Maria Savva's Blog, page 53
December 4, 2011
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.
November 30, 2011
One year later...
On 1st December 2010, I went into hospital for a catheter ablation to try to cure my SVT. SVT is Supraventricular Tachycardia. I haven't really talked about it much on the internet, but one year on, I thought it would be a good time to write a post about my experience in case there is anyone else out there suffering a similar problem.
First for the technical stuff, what is SVT? Well, it's a rapid heartbeat that can occur randomly without warning, and the heart begins to palpitate at the rate of between 120-250 bpm. Mine used to go up to 240+. An attack of SVT can last anything from a few seconds to many hours, even days. Typically my SVT used to last for a couple of hours, but towards the end when I decided to go for the operation, it was continuing without stopping and could only be terminated with an injection of a drug called Adenosine. Whenever the doctors would prepare to inject me with the drug, they always warned that I would feel 'impending doom' as the drug took effect! What I actually felt was that I stopped breathing for a second or two, but just as panic was about to set in, my heart would thankfully start beating back in its normal rhythm.
SVT is horrible, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. It can end up controlling your life. The attacks are random; you never know when you'll get another SVT. You could be sitting down, relaxing and it would start, without warning. That meant that I was always anxious, on edge as if waiting for the next attack... Things like booking holidays, even just travelling on public transport, going to meetings, or events, were always extra stressful.
I started having these rapid palpitations in 2001, but when I had the first attack, I thought it was a panic attack, and people were saying things to me like, 'You shouldn't get stressed about things, try to relax.' SVT doesn't care if you're relaxed. I was once asleep and woken up by SVT.
The next SVT I had was two years later. I knew the feeling, because the heart beats in a different pattern than the normal rhythm, so I knew it was the same thing I'd had a couple of years back, and was worried. It stopped after a couple of hours and I tried to forget about it. When I went to the doctor the next day, she told me to 'get some exercise' because my heart beat was slightly fast. She sent me for an ECG at the local hospital which came back fine (which it would, because SVT only shows up on the ECG when it's happening), and that was the end of that. I don't think that doctor had heard of SVT. In fact, it's the ignorance of the condition within the medical profession that makes it all the more stressful for the patient.
In reality, SVT is, in most cases a benign condition. One consultant told me that aside from being a bit of a 'nuisance', it can't cause any lasting damage. It would have been good to know that when I was in A&E on various occasions with nurses and doctors acting as if I was having a heart attack or dying.
When someone gets an attack of SVT, it really does feel like you are going to die. No matter what the doctors or consultants tell you. After all, your heart is beating off the scale and you can't stop it. It's very frightening. The best advice I can give someone who is having the attack is to stay calm and concentrate on your breathing. I found that the calmer I was the less severe an attack would be.
I had SVT once every year-and-a-half or so up until 2007 when I was diagnosed as having the condition. Each time I had an attack I felt sure I would die. That's how it makes you feel. Scary stuff.
When I finally saw a consultant, and he told me what was wrong, I really began to feel relaxed as if I would be more in control of the situation when I had an attack (at that time my attacks were not very frequent). He explained that I was born with two pathways in my heart instead of one, and that whenever I had an ectopic beat I was at risk of having SVT. Ectopic beats are fairly normal and most people have one every 24hrs although people with SVT have more each day. An ectopic beat is an extra heartbeat. My consultant told me about some techniques I could use to stop the SVT. One was to plunge my face in a bucket of freezing water!! Apparently that is the most effective. I was never brave enough to try it. I got as far as filling a bucket with water and ice cubes and then chickened out! The other technique was to take a deep breath, hold your nose, and blow, with your mouth closed. I believe it's called the Valsalva maneuver. This was quite effective for me and I managed to stop my SVT a few times using that. Another method I found on a forum, suggested by a fellow SVT sufferer was to lie down on your right hand side, in a foetal position, relax and concentrate on your breathing. That worked once or twice for me. I was also told to avoid sleeping on your left hand side (i.e. where the heart is situated) as apparently that can trigger an SVT attack. So, for more than 2 years I always slept on my right side!
In 2010, my SVT began to become more frequent and the techniques that had been working to stop it, were no longer working. I began to notice that I would get more ectopic beats when I was premenstrual, and most of my SVT attacks would happen then. I was told by a consultant that this type of heart problem is most common in young women and can be affected by the menstrual cycle.
I have to count myself lucky because as frightening as my SVT was it was benign and there were no other problems with my heart and no other health issues, so the procedure that I had to undergo to 'cure' it, went smoothly.
A catheter ablation is the most effective treatment for this condition and in 95-97% of cases it will cure the SVT. I have not had any attacks since the ablation last year and I am very thankful for that and glad I decided to go through with the ablation. Before my op, I was having one attack every month and having to go to A&E each time to have an injection of Adenosine. Yuck! I once overheard a conversation between a consultant and some trainee doctors, where he told them that the last time he'd injected someone with Adenosine the man had died because it had reacted with another drug he had taken. Not a great thing to hear when you know you would most likely have to have that drug injected again...
Other ways of treating SVT are by long-term medication, but there can be side effects and I am quite 'anti-drugs' of any kind, so it wasn't the route I wanted to take.
I must admit that in the weeks leading up to my ablation I was very frightened. I was again certain that I would die (sometimes having such an over-active imagination can be a burden!). When I was taken to the room where I would have the surgery, I was literally shaking like a leaf. I could not stop myself shaking. I was convinced they would not be able to operate because I was shaking so much. Luckily there is a wonderful drug that they gave me that they described as 'happy juice' and that did the trick. I was under sedation during the op, drifting in and out of consciousness. I had 5 catheters inserted in the large vein on my right leg, and they were positioned in different parts of my heart. Everything was viewed using x-rays, and I could see my heart on a screen up above me where they were doing the treatment.
Radiofrequency waves are used to 'burn' away the extra pathway that causes the SVT.
The op took about 2 hours, and after about 2-3 weeks my heart felt normal again.
I am so glad I have not had any further attacks. The anxiety I used to have has lessened over the year, and as time goes by I'm sure it will go away.
I hope the information in this blog post will help others who are going through this type of thing.
First for the technical stuff, what is SVT? Well, it's a rapid heartbeat that can occur randomly without warning, and the heart begins to palpitate at the rate of between 120-250 bpm. Mine used to go up to 240+. An attack of SVT can last anything from a few seconds to many hours, even days. Typically my SVT used to last for a couple of hours, but towards the end when I decided to go for the operation, it was continuing without stopping and could only be terminated with an injection of a drug called Adenosine. Whenever the doctors would prepare to inject me with the drug, they always warned that I would feel 'impending doom' as the drug took effect! What I actually felt was that I stopped breathing for a second or two, but just as panic was about to set in, my heart would thankfully start beating back in its normal rhythm.
SVT is horrible, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. It can end up controlling your life. The attacks are random; you never know when you'll get another SVT. You could be sitting down, relaxing and it would start, without warning. That meant that I was always anxious, on edge as if waiting for the next attack... Things like booking holidays, even just travelling on public transport, going to meetings, or events, were always extra stressful.
I started having these rapid palpitations in 2001, but when I had the first attack, I thought it was a panic attack, and people were saying things to me like, 'You shouldn't get stressed about things, try to relax.' SVT doesn't care if you're relaxed. I was once asleep and woken up by SVT.
The next SVT I had was two years later. I knew the feeling, because the heart beats in a different pattern than the normal rhythm, so I knew it was the same thing I'd had a couple of years back, and was worried. It stopped after a couple of hours and I tried to forget about it. When I went to the doctor the next day, she told me to 'get some exercise' because my heart beat was slightly fast. She sent me for an ECG at the local hospital which came back fine (which it would, because SVT only shows up on the ECG when it's happening), and that was the end of that. I don't think that doctor had heard of SVT. In fact, it's the ignorance of the condition within the medical profession that makes it all the more stressful for the patient.
In reality, SVT is, in most cases a benign condition. One consultant told me that aside from being a bit of a 'nuisance', it can't cause any lasting damage. It would have been good to know that when I was in A&E on various occasions with nurses and doctors acting as if I was having a heart attack or dying.
When someone gets an attack of SVT, it really does feel like you are going to die. No matter what the doctors or consultants tell you. After all, your heart is beating off the scale and you can't stop it. It's very frightening. The best advice I can give someone who is having the attack is to stay calm and concentrate on your breathing. I found that the calmer I was the less severe an attack would be.
I had SVT once every year-and-a-half or so up until 2007 when I was diagnosed as having the condition. Each time I had an attack I felt sure I would die. That's how it makes you feel. Scary stuff.
When I finally saw a consultant, and he told me what was wrong, I really began to feel relaxed as if I would be more in control of the situation when I had an attack (at that time my attacks were not very frequent). He explained that I was born with two pathways in my heart instead of one, and that whenever I had an ectopic beat I was at risk of having SVT. Ectopic beats are fairly normal and most people have one every 24hrs although people with SVT have more each day. An ectopic beat is an extra heartbeat. My consultant told me about some techniques I could use to stop the SVT. One was to plunge my face in a bucket of freezing water!! Apparently that is the most effective. I was never brave enough to try it. I got as far as filling a bucket with water and ice cubes and then chickened out! The other technique was to take a deep breath, hold your nose, and blow, with your mouth closed. I believe it's called the Valsalva maneuver. This was quite effective for me and I managed to stop my SVT a few times using that. Another method I found on a forum, suggested by a fellow SVT sufferer was to lie down on your right hand side, in a foetal position, relax and concentrate on your breathing. That worked once or twice for me. I was also told to avoid sleeping on your left hand side (i.e. where the heart is situated) as apparently that can trigger an SVT attack. So, for more than 2 years I always slept on my right side!
In 2010, my SVT began to become more frequent and the techniques that had been working to stop it, were no longer working. I began to notice that I would get more ectopic beats when I was premenstrual, and most of my SVT attacks would happen then. I was told by a consultant that this type of heart problem is most common in young women and can be affected by the menstrual cycle.
I have to count myself lucky because as frightening as my SVT was it was benign and there were no other problems with my heart and no other health issues, so the procedure that I had to undergo to 'cure' it, went smoothly.
A catheter ablation is the most effective treatment for this condition and in 95-97% of cases it will cure the SVT. I have not had any attacks since the ablation last year and I am very thankful for that and glad I decided to go through with the ablation. Before my op, I was having one attack every month and having to go to A&E each time to have an injection of Adenosine. Yuck! I once overheard a conversation between a consultant and some trainee doctors, where he told them that the last time he'd injected someone with Adenosine the man had died because it had reacted with another drug he had taken. Not a great thing to hear when you know you would most likely have to have that drug injected again...
Other ways of treating SVT are by long-term medication, but there can be side effects and I am quite 'anti-drugs' of any kind, so it wasn't the route I wanted to take.
I must admit that in the weeks leading up to my ablation I was very frightened. I was again certain that I would die (sometimes having such an over-active imagination can be a burden!). When I was taken to the room where I would have the surgery, I was literally shaking like a leaf. I could not stop myself shaking. I was convinced they would not be able to operate because I was shaking so much. Luckily there is a wonderful drug that they gave me that they described as 'happy juice' and that did the trick. I was under sedation during the op, drifting in and out of consciousness. I had 5 catheters inserted in the large vein on my right leg, and they were positioned in different parts of my heart. Everything was viewed using x-rays, and I could see my heart on a screen up above me where they were doing the treatment.
Radiofrequency waves are used to 'burn' away the extra pathway that causes the SVT.
The op took about 2 hours, and after about 2-3 weeks my heart felt normal again.
I am so glad I have not had any further attacks. The anxiety I used to have has lessened over the year, and as time goes by I'm sure it will go away.
I hope the information in this blog post will help others who are going through this type of thing.
November 29, 2011
Read my latest interview on John Hoff III's blog
I recently did an interview with journalist John Hoff III for his blog. You can read it by following this link:
Interview
Interview
November 24, 2011
BestsellerBound has a new FREE anthology!!
At BestsellerBound we are all about finding talented indie writers and promoting their work. So far we have produced three short story anthologies and there is another on the way. We're currently collecting stories for Volume 4, so if you're an indie writer who hasn't signed up as a member yet, where have you been? I know, too busy writing, okay, but that's still no excuse ;)
If you'd like to be part of BestsellerBound, our friendly and fun community of writers (and readers -- we mustn't forget them as we would be nothing without them), please join us. The sign up process is easy, we do have to verify your email address as we get so many spammers trying to sign up every day. A word of warning -- if you have an unusual email address, you may need to contact me or the site creator, Darcia Helle, to let us know you're going to apply for membership, or we may reject your application. We get lots of weird and wonderfully named spam email addresses trying to get onto our site each day. We'll probably reject you if your email address looks strange.
Now for the latest news. I'm very excited to announce that the third BestsellerBound Anthology has just been published! At the moment it's FREE to download from Smashwords
Here's a list of the stories and authors who appear in this volume:
Winter Blues by Maria Savva
Skins by Jess C. Scott
Whisperer by Jaleta Clegg
The Wars Within by Jaime McDougall
The Old Bookshop by Julie Elizabeth Powell
Scale of a Dragon by J. Michael Radcliffe
Counting Blessings Along the Horseshoe Canyon by Sharon E. Cathcart
Eve & Ian’s New Love Life by Cynthia Meyers-Hanson
Laundry Day by Stacy Juba
The Day the Lights Went Out by Cliff Ball
We're also trying to make it free on Amazon. The way Amazon works is that it won't let authors who upload books onto the site sell them free; the lowest price we can choose is $0.99. So, our third Anthology is currently $0.99 on Amazon US and 86p on Amazon UK
In the coming weeks it will also be available free at B&N. We will keep trying to get the book to be available free on Amazon, and I'll announce that when it happens. In the meantime, if you have a Kindle ereader, you can download your free copy from Smashwords!
I'm currently reading Volume 3 and I'm really enjoying the variety of stories. I hope you will all enjoy the collection, and if you haven't tried the other two volumes, they are also free to download on Smashwords, B&N and Amazon. We want to get as much exposure for our members' stories as possible and help readers to find new authors, so we will always be offering these anthologies free.
Happy Reading!
If you'd like to be part of BestsellerBound, our friendly and fun community of writers (and readers -- we mustn't forget them as we would be nothing without them), please join us. The sign up process is easy, we do have to verify your email address as we get so many spammers trying to sign up every day. A word of warning -- if you have an unusual email address, you may need to contact me or the site creator, Darcia Helle, to let us know you're going to apply for membership, or we may reject your application. We get lots of weird and wonderfully named spam email addresses trying to get onto our site each day. We'll probably reject you if your email address looks strange.
Now for the latest news. I'm very excited to announce that the third BestsellerBound Anthology has just been published! At the moment it's FREE to download from Smashwords
Here's a list of the stories and authors who appear in this volume:
Winter Blues by Maria Savva
Skins by Jess C. Scott
Whisperer by Jaleta Clegg
The Wars Within by Jaime McDougall
The Old Bookshop by Julie Elizabeth Powell
Scale of a Dragon by J. Michael Radcliffe
Counting Blessings Along the Horseshoe Canyon by Sharon E. Cathcart
Eve & Ian’s New Love Life by Cynthia Meyers-Hanson
Laundry Day by Stacy Juba
The Day the Lights Went Out by Cliff Ball
We're also trying to make it free on Amazon. The way Amazon works is that it won't let authors who upload books onto the site sell them free; the lowest price we can choose is $0.99. So, our third Anthology is currently $0.99 on Amazon US and 86p on Amazon UK
In the coming weeks it will also be available free at B&N. We will keep trying to get the book to be available free on Amazon, and I'll announce that when it happens. In the meantime, if you have a Kindle ereader, you can download your free copy from Smashwords!
I'm currently reading Volume 3 and I'm really enjoying the variety of stories. I hope you will all enjoy the collection, and if you haven't tried the other two volumes, they are also free to download on Smashwords, B&N and Amazon. We want to get as much exposure for our members' stories as possible and help readers to find new authors, so we will always be offering these anthologies free.
Happy Reading!
November 22, 2011
Meet author Caryn Rose and enter to win an ebook copy of B-Sides and Broken Hearts!
B-Sides and Broken Hearts is a must read for all music lovers. It's one of the best books I've read this year, and I'm very happy to be introducing you to the author, Caryn Rose. I met Caryn when I requested her book for review on Bookpleasures.com recently.
I wanted to spread the word about this fabulous book so I invited her to my blog for an interview. Caryn has generously agreed to give away 3 ebook copies of her book. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below, or simply 'Like' this blog post. The winners will be picked at random on the 3rd December 2011.
Here's the interview:
In B-Sides and Broken Hearts, Lisa’s life is changed for ever when she finds out that Joey Ramone has died. As a music fan I could relate to this emotional reaction. It really grabbed my attention and made me want to read on. In fact, I think it’s one of the best opening chapters I've read in a book recently. Have you ever been that affected by a musical icon passing away, and are there any memories you can share with us about this?
I was terribly impacted by John Lennon's death as a teenager. It was definitely a life-changing moment. I felt like it made me grow up or at least took me out of the bubble I had been living in. My parents wouldn't let me go in to the Dakota to stand vigil but my mother did take me into the city so I could go to the memorial in Central Park. Johnny Thunders made me extremely sad; I was living thousands of miles away at the time and an old friend from college went to considerable trouble to find me and make sure I knew. John Entwistle was another big loss for me personally (I actually have a manuscript in the drawer where the Who's first concert after John's death is a pivotal moment for the main characters) because the Who were such a huge band for me. Of course, our recent loss of the Big Man, Clarence Clemons was just devastating. And there are plenty of other ones in between.
I'm sure someone's going to ask "What about Kurt Cobain" but I didn't feel Nirvana's music on that kind of deep, essential level. I thought it was a horrible loss and my heart just went out to the kids who looked up to him, especially the ones who had trouble explaining to their parents why he meant so much. I was lucky that my parents' reaction at Lennon's death wasn't "Well, he was just a rock musician."
In your book, Lisa and her friends collect old vinyl records, first editions, limited editions etc., is this something you have ever done as a hobby, and do you own any rare records?
Guilty as charged. I have a large vinyl collection that I just can't seem to let go of. I miss the ritual of record shows and record collecting. I know I can just go on the internet now and find whatever I happen to be looking for, but mostly I miss the social aspect of going to stores in different cities and meeting people at record fairs. I'd love to list the things I'm proud of but I'd rather not tempt fate. Sorry. Paranoid New Yorker.
Your book is written in the first person, with Lisa as the narrator. I was often left with the feeling that I was reading a memoir as the characters are so realistic. Did you base any of the characters on people you know? And following on from that, how auto-biographical is the book?
I get asked this question a lot and I will just say that while I appreciate that readers care so much about the book, it really is a novel. B-sides is not thinly-veiled memoir, it is absolutely fiction. The book is true emotionally and it doesn't matter whether or not thing X happened to me in exactly the same way Lisa experienced it. Just like any writer, I based my characters on little bits of people I have known over the years, but there is no one-to-one mapping. Everyone thinks they know who the band is and who some of the characters are, and I love the enthusiasm behind that, but unfortunately they aren't correct!
As well as being a talented writer, I see from your website that you’re also a photographer who documents rock and roll, baseball and urban life. Tell us a bit more about that.
At one point in my life I thought I might pursue professional photography, but eventually went in another direction. I picked up a camera when I first moved back to New York in 2004 and with the advent of Flickr, suddenly found myself taking images that people were enjoying. When I started getting into baseball, around the same time, the camera came with me. I take less concert photos these days because it's harder to do than when I first started but I still like taking photos of what's around live music.
Do you have a favourite photograph that you’ve taken?
I have a few, but one of my favorites is the photograph on the cover of B-sides! The feet belong to Dave and Serge Bielanko of the band Marah.
Do you have plans to write any more fiction?
Yes. I plan on releasing one book a year for the next five years, including a sequel to B-sides! There will probably be more, but right now I have the next four planned.
How long did it take you to write B-Sides and Broken Hearts?
It took me a year, but I started a very long time ago. Revision and querying agents took another two years. And then the book sat with an agent for about six years, while I tried to write another book that she liked. When she rejected the second manuscript, that was when I decided to publish myself. I can finish a book in about a year and now that I'm self publishing that's what I'm going to try to aim for.
Who is your favourite ever band/musician?
I wish I had just one, but one thing I share with Lisa is her broad love for music. It would be a long list - the Ramones, the Who, the Rolling Stones, the Clash, Patti Smith, the Replacements, Bruce Springsteen, the Afghan Whigs - you'll find those all in heavy rotation on my iPod.
[image error][image error]What’s the best ever gig you’ve attended, and why?
I have trouble limiting it to the 10 best let alone narrowing it down to just one! They all share the same element of once-in-a-lifetime, energy from band and crowd feeding off each other-ness. I can tell it was good if my hands hurt and my throat is sore and my feet ache.
Much of your book revolves around the main characters’ love of the bands of the ‘70s. How do you think the current music scene compares with that of the ‘70s?
I do not subscribe to the popular theory that "all music today sucks, it was better back in the [insert decade here]". You can't compare this decade to the 70s because the landscape has completely changed. A kid sitting in the middle of the Midwest with a computer can put out a record and sell it internationally without leaving his or her house. I do wonder sometimes about what we miss out or what we lose on when bands can no longer afford to tour and when there aren't enough venues for a fledgling band to play enough gigs to learn how to play live.
Do you keep up to date with new popular music, and if so, what are your current favourite bands/artists?
I don't have any big recent favorites. The most recent bands I decided I liked was Arcade Fire and the Hold Steady, and they're not even new. The last opening act I saw that blew me away was an act called She Keeps Bees.
It's tough. I listen to a new band and can pull apart the influences immediately, whereas a kid who hears them for the first time is, well, hearing them for the first time. I went to see Lou Reed with a younger friend and she said that she spent the first half of the show thinking, "I don't understand why he's such a big deal, he sounds like everyone else" until she realized "OH WAIT, it's the other way around."
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?
Edit, edit, edit and edit again. Self-publishing is a lot of work and you have to be super super super organized. I could do an entire interview just about the self-publishing process. If you want to be taken seriously, be as professional as you can. Of course, your mileage may vary but this has worked for me.
Read up as much as you can about the process and learn from other people's mistakes. So many self-published, indie authors are generous with their advice and there are countless blogs & articles out there if you just look.
Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?
More like dozens. I read To Kill a Mockingbird every year it seems, I love re-reading Joan Didion, and I've even reread Don DeLillo's Underworld twice. I love revisiting YA books I loved like The Phantom Tollbooth or Harriet the Spy to remember why I got excited about books in the first place.
Are you reading any books at the moment?
I am reading two: Inferno by Eileen Myles, The Last Sultan by Robert Greenfield. I just finished You Can Make Him Like You by Ben Tanzer.
What do you think of ebooks compared to print books?
Ebooks allow me to read more, so I love them. I still purchase print books (and indie books, and best sellers, and used books) but ebooks let me use as much of my spare time to read as possible. I was shocked by how many ebooks I sold - i thought the ebooks would be an afterthought and that everyone would want a paperback. I imagine this will change, a lot, as the years roll by.
How important are reviews for you as a writer?
I believe that reviews are important so that readers can assure themselves that they aren't going to waste their money. I think that any kind of press gets people interested in buying your book and then reviews help assure them that they're making the right purchase. I try hard to take the advice to not read reviews of my book but the first time out it's been tough to stick to that advice. But they are absolutely necessary.
How did you go about choosing the cover for your book?
I hired a professional designer to put the cover together. I have seen a lot of terrible covers for self-published books and believed that a sharp, professional-looking cover was going to matter a lot. (And I was right - most people, including professional book reviewers, did not know the book was self-published.) I knew I wanted to use original photography and I had it narrowed down to two photos. I looked at the web sites of every single cover designer I could find before I found someone whose work I liked. Then the artist disappeared for two months, and I had to start over again. The saying "You get what you pay for" is absolutely true in the case of cover design - not just from a design perspective, but finding someone who could meet the print standards for my printing house and not just leave it to me to flail around and try to get it right. I know a lot of people say that it doesn't matter and that you can do it yourself but I felt that design and editing were the two areas that self-published books regularly shot themselves in the foot and I wanted to do everything I could to give my book a fighting chance.
Where can people buy your book?
You can buy signed copies (and I can sign Kindle versions) on my site: B-Sides and Broken Hearts
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Indiebound
Powell's
Barnes & Noble
If you live in New York City, WORD in Brooklyn carries it; in Seattle, Vain on First Avenue carries the book.
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Thank you, Caryn, for answering my questions!
Remember, you can win an ebook copy of B-Sides and Broken Hearts Just leave a comment or click 'Like' to enter!! Good luck!!
November 12, 2011
Meet author Mark Rice and enter to win a copy of Metallic Dreams!
I am very happy to be introducing you to my guest today. I met Mark Rice through Goodreads. As soon as I saw the cover of his book I knew I had to read it. As many of you already know, I am a heavy metal fan, so how could I not read this book? I had high expectations of Metallic Dreams and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It's a brilliant novel, a perfect gift for the metal fan in your life. It's one of the funniest books I've ever read, too. I almost laughed out loud while reading it in public, a couple of times.
You have the chance to win a print copy of Metallic Dreams, and can choose whether it is signed by the author! In fact, Mark has very generously offered to give away two copies of his book. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post, or simply 'Like' the post. Two lucky winners will be picked at random on the 30th November 2011.
A word of warning: This is an adult book and not suitable for readers under the age of 18.
Mark kindly agree to answer a few interview questions I sent him:
Your bio on your Lulu page, states that you started writing at the age of 5. Firstly, that’s quite impressive, is it true? If so, have you kept any of your earlier stories or do you remember what they were about?
It's absolutely true, yes. I grew up in a house with no TV. My father believed that staring at television diminished creativity. The house was full of books, music and musical instruments. My Dad taught me to read (music and words) before I started primary school. We spent endless hours - both at home and in the local library - reading and writing. At the time, I thought the lack of TV at home was a harsh measure, but with hindsight I wouldn't change it, as I learned to love music and literature. My early writing fell mainly into two categories: poems (especially acrostic poems, which I had a real fondness for) or stories involving frogs, witches and trees (which were/are three of my favourite things).
I even made a tree-shaped cover for one of these early stories, and sellotaped various types of bark onto the empty spaces on each page. It was a child's literary equivalent of a concept album, I guess. My mother still has that book. She reckons it's the best thing I've ever written!
Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?
The poetry of Robert Burns has been a presence in my life since early childhood, once again thanks to my father, who was an aficionado of Burns and knew most of his poetry off by heart. Burns's masterful use of language, rhythm and rhyme instilled in me a love of the Scots dialect and inspired me to write poetry. His Magnum Opus, Tam O' Shanter, was partly responsible for my childhood obsession with witches (which I've never fully recovered from - witches still find their way into my writing). As far as prose goes, Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy blew my mind with its seamless blend of the profound and the preposterous. At his best, Adams was creativity and cleverness run amok. More than any other author, Douglas Adams inspired me to write novels. So blame him!
Do you have an tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?
Do it. New novelists could wait for years on literary agents finding them a publishing deal. In the meantime, their manuscripts will be a low priority to the agencies acting on their behalf. Self-publishing is easier than ever before, especially with the advent of e-books, so there's no excuse for sitting around waiting on responses from agents and publishers. Start the ball rolling by yourself. If your self-published book becomes a success, established publishing houses will approach you anyway. One thing I'd say is don't ever publish a first draft. My rule is to spend at least as much time editing a piece of work as writing it. This ensures that only polished material goes to print. It also provides priceless editing experience. Another vital skill for writers is marketing their work. Don't wait until your book is published before learning the ins and outs of online marketing. Begin promoting your book before it's published. If you have a well-written blog with followers, that's an excellent start, as those followers will be likely to read your book when it's released.
Your debut novel, Metallic Dreams, is as the title suggests, about heavy metal music. What was the first metal gig you attended, and what are your memories of that gig?
Iron Maiden at Glasgow Apollo, on The Beast on the Road tour in 1982. I was in primary six at the time. Initially, my Mum and Dad had doubts about me going to a metal gig on my own, especially on the mean streets of Glasgow. When my friend David (who was three years older) bought a ticket, my parents became happier about the whole thing, as I wouldn't be going alone. I remember every detail. The support band, The Rods, were so good live that Dave and I didn't think Iron Maiden could possibly top their performance. Then Maiden hit the Apollo stage and blew the roof off the place. I knew their songs inside out, but was used to hearing them in darkened rooms. Seeing those same songs performed live by musical icons clad in spandex, denim. leather and studs was a whole different experience. The wall of sound was vast. The band members' manes of hair billowed under stage lights as they wandered through clouds of dry ice. Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, Maiden's giant mascot Eddie (famous from their album covers) lumbered onto the stage. Beaming at each other, Dave and I shared a telepathic moment, thinking, 'Now this is living!'
One of the questions the rock journalist in your novel asks the band members is ‘What would you change about Heavy Metal?’ What would your answer be to that?
I'd allow gig-goers to carry electric cattle prods into concerts, for the purpose of zapping voltage into anyone who farts during the performance. My friend Darran is a prime example of why I'd introduce this change. More times than I care to remember, Darran has let loose an evil mist during a gig, sending everyone within a ten-foot radius into a state of panic. The most disturbing thing about this is that he enjoys it. If I'd had my electric cattle prod on those occasions, he'd have learned his lesson long ago and would be more considerate as a result. I'd have zapped that deviant grin right off his face.
As for metal music, I'd leave it alone, as it's developing fine by itself without any intervention, spreading out into an ever-expanding number of subgenres, all of which have artistic merit. Lyrically, I'd clean up the shabby grammar and questionable poetics that are a little too prevalent. That'd be my only change.
Do you have a favourite Heavy metal band? If so, what is it about their music that you love?
My all-time favourite band is the AC/DC line-up of Bon Scott (vocals), Angus Young (lead guitar), Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Cliff Williams (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums). Their live album If You Want Blood (You've Got It) - recorded at Glasgow Apollo - has been my favourite album since I first heard it at age eleven. The energy level is off the scale, the songs are anthemic, Bon's vocals are flawless and the guitar riffs can strip wallpaper.
Of currently existing line-ups, my favourite two bands are from Finland - Insomnium and Amorphis. They both have a stunning ability to blend extreme heaviness with poignant melodies, as well as writing beautiful lyrics influenced by their country's folklore. I should also mention Nimbatus, a musical project which is the brainchild of one genius, Marco Jodocy, who plays guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, strings and various other instruments, all to an astonishingly high standard; the result sounds like a heavy metal orchestra, yet it's all the work of one man.
Without giving any of the story away, a couple of taboo/controversial topics are explored in Metallic Dreams, were you ever worried about how people would react to the said content?
No. I don't believe in censoring my art or walking on eggshells. I think the best way for a writer to shine light on a particular prejudice isn't to preach against it (which can annoy readers), but to create storylines - often shocking ones - which highlight the futility of that prejudice, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions. It worked for Aesop with his fables all those centuries ago, and it still works today.
There are five members of Transcend Everything, the metal band in Metallic Dreams, with very different personalities. Were any of them based on people you know and/or famous band members?
All five band members were based on people I know and grew up with. The names have been (slightly) changed to protect the guilty.
It is said that writers put a lot of their own soul into their fiction work. How autobiographical is the book?
That's a loaded question if ever I saw one! The early chapters are much more autobiographical than the later ones. As for which events actually happened, I'm not telling!
How long did it take to write Metallic Dreams?
One year to write then two years to edit and polish.
As well as Metallic Dreams, you have a story featured in an anthology A Blended Bouquet. Can you tell us a little bit more about how that anthology came about, and a bit about your featured story?
Five years ago I was lucky enough to become part of Writers Inc, which was started by author/playwright Drew Campbell back in the '90s. Based in East Kilbride (the town in which I grew up), the group includes writers from a variety of disciplines: authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, songwriters and short-story writers. Writers Inc had already published two anthologies when I joined, with a third on the horizon. After I'd been part of the group for three years, the elusive third anthology showed no sign of becoming a reality. In fact, it had become a bone of contention within the group, with arguments exploding over whether or not it should be themed or free-form. Realising that this non-existent book was causing chaos among the group, I stepped up to the plate, took over as chairperson (by vote, I should stress, not by force!) and offered to edit, compile and publish the anthology. All I needed from the other members was their submissions and - as if by magic - I'd make the anthology appear. The others liked this idea. Submissions arrived thick and fast. My story, Revelation Was Wrong, tells the tale of a drunken Scottish prophet who claims to be a descendant of Nostradamus. It's a light-hearted piece of social commentary infused with a healthy dose of preposterousness. The idea for Tam, the unlikely prophet who foretold that the end of the world would be heralded by the 'Buckfast Apocalypse', came to me out of the air one day. In my mind's eye I saw Tam, knew him, so I figured I should tell his story. I'd long been fascinated by tales of the Brahan Seer (Coinneach Odhar), Scotland's answer to Nostradamus. This fascination probably played a subconscious role in inspiring Revelation Was Wrong. A strange thing happened with regards to the anthology: James Pettigrew and I both submitted poems called Homecoming, each with very different subject matter. His dealt with the desecration of Scotland's wild places, while mine told the true story of taking my father's ashes to his home, the Isle of Lewis. At first, we thought that one of us would have to change the title of his poem. Then we realised that 2009 - the year of the anthology's publication - was the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, and events to celebrate this milestone were being marketed under the banner Homecoming Scotland. James and I looked at each other and smiled, realising that the Universe had somehow lined up these serendipitous events. As a tribute to Burns, James and I left the titles of our poems unchanged. My Homecoming opens the anthology and James's Homecoming closes it in style.
Are the rumours true, did you sell your soul to the devil in exchange for literary prowess? After reading Metallic Dreams, I am left wondering...
Auld Nick and I are acquainted, but we're neither friends nor enemies.
Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?
Douglas Adams blows my mind with his cleverness, creativity and humour. Salman Rushdie's command of descriptive prose is out of this world, as is his ability to weave myriad story strands into a coherent, interconnected whole. Markus Zusak's writing - especially in The Book Thief - has immaculate delicacy and tenderness. By succeeding without pandering to literary trends, Irvine Welsh opened the floodgates and showed that it was possible for a Scottish author to be fearless, funny and authentic. Tom Bryan, under whose strict tutelage I learned a lot, is a master of saying more with less; Tom taught me the importance of relentless editing. Kevin MacNeil is a force of nature whose writing is shaped by a poet's soul and a wonderful Hebridean heart. The heavy metal legend Zodiac Mindwarp (who writes books under his real name, Mark Manning) is monumentally creative and side-splittingly funny. And Bill Drummond...well, everything he does is pure art.
Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?
There are several. One that might surprise some people is The Bible, which I read cover to cover countless times while still at primary school. I've read all the Douglas Adams books multiple times. I liked Raymond E. Feist's Faerie Tale enough to read it twice. Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings is another one that's been read multiple times. There are loads of others too, but these are the ones that spring to mind.
What was the last book you read?
The Silver Mist by Martin Treanor. The main character, Eve, moved me to tears more than once. Set in Northern Ireland during the '70s, the story - especially the dialogue - has gorgeous Irish warmth. A beautifully written novel.
Are you reading a book at the moment?
Gods Without Men by Hari Kunzru. Rather impressive.
What do you think of ebooks?
As a writer, I love them. As a reader, I prefer the tactile experience of handling a paperback.
How important are reviews for you as a writer?
Very important. They influence potential buyers and - in extreme cases - can affect the way a writer perceives his/her work. Writers, like other artists, tend to be sensitive souls who can take negative reviews personally. It's an amazing feeling to know that a story has made an emotional connection with a reader. It's always heartening to hear that a story I've created has resonated with a reader. I'm also happy to read constructive criticism...if it's justified. The only review that ever riled me was by a wannabe literary critic who started out by saying, 'I'm a music critic, not a book critic.' He should have left it at that, as what followed was incoherent, immature and peppered with grammatical mistakes such as misconjugated verbs. His voice was that of a pseudo-superior smartarse, yet he had trouble correctly constructing a sentence. I did the unthinkable for a writer: I posted a comprehensive rebuttal of the entire 'review', ripping it to shreds, pointing out every grammatical error, highlighting his absolute failure to perceive message/humour in the story, and advising him to stick to his day job and leave literary criticism to those equipped to do it properly. So yes, reviews - whether glowing or scathing - have an impact.
How did you choose the cover for Metallic Dreams?
I had various ideas in mind, one of which was a pentalpha (pentagram) in blood, as that symbol and substance are integral to the story. The artist David Gurrea had created the exact pentalpha I'd envisioned, red blood on a white canvas. (Albums by Venom and Bathory had featured the pentalpha and goat's head, but the goat/Devil head David Gurrea created was a million times more menacing, right down to the way one eye was half shut, creating the impression that the beast was glaring out at the viewer.) I contacted David, who was happy for me to use his artwork. A fiddly job ensued: using Photoshop to remove every single drop of spattered blood from the white canvas, then superimposing them onto the book cover I'd created.
What are you working on now?
My second novel, which is set on the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland's remote Outer Hebrides. I won't reveal more than that just now, as I don't want to jinx it. I'm also working on a few poems, a couple of short stories and one not-so-short story (about witchcraft in Scotland). See what I mean about those witches? They always find a way into my work. While researching the story, I accessed the University of Edinburgh's 'Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Database', which is the most comprehensive record of the witch trials that happened here. I discovered that four members of my family, all on my mother's side, were tried as witches. Worryingly, but not surprisingly, there is no record of what happened to them after the trial. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what that means. Perhaps that's why witches have always been in my consciousness: maybe I could sense that ancestors had suffered inhuman treatment after being accused of witchcraft.
Where can people buy your book?
Lulu
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Smashwords
Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?
Thanks for answering my questions, Mark and for the great giveaway!
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Remember, all you have to do to enter the competition is leave a comment here, or simply 'Like' the post. Good luck!
Mark is a charming and friendly author and is here on Goodreads, so don't forget to add him as a friend!
November 9, 2011
Alternative National Short Story Week 2011
I've just seen an email saying that 7th-13th November 2011 is National Short Story Week in the UK. The website associated with that email has a list of recommended reads for National Short Story Week. The list is, frankly, predictable and boring (sorry). It includes 'classics' and books published by big publishing companies. In my opinion, those books have enough publicity; we don't need a Short Story Week to promote them. We do, however, need to have a Short Story Week that celebrates up and coming talent, and hard working Independent and self-published writers. Those writers DO need extra publicity because their books are often ignored.
Here's an alternative list of short stories and anthologies recommended by me. I urge you to read these authors. Many of them have now become good friends of mine, but that is NOT the only reason I am promoting them. I simply LOVE their writing, and I only got to know them AFTER reading their work. There are some seriously good stories here. Click on the book covers for more details:
The following are my own short story collections:
Here's an alternative list of short stories and anthologies recommended by me. I urge you to read these authors. Many of them have now become good friends of mine, but that is NOT the only reason I am promoting them. I simply LOVE their writing, and I only got to know them AFTER reading their work. There are some seriously good stories here. Click on the book covers for more details:
The following are my own short story collections:
November 8, 2011
Flash sale! Blink and you'll miss it...
My latest novel The Dream is available at Amazon on Kindle for just $0.99/£0.86 for the next day or so. This sale is really aimed at those of you who follow my blog, or my Facebook and Twitter page. Just a token of my appreciation for your continued support. So, if you've been wanting to buy it but were hoping for a lower price, here it is! Grab it at this exclusive price while you can!
Here are the links:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-ebook...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dream-ebo...
Enjoy!
Here are the links:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-ebook...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dream-ebo...
Enjoy!
My kindle books are being featured on a new Kindle site!
I recently found out about a new website that recommends Kindle books. It has just been launched and the idea is that it will be a place to go to when looking for a good Kindle book to read. The site only features books that have at least 5 reviews on Amazon that are 4 or 5 stars. The good thing is that the site helps to promote books by independent authors that readers might otherwise never hear about.
I am honoured that my books have been chosen as the first to be featured on the site! Here's a link to the page: Reading Kindle - Featured Author
Authors can submit their books to be featured on the website.
If you're on facebook, please 'Like' the Reading Kindle page: facebook - Reading Kindle as this will help to increase the visibility and help to promote this great new website.
I am honoured that my books have been chosen as the first to be featured on the site! Here's a link to the page: Reading Kindle - Featured Author
Authors can submit their books to be featured on the website.
If you're on facebook, please 'Like' the Reading Kindle page: facebook - Reading Kindle as this will help to increase the visibility and help to promote this great new website.
November 3, 2011
November News!
November is turning out to be a great month for independent authors.
I mentioned 'Adopt an Indie' month in my last blog post. During November there will be guest blog posts by authors, readers, reviewers and bloggers, explaining everything you need to know about the self-publishing industry. You can ask any of the participating authors a question by emailing through the site, you can request review copies of any of the listed books to read and review for the site. There's lots going on.
Many blog posts have been posted on the site already, and I wanted to share a couple of my favourites so far. These are my favourites, not because they are the best (I have really enjoyed all the blog posts), but the reason I've chosen to share these two in particular is because they are not written by independent authors. One is written by a reader who loves indie books and another is written by a blogger/reviewer, who has also found that indie books are just as good as those published by traditional publishers.
As indie authors, no matter how many times we tell you to go and try this book or that book by other indie authors, there is always some frustrating barrier that we can't get past because someone or other has filled your heads with ideas like, "Oh, these indie authors only review each other's books and they always give each other 5 stars", or "the reason that indie author is going on about how great other indie books are is because she/he wants to sell her own". Now, I have some kind of independent evidence that shows it's not only indie authors who love indie books.
Read these posts and you'll know what I mean:
Amanda Chambers: A blogger, on why you should read indie books
Cassie McCown: a reader who loves indie books
Another event this month, which is also going on through December, is 'Nurture Your Books, 2nd Annual Celebration of Authors and Readers Worldwide'. During the event, there will be live chats with authors, prizes, giveaways, blog hops and more. Click the link to find out more about how you can participate:
Nurture Your Books
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I'm pleased to say that Nurture your Book is currently featuring my book trailer for The Dream on the website:
Book Trailer Spotlight
Happy reading!
I mentioned 'Adopt an Indie' month in my last blog post. During November there will be guest blog posts by authors, readers, reviewers and bloggers, explaining everything you need to know about the self-publishing industry. You can ask any of the participating authors a question by emailing through the site, you can request review copies of any of the listed books to read and review for the site. There's lots going on.
Many blog posts have been posted on the site already, and I wanted to share a couple of my favourites so far. These are my favourites, not because they are the best (I have really enjoyed all the blog posts), but the reason I've chosen to share these two in particular is because they are not written by independent authors. One is written by a reader who loves indie books and another is written by a blogger/reviewer, who has also found that indie books are just as good as those published by traditional publishers.
As indie authors, no matter how many times we tell you to go and try this book or that book by other indie authors, there is always some frustrating barrier that we can't get past because someone or other has filled your heads with ideas like, "Oh, these indie authors only review each other's books and they always give each other 5 stars", or "the reason that indie author is going on about how great other indie books are is because she/he wants to sell her own". Now, I have some kind of independent evidence that shows it's not only indie authors who love indie books.
Read these posts and you'll know what I mean:
Amanda Chambers: A blogger, on why you should read indie books
Cassie McCown: a reader who loves indie books
Another event this month, which is also going on through December, is 'Nurture Your Books, 2nd Annual Celebration of Authors and Readers Worldwide'. During the event, there will be live chats with authors, prizes, giveaways, blog hops and more. Click the link to find out more about how you can participate:
Nurture Your Books
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I'm pleased to say that Nurture your Book is currently featuring my book trailer for The Dream on the website:
Book Trailer Spotlight
Happy reading!
