Michael Schmicker's Blog - Posts Tagged "witch-of-napoli"
A confession
My sincere thanks to prolific Brit author Tony Riches, across the pond in Merrie England, for allowing me to guest blog my confession today on his site, "The Writing Desk." Truth is, I originally wrote "The Witch of Napoli" as a... http://t.co/iNz9Oe2brm
Palladino Levitates a Table
Thanks, Stephanie, for your fascinating review of "The Witch of Napoli" -- and the fascinating seance table levitation photo you found to accompany your post! It's one of the more famous photos taken during the career of the fiery Signora Eusapia Palladino. http://stephaniesbookreviews.weebly.com
50+ Reviews for The Witch
Curious about what 50+ passionate, book-loving reviewers across the U.S. think about "The Witch of Napoli"? You'll find their opinions on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com,. For links to The Witch page on each site, click here: amzn.to/1Dz07GS (Amazon) and here: http://bit.ly/1JmNjZ7 (Goodreads). Enjoy!
Bookbub Features Witch of Napoli
March 6 should see the Witch soaring on Amazon. Bookbub's 2+ million members get a chance to buy the Witch of Napoli for 99 cents this Friday. The international promotion runs 14 days only, before the price goes back up. Not a member? No problem. It's free to join. You can sign up at www.bookbub.com. Gonna be a very busy March -- Amy Bruno's keeping me busy doing interviews and guest blogs on her historical fiction virtual book tour through March 20. Lots of fun!
The Witch Makes the Kindle Top 100
Stunned. BookBub did an email promotion of The Witch of Napoli earlier today to its 4 million members. It's now 9 PM Hawaii time on Friday March 6, and the Witch of Napoli sits on the Top 100 list of Kindle paid books on Amazon. It is ranked #42 -- out of 3,305,202 books available for sale in the Kindle store. It is also ranked #1 in the Historical Fantasy category; and #2 in the Historical Romance category. My head is spinning. I'm going to bed.
Fact or Fiction?
What's fact and what's fiction in "The Witch of Napoli"? Curious readers continue to ask me that question. My friend and fellow author C.P.Leslie invited me to guest blog the truth, and I finally reveal the answer here: http://bit.ly/1OMLfwo .
While you're there, check out Leslie's wonderful novels. I reviewed her book The Winged Horse here: http://bit.ly/1DQ1Rsv.
While you're there, check out Leslie's wonderful novels. I reviewed her book The Winged Horse here: http://bit.ly/1DQ1Rsv.
Sequel to "The Witch of Napoli"?
Decision time. Do I go for it?
A few weeks back, an enthusiastic reader named Denny posted a question for me:
"I really enjoyed The Witch of Napoli. Is there any chance you're going to develop a series around Tommaso Labella? He's a great character with a lot of potential. I'd love to see him investigate Nigel Huxley's misdeeds and bring him to justice. I felt kind of cheated after Elsa's disappearance from the story shortly after her disclosure to Tommaso of Huxley's abuses. Take care, be well, and happy reading!"
I wrote him back:
"Aloha Denny: Thanks for the question. A sequel is tempting. I had a lot of fun creating the novel’s narrator, Tomaso. He’s me when I was just starting my own journalism career. He’s cocky, curious; handy with a camera and pen; determined to see the world. And of course, it would be great to pursure Huxley for his misdeeds -- and the hundred pounds he owes Alessandra after her Naples sitting.
That said, I'm not a natural fiction writer; I primarily write non-fiction, and it's equally tempting to say I've had my fling with fiction.The time commitment to writing a second novel is scary. .A novel is a nightmare for the amateur, and a challenge even for a pro. It requires playing with a Rubik’s cube of characters, plot, subplots, pacing, dialogue, style, emotional arc – pieces which the writer must move in a certain sequence, and at the proper moment, to propel the tale forward, hold the fickle reader’s attention, and arrive at a successful denouement. Historical fiction raises the complexity another level. Where do you find information in the cost of a plate of pasta in 19th century Napoli? How much history should be included? When and where do you drop it in? How do you share it without slowing the story and boring readers? It took me 18 months to write THe Witch of Napoli; I can write a non-fiction book in half the time, and I've got a long list of possible book ideas in my head.
And yet... it's so tempting to resurrect Tommaso. He would be in his early 40s, in Rome, editor of the Messaggero, with Doffo still working for him. Mussolini has taken power in Italy; the Fascists and Nazi movements are sweeping Europe; the British aristocracy (including Huxley) and the Catholic Church are sympathetically cheering their rise to power. Everyone is nervous about the future of their family, their business, their country, and a shadowy, Italian woman psychic everyone calls "the witch of Roma" claims to have the answers.
Tempting...
Thanks for your kind comments about the Witch of Napoli, and I'll let you know if I do decide to take a crack at it!"
Last week I started seriously playing with ideas for a sequel. I'm getting hooked.
Let's see where this leads...
A few weeks back, an enthusiastic reader named Denny posted a question for me:
"I really enjoyed The Witch of Napoli. Is there any chance you're going to develop a series around Tommaso Labella? He's a great character with a lot of potential. I'd love to see him investigate Nigel Huxley's misdeeds and bring him to justice. I felt kind of cheated after Elsa's disappearance from the story shortly after her disclosure to Tommaso of Huxley's abuses. Take care, be well, and happy reading!"
I wrote him back:
"Aloha Denny: Thanks for the question. A sequel is tempting. I had a lot of fun creating the novel’s narrator, Tomaso. He’s me when I was just starting my own journalism career. He’s cocky, curious; handy with a camera and pen; determined to see the world. And of course, it would be great to pursure Huxley for his misdeeds -- and the hundred pounds he owes Alessandra after her Naples sitting.
That said, I'm not a natural fiction writer; I primarily write non-fiction, and it's equally tempting to say I've had my fling with fiction.The time commitment to writing a second novel is scary. .A novel is a nightmare for the amateur, and a challenge even for a pro. It requires playing with a Rubik’s cube of characters, plot, subplots, pacing, dialogue, style, emotional arc – pieces which the writer must move in a certain sequence, and at the proper moment, to propel the tale forward, hold the fickle reader’s attention, and arrive at a successful denouement. Historical fiction raises the complexity another level. Where do you find information in the cost of a plate of pasta in 19th century Napoli? How much history should be included? When and where do you drop it in? How do you share it without slowing the story and boring readers? It took me 18 months to write THe Witch of Napoli; I can write a non-fiction book in half the time, and I've got a long list of possible book ideas in my head.
And yet... it's so tempting to resurrect Tommaso. He would be in his early 40s, in Rome, editor of the Messaggero, with Doffo still working for him. Mussolini has taken power in Italy; the Fascists and Nazi movements are sweeping Europe; the British aristocracy (including Huxley) and the Catholic Church are sympathetically cheering their rise to power. Everyone is nervous about the future of their family, their business, their country, and a shadowy, Italian woman psychic everyone calls "the witch of Roma" claims to have the answers.
Tempting...
Thanks for your kind comments about the Witch of Napoli, and I'll let you know if I do decide to take a crack at it!"
Last week I started seriously playing with ideas for a sequel. I'm getting hooked.
Let's see where this leads...
BRAG Medallion Award
Just found out that The Witch of Napoli has earned a 2015 BRAG Medallion award. A real honor.
You'll find some quality historical fiction on their website (www.bragmedallion.com). In an ocean of uneven indie prose, the medallion serves as a welcome beacon, guiding readers safely through the shoals of some embarassing literary wreckage out there.
I've already reviewed BRAG winner Helena Schrader's "Knight of Jerusalem" on Goodreads; and have teed up on my "To-Read" list books penned by a half-dozen other BRAG awardees, including Historical Novel Society's Helen Hollick (The Sea Witch Voyages Series) Aargh!; Sophie Perinot and colleagues ("A Day of Fire"); Paula Lofting's recent BookBub selection ("Sons of the Wolf"); Glenn Craney (two-time BRAG awardee); Janet Oakley ("Timber Rose") and J.D. Smith ("Tristan and Iseult"). Smith is a member of the vibrant Triskele Books collective whose authors include Liza Perrat, author of the excellent WWII novel "Wolfsangel" I reviewed on Goodreads.
Strong writers, all. I'm honored to share their online shelfspace.
You'll find some quality historical fiction on their website (www.bragmedallion.com). In an ocean of uneven indie prose, the medallion serves as a welcome beacon, guiding readers safely through the shoals of some embarassing literary wreckage out there.
I've already reviewed BRAG winner Helena Schrader's "Knight of Jerusalem" on Goodreads; and have teed up on my "To-Read" list books penned by a half-dozen other BRAG awardees, including Historical Novel Society's Helen Hollick (The Sea Witch Voyages Series) Aargh!; Sophie Perinot and colleagues ("A Day of Fire"); Paula Lofting's recent BookBub selection ("Sons of the Wolf"); Glenn Craney (two-time BRAG awardee); Janet Oakley ("Timber Rose") and J.D. Smith ("Tristan and Iseult"). Smith is a member of the vibrant Triskele Books collective whose authors include Liza Perrat, author of the excellent WWII novel "Wolfsangel" I reviewed on Goodreads.
Strong writers, all. I'm honored to share their online shelfspace.
David and Goliath
Library Thing is tiny compared with Goodreads – only 1.9 million members. More hippie commune than Amazon corporate, it exudes a funky 1950s, Dewey decimal vibe. But I find it refreshing when I tire of Jeff Bezos’ uber-efficient but Orwellian empire. If you’re not a member, you might want to check it out – there’s no cost to join.
To encourage your visit, I’m giving out 50 free Kindle e-books of “The Witch of Napoli” while they last. Click here for your copy: http://www.librarything.com/er/giveaw....
It’s my small contribution to making sure Library Thing survives and thrives in this Darwinian corporate jungle.
To encourage your visit, I’m giving out 50 free Kindle e-books of “The Witch of Napoli” while they last. Click here for your copy: http://www.librarything.com/er/giveaw....
It’s my small contribution to making sure Library Thing survives and thrives in this Darwinian corporate jungle.
