Susan Elizabeth Curnow's Blog, page 13
December 21, 2012
Better than cheese
Personally I don't think there is anything better than cheese. So to have my novel described as 'better than a grilled cheese sandwich' is high praise indeed.
Although I do know the lady who described it as such, this was the first real reaction to "Games of Adversaries", so it was a huge thrill to know that someone enjoyed the novel, couldn't put it down, loved the banter, and wanted the next one now!
I'd better get writing, hadn't I?
Although I do know the lady who described it as such, this was the first real reaction to "Games of Adversaries", so it was a huge thrill to know that someone enjoyed the novel, couldn't put it down, loved the banter, and wanted the next one now!
I'd better get writing, hadn't I?
December 19, 2012
Life as We Know It
When children are slaughtered, the act raises emotions to high levels. The horrific tragedy was caused by a human being. We think/hope that our children are safe. The sad truth is that they never are. Yet you can't live with that idea.
As a writer who writes both fantasy and science fiction, I don't live in a 'fantasy' world, In fact, most times i write from reality. For example, within "Games of Adversaries" there is a message about PTSD. Within the "Warriors of the Land" trilogy, there is a message that if we don't change as a race then we will destroy our world by indifference.
As writers we often study the 'human condition'. Attempting to understand why people do what they do. Unfortunately there will always be people who snap, always people who unfortunately have mental issues. Always people who will blame everyone but themselves for their actions. Banning guns won't stop people, not if that person had always intended to do something horrific like killing children. You cannot have a moral compass to do something like that.
Is there an answer? I doubt there will ever be a true one. Sad but true.
As a writer all I can do is to sometimes open eyes to how people interact, show why they do what they do. If that happens to be in a fantasy setting sometimes people will listen to that more than a lecture. So while many novels are sheer entertainment
As a writer who writes both fantasy and science fiction, I don't live in a 'fantasy' world, In fact, most times i write from reality. For example, within "Games of Adversaries" there is a message about PTSD. Within the "Warriors of the Land" trilogy, there is a message that if we don't change as a race then we will destroy our world by indifference.
As writers we often study the 'human condition'. Attempting to understand why people do what they do. Unfortunately there will always be people who snap, always people who unfortunately have mental issues. Always people who will blame everyone but themselves for their actions. Banning guns won't stop people, not if that person had always intended to do something horrific like killing children. You cannot have a moral compass to do something like that.
Is there an answer? I doubt there will ever be a true one. Sad but true.
As a writer all I can do is to sometimes open eyes to how people interact, show why they do what they do. If that happens to be in a fantasy setting sometimes people will listen to that more than a lecture. So while many novels are sheer entertainment
December 12, 2012
Well, I had to write something today to keep the date. December 12th, 2012
I'm participating in a fun author blog hop called The Next Big Thing. I was
tagged for this exercise by Elizabeth Hull, writing as C N Lesley, author of Darkspire Reaches. A fantasy novel coming out in spring 2013 from Kristell Ink.
Elizabeth can be found at - http://cnlesley.wordpress.com/blog-tours/https://www.facebook.com/#!/elizabeth.hull.39
http://darkspires.livejournal.com/
The blurb for Elizabeth's forthcoming and very yummy novel:
Darkspire Reaches – C.N. Lesley
Her birth mother left her as a sacrifice to the Wyvern, believing a second born twin had no soul.
Her foster mother thought Raven possessed the magic of the First born. She believed she raised a slave.
The emperor of all the lands believed she knew the secret of his birth and that he must silence her.
Her tribe thought they could trade her for safe passage out of the emperor’s lands.
The Wyvern knows better. He is coming for her. His fury has no limits.
Definitely recommended. Go check out the details on Elizabeth's website and get a sample of her writing
with a wonderful short story.
I actually did this a week or so back for "Games of Adversaries" which is now available through Artema Press, Amazon, and my website.
A short blurb written by Elizabeth.
Jealousy, hatred, covetousness and greed for power inspire a space going race to invade a medieval planet. When Yiahan’s
space craft crashes, the inhabitants have to know if he is one of the guilty. Marcus, responsible for the safety of his king, and hurting from the loss of his family to the invaders, must find the truth. The world and lives of all his
people are at stake.
So I thought I would speak a bit about my next project.
What is the working title of your book? The Voice of the Land - Book One of The Warriors of the Land.
Where did you get the idea for the book? A few years back I read an article in an old Pears Encyclopedia.
It was a discussion about how bats had been around since the dinosaurs and how closely akin they were to man. Along with that chain of thought, I found a thesis written for a medical paper on the successful combination of bat and
human blood for medical research. Then the what-of ideas began.
What genre does your book fall under? Science Fiction.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Ummm, I don't watch enough of these things!
Steven Carogan: I don't even like him all that much but I could see him doing this - Brad Pitt
T'saquin Mrthfarr: Someone tall, dark and brooding.
Deran Torborchiev: Handsome black guy - argh, can't think of any names. Can 'see' him, can't name him. Pooh.
Rosa Grunerson: Cate Blanchett.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? It will be published by Artema Press in Spring 2013
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I couldn't give you an exact date. First drafts are usually pretty quick for me. So, less than six months for the original idea. It is the next drafts that take time.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? What if you could fly?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? As usual, I hate comparisions but the closest I can come to is Martha Wells Raksura Novels.
Who or what inspired you to write this book? The idea of someone playing with genetics and that glorious what-if factor. I also wanted to write a very different form of vampire story, although that wasn't the original inspiration and it isn't a 'vampire' story.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Oh goodness: Clones! Genetic manipulation! Nutty bad guys who want to keep everything for themselves. Terraforming. How to survive in a jungle without being eaten.
Now I am supposed to tag people. Okay, you're it! Even if you've done this before, there is no harm in doing so again. No obligations, it is fun.
Crash Froelich
Crash has a book coming out shortly called Never. Elizabeth had the privilege to beta read this and can say it is a stunning story about what happens after the story ends. Every action, or the lack thereof, has a consequence. The children
were supposed to wish Tinkerbell better after she drank the poison intended for Peter. They didn’t, leading to drastic consequences, full of the unexpected, and yet grounded in a vivid and real setting.
SKS Perry on Facebook under the same name. Website: http://sksperry.com/ In between training soldiers to defend our nation, Steve writes hilarious and witty fantasy. Think Harry Dresden with a bigger sense of humour. Darkside 1 & 2 already have fans and I know Steve is working on number 3.
Rhonda Garcia also on FB under the same name. Living in Trinidad with its wonderful carnivals, Rhonda brings a unique persepctive to writing. Rhonda has a novel coming out soon and we would love some details, Rhonda! An amazing writer of science fiction, she should have been published years ago.
tagged for this exercise by Elizabeth Hull, writing as C N Lesley, author of Darkspire Reaches. A fantasy novel coming out in spring 2013 from Kristell Ink.
Elizabeth can be found at - http://cnlesley.wordpress.com/blog-tours/https://www.facebook.com/#!/elizabeth.hull.39
http://darkspires.livejournal.com/
The blurb for Elizabeth's forthcoming and very yummy novel:
Darkspire Reaches – C.N. Lesley
Her birth mother left her as a sacrifice to the Wyvern, believing a second born twin had no soul.
Her foster mother thought Raven possessed the magic of the First born. She believed she raised a slave.
The emperor of all the lands believed she knew the secret of his birth and that he must silence her.
Her tribe thought they could trade her for safe passage out of the emperor’s lands.
The Wyvern knows better. He is coming for her. His fury has no limits.
Definitely recommended. Go check out the details on Elizabeth's website and get a sample of her writing
with a wonderful short story.
I actually did this a week or so back for "Games of Adversaries" which is now available through Artema Press, Amazon, and my website.
A short blurb written by Elizabeth.
Jealousy, hatred, covetousness and greed for power inspire a space going race to invade a medieval planet. When Yiahan’s
space craft crashes, the inhabitants have to know if he is one of the guilty. Marcus, responsible for the safety of his king, and hurting from the loss of his family to the invaders, must find the truth. The world and lives of all his
people are at stake.
So I thought I would speak a bit about my next project.
What is the working title of your book? The Voice of the Land - Book One of The Warriors of the Land.
Where did you get the idea for the book? A few years back I read an article in an old Pears Encyclopedia.
It was a discussion about how bats had been around since the dinosaurs and how closely akin they were to man. Along with that chain of thought, I found a thesis written for a medical paper on the successful combination of bat and
human blood for medical research. Then the what-of ideas began.
What genre does your book fall under? Science Fiction.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Ummm, I don't watch enough of these things!
Steven Carogan: I don't even like him all that much but I could see him doing this - Brad Pitt
T'saquin Mrthfarr: Someone tall, dark and brooding.
Deran Torborchiev: Handsome black guy - argh, can't think of any names. Can 'see' him, can't name him. Pooh.
Rosa Grunerson: Cate Blanchett.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? It will be published by Artema Press in Spring 2013
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I couldn't give you an exact date. First drafts are usually pretty quick for me. So, less than six months for the original idea. It is the next drafts that take time.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? What if you could fly?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? As usual, I hate comparisions but the closest I can come to is Martha Wells Raksura Novels.
Who or what inspired you to write this book? The idea of someone playing with genetics and that glorious what-if factor. I also wanted to write a very different form of vampire story, although that wasn't the original inspiration and it isn't a 'vampire' story.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Oh goodness: Clones! Genetic manipulation! Nutty bad guys who want to keep everything for themselves. Terraforming. How to survive in a jungle without being eaten.
Now I am supposed to tag people. Okay, you're it! Even if you've done this before, there is no harm in doing so again. No obligations, it is fun.
Crash Froelich
Crash has a book coming out shortly called Never. Elizabeth had the privilege to beta read this and can say it is a stunning story about what happens after the story ends. Every action, or the lack thereof, has a consequence. The children
were supposed to wish Tinkerbell better after she drank the poison intended for Peter. They didn’t, leading to drastic consequences, full of the unexpected, and yet grounded in a vivid and real setting.
SKS Perry on Facebook under the same name. Website: http://sksperry.com/ In between training soldiers to defend our nation, Steve writes hilarious and witty fantasy. Think Harry Dresden with a bigger sense of humour. Darkside 1 & 2 already have fans and I know Steve is working on number 3.
Rhonda Garcia also on FB under the same name. Living in Trinidad with its wonderful carnivals, Rhonda brings a unique persepctive to writing. Rhonda has a novel coming out soon and we would love some details, Rhonda! An amazing writer of science fiction, she should have been published years ago.
December 7, 2012
Welcome to my Website
Worlds Apart and Worlds WithinA novelist twists facts and turns them into fiction. How or even why they do that, is a question not even they can often answer. It's just, they have to. I have done so since I was a child. According to my mother I was born reading--only a slight exaggeration.
For years I read and read and read. I devoured libraries and realized very soon that I often came home with Fantasy or Science Fiction. Not a conscious choice back then, but it only seemed natural to write in those genres.
I told you where I came from in my bio. "Who" I am is for me to decide but what shapes us is not always by our choice.
The picture above was taken in 2010 at the Rememberance Day service in our small town. The handsome young man is my son. By May 2011 he was taken from us, not in combat although he had served two tours of Afghanistan, but by accident.
I stopped writing because suddenly it seemed trivial. You can't live in a fantasy world, not after you lose a child, because it doesn't matter how old they are, they are always your kid. But this particular kid always loved what I wrote. He even downloaded all my novels and took them with him to Afghanistan.
So it was for him that I began writing again. It is why I am here, why I have my first novel out. Of course I had a lot of help; I couldn't have done it alone, but it is mainly because of him. I hope you enjoy my work as much as he did.
February 26, 2011
The things we love most
Why is it that those in the know say, Write what you love, and yet when you've written said love, those same folk say, Kill your darlings.
Yes, I realise there is a difference between purple prose, which is often mistaken for 'darlings' but it is also (often)some scenes and characterization that is at fault.
I do know that the stories I love most, both ones I have written and sometimes stories I have read, are often the most lambasted. Is this because they do create that kind of controversy? I wonder. The same way reviewers will ove or hate a thing. I for example could never read Jonathon Strange and Mrs whatsist? Why not? Not my cup of tea, simple as that. I found it boring while many of my friends adored it. I didn't like Stardust either, if one dares not to like a Gaiman novel. Not to say though that I couldn't see the skills which went into writing both.
Interesting, isn't it? I wonder some times why people do review things they don't like at all. I couldn't because I wouldn't read it, just to say I didn't like it.
It's an odd and interesting world.
Yes, I realise there is a difference between purple prose, which is often mistaken for 'darlings' but it is also (often)some scenes and characterization that is at fault.
I do know that the stories I love most, both ones I have written and sometimes stories I have read, are often the most lambasted. Is this because they do create that kind of controversy? I wonder. The same way reviewers will ove or hate a thing. I for example could never read Jonathon Strange and Mrs whatsist? Why not? Not my cup of tea, simple as that. I found it boring while many of my friends adored it. I didn't like Stardust either, if one dares not to like a Gaiman novel. Not to say though that I couldn't see the skills which went into writing both.
Interesting, isn't it? I wonder some times why people do review things they don't like at all. I couldn't because I wouldn't read it, just to say I didn't like it.
It's an odd and interesting world.
