New Cover for The Scars of Ambition!

I just wanted to quickly share the new cover we've got for The Scars of Ambition! The sequel, The Vendetta Clause, will probably be out in November, and I'm very optimistic about it!

As for Scars, the book has been getting some great reviews. Here's a recent one from reviewer Jake Scholl:

"Ever get tired of a Medieval Fantasy setting? Or have you ever wondered what would happen when Middle Earth’s technology would become like ours? With The Scars of Ambition, Jason Letts answers these questions.

The novel takes place in a land called Cumeria, where the government hardly has any serious power, and wealthy all powerful corporations control nearly every aspect of life. Much like Game of Thrones, these wealthy families behave much like the squabbling Houses of Westoros. But, the background setting is much like modern day. There are airplanes, gas powered vehicles, computers, phones, guns, etcetera.

You may ask how Scars can be Fantasy with all of these modern pieces of technology, there still are some elements, like magic, creatures, and swords, that are in most Fantasy Novels. I honestly didn’t know if Letts could pull the fusion of new and old elements off, but Letts does amazingly well, and makes the plot his own rather than follow the normal conventions of the genre.

The story centers around the Bracken family. It centers around Lowell Bracken, the father & head of the family business called Bracken Energy. The Bracken’s have been leaders in the land of Cumeria for hundreds of years without resistance. That is, until forces beyond his control turn on him, and he doesn’t know who to trust…That’s all I can say about the without spoilers. All I will say is that the tale will keep you guessing till the end. :)

As for the characters, they are well done too. Every character is fleshed out well, even characters who you only see a few times will stick with you.

If you are a fan of G.R.R.M, the TV show Dallas (When you read it, you’ll know what I mean.), and Steampunk Fantasy, this book is made for you."

The Scars of Ambition: Fantasy Book Release

After a hiatus of over a year, I've finally published another piece of fiction, the newly released The Scars of Ambition, the first book in a new series called The Cumerian Unraveling.

Why did I stop? Why did I come back? Why does this book look so different than my previous books? The answers to all of those questions are tied up together in the basement, and it's time to let them out.

When I was writing full-time for a living, the market pressure of publishing in order to earn became too large a factor in what I was writing. Some of my previous novels failed to connect with readers, probably because I wasn't really being true to myself and what I really wanted to write. In truth, I wasn't connecting with my characters in some of those books or their stories. I told them because that's what I thought YA readers wanted to read, but in truth I'd stopped being a YA author long ago.

Suspense barely deserves the YA label. It's dark, mortality is a constantly at the forefront of the narrative, and the characters generally have a rough ride. Maybe too rough and too dark, because some readers found parts of it jarring. It took a long while for me to put some of those old stories behind me so that I could feel like I could start fresh and align myself with a story I felt passionate about.

Other circumstances changed as well. If this book doesn't sell a single copy, I'll be just fine. And because of that, I'll be able to go ahead and write the sequel too knowing full well that the only thing I have to accomplish is writing a kick-ass story, one that means something to me. Now all I have to do is hope there are some other people out there who are something like me. I bet there are.

That brings me to The Scars of Ambition, which at 95,000 words is the longest book I've ever published. It's got more characters, more time for development, and more attention to the various aspects of Cumeria's troubled society. At the heart of it, the Bracken family knows they can only rely on each other, but even that comes into question as Lowell and his children (early thirties to late teens) take on their own challenges. I won't give away too much more, but what I like about this novel is that the characters often struggle with trying to be good in a world that seems to compel them to be bad.

Want to find out more? Here's the description, and the map.

“The ancient family sword’s immaculate steel blade reminded him that there were still parts of the world where this was the only weapon people had, the old ways were still alive and well, and there were creatures out there and powerful things beyond what he could ever imagine.”

Lowell Bracken had complete control. His empire, his ruthless executives, his family’s legacy, his wife, his children, they all had a part to play in the near omnipotent control he exerted in Cumeria. But a freak attack exposed how tenuous that control really is, and Lowell scrambles to preserve it, discovering he is only playing a small part in larger, darker schemes for control.

From the shadows, mysterious and disturbing threats disrupt the already-turbulent business landscape in Cumeria. When blood is spilled, the fight for survival becomes more than just a euphemism for going out of business, and the Brackens’ struggles to retain order might be the only thing keeping all of Cumeria from plunging into chaos.

Release of Expense, The Spencer Nye Trilogy #2!

I'm excited to present the second book of the Spencer Nye Trilogy, Expense, which is now available on Amazon.com and BN.com!

For fans of Suspense, I think this book will provide a whole new dimension to our understanding of who Spencer Nye is, what her friends are like, and what makes up the world she lives in, one she's absolutely turned upside down. There'll be more action, more sparks, and more glimpses into a future world where the things we know about how people use technology have been taken to even greater lengths.

And, as always, great thanks goes out to the readers who have given me the time to work on these books. I hope you find something that resonates with you within these pages!

The Sequel to Suspense, Expense, coming soon!

Alright folks, this is your one-week warning. We're getting close to the release of the second book in the Spencer Nye Trilogy, Expense, which will continue the series with tons more action, craziness, and revelations!

The response to Suspense continues to be amazing, and I think this second book is going to get an even tighter grip on readers. A lot's changed in the world in the aftermath of Spencer's struggles in the first book, but if there's one thing you can count on, those struggles aren't going to go down without a fight.

Stay tunes for the release announcement, and thanks to everyone who's picked up the series!

What Are Reviewers Saying About Suspense?

I have to admit it's been a lot of fun reading reviews for Suspense over the past couple weeks. Whether it's the action, the window into the future of social networking, or the characters and the story, it seems like everybody has found something that resonated with them. That's what this trilogy is all about, and as I get down to work on the sequel, I wanted to make sure I've got a good handle on why people feel the way they do about the story.

I think the reviewers said it best in their own words:

Aeicha at her blog, Word Spelunking, says: "This book is truly a page turner…seriously, I read it in one sitting and every time I told myself “Just one more chapter”, I’d get to the end of that chapter and something exciting would happen and I’d have to keep reading to find out what happens next…and this kept happening until I finished the book and realized it was about 5am and I stayed up all night just to read it."


Jackie at My Tower of Books says: "Spencer Nye is such a likable, yet flawed, heroine. She doesn't always make the right choices but her heart is in the right place. Plus, I like a character that isn't afraid to stop asking questions and kill the bad guys already! Spencer's romantic interests seem pretty clear cut when you first start reading, but take an unexpected and awesome turn! Original and crazy!"


Grace on her MotherLode blog says: "As soon as I started the book I realized we were in a different world than I know, with the personal nodes, the connect system, and the idols. I love how this world was implied rather than explained, and I gradually figured out what made this world tick. The idea of Connect, sending messages simply by thinking and finding the information you needed in front of your eyes in a split second, was really easy to visualize yet unimaginable at the same time. I really liked the creativity in creating this futuristic world that is still really relatable, and I could picture us here in another hundred years."


Well said! A thrilling story, a thought-provoking world, compelling characters. I've been lucky enough to get it right for these reviewers and I hope plenty more people are feeling the same way.


I'll also note that we're 2 weeks from the end of Suspense's grand prize Kindle/Nook giveaway! If you haven't heard about it yet, check out the giveaway tab on our Facebook page!


Suspense, the first book in my new YA (16+) Dystopian trilogy can be found at Amazon, BN, itunes, and Smashwords! The paperback version is out now too!

Suspense Release and Kindle/Nook Giveaway!

Suspense, the first book in my new YA (16+) dystopian trilogy is now available on Amazon  and BN.com!

Just as exciting, I'm pleased to announce that early readers of Suspense will be eligible to win a new Kindle Wifi or Nook Touch, as well as other great prizes! All of you have to do is read the book and answer 4 simple questions by Oct. 9th. All of the details and questions can be found on the giveaway tab of my facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/authorjasonletts

Here's the description of Suspense.

Spencer Nye can't control the rage bubbling under her skin over the world around her. The trouble is, by the year 2102, the world has solved most of its great problems. Without hunger, war, greed, or even money, people obsess over the glamour of the Culture Industry and its mega-celebrity Idols, who vie for followers over the social networks of Connect.

But Spencer discovers there is plenty to fix within the Idols' competition for more popularity. She becomes a diehard and promises to do anything to help her Idol, a dreamy movie star named Cleary Mintz, bring his vision of hope and purpose to the world. When she stumbles onto a threat against his life, she'll have to fight harder than she ever thought possible or lose the man who means more to her than any other.

The story is a bit more adult than others I've written before, and so it's recommended for readers age 16& up. I'm very excited about the story though, which is full of action. Hopefully you like it too, and maybe that'll mean a new Kindle or Nook for you. Thanks for reading!

Bar Harbor Vacation Spectacular II

It's becoming sort of a family tradition that we rent a house over in Maine for a week in August to see each other, relax, and get out into the outdoors a bit. We had a great time last year, and for all I've been doing this past month I've definitely deserved it. Suspense is all but done, and we'll get the release underway as soon as I get back. I've also been getting together plans for an audio version with an old friend of mine, plus getting the house ready for my incoming housemates. I've been pounding away at the sequel to Suspense, Expense too, and I'm halfway through, which was definitely my goal for the month.

So now it's time to enjoy a little...

And hit the Precipice trail at Acadia National Park... (Yes, there are little bars there that you climb up. This trail is NOT for the faint of heart.)

Hopefully I won't be early enough to see any of this, but it'll be nice to get out kayaking in our little cove.

See you in September as we kick off a great fall!