Peter Buckmaster's Blog, page 2

BB – Throwback Thursday, vol 5: “Conan the Barbarian”

I was going to save this legend for later, seeing as other films may pale in comparison (yeah, I like it that much!), but I needed something majestic to get me back in the swing of things, so… “Crom!”

“How about Conan the Great Barbarian?”

I absolutely love this film. From the not-Conan-but-Conan, larger-than-life lead, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to the glorious visuals to the peerless score, this is Crom-tastic! Something I say now as if I thought it up myself (but probably read it somewhere), is you could freeze almost any moment in this film and it would make an awesome still. The whole movie is packed with “high adventure”, sword swinging and heroic moments. Add the music to that, and you have something that is stunning to witness.

The opening sets the bar high and brings the perfect atmosphere. A Nietzsche quote to start (not accurate apparently), Arnie’s looong name, the composer’s looong name to rival that, Mako’s voice-over, and THE music (be sure to turn your speakers up to 11!) over a scene of steel being forged. This is sublime stuff!

Conan’s papa then sits him down for a pep-talk about giants, gods, and steel, for which there is a riddle. “What has four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and then three in the evening?” Answer: a man who got munted down the tavern the night before and needs to lean on his sword come the evening. Anyway…

“Now, son, what is best in life?”
“Netflix? Disney Plus? I don’t know, Dad! Which one is it? Tell me!”
“”

As with so many heroes of fantasy, the parents don’t last long. Heck of a job, being a parent in these fantasy worlds. But the scene is once again packed with magnificence. The scout standing up on the rock as the riders surge past him, the armour and helmets of Thulsa’s men, and then Vader himself, James Earl Jones, just commanding your attention with zero words and only a chilling look. Gladiator may have an awesome opening battle, but this was almost twenty years earlier.

For the story to progress, we need Conan to grow up, so…”We need a montage! Even Rocky had a montage!” But what a montage this is! The Wheel of Pain. As it turns, so do the years. Finally Arnie looks up and Conan has arrived. I appreciate Arnie does not look like the Conan of Howard’s descriptions nor Fazetta’s art, but I’ll leave that debate for others. For me, Arnie was a great Conan and this film was the platform by which he went on to give us some excellent blockbusters of the 80s & 90s.

“Someone call?”

If there’s one ingredeient in this delicious recipe that doesn’t quite meet the high standard, it’s the ADR. Arnie’s “Yarrghh! Arghh! Warghhh!” sounds a bit off. Reckon they would have been better off with less. Anyway, Conan learns to fight, pleases the crowd and even does a Wakanda Forever pose. And then…then we get the oft-quoted and truly Crom-nificent piece of dialogue (which is the first time the character actually speaks in the film, some 20mins in):

“Conan, what is best in life?”

“To crush your enemies,

see them driven before you,

and to hear the lamentation of their women.”

I remember some anecdote about an agent telling Arnie when he first came to Hollywood that his accent and overly-long name would work against him in the industry. What a fool! Once you’ve heard the above lines spoken by The Austrian Oak, nobody else will come close. And in the 80s & 90s, his name took up the big screen! I bet he’s glad he didn’t take a stage name of John Strong or something.

The scene down in the crypt, where he finds the sword, is again art on screen. The set design, the music, the pacing, all come together to give the episode a sense of destiny. The DoP, Duke Callaghan, and Basil Poledouris conjure up pure magic, with the following scene Conan emerging into a background of cobalt blue sky, sword in hand. “Crom!”

As with all fantasy flicks, the hero has to keep moving from one encounter to the next. His rutting with the witch is full of sultry sorcery and dark demons. “Zamora!” Lucky the city wasn’t named Shitterton! Conan survives the she-devil and hooks up with his first buddy, Sabotai, the acting debut (where he played a character and not himself) of Gerry Lopez, a professional surfer. The two strike up a healthy camaraderie, boasting about their gods.

Crom the Comedian!

Conan’s second ally is the beautiful Sandahl Bergman as Valeria. I don’t think she had much acting experience before this, but it doesn’t show. She brings the emotion in her eyes and can swing a sword with skill & style. Interesting nugget on imdb: she had to do most of her own stunts, as no stuntwoman could be found that matched her size. She is quite tall at 5’9.5″. Nice to see her going Dark Side in Red Sonja.

So we have our three heroes and are then spoilt with Max von Sydow. “What impudence! What arrogance! I salute you!” An actor of Von Sydow’s calibre (UK spelling!), owns that dialogue and gives it gravitas and panache. Every fantasy film needs a great actor to raise the bar a notch or two more. And then of course, we have the great James Earl Jones, who is menacing without any scenery chewing or explosions of anger. His portrayal of Thulsa Doom just exudes fear, and yet I could listen to him speak all day, such is the uniqueness and power of that voice.

Legendary actors.

I read somewhere that Conan only says five words of dialogue to Valeria in the entire film. Is this true!? I could well believe it, as this is a film where dialogue is minimal, but memorable when it comes.

https://geektyrant.com/news/15-fun-facts-about-conan-the-barbarian

And I want to give a shout-out to Thulsa’s two main men, Rexor and Thorgrim, played by Ben Davidson and Sven-Ole Thorsen. Thorsen is 6’4″ and Davdison was a towering 6’8″ (he sadly passed away in 2012). Both had sporting backgrounds, with Davidson having been a professional NFL player and Thorsen a champion body-builder and power-lifter. Thorsen would go on to act in many other Arnie movies (Conan the Barbarian, uncredited in Red Sonja, uncredited in Predator, The Running Man, Red Heat, Eraser… the guy’s filmography is packed, including a memorable turn in Gladiator as the poor guy whose foot gets brutalised!). These two bring a real slice of physical menace, big lads with little mercy in their eyes.

Now all Thulsa and the Doom Cats needed was a drummer.

All in all, a film that has stood the test of time, with a score that is as majestic as it is memorable, and a cast that is hard to beat. Conan the Barbarian? Nay… King Conan!

And now the ratings!

Acting9/10The three heroes are fine, with Sandahl Bergman particularly good. Von Sydow’s contribution gets an extra point. And James Earl Jones raises it to an almost perfect score.Dialogue10/10I have to give this full-marks as it is so perfect for the film, and arguably so very quotable.Tension8/10The cult being one of snakes adds a nice layer of danger to the proceedings.Action9/10Arnie & Sandahl slice and dice with their blades, as Ben Davidson and Sven Ole Thorsen bring the pain with their bashing & smashing.Comedy6/10The drunkenness is mildly amusing, Mako’s grouchy wizard is entertaining, and some of the fighting raises a smile.Special FX8/10The first snake looks a bit rubbery but a higher standard than many 80s fantasy monsters. The witch’s scene is decent and the spirits coming to take Conan are believable.Production Values9/10Excellent. From the costumes to the temples to the swords.Score11/10!
Okay…
10/10It’s glorious! It’s heroic! It’s beautiful! Crom!DVD Extras7/10Quite a bit on this edition, including a Making Of doc, commentary from director John Milius and Arnie, and a few more goodies.Ending9/10This tale is complete. OVERALL RATING87/100One of the best 80s films and perhaps the best fantasy flick of the 80s, if not ever. Crom-tastic!

Conan the Barbarian (87/100)Clash of the Titans (70/100)The Beastmaster (62/100)Red Sonja (59/100)Sorceress (35/100)

Unsurprisingly, Conan hits the top spot and I doubt it will be knocked from its perch. Fine by me. We still have some worthy rivals to come, though, in Krull and Excalibur, and maybe Hawk the Slayer.

Once again, I bid thee all farewell. I hope you are well wherever you are. Please check out all the latest stuff on Buckmaster Books web-site (Music Monday, T-Shirt Tuesday, What’s Cooking Wednesday) and don’t miss the Facebook posts, because… This Is The Way!

BB10-Q (vol7) – Brian O’Sullivan

Buckmaster Books is very happy to have grabbed Brian O’Sullivan for a quick chin-wag, as I have enjoyed immensely his Fionn series and Liath Luachra books. If I use the word “immersive” more than once here, it’s because his books really do pull you into the world of Iron Age Ireland and surround you with all manner of sensory experiences.

Let Brian O’Sullivan take you back to 2nd century Ireland.

http://irishimbasbooks.com/

Although Brian was born in Ireland, he is currently based on the other side of the world, in New Zealand. So his two homes are the Emerald Isle and Middle Earth. Nice!

Let’s get straight into it and let Brian do most of the talking. Hello, and how are you?

I’m probably doing a lot better than many people at the moment being in New Zealand. We were lucky enough to have a government who put the health of its population ahead of commercial interests. Between that and our island status, we’ve therefore been remarkably untouched by the global pandemic. We’ve also had a gorgeous summer so like most people living here, I feel incredibly lucky and privileged.

An image taken from the newzealand dot com site. An enviable place to be!

Can you briefly describe the kind of books you write?

I tend to write across a number of genres but all my work is linked closely with Irish culture and ancient Irish belief systems. I have three fiction series on the go. The first is the Fionn mac Cumhaill Series. That’s based on the ancient Fenian Cycle narratives (i.e. orally-based stories of Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Fianna) which I’ve adapted from the original manuscripts for a more contemporary audience. The second series (The Irish Woman Warrior Series – or the Liath Luachra Series) is a spin-off with one of the most popular characters – Liath Luachra – from the Fionn series.

I also have a series relating the adventures of a ‘mythological detective’ on the rugged Beara Peninsula (where my family hail from). This is called ‘The Beara Trilogy’ although I have only one book available at the moment. Finally, I also have a series (the Celtic Mythology Collections) which explores ‘Celtic’ mythology (and I use the term ‘Celtic’ with caution). This comes from a series of short story competitions I’ve run – based on ‘mythology’ from Ireland, Wales, Scotland etc. I publish the winners of the competition in a compilation and add contextual analysis and background on the mythology/folklore associated with their tales.

Liath Luachra is one of the most compelling characters I have met throughout my many reading journeys. I enjoyed reading Brian’s latest LL book under the cherry blossom.

Are you an architect-writer or a gardener-writer?

In terms of my overall work and series, I’m an architect – actually a complete control freak. In terms of individual works/books, I’m far more of a gardener. I potter a lot.

I’m glad Liath Luachra is back this year. Can you tell us more about this new chapter in her tale?

The current Liath Luachra adventure was based on a proposed outline I made for a full season of a potential television series. In book form however, that simply turned out to be too long, so I’ve had to split it into a two-part story (i.e. two books). The first part is ‘Liath Luachra: The Seeking’ (released 1 May) The second part is called ‘Liath Luachra: The Metal Men’ and should be out later this year.

Television series!? That would be awesome!

Do you have any other work to be released this year?

I’m hoping to release the fourth book in my Fionn Series (which is already half written) but that’ll depend on how busy my independent freelance work keeps me. One project that will definitely be released is ‘Camhaoir Fuilsmeartha /Dark Dawn’ – probably be sometime in May /June 2021. I’m reluctant to say too much about it at this stage apart from the fact that (a) it’s experimental, (b) it’s linked to the Fionn mac Cumhaill Series and (c) it’ll be available in Irish and English. If I have time, I’ll also release some non-fiction ‘mythology’ guides.

Dark Dawn (taken from Goodreads): A dying warrior is assigned to defend the isolated settlement of Ráth Bládhma (future home of Fionn mac Cumhaill) from an incursion of enemy scouts.

You’re a busy man! I’m intrigued about Dark Dawn.

Last year was a tough year for the world. What lifted your spirits or kept you focused?

Work, I guess. My workload in 2020 was so intense, I barely had time to think about the whole Covid thing. When New Zealand went into lockdown, I was doing some heavy contract work related to Covid. At the same time, I was also in intensive negotiations for a potential television series for Liath Luachra, trying to finish two books and making sure my family had the support they needed during and after lockdown. By October, I was burnt out and had to take next three months off (apart from writing). I ended up ignoring the pandemic and avoiding interaction with the rest of the world. Fortunately, New Zealand was a place where I could do that.

お疲れ様でした！…as we say in Japan. Literally, “You must be tired!” (said to a work colleague who is leaving the office, or in any situation where you’ve put some effort in). I’m just going to put another photo of NZ in here because I loved it there and want to go back.

“They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard, to Isengard, to Isengard!”

You live in New Zealand but were born in Cork. What took you to the other side of the world and what do you miss about the Emerald Isle being in NZ?

I was pretty much lured to New Zealand by my partner (same story for me) . She’s Maori and deeply involved with her own iwi (tribe) development so it was too much to ask her and my kids (who’ve had a very strong Irish and Maori upbringing) to move back to Europe.

In terms of what I miss, I certainly miss my (extended) family but I also really miss the landscape of Cork, particularly, Beara. And accents like my own. I’ve been lucky in that Wellington has a good Irish ex-pat community (we even have our own Irish speaking group!) which allows me to keep certain aspects of my culture alive. The internet has almost meant that I’ve managed to set up a creative company allowing me to continue dabbling in elements of Irish culture that fascinate me, despite the fact that I live on the complete opposite side of the planet.

Let me encourage everyone to visit Brian’s site and have a listen to the pronunciations of various words within his books. The first thing I noticed was that what I was saying in my head as I read the books was totally wrong! Listening to these is a pleasure in itself. So great to have a second language.

http://irishimbasbooks.com/gaelic-pronunciation/the-liath-luachra-series-pronunciation/

So glad I am finally pronouncing the Grey One’s name correctly!

An aspect of the Liath Luachra books I very much enjoyed was the immersion into Iron Age Ireland. In my review for The Swallowed, I said “you can almost feel the marsh round your legs, or smell the myriad forest scents, or share the encroaching sense of unease for the Grey One”. How do you achieve this level of description and atmosphere? Can you say a little about the process for this particular aspect of your writing?

I suppose it was always my intention to make the land an actual character/personality in the Liath Luachra books (to reflect societal beliefs at the time). To be honest, I don’t really overthink the descriptions when I write. I usually just pull up evocative memories from my childhood which involved a lot of wandering through woods, wading through mud etc. I was lucky to have some half-wild parts of my childhood in Beara, where I wandered around without too much supervision. Living in a city – albeit a very nature friendly one like Wellington – I guess it was a level of freedom my own kids have never experienced.

And the characters. Can you say a bit more about them?

The characters in my Fionn mac Cumhaill Series are very much based on the established Fenian mythology – which is neither mythology nor history (a bit too complicated to explain here). The characters from the Liath Luachra Series – including Liath Luachra herself – were generated from a single name that was mentioned (without context) in the Fenian Cycle. When I started the Fionn series – where Liath Luachra first turns up – I decided to use that reference as a character that was (a) female and (b) gay, as it fit where I wanted to take the story.

Ironically, my work in non-fiction mythology and the popularity of the character have meant that, where it comes to Liath Luachra, some people seem to have confused the two. Prior to the book (Liath Luachra: The Grey One) being published there was barely a single online reference to Liath Luachra. Now, it bemuses me to find so many people posting (with comical self-assurance) that Liath Luachra was a legendary, lesbian banfénnid (female fian warrior). I must admit, I wasn’t expecting that.

Credit to the realism in your work!

I’m sure there are many, but could you name one misconception about Irish mythology or history that you hope your books can set straight?

I guess the biggest misconception is that mythology is ‘fantasy’. Unfortunately, most western people have been raised to think like that. Cherry-picking elements of someone else’s culture for fantasy purposes tends to have a diminishing and eroding effect on that culture. Fantasy writers have been happily nicking elements of Irish culture for over two centuries – in most cases blissfully unaware of the damage they were doing – and through my own work – fiction and non-fiction – I’m trying to explain and (one day) help rectify that.

I’ll have to hide my head for this one as I definitely picked at a variety of cultures for my first trilogy.

I’m hoping to speak to Brian about this aspect of fantasy & mythology in the future, so watch this space!

What other world mythology fascinates you, and why?

Because I’m in New Zealand and my family are Maori, this obviously has a key relevance for me. Maori mythology is more interesting in that large elements of it still form an integral part of their daily life.

A public domain image of Rangi and Papa, taken from Wikipedia. Rangi and Papa appear in a myth concerning creation.

I feel like I need another BB10-Q with Brian to talk about Maori mythology and culture.

And now we get to the fun questions, asking Brian about his current reads and other book stuff.

Q1) What book are you reading now? OR What was the last book you read?

I usually have several books on the go that I pick up depending on how much time I have and where my mind lies at a particular time. Of the most recent batch, I’ve nearly finished ‘The Royal Changeling by John Whitbourn – it’s quite mad and parts make me shake my head but it’s hilariously entertaining. I’ve just finished rereading ‘Holy Fire’ by Bruce Sterling for the fifth time – a very thoughtful book about an old woman who regains her youth in a near-future Europe. On the Irish cultural research side, I currently have a book called “Early Christian Ireland: Introduction to the Sources” – that I miraculously picked up second-hand in a Wellington shop. I also have two graphic novels that I intend to devour this week – Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ ‘Incognito’ and De Campi’s ‘Smoke’ and a book called ‘Gideon the Ninth’ which I’ll get to at some stage.

Q2) What genre of books do you usually read?

Ha ha. Given the above, I guess, pretty much anything.

Q3) What was the last book that made you cry or laugh out loud or gave you pause for thought?

A book called ‘The Imaginary Indian’ which I picked up in Vancouver airport while flying back to Ireland a few years ago. It was fascinating to find that someone from a completely different culture had independently picked up the same cultural patterns that I’d found and come to such similar conclusions.

Q4) What book do you remember fondly from your childhood?

Ooh, Jeez. There was a series of Irish-language school books called ‘ Soilse’ (which means ‘brightness’ or ‘light’) that I quite enjoyed. The books were all about colourful animal friends doing kid stuff but they had a nice ‘warmth’ to them. I actually picked up the whole series for my own kids (I taught them Irish at home) so they were reared on that as well. My kids are much older now, but we still make jokes about those books.

Q5) Apart from reading, what hobbies do you have?

I used to run regularly until I bust my ankle last year so, nowadays, I tend to tramp or at least walk through the Wellington bush 3 times a week. Mostly I enjoy exploring – places, cultures and people and finding out new things I can learn from. Covid’s kinda knocked travel on its head but, fortunately, there’s still plenty to see and learn here in New Zealand.

Q6) Where is your favourite place to read? (Ex. In bed, on the sofa, in a park, in a coffee shop etc.)

I have a battered armchair by the window in my bedroom. That’s really the place of choice for reading in our house but there’s some fierce competition for it. (You need to get up before dawn and put a towel on it to save your spot!)

Q7) What book would you like to see made into a TV show and who would you like to play the lead character?

Hmm. Bit of an overwhelmingly wide choice there so I’ll default to the cowardly option of my own Fionn: Defence of Ráth Bládhma. I’ve always wanted to see an authentic screen version of the Fenian epic and people who know the stories are often mystified why it’s never made it to the screen yet. Lead actor … Cillian Murphy, of course! It helps that he comes from Cork too. (Cillian Murphy!? Yes!)

Ironically, Carnival Films (the people who make Downton Abbey) approached me last year with an interest in optioning that book and Liath Luachra (while I was already right in the middle of ongoing negotiations for Liath Luachra – talk about timing!). In the end they decided against it.

In terms of the proposed Liath Luachra television series, I did see an early ‘preferred’ list of potential actresses for the role but that was shared in confidence so I can’t really say who they were. Some seemed fairly good choices to me, others I struggled to imagine but, then, I’m no expert. (My mind is whirring now!)

Like almost every other production in Hollywood, Covid had an impact on the proposed series. I have very little to do with the screen development stuff now but, as a project, I get the impression it’s a kettle simmering on the heat rather than boiling on the fire. Episodes are still being written/adapted from the book (which is nice) but the truth is that the whole screen industry is undergoing massive upheaval at present. Given the huge investment costs (and for most series filmed outdoors, Covid apparently upped production costs by $500,000/episode), I really can’t blame anyone for delaying projects to see where the post-Covid industry is going to land. At this stage, therefore, it’s just a watch and wait. (It must be thrilling that there’s a chance of this happening. Here’s hoping the planets align and we will see The Grey One on screen!)

Q8) If you could meet a fictional character in real life, who would it be and why?

I’d be keen to meet Spider Jerusalem (from ‘Transmetropolitan’) just to see if he’s as crazily intelligent as in the graphic novel series. I’d also be keen on meeting Lagertha from ‘The Vikings’ television show as I’m sure I could learn a lot from her.

Q9) What literary world would you like to experience/live in?

To be honest, I’ve always had a bit of a hankering to go visit Scott Lynch’s island city of Camorr. I reckon I could be a good Gentleman Bastard.

Q10) If you could say something to the entire world today, what would it be?

I think I’ll jump onto the political soapbox with this. Hold your political leaders to account. Help to force the update of dysfunctional democratic systems that actually represent current populations. And, for feck’s sake, social distance!

Hear, hear! I’m dismayed at the sheer volume of misinformation suffocating the internet. People are existing in echo-chambers and not challenging what they are told. COVID seems to have exaggerated this situation. Critical thinking seems like a lost art these days.

Buckmaster Books thanks Brian O’Sullivan for a robust and fascinating interview. I really hope I can catch him again to go a bit deeper on some topics mentioned. If I’m lucky, I’ll grab him one day for a pint when he’s making a connection in Tokyo on his way back to Ireland.

Giveaway quiz question & details will be in the Facebook post, so please be sure to join in the fun! I can’t recommend Brian’s books enough. If you want to truly enter an Ireland of old, I encourage you to seek out his work. Please check out reviews from myself and fellow author & Liath Luachra fan, Elle Lewis, on Goodreads if you need any more convincing!

Brian O’Sullivan (Author of Irish Imbas) | Goodreads

Take care, everyone. We’re still in a crazy world but we can survive the madness by showing a bit of empathy and compassion, I believe. Hoping you are all well wherever you are, and that today will be a good one for you. Till next time!

Slamming some sashimi & saké whilst appreciating the Fionn series. Books 1 & 2 read, next up is 3.

And if you need one more stunning photo of NZ…

Three Ninja, A Castle & A Village

Realism! That’s what I need for my next book, so I’m trying to dip into the history here in Japan, and get some interesting info & nice nuggets. First up is a trip to the Asakusa Ninja Dojo with friends, Ayuko & Hitomi. I’d like to say we’re now highly trained agents of the shadows, but that would be a bit of a stretch.

“What do you mean you need a Garfield telephone!?”

Our teacher taught us hand signs, how to move like a ninja, how to throw shuriken and how to draw & wield a katana. I didn’t do too badly with the katana & shuriken, but got cramp in my toes trying to creep along like a ninja. I reckon I would be named, “Ninja Whose Coming Is Known To All”.

One interesting misconception is that ninja used shuriken all the time. As our teacher pointed out, there are fairly obvious reasons this was not the case. 1) iron wasn’t exactly cheap back then, so throwing it away on a regular basis would have made for an expensive habit; 2) unless you secured the shuriken very well, they would have jangled as you moved, thus making you “Ninja Whose Coming Is Known To All”. ; 3) a single shuriken would not have dealt a fatal blow, so the sword was the primary weapon of the ninja.

These were surprisingly heavy.

Throwing shuriken into a vertical tatami mat was extremely satisfying, though. It’s all in the body-movement, a smooth rotation of the upper body, like a water-wheel on its downward trajectory. Another tidbit was that early shuriken were simple spikes, long nails basically. The grip was of course different, but the body motion was the same. Shuriken were also used for a variety of tasks, like breaking locks and scaling walls.

I bought a shuriken to take home. Pretty sure in the UK that would have been classed as a lethal weapon.

Next up is Odawara Castle. We went as a family a few years back, but I wanted to get some photos for reference. Odawara is the nearest castle to where we live, I believe. I’d love to visit Himeji & Matsumoto, two very impressive fortifications. Osaka is the biggest in Japan. I went there once about twenty years ago, and was thrown by the automatic doors that led into the castle. Seemed a bit of out of place in a medieval Japanese castle.

Cherry blossom season is a great time to visit a Japanese castle.

If you’ve been watching the Netflix documentary series, “Age of Samurai”, you may recognise the name, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Odawara Castle fell to his forces in 1590 as part of his campaign to bring Japan under his rule.

And finally, I visited Minka-En yesterday, a treasure trove of information regarding Japanese living in the Edo period and before. This is well worth a visit for anyone interested in history. Outdoors so you avoid the claustrophobic nature of some museums. Surrounded by nature, only 500 yen to get in, and a real step back in time.

Your stress just drifts away while you walk through this village.

I learnt a fair few things from these three destinations. I definitely need to re-write one scene in Yamaya Sisters. I also have a good handful of details with which to bring a bit more authenticity to my world-building. And it was nice to see more of my adopted home. It’s easy to live in a country and just go through the days not really seeing all the amazing things that give it its character. Step back, think like a tourist, and make time to enjoy your country!

A couple of items of news for you lovely folks out there. Ragnekai Winds is now FREE on Kindle (AmazonDotCom) and as far as I can make out, this will be the case until Amazon notifies me otherwise. Please take a look if you haven’t got it already. The Old Wounds trilogy precedes The Seasons of Change trilogy, so be sure to read it before Yamaya Sisters is released in autumn!

And Yamaya Sisters now has a front cover, designed and created by the very talented Karin Wittig. Hope everyone likes it and will be eager to check it out later this year.

That’s all for now. Hope people are getting their vaccines where possible and being sensible. Still a long way to go yet, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. Take care everyone and enjoy the spring or autumn weather.

Ninja Strike Force Team Z!

Try the thing in the middle! Delicious!

Beautiful colours of spring.

Sweets from 7-11 Heaven!

If you know anything about Japan, you know that the convenience stores here are awesome! You can buy anything in a 7-11, Family Mart, or Lawson. Obento lunch boxes, alcohol, toiletries, notebooks & pens, spare underpants… the list goes on. But there is one section that deserves a special shout-out, and that is the refrigerated sweets section. This is not your average mix of brand cakes that are sold all year. No, this is a section of 7-11 specials that change with the seasons. And the quality is top-notch! Being the wonderful person I am, I figured you might like to see some of these delicacies, so I have suffered immensely buying and eating various products. The things I do… Anyway, here is a Top Ten for your browsing pleasure.

Yep, that’s Pikachu….

10) This is the Pokemon Tokyo Banana. Light & fluffy sponge unfortunately filled with banana cream. And the price is hiked due to the brand. Would I buy again? No.

Shittori (moist) Cookie Sando (short for sandwich) , Strawberry rare cheese

9) Loved the cookie bit but the filling was sickly sweet. Needed a swift cup of tea. WIBA? No.

Maple & Nuts Pancake, Buttermilk Pancake

8) Again we have the light & fluffy quality spoiled somewhat by the topping. The nuts & maple are good but the cream is too sweet. It’s like a denser version of the squirty cream you can buy back in the UK. I would point out here that I prefer fresh cream in my chocolate eclairs (something I never tire of telling my family), so what I find overly sweet may be just right for some. WIBA? No.

Rikko Italian Pudding

7) A very smooth texture with a more subtle flavour (ie. not wince-inducing sweetness). Perhaps a bit boring but a nice morsel to finish with. WIBA? Maybe.

Mocchiri (sticky) Crepe, Apple Caramel

6) Not sure “sticky” is a good translation of mocchiri. It’s more like the texture of cookie dough. The crepe is good and the apple inside is unsweetened (thankfully!) with a slightly bitter caramel sauce. So why, oh why, in the name of all that is good and decent in the world, did they shove that bloody sweet cream in again!? Give it a rest! It just gives you a mouth full of mulch. Japan does have a thing with sweet cream. Check out what passes for Christmas cakes here and you’ll understand. WIBA? Hmm, if I was feeling grumpy and needed a sugar-burst.

Blonde Caramel Brownie

5) You may have noticed that the translated Japanese often doesn’t line up exactly with the English. Which is pretty much how subtitles are in Japan. To be fair, it is difficult translate colloquial English, especially humour. Word of advice to any foreigner coming here: do not slap on a DVD of South Park, dubbed or subtitled. The dubbed version uses a rough Osaka dialect, I believe. And the language uttered by the potty-mouthed Cartman & co. is generally not used in Japan. Anyway, I digress. So this one was a little too sweet (I know, I know, I sound like a grumpy old man…but I am basically exactly that), but it went very nicely with a cup of tea. And I think the look of it is fantastic! WIBA? Probably.

Shokora Oranju (chocolate orange said with a French accent, like “gateau shokora!”

4) A very nice little dessert. The mousse is smooth but not too light. It has some body to it. And the slightly tangy orange topping is excellent, the perfect balance to the chocolate mousse. WIBA? Yes!

Fermented (?) butter scent, Golden Sweet Potato

3) This might look boring but it is so good! Moist and sweet, and just the right size. If you are ever in Japan, I strongly recommend trying real sweet potatoes (yaki-imo). I often buy them and stick them in the oven for 45mins. The inside can turn this gorgeous, deep colour that is a mix of orange & yellow. Delicious and healthy! Although, word is they give you gas, so plan accordingly. WIBA? Definitely.

I love Tuesday’s exquisite bread pudding… or something.

2) I was delighted to see a British pudding in a Japanese convenience store so this may have a higher ranking than it deserves. Excellent pudding beneath, with all the qualities I’ve come to expect from 7-11 sweets (moist, not too heavy, delicious). But… and I’m sure you can guess by now… please don’t sweeten the cream! The sweetness overpowers the subtler flavours of the main character in this Tuesday drama. WIBA? Yeah, I can endure the cream.

Shittori (moist) BaumkuchenDrum roll & cymbal crash for our top spot! This is sooooo good! Truly moist cake and a sumptuous layer of icing. I have bought this one several times. And look at that price. 168 yen, which is about a dollar fifty maybe. A very worthwhile use of that money, says I!

Okay, so that’s it for today. I’ll keep it short and encourage you all to try these wonders if you visit. But be sure to have a cup of tea ready!

Work on my next book is going well. I am delaying the release till autumn so as to align the book’s season with the actual one (and give me a bit of breathing space with edits etc.). I’m excited to bring another trilogy from the world of Urami to you. It’s a new land with new characters, but it follows on from the events in the Old Wounds trilogy, which will be on special offer with Kindle in early April. Winds will be FREE to download, Moons & Storms will be discounted. Please check Buckmaster Books on Facebook for more updates.

Till we meet again, fare thee well!

Sneak peek at part of the cover for Yamadou Sisters.

BB10-Q (vol6) – Elle Lewis, The Sequel!

It’s winter here but brilliant blue skies once again. Buckmaster Books caught up with author and friend, Elle Lewis, for our second interview. Let’s find out what Elle has been up to, and then we’ll ask her the next set of BB10-Q, which are level 2 and so, much harder! She may need to use her Vorpal Blade (dexterity+2) or cast a spell of Focus-Hocus-Pocus to beat this level. By the beards of Zeus and ZZ Top!

Elle Lewis, author of The Glass Star trilogy

Hello Elle. Thanks for coming back for another chat with BB. It’s been a looooong year but it also feels like not so much time has passed since we talked for BB10-Q, vol1. You’ve just released the final chapter in the Glass Star trilogy. Congratulations! How do you feel?

It feels bitter sweet. I am very proud of the trilogy, book three is probably my favourite. But book 2 released in the same month as the COVID pandemic. Combined with that and the state of politics, I feel that the writing community is not the same right now and that my ability to reach new readers is limited. That being said, seeing the combined works come together on the page is incredible. It has taken years of hard work and I am so happy with the story and the journey of the characters.

I personally really enjoyed this trilogy. All are reviewed on Goodreads.

How did you did you come up with the concept for the trilogy? Is there room for more stories in this world?

I knew when I started book one that I wanted to offer original lore to readers. It took a lot of outlines and worldbuilding to create an alternate reality of Earth and the Universe, where The Source and The Four/Dark Four are the omnipotent powers. But I am really glad I put in the effort and took the chance, because I think it resulted in a truly unique story. And yes! All of my writing will intersect in some way, creating a multi-verse effect. Sloan and will absolutely make another appearance in my next Fantasy novel.

“My God! It’s full of stars…”

Buckmaster Books will be giving away a copy of one of Elle’s books in a quick competition on Buckmaster Books Facebook page. The winner will choose which one depending on if they have any already. Moving on!

We’re finally in 2021. 2020 was a rough year. What helped you cope with all the craziness last year?

Fitness. I am somewhat of a health junkie! Working out and concentrating on my overall well-being really helped. Books of course, and writing. And…good friends. But my absolute favourite thing to do when I’m stressed is to go to the beach for the day. I’m lucky to live somewhere that gives me plenty of beaches to choose from!

BB10-Q interviewees certainly live in some glorious locations!

I’m not good with heat but nothing beats the sound of waves breaking on the shore. So, what do you hope for in 2021, personally and in regards to your writing?

I am excited about a new project that I have started. I am currently working on my first Horror book! I’m taking my time with it, not rushing that process. I’m also excited about starting a book review VLOG. It’s been something I have wanted to do for a while and I can’t wait to talk about books and geek out! Personally, I am hoping this is the year I reach my fitness goals, and I am also hoping to go back to school to pursue a new career!

Best of luck with all this! I’ve seen the Vlog and it’s great! Very zippy and zappy. It pushed me to order Mexican Gothic and made me laugh with that random thought! Please everyone check out “Lady Elle’s Books & Curiosities”.

What have you learned about the whole writing process since you started your journey?

I have learned to not rush the creative process. Beta Readers are invaluable and truly help to elevate a writer’s story. Wait. Take your time. Edit as much as you need, until you have a polished book that is truly ready. Not just done. But ready to pitch and ready to read.

<Agreed! It takes time.>

Is there any interesting nugget of trivia that you’ve discovered while researching something for your books? Or perhaps you discovered a new interest or passion??

I’ve had a lot of fun researching my horror project. It takes place in a hospital operating room (I’m a nurse and worked in the operating room for many years). It was so fun to chat with my medical co-workers, picking their brains on inappropriate uses for medications, or if certain items we work with would catch fire, or what would happen if this or that….. I always had to preface these conversations with “I’m writing a horror book” because the things I asked were always morbid or twisted. But everyone I spoke with was so enthusiastic about answering my creepy questions! Even doctor’s and anaesthesiologists! And now some of my beta readers are members of the medical community and they are really enjoying reading material that takes place in the medical field. It’s so fun and exciting.

I just spent about 15 minutes looking at nursing memes. There are sooooo many!

Does this horror book have a title yet? And will we see anything else from Elle Lewis this year?

OR 16! I don’t know when it will be released, I am taking my time with it. I want it to be Horror perfection! But I am also writing a short story collection that I will roll out on my blog. It’s called- Spooky Tales from Cassadaga. There is a town in Florida (where I live) called Cassadaga, which is known as the psychic capital of the world. The short stories will surround two high school monster hunters. There will be blood, magic, and plenty of action! This is just a fun project for me, a creative palate cleanser to take breaks from the heavy task of crafting a long horror story.

How about a bit of chin-stroking musing? If you could whisper through time and give some advice to yourself when you were starting out as an author, what would it be?

I would tell myself to take more time before pitching a project. Writers work on a book for a really long time, and I feel like as soon as we type the words “the end” we are ready to send it out into the world. And why wouldn’t we be?! It’s exciting! You want to share the story! But finishing a book doesn’t mean it’s ready. This is something that I learned through personal experience. I now truly understand what a “polished manuscript” entails. It’s easy to get ahead of yourself, but I can’t stress this enough….just take your time. Edit. Edit. Edit. Polish. Polish. Polish. And use Beta Readers!

Polish that bad boy!

Are you ready for the grueling second level of BB10-Q!? Abandon hope all ye who enter!

Q1) What book are you reading now? OR What was the last book you read?

Funny you should ask- I’m reading Ragnekai Moons by Peter Buckmaster.

Q2) Do you have a guilty pleasure when it comes to reading? K-Pop fan-fiction, for example.

Sometimes I’ll grab a YA novel. These are hit or miss! But occasionally I find a gem in this genre.

Q3) If you had a year off work to just read and learn one new skill, what would that skill be?

Probably a martial art- Aikido, or Jujitsu. I am very attracted to weapons and fighting (maybe it’s genetic, my father was a gunrunner, US Paratrooper). So yes…. A year to learn a martial art!

Q4) What is the coolest power you’ve come across in a fantasy world?

I’m a sucker for magic. I love watching as a character conjures up spells, raising powers and invoking elements from another world into ours. I also love when a character can read thoughts! I wish I had this power! I’m SO curious to know what people are actually thinking.

<I think there are quite a few memes about what goes in the mind of men – “Tomorrow I’m going to crush the Reikland faction with hordes of zombies… Must eat that last slice of pizza before anyone else… What happens if you sneeze in a dream?”>

Q5) LOTR question. What is a favourite scene of yours from the book? And also the film? (Bakshi’s or Jackson’s)

This is going to sound really girly and sappy – but pretty much anytime Legolas recited poetry or songs in Elven. OMG. So beautiful (like when they reached Lothlorien). The elves were always my favourite, and these moments really enriched the world for me. It gave glimpses of their history and lore as a people. Also anything with Aragorn and Arwen (again very girly and sappy). But I LOVE their love story. It was always handled very subtlety by Tolkien, but those two on the page were always magical to me. And of course—the fight in Moria. A great moment. Tension. Action. A bad ass demon. I love that part.

Q6) When you read fantasy/sci-fi/horror, what tropes do you enjoy and what tropes make you roll your eyes?

An eye rolling trope for me is the obligatory tavern. And the names! The leaky faucet, or the rusted nail, or an animal of some sort combined with a color or an adjective of decay. Like okay, I know, The Prancing Pony is the standard. But can’t bands of Warriors meet anywhere else? Can they ever sit down in a nice restaurant? Or over some cliffs with their boots hanging over some waves?

The trope that I enjoy the most is the story of the conquering hero—someone that was once powerless that gained power, the rags to riches success story, overcoming obstacles, conquering evil despite the odds, seeing a character hit rock bottom but crawl their way back out. It’s a common concept that is integrated into most SFF/F, but I never tire of rooting for that main character, watching as they gain strength and knowledge, seeing their journey and ultimate triumph. It just never gets old. One of my FAVORITE examples of this (and yes I know it’s a movie and not a book but it illustrates my point so I’m going to mention it) Is in End Game when Captain America is flanked by the sudden appearance of everyone that was once lost. He’s facing Thanos, literally on the brink of losing once again, beaten, battered, bruised. And he says, “Avengers…assemble.” Bro. I get goosebumps every time. And I’m like, “YESSSSSS!”

Q7) Do you collect anything nerdy? Bobble-heads, geeky mugs, goofy t-shirts etc.

Strangely, no. Unless my thoughts count. I have a lot of geeky thoughts and musings, LOL.

Q8) It’s Halloween 2021. Everything is back to normal (we can but hope!), and you have just been given a big wad of cash to create your costume. What is it?

Easiest question ever! And I’m not going to wait for that wad of cash, I am assembling my Halloween costume now. I want to be a female Viking Warrior, inspired by Uhtred (The last Kingdom). Yesssssss, a female Uhtred! This year I will slowly be gathering the necessary items, which will include a sword and scabbard, and a leather vest. I’m so excited. And I plan to wear it at the next Renaissance Fair and Comic Convention!

Halloween 2021, Elle Lewis will transform into Uhtred! Trick or treat…or “‘Tis but a scratch” limb lopping!

Q9) What cross-over team-up would you like to see? Anything goes!

I watch Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina…. I would really like to see the South Side Serpents and Sabrina team up to defeat a common enemy that is threatening both towns. Magic meets gangs!

Q10) And the last question. You can say something to the entire world again but this time it has to be a quote from a book. What is it?

I am going to quote something from one of my own books, Dark Touch: We all have the capability to change our stars.

And that’s a nice note to end on. Look up at your stars and see if you can’t nudge a few here and there. Then reach up and grab one!

A big thank you to Elle Lewis for stopping by again. Buckmaster Books hopes more readers will check out The Glass Star trilogy, and also be ready when OR16 drops!

2020 sucked and 2021 started off as it was trying to outdo last year for sheer craziness. I really hope things will calm down now. The vaccines are here so we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. A bit of common sense and a big dollop of kindness, and I reckon we can all be Kiwis by the autumn.

Elle about to take down a few orcs!

BB – Throwback Thursday, vol 4: “The Beastmaster”

I was excited to revisit this one but have to admit it didn’t wow me as it did when I was 8 years old (first viewing) and a teenager (second viewing). Either The Mandalorian is instilling stratospheric expectations within me, or I am turning into a grumpy, old git. Probably both. Anyway, let’s take a look!

[image error]“He just crapped on my hand, right?”

Nice, simple titles accompanied by THAT theme. I’d forgotten it was such a memorable tune… That doesn’t make logical sense, to forget a memorable theme but bear with me. Once you hear it again, it stays with you. Very heroic and very hunky!

So we kick off in a sinister temple, home to some fruity sect, no doubt. But hello! Who are these sexy ladies, moving in such alluring fashion? Oh. Erm, okay, they’re witches and wouldn’t be the first choice for a Loreal campaign.

Then we have a prophecy, because fantasy needs prophecy to tell the viewer what will undoubtedly happen by the film’s conclusion. And then there is Rip Torn, totally rocking the dark priest-thang.

[image error]“I specifically asked my agent not to accept any kind of prophecy in the story.”

I remember the sudden self-hanging shocking me as a kid. Perhaps The Beastmaster wasn’t really meant for young scamps like me, but this was back in the day when children watched all kinds of stuff and played on construction sites or set fire to Action Men. Ah, those were the days…

There’s a penchant in this film for one-syllable names. Dar, the hero. Ar, the heathen god. Seth, the mighty ally. Tal, the king-in-waiting. Ruh, the…I want to say panther, but it looks like someone painted a tiger.

[image error]“I have many tigers you can paint. And I can sing on the soundtrack.”

I think the first act is pretty decent. It sets the tone, gets the story moving and has some nice visuals. And a cool weapon, the Kapa.

[image error]“A kapa. Thanks. But I asked for a glaive.”

Young Dar learns about his ability to communicate with beasts after an unfortunate encounter between one villager and a bear. Dar seems to injure his adoptive father’s leg trying to get him to safety but saves the day by telling the grizzly to go home. His father “realises” that Dar has a mastery over beasts. “You shall be the Animal Manager…no, hang on, ah, got it! You shall be the Creature Controller. Nope, still doesn’t haven’t much of a ring to it.” Time leaps forward, Dar is grown up and presumably his father has given up trying to figure out a cool moniker for the lad.

The characters in this movie are scantily clad, it must be said. Marc Singer’s hair gets longer as his clothes get skimpier. He had the pecs though. A sleek physique that goes well with the awesome sword they designed. I don’t know much about swords but it has the curve of a sabre, is longer and thinner though, yet broader than a katana.

The first dodgy special FX comes in the form of a globby dust cloud. The Jun horde is here! As a kid these lads were much more fearsome. I guess that once you’ve seen The Mountain That Rides brutally murdering people, a fantasy biker gang holds less sway.

[image error]Nice photo here. The leader has a good silhouette.

I think the Ewoks may have learned a thing or two from Dar’s people. Alas that the Emirites lost quite badly and were impaled for their troubles. I read that the shots reminiscent of old Vlad were cut from the British version to secure a PG rating.

There’s a bit to the village destruction scene that I didn’t remember, which connects the threads of the story. And can I say it’s a better pillaging scene that the one in that recent show on Netflix, Cursed. That really didn’t make a jot of sense.

[image error]The Miracle Master?! Sub-title, Seven Big Adventures… Would it have been too much to just keep the original title? Beastmaster is kind of an apt name for the film. Miracle Master sounds like some dodgy re-telling of the New Testament.

Dar’s ability to see through the eagle’s eyes gives the film-makers a nice excuse to do sweeping fly-by shots, and there are some great vistas to behold. California’s Simi Valley apparently.

Dar then runs from scene to scene, assembling his crew. It’s not super-thrilling but quite entertaining. With the use of animals, it gives this movie something different to other fantasy flicks. The fighting ranges from mediocre to somewhat flashy, but never reaches the heights of Conan, nor plumbs the depths of stabby-stabby Sorceress. And the animals lend a hand when needed. An elephant might have been handy to have tagging along.

Then Dar encoutners Kiri, played by the gorgeous Tanya Roberts. And we’ll just stop now and give the film 100/100 because Tanya Roberts is in it. See you next time!

[image error]“The beast is fierce? Is that your go-to chat-up line, Mr Dar?”

Dar does what any man blessed with special powers would do and uses them to seduce the lady! Although, I have to say, this scene hasn’t aged well. I think Dar deserved a good, hard knee to the bollocks for his rather aggressive, non-consensual molestation of Kiri. His motives for doing things through the rest of the film seem to hinge on how much it helps him score with the young lady. “What about the girl?”

Dar then runs to the next scene… This is pretty much how it goes. Wonder what would happen if I kept running. Guess something would occur, though doubt it would be anything particularly exciting.

We have the bird-worshipping ghoul-things next and I have a sneaking suspicion that their idol has been repurposed from the Third Reich. Looks a bit out of place in this fantasy film. That scene freaked me out as a kid.

Next up is child sacrifice, keeping in line with the film’s pretty dark tones. I think Monty Python would have a thing or two to say here though. “It’s not a question of where it grips it. It’s a simple question of weight ratio.”

[image error]I’m kinda glad I haven’t seen this…

Ribbing aside, there’s a lot to like about The Beastmaster. The visuals are good, some of the ideas are pretty warped (Death Guards, wacky witches, body-count priests and of course the mastery of beasts!), and the soundtrack stirs the wonder.

80s fantasy didn’t have the budget for an army of extras, nor the CGI for an army of bad guys, so one has to view it in context. The Beastmaster does very well with what resources it had. The sets are believable and well-utilised, the leads are great (Marc Singer, Tanya Roberts, John Amos and the scenery-chewing Rip Torn), and the dialogue is simple yet worthy of fantasy: “We’re doomed.”; “He’s gone.”; “I am Dar.”, “Ar has spoken!”

[image error]“And then I saved the day. Which was nice.”

And now the ratings!

Acting7/10Nothing that would trouble the Oscars but no weak links or clunkiness.Dialogue7/10Fantasy-functional and a refreshing lack of cussing.Tension7/10On my first viewing, I would have given this a 9, but today I didn’t exactly feel much tension. So an average of the two viewings.Action7/10A fair bit of action but nothing on a grand scale.Comedy4/10Dar’s yearning for Kiri would be quite funny if it weren’t for him being an ass-hole the first time they meet. And a couple of points for the ball-crunching by Kodo & Podo.Special FX6/10The flash-explosions in the fires look a bit dated but the moat goes up in flames well.Production Values7/10Decent. The scale is limited but everything looks of that world (aside from the wide-shots over-looking the village).Score8/10A theme that really brings to mind a hero running (from scene to scene) and the camera soaring overhead as he slices his sword through the air.Blu-Ray Extras2/10I am limited in what I can get here in Japan. This time I landed myself with a Korean import so written extras are in hangul. There is a “Behind-The-Scenes” extra but that is a bit of a let-down. Audio-less footage of people mixing paint or doing carpentry is only slightly enlivened by the director and one other (?) talking. When they don’t speak however, there is only painful silence.Ending7/10A satisfying resolution and a better kiss than Sorceress!OVERALL RATING62/100An entertaining yarn and a nice trip down Memory Lane for me. And Tanya Roberts.

That puts it at no2, just ahead of Red Sonja.

Clash of the Titans (70/100)The Beastmaster (62/100)Red Sonja (59/100)Sorceress (35/100)

Already December, if you can believe it. I feel more hopeful about 2021 with vaccines having been developed. Still a long way to go but the end is now in sight I would say. Please take care everyone!

[image error]“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…”

BB10-Q (vol5) – Ben Galley

We’re having beautiful autumn weather here in Japan with blue skies, “fresh” wind (my mother’s term for chilly wind) and not a whiff of humidity. But what’s it like over in Canada? Buckmaster Books has been in touch with a true warrior of the self-publishing world, Ben Galley, to learn a thing or two.

[image error]

Hello Ben. Many thanks for dropping in to let us know what you’re up to, share some wisdom and answer the usual BB10-Questions. So, I have noticed you are exceedingly busy of late. What are you up to?

Exceedingly is just the word! With an increased need to stay indoors I’ve had the chance to up my writing and work hours. I’m wrapping up the release for the new Emaneska book, The Forever King, which is on December 1st, and working on a brand new book I’m co-authoring with David Estes. In the meantime, there’s always a lot of author admin to be done behind the scenes, especially with the launch coming up. All the while, new book ideas keep piling up at the brain-door.

[image error]The Emaneska story so far! And those front covers are just a tad awesome.

The Emaneska series is an epic sword & sorcery tale set in a frozen Nordic world, with dragons, gods and monsters. Ben has kindly offered to add two copies of “The Written” (bk1) to today’s giveaway, so anyone wanting to start their journey in the Emaneska world, please join in the competition on Buckmaster Books’ Facebook page!

Ben, I also see that, despite being a fellow Brit, you are in a far-flung land! What’s the story there, monsieur?

Indeed! I fled to the land of the Great White North in 2017 and came to live here in British Columbia, on Canada’s west coast. It was a choice to both remove myself from the political climate of the UK, while also achieve a dream of living in a wilder place, and begin a life of travelling. Canada seemed the perfect springboard. The epic landscape that’s on my doorstep has been a constant inspiration.

[image error]I went to the British Columbia tourist web-site to grab a photo and spent more than a few minutes there. Incredible nature!

Sounds like you are living the dream! I have to admit to being quite envious when I see your posts of camping by a lake, writing in a log cabin and enjoying deserted beaches. Seems like the perfect environment to conjure up tales. The first book of yours I read was Heart of Stone (the other book in today’s giveaway). I was suitably impressed with the concept, ie. the protagonist is a stone golem. The next work I read was The Chasing Graves trilogy, where the main protagonist, erm, dies in the first chapter! How do you come up with these rather unique ideas? Have they been swimming around in your head since childhood or do you brain-storm like crazy?

I have a list of book ideas that I’ve been building for a decade and a half. A lot of them have made their way into my dozen or so books, while the rest wait patiently for their day on the page. The ideas are normally sparked by dialogue or scenes in films/TV, and also inspired a lot by nature, history, and mythology. I like to tell past events and old stories in a new, unorthodox way whenever I can.

[image error]“A rival?”

Something that George Lucas noticed; the old stories endure and can be retold in new and exciting ways.

You not only write the stories but also draw the maps. What is the appeal of maps for you?

Seeing a map not only supports and simplifies the worldbuilding for me, but it adds another layer to the imagination. Then there’s the art itself, which is pretty much 75% of it. Cartography is an art-form as well as the act of representing a world as closely as possible, and maps can be stunningly beautiful.

I’m just looking at the Emaneska map (which is actually available to buy!) and loving those gnarled fingers clawing away. What are people’s favourite maps? One of mine is pictured below.

[image error]A map everyone has either seen or will see.

I thought a recent video you made, detailing some of the pit-falls and traps of self-publishing, was fantastically helpful. Can you give a few tips here on what to be careful of and also some general advice to any authors setting off down the path of self-publishing?

There are a few main pitfalls we indie authors run into these days, one of which is an oldie but goldie: not putting the effort in at the writing and production stages. The quality of the story and cover is still paramount to click conversion and reader retention, to put it in marketing terms. To put it frankly: sales. Another issue is that we authors put a lot of time and effort into marketing, and occasionally this happens at the expense of writing. Writing should always be priority #1. There is no better marketing method than writing the next book.

<Hear, hear! Writing has to be the main focus.>

What has self-publishing brought to the book world? And how do you see the future of self-publishing?

A chance not only for books that might not have got the lucky break they deserved, but a chance for readers to have access to an endless stream of brand new literature. I believe there’s never been a better time to be a budding writer, or a reader. As for the future? I believe we’ll see a continuing erosion of the hesitation to try indie books, an increased focus on professionalism (and therefore fewer low-quality books on the stores), and with any luck, a sustained golden age of writing, publishing, and reading. Don’t forget: tech is still a big force for change, audiobooks are still rising in popularity, and we’re starting to see indie bookstores bounce back.

I certainly would love the world to read more books. I fear our attention spans are suffering greatly in this internet age.

Ben has done a great deal of research into self-publishing and shared a mountain of information with other authors. Please follow him on Facebook if you are a self-published author yourself or are planning on taking the leap. Or check out Shelf-Help, a consultancy service founded by Ben, which helps authors publish and market their books.

https://www.shelfhelp.info/

[image error]Caltro meets Oiwa-san??

Ben Galley’s Chasing Graves trilogy received full marks on Goodreads from yours truly. I really enjoyed the series and found some particularly excellent dialogue and paragraphs within those haunted pages. And the concept is, ahem, killer!

As mentioned above, Buckmaster Books will give out two paperbacks of the fantastic “Heart of Stone”, , and Ben will add two copies of “The Written”. There will be two winners, who will each win a copy of each book. Now let’s challenge Ben to come up with a haiku to describe “The Written”. En garde!

Man cursed with power

Wades through deep, dark, epic shit

I suck at haikus

A poignant final line! Okay, folks, be sure to enter!

Moving swiftly on, let’s do the BB10-Q!

Q1) What book are you reading now? OR What was the last book you read?

Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames.

[image error]面白かった！

Q2) What genre of books do you usually read?

Fantasy, and the darker the better.

Q3) What was the last book that made you laugh out loud or cry?

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie.

[image error]

Q4) What book do you remember fondly from your childhood?

EVERY SINGLE Redwall book, by Brian Jacques, which I read until they were tatters.

<Embarrassed to say I’d never heard of these books. Seeing the covers brought back a memory of The Secret of Nimh.>

Q5) Apart from reading, what hobbies do you have?

Exploring the wilds, camping, cooking, gaming, working in an array of bars and pubs, and a bit of astronomy here and there.

Q6) Where is your favourite place to read? (Ex. On the train, in bed, on the sofa, in a park, in a coffee shop etc.)

Sprawled like a dropped cheesecake on the couch.

[image error]Like this?!

Q7) What book would you like to see made into a TV show and who would you like to play the lead character?

Can I say mine? Because I’m going to say mine – specifically The Written, my debut book from 2010. We had this discussion on my Facebook page recently, and it was decided Alexander Skarsgård could play the lead mage Farden.

Q8) If you could meet a fictional character in real life, who would it be and why?

Gandalf, because he’s never late.

[image error]Nor is he a conjuror of cheap tricks.

Q9) If YOU were a character in a book, who would it be? OR What literary world would you like to experience/live in?

I’m going full cliche here, but Middle Earth. Exploring it alone would take a lifetime. And, if I was an elf, I’d have a big ole lifetime to explore. Though, I’ve always wanted to try my hand at being the dark lord… a dragon. Either works.

Q10) If you could say something to the entire world, what would it be?

Be chill and good to each other. We need it now more than ever.

[image error]The books got thicker as the series progressed so I simply had to increase the beer intake.

Thank you to Ben for bringing his insight and good cheer to BB10-Q! Buckmaster Books wishes Ben every success with the launch of “The Forever King”.

It’s been a tense time lately and a tough year. How about chatting about some great reads with friends and strangers alike? Or pick up a lonely book from your shelf and sit down with a nice cuppa. And try not to drop that cheesecake! Till next time!

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BB – Throwback Thursday, vol 3: “Clash of the Titans”

Before anybody panics, I’m looking at the 1981 version, not the 2010 CGI fruit salad. Yes, I’m talking about the film that was graced with many of Ray Harryhausen’s most brilliant creations! Calibos, the Kraken, Bubo and of course, the lovely Medusa! The master was bored with destroying cities so went for some good, old mythology.

[image error]“Look at me when I’m talking to you!”

The film kicks off and you get the heroic music to accompany the main titles, along with an eye-popping cast list. Maggie Smith, Ursula Andress, Laurence Olivier and Michael Kusack! The thesps bring gravitas to the gods and Harry Hamlin makes a far better Perseus than Sam Worthington (really can’t understand the casting choice there…).

But even all that talent can’t take away the fact that we are here for Harryhausen’s monsters, and not even forty years can dim the magic. The special effects are a bit dated but the creatures are timeless and terrifying. I feel sorry for the director, Desmond Davis, as laymen like me think of CotT as Harryhausen’s film. Sorry, Des!

We kick off in Olympus and Zeus has some wacky disco lights going on behind him, presumably to signal he’s not just the ruler of the gods but also a real cool cat.

[image error][image error]“Ooh, Daddy Cool, ooh, Zeus is cool!”

The unlocking of the kraken’s cage does see the first example of very ropey SFX but the ensuing destruction of the city is not bad at all (ah, Ray did get one city-wide destruction scene in!). There’s something nostalgic about seeing a devastating flood that is clearly zoomed in (huuuge drops of water). And then we have the obligatory montage, where young Perseus gains 1000XP and morphs into Harry Hamlin. By the gods!

I love the transformation of Calibos, with the shadow metamorphosis more disturbing than if you really saw it. The hands-to-horns is a particularly nifty touch. Harryhausen explains they decided to bring an actor in to play some of Calibos’ scenes, and so needed someone who had very definite features. Enter stage-right, Neil McCarthy. McCarthy does a stellar job of bringing humanity to the fearsome Calibos of Harryhausen’s skills.

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Perseus wakes up in a far-off land, the gods tinkering again, and surprisingly doesn’t say “By the gods! Must have been on a real bender last night…” Like Red Sonja (and unlike Sorceress) we have a budget here to create a world that is believable. The matte painting is a bit obvious but the Joppa city streets have clearly had some effort gone into them.

The next creature is perhaps forgotten by aficionados of the film: the vulture. I think it’s great and gives the whole scene of Andromeda’s spirit heading off in a cage a dream-like eeriness. I wonder if Perseus’ line, “Andromeda, I have found my destiny.” would work as a chat-up line circa 2020…

[image error]“Excuse me, is this the Joppa law school?”

So Perseus solves the riddle by lopping off the hand of Calibos and gets married to Andromeda. Nothing like getting hitched to someone who you’ve only known a few days. The wedding party is going famously until Perseus’ new mother-in-law opens her big gob and insults the gods. Doh! When will these mortals learn how sensitive the gods are!? And here begins the quest, which you either know or don’t, in which case, I’ll stop ruining the plot for you.

Whereas the 2010 version is all bombastic action and migraine-inducing rapid-fire FX, this film has an atmosphere of dread that is safe for youngsters and palpable for adults. I remember being most scared by the Stygian witches, with the casual way they seem to feed on humans. Ugh!

Bubo is another incredible creation and not as annoying as many other comedy side-kicks (Snarf, Orko, No-No, Twikki etc.). Requested by Athena (the hauntingly beautiful Susan Fleetwood) and built by Hephaestus (Pat Roach again!). The sheer mechanics of Bubo are a joy to watch.

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Medusa’s lair is the piece de resistance of the film in my mind. It’s staggeringly well done. How much time went into it, I can’t imagine. The jerkiness of stop-motion monsters is perfect for the gorgon, the terror coming ever closer. Sorry to keep comparing to the re-make, but that Medusa was on steroids. Harryhausen’s Medusa is quite simply one of the most incredible creatures to be up there on the screen. So much so that the grand finale with the Kraken struggles to compete. Don’t get me wrong, that climax is awesome, but the gorgon’s lair is something truly special.

[image error]“Want to get a-head in life? Come see Ray!”

I found a nice nugget on iMDB regarding the Medusa scene:

“The original script called for Perseus to cut off Medusa’s head simply by throwing his shield at her, in an attempt to appease U.K. Standards and Practices censors (as the producers felt that the hero decapitating someone would not be appropriate for children in the audience).  was apparently resistant to the idea from the beginning, as it wasn’t in keeping with the actual Greek mythology. When the day came to film the scene, and it still hadn’t been changed, he threatened to quit the movie and fly home. He remained in his trailer, much to the producer Charles H. Schneer, director Desmond Davis, and producer ‘s annoyance. In the process of trying to coax him out, he was gradually able to get some of the other crew members on his side, which resulted in the scene being re-written accordingly.”

Well done, Harry, for sticking to your guns! A shield throw would have been cool but I reckon it would have been tricky to make realistic.

Also, despite being titled “Clash of the Titans”, Medusa was not a titan and the kraken was not even in Greek mythology. So…

Lots more interesting bits of trivia here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082186/trivia

And now the ratings!

Acting8/10Thesps galore! And Harry Hamlin holds his own in such illustrious company.Dialogue7/10“By the gods!” is uttered many, many times but never gets old. Well-written dialogue all in all.Tension8/10The fight with Calibos, Medusa’s lair, the scorpions and the kraken all ramp up the tension.Action7/10The humans are unsurprisingly upstaged by Team Harryhausen.Comedy3/10No one-liners as far I can recall and Bubo’s antics are more cutesy than amusing.Special FX10/10Despite some FX not aging well, I have to give full marks due to the sheer magnificence of Ray Harryhausen’s monsters. This is why we love the film, right?!Production Values8/10Everything looks good and the sets are spot on for each creature, be it swamp or dimly lit temple.Score6/10It does the job but I can’t say I can bring any tunes to mind, unlike Red Sonja or Conan for example.Blu-Ray Extras5/10Not a great deal but the brief “conversation” with Harryhausen is interesting, and also gives us a nice bit of his philosophy – “Go through life and imagine the very best.” Hear, hear!Ending8/10Heroic rescue and then Zeus wrapping things up nicely with a bit of astronomy.OVERALL RATING70/100An absolute classic of 80s fantasy cinema, a legendary show of Harryhausen’s monsters and a film that influenced many young girls & boys I reckon. Excellent!

We have a Top 3 now of 80s Fantasy:

Clash of the Titans (70/100)Red Sonja (59/100)Sorceress (35/100)

Hope this Throwback Thursday brought back some memories. Please stay safe and keep calm! I had a nice delivery of beers yesterday so am very content.

[image error]“Goblins everywhere!”

BB10-Q (vol4) – Stephanie Mirro

‘Tis a cold, wet morning in Japan. More so over the other side of the Pacific in the USA, where it is a colder-than-a-brass-monkey 40f for Stephanie Mirro, who has kindly agreed to sit down for vol4 of BB10-Q. Stephanie is an author I came across earlier this year and I have stormed through three of her Immortal Relics books. Extremely readable and full of supernatural suspense and mythological mayhem! Buckmaster Books welcomes Stephanie Mirro!

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Hello Stephanie. Thank you for sitting down with me for the fourth BB10-Q interview. How are you doing?

I’m good for the most part! Covid threw us all for a loop, but I think we (in the Mirro house) are working our way through it well, now that we’ve gotten the hang of the new “normal.”

“Normal” is a very flexible word these days! I’ve just had another look at your web-site (https://www.stephaniemirro.com/) and was dazzled by some exciting covers there. Can you tell us about the books. What genre are they? What kind of characters do they contain?

This month I’ll have three books published in the Immortal Relics series, an urban fantasy that features sassy ancient gods, mythical creatures, and a heroine who has to overcome some pretty terrible events to learn her true strength. It’s not a trilogy, though, so expect more to come “soon!”

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<Not a trilogy!? There’s more to come? Sweet!>

And what are you working on now?

I’m focused on an urban fantasy romance series, The Last Phoenix. It’s a planned 7 book series with lots of potential for spin-offs. All 7 will be published in 2021.

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Seven in one year? Wow, not even The Seven could do that! Sounds wonderfully diabolical!

Do you have a writing routine, say getting up early, shunting everyone out the house and pummeling the PC, or sipping on some Chateau de Vinbeaucoup and letting the thoughts flow?

While I love the idea of a glass of wine and writing in the evening, I work much better as a member of the #5amwritersclub. I do some of my best brain dumping when my brain hasn’t woken up enough to start editing in the moment. I’m weird, though, in that I actually prefer the editing/revision process!

<There’s probably some science in there somewhere. I read that there’s a gradual increase in body temperature throughout the morning that improves our working memory, alertness and concentration. It peaks mid-morning apparently. Hmm, so I’m guessing winter mornings might be less productive!?>

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And the big question! Why do you write books?

It’s such a cliché answer, but it’s truly what I was meant to do. My parents like to joke that I started reading before I talked, and writing came soon after. There’s very little in life more satisfying than writing and publishing a book, then seeing what people love about it in their reviews.

Destiny! And yes, I absolutely agree about how satisfying it is to write.

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CURSE OF THE VAMPIRE

Buckmaster Books will give out two paperbacks of your exciting “Curse of the Vampire”, , so could you please write a haiku describing the book? And we will plop a blob of blurb at the end of the interview for anyone needing more to sink their teeth into! Take it away, Haiku!

Sera meets old god

Wicked vampires break the rules

Yes, there will be blood

Nice!

Where did the inspiration for the Immortal Relics series come from?

Despite doing well in school, I was a bit of a space cadet when it came to sitting in a classroom. One day during college, where I studied ancient civilizations and mythology, I was staring out the classroom window and had this idea for the origin of vampires that involved Roman mystery rites. The idea continued to haunt my dreams for over a decade until I finally said enough was enough, and I sat down and wrote it.

This was what really drew me to the book! Roman gods, vampires, lots of claret…of both sorts.

This series is actually a re-release. Can you speak a bit about the rebranding?

The reason I rebranded my books was to let readers know right off the bat what the stories would include. I researched author branding and how the e-book market has changed reader expectations and buying behaviors, then I chose titles and covers that resonated with those expectations. I call my vampires bacchae, but they’re still vampires essentially. I also followed the same format, “blank of the blank.”

This does make sense. It’s very easy to go for a unique title which means a lot to the author, but will not instantly engage a potential reader. If we look at the Star Wars saga, there are a lot of “ of the ” and GRRM’s books are all “A of ”. Food for thought to all you budding self-published authors out there!

[image error]I bought the previous edition of Stephanie’s books. And had to have a glass of wine to set up this photo!

And now we have the usual suspects, the more fun, regular questions.

Q1) What book are you reading now? OR What was the last book you read?

I’m reading an advanced copy of The Witching Vault by Kathrin Hutson. It’s a brand new urban fantasy series coming from a fellow indie author, and I just love her style.

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Q2) What genre of books do you usually read?

Urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and I’ve just discovered paranormal reverse harem romance. I really love all things fantasy, including contemporary and epic.

<Paranormal reverse harem?! That’s another new one for me after BB10-Q vol3’s dark cottage-core witch-punk romance.>

Q3) What was the last book that made you cry?

Books don’t usually make me cry, but I did get a bit emotional at the end of Darkwind, book 1 of the Starchaser Saga by Renee Dugan.

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Q4) What book do you remember fondly from your childhood?

All the Goosebumps books. I just about died inside when my dad told me he donated all my old copies (but to be fair to him, I left them in boxes in his garage).

<This seems to be a hardship all adults must endure: losing treasured childhood books and toys to garage & car-boot sales or charity shops. I sold all my Star Wars toys and my entire Fighting Fantasy collection. Noooooo!>

Q5) Apart from reading, what hobbies do you have?

Does drinking wine count??

Absolutely! Avec fromage, mon dieu!

Q6) Where is your favourite place to read? (Ex. On the train, in bed, on the sofa, in a park, in a coffee shop etc.)

I don’t think I have one! If the book is good, I’ll get absorbed into it anywhere I am, which could be bad on a train if I end up missing my stop. I have this vague memory that this happened once when I lived in DC. Highly possible.

I’m pretty sure I used to wrinkle up something awful when I read books in the bath back in England.

Q7) What book would you like to see made into a TV show and who would you like to play the lead character?

Obviously my own.

BB10-Q (vol3) – Timandra Whitecastle

Top of the morning to all you wonderful folks out there! I am delighted to bring you the third volume of my BB10-Q interviews (where I grill authors and friends with extremely tough questions – they didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition!).

And I am very happy to be sharing some time with an author I discovered through the Grimdark Fiction Readers & Writers Facebook page, Timandra Whitecastle. Timandra is one of those authors that after reading four of her books, I’m there when she releases another. Her works are grim, funny, horror-tastic, packed with emotional hits, and damn good stories. Welcome to BB10-Q, Timandra!

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Hello Timandra. Thank you for taking the time to join me in the third BB10-Q interview. How are you?

Thank you for having me! I’m … slowly adjusting to the new normal, I guess? Anxiously awaiting every new day filled with existential dread? So, I’m fine. I feel fine. How are you?

I’m not too bad here, thanks. Though it’s not so much a case of SSDD, as DSDD. Okay, let’s get started. Please tell us a little bit about the books you have published so far. What genre are they? What kind of characters do they contain?

I’ve published a (grim)dark fantasy trilogy of books called The Living Blade trilogy: Touch of Iron, On the Wheel, and Mother of Slag. They feature Noraya, a young charcoaler maiden who swears a lot, who runs away from home only to get swept up in an epic quest for the titular mythical Living Blade. Throughout the course of the trilogy she realizes that she has to become the hero her world needs, but doesn’t deserve, if you’ll excuse the Batman quote. CW for sexual assault and a villain who uses sexual coercion. The Living Blade trilogy has an accompanying spin-off novella called Bloodwitch, in which a character from Touch of Iron gets her own little origin story and the main location recurs in Mother of Slag.

[image error]The covers are beautiful!

Touch of Iron here: “Old school fantasy with modern smarts and a generous helping of Grimdarkian grimness. The main protagonist, Noraya, is fantastic! Determined but fallible, impulsive and wonderfully sarcastic.”>

I’ve also written a heroic fantasy adventure featuring viking moms, set against a Norse-inpsired backdrop. It’s called Queens of the Wyrd and features middle-aged to older women as our merry band of heroes, most of them working mothers with kids; there’s dread wyrms, Norse Fight Club, the goddess Hel, and smashing the Patriarchy. Also some bad language. Sorry.

Queens of the Wyrd: “A tribute to mothers everywhere!”>

So what are you working on now?

Good question. What AM I working on now? This pandemic has me very scatterbrained, I’m afraid. My concentration is messy, so I try to write at least some words every day, but I don’t stay consistently in one project. Progress is harrrrrd this year. I’m currently writing Queens 2 (Reign of the Midnight Sun), also a dark cottage-core witch-punk romance? And a ghost story, an epic fantasy, and a historical Silk Road meets Nathan Drake/Uncharted kind of story… I said I’m scatterbrained, yes? Well, I’m all over the place.

Wohhh, that is quite a full buffet there! I’m stoked to hear about Queens 2 and intrigued by the “dark cottage-core, witch-punk romance”! Sounds like quite a niche you’ve found there. Good luck with it all!

Do you have a writing routine, say getting up early and hammering the keys, or drinking a glass of wine and settling down for the evening at the PC?

Alas. I don’t have a writing routine. I had one, but I lost it when the fire nation attacked and everything changed … wait. I mean when 2020 exploded into our faces, of course. The fire nation has not attacked. Yet.

I used to write late at night after the kids were in bed and I had done all the school work prep I had to do as a teacher. But my brain just couldn’t get by on the constant sleep deprivation. I’ve also tried writing early in the mornings before everyone is up. I’m very much a morning person, so this would suit me fine. But it often backfires since whenever I want to write a really crucial scene, inevitably one of my kids will be up brutally early and need my attention…

[image error]“I’ll get back to writing once I’ve fought off these ruffians…”

I hear you. I have to wait till my wife and both kids are out the house, and only then can I sit down and start wasting time on Facebook…er, I mean, start pounding out beautiful prose. Anyhoo… Why do you write books?

I write because I get to see myself in the words I use and the stories I tell. I write because I need to heal and I do so by refracting the pain into a fantasy tale. I write because I feel that I had no voice for such a long time, and on the page I find it.

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So glad you found that voice.

Buckmaster Books will give out two paperbacks of your wonderful “Queens of the Wyrd”, , so please tell us a little bit about the book without giving away any plot details whatsoever!

Queens of the Wyrd. In haiku format:

Harried Viking moms

Going on an adventure.

The kids are alright.

Basho Matsuo would nod in approval, I reckon. And finally, what inspired you or motivated you to write this particular story?

Short answer: My life.