“Collaborateur” Interview with Nathan Squiers – Charity project in aid of the Santa Paula ‘No Kill’ Animal Rescue Center

Tags

animal rescue, Art of WaAR, charity project, Crimson Shadow Series, horror, interview, Literary Dark Emperor, Nathan Squiers, no kill shelter, paranormal

I’m currently collaborating with several great authors on a project in aid of the Santa Paula ‘No Kill’ Animal Rescue Center. Each of us has contributed a work to this up-coming anthology and all proceeds will go directly to the shelter.
I’m proud to be involved not only as a dog owner and animal lover, but because I will be published along some extremely fine talent, like the gentleman I’m featuring today: Nathan Squiers, or – as we call him: The Literary Dark Emperor.

Nathan Squiers rocks. I’ve come across his work in a review group and was astonished by the character depth and passion in his books. He is a standup guy and a good friend. Here is an interview with him, so judge for yourself:

Welcome back Nathan, please explain to my readers who don’t remember you what type of fiction do you write and why?

I wish there was a more technical answer to this question, but the truth is I write the sort of fiction that I’d want to read. I’m a lover of horror and action and underdog tales, and I’ve always been attracted to stories with a focus on character growth and development and chemistry with other characters. All of that sort of rolls into what I write: a fusion of horror and action and gothic romance that’s psychologically driven. I suppose it fits well enough into the “urban fantasy” genre, but I sometimes feel like it begins to teeter into other realms.

Tell us about the concept behind your books. How did you get the idea?

         I, like many others, have struggled with depression and anxiety my entire life. For the Crimson Shadow series more than any other, the concept was always tackling various personal conflicts: thoughts of suicide, anger, paranoia, etc. Granted these aren’t the ONLY conflict or themes present in the books, but, like in real life, people with those thoughts have to stack those problems on top of their ongoing issues, and a lot of the time they make those ongoing issues all the more tolling to get through. I like to think that readers like to see more than just typical external conflicts, and I try to weave some realism into the fantasy so they have a more complex story to enjoy.

Are you a dog / animal person?

I like dogs, I suppose. I don’t have one (though the missus and I are hoping to get one once we’re in a bigger home). However, I’ve always been more of a cat person, and though I certainly look forward to adopting a dog I don’t see that changing in the future.

Tell us about one of your main characters. What makes them special?

I think Xander Stryker, the main character of the Crimson Shadow series, is one of those rare examples of a character who’s undeniably strong and powerful, but never slips out of the realm of being relatable to readers. Sure, he’s a vampire and, yes, he fights and kills other creatures on a regular basis, but while he’s forced to put this very confident and intimidating front for the sake of his “career,” he’s always sort of struggling to keep a grip on everything behind the scenes. So often in books and movies and such you have these characters who are badass to the point where everything seems to come easy to them—their love life, their social life, their jobs… everything!—and it always comes around to you either not believing it or wondering if everyone else’s day-to-day is so simple and clean that that’s how a “normal” life is portrayed. Xander accepts the life he’s found himself in, but being a leader and being the center of attention are new and uncomfortable roles for him, so while he copes with it all the readers can see that he’s not coming about it simply. It’s certainly a lot of growth for a character when you consider that he was a suicidal loner in the first novel.

I agree. I loved Xander. Are you like any of the characters (and how so)?

         I think it’s safe to say there’s a bit of me in every character. Sometimes I see more of myself in the villains than the heroes. Everybody has those things that happen to them in their daily lives that drive them a little crazy—the guy that cuts you off on your morning commute, the loud group at the neighboring table in the restaurant, screaming kids, getting bumped rudely on the sidewalk, and all those sorts of dealings—that there’s a certain degree of liberation in just “freeing the beast” when I invent a villain. They can be crass and vulgar and violent and commit all the horrible, unspeakable acts that we all sort of fantasize about but never act on. Marilyn Manson one said that artists of all kinds use their work as a means of both exorcising AND exercising their inner demons, and I think that’s really the best way to describe how I put myself into my characters.

How violent are your novels?

Very. I won’t sugarcoat it past that. They’re about monsters in every sense of the word, both the non-human kind AND the human kind. There’s the over-the-top, super-powered violence that you’d expect in this sort of thing, but there’s also the very real, very ugly sort of violence that people inflict on one another all too frequently. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of real violence, but I feel like people turn away from subjects like rape and child abuse with a sneer so they can watch Hollywood shootouts and whatnot instead. And while the stylized, clearly fake violence certainly make things more dynamic and exciting, I hate that real problems—real monsters—are deemed taboo. My novels offer a healthy dose of both types of violence just to remind folks that it doesn’t take claws and fangs to be a monster.

Do you include humour?

       I suppose there’s some. If there’s ever any comedy in my work it’s more organic to the situation. Maybe a character says something humorous in regards to what’s going on or circumstances cause something funny to happen, but since the stories and happenings are always rather serious and dark, it relies more on the nature of the characters to draw out any sort of comic relief. For example, in my novel ‘Curtain Call: A Death Metal Novel,’ the character Will (the lead band’s vampire drummer) was basically created to be the comic relief. In almost any circumstance, he’s going to say/do something that makes the reader laugh, but only because he’s so over-the-top and vulgar about everything. I’ve known a few people who used humor to deal with stress, so I based Will on them—the more intense a situation, the more “out there” his response is likely to be.

What makes you laugh? 

The sort of stuff that I probably shouldn’t laugh at.

What would your friends say are your best and your oddest quality?

I’d say my best quality IS my oddest quality, and I’d love to tell you what that would be if somebody would be kind enough to tell me first :-p

What is your favourite book?

Unfair question. Refuse to answer.

Thanks Nathan. If you want to connect with Nathan here are some links:

Main website: www.nathansquiersauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nathan.Squiers/

Twitter: @LitDark_Emperor

Bio:

Nathan Squiers (“The Literary Dark Emperor” and the author formally known as “Prince”) is a resident of Upstate New York. Living with his loving wife/fellow author, Megan J. Parker, and two incredibly demanding and out-of-control demon-cats, Nathan lives day-by-day on a steady diet of potentially lethal doses of caffeine and (of course) bacon. When not immersed in his writing, he often escapes reality through movie marathons, comics & anime, and gnarly tunes. While out-and-about, The Literary Dark Emperor can be found in the chair of a piercing studio/tattoo parlor, at the movies, or simply loving life with friends & loved ones.

Advertisements

Review of “Hexe” and Interview with Skadi Winter, my partner at the Kensongton Christmas Faire Dec 12

Tags

family, Germany, Hexe, history, interview, Kensington Book Faire, pagan, postwar, review, Skadi Winter. German author, wicthcraft, witches, WW2

Let me introduce you to my partner in crime Skadi Winter, who will be sharing a stand with me at the Kensington Christmas Book Fair this coming Saturday Dec 12th.

“Hexe” by Skadi Winter is the captivating and amazing story of a childhood lived in post-war Germany right after the war. Told from the heart breaking and naive perspective of a young girl the story tells mainly of the love between the narrator and her grandmother from 1945 onwards. 
The grandmother is a wonderful and inspiring character that is nick-named a ‘Hexe’ (witch) by people in the village, mainly because of her interest in herbs, paganism and tarot, to name a few. Despite such un-worldly interests the woman is however very wise and feeds her granddaughter lots of very philosophical and logical advice. The young girl also has to come to terms with the hostility against her mother who is accused of farternising with the enemy, even as late as 1948 when there should be nothing but regret amongst the population about its terrible past.
The perspective of the naive and innocent child does wonders to hit home many of those obvious historical and cultural points. By way of side characters, such as an abducted Polish boy working for the Germans, and other secondary people Winter describes post-war Germany incredibly accurate and with excellent detail.
Winter writes about what many Germans would prefer not to be true: Many were misled by Hitler but many deeply shared his beliefs and those did not just stop believing in 1945. It is a tribute to the author to have captured this so accurately as a strong side plot without getting stuck in it.
Besides the splendid historical aspect of the story I found myself aazingly reminded of much of my own childhood in Germany decades later: The Grimm fairy tales, Muckefugg and idiosyncrasies I had forgotten about.
The grandmother is such a impressive character, written with so much love and detail that I almost felt related to her myself.
Hexe is a very impressive, insightful and warm novel that strongly affected me while reading it, written so real it felt like a memoir more than fiction this should appeal to a large group of people, historians and those who read with their heart.
Just beautiful.

Interview with the author:

Tell us a little about yourself as writer and a person.

I am 60 years old now, a mother of 4 sons, a grandmother of 8 grandchildren from mothers of 4 nations, cultural background and religion. I love my grandchildren. I had to put my dreams on shelves for a long time. I had to work to put bread on the table, build a house and be a partner to my Iranian husband, who indulged being at university and make a career.

What made you become a writer? 

I had this story in my heart for a long time. It is part of my own history and the history of my German people.

I am a passionate reader. At the age of 5, I started to read Wilhelm Busch, an illustrated book, kneeling in front of our old sofa, trying to put letters into words. I go through books, sometimes 2 at a time, living with them, getting angry if they don’t satisfy me as a reader. My little house is clustered with books. They are my friends.

I have been inspired by other writers. The ones I thought worth reading. Those who shared my believes, my dreams, my longings. Hemingway, Günther Grass. Heinrich Heine. Goethe. Schiller. Kant, Hegel. Oh, the list is endless. Philipp Kerr (a great writer, noir). One unusual one, which I keep close to my heart: Susan Fletcher’s “Corrag”. The book of my soul.

Tell us a little about the history of “Hexe”. How long did it take you to write and publish?

It took me 8 months to write and publish “Hexe” – the book about my own family, German history and the way I see it. It is a book from my heart. Maybe not overly correct with the historical facts – I only was a child when I experienced Germany after WW2. But, to me it was important, and always is important as a writer, to find out about the human soul. What makes some people stand up against political deceit, to find bravery in themselves to endure being singled out and pointed at and even pushed to the limits of society with all the hardship. Heroes? No, one facette of our human soul. To make the decision what side we are on, whom we believe and support, whom we deny and fight.

What was the easiest about writing the book and what was the hardest?

The easiest to write my book was the writing. Words just spilled out, memories, findings. I enjoyed writing Hexe. I loved my grandmother and all the values she gave to me on my way to adulthood. A little, strong, proud woman. Different from the rest. Never a follower, never a believer in Ideologies. Never bending, no matter what. She was my hero.

Would you say there is a message in the book beyond the story? Do you find it is well received and picked up by the reviewers?

Every writer is sending a message out. Why else would we write? We want to be read. Understood. We want to communicate with our fellow humans. My message is, in everything I write:Think! Make up your own decision. Listen to your heart. Be part of this human society and understand you are a part of this human history. You have a responsibility for everything you do or not.

The reviews I have received so far, well, I am happy. There are people out there who pick up on things behind the words, between the lines. I still have to learn on how to get the message out there, but – hey, it is worth while. I am writing.

What do you like most about your characters? Which one is your favourite? Who would play the characters in a film?

My favourite character in my book is Frigg. The innocence of a child, the heart of a lion. Listening to her inner voices, experiencing with all senses. Being part of this universe. A twinkle of the eye in time. And, knowing it.

I could see my story made into a film. Why not? Dark, sinister times. Winds, forests, ancient heathen Gods. Universal questions put into animation. A young hero, historical background. Hurt, blood, killing and a soul searching for a place in this eternal web of mankind.

What are your next projects? Tell us about your other books.

I am writing on my second book. The Wolf Children of Eastern Prussia. Again, for me it not only is the accurate historical background. I did my research, though. For me it is important to pick out the one human soul dealing with atrocities, hurt, pain, inflicted by fellow humans. Political circumstances influencing on how we act or react. As individuals.

What is your life like? What do you do for pleasure and work when you are not writing?

When I am not writing, I sit in my garden, doing old, ancient rituals, walking up and down my garden path. Reflecting, breathing. Many of us have turned to old ancient Asian wisdoms for meditation. I am trying to return to our own old wisdoms, the ones before the Nazis had occupied them. I am not exactly a believer and I certainly am not a follower. I do what I feel in my heart. I try to find my roots.

Who are your literary influences? What are your favourite books/ films/ albums?

Literary influences? There are many. Grass. Hemingway. Roth. Even Shakespeare. Schiller, Goethe. Philip Kerr (love him). Susan Fletcher.  Alan Wynzel and Christoph Fischer. The latest ones and I do love them. Stieg Larsson. Thomas Willmann. Crazy, how can I list all the ones I love?

Films? There are some, but I tend to be a reader, not a film watcher.

What would your friends tell us if we asked for your best and your oddest qualities?

My best and oddest qualities? My friends love me over 30 years without me remembering their birthdays. Does that say anything?

Odd? Yes. I am not the usual friend, I am not. But when I love, I love unconditionally. My heart finds a heart and sticks to it, no matter what. I am loyal, terribly loyal.

What are your favourite animal/ colour/ outdoor activity?

My favourite animals are dogs. I have three old, soppy Cocker Spaniels. They fascinate me with their pack loyalty and pack order. So easy, so unquestionable. So straight forward. So honest.

My favourite colour is blue, deep as the ocean.

What would you take to a remote island?

To a remote island I would take books. Really. Not a cliché. You never feel lonely with books.

Who would you like to invited for dinner and why?

Invite for dinner? I am a passionate cook. I even watch cooking programs on tv. I love to eat, I love to cook. It is an artist thing, is it not?  Oh, I would love to invite writers, a whole bunch of them. Exchange thoughts with them. Eat, indulge, drink and talk. Smile, leaning back into a comfy chair, philosophy. Words. I am a writer.

What are you writing at the moment and where would we find out about your next projects?

I am writing on my second book. Don’t have a title yet. It is about the wolf children of Eastern Prussia. A story about a child’s heart. Lonely, innocent, fighting to survive. The dark forest of life. Spirits and gods of ancient tales. Are they still with us? Do we need them? What makes us follow ancient paths? What keeps our soul fed? How do we find the path we have to follow? How do we deal with collective guilt? Is there such thing? How do we carry the burden of being part of a people who did wrong?

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

I write books. Yes I do. I don’t think I can compete with the good ones out there. I only use words, searching for them, to explain what is in my heart, soul and mind. Sure, I want to pass my words on. Am I not a witness of a time? Of a people? Of a family? Of a history? I think I am. Oh, sweet arrogance. I want to be read. I have to tell. I am writing. Always will be.

Find HEXE on your Amazon site: http://bookShow.me/1491801344

https://www.goodreads.com/SkadiWinter

website http://skadiwinter.co.uk

On December 12th Skadi, Elisabeth Marrion and DJ Kelly will be four of ten guest exhibitors at the Kensington Christmas Book Fair.

 

http://www.pbfa.org/book-fairs/kensington-christmas-book-fair-/4292

KENSINGTON CHRISTMAS BOOK FAIR

12TH DECEMBER 2015

Venue: Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX , tel: 020 7361 2220

 

Hope to see you there! 

Author Feature: Ali Isaac | Nicholas C. Rossis

Tags

Ali Isaac, author feature, Book Feature, Connor Kelly, Epic fantasy, Fantasy, interview, Irish myths, new release

Source: Author Feature: Ali Isaac | Nicholas C. Rossis

Ali has not just written some of the most moving blog posts I have read, but she is also a veritable treasure trove of information on anything Irish. Which is strange, as she’s not even Irish! Indeed, in a blind fit of jealousy I might even claim her as a fellow Greek. To find out why and discover this remarkable lady, just read on.

But first, an introduction to…

Legends of Ireland

There is so much more to Irish mythology than ‘The Children of Lir’, as beautiful a story as it is.Those brave or foolhardy enough to step between the veils to enter the magical realm of the Sidhe and learn more risk much, but surely the search for enlightenment is worth the challenge?

Let me be your guide, and all will be well. I invite you to accompany me now on an epic journey four thousand years back in time to the shadowy past of Ireland’s long-lost legend, where fairy kings and Goddesses walked amongst mortals, and where feats of magic, swordsmanship and courage were customary…

The Usual

Hi Ali, wonderful to have you here. Before we begin, can you please explain your connection to Greece?

Hi Nick, thanks for having me on your blog. My parents moved from Kuwait in the Middle East to Cyprus when I was about nine. We lived in an old converted goat barn in a little village near Limassol called Ayios Tykhonas. It was quite quaint and undeveloped then. The goat’s manger was made into our sofa, and my bedroom window didn’t even have glass in it, just an old wooden shutter. It was a great place to grow up in.

Seven years ago, I was married on the beach of another Greek island calledKalymnos, which is a short boat trip off the coast of Kos. My mum is semi-retired there, and we go there most years for our summer holiday.

Be sure to drop by next time you’re around. Still, it’s Ireland that has stolen your heart.

Yes, my husband is Irish. I have to say, Ireland was not a place I had any interest in at all until we moved here. I have always been fascinated by archaeology and mythology, a love which started when I lived in Cyprus. When we moved back to England in my early teens, I became obsessed with Arthurian legend. In Ireland, I felt for the first time in my life that I was home, and discovered that I had an Irish great-grandfather. I also discovered the myths about the Tuatha de Danann, and I was hooked.

As we’re here today to celebrate the launch of your third book in your Connor Kelly series, I take it the series has been influenced by Irish legends?

Of course! This is not actually the third book of the series, but more of asideline really. It occurred to me, from the interest in Irish mythology on my blog, that many people who love Irish mythology might not be interested in reading YA fiction. YA is not everyone’s cup of tea. So I decided to pull out the myths from the series so far and give them their own book. They’re worthy of reading in their own right. And my aim all along was to introduce Irish myths to an unsuspecting world! I intend to re-write more of them in language people today will understand.

That’s brilliant! What inspired you to start the series?

I had got a little bored with standard classic fantasy. I was bored with the perfect, handsome hero. I had three aims with this series; to create the ultimate flawed hero, to introduce Irish mythology, and to show thatdisabled people can be as heroic as ‘normal’ people. I have a disabled daughter, you see. My main protagonist, Conor Kelly, is based on her. I wanted to create a strong female lead, too, but that was too close to real life for me, I had to move past it and the only way I could do that was to make the main character a boy.

Makes sense. Was the Conor series the first thing you ever wrote?

I don’t remember the first story I ever wrote. I was always reading and writing throughout my childhood and into my twenties. The first story I vaguely remember writing was about a dog following a butcher’s delivery boy on his bike because he smelled of sausages, and then getting lost and having lots of adventures before finding his way home. God knows what inspired that one… did butchers ever deliver? Not that I remember. I was about seven at the time.

A lovely premise! BTW, our butcher does deliver, so perhaps you were just ahead of your time. What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

I wrote a book with Jane Dougherty calledGrá mo Chroí, Love of my Heart, Love Stories of Irish Myth. It’s free on Smashwords, if anyone would like a copy! I also write regularly on Irish mythology forIrish Central, and have had several articles published in Brigid’s Fire magazine. And of course, the first two books in my Tir na Nog Trilogy, Conor Kelly and The Four Treasures of Eirean and Conor Kelly and The Fenian King.

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

I’ve recently taken up running. It’s going really well, I’m even thinking of training to run a half marathon! We’ll see. I love visiting archaeological sites, walking in the countryside, and travelling.

I have seen the lovely photos at your blog. What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

I’m currently working on a YA novella based on the classic tragic Irish love myth. A girl finds a ring which connects her to a fae shape-shifter… of course, it’s not going to end happily ever after! After that, I will be re-writing a set of Irish myths known as The Three Sorrows of Ireland. I hope to settle down to the third and final Conor Kelly story after Christmas.

Who are your favorite authors and what do you love about them?

Oh gosh I hate this question, and it comes up often! I’m not like most people, I don’t have a favorite author, as my tastes very widely. In my youth, I used to love Rosemary Sutcliffe, Marion Zimmer Bradley, David Eddings. I still do. But I also love the classics, like Dickens, the Brontes, George Elliot, and Thomas Hardy. These days I read a lot of Indie fiction; I have so many lined up in my Kindle right now, but among those I have loved so far are Craig Boyack, Harriet Goodchild, Patrick de Moss, Jane Dougherty. What do I love about them? They all give me the two things I crave; beautiful writing and escapism.

Currently, I’m revisiting a fantasy classic I first read in my teens, Lord Foul’s Bane by Stephen Donaldson. Next, I am beta-reading for an author friend. Two of your books are lined up in my reading queue, Nick, btw!

Woo hoo! Thanks – and sorry I asked! 😀 Are you an Indie author? If so, do you have any advice for other indie authors?

I most certainly am an Indie author. I don’t give writing advice, because I am still learning myself, and there are so many other authors out there who do it far better than I ever could. But we are so fortunate to live in the digital age where we all have a voice, so I would say, if you think you would like to write a book but haven’t yet, go for it. Just make it the best it can be, and remember that with 6 million other books on Amazon, it won’t sell itself.

Wise words indeed. Are there any sites or writing tools that you find useful and wish to recommend?

Well there are so many, it’s hard to know which to trust. The best thing to do is make friends with other writers, and then get recommendations from them. When I first started out, I joined Youwriteon.com, which was great. You upload the first 7,000 words of your WIP, and people review it for you, but you have to earn reviews by giving reviews first. Not only do you learn what your own strengths and weaknesses are, but you learn so much from reading other people’s writing too. Also, it quickly teaches you to develop a thick skin, an essential requirement in this business, as some reviewers do not mince their words. They also have a top 20, where you can earn a review by a leading publisher.

Nice! Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

I blog about Irish mythology, and the ancient places of Ireland that I visit. I also blog about my journey with my little girl Carys, who was born with a rare syndrome called Cardiofaciocutaneuos Syndrome. I try to support other authors with my Friday Fiction and Friday Fantastic Flash features.

It’s a great blog, people. Have a look, if you haven’t already. Now, what are the things in your life that you’re most grateful for?

My family, my health and my writing. I’m grateful that we don’t live in a war-ravaged country, that we have a roof over our heads and food to eat. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem like enough, and I get caught up in things that don’t really matter, but that’s just being human. I just remind myself about all the things I do have. It leads to a much happier state of mind.

How true. How would you like to be remembered?

I’d like to be remembered as a good writer, and a good mother who did her best.

The unusual

Except for a wonderful writer, you’re also known for your poignant and loving posts about life with Carys – your fairy daughter. What has prompted you to share your experience with the world?

Up until Carys was about two years old, I had a really hard time coping. Two things helped me struggle through; reading other peoples’ stories and thus knowing I wasn’t alone, wasn’t a bad person, and writing down my feelings. Eventually, I thought I would share my own thoughts in the hope that it might strike a chord with other parents going through similar experiences, and that it might educate people about what it’s like living with someone who has special needs, and what it’s like to be a person with special needs.

If you had to describe a theme or thread running through your life, what would it be? What’s your life theme?

That’s a hard one. I think I’m a seeker, always looking for something even if I don’t quite know what that is. It’s why I’ve never turned down any opportunity which presented itself to me, even if it was something which scared me silly! Nowadays, I think that journey is more of a spiritual one, despite not being a religious person. Perhaps that doesn’t make sense… I’m still working through it myself.

I don’t think you need religion to be spiritual. Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. Where are you from?

Somewhere in between the two that hasn’t yet been discovered, I think!

Oh yes, the elusive third-and-a-half rock from the sun. Is it true you’ve been abducted by aliens?

How did you know about that? It’s not something I talk about!

I saw you on the saucer, remember? Name your claim to fame.

I was almost betrothed to an Arab prince when I was a child. Tis true! I’ve been on local radio a couple of times, does that count? LOL! I have no claims to fame, I would rather run a marathon than be famous!

Well, the Arab prince thing definitely qualifies! Is that the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you?

Can’t tell you that! I might reveal it on my blog one day, but not yet. Not until it’s over.

Oh my! Ongoing weirdness – and even weirder that being almost betrothed to an Arab prince as a child? Can’t wait to read all about that! Now, which one do you prefer: Elephants or tigers?

Elephants, definitely. I know, tigers are beautiful and powerful, but elephants have such beautiful, gentle souls, unless riled. I wouldn’t want to be one of life’s predators, although perhaps as a human, I already am.

You don’t strike me as one, to be honest. If you had to live over again what would you change in your life?

You mean if I had to live the same life over again? There’s not much I would change, actually. I think I would learn some languages, I would definitely have travelled more; that is something which is limited since Carys came into our lives. I’d try to be a better sister to my younger sister and brother.

Where in the universe would you live if you could travel anywhere?

Honestly? I’d choose a Greek island! Lovely weather, lovely people, beautiful scenery, fabulous food… and Carys thrives there. And only 31/2 hours flight back to Ireland. Why travel across the universe when you have all that on your own home planet?

Well, looking forward to seeing you in our necks of the woods, then 🙂

Ali in her own words

Ali Isaac lives in beautiful rural Co Cavan in Ireland, and is the author of two books based on Irish mythology, “Conor Kelly and The Four Treasures of Eirean,” and “Conor Kelly and The Fenian King.”

Ali writes for Irish Central and Brigid’s Fire Magazine, and regularly posts on topics of Irish interest on her blog.

 

Connect with Ali

Except for her blog, you can also find Ali on:

• Facebook,
• Twitter,
• GoodReads,
• LinkedIn,
• Pinterest,
• Google+,
• Librarything, 
• Jacketflap,
• Youtube, and
• Smashwords

“Gene Cards” by E.E. Giorgi: Review and author Interview

Tags

author interview, E.E. Giorgi, gene cards, genetics, interview, medical, medical thriller, sciece fiction, thriller

“Gene Cards” by E.E. Giorgi is a dystopian futuristic thriller with a great plot, excellent characters and suspense.
Told in chapters focusing on different characters the book instilled an immediate sense of closeness to the characters. First we meet Yulia Szymanski in an action packed opening sequence but she is not the heroine of the book per se. Next chapter, we meet her brother Julian, in a high security jail and with a rare genetic condition.
Only then do we meet Biothreat Agent Skyler Donohue, a particularly interesting character and the ultimate heroine of the book.
The futuristic setting impressed me particularly as genetic engineering is no longer an implausible ploy for a plot and Giorgi’s background as scientist clearly shows with competently written passages that lend the story credibility and power.
Our world as it might be is written with a solid basis in science and – unfortunately – reality. Giorgi plays with established and some new ideas, creative and original, and that brought some worrying and interesting thoughts to my mind.
A fascinating setting, a tight action packed plot, good drama and excellent female lead characters with bite, inner conflicts and great personal backgrounds make this a gripping and hugely enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

Interview with the author.
Tell us a little about yourself as writer and as person.

I was born in the U.K., grew up in Tuscany (Italy) and lived in 3 different European countries and 4 different American States before settling in Northern New Mexico. I trained as a mathematician, but I gradually shifted to biology—computationally biology, to be precise. What that means is that I get to spend most of the time in front of a computer instead of a wet lab. My training as a scientist influences my writing, too, because I have a compulsion to research everything. Science always plays a fundamental role in my plots, whether it’s a virus, a genetic condition, or a medical discovery.

Tell us about your writing history. When was the first time you decided to write and when was the first time you did?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid but back then I used to write short stories in Italian. I never finished a book until 2008. That’s the year when the story that had been brewing in my head for decades decided to come out. By then I had been living abroad for over 10 years and Italian was no longer my preferred language. So I wrote that book in English and then buried it in a drawer because it was (still is) the worst thing I ever wrote. I don’t regret writing it, though, because it taught me a lot. And somehow, once that story came out, it “uncorked” a tsunami of ideas. I’m still trying to catch up with all those ideas, in fact.

Tell us about your Gene Cards.  When did you have the first idea for it? And how did you decide on the characters, plots and title?

The title comes from the human genetic database called “Gene Cards.” Ever since I discovered the website I thought it would make a great book title. How that became my book, though, is a bit convoluted. I wrote the first scene in June 2011: our whole town had been evacuated because of a wildfire. It was scary. Writing the scene where Yulia downloads the last bits of data before her apartment complex is destroyed by the blaze was cathartic. I then set the scene aside because I was finishing Mosaics, and it wasn’t until one year later that I came back to those pages and turned them into a novel. The title Gene Cards seemed befitting when I decided that in this new world I was creating identities were based on DNA. The Gene Cards would be the equivalent of our current ID’s, i.e. passports and driver’s licenses.

When did you decide to write science fiction? Would you consider writing outside of the genre?

I love science, it’s what I do everyday for a living. Genetics in particular is my daily inspiration. It triggers so many ‘what if’ questions that it’s hard for me not to stop and come up with alternative stories and scenarios. As a consequence, science fiction ‘happened’ rather than just being a conscious decision. My books often intertwine with mystery and thriller, but I’m definitely open to other genres, too.

There is a science side to the story, a futuristic side and a family / personal side. Which one are you most comfortable with?

Definitely the science part. I always add a personal side to my characters to give them a third dimension, so to speak, though I risk having characters that don’t always resonate with readers. I don’t like flat characters or 100% heroes. Every person has some good and some bad deep inside.

Would you say there is a message in your books beyond the story? Do you find it is well received and picked up by the readers and reviewers?

My main message in Gene Cards is that our Earth is dying and I don’t think people are sticking together in a strong enough way that will allow us to save our planet. What I envision happening is what I describe in the book: the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer and cast away. I hope I’m wrong. I hope our children will still enjoy the planet the way we enjoyed it.

Did you have it all planned out before you write your stories or do the characters and story surprise you?

My characters always surprise me. 🙂

Which part are you most proud of?

The city of Liasis. My previous books are mysteries set in Los Angeles. For those books, I researched everything and only made up the plot. When I started writing Gene Cards I knew I wanted a book set in the future but soon realized I had to build a whole new world. It was daunting at first, but once I started getting some ideas I ran with them and ended up having a lot of fun. It’s not hard to imagine that our near future will be filled with advertisement everywhere (wait until we get it on toilet paper!) and zero privacy.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

Definitely the medical examiner, Dr. Erasmus Montoya. He’s eccentric, a bit of a weirdo, and I managed to describe him without ever using the word dwarf in the whole book.

What would your character(s) say about you?

That I do evil things to them. 🙂

What do you like best about writing? What’s your least favourite thing?

I love that I get immerse myself in other people’s life and stories, and that I get to imagine new worlds. I hate that I hardly have enough time to do it.

Did you have any say in your cover art? What do you think of it? Tell us about the artist. 

The background image is absolutely fantastic and was created by Yvonne at www.diversepixel.com, she’s a fantastic artist. I added the model and the gun. I was lucky to find a model that looks exactly the way I imagined Skyler to be.

What is your writing environment like? Do you need silence or music to write?

I have a messy and cluttered desk. I jot notes on tiny pieces of paper that I invariably lose, and I have jazz playing on the stereo all the time.

Who are your favourite authors?

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jorge Luis Borges, Lewis Carroll. I also love Raymond Chandler’s witty and melancholic prose, it’s one of my favourites in the noir genre.

Who are your favourite independent writers?

I got to meet so many over the past year, and I must say, what I love the most is how supportive we all are of one another. I love Jason Gurley, Samuel Peralta, Michael Bunker and Nick Cole (Nick is actually a hybrid writer) for their top-notch prose. I’ve truly enjoyed books by Anthony Melchiorri and Nick Smith, who write genetic/medical thrillers similar to mine. And I’m indebted to Autumn Kalquist, Chris Pourteau, and many others for the incredible support they’ve given me.

What is your life like outside of writing?

I sit in front of a computer all day and analyse genetic data. Together with my supervisor and colleagues, we are working on HIV vaccine design, so while my job can be tedious and frustrating, it does feel good to know that it’s for an important cause.

What makes you laugh?

Dark humour.

What (not who) would you like to take to a lonely island?

One hundred years of solitude.

Hot or cold?

Hot, possibly with a beach.

Salty or sweet?

Both. 🙂

What would your friends say are your best and your oddest quality?

Hmm, the oddest I guess would be the fact that I’m a bit unsociable and that I do too many things. The best I hope it’s that I’m a good friend.

What song would you pick to go with your book?

Alpha by Vangelis. Not for the whole book, but for the night views over the city.

How do you handle criticism of your work?  

That’s a great question! I had a chance to build a thick skin when my first book, Chimeras, was on submission through my agent. At the time I had the naïve conception that publishers want to make the best possible stories, and when they suggest edits is to make the story better. After two years of “do X” and “do the opposite of X” I lost faith in the system. Books, plots, characters – they are all very much subjective. Yes, you can usually tell a good story from a bad one, but once you have a well developed plot, 3D characters, and a good premise, you are out there to get it all, from high praise to hard slamming. So, back to your question: criticism of the type, “You can’t do that,” or, “This doesn’t work,” without any reason appended I simply ignore. I know there will always be someone who will feel like that about something. In fact, any kind of emotion I am able to elicit, even if the emotion is negative, it’s actually high praise. It means I’ve struck a chord. On the other hand, the true and priceless criticism is the constructive kind, the kind that tells you, “Your character here is too weak because she’s acting like a 2-year-old when instead she should really stand up for herself.” You know, the kind of criticism that tells you exactly what is not working and why. Criticism like this is hard to find because while readers may or may not resonate with the story, most of them are unable to give you a reason.

Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

Weird: according to Wikipedia, it’s one of the places with the highest number of PhD’s per capita. Nice: in 2004 it was rated as the best place to live in America in terms of quality of life. Fact: it was the home of the Manhattan Project. I think now you can guess where I live. 🙂

What are you working on now? 

I’m finishing a book for the Apocalypse Weird world created by Nick Cole and Michael Bunker. I’ve also started a YA story that I would like to finish as soon as I’m done with this current project. And after that I want to work on a sequel for Gene Cards. I have some ideas but I haven’t had the time to put them into writing yet.

Is there anything you would like us to know about yourself and your books?

I thoroughly research everything in my books. That doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes, but I do put a lot of thought into what I write. I hope it shows.

My blog: http://chimerasthebooks.blogspot.com/

My newsletter (get a free story when you sign up!): http://eepurl.com/SPCvT

Chimeras: http://smarturl.it/chimeras

Mosaics: http://smarturl.it/mosaics

Gene Cards: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NH8V8OE

And for those who don’t read books but love to stare at images, this is my photography portfolio: http://elenaedi.smugmug.com/

 

The King’s Jew by Darius Stransky

Tags

author, Darius Stransky, Historical fiction, interview, review

“The King’s Jew: Book One – Changeling” by Darius Stransky took me into an era of British History that I knew next to nothing of. Detailed and well researched in the manner of a CJ Sansom novel the story is immediately gripping with its vivid descriptions and sense of autenthicity.
Court intrigue and mundane life are well illustrated in a plot rich and fascinating stories full of well chosen characters. This is just the beginning of the story of the King’s Jews and leaves us on the eve of further struggle.
Historically sound, competent and well written this should do very well.

Midnight, Westminster Abbey, Friday, October 27, 1307 and Lord Cristian Gilleson keeps vigil at the tomb of Edward I. Death stalks the Abbey as Edward II, Piers Gaveston and their supporters try to bring him down. Many years ago he vowed to spend this last night by the side of his dead friend and Cristian has never broken a promise. A long night beckons and many will not live to see the dawn. Plot and counter-plot at the king’s court as “The King’s Jew” reflects on a turbulent life with his king. His enemies are many and supporters few yet he will keep his promise to the greatest of England’s kings or die in the attempt.

Interview with Darius:

How did you come to writing?

Always been a lover of literature and writing – it’s a natural to me as breathing. Eventually I found myself working as a freelancer for various media groups in the UK and US, weekly columns ETC. One day I realised I’d written enough words in one year to fill two novels. Hmmm, I thought to myself, about time I wrote a ‘real’ book. The rest, as they say, is history. Or in my case Historical Faction.

 

What is your interest in history and the eras you write about? Do you have a preferred era?

To me history is about people. The only thing that stopped our ‘ancestors’ from thousands of years ago achieving what we ‘modern’ people do is technology. Once you realise that people from the past are exactly the same as us then you can understand them. Their loves, hopes and fears were the same as ours yet set in a harsher, more brutal, society. I chose the thirteenth century world of Cristian Gilleson and Edward the First because of the monumental events that took place in that time. The shaping of modern England and Europe began then.

How do you research?

Extensive reading and online sources. Only now has a writer the ability to access medieval texts and references with comparative ease. The research came before the story. I needed to know my historical world to immerse myself in it and to wonder at the fortitude of thirteenth century people. Most of the main characters are real. Look ‘em up!

How do you come up with your story?

‘The King’s Jew’ – the clue is in the title. Without spoiling the plot all I can say is that the medieval Jews were banished from England’s shores in 1290 by King Edward I. Indeed, the Jewish population of England was ‘owned’ by the king. Now imagine a man who is born out of wedlock and rises to walk beside the king – to be his friend – what if that man one day realised just who and what his mother had been? That he was ‘different’? The main person in my book arrived in my mind before I began the work. This is his story and the tale of a misunderstood minority.

Were the plot and subplots completely planned from the start or did they change during the process, and if so, how?

Strange to say this but I knew exactly where the plots and SPs would lead. I knew how the story ends in Book Three. What really amazed me was the way certain characters appeared in the narrative. Take Mathew for instance – he appears at the start and I had no thoughts of him playing a major role. Then when a group of men delivered a letter to Cristian Gilleson lo and behold Mathew was there! He ‘elbowed’ his way into the narrative and the work is all the better for him and his ilk.

I‘ve only read one of the books so far. What is the idea behind your series?

Yes, you read Book One. I’ve got be careful here lest I give too much away! We follow a man who rises to be companion to the king of England. Certain sectors of society were marginalised, abused and even, on occasions, massacred for their beliefs. Not every medieval Christian hated the Jews. Some tried to help them and ended up being persecuted themselves. Think twentieth century pogroms in a thirteenth century world. Think how an ‘insider’ at the centre of a king’s court must hide his true feelings to aid others less fortunate. Our MC has a dangerous path to tread between two opposing ideologies. If he is discovered he loses everything, even his life.

Do you prefer to stay in one era and genre or do you see yourself spreading out?

In my freelancer days I thought of myself as a (if you’ll pardon the expression) ‘literary prostitute’. I’d write anything for anybody so long as they paid me! For the time being I’ll stay in my medieval world.

You have created great characters. Which one is your favourite?

I can’t answer that. Can a father say he loves one child more than another? They are all my children, from the peasant who flits in and out in the space of a line to Cristian Gilleson and King Edward. The one could not exist without the others.

Are you like any of the characters (and how so)?

We are one and the same just living in a different era.

Tell us about your other books?

Book One covered the period up to 1265 and ends with the Battle of Evesham. Book Two takes us up to 1290 and the banishment of the Jews. Book Three finishes on Saturday, October 28, 1307 when Cristian’s struggle ends and the opening conflict that started in Book One is resolved. Thus the circle is complete.

What is your advice to new writers?

Get through the first 30,000 words and you’re home free. Oh, and believe in the validity of your work yet listen to others who have your best interests at heart.
What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?

The best? When you hold the finished book in your hand. The worst? Knowing when it’s finished. There comes a time when you have to walk away and let the readers be the judge.

What do you do when you don’t write?

Read and think. And maybe have a warm beer in a snug old fashioned bar. Sometimes more than one beer!

Who are your editors and how do you quality control your books?

Lovely beta readers. Quality control? I take each and every suggestion / criticism seriously and act accordingly. Yet the final decisions are mine.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

With gratitude.

How have you found the experience of self-publishing? What were your highs and lows?

Taking that decision wasn’t easy. We all want the ‘Big Five’ to pick us up and run with us. Yet when you look at the financial considerations it’s best to be an independent and guess what? You get to meet some really interesting people. No highs or lows it just sort of worked for me.

How do you balance marketing one book and writing the next?

Book Two of ‘The King’s Jew’ is almost ready for publishing but I need to tie up a few things. I use social media first thing in the morning – I don’t overdo it – word of mouth is best. Then I write and edit for five hours.

Who are your favourite independent writers?

Best indie? Galen Watson whose book ‘The Psalter’ deserves more recognition. Look him up folks (and no we’ve never met).

Who are your favourite authors?

Cormac McCarthy. Hilary Mantel. Franz Kafka. Shakespeare.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

‘Dunkirk (fight to the last man)’ by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore. Paperback. Second time of reading.

Tell us one odd thing about you and one really mundane thing.

Odd? I get up early with, or before, the sun. Mundane? Cats, their individuality, they don’t take any nonsense. Treat a cat badly and it moves on, bit like me really! I like cats.

Anything you want to add before we go down the pub?

Yes. A big vote of thanks to people like you who give people like me the opportunity to talk to our readers. Can we go now? It’s my round.

Website http://dariusstransky.wix.com/darius-stransky

Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/KINGS-JEW-Book1-Changeling-Sept-ebook/dp/B00OAAI2WY

Booklaunch https://booklaunch.io/Darius%20Stransky/5485643305c86d826650270d

Twitter https://twitter.com/DariusStransky

FB https://www.facebook.com/darius.stransky

Interview with writer David Cook

Tags

1794, 1798, author David Cook, Flanders Campaign, Great Rebellion, Heart of Oak, Historical fiction, history, interview, Irish History, Liberty of Death, Marksman, Napoleon, New Model Army, review, Snow on Blood, Soldier Chronicles

It is May, 1798, and Ireland is a country at war.  
One hundred thousand peasants have risen up against the Crown to the tales of men, women and children butchered as traitors. It is whispered that the feared and despised ghosts of Oliver Cromwell’s New Model army have returned seeking bloodshed, and no one is safe.
Major Lorn Mullone, a man forged by war and torn by past failures, is sent by the government to apprehend Colonel Black, a dangerous and shadowy figure, who is harming the fragile peace talks with his own murderous retribution.
In a race against time, Lorn must journey across a country riven by fighting, where at the walled town of New Ross, he discovers a new horror.
In the desperate battle for peace, Lorn must survive for the sake of Ireland’s future.
Liberty or Death is an authentic historical story set against the brutal backdrop of Ireland’s Great Rebellion, the first novella in The Soldier Chronicles series.

David’s books are well researched, gripping and for this reader, quite an eye opener. I started with the third in the series, “Blood on Snow”, which is about the Flanders Campaign of 1794 – something that I had little knowledge of and Cook brought it to life with historical competence and splendid details. The novel comes with a variety of well chosen characters that felt authentic and made for a fascinating and compelling read.
The weather and living conditions, interactions with the locals and the morale and discipline in the regiment are described exellently.
A very recommendable novel and a writer to watch.

 

Interview with David:

How did you come to writing? 

I’ve been scribbling away since I was 16 years old. It was only reading a soldier’s journal about life in Egypt in the early 19^th century in 2006 that I decided to put my ideas together and write my Napoleonic story I’d been putting off.

What is your interest in history and the eras you write about? Do you have a preferred era?

I write historical-fiction. The Soldier Chronicles relate to a Napoleonic series I’d like to have published, but my interest is not only military. I have a written a story about Robin Hood and a band of outlaws who are fighting back William the Conqueror.

How do you come up with your story?

The Desert Lion (unpublished) is the start of the Napoleonic series and it was from reading the journal that I started with. I finished the story and sent it off to agents. In the lull I wrote backstories which have formed The Soldier Chronicles.

How do you research? 

Online, read and visit places. The only place I haven’t managed to visit is Egypt. Hopefully, I can soon remedy that.

Do you prefer to stay in one era and genre or do you see yourself spreading out?

I’m happy – or I should say – I work best in the past. I have always loved our country’s (UK) history and I think I’ll stick with that. I will say, however, that I have an interest in pursuing a modern day ghost story but I don’t know when that will happen.

Were the plot and subplots completely planned from the start or did they change during the process, and if so, how?

I wrote all the outlines and the first five stories of The Soldier Chronicles about six years ago. They have remained the same, however I always start with a brief outline and let the words flow. I don’t usually know what will happen until I see the words. For instance, Heart of Oak was originally going to finish at the fort, but both the protagonist and antagonist wanted more!

I‘ve only read one of the books so far. What is the idea behind your series?

The chronicles are snapshots of military history in the periods of 1793-1815. I wanted to write them as standalones, to be read in any order, but the characters feature in the main Napoleonic series. There’s this connection that I want to explore. I didn’t want to write them as novels, so decided on novellas, but if they prove popular there is scope to make them into novels at a later date.

What are the best and the worst aspects of writing? 

The best is how the story unfolds. I love research, but it’s not knowing what will happen until it does. It’s very exciting as I’m sure you feel the same. The worst has to be marketing. It’s not terrible, but for an Indie author its hard work to get your voice shouting louder than everyone else. I work full-time and writing isn’t a hobby, it’s a future way of life and I have to work hard at promoting it. It’s very tough and sometimes it’s very lonely.

How do you balance marketing one book and writing the next?

For some reason I always find myself starting the next book just as I’m finishing the last. There’s no transition period it seems. I just seem to be always writing. You have to juggle marketing your book and concentrating on the next book’s story. I can’t really afford to take a break between the stories, not until I’m relatively successful anyway.

What is your main reason for writing?

I want to tell people of these stories. I want people to like them and to transport them back to a time of that period. I hope I can evoke the past.

What do you do when you don’t write?

I work full-time as I said, so when not doing either I try to have a social life. Try is the word here. Spending time with my family, friends, go for walks, visit new places. Relax. It’s good to get out, to get up from the writing chair. If I didn’t, I think I’d have a permanent chair seat-shaped arse.

You have created great characters. Which one is your favourite?

Thanks but that is a tough question. I like them all – can’t choose. Sorry.

Who would you cast to play the characters in a movie?

I updated my facebook page the other day with this question. For Lorn Mullone who is the protagonist in Liberty or Death, I’ve had Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, Michael Fassbender, and Gerard Butler. In fact, I would agree that they would all do Lorn justice as a screen version. In my head and perhaps in the readers mind, Mullone would look very different.

Are you like any of the characters (and how so)? 

I think a part of me is in every character to be honest. I’ve drawn out my idiosyncrasies and given the characters foibles.

Tell us one odd thing about you and one really mundane thing.

One odd thing would be that I can eat chocolate at any time of the day. Mundane thing is that I have to have coffee with my breakfast.

Who are your editors and how do you quality control your books?

My editor is Catherine Lenderi (@cathlen78 on Twitter) and she was recommended to me by several authors. She’s excellent, professional and one of the planet’s nicest people. I’ve learned to proof-read until my eyes bleed and then give it to Catherine. Who then spots mistakes and gives ideas to help the story flow or other recommendations.

How have you found the experience of self-publishing? What were your highs and lows?

I self-published in April this year and after a few formatting issues, it was very easy to add to Amazon KDP, CreateSpace (and Smashwords for the first three books). I’m looking at the sales per day which can be wonderful to heart-breaking.

What is your advice to new writers?

Just keep at it. Keep writing, keep reading. To be honest I’m really not qualified to give advice. This reminds me of Chandler Bing when asked in Friends. He said ‘‘I’m not so good with advice. Can I offer a sarcastic comment instead?’’

Who are your favourite authors?

Oooohh there are lots…Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow, Lee Child, Stephen King, C.J Sansom, George R.R. Martin…

What is your favourite book?

It’s ‘Sharpe’s Siege’. It was given to me as a Christmas present by my father and it introduced me to Richard Sharpe and his world. I’ve been reading them ever since.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

A complete change of genre for me, but I’ve just started ‘Gone Girl’ by Gillian Flynn. I’ve heard amazing things about it which piqued my interest.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

Take it on the chin and move on. If someone slates my work then that’s their opinion. I’m not going to worry about it. Often I read stories where authors have ranted on social media and made fools of themselves. I say just let it go and move on. There are far more important things to worry about than someone else’s opinion.

You can find David and all of his books on 

Amazon US and Amazon UK

Goodreads

and connect with him on http://thewolfshead.tumblr.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/DavidCookAuthor

Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/113814484444212345228?tab=wX#113814484444212345228/posts?tab=wX

and

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

David Cook is from Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, but now lives in Leicestershire with his wife and young son.

David has been interested in history since his school days, and developed a love for the Napoleonic Wars era from his father, who painted and amassed a lead model army of the Battle of Waterloo. From there David became fascinated with The English Civil Wars and English medieval history, particularly the legend of Robin Hood. David is writing a novel titled The Wolfshead, a story of Robin Hood, but based on the original medieval ballads as the source.

For more information and updates please visit http://thewolfshead.tumblr.com

 

“Stranger at Sunset” by Eden Baylee

Tags

author Eden Baylee, ficiton, interview, review, thriller

“Stranger at Sunset” by Eden Baylee is a fantastic read. So much, that I read it twice. I first noticed Eden through her blog and didn’t realise for too long what a gifted writer she is. Her thriller is amazing (my review is below) and her adult fiction has literary quality. Today I am proudly presenting you with an interview with Eden.

Hi Eden, I must say, your bio is very impressive. Tell us about your transition from banking to writing?

Thanks so much for inviting me on your terrific blog, Christoph. It’s so cozy here. 

The transition took twenty years and hasn’t been easy, but it’s been tremendously rewarding. I actually left my job after ten years to pursue a writing career the first time. I moved to NYC and immersed myself in the writing scene there. Unfortunately, not long after, I was diagnosed with cancer—bad timing! It forced me to move back to Canada for treatment. The process of getting my health back took about two years, and by then I was not financially sound.

I had to return to work and thought I’d only stay for a year or two before leaving again. Who knew it would take another ten years before I got up the nerve to do it?

All I can say is I was in a much better position to leave the second time. I would encourage writers to keep their day jobs unless they are able amass enough savings to last at least 3-5 years. I was never able to work a full-time job and write, so I had to make a choice.

What made you decide to be a writer? Have you always written?

Before I was ever a writer, I was and still am an avid reader.  Reading and writing have been passions of mine from when I was young, though I can’t say I ever thought I would become a writer professionally. I just never considered it a financially viable profession for me when I was in my twenties. At the time, I was concerned with material things.

That changed over the years of course. Life is not just about money and things. It’s about what makes me happy, and the combination of a life-threatening illness and not being happy in my job made me rethink my priorities.

Writing may not be bringing me riches monetarily (not yet anyway), but I’m much happier with where I am in life right now.

You started off with Erotica but even there you’ve written quite deep characters. I was surprised to find you turn to crime fiction instead of a literary theme. Tell us about the transition. 

I read my first book of erotic fiction when I was eleven, and it definitely affected my psyche. The novella was Story of O by Pauline Réage. I started with erotica because I enjoy reading well-written stories about love, romance, and sex as relevant to the story. The genre, however, works best as short novels, approximately 25K – 35K words. I’d written eight of them and compiled them into two anthologies. (Fall into Winter and Spring into Summer). After that, it was time to move on.

I’ve been a reader of many genres, and mystery/suspense novels have always interested me. I also needed a challenge. Writing Stranger at Sunset was challenging because it forced me to plot. There are intricate threads in my book that will be carried over to the next two books since it’s the first of a trilogy. With short stories, I rarely had to plot.

The transition to writing a full-length novel really tested me. It made me feel much more confident about my writing, more so than for the fact that I changed genres.

Who are your favourite crime authors?

I love the classical writers and I’ve read some excellent indie writers too. A short list of authors I enjoy are: Dashiell Hammett, Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler,  Elmore Leonard,  James Ellroy, Dennis Lehane, Patricia Highsmith.

For good indie mystery/thriller/crime writers, there are too many to mention, but you can find many of them interviewed on my blog. I tend to support the writers I enjoy reading as I want to see them succeed and continue to write.

I love your blog posts, especially the music ones. Tell my readers about them and about your connection to music. 

Thank you for your compliment, Christoph! I’m a fan of 60s and 70s rock, blues, and jazz, so music is something I enjoy very much. I also play harmonica and guitar, though neither proficiently.

As a child, I grew up with music based on the taste of older influencers. Cousins, aunts and uncles shared their record collections with me, and that’s the music that touches me the most, even today.

There is so much ‘bad’ music out there, so in blogging about what I enjoy, I am also re-discovering music I haven’t listened to in some time. Perhaps in the process, I’m sharing what I like with a new generation.

Music, as a universal language, unites people. By blogging about it, it’s another way for me to connect to others.

You’ve written great characters. Would you say you’re like any of them? Or, how do you create your characters?  Did you have any actors or people in mind when writing your characters?

In formulating a story, my main focus is on characterization. I believe that a story exists because the characters make it happen. Even though my book, Stranger at Sunset is a mystery/thriller and considered genre fiction, it doesn’t imply you can have a great plot at the expense of great characters. 

I enjoyed Dr. Kate Hampton, the protagonist of the book. I relate to her, which in itself is a little scary. Some readers have said she is not likeable. Others think she is terrific. It’s a strangely dichotomous reaction, but I can understand why. For me, she represents two sides of one person – the one you show to the world and the one you keep hidden.

I would say many of us keep parts of ourselves hidden, even to the people closest to us. That’s why I think her story is interesting, and why she will have two more books written about her.

As much as I love film, I don’t write a book with specific actors in mind. It’s less important for me who plays the characters. I prefer to think of film directors and how they would convey the overall plot. To that end, I love the filmmaking styles of David Fincher, the Coen Brothers, and Alfred Hitchcock.

What is your writing environment like?

Sitting for long periods of time to write is not a good idea, so I stand at my kitchen counter. Sometimes, I have ankle weights and exercise at the same time. When standing becomes tiring, I stop for a while and take a walk or do yoga or meditate. I like writing by natural light, so that dictates where I write most days.

Did you have any say in your cover art? What do you think of it? Tell us about the artist.

Yes, I use award-winning designer, JB Graphics from Toronto. (http://www.john-beadle.com/). He designs my covers, website, and any other artwork I need. I am involved in most aspects of the design, mainly because visual art interests me.

I also know the message I want to convey, and how a cover can set a mood for a book since it’s the first thing a potential buyer sees.

My requirements for a cover are that it should look professional across all platforms, with a unique design and the right proportion of image and fonts. 

How have you found the experience of self-publishing? What were your highs and lows?

As you know, Christoph, being a self-published author is never just about the writing. When we go this route, we expect to do it all, and if we can’t, then we hire professionals to help us.

Given that, each day is somewhat of a juggle to write, read, and promote.

There are many things that need to be done to spread the word of a book before and after it’s written. Selling books is a huge part of being a full-time writer. It’s what pays the bills and allows me to keep writing.

The highs come when I realize I’m living the life I want to live, moment by moment. It’s all about the writing.

The lows come on days when I don’t know if I’m coming or going, when I haven’t slept enough, and I’m “chasing” a story that’s just not happening. Doubt about my abilities as a writer creeps in. I’m not one to wallow, but at one or two in the morning, the mind can play tricks on my self-confidence.

As writing for me can be all-encompassing, I have to force myself to walk away from my laptop and decompress. It’s difficult but it’s necessary.

What is your advice to new writers? 

My main tip is to keep writing. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned by writing continuously. The fact that I cringe a little when reading some of my earlier works is a good thing. It means I’ve moved on from there. I feel the mark of any writer should be to improve with each book they write.

I’d also advise to hit a word count or daily goal you set for yourself. As a writer of fiction, I’m fully aware that my imagination is a function of my brain; the brain is a muscle. And like any muscle, it needs exercise daily or it will atrophy.

What makes you laugh?

Many things and sometimes everything! I love dry, witty English humour, but I also like silly slap-stick. I don’t need anything highbrow, as anything that hints at farting usually makes me giggle.

There’s nothing like having a great belly laugh, the type that doubles you over with tears streaming down your face because you just can’t stop. This usually only happens with a few close friends. I’m convinced they’ve discovered the way to kill me is by making me laugh until I can’t breathe!

What (not who) would you like to take to a lonely island?  

Haha! I suppose if I took someone it would no longer be lonely. I’ve answered this question before and my top 3 things are always the same: 

1. Solar-powered laptop with an unlimited iTunes account and WiFi. This satisfies my need to read, write, and listen to music.
2. Power tools to build a proper shelter.
3. Lip balm because I loathe chapped lips.

Who would you like to invite for dinner? 

You, Christoph, of course! I think you would be an amazing dinner guest – fun, intelligent, and we can even speak in my poor German if you like! I make a wonderful schnitzel, just so you know.

Perfect. It’s a date…
What song would you pick to go with your book?

Actually, Stranger at Sunset has a soundtrack for sale on iTunes. Because of my love for music, I inserted songs into the storytelling, so I have a playlist of approximately thirteen songs that go with the book.

In one of my erotic novellas, “Seduced by the Blues,” the male lead is a blues guitarist, and there are numerous references to music in that book, including one of my all time favourite musicians, Van Morrison.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

I hire a hitman … just kidding. (hehe)

I take criticism of my work as a valuable lesson to improve my writing. If someone reads my work and takes the time to write a review, or to tell me what they thought, then they are doing something very few do. They are making a concerted effort to express their opinions for why they liked or did not like a book.

As an author, you need to have a thick skin, and if you don’t, grow one fast. Our writing will not appeal to everyone. That is just not possible.

If you think the criticism is valid, then learn from it and move on.

If you think the criticism is bullshit, do the same.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, not just professional critics/reviewers. The worst thing is to let negativity paralyze you … so don’t allow this to happen. 

Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

Hmm… what an interesting question. Toronto, Canada is not known for ‘weird,’ but right now I will say the weather is weird. It’s snowing in mid November. I hate the cold, so I’m not looking forward to this winter. This weird pattern is probably the case for the weather worldwide.

Nice: All the festivals and events we have, along with numerous restaurants. There is never a shortage of things to do and places to eat.

Fact: Toronto is the center of Canada for business, art, and … condominiums. A friend who is a realtor said we have the most condos of any city in all of North America. She must be right because our skyline is littered with cranes and tall buildings. 

What are you working on now?

I’m writing my next novel called, A Fragile Truce, which is the book that follows Stranger at Sunset. I’m excited to see where the main character, Dr. Kate Hampton goes next. I hope my readers will be as well.

Thanks so much Christoph for the opportunity to share with your readers. You are an amazing advocate for indie writers, and I’m so happy we are connected.

Big hugs, eden  

Stranger at Sunset by Eden Baylee

Author Bio

Eden Baylee left a twenty-year banking career to become a full-time writer. She incorporates many of her favorite things into her writing such as: travel; humor; music; poetry; art; and much more.

Stranger at Sunset is her first mystery novel, on the heels of several books of erotic anthologies and short stories. She writes in multiple genres.

An introvert by nature and an extrovert by design, Eden is most comfortable at home with her laptop surrounded by books. She is an online Scrabble junkie and a social media enthusiast, but she really needs to get out more often!

To stay apprised of Eden’s book-related news, please add your name to her mailing list.

Author Links

Website | Blog | Amazon Author page US | Amazon Author page UK

Twitter @edenbaylee | Facebook | Goodreads | Youtube | Pinterest | Linkedin

* * *

My review of the book: 
A group of strangers and acquaintances spend a week together in a holiday resort in Jamaica after a tropical storm has recently devastated parts of it. One of those guests has given the resort a terrible write up in a travel magazine, another is an egotistic self-declared ‘alpha’ male, there are a few couples and house staff and then there is our heroine psychologist Kate.
The atmosphere is loaded with tension between the owner and the reviewer as well as between some of guests, there is plenty of sexual chemistry and the air is also full of secrets, plans and deceits. The focus of the narrative shifts to let us into the minds and thoughts of the well-chosen and perfectly fleshed out characters. They are all multi-dimensional and I ended up feeling for even the less likable ones because of the insights into their pasts or backgrounds. Kate as the trained psychologist is a great character who, with a razor sharp ability to dissect and analyse them, brings further dimensions to our perception and understanding of the cast.
The writing establishes and carries forward an excellent sense of expectation from page one, where a brief and ominous episode with binoculars already whets our curiosity. Atmospheric, stylish and confident Baylee feeds us the story day by day until some big events do take place. I do not wish to spoil the experience by hinting at what is going to happen, only that I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was genuinely surprised by the way everything developed.
I read some of Baylee’s erotic writing which has much more depth than the genre normally calls for and “Stranger at Sunset” is no exception. A psychological thriller of literary quality.

Stranger at Sunset (Book summary)

Vacation can be a killer.

Dr. Kate Hampton, a respected psychiatrist, gathers with a group of strangers at her favorite travel spot, Sunset Villa in Jamaica. Included in the mix are friends of the owners, a businessman with dubious credentials, and a couple who won the trip from a TV game show.

It is January 2013, following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The luxury resort is struggling, not from the storm, but due to a scathing review from caustic travel writer, Matthew Kane. The owners have invited him back with hopes he will pen a more favorable review to restore their reputation.

Even though she is haunted by her own demons, Kate feels compelled to help. She sets out to discover the motivation behind Kane’s vitriol. Used to getting what he wants, has the reviewer met his match in Kate? Or has she met hers?

Stranger at Sunset is a slow-burning mystery/thriller as seen through the eyes of different narrators, each with their own murky sense of justice. As Kate’s own psychological past begins to unravel, a mysterious stranger at Sunset may be the only one who can save her.

Available in e-book and print

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon worldwide http://authl.it/B00L7BVDFM

Apple | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo

Also available in Print | iTunes Soundtrack

“My Barsethshire Diary” by Lord David Prosser

Tags

David Prosser Author, diaries, Humour, interview, Lord David Prosser, My Barethshire Diaries, Wales, writing

Today I have the honour to introduce David Prosser and his very entertaining “Batsetshire Diaries”, including an interview with his Lordship himself. 

“My Barsetshire Diary (The Barsetshire Diaries Book 1)” by Lord David Prosser is a wonderful excursion into the (fictitious) world of Lord David and Lady Julia live a modern day life with their recently inherited title as Lord and Lady. Traditions, British class system and formality meet shopping trips, exercise machines and mundane tasks and issues.
The book is full of situational comedy, irony and great wit and most amusing characters. Told in diary style, small snippets and events illuminate the challenges when two different worlds meet and need to work out their differences. I enjoyed the book very much and am sure you will, too – especially if you like authors and characters such as Georgette Heyer, Anthony Trollope, Stephen Fry, Wooster and Jeeves, Mapp and Lucia etc. – to name a few. Written with fantastic use of the English language the book is a real treat. A fresh breath of air and a very rewarding read.

“The Queen’s Envoy (the Barsetshire Diaries Book 2) by Lord David Prosser are a great addition to the series. In this instalment
Lord David is asked to take over some diplomatic task, in the tradition of his predecessor. His mission takes him to the Middle East where his likeable and unassuming Lordship at first thinks he has failed his task.
This series has a beautiful feel, very witty but gentle, funny and full of great observational humour about human nature and the British, the diaries are a real treasure.
Lord David and Lady Julia live a modern day life with their recently inherited title as Lord and Lady and offer a great persepctive on the life of the gentry. Traditions, British class system and formality meet shopping trips, exercise machines and mundane tasks and issues. Written with fantastic use of the English language the book is a real treat. A fresh breath of air and a very rewarding read.

Interview with David:

Please tell us a little something about yourself as a person and an author:

I’m an ex -Local Government Officer retired on ill health grounds. As a person I’m quite shy though I do have a good sense of humour. As an author I’m more a bender of the truth. Always ready to exaggerate a situation to make it funny. Life should be funny where it can be.

What made you decide to be a writer? Have you always written?

I didn’t start writing until I was 60. A friend in America asked how my day was and I answered in the form of a diary entry from a slightly browbeaten husband and father. She loved it and asked for moe and the first book was born.

For the less educated amongst us, could you shed some light on Barethshire, Mr Trollop and your Lordship?

My friend, who is also a writer and editor compared my writing to Anthony Trollope and I thought maybe I could create the modern day Barsetshire . Angela Thirkell carried on from Trollope after a considerable gap, I carried on from her after the same gap. As for me, I decided to place myself there to narrate the story. The title is another issue. It’s an hereditory feudal title or Manorial title so strictly speaking I’m not entitled to the form of address ‘Your Lordship’. It’s not Lord David Prosser, it’s David Prosser, Lord of Bouldnor. However it would be very difficult to explain that in a book and to be honest I thought the title wouldn’t harm sales so I stuck to the traditional.

How do you come up with your ideas? Who or what inspires you?

Very much like you I watch people to find my characters. The storyline in the first book was based on real life incidents just taken to the N’th degree. The second book, The Queen’s Envoy which is in fact a prequel is all imaginary as I”ve never been to the places mentioned nor rescued damsels in distress.

You write both short blog posts and novels. How do you decide when to keep it short and when to draw the story out?

The writing stopped after my wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I’d had a blog in a small way before that but I concentrated more on that as time went on.Lady J had many friends out there that I was keeping in touch with any changes. I was also running a blog on behalf of the cat who couldn’t quite manage the keyboard. His blog eventually became the fourth book I wrote.

You’ve written great characters. Would you say you’re like any of them? Or, how do you create your characters? Did you have any actors or people in mind when writing your characters?

I’m very much like Lord David, the hero naturally. As with all the characters they’re based on observations of family, friends and perfect ( or imperfect) strangers who had characteristics I could use. The situations in the first book are just things that people face every day but in this case faced by a charming , urbane and very female ruled male.

Which book did you most enjoy writing?

The second Book, The Queen’s Envoy was the one I enjoyed most as I had to totally create the situations and then place them in foreign parts and try and get myself out from under without falling into the grasp of scheming females.

What is your writing environment like?

Small, cramped nd very untidy describes it best. I use the second bedroom ( box room) as my bedroom and as the computer room as I sleep very little. I found when my brother slept over I couldn’t put him in here as for some reason he wasn’t amenable to me tapping away at me emails at 3.00 am.

Did you have any say in your cover art? What do you think of it? Tell us about the artist.

The cover of the first book was done by my friend and editor for me. I really liked the pastoral scene. I’m ashamed to say I did the cover for the second book, The Queen’s Envoy, and then had a young artist called Sara Japanwalla do the cover of book 3, More Barsetshire Diary, based on cartoons she did to head each chapter in that book. It was a trial that didn’t really work. I take responsibility for the fourth book Memoirs of a Superior which was by Oscar the cat. The last book I also did the cover for but I’m actually proud of that one, Tall Animal Tales for Toddlers & Up, a book of sillly animal poems dedicated to my grandson Reuben.

How have you found the experience of self-publishing? What were your highs and lows? ;

I’m something of a technophobe so I found the actual formatting very conmfusing. The High, selling that very first book. The Low, actually paying the bribe to the buyer.

What do you like best about writing? What’s your least favourite thing?

The best thing about writing, being paid to think up lies. The least favourite, typing up.

What is your advice to new writers?

Don’t hesitate, but make sure you use a proofreader at least and an editor if possible before publishing. The competition is fierce and readers prefer a book without mistakes.

Who are your favourite authors?

Terry Pratchett, Harlen Coben, Sue Grafton, David Eddings, Terry Brooks, Tolkein.

Who are your favourite independent writers?

AC Flory, SJ Sprague, Candy Sorin Suciu, Candy Korman and just so many more who haven’t written enough to satisfy me yet.

What is your favourite book?

Without doubt Lord of the Rings.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

The Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader in paperback.

What is your life like outside of writing?

What life outside writing, or at least blogging and answering emails?

What makes you laugh?

My grandson’s laugh, a good joke. I don’t laugh at people falling, I cringe.

What (not who) would you like to take to a lonely island?

A full Kindle with a power source.

Who would you like to invite for dinner?

My friends in Australia. The people I’m least likely to ever meet.

What song would you pick to go with your book?

The Queen’s Envoy. Would be Search for the Hero inside Yourself., by M People.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

It depends. I accept valid criticism, we can’t please everyone. Trolls annoy me and I have actually answered one though I know one should rise above it.

Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

Sorry, probably the most weird thing is that I live here. Nice is that I have some history around me with the ruins of Basingwerk Abbey and the fact, they became ruins when Henry VIII decided on the dissolution of the Monasteries.

What are you working on now?

Just the blog and some interviews though I’m being nagged to write again and to do another book of silly poetry.

Is there anything you would like us to know about yourself and your books?

Me, I’m a quiet chap with a firm belief in the benefit of hugs. See my Buthidar’s site.

My books, well you could read those to anyone as there’s no sex, violence or swearing- just fun.

Connect with David:

Amazon .com Author page http://goo.gl/XIMtUn

Amazon.co.uk Author page http://goo.gl/BBk5yk

Website. http://barsetshirediaries.wordpress.com

Buthidar’s site http://lorddavidprosser1.wordpress.com/

“The Missing Half” by Brooke Powley

Tags

Brooke Powley, child abduction, Cornwall, fiction, interview, review, Uk

“The Missing Half” by Brooke Powley

is a powerful literary gem that deals with the tragic issue of child abduction.
At age 2 one of two twins is abducted in Cornwall and for ten years her mother campaigns and fights for publicity and police action to find her missing daughter, never giving up.
The book is written in several narratives, adding multiple dimensions to the search and the story. It would be difficult to give away too much without spoiling the experience of the book.

At the beginning of the book it is mainly the mother, Alice, who writes to her missing daughter and tells her exactly how the tragedy occurs and what happens immediately afterwards.
The account is moving, honest and includes a lot of statistical and basic information on child abduction. We learn about the ordeal and the many psychological aspects of the unique situation.

Later on different narratives bring in more perspectives and add extra dimensions to the story and the book reads like a psychological thriller, although I would say for the majority it reads like great literary fiction.

This book is an excellent but somewhat emotional experience, often very sad and melancholic, so keep the tissues handy, but definitely worth the time. It is thought provoking and an amazing literary debut.

For an interview with Brooke follow this link to my new website
http://www.christophfischerbooks.com/the-missing-half-by-brooke-powley/

Paul Cude: “Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past”

Tags

Book review, Dragons, Fantasy, fiction, interview, writer

A Dragon Treat for Halloween – Meet BENTWHISTLE THE DRAGON by Paul Cude on my blog today

http://www.christophfischerbooks.com/paul-cude-bentwhistle-the-dragon-in-a-threat-from-the-past/

“Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past” by Paul Cude is using a highly original idea and makes it the centre of a very entertaining adventure story for young adults and those young at hearts. In times of “Eragon” and “The Hobbit” many of us older adults love a good dragon story just as well as the younger ones and I am sure most people who pick up this book will appreciate Cude’s excellent effort in that regard.

Most of the story however is surprisingly set in present day and not in the distant past. The dragons are not enemies of us humans but are actually here to protect us, a tradition that goes a long way back into their past. Using this inventive set up Cude tells us with much love for detail about the world and communities of dragons, their habitat, tunnels under the sea and much more which I found very enjoyable.
Myths and legends in the dragon world their good and bad members, their habits, their sports and their views on the human world add flesh to the action part of the story.

Cude has taken the simple idea and given it a lot of thought and imaginative detail, it is obvious what a labour of love writing this book must have been and it certainly has paid off.
Highly recommended, a great and fun-filled read.