Callum McLaughlin's Blog, page 77

City View

Trees in search of bluest sky

given chase by cold, hard steel ���

what have we done?

Diversity in Literature

We need diverse books!

I���ve seen a lot of buzz recently around the ongoing call from writers and readers alike for there to be a broader range of diversity in books, commonly addressed online via the slogan #WeNeedDiverseBooks. Frankly I think it���s an argument that can���t be backed strongly enough so thought I may as well share my two cents on the matter.

There are many different perspectives to look at this issue from. It���s a call as much for publishers to distribute books with diverse characters and from diverse authors as it is for writers themselves to actually create diverse and interesting characters in the first place.

Perhaps it still comes as a shock to some people but not everyone in this world is a white, rich, chiselled, straight man. We need to see female characters taking strong, lead roles. We need to see characters with different ethnicities. We need to see characters with varying sexualities. We need to see characters living with mental disorders and physical handicaps. We need to see them being interesting out with these qualities, not because they adhere to tired stereotypes. We need to see them taking on important roles within the plot; not merely a novelty, there for the sake of it.

More importantly than all of that is why we need to see them. It���s not merely so we can pat ourselves on the back and say our books are diverse; it���s so we can represent what real life is actually like. Just walk down the street and take a look at how diverse the human race is; we should be celebrating it, not shying away.

Do you think books need more diversity?

Where is Home?

Upon a mountaintop so high

where crested eagles soar and fly,

we shall build a house of clay

that no amount of wind could sway.

But thunder cracks and rubble falls;

what good���s a house without four walls?

I���ll look upon your eyes in plea ���

Where is home?

In oceans vast and stalwart blue

where everything feels fresh and new,

we could dive into the depths so deep

that no one but the great whales sleep.

But void of common scales and fins,

we���re doomed by curse of human skins.

I���ll look upon your eyes in plea ���

Where is home?

Fires rage and villains chase;

we tell ourselves we���ll win this race

but still the floods and quakes and rules

chase away these hapless fools,

blinded by cement and brick;

a smoke and mirror worthy trick.

If only I had strength to see ���

Home is by my side.

Indie Book Haul | Part Two

Support Indie Authors

A while back, I did a post about the books I had read by various indie authors, partly because, as one myself, I know the importance of word of mouth and a helping hand when it comes to exposure.

Primarily though, I just love to talk about books and am more than happy to share with you some that you may otherwise not have come across yet. That said; here is an update on the indie authors who I���ve been reading recently. You can find more info on each of the books by clicking on the authors’ names.

Nina J. Lux

Bell Eleven ��� This is book one in a four part series that officially launched very recently but I was lucky enough to get hold of an advanced reader copy. I can tell you this epic fantasy is packed full of brilliant world-building and enchanting characters. It���s well worth a read.

Melissa Barker-Simpson

Hands of Evil ��� Going into this book, I already considered myself a fan of this author and was certainly not disappointed. Her flair for balance between action and character driven plot is wonderful.

Benjamin Grossman

The Land Without Footprints: Shadows Amongst Shadows ��� This book is brutal but breathlessly captivating. Undoubtedly not for the faint of heart, this powerful and utterly memorable book stayed with me long after I finished the final page.

Marcia Meara

Swamp Ghosts ��� Meara���s descriptive prowess was a joy to behold. Her love of nature shines in this clever mix between a tense thriller and a heartfelt romance.

Mishka Jenkins

Prophecy of Stones ��� This accessible fantasy story has everything you would hope for from such a book; grand adventure, exciting battle scenes and endearing characters. It left me feeling highly satisfied and yet wanting more in equal measure.

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What indie authors would you recommend I check out?

Salvation

This piece won���t fit the puzzle

no matter how I try ���

It���s not cut out for this wicked world.

Stories soaring on the wings of torn out pages,

I beg you carry me away

on whispers sang in lullaby.

I���m desperately seeking solace

with a thousand different lives,

in search of bliss in verse

that fills a lonely void.

Introducing: Laekan Zea Kemp

One of my favourite things about blogging is the ability to connect with fellow writers and give each other a helping hand. Along that vein, Laekan Zea Kemp offered me the chance to swap features on our blogs (If you head over to her blog, you���ll find an interview with me and��a feature on my book). It seemed like a fun opportunity and a great way to let people know about each other���s latest release and a little about them personally. So, without further ado, here���s a little Q&A with Laekan about her work as a writer and her new book, The Girl In Between.

When did you first know you wanted to pursue writing?

My entire high school career I thought I was going to major in social work or journalism and save the world but midway through my senior year I had a mild crisis of spirit and realized that I really wanted to be an artist. I’d always loved to read and spent more time with books than people and even though I’d always glamorized the idea of being a writer I’d never actually attempted it. I’d written short stories and really terrible poetry but making the decision to major in Creative Writing was the real turning point for me.

Where did you get the idea for this particular book?

I started working on this novel in April of last year and, to be honest, I can’t really remember where the original idea came from. Probably because I can’t really remember what the original idea even was. I know that it started out as a contemporary standalone and I’d been really interested in exploring dual narrative again but I suppose the story started out the way all of my stories have–with the central relationship. It isn’t always a love story that’s central to my novels but I do like to focus on human relationships, whether that’s familial or within the context of first love. The��characters��always come to me first and the various means of torturing them always comes later.

What part of the writing process did you find the most difficult?

All of it. I’ve written six novels so far and each one has tested me in different ways. Depending on my mood, on the random stress of life, on my strengths and weakness that day that seem to vary as often as my mood, I can be stumped at any point. I re-wrote The Girl In Between from scratch probably six times because I just couldn’t find the story’s true identity but when it came to writing the third novel in the series, the first draft just fell out of me. I wish there was one area that constantly gave me��difficulty��because then I could focus all of my energy on improving it but stories are wild things and it takes something different to tame each one.

What would you say to anyone who is considering taking up writing?

Well, it depends on what you mean by taking up. I think humans are naturally creative beings and would encourage everyone to take up writing or painting or singing or any other creative��endeavour. Creating something from nothing is not only spiritually and emotionally rewarding but it’s a necessity of living a fulfilled life. When it comes to writing as a career, however, I would say that it’s not for the faint of heart. If I were to give any advice to an aspiring artist it would be, number one, to be sure, and number two,��to dive into your passion with a clear vision. It doesn���t have to be glamorous or grandiose, it just has to be clear. In fact the more specific it is the better. So many of us struggle with validating our choice to pursue the arts and because of that sometimes we have a tendency to shy away from the risk and rejection that comes along with it. We toe the line between our dreams and the more practical expectations of the people around us and wonder why we���re unsatisfied. Don���t be afraid to make declarations and definitely don���t be afraid to make them loud enough for other people to hear. Be honest about what you want, regardless of how silly it may seem to others, and do something every day that brings you closer to that goal.

–

The Girl In Between Synopsis:

The Girl In Between

Bryn Reyes is a real life sleeping beauty. Afflicted with Klein-Levin Syndrome, she suffers episodes of prolonged sleep that steal weeks, and sometimes even months, from her life. But unlike most KLS patients, she doesn���t spend each episode in a catatonic state or wake up with no recollection of the time she���s missed. Instead, Bryn spends half her life in an alternate reality made up of her memories. For Bryn, the past is a place, until one day a boy she���s never met before washes up on the illusory beach of her dreams with no memory of who he is.

But the appearance of this strange boy isn���t the only thing that���s changed. Bryn���s symptoms are worsening, her body weakening as she���s plagued by hallucinations even while awake. Her only hope of finding a cure is to undergo experimental treatment created by a German specialist. But when Dr. Banz reveals that he knows more about her strange symptoms than he originally let on, Bryn learns that the boy in her head might actually be the key to understanding what���s happening to her, and worse, that if she doesn���t find out his identity before it���s too late, they both may not survive.

–

You can find the book on Amazon, Goodreads or Barnes & Noble.

–

Laekan Zea Kemp

Laekan is a writer and explorer extraordinaire who grew up in the flatlands of West Texas. She graduated from Texas Tech with a BA in Creative Writing and is the author of the multi-cultural New Adult novels, The Things They Didn’t Bury, Orphans of Paradise, Breathing Ghosts, and the Young Adult novel The Girl In Between, which is the first in an upcoming paranormal romance series.

You can find her on her blog, Twitter, Goodreads or Wattpad.

A Busy Blogosphere

There have been a lot of busy bees here in blog world.

A bit of a random post today but it���s been a great week here on the blogosphere and there���s definitely cause for celebration, as a few of my fellow writers shared some very cool news which got me so excited I just wanted to share it as well.

Not only is S.R. Carrillo���s (insanely good) debut, The Soul, now also available as a hardback ��� That���s right; not eBook, not paperback, hardback ��� but I was also very happy to see the release of Melissa Barker-Simpson���s new book, The Fifth Watcher.

I loved The Soul and it���s not often you see an indie book in hardback form so that was awesome, and as for The Fifth Watcher, having read three of Barker-Simpson���s books already, she���s one of my favourite indie authors and I���ve been anticipating this new release for a long time. I���ve downloaded my copy already and will be hurrying through my TBR pile to get to it ASAP.

What���s more, Jonathan Ojanpera (whose blog I���ve been loving for a while) has a new book that has also just gone live. It���s been a busy old week here on the blogosphere and it���s wonderful to see so much success.

I���ve no doubt missed or forgotten something so if you have any cool writerly news or progress to share, please do so in the comments.

The Promise

Choking on the smoke

of my burnt out dreams,

a lung full of ashes and

a heart full of sadness.

I���d rather be a zero

than promise I���m a hero

and snatch it all away

like your fickle forever.

False Awakening | Book Sale!

False Awakening – on sale now!

Since last week was the official one year anniversary of my first book becoming available and it’s been a little over a month since my new book was released, I’m feeling generous!

So, for the next few days, the Kindle version of False Awakening will be on sale through Amazon, meaning it’s the perfect chance to get a copy for all you bargain hunters out there.

Here’s the synopsis, followed by a brief visual quote to set the tone and hopefully whet your appetite:

–

When teenager Abi Watson wakes in a hospital bed with no memory of the incident that put her there, she must begin the long and difficult process of piecing her life back together, but unfortunately, her search for answers will merely give rise to further questions. Frayed relationships and haunting revelations soon come into play, leading Abi to discover that some things are best left forgotten.

With a past that is unwilling to let go, her only option is to delve into the depths of her own mind so that she can uncover the truth and finally awaken from her living nightmare.

False Awakening

You can find it in the UK by clicking here, or in the US by clicking here. You can also find it on Goodreads by clicking here.

If you enjoy it, I’d absolutely love to hear your thoughts, and a quick review goes a long way towards helping an author out. Happy reading and have a lovely day.

Just For You

Do you see the mighty moon

illuminate a sea of stars?

Those diamonds sparkle just for you.

Do you feel the summer sun

grace your skin with its crystalline glow?

That warmth it oozes just for you.

Do you smell the radiant roses

gift their sweetness to the breeze?

Those flowers blossom just for you.

Do you hear the drip, drip, drop –

the gentle hum of a rainy day?

That music whispers just for you.

And all those favours; all that charm;

I would sacrifice it all,

just for you.