Nicky Peacock's Blog, page 43
September 23, 2013
Book Review: Her Wicked Sin by Sarah Ballance
Synopsis:
Salem, MA 1692
On a moonless night, he rides into the winter forest on his beast as black as midnight…
Dashing stranger, Henry Dunham, comes to Salem on a mysterious errand, but is thrown from his horse in the dead of night and rescued by the local Puritan midwife, Lydia Colson.
Haunted by her past, Lydia is running from her own dark secrets, avoiding intrusive questions by pretending her dead husband is simply… away. But when she and Henry are caught in a compromising situation, one punishable by Puritan law, he saves her from scandal by claiming to be her errant spouse… and claiming her bed.
Forced to fake a marriage, Lydia and Henry find their passion overwhelming and their vows a little too real. As their lies become truths, a witch hunt closes in on Lydia, threatening not only their burgeoning love, but her life.
About the Author:
Sarah and her husband of what he calls “many long, long years” live on the mid-Atlantic coast with their six young children, all of whom are perfectly adorable when they’re asleep.
She never dreamed of becoming an author, but as a homeschooling mom, she often jokes she writes fiction because if she wants anyone to listen to her, she has to make them up. (As it turns out, her characters aren’t much better than the kids).
When not buried under piles of laundry, she may be found adrift in the Atlantic (preferably on a boat) or seeking that ever-elusive perfect writing spot where not even the kids can find her.
She loves creating unforgettable stories while putting her characters through an unkind amount of torture—a hobby that has nothing to do with living with six children. (Really.) Though she adores nail-biting mystery and edge-of-your-seat thrillers, Sarah writes in many genres including contemporary and ghostly paranormal romance.
Her ever-growing roster of releases may be found on Amazon , Barnes & Noble, Kobo, For the Muse Publishing, and coming soon to ENTANGLED PUBLISHING.
Website: http://www.sarahballance.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahBallance
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/sarah.ballance.author.news
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4103362.Sarah_Ballance
My Review:
I haven’t read many historical romances and, after reading Her Wicked Sin, I’ve discovered that I’ve really been missing out. It was written in an old fashion style that gave it real credence and felt like I was reading a new classic, rather than a straight modern historical romance novel (I know, how many oxymorons can I get into this post!)
I decided to read it because it was set amidst the Salem Witch trials and it really did capture the tension and fear that must have been felt at that time. Poor Lydia, the protagonist, seems dogged with bad fortune and terrible timing. Worst of all, she’s beautiful in a time when plainness is considered Godly. The Puritan odds are certainly stacked against her, which makes for a romance with a hearty string of tension.
I’ve always had a strange fascination with this time period, which all started when I read The Crucible at school. Her Wicked Sin feels almost like an extension of Arthur Miller’s work and proves how easy it was back then to get into trouble and be accused of something that could literally take your life. All it took was a jealous wife or a wicked child with a grudge with the ear of the town.
The romance is sweet, albeit a little predictable – but hey, that’s okay; in a modern world where romance is like a half-finished roller-coaster, sometimes it’s nice to have a bit of predictability.
The front cover really doesn’t do the book justice and personally I’d have liked to have seen some more markers to show the time period – although a half-naked chiselled man is always a crowd pleaser!
Overall I’d give Her Wicked Sin 4 out of 5 stars – whether you’re a seasoned historical romance junkie or a newbie like myself – read this book.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Bewitching book tours, Her wicked Sin, Historical Romance, Sarah Ballance
September 21, 2013
Book Spotlight: Trafficked By Sophie Hayes
Synopsis:
He’d been her friend for years. He said he loved her. Then she realised she didn’t know him at all…
When everything seemed to be falling apart in Sophie’s life, she was thankful for her friend Kas, who was always at the end of a phone, ready to listen and to offer comfort and advice.
Her father’s cold dislike of her and then her parents’ divorce had left her with a deep distrust of men. But, gradually, Kas made her believe there was at least one man who truly cared about her.
But she was wrong.
At first when Sophie went to stay for a few days with Kas in Italy, he was kind and caring, as he’d always been. But three days after she arrived, everything changed.
His eyes were cold as he described the things he expected her to do ‘for love’. But soon Sophie’s bewilderment turned to fear as he punched and shouted at her and threatened to kill her adored younger brothers if she didn’t do exactly as she was told…to sell her body on the streets to pay off Kas’s debts.
Terrified of Kas, the police and the men whose pleasures she was forced to satisfy, Sophie worked seven nights a week for the next six months on the dark and lonely streets of a town in northern Italy.
Subjected regularly to Kas’s verbal, mental and physical abuse, she knew she would never escape.
And then, one day, after she’d been admitted to hospital with stomach pains – and knowing that Kas would kill her if he found out – she dared to phone her mother.
But who would reach her first?
Nicky’s note:
I don’t often do non-fiction books on this site but this spotlight is to highlight trafficking awareness. All to often you read a story like Sophie’s where she trusted the wrong people and was caught up in a sticky trap almost impossible to escape. If you would like to learn more about this crime and learn how to spot the signs that you, or a loved one, might be in danger then please have a look a few links that I’ve collected for you:
Human Trafficking Awareness Partnership
Hope for Justice – spotting the signs
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: human traffick awareness, human trafficking, non fiction, sophie hayes, Source Books, trafficked
September 20, 2013
Book Spotlight: Heaven and Hellsbane by Paige Cuccaro
Synopsis:
Someone’s killing angels and turning the half human, half angel illorum warriors against their angelic supporters. If the supernatural baddy behind the attacks isn’t stopped soon, Heaven itself could fall victim. The Council of Seven has called in the best they’ve got to find the killers, and no one’s more surprised than Emma Jane Hellsbane when it’s her phone that rings.
But when her own angelic mentor—and off-limits hottie—Eli is targeted, Emma takes it personally. With Emma hot on the trail of the growing army of assassins, though, hackles start to raise around her. Everyone wants to know if she’s in it to protect all angels or just one in particular. The Council has their suspicions…and so does Emma’s boyfriend.
Now Emma isn’t just fighting off demons, rogue nephilim, and Fallen angels, but she’s defending her honor as well. The problem is even Emma Jane isn’t sure of her motives. One thing she does know: if she doesn’t figure out the killers’ identities soon, she may not live long enough to know what, or who, she really wants.
It’s all in a day’s work as Heaven’s ultimate bounty hunter.
About the Author:
Writing was never a foregone conclusion for me. I once had dreams of being a psychologist, a pediatrician, a school teacher, a photojournalist, a bartender, and/or an EMT. And then I met my husband and my world came into focus. Being wife and mother are my highest priorities and greatest joy. But escaping to the fanciful, sexy worlds twirling through my mind is an absolute necessity. Putting those worlds, and the cornucopia of characters that people them, on paper is just plain fun.
Paige lives in Ohio, with her husband, and three daughters. When she’s not writing she can be found doing the mom thing with a book in one hand and a notepad and pen in the other. Ideas come without warning and the best way to stimulate your imagination is to enjoy the imagination of someone else.
http://www.facebook.com/PaigeCuccaro
https://twitter.com/PaigeCuccaro
http://www.goodreads.com/PaigeCuccaro
http://beingpaige.blogspot.com/
This is the second book in the series and I’ll be reviewing both this and the first book later in the year.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Angels, Demons, Entangled Publishing, Heaven and Hellsbane, Paige Cuccaro, Summer reads, supernatural novels, Urban Fantasy
September 19, 2013
Interview with Jackie Underdown
Tell us about your publishing journey
I wrote my first novel five years ago, completely out of the blue. My husband was working away, I was at home looking after my youngest son and, in a way, writing was a wonderful way to escape reality for a couple of hours each day.
But it wasn’t until I had finished my fourth book, The Paler Shade of Autumn, four years later, that I found publication. I’ve suffered countless rejections during my route to publication and, even to this day, each and every rejection still makes me question my ability and sends my emotions into a spin.
I could credit being published now to my dedication to improving my writing ability, but I think, to a great extent, I’ve been given these opportunities because of the evolving publishing industry in Australia. With new digital publishers like Escape Publishing, novels like mine, which aren’t necessarily mainstream romances, are now given the chance to find readers.
What part of being a writer do you love most?
I love being able to create entire worlds, people, and circumstances exactly how I want them to be. There is no greater, risk-free, emotional journey than the one I go on when writing a novel. I fall in love with sexy, alluring heroes, experience first kisses, make new friends, endure heart break—a myriad of beautiful emotions that I may not be able to ordinarily experience in real life.
Which part do you hate most?
The rejection process, bad reviews, relentless self-doubting, and the time writing takes away from my family.
What life advice have you been given, that you wished someone had given you sooner?
I was told once by a good friend and mentor, ‘What you put your energy on, you will get’. It’s a wonderful piece of advice in respect to ‘persistence’, and it is true (as long as you’ve got the energy reserves to keep going).
What inspired you to write Beautiful Illusion? 
I was reading a lot about philosophy and alternative religions at the time I wrote Beautiful Illusion. This certainly inspired the concept behind the story. I wanted to spin an emotional tale of two people who fall in love on a purely spiritual level, outside the realm of the physical universe.
What’s the strangest dream that you’ve ever had?
Where do I start? I’ve been plagued by weird, wonderful and sometimes terrifying dreams for as long as I can remember. But one that stays in my mind for its absolute bizarreness is a dream I had about an old, haggard lady that was crouched at the foot of my bed. She leant over and took a bite at my big toe. I woke up, heart beating hard, feeling as though it really happened. Let’s just say I couldn’t put my feet down to the very bottom of my bed for a little while after that.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
Jericho Barrons from Karen Marie Moning’s Fever Series. He’s the ultimate Alpha male. Red meat would have to be on the menu when dining with Jericho, so a juicy, tender steak would be perfect.
Who are your favourite authors and why?
Kate Forsyth for her incredible ability to build worlds, educate about history, and still be entertaining. Sophie Kinsella for her strong, natural voice and humour. And Elizabeth Gilbert for her honesty.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently editing a story of mine I wrote about a World War I soldier. After that, I will be embarking on a new novel—witches, dark ages and women’s past tribulations.
Where can fans find you online?
www.facebook.com/jacquie.underdown.9
@authoraire
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: advice to writers, author interview, Beautiful Illusion, Jackie Underdown
September 18, 2013
Book Review: Waterfell by Amalie Howard
Synopsis:
THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN
Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father’s betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa’s upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age.
Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa’s mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?
About the Author:
AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. Traveling the globe, she has worked as a research assistant, marketing representative, teen speaker and global sales executive. In between writing novels and indulging her love of reading, Amalie is also a books review editor for TheLoopNY, and blogs at amaliehoward.com. She is represented by the Liza Royce Agency.
Her debut novel, BLOODSPELL, was selected as a Seventeen Magazine Summer Club Read. She is also the author of The AQUARATHI series from Harlequin TEEN (WATERFELL Nov 2013 and OCEANBORN Aug 2014), THE ALMOST GIRL from Strange Chemistry Jan 2014, and ALPHA GODDESS from Skyhorse/Sky Pony Press Mar 2014.
For tour and upcoming events, check out amaliehoward.com
(above info taken from GoodReads)
My Review:
My strange love of mermaids started with being given Hans Christian Anderson’s book ‘The Little Mermaid’ when I was a little girl. It was the first fairy story I had which really didn’t end too well for the protagonist. If you haven’t read the original (not the Disney version) then you’re missing out and should Google to find it online. The second book that re-ignited this weird addiction was P C Cast’s ‘Goddess of the Sea’, which was a 5 out of 5 star book for me and kept me gripped from start to finish. These two books was why I requested Waterfell from Netgalley – but to be honest, it really didn’t deliver what I thought. It kind of delivered something more, something unexpected…
Okay, so the protagonist Rissa is a bit of an arrogant bitch to begin with. She hides from her responsibility and seems intent to be queen bee at her school with little care to those around her. But she does change through the book – there is a definitive character arch. However maybe it would have been better to give her the ‘good deed’ moment a little sooner as this aspect alone might stop a more sensitive reader from continuing – to be fair, it almost stopped me. No one roots for the mean girl!
From a writer’s perspective, it was slow to get going, but the plot really does start to develop midway through the book – so you do need to stick with it – if you don’t, you could very well miss out on a the start of a new YA paranormal romance series that breaks the traditional literary monster boundaries. I personally would have threaded in a bit of action in the first part – maybe, in their first meeting, she could have saved Lo from drowning so it gave a literary nod to the Little Mermaid and Rissa’s character the good deed that would have made her likeable much quicker.
One thing I will highlight is that it’s not really set in the water, and the mercreatures are really not the traditional ones we know and love, so approach the book with an open mind and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
I loved the front cover – beautiful and serene – however maybe a little misleading as the action doesn’t really happen in the water, but on dry land.
Waterfell kind of felt like a Twilight in reverse – supernatural-like girl who falls for geeky new boy. Overall I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars. Whether you are actually a YA or you just enjoy YA fiction – you should try this book.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Amalie Howard, fireside reads, Waterfell book review, YA fiction
September 17, 2013
Interview with Chrysoula Tzavelas
Tell us about your publishing journey
I’ve been writing since I was a kid but I only started trying to get novels published in the last ten years or so. My fiction is a bit outside of mainstream interests– not enough to be called edgy or stylized but a little too close to the Uncanny Valley, if you will. This meant I didn’t get a lot of interest from big NYC agents on my novels. I considered self-publishing but this was in the early days of the indie boom and I prefer to focus on the writing rather than the production of a book. So I started looking at small presses, got an offer from Candlemark & Gleam and, well, here I am.
What part of being a writer do you love most?
I love so much of it! I love planning out a story and discovering how it all comes together to create something better than what I planned. I love getting into a writing flow and losing hours to my work. I love it when I really manage to touch somebody with my fiction, show them they aren’t alone and they share traits with heroes. I love making up titles and manipulating characters and writing powerful endings. I even like going through editing and knowing I’m making the story better. And I love having real deadlines– they’re very motivating!
Which part do you hate most?
I hate figuring out the last paragraph of a story. I hate the mid-book blues, where I’m convinced the entire story is a wreck. And I hate the overactive critic inside that I can’t turn off that makes it hard to reread completed projects without wishing I could have done even better.
What life advice have you been given, that you wished someone had given you sooner?
“Average but hardworking beats brilliant but lazy.” Or, more generally, hard work matters. And having to work hard doesn’t mean you have no talent. 99% of talent is just the willingness to work hard on something. This was all stuff I heard/figured out pretty young, but didn’t actually start internalizing until much later.
If you could have a magical power, what would it be and why?
This is a tricky question. :-) A lot of my fiction explores magical powers and how they impact an ordinary life, so it’s hard for me to think of something without thinking of its complications. Still, I think teleportation would be a lot of fun, especially if I could take others with me.
What inspired you to write the Matchbox Girls?
Well… I have a bit of an anxiety problem. Among other things, Matchbox Girls came out of the idea of how _awful_ it would be if all of my anxiety was actually a form of precognition. I also wanted to write about dangerous chosen children who happened to be little girls.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
Jonathan Strange. We’d have one of those grand Regency dinners, but with a Faerie twist.
Who are your favourite authors and why?
I like Terry Pratchett because his development as an author is amazing and he manages to evolve from writing light satirical comedy into writing profound literature. I like Lois McMaster Bujold and Susannah Clarke for their fantasy worldbuilding. I love Patricia McKillip for the sheer wonder and beauty of her stories. I’m also a big fan of Sarah Rees Brennan for her excellent character relationships and wonderful deconstruction of standard tropes. And I love Courtney Milan, for her fresh, open-eyed approach to historical romance.
Is there a supernatural creature that scares you?
Not offhand. Hm. The idea of Greys peeking in my window at night freaks me out, though. I guess, given that, I can go ahead and say I’m scared of haunted houses. Yes, they’re a supernatural creature!
What’s your favourite fairy tale and why?
Beauty & the Beast is a classic favorite that I often like no matter how it’s retold. Which it is, a lot, I think because it’s one of the few classic fairy tales where both hero and heroine feel like real characters who develop, rather than people-shaped rewards who remain static. When I was a kid, I was a big fan of the much more obscure “Snow White and Rose Red.” I’m a pretty big Fables (the comic book) fan these days.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on Book 3 of the Senyaza Series, tentatively called Wolf Interval, and following a supporting character from both Matchbox Girls and Infinity Key. I’m also awaiting revision requests on a high fantasy novel recently placed with a new E-Harlequin line…
Where can fans find you online?
I’m trying to build a presence on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/chrysoula.tzavelas?ref=hl) and every like helps!
I’m reasonably active on Twitter. (https://twitter.com/chrysoula) and I post sometimes on Google+ (https://plus.google.com/u/0/103166129089211811271/posts)
Finally, I have a blog @ http://www.dreamfarmer.net/ where you can find all sorts of news and rants and weirdness.
Thanks for having me on your blog! It’s a pleasure, come back anytime!
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Chrysoula Tzavelas, Infinity Key, interview with Chrysoula Tzavelas, Matchbox Girls, writing advice
September 16, 2013
Book Spotlight: Heavy Metal by Natalie J. Damschroder
Synopsis:
The world is not what Riley Kordek imagined. On the run from those who’ve targeted her, all Riley wants is a chance to figure out her new ability to bend metal’s energy. When a hot guy who knows more than he should helps her escape her attackers, she thinks she might’ve found someone who can lead her to the answers she needs.
Three years ago, Sam Remington walked away from his employer and the woman he loved, and now, all he’s looking to do is fill the gaping hole left behind. Except, when Sam takes Riley to the Society for Goddess Education and Defense, the stakes rise beyond what either of them could have imagined.
After being alone for so long, falling for Sam would be far too easy—and far too painful, once his old flame calls needing his help. Worse, Riley uncovers a plot with disastrous ramifications not only for herself, but for Sam and the people he loves—and potentially every goddess in the country.
About the Author: 
Natalie J. Damschroder is an award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance—Love with a Shot of Adrenaline. She sold her first book in 1999, and 2013 will see the publication of her 14th novel. She grew up in Massachusetts and loves the New England Patriots more than anything. (Except her family. And writing and reading. And popcorn.)
When she’s not writing, revising, proofreading, or promoting her work, she does freelance editing and works part time as a chiropractic assistant. She and her husband have two daughters she’s dubbed “the anti-teenagers,” one of whom is also a novelist. (The other one prefers math. Smart kid. Practical.)
You can learn more about her and her books at:
http://www.goodreads.com/NatalieJDamschroder
https://twitter.com/NJDamschroder
https://www.facebook.com/NJDamschroder
http://nataliedamschroder.blogspot.com/
Everybody Needs a Little Romance www.everybodyneedsalittleromance.com
Heavy Metal is the second in a series and I’ll be reviewing both books later in the year.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Entangled Publishing, Goddess Rising, Heavy Metal, Natalie J. Damschroder, paranormal romance, Summer reads, supernatural novel, Urban Fantasy
September 15, 2013
Book Review: The Unleashed by Sarah Dalton
Synopsis:
“I wanted to live. I wanted us to have a future, and there was nothing else on my mind. With Daniel by my side I ran so fast my lungs ached.”
Mina’s world is turned upside down as an important person from her past materialises to take her away from the Compound. She finds herself separated from her friends and facing life-changing decisions on her own.
Meanwhile Daniel is on a mission to find Mina when he becomes involved in the Resistance – along with the rest of the Freaks. His visions take their toll as he learns of an event that could devastate the people he loves the most. Only he can stop it.
Angela finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime as she helps Sebastian find his father in Area 14. After action and adventure on the way there, the group are thrown into another life and death situation… can Angela find a way out?
Fans of the popular YA dystopia series Blemished will not be disappointed by this thrilling conclusion. It will keep you guessing right up to the very last page.
Trust no one.
The Blemished:
A beautiful world comes at a price…
In a world filled with stunning clones Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes are worthless and that takes away her rights: her right to an Education, her right to a normal life and her right to have a child.
Mina keeps a dangerous secret which she never thought she could share until she meets Angela on her first day at St Jude’s School. But their friendship is soon complicated by Angela’s adoptive brother Daniel. Mina finds herself drawn to his mysterious powers and impulsive nature. Then there is the gorgeous clone Sebastian who Mina is forbidden from even speaking to…
The Blemished is a frightening take on a fractured future where the Genetic Enhancement Ministry have taken control of Britain. It will take you on a ride filled with adventure, romance and rebellion.
The Vanished:
“The Compound bustled with action and anticipation, causing my stomach to do a flip. I stopped in my tracks, realising something, something I hadn’t thought of before. We were going to war, and people were going to die.”
The Vanished are the forgotten: those who live beyond law or society. Mina fought for freedom. She fought for a better life – a future. But even a free world can decay.
As Mina begins her new life in the Clans she meets people with surprising knowledge about her power, knowledge that could change everything – even her relationship with Daniel. But as she makes new friends, old friends turn against her in shocking betrayal.
Life in the Compound is tough; there are ways and traditions so strange that Mina begins to suspect foul play at the very heart of her new home. Instead of leaving corruption behind in Area 14, Mina is faced with the rotten core of human nature as a Clan warlord threatens to invade the Compound. The Clans are turning against each other and Mina is stuck in the middle.
The Vanished is the second installment in the Blemished series and follows Mina’s story as she continues to challenge those in power and seek out new dangers. With even more rebellion, romance and betrayal, The Vanished promises to take the reader on a roller-coaster ride of adventure and emotion.
Will freedom fall?
About the Author:
Sarah grew up in the middle of nowhere in the countryside of Derbyshire and as a result has an over-active imagination. She has been an avid reader for most of her life, taking inspiration from the stories she read as a child, and the novels she devoured as an adult.
Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a young adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in the Medulla Literary Review, Apex Magazine, PANK magazine and the British Fantasy Society publication Dark Horizons. Her short story ‘Vampires Wear Chanel’ is featured in the Wyvern Publication Fangtales available from Amazon.
The Blemished series is Sarah’s first full-length work of fiction. In a Fractured Britain, Mina Hart has to fight against the Genetic Enhancement Ministry to win back her rights.
@sarahdalton
My Reviews:
The Blemished trilogy really does dig deep into the possibilities of where science could be leading us. For a YA series it doesn’t skimp on the scary, or nasty, and gives the reader a psychological injection of fear – because quite frankly this could happen. With designer babies and clones still in the news and the government doing God only know what without bothering to keep us informed, this is the kind of worry that could keep you awake at night– just like the threat of infected flesh munching zombies, this future could very well be on the cards. Okay, sorry, paranoid rant over!
The character of Mina was perfect – just the right amount of doubt and fight (considering how she had grown up) It has the usual love triangle and best friend + an unhealthy dose of parental abandonment issues. All in all, a great read.
From a writer’s perspective there were a few info dumps lingering in the beginning and a couple of clichéd moments, but Sarah Dalton does prove to be an excellent writer and had me reading all three books within a week. It kind of took me back to when I first read Angela Carter’s ‘A Hand Maiden’s Tale’ (certainly not a YA book) the kind of bleak prediction of the future and the feeling it was going to get a lot worse, before it got better.
Being English myself, it was actually a pleasant change to read novel set in England – although to be honest, due to the themes of the books it really doesn’t matter – this could have happened anywhere in the word.
The front covers are a bit samey – I understand that this can help with branding and they at least different colours, but I’d have preferred them to be completely different so it would be easier to tell them apart. Also Mina is described as being slightly overweight (which I felt was quite revolutionary for YA literature) but the girl on the front covers is certainly not overweight – is it a different character?
As I read all three books together I have scored them 4 out of 5 stars overall. If you loved the Hunger Games and Blood Red Road – you’ll love The Blemished trilogy.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: dystopian, Enchanted book tours, fireside reads, Sarah Dalton, The Blemished book revoew, The Unleashed book review, The Vanished book review, YA books
September 13, 2013
Interview with Liesel Schwarz
Tell us about your publishing journey.
I was extraordinarily lucky, but in order to be lucky, it took me about five years of struggle to get there. In 2009 I was offered a place in the MA, Creative writing program at Brunel University. My first novel, A Conspiracy of Alchemists, was my dissertation. I had quite a bit of editorial interest from the start, and rejections, but then I met my agent, Oliver Munson and the rest was magic. Within a month I had a book deal. It was like a dream come true.
I also joined the Romantic Novelists Association as part of their New Writer Scheme. Being part of that community and having that support was so wonderful. They made me feel like I was a “real” writer.
What part of being a writer do you love most?
I love everything about being a writer. It’s the best job in the world. My favourite bit is when inspiration and creativity come steaming along. It’s like a rush of wind that thunders through you and you have to hold on for dear life and type till your fingers ache.
Which part do you hate most? 
I think the greatest tragedy of all is the fact that with the exception of a very select few, most writers cannot make a living out of their writing alone. I hate that. I also hate the eye-bleeding, mind-numbing, soul destroying tedium of working a day-job in order to pay for boring things like cat food and mortgages. This is an essential part of the process though, because in all art there must be a little suffering.
Steampunk isn’t a new genre – but we are seeing more steampunk style novels coming out now- give us your definition of the genre…
The name steampunk was coined in the 1980′s, but writers like Michael Moorcock and others were writing this work for some time before that. And before them, people like Jules Verne and HG Wells were writing subversive steam-powered fiction, although for them it was contemporary. So I think you are right – at least the notion of steampunk has been around for a long time.
I would define steampunk as subversive steam-driven speculative fiction. Retro SciFi. It’s reimagining of the world as it would have been had electricity not replaced steam technology.
What life advice have you been given, that you wished someone had given you sooner?
Remember to have fun! Writing can be such a fraught, anxious business that it’s easy to forget to enjoy the journey.
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
Oh, I think I’d end up turning my time machine in to one of those open-top sight seeing buses one sees around cities. I’d go round and round the centuries hopping on and hopping off.
I am a big fan of the time that stretched from the Regency era, through to the Victorians and Edwardians and into the 1920′s. I also love the Elizabethans. Those guys were really interesting.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
That’s a difficult one. I recently read John Saturnall’s Feast by Laurence Norfolk and it had me literally drooling. I’d love to have some of John’s quodling apples with cream.
Although, it would be absolutely awesome to have dinner with Count Dracula and the good Mr Harker in the count’s castle. Decisions, decisions.
Who are your favourite authors and why?
I don’t think I can answer that question because it changes from week to week. Although the first author I fell in love with must be Rosemary Sutcliffe. I must have been about eight or nine when I first picked up one of her books from the library.
What are you working on at the moment?
I have just finished writing SKY PIRATES, the third book in the current series, The Chronicles of Shadow and Light, so I’m in that lovely gap between delivering a manuscript and waiting to hear from agents and editors, so right now I’m catching up on all the things I sort of ignored while I was writing.
Where can fans find you online?
Twitter: @Liesel_S
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LieselSchwarz
I’m always happy to say hello if I can and I absolutely love hearing from people.
Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. Always a pleasure Liesel!
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: A Clockwork Heart, A Conspiracy of Alchemists, advice to writers, Chronicles of Light and Shadow, Del Rey, interview with Liesel Schwarz, Liesel Schwarz, Sky Pirates
September 12, 2013
Book Review: Fangirl’s Dream by Fierce Dolan
Synopsis:
Siler Dunham would do anything to have Farraj Reza, hero of the smash network TV drama, Endangered. Every week she tunes in to watch him calculate the rescue of fellow bus crash survivors trapped deep in the jungle by a ruthless drug lord.
A federal public defender with a penchant for saving the unsavable, she can’t resist his sad story, or his badass charm. When she seeks a matchmaking service to meet him, their one night stand isn’t what she expected. Forced to choose between unbridled lust and compassion, Siler must forgo her fantasy… or mustn’t she?
About the Author:
Erotic mezzofiction writer, Fierce is imagination shapeshifted as a scribe taunting blank pages and carpal tunnel, neither of which are much use for deadlines. Close allies are impeccable timing and a trusty masseuse. Being a switch I/ENFP doesn’t hurt. For kicks Fierce has other personas across several genres, tends to fill in “Other” on surveys without explaining, and chooses the finality of the Japanese Tamagotchi.
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/fiercedolan
@FierceDolan http://www.twitter.com/fiercedolan
Google+ https://plus.google.com/118302380096094683854/posts
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5236551.Fierce_Dolan
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007CJS3QK
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/fiercedolan/
Tumblr http://fiercedolan.tumblr.com/
My Review:
This book was brilliant! Seriously, who doesn’t have a TV show crush? We all have one, and sit dreamily staring at the screen imagining what it would be like to slip into their world and seduce the hell out of them! This is exactly what Fierce does in Fangirl’s Dream.
It’s a short read with a great hook and seamlessly takes you on a sexy adventure with a female lead who can represent us ‘real girls’. I don’t want to give too much away and ruin it, but it holds a delicate balance of show don’t tell – which I always appreciate as a reader.
From a writer’s perspective there were a few sexual words used that jarred me personally, but that’s just me and could very well be more of a cultural thing. Just because we speak the same language, there are subtle differences. I try not to be prudish in my own writing, but there are a few words I just won’t use, Just my personal opinion.
The front cover is brilliant – gives us a great view of hunky man – to be honest, I don’t ask for much more than that!
Overall I’d give Fangirl’s Dream 4 out of 5 stars – a must read for romance fans!
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Bewitching book tours, decandent publishing, Fangirl's Dream, fangirl's dream book review, Fierce Dolan, fireside reads, paranormal romance
