Isobel Blackthorn's Blog, page 26
December 17, 2017
The Good Life: 27 Nov 2017
I’m delighted to share Ann Creber’s reflections on The Cabin Sessions!
Hello Good Lifers,
We ran out of time yesterday to remind you of so many interesting events that are happening between now and Christmas (sooooo close!) but I will list as many as I can at the end of this waffle. ……………………………
For weeks – longer! – Isobel Blackthorn has been teasing us with promises of her new book CABIN SESSIONS and I finally received my awaited copy Saturday afternoon! This did not allow very much time to read it before we had our interview on Monday’s program, but I dived in to absorb as much as possible.
It is NOT an easy read, Isobel has written a dense novel in which every word has been carefully selected and given full value.. so it should be respected and read that way! Isobel has chosen a theme with which she became familiar during her years with the late local musician, Alex…
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Filed under: Uncategorized
December 16, 2017
The Cabin Sessions book launch wrap up!
The launch of The Cabin Sessions proved to be a night beyond my wildest expectations! The Alex Legg Memorial Foundation gave over the last Leggacy Sessions of the year, and I played host to a fine collection of musicians taking on the parts of various characters in my book.
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Barbara Jeffrey and Jose Garcia as Rebekah and David Fisher.
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Phil Lester and Neesy Smith as Joshua Thorne and Hannah Fisher
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Dave Wolfe as Ed Smedley
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Max Less and Annie Dixon as Philip Stone and Cynthia Morgan
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Fred Hess (left) as Nathan Sandhurst and Brian Baker (right) as Juan Diaz, along with Stewart Kohinga and Lloyd Spiegel
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Andy Cowan as Adam Banks
With thanks to Suzanne Diprose for her role as Delilah Makepeace, and for handing round the Christmas cake! And to Dave Diprose for his role as Alf Plum.
The night was made special by warm words of legendary Australian Bluesman ‘King of the Keys’ Andy Cowan in his official launch speech.
I came close to selling out of stock, which was a good thing as I was using a shopping trolley to cart the remaining books home with me by train!
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A special thank you to all who came to my launch. Friends came from as far as Ballarat, St Andrews, and beyond the Black Spur to share the night with me. I’m still feeling the love. And my thanks to those who are messaging me with warm praise as they open their copy and discover for themselves why Andy Cowan phoned me the day before the launch and told me he absolutely loved The Cabin Sessions.
My gratitude to the ALMF for their generous spirit, to all the musicians who performed, and to James Longmore at HellBound Books for making it all possible.
If you want to find out what the fuss is all about, visit any good online bookseller or grab a copy here.
Or use the contact page on this website for an author signed copy.
Click the link to read why the Alex Legg Memorial Foundation supported the launch and how instrumental, the late Alex Legg was in the creation of my book. https://isobelblackthorn.com/2017/10/14/the-cabin-sessions-and-alex-legg-a-novel-in-memory-of-a-remarkable-musician/
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Alex Legg, ALMF, Andy Cowan, dark fiction, debut horror, HellBound Books, psychological thriller, scary stories, The Cabin Sessions, Women horror writers, women in horror
December 10, 2017
Review: Demons, Devils and Denizens of Hell: Vol 2
I’m thrilled to share my review of Demons, Devils and Denizens of Hell: Vol 2, and anthology of horror stories compiled by P. Mattern, edited by Ztina Marie and published by HellBound Books.
“Another anthology of otherworldy delights, tales of horror, dread and hellish inhabitants, – all lovingly compiled by award-winning author P. Mattern.
Our second journey into the darkest recesses of Satan’s pit has superlative tales of nefarious delight by: Andrew MacKay, Ryan Woods, PC3, Richard Raven, Dante Crossroad, Josh Schlossberg, Brianna M. Fenty, Paul Lubaczewski, Marcus Mattern, R.L. Chambers, Gerri R Grayson, John T. M. Herres, James Nichols, Feind Gottes, P. Mattern & Lynne Ligocki Gauthier, R.L.Chambers, Richard Alan Long, Jaap Boekestein, James H, Longmore, Savannah Morgan, DJ Shaw, Bill Evans, Sergio “ente per ente” Palumbo, Jay Michael Wright II, and the incomparable Stephanie Kelley.”
As a reader of short stories I’m hard to please. I’m looking for substance and depth. I want to know the author has thought long and hard about character, setting and life in general. I’m not interested so much in being shocked or horrified. I’m interested in how the author is pulling it off. I want to be impressed. Also, I want wit. I guess that makes me hard to please. Especially regarding an anthology, a book readers will delve into when the fancy takes them, sampling rather than reading from end to end.
I opened Demons, Devils and Denizens of Hell: Vol 2 not knowing what I was to be treated to, save each story was destined to be either revolting, terrifying or both. What I discovered was a delight. Demons, Devils and Denizens of Hell: Vol 2 brims with cracking reads; the hallmark of the volume, strong writing. From the thoroughly revolting, edge-of-seat horror-crime story ‘Duplicate Counterpart’ by John T.M. Herres, to the mysterious and compelling, and ultimately shocking ‘There Shall Be No Night’ by Josh Schlossberg, and beyond, there is much to savour between the covers of this anthology.
Each story is distinct. James H. Longmore’s ‘My Possession: An Introspective’, a presentation of the state of mind of a sales executive turned writer wrestling with his inner demon called Dave, provides incisive wit and dark hilarity. As does ‘Beauty is the Beast’ by Gerri R. Gray, her protagonist, Vanity de Milo, a macabre twist on the children’s fairy tale the story alludes to.
Quoting from ‘The Huntress’ by Savannah Morgan, gives a taste of the sort of writing to be found in the anthology:
“Guts and entrails fell out like gruesome chunky soft-serve ice cream from a dispenser on the fritz.”
No matter the genre, sentences like that make a reader like me tingle.
Feind Gottes foreshadows his dark tale, ‘Black Lodge’, with some powerful imagery:
“A simple black lodge in a forgotten wood where ghosts feared to haunt but memories were free to crush a man’s soul.”
Like the other stories in this anthology, Gotte’s tale grips to the very last sentence.
The authors of these dark tales have stretched their imaginations, brought to bear their wit and drawn on their many and varied insights into the human condition. Not only that, they’ve applied themselves to the task of writing, and writing well. The result is a must read.
Buy your copy here.
Check out more from HellBound Books here
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: dark fiction, Demons, Devils and Denizens of Hell: Vol 2, Feind Gottes, Gerri R. Gray, HellBound Books, horror, James H Longmore, John T.M. Herres, Josh Schlossberg, P. Mattern, paranormal, Savannah Morgan, scary, short stories, spooky, Xtina Marie
December 9, 2017
Review: Kentucky’s Haunted Mansions by Jacob and Jenny Floyd
When I purchased my copy of Kentucky’s Haunted Mansions I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was a book grounded in history and fact and that was about it.
“Kentucky’s Haunted Mansions, from paranormal authors Jacob and Jenny Floyd, will take you into the homes of the dignitaries and luminaries that made Kentucky industrious through business, bureaucracy, and bloodshed. Beyond the rich, sweeping history that these men wrote, there lies the spiritual energy their lives left behind. Some of these mansions are alleged to be haunted, and many ghostly reports have come out of them. Read about phantoms such as the angry young girl at Griffin Gate to the vanishing cat of the Loudon House. Explore the accounts of the Ageing Lady on the stairs at Elmwood and the Creature of the Cross Breeze at Wickland Estate Discover several of the most elegant and haunted homes across the commonwealth. But rest assured, foolish mortals, there are no hitchhiking ghosts here–that we know of!”
Jacob and Jenny Floyd have put together a marvellous collection of haunted-house portraits, each with its own unique story. Together they provide a revealing and detailed, if potted, account of Kentucky’s history, from the state’s pre-foundation years, through its succession from Virginia in 1792, to the present day. The reader is taken on a journey from the hard facts of each mansion, its construction and its various owners and their deeds, through to accounts of paranormal happenings and ghostly sightings. The result is both informative and thoroughly entertaining.
The authors are careful not to sensationalise and the narrative comes with a healthy dose of skepticism, leaving it for readers to decide for themselves what to believe. Having experienced the paranormal on numerous occasions I am probably one of the believers, yet this is a book that will appeal just as much to doubters interested in the stories of hauntings and how they have come about.
This book is a must read for all who’d like a taste of the history of Kentucky as much as its supernatural inhabitants. As for those after a ghostly tale or two, look no further! This is the sort of book that should be on the shelf of every paranormal writer’s bookcase.
Grab your copy here.
Find out more about the authors here
Join Jacob on Facebook
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: ghost stories, ghosts, Haunted houses, History, Kentucky, non-fiction, paranormal, scary stories, supernatural
December 8, 2017
Review: On the Job by Sandi Wallace
I’m delighted to present my review of On The Job by Australian crime author, Sandi Wallace.
“The highs and lows of cops on the job. The cases that make them, break them, bring them laughs, maybe even love. Police on the beat, working one-officer shops and seasoned detectives pursue a cunning home intruder, a full-moon prankster, false friends, vengeful partners. Adrenaline-charged car chases, unsanctioned surveillance, intense interrogation. The impact of a child’s tragic death. The import of unearthing what happened to an infant and her mother. Lives saved and crooks captured. This gripping collection of Sandi Wallace’s award-winning short fiction–“Busted,” “Silk Versus Sierra” and “Losing Heidi”–along with new and never-before released verse and stories, includes “Impact,” a finalist in the international Cutthroat Rick DeMarinis Short Story Contest. ”
As ever with Sandi Wallace, each story in On The Job has the reader settling into a relationship of trust from the first paragraph, confident that the journey will satisfy. Wallace is a courageous writer, tackling the confronting and hard-hitting with sensitivity and depth of understanding. Her protagonists, the cops ‘on the job’, are sharply crafted and authentic. Wallace’s storytelling draws the reader up close, experiencing the reactions of investigating officers as they solve crimes and bang to rights the perpetrators.
Little wonder the stories here have won awards. Wallace charms her readers with tales that not only grip, they present socially realistic worlds, especially of rural Australia. There can be no doubt the author has done her research. These are stories that linger, long after they are read, and after experiencing the works of Sandi Wallace I, for one, will never imagine rural Australia in quite the same way again. This collection does not disappoint.
I’d like to thank the author for my review copy.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: crime fiction, Cutthroat Rick DeMarinis Short Story Contest, Davitt Award Readers' Choice, Rural crime, Sandi Wallace, short stories, Sisters in Crime, Stiletto Awards
November 24, 2017
Shopping List 2 – an outstanding horror collection
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“HellBound Books Publishing brings you an outstanding collection of horror, dark, slippery things, and supernatural terror – all from the very best up and coming minds in the genre. We have given each and every one of our authors the opportunity to have their shopping lists read by you, the most wonderful reading public, and have the darkest corners of their creative psyche laid bare for all to see…
In all, 21 stories to chill the soul, tingle the spine and keep you awake in the cold, murky hours of the night…”
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Mine is called ‘Ignominy’
About a year ago I signed up for a free online creative writing course as research for running my own. In those ten weeks participants were invited to write the bones of a short story. I came up with plain Jane on a train. Yeah, I guess I was feeling a bit cynical and detached as I was really just being a spy, but I jumped through the hoops and engaged anyway.
Then I tinkered with this Jane and her train journey, and the more I did, the darker the story became. The result is ‘Ignominy’, a dark tale about a train journey, describing where Jane has been, who she meets, and what happens as a result.
I ended up loving Jane so much I employed the same style in a novel-length work, which I am hoping will be published next year.
You can order a copy of this anthology, available in all formats, and enjoy all the other dark tales it contains here.
http://www.hellboundbookspublishing.com/shopping2.html
The anthology is also live on the HellBound Books Publishing app!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hellbound-books/id1212103597?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appmakr.hellboundbooks3
Enjoy!!!
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: anthology, black comedy, creepy, dark fiction, HellBound Books, horror, scary, short stories
Shopping List 2
About a year ago I signed up for a free online creative writing course as research for running my own. In those ten weeks participants were invited to write the bones of a short story. I came up with plain Jane on a train. Yeah, I guess I was feeling a bit cynical and detached as I was really just being a spy, but I jumped through the hoops and engaged anyway.
Then I tinkered with this Jane and her train journey, and the more I did, the darker the story became. The result is ‘Ignominy’, a dark tale about a train journey, describing where Jane has been, who she meets, and what happens as a result.
I ended up loving Jane so much I employed the same style in a novel-length work, which I am hoping will be published next year.
Meanwhile, you can pre-order a copy of this anthology, and enjoy all the other dark tales it contains. http://www.hellboundbookspublishing.com/shopping2.html
Enjoy!!!
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: anthology, dark fiction, HellBound Books, horror, short stories
November 22, 2017
On horror, dark fiction and The Cabin Sessions
When author Elizabeth Jane Corbett (The Tides Between) invited me to onto her site for an in-depth interview, I must have answered with my morning coffee on my desk. Her questions stimulated some detailed answers. I am no horror-genre expert, far from it, but I do have some thoughts about the genre and I am happy that through The Cabin Sessions, readers who would not normally go near a horror novel, are taking an interest.
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“This is a must read for all who like to be profoundly disturbed by their reading. Or for others, like me, who are simply keen to see the best of what this genre can hold.” – Elizabeth Jane Corbett.
Please go to her site to read the full review and interview. And do please share it around if you like it. Horror gets a bad rap sometimes. I’ve spoken to many many readers who shy from the genre, which is rich with fabulous writing.
Click here to read more about The Cabin Sessions, with audio interviews, reviews and more.
BUY The Cabin Sessions here, if the fancy takes you.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Breath holding, dark fiction, horror, literary horror, open mic, psychological thriller, psychopaths, The Cabin Sessions
November 10, 2017
Unnerving and The Cabin Sessions
It’s been a big week for The Cabin Sessions. First I received a warm and thoughtful review in Unnerving Magazine…
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…and I was then invited to be interviewed.
To read the full review, and so much more click on the link. http://www.unnervingmagazine.com/
Click for more on The Cabin Sessions
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Book review, Breath holding, dark fiction, literary fiction, literary horror, open mic, psychological thriller, Religious cults, The Cabin Sessions, Unnerving magazine
November 6, 2017
#AWW challenge completed!
I signed up late to the 2017 Australian Women Writer’s challenge. Despite those lost months, I committed to reviewing at least six books by Australian women authors, which is known as the ‘Franklin’ challenge. I ended up reviewing seven titles and I would have written more had I not found myself unexpectedly moving house!
What a delightful experience the #AWW has been! I’ve ventured into genres I wouldn’t normally read. I’ve found many absolute gems along the way.
I began with Kathryn Gossow’s Cassandra, an absolutely charming literary coming of age story. “Cassandra is laced with evocative descriptions of rural Queensland. Gossow’s characterisations are convincing and her pacing measured. Early suspense shades into a textured exploration of clairvoyance, dreams, trance states and the predictive powers of Tarot, as Cassie tries to get a handle on her own inner powers; her friend, the ever doubtful Athena, egging her on.”
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From there I ventured into crime with Sandi Wallace. I ended up reviewing two titles by this author, Tell Me Why, and Dead Again . “With wit and a sharp eye for the essentials, Wallace has built a story world that feels real. A page turner with much to savour, Dead Again is a moving and highly engaging read.”
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For literary fiction, I turned to Heather Rose’s The Museum of Modern Love, “Rose is a masterful writer, her depictions of incidental characters sharply observant, yet her prose is always gentle, haunting. The Museum of Modern Love is a meditation, on art and creativity to a large extent, but above that on pain, physical and emotional pain, the anguish of loss and grief.”
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I went back to crime with L.J. M. Owen’s Mayan Mendacity my review appearing on the Sisters in Crime Australasia’s website. “In all, I found Mayan Mendacity difficult to put down. Owen has provided her readers with an entertaining story that also informs, without allowing exposition to put a brake on the narrative. Pulling off a story laden with this much technical detail and maintaining a fast pace is quite a feat.”
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I then took a detour into historical fiction, unable to pass up the opportunity to review Elisabeth Storr’s Call To Juno an absolute feast of a read. “This is a story for those who enjoy their historical fiction rich with fine and accurate detail. Call to Juno is intensely visual, bringing ancient Rome to life, composed by an author who clearly knows her subject.”
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Finally, I was treated to Elizabeth Jane Corbett’s The Tides Between “The Tides Between pulls the reader in two directions, the desire to continue turning the pages at odds with an equally a strong wish to pause and reflect on its various intricacies, its depth. The only difficulty faced in reviewing a book of this quality is putting it down long enough to scribe reflections. A work I would describe as literary historical fiction, The Tides Between, is a captivating and immersive read.
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Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: #AWW, crime fiction, Elisabeth Storrs, Elizabeth Jane Corbett, Heather Rose, Historical fiction, Kathryn Gossow, L.J.M. Owen, Sandi Wallace, The Stella Prize, Women writers
