David A. Cleinman's Blog, page 2
March 8, 2016
Starting From Scratch and Baking Bread
This novel series is about to be released. I have delayed releasing the first book, officially, because of a few personal issues and the fact that I really wanted to get ahead in the series so I knew where book one was headed. Now book five is in pre-edit and book two is finished. It is time to let this one go. A ramp up and a release party…
It’s a lot like baking bread, I was thinking. I always have the ingredients I need on hand. Flour, water/milk of course, butter, yeast, salt and grains. But sometimes I don’t. I was sure I did, damn it! Oh well, market here I come! With a battle cry I launch myself into my silver mare and we chase down the yeast master wherever it may hide! The grocery down the street, usually, matter of fact.
All right. Ingredients together, bowl warm. Butter is melted. I usually cheat and use milk… some sugar (a touch) added to pot. yeast added and left to bloom… Dry ingredients… add to wet… Mix, knead, rest and rise… BAM. Knock it down. Knead it again a little bit. Rest and rise. Bake until golden brown and delicious!
Writing is a lot like that, you know? Ingredients needed on hand, or fetchable with some work. Mixing up a dough without beating it too much or letting it settle. A final product that everyone loves… forget it. Bread is a lot easier! But it’s not as satisfying.
I am a god it would seem, when crafting a family of characters, creating living scenes that can be smelled, felt, even tasted at times. You hear the wind, the rain, the thunder, the beat of a heart, the brush of a hand. I AM GOD!
Nonsense. I pass on the lives that my fellow humans live. The characters? They are all around us. I may clothe them a bit differently and place them in another world, but you know them. You talk to them, love them, hate them, are angry with them a lot! They make you laugh, cry, want to eat chocolate… Because they are the people you already know, you can relate to them in intimate terms.
Story… where would I be without my predecessors? The masters of mental craft and illusion. Irony in the fist and a gleam in the eye. Steinbeck gave me hope. My life could never be THAT bad! But I was wrong. Tom Joad and I traveled the same road for a long while.
Tolkien made me see light in any darkness. Frodo? Never could I carry such a ring so far… but I have. Over and over again dreams of being the ring bearer excited and sometimes frightened me! I recall a particularly dark one with thunderstorms, charging orcs, and a single chance to escape by trusting a cliff had a short drop or a tall tree. Great fun.
Stephen King rarely scared me, but it did make some nights very cold and lonely. The Shining? The book was better than the movie and that is saying something!
Dickens… cruel ironies and twists of fate… cold London streets and warm taverns and dining rooms… eerie and heartwarming. Funny and heartbreaking.
And that’s but four authors I adore out of hundreds!
Love… you feel it deeply when eating homemade bread. It connects you to the people you remember and still love to this day. Passed on, or just far away, the feeling remains as strong as ever. Provided we allow ourselves to feel it. Sometimes the pain makes it difficult. I like to think my writing makes it possible to bridge such a gap. You feel the emotions as if they are your own. Because they are. And mine, and everyone we know. We feel the same things, sometimes for different reasons, but we get it, if we let ourselves in.
The aroma of baking bread brings a warmth and comfort to the soul. A great book does the same. It can evoke the same memories and get us in touch with times we miss. Make us laugh over a sliver of a memory, or take us back to a cold winter day, where snow was falling and warmth was hard to find, even inside. My fellow upstate New Yorkers will know what I mean. Baking bread and writing stories kept me warm as a youth.
Slicing bread… like slicing up concepts, buttering them, and making them part of a meal worthy of eating… Bread is easier, perhaps, but only because it takes less time. The idea is the same. Symbolism aside, every bite of a book is like the slice of bread. It has to be good, all the way through. A few holes are okay, but that big air bubble?! Knead man, knead! Too dark on the bottom? Don’t overbake! Doughy? Take your time and let it bake a bit more… Did it fall? Hmmmm was the yeast old? The oven too cool? Always difficulties and kneading to overcome them.
Ha! A homonym! I love words. Their casual elegance, their passionate exuberance! Their simple and direct ability. Their amazing artistry. I own and can solve a Rubik’s cube without help. I am aware that I am much faster with the solution guide, but I solved it many times without ever studying it for more than a minute or two. Twice before my friend even got the guide. Lately, I have been using it, however. I hope to solve it through knowledge of it’s correct solution, rather than the semi-guessing that I do now. Even so, with all its combinations, and the guide says there are trillions, it is just a cube with six sides and six colors.
Words are endless and varied, with unlimited combinations ensuring unlimited possibilities. This is why stories keep being told. Because every person has unique stories to tell. We listen, we write them down, and we read them. If they intrigue us enough, we share them. They need not be real and true to life, as long as they are true to the lives we know. Then, when the bread is baked, we share it.
Baking bread… writing books. Who knew?
Check out the first book of my Saga of The Lost Dragons:
For feedback or to ask a question, please fill in the form and submit. I will not share or sell your information!
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The post Starting From Scratch and Baking Bread appeared first on Author Dave Cleinman's Blog.
January 28, 2016
The Rebirth of The Writer
Hello World of Writing and Reading,
All those gamers out there are now confused. We thought WOW meant World of Warcraft! Well, I am happy to say WOW would never have come into being without the WRITING behind it, within it, and used to promote it! I am of the opinion that few things have moved humanity more than the written word, and almost nothing has endured longer over time. The relaunch of my blog gives me the opportunity to celebrate this with others.
When I decided to move my hosting from a popular but poor company to a more popular and better company, I realized I had the opportunity to redo my blog and website. Gone are the many interviews and reviews. I had to reevaluate my values, so to speak, and I decided reviewing stories and books as an author myself was a conflict of interest. So, I am switching to guest posts and reviews posted by reviewers and NOT authors.
If you are a reader, we have a special spot for you called the Reader’s Corner. Here a dialogue may be established concerning popular books, indie and traditionally published. New releases or ancient fiction and anything in between may be hashed out and dissected.
Writers are welcome to offer guest posts, but advertising is not allowed except by my personal approval. So, if you write a guest post, make it about good content and not about your work(s). The same is true of a reader guest post. I understand your friend just wrote an incredible work of historical fiction, or your mom knows more about kumquats and key limes than anyone. Advertising their work in the guise of a guest post just will not fly.
What do we want to know about? Any literature you like and find entertaining, stirring, striking, thrilling, or scary. Like funny? Like romance? Like adventure, sci fi, fantasy? We are wide open and want people to share.
Some important things to note:
This is a family friendly website. As such, absolutely no erotica, no alternative romance (LGBT), no gore, and no murder fests, sometimes known as slashers, will be accepted for posts, reviews, or commentary.
Opinion is fine, but do not let it overwhelm facts. Research all claims.
Guest posts should avoid personal attacks. You may read these in the book reviews on many websites if they appeal to you.
Guest posts should be engaging and fun to read! Your heart should be in it. If it’s not, you may be writing simply for the sake of exposure and promotion. Don’t do it. If your heart is not in your guest post, readers will never believe it is in your regular writing!
A single link to your book, blog, web page, or author site is acceptable at the end of the article/post you submit.
Trends are fun to read about. Predicting the future is also fun. We welcome this kind of speculation and dialogue. As always, speculation should not ignore established fact. Research all claims.
Think Win-Win. Your post could make or break someone’s day. Commentary and reviews should be honest, even if they might hurt for a while. Writing improves with learning.
We are especially interested in posts about social network etiquette.
We look forward to your posts, comments, ideas and notions. Happy blogging! At present my main site is up and mostly complete: Http://www.davidcleinman.com
Best, Dave Cleinman
To send me live feedback on this post, request a shot at a guest post, or to suggest a category or feature, fill out the form and submit it.
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April 15, 2014
Andy Peloquin Takes Us To Atlantis
Today I welcome my friend and fellow author Andy Peloquin to my blog. Andy is a great guy who took some of his time to help me out, and I am happy to share his introductory work: In the Days: A Tale of the Forgotten Continent
Tell us what the book is about
The Empire of Atlantis: the most powerful nation in the world. Peace reigns across the continent, and an age of prosperity and enlightenment has made the Empire the center of the globe.
But, beneath the peaceful façade of life in the Imperial City, trouble is brewing. Assassins lurk in the shadows, intrigue abounds in the court of the Empress. Will political ambitions topple the House of Tah, or could the threat be one much more sinister in nature? Dark forces threaten the land, and the future of the Empire is at stake.
What is special about the main character?
The main character, Deucalion, is as ordinary as it gets – save for his sarcastic nature and his unique position as Historian and Chancellor to the Empress of Atlantis. He’s just a man trying to navigate his way through life.
What conflicts drive the story?
Political intrigue and assassination threatens both Deucalion and the Empress throughout. There is always the undertone of “Who sent these assassins?” and there are plenty of surprise twists throughout as the reader finds out who is behind it all.
To add to the problem, a prophet of doom has warned of the destruction of Atlantis! Will Deucalion be able to prevent the total annihilation of the continent, or is he doomed to share the fate of the rest of the world as he knows it?
What would you say the theme of the book is?
Acceptance of a calling. Faith and belief in a higher power.
Who would be most interested in this novel?
Anyone who loves a fast-paced adventure, complete with intrigue, mystery, suspense, sword-fighting, and a hint of the supernatural.
What prompted you to write the book?
I’ve always loved the concept of Atlantis, as well as the liberties I could take writing it. After all, with no written records of what the civilization was like, it is like a fantasy world in and of itself.
When you write, how does it make you feel?
It is a huge release to be able to put my thoughts and feelings down on paper like this. I put myself into my writings, and I love the creative outlet it provides me.
What authors inspire you? Whose books can’t you put down?
Scott Lynch showed me the value of a great character.
Glen Cook showed me that bad guys aren’t always bad.
Brandon Sanderson showed me the importance of a complex, complete world.
Would you like to share any other stories or books that you have written?
I have a graphic novel coming out in the next few months, but I can’t say more than that just yet. This is my first published book, but many, many more are on their way!
Tell us about yourself and your family:
I am married to a wonderful woman, and am step-father to four children between the ages of 10 and 14. It’s a full time job, but it’s a very rewarding career!
What projects do you have planned for the future?
My next foray will be into the world of dark fantasy.
A legendary assassin finds himself drawn into a much darker world than he could have possibly believed existed after a contract goes wrong. Will his target kill him, or will his death be by The Bloody Hand, the Dark Heresy, or a far less mundane threat?
I hope that helps to pique the interest of a few fantasy readers out there!
August 25, 2013
What Scene-type Is Hardest For Me To Write?
Ever since writing and publishing my first (and some say best) novel, Principle Destiny, I have been haunted by one type of scene: Putting characters in harm’s way.
Generally I am quite compassionate. So, to make it hard for a character to have a happy and peaceful life does not come naturally. But I do it… some of my readers say I do it quite well. It’s hard, but I manage it… HOW?
One of my other personal aspects is a desire to drag readers through the difficult situations my characters face. Realistically, life is not often easy, nor peaceful. Happiness is fought-for, not granted, most of the time. So readers expect to be challenged. But I rarely think of the reader’s expectations. I write life, usually just as it happens to most people. Readers find they can easily see themselves in situations my characters experience. Danger begets hazards… and so it must, no matter how I personally feel about a character.
Broken bones, demonic possession, grief, sorrow, pain, mental agony… it all manages to happen, and sometimes even I am surprised by the results. For instance, In PD, when our beloved Princess decides to attack her assailant, rather than incapacitating him, she ends up in bad shape… and yet, as hot-headed and error-prone as that decision was, it had been building over months and months, and never could have been avoided. Then there is the rationale for the action that almost becomes her undoing… this did not come until some weeks later, when I realized that such a sacrifice, even borne on impulsiveness and poor judgement, served a larger purpose. Could my protagonist have changed her sire’s mind without physical damage from the attacker she had repeatedly complained to him about? I very much doubt it.
Scenes hardest to write? Any time I have to harm a character, even an antagonist, I have to work up to it in my mind, cast aside my doubts, and just write it as it might actually take place. Everything happens for a reason, even in a novel.
The follow-up question: But do I have to actually physically harm a character?
Nope… most of the worst damage done to characters , in my novels or others, is psychological. Physical damage can go away, usually. The broken bones heal, the scars fade, the blood clots, the black eye turns back to normal, and so on. Psychological harm must be coped with until it is conquered, both more rewarding, and often more intense for readers. Physical pain generates sympathy. Psychological pain generates empathy. For a writer, empathy is what we seek from our readers. If we have empathy towards our characters, we have interested readers. And this, above all, is what our craft is all about: Engaged and page-turning readers.
In that spirit, I’ll share a brief excerpt from Principle Destiny:
…When she came-to Skye was tending her wounds with the aid of warm water and the heat from a hot fire that he had built. She looked into his blue eyes, and suddenly she remembered. “ELIOS,” she screamed. “Where is he?”
Skye simply turned his head. He had built a pyre, and placed the body on it. Thankfully, to Alyssa’s mind, he hadn’t lit it.
Her tears began to flow again. “We have to take him home, Skye. His father would want that.” She sobbed, clinging to Skye with all her might. “Oh God,” she said through her tears. “He was such a good man. He gave his life to save me. I even asked him to go first.” She finally took a breath, but her sobs continued. “What have I done? I thought together we’d be safe. I shouldn’t have let him stay with me.”
Princess Alyssa has made an error in judgement, she believes, but it was just a twist of fate. She could no more see the future than avoid it. Yet a good friend and ally is now dead. She is in the throes of unimaginable distress and blames herself. Would we? Most likely.
How hard was it to write the scene, the precursor where Prince Elios is killed, and the days that follow in the Princess’s life? The build-up, when I realized it had to happen, was harder than doing it. But it took me half a day to accept and adjust to the idea.
I write thrillers… even when I don’t really plan on it. A long time has passed now, since novel-attempt number one, and the published books I have managed to produce. Is it any easier to put a character in harm’s way? Nope. I doubt, to be honest, it will ever be easier. But, even so, I cannot complain. The ability to weave an impactful story is a gift, and a privilege. To that end, I will always strive, difficulty aside.
Happy Reading,
Dave Cleinman
May 21, 2013
Lynne Cantwell’s Annealed – Released Today!
Naomi Witherspoon lives in interesting times. At the winter solstice, she was Seized by a Native American goddess to mediate a power-sharing agreement between all the pagan gods and goddesses and the Christian God. Then, as her relationship with her new boyfriend Fissured, she Tapped a wellspring of strength – her Native American heritage.
Now, Gravid and due any day, she must conduct the mediation of her life. Will she succeed? Or will it all go up in smoke?
The answers to those questions, and more, can be found in Annealed, the final installment in the Pipe Woman Chronicles, an urban fantasy series by Lynne Cantwell.
It began at the winter solstice
And it ends
Now.
It’s zero hour…
Naomi has just two weeks to find a new home for Joseph’s grandfather. The old Ute shaman is fighting for his life against a mysterious injection of toxin he received at the hands of the Norse Trickster god Loki. If Naomi is to defeat Loki once and for all, she must learn what it is he seeks under the old man’s wickiup.
She has just one week before she must mediate between the Earth’s pagan gods and goddesses and the Christian God. If her efforts fail, all of humankind will suffer the consequences.
And her baby is due any day.
In this, the fifth and final book of the Pipe Woman Chronicles, Naomi is in a race against the clock to balance the demands of her body, her family, and her friends – and she must do it while the whole world is watching.
A taste of chapter 10: Jehovah sighed. “White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman, I concede that much of what You have said here is true. Humanity wrestles still with its baser impulses, even as it reaches for the pinnacle of its potential. Math, the sciences, engineering. I never thought they would figure out fractal theory.” He chuckled. “I love My children dearly. Soon they will reach the stars. They are ever a surprise and a delight to Me.” Lynne Cantwell’s take on the excerpt: “Naomi has finally reached the Big Mediation — the one between the Christian God and all the pagan gods and goddesses that the whole series has been driving toward. In this scene, White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman has just outlined all the ways humanity has trashed God’s Creation: ruining the environment, using Scripture as an excuse to treat other human races like animals, and so on. God acknowledges all of that. But it’s also clear that He takes great delight in what He has created — and He has a sense of humor, too.”
About the Author: Lynne Cantwell
Lynne Cantwell has been writing fiction since the second grade, when the kid who sat in front of her showed her a book he had written, and she thought, “I could do that.” The result was Susie and the Talking Doll, a picture book, illustrated by the author, about a girl who owned a doll that not only could talk, but could carry on conversations. The book had dialogue but no paragraph breaks. Today, after a twenty-year career in broadcast journalism and a master’s degree in fiction writing from Johns Hopkins University (or perhaps despite the master’s degree), Lynne is still writing fantasy. In addition, she is a contributing author at Indies Unlimited and writes a monthly post for The Indie Exchange.
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Where has author Dave Cleinman been?
I apologize for my nine-month absence from my blog. I have been writing almost nonstop for this entire past year, and have made little time for blog posts or anything that detracted from my writing endeavors.
As a blogger I spent the majority of time focusing on other authors and sharing their work. While I truly enjoy doing this, I received so few reciprocal offers it became a distraction rather than a boon. In fact, some of the authors that I actually interviewed and spent time working with proved to be quite unfriendly and ungrateful. Perhaps their fame limited their ability to be kind to the little guy, like me. I don’t begrudge them that, and I hold them in no ill will, but I had to choose what was right for me.
So, moving forward on this blog, I will feature only authors who reciprocate. Not to be selfish, but I have two small businesses: writing and editing, and am a webmaster for multiple sites. I simply do not have the time to give freebies any longer, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. I wish my fellow authors all the luck in the world and I promote them whenever I can. But my blog has to be at least equally about me.
I will expand the blog to include editing tips, writing tutorials, promotion and options, and anything else I think could help me and my fellow authors. When I choose to promote a fellow author’s works on my blog, there will be a reciprocal agreement in place first. This means you will find my works on their blog as well! (About time, too). This is essential for both the best use of my time and, to a lesser degree, my sanity.
I hope you will enjoy the new blog. I believe I’ve always had a great deal to offer both readers and writers, and I love to learn for my fellow authors and readers as well. If they have something excellent to say, I will share it.
For the love of writing and reading, I remain humbly (or perhaps less so now), Dave Cleinman.
My two eBooks on Amazon. (there are more, but they will are remaining unreleased (publicly for now,at least):
Principle Destiny follows the intense efforts of Alyssa, banished Princess and yet royal heir, as she strives to regain both her position and her rights as heir to her father’s crown. The only remaining path for her to accomplish this is to race her brother across three kingdoms for almost a thousand miles. She is harried, pursued, attacked, and endlessly threatened by unseen lurkers. She is a fighter, determined, and deeply loved by her people, but can she prevail alone and hunted in the vast wilderness of the race terrain?
Toys In The Attic is the survival story of Sarah Stewart, abused and horribly victimized by her unstable father, and forced to cope with horrors that are as dark and distressing as they come. She prevails, and does survive she believes, until she enters into a relationship that threatens to bring back the very horrors of the past she thought she had left behind. Sarah is a fighter, and a perfectionist, but her shattered life as a teenager rears its ugly head at times, and she finds herself at war with both her instincts, and her choices. Can she truly survive a return to her haunted past?
August 28, 2012
How to self-publish and market your book online (And have the time of your life!)
Today I am thrilled to have yanked on Rasana Atreya’s arm hard enough to convince her to share this awesome article on how to self-publish and market your book, originally featured in The Hindu, India’s most popular paper. I feel like I have been given a great gift I can share with all of you! Thank you Rasana! Here we go:
How to self-publish and market your book online and have the time of your life.
RASANA A TREYA
Early this year the unpublished manuscript of my novel, Tell a Thousand Lies, was shortlisted for the 2012 Tibor Jones South Asia prize. I was ecstatic when I was offered a publishing contract soon after, by one of India’s largest publishing houses. Yet, I declined the offer.
Let me explain.
I would have been happy enough to have my paperback published. What I wanted were the rights to my ebook (the electronically downloadable form of a book). I’d been following the career paths of Amanda Hocking and Joe Konrath, the two authors leading the self-publishing charge, and I wanted a chance to apply their marketing methods to my ebooks. The publisher wasn’t agreeable though, so we parted ways, no hard feelings.
Breaking new ground
Giving up a publishing contract, the holy grail for any writer? — my friends thought I was a few neurons short in the brain. But the unchartered territory aspect of it — going where no Indian woman had gone before — appealed to me. I would have complete control over the final product; everything, from pricing to cover design to marketing, would be my responsibility. It was exhilarating. It was also scary.
I commissioned the book cover and had my manuscript edited professionally, paying a one-time fee for both, instead of a cut in the royalties. This is the sensible approach because both were one-time services (traditional publishers take cuts in royalties because of additional costs like distribution, warehousing etc). If you cannot afford an editor, at least join an online critique group. I’ve been on one for seven years now, and it’s been invaluable.
Back to my publishing journey — when everything was in place, I formatted the manuscript as an ebook, settled on a selling price, took a deep breath and uploaded it to Amazon.com. Twelve hours later, my book was published.
Though there are a lot of online retailers, I went with Amazon’s KDP Select program. In this program you may not sell your book elsewhere; for this exclusivity, you are accorded the privilege of reducing the price of your ebook to zero any five days of your choice.
This isn’t as crazy as it sounds. You pick the days you want the book free, inform as many people as possible, then wait for downloads of your ebook to begin.
Over the two days I did my free promotion, I posted to relevant Facebook groups, I tweeted, I blogged. I also talked a couple of big newsletters into listing my novel. The fact that it had been shortlisted for an award didn’t hurt. That weekend 17,000 people across the world downloaded my ebook.
After the promotion was over, I checked my Amazon account obsessively to see if people were paying real money to buy my book. A trickle here, a trickle there. Quite disheartening. Then things started to pick up. By the end of the month, I had sold almost a thousand copies at 70% royalties (as opposed to traditional publishing royalties, which often are in the single digits).
Even a few months ago, my numerous downloads would have counted as an equal number of sales, resulting in huge visibility. But Amazon tweaked its algorithms recently, causing approximately just 10% of the downloads to be counted as sales. So, was giving away that many copies worth it?
Absolutely. Prior to this promotion, I was selling maybe 20 books a month. Mostly to family and friends, let’s be honest.
It works
Wasn’t the free strategy akin to lost sales? I merely used the sales I wouldn’t have had anyway, to help my book gain visibility. In the traditional world, publishers send out Advance Review Copies (ARC) to magazines and newspapers; free promotions are the e-world’s ARC.
I’ve not been able to sustain the sales figures of the first month, but that’s to be expected. Marketing online, with its myriad strategies, can be a full time job, and I need that time to work on my next novel. But that’s okay. I am still selling much more than before, and I am in it for the long haul. The best way to sell more books is to write your next one, which I’m doing. I’m also writing a couple of cookbooks, an ebook on how to format ebooks and self-publish, and I’m having the time of my life.
With my 90-day contract with Amazon running out, I’m exploring smashwords.com, which acts as an ebook distributor for Barnes & Noble, Apple etc. Not a bad strategy, because B&N has captured about 30 per cent of the ebook market (Amazon is at 60 per cent). I will continue be on Amazon, just not part of Select.
If you decide to self-publish, investigate your options carefully. It is easy to get scammed on the Internet. To confuse the issue, a lot of companies are calling themselves self-publishers. Self-publishing is when you upload the book, you set the price, you track the sales, you run the promotions. When someone else does it for you, they are the publisher of record. Horror stories abound about these so-called self-publishers; from manuscripts being stolen, to sales data being fudged, I’ve heard them all.
If this seems too intimidating, reputable sites like bookbaby.com can help for a one-time fee. If someone is charging you fees upfront and keeping a cut of your royalties, beware. Reputable publishers will never charge you for publication, which is why they take a cut in your royalties. A quick and dirty way to check if the publisher is legitimate is to look at their website. The focus of a legitimate publisher will be the reader. Their website will be in the business of selling books. A subsidy or vanity publisher’s focus will be you — the gullible writer — and how many unneeded services they can sell to you.
I used CreateSpace to publish the paperback in the US (LightningSource and Lulu are the other options). I’m pleased to report my novel has started to catch the attention of book buyers for public libraries there. My novel shows up on flipkart.com etc. because I had it listed on Ingram’s catalogue, but the international edition is too expensive for India. The time is ripe in India for someone to replicate CreateSpace’s business model, offering printed copies of books for sale, perhaps even distribution to physical and online bookstores.
Does this mean I would rule out traditional publishers for my next book? Not at all. I am always open to new experiences. <>
You can visit Rasana Atreya’s blog here.
August 23, 2012
My Review of Hugh Ashton’s The Darlington Substitution
The Darlington Substitution by Hugh Ashton
Review By David A. Cleinman
Before I begin this review, I must explain that I am a massive fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. As such, my views may be a trifle less than objective. Having said that, I must now say that The Darlington Substitution is an exquisite piece of writing that does a superb job of recrafting a Holmes tale as one might read directly from Doyle’s unpublished archives. Given the depth of characters in these stories, and the worldwide popularity they have achieved, this is a courageous and admirable feat, successfully managed by a supremely talented writer.
The story, more than anything else, is highly entertaining. Full of light and dark, humour and hatred, irony and actuality, characters we love, and some we love quite a bit less. Well rounded and yet subtle, The Darlington Substitution builds slowly, hint by hint, or misdirection by misdirection depending on the moment.
TDS is full of the mischief and distractions of all great Sherlock Holmes stories. Distractions that perpetually keep the reader guessing and wondering, thinking and considering. In this reviewer’s opinion, that is the strength of great mysteries. Just when you think you have it…
Suspenseful, as expected, TDS suffers from almost no predictability, a very rare feature in most modern mysteries. The author goes to great pains to ensure a rapport with the reader as if we are together with Watson as he engages in the events of the story and writes it down, at great personal embarrassment, at times, and yet with Watson’s ever present warmth of character. Holmes is brought back to life in this tale with immaculate and painstaking detail. Truly the author has learned his craft and characters in exquisite and exacting detail.
Because the author has made a life-study of Holmes and Watson, and a life writing stories based on these characters, one might expect something akin to pastiche. This could not be further from the truth. Not only is the author exceptionally able to recreate Holmes the detective, and Watson the MD., faithful friend and assistant, he maintains a uniqueness of storytelling that is profoundly in the vein of ACD, yet has utterly no reliance on triteness, clichés or sleight of hand. The story is highly enjoyable, and does an exceptional job of extending the lives of Holmes and Watson, and the mysteries that they have conquered. Mysteries that have gained fame worldwide and with such vigor that we believe, even in the light of truth, that Holmes and Watson must have truly been real.
Hugh Ashton continues this tradition with zeal.
Five stars and my highest recommendation to anyone who loves a good story.
March 22, 2012
A Hypnotic Talk With Cynthia Copenhaver
Today I welcome Cynthia Copenhaver to my blog. Cynthia is a certified NLP Hypnotist Life Coach and Author residing in South Haven, Michigan. She is also the owner of Creative Conscious Concepts and shares helpful hints, tips, and techniques through her online Creative Concepts blog. Cynthia was my guest on The Book Junkies Interview Livecast on BTR, showdate 2/24/2012. Listen to that amazing interview here:
When did you decide to get serious about writing?
Actually, I was serious about writing when I was 15 years old. I would laboriously type out my manuscripts on my typewriter and submit them to multiple traditional publishers over and over again. Only a few years ago, I was amazed to find one of these old yellow-stained manuscripts my mom had kept in storage. I always continued to write as a creative outlet for myself. Finding that old manuscript and hearing others encouragement that I should share my life experiences and lessons with others basically jumpstarted setting a goal plan for myself. Now, I have been able to seriously share my writing with others within this past year.
Which writers have inspired and influenced you?
I am sure that I have been influenced and inspired by many writers, but honestly, I cannot think of one specific individual. I have always been a voracious reader, willing to read and absorb all genres of books. Consciously, my writing is uniquely me, but certainly, subconsciously I draw upon all that I have read throughout my life.
Share some information about your books with us:
Everyone experiences situations that cause stress or have anxious thoughts. Stress is usually a normal function of everyday living. Only when you take it to excessive levels in your life, does it become a problem. I can completely understand 'out of control' stress; I used to suffer from panic attacks myself. It is a relief to realize you are not crazy and then learn how you actually can take control of your life.
In Stop Stress and Anxiety Now, I wanted to share how to identify stress in your life, understanding your own stress and educate you to regain control. Many of us aren't even aware what the difference is between stress, anxiety, panic attacks, or depression.
This understanding and awareness is brought about through a few simple to follow exercises or quizzes that are included in the book. Also, you are made more aware of what tools and resources you already have and how to use them. Not just one specific approach, but multiple concepts. This ensures that the reader will find compatible techniques that work. Each technique has its own chapter, so the reader can easily locate their favourite techniques. There are many techniques, tips and hints within this easy guide all with easy to understand instructions. No long boring medical jargon or over-complicated steps that will put you to sleep. It truly is a 'Self' help book that puts you back in control.
What started you on the journey to write your books?
Honestly, this book was born when I was creating a chapter on stress management in my first book: The EZ Guide to Successfully Achieving Your Goals. I had so many inspirations flooding out of me onto my keyboard, I knew there was more than a chapter there. It was really difficult to keep my excitement at that point, I needed to complete my first book, but I had this other book about stress wanting to be told.
I realized that many books out there are not really easy guides or they are so full of jargon, you can't understand what is expected of you. That is added stress right there! I wanted to write an easy to understand guide that will actually help someone understand the how, what, why, and give them back control.
How would you describe your literary voice and what do you think makes it unique?
DIY creative style! I am enthusiastic about individuals becoming aware that they are more creative, resourceful, and in control, than they realize. I believe that comes out in my writing. I understand that what worked for me or another may not work exactly for you…we all are unique. This perspective shines through in my writing.
What genre do you most love to read?
Nowadays, my reading still varies greatly. Reading is great for relaxing and easing stress in your life. I enjoy mysteries, sci-fi, historical, some romance, suspense, and yes, even self-help and How to books and magazines.
What does writing do for you, personally? How does it make you feel?
Personally, it is a creative vent for my internal voice. When I sit down and write, the words are not all jumbled up inside my head. They take form before me on the screen or on paper. This not only allows me to make more sense of my thoughts, but then I don't scare my family by getting lost in my thoughts. Seriously, being an epileptic, if I become silent and stare for too long…my family freaks! It not only makes me feel relieved to get it all out of my head, but my family are pretty relieved too. Seriously, though, I have experienced and overcome many challenges in my life. Being able to share and help others with what I have learned really makes me feel like those challenges were worth the lessons.
What new projects are you currently working on?
I think this last book's inspiration spoiled me. I currently have a blog on my website and many of my postings often inspire my next book project. I always know for sure, when my fingers will not stop typing. I actually have been adding a voice to my message of encouraging others to take control of their lives. I had joined Toastmasters last year to learn how to really give my words a voice. I have been creatively adding speech writing to my newest projects.
I have been encouraged to share more of my own experiences in my writing and I must admit I am tossing around the idea of victim mentality in our society. It took me nearly 40 years to learn that I have control over my life decisions. I didn't need to continue to be a hapless victim swept up in the waves of circumstance. It's a tough topic, but one that others can learn from and break their own victim cycle.
What is the story you remember best from childhood, and does it still influence your writing today?
'Casey the Caterpillar' and even though it was never published and is a children's story, it does still influence me today. Not just my writing, but even my perspective. Just as the character, Casey, faced many challenges with his awkward body, then dealing with the tight cocoon…with time he understood…he grew wings and flew high into the sky, knowing he could go wherever he wanted now.
Where do you see yourself as a writer five years from now?
Life continues to teach me lessons every day and I am confident that I will be sharing whatever I learn with you. I can honestly say that I will continue to become more motivational, inspirational, and experienced, as a writer.
Is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to?
Yes, I would like to give a big gratitude of appreciation to Tony Berkman and Angie Alaniz for their valuable input and feedback in previewing the proof of this book before it went to print. Tony had really helped me be able to make sure that my writing would assist all my readers no matter their gender. At the time, I had no idea that they were also involved with a project with Tony Robbins. I really am grateful for them both volunteering their personal time.
Any last words for our readers?
Realize that you have everything you need within yourself that will assist you in taking control of your life. You may not even be aware that you are on top of things because you believe it is so out of hand. Even so, the tools are at this time there! You just need to become more aware of your own resources and use them. I am happy to share what I have learned with you. You can find more specific information, helpful tips, downloads, and links, for a variety of personal development and awareness subjects on my website and blog.
Cynthia A. Copenhaver is a certified NLP Hypnotist Life Coach and Author residing in South Haven, Michigan. She is also the owner of Creative Conscious Concepts and shares helpful hints, tips, and techniques through her online Creative Concepts blog.
"It was an easy choice for me to decide that my newest book 'Stop Stress and Anxiety Now' would be the most valuable and beneficial to others. By learning how to manage and take control of stress and anxiety, I have found purpose in my own life. I want to be able to share with others how they can easily achieve the successful lives that they desire. Stress can seem so overwhelming to many, but you can easily learn how to take control and make it work for you instead of against you."
A chat with LB Clark
Today I welcome Laura Clark to my blog. Laura describes herself as a non-traditional college student as well as an author and editor. She is also a music addict and a travel junkie. Laura was my guest on The Book Junkies Interview Livecast on BTR, showdate 2/23/2012. Listen to that amazing interview here:
When did you decide to get serious about writing?
I've been wanting to write an original novel for years. I've started and scraped many manuscripts. Finally, an idea took hold that I knew I could see through. That, along with the growth of independent publishing, pushed me to write my first novel.
Which writers have inspired and influenced you?
There are too many to count, much less name. Stephen King, JK Rowling, Jim Butcher, and Laurell K Hamilton are the first few that come to mind.
Share some information about your book(s) with us:
"Jukebox Heroes" is a rock-music inspired fantasy/romance series. Music plays a bit part in my writing and in my stories.
What started you on the journey to write your books?
When I first started writing "Call Out" (the 2nd in the series, but the first that I wrote), I wanted to write a mystery novel. I didn't know anything about police procedure or investigations, so I asked myself, "How do I get around that?" The answer was magic. I took a mystery suspense plot line, a romance plot line, and a little fantasy, mixed in rock and roll and a lot of sarcastic dialogue, and Call Out was born.
How would you describe your literary voice and what do you think makes it unique?
My literary voice, or writing style, is very straight-forward. The Jukebox Heroes series is written in first-person, in gritty, realistic language.
What is your process for creating characters? What do you do to get them to feel genuine to your readers?
I don't have one process for creating characters. Some pop into my head mostly formed, and I just flesh out the details. Others I create like a gamer would create an RPG character – a modified stat sheet approach. I take various characteristics – mannerisms, physical descriptions, favorite words and phrases, attitudes, likes, etc., – from various real people and cobble them together to make fictional characters.
What genre do you most love to read?
I love all sorts of books. I like reading about magic, but I also like historical fiction. I like Amish 'bonnet books', and I enjoy well-written erotica. I'll read anything as long as it's good.
What does writing do for you, personally? How does it make you feel?
Writing quiets the noise in my head. It's one of the major things that keeps me sane, quite literally. Even without readers, I'd likely still feel compelled to write. It helps me to learn more about myself, and it can often be cathartic. Finishing up a novel also gives me a euphoric feeling of accomplishment.
Are there other genres of fiction that you would like to explore in the future?
I have a couple of ideas for projects that would take me into disparate genres. As hard as it is to believe, two of the genres I would like to explore are gay erotica and Christian fiction.
What new projects are you currently working on?
I've just finished up the third book in the "Jukebox Heroes" series and am trying to decide which project to tackle next. It could be anything, really.
What is the story you remember best from childhood, and does it still influence your writing today?
I read so much as a child that no one story really sticks out in my head. I did read a lot of Louisa May Alcott and Laura Ingalls Wilder. I suppose I found something about that era enticing. I still like reading fiction set in that time period – and still like re-reading those childhood favorites – but I wouldn't say they have any real influence on my writing, save one thing: the lesson that Jo March learned about writing in Little Women (and that both authors learned in real life). These women learned that editing your book to please an editor/publisher can rip the soul right out of it and that there is no way to please all of the people all of the time.
Where do you see yourself as a writer five years from now?
Five years from now I will hopefully be making enough income from my writing to consider it a full-time occupation. I will have grown as a writer, my plots and prose both improving little by little. And I will have print versions of my books!
Is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to?
Yes! Mark and Bryan at Red Chapter Clothing their ambigram artwork shirts are featured in my first book, "Hand of Fate".
Also, indie musician Graham Colton who was nice enough to let me use one of his songs in the book trailer for "Everything You Are."
Any last words for our readers?
Yup: Get off the internet and go read a book!
You can find Laura here:
