Nerine Dorman's Blog, page 89

The Sea of Wise Insects by Terry Westby-Nunn #review

Title: The Sea of Wise Insects
Author: Terry Westby-Nunn
Publisher: Jacana Media, 2011

Some would say that Alice Wolfe has been plagued with unusually bad luck throughout her life. After all, she has countless scars  thanks to all manner of mishaps. She’s fallen out of trees, tripped over dogs, landed on picket fences, and even lost a finger.

Think of every truly Eina! experience you’ve had, and multiply it by 10, and you have an idea of what this woman has gone through. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Alice believes she’s cursed.

But things are about to get a whole lot worse for her. The Sea of Wise Insects opens with a terrible accident, only this time it’s not Alice who is hurt.

Instead it is her brother Andrew’s girlfriend, Veronica, and she dies as a result of Andrew’s negligent driving. Alice takes the rap for her brother, which could lead to a prison sentence. At any rate, she’s in trouble with the law, and her predicament has undoubtedly complicated her life.

A Sea of Wise Insects is a multi-layered novel that explores the past as Alice remembers it, but also a past loosely based on reality, in the form of a novel written by Alice’s former boyfriend. In essence, it’s a novel about perception, and how a person’s apprehension of that which has shaped them, may contrast with the opinions held by others.

Hinting at an almost William Burroughs-esque cut-up technique, the narrative leaps from past to present to fictional account in a series of episodes, and presents readers with a slideshow of snapshots that are held together by recurring themes.

Running through everything is the theme of insects, which suggests observation of Alice’s life from a distance, reduced to clinical analysis. Alice is paralysed, held hostage by events over which she had no control, and through her own inaction, she damns herself for most of the story.

But it’s through the gradual unravelling of her past, even though it is fictional and recounted by an unreliable narrator, that Alice is able to gain acceptance, not only of herself, but of those close to her.

It is a beautifully crafted novel, exquisite in detail. It is dark and dreamy and definitely one of those, stories I’ll be dipping into again.

Westby-Nunn is a masterful storyteller and a keen observer of the beautiful flaws she portrays in her characters, and I look forward to seeing future titles from her. This is a worthy addition to a collection of great contemporary South African fiction.

RED HOUSE: Play it loud – Sonya Clark #guest

December's a busy month, it would seem. Today I'm celebrating with one of my favourite authors, Sonya Clark, with whom I've worked on a number of titles. Her novel, Red House, the follow-up to Mojo Queen, has released this week. Over to you, Sonya...

Music serves as a gateway when I write. It's how I enter the world of the story, how I get to know the characters. It helps shade in the colors I see in my head so that I can (hopefully) bring the story more fully to life on the page. Like the first in the Mojo series, MOJO QUEEN, my latest release RED HOUSE is built on a foundation of Southern music. Blues, soul, and classic country were the primary genres that played in heavy rotation while writing this book.

Paranormal investigator Roxie Mathis is also a hoodoo practitioner. She didn't start out that way, but as my own love of blues seeped deeper and deeper into the story I changed her generic magical practice to hoodoo. Her vampire ancestor Daniel is more of a classic country fan and loves to belt out Conway Twitty tunes at karaoke. They both love Memphis soul. Roxie's maybe-boyfriend Blake is usually more of a Nine Inch Nails kind of guy but even he is beginning to develop an appreciation for artists like Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley.

There are three specific songs that were important to the writing of RED HOUSE. Bob Dylan's High Water (For Charlie Patton) matched Roxie's experience of losing her home in a devastating flood and the constant hum of dread and trauma that stayed with her afterward. Charlie Patton's original High Water, about the Mississippi flood of 1927, is mentioned in the book. Dylan's version is one of his more haunting songs, which is saying a lot. There's a relentlessness to it, much like a flood itself, that makes you want to grab onto to whatever you can as the guitar threatens to pull you under. Roxie's holding on as tight as she can but the loss of her home and her business may prove too much for her.

Blake Harvill has been a tough character to crack since the beginning. Originally intended to be a bad guy, somehow he wound up the love interest. In RED HOUSE I had to find a way to bring out his humanity. He may be a dangerous sorcerer but as he tells Roxie, he can't be Master of Darkness all the time. So I had to figure out some things about Blake, like what he wanted and why. Roy Orbison's In Dreams helped me do that. The song's melancholy wistfulness is a perfect fit for the parts of Blake he tries to hide.

The third song is a version of an old blues song that's been recorded by countless artists under various names, usually either Stagger Lee or Stack-O-Lee. The version I latched on to is one I discovered in the underrated movie Black Snake Moan, in which Samuel L. Jackson channels the late bluesman RL Burnside. Jackson gives a blistering performance of Stack-O-Lee that is also extremely not safe for work, kids, and probably pets. I would love to talk about why this song is important to the book, but it would pretty much spoil the ending. I will say this: every time I had doubts about the plot line this pertains to, I would turn it on and play it loud. Stack would chase those doubts away. Er, shoot them, actually.

The Mojo playlists I have saved include some of my favorite songs. It makes it easy to slip back into that world. Almost like conjuring a spell.

Blurb:
There's high water everywhere and she's about to drown on dry land.

Roxie Mathis lost her home and her livelihood to a devastating flood. She's lucky to be staying with her vampire ancestor Daniel but she wants to put the pieces of her life back together. Trouble is, Roxie's lost her mojo. The trauma of almost drowning and losing her home left a deep mark on her.

Blake Harvill left a mark on her too and she's been missing him in the four months since he left town. Now he's back with plans to stay. Roxie wants him like she's never wanted anyone else but can she trust the sexy sorcerer with her guarded heart?

Hired to evict ghosts from the bed and breakfast called Maple Hill, her confidence takes another hit when she encounters a violent spirit she's crossed paths with in the past. When the spirit traps innocent people in the house Roxie's going to have to tap reservoirs of magic she's never touched before. Like physics, everything in magic has an equal and opposite reaction, and Roxie can only hope her desperate spellwork won't kill her--or conjure up something even more dangerous.

Learn more at http://lyricalpress.com/red-house and www.sonyaclark.net.

Sonya will have a Twitter release party on December 5 from 8 to 10pm Central US time where she'll be playing the soundtrack, talking about the book, answering any questions about it, and giving away a copy. She'll use the hashtag #redhouse and her Twitter handle is @sonyabclark. 

New cover art for Cristal Ryder #guest

Today I give Cristal Ryder, author of BDSM erotica, an opportunity to chat about her writing and her two titles, Being Ariana and Being Bound which have recently been rebooted with fresh cover art. Welcome, Cristal!

A facelift. Could we all use one? Sometimes when I look in the mirror I think “yes!” The same can go for books too. A favourite storyline of mine that is published with Lyrical Press got a dusting off and new look. Being Ariana and Being Bound have been re-released with wonderful new covers. I had cover love with their old cover but these ones are well….pretty damn sweet!


These are my first two books. It’s so nice to come back to a story that warmed my heart a while ago. In Being Ariana, we meet Ellie, she masquerades herself as Ariana so she can fulfill her sexual fantasies. But, when she meets Rourke, things take a delicious and unexpected turn. We follow Rourke into Being Bound, a darker, sexier and more intense story that catapults him into the Heather’s erotic web.

I’ll leave you with blurbs from both stories and an excerpt from Being Bound.

Being Ariana
Ellie Taylor lives her erotic dreams by masquerading herself as Ariana and visiting the Black Phantom. In this club where anything goes, she plans to perform onstage before an audience, building her sexual excitement to a fever pitch before selecting her man. But Ariana is sidetracked by a tall, blond masked maitre-d. He captivates her and all thoughts of performing are forgotten. He's every bit as domineering as Ariana and pushes her to her sexual limit. Their true identities concealed, they set out to use each other for pleasure--no risk of entanglement or commitment...but that may prove easier said than done.

Being Bound
A man used to getting what he wants, Tom Rourke doesn’t take being discarded lightly. Smarting from rejection, Rourke decides the complication of women is distracting him from his goal. He refocuses his energy into ownership of the Black Phantom, where he meets Heather Canyon. Drawn into her erotic web, he can’t get her out of his mind. But can he trust her? The only way to know is to experience her first hand. Dominatrix Heather Canyon is looking for a new beginning, and a safe place where she can let her talents shine. Rourke’s proposition is the perfect opportunity. She must test him to ensure they are the right fit for each other and challenges him at every turn. She isn’t looking for a partner, but has she found her match with Rourke?

Excerpt – Being Bound
Heather sat her coffee on the table and crouched to reach the arm of the chair, swinging it so the back was to the corner between the window and wall. It would offer prime vantage of the room and door. She settled into the leather and crossed her long legs. The skirt rose past her knees and the flash of pewter on the shoes contrasted nicely with her black silk stocking-clad legs.

Heather gazed around the room, letting her vision slide across the men trying to make eye contact with her. She had them figured out and watched for him. Another glance at the time caused her a brief sense of frustration. It wouldn’t do if he was late and in another minute he would be.

Heather left the coffee on the table and lifted her gaze. This time it met that of a man sitting across the shop. His blond hair reflected the sun and she was surprised at herself for not noticing him initially. But he had a half-empty cup in his large hand, which meant he had been here for a while. She pulled her gaze away from the magnetism of his and focused on the door.

But she was drawn to him and glanced back. Her heart thumped with anticipation at his predatory approach to her.

You can find me at:
www.cristalryder.com
https://twitter.com/#!/CristalRyder
https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor
Ellora’s Cave
All Romance ebooks
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Sybarite Seductions
Lyrical Press

Khepera Rising now unleashed upon the world... Again

Tonight I approved the print files, and on Friday the ebook files went through to Smashwords, so we're good to go on #1 of the Books of Khepera series (yes, I finally figured out what to call Jamie's epic saga). I decided to run with CreateSpace because a) it's not going to cost me a dime to get files set up and b) it will get the printed book on Amazon. With Smashwords I'll get the maximum amount of different digital file options (which is ideal) and once the file passes muster, it will show up on Amazon and B&N (still waiting for that).
I'll be honest. The Books of Khepera are not going to appeal to everyone. Readers feel very strongly about Jamie. They either love him deeply, or they despise him. He doesn't make any apologies for being a vain, opinionated bastard. In many ways he's everything I'm (thankfully) not, so in a sense he exists as my animus. Which is probably why he's never quite going to go away (even though Ash is stealing hearts left, right and centre). He's part of my story. 
The man isn't completely without redeemable qualities, however. Despite being hideously flawed, Jamie does good. And perhaps there's a little bit of Jamie in all of us. We lie to ourselves about our flaws and weaknesses. Sometimes we redeem ourselves. Other times we set ourselves up for spectacular failure.
On Friday I got smacked upside the head with the premise for a fourth book. This kind of sucks because book three, Khepera in Shadow, isn't done yet, and won't be for a while since I'm supposed to be writing Thanatos (the book that follows Inkarna), have a secondary world fantasy half on the boil, and am in the midst with edits for Camdeboo Nights. Then I still got a bee in my bonnet and wrote a short Jamie story today, just for shits and giggles. Not to mention that I'm also editing an anthology of dark fantasy entitled Dark Harvest, and I'll be starting on edits for the third Bloody Parchment anthology early 2013. Oh, and I need to prep print files for some of my shorter works... jawellnofine shut up already.
So, what's on the cards next besides surviving year-end at the Sisyphusian day job? I'm finishing Thanatos so that it can go through to beta. Then it's time to revise Khepera Redeemed. I've decided the best course of action is to alternate between revising old work and finishing new work. If I'm lucky, I can get both done before the end of this year. However, I'm not holding my breath.
Now, if you haven't read Khepera Rising, you can go get it in ebook format here (the first 20 percent is available as a free download, just by the by) and you can buy the dead tree version here. One huge-ass big disclaimer. This is the first novel I ever completed. (We'll not talk about all the aborted attempts I've mercifully burnt on a funeral pyre at the bottom of the garden.) Khepera Rising is not a perfect book (what book is?) but as my first published work, it gives an idea to my readers of where I've started. For a first novel, it's still something I'm proud of. During the rebooting phase I itched to get stuck into some developmental edits, but resisted the temptation. 
This is my writing in 2007. The novel was sold in 2008. It was first published by Lyrical Press on December 21, 2009. Dear Dog I've learnt a lot since then. Khepera Rising is a crazy poke at Cape Town's underbelly and the religious intolerance of fundamentalists we all love to hate. And Jamie's a total dick and he does some really stupid stuff. But he also does some pretty awesome stuff too. You've been warned.

To be... Aidan Whytock #guest

Aidan Whytock
One thing about being nominally involved in South Africa's indie film scene is that I get to meet and work with some pretty darn interesting folks. My husband's film company, BlackMilk Productions has brought out bunches of award-winning indie films that have made waves locally and overseas. One of the repeat offenders we keep working with is Cape Town-based actor Aidan Whytock, who's a fabulous darling and I absolutely had to have him over for tea. (He had the starring role in Alone, which was very well received at this year's South African HorrorFest.)

Aidan, you've recently starred in a stage production, I Am Hamlet. Can you tell us a little bit about the play and audience's response to it? 

I am Hamlet is a new take on the well-known Shakespearean play Hamlet. When a theatre director loses his lead actor just before opening night he scrambles to find a replacement. A mysterious young man, Simon, comes to audition for the role but seems to know nothing about Hamlet or acting, until he reads the prose. It transpires that Simon has more in common with the Prince of Denmark then he is letting on.

It's a great comedy with a thrilling twist. The comedy comes from this seemingly ignorant chap being put through the challenges of an audition by a completely over-the-top theatre director who thinks he is God's gift to Shakespeare.

We were truly stunned by the audience's response: the Cape Times and Die Burger gave us glowing reviews, as did every other review. Cape Talk made us Pick of the Week and just about everyone didn't see the twist coming. Overall the city responded very well and really enjoyed the comedy and the massive shift the play takes in the last 10 minutes.

I'm glad the play was so well received. So, how do you feel about everyone's favourite Danish prince? Were there any aspects of the role that you feel were particularly challenging?

Ah Hamlet. I've spent a fair amount of time with him in the last few months and have come to the decision that I don't like him. He's a cowardly little spoilt brat who is so self-centred he hardly considers the impact his self-serving plans for revenge have on those he loves.  I get the impression he had a perpetually running nose and a snotty sleeve.

That said, the man could talk.

Due to circumstance we didn't have long to prep the play so I had three main challenges. The first was coming to terms with Shakespearean prose. Beautiful, but deadly to the unfamiliar actor. I was very much an unfamiliar actor: I hadn't read Shakespeare in ten years. I try to make my performances as believable as possible, which means believing what I am saying. So it was critical that I understand the prose and deliver it whole-heartedly. I translated it all into modern English and learnt that first. Then I started substituting the new for the olde. That said that may have been one night where I went completely blank: one of the most terrifying moments of my life I can safely say.

The second challenge was to act at acting. My character (this chap called Simon Prentice) is doing exactly that - pretending he can't act. So that was a fun challenge: to shift from acting badly to acting well (or trying to) and back.

Finally was to get into the headspace of a psycho. I ended up developing a pre-show ritual that helped me shift from me into the introverted, awkward shell that the completely bonkers Simon was hiding in. Music was vital to helping me do this.

Haha! You said the magic word. What music did you listen to for inspiration? Very curious to know. Also, would you say that as an actor you put a mask on, or do you delve deep into your psyche to dredge up archetypes? 

I had two genres to tap into, depending on how I was feeling that day. The backup playlist was Portishead – Roads and Radiohead – All I need. I would feed into them if the primary tracks didn't quite get me there, which were The Narrow – She went away too soon and Slipknot – Vermillion. The lyrics of 'she went away too soon, she went away so soon' and 'I won't let this build up inside of me' and 'she isn't real, I can't make her real' really helped me have a conversation with Simon's dead mum.

As for the mask versus the psyche: I think it's a combination of the two. As I've said I try to believe everything I'm doing and saying. So for instance if I'm killing someone what part of me can believe that? There is definitely an element of me that believes, in the appropriate context and situation, I'd be capable of doing that. So I tried to find how I'd feel in that moment.  Then I'd put on the mask of Simon which I'd spent a bit of time building and layering.

As much as I'd like the process to be cognitive and step-by-step I've realised it isn't: it's fluid and emotional so all I tried to do was be truthful to whatever I was feeling.

And the road ahead? A while back you let me listen to some of your band's tracks. Tell us a little more about your music ... and future acting endeavours.  

On the music front I realised that I miss it a lot so I'm trying to get producer to free up his manic schedule to get us back in studio to start jamming again. I'm still very curious to see if the tunes coming out of my head have a place in this world. I'm experimenting with heavy blues and a lot more synth at the moment. I've no idea what will come from it. Time shall tell I suppose. As for acting I'm doing a play in February called Feb 14 and another in April called Lady Luck.

See www.whytewoodcreative.com
Stalk Aidan on Twitter @aidanwhytock

AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers #review

Title: AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers
Edited by: Ivor W Hartmann
Publisher: StoryTime, December 2012


It’s always gratifying to see literary offerings that give genre fiction’s upcoming talents more exposure; of all the continents, Africa presents us with a very different lens with which to view the world—especially refreshing for those of us who’ve grown up with a US- or UK-centric world view.

The AfroSF anthology brings together a broad cross-section of writing, ranging from first-timers to seasoned African writers, with tales ranging from stark, dystopian futures to rollicking space operas. There’s a little bit of everything here, for sure.

Moom! by Nnedi Okorafor tells of the natural world’s revolt against mankind’s oppression, from the perspective of a marlin or swordfish (from what I gather). Okorafor’s descriptions are quite lyrical, and I could clearly picture events as they transpired.

Sarah Lotz never disappoints, and Home Affairs strikes a chord with anyone who’s ever had to deal with bureaucratic queues – hell on earth doesn’t even begin to describe it. As always, Lotz offers her signature brand of black humour and a tale that one hopes will never step from the realms of fiction into the real world.

Five Sets of Hands by Cristy Zinn takes us to Mars, where one race has enslaved another, digging for ancient artefacts in the dirt. Zinn comments on slavery and lives that are outcast and untouchable. This is also a touching story of courage, and an individual acting to bring about change in the face of injustice.

A theme that recurs in a number of stories is that of pharmaceutical corporations holding society to ransom. New Mzansi by Ashley Jacobs is one such, delivering a dystopian vision of a possible future that might already be unfolding. This is a discomforting read.

As always, Nick Wood delivers a treat. He is a master of evoking environment, and the complex relationships between people, place and history. Azania takes us with an expeditionary crew travelling from Earth to a new planet, and the complications they face, cut off from their past by time and space.

Notes from Gethsemane by Tade Thompson plays on the horrors of biological warfare as the main characters find themselves affected by the malevolent and mysterious Pit. I felt as though I wanted a bit more of a punch from this story, but its ending was nonetheless suitably discomforting.

The aliens are coming, and they aren’t all friendly. SA Partridge draws on popular culture’s fascination with UFO lore in Planet X and gives us a possible reaction to an alien invasion that is uniquely South Africa. In doing so, she comments on our own notions of xenophobia.

Lovers of Star Wars and Firefly-esque SF will no doubt perk up and enjoy Chinelo Onwualu’s The Gift of Touch. This is space opera territory, and it’s sufficient just to sit back and enjoy the ride. Some lovely one-liners are passed between characters (“It’s a very big gun” is a classic example.)

The Foreigner by Uko Bendi Udo returns to xenophobia and cultural identity. I feel this story could have been developed further and needed a bit more voema, although it has a great premise.

Warfare is never pretty, and it’s perhaps even more horrific when the opponent is inexplicable. Dave de Burgh’s Angel Song drops readers directly in the thick of conflict and offers a hopeless struggle. The tension in this tale is unrelenting, crisp and well executed.

Biram Mboob examines possible conflict between Africa and the Orient in The Rare Earth. Traditional African culture transform modern technology. I wasn’t sure what to make of this story, to be honest, and am tempted to wonder whether the author couldn’t have pushed the story a bit more.

Terms & Conditions Apply by Sally-Ann Murray is another tale offering pharmaceutical companies in the role of antagonist. Although the writing is crisp, I didn’t take to the premise.

In Heresy, Mandisi Nkomo takes a sly, humorous stab at South Africa’s political climate. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’m not going to go into details, but if you’ve ever been frustrated with our politics, past and present, this story will resonate with you.

The opening line of Closing Time by Liam Kruger pretty much sums up the story: “I drew the connection between alcohol and time travel pretty late in the game, all told.” This nasty little tale will leave you scratchy behind the eyes. Kruger’s worth looking out for.

Masquerade Stories by Chiagozie Fred Nwonwu touches on traditional African values vs. modernity, and the possible conflicts that ensue. This is an engaging tale, and I honestly did not expect how it would conclude.

Joan De La Haye’s The Trial is a claustrophobic glimpse into a dystopian future we do not want to consider, where the government has the power to cull the population. She asks what makes a person valuable, and it’s easy to see a little of ourselves in her narrator.

Brandy City by Mia Arderne sees society descend to a form of indentured servitude supported by a dop system. Characters’ lives are miserable, and even those who have the means to pull themselves out of the mire are themselves prisoners.

Ofe! By Rafeeat Aliyu changes the tone to a futuristic thriller, where two unlikely allies must work together to outfox the schemes of a scientist who has sinister intentions. It’s an enjoyable, fast-paced read and although the ending could have been more dynamic.

Martin Stokes delivers commentary on the issues of poaching of wildlife vs. supply and demand in Claws and Savages. The story is a straight-up revenge drama, painted in visceral, graphic detail.

To Gaze at the Sun by Clifton Gachagua examines how the patterns of humanity’s sense of obligations, of parenthood and the relationship between children and their parents balanced by our need to conform to society’s expectations – another discomforting read.

Proposition 23 by Efe Okogu is a novelette that quite clearly references William Gibson’s Neuromancer and The Matrix. The author keeps readers constantly off guard, and touches on the concepts of terrorism, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. This story is also a suitably impactful ending for the anthology.

While I feel that some of the stories in this anthology are clearly stronger than others, I still recommend this collection to anyone who has a love of Africa, or a deep, abiding curiosity to encounter writing in the SF genre by Africans. Hartmann has selected a diversity of tales here, some of which will remain with me for a while.

Having recently read a collection of classic SF novels, I found this collection to be especially pertinent, particularly in the light of how our relationship with technology has changed since the mid-1950s. Those early writers certainly hadn’t envisioned hwo social media would shape our way of interacting with others, and what’s certain is that we face many further developments. Importantly, some of the stories in this collection highlight such issues as privacy and individuality, and how we are, as a society, giving away our freedom in an era where it is easy to fall under the illusion that we have more freedom than ever.

Many of the stories also initiate a dialogue with readers about what it means to be African, in a society where there is often conflict related to a clash of traditional values vs. the West. Africa’s people are not a homogenous nation. We bear the scars of slavery and colonialism. How we move ahead into the future and what we make of all the opportunities presented to us, is another matter.

May it be so that some of the realities portrayed in this collection never come to pass.

Jeremy Wagner – heavy music meets dark fiction

Today I've got none other than Jeremy Wagner stopping by, and he's one of the rare breed who combines two of my favourite things: heavy music (the band, Broken Hope) and dark fiction (The Armageddon Chord). Welcome, Jeremy!

Heavy metal tying in with an infernal apocalyptic flavour is a theme that recurs often. You've added a dash of Indiana Jones with the Egyptian archaeology twist. If you had to sum up The Armageddon Chord in 16 words or less, how would you do it? 

The best summary is, "The Armageddon Chord is Indiana Jones meets Spawn with a heavy metal soundtrack."

If you could create a compilation soundtrack to accompany The Armageddon Chord, do you have a list of top 10 favourites you'd see on one album for folks to listen to while they read?

The soundtrack would have to have Slayer, Metallica, Steve Vai, Broken Hope (of course), The Cult, Dimmu Borgir, Sisters of Mercy, old Van Halen, Type O Negative, and some Skynyrd.

You've recently announced that Broken Hope is going full steam ahead. Tell us a little about the band and what 2013 has in store. 

We just signed to Century Media Records and we will release a new album in 2013. As I do this interview with you, I can tell you that we already have five solid songs written. Our goal is 10 to 15 new songs for the new album. Broken Hope will go on to play Extremefest in Germany and Maryland Deathfest—both of these fests in May 2013. After that, more summer festivals worldwide, US tour, album release, more tours, and from then on, Broken Hope is here to forever write/record/release albums and tour year after year! We are not going away again.

You mentioned recently that there's another book brewing. Is everything heavily under wraps or can you give us an idea of what the story's about? 

I have two new books done. The first of two is nearing the final edit/polish. It's a post-apocalyptic tale that's kinda like The Road meets Zombieland. The other novel is about a man-made monster and takes place in Chicago. Though I'm not saying too much, I can tell you that they are 100% horror...my brand of horror.

You wear the author and musician hats. How do you strike the balance between these two creative outlets?

I just try and make time each day for both. Writing fiction and writing music take a lot of time and creative energy...they both are needy passions, but having a schedule in place for both helps make it all work. When a new book is done, I have to dedicate time to promoting that, just as I need exclusive promotion and tour time for my Broken Hope albums. It all works out.

And, lastly, for the fun and somewhat creatively crazy question: If you had a big budget, and were given free rein to produce a movie, what would it be and who would be part of your creative team (cast and crew)?


I'd make an EPIC horror movie about something crazy (I have no idea what it would be yet...haha!) and I'd hire my favorite actors and actresses of course. Above that, I'd want a creative team of ME, along with Tarantino, Scorsese, Coppola, John Carpenter, and Spielberg to make this monster. Hey, you said "big budget" with "free rein" to produce, so I'm going ALL THE WAY.

Links:
www.Jeremy-Wagner.com
www.brokenhope.com
www.earthburner.com
www.TheArmageddonChord.com
Jeremy on Facebook
Jeremy on Twitter
Jeremy at Publisher's Marketplace

In the shadow of Devil's Peak – Th'Damned Crows

Over the past few months I've been privy to the formation of one of Cape Town's latest sounds, Th'Damned Crows. Featuring Ronnie Belcher (drums), Zoltan Tibor Szabo-Taylor (harmonica), Liam McDevitt (double bass/vocals) and Sven Duncker (guitar), Th'Damned Crows have seriously started rocking the Mother City and gaining quite the following. Today we've got Ronnie over to chat about the band...

First off, if you have to describe Th'Damned Crows in no more than sixteen words, what would you say?

Th' Damned Crows are a rockabilly band formed in the shadow of Devil's Peak, South Africa.

How did you, Liam, Zoltan and Sven connect? Tell us a little more about the chemistry of the band.

Zoltan and I spoke for a while about starting a band in this genre. After about a year we connected with Liam (KC Royale introduced us via Facebook). I connected with Liam and then we started jamming together with in May this year. It was magic from the first note and drum hit. We wrote 10 songs in a few months.

We auditioned many guitarists, but when we met with Sven (I have known him for many years), it was perfect. He also plays for The Pits, and we have been fans of his for a while.

The chemistry is awesome, we are slightly older and wiser, so no bullshit.

Yeah, the chemistry on stage is pretty apparent, especially the balance between Liam's singing and Zolty stealing the limelight with his harmonica. You've played a couple of gigs here in Cape Town already, and the atmosphere in the venue has been electric. What feedback have you received from folks? 

It has been very positive. For a band that is still in its infancy, we have subsequently been asked to play festivals, and high-profile gigs. Our fan base is growing daily, with every show. We've even had a few panties thrown at us, and that was only at our second show!

The music might be quite upbeat with a devilish rockabilly edge flavoured with voodoo blues, but your lyrics can be considered quite dark. Care to give us a sample of the words? And tell us more about the particular song quoted? 

Lyrics for Heat & Haze & Mescaline:
Driving through the desert with a Colt .45.
A body in the trunk and The Devil Inside.
A rattle-snakin’, titty-shakin’ Mexican bride
And a bottle of tequila came along for the ride.
Heading south of the border in the blistering sun,
A body full of mescaline and I’m on the run.
My foot is on my pedal and my hand’s on my gun.
Having serious second thoughts and a whole lot of fun.
A sassy senorita stole my heart in Antone.
I woke up in a motel room and I was all alone.
Took my car and took my money and she left me with none.
Through the heat and haze and mescaline I found she was gone.
I’m gonna find empty solace in a bottle of fire.
In a fly-bitten bar I’ll take it down to the wire.
Revenge is on my mind and its burning a hole.
The violence starts to stir deep down in my soul.
So it’s just me and the bottle and the open road.
Gonna hit her with the sin which The Lord has forebode.
To unburden my conscience of this heavy load,
I’m gonna leave her in a hole in the side of the road.
Walking through the desert with the sun to my back.
Dehydrated, start to feel my senses under attack.
The Law ain’t gonna find me, got them on the wrong track
And her wicked plan for me have started showing the cracks.
Well she can try to outrun me but it ain’t no good;
Got a Chevy V8 engine running under the hood.
She better hope The Police get to her before I do,
There ain’t no telling what a wicked mind like mine might do.

Ronnie Belcher, Sven Duncker,
Zoltan Tibor Szabo-Taylor and Liam McDevittThe seeds of inspiration for Heat & Haze & Mescaline were sown while driving through the Karoo desert and the overwhelming feelings of desolation that come with such a experience. The sense of isolation is all-consuming and combined with the narrative of a dangerous liaison in a small backwater town, the song tells a uniquely South African tale of one urban man’s naïve shortcomings in the desert’s vast, uncharted territory, and man’s capacity for evil and deception.

The song evokes images of shimmering heat, long straight roads, an unending horizon and the hallucinogenic effects the desert can have on one’s mental state; the strain on the man’s physical and mental strength taps deep into his subconscious and leads to erratic behavior, uncharacteristic of a typically urbane man, reducing him to psychotic episodes of split-personality and violent fantasy.




And a last word from you as to *why* people haven't lived until they've seen Th'DamnedCrows? 

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Cover reveal: Khepera Rising rebooted

So yeah, finally I'm kicking myself into gear enough to get to the point where cover art is finalised for the Khepera Rising reboot. (Time to stop talking about doing stuff and actually *doing* it, hey?) Next up will be book two and, it can be hoped, me finding the time and the wherewithal to finish book three, which is currently in its final throes of the grand finale where all hell breaks loose.

So, without further ado, here's the blurb:
Jamie Guillaume is the man your mother warned you about, and South Africa’s wickedest man is about to raise more than hell. Haunted by the sinister Burning One and hunted by a pack of religious extremists, Jamie’s neck-deep in trouble.

Who does a black magician turn to when it seems like his carefully constructed world’s about to disintegrate?

Cover illustration is by the fantastic Daniël Hugo, who did the art for Blood and Fire. (And yes, he's fantastically awesome.) and the actual cover design (and interiors) is Donnie Light, who handled the layout for Inkarna. Thanks, guys, I hope to plague you with more work soon.

Want to know what Khepera Rising is all about? Here're some comments from folks on Goodreads who read the novel in its earlier incarnation:

Greg Hamerton: "Jamie is suitably tormented by his lack of evil intent and vacillation in the face of his growing dilemma. The detailing of Cape Town is convincing and the dark underbelly of the city disturbing in its believability."

Sonya Clark: "The further I got in this one the more I liked it. Set in South Africa, the main character is black arts magician James Guillaume. James starts out as a thoroughly unlikable prat but as he gets more than his fair share of bad luck and trouble thrown at him - deaths, beatings, being targeted by religious fundamentalists - despite his best efforts I found myself liking him."

AJ Hayes: "There are mysteries aplenty, villains both human and in/un-human, dirty deeds done dirt cheap, magic, murderous thugs in a VW Golf waving crosses and baseball bats. Beautiful girls, hookers, kindergoths and one love of his life. Aw heck, just read the thing. It's a grabber from page one to the end."

Dom with a Safeword #review

Title: Dom with a Safeword
Authors: Cari Silverwood, Leia Shaw and Sorcha Black
Publisher: Wicked Cucumber, 2012

I’ll come clean from the start and say that I was a beta-reader for this novel, and loved every minute of it. Three authors might seem like a bit of a handful when it comes to writing one story, but Leia Shaw, Cari Silverwood and Sorcha Black certainly have chemistry and sparks in all the right places.

Although there were a few times where I did notice a bit of an unevenness in style, the ladies hold everything together masterfully. What I especially appreciated was the authenticity of the characters' voices. Each has a history, has hopes, aspirations. As readers, we walk with them on a path of self-discovery.

Jude must decide whether to follow in the footsteps of his father, and study medicine – and put an end to his somewhat bohemian lifestyle of renovating houses. Sabrina learns to step beyond her somewhat conservative upbringing and taste forbidden pleasures. Q’s dark past casts a shadow on her future happiness.

If you thought a couple had its complications, try a threesome – but this combination also tantalises the senses, and Jude, Sabrina and Q create a beautiful dynamic as they explore the boundaries of their relationship. Their interaction is an absolute treat to experience, and this is tempered also by a touching romantic subplot. The ladies have paid attention to detail to their setting and the support characters – and these small details help to cast their world into three dimensions.

I must make mention of the dialogue, and the instances where the characters to-and-fro comments made me smile. Another added quirk was Sabrina’s obsession with paranormal investigating, which added a fun, light-hearted angle, especially in the séance scene. I almost wanted there to be more of a mystery theme to the story, and further development of a narrative, but that would have driven this into the realms of a doorstopper, and not the hot, tasty bite this novel is.

The Dom with a Safeword is a sweet yet kinky read, and if this sort of stuff blows your hair back then I recommend this title whole-heartedly. Scorching hot at times, yet with a gentle touch. Perhaps what I appreciated about the novel in its totality is that the ladies kept it real. Jude, Sabrina and Q could be that curious trio living next door to you, while you had absolutely no idea what goes on behind closed doors.