E.S. Barrison's Blog, page 28
June 18, 2020
This Isn’t the Zombie Apocalypse – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5 stars)
What would happen if Life and Death basically went off the deep end? What if they decided that the rules no longer applied to them?
This is the world we enter, through sarcastic Cal’s point-of-view, in This Isn’t the Zombie Apocalypse. And the title is true…this is no where near close to the zombie apocalypse. This is a world where those who should have died aren’t dead, and those who should have continued to live, well, died.
Cal is a typical, snarky and sarcastic, teenage boy. Until he dies. Then he spends over a year running from death getting thrown into a series of scenarios that should have killed him. He meets up, by pure chance, with a young 12-year old named Ana…the “Other”. Or perhaps it wasn’t chance, but rather fate itself.
The author has done a fantastic job characterizing the main cast, keeping Cal as the sarcastic self-loathing teenager, while Ana is the precocious young girl who hates cursing. This creates a nice contrast between the two, almost as distinct as Life and Death themselves.
Yet Cal’s distinct voice can, at times, get a little bit cumbersome and take away from the overall narrative. He spent a good portion of the time reflection, making witty comments to the reader, and being dragged along without really knowing what was going on. The world building just isn’t there to support Cal’s voice, and if I hadn’t personally spoken with the author I might have been very confused about this whole “Life and Death” concept she was trying to portray.
While fantasy itself is never realistic, there were some weird moments that didn’t quite sit right. Part of it is due to Life and Death not quite getting along anymore, but some of it didn’t quite make sense. Why did Dr. Calvin feel the need to be unrelentingly obscure and not tell Cal anything? How did Ana find Cal in the first place? And how did Cal really figure out what his destiny was in the long run other than by just…rambling?
While part of these questions being elusive adds to the charm of the book, it left me feeling a bit unsure. I do have a soft spot for these Life and Death dichotomy type of books, and Sterling Blue’s journey to publication is quite similar to my own, so I do believe this books has its merits. Some people will enjoy reading Cal’s snarky personality and the high speed chase of Life and Death. It was enough to keep me entertained and wanting to find out how it ended.
I think we’ll see a lot of great work from Sterling Blue in the future. This Isn’t the Zombie Apocalypse is a mere stepping stone…and I can’t wait to see where this author goes from here.
What’s it about?
So, Cal is running from Death—has been ever since he died over a year ago. Yeah, okay, that’s cool. Fine. But Cal also needs to find some Other person that is supposed to help him do something. He’s not quite sure what, and he’s not quite sure why, but when Life tells you to do something, it’s probably important.
But everything is fine. It’s not like it’s the zombie apocalypse.
This Isn’t the Zombie Apocalypse on Goodreads
June 17, 2020
Indie Authors: A Community of Support
As a part of my launch event this past weekend, I interviewed and featured a handful of authors, all of whom represent different factions of the indie author community. One thing is universal among everyone I spoke with: we are a community. It is our job as indie authors to support one and other, because authors are not just authors…they’re readers too.
Indie authors get flack for not publishing traditionally. We all had our reasons though, and very rarely does it come down to our idea was rejected by agents. That’s not the case. We wanted to independently publish for a reason. Whether it was to get the story out there, having control of the process, or something else entirely.
I had the honor to meet a group of wonderful independent authors over the last week. You can meet them all below:
Eme’ Savage
Eme’ is the author of Echoes of the Gidat and Tetarul Parallel. We had a wonderful discussion about her novel and process, as well as self doubt and how that comes into play while writing.
Cody Blake Wilson
Cody is the author of The Awakening, the first in his series. We discussed his first novel as well as LGBTQ+ representation in media.
Rachel Garcia
Rachel is the author of Illthdar: The Guardians of Las, the first book in an anticipated 10 book series! We talked about how she handles her wide array of cast, as well as diversity in writing.
Rachel Shaw
Rachel Shaw is the author of Last Memoria. We spent time discussing her duology, as well as how biology and memory comes into play in her novel. In addition, we also discussed how to produce an audio book.
Lane Northcutt
Lane is the author of the upcoming novel, The Delivery Co. We had a fantastic conversation about his experience as both an actor and writer, as well as his process. Unfortunately, technology got the best of us, crashing post interview and deleting the video.
[image error]
That being said, you can still read about our discussion HERE.
Lori Yerxa
Lori is the author of the non-fiction book, Pushing Through, which is about Rex Patrick, Paralympic Medalist. We discussed the differences in writing a non-fiction novel, and what she learned about herself along the way.
Sterling Blue
Sterling is the author of This Isn’t the Zombie Apocalypse. We discussed her novel, her creative process, and her current work on a graphic novel.
Kaitlyn Legaspi
Kaitlyn is the author of The Dark Irregular Trilogy. We spent time discuss her trilogy as well as her countless number of projects that she can handle all while in college!
Yet, with all these interviews, I didn’t just stop there. I featured a few other authors throughout my launch.
[image error]Andrew Kirschner, Author of Ms. Infinity
[image error]JC Brown, Author of Asmodeus: The Gift of Lust
[image error]Sarah Newland, Author of Extant
[image error]Author TR Govender
All of these authors combined gave away 10 books in total, reaching readers whom they might not have due to indie authors supporting one and other. And I am so glad to have spoken with all of them, since each of their stories sound unique and have made it to my “to-read” list.
Speaking with each of these authors has helped me find a new sense of community among indie authors. It’s why I am trying to start up a book club, and will continue to read and review books written by my peers.
So I implore you, please check out all these authors! They’re amazing!
And I will continue featuring and supporting them, and I hope you will as well!
E.S. Barrison
June 16, 2020
Surprise Feature: Lane Northcutt
Technology is terrible isn’t it?
On June 12th, 2020, I had a wonderful interview with Author Lane Northcutt that I was so excited to share with everyone. Only to have Instagram to crash the moment the interview ended. And for me to lose the entire video.
I didn’t want to lose our conversation though, so let me tell you a bit more about Lane and his upcoming novel, The Delivery Co.
Lane Northcutt lives in New York with his wife, where he dabbles in array of artistic endeavors. He is an actor, a photographer, a screen writer, and now…a novel writer! His experience as an actor has given him a unique perspective on writing. One day while performing, he came up with the idea for The Delivery Co. and proceeded to write the story on the train to and from work each day. With the help of his wife and friends, they have been able to tackle The Deliver Co., hoping to have it published by the end of the year.
So what is The Delivery Co. about?
In a dystopian society, where humans go to a company to receive the “ideal” child (or at least what society deems “ideal”) known as Replacements. Yet, there are children rejected for deformities or not meeting certain criteria. So meet Ahna, a girl who has been trained to be a perfect and ideal replacement, only to be rejected and sent outside into the Junkyard. There, she meets another reject named Sticks, as well as the other rejected children. She’s an anomaly of sorts, since she wasn’t rejected at birth, but rather after the fact.
And like in any other fantastic dystopian novel, cue a series of events that force these kids to dismantle the system.
I mentioned to Lane how it reminded me of elements of Lois Lowry’s The Giver, Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games, as well as elements of the movie Gattaca. So, with it coming out towards the end of the year, it is definitely one to watch.
Lane’s experience in theater, as well as with photography and other art forms, has helped him in his writing process. He can easily visualize scenes and placement when something happens. Although, Lane is the first to admit that sometimes this skill did result in some underwriting issues.
Lane said that while he didn’t outline The Delivery Co., he intends to outline in the future to avoid more rewrites than necessary. He’s started one idea already using note cards, where he can flip through them and make notes as necessary, which is a unique way to outlining that some writers might want to try themselves.
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June 15, 2020
Indie Book Club
I’m sure I’m not the first one to come up with this idea. But I figured I’d test the waters to see if anyone would be interested.
Over the past few months (and more recently, the last couple weeks), I have come to admire and respect my fellow indie authors. As an indie author myself, I know how important it is to support one and other…and convince other readers to join in supporting us as well.
So, I thought, why not create a book club where all we read are specifically independently published books, novellas, and short stories! This form is just to gauge interest to see who would want to participate.
Note: You DO NOT have to be an author to participate. I’m more curious about the readers right now. Once (and if) the book club forms, I’ll search for authors to submit their books.
So if you’re interested, please fill out the form below!
June 10, 2020
The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice Prize Pack
Do you want to win the ultimate prize pack for The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice?
I am giving away an awesome pack with a signed hardcover, a bookmark, a magnet, a pin, 4 prints, and 12 stickers!
And that’s not all!
4 people will also win a signed paperback copy with a bookmark, 1 print, and 3 stickers!
Sounds cool right?
How do you enter? There are multiple ways!
Add the Book on GoodreadsVia InstagramVia TwitterVia TumblrVia Facebook
So what are you waiting for? Go check it out!
Reaper- Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
We all feared the boogeyman in under our beds, in our closets, and in our basements growing up. Usually we outgrow them.
But what if we shouldn’t have? What if they’re real?
For Gregory and his sister Imogen, that’s exactly the case when a monster in hood appears from a mysterious door in their basement. The monster takes Imogen, and leaves Gregory in a state of utter distraught. In a quest for answers, he discovers the secrets of his town, and with the help of a local young man named Trent, sets out to destroy the monster that took his sister.
A suspenseful read from the start, Jonathan Pongratz wheels us into the world of a headstrong, caring 13-year old. The beginning ticks away like Gregory’s fear, and within the first two chapters, ends with a bang. The imagery makes it easy to visualize the house where Gregory lives, as well as the monster when it emerges from the door.
That being said, after the first two chapters, the story begins to fall short. Part of this is due to the short nature of the novella making some of it feel incomplete. As is often the case with novellas, this one leaves the feel of being a prologue to something bigger. That can work in some cases, but in this case, it almost felt like something was missing. Perhaps it was due to the one-sided nature of all the characters, or the fact that the twists were somewhat expected. I can’t quite put my finger on it though.
That being said, it’s definitely a fun and quick horror novel that is well written and entertaining. It is reminiscent of many horror movies and if you want a spooky read, it’ll definitely be worth your time.
What’s it about?
Gregory and his little sister Imogen love spending Halloween with their parents. But this year is different. If he proves he can take care of Imogen all by himself, he’ll finally have the allowance he’s dreamed of.
That was before the basement door opened on its own. Before the strange door appeared in the basement and Imogen was taken from him by the monster.
Now everyone in town is blaming him for her disappearance, but no one is listening to his story. Where did the door come from? What was that creature? And most of all, can he find his sister before it’s too late, or will he bury his memories of her along with his parents?
Reaper on Goodreads
June 6, 2020
The Color Thief – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5 stars)
Princess Helena thinks she understands her destiny: marry a prince, become queen of Teqell, and lead. She’s been studying for years, basking in the colors of the castle gardens. That is…until her parents, the King and Queen, fall ill. So, Princess Helena, and her guard – and friend – Dresden plan to find the one stealing the King and Queen’s colors.
The titular character: The Color Thief.
With magic based around colors themselves, Emily Poirer paints a wonderful picture of a unique fantasy world, that ropes you in and keeps you wanting more. As you read the story of Helen and Dresden’s travels, you fall in love with them almost at the same pace in which they fall in love with each other.
For about eighty-percent of the book, the story sat a solid 4-stars for me. Helena was a beautiful and kind character, complemented by Dresden more intense and rough nature. You can feel their relationship blossom, like colors on the page.
But, the last twenty-percent let me down. The central conflict regarding The Color Thief did not result in some grand altercation or negotiation; the resolution was, for the most part, anti-climatic, taking the back seat to the love story that wove its way through the tale. While I’m all for happy endings, everything wrapped up a little too nicely and too quickly after voyaging battles, adventure, and emotional hardships.
That being said, the ending is what you want in a story like this, and I have full intentions to read the sequel and learn more about the notorious Color Thief.
If you want a story with W|W romance, accepted polyamory, and two strong female leads, I recommend The Color Thief. It’s a great adventure and you’ll be smiling by the end of it.
What’s it about?
The King and Queen of Teqell have kept a terrible secret for twenty-seven years. Now, it’s killing them. Magic is draining them of their color, and they are dying. Princess Helena is obligated to marry and ascend to the throne, told to ignore what she has learned and accept their fate, but she cannot.
Instead, she hatches a flimsy plan with the Dresden, one of her Royal Guards, to right this wrong. They must help each other travel across the kingdom that she helps rule but has largely never seen while evading other Guards who would bring them back to the castle and stop short their quest. On the way, Helena must also struggle with her changing and complicated feelings about her own family, keep her first and only friend, and reevaluate magic’s role in her kingdom.
Nightshade Forest on Goodreads
How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Audio Book Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Total Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Your destiny is what you make of it.
That’s what everyone says right? Well, except when you’re in a world based off of games like Legend of Zelda of other infamous RPGs. Then it gets a little bit more complicated.
Enter Yui Shaw, a stubborn young woman who wants to break the cycle of fated-heroes to defeat the Demon King once and for all. With a nervous Sword Saint, an annoyed fairy, and her skill as a “Bag Mage”, Yui Shaw devises a plan…and it might just be crazy enough to work.
This is a fun listen, and if you enjoy games like Legend of Zelda, you’ll see exactly where the inspiration was drawn from. Really. It’s that obvious. It’s a light hearted story, filled with green and silver slimes, puzzling temples, and one clear message: you can be whoever you set out to be.
Yui is a headstrong character, but her passion and drive lead her to tempt the Gods and break tradition. I think, nowadays, we can all relate to that at least.
That being said, if you are less familiar with games like Legend of Zelda or Final Fantasy, you might find the story a bit fast-paced and confusing. The base knowledge of those worlds helps navigate and imagine an otherwise fast-paced and light-hearted tale.
So why not take destiny by the shoulders, shake and curse at it a little bit, then choose your own path? If you’re up to it, maybe you’ll even go on an adventure with Yui Shaw.
What’s it about?
For thousands of years, there has been a cycle: a Demon King rises and conquers, and a Hero is reborn a hundred years later to defeat him. Each time, civilizations are ground to dust beneath the Demon King’s hordes, but humanity has remained secure in the belief that a Hero of legend will always save them. There’s just one slight problem. It’s only been 23 years since the Demon King’s latest rise, and this time, he’s already conquered more than half the world. If humanity simply waits for the Hero’s return, there may be no world left for him to save.
And so, Yui Shaw sets out with an ambitious plan. A 10-step plan.
She’ll find a way to obtain the Hero’s legendary sword. She’ll earn obscure classes, gain levels, and increase her skills. She’ll travel to the meticulously-crafted dungeons that seem designed for one specific Hero to complete. And, if she’s truly (un)fortunate, she might even find a fairy.
She might not be a Hero—but if she can fake it long enough, she might still be able to save the world.
How to Defeat a Demon King In 10-Easy Steps on Goodreads
June 5, 2020
Feature Friday: Catherine Downen
Today I am featuring Catherine Downen, author of The Markings.
Catherine Downen, 22, grew up in a small town in southern IL and went to school at Bradley University. She graduated May 2019 with a degree in mechanical engineer and now works as an engineer in St. Louis! She has always loved to write and tell stories, and a lot of times use it as an escape from her science/technical job. She likes to think she has the best of both worlds in the sense that she is 50% science 50% arts. Her favorite genre to read and write is YA Fantasy. She’s just beginning her journey as an author with her debut novel, The Markings.
Why did you choose indie publishing?
Self publishing found me honestly. I was always blinded by the idea of the only option was the traditionally route until I joined the writing community on twitter. that was when I discover the option of self publishing and even though it seemed daunting I new I wanted to try it. I look at The Markings as my beginning. I want to use this book to help grow my platform and better myself as a writer and maybe one day return to the traditional publishing route. I had thought that, anyways, until recently I’ve just really enjoyed the process of self publishing. the book feels 100% mine. Ive had so much fun with cover design, internal formatting, marketing, and getting to work with other self published authors that I don’t know if I’ll go to the traditional publishing route. Self publishing has also forced me to learn about the publishing market. I have learned so much by making myself go through this process that I think every author would benefit from having to learn how to do it all on their own. It’s been a fun experience, and one that has given me more knowledge and experience than I ever would have gotten going the traditional route.
What inspired you to write?
I was inspired to write The Markings through a dream I had freshman year of high school actually. In the dream I had seen the basic parts of the world in The Markings, and had seen the first 5 or so chapters play out. I also knew exactly how I wanted the entire series to end. I was so excited about this idea that I began to try an outline this story and fill in the gaps.
Are you working on any projects at the moment?
Yes! My debut novel The Markings was just released on April 24th. Now I am working on the second book in the series. The Markings will be a trilogy and this will be the project I will spend almost all my time on for the next year or two.
Who is your favorite author and/or book?
Currently it’s Victoria Aveyard and the Red Queen series. I chose this because I feel like the Red Queen series really saved me and my writing when needed it most. in 2018, prior to deciding to self-publish, I had really doubted The Markings would ever get to be a real book. But that was when I found the Red Queen books, and the sparked the writing flame inside of me and it fueled my and my self publishing journey.
If you could apologize to one of your characters, what would you say?
Oh what a good question! I’d probably apologize to Codian because I wish he could have been given the second chance he deserved. I would tell him what happened wasn’t fair and wasn’t his fault. But as Adaline would say, “You can’t save everyone.”
What is your writing routine like?
I have to start with pen and paper. I have so many notebooks that I shuffle through. I sit down and I put pen to paper and let the plot start to take me somewhere. Then I transfer it to my computer and in the reread process I fill in the story. I try to write every day, but my schedule has been thrown off a little with the recent launch of The Markings.
C an you give us an out of context spoiler?
“We both look at each other for a long time. Something flashes in his eyes and suddenly I feel as though I have known him all my life and this is the moment I have to lose him.”
Who do you hope to inspire with your writing, if anyone?
I hope to inspire any kid in a freshman English class that’s dreaming of being an author. I think back to when I was that age a lot and the idea seemed so impossible, when in reality if you want to do It you can! I love that about self-publishing. Yes it’s hard but it is possible. Kids now a days say they want to be an author and people are so quick to tell them it’s a near impossible dream. It’s not, and I hope my writing can inspire the future authors to come!
If you could give one piece of advise to your past -self about writing, what would it be?
It would be to know your options. Don’t get blinded by the path of traditional publishing because there are so many other opportunities for you out there. Every single person will take a unique path to reaching their dream. Also, success is something you define. What reads a successful to you might mean something different to someone else. You’d define your own success and you create your own unique path to achieve it.
Any shout outs?
I’d give a huge shout out to my beta and arc readers! They took a chance on The Markings before anyone even knew my name or story. A big thank you to my mom, dad, sister, and boyfriend Brad that helped me revise, edit, and revise some more. Finally I’d thank all the people who are just simply a part of my life. Whether they know it or not they helped me achieve this dream too!
Follow Catherine Downen
Books
[image error]The Markings
DATHER IS AN ISLAND THAT WAS ONCE KNOWN AS OHAU. A nation that rose from the ashes after an asteroid shower has divided itself when people began to discover their unique powers. At sixteen-years-old Adaline sits in prison with her mother and younger brother, and today is Parting Day where more prisoners will be executed. After seven years of being spared, Adaline’s luck has run out. But she won’t go quietly or easily. Her life depends on her ability to escape the grasps of the King and find a place of freedom. Discovering her unique powers is the turning point Adaline needs to get a second chance at her freedom. In this thrilling novel of friendship, family, and secrets Adaline runs for her life and learns the truth of her past along the way.
Currently, I am not accepting any more applications for Feature Friday. Follow me for updates regarding when I will be reopening the application. Until then, signing off.
E.S. Barrison
June 3, 2020
Nightshade Forest – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Have you ever wanted to enter your favorite story and play out the role of the main character? In Nightshade Forest by Nikki Mitchell, that is exactly what happens to Eleanor! One Christmas day, her father gives her a new book…and without warning she is transported into the world of Nightshade Forest. Alongside her new friends, Elfie and Milo, she has to help save the kingdom before it’s too late.
I’m not usually one to read middle-grade fiction, but this delightful tale is bound to catch the hearts of children…and adults! With elements reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, Inkheart, and The Magic Treehouse, Nightshade Forest is a fun adventure for anyone. Eleanor is a savvy, curious girl, and without her innate curiosity for stories and adventure, the realm of Nightshade Forest might have never been the same.
My only hang up with the story, and it’s a small one at that, is the lack of Eleanor’s disbelief and instead in her utter determination that she will get home once the story ends. While this doesn’t detract from the nature of the story, I would have liked to see Eleanor work this out a bit more while on her adventure to save the kingdom.
The story left me with a few questions, that I am sure will be answered in Eleanor’s next literary adventure: Why was she transported? What is so special about the book her father brought home for Christmas? Will she ever see Elfie and Milo again?
I can’t wait to find out.
If you want a light hearted, whimsical read that you can share with the entire family, I highly recommend you check out Nightshade Forest…coming June 20th, 2020!
Note: I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
What’s it about?
When eleven-year-old Eleanor receives a gift from her father, she never imagines it will open a portal to a fairytale world. Upon reading the first sentence of chapter one, she finds herself standing in the middle of Nightshade Forest—a dark woods with glowing blue and purple trees. She soon learns that the magic in the kingdom is out of control, and it is up to Eleanor to restore what has gone missing.
Join Eleanor and her newfound friends, Elfie and Milo in a search for a magic crystal as they fight off creatures Eleanor has only dreamed about. Can she make it to the happily-ever-after and rejoin her family, or will she be stuck in the Nightshade Forest forever?
Nightshade Forest on Goodreads
