Sage Nestler's Blog, page 68
June 5, 2016
A Note About Reviews
Hello everyone,
I wanted to let you know that I am FULL in terms of e-book reviews. If all of my e-books that I need to review were in the physical form, they would look like the photo representing this post. That means that I am full all the way through next October for e-book reviews.
HOWEVER, I will still take review requests, but I will only accept your request if you are willing to send a paperback copy. Since I review paperback copies FIRST, this means that you will get a review much faster than if you send the e-book. I love you all, but I need to add this requirement to make sure I don’t drown in too much work!
Please still feel free to fill out the review form, but know that if you state that you can’t send a paperback copy I will have to decline your request. Thank you for your understanding! I just don’t want anyone getting upset that a review for their book is taking too long, so this is just a safety feature.
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!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
June 4, 2016
Author Interview -Nelson Pyles
Today’s featured author is Nelson Pyles! He is the author of Everything Here Is A Nightmare, which is a very intriguing collection of his writings that I had the pleasure of reading. Check out the interview that I had with him below, and be sure to snag his book on Amazon!
Author Questions
What is the first memory you have of writing?
The first memory I have of writing was trying to write the third story for Star Wars right after watching The Empire Strikes Back. I didn’t think I could wait three years for the sequel. It was fun to write-horrible, but fun. I was always an avid reader as a kid and the more I read, the more I wrote. The first solid story I wrote was in sixth grade. I wrote a decent murder mystery for my teacher. It wasn’t hard to solve the mystery; it was only eight pages long.
2) Which authors inspire you, and why?
This will sound very cliché, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Stephen King, but in 1980 when I was in fourth grade, you couldn’t escape him. You can’t escape him now, but that isn’t a bad thing. He’s good. He’s really that good. He was the most prolific author by the end of the 20th century and he’s still going strong. He was also a gateway author for me. In his nonfiction book Danse Macabre, I discovered Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson and the great Harlan Ellison. I do have to add Mark Twain and Joe R. Lansdale as well. Joe is so versatile and his writing continues to amaze me. He refuses to limit his work to any one thing and I think it’s important. I write mostly horror, but I love reading and writing in other genres as well. Limiting yourself to one thing is dangerous to your creativity I think and it also helps your writing in general.
3) What is your favorite genre to read, and why?
I’d say horror, but just because I mostly write in that genre, doesn’t mean it’s all I read. I love all fiction and I read everything I can grab. No real specific genre honestly. As long as it has soul t it, I’m going to devour it. I learned as I began to write more, that it is important to read as much as you can even if it is in a genre you normally wouldn’t read. Romance novels, for example. I’ve read a bunch of those believe it or not. I never unwind with a good book. I get riled up. It makes me want to attack the keyboard.
4) What is your favorite genre to write, and why?
I’ve always considered myself a horror writer, but I’ve started leaning on the “speculative fiction” label as of late. That being said, I love to write scary, horrific things. I enjoy building likeable characters and then just tossing the worst thing I can think of in front of them. It’s slightly sadistic, of course, but it’s also a lot of fun.
5) What are you currently working on?
I’m currently editing my second novel and working two others. It’s been a lot of work thus far, editing being the least fun part of the process. That being said, there are much worse things that will happen in my life. Being an author is a lot of work that I absolutely adore. It’s a lot of work and so completely worth it. I’m also in the middle of recording with the band Novus for our second album. That should be out towards the end of the year.
Questions Concerning “Everything Here Is A Nightmare”
1) I also love introductions and notes inserted into books! What do you want your readers to get out of your notes and your introduction?
Hopefully they get a little insight into what goes on in the process of writing. I’m always fascinated by how other writers get their ‘machine’ to work. I love stories about stories! The introductions are a part of that as well. I had asked Paul Michael Anderson to write the introduction to the book for a bunch of reasons. He’s a really great writer and editor, but he’s also my friend. What I didn’t tell him was why I asked him specifically to write an introduction. Paul’s probably done more for my writing than almost anyone else I can think of and that’s because he’s honest. I’d send him something and he’d tell me in great length why it didn’t work. That kind of insight is damn near impossible to get, much less from someone who claims to like you. It’s the best thing a writer can get.
2) The first book I thought of when reading this novel was “Nightmares and Dreamscapes” by Stephen King, which you happen to mention! Was this anthology of his part of your inspiration for your collection?
“Nightmares and Dreamscapes” was invaluable to me as a guide to putting this together. Of all of his collections, that one for some reason was the most fun for me. At the end of the day, I want my readers to really enjoy reading my stuff, thus the notes after the stories. I just loved the way his book had been structured and went for that same vibe. Since my favorite work by King has always been his short stories, I’d say it was for sure an inspiration. These days, its very cliché to claim King as an influence and an inspiration, but it doesn’t make it any less true. I wave the King flag high and proud.
3) Why did you choose “Everything Here is a Nightmare” as a title?
I worked for a company that had a very bad work environment. No one was happy, everyone hated it and through that, we all had bonded. My friend Becky was standing outside on a break and I asked her how her day had been going.
“Nelson, everything here is a nightmare.”
I stopped, laughed and told her that I would use that as the title of my first short story collection. She chuckled and said “Don’t forget where you got it from,” and I haven’t.
My friend, Sydney Leigh is a really amazing author and she suggested that one of the stories should bear the title of the collection. I didn’t have one originally, but after some thought, I changed the title of a story that had the clunky title of “Love in the West with Dead Folk.” I still like that title, because it had the charm of a Lansdale story…at least I thought so, but I think “Everything Here is a Nightmare” worked better as a title for story and collection.
4) Did you write all of the short stories in the anthology at the same time, or have they been collected over years?
The collection time frame spans about 15 years total, the oldest story being “Spring in New York” which was finished right after 9/11. The most recent was written in February of last year, which was “The Moon Sees You.” Everything in between has all either appeared elsewhere or been waiting for this book I suppose. I tend to overwrite a lot the older I’ve gotten and I have a stack of stories either waiting for publication, or volume two of the next collection.
5) My personal favorite in your collection is “Monk’s Run – Pilot”, and I found it interesting that it was a script instead of a short story. Why did you choose to add this script into your short story collection?
I’m so glad you liked that one! That’s been floating around the universe without a home for a while now. It’s one of the best things I think I’ve written and the folks who had read it still ask me about it. I had written it as a TV show pilot obviously, and actually had a five season storyline attached to it. I like to try different things and different styles. I’ve always loved screenwriting and thought I’d give it a good go. The screenplay format is very structured and acts more or less as a blueprint. You don’t need to be as descriptive with the set ups, but you do need to still keep it compelling. But in the framework, there’s a bit of freedom from being overtly descriptive. A script is a guide for a director and she’ll decide what kind of room it’ll be and what kind of tone the scene will have based on how she sees the scene in her head. Small example:
The man walked through the door into the small, dimly lit room. He let the door shut behind him.
“Well,” he said, through his teeth. “I’m here.”
INT: ROOM-DIMLY LIT
Man enters through door.
MAN
Well, I’m here.
The director can add whatever she wants to this scene; delivery of the line, if the actor slams the door or lets it close, etc.
My job as a writer is to convey what I see in my head in words, but the reader ultimately is going to see what they’re going to see while they’re reading. It’s translating an idea. The script format is very sparse for set up and allows the imagination to really run wild in a different way.
I really thought it would be cool to add it to the short stories to break it up a little bit. It’s a fun, spooky idea that I have not abandoned.
You can find Nelson at his Facebook page
Thank you, Nelson, for taking the time to answer these questions with such intriguing answers, and I look forward to seeing what you do next!
June 3, 2016
Author Interview – Aliya DalRae
Today’s featured author is the wonderful Aliya DalRae, author of “Sweet Vengeance”. I am absolutely in love with her work and her as a person! She is so sweet and passionate about what she does, and I am sure that you will be able to see that through the interview I had with her below. She is also a big supporter of the Go Indie Now! box and will be featured in the coming months!
About The Author
1) What is the first memory you have of writing?
When I was a kid I used to daydream a lot. I never really put pen to paper, but every night when I went to bed, my mind would be full of all of these fantastic adventures, wonderful things I would do, amazingly brave things I would say. I’d spend hours inside my head creating scenes where I was the star, and everyone was amazed by my heroics and fearlessness. I would go to sleep with these stories running through my head. It never occurred to me to write them down. I was probably in high school before I actually started writing. Then it was poetry and prose, and more often than not musical lyrics, because of course, I was going to be a famous singer/actress someday. I was a creative kid, with a dramatic flair and no real direction.
It wasn’t until 2009 that I became serious about writing. It started as a form of therapy, to get me through some tough times, and ended up being something I truly love.
2) Which authors inspire you, and why?
This is going to be an eclectic group!
J.R. Ward, The Warden—I love that she’s fearless; she pushes the envelope with what she writes and isn’t afraid to let her characters be who they are meant to be.
I love Janet Evanovich. She’s inspired me to work the humor angle. There is nothing more satisfying to me than to read a book and have a true LOL moment. If I can give that to others, than I feel like I’ve done my job.
And Brandon Sanderson—the man is a literary genius! The worlds he creates; the imagination and the detail whether he’s writing for kids or high fantasy. He can describe something in a few words that other authors of his ilk would take pages to describe. From him I learned not to get so caught up in the color of the wall paper that I lose my readers in the process.
There are so many more. I think every author I’ve ever read has taught me something, what to do, what not to do. These three were the first to come to mind.
3) What is your favorite genre to read, and why?
Wow, that’s a toughie. I read so many different genres; it feels like whatever I’m reading at that moment is my favorite. I love anything paranormal, urban fantasy and high fantasy because in these genres anything can happen. There are no limits to what the characters can do, other than those the authors place upon them. But I also like a good murder mystery, with plain old humans committing plain old gruesome crimes. I like to try to untangle all the knots to see if I can beat the protagonist, and solve the who-done-it before he/she does. The only thing I don’t read on a regular basis is horror. Steven King’s The Boogeyman left me with a closet complex I haven’t quite gotten over.
4) What is your favorite genre to write, and why?
I’m going to have to go with Paranormal Romance. So far it’s the only thing I’ve written, so with nothing to compare it to, I’m afraid I’m a little limited. Just as with reading it, I love that the sky’s the limit as far as what the characters can do, and the world I’m able to create. I love that I can make them do anything I want as long as it doesn’t go against the rules of the world I’ve developed, and that if ever there is a question about how something could be feasible, I can just smile and say, “It was magic!”
5) What are you currently working on?
Right now I am working on the second book in the Jessica Sweet Trilogy, “Sweet Discovery.” “Sweet Vengeance” left off with a bit of a cliff-hanger, and apparently a lot of questions about a certain cat, so I’m working hard to provide some answers to these questions and more. The first draft is all but complete. I just need to add a couple of short chapters here and there and start on the major tweaking. I’m hoping to publish this one by the end of the year. Fingers crossed!
About the Book
1) Why did you choose vampires as your chosen supernatural being? Are they your favorite mythological creature?
That’s a great question! I don’t know that they are my favorite per se. If I could “date” a Super, it would probably be a Shifter of some kind (a lion, maybe?). But I guess I feel like Vampires are the most misunderstood. They have such a reputation for being evil, because of the whole blood thing, but in the end, don’t we all just want to be loved? And the more damaged the Vampire, the more rewarding it is for me, as a reader as well as a writer, to see them find that one person who can make them whole again.
2) How long did you work on the manuscript of “Sweet Vengeance” before finishing it?
I started “Sweet Vengeance” in 2009, and wrote the first draft in two months during my lunch breaks at work. I had never written anything of this magnitude before, and though I felt like it had potential, it ended up being stuffed in an electronic drawer for the next six and a half years. Occasionally, I would pull it out, read through it and make changes, but until last summer I hadn’t shared it with anyone. A friend, who had recently published a book, offered to be my guinea pig. She was calling me, texting me, and e-mailing me with daily OMGs and WTFs, insisting that I HAD to publish. I got a second opinion from another friend, with the same response. It was at that point that I got serious about cleaning it up and making it something I could be proud of.
3) How many books are you planning for the Jessica Sweet Series?
At this point Jessica’s story is a planned trilogy. I think I can do what I need to for her and Raven in three books. However, I have a title and some back story for Tas, so he has to have his own book. I’m crazy about Harrier, he definitely needs a book (if anybody could benefit from a love interest, it’s Harrier!), and there is a character introduced in the second book who most definitely needs his own book. So in this world, there will be at least six.
4) What do you hope readers will take away from your writing?
I really just want my readers to have fun. I’m under no false misconception that my work is deeply intellectual or the next “War and Peace” or “Great Expectations.” However, if people can read the book(s), laugh a little, cheer for the heroes, feel a little tug at their hearts, and smile when they think about what they’ve read? That’s really all I could ask for.
5) I felt really close to your characters when reading “Sweet Vengeance”. Do you also care for your characters as though they are real people?
First of all, I’m so glad that you connected with Raven, Jessica and the rest—that means so much to me!
My husband and I lost our only child in 2008, and writing this book was not only therapy, it was my way of giving a life to a little girl who would never have one of her own. I didn’t want to make it too real (thus the supernatural theme), but I wanted her to have adventures, and love and disappointment—all the things that you would want for, and want to protect your child from. As the story progressed (and Jessica got a little naughty—my kid would NEVER do that!!!!) the characters began to take on lives of their own. At that point something amazing happened. I found that the healing process had finally begun. These characters drew me out of a year and a half of sadness and depression. They gave me something to focus on besides my grief. So, yes. I love each and every one of them! They all hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to making them (most of them, anyway) as happy as they’ve made me.
Go Indie Now! Romance and Erotica Subscription
Hello Everyone!
I am happy to announce that Go Indie Now! is expanding and we will have a new subscription service starting in August for a romance and erotica monthly box! This box will come with an indie romance or erotica book, a bonus content packet, a scented candle, a bath product, a related recipe, and a playlist linked to different pages and/or chapters. It will be $20+shipping a month and 10% of all sales will go to the charity we sponsor that helps women with breast cancer: Knitted Knockers. The idea of this box is to bring women a special night in each month to pamper themselves and give themselves a bit of a vacation. We believe that everyone should treat themselves at least a little bit, and this box will be specifically for that.
That being said I NOW AM ACCEPTING EROTICA BOOKS FOR REVIEW! However, I will not accept any erotica novels based off of video games, science fiction, or anything far fetched like that. I will, however, accept erotica in the genres of contemporary, fantasy, historical fiction, etc. Anyone who reaches out to me for a review for their erotica novel will be considered for the box, so keep them coming!
Thank you to everyone for your continued support with this box and my blog. My goal in the beginning was to rock the literary world by bringing indie to the spotlight, and I can already see that happening! You are all amazing.
We are also now accepting pre-orders for the romance and erotica box that will start in August! All you need to do is send an email to peachykeenreviews@gmail.com with your preferred email address, and then when the box goes live you will be sent a link to subscribe. This will allow you to secure a box before the box launches.
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!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
June 2, 2016
Author Interview: Tiffany Apan
Today’s featured author is Tiffany Apan, author of “Decent” which is part of The Birthrite Series and will be featured in a special Halloween Go Indie Now! Box this October! I am in love with her work and her dark writing style, and I am sure that you will fall in love with them as well! Keep an eye out for her book and featured items in the box this October!
1) What is the first memory you have of writing?
First off, thank you for featuring me and my work here!
I have been writing for quite some time and doing so for as long as I can remember. I was always coming up with stories, whether writing them down or having my toys re-enact them. I always loved stories, music lyrics, and poetry, but I didn’t really have a turning point until my fifth grade English class. At that time, we got to learning of and studying the principles of poetry, so naturally writing a poem was one of the assignments in the class. Because I had an obsession with Norway and Vikings (and still kind of do), I wrote of a Viking sea adventure (when everyone else chose to write of a family member or pet…are there any other ten-year-olds out there obsessed with Vikings or was I the only one?). My English teacher said that I had a great talent for writing and encouraged me to continue from there.
That particular poem, among some of my others, did garner much praise from my English teachers and at times throughout the years, my writing was called ‘ambitious.’ Given the monstrosity of a series I’m currently writing, it looks as though that hasn’t changed all that much!
2) Which authors inspire you, and why?
It’s a toss up between Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Bronte. While there are contemporary authors that I do enjoy, I am quite taken by our writers of yore. Poe is just brilliant to me.
With Emily Bronte, the fact that her work, Wuthering Heights, is often so misunderstood and misinterpreted fascinates me alone. I’ve also been reading a lot on her life, those of her sisters Anne and Charlotte, her brother Branwell, and her father Patrick. It is quite interesting finding out what inspired them to write as they did.
Also Tolkien. Because Tolkien reigns supreme.
I also enjoy H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, Bram Stoker, Zane Grey, Rod Serling, Washington Irving, Oscar Wilde, Clive Barker, Mary Shelly, Anne Rice, Shirley Jackson, Charlotte Bronte, William Shakespeare, George Orwell, L. Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll, CS Lewis, Emily Dickinson, Kate Chopin, among others. Any author or writer that can tell a good story with vivid characters and a plot that makes you think (possibly even questioning your own sanity and the world around you) is more than okay by me!
3) What is your favorite genre to read, and why?
All kinds. It depends on my mood, really. I love Horror, but I also love Romance, Historical Fiction, anything to do with the paranormal and supernatural, Gothic Fiction and authors of bygone eras (Poe, Lovecraft, Brontes, Austen, Grey, Shelly, Stoker). Even the horror from the 1800s is so beautiful and has much romance in the way it is written. And of course, I also enjoy historical fiction.
I’m also reading a lot of non-fiction (mostly history), especially with the amount of research that goes into most of my stories. It’s never boring as I am constantly uncovering new territory.
4) What is your favorite genre to write, and why?
I love dark (Gothic) fiction, because for me that is the genre that fully encompasses human strength and frailty. A lot of the Gothic Fiction I’ve read has shown some of the best depictions of the human experience. And that is the journey I enjoy going on when I write.
5) Do you like writing alone or collaborating, and why?
I tend to be a bit of a hermit when I write and for me it is a very solitary activity (with the exception of my characters, of course). But I have also been a part of anthologies, so I don’t mind doing some collaborating either.
6) How did you get the idea for Descent?
How Descent (and The Birthrite Series in general) came about is a story in itself!
Back in late 2011/early 2012, I had a rather vivid dream that stayed with me and I found myself unable to let it go. The dream entailed me in deep conversation with a person that would later be a key character in The Birthrite Series. And it’s interesting, because what was originally supposed to be a more fun and adventurous time travel romance under the working title Through Time eventually morphed into something completely different. In fact, NONE of the main characters from the first book in the series (Descent) where even a thought as I wrote the original draft and concept (which is odd since now I can’t even imagine the story being without any of them!). But as I was writing Through Time, it just didn’t feel right. Yes, the general idea was there and, yes, pretty solid but something was definitely missing.
At the time, I was also reading Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. In one passage, he compares writing a story to discovering a small fossil, and then continuing to dig until the whole dinosaur is uncovered. Sometimes it will seem as though you are shoveling nothing but crap, but eventually you will make the great discovery. For me, that is exactly how writing Descent was.
As time went on and I allowed the story to just develop naturally, more characters seemed to just “walk on,” and characters I thought were just going to play minor roles ended up being major key characters. When this happened, it was a little scary but instead of fighting it, I allowed the characters a voice in their stories and ended up being pleasantly surprised with the results.
The story seemed to build upon itself, especially as I was doing more research to create the world in which the characters inhabit. It was then the story started going from being a fun adventurous romance to one that was still fun, adventurous and romantic, but darker and with a lot more mystery. Add to that my passion for history and the process of researching it and I was having a blast with it.
Because of the new direction the story was taking, the working title obviously had to change. Bloodlines was the new working title (which I knew would also eventually change since there already are so many projects out there with that title).
7) I absolutely love how the book deals with insanity. What made you want to delve deeper into this concept?
Thank you! It certainly seemed the natural way to go. As I was doing the research for the book and going through the characters, their backgrounds and journeys, I kept returning to the concept of sanity vs. insanity. I started delving deeper into the following questions: What makes a person ‘sane’ and who really dictates that? Is all that we see really what is around us or is it a mere illusion? Perhaps the one who is seen as the most insane is simply open to another reality that the rest of us are closed to.
It was a fascinating concept to delve into, and seemed appropriate for the characters and their journeys. It was also fun to invade the minds of my characters and really get into what made them the way they are.
8) How many books are you expecting to be in The Birthrite Series?
I expect to write five full length novels with a couple of novelettes, novellas and shorts in between the books. I don’t, however, believe in confining a story. Plus there is a lot of back story and history, so there might even be room for a prequel or spin-off Birthrite-verse series. We shall see.
June 1, 2016
Author Interview Month – Joseph Ferguson
Yay! Author Interview Month is upon us! Today’s featured author is the wonderful Joseph Ferguson, author of Southbound. Joe first approached me to review his novel, and since then I have been happy to have gotten to know him and his passion for writing. His novel “Southbound” is so raw and real, and I couldn’t put it down. I love books that are based on real people and events, and Joe did this so well in his novel by also adding in his own touches of fiction. Read below to learn more about him and his writing!
1) What is the first memory you have of writing?
I used to draw and write comic books with crayons when I was very young; usually featuring a Godzilla-like creature stomping on some ill-fated metropolis.
2) Which authors inspire you, and why?
Anyone who writes well and/or has a unique style or perspective. Over the years I’ve been inspired by Hemingway, Harry Crews, Kerouac, Flann O’Brien, Roddy Doyle, Dickens, Dostoyevsky, Sartre, Camus, Kafka, Tolkien, Ralph Ellison, Harlan Ellison, Richard Brautigan, Faulkner, Tom Waits,Richard Fariña, Richard Price and Leonard Cohen, Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee…The list goes on.
3) What is your favorite genre to read, and why?
I suppose it’s fiction, though I love to read anything – science, history, biography, plays, poetry, philosophy
4) What is your favorite genre to write, and why?
I seem to specialize in short fiction at the moment, but have a few unfinished novels waiting in the wings. Before I retired and could actually follow up on all the half-done stories, and ideas scribbled on bar napkins, I could only finish poems, since they are short enough to see the whole thing from beginning to end.
5) Do you like writing alone or collaborating, and why?
I always write alone, but really should have a collaborator. It’s great to have someone you can bounce ideas off, and fuel your energy; but most importantly for me, someone to keep me from goofing off. (Joe wouldn’t mind collaborating with someone – if you would like to collaborate with Joe, feel free to reach out to him!)
6) What was your inspiration for Southbound?
The first story I wrote was “Southbound,” for a Creative Writing Class in college back in 78 or 9. Several people from my neighborhood had drowned while drinking at that marina in Yonkers; one in particular happened with the real Basement Man, pretty much how I wrote it. So with a ready-made story, I tried to concentrate on the details of location, and the symbolism of not being able to get from point A to point B. Basement Man was something of a hit in the class, so I then wrote another one, “After the Crux,” for the same class.
7) Why did you choose to write a short story collection instead of a novel?
Well, as I said, it started as two separate short stories. “After the Crux” was then published in a small literary magazine called Swift Kick, and the editor said she wanted to do an issue featuring my work. That gave me the idea to make it all Basement Man stories. Unfortunately, life, working as a PR writer, and a general tendency to avoid facing a blank page at all costs got in the way, and though I produced one or two more BM stories, I never did get enough for the collection. I finally finished up the last one this past summer, after retiring, at which time I also learned that it was now possible to publish your own book for free; so there then ensued the long search for all the pre-computer stories, wading through musty files, and luckily, tracking them all down in the end.
8) Did you purposely write your short stories to resemble poetry?
Thank you for saying that. I imagine it’s a combination of deliberately trying to write as precisely and economically as possible (little attribution, show don’t tell, make every word count), and the fact that all those years where life got in the way of writing anything long, I wrote poetry almost exclusively. I also tend to accidentally alliterate…I call myself Afunctionally Alliterate.
9) Was Brian Weidner your Muse for Southbound? If so, why?
Damn, you actually read the acknowledgements? Yes, Brian sort of created this larger-than-life persona for himself and moved in. It was such clear-cut character that there was no work at all to recreate him on paper. It was more like transcribing. Even though, other than “Southbound,” most of what I have him doing or saying never happened, the character was so strong, I knew exactly how he would have reacted to any situation. Along the way, I did bounce the stories off Brian, who by the way is a writer in his own right (and one with much better work habits than mine).
10) How long were you working on Southbound before finishing it?
Well, I started them at college in the late 70s, and finished up last summer, so about 38 years. Of course, there was a lot more not working on it going on than working on it.
*Thank you to Joe for participating in this interview! You can find him and his work at the following links, and please feel free to reach out to him. He is a very passionate author and I look forward to reading any new work he comes out with!
May 31, 2016
What Comes of Eating Donuts With a Boy Who Plays Guitar by Nicole Campbell – 5/5
Title: What Comes of Eating Donuts With a Boy Who Plays Guitar
Author: Nicole Campbell
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
Due to mature themes and moderate language, this novel is intended for readers ages 16+.
Courtney Ross has lived her whole life doing everything by the book. She’s a top student, the captain of the cheer squad at her Scottsdale high school, and a nervous wreck most of the time. For summer vacation before senior year, she finally has her chance just to relax. She will be spending it with her best friend, Vanessa, in her tiny hometown of Gem City, Ohio. Courtney’s hoping for a chance to breathe, and maybe even for some of Vanessa’s carefree nature to rub off on her. What she doesn’t expect is Ethan Fisher. Courtney knows she’s in trouble the minute she sees him holding a guitar at her “Welcome Back” party. Her instincts prove to be correct as she gets to know him, and she finds her head spinning. What will this mean for the girl who always plays by the rules?
In her first full-length novel, Nicole Campbell delivers a perfect beach read for the more mature Young Adult crowd. Readers will re-live their first relationships (the good, the bad, and the overwhelming), or imagine the spark of what the future might hold in this story full of the type of intensity only found in young love.
Review:
Nicole Campbell is a beautiful author. First of all, I absolutely loved the title of this book even though it is quite long. It just added a unique spice to the story that she created, and I felt that her writing transported me back to my high school days and the childlike wonder that comes with being a young adult. I enjoyed how her novel followed a girl who is trying to come out of her shell and ends up falling in love. I am a strong believer that young love can mold and shape you, and Campbell portrayed this perfectly in her novel.
One of the most unique aspects that Campbell included in her novel were songs linked to each chapter. She herself has a YouTube channel that contains all of the songs that she linked to each chapter, and I think that the songs did help to visualize the story better. I think that this novel is perfect for the older young adult crowd, and for those who are ready to move on from the younger young adult scene. Her writing reminds me of the great Sarah Dessen, and I admire how well she grasps the age range of her characters and her audience. She writes with ease, and I ate up her novel very quickly.
If you are looking for a novel to present to older young adults, or to read yourself, then this is the one for you. It is one of those sweet novels that I love to read on vacation because of its simple attitude, and it was nice reading a contemporary novel that is so realistic and relatable in the way that the characters weren’t perfect or too far fetched for the reader to relate with. I think that this book will allow readers to not feel so alone, and a book like this is the best companion for lonely nights.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
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May 30, 2016
Weekly Update – 5/30/2016 -6/5/2016
Hello Everyone!
Welcome to a new week! I am excited to share many announcements with you. But first thing first. This week I will be reviewing:
The Crown of Stones: Magic Price by C.L. Schneider
(I will only be reviewing one book this week due to my busy schedule with the Go Indie Now! Box. Please bear with me!)
Now for the announcements!
Today is the last day to use the 30% off coupon for 30% off of your first Go Indie Now! Box. To get this discount, use “MEMORIALDAY30”.
Tomorrow is the last day to use the free shipping coupon for free shipping within the United States ONLY. Please use code “NEWMEMBER” for free shipping on your first box.
Also, Go Indie Now! has been re-imagined! Instead of just being a book box featuring indie novels, we are now a mental vacation box. This means that to go with the book(s) chosen each month you will get an item to appeal to the different senses and submerse yourself into the story! For the cheaper $20 subscription, you will be receiving the book of the month, the bonus content packet, the “to see” item (art print), the “to hear” item (playlist with links to our YouTube channel and the different chapters or pages correlated to the different videos), the “to taste” item (recipe relating to the story), and the “to smell” item (a scent pack that relates to the book). If you go with the more expensive plan ($30 a month) you will receive all of the above plus a “to touch” item that will be connected to the book, and 1 -2 extra bookish items and occasionally a second book.
FOR THE JULY INDIE PRIDE BOX:
Since July 1 is Indie Pride Day, we are celebrating by including two books and two full mental vacations in our July box. HOWEVER, please read below for more information on the specifics.
If you are subscribed under the $20 plan, you will only be receiving the “twisted tales” themed book and mental vacation. However, if you are subscribed to the $30 plan you will be receiving the second “sci-fi” themed book and mental vacation ALONG WITH the “twisted tales” book and mental vacation as well as the touchable items for each book and mental vacation. This will be a steal if you order the $30 box for this month, because you will be getting TWO FULL mental vacations as each book will come with its own recipe, scent pack, playlist, art print, and touchable item. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND WHEN ORDERING.
THE DEADLINE FOR ORDERING THE JULY BOX WILL ALSO BE JULY 1 INSTEAD OF JULY 10. This is because I have to order an item in bulk, and I need a specific number to order the item and have it made and shipped in time. Please keep this deadline in mind as well!
That being said, the June Historical Fiction cutoff date is JUNE 10. I have already started packing and shipping these boxes to internationals, but you can still order through June 10. After that date, any new subscriptions will start receiving their boxes with the July box.
Thank you to everyone for your constant support! Creating a book box that celebrates indie authors and brings readers a mental vacation has been a huge dream of mine, and I am so happy to see that coming to life. I want all of you to enjoy the boxes as much as I love putting them together, and I hope that each box that you receive warms your heart and brings you joy.
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!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
Making Monsters by Joe Turk – 5/5
Title: Making Monsters
Author: Joe Turk
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
Making Monsters is an apocalyptic horse race. Ozark reluctantly participates in a half-baked conspiracy to overthrow the United Corporations of America. But time is running out. Manmade earthquakes create sinkholes that devour the landscape. Engineered sterility devastates crops and plant life. Chemically induced insomnia spreads like a virus. Scorned militants indulge dark desires. And ancient, subterranean nightmares will compete to bring the era of man to an abrupt and unmerciful conclusion. The end is near…and it’s corporately sponsored.
Review:
Joe Turk is an amazing artist and author. Not only did he paint his own cover (which I found to be brilliant), he used his words to paint a story as well. With all of the apocalyptic novels out there, I thought that this novel might not be as original as it could be, but I was very wrong.
Turk’s story and ideas are something that I have never seen before in a novel, and I enjoyed thoroughly the idea that humans are creating their own death traps. Even though this novel follows the idea that the government and corporate officials are the ones creating man made disasters to destroy life, I felt that this was also a metaphor for how we as a race are destroying the earth and writing our own death sentences. Joe Turk was clever with his words, and through reading this novel I felt as though each scene and character were being painted before me.
For my reviews, the biggest aspect that I judge on is originality and this novel received a well deserved 5/5 for that. I didn’t feel that I had read the story so many times before; instead, I felt that I was reading a story that was well thought out and had been mulled over for quite a long time. In today’s day and age, I think that this novel came at the perfect time due to the conflicts that we are currently facing based on how we have treated our planet. I also think that Turk wanted the reader to understand that it isn’t the earth that we should be afraid of, but our fellow humans. However, this novel wasn’t preachy and only presented the reader with a situation that is much needed at this time in the world. I am gladly giving this book 5/5 and I am sure that, no matter what genres you prefer, this book will leave a lasting impression.
If you enjoy Dystopian/Apocalyptic novels, then this book is the one for you. The writing was clear and crisp and I thoroughly enjoyed stepping into Turk’s world.
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
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 27, 2016
A 4-D Monthly Mental Vacation
Hello everyone,
BIG NEWS! I have completely re-imagined the Go Indie Now! Book Subscription, and have finalized the new elements of it. Instead of just being a monthly book box, it is now a monthly mental vacation. How is this so? Let me explain.
When I read books, I love imagining everything in my head, but what if you were able to receive extra help in fully visualizing your book? That is exactly what Go Indie Now! is going to do. Each month you will receive an indie book with a bonus content packet that will include an author interview, but you will also receive a scent packet to go along with the story, a recipe to pair with the book, a playlist that will lead you to different songs on our YouTube channel that are correlated with different page numbers, and art prints to help you better visualize the story. We will also have two options for the subscription. You can receive the base package with the book, bonus content, playlist, recipe, and scent packet for $20+shipping or the upgraded package that will include all of the above plus extra items based on the book for $30+shipping.
I am extremely passionate about this little business that I have created, and I wanted to create a box that would not only help spread the indie community, but also bring comfort to subscribers. I know that reading is such a stress relief, and I wanted to make it just a bit more therapeutic for an experience unmatched by anything else.
Remember that the 30% off coupon is still available worldwide through May 30 with the code “MEMORIALDAY30”, and the free shipping coupon is still available for U.S. citizens through May 31 with “NEWMEMBER”.
Thank you everyone once again for all of your support. I absolutely love supporting my fellow indie authors and bringing readers of all different backgrounds joy.
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!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
