The Edible Bookshelf

Check this review of Twin Souls!

2012-02-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

Linda Ulleseit just posted of review of my book Twin Souls on her blog, Read Like Good Readers Do.

Check it out! http://mrsulleseit.wordpress.com/reviews/twin-souls/

M&Ms

2012-02-25T16:48:00.003-07:00

I was lucky enough to read The Promise while it was being workshopped, and ever since then, when I see M&Ms it makes me think of this book. Read the first few chapters of The Promise to find out why.

Guest Post by Apryl Baker (Author of "The Promise")

2012-02-24T14:11:00.002-07:00

Random Thoughts by Apryl Baker

Hi, guys, thanks for having meand I just wanted to share some things with you. I get asked a lot of questions and I thoughtI’d just answer a few of them here for anyone who is trying to write theirfirst novel or break into print.

The biggest question I get is howdid you come up with your story? ThePromise, book one of The Coven series, is what I refer to as my little Post ItNote idea. I was driving home one daylistening to Theory of a Dead Man’s NotMeant To Be, and I passed this little community called New Salem. I got this image in my head of a girl sittingbeside a gravestone. I couldn’t get itout of my head. I kept asking myself,why is she sitting there all alone looking so sad? When I got home, I grabbed a yellow sticky,wrote the idea down, and then stuck it to the wall beside my computer. Over the next couple days, I kept gettingideas, writing them down on stickies, and before I knew it, I had the outlineof a novel in a wall of orange, yellow, and pink. A good idea is great, but you still have tomake it work.

To me the most important part ofany novel, whether it’s set in a past or modern reality, an alternate reality,or a completely new world, is that it has to be believable. Many people ask me how do you do it, how doyou create something you know isn’t real and make it seem as real as the airyou breathe? It’s one of the hardestthings I’ve ever done, but also one of the simplest. Contradictory I know. It comes down to research. You have to know what you are writing about. If you have a good grasp on what you aretrying to accomplish, you can do anything with it.

Witchcraft is what my novel, ThePromise, centers on. I had to create aplace where it was as common for teens to be having meetings on spell craftingas it was for them to be hanging out at the mall. I literally went to the mall every Saturdayfor a month straight and sat in the food court watching teens, listening to howthey talked to each other, their mannerisms, and watching how they interactedwith each other. It was an eye openingexperience. I had no idea. I wanted my novel to be as real as I couldget it in relation to how the characters were in comparison to modernteens. The mall experience played a bigrole in that. If you are not a teen writinga teen book, I’d recommend spending a couple Saturdays at the mall. It’s well worth it to the aspiring youngadult writer.

The Salem Witch Trials also playsa huge role in the book. I read justabout every book I could find on the subject. I studied web sites, spoke with curators at museums, and learned moreabout that horrible time in history than I could ever have wanted to. I hope I managed to get some of the tragedyof that time in the words and emotions in The Promise.

I remember when I went lookingfor books on Wiccan and/or witchcraft initiation ceremonies, my first stop wasmy local library. The attendant behindthe information desk was a lovely elderly woman who was seventy if she was aday. When I asked her if they hadanything on the subject, she looked at me as if I’d grown horns right then andthere. She answered me in a very soft, very stiff voice, “No, we do not haveanything on any such thing.” She stillgives me odd looks every time she sees me. Suffice to say, I stuck to things I could order online as far as bookswent on that particular subject.

Armed with all this knowledge, Iwent back and filled in the gaps in the story I’d started writing a whileback. Because I lived and breathed thesubject, my characters did too. The bestadvice I can give anyone is to jump in head first and learn everything youcan. Once you do, it becomes as easy asbreathing to make it sound real, because it sorta is to you for just a littlewhile. If you believe it, if you writelike you believe it, then anyone who reads it will too.

The hard part is to be able toput all this background in without having it sound like an information dumpthat will glaze over the readers eyes and make them skim pages. What I did was broke it up a bit. I used various ways of letting the readerknow. My biggest trick is diaryentries. I let the reader see the pastthrough her sister’s eyes by way of a diary she found that explained so muchand gave her even more questions. I alsoused dreams. There is a part in the bookwhere the main character, Cassie Jayne, actually goes back into the past on theday of the burning, via a dream. Shehears and see’s everything trapped inside the conscious mind of one of thewitches that are being burned at the stake. You get to feel the pain, anguish and fear because she does. You get to experience her terror at the feelof the flames licking her skin. All thisis done via a dream.

You have to find unique ways toshow the past, to show the reader the character backgrounds without a monotoneof information. The best way to do thiscan also be done via dialogue. You canlearn just as much by characters talking about each other as you can by droningon and on in paragraph after paragraph of information. It’s the show VS tellargument. I’d rather see it throughdialogue or actions than I would read about it. It makes it interesting for the reader and keeps the attention of somany teens who are used to the fast paced world of now, now, now or I loseinterest.

I am a huge, huge fan of old noirmysteries and I incorporated my love of mysteries into my writing. For me, the buildup has to be gradual and inthe beginning the more answers you find, the more questions you get. That is what I did. For every answer Cassie found, it made herquestion everything more. It has to besubtle, you can’t just throw it in people’s faces. I drop hints of answers in most chapters,just enough to make you start to think on your own, but in the end, the answerto the mystery is so shocking you gasp and think, I never suspected. To me that is what a good mystery does andhopefully I did that with The Promise.

After I’d done all this, edited,polished, edited, polished, and prayed it was good enough, I began the agenthunt. Agents are like the elusive whitewhale. You know they’re out there, butgetting one can be next to impossible. I’ve come to believe it’s sheer luck. When your novel lands on an agents desk, if they get to see it mind you– I think sometime the assistants sit there and go, eeny meeny, miney moe – Ithink the agent has to be in the mood to read that particular type ofstory. It’s either that or they just areafraid to take a chance on something that isn’t old and tried and true. And that is just my opinion mind you, noslight or slander meant to agents in general. It’s how I rationalize all those rejection letters.

So you send your brand spankingnew novel out into the world and hope for the best. You will get rejection letters. Prepare yourselves ahead of time. Most agents will tell you what they didn’tlike about the work if they requested it or a partial. Look for things that are common, go back tothe novel, rework what doesn’t work and try, try again. Make a list of agents, list A – your topchoices, and list B – your second choices. Always query list B first so you can take their advice and make yourbook the best it can be for your list A agents. It’s always best to test the waters first with a second or third choice.

I went with a smaller publisherfor my first book. I started researchingsmall publishers as opposed to the bigger houses. Yes, it requires more work on my part as faras promoting, but the smaller publisher will work harder for you. You also get more profits from your books aswell. For me it was a good fit at thetime. I went with Black MatrixPublishing because after talking with the owner and the editors, it was just areally good fit for me. Do I want anagent and a bigger publisher? Maybe inthe future, but for now I’m happy where I am and my book is doing extremelywell simply because of all the hard work that is going into the promotion ofit. I’m not sure I’d be given the sameattention at the bigger houses, at least not for my first book. So all in all, I’m happy.

The best advice I was ever givenwas to find a good writing group. I wasdirected to www.thenextbigwriter.comby an agent. Those guys are the bestresource I have. You have to be able totake criticism, but if you can, the people on that site will take your work,shred it and then help you whip it into shape. I would not be where I am today without the support of the friends Imade on that site. They are always thefirst to grind me into the dust and the first to shout for joy with me when Iget it right. They took a mediocre bookand turned it into something amazing and I owe them more than I can everpossibly repay them. For anyone who istrying to write their first novel, hone their skills, or take an old novel andrevamp it, I’d highly recommend that site to anyone.

Thanks so much for listening tomy ramblings on the makings of a novel, or at least the key features forme. I appreciate your time and hope thatI’ve at least helped a few people out there who are scratching their heads andwondering how in the world do you do that?

Most of all, my parting advice isto just have fun. It should never bework, it should be something you love to do. If you love it, then so will everyone else.

~Apryl Baker

New Book!

2012-02-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Edible Bookshelf is moving on to Witchcraft and yummy boys. Apryl Baker's The Promise is up next for review, and later this week I'll be posting a guest post from Apryl Baker about her book and her thoughts on writing in general. So take a look at the blurb for The Promise, and then follow the links to get your own copy and read along.

The Promise (Apryl Baker) Black Matrix Publishing

"Cassie Jayne Bishop grew up in the sleepy town of New Salem, NC, the only
non-believer in the tradition and power of the town Coven. When a stranger
comes to New Salem, everything she thought was normal about her life
unravels around her. Ethan makes her question everything, even her sister's
death in a car crash years ago. As Cassie discovers the full truth about her
heritage, and the clues start to pile up, she becomes determined to find out
if the Coven was actually involved in her sister's death. What she uncovers
terrifies her.

Her fate lies at the very heart of the secret the Coven protects. It's the
reason she was born. Now, betrayed on every side, can she find a way to
survive or will she be the catalyst that triggers a centuries old act of
vengeance."

Links:
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO2zTiuXzao
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12686372-the-promise
Twitter: @AprylBaker
Blog: http://apryl-baker.blogspot.com/
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Promise-Coven-ebook/dp/B005KSRZ46/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UT
F8&qid=1329878318&sr=8-1
B&N:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/apryl-baker

Interview with Angela Fristoe (author of Songbird)

2012-02-18T12:02:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I reviewed Angela Fristoe's Songbird on the blog. I am excited that Angela agreed to do an interview and tell us all a little more about the book, how it was written, and about her upcoming works. Thank you, Angela, for sharing with us. Read on to find out more about Angela and Songbird.

1.Songbird was a little different from your usual writing, which for those whohaven't read any of your other work usually includes some magical realism andparanormal fantasy. What was the inspiration for Songbird?

Songbird was all about Dani andwhere she needed to go as a character. I wanted her to have a very emotionaljourney and for the reader to see what she was going through in the present andhow her past experiences were shaping her choices and her beliefs about whatwas happening to herself and those around her.

2.I've noticed that you have used music in several of your books. Do you share alove for music like your characters do? Do you play and instrument orsing?

I played the cello in fourth grade,and that's about the extent to my musical abilities. Pretty sad considering themusical abilities of the rest of my family. I do love music though and wish Iwas musically talented. I don't listen to music as I write, but sometimes I'llhear a song on the radio that will bring something to mind and I'll use it forinspiration later on.

3.Dani's situation with alcoholic and abusive parents must have been difficult towrite. Did you do any research for Songbird? What helped you to convey heremotions so well?

The only research I did was into thecancer symptoms and treatments, as well as a bit into the legal system inColorado. I've known a number of adults and children who have faced situationslike Dani does with her parents and I really tried to put myself into theirposition and let myself react to them.

4.I know this was a NANO (National Novel Writing Month) project, are you willingto admit to how much of the story you had planned out at the beginning, or didpieces fall into place with the mystery side of the story as you wrote?

Absolutely nothing planned. I didn'tsign up for NANO until the day before and even then I almost chickened out. Irarely knew what I was going to write each evening until I sat down at mycomputer.

5.How many times have you participated in NANO? Did you finish Songbird in 30days (which is the challenge of NANO for those not familiar with theproject)?

Songbird was my first NANO novel,and I've since won two more times. With Songbird I managed to eke out a chaptera day. Once NANO was done and I had my 50,000words, it took me another fourmonths to finish the last 5 chapters, and then another year to get through theediting process. The second year was pretty much a wash and I have nointentions of ever revisiting that work again. This year I worked on Heal Me,the second book in the Graced Trilogy and it's really given me a boost ofenergy to finish Liar.

6.The mystery in Songbird sometimes feels secondary to the romance and Dani'spersonally difficulties, even though it still plays a very important part ofthe book. Was the mystery a planned part of the book from the beginning, orsomething the developed later as you wrote?

It wasn't planned out to the lastdetail, but once I wrote the character of Colin I knew I wanted there to besomething more to his life, deeper than just being a possible love interest,and how it affected Dani. The last few chapters of Songbird were the hardest towrite because I didn't know where I wanted it to go. Right up until the end Ikept changing my mind about what would happen.

7.Can you tell us a little about Raven's Mark and Liar: A Graced Trilogy?

Raven's Mark is still under seriousrevisions while I try to work in a bit of Norse mythology. The story centersaround Anya Lindgren who discovers that the town she's living in is not exactlynormal, and that they're watching her, believing that her death will end thecurse that they live under.

Liar (A Graced Trilogy, Book 1) isthe first in a series about three sisters who have been graced with different abilities.Phoebe is supposed to be the Truth Teller in her family, able to know whensomeone is lying, and until now she's figured she's broken. Then a simple lieawakens her ability and she's left wondering how to deal with a best friend whoselies could end in tragedy.

8.Who are your favorite authors?

I love Shakespeare. I'm not much ofa historical reader, but I make an exception for him. Part of that is because Ihad the most amazing Shakespeare teach in ninth grade. Other than Shakespeareit's hard for me to pin down favorites. Sometimes a book will just click withme, but I don't like any of the author's other work. For me it's all about thestory.

9.Who or what inspires you when you write?

A lot of times I'll hear a song onthe radio, and it'll get me thinking about a situation, and from there thecharacters start taking shape. Sometimes, such as with Songbird, I'll rememberexperiences I had and take it from there. The more emotional it is for me, themore likely I am to include it in my writing.

10.Do you have any fun or interesting rituals when you write?

I don't have any rituals, but I dothe majority of my writing between 11pm - 2am. I work fulltime during the day,and have a four-year-old daughter, so it's difficult to fit in writing timeduring normal hours. I've tried listening to music, but it just distracts mesince I'm one of those annoying sing along types. I do tend to be a bit ADDwhen I'm on the computer, so I try to plan my word count as I go. I'm obsessiveabout competition, so I try to beat my weekly goal by the middle of the week.

Check out more about Angela and here writing at:
www.angelafristoe.com
www.angelafristoe.blogspot.com

Review of Trailer Park Juggernauts

2012-02-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

If I gave you five seemingly random words like, Maraca,Squid, Kismet, Reaper, and Wings, would you be able to guess what they have incommon? Unless you’ve read the eclectic and entertaining short storycollection, Trailer Park Juggernauts,by Jesse Anderson I doubt you would have a chance at guessing.

Just like the five words above, Jesse Anderson has filled Trailer Park Juggernauts with a varietyof topics, from kitten rescuing angelsand Hell-bound overlords to alcohol-fueled squid chasers and Frankensteinishbig-girl sitters toting ancient swords. The variety of topics will certainlykeep you guessing. Every time I finished a story I knew I was going to besurprised by what the next one was about. Who would expect a gator wrestler toend up in a fight with lightning wielder?

One thing that tied all of Jesse’s stories together was thetype of characters he employed. Not to say that his characters were toosimilar, because they most definitely were not, but each of them were, as Jesseputs it, “hillbillies with superpowers.” The characters hailed from places likethe Deep South, Alaska, New Mexico, and similar areas away from the big citiesand supposed refinement. For anyone who has lived or visited these places, you’lldefinitely recognize them, and chuckled at some of the local oddities localsknow all too well. Jesse’s accurate descriptions and skillful use of familiarculture brought each setting to life, and his unique choices in characters andeven more unusual special gifts turned the familiar into something completelynew.

Reviewing every story in Trailer Park Juggernauts would make this review way too long, so I’lltouch on my three favorites and then move on to the book as a whole. So here wego…

In Kismet, Ireally enjoyed the simplicity of its beginning. Checking the mail is nothingunusual, but a young woman checking her mail at night, gives it an edge. Add ina kitten named Monday, purposely injured, and a lurking presence unseen byCatelynn, and I was eager to figure out what Catelynn’s power was, because I suspectedshe was going to need it. Rescuing an injured kitten certainly seems angelic, butonly after taking it on a disastrous trip to the vet do you realize just howtrue that might be. I won’t give away the ending, but I did appreciate thatsofthearted Catelynn doesn’t falter when avenging Monday’s abuse.

Karma’s Harbinger,was one of those stories that I started reading, wondering how bored Britney,sitting in her aunt’s stifling salon, was going to turn into something filledwith battling superpowers. When Tim Reppord, a recruiting office with cryptic,hidden motives, wanders into the salon I had the feeling the next time they metwas going to be interesting. When comparing their revealed superpowers it doesn’tseem very evenly matched. Britney can dole out Karmic punishment, but Reppordhas a much more final power. Their clash doesn’t disappoint.

My favorite story out of the whole collection was the lastone, which was very well placed by Jesse in my opinion. The Velveteen Maraca was the perfect story to finish on. Theopening scene presents a couple meeting with their lawyer to finalize theirwills. When the topic of handling their remains when the time comes is broughtup and Rowland chuckles at the idea of willing his body to government use Iknew I was going to enjoy his story. What I didn’t expect was how his body wasgoing to be used, and the path that would lead him to become the big-girlsitter for Little Monster. I loved the interaction between the two characters.Rowland’s blasé attitude about life isn’t wholly displaced upon stumbling uponthe little girl, but the progressive weakening of disinterest makes theirrelationship even sweeter.

As a whole, TrailerPark Juggernauts was a fun read. I never knew what was coming next, but Ilike books that surprise me. Jesse obviously has a very creative mind, whichshows in his variety of characters and story lines. I’m usually not much of ashort story reader unless it’s Poe or Asimov, but like Jesse said in hisinterview, most of these stories wouldn’t feel the same if they were anylonger.

Having said that, I did feel like some of the stories couldhave been, not necessarily added to, but developed a little more at the end. Roulette in Pestilence, in particular,was engaging through most of the story, but the end seemed to be more of a summarythan a concrete ending. I wanted to know more detail about how Tiffany andShady went about hunting down pimps, and how their mission turned out in thelong run.

As a collection of short stories,Trailer Park Juggernauts had storiesI really connected with and others that didn’t grab me quite as much. I thinkthe nice thing about short story compilations is that every reader will latchonto the elements that speak to them. Those won’t be the same stories foreveryone, but I do think everyone who reads Trailer Park Juggernauts will connect with something different andenjoy the read. It will definitely get the creative side of your mind runningaround, making you wonder what kind of unique characters and obscuresuperpowers you could come up with! Maybe we’ll have to start a running postabout that. I would love to hear what kind of power my fellow readers andbloggers would bestow opon themselves. If you’re short on ideas, pick up a copyof Trailer Park Juggernauts and Ican guarantee you’ll come up with something!

Would I recommend Trailer Park Juggernauts? Yes. If you’re lookingfor a creative boost, or simply want to get away from the ordinary for a while,then get your copy and start reading.

Who would I recommend this book too? Definitely to those readerswho are already fans of short stories, but for those who aren’t I would encourageyou to give this a try. You’ll appreciate how much unique story and characterdevelopment can be squashed into one of Jesse’s stories.

So if you haven’t already, getyour copy of Trailer Park Juggernauts todayin Paperback or Kindle.

Author Interview with Jesse Anderson, author of Trailer Park Juggernauts

2012-02-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of fun reading Trailer Park Juggernauts this past week. It has been nice to take a break from school every so often and indulge in variety of superpowers and interesting characters. There was such a wide range, I had to know what was behind some of these stories. Jesse Anderson was kind enough to answer my questions about his work and his inspiration. His answers were as fun and interesting as his short stories! So read on to find out more about Jesse.

1. Where did your inspiration for hillbillies with superpowers come from? Some of them had a DC or Marvel Comics feel to them. Did you read comics when you were younger?

My father gave me and early copy of Spiderman when I wasthree or four that I’m sure would be worth thousands now but I turned it in toa coloring book. I’ve never really been into the “graphic novel” but I can seethe allure, and you’re not the first person to make the comparison. As forinspiration, I grew up in the backwoods of Alaska and I’ve worked in theoilfield for ten years; redneck/hillbilly character studies have never been inshort supply.

2. Have you ever considered turning some of your short stories into full length novels?

Of the stories subsumed within Trailer Park Juggernauts,no. Every time I tried to expand one it felt as if I was cheapening my originalidea with filler. I’ll get there though. I have two projects between now and myfirst full length novel.

3. You write very well from such a variety of settings, from Alaska to the South. The descriptions and colloquialisms seemed very realistic. Have you lived in or visited most of the places you write about?

Yes.I’m not quite sure if I could set a story someplace I’ve never been. I’d belying at least and giving an inaccurate portrayal at best.

4. Some of your stories were about common paranormal beings like angels and the devil (although you always managed to make them very non-ordinary), but others were very unique, like the man who uses alcohol to fuel his powers. Do you intentionally choose a power or being to write about, or do the ideas just come to you spontaneously?

The man who uses booze to fuel his powers came to mewhen I wondered what an evil version of Popeye would be like. You know; spinachis to Popeye what rum is to Super Sport. All the other ideas were spawned byidle speculation. Anytime I intentionally tried to choose a power it felttrite, so I just let my mind wander. It’s a cliché, but it works. If a notionmakes me laugh, or at least smirk, I explore it.

5. What authors have inspired you? Which authors are your favorites?

I know I’m supposed to say that I’m a fan of Hemmingwayand Vonnegut, and I own books by each, but I’ve found that I only read themwhen I’m feeling pretentious. To be honest, I like trashy novels. I’ll reachfor anything that can be considered the literary equivalent of an action movie.They’re fun, but in no danger of ever winning an award. George R. R. Martin isan absolute ninja and right now I’m wading through that never ending saga byRobert Jordan.

6. Do you have any interesting rituals or tricks when you write?

I need to be distracted. I write in the middle of theliving room with my iPod blaring all sorts of incongruent music into my head.It’s hard to focus, or maybe imagine, otherwise. I haven’t tried to figure outwhy that is, and I don’t plan to because it might point towards a need formedication.

7. Do you have any other projects you're working on right now? Can you tell us about them?

I’llpublish a follow up anthology of short stories sometime in 2013, but I thinkI’m going to put together a collection of satirical essays first (David Sedarisdid it so I don’t see why I can’t). The essay was my first love (as odd as thatsounds) and I’d like to revisit that writing form. I just posted one here ifyou’re curious: www.thevelveteenmaraca.wordpress.com.Other than that, I have a five thousand word outline for my first novel and allsorts of delusions as to where I’ll go from there.

Angels, alcohol fueled superpowers, conjoined twins, teenage Reapers...

2012-02-13T08:57:00.003-07:00

The review for Trailer Park Juggernauts is coming up this week along with an interview with author, Jesse Anderson. It's been fun to read about so many different characters in this book. You never know who or what is going to pop up next, but I can guarantee it won't be the same old characters. One of my favorites so far has been Brit, a teenage girl who is compelled to maintain a Karmic balance (take in a homeless kitten...balance the good by stealing some pot) while she dishes out Karmic rewards or punishment depending on what you deserve. Very original!

Get ready for Valentine's Day...

2012-02-08T13:16:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share a link with everyone. Get in the mood for Valentine's Day by popping over to Heroines of Fantasy and indulging in a little bit of tragic romance and writing fun. Read the blurb about Adalaide and Valentine, and then finish the story. I love the idea of this, so check it out, and show us your romantic side, whether it be candy-sweet or dark and dangerous!

http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com/2012/02/tale-of-true-love-for-valentines-day.html

New Book!!!

2012-02-07T19:37:00.003-07:00

Get ready for some sci-fi adventures. The next book to be featured and reviewed on The Edible Bookshelf is Trailer Park Juggernauts by Jesse Anderson.

"Trailer Park Juggernauts is a collection of short stories about hillbillies with superpowers. A landlocked angel battles a midget and his army of parasites. A mermaid working the nine-to-five in a crab shack finds her freedom through a stalker. The reborn prophet of Rastafarianism and his green thumb leave the oilfield to square off against the religious right. Conjoined twins with deadly harmony take a break from brewing moonshine to take down an ex-ATF agent who loves murder and methamphetamines. In short, this book is a campy exploration into a world wherein working class heroes have godlike powers as well as blue collars."

Get your copy today and read along with me in Kindle or Paperback.

**Update on the next set of Author Interviews: We will be hearing from Angela Fristoe and Jesse Anderson over the next week, so stayed tuned to learn more about their books!

Review of Songbird by Angela Fristoe

2012-02-04T21:48:00.002-07:00

Some readers love to read books that will let them escape the real world for a few hours. Some prefer the realism of everyday life, joyful or tragic. I tend to be among the first group...usually. I know there are bad people in the world who do horrible things, so I don't typically like reading about them for fun. For anyone like me, don't pass Songbird by just because it doesn't have any magic, vampires, or alternate realities.

Dani Mays is a victim of tragedy. Watching her brother shot down by her own father left scars, there is no doubt about that, but that one event would have more effects on her life than she would realize as a small child.

Songbird opens with Dani as a small child, but the death of her brother cuts her childhood short personally and in the book. Jumping forward to a seventeen year old Dani, the effects of her difficult life are seen in almost everything she does. She is careful, slow to trust and even slower to forget, and desperate to please those she loves partially out of a need to show her love, and partially out of fear that if she doesn't she will lose them.

That duel need frames the romantic portion of Songbird's story line. Reece Tyler is Dani's link to acceptance and hope for a better life. She loves him. She can't say no to him. She treasures him above anyone else in the world...except maybe the memory of her dead brother. Their love story is tainted early on by Dani's past.

Angela does such a great job of weaving past hurt into the current time and twisting it into a mess you are sure will never be worked out. At different points in the novel you will be routing for Reece, but then lean toward Colin. A few times I found myself so frustrated with Reece I didn't want him to end up with Dani, but at other times I wanted to shake Dani for not seeing her own faults and fixing them. Needless to say, Angela's portrayal of a young girl so damaged by failed family relationships that forming a new, normal one seems almost impossible is engaging and hard to put down.

But if you're thinking all Songbird has to offer is some teenage romance complicated by death, keep reading. Not only does Dani's past make having a romantic relationship difficult, it brings her safety into question as well. When Dani starts receiving strange and threatening phone calls she begins to worry that someone from her past has caught up with her. Who is causing her so much distress...I'm not going to tell, of course, but it isn't easy to guess. Angela kept her hints small and the possibilities great for who could be the culprit. You'll guess, sure you know, only to find out you were wrong.

The combination of romance and mystery is balanced very well. I found both sides of the engaging, with neither one becoming to dark or graphic. The scary side of humanity is represented very well, but the reader isn't bombarded with it. I finished the book saddened by what some people will do, but comforted that there is still enough good in people to make up for it.

Would I recommend Songbird? Yes, it's a great read if you need to satisfy a taste for something dark and beautiful at the same time. It's a book that definitely pulls at your emotions.

Who would I recommend it to? YA readers, romance readers, cozy mystery readers, literary fiction readers...really I can't think of many readers who wouldn't enjoy this book.

Don't rely on just my opinion, go out and get your own copy to read, then come back and tell me what you thought. Get Songbird in Kindle, Paperback, or in most ebook formats at Smashwords.

Strength

2012-01-31T18:55:00.001-07:00

Dani, in Songbird, has not had an easy life, but possibly one of the hardest things she has to do in the book has nothing to do with her family. I don't want to spoil anything for those reading, but let's just say that when Dani is forced to choose, she's strong enough to make the right choice...even though you want to cry for her!

Get busy reading and go find out what I'm talking about. I'd love to hear other readers thoughts on Dani's decision in chapter 11.

Songbird...and the torture of being in love, and knowing it isn't returned.

2012-01-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

"Deflect. Deflect before he realizes that is the one thing you wanted more than anything. I prayed for something to come to mind, anything that I could say to end the sickening silence, but nothing came and I watched the smile slide away, the quiet between us reflected in his face."

One of the best parts of Songbird is that just about everyone can understand Dani's pain when it comes to this. How many of you have had a crush, or been in love, knowing your feelings aren't returned they way you want? Angela does such a great job of taking those emotions we've all felt and using them to let readers really connect with Dani.

More about Angela Fristoe...

2012-01-28T16:33:00.001-07:00

While you guys are reading Songbird, check out Angela's blogs to learn more about her, her writing, and what she's reading.

www.angelafristoe.com
www.angelafristoe.blogspot.com

New Book!

2012-01-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

Alright, everyone, we're moving out of the realm of the magical and paranormal to a book that is all too realistic. Songbird, by Angela Fristoe, is a heartbreaking, but soul warming story of Dani Mays. There is no magical realism, no angels or demons this time, just the real life kind of monsters and the scars they leave behind.

Songbird
There are defining moments in life when everything changes. For Dani Mays, it was the day she witnessed her father kill her brother. Now seventeen years-old, she still hasn’t put it behind her. After Jace’s death, she bounced between her alcoholic mother and foster homes, until she found a permanent place. And a reason to want to stay: Reece Tyler. He’s her best friend, yet Dani wants more from Reece. Faced with losing Reece, Dani struggles to define his place in her life and escape the influence her memories of her brother’s death have over her choices. Even as she weaves the pieces of her heart back together, the past becomes more than a memory when a former foster brother reappears and Dani begins receiving threatening phone calls.

Get your copy today, and read along with me in Paperback or Kindle or in any of the popular ebook formats on Smashwords.

Interview with Suki Michelle and Carlyle Clark

2012-01-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

For all of you that have read, or are currently reading The Apocalypse Gene, here is a little more info about the authors and how the book was written. Thanks to Suki and Carlyle for taking the time to answer my questions and share more about themselves and their work with us!

1. What was the inspiration for The Apocalypse Gene? How did the two of you develop the idea together?

Actually, that’s the trickiest question because the inspiration comes from all of the revelations in the story, so even hinting at it is basically a big giveaway. But, what we can say is the story was shaped by our idea that at the end of the day—love it, hate it, or don’t care one way or the other about it—you will not be able to say you’ve read anything similar or that you “saw what was coming next.”

And that jives with how we developed the story, which was to recognize that at each crux of the story we came to, the first few ideas we came up with were just rehashes of the way other stories had handled similar situations, so we made sure to keep going until we found something fresh. That took a lot of brainstorming and, let’s just say, “passionate discussions.”

2. When you came up with the reason for the Pandemic, what made you decide to go with a familiar disease like cancer and twist it into something even more frightening, rather than taking the more common approach of inventing a disease?

We actually struggled with this because we knew it may be off-putting to some people to have a real disease like cancer addressed in our book. At least one reviewer actually said something along the lines that “cancer shouldn't be in speculative fiction”. In the end, we decided that we respectfully disagree that speculative fiction is a literary “second class” citizen.

3. The hospice Olivya lives and works in lends a very grim slant to the book from page one. Was it difficult to write about so much sickness and death without letting the book get too depressing? (You balanced it well by the way!)

Thank you for the compliment. Suki works as a medical transcriptionist and I’ve worked—and still work—in various forms of security, we were,, perhaps a little more at home in situations that others would call grim. By the time we were through brainstorming and actually started writing, it was actually very natural to portray the world that way, and we’ve both found that despite how grim situations are in our personal lives we still find humor; we made sure to include a healthy dose of that as well.

4. The virtual school Olivya and Mikah attend was an interesting touch. Did the current obsession for social networking in today's society inspire this element?

To some extent it did. It seems the natural progression, especially with the current trend toward homeschooling, that that by the time our novel takes place there would be an established Virtual School system, and then when the Pandemic strikes it would be upgraded to the level it is in our novel.

5. How did the two of you write the book together? What was the process and balance of work like?

We brainstormed in the gist of the novel. Then I would come up with different plotting ideas and Suki and I would debate them; when we finally agreed, generally I would write the 1^st draft of a chapter and Suki the 2^nd, though some chapters we did it the other way around. Then as we were going forward we were in a constant state of revision until we were happy with the whole shebang.

6. Do either of you have interesting tricks or rituals when you write?

Hmm, Suki generally writes with an obese calico in her lap, and I sometimes work my way through scenes by doing a one-man show and acting out all the parts—it gets really weird when I do the non-human ones—and living in fear someone will videotape me through the window and put it on YouTube.

7. Who are your favorite authors?

We both love Guy Gavriel Kay. Suki’s a huge Stephen King fan too.

8. Can you tell us about any future projects?

We’d love to.

I am finishing up a crime thriller that will be out around the end of summer beginning of fall currently called, The Black Song Inside.

Suki and I are working on several speculative fiction projects, including a novel and a series of novellas.

We will also be releasing a novel that is a series of interconnected speculative novellas that spin the gamut from sci-fi to horror to folklore to fantasy to magical realism, with recurring characters set in the magical town of Redemption, Arkansas during the Great Depression. Sort of like what Stephen King does with his mythical town of Castle Rock, Maine.

It’s called: REDEMPTION'S LAMENT: Book One of The Redemption Revelations

A question of Avatars

2012-01-22T21:26:00.000-07:00

In The Apocalypse Gene, Mikah and Olivya create avatars that look exactly like themselves. They use these avatars to go to virtual school, do virtual shopping and hanging out, and fulfill other aspects of daily life that no longer exists offline in their world. This provoked an interesting question for me. If the majority of daily interactions with other people only existed in a virtual setting, would people create avatars that really looked like themselves in a effort to show people who they really are, or would the desire to become who you want to be-or someone you think is better-win out in the end? Leave a comment and tell me what you would do...

Review of The Apocalypse Gene

2012-01-18T20:36:00.003-07:00

Some people love the paranormal powers of psychics andauras. Others are devoted science fiction fans. Still other readers fall to thelure of fantasy, angels, demons, and gods. And who doesn’t like a good action adventure?The Apocalypse Gene is a book that takes elements of paranormal, sci-fi,fantasy, and action adventure and weaves them into a tale that readers of allthese individual genres can enjoy.

Olivya sees auras, something she has always tried to controland keep from interfering in her day to day life, which happens to consist ofcaring for the dying souls spending their final days in her family’s hospice.Who would want to see the vibrant colors of death and diseases? Olivya’sabilities lend a very vivid and artistic element to the story. I enjoyed thedescriptions of emotions through color, the bright yellows for lighter emotionsand dark variants of reds and greens for those that were more sinister. Seeingthe world through Olivya’s eyes was a new and interesting experience.

Mikah is a mystery to Olivya in so many ways, but the readerquickly learns that there is a reason for his secretive nature. Bringing amythical slant to the book is Mikah’s demigod heritage and not-quite-human abilities.His story also connects the death Olivya is surrounded by every day with worldsbeyond imagination and monsters of alien background. The combination of thesetwo characters twists classically separate genres into one story very well. Thesci-fi was balanced well by the more mythical side of angels and demigods. Eventhe futuristic society were all “normal” life is carried out in an onlinereality contrasted very nicely with the everyday malignancy of cancer run amok.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book was theincorporation of the familiar with the unfamiliar. Many of us have heard ofauras, but have you ever thought of using psychic power to do battle? And whodoesn’t have an avatar of some kind in today’s world, but have you everconsidered what you would say to a miniature version of yourself suddenly comealive? The Apocalypse Gene never felt too out of the realm of reality, evenwith Adversarii and Xeraf-Yim, because there was plenty about this society youcould relate to still.

Overall, this was an entertaining book that had interesting charactersand a well thought out plot. I never knew what was coming next, but I lookedforward to finding out. The endings of books are a big deal maker or dealbreaker for me. If the ending is awful despite the rest of the book being good,it’s most likely I won’t read anything else by the author because I hateputting in a lot of time with a book only to be disappointed. The ApocalypseGene definitely came through on the ending. I felt like all my questions were answered,it was exciting, I was kept guessing right up to the end, and it was nice anddramatic. You won’t be disappointed at the end.

One thing I didn’t particularly connect with in the book wasthe heavy used of slang and hyphenated future names for things. I found thesevery distracting while reading and felt like it took away from the writing.Similarly, the Ayvilo character was my least favorite in the book. Her constantsarcasm and generally bratty attitude and constant slang usage did not help meconnect with her. I found her to be obnoxious rather than funny, and adistraction at times. My only other complaint was that while the romancebetween Olivya and Mikah was sweet, it wasn’t as compelling for me as it couldhave been. It seemed to be based too much on looks for Olivya’s part. If the “outsider”connection between them had been used as a stronger pull for them to betogether I think it would have struck me more profoundly.

As a whole, the book was a very interesting read. I lovedthe separate genres combined in such a fun, yet dark, way. The creativity ofthe story was very compelling and the artistic and vivid descriptions pulled mein time and again while reading. The Apocalypse Gene was an entertaining readthat will make you laugh and threaten to make you cry when you’re convincednothing is going to work out. And the end will pull all the myth, science, andemotion together beautifully.

Would I recommend TheApocalypse Gene? Yes, you’ll enjoy it!

Who would I recommendthis book to? Anyone willing to give crossed genres a try, and YA readerswho want a slightly dark, but a generally sweet book with a great ending.

Go get your own copy today

http://www.amazon.com/The-Apocalypse-Gene-ebook/dp/B005WZZS82/ref%3dsr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319052254&sr=1-2

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105427

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-apocalypse-gene-suki-michelle/1105811186?ean=2940013286634&itm=1&usri=the+apocalypse+gene++nook

Back to The Apocalypse Gene

2012-01-17T20:57:00.002-07:00

I've been a little absent from the blog the past little while thanks to getting my awful cold back, but while I was laying on the couch feeling icky I did get to finish The Apocalypse Gene. I will have the review up tomorrow afternoon, so stay posted!

In the end...

2012-01-12T22:41:00.001-07:00

Hopeless ending or new beginning? That's my biggest question as I read Apocalypse Gene right now!

Back to Apocalypse Gene...

2012-01-11T12:33:00.001-07:00

Have any of you ever wondered what the world would be like if social networking became your life? Apocalypse Gene is such an interesting mixture of fantasy, paranormal, and sci-fi. It has so far managed to mix paranormal mind abilities with angelic and demonic powers, and now the virtual world run amok has been thrown into the mix. It would be hard to find such an eclectic composition anywhere else. Check it out!

Interview with Jenni James - Author of Pride and Popularity

2012-01-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

Jenni was so kind to answer a few questions about herself, writing, and her books. Read on to find out more!

1. How did you decide which parts of Pride and Prejudice to follow, and which to change?

It all came so organically to me, the characters sort of popped up and and presented themselves, which became really easy to bend them a bit to fit a new more modern adaptation. I also had to leave room for them to grow, since you will be seeing many of these characters again, playing different parts, in some other of The Jane Austen Diaries.

· 2. Did any of the funny situations in the book come from personal experience?

Oh, yeah. A lot. I have a lot of material to use and bend at my will. My own life has been full of many, many zany and fun experiences. It's definitely unique! Which makes writing all the more real and fun. :)

· 3. Did you start the Jane Austen Diaries with a rewrite of Pride and Prejudice because it’s her most well-known work, or for another reason?

Honestly, I had no idea I was rewriting Pride and Prejudice until about 4 chapters in and still no title for the book. I called my mom from England (we were stationed with the Air Force there) begging for help with a title. After a few minutes of chatting and explaining the book in detail, I said, "You know what this book is like? It's like Pride and Prejudice." We're both HUGE Jane Austen fans so she said without missing a beat, "Well then, call it Pride & Popularity." After a few more chapters in, I realized I had the characters for the other books already beginning and the rest you can say, is history.

· 4. What was your favorite moment from the book?

Eeeh! Okay. So my most favorite scene is Morp. I love it so much! I think it's fun and perfect and wonderful when her friend saves her. :)

· 5. How do you find time to write?

Lol! With as many kids as I've got, if I don't take time to write, I find myself going insane. To me, writing is my release, my way of contributing to the world in some small way without feeling shutout and drowning in motherhood. lol!

· 6. What is your writing process like? Any quirks, special rituals?

Well, I usually write at night, while the kids are in bed. I edit during the day, since it's much easier to walk away and help children when you're editing. But with 10 kids around me during the day, I find I shut everyone out as I write--it's much safer for us all if I write at night. Lol! I also clear my head and say a prayer before beginning. If I'm writing a sad scene, or something intense, I find I do much better getting back in the mood, if i've got a mood building song on repeat really low in the background. If I'm writing comedy, I have to have complete silence.

· 7. Can you tell us a little about Northanger Alibi?

Northanger Alibi is by far my funniest book. I love love love it. And in the same tradition of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, I've placed Claire in the middle of what she imagines to be her favorite novel, Twilight. Since Northanger Abbey is all about a girl who reads way too many Gothic novels and finally gets to go out into the world believing all she's read is true... I had to base Northanger Alibi off of a modern Gothic novel that every girl knows, and wishes would come true. But the best part is, in the end Claire learns that real life is better than anything she'd ever read in a book.

· 8. What authors, books, or movies have influenced you?

I love good clean teen movies, they're always so much fun and now my daughter is a teenager I can sneak in some more guilty pleasure by watching them with her! Lol! My favorite modern author is Judith A. Lansdowne, she is not only an amazing friend, but a tremendous writer as well. When I began writing I vowed to make sure my guys were as in depth and as sweet as her heroes. You really just fall in love with any of her characters, and I hope that's what happens with my books as well.

New Book!

2012-01-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

This week is going to be busy for me personally and the blog. I'm heading back to school tomorrow but I'm going to do my best to keep the reviews and interviews coming! So up next is Suki Michelle and Carlyle Clark's Apocalypse Gene. Read on to find out more!

Apocalypse Gene

Global pandemic is raging. Olivya Wright-Ono's once loving home has been converted to a hospice for the dying. Her ability to see auras forces her to witness, with agonizing detail, the vibrant colors of life consumed by malignancy. The beautiful and troubled, Mikah, is an elite Empath in the ancient Kindred clan, led by the brooding, ever-morphing, monster named Prime. Mikah has learned a terrible truth . . . the plague is linked to Kindred origins. When Olivya sees evidence of disease creeping into her mother's aura, she has no one to turn to but Mikah. Can he unearth the Kindred secrets and find a cure? Can she trust this boy whose power allows him to manipulate her very emotions? With her mother's life, and that of the world, in the balance, Olivya and Mikah embark on a quest to stop the Pandemic, only to discover it is far, far more than a mere disease . . .

" ...a wildly imaginative young-adult apocalyptic thriller that also utilizes elements of science fiction, fantasy, folklore, mythology and romance...the well-choreographed, thematically powerful conclusion, coupled with the deeply developed characters of Olivya and Mikah, make this a memorable read.” --Kirkus Critics' Pick

"With its snappy, razor-sharp dialogue and wildly vivid imagery, the book, while geared toward young adults, has plenty for adults to enjoy as well." --Foreword

""The Apocalypse Gene" is a thoughtful read with plenty to consider, highly recommended." --Midwest Book Review

http://www.amazon.com/The-Apocalypse-Gene-ebook/dp/B005WZZS82/ref%3dsr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319052254&sr=1-2

http://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/the-apocalypse-gene/

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105427

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-apocalypse-gene-suki-michelle/1105811186?ean=2940013286634&itm=1&usri=the+apocalypse+gene++nook

http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheApocalypseGene

So everybody go out and get your copy and read long with me. I'll also be posting an interview with Suki and Carlyle, as well as backtracking for a minute tomorrow to post the interview Jenni James, author of Pride and Popularity which was reviewed on the blog a few weeks ago.

Happy reading!

Review of Eolyn

2012-01-07T17:05:00.002-07:00

High fantasy isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but Eolyn is adifferent story. What turns a lot of people off of fantasy is complex magicsystems, outlandish characters, epic journeys that last forever, and long drawnout backstories. While Eolyn captures the basic elements of fantasy very well, shedodged the bits that make people shy away.

Eolyn is the journey of a young woman whose life has beentorn apart by war. Running from further cruelty, Eolyn is set upon a path thatchanges the path of not only her destiny, but that of an entire kingdom. Whiletrying to unravel her destiny Eolyn discovers more than she ever imagined.Magic, friendship, betrayal, death, and love are her companions on her journey.

One of my favorite aspects of the first part of the book iswatching Eolyn grow up. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don’t usually likethis approach because of the choppy, rushed feel the “growing up” chaptersusually exhibit. This was not the case in Eolyn. Karin did a wonderful job ofstarting off the book from a young girl’s point of view. The innocence of Eolynwas expressed in her unfailing belief in the around her. This was made evenbetter by the hints Karin gave through other characters eyes that maybe the peopleein Eolyn’s life were not as pure as she believed. It was a fabulous tacticthat lead into the later chapters were Eolyn is forced to confront lies and deceptions.

As Eolyn grows there was a subtle progression of hercharacter from naïve child to a more understanding young woman. The change isnot complete, of course, or Eolyn would see future conflicts too easily, but itis realistic.

Woven throughout the story is the love story of Eolyn andAkmael. While the story in general was beautifully written, the innocence ofsecret childhood friends turned into lovers on opposite sides of a war enhancesevery aspect of the story. In the beginning their relationship is sweettempered by lies. As it grows it turns more passionate, but held off bycircumstance and fear. In the end…well I don’t want to spoil too much, buttrust me, it is a beautiful and heart wrenching love story from the first day.

In the background of love, lies, and battle are thedescriptions of the world in which Eolyn lives. Vivid descriptions have longbeen a tradition in high fantasy, but Karin managed to resist the four and fivepage cataloging of every single detail some authors get trapped by, and keepsher painting of the surroundings simple yet captivating. In her interview Karinmentioned wanting to give people who have never had the chance to experiencethe forest a chance to do so in Eolyn, and she was successful. The descriptionsof the South Woods and the journey to the King’s City are difficult not to getsucked into. You’ll find yourself reading a little slower just to take it allin.

Overall, I really loved joining Eolyn on her journey. Myonly critique-and this is really just a personal preference-is that I thoughtthe book could have ended a little sooner. I say this not because I didn’t findthe final few chapters fascinating and beautiful (especially the last scene)but because the battle and excursion to the underworld were so breathtaking andclimactic that the final chapters felt slow in comparison. Having read thefirst few chapter of book to I thought it might have been interesting to haveseen the book end after the battle and insert the final chapters of book oneinto book two. Like I said, this was by no means a flaw in the book, just my thoughts.For those of you who have read my work, you know I like things to end on adramatic note!

Eolyn was a beautiful story, one I highly recommend.

Would I recommendEolyn? Absolutely.

Who would I recommendthis book to? Anyone who loved fantasy, people who have never read fantasyin their lives (this will make you want to read more), anyone who loves theforest or mountains, okay...pretty much anyone!

So, go get your copy of Eolyn and get ready to be swept upin a journey you won’t soon forget.

Get your copy in Kindle or Paperback, or follow what's going on in Eolyn and Karin's worlds.

Finished Eolyn!

2012-01-07T10:44:00.004-07:00

So, I stayed up until 1 am reading Eolyn last night, and I'm done! Getting sick and having to go fight with the college because things got screwed up again slowed down my reading time, but Eolyn was definitely worth staying up. I really enjoyed the read. I'll have the review up later today, so don't forget to come back and check it out!

Author Interview with Karin Rita Gastreich

2012-01-03T12:28:00.001-07:00

Karin was so kind to answer a few questions for me to help us learn a little more about Eolyn and about Karin as an author. Thank you, Karin! So read on to hear what she had to say about her book, her writing, and what she's working on next. Enjoy!

1) What was your inspiration for Eolyn?

This question comes up a lot, and I always seem to have a somewhat different answer. I guess that’s because there have been many things over the years that inspired Eolyn – books I’ve read, experiences I’ve had, places I’ve been, people I’ve known.

I’d say at the core of it all was a deep-felt desire to write an epic fantasy in which a woman played an essential role, and made important achievements, without necessarily altering the ‘rules’ of medieval society; that is, while maintaining a basic patriarchal structure similar to the one with which real women have struggled throughout our history. Eolyn challenges the prejudices and prohibitions of her time in order to define herself as a woman and a Maga; but she does so without donning armor or wielding a sword. Her weapons are her mind, heart, and magic, as well as her unflinching conviction that the world can be imagined and constructed in a different way.

I also wanted to write a story that would bring the forest to life; make it a real and vivid experience, especially for readers who have not had the opportunity to experience ancient woodlands. The South Woods is not only Eolyn’s home, it is the ultimate source of her power, and she cherishes it greatly.

2) Did you read a lot of fantasy growing up, or is fantasy a more recent find?

I read some fantasy growing up. I was brought up on Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Also, T.H. White’s The Once and Future King is a good example of a story that has stayed with me since my youth. I was also into historical romance as a teenager, and while I no longer remember any of those titles, I’d be willing to bet they influenced my approach to writing Eolyn.

But I have always read books from a broad set of genres, two of my current favorites being history and historical fiction. I’ve also read a lot of natural history and Latin American literature, which I very much enjoy.

In truth, I was not very well versed in fantasy fiction when I started writing Eolyn. I had read and enjoyed some of the classics in speculative fiction, such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Frank Herbert. My lack of familiarity with the genre was one source of uncertainty when I started to consider publishing Eolyn. I wasn’t entirely sure if I had anything new to offer. So I was very proactive about getting feedback from other writers who were more knowledgeable about fantasy fiction than I. These same authors have since introduced me to a host of writers whose work I very much admire, such as George R.R. Martin and Patricia McKillip.

3) How did you decide what the rules of your magic system and world would be?

In general, I don’t like to speak of magic in terms of ‘rules’, since in my mind, the whole point of magic is to break the rules. Nonetheless, I had several things in mind when I started laying down the foundations for magic in Eolyn’s world.

For example, I wanted Eolyn’s magic to be grounded in the landscape of Moisehén: forests, mountains, plains and valleys, fertile earth and all the creatures that inhabit them. I knew from the beginning that a prerequisite to mastering magic would be an intimate knowledge of the natural world, and that such knowledge would require years of study and apprenticeship.

The integrity of magic in Eolyn’s world also depends, in the long run, on a balance between male and female powers. There are very few characters in the novel who understand this explicitly, and in fact that balance is all but obliterated just before Eolyn’s journey begins. But Eolyn and Akmael share an instinctive drive toward recovering the full tradition of magic in Moisehén, and both struggle to achieve this balance under ever more difficult circumstances.

Once I had these two overarching ideas in mind, everything else was just filling in the blanks. While there are perceived constraints on magic in Eolyn’s world – certain things Magas and Mages can and cannot do – I also leave some room for magic to break its own rules once in a while; to act in ways that are surprising, unexpected or inexplicable, even for the practitioner.

4) Your world, story, and characters are very complex and rich. How long did it take you to work out all the details of your story line?

Oh, thank you! I love the characters in Eolyn. It’s been so much fun working with them, and several of them have stayed with me for book two.

Orson Scott Card, in How to Write Fantasy and Science Fiction, claims that it takes about twenty years to gestate a full novel. My experience with Eolyn seems to corroborate that. Long before I sat down to write, certain scenes began to come together in my head. Some of the most fundamental elements of the story – Eolyn’s tragic childhood loss, the prejudices she would face, the nature of the relationship she would develop with Akmael – were with me as early as my college years.

So, I had a lot in my head by the time I first put pen to paper on this novel in 2006. From that point forward, it took about four years to finish the manuscript.

Now, before all the young aspiring authors out there get discouraged about that 20-year rule of thumb bit, the good news is that most of us who write are gestating several novels at once. Also, many of us start gestating at a very young age. But it takes a long time to craft a novel, so you have to be prepared to enjoy the journey, and to give it the time it deserves.

5) How is the sequel to Eolyn progressing? Can you tell us a little about High Maga?

This second novel has been a whole new challenge for me, and it’s coming along very well. High Maga is a darker tale than Eolyn, more entrenched in the terrible realities of war. It also involves a more malevolent kind of magic.

The story picks up a few years after the end of the first book. Eolyn has matured, and is assuming greater responsibilities, including students and followers of her own, but she also faces much more formidable dangers. The novel features some ruthless villains, and many characters are forced into extraordinarily difficult situations. The writing of High Maga has pushed my limits as an author; but I’ve found that the most challenging aspects of this novel have also been the most fulfilling.

I plan to finish High Maga in 2012, and it is scheduled for release in 2013.

6) What books are you reading right now?

I’m reading Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire, a nonfiction book which describes the history of the relationship between plants and humans, and especially how plants with certain traits have been particularly successful at “training” us (in the evolutionary sense) to take good care of them.

I’m also beta-reading two manuscripts in fantasy fiction, one by Eliabeth Hawthorne, the other by David Hunter.

7) What is your writing process like? Any interesting rituals or techniques?

Interesting rituals? Hmmm… Well, sometimes I light a green candle because a friend told me years ago that green candles invoke fertility and creativity. I don’t know if the candle works, but it makes my office smell like a Christmas tree, which is nice.

I set goals for myself, and try to schedule at least one time during the week when I can have a few hours of peace and quiet to focus on the story. But even when I’m not writing, I’m often thinking about the characters, motivations and events of the novel.

It’s also really important for me to have ‘empty’ time; periods when I simply do not write or even think about the novel. So while I set word count goals and so forth, I try to avoid obsessing over them. Having a life outside of writing, I think, is somehow important to having a writing life.

One thing that is really integral to my writing process is interacting with other authors. I’ve met some very talented people during the journey of writing Eolyn, and their feedback, ideas and support continue to be important as I work on High Maga.

8) Who is your favorite author?

It’s so hard to pick just one. I guess I’ll say Gioconda Belli, mostly because of her memoir The Country Underneath My Skin, which chronicles her involvement with the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua during the 1970s and 80s. It’s a remarkable story, and beautifully written. One of those books that I think everyone should read.

Thank you again, Rita, for taking the time to answer these questions and letting us get to know you and your work a little better.

Growing up with Eolyn

2012-01-02T16:30:00.001-07:00

Normally I'm not a big fan of starting your character off as a child and working to adulthood in a small portion of the book because it often comes off choppy and rushed. Fits does a great job of not rushing through Eolyn's childhood, but she does a fabulous job of capturing the innocence of a child and progressively developing Eolyn into a mature young woman. N

More info on Eolyn

2011-12-29T16:45:00.001-07:00

Karin Gastreich, author of Eolyn, passed on a few other great links for her book and her genre.

To find out more about Eolyn specifically, check out Karin's blog at http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.com

For more on what's happening with the Heroines of Fantasy check out this blog about all things fantasy with special guests and author posts at http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com

New Book!

2011-12-28T19:19:00.003-07:00

Get ready to start the new year off with some high fantasy! Next book on the list is Eolyn by Karin Rita Gastreich. Read along with my by getting your own copy. Check out the links below!

Get it in Paperback

Get it in Kindle

**update on interview with Jenni James: Jenni is still recovering from a car accident she was involved in a few weeks ago, but when she is up to the interview I'll get it posted.

Christmas Coupons!

2011-12-23T11:38:00.002-07:00

Taking a brief break from Pride and Popularity for some self promotion :-)

Here are some Christmas coupon codes for my books. You can use these codes on smashwords.com and you can get all of the popular ebook formats like kindle and epub. So go check them out before December 31st!

twin souls: always free on smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87636

shaxoa's gift: 50% off with code PU86M : http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/88106

qaletaqa 50% off with code QV43U : http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/88122

Favorite Funny/Embarrassing Moment from Pride and Popularity

2011-12-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

There were a lot of funny moments to choose from, but I wanted to die of embarrassment along with Chloe when Taylor runs into her while on a date with the phone-obsessed Collin. As if being on a date with a guy that won't put down his phone isn't awful enough, to have Taylor show up and convince the him that Chloe perfect for him makes it so much worse, and so much funnier.

Favorite quirky trait of the Hart family...

2011-12-20T19:10:00.001-07:00

Definitely the dating ritual. Having to bring a guy home to that every time you wanted to go on a date would be both horrible and hilarious!

Review of Pride and Popularity

2011-12-19T14:48:00.000-07:00

Jane Austen’s books have been rewritten countless times, butnot like this. Gone are the complicated courtship rituals andsubtleties of old English society, but that hardly means there aren’t any similaritiesbetween then and now.

Pride and Popularity drops you right into the middle of themodern teenage life filled the same problems Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcyfaced in their day, just funnier. Chloe Hart is determined not to fall for thesuperstar of her hometown because she’s positive she knows the real him betterthan the other star-struck, drooling girls. Her quest to ignore him entirelyturns her entire life upside down.

Pride and Popularity can best be described by two words, inmy opinion. Super Cute. The characters are very entertaining all around. Icould see people I’ve grown up with or met along the way that reminded me ofEthan, Cassidy, Kylie, and even Taylor. You feel like you’re surrounded by yourfriends as soon as you start reading.

Being a rewrite, there were some parts of the book thatfollowed Austen’s original work closely, and others that diverged. Overall, I thoughtJenni did a great job of working in those parts of the original that fit withher characters and leaving those that didn’t. Needless to say, there were noimpromptu piano recitals for dinner guests (although I’m sure Jenni would havemade that a hilarious experience if there were) or guided tours of palatialmansions.

Working in the original disgrace between Wickham and Lydiawas handled very nicely in the book without having to cross over into thetypical graphic tragedy seen in many books and movies today. That was a themecarried throughout the book. No obscenities, sex, graphic violence, or thingsthat are just plain disturbing. Pride and Popularity was a fun, light read thatleft you feeling happy and hopeful in the end.

The beginning of the book was rather teenage-girl-gooey-and-gushy(so be prepared if you’re not a fan of super mushy stuff), but for the mostpart it wasn’t carried through the book to that level. Chloe determines rightaway that she isn’t going to one of those girls. Or at least she thinks so. Themain character is a teenage girl, and we all know that means lots of emotion,drama, and goof ups, but it was all presented in a way that keeps you laughing.I loved the humor in this book. Following Chloe through her last years of highschool and her quest to not be the next brainless girl on Taylor’s arm is greatfun, a book I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

Would I recommend Prideand Popularity? Yes, have fun reading! You’ll laugh all the way through.

Who would I recommendthis book to? Teenage girls (of course), and anyone looking for a fun readwithout the typical language, violence, and all that other stuff.

So go get your copyand dive in to this fun, heartwarming book. Happy reading!

Get your copy of Pride and Popularity in Paperback or Kindle

Pride and Popularity

2011-12-17T17:14:00.001-07:00

Started reading it yesterday afternoon, finished it earlier today. Super cute. I'll have the review up probably Monday. Also...author Jenni James has agreed to an interview, so that will be later this coming week as well!

New Book!

2011-12-13T09:21:00.001-07:00

Well, as much as I enjoyed The Night Circus, it's time to move on to a new book. Author Jenni James grew up in my home town and her debut novel Pride and Popularity recently hit bookstores and Amazon. If you want to read along with me, click on the links below.

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Popularity-Jane-Austen-Diaries/dp/0983829306/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323792927&sr=8-1

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Pride-and-Popularity-ebook/dp/B005FY5ZP6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323792927&sr=8-2

Favorite magic trick from The Night Circus

2011-12-12T15:39:00.002-07:00

I think any girl will appreciate Celia being able to change the color of her dresses at will, not to mention the style as well! I loved all the little details put into the book like enchanted umbrellas that kept the soggy London rain away and being able to rewarm a cup of hot chocolate you took a little too long to drink.

My favorite side character from The Night Circus

2011-12-08T19:40:00.001-07:00

The Burgess Sisters were my favorite side characters. The were behind the scenes in the working of the circus, and only in the background of the book for the most part, but the impact they had was far reaching. The two sisters handled the ambiance and atmosphere of the circus. My favorite of their additions to the circus were the living statues. The angel and the two lovers were painful to observe in a way, but still very enchanting.

My favorite Circus Tent

2011-12-05T18:02:00.001-07:00

By far my favorite tent was the Wishing Trees tent. I loved the idea of igniting a new wish from one that had already been made. The imagery of massive trees being covered in candles was great,

Review of The Night Circus

2011-12-03T19:34:00.001-07:00

The circus arrives without warning.

The Night Circus opens with a simple statement that lets you know right away that this isn't your typical circus story (if there is such a thing). A circus that shows up, and sets up, without anyone seeing it and only opens at night sets the stage for a story that is both whimsical and twisted. As you step away from the circus you meet the main characters, only they aren't merely characters, they are players in a game only the creators know the rules to.

The characters in The Night Circus were complex and interesting. Even the side characters had very individual personalities and plenty of eccentricities. The characters that remained mysterious through the book held your attention with their unique qualities as well. Not a single one was stereotypical, something I can't stand. The two main characters, Celia and Marco, were very well developed. They don't meet until halfway through the book, and they spend little time together, but the chemistry between them is expressed perfectly through each character's thoughts and the creations they make for each other. I loved that they create circus tents for each other. It was the most creative idea for love letters I've ever seen.

An interesting aspect of the book was the multiple storylines. Two of the storylines are separated in time, merging at the end of the book beautifully. Celia and Marco begin their stories as children and continue through the game, through romance, and through realization of just how deadly the game they are playing really is. Poppet and Bailey meet some years in the future, and you spend the book wondering how the two storylines will come together and what the results of that meeting will be. From the first moment you meet Bailey and Poppet the question of how their interactions will affect Celia and Marco nestles in the back of your mind and refuses to go away. It pulls you through the story just as much as trying to figure out how Celia and Marco will ever survive the game. The third storyline is yours. A clever idea, Morgenstern guides you personally through the circus, making the experience even more vivid.

Bordering on full-out fantasy, Morgenstern's descriptions of the circus are wonderful. Ice gardens, clouds tents, bottled up stories and much more are painted in such detail that it is impossible not to get sucked into the circus. Even the food is described to point that you find yourself wishing you had a bag of chocolate mice as well. Emotion is just as powerful throughout this book. Frustration at the game and its creators, confusion, desire, and anguish are woven through every aspect of the book. A love story where the lovers are very rarely together and can only communicate through what they can create within the circus is a beautiful idea.

The only aspect of the story I can complain about is that I thought the climax could have been more detailed. Everything leading up to the climax had me turning the pages as fast as I could, but once I got there it happened fast and missing the vivid detail that had persisted through the rest of the book. Even having said that, the resolution was still very satisfying and left no annoying unanswered questions. I simply missed the enveloping description I had enjoyed through the rest of the book.

Overall, I loved the book. 5 stars for sure. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a captivating romance, slightly twisted mystery, or being transported to a world outside of the every day. Happy reading everyone!

2011-11-29T11:16:00.001-07:00

I finished reading The Night Circus, and I have to say I would definitely recommend in to someone. The ending wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it was a very good ending. I'll give more detailed thoughts on what I thought about different aspects of the book later, but for now I'll just say it was a great read. Back to studying for Histology!

2011-11-26T22:44:00.001-07:00

The Night Circus has been very interesting throughout, but it was one I could set down when I needed to. That was until the Enchanted Umbrella scene. I won't put out any spoilers, but I haven't been able to put it down since then. The story has become completely captivating, just like circus itself.

2011-11-23T19:04:00.001-07:00

I love a good romance. I think an ill-fated romance can make just about any book better. The Night Circus doesn't disappoint in that regard. The game players have met. The possibility for tragedy is fabulous!

2011-11-23T14:33:00.001-07:00

Holiday Book Deals!

Thanksgiving Coupon Codes for my books on Smashwords.

Twin Souls -Free: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87636

Shaxoa's Gift: 50% off with code ZS42M - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/88106

Qaletaqa: 50% of with code QH33A - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/88122

Feel free to pass these coupon codes to anyone you think might be interested! Happy reading everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-22T16:17:00.001-07:00

If you want to try a sample of The Night Circus, here's a link from Barnes & Noble.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-circus-erin-morgenstern/1100083576?ean=9780385534642&itm=1&usri=the+night+circus+by+erin+morgenstern
Click the link under the BUY now button.

2011-11-22T14:19:00.001-07:00

The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern)

I haven't finished the whole book, just the sample I downloaded, but I have to say I'm intrigued. I will definitely be finishing the book.

What makes me want to read the rest?

The first section grabs your interest right away when a circus appears seemingly out of nowhere and says it only opens at night. In the next section you meet the main characters and learn about the game. I won't say more than that because I don't want to spoil anything, but trust me, the game promises to be very interesting and probably a little twisted.