E.G. Stone's Blog, page 16

Book Review: Space Academy Dropouts by CT Phipps and Michael Suttkus

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I am a person who runs on snark. Okay, occasionally, I use proper and polite language, but in many of the books that I read, I usually appreciate the character with the most snark. Which means that I fully expected CT Phipps and Michael Suttkus’ Space Academy Dropouts to be a highly entertaining smorgasbord of snark, because it’s written by the Snark Masters themselves. And you know what? I was right.

1. Thoughts on the plot

This book follows Vance Turbo, a dropout of Space Fleet, who gets recruited for a black ops mission that is so secret it’s populated entirely with the rejects of Space Fleet and related arms of the Community. Which is the first clue to Vance that things are about to go terribly wrong. Now second in command of a sentient ship with a crew who barely tolerates him, he must go save the galaxy before war can break out. 

The plot of this book sounds, at face value, like any other Star Trek-esque “go save the galaxy” adventure, with little more than a ship, plucky joie de vivre, and duct tape. And you’d be right. Only, the characters aren’t what you’d expect, the solution to the problem isn’t what you’d expect and things are, really, about to get much worse. A thoroughly entertaining plot.

2. Thoughts on the characters

As much as I like snark, I also appreciate the underdog who knows full well that they’re the underdog, and yet somehow manages to succeed anyways. Vance Turbo is exactly that sort of character, and I really appreciated his attitude towards things, as well as the marginally relevant internal monologues that he had. The other characters were equally entertaining, but they definitely served to highlight his struggles. Perfectly acceptable in a first-person narrated story, and in this case, absolutely wonderful to read.

3. Favourite part

The ending. It goes against everything those standard “save the galaxy” stories are meant to do at the end, and I couldn’t help but snort-laugh at the various reactions. 

4. Critique

Frankly, I haven’t got one. This book was far to entertaining to get caught up in critique.

Overall, I’d say that Space Academy Dropout is a great foray into the world of space opera and space comedy, with a bit of action and adventure thrown in. If you’re having a bad day, or even a really good one, this is a book that will make things better.

Book Review: The Beckoning Void by Patrick LeClerc

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I have a fondness for steampunk stories. Or, as the case may be, historical fantasy stories that have a strong steampunk bent. Airships and trains and all those wonderful things are like candy to me and I am thrilled by a chance to read anything even remotely related to it. Enter in Patrick LeClerc’s The Beckoning Void and suddenly I have a new story to devour.

1. Thoughts on the plot

This story follows Emilia DuMond, an actress turned spy for an organisation determined to stop a group of eldritch being worshipping zealots from getting a key piece to their plan to summon their lost gods. She travels across Europe in an airship piloted by a former slave who escaped the Civil War in America and guarded by a middle-aged Scots swordsman and an Arab woman who prefers fighting to politics. Of course, nothing is ever quite so easy as merely stealing a book…

I really enjoyed this plot. From the start, it felt like a thievery-to-prevent-bad-things novel, and it was for the most part. However, there were extra elements that involved action, airship battles, and characters performing acts of heroism that fuel fandoms for ages to come. What started as a fairly straightforward plot took twists and turns that were great fun to read and watch unfold. I enjoyed it, and would have enjoyed it even without the airships.

2. Thoughts on the characters

Again, at first the characters seemed simpler than what they turned out to be. I thought they were going to be caricatures of certain stereotypes that sometimes appear in fantasy adventure novels (for good reason, given they’re entertaining), but that notion was quickly dispelled. The characters were intelligent, clever, and had just enough snark to add the perfect amount of humour to the story. I especially liked the raport between Alya and Connolly, (whose names I may have misspelled) which worked as a great counterpoint to some of Emilia’s more serious moments.

3. Favourite part

For a person who doesn’t fly, I have a strange fondness for airships and airship battles. I have no intention of ever stepping foot near one (if they were a thing), but I’m happy to read about them.

4. Critique

My only real critique for this novel is that the ending felt a little truncated. I wanted to know what happens with some of the characters, and while the primary threads of plot are tied off, there are a few questions of what happens with certain characters that I want to know. Granted, that could just be me bemoaning the cliffhanger. I’ve been known to do that.

Overall, I would say that The Beckoning Void was an excellent fantasy adventure with eldritch beings, history that doesn’t always follow the remembered lines, and characters to root for. A great book.

Author Interview: E. Paige Burks

E. Paige Burks

1. We’ll skip the “tell us about yourself” because coming up with something on the spot is, truly, the bane of an author’s existence. So, let’s start with something a little easier! Tell me what you’re working on at the moment.

I’m currently working on the 3rd book in my fantasy series, Return to War! I’m hoping to have it finished soon, but I’ve been saying that for like…two years… *insert crying face*

2. In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.

Currently available are The Heart of the Guardian (a middle grade book about a princess and a guy who can turn into a wolf fighting a bad guy), Return to Royalty (book one) and Return to Gexalatia (book two) in my YA fantasy series (about a girl from Texas who isn’t really from Texas and her trying to make her way back to her home – in another world!), as well as a science fantasy short story called Jewels for Gemma (about a cursed jewel). If I ever finish my YA series, I plan to write more in the Jewels for Gemma world, including a story about what happens afterwards!

3. As far as the writing process goes—including such things as conception of idea all the way through to money in the bank—what is the least favourite bit? (Everyone has one!)

Marketing. And maybe writing. I have such great ideas! Why can’t they just appear on the page without me needing to put them there??? lol

4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning?

When I write a scene that I think is particularly cool or badass or is going to drive my readers nuts. I start doing the evil fingers thing and laughing maniacally.

5. If you could steal any author’s ability to improve your own work, who would you steal from and why? (e.g. Tolkien’s language skills, Douglas Adams’ humour, etc.)

Probably Tolkien’s language skills. I would love to be able to create my own language for my fantasy series. I try to create words now, a blend of Latin and made-up stuff, but having a fully-fledged language would be so cool!

6. Now for some fun! The main character of the book you’re working on (or have recently finished) has kidnapped you for ruining their life. How will you explain that what you’re doing is for the best?

“Listen, Nyx, this really is for your own good. You’re a badass and you just don’t believe it yet, but when you do…’erybody better watch out! You could burn the place down if you wanted to. Also, sorry about Jet, but it is what it is.”

PS I love this question!

7. You, your main character(s), and the protagonist of the last book you read are playing poker. What are the stakes? Who will win and why?

Oh man, this is a hard one. The last book I read was Saturn Run, and the protagonists are a toss-up between a hardcore marine with PTSD and a by-the-book spaceship captain. I think I’d have to pick the marine, and the stakes would probably be booze. The captain would be too straight-laced to gamble.

8. Let’s face it, writing is hard. What do you think are some traps to avoid in your particular area of expertise? (Whether that be your genre, your knowledge of plot, your character building, your world building, etc.)

Hm…this is a hard one! Don’t feel like you have to be shoe-horned into using cliches and stereotypes if you want to write a genre but want to do it differently. Your particular flavor of writing and imagination is what makes your story worth telling!

9. Anything else you’d like to add? Plots to take over the world, for example. Upcoming release dates, links and things, maybe even your favourite chocolate cake recipe.

I’m going to be at the St. Francis Wolf Festival in October, so if you’re in Texas come support the wolf sanctuary and stop by to see me!

Book Review: The Twelve Tasks by Katharine E. Wibell

I remember reading books like Lord of the Rings, Eragon, and most of the popular nineteenth century English literature when I was a child, simply because I could not find anything that was “meant” for my age group that actually grabbed me. Now that I am a book reviewer, I get a chance to read more middle-grade and YA fantasy and I am so glad that books have evolved since then. Katharine Wibell’s The Twelve Tasks is one of the books I probably would have enjoyed quite a lot as a younger me, had it existed then.

1. Thoughts on the plot

This book follows Katie, a girl just turned thirteen who wakes on an unfamiliar planet habited by animal-like creatures who walk and talk as humans would. She does not know how she got there or who these people are, but she is told that she may be a djed, a saviour of twelve worlds. To prove this, she must complete twelve tasks and gather twelve items. If she fails? Her life, and the fate of the universe, may be at stake.

The plot started out as a fairly standard portal fantasy, with the main character pulled into a new world and told they may be the key to saving everything. Where this book differed from standard was in the way it approached the saviour of the world piece; instead of a foregone conclusion, Katie had to prove herself, and in doing so learned more about her tasks, about herself, and about the worlds she was meant to save. The tasks were unique and interesting, each focusing on different abilities that Katie might need.

2. Thoughts on the characters

I liked Katie; she’s vivacious and eager. Sometimes, this eagerness gets her into trouble, but I think it works very well for the sort of story that she finds herself in. I also like the other characters taht end up helping Katie on her journey. Ike is very interesting to read, and the three monarchs who guide Katie to her tasks present a stable base for her to lean on in her journey. The only character I do not like is Sa’ra, who seems keen on arguing or dictating how things go. She helps some of the time, but mostly feels like an obvious foil to Katie’s journey. 

3. Favourite part

The richness and variety of the worlds to which Katie travels was absolutely fascinating to read. I like all the different things and peoples found there and commend the author on the worldbuilding.

4. Critique

The ending of this book felt very abrupt. Rege, one of the monarchs, offers Katie a choice that could easily have been mentioned earlier in the story to make for deeper character development or better plot, and Katie takes it without second thought. It just feels very forced, and while I know that it is setting up a plot point for the second novel, the artificial feeling of the ending just pulled me out of the story almost entirely. 

Overall, I would say that The Twelve Tasks was an entertaining middle-grade fantasy novel with characters that were enjoyable and a world that was fascinating to read. It was a good book. 

Book Review: Changer of Days by Alma Alexander

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For all the many books I read, it has been a while since I have found an epic fantasy in which to wallow and forget the world around me. When Alma Alexander’s Changer of Days crossed my review desk, though, I knew it was going to be one of those books. I was right.

1. Thoughts on the plot

This book follows Anghara, a child queen, given the throne immediately after her father’s death and then usurped by her half-brother days later. From there, her journey takes her to a family home, to a school for the Sighted, and even across a desert to a land of witches and old gods. She learns to harness the power within herself and about her purpose in life, all the while waiting for the right moment to return home and claim that which was hers.

The general plot I’ve given does not do justice to this book at all; it is far richer and deeper than anything I could write in a single paragraph. The story weaves things like overcoming trauma, self-discovery, the bonds that lie between people, and a journey of impossible odds together into a tapestry that is stunningly vibrant. I couldn’t help but be pulled along on this journey with Anghara, whither it went.

2. Thoughts on the characters

There are a few primary characters in this story, besides our girl-queen. Her half-brother Sif is the ever looming shadow that stands behind her motivations, though he gets comparatively little page time. His actions drive most of the other characters in one form or another and while Anghara is the rallying point, he is the force which pushes them to achieve their goals. Exceptionally well done for an antagonist. There are also several characters that join Anghara on her journey to discover herself and her power, and while they get only a little more page time than Sif, they are equally rich and intriguing.

Anghara, though, as a main character is stunning. At first, it seems impossible that a child growing through hardship could be so perfectly calm, so steady in her character and intent that it is just the tiniest bit difficult to like her. But, as the story weaves on, her character unfolds into a many-layered living thing, full of flaws and personal fears and triumphs that may transcend humanity but are just as deeply rooted in the human. 

3. Favourite part

My favourite part is probably the desert scenes. The culture created there is full and deep and stretches into time long past. Woven with the home which Anghara must reclaim, I think the desert highlights the struggle she is trying to overcome. Also, despite my deep and abiding love for rain and winter and cold, I have a fondness for stories that take place in a desert.

4. Critique

My only real critique for this story has to do with the last two pages of the book. The end is nigh, the characters are ready to step into their proper roles, and then there is just a touch—only a tiny touch, mind you—of a suggestion that things are going to change. It threw me off for a moment, as it seemed like the story was poised to continue in a new vein despite having its threads tied off quite neatly. If there is a sequel, then it makes perfect sense, but I do not know whether that is the case. Either way, it’s a tiny issue, hardly changing my impression of the story at all.

Overall, I would say that Changer of Days is a spectacular and effervescent work that builds upon details of character and life to create something that elevates the reader to another world. It was fascinating, the characters engaging, the plot engrossing. Basically, I loved it. An excellent book.

Author Interview: Kimberly T. Hennessy

Kimberly T. Hennessy

We’ll skip the “tell us about yourself” because coming up with something on the spot is, truly, the bane of an author’s existence. So, let’s start with something a little easier! Tell me what you’re working on at the moment.

I always have a full plate. I’m currently writing book 2 of The Pogrom War series, which is a sequel to She Runs with Wolves, but I’m also set to write three screenplays this year for three different producers, which will keep me very busy. I’m currently writing a historical fiction set in Ireland and Canada under a pen name as well, which is based on a screenplay I wrote a while back. I also do some copywriting on the side.

In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.

I have my main book She Runs With Wolves, which is about Eira. A prisoner that discovers she’s pregnant and realizes she must escape the evil King Lorcan if she wants to space her child the same fate. Once she escapes, she falls into the hands of this dubious underground sect bent on reviving the old SIDHE religion. Meanwhile, Eira’s physical, and mental health slow deteriorates, and she doesn’t understand why, until she discovers that to save these people, and her child, Eira must relinquish her humanity.

Meanwhile, Ylva an artificial intelligent being is desperate for a chance at life, and will do anything in her power to reclaim what was lost thousands of years ago.

It is the power of three wolves that unite the two in a battle for supremacy. Their inner war rages as they fight for dominion of the frozen wasteland that is now Earth. It’s a mash up of tribal history and artificial intelligence.

I also have a collection of short stories in The Digital Coup. This is a soft prequel to She Runs With Wolves and gives us glimpse at the world before the apocalypse, and how people lived and the problems they faced in the digital age. It also partially explains artificial intelligence and their influence on humanity and the problems that could arise.

As far as the writing process goes—including such things as conception of idea all the way through to money in the bank—what is the least favourite bit? (Everyone has one!) I love thinking up the concept. I’m really very creative when it comes to imagery, and bits and pieces of story details. I’m not bad at putting it all together in an imaginative way either, but I do struggle with the more mundane passages that are necessary to the flow of the story. The chapters that link everything together to make it cohesive. This is less of a struggle when writing screenplays, but it’s still a factor. I’m not the kind of person that gets hit by the muse bug and the whole thing writes itself in one sitting. It’s more painstaking than that, hence the nickname the Slow Writer. I take my time to flesh out the plot, and it often very very layered. My husband keeps banging that I need to keep it simple, but I’m just made that way I guess.

The other part is the marketing, which I find hard, are interviews, but it’s part of the job. I understand marketing, and good at it in theory. In practice, I struggle. Once I get to know people, then I’m bubbly and conversational, but it takes time to get there.

Finally, making a living as a writer is hard. I wish it were easier, especially if you’re like me a slow writer. The people that have lots of success usually put out many books in a year, I’m not one of those people. Luckily, I have a loving family that encourage me to keep going, and not give up.

4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning? It’s that moment when all your ideas come together to form a cohesive story. If I’m lucky I get that one lightning strike and I need to work and rework it till it makes sense. It’s a process, but once all my ducks are in a row and have the final layout, I’m very happy. Also, when that lightning does strike it’s an incredible feeling.

If you could steal any author’s ability to improve your own work, who would you steal from and why? (e.g. Tolkien’s language skills, Douglas Adams’ humour, etc.) Frank Herberts political genius. Tolkien’s world building, J.K Rowling’s series building, and Suzanne Collins character development.

I’ve been accused of not enough character development, but perhaps it’s my background in screenwriting, but I don’t like to bog down the story with too many details. I like to keep my writing and my story lean and give the reader the chance to infer some of the reasons behind the character’s choice, although perhaps my background in psychology makes it obvious to me, which is something I need to reflect on for book 2.

6. Now for some fun! The main character of the book you’re working on (or have recently finished) has kidnapped you for ruining their life. How will you explain that what you’re doing is for the best? Haha, my poor protagonist has been through hell. I doubt she will ever forgive me for making her go through some of the terrible, horrific hardship she had endured, but at the end of the day it has made her tough as nails. She is badass, and for that I love and admire her.

7. You, your main character(s), and the protagonist of the last book you read are playing poker. What are the stakes? Who will win and why? The book I’m currently reading is a murder\mystery set in the mid 20th century, and the main character is a whiny bloke. Between Eira (my main character) who has endured physical violence, killed to save her child, and conjured up wolves, myself, and the puny bloke, Eira is definitely going to win. For Eira everything is a matter of survival, and I’m just the lackey that follows.

8. Let’s face it, writing is hard. What do you think are some traps to avoid in your particular area of expertise? (Whether that be your genre, your knowledge of plot, your character building, your world building, etc.)

I learned that world building needs to be layered. The reader must discover it little by little as the story unfolds. A lot of new writers just information dump because they’ve rehearsed it a thousand times over in their head and they want to get it all down in case they forget some elements and want to make sure to convey it all the way they imagine it. That’s a mistake! World layering needs to breathe, needs to take up space, and it needs to happen throughout the book from the first chapter to the last. It involves all of our senses, and how it makes us feel.

I’m still working on character development, but from what I know so far, it’s about making them three dimensional. At least for me, no one is totally evil, and no one is totally good.

Plot is the hardest. The most interesting for me are the ones that have many subplots intertwined. I have no magic trick. These subplots mix and mingle, and if it works it works, if it doesn’t, it gets the boot. I write of list of plots and subplots and see what will work best, hence the Slow Writer.

9. Anything else you’d like to add? Plots to take over the world, for example. Upcoming release dates, links and things, maybe even your favourite chocolate cake recipe.

I love butter tarts, but that neither here nor there. If you love sci-fi\fantasy, dystopian, political intrigue, mysteries, historical fiction, which is dystopian in reverse if you ask me, or you have invented the time machine, let’s connect.

Home

We can connect on my author page on facebook, and I also have a monthly newsletter. My readers always connect with me about the latest Witcher episode, or some show on Netflix, or a book they’re reading they think I might like.

Also, my website has a book trailer. If you sign up, you will get to see the entire short film I produced a few years ago.

Author Interview: Alma Alexander

Alma Alexander

We’ll skip the “tell us about yourself” because coming up with something on the spot is, truly, the bane of an author’s existence. So, let’s start with something a little easier! Tell me what you’re working on at the moment.

Well, CURRENTLY, working on a 20th anniversary edition of a book that is very dear to my heart – a fat, lush High Fantasy full secondary world novel called “Changer of Days” which runs to a quarter million words and which, when it was first published, the original publisher insisted be split into two volumes. As a duology it had limited success especially when half of it (the second book) was declared OOP by the publisher and then the front half was left to flounder on its own for a LONG time. But now it is being reissued as the book it was always meant to be, a single volume, and I couldn’t be happier about that. I am also thinking about writing a companion volume, a brand new book in the same universe, which would follow the release of this re-issued edition very closely…

In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.

Three currently to be lifted into the light.

“The Second Star”, my first serious science fiction novel, surfaced in the summer of 2020, and created quite the splash. I’d love to nudge it back into the spotlight now that it’s a year old and so much else has crowded it out into the wings – in a nutshell, it’s a First Contact Psychological Thriller Science Fiction novel, and it is pretty much about what might happen if there is nobody to intercede between people in no position to control their lives and other people who are just “following their orders”… and what happens when somebody DOES get in the way of that. Don’t expect flash bangs and high-velocity chases – but if you like the sort of story that shines a light into shadowed corners, this might be your ticket.

“The Were Chronicles” is an omnibus edition of the three novels in that cycle, (Random, Wolf, and Shifter). I’m using my science degree for this (I hold an MSc in Molecular Biology) and part of the draw here is that I posit perfectly workable science behind the existence of were creatures. But it’s the characters who are the joy in these books, they’re very character-driven, and they are also part of a story which highlights some of the less savory parts of human nature (discrimination, bullying, prejudice…) and reveals how they can hurt, and perhaps how they can be fought.

“Fractured Fairy Tales” appeared this April, a collection of told, re-told, re-imagined, or simply re-invented “fairy tales” which are definitely not for children. This is a box of dark chocolates, reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen and Oscar Wilde, and it is for absolutely everyone who loves the mystery and magic of the fairy tales which they thought had been left behind in the busyness of their lives.

As far as the writing process goes—including such things as conception of idea all the way through to money in the bank—what is the least favourite bit? (Everyone has one!)

The rewriting/line editing (and finding all the mistakes)/proofreading part. I’m a storyteller, and I love telling the story – that, to me, is not work at all, that is the joy of it. My reserves of patience have always been on the thin side, though, and by the time I have to read through the story for the fifth time I’m really ready to go on and write the next story instead. Particularly since I think typos actually hide in plain sight and then breed if left undetected – and absolutely no book in print is free of them, no matter how carefully you proofread it during the editing process, which is maddening.

Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning?

The first glitter of the new idea. The putting together of the story (which for me often happens as I’m writing it – I’m not a plotter, I’m a thoroughly organic writer who starts a story and then just goes where it leads me – I often tell people that I just plant the story seed into the ground and until it sprouts even I don’t know what is going to come up, a cabbage or a redwood. The fun lies in finding that out, and then watching it GROW and become BEAUTIFUL.

If you could steal any author’s ability to improve your own work, who would you steal from and why? (e.g. Tolkien’s language skills, Douglas Adams’ humour, etc.)

Heh. I’ll take Tolkien, for the worldbuilding, but let me just say that I want to be Ursula Le Guin when I grow up. And leave it at that…

Now for some fun! The main character of the book you’re working on (or have recently finished) has kidnapped you for ruining their life. How will you explain that what you’re doing is for the best?

I can’t. Half the time I didn’t know what was going to happen to them until it happened. Don’t blame ME, it was your life and you lived it. All I did was listen to you telling the story and take dictation…

You, your main character(s), and the protagonist of the last book you read are playing poker. What are the stakes? Who will win and why?

Oh that’s easy, they will, because I have absolutely zero ability to gamble. Honestly, just take my money. The book I just finished reading is actually non-fiction, “The Year of the Nurse” by Cassandra Alexander (no relation) RN, about the travails of one ICU nurse during the Covid year (and I am sure she is not alone). She isn’t in any kind of mood to pull her punches right now and I don’t blame her, but I have a feeling she will cheerfully take up the cards if the stakes were that empathy, wisdom, and science would win the day and selfish and ignorant people could be prevented from making the epidemic far worse than it is turning out to be… and I would be the one cheering her on from the sidelines.

Let’s face it, writing is hard. What do you think are some traps to avoid in your particular area of expertise? (Whether that be your genre, your knowledge of plot, your character building, your world building, etc.)

If there is one thing I really want people to remember when they write is that just because you’re in a fictional world that doesn’t mean that suddenly everything’s yours for the asking – from horses who can magically gallop all night and still be fresh and sweet in the morning to using any kind of magical gift and expecting it to carry no price, to affect you not at all. TANSTAAFL, people, there really IS no such thing as a free lunch, and unless something your character does is tough enough to affect and change them… you’re not telling a story, you’re just piling words on the page. If your protagonist does not end the book a different person than the one which they were when they began it, you have not done your job properly at all.

Anything else you’d like to add? Plots to take over the world, for example. Upcoming release dates, links and things, maybe even your favourite chocolate cake recipe.

Look out for the special 20th Anniversary Edition of “Changer of Days” this Christmas! In the meantime please browse my Book Table (with ALL of my books! Buy them right here!) and my blog at www.AlmaAlexander.org. Concerning chocolate cake recipes, I am actually going to be doing a series of essays containing recipes from my grandmother’s recipe files on my Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/AlmaAlexander) and this will probably include reflections on the recipe that calls for EIGHTEEN EGGS. That’s Eighteen. Eggs. In a single recipe. You’d better start your own chicken coop for this one.

Author Interview: JW Kiefer

J W Kiefer, Jason Kiefer

We’ll skip the “tell us about yourself” because coming up with something on the spot is, truly, the bane of an author’s existence. So, let’s start with something a little easier! Tell me what you’re working on at the moment.

–Currently I am working on Book Two of the Justice Cycle series. Book one, my first novel, was released in March of 2021. In this book we continue our characters adventures moving from the small country towns of Western New York State into bigger and more broader areas. Just as the world is growing, so will the characters.

2. In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.

My first novel Death: Book One of the Justice Cycle, was released at the end of March of 2021. It has been out for about 5 months now. The first book is an origin story where we get the end of one character’s story and the beginning of another’s. In book one we follow the Shogun as he hunts a serial killer through upstate NY. His time as the mysterious being known as the Spirit of Justice is coming to an end and another will pick up the sentient sword Tzedakah and start the cycle anew. Jared Caddrett is a police detective in Binghamton NY, and he is tasked with catching the elusive killer. While investigating two murders, his partner Dana and are thrust into a supernatural war that has been raging for millennia in the shadows. Book one primarily centres on the relationships of Jared, Dana and his brother Steve and thrusts them all into a world they never knew existed. Book, two, which has a tentative release date of April 2022, will take our characters further into this mysterious and supernatural world and a war that will change the very fabric of reality. I also have a short story called Dark Matter that is published in Bayonet books Anthology Storming Area 51 Volume Two. In that short piece, we follow Air Force Colonel and Presidential Science Advisor Christian Racene as he is called to Area 51 to advise on a growing problem they are having. There he finds something that will change the very fabric of reality and our place as humans in the universe.

3. As far as the writing process goes—including such things as conception of idea all the way through to money in the bank—what is the least favourite bit? (Everyone has one!) My least favourite bit is Plotting. I am a pantser, so I absolutely hate it. I have found, however, that the writing process goes a lot smoother if I at least plot a little. I am currently employing a strategy where I plot 4 chapters ahead and then write them. This way I don’t get bogged down in trying to come up with the entire book in one shot, which I can’t do anyway.

4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning? I love when my characters do things that I hadn’t planned. As a pantser I kind of sit down with a basic story arc and then let the characters tell me how they are going to handle what I throw at them. This makes it, for me, feel more alive and natural rather then strict and structured. As we all know, the best moments in life happen when we get off the beaten path and do something crazy or unexpected. For me, when my characters do that, I get excited and those are the times when my joy of writing is at it’s highest. For instance, when a side character who was only supposed to have a small part, explodes onto the story to become a key player you never saw coming. I love those moments. I really do. It what keeps me coming back as a writer.

5. If you could steal any author’s ability to improve your own work, who would you steal from and why? (e.g. Tolkien’s language skills, Douglas Adams’ humour, etc.) Wow, good question. I would steal Jim Butcher’s ability to know where his main character is going to end up. I don’t have any idea where mine will go in the end or how their fate will eventually be decided. I know where the story arc will most likely end, but not the characters themselves. I feel like if I had a better grasp of that, than it would help me create satisfying moments that show their growths. He does that so well in my opinion.

Also, Stephen King’s ability to make his characters feel real and alive. He can take the most mundane or the most unusual traits of humankind and create a fully realized and believable character. I mean, come one, he could make a one-armed, one-eyed half lizard man character and we would all be like: “Oh yeah I can truly see that being a real thing.” I would kill for that kind of talent.

6. Now for some fun! The main character of the book you’re working on (or have recently finished) has kidnapped you for ruining their life. How will you explain that what you’re doing is for the best? Well…as my readers often tell me, I am kind of an evil god. Since, I seem to be kind of sadistic at times, it may seem hard to justify the kind of suffering I put my main character through. All I would say to him is, everything good and lovely in life comes at a cost. Someone must pay that price so others can live in peace. That is what I am asking of you. Hopefully, that would be sufficient of an answer to pacify him. I know him well, however, and know that he would accept this response, but hate it at the same time. He may even try to change his fate and that of the sentient sword. Who knows, perhaps he will. You will have to read the series to find out, just like he will have to live it as I write it.

7. You, your main character(s), and the protagonist of the last book you read are playing poker. What are the stakes? Who will win and why? Ok. Well, the last book I read was The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee. It is set in the Avatar the Last Airbender world, and I absolutely loved it. The protagonist Jianzhu is a companion of the last Avatar and is the most influential person in the Earth Kingdom. He is a tactician and ruthless in his pursuit of what he feels is right. He kills anyone who gets in his way, including his friends and acquaintances. He is a master tactician and a brilliant Pai Sho player. In all honesty, he would wipe the floor with us. Jared may have a chance with the help of the sentient sword, which could pretty much read Jianzhu’s mind or show Jared his cards. It would, however, most likely refuse since it is the spirit of Justice and all and cheating is unjust. I can’t lie and so therefore I can’t bluff. Even if I manage not to say something that will give my position away, it will most likely show on my face. My friends all tell me I have a million tells and that is why they consistently beat me at poker.

8. Let’s face it, writing is hard. What do you think are some traps to avoid in your particular area of expertise? (Whether that be your genre, your knowledge of plot, your character building, your world building, etc.) Well, the most important thing that you will need to overcome is self-doubt. All of us wrestle with this demon, but you will have to overcome it if you want to become a successful writer. It goes hand in hand with being able to handle criticism. No one progresses in live with out first failing. Being able to receive helpful criticism is one of the most essential tools any creator has at their disposal. My book would not have ever been finished or even close to as good as I feel it is, if it wasn’t for the loving criticism of my author friends. Not to mention my editor, who thankfully is the most critical of all.

Also, I feel that writers need to avoid trying to be someone else. I write like I write and finding my own groove is what will make me successful. If I feel like I must write like Tolkien for instance, then I will fail. At best, I will be a lesser copy of him. Be who you are and write the way you write. Your unique voice is what makes you you and what will make people want to read your work. It is ok to glean and learn from other writers about how they do things, but in the end, you must find what works for you. You may be like me and sit down and play music until you find yourself teleported into the world you are writing about; or you could be like Tolkien who created an entire world language and all, before ever writing one page. You do you, and the rest will fall into place.

9. Anything else you’d like to add? Plots to take over the world, for example. Upcoming release dates, links and things, maybe even your favourite chocolate cake recipe. My next book will not be out for a while, but you can sign up for my email list to be kept abreast of what is going on with me and my writing. You can do that at JWKiefer.com.

Links to Book One Death: https://www.amazon.com/DEATH-J-W-Kiefer/dp/B08YRXLVT7/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jw+kiefer&qid=1629216666&sr=8-1

Links to Dark Mater: https://www.amazon.com/Storming-Area-Bayonet-Books-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07XFV7P9T/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=jw+kiefer&qid=1629216705&sr=8-2

Also check out a few authors that I absolutely love.

JR Handley: JRHandley.com

Tim C Taylor: Humanlegion.com

Walt Robillard https://www.amazon.com/Walt-Robillard/e/B07SZPLTXX%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Book Review: The Kindness Workbook by Robin Raven

A lot of the books I review are fiction, which is perfectly lovely since I love fiction, but occasionally something non-fiction crosses my review desk and it is always a nice thing to expand my horizons and explore the world around me instead of one inside my head. Robin Raven’s The Kindness Workbook especially did that.

1. Thoughts on the premise (as there’s no real plot to a workbook)

This book is an exploration of kindness in both yourself and the world. It pushes you to examine your desires and dreams and habits in such a way that you do so in a kinder way to yourself. Then, it gives ways that you can engage in active kindness with the world around you, be it with friends or family or complete strangers. It has many different activities, and you can either go through them all or decide which are most pertinent and work through those. 

I like the idea of trying to instill a larger element of kindness in the world and in my own life. I think that there is a great deal these days that does not even take kindness into account, which is quite sad. So actively pursuing such things is a great idea. 

2. Favourite part

I like the call to introspection in most of this book. It pushes the reader to actually think about their own wishes, dreams, actions and thoughts, creating something kind and beautiful from those things. It doesn’t put the reader down in any way, just nudges into a pattern that is productive and kind. That, I think, was done spectacularly well.

3. Critique

I think I am not the intended audience for a lot of these exercises, which makes it difficult for me to judge how efficacious these will be. For one, I am autistic, so my brain literally does not think or work in the same was as neurotypical people. Therefore, a lot of the emotional connections or sensory assignments would either be very difficult for me to do, or they would require me to mask, which is the opposite of what I think this book is trying to achieve. That does not mean I can’t find benefit in the book; I really do like the concept and some of the exercises are useful for people who do not often spend time introspecting and examining their goals and thoughts. Nor do I think that this book is irrelevant to people who are neurodivergent—on the contrary, it may be very useful. It just has a few more pieces that are not useful for me specifically, so I cannot provide a completely objective review.

Overall, I think that The Kindness Workbook is an idea that should be aspired to. Instilling kindness and bringing about intentional thinking and actions is a very admirable goal, and these activities are a great place to start that journey. A good book.

Book Review: Spider Stories by Eric Nierstedt

If you haven’t read the first books of the Pantheon Saga by Eric Nierstedt, then I absolutely do recommend them, since they are a fascinating mix of urban fantasy, stories of gods who exist as legends only, and a journey to save the world (multiple times). So when Spider Stories came out, I was thrilled to get to read it.

1. Thoughts on the plot(s)

This book is a collection of short stories, offering origin stories on the various main characters of the Pantheon Saga. It follows Balder, Anubis, Coyote, Kali-Ma, Athena and Loki, sharing stories of the gods before people knew they were gods, or stories never heard before that define who they were. All of the stories take place before the Pantheon Saga stories, excepting the last, which is a Christmas story that takes place between books one and two. The stories are narrated by Anansi, the African spider god and storyteller, who catches all interesting tales in his web. 

I enjoyed the chance to explore the identity of the gods before they appear in the Pantheon Saga. Each tale gave a defining moment that highlighted one of the most important traits or events for each god, be it through their making, them claiming their role or a shift in perception. While I enjoy the adventures in the books quite a bit—I’m a sucker for urban fantasy stories that catch the imagination—it was nice to see them on their own turf, as it may be. 

2. Thoughts on the characters

I am already familiar with all of these characters from other books, and so already know what traits they claim and how they interact with the world. However, these stories take place long before the other books and so show the moment where these traits become defined. This lends an extra air of depth and gives a chance to understand better where these characters are coming from. It was also nice to see them before I knew them in the books, to see how far they’ve come and grown. 

3. Favourite part

I think the narrative pieces given in Anansi’s voice were probably my favourite part. They managed to tie the stories together and also provide a bit of context for each situation. That, and Anansi seems to have mastered the art of sincere snark, which I appreciate quite a bit.

4. Critique

I don’t really have a critique for this book except that it needed one more proofread. There weren’t an overwhelming number of errors, but just enough that I noticed them. Otherwise, the prose was great and very easy to read, the characters were entertaining and the stories themselves fun to read.

Overall, I’d say this is a charming collection of short stories, and one that adds an extra element to a series that I enjoy thoroughly.