Chamera Sampson: “The Struggle of Me” and the Write to Read Project

After the death of their parents, Derrick and Arriane are whisked away to Maine to live with their aunt. Years later, they find themselves back in their small hometown of Cooper’s Pointe, and residing with their older brother, Lucas. What neither of them knew was that Lucas, who was already slowly heading towards self-destruction when they left, had become far worse than they, or their aunt, could have expected.

Skylar is popular. The idea of popularity has consumed her for years, but the stigma of her past continues to haunt her. When the handsome bully from her younger years- and ex-best friend- comes back into town with a slew of problems of his own, Skylar has to consider her options: get revenge, or learn to forgive?

The Struggle of Me is a touching story highlighting the individual pains of Derrick, Arriane, Skylar, and Lucas. Will they defeat the obstacles that hinder them or will they be defeated by the struggles that bind them.

My review:

“The Struggle of Me” was written by several authors under the Umbrella “Write to Read Project” and it is hard to believe that the segments of the story should have been written by several different authors – so skilled is the editing that it reads just like one story by one author.
17 year old Derrick and his 15 year old sister Arriane come from a dysfunctional family, the details of which we find out more about in the course of the story. Told from changing perspectives we get insight into the thoughts of several characters and we witness how the sibling’s recent move to live with their older brother Lucas alters their life. Derrick struggles to settle in the new school, while it seems that Arriane is happier here, that is until a nasty incident with her addicted brother Lucas.
As to be expected from this premise there is a fair share of teenage angst in this book and despair. One of the achievements is the heartfelt and slightly sad portrayal of the kids’ desire for home and belonging
But, there is also a love interest for Derrick and unexpected support to make this an inspirational and lovely read with a beautiful message of hope that leaves you feel positive and feeling good.
Through the tool of changing narratives and perspectives we can witness different perceptions of the same situation, adding more insight and making this a rewarding reading experience, the sort of book every child from a difficult family background should have read and re-read to not feel alone and hopeless in their situation.
In my eyes this is a great achievement and I hope that many young adults will find access to this story to aid their personal development and healing.
Highly recommended.

Interview with Chamera Sampson:

Tell us about the “Write to Read Project”, how did that come about?

Towards the end of 2011, I was busy writing away on a book of poetry I was compiling as well as doing a lot of reviewing. It felt good being busy, but I needed to do something that made an impact. For months, I fooled around with ideas for charity projects. I don’t know where the inspiration sparked but I figured it’d be so much fun to start a project for charity in an inventive way.

Write to Read started off as an impulsive idea but the goal was always present. I wanted to make a difference in at least one child’s life. I wanted to help one more person gain a love for reading. Unfortunately, many children are not exposed to enough books to gain that appreciation and I knew I couldn’t be the only one who craved the opportunity to serve and help.

There are several writers just for one story. Who are the writers, how did you all meet and who has the final say?

This project started off with almost twenty people, I believe, and grew to add a few more. So many others not credited for the writing of this story helped us think of plot ideas and posted pictures for inspiration. In the end, The Struggle of Me ended up being penned by seven people, and surprisingly, not all of them have aspirations towards a future in writing.

The writers for this project are, in no particular order, Ressa Empbra, Wanda Hartzenberg , Adeeb F., Alishia Ruly, Tanisha Webb, Diara Williams, and myself, Chamera Sampson.

Ressa, Wanda, and Alishia have been my Facebook friends for several years now. I know each of them in this regard only, though I cherish them and their love of books. Adeeb actually helps out on my young adult book review page, Mera’s YA Book List. It is through reviewing that I know most of them actually.

Only Diara and Tanisha I know in person. They were high school friends (and college as well for Diara) and it thrilled me to no end that they decided to help out.

As for who has the final say, I guess that would be me, though throughout the long, arduous process, I took everyone’s comments in mind.

What was it like to write individual pieces and then glue them back together? Was it a logistic nightmare? Describe the process.

Nightmare? Gently speaking, no. It was instead like a slightly unsettling dream, though there were times when I ended up screaming. I remembered this game I used to play in high school. We’d pass a piece of paper around and each student would write a line. It was amazingly fun for such a simple game. I figured we could almost do the same via the internet. Social media is both a blessing and a curse. It helped us out fantastically however. Each of us wrote parts and labelled them part one, two, etc. There was a time when everything became confusing and just all mixed up, but we figured it out in the end.

When it came to making everything connect and flow as one, after the writing was done, I had to make some hard decisions in cutting out some parts of the story and writing new parts.

Luckily, with the editing, I had lots of help from Ressa and Wanda. Both worked wonders on what I’d already edited and we went over the story so many times. I was lucky to have snagged the two for the project’s writing, as both have experience editing, and we all ended up catching the little mistakes.

Why did you choose the story of a dysfunctional family?

It just sort of happened. When we were discussing plots, the idea of some sort of tragedy taking place in the main characters’ lives was a prominent idea. That started off with death. The problem of drug abuse was at first a secondary conflict but prominently came further into light as we free wrote. I was wary of the topic because I have very close family members who struggle with that problem. I write as an escape and I wasn’t sure how I felt about writing about a problem I see every day, but I’m happy I sucked it up and accepted it into the plot.

We all have a little dysfunction in our families and though the problems Derrick, Arriane, and Lucas face may be on the harsher side, I feel that everyone can relate.

Which charity are the proceeds going to?

Proceeds from Write To Read will be donated to the organization, Reading is Fundamental. I love the organization and what they stand for. Here’s an excerpt from their website as they do a much better job at describing what they do than I possibly could.

“Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is the largest children’s literacy non profit in the United States. We prepare and motivate children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. We inspire children to be lifelong readers through the power of choice. RIF provides new, free books for children to choose from and make their own. The seeds of inspiration in these books have motivated children to follow their dreams and achieve their potential. Yes, it seems incredible for a book to launch a life, but it happens every day as hungry, inquisitive young minds reach out and grab hold of the new people, places, and ideas that books bring them.”

You can find out more about the organization at rif.org.

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to writing in the first place?

I’m a mere 21, but I’ve loved writing since I could handle a pencil and paper correctly. I have journals and old word files filled with writings of my youth and I end up smiling every time I read them. There was never the question of should I write creatively. The question was always, should I do so publicly. Of course, I went for it, and though it’s not supporting me yet, it helps me in so many other ways. Every time, I look at my list of published works, I smile. I know that there is something left of me in this world and no one can ever take it away.

Hopefully, some boy or girl will read this and do the same. My biggest wish is to inspire someone for the better. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do that.

Did much change during the writing process or was the story pre-written and strictly laid down beforehand?

Oh, nothing was pre-written. We all just free- wrote. There was a sort of silent path the story was meant to go, which is while after all of the writing was done, I wrote the ending. But the fact that we didn’t plot out the story at all, really, was what made it so much fun. I think it’s also how so many sensitive topics came into play, because we all put a part of ourselves into the story.

What do you like most about writing and what least?

Most writers would say they love everything, and they dislike nothing. We all know that isn’t the complete truth, especially when you are self-publishing.

Editing is a nightmare. There’s always something that you miss. Somehow, I still manage to love it.
It’s all worth it though because you’re creating these people, these worlds, that others are connecting to. People others are falling in love with and as you’re writing, you realize that you are falling in love too. It’s the best feeling in the world, and I hope I never stop feeling it.

Another thing I love is my writer’s hands. I’m laughing as I write this but I love my hands. They are almost always covered in ink, because I prefer writing on paper with pen, and my fingers, they are very strong.

What is your writing environment like?

Different. I have places where I write but I don’t have a particular place. I write a lot of the time on my bed, laying down with a spiral or composition notebook and a pen. When I’m feeling romantic or stereotypical, I write at the table with only the light of the sun pouring through the windows and a never ending cup of coffee or lemon tea. And when I want to write on the computer I sit at the desktop, challenging myself to sit upright, and I type away, usually with light music playing, something from Adele or Katie Herzig.

What is your writing process like?

I like quiet but when I need to be inspired I play music and take a break. I don’t write the same way every time. One thing that is constant however is that I don’t make full plots. I’ll plot out half of the story or none at all. I like to surprise myself. I just go off of my ideas. That’s how the whole Write To Read idea even started and I now have three titles to my name so I’ll say it’s working pretty good for me.

Who are your cover artists?

I design all of my own covers, including the cover of The Struggle of Me. It can be a struggle finding the stock photos but it’s worth it in the end. I get final say on everything and I follow my thoughts. However, shout outs to the amazing Rue Volley, who captured the beautiful picture of model Shannon Morgan for my poetry book, Dreams, Smiles, and Bloody Tears. Shout outs to Lord Ash Photography for the beautiful picture of model Samah for my recently released novella, In My Face. Shout outs to Julie B. of xstockx for the capture of herself and a male companion for the cover of The Struggle of Me.

I try to find new photographers and models for each new work I do and I’ve been fortunate so far.

Who are your favourite authors?

This list could go on forever. However, I can manage to list just a few. Firstly, Sarah Dessen. She writes in a style that will always be seen as beautiful. She inspired me as a young teen and she often touches on subjects that hold an emotional value for me. Then, Sonya Sones, who writes in verse. I have plans for several novels in verse and she is my inspiration.

Then, there’s Cassie Clare, new to my list, there’s poet Pablo Neruda, Stephanie Perkins, Aprilynne Pike, Kelley Armstrong, and of course, William Shakespeare. This list would be way too long to continue.

What and / which book would you take on a lonely island?

Just one? How can I ever decide? Can I bring my Kindle?

Who are your favourite indie authors?

Love this question! Can I say myself? Just kidding, but I have to say Nadege Richards, Alivia Anders, Sarah M. Ross.

I love these girls! I’ve been big into NA lately and I love Tammara Webber’s Easy. I’m in love with the writing of Dalya Moon, Anna Adams, and Tess Oliver. In fact, I love them so much that I would Kindle lend my copies of their works to anyone who asked.

What are you reading at the moment?

I just finished “Destined” by Aprilynne Pike last night. It scares me how she writes. I sometimes thinks she knows about a secret world of fae and trolls.

This morning, I finished “Between Friends” by Amanda Cowen for an upcoming blog tour, and today, I’m going to start Abby McDonald’s YA novel, “Getting Over Garrett Delaney”.

What else would you like us to know about you and your projects?

Mainly, I want everyone to know that I write not only for myself but also for them, and I have no plans of stopping anytime soon.

For The Struggle of Me I want everyone to know that I hope they buy it, even over all of my other works. I’d love to be able to at the end of these two years, hand RIF a big fat check to buy new books for children.

Also, The Struggle of Me and In My Face are only .99 cents for e-readers. Dreams, Smiles, and Bloody Tears is only 1.99.

What are you working on right now?

I have two projects I’m working on publishing this year. One is a fantastical, action novel that I’ve been working on for about two years entitled Wanted and the other is a slightly paranormal, contemporary novel (it makes sense in my head) entitled Inked. Coincidently, both of these could fit into the New Adult category, not because of overly sexy scenes but because the main characters are all around my age, and are trying to find themselves. I began writing them both before NA became as popular as it is now. I’m hoping everyone will love these two projects. I have lots of other things started but it’s too early to mention them all. I can however mention that I am also working on a YA novel in verse, entitled Plain Jane, about a high school girl who feels like she’s less than she actually is. Also, the second Write To Read project will be a collection of poetry from a lot of different writers and is as of now untitled. It should be out this year.

When and where will we be hearing about it?

You can find out about all of these projects and more on my author blog, Chamera Writes at

http://chamerawrites.blogspot.com/

Short Biography:

Chamera Sampson was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1992. An avid reader, she always had a fond love of the written word. From an early age, her love manifested into poems, stories, and plays. She is a book reviewer and blogger for Mera’s YA Book List, and loves talking to other book fanatics. She is currently attending university in her hometown. When she is not writing or doing course work, she reads, blogs, and makes silly videos with her friends and siblings for Youtube.

LINKS:

FACEBOOK- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chamera-M-Sampson/285850854776844?ref=tn_tnmn

AMAZON- http://www.amazon.com/Chamera-M-Sampson/e/B008L3M7FE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1368469031&sr=1-3

GOODREADS- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5822550.Chamera_Sampson

Rivka’s War by Marilyn Oser

Russia, 1914. Rivka, daughter of a prosperous boot maker, seems destined by tradition for marriage and the humdrum rounds of shtetl life.

Then war breaks out, and things go badly for the tsar’s army. When demoralized troops begin deserting their posts in the trenches, one unlikely officer recruits a battalion of girls to set an example for the men.

Rivka seizes upon this chance for adventure as her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something great in the world. She signs on, never suspecting the terrors that await her, or the trials that will test her, or the mishaps that will take her from the frozen steppes of Siberia to the hot, dusty hills of Palestine.

Based on actual events, Rivka’s War is a riveting tale of loss and survival. In vivid detail, it portrays the impact of the Great War on Jewish life, re-creating a vanished world.

“A figure steps forward from history and shows herself to be a strong and courageous character. In Rivka’s War, Marilyn Oser gives us a hero to cheer. A thoughtful and inspiring novel.” (Susan Isaacs)

My Review:

I requested to read and review “Rivka’s War” from the publisher because of my interest in World War I and Eastern Europe.
Rivka is a young Jewish woman living in Russia during World War I. Russia is undergoing its messy Revolution, with Tsarist and Communist Governments laying claim to the country. Being Jewish complicates matters as does the changing battle line.
Rivka joins the army against all warnings and begins her complicated journey through Europe and Asia.

The book has an amazing story to tell and covers a huge amount of historic details and lesser known facts. Oser has given the times an authentic and realistic feel, backed up with meticulous research and knowledge, a great sense for the time and its people. I have read and researched the history of that period myself and am impressed with Oser’s results.

Army life for women, the opposing forces in revolutionary Russia, the tough choices for anyone in the border territories but especially the Jewish people and the last parts about Palestine were incredibly informative and enjoyable. People forget how long before Hitler and World War II Jews have been subjected to persecution and random acts of violence, the long tradition of pogroms in Russia and Oser tops it all with several details about the British interest in Palestine and the Middle East.

The book is well written and kept my interest easily. The many new directions and locations the author took me to made this a very rich reading experience.

Interview with Marilyn Oser

Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you have come to be a writer. Is Rivka’s War your first book?

It seems to me I’ve always wanted to write, though there were long periods in my life when I failed to recognize that pressure inside me as the need to do so. There were other needs—food, clothing, shelter—that kept me from indulging in fiction, though I’ve spent my working life engaged with words and story as a teacher and a grant writer. Rivka’s War is my second novel to see the light of day; there are a couple of others in the drawer, one which ought to stay there, and one which ought to come out. Playing for Keeps, my first novel, was written with a partner, Mary Lou Kallman, with whom I also wrote some non-fiction.

What inspired you to write this story? Why are you so fascinated by World War I?

This book had its kernel years ago, when I was in high school; it came out of conversations with my parents. My mother, when I tried to condemn her for not having taken in a child or in some other way worked to mitigate the Holocaust, was bewildered by my attack. “But there were always pogroms,” she said. Her family had escaped from Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution, at the time of the Russian civil war. Her remark about pogroms haunted me, and writing this novel has been a way of understanding it. As for my father, his recommendation that I write a term paper on Georges Clemenceau was the catalyst that set off my lifelong fascination with the First World War. I’ve been reading about it ever since. A few years ago, I discovered Maria Bochkareva’s autobiography, Yashka – [Yashka was the officer who formed the all-female battalion] – and the novel began to grow. .

Your characters cover a lot of territory, from Siberia to Palestine, did you know the story would go in this direction in advance or did it come to you as you were writing?

I set out to write a short story about the eastern front, and when I got to a hundred pages realized that the story was going to go in directions I hadn’t foreseen.

Have you been to Russia or Palestine?

I’ve visited Israel three times, touring all parts of the country and volunteering in the schools. I have been to Russia once, when I visited St. Petersburg and Moscow. I would like very much to go to Ukraine and visit Kiev and Odessa. Somewhere near Kiev, my family’s silver was buried in a yard that has probably been paved over by now. There’s a short story on my website about it.

How did you do your research?

I’ve been reading about World War One for so long that it’s part of my consciousness. Specifically, for this book, I’ve relied on Yashka, My Life as a Peasant, Exile and Soldier, Ansky’s The Enemy at His Pleasure, Martin Gilbert’s history and maps, and a host of other journalists, historians, cartographers and memoirists. I have a large collection of books at home, an excellent library near me, and access to the Internet, with its vast resources. The problem often is not how to do the research, but how to stop doing the research and get on with the writing.

What was the best and the worst about writing the book?

The hardest is always getting that first draft down on paper. I find each successive draft more fun. When I get to the stage of blackballing individual words that are perfectly serviceable, but not quite just right, I’m having the time of my life.

How long did it take you and how many rewrites did it take?

About two and a half years. Four major rewrites, with lots of tinkering in between.

What is your writing environment like?

I write at home, longhand. I have a study where I gather research materials, but I often choose the living room couch or some comfortable chair. If I’m having a particularly bad time trying to concentrate, I go to the library and sit in one of the quiet study rooms, so that I’ll have no distractions.

How do you edit and quality control your books?

I want them to be perfect, so it’s endless.

How did you come up with the characters? I understand some of them are based on real people?

Many of the characters—politicians, generals, soldiers—are based on real people, and wherever possible, I’ve used their own words. Rivka and her family come out of my imagination. My website lists which characters are based on real people.

Did you have any other people in mind when you wrote them, e.g. family or film stars?

Yashka’s personality, as I read it, reminded me of someone I knew. Upon first meeting, I was beguiled by that person’s charm and vitality. She was larger than life, and I found myself prepared to sacrifice some part of myself for her and her cause–a charitable cause that I cared about. I remained in thrall to her for longer than seems possible to me now, because she was the most infuriating mix of solipsism and kindness.

Who would play them in a film?

No idea. Whaddya say we leave the choices to Steve Spielberg?

What would you say is the central message of your book, or your main reason to tell this story?

I think you’ve captured those very well in your review, which is one reason I like it so much.

Do you think Russia has become a more tolerant place in the last century? Has the world as a whole?

I do not. I think the propensity for human beings to go dangerously awry is always there. I’m amazed when things turn out for the best, as sometimes they do. That’s my head talking. My heart is always hopeful, nonetheless.

Who are you favourite authors/ influences/ favourite books?

My favorite authors are mostly nineteenth-century novelists—George Eliot, Trollope, Melville, James. Among contemporary writers I admire Marilynne Robinson, Ann Patchett, Grace Paley, Pat Barker and a host of others. The writer whose work has pleased me all through my life is Nathaniel Hawthorne. (Go figure.)

What is your next project and where would we be able to find out about it?

I’m working on a book set on the Western Front. It still has quite a way to go before publication. Watch my website for further information.

What else would you like us to know about yourself and the book?

World War I is little known or understood in the United States. Yet it was a disastrous war, ending in a disastrous peace, the consequences of which are still being felt today. War is by its nature lawless, and anyone involved in it is always hemmed in by chaos. As individuals and societies, we quickly forget what war is like when it’s far away in time or distance, when we are not directly touched by it. We forget the havoc we cause to others, and to ourselves. We wonder what war—any war—is about. But once it starts, it’s about itself. It’s about winning. We need to be aware of war’s horrors before we go off in a blaze of patriotism. I think fiction helps us do that.

Links:

I write a blog at streetsofisrael.wordpress.com. Weekly posts reveal the people behind the street names in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and elsewhere.

My website:

My biography can be found there, along with a peek into Rivka’s War, a short story, book club questions for Rivka’s War and contact information.

Rivka’s War on Goodreads

Rivka’s War on Amazon.com

Rivka’s War on Amazon.co.uk

I’m active on Amazon Author Central

Marilyn Oser lives in New York’s Hudson Valley and on Long Island. A Ph.D. in language and literature, she has taught English and history and has raised funds for arts, environmental and community organizations. Author of the novel Playing for Keeps and the blog Streets of Israel, she is a recipient of the University of Michigan’s coveted Avery Hopwood Prize for excellence in writing.

“Liam and the Grump” by Graham Austin-King

When Liam’s father tells him to control his temper Liam goes one step further and pulls it right out of him. Unfortunately Liam’s temper doesn’t want to be controlled and would rather have fun. Follow Liam and the Grump through the mayhem as he tries to get it back under control. A fun story for all ages showing how we all can struggle to control our temper.

My review:

“Liam and the Grump” by Graham Austin-King is a truly wonderful book for children. I rarely read and review these books because I neither have children nor am a big fan of the genre, but the title made me laugh and so did the entire book.
It has a great concept / idea behind it and is full of really amazing illustrations that make the entire story even more enjoyable.
His father wants Liam to get rid of his bad temper and when Liam does, it isn’t quite as they had hoped it would turn out. A wonderful parable how we want children to be perfect but they might lose their charm or wouldn’t be the same. This little gem is written with sense of humour, charm and love for children. I grinned throughout the entire reading and hope the author is going to come up with more great ideas like this, if not a couple of series. I could easily see the grump becoming a popular series. Very entertaining for children and adults alike.
——

From other reviewers:

Amazing character writing! I love how Liam learns with his father, and through his father, but also with the help of the mummy. What a great story of responsibility, actions, and anger-management for little fella’s or misses. LOVE this story!
5 of 5 stars!
——
Sarah Heseltine really made the illustrations in this book pop! The Grump came alive for me in her art!….
I love the fact that the story is infused with a moral and a coping mechanism and I adored the very last sentence. The End? Indeed.
Have 5 * for the story and the illustrations.
WaAr
—–
Kudos to Mr. Graham Austin-King for creating this delightful, entertaining and educational story.

Interview with Graham Austin-King:

Graham, tell us a little about yourself and your family situation. Is Liam based on any of your children by any chance, or are you the child with the temper?

Hi Christoph, I am married with four kids and live in Kent in England. Liam is actually my six year old son and the core of the story was developed between us whilst walking to and from his school. That said I think that we all have our Grump and we all need to know how to deal with it. I certainly can be a miserable grump until I’ve had my morning coffee!

How did you come to writing at all and how did you come up with the story?

I’ve been writing for years. I, like most writers, have a collection of truly abysmal efforts locked away that I wouldn’t dare show anyone. The children’s writing came later in life and I wrote a few stories for my step-kids in my previous marriage. This book came from an attempt to get Liam to try laughing at himself to control his temper.

The story gels so well with the pictures. How did you connect with the illustrator?

Once I had the core of the story produced I sent it out to numerous agents and publishers and didn’t have much success. To be fair I received some wonderfully constructive criticism which enabled me to tweak the book, I think it’s a much better tale now. I had almost given up when I had a deeper look into Amazon’s self publishing through kindle and thought I had better find myself an illustrator. I posted an ad on an internet site and Sarah was one of about twenty who contacted me and sent sample graphics through. We actually work really well together although I tend to crack the whip and she stalls and strives for perfection. We spoke at length about each image and I think the results are not bad at all.

Did you have any influence on the process of design at all?

I described Liam and also the Grump but Sarah put her own spin on my ideas. The various incarnations of the Grump are all Sarah’s own. She really did a great job.

Will there be more of Liam and the grump or do you have different ideas for your next book?

I have a little girl called Naomi who has been promised her own story and so “Naomi and the Lost Smile” is my current project. That said I’ve been asked by many of the kids I field-tested the book on to produce a sequel so there are things on the horizon.

Where would we be able to find out about it, do you have a website or blog?

I have a website, I am also pretty active on Facebook and you can find Liam and the Grump there on it’s own page.

Why did you decide to self-publish? Did you find the process satisfactory?

Mainly due to the sheer time and frustration involved in approaching agents and publishers. I approached quite a few and nobody really enjoys repeated rejections. There is an economic element as well since a fair number of people in the industry will still only accept hardcopy and the price of stamps adds up after a while.

I found self-publishing to be relatively painless. The formatting and layout made me scream several words that will never make it into a children’s book but then I am not an expert in that field so it was to be expected. What I didn’t expect is the sheer effort it takes to get the ball rolling even a little in terms of marketing and publicising the book – that can be quite disheartening.

What is the experience like for you so far – what were your highlights?

The highpoints have definitely been seeing the book come alive in both kindle and paperback editions. There is nothing quite like holding your own book for the first time. I had a bit of a hiccup with Amazon and for some reason ended up on the bestseller list for large print children’s books. That was a great high-point and great exposure for me.

I read somewhere that your influences were Julia Donaldson, Eric Carle, Robert N. Munsch. What adult books do you read?

Patrick Rothfuss is my favourite modern author. He has produced two thirds of the best fantasy series I have ever read. The writing is just amazing and it carries over into his blog as well, I would love to be half the writer he is. Other than that I am fairly eclectic – everything from horror to legal drama including everything in between.

Do you have any favourite indie authors?

I don’t differentiate, we’re all just storytellers.

Which book would you take on a lonely island?

Can’t I take my kindle and a solar charger?

What else would you take if you had one more item permitted?

My wife.

Which author or famous person would you like to meet and why? (apart from Steven Spielberg to discuss a film version of your book)

Patrick Rothfuss to get some writing tips.

Would you prefer animation or real life for the film version?

Animation. They did a great job with The Gruffalo

Any idea who should play the father character?

Haha I think I’ll wait for the film deal.

How do you write? What is your environment like?

Quickly! I have a house full of small kids and so if I don’t get the ideas down on paper quickly then they are gone. I tend to make up the bare bones of the story whilst out walking and then get them down fast. Then go back and flesh out and tweak over several sessions

Do you need total silence or do you have music?

Ah silence…. I miss silence!

How long did it take you to write the text? Was that written before the illustrations?

The bare bones of the text was thrown down in about two hours flat. After that I had about five hours of tweaking. Then once I had found Sarah we had to rework the text to work well with the graphics. All in all I would say it took about two months not counting the time waiting for Sarah to work her magic.

Do you find the children’s book market competitive or playful?

It’s definitely competitive.

So far your book is doing incredibly well in the ratings (as it should). How did you approach reviewers and publicists?

My wife ran across a group on Facebook that reviews books. I’ve had a lot of offers for paid reviews as well which I don’t agree with at all.

Links:

Graham Austin-King

http://www.GrahamAustin-King

https://www.facebook.com/LiamAndTheGrunp (not a typo sadly)

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068395.Graham_Austin_King

https://twitter.com/GrayAustin

Sara Heseltine, the Illustrator:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Heseltine-Illustration/416806221742679

8 Five Star Reviews for Sebastian

Three weeks ago I published my second Novel Sebastian

http://www.christophfischerbooks.com/news/

Thanks to some very kind people I have managed to get 8 FIVE STAR REVIEWS FOR “SEBASTIAN” during that time.

Here are some excerpts from the reviews:

The strength of this author lies in the choice of his characters, a large ensemble cast around the title character Sebastian. Each of them seems to represent a different class, a social or an ethnic group of the melting pot that is the Habsburg Vienna of 1913. The family shop with its wide selection of goods and changing staff serves almost as the perfect symbol for the forced Austro-Hungarian state that has run its cause. With much research gone into the setting Fischer however focuses more on the human side of his characters and their conflicts. As before, he never points the finger or favours one group in particular but manages to give a great and authentic feel of the times. Self-doubt and a fear of the future oozes out of most his characters, particularly the physically fragile Sebastian and his family.
It seems the old generation is holding on to what they know and what is slipping through their fingers; the young ones are unsure how to be themselves in a modern world where old values are becoming meaningless and their own initiative and expertise will be needed.
With a hint of irony and a love for sentiment and nostalgia Fischer portrays the stubborn heroes, the errant and self-defeating and often silly ways in which the characters trod along in their search for happiness, be that seances, amateur psycho-analysis or risking all for a piece of the past.
This second part of his trilogy is less intense in terms of historic background and has an easier flow of writing. Greatly evolved Fischer gently shows the falling apart of the old order, showing some of the innocence of the time. After having first written a book about the brutal times that follow this is a daring concept that fortunately paid off. Just like the leg amputated Sebastian has to learn to walk through life with what he has left, so will the new shrunken state of Austria need to find a new stance in a changing Europe.
Having read in an interview that the story is based on his own grandfather makes the story all the more touching and a small piece of history come alive.

*****

when I stumble upon a gem like Fischer, I become a pretty fanatical fan. Character pieces are underrated and under appreciated in this world, and Fischer so brilliantly reminds us why the classic literary novels are, in fact, classics.

The characterizations in this book are amazing. Not just Sebastian, either, but every single person making an appearance in this book has their own, rich, separate lives. I lost myself instantly in the description and the plot. The journey was swift, but it was rich and i could see the streets in my head. I could see the time period so richly, and with every page my heart went out, terrified for the worst and hoping for the best….

writers as brilliant as Fischer, who brings back that amazing story-telling without having to give their characters unrealistic beauty and superhuman abilities.

… Fischer reminds us that everyone is flawed, but it’s because of that, that we are such a beautiful species.

*****

… a marvellous and well-crafted story … that takes twists and turns along with the plots and subplots to help define a character that goes from being weak to growing an inner strength and beauty. Sebastian’s story is the story of his family, the women who enter his life and the war that surrounds and defines them all.

…Sebastian’s story is a metaphor for lives thrown into turmoil because of war and what war does to individuals separately and as citizens. It is a story of how the human condition and stresses become heightened and exaggerated when threatened by personal and geographic political evils. This is a story of great compassion and selfishness, of jealousy and love, of loss and risking, of having material and losing it all, of families and finding out what is important, of loyalty and betrayal. It is a story that runs deep in all of us, with emotions displaying what it is to be human. It is a story of every man and every woman with themes and messages that any reader can relate to, right down to the surprise and unexpected ending, which is how we do live our lives, after all is said and done.

This intelligently and sensitively crafted story pulls the reader in, pulls at our heart strings, and keeps us glued to the page, long after the last one is closed, and the memory of Sebastian lingers, one that won’t be easily or readily forgotten. I loved Sebastian.

*****

…exceptional account of this kids life … This is one book I would recommend to anyone that likes to read historical fiction. I had previously read, “The Luck of the Weissensteiners,” and this story is definitely showing the development of his writing skills. He’s becoming quite good I feel.

*****

In essesance this book is about prophecies and personal beliefs that hinders and shape our characters in ways unexpected. Self-fulfilling prophecies makes Sebastian loose his girlfriend and unborn child? His own family has little to do with this particular set of events but in their own way, with their own beliefs they set events in motion!

Most of this book is about growth, and the ending was filled with hope! I kept wondering if these peoples lives would have turned out better if their inner dialogues and belief systems were positive instead of paranoid and negative! What I liked best? The way the story made me think and the setting in Vienna that gave me a glimpse into unexplored territory for me.

*****

Sebastian is about the trials and tribulations of one family, about loyalty, about human failings, and the inner strength it takes to get through difficult times.

The author weaves a clever tale using subplots and character development to include the women who come and go in Sebastian’s life and the approaching war that defines the time period … with his textured storyline and vivid characters … a true gift from a superb author.

*****

Sebastian takes the reader through a wide variety of characters that grow, learn and evolve as the story unfolds. The historical background is masterfully woven to set the reader in the time frame.
The story has very entertaining metaphysical aspects, historical flow and a wide range of the universal feeling of love.
Mr. Fischer secures a place with this second book as a great story teller who knows how to tug at our heartstrings while taking us in a journey before during and after WWI.
On a personal note I absolutely loved the way he tied everything up in the uplifting ending.

*****

just one more page then chapters later I was still reading. The characters make you you feel what they are living through and the depths of their characters. Descriptions of Lvov so well written that I could see places that were described. I see its a Trilogy and can’t wait for the next book.

*****

Meet J.H. Glaze, the writer that got me to read Horror and enjoy it

J.H.Glaze just released “Send No Angel” but I am also going to talk about his short stories

My review of Send No Angel:

“Send No Angel” by JH Glaze is the third in his series about John Hazard, who was a policeman in “Spirit Box”, then hunted Aliens in “NorthWest” as part of a Paranormal investigation bureau, of which he is still a part of in “Send No Angel”.
The story begins with two parallel narratives telling of separate gas fires being set but then the book takes us back to where “NorthWest” left us off, eight days prior to the fires. John and the survivors of his team return home after they have successfully mastered their challenges, but John’s girlfriend, Emily Sparks, has been on the run from some gangsters before joining John’s team and will need to face this dilemma now that they are returning back home. With some powerful help from John’s rich friend, Frank, they set out to rid Emily of the constant threat to her life.
The connection to Frank however drags the Paranormal Investigators into a new adventure involving a portal that soon has Frank trapped in a different world, full of spirits and monsters, and it is John and Emily’s turn to go on a rescue mission.
SO far for the plot as I can tell you without spoiling the experience.

Once again Glaze writes his story in great prose of at times almost literary quality without this interrupting the easy flow or getting in the way of the ‘fun’ element of the book. The characters, human and non-human, are entertaining and creatively chosen. There is some great humour in this story and a lot of action and suspense all the way through.

I personally loved the monsters in the other world best and I must admire the powers of Glaze’s imagination as he describes this new dimension or sphere. As the rescue mission is in progress there are a lot of hairy moments and nail biting situations that kept me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath.
What pleased me most about this book however was that once more Glaze changed direction and made this instalment so different from the two before. There are references to the previous books but instead of following an easy and by all means probably rather successful formula Glaze never repeats himself. The great ideas of book one and two could easily have made for a series on their own but it seems that Glaze prefers to take his cast to new adventures instead. With that in mind it is possible to sit back and enjoy the fun ride – or scare ride, not having to worry about predictability and repetition.
My only complaint is that this book was published today and I will most likely have to wait for some time before I get the next book in the series in my hands.

My review of The Horror Challenge III:

I only recently discovered Jeff Glaze and his brand of horror. Hooked on his writing and aware that this was the last of his books that I hadn’t read yet I waited for an entire week before allowing myself to read it. This series of flash stories rely on a stranger to name a topic or prop that the author then incorporates into a short story.
I was told that the stories of the Horror Challenge were getting better with each instalment and – although I didn’t think it possible – they were indeed. Well, not strictly better – the other two books are superb – , but once again each story was original and creative enough to be distinguishable as a work of art in its own right.
Whether it was a fascinating take on Voodoo, an almost amusing twist on the “kissing a frog” theme, a vegan’s lifetime ambition fulfilled other than he had expected – the stories all take unexpected turns or turn out somewhat differently from what one expects.
While truly scary and gory at times there is also a lot of wit and humour in some of these stories, making the book a very worthwhile read.
I am sorry to repeat what I have written in other reviews on Glaze, but his writing style and command of the language are outstanding and almost wasted on stories that could easily be enjoyed on the strength of their plot and subjects alone. Having the added bonus of the strong narratives and the well developed characters – achieved in such a short space of time – makes this another book I would like to recommend to all fans of the genre and those curious to give it a try at least once.
Sir – I want more!

My Interview with the author:

Q. When do you know when a story has the potential for a whole book or when the idea is better in a short story?

A. The ideas are developed according to the purpose. Foe example, The Horror Challenge stories are specifically meant to be shorts. They are based on suggestions from fans. My novellas are my ideas that I know I only want to write something short on. My John Hazard series is written on a concept that I then develop into a novel. The Novels allow me to pursue the longer adventure and I try to weave a lot of stories into them along the way. You may notice as I introduce characters in my novels, they are usually stories in themselves.

Q. Tell us about the Horror Challenge, how did that come about?

The Horror Challenge idea was developed to interact with my fans. I wanted to do something special that involved them. The first idea was to use them as characters in my stories. Since there are not usually many characters in the stories, it is easier for me to let them assign the topic. Not only does this involve my fans in my work, it is an excellent exercise in creativity.

Q. How did you come up with John Hazard, the hero of several of your books. He is going through a lot of changes. Did you have a vision of him and where his life was going to go before you even started or how did his career develop?

When I started writing The Spirit Box, I knew the villain was the spirit within the box. I needed a hero and John Hazard was created. His personality was first developed to show his character flaws, to make him human. I never meant to write a series when I started, but John seemed to be a dynamic character and I envisioned that if he became a Paranormal Investigator, he could have many more adventures, and he will…

Q. What do you like most about John? Why did you choose him?

A. What I like most about John is he is a no nonsense guy. For example, in NorthWest when Raj breaks his ankle and John leaves him, he knows that to try to carry the guy would slow them down to the point that all of them would be killed. You might not like his decisions sometimes, but often you know he is right.

Q. What would he say about you?

A. I think John would ask me why I write him as I do. I would tell him that a part of him is me. The GOOD part!

Q. Who else are characters in your books that you hold dear – and why?

A. Anybody is expendable, except Emily for now. Parts of Emily come from my wife Susan, and I like working with her character. I like to make her sensitive, but strong. Sometimes she is scared and I hide it from the reader, just as people do. Emily will be around for a while!

Q. How do you balance writing and promoting your books?

A. There is no balance. 10% of my time is spent writing – 90% promoting. Without the promoting part I would have no audience. I love writing, but if no one was reading it, it would not be as much fun. I love talking to fans. I love their feedback and ideas. Let me ask you, if a writer publishes a book in a vacuum, will anybody know it? Will anyone care? Will they keep writing? Probably not!

Q. I am quite a fan of your style and linguistic skills (and of Susan’s editing).
What is your background in writing?

A. I never went to school for it, but I have always had an active imagination and wanted to do something with it. It wasn’t until 2009 that I decided it was time to try and write a book, or give up the dream of ever doing it.

Q. What are the dynamics with an editor you are married to?

A. We mostly agree on things, she knows me well enough that she knows my voice and when something needs a bit more work. I always tell folks that I write the stories, but she cleans up my mess.

Q. How did you come to writing in the first place?

A. I used to write a lot of poetry when I was a kid. I wanted to be a journalist after High School, but ended up hitch hiking around the country instead of going to school for it.

Q. Does much change during your writing or is the story pre-written in your head?

A. I tried using an outline on the first book. Halfway through I tossed it. I just start writing with a concept and my story writes itself, my characters take me on the journey. I just document it.

Q. Would you say your books have messages beyond pure entertainment?

A. Yes, but not by design. Forced intelligence has a message of knowledge without context, and one of the animal’s points of view. The Life We Dream contains a lot of my own perspective of the meaning of true love, and the impact love has on us, even when it seems an impossible dream.

Q. What do you like most about writing and what least?

A. I love telling stories. I hate that I can only type with 3 fingers!

Q. What is your writing environment like?

A. I can write anywhere, but my favorite places are in coffee shops or on public transportation.

Q. What is your writing process like?

A. I sit down and start writing. Then I get up for a smoke. Then I write some more. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Q. Who are your cover artists?

A. I do all of my own cover art. I tried to work with an illustrator once, but he kept telling me he would be starting the work soon, but he never did start it.

Q. Who are your favourite authors?

A. My favorite authors are the ones who are not afraid to push the envelope in their story. Since I read for entertainment, I like a good crazy tale. A few that have inspired me are:

Brian Keene
David Wong
Jeffery Thomas
Whitley Streiber
Taylor Anderson

My friends:
Christoph Fischer
Willow Cross
Jennifer Malone Wright
K. B. Miller

Thank you so much for having me on your blog!

The pleasure was mine.

Here are some more links:

J.H. Glaze on Amazon.com
and Amazon.co.uk
on Goodreads

New reviews for Sebastian [and for The Luck of the Weissensteiners]

This is one fantastic review for Sebastian on Goodreads:

The choice of his characters in this second book in the series is the first thing that amazed me in this book, a large cast of people from all walks of life in the Capital, grouped around the title character Sebastian and his family grocery shop. Each of them seems to represent a different class, a social or an ethnic group of the melting pot that is the Habsburg Vienna of 1913. The family shop with its wide selection of goods for all minorities and with its ever changing staff serves almost as the perfect symbol for the Austro-Hungarian state that has run its cause and is held together only by a thin thread. Despite the well researched setting Fischer keeps the spotlight more on the human side of his characters and their conflicts than on politics and history as such. As in his previous work he never points the finger or favours any one group in particular. He gives us more an overall and rather authentic feel of the era. Self-doubt and fear of the unknown future oozes out of most his characters, particularly the physically fragile Sebastian and his family.
The old generation is holding on to what they know despite the fact that old remedies do not fit the new situation; the younger people are equally unsure how to be themselves in a modern world where old values are becoming meaningless and their own initiative and expertise will be needed.
With a hint of irony and a love for sentimental nostalgia Fischer portrays the stubborn heroes, the errant and self-defeating and often silly ways in which the characters trod along in their search for happiness, be that seances, amateur psycho-analysis or risking all for a piece of the past.
This second part of his trilogy is less intense in terms of historic background and has an easier flow of writing. Greatly evolved Fischer gently shows the falling apart of the old order, showing some of the innocence of the time. After having first written a book about the brutal times that follow this is a daring concept that fortunately paid off. Just like the leg amputated Sebastian has to learn to walk through life with what he has left, so will the new shrunken state of Austria need to find a new stance in a changing Europe.
Having read in an interview that the story is based on his own grandfather makes the story all the more touching and a small piece of history come alive.

*****

This [Sebastian] is a really exceptional account of this kids life that is set just before the start of WWI. I really empathize with him and what he goes through. It’s difficult for me to imagine going through life missing a leg but it does keep him from getting caught up the meat grinder of trench warfare that is soon to come. This is one book I would recommend to anyone that likes to read historical fiction. I had previously read, “The Luck of the Weissensteiners,” and this story is definitely showing the development of his writing skills. He’s becoming quite good I feel.

*****

Luck of the Weissensteiners – Book 1 in The Three Nations Trilogy by Christoph Fischer is an amazing story of love, friendship, family values, faith, death, prejudice, fear, loyalty, sacrifice, struggle, and survival. The story unfolds in Bratslavia in 1933 before the official start of WWII (although the first inklings of unrest can be clearly felt). In a bookstore is where we meet the main character, a sweet & very naive Greta Weissensteiner, and her charming suitor Wilhelm Winkelmeier. It is here that fate steps in and intertwines their families forever. Her family is Jewish and his family is German – not a very good combination when war finally reaches them. Like everyone around this time, they are forced to make difficult decisions that will affect their families forever.

I loved that the author chose to focus on the dynamics of the Weissensteiner & Winkelmeier families and the impact that the impending war had on them and not so much on the war itself. There is a bit of background history and mention of historical persons but beyond that it is very generalized and mostly fictional. The story is brilliantly & vividly told through the eyes of colorful characters as they weave their way throughout the horrors & triumphs of war. A haunting tale of innocence lost and a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

I look forward to reading the other books in The Three Nations Trilogy. As you read this book keep in mind the title – “The Luck of the Weissensteiners” – I ask is it really “Luck”? Read this fascinating story and form your own opinion.

Both of my books in the Indietribe Charts

I am over the moon to see both of my books in this weeks Indietribe Charts.
Sebastian at No. 3
and
The Luck of the Weissensteiners at No 4

And in good company:

The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap by Paulette Mahurin is No. 5
Rani of Rampur by Suneeta Misra No. 7
Jazz Baby by Beem Weeks No. 9
The Warrior by Ty Patterson No. 10

The Top 10 is based on the number of sales and click-throughs from INDIETRIBE to Amazon in the last week. Whilst every click through does not lead to a sale, it is certainly evidence of a high level of interest, so the 10 authors should be justly proud that their books are being noticed. We monitor click-throughs and do not count multiple click-throughs from one computer.

I suppose the best way of aiming for this Top 10 list is to make sure readers keep tripping over your book in our Book Store, Showcase, News Flashes, One-liners and Blogroll. Give your book the best chance you can.

To buy these books now, either click on the FRONT COVER to buy from Amazon.com or the TITLE to buy from Amazon.co.uk

IF YOU DO DECIDE TO BUY BOOKS, PLEASE BUY THEM WHILST YOU’RE LINKED THROUGH TO AMAZON FROM INDIETRIBE. THIS WILL HELP US TO ACCURATELY COMPILE THIS WEEKLY LIST.

Anyway, with no further ado, please welcome this week’s Top 10

 

1 SAFE AND SOUND by Danielle Singleton

Up from 8

2 DELAYED DEATH by Beate Boeker

New Entry

3 SEBASTIAN by Christoph Fischer

New Entry

4 LUCK OF THE WEISSENSTEINERS by Christoph Fischer

Down from 2

5 THE PERSECUTION OF MILDRED DUNLAP by Paulette Mahurin

Down from 1

6 CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOL DROPOUT by Patti Lavell

Down from 5

7 RANI OF RAMPUR by Suneeta Misra

Down from 3

8 WHITE JADE by Alex Lukeman

Up from 9

9 JAZZ BABY by Beem Weeks

Down from 4

10 THE WARRIOR by Ty Patterson

Down from 7

So congratulations to the books and authors in this week’s Top 10.

Happy reading and writing until the next Top 10

]]>

Wanda’s amazing Amazon Reviewers

Do you love to read?

Do you have an active account on Amazon?

Do you want to pay forward some Indie author love?

Then this is how you can do it –

Ask to join this closed group:

Wanda’s Amazing Amazon Reviewers

We will accept you. Were a bit crazy and we have a loon or two but we love them all the same.
Once in the group see the top pinned post. These are the books we are featuring. We need help on those books ASAP.
Every Friday all the authors in the group gets to ask for reviews on their books above and beyond the featured authors…. thus you can fill up your Kindle for free.

All we ask in turn is for you to leave a minimum of 21 words on Amazon telling other readers if you loved, liked or hated the book. That is it. From time to time we have giveaways, we always have a chat or 20 going and we share, like and love each other.

If authors wish to join this is easy. Join but remember that we will expect you to pay it forward as well. If other authors review your book return the favour. If you really can’t read all their books, then like their pages, share their giveaways and show us that you care about your Indie community and in turn we will show you how much we care for this community.

Valley of Thracians by Ellis Shuman

A Peace Corps volunteer has gone missing in Bulgaria and everyone assumes he is dead, everyone except his grandfather, who refuses to give up hope. Retired literature professor Simon Matthews launches a desperate search only to be lured into a bizarre quest to retrieve a stolen Thracian artifact—a unique object of immense value others will stop at nothing to recover.

Matthews travels through a Balkan landscape dotted with ancient tombs and fortresses, unaware that his grandson has been confined to an isolated mountain cabin, slowly recovering from a severe head injury. Nothing can be taken at face value, as the woman assisting Matthews in his quest and the nurse caring for his injured grandson may have ulterior motives in helping the two reunite. Even when Matthews succeeds in joining up with his grandson, departure from Bulgaria is only possible if the missing relic can be found.

My review:

“Valley of Thracians” is a wonderful book about grandfather Simon travelling to Bulgaria to track down his missing and declared-for-dead grandson Scott. The latter used to work for the Peace Corp in Bulgaria before going missing. With some reason to assume that Scott is still alive Simon starts his own enquiries and with help from some locals he finds indeed new evidence regarding his grandson.
The story is told in four parts and changes perspective throughout. This serves the storyline very well and gives the reader a chance to be more involved in the plot. Starting with Simon’s perspective it is a slow burner, building up only gradually as at first Simon learns little and comes across as stubborn and full of wishful thinking. The writing in the first few chapters includes a lot of interesting background information about Bulgaria and its history, culture and people. Those parts are skilfully woven into the dialogue and make for a great read.
As the storyline moves along we get less of the (well received) tourist information and move swiftly into darker territory of organised crime, smuggling, drugs, corruption and so forth.
As the second voice takes over the narrative the pace picks up and never lets us down again throughout the whole action packed plot until the end of the book.
Well written and full of great characters the book turned out to be a rich and exciting read, with huge expert local and historical knowledge that gives this thriller a great unusual and well chosen backdrop, without taking away the focus from the actual story. It is a rare find to have great suspense and almost educational details combined and work together so well.

Interview with Ellis Shuman:

Q: You know an awful lot about Bulgaria. Can you briefly describe your connection: Why, when and how you got there?

I was working in an international marketing company with headquarters in Tel Aviv when my boss informed me that my position was being relocated for two years to Sofia, Bulgaria. This came as a total surprise to me. I was not as young as most of my colleagues; my wife was studying interior design; our parents were elderly; and our children were in Israel. Yet, we accepted this once-in-a-lifetime challenge, packed up our house, and moved to Bulgaria in January 2009.

Q: In brief, what was the experience like?

Although we had been born in the United States, my wife and I had never lived as adults outside Israel. We also had never lived in a big city. Setting up a home in Sofia was quite a unique experience just for those reasons. But, we had never expected Bulgaria to be such a beautiful country. Alongside getting settled into the daily routines of our jobs, we took advantage of every spare moment to explore Sofia, and all of Bulgaria. On weekends we traveled all over the country. Bulgaria has a bit of everything – mountains, forests, beaches, historical sites, museums, and amazing food. And we enjoyed making many Bulgarian friends. We tried to learn Bulgarian and managed in the language a bit, but most of the time our English was sufficient.

Q: Tell us a little about your blog.

While we were living in Sofia, my wife and I took turns writing about our experiences for a blog called Ellis and Jodie’s Bulgarian Adventure. At the time, there weren’t too many English language blogs telling about life in Bulgaria, and our blog attracted a lot of interest. When we came back to Israel, I continued to write, not only about Bulgaria, but also about life in Israel, as well as book reviews and articles about the craft of writing. This blog, which is entitled Ellis Shuman Writes, is updated regularly.

Q: Have you written any fiction before this book?

My wife and I were founding members of Kibbutz Yahel, in Israel’s southern desert. Although we no longer live on a kibbutz, I have many fond memories of our pioneering days. The kibbutz is no longer the idealistic, communal society that it once was. My short story collection, The Virtual Kibbutz, tells about the changing society of the kibbutz.

Q: When did you have the idea for the plot of your book? Was it always going to be set in Bulgaria or did you ever consider a different location?

In addition to the short stories, I have started quite a number of novels, and some of them became complete manuscripts. All of these novels dealt with life in Israel, and as such, they were very much about me and my family and not completely fictional. There are not too many books in English that feature a story taking place in Bulgaria. In fact, most people don’t know anything at all about Bulgaria. I decided that in order to set my writing apart from others, I needed to write a story about Bulgaria, introducing readers to the country’s culture and history. And in addition, I wanted to write something suspenseful that would keep readers turning the pages.

Q: The book contains a lot of knowledge about the history and culture of Bulgaria. What is the one thing that fascinated you the most?

When people speak about modern Bulgarian history, they refer to the country’s liberation in the 1870s from 500 years of Ottoman rule. But there is a more ancient history as well, one that has left its mark in tombs and relics all over the country. The Thracians ruled this area of the Balkans at the time of the Romans. There was something about this ancient people, which barely left a trace of its language or traditions, which fascinated me. I decided to work in some of Bulgaria’s Thracian history into my plot.

Q: You speak a lot about the Jewish community in Bulgaria. Would you say that the experience of living in Bulgaria for a Jewish family is notably different from other countries, and if so, how?

Not too many people know this, but Bulgaria’s entire Jewish community, some 50,000 people, were saved from the horrors of the Holocaust. And this, despite the fact that Bulgaria sided with the Nazis. While there are many theories why the Jews of Bulgaria were saved, most attribute this rescue to the fact that ordinary Bulgarians were unwilling to let their fellow citizens be deported to the death camps. Today, Bulgaria is a very strong supporter of Israel. Many Bulgarians we met told us that they have an uncle, or a friend, living in Tel Aviv. We felt very safe as Israelis living in Bulgaria.

Q: How westernized is the country by now?

Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, yet it remains one of the poorest countries in the EU. With low wages, unemployment, corruption and lack of basic infrastructure in many places, Bulgaria has a lot of catching up to do. What we enjoyed in Bulgaria was the fact that even though there is a lot of modern construction, fancy shopping malls, and seaside resorts, there is still strong respect for the country’s past. Historical villages preserve their culture, and it’s not unusual to see a shiny Mercedes pass a donkey-drawn carriage on a cobblestone city street.

Q: Did you need to research a lot for the book?

Everywhere we travelled in Bulgaria, we learned about the country. We visited many ethnographic museums, ate in the local restaurants, and enjoyed the historical sites. I guess this was all part of my research, even though I didn’t realize it at the time. After coming back to Israel, I continued to research specific aspects of Bulgaria that would feature in my novel, like remnants of the Thracian language and the silver-work these talented artisans produced. I worked on the book for about two years until I felt that I had achieved a balance between suspense on the one hand, and an introduction to Bulgaria.

Q: How did you edit the book?

There came a point when I realized that I had finished writing, and rewriting my book. I had shown the book to others, incorporated their suggested corrections, but I knew that I needed professional help. I searched on the Internet and found a very talented freelance editor, Amber Jones Barry, and with her help, I improved the manuscript and took it to the next level.

Q: Who did the cover?

It was important for me to have the cover show how stunning Bulgaria is. The photograph was one that I took on one of our many travels in the country, in a valley not far from where many of the Thracian treasures mentioned in the book were discovered. A former colleague of mine, Shiran Waldman, helped me design the cover.

Q: Have you currently any new projects?

As part of my marketing efforts for Valley of Thracians, I have been writing many guest posts about travel to Bulgaria, how incredibly affordable it is. In addition, I have been plotting out and writing my next novel, which will also take place in Bulgaria, but will be completely different from my first book.

Q: Who are your literary influences?

I read a lot of different genres, but I am most excited to read works of Israeli authors that have been translated into English – I speak Hebrew but prefer to read in my mother tongue. I am always searching for books written by Bulgarian authors. The books I enjoy the most are those I just can’t put down, and very often these are thrillers. I wanted readers of my book to feel the same way. Some Bulgarians who have read Valley of Thracians have called it the Bulgarian Da Vinci Code.

Ellis Shuman and his wife, Jodie, lived in Sofia for two years 2009-2010. During that time they maintained a very active blog, Ellis and Jodie’s Bulgarian Adventures, detailing their travels. Ellis is the author of Valley of Thracians, a suspense novel set in Bulgaria. The book is available at Amazon in Kindle and paperback editions. Ellis writes frequently about Bulgaria, Israel, and other interesting things at his blog.

Here are some links:

http://shumansinbulgaria.blogspot.co.uk/

http://ellisshuman.blogspot.co.uk/

Goodreads Author Page
Valley of Thracians on Goodreads
The Virtual Kibbutz on Goodreads

The Virtual Kibbutz on Amazon.com
Valley of Thracians on Amazon.com

The Virtual Kibbutz on Amazon.co.uk
Valley of Tracians on Amazon.co.uk

T.V.LoCicero : “Murder in the Synagogue” and other writing

Yesterday we were the first to feature his new book The Car Bomb
(review here)
fresh from the printing press, today the spotlight is on some of his other work.

On Lincoln’s birthday, 1966, a young man stood on the bimah of a multi-million dollar synagogue in suburban Detroit and, confronting his audience of 700 with the Colt .32 revolver he would soon use to commit murder and suicide, he announced:

“This congregation is a travesty and an abomination. It has made a mockery by its phoniness and hypocrisy of the beauty and spirit of Judaism. It is composed of people who on the whole make me ashamed to say that I’m a Jew. For the most part it is composed of men, women and children who care for nothing except their vain, egotistical selves. With this act I protest a humanly horrifying and hence unacceptable situation.”

This true crime book is a precise and harrowing account of the assassination of Rabbi Morris Adler by 23-year-old Richard Wishnetsky, a Phi Beta Kappa scholar at the University of Michigan and a Woodrow Wilson Fellow bound for the Divinity School at the University of Chicago. A troubled intellectual seeker, Wishnetsky knew Rabbi Adler one of the nation’s most prominent and venerated religious leaders, yet he settled on this learned and charismatic man as the appropriate target of his deepest rage.

My Review:

“Murder in the Synagogue” by T.V. LoCicero is a meticulously researched work of non fiction about an act of terror/ violence in a synagogue in 1966, on the day of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in June.
LoCicero tells with descriptive accuracy and astonishing objectivity the life of the perpetrator Richard Wishnetsky, a 23 year old Jewish man, by using eye witness accounts and explaining the socio-cultural, religious, ethnic and personal background of Wishnetsky and his generation.
It was this section that I personally enjoyed the most, myself, like LoCicero, a gentile writer about Jewish themes. I was impressed with the knowledge and deep understanding of the complexities and multitudes of Jewish life, particularly at that time and going back to Wishnetsky’s family roots.
We witness a seemingly happy and content, socially acceptable man gradually slip into a less conformist eccentric man with a thirst for meaning. We also get to hear about his psychological state from a medical perspective and are offered some names and conditions, such as despression and schizophrenia that might characterise Wishnetsky.
LoCicero also shows the life and work of the Rabbi, present in the Synagogue on that fateful day, the man that ultimately gets shot by Wishnetsky before the latter kills himself.
Only in the epilogue does LoCicero give his own personal interpretation of the mad action in the Synagogue. Despite the earlier objectivity I felt as if I had a true understanding of the man and his troubles, as far as that is possible to achieve with a murderer. The conflicts and the general background of Wishnetsky are not offered as an excuse but they paint a great picture.
Having read this book in the week where a mindless act of terror is dominating the media has probably added to the impact the book had on me.

Interview with TV LoCicero:

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to writing in the first place, before it became a career?

First, thanks so much, Christoph, for your interest. You are such a talented writer and wonderful person, and I’m pleased that you asked me to spend a little time on your blog.

At 15 I began writing weekly for 3 local newspapers about the exploits of my high school’s sports teams (One of our star players would end up in the NBA Hall of Fame). At the University of Michigan I took writing courses so I could spend as much of my time as possible writing, and in my grad school year I won a prominent college writing award for 7 short stories.

How did you come to choose the “Murder at the Synagogue” as subject for your book? What were you working on before or was it your first book?

It might be more accurate to say Murder chose me. Two years out of grad school I was working on a novel and teaching at a college located about a half mile from the synagogue where Rabbi Adler was assassinated. This was the middle of our troubled ‘60s, with wars in Vietnam and between the generations, the assassinations of the Kennedys and King, horrific mass murders, etc, and when a newspaper published writing from the rabbi’s young assassin, I felt this terrible story might offer some insight into the chaos we were living through. I had been writing only fiction, but I abandoned the novel I was working on and wrote an article that was published in the Jewish intellectual magazine Commentary. Then I heard from a number of agents and publishers and soon signed a contract with Prentice-Hall.

What was the most fascinating aspect of your research?

Three of my grandparents were born in Sicily, and I was raised a Catholic. But many of my friends from college (including my first girlfriend) were Jewish and so were most of my favorite writers. So I was already fascinated with Jewish culture, religion and history. In college I had nearly headed for psychiatry, and violence in American society was a subject of deep concern to me. So I found every aspect of this story powerfully compelling.

Was writing it a chore or were you drawn into the subject well enough so that it became a pleasure or a fascination?

I can’t imagine any book being anything less than a chore, a pleasure and a fascination. But here’s part of what I wrote about the process in Squelched: “L. of course faced the traditional challenge of a biographer: the achievement of objective balance when an element of subjectivity is found at every turn—in the opinions, impressions and judgements of a witness, even in the apparently straight-forward rendition of simple facts, or the description of a concrete experience. The inevitably subjective nature of all perception and memory includes, of course, that of the researcher himself, who in recording the data, is forced to assess the character of a witness and the quality of his or her perception, to divine somehow the emotional relationship that existed between witness and subject, to reconcile or make sense of frequently contradictory reports, to search out and dismiss distortion while holding on to what seems to be truth, to assume finally some method of selection whereby a great mass of details becomes a reasonably coherent structure. L. was new to all of this and found in it a surprising fascination.”

What have you been doing since then professionally?

Here’s my usual spiel on what I call my “checkered past”:
At one time or another I’ve found work as an industrial spy; a producer of concert videos for Rolling Stone’s greatest singer of all time; one of the few male contributors to Gloria Steinem’s Ms. Magazine; a writer of an appellate brief for those convicted in one of Detroit’s most sensational drug trials; the author of a true crime book that garnered a bigger advance than a top ten best-selling American novel; a project coordinator/fundraiser for a humanities council; a small business owner; the writer/producer/director of numerous long-form documentaries; a golf course clerk; a college instructor who taught courses in advanced composition, music and poetry appreciation, introduction to philosophy, remedial English, and American Literature–all in the same term; a ghost writer; a maker of corporate/industrial videos; a member of a highway surveying crew; a speechwriter for auto executives; a TV producer of live event specials; an editorial writer; the creator of 15-second corporate promos for the PBS series Nature; and a novelist.
There is a sense in which that last occupation was the reason for all the others. Almost anyone who’s ever tried to make ends meet as a novelist knows what I’m talking about.

In “Squelched” you write in detail about the suppression of your story. Has writing this been at all cathartic for you?

Yes and no and yes. First yes: because clearly I needed to have my say. Then no because it’s original fate (complete rejection and the manuscript lost to me for 30 years) only added to my frustration. And finally yes, again, now that the new world of self-publishing has happened to all of us.

Has your experience with the publishing world made you turn your back on traditional publishing completely or would you trust them again with a new book?

I’ve managed to live long enough to appreciate the line, “Never say never.” But given the history related in Squelched, my assumption has long been that no traditional publisher would ever look seriously at any of my books.

Tell us about your fiction books and how they came about.

The Obsession began as a very brief anecdote from a close friend about a European woman who came to teach at a U.S. university and was harassed so badly that she had to return home. The rest I made up. Then the story just kept unreeling through The Disappearance and now I’m starting on Book 3, The Tryst.

The new series of crime novels set in Detroit (The Car Bomb and Admission of Guilt) are full of stories I was steeped in two decades ago, back when I was making documentaries about crime in the city.

Are you deliberately choosing odd or psychopathic subjects for your books?

It looks like it, doesn’t it? But I’m certainly not the first writer drawn to extremes in personality and behaviour to fashion compelling stories in an effort to understand the strange and troubling times in which we live.

How do you write? What is the environment like?

I write in longhand on legal pads sitting in an armchair or on my laptop at a desk, or on my desktop computer—whatever feels good and seems productive. I’m very self-indulgent about my writing, and that’s part of the reason I like my own company enough to do it 10-12 hours a day. I try to write a fast first draft of chapter or section, and then I fuss and re-write and fuss and re-fuss and re-write and…you get the idea. I work in a small, well-lit office overlooking the beautiful back end of a condo complex.

How long does it take you to write your books?

Whatever it takes…several months, years, decades.

Who does the editing for it and control the quality?

I do, with a little help from a friend or two.

How did you come up with the cover design?

I’m a documentary maker and a self-styled photographer, so I more or less trust my eye. Usually a cover is a photograph that captures a crucial moment/place in the story.

Who would play your characters in a movie?

Professor Lina Lentini should have been played by a young Streep with red hair, but Lina didn’t exist back then.

Who are your favourite authors? What is your favourite book?

Crime: the incomparable Elmore Leonard. Contemporary Literary: Roth, McEwan, Amis. Too many favorite books to mention one.

What are your plans for the future? What are your latest projects and where would we find out about them?

Next I need to write the third novel in each of my series, The Tryst for The Truth Beauty Trilogy and Cinema Verite for The detroit im dyin Trilogy. Then there are finishing touches for a literary novel, Sicilian Quilt, and of all things what might pass for a romantic comedy, The Simple Life.

T.V. LoCicero has presence on

Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon
and on his website

The Car Bomb is now available on Amazon in ebook or paper. Admission of Guilt in one month time.

My review of the Obsession:

“The Obsession” by T.V. LoCicero is a dark and moody blend of genres; part psychological thriller, part romance and part murder mystery this is an engaging and captivating read.
The story is that of the obsession teacher Stan has with an Italian woman, Lina, who comes to teach at his University for a term. Although not entirely disinterested in Stan, Lina however favours married man John and begins an affair with him. Stan turns from jealousy to obsessed to what I would call a psychpoath, committing ever more outrageous acts of intrusion and stalking behaviour.
Unsuspecting Lina gradually comes to realise what a mad man she has at her hands. The tensions gradually grows, reminiscent in its best parts of Ian McEwan’s Saturday – a book that coincidentally is mentioned n the novel itself. LoCicero includes a lot of literary discussions between the characters as he describes their campus life.
Written with an omniscient narrative LoCicero describes the thoughts and actions of the characters in turn, giving us an opportunity to discover their exact thoughts as well as know what they don’t, for example hinting at a mistake a murderer has just made.
This tale with its subtle turns and twists stayed with me for some time after I read it. Maybe not comfortable reading for everyone, I for one recommend it happily to everyone who likes a bit of dark.
Fans of Hitchcock can probably see it in their mind’s eyes.