Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "andrew-blackman"

I'm thrilled to be introducing you to an award winning author, and fellow Londoner, Andrew Blackman. His debut novel, On the Holloway Road won the Luke Bitmead prize in 2008. I met Andrew through Goodreads about two years ago, and his novel remains one of my favourite books. I was attracted to the title, as I am from North London and know the Holloway Road well; in fact, I used to work in an office on the Holloway Road.
His novel is about two very different young men who form an unlikely friendship. They set off on an adventure together, full of entertaining twists and turns. The thing that struck me most about the book is that it is extremely well written; it reads as if it was penned by an author with years of fiction writing experience behind him.


On The Holloway Road is one of the books in my library that I want to read again.
If you haven't read it, you can enter a competition by leaving a comment on this blog post. Anyone who comments will be entered into a draw to win a signed copy of this award winning book. A winner will be picked at random on 10th May 2011.

Here are Andrew's answers to my interview questions:


Your debut novel, On the Holloway Road won the Luke Bitmead prize 2008. Can you tell us a bit more about that prize and how you went about entering the contest.

Luke Bitmead was a novelist for Legend Press who died at a tragically young age. His family set up the award in his memory, to give £2,500 and a publishing contract to the author of the best unpublished manuscript they received. I submitted my manuscript and won, and a year later On the Holloway Road was published. It’s an annual contest and is free to enter, so I’d encourage any unpublished writers to give it a try.

Your background is in journalism, and I understand you’ve written for The Wall Street Journal, and many other newspapers across America. How does writing non-fiction compare to writing fiction, and which do you prefer?

I prefer fiction, definitely. Free from the necessity to get the small facts right, I can explore larger truths. Journalism can often provide a very misleading view of the world – something is newsworthy because it’s the exception, not the rule. In my fiction I deal with people who are unexceptional in many ways, and in doing so I aim to explore what it means to be human, at least in this particular time and place. The Wall Street Journal was a great place to work, though. It has very high standards, and in my three years there I learned a lot about writing and editing my work, often under great time pressure. I stopped being so protective of my words and understood that they could be subjected to an almost infinite process of improvement.

When did you first discover your love of writing, and is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?

I have always been quite shy, and struggle to express myself clearly in the heat of conversation - by the time I’ve thought of the right thing to say, it’s usually far too late! As a child I discovered that writing allowed me the time and tranquillity to come up with the right words and say what I really meant. In my early teen years I plunged into War and Peace, which took me months to read but introduced me to a whole new world. I loved the fact that as a teenager in suburban London I could live for a few hours each day in the Russia of the Napoleonic Wars. I decided that I wanted to create worlds of my own, to let other people visit them.

I read that you won the Daniel Singer essay prize. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

I won that prize in 2004, for an essay entitled “What is the Soul of Socialism?” I was working for The Wall Street Journal at the time, which is on the opposite end of the ideological spectrum, so I didn’t talk about it with my colleagues – I think I was the only socialist on the payroll, and would probably not have been on it much longer if they’d realised! But it was a wonderful experience, because it was the first time I’d been rewarded for writing something I really believed in. The essay was published in Monthly Review a year later – it’s still available online here – and I delivered a lecture based on the essay at the 2005 Left Forum at CUNY Graduate Center.

I thoroughly enjoyed On The Holloway Road. I found the characters very believable and realistic. Did you base the characters on people you know?

No, I didn’t base them on anyone I know. I’m always watching people, whether it’s friends and family or just people on the Tube, and if I something strikes me for whatever reason, I write it down in my notebook as soon as I get the chance. So I build up my characters from the physical attributes, facial tics, phrases and character traits of probably hundreds of different people, along with plenty of things I just make up.

Jack and Neil, the two main characters in On the Holloway Road, are very different, and yet they form a friendship based on their view of the world.

Which one of the characters can you most relate to, and why?

I relate to both of them, and in some ways they reflect different sides of my own personality. Jack is drifting, lonely, depressed, looking for meaning, while Neil is more energetic and boisterous, but also quite childlike and naïve in his expectations of people. They are both in their own ways looking for something more out of life, a way to live more authentically, and this is something I relate to very strongly.

Jack is an aspiring novelist. Is any part of the novel autobiographical?

Congratulations, you’ve hit on the only part of the book that is autobiographical! The road trip and the events are all fictional, but Jack’s struggles with his long, turgid literary novel are strongly based on my own experiences with a novel I was writing before On the Holloway Road, a novel that has not been and never will be published. I think I was trying too hard, and began writing On the Holloway Road as a way to escape for a while and find the enjoyment of writing again. I wrote fast, spontaneously, and completed the first draft in a month. To my amazement it was better than the novel I’d spent years struggling with, and so I abandoned the old one and felt very free as a result.

Jack Kerouac’s On the Road was obviously a great influence for your novel. What was it about that book that captured your imagination?

When I read the book at different points in my life, I got different things from it. As a teenager, probably like many people, I was intoxicated by the glamour and excitement of a road trip across the vast open spaces of America, the free-wheeling life of parties and hitch-hiking. But when I went back to it more recently, I was struck by the ultimate failure of Sal and Dean’s mission. For all the travelling back and forth across the continent, they keep ending up back where they started, with everything broken – for all the imagery of the straight open road, it’s actually quite a circular novel. I was interested in how a similar trip would play out in the more narrow confines of 21st century Britain.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?

I love Milan Kundera,Kazuo Ishiguro, andJorge Luis Borges, because their stories make me think about the world in a new way. Beautiful writing is not enough, for me – I look to books to introduce me to new worlds and to challenge my assumptions. A couple of writers I’ve come across more recently and been very impressed by are Preeta Samarasan and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?

I’ve read the Tao Te Ching more times than I can count. It’s on my nightstand and I turn to it whenever I am feeling lost or confused.

What was the last book you read?

Edgelandsby Paul Farley and Michael Symmons Roberts.

Are you reading a book at the moment?

Yes, I’m reading .A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes. I’m also listening to an audio book of To Kill a Mockingbird.

What do you think of ebooks?

Not much! I have always loved books, and currently don’t see an ebook offering anything that a physical book doesn’t (at least in fiction – in non-fiction or reference I can certainly see that the ability to search by keyword and to include videos or other material would enhance the reading experience). For me, novels are a respite from the world of gadgets and electronic screens. Everyone always tells me how great it is that I can carry hundreds of books with me at once, but I’ve never wanted to do that – one at a time is enough for me!

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Reviews are vital, as they are one of the main ways that people find out about your book. For On the Holloway Road I didn’t get too many reviews in the national papers – just a short review in the Daily Mail – but all the reviews on sites like Amazon and Goodreads are very much appreciated. It’s also great to hear from readers even if they don’t write a formal review, but just email me or leave a comment on my blog.

How did you go about choosing a cover for your book?

My publisher, Legend Press, handled that side of things. I was happy with what they did – I’d probably have gone for something obvious like a road stretching off into the distance, but they had a graphic designer work on it and came up with something much darker and more abstract, which fits the content of the book perfectly.

What are you working on now?

I’ve just finished work on a second novel, called A Virtual Love, which is about love in the age of Twitter and Facebook, and am starting on a third one now.

Where can people buy your books?

It’s in a lot of bookshops – not as many as when it first came out in 2009, but check there first. They can always order it within 24 hours so it’s usually faster than online ordering. Or you can go online and order a physical copy or ebook from the usual suspects – Amazon UK, Amazon US, the Book Depository, Waterstones, etc. If you want a signed copy, you can buy it direct through my website – I’m currently offering free worldwide shipping (for a limited time, so might not be available if you’re reading this some time in the future!).

Thank you, Andrew, for answering my questions :) Your new novel sounds intriguing. Can't wait until it's released!




Remember, by leaving a comment on this blog post you can enter to win a signed copy of Andrew's book! This is an international competition. Good luck!!

I've just finished reading an advance copy of 'The Shelter', a short story by James Everington, and it made me realise that I know so many talented writers through connecting on Goodreads, Twitter, BestsellerBound.com etc., but most if not all of them are still unknown to the book buying public.

James Everington is one of those writers who makes me want to keep reading... he keeps the story flowing and moving, making the reader curious to find out what happens next.





I would encourage you to check out his short story collection, The Other Room, and make sure you grab a copy of his creepy story 'The Shelter' as soon as it's published!

Some other notable independent authors that you mustn't miss, are:

Darcia Helle
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
Ami Blackwelder
Neil Schiller
Jen Knox
Julie Elizabeth Powell
Quentin R. Bufogle
Stacy Juba
Jason McIntyre
Lisette Brodey
Andrew Blackman
Bill See
Tom Gahan
Mark McKenna

This is by no means an exhaustive list, I'm sure I've missed out some of my favourites.

I would encourage you to try reading some of the above authors' books... you won't be disappointed.

It's a pleasure to welcome author Andrew Blackman back to my blog. I interviewed him back in
2011 when I read his award winning debut novel On The Holloway Road. I loved that book, so when I heard Andrew had released another novel recently, I had to get a copy! I'm so glad I did because it's just as great as his first one. A Virtual Love is a 5 star read that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good story. It's all about our obsession with the Internet and what can happen when people take things to extremes.

After reading his latest book, I asked Andrew back here for a chat. He's very generously offered to give away a signed paperback copy of "A Virtual Love" to one of my blog followers. To be in with a chance to win, just follow the link to the Rafflecopter giveaway. It's easy entry and a fabulous prize! The giveaway ends on 30th April, so be quick!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Here's the interview:






"A Virtual Love" is all about how people can pretend to be who they want to be online. Have you ever pretended to be someone else on the Internet, or come across someone who has?

I don’t deliberately assume different identities online, but I find myself doing it anyway. My blog persona is a version of me, but it’s a heavily edited version, designed for external consumption. It’s not just writers who do this either – take a look at any friend’s Facebook profile, and I bet that what you see is not a rounded representation of who that person is. At best it represents what that person thinks is important, and what image they want to construct. Most people don’t set out to deceive or to withhold or to construct new identities, but subconsciously we do it all the time.


Jeff Brennan has a massive following on his blog. If you had a blog with that much influence, what would you blog about, and why?

I would blog about politics, but not in the narrow sense of Westminster food fights between Conservative and Labour. I’d blog about the big issues that affect people’s lives, like war, poverty, human rights, climate change, social injustice. That’s what politics means to me, but unfortunately it often gets reduced to bipartisan name-calling and the endless production of minor scandals, which just distract us from the real issues.

This is an interesting one, because I know that my own view of e-books has changed since 2011. When I asked you what you think of e-books in our 2011 interview, you said: 



"Not much! I have always loved books, and currently don’t see an ebook offering anything that a physical book doesn’t (at least in fiction – in non-fiction or reference I can certainly see that the ability to search by keyword and to include videos or other material would enhance the reading experience). For me, novels are a respite from the world of gadgets and electronic screens. Everyone always tells me how great it is that I can carry hundreds of books with me at once, but I’ve never wanted to do that – one at a time is enough for me!"

Do you still feel the same way, or have you, like me, become attached to your Kindle (or other e-reader)?

I have gained a greater appreciation for the practical benefits of a Kindle in certain situations, but am still a book-lover at heart. Last year I lived in Barbados, and used my Kindle to keep up with the latest releases in British fiction, most of which weren’t available in the local bookshops and libraries. I’m moving around a lot at the moment, and a Kindle is very useful in these circumstances. But if I was settled in one place, and had space for lots of books, I’d choose paper every time, mainly because I prefer the reading experience, and I prefer buying from independent bookshops. I wrote a blog post explaining it in more detail.

When I last interviewed you in 2011, you had just finished writing "A Virtual Love" and started working on a third novel. How much progress have you made with that one, and can you tell us a bit about it?

It’s moving along nicely, although I still have quite a bit left to do. It’s a part-historical, part-contemporary novel. The historical part features a real-life ancestor of mine, who was claimant to the Spanish throne in the mid-19th century but gave it all up to move to England and be a photographer. Then there’s 21st-century story (not based on my real family!) about a man whose marriage is falling apart for reasons he can’t understand. Discovering the story of his ancestor makes him see his own life in a new light, and he starts to make radical changes.

Interesting. I like the idea of a historical part and a modern day part to the story. Can't wait to read it!

"A Virtual Love" is a compelling story, told by multiple narrators. What gave you idea to write the book in the first person from the viewpoint of so many different characters? I think it was quite an original way to tell the story, and worked well.

I saw the main character in the book, Jeff Brennan, as the kind of person who defines himself by what other people think of him. So I thought it would be interesting to reflect that in the narrative structure of the book, and have the story narrated by all the other characters, but never by Jeff himself. I wanted to create the idea of a character who only exists when he’s being observed. I used first person because I wanted each view to be highly subjective, so that the reader questions each narrative and forms an idea of Jeff based on the personal, self-serving and sometimes conflicting accounts of those around him.


"A Virtual Love" shows us that life has changed considerably for most people since the advent of the Internet. Tell us one thing you love about the Internet and one thing you hate about it?

I love the way that it puts the whole world at your fingertips, allowing you instant access to knowledge, ideas and people around the world. I hate the way that this often leads to feelings of dissatisfaction and being rushed. There’s always more out there, more websites to visit, more blogs and Twitter comments and emails to keep up with, more information to gather, and no matter how much time you spend online, it’s never enough. So there’s a paradox of a tremendous time-saving technology that leaves us feeling frenetic and hurried.

True... I'm always feeling as if I'm in a mad rush to do everything LOL


Who designed the cover of your novel?

My publisher, Legend Press, arranged the whole thing. They used a freelance designer, Gudrun Yobst of Yote Design. Gudrun also designed the cover of my first novel, "On the Holloway Road", and I was really happy with both.



They're both great covers.

Have you read any good books lately?

I really enjoyed The Quiddity of Will Self by Sam Mills. It’s something completely different – a literary comedy with Will Self at the centre, featuring murder mysteries, orgies, ritual author worship and bizarre scientific experiments. I also liked The Almost Lizard by fellow Legend Press author James Higgerson. It’s about a TV-obsessed boy who creates fantasy versions of his own life in the form of TV soap operas filmed inside his head, and how the fantasies start to take over his life. Really inventive, well-written satire combined with a compelling character study.

They sound good. More books for my never-ending to-read list!

Where is the best place for people to keep up to date with your writing news?

The best place is on my website. I have a news page where I give updates of all my events and appearances, and I blog regularly – sometimes about my own news, and other times about books in general, or literary events, or aspects of the writer’s life. I’m also on Twitter and Facebook.

Do you prefer Twitter or Facebook, and why?

I prefer Twitter, because it’s easier to meet new people and have interesting conversations. Facebook is more geared to interacting with your existing friends, and I prefer to do that face to face. I think the best conversations about books take place on book blogs and on Goodreads.com, although I don’t have time to go on Goodreads as much as I used to.

You recently had a book launch in London for "A Virtual Love". How did that go?

It went very well. My publisher arranged it, which is good because I’m useless at organising parties! Lots of people came, and my speech and reading went well. I posted some photos here.

Nice photos. It looks like it was a success!

Do you have any tips for book promotion?

Go into local bookshops and buy books (not always your own!). For "On the Holloway Road", my local bookshop Prospero’s Books in Crouch End was really supportive, placing the book prominently in their window display and selling lots of copies – I was on their bestseller list for a while! That was largely because I was a regular customer and they’d seen me in the shop all the time, so when I had a book out, they were happy to help.

I think you're right. We tend to concentrate on Internet promotion rather than in stores. That's a good tip. Thanks.

Do you have any other news for your readers?

I’m happy to report that "A Virtual Love" has picked up some great reviews lately – I’ve compiled them all on a page on my website, which I’ll keep updating as new ones are added.

Well, it's a brilliant book, so I'm sure you'll be adding lots more great reviews there!

Thank you for answering my questions, Andrew, I'm so pleased that the book is doing well for you, and wish you continued success! I'm looking forward to reading the next one!!

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Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!! a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good Luck!

Some books that I have read recently that you might want to try:









It can be hard trying to find good books with all the free ones and thousands being published daily. Often we have to read a few not-so-good ones before we find the true gems.


All of the above books stood out to me as exceptional and well worth my time. I hope you'll try one or two of them.

One of my favourite parts of self-publishing my books is choosing the right cover. In the past I have used my own artwork, or photographs that have caught my eye in some way.

For me, the important thing is that the cover should reflect what is inside the book. I love art and I've always liked browsing bookstores just to look at the book covers. Some of them are very eye-catching and I've sometimes bought a book just because I like the cover so much!

I thought it would be nice as an end of year list to choose my favourite book covers of 2013.

I'm going to include the covers of my books, Delusion and Dreams, and 3, both of which were published this year. I love the photographs on the covers.

Here are my favourites from this year. (I'd also be interested in hearing about yours, so if you have any favourites, please comment with a link so we can all see!)

My Favourite Book Covers of 2013 (in no particular order)

Rise of the Shadow by J. Michael Radcliffe



The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan



13 by Julie Elizabeth Powell



Delusion and Dreams




3




Nine Lives by Terry Tyler




Fastian: An Edgeweir Tale (The Weaver Saga, #1). by Jay Finn




An Eye For An Eye For An Eye by Marc Nash



Nocturnal Embers by Helle Gade




Sandcastle and Other Stories byJustin Bog



The Conversationalist by Justin Bog



A Virtual Love by Andrew Blackman

This is a list of my favourite reads from this year. The books were not necessarily published this year, but I read them in 2013.


In no particular order:

The Other Side



My review:

Brilliant! This is an absolutely superb novel that completely surprised me. Just when I was beginning to think it was going to be another book about four different women and what their lives could have been like if they'd only done something differently when they were young (which is a nice idea for a novel, but not an awe-inspiring one) the author put a spin on it which totally changed everything.

Having read You Wish... by this author, I knew that she is a very talented writer, and was looking forward to reading more of her books. This book has left me wondering why Terry Tyler hasn't been snapped up by one of the major publishing companies.

'The Other Side' will entertain you, but more importantly, it will make you think. So much of our time is spent comparing ourselves with others and cursing our luck. This book drives home a very important point about life. I don't want to give too much away, so I will leave it at that. I think everyone would enjoy this book. It's full of believable characters, and everyone will be able to relate to at least one of the characters. This book isn't as funny as 'You Wish', but it is just as entertaining and thought-provoking. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work.



Killing Instinct: A Michael Sykora Novel




My review:

This is the third in Darcia Helle's Michael Sykora series. I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, but this book reads well as a stand alone novel. The author effectively gives details of the background of each character as we meet them, so anyone who is unfamiliar with them will be able to read the book and enjoy it.

This book delves into an obscure and scary world that exists just beneath the surface of society. A hidden Internet site that deals in the darker side of life; where people are no more than commodities to satisfy the needs of disturbed individuals. One such person is at the head of the organisation: Sandman. This elusive man must be found and stopped.

In this novel, Michael Sykora and his partner in crime, Sean Riley, go in search of this evil ringleader, and in their search they discover things that surprise them about him, but also about themselves.

For Sean Riley the search is personal, his girlfriend's life is at risk, and emotions fuel his need for justice.
This book looks at how there is always more to a person, or a situation than meets the eye.

It's a compulsive read that you won't want to put down, and like many of Darcia Helle's novels, it will have you biting your nails and worrying about the characters! A must read for fans of suspense/thrillers.


Joe Soap



My review:

Absolutely brilliant.

Andrew Peters is an absolute master at comedy writing (check out his Blues Detective series), and after reading Joe Soap, I believe he is also an extremely talented all-round writer. This is a dark thriller, with lots of lovely dry humour to stop it being absolutely terrifying!

Joe Soap is actually a fictional character; a character in a series of books by author Jed Higgins. Jed is the main character in this expertly crafted story.

The novel has lots of twists that kept me interested, and there's a lot of thought-provoking stuff here. What would you do if faced with no option but to kill a stranger? After Jed is threatened by a criminal gang, that is exactly the position he finds himself in. One day he is an ordinary man, trying to make a living with his writing, the next he is involved in all sorts of criminal activity. In the past, the only crimes that happened in Jed's life were the fictional kind that he made up in his novels, now all of that was becoming a frightening reality. How will he cope? You'll have to read this book to find out.

I enjoyed the humour in this book, and also the way the story was constructed to keep you guessing until the end. Grab a copy now, you won't regret it.

Rock'n'Roll Suicide



My review:

A 30 year old mystery about the death of a rock band; a conspiracy theory about the death of John Lennon; a string of recent murders that may be linked to those deaths. This book is a wonderful suspense novel that kept me turning the pages to find out what happened.

John Lockwood used to work for the police as a psychologist but after a spell in a mental institution when he suffered a nervous breakdown, he finds himself unable to get back into the work he once enjoyed. When we meet him, he is working on a book Crash and Burn about the untimely deaths of rock stars. His friend, Ken, helped him to pick himself up after his breakdown, and with his contacts in publishing, helped him to get the contract for the book. Matters take a sinister turn when Jack begins to investigate the death of Maggi O'Kane, a member of the rock band, Border Crossing, who allegedly killed the rest of her band and then committed suicide in 1980. It appears that there might be a link with the John Lennon murder, and perhaps a cover up; were Maggi and her band murdered? As he tries to get to the bottom of the 30 year old mystery, Jack finds himself dropped by his publisher, and almost killed a few times... To make matters worse, he is sure he is being followed by a serial killer, Edward Van Leer, the man who almost killed him years ago. But how can that be when Van Leer is locked up for murder? This book is full of twists and turns, and action packed scenes that will induce nail biting.

The story is told in the first person, from Jack Lockwood's perspective. It is not only a great crime thriller, but also very insightful about the human psyche, betrayal, friendship, loneliness, relationships, and other such matters. The descriptive quality of the narrative is such that the reader can easily imagine the sights and sounds, which makes the nail biting scenes even more thrilling! This is part one of a series of books. Chapter One of the second book is included at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good suspense thriller.


Nocturnal Embers




My review:

After reading her debut collection of poetry, Silent Dreams, I was keen to read more from this writer. In this collection, as well as poetry, Helle Gade is also showcasing some of her photography. Just like her first book, this is a passionate collection of poetry. These are words from her soul. Many of the poems focus on pain, loneliness, and isolation, as seen through the eyes of someone who has a chronic illness. Her poem, 'Excruciating Pain' gives us some idea of how someone suffering Fibromyalgia feels. It's a touching and heartfelt collection of poetry. I think the photographs really fit with the poems and added a little extra. A nice touch. Some of my favourites are 'Dust', 'The Sting', and 'Hush Hush'. The title for the collection is great because there is a real dreamlike feel to much of the poetry and you really get the sense of the silence and darkness of the night when reading it. At the end, there is even a poem which was written while the author was asleep! I enjoyed this collection as much as Silent Dreams, and look forward to reading more from this talented artist in the future.

The Blues Detective




My review:

This book is hilarious. I think there is at least one laugh out loud moment on every page. It's a collection of short mysteries where a private detective, Otis King, tries to solve a few cases for random clients. Every client has a link to the Blues in some way. The stories are mostly set in Memphis. Otis is originally from Wales in the UK, and tries his best to fit in to the US lifestyle. His comments about the language differences are very funny. Unable to completely give up his Welsh roots, he still has traditional Welsh food packages sent to him by his mum and aunts. He has an interesting way of looking at life, has a love for blondes, alcohol, and of course the Blues, and an aversion to jazz musicians. You must read this book. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Andrew Peter's books; he is a comedy genius.

A Virtual Love



My review:

I had great expectations when I started reading this novel, because Andrew Blackman's debut novel, On The Holloway Road is one of my all time favourite books. A Virtual Love is just as absorbing, and just as thought-provoking as his first book. I love this writer's style. It takes no effort to read and understand what he is saying, and that is a mark of quality literature. It's no surprise he has won awards for his writing.

In this novel, Blackman has taken the topic of today's obsession with the Internet and has created a carefully structured story examining one man's manipulation of the web that is scarily realistic, and makes you wonder whether this is already happening all around us. How many people are pretending to be someone else when they are online? The book shows how easy it is for people to create multiple identities on the Internet, and it touches on the subject of how the anonymity of hiding behind a computer can be misused by the untrustworthy as a way to manipulate others. The fragility of truth is exposed in this story.

The main character is Jeff Brennan, but we never hear the story from his point of view; each chapter is narrated by different characters, in the first person as if they are talking to Jeff. I thought this was a very interesting way of telling the story, and it works well.

Towards the end I wondered whether the story might seem unfinished if we don't hear from Jeff at least once, and was expecting the last chapter to be from his viewpoint, but the ending surprised me and is extremely well done leaving the reader with a lot to think about.

All the characters are believable and seem like real people, and the Jeff Brennan character is well-developed as we see his life change throughout the book as seen through other people's eyes.

This book is all about secrets, lies, and how the world wide web has changed the way we live, and the way some people view reality.


Contemplations: An Anthology of Short Fiction & Poetry





My review:

There are writers who stand out from the crowd. L.M. Stull is one of those writers. I read a lot of books, but not many of them are able to keep me interested and make me feel compelled to read in this way. Not only that, but I was totally engrossed in the stories and really sensing the characters' emotions, and understanding them. L.M. Stull takes the reader to some dark places with this collection of short stories and poems. Reading the collection was almost like reading someone's private diary. The characters' feelings seem real, the characters could be real people. Themes include: abuse, secrets, revenge, betrayal, and regret. At the end of the collection, there is a short story told in about 9 chapters, so it's almost a mini-novella. In this story we follow two different characters, in what is, in essence, a love story.

One of my favourites in the collection, only because it totally surprised me at the end, is, 'The Things You Keep To Yourself'.

'The Bus' is another stand-out story; very poignant.

I enjoyed all the stories, and poems. There is a realism, sometimes quite dark, that pervades the writing.

Having read this collection, I am looking forward to reading more from this talented author. If you're looking for a new writer to try, you must pick up a book by L.M. Stull. Her literary skills are exemplary. Definitely an author to look out for.


Rise of the Shadow



My review:

This is the third book in J. Michael Radcliffe's Beyond The Veil Trilogy. It's sad to see the end of such a wonderful fantasy tale. Before reading the first book in the series, The Guardian's Apprentice, I didn't read these types of fantasy books, but it is such an engrossing story and so imaginative, it made me more interested in this type of fiction.

The second book, Bloodstone - The Guardian's Curse, is just as enthralling as the first and I was very much looking forward to reading this final instalment. I was lucky enough to receive a pre-publication copy of this book.

I think, Rise of the Shadow is a very well written conclusion to the story. The author has done well to write this as the third book in the series as well as making it readable as a stand alone book. Each of the characters is reintroduced in the book; this worked well for me as it had been a while since I read the second book and it was nice to be reminded who everyone was. I found that remembering the characters also brought a nostalgic feel to the story as they are all well drawn characters who seem larger than life and I found myself almost getting to know them all again.

In this story Keegan, newly crowned Guardian of the Veil begins his life as Guardian without a Veil to protect, as of course it had been destroyed in book two. Keegan's task in this final story in the trilogy is to stop the wraith of his enemy committing murder five thousand years in the past. Will he be successful? We follow him as he travels back in time, risking his life and that of everyone dear to him. Some new and interesting characters are introduced in this final part of the trilogy. The author is a gifted storyteller, in my opinion, and I think his writing style has progressed in leaps and bounds throughout the course of this series; he started off as a fabulous and enchanting storyteller and is now a master. The ending of Rise of the Shadow is a testament to his skill. Read it and find out why.

No Justice: A Michael Sykora Novel



My review:

I'm already a big fan of Darcia Helle's writing. I've read most of her stand alone novels, and short stories. I've been wanting to read this series of books for ages. I finally found a bit of time and am so glad I did! This is a fast-paced action packed thriller that is so well written you feel as if you know all the characters and that they're real people. I actually read the fourth book in the series before this one as I was lucky enough to receive a pre-publication copy, and I have to say, this character, Michael Sykora, is larger than life. He is a likeable man even though he kills for a living. He's a hitman with a conscience: he only kills bad people.

In this book he's on a mission to protect an old friend, Nicki, whose life is in danger after she becomes involved with the wrong people. Will he be able to eliminate them all before it's too late?

This book introduces the character, Michael Sykora, and we learn the reason he became a hitman. We meet his best friend, a policeman, and learn of the reason they have such a tight bond. We see what could be a developing relationship between Michael and Nicki, we find out about his history and see learn of his less than perfect childhood. His father is dying and he's forced to face demons from his past as he reconnects with him. Towards the end of the novel there is also mention of him trying to find a long-lost sister, one of the things I'm looking forward to finding out more about in book two.

There is so much to like about this book. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes good suspenseful crime fiction.

Darcia Helle's books are a joy to read, and though the subject matter is often quite dark, there is a wonderful sense of humour throughout that always brings a smile.