Matthew Ledrew's Blog, page 51

Peter J Foote Returns! | Fantasy from the Rock

Peter J Foote returns in 2017’s Fantasy from the Rock! One of the breakout stars of last year’s collection with his short story “The Silence Between Moons,” Foote returns with an all-new tale, “A Troll by Any Other Name…”!

Born and raised in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, the son of an apple farmer, Peter studied archaeology in university, is employed as a boiler and refrigeration operator, an active Freemason, and runs a used bookstore (Fictionfirst Used Books) out of his basement in his spare time.

Believing that an author should write what he knows, many of Peter’s stories are a reflection of his personal life.

In the time since he was published in 2016’s Sci-Fi from the Rock, Foote has made many personal and professional accomplishments, including touring to the East Coast Comic Expo in Moncton alongside Sandy Curruthers, and becoming engaged to be married. ❤ We hope 2017 brings him the same good fortune and look forward to his fiction in the future!

Knight’s Surrender by Heather Reilly | Other Indie

[image error][image error]Knight’s Surrender is a 2014 YA Fantasy novel by Heather Reilly and published through her own small-press publishing company, Reilly Books. This is the first novel in the Binding of the Almatraek series of a planned five books, three of which are currently available. This is the first in a series a reviews of quality indie fantasy leading up to our Spring 2017 release, Fantasy from the Rock.

From what I’m seeing of the fantasy genre, and I am new to it, the evolution of the genre happens not through innovations in setting or circumstance but through style. More than any other genre I can think of, fantasy reads best if you understand the history from which it came, and the authors that came before and (possibly) inspired the author, either knowingly or unknowlingly.

To that end, I can see the connective tissue linking JRR Tolkien to George RR Martin, and now from George RR Martin to Heather Reilly. With each passing generation of fantasy scribe, elements of the previous are transferred over while adding twists and changes and refinement: that’s how the genre can seem to outwardly the same but so functionally different all these years later.

I loved every minute of this novel, and upon finishing it immediately went onto the Indigo website and bought the next two in the series. In a masterful stroke, Reilly takes the “multiple points-of-view” aspect that is so significant yet so off-putting from Martin’s work and refines it, making it more palatable, by making each novel in the series from a different character’s point-of-view rather than alternating chapters. This grounds the reader in the story in a way the fantasy I’ve read often overlooks, and is a welcome addition to the genre. It has the added affect of making the novel a much easier, less weighty read than Martin’s work, and making more suitable for all-ages (both in tone and in the less-confusing narrative point-of-view choices). This sort of forethought into the mechanisms of story, narrative, point-of-view, and character are — so far as I can tell — emblematic of Reilly work and the care she takes in crafting her world.

In this entry, the point-of-view character of Aylan is a remarkably developed young female lead who, with her handmaid Millie, discover the mysteries of the mystical world Reilly has crafted with borrows just enough from cultural fantasy artifacts to be familiar, while adding enough flavor of her own to keep the reader interested. Aylan very much plays the audience point-of-view character as well, coming from a remote rural farm and needing much of the mechanics, social, and cultural norms explained to her — and thus, to us as well. This is an old-but-effective trick, and is another reason why Reilly made the intelligent choice choosing Aylan for this inaugural outing.

[image error]I love taking the Freudian method of dream analysis and applying it to literature. Quick/Dirty rundown: you take the part of the book that bothered you the most, then spin the analysis so that that is what the book is about. At least, what it’s about for you.

I’m honestly worried that the Matt’s Freudian Slip moments will get boring during these fantasy reviews leading into Spring, because what bothers me most about any fantasy story is often the same thing: treatment of women.

To explain, no female is treated badly in this book — and that’s kind of the problem. The entire medieval fantasy genre is stuck in a bind for me: if they treat women in a time-period-appropriate way (re: badly) then I get bothered by that. But if the novel goes the other way a shows women in a positive, fair light, then I’m bothered by the historical inaccuracy. Fantasy can’t win with me, and I’m aware of that bias and try hard to overcome it.

So, if what ‘bothers’ me about Knight’s Surrender is how outspoken Aylan can be without getting admonished by the males in power around her, is there any evidence to support that being what the book is about? Yes. Plently. And it comes back to Reilly’s key choice in making the story from Aylan’s point-of-view. She is seeing her actions as getting good reactions, but we’re seeing them very much through the lens of her eyes. In this way the novel subverts that expectation but also deals with it at the same time, in essence creating a medieval time slightly more progressive than our own and shining a light on our own troubled history. It’s a sort of master stroke that doesn’t inhibit the enjoyment of a reader that doesn’t notice, but engages the thoughts of a reader that does on an intellectual level not seen by most fiction billed as being appropriate for ages nine and up.

Knight’s Surrender is available in print and eBook formats. With lots of comedy, heart, and some powerful machinery working beneath the surface of the author’s prose, Knight’s Surrender by Heather Reilly is a must read for fantasy fans and a delightful read for fans of YA fiction looking for something fresh.

‘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. Knight’s Surrender is © 2014 Heather Reilly. This review is © 2017 Matthew LeDrew.  ‘Other Indie’ banner photo credit: Steve Lake.

Why We March | Ellen’s Rant

[image error]Over the past few years, I’ve tried to favour listening to firing back in disgust. I’ve tried to educate myself on the nuances of controversial issues, and I’ve tried to strike a balance between blocking negativity from my life and remaining open for respectful dialogue. In many ways, I’ve become quieter on social media as a result, but there are simply some things I will not remain quiet about.

Yesterday, millions of people across the world marched for women’s rights. Comfortingly, it seems the majority of my friends and family see the value and purpose behind this march. In an age where reproductive rights are being threatened, where sexual assault is normalized as “locker room talk”, where there are countries around the world moving to decriminalize domestic violence, countries that do not allow their young women an education or a choice in their future, the vast majority of people have lent their voice to the cause.

Still, there have been dissenters. There are people close to me who are out of touch with these inequalities because they have been content to stick their heads in the sand of their own bias. There have been opinions flung about clouded by ignorance and entitlement, and by the comfort of a life where they have never needed to avail of Planned Parenthood, be it for affordable healthcare or for help making decisions about their reproductive health or for testing and help in the wake of a sexual assault.

In this day and age, I have had the utter displeasure of sharing professional settings with people who have placed more value on a woman’s body than her mind, who have highlighted sexualized women as an ideal over educated women. I’ve encountered people who believe a woman should fit in a box labelled “homemaker, wife, and mother”, and who have not agreed that a woman should be allowed to have aspirations beyond this, or that a woman could aspire to those things for reasons beyond tradition.

Personally, I have been catcalled, been called a bitch for not reciprocating unwanted advances, been fearful to walk alone at night, and been touched uninvited. I have witnessed the women in my life have ugly names flung at them for performing to their best in our profession, and I have witnessed these amazing, strong women at a loss for words. Shock, as much as fear, sometimes steals our voices in the moment.

Too often, it is only in hindsight we think of the things we could have said, the things we wish we had said. For all those silent moments where women are surrounded by misogyny, they are motivated to march. For the voiceless women, in abusive marriages, fearful of honour killings, or of losing their career for speaking out, those privileged enough to be able to march will march.

For those women, for the wee little women too young yet to know these struggles, and for all women, I will not remain silent. We shape our future in the present day, and in doing so we foster hope. This is a hope that one day we will not need an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, it is a hope that one day a woman will not be harassed as she attempts to receive healthcare, it is a hope that our daughters will grow up without fearing our sons, and yes, it is a hope that our world leaders will support all these examples of equality and more.

That is why we march.

Introducing Shannon Green: Fantasy from the Rock author!

Engen Books is proud to use the From the Rock series to not only to bring award-winning established talent to the forefront, we also introduce the next generation of amazing talent to the province. In that respect, we are proud to announce the inclusion of Shannon Green and his story, Lower Antaras, to this year’s collection.

Shannon Green is a jack-of-all-trades from St. John’s Newfoundland who studied classics at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he specialized on the illustrations soldiers drew on the backs of their shields.

Lower Antaras introduces us to the town of the same name in a world populated by a the denizens of a new world Green has imagined, bringing us a fully-realized fantasy world of drink, religions, and mythology. It is a first-class effort in world-building, and we cannot wait to see what he adds to it in the future.

Why snow days are the best days (for writing)

[image error]As a writer, I think there is something magical about a day when you can stay inside and block out the real world – both figuratively and literally if the snow is halfway up your front door.

Before going further, I do have to confess that I am a winter grinch. When the first hint of frost hits the air, I heartily join in the chorus of ‘not yet’. I refuse to pull out my heavy coat and boots until the snow sticks to the ground. I curse when I am already running ten minutes late and I go outside to find the car needs to be scraped. Again.

But then a day comes when everything closes. When the police ask all cars to stay off the roads. When the convenience stores run out of chips. And, if you are a writer like me and not one of those brave souls who has to work in an ER or 24-hour gas station, those days can be creative perfection.

As a mom, I rarely get a day that opens before me with the writing potential of a real snow day (not to be confused with those fake snow days where everything reopens at lunch time). Between school pick-ups, music lessons, dance lessons, sports activities and visits to the dentist, I generally have to schedule my writing time to fit between the gaps. I also have a day job, though I don’t have to work as much as I used to, which is why I have the gaps for writing to begin with.

I know I am really lucky to fit writing in as part of my daily routine, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the appeal of having a whole day before me with no interruptions, aside from making more tea and having another snack. Both of which I will do once I’ve finished this blog.

So if you find yourself forced inside while thirty centimeters falls outside, I wish you every creative success. And a friend with a snowblower who can help you out in the morning.

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Join Amanda Labonté, Ellen Curtis, Matthew LeDrew, and Erin Vance as they discuss writing, the process of getting published, and being small press in Newfoundland as a part of the Arts & Culture Center’s “LOLA: love Our Loal Authors” month! [image error]

Coming Feb 22: Writer’s Circle – Presented by the Arts & Culture Center

Join Amanda Labonté, Ellen Curtis, Matthew LeDrew, and Erin Vance as they discuss writing, the process of getting published, and being small press in Newfoundland as a part of the Arts & Culture Center’s “LOLA: love Our Loal Authors” month!

Heather Reilly announced as one of the all-star authors of Fantasy from the Rock!

[image error]One of the things that makes the From the Rock series great is its ability to pair new and up-and-coming talent with established, award-winning talent pre-established within the industry, helping them reach a new audience while providing a forum for new authors to get their stories told on a grand stage.

It is with that in mind that Engen Books is proud to announce one of our all-star ambassador authors of this year’s collection, fantasy author Heather Reilly!

Heather Reilly is the author of the Binding of the Almatraek medieval fantasy series, and has written and illustrated several whimsical books for children.  She is the proud recipient of the Noble Artist’s Author of the Month award for February 2015 for her short story that appears is set to appear in the Fantasy from the Rock anthology; In the Moonlight.

Heather Reilly currently teaches music in Newfoundland, Canada, where she lives with her husband, and three beautiful children.

In her next exciting novel, Foresight’s Flight, Lazelan and Wolfgang find themselves in a frantic race against a Carrier of Brightness that takes them deep into the dwarven cities of Mount Embalk. Creatures great and small, from sphinxes to mermaids try to aid the pair on their journey to the Almatraek Bright. Will they be able to find

its hiding place before the Carrier is able to abscond with it, making it

disappear forever? Find out in book four of the Binding of the Almatraek.

She brings with her her award-winning story In the Moonlight, as well as her new tale, Sihn Du. For more on her work, to to www.reillybooks.com.

 Binding of the Almatraek



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One Draft, Two Draft, Red Draft, Blue Draft

Sometimes you’re going to write something and right from the start it’s going to be amazing!  Other times you’re going to write something which will require a surprising amount of time and effort in order to make it readable.

Life is about balance, I guess.

My first draft for The Six Elemental clocked in at 118,000 words.  For someone who used to have trouble writing anything longer than 5,000 words, that’s a BIG accomplishment and well worth a pat on the back. Unfortunately, it still needed work.

The second draft was about the same length.  I added a few things, but I also got rid of these made-up quotes I’d put before each chapter.  The quote idea fizzled out two-thirds of the way through the novel anyway, and since I couldn’t keep it going I figured that I might as well get rid of it.

The third draft was when I decided to create a major secret, which would only be revealed when it was most shocking!

The fourth draft was where I got rid of the major secret idea, because it wasn’t working out AT ALL*.

Advice from a beta-reader led to the fifth draft, which is when things really started working out.  The story got more focused and the pacing picked up.  I also cut a lot of stuff.  Two main characters got cut entirely, and at least two minor characters.  Another minor character turned into to a one-line mention.  I lost some stuff that I liked, but as William Faulkner said, “In writing, you must kill your darlings.”

I must have taken that advice to heart, because The Six Elemental currently clocks in at approximately 78,000 words – 40,000 words fewer than the first draft.

Sometimes, though, when you’re making a lot of cuts, it can be hard to know when to stop.  At one point I was ready to cut an entire page worth of stuff, but when I ran the idea past my editor she told me that I should leave it in, and gave me a bunch of reasons why it worked (thanks again, Erin!).

Never underestimate the value of an opinion from someone who doesn’t reside inside your brain.

Another difficult part of editing is accepting the changes to your story.  In the original there was a character who died half-way through the novel, but during the re-writes that character ended up living. I literally spent a week trying to figure out if there was some new way to kill them so that I could bring balance between the two drafts. However, I didn’t want to go all Joss Whedon on the character, so when I couldn’t make the death work I had to accept that the world had changed and abandon the idea.

But just you wait until next time, character.

Just you wait…

___

*Sometimes you’ve got to write a lot of wrong to figure out what’s right.

Sam Bauer announced as returning for Fantasy from the Rock!

[image error]Returning to this year’s collection after debuting last year is Sam Bauer with his story, Precious Pieces.

Sam Bauer is a young writer from St. John’s Newfoundland. He gets his ideas from eating too much sugar-laden food, reading the works of H. P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe until 4 am, and transcribing the ensuing nightmares. Most, however, are unusable as they are frightening only to those who share his phobia of squirrels, spoons and the number 73. In his spare time, Sam enjoys Dungeons and Dragons, playing in the Music Collection Drumline and pillaging small villages with his band of fellow gentle, but misunderstood, Visigoths.

Sam’s first story, The Lockett, was met with widespread acclaim from the independent literature community. In the year since he has read it at venues across the country, begun working with an award-winning Newfoundland author as a consultant, and is currently working on his first novel.

We expect big things from Sam and can’t wait to see what he brings!

Why there have been delays in the Fantasy from announcements

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Reilly Books has executed a devious corporate espionage campaign. Under the guise of “friendship” and “needing help” they tricked me, Engen founder Matthew LeDrew, into their home to help lay down floor in their new extension, thus setting up events which would, inevitably, lead to my destroying my own finger with a hammer.

More Fantasy from the Rock updates to come ;P