The Foreign Service Journal, November 2015

56 NOVEMBER 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Sevara: Dawn of Hope Damian Wampler, Dincarnations, 2015, $12.99/paperback; $0.99/Kindle, 276 pages. Damian Wampler presents a haunt- ing and heart-pounding account in this coming-of-age science fiction thriller, which tells the story of Sevara, a 15-year- old girl who has been kicked out of her orphanage for refusing to marry. Left with nothing, she must fend for herself on the streets of Plexus. Sevara finds herself in a bad place when a shapeshift- ing immortal gives her a powerful set of gifts and a second chance at life, setting into motion an adventure that will span hundreds of lifetimes. Conflict arises when Sevara begins a doomed love affair with the man she could have married. She must choose whether to protect her city or the only man she’s ever loved. Damian Wampler joined the Foreign Service in 2009 and has served in Dushanbe, Harare and Karachi. Prior to joining the Service, he served with Mercy Corps and as a Peace Corps Volunteer. A photographer, playwright and graphic novelist, he is also author of A Man Named Jay (see the November 2014 FSJ ). Sevara, No. 1 Damian Wampler, Broken Icon Comics, 2015, $12.99/paperback, 132 pages. A tie-in to Sevara: Dawn of Hope , this graphic novel finds Sevara after many centuries have come and gone and she and a group of shapeshifting immortals have guided humanity to peace. However, one final task remains: to give up their memories and their immortality to live one last life. To do this, they must sleep for 10,000 years and forget. All the immortals follow through with their promise … except Sevara. She awakens to find that she is the only shapeshift- ing immortal left, and the world has returned to suffering and cruelty. Far from the idyllic life she left, Sevara finds that the memo- ries of her immortal life have infected humanity while she slept and her very own past may destroy the future. The story and script are illustrated by two Indonesian artists, Andre Siregar and Anang Setyawan, with cover design by Joshua Chinsky. Selling Your Comic Book Concept: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creators Damian Wampler, Amazon Digital Services, Inc., 2015, $0.99/Kindle, 145 pages. Anyone with a great idea for a comic book needs to consult this step-by-step guide for breaking into the industry. The comprehen- sive manual takes prospective authors from story development to marketing and promo- tion, and includes advice on topics such as finding an art team, how to stay organized and what you should know about print versus digital distribution. Damian Wampler’s unique background in language and visual arts lends credence to the advice in this handy e-book. Frustrated at the lack of guidance when he first sought to bring his own idea for a comic book to life, he provides a blueprint for success with comic book script formats, sample work-for-hire contracts and links to websites that can help you promote your book and raise funds. Selling Your Comic Book Idea takes what may seem impos- sible and makes it simple, putting writers on the path to getting published. POTPOURRI Amy Knows Best Cheryl Nugent, Holladay House Publishing, 2014, $12.95/hardcover, 28 pages. Intended for students in kindergarten through second grade, Cheryl Nugent introduces children to healthy living via the story of Amy—an elementary school student learning about nutrition. Written in rhyme and illustrated by Sarah Kaspar, Amy Knows Best follows one young girl’s quest to help her parents change their poor eating habits so that they can be healthier, happier people. Amy’s grandparents help when they come for a visit with more energy than they have had in years, much thanks to exercise and diet changes. Seeing this, Amy’s parents slowly alter their routine and learn just how fun it can be to eat well and be fit. Young readers learn about concepts like organic produce and how fruits and vegetables fuel your body better than processed foods. Nugent’s book serves as an educational and colorful way to