A.F. Stewart's Blog, page 98
December 24, 2012
Steampunk Santa
A short Christmas Eve tale...
Steampunk Santa
Once Upon a Christmas Eve, way up at the North Pole, nestled
in the snow, sprawled Santa’s Village. Now if you think, from all the sweet tales
that have been spun, that this place was a place of dreams, made of gingerbread
and sugar plums, you would be wrong.
No, the settlement that housed Old St. Nick and his industrious
band of elves was a home of iron and clockwork, of brass and gears, with the hiss
of steam and the clash of metal echoing through its halls. Yes, that’s right,
'twas a Steampunk Night Before Christmas.
There’s the toy factory, with its assembly lines of workers,
run by giant cogs and gears and pulleys, and a sputtering, puffing engine -fed
by coal- powering the whole works. The elves wear goggles, leather gloves and aprons,
over natty suits, clanging and banging as they make the toys.
Outside is Santa’s sleigh, packed with those playthings, belching
smoke and vapour from its pipes and valves. The air is alive with its noise, a droning
snarl announcing its presence as the coal-powered engine produces steam and
fires on all pistons. In front are harnessed the reindeer, all nine wondrous
beasts of iron, marvels of mechanized automatons. From Prancer to Rudolph with
his illuminated nose, they stand eager to fly, rocket packs at the ready.
And here comes St. Nick, dressed in red leather and black
boots, his long coat sweeping the top of the snow. His goggles are perched atop
his head, his pipe in mouth, and his pistol on his hip. He climbs in his sleigh
and snaps the reins. With a grind of gears and a roar of flame they are away
into flight.
Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!
Steampunk Santa
Once Upon a Christmas Eve, way up at the North Pole, nestled
in the snow, sprawled Santa’s Village. Now if you think, from all the sweet tales
that have been spun, that this place was a place of dreams, made of gingerbread
and sugar plums, you would be wrong.
No, the settlement that housed Old St. Nick and his industrious
band of elves was a home of iron and clockwork, of brass and gears, with the hiss
of steam and the clash of metal echoing through its halls. Yes, that’s right,
'twas a Steampunk Night Before Christmas.
There’s the toy factory, with its assembly lines of workers,
run by giant cogs and gears and pulleys, and a sputtering, puffing engine -fed
by coal- powering the whole works. The elves wear goggles, leather gloves and aprons,
over natty suits, clanging and banging as they make the toys.
Outside is Santa’s sleigh, packed with those playthings, belching
smoke and vapour from its pipes and valves. The air is alive with its noise, a droning
snarl announcing its presence as the coal-powered engine produces steam and
fires on all pistons. In front are harnessed the reindeer, all nine wondrous
beasts of iron, marvels of mechanized automatons. From Prancer to Rudolph with
his illuminated nose, they stand eager to fly, rocket packs at the ready.
And here comes St. Nick, dressed in red leather and black
boots, his long coat sweeping the top of the snow. His goggles are perched atop
his head, his pipe in mouth, and his pistol on his hip. He climbs in his sleigh
and snaps the reins. With a grind of gears and a roar of flame they are away
into flight.
Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!
December 6, 2012
Snowy Reading Blog Hop: Meet Althea from Gothic Cavalcade
Welcome to my post for the Snowy Reading Blog Hop!
So pick up that hot chocolate, snuggle down in that comforter and cozy up to an interview with my main character from Gothic Cavalcade, Althea...
Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in a picturesque small town in the English countryside, in the later part of the 19th century. My father was an attorney, and we were quite well-off financially. We were a close family, with just my parents, myself and my sister, Jenny. I married at eighteen, to Thomas, a land-owner of substantial means. He seemed quite charming and I thought myself to be a fortunate woman, but I found out his true nature after we were wed. Only then did I realize what an unhappy and horrid mistake I had made. To make matters worse, my parents died a few years after I married leaving me no place to run. My only solace was Jenny found a home with the family of a distant cousin.
Do you enjoy or dislike winter? Tell us why.
I love winter, it's as if everything is quiet, waiting for something. I have fond memories of my family sitting by the fireplace, with Father reading to us in the evenings, or Sunday outings after Church. There is nothing nicer than a winter carriage ride. And of course there is the Christmas season, which is always so festive, especially if it snows. There is something quite special about snow on Christmas.
What would you do on a date (or with close friends) on a snowy evening?
"Dating" in my day was very strict and any encounters at dances or suitors coming to call were chaperoned. There were one or two evening dances where young gentlemen made my heart flutter, and I remember one handsome fellow who stole a kiss under the mistletoe.
When it's cold and dreary outside, what makes you laugh out loud?
My sister Jenny could always make me laugh, no matter my mood. She was always so happy, so full of mischief. Memories of her can still make me smile.
If you were sitting around a fire, playing truth or dare, what would you choose and why?
That game sounds a bit scandalous, but I suppose I would chose truth. After all I've been through, the truth doesn't frighten me anymore.
Tell us about a winter memory from your childhood?
My best memory from my childhood is the Christmas Ball when I was sixteen. Mother took me to the dressmaker for a special gown, made from blue satin brocade with dark velvet trim and lace ruffles on the sleeves. I felt quite the lady in that dress, with my hair in an up-swept fashion, wearing my white gloves and fluttering my lace fan. I smiled my best coquette smile as I entered that ballroom and felt my heart beat faster as the male eyes turned towards me. My dance card filled rapidly, and I dare say I flirted shamelessly, and I had a magnificent evening.
What is the most creative gift you would put under the tree?
I suppose that would be the watercolour I painted for my mother, the Christmas before I married. It was an especially fine landscape and I was quite proud of it. It was also the last painting I created. My husband did not encourage artistic pursuits.
Would you start a snowball fight?
Oh dear, I fear someone has been tattling. Jenny and I used to throw snowballs whenever it snowed, much to our Mother's dismay. She said it was not ladylike behaviour.
Tell us about your favourite winter movie or book?
I'm terribly fond of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. My childhood copy is quite dogeared I'm afraid. I loved to read it every year in the Christmas season.
How do you celebrate the holidays? Be it Christmas or Hanukkah or the Winter Solstice.
A traditional Christmas was quite important with my family, and even when I married Thomas insisted on keeping up appearances at Christmas, inviting family or friends to stay with us. I was grateful for that. He behaved well when we had guests.
I loved to festoon the house with greenery, and decorate the tree and on Christmas Eve we would hang the stockings and sing carols. The next day, after Church, we would sit down to veritable feast for Christmas dinner. My favourite parts were always the Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and opening the Christmas crackers. After dinner we would exchange our gifts, and perhaps partake in some sherry and a bit of Christmas cake, and wish everyone a Happy Christmas.
Gothic Cavalcade
Gothic romance meets Gothic horror inside a paranormal
carnival and beyond...
Meet Althea, a desperate woman running from a secretive and
miserable past. She encounters Byron, a mysterious and handsome man with
secrets of his own. He brings her to his home, the Masquerade Carnivale, and
into the midst of his family. There Althea begins to feel safe, to trust, and to
love. She finds friends, laughter and with Byron, romance. She thinks she has
found a home, trusts she is protected, until the night Byron and his Family
betray her.
But do they? There is more beneath the surface at the
Masquerade Carnivale, more to Althea’s past and to her future than she
believes. One event put Althea on a path for her reckoning, a path full of
pain, fear and ultimately, revenge. A choice is coming for her, one that will
change everything.
The Masquerade Carnivale is beckoning... will she answer?
Available at Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and Kobo
And one lucky commentor will win a free e-copy of Gothic Cavalcade, via a Smashwords coupon. And to check out more blogs participating in the Snowy Reading Blog Hop scroll way, way down to the bottom of this blog for the Linky List.
So pick up that hot chocolate, snuggle down in that comforter and cozy up to an interview with my main character from Gothic Cavalcade, Althea...
Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in a picturesque small town in the English countryside, in the later part of the 19th century. My father was an attorney, and we were quite well-off financially. We were a close family, with just my parents, myself and my sister, Jenny. I married at eighteen, to Thomas, a land-owner of substantial means. He seemed quite charming and I thought myself to be a fortunate woman, but I found out his true nature after we were wed. Only then did I realize what an unhappy and horrid mistake I had made. To make matters worse, my parents died a few years after I married leaving me no place to run. My only solace was Jenny found a home with the family of a distant cousin.
Do you enjoy or dislike winter? Tell us why.
I love winter, it's as if everything is quiet, waiting for something. I have fond memories of my family sitting by the fireplace, with Father reading to us in the evenings, or Sunday outings after Church. There is nothing nicer than a winter carriage ride. And of course there is the Christmas season, which is always so festive, especially if it snows. There is something quite special about snow on Christmas.
What would you do on a date (or with close friends) on a snowy evening?
"Dating" in my day was very strict and any encounters at dances or suitors coming to call were chaperoned. There were one or two evening dances where young gentlemen made my heart flutter, and I remember one handsome fellow who stole a kiss under the mistletoe.
When it's cold and dreary outside, what makes you laugh out loud?
My sister Jenny could always make me laugh, no matter my mood. She was always so happy, so full of mischief. Memories of her can still make me smile.
If you were sitting around a fire, playing truth or dare, what would you choose and why?
That game sounds a bit scandalous, but I suppose I would chose truth. After all I've been through, the truth doesn't frighten me anymore.
Tell us about a winter memory from your childhood?
My best memory from my childhood is the Christmas Ball when I was sixteen. Mother took me to the dressmaker for a special gown, made from blue satin brocade with dark velvet trim and lace ruffles on the sleeves. I felt quite the lady in that dress, with my hair in an up-swept fashion, wearing my white gloves and fluttering my lace fan. I smiled my best coquette smile as I entered that ballroom and felt my heart beat faster as the male eyes turned towards me. My dance card filled rapidly, and I dare say I flirted shamelessly, and I had a magnificent evening.
What is the most creative gift you would put under the tree?
I suppose that would be the watercolour I painted for my mother, the Christmas before I married. It was an especially fine landscape and I was quite proud of it. It was also the last painting I created. My husband did not encourage artistic pursuits.
Would you start a snowball fight?
Oh dear, I fear someone has been tattling. Jenny and I used to throw snowballs whenever it snowed, much to our Mother's dismay. She said it was not ladylike behaviour.
Tell us about your favourite winter movie or book?
I'm terribly fond of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. My childhood copy is quite dogeared I'm afraid. I loved to read it every year in the Christmas season.
How do you celebrate the holidays? Be it Christmas or Hanukkah or the Winter Solstice.
A traditional Christmas was quite important with my family, and even when I married Thomas insisted on keeping up appearances at Christmas, inviting family or friends to stay with us. I was grateful for that. He behaved well when we had guests.
I loved to festoon the house with greenery, and decorate the tree and on Christmas Eve we would hang the stockings and sing carols. The next day, after Church, we would sit down to veritable feast for Christmas dinner. My favourite parts were always the Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and opening the Christmas crackers. After dinner we would exchange our gifts, and perhaps partake in some sherry and a bit of Christmas cake, and wish everyone a Happy Christmas.
Gothic Cavalcade
Gothic romance meets Gothic horror inside a paranormal
carnival and beyond...
Meet Althea, a desperate woman running from a secretive and
miserable past. She encounters Byron, a mysterious and handsome man with
secrets of his own. He brings her to his home, the Masquerade Carnivale, and
into the midst of his family. There Althea begins to feel safe, to trust, and to
love. She finds friends, laughter and with Byron, romance. She thinks she has
found a home, trusts she is protected, until the night Byron and his Family
betray her.
But do they? There is more beneath the surface at the
Masquerade Carnivale, more to Althea’s past and to her future than she
believes. One event put Althea on a path for her reckoning, a path full of
pain, fear and ultimately, revenge. A choice is coming for her, one that will
change everything.
The Masquerade Carnivale is beckoning... will she answer?
Available at Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and Kobo
And one lucky commentor will win a free e-copy of Gothic Cavalcade, via a Smashwords coupon. And to check out more blogs participating in the Snowy Reading Blog Hop scroll way, way down to the bottom of this blog for the Linky List.
December 4, 2012
The Next Big Thing
A few weeks ago I was kindly asked my friend and fellow
writer, the talented Pat Bertram to participate in The Next Big Thing. For
those of you not in the know, basically “The Next Big Thing” is a blog chain
where a writer like me answers ten questions about a Work-in- Progress and then
tags five more writer/bloggers to carry on the chain with their own Q and A
post. You can check out Pat’s Next Big Thing post here: http://ptbertram.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/the-next-big-thing/
Now on to the main show, what you’ve all been waiting for,
my...Next Big Thing
This is a cover mock-up I created.
What is your working title of your book?
The Duke’s Assassin
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It came from a short story I wrote for a steampunk horror themed anthology. I was looking for an idea for the story and I
read an article about Canadian Steampunk, so being from Canada I thought it
would be a cool idea to use the city of Halifax (from my home province of Nova
Scotia) as a setting. As I was developing the alternate history/horror setting,
I realised how much more there was to tell about this world I created and the
characters. So I decided to write The Duke’s Assassin,
which in turn became the first in a series of novels I plan to write.
What genre does your book fall under?
It’s part horror and part steampunk, so Steampunk Horror
fits, I think.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a
movie rendition?
I could see as my main vampire, Gideon
(although I can see him in anything, so I might be biased), as
Samuel Cunard, as the vampire Silas, (of The Tudors and Game of Thrones fame) as Nora, Canadian actor, as Rufus, as my main villain, Richard and as the
Duke of Kent.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
An alternate Victorian world, where vampires, scientists and
machines face down anarchists for the fate of the city of Halifax and British
North America.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an
agency?
Well, I’m hoping to get it published with a Canadian
publishing company, but if that doesn’t happen I will self-publish.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your
manuscript?
I’m still polishing up the first draft, as there’s still
some historical research to muddle through and a few details to iron out, but
it’s coming along quickly.
What other books would you compare this story to within your
genre?
I never like comparing my writing to anything, but I suppose
in the book there’s a bit of flavour of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
by Alan Moore, and Dracula by Bram Stoker.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I’ve been looking for the right idea to set a book in a
Canadian locale and the idea of re-writing history and using my home province
as a background was quite the inspiration.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I think the main character of Gideon, who’s a vampire, will
appeal to readers. He’s not a villain, but neither is he a hero. He does his
job protecting the Royal Maritime Commissioner, Samuel Cunard, and the city of
Halifax from the threat of the anarchists, but he has no problem killing anyone
on the opposing side of his world. He is quite amoral in a charming way. Also,
the world itself, with its altered history, steam-powered machines and
complicated politics should hold some fascination for readers.
And so ends my post. Here are the five valiant bloggers who will carry on with the Next Big Thing chain next week:
Nick Paschall: The Nickronomicon
Sarah Baethge: My Writings
N. L. Armitage: The Twisted World of Gravitation
Sue Merrell: Laughing for a Living
Angela Yuriko Smith:
Dandilyon Fluff
writer, the talented Pat Bertram to participate in The Next Big Thing. For
those of you not in the know, basically “The Next Big Thing” is a blog chain
where a writer like me answers ten questions about a Work-in- Progress and then
tags five more writer/bloggers to carry on the chain with their own Q and A
post. You can check out Pat’s Next Big Thing post here: http://ptbertram.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/the-next-big-thing/
Now on to the main show, what you’ve all been waiting for,
my...Next Big Thing
This is a cover mock-up I created.
What is your working title of your book?
The Duke’s Assassin
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It came from a short story I wrote for a steampunk horror themed anthology. I was looking for an idea for the story and I
read an article about Canadian Steampunk, so being from Canada I thought it
would be a cool idea to use the city of Halifax (from my home province of Nova
Scotia) as a setting. As I was developing the alternate history/horror setting,
I realised how much more there was to tell about this world I created and the
characters. So I decided to write The Duke’s Assassin,
which in turn became the first in a series of novels I plan to write.
What genre does your book fall under?
It’s part horror and part steampunk, so Steampunk Horror
fits, I think.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a
movie rendition?
I could see as my main vampire, Gideon
(although I can see him in anything, so I might be biased), as
Samuel Cunard, as the vampire Silas, (of The Tudors and Game of Thrones fame) as Nora, Canadian actor, as Rufus, as my main villain, Richard and as the
Duke of Kent.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
An alternate Victorian world, where vampires, scientists and
machines face down anarchists for the fate of the city of Halifax and British
North America.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an
agency?
Well, I’m hoping to get it published with a Canadian
publishing company, but if that doesn’t happen I will self-publish.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your
manuscript?
I’m still polishing up the first draft, as there’s still
some historical research to muddle through and a few details to iron out, but
it’s coming along quickly.
What other books would you compare this story to within your
genre?
I never like comparing my writing to anything, but I suppose
in the book there’s a bit of flavour of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
by Alan Moore, and Dracula by Bram Stoker.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I’ve been looking for the right idea to set a book in a
Canadian locale and the idea of re-writing history and using my home province
as a background was quite the inspiration.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I think the main character of Gideon, who’s a vampire, will
appeal to readers. He’s not a villain, but neither is he a hero. He does his
job protecting the Royal Maritime Commissioner, Samuel Cunard, and the city of
Halifax from the threat of the anarchists, but he has no problem killing anyone
on the opposing side of his world. He is quite amoral in a charming way. Also,
the world itself, with its altered history, steam-powered machines and
complicated politics should hold some fascination for readers.
And so ends my post. Here are the five valiant bloggers who will carry on with the Next Big Thing chain next week:
Nick Paschall: The Nickronomicon
Sarah Baethge: My Writings
N. L. Armitage: The Twisted World of Gravitation
Sue Merrell: Laughing for a Living
Angela Yuriko Smith:
Dandilyon Fluff
December 1, 2012
End of the World Sale
With those pesky Mayans predicting world doom this month, I thought it was the perfect time to party like it's 1999 (yes, that was my pop culture reference for the day) and have a .99 cent sale for all of my Smashwords ebooks.
So, from today until the end of the month (or the end of the world, whichever come first) every ebook I have listed on Smashwords will be just .99 cents.
Here's a list of the books:
Gothic Cavalcade
Once Upon a Dark and Eerie...
Killers and Demons
Ruined City
Passing Fancies
And for those of you looking for freebies, these three offerings are always free for the downloading:
Twisted Shorties
Existence
Even the Paranormal Play Sports
And as soon as the price change trickles down through the lines of distributing, these books will be discounting at other online retailers like Kobo and Barnes and Noble as well.
They're great gifts for lovers of horror and dark fantasy, or perfect as the next addition to your own to-read list.
So, from today until the end of the month (or the end of the world, whichever come first) every ebook I have listed on Smashwords will be just .99 cents.
Here's a list of the books:
Gothic Cavalcade
Once Upon a Dark and Eerie...
Killers and Demons
Ruined City
Passing Fancies
And for those of you looking for freebies, these three offerings are always free for the downloading:
Twisted Shorties
Existence
Even the Paranormal Play Sports
And as soon as the price change trickles down through the lines of distributing, these books will be discounting at other online retailers like Kobo and Barnes and Noble as well.
They're great gifts for lovers of horror and dark fantasy, or perfect as the next addition to your own to-read list.
November 29, 2012
Steampunk in Space: A Review of Abattoir in the Aether
My Book Review of Abattoir in the Aether:
Abattoir in the Aether by L. Joseph Shosty is very fine sci-fi space adventure, served up in
a smart steampunk style. It was an enjoyable read, a lovely mix of fantasy,
steampunk and science fiction blended to distinction.
The book is the fourth in the Space: 1889 & Beyond series,(each book penned by a different
author), but is written so you can read it as a stand-alone book (although
after reading this one, I am quite curious about the rest of the series). It continues
the adventures of Nathanial Stone and Annabelle Somerset -beginning with
the rescue of their crippled space flyer- as they become the slightly unwilling
guests on a heliograph station in solar orbit between Earth and Mars. The pair
must unearth the sinister secrets of this place, before they, the station and
all its inhabitants are sucked into an aether space vortex.
I thoroughly delighted in reading this book. The author took
anachronistic history and Victorian science fiction and created a fascinating
and full-blown steampunk setting that makes its own perfect fictional bubble of
reality. Add to that some wonderfully interesting characters, very Victorian villains,
a well-rendered plot full of nice twists and a great ending, it leaves you with a splendid
novel. I highly recommend Abattoir in the Aether to any fans of steampunk, or
anyone who likes a great read.
Abattoir in the Aether is available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Abattoir-Aether-Space-Beyond-ebook/dp/B006U44TS4/
Abattoir in the Aether by L. Joseph Shosty is very fine sci-fi space adventure, served up in
a smart steampunk style. It was an enjoyable read, a lovely mix of fantasy,
steampunk and science fiction blended to distinction.
The book is the fourth in the Space: 1889 & Beyond series,(each book penned by a different
author), but is written so you can read it as a stand-alone book (although
after reading this one, I am quite curious about the rest of the series). It continues
the adventures of Nathanial Stone and Annabelle Somerset -beginning with
the rescue of their crippled space flyer- as they become the slightly unwilling
guests on a heliograph station in solar orbit between Earth and Mars. The pair
must unearth the sinister secrets of this place, before they, the station and
all its inhabitants are sucked into an aether space vortex.
I thoroughly delighted in reading this book. The author took
anachronistic history and Victorian science fiction and created a fascinating
and full-blown steampunk setting that makes its own perfect fictional bubble of
reality. Add to that some wonderfully interesting characters, very Victorian villains,
a well-rendered plot full of nice twists and a great ending, it leaves you with a splendid
novel. I highly recommend Abattoir in the Aether to any fans of steampunk, or
anyone who likes a great read.
Abattoir in the Aether is available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Abattoir-Aether-Space-Beyond-ebook/dp/B006U44TS4/
November 13, 2012
Interview with Kikkina Rihki Destinu-Bantano
Today author Kikkina Rihki Destinu-Bantano stops by for an interview and to talk about her book, Angels in the City that Doesn't Sleep
Interview with Kikkina Rihki Destinu-Bantano
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself?
I am a New England (America) writer who graduated in 2009 from writing college. I decided to do this after I started to write my first saga when I was 15! It took me seven years to finally publish it! I love angels, I am inspired by angels.
Can you tell us a bit about your book, Angels in the City that Doesn't Sleep?
Here is the synopsis of the book:
My name is Chrysti Neopli. I am a fifteen year old New Yorker. For the most part
I am like any other teenager from New York. My parents are divorced and live in
two different states. My mother lives in New York and my father lives in Maine.
The only difference I have that most teenagers don’t share with me is that I am
an innovative living angel. I am not by the book at all. I was born as a living
angel and was raised in New York City as a human until I was eleven. That’s when
I found out I had blue wings and that I had powers most people could only dream
of. The truth is as an opportunity comes into my life I don’t want to go to
Heaven again. I had been to Heaven before and it didn’t end well. I really don’t
fit in there, just like I don’t fit in with anyone in New York either. I
constantly split between Heaven and New York. The only thing different this time
is the opportunity seems like it was given as a sign to make me deal with the
past which I have to make extremely hard decisions to save the future of my
friends.
How did the idea for the book begin?
The truth would be the fact I had just moved to a different town and everyone seemed to have forget about me. Inspired by angels and always loved the feathered wings, I decided to write about a girl who was always stuck in the middle of the fact she was a living angel, split between Heaven and New York.
Why did you decide on a teenager as a main character?
I think when I began writing it, this was the age bracket I was in and I could relate to her.
What first interested you in the fantasy genre?
I love to write fantasy genre because anything can happen and anything is possible. It isn’t like real life where you are stuck sometimes an ending to a story you wish never happened.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
The very first page! I always begin to write it and to me it will never sound perfect. I keep going at that first page for a very long time. I have in several cases rewrote the book because of the first page didn’t get the hype I wanted.
Can you tell us about your writing process? Do you have a certain writing routine?
I search for a lot of different pictures online, so I can visually picture them and describe them in my books. (For example, Azeen, a pure black tiger. I honestly never realized that there were such a thing)
Who has inspired you as an author?
I have been inspired by A LOT of great authors out there!! The one that really inspired me with his own story would be Ray Bradbury with the fact he kept writing and never stopped. People told him his books would never make it, and now they are classics!
What’s next for you?
I am going to continue writing the ‘Angels in the City that Doesn’t Sleep’ Series!
Author Bio:
Kikkina Rihki Destinu-Bantano was born and raised in Maine, where she lives a quiet life.
She began writing at a young age and at fifteen she wrote Angels in the City that Doesn't Sleep. She set it aside for years until she was twenty four and then decided
to have it published.
For more information on her books and more about Book Tours, Blog Tours,
Radio Interviews, and free book giveaways please check her out on Facebook or Google Plus
[image error]
Interview with Kikkina Rihki Destinu-Bantano
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself?
I am a New England (America) writer who graduated in 2009 from writing college. I decided to do this after I started to write my first saga when I was 15! It took me seven years to finally publish it! I love angels, I am inspired by angels.
Can you tell us a bit about your book, Angels in the City that Doesn't Sleep?
Here is the synopsis of the book:
My name is Chrysti Neopli. I am a fifteen year old New Yorker. For the most part
I am like any other teenager from New York. My parents are divorced and live in
two different states. My mother lives in New York and my father lives in Maine.
The only difference I have that most teenagers don’t share with me is that I am
an innovative living angel. I am not by the book at all. I was born as a living
angel and was raised in New York City as a human until I was eleven. That’s when
I found out I had blue wings and that I had powers most people could only dream
of. The truth is as an opportunity comes into my life I don’t want to go to
Heaven again. I had been to Heaven before and it didn’t end well. I really don’t
fit in there, just like I don’t fit in with anyone in New York either. I
constantly split between Heaven and New York. The only thing different this time
is the opportunity seems like it was given as a sign to make me deal with the
past which I have to make extremely hard decisions to save the future of my
friends.
How did the idea for the book begin?
The truth would be the fact I had just moved to a different town and everyone seemed to have forget about me. Inspired by angels and always loved the feathered wings, I decided to write about a girl who was always stuck in the middle of the fact she was a living angel, split between Heaven and New York.
Why did you decide on a teenager as a main character?
I think when I began writing it, this was the age bracket I was in and I could relate to her.
What first interested you in the fantasy genre?
I love to write fantasy genre because anything can happen and anything is possible. It isn’t like real life where you are stuck sometimes an ending to a story you wish never happened.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
The very first page! I always begin to write it and to me it will never sound perfect. I keep going at that first page for a very long time. I have in several cases rewrote the book because of the first page didn’t get the hype I wanted.
Can you tell us about your writing process? Do you have a certain writing routine?
I search for a lot of different pictures online, so I can visually picture them and describe them in my books. (For example, Azeen, a pure black tiger. I honestly never realized that there were such a thing)
Who has inspired you as an author?
I have been inspired by A LOT of great authors out there!! The one that really inspired me with his own story would be Ray Bradbury with the fact he kept writing and never stopped. People told him his books would never make it, and now they are classics!
What’s next for you?
I am going to continue writing the ‘Angels in the City that Doesn’t Sleep’ Series!
Author Bio:
Kikkina Rihki Destinu-Bantano was born and raised in Maine, where she lives a quiet life.
She began writing at a young age and at fifteen she wrote Angels in the City that Doesn't Sleep. She set it aside for years until she was twenty four and then decided
to have it published.
For more information on her books and more about Book Tours, Blog Tours,
Radio Interviews, and free book giveaways please check her out on Facebook or Google Plus
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November 1, 2012
Above Ground: A Blog Tour
As promised, A. M. Harte stops by on her Above Ground blog tour. Today, All Souls Day, she brings an excerpt from her new dark fantasy, Above Ground. Not only is she sharing a tantalizing tidbit to read, she comes bearing gifts, in the form of a Rafflecopter contest. So read on and then enter (the contest that is)...
Excerpt: Above Ground by A.M. Harte
The midday sun beat down on werewolf and girl
alike, withering the plants, sucking every ounce of moisture from the air.
Great clouds of red soil swirled upwards with every beat of the werewolf’s
paws, and within minutes Lilith’s cheeks were stinging from the heat and the
flecks of grit in the air. She pressed closer to his fur, jostled by each leap,
certain she would soon fall.
“Hey!” The wind tore the word out of her mouth.
“Hey you! Slow down!”
No response. Ahead there was nothing but open land.
A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed Lilith's suspicions: they were going
the wrong way. She tugged on the thick fur of Wolf’s neck, trying to steer him
towards the cliffs, but either he couldn't feel what she was doing or he was
ignoring her.
“Turn around! You’re going the wrong way!”
Wolf flicked back an ear but didn’t stop running.
With every passing moment the theatre—her only way back home—faded further into
the distance. Unless she wanted to remain stranded in the middle of nowhere, it
was time for drastic measures.
This was going to hurt.
She let go of Wolf’s neck. There was no time to
think. Lilith threw herself sideways and saw the ground rush up to meet her.
Her eyes squeezed shut. The air was kicked out of her, dust rising in a cloud
as she tumbled across the sandy soil.
It took a moment for Lilith to realise she had
stopped rolling. Dirt choked the inside of her nose and mouth, and her head was
still spinning, struggling to catch up. She kept still, winded. Her shoulder
ached and the oppressive heat made it almost impossible to move. A tall shrub
obstructed her line of sight, yet she could feel Wolf looming.
Lilith flexed her right leg, then the left. Her
fingers curled into the dirt, her shoulders rolled obligingly. Nothing broken.
She sat up carefully. Her clothes were streaked
with red dust and her palms stung. She
wiped her hands on her jeans as she stood slowly, legs trembling. Then she
forced herself to turn around and say, “I asked you to take me home.”
The werewolf ignored her—or, more likely, didn’t
understand. He stood still, ears pricked forward, tail up, staring warily in
the direction from which they had come. A vast expanse of barren earth
separated them from the theatre, its domed roof reflecting the sunlight. At
this distance the building was no longer impressive; it was not, as Lilith had
initially thought, reaching towards the sky. Instead it huddled at the base of
the cliff face, cowering into the ground.
The enormity of the situation struck her: she was
above ground.
This was unchartered
territory, the heart of wilderness: the land stretched out uninterrupted in
every direction, and the sky above was a flat, endless blue. Not even the
largest of caves in the Lower Halls could compare to the infinity of the sky.
Even the air was different, drier, as if someone had left the dehumidifier on
all night—but up here there were no dehumidifiers. Above ground, there were
only monsters.
Above Ground
The first glimpse of sun may be her last.
When Lilith Gray goes above ground for the first time, she hardly
expects to stay there — much less be trapped on the surface with no way
home.
Hunted by trackers and threatened by the infected, Lilith is on the
run, desperate to return underground. Her only hope for survival lies
with a taciturn werewolf with a dark agenda of his own.
Lilith’s old carefree life has been reduced to one choice:
Adapt. Or die trying.
Author Bio:
A.M. Harte writes twisted speculative fiction, such as the post-apocalyptic Above Ground and the zombie love anthology Hungry For You.
She is excellent at missing deadlines, has long forgotten what ‘free
time’ means, and is utterly addicted to chocolate. She lives in London, a
city not half as foggy as some seem to think.
You can find her Above Ground blog tour schedule here: http://amharte.com/aboveground/
RaffleCopter Contest:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Excerpt: Above Ground by A.M. Harte
The midday sun beat down on werewolf and girl
alike, withering the plants, sucking every ounce of moisture from the air.
Great clouds of red soil swirled upwards with every beat of the werewolf’s
paws, and within minutes Lilith’s cheeks were stinging from the heat and the
flecks of grit in the air. She pressed closer to his fur, jostled by each leap,
certain she would soon fall.
“Hey!” The wind tore the word out of her mouth.
“Hey you! Slow down!”
No response. Ahead there was nothing but open land.
A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed Lilith's suspicions: they were going
the wrong way. She tugged on the thick fur of Wolf’s neck, trying to steer him
towards the cliffs, but either he couldn't feel what she was doing or he was
ignoring her.
“Turn around! You’re going the wrong way!”
Wolf flicked back an ear but didn’t stop running.
With every passing moment the theatre—her only way back home—faded further into
the distance. Unless she wanted to remain stranded in the middle of nowhere, it
was time for drastic measures.
This was going to hurt.
She let go of Wolf’s neck. There was no time to
think. Lilith threw herself sideways and saw the ground rush up to meet her.
Her eyes squeezed shut. The air was kicked out of her, dust rising in a cloud
as she tumbled across the sandy soil.
It took a moment for Lilith to realise she had
stopped rolling. Dirt choked the inside of her nose and mouth, and her head was
still spinning, struggling to catch up. She kept still, winded. Her shoulder
ached and the oppressive heat made it almost impossible to move. A tall shrub
obstructed her line of sight, yet she could feel Wolf looming.
Lilith flexed her right leg, then the left. Her
fingers curled into the dirt, her shoulders rolled obligingly. Nothing broken.
She sat up carefully. Her clothes were streaked
with red dust and her palms stung. She
wiped her hands on her jeans as she stood slowly, legs trembling. Then she
forced herself to turn around and say, “I asked you to take me home.”
The werewolf ignored her—or, more likely, didn’t
understand. He stood still, ears pricked forward, tail up, staring warily in
the direction from which they had come. A vast expanse of barren earth
separated them from the theatre, its domed roof reflecting the sunlight. At
this distance the building was no longer impressive; it was not, as Lilith had
initially thought, reaching towards the sky. Instead it huddled at the base of
the cliff face, cowering into the ground.
The enormity of the situation struck her: she was
above ground.
This was unchartered
territory, the heart of wilderness: the land stretched out uninterrupted in
every direction, and the sky above was a flat, endless blue. Not even the
largest of caves in the Lower Halls could compare to the infinity of the sky.
Even the air was different, drier, as if someone had left the dehumidifier on
all night—but up here there were no dehumidifiers. Above ground, there were
only monsters.
Above Ground
The first glimpse of sun may be her last.
When Lilith Gray goes above ground for the first time, she hardly
expects to stay there — much less be trapped on the surface with no way
home.
Hunted by trackers and threatened by the infected, Lilith is on the
run, desperate to return underground. Her only hope for survival lies
with a taciturn werewolf with a dark agenda of his own.
Lilith’s old carefree life has been reduced to one choice:
Adapt. Or die trying.
Author Bio:
A.M. Harte writes twisted speculative fiction, such as the post-apocalyptic Above Ground and the zombie love anthology Hungry For You.She is excellent at missing deadlines, has long forgotten what ‘free
time’ means, and is utterly addicted to chocolate. She lives in London, a
city not half as foggy as some seem to think.
You can find her Above Ground blog tour schedule here: http://amharte.com/aboveground/
RaffleCopter Contest:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Coffin Hop: The Aftermath
The Coffin Hop is through and we little monsters have crawled back to our writing holes. But there are still a few orders of business, namely the contest winners:
Winner of the signed copy of The Cult of Me by Michael Brookes: Katy S.
Winner of the Death by Drive-In sampler: wwe11
Winner of my three ebook package of Gothic Cavalcade, Ruined City and Killers and Demons (via free Smashwords coupon codes): K. N. Porter
And if you entered The Karen Dales contest be sure to check in with her Facebook page.
Congratulations to all the winners!
I'll be passing the the winner's names along to Michael Brookes and to Axel Howerton (who's in charge of the Death by Drive-In sampler) and contacting the winner of my contest. So keep a eye on your email.
And thanks to all the visitors, and participants it was a great Hop. Don’t forget to return tomorrow for an All Soul’s Day post, when A. M. Harte brings you an excerpt from her new book, Above Ground.
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October 30, 2012
How Nightmares Can Come True
Today, this last day of CoffinHop, I bring you a guest post by A.M. Harte, author of the zombie love anthology, Hungry For You, and her latest dark fantasy, Above Ground.
How Nightmares Can Come True
I had a dream three years ago.
A nightmare, actually.
Alone in a darkened theatre, I watched a group of people come on stage. They looked human. Lean bodies, white teeth, the spotlights lengthening their shadows to grotesque proportions.
When the lights went out, the screaming started.
First one voice, then two, needle-sharp cries melding together. Then came the sickly snapping of breaking bones. I covered my ears but could not escape from the sound. The darkness on the stage was thick, impenetrable, coating my nose and eyes and mouth. But even though I couldn't see what was happening, deep inside of me I knew: their bodies were mutating.
Fast forward three years, and I have just published Above Ground, the very novel that nightmare inspired. My nightmare has come true--for my main character, that is.
I have a love-hate relationship with horror. I loathe nightmares, avoid horror films, and disdain scary books. My first release, Hungry For You, gave me nightmares about zombies for weeks. After writing a chapter of an in-progress novel about demons, I couldn't (and still can't!) look at a mirror in a dark room.
Yet despite my being an utter wuss, I continue to use elements of fear to fuel my writing. So what is it about horror that appeals to me?
Simply put, I think that the dark sides of human nature are the most fascinating. Fear changes people; it can make them do things they'd never have thought possible. It's a test of your character, of your survival instincts.
A writer should write what they know, and fear is one of the emotions that resonates the most with me. I scare easily, so when I'm putting a piece of myself into a story, fear is one of the easiest emotions to access.
Besides, it's kind of fun to see my nightmares come true. Especially when they're not happening to me!
Author Bio:
A.M. Harte writes twisted speculative fiction, such as the dark fantasy series Above Ground and the zombie love anthology Hungry For You. She is excellent at missing deadlines, has long forgotten what ‘free time’ means, and is utterly addicted to chocolate. You are welcome to gently pester her at http://amharte.com or on twitter at @am_harte.
And please return on Nov. 2nd, when A.M. Harte makes a return appearance for her Above Ground blog tour, bringing an excerpt from her book.
Plus, be sure to pop by tomorrow for the announcement of the winner of the copy of The Cult of Me by Michael Brookes and to get the free coupon codes for Killers and Demons and Ruined City.
[image error]
How Nightmares Can Come True
I had a dream three years ago.
A nightmare, actually.
Alone in a darkened theatre, I watched a group of people come on stage. They looked human. Lean bodies, white teeth, the spotlights lengthening their shadows to grotesque proportions.
When the lights went out, the screaming started.
First one voice, then two, needle-sharp cries melding together. Then came the sickly snapping of breaking bones. I covered my ears but could not escape from the sound. The darkness on the stage was thick, impenetrable, coating my nose and eyes and mouth. But even though I couldn't see what was happening, deep inside of me I knew: their bodies were mutating.
Fast forward three years, and I have just published Above Ground, the very novel that nightmare inspired. My nightmare has come true--for my main character, that is.
I have a love-hate relationship with horror. I loathe nightmares, avoid horror films, and disdain scary books. My first release, Hungry For You, gave me nightmares about zombies for weeks. After writing a chapter of an in-progress novel about demons, I couldn't (and still can't!) look at a mirror in a dark room.
Yet despite my being an utter wuss, I continue to use elements of fear to fuel my writing. So what is it about horror that appeals to me?
Simply put, I think that the dark sides of human nature are the most fascinating. Fear changes people; it can make them do things they'd never have thought possible. It's a test of your character, of your survival instincts.
A writer should write what they know, and fear is one of the emotions that resonates the most with me. I scare easily, so when I'm putting a piece of myself into a story, fear is one of the easiest emotions to access.
Besides, it's kind of fun to see my nightmares come true. Especially when they're not happening to me!
Author Bio:
A.M. Harte writes twisted speculative fiction, such as the dark fantasy series Above Ground and the zombie love anthology Hungry For You. She is excellent at missing deadlines, has long forgotten what ‘free time’ means, and is utterly addicted to chocolate. You are welcome to gently pester her at http://amharte.com or on twitter at @am_harte.
And please return on Nov. 2nd, when A.M. Harte makes a return appearance for her Above Ground blog tour, bringing an excerpt from her book.
Plus, be sure to pop by tomorrow for the announcement of the winner of the copy of The Cult of Me by Michael Brookes and to get the free coupon codes for Killers and Demons and Ruined City.
[image error]
October 29, 2012
My Favourite TV Vampires and Slayers
As some of you may know I am a huge sci-fi and fantasy geek, so today I’m indulging that side of me and having a little bit of fun with listing some of my favourite TV vampires and their slayers.
A Taste of Vampires
My latest vampire obsession is the character of Hal, from BBC’s version of Being Human. Very OCD, and even more dangerous, this English vamp is fanglicious and gets extra points on the hotness scale for the accent.
Angel and Spike (from Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Joss Whedon’s vampire creations are delightfully delicious on their own, but when paired together they are a perfect combination.
Mick St. John (from Moonlight)
What can I say, vampire private investigators are hot, and this one sizzles.
Damon and Stefan Salvatore (from the Vampire Diaries)
The Salvatore brothers are wickedly appealing and easy on the eyes. They’re definitely a duo to die for.
Marcus Van Sciver (Neil Jackson from Blade: The Series)
Blade: the Series may have been an obsurce show that lasted one season, but it did have the intriguing vampire character, Marcus Van Sciver. Ostensively a villain, he nevertheless had some interesting depth and sympathetic traits. Plus he was a scheming scoundrel and that’s always fun.
And now for a few of the best TV Slayers
Dean and Sam Winchester (Jenson Ackles and Jared Padalaki from Supernatural).
You can’t have one without the other. These two are the sexiest, most dangerous duo to keep the world safe from demons, vampires and all the things that go bump in the night.
Buffy (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
The Buffster rules as the kick-ass slayer, taking on all comers. The reigning Queen of the monster hunters.
Blade (from Blade: The Series)
As stated above I have a soft spot for this show, but whether he was in comic books, movies or TV, Blade was one tough vampire killer.
And one last video in wish fulfilment:
(Disclaimer: None of these videos are mine and all credit for these videos goes to their creators. Feel free to check them out on YouTube.)
Thus ends fun with the vampires. Please visit more CoffinHoppers for more amusement. See the complete list at the bottom of my blog. And be sure to check out the Coffin Hop Store for more goodies.
[image error]
A Taste of Vampires
My latest vampire obsession is the character of Hal, from BBC’s version of Being Human. Very OCD, and even more dangerous, this English vamp is fanglicious and gets extra points on the hotness scale for the accent.
Angel and Spike (from Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Joss Whedon’s vampire creations are delightfully delicious on their own, but when paired together they are a perfect combination.
Mick St. John (from Moonlight)
What can I say, vampire private investigators are hot, and this one sizzles.
Damon and Stefan Salvatore (from the Vampire Diaries)
The Salvatore brothers are wickedly appealing and easy on the eyes. They’re definitely a duo to die for.
Marcus Van Sciver (Neil Jackson from Blade: The Series)
Blade: the Series may have been an obsurce show that lasted one season, but it did have the intriguing vampire character, Marcus Van Sciver. Ostensively a villain, he nevertheless had some interesting depth and sympathetic traits. Plus he was a scheming scoundrel and that’s always fun.
And now for a few of the best TV Slayers
Dean and Sam Winchester (Jenson Ackles and Jared Padalaki from Supernatural).
You can’t have one without the other. These two are the sexiest, most dangerous duo to keep the world safe from demons, vampires and all the things that go bump in the night.
Buffy (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
The Buffster rules as the kick-ass slayer, taking on all comers. The reigning Queen of the monster hunters.
Blade (from Blade: The Series)
As stated above I have a soft spot for this show, but whether he was in comic books, movies or TV, Blade was one tough vampire killer.
And one last video in wish fulfilment:
(Disclaimer: None of these videos are mine and all credit for these videos goes to their creators. Feel free to check them out on YouTube.)
Thus ends fun with the vampires. Please visit more CoffinHoppers for more amusement. See the complete list at the bottom of my blog. And be sure to check out the Coffin Hop Store for more goodies.
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