A.F. Stewart's Blog, page 96
May 17, 2013
Stranger at the Hell Gate
Today's post is a feature for the book, Stranger at the Hell Gate, an urban fantasy from the talented author Ash Krafton.
Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor
Stranger at the Hell Gate by Ash Krafton
Jagger Sintallon, a half-demon warrior, has dedicated his existence to fighting demons who enter the world through Hell gates. A loner of conflicting ideals, he offers shelter to a troubled woman but knows he is too rough, too dangerous, and too cocky for her delicate nature.
Dedicated to Divine Will, Sonya Camael, a Seraph, is determined to discover why she is drawn to Jagger's doorstep and the reason behind her mission. She needs the demon's help but fears he may get himself killed before she can figure it out and the world slips into Hell's dominion.
Sonya faces grave danger with evil stalking her every move, and Jagger shouldn't care but realizes he cares more than he'd likely admit. Sonya knows Jagger cannot win this war alone, but will her divine intervention mean his imminent end? Or will just the right combination of Heaven and Hell set the world right once again?
Short Excerpt:
Jagger hung his head, looking very much out of patience. With an exasperated huff, he turned in place, his boots clomping. Cocky stance, head back, and eyes daring her to say something. But these things she only partially registered because when he turned to face her, his entire upper body—chest, face, arms—glowed with the marks of past insult and injury. And that sickle shape burned into the skin over his heart—
She whimpered, heart-sick to see him in this way. Her mother's blood cried out at the thought of what agony he must have endured to stand here now, so marred and wounded. Covering her eyes, she dispelled the Seraph sight and fought the tears.
"Hey." He was in front of her within moments, pulling her hands down and leaning to peer at her downturned face. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"You. You've been through so much. Just look at you."
"I'd rather not. I'm not a pretty guy."
"Jagger. These scars. You have countless hurts. I can't see a part of you that isn't injured." She raised her eyes, tears brimming on her lower lashes. "Let me help you."
"What, you're a plastic surgeon?"
She swallowed and regained part of her composure. "Better."
He looked alarmed and rocked back on his heels. "You don't mean—"
"Yes, I do." She held onto his hands and kept him from backing away. This felt right, this decision.
His eyes shifted. "Ah, I don't think it's a good idea, doll. Our kinds don't mix well."
Available from: Amazon
About the Author:
Ash Krafton writes from the heart…of the Pennsylvania coal region, that is.
She is the author of the Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press).
BLEEDING HEARTS (Demimonde #1) is a six-time RWA finalist and was voted "Reviewer Top Pick" by Gravetells.com. Ash continues the story of Sophie and her Demivampires in her latest release BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2). She's hard at work (when she isn't watching Doctor Who) writing the third book, WOLF'S BANE.
Ash Krafton's poetry and short fiction has appeared in several journals, including Niteblade, Bete Noire, Abandoned Towers, and Silver Blade. She's a member of Pennwriters, RWA, and Maryland Writers Association. She lurks near her blog and contributes to the QueryTracker blog.
Ash lives with her family and their German Shepherd dog deep in the Pennsylvania wilds, awaiting the day the TARDIS appears in the driveway (the dog most likely keeps the Doctor away. What a beast.)
Until then, she writes.
Find Ash at:
The Demimonde blog
Goodreads
May 15, 2013
Evoking A Fantasy World: A Guest Post by Rahima Warren
Today a guest, author Rahima Warren, drops by as part of her blog tour for her new book, Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy. She discusses the art of creating a world of fantasy, introduces us to her book and shares a great giveaway at the end of the post. So read on, and enjoy...
Evoking a Fantasy World
When reading a fantasy set in a
different (non-historical) world or time, I find it jarring if the characters’
names are old familiar ones from our everyday reality. Why would people in a
strange time/place have names like Steven or Julia? Also, why would they use
the same words to refer to time or distance that we do? Convenient for the
writer perhaps, but too familiar for me as a reader.
TIME AND DISTANCE:
In my fantasy trilogy, The Star-Seer’s Prophecy, I tried to
evoke a different world in subtle ways. For example, I avoid using our familiar
measures of time. Instead of “minute,” I use “moment.” Instead of “week,” I use
“quarter-moon.” Many cultures measure time by that clock in the sky, the Moon.
For distance, I just referred to how many days a trip took. And I had fun making up names and words to help evoke a different world. I used two methods for creating these
new words: listening/intuition, and research.
LISTENING:
For most of my characters’ name, I
start by ‘listening’ for a name, using my intuition. Sometimes, that’s it. I
get it on the first try, like Zhovanya as the name of the Goddess in my
trilogy. For others, I play around with the sound of the name until it fits the
character. And for some, the name evolves as I get to know the character better.
For example, originally Kyr’s name was Arik (which I believe relates to an old
Nordic word for eagle). Somehow, I didn’t like the hard ‘k’ as the last sound
of his name, so I changed it to Kyr (“keer” like “peer”), which to me sounds
like the high, lonely cry of a hawk or eagle, and suits his character.
Over time, I noticed that there was a
pattern in the way I was naming men vs. women, and changed a few names to fit
that pattern, though there are some exceptions. You might check out the Cast of
Characters (in Book Extras- http://www.starseersprophecy.com/book-extras/) on my
website, and see if you can detect the pattern. I also ‘listened’ for the
magical commands used by the Warrior-Mage, Rajani; for the names of magical
potions; and for the sacred chants. (See the Glossary in Book Extras
http://www.starseersprophecy.com/glossary/.)
RESEARCH:
In the case of the evil sorcerer-king
called the Soul-Drinker, I found his name through researching the roots of
words in the Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto. The Soul-Drinker’s
name is Dauthaz, which comes from the Old English and Germanic roots of the word ‘death.’
This is also how I created the name of the land where the story takes place, and the terms used at the Sanctuary.
The land is named Khailaz, which is a
prehistoric Germanic word, ancestor of our word, ‘whole.’ Adding the suffix –itha to khailaz produced khailitha,
the root of our words, ‘health’ and ‘heal.’
From this, I made up the words kailitha (divine healing energy); Kailithana (a priestess-healer); Kailithara (healing work of the Kailithana); Kailithos (one who is undergoing the Kailithara); and Kailithama (sacred chamber in which the
Kailithana works with the Kailithos).
I don’t recall exactly how I tracked
down the roots from which I constructed Aithané
(Listener, Confessor), Phanaithos
(Speaker, Divulger), or Phanaithara
(Divulgence, Confession). I believe they come from Greek roots meaning to
listen, and to speak.
A few other words, I just made up.
For example, I derived zhan (life force
energy) from Zhovanya.
Now, admittedly, I am not Tolkien,
creating whole languages, and races of fantastic creatures. My focus is more on
the inner world and healing ordeal of my hero, Kyr, than on detailed world
making. However, I did do my best to evoke a different place/time by creating
new words and names, and avoiding overly familiar names and terms.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
As a reader, which do you prefer:
familiar names and terms; or new and different ones?
As a writer, what is your approach to
evoking a different world?
Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy by Rahima Warren
The “twin-souled dark innocent,” Kyr, is a youth born and raised to blindly carry out the
Soul-Drinker’s brutal commands. At first, Kyr’s one desire is death, the only
escape from the Soul-Drinker’s hellish rule. Just when he is about to get his
wish, the secret Circle rescues him. Now he has to choose between the familiar
easy path of despair and death, or the hard path of healing, living, and a
greater destiny, about which he knows nothing. How can a slave who has known
only evil, pain and obedience choose to become a man of courage and compassion,
and fulfill the Star Seer's Prophecy?
Rahima Warren’s Bio:
Rahima Warren is the author of Dark Innocence: Book One of the
Star-Seer's Prophecy, a deep, rich novel of the healing journey.
With Master's degrees in Clinical and Transpersonal Psychology, she
was in private practice as a licensed psychotherapist for over 20 years. In
2006, Rahima retired to focus on her expressive painting, creative writing, and
spiritual studies.
In her work with clients recovering from abuse, she was awed by the human capacity
to heal, and to reach new levels of forgiveness, wholeness and happiness. She
also learned to trust the psyche's own process. This enabled her to allow a
dark and mysterious story to flood forth unhindered: Dark Innocence: Book
One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy.
Rahima is a third-generation native of California and resides with her husband in
Northern California, where she periodically chases squirrels off the wild bird
feeders, and deer away from her roses. Her life-long love of fantasy is her
parents' fault: they left sci-fi & fantasy magazines with fascinating cover
art lying around the house.
Links:
Rahima Warren’s website: http://bit.ly/YDWLdo
Read an excerpt of Dark Innocence: http://bit.ly/11AqQ0o
Rahima Warren on Twitter: http://bit.ly/12dIIxc
Rahima’s Facebook Fan Page: http://on.fb.me/XZu15l
Rahima Warren on Pinterest: http://bit.ly/WBau8l
Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/11eiksn
Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy on Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/WTiwvA
Giveaway Info
Rahima is
giving away prizes, including an e-copy of her book at each blog stop on her
tour AND a Grand Prize Giveaway of a Custom Jumbo Tote Bag with your choice of fan art,
chosen from here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/fan-art/,
plus other goodies, including a signed copy of Dark Innocence for one lucky winner, shipped to anywhere in the
world!
1)
To
win a book: Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win
a book. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments so we can contact
you if you’re the lucky winner. This giveaway ends five days after the post
goes live.
2) To win the Custom Jumbo Tote Bag with Rahima’s fan art
of your choice, or a signed copy of Dark
Innocence, or other goodies, click the link to go
to Rahima’s website here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/blog-tour/ and enter
the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the page. A winner will be selected on June
21st.
Enter
for the Grand Prize on Rahima’s website here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/blog-tour/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Evoking a Fantasy World
When reading a fantasy set in a
different (non-historical) world or time, I find it jarring if the characters’
names are old familiar ones from our everyday reality. Why would people in a
strange time/place have names like Steven or Julia? Also, why would they use
the same words to refer to time or distance that we do? Convenient for the
writer perhaps, but too familiar for me as a reader.
TIME AND DISTANCE:
In my fantasy trilogy, The Star-Seer’s Prophecy, I tried to
evoke a different world in subtle ways. For example, I avoid using our familiar
measures of time. Instead of “minute,” I use “moment.” Instead of “week,” I use
“quarter-moon.” Many cultures measure time by that clock in the sky, the Moon.
For distance, I just referred to how many days a trip took. And I had fun making up names and words to help evoke a different world. I used two methods for creating these
new words: listening/intuition, and research.
LISTENING:
For most of my characters’ name, I
start by ‘listening’ for a name, using my intuition. Sometimes, that’s it. I
get it on the first try, like Zhovanya as the name of the Goddess in my
trilogy. For others, I play around with the sound of the name until it fits the
character. And for some, the name evolves as I get to know the character better.
For example, originally Kyr’s name was Arik (which I believe relates to an old
Nordic word for eagle). Somehow, I didn’t like the hard ‘k’ as the last sound
of his name, so I changed it to Kyr (“keer” like “peer”), which to me sounds
like the high, lonely cry of a hawk or eagle, and suits his character.
Over time, I noticed that there was a
pattern in the way I was naming men vs. women, and changed a few names to fit
that pattern, though there are some exceptions. You might check out the Cast of
Characters (in Book Extras- http://www.starseersprophecy.com/book-extras/) on my
website, and see if you can detect the pattern. I also ‘listened’ for the
magical commands used by the Warrior-Mage, Rajani; for the names of magical
potions; and for the sacred chants. (See the Glossary in Book Extras
http://www.starseersprophecy.com/glossary/.)
RESEARCH:
In the case of the evil sorcerer-king
called the Soul-Drinker, I found his name through researching the roots of
words in the Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto. The Soul-Drinker’s
name is Dauthaz, which comes from the Old English and Germanic roots of the word ‘death.’
This is also how I created the name of the land where the story takes place, and the terms used at the Sanctuary.
The land is named Khailaz, which is a
prehistoric Germanic word, ancestor of our word, ‘whole.’ Adding the suffix –itha to khailaz produced khailitha,
the root of our words, ‘health’ and ‘heal.’
From this, I made up the words kailitha (divine healing energy); Kailithana (a priestess-healer); Kailithara (healing work of the Kailithana); Kailithos (one who is undergoing the Kailithara); and Kailithama (sacred chamber in which the
Kailithana works with the Kailithos).
I don’t recall exactly how I tracked
down the roots from which I constructed Aithané
(Listener, Confessor), Phanaithos
(Speaker, Divulger), or Phanaithara
(Divulgence, Confession). I believe they come from Greek roots meaning to
listen, and to speak.
A few other words, I just made up.
For example, I derived zhan (life force
energy) from Zhovanya.
Now, admittedly, I am not Tolkien,
creating whole languages, and races of fantastic creatures. My focus is more on
the inner world and healing ordeal of my hero, Kyr, than on detailed world
making. However, I did do my best to evoke a different place/time by creating
new words and names, and avoiding overly familiar names and terms.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
As a reader, which do you prefer:
familiar names and terms; or new and different ones?
As a writer, what is your approach to
evoking a different world?
Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy by Rahima Warren
The “twin-souled dark innocent,” Kyr, is a youth born and raised to blindly carry out the
Soul-Drinker’s brutal commands. At first, Kyr’s one desire is death, the only
escape from the Soul-Drinker’s hellish rule. Just when he is about to get his
wish, the secret Circle rescues him. Now he has to choose between the familiar
easy path of despair and death, or the hard path of healing, living, and a
greater destiny, about which he knows nothing. How can a slave who has known
only evil, pain and obedience choose to become a man of courage and compassion,
and fulfill the Star Seer's Prophecy?
Rahima Warren’s Bio:
Rahima Warren is the author of Dark Innocence: Book One of the
Star-Seer's Prophecy, a deep, rich novel of the healing journey.
With Master's degrees in Clinical and Transpersonal Psychology, she
was in private practice as a licensed psychotherapist for over 20 years. In
2006, Rahima retired to focus on her expressive painting, creative writing, and
spiritual studies.
In her work with clients recovering from abuse, she was awed by the human capacity
to heal, and to reach new levels of forgiveness, wholeness and happiness. She
also learned to trust the psyche's own process. This enabled her to allow a
dark and mysterious story to flood forth unhindered: Dark Innocence: Book
One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy.
Rahima is a third-generation native of California and resides with her husband in
Northern California, where she periodically chases squirrels off the wild bird
feeders, and deer away from her roses. Her life-long love of fantasy is her
parents' fault: they left sci-fi & fantasy magazines with fascinating cover
art lying around the house.
Links:
Rahima Warren’s website: http://bit.ly/YDWLdo
Read an excerpt of Dark Innocence: http://bit.ly/11AqQ0o
Rahima Warren on Twitter: http://bit.ly/12dIIxc
Rahima’s Facebook Fan Page: http://on.fb.me/XZu15l
Rahima Warren on Pinterest: http://bit.ly/WBau8l
Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/11eiksn
Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy on Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/WTiwvA
Giveaway Info
Rahima is
giving away prizes, including an e-copy of her book at each blog stop on her
tour AND a Grand Prize Giveaway of a Custom Jumbo Tote Bag with your choice of fan art,
chosen from here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/fan-art/,
plus other goodies, including a signed copy of Dark Innocence for one lucky winner, shipped to anywhere in the
world!
1)
To
win a book: Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win
a book. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments so we can contact
you if you’re the lucky winner. This giveaway ends five days after the post
goes live.
2) To win the Custom Jumbo Tote Bag with Rahima’s fan art
of your choice, or a signed copy of Dark
Innocence, or other goodies, click the link to go
to Rahima’s website here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/blog-tour/ and enter
the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the page. A winner will be selected on June
21st.
Enter
for the Grand Prize on Rahima’s website here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/blog-tour/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 14, 2013
Come Join Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective
Today author Christine Amsden releases her new novel, Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective and you dear readers are getting a treat. For the author has stopped by to share with us a delightful extra, a mini-story, featuring the main character from the book. So read on...
Cassie Scot:
ParaNormal Detective
Cassie Scot is the
ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to
neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a
living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation
isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by
a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly
belongs.
This story expands on a brief mention from the book's first chapter. Enjoy.
Cassie
Scot: Normal Detective
Last
night, I was just about to close up and go home for the day when an old woman
walked into my office with a cat carrier. Inside the carrier, a black cat
hissed and yowled. I suppose I would have felt that way too, if someone had
locked me inside a little cage. I felt instant sympathy for the cat. Not so
much for the old lady.
“Cassandra
Scot?” she asked.
“Cassie,”
I corrected automatically. Only my parents called me Cassandra.
“I
knew your grandparents.”
I
tried not to groan. My grandparents had been highly respected sorcerers until
they died in a lab explosion a few years back. I never knew what they had been
working on, but since that day there has been a swirling vortex in the lab.
Don't
ask – I really have no idea.
“Have
we met?” I asked.
“Miranda
Cleaver. Mrs. Cleaver.”
“Nice
to meet you, Mrs. Cleaver.”
If
she heard my sarcastic emphasis on the honorific, she didn't mention it.
“Your
grandparents used to set wards in my house to keep the demons out,” Mrs.
Cleaver said. “Since they've died, the wards have failed. There are now demons
running amuck in my house, and Sylvie – my poor cat – has been possessed by the
devil.”
“I...
see.” What was I supposed to say? She had just walked past a sign proclaiming,
“Cassie Scot: Normal Detective.”
“I
read your web site,” Mrs. Cleaver said.
“Really?
Did you see my list of services and exemptions?”
“Of
course.”
“So
what do you need?”
“An
exorcism. I told you, Sylvie is possessed by the devil.”
I
glanced again at the hissing cat, whose yellow eyes shone with very typical
feline anger. “I don't do exorcisms. It was listed under exemptions.”
“But
you're Cassandra Scot, aren't you?”
“Cassie.”
“Your
parents are Edward and Sheila Scot?”
“Yes.”
I felt my face burning. Just because I had powerful sorcerers for parents,
didn't mean I was one as well. Okay, so it wasn't just my parents – it was my
grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins, brothers, and sisters. Still, there had to
be a second cousin out there somewhere without any magic at all.
Why
couldn't people just read the sign?
“Well,
then.” She sounded as if the whole matter were settled. She plunked the carrier
on my desk and took a vacant chair in front. “I went to your father first. Your
grandparents always told me to go to him if I needed anything after they were
gone. Your father said you were ideally suited for this sort of work.”
“He
did?” My dad wasn't above a practical joke, but this sounded more like
something my brother would do. My brother, who looked more like Dad's twin than
his son, thanks to Dad's egregious use of youthening potions.
“Nicolas,”
I muttered under my breath. “This is war.”
“What's
that, dear?”
“Why
don't I take a quick look at the cat?”
“Of
course, dear.” Mrs. Cleaver clearly had not expected any other result.
I
opened the door to the cage, but carefully did not reach my hand inside. The
cat stopped hissing. After a moment or two, it poked its nose outside the cage,
sniffing the air. Then it stepped outside.
That's
when I noticed how very pregnant Sylvie was.
“She
needs to see a vet,” I said. “She's going to have kittens.”
“I
know. Little demons. It never used to happen when your grandparents were
alive.”
“I...
see.” I seemed to be saying that a lot. “You know what? I think I'll need to
keep her for a few days. I'll call you when she's free of the... demon.”
“You
will?” Mrs. Cleaver's eyes shone with relief. Crazy or not, I knew I'd said the
right thing. “How much will it cost? I don't have a lot of money.”
“Don't
worry about it.”
“I
really must pay you.” She dug through her beaded handbag, closing her fist
around a bill, which she handed to me with the air of someone bestowing a treat
on a young child. “Thank you so much.”
I
watched in bemusement as she walked out the door, leaving me to deal with the
pregnant cat. I figured I'd take Sylvie home to my sister, Juliana, a gifted
healer. She had been begging our parents for a cat lately, anyway.
As
soon as the door closed behind the old lady, I glanced at the bill she had
pressed into my hands. A single dollar. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
At
least my parents are rich.
“This
is the last paranormal case I'm taking though,” I said to whoever might be
listening.
Sylvie
meowed. I think she knew I was kidding myself.
You can find more about Christine and her books at her website:
Christine Amsden
http://www.christineamsden.com
Or at
Twilight Times Books
http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com
Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective
Cassie Scot is the
ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to
neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a
living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation
isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by
a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly
belongs.
This story expands on a brief mention from the book's first chapter. Enjoy.
Cassie
Scot: Normal Detective
Last
night, I was just about to close up and go home for the day when an old woman
walked into my office with a cat carrier. Inside the carrier, a black cat
hissed and yowled. I suppose I would have felt that way too, if someone had
locked me inside a little cage. I felt instant sympathy for the cat. Not so
much for the old lady.
“Cassandra
Scot?” she asked.
“Cassie,”
I corrected automatically. Only my parents called me Cassandra.
“I
knew your grandparents.”
I
tried not to groan. My grandparents had been highly respected sorcerers until
they died in a lab explosion a few years back. I never knew what they had been
working on, but since that day there has been a swirling vortex in the lab.
Don't
ask – I really have no idea.
“Have
we met?” I asked.
“Miranda
Cleaver. Mrs. Cleaver.”
“Nice
to meet you, Mrs. Cleaver.”
If
she heard my sarcastic emphasis on the honorific, she didn't mention it.
“Your
grandparents used to set wards in my house to keep the demons out,” Mrs.
Cleaver said. “Since they've died, the wards have failed. There are now demons
running amuck in my house, and Sylvie – my poor cat – has been possessed by the
devil.”
“I...
see.” What was I supposed to say? She had just walked past a sign proclaiming,
“Cassie Scot: Normal Detective.”
“I
read your web site,” Mrs. Cleaver said.
“Really?
Did you see my list of services and exemptions?”
“Of
course.”
“So
what do you need?”
“An
exorcism. I told you, Sylvie is possessed by the devil.”
I
glanced again at the hissing cat, whose yellow eyes shone with very typical
feline anger. “I don't do exorcisms. It was listed under exemptions.”
“But
you're Cassandra Scot, aren't you?”
“Cassie.”
“Your
parents are Edward and Sheila Scot?”
“Yes.”
I felt my face burning. Just because I had powerful sorcerers for parents,
didn't mean I was one as well. Okay, so it wasn't just my parents – it was my
grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins, brothers, and sisters. Still, there had to
be a second cousin out there somewhere without any magic at all.
Why
couldn't people just read the sign?
“Well,
then.” She sounded as if the whole matter were settled. She plunked the carrier
on my desk and took a vacant chair in front. “I went to your father first. Your
grandparents always told me to go to him if I needed anything after they were
gone. Your father said you were ideally suited for this sort of work.”
“He
did?” My dad wasn't above a practical joke, but this sounded more like
something my brother would do. My brother, who looked more like Dad's twin than
his son, thanks to Dad's egregious use of youthening potions.
“Nicolas,”
I muttered under my breath. “This is war.”
“What's
that, dear?”
“Why
don't I take a quick look at the cat?”
“Of
course, dear.” Mrs. Cleaver clearly had not expected any other result.
I
opened the door to the cage, but carefully did not reach my hand inside. The
cat stopped hissing. After a moment or two, it poked its nose outside the cage,
sniffing the air. Then it stepped outside.
That's
when I noticed how very pregnant Sylvie was.
“She
needs to see a vet,” I said. “She's going to have kittens.”
“I
know. Little demons. It never used to happen when your grandparents were
alive.”
“I...
see.” I seemed to be saying that a lot. “You know what? I think I'll need to
keep her for a few days. I'll call you when she's free of the... demon.”
“You
will?” Mrs. Cleaver's eyes shone with relief. Crazy or not, I knew I'd said the
right thing. “How much will it cost? I don't have a lot of money.”
“Don't
worry about it.”
“I
really must pay you.” She dug through her beaded handbag, closing her fist
around a bill, which she handed to me with the air of someone bestowing a treat
on a young child. “Thank you so much.”
I
watched in bemusement as she walked out the door, leaving me to deal with the
pregnant cat. I figured I'd take Sylvie home to my sister, Juliana, a gifted
healer. She had been begging our parents for a cat lately, anyway.
As
soon as the door closed behind the old lady, I glanced at the bill she had
pressed into my hands. A single dollar. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
At
least my parents are rich.
“This
is the last paranormal case I'm taking though,” I said to whoever might be
listening.
Sylvie
meowed. I think she knew I was kidding myself.
You can find more about Christine and her books at her website:
Christine Amsden
http://www.christineamsden.com
Or at
Twilight Times Books
http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com
May 8, 2013
Be Popular Now: An Interview with Jonathan Bennett
Today author Jonathan Bennett stops by for an interview to chat about his book, Be Popular Now: How Any Man Can Become Confident, Attractive, and Successful (And Have Fun Doing It), co-authored with his brother David.
An Interview with Jonathan Bennett
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I’m thirty-five years old, married with a family. I live near Columbus, Ohio (USA). I have a background in education and currently work in drug and alcohol treatment. I own a speaking and consulting business with my twin brother David dedicated to helping guys become more confident and successful. We wrote the book together.
Can you tell us a little about your book, Be Popular Now: How Any Man Can Become Confident, Attractive, and Successful (And Have Fun Doing It)?
We studied the science of attraction and popularity and turned those theories into practical tips. Essentially, the book is a handbook of general male popularity and attractiveness. We focus on such topics as self-improvement, advancing at work, making friends, getting dates, etc.
What motivated you to write a book on the topic of being popular?
We had done a lot of research to improve our own popularity and success and what we developed worked quite well. We noticed that while others focused on specific areas (like dating), no one was really writing about popularity. Yet, being attractive to others and winning them over for companionship (our definition of popularity), is a basic human need. We felt the book was needed in a Western world that is only getting lonelier.
What are your goals for this book?
We hope to help other guys achieve some of the success we've had in our own lives. Being popular isn't about being selfish or taking advantage of others. When people are attracted to you, their needs are being met as well. It could be receiving laughter, friendship, meaning in life, or anything really. Popular, attractive, and confident men truly make the world a better place. Of course, the same is true of women, but we didn't feel qualified to write that book!
Who is your intended readership?
Any guy who wants more out of life is a part of our target audience. It could be someone who simply wants a little self-improvement to a guy who feels his entire life needs rebooted.
Can you tell us something about the about your writing process for the book?
I personally like to do the research and preparation for my writing in advance. So, David and I did the difficult work first, studying the science behind popularity. Then, we developed practical tips and tested them out. By the time we started to write about them, we’d so lived the theories that the writing was easy. We were essentially describing what had become second nature.
Did anything surprise you about writing your book?
Nothing was really too surprising since we’d already completed another book (on crafting positive affirmations). But, this book flowed in such an incredible way, with little writer’s block. That may have been the most surprising aspect.
What sort research went into the book?
We really looked at the hard sciences, areas such as brain research, evolutionary biology, psychology, etc. The subjective art of being popular and attractive is grounded in a pretty objective human nature.
Any future plans for more books?
We are ready to release a teen popularity book. It focuses on similar themes, but is focused on helping both sexes develop confidence and social skills. It’s going to be marketed as an anti-bullying book because it creates what bullies hate: confident, assertive people.
You can find out more about Jonathan, David and their book at: http://thepopularman.com
Author Bio:
Jonathan Bennett is a self help writer and speaker who co-owns and operates several informational websites that receive over a million visitors a year. He writes about such topics as popularity, health, spirituality, and success. His websites include The Popualar Man (thepopularman.com), The Popular Teen (thepopularteen.com), and ChurchYear.Net.
Jonathan was born and raised in a small town in Ohio. He received a BA in history from Ohio University and a Master's Degree from Emory University. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, as well as honors fraternities in history, theology, and the classics. He has a background in education and currently teaches at the University of Phoenix. He also handles administrative duties at a drug treatment center.
In 2007, he started a communications company with his twin brother, David. It has grown significantly since that time, and now includes two publishing companies, Theta Hill Press and Cedar Grove Press.
Although he spent most of his life in school and was naturally popular, he realized he (or anyone else) was never taught the social skills that lead to genuine success. Working with his brother and friend Joshua Wagner, he decided to study (and model) the ways that successful people think and act. This research led the three friends to focus on helping men make friends, get dates, and be successful.
His study of cutting-edge social research, along with his natural popularity and personality, led him to consult, speak, and write about popularity and other topics related to success.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading and writing. He drinks a lot of coffee and has a passion for health and fitness. He enjoys spending time with his friends and family, especially his wife and children. He enjoys going to concerts (modern adult alternative acts primarily) and running extreme races like the Tough Mudder and Warrior Dash.
April 30, 2013
Mechanized Masterpieces Book Launch Party!
Today’s the day! The Book Launch Party for Mechanized
Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology!
Come help me, and all the other talented authors celebrate
the astonishing world of goggles and gears as we turn Facebook into a blustering,
chugging wonderland of Victorian steam.
All the authors will be on the hotseat to answer your
questions, each taking turns throughout the party, plus there will be trivia,
an internet scavenger hunt, with lots of cool prizes to be won, such as posters,
free books and jewelry.
So please join us on Facebook later this afternoon:
https://www.facebook.com/events/339286706194431/
And you can check out Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
You can also check out my interview and a review of the book here: http://dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.ca/2013/04/steampunk-author-af-stewart-stops-by.html
April 29, 2013
A Review of Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology
My Book Review of Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology
~
First off I’d like to disclose I have a story in this anthology, and therefore I have a vested interested in this book. So take this review as enthusiastic endorsement for my fellow authors if you will (and perhaps a tiny bit of a shameless promotion).
~
I enjoyed reading the stories in Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology. I found the book to be an entertaining, diverse gaze through the looking-glass of the steampunk world, filtered through classic literature.
The idea of Mechanized Masterpieces is a re-imaging of classic books by such authors as Charles Dickens, Mary Shelly or Charlotte Bronte, which shifts their worlds and characters into the 19th century strangeness that is steampunk. The stories in the book are clanging, banging, puffing prequels, sequels and reboots, rich in quality and captivation.
There are eight fascinating stories in the anthology, based on the books Jane Eyre, Sense and Sensibilities, David Copperfield, The Little Match Girl, The Phantom of the Opera, A Christmas Carol and Frankenstein. They are enchanting, sometimes steam-twisted tales to delight. I especially liked the story of Micawber and Copperfield, with its shades of Horatio Hornblower (albeit with dirigibles instead of sailing ships) and Tropic of Cancer, which had a dark, looming undertone of foreboding.
Even with my slightly biased opinion, I can recommend Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology as a great read.
The Book is officially launched on Facebook tomorrow! Come and join in the fun!
Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology is available on Amazon (in paperback and for Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (for Nook).
April 25, 2013
Mechanized Masterpieces: The Story Behind My Story
First up, the official book launch of Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology happens on April 30th! As one of the authors featured in the book I am inviting all to the Book Launch Party on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/339286706194431/
Next, I have a little ramble about how the story came to be, and some trivia at the end (which may come in handy around party time- hint, hint). So read on, and enjoy.
Mechanized Masterpieces: The Story Behind My Story
Once upon a time (because don’t all happy ending fairy tales start that way, even steampunk ones?) I submitted a story to Xchyler Publishing for a steampunk themed anthology. The idea was to take a classic book and expand on a character, steampunk style.
I thought to myself, “that’s sounds fun, I can do that...” all those things writers tell themselves to get off Facebook and back to creating. So I flew off in search of a classic story and landed on Dickens, (but don’t worry he wasn’t hurt), and A Christmas Carol specifically.
At first I thought perhaps Bob Cratchit would do, or Tiny Tim, but as I reacquainted myself with the story I realised there was a character badly neglected in the original, Scrooge’s nephew Fred. Questions began to race through my head. Who was Fred? What did he do for a living? What if he was a spy? That’s when something clicked- write a spy story, a steampunk spy story.
So off I went, scribbling furiously giving Fred a backstory, and taking his friend Topper and his nameless wife (although in my tale she isn’t yet his wife and she has a name) along for the ride. And about halfway through, I hit a bit of writer’s block, so I like to officially extend my thanks to the Google+ community at Dark-Fantasy Writers for helping me over the hump. Their supportive brainstorming was the inspiration for the rats.
So writer’s block banished, I furiously finished my prose in time to make the deadline, and sent off my story, Our Man Fred, where it ended, nestled in the pages of Mechanized Masterpieces.
Now for some trivia bits:
The spy agency in Our Man Fred is called the Clockwork Department, which shares its initials with Charles Dickens as a nod to A Christmas Carol
The title Our Man Fred is an homage to the old spy movie Our Man Flint
The automaton man mentioned briefly by Topper was dropped in as a nod to various Victorian era dime novels.
The mention of the Penny Dreadfuls by Mary is also a nod to Victorian era fiction.
Next, I have a little ramble about how the story came to be, and some trivia at the end (which may come in handy around party time- hint, hint). So read on, and enjoy.
Mechanized Masterpieces: The Story Behind My Story
Once upon a time (because don’t all happy ending fairy tales start that way, even steampunk ones?) I submitted a story to Xchyler Publishing for a steampunk themed anthology. The idea was to take a classic book and expand on a character, steampunk style.
I thought to myself, “that’s sounds fun, I can do that...” all those things writers tell themselves to get off Facebook and back to creating. So I flew off in search of a classic story and landed on Dickens, (but don’t worry he wasn’t hurt), and A Christmas Carol specifically.
At first I thought perhaps Bob Cratchit would do, or Tiny Tim, but as I reacquainted myself with the story I realised there was a character badly neglected in the original, Scrooge’s nephew Fred. Questions began to race through my head. Who was Fred? What did he do for a living? What if he was a spy? That’s when something clicked- write a spy story, a steampunk spy story.
So off I went, scribbling furiously giving Fred a backstory, and taking his friend Topper and his nameless wife (although in my tale she isn’t yet his wife and she has a name) along for the ride. And about halfway through, I hit a bit of writer’s block, so I like to officially extend my thanks to the Google+ community at Dark-Fantasy Writers for helping me over the hump. Their supportive brainstorming was the inspiration for the rats.
So writer’s block banished, I furiously finished my prose in time to make the deadline, and sent off my story, Our Man Fred, where it ended, nestled in the pages of Mechanized Masterpieces.
Now for some trivia bits:
The spy agency in Our Man Fred is called the Clockwork Department, which shares its initials with Charles Dickens as a nod to A Christmas Carol
The title Our Man Fred is an homage to the old spy movie Our Man Flint
The automaton man mentioned briefly by Topper was dropped in as a nod to various Victorian era dime novels.
The mention of the Penny Dreadfuls by Mary is also a nod to Victorian era fiction.
April 17, 2013
Interview with A. Wayne Gill
Today author, A. Wayne Gill stops by for a chat about his legal thriller, The Runner, and his writing...
An Interview with A.
Wayne Gill
Why don’t you begin by
sharing a little about yourself?
Hello, I am Wayne Gill. I am a
commercial lawyer and have been for twenty years now. Also, I am a beginning
author.
Can you tell us about
your book, The Runner?
Certainly, The Runner is a
legal thriller that in addition has a spiritual message. It is centered on a
recent college graduate named Michael Knight and his quest to find himself.
Why did you decide to write this book?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I
used to write as a child through college I was an English major. I really felt
a need to convey the message of The
Runner and put them down on paper.
Did anything surprise you about the process of writing your book?
The most surprising thing was the
discipline needed. An author must teach themselves to carve out time and just
write that was difficult for me.
What was your
greatest challenge in writing The Runner?
Again, I would have to say the discipline and just the
overall amount of time it took to rewrite and edit the book.
As a lawyer you are of course familiar with the legal world you
portrayed in this book. How much, and what type, of research outside the legal
profession did you need for your novel?
My research focused on the
Christian aspect of my book. I researched the culture of churches. The main
character’s father is a minister and I wanted to delve into the culture and way
of life for children of a preacher. Also, the town, Ozark Falls is very small.
I looked into the background of small towns.
When did you realize you wanted to write?
I was 6 years old and had entered a
poetry competition at my school. I had written a poem on Martin Luther King. I ended
up winning first place. The writing bug has never left me since.
Who are your writing
inspirations?
Too many to name! If I had to mention a few, I would say Charles
Dickens, Mark Twain, Jimmy Baldwin, Alice Walker, and Stephen King.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I enjoy spending time with my
family. We can be on vacation or watching a movie on the couch just that
quality time is priceless to me.
Are you working on another book?
Yes, currently I am finishing up
the follow up to The Runner.
Author Bio:
A. Wayne Gill is the Managing Partner and CEO of the Gill Law Firm. which has offices in Florida and Georgia. throughout the United States. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the South Florida Minority Supplier Development Council (SFMSDC), the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, Inc., and the Oasis Compassion Agency, which he co-founded with his wife Sharon, in 2002.
He obtained an English degree from Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut and his law degree from George Washington University in Washington DC. There, among other things, he served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Arthur L. Burnett, Sr. of the DC Trial Court and in the Office of the Corporation Counsel for the District of Columbia, Civil Division. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Minority Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
He is a frequent speaker, moderator and author. He’s also published articles and written Continuing Legal Education materials for the National Business Institute. His published books and e-books are available by title at his website: www.waynegill.com
You can also find The Runner on Amazon
An Interview with A.
Wayne Gill
Why don’t you begin by
sharing a little about yourself?
Hello, I am Wayne Gill. I am a
commercial lawyer and have been for twenty years now. Also, I am a beginning
author.
Can you tell us about
your book, The Runner?
Certainly, The Runner is a
legal thriller that in addition has a spiritual message. It is centered on a
recent college graduate named Michael Knight and his quest to find himself.
Why did you decide to write this book?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I
used to write as a child through college I was an English major. I really felt
a need to convey the message of The
Runner and put them down on paper.
Did anything surprise you about the process of writing your book?
The most surprising thing was the
discipline needed. An author must teach themselves to carve out time and just
write that was difficult for me.
What was your
greatest challenge in writing The Runner?
Again, I would have to say the discipline and just the
overall amount of time it took to rewrite and edit the book.
As a lawyer you are of course familiar with the legal world you
portrayed in this book. How much, and what type, of research outside the legal
profession did you need for your novel?
My research focused on the
Christian aspect of my book. I researched the culture of churches. The main
character’s father is a minister and I wanted to delve into the culture and way
of life for children of a preacher. Also, the town, Ozark Falls is very small.
I looked into the background of small towns.
When did you realize you wanted to write?
I was 6 years old and had entered a
poetry competition at my school. I had written a poem on Martin Luther King. I ended
up winning first place. The writing bug has never left me since.
Who are your writing
inspirations?
Too many to name! If I had to mention a few, I would say Charles
Dickens, Mark Twain, Jimmy Baldwin, Alice Walker, and Stephen King.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I enjoy spending time with my
family. We can be on vacation or watching a movie on the couch just that
quality time is priceless to me.
Are you working on another book?
Yes, currently I am finishing up
the follow up to The Runner.
Author Bio:
A. Wayne Gill is the Managing Partner and CEO of the Gill Law Firm. which has offices in Florida and Georgia. throughout the United States. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the South Florida Minority Supplier Development Council (SFMSDC), the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, Inc., and the Oasis Compassion Agency, which he co-founded with his wife Sharon, in 2002.
He obtained an English degree from Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut and his law degree from George Washington University in Washington DC. There, among other things, he served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Arthur L. Burnett, Sr. of the DC Trial Court and in the Office of the Corporation Counsel for the District of Columbia, Civil Division. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Minority Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
He is a frequent speaker, moderator and author. He’s also published articles and written Continuing Legal Education materials for the National Business Institute. His published books and e-books are available by title at his website: www.waynegill.com
You can also find The Runner on Amazon
April 14, 2013
Greenwood Tree: Cover Reveal and Excerpt
Today we have another treat, with the cover reveal and excerpt from the historical mystery novel, Greenwood Tree by B. Lloyd. Enjoy...
Greenwood Tree:
‘Well, what
do all mysteries have?' said Aunt Isobel. 'Money, mistresses, and murder.’
1783 – and Lichfield society is enthralled by
the arrival of dashing ex-officer Orville; he charms his way into the salons,
grand houses and even a great inheritance from extrovert Sir Morton.
1927 – and detective writer Julia Warren returns
to her home in Lichfield to work on her next novel. Initially she hopes to find
plot material from the past and set it in the present. Aunt Isobel, while
making preparations for the annual midsummer ball, has managed to root out an
old journal from 1783 which might prove a source of inspiration. Once Julia
starts reading her ancestor’s journal she becomes absorbed in solving the
mystery surrounding officer Orville. Detective fever takes over, and she moves
from reality to legend as events from the past seem
set to re-enact themselves in the present, and she finds herself unravelling
more than just the one mystery. Who was Orville? Who was the agent, Oddman, set
to spy on him? And who is helpful Mr Grenall ?
Pagan gods don’t walk away just because you stop
looking at them. The Gronny Patch sleeps. Perhaps it dreams. Or perhaps not …
A complex, multi-layered story unlike any other,
full of whimsy, horror, and mystery, shifting between the centuries and from
source to source, until all the threads are finally drawn together by the
imperturbable Miss Warren.
An Excerpt from the Book:
Chapter Three
1927
London
‘A country murder? In
a big old mansion, plenty of house-guests and servants? Better set it before
the War, then. How many bodies? Four? Five? Have you the odd family ghost you
could throw in for good measure?’
Julia mentally heaved
a sigh of relief. The ‘talk over tea’ was progressing better than she had
expected, with her editor lapping up the storyline she had cobbled together at
the last minute. She had set it in her aunt’s house on an impulse, reasoning to
herself that she would at least have an excuse to retreat there on the pretexts
of research and peace and quiet. She found she had an increasing desire to
return, in fact. The mild excitement of earning enough to live on the edge of a
crowded metropolis was beginning to pall; the traffic and endless round of
theatres and clubs held little attraction for her after all, whereas one more
cocktail party with the effete and affected of the literary elite might result
in her committing violence.
As if reading her mind,
Mr Williams leaned forward confidentially to say: ‘Do you remember that last do
at Ashton’s? Miss Vane was there too.’
‘Yes, I do remember.’
Julia had found Harriet Vane somewhat intimidating. As for that beau of hers,
thrashing out articles on free love and anarchy—yet always with his hair
brilliantined in a singularly unappealing fashion. Somehow brilliantine and
speeches on a new world order did not quite go together, at least not for
Julia.
‘Well, she’s written
an essay lamenting the dearth of good crime fiction, and suggests the crime
novelists get together to form a club of sorts; she intends to start a magazine
or such-like. Ashton is right behind her, they’ve managed to rope old
Chesterton in, and Ashton was wondering if you might be able to contribute?’
Ashton was Chief Editor at Petrel Books and held frequent gatherings at his
home in Kensington for writers and editors alike. His influence was such that
one did not refuse his requests lightly.
‘Sounds perfectly
terrifying. What do they want from me? Not another essay, I hope.’
‘I think it might be
more interesting than thatwhy don’t I arrange a get-together,
see what is in the air, so to speak? It’s quite true, after all, hardly a soul
out there to write mysteries—even Mrs Christie’s “Big Four” only received very
mixed reviews . . . so it’s up to us to make a difference, eh?’
Julia did her best to
respond with conviction and enthusiasm. She managed to divert the conversation:
‘And what of Miss Vane’s latest?’
‘Haven’t read it.
Haven’t even heard much about itwhich makes me wonder whether she
might not be taking refuge in this magazine idea. We all know what the Muse
does to writers at times, don’t we?’ Julia felt a quiet pinching at the
stomach, a reminder of her own fallibility. Had he in fact swallowed whole her
excuse for a plot? She tried not to think about that.
‘I can at least say you are interested in
knowing more?’ Williams looked almost pleadingly at her. Julia dutifully
undertook to write something and made her exit gratefully. If only she could
escape London now with equal ease.
She was about to
cross the street when she felt a friendly pat on her shoulder and turned to
find somebody in the same sort of anonymous cloche hat and long straight coat
as she was wearing.
‘Hello, May,’ she
said, still in chirpy frame of mind from her meeting. ‘They’ve let you out for
half an hour, then?’
May chuckled. ‘Oh it’s
not that bad. Listen, why don’t we catch up—are you free for tea at Lyons’?’
The teahouse was a
little full, but they managed to squeeze in between the crowded, clinking,
murmuring tables, and caught up with each other’s news while they waited to be
served. May was sympathetic about the editor’s meeting, even if she had little
experience of the process. She was a dispenser and in her spare time an avid
reader of crime fiction. Julia often had recourse to her when a visit to the
Poison Section in the Library proved too far. They had met at a house party,
where a case of petty pilfering within the household had caused them to apply their
wits—successfully, as it turned out—and they had become close friends. When not
engaged in deciphering motive and means, they often exchanged occasionally
biting comments on the latest detective novel.
‘So, are you brimming
with ideas?’
‘In a sort of a way,
I think I am. But it’s not awfully clear yet—I need more material. Sounds dull,
I know. But I have been feeling a trifle dull recently.’
‘You are looking a
trifle peaky. Sounds to me like going to the country would do you good.’
Tea arrived and talk
turned to reminiscence: ‘Do you remember that business about Mrs Clyssum’s
necklace? I was just reminded of it the other day at Gracie’s; she had one just
like it, very convincing. Why did she do it, really?’
‘Panic. She’d pawned
the originals, remember.’
‘I do. But even so .
. . poor thing. Still, it was fun, working it out, and I am glad we stopped the
maid losing her job.’
‘That must have been
the first time we actually put our heads together. Wonder what they’ve got up
to since then . . .’
‘What have you been reading lately?’ Julia
asked. May pulled a wry face and rummaged in her bag, producing a slim volume
depicting on its cover a man peering out from under the lid of a wooden crate
or box, with another man’s shadow falling across it. Emblazoned across the top
half of the cover was the title ‘The Red House Mystery.’
‘I read it ages ago.
Think I enjoyed it more the first time round. Wish you’d hurry up and get your
next one finished. I’m running out of favourite authors.’
‘We were just talking
about that. Apparently Miss Vane considers it a distinctly uninspiring time for
crime fiction in general.’
‘I’m not surprised.
Even Mrs Christie’s last one fell a bit flat.’
‘Yes, my editor
mentioned her too. I wonder if there is some contagious detective ‘flu going
around, which reduces the creative flow to pulp. I certainly think I have been
infected.’
‘That doesn’t sound
like you. Definitely in need of a change of scene, I should say. We both could
do with something to wake us up a bit. Wish we had another mystery of our own
to work out, like the Clyssum business.’
Julia looked at her. ‘So
do I. Easier than writing the wretched things. We could set up an agency:
Warren and Downe—Domestic Panic and Hysteria our speciality.’
‘Yes—likewise,
Purloined Pearls and Pawnbrokers.’
‘Purses and
Pusillanimity.’
‘Peripatetic Parrots
and Peevish Pomeranians.’
The banter was
briefly interrupted just as it threatened to become hysterical by the arrival
of the waitress with laden tray.
They both tried to
pick up where they had left off, but somehow today their usual flow of
conversation slowed to a halt. Julia briefly allowed herself to be swamped by
the voices from the surrounding tables instead—and soon wished she hadn’t:
‘I thought those
emeralds were paste, I still do. As for her taste in art . . .’
‘More Art Nasty than
Art Nouveau! Mind you, I suspect they would be worth something at auction . .
.’
‘Did you read about
her niece in the Tatler? Hardly surprising though, the poor girl must have been
only too glad to escape, even if it was with the son of a greengrocer.’
‘A very wealthy
greengrocer. It’s all money, after all . . .’
Julia enjoyed May’s
company, and gossip did often supply a lot of material. But, stuck in the
middle of the crowded room with its jarring sounds and cheap chatter, she now
felt the tawdriness of smoky, grimy London.
There were gladioli
in Aunt Izzy’s garden, and they would be coming into bloom soon: she could
picture the late afternoon sun falling across them, turning them a soft apricot
gold, and she wanted to be transported back to it at that moment, that very
second. She was pulled back from her brief reverie by a squawk from May.
‘Look at the time! I
must dash—now don’t forget, I want to know the minute you have decided who the
villain is, and if there is poison involved . . . well, you know where I am !’
There was a hurried
dispute over the bill, which Julia insisted on paying, then May scuttled off,
leaving Julia on the pavement outside with promises of another get-together
before long.
The brilliant blue
sky prompted her to return home by tram. She climbed to the upper deck just so
she could sit away from crowds and enjoy the trees lining the avenue. She
craned her neck up and gazed at the leafy branches, and for a moment imagined
herself back at home. Finally all those little scraps of dreams that had been
hiding away all day returned tenfold to delight her, butterfly-like, with
colours and warmth—the walks, the glades, the running hare and cheeky sparrow,
the slow-witted blackbirds, sunning themselves in the middle of the lanes; all
the whirling memories of the past crowded into her mind and she decided she had
stayed away too long. What had seemed a pretext now became necessity. London
was stifling her with its relentless gaiety, misery and recklessness.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/oWDByK6_Djs
Author Bio for B. Lloyd:
A Bustle attached to a keyboard, occasionally to be seen floating on a canal ...
After studying Early Music in Italy followed by a brief career in concert performance, the Bustle exchanged vocal parts for less vocal arts i.e. a Diploma from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. Her inky mess, both graphic and verbal, can be found in various regions of the Web, and appendaged to good people's works (for no visible reason that she can understand).
At present exploring the mysteries of Northumberland, although if there is a place she could call true home, it would be Venice…while the fields of Waterloo hold a certain resonance for her as well…
More here:
http://about.me/B.Lloyd
and here:
http://lloydanon.wordpress.com
For those who enjoy Twittery:
Do drop by @AuthorsAnon as she enjoys a chat
(Warning: Please expect occasional bouts of nonsense).
Finding the Book:
Amazon UK (pre-order) (hardcover): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374563
(paperback) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374571/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Amazon US (pre-order) paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374571/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Hardcover: http://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374563/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0
Waterstones: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/b-+lloyd/greenwood+tree/9610637/
Pre-order page on the publisher’s website:
http://www.greycellspress.co.uk/pre-order-our-titles/
Greenwood Tree:
‘Well, what
do all mysteries have?' said Aunt Isobel. 'Money, mistresses, and murder.’
1783 – and Lichfield society is enthralled by
the arrival of dashing ex-officer Orville; he charms his way into the salons,
grand houses and even a great inheritance from extrovert Sir Morton.
1927 – and detective writer Julia Warren returns
to her home in Lichfield to work on her next novel. Initially she hopes to find
plot material from the past and set it in the present. Aunt Isobel, while
making preparations for the annual midsummer ball, has managed to root out an
old journal from 1783 which might prove a source of inspiration. Once Julia
starts reading her ancestor’s journal she becomes absorbed in solving the
mystery surrounding officer Orville. Detective fever takes over, and she moves
from reality to legend as events from the past seem
set to re-enact themselves in the present, and she finds herself unravelling
more than just the one mystery. Who was Orville? Who was the agent, Oddman, set
to spy on him? And who is helpful Mr Grenall ?
Pagan gods don’t walk away just because you stop
looking at them. The Gronny Patch sleeps. Perhaps it dreams. Or perhaps not …
A complex, multi-layered story unlike any other,
full of whimsy, horror, and mystery, shifting between the centuries and from
source to source, until all the threads are finally drawn together by the
imperturbable Miss Warren.
An Excerpt from the Book:
Chapter Three
1927
London
‘A country murder? In
a big old mansion, plenty of house-guests and servants? Better set it before
the War, then. How many bodies? Four? Five? Have you the odd family ghost you
could throw in for good measure?’
Julia mentally heaved
a sigh of relief. The ‘talk over tea’ was progressing better than she had
expected, with her editor lapping up the storyline she had cobbled together at
the last minute. She had set it in her aunt’s house on an impulse, reasoning to
herself that she would at least have an excuse to retreat there on the pretexts
of research and peace and quiet. She found she had an increasing desire to
return, in fact. The mild excitement of earning enough to live on the edge of a
crowded metropolis was beginning to pall; the traffic and endless round of
theatres and clubs held little attraction for her after all, whereas one more
cocktail party with the effete and affected of the literary elite might result
in her committing violence.
As if reading her mind,
Mr Williams leaned forward confidentially to say: ‘Do you remember that last do
at Ashton’s? Miss Vane was there too.’
‘Yes, I do remember.’
Julia had found Harriet Vane somewhat intimidating. As for that beau of hers,
thrashing out articles on free love and anarchy—yet always with his hair
brilliantined in a singularly unappealing fashion. Somehow brilliantine and
speeches on a new world order did not quite go together, at least not for
Julia.
‘Well, she’s written
an essay lamenting the dearth of good crime fiction, and suggests the crime
novelists get together to form a club of sorts; she intends to start a magazine
or such-like. Ashton is right behind her, they’ve managed to rope old
Chesterton in, and Ashton was wondering if you might be able to contribute?’
Ashton was Chief Editor at Petrel Books and held frequent gatherings at his
home in Kensington for writers and editors alike. His influence was such that
one did not refuse his requests lightly.
‘Sounds perfectly
terrifying. What do they want from me? Not another essay, I hope.’
‘I think it might be
more interesting than thatwhy don’t I arrange a get-together,
see what is in the air, so to speak? It’s quite true, after all, hardly a soul
out there to write mysteries—even Mrs Christie’s “Big Four” only received very
mixed reviews . . . so it’s up to us to make a difference, eh?’
Julia did her best to
respond with conviction and enthusiasm. She managed to divert the conversation:
‘And what of Miss Vane’s latest?’
‘Haven’t read it.
Haven’t even heard much about itwhich makes me wonder whether she
might not be taking refuge in this magazine idea. We all know what the Muse
does to writers at times, don’t we?’ Julia felt a quiet pinching at the
stomach, a reminder of her own fallibility. Had he in fact swallowed whole her
excuse for a plot? She tried not to think about that.
‘I can at least say you are interested in
knowing more?’ Williams looked almost pleadingly at her. Julia dutifully
undertook to write something and made her exit gratefully. If only she could
escape London now with equal ease.
She was about to
cross the street when she felt a friendly pat on her shoulder and turned to
find somebody in the same sort of anonymous cloche hat and long straight coat
as she was wearing.
‘Hello, May,’ she
said, still in chirpy frame of mind from her meeting. ‘They’ve let you out for
half an hour, then?’
May chuckled. ‘Oh it’s
not that bad. Listen, why don’t we catch up—are you free for tea at Lyons’?’
The teahouse was a
little full, but they managed to squeeze in between the crowded, clinking,
murmuring tables, and caught up with each other’s news while they waited to be
served. May was sympathetic about the editor’s meeting, even if she had little
experience of the process. She was a dispenser and in her spare time an avid
reader of crime fiction. Julia often had recourse to her when a visit to the
Poison Section in the Library proved too far. They had met at a house party,
where a case of petty pilfering within the household had caused them to apply their
wits—successfully, as it turned out—and they had become close friends. When not
engaged in deciphering motive and means, they often exchanged occasionally
biting comments on the latest detective novel.
‘So, are you brimming
with ideas?’
‘In a sort of a way,
I think I am. But it’s not awfully clear yet—I need more material. Sounds dull,
I know. But I have been feeling a trifle dull recently.’
‘You are looking a
trifle peaky. Sounds to me like going to the country would do you good.’
Tea arrived and talk
turned to reminiscence: ‘Do you remember that business about Mrs Clyssum’s
necklace? I was just reminded of it the other day at Gracie’s; she had one just
like it, very convincing. Why did she do it, really?’
‘Panic. She’d pawned
the originals, remember.’
‘I do. But even so .
. . poor thing. Still, it was fun, working it out, and I am glad we stopped the
maid losing her job.’
‘That must have been
the first time we actually put our heads together. Wonder what they’ve got up
to since then . . .’
‘What have you been reading lately?’ Julia
asked. May pulled a wry face and rummaged in her bag, producing a slim volume
depicting on its cover a man peering out from under the lid of a wooden crate
or box, with another man’s shadow falling across it. Emblazoned across the top
half of the cover was the title ‘The Red House Mystery.’
‘I read it ages ago.
Think I enjoyed it more the first time round. Wish you’d hurry up and get your
next one finished. I’m running out of favourite authors.’
‘We were just talking
about that. Apparently Miss Vane considers it a distinctly uninspiring time for
crime fiction in general.’
‘I’m not surprised.
Even Mrs Christie’s last one fell a bit flat.’
‘Yes, my editor
mentioned her too. I wonder if there is some contagious detective ‘flu going
around, which reduces the creative flow to pulp. I certainly think I have been
infected.’
‘That doesn’t sound
like you. Definitely in need of a change of scene, I should say. We both could
do with something to wake us up a bit. Wish we had another mystery of our own
to work out, like the Clyssum business.’
Julia looked at her. ‘So
do I. Easier than writing the wretched things. We could set up an agency:
Warren and Downe—Domestic Panic and Hysteria our speciality.’
‘Yes—likewise,
Purloined Pearls and Pawnbrokers.’
‘Purses and
Pusillanimity.’
‘Peripatetic Parrots
and Peevish Pomeranians.’
The banter was
briefly interrupted just as it threatened to become hysterical by the arrival
of the waitress with laden tray.
They both tried to
pick up where they had left off, but somehow today their usual flow of
conversation slowed to a halt. Julia briefly allowed herself to be swamped by
the voices from the surrounding tables instead—and soon wished she hadn’t:
‘I thought those
emeralds were paste, I still do. As for her taste in art . . .’
‘More Art Nasty than
Art Nouveau! Mind you, I suspect they would be worth something at auction . .
.’
‘Did you read about
her niece in the Tatler? Hardly surprising though, the poor girl must have been
only too glad to escape, even if it was with the son of a greengrocer.’
‘A very wealthy
greengrocer. It’s all money, after all . . .’
Julia enjoyed May’s
company, and gossip did often supply a lot of material. But, stuck in the
middle of the crowded room with its jarring sounds and cheap chatter, she now
felt the tawdriness of smoky, grimy London.
There were gladioli
in Aunt Izzy’s garden, and they would be coming into bloom soon: she could
picture the late afternoon sun falling across them, turning them a soft apricot
gold, and she wanted to be transported back to it at that moment, that very
second. She was pulled back from her brief reverie by a squawk from May.
‘Look at the time! I
must dash—now don’t forget, I want to know the minute you have decided who the
villain is, and if there is poison involved . . . well, you know where I am !’
There was a hurried
dispute over the bill, which Julia insisted on paying, then May scuttled off,
leaving Julia on the pavement outside with promises of another get-together
before long.
The brilliant blue
sky prompted her to return home by tram. She climbed to the upper deck just so
she could sit away from crowds and enjoy the trees lining the avenue. She
craned her neck up and gazed at the leafy branches, and for a moment imagined
herself back at home. Finally all those little scraps of dreams that had been
hiding away all day returned tenfold to delight her, butterfly-like, with
colours and warmth—the walks, the glades, the running hare and cheeky sparrow,
the slow-witted blackbirds, sunning themselves in the middle of the lanes; all
the whirling memories of the past crowded into her mind and she decided she had
stayed away too long. What had seemed a pretext now became necessity. London
was stifling her with its relentless gaiety, misery and recklessness.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/oWDByK6_Djs
Author Bio for B. Lloyd:
A Bustle attached to a keyboard, occasionally to be seen floating on a canal ...
After studying Early Music in Italy followed by a brief career in concert performance, the Bustle exchanged vocal parts for less vocal arts i.e. a Diploma from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. Her inky mess, both graphic and verbal, can be found in various regions of the Web, and appendaged to good people's works (for no visible reason that she can understand).
At present exploring the mysteries of Northumberland, although if there is a place she could call true home, it would be Venice…while the fields of Waterloo hold a certain resonance for her as well…
More here:
http://about.me/B.Lloyd
and here:
http://lloydanon.wordpress.com
For those who enjoy Twittery:
Do drop by @AuthorsAnon as she enjoys a chat
(Warning: Please expect occasional bouts of nonsense).
Finding the Book:
Amazon UK (pre-order) (hardcover): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374563
(paperback) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374571/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Amazon US (pre-order) paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374571/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Hardcover: http://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374563/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0
Waterstones: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/b-+lloyd/greenwood+tree/9610637/
Pre-order page on the publisher’s website:
http://www.greycellspress.co.uk/pre-order-our-titles/
April 13, 2013
Book Review: The Rebels by Elizabeth Lang
My Book Review of The Rebels:
The novel The Rebels,
the sequel to The Empire, is as engrossing
as the first book in the series. The author, Elizabeth Lang, once again creates
an adroit plot with strong direction and fascinating characters.
The novel picks up where The
Empire left off, with heroes, Adrian, Kali and Bryce, turned fugitive and
on the run. Quickly, trouble follows and the intrepid band of three are
separated, with Adrian falling into the clutches of a bounty hunter and Kali
and Bryce out to rescue him. But things are never what they seem, with changes
of heart, and new faces and old stirring up danger.
As with the last book in the series, The Rebels best strength lies in its strong characters and their
interaction with one another. Despite the fact the two main characters of
Adrian and Kali are separated for much of the book, I like the way the author
intensified their relationship. Also, I enjoyed the subtle interplay between
the bounty hunter and the new character of Dr. Adding. They challenged each
other, with attraction and respect creeping in over time.
The storyline is nicely paced and meshes together smoothly,
with a deft touch of tension in the right spots. I did find the endgame of the
plot a bit predictable, if still entertaining. However the cliffhanger at the
end was out of the blue and shocker for me (I definitely did not see that twist
coming).
The Rebels is a
terrific book and I highly recommend it.
The Rebels is available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008MM2510
The novel The Rebels,
the sequel to The Empire, is as engrossing
as the first book in the series. The author, Elizabeth Lang, once again creates
an adroit plot with strong direction and fascinating characters.
The novel picks up where The
Empire left off, with heroes, Adrian, Kali and Bryce, turned fugitive and
on the run. Quickly, trouble follows and the intrepid band of three are
separated, with Adrian falling into the clutches of a bounty hunter and Kali
and Bryce out to rescue him. But things are never what they seem, with changes
of heart, and new faces and old stirring up danger.
As with the last book in the series, The Rebels best strength lies in its strong characters and their
interaction with one another. Despite the fact the two main characters of
Adrian and Kali are separated for much of the book, I like the way the author
intensified their relationship. Also, I enjoyed the subtle interplay between
the bounty hunter and the new character of Dr. Adding. They challenged each
other, with attraction and respect creeping in over time.
The storyline is nicely paced and meshes together smoothly,
with a deft touch of tension in the right spots. I did find the endgame of the
plot a bit predictable, if still entertaining. However the cliffhanger at the
end was out of the blue and shocker for me (I definitely did not see that twist
coming).
The Rebels is a
terrific book and I highly recommend it.
The Rebels is available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008MM2510
