Phetra H. Novak's Blog, page 2

August 4, 2016

A Summer's Day Anthology for                                       YA Youth Across the World

A while back, in early March to be exact, I was asked if I would be interested in contributing a short story, based on something written by Shakespeare, for an anthology, which I was happy to do. This anthology was to celebrate the 400th birthday of Shakespeare but also to contribute something back to society. 

What you'll find in this book is 12 story's by 12 author and their interpretation of something Shakespeare have written, you'll find happy endings, sad endings, humor, tragedy, but foremost love. 

All proceeds of this books will go to, It’s get Better Project, an organization set on helping LGBT youth around the world. 



Thank you to all authors who partook in this project!

Authors:
Louise Lyons, Rory Ni Coileain, Nicki J Markus / Asta Idonea, Cheryl Headford, Charlie Cochrane, Dianne Hartsock, Rian Durant, Kathy Griffith, Phetra H. Novak (that would be me), JL Merrow, M LeAne Phoneix and Rebecca Cohen.

To Petra Howard for all her hard work in editing this book, thank you.

And thank you very much to Jay Aheer, from Simply Defined Art, for the amazing cover. Picture A Summer’s Day Anthology  

Foreword

We have modern retelling of some plays, interpretations of others and one of the sonnets, and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.

There is gentle YA romance next to very hot 18+ stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.

We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.

There’s fun, drama, tears, angst, joy and, above all, lots of true love.


Blurbs

Deeper Than Did Ever Plummet Sound
Rory Ni Coileain

Clarence Limont is a slowly fading star of the London stage; convinced his great performances are all behind him, he nevertheless agrees to play Prospero in an off-off-Broadway production of The Tempest helmed by an old friend.

Jaymes Stafford is the production’s starry-eyed Ariel, waking feelings Clarence had thought long dead and buried.

But the poisonous jealousy of other members of the cast may steal the stars from Jaymes’ eyes, and even put paid to Clarence’s illustrious career.

(“The Tempest”)

A Fine Line Between
Louise Lyons

When Romeo runs into Julian on the beach, he’s the last person he wants to see as he’s grown up hating him due to his parents’ aversion to Julian’s dad.

Forced to rescue Julian from the sea, Romeo is surprised by his grudging attraction to the other young man.

When simple lust becomes something more, the pair ignore their parents’ anger, but family fights drive the lovers away from home – into a horrifying incident. Will it make the Montgomerys and the Caplins rethink their feud?

(“Romeo and Juliet”)

The Devil and the Lion
Asta Idonea

Caius Martius and Tullus Aufidius have long been enemies.

Then Martius arrives on Aufidius’ doorstep, seeking a military alliance. Aufidius accepts; however, he wishes their partnership to extend from the battlefield to the bedchamber.

His lust for Martius is one of the reasons he spares his life, but his jealousy will soon have terrible consequences.

(“Coriolanus”)

Kiss Me, Kade
Nephy Heart

Kade is in trouble, negotiating a dangerous path between an authoritarian father and wayward sister.

Then Pete storms into his life and tries to take over.

It can only end in disaster.

(“Taming of The Shrew”)

If Music Be…
Charlie Cochrane

Rick Cowley finds himself taking up am-dram once more, thinking it’ll help him get over the death of his partner.

He’d never anticipated it would mean an encounter with an old flame and the sort of emotional complications the Bard would have reveled in.

Still, old Will had the right word for every situation, didn’t he?

(“Twelfth Night”)

Two Guys From Vancouver
Dianne Hartsock

Valentine has been watching Preston date man after man with never more than a brotherly hug for him.

Finally, despairing that Preston will ever love him in return, Val moves away to college, where he meets the glorious Silver, a man with problems of his own, who just might be his answer.
Torn between his attraction to Preston and his growing desire for Silver, Val wonders if he’ll ever find love or will his life become as tragic as any of the Shakespearean plays he loves so well.

(“The Two Gentlemen of Verona”)

When I Love Thee Not
Rian Durant

Desmond, the heir of a business owner is outed in the media after a hot night with his lover, Olvin, who also happens to be the company’s best negotiation expert.

This is only the first step in Ian’s plan to get back at Olvin for choosing Michel Caswell as a main assistant for the latest merger instead of him, a plan in which he’s moving everybody around like pawns on a chessboard, bending the rules.

Will Ian drive a wedge between Desmond and Olvin and get the position he wants or will he realize that there’s something more important that stops the world from turning into chaos?

(“Othello”)

The Merchant of Venice Beach
Kathy Griffith

Tony and Bartholomew have been friends for years, but his latest request is a little much.

Bart needs a loan to impress Porsche Keller, a personable billionaire, but the only cash available is from banker and raging homophobe Sherlock Palmer, who has a devious plan for them.

Will our heroes find love and get their happy ending?

(“The Merchant of Venice”)

A Hero’s Last Battle
Phetra H Novak

Claudio is happy to be home after serving his country as a soldier for over fifteen years being stationed mostly abroad ready to settle down.

Hero is still living at home, together with his father, trying to do what is expected a young man his age is supposed to do, work and live every day like it is your last.

The two men meet at a family wedding, realizing they share a mutual dream of finding love and starting a family but evil lurks amongst them. Will these two lovers find a way to be together?

(“Much Ado About Nothing”)

Nothing Like The Sun
JL Merrow

Hollywood darling Jerome Winter always defined himself by his looks—until a fire destroyed them.

His oldest friend and still-loyal manager, Sam, has long carried a torch for him, but with his looks—and earning power—gone, what does Jerome have left to offer?

(Sonnet 130)

The Sun of Tomorrow
M LeAnne Phoenix

When actor Koray Shepherd rescues writer Winter Sirois from the brutal hands of his supervisor, Winter never would have believed the beautiful Turk would share his love of The Bard.

When Koray asks Winter out on a date, Winter takes center stage in his very own tragedy, determined to end his play for today with a happily ever after.

Screwing his courage to the sticking place, Winter sets his sights on the future and Koray… but when the horrors of yesterday resurface, will he crest the waves of fear and despair, or will he be heard no more?

(“Macbeth”)

Much Ado About Lady Macbeth
Rebecca Cohen

Competition for roles is always high when the King’s Men put on a play, but David seems to come up against Jacob time and time again, no matter what part he is auditioning for.

But now they both want to be Lady Macbeth and it’s more than simple rivalry that causes the sparks to fly.

(Shakespeare’s Magic)


Buy Links

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Amazon Australia
Amazon Canada
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Published on August 04, 2016 22:45

July 22, 2016

Book Review: Dragon's Bounty by S. Joy P. 

Picture Dragon’s Bounty is the first book of a new historical and fantasy series called Dracula’s Love by S. Joy P.

Since I finished this book, actually since I started this book and actually had to close the book up to see if I had the right one, I have pondered what the hell my feelings are towards it and let me tell you right here and now, it is a hate love relationship.

This is not a book you grab as you walk out the door for a day on the beach. It will take your full attention, both in a good and bad way because it is quite difficult to get into but when you have it is like a dark sky that explodes into a blue ocean with the sun standing high.

It is a book with so much colorful description that there comes a point when I had to stop reading and start turning pages to see "hello when do I get some people on people interaction because I'm going nuts here". It is a book that when you finished it no matter if you like it or not you just know you will read, however, many other books this series will hold, each and everyone of them because you will have to know what more battles will Vlad and his men Iancon, Marin, Lion and let’s not forget the God of Love who has descended to earth to be close to the mortal man he loves like Romeo loved Juliet, Love the Englishman.

Why don’t we start with Love since the book starts with him, and honestly the man drove me absolutely bonkers, especially, in the beginning with his obsessiveness over this Vlad man that we had no freaking idea who or what he was. But Love is the reason the first 30% of the book is worth reading without him and talking to his companion Motudd. He is a man with devotion, loyalty, and passion in spades. He is a man to look up too because he doesn’t change his mind as things becomes difficult to avoid the hardships, and this is something even Vlad Dracula, the Warrior Prince, realizes is a value any leader can ask for. Love, as I said, drove me bonkers in the beginning, at that point being nothing but a slave working the mines and fields for Vlad. He was for the lack of a better word acting like a love sick puppy, a poor, dirty, lice "walked away" with his hair filthy and starving puppy, and still all he could do was to pine after Vlad Dracula.

After the magic 30% point, where the massive discription somehow ended, the more I read the better Dragon’s Bounty became. S. Joy has not only created a world but characters, that mind you now are all pretty vicious and plain evil (including dearest Love and the things he does throughout the book in the name of love is all of it far from fair) but that you will like spite their cruelty. One one page you will cringe, wrinkle your nose and go eww only to on the next page after the bloody battles are done and the same men sit around a fire or table eating showing their comradery for each other, you will go awe ain’t that nice, and smile feeling relieved that there’s some humanity left in these men after all.

The relationship between Vlad and Love, is slow burning, and with slow burning I mean slow like imagine the slowest burning love story you ever read and then quadruple it by ten and you have the slow burning passion and friendship between these two very different yet, similar men. It needs to be slow burning, if S. Joy had made it happen in any other way than she has then Love’s obsession would have become a stalkerish insane kind, that would have needed the men with white lab coats to come get him. Instead Love’s passionate and deep burning love for the dark Warrior Prince becomes this grand epic story of unconditional love that makes you want to be Love and how it changes or rather shows a different side of Vlad or as he’s also called Dragwlya.

The side characters to this story mostly other men and warriors of Prince Vlad’s army and closes guard, Iancon, Marin, Lion and later on Adam are spot on, I love these men all for being their own set of men with their own voice and yet they behave accordingly to the rules that S. Joy has set up for them. They enhance the story and strong emotional bond that all these men share with each other, and gives you behind the battle scene moments that makes you feel compassion for them. The one scene that sticks in my mind the one scene that is the most prominent of the story with so much heart that it not only made me cry but made me want to scream just like Love did was the end scene with Adam. It broke me in a way that I wasn’t prepared for.

In conclusion, I would have loved to have given this story a five-star review, I really would but I can’t because the very long, and overly descriptiveness at some parts killed made it hard for me to focus, there were too many times when I caught myself thinking about other things and where I had no idea what I read for the past couple pages so I had to go back and re-read. But it is well worth the read because the story that is told between is a wonderful story of the power of camaraderie, loyalty, and love, in the interaction between a handful of well thought out characters that you learn to mostly love!

You can find S. Joy P. at the following social medias:

Website
Facebook
Goodreads
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Published on July 22, 2016 04:58

July 9, 2016

Book Review: Shorts: Stories From Beneath the Rainbow by Hans Hirschi

Picture Shorts: Stories from beneath the Rainbow by Hans Hirschi is the newest of the author’s many book and as the title suggests a book filled with short stories, some just a few pages and some almost at novella length but in this book there is a story for everyone. There are stories in here that for me stuck out more than others, and I have decided to share my thoughts about three of them.

The first story, that stuck out more than others and for me, and it is very obvious to why it is this one, is the short story titled Nightmare, not only is it written in complete Hirschi style it hit home in a way that felt like being railroaded. It was a long time ago I felt physically nauseated reading a story because it felt so real and you looked over your shoulder at the world you live in and in doing so you could see what he describe happen for real. The fact that I knew the people it is about, well, that only made it so much real because their faces were etched inside my mind as I read. Creepy to say the least! And god awful too real to be anything but a pure Nightmare!

The second story, that comes to mind is the Scarf. I was warned about this short story about the annoying character and the awfulness of his persona. After reading it, and even now as I write this, I have to go back to the see if I’ve read the same story as everyone else because I honestly don’t get it. Jimmy is just a dude, his reaction to what happens isn’t that odd nor is it that uncommon. People just think acting like a Hollywood hero is the norm when a crime is committed when in fact a lot of people don’t not because they are assholes but because one half the people who see a crime committed doesn’t realize it until too late (ask me I know) it goes very fast and by the time you react the crime is more or less over or moved else where. Two, human nature is not to stay and fight it is to run and hide. So, from my perspective Jimmy is one of the most real and to an extent empathetic people in this book. I’d even go so far to saying the author’s own perspective of him is slightly unfair since the expectations on Jimmy is more than his human nature made him to be.

The third, and last story I want to share is the Slasher, now color me amazed that this story comes from the master mind of Hirschi, it sort of scares me and I wonder how smart it is to be alone in the same room as this man. (And that was joke for those who doesn’t know me or Hirschi). No, but seriously the main character of this story is a serial killer and it takes a certain skill to write a character like that, at least in my opinion. And that makes me think about Jimmy again, the strong reactions towards him when we have a real psychotic killer a few stories down and no one had anything to say? Maybe it is easier to relate to psychotic killer than a human being with the self-preservation of his own species. I have no idea, but this story turned me off like a cold shower and I mean that in a good way. It is disgustingly creepy and puts you in the mind of a killer. Blech! Well done Hans Hirschi!

It is hard to write this review without saying, I don’t like short stories, but I really do liked these. Some were too short for me to get a true feel for the character or their situation, but the stories that I loved (the three mentioned and a few others) they really made a great impact on me and has you thinking long after you finished reading. No matter if that thought is in pure disgust because it was that horrible, or you felt like yelling at the author for scaring you half to death or feeling sorry for a character who is so misunderstood. My heart really goes out for Jimmy and I think in a way I probably like him the best of all the characters portrayed in this book.  

What should be said is that in reading Shorts: Stories from beneath the Rainbow you as a reader will get the chance to see the width and depth of a great storytellers mind, Hans Hirschi’s mind and that shouldn't be missed out on!

And to my very very good friend, Congratulations to yet another great book to be read over and over! 

You can find Hans on the following social medias:

Facebook
Twitter
Hans Hirschi’s website
Beaten Track Publishing

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Published on July 09, 2016 01:15

July 5, 2016

Free Short Stories by Alp Mortal  and myself

Picture Picture Picture
#Free Short story #TheTrainStation and two more stories by #AlpMortal all for #Free

This is a short, fun and erotic story,  as erotic as I will ever write, for you all to enjoy for #Free.
When asked by Alp if I wanted to contribute a short story for his blog, where he from time to time shares his own work, I was thrilled and very flattered by the chance to do so, since Alp is not only a good friend but a great author himself.

Also, at the time I was editing (still am) a book I wrote called Love of the Game and an idea hit me, something I wanted to try to write and was tying to do with my full length novel but didn't know how well it would turn out. So, I used this as a perfect time to not only write something fun to share with both Alp and you guys but to spread my wings and see how well I did. Personally, I have to say I am pretty happy with the outcome.

 In this short story of mine you'll meet Johannes Alm, a Swedish SHL (Swedish Hockey League) player,  a year before Love of the Game takes place.

Blurb for The Train Station: 
Johannes Alm is at the starting point of his career as a professional hockey player, when on his way to Stockholm for an event his train gets delayed leaving him with too much time to kill. Bored he gives his lover, Adam, a call hoping to be invited over for a quick tumble in bed but Adam has something else in mind. Before Johannes knows it he's been lured into a game of hide and go seek, the kinky kind, right there at the Train Station.

And for all it is worth don't miss out on Alp Mortal's two freebies, #TheLocksmith is by far a big all time favorite short stories of mine and knocked me off my feet when I read it. Just ask Alp my initial reaction to reading it.

Thank you a million Alp for including me in this very fun project! hugs!
Enjoy!!


http://carterseagrove.weebly.com/the-envelope-collection.html

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Published on July 05, 2016 06:36

Book Review: The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith

Picture The Reflections of Queen Snow White is a novel written by David Meredith. David emailed me a couple months ago and after he himself finding and looking at my blog asked if I would be interested in reviewing this book he wrote and after reading what he sent me I agreed to do it because it sounded really interesting.
First of all the book is as the title suggest is about Snow White, the character from the fairy-tale with the same name, but what happens after Charming, the prince that kisses Snow White awake after eating the apple of the evil stepmother. I have never read a book like this before, I’ve heard of their existence but never encountered one.
When I started reading it I think my expectations were that I thought that David Meredith would start off where the famous fairy-tale ended, but he didn’t, instead we meet a Queen Snow White that is in deep mourning after losing her dearest husband and best friend, Charming to old age, which in it itself is quite sad, because really what good can come from this. So, I will admit I was sorta angry with David for the coming couple chapters for pulling the rug that early on.
But as the story goes on, and I will not reveal any details because the small odd things that happen here and there as David’s version of the story of Snow White and his own story of Queen Snow White unfolds, they are the quirks that make the book so good, they are the reasons that you keep turning the page wanting to know what they mean and why Snow White is seeing what she is seeing. What is going to happen to Snow White? What does the intruder, if that is what we can call it or him, want? What is the moral of the story?!
What I like the most about the story is that it is sweet and gentle, which means there’s no bloodshed no overly dramatic scenes with anyone’s life being threatened (well… besides that one little incident *winks*), but David still manages to keep you interested throughout the book. It is the details of the emotional journey that Snow White takes, the epiphanies she has throughout the book that does that and to have that even curvy road of ups and downs that not only keeps you interested but also makes the book flow well is in my mind hard to do. It requires an author who know’s what he or she wants to say, what the purpose of their tale is and what it is they want their reader to feel. It’s like guiding your reader blindfolded through a maze. If I was to criticize anything it would be the ending, it sort of wrapped up a little too fast for my personal taste but it wasn’t bad or so quickly done that it ruined the book.
In conclusion, the Reflections of Queen Snow White is a book I highly recommend to anyone who likes familiar faces covered in new flavors, for the reader who like something different but light and interesting to read a sunny afternoon or by the beach between swims in the ocean. The book starts out heavy but leaves you light and feeling hopeful, something that always put a bounce in my step.
Also, I’m grateful for David Meredith for emailing me because otherwise, this would have been a book that had passed me by. I will most definitely keep an eye out for more books by David to see what he come up with.



You can find David Meredith at the following Social Medias:

Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
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Published on July 05, 2016 06:20

June 4, 2016

Recommendation: Free Short Stories by Alp Mortal 

Picture Recommendation: If you haven't tried reading anything of Alp Mortal, Carter Seagrove, then here's your chance to read some of his short stories for free. There's one, I got a sneak preview on The Locksmith if you don't read anything else this month read this one. To be able to enchant your reader and make them slap a hand over their mouth and gasp all under 5K is borderline to genius.

For full-length novels, I highly recommend Brave, Daniel's Garden, the Last Jötunn and for you sci-fi fans he has a new series out and the fist book is called Black Moon Rising. I don't like sci-fi but I love this one!

Free Shorts available for download: 

The Envelope Collection
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Published on June 04, 2016 08:38

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Published on June 04, 2016 08:35

May 15, 2016

Enrapture by Pierce Smith

Picture Enrapture by Pierce Smith is an erotic novella taking place at Halloween night.

The book starts out with a very upset Noah, who is horny and frustrated that his boyfriend, Ethan, who he happened to have met exactly one year ago that very night, is running late for their date. Being hyper, horny and quite bored to be honest he tries to occupy himself with flirting with the guy running the shop from across the street and after some time Ethan finally calls and things are on between the two boyfriends and the guy across the street.

I don’t want to ruin the story by telling too much but the plot of the book is fairly straight forward, it consists of what erotic novels consist of mostly, namely sex in different aspects pleasing yourself while others are watching, listening or why not doing all of it in front of large windows where everyone and anyone can see. Enrapture, is if you like real erotic books, is full of lust filled sex, but also a good portion of humor.

Noah and Ethan are both likable characters, even if what we really know about them as people isn’t that much. And because of that I find them both to be slightly immature at times. It would have help the depth of the story and the understanding of the characters if we had gotten to know them some on a more personal level, this is the problem I have often with short stories or in this case novellas. Then there is the fact that Noah giggles a lot, it drove me a tad bit bonkers because you all know how much I like adults giggling, but I ignored that fact because well let's face it some people giggle and I just need to get over it, and kept reading.  

Pierce Smith, writes really well, the dialog is engaging, it feels genuine and as if it is a true conversation that could take place. Noah’s and Ethan’s chemistry it real and hot and at the same time sweet. Spite the third party, it is obvious that they are more to each other than just a fuck buddies and that they care deeply for each other even though the language and tone at times would seem to convey the very opposite. But instead it makes it sort of playful between them. To this point I’d say Enrapture was pretty much like many other erotic novels and even though well written, from my point of view, there wasn’t really anything that made it stand out buuuut...then came the ending.

So, what makes this story different and not just another erotic novel with two or more people screwing each other’s brains out, the ending. The ending chapter is brilliant and shocking! It makes you go “what the hell!” and go back several pages just to read it again so you can make sure that you read it right and didn’t miss something. What would have made this story top notch is if that "it" factor had been displayed way earlier and built up. Then it would have been killer! I give it a 4 star rating.
You can find Pierce on the following social media:

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Published on May 15, 2016 03:16

May 13, 2016

Book Review: Dear Stranger by Sid Love

Picture Dear Stranger by Sid Love is a short sweet story about two strangers who happen to just meet, or isn’t it as much of a coincident as at least Reggie thinks?

It is hard to write a good short story, I most often, I’d even say I more often than not come out after reading a short story (even those that are 10-20K longer than this one) feeling like I’ve missed out on a big great part of a story. I usually leaves me feeling cheated, meaning I don’t really like short stories because I love the detailed info, the build up, to get down to the nitty gritty of things.

But I have to say I am happily surprised by Sid’s story Dear Stranger, not only doesn’t it leave me hanging in the end, even though I’d fancy to know more because I really do like both Reggie and his dear stranger. The plot is focused and driven, the characters engaging and the dialog sweet, even teasing at times and flowing along well for as short as it is.

I am impressed by how much info and story Sid manages to get into the story, how he manages to make us see both Reggie and his stranger as people we know some without really telling us a lot about them, but what little info we get is important and helps you understand who they are and where they come from. Also the fact that it doesn’t feel rushed, which a lot of short stories feel because you try to get to much action into the story and instead of making it lovely it just makes it unbelievable. But not here with Dear Stranger.

Sid Love write with a lot of heart, he’s a believer in true love, a romantic and it shows in his writing. Well done Sid Love! Be Proud!

You can find Sid Love on the following social medias:

Website
Facebook
Goodreads
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Published on May 13, 2016 05:00

May 9, 2016

The Birth of the Caddo Norse Novels

Picture Picture Norse mythology, actually most kind of mythology, has been a subject that have been close to my heart for most of my life. I am by far the least religious person you can find but the myths and lore about the vikings and Norse Gods, bloody as it may be has always put a thrill in me. And in a way I guess it is just the fact that it is more lore and folktales than religion that suits me. Because lore and folktales are more commonly known as tales, unlike religion that most often is taken as a facts and truths even though there’s nothing that proves that it’s anything else but 95% lore too. 

The idea of turning norse mythology and Native American lore into one well oiled series was never really the plan, Haven was at the start, was just like now a Native American, a were hunter who was going to have no other passion than traveling the roads like a nomad. His only mission in life that of killing off the entire shifter race because of what one crazed shifter did to his family and tribe. He was never meant to have a lover, a group of men and women who he considered his family, no his story was at the early stages of development of this story a very solitude and dark life. 

It wasn’t until I started plotting out his story that the idea of Norse Mythology and the Fenrir Ulv, being the ultimate father of all shifters, started to creep into my mind. First, the Fenrir Ulv was going to be the Ultimate shifter, the father of all creation, as he still is. He was meant to have been Haven’s ultimate challenge, who Haven in the end was meant to die from trying to kill, and who know’s he might just still do that, but all in all no matter, the path Haven ended up going down was nothing like I first anticipated or planned. 

Native American lore and history is another subject that has always been something that has fascinated and interested me. Native Americans being the real natives of the continent of North America, and it has always surprised me how little we see of their history alive in the US today. They were there, living the earth, making homes and a living long before Columbus discovered the Americas and were and are a huge part, the essential part of North American history and still “the white” man’s minute long presence is what dominates our history books. With Haven’s Revenge and the Caddo Norse Novels I wanted to change that, I wanted to make Native American history and lore a main part of the story. 

Those who have read my books, and I guess especially those that have read my books and knows me, know’s I favor the underdog, the odd ball, the grumpy goodhearted bastards of society who everyone else has lost faith in, those are the men and women I prefer since following the stream of political correctness has never really been my cup of tea. I can honestly say I despise political correctness for the sake of it, because way too many people hide behind it and are allowed to act like cowards because of it. 

Planning Haven’s Revenge, at the beginning was fairly easy because his cause, his reason was just going to be that of revenging his passed with his acts of devotion to killing of every shifter till all of them were dead. It wasn’t until I reacquainted myself with the Fenrir Ulv and Norse Mythology, and my love for it came back to live that I started playing with the idea of making it part of the heart of my story. I mean killing the Fenrir Ulv off when he was such a cool myth and when it would be so much more fun and interesting to have him stay alive and for once be one of the good guys!

It is funny when it comes to Norse Mythology and vikings, most people get it wrong, Thor and Odin, and even Loki always somehow become heroes like Superman or Batman. Bad boys with good guys heart when in reality all of them were if you read the Edda or other sources of Norse Mythology information, they were all evil and selfish bastards. And as for the Viking, there was nothing gentle or loving about them, they were all brutes. Barbarians. 

Being pretty familiar with Norse mythology, researching it I knew what I was looking for and all I needed to look up were details such as how the Fenrir Ulv was captured by the Asa Gods, where exactly he was held and how they drove that sword through his giant jaws. The point was to keep as much of the original lore as possible, to keep the realness of what most people know or what is known as the “truth” so that you would get that familiar feeling as you read the story. Besides the most complicated story keeps to the basic facts, when you start swaying out too much and you need to explain in too much great detail that is when the story is lost. At least in my eyes it is. 

So, what happened between Haven being a pissed of and forever lost were hunter with nothing else on his mind than prowling the land of the United States killing shifters and ending up as ranch hand training horses, being the candy of a farm boy’s eye and becoming the key to that farm boy’s future as the King of Wolves? 

It is fairly stupid to call me romantic, because in reality I am not, I am way too cynical to be called romantic but I guess there’s a part of me, even if that part is fairly small, that still likes the idea of love like no other kind of love. The kind of love that will make you break all the rules, even your own, the kind of love that will get you through that long and dark tunnel and out into the light, the kind of love that makes you a possessive son of a gun and makes you wait forever and a lifetime just to be with that person for no other reason than that you have no room for anyone else. I guess a small part of me hopes that exists out there, at least for some people. 

Mind you now I say love, not being in love, because even if the idea of being in love and the idea of that one perfect mate/lover/partner/second half (call it what you want) is something a lot of people hope is true, love can be any type of love it doesn’t have to be boy meets girl or boy meets boy. It can be the love between a parent and child, grandson and grandfather and so on and so forth, and I think that you see all those kinds of loves all through Haven’s Revenge, that love is what love is and come in all different shapes and colors and none is better than the other just different. 

As soon as I started to toy with the idea of making Thor and foremost Odin into the bad guys of my story and the Fenrir Ulv (and his siblings the Midgard Snake and Sleipnir) together into the good guys everything just sort of fell into place all on it’s own. Coleman and Vojin they were the first characters to take form in my head, Vojin immediately being the key to the Native American lore of things. 

To me Native American culture and lore is a lot about self discovery, about finding you inner strength, personal spirituality and sacrifice. That you are willing to give up a lot of your own things to bring pleasure, happiness and safety for your people/family/tribe and at times that ultimate sacrifice is death itself but it is not feared because you are always protected by the spirit you made part of you. In Haven’s Revenge all of the Caddo community are a proof of this Zacharias, Haven’s father, death, Vojin being the link between the Caddo community, the Fenrir Ulv and the Shifter council with the original eleven (twenty) cubs that were the children of the Caddo man who was the first man to ever be possessed by the Fenrir spirit and who managed to not go crazy. And Haven having his fate that will be revealed further into the story, finding love and safety in Alexander was not his sole purpose, not at all.

The Caddo Norse story is for the lack of a better word, a complex story, and I think that partly show’s in the actual criticism the book has gotten both from people who love it and hate it. The most common criticism that I have gotten from readers and reviewers is that there’s “things” that doesn’t make sense like who the hell is Viktor and Hawk, they pop up and disappears and we don’t really get a grip on them, Vojin is essential to the story but we don’t see him enough, and this was supposed to be Haven’s and Alex’s story but it is stolen away because of all those other characters or their story was rushed (which I personally don’t get because it was dragged out to the point of almost becoming too much) but all these criticisms all have answers. 

The M/M Romance community is very used too, or spoiled (winks) with HEA’s with stories that starts and ends with boy meets boy and then they live happily ever after. They are used to series where the MC are the main focus and there’s a new couple in each book and the couples from the past book or books only, if at all, makes small guest appearances. Not in mine, they don’t even though there will be new couples because I love to weigh up conflicted and troubled stories with an even more troublesome love affair. 

I don’t, only, write traditional romance stories, I obviously don’t mind them, but all my stories (with one exception of Finding Home) the main plot of the story isn’t love (and not even there is the main plot falling in love) and getting the two MC’s together as a couple. The couples are always a sidekick to the bigger picture, the red thread, the moral of the story which as in the Caddo Norse Novels is the war between the Asa Gods and the Fenrir Ulv/ Paranormal and human world. It is the war between good and evil, look and you shall find a lot of my own personal views on things all the good and all the evil represents real situations or people. What is the moral of the story. Characters pop up in Haven’s Revenge and disappears for a reason and will come back later on to fulfill their purpose, we are shifted back and forth in time to show the reader historic events that has a purpose for the future. Haven’s Revenge is the start, a beginning not the end.

And as for Haven and Alexander, whatever possessed you to think that their story was over to begin with? (Grins) There are load of things still going on with those two and their fate, their story, together as well as apart has only just begun (and that goes for Vojin too.
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Published on May 09, 2016 08:42