Matthew Ledrew's Blog, page 56

Amanda Labonté

Amanda Labonté lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where she gets much of the inspiration for the characters and places about which she writes. Though she knew she wanted to be a writer since the eighth grade, it was many years before she finally walked into a creative writing class and found a new home. As the co-owner of an educational business and mother of two she spends much of her day with kids of all ages. They give her some of the best reading recommendations.

So you’ve written a story!

So you’ve written a story!

Now what?

Let’s be honest – trying to get your work published can suck. You write a really awesome story, but when you go looking for somewhere to submit it you realize that publishers are a lot pickier than you expected, and your story doesn’t fit. Maybe it’s not enough words. Maybe it’s too many words. Maybe they’re only looking for vampire romance stories at the moment and you’ve written a really awesome Sci-fi story. What is a writer to do?

What I like about the “From the Rock” series is that Engen isn’t picky about what they’re looking for. They take submissions from new writers as well as published writers, and their parameters are pretty wide open. Just look at the submission requirements for their “Fantasy from the Rock” collection (stories due December 31, 2016).

Their guidelines are:

Fantasy stories
a PG rating
fewer than 20,000 words.

For those of us with a backlog of unpublished stories, it’s like submission Christmas.

And who knows, you might send Engen a story, and they might go “Wow, this world and these characters are really interesting. Do you have any more stories like this?” and then you might go “Yeah, I’ve got a few more stories!” or even “I’ve actually written an entire novel about this universe! Would you like to read it?” Then you send them your novel and they read it and the next thing you know you’re talking about covers and release dates, and you’ve got a novel coming out on October 31! (The Six Elemental – available in paperback and ebook format!)

So dig out your fantasy stories (or get writing them)!

You can’t get published if you don’t try.

light|dark gets a new look!

[image error][image error]The April 2012 mega collection light|dark, which introduced the world to the enigmatic monster-hunter Scarlett, the Reptilia virus, and the shadow organization Omega gets a shiny new look this month courtesy of a new cover designed by Ellen Curtis, and the changes aren’t purely cosmetic.

“We’ve worked to combine the two Engen Universe anthologies into one epic volume,” says Curtis, of the collection. “Our series’ are where people can go to delve deep into the characters, but if they just want fun, action-packed stories that introduce them to our Universe and world, the new light|dark is now a one-stop shop.”

What this means is that the 2009 collection of Ellen Curtis’s short fiction, Compendium, has been integrated into light|dark, taking it from eight short stories to ten, now including Falling into Fire, At Midnight the Dawn, and the short that inspired an entire branch of stories in the Engen Universe, The Tourniquet Revival.

“This series has always been recommended reading for people that want a larger scope of the Engen Universe than what they got in the individual novels, but now it’s almost required reading for fans of the Infinity series,” said Engen founder Matthew LeDrew. “Now the collection introduces Nick, Gavin, and Tash to readers, all of whom have major roles in The Tourniquet Reprisal. In this collection we also see hints that may finally be paying off in a 2017 collection.”

For fans of Compendium, the frame narrative has been preserved and integrated into the overall flow of the new light|dark.  Compendium will remain available as a separate work via eBook but will no longer be actively in print. Smaller collections of the stories within light|dark will also soon be available for purchase individually via eBook.

The collection also features new substantive edits by Erin Vance, the current anthologies editor for Engen Books.

Note: At the request of the author, Andrea Edwards (author of Scarlett) has changed her credit in this collection to Andrea Hackett.

Zombies on the Rock: Outbreak by Paul Carberry | Other Indie

[image error][image error]Zombies on the Rock: Outbreak is a 2015 action-thriller by Corner Brook native Paul Carberry and was independently published via AuthorHouse, a self-publishing print-on-demand business based in the United States. It is set in the near future and stars an ensemble cast of likeable, identifiable characters as they deal with the very early onset of a zombie outbreak (hence the novel’s subtitle). Characters like Hank, Chris, Eric, and Cathy must navigate the astonishing and brutal landscape of this not-too-distant future in order to be among the survivors as the island of Newfoundland — and the entire world — is plunged into an apocalyptic nightmare.

One of the great foibles of publishing genre fiction in Newfoundland is that it can be immensely limiting. If the story isn’t set in Newfoundland many local retailers won’t carry it, but if it IS set in Newfoundland it all too often destroys the reader’s suspension of disbelief: world-altering apocalyptic events don’t seem plausible in Newfoundland, hence why fiction of those genres tend to take place in populated hubs like New York or Los Angeles. What Carberry does in Zombies on the Rock is walk that fine line with style and finesse not often seen from an author’s first outing, so much so that this may be one of those rarest of rare gems: a horror novel which transcends its genre and becomes something more, permeating the cultural lexicon and becoming a genre unto itself.

While the action takes place primarily on the west coast of Newfoundland (including several shout-outs of a place near and dear to my heart, Burgeo), Carberry makes it clear that this is a global event: as the first half of the noel progresses, news programs and stories come in about a rabies-like viral outbreak happening at different points around the globe… this is happening everywhere, Carberry just chooses to tell us the regional story of how this event affects those local to western Newfoundland. In that respect the novel does for zombies what Signs[image error] did for aliens (which I say as a compliment).

The people in this book react the way people of this province would: they see this disaster on the evening news and are rightly horrified, but at the same time they shrug and say “glad it’s not happening here.” We’re very guilty of that in Newfoundland, as our island affords us a certain degree of protection from epidemics that might run rampant in other parts of the world. This creates a sense of dread and suspense over the first half of the book, as the characters go about their lives unaware of the danger that is about to befall them. This is truly masterful suspense by Carberry, who clearly understands that suspense occurs when the reader knows something the character does not.

This book is a fun action thrill-ride with lots of great characterization and careful plotting, but don’t let the fun you’ll have reading it fool you into thinking this is just another pulp novel: there’s more going on here from a literary sense as well. Carberry chose to name a company in this novel Pharmakon, something that did not go unnoticed. Those with a keen eye will find allusions and clever, biting commentaries that will enhance the read and elevates this from the sort of entry in the horror genre which is merely enjoyed to the sort of entry which is studied.

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.

What ‘bothered’ me about Zombies on the Rock were the scenes expressly dealing with Pharmakon, and the nearly one-dimensional way their greed and apathy negatively affected the lives of the innocents in this novel. It plays on  a general mistrust of power, a xenophobia that in the end is sadly justified as the epidemic spreads, forcing the Newfoundlanders to retreat in order to survive. I can point to many scenes that would support a reading of this text having an anti-corporate slant, such as any of the scenes with Pharmakon, or the scene when a pastor refers to the corporate greed of “charging $2.00 for water.” For anyone who understands Newfoundland history and Newfoundland culture, these are powerful statements, as many of us feel that “big corporations” and “outsiders” have been able to pillage our island for far too long, and long to return to a more natural and peaceful, traditional lifestyle… just as the surviving members of the novel are forced to near the end of the second act. Read this way, Carberry has written a cautionary tale that is a metaphor about the dangers of corporate greed — but even as it shows us the worst of what can happen, it gives us solace by reminding us that there is a solution.

These are big, bold themes that have a broad appeal while still being, at their heart, decidedly Newfoundland. Carberry wisely doesn’t dwell too long on them, but like most great authors in the genre, he leaves enough on the bone to form thoughts and ideas in the minds of his readers about just what kind of future they want.

This is an astonishing first novel from Paul Carberry. I read it over the course of two days, and in those two days my time was divided thusly: reading it, and wishing I were still reading it. Part police procedural, part action-thriller, and part disaster movie, Zombies on the Rock is a must-read for any fans of the horror genre, and any who think that independent genre authors in Newfoundland don’t have anything to offer.

Zombies on the Rock: Outbreak[image error] is available in print and electronic formats. Check it out, a must-read for people interested in supporting good independent  fiction and those who like my work.

‘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. Zombies on the Rock: Outbreak is © 2015 Paul Carberry. This review is © 2016 Matthew LeDrew.  ‘Other Indie’ banner photo credit: Steve Lake.

Ali House

 

Alison House

Alison House

A native Newfoundlander, Alison is a graduate of the Fine Arts program at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College (MUN). She currently resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she works in arts administration and spends more time than a person should in and around theaters.

Titles by Ali House

Ali House is the author of 2 works published through Engen Books.

Novels

The Six Elemental by Ali House

The Pitch: There is a legend that in times of great need, a person wielding the power of all six Elements will come forth to bring peace to New Earth. The myth of the Six-Elemental is almost seven hundred years old, and the possibility of someone having the power of more than one Element has been thoroughly disproven by science.

None of this matters, however, when Kit Tyler receives the power of all six Elements on her twenty-first birthday. Unsure of how the world will react, or how to wield her powers, Kit keeps this information a secret, swearing that she will reveal it when she is stronger and more worthy. After all, the only thing worse than being a walking myth is being a disappointing one.

Short Fiction

Sci-Fi from the Rock by Ellen Louise Curtis and Erin Vance

Series: From the Rock, #2016

The Pitch: Nineteen short stories written by an eclectic mix of some of the best science-fiction and fantasy authors in Atlantic Canada, some of them award-winning veterans and some of them new to the craft for the first time. 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 Kenneth Tam, Scott Bartlett, Jay Paulin, Ali House, & many more!

Click for more information and purchase options

Shopping Guide — Buy Local this Holiday Season!

As the Holiday season approaches, you might be in the market for a unique gift for the special people in your life: something unique and pleasantly surprising to them. It’s hard to know what people already have, be they co-workers you’ve been assigned as a Secret Gift-Giver for, parents, siblings, friends, or a significant other. As a solution, we suggest: buying local and buying indie.

Buying local can help ensure your money stays within the local community, ensuring that everyone in your region has the money to properly enjoy the holiday season worry-free. Cash remaining within its local infrastructure is the backbone of making sure an economy stays stable and strong. But, on a more fun note, buying indie makes for a greater chance that the item you’re purchasing will be new to the person you’re buying it for! Rather than trying to covertly sneak a peek at their bookshelf or find a way to get information out of family and friends, you can rest assured that locally bought, independently-produced titles will be new and exciting reads to whomever you’re giving them to!

Christopher Walsh to appear at Windsor Comic-Con, October 15-16!

[image error][image error]Epic Fantasy scribe Christopher P Walsh will be appearing at the Windsor Comic Con from October 15 – 16 2016, bringing with him not only his debut novel As Fierce as Steel, but also the Engen Books collection of short stories Sci-Fi from the Rock.

The collection features some of the best in Canadian talent in genre fiction, including Kenneth Tam (Defense Command, His Majesty’s New World), Scott Bartlett (Taking Stock, Flight or Fight), Ali House (The Six Elemental) and 16 more! It of course also includes Stealing Back Freedom, the prequel short story Walsh penned leading into the massive As Fierce as Steel.

[image error][image error]Chris will be joined at Windsor Comic-Con by veteran actors Jason Priestly (90210), Tia Carrere (Relic Hunter), Nicholas Brendan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) and Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk)!

“Windsor! If you see something you like in this amazing collection of short fiction, check out the existing and upcoming work by these wonderful authors, they’re all producing astonishing work!” — Matthew LeDrew, Engen Founder.

If you’re going to be in the Windsor area on October 15 or 16, be sure and stop by Ceasar’s Windsor and check out the Windsor Comic-Con, as well as the amazing fantasy work of Christopher Walsh!

Only 90 Days Left!! | Fantasy from the Rock

[image error][image error]That’s right, only 90 days left before the submissions for Fantasy from the Rock close on December 31, 2016! We already look to have twelve amazing new authors, some new, some established, and some award winning on board, with formal announcements to come once the deadline is closed. You’ve still got time to be a part of this great new collection!

After the colossal success of Sci-Fi from the Rock this past 10th Anniversary weekend, Engen Books has decided to continue the line with Fantasy from the Rock, to be available in Spring 2017 at the eleventh annual Sci-Fi on the Rock convention.

“The response from fans was enormous and overwhelming,” said Engen founder Matthew LeDrew. “We we able to publish a number of first-time authors alongside established pillars in the Newfoundland science-fiction community like Kenneth Tam and Scott Bartlett, of Iceberg Publishing and Mirth Publishing, respectfully. Engen Books has always been a fan of placing new talent alongside established talent, giving those new voices a chance to shine in a way they may have have otherwise.”

While the inaugural volume was titled Sci-Fi from the Rock, it in fact told PG-rated stories from the fantasy, science-fiction, and thriller genres. This new collection will focus more heavily on genre-specific stories, with each successive volume then showcasing different talent within the Canadian writing scene.

Editors Ellen Curtis and Erin Vance are scheduled to return to helm the project.

[image error][image error]As Fierce as Steel author Christopher Walsh has already expressed interest in returning his fantasy series, The Gold and Steel Saga to the collection. “[Engen Books] has created a place, at least locally, that helps local writers get a foothold in that world and gives the advice and encouragement needed to convince them to try at all,” said Walsh. “If not for Engen, I’m willing to bet there’s a lot of young writers telling stories outside of the local publishers scope that would not have any platform at all to try or would have given up entirely already.”

Other authors have expressed interest, but anyone can submit to be a part of this Spring 2017 collection! Deadline is December 31, 2016 but get your stories in as quick as you can, as it gives our wonderful editors more time to work with you and make sure it is as good as it can possibly be!

 

What is the target audience?

For this specific collection, we’re going for an equivalent of PG. Rather than limit our authors creatively, we encourage them to write from the heart and allow us to work with them to fine-tune the work after the fact.

Example: for Sci-Fi from the Rock, Christopher Walsh’s story had featured a fair amount of cursing. As a compromise, we settled on switching it out for classic-comic style “#@$#” bleeps. We feel it captured the classic all-ages style we were going for while remaining true to his work, and both parties were happy with the arrangement. [image error]

Kowloon Walled City, 1984 by Nicholas Morine | Other Indie

[image error][image error]Kowloon Walled City, 1984 is a 2016 cultural thriller by Nova Scotia native Nicholas Morine and published by the Newfoundland indie company Problematic Press. It stars Fang, a heroin dealer for the 14K gang, as he rises to the top of the Kowloon fighting circuit and becomes embroiled in danger and violence as he deals with corrupt police, gang politics, and an annual martial arts tournament calling the very best warriors from across the globe called the Siu Nin a Fu. Will he make it out of this world alive? You’ll have to read it to see.