Toi Thomas's Blog, page 71

Sample Sunday 39

Here is approximately 100 – 150 words from a randomly selected original piece for your enjoyment. These samples can include excerpts from my all my WIPs and my Eternal Curse Series, but only as works in progress (not the final products). These samples of published and unpublished works are protected under the U.S. Copyright agreement.

Eternal Curse: Battleground chapter 5 (wip)

There are very few things in life that ‘they’ say can happen that you will never completely recover from them, and we were about to experience just such a thing. Mira and I were about to come face to face with a being, not unlike myself, but driven by an evil we hadn’t the comprehension to imagine. Like me, this creature traveled the plane of this world, but it was not of this world. That first encounter was an initiation; it was almost harmless in comparison to what we were to face in our future. We knew sooner or later we’d meet an evil half-breed or an other-realmer, but we didn’t think it would happen within the sacred walls of a church.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: EC: Battleground, Samples Tagged: angels, demons, Eternal Curse: Battleground, family, fiction, reading, sample excerpt, spec-fic, Toi Thomas, war, wip

Review: The Reader of Acheron

The Reader of Acheron Review

By Jaq D. Hawkins

Amazon

Traditional Fantasy as it should be. The story begins with a wizard’s apprentice learning his letters, but the mood soon turns dark as the reader is brought into a world where reading is forbidden and a collusion of renegade magicians is formed.

What I loved about this story is that it drew me in right away, instantly transported into a fantasy world where the parameters were clear even as I learned each detail of the world as I went along. This is a mark of well-written Fantasy fiction. It has all the testosterone-laced marks of the sword & sorcery genre; mercenaries, a runaway slave, renegades who hide their ability to recognise letters and that sort of mock-medieval feeling to the imaginary world.

I noted that it held my interest more than a better-known classic fantasy novel (big 6 published) that I’ve been reading at the same time. There is hope, we do have a new generation of Fantasy writers who can tell a story that is both intriguing and full of action. We just have to sift through the self-published slush pile to find these gems. I will be keeping an eye on Walter Rhein.

Rhein can write a good battle scene. Just enough description to make the movie play in your head. The book finishes on a note that leaves the door open for the inevitable sequel, but with an interesting world established, I may well have to read it. I can see this series developing as it goes along and look forward to reading more from this author.

This review has been posted to Amazon US and Amazon UK.

****

image provided by author

If you enjoyed this review, why not check out more from Jaq D. Hawkins? See what she likes to read and learn about her own writing. Go ahead and click the images provided to add these books to your Amazon wish lists or purchase.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Guest Posts, Reviews Tagged: books, Dance of the Goblins, ebook, fantasy, fiction, guest post, Jaq D. Hawkins, review, The Reader of Acheron, try this

Writing/Poetry Promotion Tips by Lillian Brummet

Despite the global economic issues facing us today and the rising competition on the book promotion market, poetry is a growing market with an increasing readership. In the world of writing it is generally well known that poetry is one of the hardest genres to market, however there are a number of opportunities if one knows where to look.

Over the years I’ve noticed a growth in online radio programs that focus on poetry. Like print publications, each radio program will have a unique focus – some may accept poetic works according to the region, genre or topic. If you have access to the internet, all you need to do is do a search at each online radio station using key works such as poetry, poets, writing and the genre you write in (i.e. gardens, environment, social change, etc).

When you prepare the query there are several options to consider. First, how do you appeal to their audience? When does the radio show go live? How do listeners access the archived show? How do you plan on promoting the event if they decide to feature your work?

Depending on the radio program’s operations you might be calling in to a live show, or you might be recorded for a later date. Most radio shows will simply have a conversation over the telephone, so your location is not usually an issue, and this helps you reach a global audience. Some radio shows are Skype friendly (skype.com); Skype offers a way for people to have conversations using their computer and a headset – which is a budget-friendly option helping us avoid expensive long distance telephone charges. The host might want to interview you about the creation process, your experiences with poetry readings or the publication industry. They will likely need you to read at least one of your poems on air, be sure to choose poems that suit their audience.

The host may ask you to offer a pre-recorded MP3 file of your reading, and this is where you can have a lot of fun with having background music, or a variety of sounds from nature to industry – depending on your reading. When creating an MP3 file you can either use a recording of a live performance you did recently at a poetry café or something like that, or you can do a reading specifically for that radio show. Some radio shows will ask you to provide only one poem in MP3 format, others will want a longer performance. Be sure you have clarified what the host or program director requires from you.

Occasionally a radio host will be open to playing a 30 second promotional MP3 for your published book, magazine or website during one of their shows for free – all you have to do is ask. MP3 files that were created for radio shows are useful for websites as well, allowing visitors to a website to listen to the author reading their work in their own voice.

Online radio is only one option for a poet’s marketing plan. We can also consider online publications from e-zines to blogs that are often very willing to highlight a poet’s work. Be sure to offer those MP3’s to these sites as well, you never know what they might like to use. Another frugal and useful option is YouTube videos (youtube.com) where you can record yourself reading your work, or presenting it to a live audience. These videos are helpful for websites, publications and blogs to enrich the experience for their audience.

~ Lillian Brummet: Award winning author, book marketing guru, owner of the award winning Brummet’s Conscious Blog, and both the host and executive producer of the Conscious Discussions Talk Radio show. (www.brummet.ca)

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Guest Posts Tagged: Brummet Media Group, Lillian Brummet, poetry, promotion, radio, writing

Tea and Conversation 10: Virginia

Today I’m sharing a picture of a painting and quote about “tea in the garden”.

Please do not copy this image. Click image to share on Pinterest.

Today in my meditation on the Eternal Curse, I’m writing about: Why Virginia?

Who was it who said “Write about what you know”? Well, that’s a whole other issue I don’t feel like getting into right now, but I do like what this phrase means to me. To me “Write what you know” means using aspects of your own understanding to enhance your creativity.

While my EC: Giovanni’s Angel story travels a bit, the majority of the present action takes place in a small fictional town in the U.S. state of Virginia. Here is another example of me putting myself into my writing. It’s no secret that writing about life in a small town and Virginia came easy to me because I’ve lived in many small towns and have lived in Virginia for over twenty years. (I can’t believe I just wrote that. Oh man, how old am I?)

I thoroughly enjoy traveling: seeing new places, trying new things, and learning and experiencing different cultures, but I’m always grateful to have a place to call home when I’m ready to leave. I think my personal sense of Virginia being home to me is reflected in my book. As the Eternal Curse continues many more places will be visited and Giovanni will make other places his residence, but there will always be one place he’ll return to when he needs to feel that sense of “home” and it’s in Virginia.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: EC: Giovanni's Angel, Tea & Conversation Tagged: conversation, Eternal Curse, fiction, home, pictures, stories, tea, Virginia, writing

WWW Wednesday 4/9/14

WWW WEDNESDAYS… is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of “Should Be Reading”, where you share: (1)What you’re currently reading, (2)What you recently finished reading, and (3)What you think you’ll read next.

As I am only contributing to this meme on a monthly basis, while comments and shares are welcomed here, be sure to visit Should Be Reading each week to see who’s reading what.

What are you currently reading?

I finally started Cassastar and am liking it. I kept putting it off because I thought I needed to give it special attention, but then I faced reality. It’s in my nature to read multiple books at once.

   

What did you recently finish reading?

My life has been so crazy, I honestly don’t know how or when I read all these books, but I did. Some of these did take months though. I guess I drowned myself in fiction. I think it helped. Reviews have yet to be written. :(

      

What do you think you’ll read next?

I actually have no clue. Perhaps I’ll try to read some sequels I’ve been meaning to check out.

–

What is your WWW Wednesday?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: WWWWednesday-Blogdom Tagged: books, Toi Thomas Reads, try this, WWWWednesday

Character Files from the ToiBox 53: Jack-Preferences

Preferences: Subject EC:B 3-Jack

Favorite Color: silver

Favorite Food: meat

Favorite Book or Movie: Independence Day

Favorite Music: rock

Favorite Pastime: puzzles, lock picking, and research

Other: Tries to be a good person, often says the wrong thing, and loyal to the end.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Character Files, EC: Battleground Tagged: #thetoiboxofwords, angels, blogging, character, demons, Eternal Curse, fiction, Giovanni's Angel, Jack, meme, preferences, profile, reading, Toi Thomas, wip, writing

Top 5: 10 Fictional Role Models

This is a list of my top five something. Most of the time my lists are pretty static, but sometimes I do change my mind. While I do try to apply some logic to my choices, sometimes I pick things that make no sense and for no good reason other than “I like it.”

Oliver Warbucks played by Albert Finney: Google search forbes.com

Fictional Everyday/Role Model Heroes

1. Atticus Finch

2. Forrest Gump

3. Winnie the Pooh

4. Carl Fridricksen (from Up!)

5. Oliver Warbucks

There are endless numbers of other characters that could and should be on this list- and they are, but I’m only providing the top 5. Some of these characters don’t do much, but sometimes one little thing can make a big difference; showing that people can change leaves quite an impression.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Listography-Top5-MyLife Tagged: author, biography, fiction, likes, personal, role models, Toi Thomas, top 5

Jaq D. Hawkins Interview – Fiction Author

Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Jaq D. Hawkins. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down.

image provided by author

Toi Thomas: Hi there Jaq! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.

Jaq: Hello Toi. I’m ready to share.

Toi Thomas: So tell me, who is Jaq D. Hawkins?

Jaq: I started writing at age 6, but I’ve travelled a lot and lived in more than one country so I didn’t settle down and pursue publishing until I was in my 30′s. My first books were traditionally published in the Mind, Body, Spirit genre, though I’ve gone indie now. I love cats and can cook and knit like a proper domestic, but I’m basically an old hippy with Goth tendencies.

Toi Thomas: How very refreshing you are. I can tell this is going to be a fun interview. Like you, I don’t fit into any one particular category and I must admit, I’m excited to see what this old hippy with Goth tendencies is going to say.

Toi Thomas: So whacha got for me today?

image provided by author

Jaq: I’ve just released a new, expanded third edition of Dance of the Goblins, which is first in a series of three books about a post-apocalyptic society that has developed a feudal system of life and is suddenly faced with the reality of goblins living under the streets of the old ruined city. The goblins have a shamanic way of life and really just want to be left alone, but once they are discovered by humans, renewal of an ancient conflict is inevitable.

Toi Thomas: I’m already intrigued. It’s quite clear simply from the way you describe it, that this book has layers and depth. No doubt this is an entertaining read, but I have a feeling it also serves to open one’s mind and make you think.

Toi Thomas: So who’s starring is this 2 dimensional script read of Dance of the Goblins?

Jaq: The two most important characters are the leader of the humans, Count Anton, and a goblin called Haghuf. Haghuf despises humans, but he studies magic and when he learns that Count Anton is a magician along with all of the ruling class, his oldest prejudices are challenged. As for Count Anton, he has his own secrets but the one thing that torments him most is his envy for the goblins’ way of life.

Toi Thomas: I like that it seems that the one element that’s going to bring these two peoples together is one of a spiritual nature. Magic shared by humans and goblins sounds fascinating. It seems as though I quite like the way you think.

Toi Thomas: Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

Jaq: I’ve always got ideas overflowing into notes for future projects. I like to write first thing in the morning, in the quiet of morning when everyone else is still asleep. Stories often start with a concept, followed by a beginning and sometimes a predetermined end, like the science fiction story I’m working on now. I’m organised by nature and have had to discipline myself to stick to one project until finish to avoid working on too many projects at once and progressing too slowly on all of them. I write snippets of multiple stories, but I’ve always got a primary project scheduled to be finished next.

Toi Thomas: I like that your methodology. I have to admit, I sometimes get caught up working on too many things at once. I’ve only recently settled on making and keeping notes of new ideas while trying to focus on one primary objective. Someday, perhaps, I’ll be as productive as you.

Toi Thomas: What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?

Jaq: In my fiction writing, world building has always been the one thing I admire most in other writers and have enjoyed discovering for myself. Marion Zimmer Bradley‘s Darkover books are a strong influence and Anne McCaffrey‘s Pern. Also Roger Zelazny‘s Amber series.

Toi Thomas: I agree that world building is important. I like the idea of feeling as though I’ve been to a place that I know doesn’t exist…

Toi Thomas: Now this is where the questions get a little personal; are you ready?

Jaq: Absolutely.

Toi Thomas: Alright then, here we go.

Toi Thomas: Whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Jaq: Brian Cox would be fun to chat with. He’s intelligent and has imagination. I can imagine the kind of fiction he would write if he moves that way from writing his science books.

Toi Thomas: Nice choice. I’ve often had the feeling that people who are experts in certain areas would be best at writing fiction related to those topics.

Toi Thomas: Who is so you and why?

Jaq: Austin Osman Spare, because he is so not anyone else. ;)

Toi Thomas: Going for a sense of complete individuality I get that. Fair enough.

Toi Thomas: What’s your ideal reading spot for your next highly anticipated read?

Jaq: Personally I read in a comfortable big chair in my living room. I tune out noise and don’t even hear music if it’s on, assuming I’m reading something really good. I’m most likely to read either a paperback or my Kindle, though occasional hardbacks get onto my shelves.

Toi Thomas: That comfy chair sounds nice. I typically read in bed or at my new desk. For the first time in years, I’m actually using a desk.

from Wikipedia

Jaq: I read a *lot* as a pre-teen. One that stands out was Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks. I had a lot of interest in the hippy culture and read adult level books more often than teen books.

Toi Thomas: It seems that I leaped a bit in my reading as child too (but not in the same way). I adored reading age-level or age-appropriate books until about the age of 13. I never got into teen books…

Toi Thomas: Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

Jaq: Absolutely.

Toi Thomas: Alright then, here we go.

from Wikipedia

Toi Thomas: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Jaq: It would be a toss-up between Yellow Submarine by the Beatles or Labyrinth, with David Bowie.

Toi Thomas: Shut up! :D I love Labyrinth! I mean I like Yellow Submarine too, but Labyrinth is one of my all-time faves.

Toi Thomas: What makes you geek out?

Jaq: Filmmaking. I got into it sort of accidentally and I’ve learned loads about editing in recent years. It has definitely brought out my inner geek.

Toi Thomas: How cool it that! As much as I adore the cinema, you’d think I’d be trying to learn more about it; maybe one day.

Toi Thomas: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

Jaq: I have Mars in Pisces so don’t do rage, but I like deeply intense music from many categories. Goth, Classical, and sometimes the upbeat 1960′s stuff as well as 80′s music (not Disco)  and some of the bands that have come out of Scandinavia in the 90′s. I have very broad musical tastes, but Deine Lakaein would be a good band for my personal soundtrack.

Toi Thomas: It saddens me sometimes how much music is dismissed simply as a form of entertainment. Music is emotional and personal. Music is communication across barriers. I love asking this question and receiving insight into a person’s character. I still find it hard to comprehend how some people don’t like music of any kind, when I enjoy so many kinds.

Toi Thomas: Now let’s play zombie urban survivor. What 3 things do you need to survive a black-out in Central Park the day zombies attack?

Jaq: You know I’ve got a zombie film in edit, right? My favourite zombie kill involved diet coke and Mentos.

Toi Thomas: Wow, you are too cool! Are you allowed to tell me the name of the film? Do you force feed a zombie a hand full of Mentos and then pour in some diet Coke and wait for the head to explode, or am I totally on the wrong page?

Toi Thomas: What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Jaq: My first summer of film production would be a definite contender.  I got away with so much! Travelling with a carnival at the age of 16 might beat it though.

Toi Thomas: How many kids want to run away with the circus- and you traveled with a carnival. I’ll say it again; you are so cool! I bet that was fun. You should write about that.

Toi Thomas: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

Jaq: I will always write. My filmmaking has specific goals and once they are reached, I’ll settle back into just writing again. Hopefully a bit more travel by then.

Toi Thomas: I like those plans. They are simple and sweet.

Toi Thomas: Is there a question you would like to ask me?

Jaq: More an observation. You’ve done a lot to encourage and promote other authors and I think we should all appreciate the efforts you make for indies.

Toi Thomas: Thank you for saying that. It really means a lot.

Toi Thomas: So, do you mind if I ask, thoughts on EC: GA?

Jaq: I’ve done a review on Amazon for Eternal Curse. I thought it was a really interesting story and very original. I’m still new to reading stories about Angels but I think this one set the bar pretty high.

Toi Thomas: Again, thank you for your kind words. I don’t know that this book will ever fit into any specific genre enough to be fully understood by the masses, but if I’m able to provide a little entertainment, I’m cool with that. Who know, maybe one day I’ll be a dynamic as Jaq D. Hawkins in whatever genre I settle in.

Okay readers, blogger, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Jaq D. Hawkins, check out these great links:

Website: Jac D. Hawkins

Blog: Goblins & Steampunk

Facebook: The Goblin Series by Jaq D Hawkins

Twitter: @JaqDHawkins

Pinterest: Jaq D

Amazon Author Central: Jaq D. Hawkins

This has been a

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Interviews Tagged: #thetoiboxofwords, author, books, Dance of the Goblins, fantasy, fiction, interviews, Jaq D. Hawkins, life, links, movies, music, process, Toi's comments, try this, writing

WIP Update 14 – Writer’s Creed 3

No update today. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Click image to learn more.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: WIP Updates-Writer's Creed Tagged: author, books, character, fiction, Paula Munier, process, Toi Thomas, wip, Writer's Creed, writing

When A Fantasy World Spills Over by Jaq D. Hawkins

Click image to see more books in the Deathgate Cycle.

I’ve read Fantasy since a very young age and one of the wonderful discoveries of my young reading days was the series. Fantasy writing involves a lot of world building and setting up ‘rules’ of the society, but more importantly, the reader as well as the writer often falls in love with an imaginary world and a series allows both to continue to visit these Fantasy realms in our imagination.

Some of my early loves were Anne McCaffrey’s Pern and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover. I was fascinated by the laws of Physics and how they were gently warped in Roger Zelazny’s Amber. Some worlds were less of a joy to visit, such as the challenging worlds conquered by Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champion series heroes and the prison world of the Deathgate Cycle by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Even these worlds embraced the fantastic and stretched the imagination into the far reaches of possibility. The seedy streets of Thieves World and the subculture of vampires in Anne Rice’s novels that began with Interview With the Vampire allowed the reader to adventure in dark and dangerous realms from the safety of their favourite reading chair.

I first became a published writer in the old traditional way in the 1980′s, but I was writing in a non-fiction genre and there was a part of me that always wanted to write in my own Fantasy world. I made an attempt once or twice to formulate an imaginary world and found that it couldn’t be forced. I had written a lot of fiction in high school, but as much as my Mind, Body, Spirit books flowed easily, my inspirations for fiction had become fragmented during many years of my life when I was travelling a lot and experiencing different aspects of real life.

It was something from real life that eventually sparked the seed of a new Fantasy realm. George Bush II was about to be re-elected *cough* and I had dipped my toe into activist groups in an attempt to start a worldwide protest movement that would reflect the atmosphere of 1969. I found that modern activist groups mostly worked separately and each had their own agenda, so co-ordinating anything after the effects of the ‘me’ generation of the 1980′s was effectively impossible. While contemplating how things should be rather than how they are, a line of dialogue entered my mind.

“We are not like you. We do not glory in having power over our own kind. Or imagining that we do.” ~Haghuf, Dance of the Goblins

It wasn’t something that a human was likely to say to another human, so in my mind the speaker became a goblin and suddenly an idea for a whole society, a Shamanistic subculture of goblins was born. Ten minutes later I was busy scribbling and when I stopped, chapter one was finished. I threw in some magicians for the goblins to interact with and they took over as the ruling class and suddenly, a whole new Fantasy world had effectively laid itself out for me.

During the course of writing the first book, the second and third books became notes files. There were things I wanted to follow up in subsequent generations, but I decided I would definitely stop at three. A series that goes on too long can weigh heavy on a reader. As much as I enjoyed Deathgate Cycle, I was very anxious for it to finish in the last few books. However, Darkover and Anne Rice’s Vampire books had transcended the sequential series by expanding through stand alone books. These worlds can be dipped in and out of without any need for sequence. My answer to this was to work towards a book of short stories related to my goblin world, Meat For the Storytelling. At this stage I have story notes to fill two volumes, but the stories that have been released to date can be read at http://jaqdhawkins.wordpress.com/.

When I finish ten of them, I will bundle them into the first collection and offer it at minimal price. How long it will go one to further volumes will be decided by the goblins. As long as I still have need to visit their world, the short stories will make a convenient arena to fill in pieces of back story or new adventures that reveal more detail about the societies that make up the series.

If you are writing about a Fantasy world, don’t feel that you have to put everything into a first book. Let it unfold in stages so that both you and your readers can enjoy the thrill of discovery at every point along the way. To build a world begins with a basic landscape and a few rules. The rest will fall into place as you write. Once you have established your own world, side novels or stories can go on for as long as someone, especially the writer, wants to return just one more time to experience this special realm of your imagination.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Guest Posts Tagged: blogging, books, Dance of the Goblins, Deathgate Cycle, fantasy, fiction, Jaq D. Hawkins, Meat For the Storytelling, reading, sample, series writing, The Goblin Series, world building, writing