Check out this author spotlight for Lyman Rate!
You can find all his links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out his books!
1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!
I live in Kansas with my lovely wife and two dogs, Joplin and Zeus. In my spare time, I enjoy photography as well as playing with Christmas lights. My wife challenged me to write a book one year and this is where my writing career started. She’s talented and is also a writer by trade. When not doing photography or any of my other hobbies, I’m usually cooking or doing something with wood.
To me, writing has really helped me find a way to be creative without the worry of the time spent. There are many things that a person can do that is creative; yet, after many hours, days, weeks, or even months, they might not have much to show for what they have done. Writing is different. When you finish writing you have a series of words that make sentences, merge to form paragraphs, and those come together to create pages and then chapters. Putting all of this togther, you have this glob of pages and chapters, and somehow, from that brain of yours, you were able to create a story that makes sense. It’s pretty amazing.
Writing in different genres allows me to be more than a one genre writer. I want to share my abilities and my writing skills and challenge myself to learn how to write differently to fit different types of books. It’s not easy, but I have enjoyed doing this. My military fiction is different from my fantasy writing and I am really enjoying working on both series’. “Writing is about feeling and words. Without the words, there is no way that feeling can come out. Without feeling, the words mean nothing.”
2. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some this or that questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!
Winter, spring, summer or autumn? Winter – I love the smell, love the cold, love snow, love the lights that people put up as it fits with my hobby of animating Christmas lights to music
Cat or dog? Dog – I have 2, Joplin and Zeus. Joplin is a Chiweenie, and Zeus is a Dachshund
Library or museums? I love libraries, but I prefer a museum as I love to learn the history about things. The ideal world would be a living library museum, where I can actually speak to historical people and ask questions.
Mountains or beaches? Mountains – Just something about that crisp air, that cool feel, and that woodsy smell.
Plotter or pantser? Is Plontser a word? I plot things out, but if the story takes a turn, I roll with it.
Standalone or series? I’m a both type of guy. I like to read a good story, but I don’t mind a full series.
Book or ebook? Book – I love my kindle and it has a big benefit when reading in bed, but I love books, the feel of them, the weight, the smell of them, the way the words are on paper.
3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?
I love dragons, I love magic, and I love great visuals for a cover.
4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!
I write fantasy as my primary, but I also write military fiction suspense thrillers. My most current project is finishing up the five book series that this first book is a part of, Wizards’s War, Beacon Series. However, I have also finished writing another five book series titled Treasure of Nogard Series and am now working on a mega series that will have at least 14 books in it titled Reversion Series.
5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!
Most recent release is Wizards’ War, the first book of the Beacon Series.
With war, nothing is certain.
When a wizard declares war on the High Council, an outsider, Harsohn, is selected to become the messenger for the Council. His task is to deliver messages to and from the front lines as the war progresses.
Avmey, a daughter of the High Elder, commands the rhiksi riders with her sister. The war forces her to work alongside Harsohn, whom she despises due to how men are viewed in her culture.
6. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?
My advice to myself would be never rush things because it can always come back to bite you later.
Other Hobbies: I have a writing podcast titled That Writer Guy Podcast that I do bi-weekly. I talk about all things writing, but I also go beyond simple writing things and include publishing, marketing, cover design, editing, and much more.
7. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!
I am on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lymansworldofwords
Podcast is That Writer Guy which can be found on any podcast platform.
Podcast FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ThatWriterGuyPodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThatWGPodcast
