Christa Wojciechowski's Blog, page 3

Art Beyond Words—Henrik Uldalen

My upcoming novel, Oblivion Black, is about a disillusioned painter who turns to drugs. She has a wake up call when she survives an overdose and realizes how easily she could’ve slipped into the black void of death. Throughout the creation of this book, I routinely looked for artistic inspiration. On my internet forays, I was instantly captivated by the art of Henrik Uldalen, which seemed to explore the same theme.

His subjects are often suspended in a black void—are they disintegrating? Or materializing? It depends on your mood, but they all demonstrate the temporality of beauty, and force one to appreciate its entropy. To me, many paintings by Henrik Uldalen feel like a surrender, or an acceptance of death. They demonstrate a perfect balance between classical and contemporary.

According to his website, “Henrik Aarrestad Uldalen (1986) is a self-taught artist whose creative production revolves around classic figurative painting, presented in a contemporary manner. Henrik seeks to explore ideas revolving around absurdism, nostalgia, loneliness and alienation, juxtaposed with frail beauty. Though a figurative painter, his focus has always been the emotional content rather than narratives. The atmospheres in his work is often presented in a dream or limbo-like state, with elements of expressionism.”

Each day, we are drowned in a glut of inflammatory, digital content. It’s hard to escape when every website and social media platform distracts us with ads and promoted content that appeal to our basest fears and desires, keeping us in a cycle of reactivity. That is why art is so precious. It is a balm for the intellect and soul, speaking to us on an unconscious level we instantly feel and understand.

So rest your eyes for a while …

Henrik Uldalen

https://www.henrikaau.com/

https://www.facebook.com/henrikaau/

https://www.instagram.com/henrikaau/

Photo credit: All works were made available for download on https://www.henrikaau.com/

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Review Copies on the Way for Oblivion Black

It’s really happening. Oblivion Black, a story that was born a decade ago and has since evolved into a 3-part monstrosity, is nearly ready for publication.

I cannot give the official date yet, but those who follow this blog and/or are on the mailing list will be the first to know.

ARCs (Advanced Review Copies) are going out over the weekend.

How to get your copy?

If you are on the mailing list, you already are set up to receive your free review copy. Keep and eye out for it in your mailbox (be sure to check your Promo tab if you use the Gmail app).

You must be on the mailing list. If you are a blog subscriber or website visitor, I do not have your email address and you must sign up here.

If you’re not sure if you’re on the mailing list, just reply to this post/newsletter or send and email to christa (at) christawojo (dot) com.

What format will I get?

You will be able to choose your eBook format for download from the email.

What do I do with an ARC?

An ARC is a free pre-release version of the book. Authors send them out so that readers have time to read and review them before publication date.

ARCs are available to everyone on the CW Author Mailing list. You do not have to be a professional reviewer or book blogger, just someone who loves edgy love stories about messed up people.

Detailed instructions will be sent with your secure copy.

What’s with the black cover?

The plain black is a temporary cover. The cover art is still in the talented hands of Lynne Hansen.

An official cover reveal will be coming soon!

Thanks to everyone for their help and support. I can’t wait for you to meet the sculptor and his muse!

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Yes! Lynne Hansen will design the cover for Oblivion Black

Hello all,

I hope this email finds you well in your corner of the world.

I’ve been dying to share this news. Artist Lynne Hansen will design the cover for Oblivion Black, as well as the covers for the next two books in The Sculptor Series.

The story of the sculptor and his muse is about the power of art and its ability to help us heal and grow through the darkest times. I wanted to make these books into works of art themselves, so I looked for an artist who could make that happen. Lynne Hansen has worked for some of the best authors and publications in the dark fiction world.

You can view Lynne Hansen’s stunning artwork here https://lynnehansen.zenfolio.com/.

Be sure to follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Stay tuned for the cover reveal for Oblivion Black in the next month or two.

In the meantime, read the pre-release of Oblivion Black on Kindle Vella.

Advanced Review Copies of Oblivion Black will be distributed in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for my emails.

My the muses be with you,

Christa

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In Memory of a Queen: The Legacy of Anne Rice

Anne Rice was a mother, friend, and mentor to both readers and writers. She was a sorceress who conjured up ages past and transported us to rich and fascinating places all over the world. We almost believed she was immortal, like her characters. It was a great loss when she died in December 2021.

Anne Rice made us swoon as we collapsed into her vampire’s arms. Maybe they would make us immortal. Maybe they would suck us dry and read our minds, sifting through our pitiful and beautiful human memories, bringing us closer to them than any two souls can be.

Either way, we were willing. 

I first encountered The Vampire Lestat while in high school. This was shortly before the movies came out, when The Vampire Chronicles were only known among readers. I was an angsty, restless girl who felt trapped in a small rural Florida town. I was a bright student, but I came from a working-class family with no exciting prospects for the future. I yearned to see the world, to hear different languages, and be surrounded by beautiful, intellectual people. This is why Anne Rice’s storytelling consumed me. Her books quenched my thirst for art, culture, history, beauty, spirituality, and philosophy. I devoured all The Vampire Chronicles, The Mayfair Witches, and anything else she wrote.

Now that I am a writer, I realize how much Anne Rice influenced me. Among her many charms as a storyteller, I love how she made Lestat directly address the reader. As a girl, it was easy for me to imagine he was real and might step through my window while I was asleep to give me the kiss of eternal life. I often have my characters turn to the reader in my stories in my hopes to create the same intimacy.

Anne Rice was a specialist in relationships, which, in writing, is all there really is. We don’t care about plots and stories if the characters’ relationships aren’t genuine. Lestat’s friendship with Nicolas affected me like no other—encountering someone with whom you can have a never-ending conversation. There is a part during one of their wine-fueled all-nighters where the incomprehensible weight of existential fear sends Lestat into madness. It was one of the first times I read something that confronted this looming question for humanity. Death—what if that’s it? If you really allow it to sink in, it is unbearable (and one of my favorite themes, as you will see in my upcoming novel, Oblivion Black).

With romantic relationships, Anne Rice wrote about love that transcends mortal love. When sex is no longer part of one’s life, gender becomes irrelevant. If no one never grows old, there is no need to cling to someone out of security. Vampires allowed Anne to show how love can be independent of sex , gender, and societal roles. Vampires bonded on a deeper level, and she explored these loves tenderly and fearlessly.

There is too much to say about Anne Rice’s body of work. After losing our queen, we, her devoted readers, feel a collective psychic loss.

I’ve been to New Orleans and walked the French Quarter at night. A little more than tipsy, one can easily imagine Anne Rice’s vampires carousing among the dancing, drunken public. Young vampires losing themselves in the crowd to select their next victim. Older vampires sitting in a cafe to observe the creatures they once were, warming their hands around a cup of coffee as eternity yawned before them. Anne’s world became our world. And it’s a richer, more decadent place because of that. 

Anne Rice’s stories allow us to believe in the magic beneath our ordinary lives. She tempts us to toy with the idea of the unknown—the mysterious stranger in the corner of our eye, the sense that the ghost of a loved one is near, or the notion that angels are discussing our fates as we muddle through life. Anne Rice teaches us that there are many tantalizing possibilities operating beneath the mundane, if we stop for a minute and dare to look.

Thank you, Anne Rice.

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Art Beyond Words: Bouguereau’s Dante and Virgil

There is always hope as long as there is beauty. This is the main theme of my first full-length novel, Oblivion Black (now on Kindle Vella). It’s about and artist and his muse and how they both survive by clinging to beauty in the face of absolute darkness.

Classical and neoclassical art is some of the most stirring and beautiful art humanity has ever created. It’s also blatantly sensual and erotic, like the work of William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

From Wikipedia:

Dante and Virgil is an 1850 oil on canvas painting by the French academic painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau. It is on display at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. The painting depicts a scene from Dante’s Divine Comedy, which narrates a journey through Hell by Dante and his guide Virgil.
In the scene the author and his guide are looking on as two damned souls are entwined in eternal combat. One of the souls is an alchemist and heretic named Capocchio. He is being bitten on the neck by the trickster Gianni Schicchi, who had used fraud to claim another man’s inheritance.
It was Bougereau’s third and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to win the coveted Prix de Rome, even though he had submitted a work that he knew would appeal to the judges. He did however succeed in his efforts later in the year when Shepherds Find Zenobia on the Banks of the Araxes won the consolation second prize of the year.

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The Sculptor–Oblivion Black goes live on Kindle Vella

I’m very excited to surprise you all with an impromptu release. Those of you who’ve been with me since I started this blog will know that I have been working on this series, on and off, since the National Novel Writing Month of 2012. The Sculptor has been part of my life for almost ten years! After doing a structural check with Joseph Sale and final edits with Candace Johnson, I sent out a few query letters this year. Since there was no interest, I am moving forward with self-publishing.

The original draft in my NaNoWriMo dashboard from 2012 ↓

This release will take place in two phases.

Phase 1

Oblivion Black goes live on Kindle Vella today. You can start reading by clicking here https://christawojo.com/vella

This is not prolonging the release of the full book. I am trying Vella as a prerelease experiment while finalizing the manuscript for publication.

What is Kindle Vella?

Amazon says, “With Kindle Vella, U.S. based authors can publish serialized stories, one short episode at a time. Readers can explore Kindle Vella stories from https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella or tap Kindle Vella at the top of the Discover tab in the Kindle iOS app.”

The first 3 episodes are free. After that, readers must pay to continue.

Why read the Vella version?

The special thing about Vella is that at the end of each episode, I, as the author, get to leave a note directly to the reader. I have had almost more fun writing the author notes—in which I share fascinating research, creative inspirations, behind-the-scenes looks, and personal anecdotes—than I did writing the actual book. So, if you want that extra-special personal touch, try Vella.

Phase 2

Most people are going to want a complete book. And, as far as I know, Vella is only available in the US.

For those of you who can’t or don’t want to use Vella, the eBook, paperback, and hardcover options will be available in Spring/Summer 2022.

Advanced Review Copies will be distributed in February.

Please note that the Vella version will stay on Vella after the release of the other formats (meaning you can do both).

After the publication of Oblivion Black in ebook and paperback, book two of the series will be uploaded to Kindle Vella.

I will repeat this process for the three books in the hopes that Vella, Kindle, and physical book readers will have the complete series in their hands by the end of 2022.

Thanks so much to everyone for being so helpful and patient. I hope that all the hard work and procrastination paid off.

“What makes life worth living? Ona always thought it was art. But she loses herself in addiction and nearly dies. She gets clean but is miserable. Desperate for meaning, she lands a job with world-famous sculptor, Antoni Azarov. Alluring and brooding, he shows her impossible beauty in his art. He also thrusts her into a world of decadence, secrets, and temptation, a dangerous world where everything has a price, but few can afford to pay.”

Read Episode 1 for Free

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Say Goodbye to The SICK Series (for a little while)

I published SICK on October 1, 2015. The story was inspired by a nightmare and originally was a standalone book. As I published it, I realized that maybe there was more story to tell, but would anyone want to read it? I added a link to a poll at the end of the book to ask readers if they wanted me to keep going. They did, and so the rest of the series was created.

I am taking down The SICK Series from Amazon today.

But it’s not gone for good.

I’m pleased to announce that it is being revamped and re-released by Raven Tale Publishing next year.

I’m thrilled to be working with a traditional publisher on this project, and I can’t wait to see Raven Tale introduce John Branch to a new audience. He would be very pleased at all the extra attention. I was rereading the series this weekend, and I think he’s my favorite character to date. He is by far the most disturbed.

As for Raven Tale, take a look at all their stellar authors. I’m truly among great company.

They are looking to publish horror novella series, so if you’re a dark novella writer, be sure to visit their submissions page here.

Thanks to everyone who supported The SICK Series over the years by reading, reviewing, and sharing. This moment wouldn’t be possible without you.

Stay tuned. I plan to have some treats in store for SICK fans for the new editions to come!

—C

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Top of 2021—Books, Film, Music, Apps

2020 was the year of waiting, the year of paralysis. I was stuck in the US for most of it due to airport closures. When I finally got back to Panama in time for the holidays, the country began to open up, and life got back to “normal.” My feet have barely touched the ground since. 2021 has been a big blur.

The extremes between this year and last have me reeling, but the results of this period of activity after the lull are incredible! I can’t wait to tell you about all the new developments (coming in my next post), and I am so grateful that my family and I continue to be healthy and safe. I hope you and your loved ones are too.

Meanwhile, in the spirit of the season, I wanted to share my favorite things. This does not necessarily mean they came out this year, but that I discovered them this year. I appreciate good art and artists—those who are bold, curious, inventive, and not afraid to express their truths. One way to support the creators we love (besides stalking them on social media) is to spread the word about their work. Here are the works that made the most impact on me.

Books

Tampa by Alyssa Nutting

I think my mouth was open in shock during this whole book. Nutting commits to her character with the same relentlessness as Brett Easton Ellis did to Patrick Bateman. Here was my review:

Tampa pleased me in all the ways I would never want to admit. It is also so tight and ingeniously written that it left me in a state of awe. Nutting doesn’t let up for one minute, and her wit and insights into the undesirable aspects of humanity cut to the bone, deliciously disguised by provocative and over-the-top erotic fantasies come true. The questions raised and contradictions uncovered in Tampa will make some laugh in recognition, and others, deeply flustered. I was only disappointed, having grown up in the Tampa Bay area, that I felt little of the location. This story could’ve happened anywhere, but maybe that was why Nutting chose a rather indistinctive place to those who don’t know it intimately.

This book is not for 99% of the population. For the other 1%, it’s still is hard to swallow if not for the intelligence and craft that penetrates every sentence.

I was delighted and appalled. A perfect combination. 

Lost Girls and Love Hotels by Catherine Hanrahan

I could easily relate to this expat novel in Japan, the existential crisis of the main character, and all the bar-hopping debauchery. What moved me most was the doomed relationship between Margaret and Kuza and its sad, inevitable end. This book was made into a 2020 film starring Alexandra Daddario and Takehiro Hira. You’ll notice the movie is not on the top of my films watched this year. The acting was moving, but the film failed to pull off the heart-wrenching ending, thus making the rest of the story seem like a road to nowhere.

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russel

A young girl becomes her professor’s Lolita. We watch the relationship unfold from the beginning to the bleak end, when they can no longer fit into their roles but are too afraid to let go of each other completely. The book is threaded with Vanessa’s adult point of view as their affair comes to light in the midst of the #metoo movement. Russel walks the razor’s edge in this story and never commits to one side. I loved the psychological depth and complexity of the relationship. Just brilliant character work.

Film

Saint Maud

More layers of psychological depth here. Maud has been hired as a caretaker for a former dancer who is dying of cancer. As she and the woman grow closer, Maud, who has recently had a spiritual epiphany, believes it’s her duty to save the woman’s soul. I don’t want to spoil it for you. This is the kind of slow build I love, each hint making us more and more curious and uneasy. The end will have you jump out of your seat, and the last 2 seconds of the movie says so much, you will be left speechless.

The Duke of Burgundy

This is another slow build that cleverly reveals its secrets at strategic times. It’s a beautiful study of romantic relationships and what one would do to please their beloved. Although it features a lesbian relationship, the story explores universal issues that all couples encounter. I was impressed with the acting of Sidse Babett Knudsen. I never saw her before and would like to see more of her movies.

Birds of Paradise

Another interesting exploration of a friendship between two ambitious ballerinas that fluctuates between admiration and envy, attachment and rivalry. Trying out for a Parisian ballet company is a dancer’s dream, and being I took ballet for most of my youth, I wanted to see the movie for the premise alone. But don’t think it’s going to be a bunch of teens hopping around in tutus. These girls are fierce athletes, the story is shockingly sensual, and some scenes are so visually stunning, it’s worth watching for those alone.

Music

Vlad Holiday – lazy, sexy, raw—So Damn Into You and Like in the Movies.

Empathy Test – synthy, poppy goodness and dark new wave vibes.

MXMS – funeral pop for the morose, their song The Run has been on loop for rewrites of The Sculptor Part II.

Classical

No words needed for this.

Apps

Waking Up

I’ve been meditating at least once a week for the past 4-5 years. After having increasingly expansive experiences, I hit a plateau. Then I started the Waking Up app.

I was introduced to this app by the vocalist of PLGRMS, Jacob Pearson. He also happens to be a wonderful human being who took the time to send me the details to sign up. (Check PLGRMS out on Spotify and follow their Instagrams at @jacobpearson and @plgrmsmusic. Their music hits on all levels!). This practice with Sam Harris will rewire your brain and allow you to not only level up in life, but also experience day to day living on many levels simultaneously.

It has increased my happiness, depth of experience, focus, and intuition. This is not faith-based or spiritual, rather it trains you in all the ways you can use your mind and attention. Each day you receive a new meditation. They are short and effective, like HIIT workouts for the brain.

The app also includes interviews with experts on topics like consciousness, time perception, memory, and more. To me, these are the most important discussions in life.

Get free unlimited access to Waking Up for 7 days by clicking here https://dynamic.wakingup.com/shareOpenAccess/e473ac

So what discoveries have you made in 2021?

I would love to know your favorite things. What books, movies, albums, or apps come made your 2021 better?

P.S. Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas has been released. Buy your copy here.

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Preorder Shadow Atlas (Special Edition Hardcover Available)

Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas will be released on November 30th. I’m honored that my story, Blood Sisters, will be among the literary treasures you will find within. This is no ordinary anthology, as you will soon see. The lineup of authors is impressive. You can take a peek at the Table of Contents here.

Shadow Atlas

Ancient peoples knew there were lands given over to shadow and spirit. The world is full of haunted places that exact a terrible toll on trespassers. Our forebears paid a heavy price to earn the wisdom and the warning they bequeathed to future generations.

Time transformed their precious knowledge into superstition, but there are those whose hearts beat in rhythm with the past and whose vision is not clouded by modernity. Seeking to reclaim humanity’s early secrets, the Umbra Arca Society was forged. For centuries, this private league of explorers dedicated their lives to uncovering the oldest mysteries of the Americas. Armed with boldness and guile, and equipped with only a compass, a journal, and devotion to truth, these adventurers braved cursed landscapes, dared unnatural adversaries, and exposed hidden civilizations.

Many did not survive.

None were forgotten.

Their stories are maps revealing the topography and contours of landscapes unimaginable and dark. The Shadow Atlas collects their adventures.

Preorder NowIf you want to know more about what makes this more than just another anthology, read this snippet from A.C. Wise’s review:

Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas edited by Carina Bissett, Hillary Dodge, and Joshua Viola is forthcoming from Hex Publishers at the end of November. They were kind enough to send me an advance copy, and let me say first off, this books is really wonderful as a physical object. If you’re the sort of person who likes books-as-objects, then I definitely recommend snagging a print copy of this one. The conceit of the anthology is that it collects various legends and hidden histories from across the Americas. These documents, gathered by the Umbra Arca Society, include case files, illustrations from agents in the field, and even blank pages for readers to contribute their own notes and thoughts to the titular Shadow Atlas. The cover wrap under the dust jacket is even designed to look like a leather-bound tome, complete with a mysterious clasp, which may or may not open of its own accord.

Read the full review here.

Thanks to the members of the Writers Mastermind for helping me through this story. Thank you to Carina, Hillary, and Josh at Hex Publishers for the opportunity to be part of this cool project. And a special thank you to Richard Thomas for encouraging me to submit.

Preorder Now

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Transcending Mental Illness and Addiction Through Fiction (VIDEO Interview)

A few months ago, I had the the pleasure of being on Boomers on Books with Vince Stevenson, a livestream show that features emerging and established authors. We covered many fascinating topics other than my books—relationship dynamics, addiction and mental illness, self-doubt, and life in Panama. Highlights 01:00 About the other writer in Christa’s family—her sister, […]

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