R. Scott Boyer

R . S COTT BOYER

Scott Boyer grew up in Santa Monica, CA and graduated from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley in 1996. In 2008, he became fascinated with the idea of blending young adult fantasy with new-age/spiritual fiction and spent the next six years crafting his first novel, Bobby Ether and the Academy, which won critical acclaim for blending Eastern spiritual philosophies with a fun, fast-paced adventure style.

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Uncaged welcomes R. Scott Boyer

Uncaged: Welcome to Uncaged! You just released, Temple of Eternity, the second book in the Bobby Ethers series. Can you tell readers more about this series?

My pleasure, thanks for having me! It’s a pleasure to write for your audience. I have been a member of the Uncaged Facebook group for several years and just started following you guys on social media. I absolutely love hearing about new books and appreciate the opportunity to be one of them :).

First, it’s full of fun, fast-paced young adult adventure. The closest comparisons are Percy Jackson and Harry Potter in terms of demographic and appeal. Also like those other series, Bobby Ether is for the big kid in all of us.

Second, the series aims to blur the lines between contemporary fantasy and reality. Similar to spiritual fiction such as The Alchemist, Life of Pi, and The Celestine Prophecy, each of my stories involves paranormal phenomenon rather than pure magic. I describe an energy called “Anima,” which is Latin for “breath of life.” It is the universal life energy that connects all living things and allows for the phenomenon in the books, including communion with animals, clairvoyance, auras, Chi, spirits/ ghosts, heightened instinct/intuition, remote viewing, etc.

Lastly, the series reimagines various ancient myths while simultaneously using history, legend, and location as central characters. While this last theme is not as evident in the first book, Temple of Eternity reimagines the Fountain of Youth and what it means to live forever. Book three delves into the Great Sphinx at Giza and the predecessors to Egyptian civilization (No spoilers!). Book four involves the Great Library of Alexandria and the era involving Julius Caesar and Cleopatra.

Uncaged: How many books are you planning for this series? Can they be read as standalones?

At this point, I anticipate that there will be seven books in the series, maybe more. Book three has been completed for quite a while. Taking place largely in Egypt, it dives into the past and explores several well-known legends. It also introduces us to the leader of the Core (the main antagonist group in the series) for the first time. As such, it sets the table for much more to come.

Book four involves two storylines. One takes place in the past. The other is a modern-day adventure where we learn about the Core’s science experiments and get revelations about some of the key

Each of these adventures builds on the previous, but I’ve also worked hard to make them stand-alone stories, with a neutral starting point so that new readers can get on board at any point and not feel like they’ve missed half the ride. I also do my best to bring people up to speed at the start of each book so that having read them is helpful, but not strictly necessary.

Uncaged: What are you working on next that you can tell us about?

I am still trying to wrap up book four. It’s been a long process with constant interruptions during the publication of books one and two. Bobby’s adventures in ancient Alexandria have been written. However,his friends, who are off in Odessa chasing the Core, have been at it for quite a while. I know where that story is headed, I just need to find time to finish it.

In the meantime, I also have lots of ideas for other books and short stories. The project I want to work on the most, involves a group of kids who get involved at their local shelter. It’s sort of a Bobby Ether/Anima spin off, with the kids using metaphysical abilities to solve problems and help others. So far, I have about sixty pages written but I’ve set it aside to focus on Bobby and his friends.

Uncaged: How has the coronavirus pandemic changed your lifestyle? Have you had to change any book promotion plans because of it?

Actually, not much has changed for me. About three years ago, I bought a condo and started working from home. The goal was to eliminate office expenses and set my father up for semi-retirement. Now it seems like I was clairvoyant! When Covid-19 hit, I didn’t have to change a thing. I was even getting my groceries delivered already. One thing that did chang is that I now have access to a cabin in Lake Arrowhead (about two hour drive from my home in Los Angeles). That place is great! Whenever I need a change of pace, I just pack a bag, grab my dog, and off we go. :)

Uncaged: Past or present, which authors would you love to sit and have lunch with and why?

Without a doubt, Stephen King. Truth is that I don’t particularly like horror, but Stephen King has written much more than just horror over the course of his career. Some of my all-time favorite movies are Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemption, and the Green Mile.

I’ve also read his book On Writing, and listened to numerous podcasts/youtube videos. I love his dedication and commitment to the craft of writing. His love for storytelling and passion for literature (not just his own) is inspiring. What I love most is his commitment, passion, and discipline for the craft of writing. It’s not something he takes for granted or feels entitled to. He works hard and, as such, sets an example for his fellow writers on how to be a professional. I want that discipline and passion. Ideally, I can inspire a future generation of writers as well.

Uncaged: Have any of your characters ever done something that you didn’t intend when you began?

Absolutely. Especially when I first started writing, my characters would go off on all sorts of side adventures that required heartbreaking discipline to delete. Characters also tend to give long speeches when I am first discovering their personalities. I call it “herding cats” when I have to wrangle all of the tangents and diatribes to keep the plot flowing.

For example, there is a sixty-page section that got edited out of book one that involved Bobby and his friends running around in the archives below the Jade Academy. They end up in some old forgotten crypts and Jinx gets a really good scare. That scene was pure pleasure to write and delightfully fun. Unfortunately, it wasn’t central to the main story and thus ended up getting cut.

Uncaged: What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

I occasionally watch TV or a movie, but the main thing I do to relax is take a walk with my dog and a good audio book. I know that probably sounds boring and cliché, especially for an author, but I grew up on books and still love to discover new stories. Absorbing another author’s narrative style and exploring their imagination is inspiring to me. Plus, I believe that a good writer reads (or listens) more than they write. Some of my top authors to listen to include Neil Gaiman, Andy Weir, Stephen Fry, and Patrick Rothfuss. They’re all amazing storytellers!

Uncaged: What does success as an author look like to you?

I measure success in many ways. The main goal I have as an author is to be able to write full time. Not as easy as it sounds! On a deeper level, I want to both entertain and inspire people with my stories. If I make people feel something in a way that truly impacts their lives, then that, to me, is success.

I also derive deep satisfaction each time a reader tells me they enjoyed one of my books. That may not be success on a grand scale, but it is still intensely gratifying and rewarding. I have fallen in love with audio books. I spend all day staring at a computer, so it’s great not to have to use my eyes. Plus, I can listen at times when I can’t actually read. I get in roughly an hour of listening every day taking my dog for his walks. Whenever I take a road trip, I get lost in whatever story I am listening to at the time. As we all know, the hours really fly by when you’re absorbed in a good book and there are few times I appreciate that more than when I’m driving.

Uncaged: What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

There are many great stories still to come in the series. Book one, Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy, lays the foundation with a traditional school of magic storyline. Book two, Temple of Eternity, sets the tone for the series and establishes the tone for the themes discussed in question #1. The rest of the series picks up these themes and runs with them, exploring ancient cultures, history, myths, and legends, all while blending in a unique mix of fantasy and spiritual fiction. More information is available on my website as well as on social media.

Enjoy an excerpt from Temple of Eternity

Temple of Eternity R. Scott Boyer Fantasy/Metaphysical

Deep in the rain forests of Guatemala, an ancient Mayan temple holds a mythical secret. The legendary Fountain of Youth lies within, but not all myths are fairy tales. The temple ruins have been seized by the Core, a sinister cult determined to

When their captured friends are spotted near the temple, Bobby and his cousin Jinx must journey into the dark heart of the jungle to save them. Harnessing their extraordinary abilities, the boys will undertake an epic quest to fulfill a centuries-old prophecy.

Cut off from their allies, Bobby and Jinx combat supernatural barriers, raging rivers, and deadly beasts. They’ll face savage natives, vengeful ghosts, and ruthless mercenaries who can conjure a person’s darkest fears. Past and present will collide, with the power of eternity on the line. Can Bobby fulfill the prophecy and lay the temple’s spirits to rest? If not, Bobby and his friends may become permanent inhabitants of the Temple of Eternity.

Excerpt

P R O L O G U E

From across the ravaged courtyard of the Jade Academy, the Core agent known as Sandman watched the weathered Navajo and his companions head for the mountain trail leading to theforest below. Sandman ducked into the shadows, remaining there until long after the travelers were gone. Then he turned and jogged back down the trail that led to the garden near the cliffs.

Hidden back amid the rubble, the soldiers under his command stood at attention. “Are we moving out, sir?” asked one of his men.

Some of the soldiers rose, checking their weapons and equipment. “Mission review,” said Sandman. “Neutralize the monks if necessary. The students are not to be harmed.”

“Rules of engagement, sir?” asked another of his soldiers. “We’re only cleared for non-lethal force. Absolutely no explosives or live fire. Can’t risk the noise.”

The soldiers saluted as one. “Sir, yes sir.”

“Radio silence. I will handle anyone who attempts to engage,” commanded Sandman. “Not a peep. I want a bow on this before they even know we’re here.”

“Sir, yes sir.”

Sandman nodded in approval and returned their salute. “Get some rest. We roll out at zero three hundred.”

Their execution was flawless. In the stillness found only in the dead of night, Sandman and his men crept into the courtyard occupied by the sleeping refugees. The mountain had continued to rumble and shake throughout the night, causing many of the students to have trouble sleeping, especially on the cold hard ground. Sandman sensed those who were still awake as easily as he would a bonfire ablaze in the dark. With a wisp of anima, he sent each person into a slumber so deep that even being lifted and carried wouldn’t rouse them. The children were easy, their minds too poorly trained and undisciplined to shield themselves from his power. Some of the monks were tougher and required several attempts before they succumbed to his hypnotic suggestions.

One monk in particular kept resisting. Sandman picked his way through the mass of sleeping bodies until he located the monk in question.

“You must be their leader,” said Sandman. The diminutive monk at his feet twitched, as if he were struggling to break free. He lookedlike an infant thrashing in a crib, restless with nightmares but unable to wake.

Sandman’s soldiers wove through the sleeping crowd. One by one, they picked up the children and carried them down the path to the garden.

| R. SCOTT BOyER |

There, the ropes he and his men had used to scale the cliff were attached to each child to lower them down the mountain. The process was slow, taking every minute of darkness. Once the sun comes up, the biological imperative to wake will fight against my control, thought Sandman as he turned to the nearest soldier and signaled him to quicken the pace.

They lowered the last student shortly before sunrise. Sandman stood in the remaining crowd of sleeping bodies, now nothing but bald, middle-aged men. The baby-faced leader stirred once again, thrashing from side to side.

Sandman sent the tiny monk a deep hypnotic suggestion for at least the tenth time, causing the monk to roll over and resume his slumber in silence. No nightmares for you. At least, not yet, thought Sandman. But don’t worry, the nightmare will be real enough when you wake.

With a final glance around the clearing, Sandman slipped from the circle and headed down the path to the garden. There, he strapped himself to the harness at the edge of the cliff and began his descent.

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