Tag: chasing the wyrm

To celebrate surpassing 2,000 followers, I am putting my
novels on sale for 99 cents through April 3rd.

Chasing the Wyrm is not as serious as My Babylon, but it was
a hell of a lot of fun to write. I love urban fantasy and bad 80s action
movies. The idea for this book came from watching Die Hard. The best explanation
I could find for how John McClain does what he does is that he’s a wizard. It
has its serious side too. I’ve always bemoaned how urban fantasy is politically
naïve. I wanted to fix that.

Get the ebook on Amazon for 99 cents. Also available in
print. Buy the print edition and receive the Kindle edition for free.

Chasing the Wyrm: Christopher Yan – Office of Arcane Affairs

“I work for the Office of Arcane Affairs.

You have never heard of us.

If the CIA finds out al-Qaeda has a guy who can bend spoons,
they call the OAA, and they send me. When the Office of Naval Intelligence has
reports of a strange, giant, glowing squid, “Hey OAA, can Topher scuba dive?”
An infestation of rabid, gun-toting, were-jaguars in a South American jungle?
No problem. Topher can fix it. Nothing worse than spooked spooks who don’t have
a clue what they’re dealing with.

But that’s my job. Because being a wizard means I’m the only
one who can handle it.”

To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its
power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office
of Arcane Affairs.

Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with
the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane
threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make
his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an
enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his
conscience can bear.

Now in Print!

As a creator, I believe that you pay for content, not for form. Whenever possible, I make all my ebooks DRM free, meaning you can use them on any device you own. Also, when you buy through Amazon, if you purchase a print copy of my books, you get the kindle version for free.

Chasing the Wyrm: Christopher Yan – Office of Arcane Affairs

“I work for the Office of Arcane Affairs. 

You have never heard of us. 

If the CIA finds out al-Qaeda has a guy who can bend spoons, they call the OAA, and they send me. When the Office of Naval Intelligence has reports of a strange, giant, glowing squid, “Hey OAA, can Topher scuba dive?” An infestation of rabid, gun-toting, were-jaguars in a South American jungle? No problem. Topher can fix it. Nothing worse than spooked spooks who don’t have a clue what they’re dealing with. 

But that’s my job. Because being a wizard means I’m the only one who can handle it.” 

To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs. 

Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear.

For those of you who have been waiting, it’s here, Chasing the Wyrm the trade paperback is now available on Amazon!

Chasing the Wyrm by James L. Wilber

“I work for the Office of Arcane Affairs. 

You have never heard of us. 

If the CIA finds out al-Qaeda has a guy who can bend spoons, they call the OAA, and they send me. When the Office of Naval Intelligence has reports of a strange, giant, glowing squid, “Hey OAA, can Topher scuba dive?” An infestation of rabid, gun-toting, were-jaguars in a South American jungle? No problem. Topher can fix it. Nothing worse than spooked spooks who don’t have a clue what they’re dealing with. 

But that’s my job. Because being a wizard means I’m the only one who can handle it.” 

To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs. 

Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear.

Now at Barnes & Noble!

“I work for the Office of Arcane Affairs.

You have never heard of us.

If the CIA finds out al-Qaeda has a guy who can bend spoons, they call the OAA, and they send me. When the Office of Naval Intelligence has reports of a strange, giant, glowing squid, “Hey OAA, can Topher scuba dive?” An infestation of rabid, gun-toting, were-jaguars in a South American jungle? No problem. Topher can fix it. Nothing worse than spooked spooks who don’t have a clue what they’re dealing with.

But that’s my job. Because being a wizard means I’m the only one who can handle it.”

Chasing the Wyrm: Christopher Yan – Office of Arcane Affairs

To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs. 

Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear. 

Reviews are coming in for Chasing the Wyrm:

“It would be an oversimplification to say that this is a Bond novel with magic. Wilber’s protagonist—Christopher Yan—is new to the game of international intrigue, whereas Bond is a master-spy at the height of his game. And Topher’s newbie mistakes (including creating an historically epic traffic jam and getting an associate killed) are part of what makes this story so entertaining as he starts to navigate the world of international sorcerers.

This book has many of the things people look for in spy novels—exotic locales, ranging from Afghan hill country to metropolitan Sao Paolo to South American jungles to Basque Spain; international political intrigue; a little romance; a couple of really rotten villains; and a lot of gunplay. But it’s set in a shadow-world of special people who are adept at magic, whose magical gifts make them into targets for government recruitment. In Chasing the Wyrm, ‘Topher (as he’s called within the story) uncovers a mad magician’s plot to release a wyrm (a type of dragon) on the unsuspecting modern world.

The book maintains a brisk pace as it introduces us to a character and a world that are fun and exciting.”

— Jo Lynn Wells via Amazon

"Chasing the Wyrm is a spy novel in the vein of Ian Fleming’s James Bond or maybe Craig Thomas’s Winterhawk. It’s got the girls, the guns, and the goons, but not necessarily in the flavors you’d expect. The hero is an inexperienced geek of a guy at the beginning of his world-saving career, so he doesn’t get all the steps right in his high-stakes dance with the bad guy. The bad guy is a a nutcase with moves; he loves fast cars, ostentatious pistols, and a showboating approach to stamping out his enemies. The closet heroes of this book are the many soldiers of the US military, who are portrayed as heavy-duty professionals. Not the cardboard one-dimensional army guys of a Clancy book, though. These guys are ice against terrorists and insurrectionists, but understandably out of their element when confronted with werejaguars. Yes, you read that right. You remember that season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer where Buffy must deal with the Initiative? It’s kind of like that, but with better technical advisors. And, of course, there’s the Bondian super-villain planning to raise a dragon the size of a 747 in order to reclaim his homeland. Hint: he really hasn’t thought that one all the way through. James Wilber gives us a rollicking good yarn in this wizard-spies meet wizard-freedom fighters meet wizard-assassins thriller. You wonder where your taxes go? Why the government spends hundreds of dollars on a hammer? Billions of dollars on airplanes they never finish? These guys, the OAA, are the answer.”

— Stephan Loy via Amazon

“James L. Wilber is just about to release his new book, Chasing the Wyrm, and as a beta I can tell you that book is everything you could dream for in a paranormal action suspense. His protagonist Christopher Yan is everything Harry Dresden should have been (unless Dresden was Thraxas, which in my opinion he should be), but better. Aw man, I loved Chasing the Wyrm. I’d love to see a Hollywood agent approach Wilber for a movie based on it. I don’t know if the agent would leave such a meeting intact…”

— Anneque Malchien via annequemalchien.com

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Chasing the Wyrm: Christopher Yan – Office of Arcane Affairs

To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs. 

Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear. 

Buy it on Amazon

Buy it on Smashwords

Here’s what book blogger Anneque Malchien says about Chasing the Wyrm:

“James L. Wilber is just about to release his new book, Chasing the Wyrm, and as a beta I can tell you that book is everything you could dream for in a paranormal action suspense. His protagonist Christopher Yan is everything Harry Dresden should have been (unless Dresden was Thraxas, which in my opinion he should be), but better. Aw man, I loved Chasing the Wyrm. I’d love to see a Hollywood agent approach Wilber for a movie based on it. I don’t know if the agent would leave such a meeting intact…”

If you like paranormal/contemporary/urban fantasy, take a look at Chasing the Wyrm

_______________________________________________________

Chasing the Wyrm: Christopher Yan – Office of Arcane Affairs

To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs. 

Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear. 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Wyrm-Christopher-Office-Affairs-ebook/dp/B00J0LNGSS

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/419508

Philip K. Dick once said, “The only difference between getting a book shelved in science fiction and one shelved in literature is how many times you use the word fuck.”

I guess I’m literature then 😉

PKD was talking about how publishers view genre books—fantasy and science fiction—as books for kids. Sadly, this leads many writers to tell stories with simplistic, sometimes childish sensibilities. There’s a place for such books and lots of people seem to enjoy them, though I would argue that many readers simply haven’t been exposed to anything else.

I know I’m dying for some adult-perspective genre fiction. That’s why I write it. That’s why I have turned to indie publishing, because I believe that there’s a desire for books that the Big Four won’t touch.

It seems at first glance that Chasing the Wyrm is not a very adult book. There’s not much sex in it. The main character is relatively young, fresh out of training, and makes foolish decisions.  Yes, the action is a bit over the top and the villains a bit “Bond.” But Chasing the Wyrm has a modern, adult, political perspective. The insurgent groups the characters fight are real. The characters understand the failings of their own government and question if what they do actually helps people. They use guns more than magic, because that’s what works and what they are trained to do.

So if you shy away from urban fantasy because it doesn’t seem to give a fuck about real issues, Chasing the Wyrm is for you.

Only $2.99 at Amazon until March 22nd.

Please help an indie author and reblog!

Chasing the Wyrm: Christopher Yan – Office of Arcane Affairs

To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs. 

Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear. 

Now available on Smashwords!

As an indie author, I love Smashwords. They have great tools to help authors distribute their books. And readers can download in any format they like, So give help an indie author and a great indie company. Reblog this post and buy it on Smashwords. 

If you prefer your Kindle, you can still buy it on Amazon.

$2.99 all this week no matter where you buy.

Chasing the Wyrm – Christopher Yan, Office of Arcane Affairs

To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs. 

Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear.