19 Sep Justin Newland The Old Dragon’s Head Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour @Matador @drjustinnewland @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: JUSTIN NEWLAND

It is my pleasure to welcome back Justin Newland as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between September 19th — September 30th 2022. Justin Newland is the author of the Historical Fiction / Fantasy / Supernatural Thriller / Speculative Fiction, The Old Dragon’s Head, which was released by Troubador Publishing Ltd. on 28th November 2018  (257 pages).

Below are highlights of The Old Dragon’s Head, Justin Newland’s author bio, and an excerpt from his novel.

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HIGHLIGHTS: THE OLD DRAGON’S HEAD

The Old Dragon’s Head

by Justin Newland

(Blurb)

The Great Wall of China may be constructed of stone and packed earth, but it is home to a supernatural beast – the Old Dragon. Both wall and dragon protect China’s northern borders from Mongol incursion. Just beyond the fortress of Shanhaiguan, the far eastern end of the wall protrudes into the Bohai Sea – that’s the Old Dragon’s Head.

Bolin, a young man working on the Old Dragon’s Head, suffers visions of ghosts. The local seer suspects that he has yin-yang eyes and other supernatural gifts. Bolin’s fief lord, the Prince of Yan, rebels against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor. In the bitter war of succession, the Mongols hold the balance of power. While the victor might win the battle on earth, China’s Dragon Throne can only be earned with a Mandate from Heaven – and the support of the Old Dragon.

In every era, a man endowed with the powers of heaven – the Dragon Master – is born. Only he can summon the Old Dragon, providing he possesses the dragon pearl. It’s the year 1402, and neither the Old Dragon, the dragon pearl, nor the Dragon Master, has been seen for twenty years. 

Bolin’s journey of self-discovery is mirrored by that of old China, as both endeavour to come of age. When Bolin accepts his destiny as the Dragon Master, heaven sends a third coming of age – for humanity itself. But are any of them ready for what is rising in the east?

Buy Links:

Amazon

Amazon UK  ♠  Amazon US  ♠  Amazon CA  ♠  Amazon (AU)  ♠  Amazon (India)

Other stores:

Barnes and Noble  ♠  Waterstones   ♠  Kobo

Author’s Website (where buyers can enter a dedication to be signed by the author)

Blackwell’s (UK)    ♠  Bol (NL)    ♠   Books.Telegraph (UK)    ♠   Publisher’s Website    ♠    Saxo (DK)    ♠   Scribd

AUTHOR BIO:  JUSTIN NEWLAND

Justin Newland is an author of historical fantasy and secret history thrillers – that’s history with a supernatural twist. His historical novels feature known events and real people from the past, which are re-told and examined through the lens of the supernatural.

His novels speculate on the human condition and explore the fundamental questions of our existence. As a species, as Homo sapiens sapiens – that’s man the twice-wise – how are we doing so far? Where is mankind’s spiritual home? What does it look or feel like? Would we recognise it if we saw it?

Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he found his way to the creative keyboard and conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.

Next came the supernatural thriller, The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), set in Ming Dynasty China.

His third novel, The Coronation (Matador, 2019), speculates on the genesis of the most important event of the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.

His fourth, The Abdication (Matador, 2021), is a supernatural thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

His stories add a touch of the supernatural to history and deal with the themes of war, religion, evolution and the human’s place in the universe.

He was born three days before the end of 1953 and lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

Social Media Links:

Website  ♠  Twitter: @drjustinnewland  ♠  Facebook   ♠   LinkedIn    ♠   Instagram    ♠  Amazon Author Page   ♠  Goodreads

EXCERPT: THE OLD DRAGON’S HEAD

Nanjing, China.

In the Chinese Year of the Goat, 23rd January, 1368.

 I, Zhu Yuanzhang, have expelled the Mongol invader. For too many winters, we have suffered at the hands of the barbarian. I will restore the greatness of China both in Heaven and on earth.

While my followers exhorted me to grasp the Mandate of Heaven, I dared not do so without a propitious sign.

Five days ago, on a cold, snowy day, I erected an altar of worship to the Supreme Cosmic Deity. I prayed that if the Lord on High approved of my new ruling house, then the appointed day of my enthronement – 23rd of January, 1368 – would be a bright day.

Today is that day and, miracle of miracles, the warm rays of the sun pierce the gloom and have melted the frozen earth. The Lord on High has heard my supplication. The Yang exerts itself upon the Yin. The order of the Tao is restored. Thus, I take my seat on the Dragon Throne.

As a bright day in Heaven means a bright day on earth, I name this the Ming – the Bright – Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor.

From The Great Ming Code