Monique Snyman's Blog, page 15

I’m Starting a Book Club!

A Book Club For Readers by Moi

You’ve read that right! And honestly, it’s about time, too! I mean, I live and breathe books, so why not turn an unused space into a nice little Book Club for readers in general? Now, I’m still working out the logistics of this book club, but basically it comes down to being: “A casual space for readers and book lovers to talk about books.” That’s it. Simple.

I’m Starting a Book Club!

A Book Club For Readers by Moi

You’ve read that right! And honestly, it’s about time, too! I mean, I live and breathe books, so why not turn an unused space into a nice little Book Club for readers in general? Now, I’m still working out the logistics of this book club, but basically it comes down to being: “A casual space for readers and book lovers to talk about books.” That’s it. Simple.

I’m Starting a Book Club!

A Book Club For Readers by Moi

You’ve read that right! And honestly, it’s about time, too! I mean, I live and breathe books, so why not turn an unused space into a nice little Book Club for readers in general? Now, I’m still working out the logistics of this book club, but basically it comes down to being: “A casual space for readers and book lovers to talk about books.” That’s it. Simple.

Quantity vs. Quality Writing: Finding Balance

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about the industry, so I thought I’d revamp an old essay so we can chat about Quantity vs. Quality writing, and whether finding balance between these opposing forces is even possible. So, let’s jump right to it.

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Without the Industrial Revolution, the Information Age would not exist.

There probably would not have been technological advancements in regards to travel, entertainment, and communication, either. Henry Ford would not have perfected a production assembly, which made affordable vehicles a possibility. Consumerism would have been just another word attributed to hoarders of tea, tobacco, sugar, and spices. Therefore, it’s safe to say the world would have been an entirely different place had the Industrial Revolution not occurred. It’s also the reason we can debate on whether creating more of a lesser quality is better or worse than creating less of a higher quality.

Book Consumerism

How does this apply to the book industry? Well, back in the day, books were seen as a luxury because producing books were far more complicated, and often made by hand. Being a writer wasn’t particularly popular, because there wasn’t much money to be made in the industry. Things have changed, though. Books are available in collector’s editions, hardbacks, trade paperbacks, mass paperbacks, and eBooks. This makes reading a more accessible pastime for people from all walks of life.

Writers sometimes make more money than their Regency Era counterparts, but it’s really a case of 0.001% writers profiting enough from their endeavors to turn writing into a full-time job. But, as the book market grows, it’s becoming apparent that the industry is evolving yet again. This evolutionary process brings into question the Quantity vs. Quality debate.

Whether you’re an author, publisher, editor, or marketer, this question is bound to pop up at some point, so take some notes as we proceed.

Quantity Writing

James Patterson is a household name; a brand in himself that makes millions of dollars for his publishers every year. With a staggering seventeen novels published in 2015 alone, it’s pretty obvious in what category Patterson falls. Of course, many of the novels published are co-written, because no human being can possibly produce seventeen (GOOD) novels in a single year. That said, his name still appears on the cover and he gets a piece of the pie, which is one of the advantages of being a Quantity Writer.

Yes, James Patterson is also the highest earning author of 2015 with an estimated $89 million, according to Forbes. This is $63 million greater than runner-up John Greene’s earnings for 2015, which is approximately $26 million. James Patterson is also famous enough to sport a fandom Elvis Presley would have envied. However, this money-making machine isn’t immune to the critique that follows the Quantity Writing approach. Many established authors frown upon Patterson’s formulaic writing for financial gain, though there’s only a few brave enough to publicize their thoughts on the matter. Take Stephen King for instance, who criticized Patterson, by saying he’s: “a terrible writer but he’s very successful”.

This, however, is a clash between writing gods, who have teams of editors and marketers and lawyers at their disposal, not to mention armies of fans who are better left unprovoked. Seriously, they have big beef with each other.

Quality Writing

Quality Writing, on the other hand, varies from person to person. In the academic community, one would say a Nobel Prize in Literature winner is probably the pinnacle of success. As far as author J.M. Coetzee is concerned, this might be true. The South African born author, who is also the recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature, is not only able to produce quality works worthy of notable awards, but his books translate into mainstream markets pretty well. Can the same thing be said about all of the Nobel Prize in Literature award recipients? Some marketers and publishers wouldn’t be keen on answering that particular question, but it’s a hot topic behind closed doors.

What about Bram Stoker Award winning authors? In the horror community these award winning books are the must-reads of the year, but let’s be honest, it’s been a while since a Bram Stoker Award winning book even made it to South African bookshops. Not to mention, mainstream readers couldn’t care less about industry awards, especially if the cover isn’t striking and the synopsis isn’t titillating.

Quality Writing can thus be seen as a variable, and variables make some publishers itchy.

Young Adult lovers will enjoy a John Greene book, and defend it to the death if someone criticisms the work. Fantasy fans devour Brandon Sanderson’s novels. Then there’s the young adult fantasy enthusiasts who can’t get enough of Sarah J. Maas. It’s all a matter of perspective when it comes to Quality Writing.

You see, here’s a secret few authors are aware of: The book industry is a high-stake poker game. It’s only when high-earning Quantity Writers like James Patterson are signed that a publisher can take their chances on one or two Quality Writers nobody’s ever heard of, because high-earning Quantity Writers pay the bills. They’re tried and tested and have been found worthy, which frustrates every Quality Writer on the planet.

Finding Balance

Here’s a better question yet: Do you have to be one or the other?

From a personal perspective, this Quantity vs. Quality debate shouldn’t even exist. There have been authors who have found a balance between Quantity Writing and Quality Writing. Sir Terry Pratchett, for example, wrote two to three books a year and sold millions upon millions of his novels, in an international market, and he often won awards for his work. So, technically speaking, Sir Terry Pratchett was able to find a balance without monopolizing the market one way or the other. A few other notable examples include: Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, and Rick Riordan.

A balance is only possible if greed isn’t the end all of one’s existence. Money makes things easier, true, but is it worth selling your soul, or your artistic integrity, or pride, just for a bit of extra cash? Some might say it is, and that’s their prerogative, but writing should never be about fame or fortune.

Writing is about telling a story the best way you can, and hoping your story can be part of one reader’s life, if only for a few hours.

Friday Favorites: True Crime Documentaries

I have a confession to make … I L❤️VE true crime documentaries. I mean, my true crime binges can literally last months on end. No, it’s not because I glorify the killers or have some weird serial killer fetish. I just enjoy trying to solve the puzzles. For me, the psychological aspects are what keeps me watching.

So, on this week’s Friday Favorites, I’m sharing the true crime documentaries that I’ve found the most impressive. Some of these I’ve watched several times, others are just a tad too heavy to re-watch (but they’re good nonetheless).

It should be noted that I haven’t added dramatized films or TV shows (like Mindhunters or Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile) to this list, because they are in a league of their own. That said, I’ve also tried to keep these documentaries fairly recent (some of the older ones I enjoy are outdated by now) and limited to murders and mysteries and such. There are so many true crime sub-genres, I couldn’t possibly fit everything into one post, so forgive me if you don’t see your favorite. That being said, please do recommend your favorites to me. I’m always searching for true crime documentaries.

What’s New Wednesday #24: Watch Me Prove You Wrong

BAM! It’s What’s New Wednesday time! This week, the theme is “watch me prove you wrong”, which is totally my current mood. For me, the best motivator is when I’m being underestimated. I thrive when everyone (including myself) expects me to wither, because the doubt fuels me in ways I can’t completely explain. It’s weird. *shrugs* I’m weird. But hey, it gets the job done.

A Terrifying Legend Comes to Life in THE BONE CARVER

The Bone Carver is watching you … waiting … tormenting your every waking moment. He makes himself known through targeting family and friends, effectively isolating you from your support system. The violence escalates significantly, faster than you anticipated it ever could. Soon, you feel like you’re going insane. Why is he doing this to you? Who is he? No … What is he?

Predator and Prey

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We live in a world where women are often seen as prey—pretty gazelles to hunt down and own. Easy targets. We are nothing more than trophies, playthings, amusements. The predators breaking us down, harassing us, making us feel like we’re subhumans come in all shapes and sizes, and their methods differ. Some are subtle in the way they go about their so-called hunt, while others are far easier to spot.

Every woman has been there in some way or another. Every woman has been made to feel uncomfortable … or worse. But we tell ourselves it doesn’t matter. He’s just joking. Right? Our stories don’t feel as important as the next woman’s, so we stay quiet, silently seething at the injustices our gender has to deal with on a daily basis.

You’d think in 2020 things would’ve changed by now for women across the world, but even with the #MeToo movement and the constant calling out of predators online, we’re all still sitting ducks. We’re just waiting for that next “Hey baby” to slide into your DMs, anticipating the next catcall in the street, wondering whether this dress is too short or that top too low-cut. Those little thoughts, the tiny fears we simply brush off, are constant reminders that we are not safe.

A Legend Becomes Real

In THE BONE CARVER, a legendary Fae who exhibits pattern predatory behavior is unleashed on the small town of Shadow Grove, and he has his sights set on Rachel Cleary. Why her and why now? What did she do to catch this terrifying creature’s attention? And what’s the deal with him hurting—or in some cases killing—other people to get to her?

With Orion Nebulius in the Fae Realm and Mrs. Crenshaw out of commission, things are quickly getting out of hand in Shadow Grove. Luckily, Rachel’s found a friend in Mercia Holstein—a teenage witch from a prominent family—to help her through these dire times.

The question is: Can Rachel, along with her small group of allies, save her and those they love before The Bone Carver completes his sinister mission or will she simply become another victim?

Get ready for a horrifying new adventure in the Harrowsgate series, releasing October 20, 2020!

The Bone Carver (Harrowsgate #2)

[image error] For a small New England town, Shadow Grove has an uncanny ability to attract the worst kind of trouble. Not that the residents are too concerned about the various horrors living among them.

As the leaves change color and the weather grows colder, a foul presence is making itself known by leaving peculiar gifts for the students of Ridge Crest High. At first, the presents seem harmless—and a rash of accidents seem coincidental—but when seniors Rachel Cleary and her Scottish cousin, Dougal Mackay, find a boneless body in the boiler room, things take an ominous turn.

Something vicious is on the loose in Shadow Grove, but with Orion Nebulius gone, Rachel has little hope of anyone getting out alive.

COMING OCTOBER 20, 2020

Pre-Order Today

A legend becomes reality in this much anticipated sequel to the Bram Stoker Award nominated novel, THE NIGHT WEAVER, as Monique Snyman brings you face to face with a terrifying creature with a deadly agenda in THE BONE CARVER.

Friday Favorites: Stephen King Flicks

It’s been so long since I last did a Friday Favorites post, I thought to get back into things by sharing my favorite Stephen King flicks! At this point, I suppose, Stephen King is a genre in itself. There are so many films to choose from, after all. My choices, however, may not be what is often considered “the best” by mainstream audiences, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Also, in this case the terms “TV shows”, “miniseries”, and “films” are kind of used interchangeably. Sorry about that.

Oh, and I may also have mentioned some of these in the past, but they’re worth mentioning again.

What’s New Wednesday #23: Guess My Mood

It’s time for this week’s What’s New Wednesday! Whoohoo! Are you ready for some fun new recommendations? Want to see all my new obsessions? Well, keep on reading, because boy oh boy, do I have a line-up planned for this week!

What’s New Wednesday!

Okay, so there’s no specific theme this week on What’s New Wednesday. I just thought I’d give ya’ll a little sneak peek of what my week will look like, in between all the writing and editing. Fair warning: I DO NOT have a very exciting life at the moment. The highlight of my month is when I went to get my nails done, so … yeah. At least, thanks to me being a writer and a bit of an introvert, I know how to keep myself entertained. That’s the one thing that’s kept me sane in 2020. Hopefully, if you’re still isolating, this post will help you find something to do.

Books

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I’m currently only reading one book at the moment, or rather rereading it: Fever by Deon Meyer. I seem to have gotten into a bit of a post-apocalyptic/dystopian theme with my current reads, so it only makes sense to add a bit of South African flavor into the mix. Now, for everyone who doesn’t know Deon Meyer, you’re in for a treat. Yes, it’s a translated book (Fever is translated from the Afrikaans Koors) and revolves around a father and son who’re trying to survive after a virus wiped out the majority of the world’s population. It’s an exceptional book and quite relevant. If you haven’t picked it up yet, now’s the time.

Music

[image error] [image error]I’ve been listening to a couple of wonderful albums lately. On loop. I regret nothing. LOL!

First up is Meg Myers’ Take me to the Disco, which is just everything I want in an album. So much emotion, so much truth. Let me tell you, I can’t get enough of her music! And yes, I listen to some of her older albums, too. On loop. I still don’t regret it.

What’s New Wednesday #22: Miss Me?

Miss Me?

Did you miss me? I mean, yeah, I know it’s not like I’ve been gone for years or anything, but I admit I’ve been a little on the quiet side lately. There are reasons, of course, and some of them are even good reasons. If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen me explain that I am currently working on 3 books right now, and all of them need to be done by the end of 2020. That’s the main reason. The other reason is: Not much has really happened that warranted a blog post from me.

I tried to do interesting and exciting stuff while we were in a hard lockdown, but honestly, we mostly just binged The Exorcist TV series and played PS4.

Now that we’re on Level 3 Alert, however, my life seems to be slowly going back to normal. So, I sincerely hope you didn’t miss me too much. But if you did miss me … well, thank you very much, and I missed you too!

Let’s get on with this week’s What’s New Wednesday!

Books

[image error] [image error] [image error] [image error]I’m not reading as much right now as I should, but I do have some books on my nightstand that I’m slowly working through.

My current obsession is James Herbert’s The Rats trilogy, which I absolutely love! I’ve finished the first book and have moved on to the second one, but I’m really digging the evolution of the story. What’s more, the writing is superb. Definitely worth delving into if you’re in the mood for murderous rat tales.

The other book I’m working through is Armageddon House by Michael Griffin. It’s a novella with an interesting premise that’s weirdly very relevant to what we’re all experiencing this year with the global lockdown stuff. This one looks super promising, folks.

TV Shows

[image error] [image error] [image error]I’ve been watching a few shows in between all the work, and I have to say they’re all rather good.

White House Farm is a limited miniseries that’s based on a true crime that happened in the 1980s in England. In the beginning, I got some Amityville vibes, but eventually it turns into a police procedural. The casting is excellent, the acting is brilliant, and the show is really well-paced. So, if you’re looking for something along those lines, give White House Farm a try.

I also recently binged Killing Eve, which is out of this world AMAZING! There’s a balance between seriousness and hilarity that simply can’t be beat. Of course, I have to point out that I just love Villanelle. She is such a memorable (and weirdly lovable) character … Everyone will enjoy this one, so check it out.

Snowpiercer was released on Netflix a few weeks ago, and so far I’m super intrigued. I remember watching the movie when it came out, but I can’t really recall if I enjoyed it. Maybe it’s time for a rewatch. Anyhow, the show is really top notch and delves into a dystopian future with class issues on a dystopian train. Give it a go if you’re not too depressed about our current situation. It’s good!

Games

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I don’t really have the time to play games and I’m not always keen on console gaming (I’m more of a PC gamer), but Husband showed me a trailer for A Plague Tale: Innocence, and I fell in love. I think it’s got something to do with the rats. LOL! Nevertheless, the game-play is smooth and the graphics aren’t too shabby either. So, if you’re looking for something for PS4, try your hand at this one.

On the Writing Front

Last month, I found out that The Night Weaver won a Silver IPPY award in the Horror category, but for some strange reason the news still hasn’t sunk in. I guess it’s because the global issues we’re all dealing with is just so overwhelming. I mean, it’s weird to celebrate anything at the moment, right? I dunno. What I do know is my book looks GORGEOUS is with its brand spanking new medal … *happy sigh*

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In other news, recently Crystal Lake Publishing released a new Crystal Classic, and guess who was fortunate enough to help make it shine? That’s right.