for a while, each overcoming the unfortunate circumstance of lacking absolute control over their powers when they were younger. When Opal became reacquainted with Lorek, months after the Mustaffa War, he had burns over sixty percent of his body, a result of trying to summon a fire spell of such magnitude it would cleanse Spire Anguish of its elven mage hunters. He had been in both physical and mental anguish. Such turmoil would have undone a weaker man, but Lorek’s determination was strong.

Willa could barely hold her shape. Her magic, which was tied to nature tighter than any other magic user Opal had met, had transformed the woman into some sort of monster, a walking-talking tree, her skin forever changed to a dark green tone, covered in hard patches like a lizard man’s scales. Able to elongate her limbs like ever-growing snakes, Willa often found herself trapped, “rooted,” to the ground by her feet. Opal taught her how to relax with a breathing exercise while concentrating on a child’s rhyme. It was something she used long ago to balance her mind and emotions. Panic, Opal taught both of them, was a mage’s worst enemy.

Gazing over her shoulder back at the two, Opal spotted Willa’s fingers wrapped around Megan’s and Nathan’s wrists, the thin green things wiggling like earthworms. The two scamps had a penchant for running off when not attended to, and Willa, with her abilities, made a great guardian.

Although Opal could not see Willa’s face through the shadows of her hood, she knew the woman was most likely practicing her breathing exercises; she was much better at holding her shape now—a great change from a summer ago, when she would have probably looked like a big, green octopus writhing on the beach.

“All this time… all those trips back and forth from that hateful continent of Illyia…” Opal paused. “I’ve often thought this one thing: What made the High Council so appealing to young mages? What did those old bastards truly have to offer?”

Lorek and Willa remained silent, like a pair of motionless statues, each covered from head to toe in thick, heavy, mage’s robes, hoods up, even now, when no one was around to see their deformities.

“What did they offer you, Lorek? You joined them when you were young?” she asked, facing away from them again, her eyes locked on the waves on the horizon.

“I had been disowned by my father after accidentally burning his farms; the High Council offered me a new home.”

“As I offer a home to those I rescue now.”

They could not see it, but Opal’s eyes where flashing blue and green; the magical energy she stored within her body was about to be released.

“Not that I’m complaining, Mistress Opal, but their home was more than a cabin in the woods… it was a huge fortress.”

“Exactly,” Opal answered.

With that Opal’s body began to glow brown, shimmering from head to toe. While raising her hands from her hips, a purple cloud of magical energy formed in the sky over distant waves.

“Wha-what is it?” Lorek asked, recalling the last time he saw Opal cast a spell over the ocean. “What do you see? Is it more slavers?”

“No, nothing on top of the water; something well beneath it.”

The island of Velencia began to shake. First, a small tremor crept across the top crust that few would have noticed, but for Willa, rooted into the ground as she was, it felt like being shoved. Taking several steps back, Willa led Opal’s children away from the beach to the tree line. She sensed a great change coming, in nature if in nothing else.

Opal magically lifted herself several feet from the ground as she performed her spell. Lorek could see Opal straining, the veins in her neck bulging all the way down to her shoulders. Lorek had witnessed her cast many spells, all effortlessly. Whatever she was doing, it must have been massive and that thought terrified him.

“Willa, perhaps we should move,” Lorek said, looking to his side, expecting to find her there, but she had already retreated back.

A more noticeable tremor shook the beach hard, knocking Lorek off his feet—now he understood why Opal was floating.

“Prepare yourselves,” Opal yelled.

The shaking grew stronger and stronger, filling their ears with a loud rumble that sounded as if the gods themselves were growling. Opal rose up further, the glow around her body intensifying until Lorek and Willa could no longer look at her without squinting.

Having to take his eyes off her, Lorek returned his gaze to the ocean, finally noticing something strange. A far distance off the coast, he thought he saw bubbling, like that of the hot springs that were hidden in the forests of the smallest island in the chain where they lived. Yet these bubbles did not look like they soothed; they were large and violently bursting on the surface of the ocean.

Casting a spell that would allow him to see further, Lorek could see fish by the dozens floating to the surface, seemingly dead.

“She’s killing fish?” Lorek said to Willa.

“No, she moving—”

Willa’s words were cut short as the rumbling of the land grew so loud that screams could not penetrate the sound. Drawing Opal’s children in tight, she tried to cover their eyes, with her tentacle-like fingers, but both Megan and Nathan wanted to see what was happening. They had been raised to never fear magic, especially that which was cast by their mother.

“Behold!” Opal screamed, the word lost in the thunderous noise.

Slowly, something dark pierced the water as it rose up from the depths of the ocean. Opal’s power intensified the spell and the purple clouds that hung over the ocean seemed to stretch and then sink into the water a moment, as the thing that was rising began to take shape. Flat on top, yet with jagged points outlining its shape, the land mass grew larger and larger, inch by inch, until a monolith was exposed.

“She moves the very world. Willa, she’s as powerful as the gods!” Lorek screamed.

Willa could fully sense it now; she knew what Opal was doing, yet wrapping her mind around it was difficult. Although she hardly heard her Lorek’s shouting, she felt the same way he did; for Opal to do what Willa assumed she was doing, she could not be human. The task would be impossible for humans.

Suddenly, the entire island of Velencia lurched, like a boat on rough seas. There was no doubting it now: everyone—man, woman, and child—would know something spectacular happened this day.

Fighting to stay balanced on their feet, Opal’s children eventually tipped over, one after the other. If Willa had not allowed her root-like toes to dig deep into the ground, she would have fallen over too.

“Just… a… little more,” Opal said between grunt-like exhales.

It was now apparent to all who witnessed it, by the height and shape of the giant rock formation, Opal had raised a small volcano from the ocean. Located off the shore of the island, too far to swim to, the thing was massive—tall enough that, during the dawn, it could cast a shadow long enough to reach the beach. As Opal dropped back down to her feet, the mountain of rock stopped moving and the quaking ceased. The glow that outlined her body decreased in brightness and begun to retract back into her; he spell was completed.

Standing up, Lorek shouted, not realizing his voice would be so loud now that the noise had died down. “You raised a damned volcano?”

Opal did not turn to answer him; she was having enough trouble just staying upright with the level of exhausting she was feeling.

“No longer a volcano… this is our new home, the headquarters of the New Guild.”

“Wha—”

“Opal, where is the water going?” Willa pointed, as the waves seemed to move in reverse, not crashing on the shore, but fleeing from it.

Opal had never seen such an occurrence, but Lorek had as a child, visiting his uncle’s home in one of Illyia’s many southern fishing villages. While staring at the sight, Lorek unearthed a long-forgotten memory, the details of the day a massive wave crashed down and flooded the entire fishing village rolling over him. He was only seven when it happened, and by some luck, one of the only survivors.

“Opal!” he screamed, finally getting her to look at him. “There’s going to be a huge wave coming.”

“Is this true, Willa?” Opal asked. This was one of the reasons she had Willa there: to interpret the reactions of nature.

Willa was already concentrating on the subtle vibrations the ocean made as the seawater churned. She could normally sense the waves, like a brushing motion caressing her rooted flesh. Now, that brushing was building up to a slapping sensation that warned her something was drastically wrong.

“The ocean has become violent.”

“Please, I’m warning you,” Lorek said backing up. “I’ve seen this before… the water goes away only to come back stronger… in a giant destructive wave. We must run now.”

It was already too late. When Opal faced the ocean again, the spray of incoming water was striking her face. A wave the size of the trees that once kept her father’s cabin secluded outside of Weiden’s Rise towered over her with a menacing roar. Although feeling like she had already pushed herself to her limits, Opal drew upon her magical power once more. She had to do something; her children were present.

Thrusting her hands out palms first, she erected a magical shield that was tall and long. The thick green force that emitted from her hands stretched out several feet to either side of her at first, but Lorek screams, of “More!” made her keep casting. Soon, the wall was reaching out at least twenty feet to each side.

Before the wave could impact the shield, Lorek used his magic to further stretch and reinforce it. Learned in few defensive spells, Lorek was proud to at least know this one. A shield spell was an important part of any battle mage’s skill book.

“Let me help you!”

When Lorek’s hand touched Opal’s bare shoulder he recoiled in pain, but his grip on her grew tighter. In all the excitement Opal had not lowered her normal defenses, still coated in a spell that sapped the power of any other mage who would make skin-on-skin contact with her. Lorek felt instantly ill, time slowing down, sounds growing silent, until all he heard was Opal’s voice in his head.

Feeling as if he had been punched in the gut, Lorek’s knees buckled and he dropped to the ground. Opal was siphoning his life force to make herself more powerful, but not enough that he would suffer any permanent damage.

Within the blink of his eye, the shield spell Opal was casting spread out with lighting speed, defending the island as far as the eye could see. When the wave landed, it struck the shield with enough force to shatter a stone wall, but Opal’s spell held. Her magic was mightier than mere stone.

“Opal you’re hurting him!” Willa screamed as one of her tentacles grew up from the ground beneath Lorek, wrapped itself around his leg, and pulled him free of the skin-on-skin contact with Opal.

The ocean drummed against the magical shield wall a moment, reaffirming to Opal that she had made a terrible oversight. Had Lorek not been there, had he not offered a warning, there would have been a disaster.

“Willa, I need you to help me. Can you merge into the ground and drill some holes out in the surf, so this extra water will funnel off?”

“I can.”

“Good, I don’t want to hold this shield all day.” Opal smirked.

“What of the damage to the rest of the island?” Willa asked full of concern.

“What damage?”

“The wave, it must have reached the harbor by now.”

“No, it didn’t. I wrapped the shield around the entire island,” Opal assured her.

“You couldn’t have…” Willa’s voice faded off.

“If you doubt me, please, follow it around; tell me your answer when your reach this very spot again.”

Opal stepped away from the shield; on this day she had accomplished two large goals. After some modifications inside the volcano, the New Guild would have a home, a fortress. That and looking at the massive stone peak, looming in the distance, Opal knew that all who witnessed its arrival today would soon learn it was the result of magic. Powerful magic.

Her magic.

***

“I was powerful.”

Slowly Opal faded away.

-------------------------------------------

Who is Khaos? Opal has been doing what? She has kids? Exciting, right?

Learn all the answers when you read Blood Divided. The print copy of the book should be released within a month. Sorry about the delays.

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

BLOOD DIVIDED is now available on Kindle

2011-12-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

Are you curious what happened after Soul Born? Well get ready to find out by reading the events of the next generation.

Book 2 in the Soul Born Saga; Blood Divided.

There exists an ancient elven proverb, dating before the time of man. Life and death, like day and night, meet at a point where they blend into one. It is that brief moment when anything is possible.

There was a time when four sparks of life burned brighter than the sun itself. Megan was born with power, Lucien born with station. Autumn was born full of life, while Nathan was entwined with death.

Peace has come and gone… The conflicts of old have returned-rejuvenated and driven. This is the beginning of the end. The children of Karn have come of age, and now they will take part in shaping the fate of Illyia.

Will they join forces, or with blood will they be divided?

Click here to order: http://amzn.com/B006FDHTF0

NEWS: My publisher released Blood Divided early on Kindle. The print version of the book (which was delayed) should be ready mid-late December.

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Alert: Do not buy currrent Kindle version of Blood Divided! Bad upload from Publisher.

2011-11-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

ALERT: If you see Blood Divided on Kindle this week. DO NOT BUY IT.

MY publisher uploaded an old file and it is full of bad formatting and does not have the map or the acknowledgments.
HUGE MISTAKE! But it's getting fixed ASAP.

Please wait until next week to purchase it. I will let everyone know when its fixed.

FYI- the printed version of the book should be available mid December.
Kevin James Breaux
www.kevinbreaux.com

Blood Divided Updates

2011-11-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Well it looks like BLOOD DIVIDED will be released at the very end of the month, similar to SOUL BORN's release last year. Except this year the Kindle version should be out the same time or maybe even a few days early.

In Oct. I held a Kindle copy give-away for Soul Born and had a nice response. The winners were gifted their books and all seemed very excited to read it. In the last year I have seen roughly 60-70 reviews for Soul Born and they have all averaged to about a 4/5. Good Reads alone has something like 53 ratings now. I remember when Soul Born first came out and I was dying for those first reviews and ratings. I remember thinking... Oh, if I can only reach 10 or 12 reviews!

Thanks to all who did take the time to read and rate or review the book. I know how much time can be spent reading a book and crafting a good review so I very much appreciate it.

Blood Divided is going to feel a little different than Soul Born. As I have said in the past, it takes place many years after Soul Born and therefore its a new world. While there is some mystery, and big questions, the roller coaster ride is a lot kinder in book two and more world building is added. Each of the three books in the series has a separate intent. HINT: Blood Divided will read like a classic traditional fairy tale... then suddenly will be turned on its side with my style of dark fantasy emerging.

Can you read Blood Divided without reading Soul Born? Possibly. But you will have some questions about Opal and some of the impact of what has happened to the characters from book one to book two will be missing.

Yeah... I think that impact is going to be a lot of fun for the lovers of Soul Born. :)

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Blood Divided Cast of Characters (the new ones)

2011-10-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

With SOUL BORN's sequel, BLOOD DIVIDED, on the horizon I thought it would be fun to introduce part of the cast of characters… the new ones. You might even find a few spoilers.

New Characters in Blood Divided

Megan – Opal’s daughter. Twin.

She's Opal’s best and most powerful student. She has the ability to speak with animals, it’s her secret. I have always thought of Megan as a more balanced version of Opal. She has benefited from years of study and learned from her mother’s mistakes.

To play her I would pick Odette Yustman. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0951148/

Khaos – Opal’s son. Megan’s twin.

His given name is Nathan, but he hates that he was named after his father. He's a loner who has long acted as a guard to Opal’s students, but that all has changed recently when he met his new lover. Khaos feels he was meant for more important things, so he intends to take them.

To play him I would pick Eric Etebari. (Khaos looks like Karn, but clean shaven.) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262026/

Autumn – Tala’s daughter. Princess of Illyia. Twin.

The very picture of a fairy tale princess: beautiful, proper and polite. She is loved by all, especially the captain of the guard. Autumn enjoys her family and her station and would not do anything to risk them.

To play her I would pick Minka Kelly. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1310368/

Lucien – Tala’s son. Prince of Illyia. Autumn’s twin.

He is the stalwart and quiet other side of the coin. Duty and honor matter most to him. He's proud to be the prince of Illyia and takes his charge very seriously. Lucien has little time or desire for anything else.

To play him I would pick Zach Roerig. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1813534/

Vasche – Kel Tora’s Captain of the Guard.

He is the youngest soldier to reach rank of captain and youngest to be awarded with the tile of Captain of the Guard. He’s a skilled warrior who trains day and night with every weapon he can find. He’s strong and smart, handsome and kind, and has been in love with Autumn for many years.

To play him I would pick Joe Manganiello.(clean-shaven) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0542133/

What happened to Opal? Where is Tala?

You will see... and you may be surprised. Blood Divided takes place twenty years after Soul Born so it’s a new world, with new concerns. Until then, check out this new 5/5 Star Review for Soul Born, posted on Amazon.com. Click or read below:

------------

Soul Born Review, October 5, 2011

By David A Kramer This review is from: Soul Born (Paperback)

"Soul Born is a fast paced fantasy novel that will keep the reader turning pages and reading far too late into the night. Set in the land of Illyia, the novel tracks three main characters as they fight against an invading warlord who leaves a path of destruction across the land as he works towards his ultimate goal; the destruction of his creators.

The characters are wonderfully brought to life as we learn about them and their various motives throughout the story. Opal is a young mage filled with enormous, but raw magical potential and is being mentored by the mage high council. She is strong willed and will go to any lengths to attain her desires. The biggest of those desires being her deep love for a warrior. Karn is a fierce fighter determined to end the warlord's destruction of his beloved land. We meet him as he is being nursed back to health by his lover, Opal, after being badly wounded protecting civilians fleeing the warlord. His entire life as he knows it will be turned upside down by a young elf. Tala is an outcast from her elven tribe who has taken refuge in a human town. She meets and befriends Karn. As their relationship grows closer, she is forced to reveal a terrible secret; his true past.

The action keeps the story moving forward at a brisk pace while the slow unveiling of each character's full motives fuels the reader to keep turning pages. I love the shades of gray the characters are colored with. Opal is a great example of a character driven by her best desires and intentions, but capable of making terrible choices to attain them. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am eagerly awaiting the second book in the series."

------------------

Thanks all,

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

What's up?

2011-10-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

What's up in the SOUL BORN world? Just waiting on the release of BLOOD DIVIDED this Winter. Had a really good review of Soul Born the other week and I posted it on my author blog here:

http://kevinjamesbreaux.blogspot.com/2011/09/awesome-letter-from-soul-born-reader.html

I wrote a new book this year, one outside of the Soul Born series. It's a Viking Age fantasy-horror-thriller book. Should be talking more about it soon on my other sites. This book marks my 4th completed novel.

I should be returning to writing the third book in the Soul Born Saga soon. It's more than half way completed. I hope to finish it by Jan 2012. (soonish). And I am still expecting my publisher to release some more Soul Born Saga short stories. I wrote two of those this summer.

As soon as I know more I will post updates here.

Thanks!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

NEW Map of Illyia for Blood Divided

2011-08-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

Here is the new map of the Lands of Illyia for BLOOD DIVIDED. It has been updated with some changes that occur between Soul Born and Blood Divided. Also it was created by a cartographer and not me. So you will note the style and quality improvements. :)

Map art by: Herwin Wielink

The map will be inside Blood Divided when it is released this late fall. I will also post a larger, printable version on my author site later. Hope you enjoy. I am really happy with the work Herwin did for me. This map turned out great!

Thanks all!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

New Review for SOUL BORN 4/5! by Bitten by Books

2011-08-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

Bitten by Books (www.bittenbybooks.com) reviewed SOUL BORN and awarded it a 4/5 review.

"Soul Born is a fascinating chronicle of the battle between good and evil, the forces of nature pitted against the corruptive elements of excessive power." - Bitten By Books

Check out the full review here. http://www.bittenbybooks.com/38039/soul-born-kevin-james-breaux/

---BLOOD DIVIDED News---

Book 2 in the SOUL BORN Saga, BLOOD DIVIDED, is in the hands of the publisher Dark Quest Books. Its on schedule and looking great. The word count is around 105,000. Book 3 should be reaching the 140,000 realm.

I will be releasing more information soon.

Thanks all!

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Blood Divided (soul born saga book 2) Cover Art

2011-07-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

cover painting by Dan Dos Santos

BLOOD DIVIDED

Here is the final cover art for BLOOD DIVIDED, an epic fantasy novel written by Kevin James Breaux. It is the sequel to SOUL BORN. The cover is painted by Dan Dos Santos. The printed version of this cover will have a cover quote on it. I have not picked one yet. Blood Divided will be released late Fall 2011. I do not know the actual release date yet, but will post it here as soon as I do. Until then watch for the back cover blurb to appear soon.

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Book Two in the SOUL BORN SAGA is...

2011-07-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

BLOOD DIVIDED

BLOOD DIVIDED cover painting by Dan Dos Santos

I would like you all to meet Opal's daughter and star pupil, Megan. She's a powerful magic user, like her mother, but with a few differences. One of which is a natural ability to speak with animals. The others...well, lets not spoil everything.

This incredible piece of art is the cover for book 2 in the SOUL BORN Saga, titled BLOOD DIVIDED. It was painted by award-winning artist Dan Dos Santos, and yes, it has the most amazing shades of red. I have always been impressed by Dan's work, but working with him has given me even greater insight, and I have to say, he's all pro, smart, talented... and a really cool guy.

http://www.dandossantos.com/

Right and wrong matters little when survival matters most.

BLOOD DIVIDED is set twenty years after the end of Soul Born. The book follows the lives of the next generation and how they must pay for the sins of their parents. Four children, two mothers, one father; thousands and thousands dead.

In about a week I will release the final cover of the book. I'm working on a few layouts now and have not picked my favorite yet. Yeah, I design my own covers. I have worked off and on for years as a graphic artist. Did you know I worked on designing merchandise for the first X-Men movie? Yep, a lifetime ago.

So, I hope you all love this painting as much as I do. Check out Dan's site in a week or so and he will be releasing more images and details about it.

Dark Quest Books has this book set for a Winter 2011 release. Keep watching this site for more info.

Thanks all!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

New cover painting to be revealed very soon!

2011-06-27T14:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Soul Born fans and friends,

So I was at a friend's car show this past Saturday. It's a monthly "cars and coffee" thing I try and attend to support my buddy, and of course show off my Mustang. Mind you, my 2007 Mustang is always the cheapest car there. Normally there are 30 to 75 cars to see, most are high-end and well taken care of by their owners. There is one guy who drives the most amazing red and white Dodge Viper... just wow. Anyway, this weekend there were some cars with price tags well above 100,000. I could not help but feel a little jealous.

So, while walking around I decided to randomly check my email on my phone. It was around 9am when I was surprised by an message by Dan Dos Santos.... with an attachment. Yes! My new cover had arrived.

http://www.dandossantos.com/

Seriously, I ran around in circles trying to find a spot where the sun would not wash out the screen of my iPhone so I could see the painting in all its glory. When I finally found a spot that was... "OK" I took my first look and nearly fell over.

Dan had hit a home run.

There I was surrounded by Ferraris and Porsches... even an Aston Martin and I was more blown away by Dan's painting then those amazing cars. Suddenly I was like... forget that VIPER! Everyone, come look at my new cover!

No one was interested so I held the phone to my chest and was like, "MINE ALL MINE!" It was not until two hours later that I was home and able to view the painting on my computer... Oh, my God! It was all the more gorgeous. I felt like that guy in the old "Is It Real Or Is It Memorex" commercials, knocked right off my chair by the artistic vision and talent of Dan Dos Santos.

So where is the painting? Oh, it's here.... but I will not be revealing it until later, so check back soon.

Thanks all,

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

New SOUL BORN Art by Kevin West - Tala

2011-06-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

Tala from SOUL BORN by Kevin West

Here is a new piece of SOUL BORN art by the mega-talented Kevin West. He captures Tala perfectly, from costume to curves and muscles to attitude. I am very happy with the way this commission worked out.

If you would like to see more of his work, or hire him to do a piece for you, check out his site. http://www.kevinwestart.com/index.html

As for some SOUL BORN updates... Book 2 is at the editor, Dan Dos Santos is currently painting the cover and I am seeking some quotes for the cover.

The cover announcement and book title will be soon. Keep checking back. Also there will be a signed book give-away on goodreads.com starting the 10th!

Thanks all,

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN Excerpt #5

2011-05-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

Soul Born won an award.

This is the fifth and final passage I'm sharing during Soul Born Excerpt Month. Remember, there may be slight spoilers in these paragraphs or pages. I will do my best not to reveal any of the bigger secrets. If you have not already, you can read the prologue and first chapter in .PDF format, it's posted on my author site and here on this site too.

Ready? Here we go!

Pages 55-58 of SOUL BORN

***

“Do you have any weapons in the cabin?”

“Just an old hunter’s bow.”

“I lost my sword,” Karn admitted with a serious drop in his voice.

“Use this,” Opal replied.

Opal hesitantly reached out and tapped her pointer and middle finger against the back of Karn’s sword hand. When Karn looked down he saw a thick black mass covering Opal’s arm. As if made from the darkest, thickest oil, the black mass ran slowly from her hand to his. Once the substance covered Karn’s hand he raised it up to his face to examine it. Since this oddity originated from Opal, Karn did not fear it, but it still caused his heart to race with bewilderment. As he rolled his hand over and over looking at both sides, the oil began to rapidly run to his fingers. Its speed increased, faster and faster, shooting to his fingertips. With a flash of yellow light the black oil shot out taking the shape of a long sword.

Karn’s eyes grew wide with amazement, while an excited grin drew across his face. He shook his hand testing the weight of the new blade then swung it up and over his head. It felt perfect. He would have admired the sword longer, but another howl broke the silence.

Karn ran toward the cabin at full speed, until a glimmer of armor caught his eye. Standing next to a tree, hunched over and covered nearly head to toe with blood was Zian, and to his left was the stunning elven woman who brought the food to the dungeon the first day Karn was imprisoned. Behind them, milling about in the shadows of the trees were a least ten more scantily clad women.

The crowd of women looked as though they had taken a trip through hell; they were splattered with blood and their somber faces were flushed and framed with sweat-matted hair. There was almost no way to identify them as slaves in Mustaffa’s harem, as each of their stunning outfits were ruined, damaged beyond repair. Approaching the group slowly from behind Karn, Opal could clearly see that half of the women bore fresh injuries. One pale gasping girl had a terrible gash in her shoulder that looked life-threatening.

“How did you find us? What do you want?” Karn asked pointing his sword at them.

For Opal it was hard to tell if Raven’s look of impatient frustration was because her outfit was torn to shreds barely keeping her decent, forcing the elf-woman to hold it up on the one side to cover herself, or the fact that their reunion was lacking social grace.

“What do you expect to do with your one sword when the lot of us has just faced a hundred or more?” Raven asked angrily.

“Karn,” Opal called from her distance. “It’s safe. This woman helped me when I was captured.”

“That’s all fine and well, but why did you come here?” Karn asked again.

“Stand down, captain,” Opal spoke sternly as she approached, yet in a tone low enough for just him to hear.

Karn shot a glance at Opal, finding her command strange and oddly timed. Nevertheless, he felt compelled to lower his weapon and relax his stance.

“How did you find us?” Opal asked the group.

“How do you think, girl?” Zian snapped. “I followed your scent.” His piercing red eyes made her squirm in her skin. “We came here only to seek your help.”

“With a powerful mage like you we could crush Mustaffa,” Raven quickly added.

“You know I cannot face him,” Opal shook her head in disagreement. “Mustaffa is protected against magic by an amulet he wears. And he has an army!”

“Then we need an army too!” Raven grumbled.

“The time for arguing has passed,” Zian spoke while he pointed his nose up. He faced Karn. “Human, you were a soldier, right? Human soldiers always have plans, what is yours?”

“Let me think on it for a time,” answered Karn.

One thing he did know was that standing still would get nothing done. After ordering the slaves with lesser injuries to wash up at the pond, Karn asked Opal to heal them all, starting with the one most gravely wounded. That girl, certainly no older than Opal herself, stood with her arm limp at her side. A deep wound in her shoulder showed a white glint of bone amid the red ruin. A thick stream of blood had coursed all the way down her arm to the tips of her fingers. Her skin was pale white, a frightening indication to Opal that she was bleeding to death. Approaching the wounded girl, Opal noticed her deep green eyes were glazed and unresponsive. Snapping her fingers thrice in front of the girl’s face elicited no response.

“She’s been like this since we entered the forest, I had to help her walk,” another slave girl spoke up.

Opal shifted her gaze to the speaking woman, seeing that she was slightly bent over holding her hands tight against the side of her waist.

“I was cut, I have no idea how or when,” she stated calmly, almost apologetically. “There was total chaos when Zian entered the throne room.”

With no concentration and very little thought or preparation, Opal summoned a healing spell. Turning her attention back to the first girl, Opal’s eyes flashed while locking on the dangling arm. The way it hung lifelessly at her side made Opal recall the very first time used magic.

***

Traveling to market with her father, just like any other week, Opal rode in the back of his cart with the ore he had mined. A sudden dip in the dirt road sent a rocking vibration across the cart which toppled her over the side. Falling to the ground, Opal’s delicate twelve-year-old body landed hard on her hands, breaking her right wrist. Whisking her up from the ground her father cradled her in his large arms while she screamed in pain, her tears soaked his shirt. As he was trying to examine her arm a flash of red light emanated from the core of her tiny body. Blinded by the light, her father missed what happened next. While her right hand hung limp, her left filled with a ball of red swirling energy. Although her young mind could not comprehend what the energy was, she knew, as if naturally, that it was meant to fix her broken bones. Laying her left hand on her right wrist, the pain of the injury washed away, replaced by an equally strong sensation of renewal. As feeling returned to her fingers she bent them, making a tiny fist. Happy that the pain was gone, Opal giggled with relief, not noticing the red glow from her hand was suddenly gone.

Wiping his eyes clear, her father looked down with amazement, as his daughter clapped her hands and laughed.

***

What do you think? Interested? I hope you enjoyed it!

The publisher, Dark Quest Books, released it on Kindle last month for an nutty introductory price.

If you have a Kindle you can read all of SOUL BORN for $0.99!

http://amzn.com/B004TAVNDK

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN Excerpt #4

2011-05-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

May is SOUL BORN Excerpt Month.

The fourth passage I wanted to share, is just a few lines below. Remember, there may be slight spoilers in these paragraphs or pages. I will do my best not to reveal any of the bigger secrets. If you have not already, you can read the prologue and first chapter in .PDF format, it's posted on my author site and here on this site too.

Tala in action...

Ready? Here we go!

Pages 196-198 of SOUL BORN

***

The weight of the armor had finally become too much for Tala to bear. She tried to keep afloat, but could not use her arms and legs to tread water or the masquerade would be ruined. Instinctively she drew a deep breath before completely sinking into the cold water. A strong current continued to push her forward even after she sank nearly to the bottom. The cold water numbed her body so much that she could not feel her hands as they tried to unhook the chain mail. Suddenly, the sobering realization that she was going to die entered her thoughts. Without warning her body collided with something hard, forcing what little air that remained in her lungs out through her mouth and nose. She turned over in the water and came eye to eye with the object she had crashed into——a downed tree lying half in the stream. She flailed around searching for something to grab on to before she drowned. Suddenly her right hand hooked on to a thick branch, and with every ounce of strength she yanked herself up out of the water.

Tala’s lungs worked overtime as she pulled herself to the shore then crawled out of the water on her hands and knees. She wanted to collapse, but she slowly built up the willpower to stand.

“Dark elves!” Tala said with a cough.

Exhausted, Tala returned to Karn, dropping his armor and shield into a small pile at his feet. Staring at his chain mail, she noticed a broken link where the arrow must have struck him. She prepared for the worst, removing Karn’s light leather long sleeve shirt carefully. As it passed over the area where he was hurt, Tala was relieved to see only a small puncture wound. After gently rolling Karn on his side she crawled out of the shallow cave that sheltered them.

Tala knew exactly which poison the dark elves had used. It was a natural toxin found in the venom sacks of the Orange Backed Toad. For dozens of years the dark elves had used a less potent version of this exact poison to hunt large prey. At that time, almost ten years ago, a group of dark elves had used the Orange Backed Toad’s venom to contaminate Tala’s tribe’s water supply. At full strength the poison debilitated its target with severe fevers that quickly led to paranoia and delirium, followed by death. Many elves in her tribe fell victim to the contaminated water before an antidote was discovered. Among those who died were her father and brother.

It was a time in her life she would never forget. Every detail was burned in her mind, from the smell of the dead, to the look of hopeful concern on the faces of her tribe’s elders when they ordered five hunters into the deep swamps to observe the toads. Tala remembered two whole days passing, before the hunters returned with good news: the toads had a natural enemy, the common water snake. Although the water snake’s poison was not harmful to humans or elves, its venom incapacitated the toads long enough for the snakes to eat them. After hearing the hunters’ observations, the elders immediately sent them out to catch water snakes.

Tala recalled the day the hunters returned with the snakes. Each man carried a leather bag of snakes into her village. Their arms and legs were decorated with snakebites, but they showed no sign of pain, only pride. The elders combined the water snake’s venom with a medicinal root used to cure most ailments. It was a success. The fevers broke over the course of a day while the other symptoms slowly tapered off. Sadly, it was too late for her family.

Tala stared at the stream, which only moments before had nearly taken her life. Its motion had a hypnotizing effect on her as she stood in deep thought. She knew there was something she was forgetting. Moments later the glare of the setting sun on the water broke her free of the trance. It was getting colder as the sun set. Her wet clothes clung to her body and made her shiver from head to toe. Then it struck.

“They are nocturnal! Those snakes are nocturnal!”

Tala determined by the position of the sun that there was still a bit of time before nightfall. After a moment of planning she decided to return to Karn’s side before searching for the root needed for the antivenom. As she crawled back into the shallow cave, Karn spoke.

“Opal?”

“No, it’s Tala,” she whispered as she leaned in over him.

“Cold, so c-cold,” Karn said between labored breaths.

“Karn, who is Opal?”

“Why am I so cold?” he asked calmly, while keeping his eyes closed.

“Don’t move. I’ll make us a fire,” Tala told Karn while touching his chest to comfort him.

After taking a moment to look at him, Tala crawled back outside to collect firewood. It only took her a brief moment, but during her absence Karn grew sicker. When she returned she found him flailing about in deep convulsions. Dropping the wood she tackled Karn, trying to keep him from harming himself any further. She straddled him, pinning his shoulders to the ground with her elven strength, which was more than a match for Karn in his weakened condition. His body continued to jerk beneath her with a motion that she found similar to riding a horse.

Slowly his body calmed, and when Tala thought it was safe she removed her tight grip on his shoulders and reached up with both hands to brush the yellow-green strands of hair out of her eyes. When she started to shift her weight off of Karn his hand gently clasped her ankle.

“Do not leave me,” Karn murmured.

***

http://amzn.com/B004TAVNDK

Kevin James Breaux

@KevinBreaux

SOUL BORN Excerpt #3

2011-05-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

May is SOUL BORN Excerpt Month.

The third passage I wanted to share, is just a few lines below. Remember, there may be slight spoilers in these paragraphs or pages. I will do my best not to reveal any of the bigger secrets. If you have not already, you can read the prologue and first chapter in .PDF format, it's posted on my author site and here on this site too.

Warning this one is short, brutal and ends abruptly...

Ready? Here we go!

Pages 83-85 of SOUL BORN

***

Opal shifted her view from the sculpture just long enough to pull the blouse from her skirt. When she did, a breeze on her face caused her to blink then look up directly at a rapidly approaching sword. Almost without thinking, Opal created a magical shield. A thick green fluid materialized in front of her just as the weapon struck, as if forming from the unseen moisture in the air. It protected her from the sword’s razor sharp slice, but not the force of its collision. The impact knocked her to the cold stone floor where she slid on her back into what she thought was the wall behind her. The unforgiving rough stone floor deeply lacerated her skin. Not knowing how badly she was hurt Opal ran her hand across her back, smearing sweat with the blood from her wounds. When she looked at her hand, she saw the effigy move, stepping towards her. Although it moved bit by bit, its pace was steady.

She marveled at its combination of inhuman and human qualities. Although solid in form, it moved as any man would: shifting its weight, swinging its hips and lifting its feet. Entranced by the wonder that approached her, Opal did not move. She sat still and watched as the stone comprising the man’s body shifted, broke, and then reformed, as it mended itself with each step forward. Once within striking distance the stone soldier raised the sword it held in its hand, preparing to attack her. The impending danger caused Opal’s mind to flash back to the moment she killed the giant outside Weiden’s Rise’s prison. Instantly her hands began radiating with the same amber magical aura that they had in the past. Before she could even point, a thick beam shot out, blasting through the stone warrior approaching her. Hundreds of small chunks of rock spilled from the warrior to the floor in front of her, but before she could recover two cold rock hands grabbed her shoulders and lifted her from the ground. Opal tilted her head back as she rose from the ground, coming eye to eye with a second stone soldier. With every muscle in her tired body she struggled to free herself from his cold tight grasp. As she squirmed she attempted to liberate her right arm, but the living statue was not content with just capture. The crunching of stone in the soldier’s arms caught her attention as it lifted her back over its head.

“Karn!” she screamed in terror just before being thrown headfirst down the hall.

Opal fell hard on her back, snapping her collarbone. Vessels in her shoulder exploded into action pumping blood out of the fresh wound, where a broken end of bone jutted from her flesh. Wrenching pain seized her body, transforming her pale skin to a shade of red nearly matching her hair. A scream punched through her clenched teeth. She felt as if every nerve in her body was about to erupt with volcanic pressure. As the stone warrior approached Opal to examine the damage, her twisted body fell calm. Her chest no longer rose and fell to the beat of life. Abundant blood from her wound pooled near her head; the living rock-man had won. Clearly victorious, he stepped back, moving away from Opal’s body. Slowly, the stone that was fused together to form its body crumbled away. At first, just small rocks shed from the torso, but then the stone man’s arm fell to the ground, followed by his leg breaking off at the hip. Upon impact with the floor his entire body shattered into tiny pieces that no longer resembled anything other than a pile of rock.

***

What do you think? Interested? I hope you enjoyed it!

The publisher, Dark Quest Books, released it on Kindle last month for an unimaginable introductory price.

If you have a Kindle you can read all of SOUL BORN for $0.99!

http://amzn.com/B004TAVNDK

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN Excerpt #2

2011-05-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

May is SOUL BORN Excerpt Month.

The second passage I wanted to share, is just a few lines below. Remember, there may be slight spoilers in these paragraphs or pages. I will do my best not to reveal any of the bigger secrets. If you have not already, you can read the prologue and first chapter in .PDF format, it's posted on my author site and here on this site too.

Ready? Here we go!

Pages 31-33 of SOUL BORN

***

Creeping through the debris, Karn tried his best to maintain silence. In the distance he heard men speaking——orders being given and passed down the ranks, as best as he could tell. Any question as to whether they were the enemy had answered itself. No soldier of Weiden’s Rise would leave one of their generals hanging about for the birds to devour.

Reaching the gallows, Karn looked up at the dead man, hoping with all his heart that it was not his father. The birds and other scavengers had picked most of the flesh from the face of the corpse, leaving exposed muscles to detail its features. Long, straggly hair hung limp from the body’s head, its style, length and color fitted the image Karn had of his father before the battle. Fearing this was his kin, Karn decided it was time to climb the platform of the gallows, to take an even closer look.

“You there!” a man screamed as Karn planted his left foot on the second stair of the gallows.

“Halt, rogue!” another man shouted.

Karn counted five men, all dressed in full armor and carrying long metal spears. Drawing his sword, he advanced to the top stair of the gallows before turning in preparation for an attack. Spreading his feet shoulder width apart he planted his right foot back and lowered his weight by bending his knees. A tremor of renewed physical might shot down both his arms from its center in his shoulders. The feeling made him flex tight, until he felt his shirt constrict against his bulging muscles. Awash with a new found confidence, Karn knew for some off reason that these six men could not best him. Standing strong he waited for them at the top of the gallows.

“The looter thinks high ground will save him, Robertus,” one of the men said to his comrade.

“Let me show him just how wrong he is.”

The first man hurried up the stairs, rushing into combat against what he thought would be an easy-to-kill opponent. It would be the man’s last mistake. Karn swung his sword with precision, slicing the attacker’s throat so deeply that his head nearly separated from his shoulders. After shoving the body over the side of the open stairs, he eyed the next assailant who, seeing the fate dealt his comrade, slowed his onrush up the stairs and raised his spear in a more careful, defensive guard. Jabbing at Karn, he moved in to attack. Karn waited for the spear to strike out at him, and then, lightning fast, wrapped his left arm over it.

“Got you,” Karn said, pinning the spear’s shaft tight to his side while sliding himself forward along its length.

Driving his sword forward into the man’s chest, Karn continued to push until his hand was soaked with gushing gore. Looking directly at his enemy’s shocked face, he witnessed the blood as it spilled forth from his mouth.

Karn yanked his sword out of the soldier’s chest, and decided not to wait for the next one to approach. Leaving his strategically safer location atop the thin rickety stairs, he stepped over the dead body and down to the debris cluttered ground.

“Fool! You just lost your only advantage!” one of the soldiers shouted.

Snatching it from the ground, Karn took one of the large shields the fallen soldiers had dropped. Rushing forward with the shield braced, he slammed hard into the first advancing soldier, directing the falling body into next. The clash of metal against metal rang out, drowning the screams of the stumbling soldier as Karn cleaved his arm from his body. The sight of his comrade spraying blood from a jagged stump made the soldier who had landed upon the ground gawk in panic.

Losing himself in a wild rage, Karn swung his sword down into the armless man’s leg, hacking a giant chunk of flesh off before striking again and again. Blood sprayed from both the wound as it splattered from the edge of Karn’s sword. The injured soldier howled, his cries filled more with hell born terror than pain. His screams finally ceased when Karn finished him.

Horrified by such an act of brutality, the two remaining soldiers turned to flee. Dropping his sword and shield Karn picked up one of the abandoned spears at the middle of the shaft. Pointing it at the two fleeing men, he recalled using such a weapon many times before. Lost in a past memory, Karn’s body moved forward tracing ghostly steps of long ago training. Drawing his arm back while keeping the spear at shoulder height, he advanced until the right side of his body snapped forward; leg, hip and arm.

Sailing through the sky, the spear descended upon the two men like a great horned owl swooping down on its prey. Striking the man on the left, the spear passed entirely through his body from the man’s chest to the earth beneath, pinning him instantly.

***

http://amzn.com/B004TAVNDK

Kevin James Breaux
@KevinBreaux

SOUL BORN Excerpt #1

2011-05-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

May is SOUL BORN Excerpt Month.

The first passage I wanted to share, is just a few lines below. Remember, there may be slight spoilers in these paragraphs or pages. I will do my best not to reveal any of the bigger secrets. If you have not already, you can read the prologue and first chapter in .PDF format, it's posted on my author site and here on this site too.

Ready? Here we go!

Pages 23-24 of SOUL BORN

***

Opal brushed the red hair that had fallen in her face to the side. She repeated a rhyme her father had taught her to use to calm her nerves when she was a young girl. Most of the time it worked, but this time, Malek’s blatant disrespect was too much to wash away with childish rhymes. As her instructor turned his back to return to the inner workings of the High Council, Opal’s eyes flashed green and blue. Calling upon a spell she learned a long time ago, she mentally prepared herself to strike out at her teacher. Before she could launch her rage-driven assault, a mousy voice spoke from the balcony behind her.

“Opal! I sensed you were back!”

Opal recognized the voice of Elizabeth, her oldest friend. Rising up from the flagstone floor was an ever-growing puddle of water. As the puddle grew in size, it bulged in the middle. The bulge wobbled up into the air, defying gravity. Reaching Opal’s height it stopped moving, holding eerily still. As Opal drew closer she pointed a finger at the blob of water, then pressed that digit directly into it. Suddenly the water fell to the ground as if spilled from invisible buckets, leaving behind a young woman. Soaked from head to toe, Elizabeth smirked at her friend whose index finger rested directly on the tip of her nose.

“How do you do that?” Elizabeth giggled. “Whenever I form up in front of you, you seem to be able to find my nose.”

“I’m a good guesser. I see you still have not figured a way around the inevitable wetness of your water transportation spell.”

“The Water Conduit. Yes, I still end up soaked every time.”

Smiling, the two girls rang out the next sentence together, “Which is better than ending up all covered in dirt!”

Elizabeth added, “I haven’t practiced the Earth Conduit spell in nearly as many weeks as it’s been since I have seen you.”

Opal wrapped her arms around her friend, hugging her tightly.

“And I have yet to figure out my Wind Conduit spell,” Elizabeth said, shyly. “Perhaps you could help me?”

“You’re much more powerful than I am, Elizabeth,” Opal said fondly. “You will perfect it soon enough.”

“More powerful than you? Not likely!”

A few years younger than Opal, Elizabeth had joined the High Council just over three years previously, at age fifteen. Being the only two members of their discipline of magic gave the young women insights into each other’s lives few could understand—a combination for instant friendship. Like Opal, Elizabeth was considered a Geomancer; one who channeled magic from nature. Seemingly limitless in the amount of magical power her body could store, Elizabeth was able to cast spells over and over again, all day long. This would have made her the top student, unseating Opal, if it were not for her limited mental capacity. Growing up with physically abusive parents had wounded her so deeply that her mind shut off from many things, including learning offensive spells. But amongst themselves, the other students speculated that she knew how to use at least one offensive spell: the Fireball, because it had been a sudden and unexplained fire that destroyed her parent’s house the night before she joined the High Council.

“My repertoire is so limited compared to yours,” stated Elizabeth. “That’s why you always get the special assignments.” She peeked over Opal’s shoulder at Karn lying peacefully on the floor. “Is that him?”

“Yes, it is,” Opal laughed.

“Can I—” Elizabeth began to ask until interrupted by Opal.

“Take a closer look?”

Halfway across the room to Karn, Elizabeth turned around to finish her question.

“Can I touch him?” she knelt beside Karn.

Elizabeth’s long, blonde, straight hair, which normally rested upon her buttocks, spilled to the floor; some strands even falling on Karn’s chest. Running her small, soft hands across his face, Elizabeth remarked with amazement, “He is good-looking.”

“I told you.”

“I cannot believe I’m touching him, the man you have loved for so many years,” Elizabeth’s face fell sullen. “I saw Malek put him to sleep. Is he being punished?”

Elizabeth walked back to Opal, a concerned look scrawled across her face. Taking her friend’s hand in hers, Opal sighed loudly, “No, I am.”

***

What do you think? Interested? I hope you enjoyed it!

The publisher, Dark Quest Books, released it on Kindle last month for an insane introductory price.

If you have a Kindle you can read all of SOUL BORN for $0.99!

http://amzn.com/B004TAVNDK

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

May is SOUL BORN Excerpt Month!

2011-04-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

May is SOUL BORN Excerpt Month! Each Monday I will release a new passage from the pages of my award-winning epic fantasy. To read these paragraphs or pages, just visit this site. By the end of June the cover and title of book two in the Soul Born Saga will be revealed. So remember to keep watch!

And act quickly while the Kindle version of Soul Born is still on sale for $0.99.

Thanks all!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Soul Born Updates - For Sale on Kindle!

2011-04-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

SOUL BORN on Kindle!

Hi all,

Wanted to post a few updates. If you didn't already know, from my tweets, facebook and author blog, SOUL BORN is now out on Kindle. It's also for SALE at $0.99. Crazy, I know! If you have not read it yet, this is the perfect chance to pick it up. Remember, if you do not own a Kindle there's a free Kindle for PC application that allows you to download the books to your pc/laptop and read it there.

For some reason the Map of Illyia did not come through on the Kindle, so here it is on an "Art of" page I made. http://www.kevinbreaux.com/soulbornart.htm . I think next year this time I will open a full site dedicated to this book series. That way there can be more art! :)

Have you seen SOUL BORN's goodreads page lately? I have been getting a lot of good reviews. Soul Born - Goodreads.com . Seems like most people like to post reviews and rating there instead of the book sellers web sites. I don't mind, either way works for me. I think its important a few good reviews end up on the book seller sites though. :) Just this week I found a new 5/5 star review on the Amazon.uk site for the Kindle edition. That was very cool.

Soul Born's sequel, which I have yet to announce the title for, will have cover art in a few months. Dan Dos Santos and I will be working on it together at the end of May. He has all the details and we are thinking of having all three books in the Soul Born Saga, have similar covers, so they work as an artistic triptych.

Been hard at work on Soul Born book three. It's at over 90K words now, and still aimed at a final word count over 120K. All three books will have a different feel to them, and this one is largely effected by my love of comic books (hint).

Side note: I waiting to hear back from an agent who has a partial of my Urban Fantasy novel. I really need an agent for this next series. It's so crazy, sexy and cool. I'm also really wanting to create and write a graphic novel or manga book... just need an artist....

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN Origins: Opal a FREE e-story!

2011-03-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

Opal by Kevin West

In anticipation of the SOUL BORN ebook release on Kindle (soon I hope) I want to give all the fans of my New Epic Fantasy Series a freebie! Yes, a free origins e-story featuring Soul Born's main protagonist Opal.

Soul Born Origins: Opal PDF - click here to download!

Want to learn a little more about Opal and what she was doing prior to Soul Born? Here is your chance. This e-story takes place a few years before Soul Born and will give you a glimpse into the history of this powerful mage, before she became a student.

Remember it's free, so please enjoy and share with your friends, but not for resale!

Thanks to all my supporters new and old,

Kevin James Breaux

SOUL BORN interview and give-away at Ellz Readz!

2011-03-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

Elie, of Ellz Reads, and one of my favorite people on the internet, has posted a new author interview where I talk a bit about the origins of SOUL BORN and what I wanted the book to be. She asked some great questions; a few I had to sit on a few days and think about. I did my best to answer them honestly, but with my normal silly flair. I hope you enjoy!

http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com/2011/03/interviewgiveaway-kevin-james-breaux.html

I am also happy to announce that attached to this interview is a book give-away. Elie was kind enough to part with one of the two signed copies of SOUL BORN I sent to her for her personal collection. Please drop by and check out the interview and enter the contest. At least take a few minutes to look around her site. Elie has put a lot of hard work into her site, posts and reviews. If you take the time to leave a comment I am sure she will respond when she can.

Quick side note. Book Three in the SOUL BORN SAGA is nearing 90k words, and it's still flying!

Thanks all,

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Working Hard on the Future of SOUL BORN

2011-03-04T18:10:00.000-08:00

Sorry for no new updates earlier this week. I've been working very hard on a few different projects. Here is a hint. Book Three in the Soul Born Saga is at over 80k words at the moment and ready to rocket toward my goal of 140k-150k. Also I'm writing a new stand-alone fantasy-sci-fi book. I updated my author site to reflect my current books on the shelf, and those I am submitting to agents, and writing this very moment. You can still see a brief short story publishing history too. http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Also there was another delay in the Soul Born ebook. Apparently Amazon rejected or found an error in the file my publisher sent them at the beginning of Feb. So it was back to square one. Hopefully the problem has been fixed and the file will be accepted this time around. I know there's a large demand for Soul Born on Kindle... I will keep on it, and let everyone know the moment it arrives.

Until then, watch my buddy-blogger Elie's vlog here. http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com/2011/02/imm-vlog.html

She has given Soul Born a lot of support. Thanks!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.soulborn.net/

New Review for SOUL BORN! 5/5

2011-02-21T15:32:00.000-08:00

In the past week I received a tweet from someone I did not know:

"I finished Soul Born today, and I have to say I loved it. Fantastic job as a debut novel; I'll be recommending it!" @KonahFawkes

I was super excited! Always fun to get a random tweet-compliment from a fan of the fantasy genre. A couple days later he posted a full review on BN.com and Goodreads.com. I really appreciate the time he took posting the reviews, and I think I made a new online buddy. He's an aspiring author who is working on his first novel. Here's his blog site. http://konahfawkes.wordpress.com/

You can read his 5/5 star Soul Born BN.com review here.

Thanks Konah!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

New 5 Star SOUL BORN Review on Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

SOUL BORN received a 5/5 star review today from Kiki, the awesome Caffeinated Diva. Not only did she post it on her blog, but she covered goodreads.com, amazon.com, and bn.com too. I so appreciate that!

She labeled her Amazon.com review, "One of the best fantasy novels I've read!" ...which is very nice of her. If you would like to read her full review visit her site, and leave some feedback.

http://thecaffeinateddivareads.multifacetedmama.com/?p=1738

In the next day or two I will post the winner for the Goodreads.com Soul Born give-away. I was amazed that over 1,300 entered to win a copy of my book. That is truly humbling. Thank you!

Thanks,

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

@KevinBreaux

Soul Born Wins Award!

2011-02-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

...sure it's not much to look at, but its all mine.

SOUL BORN was awarded First Place in the New SF/F Novel category of the P&E Reader's Poll 2010.

See the final tally here. http://www.critters.org/predpoll/final_tally_novelsf.ht

To everyone who voted for me and my works, thank you very much!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/
@kevinbreaux

SOUL BORN Goodreads.com Giveaway!

2011-02-01T15:02:00.000-08:00

I am having another contest for signed copies of SOUL BORN. Check it out below, and please, if you have already won a book from me, let others get a chance. :)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Soul Born

by Kevin James Breaux

Giveaway ends February 14, 2011.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/
@kevinbreaux

Fantasy Faction Book Reviews gives Soul Born 4/5 Stars!

2011-01-24T15:08:00.000-08:00

I posted this review on my author blog first, but here it is anyway...

http://fantasy-faction.com/2011/soul-born-review

"‘Right… we have magic, we have action, we have beautiful women. Are you ready? Lets go!’" - Overlord of Fantasy Faction.

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Tala and Zian by William O'Conner NEW Soul Born art!

2011-01-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

Tala and Zian from SOUL BORN

William O'Conner (http://www.wocstudios.com/) did this AMAZING Soul Born commission. If you do not know William he does art for the following: Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, Del Rey Publishing, Harper Collins, Lucas Films, TSR Inc.,White Wolf Publishing, and Wizards of the Coast to name a few.

When I contacted him to do a piece for my novel, he was super busy, but still willing to fit me into his crazy schedule. A couple months and a few email conversations later and this amazing piece of art shows up at my door.

I gave William a bunch of descriptions for Tala and Zian and then told him to give the picture a beauty and the beast feeling. As a artist, I like seeing what other artists do when you give them some creative freedom. What William did was make Zian a little larger than I have him imagined in the books... and I love it.

I am extremely happy with this piece of art, and I will be framing and hanging it up soon. William was easy to work with, communicated well, and was very friendly. I hope to hire him again when Soul Born's sequel comes out.

Got a minute? Tell me what you think of the artwork?

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/
@kevinbreaux

Soul Born Art - A Scene From Inside the Book!

2011-01-09T21:32:00.000-08:00

Karn Battle by Karl Waller

Here is a piece of commissioned art, that depicts a fight scene from pages 204-205 of SOUL BORN. This art was created by Karl Waller, a former D&D artist.

Don't forget to check out the sample chapters you can download them here. Soul Born Sample Chapters

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Soul Born's First Big Review - 4 out of 5 Stars!

2011-01-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

A few small reviews have trickled in, but if you would like to read SOUL BORN's first big review go to A Tale of Many Reviews or read it at GoodReads under Julie Brazeal's profile.

It was given a 4 out of 5 Stars! Not a bad start!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Soul Born Free Chapters and Giveaway for the Holidays

2010-12-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to All!

I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for all the support.

SOUL BORN has only been out a few weeks, and I am already beginning to get some nice feedback. As a result I would like to offer this sample chapter .pdf file to anyone who has been wanting to take a taste of my new fantasy world.

Download SOUL BORN Sample .PDF

After downloading the prologue and first chapter, please enter the contest below to win a free book!

Thanks!
Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Soul Born Manga Art!

2010-12-13T14:04:00.000-08:00

Here is some cool SOUL BORN manga style fan art by Ciarra.

Here is Opal the Mage

The artist captures Opal from the cover of the novel. She looks great!

Here is Tala the Elf

Tala is very well represented in this piece. I think the artist was totally on track with the clothing and emotion of the character.

Here is Karn the Warrior

Karn looks a little skater-punk here. I half expect him to be pals with Tony Hawk. The artist has the face right, giving Karn a nice brooding look.

I love all forms of fantasy art. This is really great work all and all. It makes me wish SOUL BORN was retold in a manga comic! That would be a ton of fun to make. If you have fan art from Soul Born, please send it to me. Thanks!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Opal and Tala from Soul Born Introductions

2010-12-04T18:13:00.000-08:00

(Opal and Tala by Karl Waller)

Opal is one of the two female protagonists in Soul Born. She is a mage, and has had the magical power to heal people since she was a young child. Opal has faced a lot of hardships growing up, and as a result she has learned to take what she wants.

Considered a geomancer, a mage who draws her powers from the earth and nature, Opal has access to limitless resources, as long as her body can handle it.

Opal knows she is the most talented student in the High Council of Mages, and wants the respect that should come along with such recognition. Some might say that constant disregard from her teachers has made Opal a bit of a spoiled little monster.

Seeking to leave her past behind, she strives to become an instructor at the High Council, but first the Archmages require she prove herself.

If a SOUL BORN movie was made, Bijou Phillips would play Opal. This is exactly how I imagined Opal to look. Bijou has the right hair color and style, the right physical build and a cute, devilish smile.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005313/

(Bijou Phillips at an event)

Tala is the other female lead. Young, strong, fast and beautiful, the world would be at her feet, if she was human. Until recent months, life as an elf in the lands of Illyia was both challenging and dangerous. After years of battle with their rivals, the lizard men, the elven people had finally triumphed, but at the cost of their population, homes, and resources. Tala lost much during those times, and swore she would never suffer such again.

The young elf finds herself suddenly cast into the middle of a human war, dubbed a soldier of nature by an ancient elemental force. No longer excepting failure in her life, Tala decides she will do whatever is necessary to see a conclusion to this chaos and bring peace to the lands of Illyia.

Surrounded by lies, she is forced to make decisions of life and death. Responsibility has become her curse.

Playing Tala in the SOUL BORN movie would be actress Kelly Brook. Tala is a tough one to cast. Needed is a young woman with a voluptuous build, while looking like she can be athletic and light on her feet. I feel Kelly is that, and a great match for Tala’s face and smile. She looks like a warm caring person, and that is Tala.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0111639/

(Kelly Brook press photo)

Soul Born is the tale of a fantasy world emerging from a dark age. It's characters survive on all of their skills, whether they be magical, mental, or physical. While they may strive to make things right, they don't always travel the most lawful path. Okay, no more hints! I'll spoil all the fun!

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Karn from SOUL BORN - an introduction

2010-11-30T12:45:00.000-08:00

Karn is the enigmatic male lead in SOUL BORN.

(Karn by Karl Waller)

Unlike most heroes, Karn has a dual nature. While he is conflicted in his desires, there is nothing that can stop him from striving to reach his goals. He needs to avenge the fall of his homeland, protect the woman he loves and defeat the warlord who threatens the lands of Illyia.

In combat he wields a dark-bladed sword of legend. He prefers light armor, and has found that mixing chain mail with leather and a few scraps of plate, best suits his needs to stay agile on the battlefield.

If a Soul Born movie was made, and cast by me, the actor who best resembles Karn is Eric Etebari.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262026/

(Eric Etebari as seen in WitchBlade TV show. Thanks TNT)

Eric would portray Karn very well in the Soul Born movie. Not only does he look like Karn, but he does that "carrying the weight of the world" angst thing very well.

I would love to tell you more about Karn of Weiden's Rise, but that would spoil the story.

Happy Official SOUL BORN release day!

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

The Lands of Illyia - Soul Born Map

2010-11-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

The lands of Illyia

Every good fantasy novel has a map right? Growing up reading a lot of fantasy novels and role playing games this was my feeling at least. One of my friends seemed to buy a new book each week and when he would show them to me the first thing I would do was open the pages to the front in search of a map.

This map was first hand drawn by me. Then redesigned in Campaign Cartographer. Then it was handed over to a artist friend of mine Gene Gonzales, who recreated it a few times over using different graphic art programs. This is the final product, a map that looks like one of the characters from Soul Born drew it.

If you would like a printout of this map, please click here.

Thanks!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Soul Born Debut Book Signing --- CANCELED DUE TO BAD WEATHER

2010-11-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

PLEASE NOTE THIS SIGNING WAS CANCELED DUE TO SNOW STORM

(thanks Powell's!)

Although SOUL BORN's release date is 11/30/10, ~~there will be some early release copies with me at Powell's Books in Oregon on Nov. 22nd for a 7pm book signing~~. Below is a link for the listing and the address.

http://www.powells.com/calendar.html?header=Sub:%20Events%20Calendar

Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97005

Hope to see you all there.

Thanks!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN Release Date

2010-11-13T17:48:00.000-08:00

SOUL BORN will be released on 11/30/10

Here is a sneak peak from page 4...

Turning her head around against the formidable pain spiking in her neck, the elf laid eyes on the owner of the powerful voice.

“Tala Silver Wolf. I have been waiting for you.”

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Soul Born Book Trailer

2010-10-31T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the first SOUL BORN Book Trailer. I hope you all enjoy it.
SOUL Born will be released at the end of November.

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN press kit

2010-08-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

November is rapidly approaching and with it the release of SOUL BORN. In preparation I have created a SOUL BORN press kit. If you are a book review site, blogger, or lover of fantasy that wants to talk about my novel out there on the Internet please check out this link. http://www.kevinbreaux.com/presskit.htm

Also, please feel free to e-mail me. I am readily available for interviews in regards to my writing and artwork. email me at kevin @ kevinbreaux.com Thanks!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Cover Art and Blurb Unveiling

2010-08-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

Here is the final cover art for SOUL BORN, an epic fantasy novel written by Kevin James Breaux. The cover is painted by Dan Dos Santos. Also as an added bonus below is the back cover blurb.

SOUL BORN

All Opal wanted was to be respected as a wielder of magic, but her teachers passed her over time and time again. When a mysterious warlord embarks on a conquest to destroy the lands of Illyia Opal seizes an opportunity to step out from the shadows of her instructors and take her rightful spot among them.

Tala, an alluring young elf, was banished from her tribe, hunted and nearly killed by the beasts that dwell in the deep forests, but more than anything else she is a survivor. Joining forces with an ancient elemental power Tala finds herself in the center of an unrelenting human war.

Flesh like leather and bone as strong as steel Karn, a veteran from the first kingdom to fall, is fueled by vengeance. While pushing ever headlong into battle Karn begins to recall memories of another life; ghosts that haunt his dreams.

Through death of soul, their world is born.

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

On Schedule

2010-08-07T11:03:00.000-07:00

I spoke to my publisher and he said that my novel is on schedule for a November release. Great news! SOUL BORN will make a wonderful gift during the 2010 holidays.

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Thanks for all the Emails

2010-06-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Just want to say thanks for all the emails in regards to SOUL BORN and its release date. At the moment all I can say is 4th Quarter 2010, but as so as a specific date is confirmed from the publisher I will be sure to post it here. I apperciate all the time spent emailing me, thanks again.

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN Cover Art by Dan Dos Santos

2010-04-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

Opal from SOUL BORN by Dan Dos Santos

Stunning. I could not be any more happy with this. What do you all think? Dan did an amazing job. No surprise he's up for a Hugo Award this year. I will post the final version of the book cover as soon as I can.

Thanks!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN Status Update

2010-04-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

Straight from the publisher;

"I think Soul Born is coming along nicely. The editor claimed it was pretty clean on the first pass. (That being plot and style.) This is normally the stage where we send back for any rewrites, before the nity gritty grammar and copy-editing. She's moved right to the second stage."

Thats pretty exciting news there!

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Dan Dos Santos Nominated for a Hugo

2010-04-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

Dan Dos Santos was nominated for a HUGO Award this year. Great news. He is an excellent artist and super easy to work with. He and I plan to do all the SOUL BORN covers together. Lets all hope he wins this year. The award ceremony is held at Aussie Con 4. http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/

Thanks all!
Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Soul Born cover art roughs

2010-03-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

This week Dan Dos Santos presented me with three "roughs" to chose from for the cover of SOUL BORN. First let me say, as an artist myself, someone who took two oil painting classes in art school, I was blown away by these "sketches" as he calls them. I don't know how he did them, but in my wildest dreams my final paintings/art would look as good as these rough sketches. OMG! The one I picked is so cool already I could enlarge it to poster size hang it in my office and stare at it all day. The subject of the cover is Opal and the way he did her face has her gazing at the viewer with the most haunting look I have ever seen. Trust me, I wish I could share them here, but it would spoil the surprise when the cover is done. Dan is working on the final version now and I should be seeing that in a few weeks. I can only imagine how great it is going to turn out.

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Cover Art + Short Story

2010-03-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Dan Dos Santos has begun the cover art for SOUL BORN. I am dying to see some of his ideas. His work is amazing, next time you are at the book store check out some of his covers. As soon as I see the concepts and sketches he comes up with I will post my thoughts.

I just finished the final draft of a short story inside the SOUL BORN world. It's an origins story, and I am very excited about it.

Thanks,

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN Cover Artist Announcement

2010-02-08T15:50:00.000-08:00

BIG NEWS!

I've been holding on to this for a few months... but here we go!

I'm happy to announce acclaimed artist Dan Dos Santos will be creating the cover art for SOUL BORN. He will begin the commission next month. I am very excited to be working with him on this project. We are both artists and its fun when artists can collaborate.

To see Dan's work go to his site; http://www.dandossantos.com/

Thanks all,

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN Promo Art - Opal

2010-02-02T11:37:00.000-08:00

This is the first piece of promo art for SOUL BORN. It's a pin-up of one of the main characters, Opal, by Gene Gonzales; a long time friend of mine. He's known for the illustrations and pin-up work he has done for various comic book companies and books. Gene and I are also collaborating on an interior map for SOUL BORN.

http://genegonzales.blogspot.com/

Check out his work. Thanks!

Kevin James Breaux

http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

SOUL BORN series

2010-01-26T11:44:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note about the SOUL BORN series. I'm currently on the first draft of book three, nearing the 40,000 words mark. I'm very pleased with it so far. I would love to mention some of the details but that would spoil the surprises.

Kevin James Breaux
http://www.kevinbreaux.com/

Artwork

2009-11-29T19:36:00.000-08:00

SOUL BORN is getting some artwork done. I have a cover artist lined up and a pin-up artist. I am looking for a few more artists to contribute. If you're interested email me.

SOUL BORN Publishing Deal... In Progress

2009-11-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

A deal to publish SOUL BORN is currently in progress. Dark Quest Books accepted my fantasy novel in early October, and I am very excited to be working with them. It's nice to have a publisher who really loves the genre.

Blog Site for SOUL BORN now open!

2009-10-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

This is the future blog site for Soul Born, a fantasy novel by author Kevin James Breaux.

Soul Born is currently in negotiations for publication. I will make an announcement here as soon as I can.

Also please check my author site www.kevinbreaux.com .

Thanks!

Kevin James Breaux

SOUL BORN

Kevin James Breaux, Author, Level One

BLOOD DIVIDED Giveaway! Starting Jan. 25th.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Blood Divided

by Kevin James Breaux

Great new Soul Born review!!! Its... Wow!

Excerpt from BLOOD DIVIDED book 2 of Soul Born Saga

BLOOD DIVIDED is now available on Kindle

Alert: Do not buy currrent Kindle version of Blood Divided! Bad upload from Publisher.

Blood Divided Updates

Blood Divided Cast of Characters (the new ones)

What's up?

NEW Map of Illyia for Blood Divided

New Review for SOUL BORN 4/5! by Bitten by Books

Blood Divided (soul born saga book 2) Cover Art

Book Two in the SOUL BORN SAGA is...

New cover painting to be revealed very soon!

New SOUL BORN Art by Kevin West - Tala

SOUL BORN Excerpt #5

SOUL BORN Excerpt #4

SOUL BORN Excerpt #3

SOUL BORN Excerpt #2

SOUL BORN Excerpt #1

May is SOUL BORN Excerpt Month!

Soul Born Updates - For Sale on Kindle!

SOUL BORN Origins: Opal a FREE e-story!

SOUL BORN interview and give-away at Ellz Readz!

Working Hard on the Future of SOUL BORN

New Review for SOUL BORN! 5/5

New 5 Star SOUL BORN Review on Valentine's Day!﻿

Soul Born Wins Award!

SOUL BORN Goodreads.com Giveaway!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Soul Born

by Kevin James Breaux

Fantasy Faction Book Reviews gives Soul Born 4/5 Stars!

Tala and Zian by William O'Conner NEW Soul Born art!

Soul Born Art - A Scene From Inside the Book!

Soul Born's First Big Review - 4 out of 5 Stars!

Soul Born Free Chapters and Giveaway for the Holidays

Soul Born Manga Art!

Opal and Tala from Soul Born Introductions

Karn from SOUL BORN - an introduction

The Lands of Illyia - Soul Born Map

Soul Born Debut Book Signing --- CANCELED DUE TO BAD WEATHER

SOUL BORN Release Date

Soul Born Book Trailer

SOUL BORN press kit

Cover Art and Blurb Unveiling

On Schedule

Thanks for all the Emails

SOUL BORN Cover Art by Dan Dos Santos

SOUL BORN Status Update

Dan Dos Santos Nominated for a Hugo

Soul Born cover art roughs

Cover Art + Short Story

SOUL BORN Cover Artist Announcement

SOUL BORN Promo Art - Opal

SOUL BORN series

Artwork

SOUL BORN Publishing Deal... In Progress

Blog Site for SOUL BORN now open!

New 5 Star SOUL BORN Review on Valentine's Day!