Anais Chartschenko's Blog, page 2
August 13, 2018
In Numina by Assaph Mehr - New Release Book Review
I am a huge fan of the first Felix book, Murder in Absentia, so I am beyond excited that In Numina is just as wonderful a book. It is a fantasy. It is a detective story. It is a historical. I love all three of those genres, but the mix of them has proven to be one of my favourite blends of all. Rome (the basis of his imaginary Egretia) is endlessly fascinating, and the true to life details Mehr adds to the story sent me off in happy research spirals. I spent afternoons reading about how Romans could tell a tavern was also a brothel, or about the tool they used to exfoliate, or cuisine. Then I’d return to the novel to read about hiring a gladiator or dabbling with magic.
Felix is a great character. He’s flawed, but he learns. I always root for him. He always seems genuinely curious, and that is a pretty important trait in an investigator. Reading about his adventures is a joy. I found myself smiling as I read. In Numina is going to be one of those books I read again and again. I suggest reading with a nice glass of wine.
Follow Assaph Mehr:
Amazon Page
Goodreads
Website
June 13, 2018
Author Spotlight/New Release J.D. Estrada
The blurb:For Writing Out Loud is a collection of the most poignant blog posts from the blog that goes by the same name. It spans a wide variety of topics because life is far from homogeneous and rather than avoid unpopular topics, thoughts are shared in hopes of inspiring and promoting dialogue.
I have read most of Estrada's back catalog now- roughly 90% I would estimate, so I feel confident recommending this book.
Estrada is a master at genre hopping, having published poetry, sci-fi, fantasy, middle grade/ya, and now non-fiction. His writing style is warm, witty, and willing to tell it like it is, however that is may shift throughout life.
In reading his work, I've found many quotes that leave me breathless. I get out my notebook, and copy them down to refer to later. It's like having a friend's voice right there giving bits of wisdom without all the expectation to reciprocate! Here's two I particularly appreciate:
Get to know J.D. Estrada! The cool thing is, he has something different to offer on each social media platform. Follow them all to get bookish delights, 00Bananas, weird food taste tests, original music, sock themed entertainment- and more!Amazon
Blog
Google +
Goodreads
Youtube
June 8, 2018
May 29, 2018
Author Spotlight: Shane Wilson
I had the pleasure of meeting Shane Wilson during the Brain to Books Cyber Convention and Book Expo. He recently published a book, so of course I must tell all of you about it. Be sure to check out his social media! He's always up to something.
Novel about maintaining a muse and grip on reality
The Smoke in His Eyes, a story about music and sanity, and how an artist’s inspiration binds them together
Aberdeen, NJ, May 18, 2018 — Every artist needs inspiration, and where they find it is often up to chance. This is what the main character in Genz’s newest publication wrestles with. The Smoke in His Eyes is a magical realism novel written by Shane Wilson, to be released on May 18, 2018 by GenZ Publishing. The Smoke in His Eyes will be sure to sing sweetly to your senses. It tells the story of TJ, a musician plagued with visions from a traumatic event in his childhood that confuse his grip on reality. He meets a fellow artist named Muna who helps him make sense of the visions, and yet she seems to be made of smoke herself. His journey through his relationship with her explores what an artist’s relationship with his inspiration is like. This story will weave its way into your heart like a melody you’d want to listen to again and again.
A graduate of Valdosta State University in south Georgia, Shane Wilson feels both at home and out-of-place as a child of the southern United States. He holds a Masters in English and taught college English in Georgia before moving to Fayetteville, North Carolina in 2013. Shane’s first novel, A Year Since the Rain was long-listed for the 2017 Southern Book Prize. He is the winner of the 2017 Rilla Askew Short Fiction Prize for his story “The Boy Who Kissed the Rain,” whih has subsequently been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. His poetry has appeared in anthologies such as Tethered by Letters and the Stonepile Writers' Anthology, Volume III. He is currently working on a new novel and a collection of short stories.
The Smoke in His Eyes is available now in paperback and on Kindle.
This or That?
Author Interview with Shane Wilson:
Beer or Wine?If these are the only two choices, wine. Beer fills me up too quick and doesn’t have the payoff in most cases. There is one beer I will always take over any wine, though, and that is Devil’s Tramping Ground from Aviator, a brewery here in North Carolina. How is that for some free promotion?
My final answer: Whiskey
Coffee or Tea? This one is easy for me, and I know we will disagree on it, but I have to have my coffee every morning before I can do anything else—especially walk into a room to teach English composition. This is a bang-for-buck thing. I’ve never found a tea that gets me jacked up like a quad-shot espresso. I am always open to suggestions though.
My final answer: Coffee
Fiction or Nonfiction? Fiction. I have read nonfiction that I thoroughly enjoyed, but only nonfiction that borrows heavily from the techniques of fiction. I am currently making my way through Pimp by Iceberg Slim. That’s supposedly nonfiction, and it’s incredibly interesting. But it seems we’ve entered into a place where everyone thinks their life story should matter to everyone else. That’s bullshit. Give me a well-crafted fictional story from the mind of someone who knows how stories should be told and it will beat non-fiction almost every time.
My final answer: Fiction
Unicorn or Dragon? Easy.
My final answer: Dragon
Horror or Comedy? This is tough. I’m not sure that this is a universal either/ or for me. My opinion here changes with my mood. After a long day at work, I want nothing more than to unwind with a comforting and familiar comedy. But I also absolutely love being scared—the adrenaline that comes along with that feeling of dread and suspense. I grew up on Goosebumps, so I have always held a special place in my heart for horror. With all of that being said, the number of comedies I consume probably surpasses the number of horrors I consume pretty easily.
My final answer: Comedy
Night Owl or Early Bird? I can’t stand mornings unless I happen to still be awake when they roll around. I am more creative at night. I am happier when the sun goes down.
My final answer: Night Owl. Hoot Hoot.
Call or Text? I remember when the texting revolution came along. I rejected it as long as I could. I was the guy who was like, “If you want to talk, call me.” But now, I mostly want to be left to my own devices. I love hearing from people, but a text doesn’t disrupt the flow of the day as much. Also, a text is easier to ignore if I need to ignore it (or want to).
My final answer: Text
Doom or Gloom? Gloom. I’m a pragmatist. I know it’s unlikely that things will go as badly as they look forever. I know it’s unlikely that the world will end entirely. I was raised by Doomers. Everything was an attack on America. Everything was the beginning of the end. It’s just not like that. I think the very religious tend to think in terms of endings and doomsdays and end-times. Things are bad, but they aren’t ending. That might be worse, though, in some ways.
My final answer: Gloom
Fire or Ice? I think fire the more likely scenario if the world were to actually end. I think I would rather go by freezing to death.
I also like to look at fire. I think it’s pretty. But I love cold drinks, which are made possible by ice.
My final answer: I need more context
Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream? Frozen Yogurt, I think. I like soft desserts. I know there are soft-serve ice cream options, but I can’t trust places to have those.
My final answer: FroYo for the win!
Shane Wilson's Social Media:
Amazon Author Page
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Youtube
Novel about maintaining a muse and grip on realityThe Smoke in His Eyes, a story about music and sanity, and how an artist’s inspiration binds them together
Aberdeen, NJ, May 18, 2018 — Every artist needs inspiration, and where they find it is often up to chance. This is what the main character in Genz’s newest publication wrestles with. The Smoke in His Eyes is a magical realism novel written by Shane Wilson, to be released on May 18, 2018 by GenZ Publishing. The Smoke in His Eyes will be sure to sing sweetly to your senses. It tells the story of TJ, a musician plagued with visions from a traumatic event in his childhood that confuse his grip on reality. He meets a fellow artist named Muna who helps him make sense of the visions, and yet she seems to be made of smoke herself. His journey through his relationship with her explores what an artist’s relationship with his inspiration is like. This story will weave its way into your heart like a melody you’d want to listen to again and again.
A graduate of Valdosta State University in south Georgia, Shane Wilson feels both at home and out-of-place as a child of the southern United States. He holds a Masters in English and taught college English in Georgia before moving to Fayetteville, North Carolina in 2013. Shane’s first novel, A Year Since the Rain was long-listed for the 2017 Southern Book Prize. He is the winner of the 2017 Rilla Askew Short Fiction Prize for his story “The Boy Who Kissed the Rain,” whih has subsequently been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. His poetry has appeared in anthologies such as Tethered by Letters and the Stonepile Writers' Anthology, Volume III. He is currently working on a new novel and a collection of short stories.
The Smoke in His Eyes is available now in paperback and on Kindle.
This or That?
Author Interview with Shane Wilson:
Beer or Wine?If these are the only two choices, wine. Beer fills me up too quick and doesn’t have the payoff in most cases. There is one beer I will always take over any wine, though, and that is Devil’s Tramping Ground from Aviator, a brewery here in North Carolina. How is that for some free promotion?
My final answer: Whiskey
Coffee or Tea? This one is easy for me, and I know we will disagree on it, but I have to have my coffee every morning before I can do anything else—especially walk into a room to teach English composition. This is a bang-for-buck thing. I’ve never found a tea that gets me jacked up like a quad-shot espresso. I am always open to suggestions though.
My final answer: Coffee
Fiction or Nonfiction? Fiction. I have read nonfiction that I thoroughly enjoyed, but only nonfiction that borrows heavily from the techniques of fiction. I am currently making my way through Pimp by Iceberg Slim. That’s supposedly nonfiction, and it’s incredibly interesting. But it seems we’ve entered into a place where everyone thinks their life story should matter to everyone else. That’s bullshit. Give me a well-crafted fictional story from the mind of someone who knows how stories should be told and it will beat non-fiction almost every time.
My final answer: Fiction
Unicorn or Dragon? Easy.
My final answer: Dragon
Horror or Comedy? This is tough. I’m not sure that this is a universal either/ or for me. My opinion here changes with my mood. After a long day at work, I want nothing more than to unwind with a comforting and familiar comedy. But I also absolutely love being scared—the adrenaline that comes along with that feeling of dread and suspense. I grew up on Goosebumps, so I have always held a special place in my heart for horror. With all of that being said, the number of comedies I consume probably surpasses the number of horrors I consume pretty easily.
My final answer: Comedy
Night Owl or Early Bird? I can’t stand mornings unless I happen to still be awake when they roll around. I am more creative at night. I am happier when the sun goes down.
My final answer: Night Owl. Hoot Hoot.
Call or Text? I remember when the texting revolution came along. I rejected it as long as I could. I was the guy who was like, “If you want to talk, call me.” But now, I mostly want to be left to my own devices. I love hearing from people, but a text doesn’t disrupt the flow of the day as much. Also, a text is easier to ignore if I need to ignore it (or want to).
My final answer: Text
Doom or Gloom? Gloom. I’m a pragmatist. I know it’s unlikely that things will go as badly as they look forever. I know it’s unlikely that the world will end entirely. I was raised by Doomers. Everything was an attack on America. Everything was the beginning of the end. It’s just not like that. I think the very religious tend to think in terms of endings and doomsdays and end-times. Things are bad, but they aren’t ending. That might be worse, though, in some ways.
My final answer: Gloom
Fire or Ice? I think fire the more likely scenario if the world were to actually end. I think I would rather go by freezing to death.
I also like to look at fire. I think it’s pretty. But I love cold drinks, which are made possible by ice.
My final answer: I need more context
Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream? Frozen Yogurt, I think. I like soft desserts. I know there are soft-serve ice cream options, but I can’t trust places to have those.
My final answer: FroYo for the win!
Shane Wilson's Social Media:
Amazon Author Page
Website
Youtube
