Matthew Ledrew's Blog, page 44
May 12, 2017
You can get new authors to do anything… | Gallery
If you’re an insane publisher with a camera and no self-control, you can get your new authors to do anything. Here are the newest Engen Authors Paul Carberry and Amanda Labonté doing things Erin Vance and Ellen Curtis would never, ever do anymore…
Click to view slideshow.
May 11, 2017
Engen gets Pulp-O-Mizered | Gallery
This week, our social-media feed went insane with our fellow convention-goers taking advantage of the Pulp-O-Mizer, a fun new online tool that allows you to create your very own retro-style Pulp Magazine covers… and if you think we’d didn’t make versions of our own titles, you really don’t know us well. Enjoy!
May 10, 2017
Mischief managed: SciFi on the Rock update | Amanda Labonté
I was asked to write an update about my experience at SciFi on the Rock last weekend, but where do I even start?
For someone who had never attended the convention in full, I think the biggest surprise for me was how fast the time flew. I thought the hours at the tables would creep by. But three days have never gone so quickly.
Going back and forth between the Writer’s Alliance of NL (WANL) community table and the Engen Books table in the vendor room, I got to meet and connect with so many readers and writers. I have always believed speculative fiction readers are some of the most devoted in existence and, after last weekend, I am even more convinced. The enthusiasm from the attendees truly made the conference for me.
Getting to hang out with other writers was also a lot of fun. There are many awesome authors of scifi, fantasy and paranormal fiction from all over the province, it was nice to see so many together in one place.
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May 9, 2017
As Fierce as Steel by Christopher Walsh | Other Indie by Ali House
[image error]If you’re a fan of epic stories with mythology, politics, interesting characters, and an imaginative world, then the Gold and Steel Saga should be on your reading list.
I’d best compare this book to the Lord of the Rings trilogy (but without the massive amounts of description) or Games of Thrones (but without the massive amount of characters to keep track of). My interest definitely picked up with Marigold’s chapter and didn’t lose any steam from then on. (Minor note: Marigold is not as prominent a character as Orangecloak, the Thieves, or Tryst, but she’s still pretty darn important.)
The politics of the world had me seething at times, and if I were to find myself in this world I’d be setting a lot of Towers of Ios on fire. As tired as I’m getting of reading about oppressed women, there were many female characters who were strong and intelligent, and I want to continue reading their stories.
The book is an epic read, and when I neared the end I found myself hesitating to pick it up simply because the second book’s not out yet.
‘Other Indie’ is a recurring series of articles on Engen Books in which authors highlight the best in independent publishing, in the hopes of helping readers break through the cluster of books they may not be sure about in an age when anyone can publish via digital formats. Engen Books is an independent small-press publishing company based in St. John’s Newfoundland and is proud to highlight the talent of independent authors not our own. As Fierce as Steel is © 2016 Christopher Walsh. This review is © 2017 Ali House. ‘Other Indie’ banner photo credit: Steve Lake.
May 8, 2017
When are you no longer an amateur? | Peter J Foote
An excellent moment of self-reflection from one of our short story authors, Peter J Foote, whose work has appeared in both Sci-Fi from the Rock and Fantasy from the Rock.
When I shared this little blog with my friends in an online writing group, several of them suggested that I might be denigrating myself by using the term “amateur author”.
That got me to thinking; “When are you an author?”
I’m sure this question has no limit of answers depending on who you ask, but in the end the only answer that really matters is the one that you subscribe too. While I do have a couple short stories published in print anthologies (the book launch of one of them happens to be today!), I hesitated to call myself an author because I was compensated in contributor copies rather than hard cash.
But does that make any difference?
In the end, I decided that published is published, and how I was “paid” didn’t matter. So then why did I still struggle to call myself an author?
I started thinking about the other writers I…
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May 7, 2017
Black Womb: Habeas Corpus
A Special-Edition hardcover collecting Black Womb, Transformations in Pain, and, Smoke and Mirrors celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the release of Black Womb! Available in print only through contacting Engen Books!
Black Womb: Habeas Corpus (Hardcover)
Matthew LeDrew
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Purchase (eBook):
Apple iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Scribd
Kobo
Smashwords
Kindle
Purchase (physical):
Buy Local: $40.00
Title Information:
ISBN:
978-1-926903-36-1
Release Date:
April 28, 2017
Status:
Available
Book Type:
Hardcover (5 x 8 in)
Price (CAD):
Buy Local: $40 / EBook
Page Count:
575
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Reviews
“It is the writing of it’s generation: visual, to-the-point and in-the-moment.”
The Northeast Avalon Times, May 2009
“The story is solidly written… [LeDrew] could have just given us the Breakfast Club, but instead he’s succeeded in creating a cast that’s as every bit [as] unique as they are believable.”
Jon Aylward, June 8 2010
“LeDrew’s work is horror that emerges from the urban fantasy tradition — the introduction of a fantastical element into a true-to-life, modern setting.”
The Telegram, Aug 13, 2010
“Evil corporations, faceless villains, people with mysterious identities/pasts… when done right these are powerful archetypes. I love potboiler mysteries, horror and scifi… I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy this series.”
Jay Paulin (Ink’d well Comics), November 2010
“It takes you on a rollercoaster and ends with a bang… I enjoyed every moment of it.”
Milan McKay
A Neon Village, Dec 2, 2010
“Very dirty, very well written. [I] enjoyed the story immensely and would like to see where it goes.”
Steve Lake, Sci-Fi on the Rock TV
“Black Womb compares very favorably to Personal Demons, I must say — I enjoyed [Black Womb] as much, and it of course has more in the series.”
Kenneth Tam, Iceberg Publishing, July 7, 2007
“The writing in Black Womb is seamless and to the point, without robbing you of the details or over baring you with them either.”
42 Webs, Feb 15, 2012
“Black Womb was suspenseful and intriguing from beginning to end with breathtaking twists and turns that kept me hooked and guessing until the end!”
Andrea Edwards, “Scarlett” author
Septembers 6, 2012
“Great book with an interesting twist, Matthew (LeDrew) weaves a tale of suspense, horror, and youthful endurance. Definitely a book to check out if you haven’t already!”
Kevin Kendall, Kendallight Studios
September 28, 2012
“Perhaps the best way to dilute the book’s premise down to a single sentence would be to call it “a bizarre fusion of horror film and superhero gimmicks.”
Mark Pellegrini, Adventures in Poor Taste
November 29, 2012
“Black Womb is an exciting horror story full of action and introducing a bunch of interesting characters. The story flows quickly and is a great read for a first-time novelist.”
GoodReads
June 04, 2013
“When Transformations in Pain focuses on the mystery elements, it moves at breakneck speeds. The dialogue is sharp – a common trait in LeDrew’s novels – and the plot weaves together quite cleverly.”
Jay Paulin, Ink’d Well Comics, May 2011
“[The novel] has a Whedon-esque feel to it but is really good. The comedy in it is just right for this horror genre [the author] is working on.”
Steve Lake, Sci-Fi on the Rock TV
“Matthew LeDrew has taken an intriguing concept and appears to know where it’s going.”
The Northeast Avalon Times, May 2009
“[Smoke and Mirrors] is a mature and complex tale with many twists and turns that is sure to please fans of action, drama, horror and mystery.”
Jay Paulin, Ink’d Well Comics, June 2011
“This is the coalescence of what Black Womb is about… the best of the series so far and leaves me wanting more.”
Steve Lake, Sci-Fi on the Rock TV
Supernatural Causes | Going Viral
College freshmen Liesl Andrews spends her days studying pre-med and her nights stitching up werewolf bites. As a human who has the rare capacity to see the vampires, werewolves and witches who live in the shadows, Liesl pays her tuition by moonlighting as a medical intern at St. Benedict’s Hospital for the Underworld.
Supernatural Causes: Going Viral (eBook)
Amanda Labonté
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Purchase (eBook):
Apple iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Scribd
Kobo
Smashwords
Kindle
Title Information:
ISBN:
978-1926903521
Release Date:
April 15, 2017
Status:
Available
Book Type:
Electronic
Price (CAD):
FREE
Page Count:
58
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Reviews
“I appreciated the new mythology for the vampires. Good storyline that makes the reader want another installment.”
Barnes & Noble Customer Review
May 6, 2017
Fantasy from the Rock
Twenty-One short stories written by an eclectic mix of some of the best fantasy authors in Atlantic Canada, some of them award-winning veterans of their field and some of them new to the craft! Edited by Erin Vance and veteran science-fiction author Ellen Louise Curtis, this collection features the heartfelt, creatively charged, astonishing fiction that showcases the talent and charm Atlantic Canada has to offer. Featuring the work of Nick Morine, Christopher Walsh, Shannon Green, Heather Reilly, Ali House, Amanda Labonté, Paul Carberry & many more!
Fantasy From the Rock (Paperback)
Ellen Curtis & Erin Vance (Editors)
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Purchase (eBook):
Apple iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Scribd
Kobo
Smashwords
Kindle
Purchase (physical):
Chapters Indigo
Amazon (USA / Canada)
Barnes & Noble
Title Information:
ISBN:
978-1926903347
Release Date:
April 27, 2017
Status:
Available
Book Type:
Paperback (5 x 8 in)
Price (CAD):
Buy Local: $20 / EBook: $2.99
Page Count:
373
Related Titles
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Reviews
“A wonderful testing ground for new authors. Not only do we get to see what stories work, but readers get an easily accessible venue to see what authors they enjoy following and might enjoy following in the future. The work of all three authors was fantastical and imaginative, each in their own special way.”
Matthew LeDrew
author of Black Womb and Infinity
“I cannot deny the gripping dialogue and subtle foreshadowing in The Gold and Steel Saga.”
Jonathan Mallard,
Life After Death Society
May 5, 2017
Confessions of Patient Zero | My Sci-Fi on the Rock 11 Story
This was originally going to be a series of posts — every day of Sci-Fi on the Rock 11 was it’s own mini-event that deserved chronicling. However, as the title implies, I’ve been a little under the weather. As of today it’s been a week since the con started, and I really don’t want to wait any longer. So I’m going to try and get it all on record. 
