E.G. Stone's Blog, page 17
December 10, 2021
Book Review: Chanya by Poppy Kuroki
Chanya is the latest instalment of the Black Diamond origin stories by Poppy Kuroki, and as ever, I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know these characters and their stories.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This story follows Chanya as she is saved from execution in her home town for partaking of violet smoke. She instead gets recruited to join an illustrious general as he journeys about to recruit other soldiers for a war in the south. The farther north they journey, however, the more secrets are uncovered, and Chanya does not agree with all the actions taken.
The plot was fairly straightforward, with the characters getting into increasingly difficult circumstances, pushing each other and themselves into situations that could prove deadly. Straightforward though it was, I did enjoy it. It was a creative use of the natural elements and the character traits that were revealed along the way were very interesting.
2. Thoughts on the characters
Of the Black Diamond characters I’ve read thus far, Chanya is the one I am completely unsurprised to see as an assassin. She is tough, intelligent, and takes no nonsense from others. Yet she still manages to keep a strong sense of loyalty and does not fall into despair, despite the circumstances of her life. I really liked her search for a found family, even if that wasn’t what she initially set out to do. It makes her somehow more real, less a cold-hearted assassin, which is waht makes this series so fascinating.
3. Favourite part
The general’s deterioration and reasons for doing what he’s doing. I think that was done spectacularly well and I really enjoyed how it just sort of pushed everybody over the edge. I can, alas, say no more for fear of spoilers.
4. Critique
This story was a little concise for my tastes, not because the story needed to be any longer, but because I think that there is much potential there for a more intricate examination of the characters’ minds and ideals. Still, that is more a desire of mine to read more of these stories because they never fail to entertain.
Overall, Chanya is another lovely example of a story that does not always do what you expect, despite straightforward plots and characters who appear to be one thing. The story was entertaining, the characters revealed a great deal about themselves and I got once again to delve into a favourite world of mine.
December 7, 2021
Book Review: Dead Man Walking by Zach Adams
I have a particular soft spot for urban fantasy, partly because it’s one of the genres that I write, but also because any story where you get to throw an average, modern day human into a situation full of magic and mayhem is bound to be entertaining. Dead Man Walking by Zach Adams does just that, and oh, the shenanigans.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This book follows Isaac, a librarian in Anchorage, Alaska, as he discovers a mysterious book and suddenly starts seeing otherworldly creatures everywhere. He is helped by the elf L’æon, who may be more trouble than he’s worth. Isaac has to navigate these new monsters who are trying to kill him, then figure out just why they’re trying to kill him. And the answer may be more complicated than he can imagine.
In general, I think the plot was done well. The situations that Isaac gets involved in are a bit wild, but all make perfect sense within the context of the story. I like the action and the drama interspersed with the relatively normal aspects of Isaac’s life. I do think that the jumping around in time to Isaac’s past, as well as the story that he reads in this mysterious book, do interrupt the plot line enough to be confusing until the very end, when everything comes together. It’s a minor thing, just a matter of a few scenes maybe switching around for a bit more coherence. Otherwise, a good plot.
2. Thoughts on the characters
Isaac is an entertaining, singular character. He has conversations with himself in various forms throughout the story that may or may not help the situations at all. He’s a bit awkward, anxious and nerdy, all of which make him being in the right place to sort out this magical mayhem the more unlikely. Yet, it somehow fits, too. As a main character, Isaac is definitely a good one. I think the secondary characters were a bit underdeveloped, but this is the first in a series and I imagine we’ll see more of them in future books.
3. Favourite part
I really like the library. It serves as both a home base, the cause of all the troubles, and the place where many of the characters interact with Isaac and make his life all the more insane. It’s not the typical use of a library and I enjoyed it.
4. Critique
Some of the narration—not all—is a bit strange to get around. For the most part, this book reads as a relatively modern/coloquial third person limited narration, which is great fun and lends a certain veracity to the situation of the book. However, on occasion, the narrator acts as though they are directly talking to the main character as well as breaking the fourth wall to smooth over details or make a snarky comment. I don’t have a problem with this in general, but to do it only rarely interrupts the flow of the narration. If it started out that way, or were more common, then I could see it easily interspersed with the third person limited perspective, but just randomly thrown in, it feels a bit awkward and pulls me out of the story.
Overall, I would say that Dead Man Walking was a fun, entertaining story about what might very well be the end of Isaac’s world as he knows it. It has magic, mayhem, snark and a plot that was very inventive. I enjoyed it. Good to very good, I would say.
December 6, 2021
Author Interview: S.D. Howarth
S.D. Howarth
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 working on the follow up to my debut novel provisionally titled Gambit of Faith which will bring in my second story arc and like my first book will be pretty much a standalone novel in its own right. Recovering alcoholic High Priest Mexli starts his day discovering his principal underling is exceeding his authority, bullying and spying on him, before attempting to seize control of The Temple of the Sun God. It gets worse for Mexli from there…
In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.
My debut novel is The Tryphon Odyssey, book 1 in The Voyage trilogy and set within The World of Sanctuary in what would be considered a medieval setting. My twist is a ‘what if in combining elements from ancient myth and the PC games Civilisation and Warcraft, while retaining a practical amount of realism and archaeology/history. It’s allowed to pick cultures from around 1000BC, and evolve them in a different environment, with different races and throw in conflict, magic, religion, expansion and balance it against a delicate ecology.
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!) Editing seemed a painful and protracted learning curve, which I hope I can spend less time on in the future.
4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning? Worldbuilding and setting. It seems to write itself at initial concept, and evolve in depth as it becomes workable and realistic.
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.). It would have to be two.
Pratchett had a knack of picking up a feel of the world, weave it into a clever story and make you cry with laughter while appreciating how deep his one liners went.
Michael Marshall Smith is the second, his style and fluidity with an offbeat idea is unreal. Our first Cat was named Spangle for a reason.
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? Quote Metallica “What don’t kill ya make ya more strong.”
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? Me, or more likely Reichsfuhrer Wagner. I know my character(s) – they haven’t levelled up yet, but the Nazi bugger can tweak ti—(no spoilers, sorry. Blood Red Sand’s just came out).
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.). Just do the worldbuilding you need for the characters. If you bloat it up, you’ll spend time (painfully) removing it to stop things bogging down. If you are researching something based on actual history, consider your sources and any limitations they create with intended or unintentional bias. In my case, if I avoided accounts post Roman & Christian, it didn’t leave much that wasn’t archaeology based and that could be further limiting in its own right. The flip side is that’s great for fiction, and throwing in the escapism of fantasy that is even more wiggle room to play with.
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’ve Civ 6 for escapist empire building… and other things are a work in progress at the moment while I pretend I know what I’m doing. Cake is evil and the diabetic nurse told me to behave myself last week…
Contact Links:-
http://twitter.com/Angry_Cumbrian
Goodreads Link:-
November 29, 2021
Author Interview: Katharine E. Wibell
Katharine E. Wibell.
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 two different book series. The first is a dark, Viking novella series for adults entitled The Guardian’s Speaker while the other is a high fantasy adventure for young adults, The Djed Chronicles.
In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.
Well, The Incarn Saga is my debut new adult shifter fantasy series. In Issaura’s Claws, the first of four books, vicious marauders from across the sea are approaching the kingdom of Elysia. To fend off this grave threat, a draft is initiated, requiring one member from every household to enlist. However, the kingdom consists of two races who begrudgingly co-exist—the Theriomorphs, which are the native shifters, and the ruling humans. If there is any hope that the kingdom will survive, both races must set aside their differences and learn to truly trust one another and work together, but time is short and the enemy is near.
The Djed Chronicles is a young adult series set in a multiverse that contains twelve vibrant worlds that host what we perceive as magic. However, two combatting forces are shifting the balance that protects the universe and threatens all life. Total annihilation can only be prevented if the Djed, the prophesied hero, is discovered and proven true. And the next Djed is predicted to be a child of Earth.
Earth is not one of these magicked worlds, and the people living on that planet are unaware of the mighty and powerful entities that exist elsewhere. Can you imagine how thirteen-year-old Katie feels when she awakens on a world not her own and is suspected of being this next Djed? The proof lies in completing a difficult and dangerous task on each of the magicked worlds. Yet if she succeeds, her success will confirm the threat of a devastating and unavoidable war.
My final series, The Guardian’s Speaker, is based in Norse mythology where nine realms exist amid the boughs and roots of Yggdrasil, the world tree. Líf is not like her warrior siblings. Instead of being respected, she is often considered an outcast and shunned, for she was born with the ability to see and communicate with each person’s fylgja—their animal-shaped, guardian spirits. Her quiet life on the outskirts of society is quickly put to an end when she meets another who has a similar gift as hers. Yet this man brings a warning—a plague is coming that will kill all mankind, and only he can stop it. But he is a slave, and he is not hers to free. This novella series is written for adult readers since it is dark and violent.
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!)
I think that the final formatting of the book is my least favourite aspect. It is very detailed oriented but gives me little satisfaction. I will also add that I am still learning how to better market my works to new readers. That is an essential skill that I have yet to master.
4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning?
I love that question! For me, I love writing action scenes for my books. All my stories are epic, high fantasy, and I do enjoy chase and battle scenes. From initial concept to final development, these parts are exciting to write.
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.)
Another good question. Though I would usually claim Tolkien’s ability to take old Norse myth and repurpose it into something new, I will actually choose Stephen King since I am currently reading It. I am absolutely fascinated at how he deconstructed the traditional, linear storytelling process and found new ways to approach writing a novel. For anyone who does not know, it is written with two parallel timelines that not only relate and build upon each other but also create a tension when the sections move from one timeline to the next. As I near the climax of the book, the sections are shorter and shorter and remind me of watching a movie that has several different characters with their own trials all occurring at once. Though there is a lot of jumping around, there is also a method to the order in which the story segments are presented. I would like to one day challenge myself to approach the plot for a book or a series in a way that is not chronologically linear.
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?
Since I am working on two series simultaneously, I will choose Líf from The Guardian’s Speaker. If I had to talk this young woman into releasing me, I would remind her that in her own belief system, the Norns—three female entities in Norse mythology—control all fate and that the entire history of existence is predetermined all the way to the end of times aka Ragnarök. In other words, Líf’s fate was already pre-ordained by the Norns, and I am merely sharing her story with others by writing it down.
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?
Well, these card sharks would include Katie of Earth from The Twelve Tasks (Book One of The Djed Chronicles), Líf Lothbransdottír from The Guardian’s Speaker, and the children/adults from It by Stephen King. I’d say they are betting on which of their own realities survives. The stakes are terrifying, although interesting, since each deals with destiny in his or her own way. As for the winner, that would be hard to say. Unfortunately, I might have to bet on the children/adults from It since they would work together to eliminate both Katie and Líf. I cringe to think about that.
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 try to catch myself when I fixate on a trendy word. What I mean is that on occasion, I will subconsciously select a word or phrase which I am in love with and overuse it throughout the book. Thankfully, this is typically solved when I read the entire manuscript aloud in one or two sittings. That’s when I hear my repetitiveness and can tweak the verbiage so that I don’t sound too redundant.
When world building, I recommend making detailed notes so that you do not forget if some character you introduced in chapter two has brown or blue eyes as you near the end of the book. This is especially critical when working with a series of full-length books that deal with dozens to hundreds of characters, worlds, and magical systems.
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.
Well here are a couple fun facts about me:
I used to be a competitive archer.I was a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for the state of Georgia for several years.My dog, Alli, is a survivor of oral cancer where she lost a part of her lower jaw. Her tongue might loll, but she is a completely happy goofball.I am also a reverse glass painter: https://katharinewibell.wixsite.com/k...My upcoming literary goal is to release the fourth volume of The Guardian’s Speaker, the second book of The Djed Chronicles and my first audiobook of Issaura’s Claws before the end of the year. The Guardian’s Speaker Volume Three is currently on pre-order and will be released on August 20th.
Another thing to note is that all my books are currently available through Kindle Unlimited! If you are interested in my books, you can check out my website or follow me on any of my social media platforms. You can also signup for my newsletter! Those that do will receive two exclusive short stories along with samples of three of my other works.
Website: https://www.katharinewibellbooks.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Katharine-E-Wibell/e/B01MQQIPGN/
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KatharineEWibell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatharineWibell
November 22, 2021
Author Interview: Dave Welch
Dave Temperance Welch. Everybody calls me Dave. Or Supa…
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 getting all these novels prepared for release. And I’m also working on some new digital art for the MOS facebook fans.
2. In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.
These novels are… I’d like to say that they are ground breaking but, a lot of novels are ground breaking. My approach to ground breaking is a little left field here. The Evolving Crane series is designed to speak to our times. They are a mix of Star Wars, Belly, LGBT, Religion, Mortal Kombat, General Hospital and Tombstone all wrapped up into one.
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!)
I’d say the money in the bank, part. I’m really not concerned with that. I just want to tell a good story on the way to the bank.
4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning?
The Rough draft! Awww man! The Rough Draft does it for me everytime.
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.)
Honestly I wouldn’t. I’m happy those guys have a style. I dont copy-cat. Even if I could.
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?
Ha! That’s crazy.
First, I’d beg them to untie me. Then I’d convince them to let me take them out for dinner. Afterwhich, we’d go back home and they’ll pass out as soon as we walk into the house cause I put some visine in their wine. When they wake up, tied to a treadmill, me and the antagonist will be playing Mario Kart. I’ll turn the treadmill on and everytime I lose in Mario Kart, I’ll increase the speed on the treadmill. The whole time I’ll explain to them both that the decisions that I made were because of the Carbon Event and to increase sales and the likelihood of you guys getting your own tv show I had to drag you both through the mud. After I finally win in Mario Kart, I will release the main character and we’ll all go out for ice cream.
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?
My mom’s house is on the line. I suck at poker and I think the protagonist of the last book I read was Jesus soooo….
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.)
The main trap is distraction. Cause once you get in that writing zone, everything flows. I’d say avoid those distractions and let your creativity run wild.
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.
The Singularity is real, hence the Xaris takeover. I pushed my release dates back to generate more of a buzz.
Look out for Evolving Crane on Amazon.
Book One Evolivng Crane launches August the 31st. Book 2 and 3 follow consecutively a month after each other.
November 16, 2021
Book Review: The Crown’s Burden by Kelly Blanchard and Mattew Dale
The second book in a series can either fall flat, or really push the series forward. Or, as I have recently discovered, it can push the series forward and also make you want to grumble at the authors for ten minutes about that thing that they did at the end that really made the book, but also was just cruel to the readers. The Crown’s Burden by Kelly Blanchard and Matthew Dale does that.
1. Thoughts on the plot
The plot picks up where book one left off, with Ensula on the throne trying to reclaim her kingdom from the insidious forces that have been trying to take power. Adrik and her allies are trying to help her, but there is a lot getting in the way. The plot starts out relatively straightforward, with events seeming simple and just as one would expect for the new queen. Then, things get complicated. And twisty. And fantastic.
I can’t say too much without giving away spoilers for both book one and book two. I can say that it’s a great plot. Even the bit at the end that I’d like to complain about but can’t because it really helped the story along.
2. Thoughts on the characters
As I expected for this book, the familiar characters get an extra layer of depth and intrigue. They come into the book a little beat down, a little wiser than before, but the fight’s not over. I really enjoyed seeing them grow even further rather than just resting on their accomplishments from book one. And the new characters that were presented were just as interesting, with their own motivations and twisty secrets that almost matched the familiar characters. I like them all.
Except for Danroth. Read the book and you’ll understand.
3. Favourite part
The climax all the way to the ending. Not the bit that instigated the whole affair, because while it was exceptionally well done it was quite sad. The bit after, where everything went—there’s no better way to describe this—kaboom.
4. Critique
I don’t really have a critique for this book. It was entertaining, well written, twisty, and had characters I both loved and hated. And I keep mentioning that bit at the end, but it’s not a bad thing per se, just sad, which doesn’t earn a mention as a critique.
Overall, The Crown’s Burden is a great read, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Do read book one first, though, or you will be quite lost.
November 15, 2021
Author Interview: Tiffani Collins
Tiffani CollinsWe’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.Right now, I’m tying up all the loose ends getting my third book, Reflections of a Tigress, out. I’m also hammering out the barebones of the plot of my next book so I can get started on it once Reflections of a Tigress can walk on its own.
In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.Well, the first book I wrote was set in a purely fantasy world I created with a long-time friend. Though this world was not earth, we still pulled from many earth cultures, myths, and legends that we then tailored to our needs. My main character for Dark Wood is Nící, who I based very loosely off of Japanese kistunes. I also got to play with kappa and Tanuki, but foxes have always been my favorite, so the kitsunes—or Kitsüns—got all of the love. Nící’s story in Dark Wood is of a woman who’s been broken by betrayal and how someone who has lost family, innocence, and faith learns to love, trust, and believe again.
Nící’s tale was meant to be the first in a series I’d planned to write with my friend, but unfortunately Dark Wood has become a standalone novel. The series I’m currently writing is the story of Danny North Star. She’s a character I’d first come up with as a freshman in high school when I was writing with an online fan-fiction author’s group, but she kind of got side-lined when I bucked down to my college courses in pursuit of my Veterinary Technician licence. Ten years later, I decided to bring Danny back, much different and, I’d like to think, better developed in a world I’d built just for her from scratch.
The Traveller’s Journal series is set in a universe filled with alternate versions of earth, organized by those in the know into what they call the related worlds. Danny’s world of Ten A is a lot like ours, Ten B, in some ways, but vastly different in many others. Their historical timeline diverged from ours about 2,000 years ago, with Judas’s decision not to betray Jesus. Obviously, that’s made for some pretty big differences, but one of the largest is Ten A’s embrace and mastery of magic. It’s allowed them to explore, colonize, and basically govern many of the related worlds.
Now, there are three types of humans in Ten A and most of the related worlds: the Gifted, those who can use magic; the Nulls, those who can’t; and the Conduits, whose own significant reservoirs of power have been exploited by the Gifted for centuries. Danny is a Conduit—one of the strongest her world has seen in millennia—a product of generations of careful breeding by her family who have built their empire of mirror enchantments on the backs of Conduits like her. Reflections of a Runner is the story of how she managed the first escape from her powerful family in centuries.
Reflections of a Tigress , the next instalment soon to be released, is the story of how Danny begins to build the foundation of an organization that she intends to use to help everyone like her, starting with finding a base of operations hidden within a traveling circus. But what I love best about the second book in the Traveller’s Journal series is that we get to see some familiar faces again, from a world no one has heard from in living memory. If Danny wants to go into the business of stealing people like her out from under some of the most powerful and influential members of Ten A society, she’s going to need some help from a certain crafty vixen and her kin.
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!)Oh, that is as easy a question as they come!
The book’s synopsis. I’d rather re-write the whole novel rather than try and distil it down to 300 words or less. If it didn’t mean my book would be dead on delivery, I’d find a way never to have to write another one!
Sadly, for me, the book’s description is as important or more so than the cover, so I’m forced to contort and torture myself to produce something that will entice people to buy my book.
The struggle is real, people. Oh, how it’s real!
4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning?
Again, easy as it gets!
The world building is my favorite part. Creating the systems that run things, from magic to culture, to government, to criminal underworlds, to wildlife, to destiny. I love coming up with unique characters and how they shape the world around them, not the other way around.
For instance, I have a character who is a syphon, someone who’s very existence is banned nearly everywhere she or those like her might try to go. She’s currently hiding in the circus where Danny has her base of operations, not that Danny knows her. I don’t have a role for her yet in the series, but she’s one of my favorites. I hope to make her into a character with a purpose strong enough to a lot her some word count that won’t get cut to ribbons on the editing floor, but even if I don’t, she’s still a lot of fun for me to think about when I can’t sleep some nights.
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.)
Oh, now, see, there’re two abilities I prize above all others and it’s really hard for me to choose between them. One is humor. Tanya Huff once said that humor was the hardest thing to do well in fiction because it is so subjective, and I believe her. But it is also the one thing that, if an author can master it like Huff has, will convince me to forgive almost any flaws in the rest of the book.
Then again, the ability to plot out a series like Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files or J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is something I passionately wish to develop in my own writing. It’s finding all of the breadcrumbs a skilful writer leaves behind in an intricately plotted series that has me devouring book after book and raving about the series to anyone who loves to read. Even books that make me laugh on a regular basis, like the Ilona Andrew’s books, don’t inspire the same level of devotion and obsession as a well-laid planned series full of fun clues to chew over while waiting for the next instalment.
Which is probably why I idolize Jim Butcher so much. If I could wake up one morning and be able to write like him, I would be the happiest author alive!
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?
Man, I think if I ever found myself in that pitiable situation, I wouldn’t even try. I’d beg for mercy and a swift death instead of the fate they had in store for me, which they would gleefully describe in excruciating detail.
See, it’s like this.
I write because I love it and because writing fantasy fiction is about the only way I can create a place in which people mostly get what they deserve, for good or ill, and where I can set whatever rules I want and enforce them. In theory, that means I could write a perfect world in which no one suffers, there is no tragedy, no injustice, where everyone gets along and lives in peace.
But let’s be real—that wouldn’t sell very well, and as much as I write for me, I also write for others, who want to spend their hard-earned money on something that will entertain them with high personal drama, the satisfying resolution of a fierce dogged conflict, overcoming tremendous adversity despite impossible odds, maybe even a story of bloody vengeance visited upon a horrid monster who had committed grievous crimes against a good and worthy hero. Which pretty much guarantees that if you want to tell stories that grip a reader’s imagination and won’t let go, you have to be ruthless and more than a little bit sadistic.
Think about it.
How do you justify putting innocent people through intense mental, emotional, and physical pain and hardship purely for the purposes of entertaining the general masses, not to mention for personal profit? I don’t think you can, really, hence the plea for a merciful beheading, thank you.
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?
So, in this scenario, Me, Danny North Star, Alice Sinclair, Nící VinLíena , and Simon, son of Kalman from Will Wight’s Traveler’s Gate trilogy are all playing a game of poker, right?
Well, instantly, I can tell you who will be the first person who’s out of the game: me! I’m terrible at poker, especially if there’s real money involved. I can set records in how fast I can lose my money gambling, especially if I’m playing poker. Which is why I would only play if the most valuable things being wagered were M&Ms and fun-sized candy bars. And even then, I would still lose my ass within the hour.
Alice would be the next out, lasting maybe all of a half hour longer than I would. We both have glass faces and a pathetic grasp of the game or the rules of betting. Danny would last longer. She’s been forced to develop a better poker face and she has had to be a real quick study to distinguish herself in her chosen occupation of abductor and smuggler extraordinaire, but even she wouldn’t be able to hold out against our final two contestants.
Simon has the best of poker faces and the aid of Caela, a little girl’s doll who can speak to him telepathically and who “listens to the wind,” a lofty way of saying she sees pretty much everything within a couple of miles and reports it all to Simon. There’s no such thing as keeping your cards close to the vest against a player like that.
Unless, of course, you’re a talented illusionist who lets you see only what she want’s you to see. In the end, Nící would take the whole pot, not only because she’s had over a hundred and fifty years to master the bluff, winning wagers against dangerous adversaries through sheer cunning, and accurately calculating the odds of any situation she’s in including card counting. More importantly, she follows the motto all Kitsün’s live by: “’Cheater’ is a term only used by those who’ve lost the game.” She’s good enough at that style of play that few of her victims even know they’ve been had.
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.)
Oh, geeze, I actually don’t know. I don’t consider myself savvy enough at writing to tell other people about traps to look out for.
Well, maybe I would say that one thing to watch out for is the idea that your story has to be perfect before you send it out. And by perfect, I mean when people delay sending their manuscript out into the wider world—whether that’s to an agent, a publisher, or clicking that “publish” button as an indie author—because they are attempting to write then next great American novel, or the next Twilight bestseller.
I’ve known a few people who have great ideas, have written awesome stories, but who never seem to work up the nerve to call it worthy for public consumption. There’s no such thing as perfect. There is such a thing as good enough. Ideally, you will continue to grow as an author the more you write. Well, what that means is anyone looking back on their earliest works will likely cringe and wonder what possessed anyone to buy that book. I think one of the saddest fates for a writer is the one in which they never publish anything because they could never overcome their own inner critic.
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.
Please, taking over the world if for workoholics with control issues. I like my me-time waaaay too much and have a live and let live mentality. I’d be terrible at world domination. I’d much rather write books. And sell them, of course, so here comes my shameless self-promotion of the books which I’ve already published.
Here is the universal link for:
Dark Wood: https://books2read.com/u/mgzaLz
Reflections of a Runner: https://books2read.com/u/bQJBED
These links will show every online location people can find my books. Keep an eye out for Danny’s second book, coming in August. Readers can find sample chapters for all my books as well as bonus material and short stories from the related worlds on my website tiffani-collins.com.
November 9, 2021
Book Review: Return to Royalty by E. Paige Burks
As a child (and occasionally on Tuesdays in my current existence) I would dream that someone would come whisk me away to go and a grand adventure to save a magical land. It never happened for me, but for Nyx in Paige Burks’ book Return to Royalty, her life is about to change.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This book follows Nyx, a college-age girl who is trying to figure out her life when strangers start making things a little difficult. Jet is a magic-user from a distant world sent here to retrieve Nyx, the lost Princess who can perhaps save their world from being overrun. Only, getting her to believe that is going to be very difficult. Jet only has a year to convince Nyx of her powers and prepare her, and things are not going to plan.
The premise for this book is fairly standard for YA portal fantasies. I have no problem with standard. I do wish that there had been a bit more of the adventure side of things rather than Jet trying to fit in with Nyx’s life as it was. It felt like he just sort of hung around Nyx rather than doing what needed to be done for a good portion of the book. This led to Nyx being woefully unprepared and a whole lot of mysteries for the reader to solve as we are just as unprepared as Nyx. While I understand the slow burn when uprooting someone from their life, in this particular instance, I wish the bandaid would have been ripped off.
2. Thoughts on the characters
Nyx is, so far as I can tell, average college student. She is busy worrying about her studies, about her crush, and about her friends. She isn’t thinking about a world she doesn’t know exists, and she is definitely unprepared for any sort of battle. I cannot fault her for any of this. It makes sense, therefore, when she sort of freaks out at the realisation of what is really going on. However, it was a little painful to read, as I wanted her to take action on her own rather than depend on Jet for everything.
Jet, on the other hand, knows exactly what is going on. He is, understandably, angry about being sent to fetch Nyx, but is the only one who can really do what needs doing. Only…he doesn’t. At first, it seems like he’s just being polite to Nyx’s guardian in heeding her wishes, but after a while, it seems like he’s trying not to be involved at all. I don’t particularly like Jet. He’s obviously very capable and yet chooses to do nothing and while this happens all too often in real life, I struggle with it in fiction. If a character can do something, they should, unless the reasons to the contrary are well laid out for the reader.
3. Favourite part
The bit where things really started moving, plot-wise. I can tell you no more than that because of spoilers.
4. Critique
I think a lot of the issues I had with the characters could be fixed if the plot were to move a little more swiftly, rather than trying to integrate Jet into Nyx’s Earth-based existence, then the story would have gripped my attention a bit more. As it was, the book was good, just not quite what I had anticipated.
Overall, Return to Royalty is a YA portal fantasy that draws on many familiar elements to create the story. It is perhaps a bit slow, plot-wise, but it is a generally good book.
November 8, 2021
Author Interview: Matthew Davenport
Matthew Davenport
1. 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 working on multiple projects. Satan’s Salesman 2: The Devil is in the Details is the novel I’m trying to finish. I’m 75% there, but have been distracted by my other projects. I’m also working on a plot for something with my brother that’s best described as Lovecraft meets Hogwarts. Then I’m also working on two anthology projects with my usual Mythos crowd.
2. In as much detail as you would like, tell me about your book(s) that are already out/on the way.
I have a wide selection over a few genres. Most people know me for my Andrew Doran series, which is a pulp adventure series during the 1940’s and follows an archaeologist as he protects the world from the artifacts of the Cthulhu Mythos. I mostly tend to write in the mythos, with another novel of that style being The Trials of Obed Marsh, that follows the downfall of Innsmouth. It works as a prequel to Lovecraft’s own The Shadows Over Innsmouth.
My brother and I work together on a series called, Broken Nights, that follows a vigilante who isn’t “Bruce Wayne rich” as his world slowly spirals towards more and more comic book level threats. It asks the question of how a normal man with an Amazon account can stand against super villains.
More in the vein of The Trials of Obed Marsh, but less Mythos, I also have a horror series called, Satan’s Salesman. It follows the sales culture of our modern world by applying it to the trade of souls on the supernatural plane. The protagonist, Shane Lowe, tries to find any angle to justify his dark deeds.
My other books include a young adult story, currently in the queue for republication, called The Sons of Merlin, following the lineage of Merlin as Camelot is thrown into the hands of evil again. I wrote that one with Robert Reynolds who originally came up with the plot back when we were in school.
My earliest works, the Random Stranger series, are an urban fantasy set of books giving personalities to some of the world’s more prevalent ideas. This was the first set of books I had published and I am overdue to finish that trilogy.
Finally, I have started working regularly with a group of writers to put out several crossover/anthology books that gather some of our worlds together. The Tales of the Al-Azif, The Book of Yig: Revelation of the Serpent, The Tales of Yog-Sothoth, and Time Loopers are all included in that.
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!)
Scribbling in my notebook is my favorite part of the writing process. I thoroughly enjoy piecing together my ideas, plotting out the story, and building a roadmap. The conception of the idea on paper is the most free my imagination will be in the entire process.
4. Conversely, what is the bit of the writing process that gets your writery brain grinning?
As happy as the roadmap makes me, I am always surprised by the twists and turns the characters begin making as soon as they start to be typed out. I could have the most detailed notes ever (looking at you The Trials of Obed Marsh), and my characters will do entirely unexpected things and I will have to go back to my notes and adjust for these changes. It is absolutely astounding how much autonomy the fictional characters of my mind can have once they start to come to life.
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.)
If there was any skill that any author has that I wish I could bottle up and drink, it would be C.T. Phipps’s ability to sit down and make himself write. The hardest part of the process, for me, is making myself sit down and take the time to get started. Once I have started, it’s easy peasy, but getting that wheel moving is akin to moving a mountain with a toothpick.
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?
I have most recently been working on my The Esoteric Cavalry stories. It is a set of Weird Wild West tales that are in the same universe as Andrew Doran. Hiram Cartwright is the main protagonist and he is a survivor of the Civil War who fought for the Esoteric Cavalry, defending the Union against the use of Mythos monsters and Dark Wizards. His spirit is damaged and he can’t settle down now that the war is over. He’s hurt and can only keep fighting monsters because he just doesn’t know how to do anything else.
If he kidnapped me, I would explain that his suffering was necessary for the world to not fall into chaos. I would remind him of everything he saw during the war, the things not recorded, the things other minds would have buckled under, and I would ask him what would have happened if he hadn’t been there.
He would probably see me as some omnipotent demigod, akin to Nyarlathotep, controlling his life and ruining others. He would accept my explanation and likely still shoot me dead.
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 last book I read was Lumley’s Necroscope. It is similar to in stakes as most of my stories, so the stakes for a poker game would likely be a bit of esoteric knowledge from Lumley’s Necroscope. Perhaps the knowledge of how to use his Mobius Continuum to travel between worlds. I know a certain archaeologist who might be desperate for that information.
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.)
When writing, the biggest trap to fall into is giving up. There’s a quote out there that I can’t remember who said it but it goes something like this: “The best novels ever written never made it past the first chapter.” Or something like that. Basically, a lot of people, even full time authors, get discouraged, distracted, or just tend to not care enough after they’ve started that first chapter. They hit the wall of “wait…this is actually work?” and they stop. Try not to. Work through it. There is no feeling quite as awesome as getting that first draft completed. Push through the hard parts and clean it up after the fact, but don’t stop.
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.
Book 3 of the Andrew Doran series, Andrew Doran and the Scroll of Nightmares came out in October 2021!
November 2, 2021
Book Review: Arranged Love by Diana Rose
Rarely do I read a prequel novel before reading the first in a series. I don’t know why, it’s just how my reading seems to work out. I know that a prequel happens before the initial story, but for some reason, they rarely cross my desk until after I’ve already started into the series. So when I got the chance to read Diana Rose’s Arranged Love, which was a prequel to her Power of Love series—which I haven’t read—I was intrigued.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This book follows Alyona, a princess of the Moon Kingdom, as she grows up and must choose between two potential loves: a baker and a prince. She lives a very sheltered life, heavily monitored by her parents and controlled so that she isn’t put into unnecessary danger. Being a teenager (or, really, twelve at the beginning of the book, through seventeen at the end), Alyona disobeys her parents and tries to live the life that she wants. This leads to her deciding whether to love the baker or a prince from the neighbouring kingdom.
In general, I think the idea for this plot is a good one. Choosing the life you want rather than one forced on you is a plot I almost always enjoy reading. I was, therefore, interested in this one. However, there were several logical inconsistencies that soured the plot for me. One was the reasoning for her parents strictness; it was hinted at being unsafe, but never explained at all beyond a vague concern for danger. This made a lot of the reasoning from the King and Queen very flimsy, in my opinion. Another was that Alyona was being trained to be Queen, but all her lessons were in things like needlepoint or manners. No kingdom I’ve ever heard of would train a future political leader with needlepoint. There was no reference to her having to be dependent on a husband for her politcal prowess until the very last bits of the book, which again made her parents’ reasoning seem very flimsy. And the various relationships that Alyona was trying to decide between fell apart for very flimsy reasons that could have been prevented with a single sentence of explanation.
I think the plot was a good idea, but in practise, there were too many logical holes for me to believe it all.
2. Thoughts on the characters
Alyona is a character I wanted to like. She’s fighting against everything being determined for her. Great ambitions. She wasn’t terribly rude, nor was she portrayed as “not like other girls” which I appreciated. However, she never seemed to argue her desires beyond the life being chosen for her being, “unfair.” She wants to be a child with a normal childhood, yet wants to be treated as an adult, sometimes within the same paragraph. While I can accept this as the incomplete reasoning of a twelve-year-old, these inconsistencies persist. Also, she never seems to appreciate the consequences of her actions, such as other people being blamed for her indiscretions. I think she is a great example of a young child who needs to learn consequences and logical arguments, but I didn’t much care for her beyond that.
3. Favourite part
The premise of the plot—choosing your own destiny rather than doing what others demand of you—is probably my favourite part. I do love stories of this sort.
4. Critique
The logical inconsistencies, in both plot and character, really did not help this story at all. They made what could have been a great story into something that felt like a child trying to eat only sweets rather than a balanced diet. The ending also didn’t feel much like Alyona’s choice, but I could have misinterpreted her desires.
Overall, I really wanted to like this book. It had a good premise, but there were just too many holes in the story for me.
