Jamie Marchant's Blog, page 30
November 11, 2016
Hangin With Interview
Here is an interview I did at Necrocomicon. Check it out and tell me what you think.
Five Tips for Writing Dialogue
I'm breaking from my series about character development to talk about writing dialogue because something I was reading yesterday slammed me in the face with how clumsily beginning writers are with dialogue.
Tip #1: Know how to punctuate
Proper punctuation is so important because it is essentially invisible to the reader. They don't notice it. Mistakes, however, will people the reader out of the story. Since little that is written for school contains dialogue, very people seem to know how to punctuate it correctly. I'm not going to go around dialogue punctuation rules here because on the site linked below, someone else has already spelled it out clearly. If you are unsure of your punctuation, please review the site. Anything the pulls your reader out of the story weakens your work and makes it that much more like they will throw it aside and pick up something new.
Proper Dialogue Punctuation
Tip #2: Avoid substitutes for "said."
Like proper punctuation, "said" is practically invisible to the reader. Other words to indicate dialogue draw more attention to themselves. If you are going to use a tag other than "said," make sure you have a good reason for doing so and the word you choose comments on how the dialogue was said, such as "whispered" or "shouted." Never use tags other than "said" simply for variety. Words like "added," "announced," "stated," "claimed," etc. draw attention to themselves, and you want to the reader to play attention to your story, not your tags.
Tip #3: Tags can sometimes be left out
While you never want it to be unclear who is speaking, when you have a dialogue between two people, you can tag at the beginning and then simply starting a new paragraph to change speakers will let your reader know who is talking. However, if the dialogue goes on for awhile, you will want occasional tags so that your reader doesn't get lost. Read the following bit of dialogue from The Ghost in Exile:
The Ghost grunted, “Do you have a job for me?”Zotico’s eyes gleamed. “Do I ever! I’d nearly despaired of finding a capable assassin, but your fortunate arrival proves that Ares will never fail those who serve his name.”“Who do you want dead?”“I think it would be best explained by the one in need of Ares’s assistance, but I assure you it is your sort of kill. May I tell the client you’ll meet?”The Ghost nodded.Because the speakers were established in the first two lines of dialogue, I don't need tags in the second two lines to make the speaker clear. Pages and pages of this type of dialogue becomes tedious, but sometimes leaving out a tag is good thing.
Tip #4: Indicate speaker with actions rather than tags
Rather than using tags all of the time to indicate speaker, you can include the dialogue in a paragraph where the characters does something. Examine the following dialogue, also from The Ghost in Exile:
Passing an alley, he heard a commotion. He turned to see a young woman pleading with two men. “Don’t make me go with him,” she begged. “He hurts me.” The Ghost recoiled when he heard her Massossinan accent. He hated Massossinans.The first man slapped her across the face, and The Ghost saw the iron slave collar around the woman’s neck. Her red hair confirmed her nationality. She wore a low-cut, red bodice trimmed with black lace and an extremely short red skirt. She had to be freezing in this weather. “You’ll do as you’re told and like it, or . . .” He drew a knife and ran it across her right breast, drawing a thin line of blood.The second man grabbed the woman. “You know you like it rough.” He too drew a knife. “Maybe I’ll slice you open when I’m through with you.”“That will cost you extra,” the first man warned.The second man shrugged. “I’m good for it."He imagined his daughter being similarly assaulted. He stepped into the alley. “Let her go.”The man pulled the woman closer to him. “You can have a turn when I’m done with her.” He grabbed the woman’s breast, and she tried to squirm away. She looked older than he’d thought at first, nearly thirty—old for a whore. Most didn’t live that long. The Ghost drew his sword and stepped forward. “I said let her go.”The woman’s master stepped between The Ghost and the other man. “Mister, you have no right to interfere with lawful commerce. She’s mine, and I’ll do with her as I see fit.”“Not tonight you won't. Move aside.”It must have been too dark for the man to see the menace in The Ghost’s eyes. Few men dared stand up to him after they’d gotten a good look at the coldness he held there. The slave owner, however, crossed his arms. “Go away.”
You will notice that some of the lines of dialogue are tagged, but many of them simply tell what the character did, such as "grabbed the woman" or "drew his sword." Using action rather than tags creates a more dynamic scene. People generally don't talk in a vacuum. They do something while they are talking.
Tip #5: Use variety (to a point)
Using different ways to indicate the speaker can keep a scene more lively, but getting too creative about tagging calls attention to it. Make sure you have good reasons for what you do in tagging, and don't simply try to be clever. The reader will notice if you do and won't thank you for it.
Keep the above in mind, but remember the only absolute rule in writing is "Does it work?" If it works, a piece of writing can break every rule in the book. Of course, whether or not something works is subjective, so it is better to learn the rules of good writing and only break them when you have a good reason for doing so.
Tip #1: Know how to punctuate
Proper punctuation is so important because it is essentially invisible to the reader. They don't notice it. Mistakes, however, will people the reader out of the story. Since little that is written for school contains dialogue, very people seem to know how to punctuate it correctly. I'm not going to go around dialogue punctuation rules here because on the site linked below, someone else has already spelled it out clearly. If you are unsure of your punctuation, please review the site. Anything the pulls your reader out of the story weakens your work and makes it that much more like they will throw it aside and pick up something new.
Proper Dialogue Punctuation
Tip #2: Avoid substitutes for "said."
Like proper punctuation, "said" is practically invisible to the reader. Other words to indicate dialogue draw more attention to themselves. If you are going to use a tag other than "said," make sure you have a good reason for doing so and the word you choose comments on how the dialogue was said, such as "whispered" or "shouted." Never use tags other than "said" simply for variety. Words like "added," "announced," "stated," "claimed," etc. draw attention to themselves, and you want to the reader to play attention to your story, not your tags.
Tip #3: Tags can sometimes be left out
While you never want it to be unclear who is speaking, when you have a dialogue between two people, you can tag at the beginning and then simply starting a new paragraph to change speakers will let your reader know who is talking. However, if the dialogue goes on for awhile, you will want occasional tags so that your reader doesn't get lost. Read the following bit of dialogue from The Ghost in Exile:
The Ghost grunted, “Do you have a job for me?”Zotico’s eyes gleamed. “Do I ever! I’d nearly despaired of finding a capable assassin, but your fortunate arrival proves that Ares will never fail those who serve his name.”“Who do you want dead?”“I think it would be best explained by the one in need of Ares’s assistance, but I assure you it is your sort of kill. May I tell the client you’ll meet?”The Ghost nodded.Because the speakers were established in the first two lines of dialogue, I don't need tags in the second two lines to make the speaker clear. Pages and pages of this type of dialogue becomes tedious, but sometimes leaving out a tag is good thing.
Tip #4: Indicate speaker with actions rather than tags
Rather than using tags all of the time to indicate speaker, you can include the dialogue in a paragraph where the characters does something. Examine the following dialogue, also from The Ghost in Exile:
Passing an alley, he heard a commotion. He turned to see a young woman pleading with two men. “Don’t make me go with him,” she begged. “He hurts me.” The Ghost recoiled when he heard her Massossinan accent. He hated Massossinans.The first man slapped her across the face, and The Ghost saw the iron slave collar around the woman’s neck. Her red hair confirmed her nationality. She wore a low-cut, red bodice trimmed with black lace and an extremely short red skirt. She had to be freezing in this weather. “You’ll do as you’re told and like it, or . . .” He drew a knife and ran it across her right breast, drawing a thin line of blood.The second man grabbed the woman. “You know you like it rough.” He too drew a knife. “Maybe I’ll slice you open when I’m through with you.”“That will cost you extra,” the first man warned.The second man shrugged. “I’m good for it."He imagined his daughter being similarly assaulted. He stepped into the alley. “Let her go.”The man pulled the woman closer to him. “You can have a turn when I’m done with her.” He grabbed the woman’s breast, and she tried to squirm away. She looked older than he’d thought at first, nearly thirty—old for a whore. Most didn’t live that long. The Ghost drew his sword and stepped forward. “I said let her go.”The woman’s master stepped between The Ghost and the other man. “Mister, you have no right to interfere with lawful commerce. She’s mine, and I’ll do with her as I see fit.”“Not tonight you won't. Move aside.”It must have been too dark for the man to see the menace in The Ghost’s eyes. Few men dared stand up to him after they’d gotten a good look at the coldness he held there. The slave owner, however, crossed his arms. “Go away.”
You will notice that some of the lines of dialogue are tagged, but many of them simply tell what the character did, such as "grabbed the woman" or "drew his sword." Using action rather than tags creates a more dynamic scene. People generally don't talk in a vacuum. They do something while they are talking.
Tip #5: Use variety (to a point)
Using different ways to indicate the speaker can keep a scene more lively, but getting too creative about tagging calls attention to it. Make sure you have good reasons for what you do in tagging, and don't simply try to be clever. The reader will notice if you do and won't thank you for it.
Keep the above in mind, but remember the only absolute rule in writing is "Does it work?" If it works, a piece of writing can break every rule in the book. Of course, whether or not something works is subjective, so it is better to learn the rules of good writing and only break them when you have a good reason for doing so.
November 9, 2016
D. Lieber, after the apocalypse
Today, meet D. Lieber, a creator of post-apocalyptic worlds.
D. writes stories she wants to read. Her love of the worlds of fiction led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, crafting, watching anime, Korean television or old movies. She may also be getting her geek on while planning her next steampunk cosplay with friends.She lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John), retired guide dog (Samwise) and cat (Yin).
Interview1. What are you reading at the moment? Would you recommend it to readers of this blog? Why?I’m reading Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s by Frederick Lewis Allen. It’s research for the story I am working on. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about the 1920s from someone who lived through it. It’s pretty unique because it was published in 1931, so readers get a view of what it was like after WWI and though the ‘20s without the subject being overshadowed by WWII. It’s also great for people who love history but hate reading history books. The author does an awesome job of making the subject easily consumable.2. Tell us something about how you write? i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary writing habits or rituals?I usually wait for ideas to come to me. I know when an idea is ready to be pursued when I can think of at least ten plot points. Sometimes, an idea is ready, but my characters aren’t prepared to go on their journeys. When I do start writing, I always write everything out by hand first. I use a leather journal my Dad gave me. It has an inscription on the front that reads “Hakuna Matata,” which is what my Dad always tells me when I am stressing out. After I have written a chapter, I type it, editing as I go. Then, I read the chapter again and edit more. After which, I beg my husband to read it and edit it. When all of my chapters are finished, typed and proofread, I reread the entire manuscript and edit some more. That’s usually when I’m ready for beta readers. 3. Could you tell us a bit about Conjuring Zephyr?Conjuring Zephyr is about a post-apocalyptic world where men are considered far superior in their magical abilities than women. It is believed that of the four elements, only fire can be created. Kai is a young woman who is determined to prove air can also be created and women are capable of higher forms of magic. Instead of going to the finishing school where her parents sent her, she disguises herself as a boy and goes to the best all-male university. She is convinced she can keep her femininity under wraps, but discovers it isn’t as easy as she thought. While she may look boyish and ride the assumption that no woman could ever get into the school, her empathetic personality draws her schoolmates to her and makes the situation more complicated. On top of everything, her sexuality begins to awaken when surrounded by men in a comfortable environment. She makes friends, wins hearts, and chases her goal.4. Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?Asking this is a little like asking whom your favorite child, or in my case furbaby, is. It’s way too difficult to decide. I love each of my characters for their individual personalities. I love Kai because she is driven but doesn’t let that shadow her compassion. I love Flynn because he is fun and spontaneous, and I wish I could be more like that. I love Reid because of his hidden depths. I love Leif because…actually Leif is just adorable all the way around. I love Ryn because he will do anything for love. I love Des because he needs love the most. Finally, I love Dane because he is the only one who maintains propriety, even though it brings him tragedy.5. What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?The mood swings. Before I embraced writing, I was usually a happy person. When I am working on a story, I really beat myself up, though I beat myself up more when I am not writing. I will write a chapter and feel great about it, but the next day I will think it is the worst thing I have ever written. There are so many famous artists who struggle with depression or succumb to it. It makes me wonder if creative people are prone to being depressed or if the act of creating makes people depressed. On the other hand when I finish a book, I feel amazing. It’s like no other joy I have ever experienced.6. What is your favorite writing tip or quote?“Write the stories you want to read but haven’t been written yet.” This advice was given during an author panel at C2E2. It’s what really inspired me to finally write a long story.7. Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Do you have any other books in the works?I will continue writing for as long as the muses bless me with ideas. My second novel is ready to go. I am just deciding which avenue is the best for publication. It’s a steampunk fantasy romance with faeries, pirates, traveling players and airships. My third novel is in the final stages of editing, but so far my beta readers say it’s their favorite. It’s a fantasy romance with faeries and werewolves where vampires are truly bad news. I don’t want to give too much away, but join my mailing list on my website or follow me on Facebook and Google+ for future news.Where can we find you online? (please cut and paste links):WebsiteFacebookGoogle+GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleConjuring Zephyr
Retreating underground to escape a devastating ice age, humans build a new society. When magic is discovered and harnessed for survival, the citizens of Terrenus establish theories and principles of how to use it.
Kai Stephenson is determined to prove magical principles aren’t set in stone. Having lost her younger brother in a tragic accident, she will ensure such accidents never harm anyone else. She enrolls at the most elite university to gain the knowledge she needs to achieve her goal. Overconfident that living as a boy at an all-boys university will only be a minor inconvenience, Kai is convinced her classmates will never discover that she’s a woman. After all, women aren’t capable of higher forms of magic, and her boyish figure certainly doesn’t hurt her disguise.Hiding her true identity becomes a problem when her new friends start to awaken her repressed sexuality.
ExcerptEventually, Ihad to do laundry. I went late at night when no one else was likely to be there. There were various types of washing and drying machines in the laundry room. Some washing machines were for water users, while nonwater users had to wash their clothes by hand. There were also drying machines for air users and fire users, while others had to use the manual drying machines.Iwas able to wash all of my clothes and load them into the air-drying machine without incident. The air-drying machine was like a closet with vents on both sides and a vat to catch the water at the bottom. The clothes arehung inside, and the air user pushes air through the vents to dry the clothes.Iopened the door to check how dry my clothes were. I still wasn’t that great at creating a strong wind. Maybe I should use the manual drying machine. Just as I was unloading my wet clothes from the air-drying machine, Ryn walkedinto the laundry room.Panic stuck in my throat as I stared in horror at the pair of women’s underwear on the top of my pile of clothes. I snatched them and balled them into my fist.“Oh, hey, Ryn. You are here pretty late.”His face flushed as he recognized me.“I always come here at this time.”Iquickly loaded my clothes into the manualdrying machineas he put his clothes in the water users’ washingmachine. I started to turn the crank that would dry my clothes, facing him as he began manipulating the water in the machine.He stood, eyes closed, moving his arms in a fluid circular motion. The beauty of his movements captivated me. His bodywas strong and flexible like a river that could wear down layers of unmovable stone.Ididn’t realize I had stopped crankinguntil he opened his eyes to unload thewasher. His dark eyes found mine without error. They stared at me with anintensity that I didn’t mentally comprehend,but my body reacted like it knew. My stomach dropped, and my limbs tensed. I looked away and used the tension in my body to crank the machine in earnest.Peekingup at Ryn, I saw his shoulders were tense, and his jaw clenched ashe brought his wet clothes to a dryer close to mine. I reached into the dryer and realized my clothes were finally dry. Walking a few steps to grab my basket, I didn’t know the floor was wet by Ryn’s dryer. As my feet slid out from under me, I prepared myself for impact.Ryn quickly hooked my torso with his strong arm and clutched me to his chest.Ilet out the breath I had been holding and looked up into his deep brown eyes, which were inches from mine. I opened my mouth to thank him, but my voice didn’t come out. The intenselook he had given me minutes before was nothingcompared to the one he wore at that moment.My whole body flushed. His intensity was soon smothered by embarrassment. Silently, he steadied me on my feet and went back to cranking the drying machine.Hollowly, I retrieved my clothes and wished him goodnight.
I'd love to hear what you think of these weekly author spotlights. Leave a comment. If you like what you've read, Conjuring Zephyr can be purchased below.
D. writes stories she wants to read. Her love of the worlds of fiction led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, crafting, watching anime, Korean television or old movies. She may also be getting her geek on while planning her next steampunk cosplay with friends.She lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John), retired guide dog (Samwise) and cat (Yin). Interview1. What are you reading at the moment? Would you recommend it to readers of this blog? Why?I’m reading Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s by Frederick Lewis Allen. It’s research for the story I am working on. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about the 1920s from someone who lived through it. It’s pretty unique because it was published in 1931, so readers get a view of what it was like after WWI and though the ‘20s without the subject being overshadowed by WWII. It’s also great for people who love history but hate reading history books. The author does an awesome job of making the subject easily consumable.2. Tell us something about how you write? i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary writing habits or rituals?I usually wait for ideas to come to me. I know when an idea is ready to be pursued when I can think of at least ten plot points. Sometimes, an idea is ready, but my characters aren’t prepared to go on their journeys. When I do start writing, I always write everything out by hand first. I use a leather journal my Dad gave me. It has an inscription on the front that reads “Hakuna Matata,” which is what my Dad always tells me when I am stressing out. After I have written a chapter, I type it, editing as I go. Then, I read the chapter again and edit more. After which, I beg my husband to read it and edit it. When all of my chapters are finished, typed and proofread, I reread the entire manuscript and edit some more. That’s usually when I’m ready for beta readers. 3. Could you tell us a bit about Conjuring Zephyr?Conjuring Zephyr is about a post-apocalyptic world where men are considered far superior in their magical abilities than women. It is believed that of the four elements, only fire can be created. Kai is a young woman who is determined to prove air can also be created and women are capable of higher forms of magic. Instead of going to the finishing school where her parents sent her, she disguises herself as a boy and goes to the best all-male university. She is convinced she can keep her femininity under wraps, but discovers it isn’t as easy as she thought. While she may look boyish and ride the assumption that no woman could ever get into the school, her empathetic personality draws her schoolmates to her and makes the situation more complicated. On top of everything, her sexuality begins to awaken when surrounded by men in a comfortable environment. She makes friends, wins hearts, and chases her goal.4. Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?Asking this is a little like asking whom your favorite child, or in my case furbaby, is. It’s way too difficult to decide. I love each of my characters for their individual personalities. I love Kai because she is driven but doesn’t let that shadow her compassion. I love Flynn because he is fun and spontaneous, and I wish I could be more like that. I love Reid because of his hidden depths. I love Leif because…actually Leif is just adorable all the way around. I love Ryn because he will do anything for love. I love Des because he needs love the most. Finally, I love Dane because he is the only one who maintains propriety, even though it brings him tragedy.5. What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?The mood swings. Before I embraced writing, I was usually a happy person. When I am working on a story, I really beat myself up, though I beat myself up more when I am not writing. I will write a chapter and feel great about it, but the next day I will think it is the worst thing I have ever written. There are so many famous artists who struggle with depression or succumb to it. It makes me wonder if creative people are prone to being depressed or if the act of creating makes people depressed. On the other hand when I finish a book, I feel amazing. It’s like no other joy I have ever experienced.6. What is your favorite writing tip or quote?“Write the stories you want to read but haven’t been written yet.” This advice was given during an author panel at C2E2. It’s what really inspired me to finally write a long story.7. Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Do you have any other books in the works?I will continue writing for as long as the muses bless me with ideas. My second novel is ready to go. I am just deciding which avenue is the best for publication. It’s a steampunk fantasy romance with faeries, pirates, traveling players and airships. My third novel is in the final stages of editing, but so far my beta readers say it’s their favorite. It’s a fantasy romance with faeries and werewolves where vampires are truly bad news. I don’t want to give too much away, but join my mailing list on my website or follow me on Facebook and Google+ for future news.Where can we find you online? (please cut and paste links):WebsiteFacebookGoogle+GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleConjuring Zephyr
Retreating underground to escape a devastating ice age, humans build a new society. When magic is discovered and harnessed for survival, the citizens of Terrenus establish theories and principles of how to use it.Kai Stephenson is determined to prove magical principles aren’t set in stone. Having lost her younger brother in a tragic accident, she will ensure such accidents never harm anyone else. She enrolls at the most elite university to gain the knowledge she needs to achieve her goal. Overconfident that living as a boy at an all-boys university will only be a minor inconvenience, Kai is convinced her classmates will never discover that she’s a woman. After all, women aren’t capable of higher forms of magic, and her boyish figure certainly doesn’t hurt her disguise.Hiding her true identity becomes a problem when her new friends start to awaken her repressed sexuality.
ExcerptEventually, Ihad to do laundry. I went late at night when no one else was likely to be there. There were various types of washing and drying machines in the laundry room. Some washing machines were for water users, while nonwater users had to wash their clothes by hand. There were also drying machines for air users and fire users, while others had to use the manual drying machines.Iwas able to wash all of my clothes and load them into the air-drying machine without incident. The air-drying machine was like a closet with vents on both sides and a vat to catch the water at the bottom. The clothes arehung inside, and the air user pushes air through the vents to dry the clothes.Iopened the door to check how dry my clothes were. I still wasn’t that great at creating a strong wind. Maybe I should use the manual drying machine. Just as I was unloading my wet clothes from the air-drying machine, Ryn walkedinto the laundry room.Panic stuck in my throat as I stared in horror at the pair of women’s underwear on the top of my pile of clothes. I snatched them and balled them into my fist.“Oh, hey, Ryn. You are here pretty late.”His face flushed as he recognized me.“I always come here at this time.”Iquickly loaded my clothes into the manualdrying machineas he put his clothes in the water users’ washingmachine. I started to turn the crank that would dry my clothes, facing him as he began manipulating the water in the machine.He stood, eyes closed, moving his arms in a fluid circular motion. The beauty of his movements captivated me. His bodywas strong and flexible like a river that could wear down layers of unmovable stone.Ididn’t realize I had stopped crankinguntil he opened his eyes to unload thewasher. His dark eyes found mine without error. They stared at me with anintensity that I didn’t mentally comprehend,but my body reacted like it knew. My stomach dropped, and my limbs tensed. I looked away and used the tension in my body to crank the machine in earnest.Peekingup at Ryn, I saw his shoulders were tense, and his jaw clenched ashe brought his wet clothes to a dryer close to mine. I reached into the dryer and realized my clothes were finally dry. Walking a few steps to grab my basket, I didn’t know the floor was wet by Ryn’s dryer. As my feet slid out from under me, I prepared myself for impact.Ryn quickly hooked my torso with his strong arm and clutched me to his chest.Ilet out the breath I had been holding and looked up into his deep brown eyes, which were inches from mine. I opened my mouth to thank him, but my voice didn’t come out. The intenselook he had given me minutes before was nothingcompared to the one he wore at that moment.My whole body flushed. His intensity was soon smothered by embarrassment. Silently, he steadied me on my feet and went back to cranking the drying machine.Hollowly, I retrieved my clothes and wished him goodnight.
I'd love to hear what you think of these weekly author spotlights. Leave a comment. If you like what you've read, Conjuring Zephyr can be purchased below.
November 8, 2016
November 7, 2016
An Interview with The Ghost
The Ghost in Exile is just a few weeks away from release. Another blogger had me do a character interview with The Ghost. Because I liked it and to get you excited for the book's appearance, I'm reposting the interview here.
Hello, _Ghost?____. Thank you for agreeing to speak with us today! Let’s start with learning some basics about you and your world.
What is your full name? Do you have any nick names?
That’s a hard question to answer. My mother named me Ahearn. I had no surname because not even my mother knew who my father was. There were too many choices. When I was seven, my mother kicked me out and sent me to live with my Uncle Barris. I began calling myself Ahearn Barrisstamm after him. But I only kept that name for a few years. Because of an unfortunately affair with the queen, I was exiled at eighteen and became an assassin. I gave up my childhood name because I became a man my uncle would never recognize. My partner named me Darhour, which means Exiled One in his language. Later I earned the nickname The Ghost because I became so good at getting into my victim’s rooms, it was believed I could walk through walls. I have also used the names Pandaros, Sigurd, Adrastos, and a host of others. So when you ask me my name, I’m not sure how to answer.
Where were you born? Please describe it to us.
I was born in a decrepit hut in Korth. Korth is the northern of the joined kingdoms of Korthlundia and is mountainous with high cliffs, deep valleys, and incredible waterfalls. It’s a truly beautiful land although very cold in the winter. As far as the hut goes, the less said about it the better. I’m not even sure how much of the vileness of that place are my true memories and how much I’ve added in because of the despair and unhappiness that pervaded it or because of the frequent abuse I suffered at the hands of the various men in my mother’s life.
Do you have living relatives? Are/were you close? (If they’re dead, how did they die?)
My uncle Barris died when I was fifteen in an epidemic that swept through the capital. I loved him completely. He not only took me in with no questions when my mother kicked me out. He treated me like a son and taught me everything I know about horses. I still grieve his death, but I think it fortunately he didn’t live to see what I have become. Whether my mother or any of my brothers and sisters are still alive, I don’t know. I don’t even know how many siblings I have. When I went to visit my mother after my uncle died, she didn’t recognize me. I told her who I was, and she made it clear I wasn’t welcome and closed the door in my face. I haven’t heard from her since. The only relative that matters to me now is my daughter, the result of the affair that led to my exile. My daughter is now queen of Korthlundia and has only recently discovered that the king wasn’t truly her father. For awhile, I served as the captain of her personal guard, but that couldn’t last. It was like ripping heart out of my chest, but I had to flee her side because I couldn’t risk corrupting her with my darkness or of anyone noticing a resemblance between us. If the court learned she was a bastard, it could cost her her throne or even her life.
How did leaving your daughter alter your life’s path?
I once vowed never to kill again, but in protecting my daughter I broke that vow in a spectacular fashion. It is now clear to me that killing is the only thing I will ever be good at. I decided to return to the land that made me a killer and rid the world of those it’s better off without.
What is your personal “style”? Please describe your appearance.
My daughter stays that I have a look that makes men piss in their pants if I so much as glance in their direction. Part of the fear I inspire is because of the scars that cover my face. When I was in the Saloynan army, I was captured and tortured. My tormentor carved horizontal lines all over my body, starting with my forehead and ending at my feet. But it isn’t the scars alone that produce this effect. The man who named me Darhour claimed I had the coldest eyes he’d ever seen.
Who/what makes you happy?
I’ve had very little happiness in my life. For the short time I knew her, my daughter made me happy. With her, I laughed, something I’d forgotten how to do. Now that I’ve been forced to leave her, I doubt I’ll ever be happy again.
Who/what is your greatest fear?
That something will harm my daughter. Siring her is the only good thing that I’ve done in my life.
Who do you most admire (from your world, history, books, etc.)? Why?
Ironically, the man I most admire is the same man who ruined my life, Solar, the king who raised my daughter. As a young man, Solar skillfully ended the civil war between Korth and Lundia and ushered in fifty years of unbroken peace, which allowed his people to thrive. But he found himself an old man without an heir. He knew that if he died without one, the joined kingdoms would descend into chaos, so he decided if he couldn’t sire his own heir, he’d get someone to do it for him. He manipulated circumstances in such a way that his young wife was frequently in my company. When the inevitable happened and the queen’s pregnancy was confirmed, he had me disposed of. After he exiled me, I hated him with a passion so intense I wanted to carve his heart out, but I’ve grown to not only understand, but applaud what he did. He understood his duties as king and knew that one life couldn’t matter next to the thousands or tens of thousands who would die in the civil war between rival claimants to the throne. He was a great king. But that isn’t the only reason I admire him. Even though he knew that Samantha wasn’t his own flesh and blood, he loved her as deeply as if she were. He raised her to be strong and taught her everything she needed to know to rule after he travelled beyond the Far Mountain. Because of him, my daughter is a magnificent woman and queen. He was a far better father to her than I ever could have been. That alone earned him my undying loyalty.
Have you ever been in love? How did that work out for you?
At the time, I thought I loved Queen Fenella, my daughter’s mother. But I was so young then, I didn’t even know what love meant. I’ve already told you how that worked out.
How would your friends/family/allies describe your personality?
Frightening. The only person who didn’t fear me at first sight was my daughter, somehow she saw something in me that no one else did.
If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? Why?
At this point, nothing. It’s too late for me to change. I tried to reform, but my vow to never kill again nearly cost my daughter her life. I know who I am now. Nothing can alter that.
If you haven't pre-ordered your copy yet, don't miss out. Signed copies can still be ordered from my website at the special pre-order price of $13.
http://jamie-marchant.com/ghost.htm
Or if you prefer ebooks, you can order the Kindle copy on Amazon by clicking below:
Hello, _Ghost?____. Thank you for agreeing to speak with us today! Let’s start with learning some basics about you and your world.What is your full name? Do you have any nick names?
That’s a hard question to answer. My mother named me Ahearn. I had no surname because not even my mother knew who my father was. There were too many choices. When I was seven, my mother kicked me out and sent me to live with my Uncle Barris. I began calling myself Ahearn Barrisstamm after him. But I only kept that name for a few years. Because of an unfortunately affair with the queen, I was exiled at eighteen and became an assassin. I gave up my childhood name because I became a man my uncle would never recognize. My partner named me Darhour, which means Exiled One in his language. Later I earned the nickname The Ghost because I became so good at getting into my victim’s rooms, it was believed I could walk through walls. I have also used the names Pandaros, Sigurd, Adrastos, and a host of others. So when you ask me my name, I’m not sure how to answer.
Where were you born? Please describe it to us.
I was born in a decrepit hut in Korth. Korth is the northern of the joined kingdoms of Korthlundia and is mountainous with high cliffs, deep valleys, and incredible waterfalls. It’s a truly beautiful land although very cold in the winter. As far as the hut goes, the less said about it the better. I’m not even sure how much of the vileness of that place are my true memories and how much I’ve added in because of the despair and unhappiness that pervaded it or because of the frequent abuse I suffered at the hands of the various men in my mother’s life.
Do you have living relatives? Are/were you close? (If they’re dead, how did they die?)
My uncle Barris died when I was fifteen in an epidemic that swept through the capital. I loved him completely. He not only took me in with no questions when my mother kicked me out. He treated me like a son and taught me everything I know about horses. I still grieve his death, but I think it fortunately he didn’t live to see what I have become. Whether my mother or any of my brothers and sisters are still alive, I don’t know. I don’t even know how many siblings I have. When I went to visit my mother after my uncle died, she didn’t recognize me. I told her who I was, and she made it clear I wasn’t welcome and closed the door in my face. I haven’t heard from her since. The only relative that matters to me now is my daughter, the result of the affair that led to my exile. My daughter is now queen of Korthlundia and has only recently discovered that the king wasn’t truly her father. For awhile, I served as the captain of her personal guard, but that couldn’t last. It was like ripping heart out of my chest, but I had to flee her side because I couldn’t risk corrupting her with my darkness or of anyone noticing a resemblance between us. If the court learned she was a bastard, it could cost her her throne or even her life.
How did leaving your daughter alter your life’s path?
I once vowed never to kill again, but in protecting my daughter I broke that vow in a spectacular fashion. It is now clear to me that killing is the only thing I will ever be good at. I decided to return to the land that made me a killer and rid the world of those it’s better off without.
What is your personal “style”? Please describe your appearance.
My daughter stays that I have a look that makes men piss in their pants if I so much as glance in their direction. Part of the fear I inspire is because of the scars that cover my face. When I was in the Saloynan army, I was captured and tortured. My tormentor carved horizontal lines all over my body, starting with my forehead and ending at my feet. But it isn’t the scars alone that produce this effect. The man who named me Darhour claimed I had the coldest eyes he’d ever seen.
Who/what makes you happy?
I’ve had very little happiness in my life. For the short time I knew her, my daughter made me happy. With her, I laughed, something I’d forgotten how to do. Now that I’ve been forced to leave her, I doubt I’ll ever be happy again.
Who/what is your greatest fear?
That something will harm my daughter. Siring her is the only good thing that I’ve done in my life.
Who do you most admire (from your world, history, books, etc.)? Why?
Ironically, the man I most admire is the same man who ruined my life, Solar, the king who raised my daughter. As a young man, Solar skillfully ended the civil war between Korth and Lundia and ushered in fifty years of unbroken peace, which allowed his people to thrive. But he found himself an old man without an heir. He knew that if he died without one, the joined kingdoms would descend into chaos, so he decided if he couldn’t sire his own heir, he’d get someone to do it for him. He manipulated circumstances in such a way that his young wife was frequently in my company. When the inevitable happened and the queen’s pregnancy was confirmed, he had me disposed of. After he exiled me, I hated him with a passion so intense I wanted to carve his heart out, but I’ve grown to not only understand, but applaud what he did. He understood his duties as king and knew that one life couldn’t matter next to the thousands or tens of thousands who would die in the civil war between rival claimants to the throne. He was a great king. But that isn’t the only reason I admire him. Even though he knew that Samantha wasn’t his own flesh and blood, he loved her as deeply as if she were. He raised her to be strong and taught her everything she needed to know to rule after he travelled beyond the Far Mountain. Because of him, my daughter is a magnificent woman and queen. He was a far better father to her than I ever could have been. That alone earned him my undying loyalty.
Have you ever been in love? How did that work out for you?
At the time, I thought I loved Queen Fenella, my daughter’s mother. But I was so young then, I didn’t even know what love meant. I’ve already told you how that worked out.
How would your friends/family/allies describe your personality?
Frightening. The only person who didn’t fear me at first sight was my daughter, somehow she saw something in me that no one else did.
If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? Why?
At this point, nothing. It’s too late for me to change. I tried to reform, but my vow to never kill again nearly cost my daughter her life. I know who I am now. Nothing can alter that.
If you haven't pre-ordered your copy yet, don't miss out. Signed copies can still be ordered from my website at the special pre-order price of $13.
http://jamie-marchant.com/ghost.htm
Or if you prefer ebooks, you can order the Kindle copy on Amazon by clicking below:
November 5, 2016
The Goddess's Choice audio, Chapter 6
This week we have chapter 6 in which Robbie learns who is destroying his father's crops. Listen up and let me know what you think.
November 3, 2016
Elizabeth Raven, dabbler in the paranormal
I met Elizabeth at Chattacon last January, and not only is she a great writer, she's an extremely nice person. You should really check out her books.
Elizabeth Raven is a wife, mother, and Veterinary Professional hiding in the shadows and moonlight of relentlessly sunny Jacksonville, Florida. Her Paranormal Romance Series, Matanzas Moon (Book 3: BEWARE to be released in January 2017) is set in St. Augustine, FL integrating the authentic ghost legends of our Nation’s Oldest City into a lively, narrative driven adventure. Daylight hours are spent indoors working, reading, cooking, or spending time with family/friends, and her five cats. [Wow, she's even more of a cat lady than I am. I only have four.] Otherwise, she can be found dancing, socializing or joining Ghost Tours whenever her imaginary friends let her out to play!
Interview
1. Do you have a day job in addition to being a writer? If so, what do you do during the day? Yes, I am the Hospital Manager for a Veterinary practice in Jacksonville, Florida. Much like Bridget, the lead character of my series, I worked as a Veterinary Technician while pursuing a Veterinary Medical degree. Only, I didn’t have the capital to open a metaphysical store in St. Augustine when I wasn’t accepted to Vet School like Bridget. You could say that this series began as a way to explore the “what ifs” in my life if I had chosen a different path.
2. What was the hardest part of writing your book?Finding time! Managing 5 doctors and 30 team members at work can be exhausting. Add to that my 9 year-old son and 38 year-old Man-Child husband and the equation for writing becomes infinitely more complex.
3. What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?The fact that people actually want to read my stuff, lol! Seriously, though. I think most writers would agree that we are chronically plagued by self-doubt. It’s comforting to know that we’re not alone in our miring anxiety, but to hear from readers who’ve read and loved your work truly is an indescribable rush! And that’s saying a lot because we’re writers. We do nothing if not describe.
4. What are your biggest literary influences? Favorite authors and why?My literary tastes are quite diverse! Classics such as Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Jane Austin, the Bronte sisters, Nathanial Hawthorn, and F. Scott Fitzgerald were hugely impactful while in high school and college. Also Sylvia Plath, and Anais Ninn. Some I read as assignments but found myself truly enjoying their stories beyond just studying their use of literary devices.
Anne Rice, Harlan Coben, J.K. Rowling, Janet Evanovich, Laini Taylor, and Bret Easton Ellis are a handful of contemporary novelists I truly enjoy for for different reasons. Each of the above are masters when creating characters, some more relatable and others more harrowing, but all extremely memorable. Rice, Rowling, and Taylor paint such vivid pictures of their worlds, and I love Coben, Evanovich, and Ellis for their narrative pacing and snappy dialogue.
5. What gives you inspiration for your book? The city of St. Augustine’s spirit is palpable, even now after disaster struck with Hurricane Matthew. Or should I say, especially now. History lives and breathes in the nation’s Oldest City, and I’m fortunate enough to be able to visit the Historic Downtown area anytime I choose. The streets are filled with an influx of diverse cultural and ethnic visitors, not to mention people dressed as Colonials, Spanish/French/English soldiers, ghosts, and pirates! Add the town’s bustling activity and friendly, eccentric vibe and you have some very fertile ground to launch any number of stories!Aside from the city, which is a character in its own right, I derive inspiration from my family and friends. No one character is one-hundred-percent representative of any one person in my life, but each character has a healthy dose of those I love within. I feel it is very important because the love I feel for my characters translates well to the reader.
6. Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?There is NO WAY I could EVER claim only one of my characters as THE favorite. My series has an ensemble cast with distinct characters. Bridget Quinn’s fiery spirit and affinity for the supernatural represents so much of my life as a twenty-something, so naturally I have a close connection with her. Nick and RIP both represent different characteristics of my husband, as well as myself! But even minor characters, like Travis, Jinx, and Drake, are crafted with such love and fun, I can’t possibly snub them!
7. Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Do you have any other books in the works?I do! Currently, I am working on the third book in the Matanzas Moon series. This installment is titled Matanzas Moon: Beware, and I am loving the direction the overall series story arc has taken. I have many, many more adventures for Bridget, Nick, and RIP. Believe me, we have only just begun!
Facebook author pageFacebook series pageBlogTwitterAmazon Author pageMatanza's Moon AmazonMantanza's Moon Abaze Amazon
Matanza's Moon
Lost in her quarter-life crisis, eccentric Bridget Quinn abandons her Vet School aspirations to open a metaphysical store in St. Augustine, Florida. Adept in Palmistry, Astrology, and Tarot, Bridget discovers her dormant gift of clairvoyance in our nation's oldest, and notoriously haunted city. Mediumship proves to be a pesky affliction, especially when Bridget’s attempt to help a ghostly visitor implicates her in a series of vicious murders!
Her heart dangling between Nick Maddox, the compellingly attractive but rigorously skeptical police officer, and RIP Ryder, a witty and rascally hearse-driving ghost tour guide, Bridget stumbles into a web of mystery and mayhem.
Can they catch the killer before another murder? Exactly how do you handcuff a ghost anyway?
Abaze
These flames can’t be tamed…
After a wicked Halloween showdown with the vigilante ghost of a Voodoo Priestess, clairvoyant Bridget Quinn is hoping her life will finally cool off. Winter never poses much of a threat to the Nation’s Oldest City where there’s no shortage of Holiday Spirits when the blazing Florida sun sets.
Again, the Ancient City is plagued by mysterious murders, this time masked by arson. Hearse-driving Ghost Tour Guide, RIP Ryder, drowns his staggering guilt with excessive intoxication while Officer Nick Maddox’s heart breaks as Bridget’s peculiar behavior escalates. RIP has an epiphany, recognizing Nick and Bridget’s paranormal vexation as the work of RIP’s ghostly nemesis from years gone by.
Can RIP rally the troops to save Nick and Bridget before the flames consume them all?
If you like what you've read, please comment. Also, books can be purchased below.
Elizabeth Raven is a wife, mother, and Veterinary Professional hiding in the shadows and moonlight of relentlessly sunny Jacksonville, Florida. Her Paranormal Romance Series, Matanzas Moon (Book 3: BEWARE to be released in January 2017) is set in St. Augustine, FL integrating the authentic ghost legends of our Nation’s Oldest City into a lively, narrative driven adventure. Daylight hours are spent indoors working, reading, cooking, or spending time with family/friends, and her five cats. [Wow, she's even more of a cat lady than I am. I only have four.] Otherwise, she can be found dancing, socializing or joining Ghost Tours whenever her imaginary friends let her out to play!
Interview
1. Do you have a day job in addition to being a writer? If so, what do you do during the day? Yes, I am the Hospital Manager for a Veterinary practice in Jacksonville, Florida. Much like Bridget, the lead character of my series, I worked as a Veterinary Technician while pursuing a Veterinary Medical degree. Only, I didn’t have the capital to open a metaphysical store in St. Augustine when I wasn’t accepted to Vet School like Bridget. You could say that this series began as a way to explore the “what ifs” in my life if I had chosen a different path.
2. What was the hardest part of writing your book?Finding time! Managing 5 doctors and 30 team members at work can be exhausting. Add to that my 9 year-old son and 38 year-old Man-Child husband and the equation for writing becomes infinitely more complex.
3. What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?The fact that people actually want to read my stuff, lol! Seriously, though. I think most writers would agree that we are chronically plagued by self-doubt. It’s comforting to know that we’re not alone in our miring anxiety, but to hear from readers who’ve read and loved your work truly is an indescribable rush! And that’s saying a lot because we’re writers. We do nothing if not describe.
4. What are your biggest literary influences? Favorite authors and why?My literary tastes are quite diverse! Classics such as Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Jane Austin, the Bronte sisters, Nathanial Hawthorn, and F. Scott Fitzgerald were hugely impactful while in high school and college. Also Sylvia Plath, and Anais Ninn. Some I read as assignments but found myself truly enjoying their stories beyond just studying their use of literary devices.
Anne Rice, Harlan Coben, J.K. Rowling, Janet Evanovich, Laini Taylor, and Bret Easton Ellis are a handful of contemporary novelists I truly enjoy for for different reasons. Each of the above are masters when creating characters, some more relatable and others more harrowing, but all extremely memorable. Rice, Rowling, and Taylor paint such vivid pictures of their worlds, and I love Coben, Evanovich, and Ellis for their narrative pacing and snappy dialogue.
5. What gives you inspiration for your book? The city of St. Augustine’s spirit is palpable, even now after disaster struck with Hurricane Matthew. Or should I say, especially now. History lives and breathes in the nation’s Oldest City, and I’m fortunate enough to be able to visit the Historic Downtown area anytime I choose. The streets are filled with an influx of diverse cultural and ethnic visitors, not to mention people dressed as Colonials, Spanish/French/English soldiers, ghosts, and pirates! Add the town’s bustling activity and friendly, eccentric vibe and you have some very fertile ground to launch any number of stories!Aside from the city, which is a character in its own right, I derive inspiration from my family and friends. No one character is one-hundred-percent representative of any one person in my life, but each character has a healthy dose of those I love within. I feel it is very important because the love I feel for my characters translates well to the reader.
6. Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?There is NO WAY I could EVER claim only one of my characters as THE favorite. My series has an ensemble cast with distinct characters. Bridget Quinn’s fiery spirit and affinity for the supernatural represents so much of my life as a twenty-something, so naturally I have a close connection with her. Nick and RIP both represent different characteristics of my husband, as well as myself! But even minor characters, like Travis, Jinx, and Drake, are crafted with such love and fun, I can’t possibly snub them!
7. Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Do you have any other books in the works?I do! Currently, I am working on the third book in the Matanzas Moon series. This installment is titled Matanzas Moon: Beware, and I am loving the direction the overall series story arc has taken. I have many, many more adventures for Bridget, Nick, and RIP. Believe me, we have only just begun!
Facebook author pageFacebook series pageBlogTwitterAmazon Author pageMatanza's Moon AmazonMantanza's Moon Abaze Amazon
Matanza's Moon
Lost in her quarter-life crisis, eccentric Bridget Quinn abandons her Vet School aspirations to open a metaphysical store in St. Augustine, Florida. Adept in Palmistry, Astrology, and Tarot, Bridget discovers her dormant gift of clairvoyance in our nation's oldest, and notoriously haunted city. Mediumship proves to be a pesky affliction, especially when Bridget’s attempt to help a ghostly visitor implicates her in a series of vicious murders!Her heart dangling between Nick Maddox, the compellingly attractive but rigorously skeptical police officer, and RIP Ryder, a witty and rascally hearse-driving ghost tour guide, Bridget stumbles into a web of mystery and mayhem.
Can they catch the killer before another murder? Exactly how do you handcuff a ghost anyway?
Abaze
These flames can’t be tamed…After a wicked Halloween showdown with the vigilante ghost of a Voodoo Priestess, clairvoyant Bridget Quinn is hoping her life will finally cool off. Winter never poses much of a threat to the Nation’s Oldest City where there’s no shortage of Holiday Spirits when the blazing Florida sun sets.
Again, the Ancient City is plagued by mysterious murders, this time masked by arson. Hearse-driving Ghost Tour Guide, RIP Ryder, drowns his staggering guilt with excessive intoxication while Officer Nick Maddox’s heart breaks as Bridget’s peculiar behavior escalates. RIP has an epiphany, recognizing Nick and Bridget’s paranormal vexation as the work of RIP’s ghostly nemesis from years gone by.
Can RIP rally the troops to save Nick and Bridget before the flames consume them all?
If you like what you've read, please comment. Also, books can be purchased below.
November 2, 2016
Russell Proctor, speculative fiction from Down Under
My guest today is a writer from the great continent of Australia.
A skeptic and futurist, Proctor has examined the methods and ideas of science and pseudo-science in his novel Plato’s Cave, which satirizes humanity’s endless quest for meaning in life and conflicting beliefs about the nature of reality. His professional acting days included working in film, TV and stage productions. He has also written and directed plays and musicals. He is currently completing a horror/sf time-travel series and a fantasy set in a Victorian music hall. Further information about him and his work can be found at his website, www.russellproctor.com.
InterviewTell us a little about yourself? I am an Australian writer, but have also been many other things in my working life, including a lawyer, teacher, professional actor, medical project manager and even a pizza delivery boy. At present I’m semi-retired, tutoring school and university students in the evenings and writing during the day. My interests include hiking, astronomy and cats. I’ve travelled extensively throughout the world, preferring out of the way places to modern civilization, for example I’ve visited Antarctica, walked the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. I don’t describe myself as a thrill-seeker, but certainly prefer my travels to include adventures rather than just “tourist traps.” My professional acting days included working in film, TV and stage productions. I have also directed musicals and written plays and poetry.
What are your biggest literary influences? Favorite authors and why? My three favourite authors would have to be Roger Zelazny, Mervyn Peake and William Hope Hodgson. All three weren’t afraid to test boundaries. Zelazny was a master of dialogue and had the rare ability to create believable god-like characters. Mervyn Peake, being an artist as well as a writer, had an amazing visual flair that crosses over into his works. Hodgson was a flawed genius. He even makes a cameo appearance as a character in one of my books.Other books I’ve been profoundly influenced by include Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick which has always haunted me with its power and the way the rambling style of the writing so suited the story. Also Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, which has to be one of the most misunderstood books of all time. The Alice books by Lewis Carroll and the Oz books by L. Frank Baum have also played a big part in influencing my writing.You’ll note that living authors don’t seem to make my list. They do, but these are the big ones.Tell us something about how you write? i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary writing habits or rituals?I am definitely a pantser. I’ve tried plotting, and it’s never worked. I get ideas as I write. Sitting down and trying to think up what happens next just doesn’t seem to work for me. It means I have to do a lot of revising and sometimes whole chunks of stuff get cut, but it seems to come together in the end. I like the process of finding out what happens in the story as it’s being created, almost like I’m a reader myself. As for writing habits, I can only write in the mornings when I’m fresh. I try to do at least 1000 words a day or the equivalent in editing. In the last three days I write almost 10,000 words because the ideas just kept popping. But that rate is rare. I usually write with my cat on the desk. He insists on sitting there.Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book?My most recently released book is The Looking-Glass House, which is the final instalment of a trilogy called The Jabberwocky Book about a grown-up Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz fighting supernatural forces in Edwardian London and World War One. It takes material from the original books about these characters and points it in a fantasy-horror direction. Definitely not the childhood heroines from the original books, but based on them. In The Looking-Glass House Alice must learn about her own childhood and discover the truth about the day a don from Oxford University told her a story on the banks of the Isis River, which was of course when Lewis Carroll made up the original Alice in Wonderland story and told it to the real Alice Liddell. For her part, Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz is more of an action hero, trapped behind enemy lines on the Western front. Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?They are all pretty special to me in different ways. One thing noted by other interviewers is all of my main protagonists are female. I find writing female characters much easier than males, although of course there are an equal number of male characters. Probably my favourite character is whichever one I’m writing at the time. That’s a banal thing to say, but when I’m writing, I am deeply concerned to make my character someone special. I do have a soft spot for Dorothy Gale from my Jabberwocky Book series but also for a character from a work-in-progress called Mags. She is short, a bit chubby, wears a mix of men’s and women’s clothes and doesn’t take nonsense from anyone. Maddy Jervis from Days of Iron is an emotionally scarred fugitive who becomes a terrorist against her will. They all have something I find interesting about them, that’s why I created them the way they are.Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Do you have any other books in the works?I am currently working on a series about a synesthetic time-travelling lesbian cellist trying to rescue history from an invading alien horde. She is one of a race of people who can time-travel without a time machine, just by using their minds. Writing time-travel stories is hard, so I’m going slowly with that one. I’m also putting together a novel about the ex-god Dionysus (god of the theatre among other things) running a vaudeville hall in Victorian London full of cheap acts and dubious reputations. Being an actor myself I’m having a lot of fun with that one. The idea of the God of Theatre himself actually running a theatre with all the usual management problems, dealing with egotistical actors and hecklers in the audience, trying to balance the books while at the same time saving the world from danger amused me and it’s been going very well so far. Where can we find you online? (please cut and paste links):Blog WebsiteFacebookTwitter: @proctor_russellGoodreadsInkshares
The Red King (Book 1 of The Jabberwocky Book)
There is nothing deadlier than a little girl’s dreams.
Alice Liddell had adventures in Wonderland many years ago. Now she is grown-up, married and living a respectable life in Edwardian London. But her dreams have come back to haunt her.
A serial killer stalks the streets. Children and adults are being brutally murdered and drained of blood. The Red King is on a quest for revenge against the seven-year-old girl who humiliated him years ago.
Alice joins forces with Dorothy Gale, who had adventures of her own in a land called Oz. Together they hunt the Red King before he can enslave the world.
But Alice discovers that the Red King’s rampage may be all her own fault–
fighting her own dreams isn’t easy.
The Red King is the first of Alice’s adventures concerning the mysterious Jabberwocky Book she discovered in Looking-Glass Land, a book that holds the key to the survival of four linked worlds.Excerpt‘All right,’ he said. ‘What do you have to tell me?’Alice drew her hands from the fur muff and tugged at the lower hem of her walking jacket nervously. Then she patted Dorothy’s arm again, as if to draw encouragement rather than give it. ‘I know who the killer is, Inspector. I don’t know where you might find him, but I know what he’s looking for.’ Lestrade reached for his pipe. It had gone out. He struck a match without asking permission and spent several moments puffing and sucking and getting the fragment of tobacco left in the bowl to light. Dorothy gave a meaningful cough as the smoke curled into the air, but Alice’s face remained impassive. ‘I presume, Mrs Hargreaves,’ he said after a while, ‘you’re not jesting now.’‘It’s not something I feel is the least bit humorous, Inspector.’Lestrade nodded and shifted the documents on his desk while Sergeant Wilson poised his pencil meaningfully. ‘Ultimately,’ Alice continued, ‘the killer will come after me. The Waif’s murder – it was merely practice, shall we say?’‘May I ask, then, Madam, who the killer is?’Someone she had a grudge against, no doubt, and wanted to make trouble for: a disgruntled husband or an ex-lover. Women were fascinating creatures. ‘He has no actual name I’m aware of. He’s called the Red King.’The sound of Wilson’s scribbling pencil ceased. Lestrade glanced at him sharply, and tilted his head towards the door. Wilson stood up and closed the door carefully, then sat down again. The waiting room was full of people.‘That’s an unusual name,’ the Inspector said eventually. ‘The Red King? Some killers like to revel in fanciful names. Jack the Ripper. The Brighton Fiend. Professor Moriarty. This one’s just as whimsical. May I ask how you thought of it?’Alice hesitated, glanced at Dorothy again, who nodded. ‘I heard him called that, in a different world from this. He’s not English, but he speaks with no accent you’d recognise. I met his wife.’‘She’s the Red Queen,’ piped in Dorothy earnestly. ‘And there was a White Queen as well and a White King, but they’re nice folks. Well, not nicereally, just dumb I guess…’Alice frowned sharply. Dorothy shut up.‘Sounds like a chess game,’ chuckled Lestrade despite a feeling of growing disquiet. ‘I suppose you met these monarchs too, Miss Gale? Did you say hello to the Rook? Drink tea, perhaps, with the Bishop’s Pawn?’The girl shook her head, completely oblivious to the sarcasm, her hair flapping against her shoulders. ‘Oh no, sir. I went to another place entirely. Across the desert. A land called Oz.’‘Australia?’ Wilson spoke up suddenly. ‘I have a cousin there.’
If you like what you've read, leave a comment or purchase Proctor's book below:
A skeptic and futurist, Proctor has examined the methods and ideas of science and pseudo-science in his novel Plato’s Cave, which satirizes humanity’s endless quest for meaning in life and conflicting beliefs about the nature of reality. His professional acting days included working in film, TV and stage productions. He has also written and directed plays and musicals. He is currently completing a horror/sf time-travel series and a fantasy set in a Victorian music hall. Further information about him and his work can be found at his website, www.russellproctor.com.InterviewTell us a little about yourself? I am an Australian writer, but have also been many other things in my working life, including a lawyer, teacher, professional actor, medical project manager and even a pizza delivery boy. At present I’m semi-retired, tutoring school and university students in the evenings and writing during the day. My interests include hiking, astronomy and cats. I’ve travelled extensively throughout the world, preferring out of the way places to modern civilization, for example I’ve visited Antarctica, walked the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. I don’t describe myself as a thrill-seeker, but certainly prefer my travels to include adventures rather than just “tourist traps.” My professional acting days included working in film, TV and stage productions. I have also directed musicals and written plays and poetry.
What are your biggest literary influences? Favorite authors and why? My three favourite authors would have to be Roger Zelazny, Mervyn Peake and William Hope Hodgson. All three weren’t afraid to test boundaries. Zelazny was a master of dialogue and had the rare ability to create believable god-like characters. Mervyn Peake, being an artist as well as a writer, had an amazing visual flair that crosses over into his works. Hodgson was a flawed genius. He even makes a cameo appearance as a character in one of my books.Other books I’ve been profoundly influenced by include Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick which has always haunted me with its power and the way the rambling style of the writing so suited the story. Also Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, which has to be one of the most misunderstood books of all time. The Alice books by Lewis Carroll and the Oz books by L. Frank Baum have also played a big part in influencing my writing.You’ll note that living authors don’t seem to make my list. They do, but these are the big ones.Tell us something about how you write? i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary writing habits or rituals?I am definitely a pantser. I’ve tried plotting, and it’s never worked. I get ideas as I write. Sitting down and trying to think up what happens next just doesn’t seem to work for me. It means I have to do a lot of revising and sometimes whole chunks of stuff get cut, but it seems to come together in the end. I like the process of finding out what happens in the story as it’s being created, almost like I’m a reader myself. As for writing habits, I can only write in the mornings when I’m fresh. I try to do at least 1000 words a day or the equivalent in editing. In the last three days I write almost 10,000 words because the ideas just kept popping. But that rate is rare. I usually write with my cat on the desk. He insists on sitting there.Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book?My most recently released book is The Looking-Glass House, which is the final instalment of a trilogy called The Jabberwocky Book about a grown-up Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz fighting supernatural forces in Edwardian London and World War One. It takes material from the original books about these characters and points it in a fantasy-horror direction. Definitely not the childhood heroines from the original books, but based on them. In The Looking-Glass House Alice must learn about her own childhood and discover the truth about the day a don from Oxford University told her a story on the banks of the Isis River, which was of course when Lewis Carroll made up the original Alice in Wonderland story and told it to the real Alice Liddell. For her part, Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz is more of an action hero, trapped behind enemy lines on the Western front. Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?They are all pretty special to me in different ways. One thing noted by other interviewers is all of my main protagonists are female. I find writing female characters much easier than males, although of course there are an equal number of male characters. Probably my favourite character is whichever one I’m writing at the time. That’s a banal thing to say, but when I’m writing, I am deeply concerned to make my character someone special. I do have a soft spot for Dorothy Gale from my Jabberwocky Book series but also for a character from a work-in-progress called Mags. She is short, a bit chubby, wears a mix of men’s and women’s clothes and doesn’t take nonsense from anyone. Maddy Jervis from Days of Iron is an emotionally scarred fugitive who becomes a terrorist against her will. They all have something I find interesting about them, that’s why I created them the way they are.Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Do you have any other books in the works?I am currently working on a series about a synesthetic time-travelling lesbian cellist trying to rescue history from an invading alien horde. She is one of a race of people who can time-travel without a time machine, just by using their minds. Writing time-travel stories is hard, so I’m going slowly with that one. I’m also putting together a novel about the ex-god Dionysus (god of the theatre among other things) running a vaudeville hall in Victorian London full of cheap acts and dubious reputations. Being an actor myself I’m having a lot of fun with that one. The idea of the God of Theatre himself actually running a theatre with all the usual management problems, dealing with egotistical actors and hecklers in the audience, trying to balance the books while at the same time saving the world from danger amused me and it’s been going very well so far. Where can we find you online? (please cut and paste links):Blog WebsiteFacebookTwitter: @proctor_russellGoodreadsInkshares
The Red King (Book 1 of The Jabberwocky Book)
There is nothing deadlier than a little girl’s dreams. Alice Liddell had adventures in Wonderland many years ago. Now she is grown-up, married and living a respectable life in Edwardian London. But her dreams have come back to haunt her.
A serial killer stalks the streets. Children and adults are being brutally murdered and drained of blood. The Red King is on a quest for revenge against the seven-year-old girl who humiliated him years ago.
Alice joins forces with Dorothy Gale, who had adventures of her own in a land called Oz. Together they hunt the Red King before he can enslave the world.
But Alice discovers that the Red King’s rampage may be all her own fault–
fighting her own dreams isn’t easy.
The Red King is the first of Alice’s adventures concerning the mysterious Jabberwocky Book she discovered in Looking-Glass Land, a book that holds the key to the survival of four linked worlds.Excerpt‘All right,’ he said. ‘What do you have to tell me?’Alice drew her hands from the fur muff and tugged at the lower hem of her walking jacket nervously. Then she patted Dorothy’s arm again, as if to draw encouragement rather than give it. ‘I know who the killer is, Inspector. I don’t know where you might find him, but I know what he’s looking for.’ Lestrade reached for his pipe. It had gone out. He struck a match without asking permission and spent several moments puffing and sucking and getting the fragment of tobacco left in the bowl to light. Dorothy gave a meaningful cough as the smoke curled into the air, but Alice’s face remained impassive. ‘I presume, Mrs Hargreaves,’ he said after a while, ‘you’re not jesting now.’‘It’s not something I feel is the least bit humorous, Inspector.’Lestrade nodded and shifted the documents on his desk while Sergeant Wilson poised his pencil meaningfully. ‘Ultimately,’ Alice continued, ‘the killer will come after me. The Waif’s murder – it was merely practice, shall we say?’‘May I ask, then, Madam, who the killer is?’Someone she had a grudge against, no doubt, and wanted to make trouble for: a disgruntled husband or an ex-lover. Women were fascinating creatures. ‘He has no actual name I’m aware of. He’s called the Red King.’The sound of Wilson’s scribbling pencil ceased. Lestrade glanced at him sharply, and tilted his head towards the door. Wilson stood up and closed the door carefully, then sat down again. The waiting room was full of people.‘That’s an unusual name,’ the Inspector said eventually. ‘The Red King? Some killers like to revel in fanciful names. Jack the Ripper. The Brighton Fiend. Professor Moriarty. This one’s just as whimsical. May I ask how you thought of it?’Alice hesitated, glanced at Dorothy again, who nodded. ‘I heard him called that, in a different world from this. He’s not English, but he speaks with no accent you’d recognise. I met his wife.’‘She’s the Red Queen,’ piped in Dorothy earnestly. ‘And there was a White Queen as well and a White King, but they’re nice folks. Well, not nicereally, just dumb I guess…’Alice frowned sharply. Dorothy shut up.‘Sounds like a chess game,’ chuckled Lestrade despite a feeling of growing disquiet. ‘I suppose you met these monarchs too, Miss Gale? Did you say hello to the Rook? Drink tea, perhaps, with the Bishop’s Pawn?’The girl shook her head, completely oblivious to the sarcasm, her hair flapping against her shoulders. ‘Oh no, sir. I went to another place entirely. Across the desert. A land called Oz.’‘Australia?’ Wilson spoke up suddenly. ‘I have a cousin there.’
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November 1, 2016
Phelix, an assassin with a twist
I was at Necronicom this weekend. In addition, as I said yesterday, I was overly ambitious in my blog planning. This post combines the usual Monday/Tuesday topics. Phelix is a character in The Ghost in Exile. He is the favorite of nearly everyone whose read the book, and he was a lot of fun to create. What follows is a brief snippet of his life before he meets Ahearn. Let me know what you think in the comments. If you like it, I may follow with his further adventures.The Assassin and the ChildPhelix didn’t know how he’d ended up in a situation like this, yet again. He broken into the mansion to kill Captain Agmundr, and now he was playing Patty Cake with Agmundr’s five-year-old daughter. He rolled his eyes as he clapped hands with the child, whose name he’d learned was Frida. Phelix, when will you learn to just do your job and get out?The child giggled as they crossed the cake with an F and put it in the oven for Frida and Phelix. A huge smile lit her face.She hadn’t been smiling when Phelix first came across her. He’d been moving silently through the mansion, sticking to the shadows, and looking for his target. He opened one room and found Frida crying inside. He should never have spoken to her. He hadn’t made a noise, and the child’s back was to him. All he’d needed to do, all any sensible assassin would have done, was close the door and move on. But Phelix couldn’t stand to see a child cry. He entered the room, closed the door softly, and approached the child. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked in his gentlest voice. Talking to the child was either insane or abysmally stupid. His Massossinan wasn’t good, and his accent clearly Saloynan. Besides, the scar across his cheek didn’t exactly make him look harmless.Frida sobbed harder, but she didn’t seem afraid when she turned to look at him. “Elfa’s arm fell off.” She held a one-armed cloth doll in one hand and the severed arm in the other. Phelix crouched down next to her. “No need to cry. If you can fetch Phelix a needle and thread, Phelix can fix it for you.”Frida’s tears stopped. “Could you?” And before he could say another word, the child shoved the doll and its detached limb into his hands and ran out of the room.Any sensible assassin would have disappeared as soon as the child was gone, but Phelix thought of her finding him gone and the doll unrepaired. Phelix, you are a fool! He sat on the floor and waited. He did put the doll down so that he’d be able to access his weapons quickly should someone other than Frida enter.He’d only just began to berate himself when Frida ran back in with a sewing basket. “Please fix, Elfa. It really hurts.”Phelix took the basket. “Phelix is sure it does.” He imagined the pain of having his arm severed as he rummaged through the basket. He found the things he needed. Phelix, just what are you going to do if someone else comes through that door? He tried not to think about it as he reattached the arm.Having been in the military since he was a child, Phelix had had plenty of experience mending, so it didn’t take him long to sew the arm back on. He handed it to Frida. “See, it’s good as new.”“Oh, thank you!” she cried. She hugged the doll to her chest, then threw her arms around his neck. “No one else would listen!”Phelix returned the hug awkwardly. “Since Elfa is all better, Phelix needs to get back to his job.”Frida broke away, and her face fell. “Can’t you play with me? No one ever plays with me.”Those sad eyes stabbed into his heart, but he tried to harden himself. “Phelix has work to do, and your father will be most upset if he finds me her playing with you instead of working.”“Just one game of Patty Cake.” Her lower lip trembled, and Phelix lost the battle.“Okay, but just one game.”The one game had become five when he heard footsteps in the hallway, two men approaching. “Shit!” he swore in Saloynan. Frida looked concerned. Frida’s head shot up. He changed back to Massossinan and whispered. “Quick, I need to hide. You don’t want Phelix to get in trouble for helping you, do you?”Frida’s eyes grew wide. She ran to the wardrobe and opened the door. “In here.” Phelix scrambled inside. Frida had just closed the wardrobe when the hallway door opened.“Daddy!” Frida cried. Phelix prayed put his hands on his knives and watched through a small slit. Agmundr put his hand on his daughter’s head. The man with him wore scholar’s robes and appeared unarmed. Phelix could open the door and have both men dead on the ground before they knew what hit them. It was what a sensible assassin would have done.Agmundr mussed Frida’s hair. “I’m going to Uppsala. Halvdan will be looking after you while I’m gone.”“No!” Frida cried, and wrapped her arms around him. “Can’t I come with you?”Agmundr pushed Frida away and crouched down to meet his daughter’s eyes. “You know that’s impossible. I’ll only be gone a couple of weeks.” He kissed the top of her head and straightened. “Follow me out, Halvdan. I have a few things to discuss with you before I leave.”The two men swept out of the room. Phelix quickly exited the wardrobe. He needed to get to Agmundr before he left. Killing him would be so much more difficult as he moved deeper into Massossinan territory. “Thanks for hiding me,” he said to Frida. “But I’ve really got to get back to work.”He started for the door, but when he glanced at Frida, tears were flowing down her cheeks again. Damn me to Hades! Phelix doesn’t have any more time to comfort children. He hurried past, but he stopped before exiting the room. Continuing to chide himself inwardly, he turned back to Frida. “What is it, love?”Frida sobbed. “I’m so afraid he won’t come back. What if a Saloynan assassin gets him?”Phelix gulped. “Well, . . . er . . ..” Tears streamed down the child’s cheeks, and Phelix dropped to his knees and held out his arms to her. She fell against his chest. “Please, go with him. Promise me you’ll make him get back safely.”Phelix hugged the child. What in Zeus’s name is Phelix going to do now?
The Ghost in Exile will be coming out in a few weeks. But there is still time to order a signed copy at the special pre-order price of $13. Go to my website, http://jamie-marchant.com/ghost.htm, for the PayPal link. Or you can order the kindle version below.
The Ghost in Exile will be coming out in a few weeks. But there is still time to order a signed copy at the special pre-order price of $13. Go to my website, http://jamie-marchant.com/ghost.htm, for the PayPal link. Or you can order the kindle version below.
October 31, 2016
Overly Ambitious
I've decided I was a little overly ambitious in setting up my new blog schedule. Doing that many posts a week is cutting too deeply into my novel writing time, so I'm going to be scaling things back a little. The Monday/Tuesday posts and the Thursday/Friday posts will now usually appear only every other week, alternately back on forth more or less. So one week would have a Monday/Thursday posts and the next week Tuesday/Friday. The Wednesday guest authors will remain unchanged as long as I don't run out of authors wanting to be guests.
