Zilla Novikov's Blog, page 17

Behind the Screens: Tuesday Author Interview

Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha: It’s always a good time for a space opera! We have James Milne here to tell us about his science fiction story—and as a bonus, it’s free on Royal Road! James, can you tell us a bit about The Tumultuous Tours of Ivy Green?

James: We start off with the action. An alien maid, finding herself falling through the skies above the Earth, without anything to catch her. She is… unlucky. She was an architect, but took a job on a cruiseliner to experience other cultures, because space travel is only for the rich and famous. The story has her bouncing off a few other figures. A gigantic red-skinned woman whose culture might just be the inspiration for demons. A soft-spoken, but easy-laughing woman whose past is a little secret. A professor who could somehow afford the flight as a guest. And a guest who… has bad taste.

Sabitha: That sounds like so much fun. What inspired you to write this story?

James: I started work on The Tumultuous Tours of Ivy Green as part of Camp NanoWriMo, back in March. It took me a few months longer to finish it, but that’s writing. Sometimes you just can’t hold the thread.

That’s the key to being a better writer, really. Everything in writing comes and goes. It is as much an art, as it is anything else, and that does mean that you can lose what you had. It also means that with the right amount of time and focus, you can continue to paint worlds. Sometimes it just needs a break.

Part of the break, was helping to solve the problem of a certain character’s death. It had to happen, it had to feel like something… whilst also feeling somewhat pointless. That it shouldn’t have happened. That was the key to making you feel for them, and the pain of it happening. Vague, I know. But death’s tend to be a turning point in literature. Don’t want to give away everything.

Sabitha: Who did you imagine reading your book as you wrote it?

James: I’m really not sure. It’s science fiction, but soft. It’s a little light-hearted, like Doctor Who, but it is more romance oriented than that. But it isn’t a romance novel. If it was anime, I’d stick it right in “Slice of Life”, but it doesn’t quite fit there either. The danger stakes are real. It is certainly an experience.

Sabitha: Do you have a plan for your next writing project?

James: Of course, there’s always more in the machinery. I’ve got about four novels at various stages, and two more short pieces that will hopefully appear before the end of the year. We’ll see how the words flow. But keep an eye out for Official Choices.

Sabitha: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

James: They can find The Tumultuous Tours of Ivy Green for free on Royal Road. They can find my stories on Amazon, and find me through my website.

Palm-sized books are available again!!!

In honor of tRaum Books releasing a new palm-sized novella Read and Then Burn This, for a limited time, they will have all of the palm-sized books available again! A perfect chance to get the one you are missing (maybe Zilla’s Query with the ASCII penis cover?) or gift them all to someone. These books are weird, charming, and deadly. We love them more than is strictly appropriate. Get one in your greedy hands here.

Free short story by Dale Stromberg, Rohan O’Duill, and Zilla Novikov

The inimitable Dale Stromberg, Rohan O’Duill, and Zilla Novikov wrote a short story to complement the anthology Instant Classic. “Have You Considered Self Publishing” is a satirical take on the rejection letters agents are too polite to actually send. Get your free copy by subscribing to the Night Beats Newsletter—if you’re already a subscriber, there’s a link to download it in the monthly newsletter!

Book Report Corner

by Sabitha F.

I adore everything Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes, so I’ll hit the buy button or place a library hold on every new book she produces before I’ve even read the plot summary. That said, Silver Nitrate couldn’t be more catered to my tastes if she sawed open my brain and splashed it across the page. Mexico City in the 1990s, evil Nazi occultists, and cinematic alchemy clash in this weird, compelling story of a childhood friendship, a curse, and a cult.

Nothing has gone right for Montserrat, a sound editor who can barely make ends meet thanks to industry sexism, or for her best friend Tristán, a soap opera star whose career failed after a drunken car accident. They encounter Abel, a washed-up horror director who tells them about a lost film, cut short by the murder of its funder. Woven into its film stock is a spell that could reverse all of their fortunes—but as with silver screen success, magic too has its cost.

This book is more difficult and aloof than the author’s better-known work, but it showcases what to me are some of her greatest strengths—flawed, complicated women, supernatural elements that are deeply entwined with the story’s themes and milieu, and inventive subversions of genre tropes. It’s a love letter to horror and a perfect spooky season read.

Behind the Screens: Tuesday Author Interview

Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha: Nothing better than a good fantasy, and we’ve got a great one today. M.C. Burnell, can you introduce us to your novel, Zimanges ? 

M.C.: Jendaiar Phos is busy blowing up his life with the help of his estranged younger brother and fellow wizard Hecanthes. When they witness a mysterious magical event that draws the hostile eyes of the local authorities onto them, their fates are thrown together. The good news: the mother he hasn’t seen since he was ten just left Jen a house. The bad news: it’s in Zimanges, the city in the clouds. A crossroads kingdom founded by a bandit.

The house turns out to be huge: they can’t afford to keep it, heat it, and still eat. Not without roommates. Their new friends include a troubled elven seer, a shaman who changes their face as the mood takes them, and a pile of leaves that has a mission for them. A demon has found its way into their world, but not even the pile of leaves knows what a demon is other than Very Bad and Can’t Be Allowed to Hang About. It doesn’t help that the bandit king takes an interest in them while a wave of kidnappings sweeps the city.

This would be so much easier if they were living in a house with furniture.

Sabitha : What inspired you to write this book? It feels very millenial/zillenial.

M.C.: There’s a long and rather involved backstory with this book, but basically, I wanted to write a fantasy that didn’t gloss past the fact that heroes are still people who need to eat and sleep and support themselves. They have chores. They worry about bills. My cast of seven roommates is brought together in the first place by economic forces. If that sounds grim and introspective, it’s absolutely not; this story is pretty camp. My heroes aren’t, and that means lots of pitstops to get scared, crack jokes, have no idea what to do, and party in their living room.

Sabitha : What book do you tell all your friends to read?

M.C.: Yikes, just one? The City and the City by China Mieville. Beautiful, strange, and bends your brain. What’s not to love?

Sabitha : Excellent choice. Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?

M.C.: In my epic fantasy We, I killed everyone’s favorite character. It’s a 5-book series and this person dies in the climax, so readers have a lot of time to get invested. Honestly, I was dreading the text from my mother. Happy ending: she didn’t disown me. 

In general, though, I’m not a big character-killer. I feel like we hit a point in fantasy where that got overdone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a valid choice! Whether more for shock value or just realism. But I personally can’t stay invested in a story unless I’m connected through the people, so I delete judiciously.

Sabitha : A 5-book series, and now Zimages. Sounds like you write a lot! What’s your next writing project?

M.C.: I always have a couple things percolating. One project that got a lot of attention this summer was an epic called The Tipping World, which I’ve been rewriting intermittently for the last 20 years. It was the first thing I ever wrote, and it would be neat to one day share it with the world.

Sabitha : Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

M.C.: Find me online. You can find Zimanges here.

I Dread Hearing From You: Editor Jennia D’Lima interviews Zilla Novikov on Query and querying

Professional editor Jennia D’Lima talks with author Zilla Novikov about her novel Query and reflections on the querying process from her experiences trying to break into the publishing industry. Authors, listen along to find solidarity in misery.

Listen here.

The best Canadian dystopian novels (that aren’t The Handmaid’s Tale)

If you’re looking for your next great read, how do you find it?

Shepherd’s website lets authors suggest their favourite books on a theme. Rachel A. Rosen picked “the best Canadian dystopian novels (that aren’t The Handmaid’s Tale)” to match Cascade. Read her suggestions here.

Behind the Screens: Tuesday Author Interview

Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha:  Pavithra Ramesh joins us again to talk about another fascinating novel.  Pavithra, can you tell us about this coming-of-age story?

Pavithra: Life of a young adult is filled with joy and mystery. No Time to Pause is the story of a typical college student who decides to move miles away from her family to get a high-value education. She faces a host of challenges, encounters varied adventures and meets people who leave a tremendous impact on her life. With the college term ending, she leaves the institution not only as an academic achiever, but also a strong woman ready to face the rough world out there. She realises that life keeps moving on and there is no time to look back or regret.

Sabitha : What inspired you to write this book?

Pavithra: My personal life as I moved to another country for education away from my family was the biggest inspiration for this book. I met some amazing people and with my love for writing, I knew I had a story to tell the world.

Sabitha : If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

Pavithra: Well, I would meet the protagonist Aditi and tell her how proud I am of how beautifully she moulded her life, healing from the past hurt and moving on to make lives beautiful.

Sabitha : What book do you tell all your friends to read?

Pavithra: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is the best book I have ever come across in the self-help genre.

Sabitha : Do you have any suggestions to help people in our community become better writers?

Pavithra: I would just say follow your passion no matter what. Nobody can motivate you better than yourself. Work hard towards what you want to achieve and the feeling is magical.

Sabitha : Who did you imagine reading your book as you wrote it?

Pavithra: My target was for young adults, and I received appreciation from them. They loved the book, especially the diversions in between the plots that would keep them longing to know what happened next!

Sabitha: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

Pavithra: They can find No Time to Pause on Amazon, and they can find me on LinkedIn.

Giveaway for Sushi and Sea Lions!

In the mood for something romantic? The always delightful Rachel Corsini is doing a giveaway of 5 print copies of her romantic comedy Sushi and Sea Lions. Want to curl up with an ex-ballerina finding a new direction—and love along the way? Enter here.

Behind the Screens: Tuesday Author Interview

Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha: We love fantasy, and Miya Chisolm has what we’re looking for. Miya, can you tell us about your short story in the anthology Reality’s Lens ?

Miya: In Becoming Vengeance, a Goddess turned Mortal finds more than anyone conceived possible when she finds a home among the humans who should worship her. Is the price too high? Becoming Vengeance is a short story in Reality’s Lens, an anthology of short fantasy stories.

Sabitha : What inspired you to write this book?

Miya: This story was originally written for a contest with FIYAH and Levar Burton. When it wasn’t selected, I decided to hold on to it for a while. Reality’s Lens ended up being the perfect home for it.

Sabitha : What book do you tell all your friends to read?

Miya: The Nightmare-verse trilogy by L. L. McKinney!

Sabitha : Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?

Miya: More times than I’d like to admit!

Sabitha : What’s your next writing project?

Miya: I’ve got a few different projects I’m juggling! The main focus is a full-length novel inspired by Stardew Valley, but I’m also working on a Bonanza-inspired western.

Sabitha : Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

Miya: See all the places to pick up Reality’s Lens here. Find me on Instagram and Twitter at @miyawritesbooks.