Ingrid Hall's Blog, page 43
October 11, 2013
Book Reviews: Update
Morning everyone!
I thought it was time I posted an update with regards to the book reviews…
We are receiving a high volume of requests at the moment (I am receiving several requests every single day) and we already have quite a backlog. I was trying to ensure that they were reviewed in date order, however this is not always possible as I am also trying to match the title to the most appropriate reviewer. There are some books that are completely Lenora and there are also some that logic states it is best that I review. Julia Flowers (Writing as A.T Weaver) is also doing a sterling job at the moment of picking up just about any genre that I throw at her.
However we do all have several other things going on in our lives and much as we would love to, we cannot review books full time!
I am totally happy for you all to keep sending your requests. There is no need to send a query first, simply send an E copy to ingrid@grannyirene.com as we will review all genres. If you would prefer to send a physical copy, great, simply email me and I will let you have the address. I sometimes get through physical copies quicker, simply because I can take them out and about with me and it’s harder to ignore the books piling up on the book case…
BUT
If you do choose to request a review, please, please be patient. Please be aware that the length of time that it might take for your book to be reviewed could vary from a week to 6 plus months. Please do not keep chasing me. I ALWAYS send an email confirmation once I have added the book to the list, beyond that I cannot give any further timescales. I cannot give guarantees that books will be reviewed in time for special promotions/free giveaways, or if you are an agent because your client wants it doing urgently…
If anyone does feel the need to keep chasing, then unfortunately I may also feel the need to delete your title from our list…
MUCH LOVE
INGRID xxx
P.S If anyone is interested in reviewing books for us, simply check out our incentives for reviewing here and contact me…
October 10, 2013
Review of Eye Spy by Tahir Shah
Tahir Shah is the author of fifteen books, many of which chronicle his travels through Asia, Africa and the Americas. He currently lives in Casablanca with his wife and children.
I have to say from the outset that EYE SPY is one of the weirdest yet most amusing books that I have ever read. It is by no stretch of the imagination mainstream and should probably come with a heavy disclaimer because it will most definitely not appeal to everyone and I think that you probably have to have a slightly dark and macabre streak (which thankfully I do) to fully appreciate it!
The book tells the story of Dr Amadeus Kain, the world’s leading eye surgeon who from the word go finds himself facing some pretty tough ethical dilemmas! Having successfully saved the sight of an evil dictator (one of the many that he routinely treats) Kain is given a special “pie” as a reward. The most delicious pie in the world. A pie which he later discovers contains the eyes of prisoners from the opal mines. Now, rather than being repulsed as any sane minded person would be at having unwittingly chomped his way through some tasty eyeballs Kain is actually intrigued, especially when he starts to discover the benefits to his health… Anyway, before too long it’s fair to say that the ahem, “good” doctor is completely addicted and embarks upon a cannibalism spree which is both stomach churning and hilarious.
I am a vegetarian. The sight of fish eyes on a plate is enough to make me vomit. So the way the author describes Kain eating these eyes in such vivid and colourful detail literally had me gagging, however because I was hooked, I just had to keep reading more!
The story is fast paced. The chapters are short which mean that you can easily dip in and out of the book and Kain is scarily convincing as he goes from being this internationally respected surgeon responsible for one of the most amazing breakthroughs in medical science to depraved, psychotic serial killer with a target on his back!
The story line is imaginative and original and apart from the fact that it might seriously offend those with a sensitive disposition, I couldn’t find a single flaw with it. I can’t wait to start reading another of Tahir Shah’s books!
You can find more about EYE SPY and all of the author’s works at http://www.tahirshah.com
October 7, 2013
Interview with Russ Colchamiro
Hi Russ, lovely to meet you and by the way you have the best website I have seen in ages!! Spill the gossip!!
Hi Ingrid, great to meet you too! Okay. Here goes. I’m 42, married, with two young children and living in the Queens section of New York City, although I’m on the verge of buying a house in New Jersey. I’m a former journalist, now working in public relations for real estate companies. As a fiction writer, I’ve done some comic book scripts and short stories, but now I purely write novels. My debut novel, the raunchy, sci-fi backpacking comedy Finders Keepers, was very well received. Think American Pie/Superbad/Hot Tub Time Machine meets Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. My new book, the mysterious, action-packed space romp Crossline, is getting similar buzz. It’s fun.
Sounds like you are a busy bee and your novels sound like they would be totally up Lenora’s street! So, is writing your full time career?
Not yet, but I’m working on it! I’ve had some Hollywood interest in my projects, but nothing serious to report just yet. Certainly my goal is to write fiction and have that pay for my life.
What is the worst job that you have ever done, and why?
I scrubbed pots in a bakery one summer when I was a teenager. It was hot as hell, it was hard work, it paid lousy, and the owner was kind of a jerk. Other than that I loved it!
We’ve all done jobs like that, it’s a rite of passage!If you could have written any other book by any other author, what would it be, and why?
The Stand by Stephen King.
I am a huge fan of Stephen King, however I have never come across The Stand. I might have to check that one out! How would you think your parents would describe your book? Does this differ from how you would describe it?
Ha! My parents don’t read my books. I think they’re afraid they won’t get them, or won’t like them. That’s okay. I get it.
You’ve already mentioned that you write Sci Fi, do you have any plans to work outside of that genre?
My first few books have been science fiction, with a heavy dose of humor. The next few will remain in that genre. But I have plans down the road to branch out, with a few murder mysteries on the way, and maybe a spy novel, or even a series.
I love it when authors can be versatile!What inspired you to write your first book?
It’s a long story! My first book, Finders Keepers, is loosely based on a series of backpacking trips I took through Europe and New Zealand. Those adventures were not just truly exciting times in my life — and they were — but they helped shaped my perspective in many ways. They had such an impact upon me me personally that I wanted to capture their spirit — and in some cases, the details — in a way a reading audience could join in, as if it was their journey, too. Separately, I had an idea for this outrageous, comic lunacy-style sci-fi adventure about a jar containing the Universe’s DNA. The two ideas may seem totally isolated unto themselves, but I found that they blended wonderfully into a novel that is fun, funny, and outrageous, but with some real heart to it. I’m actually working on two Finders Keepers sequels, to complete the first trilogy.
I’m definitely hooked! Do you ever get moments, and if so how do you hang onto them?
Definitely. I often get that thunderbolt a-ha! moment where I’ll frantically write ideas down on whatever I can get my hands on. Torn off pages of newspapers, napkins, the inside cover of a book I’m reading. Whatever. As long as I can take the notes. I just never know when or where those kooky ideas will come.
Or when you will use the kooky ideas if you are remotely like me! Do you have a structure when you are writing, and if so what?
I’m very big on getting the ending right. Of course it’s a matter of opinion if I’ve done so, but in my eyes I nailed the ending for both Finders Keepers and Crossline. I also know where the Finders Keepers sequels are headed, and the endings of both books are going to be awesome, if I do say so myself!
What are you reading at the moment, and why?
Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, by James Hollis, PhD. It explores some themes that are important to me and I’m also reading some Batman graphic novels, because, you know … Batman is awesome!
What is your favourite movie and why?
Raiders of the Lost Ark. There are many others I love across various genres, but if I only get one movie, it’s Raiders. If there’s more fun to be had at the movies, I haven’t experienced it.
Do you have an opinion on life after death, and if so what?
I believe there’s a force to the Universe far greater than we can understand. We got here somehow! Whether it’s the gods, it’s magic, purely organic, or it’s just part of some wild dream, I’ll probably never know. But there seems to be some connective tissue in the Universe, some energy, that we’re all a part of. So that when our physical bodies die, I think our energies, or soul, drifts into the ether and finds its way … somewhere. As a parent, I want to believe I’ll always be connected with my children, even after we’re done on the Earth, but that could just be wishful thinking. I suppose we all have to move on, sooner or later.
We do and I am a firm believer in the continuation of the soul…Totally changing the subject, when you eat out would you choose Chinese, Indian or Italian, or other, if so what?
Depends upon the specific restaurant, but generally speaking … Chinese. Chicken with Cashews.
London, Paris or New York and why?
I’m a New Yorker, so big love there. I’m a huge fan of London as well. But, Paris? Not so much. We haven’t gotten along too well.
Ah, sounds like there might be a story or two in there somewhere about Paris…What do you have in the pipeline?
I’m halfway through the first of two Finders Keepers sequels. My plan is to write them back-to-back, wrapping up the first trilogy. After that, I have a baseball-themed sci-fi novel in the works, and then we’ll see what I’m in the mood for. My plate is full for the foreseeable future.
Yeah, I have lots of books lined up…It’s just so difficult trying to find the time to write them all! What inspired you to be a writer?
It’s not so much that I’m inspired to write … it’s that I have to write. Have to. It’s who I am. It’s what I do. It’s as essential to my personality as my DNA. That either means I’m really passionate, or crazy. Possibly both.
Do you write poetry or short stories as well? If so what?
I am so bad at poetry. I mean … so bad. It’s embarrassing. I’ve dabbled with short stories, but I have a tough time with them. I tend to write big, so I need more room to explore. Although I’ve written some comic book scripts, and I think I have a good feel for them. I quite like it, and hope to do it again at some point.
I think,poetry is one of those things that you can either do, or not do. I definitely fit into the cannot do category! How do you overcome writers block?
Step away from the project, and let myself be distracted by something else. Anything that keeps me busy and out of my head. I like to exercise, so that often helps. I’ll watch TV, clean my apartment, go for a walk. Or I’ll just go and break things in frustration. Kidding! But distraction is a great way to get unstuck.
If you only had 60 seconds remaining on this planet, what would you say, and who would you say it to?
I would tell my children that I love them dearly, that I’ll always be with them in one way or another, and that I hope they build a life for themselves that makes them happy. That they should laugh and have as much as fun as possible along the way.
Do you have any pets – If so what?
I was always a cat person, but we’ve had a dog – Simon – for the last four years. He was a rescue. He’s a great dog. A little crazy at times, but a good dog.
Our friends have a dog named Norman, I’ve always found it strange how people give animals “real” name instead of crazy ones…
What advice would you give your 18 year old self?
Ha! Where do I begin? I would encourage my younger self to stay in good physical shape, say yes to many more opportunities, be responsible to myself, my family, my friends, and colleagues, and then make decisions based on what I think is important to me, based on my values, not what others think. And I would encourage my younger self to write every day, no matter what. I would also strongly recommend – if not insist – that I ignore the clerks and bullies of the world. Don’t let those fools get in the way of becoming who you are. To steal a line from Billy Joel as he ends every concert, ‘don’t take any shit from anybody.’ Laugh every day.
Russ, it has been my absolute pleasure meeting you today!
You can check out Russ and his AMAZING website at http://russcolchamiro.com/
October 5, 2013
Premature Burial and helpful hints on how not to get buried alive
Reblogged from The Haunted Palace:
An unexpected guest
The family had repaired to the dining room, the gathering was a sombre one on this day of mourning. As darkness gathered around the hall candles were lit, casting shadows on the dark panelling of the room, their dim flickering light seeming to accentuate the deepening gloom. As they sat down to their sad repast, Earl Mount Edgcumbe, seated at the head of the table, rose to his feet planning perhaps to say a few words about his beloved wife, Emma, so recently laid to rest in the family vault.
Ah, I loved this post so much that I had to re-blog! Show Lenora some love please by hopping over to her blog and following!!!
My father…
Image courtesy of http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk
Estelle Stead famously wrote a book about her father, W.T Stead after his passing entitled My Father, Personal and Spiritual Reminiscences and so it seems somewhat appropriate given that his entire life’s work was dedicated to researching and writing about W.T Stead, that having found a piece that my own father wrote in collaboration with Jess Matthews, Branch Secretary Whittlesey, Peterborough and District Branch, Cambridgeshire Old Comrades about his father Private Samuel Stephenson’s experiences as a Japanese Prisoner of War, that I should publish it on his blog http://johnsstephenson.wordpress.com and that the title of this blog post should simply be My Father… I would be grateful if you would all please check it out and follow…http://johnsstephenson.wordpress.com
Thanks
Ingrid xxx
October 4, 2013
Review of Dead Boys by Michael Penkas
REVIEWED BY JULIA FLOWERS WRITING AS A.T WEAVER
Michael Penkas moved to Chicago in 2004 and soon after became a member of Twilight Tales, a small press and weekly reading series. His first published story, “Parable of the Lazy Rooster,” appeared in the expanded edition of Tales from the Red Lion in 2007. He currently has over a dozen published stories.Following the dissolution of Twilight Tales in 2010, he became part of Cult Fiction, a writers workshop and seasonal reading event. His stories were performed at five events before the group was put on hiatus in late 2011.Currently, Michael Penkas is a regular participant at the Top Shelf Books (Palatine) open mic event, Tamale Hut (North Riverside) reading series, the Bad Grammar (Chicago) reading series, and the Gumbo Fiction Salon (Chicago). He is the website editor for Black Gate.
REVIEW
I have to admit it’s hard to review under 10,000 words without any spoilers. But, here goes…I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book of short stories by Michael Penkas. I certainly didn’t expect to be transported back in the Twilight Zone of the early 1960s. These tales of the supernatural had me on the edge of my seat and left me questioning my sanity and beliefs.
From a mother searching for peace after the death of her son to a man grieving for his dog, the author weaves eerie tales of death and the afterlife.
“They’re not hard to find, if you know where to look. In the back of a pub after happy hour. In a dorm room between semesters. In a dog park after sunset. In a hospice room on Christmas Eve. Dead boys…” Michael Penkas brings you four stories about the dead who refuse to leave and the living who refuse to let them go
Although it fits in the realm of supernatural and eerie, I didn’t see a connection between Wet Dog Perfume and the theme of Dead Boys, unless it is the fact the dog was male. If you are into the supernatural, you can’t beat this book. It’s a good read for a rainy afternoon or night.
You can find Michael Penkas by clicking the following links:
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/michael-penkas/4a/849/153
Blog: http://michaelpenkas.blogspot.com/
Julia Flowers writes under the name A T Weaver and can be found at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-T-Weaver-author/149528070288?ref=ts
October 3, 2013
Check out this FAB review of Granny Irene
Hi everyone
I was having quite a difficult day yesterday at hospital with my mam, so imagine my surprise and delight when I saw this FAB review of my book Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife Revenge Part 1 which was reviewed by American Author Dennis Higgins over at http://www.timepilgrims.com/blog.html (Make sure you show him some love by hopping on over and following his blog…
Imagine dying and instead of ending up at the pearly gates with Saint Peter, floating on a cloud, seeing the face of God or however else you imagine life after death will be. Envision finding yourself in the heaven of other gods. This is what happened to Irene Elizabeth Wilde, better known as Granny Irene who ended up, or at least started out in Viking heaven with Odin, Thor, Loki and the Norse Goddess of Love, Freya.
Ingrid Hall wrote to me that the contents of this book will be nothing like I have ever read before and she was 100% correct. Ingrid doesn’t just write, she crafts words together in a very unique and artistic way. It is almost like reading Shakespeare. I don’t mean that it was written in poetic 16th century prose. I mean that it was brilliantly written in an English that is far removed from my American ears and I loved it. Let me explain. Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife is written in the first person from Irene’s point of view, after she has died. Instead of speaking the queen’s or even BBC English, her dialect is Granny Irene’s own distinctive northern accent called Geordie. Here is an example from the book:
“I am not doing as I am told. I am not putting on that stupid psychic life-jacket.
I am not getting into line. They can all bog off and leave me to wallow in my
auld ash tree and if I happen to go down with the ship, then who cares? Not me.
Just look at them all; the fools down there on that plain, whispering and
muttering, and spinning round and round in little circles, whilst them that are
meant to be in charge, the Gods and the Valkyries, they bark out their orders.”
But not to worry, Ingrid has a Geordie to English dictionary at the beginning of the book. (Now I just need an Ingrid British to American English translation.) Here is an example of that: (The American additions are mine.)
Loo/Bog/Netty (Toilet/Lavatory) – American (Rest Room)
Hump something around (Carry/transport it) – I would have thought this one was sex)
Cottons on (Realises/Becomes aware) – American (Realizes)
Kiss your backside goodbye (Die)
Bog off (Go away/Stop bothering someone)
Chippy (Fast food takeaway) – American (Fast food to go)
A jump (Sex) – American (Oh yeah!)
The story is more than intriguing at every turn. It brought me into the after-life world that Granny Irene’s was experiencing, and while there, it seemed oh so real to me. I felt every emotion possible to mankind, from delight to having the crap scared out of me, from arousal to downright anger at times. You see, along with the warning at the beginning of the book about the Geordie dialect, Ingrid warns about those easily offended or those reluctant to have their opinions and beliefs challenged. I certainly found this to be true as my dear own Catholic Church and wonderful priests are not shown in the greatest of lights from the perspective of this afterlife. But Ingrid also claims that the book is character driven, unique, fast-paced and quirky. It invites the reader to re-consider their perspective of the “afterlife”. This, it delivers in a wonderful way.
The story doesn’t just take you to Viking heaven. Among many other places, including good old Earth and the land of the living, Granny Irene is also taken by the serpent to Hades. Imagine being a nice old lady, dying and seeing Hell represented by a house of prostitution, where every sight is an invasion to your senses. It was scary and frightfully erotic at the same time.
Also at the beginning of the book is a bibliography of gods, goddesses and odious creatures. Here is a sample:
LOKI – A shape shifter with an incredible amount of influence in the underworld. Sworn enemy of Odin, they are both more similar than they care to admit.
THE WORLD SERPENT – Traditionally portrayed as an evil monster that surrounds the earth, grasping it in his tail, his arch enemy is Thor. I have however had so much fun with the serpent and have turned him into an emotional character: A thinker and Irene’s spiritual guide and friend.
FENRIR THE WOLF – Son of Loki, brother of the serpent and Hel. His loyalty to his family will as the series develops be called into question. He is central to the “Chloe” plot.
THE WHITE KNIGHT (HEIMDALLR) – Traditionally tasked with sounding his horn heralding the onset of Ragnarok, the white knight is also often cited as the creator of the class system within human society and this will be woven into future books. He is also a spiritual guide to Irene and has a role to play in the Frigg/Skuld storyline.
Ingrid Hall just may have written a masterpiece of which I have never read the likes of and will probably will never experience again…that is until Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife – Part 2 comes out. As Granny Irene herself might say, “I’ll have to just sit me auld bum down and wait.”
Well, there’s really not a lot I can say about this is there? Except THANK YOU MR HIGGINS and if you fancy experiencing Granny Irene’s world for yourself then PART 1 it is available by clicking the following links:
October 2, 2013
Interview with Karen Magill
Hi Karen, It’s lovely meeting someone with similar interests…Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I like to say that I am on a mission to make the paranormal normal. I believe the psychic experiences and abilities are within us all, we just have to find it. Forced to leave the workforce in 2000 by the onslaught of MS, I saw this as an opportunity to explore her lifelong desire to write. Initially I explored other areas of writing before deciding that my future lay with creating novels. My latest book, Missing Flowers, is the start of a new series in which I will combine paranormal fiction with historical facts. I live in an eclectic area of Vancouver Canada and draw inspiration from the history and stories around me.
What do you mean??? The Paranormal IS normal, well at least it is for me!! Is writing your full time career?
Since I am on disability, writing is the only thing I do.
What is the worst job that you have ever done, and why?
I once worked for a talent agency where I would dress up as different characters. The money was good though I didn’t get a lot of bookings. The worst part had to be the time I was dressed as a clown and had to stand on the street corner in the heat trying to get people to come into the gas station. Or when I was dressed as ALF for a kid’s birthday party and the kids jumped on me and started punching me.
I can just picture it now!! If you could have written any other book by any other author, what would it be, and why?
There are so many! But my two favourite books are A Time to Kill by John Grisham and Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llewellyn. I would love to have written those. Both stories have stayed in my mind for years and that to me is the sign of a good book.
What Genre is your work – Do you have any plans to work outside of it?
My novels are in the paranormal genre – my first is a paranormal romance, the second a paranormal action/adventure and my third a paranormal mystery – I do have plans to write a nonfiction, motivational book on my life with MS and getting a new life.
Sounds like you are on a roll and you know, sometimes it’s the things that are meant to destroy us that are actually the making of us… What inspired you to write your first book?
I was looking for a different way for a couple to meet and I got the idea of two people having an out of body experience and meeting that way.
Sounds like my kind of book, I will definitely check it out at some point! Do you ever get ideas at random moments, and if so how do you hang onto them?
When I get random ideas, I will write them down if I can but if I can’t, I don’t worry too much about it because if it is a good idea it will stick with me.
Do you have a structure when you are writing, and if so what?
I like to put on my headphones and a CD into the computer and listen to music while I write. That is about the only structure I use.
I totally envy people that can write with noise. I need total silence and I so wish that I didn’t because I would get so much more done if I could learn to write with everyday life going on around me! Which was your favourite character to write, and why?
Form my latest series of books, my favourite characters are the twins, Darius and Devon Greene because those two are wacky and fun.
Do you read for pleasure or out of habit?
Most of my reading right now is nonfiction for improving writing, promoting or me. I do want to get back to reading for pleasure though.
Yeah, it’s very rare that I will read anything other than the books I am reviewing right now and I know that at some point I am going to have to lose myself in a book completely of my own choosing! What are you reading at the moment, and why?
Right now I am reading The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. I am always trying to advance my life.
I have read a lot of motivational books in my time, some have stayed with me and left an impression, whilst others, well their message is long forgotten.
Meat eater or vegetarian?
I am a meat eater. I have tried to go vegetarian but I never stuck with it.
Left or right and why?
If you are talking of politics, I tend to be central and leaning more to the right. I am conservative and believe that we have to stand on our two feet more and get rid of government involvement in our lives. However, I do feel that people need help sometimes and should be able to get it.
What is your favourite movie and why?
That changes a lot. Today I will say it is A Time to Kill. That is a story where not only does good triumph but the underdog wins against all odds.
Do you have an opinion on life after death, and if so what?
I believe that this is only a plane of existence and our spirits or souls move to a higher elevation next. Much like Jonathon Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.
I have never come across that book until now, it looks fascinating though! When you eat out would you choose Chinese, Indian or Italian, or other, if so what?
I don’t go out a lot and when I do, it is usually with my parents. We will go for Thai food or Irish or Greek or pub food. I am a picky eater so sometimes my choices can be limited.
London, Paris or New York and why?
I have never been to any of those places but I would love to own an apartment in all three. New York seems so exciting, so vibrant, London is a city of history and Paris of romance and art. One of my uncles was stationed with NATO in Paris in the fifties and his wife was an artist. Years later, she remembered those years fondly and I would love to visit and see the city through her eyes.
There might be a novel in there somewhere! What do you have in the pipeline?
I have three books published right now. The first is The Bond, A Paranormal Love Story, the second is Let Us Play, A Rock ‘n Roll Love Story(Mystique Rising in Kindle) and Missing Flowers.
What inspired you to be a writer?
My grandmother was a published author and I have written since I learned how to put words together. It has been something I have always done.
Do you write poetry or short stories as well? If so what?
I used to write poetry but not now. I have my blog, Vancouver Vagabond, and my novels to do.
Yeah, sometimes you have to figure out where your priorities lie, otherwise you could spend your entire writing career simply running around in circles chasing your tail! What is your earliest childhood memory?
When I was around four, we lived in a ground floor apartment in Vancouver. I remember squeezing my body through the railings of the patio to go play on the lawn.
If you only had 60 seconds remaining on this planet, what would you say, and who would you say it to?
I have the philosophy that I tell people what I want to now so that if I am ever in the position of only having a limited amount of time, I will rest easy knowing that my loved ones know they are valuable to me.
Do you have any pets – If so what?
I used to have birds but I developed a potentially fatal allergy to them so I had to get rid of them. If I were in my own house, I would like to get a dog but for now, I am pet free.
Can you write on demand and under pressure, or do you need time and space before the creativity starts to flow?
The advantage of writing on demand is that I can’t use procrastination methods to delay what I should be doing. If I leave it until the muse decides to appear, I don’t get things done. So I put myself under demand and pressure so that I will get things done.
What advice would you give your 18 year old self?
I would tell myself to focus on learning the craft of writing. Whether it was journalism or creative writing, focus and learn and advance.
Writing is a craft and I agree that we all need to keep learning and embracing new challenges as me move forward…Karen, I have truly enjoyed our chat and I will most certainly be checking out your work when I get time!
You can find Karen at http://www.karenmagill.com
October 1, 2013
Review of Floats the Dark Shadow – A Mystery of Paris by Yves Fey
In her varied career Yves Fey has been a tie dye artist, go-go dancer, baker, creator of ceramic beasties, illustrator, fiction teacher, and novelist. She has also published work under her real name Gayle Feyrer and some Elizabethan bodice rippers under the nom de plume Taylor Chase and these books will all be available again soon!
Set in 19th Century Paris Floats the Dark Shadow tells the story of a serial child killer who believes himself to be a reincarnation of Gilles de Rais (who fought alongside Joan of Arc and was one of France’s most prolific child killers) as well as the two people hell bent on catching him, namely the dark and extremely sexy police inspector Michel Devaux and Theodora Faraday, an American artist and feminist who has become entangled with a group of enigmatic but slightly unhinged poets who refer to themselves as “The Revenants”
This book is ELECTRIC. My initial reaction as a mother upon reading the opening chapter in which we see “Gilles de Rais” at work was one of repulsion and even though it was beautifully written, I wasn’t sure that I was going to be able to read any further. Thankfully the author uses the really grisly, nauseous, grim chapters sparingly and they are spaced enough throughout the book to not be too distracting…
Somehow, the author manages to bring the bohemian side of Montmartre at it’s most decadent and depraved fully to life, so much so that you actually start to believe that you are there, in the moment living it. The story is fast paced and complex and the characters of Michel, Theodora and her cousin Avrerill Charron, whom she secretly loves are all extremely well rounded and unique, so much so that they genuinely seem like real people. It is also quite impossible to guess the identity of Gilles de Rais until the very end because there are just so many possible contenders! This, unfortunately though is linked to one of the few flaws that I found with the story. Fey deliberately introduces scores of characters, clearly with the aim of keeping the reader guessing however at points there were just so many characters that I felt as if my head was going to explode and whilst I understand that she needed to introduce the killer as well as the hero and heroine, the fact that they were also all given their own individual chapters right at the beginning did throw me into a tailspin and if I am honest, I felt a little over loaded. Either Theodora or Michel as the lead character would have been sufficient and ironically given what I have just said I was also disappointed by the character of Dancier, Michel’s deadly nemesis and reluctant informant who had SO much to offer and could easily have carried the entire novel by himself but was completely under-used.
I believe Floats the Dark Shadow is the first in a series, so hopefully now that the main characters are out there and established, the author will be able to thin the cast list out a bit in book two!
This book is a completely compelling, creepy, brilliantly and beautifully written, can’t put down until you have finished it type of read. I also loved the quotes that she used at the start of each chapter as they really helped set the tone and the mood. I will DEFINITELY be buying Fey’s next offering when it is published.
You can find out more about this amazing author at:
September 30, 2013
Interview with Noyek
Good Afternoon to you NOYEK …Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I have been writing for about 6 years professionally. My portfolio includes editorial work covering a couple different topics. Tales from Pandora’s Box: Chocolate Fantasies was my first published erotica piece. It actually started as short stories that were being blogged and then turned into a collection. I love to listen to music, especially old R&B. In fact, whenever I’m writing the erotic scenes of my work I like to listen to sexy R&B to establish the mood of the writing.
I love R&B but need silence when working! If you could have written any other book by any other author, what would it be, and why?
It would probably be The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. That was one amazing story! It was well written and the detail of the story was so vivid and realistic. The many twists and turns of the plot kept the reader on edge. I found myself talking to the characters of the book, kind of like you do when you watching a really good movie and you’re yelling at the screen! The story line was great, it left you wanting more even after the conclusion. Sister Souljah, among sooo many others, is an awesome writer.
I have just had a quick look at Sister Souljah on Amazon and I am tempted…How would you think your parents would describe your book? Does this differ from how you would describe it?
O wow, my parents?! Great question. They are very proud that I completed and published a book. Very proud of such an accomplishment, however on the other hand if they were to actually flip open the cover, I can only imagine the reaction. There would probably be tons of questions such as “Who is this?” “Why you wrote about that?” and “Did you just say that?!” Their response would definitely be different from mine.
What Genre is your work – Do you have any plans to work outside of it?
Erotica is my thing. I kind of ask myself that question a lot. “Would I ever work outside of this genre?” I’m pretty sure I will somewhere in the future, almost certain I will at some point.
Do you have a structure when you are writing, and if so what?
I didn’t at one point but I have developed one since I’ve began writing my current piece. I call it Writing on Pulse. I make an outline of the story and then I basically go in and write all the drama and action. I even write out of sequence if i have to. I do it that way because a lot of times, I get stuck on transitioning into another bout of action and I lose my drive of the story. So to avoid that I put all focus and emphasis on the drama. The transitions are the very last thing I do after putting the story line in its proper order.
I have managed to avoid writing out of sequence so far with my latest novella, although I definitely did it when writing Granny Irene…Which was your favourite character to write, and why?
I will have to say Julisa of School Daze: The Five Senses in Tales from Pandora’s Box: Chocolate Fantasies was my favorite. That was until I met Lyric Ali, in my upcoming release. While Julisa had a certain je ne se quoi about her, Lyric takes the cake with her country demeanor and southern drawl. She’s a city slicked southern belle.
I am truly looking forward to reading Tales from Pandora’s box! What are you reading at the moment, and why?
The Maintenance Man by Michael Baisden. This is actually my first read of his. He’s a great radio personality so I knew his work had to be awesome and indeed it is. Also, I’m reading a short non-fiction piece by Shanel Cooper-Sykes, Elevation.
London, Paris or New York and why?
London, Paris and New York, Fashion Week, of course!
Ha Ha! Do you write poetry or short stories as well? If so what?
I actually don’t write poetry. The most I’ve done with poetry is probably in this upcoming novella. The main character, Lyric Ali, is a Spoken Word poet and parts of her story is told through her sexually charged poems. Short stories on the other hand, I’m very fond of. Tales from Pandora’s Box: Chocolate Fantasies is a collection of erotic short stories. Another collection will follow soon.
That’s definitely a brave way of writing poetry! I am not sure I would have the confidence to risk including it in my actual novels…How do you overcome writers block?
I read, watch YouTube videos for writing tips or just began working on another area of production, such as promo work like the trailer and the photo shoots, between those tasks something sparks my mind and get the gears turning again.
What advice would you give your 18 year old self?
“Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” In other words, “Girl, just do the damn thang!”
Sound advice hon! Show Noyek some love peeps by hopping over to these various sites!
http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/noyek.html
http://www.bookiejar.com/u/Noyek
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/noyek
http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/4186-noyek
http://www.amazon.com/author/noyek
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