Konn Lavery's Blog: Posts from konnlavery.com, page 8

Everlasting Health

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Late But Not Forgotten

The blog launched in 2015 of September right at the same time as I attended the Edmonton Comic Expo showcasing the first editions of Mental Damnation Reality and Dream. Since then, I���ve consistently released Unprocessed Thoughts at the end of each month, trying a new beer and dumping my thoughts into a blog post. I have yet to miss a month in the seven years, even if it is late but not forgotten.

Welcome to July���s Edition of Unprocessed Thoughts

You may wonder why the blog post is about July when we are two weeks into August. Well, let me tell you. I���ve been apartment hunting in Vancouver. If you missed June���s Unprocessed Thoughts, Back to Old, I���m in the process of moving out of Alberta and finding a new home was real work.

The Housing Crisis

Vancouver is a highly dense city, and time and time again, I���ve been informed of how difficult it is to find a place to live. A friend of a friend of mine said it takes about two years to find a place you really like in Vancouver Proper. My girlfriend and I went apartment hunting with prepped minds for the challenge ahead. Little did we know it���d be far more demanding.

Even before the search, Alberta is no better. Edmonton and Calgary are going through similar situations. One friend of mine, back in the spring in Edmonton, couldn���t find a main-level home to rent after a good couple of months of looking and thankfully kept their current place. Another in Calgary, last year, rented their property and was getting offers from people not even in the city wanting to rent it and pay the deposit right away. Then there is Toronto, where people are experiencing historical inflation.

In short, there is a housing crisis happening in Canada. I���m not versed enough to know where else it is occurring. Still, in Vancouver, there were grassroots movements, graffiti, and protests with the common slogan ���tenant power��� across the city during our visit.

Our Trip to Vancouver

My girlfriend and I have been planning a move for a while now. Obviously, the pandemic put a pin into that for a couple of years, but we���re finally doing it. Thankfully we���ve been able to plan everything on our terms and gave ourselves 10 months to make a move.

We���ve been purging, donating, organizing work, and then bought our plane tickets to find an apartment. Believe it or not, writing fiction isn���t lucrative enough to buy a multi-million-dollar condo anywhere in the world. No concern, though; I prefer a humble life.

Eventually, the time came to fly and find our new home. We were both excited and nervous but ready for the task ahead.

The Hunt

Over seven days, my girlfriend and I scoured the city and internet looking for a place to rent. We realized we had picked the worst possible week to head to Vancouver. It was a long weekend in British Columbia ��� live and learn.

Still, we contacted approximately 180 places via phone, email, or text. We found places on common sites like rentfaster.ca, Craig���s List, Pad Mapper, Facebook Marketplace, and Kijiji. We even went to some questionable sites that clearly mined data and scammed people. We went up and down neighbourhoods calling apartment complexes, and tallied an average of 15,000 steps per day. We even contacted a real estate agent for assistance just to find a place to rent.

Through our efforts of roughly 180 places contacted, we saw 11 places (with 4 more scheduled), applied to 4, rejected twice, and approved for 2. Many landlords showing us the units said they were getting 30-50 inquiries about rentals; many were overqualified from a financial perspective. Our pickings were slim because of money talks. Understanding the seriousness of the situation, we went with the first place that approved us.

Fool���s Luck

As mentioned before, we knew that finding a place would be difficult, and it was. Our 7-day hunt showed us some places we could have rented but declined. These were places with holes and tears in the ceilings and walls that weren���t going to be fixed or overcharged for 400 square feet ���micro-unit,��� as they���re called ��� designed for yuppies. Our quest proved unfruitful, and our flights were the next day. I ended up extending my stay to find a place. Thankfully our good friend didn���t mind me sticking around a little longer, and I can work remotely with the design business.

I contacted many more places the morning my girlfriend flew home. That afternoon I got a text from one unit we applied to say we were approved ��� woohoo! Staying the extra days let me take care of all the paperwork with our new landlord, and we were set. The next day we were approved for another we liked, but we decided not to mess around.

To our advantage, calling numbers right on apartment complexes��� doors cuts through all the bullshit of hunting online. Landlords get tons of inquiries, and spam, through the usual online posting methods, and going through 30-50 inquiries is a lot of work.

It must be fool���s luck (hence the Maneki-neko cat for the cover photo) because at the place my girlfriend called, the previous tenants had just moved out mere hours ago, and we happened to be in the neighbourhood. The unit is newly furnished, top floor, and in a fantastic location within walking distance of parks, pubs, and cafes.

New Beginnings

The reality of the situation hadn���t sunk in, even after how much work we put into it. It still hasn���t felt real because we are packing back in Alberta, in our home of 7 years. We simply know that we must go through the process because the move is happening, and the new place has been signed. Chances are it���ll finally feel real when we���re driving out of Edmonton for the final time with the cat in the car.

Thankfully for us and many others, the pandemic has proven to be a significant case study for remote work life. I���ve been doing it since 2014, so nothing new, but clients are far more open to calls, email, and video calls than face-to-face.

Moving with your partner is a big deal as you leave the familiar into the unknown. There are many uncertainties on the ever-inclining rise, such as economic and environmental issues, war, political polarization, and cultural conflict, to name a few, and no one knows what the future holds. Vancouver isn���t our permanent home, but it���s a great place, and we���re excited to see what doors will open on the west coast. In this strange new world we���re living in, my girlfriend and I can continue our everyday life in a city we want to be in and do it together.

Beer Note: So many

Staying a week and a half in Vancouver gave us plenty of time to try various breweries, many of which will be in our new neighbourhood. On the last day, my buddy and I even went to a meadery. We were so busy I didn���t even think to take a photo of any of them.

With that, I tried another good old Alberta beer for this late July���s Unprocessed Thoughts. Village Brewing Co. Small Batch Season Ale Limited Edition is made in Calgary – hence the cow on the front. Fitting for the last beer I’ll have for Unprocessed Thoughts in Alberta.

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Royal Blood by Simon Rose ��� The Stone of the Seer Book 2

My guest today is Calgary author Simon Rose, who has published eighteen novels for children and young adults, eight guides for writers, more than a hundred nonfiction books, and many articles on a wide variety of topics. Today, we���re looking at his latest release, Royal Blood, the second novel in the Stone of the Seer series.

So remind us about the Stone of the Seer series. What���s it all about?

The Stone of the Seer is an exciting historical fantasy series for young adults, primarily set during the English Civil War in the mid-seventeenth century. The Stone of the Seer, is the first book in the series. At Habingdon House, Lady Elizabeth Usborne, Kate, and Tom discover a magical black stone, mysterious ancient manuscripts, and the tempus inpectoris, an incredible time viewing device. They are also in grave danger from Daniel Tombes, who has a fearsome reputation as a witchfinder.

And without giving too much away, what can readers look forward to in the second novel?

In Royal Blood, Lady Elizabeth, Kate, and Tom move to London in the middle of the Civil War, experiencing the great political changes taking place at the time, including the

trial and execution of Charles I. They are also still under threat from Tombes, who is also in the city. The story has many twists and turns, and I doubt if any of the readers will expect the novel���s cliffhanger ending.

And then they���ll have to wait for the third book?

Yes, they certainly will. I���m hoping that Revenge of the Witchfinder, the final novel and the conclusion of the story,will be published later this year. After that, people will be able to buy all three books in the series.

And what���s the story behind the story?

The story, main characters, and some of the settings in Royal Blood are fictional, but like in The Stone of the Seer, they���re based on real events and historical characters, such as King Charles I, appear in the story. The English Civil War broke out as a result of the struggle between Charles I and Parliament, regarding how the country should be governed. The king���s defeat in the war was followed by his trial and execution in January 1649. The monarchy was abolished and replaced first by the Commonwealth of England and then the Protectorate. However, although the monarchy was restored in 1660, in the person of Charles II, his father���s defeat confirmed that an English monarch couldn���t rule the country without the consent of Parliament. This was eventually legally established in 1688 after the Glorious Revolution.

Did you conduct extensive historical research for this book, as you did with the first one?

Although the English Civil War is a time period I���ve always been interested in, I still engaged in lots of research. I needed to study what life was like in seventeenth century London, the political and religious beliefs that were around at the time, the influence of real witchfinders such as Matthew Hopkins and others like him, and of course the trial and execution of Charles I. The trial itself was very well recorded and I was able to ensure that the words spoken by both the king and his accusers were accurate. There were also many witnesses to the execution, so I was able to include established facts about that aspect as well.

As I did in The Stone of the Seer, I���ve included a glossary at the end of Royal Blood, where readers can learn more about the events, settings, and leading characters from the era, locations that are mentioned in the text, life in the seventeenth century, and about other historical periods that are featured in the story. On my website, there���s also a page with details about the historical background behind the books, with links to online sources about the time period.

Do you have any current projects?

Right now I���m working on another historical fantasy novel series, this time set in the early years of World War II. I���m also working on another series of paranormal novels, in the same genre as my previously published series that includes Flashback, Twisted Fate, and Parallel Destiny. You can learn more about those books at www.simon-rose.com. In addition, I���m in the early stages of another couple of historical projects, and am also working on some screenplays, including adaptations of my Shadowzone series, and on several other topics.

Do you still work with other authors as well?

Yes, I offer coaching, editing, consulting, and mentoring services for writers of novels, short stories, fiction, nonfiction, biographies, inspirational books, and in many other genres, plus work with writers of scripts and screenplays. I���m also a writing instructor at the University of Calgary and served as the Writer-in-Residence with the Canadian Authors Association. You can find details of some of the projects I���ve worked on with other authors, along with references and recommendations, at www.simon-rose.com.

So where can people buy Royal Blood and The Stone of the Seer?

The novel can be purchased at most of the usual places, as follows:

Royal Blood

Ebook: Amazon Canada,��Amazon USA, Kobo, iBooks, Barnes and Noble,��Smashwords

Paperback: Amazon Canada, Amazon USA

The Stone of the Seer

Ebook:��Amazon Canada,��Amazon USA,��Kobo,��iBooks,��Barnes and Noble,��Smashwords��

Paperback:��Amazon Canada, Amazon USA

Thanks Simon, for being my guest here today and the very best of luck with Royal Blood and the Stone of the Seer series. I hope the books sell thousands and thousands of copies in the coming weeks and months.

You can learn more about Simon and his work on his website at www.simon-rose.com, where you can also link to his social media sites and other locations online.

The post Royal Blood by Simon Rose ��� The Stone of the Seer Book 2 appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Human

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Three eBooks to dive into The Macrocosm
Monthly Short Stories in Written and Audiobook Format
Access to drafts, works-in-progress, and writing updates
High Rez Short Story Artwork for Phone Backgrounds
Your name in the thank you section of the next Macrocosm short story collection
Access to The Macrocosm Wiki

You're basically buying me a drink every month, fueling me to craft more stories!

Let's not forget you will get a copy of the Into the Macrocosm eBook to jump-start you into this strange world of fantasy, horror, thrillers, scifi, and bizarre.To view this content, you must be a member of Konn's Patreon at $5 or more - Click "Read more" to unlock this content at the source

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Simon Rose Interviews Konn Lavery about Beyond the Macrocosm

I’m pleased to be back on Simon Rose’s blog! It’s been a few years since he and I chatted about my work. He graciously offered to have me on his site to discuss my latest release, Beyond the Macrocosm.

Read the InterviewWe cover:A Choose Your Path Collection Descends Readers into Konn Lavery���s MacrocosmThank you for joining us, Konn. Tell us about Beyond the Macrocosm.That���s quite a lot! What made you want to write an interactive book?What makes you say that?Do readers have to read the first collection before Beyond the Macrocosm?Care to share what Transmedia Storytelling is?What���s next for you and the Macrocosm?

Check it out on Simon Rose’s Blog!

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Back to Old

I thought June was the shortest month of the year. It turns out I’m wrong, and it’s just like any other regular month, duh. Time distortion is real; despite February being the shortest, it feels a lot longer than June. Likely it’s because more is going on in the spring and summer, especially since we’re going back to old ways as the pandemic goes full force into an endemic.

Welcome to Another Edition of Unprocessed Thoughts.

June creeps up to the release of Beyond the Macrocosm on July first. It is a soft launch like Into the Macrocosm. In the theme of going back to old world ways, this Unprocessed Thoughts is simply focused on what happened this month and not insights ��� yay narcissism! There was a convention I was at, lots of design work, personal milestones, and writing promoting which kept me busy. Let���s dive into it.

What’s New

We will keep it nice and short because no one likes to hear someone talk about themselves all the time. So, to give you an understanding of what has occurred, here’s a quick rundown of everything:

Preparing for Beyond the Macrocosm soft launchScheduling interviewsScheduling advanced review copiesPreparing all media, including press kit, website, and preordersContinual marketing through reader magnets and promotion groups from the existing catalogue of novelsHeavy writing of my WIP: Crystal Moths Ash Series Book 1Preparing for the Calgary Horror ConCalgary Horror Con 2022

That’s right, I went to my very first convention since 2019. We are back to the old, with this minor blip into the past. The weekend was full of highway driving, setting up the booth, enjoying an evening of comedy, and then going full force into convention mode.

I must say, I was rusty at the beginning after two and a half years. Setting up took longer but not entirely out of memory, and the initial sales pitch and cash transaction were sloppy on my end. Who knew that those little Square readers needed software updates? I didn’t; thankfully, I sorted it out, and old habits returned shining.

The convention’s enthusiasm was magnetic and uplifting. Everyone missed the experience. Vendors, guests, and attendees were excited to see everyone there. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to partake in after being away for so long. Of course, I’m a fan of the horror genre and catching up with old friends and meeting new faces is always a good time.

I was amazed at the number of people who came to find my booth after purchasing books in previous years from 2016 to 2019. All the isolation time allowed people to read books, and they came back hungry for what was new. The thirsty readers resulted in selling out of all of my new books along with final prints of old editions.

The positivity of the convention is heartening, and despite being completely exhausted, I feel refuelled. I am out of shape from this routine and have no idea how I did it before. Pre-covid, it was just about a convention every second month. The driving, fast-paced time scheduling, setting up, running the booth, tearing down, heading home, and picking up contract work on Monday is unfathomable to me. Truthfully, I have no idea how I did it. Somehow I did, and that portion of me stays in the old.

Second Agenda

The Calgary Horror Con was a great opportunity for me to move a lot of old book stock from 2019. The boxes sat in the closet over the pandemic and desperately needed readers. There’s a hidden personal agenda about why the books were so cheap at the convention. I needed to lighten the load for a significant life change at the end of August.

Ta-dah! The cat is out of the bag. I’m heading out of Alberta at the end of summer. Everyone at the horror convention heard about it, and everyone I know is aware of the big move out West. I’ve hinted at it previously in other Unprocessed Thoughts, and now everything is in full force. Somehow through the ever-increasing growth of my design business, releasing a new book, writing a new one, and everything else that life has to throw at you, we’re moving provinces.

The following two months here are a crunch in preparation. We’ve been purging, donating, cleaning, and organizing. Thankfully the move is intentional and not last-minute, so I can plan and work around massive design projects and book releases.

Back to Old

Whether we like it or not, it is an endemic, and we must learn to live with where the world is going. I was nervous during the Calgary Horror Con but made it to the other side. Even though everything has been new and changing since the fateful 2020, some things have gone back to old. The convention spirit is alive and well, and I’m pleased to have partaken in such an event.

Who knows where things will go with the migration West, but I hope to do more conventions in the future. Immediately my writing goals are staying in the new ��� meaning e-books and online are the main focus which will give me more time to write and reach a broader geographical reader base.

I can’t say for sure when my next convention will be, but it will come eventually. Until then, I’ll catch you all online.

Beer Note: Alley Kat Zephyr

I had the local brewery Alley Kat’s Zephyr for this month’s Unprocessed Thoughts. The Rosemary, as seen on the can, is a great addition. It fills the beer with some interesting after tones that are admired over a summer evening. Unfortunately, the convention kicked my ass, and I only had one beer and called it a night. I’ll save more drinks for another time.

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Konn Lavery Calgary Horror Con 2022

This year is my first convention since 2019. I will be at the 2022 Calgary Horror Con on June 25-26 to sign books! I also have other swag, such as artwork and t-shirts I’ve designed, inspired by my books at the booth. My table will be at The Rocky Mountain Room at booth 8.

For you horror buffs, they have guests:

Billy ZaneLisa ZaneJames Jude CourtneyShawnee SmithAndrew DivoffQuinn LordJoe Bog BriggsDarcey the Mail GirlRichard BrakeAmelia KinkadeJeff Daniel PhillipsGrab Your Ticket!

Stoked to see you all there!

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3Q���s Steve Stred ��� Konn Lavery ��� Symbolic Megalomaniac?

I’m pleased to be on fellow Edmonton Horror author Steve Stred’s 3Q’s! Check out the interview:

Read Interview

We chat about music and writing, covering:

What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?Out of all your releases, do you have a favorite character you���ve written?Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!Bonus Question! What is your favorite album?Steve Stred’s Horror Novel MastodonSteve Stred is the Splatterpunk Nominated Author of ‘Sacrament’ and ‘Mastodon.’

Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Steve has released over a dozen novels, novellas and collections. He has appeared alongside some of horror’s biggest names within some truly excellent anthologies.

He is a proud co-founder of the LOHF Writer’s Grant and an Active Member of the HWA.

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Rave: Third Place & Finalist

I am thrilled to announce that my slasher novel, Rave, placed third in the Horror category of the 2022 eLit Book Awards.

The book was also nominated as a finalist for the 2022 Book Excellence Awards.

All of this is quite timely since the book’s one year anniversary was in May.

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Blood Will: Part IV

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Monthly Short Stories + eBook for $5/mo CAD
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Three eBooks to dive into The Macrocosm
Monthly Short Stories in Written and Audiobook Format
Access to drafts, works-in-progress, and writing updates
High Rez Short Story Artwork for Phone Backgrounds
Your name in the thank you section of the next Macrocosm short story collection
Access to The Macrocosm Wiki

You're basically buying me a drink every month, fueling me to craft more stories!

Let's not forget you will get a copy of the Into the Macrocosm eBook to jump-start you into this strange world of fantasy, horror, thrillers, scifi, and bizarre.To view this content, you must be a member of Konn's Patreon at $5 or more - Click "Read more" to unlock this content at the source

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