Stuart Aken's Blog, page 343

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Updated, with lots of items of interest to writers and readers. Over 320 links to other websites.

Review of Hostage of the Heart by Linda Acaster

As a man, Hostage of the Heart is not the sort of novel I would normally pick up. But, having read Linda's other books, I knew what a good writer she is and was therefore prepared to give this a go.Though clearly intended for the women's market, this is a love story with so much more than mere romance going on right from the start. It is no surprise to me that the novel is fast paced, full of tension, both emotional and sexual, and tells a great story. The research has been done thoroughly so that the reader is easily lost in the medieval world of the Welsh border country around the time of the Battle of Hastings, when so much was happening. The sense of threat felt by the heroine, Dena, is palpable and her confusion, heightened by her imaginings combined with misinformation, is always understandable. She is a courageous woman, whose faults arise from her upbringing and circumstances. Her emotions are portrayed with great subtlety and flair so that it is easy to empathise with her as one injustice is piled on another and she faces doubt and danger in a world that is rapidly falling apart around her. The sexual tension between her and the hero, Rhodri, is very real as she journeys through fear, despair, loathing, terror, treachery and humiliation on the road to love. The passion is wonderfully expressed through the understated intimacy experienced by the lovers on their ride to self discovery.Surrounded by lies and the politics of the age, Dena is forced to grow up very quickly as she suffers kidnap, betrayal, the blackening of her name, the threat of rape and death. Rhodri, a fighting man as much as he is a lover, will find a place in the hearts of women readers with his strength, recklessness, courage and sheer male magnetism. Those who enjoy historical romance will find this book easy to pick up and difficult to put down.
Having previously interviewed Linda and reviewed her brilliant new novel, Torc of Moonlight, as the first review on this blog, I decided to ask her a few questions about this earlier book.
Tell us about Hostage of the Heart in a few sentences. Hostage of the Heart is an historical romance set on the English/Welsh borderlands of 1066. The English fyrd (militia) has been raised to counter the threat from Harald Hardrada of Norway marching on York – one of the three decisive battles in October 1066 – so allowing the balance of power to shift between the English and Welsh. A local Welsh nobleman decides to retrieve land that is rightfully his, but the plan doesn't quite go according to plan when he's saddled with an English battle hostage whose kin consider her expendable and refuse to pay a ransom. It's a novel about integrity.
How did you come to write this particular book?I was selling a lot of short fiction, mostly to women's markets, but didn't know if I had it in me to write a longer length. I needed feedback. The Romantic Novelists' Association http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/ in the UK runs the New Writers' Scheme which offers just that, as long as a romantic novel is submitted, which meant I had to write one. I was not, and still aren't, an enthusiastic reader of contemporary romance, but I like historicals as there always seems to be so much more plot, and Mediaevals offer plenty of room for adventure. I never did receive the critique I was after; the RNA passed it to a publisher. I got a contract and won that year's award. Suddenly I was writing romance, which came as a bit of a shock.
If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?Mildthryth. She's a wise-woman, a herbalist, and a bit of a… well, I'd be giving the storyline away if I said any more. She's the essence of a walk-on character who burst into a major role during the writing – not the sort of thing I allow to happen these days, at least not to that extent. The odd thing is, it's not just me who has a soft spot for her. Not long ago I met a reader of the paperback who was keen to tell me the same. Now the novel is finding a new audience as an ebook I'm in conversation with a reader eager for me to write a prequel based on a short scene where Rhodri, the Welsh hero, castigates all women for an incident that happened to him while he was a battle hostage in the court of King Edward. Am I going to? Let's say the idea is on the back-burner. I've more than enough to do at present. But I am tempted.
Buying & sample links:Hostage of the Heart - ISBN 978-1452325828–       Amazon US Kindle page http://tinyurl.com/3a2dyz5–       Amazon UK Kindle page http://tinyurl.com/24xbekn–       Smashwords page https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/14120 (for Sony, I-Pad, etc)
First Chapter available to read on http://lindaacaster.blogspot.com

Rudolf Kerkhoven (& Daniel Pitts, by proxy), Authors, Interviewed.

"The Adventures of Whatley Tupper: A Choose Your Own…" By Rudolf Kerkhoven & Daniel Pitts.   Before the interview, I checked out   http://kerkhoven.wordpress.com/test/ and found some amazing reviews of the book, one by the well-known J.A. Konrath. No bio for this one, as the information is in the body of the answers to the questions.  Tell us about The Adventures of Whatley Tupper in a few sentences.
The Adventures of Whatley Tupper is about a middle-aged, Magnum P.I. obsessed janitor working at a university.   It's a choose your own adventure style for adults, and so from there the reader decides where the plot goes next, ranging from silly (taking on a mysterious group of rogue custodians), to inane (taming a troglodytes murderer who lurks in the disused campus network of tunnels), to absolutely ridiculous (travelling into parallel universes that include other plot-lines from the story).  So, yeah, it's a comedy.
What qualities do you need to be a successful writer?
While I can't call myself successful in terms of writing, I would think the following qualities have definitely benefited me:A love of coffee or other liquid stimulants.An ability to type quickly.The assumption that if I just don't give, then eventually something good may come of this before I die.An ability to shrug off rejection letters.
What is your working method?
Well, The Adventures of Whatley Tupper is not typical of my writing.  It's the only collaboration I've worked on, as well as being the only piece of comedy I've written.  So, the method for this book was quite unique. 
My friend, Daniel Pitts, and I decided way back in the summer of 2003 to try an experiment.   Together, we agreed on a single character (a middle-aged janitor), his name (Whatley Tupper), and a basic setting (a university), pretty much in that order.   We wrote the first page together, and then Daniel took it home with him (he lives about 1000 km away in Calgary, while I live in Vancouver), where he'd finish a section, give a few choices, and then email it back to me.  I'd then carry on from one or two choices, write another few sections with new choices, and then email it back to him.  Back and forth, we kept this up for three years, never really knowing where the story was going until it was emailed back to us.   What this all lead to was a wild variety of different plots that quickly veer off into insane places, as well as a strangely complex book for something so silly.  
After the draft was finished, we then spent two years editing the manuscript, again emailing it back and forth, which was itself a daunting task.   Since we each made up the story as we went along, there was a great need to tighten up the entire manuscript.  After that we tried getting it published the old fashioned way all to no avail.  And then this summer I discovered Amazon's self-publishing program and rejigged the manuscript to work on a Kindle.
What is the single biggest mistake made by beginners to writing?
Assuming that there aren't another million people out there doing the exact same thing, all trying to get published, all inundating publishers and agents with their manuscripts.
If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?
The character of Robert Nudge, who is the head of campus security.  He's an absolute stock character—the overweight, slovenly trigger-happy cop wannabe—but every scene with him was a joy to write.  He's just so vile and repugnant.  And he always refers to himself as "The Nudge."  It makes me smile just writing this.
How can people buy your book(s)?
It's only available as an ebook through the following sites:
Amazon (US):  http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Whatley-Tupper-Choose-ebook/dp/B00408ASO6
Amazon (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00408ASO6
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/22598
To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
A great extent, especially when self-publishing.  It annoys me greatly when I find typos in my work after it's released, although with ebooks it really is easy to update versions online.  When I look at other people's self-published books and I see typos on the first or second page, I have to say I make pretty quick judgments about the book, and I know most people do the same.
How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?
Usually I try to do at least 8-10 revisions.  With The Adventures of Whatley Tupper it was a little more difficult because some plots are hard to find, and therefore when editing they weren't read as often.  In getting it ready for the Kindle, I really noticed a ton of errors in some sections that I thought were thoroughly edited.
What are your writing habits?
I go in phases.  I'm a teacher, so some days I'm terribly tired and find it really hard to write after work.  However, the summers are wonderful and I usually try to write as much as possible.  If I'm writing something new, I usually can't write more than a couple of hours (usually in the morning), but if I'm editing, I can do this for hours and hours.  I actually quite enjoy the editing process.
When I started writing, some 12 years ago, I used to be able to write much more at once, but looking back I also realize that I was just writing for the sake of writing.  I try to be much more succinct now, perhaps because I appreciate how much I tend to cut out in the editing process.
What sort of displacement activities keep you from actually writing?
Damn you, Google.
How long does it normally take you to write a novel?
This varies greatly.  The Adventures of Whatley Tupper was an exception in every way for me.  Like I said, it took three years to write the first draft.   When working on my own, I used to be able to write a first draft in a matter of a few months.  Now, probably a year for the first draft, but I've become much more picky about what I write.  I used to give myself a rule that I had to get x number of pages done a day.  But then I'd end up writing filler and cut it out later.  Now, I just try to write something I think I'll like, even if it's just a paragraph.
And I must say, when I was single I would write much more.  But then again, I was also bored much more.
Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
I love the entire process, from just daydreaming ideas and characters and plots, to slogging through the draft, to editing over and over again.  The very act of creating something never ceases to feel enlightening.   Writing gives me purpose, it makes me happy, even if it will never be published.  It's as simple as that.
Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?
Anyone Can Write (a Blog): Self/Indie Publishing with Amazon's Kindlehttp://kerkhoven.wordpress.com/
Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?
I'd buy a cool condo in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver, which is full of an assortment of unique coffee shops, my absolute favourite being Benny's Café on Broadway.  I'd wake up every morning, go for a jog, then walk to Benny's, take up a table up on the mezzanine, and write for several hours, enjoying one of the last remaining places on Earth that still offers decently priced refills.   I could do that for a long, long time.
Unfortunately, the Kitsilano community of Vancouver is one of the most expensive places in the world to live, and so…
Where do you actually write?
…usually these days I write at the local Starbucks just a few blocks from my place (there are no independent coffee houses within walking distance).   I can write at home, but I've always found it much more inspirational to get out of the house and sit somewhere with a coffee.  I need the bustle of people, I need the clamour of voices and cascade of passing strangers.  I've never yearned for a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere, not for writing at least. 
The Amazon page is here:
http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Whatley-Tupper-Choose-ebook/dp/B00408ASO6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1282541132&sr=8-1-catcorr

and the Amazon UK page is here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00408ASO6

An Interview with me, on Anne Holly's Blog

Just for a change, I'm interviewed on the blog of another writer.  Take a look at Anne Holly's blog from the post title or through this link  http://anneholly.blogspot.com/2010/10/author-interview-with-stuart-aken.html

Review of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce.

I suppose it must be me: I can't agree with all the hype and overblown praise I've seen for this piece of puerile meandering.This review is based on a partial reading of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man because I really couldn't force myself to read more than the first 25 pages (and page 99, to see if it had improved). I decided there were better things to do with my life than spend any more time on it. In spite of its literary reputation, this was not a book I cared to read to its conclusion. Obviously the 'stream of consciousness' approach removes any prospect of plot, structure, story or timeframe. However, the sheer banality of these early pages, the repetitions, use of simple language mixed with unexplained Irish terms without meaning for this reader, and simple failure to care about what the reader wants from a book made this a piece of work I was not prepared to waste more time 'discovering'. I found it impossible to sympathise, let alone empathise, with the viewpoint character.Whilst I have no doubt that it was startling in its originality at the time of first publication, such novelty alone is insufficient incentive to attract my time and effort when the rewards are so few.Touted variously as a poet and great novelist, Joyce is perhaps the victim of the inability of the critics to tell the truth when they come across something they feel they should admire but which they do not really understand. To inflate a reputation beyond the point where the work can sustain such opinion does no favours to its creator. I would liken this novel to the much lauded works of artists such as Jackson Pollock and Damien Hirst. Pollock's infantile dribbling of random colours onto canvass and Hirst's presentation of anatomical specimens in preservative as works of art do nothing for art beyond decreasing its credibility with the general audience. The critics, those commentators who generally lack the ability to create for themselves, elevate such works to greatness, initially from a desire to be heard above the crowd and thought erudite. Once such opinions of worth and value have been attached to art works, of any sort, it becomes the critics' job to ensure they remain there. Otherwise, the critics' reputations are damaged when the truth is told. Failure to follow the lead in such matters is seen as a betrayal of the trade and any outspoken observations are quickly suppressed, trashed or vilified so that the initial opinion, no matter how flawed and mistaken, becomes accepted as mainstream and valid. In fact, the critics' views take on the mantle of 'gospel truth' and become almost impossible to deny. Image via WikipediaSo, when I describe this book as puerile, uninteresting drivel, my words will be taken as heresy and consigned to the bin of ill-informed, unworthy or malicious gossip, much as the religious bigot would condemn the rational historian for pointing out the multitude of inconsistencies that pepper all so-called Holy texts.Nevertheless, I will label this work a piece of undeserving experimentation that doubtlessly pleased the immature mind that created it and that fooled readers and critics all too willing to find substance and worth in the Emperor's new clothes no matter how nakedly he continues to travel the world. To buy from Amazon UKTo buy from Amazon USATo buy from Book Depository with free postage

Rodolfo Peña, Author Interview

Rodolfo Peña's "day job" is translation of texts from English into Spanish; between translations he writes crime fiction. A native of Mexico, he married his French wife four years ago and is now "forced" to live in the beautiful Basque Country of southern France. Rodolfo has had varied and interesting jobs throughout his life. He has written for television, managed a science and technology museum, and has written software for expert systems. Having lived in several countries and a dozen cities, he has met and has been associated with very interesting people who now populate his books and stories. When he has a bit of time, he also dabbles in painting--mostly watercolours or oil on paper.Tell us about "An Inconsequential Murder" in a few sentences.A few years ago, in Monterrey, Mexico, the cousin of a friend was brutally murdered and his body was left on the railroad tracks to be mangled by a freight train in the early morning hours. The perpetrator or perpetrators were never found (or very actively sought by the police) because this was at the start of the so-called "drug wars" and the police were more concerned with the many shootings between the rival cartels. Later on, I was approached by the judicial police, who were trying to track down a fugitive that was known to be sending emails to his sister (I was known then as a very knowledgeable computer hacker). I had also known the DEA associates of Enrique Camarena, one of the first DEA agents to die at the hands of a drug cartel. I put all of these elements together, along with some historical facts about the cartels and corruption in the Mexican government, and that was the basis of this novel.What qualities do you need to be a successful writer?Imagination, knowledge of the language, and a heart of stone when editing your own work. Imagination is paramount because you have to be able to "see" in your mind the events you are writing about and to "hear" the characters speak. I often say that a good writer really transcribes what he is seeing his characters do and hearing his characters say as they go about their business. But, in order to transmit the action and the dialog in a clear and interesting way, you have to know your chosen language. I write both is English and Spanish. A story written in English changes substantially when I rewrite it in Spanish. Notice I did not say "translate it into Spanish" but rather rewrite it in Spanish.What is your working method?I write a complete, chapter by chapter, outline of the story. I do this as a table with columns for Chapter headings, main action, specific plot points, and timeline. This gives me an idea of how the story will develop and how the characters interact with each other. It also helps me keep my timeline in check because my chapters often do not happen in chronological succession but rather go forward and then retreat to earlier time periods.I also do a lot of research. For example, the latest novel happens in Paris, a city I know quite well so I can place the action accurately; but, the central character, Inspector Guillermo Lombardo will be working with the French Judiciary Police so I had to research their methods. Luckily, I met a relative of my wife's who works for the police and he has been a source of information about how a foreign police officer goes about working with his French colleagues. What is the single biggest mistake made by beginners to writing?Not using your own voice and trying to "sound" like one of these hack writers that start a novel by saying something like "the doll walked into my office looking like a million bucks stuffed into a small bag". Also, an ambiguous point of view is a mistake. One has to decide "who" is telling the story. Is it in a first person voice? Does one of the characters tell the story? Do you need a "Marlow" like Conrad or a "Nick" like Fitzgerald who tell the story of someone they knew? Is it a god-like narrator who can tell us what the characters are thinking? I think that deciding "who tell the story" is the most important decision one makes when starting a novel.How did you come to write this particular book?I always felt angry that the death of that young man, a computer engineer, had never been explained, or his murderer sought. The injustice and the unexplained cause of his demise bothered me. Then, I met a policeman who was of the old school: never leave a case unsolved, always do the right thing, a case is never closed or so cold it is forgotten. That gave me two things: an incident on which to build the story and a main character.How can people buy your book?It is, of course, available for download from my publisher Untreed Reads  (http://www.untreedreads.com/?s=An+Inconsequential+Murder) and from dozens of other ebook distributors such as Amazon, Smashwords, Apple iStore, etc. A long list of them is available at the Untreed Reads site. It is also available in the UK from sites there, such as Amazon UK and other major distributors. Soon it will be available in Spanish because I have just completed the rewrite/translation of it. To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?I always explain it to young writers this way: if you work in a specialized field, say medicine or physics, you may be speaking in English but if the person listening is not familiar with the meaning of the words, syntax, context, etc. he or she will not understand you. Writing is a specialized form of language usage. It is different from spoken language. This does not mean it is necessarily more complex, or "high brow"; it means that grammar and spelling are of outmost importance. You have to be clear and concise yet interesting and even artistic. The combination of art and precision is what differentiates literature from common writing, such as a business letter.So, having said that, it is important that a writer find a good editor/publisher to tell her or him when he is lapsing from one into the other, and to correct that unavoidable mistakes one makes when forging ahead to finish a story. When I finished the Spanish version of "An Inconsequential Murder" I looked for an editor to help me put it into publishing form and to ferret out mistakes in both usage and grammar. How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?A lot. First there is spellchecking, both automatic and then by re-reading the text. Next is grammar and style. Then comes checking facts, time sequence, names of characters and places, etc. Lastly, weeding out and eliminating truly unnecessary words, sentences, paragraphs, even whole chapters. Lastly, reading and editing by a professional or by a knowledgeable "other" with "track changes" on so you can review his or her comments and suggestions. But, there is never enough. I hate reading the published text because I always find things I would change.Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?"An Inconsequential Murder" is set in Mexico and most of the action happens in two cities, Monterrey and Mexico City. There are scenes set in near-by San Antonio, Texas, and an Epilogue that is set in France, but the heart of the matter is in Mexico. Why? Because the model characters and situations I used are Mexican and because I wanted to comment on the causes and consequences of the so-called "drug wars", and those are happening in Mexico.To what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?In today's world where we are bombarded by information at every turn there is a need for classification as never before. We don't want to navigate through 10,000 books to come to that mystery novel that intrigues us. Unfortunately there is also a negative side to this. I would hesitate to classify "An Inconsequential Murder" as a mystery/thriller/detective fiction. I think that the genre is growing into more than that. The social and historical comment necessary for novels like "An Inconsequential Murder" make it more than just a "thriller" or a "mystery" novel. I have tried to make the reader understand the social, economic, and political circumstances that have lead to the present terrible situation in Mexico; but, I have tried to do it without being heavy-handed or preachy.What are your writing habits?If I have no translations to do, which is how my wife and I earn our bread and butter, I write between 1500 and 2000 words a day when the going is good. I try to keep up a steady pace so the storyline does not grow cold and I can hear the character's voices clearly. If circumstances keep me from writing, I revise, review, and rewrite (my three "r's").How do you know where to begin any given story?I think of an "establishing shot" in a movie: what would tell the reader not only "what, where, when, and who" but also engage him or her and create interest in the story. Remember those wonderful establishing shots in those black and white movies where the camera would track through a city to tell us where it is, then a street sign or plaque to establish location, and then fly in through a window where a detective is standing over a victim? That's the sort of thing I like but without being to obvious or dogmatic about it. Then there is the type of scene that establishes a "historical" precedence: in the novel I am presently writing, the round-up of Jewish French citizens on the 17th and 18th of July, 1942 in Paris, establishes a motive for what is going to happen in present-day Paris, so the novel starts with German soldiers and French collaborators coming to arrest a family in the early morning hours of the 18th of July.What sort of displacement activities keep you from actually writing?Mostly email and, of course, having to do translations to earn my keep. Also, we live in a wonderful part of the world, Biarritz, France, so the sea is near-by, a wonderful golf course is just a block away, and there are friends and family that drop-by or invite us out. But the worst is television and movie houses. I am a film freak so I have to watch at least one movie a day. I don't care for series or game shows or anything like that, but movies are a must. I also like to watch good documentaries. I also read a lot: The New Yorker, French newspapers, and novels, of course.Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?No, my one and most solid support is my wife. When I have no translation work, she takes up the slack most handily. She also encourages me not to "shilly-shally" or waste my time.Is presentation of the MS as important as most agents and publishers suggest?Yes, absolutely. Even today when anyone can "publish" an ebook, presentation is important, not only to interest a publisher or agent, but also the reader. With so much material available, why would anyone slog through a book full of typos, misspelled words, and badly constructed or awkward sentences? How long does it normally take you to write a novel?About six months for the first draft, about three months of revisions and rewriting, and about a month of fact and style checking. That does not include the research and outline construction.What are your inspirations?People I have met, things I have seen, experiences I have had. My wife says I start too many conversations with, "In 1986, when I was working in Madrid I met a man who..." and similar phrases. Also, movies: my idea is to write a book in such a way that the reader can "see" the action and "hear" the characters. It wouldn't take much to turn my novels into film scripts.If there's a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?The worst thing is re-reading the thing over and over. It gets to the point where you get sick of it and want to go do something else. I wish I were one of those rich, successful writers with a staff that could check facts, name consistency, time line consistency, etc.Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?A mixture of both: there has to be a part of you that needs to write, tell stories, excite someone else with what you know. But, as Henry James said in his prefaces, writing is a skill that has to be learned and honed and perfected, just as any other.What are you writing now?Guillermo Lombardo, the Inspector that is introduced in "An Inconsequential Murder" travels to France and is involved in a murder case there. He is both an investigator and a suspect of the murder. It involves something I am very interested in: the art that was stolen and confiscated by the Nazis in WWII and which has been variously claimed and restored to their proper owners, although not in the numbers one would hope. European museums are full of the art that was taken from victims of the Holocaust. Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?Yes, the description of things I love and know well. In my present novel, I describe the nooks and crannies of Paris which have some sort of meaning for me and which I remember with fondness. I usually go there and write the description while I sip a beer or coffee.Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?I am working on getting one up soon. There is a distraction for you.Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?Strangely enough, Neil White in this blog describes where I live. " [near] sea on the French coast, close to the Spanish border", and we do have a nicely filled "wine rack". My problem is not that, it is having to dedicate time to other pursuits such as translating. Where do you actually write?In our small studio, back to back with my wife who quietly goes about her business of translating. We live in a very quiet street and the studio is comfortable and cheery with a large window that provides plenty of light.

Review of The Doll Makers by Penny Grubb

The Doll Makers is published by Robert HaleI met the wonderfully idiosyncratic heroine, Annie Raymond, in Penny's first detective novel, Like False Money, and enjoyed her doubts, courage and intelligence there. In The Doll Makers, Annie travels from her new post in London to visit her father in Scotland and Penny Grubb highlights the contrasts between the noise and claustrophobia of the capital and the space and relative peace of a small Scottish loch-side town. The story holds the reader's interest from the start and keeps a tight grip on it to the last word. Penny has a way of getting inside the heads and hearts of her characters to bring them to life. Even her villains carry characteristics that make the reader care what happens. But it is Annie who we really empathise with, in spite of her faults, irritabilities, occasional snap judgements and chaotic domestic lifestyle, or maybe because of these. Her quick wits, intelligence, bravery and determination drive the story, with its multiple threads, racing us from chapter to chapter, anxious to know what happens next and eager to identify the real villains amongst the panoply of potential candidates.There are surprises, shocks and moments of sudden illumination in the twists and turns of the plot so that it becomes difficult to put the book down. I was forced by circumstances to read the book in two sessions but would have read from beginning to end without interruption had it been possible. Such is the developing pace of the story that the reader becomes emotionally engaged in the ever more complex puzzles that lead Annie into great peril. The reader is given clues denied the detective and this makes for tension as we see her stepping toward dangers we know of but to which she is blind. Clues are scattered throughout the narrative for the reader to solve the puzzles, but the solution is not easy and I was surprised by the denouement, though it was, in the end, the only possible outcome.Penny handles scenes of danger particularly well, injecting feelings of fear, anxiety and doubt into the story so that the reader is drawn into the created world. Her meticulous research takes us inside real buildings with Annie, along real streets and into real woodland with her, to perilous drops where we hold our breath and into peaceful glades, where we rest for a while as she ruminates. The Doll Makers is not simply a damned good read, it is an experience shared with the indomitable Annie as she moves through curiosity, incomprehension, disappointment, betrayal and growing enlightenment to a conclusion that is scary, intense and inevitable. If you enjoy your crime spiced with a mixture of gritty realism, humour, human failings and intelligence, this is definitely a book for you. I don't generally read crime fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it. Buy from Amazon UKBuy from Amazon USA

Interview with Author David Perlmutter.

David Perlmutter is a freelance writer living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where he has lived his whole life. His passions are American television animation (the subject of his MA thesis and a projected historical monograph), literature (especially science fiction and fantasy) and music (rhythm& blues, soul, funk and jazz.) This explains why much of his writing is as nonconventional and defiant as it is. He is challenged with Asperger's Syndrome, but considers it an asset more than a disability.
Tell us about your current book in a few sentences.
My current book is called "The Pups", and it will be released by the Library of the Living Dead through its Library of Science Fiction Press imprint in either the fall of this year or the winter of the next. It is a science fiction story where dogs have become a humanized racial minority and are persecuted for being this. In this context, I write through the voices of six uniquely gifted canine individuals as they explain their backgrounds and early lives and how they came to team up together as a combination superhero team and comedy troupe, which is not as weird an idea as you might think.
What qualities do you need to be a successful writer?
You need to be good at coming up with ideas. This will allow you to easily contribute to a wider variety of markets than you would otherwise. The best thing to do is to try and spread yourself over a variety of different genres so you become skilled at writing in more than one environment or more than one standard scenario. This is important in writing both short stories and novels, as it will convince readers that you can be and are capable of writing many different things.Also, you need to have a good understanding of financial issues related to writing. If you don't have a good business sense as a writer, you'll be lost.
What is your working method?
Typically, I will think of ideas quickly, but preferably I will allow them to gestate over a long period. I will write a first draft in longhand if I have time, then type it up on the computer, then show it to others for feedback. Then and only then will I send it out.
What is the single biggest mistake made by beginners to writing?
That they think they can crack the biggest markets on their first go-round. Sometimes it happens, but it's rare, and most of us are still waiting for that kind of break.
How did you come to write this particular book?
Originally, I wanted to be a television animation producer, and my earliest efforts at writing reflected this ambition. These characters were developed first as one of these projects. As I developed and honed my skills as a writer, I constructed a more realistic narrative situation for the characters to exist, in an effort to gain published, and let it go from there. Because it's a novella, I found it hard getting the right market for it before I found people interested in publishing it.
If you have a favorite character in your novel, why that particular one?
The favorites in this one are my six leads. Each of them represents a different aspect of my personality and ideals, and so they're close to me because of that.
How can people buy your book?
The book will available in both print and online format from the Library of the Living Dead. It will also likely be available at bookstores that carry the Library's products.
To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
Very important! You should not attempt a writing career without mastering them.
How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?
As much as I or other readers of it feel needs to be done.
Where and when is your novel set and why did you make those specific choices?
The novel is set in North America three centuries from now. I did this because it is much easier to write in a future time since nothing has happened yet and you are free to shape the destiny of the world in any way you want in those fictional contexts. The past and present seem limiting in comparison.
To what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?
Genre helps set certain types of writing apart from others. A science fiction novel will be written and conceived in a manner that a mainstream novel will not be, yet both serve, in different ways, to outline their particular author's view of the world. Even if certain genres are set off in "ghettoes", they are still identifiable on their own terms in the public's mind. And if an author can prove themself able of writing in more than one genre, or an editor the ability to compile material from more than one, it highlights how they stand above the crowd.
What are your writing habits?
I don't write on a regular basis. I need to be in the right mood in order to write, and that's not always there. But when it is, I am extremely and quickly productive.
How do you know where to begin any given story?
Every story begins on its own terms. A character, a scene or a line of dialogue will occur to me, and I will try to build a narrative around them. In my case, it will often begin often by reading the works of others and trying to reinterpet them in a new context where I think the basic idea and premise would also work. I also observe the daily news and look for ideas there that might suggest adaptation as prose. One of my biggest sources has been watching television, especially television animation. Often, I see non-speaking background characters, who have no voices or names, and I think maybe I should be responsible for giving them a voice and a name. And I try to do just that.
What sort of displacement activities keep you from actually writing?
Same as other writers. Reading, watching TV, using the computer. But I try to keep my mind open even there in case potential ideas are there.
Do you have support, either from family or friends or a writing group?
You bet I do! I couldn't keep going on like this if I didn't.
Is presentation of the MS as important as most agents and publishers suggest?
It should be. You need to put as much into the presentation of the MS as you would in promoting yourself as a person.
How long does it normally take you to write a novel?
I am not really a "novel" writer. Ray Bradbury once described himself as a sprinter rather than a marathon runner when it came to writing, and I seem to be the same in my approach. This may be because the shorter a work is, the less preparation time it needs.Be that as it may, I am trying to get into writing longer works, which "The Pups" was the first attempt at. It took me about three months to write. On the other hand, for nearly seven years, I have been planning to write an epic-scale novel called Orthicon, and, though I have plotted and planned it thoroughly over that time, I have yet to find the courage to write a complete draft.
What are your inspirations?
In the media: American television animation in all types and eras, Mel Brooks, and Monty Python. In print: Jack London, Robert Bloch, Isaac Asimov, Frederik Pohl, L. Sprague De Camp, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Victor Hugo, and Philip Jose Farmer, among many others.
If there's a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?
Getting rejected! Especially when you put so much effort into writing a piece, like I do.
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
Both. You can be skilled at making up stories, but you need to learn how to write the way the market demands through experience.
What are you writing now?
I mentioned the novel Orthicon in Chapter 17. I intend to finish that thing if it kills me some time this year or next. I am also preparing one of my novellas to be included in a themed anthology from Wicked East Press in the new year. On the non-fiction front, I am looking for a publisher to take my sweeping historical study of American television animation (an expansion of my recently earned MA thesis), give me a big advance, and let me write in peace and comfort.Also, I continue looking at Duotrope and Ralan and sending in stories for all the anthologies there that will have me.
Is there any aspect of writing you really enjoy?
I enjoy every aspect of it.
Do you have a website or blog that readers can visit?
Unfortunately, no. I am all thumbs when it comes to the Web.
Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?
A rambling old house with a well-stocked library and no one to annoy me. Barring that, a park, preferably one next to a river, lake or waterfall.
Where do you actually write?
On the computer, I write at home. In longhand in my notebooks, I write anywhere I can.

SOME PUBLICATION CREDITSShort Stories"The Witch Of The School". Published in Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine , April 2010. (Living Dead Press, 2009.) Accepted into Anthologybuilder database, June 2010."All I Owe You Is A Good Story". Published at Lame Goat Zine, Issue 1, posted December 25, 2009."Press". Published at Vast Horizons.com. Posted January 31, 2010."Partners In…Something". Published at Kalkion.com, February 18, 2010."Censored". Published in Deep Space Terror, ed. By Chris Bartholomew (Static Movement, 2010.)"The Devil And Summer Schwartz". Published in Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine , Summer 2010."Pandemic". Published in Inner Fears, ed. By William Wolford (Static Movement, 2010.)"Tzedakah". Published in Diamonds In The Rough, ed. By Chris Bartholomew (Lame Goat Press, 2010.)"Just A Little Miss-Understanding". To be published in Vampology (Library Of Horror Press, 2010.)"Vengeance". Published in Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, Summer 2010."The Dispute". Published at Swordreaver.com, May 2010."Bloch's Parent". Published in Dark Valentine #2, ed. By Katherine Tomlinson. (Summer 2010)."'Toons Bite Men". To be published in Daily Flash, ed. By Jessy Marie Roberts. Pill Hill Press, Oct 2010."Murder's Not Cool". Published as an ebook by Untreed Reads Publishing, August 2010."Got A Match?" To be published in Ethereal Tales , October 2010."Cut And Run". To be published in Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, October 2010."Black Magic". To be published at Dark Valentine, October 2010."Challenges". To be published in Peace On Earth, ed. By Jean Goldstrom (Whortleberry Press, 2010.)
Novels, Novellas and Stand Alone StoriesThe Pups. To be published by Library of Science Fiction Press, Fall 2010.

Review of I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

First published in 1956, the Corgi edition I read was published in 1971, when it cost £0.25p in the UK and 80 cents in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.I generally don't précis a book when I review it. I am interested in the language, structure and the way the writer has allowed his characters to drive the story. But, if you're unfamiliar with this particular tale, let me explain that it is the story of the last 'normal' human male alive following a catastrophe resulting in part from a nuclear war. Matheson's take on this situation is entirely different from any other I have come across, blending the fabled powers of vampires and the undead with a good deal of psychology and medicine as he tries to explain how and why the world's population has been reduced to a particularly brutal version of cannibalistic vampirism.His hero, Robert Neville, almost the only substantial character in the story, fights an unending battle against the infected souls who want his blood. The purists will undoubtedly rail at the large amount of 'tell' that describes the man, his world and his attempts to deal with it. And I admit I would have liked a little more 'show'. There are times when the author forgets that he is writing from the point of view of his character and describes elements that the character would not know about. But the story develops, so that what begins as a tale of survival and unrelenting fighting for existence, becomes an examination of a man embroiled in a war against his own fears and memories. Matheson has done a deal of research into matters to do with blood, so that his explanations of the reasons for the bacterial infection and its peculiar manifestations are made at least credible.But, science and myth apart, this is really a tale about a man discovering himself through adversity. It is very andocentric and the only female characters are not well drawn, nor given the sort of status they truly deserve; the American male of the 1950s showing through in the superficial and patronising portrayal of two women who could have been truly heroic.In the end, in spite of its failures and faults, this is a good read; compelling and thought provoking, especially for its time.
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Author Interview with Karen Cantwell

Karen Cantwell, author of Take the Monkeys and Run, has been writing plays and short stories for many years, some of which were published in various college literary magazines.  More recently, her short story "The Recollections of Rosabelle Raines," was published in the mystery anthology  Chesapeake Crimes: They Had it Comin'  available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or directly from the publisher, Wildside Press.But she had always wanted to write a novel.  She found that more difficult.  Finally, a few years ago she became inspired to write her first novel,  Take the Monkeys and Run , a comedy-mystery, inspired, to some degree by a true monkey sighting.   She loves to laugh as well as make other people laugh, so she had the most fun imagineable writing the character Barbara Marr.  She wanted to write something that readers would say, "Now that was FUN." 
Tell us about Take the Monkeys and Run in a few sentences.
Take the Monkeys and Run is a humorous mystery featuring Barbara Marr, a soccer mom and movie lover who unwittingly lands herself and her friends into the middle of an action adventure type fiasco complete with bullets and bad guys, just like the movies.  Only these bullets are real.
What qualities do you need to be a successful writer?An ability to write well in the genre you choose, a lot of gumption and VERY thick skin.
What is your working method?
I work best with several hours of uninterrupted alone time.  It usually takes me at least a half hour to get "in the zone" so to speak, then I like to have at least a couple of hours to punch out a chapter or a piece of a short story.  I have three kids, so I don't always get that, but it is how I work best!
How did you come to write this particular book?
I had written several short stories and one-act plays, but had never finished a novel.  I had STARTED a lot of novels, but never seemed to be able to finish one.  It was a sore spot in my spiritual universe.  So one day I decided I was just going to do it.  I was going to finish a novel.  I didn't care how good or bad it was, I wasn't going to stop myself every time something just didn't seem to "be right," etc.  So I came up with a character and a plot with an idea of how it would end, and started typing.   It took me about two and a half months, but I did it.  I finished a novel.  Then, I kind of actually liked it.  So did a friend.  So, after some advice from an agent, I fleshed it out, enhanced the story line, and I had this novel – although at that time, it was titled Monkeys in My Trees.  After a few more revisions, I changed the title.
If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?
Can I have two?  My favorite character for her actual character is Peggy.  She's well meaning, but flaky.  She has a heart of gold.  You just have to love Peggy.  My favorite character to WRITE, is Barb's mom, Diane.  Diane is . . . an interesting mother.  Let's put it that way.  She's a blast to write.
How can people buy your book(s)?
On Amazon – it's available in both Kindle and paperback versions.
http://www.amazon.com/Monkeys-Barbara-Murder-Mystery-ebook/dp/B003SE7O40
To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
Grammar – you know, not so much. (love my grammar there?)  It depends on the piece.  I know my grammar well from years in school, but I take many liberties with it in my own novel because it is written in first person and the readers are in Barbara's head.  People don't think in good grammar.  At least I don't!  But Spelling – that's VERY important in my book.  Writers need to be very attentive to spelling, otherwise the reader can be thrown off and maybe not understand what you've written.
How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?
As much as it needs, really.  My problem is I could revise until the cows come home.  Every time I sit and read a few sentences or paragraphs or chapters of my book, I can find SOMETHING to revise!  So I go through it several times until it feels right.  Then I have an editor take a look at it for me, do more revisions, then I feel it's ready. 
Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?
My novel is set in a "fictional" suburban town called Rustic Woods, Virginia.  I say "fictional" because really the only thing fictional about it is the name and the streets names. Otherwise, it really is my own suburban town of Reston.  I  just had to write about this place – it has such character compared to other suburban cities/towns.  And I like the idea of a place itself, being a character.  I changed the name though, to protect the innocent.
To what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?
For me it has been helpful in finding a niche and a group of supportive people who write in that same fashion and for a similar audience.  Yet, I often feel a little hemmed in by genre.  For instance, I call my book a mystery, because people want me to paste a label on it, but really, it's not your typical mystery at all.  It's not Agatha Christie for instance.  It's not a "whodunit" as many people consider a mystery.  There is a lot of action, some thriller aspects, a lot of humor and a wee bit of romance.  So it stretches across genres.  Sometimes I just want to say it's a funny thriller/action romantic mystery.  I think people's eyes would glaze over if I said that though.  Did yours?
What sort of displacement activities keep you from actually writing?
Work, kids, and promoting my other works.  Especially now, I find myself spending a lot of time promoting Take the Monkeys and Run, which is interesting, but not nearly as fun as writing.  I've heard this is a common dilemma!
Is presentation of the MS as important as most agents and publishers suggest?
Absolutely.  I don't care if you're submitting to an agent/publisher or if you are planning on self publishing – a positively polished manuscript is essential.  It's all about presenting a professional product, as far as I see it.  Do you want these people (agents/publishers/readers) to take your and your work seriously?  Give them something GOOD.
What are your inspirations?
I get inspiration from all sorts of places.  I love to people watch, so sometimes I'll come up with an idea for a story or character while sitting on a metro train or at a park.  I once came up with an idea for a character and her story just from a street sign.  That street sign spoke to me I guess!
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
It's a little of both.  There are those who are naturally inclined toward the writing arts, but then one has to work to hone that skill.  I've never met anyone that was a perfectly amazing writer that had not worked on their craft to some degree, either through traditional classroom type instruction, or peer groups, etc.
What are you writing now?
I'm currently finishing up a short story that will be part of a Barbara Marr collection that I will be releasing on Kindle very shortly.  Then I'll be finishing the second in the series, Citizen Insane.
Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
I love creating characters.  Bringing them to life, but then watching as they take over and start to write themselves!  That's the ultimate fun for me.
Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?
http://www.karencantwell.com and http://fictionfordessert.blogspot.com
Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?
A studio set apart from my house; large with big windows and let in lots of light; a desk that spans the entire length of one wall and a computer with a 30 inch screen; a treadmill, a little kitchenette with a fridge stocked with Aranciata San Pelegrinos.  Oh.  And a cabana boy to wait on me hand and foot while I write from dawn til dusk.
Where do you actually write?
In bed.
Link to Youtube trailer
THANKS STUART!!!
Karen Cantwell  J