News - Battle Cry

Barnes and Noble Author Event - 05/29/19

What a great time I had at the Barnes and Noble Author Event! It's nice to meet new people and make new friends.

SISD Fandom & Comic Expo 2018

The SISD Fandom & Comic Expo was Awesome this year.
I met great people and made some new fans!

A Very Special Thanks to Mrs. Reyes' 8th Grade English Class!

Mrs. Reyes' 8th Grade English Class at Clint Junior High School recently read "Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword" as a class assignment. Below are some of the creative and amazing ways in which the students expressed their thoughts and reflections about the story.
Way to go students! You are Awesome!

SISD Comic Con 2017 -
Bigger Venue and a Great Turn Out!!

East Montana Middle School Rocks!!!

Thank you to Ms. Velez for inviting me to her campus library.
I had an awesome time!!
I'm truly grateful to you for making my visit memorable.

Thank you for promoting "Battle Cry" and
emphasizing the importance of reading in your library.
You have great students and a wonderful campus!

Opal Books Library Conference 2017

Thank you to Opal Books and all the librarians that attended the Opal Books Library Conference. I met many wonderful people and had a great time!

Barnes and Noble "Get Pop Cultured Day" July 29, 2017

Had a great time at the B&N "Get Pop Cultured Day" this year.
Thank you to Barnes and Noble and everyone who came out to the event!

Congratulations to Julian! He is the winner of the drawing I did at the B&N "Get Pop Cultured Day" event on Saturday July 29, 2017 in El Paso, TX.

Julian guessed who I was drawing just by seeing the outline of the character's head. How awesome is that! Way to go Julian, hope you enjoy the drawing of Robin from the Teen Titans!

El Paso Comic Con April 21 - 23, 2017

My first Comic Con is in the books!! Had a great time at EPCON.

Met wonderful people, made some great new friends,
sold books, posters and spread the word about Battle Cry!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth.

Check out the cool
artwork by my friend
Chris Torresdey from HamsterTurtle.com.

Click on the first pic and check out their awesome website and find out more about Hamster Turtle!!

< Check out the picture Chris
drew of Kaí-Ling!

SPC. Rafael Hernando III Middle School
Author Visit March 03, 2017

What a great day I had at SPC. Rafael Hernando III Middle School in El Paso, TX.

A big thank you to Ms. Hash for allowing me to visit the library.
Thank you to the teachers & students as well.

The students are very talented and gifted writers!!!

SPC. Rafael Hernando III Middle School 6th Grade:
Fan art & writing prompts!

Socorro ISD Comic Con
December 6, 2016

The first Socorro ISD Comic Con was a huge success!

Students and teachers filled the halls of the district building eager to see the amazing artwork and books on display by vendors. I had a great time and met many wonderful people. Will definitely go back again next year!

Eastlake High School - Barnes and Noble Book Fair
December 3, 2016

Reading the "Polar Express" with my lovely wife!

Reading the "Polar Express" with my beautiful wife!

Reading the Polar Express to kids at Barnes and Noble on Saturday December 3, 2016.

Battle Cry Poster Giveaway Drawing!

Barnes and Noble - Maker Faire November 5th & 6th, 2016

Had an awesome time at the Barnes and Noble Maker Faire in El Paso, TX November 5th & 6th, 2016.

Thank you to everyone at Barnes and Noble located at 8889
Gateway Blvd. West Suite 120, El Paso, TX 79925.

Also a big THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by to find out about the Battle Cry series.

Eastlake High School Anime Club

I had a great time visiting the Anime Club at Eastlake High School in Horizon City, Texas on Friday September 9, 2016. The students are awesome, animated and excited about Manga & Anime. Enjoyed spending time with them and talking about "Battle Cry" and "Battle Cry 2." We also watched the Anime "Ghost in a Shell."

Book Giveaway Winners!

Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword
Now available at Walmart.com

Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword
is now available in hardcover at walmart.com.
For more information:
Click on the picture of the cover
and follow the link.

2016 LEND Conference
Battle Cry Bonus prize winner!
Congratulations to Ms. Sanchez and
Helen Ball Elementary School in El Paso, TX.

"Get Pop Cultured Day"
July 16, 2016
Barnes and Noble in El Paso, TX.

A special thank you to Chris Ovalle and everyone at Barnes and Noble in The Fountains at Farah shopping center in El Paso, TX
You are Awesome!!!

"Get Pop Cultured" on Saturday July 16, 2016
from 5:00 - 8:00 PM at Barnes and Noble
in The Fountains shopping center
in El Paso, TX.

Stop by and get your signed copies of

Battle Cry and Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword!!

Battle Cry & Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword are now available in Barnes and Noble Book Stores!!

Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword reaches #1 on the
Amazon Kindle Bestsellers List!

Riverside Middle School Visit

I had an awesome time at Riverside Middle School the other day. The students were terrific! They were excited and eager to learn about the "Battle Cry" series. Special thanks to Ms. Contreras and Mr. Rodarte for allowing me to visit and talk about "Battle Cry." Below are pictures from my visit.

N
With the first part of her journey behind her, will Kaí-Ling’s thirst for vengeance finally be quenched? Or will she uncover a truth that destroys her?

Find out now in . . .
Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword

Available now at: amazon.com

barnesandnoble.com
and
coming soon to many other book sellers!!

Battle Cry is now available in Canada!
Stop by Coles - the book people!
in Niagara Square Mall-7555 Montrose Road, Niagara Falls.

Clint Jr. High School: 8th Grade Visit

I had a great time visiting the awesome 8th graders at Clint Jr. High School. Congratulations on your graduation and Good Luck in High School.

Special Thanks to Mrs. Reyes & Mrs. Lopez for allowing me to visit the students to talk about "Battle Cry." I had a wonderful time!

Please see the following answers to all the questions that the students submitted:

Why did you pick Japanese culture for your book? I've always been a big fan of Japanese Culture, especially martial arts books and movies.
Why was the main character a girl an not a boy? I originally intended to have a boy as the main character. But as I learned more about the history and culture of the samurai, I decided to go against tradition and create a female samurai warrior. One of the promotional lines I use for Battle Cry is “Fall in love with a true heroine!” In many books written today the true heroine/positive representation of the protagonist is lacking. In Kaí-Ling, I wanted to create a character that would be an inspiration not just for girls, but for boys as well.
Why did you pick that time frame for your story and not the present? I chose that particular time frame for “Battle Cry” because I like looking at the past. I also don't think the story would not have worked as well if it was in the present.
Do you see yourself in Kaí-Ling? Yes, we have similar characteristics. We are both very strong minded individuals. Kaí-Ling and I are also passionate and driven in everything that we do.
What was your biggest inspiration when creating your characters? Japanese Manga and Anime are heavy influences on the characters I create.
Do characters in your novel represent important people in your life? I wouldn't actually say that some characters represent important people in my life.
When did you find out you wanted to become a writer? The seed for my interest in writing was planted way back in the 1980’s when I was in high school. For many years, however, it didn’t grow or blossom. My interest was dormant. In fact, I didn’t do much writing at all. I guess you could say I was a late bloomer and didn’t really utilize my talent until later in life. Writing suddenly became my passion. I couldn’t get enough of it and I try to write as much as possible.
Do you have any advice for those hoping to become writer? Keep writing. Be patient. Keep writing. Be positive. And most of all keep writing. If it is your dream, follow it!
How much research did you have to do on the setting and history prior to writing the novel? Even though Battle Cry is a fictional story, I felt that many aspects, like the setting of the story needed to be accurate. I conducted quite a bit of research before I even started writing Battle Cry. Throughout the writing of the book, I continued researching. For example, I did some research on the history of the Japanese Samurai and I tried to include some of the history I found in the story.
Have you ever visited Japan? No, but I would love to visit someday.
How much dedication does it take to pursue a career as an author? Absolute dedication is required if you want to pursue a career as an author.
What do you do when you get writer's block? I deal with it! Getting frustrated and angry isn't going to help ideas and words come to mind any faster.
Do you have any future work not related to “Battle Cry?” Yes, I am currently working on several projects that are unrelated to “Battle Cry.”
What inspired you to become a writer? I was inspired to write by the encouraging words of my 11th Grade High School English teacher. She told me I had a gift for writing. Unfortunately it took me many years to act on those words.
Is there any meaning in the title for you? No real meaning in the title to me personally. But that is a great question. A battle cry is a yell or chant taken up in battle, usually by members of the same military unit. Battle cries are not necessarily articulate, although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religious sentiment.
Why the title, “Battle Cry?” Because of the horrible fate that Kaí-Ling was dealt in her life, and knowing the pain and anguish that dwells in her heart, I felt that the title Battle Cry was fitting, For six long years, the truth about her father's death boiled and stewed within her waiting to be unleashed. When she realizes her destiny is to avenge her father's death, Kaí-Ling is able release that pain and anguish, metaphorically similar to someone yelling or shouting a battle cry.
Why did you put all action words in big, bold letters? I wanted to create action scenes in “Battle Cry” that are similar to what you would see in comic books or Manga. I feel this brings the story to life and creates mentally visual scenes that stand out to the reader. This is something that is typically not found in most fictional books.
Why did you choose Anime for this novel? As you know, I am heavily influenced by Japanese Manga & Anime. My art reflects my interests.
How long did it take for you to write this novel? It took a little over 2 years for me to actually write the book. But, it took more than three years from beginning to publication of “Battle Cry.”
Will you be writing a sequel? Yes, Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword is the conclusion to the Battle Cry series.
Did anyone help you with writing the novel? Nobody helped me write Battle Cry. But, I had a lot of support from family and friends.
Would you consider making a movie about the book? Absolutely! I have a friend who was an actor in Hollywood who told me that he can see “Battle Cry “ as a full length animated movie.
Who came up with the pictures for your book? I drew the pictures in Battle Cry. My love of comic books and Manga have a big influences on my drawing style. I went into this project with the goal of using both styles.
Are you planning on writing more novels? If yes, I would enjoy reading them. Thank you for those kind words. I have written a children's book. It is the first in a series I am working on. I am currently seeking a publisher for it. I am also writing a crime novel series that hopefully will also become a graphic novel.
What actually happened to Kaí-Ling's father? To find out the answer to that question, pick up a copy of Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword when it is released in August 2015.
Are your books selling all over the world? Yes, my book is available in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Austrailia. I am working on having it translated to other languages.
Is writing your main job or just a hobby? Writing is not my main job. I have another full-time job. But it is not a hobby either. Writing is my passion and my future!
What do you do in your free time besides writing? I like to smoke BBQ and cook. I also enjoy making Salsa.
Why did you dedicate this book to your wife? I dedicated Battle Cry to my wife because without her love and support I would have never been able to finish or publish Battle Cry.
Are you associated with any Japanese lineage? Wow, what a great question! As far as I know my family doesn't have any Japanese lineage.
Why did Kaí-Ling lose both her parents? As a writer, I feel that Kaí-Ling had to endure the loss of her mother in order to set out on her destiny and avenge her father's death. If her mother were to stay alive, Kaí-Ling would have never realized her destiny.
In Chapter 3, why does Kaí-Ling have to go through the Forest of Misfortune instead of going through another path? There was no other way to get to her next stop. It is a secluded area with only one way in and one way out. On a side note, as a writer when a character is on a journey you try to make it challenging. Giving her many obstacles to overcome only makes her successes all the more satisfying. Such is life, there are no successes without great struggles.
What are your feelings towards the end result of your book? It can be described as “Bittersweet.” On one hand you feel a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, while on the other hand you are saddened that it is over. But that is the great thing about writing, you can always start writing another story.
Where was your favorite place to write? In the living room of my home. But, I don't like writing in one place. I need to move around and write in different places. Typically a peaceful and quiet environment is my ideal writing setting.
What is the hardest part of writing for you? Finding time to write is actually the hardest part of writing. Editing is not really hard, but time consuming. However, I believe that editing, is probably the most important aspect of writing.
What are you working on now? I am writing a fictional crime series.
Do you have a favorite author? I have been inspired by many writers. Italo Calvino and HP Lovecraft are two of my favorite authors. Lovecraft wrote one of my favorite short stories of all time called The Outsider. It is a very visual story. Calvino’s Baron in the Trees is a wonderfully written masterpiece that I enjoy reading over and over again.
What is the hardest part about writing a novel? It takes me a while to finish a novel. Since writing is not my day job, I need to fit it in whenever I have the time. Weekends are a blessing for me. I am able to accomplish a lot on the weekends. Editing a story can actually take longer than writing. You can’t imagine the countless hours that are spent on editing and polishing a book manuscript.
Can you tell us about part two of Battle Cry? Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword is the conclusion to Battle Cry. With the first part of her journey behind her, Kaí-Ling is ready to face her destiny. Using her training, skills and knowledge, Kaí-Ling is ready to enact vengeance upon those who took her father from her. How she handles the new challenges and obstacles along the way is a testament to everything she has learned.

Check out the teaser trailer for Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword!

And the winner is . . .

This is the final cover design for Battle Cry 2.

Check out my interview with Kevin at Moterwriter Writing Solutions.
http://moterwriter.com/q-a-jl-snyder-battle-cry/

Check out my awesome interview with K.A Cross from the United Kingdom.
http://k-a-cross.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/meet-author_23.html

My friend Dee Love and his son Xzavier sporting Battle Cry 2 t-shirts.

Check out some new
artwork from my upcoming book
Battle Cry 2 - Shadow of the Sword.