Genres: Adventure, General Fiction, Fantasy
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

Would you risk your afterlife to get back to those you love? Karl expected the afterlife to be better than swinging a pickaxe at nuggets for a tyrant. Not much better, but definitely slightly better. He misses his home, his friends, and seawater that doesn't burn his skin. He could stick around and spend eternity at the mercy of a deluded narcissist, Zianfer, or he could escape into the unknown in the hope there's something more out there. Something less sinister. However, others are caught up in his escape and he learns of a horrific maze that leads to a portal back to the Land of the Living. Back home. Unfortunately, Zianfer wants to control that portal so she can rule the realms of the living and the dead. So, another perilous adventure begins. With a half dragon, half giant who needs to get back to stop a war, a...

Genres: Adventure, Young Adult (YA), Fantasy
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

Peace doesn’t last. It’s just a temporary break while war rests. They might as well rename times of peace ‘war holidays’ Karl and his friends have had their fill of conflict and are thankful to live whatever is considered a normal life. But not too far away, a noble deed produces terrifying results, awakening a fearsome foe obsessed with unleashing a power so devastating it could destroy all life on Hastovia. Karl and his friends must find a magic relic, put their trust in the untrustworthy, and make sacrifices that could include their lives. Hastovia needs some heroes. From Emmy award nominated screenwriter, Mark Boutros, comes the second book in his fantasy series.

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy/SciFi/Speculative, Fantasy
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

Will Karl find his true home before he’s killed by a crazed Man-Hawk? Karl’s had a rotten week. He lost another job, a tyrant Man-Hawk invaded the only place he ever called home, and to make things worse, a greedy parrot just revealed that Karl isn’t who he thinks he is. Clueless and hopeless, Karl has to find a portal to another world before he’s captured. Luckily he has the help of an Oaf, obsessed with revenge but incapable of killing, and Questions, the last of her kind who can only talk in questions. And so Karl’s adventure begins. It’s an adventure he doesn’t want to be on, but one which will change his life… forever. International Emmy nominated writer, Mark Boutros, brings you a warm, humorous and sometimes dark fantasy about friendship, featuring magic, monsters, idiots and more. PRAISE FOR KARL'S KINGDOM: "The story is stuffed full of interesting...

Genres: Advice & How To, General Nonfiction, Writing & Publishing
Formats: E-Book, Audio, Paperback

“The most complete and comprehensive guide to character I've ever read." Adam Croft Character is at the heart of every story. We love stories because we fall in love with characters, we want to see what happens to them and we want to see them experience hope and despair. International Emmy nominated writer, Mark Boutros, offers a guide to creating characters who are engaging, emotionally driven and memorable. With experience as a screenwriter, novelist, creative writing teacher and mentor, Mark shares a mixture of theory and exercises to get you thinking about the questions to have in your mind during character creation. A lot of stories are perfectly functional, hitting all the right beats, but often fall short due to a thin or obvious character. Problems people think are related to plot are often symptoms of a deeper issue with the characters. Mark highlights what is at the core of...

Genres: Advice & How To, General Nonfiction, Writing & Publishing
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

International Emmy nominated writer, creative writing teacher, and author of The Craft of Character, Mark Boutros, offers writing exercises to shake up your process and reconnect you with creativity through play. With experience teaching over 4,000 students across world renowned universities such as NYU, London Film School, and through online courses, Mark shares themed exercises and explains their value in improving your craft, while also offering general tips and ways to manage your mental health, as writing is about more than just the words. If you’re stuck on a project, struggling for ideas, looking for inspiration, or just want to shake up your thinking, then this book of over 50 exercises is for you. The topics covered are: • Creating Ideas • Character and Motivation • Story World • Raising the Stakes • Structure • Technique • The Writer's Mind Whether you're a screenwriter, playwright, or author, this is an...