Kate M. Colby's Blog, page 11
October 12, 2016
The Theme of Evil in Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society Book I by Charles F. French
Today, I’m excited to introduce my friend and fellow author Charles F. French. Charles is an English professor turned author, who is preparing to launch his debut horror novel Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society Book I. As you can imagine, the theme of evil features heavily throughout the novel, and that’s exactly what he’s here to discuss. Over to Charles.
The existence and nature of evil and the human response to it are central themes in my horror novel Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society Book I. This idea is one with which I have been concerned much of my life. From the first Gothic novels I read as a youngster, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, through the myriad of reading I have done during the course of my life, including works of classical literature such as William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Hamlet as well as the contemporary thrillers of John Connelly and Tana French, and the numerous novels of the master Stephen King, evil has been present in a wide variety of forms.
I am deeply concerned not only with the nature and existence of evil, both human and supernatural but also with people’s response to it when confronted by evil. Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Unfortunately, it does not take much effort to search human history for occurrences of monstrous evil in the form of too many genocides. The history of the 20th and 21st centuries is replete with these inhumane situations, and too often, the world turned its collective gaze away from these horrors, often until it was almost too late to do anything about them.
Ordinary people, as well as nations and larger collectives of persons, are also confronted with evil in their existences. When a person witnesses a terrible event, he or she must decide either to do nothing and leave the responsibility of action to others, or they chose to act directly at the potential risk of their safety or lives. They must decide either—“I don’t want to get involved,” or “I must do something.”
This moral and ethical dilemma is what the three older men who form the basis of The Investigative Paranormal Society face.
In my novel, I posit evil existing in two forms. First, human evil manifests as a man who was a sadistic psychopath—a torturer, spy, pimp, and murderer—who lived during the realm of Caligula in ancient Rome. Supernatural evil also is real in my book. In death, this man, who goes by the name of Maledicus, is seduced by a mysterious being into becoming a demon. As a new form of existence, Maledicus is able to manifest on Earth and target people for his victims. He causes mayhem, including murder, suicide, insanity, and disease.
While investigating what they believe to be a ghostly haunting, the three men who are the Investigative Paranormal Society—Roosevelt, Sam, and Jeremy—soon realize that this malicious thing that is threatening a five year old girl in their town, is far worse and more dangerous than any ghost.
They must choose either to abandon their investigation and this child or to choose to battle this demon at the risk of their sanities, their lives, and their souls. These men, along with the help of several friends, choose the path of responsibility as they confront the terrible demon Maledicus.
I hope that, in my novel, I deal effectively and thoroughly with this issue of evil and the human response to it. Only the readers can truly make that judgement.
Thanks so much for sharing Maledicus with us, Charles! If you’d like to read Maledicus, it’s now available on Amazon. You can also learn more about Charles and his work by visiting his website at https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com. And be sure to come back to this site on Friday, when I’ll be sharing my review of Maledicus!
Filed under: Guest Posts Tagged: book launch, charles french, evil, ghosts, guest post, horror novel, indie books, kickstarter, maledicus, paranormal, reading, supernatural, theme, writing
October 10, 2016
Go Indie Now! Bibliotherapy Box
Okay, I’ve been sitting on this super-fun announcement for a while now, and I’m so thrilled that I can finally share the good news without spoiling anything. Earlier this year, Ashley Nestler, the founder and CEO of the Go Indie Now! book box subscription service contacted me and asked to feature The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) in her September Alternative Realities box. Of course, I said yes!
So what is the Go Indie Now! box? It’s a book box subscription service (like OwlCrate) that sends readers a new book (or two) each month, along with a host of other really fun goodies! But here’s the catch: it only features independently published novels! Being an indie author herself, Ashley wanted to create a way for readers discover professional, well-written indie books (and help deserving authors reach new fans, too!).
What I love about Go Indie Now! is that Ashley has focused on making it a bibliotherapy box. As it says on the Go Indie Now! website:
“We are all about mental and emotional healing through literature, while also promoting the makers movement — a movement that promotes handmade items and artisans.”
Each box features at least one item that relates to each of the five senses. Here’s the full list of items that featured in the September Alternative Realities box (this represents The Full Scoop, General Fiction plan):
The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) by Kate M. Colby
Author interview with Kate M. Colby
The Surrendered by Case Maynard
Bookish: An Adult Coloring Book by Martha Sweeney
Mechanical frog print (based on Charlie!) – to see
The Cogsmith’s Daughter reading playlist – to hear
A recipe inspired by TCD – to taste
A crocheted gear bookmark – to touch
An Adventure Scents aromatherapy pack inspired by TCD – to smell
Ashley is one of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever met. I’m not promoting her Go Indie Now! book box for my own gain, or even because I was featured in it. The truth is: Ashley is providing a wonderful service to the indie author and bookworm communities, and she deserves to be recognized for it.
So, thank you, Ashley for all you’re doing for readers and authors everywhere. I hope your boxes bring happiness, peace and creativity to all who open them!
If you’d like to learn more about the Go Indie Now! book box mission or sign up for a subscription, check out their website at https://goindienow.cratejoy.com.
Filed under: Musings & Bookish Things, The Cogsmith's Daughter, The Desertera Series Tagged: adventure scents, alternative realities, book box, books, bookworm, dystopian, go indie now, indie books, reading, self-publishing, steampunk, subscription
October 6, 2016
Escape to Salem
For our second anniversary, Daniel and I took a fun weekend trip to Salem, Massachusetts. I’d like to tell you that it was all about romance … but what kind of scholar-author team would that make us?
While we did enjoy a fancy dinner and a quaint bed-and-breakfast (complete with a wine and cheese hour!), the main focus of our trip was research. Daniel is studying the Salem Witch Trials for a class project, and I’ve always been fascinated with the event … and just may have a book idea brewing. If you’ve ever thought about a trip to Salem, I highly recommend all the attractions in this blog post (and going in fall – such gorgeous weather!). In the interest of brevity, I’ll just hit the highlights:
Salem Memorial Cemetery
A lovely little spot that holds the tombstone of important townspeople, including several of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ancestors. While the bodies are not buried there, it does include a set of beautiful stone benches engraved with the Witch Trial victims’ names. (My header image shows a few tombstones – visible on the main blog page.)
House of the Seven Gables & Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Birth House
Probably my favorite part of the trip. The original home that inspired the famous novel still stands. It’s filled with era-appropriate recreations and there’s even a secret staircase visitors can climb! Hawthorne’s birth home was moved to the property in the 1950s, and it holds several of his letters and books, as well as the desk on which he wrote The Scarlet Letter. As you can imagine, this author geeked out.
The Witch House
Home to Witch Trial Judge Jonathan Corwin, this is the only house in Salem with direct ties to the Witch Trials. History buffs: this is your jam. Authentic household items and writings from the 1600s (only a few things were recreations), with knowledgeable and friendly tour guides on both floors. If you want to know what life was like as Puritan, this is your stop.
Danvers, MA – aka Salem Village
What many people don’t realize is that modern-day Salem is actually “Salem Town.” The hangings and some trial activity happened here, but the accusations and most trials actually happened in Salem Village, which is modern-day Danvers. Unlike modern Salem, Danvers has tried to separate itself from the Witch Trials. While important monuments remain, they’re mixed right in with neighborhoods.
While Hawthorne holds the most special place in my heart, this was by far the coolest part of the trip. We saw the official Witch Trials monument, the site of the meeting house (where the accusations happened), and toured the homestead of Rebecca Nurse (one of the victims). But the highlight for me? Walking in the parsonage foundations, the exact place where Reverend Samuel Parris’ daughter and niece made the first accusation and started the entire spectacle. I couldn’t stop the goosebumps!
Now that I’ve gushed about the amazing things we saw, I want to take a moment to impart my biggest lesson from the weekend. So many people depict the Witch Trial victims as A) actual witches or B) vengeful spirits. After learning about these individuals, those impressions couldn’t be farther from the truth. The victims went to the gallows (not the stake) pitying their misinformed community members and trusting completely that they would be absolved in Heaven. Throughout my entire trip, I didn’t hear a single account of revenge or hatred from the victims (their families, a bit).
Being in the victims’ town and standing where they stood gave me an appreciation for their faith and a new perspective on their stories. If I do include Salem and the Witch Trials in a future novel, you can bet those themes will feature in my work. There’s no substitute for in-person interaction, and I’m so grateful Daniel and I were able to take this trip. I can’t wait to travel to more inspiring places and share my experiences with you on this blog … and in my books!
Filed under: Musings & Bookish Things Tagged: author, history, inspiration, new england, research trip, salem, travel, witch trials, writing
October 3, 2016
Month-End Update: September 2016
Goodbye, book launch month! As you likely noticed, September was all about the release of The Courtesan’s Avenger (and, of course, this month’s booklet: 100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts). Unfortunately, my fiction book launch dominated the month, and the booklet took up what little time remained. While I’m thrilled to have them both out in the world, I’m even more excited to get back into creation mode. Desertera #3 has been calling my name for weeks now, and it’s about time I answered. Fingers crossed that October can be a strong start leading into November (aka National Novel Writing Month).
One thing that I did manage to make a lot of time for was podcasts. When I first started on my indie publishing journey, I would listen to podcasts all day at work. They helped me get up to speed on the industry and gave me a sense of community in what is an often lonely journey. I’ve really missed listening to them, so making time to do so on my commute (and at the gym – gasp!) has been really refreshing.
On a personal note, my husband and I also took a very bookish anniversary trip to Salem, Massachusetts, in September. I’ll share more about the trip, my inspiration, and a few travel tips in a future post. For now, allow me to recap September and get sorted for October.
Writing & Editing
Blog Posts Written – 12 and one reblog
Fiction Words Written – 0
# of Days I Wrote Fiction – 0
Nonfiction Prompts Written – 95 prompts
# of Days I Wrote Nonfiction – 15
Drafts Revised – Final proofread of The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2)
# of Days I Revised – 4
Outlines Written – 1 (100 Horror Writing Prompts)
Days Without Creation/Production – 7
Reading
Books Finished
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9, Volume 1 by Joss Whedon
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Books Begun/In-Progress
From Hell by Alan Moore
Curiosity and the Hounds of Arawn by Zachary Paul Chopchinski
Books Reviewed on Blog
None
*Remember, I review every book I read on my Goodreads page.
Author Business Activities
Final proofread, cover design, format, and publication of The Courtesan’s Avenger
Wrote and published 100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 9)
NetGalley listing for The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1)
Participated in the Summer Indie Book Awards
Goals for October
Begin writing Desertera #3
Write and publish 100 Horror Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 10)
Reflect on one year as a published author and set goals for year two
Catch up on my friends’ books and help a few out with special projects
What did you accomplish in September? What goals are you working towards in October? Share below!
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book launch, books, creative writing prompts, dystopian, fantasy, goals, independent publishing, indie author, mystery, nonfiction, revising, science fiction, self-publishing, steampunk, suspense, thriller, writing
September 30, 2016
Out Now: 100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts
I’m back from my post-book launch hiatus with … a booklet launch! Despite September being a crazy month, I’ve still written and published 100 Mystery, Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 9).
You can download your copy for FREE on Amazon through October 4.
These genres presented a particular challenge. Given that they have similar themes and motifs, and that their subgenres so often overlap, I really had to push myself to create original, clearly defined prompts for each section. However, I think I’ve succeeded!
With this booklet published, there’s just one genre left in the series. If you don’t already know what it is, I’ll give you a hint: there’s a reason I’ve saved it for October!
You can read the description of 100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts below. Then, make sure to grab your copy before it goes up to full price ($0.99).
Do you want to write a twisting mystery or heart-racing thriller? This booklet contains 100 writing prompts to help you get started.
Do you have a suspense tale burning inside you but feel trapped by writer’s block?
Are you an established author looking for fresh, new ideas?
If you’re ready to stop staring at the blank page and start writing NOW, 100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts is the booklet for you. There’s no fluff and no wasted words – just 100 fiction prompts to get you back to what you do best: writing.
100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts is packed with character- and story-focused prompts to jumpstart your fiction. The prompts have been carefully designed to address the various motifs of these stories – from clever sleuths to fast-paced action to intricate conspiracies.
Inside, you’ll find prompts related to the following subgenres:
1. Cozy Mystery
2. Financial
3. International
4. Legal
5. Medical
6. Military
7. Paranormal
8. Political
9. Psychological
10. Technothriller
Each section contains 10 thought-provoking prompts. Practice them in order, or dive right into to what inspires you most. You’ve already wasted enough energy on writer’s block. It’s time to craft your next riveting tale.
Uncover the words that have eluded you. Download 100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts today.
SAMPLE PROMPTS
Cozy Mystery
A statue of the town’s founder (who happens to be your character’s ancestor) is vandalized. The police quickly brush it off as teenage mischief. However, your character recognizes something in the evidence that makes her think the crime is personal. Does her family have any old rivalries or enemies? What family secrets might her investigation uncover? What other crimes could the vandal commit to prove your character’s suspicions?
Legal
A lawyer wins her client’s case. He is declared innocent, despite being guilty of a serious crime. Although freed and unable to be re-tried, the client fears the lawyer will expose the truth about his guilt and bring him harm another way. He begins stalking the lawyer to ensure her silence and perhaps turns violent in his paranoia. How does the lawyer react to his harassment? Does she feel guilty about setting him free? Can she prevent him from committing a worse crime against her?
Filed under: Kate's Nonfiction for Writers Tagged: creative writing, fiction writing prompts, free book, free on kindle, mystery, suspense, thriller, writing advice, writing ideas, writing prompts, writing tips
September 23, 2016
Guest Post with Author Kate M. Colby #Desertera
My best writing tip? Give all your characters (major and minor) motivations. Read more on author Helen Jones’ blog!
Today I’m very pleased to welcome author (and author-y friend!) Kate M. Colby to my blog. Kate has just released The Courtesan’s Avenger, the second book in her Desertera series (and if you haven’t read her first book, The Cogmsith’s Daughter, get yourselves a copy now!). Set in the steampunk world of Desertera, The Courtesan’s Avenger is a tale of murder, intrigue and justice – I can’t wait to read it
September 22, 2016
KAI Presents… Kate M. Colby!
Today, I’m interviewed on author Kevin Cooper’s blog about The Courtesan’s Avenger, my writing process, and my best tips for aspiring authors. Check it out!
Kev’s Author Interviews Presents:
Hello, everyone! I’m thrilled to be here today. My name is Kate M. Colby, and I’m an author of science fiction, fantasy and nonfiction for writers. My first series, Desertera, consists of steampunk fantasy novels with themes of socio-economic disparity, self-empowerment, romance, and revenge. By day, I’m a copywriter at a wine marketing company, and by night (when I’m not writing), I enjoy antiquing, playing video games, and wine tasting. I live in the United States with my husband Daniel and our feline son Thomas.
***
Kev: What’s your latest book called and how did you come up with the title?
My latest novel is titled The Courtesan’s Avenger. It’s the second book in my Desertera series (the first being The Cogsmith’s Daughter). As you may have noticed, my titles follow a theme. Each title describes the novel’s protagonist. In The Courtesan’s Avenger, my…
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Filed under: The Courtesan's Avenger, The Desertera Series Tagged: author interview, desertera, fantasy, indie books, new release, steampunk, The Courtesan's Avenger, writing process, writing tips
September 21, 2016
Guest Post: Themes in a Series
Check out my guest post on author and professor Charles French’s blog. I discuss the importance of themes in a series, as well as how the themes of my Desertera series have evolved over the first two novels.
I would like to welcome author Kate M. Colby to my blog. In this post, she discusses the issue of themes in a series of novels. Kate is an excellent writer, one I am proud to know. I respect her abilities and writing, and I have used her previous novel The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera […]
Filed under: The Courtesan's Avenger, The Desertera Series Tagged: book series, desertera, fantasy, steampunk, themes, writing, writing a sequel, writing advice, writing tips
September 20, 2016
On Sale Now: The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2)
After over a year of working and waiting, I’m pleased to announce that The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2) is available in ebook AND paperback formats on all major online retailers.
First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point. I couldn’t have published one book, let alone two, without the support of my family, friends, and fellow writers. My readers deserve a special thanks: your encouraging emails, social media shout-outs, and heartwarming reviews are the fuel that keeps my inspiration burning. Thank you joining my journey.
When I published The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) last year, I thought my heart would burst from panic. Here I was, an unknown and inexperienced author, putting her art out for the world to judge. Publishing my nonfiction booklets has felt significantly less personal (more like writing one of my craft blog posts), so I thought I would be better prepared for this launch. After all, this will be my tenth publication. It’s old hat now, right?
Wrong. I’m still a bundle of nerves and excitement, of dread and hope. I’m not a parent, but I have to imagine that this is what it feels like to send your child off to kindergarten or university. I did the best that I could. Now it’s up to you, little one.
I’ll write a longer reflection post after the book launch buzz simmers down. For now, I’m off to take deep breaths, celebrate, then start book three.
If you haven’t bought your copy of The Courtesan’s Avenger yet, click this link to download it from your favorite retailer.
If you’re waiting on signed paperback copies, stay tuned. I’ll have purchase links available once I have copies to sign.
Filed under: The Courtesan's Avenger, The Desertera Series, Writing Updates Tagged: book launch, desertera, fantasy, indie books, mystery, new book, sci-fi, science fiction, series, steampunk, The Courtesan's Avenger
September 19, 2016
Five Tips for Writing a Series by Kate M Colby
Today, I’m featured on author Kate Evans’s blog, where I share advice on how to write a series. Check it out!
I am very happy to welcome the author Kate M Colby to my blog with her tips for writing a novel series. Her new novel, The Courtesan’s Avenger, is out now: www.katemcolby.com/books Over to you Kate Colby…
I’ve always had difficulty thinking “small.” In school, I was the kid with good grades, a dozen extra-curricular activities, a part-time job, and a dedication to an outside sport. At my day job, I’m the person who always accepts extra projects or offers to help someone who is overworked. Why? I want to do it all.
The same goes for my writing. When I set out to write The Cogsmith’s Daughter, I knew one novel wouldn’t be enough. I loved the world and characters I had created. I couldn’t spend 90,000 words with them then just leave, never to return. No. Even though I had never written a novel before…
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Filed under: Writing Craft & Tips Tagged: book series, guest post, indie author, indie books, writing a series, writing advice, writing tips
