Carl Alves's Blog, page 60
October 27, 2012
Vampire Legends from around the World – Ancient Greece and Rome
Much of ancient Greek and Roman mythology are the same or at least interchangeable, and this holds true in some of their vampire mythos as well. Much of what is found in classic vampire lore can be found here. Although they are not the oldest tales of vampire, much of what is popular in the modern vampire tale stems out of European vampire stories. Empusa, a Greek vampire that appears in the form of an alluring young woman, seduced men and feasted on their blood. The nocturnal aspects of vampires can be found in the Greek vampire Lamia, who had an affair with Zeus. Zeus’s wife Hera, discovered this and killed all of Lamia’s children, which drove her insane and made her unable to sleep again. Lamia then took her vengeance on the world by attacking women and children by night and draining them of their blood. Also prevalent in Roman mythology are stories of demonesses who disguised themselves as humans and drank people’s blood.
If you would like to read my interpretation of vampire lore from around the world, read my novel Blood Street, out on November 24th from True Grit Publishing.
If you would like to read my interpretation of vampire lore from around the world, read my novel Blood Street, out on November 24th from True Grit Publishing.
October 22, 2012
Vampire Legends from around the World – Mesopotamia
That the oldest of the vampire legends stem from the area of Mesopotamia should come as little surprise, since that is where the first modern civilization originates from, and vampire mythology exists both throughout the globe and throughout history in almost every culture. Vampire stories can be found in Sumerian, Babylonian, Persian and Jewish cultures dating back to ancient times.
Perhaps because of the geographic proximity of these cultures, what they share in common is the mother of all vampires, Lilith, recently popularized on the HBO series True Blood. Lilith is believed to be the first wife of Adam, who left him to become the leader of the demons. She is often depicted as a beautiful winged maiden and is believed to feed off the blood of newborns and their mothers. To protect their babies from Lilith, Jewish mothers would hang amulets on the cribs of their babies. The Sumerian version of Lilith appeared as a beautiful maiden. Once she chose a lover, she would never let him go. The mention of Lilith in the Dead Sea Scrolls is a testament to her prevalence in these ancient cultures.
Even older than Lilith in Sumerian culture is Lamashtu. She was depicted as a blood-sucking fiend with a lion’s head and a donkey’s body. She would steal new-born infants from their mothers, drink their blood and eat their flesh.
In Sumerian culture, the Ekimmu is a vampire that is created when someone dies a violent death or was not buried properly. Ekimmu were demonic creatures that took the shape of rotting corpses. They were phantasmic creatures that roamed the earth, unable to rest, looking for victims. They found helpless victims and tormented them until they were exorcised.
Check out my interpretation of vampires in my novel Blood Street, coming out November 24th from True Grit Publishing.
Perhaps because of the geographic proximity of these cultures, what they share in common is the mother of all vampires, Lilith, recently popularized on the HBO series True Blood. Lilith is believed to be the first wife of Adam, who left him to become the leader of the demons. She is often depicted as a beautiful winged maiden and is believed to feed off the blood of newborns and their mothers. To protect their babies from Lilith, Jewish mothers would hang amulets on the cribs of their babies. The Sumerian version of Lilith appeared as a beautiful maiden. Once she chose a lover, she would never let him go. The mention of Lilith in the Dead Sea Scrolls is a testament to her prevalence in these ancient cultures.
Even older than Lilith in Sumerian culture is Lamashtu. She was depicted as a blood-sucking fiend with a lion’s head and a donkey’s body. She would steal new-born infants from their mothers, drink their blood and eat their flesh.
In Sumerian culture, the Ekimmu is a vampire that is created when someone dies a violent death or was not buried properly. Ekimmu were demonic creatures that took the shape of rotting corpses. They were phantasmic creatures that roamed the earth, unable to rest, looking for victims. They found helpless victims and tormented them until they were exorcised.
Check out my interpretation of vampires in my novel Blood Street, coming out November 24th from True Grit Publishing.
October 15, 2012
Crusade by Taylor Anderson
Taylor Anderson’s first novel in his Destroymen series was one of the best novels I’ve ever read, so the bar was set high for Crusade. Fortunately, Taylor Anderson delivered with an excellent sequel. The world he created is a fascinating one where two naval destroyers from World War II are badly damaged in a fight with a Japanese naval ship, landing in an alternate world, where they take the side with the peaceful Lemurians against the dreaded lizard creatures, the Grik. As Captain Reddy gets his crew ready for an offensive against the Grik, they discover that the Japanese vessel they had been fighting against has not only also made it into this world but is aligned with the Grik. The task before them becomes incredibly daunting, if not possible.
What I liked about this novel is first, the terrific characters in the story. Anderson does an excellent job of sculpting well-defined characters, both human and Lemurians alike. There are great side-stories intermixed with the main conflict. One thing that I liked better about the sequel was that although there was some struggle, I thought things went a little too easy for the good guys in the first novel. This time the tasks they had to face were incredibly rough to the point where I had to wonder how they were going to survive in a realistic fashion. That part is still to be determined. Finally, the situation that Anderson has created is one where I found myself really pulling for the Destroyermen and the Lemurians. There were terrific fight scenes and good transitional scenes. All in all a well-done sequel definitely worth reading.
What I liked about this novel is first, the terrific characters in the story. Anderson does an excellent job of sculpting well-defined characters, both human and Lemurians alike. There are great side-stories intermixed with the main conflict. One thing that I liked better about the sequel was that although there was some struggle, I thought things went a little too easy for the good guys in the first novel. This time the tasks they had to face were incredibly rough to the point where I had to wonder how they were going to survive in a realistic fashion. That part is still to be determined. Finally, the situation that Anderson has created is one where I found myself really pulling for the Destroyermen and the Lemurians. There were terrific fight scenes and good transitional scenes. All in all a well-done sequel definitely worth reading.
October 7, 2012
Ganymede by Cherie Priest
I have read very little Steampunk and find the genre a bit peculiar, but after having read Ganymede, I will definitely have to explore the genre a little further in particular Priest's Clockwork Century series. Cherie Priest managed to weave a fascinating tale mixing in real, historical events and characters along with fictionalized elements to suit her needs. Set in an alternate prolonged Civil War timeline, the story centers around a prototype submarine called the Ganymede, that Josephine Early, a woman of color, is trying to get into the hands of the Union forces. She hopes that in so doing it will turn the tide of the war to the Union's side. The only problem is that she has to get someone to get the Ganymede out of the lake it's in and to the union, so she turns to an ex-lover, Adnan Cly, who flies planes, to do the job.
The novel was well-written, something that I can respect as a fellow writer. It was also very colorful, both in terms of the characters and the world that was created. Not just Adnan Cly and Josephine, but even many of the side characters come to life. Priest's vision of the South in a war that ensues long after the actual Civil War did presents interesting possibilities. The transport of the Ganymede also provided some good drama. My only complaints was that I did not see the need to have zombies in the novel. It seems like zombies are everywhere these days, and if you got rid of them, the novel would not lose anything. Also, I never got a real sense of danger for the characters in the climactic scene. Things were too under the control. All in all a good read. If you haven't given steampunk a try, I would give Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series a try.
The novel was well-written, something that I can respect as a fellow writer. It was also very colorful, both in terms of the characters and the world that was created. Not just Adnan Cly and Josephine, but even many of the side characters come to life. Priest's vision of the South in a war that ensues long after the actual Civil War did presents interesting possibilities. The transport of the Ganymede also provided some good drama. My only complaints was that I did not see the need to have zombies in the novel. It seems like zombies are everywhere these days, and if you got rid of them, the novel would not lose anything. Also, I never got a real sense of danger for the characters in the climactic scene. Things were too under the control. All in all a good read. If you haven't given steampunk a try, I would give Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series a try.
October 5, 2012
Last Call to Become a Character in Reclmation Mother Earth
If you ever wanted to be a character in a sci-fi novel, now is your chance to become one in Carl Alves's forthcoming post-apocalyptic thriller, Reclamation Mother Earth. Just answer the question: If you had to rebuild civilization after it had been destroyed by aliens and your current place of work was destroyed, what would be your new role in society. Send your answer to carlalves@comcast.net with the the header RME contest submission. The deadline is October 13th.
September 26, 2012
What to Look for in a Publisher
In today’s publishing environment, there are more ways than ever for a writer to get published. These different options have advantages and disadvantages. There are the highly coveted big publishing houses. The big houses have the advantage of having larger support staffs and better distribution channels. On the downside, you may wind up being a small fish in a large pond, and therefore get no attention.
These days, there are many medium and small presses as well as micro-presses. The advantage to these presses as opposed to self-publishing is professional editing of your novel as well as having a more professional presentation. However the aspiring writer must beware. I’ve heard more than my share of horror stories of small presses who give the writer no support at all and act in an unprofessional manner.
Self-publishing has never been easier especially in light of the digital revolution the publishing industry is going through. Self-publishing gives the writer complete control of their book, and also the ability to keep the bulk of profit from sales. However, I would highly discourage a newbie writer from going this route. For one thing there is a flood of self-published books from no name writers, and the chances of success are slim. Don’t get me wrong, there are writers out there who are having great success self-publishing eBooks. J.A. Konrath, Scott Nicholson and Joseph Nassise come to mind. But these writers usually have a history of books that have been published by traditional publishers and have already developed a following. Most self-published novels are unprofessional, unedited garbage that don’t deserve to be published. This reflects poorly to writers in general, and these books should never see the light of day.
So, what should a writer look for in a publisher? One thing is professional editing. This will immediately set your novel above the unprofessional self-published novels that are being released. Another is a great looking design and presentation of both print and digital books. A good publisher will partner with the writer in terms of promotion and publicity, areas that many writers struggle with. Having contacts for reviews and interviews and the like can prove valuable to the emerging writer. A publisher should be professional in every manner, meeting deadlines and running their press like a business. Finally a good publisher will have established strong distribution channels. There are many choices available to writers, so choose wisely.
These days, there are many medium and small presses as well as micro-presses. The advantage to these presses as opposed to self-publishing is professional editing of your novel as well as having a more professional presentation. However the aspiring writer must beware. I’ve heard more than my share of horror stories of small presses who give the writer no support at all and act in an unprofessional manner.
Self-publishing has never been easier especially in light of the digital revolution the publishing industry is going through. Self-publishing gives the writer complete control of their book, and also the ability to keep the bulk of profit from sales. However, I would highly discourage a newbie writer from going this route. For one thing there is a flood of self-published books from no name writers, and the chances of success are slim. Don’t get me wrong, there are writers out there who are having great success self-publishing eBooks. J.A. Konrath, Scott Nicholson and Joseph Nassise come to mind. But these writers usually have a history of books that have been published by traditional publishers and have already developed a following. Most self-published novels are unprofessional, unedited garbage that don’t deserve to be published. This reflects poorly to writers in general, and these books should never see the light of day.
So, what should a writer look for in a publisher? One thing is professional editing. This will immediately set your novel above the unprofessional self-published novels that are being released. Another is a great looking design and presentation of both print and digital books. A good publisher will partner with the writer in terms of promotion and publicity, areas that many writers struggle with. Having contacts for reviews and interviews and the like can prove valuable to the emerging writer. A publisher should be professional in every manner, meeting deadlines and running their press like a business. Finally a good publisher will have established strong distribution channels. There are many choices available to writers, so choose wisely.
September 24, 2012
10 Questions With Jeffrey Wilson
1. Your military background was quite evident in The Traiteur’s Ring. How close to reality did you try to make your scenes in Africa?
Hey, Carl. Great to talk with you again and congratulations on your coming book RECLAMATION MOTHER EARTH from Montag Press. We are all excited to see it!
While the story line of THE TRAITEUR’S RING is clearly fiction, I made an effort to make the military scenes as close to life as possible. The challenge is not so much the action as the characters. Military characters in American fiction are often overblown and cartoonish, I find. My goal was to make the Navy SEAL characters in my novel as much like the team guys I have had the honor of serving with as possible, instead of two dimensional comic book characters. The men and women of Naval Special Warfare are friends, and fathers and mothers. They are husbands and wives who work hard at an impossible job, but then come home and do yard work and pay bills and go out with their friends. I tried to make the SEALs in my book a picture of the real-life heroes whose company I have shared.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
Like most writers I was influenced first by great books I have read. I grew up reading King and Koontz as well as thriller writers like Le Carre and Ludlum. I have always loved to write, and as a budding writer I tried to emulate the style of the writers I enjoyed most. I love character driven stories, as you can tell from the authors I mentioned, and I try to build realistic characters into my work because for me that is what makes a story really come alive.
3. What’s the greatest moment in your writing career?
Well, it’s hard to top that first professional contract, of course. I have had the great privilege of working with JournalStone Publishing run by Chris Payne. That has been a wholly positive experience. Signing a three book deal with them was a definite high point. I also remember vividly opening a box and seeing my book in actual, hold-it-in-your-hands print for the first time. That was a great moment as well.
4. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
At the risk of sounding like a total geek, I would grab the complete works of Shakespeare. There is incredible diversity in his work—romance, action, horror, drama, and of course lots of ghosts, which I love.
5. How did you get involved with the Navy SEAL Foundation and what would you like to share about the foundation?
The Navy SEAL Foundation is a non-profit organization which is dedicated to caring for wounded members of the Naval Special Warfare community and the families left behind when these warriors make the ultimate sacrifice. They do everything from helping provide for travel expenses for families to be together during long periods of rehabilitation, to caring for wives and children of fallen SEALs and providing scholarship programs for dependents of NSW troops.
Obviously there are a number of great programs similar to this, such as Wounded Warrior Foundation and others, but NSF has a special place for me since it is the families of my friends who directly benefit from their work. I have lost a number of close friends in the community over the last few years and I am glad that NSF is here to help care for their families and make sure these heroes are not forgotten. Anyone interested can learn more at www.navysealfoundation.org
6. Who is your favorite writer?
My son Connor, whose book A GIANT PENCIL made him the youngest, traditionally published fiction writer in America. He has amazing creativity and drive, and the story is incredible.
Stephen King is pretty good, too.
7. What current writing projects are you working on?
My second novel, THE DONORS, was released about 2 months ago and is getting a lot of great attention, which is fun of course. It’s a supernatural, medical thriller set in a hospital and definitely more of a classic horror novel than my first book. The main character is a five year old boy who can see things in his dreams that grown-ups can’t—which allows him to see the horrible things going on at the hospital where he is a patient. Strange men with glowing eye are lurking in the shadows, and someone seems to be harvesting skin and organs from unwilling donors. My third book in my deal with JournalStone is FADE TO BLACK, a story of a man caught between two realities. In one, he is a young Marine, slowly dying in the streets of Fallujah and in the other he is a young, middle school teacher and devoted husband and father. When the ghosts of his fallen comrades in one reality start intruding on the other, he has to find a way to save himself and his family from his insanity—or worse, the possibility that both realities are possible.
I just finished my fourth novel, JULIAN’S NUMBERS, about a ten year old with a special gift, a handful of ghosts, and a family sailing vacation from hell. I also just started a new project called WAR TORN.
8. You have been involved with a wide variety of lines of work in your life. What is the strangest job you have ever held?
Honestly, I find writing to be the strangest job I’ve ever had. It still seems strange that people will pay me for the great fun of making up stories to share with other folks.
Once, when I was working as a contract pilot flying power line patrols and aerial mapping missions for very little pay, I worked every morning as the ground crew for a commercial hot air balloon operation in exchange for the “privilege” of living for free in the owner’s hangar. I didn’t even get to enjoy the traditional glass of champagne after each balloon flight, because I had to go fly later in the morning.
9. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
What’s great about the way I write is that the characters reveal themselves to me as I work, just as they do to the reader as they read. In other words, I very rarely have much idea what is going to happen next and so the process of writing is almost recreational for me—I’m excited to see what will happen next, just as I hope the reader will be.
I really like to write the scenes where characters show their real, inner self. When you write horror and supernatural fiction, as you well know Carl, it is easy to lose the real and believable side of your characters. Writing about them getting up in the morning, having dinner with their spouse, worrying about their day, shows them in a real way that allows readers to more easily accept the situations you place them in. It’s very important to the story, but also great fun to write. The risk is over doing it and trying too hard. In real life, people reveal only a little bit of themselves to other people, even those they are close to, so you have to allow the characters to unfold slowly and naturally.
10. What is it like to have your eleven year old son, Connor, be a published author?
Connor’s success has been even more exciting for me than my own. To see your child work hard and succeed at something as elusive as traditional publishing has been an amazing thing—but then he is a truly amazing young man. His book is a wonderful story that kids love and parents and teachers really seem to appreciate for its very positive message. What has been fun is watching him do book signings, TV interviews, and readings, and then go home and hook up with his best friend and skateboard or play Nerf Gun battles—like being a published author at age 11 was just no big deal. He has remained a warm and humble kid and we are so proud of him. Check out his book at Barnes and Noble online, Amazon.com, etc or have a look at www.thegiantpencil.com
Hey, Carl. Great to talk with you again and congratulations on your coming book RECLAMATION MOTHER EARTH from Montag Press. We are all excited to see it!
While the story line of THE TRAITEUR’S RING is clearly fiction, I made an effort to make the military scenes as close to life as possible. The challenge is not so much the action as the characters. Military characters in American fiction are often overblown and cartoonish, I find. My goal was to make the Navy SEAL characters in my novel as much like the team guys I have had the honor of serving with as possible, instead of two dimensional comic book characters. The men and women of Naval Special Warfare are friends, and fathers and mothers. They are husbands and wives who work hard at an impossible job, but then come home and do yard work and pay bills and go out with their friends. I tried to make the SEALs in my book a picture of the real-life heroes whose company I have shared.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
Like most writers I was influenced first by great books I have read. I grew up reading King and Koontz as well as thriller writers like Le Carre and Ludlum. I have always loved to write, and as a budding writer I tried to emulate the style of the writers I enjoyed most. I love character driven stories, as you can tell from the authors I mentioned, and I try to build realistic characters into my work because for me that is what makes a story really come alive.
3. What’s the greatest moment in your writing career?
Well, it’s hard to top that first professional contract, of course. I have had the great privilege of working with JournalStone Publishing run by Chris Payne. That has been a wholly positive experience. Signing a three book deal with them was a definite high point. I also remember vividly opening a box and seeing my book in actual, hold-it-in-your-hands print for the first time. That was a great moment as well.
4. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
At the risk of sounding like a total geek, I would grab the complete works of Shakespeare. There is incredible diversity in his work—romance, action, horror, drama, and of course lots of ghosts, which I love.
5. How did you get involved with the Navy SEAL Foundation and what would you like to share about the foundation?
The Navy SEAL Foundation is a non-profit organization which is dedicated to caring for wounded members of the Naval Special Warfare community and the families left behind when these warriors make the ultimate sacrifice. They do everything from helping provide for travel expenses for families to be together during long periods of rehabilitation, to caring for wives and children of fallen SEALs and providing scholarship programs for dependents of NSW troops.
Obviously there are a number of great programs similar to this, such as Wounded Warrior Foundation and others, but NSF has a special place for me since it is the families of my friends who directly benefit from their work. I have lost a number of close friends in the community over the last few years and I am glad that NSF is here to help care for their families and make sure these heroes are not forgotten. Anyone interested can learn more at www.navysealfoundation.org
6. Who is your favorite writer?
My son Connor, whose book A GIANT PENCIL made him the youngest, traditionally published fiction writer in America. He has amazing creativity and drive, and the story is incredible.
Stephen King is pretty good, too.
7. What current writing projects are you working on?
My second novel, THE DONORS, was released about 2 months ago and is getting a lot of great attention, which is fun of course. It’s a supernatural, medical thriller set in a hospital and definitely more of a classic horror novel than my first book. The main character is a five year old boy who can see things in his dreams that grown-ups can’t—which allows him to see the horrible things going on at the hospital where he is a patient. Strange men with glowing eye are lurking in the shadows, and someone seems to be harvesting skin and organs from unwilling donors. My third book in my deal with JournalStone is FADE TO BLACK, a story of a man caught between two realities. In one, he is a young Marine, slowly dying in the streets of Fallujah and in the other he is a young, middle school teacher and devoted husband and father. When the ghosts of his fallen comrades in one reality start intruding on the other, he has to find a way to save himself and his family from his insanity—or worse, the possibility that both realities are possible.
I just finished my fourth novel, JULIAN’S NUMBERS, about a ten year old with a special gift, a handful of ghosts, and a family sailing vacation from hell. I also just started a new project called WAR TORN.
8. You have been involved with a wide variety of lines of work in your life. What is the strangest job you have ever held?
Honestly, I find writing to be the strangest job I’ve ever had. It still seems strange that people will pay me for the great fun of making up stories to share with other folks.
Once, when I was working as a contract pilot flying power line patrols and aerial mapping missions for very little pay, I worked every morning as the ground crew for a commercial hot air balloon operation in exchange for the “privilege” of living for free in the owner’s hangar. I didn’t even get to enjoy the traditional glass of champagne after each balloon flight, because I had to go fly later in the morning.
9. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
What’s great about the way I write is that the characters reveal themselves to me as I work, just as they do to the reader as they read. In other words, I very rarely have much idea what is going to happen next and so the process of writing is almost recreational for me—I’m excited to see what will happen next, just as I hope the reader will be.
I really like to write the scenes where characters show their real, inner self. When you write horror and supernatural fiction, as you well know Carl, it is easy to lose the real and believable side of your characters. Writing about them getting up in the morning, having dinner with their spouse, worrying about their day, shows them in a real way that allows readers to more easily accept the situations you place them in. It’s very important to the story, but also great fun to write. The risk is over doing it and trying too hard. In real life, people reveal only a little bit of themselves to other people, even those they are close to, so you have to allow the characters to unfold slowly and naturally.
10. What is it like to have your eleven year old son, Connor, be a published author?
Connor’s success has been even more exciting for me than my own. To see your child work hard and succeed at something as elusive as traditional publishing has been an amazing thing—but then he is a truly amazing young man. His book is a wonderful story that kids love and parents and teachers really seem to appreciate for its very positive message. What has been fun is watching him do book signings, TV interviews, and readings, and then go home and hook up with his best friend and skateboard or play Nerf Gun battles—like being a published author at age 11 was just no big deal. He has remained a warm and humble kid and we are so proud of him. Check out his book at Barnes and Noble online, Amazon.com, etc or have a look at www.thegiantpencil.com
September 22, 2012
The Traiteur's Ring by Jeffrey Wilson
Traiteur's Ring is a tightly woven blend of military fiction and paranormal horror. The story starts off in the jungles of Africa with lead protagonist Ben Morvant and his SEAL mates in Viper team. The action is tightly packed and Wilson's military background is evident as the depiction of the SEAL mission in Africa comes off as very true to life. Ben and his team are hunting down some Al Qaeda baddies, only to see a village get decimated by the terrorists. This is the turning point in the novel as Ben begins the long discovery process that he has powers he had never dreamed of. The action scenes in Africa are thoroughly enjoyable and set the pace for the rest of the novel.
After the completion of the mission, Ben returns to the US and to his girlfriend and soon to be wife Christy. The pace of the story slows at this point and it begins to meander a bit. I thought the back and forth between Ben and his girlfriend could have been handled better and got a little tedious. The story picks up when Ben goes back to his Louisiana roots and ends with a thrilling conclusion as he returns back to Africa for some unfinished business.
The depiction of Ben and Christy's relationship aside, Wilson shows that he is more than just a competent writer as he deftly works between action and horror scenes in a well-crafted blend of genres. Although the story was thoroughly enjoyable, I thought it lost a little tension because Ben comes across as almost too powerful. It never seems that he is any real jeopardy until the very end of the story. In addition, the ultimate bad guy is never revealed until the very end of the story. I thought the novel could have benefited from fully knowing what was at stake in Ben's battle with his opposite. It was hinted that if Ben didn't win, things would go bad, but it was hard to tell without ever seeing his opponent, just what this entailed. In all a really cool story that is worth reading. I especially enjoyed the realistic fighting scenes and the behind the scenes life of the SEALs.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
After the completion of the mission, Ben returns to the US and to his girlfriend and soon to be wife Christy. The pace of the story slows at this point and it begins to meander a bit. I thought the back and forth between Ben and his girlfriend could have been handled better and got a little tedious. The story picks up when Ben goes back to his Louisiana roots and ends with a thrilling conclusion as he returns back to Africa for some unfinished business.
The depiction of Ben and Christy's relationship aside, Wilson shows that he is more than just a competent writer as he deftly works between action and horror scenes in a well-crafted blend of genres. Although the story was thoroughly enjoyable, I thought it lost a little tension because Ben comes across as almost too powerful. It never seems that he is any real jeopardy until the very end of the story. In addition, the ultimate bad guy is never revealed until the very end of the story. I thought the novel could have benefited from fully knowing what was at stake in Ben's battle with his opposite. It was hinted that if Ben didn't win, things would go bad, but it was hard to tell without ever seeing his opponent, just what this entailed. In all a really cool story that is worth reading. I especially enjoyed the realistic fighting scenes and the behind the scenes life of the SEALs.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
September 10, 2012
10 Questions With Cynthia Vespia
1. How has your father influenced your life and what was his role in your career as a writer?
My father was an entertainer. He sang and performed comedy in all the name hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. He always encouraged me to go after what I wanted in life. I know he was proud of my writing. He used to tell everyone about my novels.
I recently finished writing a thriller set in Las Vegas. As my hometown I wanted to paint the picture of the town realistically, not the fluff you may have seen or read about in the past. My father supplied me with great stories and anecdotes to include. My lead character is actually based on my Pops.
He touched a lot of lives and will be remembered fondly.
2. What’s the greatest moment in your writing career?
So far it has been the great feedback I’ve received from readers. That’s basically why I enjoy writing anyway, to entertain. It heartens me to know I’ve stirred emotions in people as they read my work. It means I’m doing something right!
3. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Maybe then I could finish it.
4. What is the strangest job you have ever had?
As an artistic type you wind up taking on a lot of different jobs to fill in the time between being a struggling writer and a NY Times Bestseller! LOL
My strangest job was probably being a model for the art school.
5. How has the digital revolution and the emergence of ebooks affected you as a writer?
It’s good and bad. Good, because those of us who have been struggling to break in and get our work in front of readers now have an opportunity to take that matter into our own hands rather than run into politics.
But it is bad because everyone and their kid sister now thinks they can write and publish a book. There is a lot of junk floating around out there in cyberspace cluttering up the virtual bookshelves. It is making it even harder to get noticed because now readers have to weed through 50 shades of crap…if you get my meaning.
6. Who is your favorite writer?
Dean Koontz. Always has been, always will be. His novels are why I started writing. The pace, the characters, and the depth of the plot are all intertwined in a delicious adventure.
7. Do you prefer writing stand alone novels or series?
They are both fun in their own right. Sometimes I get an idea that just needs to be pursued in a series in order to flush out my ideas. And sometimes they can be encapsulated in a stand alone. But I will say it is always fun to revisit characters I created in one novel and see where they head off to in the next chapter of a trilogy or series.
8. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
No themes. I’m not trying to send a subtle message or change the world with my writing. I just get an idea and think how it will be a fun ride for the reader, and for me while I write it. If anything I’ve been told I am cross-genre. I’ve had romance, horror, and comedy all in one novel before. It is really just about telling whatever story happens to be burrowed in the back of my mind.
9. What made you want to write your Demon Hunter Series?
I was reading a manual on hunting demons and vampires and I thought it would be fun to explore that concept further. Originally my character was based off Van Helsing from Dracula. I kept a bit of that sourcing in the novel but I extended it to make the character my own. I suppose I wanted to explore the vampire angle but do it in a gritty, non-sparkly way. For me vampires have always been vicious killers, not romantic and not heroes. But there is always room to play.
10. If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
I would have to check in on my Pop, my mom, my two sisters, and my brother up in Heaven and see how its going.
My father was an entertainer. He sang and performed comedy in all the name hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. He always encouraged me to go after what I wanted in life. I know he was proud of my writing. He used to tell everyone about my novels.
I recently finished writing a thriller set in Las Vegas. As my hometown I wanted to paint the picture of the town realistically, not the fluff you may have seen or read about in the past. My father supplied me with great stories and anecdotes to include. My lead character is actually based on my Pops.
He touched a lot of lives and will be remembered fondly.
2. What’s the greatest moment in your writing career?
So far it has been the great feedback I’ve received from readers. That’s basically why I enjoy writing anyway, to entertain. It heartens me to know I’ve stirred emotions in people as they read my work. It means I’m doing something right!
3. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Maybe then I could finish it.
4. What is the strangest job you have ever had?
As an artistic type you wind up taking on a lot of different jobs to fill in the time between being a struggling writer and a NY Times Bestseller! LOL
My strangest job was probably being a model for the art school.
5. How has the digital revolution and the emergence of ebooks affected you as a writer?
It’s good and bad. Good, because those of us who have been struggling to break in and get our work in front of readers now have an opportunity to take that matter into our own hands rather than run into politics.
But it is bad because everyone and their kid sister now thinks they can write and publish a book. There is a lot of junk floating around out there in cyberspace cluttering up the virtual bookshelves. It is making it even harder to get noticed because now readers have to weed through 50 shades of crap…if you get my meaning.
6. Who is your favorite writer?
Dean Koontz. Always has been, always will be. His novels are why I started writing. The pace, the characters, and the depth of the plot are all intertwined in a delicious adventure.
7. Do you prefer writing stand alone novels or series?
They are both fun in their own right. Sometimes I get an idea that just needs to be pursued in a series in order to flush out my ideas. And sometimes they can be encapsulated in a stand alone. But I will say it is always fun to revisit characters I created in one novel and see where they head off to in the next chapter of a trilogy or series.
8. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
No themes. I’m not trying to send a subtle message or change the world with my writing. I just get an idea and think how it will be a fun ride for the reader, and for me while I write it. If anything I’ve been told I am cross-genre. I’ve had romance, horror, and comedy all in one novel before. It is really just about telling whatever story happens to be burrowed in the back of my mind.
9. What made you want to write your Demon Hunter Series?
I was reading a manual on hunting demons and vampires and I thought it would be fun to explore that concept further. Originally my character was based off Van Helsing from Dracula. I kept a bit of that sourcing in the novel but I extended it to make the character my own. I suppose I wanted to explore the vampire angle but do it in a gritty, non-sparkly way. For me vampires have always been vicious killers, not romantic and not heroes. But there is always room to play.
10. If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
I would have to check in on my Pop, my mom, my two sisters, and my brother up in Heaven and see how its going.
September 6, 2012
Demon Hunter: Saga by Cynthia Vespia
Demon Hunter by Cynthia Vespia is a dark tale of epic fantasy. Set in an alternate world where magic and mythical creatures abound, the story starts with a young Costa Calabrese, living a life of indentured servitude, and longing for adventure. It’s the sort of thing many people can relate to – living a mundane life and wishing for more. In Costa’s case, he finds it when infamous demon hunter Cain Coleridge purchases him from his vicious owner.
As Costa begins to learn more about Cain, despite some of his misgivings, he finds a kindred spirit in him. Only later does the reader learn about the far deeper connection between them. After a slaughter in Costa’s village, he winds up in the camp of blind weapons master Talos. There Costa begins his preparation in his life as a demon hunter, befriending the elf Paralay, and the woman who will become his lover, Talisa.
Vespia does a good job of creating strong characters. All of the main characters and some of the minor ones are very distinct and easy to relate to. She also expertly weaves suspense and mystery into the story as the plot takes many turns from beginning to end. There is no shortage of fantastical adventure in this tale as Costa faces off against demons, vampires, dragons, and witches. Vespia does a good job in setting up these adventures, however one area that didn’t deliver as well as I would have liked is the battle scenes. Costa is made to be almost too powerful and dispatches his foes with ease even when they are built up to also be very powerful. More detail and drama in the fight scenes would have enhanced the tale’s gripping story line. Still, it wasn’t enough to take away from my enjoyment of the story, which was fast paced and well plotted including some good twists at the end. Demon Hunter has a little bit of fantasy, a little bit of horror, and a little bit of adventure. If you are a fan of those genres, you will leave satisfied.
As Costa begins to learn more about Cain, despite some of his misgivings, he finds a kindred spirit in him. Only later does the reader learn about the far deeper connection between them. After a slaughter in Costa’s village, he winds up in the camp of blind weapons master Talos. There Costa begins his preparation in his life as a demon hunter, befriending the elf Paralay, and the woman who will become his lover, Talisa.
Vespia does a good job of creating strong characters. All of the main characters and some of the minor ones are very distinct and easy to relate to. She also expertly weaves suspense and mystery into the story as the plot takes many turns from beginning to end. There is no shortage of fantastical adventure in this tale as Costa faces off against demons, vampires, dragons, and witches. Vespia does a good job in setting up these adventures, however one area that didn’t deliver as well as I would have liked is the battle scenes. Costa is made to be almost too powerful and dispatches his foes with ease even when they are built up to also be very powerful. More detail and drama in the fight scenes would have enhanced the tale’s gripping story line. Still, it wasn’t enough to take away from my enjoyment of the story, which was fast paced and well plotted including some good twists at the end. Demon Hunter has a little bit of fantasy, a little bit of horror, and a little bit of adventure. If you are a fan of those genres, you will leave satisfied.
