Raven Bower's Blog, page 4

Interview with Author T.J. Brown ~ Summerset Abbey Release!

 

Visiting the blog today is T.J Brown, author of Summerset Alley. I’ve always admired Teri, she’s a fantastic writer who juggles a full life and many responsibilities besides.

Welcome Teri and congratulations on your newest release!

Thanks for having me!

When you first entered the publishing world, what was the one thing about the industry that you didn’t expect?

Like many other authors, I don’t think I expected the industry to change and reinvent itself so quickly. E-books and E-readers evolved very quickly from almost unusable to incredibly user friendly. I watch as some publishers scramble to keep up, while others break new ground almost every year. It’s been a wild ride as authors have more choices than ever and have a greater degree of control. I didn’t expect it.

You always seem to have a lot on your schedule, how do you juggle everything and all things writing related?

HA! I don’t feel as if I juggle really well. This past year has been crazy, between cancer treatments and deadlines, I feel like I have been on a hamster wheel. I keep saying, I can rest in March (after my last deadline), but you know what? I have already pitched a novella, and plan on pitching a fourth book in the Summerset series. Plus, I’m thinking about my third book in my YA series and pitching an entire new adult historical series to my editor…it never ends!

The plot and characters for Summerset Abbey are intriguing! When you’re working on a story, does it start with a character idea, plot idea or…?

Usually, I start with a concept for a plot. Just a sketchy idea. Then the characters’ come. It’s rather like putting together a puzzle. And then my plot constantly changes and develops as I write. I’m not quite a seat of my pants writer, but the Summerset books have been unusually organic for me.

What area in writing tends to take you the most time and effort?

The first draft. It’s really difficult for me for me to put words on a blank page. I love collaborating with my editors and I love revising, but that blank page does freaks me the heck out! It’s like pulling teeth.

What was the most interesting nugget of information that you dug up while researching for Summerset Abbey?

I think one of the most interesting things I learned about was the Corrupt Coterie, a group of young aristocrats who did everything they could to shock the establishment. They drank, did drugs, threw wild parties… they were like the original teenagers! World war one decimated their ranks, but it looked like a wonderful party while it lasted.

 

TJ Brown is passionate about books, writing, history, dachshunds and mojitos. If she could go back in time, she would have traveled back to England, 1910, Paris, 1927 or Haight-Ashbury, 1967. She resides in the burbs of Portlandia, where she appreciates the weirdness, the microbreweries, hoodies, Voodoo Donuts and the rain.

You can stalk Teri at these sites:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Summerset Abbey

1913: In a sprawling manor on the outskirts of London, three young women seek to fulfill their destinies and desires amidst the unspoken rules of society and the distant rumblings of war. . . .

Rowena Buxton

Sir Philip Buxton raised three girls into beautiful and capable young women in a bohemian household that defied Edwardian tradition. Eldest sister Rowena was taught to value people, not wealth or status. But everything she believes will be tested when Sir Philip dies, and the girls must live under their uncle’s guardianship at the vast family estate, Summerset Abbey. Standing up for a beloved family member sequestered to the “under class” in this privileged new world, and drawn into the Cunning Coterie, an exclusive social circle of aristocratic “rebels,” Rowena must decide where her true passions—and loyalties—lie.

Victoria Buxton

Frail in body but filled with an audacious spirit, Victoria secretly dreams of attending university to become a botanist like her father. But this most unladylike wish is not her only secret. Now, Victoria has stumbled upon a family scandal that, if revealed, has the potential to change lives forever…

Prudence Tate

Prudence was lovingly brought up alongside Victoria and Rowena, and their bond is as strong as blood. But by birth she is a governess’s daughter, and to the lord of Summerset Abbey, that makes her a commoner who must take her true place in society—as ladies maid to her beloved “sisters.” But Pru doesn’t belong in the downstairs world of the household staff any more than she belongs upstairs with the Buxton girls. And when a young lord catches her eye, she begins to wonder if she’ll ever truly carve out a place for herself at Summerset Abbey…

Other books in the series:

A BLOOM IN WINTER (Summerset Abbey #2) March 5, 2013

SPRING AWAKENING (Summerset Abbey #3) August 6, 2013

 

Movie Review ~ Demon Hunter

 

 

Title: Demon Hunter

Director: Scott Ziehl

Genre: Horror, Supernatural Horror, Satanic

Rating: 3 bats

Generally speaking, I enjoy this genre and the stories portrayed of fell angels infiltrating human society. The movie was fun to watch and the main character, the demon hunter Jacob, was interesting. Sean Patrick Flannery brought realism to his role as a half-demon in the service of the Catholic Church.

The other actors were less than stellar, particularly the demon and succubus characters. They failed to instill a sense of danger or urgency because they always seemed so flippant and dispassionate about their goals. Instead, they seemed bored and as such, bored the daylights out of me.

If you’re okay with turning off your inner critic and brain, this movie is watchable and the dialog is fairly well written.

However, if blatant errors in commonly known philosophy bother you – then you may have issues with this film. I don’t do spoilers, so I’m not going to point the errors out here. Suffice it to say, the entire story line is grounded in error, even the hero’s inner conflicts are riddled with glitches. It was obvious that the screenwriter and/or director did no research into the field of demonic possession and demons before shooting this film. That or they ignored it, to their peril.

I found it difficult to overlook these flaws in basic philosophy and reasoning.

Also, the ending was…yeah. If you watch it, you’ll see what I mean. Without giving away too much, if a gun can’t kill a demon…how can strangling one kill it?

This film has many saucy scenes, it’s not one to watch with the kids.

Movie Review ~ Apartment 143

 

 

Title: Apartment 143

Director: Carles Torrens

Genre: Horror, Found Footage, Supernatural Horror

Rating: 2 Bats

The best word for this movie is – predictable.  It’s obvious from the beginning who has issues (sorry, no spoilers here!) and one has a very strong idea of how the movie will unfold. There’s no twists and although there’s a lot action compared to a lot of found footage films – it doesn’t quite make up for the dull characters. Granted, in found footage films characters aren’t generally the focus but still, in most there’s at least one character that pops  or is likeable – no such luck here.

Pacing needed work. Though the setting was grungy, I didn’t find the movie to be creepy or scary. The creepiest scene in the entire movie is showcased on the DVD cover.

I did however, like how it ended and left the viewer wondering if the doctor’s assessment was right – or wrong.

Gothic Christmas ~ Give the Gift of the World!

This Christmas, give the gift of worlds!

Each book you give not only supports authors and the art of writing, but also gives your friend or loved one the the gift of delving into new worlds, discovering characters to love or hate, experiencing adventure, love, passion, hate and chaos! What more could one ask for?

 

 

 

Subterranean by James Rollins

Beneath the ice at the bottom of the Earth is a magnificent subterranean labyrinth, a place of breathtaking wonders—and terrors beyond imagining. A team of specialists led by archaeologist Ashley Carter has been hand-picked to explore this secret place and to uncover the riches it holds. But they are not the first to venture here—and those they follow did not return. There are mysteries here older than time, and revelations that could change the world. But there are also things that should not be disturbed—and a devastating truth that could doom Ashley and the expedition: they are not alone.

 

Rides a Dread Legion by Raymond Feist

 

The remnants of the Clan of the Seven Stars are returning to their long abandoned homeworld . . . but not as friends. The elves, led by the conjurer Laromendis, flee the relentless demon hordes sweeping through their galaxy—and the conquest of war-weary Midkemia is the Clan’s sole hope for survival . . . if the Dread Legion does not pursue them through the rift.

The magician Pug knows what horrors will surely follow the elven invasion, for slaughter alone will sate Demon King Maarg’s minions. For the death tide to be turned, Midkemia’s constant defender must somehow unite bitter foes and vengeful former lovers—because failure to do so will mean annihilation.

 

 

 

The Jealousy Glass by Gwen Perkins

“We came to stop a war before it came to Cercia. And it seems the war has come to us.”

Responsibility and patriotism spur Cercia’s new leader, Quentin, to protect his beloved country at all costs and he assigns Asahel and Felix to serve as ambassadors and secret agents to Anjdur. Their journey quickly turns awry and Asahel and Felix barely escape a devastating shipwreck, walk a tightrope of political tension, and rescue an empress before they learn they must face an enemy closer to them than they thought.Will they be able to uncover an assassin’s plot before it’s too late? Will Asahel be able to unearth a secret that is vital to their mission? Will Cercia survive its own revolution? In The Jealousy Glass, Perkins boldly continues a series of unforgettable characters and events that will leave you begging for more.


See book one, The Universal Mirror as well!

 

 

 

Medusa a Love Story by Sasha Summers

It’s said love can change a person. Medusa wasn’t always a monster…

Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She’s no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves… and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.

Ariston goes to war with a full heart… and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.

Poseidon will use Greece’s war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.

 

 

Perpetual Light by Jordan K. Rose

Fate is cruel. Especially when the one you’ve sworn to love for all eternity, the very soul who changed your destiny is the last person you should trust.

After more than three hundred years of running, Lucia Dicomano must make a choice.

Forced to take her place as a Pharo of Redemption, the divine slayer needs to master her forgotten powers. Lucia turns to Vittorio, the one vampire she’s failed to deliver from eternal damnation. But overcoming smoldering remnants of love, lust and anger aren’t their only obstacles.

Samuel, who may know Lucia better than she knows herself, hunts her with a fervor stoked by a thousand years of vengeful hatred. His plan—capture and enslave the weakened Pharo then take control of her elusive power.

Can Lucia trust Vittorio long enough to reclaim her powers? Or will she have no choice but to kill him and battle Samuel alone?

 

 

 

Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra

Margred is a Selkie—a legendary being of the sea, able to shapeshift into seductive human form. And she has found a human she desires…

Burned out from the big city, Caleb Hunter becomes police chief on the peaceful Maine island of World’s End. Then he meets a woman who’s everything he’s ever dreamed of…

Their passion is undeniable, irresistible—and it may change the fate of humankind.

Homemade Gothic Christmas Ornaments with Sara’s Soaks!

 

Our guest today is Sara from Sara’s Soaks talking about making homemade gothic Christmas ornaments. They’re really cool!

Take it away Sara!

Sara: We have decked our halls with black and red for a very Gothic Christmas.  I will tell you I’m not exactly a planner.  My family thinks I am but I’m very much a wing-it sort of person.  I just have enough of a plan so I can figure out the direction I want to go in but everything else just falls into place.

I will, also, say that while I’m a creative person, I’m not a great crafter or artist.  I seem to always produce something that looks like a preschooler put it together.  When something comes out looking a little more mature then I have to share. 

Back in November, the plan was for the same old Christmas decorations that we do every year.  I just wasn’t as inspired as I had hoped.  Then I read Hopeless, Maine .  The art is amazing.  It’s dark and bleak but there’s something about the art out of context that offers this irony that I wanted to capture.  I wanted to make something with that art. 

 I saw a collection of gift tags on the Tim Holtz blog and got to thinking.  The work was steampunkish but so classic.  I wasn’t sure how I’d recreate those tags and still incorporate the Hopeless, Maine artwork. 

 I don’t have a lot of supplies so I went to the local scrapbooking store and found a stencil of gears (around $5).  I figured for that price I could learn something. 

 I wanted an end result that was aged and yet crisp.  I started with white cardstock in 12×12.  Then I took a plain black tea bag, got it wet and dabbed it on the paper.

 

 

 The tea gave the paper an aged look.  Any time you add something really wet to paper, it will warp it.  That’s easily fixed, to a degree, with a quick ironing.

 From there, I painted on the stencil with black paint.

 

 

I played with how dark I applied the paint.  I actually think the bottom right corner is my favorite since the gears are less perfect than the other corners.  All this work was for the background so it didn’t need to be absolutely perfect.

 I don’t have pictures of the next step but it’s easy to imagine.  I collected all the pictures I wanted to use in a word file then printed with a laser printer.  If you have an ink jet printer, then I recommend getting the pictures photocopied.  Ink jet printers lay the ink on the paper and run when applying glue or paint.

 I printed in black and white then added color with colored pencils.  Most of the Hopeless, Maine drawings are in black and white or sepia tones so this didn’t take anything away from the pictures.  I started with just adding color as it was in the original but some pictures I added just a little more color such as pink for lips or blue for eyes.

 From here, I raided my craft supplies – cardstock in a variety of colors, ribbon, beads, scrapbooking die cuts.  I looked for anything that might go with what I was making, which at this point was still in question.  I had originally thought book marks but as I sat down to put it all together, I knew I was making Christmas ornaments.

 At this point, I have few instructions since all I did was cut cardstock and layered it under the pictures.  I didn’t use as much of the gear paper as I had thought I would.

 

 This row of pictures became my smallest ornaments.  I cut in between the pictures and then added the ribbon.

 

 

Because they were small, I used decorative scissors to make the edges.  And for the one in the middle, I added a metal washer.  I had envisioned more washers until I found that I only owned the one metal one.  You may notice some black washers on some of the ornaments but they didn’t add as much as I would have liked.

 I did weave some ribbon through some of the cardstock.  To do this – use a hole punch to make holes at even-ish intervals.  You’ll notice I added a bit of tape to the end of the ribbon –this helps when weaving through several holes.  For one or two, I didn’t bother with the tape.

 

 This one is my favorite – it just looks like a Christmas decoration.  I took this picture before the beads were threaded on the end of the ribbon.  I used clear pony beads as accent. 

 

 

I just love Salamandra’s hair.  It’s always so wild.  This picture was so large, I ended up framing it in an 8×11.5 frame.  It’s going to become part of the permanent collection after the holidays.

 

 Here they are at the start of our decorating.  We don’t have space for a tree so all our ornaments hang on and around lighted garland that hangs around our living room. 

 

 

We added some black and red stars and Nightmare Before Christmas ornaments (printed from the Disney website). 

 Now because the book is just coming out in time for Christmas, I want to put out a small plug for Hopeless, Maine by Tom and Nimue Brown.  It’s a dark, steampunkish graphic novel set on a mythical island off the coast of Maine.  Take a minute to check out their website and see what it’s all about.  http://www.hopelessmaine.com/

 

 

Darkling Dolls for the Best in Creepy Cute Christmas Gifts!

 

Visiting the blog today is Michelle, from Darkling Designs. She creates these wonderfully creepy dolls like the handsome chap above.

I always thought that dolls were scary to begin with, but Michelle takes it to a beautiful new level.

So Michelle, inquiring minds want to know -

What inspired you to create Darkling Dolls?

Michelle: I’ve always been a fan of dark, macabre and gothic art. When I was a kid, I had dolls, but I always gave them “makeovers”. I guess this is just another, twisted version of that.

 

 

Do you make other things besides dolls?

Michelle: Yes, I make a few normal things like hair fascinators, brooches, etc. BUT, my true love is always going to be the darker things like the creepy cool dolls. I also write paranormal romances. You can check that out at www.michelle-clay.com if you want to.

If someone has a doll in mind, do you take custom orders to birth their idea into this world?

Michelle: Yes, definitely! I love a challenge. I’ve done several customs to date. Halloween, of course, was a huge deal. I did a few “dead” babies for a home haunt, zombies and even a wedding couple for a vampire wedding. Christmas is another biggie with all sorts of requests ranging from zombies, ghosts and everything in between.

 

 

 

Do you ever make several of a kind? Or is each Darkling a one-of-a-kind item?

Michelle: Each Darkling is a one-of-a-kind doll. The dolls I use are generally rescued from thrift stores and yard sales or little girls who dress them in all pink and force them to have tea parties. I even have family and friends out looking for babies now…

What is the creepiest doll you’ve ever made?

Michelle: First let me say, I do not like clowns. Never have, never will. That being said, the creepiest to date is Creeper Clown. He’s all bloody and sinister looking with huge, sharp teeth. Yikes!!

Have any of your creations (or those made for others) freaked you out? Why?

Michelle: There are two I get the most comments on. Decklin the zombie has maggots in his brain, eye and in the cut on his chest. People seem to be squeamish about the maggots. LOL

Raven note: yes…I can see why!

 

 

I see that the garb for the dolls are labeled as hand sewn – do you design these yourself? (Love Jacqueline the Ripper’s gown btw)

Michelle: Thank you, she’s one of the more elegant dolls and she’s all porcelain. Yes, the clothes are all hand sewn by me. I’ve never been too good at following directions or patterns so I find it’s easier to draw up my own and do it my own way.

What’s the best way for customers to find your dolls and other designs?

Michelle:The best way is to go to www.darklingdesigns.webs.com ~ I sell the Darklings on Etsy and you can see what’s current by going to: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarklingDesignz

Hop on over to Michelle’s site, Darkling Designs, for more photos and information!

Christmas at Paizo with James Sutter ~ Perfect Gifts for Gamers!

 

Celebrating a Gothic Christmas with us  is James Sutter – author of Death’s Heretic and senior editor at Paizo Publishing, creators of the  Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. This is a particularly exciting guest for us, weekend Pathfinder games are a family tradition you see. The kids even get their chores done early just to nab extra time rolling dice,  fighting beasties and enjoying our party’s pet goblin, Itchet’s, pranks!

 

 

Today James tells us a bit about Christmas at Paizo. Take it away James!

Paizo as a company has a variety of winter traditions, from the seemingly annual “we all got snowed in at the office and have to live off whatever food’s in our desks” to the far more pleasant “it snowed half an inch so I’m panicking and working from home.” There’s also the ever-popular Paizo Holiday Card with its absurd holiday-themed art and discounts for anybody with a paizo.com account. But by far the biggest holiday tradition for us is the Paizo Holiday Party. Once upon a time, that took place in the house of our owners, Vic Wertz and Lisa Stevens–a structure that is possibly the world’s greatest shrine to Star Wars not actively owned by George Lucas. Now that the company’s grown so much, however, we have it at a winery (with this year’s party featuring the first official goblin wine!). Though we’re all a bit older and calmer than we used to be–I was 20 when I started at Paizo eight years ago–putting all of us in a room together still results in some serious decibels, especially once you add in the traditional white elephant or secret Santa gift exchanges.

When it comes to our personal celebrations of Christmas/Hannukah/Festivus/Solstice/etc., most of us are pretty standard, spending that time hanging out with family and friends and eating a lot of food. (Our respective New Years’ parties are probably a bit more interesting–one year my roommates transformed the entire house into a steampunk dirigible, the HMS Incorrigible, with all the guests dressing up as its crew.) For us, the coolest and craziest thing about the holidays is probably the fans that decide to send us presents–check out these amazing goblin and flumph tree ornaments made for us by Amanda M!



Other than that, here’s what some of the team had to say about their holiday traditions:

“Does corrupting the next generation count? Every year I bring my nephews the coolest new board games, miniatures games, and RPGs I’ve dug up, making sure they get the chance to check them all out. Often the holiday ends up being too short and we don’t get to break out all of them. But the best is when, the following year, I return to the motherland, determined to play through last year’s overflow… only to find that those cunning tweens have mastered the games and are more than capable of schooling their unsuspecting uncle. I’m so proud.” ~Wes Schneider, Editor-in-Chief

“My Christmas Eve general consists of Chinese takeout and zombie movies.” ~Jenny Bendel, Marketing Director

“My parents live at the beach, so for the last few years, our whole family’s gone out with flashlights on Christmas Eve and turned over rocks in the tide pools, looking for the sort of aquatic monsters that only come out at night. There’s some seriously alien stuff in the ocean!” ~James L. Sutter, Fiction Editor

Happy holidays everyone, and thanks so much for being part of the Pathfinder community!

James L. Sutter

 

Thanks for joining us here today James, we appreciate all the hard work Paizo puts into making Pathfinder great. Happy Holidays to all of you guys!

Speaking of Pathfinder – Lain and I are gamers from back when the original Gygax was around and AD&D was first getting its scaly legs. Then we found Pathfinder and discovered it’s a lot like D&D 3.5, only better! It was the best investment we’ve made.

So for the gamer in your life, I can’t recommend these high enough.

 

This has everything you need to start playing. Excellent gift!

 

 

Spiffy time saver for the GM in your life, lots of goodies in here to throw at her victims...er...I mean Players.

 

 

The newest release from Pathfinder Tales by Dave Gross for the fantasy lover on your list!

 

Movie Review ~ Bait

 

 

Title: Bait

Director: Kimble Rendall

Genre: Horror / Creature Feature / action adventure

Rating: 5 bats

I’m a huge fan of shark movies, but what some directors in this genre are pawning off on their audiences is pure cheese & tripe. Thankfully, that’s not the case with Kimble Rendall’s Bait.

There were a few relatable characters to cheer for as well as loathsome and irritating ones that you wanted to see the sharks devour! Raw and wriggling as Gollum would say.

The acting was above par for this genre, the pace was even and shots well done. The story had background without getting too overwhelming, lots of emotion without falling into melodrama. It even had a original attacks on the sharks *grins* though I won’t say what they are – I have a No Spoiler rule in my reviews.

My only two complaints are that one of the irritating characters that I wanted to see ripped to wee bity shreds survived and some of the graphics at the end were shaky. I didn’t mark this movie down for those however, as I think they did a stellar job with the budget that they had.

A must see for any creature feature or nautical beasty fan!

Movie Review ~ Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

 

Title: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

Genre: Horror / Creature Feature / action adventure

Rating: 5 bats

When I saw that Tim Burton was involved in this movie it became a must see. *loves Burton’s style* Yet, he didn’t direct it so I wasn’t quite sure how well Timur would pull off mixing vampires, horror and period film.

Turns out, this movie exceeded my original expectations.

The characters were well drawn, exciting and REAL! Not the card-board cut-out blehness that comes with some modern horror. They had real issues outside of the vampire threat and existed outside of the storyline.

There was blood, but it wasn’t over-the-top gory, which is a definite plus. Gore for gore’s sake a bad movie makes. 

The FX were fitting, used when needed but not a constant barrage of ‘look at our spiffiness and FX genius’. Bravo for keeping it in context Timur!

The storyline was engaging, a cool mix of suspense, horror and mysterious twists. I really love how they tied in the deaths of the two main vamps with emotional events in the story.

The very end of it leaves me wondering – will we see a modern version of this story by this team? If so, that’d rock!

This is another movie that I’ll be watching again…and again…and likely…yet again!

December’s Gothic Christmas!

 

It’s that time of year!

People are frenzied and stores are churning with people.

This year, Lain and I decided to do something a bit different that we’d like to share with you. A Gothic Christmas!

Choosing decorating schemes for Christmas is as fun and individual as choosing themes for our house in general. If we’re going to do it, it may as well fit our unique style – after all, we’re the ones who have to see it all the time and deal with hassle of set up and take down.

I pondered a few different colored trees ranging from black, to red, to purple to white. Normally, I’m not a white person (who’d have guessed?) so I almost dismissed the idea of a white tree. However, our living room themes are charcoal grays, deep reds and black and so, most of my favorite colors would blend in too much.

I chose white so it popped against the charcoal walls and black couches.

 

 

 

Then we deboucherized the white! Muaha

Because its an artificial tree, regular garland would be a little too ‘fluffy’ and same old in comparison with the ‘needles’ of the tree. Instead, we contrasted the needles with a mid-width black satin ribbon. As a side note, I might choose a thicker black ribbon next year, for now the mid will do.

 

 

 

(That’s our son Gabe, magician extraordinaire, pretending he made the tree appear out of thin air!)

We also took red velvet curly ribbon (originally for gift-wrapping), broke it up and hung it in tendrils to contrast with the needles and the satin. The thin black feathers add yet another layer of texture. To make these, I used craft feathers and wrapped them together in threes with black thread – super easy!

We also cut apart red berry branches and stuck them within the boughs for added pop. You can’t see the crystals very well in the photos, but the bigger berry branches have crystal clusters that shine nicely in the clear lights.

 

 

 

 

Then, we added the glittering balls and icicles in silver and gold to add some metallic gleam.

And what would a gothic Christmas tree be without – spiders? Next year, I’ll be adding more spiders and maybe take the time to make them glittering metallic webs to lurk on.

Then, we topped the tree off with our crystalline entity (go Star Trek!) tree-topper! Let’s just hope it doesn’t start devouring everything!

 

 

 

 

 

Now we’re all set for our month of Gothic Christmas fun!

 

 

Shelob vs. the crystalline entity…who will win? Du du du du