Sage Nestler's Blog, page 60

Paper Street Books and Comics Box Review

Paper Street Books and Comics is a bi-monthly (you receive a box every two months) box that sends you either a graphic novel, a thriller/horror/fantasy/dystopian book, or both.  I purchased the Warrior Box which includes a book, graphic novel, and numerous fandom items and I am IN LOVE with this box.  It is basically a fandom cube based on books, and the box introduces you to graphic novels you might have not otherwise tried.

I also love that this box is bi-monthly, because it is perfect for people who might not want to spend the money to have a box every single month.  I highly suggest getting the Warrior Box because it is the best value and comes with the most swag, but the book only or graphic novel only boxes are great alternatives as well.  Hell, I just adore this box and there is absolutely nothing that I think could be worked on.  You will love every box you receive, guaranteed.  And Jennifer, one of the co-owners, is a sweetheart which makes getting the box that much better.

To Order, Go Here

August/September Box Review

Item #1 – This Must Be Where Pies Go When They Die Candle by Milk & Jelly

Milk & Jelly is a side business that Jennifer, one of the co-owners, owns and I am in love with this candle.  It smells of cherry almond and brown sugar and I can’t stop smelling it.  The size is also great, because it is 4 oz., and bigger than the traditional sample size.  Jennifer used beeswax in this candle, which is meant to purify the air instead of making the air too thick.  I am very happy with how this candle burns, and I will definitely be buying more of her candles from Milk & Jelly.  This candle is also based on Twin Peaks, to add that nerd appeal.

Item #2 – What Would Jessica Jones Do? Art Print by Megan Lara

I love this art print.  It is a standard picture size and nicely wrapped in cellophane to protect it.  The art is just gorgeous, and it goes perfectly on my wall of fandom prints.

Item #3 – Castiel POP Figure Keychain from Supernatural

I have recently gotten pretty heavy into Supernatural, so I was very happy with this keychain.  I am also a huge geek for POP figures, so I couldn’t be happier with this item.  It is the perfect size to have with you always.  I received Castiel, but you could have received Dean as well.

Item #4 – Book Warrior T- Shirt

This t-shirt is adorable, and I love the pink on white.  I also buy shirts in a bigger size, and this shirt is perfect as a workout shirt and night shirt.  It is very comfortable, and I love how it is exclusive to the box.

Item #5 – Riverkeep by Martin Stewart

This is the book that was included in this period’s box, and I went gaga over it.  I didn’t know anything about this book beforehand, which made me like it even more.  I love being introduced to new books, and both of this month’s book were wrapped in paper and string like mystery novels.  It was adorable.

Item #6 – Plutona by Jeff Lemire, Emi Lenox, and Jodie Bellaire 

This was the graphic novel of the month, and I ate it right up.  The idea of it is very interesting, and I like how the superheroes involved are different from your classic DC and Marvel superheroes.  I love being able to explore new graphic novels away from DC and Marvel and this pick was brilliant.

Overall, this box is great at introducing you to new books and genres, while also sending you items that you most likely would not have bought elsewhere.  It is perfect for those who are into many different fandoms, and it sets itself apart from other book boxes.  If you have not bought this box yet, then what are you waiting for?  It is guaranteed to change your reading experience in so many ways.

 

Cover Reveal: Behind Broken Glass Walls

Hello Everyone!

I am very excited to let you know that today is the day that the cover for my third novel “Behind Broken Glass Walls” releases!  This novel is set to release November 1, and will be on sale through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  It is the most challenging piece of work that I have worked on due to its sensitive content, but I am so proud of it.  I am very excited to share it with you all, and I hope you love it, and the cover, as much as I do:

I will be releasing more information soon, but please look back at this week’s update to read the synopsis.

*This novel will be published under my pen name.

Much love,

Ashley

Weekly Update – 08/15/16- 08/21/16

Happy Monday Everyone!

This week is going to be a big week.  Our August Fiction Go Indie Now! Boxes will be shipping, and the special edition version of my novel “Beautiful Nightmare” will be officially releasing on the 20th!  Below is the brand new cover for it, and this new version includes fanart, character profiles, setting discussion, and other exclusive content from me.

That all being said, I am also happy to announce for the very first time that my new novel, “Behind Broken Glass Walls” is set to release NOVEMBER 1!  This novel is my proudest work, and it will be published under a pen name for privacy purposes.  Below is the synopsis:

Abuse.  A gun. And her daughter.

You never know how strong you are until you are forced into a situation that tests every ounce of strength that you have.  This is what one mothers learns as she finds out that the person who committed a shooting at her daughter’s high school was indeed her daughter.  Her feelings are a mix of every emotion, but what bothers her the most is that even though she knows that her daughter took the lives of many others she can’t help but love her with all of her might.  It is this love that she has for daughter that makes her feel entirely at fault.

Learn what it means to love a child when everyone else sees her as a murderer and experience what it feels like to love someone who you no longer understand.

What are the limits on your love?

I will also be reviewing the following books this week:

The Woman in the Jimmy Choo Shoes by L.V. Krause
The Cheating Wives Club by D.J. Jouett

I hope that you all have a fun, productive week, and please always know that you are loved!

Much love,

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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Summer Author Tour: Marie Silk

Happy Monday Everyone!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend!  This week’s author spotlight is on the deeply talented, Marie Silk.  She is a historical fiction author with four books out in her Davenport House series already, and I am absolutely in love with them!  If you are interested in series set in the Progressive Era, then I highly recommend her work.

Author Interview

How did you get the idea for “Davenport House”?

I am a fan of Jane Austen and Downton Abbey.  I wanted to write an American counterpart during similar times.  Inheritance conflicts have been an issue since earliest recorded history—heated even in present day.  I believe a reason for this could be that grief and tragedy can bring out the most extreme emotions of the surviving family.  This makes for interesting stories in any era.

Have you always loved writing historical fiction, and do you read it as well?

This is the first time that I have written historical fiction.  I had a wonderful time researching for these novels.  The locations are real places, and readers might be interested to know that the department store in the first book is still famous to this day.  It is now the Macy’s store that is known worldwide for its Thanksgiving Day parades.  I still read and enjoy historical fiction.  The Mandie series was my favorite to read when I was growing up.

How many books are you estimating will be in the series?

There are six books planned for the Davenport House family saga, continuing through WWI and the Great Depression.

Do you only write historical fiction?

I write in many genres.  My friends and family know me for writing satire and humor.  Writing a serious historical fiction saga was a surprise to others as well as myself.

Why did you pick the era that is the setting for “Davenport House”?

I picked the Progressive Era because I believe the United States was experiencing a peak time of glory.   People were mostly recovered from the Civil War by then, and began making great advances in technology.  I think it must have been an exciting time to be alive.  I also think that the dresses were beautiful, and the way the characters are dressed is an important element of Davenport House.

What do you hope readers will take away from your writing?

I hope that readers will enjoy the contrast of rich and poor, with a bit of the Cinderella feeling.  There is a full range of emotions to be explored throughout this saga.  I hope that Davenport House might become a real mansion in the minds’ eye, so that the fine dining, marble fireplaces, and lovely dresses can be enjoyed to their fullest.

Author Bio 

Marie Silk has enjoyed writing stories and plays since childhood. She frequently travels the globe to learn more about the world and the people in it. Marie is a fan of history, antiques, castles, Jane Austen, and the game of chess. She is the author of the Davenport House family saga.

Book Excerpts

Book 1: Davenport House

Mary Davenport is a 22-year-old idealist who worries that the world in the Progressive Era is leaving her behind. She lives isolated in the Pennsylvania countryside with her affluent and secretive family. When her father dies suddenly, Mary becomes pained with grief and increasingly suspicious of those around her.

A humble servant girl has the chance of a lifetime to become a lady’s companion. Costly dresses, exquisite rooms, and fine dinners are pleasant distractions from what is really happening in the house.

Book 2: A New Chapter

The family saga continues in this sequel to Davenport House, resuming where the first leaves off in the spring of 1915. The family and servants must face their fears amid love and jealousy, grief and moving forward, and threat of imminent War with the World.

The restructure of an upper class family affects all who live on the Pennsylvania estate. 22-year-old Mary Davenport stays occupied with modernizing the house, but insecurities arise when she develops romantic feelings for the first time.

A wealthy socialite persuades one of the ladies to join her on a voyage aboard the exquisite Lusitania. Handsome Ethan is forced to move into the mansion after a fire destroys his home. Tensions rise as Davenport House enters a new chapter with more challenges than anyone is prepared for. 

Book 3: A Mother’s Love

The family saga continues in this third book to Davenport House, beginning with a chapter that looks into the past to understand the present.

Motor cars and telephone calls are now part of the modern life at Davenport House. It is summertime in 1915 Pennsylvania and the ladies of the house are making big plans for the year. Clara takes financial matters into her own hands and discovers an unlikely alliance outside of the house. The future becomes uncertain when faiths collide and a sudden outbreak of fever sweeps across the county.

Ethan and his father are absent for days when secrets of the past are found in a letter. The trustee reopens the estate of the late Mr. Davenport with the power to change everything for everyone at Davenport House.

 Book 4: Heiress Interrupted

More to the story is revealed in this fourth book to Davenport House. Nellie Whitmore is accustomed to life as a carefree heiress, but her claim to the family fortune is at risk because of a new heir. Nellie is sent to Britain to be married before word spreads of her changing circumstances. What begins as a luxurious voyage becomes a fight for survival when the ship is caught in the midst of the War, forever changing the people who live to tell about it.

Friendship is kept afloat by telegrams between London and Davenport House. Mary Davenport announces exciting news, and the servants prepare for more changes downstairs. Ethan is anxious to move to Philadelphia, but becomes overworked while the estate is in search of a new groundskeeper. Relationships become strained when the unthinkable shakes the foundation of the house, and the ladies are left to evaluate the risks of keeping secrets.

Marie Silk on Amazon

Marie Silk on Facebook

 

 

Bright Minds Empty Souls by Jennae Cecilia

Title: Bright Minds Empty Souls

Author: Jennae Cecilia

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

Bright Minds Empty Souls is a collection of 200+ poems written by Jennae Cecelia. It is for the hopeless romantics, and the people who believe they can make the bad times into great ones. It’s a book made with love about falling in love. Bright Minds Empty Souls is meant to be read when you are happy or sad. It’s for the people who need someone to relate to their pain. It’s inspiration for you to write down your own thoughts and feelings. It’s a book you can read late at night when you are ending a crappy day, or early in the morning when you know a good day is ahead. Bring it to book clubs, share it with your friends, highlight your favorite poems within it, and use it as inspiration to not only follow your dreams but make them reality. This book is for the dreamers.

Review:

Jennae Cecilia’s poems are fairly basic.  I didn’t find them to contain a high level of artistry, which is something that I do look for in poetry.  Bright Minds Empty Souls ended up being more a collection of thoughts and quotes than a collection of poetry, and while some of the poems were interesting, I didn’t find many of them to be memorable.  One example of a poem that I felt was just more of a statement is as follows:

Badass

I wanted to be a badass because you said

you liked a badass.

The writing comes off a bit flat, and some of the poems seem to be superficial and don’t dig down deeper enough, which is what poetry needs to do.

That being said, Cecilia’s thoughts and ideas are promising, and if she were to study poetry and technique a bit more I believe that she could be widely successful.  Her thoughts just need to be expanded on and evolved a bit more in order to be groundbreaking and artistic.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

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Pork by R.S. Anthony

Title: Pork

Author: R.S. Anthony

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

High school is torture for Steven Walthurst, and home isn’t a whole lot better. The only place that offers respite is an abandoned tree house at the edge of town. But something lurks in the nearby woods, and the long line of elm trees has a clear message for Steven: keep out.

Then one day, Steven finds a little girl lying unconscious, perilously close to the woods. As the two get to know one another, Steven experiences real friendship for the first time—and gets closer than ever to knowing the darkness that skulks between the trees.

He dedicates himself to keeping his new friend safe, but the tranquility of their fragile hidden world doesn’t last long. When an act of cruelty pushes Steven to his limits, his secrets—and those of the dark woods—come close to unraveling, threatening to destroy the one thing making his teenage life bearable.

Can Steven save everything he’s built from crumbling under the pressure?

This story will tug at your heartstrings as the characters experience friendship, abuse, mistrust, and deliverance.

Review:

Pork is an eerie thriller that is both entertaining and terrifying.  The sharp writing helped to intensify the story well, and even though the beginning was a bit slow I couldn’t help but yearn to finish this book.  The reader quickly becomes engrossed with Steven, and it is hard not to fall into his position and imagine his experiences for yourself.

R.S. Anthony writes with the voice of an observer; a writer who deeply understands the human experience and what teenagers and children go through.  She is able to understand how children are affected by their parents’ actions, and that is a factor that deeply affected Steven throughout the novel.  Anthony seemed to insinuate that by running away from his problems every day, Steven fell into a nightmare that the woods created for him.  She encapsulated the rebellious teenage experience while also touching on the subject of bullying, and forced Steven to evolve throughout the novel due to the experiences that he suffered through.

P0rk is a great introductory novel into the thriller/horror genre, and would be a great novel for young adult readers to start with.  Steven is highly relatable, and the novel is tame enough that timid readers won’t be bothered.  This novel is so much more than just a work of horror, it is also a brilliant take on teenagehood and how humans evolve during this time.  Steven seems to get his wings in this novel, and it was delightful to watch him change as he progresses into early adulthood.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

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Writing Tip: Determining Which Writing Perspective is Right for You

Hello, Everyone!

Today I would like to discuss the different perspectives that writers are able to use, and how each one will change your story dramatically.  First and foremost, these perspectives are:

1st Person = From the perspective of the narrator, using the pronoun “I”
2nd Person = Directed towards the reader, using the pronoun “you”
3rd Person = From an outside source, or the perspective of the writer, using pronouns such as “they, he, she, etc.”

Usually, the most common perspective to use in novels is the 1st person perspective.  However, this perspective is tricky and the writer needs to have some necessary knowledge of what using this perspective entails, and what you can and can’t include.  The main thing you must understand is that by using this perspective you are choosing to write your story from the perspective of one of your characters.  Because of this, you won’t be able to talk about certain elements of your story that the character you are speaking from wouldn’t know about.

For example, if your main character doesn’t know that her parents are about to divorce, you can’t talk about this from her perspective.

You are limiting your knowledge base by using this perspective, but it also opens you up to include surprises and plot twists in your story due to the fact that your narrator’s knowledge base won’t be as vast.  In my opinion, this perspective is best if you are trying to portray your main character on a deeper level in order to have your reader empathize with them.  It is also better if your cast of characters is not as vast, and you won’t need to expand on your other characters quite as much.  For example, I would use this perspective if  I were writing about a character going through a personal change or break through in order to have the reader understand them better.

The second most common perspective is third person, and it happens to be my favorite perspective.  The beauty about third person perspective is that you are using pronouns such as “they, he, or she” and you are able to narrate as the writer yourself.  Because of this, your entire knowledge base is susceptible to being used since you don’t have to make sure that you are only writing from the perspective of one character.  This perspective is best used for a large cast of characters since you can move around the characters and focus on different ones throughout the novel.

The last perspective, and possibly the hardest to pull off, is second person perspective.  Second person perspective essentially uses the pronoun “you” and makes the reader a big part of the story.  This perspective is hard to pull off because you will be talking to the reader and have your story revolve around them.  By doing this, you have to imagine what your reader’s knowledge base is about your story, and you are limited by that knowledge base.  However, if this perspective is used well it can transport the reader directly into the novel and allow them to imagine themselves interacting with the characters in their world.  I would not use this perspective if you are trying to convey your story to the reader and not treat them as an active part of the story because you won’t be able to use descriptions and outside plots as much as you would in the other perspectives.  However, this one is fun to play and I would suggest using it if you want to create a full-blown experiences for the reader.  Think of this perspective as a person playing a video game.  When people play video games they become part of the game themselves, and that is what this perspective will help you do with your novel.

By understanding all of the different perspectives in detail, you will be better able to write a novel that appeals to a larger audience.  Each story is fit for a different perspective and vice versa, and I have outlined for you below what my suggestions are for all three perspectives.

1st Person = good for stories with a smaller cast of characters, and a focus on a single character to portray their experience and emotions better.
2nd Person = useful for stories that aim to include the reader in the plot.  By making the reader feel a part of the story, your story will have to revolve around them.  Not recommended for stories with a large cast of characters that involve outside stories that the reader themselves as a character would not experience
3rd Person = Essential for stories with a big cast of characters so that you are able to expand on each character and unite them all into the same story.  You will be better able to include extra information with this perspective, because your narrator’s knowledge base won’t be limited.

Always remember that you can go back through a story and change the perspective if needed.  Each perspective has its own benefits and downfalls, and as an author you will know what is best for you.  But I urge you to try each perspective out and determine what your favorite is, and which one you think will be the most beneficial for you in your writing.  I hope this helps, and please leave questions below if you would like anymore tips or information!

Much love,

Ashley

July Go Indie Now! Excellence in Literature Award

Hi Everyone!

I am excited to announce that we at Go Indie Now! have awarded our July Excellence in Literature Award to Jacqueline E. Smith, for her novel Backstage: A Boy Band Novel!  Her award dedication page can be found at our awards website, and I sincerely hope that you all check out her Boy Band series.  Her writing is brilliant, and she has an excellence take on the after high school experience that everyone seems to go through.

Congratulations Jacqueline!

Award Website

Much love,

Ashley

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

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Weekly Update: 08/08/16 – 08/14/16

Hello Everyone!

A few updates.  This month, our Go Indie Now! Bibliotherapy Fiction Boxes will be going out a bit later around the 20th.  Our Romance/Erotica and Poetry boxes have already gone out, but we have a few Romance/Erotica boxes left if you missed out and would still like to purchase one.  Today is also the last day to order our August boxes, and any boxes sold after today will be receiving the September box.  Below are the themes for our fantastic September boxes:

Fiction Box (Base and Simple Options): Alternate Realities (Steampunk/Dystopian Genres) – A bibliotherapy session for when you need to embrace different perspectives.
Romance/Erotica Box: Dreaming of the Sea – A bibliotherapy session for those who long for the ocean.
Poetry Box: We Are the Galaxy – A bibliotherapy session for when you want to feel a part the bigger picture.

This week I will also be reviewing:

Pork by R.S. Anthony
Bright Minds, Empty Souls by Jennae Cecelia

Have a great week everyone!

Much love,

Ashley

Summer Author Tour: Leslie Conzatti

Happy Monday Everyone!

This week’s author spotlight is on Leslie Conzatti, author of “The Water Man”, “Merely Meridith”, “Princess of Undersea”, and “The Commander’s Courage”.  Her works aren’t currently published, but they can be viewed on her blog and Wattpad.  The interview I had with her, as well as her biography, are below!  Enjoy!

INTERVIEW
1) What is your favorite genre to write, and do you write across different genres?
When I am working on entirely-original projects, my writing generally vacillates between fantasy and cyberpunk. I do have some “adaptations” I have started that are kind of contemporary romance (“Merely Meredith” [http://upstreamwriter.blogspot.com/2015/05/story-feature-merely-meredith-modern.html] is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion”) or historical fiction (as in “The ReBible Series”, [http://upstreamwriter.blogspot.com/p/the-rebible-series.html] which are historical/modern adaptations of Bible stories) but in those cases it’s a story already written, so I am just repurposing the details. It is a lot of cyberpunk and fantasy, though.


2) What has your publishing experience been like?
So far it’s been great! Not at all what I thought it would be, since originally I was going to be a part of a self-published anthology, then a small-press published anthology, and then that dwindled down to just me… But the publisher I am working with has been very patient with all of my worried questions and inadvertent procrastinating, he has been clear and above-board in his dealings, and I am confident that this will continue moving forward!

3) What is your advice to aspiring authors?
Keep freaking writing. Absorb other media, whether it’s books, TV shows, or movies. Learn what you can about the writing process; there have been quite a few times I have come across books that the author was really excited and proud of the fact that they produced a book… But since they ignored the basic rudiments of storytelling, what may have been a unique and inventive premise got lost in the flurry of sensational scenarios, flat characters, dull plot dwindles, and forced conversations. Learn from others’ successes and mistakes. When you like something or don’t like it, stop and see if you can figure out why that is. If you liked it, maybe you will want to add it to your own writing. If you didn’t, identify it so you can avoid it. Oh, and Keep. Freaking. Writing.

4) What do you hope readers will take away from your writing?
I want to give a message of hope and empowerment. I love literature with such a passion that I am devastated when I witness it used in such a way as to leave the reader confused and hopeless, or (God forbid) more detached from the real world. I believe that literature should be designed to improve the world one reader at a time, so when that aspect is disregarded, then what is the point of all those words?

5) What are you currently working on?
I am currently in the process of publishing a novella entitled “Princess of Undersea,” which is sort of like my own version of The Little Mermaid.
As far as in-progress novels, I have an urban fantasy novel called “The Water-Man”, [https://www.wattpad.com/story/49585258-the-water-man] which I am currently posting on Wattpad.
Any other works-in-progress are available for perusal as excerpts on my blog.

BIO

Leslie Conzatti is an avid reader, a passionate writer, and a committed lover of all things fantasy. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she has been running the blog “The Upstream Writer” since the beginning of 2013, to promote her own writing and as a medium for interacting with readers. In addition, “The Upstream Writer” is an “indie book blog” as well, since Leslie willingly uses it as an excuse to get free books. (to review, of course!) Leslie’s “day job” is a staff assistant at a local elementary school. She is currently in the process of getting a novella published, and hopes to be ready for release by the fall!

Blog:http://www.upstreamwriter.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leslieconzattiwriter
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/KartheyM