Heidi Angell's Blog, page 19
February 9, 2017
What Is a Novel-In-Stories?
As some of you may remember, we had James Dorr join us for aMeet the Author interviewa few weeks ago. He is back with a deep guest post for us today! Take it away, James!It had been a time when the world needed legends, those years so long past now.Because there was something else legends could offer, or so the Poet believed. He didn't know quite what--ghouls were not skilled at imagination. Their world was a concrete one, one of stone and flesh. Struggle and survival. Survival predicated on others' deaths. Far in the future, when our sun grows ever larger, scorching the earth. When seas become poisonous and men are needed to guard the crypts from the scavengers of the dead. A ghoul-poet will share stories of love and loss, death and resurrection. Tombs is a beautifully written examination of the human condition of life, love, and death, through the prism of a dystopian apocalypse.By James Dorr
This is the publisher’s blurb for Tombs: A Chronicle of Latter-Day Times of Earth, condensed perhaps but fair enough (and positively flattering in that last sentence!). It has been described as being based, at least in part, on Edgar Allan Poe’s concept in “The Philosophy of Composition” that “The death. … of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world.” But there’s something to be said about structure too, and in this Poe may have a comment as well.In his essay “The Poetic Principle,” Poe states that “a poem deserves its title only inasmuch as it excites, by elevating the soul.” Hence a true poem must necessarily have a certain brevity. “That degree of excitement which would entitle a poem to be so called at all, cannot be sustained throughout a composition of any great length. After the lapse of half an hour, at the very utmost, it flags--fails--a revulsion ensues--and then the poem is, in effect, and in fact, no longer such.” While there are such things as epics, of course, to Poe, despite the need for unity for a work as a whole, such a work in practice becomes a series of shorter poems, though perhaps not so much through the fault of the poet as that of the reader.I think I agree with what Poe is getting at--that at best the “good bits” will be interspersed with duller parts in a reader’s perception, and judging from Poe’s own works of fiction, I think he means for this to apply to prose as well. So as to my own work, at least as a writer I prefer short stories to novels. I see much of my work as a study of character under unnatural stress, especially in horror and other dark forms, and while I love diversions and atmosphere and descriptions and explanations to help as intellectual support, I think there is an emotional center which only can be sustained for so long.In view of this, I chose to write Tombs as a novel-in-stories, or what’s sometimes called a “mosaic novel,” one not so much presented as a continuous narrative, from start to finish, but rather assembled from independent chapter stories, some in fact already published before (two even appear in my 2013 collection, The Tears of Isis, while a third story there, while not in Tombs, is set in the same universe). The idea is there’s a larger story, in this case that of the world itself. But the approach to it is oblique, as if through, say, a series of snapshots in a photo album from which the reader might assemble a more complete picture in his or her own head.One example is a book written more than sixty years ago--and one of my favorite novels of all time--Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, in this case assembling a “history” of the colonization of Mars through a series of stories, strung together with shorter vignettes. There are other examples in non-science fiction/dark fiction/fantasy contexts such as Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club or John Dos Passos’s U.S.A. trilogy. But the thing is, this is one way around Poe’s dictum, above, of being able to sustain a core idea--intellectual, aesthetic, emotional--only for so long. Yet, even given that constraint, to compose what may still be a story of epic concept.
James Dorr is an Indiana based short story writer and poet. Learn more about his writingon his website:JamesDorrWriterYou can pre-order a copy of Tombs in paperback from Amazon for only $14.99.Get your copy heretoday!Until next time,Keep Reading!
This is the publisher’s blurb for Tombs: A Chronicle of Latter-Day Times of Earth, condensed perhaps but fair enough (and positively flattering in that last sentence!). It has been described as being based, at least in part, on Edgar Allan Poe’s concept in “The Philosophy of Composition” that “The death. … of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world.” But there’s something to be said about structure too, and in this Poe may have a comment as well.In his essay “The Poetic Principle,” Poe states that “a poem deserves its title only inasmuch as it excites, by elevating the soul.” Hence a true poem must necessarily have a certain brevity. “That degree of excitement which would entitle a poem to be so called at all, cannot be sustained throughout a composition of any great length. After the lapse of half an hour, at the very utmost, it flags--fails--a revulsion ensues--and then the poem is, in effect, and in fact, no longer such.” While there are such things as epics, of course, to Poe, despite the need for unity for a work as a whole, such a work in practice becomes a series of shorter poems, though perhaps not so much through the fault of the poet as that of the reader.I think I agree with what Poe is getting at--that at best the “good bits” will be interspersed with duller parts in a reader’s perception, and judging from Poe’s own works of fiction, I think he means for this to apply to prose as well. So as to my own work, at least as a writer I prefer short stories to novels. I see much of my work as a study of character under unnatural stress, especially in horror and other dark forms, and while I love diversions and atmosphere and descriptions and explanations to help as intellectual support, I think there is an emotional center which only can be sustained for so long.In view of this, I chose to write Tombs as a novel-in-stories, or what’s sometimes called a “mosaic novel,” one not so much presented as a continuous narrative, from start to finish, but rather assembled from independent chapter stories, some in fact already published before (two even appear in my 2013 collection, The Tears of Isis, while a third story there, while not in Tombs, is set in the same universe). The idea is there’s a larger story, in this case that of the world itself. But the approach to it is oblique, as if through, say, a series of snapshots in a photo album from which the reader might assemble a more complete picture in his or her own head.One example is a book written more than sixty years ago--and one of my favorite novels of all time--Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, in this case assembling a “history” of the colonization of Mars through a series of stories, strung together with shorter vignettes. There are other examples in non-science fiction/dark fiction/fantasy contexts such as Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club or John Dos Passos’s U.S.A. trilogy. But the thing is, this is one way around Poe’s dictum, above, of being able to sustain a core idea--intellectual, aesthetic, emotional--only for so long. Yet, even given that constraint, to compose what may still be a story of epic concept.James Dorr is an Indiana based short story writer and poet. Learn more about his writingon his website:JamesDorrWriterYou can pre-order a copy of Tombs in paperback from Amazon for only $14.99.Get your copy heretoday!Until next time,Keep Reading!
February 8, 2017
Book Review: The Name Of This Book Is Secret By Pseudonymous Bosch
Genre:Mystery/ AdventureSynopsis:Warning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch. As much as he'd love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn't want you to hear about his brave 11-year old heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest. Or about how a mysterious box of vials, the Symphony of Smells, sends them on the trail of a magician who has vanished under strange (and stinky) circumstances. And he certainly wouldn't want you to know about the hair-raising adventures that follow and the nefarious villains they face. You see, not only is the name of this book secret, the story inside is, too. For it concerns a secret. A Big Secret.My Take:So I wouldn't recommend reading this as in the book what I will be telling you is dangerous, maybe too dangerous for public pages. But I was never good at keeping secrets. If you love Adventure and Mystery this is definitely a book for you. It combines the thrill of a mystery and the fun of an adventure into a well-packed combo book. I would recommend it to kids between ages 8-18 as that would probably be the best place for the kids to like the book it's very subtle at first but as it goes on it cranks up the thrill to an almost unbearable pace. My favorite part of this book was the entire book there was no place that really stood out to me which means it's a very good book. The harder it is to find the favorite part, the better the book. Anyways, this would make an awesome Christmas or birthday present even for reluctant readers. I really have nothing against this book aside from wanting a better hook on the end of the book to make me more likely to want to read the next book.You can get your copy onAmazonin e-book for $4.99 or paperback for $8.38.Until next time,Keep Reading!
February 7, 2017
Teaser Tuesday: The Hunted is Ready
Hello Lovelies,What a wild week last week! Oh my goodness! Through much trial and tribulation (lol, J/K, just a lot of work!) The Hunted is now ready for pre-order on e-book! Paperback will hopefully be coming soon. Urban fantasy fans, this is a must have! Know any urban fantasy fans? Buy a copy for them!
Now The Hunters become the hunted.The highly-anticipated sequel to The Hunters Saga. Follow Fury, Havoc and Screvin as they track down the Werewolf who turned Screvin and try to help her come to terms with what she is. Things are going better than expected with Avie, then the Counsel comes after them. Now the hunters have become the hunted.You can pre-order The Hunted for $2.99 from your favorite e-book retailer by clickingthis link. If your favorite retailer is not featured, please let me know. We are working hard to add as many retailers as possible.The Release Party starts February 17th on Facebook. Be sure to come and join us because there is a ton of fun planned for the weekend.Click Hereand then click "Going" to the event. Then take a couple seconds and invite some of your readerly friends. We are doing a special giveaway for those who get the most attendees to the event!Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below!Until Next Time,Keep Reading!
Now The Hunters become the hunted.The highly-anticipated sequel to The Hunters Saga. Follow Fury, Havoc and Screvin as they track down the Werewolf who turned Screvin and try to help her come to terms with what she is. Things are going better than expected with Avie, then the Counsel comes after them. Now the hunters have become the hunted.You can pre-order The Hunted for $2.99 from your favorite e-book retailer by clickingthis link. If your favorite retailer is not featured, please let me know. We are working hard to add as many retailers as possible.The Release Party starts February 17th on Facebook. Be sure to come and join us because there is a ton of fun planned for the weekend.Click Hereand then click "Going" to the event. Then take a couple seconds and invite some of your readerly friends. We are doing a special giveaway for those who get the most attendees to the event!Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below!Until Next Time,Keep Reading!
February 6, 2017
Meet the Author Monday with Chris Botragyi
Hello Lovelies,Another exciting author for you today! Chris Botagyi is 42, and currently resides in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and Blurred Vision is his first published novel. He is a multi-published poet, published in such Anthologies as 'A Clock Strikes 13' by Forward Poetry.He is currently studying an English Language/Literature degree and volunteers at an alternative school as an English teaching assistant.He loves football, reading, movies, music and fashion - oh, and aliens! It will definitely be fun getting to know him a bit better, am I right?Hello, Chris. Welcome to An Angell's Life. What is the current book you are promoting?
Blurred Vision is my first published novel. It's a science fiction horror thriller with some very unique and original twists. It's about six men who wake aboard an alien ship amidst an invasion. Fear, paranoia and the crumbling of the human psyche follow before we get the back stories for each individual character, and how they arrived upon the craft.Ooh, sounds awesome! I can't wait to read it. What inspired this book?As a massive fan of such books and films, I was sick of seeing humans miraculously defeat such intelligent beings so easily, and skipping off into the sunset! I wanted something dark and disturbing, something that really plays on the mind of the reader; a story where there is bleakness, no hope and despair. It's fascinating how the human brain functions - to feel the emotions the characters go through is horrific.That's how I felt when I watched Event Horizon. Who is your favorite fictional character and why?That would have to be Anne Rice's 'Lestat' from her Vampire Chronicles. Her rich abundance of back stories, character descriptions and histories all show in her wonderful storytelling. A character that has it all, yet is never satisfied has him getting into all manner of precarious situations. Though Brett Easton Ellis' 'Patrick Bateman' from American Psycho is a close second!Lestat is right up there with my favorites too! Where do you come up with your stories?
My brain is very active most of the time. I have many dreams and nightmares, yet these give me a plethora of material with which to utilise. If I could record my dreams and playthem back, well, I would be a psychologist's dream patient!Ha, ha. I have a recurring dream about a zombie apocalypse. When I shared it with my mom, she said "What a nightmare!" and I was like, "No, actually it was pretty cool!" Working on making it a book. Who is your favorite author?Tough choice. But I think it would have to be Anne Rice. Again, her rich tapestry of knowledge and creativity interweave to combine such memorable characters and scenery; it's almost as if you know these characters intimately. She's a real classy writer.I love Anne Rice's early works, too. Had a hard time with her later books, though. Tell us somethingunique about you:I was involved in a massive paranormal case a few years back. It was horrendous what my friends and their family suffered - it almost gave them a breakdown. You wouldn't believe half of the stuff we witnessed. It got so bad that an exorcism had to be granted from the Vatican Church!Wowsa, talk about ideas for a story right there! Thank you for joining us, Chris! Would you like to learn more about Chris? You can follow him onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram!Until Next Time,Keep Reading!
Blurred Vision is my first published novel. It's a science fiction horror thriller with some very unique and original twists. It's about six men who wake aboard an alien ship amidst an invasion. Fear, paranoia and the crumbling of the human psyche follow before we get the back stories for each individual character, and how they arrived upon the craft.Ooh, sounds awesome! I can't wait to read it. What inspired this book?As a massive fan of such books and films, I was sick of seeing humans miraculously defeat such intelligent beings so easily, and skipping off into the sunset! I wanted something dark and disturbing, something that really plays on the mind of the reader; a story where there is bleakness, no hope and despair. It's fascinating how the human brain functions - to feel the emotions the characters go through is horrific.That's how I felt when I watched Event Horizon. Who is your favorite fictional character and why?That would have to be Anne Rice's 'Lestat' from her Vampire Chronicles. Her rich abundance of back stories, character descriptions and histories all show in her wonderful storytelling. A character that has it all, yet is never satisfied has him getting into all manner of precarious situations. Though Brett Easton Ellis' 'Patrick Bateman' from American Psycho is a close second!Lestat is right up there with my favorites too! Where do you come up with your stories?My brain is very active most of the time. I have many dreams and nightmares, yet these give me a plethora of material with which to utilise. If I could record my dreams and playthem back, well, I would be a psychologist's dream patient!Ha, ha. I have a recurring dream about a zombie apocalypse. When I shared it with my mom, she said "What a nightmare!" and I was like, "No, actually it was pretty cool!" Working on making it a book. Who is your favorite author?Tough choice. But I think it would have to be Anne Rice. Again, her rich tapestry of knowledge and creativity interweave to combine such memorable characters and scenery; it's almost as if you know these characters intimately. She's a real classy writer.I love Anne Rice's early works, too. Had a hard time with her later books, though. Tell us somethingunique about you:I was involved in a massive paranormal case a few years back. It was horrendous what my friends and their family suffered - it almost gave them a breakdown. You wouldn't believe half of the stuff we witnessed. It got so bad that an exorcism had to be granted from the Vatican Church!Wowsa, talk about ideas for a story right there! Thank you for joining us, Chris! Would you like to learn more about Chris? You can follow him onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram!Until Next Time,Keep Reading!
February 3, 2017
Book Review: The Last Queen: The Book of Kaels Vol. 1 (The Book of Kaels) by Wendy Wang
Genre:FantasySynopsis:A Princess of privilege, torn between duty and desire...In the land of the Five Realms, home of the Kaels, political dissidence boils beneath the surface. Headstrong Princess Neala is the daughter of Riona the First, Queen of Kaels, a mystical race with command of the five elements, and second in line for the throne. She lives a life of ease but wants nothing more than to be seen for who she is and not as a pawn in her mother’s political games. When civil war breaks out, ravaging her homeland, Princess Neala is determined to unify the realms using her command of the elements and knowledge of the enemy that she alone possesses. Torn between her mother’s commands and her deepest desires, can she maintain her resolve and rise up against the dark alliances that threaten her life and her kingdom?Clean Read suitable for most ages.My Thoughts:I did enjoy this fantasy read, and will probably read the next books in the series. Naela is a very relatable princess, in that she is kind of an innocent trouble maker. I laugh every time she is described as rebellious, usually because she sneaks off, intentionally loses her guard, and is a typical teenager wanting some alone time.It's really hard to review this book without giving too much away, because there are some unexpected twists and turns early in the story line that I want to talk about, but they will color the reader's view of the story. Needless to say, it is far more interesting than the synopsis suggests! There is romance, intrigue, espionage, and drama, but it is beautifully woven around Naela's perspective, which begins simple and innocent, and grows into a more complex emotional bang!I like how the author plays with perception in that some characters that you start out not being big fans of, end up being your favorite as the story goes along, and vice versa. Agh, there is so much more I want to say, but I really don't want to give the story away.Some cool elements in the story: Paintings that can act as portals, elemental magic that expresses itself in unique ways, a fantasy feel, but Naela rarely wears a dress! (I totally loved the clothes descriptions. I could stand being a princess if I could dress like Neala!) Strong female characters, and a couple of delightful heroes!I will say that although it is a pretty clean book, there are a couple of scenes of assault and implied torture that might be triggering for any women who have suffered domestic abuse. Still, I am letting my 12 year old read it because it really isn't graphic AT ALL, and will probably mostly serve as a "I shouldn't treat women this way." warning, rather than as a guide or how-to.Some good, but subtle moral lessons woven throughout which I admired and respected. Someone please read this so we can engage in a great discussion in the comments where we can issue *Spoiler Alerts* Lol!It appears that the author has The Last Queen: The Book of Kaels Vol. 1 (The Book of Kaels Series) perma-free on amazon, or you can get the paperback for $12.99.Purchase hereHave you read The Last Queen? What were your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!Until next time,Keep Reading!
January 24, 2017
Teaser Tuesday: The Hunted Release is Set
Hello Lovelies,Oh goodness, I am so excited! We officially have the launch date for The Hunted set! I was hoping to have the pre-order link for you, but we are waiting on Smashwords and Amazon to approve it. Still, I do have theHeadTalkercampaign to announce the Release day. Please add your support so that the message of The Hunted Release will launch February 18th. It is super easy, just click on the link, allow permissions for your social media platforms, and add your message. You can add support for Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and/ or Linkedin.So much excitement!!Here is the beautiful cover, for those who've missed it.Isn't that gorgeous? I am super in love with it! And here is the back cover blurb:Now The Hunters become the hunted.The highly-anticipated sequel to The Hunters Saga. Follow Fury, Havoc and Screvin as they track down the Werewolf who turned Screvin and try to help her come to terms with what she is. Things are going better than expected with Avie, then the Counsel comes after them. Now the hunters have become the hunted.See what beta readers are saying.Lynne: “I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunted - and it's not a genre I would normally read, so thanks for introducing me to this world!”Sharon: “Well done! I like where the story is going, and the character building is good.”Becca: “Whoo! Exciting!”I would love to get a couple more quotes for the paperback back cover, as well as reviews once the book goes live. I am giving away 10 e-copies. If you would like a copy, please email me and let me know and I will gift it to you on Smashwords.Until next time,Keep Reading!
Isn't that gorgeous? I am super in love with it! And here is the back cover blurb:Now The Hunters become the hunted.The highly-anticipated sequel to The Hunters Saga. Follow Fury, Havoc and Screvin as they track down the Werewolf who turned Screvin and try to help her come to terms with what she is. Things are going better than expected with Avie, then the Counsel comes after them. Now the hunters have become the hunted.See what beta readers are saying.Lynne: “I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunted - and it's not a genre I would normally read, so thanks for introducing me to this world!”Sharon: “Well done! I like where the story is going, and the character building is good.”Becca: “Whoo! Exciting!”I would love to get a couple more quotes for the paperback back cover, as well as reviews once the book goes live. I am giving away 10 e-copies. If you would like a copy, please email me and let me know and I will gift it to you on Smashwords.Until next time,Keep Reading!
January 23, 2017
Meet the Author Monday with Jesse Teller
Hello Lovelies,Welcome to another author interview. Today we meet Jesse Teller, who fell in love with fantasy when he was five years old and played his first game of Dungeons & Dragons. The game gave him the ability to create stories and characters from a young age. He started consuming fantasy in every form and, by nine, was obsessed with the genre. As a young adult, he knew he wanted to make his life about fantasy. From exploring the relationship between man and woman, to studying the qualities of a leader or a tyrant, Jesse Teller uses his stories and settings to study real-world themes and issues. Let's get to know him a little bit better, shall we?Hello Jesse, welcome to An Angell's Life. What is the current book you are promoting?
It's called Chaste: A Tale from Perilisc. It's about a struggle between two gods for the soul of a small quarry town. It's extremely dark. When I wrote Chaste, I was a broken man. I was bitter at God, my family, my past. I had suffered through an extremely abusive childhood, and I needed a way to sort all that mess out, a way to take it all out and purge it from my soul. Chaste was a struggle. There were times in the writing of that book when I just had to stop and walk away and cry. Chaste was an event in my life. For a long time, I thought I wouldn't publish it. It was too intense. It was too dark. The book itself was as broken as the man who wrote it. But I let a friend read it, and she looked at it and saw hope. She said the overarching message of the book was hope, that was the theme of the book, justice and righteousness. When I reread it, I found that to be true. That's why I published it. Someone will read Chaste and understand where I was, for they will have looked around and found themselves in the same place. For that person, Chaste will be healing. That's why I published the book.Who is your favorite character in your book and why?Her name is Sob. When we meet her, she's pretending to be mute. She's doing this so she doesn't have to answer any questions about where she's from and what she's done, about the events that put her on the path to being a jewel thief and a murderess. She doesn't want to answer these questions because she doesn't want to know the answer. She has repressed memories from her past that are devastating, mind-bending, and they are constantly seeking her, constantly reaching out for her and showing shades of themselves to her. She fights them all off because she doesn't want to remember. By the end of Chaste, she has to come to terms with where she's been, what she's done, and what's been done with her, in order for her to move on to the next stage in her life. She's funny. She's sexy. She's deadly. The words that come to mind when I think of Sob are tragically beautiful and yearning. She is insane, and I will love her forever because of the things that were done to her and the way she survived them.
What inspired this book?This book came from a hidden inspiration. It's like a light went on in my head and illuminated a room I wasn't in. I could see through the window in this light, and I started sketching out what might be in the room. I didn't know what I was doing when I first started writing this book. I was wandering, seeking. I've written many novels since, but Chaste was my first, and I had no idea what I was doing. Like a serial killer with his first victim, the rough draft of Chaste was sloppy and flawed. I got the hang of it later, though. I can't say that any one thing inspired Chaste, just that inspiration for scene after scene came in waves. I just kept writing, and soon I found out that I knew every detail of that room, as if I'd been there before.If you could have your book made into a movie, who would you want to direct it?I've thought about this question before actually. With each book I've written, the answer's always different. Some of my books would best be directed by Jon Favreau. I know for sure that Martin Scorsese would never touch one of my books. But if I was talking about Chaste, and I wanted the true mood to come across, I'd have to say Guillermo del Toro.If your book were made into a movie, who would you cast?The answer to that question is very simple, for I have been thinking about it for a very long time. Mary Louise Parker would play Sob. I wrote that character with that woman in mind. I trust the actress to understand the character. She has a quite sadness to her, an undeniable sexiness, and she can do crazy. Trevonne would be played by Hayden Panettiere. She's got the look, and she's got the acting chops. I'd like to see what she'd do with the character. I would trust it in her hands. Frank would have to be played by Jeremy Irons. There is no more terrifying man in the world. He's got the right look, the presence of a king, the voice of a dark god, and the man chills my bones. This is a great question and I could answer it for days. I could cast every single character in the book, but I'm going to leave it here.Well, that was fun! Would you like to learn more about Jesse Teller? Check outhis website. To keep up with him, follow hisfacebookand twitteraccounts. Want to see what books he has coming out? Follow him onGoodreadsandAmazon.Until next time,Keep Reading!
It's called Chaste: A Tale from Perilisc. It's about a struggle between two gods for the soul of a small quarry town. It's extremely dark. When I wrote Chaste, I was a broken man. I was bitter at God, my family, my past. I had suffered through an extremely abusive childhood, and I needed a way to sort all that mess out, a way to take it all out and purge it from my soul. Chaste was a struggle. There were times in the writing of that book when I just had to stop and walk away and cry. Chaste was an event in my life. For a long time, I thought I wouldn't publish it. It was too intense. It was too dark. The book itself was as broken as the man who wrote it. But I let a friend read it, and she looked at it and saw hope. She said the overarching message of the book was hope, that was the theme of the book, justice and righteousness. When I reread it, I found that to be true. That's why I published it. Someone will read Chaste and understand where I was, for they will have looked around and found themselves in the same place. For that person, Chaste will be healing. That's why I published the book.Who is your favorite character in your book and why?Her name is Sob. When we meet her, she's pretending to be mute. She's doing this so she doesn't have to answer any questions about where she's from and what she's done, about the events that put her on the path to being a jewel thief and a murderess. She doesn't want to answer these questions because she doesn't want to know the answer. She has repressed memories from her past that are devastating, mind-bending, and they are constantly seeking her, constantly reaching out for her and showing shades of themselves to her. She fights them all off because she doesn't want to remember. By the end of Chaste, she has to come to terms with where she's been, what she's done, and what's been done with her, in order for her to move on to the next stage in her life. She's funny. She's sexy. She's deadly. The words that come to mind when I think of Sob are tragically beautiful and yearning. She is insane, and I will love her forever because of the things that were done to her and the way she survived them.What inspired this book?This book came from a hidden inspiration. It's like a light went on in my head and illuminated a room I wasn't in. I could see through the window in this light, and I started sketching out what might be in the room. I didn't know what I was doing when I first started writing this book. I was wandering, seeking. I've written many novels since, but Chaste was my first, and I had no idea what I was doing. Like a serial killer with his first victim, the rough draft of Chaste was sloppy and flawed. I got the hang of it later, though. I can't say that any one thing inspired Chaste, just that inspiration for scene after scene came in waves. I just kept writing, and soon I found out that I knew every detail of that room, as if I'd been there before.If you could have your book made into a movie, who would you want to direct it?I've thought about this question before actually. With each book I've written, the answer's always different. Some of my books would best be directed by Jon Favreau. I know for sure that Martin Scorsese would never touch one of my books. But if I was talking about Chaste, and I wanted the true mood to come across, I'd have to say Guillermo del Toro.If your book were made into a movie, who would you cast?The answer to that question is very simple, for I have been thinking about it for a very long time. Mary Louise Parker would play Sob. I wrote that character with that woman in mind. I trust the actress to understand the character. She has a quite sadness to her, an undeniable sexiness, and she can do crazy. Trevonne would be played by Hayden Panettiere. She's got the look, and she's got the acting chops. I'd like to see what she'd do with the character. I would trust it in her hands. Frank would have to be played by Jeremy Irons. There is no more terrifying man in the world. He's got the right look, the presence of a king, the voice of a dark god, and the man chills my bones. This is a great question and I could answer it for days. I could cast every single character in the book, but I'm going to leave it here.Well, that was fun! Would you like to learn more about Jesse Teller? Check outhis website. To keep up with him, follow hisfacebookand twitteraccounts. Want to see what books he has coming out? Follow him onGoodreadsandAmazon.Until next time,Keep Reading!
January 20, 2017
Poetry Corner: Depression
Life, look what you've done to me.
I never thought I'd fall in love so easily.Oh now I feel so down and out.I thought I knew what life was all about.But now I have no one to lean on,and soon I fear my life will be gone.As I walk down this lonely road,depressed and having no one to hold.I have nowhere to go, I just keep walking.I wish my dad would show, just for the talking.What am I doing in a mess like this.What am I going to tell my friends.I have no money and no home,so I just wander and roam.I've lost everything that I live for,and now I guess I've got no more.So I'll live just for todayand hope that I'll hope that I get by some way.Until next time,Keep Reading!
I never thought I'd fall in love so easily.Oh now I feel so down and out.I thought I knew what life was all about.But now I have no one to lean on,and soon I fear my life will be gone.As I walk down this lonely road,depressed and having no one to hold.I have nowhere to go, I just keep walking.I wish my dad would show, just for the talking.What am I doing in a mess like this.What am I going to tell my friends.I have no money and no home,so I just wander and roam.I've lost everything that I live for,and now I guess I've got no more.So I'll live just for todayand hope that I'll hope that I get by some way.Until next time,Keep Reading!
January 19, 2017
Why a Man Chose to Write a Woman
Hello Lovelies,Welcome back to Andy Peloquin! (As you may recall, I read and reviewed his Dark FantasyBlade of the
Destoyer,and he offered us a guest post onWhat Goes on in the Mind of A Sociopathas part of his launch for The Lament of the Fallen.)Well, awesomely epic writer that he is, Andy Peloquin is releasing another book! This one is Child of the Night (And of course, I added it to my TBR) and is about a young girl who is adopted into a Thief Guild.I love Andy's writing, but wondered why he would choose to write from a female perspective (and if it was at all the same reason that I write from a man's perspective) I figured my readers would be just as interested, so he has been gracious enough to write this wonderful guest post for you.We've all heard that old adage, "Write what you know". So why the heck would I, a VERY male author, choose to write about a woman? Isn't that way outside the scope of my understanding? After all, the male and female brains are very different—everything from thought processes to motivations to reactions to attitudes to situational perceptions differ wildly.But that's half the fun!Men tend to have a hard time understanding women. We find ourselves confused by their actions, and we never really know what they're thinking. It's so much easier to stick with guy friends because a guy friend always speaks their mind.As a male writer, it's easy to write men. Being one myself, I can understand most of what's going on in their heads most of the time. Sure, there are a few things I can't relate to, but that's where I stretch and grow not just as a writer, but also as a person.But what an amazing experience to be able to put myself behind the eyes of a woman and try to see the world from her perspective!Most of my favorite novels revolve around male characters. Oh, there are female characters too, but the really good ones tend to be male. I've found that there aren't too many female characters I, as a man, can relate with.When I sat down to write Child of the Night Guild, I knew two things:I wanted to write the sort of female character I would enjoy reading.I wanted to experience life from the female perspective, living through my character.To address the first concern, I made sure to write a character with flaws that most men and women could relate to. They aren't personality traits or attitudes generally perceived as "feminine", but they are simply "everyman/woman" problems. She's still very much a female, but most of the problems she faces are gender-neutral. As a male reader, I find these problems the easiest to relate to.But to address the second concern, I had to find the sort of problems women would experience in the male-centric, might-is-right world I've created. So though I kept most of her problems to be gender-neutral, I made sure that she faced problems that many of the women in the world today have to face.I'm not going to lie, it's a VERY fine line to walk. I can't go too far in either direction, else I end up alienating an entire gender/demographic. I have to find a way to keep her femininity without giving her the "annoying" traits that make many male readers turn away from female-centric fiction. And I have to make her a realistic woman facing the sorts of problems women of that era would face to appeal to the female readers. It's about bringing the best of both worlds together into one complete, balanced character and story.As an author, I'm always looking for new ways to challenge myself. The story of Ilanna has and continues to be one of the hardest for me to tell. I have to spend a lot of time researching the psychology behind the character, especially after some of the hardships she faces (no spoilers!). But doing so has helped me to not only understand my character better, but has given me a better insight into the world at large.Oh, make no mistake, women remain as mystifying and confusing as ever, yet thanks to all the research and study that was required to write this story, I have a better understanding of the human mind and the "why" behind actions—now female as well as male.Character Spotlight:
Name: IlannaFormer Names:Viola, SevenBorn and raised in the city of Praamis, sold to the Night Guild at age eight.Mother:Liora, deceasedFather: Girard, former chandler, current drunkSiblings:Rose, deceasedAge at start of the story:8Eyes:"brown"Hair:"black"Skin:"fair"Height and build:short and slimEducation:Six months of grueling training—hauling buckets, pushing wagons, picking pockets, knife practice—in the Menagerie under Master Velvet. Nine years studying with the apprentices of House Hawk, third-story burglars.Motivations:Despite her small size, Ilanna refuses to be the weak link. She will do whatever it takes to succeed. She is loyal to her friends, has a fierce stubborn streak, and wants independence above all. She is a perfectionist who refuses to settle for anything less than the best.Traumas:Sold by her father, who blamed her for the death of her mother and baby sister. Starved, beaten, abused, pushed beyond the limits of physical endurance, multiple broken bones. Loss of identity, loss of memories of her past.Strengths:Killer with a dagger. Excels at picking locks. Grim determination to never stop trying. Deft fingers for lifting purses. Keen intellect, willingness to learn. The ability to read.Weaknesses:Smaller and weaker than the men around her. Highly competitive perfectionist.Come learn more about her story:Child of the Night Guild (Queen of Thieves Book 1)"They killed my parents. They took my name. They imprisoned me in darkness. I would not be broken."Viola, a child sold to pay her father's debts, has lost everything: her mother, her home, and her identity. Thrown into a life among criminals, she has no time for grief as she endures the brutal training of an apprentice thief. The Night Guild molds an innocent waif into a cunning, agile outlaw skilled in the thieves' trade. She has only one choice: steal enough to pay her debts. The cutthroat streets of Praamis will test her mettle, and she must learn to dodge the City Guards or swing from a hangman's rope. But a more dangerous foe lurks within the guild walls. A sadistic rival apprentice, threatened by her strength, is out for blood. What hope does one girl have in a world of ruthless men?Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Scott Lynch, and Brent Weeks will love Queen of Thieves…Grab a copy ofChild of the Night Guildon AmazonAre you thinking you might love Andy's writing as much as I do? Then I highly recommend that you join his mailing list. He sends a monthly short story built in the world of Voramis, and I ABSOLUTELY love getting those short stories! You can subscribe on his websiteAndy PeloquinYou can also follow him onFacebookandTwitterto see all the fun he is sharing!Have you read any of Andy's books yet? Which one? If not, which one are you looking forward to reading? Let us know in the comments below.Until next time,Keep Reading!
Destoyer,and he offered us a guest post onWhat Goes on in the Mind of A Sociopathas part of his launch for The Lament of the Fallen.)Well, awesomely epic writer that he is, Andy Peloquin is releasing another book! This one is Child of the Night (And of course, I added it to my TBR) and is about a young girl who is adopted into a Thief Guild.I love Andy's writing, but wondered why he would choose to write from a female perspective (and if it was at all the same reason that I write from a man's perspective) I figured my readers would be just as interested, so he has been gracious enough to write this wonderful guest post for you.We've all heard that old adage, "Write what you know". So why the heck would I, a VERY male author, choose to write about a woman? Isn't that way outside the scope of my understanding? After all, the male and female brains are very different—everything from thought processes to motivations to reactions to attitudes to situational perceptions differ wildly.But that's half the fun!Men tend to have a hard time understanding women. We find ourselves confused by their actions, and we never really know what they're thinking. It's so much easier to stick with guy friends because a guy friend always speaks their mind.As a male writer, it's easy to write men. Being one myself, I can understand most of what's going on in their heads most of the time. Sure, there are a few things I can't relate to, but that's where I stretch and grow not just as a writer, but also as a person.But what an amazing experience to be able to put myself behind the eyes of a woman and try to see the world from her perspective!Most of my favorite novels revolve around male characters. Oh, there are female characters too, but the really good ones tend to be male. I've found that there aren't too many female characters I, as a man, can relate with.When I sat down to write Child of the Night Guild, I knew two things:I wanted to write the sort of female character I would enjoy reading.I wanted to experience life from the female perspective, living through my character.To address the first concern, I made sure to write a character with flaws that most men and women could relate to. They aren't personality traits or attitudes generally perceived as "feminine", but they are simply "everyman/woman" problems. She's still very much a female, but most of the problems she faces are gender-neutral. As a male reader, I find these problems the easiest to relate to.But to address the second concern, I had to find the sort of problems women would experience in the male-centric, might-is-right world I've created. So though I kept most of her problems to be gender-neutral, I made sure that she faced problems that many of the women in the world today have to face.I'm not going to lie, it's a VERY fine line to walk. I can't go too far in either direction, else I end up alienating an entire gender/demographic. I have to find a way to keep her femininity without giving her the "annoying" traits that make many male readers turn away from female-centric fiction. And I have to make her a realistic woman facing the sorts of problems women of that era would face to appeal to the female readers. It's about bringing the best of both worlds together into one complete, balanced character and story.As an author, I'm always looking for new ways to challenge myself. The story of Ilanna has and continues to be one of the hardest for me to tell. I have to spend a lot of time researching the psychology behind the character, especially after some of the hardships she faces (no spoilers!). But doing so has helped me to not only understand my character better, but has given me a better insight into the world at large.Oh, make no mistake, women remain as mystifying and confusing as ever, yet thanks to all the research and study that was required to write this story, I have a better understanding of the human mind and the "why" behind actions—now female as well as male.Character Spotlight:Name: IlannaFormer Names:Viola, SevenBorn and raised in the city of Praamis, sold to the Night Guild at age eight.Mother:Liora, deceasedFather: Girard, former chandler, current drunkSiblings:Rose, deceasedAge at start of the story:8Eyes:"brown"Hair:"black"Skin:"fair"Height and build:short and slimEducation:Six months of grueling training—hauling buckets, pushing wagons, picking pockets, knife practice—in the Menagerie under Master Velvet. Nine years studying with the apprentices of House Hawk, third-story burglars.Motivations:Despite her small size, Ilanna refuses to be the weak link. She will do whatever it takes to succeed. She is loyal to her friends, has a fierce stubborn streak, and wants independence above all. She is a perfectionist who refuses to settle for anything less than the best.Traumas:Sold by her father, who blamed her for the death of her mother and baby sister. Starved, beaten, abused, pushed beyond the limits of physical endurance, multiple broken bones. Loss of identity, loss of memories of her past.Strengths:Killer with a dagger. Excels at picking locks. Grim determination to never stop trying. Deft fingers for lifting purses. Keen intellect, willingness to learn. The ability to read.Weaknesses:Smaller and weaker than the men around her. Highly competitive perfectionist.Come learn more about her story:Child of the Night Guild (Queen of Thieves Book 1)"They killed my parents. They took my name. They imprisoned me in darkness. I would not be broken."Viola, a child sold to pay her father's debts, has lost everything: her mother, her home, and her identity. Thrown into a life among criminals, she has no time for grief as she endures the brutal training of an apprentice thief. The Night Guild molds an innocent waif into a cunning, agile outlaw skilled in the thieves' trade. She has only one choice: steal enough to pay her debts. The cutthroat streets of Praamis will test her mettle, and she must learn to dodge the City Guards or swing from a hangman's rope. But a more dangerous foe lurks within the guild walls. A sadistic rival apprentice, threatened by her strength, is out for blood. What hope does one girl have in a world of ruthless men?Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Scott Lynch, and Brent Weeks will love Queen of Thieves…Grab a copy ofChild of the Night Guildon AmazonAre you thinking you might love Andy's writing as much as I do? Then I highly recommend that you join his mailing list. He sends a monthly short story built in the world of Voramis, and I ABSOLUTELY love getting those short stories! You can subscribe on his websiteAndy PeloquinYou can also follow him onFacebookandTwitterto see all the fun he is sharing!Have you read any of Andy's books yet? Which one? If not, which one are you looking forward to reading? Let us know in the comments below.Until next time,Keep Reading!
January 18, 2017
Book Review: The Fell by Lyndsey Harper
Genre:Dark FantasySynopsis:After the brutal death of his mentor, Leer Boxwell's only desire is vengeance. However, his belief that the murderer is the mythical Grimbarror has made him the laughing stock of the Vale. When Leer witnesses the beast steal away the princess in an unexpected attack on the royal city, he volunteers to hunt the creature. Battling self-doubt and ridicule, while struggling to control a mysterious power within that he does not fully understand, Leer must decide whether his convictions are worth the sacrifice the Fell demands.My take:I was honored to get a pre-release copy of the book for review.(It goes live today!) This is an intense story with a lot of mind games that tease the reader and leave you guessing what will happen next. Although there is this quest and an epic feel to it, the whole tone is very dark (hence my classification.)I miss reading good old fashioned fantasy with a whole fictional world and fun new creatures and legends. The Fell doesn't disappoint! Although the main characters are human, they exist in a world that is quite different from ours. (Though the similar creatures are fun to guess what their "real world" counterparts would be!)I liked Leer, for the most part. He is your typical fantasy hero: chivalrous, better than his position in society, a dreamer, and a believer. I did find the nature of his relationship with Astrid a bit cliche, but not too terribly forced. I absolutely love the contrast between him and the Lieutenant, who you would think would be more chivalrous, given his position.I also appreciate the ending (another reason I feel it fits better in Dark, than in Epic) but I won't give it away. Needless to say, this was an excellent debut for a new author. Look forward to the next book!The Fell is having a release day party, and you are welcome tojoin us on Facebook!I will be there, promoting The Hunters Saga, at 4 pm EST and there will be tons of awesome authors gathering to celebrate Lyndsey's accomplishment, and offering up cool giveaways. Hope to see you there!Until next time,Keep Reading!
