Alexis Lantgen's Blog, page 14
October 7, 2019
The Sword of Betrayal by Robert Evert
Edris’s lay-about life of privilege ends abruptly when his father, Lord Elros, announces that his adolescent son will enter the military in the spring. Edris has only six months to ready himself to serve a king who despises his family and will undoubtedly make his life beyond miserable.
To prepare him, Lord Elros puts Edris through a brutal training regime. Not only does he demand Edris beat every man with whom he spars, but he also insists his son knock them unconscious—even if that means fighting dirty.
About to crack under the relentless pressure, the sensitive Edris seeks a way to get out from under his father’s heavy thumb. A solution presents itself when an announcement for the latest Kings’ Quest arrives. According to the royal proclamation, the adventurer who finds the fabled Sword of Betrayal will win one thousand gold pieces, money Edris could use to start his own life with the woman he loves.
Edris proposes to undertake the quest in order to get in better shape; however, Lord Elros has another idea—Edris will undertake the quest so he can get close to, and kill, the king’s son.
Excerpt
“As I was saying,” Edros went on, “the kings take turns selecting relics that have been lost throughout the ages or have been alluded to in tales. These can be anything from worthless trinkets to golden statues to ancient artifacts.”
“Why would the kings want worthless trinkets?” Edris asked.
“To prevent other kings from getting their covetous little hands on them.” Edros took a sip of wine and returned the goblet to the end table next to him. “Ed, kings don’t need rusty armor or ruby rings. These quests have nothing to do with the items themselves. The kings are playing a game against each other. They’re sending their adventurers out to compete. It’s all about honor. And to kings—”
“Honor is everything.”
“Precisely. There’s nothing more important to kings than their honor. And when you win, you win more than gold. You win favor…and power.”
Enter to win a free copy of The Sword of Betrayal now!
About the Author
By day, Robert Evert is an old and decrepit university professor who teaches hordes of smelly college students who rarely deign to look up from their damned phones to pay attention to the many brilliant and exciting things he has to say in class. By night, he is an aspiring writer.
Once young and idealistic and built like a skinny Norwegian god, Robert has been beaten down by time, pointless faculty meetings, and hundreds of students who repeatedly come up to him and ask: “I wasn’t in class last week. Did I miss anything?” He is now a shell of a man who sits in his darkened office sobbing while he waits patiently for Ragnarök.
When Robert isn’t daydreaming about walking through the streets of Bree or sitting in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, he writes fantasy stories which he reads to the critical acclaim of his two dogs and three cats.
His wife wants him to stop grumbling to himself and finish doing the dishes.
Find other books by Robert Evert!
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Saints and Curses
September 30, 2019
Book Review: Sunwielder by D. Wallace Peach
After I read D. Wallace Peach’s epic time travel fantasy, Sunwielder, I liked the book so much I actually recommended it to my friend and fellow writer, Sarah Mensinga. Knowing that indie authors love and need reviews, we both tried to post reviews on Amazon. Alas, the vagaries of the great God of ‘Zon struck. Because long ago I had let Sarah and her husband use my Amazon prime account for some purchases, the great ‘Zon thought that our reviews came from the closely related or the same accounts and took them both down. Disaster! Well, I thought I’d try to make it up to D. Wallace Peach and spread the word about her excellent and highly recommended book by posting both Sarah’s and my reviews on my blog instead (you can also find both reviews on Goodreads).
Buy Sunwielder
Sarah Mensinga’s Review of Sunwielder
I’d heard great things about D. Wallace Peach’s Sunwielder from a friend of mine, and it did not disappoint. The gritty time-travel fantasy book follows a humble farmer, Gryff, who is given the opportunity to repeat pivotal moments in his life so that he can make different, ideally better, choices.
The writing in Sunwielder is excellent, the world-building vast and complex, the characters easy to empathize with, and the plot a solidly woven, intricate knot of a story. I can only imagine that it was dizzying to keep track of what each character would remember at particular moments, but because D. Wallace Peach keeps all her plates spinning so expertly, it was never a confusing read.
I sometimes found the war scenes difficult to get through, but I suppose war is brutal and horrible. It was probably the right choice for Sunwielder to embrace those battles because combat profoundly changes Gryff and the world around him. It’s also clear that D. Wallace Peach did extensive research for the battle scenes, and that authenticity helps ground her story and the world it takes place in.
I love stories that take a single magical aspect and explore it thoroughly, so I found this book really enjoyable. I highly recommend it.
The beautiful cover design for D. Wallace Peach’s Sunwielder
My Review of Sunwielder
I really enjoyed this book. The author, D. Wallace Peach, creates an absolutely fascinating world and a very interesting main character. Once I got into it, I really wanted to find out what happened.
The sunwield is a bronze medallion that allows Gryff Worden to go back in time to pivotal moments in his life, to make new choices and find a better path. He starts his journey after his family is murdered, but in seeking to protect them from such a horrible fate, Gryff goes on an epic journey, becoming an entirely different man in the process, and radically changing not only his own life, but the lives of all the people around him.
Some things I really loved: the vivid characters, including Gryff and his friends. The different cultures, including the Edriisans, who believe that time is never a straight line, but that all choices are branching and woven threads that exist at all times. And while some reviewers didn't like having Gryff relive some parts of his life over again, I found it intriguing to see how all his choices played out.
If I had a criticism, I'd say that some of the battle scenes are a bit too long and complex, and sometimes it was hard to keep track of minor character's names. However, I think many fans of epic fantasy aren't bothered by battle scenes, so that might not bother many people.
Overall, I'd highly recommend this book to fans of epic fantasy and time travel fiction. It's a fascinating depiction of the way our choices can have such a profound impact on the world around us, even seemingly small choices.
Thank you for reading, and if you are interested in picking up an indie fantasy, check out D. Wallace Peach’s Sunwielder!
If you’re interested in reading more of my writing, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter using the form below! (See this month’s newsletter here).
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Saints and Curses
September 21, 2019
Saints and Curses is on sale this week! Also, Fall Fairy Tales and a New Review!
Well, it’s been an insane week at my regular job, but I’m so excited about all the things going on with my books right now! In particular, Saints and Curses is on sale this week for $0.99 (until Saturday, Sept. 28)!
In addition to the sale on Saints and Curses, I’m also having an Amazon giveaway for my first book, Sapience! You can enter to win a free copy by clicking the link and following my Amazon author account.
I’m also excited because Saints and Curses got another great review, this time from from writer and book blogger Jessica Belmont. My favorite quote:
The one thing all of these stories have in common? Beautiful settings, gripping plots, and believable characters.
Thank you to Jessica for her lovely and thoughtful review!
Check out these free, $0.99, and Kindle Unlimited Fall Fairy Tale Books!
Saints and Curses is also part of the Fall Fairy Tales Book Sale, hosted by Emerald Dodge. If you’re interested in books inspired by fairy tales, these books are all free, $0.99, or free in Kindle Unlimited until at least September 25!
I also have a new author interview available at Book Reader Magazine, so check it out!
I think I’m inspired by science, folklore, fairy-tales, and history. It’s amazing how much history reads like an unbelievably true novel. Right now, I’m listening to Ian Mortimer’s Edward III: The Perfect King on audible. It’s amazing how much Edward III’s life is like a fairy-tale, but a very dark, Hamlet-influenced one.
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SAints and Curses
September 16, 2019
Book Reviews: Wishes and Sorrows and The Best of Kate Elliot
Wishes and Sorrows is a collection of fantasy short stories by Cindy Lynn Speer. Like Black Swan, White Raven, many of the stories are retellings of fairy tales, although some are original. Many of the stories in Wishes are dark and complicated, revealing the downside of magical gifts.
On the whole, I enjoyed most of these stories, though I felt it would have been nice to mix up the tone of the stories a bit--most are quite dark, and a few light-hearted stories would have been a welcome change of pace. Still, many of the stories were delightfully creepy. I particularly enjoyed "The Train," which is a haunting and creepy retelling of Frankenstein. The "doctor" of that story is one of the most unsettling villains I've read in quite a while, especially considering the suggestion that the main character had escaped him before. Likewise, "Every Word I Speak" perfectly captured the downside of a fairy's ill-planned gift. Its harrowing premise is that the "gift" makes it impossible to tell who really cares for the main character, and who just wants riches.
Another excellent story, "But Can You Let Him Go?" travels through multiple versions of the Cinderella story, told from the point of view of Cinderella's fairy godmother. The fairy is trying to atone for her part in keeping Cinderella and her prince apart, but each story ends in tragedy until she can figure out how to set all of them free.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy short stories or fairy tale retellings. Some of the stories, like "The Train," are excellent science fiction as well.
The Very Best of Kate Elliott is a collection of science fiction and fantasy short stories as well as a handful of Elliot's essays on writing, fantasy, and having compassion. Many of the stories in this book are haunting and tense, with deeply evocative characters. "The Gates of Joriun" is one of the most taut, suspenseful fantasy stories I've read, and it's ambiguous ending leaves the reader yearning for more. Likewise, "A Memory of Peace" is a harrowing tale of growing up in the midst of a brutal war. Yet, Elliot's collection contains a wide variety of genres, settings, and tones, and several stories are lighthearted, even funny. "My Voice Is in my Sword" is breezy science fiction romp that takes place among a company of actors sent to perform "Macbeth" for an alien audience. Elliot creates the most odious narcissist I've ever read, then gives him a well-earned comeuppance.
In stories like "Leaf and Branch and Grass and Vine," Elliot skirts the line between tense drama and deeply ironic comedy. What else to say about a story where the main character, Anna, survives a treacherous ordeal because her enemies are so used to ignoring poor, middle-aged women that she can pass right by them unnoticed? The author turns the invisibility that society inflicts on older women and turns it into a powerful weapon.
A few stories fall short. "With God to Guard Her" seems like Elliot is trying to write a modern update on typical Medieval "virtuous female saint" stories. While I appreciate what she's trying to accomplish, the story doesn't quite work--It feels too methodical and predictable. I found the story "Sunseeker" a bit tedious as well.
But I enjoyed reading most of Elliot's stories, and the four essays were a treat as well. Her essay "The Omniscient Breast" was a funny take on a pervasive problem that too many writers and readers don't think about until it's pointed out to them. As a writer myself, I hope to stay aware of the male gaze and its effect on my writing. "And Pharaoh's Heart Hardened" is a heart-felt essay on the importance of treating people with kindness and compassion, especially people who've been oppressed. It's an important reminder that oppression like racism and sexism happen because people dehumanize others and harden their hearts against other people's suffering.
This is a book I'd recommend to anyone interested in a fresh take on science fiction or fantasy, and if you're a writer yourself, don't skip the essays!
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Saints and Curses
September 9, 2019
The Moonlight Pegasus: Book Spotlight
Sapphira is a desert world with little plant life, where the people live in the shadows of gray sunlight, sickened by the Dark Plague. To cure the people, the Guardian of Dreams sends the Spirit of Truth to bring the light back into his darkened world. In the form of Pegasus, he enters the world through the pure, innocent dreams of Selene, the reluctant princess and heir-apparent to the throne. Now, with her brother Dorian as king, another rebellion is stirring. All eyes are turning to Selene to bring peace through an arranged marriage. However, Selene only has eyes for her true love—her protector, Etoileon. As the rebellion unleashes its fury upon the kingdom of Sapphira and the supernatural forces collide, Selene is caught in the middle of all conflicts—the battle for her world, the battle for her love, and the battle for her very soul.
Check out The Moonlight Pegasus, a stand alone High Fantasy Novel from C.A. Sabol and C.S. Johnson!
Excerpt from The Moonlight Pegasus
Etoileon smiled as he pulled out his special gift for Selene—having taken Ronal’s earlier advice, he had a tiny bouquet of deep red ekedlets, small minuscule flowers that smelled like sweet fruit. The ekedlets were tied together with a small yellow ribbon. He’d thought that the small gift would be perfect for her. It had taken him a while to get them, too. He was only allowed into the city, along with the other members of the Palace crew, only twice a month. Etoileon was lucky that he’d known the streets well enough to know where to go so he could get back in time to escort Selene down to the ballroom entrance.
The city was crowded for the opening of the reception. Etoileon had run into more than one person trying to reach his destination, Madame Flora’s Shop. Though he had meant to hurry up, Etoileon slowed down to look around, amazed to see just how the streets had changed to him in so short a time.
He’d been raised on the streets, mostly all alone.
It had been a miracle that he had survived there, let alone to manage to get a job in the Diamond City Palace, considering a job at the palace was a highly coveted position in society. Middle class children often took jobs in the palace, using their connections to be introduced into the flashy world of riches and wealth. After a number of years, they were able to use their earned capital to be educated in the way of society. Using the skills they would acquire from training and teaching of their instructors and parents, the now young adults would be able to be placed in a position where it was likely for a marriage to be arranged or sought after.
Etoileon had none of this.
He had no parents, no real family, few allies … there were plenty of untrustworthy people, enemies, and dangers around every corner. All he had were survival skills, and the good fortune to happen to be in the right place at the right time. As Etoileon leaned back on the tower wall, he thought about the night that he’d met Selene. He did not get too lost in his memories. The Palace was beginning to feel more like home to him as time went on, and his memories of the darker times of his life were beginning to fade.
It was a moment later that the door opened and Selene walked into the Tower room as well.
“Etoileon,” she greeted him, her eyes quickly losing their flicker of surprise and replacing it with an expression of warmth. “I did not think you would be up here this early.”
“You are,” he pointed out, a small smile forming on his face.
“Well,” Selene blushed, “There was something I wanted to do before later.”
“You mean before I came?” Etoileon asked. “What was it?”
“Well … ” Her face had turned even redder, and she looked away as she reached behind her and pulled out a small bag. “I wanted to give this to you later, but I have no objections to giving it to you a little early.”
Etoileon looked down at the bag she placed delicately in his hand. It had been carefully prepared for him, he could tell. The bag was all dressed up, tiny curls of ribbons surrounding the drawstrings of the sack, and made from cheerfully colored fabric
Selene nodded. “Open it, Etoileon. It’s for you.”
Inside the bag, he found a small silver-framed photograph of Selene and him from a few years ago. It was when he had first undergone his training for the Fighter squad. Selene was sitting in front of him in the picture, while he was standing behind her. He could tell that his eyes had been focused on her; Etoileon figured that he must have missed the camera. His eyes examined the picture closely, running over Selene’s face again and again.
“I don’t remember this picture,” he said slowly.
“It's from the time that you came storming out of the Fighter’s training room, remember? You were not too happy, I recall. My memory of the reason has faded, but I remember thinking you needed me there,” she said in a hushed voice. “I still come to watch, sometimes.”
I still need you there, he thought. But he could not say that. So instead, he looked over at her intently, and said, “Thank you.”
“So you like it?” Her smile seemed to brighten up the entire evening sky.
“Very much,” he nodded. “That must’ve been the day that Master Norio told me in front of everyone that I had been poorly trained and it would be a miracle if I amounted to anything.”
Selene’s sad smile flitted to her lips. “Poor Master Norio. That has to be the most incorrect he’s ever been.”
Check out The Moonlight Pegasus on Amazon!
Or, enter to win a free copy on Rafflecopter!
About the Author:C. S. Johnson is the award-winning, genre-hopping author of several novels, including young adult sci-fi and fantasy adventures such as the Starlight Chronicles, the Once Upon a Princess saga, and the Divine Space Pirates trilogy. With a gift for sarcasm and an apologetic heart, she currently lives in Atlanta with her family. Find out more about the author on her website, on facebook, or on goodreads!
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Saints and Curses
September 2, 2019
My Latest Book News--Reviews, Interviews, and the Library!
In addition to the mini-book tour, I’ve also had some great online book promotion lately! I had a lovely interview with Dr. J, a book blogger who’s also reviewed both Sapience and Saints & Curses. Here’s my favorite quote (this is so me right now, even more so since school started and I’ve back at work):
Just keep going--read, write, don't beat yourself up, just keep going! Lots of great books took their authors years, even decades, to write. While I respect people who write quickly, if that's not you (and it's not me), just keep writing and you'll get there.
Even reading it again, it helps to remind myself that it gets better. Right now, at the start of a new school year, I’m bone-tired and stressed out, and I can' hardly get any writing done at all. But it will pass. Everyone will adjust to being back at school, we’ll find a good routine, and I’ll get my energy back. Someday. Right?
Saints and Curses also got lovely reviews from book bloggers GripLitGrl and Sarah Lillian! Here’s my favorite quote from GripLitGrl’s review:
I love how Lantgen put together these short stories with great balance the stories transition between dark and light magical fantasy. Each time one story ends you’ll be looking forward to reading the next one.
And here’s another quote from Sarah Lillian:
Although Erlkong was short, of course as it is part of a short story collection, it still made me cry. In a few pages Alexis hit me hard in the feels (in the best way).
I’m so glad that both bloggers enjoyed my book!
Sapience also got a book spotlight on a new book blog, Functionally Fictional, and Saints & Curses had a spotlight with an excerpt on K.M. Jenkins’ blog.
And of course, some of my big news! My books are both available in the public library in Carrollton, Texas! I had heard it could be a challenge to get books on the shelves of libraries, since many librarians are very picky about their collections. But as of now, both Sapience and Saints & Curses on the shelves! My experience at the Carrollton library was so easy and painless that I’m going to try for some more libraries soon. As soon as I’m adjusted enough to my teaching schedule that I don’t feel like my brain is being sucked out of a funnel by the end of the day:)
My books, Sapience and Saints & Curses, are on the shelves in my local library! It’s a writer’s dream come true!
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Saints and Curses
August 29, 2019
Six Very Short Stories (August 2019)
Here are six more of my very short stories! These are mostly scifi, with some dark stories that are more horror. I wrote them for the hashtags #vss365, #scififri, and #satsplat.
Safe HarborKenda fired up her ship's safe harbor beacon. A bright flash of light indicated a nearby SOS--injuries, low on fuel, no food. The distressed ship was cheap--a hardscrabble freighter like settler families used. No money for her troubles. She clicked "ignore."
GloryThey told him about bravery, loyalty, and patriotism. They told stories of glory and courage. But the end came in a muddy field, shivering, guts trembling. The pale horse that felled thousands of soldiers with the most ignoble death. He cried for his mother.
DoppelgangerShe leaned forward, as if she stared into a dark mirror. The other woman was identical, but not. A web of scars on one cheek, lips curled in a brutal scowl. A hand reached up and yanked her hair. She couldn't tell if the scream came from her, or the other.
MutationIt was a small mutation in an ordinary flu virus. Under an electron microscope they looked identical and early symptoms were the same. But the patients--after a week, their eyes bled, their skin erupted in weeping sores. They died choking on their own blood.
HavenThe suit could feel like a haven. Away from everyone else, floating in the dark, the soft glow of distant corals the only light. Jethon couldn't reach her. But it was an illusion. A layer of graphene and insulation wouldn't protect her from sharp spines or teeth.
They’re ComingShe slammed the door and slid the bolt into place. The front window shattered.
"You'll answer for what you've done, Witch!" her neighbor screamed, tearing at her curtains, his eyes bulging.
"I didn't," she said. No one heard her. Or if they did, no one cared.
Mirrors
If you enjoyed my very short stories, check out my books, Sapience and Saints & Curses! And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter!
Sapience
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August 24, 2019
Our Half Price Books Tour: Results
If you’ve been following my blog or other social media, you may know that my friend Sarah Mensinga and I did a mini-book tour of our local Half Price Bookstores. I thought I’d write about how we set up the tour, and what results we had in terms of sales and experiences. It’s been a fun and exciting journey!
Setting Up an Author EventIt turns out that arranging book signings and other events at local bookstores, at least at the Half Price Bookstores here in Texas, is fairly easy. Honestly, I started by just visiting the bookstores and asking if they did events for local authors. If they did, I asked who to contact or talk to arrange an event of my own. Sometimes we had to fill out a form online or send one into the store, but most of the time either me or Sarah just had to email or talk to the manager of the store and arrange a date. Truthfully, I was surprised at how easy this part was!
Now, I do think that it’s likely easier to arrange events at used bookstores or indie bookstores than it may be at larger chains, but since I love used and indie bookstores, that didn’t bother me. There’s also a waiting list of a couple of months at the larger bookstores, such as the Flagship Half Price in Dallas. But if you’re patient, professional, and flexible on dates, I don’t think it would be particularly hard for most authors to arrange a book signing at a couple of local stores.
My author table at the Flagship Half Price Bookstore in Dallas!
Presenting Your Books—the Display
Sarah and I had already bought banners, banner stands, and book stands for our table at Dallas Fan Expo, so we didn’t really need any more materials for our events. The nice thing about a good author banner is that you can reuse it at tons of different events! I also had a few books leftover from Fan Expo and Arlingcon, though I did end up buying about ten more copies of both Sapience and Saints & Curses to bring on the tour.
A good display should show off a couple of copies of your books, have a clear and easy to read price list (including any deals or sales you’re having), and be eye-catching (dramatic colors, texts large enough for people to read at a distance, etc.). We had cute little mini-easels that held copy of each books upright, so people could see them easily. Sarah found these at an art supply store for a steep discount. I also printed a couple sheets of QR codes, so that people could scan them and easily find our books/website online if they wanted. I’d also recommend that you have a way to take credit cards, which is easy to do using the Square App (they’ll send you a free card-swiper).
I think one of the things a lot of author miss at book events, however, is a clear communication of genre. As a reader and a writer, I generally prefer science fiction and fantasy. Whatever genres you write, your banner—its pictures, its text, and its style—should reflect that. One thing I’ve discovered is that many people have clear preferences for say, science fiction, and they are looking for a display that screams “scifi here!” Which is fine, as my banner does just that, and that’s what I like to write. But if your banner is genre ambiguous—if people can’t tell if it’s high fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, or scifi—tons of potential readers will give you a hard pass. So make your genre clear! Even if it turns off a few casual readers who don’t care for say, Urban Fantasy, that’s okay. Those people probably wouldn’t have bought your book anyway, and your banner will be a beacon to people who are interested in what you write.
Smiles and Professionalism—Meeting Your ReadersMost of the book signings we did were about 2-3 hours long, and the amount of traffic we saw during that time was highly variable. Our position in the stores seemed to matter a bit too—we generally sold more from a central location, right where people entering the store could see us clearly. I also sold dramatically more books at the large Flagship store in Dallas than in the smaller suburban stores. But, we made sales and connections at every store we visited, even if we were in an out-of-the way corner.
I think it helps to smile, greet people, then have a short pitch ready for people who come by your table. Try to give the basic of your book in a sentence or two—genre, length, topic of interest, price. My pitch for Sapience went something like this:
Hello! I’m a local author. Sapience is my collection of science fiction short stories. Many of the stories take place on a colony on Jupiter’s Moon Europa, because Europa is one of the places that NASA thinks we are most likely to find extraterrestrial life in our solar system. All of the books are ten dollars a piece.”
Short, simple, to the point. If they seemed interested in any of our books, I had a short description of each of them ready. I encouraged people to pick the books up, read the back, flip through them, and many people did. At that point, I shut up and left them alone. I wanted a chance to explain the basics of my books, but I didn’t want them to feel pressured or harassed. What’s more, if someone walked away, I kept a smile on my face and thanked them for coming by. No one will buy your book if you come off as sullen or resentful, and people will sometimes come back to buy your book as you’re leaving, or even online. It may be coincidence, but I often had an online sales bump after good sales at a bookstore. Besides, if you come back to the same stores, you may see regular costumers, and you always want to treat them with kindness and respect! Make their memories and encounters with you positive, and even if they don’t buy your book right then, they may buy it later or tell their friends.
In fact—here’s a fun story! One lovely lady who bought a copy of Sapience at an earlier event, came to see me a second time at our big event in the Flagship Half Price! She liked my book so much she bought copies for all of her friends!
Results and SalesOne of the nice things about doing the book signings in Half Price Books was that our table was free (unlike cons, which can charge a significant amount for a table at the larger events). Furthermore, since we already had most of our set up and display equipment from previous events, the only cost for our tour was the books themselves. That’s nice, because it meant I felt less pressure to sell a certain amount of books to cover the cost of the table.
We sold books at every event, but I definitely sold dramatically more books at the Flagship Half Price. It was a significantly larger store, they did signs in the store to promote us, and we were very centrally located. However, one of the major sales I had was to a reader who’d met me at a previous event at a smaller store. My point is, while you will likely sell more at larger stores and events, that’s not the only thing that matters. Sometimes making a meaningful connection with a reader, even if you only sell one or two books, is what’s most important.
Overall, I’d highly recommend organizing in-person local bookstore events to any author, whether traditional or indie. Many people really enjoy meeting authors face-to-face. It’s easy to get bogged down in the digital world and think that the best way to promote your books is on social media, but I’ve found in-person events can give you great connection to readers, as well as good sales, that you might not find online.
SApience
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August 9, 2019
Book Sales, Reviews, Author Interview, and a Guest Post on New Adventures in Scifi!
I’ve been doing tons of book promotions lately, and I’m excited to announce that both of my books are on sale for the first time! Both Sapience and Saints & Curses are on sale for $0.99 (a Kindle Countdown) until Aug. 16, 2019. Be sure to check them out!
I’m also excited that both Saints & Curses received an excellent review from writer and book blogger Dr. J, on the blog, Dr. J Reads! Dr. J also wrote a wonderful review of Sapience on Amazon, and was kind enough to ask me for an interview, which should be out soon.
If there’s anything I like in fantasy stories, it’s the idea that even in a modern and sometimes decidedly mundane world, magic is just around the corner. I find some fantasy writers act as though magic or incredible things or heroism are relics of an ancient past, and I just find that mentality really depressing. I find magic, at least in the sense of the mysterious and haunting qualities of nature or human beings, very real and present today. —from my interview on Torcian.com
I’ve also been happy that I had another author interview come out, this one on Torcian.com! It’s a very interesting website, especially for writers, so check it out!
One of the things I enjoy most on Twitter is writing very short stories, or vss. There are tons of great hashtags to give you prompts, including #vss365, #SciFiFri, #SciFanSat, and #Satsplat. For someone who’s busy or a bit overwhelmed but still wants to write, these hashtags are a great way to write and be creative in tiny bursts throughout the week.—from my guest post on New Adventures in Sci-Fi
Last but not least, I’ve also shared some of my most recent very short stories on Chris Morton’s New Adventures in Sci-fi! These were some of my favorite recent vss, if you like my mini stories, especially science fiction and fantasy ones, take a look!
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August 2, 2019
Reading Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction Nov/Dec 2015
If you’re interested in reading science fiction or fantasy, there are some great magazines with plenty of excellent short stories. As a writer, I’ve often submitted stories to magazines like these, and if you’re interested in submitting stories as well, its a good idea to read a few of them to see what the editors there like. I decided to start with the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction for several reasons. First, it's well-established--it's been around since 1949, and over the years it's had plenty of short stories nominated for prestigious awards, including the Nebula and the Hugo awards. Second, and perhaps equally important, I've found them to be a great magazine for writers. The submission process is easy, and I get a very quick response from their editor, C.C. Finlay. Though I've not yet had a story accepted there, Mr. Finlay has always offered me a short critique of the rejected story, as well as encouragement to send more. That's helped me keep going even when I've gotten tons of rejections.
I found F&SF at my local bookstore, though it's also easy to buy on their website and on Amazon, and you can often find tons of old issues at used bookstores. Considering the prices of most books (and it's pretty much the length of a short book), it's very affordable. I started with the 2015 Nov/Dec issue, and I was very impressed with the overall quality of the stories. My favorite ones were "Dreampet" and the novelette "Tomorrow is a Lovely Day." "Dreampet" begins like a fairy tale of the future, where pets are genetically customized. Kittens stay kittens forever, and they grow pink and purple fur with a child's name written in it. The narrator works for the Dreampet company, and he appears deeply enthusiastic about his products, having given Dreampets to each member of his family. Yet, his family's indifference and neglect of their splendid pets introduces a creepy, discomfiting note to the story that builds to a disturbing conclusion.
"Tomorrow is a Lovely Day" is a hard to describe--it's the story of a man stuck reliving a terrible day over and over, stuck in a nightmare that he hates. As the story unfolds, he slides deeper into the horror of his situation. Can he figure out a machine's mysterious last riddle, or will he be doomed to relive the same bitter moments again and again?
I enjoyed many of the other stories in the magazine as well, including the tragic and haunting "Gypsy" and the thoughtful meditation on war in "Thirteen Mercies." The only one that didn't work for me was the first story, "The Winter Wraith." While the story was atmospheric, it lacked a strong climax, and the ending felt too ambiguous. The other story with a subtle, ambiguous ending, "Cleanout," had a stronger emotional core and more interesting characters. F&SF has non-fiction articles as well, including book and movie reviews, and these were interesting and turned me on to books and movies I'd like to check out.
Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, Jan/Feb 2016
Since I enjoyed reading the 2015 Nov/Dec issue so much, I decided to get the issue from Jan/Feb 2016 as well. Like the previous issue, the Jan/Feb magazine contained plenty of brilliant and engaging stories, each as different in tone as the authors themselves. The issue is themed around the planet Mars, and the first three stories are set there, yet each of them has such a unique vision of the planet it hardly seems to be the same place each time. Gregory Benford's "Vortex," which opens the 'zine, is my favorite of these. The author's conception of the Marsmat, a completely alien, possibly intelligent life-form, intrigued me completely. On the other hand, Mary Robinette Kowal's "Rockets Red," also set on Mars, is a sweet, heart-warming tale of community and teamwork. The last Mars tale, Alex Irvine's "Number Nine Moon," is more of a survival story set during the evacuation of the first and last human colony on the red planet.
The rest of the stories in the magazine were quite good as well, with a few that stand out as exceptional. Albert Cowdry's haunting and creepy tale "The Visionaries" stayed with me more than some of the others. If the first couple of paragraphs didn't initially grab me, Cowdry certainly built up tension from there, until the final horrifying reveal. What's more, his characters are lovable and fascinating, down-to-earth Jim and sensitive Morrie playing off each other in great ways. Their gentle conflict, as well as Cowdry's subtle references to current political events, make the story feel real, which deepens its frightening, unsettling finale. Likewise, E. Lily Yu's "Braid of Days and Wake of Nights" alternates between brutal reality and a surreal, lovely vision of an alternative world. Its ending was as ambiguous as it was heart-rending. I loved it so much!
Overall, I'd highly recommend The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction to anyone who loves, well, fantasy and science fiction. I've enjoyed the stories in it so much I'm considering getting a subscription, which is more affordable than buying it in Barnes and Noble every couple of months. One last thing--I loved the science article "Welcome to Pleistocene Park," which contained such fantastic and interesting ideas about ecology and woolly Mammoths I've been mulling it over ever since.
Asimov’s June 2016
After reading the Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy, as well as listening to podcasts like EscapePod and Podcastle, I decided to try reading Asimov's for the first time with the June 2016 issue. Asimov’s is easy to find at Barnes and Noble, though you can also get copies from Asimov's website or via Amazon. Like most of the scifi/fantasy magazines I've found, it's very affordable, only $4.99 at B&N, and older issues are often available at used bookstore as well.
I enjoyed most of the stories in this issue of Asimov's, and surprisingly, I loved the poetry. I don't usually associate poetry and scifi, but I found the ones here quite interesting, especially Geoffrey Landis' "A Robot Grows Old." Even the short-form poems had vivid images I liked. Among the short stories, Sarah Pinsker's "Clearance" was a fascinating example of slipstream, one that moved between parallel worlds yet felt so grounded in mundane reality that she still managed to tell a powerful story of love and estrangement. I loved Rick Wilbur's "Rambunctious" as well. The relationships between the characters felt beautifully warm and well-developed, and the setting as lush as the Florida Keys themselves.
If I felt that Rivera's "Unreeled" covered similar plot points as many other works of scifi, I do think he did a good job of creating tension and unsettling dread. "Rats Dream of the Future" had a fascinating premise, but somehow the story felt rushed--I think it would have worked better if the main character had delved more deeply into her rival's experiments, perhaps even seen one in action. Instead, it felt like the major plot points occurred "off-camera."
"What We Hold Onto" is this issue's novella, and it was an interesting story. I liked the world the author created and the characters he developed. The idea of "Nomads," the ultimate freelancers, felt fascinating and perhaps even prescient. Yet, for me the story's pacing felt inconsistent, while the author did a good job of making the romance feel passionate, I had a hard time believing the two characters knew each other well enough for the ending to quite make sense. Likewise, "Project Symmetry," the novelette, had a great main character and a good premise, but the ending didn't feel earned--it kind of came out of nowhere. I felt the story could have used more foreshadowing and groundwork before the ultimate confrontation between the main character and her family.
Overall, I'd highly recommend Asimov's to anyone who likes science fiction. The stories were fascinating and unique, and the small size of the magazine made it easy for me to carry it around (even inside my purse) to read whenever I felt like it. The wide variety of stories made each one feel unique and reflected the breadth and depth of modern science fiction writing. I’m going to continue to read more science fiction and fantasy magazines.
If you enjoy my writing and my reviews, check out my collection of science fiction short stories, Sapience, and subscribe to my newsletter!
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