Pete Aldin's Blog, page 12

Devin Madson: 5 Questions & a Statement

As a writer, I often read as a writer (analysing, nitpicking, oohing-and-ahing and brilliant technique).Devin Madson’s Blood of Whisperers made me forget all that and just read for the sheer thrill of it. See myGoodreads review for more if you’re interested.

I caught up with Devin recently and assailed her with my usual five questions and a statement…

PETE: Blood of Whisperers is a stunning novel. How on earth does an author come up with something so true to the genre and yet so unique in a de...

What’s In the Cupboard (January ’14)

… in which I take three words from my Word Box and use them in a short piece of creative writing.

The words:

proctaglia – a severe anal pain
bailiwick -a person’s specific area of knowledge, authority, interest, skill, or work
bibelot – a small object of curiosity

And now the writing:

“Jimmy,” Don says, looking me up and down, his teeth clamped hard around that infernal cigar of his. “You are an acute and chronic proctaglia.”

“A what?”

“Look it up. It’s appropriate.” The cigar shifts sides as Don mov...

Ronald Malfi: 5 Questions & a Statement

I have to admit, I’d never read or heard of Ronald Malfi before picking up the Kindle edition of Cradle Lake.

But I’m bloody glad I have now.

I’ve just finished the novel and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great fiction should not only thrill you, it should take you inside a character’s personal problems with empathy. And thrill you.Cradle Lake does both. I’ll definitely be reading more of his work into the future.

I caught up with Ronald recently andassailedhim with five questions and a statement…

PETE...

From the mouths of … teenage fiction readers…

So we had three 14 year old guys (friends of Youngest Son) staying over last night for New Year’s. (The pyrotechnics are a whole other story.)

Over a brunch of hotdogs, the boys started talking about the Hunger Games books and films. My wife asked, “What’s better the books or the films?” Two boys shrugged. After thinking for a moment, the other (not my son, who sadly doesn’t read much) said this, quite seriously:

“Well. In the book, you can skip straight to the actual Hunger Games. In the film,...

2013: The Year in Review

Welcome toanother self-serving and narcissistic post from the desk of one Pete Aldin.

But hey, it’s my blog; I can introspect if I wish.

Looking back at this year, it’s been a good one writing-wise. And for the following reasons:

I sat on my first two author panels at a scifi con
I undertook mentoring and training from two great authors which have taught to me to both trust my ability to write and to stretch myself further in plotting … “which have“??? Perhaps they could have mentored me more on...

Sharon M Johnston: 5 Questions & a Statement

“Someone will die so I can live. I’ve come to terms with that.”

So opens SLEEPER, a new YA novel bySharon M Johnston. I am 39% through the e-book as I write this and loving it (I only review and interview authors whose works I genuinely enjoy).

I recently caught up with Sharon via Facebook and fired 5 questions and a statement at her. Here are her responses…

PETE: Sleeper is excellent. What’s the main concept for the novel and where did it come from??

SHARON: Oh, to share the true answer to tha...

Michael Pryor: 5 Questions & a Statement

I’d like to introduce you to the erudite and dapper MrMichael Pryor- if you don’t already know him and his works. I’vebeen enjoyinghis latest series The Extraordinaires this year. It was my pleasure to meet Michael at Melbourne’s recent Continuum convention where I found him to be a true gentleman and a very interesting man to listen to.

So. I’ve fired five questions and a statement at Michael. What follows are his responses…

With over 30 novels to your name, what would be the secret(s) to yo...

Keith C Blackmore: 5 Questions & a Statement

This post is the first in a new series where I invite an author whose work I’ve enjoyed to respond to fivequestions &one statement. It’s meant to be short, sharp and interesting. So, I’ll get on with it!

Our first guest is horror and fantasy writer Keith C Blackmore. This year I “discovered” his Mountain Man (MM) series of zombie novels, a series I’m loving (I’m currently immersed in the second book). Keith is an indieauthor and astand-up guy.Let’s see how he handles my questions…

PETE: Where d...

What’s in the Cupboard? (August 2013)

… in which I take three words from my Word Box and use them in a short piece of creative writing.

The words:

stout
kobold (ghoul)
cavalier

And now the writing:

“I wouldn’t worry,” Charles yawned and shuffled closer to the fireplace.

Casting about for something with which to defend them, Wilma could not believe Charles’ cavalier attitude. And at a time like this! Kobolds to the left of them. Stout little mini-trolls to the right. She snatched up a poker and brandished its glowing red endwith a flouri...