Effrosyni Moschoudi's Blog, page 53

Tips from David Gaughran and two free, perfect summer reads

For the past two weeks, I’ve have been virtually offline polishing both my novels in time for a major FREE promo starting today. The Necklace of Goddess Athena has required my attention a lot. I’ve spent over a week giving it all my love and attention and was dumbfounded by the amount of work I had to put in it;  not just on the editing side, but also in terms of proofreading.

This made me realize two things:

a. How steep a learning curve I’ve been ascending since April when I last gave it my attention.

b. How precious the assistance of my beta readers has been. Although they beta-read The Lady of the Pier and not my debut novel, the wealth of knowledge I’ve acquired from collaborating with them has allowed me to polish The Necklace to a shine in the same fashion.

I hope that some readers will elect to download this second FREE edition of The Necklace even if they’ve already read the first one, as I’d really welcome any comments. Among other things, I’ve eliminated many ellipsises, tags, long sentences and have smoothed out the chapter refering to the aero-modellers’ meeting place. That one simply begged to be edited ruthlessly.

In the new editions for both my books, I’ve also taken two particularly excellent pieces of advice from David Gaughran; author of the infamous ebook  ‘Let’s Get Visible‘ that’s packed with helpful tips for gaining Amazon visibility. His first tip is to move all introductory sections such as  ‘Acknowledgments’ and ‘Note From the Author’ to the end of the book. This way, when potential customers preview the book on Amazon, they’ll be able to get ‘straight to the meat’ – as he put it.  His second excellent tip involves the addition of a short note, just under ‘THE END’, to prompt readers to review, highlighting the importance of word of mouth. Regular readers of this blog will remember I had blogged this tip  after reading a post by Jackie Weger (thanks to whom I  discovered the aforementioned book by Caughran).

Anyway, without further ado, I give you below some information about my gifts to you today! As I’ve obviously blogged about ‘my babies’ before, I’m not including blurbs but you can click on the books/links to see those on Amazon.

As both these goodies are ideal for a summer escape, I hope you won’t miss out on this great opportunity to bag them at absolutely no cost!

 

 The Necklace of Goddess Athena is a fantasy adventure of Greek myths and time travel that’s suitable for all ages. It’s been described as a “Rare Gem” by the Fantasy & Sci-fi Network and has reached Amazon’s #1 in Mythology and #2 in Fairy Tales. The novel also made the shortlist in 2014 for the “50 Best Self-Published Books Worth Reading” from Indie Author Land.

Praise for the book:

(Excerpts from posted reviews on Amazon.com)

 “Beautifully written – an enchanting read!”

“A sweet, nostalgic view of Athens.”

“You will be left wishing it had never ended.”

“Wisdom, eternal values, and ethos are at the heart of this book.”

“I didn’t want it to end – a remarkable achievement!”

“Gem after gem of wisdom that will touch your heart.”

“Each word is a picture! Each turn, a beautiful description of an Athenian site!”

“A tale that is woven with artistry, love, and great care easily becomes one of my favorites. Check it out and you won’t be disappointed!”

 DOWNLOAD IT FREE ON AMAZON AUGUST 7-11

 Amazon (US): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I5GXHCO

Amazon (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I5GXHCO

 

The Lady of the Pier – The Ebb is an ABNA quarter-finalist. The book follows the lives and loves of two young girls who’ve never met but are connected in a mysterious way. It is the first part of a paranormal romance that’s set in Brighton (England) in the 1930’s and in Corfu (Greece) in the 1980’s. 

Praise for the book:

(Excerpts from posted reviews on Amazon.com)

“Addictively mesmerizing”

“I defy you to put this book down after the first chapter”

“I got withdrawal symptoms when I ended it”

“The writer has an undisputed talent for creating vivid imagery”

“A fantastic read. This author has the ability to draw you into the story”

“If you enjoy romance, take heed: The Ebb makes a perfect summer read!”

“A heartfelt story drawing you in and not letting (you) go until the last page. Fantastic!”

“An inner glow, an inherent purity emanates from the pages to create a sense of completeness, like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.”

 DOWNLOAD IT FREE ON AMAZON AUGUST 7-11

Amazon (US): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LGNYEPC

Amazon (UK):  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LGNYEPC

 

Interview with Luciana Cavallaro, author of Accursed Women

Today, I have the pleasure to host an amazing Australian author who loves Greek Mythology and history. Luciana Cavallaro has written the collection of short stories “Accursed Women” that had rendered me fascinated from the very first few pages. Regular readers of my blog may remember my 5-star review of this gem that brings back to life heroes and heroines of Greek Mythology in a unique way; often with a modern twist that makes a whole world of difference. The talented Luciana is here today to talk to us–among other things–about her various future projects; some of them involving–what else?-Greek myths again! Stick around with me and let’s find out more!

 

 

Five stories, five women, five legends.

Phaedra, a Minoan princess, marries out of duty and to safeguard her precious home. She falls in love with Hippolytos, her husband’s son and asks the Goddess Aphrodite for help. He spurns her affections.

The Trojan War, one of history’s greatest stories ever told. What if the legend as told is wrong? History is told by the victors, and facts changed to twist the truth. Is it possible Helen of Sparta never went to Troy?

Hera, Queen of the Gods, is the most powerful goddess on Mount Olympos. For the first time ever in a candid interview, Hera shares what it’s like to be a goddess and wife to Zeus, the King of the Gods.

Created by the gods as a gift to humanity, Pandora is the first woman on Earth. Did she know what Zeus intended when he presented an urn as a wedding dowry to her husband? Neither she nor Epimetheus knew what it contained, but they were told never to open it.

All Medousa wanted was a life of love and acceptance but one fateful night it changed. While she’s alone in the Temple of Athene tending to the sacred fire, Poseidon pays a visit. No human can stop an immortal from taking what they want.

Hello Luciana and welcome to my blog!

Hi Fros, thank you so much for inviting me!

What has inspired you to write this book?

A colleague suggested I write short stories. I’ve never written one let alone thought of writing a book just with short stories. I’ve read short stories but wasn’t a fan, I preferred novels that fleshed out characters and a storyline with depth. Writing these short stories were the best advice I was given. It helped hone my writing skills and develop a voice.

Aphrodite’s Curse, the first story, came to me after I read Euripides’ play Hippolytus. There’s not much information about Phaedra and I wanted to give her a voice, what she felt and what she thought of her situation. Then I had a “light bulb” moment and explored the idea of writing stories about maligned women from mythology. What if Helen didn’t go to Troy? How does Hera really feel about Zeus and his affairs? Did Pandora open the urn out of curiosity or out of malice? What if Medousa grew up in a loving family? I wanted to tell their stories and breathe new life into these incredible tales.

And what a jolly good job you’ve done! What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?

The first story I wrote was for an English assignment while I was in Year 11, sixteen years old. English was not my strongest subject, I was a very average student. We read The Chocolate War and had to write a story with a tragic ending. I remember the teacher read out my story to the class much to my embarrassment. The teacher commented on how well written it was and particularly liked the ending. I don’t remember the story only that I surprised the teacher as well as myself! It was my first A in English.

Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

Besides reading, I do enjoy going to the movies, catching up with friends and going out to dinner, which doesn’t happen as often as I like. I also like to garden. It’s a great way to “switch off” and focus one’s energies on planting and weeding. Another pastime I enjoy is photography and traveling too, which I hope to do soon.

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

I have been rewriting and editing book one in a trilogy. It’s had a number of makeovers and revisions over the years. The story has had a complete metamorphose and no longer resembles the first version. The main character Evan was born in a different period grew up in the 21st century and is thrust back to the past. He has no memory of the time he was once from and to get back to the 21st century he needs to find the lost relics of the Mother Goddess.

I am also writing a novella series, a time slip story about the guardianship of a coin.

Evan’s story sounds absolutely fascinating! Hurry and write that, will you? (laughs) What genres do you read mostly and what are you reading now?

I read a variety of genres, my favourites are Historical Fiction, Thrillers/Adventure, Humour, Murder Mysteries and Crime stories as well as Fantasy and Science Fiction. I also read a lot of non-fiction books and Archaeology magazines. At present, I’m reading a few books: The Way of Herodotus by Justin Marozzi, The Wooden Horse: The Liberation of the Western Mind from Odysseus to Socrates by Keld Zeruneith and The Necklace of Goddess Athena by Effrosyni Moschoudi.

Good variety of genres indeed! And great you’re reading my book. Can’t wait to hear any comments! Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

I titled my blog Eternal Atlantis after the legend of well… Atlantis. I read the story while in my teens and the myth fascinated me ever since. I then read Plato’s Timaeas and Critias which inspired the premise of the trilogy I am writing.

At present I am writing a series about The Iliad by Homer, discussing the various characters in the story and sharing my thoughts about them. Readers will find there mainly articles about Greek mythology, a bit about my writing process and inspirations.

Describe your workstation. Are there any favorite objects you have there for inspiration?

Messy. I am surrounded by papers, books, bits of scribbled notes, a diary that is opened to the current day, and files. I call it “organized chaos”. Anyone looking at my desk would shake their head in dismay but it works for me. I have a vision board sitting behind my monitor and statuettes of Athena and Leonidas, a magnet of a Spartan shield, and small replicas of helmets eight centimetres high. I also have pictures of wall friezes found at Akrotiri stuck to my cupboard.

Athena and Leonidas statuettes, huh? Good stuff – I expect they provide great inspiration! Do you listen to music while you write and if so, what kind?

While I’m writing my novel I listen to the Gladiator and Troy soundtracks and when writing my novella, I play Bond and other classical music.

If you could choose another profession, other than the one you are in, which would you choose?

Archaeology. Love reading about new discoveries being made and learning about the various cultures and how they developed.

Thank you for this interview, Luciana and best of luck with your future projects!

You too Fros, thank you for this opportunity!

 

BIO

Luciana Cavallaro grew up in a small country town in Western Australia. She moved to Perth to study teaching at university. Luciana is the first in her family to attain a university degree. She began writing as a cathartic exercise after a traumatic car accident. Since then she has attended writers’ workshops and is a member of various associations.

Luciana has always been interested in Mythology and Ancient History but her passion wasn’t realised until seeing the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. It was then that her inspiration to write Historical Fantasy was borne.

She has written a collection of short stories named Accursed Women and is currently revising her epic novel. Four of the short stories featured in Accursed Women are published as eBooks and are available from Amazon, Kobo and Smashwords. The collection is available as an eBook and in paperback from Amazon, Createspace and leading online book stores.

For more information, visit her website: Eternal Atlantis http://www.luccav.com

Connect with Luciana

Website: http://www.luccav.com

Blog: http://www.luccav.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6567841.Luciana_Cavallaro

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClucianaLuciana

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Luciana-Cavallaro-Writer/304218202959903?ref=hl

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/chindamo/boards/

LinkedIN: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=242021145&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic

Google+: https://plus.google.com/102236012274331554847/posts?hl=en

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Moirai

Eternal Atlantis e-Bulletin: http://eepurl.com/upMxL

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBY6antXpPw

 

 

 

Interview with Marissa Tejada, author of Chasing Athens

Today I’m delighted to host the lovely Marissa Tejada whom I had the pleasure to meet online quite recently. She’s an accomplished freelance journalist and the author of the romantic comedy Chasing Athens. In her debut novel, she draws on her own experiences as a native New-Yorker moving to Athens a few years ago. Friends who’ve read her book said they couldn’t put it down and just had to keep going, chapter after chapter… Join me as I ask Marissa some questions to find out more!

Blurb

When Ava Martin’s new husband unexpectedly ditches her months after they’ve relocated across the world to Greece, the heartbroken American ex-pat isn’t sure where home is anymore. On the verge of flying back to the States with her tail between her legs, she makes an abrupt decision to follow her gut instead and stay on in Greece. She soon discovers that the tumultuous, culture-rich Mediterranean country is coloring her life in a way no place else can, changing her forever. But is it where she belongs?

Ava’s new found independence throws her into the thick of Athenian reality, where she has brushes with violent police riots and gets a taste of both the alluring islands and the city nightlife. Despite pressure from her mother, uncertainty over her impending divorce, and unresolved issues with her long-estranged father weighing on her, she’s determined to make it on her own. With the help of two very colorful Greek friends, she laughs and learns while facing culture shock, language barriers and the charm of Mediterranean men, until a life-threatening medical emergency back home in sleepy Ithaca, N.Y., forces her to decide where she truly belongs – and what truly matters.

 

Find it now on Amazon

 

Hello Marissa and welcome to my blog!

It’s great to be here, thank you Fros!

What has inspired you to write this book?

In one word: Greece.   Living abroad for some time put me through a whirlwind of amazing highs and lows. In the end those experiences as an expat pushed me to finally write my first women’s fiction novel.

For me, Greece is a place of contrasts.  In the capital of Athens, you’ll find everything old and new, ancient and modern, fast and slow.  Underground are these immaculate museum-like subways (opposite of my hometown NYC!) and then you might walk out to find unkempt crumbling neoclassical buildings and sidewalks to match. The culture is rich, the language interesting, the people are warm and very important – there isn’t one Greek dish I don’t like! Furthermore, no one can argue about how beautiful Greece is whether you visit the countryside, head to the mountains or to its awe inspiring islands. Making a living as a journalist and travel writer, I couldn’t help but be inspired by the charm and uniqueness of Greece.

What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

I’ve been writing my whole life just in different forms.   I’ve built a decade plus career as a journalist and writer. I’ve learned to tell stories through various media including newspapers, television, magazines and even from a PR perspective.  Now as a travel writer, I believe the best stories come about from the same formula. It starts with meeting people and a need to tell the story behind a place or destination. Writing a novel is a different kind of storytelling. I got to create my own world and the people that live in it.  That’s a lot of creative power!   I love writing as a journalist and writing as an author. Both types of writing have rewards that are worth going for. Both ways you end up telling a story.

What genres do you read mostly and what are you reading now?

I love women’s fiction and contemporary romance/chick-lit.  I also love picking up a classic novel I just have never gotten around to reading.  I also keep non-fiction books in my TBR pile with topics like food and wine, politics and better yet – food politics!

Right now I am reading Sophie Kinsella’s latest called Wedding Night.  I am also reading Luciana Cavallaro’s Aphrodite’s Curse. I am also reading The Melanie Chronicles which is written by another American expat living in Europe, Kim Golden.  On the non-fiction side I am reading Michael Pollan’s Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation.

Oh, I love Sophie Kinsella! My favorite of all her books is Undomestic Goddess.  Hilarious stuff… Luciana Cavallaro is an excellent writer too. So on to the next question: choose a male and a female character from your book and tell us which actor/actress you’d wish to play them in a film adaptation.

In my mind I switch back and forth for my main character, Ava Martin. I think of so many including Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Kreuk and Maggie Q.  Anyone who has read Chasing Athens can guess that I definitely know who Stefanos Danos should be played by: George Clooney. Ahhh, George Clooney.

I’m guessing your male character is sophisticated and charming then! Good choice. Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

I have an author blog and every Monday I aim to post to “Writing Thoughts” which explores various thoughts about being a debut women’s fiction/romantic comedy author.  I have reviews and press clippings listed on the site. I also use it to showcase my writing work for various media outlets as a journalist and travel writer and it is my one stop shop for people to connect to me via social media.  I’d love to add more to it in the near future.

My website also connects to my travel blog which I’ve been posting on for a few years now. It’s called my greece, my travels and it aims to showcase my photography as I travel around Europe and Greece.  I offer some service information but usually offer short and sweet blurbs and articles about the best of the places I’ve seen with the pictures telling the rest of the story.  I can say that my travel blog was inspired by the beauty of Greece.

Thank you for this interview Marissa, and best of luck with your writing!

It’s been great Fros, thank you for inviting me!

Bio

Marissa Tejada is the author of the chick-lit/women’s fiction novel, Chasing Athens which was recently released as part of the Terpsichore contemporary romance imprint from award-winning digital romance publisher, Musa Publishing. Marissa, an American expat, found herself inspired to write the romantic comedy as she lived abroad.

Born and raised in New York, Marissa now calls Athens, Greece home where she is a full-time freelance writer specializing in food and wine, technology and travel writing. She contributes to numerous publications including Fodor’s Travel, Forbes Travel, Wine Enthusiast, Urban Travel Blog, Let’s Go with Ryan Air, IBM Midsize Insider- Reuters and more. She also enjoys blogging for her travel photography blog, my Greece, my travels.

As an award-winning journalist, Marissa has worked across the United States as a television reporter and anchor in Florida, Washington State and Upstate New York. She has also worked in newsrooms in Los Angeles and London and managed high tech PR in San Francisco. Marissa graduated cum laude from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Upstate New York.

Connect with Marissa

Site/Author Blog: www.chasingathens.com

Travel Blog: http://mygreecetravels.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marissatejadaauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tejadamarissa

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8182456.Marissa_Tejada

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marissatejada/

Google +: https://plus.google.com/+MarissaTejada/about

 

Book Review: Spellbound In His Arms by Angel Sefer

Jackie and Michael meet in a mansion on the Greek island of Corfu under gloomy circumstances which do not allow them the luxury of pleasantries. They’re both there with a secret agenda and despite their immediate physical attraction towards each other, from the word go they strive to overcome their suspicions and caution.

The sexual tension between them soon becomes too unbearable to resist. As they join forces to solve a murder case, they kiss every now and then with passion, only to regret it moments later, their desire once again overcome by doubt and apprehension about the other’s true motives and intentions.

With the breaking news of more than one murder on the island and a vicious, unidentified killer lurking in the shadows, the lives of Jackie and Michael soon become a whirlwind of agony and fear.

This novel is an easy read and can be devoured in one sitting, especially as the author manages to keep the reader on their toes with constant twists and turns in the plot. The climax is delivered satisfactorily with one surprise after the next, bringing the two protagonists to a happy ending.

The first book in Angel Sefer’s Greek Isles Series is an intriguing read that will satisfy every avid reader of romance and mystery.  The author is masterful in her ability to keep the reader guessing. I’m now looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

My rating:     5 stars
An intriguing murder mystery

Do you enjoy mystery and romance? This book is for you! Check it out on Amazon now.

Interview with Jack Goodwind, author of Ancient Truth

Today, I’m thrilled to introduce to you an Italian author whom I discovered very recently, following a glowing review that a friend wrote for his book, Ancient Truth. As I’m big on conspiracy theories and also greatly fascinated by stories of ancient Egypt, this book seemed like my cup of tea, and I contacted Jack at once. He turned out to be a great guy and a very helpful new friend, and what’s more, he was happy to let me interview him for this blog. So without further ado, here’s a good measure of thrill and mystique for all you fellow truth-seekers out there!

BLURB

Ancient Truth is the first book of the Line of Blood Saga.

It is an alternative vision of History based on the theories about an alien colonization of Earth even before the apparition of the Homo sapiens. In it, actual History, myths, religious tales and even urban legends are mixed together with the fantasy of the author to create a new and original story. Modern characters alternate with ancient ones seamlessly, to better guide the reader into something that is bound to be unique. Aside the original conquerors of Earth, the mythological deities called Anunnaki, other alien species take their place in forging the path of early man. Together with aliens, various kind of monsters and mythological beings, are also present in the story. Naturally, the different parts of it take place in legendary locations and cities, with a large use of mythological artifacts and books. Moreover, many names, especially of the ancient characters, recall those of important figures of mythology, religion or actual history. Of course, mostly these characters are totally new, living situations and behaving even very differently from the real, or mythological ones. Line of Blood Saga, and Ancient Truth as well, is in the end a work of fantasy, in which more than the actual stories, the only “true” thing is the introspection on the human soul, with all the interior struggling a man has, forced by the choice between good and evil.

Hello Jack! It’ s a great pleasure to have you here today!

I’m also thrilled to be here Fros, thank you!

What has inspired you to write this book?

Ancient Truth is my debut novel and it is also the “chapter 1” of a much complex editorial project the “Line of Blood Saga”. The starting point of this work is my passion for everything that is mysterious and out of the ordinary, joined with my idea of the role of a writer. I do believe, in fact, that “our” mission is to lead people to think, to induce curiosity more than to “state the verb”. Considering also that in my life I had the privilege and weight of witnessing first hand all that mankind can be capable of, from the most amazing art and technology to the shocking savagery of war, I developed a deep knowledge about the two faces of the human soul. And this is what Line of Blood Saga, and Ancient Truth of course, is all about. Using the most different sources, from Biblical tales to urban legends, from mythology to actual History, I have worked to forge in one, single, and uniform story the struggling of every man who is searching for answers. The Sci Fi / Epic Fantasy ground of this book series is just the container of a more spiritual and interior story; the quest of all the beings endowed of “Free Will”, the right to choose one’s own destiny, the individual responsibility to do it wisely.

Sounds awesome! What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?

Actually I was 17, and since I was already in love with the sea and sailing, I wrote a sort of short guide for “blue water sailors”, a little book that has never been published but that has been extensively used not just by friends, but also by almost everyone else who was part of the Nautical Circle I used to go to for the Sunday racings.

Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

As I said sailing is pretty much my life. For many it is a hobby or a sport, but a few get almost sick by this “passion”, and for them, sailboats and sailing are no longer a “plus” in their life, but they become their life itself. Well, I am one of them, and this can be well summarized in the phrase of an old skipper to my father right after I started to go sailing, 15 years old: “Your son has sea water in his veins”.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters or do any of them have traits you wish you had?

I am all my characters, or they are all me, that is the same after all. The point is that I had, and I still have, a pretty peculiar life, every five years it blows up, burns to the ground, and then starts again normally in another country doing something completely different. This of course involves also the people surrounding me. So every male character is me, or at least the person I was in a particular moment of my life. And, as well as for the men, all the female characters are actually women I met, loved or simply knew.

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

Well, at the moment I am working on Line of blood, a Saga that isn’t just a book series, the true ground of it is “everything”. If it could be summarized as an “Alternative History-Sci Fi-Epic Fantasy-Spiritual” work, without going too far, from my point of view it is just my life, my experience, what I learned. So considering my “Arabian Phoenix” kind of life, Line of Blood couldn’t be anything but a complex and long project, which involves several other sub-sagas which will be joined, and yet independent, from the first one. In simple words, if Line of Blood is the story of mankind’s soul, the other works will be a sort of “spotlight”, through the ages, on a particular moment of our History which has to be underlined with more accuracy.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learnt so far in life the hard way?

The most important lesson I got from my various experiences is that more than evil, we have to fear stupidity. I saw people destroying their own lives so easily and so firmly, just because they were unable to understand what they were doing. Of course when this trait is accompanied by arrogance, and/or also doubled by fear, the results could be anything, even, war. How something so clearly wrong, so amazingly stupid and useless can be still allowed, otherwise? I mean, it is still “legal”, it is something that at a certain point “can be used” as a means to do politics, unbelievable!

You’re so right. I do suffer fools, but cannot tolerate stupidity when coupled with arrogance as I deem it catastrophic, especially as you say, when fear is also put in the mix. If you could have one superpower what would it be?

It would be the power of “compelling” other people, like allegedly the vampires can do. Why this? Well, I hate stupidity too much.

Ah! If only we could all be as charismatic as Jasper from Twilight! *laughs* What are the things in your life that you’re most grateful for?

God’s first and most important gift, after this life itself, of course, my “Free Will”. I am a true believer, I know that the Higher Intelligence made us free of forging our own destiny, and even if this can turn in a lot of regrets, since I have never blamed anyone but me for my own dramas, the acknowledgement of this right/duty is the gift/responsibility which makes our life whole, and our kind unique.

I totally accept this philosophy too. It’s answered my questions about the nature of humanity and God and has granted me a sense of empowerment and peace. Wow – it’s been wonderful having you here today Jack – thank you for your time!

Thank you for this opportunity Fros!

 

BIO

I was born in the troubled island of Sicily, a place full of ancient treasures as well as modern contradictions. I lived my life changing it every 5 years, by choice, by case, by faith. In my life I did pretty much everything, from running the family’s furniture shop in my hometown, to traveling around Europe as a sales agent, from managing an insurance agency in a small town, to becoming an Internet Marketing specialist.

I am a sailor and I served my country both in the Navy and the Army. I saw the amazing and the nasty, I sailed different Maxi Cups in Porto Cervo among the wealthiest and in the most unimaginable luxury, I saw the horrors and the atrocity of the war first hand. Everything I did, I lived, I learned, made me who I am today, the very same person as I was when I started, a complete new one as my life taught me to be.

In the end I became a writer, because too many are the things I want to say, too many are the things I need to share. My first novel “Ancient Truth” of the book series “Line of Blood Saga”, despite its obvious reference to the worlds of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, is actually a journey inside something impalpable as well, and yet so real; the human soul. We are not “part of the picture”, we are masters, keepers, lords of this universe. Our right is to choose, our responsibility is to do it wisely. This is the ultimate gift the supreme Intelligence gave us, this is why and what we are. The point, my point, is not pretending to have all the answers, it is simply to keep having the will to look for them.

CONNECT WITH JACK

Ancient Truth on Amazon

Ancient Truth (Line of Blood Saga Book 1)

An interview with Rebekah Lyn, author of Jessie

Today, I bring you another post by Fabulosity Reads; an interview with Rebekah Lyn followed by an excerpt from her book, Jessie.  It’s a story and a half, if you think that it combines a good family plot with the space program and an infamous moon landing! Make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post and enter the giveaway for a chance to win some goodies!

 

 

Book Synopsis

The four Cole boys suffer abuse at the hands of an alcoholic father, while largely being left to their own devices by a heartbroken and overworked mother. Their adventures on their island home have become a welcome escape, and one of the only things in life the boys can truly rely on. Jessie, the youngest and a dreamer, becomes enamored with US plans for manned space flight and its race to the moon, stirring his own dreams of one day becoming an astronaut. In a strange twist of fate, it is the space program and the momentum it gains that abruptly brings their beloved island life to an end. The family is forced to move to the city and start anew.

Life in town creates new challenges, financial pressures, news of the Vietnam War and the impending threat of the military draft for Max the eldest of the Cole brothers.

Interview With Rebekah Lyn

Your last three books were centered on female lead characters. Why did you choose to write a story about teenage boys?

I have no idea! For the most part, the characters choose me; most of my characters or plot ideas come to me at night. As soon as I turn off the light I start getting glimpses of the character or words start rolling around my brain. There is a letter from Virginia in this book that came to me one night and I couldn’t get to sleep until I got up and wrote it all down.

What was your biggest challenge writing about teenage boys? Was it easy or difficult to relate to them? Did you discover something about boys that you had never imagined?

In a lot of ways I think writing about teenage boys was easier than any of my adult female characters. I had a lot of guy friends in high school and college. My mom was so excited when I was chosen to be a Resident Assistant in my college dorm my senior year, thinking it would help me make more female friends. Instead I ended up in the one co-ed dorm and had even more guy friends. Since I spent so much time around these guys I learned what made them tick. I can’t think of anything I discovered that I didn’t already know about boys.

Jessie’s father is an alcoholic and your Beta readers indicated you are spot on in explaining Jessie’s emotions regarding his father. Where did that insight come from?

I was never exposed to drunken behavior as a child, but I’ve always been a keen observer of human nature. As an adult, I’ve seen my share of drunks, but, ultimately, I think the details that have resonated with beta readers who’ve lived with alcoholic parents were divinely inspired.

The race for the moon was initiated by President John F Kennedy. What was the influence or inspiration to entwine the space race in Jessie’s life?

I wanted to tell a story about the town I grew up in, but needed an interesting angle and what could be more interesting than the space program? Many families lived in small communities on Merritt Island when the government chose to base the space program there. The conflict of Jessie’s love for the space program and the loss of their home because of the program was the first spark of inspiration for this book.

This book only goes to the 1969 moon landing. Do you plan a follow up on the lives of the four Cole boys?

I had a hard time deciding where to end this book. I wanted to honor and recognize all of the brave men and women who’ve dedicated themselves to space exploration, but didn’t want the book to be the size of War & Peace. The moon landing was such a tremendous milestone and emotional moment, not only in the United States, but also around the world. The more I researched it and watched a variety of news reports on it, the more it felt like the right spot to end this book. Once I settled on that, a follow up storyline developed, so there will definitely be another book coming, perhaps from a different character’s point of view.

Book Excerpt

Set Back

April 25, 1961

Jessie stood at the edge of the playground with two other boys, anxious for the next space launch. Recess would be over any minute. There would be no time for a hold in the countdown. Two weeks earlier the Russians had announced the successful launch of Yuri Gagarin into space. Once again the Americans had been left behind but today’s launch would hopefully be the last before America put their own man into space.

Jessie held his breath as the rocket appeared above the trees. Then it happened. The plume of white smoke erupted into a fiery ball, debris flying in all directions. Jessie didn’t wait for the teacher’s frantic call to take shelter in the school. He shook his head and turned his back on the carnage. At the door, the teacher gently laid a hand on his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look. Any other day and Jessie might have resented it, but he knew, today, it had nothing to do with his father and the reputation he’d developed for himself the past couple of years.

When school was out, Jessie dragged his feet along the familiar path home. He kept walking when he came upon his brothers, his head down, watching the sand shift beneath his worn-out sneakers.

“I heard the explosion.” Max draped an arm over Jessie’s shoulders. “Sorry.”

Jessie nodded.

“Maybe we should go out to the beach, see if we can find any pieces,” Ricky suggested.

The thought turned Jessie’s stomach, but then he stopped. “That’s not a bad idea. I’d like to have something to remember we at least tried to get to space.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Sam said. “We’ll get there, it’s just going to take time.”

Jessie knew Sam was trying to be encouraging, and so attempted a smile of thanks before shifting course across the large field of scrub grass.

The boys spread out when they reached the beach. The tide was low but turning. Jessie took the section closest to the water, knowing the rising tide would cover it in another hour. The salty tang of sea spray filled his nostrils and he inhaled, while his eyes and ears locked away every detail of the sand and surf.

He saw a flash of light ten feet ahead and quickened his pace, keeping his eyes on the spot. The ocean foamed up, then slowly retreated. Jessie squatted down to find a silver and black triangle, partially buried in the sand. Another wave rushed toward him, splashing over his feet and soaking the bottom of his shorts. He held onto the metal afraid the undertow would pull it out to sea. When the water receded, Jessie pulled the debris free of the remaining sand. It was five inches tall and three wide. Turning it over in his hands he noted scorch marks and part of what he thought might be the letter U or A from the USA painted on the side of the rocket.

“Guys,” he waved to his brothers.

Max arrived first. “What’d you find?”

Jessie handed him the piece of metal.

“Cool.” Ricky joined them and reached for the newfound treasure.

“Good job, Jess.” Sam clapped his brother on the back. “I didn’t think we’d find anything that big.”

Jessie reached for the metal and traced the rough edges. “You don’t think they will give up do you?”

Sam shook his head. “Since the Russians have gotten into space already, I don’t see how we can give up now.”

“I hope they don’t.” Jessie tore his gaze away from his find and looked at his brothers. “I want to be an astronaut.”

Max laughed. “You can’t be an astronaut.”

“Why not?”

“Cause you gotta have money to be an astronaut. You don’t think Shepard and Grissom and all those other guys are dirt poor do you?”

“Maybe they’re not dirt poor, but they aren’t filthy rich. They were chosen because they were in the military and had good records.”

“So you gonna enlist when you turn eighteen? We’ll probably still be in that dag gum Vietnam and you’ll go and get yourself killed the first day in the jungle.”

“Nuh-huh. I know how to take care of myself. I hide from you in the woods all the time.” Jessie balled his hands into fists and planted his feet.

Sam stepped between them. “Cool it, Max. If Jessie wants to be an astronaut, then maybe he can be. Lots of things are changing.”

Max snorted. “Yeah, and I could be President.”

“If that happens, then I’m moving to Mexico,” Ricky quipped.

Jessie laughed and unclenched his fists. Yet again Sam had brokered peace without anyone coming to blows. Maybe Sam was the one who would become President.

Sam stepped back. “Let’s head home.”

“Did you hear Mom and Pop got another letter from the government yesterday?” Max asked as they walked along the hard packed sand.

“About what?” Jessie asked, turning up the beach, shuffling through the soft sand to a well-worn path across the dunes. Thick saw palmettos, sea grapes, and sea oats grew on either side of the path, slowly thinning as the boys moved farther from the beach.

“About buying our land. They want to expand the missile complex more. They’ve been buying up all the land around here.” Max swatted at a dragonfly buzzing around his head.

“But they already have so much land, what do they need more for?” Jessie ducked under the wispy needles of an Australian Pine tree, his brothers close behind.

“How’m I supposed to know? I didn’t see the letter, I just heard them arguing about it after we went to bed. Mom wants to take their offer, but Pop doesn’t want to move.”

“I don’t want to move either,” Ricky agreed. “I like being close to the beach and huntin‘ in the woods.”

“I don’t think we have much choice. Sounded like the government letter said we take the offer or they’ll just take the land away from us.”

“They can’t do that,” Jessie cried. “We’ve lived here forever.”

“Not forever, you moron,” Max sneered. “Mom and Pop only moved here during the war, when Pop got assigned to the Banana River Naval Air Station.”

“Still, that’s practically forever.” Jessie let his fingers run through the thin pine needles as they emerged from the copse of trees into a clearing.

“There are families that have lived here since the 1800s and they’re being bought out too. I don’t think the government is going to consider our twenty years here more important,” Sam replied.

Jessie rolled his eyes. Leave it to Sam to know the history of the island.

“But they can’t just take our land,” Jessie insisted.

“Yes, they can, it’s called eminent domain. If they can prove to the court that private property is needed for public use and fair compensation has been offered, the court will likely rule in favor of the government.”

“But this isn’t public use,” Ricky interjected.

“Yes and no.” Sam leaned forward, obviously warming to the subject. “A public park isn’t being created, but the research being conducted and the satellites being launched are for the public good. Plus, the government will probably be able to make a pretty good case for public safety. Think about how close this piece of the rocket landed to our house. The government can use this incident and the others before as evidence of danger to the people still living on this end of the island.”

“All right, professor, we get it, but it still doesn’t mean I want to move,” Ricky interrupted.

Up ahead, Jessie could see the orange grove that bordered their land, and glanced back over his shoulder. He couldn’t see the beach through the trees, but it had taken less than five minutes to stroll home. Sam was right. This one had been a little too close for comfort.

About The Author

Rebekah is a Christian with a heart for new beginnings. She is a Florida native and a graduate of Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Fl. A love of history, research and journaling led naturally to a passion for writing. She enjoys travel and has traveled extensively across the United States and Canada as well as Europe and the Caribbean. Her reading taste run from the classics to light fiction. When she is not working or writing, she enjoys cooking, baking and sharing recipes on her blog.

Her current works include, Summer Storms and Winter’s End, books one and two in The Seasons of Faith series, and Julianne the first book in The Coastal Chronicle series. She is currently working on Jessie a coming of age novel set in coastal Florida during the early days of the United States manned space flight program. Jessie is the second book in the Coastal Chronicles Series.

Buy Rebekah Lyn’s Books

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Email: authorrebekahlyn@icloud.com

Rebekah Lyn Books

Faith-Adventure-Hope

379 Cheney Highway #230 Titusville, Fl 32780

 

Enter the giveaway here

 

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership. They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

 

Sophia’s Secret by Julie Ryan

Today, I have a wonderful suggestion for you! How about an expense-free, hassle-free holiday to a sun-kissed Greek island? You don’t even have to pack! My good friend and fellow author Julie Ryan is giving away FREE today and until Friday the 18th her first novel, Jenna’s Journey. It’s a murder mystery with a good measure of romance, that’s set on a Greek island. How’s that for a blissful escape then? And that’s not all: Julie has just launched  the second book in her Greek Island Mystery Series, Sophia’s Secret. Another girl, another Greek island, another intriguing adventure! So read on, grab your free copy of Jenna’s Journey and let’s also find out all about the new adventure Julie has to offer!

 

FREE ON AMAZON UNTIL FRIDAY THE 18th

Blurb

When Jenna decides on a whim to go to Greece, she’s trying to escape her failing marriage.  Will Greg let her go so easily though? Can she make a new future for herself and how did she get involved in an antiques smuggling ring? Is fellow holidaymaker Tom all he seems and will it be happy ever after with Nikos?  It’s not until twenty-five years later that some of the questions are finally answered.

Read my review of Jenna’s Journey on this blog!
Download it FREE now on Amazon

 

 A new adventure begins this summer…

 

Blurb

This is the second book in the Greek Island Mystery series.  Although each book is intended to be read as a standalone, some of the characters from the first book, ‘Jennas’s Journey’, do make an appearance.

Kat has never understood why she was sent at the age of seven from Greece to live in England with her Aunt Tigi. When she receives an email from her grandmother, the first contact in over twenty years, informing her of her mother’s death, she knows this could be her last chance to find out the truth. Little by little she finds out the shocking facts as her grandmother opens her heart.  It seems everyone has a secret to tell, not only her grandmother, as Manoli, her school friend, also harbours a guilty secret. Then there’s a twenty year old mystery to solve as well as a murder and what happened to the missing Church treasure?

Packed, flown, and nearly there……
Get your virtual ticket here for your magical Greek holiday!

 

 

Bio

Julie was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (hons) in French Language and Literature from Hull University. Since then she has lived and worked as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in France, Greece, Poland and Thailand. She now lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, son and a dippy cat with half a tail. She is so passionate about books that her collection is now threatening to outgrow her house, much to her husband’s annoyance!

She is the author of two novels set in Greece, “Jenna’s Journey” and “Sophia’s Secret” both part of the Greek Island Mystery series. She is currently working on a third book, ‘Pandora’s Prophecy.”

An Interview with Nicholas Rossis, author of the Pearseus Series

Today, I’m honored to present to you a person very close to my heart. It’s my dear friend and valuable beta reader, Nicholas Rossis. What you may not know, is that Nicholas and I are related in a way as well. He’s a Corfiot like me, having family in a village next to mine on the island of Corfu. We share the same set of cousins there, plus his great-grandfather has baptized my granddad! In a country so serious about religion, this almost makes us cousins if not siblings in a way. The craziest thing is though, that instead of meeting him in Corfu all these years, I met him on Twitter just months ago! So without further ado, here’s the man in question and the eagerly awaited sequel to his bestselling Pearseus series!

Yesterday’s crime. Tomorrow’s retribution.

Blurb

In the third book of the best-selling Pearseus series, the incessant scheming of the various players and their nebulous puppet-masters has brought about major change. Cyrus is now the new ruler of the Capital, struggling to fight Jonia’s revolt along with his own demons. Gella strives to keep abreast of Teo’s devious plans in order to end the war with Jonia. David returns to the First in an effort to overcome his loss of the Voice. Lehmor’s struggle to reunite with Moirah brings him to uncharted territories, where the enigmatic Iota play with minds, senses and the future of the entire planet.

Old foes and unlikely new friends appear as invisible forces continue to pry humanity apart. Masks drop to reveal the ultimate truth: on Pearseus, everyone has their own agenda. And they’ll stop at nothing to achieve it.

What people say about Pearseus:

“He simply tells a story of corruption, people struggling as pioneers seeking to do with what they have… The measure of this book is that the triumph is not a textbook description, but a sense of a living struggle.”

“A cross between Game of Thrones and Dune”

“Astonishing, intriguing, thoughtful”

“It will be hard to put this book down long enough to eat and sleep, never mind doing responsible things like going to work and taking care of the kids”

“[It] hits on those big archetypal themes of invasion, loss, leadership, death… and high tech. It gives the reader plenty of material for discussion.”

“Warning: May cause loss of sleep, lowered work productivity, and missed meals”

Hello cuz, and welcome to my blog!

Hi Frostie, it’s a pleasure to be here today!

What has inspired you to write this book?

Pearseus is a sci-fi novel that describes a dystopian society formed on a remote planet by the survivors of a destroyed starship. It picks up 300 years after the accident, when humans have split up in three competing factions, all embroiled in endless intrigue and constant warfare. The planet also has a native population, as well as ethereal entities, all caught up in their own wars, and it all ties nicely together to form “an excellent read from a new writer, that leaves you expecting more,” as a review I’ve memorized put it.

The concept itself came to me after reading Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, followed by Jim Lacey’s The First Clash and Herodotus’ Cyrus the Great and Rise of Persia, which describe the fatal battle on Marathon between Greece and Persia in the 5th century BC. Marathon is a 20’ drive from my home, and I’d often visited the tomb where the ancient Athenians buried their dead, so I thought at the time, “wouldn’t it be great if someone did what Martin did for medieval England, only with the story of Greece vs. Persia? And in space? How cool would that be?” Then it occurred to me: so, what’s stopping me from writing it?

I have a long history of rushing in where angels fear to tread, so I did!

What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

It all started with keeping a dream journal. Some of the stories I recorded were too good not to share. I wrote Simulation Over, my very first story to be published, after a particularly vivid dream. It went on to be published by 9; a Greek sci-fi and comics magazine. When I was paid some $200 for it, I was astounded. So I could do something I loved and get paid? What is this madness?

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

I just published Mad Water, the third book in the Pearseus series, and I’m also penning more short stories, to be published in a second anthology, following The Power of Six: 6+1 science fiction short stories. Finally, I’m having Runaway Smile, my first children’s book, illustrated.

How exciting! Having read Runaway Smile, I know it’s going to be a treat for children of all ages! And I can’t wait to get my hands on more short sci-fi delights from you after having read The Power of Six! Please hurry that, will you? *chuckles* Which are your favorite authors and what do you love about them, Nicholas?

Mostly Philip K. Dick, whom I consider a modern-day prophet, visions and all. Richard Bach, for his brilliant Jonathan Livingston Seagull. William Gibson, for his amazing Neuromancer. Neil Gaiman for breaking down the walls between the various genres and media. Frank Herbert, especially his amazing third book, God Emperor of Dune. Also, I’m partial to Jorge Luis Borges and the magical realism school; they have influenced my work greatly. Finally, Lao Tzu, whose Tao Te Ching I have spent a year translating into Greek. He has influenced not just my writing, but also my way of thinking.

Oh, I also love Philip Dick – what a genius! Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

The thing that’s shocked me most in my life, is the realisation of just how free we really are. If you think about it, there’s very few limitations on us, but the ones we place on ourselves. Of course, one has to pay the consequences of their actions, but to me that’s only fair.

What stops us from doing all sorts of crazy things, is usually fear. Now, fear can be a great thing and a useful tool. However, it can also strangle us, stifle our creativity, steal away our life. If someone decides, even for a second, to ignore the fear of failure, ridicule and loss, they may realize that life is far richer and filled with more beauty and potential than they could possibly imagine.

So, hang on in there, and don’t be afraid of risks! It’s not an easy journey, but it’s the most fun I’ve had so far in my life.

Very profound Nicholas and I couldn’t agree more. Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

I’m very proud of my blog, http://nicholasrossis.me and as a result have spent too much time writing posts, instead of writing my stories! I console myself that writing is writing, though…

I focus on all things of interest to me, namely writing, book marketing and social media tips and my thoughts on the current and future state of publishing. There’s pretty little information on my books, as I believe that my visitors come to read about things relevant to them and their own work. In my mind, it’s a great way to network and I have made some great friends through it.

Rise of the Prince starts with the scene of Styx murdering General Parad’s son and feeding him to his father during a banquet. How easy was it to write that?

I hope I’m not revealing too much if I tell you that the General’s son escapes, and a pig gets slaughtered instead, tricking Styx into believing she is performing this unfathomable act.

In fact, I struggled a lot with that scene. I don’t describe it at all, only Parad’s feelings when he thinks he’s been served his son. Even so, I didn’t want to make it a bigger deal than it already is. You see, the overall story arc is copied from Herodotus, who describes the coming to power of Cyrus, king of the Persians. Styx’s terrible crime is taken straight from that book, and I realize that a lot of people had trouble with that part (myself included), but hey, I blame a long-dead Greek dude.

Having said that, Greek mythology is peppered with similar acts, like Cronus eating his own children, so I grew up listening to such harrowing tales. In my mind, they are not that worse than the Grim brothers’ fairy tales – say, when two children about to be baked by an evil witch kick her into a burning-hot oven.

However, in the latest version of the book, I ended up moving Cyrus’ escape to the very beginning, as a lot of readers did not read long enough to realize the ruse, having freaked out by Styx’s actions!

As to what something like that brings to the story, I think it’s easy enough to answer: emotion. People can’t help but react emotionally to a terrible crime like this.

Of course, it also presents a challenge: Styx could not be more of a villain, if she was a chain smoker. Then, the challenge becomes to let people understand her reasons for her actions, in accordance to what I was saying before, about the need for anti-heroes to have redeeming qualities. In fact, the highest praise a reviewer has given me was to say that she almost felt sorry for Styx.

Your main character is Cyrus. What was the inspiration behind him?

In a nod to Herodotus and his Cyrus the Great and Rise of Persia, I named the second book Rise of the Prince. So yes, in that sense Cyrus is the protagonist. However, he is but one of many, and I find it more interesting to examine the thoughts of each of them, as they perceive things differently to each other.

Cyrus suffers a devastating psychological trauma as a young boy, being dragged from his bed to be thrown into prison in order to be killed because it has been prophesized that he will kill their ruler, Styx. This makes him insecure; a trait he tries to hide, longing at the same time to feel security and to make sure everyone he loves is safe. A trait the Whispers are quick to take advantage of, to push him over the edge when he loses someone dear to him.

As mentioned before, the inspiration behind his story comes from Herodotus, who tells the story of Cyrus, grandson of Astyax, king of the Medes. The king orders him killed as a baby after dreaming that Cyrus will someday destroy him. In what could be a precursor of Snow White, the general who is burdened with carrying out the execution takes instead the boy to a couple of shepherds, who raise him as their own.

Ten years later, the king learns of the deception and pretends to have changed his mind, allowing his grandson to return. He then kills the general’s own son and feeds parts of his body to his father as punishment for his disobedience. When the general hears what the banquet entailed, he hides his rage and simply comments that the meal was as exquisite as everything the king had ever offered him.

As soon as Cyrus grows up, the general approaches him and convinces him to rebel against his grandfather. He then asks the king for the honour of leading the troops against Cyrus. The king, blinded by the gods, accepts and the two armies join forces instead of fighting. Astyax is captured and led to Cyrus in chains, to disappear from history in 535 BC.

This is a truly amazing story! What do you think makes for great fantasy fiction?

Primarily, fantasy authors continue the great romantic tradition of describing the struggle between good and evil. Tolkien is the greatest example of this. People think his fiction is great because of the richness of his world. To me, that is part of it, but his books are great mostly because of the war between Eru Iluvatar, Melkor and their servants. It is no coincidence that Tolkien had been through the second world war, pitting the evil of Nazis against the fight of men.

However, modern fantasy has taken this tradition one step further, and few can pull off such a maniheistic view of the world – good vs. evil. Modern readers tend to be more sophisticated, and I for one frown at a one-sided character, whether good or evil.

So, to me, great fantasy fiction requires well-developed characters. This means that heroes need their flaws, just like anti-heroes must have their redeeming features.

Thank you Nicholas for being here with us today and best of luck with Mad Water! May your readers drink it all in one go, as I’m sure they will!

Lol – thank you for this opportunity, Frostie!

 

Nicholas C. Rossis bio

Author. Avid reader. Web developer. Architect by training, holder of a PhD in Digital Architecture from the University of Edinburgh.

Nicholas loves to write. Mad Water, the third book in his epic fantasy series, Pearseus, was just published, while his first children’s book, Runaway Smile, is currently being illustrated. He has also published The Power of Six, a collection of short sci-fi stories.

He lives in Athens, Greece, in the middle of a forest, with his wife, dog and two very silly cats, one of whom is always sitting on his lap, so please excuse any typos in his blog posts: typing with one hand can be hard…

Book links

Pearseus: Schism, Book 1 in his epic fantasy series is available on http://amzn.to/1aDgXDA
Pearseus: Rise of the Prince, Book 2 in his epic fantasy series is available on http://amzn.to/1jlXLj6
Pearseus: Mad Water, Book 3 in his epic fantasy series is available on http://amzn.to/1wbajhP
You can also read Books 1 & 2 (special edition) on http://amzn.to/RqjNbU and
The Power of Six: 6+1 Science Fiction Short Stories can be found on http://amzn.to/1kKVduI
Also available: Tao Te Ching (translated into Greek) on http://amzn.to/1ovrc4n

Web presence

https://twitter.com/Nicholas_Rossis
http://www.nicholasrossis.me
https://www.facebook.com/NicholasCRossis
https://plus.google.com/+NicholasRossis
https://www.goodreads.com/nicholasrossis

How many comma uses can you name? I got 12!

Consider this simple sentence for a moment:

Woman without her man, is nothing.

Now let’s add a full stop, move the comma and see what happens….

Woman. Without her, man is nothing.

See? This is how important punctuation is when we write. Fellow authors among you will know this painfully well. Some of us even employ professionals to do the proofreading for us, others (like yours truly) employ the kindness and time of friends for this purpose.

When I entered the Indy word, I naively thought that punctuation had no rules and that it was up to me to use commas, dashes, exclamation marks etc as I pleased. Moreover, I wasn’t even aware of the full range of quaint little symbols available that could better my writing. I mean, I wouldn’t have known what an em dash was even if it had escaped the page to strike me right between the eyes! Of course, down the road I soon realized I was wrong to be so blasé about this aspect of writing. After reading a bit on line, and with the gentle guidance of more knowledgeable than me fellow authors, I’ve now managed to bring my writing to a better place, where punctuation is concerned.

If anything, this gave my beta readers a break as I must have hurt their eyes at first pretty bad!

I recently found this article on line about the use of the comma, which I found to be a little gem. Short and concise, yet highly informative and comprehensive, I thought it would benefit my fellow indies. Its author is a freelance editor and writer called Sirra.

Her brief article, titled ‘Comma 101’, covers the infamous serial comma as well as all other typical uses of it, such as in dates, addresses, titles, etc.

 Find this little gem here.

Book Review: Greek Expectations – The Last Moussaka Standing by Ekaterina Botziou

This book has left me with mixed impressions. For one, it’s very entertaining, in the sense that it’s humorous and witty. Plus, the author is very astute and thorough in recounting the characteristics of the stereotypical Greek male and his family. Yet, at the same time, she does this in such fashion that it becomes a fervent rant, rather than a typically humorous account, to the point that in places it borders on the offensive. The other problem with the said rant is that in my opinion, it refers to a rather extinct male species. Allow me to explain:

It is no surprise that the book quotes heavily from the delightful movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. The male Greek, as is portrayed in the book, seems to describe characters from the aforementioned movie. But these characters are caricatures, mere ghosts of a lost era, simply because they belong to Greek society back in the 50s, 60s, 70s max. The difference here is that the characters from the movie seem genuine because they are exactly what they claim to be: Greek emigrants living abroad, whereas the author is generalizing, as to include the Greek males and their families living in Greece today, which is of course a fallacy.

In my experience, the majority of Greek emigrants and their offspring who live abroad today, still see Greece through the rose-tinted glasses of the good old Greek movies of forty-sixty years ago where stereotypes were at their best. Every resident Greek who has family abroad will know what I’m talking about because their emigrant family members seem to be stuck in a time capsule. Whenever they visit Greece, they clash badly with modern Greek society here. They appear so quaint and naïve at times, that the resident Greeks often become frustrated or even offended, as they try to explain that things have changed since they left Greece. For example, their emigrant uncles, aunts and cousins may seem stunned to come across a big mall here or to find out that the local supermarket stocks curry powder or mosquito repellent.

And no matter how many times they come back for a holiday, they still don’t seem to get it. They’re somehow foreign to today’s Greece, just like the shepherd’s ‘tagari’ in the old movie ‘Koritsia Ston Ilio’ and the nostalgic bouzouki chords in ‘Never on Sunday’. Not that there’s anything wrong with all that, it’s just that they have nothing to do with Greek society today.

Having been raised in Athens, I know well that Greek men are nothing like the caricatures of a bygone era portrayed in this book. Not only are they able to choose their own pairs of socks without mamma’s help, but they’re happy to let their wives work while they stay home cooking, hoovering and changing diapers.

As I said, the book’s merit is in its wit and humour, as well as in the astuteness with which all the characteristics of the extinct Greek male are listed. The only problem with this book is a misquotation. It falsely refers to the male Greek in general, when what it does is describe the male Greek emigrant living abroad. As I said, they often appear to be  rather stuck in Greece’s distant past, and therefore I have no trouble believing the author’s claim that all the anecdotes involving her in laws in the UK are absolutely true.

Having explained how estranged I felt towards the aforementioned elements in the book, I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed the memoir parts in it. The author has an amazing talent for relaying old memories that brim with nostalgia, sweetness and the joy of being young and carefree. I think it’s a gift that should be pursued further, as it would be a shame not to put it to good use.

My overall impression of this book is that the author delivers the humour intelligently and wittily. This is why, regardless of my aforementioned grievances, I’m giving this book four stars for the hilarity, as well as for the author’s great use of language and obvious writing talent. Indeed, if there was less rant and more memoir, it would be a gem of a book! I really hope to read such a book from this author in future.

 

My rating:  4 stars
The hilarious portrayal of a quaint,
yet extinct Greek world.

Enjoy humour? Interested in exploring the Greek psyche and culture?

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