Ingrid Hall's Blog, page 47
August 24, 2013
Book Review: Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife by Ingrid Hall
Ingrid Hall has recently ‘rebooted’ her Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife novel. The original came in at a heft 800+ pages so a hard copy from Amazon was on the pricy side to say the least! That behemoth has now been slimmed down and tightened up and will be serialised as 3 books – which makes the hard copies so much more affordable. I have just finished volume 1 of this revamp and loved every minute of it.
The book is a unique read – part murder mystery, part supernatural thriller, part mind bending acid-trip! Granny Irene is dead and kicking her heels in Viking heaven – much to her chagrin. She soon finds herself embroiled in trying to avert Ragnarök, save her homicidal grand-daughter, whilst also whilst coming to terms with the fact that she has lived before…many times.
The book is set in the past present and future, in this world and the next. It provides a grimly dystopian vision of a future where the northern working classes are ruthlessly exploited by powers that be. Granny Irene is the narrator and speaks in a strong northern voice and with an eye to social justice. However, she also speaks as she finds, and this adds a lot of comedy to what could otherwise be a very dark storyline.
The new version is leaner and fitter than the original, it is fast paced and action packed at times utterly surreal. It also poses many philosophical questions to the reader about the nature of life and belief, whether free-will or pre-destination govern our lives and how the consequences of our actions can reverberate down the centuries. A compulsive read, it left me hungry for the next installment.
If you want an action packed roller coaster of a ride, with a strongly meta-physical flavour then look no further than Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife!
Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife: Revenge Part 1 by Ingrid Hall, is available on Amazon.
Visit Lenora at www.hauntedpalace.co.uk
August 23, 2013
Book Review: The Chosen by Andrea Buginsky
Andrea Buginsky is a freelance writer and author, Ingrid had the pleasure of cocktails with Andrea recently and you can read her interview here: cocktails with Andrea Buginsky Andrea also shared a week in her life with us, and you can find out what she gets up to in an average week here: A week in the life of Andrea Buginsky.
The Chosen by Andrea Buginsky
The Chosen is the tale of a beautiful young dwarf called Halli, who lives in the magical land of Phantasma. But all is not well in Queen Laurali’s realm and Halli is called from her life of obscurity to join the band of The Chosen. Their task is to defend the Kingdom from its mortal enemy the wicked Prince Gastle. Along the way Halli must overcome her shyness and lack of confidence and learn to use her extraordinary healing powers to protect her friends during their perilous quest.
This is a lovely little book, perfect for the pre-teen fantasy market. Halli is an engaging heroine, uncertain and shy at first, slowly learning her self-worth and growing in confidence as she learns to use her special skills as a Holy Paladin. The book has valuable lessons for younger readers: be true to yourself, have confidence in your abilities. It also illustrates how working together as a team can be just as important as being the ‘hero’.
The story is told in a fairy tale style and contains a number of traditional elements of the fairy tale – the wicked Prince bringing terror to the kingdom, wizened old crones that turn out to be….(well better not say – don’t want to put in any spoilers), quests, challenges, magical battles and restorative potions. Gamers and Dungeons and Dragon’s fans would probably find themselves quite at home reading The Chosen.
I would have liked a little more of Halli’s background, she is raised in obscurity by her parents in order to protect her as she has the rare gifts of the Holy Paladin. It might have added an extra dimension to delve further into why Halli had to be hidden, what forces might have been at work against her. Similarly when she joins the group, she eventually impresses them all with her skill and courage, however I would have liked her to stand out a little bit more…Choosing a dwarf as the heroine of the novel, immediately put me in mind of Tolkien picking a Hobbit as hero – the unassuming Everyman, who ultimately holds the key to everything. I don’t know whether this is a theme that Buginsky will explore in the later books in this series – but I do hope so.
Overall this was a very exciting action packed story, told in a delightful fairy tale style, I think pre-teen readers would find Halli very easy to identify with. The level of action is likely to keep younger readers engaged, whilst the more subtle story of learning to trust in your own abilities and work as part of a team will not be lost on them.
Andrea Buginsky has written further books in The Chosen series and they are available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Chosen-ebook/dp/B004GEAH0O
Visit Lenora at www.hauntedpalace.co.uk
August 21, 2013
Book Review: Shattered (The Legends of Rune) by April Adams – Reviewed by Julia Flowers
April Adams is a thirty-something full-time wife and mom, born and raised in Texas. She is an animal lover, a Whovian, an anglophile, and a dreamer. She also works with the children’s ministry at her church.
I purposely did not read the bio of this author before I read the book. I wanted to get a feel for her work before I knew anything about her.
“When the battered woman wakes on the frosted grass, the only thing she remembers is the blood-thirsty cult offering her as a sacrifice in a ceremony gone serendipitously wrong. She has no name, no past, and seemingly no future as her swollen eyes slide shut for what she hopes is the last time.”
I like to think of a book as a tapestry where the author weaves a story by her words. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but when an author can make you not only see what her character sees, but also smell and hear through the character’s nose and ears, pictures are not necessary.
“The only thing I could feel was pain fighting a desperate battle with the freezing cold…The smell of my own fear intermingled with that of the rotting leaves I lay shivering beneath in a fetid bouquet.”
Ms. Adams has managed to weave intrigue, fantasy, romance and adventure into a spell-binding tale of good versus evil. At times, I was reminded of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. There are elves, dwarves, evil fairies, sprites and magic all in a quest to overcome the evil that has plagued the world for thousands of years. Her blending of Pagan rituals and Christian beliefs show that it’s possible for different religions to work together. The four elements of Paganism mixed with a belief in The Creator work in tandem to defeat the War Lord (which I took to be synonymous with Satan.) I have to say, I think my favorite character is Candlewick the tent who magically provides for the characters’ every wish:
“I wished that Candlewick would provide us a bath in that big copper tub of hers. She obliged, and warm sudsy water up to our shoulder blades became a romantic place to sip wine and talk.”
Admittedly, it took me a few chapters to really get into the book. But once there, I did not want to stop reading. I’m certainly glad I didn’t. When I came to the end and realized it was the first of a trilogy, I wanted to cry. “What happens next?” I was reminded of the movie serials when I was a child. On Saturday afternoon, we’d see one chapter of a story and have to wait until the next week to continue. I’m ready for the next chapter which thankfully is being released this month.
Shattered – The Legends of Rune is available in both print and Kindle at Amazon.com.
April Adams can be found at: April Adams
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
Character Interviews
Hi
Just a reminder that from Mid-October I will be switching from author interviews to “character interviews” as I think the overall consensus is that these are more interesting to read…
I have now finally drafted the questions for the interviews, so if you would like to really raise awareness of your book by letting us get to know one of your characters then please email ingrid@grannyirene.com and I will send you all of the information that you need.
Due to my other commitments I will only be running one interview per week, so places will be limited and I will be looking for really imaginative and well thought out responses to my questions…
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Love
Ingrid xxx
August 19, 2013
Brand new Giveaway: The Widow’s Warning by Jamie Tinker
Morning all!
Everyone loves a giveaway and I am pleased to announce that Jamie Tinker has offered up 3 free E copies of his fantasy novel The Widow’s Warning which I will be giving away in conjunction with the review and interview which will be live over the next 7 days.
Make sure you keep watching for details of how to enter…
Hope you all have a wonderful day!
Love
INGRID xxx
Interview with Jessica Peterson
Hey Jessica, great to finally catch up with you. Why not start by telling us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Jessica Peterson. I am a stay-at-home mom of two, soon to be three, lovely children. I love reading, writing, traveling and being outside. And as long as I leave this world feeling like I’ve helped people and given my family all the love and acceptance they felt they needed, I’ll know my life was exactly as I wanted.
So is writing your full time career?
I wish. It truly is my dream to be able to make a living off of my writing, but for the time being I am a stay-at-home mom, planning to go back to work once the kids start school.
Yes it’s a challenge that most indie authors seem to have to face! What is the worst job that you have ever done, and why?
I really don’t think I’ve ever had a bad job. I’ve worked for not so pleasant people though.
If you could have written any other book by any other author, what would it be, and why?
Pride and Prejudice, Les Miserables, or Uncle Tom’s Cabin. I’m a huge fan of classics and the emotions that these books evoked in me, especially the latter, makes me a huge fan of the authors.
This is going to make me sound incredibly ignorant however up until this second when I have googled it, I have never heard of Uncle Tom’s Cabin before. I am going to put it down to being British…I can see now that the book is iconic! What Genre is your work – Do you have any plans to work outside of it?
I’ve considered it literary fiction but have been told it’s women’s fiction. I don’t really plan what I write or what genre it happens to be in, the ideas just come to me and whatever category the finished product falls under, I’m okay with.
Your book is on our list pending review… What inspired you to write your first book?
I had a dream with parts of the book and it never left me. I kept daydreaming about it and finally made the decision to try my hand at writing. Best decision I’ve made and the best hobby I’ve found.
Let’s hope that one day you can turn it from a hobby into a career! Do you ever get ideas at random moments, and if so how do you hang onto them?
I always get ideas at random moments. If I don’t have a pen (or any writing tool) and paper on hand, I try to repeat whatever came to me over and over so I don’t lose it. If I do forget, I hope it comes back and if not, I let go.
Do you have a structure when you are writing, and if so what?
I need to have at least a general idea of the outline. I generally get more ideas as I plug along and have stacks of notes. After a rough draft it’s many rounds of editing. Then critique partners, more editing, more editing, and more editing. I’m a bit of a perfectionist so it takes me a long time to feel like something is ready to publish.
Which was your favourite character to write, and why?
I really like all of my characters but perhaps the main character, Anna Wilson, is one of my favourites simply because she’s a strong female protagonist as opposed to the typical strong male lead.
Do you read for pleasure or out of habit?
For pleasure. However, since becoming a writer, I find myself much more critical of other writing. I’ve also taken a bigger interest in reading other indie authors and offering reviews.
Well, if you would like to review for us Jessica, the door is definitely open! What are you reading at the moment, and why?
Running Free-Breaking out from locked-in syndrome. I haven’t been able to write reviews on amazon because I haven’t purchased anything so another author suggested I try ‘buying’ a free book. I still can’t write reviews because it doesn’t count as a purchase but I’m so glad I found this book. It is AMAZING!
You could always purchase one very cheap book…Meat eater or vegetarian?
Meat eater although I’ve always wished I had the will power to give up meat.
What is your favourite movie and why?
One of my favourites at the moment is Tangled. Yes it’s a kids movie. These days, that’s about all I get to watch. It’s one of my favourites because it’s absolutely adorable!
Tangled is FAB – My daughter and I have watched it several times!! Changing subject completely, do you have an opinion on life after death, and if so what?
I have no definite answer but I think it would be silly to believe that death is the end. I believe we each have a soul that lives on one way or another, whether we become spirits or reincarnate into another life.
When you eat out would you choose Chinese, Indian or Italian, or other, if so what?
Chinese. There’s the most delicious Chinese restaurant where I grew up and every time I visit I HAVE to go there to eat.
London, Paris or New York and why?
Paris maybe. Because I’ve been to the south of France and wanted to travel more but never got the chance.
We went to Paris for a long weekend many moons ago and whilst we bypassed it on the way to Holland last year we haven’t had a chance to go back…It is a magical city!
What do you have in the pipeline?
As in what’s next with my writing? YES The sequel to The Key to Life. I originally wrote the whole thing as one book but the more I delved into the world of writing and the more fabulous and helpful writers I met, the more I realized how much work my writing needed. With each new edit, the novel grew in size and considering debut novels are generally a certain length, I made the decision to cut the book into two parts.
I did that with my first Granny Irene book, I wrote it as a whole but then because it came in at over 800 pages I decided to split it into three parts. Part 1 is currently available whilst parts 2 and 3 should fingers crossed be available in 2014…There is only so much that readers can cope with at any one time!! What inspired you to be a writer?
I’ve always enjoyed writing. As a child, creative writing was one of my favourite activities in school. As a teenager, I actually enjoyed essays for English classes. When I decided to write a book, it felt so natural.
Do you write poetry or short stories as well? If so what?
I certainly can appreciate poetry and the occasional short story but I think I’ll stick to novels.
What is your earliest childhood memory?
I don’t know if I have a bad memory but I don’t seem to have many. One that comes to mind right away is just hanging out with my Dad and his buddies. I was only about three at the time so I don’t remember the whole story but I remember being stopped by the police. When I was older and mentioned this memory to my Dad, he told me he and his buddies were having a few drinks and driving (tsk, tsk), but I think they got stopped because I didn’t have a seatbelt and was just on my Dad’s lap.
I think drink driving was the norm and more socially acceptable a generation ago…It is something that no-one of sane mind would countenance these days though! How do you overcome writers block?
I haven’t really been affected by writer’s block. There are times when I’m looking for a word and I can’t for the life of me think of what it is, this is what I consider writer’s block. At times like those, I try a thesaurus. It doesn’t always work.
Where would you like to be in 5 year time?
I would love to have at least five books under my belt, five published books. I would also like to have sold at least a million copies. But who wouldn’t?
The five published books under your belt is totally achievable…In terms of sales figures, well, sometimes I think that is in the lap of the Gods and sometimes I think you just have to work round the clock to make your dream come true…
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 kids that I love them and even though I might not be able to be here in person, I would always be with them in spirit.
What advice would you give your 18 year old self?
Like many teens, I went a little wild with booze when I became legal age (it’s 17 or 18 in Canada depending on which province). I would have told myself not to rely on others to look out for me and keep me safe during those times. I also would have like to have been more aware of people who stuck around just to use me. I would have told myself that not everything was as it seemed, my mother wasn’t the end all, be all, and there was so much more to the situation that I wasn’t seeing. And most importantly I would have told myself that I was pretty amazing and doing a great job with what I knew. In the end, there are things I wish I’d known but I have no regrets because I can’t change the past so there’s no point dwelling on it.
I also went wild with the booze as a teenager and now as a mother of a teenager I am dreading what is yet to come!!! Jessica you have been a dream to talk to and we will definitely be reviewing your book in the not too distant future! If you would like to join our reviewing team simply shout up!
http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Peterson/e/B00CQOY0SQ
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/313369
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJessicaPeterson
August 17, 2013
Book Review: For the Love of Spirit – A Medium Memoir by Liz Winter
Liz Winter has worked as a Medium and Spiritual Development teacher for the past 25 years. She is also a Reiki Master and Healer, an angel therapist, dream coach and qualified counsellor. She hosts her own radio show “Soul Talk” at http://www.ask1radio.com/ every Friday at 1pm ADST and Thursday in the USA at 11pm ET.
I am always open to personal memoirs of a spiritual nature and in particular those written by practising mediums as I am utterly fascinated by what awaits us on the other side. I also use books like this to help me connect with spirit and I definitely felt the clear presence of spirit around me whenever I was reading Liz Winter’s incredible account of her life. The opening paragraph of For the Love of Spirit clearly and neatly sets out the stall for what is to come in the book. I liked the fact that one of the author’s spirit guides “White Owl” was introduced immediately and I have to say I found the illustration of White Owl by Marion Ruffin spine tingling and for me, it definitely added an early sense of immediacy and intimacy to the book.
Liz Winter’s story begins in 1974 with a moving and deeply personal account of the breakup of her parent’s marriage. I thought the author’s disconnect from her father and her later account of her experience on the night he died was incredibly poignant. I loved the contrasts between the grounding, solid city of Melbourne and the world of spirit. Staying rooted in the physical realm is crucial for anyone working with spirit and I felt this perfectly exemplified this. I also enjoyed her accounts of her travelling experiences, in particular I now have a sudden longing to visit Tasmania – a place which has never previously been on my radar.
I felt that in reading this book I learned a lot for instance the concept of soul retrieval is mentioned, soul retrieval being the process of collecting fragments of yourself that you have left behind at various different places years before: A concept which I have to say I have never previously come across but one that I would most definitely be interested in exploring as I have no doubt that there are bits and pieces of me all over the U.K.
“I am grateful the element of the church and Christianity was part of my childhood, as it was the only thing that indicated there may be more to life than meets the eye.” I very much enjoyed her accounts of going to church as a child as my experiences and perspective were eerily similar. I also viewed the church that I attended with my mother as a starting point and I always felt guilty for feeling that whilst church was a step in the right direction it didn’t offer up the whole picture. It certainly embedded the notion and concept that my soul would go somewhere after my death; that somehow part of me would live on, however much as I tried to make it fit I could never subscribe to the one heaven/one hell/one God and nothing else concept.
There are some absolutely fascinating and compelling accounts of the author’s clairaudient experiences as a child and I was most definitely intrigued by her somewhat vivid accounts and recollections of the early psychic development classes that she attended as a teenager as it is something which I am very keen to explore myself, fully intend to do one day, but somehow just never quite manage to find/make the time to do. From personal experience I also know that there are some good mediums out there and some not so good ones and I think the concept of asking spirit to send the perfect medium to you is a very sensible one. I will definitely try that next time I am thinking about going for a reading and will see what happens…
Overall, I found “For the Love of Spirit – A Medium Memoir” to be incredibly well written, touching and compelling. At some stage I will purchase a paperback copy as it is the type of book I would love to have sitting waiting for me to dip in and out of on my book case.
For the Love of Spirit is available from
http://bookstore.balboapress.com/Products/SKU-000637635/For-the-Love-of-Spirit.aspx
You can also find Liz Winter at http://www.lizwintermedium.com
August 16, 2013
Interview with Jamie Marchant
It’s great to meet you Jamie. Tell us a little bit about yourself?
From early childhood, I’ve been immersed in books. My mother, an avid reader herself, read to us, and my older sister filled my head with fairy tales. When I was about six, I started writing stories about the Man from Mars for my older sister. I devoured every book I could get my hands on, and I wrote my first fantasy novel while in high school—not that it was publishable. Taking into consideration my love for literature and the challenges of supporting myself as a writer, I pursued a Ph.D. in American literature, which I received in 1998. I started teaching writing and literature at Auburn University and discovered the excitement of teaching. But in doing so, I put my true passion on the backburner and neglected my muse. Instead, for a few years, I wrote literary criticism. Then one day, in the midst of writing a critical piece, I realized I had no interest in doing so. What I wanted to do was write novels. My muse thus revived, I began the book that was to become The Goddess’s Choice. I have an entire series planned.I live in Auburn, Alabama, with my husband and son.
I think we are all guilty of neglecting our muse. I have always wanted to write but until a couple of years ago always let life get in the way. I so wish I had knuckled down and started writing novels for real a decade ago as I keep thinking how many I could have had published by now. That said, I didn’t have the ideas then that I have now or the determination and drive to see them through from start to finish… What is the worst job that you have ever done, and why?
Working at Pinocchio’s Pizza place. The boss was a jerk, and I had to dress up like the character sometimes. You can hardly see out of those costumes and while the little kids are cute, the older ones get obnoxious.
Ha, that sounds hilarious! Saying that I have done my fair share of dodgy dressing up. My evil friends dressed me as a gigantic leprechaun for my hen night…What Genre is your work – Do you have any plans to work outside of it?
It’s fantasy—both urban and epic. I don’t have any current plans to work outside it although some time in the far future, I might like to write a historical work.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book, The Goddess’s Choice, originates deep within my childhood. My sister Jalane–she is ten years older than me–told me stories, fairy tales mostly: “Midas and His Golden Touch,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Hansel and Gretel.” But my favorite was always “The Princess and the Glass Hill” or “The Glass Mountain” as my sister titled it. I had her tell that story over and over again. I was captivated by the bold hero on his magical horses of bronze, silver, and gold.
When I had a child of my own, I wanted to pass that fairy tale on. My son, Jesse, loved it every bit as much as I had. One day after telling it to him, it came to me that the story could be so much more than five pages and sparse details. However, I didn’t want to write a children’s story but the type of epic fantasy I enjoy as an adult. I upped the dramatic tension, villainy, and sexuality of the piece to create something far different than the original fairy tale. The Goddess’s Choice is intended for an adult audience.
Demons in the Big Easy was inspired by a prompt for an anthology about older women heroes. As I thought about the anthology, Cassandra came to life. Her world and the rest of the story followed. My novella didn’t make it into the anthology, but it got a positive enough response that I decided to publish it.
I like the concept of taking fairy tales and turning them into something very dark and adult. Saying that Grimm’s tales were dark in their own right and when you read between the lines…Do you have a structure when you are writing, and if so what?
Although it is an adult epic fantasy novel, The Goddess’s Choice is loosely based on a fairy tale, so I had some structure imposed on it to begin with. But the fairy tale is only five pages, and the book is nearly four hundred, so I added a lot! For instance, the story of Samantha—the crown princess and heroine of my novel—is almost completely absent from the fairy tale.
Other than the imposed structure of the original tale, I’m a more fly-by-the-seat-my-pants kind of writer. I never made a written outline or plotted a story arc. I had a basic idea of where I wanted to end up, although I didn’t know exactly how The Goddess’s Choice was going to end until I was nearly there. Demons in the Big Easy was entirely by the seat of my pants. A lot of where the story goes depends on the characters. They tend to take on a life of their own.
Yeah, I write like that too. Granny Irene was originally written purely as I went and although I do have a clear idea as to what needs to happen in future works I will ALWAYS be guided by my characters and the novella which I am currently writing is very much structured stream of consciousness: I know where the stepping stones are but other than that I go where it takes me…Which was your favourite character to write, and why?
As far as my favorite character, that would probably be Robrek, the peasant sorcerer of The Goddess’s Choice, although the Princess Samantha (also from The Goddess’s Choice) is a close second. I’ve always been a fan of the underdog, and Robrek faces a major uphill battle. His father blames him for his mother’s death and beats him regularly. He lives among people who think he’s cursed with demon blood because of his foreign appearance. The priest thinks he should have been exposed at birth. To top it all off, he learns that in order to access his full power he must truly forgive all those who treated him vilely.
Samantha is the woman I’d like to be: strong, confident, and powerful. She ends up with her share of problems, but she starts at the top while Robrek has to claw his way up, somewhat literally.
Do you read for pleasure or out of habit?
For pleasure, I can’t understand people who don’t like to read.
What are you reading at the moment, and why?
Reading the Dead by J. B. Cameron. I’m doing a review of it for my blog. So far it’s a good book.
Meat eater or vegetarian?
I eat meat, sometimes I feel guilty about it, but not guilty enough to give it up.
Do you have an opinion on life after death, and if so what?
Yes, I believe we will all be rewarded according to our works.
What do you have in the pipeline?
I’m almost finished with the sequel to The Goddess’s Choice, titled The Soul Stone, in which Samantha struggles to solidify her rule, and Robrek must confront a bigger threat to the safety of the joined kingdoms. I’m also working on an urban fantasy novel, The Bull Riding Witch, which has a princess from a parallel realm switching bodies with a rodeo bull rider.
OMG. I love the sound of The Bull Riding Witch. You have me sold instantly on the concept!
Do you write poetry or short stories as well? If so what?
I write short stories and flash fiction. I’ve had several pieces published. My poetry is atrocious, and I gave it up years ago.
How do you overcome writers block?
I try to have more than one project going. That way if I’m blocked on one, I can work on the other.
Yeah, I do the same. I think it is dangerous to get consumed totally by one project and it’s much healthier to have two or three on the go at any given time. That way you always have a steady stream flowing through the pipeline at various stages of development.
Do you have any pets – If so what?
Yes, I have four cats. Some have called me a “cat lady.”
Lenora loves her cats. Personally I can’t see the fascination – I am more of a dog person myself…Thank you Jamie for such a fascinating interview today, we do have one of your titles pending review and I am completely sold on the concept of The Bull Riding Witch, so please make sure you send me a review copy as soon as it is published.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-Marchant-Author/164706710298768?ref=hl
Three AMAZING Flash reviews of Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife Revenge Part 1
Morning
Well, I am going to blow my own trumpet today as I have received another AMAZING flash review for Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife Revenge Part 1 from Jane McBride Not only can you read her review below but I am also re-posting the reviews that I have recently received from Grey Wolf and June Starrs. Obviously I am biased but I do believe Granny Irene is an intriguing character and that her supernatural adventures are well worth a read. So, if you haven’t already done so please hop over to AMAZON where you will find Granny Irene ready and waiting for you…
GRANNY IRENE’S GUIDE TO THE AFTERLIFE REVENGE PART 1 BY INGRID HALL – FLASH REVIEW BY JANE MCBRIDE
I have just finished reading a little sampling of Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife. I love the little disclaimer at the beginning, that it’s written exactly how Granny speaks, and is not in the Queen’s English. It goes on to say that the story is also not for those unprepared to have their beliefs challenged.
I love it when authors are brave enough to write in the same way that people actually speak (I do it too and have received a lot of criticism for it). I love to read things that are written by people who are from different places, different cultures. I want to know what they sound like, I want to hear it, I want to see it. I have no idea why this bothers so many, but it really does. And, as for my beliefs, I believe they can withstand a challenge.
Having said all that, I loved the little bit that I read! Apparently, our Granny Irene is dead, though that doesn’t seem to be much more than a mere annoyance to her. She is telling what was either a dream or a vision that she had, she isn’t sure which, about her loved Granddaughter, Chloe. Chloe has apparently had it a little rough, maybe in the teen years, and now Granny tells of Chloe’s ex-husband. From that little bit I was able to glean that Chloe is an adult, not a child.
In Granny’s dream Chloe is on the roadside, lethargically hitching a ride, and closely guarding a back pack. She gets a ride with a surly looking man, though Granny is loudly protesting and doesn’t want her to go with the man. Then the horrified dead Granny gets a load of what our dear Chloe has in the back pack… Not telling!
I don’t know what the rest of the story is going to be, but I sure want to find out! I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife.
GRANNY IRENE’S GUIDE TO THE AFTERLIFE REVENGE PART 1 BY INGRID HALL – FLASH REVIEW BY GREY WOLF
Well eek! And well-written film noir eek at that, with a hint of Terry Pratchett for the point of view! Before I go any further, let me just say that I have never reviewed the 1000-word start to a novella before, without reading the whole thing, so this feels very much like reviewing the first chapter of a story – which it is, of course!
Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife Revenge Part 1 has the first-person perspective of the rather late Granny Irene, in a world where being dead is not a hazard to seeing, thinking or being involved, though apparently it skews the viewpoint enough that its not easy to know if what is seen, indeed experienced, is dream, premonition or what is really happening. One supposes being dead does have some drawbacks!
Taking the point of view as given, this opens nicely with Chloe, our one-step-removed protagonist standing on the hard shoulder of a motorway, looking uncertain, bedraggled and very protective of a rucksack. We learn a little about her, or about how she is supposed to be, how she had some recent difficulty, and join in the late Granny’s wondering of whether this is a resumption of that, or whether something truly terrible has happened.
Add in the dream imagery of the Angel of the North, not just a statue but a sentient, and very annoyed, being, and we are as unsure as Granny is whether we are looking at what is happening now, or if this is an interpretation of reality, an interpretation that clearly has nothing good about it, and thus a reality which needs looking into urgently, for Chloe’s sake.
The tension builds nicely, and we lose our confusion as to whether this is dream or really happening, not by getting an answer, but by ignoring it, along with Granny. The moment is all, and we hold our breaths as we see the white van pull up. White vans are not usually the harbingers of hope, love and the promise of good things, even if they might only be the promise of a lift. Or is it more? Does Chloe care? And what has she got in that bag?
Why doesn’t she want to go to the toilet? OK, that seems an odd question! But if someone told me up in the far North that they would not be stopping again until they reached London, it would certainly cross my mind to go “just in case”. Maybe she is dehydrated, certainly she is exhausted, and perhaps she fears he will drive off without her (for all that the reader might be hoping he does!). Or perhaps it is the rucksack, and its mysterious contents? And of course, perhaps it is because this is only a dream, and there is no time in this dream for toilet breaks?
Needless to say, Granny gets the rucksack open – whether by telekinesis, telepathy, a disembodied arm, or just because it is a dream and one can influence things in dreams on a minor scale. Chloe is worried that the bag is open, and like anyone with a precious cargo cannot resist a peek at it to make sure it is still there. It is – and needless to say, it is not a winning Lottery Ticket in the bag. It is…eek!
Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife Revenge Part 1 is available from Amazon on Kindle and Paperback. If you fancy reading something totally different then please give it a go!
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GRANNY IRENE’S GUIDE TO THE AFTERLIFE REVENGE PART 1 – FLASH REVIEW BY JUNE STARRS
Irene’s book cover looks mystical and lures the reader to open the book.
Ingrid informs the reader at the start that this is not written in a conventional style or the Queen`s English. I agree upon reading this but why not try reading another writing style? I was glad I did.
I agree with Ingrid, this extract (the book too I should imagine) may challenge any personal beliefs or opinions you may have on the afterlife. It certainly made me think about the existence of and afterlife.
This is written in the first person by Granny Irene, speaking from the afterlife.
Irene`s opening question grabs you straight in there, I wanted to read on, “The dead can dream, can`t they?”
The extract I read is weaved with menacing tones hooking the reader deeper. Why is Irene`s Grand-daughter Chloe stood vacant looking, at the side of a busy motorway? What is Chloe nurturing in the backpack? Who is the driver of the white van? There are several cleverly written menacing tones keeping me wanting to know what has happened and what will follow?
Granny Irene watches Chloe. She tries to communicate with her. Can she?
As the events unfold a shiver runs down my spine as I watch the picture before my eyes. Granny Irene desperately tries to communicate with her grand-daughter.
The extract I read ends on a cliff hanger. Granny Irene`s dream “cuts out” too.
Intrigued? I am.
Reviewed by June Starrs
Granny Irene’s Guide to the Afterlife – Revenge is available to buy from Amazon in kindle and paperback versions.
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Just a reminder, flash reviews are reviews of the first 1000-2000 words of a novel. If you would like your book flash reviewed/like a chance to participate in a monthly giveaway then click here for further information.
August 14, 2013
Incentives for reviewing books…
Due to the volume of requests that I am receiving I am constantly looking for new book reviewers and have introduced a new incentive scheme…Find out more here.
