Welcome to the 2024 ARIA Author Showcase and Giveaway Event! 

  

  

How to enter – Comment on the daily showcases to enter the daily giveaway. Comments close four days after the initial Showcase post. GRAND PRIZE drawn on Dec 5th (1 -$250, 1 -$100, or a 1 -$50 Amazon gift card. One grand prize pp) – For every showcase you post on, you automatically gain one entry to the grand prize. 30 Authors = 30 entries.    

J. Michael Squatrito will be at the Rhode Island Author Expo   

On to the Showcase! 

 

What name do you like to write under? J. Michael Squatrito Jr.

Where do you call home? Tiverton, RI

What genre(s) do you write? Fantasy, Science Fiction, Memoir

What genre(s) were you drawn to when you were younger? Was there a reason that genre(s) appealed to you the most? Science Fiction and Fantasy. I was 12 years old when I went to go see Star Wars for the first time. I was completely hooked as soon as that Star Destroyer filled the screen! Ever since then I wanted to write the next epic story and I'm hoping The Overlords does just that!

What were some of your favorite books growing up? Why?  TI loved The Lord of the Rings, which pushed me to write in the fantasy genre. I also read many Star Wars novels (and still do so today). I have to say that Stephen Kings 11/29/63 is my favorite of all time.

What are some of your favorite books today? I've just finished The Three Body Problem trilogy and felt that they were very good. I watched the Netflix series of the same name and had to see how the author interacted with the characters and aliens, which you don't always get on the big or little screen. I was definitely satisfied!

What inspired you to become a writer? Star Wars. The epic story, the fantastic character set, the new worlds we all visited together. I needed to create something of my own because of George Lucas's vision.

 

The Overlords: Legend of the Treasure

Harrison Cross wishes nothing more than to help his hometown of Aegeus secure the land's most sacred treasure, the bounty of the ancient Overlords known simply as the Treasure of the Land.The original Overlords vanished on one infamous day over 1,000 years ago leaving behind clues to their hidden treasure in the form of indestructible metallic plates and a map revealing a series of secret rooms.During their journey, Harrison and his friends face countless foes on their way to the sacred Seven Rooms, including the evil Scynthians who want nothing more than to eradicate the human race, and the ruthless and treasure-seeking Lord Nigel Hammer, governor of Concur and his large menacing army.Using the clues discovered along the way, the group must successfully navigate through the hidden mysteries of the sacred Seven Rooms in order to secure the land's most elusive prize. Only then will their journey be a success. The question is, will they succeed?

 

Tell us a little about how “The Overlords: Legend of the Treasure” came to be. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma or something else?  I've already mentioned how Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings inspired me. However, I felt that The Lord of the Rings was not an easy read with all of the lineages and character names. I wanted to make something that would be easy for the reader to understand, but just as memorable and impactful as my favorite stories.

Which scene, character or plotline changed the most from first draft to published book? Originally, my story was to be only two books. However, after the character's attained their initial goal, I realized that their story wasn't over. The Overlords: Journey to Salvation and The Overlords: Mission of the Kings, the third and fourth books in the series, weren't part of my initial plan!

 

Which character was the most challenging to create. Why?  Lord Nigel Hammer, the ruthless Governor of Concur. Not that he was difficult to create, per se, but it was his ongoing interactions with my main character, Harrison Cross. There were many times where I could have had my characters eliminate him, but he was too good to kill off! Therefore, he's in all four novels, needling the good guys at every turn they make. I love the guy! 

What do you like best about being a writer? Providing an escape from this brutal world for my fans. We're all going through something and The Overlords provides a safe haven to get away from your daily pressures and enjoy a most heroic journey. And, my books are suitable for kids from 4th grade on up.

I also like interacting with my fans, be it at book signings, author expos, or comic cons. I love doing panels and answering questions, but what I like the most is making someone happy by writing something inspiring to them when I sign a copy of my novel.

If you could collaborate with any author past or present, who would it be? What would the title of the book be? (If possible) - Give us a one sentence blurb.  Stephen King. He's not just a horror writer. He's done some fantastic work in the paranormal, science fiction, etc. and I know we'd create something wonderful. I'd also love to collaborate with my favorite musician, Paul McCartney. Many of his songs are about characters within a simple storyline. Maybe I could help him write a novel ;)

You can follow J. Michael Squatrito Jr. here - 

Website - www.MikeSquatrito.com 

FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/MikeSquatritoAuthor 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikesquatrito/ 

X: @Overlords

LinkedIn - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theoverlords/ 

J. Michael is giving away a copy of his first Overlords book, Legend of the Treasure.

To enter, comment below → Who would be your ideal treasure hunt partner from a movie, TV show, or book?

(Comments are open for 4 days)