Michael January's Blog: Author Stuff
September 2, 2023
“The Boy King’s Tale” wins Honorable Mention in Readers' Favorite Book Awards
My historical true story novel of the young years of England’s King Edward III "Boy King's Tale”, has won Honorable Mention in recognition of excellence in writing for Young Adult Adventure in the 2023 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards .
This follows the previous Historical Fiction Award of Excellence from the Historical Fiction Company.
This follows the previous Historical Fiction Award of Excellence from the Historical Fiction Company.
September 19, 2021
Boy King Finalist Page Turner Award
My new book in progress "The Boy King's Tale; as told by Geoffrey Chaucer" is a Finalist in the 2021 Page Turner Awards!
October 4, 2018
Mary Shelley Book Genre Defying
I recently had a guest post author interview about Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley at Gaby Triana's Witch Haunt Horror Author's blog just in time for Halloween, and the new release of the audiobook, discussing how it defies genre. It's not a horror novel, though has some gothic horror elements in the dreams, and its fictionalized dramatized biography of the "mother" of horror, but also an exploration of the development of a young author and a Regency romance, all rolled in one. It a complex question I tried to answer there. The Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley: Frankenstein Diaries audiobook is I think one of the best ways to experience it. Direct from Audible.
September 8, 2018
Mary Shelley Audiobook Reviews
The reviews for the audiobook of Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley: Frankenstein Diaries have started to come in with all 5 stars, so far, on Audible
Some review comments:
"Fascinating account of Mary Shelley's early life... I felt like I was there... captivating tale, I loved the writing/story and the narration was awesome!"
"A wonderfully entertaining story and a must for students of post-Revolutionary France and the Romantic poets."
"One can see at once the fertile imagination of the young Mary as well as many of the sources of her inspiration to write her horror novel. Travelogue, history lesson and romance in one! Delightfully narrated by Heidi Gregory."
Mary Shelley Audiobook Frankenstein Diaries Trailer
Some review comments:
"Fascinating account of Mary Shelley's early life... I felt like I was there... captivating tale, I loved the writing/story and the narration was awesome!"
"A wonderfully entertaining story and a must for students of post-Revolutionary France and the Romantic poets."
"One can see at once the fertile imagination of the young Mary as well as many of the sources of her inspiration to write her horror novel. Travelogue, history lesson and romance in one! Delightfully narrated by Heidi Gregory."
Mary Shelley Audiobook Frankenstein Diaries Trailer
September 7, 2018
Aces going to Frankfurt Book Fair
My new WWII aviation themed historical novel. "Aces" an epic romance adventure about American pilots in the Battle of Britain is going to premiere at the Frankfurt Book Fair Oct. 10-14 2018.
The book has been getting great reviews, "thrilling... vivid... action-packed... memorable... rip-roaring read... twists and turns..." 5 Stars Reader's Favorite etc. will be presented at the Combined Book Exhibit Booth 6.0D16 at the Frankfurter Messe, with a full page ad.
Not sure whether I will be there or not as deadlines are a little close. But by all means if you are, check it out!
The book has been getting great reviews, "thrilling... vivid... action-packed... memorable... rip-roaring read... twists and turns..." 5 Stars Reader's Favorite etc. will be presented at the Combined Book Exhibit Booth 6.0D16 at the Frankfurter Messe, with a full page ad.
Not sure whether I will be there or not as deadlines are a little close. But by all means if you are, check it out!
August 15, 2018
Aces Reviews are Coming in
Raving reviews are coming in for Aces: A Novel of Pilots in WWII with wing guns blazing!
Kirkus Reviews
In the 1930s, Aaron Miller and Michael “Miki” von Steuven are both students at Princeton University and the best of friends, despite hailing from radically disparate backgrounds. Aaron’s father is a Polish immigrant who moved to New York nearly penniless and built a wildly successful construction business. Miki grew up in Westphalia; his father is a German noble and the family’s prestige and wealth are tied to an ancient pedigree. But both students are talented pilots, and bond over the amateur races they enter and routinely dominate. These competitions are thrillingly portrayed…. The pilots’ friendship, though, is complicated by a shared passion for Lacy Dunbrough. While she loves Aaron, she’s perpetually frustrated by his unserious impetuosity, and her family unabashedly prefers Miki. Miki proposes to Lacy and she accepts. The two move to Germany but she is quickly dismayed by Hitler’s increasingly ominous rule and the malignant treatment of the nation’s Jewish population. Miki joins the Luftwaffe and is sent to Spain, and Lacy begins to worry that he has changed in some profound way she cannot countenance. Meanwhile, Aaron decides to decamp for Canada to join the Royal Air Force, eager to do his part as war finally breaks out in Europe. A grand showdown seems…inevitable, and the emotional stakes are effectively raised when Aaron believes Miki has shot down one of Aaron’s closest friends. In his propulsive tale, January vividly captures the fast-paced terror of combat in the air, and the peculiar mixture of precision and bravado displayed by the best pilots. An action-packed melodramatic war tale.
Online Book Club Featured Review
It begins with a thrilling flying competition…a rivalry between two former friends…turned to enemies fighting on opposite sides. The author weaves themes of friendship, romance, love, war, and loyalty into a perfect story made more intriguing by numerous twists and turns. Fascinating… Action-packed… Astonishing… 4 out of 4 Stars!
Bavaria Media International
Aces tells an exciting, entertaining and dramatic story. A love-story set against the background of World War II, which examines anti-Semitism, human corruptibility and a fascination with flight technology at its dawn. The concept of a woman torn between an American Jew and a German industrialist's son offers big emotions and heavy strokes of fate. Very satisfying.
Brooks Wachtel - History Channel's "Dogfights"
Michael January's "Aces" is a roaring, aviation-fueled dogfight of a read, filled with romance, suspense, twists, turns, wonder and danger, perilous but so worth the flight. Well researched and enjoyable.
Kirkus Reviews
In the 1930s, Aaron Miller and Michael “Miki” von Steuven are both students at Princeton University and the best of friends, despite hailing from radically disparate backgrounds. Aaron’s father is a Polish immigrant who moved to New York nearly penniless and built a wildly successful construction business. Miki grew up in Westphalia; his father is a German noble and the family’s prestige and wealth are tied to an ancient pedigree. But both students are talented pilots, and bond over the amateur races they enter and routinely dominate. These competitions are thrillingly portrayed…. The pilots’ friendship, though, is complicated by a shared passion for Lacy Dunbrough. While she loves Aaron, she’s perpetually frustrated by his unserious impetuosity, and her family unabashedly prefers Miki. Miki proposes to Lacy and she accepts. The two move to Germany but she is quickly dismayed by Hitler’s increasingly ominous rule and the malignant treatment of the nation’s Jewish population. Miki joins the Luftwaffe and is sent to Spain, and Lacy begins to worry that he has changed in some profound way she cannot countenance. Meanwhile, Aaron decides to decamp for Canada to join the Royal Air Force, eager to do his part as war finally breaks out in Europe. A grand showdown seems…inevitable, and the emotional stakes are effectively raised when Aaron believes Miki has shot down one of Aaron’s closest friends. In his propulsive tale, January vividly captures the fast-paced terror of combat in the air, and the peculiar mixture of precision and bravado displayed by the best pilots. An action-packed melodramatic war tale.
Online Book Club Featured Review
It begins with a thrilling flying competition…a rivalry between two former friends…turned to enemies fighting on opposite sides. The author weaves themes of friendship, romance, love, war, and loyalty into a perfect story made more intriguing by numerous twists and turns. Fascinating… Action-packed… Astonishing… 4 out of 4 Stars!
Bavaria Media International
Aces tells an exciting, entertaining and dramatic story. A love-story set against the background of World War II, which examines anti-Semitism, human corruptibility and a fascination with flight technology at its dawn. The concept of a woman torn between an American Jew and a German industrialist's son offers big emotions and heavy strokes of fate. Very satisfying.
Brooks Wachtel - History Channel's "Dogfights"
Michael January's "Aces" is a roaring, aviation-fueled dogfight of a read, filled with romance, suspense, twists, turns, wonder and danger, perilous but so worth the flight. Well researched and enjoyable.
July 12, 2018
Mary Shelley Audiobook Now Live
The Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley Audiobook is now available at Audible and Amazon, ITunes.
Mary Shelley Memoirs Audiobook at Amazon
Mary Shelley Memoirs Audiobook at Audible
It's free with a trial sign up of Audible. Or available at a deep discount if you've bought the Ebook edition.
Mary Shelley Memoirs Audiobook at Amazon
Mary Shelley Memoirs Audiobook at Audible
It's free with a trial sign up of Audible. Or available at a deep discount if you've bought the Ebook edition.
July 5, 2018
Aces Pre-Order
ACES: an epic romance of fighter pilots in WWII and the Battle of Britain by Michael January, in historical fiction is now up for pre-order in ebook and available in paperback in August.
Two competitive friends at Princeton University in 1935, an American and a German, who compete as air racers and both in love with the same girl become fighter aces on opposite sides in the Battle of Britain.
Separated by destiny and a world war, an ace pilot in the Battle of Britain and an idealistic young woman living as the wife of a war hero in Nazi Germany, will meet again when love, fate and honor are held at the fate of a machine gun trigger.
A love story about the choices we make and the consequences, in our personal lives and in a society, it is also a rousing war adventure of daredevil pilots, aerial dogfights and camaraderie, friendship, glory and tragic fates on either side of one coin.
Info Aces WWII Novel
Two competitive friends at Princeton University in 1935, an American and a German, who compete as air racers and both in love with the same girl become fighter aces on opposite sides in the Battle of Britain.
Separated by destiny and a world war, an ace pilot in the Battle of Britain and an idealistic young woman living as the wife of a war hero in Nazi Germany, will meet again when love, fate and honor are held at the fate of a machine gun trigger.
A love story about the choices we make and the consequences, in our personal lives and in a society, it is also a rousing war adventure of daredevil pilots, aerial dogfights and camaraderie, friendship, glory and tragic fates on either side of one coin.
Info Aces WWII Novel
June 27, 2018
Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley Audiobook
The audiobook version of Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley: Frankenstein Diaries is in production and due for release in July, Narrated by Heidi Gregory as the "voice" of Mary Shelley.
Mary Shelley Audiobook
Mary Shelley Audiobook
April 3, 2018
Aces Facebook
My next novel "Aces" a romance about fliers in the Battle of Britain, an American and a German on opposite sides who duke it out in the skies over the channel, both love the same girl in an epic love triangle of aerial dogfights, spy intrigue and life in Nazi Germany in the years leading to war, is planned to be released sometime in August or September. You can follow the @acesnovel facebook page Aces: A Love Story in the Battle of Britain
