Joshua Palmatier's Blog, page 31
November 17, 2013
Book Review: "White Trash Zombie Apocalypse" by Diana Rowland
This is the third book in Diana Rowland's White Trash Zombie series, which I've enjoyed since book one. This one wasn't as strong as that first one, but it was still a solid and entertaining book. The quality of the series certainly hasn't gone down as the books progress, and I hope there are more to come in the series.
The premise of this book is that a movie company is filming a zombie apocalypse movie in Angel Crawford's town, and Angel and the rest of the real zombies are having a blast watching the fake zombies and crew. Of course, someone from the set dies and Angel starts getting signs that something more sinister is going on, especially when she runs into her old "friend" Philip, the zombie baby she was forced to create when kidnapped in the second book. She finds herself embroiled in industrial espionage and drawn deeper into her boyfriend's zombie "mafia," even as the movie set threatens to become the start of an actual zombie apocalypse.
The best parts of the book are, of course, Angel, who's character continues to evolve, and her struggles as she becomes more involved with the local zombie mafia. Her personal struggles with her boyfriend and father are also prevalent, all in very positive ways. Again, the main reason to read these books isn't because of the zombies, it's the characters, Angel in particular. The plot is also stronger--more fleshed out and streamlined--than in the previous book. I liked the progression of how Angel gets drawn into the industrial espionage and the local mafia. She isn't automatically part of the group. And she has qualms about some of the things the group does. It isn't a black-and-white division of good and evil, and Angel struggles with some of the darker sides of the corporation and its actions. All of this is good reading.
I was disappointed with the actual use of the zombie movie set. I was expecting this to be used more effectively. Essentially, without spoiling anything, I figured out what was happening with the movie set way early on, and even knew what the culmination of this aspect of the plot would be. However, when that moment came about, it didn't have the power or impact that I thought it should have. This was the only weak point of the book, and the only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars.
There was another part that was extremely powerful however. Emotionally for both Angel and the reader, and also extremely dynamic in terms of character development for Angel and her father. I can't really say anything more about it thought without spoiling it. But you'll know it when you read it. And you should definitely be reading this series, if you aren't already.
So, overall a great book. Definitely worth reading. And as I said, I hope there are more in this series to come.
The premise of this book is that a movie company is filming a zombie apocalypse movie in Angel Crawford's town, and Angel and the rest of the real zombies are having a blast watching the fake zombies and crew. Of course, someone from the set dies and Angel starts getting signs that something more sinister is going on, especially when she runs into her old "friend" Philip, the zombie baby she was forced to create when kidnapped in the second book. She finds herself embroiled in industrial espionage and drawn deeper into her boyfriend's zombie "mafia," even as the movie set threatens to become the start of an actual zombie apocalypse.
The best parts of the book are, of course, Angel, who's character continues to evolve, and her struggles as she becomes more involved with the local zombie mafia. Her personal struggles with her boyfriend and father are also prevalent, all in very positive ways. Again, the main reason to read these books isn't because of the zombies, it's the characters, Angel in particular. The plot is also stronger--more fleshed out and streamlined--than in the previous book. I liked the progression of how Angel gets drawn into the industrial espionage and the local mafia. She isn't automatically part of the group. And she has qualms about some of the things the group does. It isn't a black-and-white division of good and evil, and Angel struggles with some of the darker sides of the corporation and its actions. All of this is good reading.
I was disappointed with the actual use of the zombie movie set. I was expecting this to be used more effectively. Essentially, without spoiling anything, I figured out what was happening with the movie set way early on, and even knew what the culmination of this aspect of the plot would be. However, when that moment came about, it didn't have the power or impact that I thought it should have. This was the only weak point of the book, and the only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars.
There was another part that was extremely powerful however. Emotionally for both Angel and the reader, and also extremely dynamic in terms of character development for Angel and her father. I can't really say anything more about it thought without spoiling it. But you'll know it when you read it. And you should definitely be reading this series, if you aren't already.
So, overall a great book. Definitely worth reading. And as I said, I hope there are more in this series to come.
November 15, 2013
SAVE UP THOSE BOOK PURCHASES!
We're just one week away from the local Star Trek club the USS Serling's bookfair/fundraiser at Barnes & Noble for Literacy Volunteers of Broome/Tioga Counties! So save up anything you might be buying at Barnes and Noble until November 22nd-27th. If you purchase anything at your local B&N on those dates, give the person at check-out the BOOKFAIR CODE: 11227071. A percentage of your purchase will be donated directly to Literacy Volunteers. You can also enter the bookfair code ONLINE at check-out on those dates. Just click the bookfair box that appears at checkout and enter the code. And if you happen to be in the Binghamton, NY, area, come by the Vestal Barnes & Noble on November 22nd, 4-8pm, and catch the USS Serling promoting the event at the store with Literacy Volunteers! I'll be there signing copies of my books as well. Thanks in advance for supporting our charity event. And link to this post to help spread the word.
Edit: The code will work online at bn.com. When checking out, on the Payment section, a bookfair checkbox should appear at the bottom. If you're signed into your BN Account, you'll have to hit "Change" on the payment screen and then the bookfair box will appear at the bottom. Click the checkbox and it should open up a field so you can enter the bookfair code.
Edit: The code will work online at bn.com. When checking out, on the Payment section, a bookfair checkbox should appear at the bottom. If you're signed into your BN Account, you'll have to hit "Change" on the payment screen and then the bookfair box will appear at the bottom. Click the checkbox and it should open up a field so you can enter the bookfair code.
November 13, 2013
New Book Discussion! (Finally)
I've just posted the book discussion for the omnibus edition of R.M. Meluch's first two Tour of the Merrimack book over at the DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! This omnibus includes The Myriad and Wolf Star, both of which I've read and enjoyed. Swing on by the blog and check them out!
dawbooks
)! This omnibus includes The Myriad and Wolf Star, both of which I've read and enjoyed. Swing on by the blog and check them out!November 1, 2013
New DAW Books for November!
I've posted the latest new releases from DAW Books over at the blog (
dawbooks
)! There's a debut author, E.C. Blake, and a new release from Laura Resnick. Plus a paperback release of Tanya Huff's latest, and an omnibus edition of R.M. Meluch's 3rd and 4th books in the U.S.S. Merrimack series. Swing on by and check them out!
dawbooks
)! There's a debut author, E.C. Blake, and a new release from Laura Resnick. Plus a paperback release of Tanya Huff's latest, and an omnibus edition of R.M. Meluch's 3rd and 4th books in the U.S.S. Merrimack series. Swing on by and check them out!October 30, 2013
Event: River Road Expo in Nichols, NY
Just to let everyone know, I'll be at the River Road Expo at Tioga Downs in Nichols, NY this coming Sunday, November 3rd, from 11am-5pm. I'll have a table and will be signing things, of course. All of my books will be available for purchase, including any anthologies that I have a short story in of that I edited, and my new small press Zombies Need Brains will also be represented. So if you're in the area, swing on by and check it out! Admission to the event is free, so there's really no reason not to.
October 29, 2013
Signal Boost: "Allegiance" by Beth Bernobich
Today is also release day for Beth Bernobich's third novel in the River of Souls trilogy, Allegiance. You can find out more details and links about the book and series here, but I've posted the cover and cover copy for the book below.
Cover Copy: King Leos of Károví, the tyrannical despot whose magic made him near immortal and who controlled a tattered empire for centuries through fear and intimidation, is finally dead. Ilse Zhalina watched as the magical jewels that gave him such power reunited into a single essence, a manifestly God-like creature who then disappeared into the cosmic void. Ilse is now free to fulfill her promise to Valara Baussay, the rogue Queen of Morennioù, who wants to return to her kingdom and claim her throne.
Ilse will do all in her power to help Valara if only as a means to get to her home. Home to her lover, Raul Kosenmark, who is gathering forces in their homeland of Veraene now that Leos is dead in order to save them from an ill-advised war. Pulled by duty and honor, Ilse makes this long journey back to where her story began, to complete the journey she attempted lives and centuries before and bring peace between the kingdoms. Along the way she learns some hard truths and finally comes to a crossroads of power and magic. She must decide if duty is stronger than a love that she has sought through countless lifetimes.
Will Isle give up her heart’s desire so that her nation can finally know lasting peace?
Allegiance is the thrilling conclusion to Beth Bernobich's River of Souls trilogy.
Cover Copy: King Leos of Károví, the tyrannical despot whose magic made him near immortal and who controlled a tattered empire for centuries through fear and intimidation, is finally dead. Ilse Zhalina watched as the magical jewels that gave him such power reunited into a single essence, a manifestly God-like creature who then disappeared into the cosmic void. Ilse is now free to fulfill her promise to Valara Baussay, the rogue Queen of Morennioù, who wants to return to her kingdom and claim her throne.
Ilse will do all in her power to help Valara if only as a means to get to her home. Home to her lover, Raul Kosenmark, who is gathering forces in their homeland of Veraene now that Leos is dead in order to save them from an ill-advised war. Pulled by duty and honor, Ilse makes this long journey back to where her story began, to complete the journey she attempted lives and centuries before and bring peace between the kingdoms. Along the way she learns some hard truths and finally comes to a crossroads of power and magic. She must decide if duty is stronger than a love that she has sought through countless lifetimes.
Will Isle give up her heart’s desire so that her nation can finally know lasting peace?
Allegiance is the thrilling conclusion to Beth Bernobich's River of Souls trilogy.
Signal Boost: "Tiernay West, Professional Adventurer" by Janni Lee Simner
Janni Lee Simner has re-released one of her backstock books, originally titled Secret of the Three Treasures, as Tiernay West, Professional Adventurer. You can find out all of the information here, but here's the cover and cover copy to whet your appetite. This is a middle grade novel, I believe.
Cover Copy: If there's lost treasure to be found, she's the one to find it. Tiernay West, Professional Adventurer--at your service.
Moving with the stealth of a great cat of the African plains, Tiernay West can track a bicycle over dry pavement and infiltrate secret organizations far beyond bedtime. She has little use for playing by the rules, doing as she's told, or spending time with her mother's dull new boyfriend and his computer-obsessed son.
Tiernay may be months away from (elementary school) graduation, but she already knows what she wants out of life: to become a professional adventurer, just like the heroine of her father's best-selling novels. She isn't scared of anything, and when she catches wind of possible buried treasure in her own hometown, she's on the job. She knows this could be her big break.
If along the way Tiernay finds herself running for her life, scaling cliffs in the middle of the night, and evading her not-at-all-adventuresome mother, that's all in a day's work--and totally part of the plan.
Cover Copy: If there's lost treasure to be found, she's the one to find it. Tiernay West, Professional Adventurer--at your service.
Moving with the stealth of a great cat of the African plains, Tiernay West can track a bicycle over dry pavement and infiltrate secret organizations far beyond bedtime. She has little use for playing by the rules, doing as she's told, or spending time with her mother's dull new boyfriend and his computer-obsessed son.
Tiernay may be months away from (elementary school) graduation, but she already knows what she wants out of life: to become a professional adventurer, just like the heroine of her father's best-selling novels. She isn't scared of anything, and when she catches wind of possible buried treasure in her own hometown, she's on the job. She knows this could be her big break.
If along the way Tiernay finds herself running for her life, scaling cliffs in the middle of the night, and evading her not-at-all-adventuresome mother, that's all in a day's work--and totally part of the plan.
October 28, 2013
Guest Blog: GAIL Z. MARTIN on Genre Hopping
We have a guest post today from Gail Z. Martin, one of the contributing authors to the upcoming anthology Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs Aliens from the new small press Zombies Need Brains. She's here to discuss genre hopping, why authors should work in multiple genres to help their craft. So without further ado, I give you Gail Z. Martin:
Genre Hopping
by Gail Z. Martin
I've been writing epic fantasy all my life, and had seven epic fantasy novels published, with more in the pipeline. I write big, fat fantasy books with plenty of sword and sorcery, with sweeping plotlines (that's the epic part) that consume kingdoms and dynasties.
I also write urban fantasy, both in short stories and with a new novel coming out in 2014. Magic, modern times, supernatural creatures and a first-person narrative.
So why, when Joshua asked me to be part of a Steampunk anthology, did I jump up and down and squeal like a little girl? (Ok, I exaggerate on the squeal but I think I did hop a bit.)
As a writer, I've found that while a certain amount of familiarity with a topic breeds proficiency, staying only with that topic starts to make fresh ideas flow more slowly. I was a little concerned initially when I started to write a monthly ebook short story, whether or not I would get "tired" of writing so much, on top of my book commitments. The answer turned out to be, I had a bigger flow of new ideas because I was doing new things.
Writing something in a different genre makes you look at the world a different way. Writing in a different style, like moving from third-person narrative to first-person, stretches different creative muscles. It's like switching exercise routines or weight machines at the gym. All of a sudden, you realize that you've got a whole new goal to strive for. It makes it fun and puts a little mystery back in the process.
Besides, I've loved Steampunk since before it had a name. As a kid, I watched Wild Wild West, full of James Bond gadgets during the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. I loved Jules Verne and any movie based on his books. The idea of gears and gadgets instead of rockets and ray guns made sense to me. So when Joshua asked if I'd be interested, the answer was a fan-girl squee.
What Joshua didn't know was that I'd already begun working on a concept for a Steampunk novel. That project is still in development, but the short story for Steampunk vs. Aliens will be a little sneak peek. And it's fun working on the short story because it helps me develop some of the ideas better that might find their way into the novel. Creativity works on a winding, circuitous route. I'm having fun.
See you in the Clockwork Universe!
Come check out all the free excerpts, book giveaways and other goodies that are part of my Days of the Dead blog tour! Trick-or-Treat you way through more than 30 partner sites where you'll find brand new interviews, freebies and more--details at www.AscendantKingdoms.com.
Ice Forged will be a Kindle Daily Deal with a special one-day price of just $1.99 only on October 31! Get it here.
Reign of Ash, book two in the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga launches in April, 2014 from Orbit Books. My new urban fantasy, Deadly Curiosities, comes out in July, 2014 from Solaris Books. I bring out two series of ebook short stories with a new story every month for just .99 on Kindle, Kobo and Nook—check out the Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures or the Deadly Curiosities Adventures.
About the author: Gail Z. Martin is the author of Ice Forged in The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga and the upcoming Reign of Ash (Orbit Books, 2014), plus The Chronicles of The Necromancer series (The Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven & Dark Lady’s Chosen) from Solaris Books and The Fallen Kings Cycle (The Sworn and The Dread) from Orbit Books. In 2014, Gail launches a new urban fantasy novel, Deadly Curiosities, from Solaris Books. She is also the author of two series of ebook short stories: The Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures and the Deadly Curiosities Adventures. Find her at www.ChroniclesOfTheNecromancer.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, on Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms, at DisquietingVisions.com blog and GhostInTheMachinePodcast.com.
Genre Hopping
by Gail Z. Martin
I've been writing epic fantasy all my life, and had seven epic fantasy novels published, with more in the pipeline. I write big, fat fantasy books with plenty of sword and sorcery, with sweeping plotlines (that's the epic part) that consume kingdoms and dynasties.
I also write urban fantasy, both in short stories and with a new novel coming out in 2014. Magic, modern times, supernatural creatures and a first-person narrative.
So why, when Joshua asked me to be part of a Steampunk anthology, did I jump up and down and squeal like a little girl? (Ok, I exaggerate on the squeal but I think I did hop a bit.)
As a writer, I've found that while a certain amount of familiarity with a topic breeds proficiency, staying only with that topic starts to make fresh ideas flow more slowly. I was a little concerned initially when I started to write a monthly ebook short story, whether or not I would get "tired" of writing so much, on top of my book commitments. The answer turned out to be, I had a bigger flow of new ideas because I was doing new things.
Writing something in a different genre makes you look at the world a different way. Writing in a different style, like moving from third-person narrative to first-person, stretches different creative muscles. It's like switching exercise routines or weight machines at the gym. All of a sudden, you realize that you've got a whole new goal to strive for. It makes it fun and puts a little mystery back in the process.
Besides, I've loved Steampunk since before it had a name. As a kid, I watched Wild Wild West, full of James Bond gadgets during the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. I loved Jules Verne and any movie based on his books. The idea of gears and gadgets instead of rockets and ray guns made sense to me. So when Joshua asked if I'd be interested, the answer was a fan-girl squee.
What Joshua didn't know was that I'd already begun working on a concept for a Steampunk novel. That project is still in development, but the short story for Steampunk vs. Aliens will be a little sneak peek. And it's fun working on the short story because it helps me develop some of the ideas better that might find their way into the novel. Creativity works on a winding, circuitous route. I'm having fun.
See you in the Clockwork Universe!
Come check out all the free excerpts, book giveaways and other goodies that are part of my Days of the Dead blog tour! Trick-or-Treat you way through more than 30 partner sites where you'll find brand new interviews, freebies and more--details at www.AscendantKingdoms.com.
Ice Forged will be a Kindle Daily Deal with a special one-day price of just $1.99 only on October 31! Get it here.
Reign of Ash, book two in the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga launches in April, 2014 from Orbit Books. My new urban fantasy, Deadly Curiosities, comes out in July, 2014 from Solaris Books. I bring out two series of ebook short stories with a new story every month for just .99 on Kindle, Kobo and Nook—check out the Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures or the Deadly Curiosities Adventures.
About the author: Gail Z. Martin is the author of Ice Forged in The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga and the upcoming Reign of Ash (Orbit Books, 2014), plus The Chronicles of The Necromancer series (The Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven & Dark Lady’s Chosen) from Solaris Books and The Fallen Kings Cycle (The Sworn and The Dread) from Orbit Books. In 2014, Gail launches a new urban fantasy novel, Deadly Curiosities, from Solaris Books. She is also the author of two series of ebook short stories: The Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures and the Deadly Curiosities Adventures. Find her at www.ChroniclesOfTheNecromancer.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, on Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms, at DisquietingVisions.com blog and GhostInTheMachinePodcast.com.
The Latest Book Discussion!
I've just posted the latest book discussion at the DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! We're talking about Mercedes Lackey's fourth Collegium Chronicles book, Redoubt, out in paperback this month. Swing on by the blog and check it out! And leave a comment if you've already read it.
dawbooks
)! We're talking about Mercedes Lackey's fourth Collegium Chronicles book, Redoubt, out in paperback this month. Swing on by the blog and check it out! And leave a comment if you've already read it.October 22, 2013
A New Book Discussion!
I've just posted the latest book discussion over at the DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! We're looking at Tanya Huff's Blood Trail</i>, being re-released in trade edition this month. Swing on by and check it out! And if you've read it already, leave a comment about what you thought!
dawbooks
)! We're looking at Tanya Huff's Blood Trail</i>, being re-released in trade edition this month. Swing on by and check it out! And if you've read it already, leave a comment about what you thought!
