A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 160
December 4, 2015
Author Interview Number Ninety-Eight – Dan Buri
Welcome to Dan Buri
Where are you from and where do you live now? I grew up in the Midwest in the States. I moved out to the beautiful Pacific Northwest a little over ten years ago.
Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration in my everyday life. I think good writers have a unique gift of empathy. They work hard to understand another person’s pains, hopes, dreams and fears. I really try to understand each person that I encounter in my life. These experiences tend to inspire me and seep into my writing.
Are your characters based on real people? I think every character an author creates is based on a real person or an amalgamation of real people. It is just too difficult to not let experiences and biases seep into one’s writing. That being said, I didn’t have a specific person in mind when creating any of the characters in Pieces Like Pottery.
In what formats are your books available? (E-books, print, large print audio) Are you intending to expand these and if not, what is the reason?This is my first published non-fiction work. It is available in ebook at most large retailer websites right now. I hope we will see it in print next year, but only time will tell.
Do you think indie/self-published authors are viewed differently than traditionally published authors? Why do you think this might be? I think this used to be the case without question, but we have seen significant changes in the last 3-to-5 years. Ebooks have done wonders for changing the accessibility of indie authors, both from a publishing standpoint as well as from a readership standpoint. It has become much easier to see your work published than, say, 20 years ago. This has naturally had an effect on what gets published. The big six publishers are large corporations and as much as they aim to focus on creativity and great works, it’s difficult for them because they have thousands of people that work for them and rely on them. So the big six are constantly focused on what will be a commercial success. The irony is that they don’t know what will be a commercial success just like you and I don’t know. What do Harry Potter, A Wrinkle in Time, Gone With the Wind, and Twilight have in common? They were all initially rejected by publishers. They just don’t know what’s going to sell. Indie authors have a little bit of freedom from this. We all want our books to do well commercially of course, but we are also able to take creative chances that a big six publisher might be unwilling to take.
I think the quality of indie/self-published books has improved immensely too. There is such a high bar for indie authors and we quickly lose the reader’s trust if there are errors or incongruities in our stories. The editing process is so important in avoiding these errors. I don’t have any evidence to back this up, it’s only anecdotal, but it seems like the best self-published ebooks are of a higher quality now than 5-10 years ago. This has helped close the perception gap between indie authors and traditionally published others.
When buying a book do you read the reviews? I do tend to peruse the reviews, but most of what I buy is via recommendations. I keep a list on my phone of all the books that have been recommended to me from people I trust. I’m lucky enough to live blocks from the world’s largest used bookstore—Powell’s City of Books. I just pull out my phone every time I go there and grab a couple selections off of my recommended list.
Do you have any pets? I do not currently have any pets. I have a two-year-old daughter that is allergic to dogs and cats. It’s a little bit heart-breaking because she absolutely loves dogs and cats. We walk through downtown Portland (Oregon) everyday and pet the dogs that walk by. She jumps up and down in excitement. But unfortunately, a pet in the home wouldn’t work well.
Can you name your worst job? Do you think you learned anything from the position that you now use in your writing? I have had more odd jobs than I can count. I worked maintenance at a high school one summer. One of the tasks was to empty out the 15-year-old water from a boiler in the basement of the school. The only way to empty it was to syphon the water out through a narrow tube, but I had to suck the water up through the tube until it reached the syphon valve that would then automatically start pumping the water out. My co-worker was supposed to tell me when the dirty boiler water reached the valve, but he got distracted. I swallowed a mouthful of that 15-year-old boiler water. Let me tell you, it still makes me queasy to this day. I was heaving and retching for quite awhile after that. I’m not quite sure what I learned from that, though, except that it’s a fairly funny story.
We all have to work tough jobs so we can continue to do what we love—write. I’ve worked a lot of writing jobs too—blogger, ghost writer, research assistant, editor, teacher’s aid, researcher. I didn’t enjoy all of those, but they have all helped me hone my craft in some way.
Can you give us a silly fact about yourself? When I was younger, I used to play Star Wars with my three older brothers. My oldest brother would be Luke Skywalker. My second oldest brother would be Han Solo. My brother just older than me would be Chewbacca. They would make me be Princess Leia. I have no idea why I couldn’t have been C-3PO or R2-D2 or Lando Calrissian even. They always made me be Princess Leia.
What experiences can a book provide that a movie or video game cannot?Books provide a depth of insight and character development that just isn’t possible in the two-hours that movies offer. I think every one of us has had the experience of seeing a movie you enjoyed only to have a friend say, “Meh. It’s not as good as the book.” We’ve all said this and we’ve all been frustrated when a friend has said it to us. But it’s almost universally true. Movies simply can’t capture that depth in the short amount of time they have with the viewer. Television shows and video games are becoming much closer to the level of detail and depth of insight that books provide, particularly television. This is why I think we’re seeing so many writers and directors gravitate to that medium. It just offers them more freedom to develop complex characters.
What three pieces of advice would you give to new writers? Over the years I have been lucky enough to be offered abundant feedback and to hear excellent commentary from a few creative people that I admire greatly. There are three comments/ideas that have stuck with me throughout all my writing endeavours. (Each of these is summarized in my own words.)
When asked about the fears and doubts that she had with her writing, Elizabeth Gilbert (best selling author of Eat, Pray, Love) said she finally had an epiphany that her “writing muse” was telling her that this isn’t her story. If she doesn’t tell it, she said, then the muse would move on to someone else who will. Ms. Gilbert discussed how freeing this was for her. She was no longer declaring to the reader: “Listen to me. I have something to say.” It was almost as if she had no other choice but to write. This opened her up to write every day without fear of the result.
Ira Glass is an American public radio personality and the host and producer of the radio and television show This American Life. He has a great quote for young creatives. In short, he encourages us that our work is not going to be good when we’re first starting out. We may have an excitement for our craft and a killer taste for what’s good, but our execution is poor. The only way to improve your work, the only way to close the gap so that your work is as good as your ambitions, is to do a lot of work. Write. Every day. Every week put yourself on a deadline to write something new. It’s going to take awhile, but that’s normal. Good writing doesn’t come the first time you sit down.
Louis C.K. is one of the most thoughtful and innovative comics alive right now. I heard him once speak about his HBO show, Lucky Louie, which was cancelled after one season in 2006. He was asked if he was disappointed with that and if he looked back at it as a failure. His answer was unequivocally: “No.” For him it was just another experience that taught him how to hone his craft, which was invaluable.
So those would be my three pieces of (long-winded) advice. One, don’t worry about whether you have anything important to say. If you are inspired, say it. Two, write constantly. You won’t become a good writer unless you’re writing all the time. Three, take every writing experience and use it to hone your craft. Something is not a failure simply because the public doesn’t receive it the way you would like.
Most authors like to read, what have you recently finished reading? Did you enjoy it? I have a new term I like to use—sticky. I use this for books that stick with me well after I’ve completed them and put them down. The characters and themes just keep turning over in my mind. A few sticky books that I’ve read recently:
The Corrections— Jonathan Franzen
Beautiful Ruins —Jess Walter
Ready Player One —Ernest Cline
Seven Weddings —Matt Miller (yet to be published novel by an indie author)
The Book Thief —Markus Zusak
Book links, website/blog and author links:
Author Bio
Dan Buri’s first collection of short fiction, Pieces Like Pottery, is an exploration of heartbreak and redemption that announces the arrival of a new American author. His writing is uniquely heartfelt and explores the depths of the human struggle and the human search for meaning in life.
Mr. Buri’s non-fiction works have been distributed online and in print, including publications in Pundit Press, Tree, Summit Avenue Review, American Discovery, and TC Huddle. The defunct and very well regarded Buris On The Couch, was a He-Says/She-Says blog musing on the ups and downs of marriage with his wife.
Mr. Buri is an active attorney in the Pacific Northwest and has been recognized by Intellectual Asset Magazine as one of the World’s Top 300 Intellectual Property Strategists every year since 2010. He lives in Oregon with his wife and two-year-old daughter.
December 2, 2015
Guest Post – Now What?
Today I welcome Dylan Callens to the Library of Erana where he chats about some of the challenges facing the new author.
What to Do Next
I’ve finished my first book. I have one month to prepare before its release while my editor diligently works away at what I hope are my last few grammatical and punctuation errors. That leaves me one month to navigate through the insane world of social media, to build some kind of audience before its launch date. Where do I even start?
I have several ideas; I’m not green when it comes to web design or working on social media platforms. I’ve promoting things online before with varying degrees of success. I even purchased a book to help me with online marketing. Alas, I am only one person trying to build a website, tweet interesting tweets, post amusing Facebook content, network on Goodreads, and create articles for other blogs.
Shit, I think to myself. Should I create a book trailer? Should it be shot using live action? I know how to shoot and edit good video, so maybe I should. Then I calculate the amount of time it will take me before I would be happy with such a project. Ten hours, minimum, for a one minute trailer, I figure. That is ten hours where I am not actively networking. With only four weeks until launch, how will I fit that into my already congested schedule?
My attention turns to setting up accounts for distribution. The usual suspects: Amazon, Kobo, and iBooks. I’m leery about iBooks but I’m not sure why. Then I notice Amazon’s button for KDP Select. Some research is required. On the surface, if sounds like a great plan, except for the part where I can’t sell my ebooks on any other platform. More reading. Some have success, some do not. I can’t decide. I shelf the idea for the time being. I still have a few weeks, I’ll figure it out later.
And then there’s advertising. Where do I advertise? What is my budget? I have a little money squirreled away for that but I’m not convinced that it’ll be enough. I figure that I will be throwing money into a pit. Yet, I need to get my name out there. I read a great post about advertising on Amazon that suggests it is a profitable endeavor. Does that mean I have to enroll in KDP Select to use it? And what about Goodreads? That seems like an ideal place. But those ads look so cheap.
My head is swirling with ideas. There is no clear path. I sit up, take a deep breath and try to clear my head. There is only one thing I can do, I figure. Put my fingers to the keyboard and start on something. Anything. I will keep writing. Timelines aren’t that important right now anyway. As long as I keep pushing forward, I will be fine. As long as I can contain the fear of failure, I will persevere. When I’m overwhelmed by the magnitude of work that is ahead of me, I will have to re-center myself on the idea that as long as I am working, I am doing the right thing. Making mistakes will only delay success, not stop it.
—
Dylan Callens is a high school teacher in Sudbury, Ontario. He is the author of, Operation Cosmic Teapot, which will be available on Amazon on December 11, 2015
Web: www.cosmicteapot.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heaveninctheseries
Twitter: @TheNitzsch
OP Magic – Fun, yes. But worldbreaking.
An interesting post on balance in fantasy.
Originally posted on It’s tempting to make your mage a siege-engine of shock and awe, but it can also break your world.
I’ve come across this a lot. An author has spent hundreds of pages building a coherent world that feels lived-in and real. This is nothing to sniff at; creating a sense of verisimilitude in a place inhabited by goblins, elves and demons ain’t easy. But good writers do it all the time. It’s a strange and impressive alchemy that makes the fantastic believable and the outlandish relatable.
But then, the good guys get attacked. Some terrible foe emerges, ripping up the earth, raising devils, pummeling the lines of soldiery with blocks of ice, thunderbolts and gouts of molten lead. And the mage sighs, grits his teeth in concentration and WHAM!
When the smoke clears, all the bad guys are dead, and the mage is… well, he’s a bit tired and grouchy…
View original 599 more words
Editor Interview Number Thirteen – Jamie Burgess
Hi, welcome to the Library of Erana and thank you for talking to us today.
Please introduce yourself. My name is Jamie Burgess and I am a stay at home mom of 3 girls. I absolutely love to read and will read just about anything. I am just getting started in the freelance editing business.
How did you get into this line of work? I chose to start editing due to the vast number of books I was trying to read that had obviously been self-edited, they are often very hard reads. As I read I am editing in my head to make the stories easier to understand and decided that if I was editing as I read, I could put those skills to use.
Are there genres you refuse, if so why is that? Do you have any you love?I prefer not to read erotica, it’s just not my cup of tea. I love historical romance, young adult, and Christian based books the most.
Are you also a writer? If so do you self-edit or do you use the services of another editor? I write poetry and lyrics but I have never submitted my work for publishing.
What are your opinions of self-edited work by authors? Self-editing is virtually impossible. You need that person who can help you see the best wording to convey your thought. The person not afraid to say this paragraph is not needed or this makes no sense, can we try this instead. It is hard to find your own mistakes, and second guessing your own work can lead to further mistakes.
Have you ever refused a manuscript? No, I have just now started in the business.
Have you ever had an author refuse your suggestions/changes? If so how did you deal with it? No, and if they did that would be their choice. As an editor I am here to correct mistakes and makes suggestions. Ultimately this is their work and they must do what feels right for them.
Editors often receive a bad press in the writing community, what are your thoughts on this? First and foremost editors must remember that they are assisting a writer with producing an easy to read product. They are NOT the writer of the particular story they are working on and their vision will not always be the same as the writer. Instead of being a constant negative voice, make sure to give your author good feedback when they have done well. I think building a good relationship with your author is imperative, it helps you to further understand what your author is wanting to say and how you can help them say it.
Please could you tell us about the process involved with editing for, say, a 100k word manuscript. (Line edit, content edit etc.) Line editing is the final edit ensuring proper punctuation, correct wording, that the best quality of work has been produced.
Content editing is working with the author to change wording and dialogue while ensuring that the vision of the work is being kept. Content editing can be the difference in being an author and being a bestselling author.
What is the difference between proof-reading and editing? Proof-reading is fixing punctuation and spelling mistakes, taking out double use of words. Editing is ensuring the flow of the story, making suggested changes, and working with your author to ensure their vision is being told.
Do you have part of the process you really enjoy? Is there a part you don’t? I love it all.
Outside of your work as an editor do you read for pleasure? What genre do you enjoy the most? I love to read and would read from the time I get up until I go to bed if it were possible. My favourite would be historical romance but it’s becoming more difficult to find “original” story lines, so I read a lot of young adult.
If so do you find yourself editing the work as you go or are you able to “switch off?” No, I am definitely editing as I go.
What advice would you give to someone starting out as an editor?Research and marketing in that order. Look at the average prices free-lance editors are charging and determine where in that range your skills and experience fit. Decide which type of content you would be most happy reading, if you don’t love reading what you are working on then you will struggle to effectively edit that work. Then find all the places you can advertise yourself. Be willing to work for free in the beginning, building a name will help you be prosperous later on.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to self-edit? Self-editing leads to second and third guessing of what you wrote and in doing so often leads to further mistakes. It is time consuming and that time could be spent working on your next novel. Find a good editor and let them assist you in seeing your vision in all its potential.
Tell us a silly fact about yourself. I have a stuffed frog that I can’t sleep without.
November 16, 2015
November 15, 2015
Character Interview Number Thirty-Four – Ellen Kauffman
Tell Us About Yourself
Name: Ellen Kauffman.
Age: That is not a proper question to ask any woman. Suffice it to say, I’m past 21 yet still some years from decrepit in this year of Our Lord 1897.
Please tell us a little about yourself. I’m the proprietor of a general store in a small river village in Pennsylvania, though often I feel it owns me rather than the other way around. I’m not a native of the village. I came here with my late husband and we operated the business together until his fateful accident. Since then I’ve had neither the money or inclination to leave. Though I won’t disclose it here, there’s a secret in my past which makes me sympathetic to young women taken advantage of by men.
Describe your appearance in 10 words or less. Wavy brown hair, blue eyes and a decent complexion. The need of spectacles and a slightly bent nose prevent me from being so vain as to say I’m pretty. Still (blushing), Mr. Roth seems to find me sufficiently attractive.
Do you have a moral code? If so what is it? Indeed I do. I care about other people and believe in treating them fairly, not judging them of the basis of gossip and rumor as so many in this village have done in the case of poor Ned Gebhardt. I believe his stepsister Iris and I are the only ones who believe him innocent of the murder of Susie Schaeffer. Why, that sad, gentle boy doesn’t have it in him to harm another person. And especially not Susie. He confided in me he loved that girl. He could not have done those terrible things to her.
Do you have any relationships you prize above others? Why? Perhaps it’s improper of me to say this, but I am rather attracted to Mr. Roth and I do believe the feeling is mutual. He’s not as handsome as Hank (my late husband), but he has a confidence about him that inspires trust. And, unlike some others I could name, he isn’t willing to condemn Ned on the basis of circumstantial evidence and is doing everything he can to assure the boy is treated fairly. If anyone can save Ned from the noose, I believe it is Detective Simon Roth.
Tell Us About Your World
Please give us a little information about the world in which you live. As I said earlier, ours is a small, bucolic village situated across the Susquehanna River from Shannon, the county seat. Many of our people are engaged in farming or related industries or work in the coal mines which are the source of Shannon’s prosperity. I don’t mean to imply our people are bad, but many are small-minded and vindictive, which is not to Ned’s advantage. Like many in small, rural communities, the villagers are poorly educated, lacking in social graces, nosey and inclined to gossip. Oh, dear, I don’t mean to be so judgmental. Yet, the truth is the truth.
Does your world have religion or other spiritual beliefs? If so do you follow one of them? Please describe (briefly) how this affects your behaviour. I attend the village church and do my best to lead a Christian life. This church is the religious and social center of our village, yet I feel it, and especially Pastor Weimer, have failed Ned (see my comment about him below).
Do you travel in the course of your adventures? If so where? The fartherest I travel in this novel is across the river to Shannon, once for dinner with Simon and his friend Billy McKinney at the Eagle Hotel and later when I was called to testify at Ned’s trial.
Name and describe a food from your world. I love to cook and it’s wonderful to have someone to talk with over a meal. That’s one of the things I’ve missed with Hank gone. I don’t consider myself an especially good cook, but Simon does seem to enjoy the meals I’ve shared with him. He did rave about my chicken corn soup.
Name three persons of influence/renown within your society and tell why they are influential (Could be someone like Christ/Mandela/Queen Elizabeth or a renowned figure from a non-human/fantasy world.) The one person I would have expected to have more compassion for Ned and understanding of his plight is our pastor, the Rev. C. W. Weimer. Ned is one of those poor souls who never had a fair chance in life–deprived of his mother’s love at a young age, burdened with a stern father and a cold stepmother and being slow-witted besides. Unfortunately, Pastor Weimer has proven to be just as judgmental and bigoted as the rest and I have lost faith in him and his pretensions of Christian charity.
At least Aaron Bohner, our magistrate, attempted to protect Ned from the mob that wanted to lynch him and was willing to consider other suspects in the murder. I still retain some respect for him even if he wasn’t able to prevent the mob from roughing up Ned before Simon interceded and got him to safety across the river.
Author notes:
Book in which this character appears plus links
Something So Divine
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/Something-So-Divine-9781620066126.htm
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-so-divine-j-r-lindermuth/1122534219?ean=9781620066126
Author name
R. Lindermuth
Website/Blog/Author pages etc.
http://www.amazon.com/J.R.-Lindermuth/e/B002BLJIQ8
https://www.facebook.com/John-Lindermuth-175253187537/?fref=ts
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1005496.J_R_Lindermuth
http://twitter.com/jrlindermuth
November 9, 2015
#ThiefPromo Dragon Thief Promo and Tour
Title: Dragon Thief
Author: Marc Secchia
Publication Date: December 12, 2015
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis
From Marc Secchia, bestselling author of five rip-roaring dragon fantasy adventures, comes a tale of dragons and treasure, and a pilfering rascal who has his eye set on rewriting history – only, the treasure has other ideas. And fate? That will sweep him away to a destiny far more precious than he ever dreamed.
Kal was not a thief. He certainly did not intend to steal any dragon’s treasure.
He was an adventurer. Avid art collector. Incurable wealth adjuster and risk-taker. Kal had legendary expertise in the security arrangements of palaces and noble houses the world over. He hankered for remote, craggy mountaintops and the dragon hoards he might find hidden beneath them. Besides, what harm was there in looking? Dragon gold was so very … shiny.
Most especially, he was not planning for any treasure to steal him.
That was a little awkward, to say the least.
November 7, 2015
Hell Bound Blog Tour – Andrew P Weston
I’d like to welcome back author Andrew P. Weston
Please recap briefly about your books:
I’m the author of The IX, a military science-fiction action adventure released earlier on in 2015 through Perseid Press and the creator of Daemon Grim, Satan’s chief bounty hunter and go-to guy in times of trouble (As introduced in the short story – Grim in Doctors in Hell – the latest adventure from Janet Morris’ critically acclaimed award winning Heroes in Hell universe).
What has changed since you last visited? Tell us your news!
Well, the IX went on to become and international bestseller, so I’m obviously pleased about that. And I recently completed Hell Bound, the first of a new series of novels including Grim as the main character. I’m hoping he become a worthy addition to the ever expanding arena Janet created.
For those of you who don’t already know, Heroes in Hell is a series of shared world fantasy books, within the genre Bangsian fantasy, created and edited by Janet Morris and written by her, Chris Morris, C. J. Cherryh and others. The first 12 books in the series were published by Baen Books between 1986 and 1989, and stories from the series include both Hugo Award winners and Nebula nominees.
Janet continued the series through her own publishing company – Perseid Press – from 2011 onward with, Lawyers in Hell, followed by five more anthologies and a novel since then.
Basically, the shared world premise of Heroes in Hell (also called The Damned Saga) is that all the dead wind up together in Hell, where they can pick up where they left off when still alive, except that now, it’s a no-holds-barred, rollercoaster ride of violent, stab you in the back adventure. Anything goes – and often does…
When I created Grim, I wanted a character who would continue to evolve along with the universe itself, so Janet and I came up with a great idea. Although Grim will be starring in his own adventures, those escapades will tie into and overlap the continuing Heroes in Hell anthologies. For example, Hell Bound starts where Grim Left off. The next anthology piece will pick up where Hell Bound finished, and so on and so forth. What a great way to mesh a major new character into a long established series, eh?
So far its working very well, and early indications are showing Grim will be a popular character.
Do you self-edit? If so why is that the case? Do you believe a book suffers without being professionally edited?
I certainly do self-edit, but only as an additional layer to a full and professional edit. No matter how thorough you are, you’ll always miss something, especially if it’s a little quirk you tend to slip back on when you’re tired. I edit each chapter as it’s completed, then I go through the entire manuscript again once the story is finished. Only then do I send it off. I’m a firm believer of working closely with your editor. It pays dividends in the long run.
And yes, any book will suffer if you don’t have it professionally edited.
What are your opinions about authors commenting on reviews? How important are reviews?
Me? I like to say thank you to those who take the time to complete a review. It’s not always easy to know what to say, so it’s lovely when people offer you a little piece of themselves and honestly express what they think. However, I never, ever, respond to obvious trolls. Let your work and your readers do that for you.
As for their importance? I think they certainly have an influence on those looking for a good read who might be considering your work for the first time.
What three pieces of advice would you give to new writers?
Believe in yourself. Never give up. Work hard to improve your craft.
Most authors like to read, what have you recently finished reading? Did you enjoy it?
I recently finished reading High Couch of Silistra by none other than Janet Morris herself. This novel first came out in 1977, and because of my lifestyle at the time, I totally missed it. However, I’m so glad I caught up with it now, as it’s one of those genre changing epics that made a huge impact at the time and continues to set the bar now.
Can you name your favourite traditionally published author? And your favourite indie/self-published author?
Well, the most prolific author on my bookshelf is Raymond E. Feist. I also have all or most of Stephen R. Donaldson’s and Julian May’s work, along with Orwell, Heinlein, Anderson, Clarke, Bradbury, and Poe.
As for Indie Authors, Laura De Luca.
Do you have a favourite movie?
If I could only pick one, I’d have to say The Forbidden Planet. A true classic and way ahead of its time.
Can you name your worst job? Do you think you learned anything from the position that you now use in your writing?
I’ve been very fortunate in that I’ve only ever had two main jobs. I was in the military, and then I became a police officer until an injury on duty caused my early retirement after a total of 33years service. Needless to say, I’ve experienced a great many situations that have provided remarkable ‘insights’ or which can be used as a springboard for elements now incorporated into my writing. For example, it takes discipline and tenacity to keep to a regular schedule. My whole working life has been built on those foundations. Then there’s the essential factor of ‘keeping things real’. A must for all those who write speculative fiction. If you ground your stories in well established fact, then it makes what you write so much more believable. I try to adhere to these guidelines whenever I work, and it helps J
What are your plans for the future?
I’m hoping to create enough of a fan base to become a fulltime writer. When that happens, stand by. At last my writing will get the time it deserves to truly expand and grow.
Give us a bit of information about your primary character(s).
In Hell Bound, it’s Daemon Grim – The Reaper – and Satan’s chief bounty hunter. He’s the person the Dark Lord turns to when anything threatens the already chaotic instability that riddles the many-layered underworld.
And when you think of the nature of the scumbags filling hell, you can appreciate just how busy he is. (Tracking rebels or those fomenting treason, bringing fugitives and offenders to injustice). He’s judge, jury and executioner all rolled into one, and yet, someone who appears to be something of a paradox, for while he’s drop dead gorgeous and possesses a fantastic sense of humor, he’s fiercely loyal to Satan. He will kill you as soon as look at you. To him, mercy is a waste of five letters. He doesn’t feel pity or remorse, and if you appear on his list there’s nothing you can do to prevent your untimely demise. As other denizens of hell say – he’s your ‘worst nightmare attired in kick-ass gothic ensemble.
Can you imagine the despicable fun he’s going to have?
If you had to pick five books to have on an island which five would you pick?
That’s not difficult at all. At the moment they would be:
A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawkin
Lord of the Rings trilogy – Tolkien
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
Build Your Own Teleportation Device From Everyday Stuff – Irma Gettinoutovhere.
If your book was produced as a film who would you like to see play the lead?
At the moment, I think Channing Tatum might appeal to the ladies. J
About the Book
Hell Bound (Heroes in Hell)
by Andrew P. Weston
Amazon
Genre: Fantasy
Published by: Perseid Press
Release Date: October 31, 2015
Length: 406 PagesIn hell, none of the condemned believes they deserve to be there. And that’s fine, so long as they’re not foolish enough to try and do anything about it. For those that do, there’s always Satan’s Reaper–and chief bounty hunter–Daemon Grim.Feared throughout the many layers of the underverse, no one in their right mind dares to cross him.However, when Grim discovers that someone has attempted to evade injustice, and seems hell-bent on gaining access to ancient angelic artifacts proscribed since the time of the original rebellion in heaven, circumstances point to the fact they may be doing just that.The question is…why?Thus begins an investigation that leads Grim throughout the many contradictory and baffling levels of the underworld, where he unearths a conspiracy that is not only eating its way like a cancer through the highest echelons of Hellion society, but one which threatens the very stability of Satan’s rule.As you can imagine, Grim’s response is bloody, brutal, and despicably wicked.
Hell Bound – In hell, everyone can hear you scream…
http://www.amazon.com/Hell-Bound-Heroes-Andrew-Weston-ebook/dp/B015G2AI0I/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hell-Bound-Heroes-Andrew-Weston-ebook/dp/B015G2AI0I/
HELL BOUND BLOG TOUR – EXCERPTS
(Please Only Post 1 Excerpt per Book & Delete the other 2)
The Book Excerpt
Excerpt #1
Excerpt #2
About Andrew P. Weston
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
Andrew P. Weston is Royal Marine and Police veteran from the UK who now lives on the beautiful Greek island of Kos with his wife, Annette, and their growing family of rescue cats.
An astronomy and law graduate, he is the creator of the international number one bestseller, The IX, and also has the privilege of being a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the British Fantasy Society and the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.
When not writing, Andrew devotes some of his spare time to assisting NASA with one of their remote research projects, and writes educational articles for Astronaut.com and Amazing Stories.
The Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Find Andrew’s Tour Date’s Here:
Monday, November 2, 2015
– Tome Tender (Spotlight)
– M.J. Schiller, Romance Author (Guest Post)
– Please Pass The Books (Spotlight)
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
– Ogitchida Kwe’s Book Blog (Spotlight)
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
– Paranormal Dimensions (Spotlight)
Friday, November 06, 2015
– Christine’s Words (Author Interview)
– S E Lindberg (Guest Post)
Saturday, November 07, 2015
– Library of Erana (Author Interview)
Monday, November 09, 2015
– Sexy Between the Covers-Melissa Keir (Guest Post)
Thursday, November 12, 2015
– Paranormal Realms (Guest Post)
Monday, November 16, 0215
– Authors’ Cafe (Spotlight)
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
– What Readers Want (Spotlight)
Thursday, November 19, 0215
– Finding Fantastical Books (Spotlight)
Saturday, November 21, 2015
– Teatime and Books (Spotlight)
November 2, 2015
Back into Hell – Hell Week 2015 – Altos the Angel
Now who’d expect to find an angel in Hell, except of course his lordship, the Fallen One? Amongst the damned his presence is…unusual. So over to you… (brave angel this one…misguided perhaps but brave).
Character Spotlight
About yourself:
*Who are/were you? I am Altos, an angel on special assignment.
* Why do YOU think you’re in Hell? I am here to rehabilitate His Satanic Majesty.
Who are your friends/allies here? All well-meaning souls I consider my allies, those not entirely given over to iniquity.
Describe your home/environment in Hell. I arrived with the fallen and have watched Hell develop from total darkness to its current state. Although I hail from on high this is my home for now, wherever the Prince holds forth you will find me.
Do you have any enemies here? My adversaries are the blind passions of the damned, most significantly Vengeance.
Come on be honest, what do you think of HSM leadership? Satan is comprehensible, if not justifiable, and actually a lover of beauty in his way.
Author Spotlight
*Name and bio.
Chris Morris
* Tell us about your story for this edition. The Wager relates an incident involving Satan and Altos where militaristic hordes from all ages have gathered for a “final” reckoning.
What inspired you to use the character(s) you’ve chosen? Satan’s isolation and profound understanding of humanity are fascinating, yet very difficult to draw—in this story by resort to a ghastly and grand-scale event demonstrating the worst proclivities of his charges, the lost souls of men. Because of his proposition to the angel—his most worthy, divine audience—he can indulge his urge to instruct his eternal adversary on high. Even Satan loves company.
What are you currently working on? I’m narrating audio books; I’ve completed The Sacred Band a novel by Janet Morris and myself and I, the Sun by Janet Morris. Next up is Shards of the Glass Slipper II: Queen Alice, by Roy Mauritsen.
Name the last two books you’ve read – tell us about them. Re-read The Golden Sword by Janet Morris, the second volume in her Silistra series quartet and The Best Poems in the English Language by Harold Bloom, his compendium of great poetical works and a great starting point for those like me who seek a chronological framework in which to appreciate the history of poetry in our language.
What marketing tips/writing advice can you offer other authors? Until you’ve found your storytelling voice as distinct from those writers you admire, write only what you know as passionately and articulately as you can without distorting your effort by trend-following or obeisance to niche-market rules and practices. Find and write what only you can and love the moments of total immersion necessary to bring them to life.
Chris Morris (Christopher Crosby Morris)
Chris Morris Music
Chris Morris History & Bibliography
Chris Morris (Wikipedia)
Janet and Chris Morris Facebook page
Chris Morris Sings Facebook page
The Perseid Press
Soundcloud.com/christopher-morris
November 1, 2015
Back into Hell – Hell Week 2015 – Doc Holiday
Welcome back to the infernal interview service, offering you close-ups of the damned like never before.
Character Spotlight
About yourself:
*Who are/were you? Name’s Doc Holliday – Gambler, gunfighter, lover and sometimes dentist.
* Why do YOU think you’re in Hell? On account of some dark deeds committed throughout my life. I killed a lot of men in my time, and swindled a whole bunch more who didn’t understand the nature of their opponent when it came to games of chance. I got no complaints about where I ended up. I made some choices along the way that maybe I wouldn’t have if I’d known how things would work out. Some folk would call me an evil sonofabitch… can’t say as I’d blame them.
Who are your friends/allies here? I’ve met me an odd bunch here in hell, an eclectic mix of folks who all have one thing in common, a love of gamblin’. I’ve got my gal, Calamity Jane, a crazy ass Gaelic chieftain by the name o’ O’Neill – mad as hell but a good man to have at your back. Then there’s a genuine member of English royalty, the Earl of Sandwich. Finally there’s a Russian philosopher and writer, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Describe your home/environment in Hell. HSM in his infinite wisdom has chosen to bind me to a saloon in a frontier town called Helldorado. As a gamblin’ man I’ve always sought that elusive moment where your heart is beatin’ so strongly in your chest it feels like it’ll jump clean out, just before you turn the last card over, knowin’ that everything you own is sittin’ in a heap in the middle of the table. That ultimate high, the rush you experience an instant before the reveal, has been taken from me by HSM. Every hand I play here in hell I win, empty victories when the outcome is preordained.
Do you have any enemies here? I have enemies in every damned place I’ve ever laid my hat. Here ain’t no different.
Come on be honest, what do you think of HSM leadership? As evil overlords go he’s pretty much got the job nailed. Sadly the better he is at running this eternal prison for the damned the worse afterlife becomes for the citizens of hell.
So, this plague – who’s responsible? Sadly, no one ever tells me anything.
What is the technology level of the culture you chose to write about? My story is set in a western environment and time.
Author Spotlight
*Name and bio. Paul Freeman is from Dublin, Ireland where he lives with his family. He is the author of the epic fantasy series, Tribesman. He has also co-authored a zombie apocalypse, collaborative novel, Season Of The Dead. In TAXI, he moves away from his usual speculative fiction genre, stepping into a more literary field, examining the effect on the life of a taxi driver after a single moment of madness which results in the death of a teenage girl, and how this event results in devastating consequences for him and those closest to him.
* Tell us about your story for this edition. My story is called Hell Noon. It is set in a western frontier town called Helldorado. The basic premise is that Doc Holliday and a collection of other famous gamblers are holed up in a saloon playing cards (Holliday is cursed to win every hand he plays) when they are invaded by a wild bunch of infected plague carriers. A gunfight ensues and the group come up with a plan to escape… nothing in hell runs smoothly though.
What inspired you to use the character(s) you’ve chosen? I really liked the idea of writing a western-themed story and as the title was Doctors in Hell I figured Doc Holliday would be the perfect MC to choose.
How did you become involved with this project? I was invited by Janet Morris to join and thought it would be a really fun thing to be involved in. And it is!
Writing for a shared world is challenging, how do you meet that challenge? By trying not to step on anyone’s toes.
What are you currently working on? I’m currently writing a vampire apocalypse book. My normal genre to write in is fantasy, particularly epic fantasy, but I like to stray out of my comfort zone every now and then.
What are your views on authors offering free books? I have absolutely no issue with how anyone chooses to market their books. If it works go for it.
What marketing tips/writing advice can you offer other authors? Watch what I do very carefully and then do the complete opposite.
What other books/short stories have you written? Books currently published are my two epic fantasy novels from the same series: Tribesman and Warrior. I’ve just recently published a novel called Taxi about a Dublin taxi driver who becomes involved in a road traffic accident that was not his fault, but he is left to deal with the consequences. I have also co-authored a zombie apocalypse novel with three other authors. The premise for this is that each of us wrote from our own perspective in our own locations, so the book is set in three different countries and the apocalypse told from four different points of view.
I’ve also contributed a short story to a steampunk anthology called Strange Tales From The Scriptorium Vaults. Also another collection called A Turn Of The Wheel.
What are your views on authors commenting on reviews? Back away from the keyboard.
