Cindy Tomamichel's Blog: World Building, page 10

New Anthology release day

The team at Rhetoric Askew have been busy – a new release in their short story and poetry anthology series is out today!

The theme for this was “Communication” and here is what team Askew said about the topic:

They say “we (Askewmates) have been through a lot together, and we’ve only just begun. This year we have explored the Collective Perspective, Love Gone Askew, and Askew Adventures. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, but more importantly we’ve communicated with each other. We’ve grown to know each other through the worlds we’ve shared, the worlds created by our authors and artists.

Communication is a strange thing. It comes in many different forms, whether it’s a written message, a phone call, or signals from another planet, communication ties us together and continues to evolve with each generation. But what happens when communication goes askew?

Let’s find out together…”

An interesting theme, and I will be interested to read the stories!

 

It is available at

E-Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0762Y9CVK

Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/7586806

all the information will be available soon at: http://rhetoricaskew.com

 

Enjoy this blog? Have a think about signing up via my website or catch them as they fly around the ether on twitter or facebook . They will stay where they are pinned on pinterest .

In the meantime, click and have a read of Druid’s Portal

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Druid’s Portal – paperback

For everyone that prefers the feel of a real book in their hands – Druid’s Portal will be out in paperback on Sept 30th. You can pre order now as well – just click on the picture.

Someone asked lately what was my definition of success as an author. For someone that has spent many hours searching out old books in dusty boxes and shelves in second hand shops across the globe, I didn’t have to think too hard about my answer. To find my book, dusty, tattered and the spine broken from reading, nestled along side such personal heroes of the page such as ER Burroughs, Tolkien, RE Howard would be my definition of success.

 

For readers in the USA that go to Comic cons, it will also be available at the SciFi Roundtable Knights table at

Tuscon Comic Con Nov 3-5th 2017

Albuquerque Comic Con Jan 12-14th 2018

Phoenix Scifi/Fantasy Con Mar 16-18th 2018.

Be sure to check out the table, I am proud to be sharing space with some great authors of scifi and fantasy.

 

I also made up a book trailer, you can most easily view it on my amazon author page here

Thanks to any that have read it as an ebook. I would appreciate a review if you get the chance just click here

 

Enjoy this blog? Have a think about signing up via my website or catch them as they fly around the ether on twitter or facebook . They will stay where they are pinned on pinterest .

In the meantime, click and have a read of Druid’s Portal

 

The post Druid’s Portal – paperback appeared first on Cindy Tomamichel.

Catherine Castle: author interview

Today I introduce Catherine Castle, a United States writer and author of the recently released sweet romantic comedy book “A Groom for Mama.”

What is your current project?

I actually have 2 projects I’m working on when I get a chance: the plot for a book co-authored with my husband, and an inspirational Christmas romance.

A writing routine or inspiration? What works best for you?

Inspiration works best for me. When I’m excited about a project I make time for it. I’m an all in or all out writer, working to the muse’s tyranny of the urgent.

If you could go anywhere for your next holiday, where would it be and why?

I’d love to visit England, Scotland and Ireland, but my husband won’t leave the Continental USA until he’s seen everything here. So I won’t be visiting the British Isles anytime soon.

What has been the most surprising thing you have discovered since being a published author?

The amount of marketing an author is expected to do, and how much it takes to get your book noticed.

What has been the most exciting moment you have had in becoming an author?

Winning the RONE and the Beverly Hills Book Award for my inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc.

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

That depends. Sometimes I want the name to fit the character, so I’ll search for just the right name. I wrote a whole book calling a character mother-in-law 2 because I couldn’t find the right name for her.  Sometimes the characters dictate their names. For example I named the heroine in The Nun and the Narc Sister Mary Margaret, but the hero kept calling her Maggie, so I had to switch the order of her names. Sometimes I just give the characters the first name that pops into my head and see if it sticks.

If you travelled in time, when would be your choice? Would you prefer magical or technological means of travel?

I’ve never really thought about this. In the stories (unpublished so far) I’ve written that involve time travel, the time travel method has been more magical, so maybe that’s my preference.

Do you belong to any groups that you find helpful?

I have a couple of critique groups that I belong to. They’re great not only for the technical help, but the camaraderie of being with people who know what you’re going through.

What is the next project?

If you ask my daughter, it’s sewing. She wants me to make some pants for her and has been patiently waiting for all the busyness of writing, editing, and promoting A Groom for Mama to die down. Then I’ve promised to work on the writing project with my husband.

People want to know more! Where can we buy the latest book and where are you on the internet?

You can get my sweet romantic comedy with a touch of drama, A Groom for Mama from Amazon.

And you can find me on the Internet at:

Catherine’s website: https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com

Catherine’s blog: http://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/

Catherine’s Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/catherinecastle

Catherine’s Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7085414.Catherine_Castle

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCCastle    @AuthorCCastle

Facebook: https://facebook.com/catherinecastleauthor

Stitches Thru Time: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

SMP authors blog site:   http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/

Enjoy this blog? Have a think about signing up via my website or catch them as they fly around the ether on twitter or facebook . They will stay where they are pinned on pinterest .

In the meantime, click and have a read of Druid’s Portal

The post Catherine Castle: author interview appeared first on Cindy Tomamichel.

Cover Competition

Druid's Portal is up for the cover contest at Ind'Tale magazine.

I wold really appreciate your vote! You need to click on the link below, and register if you are not already a member, but you only vote once. Ind'Tale magazine is a good source of info about indie and small publishers, and new books.

Here is the link,
http://indtale.com/polls/creme-de-la-...

Thanks for your vote,
Cindy Tomamichel

Short Story: Guilt Factor

To celebrate Druid’s Portal coming out in paperback, here is a short story. Guilt Factor is a science fiction story set in a dystopian future. Entertainment is always an innocent escape – but not for the guilty.

Guilt Factor by Cindy Tomamichel

The lion roared, thick mane rippling as the challenge rang out across the yellowed savannah. Grass swayed in the hot wind, and dust devils danced on the horizon. A vulture sat in a drought stunted tree, waiting.

Oliver sighted his gun carefully. Hidden as he was in the grassed bower, the lion seemed unaware of his presence. Slowly it turned and the golden eyes bored straight into his.

The lion knew. Instinct, and some capacity for learning had taught it well. At a run it came for the bower, and from his side a lioness rose up from the grass, flowing from stillness to full motion without a misstep.

Soft pads thumped in unison on the dry baked earth. Heavy large cat breathing filled the air, vibrating in feline rhythm.

Oliver fired, and the lioness stopped as if she had hit an invisible wall, rolled over and lay still. The male lion skidded to a halt, padding over to his companion and nudged her with his nose. Tawny eyes swung around.

Death was in his eyes.

Swift, he flowed over the grass, yellow hide blending with dry grass, the only sound the steady heavy pad of hunter seeking prey.

Oliver sighted again and fired, going for a head shot.

At the last second the lion swerved and the bullet grazed a flank. Oliver worked the rifle, reloading another bullet into the chamber. He stood up.

The lion took an enormous leap, claws extended and mouth open. Oliver shot him square in the chest, but the continued momentum carried the beast forward.

Oliver struggled out from underneath the still body. His own nostrils were filled with the hot dying feline breath, a savage dusty cat smell. Blood ran down his cheek, and he rubbed it.

His own blood.

“Bastard pinked me,” he muttered, shaken. “Never got that close before.”

The scene faded, first the horizon dimmed and blackened, then trees, grass and last of all the lions blipped out of existence. The last to fade was the feline blood soaked into his clothes. The lights came on, and he blinked.

“Times up, Mr. Carruthers,” said Wayne. The thin teenager flicked a few more switches and then came over to release Oliver from the virtual reality apparatus. Sensi-suit, antique rifle and finally the small transmitter plug from behind Oliver’s ear. Wayne checked the silver socket embedded in the skull. It looked a little red. He rummaged in his desk drawer for the first aid kit and swabbed the area with antiseptic.

“All ok?” he asked. Oliver turned, and Wayne saw one cheek was scored with blood.

“This ever happen before, boy?” Oliver asked, touching his cheek and looking down at the blood. He seemed fascinated, rubbing his fingers together, smearing blood as if to feel its texture.

“Soon have that fixed up, Mr. Carruthers. You play a lot, it must seem real to you,” Wayne soothed as he cleaned the shallow scratch.

Oliver looked down, a brief vision of the lion’s blood soaking into his shirt flashed, and then faded. “My ancestors were big game hunters. Thought I should carry on the tradition. Man against beast you know. Just stupid animals anyway, if they were as good as people they would still be alive- survival of the fittest-eh?”

Wayne, concentrating on spraying the skin bandage onto Oliver’s cheek, grunted noncommittally.

Oliver shook himself and snorted. Unnaturally dark hair stood out against his artificial tan. Bony fingers gave the rifle a last fond pat. “Still, no more left to kill now, more’s the pity.”

Wayne booked him in for his next visit and Oliver strode to the door, long legs pumping, his eyes scanning the room with the air of still stalking prey.

Wayne checked the calendar, he had no more clients today. He started straightening up the small foyer. The “Virtual Adventures” sign looked dusty, and he fixed this, then neatened up a few posters, the long extinct lions, bears, and rainforest birds looking back at him.  “I’m sorry I was too late to save you,” he sniffed hard as he stroked the lion’s face. He cleaned the grimy window, hating the view of endless buildings, human anthills that reached the sky.

Wayne sighed. There wasn’t much anyone could do now, it was too late. Humans shared Earth with a few hardy insects, scavengers and mass cloned food animals. Algal tanks underground had replaced plants that took up precious land. He walked out of the door, clanging the roller door shut behind him and set the alarm. Misty acidic rain fell, and he turned up the collar of his vinyl jacket. He tried to shake his gloomy mood with thoughts of a David Attenborough DVD and a hot soy burger.

Wayne had read somewhere that each living person carries within themselves atoms of those who have died. He hoped even an atom from so many extinct species lingered on him, in other humans. Maybe that’s why we feel guilty, he mused, sloshing through the blackish puddles. And from guilt comes the need to escape. So the rise of Virtual Adventures.

He knew the history of the animals last days, though he tried not to think of it. As the animals reached the brink of extinction, the remnants of species were filmed exhaustively, in full technicolour, with the dust, the smell, the sweat collated and recorded for posterity. Hounded by media, driven to the brink of the least habitable places on Earth, the creatures faded into shadows, and then they were gone. So many unique organisms lived on only in digital.

It had been because of people like Oliver with their lust for death. But most people were nice, he reflected, wanted just to see and smell animals, walk once through a rainforest on feet that had know only tarmac from birth. With the transmitter sending images direct to the brain, and the sensi suit adding feeling, it was as close to the real thing as was possible, without the dirt. He smiled, realising the advert replays had gotten to him. The small franchises were everywhere, and mostly he enjoyed selling dreams of the long ago.

#

The computers hummed in the quiet room. The constant buzz of electronic motion emitted a gentle heat, a mild hothouse bereft of flowers. In the bin, Oliver’s blood in the cotton swab evaporated.

Billions of atoms floated on the air conditioning currents.

Blood molecules reached circuitry. There were faint popping noises and blue beads of light ran along the golden neural network. The computers continued their gentle hum.

#

Wayne opened the roller door, whistling. A pallid sun fought to beam down through yellow brown smog, brightening the shop posters into life. He carried a small earth filled pot, holding it reverently. He placed it on the front desk and stood back to admire the effect.

The dandelion beamed back yellow cheer.

From behind, Oliver’s cranky dry voice made him jump. “They were weeds boy, doncha know that? My Grandad used to spray those things. Kill ‘em dead. Used to like a nice bit of lawn my Grandad.” He moved closer, his fingers outstretched.

Wayne moved, knocking Oliver’s hand away. “Not much grows in the soil anymore, Mr. Carruthers. Best we let it be.” His voice was gentle as he stood in front of the plant.

Oliver’s pale blue eyes flickered, but his hand dropped.

“Ready for another session then, boy?” he snarled, stalking into the lab. With a last glance at the dandelion, Wayne followed. Serrated tooth like leaves swayed in the breeze from the air conditioner.

Oliver had already punched in his setting and was getting into his suit. Wayne sat at the controls, watching him pick up the rifle, checking the sighting as though his life depended on it. With a last pat of his ammunition belt, he yelled “Go”. Already he was crouched down, peering into the distance, the lab walls not as real as his dreams.

Wayne reached over, flicking the “start visualisation” switch. Leaning back, he plugged in an earpiece and closed his eyes. The rich tones of Attenborough rolled out in endless fascination describing the habits of an African desert mouse.

Oliver crouched in the bower. Sometimes he varied the setting, but this was his favourite. Might try elephants next. One of his prized possessions was a faded photo of his great grandfather standing with one foot on the head of a dead elephant. Couldn’t show it to people these days, though, his face going sour as he remembered the horror the one time he had shown it to Clarissa. With her background he had assumed…

There they were! The male lion had stood up, sniffing. This time they seemed even more real, and he noticed scars of past fights that marked the dominant lion a survivor. He wondered for the first time what this, the last lion pride, had felt.

It seemed to be looking behind him. As he watched, the lion roared his challenge, rich, powerful, lord of his domain. A lioness joined him, rubbing her face into his thick black mane. A small puff of dust rose from the lions and vanished in the afternoon air.

Oliver felt hot breath on his neck. Scared in a way he had never felt before, he turned. Close enough to touch, three more lions.

Watching.

Yellow eyes with vertical alien cat pupils looked at him. Not with fear, just with the modicum of interest Oliver himself might show for a morsel of cheese after a large meal.

One reached out a large paw. Playful, it batted him, the tips of the claws just slicing his sleeve and scraping skin. Blood welled down from the four parallel lines. Clutching his arm, Oliver felt warm urine trickle down his legs.

The lion sniffed its paw, licking the blood off in a thoughtful manner. It was so quiet Oliver could hear the steady thump of vulture wings in the sky.

They all looked at him. As if they know me, Oliver thought, squirming in his sodden trousers. One took a step closer, sniffing at his crotch. Thick whiskers rasped across the wet fabric, and then suddenly it sneezed.

It was too much for Oliver. Whimpering and incoherent he butted his way out of the bower in an ecstasy of terror that blotted out the actual process, and then he ran. Behind him, happy as an overfed housecat with a mouse, the big felines lolloped, keeping just close enough in this ancient game.

He stumbled, rifle flying out of his hands. A large paw came down on his ankle, and he was pined. And screaming.

Wayne’s feet fell off the console at the sudden yell. What the?

Oliver was bleeding, rolling around on the lab floor. His sensi suit had large rips in it.

Wayne punched buttons, no response. His stubby fingers fled to the keyboard, but it was locked. He glanced at the readout.

Place: African savannah

Time: 2030AD

Lion count: 20.

20 lions? Hell, it was never supposed to be over 2, not out by a factor of 10.

He looked at Oliver again, who by now was lying in a pool of blood.

Power switch! But even as he raced across the room he knew it would be too late. By the time Wayne got half way across the lab floor Oliver had stopped struggling.  Blood spurted from Oliver’s jugular, only to be cut off as though some invisible mouth drank it down.

Wayne bent to remove the suit, but Oliver’s body began to fragment and more gashes appeared. It was carnage. Wayne staggered back, feeling sick.

By the time he finished retching, the body had disappeared. Pieces were dragged off the lab floor, bloody trails vanishing outside the field. Here and there were large padded prints of bright blood.

Wayne turned around slowly. Blood, everywhere.

“David Attenborough,” he swore, crossing himself.

Around him, the computers purred.

 

Enjoy this blog? Have a think about signing up via my website or catch them as they fly around the ether on twitter or facebook . They will stay where they are pinned on pinterest .

In the meantime, click and have a read of Druid’s Portal

The post Short Story: Guilt Factor appeared first on Cindy Tomamichel.

Brent A Harris: A Time of Need

In some exciting news, we have Brent A. Harris with his new release ‘A Time Of Need’ – a fascinating alternate American historical with a cast of famous characters.

  Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m Brent A. Harris, a writer of SF and alternate history. When I’m not writing, I’m a family man, carting kids to ballet, school, soccer, and shops. In between the two, I wedge in a little geekdom. I love comics, Netflix binging, and board games – Pandemic, Heroclix, and the like When I read, it’s either non-fiction research for a book I’m working on, or SF for fun. I read Turtledove, Martin, Stirling, Heinlein, Bradbury, Brackett, and I watch original Star Trek episodes, my favourites penned by D.C. Fontana.

You mention you write alternate history. What is it?

Alternate history is speculative fiction, which is a fancy way of saying it’s science fiction that asks, “What if?” It’s a genre that changes one thing about our past and then produces a whole new world from that change. What if the Allies had lost WW2? What if Rome had not fallen? Alternate history allows us to learn how our world came to be by examining what might have been.

“Alternate history allows us to learn more about how our world came to be by examining what could have been.” –Brent A. Harris, Tales from Alternate Earths

What is it about history that you love and what made you want to alter it?

I’m passionate about history, but I’m convinced we’ve gone all wrong in how we approach it. It’s not a list of drab dates, or numbing numbers. We may all know that December 7th, 1941 is a day that will live in Infamy, but I guarantee you the sailors attacked on that fateful morning were not looking at their calendars. History is about people, and their lives lived, sometimes painfully, to bring us to this point.

In altering the past, there’s a science fiction component to creating a new world, and then having that world say something about our own. It’s a way to entertain first, and draw the reader in – the idea of Washington wearing a redcoat should immediately start to raise some questions, and perhaps objections too – but then hopefully the reader walks away with a new or altered sense of appreciation for the past.

Tell us about your alternate history novel, ‘A Time of Need’. What is it about?

I’ve written several short stories that have been picked up by various outlets. One of them earned me a nomination for the Sidewise Award in alternate history. If you’re interested in time-travel, or dinosaurs, or time-traveling dinosaurs, you’ll want to check out Twilight of the Mesozoic Moon, in Tales from Alternate Earths. The anthology itself includes another story that won the Sidewise award, which is pretty exciting.

My book, A Time of Need, an alternate history of the American Revolution, sees George Washington fighting alongside the British against American forces marshalled under Benedict Arnold. It asks that you abandon pre-conceived notions of America’s founding and open yourself to the challenges, sacrifices, and horrors the fighting men and camp followers experienced during the war as these two titans clash.

What is it about the period that you find fascinating, and how do you explore that in A Time of Need?

American Colonialism is really a clash of many worlds. It’s interesting to see how adamant early settlers were in bringing with them their European traditions and values only to saddle themselves unnecessarily. In many ways, the Revolution was the result of that slow realization, which over generations, created a rift between Europeans who saw Yanks as damned and dirty, and Yanks who saw themselves as enlightened, yet superior to Natives and slaves alike.

But this early history isn’t widely discussed. If you go to a book store, there’s very little written on the subject outside the Mythos of our Founding Fathers. And they are all full of misconceptions and preconceived ideas, mostly from what we’ve been taught in schools. Either dry dates or out and out fibs. Washington never chopped down a cherry tree, but a young Washington had a crush on a married woman.

These are real people with real lives that made mistakes and yet somehow stumbled into greatness. When the focus is put on people, history becomes story.

When the focus is put on people, history becomes story.
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What’s next?

I’m currently at work buried in books to research the next instalment of the series. I also have another alternate history short story set to release this winter and a few other ideas knocking around the cabinet that I might let loose, so long as soccer practice allows. Thanks for reading!

Where can people find you on the internet?

Website: https://brentaharris.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBrentAHarris/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brentaharris1

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Brent-A.-Harris/e/B01L0I22OM

 

Enjoy this blog? Have a think about signing up via my website or catch them as they fly around the ether on twitter or facebook . They will stay where they are pinned on pinterest .

For those that have not read Druid’s Portal yet, here is a link to the first chapter   DruidsPortal

 

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Maggie Mundy: Author interview

Today I introduce Maggie Mundy, a writer of paranormal and contemporary fiction and author of the new release “Lost Protector” which is the final book in the Midworlder Trilogy.

What is your current project?

Lost Protector tells the story of Soren and Anne and finishes off the story of the Demonic and Angelic Midworlder aliens on Earth.

When Anne was a child, she could see angels and demons attached to people. Her aunt taught her how to rid herself of the visions. Now they are back. She has never allowed herself to get close enough to someone to find love because she was different.

Soren is an alien. He is a Midworlder, but neither, Demonic or Angelic. He has been kept alive by an Elevated alien, called Liliath for her own purposes. He wants to die rather than continue with the torture. He has dark moments when he becomes psychotic and has never believed he could find a partner.

Who would want a freak like him?

A writing routine or inspiration? What works best for you?

I plot an outline for a book. I found when I didn’t do this I spent more time going back and revising. Trust me, my characters still wander off and do what they want.

Do you have a marketing tip you can share?

If you have a blog make it more about connecting with people than about advertising your book.

What has been the most surprising thing you have discovered since being a published author? You think being published is the end of the journey, but it is just the beginning.

Your current book is a paranormal romance. What sort of research do you do for this genre?

For this book I researched about the Sydney Mardi Gras, and in previous books I studied the areas of the world the stories were situated and belief systems of where the characters were visiting. I didn’t want the angels and demons in my books based around Christianity so I created another world.

Who is your favorite bad guy and why?

This is a hard one but I think I like Loki from the Marvel movies played by the wonderful Tom Hiddleston. He is complex and you never quite understand him.

If you travelled in time, when would be your choice? Would you prefer magical or technological means of travel?

Magical, and I would like to go back to Dallas and see who really killed JFK.

What do you like to read, and has this changed over time?

I used to read fantasy and now I read more paranormal and contemporary romance.

What is the next project?

It is a contemporary romance called A Road Trip to Happiness. It is the story of a woman who gets her life back when she thought it was all falling apart.

People want to know more! Where can we buy the latest book and where are you on the internet?

 

Links

Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Mundy/e/B00DVVT1QY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Website: http://www.maggiemundy.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MundyMaggie

Blog: http://maggiemundy.blogspot.com.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaggieMundyAuthor

 

 

 

Enjoy this blog? Have a think about signing up via my website or catch them as they fly around the ether on twitter or facebook . They will stay where they are pinned on pinterest .

For those that have not read Druid’s Portal yet, here is a link to the first chapter DruidsPortal

The post Maggie Mundy: Author interview appeared first on Cindy Tomamichel.

L.S. Young: author interview

Today I introduce L.S. Young, a historical romance writer and author of the book “A Woman so Bold”.

What is your current project?

Right now I have one novel my agent is querying with publishers and another one I just started working on. The novel I’m querying is a western romance entitled Montana Burning.

What are the hardest and easiest aspects of writing for you?

The easiest part is coming up with ideas for stories, the hardest part is executing them. I didn’t used to have any problem sitting down to write, it was like a compulsion! I’ve always thought the best and simplest writing advice is to write every day, but that doesn’t always happen. My two year old loves to turn off my laptop monitor when she wants my attention.

If you could go anywhere for your next holiday, where would it be and why?

I’ve always wanted to visit the UK and New Zealand. They’re so beautiful and the landscapes and climates are so different from where I grew up in the U.S.

What has been the most surprising thing you have discovered since being a published author?

It’s surprising how much of a learning process it is. There are a lot of hurdles and there always seem to be new things to learn on the journey.

Your current book is a historical romance. What sort of research do you do for this genre?

Well, you have to research so many different aspects of historical. Clothing style, social conventions, language (regional and the time period), and what was going on at that period in history. Obviously there are tons of resources on the web, but I also enjoy going to museums and historical sites. For my first novel it was helpful that I knew a lot of the local history, but two things I did for reasearch were visit an old one room schoolhouse from the 1800s and spend a day walking around Monticello, Florida.

The book I’m writing now is historical fantasy romance and it’s about a place I know next to nothing about, so the volume of research has been a lot more daunting, since I have both world-building and foreign language to navigate. It has been interesting though! I love learning new things.

Who is your favourite hero and why?

I love Fitzwilliam Darcy. He’s just timeless. A wealthy, well-dressed, virile, handsome, and good-hearted man never goes out of style, even if he is unsociable and taciturn. Something about his unapproachable nature makes him even more desirable.  I’ve also had a thing for Rhett Butler since I was thirteen. He’s a bad guy, a villain in some ways (Jane Austen certainly would not approve of him!) but he’s also sexy and honest about his vices.

If you travelled in time, when would be your choice? Would you prefer magical or technological means of travel?

 This is tough! I feel like every time period would have its own challenges and dangers. For beautiful fashion I’d go to the Gilded Age or the Edwardian era. I’ve always been interested in Regency England and the American Revolutionary War, and the 1950s (although I don’t buy into the idea that it was an idyllic time) but I think I’d avoid any other major wars or times when it was common to be accused of heresy or tried as a witch. As for travel, magic appeals to me more, but technological seems like a more reliable method of return.

Do you belong to any groups that you find helpful?

I’m a member of the Historical Novel Society and I met one of my most helpful critique partners through that. I’ve also found the beta reader group I’m a member of on Goodreads to be a good resource.

What is the next project?

I’m working on a historical fantasy romance in the new adult genre. It’s set in Iceland in the 17th century and is about a peasant’s daughter who falls in love with a wand woman. There’s a lot more magic in it than my other books, and magical creatures, like a Huldra (Nordic forest spirit).

People want to know more! Where can we buy the latest book and where are you on the internet?

Buy links:

  Amazon

http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/

Author Links

Website: http://lsauthor.wixsite.com/lsyoung
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lsyoungauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lsyoungauthor/
Twitter: @LSYoungAuthor
Instagram: @lsyoungauthor

Thank you Lauri for your thoughtful answers.

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Fantastical Fiction Sounds

Crafting descriptions that involve the senses is an important job for a writer. For a reader it helps them to fully immerse in a book, to feel like they have entered a new world – from the creak as a secret portal opens, to the grunting cry of a downed orc or the hiss of a leak in a spacesuit. Sounds both familiar and unfamiliar, they add to the imaginary or recreated historical world of your novel.

Historical fiction – even if there is just a nod to history –  is a great opportunity to add in interesting snippets from the past. Strip away the sounds of cars, trains, phones and media and go back in time. What would you hear? What is your setting? A village with the blacksmith hitting the anvil and the hiss of tempered steel? The barking of dogs or howling wolves? The tranquillity of a forest with the click of beetles and the warning cries of birds? What sort of birds are they? A farm with cows munching grass, or the swish of wind through a ripening field of wheat?

from the movie King Solomon’s Mines (book of the film)

Or perhaps a Victorian era London for some steampunk action? The cries of the muffin man selling hot muffins down the street, or oysters for sale near the docks. A ship at sea – storms, seagulls, the creaking as boards move or ropes thrum in the wind, or the flapping of sails as the wind picks up. The pumping of the bilge, the slow hum of a sea shanty as a seaman scours down the deck with holystone (a type of soft sandstone if you are curious). The ominous clanking of chain as Dr. Frankenstein raises the body aloft and waits for the lightning. The rattle of a carriage when the games is afoot.

A fantasy setting has some great opportunities in creating new sounds. What does a giant vampiric slug sound like moving across the ground? Does it have a sound – a keening wail or a whistle? RE Howard used sounds to great effect in his work, with the clash of swords, the screams of eldritch beasts and frightened damsels or sorcerous chants that tear a hole in the fabric of the universe. How can you describe the sound of dragon scales slithering over a pile of gold coins? The cries of circling vultures over a battlefield? A birdcall signal in a quiet forest just before the Picts attack? Does your heroine react or are they innocent babes in the wood?

Science fiction has the potential to use very small sounds in quite scary ways. The plink sound of a drop of acidic goo drops to the floor behind your intrepid crew. The dull boom or clank as something lands outside the ship and walks across the hull. The reassuring click or hum of a gun on full charge, and the snap of a helmet or belt into place.

Another source of sounds are your characters. Their voices, do they snore, or snort laugh? Does a character have a habit that drives someone mad with the sound? A wheeze for an unfit runner, or the slow dragging of a foot for an Igor, or the decisive clicks of an experienced person assembling a rifle. How do they react to these noises? A great way to show their character – do they strangle the whistling snorer, or go out of their way to help the less fortunate? Do the noises of the night sooth them, or do they lie awake expecting to be eaten? Henry Rider Haggard with his books on Africa has some wonderful descriptions of sounds at night (lions roaring, hyenas yapping) and the effects these sounds had on the experienced person and the new visitor. He also does a great job describing the different fear reactions inspired before a battle by the drumming of assegais on war shields.

For a reader, use of these sounds can help them imagine a foreign world, or send chills with the scary use of the familiar. What sorts of sounds have you used or read to immerse a reader?

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For those that have not read Druid’s Portal yet, here is a link to the first chapter DruidsPortal 

 

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Marie Lavender: Author interview

Today I introduce Marie Lavender, a Midwestern USA writer and author of the recently released book, Directions of the Heart

What is your current project?

I am currently editing Blood Instincts, the second book of the Blood at First Sight Series. This is a futuristic paranormal romance/urban fantasy.

What are the hardest and easiest aspects of writing for you?

The easiest parts come whenever the muse is cooperating, when the words are flowing well in a scene and before I know it, I’ve produced a big chunk of the story. Let’s see…what is difficult? Action scenes can be challenging for me. They need to make sense, so I really have to picture what’s going on. It always helps to get a second opinion; to be sure it works well for a reader. Also, editing is difficult. I often take a break beforehand; that way I’m in the right mindset to be more critical toward my own work.

Who is your favourite hero and why?

Out of my books? That’s a tough one. I love them all! Right now, however, I’d probably side with Captain Grant Hill of the Heiresses in Love Series. He’s a fascinating man, and he just gets better with time, in my opinion. And the other one I can’t help but love? Jack from the novella ‘A Touch of Dawn’ in Directions of the Heart. He has a lot of hurdles to jump through to find his happy ending, but he more than deserves to find peace and contentment.

Who is your favourite heroine and why?

I still love Fara Bellamont from Upon Your Return. She also pops up in the other books in the series! With her romantic, dreamy side, I’m reminded a lot of myself at the age of eighteen.

Your current book is a modern romantic drama collection. Do you stray into other genres?

Of course! I am all over the place; that’s why I’m calling myself a multi-genre author. I’ve published historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery/thriller, dramatic fiction, literary fiction and poetry. With my works in progress (119…yikes!), my stories encompass those genres but also others like comedy, time travel, reincarnation themes, dystopian, horror, and even erotic romance. Though I may need a second pen name for that last genre. LOL!

You write a few different blogs. Can you tell us what they are all about?

Sure! I host Writing in the Modern Age, Marie Lavender’s Books! and the I Love Romance Blog. Writing in the Modern Age is a great blog for readers to find their new favorite authors, and for writers at any stage of their careers to look for inspiration and writing tips. We feature about 90+ guest authors per year, and among all of our different features (new release features and blog tour spotlights, cover reveals, author interviews, service interviews, character interviews, Author’s Bookshelf features, guest articles, poetry spotlights, as well as meg

a book giveaways), readers can find pretty much anything to their heart’s content. Feel free to subscribe!

Marie Lavender’s Books!, or the MLB blog, mostly features news about my work, but occasionally we run book spotlight interviews, author interviews and new release features for other authors. Recently, we started taking cat guest blog posts (from the perspective of an author’s house cat and what it’s like to be one).

On the I Love Romance Blog (ILRB), we focus on novels and relationships. We take guest posts about romantic relationships, as well as articles on romance writing, and we also feature new releases, cover reveals, blog tour spotlights, character interviews, romantic poetry spotlights, and pretty much anything related to our love of romance. There’s a great blog series called ‘What Does Romance Mean to Me?’. Additionally, we’re starting a new feature titled ‘Heroes & Heroines’, in which the romance author talks about a character who kept him or her up at night, whittling away at a certain book.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Writing in the Modern Age, as aforementioned, because we’re running a HUGE giveaway on September 15th. This covers all genres, so you’re bound to find something you like!

If you travelled in time, when would be your choice? Would you prefer magical or technological means of travel?

Ooh! I love time travel stories. I’m a Doctor Who fan. To me, the means of transportation doesn’t matter, as long as I get to experience the time period in question. I’d love to enjoy the Victorian era firsthand. However, certain modern amenities that we have now would be a problem. Like plumbing. I really like the convenience of a nice toilet, but I guess I’d have to scrap that idea in exchange for time travel, wouldn’t I? LOL.

What do you like to read, and has this changed over time?

I’d like to think that my tastes have evolved somewhat. I’m still a sucker for a good romance, but I try to keep my mind open to other possibilities.

What is the next project?

It’s a tie. I will either launch into first book of The Misfits Series, Chasing Ginger (a romantic comedy), or work on a paranormal romantic thriller collection titled Awakening. I’m just waiting for the muse to point me in the right direction.

People want to know more! Where can we buy the latest book and where are you on the internet?

Directions of the Heart can be found on most booksellers online, at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and CreateSpace.

You can also follow me via my author website, any of my blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, my Amazon author page, and also subscribe to my monthly newsletter. Additionally, I have a Youtube channel, if readers are interested in viewing my videos and book trailers.

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