Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "marty-beaudet"
Meet author Marty Beaudet and enter to win 'By A Thread' or 'Losing Addison'!
I met Marty Beaudet online on Bestsellerbound.com. When he first joined us on that forum, he was a newly published author, having just finished his debut novel By A Thread. He was frustrated because life as an independent author was not working out as he had hoped. Why were people not buying his book? Why wasn't he a bestselling novelist yet?
Some of us who had been networking and marketing our work for years, and still selling about 1 book a month on average, wondered whether he was just not cut out for this self-published road. Was he expecting too much? Did he really have the passion to carry on writing even when months could go by without a book sale?
Over the few months that I have known him, I have grown very fond of Marty. He does have drive and passion. He knows he has an amazing talent as an author. When I recently read his novelette, Losing Addison, there was no doubt in my mind that this author is something special.
As well as answering my interview questions, Marty has very generously offered to give away a copy of each of his books! All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment. Random winners will be picked on 15th May 2011.
Here are Marty's answers to my interview questions:
Your debut novel, By A Thread is a political thriller that has been getting some great reviews. It’s been described by many reviewers as a conspiracy novel. I haven’t read it yet, and I don’t usually read political thrillers. What would you say to a reader like me to persuade me to read it?
My decision to write a book stemmed, in part, from my dissatisfaction with many of the books I had read. I like the puzzle-solving aspects of mysteries, suspense, and thrillers, but too often those kinds of books lack any real human component. The characters are often cardboard cutouts that seem to be used over and over again. Romance in such books is frequently trite, a cynical nod to the fact that sex sells. The confines of genre labels seems to assure that mainstream novels never stray far from the "successful" template, but it also makes them boring and predictable, in my opinion.
In writing By A Thread, I was determined to tell a story that was as much about the personal lives of the characters as it was about the intrigue in which they were engaged. What's more, I chose characters who were at times antithetical to the stereotypes readers have come to expect: Mormon missionaries, gay characters, Muslims who are NOT terrorists, self-doubting intelligence agents, Americans who are NOT all good guys, a strong female leader, and so on.
Alas, in order to market the book, even in the self-publishing realm, I am forced to assign a genre label to it. So I have settled for calling it a "political thriller with a heart," in order to convey the idea that the characters' personal relationships are every bit as urgent as the suspected conspiracy that drives them to action.
How much research went into writing ‘By A Thread’, and how long did it take you to write?
A huge-—and probably inordinate—-amount of research went into the book! I wrote it over an eight-year period, with a three-year health-induced hiatus in the midst. I love novels whose details are so explicit and accurate as to both teach me something about the real world in which they purport to take place, and to keep me guessing as to which parts are actually true. I'm fond of saying, "If the reader can tell where truth ends and fiction begins, the writer hasn't done his job." Consequently, my research was so detailed as to describe the actual furnishings of the actual apartments in which the characters live! I used real-life train schedules to determine arrival and departure times. If you were to go to Vienna today, you would be able to visit every venue in the story and see it exactly as I described it. In addition, the hypothetical political crisis in the book is based on real-life disputes about the U.S. Constitution, and the book's intelligence activities are grounded in reality, as well. One appreciative reader, himself an intelligence veteran, told me he knew immediately that I had an intelligence background when he read the book.
Your latest book, a novelette, Losing Addison, was inspired by a dream. Can you tell us a bit more about how that came about?
One morning in March I awoke, struggling with myself and the bedcovers. I had been having a nightmare. As I lay there staring at the ceiling and trying to come fully awake, I drifted in and out of the nightmare again. Each time I did so, more and more details of it became clear to me. My waking mind would ask a question, and my dreaming mind would answer it. It was so explicit as to seem an actual memory to me, as though I hadn't dreamt it, but lived it at some time. Finally, I could contain myself no longer; I flew out of bed, skipped breakfast and the bathroom, and began writing. I wrote only about 1,000 words before I was exhausted. I wanted to know more, but I felt I shouldn't push myself or the story would become a contrivance. Each day after that, for fifteen days, I wrote an additional thousand words and posted it to the new Losing Addison blog I'd begun. I didn't know where the story would go each day until it flowed out of me. I was so in awe of this process that I didn't even go back and read what I'd written until the entire thing was done, for fear that somehow my conscious efforts to fiddle with it would pollute it!
I was hooked on Losing Addison from the start. It was written as an online serial, unedited, but it reads like a fine-tuned psychological thriller. It’s almost as if you were writing something from memory. Are any of the characters or events in Losing Addison based on real life?
My experience with dreams—-as I am sure is common with others—-is that events are rarely linear and details come in and out of focus. For instance, my mother in one moment will suddenly be my sister in the next; or I'll be in San Francisco in one instant, then suddenly in Portland. This dream was no different. What was different was the progressive nature of the relationship among the characters and events. This provided a framework over which I laid details based on my own life experiences. Am I making any sense?
It's like this: suppose I tell you to imagine a time when you argued with a sister and ended up throwing something at her. Then I tell you to write it down. As you do this, your mind will recall details of the setting—location, time, persons present, what they were wearing, what was said, what you threw—-information that I didn't provide you. My writing process was similar. The dream told me what the gist of the event was, but not the details. As I attempted to describe it, pictures would pop into my mind that were a product of actual persons, places, and things in my own life.
Oh, one other thing: when my mother was pregnant with me, I/we were supposed to be twins. My four older siblings had been allowed to suggest names for the twins. They were all fans of the Mickey Mouse Club on television at the time, which featured a couple of twins on the Triple-J ranch, named Spin and Marty. When I came out alone, I'm fortunate that they named me Marty, not Spin! (Though I've considered using that as a pseudonym!)
Which one of the twins from Losing Addison, Addison or Les, can you most relate to, and why?
They are both me! I see in their struggle my own inner conflicts, especially in reconciling my erstwhile Mormon faith with being gay. There's my overly analytical, second-guessing self in Les, and my devil-may-care rebel in Addison.
Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?
Generally speaking, no. As I said earlier, many of the books I have read inspired me by leaving me wanting more, or a different turn of events than the author had provided. As I read these, I often found my mind wandering and rewriting the story with a different outcome. In particular, I found the absence of any gay characters like myself to be disappointing. We all want to jump into the skin of a book's character once in a while. On the other hand, most books labeled "gay fiction" are pulp or borderline pornographic. I'm no prude by any means, but that's not what I'm interested in reading. I want intellectual engagement. Anyone who can do that gets my book-buying dollar.
The one author who influenced me the most at the time that I started writing was Dean Koontz. In particular, From the Corner of His Eye really grabbed me. It was an ordinary story about ordinary people caught up in a crime. But slowly a paranormal element began to expose itself in a completely unexpected turn of events. I thought it was brilliant! It crossed genres. Crime, mystery, thriller, paranormal—-all rolled up into one. I thought, yes, I can do that too!
When did you first discover your love of writing?
Very late, indeed. In high school I took a creative writing course and hated it. The idea that creativity could be yoked to assignments and schedules seemed antithetical to me. I succeeded only when I wrote about my own experiences. But I never made the connection back then that non-fiction could be made into fiction in the hands of a skilled storyteller.
In my thirties I became a political activist in San Francisco and in the Mormon community. This necessitated putting feelings into writing to promote or defend various causes. I found that my passion enabled me to do this effectively and I became a spokesperson for several causes over the next decade. I was eventually hired as a staff writer and editor for several magazines, but had still not written fiction. As an avid reader however, I found my longing to write a novel growing over the years.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?
Yes. Beware of other writers who offer you tips! Truly, I found an overabundance of advice in the online writers' community when I was introduced to it last year. Much of it was contradictory and lead me in so many directions at once that I considered giving up completely. You might recall that when I joined Bestsellerbound my posts were so full of frustration and complaints that I got people's hackles up! (A shoutout to Joel Kirkpatrick who so graciously took me aside and cleaned up my act!) I was doing everything I'd been told on one hand, only to find that I was annoying people on the other hand.
I'm still not sure of what I'm doing! Do I tweet too little or too much? Am I required to blog about things other than writing? Or do I bore and annoy with off-topic posts? Are mentions of my books considered unwanted advertisements or useful links to something of interest to potential readers? I never know the answers to these things. And when my Twitter mentions and retweets dry up, and blog hits fall to zero for a week, I'm always second-guessing myself, wondering who I've offended and how!
So, no, I'll leave the advice-giving to those who have come before me. I'm flying by the seat of my pants out here!
Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?
Well, I've already described Dean Koontz. But even he has trailed off into commercial schlock at times, likely the result of deadlines and production quotas imposed by traditional publishers. I'm not a die-hard fan of anyone in particular. I come across books I love and books I can't finish. It doesn't seem that the author is any guarantee of the outcome. I read Stieg Larsson's first "The Girl Who…" book, but couldn't finish the overly dense, excruciatingly inner-monologue-bound, second one. Khaled Hosseini, on the other hand, thrilled me with both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns I read The Kite Runner twice. I've liked books as random as Bel Canto (Ann Patchett) and Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts (Julian Rubenstein). I absolutely loved Middlesex (Jeffrey Eugenides), and I thoroughly enjoyed Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars Trilogy," a gift from a friend, and the first fiction I had read in nearly a decade prior.
Since becoming an indie writer, however, I'm now committed to buying only indie titles. There are too many gems out there that I'll never have time to read. I don't need to risk formulaic commercial novels any more. I will still read a mainstream book that is loaned to me however, if it comes with a recommendation from family or friends.
Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?
The Kite Runner, Lord of the Rings, Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, The Russians, From the Corner of His Eye, On the Road,Tales of the City, and probably others I can't remember.
What was the last book you read, and are you reading a book at the moment?
I'm currently reading both Jason McIntyre's Thalo Blue and Darcia Helle's The Cutting Edge. While driving I'm also listening to Lifeguard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross, loaned to me by a neighbor. I don't remember the name of the last book I finished! It was something I won on fReado's Bookbuzzr. Prior to that was Josh Bazell's Beat the Reaper.
What do you think of ebooks?
A curse and a blessing! I don't own an ereader and can't afford one. We live on very little, as I have chosen to be a writer and only work part time. As a reader I'm frustrated by the number of books by indie authors (such as those mentioned above) that aren't available in print. My only guaranteed reading time each day is at bedtime. I can't hold my computer to read ebooks in bed! Other reading opportunities are in the bath and on public transit, both places where a print book is more practical than a computer. Similarly, none of my closest friends and neighbors with whom I share reading interests own an ereader or iPad. Consequently, I can't share with them those downloaded indie titles I know they'd love.
On the other hand, as a writer I'm grateful for the opportunity ebooks give me to circulate my writing among a much larger audience than print books alone can offer. My recent novelette, Losing Addison, would never have been published in print by a traditional publisher. The cost of producing it, even as a self-published title, likely means that it will find its greatest audience in its ebook form.
Personally, I will never abandon print books. I love to hold them. And, as a graphic designer, I thoroughly appreciate good cover art. It's about the only art I can afford now! I believe that down the road, print books will experience a resurgence, just as vinyl has in the music world.
How important are reviews for you as a writer?
Would I sound too pathetic if I said "they're everything" to me? It's true, for this reason: Storytelling, like a conversation, requires two parties. I have no interest in a carrying on a monologue. I don't write to hear myself think. I write to share. Even if there were no monetary recompense for writing (and oftentimes there isn't when the books are balanced), my greatest joy is to read or hear and share the excitement of others as they discover the story that has captured my imagination in creating it. And, while I have been fortunate thus far to have had only one bad review (a Mormon who thought By A Thread was "not an LDS book"), I feel that constructive criticism will help me refine my work in the future.
How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?
I have been a part-time graphic designer for twenty-four years, so I do all my own cover work, including photography. Since the City of Vienna is a character in By A Thread, I chose an iconic symbol of that city as a focal point for the cover: the Riesenrad (Ferris wheel) at the Prater amusement park on the Danube. It has the added cachet of being an iconic symbol of the movie "The Third Man," about intrigue in post-war occupied Vienna. What better choice for my political thriller?
The cover of Losing Addison came to me as readily as the story itself did. I created it in about thirty minutes, starting with a photograph I had taken of an acquaintance several years ago. I knew it needed to be dark and mysterious, and tweaked it for that effect. The idea of a face over a face stems from the interaction of twins in the story. Creating covers is one of my favorite parts of the process! I'd love to do it for other authors, as well.
What are you working on now?
Ack! I'm going in so many directions at once now! Last November I sat down to write an entirely different, coming-of-age-in-the-high-desert story. But I had barely begun when I acceded to the requests of several fans who wanted me to write a sequel to By A Thread. The cynical, marketing-oriented part of my brain said, "strike while the iron's hot!" But I got 20,000 words into it and hit a wall. Like By A Thread, The Third Token has complex plot threads that gradually interweave. I found that, while I loved writing my protagonist, the creation of a villain was dragging me down. I don't like to get into evil people's heads! It doesn't come easily to me.
Losing Addison was such a refreshing and unexpected break from The Third Token, that I decided to explore some other ideas that were bubbling to the surface. I wrote three chapters of a new psychological thriller, but balked when I delved further into Jason McIntyre's Thalo Blue, because I found too many similarities between the two, even though I'd written mine before reading his. I then began another project, but am second-guessing myself on it now because it would likely find only a limited audience. I'm wondering if I should go back to my other projects first. As you can see, there is no method to my madness!
Where can people buy your books?
Readers wanting print editions can get the best deal by watching for my oft-tweeted discount codes and going to CreateSpace to use them. Currently, code DKAYY424 offers a $3 discount on By A Thread.
Code NGD939PC offers $2 off of Losing Addison.
Amazon doesn't allow author discounts, but has the advantage of free or combined shipping if you're buying multiple books. Both By A Thread and Losing Addison are available for Kindle at Amazon, as well.
Losing Addison is also available in all digital formats at Smashwords. (Readers of this blog may use code EW27M for a 50-percent discount there through the end of May.) By A Thread is on Smashwords, as well.
European buyers can also purchase my ebooks from XinXii (the price includes a VAT tax).
Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?
By A Thread has a website that offers reviews, as well as insights into both my background and the novel's, including links to the real-life counterparts to the story's elements and characters. There is also a By A Thread blog where I post related stories, occasional contests, and discount offers. Losing Addison has its own blog, where I post reviews and discounts.
Thank you, Marty.
Remember to win a copy of either By a Thread or Losing Addison, leave a comment below. Good luck!!
May is National Short Story Month!
As a short story writer, I am thrilled to discover that there is such a thing as National Short Story Month! I found out today from my good friend and fellow author, Stacy Juba, who has a free short story available for download on Smashwords entitled, 'Laundry Day'. I've read some of Stacy's work and would encourage you all to download this story; it's bound to be good, she's a very talented writer.
The short story seems to be getting more popular these days because people live busy lives and often don't have the time or energy to really get into a novel. A good short story can be a really satisfying way to end the day. You can read a whole story in one sitting, without having to wonder what happens next, or worry about forgetting important facts by the time you next sit down to read it.
I am an avid reader as well as a writer, and I used to only read novels, but have recently been finding that I enjoy short stories and short story collections just as much.
I'm very happy that short stories seem to be making a come back because I love writing them as well as reading them.
To celebrate short story month, I thought I would recommend a few short stories and collections that I have read and enjoyed in recent years. I hope you will choose one or two of them to read. (I've included quotes from my reviews of the stories, you can read my full reviews on the relevant pages).
In no particular order:
With this short story, Michael Radcliffe is introducing the world of the Guardian's Apprentice, his fantasy novel... If you like books about witches, wizards, magic, curses etc., you will love this story. It kept me interested and I loved the little twists contained within it. Nisha wants to save her father, a powerful Wizard who is dying. Will she be able to find the stone that will cure him, and at what cost?
A skillfully written crime short story, taking a minor character from Darcia's Michael Sykora series of novels, and giving him the spotlight. Sean Riley is a man with a dark past and this story shows just what effect his past has had on the way he now lives his life. If you like crime fiction, you'll love the way Darcia Helle writes. This character oozes pure evil, and the dialogue-driven prose helps to give the reader the impression that they are a fly on the wall witnessing this brutal scene. Definitely not a story for the fainthearted!
More of a novelette, but still a quick read :)
A psychological thriller exploring schizophrenia and the unexplained bond between twins. It's a story that will have you glued to the page. The suspense is well constructed and made me want to continue reading until I found out what was happening. The story unravels bit by bit, slowly revealing the reasons behind the characters' behaviour. Beaudet drip feeds the information in the most effective way, with flashback scenes and high drama. A wonderfully entertaining story. I'd recommend it to everyone who likes a good suspenseful thriller.
(collection of short stories)
This is a book that will give you a fly on the wall look at ordinary lives and the common scars and ties that bind us. It will reveal to you the hidden side of life, the side most people will never reveal, and of which we are usually oblivious.
Those who love a good romance story will love 'A Valentine For Victoria'. It's a sweet story about how an unlikely couple fall in love. Apart from being a story about how love can blossom in unexpected ways, this story has more depth; it looks at the feelings of insecurity that come with loneliness, that can make us reach out to someone who may or may not be ideal... An underlying theme to this story seems to be 'never judge a book by its cover', and it reminds us that sometimes what we've been looking for has been there all along, but we just don't see it for one reason or another. An entertaining read.
A wonderful, well written story, about a young girl and her father, who doesn't always live up to her ideal. She has created a fantasy figure in her mind of what a real father should behave like. The mannequin in an expensive store looks just right for the part. One day, her world changes when a mystery man appears and challenges her view of the world. An insightful and interesting read.
A story that many will relate to. Dean is a 40 something sales rep who is tired of his humdrum life and job, and of the things in his life, like the road markers, that keep him hemmed in. He wants to break free. In the past he has had suicidal thoughts. We follow him on a ride along a dark highway as he deliberates about the consequences that would follow if he were to cross that line and end it all. His mind meanders like the twists and turns of the highway and McIntytre keeps the reader hooked with many a diversion in this skillfully structured short story. A recommended read.
(collection of stories)
'The Heroes and Other Stories'is a well composed collection of short stories. Kat Hausler has a wonderful talent for describing and portraying the nuances of human behaviour. For me this collection included absolute gems... Two stories in particular stood out for me, in that they grabbed my attention from the first page and would not let go: 'Peripeteia' and 'La Fee Noire'... I loved the ending of the first story 'What Makes Us Happy', a study of self-imposed loneliness; the ending is very fitting and thought-provoking, and that is one of the better stories in the collection too. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of short fiction. Many of the stories are so intricately detailed that I am sure I would enjoy reading them again and again. This is a promising debut from a talented author.
A man wakes up one day to find he has been changed into a large insect/beetle. The story follows his efforts to deal with this, and his family's reaction to the change. But it's not just a story about a man turning into a beetle, it's a clever way of writing about how a family would deal with the main breadwinner in the house becoming unable to work, and also on a wider scope, the way a family (and the world at large) reacts to someone who is disabled, or terminally ill... The once able and hard-working man, transformed into a beetle, is now rejected, and his family blame him for their financial situation and the fact that they cannot move to a smaller house, because they need to have a room to keep him in.
The descriptive quality of the writing is excellent, and although it is a sad and gruesome tale, it is also very funny in parts; I couldn't help laughing out loud a couple of times... The main thing that struck me, was that even though this story is nearly 100 years old, it is still totally relevant to today's world.
(collection of stories)
Tom Upton's talent seems to lie in being able to grab the reader's attention and draw them into the story, and most importantly to keep the reader's interest. There are many believeable and well-observed/developed characters in these tales... My personal favourites are, 'The Hanging Boy', which I felt was particularly insightful, and, 'Life Along the Okie-dokie Highway'...
I enjoyed reading this book and it's definitely a collection worth reading.
(collection of stories and plays)
This book is hilarious. If you like Woody Allen's humour I would highly recommend it. It's totally ridiculous, but brilliant at the same time — which sums up Woody Allen as a comedian. This is a book to make you laugh out loud. It's a collection of short essays, short plays and other strange observations... If you want a giggle you should pick up this book.
I have to start this review with a word of warning: you have to read with an open mind, and I would not recommend this collection of stories to anyone who is of a nervous disposition or who dislikes graphic descriptions of sex and violence, or who has an aversion to the use of swearwords. With that out of the way, I have to say that on the whole, I really enjoyed reading this collection. The author is a very talented writer and has a fantastic imagination. He has created many interesting and compelling tales... The stories are written about the darker side of life and some are frightening, some shocking. All the tales will make you think. Most, if not all, are controversial... definitely a book which you will want to read to the end.
And now, of course, I have to mention my own short story collections :)
I have three collections
A diverse collection of short stories, dealing with subjects such as love, luck, loss, and other things beginning with L (LOL).
A themed collection of stories. 7 stories, each one inspired by a different colour of the rainbow.
My latest collection. Contains ghost stories, love stories and even a bit of sci-fi :)
I hope you will find some short stories to enjoy, and perhaps you'll be persuaded, like I was, that short stories can be just as much fun to read as novels.
Happy National Short Story Month!!
The short story seems to be getting more popular these days because people live busy lives and often don't have the time or energy to really get into a novel. A good short story can be a really satisfying way to end the day. You can read a whole story in one sitting, without having to wonder what happens next, or worry about forgetting important facts by the time you next sit down to read it.
I am an avid reader as well as a writer, and I used to only read novels, but have recently been finding that I enjoy short stories and short story collections just as much.
I'm very happy that short stories seem to be making a come back because I love writing them as well as reading them.
To celebrate short story month, I thought I would recommend a few short stories and collections that I have read and enjoyed in recent years. I hope you will choose one or two of them to read. (I've included quotes from my reviews of the stories, you can read my full reviews on the relevant pages).
In no particular order:
With this short story, Michael Radcliffe is introducing the world of the Guardian's Apprentice, his fantasy novel... If you like books about witches, wizards, magic, curses etc., you will love this story. It kept me interested and I loved the little twists contained within it. Nisha wants to save her father, a powerful Wizard who is dying. Will she be able to find the stone that will cure him, and at what cost?
A skillfully written crime short story, taking a minor character from Darcia's Michael Sykora series of novels, and giving him the spotlight. Sean Riley is a man with a dark past and this story shows just what effect his past has had on the way he now lives his life. If you like crime fiction, you'll love the way Darcia Helle writes. This character oozes pure evil, and the dialogue-driven prose helps to give the reader the impression that they are a fly on the wall witnessing this brutal scene. Definitely not a story for the fainthearted!
More of a novelette, but still a quick read :)
A psychological thriller exploring schizophrenia and the unexplained bond between twins. It's a story that will have you glued to the page. The suspense is well constructed and made me want to continue reading until I found out what was happening. The story unravels bit by bit, slowly revealing the reasons behind the characters' behaviour. Beaudet drip feeds the information in the most effective way, with flashback scenes and high drama. A wonderfully entertaining story. I'd recommend it to everyone who likes a good suspenseful thriller.
(collection of short stories)
This is a book that will give you a fly on the wall look at ordinary lives and the common scars and ties that bind us. It will reveal to you the hidden side of life, the side most people will never reveal, and of which we are usually oblivious.
Those who love a good romance story will love 'A Valentine For Victoria'. It's a sweet story about how an unlikely couple fall in love. Apart from being a story about how love can blossom in unexpected ways, this story has more depth; it looks at the feelings of insecurity that come with loneliness, that can make us reach out to someone who may or may not be ideal... An underlying theme to this story seems to be 'never judge a book by its cover', and it reminds us that sometimes what we've been looking for has been there all along, but we just don't see it for one reason or another. An entertaining read.
A wonderful, well written story, about a young girl and her father, who doesn't always live up to her ideal. She has created a fantasy figure in her mind of what a real father should behave like. The mannequin in an expensive store looks just right for the part. One day, her world changes when a mystery man appears and challenges her view of the world. An insightful and interesting read.
A story that many will relate to. Dean is a 40 something sales rep who is tired of his humdrum life and job, and of the things in his life, like the road markers, that keep him hemmed in. He wants to break free. In the past he has had suicidal thoughts. We follow him on a ride along a dark highway as he deliberates about the consequences that would follow if he were to cross that line and end it all. His mind meanders like the twists and turns of the highway and McIntytre keeps the reader hooked with many a diversion in this skillfully structured short story. A recommended read.
(collection of stories)
'The Heroes and Other Stories'is a well composed collection of short stories. Kat Hausler has a wonderful talent for describing and portraying the nuances of human behaviour. For me this collection included absolute gems... Two stories in particular stood out for me, in that they grabbed my attention from the first page and would not let go: 'Peripeteia' and 'La Fee Noire'... I loved the ending of the first story 'What Makes Us Happy', a study of self-imposed loneliness; the ending is very fitting and thought-provoking, and that is one of the better stories in the collection too. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of short fiction. Many of the stories are so intricately detailed that I am sure I would enjoy reading them again and again. This is a promising debut from a talented author.
A man wakes up one day to find he has been changed into a large insect/beetle. The story follows his efforts to deal with this, and his family's reaction to the change. But it's not just a story about a man turning into a beetle, it's a clever way of writing about how a family would deal with the main breadwinner in the house becoming unable to work, and also on a wider scope, the way a family (and the world at large) reacts to someone who is disabled, or terminally ill... The once able and hard-working man, transformed into a beetle, is now rejected, and his family blame him for their financial situation and the fact that they cannot move to a smaller house, because they need to have a room to keep him in.
The descriptive quality of the writing is excellent, and although it is a sad and gruesome tale, it is also very funny in parts; I couldn't help laughing out loud a couple of times... The main thing that struck me, was that even though this story is nearly 100 years old, it is still totally relevant to today's world.
(collection of stories)
Tom Upton's talent seems to lie in being able to grab the reader's attention and draw them into the story, and most importantly to keep the reader's interest. There are many believeable and well-observed/developed characters in these tales... My personal favourites are, 'The Hanging Boy', which I felt was particularly insightful, and, 'Life Along the Okie-dokie Highway'...
I enjoyed reading this book and it's definitely a collection worth reading.
(collection of stories and plays)
This book is hilarious. If you like Woody Allen's humour I would highly recommend it. It's totally ridiculous, but brilliant at the same time — which sums up Woody Allen as a comedian. This is a book to make you laugh out loud. It's a collection of short essays, short plays and other strange observations... If you want a giggle you should pick up this book.
I have to start this review with a word of warning: you have to read with an open mind, and I would not recommend this collection of stories to anyone who is of a nervous disposition or who dislikes graphic descriptions of sex and violence, or who has an aversion to the use of swearwords. With that out of the way, I have to say that on the whole, I really enjoyed reading this collection. The author is a very talented writer and has a fantastic imagination. He has created many interesting and compelling tales... The stories are written about the darker side of life and some are frightening, some shocking. All the tales will make you think. Most, if not all, are controversial... definitely a book which you will want to read to the end.
And now, of course, I have to mention my own short story collections :)
I have three collections
A diverse collection of short stories, dealing with subjects such as love, luck, loss, and other things beginning with L (LOL).
A themed collection of stories. 7 stories, each one inspired by a different colour of the rainbow.
My latest collection. Contains ghost stories, love stories and even a bit of sci-fi :)
I hope you will find some short stories to enjoy, and perhaps you'll be persuaded, like I was, that short stories can be just as much fun to read as novels.
Happy National Short Story Month!!
I've won an award!
That got your attention, didn't it? Well, I haven't won the Man Booker Prize for fiction... yet ;)
I have been awarded the "The Irresistibly Sweet Blog" Award, by my fellow author and blogger, the awesomely talented Jason McIntyre
Thank you, Jason, that's very "sweet" of you :)
The rules for accepting the award are as follows:
1) Thank and link to the person that nominated you.
2) Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3) Pass the award to 15 of your blogging buddies.
4) Notify the recipients.
Here's where you can find Jason's blog
I would highly recommend it as a very entertaining place to visit on the world wide web.
7 Random facts about me...
1. I am no good at writing lists of facts about me
2. I'm currently putting the final edits on my soon to be released novel, 'The Dream'
3. I like heavy metal music
4. I once acted as a defence lawyer for a celebrity's brother when I was a criminal solicitor, and met the said celebrity's mother (sorry, can't disclose who it was... client confidentiality)
5. Babies always seem to like me for some reason
6. I can knit
7. I can't swim
Here (in no particular order) are 15 more wonderful blogs I would recommend:
Darcia Helle -- A Word Please
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick -- The Tale is The Thing
Lisette Brodey -- Molly Hacker
Neil Schiller
The Secret Writer
Julie Elizabeth Powell
Quentin R. Bufogle
Ann Mauren
Catherine Rose
Stacy Juba
Jen Knox
Paul Mansfield Keefe
Marty Beaudet -- By A Thread
Susan Helene Gottfried -- West Of Mars
Notes from an Alien
I have been awarded the "The Irresistibly Sweet Blog" Award, by my fellow author and blogger, the awesomely talented Jason McIntyre
Thank you, Jason, that's very "sweet" of you :)
The rules for accepting the award are as follows:
1) Thank and link to the person that nominated you.
2) Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3) Pass the award to 15 of your blogging buddies.
4) Notify the recipients.
Here's where you can find Jason's blog
I would highly recommend it as a very entertaining place to visit on the world wide web.
7 Random facts about me...
1. I am no good at writing lists of facts about me
2. I'm currently putting the final edits on my soon to be released novel, 'The Dream'
3. I like heavy metal music
4. I once acted as a defence lawyer for a celebrity's brother when I was a criminal solicitor, and met the said celebrity's mother (sorry, can't disclose who it was... client confidentiality)
5. Babies always seem to like me for some reason
6. I can knit
7. I can't swim
Here (in no particular order) are 15 more wonderful blogs I would recommend:
Darcia Helle -- A Word Please
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick -- The Tale is The Thing
Lisette Brodey -- Molly Hacker
Neil Schiller
The Secret Writer
Julie Elizabeth Powell
Quentin R. Bufogle
Ann Mauren
Catherine Rose
Stacy Juba
Jen Knox
Paul Mansfield Keefe
Marty Beaudet -- By A Thread
Susan Helene Gottfried -- West Of Mars
Notes from an Alien
Looking for good books to give as gifts this Christmas?
It's that time of year again, when we are frantically trying to think of just the right gift for the people we care about.
Books are wonderful gifts because they can educate, inspire and entertain. I think it's always nice to buy a print version whether it's hardback or paperback as a gift for someone, but nowadays because more people have e-readers, you can also buy e-books as gifts. Maybe you want to treat the book-lover in your life to an e-reader for Christmas and you want to download a few great books? Whatever you are planning, I hope you will find a bit of inspiration from my list of recommended books below.
I've read quite a lot of books this year, and most of them have been really great reads.
Here are purchase links for a few books that I would suggest as gifts:
The Other Room by James Everington - a collection of short stories
Here's the review I wrote for the book:
I am so glad I stumbled across this collection of short stories. It's original, well written, and one of the best collections I have ever read. Every story in this collection is good. There are some stand out ones because they are absolutely amazing, for example 'First Time Buyers'. I think my favourite of the whole collection has to be 'Red Route', the ending is just one of those that makes you go, "wow!".
It's a very diverse collection. There are horror stories, paranormal, thrillers.
This is an exciting new writer, the kind of writer that makes me proud to be a self-published author. In all his stories he takes you deep into the mind of the characters, so that you almost feel as though you are reliving their story. There are many memorable quotes... always a sign of a great writer in my opinion.
A couple of examples:
"Just the sense of the big machinery of the economy faltering and grinding somewhere... She thought of cog-wheels turning high above her, their aloof motion turning other wheels, and those wheels still others...'
"...as if the box of their room was just one box inside another, larger one...'
This is modern literature at its finest. Do not miss this collection.
Into The Light by Darcia Helle
Here's my review:
This is a wonderful story on so many levels. It contains humour, romance, and an element of mystery. It's a supernatural tale about a ghost, Max, who refuses to go `into the light' until his killer can be brought to justice.
Max, in life, was a very ordinary man, in fact he died feeling like a failure and as if his life had been in vain.
What Helle's book teaches us is that there are many things we do on a daily basis that have an effect on other people's lives, for good or bad. Max is forced to confront issues from his past when he dies, and this multi-layered story perfectly highlights the fact that we are often unaware of other people's thoughts and feelings and that makes all the difference when looking at the effects of things we do. Many readers will be able to relate to Max, and also the private investigator, Joe, who is roped in to help Max find his killer. Their relationship is an odd one, but they each learn something from the other as they both try to come to terms with their problems.
The book deals with the subjects of divorce, regret, relationships, insecurity, and miscommunication, among other things. It's a fun and often comical read, but also contains very deep thinking on human behaviour and relationships.
The underlying message appears to be that when we die we leave behind an imprint based on everything we have done, thought, and said... it's definitely food for thought.
Metallic Dreams by Mark Rice
My review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It's about a young man, Spark, who always dreamt of becoming a big name in heavy metal music. In his late teens he was part of a band 'Blood Brothers' who went their separate ways before they could make it into the big time. Some years later, Spark has a life changing experience and as a consequence he becomes determined to put his old band back together and live his dream. His belief is that the band will become successful, and he doesn't want to live his life in a dead end job when his passion lies in music. At its core, Metallic Dreams is about finding the courage to follow your dream, no matter how difficult it might seem to be. It is also about the power of love. It is indie fiction at its best, breaking out of the boundaries set by genre, and experimenting with new and exciting ways to write a story. It is extremely funny; hilarious in parts. I almost laughed out loud in public a few times whilst reading it. It does contain some controversial topics and taboo subjects, but those topics are skillfully woven into the story making them a realistic portrayal of very vivid characters' lives and experiences. This book is very original and entertaining. I would recommend Metallic Dreams to music fans, especially rock and heavy metal fans, as you will find much to relate to in the book. Due to some of the content in this book I would say it is only suitable for over 18s. I am looking forward to more books by this talented writer.
B-Sides and Broken Hearts by Caryn Rose
My review:
B-Sides and Broken Hearts is the story of 37 year-old Lisa, who is finding it hard coming to terms with the death of Joey Ramone, one of her favourite musicians. His death forces her to think about her life and she finds that she is not happy. Her relationship with the predictable, Ian, is not the type of relationship she had envisaged for herself when she was young. The death of Joey Ramone leads to a torrent of emails from Lisa's music-loving friends, and puts her back in touch with Jake, the singer with a successful band, Blue Electric. Lisa had been there with Jake and the rest of the band right from the start when they were unknown and penniless. She watched them grow into a band that could fill arenas. However, for the past 5 years her relationship with the band has been overshadowed by the fact that her boyfriend shows little interest in getting to know them. From the outside, all of Lisa's friends have always thought she should have ended up with Jake. None of her friends like Ian. After Joey Ramone's death, when Ian fails to understand why she is so upset, Lisa makes the decision to visit her old friends in LA. She packs some belongings, mainly CDs for the journey, and drives all night to revisit her past. Lisa goes on a journey in this novel, to find the person she really is. After a tragic relationship when she was younger, she had lost her way. Will her old friends in LA help her reconnect with the real Lisa?
This book is about dreams, friends, love, relationships, and above all it is about music and how music can have a profound influence on our lives.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt that the world had ended because their favourite band split up, anyone who obsessively waited for new albums to be released by their favourite bands and spent their last pennies on gigs and records, anyone who has ever screamed the lyrics to their favourite songs while driving in their car... This is a book for dreamers, and reaffirms the importance of believing in your dreams, and following your heart.
It is well written and engaging. I found myself feeling sad when I knew that the story would soon end. The ending is poignant and uplifting at the same time. This is a must read for music lovers.
Quiet Fury: An Anthology of Suspense
Another one by Darcia Helle. My review:
I am already a fan of Darcia Helle's writing having read her novels, Enemies and Playmates, Hit List, The Cutting Edge, and Into The Light. Darcia Helle has shown us with this anthology that short stories can be as compelling as novels. All of her characters seem real, they have feelings, they have a history, and we learn about them in fewer words than a novel, but still we know them. From the poignant first story, streaked with colour and tragedy, right through to the last one, that contains humour, human compassion and heart, Darcia takes us on a journey that we can relate to. We are all living in this world where calm and fury battle for our attention, just like the characters in Darcia's stories. There are stories to make you laugh, cry, wince, scream... there is every type of emotion within these pages. I enjoyed all the stories. Read Darcia Helle's stories and you will enter a world that may almost frighten you but you will be left curious enough to take another look. Her writing is addictive. She has mastered the art of suspense writing, and this collection is another example of that.
A Murderer's Heart by Julie Elizabeth Powell
My review:
I was already a fan of Julie Elizabeth Powell's writing before reading this book, and I just knew I would love it. Julie is a very versatile writer, with a compulsive and easy to read style. Her past books have been fantasy, children's, and non-fiction. 'A Murderer's Heart' is her first murder mystery. It's excellent!
Dr. Anne Blake is a psychiatrist who is good at her job. She has a firm belief that all mentally ill people can be cured, or saved so that they can lead a better life. She is involved in her own practice as well as helping at the Tadmore Psychiatric Hospital and she has lately become involved in a project 'Back Into the World' to try to raise money to help the mentally ill to be cared for so they can return to their lives in the community. Her busy life means that she has very little time for her friends or for a relationship.
When Dr. Blake meets Peter Armstrong, the son of a woman who needs psychiatric help, her world begins to change. A mysterious murderer is on the prowl and there seems to be a link to the Tadmore hospital.
After hearing that her close friend, Jenny, may be in danger, Anne resolves to do all she can to keep her safe from the killer.
In a dramatic and entertaining story, the author does a great job in putting across the idea that sometimes things are not as they seem and we don't always see what is in front of our own eyes. Dr. Blake is forced to face the limitations of her own knowledge and power.
I loved the way the tale progressed, with all the unexpected twists and turns. It kept me hooked from the start and the ending was delightful.
It's a quick, compulsive read. Highly recommended. I would also recommend all of Julie's other titles.
The Shelter by James Everington
Another one by James Everington. My review: The Shelter is a well crafted story by a master storyteller. I am a big fan of James Everington's writing. After reading his short story collection The Other Room I was excited to hear that he was about to release a novella. I just have a feeling that this author is going to be a big name in literature one day.
James has self-titled his style of fiction 'weird fiction' and I would agree that there is an element of the weird in his writing, but underlying it is a deep understanding of human nature and why people think or behave in certain ways. He takes us inside his characters' heads, and we live through their hopes and fears with them. This skill is proof of his talent as a writer.
The Shelter is a creepy, spooky, horror story. It contains elements of psychological thriller, ghost story, and mystery. The relationship between the schoolboys is realistic and well portrayed. It kept me hooked all the way through and deals with the subject of how guilt can change the course of a person's life. An interesting and thought provoking read.
To Begin Again by Jen Knox
My review: The first story in the collection really drew me in. It's a story that makes you question human nature and really makes you think. After reading that I was sure I was in for a very interesting journey reading this anthology. All of the stories have a 'fly on the wall' feel to them, as if you are watching events unfold that you would not usually be made privy to. I use the word 'watch' as it really felt to me as I read Jen Knox's prose, that these scenes were snippets of other people's lives, short clips of action, and I was seeing them as if on film. Such is the power of her description. The stories cover the subjects of desperation, regret, family relationships, the human condition, love, mental illness, and betrayal, amongst other things. Jen Knox moves a magnifying glass over current social problems, and expertly explores different scenarios on how people deal with loss, pain, fear etc. In Jen Knox's stories we glimpse fragments of people's lives, and she touches on emotions that we can all relate to with a subtlety that is sublime. This collection is a wonderful encapsulation of stories that reflect our current time in history, with all the social pressures and hardships. This is a very emotional and heartfelt collection. I really can't pick a favourite as liked all the stories for different reasons. I found two of them particularly heartbreaking, 'The Probability of Him', and 'Disengaged'. I loved the almost comical tone to the story, 'Absurd Hunger', which is written about a dark subject. 'Solitary Value' is a wonderful example of how Jen Knox observes human nature and the things that make us all the same. I loved the simplicity of the story, 'Dandelion Ghosts', which has a touching ending. I wondered whether some of the stories are autobiographical. An enthralling collection by a talented writer. Highly recommended
Losing Addison by Marty Beaudet
My review: I was hooked on this story from the start. I find the way it was written fascinating. The author literally dreamt this book, and then wrote it all out from his memory, without editing it. It's just perfect as it is! I heard about Marty Beaudet's experimental writing and, although curious, I didn't have time to go and read the serial as it was developing online. I finally found time to visit the blog and read the free online version when the author had already written 16 chapters. I read the whole thing in one sitting because it was that gripping!
Losing Addison is a psychological thriller exploring schizophrenia and the unexplained bond between twins. It's a story that will have you glued to the page. The suspense is well constructed and made me want to continue reading until I found out what was happening. The story unravels bit by bit, slowly revealing the reasons behind the characters' behaviour. Beaudet drip feeds the information in the most effective way, with flashback scenes and high drama. A wonderfully entertaining story. I'd recommend it to everyone who likes a good suspenseful thriller. And I am thrilled that the author chose to name one of the characters after me! My namesake appears in chapter 13!
Sink or Swim by Stacy Juba
My review: Stacy Juba is skilled at the art of writing a scene and making the reader feel the tension and suspense. When I began reading the book about a young girl, Cassidy Novak, who was a star of a reality show and then becomes concerned about a stalker, I was slightly concerned that 'Sink or Swim' would be just another forgettable run-of-the-mill story. But Juba is a professional. She has the reader right where she wants them, one minute Cassidy is concerned about her stalker, the next we are caught up in a multi-layered mystery where Cassidy is at the centre and I could feel the danger she was in. It's a gripping and enthralling read. At times, I was so engrossed in the book that I wanted to jump inside and save Cassidy... that is how adept Juba is at creating real characters and suspenseful storylines. I highly recommend this read from a rising star in the murder mystery genre.
The story deals with family relationships, the impact of reality shows on people's lives, obsession, love, trust, and of course murder!
The Word Gang by Mark McKenna
Mark McKenna has created a wonderful story based on every author's and reader's first love: the written word. All of the characters in the novel are well developed; we learn about their backgrounds and can sympathise with their flaws. Even the detestable teacher, Mr. Ralston, seems to have a side to him that we can all relate to.
After taking a year off school, without telling her mother, Kalisha Jackson begins to feel guilty and decides to go back to school when the new year begins. She finds herself in Project Restart, a new type of teaching system for students who are deemed to be failing in some way. On her first day, she gets off to a bad start when she turns up late, and her moody teacher, Mr. Ralston, immediately marks her out as a bad seed.
Kalisha quickly makes friends with two fellow students in Project Restart; BD, who lives with his alcoholic father; and Sahmbaht, whose family fled from Cambodia for a better life in America, but have brought their painful memories with them.
After helping out an elderly neighbour, Kalisha is given a gift; a dictionary. She begins to read it and starts learning new words. When she uses one of these unknown words in class one day, her teacher thinks she is trying to be disruptive.
Kalisha and her new friends formulate a plan. They have had enough of being treated as troublemakers through no fault of their own, so they decide to learn as many new and obscure words as possible with the intention of making a mockery of Project Restart and hopefully destroying it.
The ensuing adventure is a fun and engaging read; and also educational as there are many rarely used words contained in the novel. This is the type of book that could encourage teens and young adults to look at language in a different way, and perhaps inspire them to learn more words or even more languages.
The story held my interest all the way through. The elderly neighbour, Mr. Spinoza, is a wonderfully eccentric character, and I liked the interaction between him and Kalisha.
There seems to be is a deeper meaning to this story; all about how anyone can be misunderstood. For example, Kalisha is affected by her parents' divorce. Her teacher, Jack Ralston does not try to find out about reasons why the children in Project Restart might be failing, but labels them as disruptive and undisciplined; he has little patience with them. Meanwhile, Kalisha at such a young age has been helping to keep her family together, bringing up her two young siblings while her mother works the night shift at a hospital to make ends meet. Kalisha also shows her caring side when she first meets old Mr. Spinoza.
The Word Gang is all about how misunderstandings can make problems worse, and that it is best to try a bit harder to see the reasons behind the way people behave before you judge them.
Mark McKenna has somehow managed to get inside the minds of his characters and create realistic, believable people.
A very enjoyable read, highly recommended.
Oblivious by Neil Schiller
My review:
This is a wonderful collection of short stories. I enjoyed the sparse prose, the evocative description, and the fact that although the stories are all about different people, male and female, they could almost merge into one. All the main characters are struggling in some way. The themes of difficult family relationships, addiction, regret, depression, guilt, repeat themselves over and over. Schiller has created real characters; these could be people you pass in the street. Schiller has stripped away the layers that ordinary people use to hide their true circumstances or feelings, and gone beneath to examine and reveal the underbelly of human nature. We are taken right inside the characters' homes, hearts, and minds. Schiller has mastered the art of short story and likes to show off about it too. He has included a one sentence story, `Trapped', and a half a page story, `Half'--both of which are perfect--and the latter is one of my favourites in the collection.
The descriptive prose is fresh and original. An example of his writing, from, `Brand Awareness', a story about a man facing redundancy: "I've squandered six years of my life on this job. More if you count the myriad of spoiled hopes it pulled into the swirling vortex of its black heart. I've commuted over twelve thousand miles; I've missed my daughter's first steps, first words, first school play; I've worked and slept and stressed myself into an isolation around which my wife has built a new life to compensate. And it was all for nothing."
And from, `Sabotage', about a man estranged from his young son. "In the midst of the other families, in the kinetic frenzy and shrill excitement of the afternoon, we are silent and desperate and miserable. A dark stain on the gaiety of life. Two broken pilings of rock in a glinting sea of youthful energy."
There is much more where that came from in this fabulous collection.
This is a book that will give you a fly on the wall look at ordinary lives and the common scars and ties that bind us. It will reveal to you the hidden side of life, the side most people will never reveal, and of which we are usually 'oblivious'.
Highly recommended.
33 Days by Bill See
My review: The story of a 33 day tour by the band Divine Weeks. Bill See, the author, was the lead singer of the L.A. band who enjoyed some notoriety in the `80s.
In this memoir, See has collected together journal entries and memories to create much more than just a tour diary. He documents the tour with a great descriptive narrative that really captures the moment and brings his memories to life. He also talks about his own dysfunctional home life, which in some ways spurred him on to chase his dream.
See is a talented writer, who is able to impart wisdom and knowledge through his prose.
I enjoyed reading about the band's progression from an unknown group who played only weekday gigs in their home town, to a successful band touring nationwide. But this is not just a story about the band's journey, it's also about the individual band members' personal journeys along the way. See's introspective and thought-provoking prose make the book a compulsive and insightful read.
We follow the band on their first real tour, across the US and Canada in 1987, where they play small venues, often to a handful of people. But the band's passion is such that they are determined to do anything to reach their dream of one day becoming real rock stars. They survive with hardly any money and sleep in a van and cheap hotels, or even on friends' floors. There is a lot of humour sprinkled throughout the book which makes it an enjoyable read. I liked the fact that the author has included photographs of memorable parts of the tour and his life in the book. It gives an extra dimension to the story.
As well as being an enthralling tour diary, this book deals with such subjects as family life, alcoholism, racism, dysfunctional families, relationships, friendship, loyalty, and the power of dreams.
Divine Weeks's story is an inspirational one that shows what someone can achieve if they follow their dream. The author captures the essence of the book best, when he says: `This book is for everyone who's stood at their crossroads with a dream screaming inside wondering whether to choose the road that goes off the map or fold up their tent and head back home.'
Highly recommended.
The Cutting Edge by Darcia Helle
My review: From page 1, where Darcia Helle's protagonist introduces herself as Lilly Skye Destiny Summers (LSD Summers -- named by her hippie parents), and then goes on to explain that she is known as Skye, and her husband's surname is Skyler, so she kept her maiden name, I knew that I was going to enjoy this book!
Anyone who has worked in a job where they have to deal with the general public on a daily basis will appreciate the humour in this book.
Skye is a hairdresser and begins to have fantasies about killing her clients. She has reached the stage where she no longer enjoys her job and her clients irritate her. On top of that her husband's ex is causing problems. Skye wants her dead.
At the same time as Skye is having these murderous thoughts, there is a serial killer loose in town. He is killing women, seemingly randomly, no one is safe.
The book is written in the first person where Skye is narrating her daily life, and then in the third person where we follow the 'Mass Avenger', the serial killer, as he takes revenge on women for the way his mother treated him. He believes women use their 'power' to break men down. He sees something different in Skye, though. He is one of her clients. He becomes obsessed with her but does not want to kill her. He has other plans.
This is a murder mystery which you will not want to put down. Helle has written an entertaining, psychological thriller. One minute you will be laughing at Skye's wild thoughts, the next you will be on the edge of your seat wondering about the fate of the women abducted by the Mass Avenger. There is some violence in the book, prepare to be shocked. Also, prepare to be amazed by Helle's skill at crafting a book that hooks you from the first page, keeps you captive to the very last, and leaves you feeling awestruck.
This book reminds us how daily toils can turn us into someone we don't like, and that we should be careful what we wish for...
Those are just a few of the great books I've read this year. I hope you'll find one that will stand out as an ideal gift for someone you know.
Books are wonderful gifts because they can educate, inspire and entertain. I think it's always nice to buy a print version whether it's hardback or paperback as a gift for someone, but nowadays because more people have e-readers, you can also buy e-books as gifts. Maybe you want to treat the book-lover in your life to an e-reader for Christmas and you want to download a few great books? Whatever you are planning, I hope you will find a bit of inspiration from my list of recommended books below.
I've read quite a lot of books this year, and most of them have been really great reads.
Here are purchase links for a few books that I would suggest as gifts:
The Other Room by James Everington - a collection of short stories
Here's the review I wrote for the book:
I am so glad I stumbled across this collection of short stories. It's original, well written, and one of the best collections I have ever read. Every story in this collection is good. There are some stand out ones because they are absolutely amazing, for example 'First Time Buyers'. I think my favourite of the whole collection has to be 'Red Route', the ending is just one of those that makes you go, "wow!".
It's a very diverse collection. There are horror stories, paranormal, thrillers.
This is an exciting new writer, the kind of writer that makes me proud to be a self-published author. In all his stories he takes you deep into the mind of the characters, so that you almost feel as though you are reliving their story. There are many memorable quotes... always a sign of a great writer in my opinion.
A couple of examples:
"Just the sense of the big machinery of the economy faltering and grinding somewhere... She thought of cog-wheels turning high above her, their aloof motion turning other wheels, and those wheels still others...'
"...as if the box of their room was just one box inside another, larger one...'
This is modern literature at its finest. Do not miss this collection.
Into The Light by Darcia Helle
Here's my review:
This is a wonderful story on so many levels. It contains humour, romance, and an element of mystery. It's a supernatural tale about a ghost, Max, who refuses to go `into the light' until his killer can be brought to justice.
Max, in life, was a very ordinary man, in fact he died feeling like a failure and as if his life had been in vain.
What Helle's book teaches us is that there are many things we do on a daily basis that have an effect on other people's lives, for good or bad. Max is forced to confront issues from his past when he dies, and this multi-layered story perfectly highlights the fact that we are often unaware of other people's thoughts and feelings and that makes all the difference when looking at the effects of things we do. Many readers will be able to relate to Max, and also the private investigator, Joe, who is roped in to help Max find his killer. Their relationship is an odd one, but they each learn something from the other as they both try to come to terms with their problems.
The book deals with the subjects of divorce, regret, relationships, insecurity, and miscommunication, among other things. It's a fun and often comical read, but also contains very deep thinking on human behaviour and relationships.
The underlying message appears to be that when we die we leave behind an imprint based on everything we have done, thought, and said... it's definitely food for thought.
Metallic Dreams by Mark Rice
My review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It's about a young man, Spark, who always dreamt of becoming a big name in heavy metal music. In his late teens he was part of a band 'Blood Brothers' who went their separate ways before they could make it into the big time. Some years later, Spark has a life changing experience and as a consequence he becomes determined to put his old band back together and live his dream. His belief is that the band will become successful, and he doesn't want to live his life in a dead end job when his passion lies in music. At its core, Metallic Dreams is about finding the courage to follow your dream, no matter how difficult it might seem to be. It is also about the power of love. It is indie fiction at its best, breaking out of the boundaries set by genre, and experimenting with new and exciting ways to write a story. It is extremely funny; hilarious in parts. I almost laughed out loud in public a few times whilst reading it. It does contain some controversial topics and taboo subjects, but those topics are skillfully woven into the story making them a realistic portrayal of very vivid characters' lives and experiences. This book is very original and entertaining. I would recommend Metallic Dreams to music fans, especially rock and heavy metal fans, as you will find much to relate to in the book. Due to some of the content in this book I would say it is only suitable for over 18s. I am looking forward to more books by this talented writer.
B-Sides and Broken Hearts by Caryn Rose
My review:
B-Sides and Broken Hearts is the story of 37 year-old Lisa, who is finding it hard coming to terms with the death of Joey Ramone, one of her favourite musicians. His death forces her to think about her life and she finds that she is not happy. Her relationship with the predictable, Ian, is not the type of relationship she had envisaged for herself when she was young. The death of Joey Ramone leads to a torrent of emails from Lisa's music-loving friends, and puts her back in touch with Jake, the singer with a successful band, Blue Electric. Lisa had been there with Jake and the rest of the band right from the start when they were unknown and penniless. She watched them grow into a band that could fill arenas. However, for the past 5 years her relationship with the band has been overshadowed by the fact that her boyfriend shows little interest in getting to know them. From the outside, all of Lisa's friends have always thought she should have ended up with Jake. None of her friends like Ian. After Joey Ramone's death, when Ian fails to understand why she is so upset, Lisa makes the decision to visit her old friends in LA. She packs some belongings, mainly CDs for the journey, and drives all night to revisit her past. Lisa goes on a journey in this novel, to find the person she really is. After a tragic relationship when she was younger, she had lost her way. Will her old friends in LA help her reconnect with the real Lisa?
This book is about dreams, friends, love, relationships, and above all it is about music and how music can have a profound influence on our lives.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt that the world had ended because their favourite band split up, anyone who obsessively waited for new albums to be released by their favourite bands and spent their last pennies on gigs and records, anyone who has ever screamed the lyrics to their favourite songs while driving in their car... This is a book for dreamers, and reaffirms the importance of believing in your dreams, and following your heart.
It is well written and engaging. I found myself feeling sad when I knew that the story would soon end. The ending is poignant and uplifting at the same time. This is a must read for music lovers.
Quiet Fury: An Anthology of Suspense
Another one by Darcia Helle. My review:
I am already a fan of Darcia Helle's writing having read her novels, Enemies and Playmates, Hit List, The Cutting Edge, and Into The Light. Darcia Helle has shown us with this anthology that short stories can be as compelling as novels. All of her characters seem real, they have feelings, they have a history, and we learn about them in fewer words than a novel, but still we know them. From the poignant first story, streaked with colour and tragedy, right through to the last one, that contains humour, human compassion and heart, Darcia takes us on a journey that we can relate to. We are all living in this world where calm and fury battle for our attention, just like the characters in Darcia's stories. There are stories to make you laugh, cry, wince, scream... there is every type of emotion within these pages. I enjoyed all the stories. Read Darcia Helle's stories and you will enter a world that may almost frighten you but you will be left curious enough to take another look. Her writing is addictive. She has mastered the art of suspense writing, and this collection is another example of that.
A Murderer's Heart by Julie Elizabeth Powell
My review:
I was already a fan of Julie Elizabeth Powell's writing before reading this book, and I just knew I would love it. Julie is a very versatile writer, with a compulsive and easy to read style. Her past books have been fantasy, children's, and non-fiction. 'A Murderer's Heart' is her first murder mystery. It's excellent!
Dr. Anne Blake is a psychiatrist who is good at her job. She has a firm belief that all mentally ill people can be cured, or saved so that they can lead a better life. She is involved in her own practice as well as helping at the Tadmore Psychiatric Hospital and she has lately become involved in a project 'Back Into the World' to try to raise money to help the mentally ill to be cared for so they can return to their lives in the community. Her busy life means that she has very little time for her friends or for a relationship.
When Dr. Blake meets Peter Armstrong, the son of a woman who needs psychiatric help, her world begins to change. A mysterious murderer is on the prowl and there seems to be a link to the Tadmore hospital.
After hearing that her close friend, Jenny, may be in danger, Anne resolves to do all she can to keep her safe from the killer.
In a dramatic and entertaining story, the author does a great job in putting across the idea that sometimes things are not as they seem and we don't always see what is in front of our own eyes. Dr. Blake is forced to face the limitations of her own knowledge and power.
I loved the way the tale progressed, with all the unexpected twists and turns. It kept me hooked from the start and the ending was delightful.
It's a quick, compulsive read. Highly recommended. I would also recommend all of Julie's other titles.
The Shelter by James Everington
Another one by James Everington. My review: The Shelter is a well crafted story by a master storyteller. I am a big fan of James Everington's writing. After reading his short story collection The Other Room I was excited to hear that he was about to release a novella. I just have a feeling that this author is going to be a big name in literature one day.
James has self-titled his style of fiction 'weird fiction' and I would agree that there is an element of the weird in his writing, but underlying it is a deep understanding of human nature and why people think or behave in certain ways. He takes us inside his characters' heads, and we live through their hopes and fears with them. This skill is proof of his talent as a writer.
The Shelter is a creepy, spooky, horror story. It contains elements of psychological thriller, ghost story, and mystery. The relationship between the schoolboys is realistic and well portrayed. It kept me hooked all the way through and deals with the subject of how guilt can change the course of a person's life. An interesting and thought provoking read.
To Begin Again by Jen Knox
My review: The first story in the collection really drew me in. It's a story that makes you question human nature and really makes you think. After reading that I was sure I was in for a very interesting journey reading this anthology. All of the stories have a 'fly on the wall' feel to them, as if you are watching events unfold that you would not usually be made privy to. I use the word 'watch' as it really felt to me as I read Jen Knox's prose, that these scenes were snippets of other people's lives, short clips of action, and I was seeing them as if on film. Such is the power of her description. The stories cover the subjects of desperation, regret, family relationships, the human condition, love, mental illness, and betrayal, amongst other things. Jen Knox moves a magnifying glass over current social problems, and expertly explores different scenarios on how people deal with loss, pain, fear etc. In Jen Knox's stories we glimpse fragments of people's lives, and she touches on emotions that we can all relate to with a subtlety that is sublime. This collection is a wonderful encapsulation of stories that reflect our current time in history, with all the social pressures and hardships. This is a very emotional and heartfelt collection. I really can't pick a favourite as liked all the stories for different reasons. I found two of them particularly heartbreaking, 'The Probability of Him', and 'Disengaged'. I loved the almost comical tone to the story, 'Absurd Hunger', which is written about a dark subject. 'Solitary Value' is a wonderful example of how Jen Knox observes human nature and the things that make us all the same. I loved the simplicity of the story, 'Dandelion Ghosts', which has a touching ending. I wondered whether some of the stories are autobiographical. An enthralling collection by a talented writer. Highly recommended
Losing Addison by Marty Beaudet
My review: I was hooked on this story from the start. I find the way it was written fascinating. The author literally dreamt this book, and then wrote it all out from his memory, without editing it. It's just perfect as it is! I heard about Marty Beaudet's experimental writing and, although curious, I didn't have time to go and read the serial as it was developing online. I finally found time to visit the blog and read the free online version when the author had already written 16 chapters. I read the whole thing in one sitting because it was that gripping!
Losing Addison is a psychological thriller exploring schizophrenia and the unexplained bond between twins. It's a story that will have you glued to the page. The suspense is well constructed and made me want to continue reading until I found out what was happening. The story unravels bit by bit, slowly revealing the reasons behind the characters' behaviour. Beaudet drip feeds the information in the most effective way, with flashback scenes and high drama. A wonderfully entertaining story. I'd recommend it to everyone who likes a good suspenseful thriller. And I am thrilled that the author chose to name one of the characters after me! My namesake appears in chapter 13!
Sink or Swim by Stacy Juba
My review: Stacy Juba is skilled at the art of writing a scene and making the reader feel the tension and suspense. When I began reading the book about a young girl, Cassidy Novak, who was a star of a reality show and then becomes concerned about a stalker, I was slightly concerned that 'Sink or Swim' would be just another forgettable run-of-the-mill story. But Juba is a professional. She has the reader right where she wants them, one minute Cassidy is concerned about her stalker, the next we are caught up in a multi-layered mystery where Cassidy is at the centre and I could feel the danger she was in. It's a gripping and enthralling read. At times, I was so engrossed in the book that I wanted to jump inside and save Cassidy... that is how adept Juba is at creating real characters and suspenseful storylines. I highly recommend this read from a rising star in the murder mystery genre.
The story deals with family relationships, the impact of reality shows on people's lives, obsession, love, trust, and of course murder!
The Word Gang by Mark McKenna
Mark McKenna has created a wonderful story based on every author's and reader's first love: the written word. All of the characters in the novel are well developed; we learn about their backgrounds and can sympathise with their flaws. Even the detestable teacher, Mr. Ralston, seems to have a side to him that we can all relate to.
After taking a year off school, without telling her mother, Kalisha Jackson begins to feel guilty and decides to go back to school when the new year begins. She finds herself in Project Restart, a new type of teaching system for students who are deemed to be failing in some way. On her first day, she gets off to a bad start when she turns up late, and her moody teacher, Mr. Ralston, immediately marks her out as a bad seed.
Kalisha quickly makes friends with two fellow students in Project Restart; BD, who lives with his alcoholic father; and Sahmbaht, whose family fled from Cambodia for a better life in America, but have brought their painful memories with them.
After helping out an elderly neighbour, Kalisha is given a gift; a dictionary. She begins to read it and starts learning new words. When she uses one of these unknown words in class one day, her teacher thinks she is trying to be disruptive.
Kalisha and her new friends formulate a plan. They have had enough of being treated as troublemakers through no fault of their own, so they decide to learn as many new and obscure words as possible with the intention of making a mockery of Project Restart and hopefully destroying it.
The ensuing adventure is a fun and engaging read; and also educational as there are many rarely used words contained in the novel. This is the type of book that could encourage teens and young adults to look at language in a different way, and perhaps inspire them to learn more words or even more languages.
The story held my interest all the way through. The elderly neighbour, Mr. Spinoza, is a wonderfully eccentric character, and I liked the interaction between him and Kalisha.
There seems to be is a deeper meaning to this story; all about how anyone can be misunderstood. For example, Kalisha is affected by her parents' divorce. Her teacher, Jack Ralston does not try to find out about reasons why the children in Project Restart might be failing, but labels them as disruptive and undisciplined; he has little patience with them. Meanwhile, Kalisha at such a young age has been helping to keep her family together, bringing up her two young siblings while her mother works the night shift at a hospital to make ends meet. Kalisha also shows her caring side when she first meets old Mr. Spinoza.
The Word Gang is all about how misunderstandings can make problems worse, and that it is best to try a bit harder to see the reasons behind the way people behave before you judge them.
Mark McKenna has somehow managed to get inside the minds of his characters and create realistic, believable people.
A very enjoyable read, highly recommended.
Oblivious by Neil Schiller
My review:
This is a wonderful collection of short stories. I enjoyed the sparse prose, the evocative description, and the fact that although the stories are all about different people, male and female, they could almost merge into one. All the main characters are struggling in some way. The themes of difficult family relationships, addiction, regret, depression, guilt, repeat themselves over and over. Schiller has created real characters; these could be people you pass in the street. Schiller has stripped away the layers that ordinary people use to hide their true circumstances or feelings, and gone beneath to examine and reveal the underbelly of human nature. We are taken right inside the characters' homes, hearts, and minds. Schiller has mastered the art of short story and likes to show off about it too. He has included a one sentence story, `Trapped', and a half a page story, `Half'--both of which are perfect--and the latter is one of my favourites in the collection.
The descriptive prose is fresh and original. An example of his writing, from, `Brand Awareness', a story about a man facing redundancy: "I've squandered six years of my life on this job. More if you count the myriad of spoiled hopes it pulled into the swirling vortex of its black heart. I've commuted over twelve thousand miles; I've missed my daughter's first steps, first words, first school play; I've worked and slept and stressed myself into an isolation around which my wife has built a new life to compensate. And it was all for nothing."
And from, `Sabotage', about a man estranged from his young son. "In the midst of the other families, in the kinetic frenzy and shrill excitement of the afternoon, we are silent and desperate and miserable. A dark stain on the gaiety of life. Two broken pilings of rock in a glinting sea of youthful energy."
There is much more where that came from in this fabulous collection.
This is a book that will give you a fly on the wall look at ordinary lives and the common scars and ties that bind us. It will reveal to you the hidden side of life, the side most people will never reveal, and of which we are usually 'oblivious'.
Highly recommended.
33 Days by Bill See
My review: The story of a 33 day tour by the band Divine Weeks. Bill See, the author, was the lead singer of the L.A. band who enjoyed some notoriety in the `80s.
In this memoir, See has collected together journal entries and memories to create much more than just a tour diary. He documents the tour with a great descriptive narrative that really captures the moment and brings his memories to life. He also talks about his own dysfunctional home life, which in some ways spurred him on to chase his dream.
See is a talented writer, who is able to impart wisdom and knowledge through his prose.
I enjoyed reading about the band's progression from an unknown group who played only weekday gigs in their home town, to a successful band touring nationwide. But this is not just a story about the band's journey, it's also about the individual band members' personal journeys along the way. See's introspective and thought-provoking prose make the book a compulsive and insightful read.
We follow the band on their first real tour, across the US and Canada in 1987, where they play small venues, often to a handful of people. But the band's passion is such that they are determined to do anything to reach their dream of one day becoming real rock stars. They survive with hardly any money and sleep in a van and cheap hotels, or even on friends' floors. There is a lot of humour sprinkled throughout the book which makes it an enjoyable read. I liked the fact that the author has included photographs of memorable parts of the tour and his life in the book. It gives an extra dimension to the story.
As well as being an enthralling tour diary, this book deals with such subjects as family life, alcoholism, racism, dysfunctional families, relationships, friendship, loyalty, and the power of dreams.
Divine Weeks's story is an inspirational one that shows what someone can achieve if they follow their dream. The author captures the essence of the book best, when he says: `This book is for everyone who's stood at their crossroads with a dream screaming inside wondering whether to choose the road that goes off the map or fold up their tent and head back home.'
Highly recommended.
The Cutting Edge by Darcia Helle
My review: From page 1, where Darcia Helle's protagonist introduces herself as Lilly Skye Destiny Summers (LSD Summers -- named by her hippie parents), and then goes on to explain that she is known as Skye, and her husband's surname is Skyler, so she kept her maiden name, I knew that I was going to enjoy this book!
Anyone who has worked in a job where they have to deal with the general public on a daily basis will appreciate the humour in this book.
Skye is a hairdresser and begins to have fantasies about killing her clients. She has reached the stage where she no longer enjoys her job and her clients irritate her. On top of that her husband's ex is causing problems. Skye wants her dead.
At the same time as Skye is having these murderous thoughts, there is a serial killer loose in town. He is killing women, seemingly randomly, no one is safe.
The book is written in the first person where Skye is narrating her daily life, and then in the third person where we follow the 'Mass Avenger', the serial killer, as he takes revenge on women for the way his mother treated him. He believes women use their 'power' to break men down. He sees something different in Skye, though. He is one of her clients. He becomes obsessed with her but does not want to kill her. He has other plans.
This is a murder mystery which you will not want to put down. Helle has written an entertaining, psychological thriller. One minute you will be laughing at Skye's wild thoughts, the next you will be on the edge of your seat wondering about the fate of the women abducted by the Mass Avenger. There is some violence in the book, prepare to be shocked. Also, prepare to be amazed by Helle's skill at crafting a book that hooks you from the first page, keeps you captive to the very last, and leaves you feeling awestruck.
This book reminds us how daily toils can turn us into someone we don't like, and that we should be careful what we wish for...
Those are just a few of the great books I've read this year. I hope you'll find one that will stand out as an ideal gift for someone you know.
BestsellerBound Book Bonanza!
Christmas was in December, right? Well, come the end of this month, one lucky book addict will be thinking it's Christmas again when he or she wins 17 books in the BestsellerBound Book Bonanza!
10 authors, all members of BestsellerBound (including me), have donated books to the giveaway. Here's what's on offer:
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All books will be signed print copies.
Yes, all these books could be yours! To enter, all you have to do is click on the link below which will take you to Darcia Helle's website, and fill in the form. It's an international competition open to anyone aged 16 and over.
The contest closes on 29th February 2012.
BestsellerBoundBookBonanza
There can only be one lucky winner! Good luck everyone!
10 authors, all members of BestsellerBound (including me), have donated books to the giveaway. Here's what's on offer:
[image error]All books will be signed print copies.
Yes, all these books could be yours! To enter, all you have to do is click on the link below which will take you to Darcia Helle's website, and fill in the form. It's an international competition open to anyone aged 16 and over.
The contest closes on 29th February 2012.
BestsellerBoundBookBonanza
There can only be one lucky winner! Good luck everyone!
Losing Addison, by Marty Beaudet
Quite a few years ago, Darcia Helle and I used to run an online writers' forum with our fellow writer Stacy Juba. It was called BestsellerBound.com - The name was thought up by Stacy, and the idea behind it was that we were all going to be bestselling authors one day :)
The site attracted a lot of members and was always buzzing with online chat about the highs and lows of writing.
I look back on the BestsellerBound years as some of the most enjoyable of my writing journey so far. It was great to interact with so many different independent authors. We all learned so much from each other. I think it helped to chat about our writing and editing/publishing problems, and it helped us all to develop our skills.
Over the 2-3 years (maybe more) that we ran the site, we also produced a few publications. Jason McIntyre and I wrote an online novella, "Cutting the Fat", which was available at Amazon for a while. That was a cool writing experiment where we wrote a chapter each, alternately. It was a lot of fun and the story turned out to be very popular.
The BestsellerBound Anthologies that we published are still available at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...). They include short stories from many of the talented writers that were members of BestsellerBound.
I still keep in touch with many of the former BestsellerBound members. I made some really good friends on that site.
One of my friends from the BestsellerBound days contacted me recently about his exciting new project. Marty Beaudet, is about to shoot the film adaptation of his novella, "Losing Addison". He wrote the book online, on his blog, during the BestsellerBound days. He named a few of his characters after some of the authors from Bestsellerbound :)
One of the characters in the book was named after me. For legal reasons, he's changed the names of the characters for the film version, but the character he named after me is still called Maria, but is now Maria Sanchez.
I read the book back in 2011 and loved it. Here's the review I wrote after I'd read it:
I was hooked on this story from the start. I find the way it was written fascinating. The author literally dreamt this book, and then wrote it all out from his memory, without editing it. It's just perfect as it is! I heard about Marty Beaudet's experimental writing and, although curious, I didn't have time to go and read the serial as it was developing online. I finally found time to visit the blog and read the free online version when the author had already written 16 chapters. I read the whole thing in one sitting because it was that gripping!
Losing Addison is a psychological thriller exploring schizophrenia and the unexplained bond between twins. It's a story that will have you glued to the page. The suspense is well constructed and made me want to continue reading until I found out what was happening. The story unravels bit by bit, slowly revealing the reasons behind the characters' behaviour. Beaudet drip feeds the information in the most effective way, with flashback scenes and high drama. A wonderfully entertaining story. I'd recommend it to everyone who likes a good suspenseful thriller. And I am thrilled that the author chose to name one of the characters after me! My namesake appears in chapter 13!
The film crew have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help with production costs for "Losing Addison".
Check out the Kickstarter page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
There are many awesome 'rewards' that you can claim for pledging towards the film costs, for example if you pledge $50 you could spend a day with the cast and crew during filming. If you pledge $25 or more, you get a thank you in the film credits along with a print copy of the book. Check out the page for full details and the list of rewards.
Excerpt from the Kickstarter Campaign description:
"Losing Addison is a psychological thriller that came from a nightmare in 2011. Marty woke up from the nightmare early one morning, with every detail fresh in his mind, as though it were dictated to him so specifically and completely that he was able to write and subsequently publish it in novella form just fifteen days later.
We optioned the rights to Marty's nightmare and he adapted it for the screen in 2015. We have since developed the feature, and are ready to begin principal photography on October 16th of this year, 2017.
Losing Addison is a film about human nature, the different sides of every person, and how every human being has a good side, and a bad side."
Read more about it on the Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Follow the Facebook page to keep up with the news: https://www.facebook.com/LosingAddiso...
The official website for the film: https://www.losingaddisonmovie.com/
