Elysia Lumen Strife's Blog, page 11
May 22, 2019
Critique Cheat Sheet
[image error]In preparation for a guest post on Critique Partners that I’ve been asked to do by A New Look on Books, I’ve finally compiled all of my critique partner questions onto one sheet. I hope this helps you as much as it does me.
During the post, I’ll talk about what Critique Partners are, where to find them, and how to make the best of that relationship. It will post later this summer.
You can find Rae, fellow author, and freelance editor, here:
Twitter: @anewlookonbooks
This isn’t a complete list, but it’s a long one. I haven’t included any genre-specific questions because I critique lots of different works. You can download the PDF here: Critique Questions via ELStrife
Framework for Critiquing
General things to discuss upon swapping samples of writing
Is this a finished book or a work in progress?
Is this the genre you like to read?
Is this the genre you write in?
Have you done critiques before?
How long have you been writing?
Who is the target audience?
What are you looking for in feedback? General (plot/scene setting/characterization) or more detailed (voice/structure, line edits/copyedits)?
Notes
If you’re doing a group critique, don’t read others notes while critiquing. You run the risk of bias.
Remember to provide professional and polite feedback
Point out what you liked as well as what you found problematic
Read through these questions before you begin the critique to help you hunt down critical issues and answer them as thoughts come to mind
Leaving in-text notes can help you with a final (overall) assessment and also point out specific problem areas to the writer
Critique Questions
First Chapter/Opening
Do the first few lines hook the reader with the main character and their problem/conflict?
Can you visualize the environment, the main character, and the problem?
Is the manuscript starting where you think it should?
Is there enough tension and emotion to draw the reader in?
Does it start with a cliché, or is it a unique and intriguing beginning?
Conflict/Tension
Was there a major resolution to the main conflict? Or did you feel something was missing at the end?
Were the stakes enough?
Did the tension ebb and flow in a way that made you want to keep reading?
Were there tense hooks at the end of each chapter?
Did the beginning of each chapter give you the premise with a subtle hook as well?
If this is a series, is there a bit of conflict left unresolved for the next book?
Could you understand the internal/emotional battles the characters were fighting? Did they contribute to the progress of the plot and the character’s overall change (arc)?
Did any details or events seem convenient/contrived?
Characters
Were the chosen names, dress, and ages appropriate for the genre and setting?
Could you follow along with the emotional journey of the character? Or did it feel glossed over or forced?
Did the characters encounter enough struggles, including between characters, to complete a transformation at the end?
Do you understand why the villain/antagonist is a protagonist in their own mind?
Does each characters’ behavior seem believable?
Are the characters three-dimensional in personality?
Do they experience all emotions?
Do they improve the story?
Do they have flaws/limitations?
Are their goals, morals, and desires understandable?
Are they relatable to a level that fits the genre?
Are their back-stories compelling and well-rounded?
Did you find the characters’ changes satisfying at the end?
Were the social relationships among the characters genuine and supportive to the story?
If any, was the hierarchy presented believable and beneficial?
If this was a character-driven piece, do you feel the work was appropriately saturated with detail?
Did you find the characters motivating, compelling, or inspirational in any way?
In general, were the emotions, actions, and dialogue shown effectively?
Plot
If this was a plot-driven piece, do you feel the work effectively tackled this as a priority?
Do you know what the main plot is/was? Was it consistent from beginning to end?
Is the sequence of events consistent and believable?
Were there too many dreams or flashbacks that detracted from the clarity of the plot?
Were any aspects predictable?
Were any events dwelled in for too long or not long enough?
If there was more than one plotline or any subplots, were they constructive to the storyline or the character arcs?
Is the influence of any “daily life” in the work helpful?
Are the twists realistic? Surprising?
Setting/World-building
Can you clearly visualize where and when the story takes place?
Do you understand the cultural norms?
Is each change of scene distinguishable?
Were there any environmental descriptions that were overwhelming?
Does the setting/world frame the plotline effectively?
Is the history/back-story of the landscape fitting and believable? (Why are we here?)
Was every scene necessary to the plot?
Dialogue/Language
Are the colloquialisms effective or overwhelming?
Did the language seem to fit each character?
Was the dialogue constructive in moving the story forward?
Were there too many formalities? Hi/Bye, Thank you/You didn’t have to
Any dialogue dumps?
Any moments that needed more?
Did it evoke emotions or thoughts in you as a reader?
Did the dialogue reflect the displayed emotions of the characters?
Point of View – Format of narration for the book
Is the point of view effective for the story?
First person – “I am telling you.”
Second person (rare in novels) – Narrator tells story *to* another (the reader). The “you” perspective.
Third person (limited) – Narrator is outside of character minds. “He read it to her.”
Third person (omniscient) – Narrator is in characters’ heads. “Josh hated the concept. This sucks, he thought. But he read the book to his little sister anyway.”
Was the point of view consistent? (Especially between third person limited and omniscient?)
Perspective – Comes from all characters telling the story as we meet them throughout it. This is their view on situations because of their pasts, prejudices, attitudes, and personalities.
For works with multiple perspectives, do the changes from character to character seem fitting or does the story head-hop too quickly?
Are there too many perspectives?
Is there a character whose perspective you’d like to see?
Craft
Pacing
Did the writing carry you along smoothly?
Were there any problematic slow/fast areas?
Did any sections of backstory/info/descriptions slow the story?
Are the transitions helpful in moving from one scene to the next?
Does the pace fit the genre? (ie: Action Adventure vs. Historical Romance)
Show vs. Tell
Any clichés used? Once upon a time…
Does the work show things where it is needed?
Are the moments of telling appropriate?
Format
Are the chapters broken up appropriately by scene/perspective/time changes?
If there are breaks within chapters, do they seem fitting? Or could pieces be joined?
Were any sentences or paragraphs too long or short?
Voice/Tone
Did the voice flow along with the story or did it seem choppy in calm moments and too calm during action?
Is the tone fitting for the genre? (ex: Humorous, dark, melodramatic, literary, mechanical)
Grammar
Was punctuation used correctly? (comma splices, run-on sentences, not too many ; or !)
Any misplaced modifiers?
Are there too many adverbs?
Are the sentences sticky with too many conjunctions?
If there are curses, were there too many?
Are there vague filler words?
Is the writing concise?
At the End
Did the beginning fit now that you know the ending?
Did you notice any inconsistencies in plot/character/scene?
Does the author have any redundancies, catchphrases, or go-to words?
What was your personal take on the story? (Keep this separate)
Thanks for reading! Hope this helps!
-E
May 20, 2019
Cover Preview: Redshift
[image error]As I’m finishing up book three of the Infinite Spark Series: Shadows of the Son, and preparing it for final edits, I thought I’d show off the next book, Redshift. It is under construction with plans to be ready this winter.
“We cannot continue to defend your planet retroactively. We must take the fight to them. It’s time we draw first blood.” – Azure, Redshift
Shadows of the Son is still expected to publish late this summer. A Promise in Ash, my Women’s Fiction/Romantic Suspense, will be coming out first, sometime near the end of June.
I wish I could be more definitive with publication dates. But since I’m a lone ranger and do everything except the beta reads, it’s difficult to predict when books will be ready. Life doesn’t always permit me the time I want. (Don’t we all know this…) I stay up late and get up early for this dream, for the promises I’ve made to my readers. Also to pack my husband’s lunch and coffee… by choice. He’s a good guy. Deserves it.
Am I perfect? Nah. Neither is life. I aim for the stars but expect to eat dirt. A humble dreamer… always working on it anyway.
Thanks for checking out the cover. Hope you stick around for publication! Best wishes! Hope y’all are well!
-Elysia
April 23, 2019
Book Review: The Teleporter By Lee Hall
Book Review: The Teleporter By Lee Hall (4 Stars)[image error]
A humorously crass story of a drunkard turned superhero.
Hall has created a realistic world in which corporations hold the power and the common man has little control over his own life, until fate elects a portion and hands it over in the form of teleportation karma. The transformation of our main character, Kurt, is depicted with a perfect amount of stumbles, physical and emotional, and leaves us rooting for him as he finds his new place in society.
The voice isn’t hindered by formalities; it is free and true to character and, yes, littered with curses. But it fits so perfectly with Kurt’s sarcastic/apathetic personality that it is hard to be bothered by it.
The story picks up quickly and doesn’t linger too long in any one scene. Hall has done a great job at keeping a smooth pace and throwing in just enough detail to encourage us to continue reading without bogging us down. If you’re not used to reading an Irish accent, give it a chapter or two.
The Teleporter was a fun ride that I would recommend to anyone that enjoys shorter scifi stories involving average-joe superheros, technology, and characters that simultaneously banter and care.
Summary (Spoiler Alert!):
The beginning might throw you for a loop because it sounds a lot like the author is breaking the fourth wall. That’s how genuine the voice of our main character, Kurt, is. And he is a complete drunk, a jerk, and is funny as hell. With a love life and a job that are both dead-ends, Kurt relies on booze and his imagination for entertainment. But like all superheroes, Kurt has an endearing quality. Beneath all the swears and drink, he has a conscience and doesn’t truly want anyone to get hurt. He just doesn’t know anything different.
Kurt works for a company called Liqui-tech as essentially their social media marketer/outreach guy. During a planned media event, Kurt runs into his next-door neighbor, Casey. As a journalist, she’s a skeptic and can’t believe their company’s teleportation project doesn’t produce any toxic waste. When Kurt is assigned media coverage for that specific project, Casey’s words get to him. He finds himself soon doing his own recon and, inevitably, succumbing to a vat of the liquid… and scrambling out of the opposite tank.
After sleeping for several days, Kurt awakens to discover he can teleport around his house just by thinking about the refrigerator etc. Learning to teleport and keep his clothes on is a trick he has to learn the hard way. And, ironically, his beloved alcohol is his kryptonite. This made the character’s struggle much more complicated. He can no longer rely on his usual “out” and must learn to cope with his new life on his own. In his jubilee over becoming a superhero, he goes out and makes a big deal about being a superhero in front of a bar full of people. But his efforts in protecting a girl—who’d had her drink spiked—prove he is worthy of said powers.
Teaming up with Casey across the hall, they return to Liqui-tech to search for evidence they can use to hold Mr. Williams, the owner, accountable for. His family owns most of the town, and they disrespect most of the people they come into contact with. Casey and Kurt are caught and put through their own interrogation. Kurt is beaten and thrown out, which brings him new perspective on the divide between upper and lower classes. Emotional over the matter, Kurt returns to his favorite bar and basically tells everyone the teleporter thing was a stunt and they should all go home instead of spending the night out drinking. As mentioned before, Kurt has a heart, though sometimes it can seem buried.
On a walk, Kurt meets two old men, one of which he defends from Mr. William’s entitled brat-of-a-son and takes quite a beating for it. The other who offers Kurt some wisdom on the matter of his skill set. Feeling empowered again, Kurt records a video threat to Mr. Williams and begins practicing his teleporting skills for means of hand-to-hand combat.
A group of his closest companions gather around him demanding it is time for some action because Casey has been taken. They end up infiltrating Liqui-tech with literally no plan. Finding Casey is the next experiment and that Mr. Williams as created teleportation biotech for himself, the crew is thrown into a frenzied series of attacks and defenses ultimately ending in the testing facility. There, Casey is subjected to the teleportation tanks plus a car battery. When she emerges again from the muck as Kurt holds her, she is shot twice… and uncovers her own ability. She’s bulletproof.
Kurt’s former supervisor (before being fired from Liqui-tech), Marcus, ends up being a member of the FBI and has recorded everything. William’s is taken away, and Marcus therein becomes the mentor/guide to Kurt and Casey.
Personal Thoughts:
This book was hilarious, though I’m not usually a laugh-out-loud type. I’m more of the chuckle type. The emotional range didn’t include major moments of anger (which I think would’ve completed the spectrum), but this made for an easier, laid-back type of read.
It was entertaining to find a book about a realistic man that had something supernatural happen to him. We all want to feel like there is this possibility, this hope, that some miracle will pull us out of the muck of everyday life, and we’ll be able to finally change the world. All too often superheroes are from rich families or royalty or gods. Kurt is an unlikely option in our stereotypical world. But here, we get to see him in action. Hope and humor thrive together in The Teleporter.
April 20, 2019
Book Review: Asrian Skies By Anne Wheeler
Asrian Skies By Anne Wheeler (4 stars)
(Shadows of War Book 1)
If you like clean, character-driven, female protagonist Sci-Fi, you will enjoy this![image error]
Wheeler has done an amazing job throwing in twists and betrayals like no other. She is a master of interrogation sessions and politics. A perfect blend of easy-to-read sentences with somewhat advanced language makes this a comfortable read. Her scene-setting and world-building are fantastic and mixed into the storyline in ideally sized chunks. Her characters stand out as quite unique from one another.
The action and suspense are well-proportioned to keep the pages turning. There is something magical about the way Wheeler weaves interpersonal details into the main character’s storyline. Some components are predictable, others are wildly not, which makes for an ideal mind game for the reader.
Readers that prefer clean books, both spiritual and not, would like this. A character-driven story, Asrian Skies delves into the life of Avery Rendron in the beginning and doesn’t slow down until the major action begins about half-way through. Though mild skirmishes dot the initial first half and propel our reading, the midpoint is a major inflection, and the action takes off. While there is mild violence, there is no cursing and no intimacy. Respect and honor are underlying themes which Wheeler has filtered in through her character’s actions and dialogue.
Summary: (Spoiler Alert)
Avery Rendron is a lieutenant for the Commonwealth on Ventana and a princess on her home planet of Asria. After a space-flight training mission goes awry, Rendron finds herself being summoned home and her status as an officer revoked. Her uncle has fled to an enemy planet, and her brother is a deserter. Rendron doesn’t want the life of a royal either: its expectations, rules, or the emphasis on faith.
Returning home does provide an opportunity to see her former love-interest, Merritt Parker. But his job as senior aid to General Teruel, and his connection to the military, take priority—though not in his heart.
An invasion by the enemy, the Haederans, catches Asria off guard. Asria prefers its isolation despite its allegiance to the Commonwealth. Their technology is advanced, yet they cannot understand how the Haederan ships evaded their scanners.
Governor Perrin and his Haederan army take control of Asria like they have many planets, but with mildly less aggression. They attempt to manipulate Rendron into working with them so as to make her people willingly surrender to Haederan rule. But Rendron is too stubborn.
Rendron finds herself working in the shadows for Hadley and Feye, two off-worlders seeming to want to help. Because they are skilled in military maneuvers beyond her grasp, she accepts her role and begins recon to gain any information she can to assist the few rebels in finding a weakness in the Haederan forces.
Escaping with the information she uncovers is a tricky skill Rendron repeatedly fails to acquire until the Haederans grow weary of her disobedience and lock her away.
Beaten and torn inside, Rendron begins to find her faith again. Hadley infiltrates the Haederan guards and manages to steal Rendron in a Nightflier, and they head out on their quest to find a data chip she sent out with her most trusted personal guard just before being imprisoned. But betrayal soon catches up with her, and Rendron ends up walking right back into enemy-occupied territory.
The Haederans have acquired the chip and, with no other use for her, put her on a transport to a ship in orbit. Destined for Haedera, Rendron grows restless for an escape and steals a Haederan fighter. In a daring move, she flies out of the mothership and fakes out the fighters that follow. Bolting out into space, she loses consciousness and blacks out.
Rendron is picked up by a Commonwealth scout ship, the only one close enough to help though not big enough to fight the Haederan fleet beyond. She explains what she’s learned, but they already know everything. Yet having a Haederan ship with a functioning stealth cloak is the key turning point, providing a functioning example of how the Haederans have evaded their scanners and therefore a way to gain equality on the battlefield.
As our main character comes to be the last remaining member of the royal family, she assumes the duties of Queen of Asria. She will no longer fly as an officer and knows this as her duty. Taking charge of the hand she is dealt, Rendron decides she must return home, to Asria.
We are left with the notion that Rendron has put aside her personal dreams so she may do what is best for her people. She no longer wishes to avoid Asria, but return to it, despite its Haederan occupation and rule. Rendron now fights for something greater than herself.
Personal Thoughts:
Hadley was by far my favorite character. He’s an intense, hard man, with (I think) a secret soft side to him. His actions and expressions stand out the most in my mind. He felt the most real of the characters to me because he was steady in his convictions and duty.
I tend to be an impatient reader, more concerned with fast-moving works with lots of tech, weapons, and action. But I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a nice change of pace and allowed me to slow down and take in the scenery.
Something that stuck out to me was when Rendron thinks about how often she brags of her mother’s gardens while proceeding to pick all of the petals off of a flower—in effect, killing it. In retrospect, I see that moment now as foreshadowing (because her mother dies), but at the time I felt confused. How could Rendron love her mother while destroying something her mother worked hard to grow? Either way, it seems like an interesting symbolic reference at the end. These are the details that made me stop and really think about the story. If a book can make us pause and play with the characters in our own minds, I call that a good read!
If you like this book, Unbroken Fire is book 2 in the Shadows of War series. Find it on Amazon here.
December 13, 2018
Book Review: Imprint By Nicholas Adams
Imprint By Nicholas Adams (5[image error] stars)
If you liked Ex Machina, you will like this.
Overview: (spoiler alert)
Imprint follows Malcolm as he tries to find a solution for a debilitating and life-threatening side-effect of the synthetic organs he designed. His wife is the last remaining test subject in a world that destroyed itself thinking “The Scald” was a plague. The Scald is the term for the burns which appear sometime after a synthetic organ transplant has occurred. Good intentions aren’t always enough.
Limited to a bed of gel to support her fragile, disintegrating body, Malcom’s wife, Cynthiana, can no longer participate in daily activities. After being given a week to find a cure for his fatal mistake, at the Warden’s threat of execution, Malcolm attempts to build Cynthiana a new body through which she can wirelessly transmit conscious action and, in a manner, live again.
But the created anthropomorphic being begins to act of its own accord while Cynthiana isn’t conscious. Malcolm studies his wife’s neural activity, attempting to find a connection between the waking sessions and odd behaviors of “Synthia.” It isn’t until he and Synthia are alone that he uncovers the imprinting of personality, interests, behaviors, etc of his wife within the constructed AI. What Synthia does after is unexpected and unpredictable.
This is an easy, short read (novella). I had no trouble following the storyline. I enjoyed the addition of the Canadian French in Malcolm’s wife’s dialogue. Learning a little something while reading for pleasure is a great two-for-one deal. Speaking of pleasure, there are a few steamy scenes, though nothing described in raw detail—a perfect mix.
Definitely cyberpunk/biopunk dystopian fiction. The world in which the story takes place is limited to Malcolm’s residence, specifically his lab, focusing on details of his biomechanical creations. Synthia’s new body is described in wonderful detail, including how she perceives the environment, and him.
Malcolm loves his wife dearly. She is a delight: still actively engaged despite her failing body, reading romances, always attentive to what’s going on when she’s awake. I would fully expect, in any other situation, for her to moan and cry and hate everything because of her state. She strikes me as the strongest of the characters.
The ending, the imprint, is a surprise that couldn’t make more sense. It wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but I won’t give it away. It evoked some strong feels for Malcolm. Anyone that’s had a spouse with a mysterious illness can probably relate. Their bond is obvious, his dedication to her unmovable. I have missed reading about characters with morals, respect, and true love. …And a future hanging wide-open before me.
Personal thoughts:
Only two things mildly bothered me: glazing over the week Malcolm originally had to find a solution or face execution with the mention of three weeks later he’s working on the synth body, and the fact Cythiana’s neural expertise didn’t come into play. I expected the Synthia to start working on a project of her own because of that detail in Cythiana’s opening credits. Maybe she’ll find a solution to download her actual consciousness into the body?! Yes? Please? And then the twist… Ha! Proves just how much I should not let my mind do this while reading. And honestly, the ending was a good one, true to life. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Nicholas Adams Website: http://www.nicholasadamswrites.com/
December 12, 2018
Upcoming Novels 2019
I’m a fan of book series, especially when the characters are close to my heart, wield blades like their own fingers, and can torch a planet with a single, negative thought. That said, I’m completing the Embers on Ice duology (toying with making it a trilogy in 2020), publishing book 3 of Infinite Spark, and starting two new series. One is centered around Cohen, a rebellious student kicked out of his floating school, Skyfire. The second follows Marci and her pieced-together team as they break into a research facility to save one of their own, only to find out a far darker truth about its purpose.
Check out this visual rundown for the year:
A Promise in Ash – Spring[image error]
Norah has been planning for her career since she was a little girl. Her life has become everything she thought it wouldn’t be: blessed with broken expectations and tormented by irresistible opportunity. When her father takes ill, her world snowballs into chaos and she must find the strength to pull the pieces of her shattered life together without his help. Unless this time, she finally decides to let it burn.
Women’s Fiction
Shadows of the Son (Book 3: Infinite Spark) – Late Spring[image error]
The Universal Protectors find themselves scrambling to salvage what’s left of their organization after a massive breach. The Karakas arrive ahead of schedule, spinning threads of fiery chaos that can only be stopped by the ones that carry the power of The Spark.
Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, Apocalyptic
[image error]Wildfire (Book 2: Embers on Ice) – Summer
Orion’s ex has left town, but not without one final warning: a bullet stashed in her coat pocket stamped with a B. Matt, her new interest, says he’ll protect her. She doesn’t know much about him, only that he doesn’t know what Boone is truly capable of.
Not wanting to endanger Matt, Orion summons the courage to confront Boone herself only to find herself trapped. Face-to-face with the one person she never thought could betray her, Orion uncovers a secret that could tear apart her sleepy Montana hometown. Hands tied, she’s forced to decide between freedom and justice. Will Matt forgive her for the choice she makes, or will he become entangled in the chain of fate?
Holiday Romance, Cozy/Sweet Romance
Cohen: The Colors of Courage – Fall[image error]
Kicked out of Skyfire magic school for nearly killing another student, Cohen’s powers stripped, banned from practicing, he must relearn what it means to be human: vulnerable and alone. Taking a job in a small mining town, occupied by more than the superstitious, he finds shelter in an abandoned mansion with its own secrets.
Fantasy, Science Fiction
[image error]The Kiss That Saved Christmas – Winter
Claire’s husband passed two Christmases ago. Now the truck won’t start, the road isn’t plowed, and the last wedding is weeks away. Her former venue assistants were complete failures and her business is teetering on the edge. In a desperate attempt, she posts one last ad in the local newspaper. This time, she’s in need of a man.
Holiday Romance
Zedger (Book 1: Lucid Genesis Series) – Winter[image error]
A tech-savvy girl saves one last man from a government program that turns children into drones of the future. When his health takes a turn for the worse, and the programmed snipers come after them, she finds herself setting foot in the one place she hoped she’d never see again.
Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, Biopunk
Universal War Novels
This is my largest undertaking as a writer. I don’t know if other authors do this, but I want you to know how big this plan is. Three series will complete the Universal War Novels. Yes, I am writing them out of order, in a manner, as I’m starting with the Infinite Spark cluster. I figured it would be the most interesting of the three. I’ll let you be the judge. Five are complete, seven are under major construction, and the rest are in outline format.
Abaddon’s Edge is the first component of the overarching UW series, containing five books preceding the pivotal change in the Suanoan’s rule over the universe
Zenith Elite – (Orionate) Earth’s first encounter with the elite of the universe’s species
The Last Prime – (Primvera) A soldier is tasked to protecting Earth and uncovers a hidden member of a forgotten society
300 Years – (Mirramor) The war on Earth and it’s true, alien, nature
Perihelion – (Human) Struggling to piece the world together as they form Shepherd’s United.
Into the Sun – (Xahu’re) The three men that make the Infinite Spark Series what it is: Tivar (Atana’s father), Sergeant Bennett Sr., and Mratus (Azure’s father), how they met, and the destruction of planet Vioras.
Infinite Spark is the second component of the UW series[image error]
Stellar Fusion (on Amazon)- The Universal Protectors fight back against the invasion of Suanoa with one key player: Nakio Atana
Requiem (on Amazon)- Earth patches itself together in preparation for the next battle
Shadows of the Son – Bennett’s transformation begins to interweave with the fate of UP and the future of the universe
Redshift
Axis Zephyr
Lucid Prison
Supercluster
Afterglow
Spectral Renegades is the third. I’m not giving away major spoilers about this one. Just want everyone to know Infinite Spark isn’t the end.
Rogue Unleashed – Kios
Equinox, Supermassive – Kylo
Age of Ascension – Luna
As always, things are subject to change as the novels evolve. I always aim to do the story and the characters justice. I will also do my best to make you, my readers, happy. It will likely take me several years to finish the Universal War novels, but I plan to release a new book about every six months, interspersed with my other work!
Thanks! Stay tuned!
-Elysia
November 9, 2018
Book Review: Deep Cosmos
Book Review: Deep Cosmos by Project Kyle
Available on Amazon November 10, 2018
[image error]
Deep Cosmos follows two main characters, Sophia and Nerd, as they struggle to escape the grasp of Dr. Crimson, Experiment 1, and the lasting effects of the inhumane experiments conducted at Cosmic 5. Nerd has a secret past, buried in betrayal, something Sophia has in common with him. Nerd isn’t who he says he is, nor is his character. Sophia battles with her trust of him after he rescues her from the potential bloody fate Dr. Crimson has in mind for her. And this event breaks the rules of Deep Cosmos, the organization fighting for good, the organization Nerd is a part of.
Kyle does a fantastic job of weaving in almost unnoticeable details that, as the story unfolds, start popping back into mind. There is twist after twist and lots of action. It starts off “in media res” style then carrying you through the backstory. About a third of the way through, you will find the tension picks up with the addition of new characters and stakes, and it doesn’t let up until the very end! Deception is a key part of the villains strengths, making the story unpredictable.
Nerd’s “odd” behavior in relation to other characters is explained further into story. There is a moment where we are given the truth about his unique abilities that makes his character that much more endearing. He has always set himself apart from others, self-isolating in his behavior, until Sophia. But, in true “do no harm” fashion, Nerd is the ultimate doctor, and the hero, in more ways than just this story. His character sets an example as an individual with Asperger’s, who is a kick-butt intellectual, hilarious, caring, and proves he is worth more than what others judge him capable of.
I absolutely love the little details like the Owl Eyes going off randomly, which makes for a brief and comedic ‘oops’ moment. The hallucinations make everyone seem crazy at first, but they tie everything together further in. I really liked this lead-in because of the subtlety.
There were only a few things that left me a tad disconnected from the overall wonderful book. The beginning, while starting with action, fell into a bit of a slump with the “dead space” between major scenes. Sophia is a V. T. C. warrior but came across rather weak until later in the book. And the literary components were sometimes more of a “tell” than a “show.” I didn’t always feel the connection or get inside Nerd or Sophia’s heads to truly feel the rawness of their emotion. But, I must say, there are still several fantastic moments where we really connect emotionally (especially during character secret reveals).
It is a great, clean story. No cursing or gore. It is acceptable for teens and up. It does have a lot of suspense and will make you wonder who’s associated with who and especially who Experiment 1 really is beneath the mask. Nerd’s character changes the most, and rightly so. It was great to see him come out of his shell and learn how to connect with others, even if it was at such a great cost. He shows us how to resist urges, control ourselves, and make better choices.
**** 4 Stars
You can find author Project Kyle here:
August 19, 2018
FREE Advanced Review Copy of Stellar Fusion
[image error]It’s been a long, turbulent ride, but Stellar Fusion is finally ready for your eyes! New and improved, you can get a FREE copy including EPUB, MOBI, and PDF files until October 30, 2018 here: Instafreebie
Please help indie authors by leaving us an honest review! It tells us what you enjoyed and how we can improve! I hope you’ll join me for the official launch October 31, 2018!
[image error]
It’s been a decade since the first attack. This time, they’re taking everything… and everyone.
Earth, still patching itself together from the 300 Years War, is severely unprepared and outnumbered when the invasion hits. Their only hope is a small team of peace-keepers on a suicide mission to infiltrate the mother ship and relay critical defense information home.
Sergeant Nakio Atana is the Universal Protectors’ elite assassin, and holds within, a spark of unimaginable power. But a daring escape from an enemy ship knocked the first fifteen years of her life into darkness, leaving her with only inexplicable apathy and technical knowledge beyond Earth’s evolution.
She is the tip of their spear.
Sergeant Bennett must guard her with his life.
August 1, 2018
Author Confidence
Here are the questions!!
(I know I tend to paraphrase/bullet point in my videos)
1. What has been your biggest struggle as a writer/author?
2. What is your proudest moment within your writing/career?
3. What do you think determines success? (personally and/or within the market)
4. What is your personal recommendation for constructive networking?
5. What constructive tips do you have for new authors?
6. What motivates you to write?
7. Why do you write? (what is the purpose/message of your writing?)
8. Do you have a slogan/motto/catch phrase for your writing?
I’m tagging you, Lenn Woolston!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ84…
But if you’re not tagged in my video and interested in sharing your responses, please do! I’d love to hear from you!!
Best wishes!!
