Victoria Ray's Blog, page 2

The only thing that makes life possible is literature

 I don’t know who those people are who are still visiting this old blog (especially when Ray hasn’t been here for a long time), but thank you. And now I’m here to talk about murder, a real one…   Haha. Just kidding. The last ten books I read were nonfiction about health, biology, medicine and longevity (because, right… if you remember,...

A journey into the existential humor of Saki

In the small town of British Burma (present-day Myanmar), a literary champion was born on December 18th, 1870. The star known to many by his peculiar name, Saki (actual name H.H. Munro), rose to pioneer the revolution that re-invented comedy and satire. Saki’s work would leave an unforgettable mark in the world of literal excellence that would, for decades, set...

Dream Come True: I’ve Got a Book Deal

I don’t know if you know, but this time next year (give or take), my book will be published in Sweden in Swedish under a new pseudonym. In November 2023, I mailed out a signed contract for my first-ever book deal, giving me the freedom to announce it to you. I posted about it on Instagram, but if you don’t...

Emil Cioran: Philosopher of Unhappiness and Failure

Written by Lea-Katya Gorny    When I picked up Emil Cioran’s On the Heights of Despair, I didn’t expect it to be a literary rollercoaster, but that’s precisely what it was. This book is like a wild, unrestrained dance through the darkest corners of human existence, and I was completely captivated by it. Cioran’s writing is tragic, raw, and uncomfortably...

The Enigma of Tom Stoppard

written by Lea-Katya Gorny   Mentioning Tom Stoppard among my friends is like tossing the topic of pineapple on pizza into the conversation – it’s an instant recipe for debate. On one side, you have the Stoppard lovers, like myself, who practically levitate with excitement at mentioning his name. On the other, the Stoppard skeptics would rather watch paint dry than...

Excerpt from ‘Eyebrow Killer’

Chapter 9   Nura and Gail decided to forgo their usual banter for clearer heads. They let Rocco go home because he had worked a double shift, and it was only fair to allow him to rest. Nura still couldn’t shake off the feeling that she had contributed to the murder somehow, as if she had wished it to happen. She...

Seven Great Winters in World Literature and Cinema

written by Clara Godwin-Suttie   Have you ever considered how an experience that almost everyone deals with can be seen constantly in the same way or through many different lenses? For some, winter is death: think of Game of Thrones, The Revenant, Snowpiercer, or the Ice Planet Hoth from Star Wars. For others, cold periods offer festivities – regardless of faith,...

What I would do if…

… if I woke up in the Gladiatorial School of Rome?  /written by Maggie E./   I awake to the sounds of swords sharpening and trumpets blasting. I turn, fully expecting to see my alarm clock flashing its aggressive “7:30 am,” I instead find myself face to face with an ornate metal helmet. It’s adorned with carvings of warriors, emporers, and...

In an Infinite Universe…

Excerpt from my #next mystery novel “Infinite Copies”   /2000 words/   CHAPTER 1  Rosemary I sit in the kitchen, wondering where exactly everything went wrong. When did I become one of those women who forget the sound of their own laughter? I’m not that old yet, only 59. Ever since Sune’s heart attack, I found myself drinking more tea, and as...

The Birth of Pulp Noir

Literature has a rich tradition of genres, each with distinct characteristics and storytelling conventions. Two such genres that have captured the imagination of readers for generations are Pulp Fiction and Noir Fiction. While these genres may seem distinct on the surface, they share common elements that, when united, give birth to a thrilling subgenre known as Pulp Noir. In this...