A.F. Stewart's Blog, page 85
November 15, 2014
Interview With Andrew John Rainnie
Here's part two of the weekend double feature with author Andrew John Rainnie. Today he stops by for a chat about his writing and his fantasy novel, Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits. Enjoy.
Interview With Andrew John Rainnie
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I’m a writer and filmmaker from Glasgow, Scotland. I have lots of fingers in lots of pies; I write short and feature films, and occasionally direct them. I also produce music videos and other film projects through my company, Rain Fire Films, and run a website helping people explore Glasgow, www.discoverglasgow.org. I also write for an American gaming website, Warp Zoned.
In short, I’m a workaholic!
Your latest book, Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits, is a fantasy novel. Can you tell us a bit about it, and your corresponding short story collection, Tales of Vengeance?
Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits actually started life as a feature length screenplay that I had to write as my final project while studying screenwriting at Bournemouth University. One of my mentors, Rosie Cullen, made me realize two things; firstly, that the story was too big for a screenplay, and two, the world made no sense. It was a popcorn movie inspired by Lord of the Rings and other magical adventure films like Willow, Red Sonja, Conan.
So I took the core idea, and started from the ground up, sculpting a believable world for my characters to inhabit. The main characters changed drastically after that, as I tried to make it more than a simple action adventure. Originally, Kaedin was the main character, but a couple of drafts later led me to realize that Kamina, his younger sister, would make a better hero, because she did not want to be one. It made the entire book more dramatic and character-driven by having the focus on her journey.
Tales of Vengeance came about as a side project; there were characters and situations who have great backstories, but for one reason or another were removed from the final book, more often because they simple diverted from the story, so I thought it would be great to gather them in a short story collection, as a companion piece, or for those who were unsure of buying Spirits, they can try Tales first, as its free.
You’re an experienced world traveler, so how do you think your journeys influenced your new book?
It’s funny because I was writing Spirits of Vengeance during my year of in 2011, travelling around the world. I ended up publishing my travel blogs as an eBook, My Right Leg Is Tastier Than My Left. There are several points in that were the landscape or scenery inspired me, or I changed names or places after visiting places. Bolivia was a big inspiration, as I had finished the first draft, but Bolivia’s landscape is so diverse and awe-inspiring that I went back and changed key points.
But I guess there are parallels to myself and Kamina; we were both on a journey of self-discovery, meeting new people, seeing wild, exotic places. We both returned changed, even matured.
Your previous book was non-fiction. Why did you decide to write a novel in the fantasy genre?
The previous book came about because I was keeping a journal on the round the world adventure, and when I returned home I had 400 pages, so I thought I should do something with them. But I have always been a fiction writer, be it short stories, novels, or films. I love the fantasy genre; I read a lot of Terry Pratchett, Phillip Pullman, Joe Abercrombie, and I grew up with the classics like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Writing epic fantasy allows you to create brand new worlds, share ideas that are similar to those on Earth, yet allow you, as a writer, to keep it separate, and new. Spirits deals a lot with race, sex, and religion, but in another place with different societies, different ideals.
Did anything surprise you about the process of writing your novel?
The sheer length of time. I’ve been working on Spirits for near enough a decade now, but during that time I have had many, many other jobs, went travelling, made a few short films, and bought a house! I’m amazed at writers who can crack out a book every 18 months. I’m hoping the sequel to Stone of Spirits only takes a couple of years.
Can you tell us about your writing process? Do you have a certain writing routine?
I try and write when I can. If I have an idea I’ll scribble it down or email myself, and then patch them together to make a cohesive story. I’m one of these people who can’t really turn off the creative part of their brain; I’ll be constantly mulling over story ideas until they gradually grow and grow and then blossom into something I feel make a great story. Then it’s just a case of expanding on storylines and treatments until you have the groundwork for something you want to invest years of your life in.
Time management is key though. I find I’m dividing my time between writing books and writing films, so I’ll set one evening as scripts, one as books. I was always advised to write at least three hours a day, which is a struggle, but not unachievable.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
Not sucking.
You also work as a filmmaker and screenwriter. How does that creative process differ from writing a novel?
In many ways writing a book is like writing a screenplay, you start with an idea, and it grows as you add to it, shaping characters, story, and plot. However, once you actually get to the meat of sitting down and writing it, you find you have a lot more freedom with a book, which can be both a good and a bad thing. Screenplays are rather restrictive; they are a lot of white space, which is filled by actors, directors, production designers, special effects artists. Writing a film is essentially a foundation for other creatives to build upon, whereas a book is yours and yours alone.
Making a film is just a different kettle of fish entirely. It’s more about the logistics of organizing a cast and crew, and inspiring them all with your vision for a project, and guiding them towards it. You don’t sleep much when making a film.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing a sports drama feature film for a director working in India, and I have a trio of short films, collectively titled The Illuminant Midnight Project, that I hope to launch a crowd funding campaign for in early 2015, and film them next summer.
And at some point, I’ll get back to the second Spirits of Vengeance book, The Assassin of Araneque!
You can find Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits at:
Amazon Smashwords
Author Bio:
Andrew John Rainnie is a Scottish novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He has an MA. Joint Honours in English Literature and Film & TV Studies from the University of Glasgow, and an MA/PGDip in Screenwriting from Bournemouth University. He has written and directed a number of short films, which have shown at festivals around the globe. His last, The Collector, based on a short story by Jonathan Lethem, was shown at the London East End Film Festival, the London Short Film Festival, and Aesthetica Film Festival in York. After working as a media analyst and script reader in London for six years, Andrew quit the rat race and embarked on an epic around the world adventure, details of which were published in a compendium of his travel blogs, titled My Right Leg Is Tastier Than My Left. During that journey, he finished writing a passion project, his first fantasy novel, Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits.
Website TwitterFacebook PageGoodreadsGoogle PlusAmazon Author PageSmashwords Author PageYouTube Channel (video blogs)
Interview With Andrew John Rainnie
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.I’m a writer and filmmaker from Glasgow, Scotland. I have lots of fingers in lots of pies; I write short and feature films, and occasionally direct them. I also produce music videos and other film projects through my company, Rain Fire Films, and run a website helping people explore Glasgow, www.discoverglasgow.org. I also write for an American gaming website, Warp Zoned.
In short, I’m a workaholic!
Your latest book, Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits, is a fantasy novel. Can you tell us a bit about it, and your corresponding short story collection, Tales of Vengeance?
Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits actually started life as a feature length screenplay that I had to write as my final project while studying screenwriting at Bournemouth University. One of my mentors, Rosie Cullen, made me realize two things; firstly, that the story was too big for a screenplay, and two, the world made no sense. It was a popcorn movie inspired by Lord of the Rings and other magical adventure films like Willow, Red Sonja, Conan.
So I took the core idea, and started from the ground up, sculpting a believable world for my characters to inhabit. The main characters changed drastically after that, as I tried to make it more than a simple action adventure. Originally, Kaedin was the main character, but a couple of drafts later led me to realize that Kamina, his younger sister, would make a better hero, because she did not want to be one. It made the entire book more dramatic and character-driven by having the focus on her journey.Tales of Vengeance came about as a side project; there were characters and situations who have great backstories, but for one reason or another were removed from the final book, more often because they simple diverted from the story, so I thought it would be great to gather them in a short story collection, as a companion piece, or for those who were unsure of buying Spirits, they can try Tales first, as its free.
You’re an experienced world traveler, so how do you think your journeys influenced your new book?
It’s funny because I was writing Spirits of Vengeance during my year of in 2011, travelling around the world. I ended up publishing my travel blogs as an eBook, My Right Leg Is Tastier Than My Left. There are several points in that were the landscape or scenery inspired me, or I changed names or places after visiting places. Bolivia was a big inspiration, as I had finished the first draft, but Bolivia’s landscape is so diverse and awe-inspiring that I went back and changed key points.
But I guess there are parallels to myself and Kamina; we were both on a journey of self-discovery, meeting new people, seeing wild, exotic places. We both returned changed, even matured.
Your previous book was non-fiction. Why did you decide to write a novel in the fantasy genre?
The previous book came about because I was keeping a journal on the round the world adventure, and when I returned home I had 400 pages, so I thought I should do something with them. But I have always been a fiction writer, be it short stories, novels, or films. I love the fantasy genre; I read a lot of Terry Pratchett, Phillip Pullman, Joe Abercrombie, and I grew up with the classics like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Writing epic fantasy allows you to create brand new worlds, share ideas that are similar to those on Earth, yet allow you, as a writer, to keep it separate, and new. Spirits deals a lot with race, sex, and religion, but in another place with different societies, different ideals.
Did anything surprise you about the process of writing your novel?
The sheer length of time. I’ve been working on Spirits for near enough a decade now, but during that time I have had many, many other jobs, went travelling, made a few short films, and bought a house! I’m amazed at writers who can crack out a book every 18 months. I’m hoping the sequel to Stone of Spirits only takes a couple of years.
Can you tell us about your writing process? Do you have a certain writing routine?
I try and write when I can. If I have an idea I’ll scribble it down or email myself, and then patch them together to make a cohesive story. I’m one of these people who can’t really turn off the creative part of their brain; I’ll be constantly mulling over story ideas until they gradually grow and grow and then blossom into something I feel make a great story. Then it’s just a case of expanding on storylines and treatments until you have the groundwork for something you want to invest years of your life in.
Time management is key though. I find I’m dividing my time between writing books and writing films, so I’ll set one evening as scripts, one as books. I was always advised to write at least three hours a day, which is a struggle, but not unachievable.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
Not sucking.
You also work as a filmmaker and screenwriter. How does that creative process differ from writing a novel?
In many ways writing a book is like writing a screenplay, you start with an idea, and it grows as you add to it, shaping characters, story, and plot. However, once you actually get to the meat of sitting down and writing it, you find you have a lot more freedom with a book, which can be both a good and a bad thing. Screenplays are rather restrictive; they are a lot of white space, which is filled by actors, directors, production designers, special effects artists. Writing a film is essentially a foundation for other creatives to build upon, whereas a book is yours and yours alone.
Making a film is just a different kettle of fish entirely. It’s more about the logistics of organizing a cast and crew, and inspiring them all with your vision for a project, and guiding them towards it. You don’t sleep much when making a film.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing a sports drama feature film for a director working in India, and I have a trio of short films, collectively titled The Illuminant Midnight Project, that I hope to launch a crowd funding campaign for in early 2015, and film them next summer.
And at some point, I’ll get back to the second Spirits of Vengeance book, The Assassin of Araneque!
You can find Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits at:
Amazon Smashwords
Author Bio:
Andrew John Rainnie is a Scottish novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He has an MA. Joint Honours in English Literature and Film & TV Studies from the University of Glasgow, and an MA/PGDip in Screenwriting from Bournemouth University. He has written and directed a number of short films, which have shown at festivals around the globe. His last, The Collector, based on a short story by Jonathan Lethem, was shown at the London East End Film Festival, the London Short Film Festival, and Aesthetica Film Festival in York. After working as a media analyst and script reader in London for six years, Andrew quit the rat race and embarked on an epic around the world adventure, details of which were published in a compendium of his travel blogs, titled My Right Leg Is Tastier Than My Left. During that journey, he finished writing a passion project, his first fantasy novel, Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits.
Website TwitterFacebook PageGoodreadsGoogle PlusAmazon Author PageSmashwords Author PageYouTube Channel (video blogs)
November 14, 2014
Book Spotlight: Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits
Today is the first half of a two part double feature with author Andrew John Rainnie. In this segment I bring you a book spotlight on his fantasy novel, Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits, which launches today.
Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits by Andrew John Rainnie
In the distant land of Enara, the religious zealot Lord Malenek marches across the continent of Amaros, cleansing the world with his army of Vengeance Spirits. Standing in his way is an unlikely adversary, Kamina Elloeth, a young tree elf who becomes unwittingly embroiled in Malenek’s plans. She embarks on a quest with her ghostly brother and a mysterious Ishkava Ranger to find an ancient artifact, which may be the key to stopping Malenek’s destructive schemes. Facing her fears, Kamina travels over oceans and deserts, fighting through swamps and jungles to unearth the power hidden within the Stone of Spirits.
You can find Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits at:
Amazon Smashwords
The author also plans on releasing a free book of short stories, Tales of Vengeance, to accompany the main novel and expand upon his exciting new fantasy world.
Author Bio:
Andrew John Rainnie is a Scottish novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He has an MA. Joint Honours in English Literature and Film & TV Studies from the University of Glasgow, and an MA/PGDip in Screenwriting from Bournemouth University. He has written and directed a number of short films, which have shown at festivals around the globe. His last, The Collector, based on a short story by Jonathan Lethem, was shown at the London East End Film Festival, the London Short Film Festival, and Aesthetica Film Festival in York.After working as a media analyst and script reader in London for six years, Andrew quit the rat race and embarked on an epic around the world adventure, details of which were published in a compendium of his travel blogs, titled My Right Leg Is Tastier Than My Left. During that journey, he finished writing a passion project, his first fantasy novel, Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits.
Website TwitterFacebook PageGoodreadsGoogle PlusAmazon Author PageSmashwords Author PageYouTube Channel (video blogs)
Be sure to come back tomorrow for part two, when I present an interview with this talented author.
Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits by Andrew John Rainnie
In the distant land of Enara, the religious zealot Lord Malenek marches across the continent of Amaros, cleansing the world with his army of Vengeance Spirits. Standing in his way is an unlikely adversary, Kamina Elloeth, a young tree elf who becomes unwittingly embroiled in Malenek’s plans. She embarks on a quest with her ghostly brother and a mysterious Ishkava Ranger to find an ancient artifact, which may be the key to stopping Malenek’s destructive schemes. Facing her fears, Kamina travels over oceans and deserts, fighting through swamps and jungles to unearth the power hidden within the Stone of Spirits.
You can find Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits at:
Amazon Smashwords
The author also plans on releasing a free book of short stories, Tales of Vengeance, to accompany the main novel and expand upon his exciting new fantasy world.
Author Bio:
Andrew John Rainnie is a Scottish novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He has an MA. Joint Honours in English Literature and Film & TV Studies from the University of Glasgow, and an MA/PGDip in Screenwriting from Bournemouth University. He has written and directed a number of short films, which have shown at festivals around the globe. His last, The Collector, based on a short story by Jonathan Lethem, was shown at the London East End Film Festival, the London Short Film Festival, and Aesthetica Film Festival in York.After working as a media analyst and script reader in London for six years, Andrew quit the rat race and embarked on an epic around the world adventure, details of which were published in a compendium of his travel blogs, titled My Right Leg Is Tastier Than My Left. During that journey, he finished writing a passion project, his first fantasy novel, Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits.Website TwitterFacebook PageGoodreadsGoogle PlusAmazon Author PageSmashwords Author PageYouTube Channel (video blogs)
Be sure to come back tomorrow for part two, when I present an interview with this talented author.
November 13, 2014
Book Spotlight: THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO
Today we join the ranks of the ravenous undead as I feature the novel, The Ghoul Archipelago: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller by Stephen Kozeniewski, in a book spotlight.
The Ghoul Archipelago: A Post Apocalyptic Thrillerby Stephen Kozeniewski
After ravenous corpses topple society and consume most of the world’s population, freighter captain Henk Martigan is shocked to receive a distress call. Eighty survivors beg him to whisk them away to the relative safety of the South Pacific. Martigan wants to help, but to rescue anyone he must first pass through the nightmare backwater of the Curien island chain.
A power struggle is brewing in the Curiens. On one side, the billionaire inventor of the mind-control collar seeks to squeeze all the profit he can out of the apocalypse. Opposing him is the charismatic leader of a ghoul-worshipping cargo cult. When a lunatic warlord berths an aircraft carrier off the coast and stakes his own claim on the islands, the stage is set for a bloody showdown.
To save the remnants of humanity (and himself), Captain Martigan must defeat all three of his ruthless new foes and brave the gruesome horrors of...THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO.
The Ghoul Archipelago is available at Amazon
Author's Bio
Stephen Kozeniewski (pronounced "causin' ooze key") lives with his wife and two cats in Pennsylvania, the birthplace of the modern zombie. During his time as a Field Artillery officer, he served for three years in Oklahoma and one in Iraq, where due to what he assumes was a clerical error, he was awarded the Bronze Star. He is also a classically trained linguist, which sounds much more impressive than saying his bachelor's degree is in German.
Amazon Author Profile
The Ghoul Archipelago: A Post Apocalyptic Thrillerby Stephen Kozeniewski
After ravenous corpses topple society and consume most of the world’s population, freighter captain Henk Martigan is shocked to receive a distress call. Eighty survivors beg him to whisk them away to the relative safety of the South Pacific. Martigan wants to help, but to rescue anyone he must first pass through the nightmare backwater of the Curien island chain.A power struggle is brewing in the Curiens. On one side, the billionaire inventor of the mind-control collar seeks to squeeze all the profit he can out of the apocalypse. Opposing him is the charismatic leader of a ghoul-worshipping cargo cult. When a lunatic warlord berths an aircraft carrier off the coast and stakes his own claim on the islands, the stage is set for a bloody showdown.
To save the remnants of humanity (and himself), Captain Martigan must defeat all three of his ruthless new foes and brave the gruesome horrors of...THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO.
The Ghoul Archipelago is available at Amazon
Author's Bio
Stephen Kozeniewski (pronounced "causin' ooze key") lives with his wife and two cats in Pennsylvania, the birthplace of the modern zombie. During his time as a Field Artillery officer, he served for three years in Oklahoma and one in Iraq, where due to what he assumes was a clerical error, he was awarded the Bronze Star. He is also a classically trained linguist, which sounds much more impressive than saying his bachelor's degree is in German.
Amazon Author Profile
November 12, 2014
Drabble Wednesday: Alliteration, Hauntings, and Superheroes
Another Drabble Wednesday dawns, with more short fiction tales. This time I present ghosts, hapless superheroes, and some alliteration...
A Preeminent Presentation
King Pietro of Luckland posted me a plea to perform my prestigious presentation of pirouetting parrots at the palace for Princess Patricia’s private party. The prior player, Pied Piper’s Parading Poodles, postponed due to pooped puppies. So, I pedalled post-haste to the palace to be pushed public. My parrots plied their pirouettes perfectly, to precious pretty praise from prepubescent party-goers. We preened properly, proud to proffer prosperity to the princess’s party. Post party, I pecked at puffy profiteroles and peppered pretzels, plugged into the procession past the princess for a pleasant prattle before parting with the pack for our pad.
Tonight on Haunted Kitchens
The following paranormal account is based on true life events...
Tonight we bring you the story of a home where no liquid is safe from spirits. One evening a man named Grant (not his real name) walks to his refrigerator looking for a snack, only to find a mysterious puddle. His tea inexplicably transferred from its jug on the refrigerator shelf to the floor. Next, his coffee vanished from its pot, never to be seen again.Is it ghostly phenomenon or somehow explainable?Tonight on Haunted Kitchens, you decide...
And tomorrow night, the tale of the toaster that pops itself.
Captain Blinky
“Hello, my name is Captain Blinky and I’m a useless superhero.”As one, the support group chimed, “Hello, Captain Blinky!”Wanda Wonderful, the group therapist, leaned forward. “Tell us about your inadequate superpower, Captain Blinky.”“I turn invisible for a fraction of a second when I blink, as you undoubtedly noticed. But I can’t maintain the invisibility. Constant blinking doesn't work. Nothing works!” A sob caught in his throat. “I couldn't even get work as a special effect. Why can’t I be a regular superhero?”“There, there, Captain, let it out. You’re among friends. We are all useless superheroes here.”
A Preeminent Presentation
King Pietro of Luckland posted me a plea to perform my prestigious presentation of pirouetting parrots at the palace for Princess Patricia’s private party. The prior player, Pied Piper’s Parading Poodles, postponed due to pooped puppies. So, I pedalled post-haste to the palace to be pushed public. My parrots plied their pirouettes perfectly, to precious pretty praise from prepubescent party-goers. We preened properly, proud to proffer prosperity to the princess’s party. Post party, I pecked at puffy profiteroles and peppered pretzels, plugged into the procession past the princess for a pleasant prattle before parting with the pack for our pad.
Tonight on Haunted Kitchens
The following paranormal account is based on true life events...
Tonight we bring you the story of a home where no liquid is safe from spirits. One evening a man named Grant (not his real name) walks to his refrigerator looking for a snack, only to find a mysterious puddle. His tea inexplicably transferred from its jug on the refrigerator shelf to the floor. Next, his coffee vanished from its pot, never to be seen again.Is it ghostly phenomenon or somehow explainable?Tonight on Haunted Kitchens, you decide...
And tomorrow night, the tale of the toaster that pops itself.
Captain Blinky
“Hello, my name is Captain Blinky and I’m a useless superhero.”As one, the support group chimed, “Hello, Captain Blinky!”Wanda Wonderful, the group therapist, leaned forward. “Tell us about your inadequate superpower, Captain Blinky.”“I turn invisible for a fraction of a second when I blink, as you undoubtedly noticed. But I can’t maintain the invisibility. Constant blinking doesn't work. Nothing works!” A sob caught in his throat. “I couldn't even get work as a special effect. Why can’t I be a regular superhero?”“There, there, Captain, let it out. You’re among friends. We are all useless superheroes here.”
November 11, 2014
For Remembrance Day: Reverence
Today is Remembrance Day, so I'm posting a poem to honour our soldiers.
Reverence
The solemn silence, a hushed crowdin veneration, their heads bowedFleeting moment of timeto honour fallen soldiers proudwho gave all, fulfilled duty vowedConjured, as the bells chime
Lest We Forget
November 7, 2014
Book Spotlight: A Game of Greed and Deception
Today I have a book spotlight, featuring the thriller A Game of Greed and Deception by author John Mathews. Enjoy.
A Game of Greed and Deception by John Mathews
She is young and beautiful, and recently married to a very wealthy middle-aged man who considers her to be the ultimate woman for him and holds her out as a model for his beloved 10-year-old daughter. They travel to a mountain hideaway to celebrate their first year together as a family when things begin to unravel. Her husband goes missing after a treacherous car accident, and the wife and daughter seem trapped and isolated, and stalked from both inside and outside the cabin. What ensues is the story of a woman driven by her soulless greed and self entitlement, and a man who is wronged and apparently out to get revenge. This deadly game of cat and mouse will keep you on the edge of your seat. The macabre scenes include deadly traps and medieval torture devices, hidden doors, secret rooms, and an underground labyrinth of torture chambers. Add in the legend of a hoard of pure gold bars, and it becomes clear that someone has a much bigger plan in mind and will let nothing get in their way. But who? This is the story of a plot so devious that it is set up to fool the State police investigation. But can it fool you? Keep guessing until the final scene as to what is really going on and let your intuition guide you.
A Game of Greed and Deception is available at Amazon
Author Bio:
About John Mathews:
I'm a tenured University Professor living in Rome, Italy. As I move toward retirement after a long and somewhat stressful career, I feel the desire to break out of the mold and delve into fiction which focuses on the dark side of human nature, both that which is unfeeling and indifferent to the fate of others and that which derives pleasure and a feeling of power from pain inflicted on them. Why do people read thriller stories and horror stories? Maybe because these stories allow them to entertain the unimaginable in a realm where there are no holds barred and no room for remorse. I offer up what I hope is a tasty tidbit replete with secret panels, hidden doors, torture chambers, flawed characters, riddles needing to be solved, and buried treasure.
Amazon Author Profile
A Game of Greed and Deception by John Mathews
She is young and beautiful, and recently married to a very wealthy middle-aged man who considers her to be the ultimate woman for him and holds her out as a model for his beloved 10-year-old daughter. They travel to a mountain hideaway to celebrate their first year together as a family when things begin to unravel. Her husband goes missing after a treacherous car accident, and the wife and daughter seem trapped and isolated, and stalked from both inside and outside the cabin. What ensues is the story of a woman driven by her soulless greed and self entitlement, and a man who is wronged and apparently out to get revenge. This deadly game of cat and mouse will keep you on the edge of your seat. The macabre scenes include deadly traps and medieval torture devices, hidden doors, secret rooms, and an underground labyrinth of torture chambers. Add in the legend of a hoard of pure gold bars, and it becomes clear that someone has a much bigger plan in mind and will let nothing get in their way. But who? This is the story of a plot so devious that it is set up to fool the State police investigation. But can it fool you? Keep guessing until the final scene as to what is really going on and let your intuition guide you.A Game of Greed and Deception is available at Amazon
Author Bio:
About John Mathews:I'm a tenured University Professor living in Rome, Italy. As I move toward retirement after a long and somewhat stressful career, I feel the desire to break out of the mold and delve into fiction which focuses on the dark side of human nature, both that which is unfeeling and indifferent to the fate of others and that which derives pleasure and a feeling of power from pain inflicted on them. Why do people read thriller stories and horror stories? Maybe because these stories allow them to entertain the unimaginable in a realm where there are no holds barred and no room for remorse. I offer up what I hope is a tasty tidbit replete with secret panels, hidden doors, torture chambers, flawed characters, riddles needing to be solved, and buried treasure.
Amazon Author Profile
November 5, 2014
An Interview With Rebecca Laffar-Smith
Today, in honour of her book launch, I have a delightful interview with Australian author Rebecca Laffar-Smith, who is here to chat about her writing and her debut paranormal novel, The Flight of the Torque.
Interview with Rebecca Laffar-Smith
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself?
Thank you, A.F. I still feel self-conscious when people ask me that. I guess I’ll start with the basics; I’m Rebecca Laffar-Smith, a science fiction and fantasy novelist. For twelve years I was a freelance writer, editor, and Web technician, but I gave that up in 2010 to focus on family, community, and fiction. Now I homeschool my son and raise my amazing writing-obsessed teenage daughter. I also volunteer as a liaison in the writing industry in Western Australia where I support local writers and bring industry events and awareness into the community. And somehow, among all that, find time to write fiction.
Can you tell us a bit about your debut novel, The Flight of the Torque?
The Flight of Torque I really connected with the concept of having to fight against an inner darkness that can control the way you think and feel. I have Bipolar disorder and have found fighting the depression and mania related to Bipolar is a lot like having a serpent within, so beneath the surface of a paranormal suspense, I feel like The Flight of Torque looks at mental health and our struggle to accept who we are and embrace that to find our own inner core of strength and power.
The Flight of the Torque is the first of a series. How do you see that series developing?
The world in which the Blood of the Nagaran series exists seems to have a range of stories to tell. I’m currently working on the first draft of book two, Birth of the Sacred Mother, where we step backward a generation to discover the truth about Tori's family and the origin of the Nagaran Cult. In book three, I’ll be returning to the characters of Tori and Lucas to continue on from where The Flight of Torque leaves off, and in book four I’ll be stepping to the side to explore Zara and Crey's stories more fully. I’m also working on a novella in the same world, which will be exclusively available to the fans that are subscribed to my list. I’m very passionate about the novella too, although it’s taking a lot of courage to write, because it delves into some very powerful and provoking themes.
Do you have a favourite character from The Flight of the Torque, and why (or why not)?
Actually, people are often surprised when I declare Carny as my favourite character from The Flight of Torque. He’s not someone you might suspect, and because he’s actually a ‘bad guy’ a lot of people probably don’t like him. He comes into the book almost as a bit of comic relief, an archetypal trickster, who is strangely ridiculous and flawed while at the same time being someone I could really resonate with. I appreciated how real he felt to me as I was writing.
His dialogue was very entertaining to write, because one of his specific quirks is that he always uses double negatives. It was fun to give myself permission to blatantly disregard what is normally a strict rule of grammar. He’s also such a lively and emotive person. He came through very clearly and I never had difficulty getting into his character. I do tend to have difficulty ‘feeling’ my characters sometimes so having one that was so richly real to me was a wonderful experience.
Why did you decide to write a paranormal novel? Are you a fan of the genre?
I wouldn't have said yes until very recently actually, but as I think about this question I glance over at my bookshelves and it’s kind of obvious that I must very much be a fan of the genre. A few months ago I just thought I liked science fiction and fantasy with no specific preference for a smaller subset of genre. I thought I was writing a fantasy novel.
Originally, The Flight of Torque was a story about the epic battle of a city to survive the devastating attacks of a dying breed of dragons who were enraged because the cultists were stealing dragon eggs for research into creating hybrid humans. The citizens used powerful sonic weapons to fend off attacks and roamed around in a post-apocalyptic city that they were desperately trying to restore. Strangely, none of that makes it into the final version of the book and I’m still frustrated at not having a chance to tell my dragon stories yet. Thankfully, I have other books already waiting in the wings, some about dragons, some about artificial intelligence, some about a teen psychic medium, so I’ll have the opportunity to delve more widely into the science fiction and fantasy genre.
But coming back to your original question, as I look at my bookshelf I do see a definite proclivity toward paranormal novels. The shelves are full of angels, vampires, witches, and gifted individuals. I've always had this kind of desire, I suppose, to bring the extraordinary into the world. I want my readers to believe, even if only for a time, in the sheer wonder and possibility of the world. The paranormal is definitely a way to embrace that kind of idea.
Do have any interesting facts or stories to tell about the book, or an anecdote about writing it?
There always seem to be a lot of anecdotes that gather around the writing process and The Flight of Torque is no exception. It is actually more difficult to choose just one to talk about in more depth. So I’ll choose two.
First, the writing of the book was much more difficult than I ever imagined. The book actually began in 2006 when I collaborated with a friend and we dreamed and imagined and outlined the version I mentioned earlier with the dragons and the post-apocalyptic city. Life got in the way and the project got put on the backburner for both of us but it kept calling to me and keeping me awake at nights so several months after we had more or less abandoned it, I got in touch with my friend and asked if he’d mind my continuing it solo. Of course he was thrilled with the idea that it would eventually be finished even if he was no longer part of the process. The trouble was, without a partner to help keep me on target and producing, I tended to approach the project sporadically and life kept getting in the way.
Over the six years between 2006 and 2012 I managed about 20,000 words and had completely transformed the original concept. I had a sense of where it was going but finding the time to sit and write just wasn't happening. Then in November 2012 I made the book my National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge. I knew the final book would need about 100,000 words so I felt no guilt at all aiming to write 50,000 words of the middle of it for NaNoWriMo rather than then as the rules stated at the time, ‘writing a 50,000 word book from start to finish’. That month I wrote 70,000 words thanks in big part to the wonderful community of writers that grew up around NaNoWriMo in my local area and the support and encouragement of my local library staff. And it was NaNoWriMo that drove me on to get it finished and published earlier this year so that it would be ready to share with my fellow NaNo writers this November.
Secondly, there is one aspect that always draws interest in self-publishing circles and that is the drama I had with the covers. Astute observers might discover that the book was originally published with a different cover. After I released the book with that cover I heard from some kind, but brutally honest, friends that they couldn't bring themselves to read what they believed must be a romance book. The cover had a very distinct “romance” sense about it at the time and it hadn't occurred to me that I’d typecast the book into a category that didn't fit the actual content. Romance lovers would be deeply disappointed at the raw hint of romance the book provided and my true audience; lovers of paranormal suspense and dark fantasy would run a mile. So, despite having already having distributed hundreds of copies and having paid for a small print run, I went back to basics and commissioned a new cover. That means there is now a limited first edition cover copy of the book. It was an interesting experience in the world of publishing and one of the mistakes I know I've learned a great deal from.
As a debut novelist, how have you found wading into the world of publishing?
It’s both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I often feel like I’m leaping without a net, but that’s the way I tend to approach life. Even as a freelancer I believed in learning through trial and error. With self-publishing, I threw myself into it and because it was something I was passionate about and dedicated to doing I loved every aspect of discovering the course along the way. I actually find the writing part of the job the most difficult. Once I've got the draft written I feel like I’m truly in my element. I love the editing and shaping process, and because of my experience in Web technologies I found formatting a natural extension of my interests. I already had a lot of foundation for successfully building my platform. I knew how to develop a website and had a strong brand on social media. So I was well positioned to dive into the world of publishing.
The trouble is, I've still got a lot more to learn about everything. Because I dove in, rather than wading, I've made lots of mistakes. They've been powerful learning tools, but they've also made the journey that much harder. Thankfully, I believe self-publishing is a long-tail game. Very few writers make it big with a first book and in self-publishing it is more important than ever to develop a strong catalogue of product and have everything you release further building your brand as a writer.
This week, I have my very first in-person book launch, which has been pretty scary. Part of what I've had to learn in the build up to that is about approaching media and building momentum behind an event. I was thrilled when a friend from my local writers group sent me a message on Facebook with photographs of the state newspaper and there, in two separate articles, is my name and the details about my book launch. It was an amazing feeling because for the last couple of weeks I’d been fretting about the press releases I’d created and wondering if I’d done them right.
When you get into publishing, it’s easy to forget all the aspects involved. Traditional publishing houses have a host of staff in multiple departments and when you’re self-publishing you’re effectively taking on most of those roles yourself. Yes, it’s important to commission aspects such as a cover artist and editor, but handling, distribution, and public relations are all things you tend to deal with yourself so it’s forces you to really think about the way you approach your work. You have to treat yourself and your creations in a business capacity and think strategically when you make decisions, and no matter how much you read about it and try to learn from the advice and experience of others, you’ll face your own challenges and have to learn how to shift and move to get around the difficulties you face along the way.
Who has inspired you as an author?
One of my earliest inspirations was Australian author, Traci Harding. I was a teenager when I read her Ancient Future trilogy and began to see how novels could be a gateway for giving people insights into the world that they might not be open to in other mediums. I realised fiction had a compelling capacity to alter the way people think about the world and themselves. The idea of reaching people in that way really appealed to me. But even before that I’d been passionate about writing.
I still remember the first poem I ever wrote. I was six at the time and even now the words of that poem still resonate with the person I am and the person I’m trying to be. I was first published at the age of twelve with another poem, which received an editor’s choice award, and that encouragement drove me on.
In more recent years, I've been inspired by other self-published writers having the courage to make their way in the world and by the amateur writers who have looked to me as that guiding beacon. When I became the municipal liaison for my NaNoWriMo region I realised that having a ‘real’ author in their ranks was hugely motivating to them and that pushed me to work harder than ever to bring this book to fruition.
What’s next for you?
Well, right now I’m powering through National Novel Writing Month myself and hope to have a solid first draft of Birth of the Sacred Motherwritten by the end of the month. Given that these books are closer to 100,000 words, it means working twice as hard as most during November, but I’m confident and am already more than 10,000 words on my way. I’m hoping to have Birth of the Sacred Mother out in the first few months of 2015 and will simultaneously release the subscriber-exclusive novella to my list at the same time.
Then I’ll be deviating from the Blood of the Nagaran series temporarily to begin a serial fiction following a teenage psychic medium whose ‘gift’ helps her solve crime and bring peace to grieving families. I began to discover the concept for this series during NaNoWriMo last year and am very excited to explore it further but I have no idea how evolved the serial will become at this stage.
I've also got at least a dozen other books waiting in the wings. Like I mentioned, I definitely want to visit dragons and artificial intelligence. I've got a secret surprise non-fiction book that I’m putting together with the children of a local primary school and my son keeps asking me to write some children’s stories. Not to mention the other Blood of the Nagaranbooks.
So I guess, next for me is trying to keep my fingers to the keys churning out all these stories. Speaking of which, that’s probably where I should be at this hour.
Thank you so very much for inviting me to share this with you and your readers, A.F. It’s been such a delight and I hope you've all enjoyed hearing me ramble on. I’m happy to answer any specific questions others may have so please leave a comment and if you’d like to be kept up to date with what I’m releasing and get exclusive access to the Blood of the Nagaran novella I mentioned you can subscribe on my website.
Author Bio:
In 1998, Rebecca began offering freelance writing, editing, and Web technology services. She published non-fiction articles in online magazines and then later in print. She worked for a number of clients from university students and school teachers, to CEOs and entrepreneurs. The business was moderately steady, but Rebecca found the work increasingly mundane and, in her words “soul-destroying”. She wanted to embrace her childhood dream of becoming a novelist. In 2010 she stopped accepting freelance commissions and focused on her three loves; family, community, and fiction.Now, Rebecca volunteers as a liaison for the writing industry in her community. As part of the Write Along The Highwaycommittee and OzNoWriMo Young Writer’s Program, Rebecca supports local writers and brings industry events and awareness into the local community. Somehow, she finds time around all that, as well as homeschooling her son and raising her teenage daughter, to work on her true writing passion. Her debut novel, The Flight of Torque, was published June, 2014.
Website: http://www.flightoftorque.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftingfictionTwitter: https://twitter.com/laffarsmith
Interview with Rebecca Laffar-Smith
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself?
Thank you, A.F. I still feel self-conscious when people ask me that. I guess I’ll start with the basics; I’m Rebecca Laffar-Smith, a science fiction and fantasy novelist. For twelve years I was a freelance writer, editor, and Web technician, but I gave that up in 2010 to focus on family, community, and fiction. Now I homeschool my son and raise my amazing writing-obsessed teenage daughter. I also volunteer as a liaison in the writing industry in Western Australia where I support local writers and bring industry events and awareness into the community. And somehow, among all that, find time to write fiction.
Can you tell us a bit about your debut novel, The Flight of the Torque?
The Flight of Torque I really connected with the concept of having to fight against an inner darkness that can control the way you think and feel. I have Bipolar disorder and have found fighting the depression and mania related to Bipolar is a lot like having a serpent within, so beneath the surface of a paranormal suspense, I feel like The Flight of Torque looks at mental health and our struggle to accept who we are and embrace that to find our own inner core of strength and power.
The Flight of the Torque is the first of a series. How do you see that series developing?
The world in which the Blood of the Nagaran series exists seems to have a range of stories to tell. I’m currently working on the first draft of book two, Birth of the Sacred Mother, where we step backward a generation to discover the truth about Tori's family and the origin of the Nagaran Cult. In book three, I’ll be returning to the characters of Tori and Lucas to continue on from where The Flight of Torque leaves off, and in book four I’ll be stepping to the side to explore Zara and Crey's stories more fully. I’m also working on a novella in the same world, which will be exclusively available to the fans that are subscribed to my list. I’m very passionate about the novella too, although it’s taking a lot of courage to write, because it delves into some very powerful and provoking themes.
Do you have a favourite character from The Flight of the Torque, and why (or why not)?
Actually, people are often surprised when I declare Carny as my favourite character from The Flight of Torque. He’s not someone you might suspect, and because he’s actually a ‘bad guy’ a lot of people probably don’t like him. He comes into the book almost as a bit of comic relief, an archetypal trickster, who is strangely ridiculous and flawed while at the same time being someone I could really resonate with. I appreciated how real he felt to me as I was writing.
His dialogue was very entertaining to write, because one of his specific quirks is that he always uses double negatives. It was fun to give myself permission to blatantly disregard what is normally a strict rule of grammar. He’s also such a lively and emotive person. He came through very clearly and I never had difficulty getting into his character. I do tend to have difficulty ‘feeling’ my characters sometimes so having one that was so richly real to me was a wonderful experience.
Why did you decide to write a paranormal novel? Are you a fan of the genre?
I wouldn't have said yes until very recently actually, but as I think about this question I glance over at my bookshelves and it’s kind of obvious that I must very much be a fan of the genre. A few months ago I just thought I liked science fiction and fantasy with no specific preference for a smaller subset of genre. I thought I was writing a fantasy novel.
Originally, The Flight of Torque was a story about the epic battle of a city to survive the devastating attacks of a dying breed of dragons who were enraged because the cultists were stealing dragon eggs for research into creating hybrid humans. The citizens used powerful sonic weapons to fend off attacks and roamed around in a post-apocalyptic city that they were desperately trying to restore. Strangely, none of that makes it into the final version of the book and I’m still frustrated at not having a chance to tell my dragon stories yet. Thankfully, I have other books already waiting in the wings, some about dragons, some about artificial intelligence, some about a teen psychic medium, so I’ll have the opportunity to delve more widely into the science fiction and fantasy genre.
But coming back to your original question, as I look at my bookshelf I do see a definite proclivity toward paranormal novels. The shelves are full of angels, vampires, witches, and gifted individuals. I've always had this kind of desire, I suppose, to bring the extraordinary into the world. I want my readers to believe, even if only for a time, in the sheer wonder and possibility of the world. The paranormal is definitely a way to embrace that kind of idea.
Do have any interesting facts or stories to tell about the book, or an anecdote about writing it?
There always seem to be a lot of anecdotes that gather around the writing process and The Flight of Torque is no exception. It is actually more difficult to choose just one to talk about in more depth. So I’ll choose two.
First, the writing of the book was much more difficult than I ever imagined. The book actually began in 2006 when I collaborated with a friend and we dreamed and imagined and outlined the version I mentioned earlier with the dragons and the post-apocalyptic city. Life got in the way and the project got put on the backburner for both of us but it kept calling to me and keeping me awake at nights so several months after we had more or less abandoned it, I got in touch with my friend and asked if he’d mind my continuing it solo. Of course he was thrilled with the idea that it would eventually be finished even if he was no longer part of the process. The trouble was, without a partner to help keep me on target and producing, I tended to approach the project sporadically and life kept getting in the way.
Over the six years between 2006 and 2012 I managed about 20,000 words and had completely transformed the original concept. I had a sense of where it was going but finding the time to sit and write just wasn't happening. Then in November 2012 I made the book my National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge. I knew the final book would need about 100,000 words so I felt no guilt at all aiming to write 50,000 words of the middle of it for NaNoWriMo rather than then as the rules stated at the time, ‘writing a 50,000 word book from start to finish’. That month I wrote 70,000 words thanks in big part to the wonderful community of writers that grew up around NaNoWriMo in my local area and the support and encouragement of my local library staff. And it was NaNoWriMo that drove me on to get it finished and published earlier this year so that it would be ready to share with my fellow NaNo writers this November.
Secondly, there is one aspect that always draws interest in self-publishing circles and that is the drama I had with the covers. Astute observers might discover that the book was originally published with a different cover. After I released the book with that cover I heard from some kind, but brutally honest, friends that they couldn't bring themselves to read what they believed must be a romance book. The cover had a very distinct “romance” sense about it at the time and it hadn't occurred to me that I’d typecast the book into a category that didn't fit the actual content. Romance lovers would be deeply disappointed at the raw hint of romance the book provided and my true audience; lovers of paranormal suspense and dark fantasy would run a mile. So, despite having already having distributed hundreds of copies and having paid for a small print run, I went back to basics and commissioned a new cover. That means there is now a limited first edition cover copy of the book. It was an interesting experience in the world of publishing and one of the mistakes I know I've learned a great deal from.
As a debut novelist, how have you found wading into the world of publishing?
It’s both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I often feel like I’m leaping without a net, but that’s the way I tend to approach life. Even as a freelancer I believed in learning through trial and error. With self-publishing, I threw myself into it and because it was something I was passionate about and dedicated to doing I loved every aspect of discovering the course along the way. I actually find the writing part of the job the most difficult. Once I've got the draft written I feel like I’m truly in my element. I love the editing and shaping process, and because of my experience in Web technologies I found formatting a natural extension of my interests. I already had a lot of foundation for successfully building my platform. I knew how to develop a website and had a strong brand on social media. So I was well positioned to dive into the world of publishing.
The trouble is, I've still got a lot more to learn about everything. Because I dove in, rather than wading, I've made lots of mistakes. They've been powerful learning tools, but they've also made the journey that much harder. Thankfully, I believe self-publishing is a long-tail game. Very few writers make it big with a first book and in self-publishing it is more important than ever to develop a strong catalogue of product and have everything you release further building your brand as a writer.
This week, I have my very first in-person book launch, which has been pretty scary. Part of what I've had to learn in the build up to that is about approaching media and building momentum behind an event. I was thrilled when a friend from my local writers group sent me a message on Facebook with photographs of the state newspaper and there, in two separate articles, is my name and the details about my book launch. It was an amazing feeling because for the last couple of weeks I’d been fretting about the press releases I’d created and wondering if I’d done them right.
When you get into publishing, it’s easy to forget all the aspects involved. Traditional publishing houses have a host of staff in multiple departments and when you’re self-publishing you’re effectively taking on most of those roles yourself. Yes, it’s important to commission aspects such as a cover artist and editor, but handling, distribution, and public relations are all things you tend to deal with yourself so it’s forces you to really think about the way you approach your work. You have to treat yourself and your creations in a business capacity and think strategically when you make decisions, and no matter how much you read about it and try to learn from the advice and experience of others, you’ll face your own challenges and have to learn how to shift and move to get around the difficulties you face along the way.
Who has inspired you as an author?
One of my earliest inspirations was Australian author, Traci Harding. I was a teenager when I read her Ancient Future trilogy and began to see how novels could be a gateway for giving people insights into the world that they might not be open to in other mediums. I realised fiction had a compelling capacity to alter the way people think about the world and themselves. The idea of reaching people in that way really appealed to me. But even before that I’d been passionate about writing.
I still remember the first poem I ever wrote. I was six at the time and even now the words of that poem still resonate with the person I am and the person I’m trying to be. I was first published at the age of twelve with another poem, which received an editor’s choice award, and that encouragement drove me on.
In more recent years, I've been inspired by other self-published writers having the courage to make their way in the world and by the amateur writers who have looked to me as that guiding beacon. When I became the municipal liaison for my NaNoWriMo region I realised that having a ‘real’ author in their ranks was hugely motivating to them and that pushed me to work harder than ever to bring this book to fruition.
What’s next for you?
Well, right now I’m powering through National Novel Writing Month myself and hope to have a solid first draft of Birth of the Sacred Motherwritten by the end of the month. Given that these books are closer to 100,000 words, it means working twice as hard as most during November, but I’m confident and am already more than 10,000 words on my way. I’m hoping to have Birth of the Sacred Mother out in the first few months of 2015 and will simultaneously release the subscriber-exclusive novella to my list at the same time.
Then I’ll be deviating from the Blood of the Nagaran series temporarily to begin a serial fiction following a teenage psychic medium whose ‘gift’ helps her solve crime and bring peace to grieving families. I began to discover the concept for this series during NaNoWriMo last year and am very excited to explore it further but I have no idea how evolved the serial will become at this stage.
I've also got at least a dozen other books waiting in the wings. Like I mentioned, I definitely want to visit dragons and artificial intelligence. I've got a secret surprise non-fiction book that I’m putting together with the children of a local primary school and my son keeps asking me to write some children’s stories. Not to mention the other Blood of the Nagaranbooks.
So I guess, next for me is trying to keep my fingers to the keys churning out all these stories. Speaking of which, that’s probably where I should be at this hour.
Thank you so very much for inviting me to share this with you and your readers, A.F. It’s been such a delight and I hope you've all enjoyed hearing me ramble on. I’m happy to answer any specific questions others may have so please leave a comment and if you’d like to be kept up to date with what I’m releasing and get exclusive access to the Blood of the Nagaran novella I mentioned you can subscribe on my website.
Author Bio:
In 1998, Rebecca began offering freelance writing, editing, and Web technology services. She published non-fiction articles in online magazines and then later in print. She worked for a number of clients from university students and school teachers, to CEOs and entrepreneurs. The business was moderately steady, but Rebecca found the work increasingly mundane and, in her words “soul-destroying”. She wanted to embrace her childhood dream of becoming a novelist. In 2010 she stopped accepting freelance commissions and focused on her three loves; family, community, and fiction.Now, Rebecca volunteers as a liaison for the writing industry in her community. As part of the Write Along The Highwaycommittee and OzNoWriMo Young Writer’s Program, Rebecca supports local writers and brings industry events and awareness into the local community. Somehow, she finds time around all that, as well as homeschooling her son and raising her teenage daughter, to work on her true writing passion. Her debut novel, The Flight of Torque, was published June, 2014.
Website: http://www.flightoftorque.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftingfictionTwitter: https://twitter.com/laffarsmith
November 1, 2014
Coffin Hop Winners and a Review of Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection
Today I linger a bit in the spirit of Halloween as I’ll be posting the winners of my Coffin Hop contest and reviewing the chapbook Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection by the wonderful poet Sean Theall.
First the review.
Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection
I first became acquainted with Sean’s poetry over on Facebook in a poetry group. He is a fellow poet of the dark arts, and recently I had the pleasure of reading one of his poetry books, Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection.
From the cover to the last word, Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection is infused with a Stygian splendour and wicked charm. The poetry didn't shy away from sinister, visceral imagery—yet avoided being repellent—and maintained an overall sense of delightful dread.
The author has a superb storytelling knack, weaving threads of shadows into a poetic tapestry of lustre. Each poem in the book tells a story, some macabre, some eerie, and a few even gruesome, but all imparted with words woven in a shadowy elegance and stylish spell. Two of my particular favourites were A Toast to Poe, a lovely tribute to the author and that famous grave visiting fan, and Angel’s Counsel, a quiet musing on the denizens of Heaven.
The book is bit like traversing through a mysterious cemetery of words, with shadowy surprises on each page. You can feel the Edgar Allen Poe influence in the poems—a very dark and deathly vibe—but there’s a certain raw beauty in the verse as well. Throw in a bit of serial killer, some bleak musings, and a touch of the paranormal for a well-seasoned mix of obsidian thrills and chills served in stanzas. Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection is a must read for all fans of dark poetry.
You find out more about Sean and his books at these sites:
http://edgarallanpoet.com/Sean_Theall.html
http://mainstpoet.tripod.com/books.html
Okay, now on to the announcement of Coffin Hop winners.
First Prize (consisting of a Legends and Lore paperback and the two Killers and Demons ebooks) goes to: bn100
Please note: There was a small delay in shipping out the paperback of Legends and Lore from the publisher and it is still in transit to me, so there will be a short wait before can I can autograph it and mail it to the winner. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Second Prize (consisting of the potion bottles and pouch) goes to: Johanna Pitcairn
Third prize (consisting of the ebook copy of Killers and Demons II) goes to: Andrew Drage
Congratulations to the winners. I'll be contacting you by email sometime today.
I'd like to thank everyone who entered, and all the lovely people that stopped by to visit during Coffin Hop. And thanks as well to the wonderful organizers of the Hop and the fantastic bloggers.
First the review.
Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection
I first became acquainted with Sean’s poetry over on Facebook in a poetry group. He is a fellow poet of the dark arts, and recently I had the pleasure of reading one of his poetry books, Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection. From the cover to the last word, Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection is infused with a Stygian splendour and wicked charm. The poetry didn't shy away from sinister, visceral imagery—yet avoided being repellent—and maintained an overall sense of delightful dread.
The author has a superb storytelling knack, weaving threads of shadows into a poetic tapestry of lustre. Each poem in the book tells a story, some macabre, some eerie, and a few even gruesome, but all imparted with words woven in a shadowy elegance and stylish spell. Two of my particular favourites were A Toast to Poe, a lovely tribute to the author and that famous grave visiting fan, and Angel’s Counsel, a quiet musing on the denizens of Heaven.
The book is bit like traversing through a mysterious cemetery of words, with shadowy surprises on each page. You can feel the Edgar Allen Poe influence in the poems—a very dark and deathly vibe—but there’s a certain raw beauty in the verse as well. Throw in a bit of serial killer, some bleak musings, and a touch of the paranormal for a well-seasoned mix of obsidian thrills and chills served in stanzas. Gothic Verses: The Halloween Collection is a must read for all fans of dark poetry.
You find out more about Sean and his books at these sites:
http://edgarallanpoet.com/Sean_Theall.html
http://mainstpoet.tripod.com/books.html
Okay, now on to the announcement of Coffin Hop winners.
First Prize (consisting of a Legends and Lore paperback and the two Killers and Demons ebooks) goes to: bn100
Please note: There was a small delay in shipping out the paperback of Legends and Lore from the publisher and it is still in transit to me, so there will be a short wait before can I can autograph it and mail it to the winner. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Second Prize (consisting of the potion bottles and pouch) goes to: Johanna Pitcairn
Third prize (consisting of the ebook copy of Killers and Demons II) goes to: Andrew Drage
Congratulations to the winners. I'll be contacting you by email sometime today.
I'd like to thank everyone who entered, and all the lovely people that stopped by to visit during Coffin Hop. And thanks as well to the wonderful organizers of the Hop and the fantastic bloggers.
October 31, 2014
#CoffinHop Day 8: Ravens for Halloween
It’s Halloween my ghastly ghouls! And today I conjuring some grave magic with a creepy story, and a bit of Poe in the form of a video I made. I hope you enjoy this last offering, and...
Happy Halloween !
Ravens
A raven flutters from the burnished sky to settle atop her gravestone; an avian silhouette against the twilight. The creature stares at me with yellow eyes and caws, its squawk a guttural noise, harsh against my ears. It hops once, and flaps its wings, before it flies away.“No.” The gasp escapes my lips. I recognize the creature. A spy for the Cabal.A shiver of dread shakes through my bones. I kneel beside the grave marker, and place my trembling hand on the earth that conceals so much more than a mere body.“They have found us, Mistress, sooner than I hoped.”The thought of how flits through my mind. A misstep on my part, or perhaps they simply grew smarter over the years? It matters little, though, the reason. This struggle will soon end, most likely with my demise. But I don’t fear death, no, we are old companions. I fear failure, however. If I die before resurrection , they will control her forever.I must not let that happen.I must finish the ritual before the Cabal soldiers arrive.The wind ruffles my hair, as a mother might a child, and I take reassurance. My efforts will not be in vain.“No, Mistress, I have not searched for one hundred years, evaded the Cabal, protected our secrets and your burial site to fall short now. You will be set free from your prison, that wretched corpse where they trapped you.”I glance at the sky. The sun paints the clouds a deep crimson, and dusk lengthens the shadows in the graveyard. I smile. That tonight, All Hallows Eve, will be the time of her resurrection seems appropriate. People used to believe the ghosts of the dead roamed on this night. I can only hope they will do so once more.I pull the bag I brought with me closer, and open it, removing the necessary ingredients. I arrange them carefully—three glass jars, a black feather, and a pouch—and begin the spell.I burrow a small hole in the loose earth, the dirt cold under my finger tips, the pungent smell of decay and filth scenting the air. Dusting off my fingers, I pick up one of the jars and pour the contents—dried twigs from an oak tree—into the hole I dug. Rummaging in my pocket, I remove my lighter and pick up the second jar. Then I set the twigs aflame as I recite the words embedded into my memory.“Awakened in Fire.”I open the next jar and spill out the hallowed earth of a thousand graveyards to bury the flames. Smoke plumes from the dying embers “Strengthened in Earth.”I lift the feather and drop it through the dissipating smoke, over the now filled hole. It drifts slowly to the ground.“Air to give you wings.”I raise the last jar and douse the feather in a cascade of liquid.“And Water to set you free.”I feel the ground shudder and the air splinter with a frisson of electricity.It’s working.I snatch at the pouch, spilling its contents into my palm. The pieces of bone feel glacial against my skin, their inscribed runes shimmering a faint red. Carefully, I place the bones on the grave in the correct pattern, the symbol that will summon her back, and then survey my work.I let out a sigh. “It is ready, Mistress.”Only one more thing to accomplish, and I reach into—My hand never finishes its task. I feel the bullet rip through my abdomen before my mind even realizes it heard a shot. I pitch forward, but quickly halt my fall by seizing the edge of the gravestone. I laugh, though I hear running footsteps, shouts and caws behind me, for my blood drips into the earth, and onto the bones. They are too late.I roll away from the grave as tremors crack the ground and dirt spews upward. The stone marker splits and an intense, crimson light erupts, illuminating the sky. I shield my eyes against the glare, but I cannot block out the screams.When I once again venture to look, I see her. She crouches on the ground, her black wings unfurling, and around her lay the bodies of Cabal soldiers, their own ravens scavenging among the dead.I rest my head upon the ground and gaze at her daunting presence. “Welcome back, Mistress.”She twists her head, staring at me with her fierce, obsidian eyes. In a voice both forbidding and soothing she speaks, “Thank you. For releasing me, and for your sacrifice.”I nod, emotion robbing me of a reply, and see her rise toward the clouds, soaring high above the sanctified graveyard, her obsidian wings of bone and skin stretching wide, trailing smoke and aether. I smile as I watch her fly away, the ravens following, a magnificent black shadow against the sunset, and I wave farewell.“Goodbye, my mistress.” My whisper catches the autumn breeze and chases her into the sky. I lower my hand, weakening from the pain and injury.My breath slows, and my blood seeps into the dark loamy earth, but I do not care. My fading life does not matter, in fact I welcome its end. My demise means I succeeded. She is reborn, and this unnatural, immortal world will know the touch of Death again.
Now here's a bit of a salute to Poe...
Be sure to check out the rest of the Coffin Hoppers on this last day at http://coffinhop.com/
And if you haven’t yet, please enter my contest before it disappears.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Happy Halloween !
Ravens
A raven flutters from the burnished sky to settle atop her gravestone; an avian silhouette against the twilight. The creature stares at me with yellow eyes and caws, its squawk a guttural noise, harsh against my ears. It hops once, and flaps its wings, before it flies away.“No.” The gasp escapes my lips. I recognize the creature. A spy for the Cabal.A shiver of dread shakes through my bones. I kneel beside the grave marker, and place my trembling hand on the earth that conceals so much more than a mere body.“They have found us, Mistress, sooner than I hoped.”The thought of how flits through my mind. A misstep on my part, or perhaps they simply grew smarter over the years? It matters little, though, the reason. This struggle will soon end, most likely with my demise. But I don’t fear death, no, we are old companions. I fear failure, however. If I die before resurrection , they will control her forever.I must not let that happen.I must finish the ritual before the Cabal soldiers arrive.The wind ruffles my hair, as a mother might a child, and I take reassurance. My efforts will not be in vain.“No, Mistress, I have not searched for one hundred years, evaded the Cabal, protected our secrets and your burial site to fall short now. You will be set free from your prison, that wretched corpse where they trapped you.”I glance at the sky. The sun paints the clouds a deep crimson, and dusk lengthens the shadows in the graveyard. I smile. That tonight, All Hallows Eve, will be the time of her resurrection seems appropriate. People used to believe the ghosts of the dead roamed on this night. I can only hope they will do so once more.I pull the bag I brought with me closer, and open it, removing the necessary ingredients. I arrange them carefully—three glass jars, a black feather, and a pouch—and begin the spell.I burrow a small hole in the loose earth, the dirt cold under my finger tips, the pungent smell of decay and filth scenting the air. Dusting off my fingers, I pick up one of the jars and pour the contents—dried twigs from an oak tree—into the hole I dug. Rummaging in my pocket, I remove my lighter and pick up the second jar. Then I set the twigs aflame as I recite the words embedded into my memory.“Awakened in Fire.”I open the next jar and spill out the hallowed earth of a thousand graveyards to bury the flames. Smoke plumes from the dying embers “Strengthened in Earth.”I lift the feather and drop it through the dissipating smoke, over the now filled hole. It drifts slowly to the ground.“Air to give you wings.”I raise the last jar and douse the feather in a cascade of liquid.“And Water to set you free.”I feel the ground shudder and the air splinter with a frisson of electricity.It’s working.I snatch at the pouch, spilling its contents into my palm. The pieces of bone feel glacial against my skin, their inscribed runes shimmering a faint red. Carefully, I place the bones on the grave in the correct pattern, the symbol that will summon her back, and then survey my work.I let out a sigh. “It is ready, Mistress.”Only one more thing to accomplish, and I reach into—My hand never finishes its task. I feel the bullet rip through my abdomen before my mind even realizes it heard a shot. I pitch forward, but quickly halt my fall by seizing the edge of the gravestone. I laugh, though I hear running footsteps, shouts and caws behind me, for my blood drips into the earth, and onto the bones. They are too late.I roll away from the grave as tremors crack the ground and dirt spews upward. The stone marker splits and an intense, crimson light erupts, illuminating the sky. I shield my eyes against the glare, but I cannot block out the screams.When I once again venture to look, I see her. She crouches on the ground, her black wings unfurling, and around her lay the bodies of Cabal soldiers, their own ravens scavenging among the dead.I rest my head upon the ground and gaze at her daunting presence. “Welcome back, Mistress.”She twists her head, staring at me with her fierce, obsidian eyes. In a voice both forbidding and soothing she speaks, “Thank you. For releasing me, and for your sacrifice.”I nod, emotion robbing me of a reply, and see her rise toward the clouds, soaring high above the sanctified graveyard, her obsidian wings of bone and skin stretching wide, trailing smoke and aether. I smile as I watch her fly away, the ravens following, a magnificent black shadow against the sunset, and I wave farewell.“Goodbye, my mistress.” My whisper catches the autumn breeze and chases her into the sky. I lower my hand, weakening from the pain and injury.My breath slows, and my blood seeps into the dark loamy earth, but I do not care. My fading life does not matter, in fact I welcome its end. My demise means I succeeded. She is reborn, and this unnatural, immortal world will know the touch of Death again.
Now here's a bit of a salute to Poe...
Be sure to check out the rest of the Coffin Hoppers on this last day at http://coffinhop.com/
And if you haven’t yet, please enter my contest before it disappears.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 30, 2014
#CoffinHop Day 7: An Interview with Balthazar
A strange indulgence today Coffin Hoppers, as this odd transcript of an interview came into my possession, and I felt I had to share…
“Welcome everyone, to another Fireside Chat. I’m Richard Dale, your host. Today, the demon Balthazar (from the Killers and Demons series) has stopped by and kindly consented to talk with—”
“I have not consentedto anything. I was ordered here by… never you mind who. I rather be anywhere else. Even watching one of those insufferable reality TV shows would be preferable to this torture.”
Unnerved, Mr. Dale fidgets. “Very well, then. I’ll try to make this as quick as possible—”
“Please do.”
Richard Dale frowns, but continues. “First, tell our audience a bit about yourself.”
“Why would I do that?”
“If you don’t answer, it will just prolong this interview.”
Balthazar sighs. “Oh, very well. If I must participate in this inane ritual, I must. I’m a demon, and a bounty hunter for Hell. I track down escaped souls and send the worthless wretches back where they belong. Satisfied?”
With a smirk, he replies, “Very. Now do you have any hobbies?”
“Killing, maiming, disembowelment, incinerating humans with Hellfire.”
A rather frightened look passes over Mr Dale’s face. “Um, very cheery pastimes. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?”
“Interviews.”
He swallows, turning slightly pale. “Which living person do you most despise?”
“Must I pick just one? I quite despise your whole race.”
Mr Dale weakly laughs. “Well, you must be fun at parties. Next question: What do you consider the most overrated virtue?”
“Mercy.”
“Of course.” Richard Dale loosens his tie, smiles briefly and continues. “What is your idea of perfect happiness”?
“What kind of a question is that? Happiness is for weak humans… ” Balthazar pauses, and an unsettling smile crosses his lips. “Although, I rather miss my days as a pirate, during the early 18th century. Such good times back then. The smell of salty sea air mixed with blood, the cannon fire, the killing, and generally wreaking of havoc. Yes, such good times.”
Mr Dale pushes his chair backwards, away from his guest. “What is it that you most dislike?”
“Humans.”
A tiny gasp escapes Richard Dale’s lips, and his hands tighten around the arms of the chair where he is seated. “What one word best describes you?”
Balthazar snorts. “Where do you come up with this drivel? Who goes around describing themselves? But to answer the question, I’d use the word ruthless.” He smiles again.
Trembling, Mr Dale squeaks out a final query. “Last question. What is your first memory?
“Wonderful, it’s over.” Balthazar reaches down and pick up his hat. “My first memory is snapping the neck of a lesser demon and eating its bones. I was two years old by demon standards and my father was so proud. May I leave now?”
“Yes please do. I think I need a drink, anyway.”
“I recommend the whiskey. I had some before you arrived. Goodbye. I hope we never meet again.” In a cloud of smoke and the stench of brimstone Balthazar disappeared.
Richard Dale fainted.
I hope you enjoyed this adventure, and don’t forget to keep hopping for more fun. You can find the list of participants at http://coffinhop.com/
And here’s my contest.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
“Welcome everyone, to another Fireside Chat. I’m Richard Dale, your host. Today, the demon Balthazar (from the Killers and Demons series) has stopped by and kindly consented to talk with—”
“I have not consentedto anything. I was ordered here by… never you mind who. I rather be anywhere else. Even watching one of those insufferable reality TV shows would be preferable to this torture.”
Unnerved, Mr. Dale fidgets. “Very well, then. I’ll try to make this as quick as possible—”
“Please do.”
Richard Dale frowns, but continues. “First, tell our audience a bit about yourself.”
“Why would I do that?”
“If you don’t answer, it will just prolong this interview.”
Balthazar sighs. “Oh, very well. If I must participate in this inane ritual, I must. I’m a demon, and a bounty hunter for Hell. I track down escaped souls and send the worthless wretches back where they belong. Satisfied?”
With a smirk, he replies, “Very. Now do you have any hobbies?”
“Killing, maiming, disembowelment, incinerating humans with Hellfire.”
A rather frightened look passes over Mr Dale’s face. “Um, very cheery pastimes. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?”
“Interviews.”
He swallows, turning slightly pale. “Which living person do you most despise?”
“Must I pick just one? I quite despise your whole race.”
Mr Dale weakly laughs. “Well, you must be fun at parties. Next question: What do you consider the most overrated virtue?”
“Mercy.”
“Of course.” Richard Dale loosens his tie, smiles briefly and continues. “What is your idea of perfect happiness”?
“What kind of a question is that? Happiness is for weak humans… ” Balthazar pauses, and an unsettling smile crosses his lips. “Although, I rather miss my days as a pirate, during the early 18th century. Such good times back then. The smell of salty sea air mixed with blood, the cannon fire, the killing, and generally wreaking of havoc. Yes, such good times.”
Mr Dale pushes his chair backwards, away from his guest. “What is it that you most dislike?”
“Humans.”
A tiny gasp escapes Richard Dale’s lips, and his hands tighten around the arms of the chair where he is seated. “What one word best describes you?”
Balthazar snorts. “Where do you come up with this drivel? Who goes around describing themselves? But to answer the question, I’d use the word ruthless.” He smiles again.
Trembling, Mr Dale squeaks out a final query. “Last question. What is your first memory?
“Wonderful, it’s over.” Balthazar reaches down and pick up his hat. “My first memory is snapping the neck of a lesser demon and eating its bones. I was two years old by demon standards and my father was so proud. May I leave now?”
“Yes please do. I think I need a drink, anyway.”
“I recommend the whiskey. I had some before you arrived. Goodbye. I hope we never meet again.” In a cloud of smoke and the stench of brimstone Balthazar disappeared.
Richard Dale fainted.
I hope you enjoyed this adventure, and don’t forget to keep hopping for more fun. You can find the list of participants at http://coffinhop.com/
And here’s my contest.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
