CHAPTER TWO - NEW EXCERPT AVAILABLE NOW!

Hello you! I’m Jimmy and I’ve been writing stories since I could hold a pen. Of course, in my early years, there was a lot of plagiarising and if George Lucas or Disney ever see my nine year old adaptation of Star Wars there may be a lawsuit. Since childhood has passed me by, I’ve written this, my fiction debut; Pariahs and Peacemakers. It is a story I’ve been wanting to tell forever and took six years from idea to completion with probably six rewrites in total throughout. Unconventionally my storytelling was influenced not only by other books but primarily by video games. It draws strong influences from Halo and Mass Effect as well as Star Wars, Star Trek and Enders Game. I love multiple perspective narratives like George R. R. Martin does in a Song of Ice and Fire and I have implemented that here. Pariahs is told primarily from the protagonist Shayara Ventii, human bounty hunter, but we see through the eyes of many individuals throughout the novel, from a diverse cast of races and people. From a police officer on humanity’s first colony world, to an alien champion, raised by his Emperor from gladiatorial combat. The cover was lovingly designed and created by Luke McKay of Rooster Teeth and Button Mash Comics fame.

I finished Pariahs and Peacemakers towards the back end of last year. The manuscript is done and ready to go, having been professionally edited also. This novel does, unlike many books that plan on being a series, have a definite ending but leaves enough open to build upon. If you don’t believe me, just check out Andi’s (from Fangfreakintastic) awesome review of Pariahs (http://fangfreakintasticreviews.com/book-review-pariahs-and-peacemakers-by-james-s-bowers/). I do have a sequel in brainstormed so rest assured if you do chose to support me (thank you if you are even considering it), you can expect a long thorough journey into my universe, safe in the knowledge there is a bigger plan at work. As well as the main story, I want to live in this universe for a long while and I plan on setting many tales within the universe I’ve built. Think the Discworld series created by Terry Pratchett and you won’t be far wrong (I wish I was that talented). I think there is so much scope and potential for us to go on some really cool adventures together, so join me won’t you in this first universe building jaunt and I’ll repay you ten fold, okay?

I am a 22 year old writer from Wakefield (West Yorkshire, England) who now lives in Nottinghamshire, working in the print industry (a thankless job). I have a three year old daughter who I write fairly tales for and I’m getting married to my beautiful fiance, Natalie, in March. I am currently in my third year of English Literature at university (part time student) and I’m working towards an Undergraduate Degree. I also run my own nerdy website over at glassswordteam.com so please come and visit me if you get a moment.

Synopsis:

"Shayara Ventii, human female bounty hunter sponsored by the Galactic Senate, is travelling through the galaxy with the crew of her small exploratory ship when she comes across something that will change her life forever. Not only will it shape her future, but the future of every living thing in the galaxy. She quickly finds it hard to distinguish friend from foe as humanity tries to forefront the response to this new threat. Old tensions resurface as people begin to die and civilisation itself becomes threatened. How far will some be willing to go to save themselves?" Pariahs investigates themes like discrimination and underhanded politics in a way that makes us step back and think about how we treat others here and now on Earth in the 21st century. What if humanity was considered the lesser species and discriminated against? What would we do to prove ourselves?

Races of the High Senate:

Sarcurian - Sarcurian are the most technologically advanced race and are vastly influential because of this, despite the fact they were one of the newest additions to intergalactic society. The Sarcurian have a deeper red skin pigmentation, pointed ear lobes and tips which also allowed for a wider audible range and a flat ribbed nose which somehow allowed a stronger sense of smell. This makes Sarcurians expert trackers and hunters in comparison to mankind. Their cosmetic culture is inspired by native Americans. There is five castes in their class system and which one you are born into almost certainly determines your future.

Caliterrian - Caliterrian are warriors by nature and have thick hides and obvious canine-like features, all blazon evidence of this race’s evolution from pack animals in the freezing wastes of their home world. The Caliterrian have been in existence, at some level, for roughly ten million years. Birth places are depicted with uniquely designed tribal tattoos all across their bodies but it is mostly only males that employ this patriotic type of body art. The body art is a very common practice in Caliterrian society and varied in both style and colour with the settlement or clan origin at its design core. The Caliterrian are the most powerful and militaristic power in the galaxy despite the fact power is shared throughout the Senate, they have the biggest say.

Selin - Asexual telepathic race from the idyllic garden world Tearsin. They physically appear stretched in comparison to other bipedal species. There heads are devoid of many features and house two sets of eyes, one placed like that of a predator and the other higher and wider like that of prey. The fact they look so peculiar and communicate through telepathy, a technique they can also employ with members outside their own race, is why many were unsure and uncomfortable around them. This gained further weight as they are also naturally reclusive which in turn degrades what little social skills they have.

Human - The species you are best versed with but 150 years in the future. Humanity has been a part of the larger galactic community for nearly a century and have gotten a representative onto the High Senate, making us one of the four most influential and powerful races in the galaxy. We are a tenacious bunch but considered unproven, unpredictable and infantile by the other races, especially the Caliterrian who have a real problem with us. They believe we have been given too much too quickly. The friction there is raw.

I really hope you like my work and thanks for stopping by.

If you have any questions or just want to chat, you can find me @JamesSBowers on twitter.