Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "books"

As many of you know, I am a resident author at BestsellerBound

For the past couple of weeks I have been involved in a fun writing exercise with a fellow writer on the site, Jason McIntyre author of, 'Shed', and 'On the Gathering Storm'.

We are effectively writing a joint novel/story.

Jason has blogged about it on his blog, click here to read more:
Jason McIntyre's Blog

To read the story so far go here: The online novel

I saw this blog post and unfortunately I could relate to it... it seems that when you write a book those closest to you —- the people you think of as friends -- and even your own family, are the last people who would actually go out and buy it. I can really sympathise with the author's experience in this blog, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Mysterious Matters

Many of you will already know from reading the Goodreads December Newsletter that you can vote for your favourite books from 2010 and also your favourite Goodreads authors.

There are several books which have been nominated by Goodreads, which are of course those published by traditional publishing houses, but as we all know there are so many fabulous books by independent authors that are often overlooked in these type of awards and nominations.

I would ask you to vote for your favourite indie book or indie author in these awards to show support for indie writers. You can write in your nomination on the voting form, so you don't have to automatically choose one of the books suggested.

It would be wonderful if an indie author won an award in at least one of the categories this year. I have met so many amazing indie authors over the past couple of years and they are all so deserving of some recognition.

Make a difference and vote indie!

Goodreads Awards

In the past couple of years I have read some fabulous books by authors you may not have heard of.

There are lots of good books out there, and before I joined Goodreads, I really only read books by well known authors, or books I could find in my local bookshops.

Many of you may still do that. Maybe you only buy the bestsellers or you only buy books you can find in bricks and mortar shops. I think most people are probably like that.

I just wanted to open up a window for you, and introduce you to some fabulous writers who are not bestsellers, their books are not easy to find in your local shops, but their books are some of the best I have ever read.

Here are a few recommendations.

I hope you will pick at least one from this list to try. Then, if you like it, I hope you'll come back and read another.
And most of all, I hope you'll tell all your friends about them.

Books are written because there is a story to tell, that story deserves to be read.

I've fallen in love with these books, and I hope you will too:

Breathing into Stone Breathing into Stone by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick

Eighteenth century priest, Father Furio Novia, hates his employer, the Archbishop of Modena; almost as much as he hates Italian master sculptor, Antonio Lisi. When Novia discovers that Lisi uses his beautiful daughter's likeness in nearly every figure he carves, the priest realizes he can make accusations to the Archbishop that the sculptor has an incestuous knowledge of his daughter, Anoria. Novia begins to haunt their lives, and every family in their village of Resceto, not because he believes they have sinned, but because he desires Anoria for himself.For two years their lives twined around one another's, destined to clash in Rome; Novia, committing murder to stay free of the church; Anoria, nearly killing him to escape his lust.(some adult oriented content)

The Day the Flowers Died The Day The Flowers Died by Ami Blackwelder

A Passion set in the time of prejudice. A novel about love and loss. The completed final edition. 1930 Munich. Two Lovers. Different Worlds. A Crumbling Country Book Taste Review: Ami Blackwelder paints her words in this gently narrated historical romance set in Munich, Germany early 1930. The scenes recreate pre-war Germany...

Pixels of Young Mueller Pixels of Young Mueller by Jerry Schwartz

Klaus Mueller dreams of leaving tiny Southland someday to be a rock star. When he chooses stardom over college, however, he learns that his real education is only beginning. He endures a series of god-awful jobs while his music is repeatedly rejected, and he wonders how he will ever achieve success. After moving to the city, where he finds a career and becomes a father, he is torn between the great happiness he has found and the success he still craves. Klaus must reconcile his dreams with reality or spend the rest of his life lamenting what might have been.Pixels of Young Mueller is the story of an artist's growth to maturity and of his revolt against his family's Christian values. The tale of Klaus Mueller, as told in this modern coming-of-age novel, provides new perspectives on classic themes when Klaus confronts the forces that threaten his existence. Readers can listen to Klaus' music online at itsthejerrys.com. (edited by author)

Musical Chairs Musical Chairs by Jen Knox

Musical Chairs explores one family's history of mental health diagnoses and searches to define the cusp between a '90s working-class childhood and the trouble of adapting to a comfortable life in the suburbs. In order to understand her restlessness, Jennifer reflects on years of strip-dancing, alcoholism, and estrangement. Inspired by the least likely source, the family she left behind, Jennifer struggles towards reconciliation. This story is about identity, class, family ties, and the elusive nature of mental illness.


Horse Latitudes Horse Latitudes by Quentin R. Bufogle

Time is running out for Chester Sprockett. How is an unemployed, aspiring novelist supposed to survive when the thirty grand borrowed off his dead father's credit cards is almost gone, and the only work he can find is hawking toys and cheesy novelty items door-to-door . . . on commission yet?

And talk about woman trouble: There's Pandora, the beautiful magician's assistant who dumped him for an investment banker and the dream of becoming a performance artist; Beth, his true love, the girl he let slip through his fingers at the beach (maybe it was all that baby oil) and the mysterious blond nymph who hurls empty beer bottles at him from a black Z28 Camaro.

If it wasn't for the occasional visit from the ghost of his father, Chester would almost certainly be losing his grip on reality, and never navigate his way out of the . . . Horse Latitudes.


Caviar Dreams Caviar Dreams by Judy Nichols

Your best friend's in love with a lying, scum-bag thief. How do you tell her? Because what she doesn't know could kill her. This is photographer Lisa Watson's dilemma. Lisa has always relied on her plain, overweight friend Debbie to cheer her up when she's down on her luck (which is most of the time). When Debbie falls hard for a handsome stranger named Derek. Lisa is skeptical, believing Prince Charming is more interested in Debbie's money than her kind nature. Derek may be a small-time hustler, but he has big-time plans. He intends to blackmail his wealthy lover, Robert Helton, a conservative industrialist desperate to hide his secret gay life. However, Derek's plan takes a fatal turn when Debbie is found dead in her apartment.


Harmony Bay: An adventurous slice of waterfront life where mystery surrounds history... Harmony Bay by Tom Gahan

Harmony Bay uncovers the rich historical past of a small town through the eyes of newcomers...Detailed description laced with historical references gives the reader a feel for life in a bayside town

Enemies and Playmates Enemies and Playmates by Darcia Helle

When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser's world might just shatter. Lauren Covington's family maintains a grand facade that belies the life they live behind closed doors. Alex Covington, Lauren's father, keeps a tight rein on his family through dominance, abuse, and obsessive control. Consequently, Lauren doesn't believe she could ever trust a man, much less fall in love with one.

When Lauren meets Jesse Ryder, her carefully constructed protective wall shatters. She falls hopelessly and completely in love. It's only fitting that Jesse is a private detective who had once worked for her father, had defied him, and was now the subject of Alex Covington's wrath.

Amidst devastating loss, betrayal, and her father's destructive pursuit of Jesse, Lauren finds the trust and love she had always longed for.

Digger's Bones Digger's Bones by Paul Mansfield Keefe

Archaeologist Angie Cooper's colleague and friend, Tarek "Digger" Rashid, is murdered in front of her. But not before giving her cryptic photographic clues to a hidden tomb and the two thousand year old bones within. Angie must battle a ruthless hitman, hired by a U.S. senator with presidential aspirations, and a sociopathic religious zealot while overcoming severe acrophobia. Caught in a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal, she works to unravel the secret of Digger's bones. Bones that affect the lives of all they touch.

Digger’s Bones is an action packed thriller that takes you from the churches and burial tombs of ancient Jerusalem to the harrowing cliffs of Bandelier National Monument and the glacier capped Zugspitze in Germany. Angie Cooper, her career in shambles, finds herself on the run from mercenaries, the Holy See, the FBI, and Interpol while trying to solve one of archaeology’s great mysteries. Yet some things are better left in the past.

Twenty-Five Years Ago Today Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba

Kris Langley has always been obsessed with murder. She blames herself for the violent death of her cousin when they were kids and has let guilt invade every corner of her existence. Now an editorial assistant and obit writer for a Massachusetts newspaper, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling "25 Years Ago Today" items from the microfilm. She grows fascinated with the case of a young cocktail waitress who was bludgeoned to death and dumped in the woods. Determined to solve the case and atone for the death of her cousin, Kris immerses herself in the mystery of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology. Not only does Kris face resistance from her family and her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana's suspicious nephew, Eric Soares - until neither she nor Eric can deny the chemistry flaring between them. Kris soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday's headline is tomorrow's danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris's present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.

My Schizophrenic Life: The Road to Recovery from Mental Illness My Schizophrenic Life by Sandra Yuen MacKay

Vancouver artist Sandra Yuen MacKay has an abnormality of the brain - a disease called schizophrenia. As she says, "my life is schizophrenic because I have schizophrenia. It will always be there". Much of her life has been a struggle to cope with the symptoms of her disease and the side effects of the medications required to keep those symptoms in check.

Early in her life, Sandra started to exhibit the typical symptoms of this disease which came as a surprise to her unsuspecting family. Her book chronicles her struggles, hospitalizations, encounters with professionals, return to school, eventual marriage, and success as an artist, writer and advocate.

Fade Fade by Darren Smith

"Perhaps the best way to describe just how much this book caught my imagination is to reveal that even almost a year after reading it, there are still scenes that I remember vividly, quotations that I can recall and to confess that I will never think of doughnuts with sprinkles in the same way again."

"Brilliantly written love story captures your thoughts and emotions throughout the whole reading and long after it. The lucid and detailed narration provides multi layered complexity of each character's personality, startling revelations, creative turns of the plot."

"Dramatic and touching, the author does a brilliant job of capturing the reader's attention and reeling them into the depths of his story telling."

What Remains What Remains, by Rosemary Poole Carter

WHAT REMAINS is set on a rundown plantation shortly after the Civil War. In the shadow of live oaks and Spanish moss, Isabelle Ross, who has lost her fiancé to the war, joins forces with journalist Paul Delahoussaye to untangle a web of secrets, lies, and murder.

Road Markers Road Markers by Jason C McIntyre

Dean is a forty-something sales rep for a company that ropes small, mostly blue-collar firms into long term cellphone plans. Heading home from a bad meeting, he begins to see evidence that he can will things to happen just by thinking about them. But will this tantalizing realization lead him to cross the line for good?

* * *

Most of these writers have written more books, and I'm looking forward to reading more of their work.

Give them a try.

Remember, if you like a book, remember to review it, either here on Goodreads, or on Amazon and other bookseller websites. Authors are always grateful for honest reviews. It doesn't have to be anything detailed, just a couple of lines to say why you liked it would be wonderful.

Happy reading!

I was recently interviewed about my books and writing, by Kipp Poe, here's a link to the blog:
interview

Also, author Darcia Helle has a new feature on her blog called 'Quirky Questions Monday'. This week I am featured there along with author Jason McIntyre

Go here to read our answers :) Quirky Question

Today, I would like to introduce you to one of my favourite people. He's not only a gifted writer, but he is a marvellous person. I met Joel on the BestsellerBound forum, not long after it launched last summer. He immediately caught my attention because he is a bit of a practical joker, and full of fun. To put it simply, I love Joel. I am sure you will all fall in love with him, too.
I have read his novel, Breathing into Stone, and it is one of my favourite books. Joel has generously agreed to give away 2 print copies of this epic novel to readers of my blog. It's an international competition. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below. Winners will be picked randomly on 5th May 2011.

Joel is the author of four novels, all of which have received fabulous reviews.

Joel is a great supporter of indie authors. On his blog, The Tales The Thing he features authors and books that he has found interesting. His interviews are always fun to read, and I'd highly recommend you to stop by his blog when you get an opportunity.

Last year, Joel single handedly put together a 3 volume sample anthology showcasing 62 authors. This anthology is available as a free download. It includes short stories and excerpts from novels, in various genres. Here's a link to the promotional trailer, for more information:
BestsellerBound Anthology Trailer

Here are Joel's answers to my interview questions:


Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?

Nearly every book I’ve read has inspired me; I just love stories. I really prefer hundred year old narratives, because they were not manipulated as things are today. I’ve admitted to being in love with Gary Jennings’ tales. I hope someday to form a novel as he did.

Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?

By all means get it done! There are few feelings as grand as reaching those last few pages. Self-publishing, to me, is the only thing the modern age has gotten right in literature. For someone who feels intimidated by the process – don’t isolate yourself and continue to feel alone; ask for help. Indie authors are a community – a very generous community.

You have published 4 novels in under 2 years, if we are to believe the rumours. That is quite a feat. Can you describe your writing process, and is it true that it took you only 36 days to write one of your books?

True, and still shocking to me. What I’ve only recently admitted, is that I took a year sabbatical from my career and spent the whole time writing. It was easy to write for 14 hours a day. I exploded, so-to-speak. Not knowing I could market on the web, three novels were in my hands before things slowed down. Then I began to poke around the internet and learn what self-publishing was all about. (I believed for months that traditional publishing was my only avenue. I got over that nonsense quickly.) And, yes, Breathing into Stone was completed at just under 200K words in five weeks. Someday I shall be ripped to shreds for that. It will be called a hopeless mess.

My process is very simple. Ideas get swished around in my mind, until they feel good. The best ones are typed a bit. About twenty good story-starts have been filed away. The first chapter is always done in a flash, so I know where I’m going, and those set the tone of the book. Then I unleash my brain to sort everything out. Nothing is typed until I’ve worked it out beforehand. I already have the first chapter of my fifth novel complete, it’s just waiting for me to get going.


From looking at the synopses of your four books, they seem quite unique in themes and genres. Which one was the hardest to write and why?

I don’t have a genre yet. In a few years that will arrive. It’s too much fun experimenting to worry about nailing that down just yet. Harmony's Passing caused me the most work, because the science is so familiar it had to be correct. I researched as the story formed, working out sky positions, and instruments, and a bit of biology. My desk was cluttered with star-charts the whole time. The other three books were just odd ideas that I loved exploring. My upcoming book will cost me a lot of research, because every element of it is taken from actual history – history that I will scramble apart completely.

Which one of your books was the most fun to write, and why?



Harmony was ‘fun’ because I’m a geek. But it was such a delight being with the characters in the others. I am quite in love with Caraliza (from Caraliza), and with Anoria (from Breathing into Stone). My wife thinks that is so stupid. To me, Shared is a bit darker, much more personal. Some elements of that book were difficult to write.

If someone was new to your work, which one of your books would you recommend they read first, and why?

Caraliza, would have to be my choice. It is my shortest novel, that’s a plus already. It is also the purest entertainment, asking only that the reader allow the ghosts to speak to them. Harmony requires some patience for the flood of scientific detail; Breathing into Stone is just a barge – you know that – a short vacation is needed to read that thing. Shared? That book wants into your mind, and into your heart. It wasn’t written to entertain. Shared is a spiritual expedition.

I own all your books, but have only as yet had time to read one of them. Breathing into Stone, is a literary masterpiece in my opinion. I am eager to read your other books after reading that one. Can you tell us what your inspiration was for Breathing into Stone, which is a historical drama, set in Italy, revolving around the life of a master sculptor and his beautiful daughter.

Anoria came to me in a sudden burst of warmth. I had been wondering if I could write from a woman’s perspective, and make her believable. It seemed natural to make her challenge a man’s world, because I knew something about that. I adore that period of time, the 1700’s. The earth was much bigger then. I put Anoria in her father’s marble workshop just hours after imagining her. From that setting, I could indulge my love of that period’s art, and play it all against the Church. Also, I looked around to see if there were any women like her in that period, working with stone. There were so few turned up in my research, I knew Anoria would stand out as very unique. There is nothing unique in my antagonist, Novia. He’s as generic as they come – Furio might really just be cliché, but I like him. He did his job.

The setting is real, Resceto is a charming, tiny little village – right where I claim it is. It gave me some isolation, which enhanced the characters, and it afforded me the chance to fill the novel with the setting. It would have been boring, and half as long if I put them in a little house in Massa. When you stand in Resceto on that single street, it seems you are swallowed by the mountains. But climb just an hour above the village, and you begin to see the stunning landscape, the sea to the west, the mountains rushing away north and south. Suddenly you are in a wide world, and it is a perfect mirror for Anoria’s personal journey; from isolation to the grandeur and fame of the marble culture.

When I read Breathing into Stone, I thought that somewhere in your work background, or at least for a serious hobby, you were involved with carving marble! The description of the way the marble was carved was so intricate, that sometimes I could almost see each tiny detail being carved by the hand of Antonio Lisi or Anoria. But I read in a recent interview that you have no experience in this whatsoever, and didn’t undertake much research either. I find that amazing. Did any of your novels require much research, or do you find that you are always able to write convincing prose without researching your subject matter?

Beginning Breathing into Stone, I could already name more than a dozen of Michelangelo’s most famous marbles. I wrote as an admirer, it’s been a lifetime devotion, and I let that drive the text. If you can’t fill the narrative with love, you’d better be ready with something else, like facts. Harmony could not have been written without a second computer screen open to Google. My next novel will be oppressive work, I actually dread some of that research.

Your ebooks were recently pirated and up for sale on Lulu.com by an unknown seller. Did you ever find out how that happened, or manage to gain any insight into how other authors could possibly protect themselves from having the same happen to them?

Yes, that was resolved in just under two weeks. We had a stupid pirate. I found her on Facebook. She’s been banned by the websites that she used. 52 books were in her storefront on Lulu.com. I’ve had correspondence with nearly all those authors. Any one of them could file international complaints against the pirate. I have certainly done that.

As to protection from book theft: there is none at the retail websites. There are no systems to identify false books, only the author can do that. Also, nothing will be done by any retailer, other than remove the content and ban the pirate from the site. So, don’t believe the legal scarewords in the user agreements on those sites. Retailers could not care less if a work is stolen or legit. Retailers care about profit and nothing else. (Sheesh – isn’t that already sooo obvious?) Authors must be aware of themselves on the internet; you should do regular vanity searches. Know where your books should be. Know how your books appear at all times on the web. It is a lot of work, but it helped me uncover a thief.

You have gained a reputation as a man who likes to help other indie authors succeed. I understand you have a blog dedicated to seeking out and promoting authors who in your opinion should be read by the masses. You also masterminded the BestsellerBound Sample Anthology, where over 60 authors (including myself) were able to showcase a chapter from one of their books, or a short story in an anthology which is available free for anyone to read on various websites. What is your motivation behind such efforts?

Fun :)

What is your opinion of the current state of indie publishing as compared to traditional publishing, and do you have any predictions as to how the publishing industry will change in the coming years?

My opinion is tiresome. I’m really a whiner. No one in traditional publishing had time to look at me, so I complain about them. They shout their refrain ‘.. it is good, because we say it is good,’ but it is not the exclusive reality they think they own. It is no longer true. Oddly, my opinion is also shared by about 4 million people on earth....

Traditional publishing (modern publishing) has been strangling literature for my entire lifetime. Makes no difference they have published an increasing number of books every year since the advent of the printing press. In my lifetime they have applied ‘marketing’ which didn’t improve a single damned book. I cannot predict what traditional publishing is about to endure, but I’m thrilled they must change. If part of the industry dies... I don’t care. Writers are no longer suffering with false constraints.

The ants in the industry, who should be screaming in panic, are literary agents. They have no purpose in self-publishing. Even editors can enjoy some trust from Indie authors, but the agency driven paradigm is dying. It has already drowned in good submissions, and proven itself useless.

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

That’s a long list, Dear. I’ve already named Gary Jennings. He can make me close my eyes, and close the book, with a single sentence. His words are stunning. I enjoy classics, and have read most of the standards – Edgar Allan PoeHerman MelvilleJules VerneOrson WellesCharlotte BrontëJane Austen. If you want to be seriously challenged on every subject possible, in a single narrative, find and read Bulwer-Lytton. But, I also love quirky things. Christopher Moore is also a favorite of mine because he seems to be writing as though he cannot believe his books are being published. THAT must be such fun.

Indie authors thrill me, and I’m a kid in the candy shop again. Just look at the authors featured on my blog, and discover cutting edge talent.

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

I’ve re-read every classic that I own. But I’ve gone back to J R Tolkien and Lewis Carroll more than any others. Half a dozen times for Tolkien’s Ring fantasy. I have an original 1898, first edition printing of a rare book by a dentist, Dr. Henry Allen Tupper. Around the World With Eyes Wide Open: The Wonders of the World Pictured by the Pen and Pencil 1898 is a travelogue, written at the moment the world began to shrink, and modern transportation made the globe a vacation ground. I’ve read that several times.

What was the last book you read? Yours - The Dream (soon to be published). Before that, two of mine, because I was hunting errors in my own text. Before that....several other Indie authors. I did finish reading Tolkien’s ‘Hobbit’ aloud my son Colin, just a month ago. He loved it.

Are you reading a book at the moment?

At the moment I’m reading first chapters of submitted works for the JournalStone Publishing Horror contest. That has been an enlightening exercise, because I’m not reading to be entertained, but to judge. Jurists have been asked to read with very particular guidelines, and then score the work for the next step in the competition. It has made me think very differently of the way stories are created. I have ten elements that must be considered with each submission. I’m having great fun with it.

What do you think of ebooks?

eBooks have made reading fun again. We’ve invented a cool way to tote our books. I love them, for their ability to show text to the masses. I hate them for their inability to make a page look as the author intended. I’m good at sneaking things into the format that I demand, like fonts which normally refuse to appear. I don’t just submit, I experiment and then hammer on the file before upload. One retailer finally gave up on me, because I couldn’t get what I wanted in the final ebook’s appearance. They got tired of refusing my submission.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Don’t tell me you are reading my book. I’ll drive you nuts to hurry you and get the review. Can’t grow without it, can I?

How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?

Um...I may be bad at it? Caraliza is a professional bit of work by Serendipity Graphic Design in Holland. I paid for that. I love that image, but also saw the other couple hundred taken. That photoshoot, in The Hague, was magic. The model, Maret Reutelingsperger, captured my character perfectly. At least for me.





Shared also has a stunning cover, and that was a lucky find on a photo website. I really only care the cover give some impression of the book, and perhaps only the mood of it. I really couldn’t care a whit that my name be on the cover.


What are you working on now?

Something which is so secret that I won’t say more than this: it is an alternative history. We all know the story, up to the point I take it over. It will only be available in hardbound print; no ebooks. And the synopsis is a single sentence of five words. It might be ready sometime in 2012.

Where can people buy your books?

Smashwords for the best price and selection of formats

Lulu for prints

I’m beginning to use Createspace for prints too. Only Shared is available there now.


Apart from your blog, where people can read more about your work?

Hehe Google my full name. I have a huge footprint.

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?

Read Indie Authors! Hug your kids a lot. Don’t get dressed in the dark; people will stare at you.

Thank you, Joel, for being such a splendid guest :)


Remember, you can win a print copy of Breathing into Stone just by leaving a comment on this blog post :) Good luck!

I met Michael Scott Miller through BestsellerBound.com... it seems I meet some of the best authors there. Michael's book Ladies and Gentlemen...The Redeemers caught my eye as it has a live band on the cover... you know me.
I can never resist a bit of live music; combine it with a book and I'm in heaven.

A couple of months after Michael's book went on my to-read list, I spotted it in one of the emails I received from Bookpleasures.com (I'm a reviewer for that website.) I instantly requested a copy, knowing that it would be my type of read.

I didn't know what to expect, except that it was a book about a man trying to put a band together. I was very impressed with the book. It's hard to believe it's a debut novel. I can see a bright future for Mr. Miller.

You can read my review of his book here on Goodreads.

As I am on a mission to introduce you all to the best in indie writing, I just had to invite Michael to my blog. He kindly agreed to answer my questions and has offered to give away one paperback copy and three ebooks versions of the book!! All you have to do to enter is 'like' this blog post or leave a comment below! A winner will be picked at random on 20th June 2011. If you have a preference, you should state in your comment whether you're entering for the ebook version or the paperback.

Here are Michael's answers to my interview questions:

Your bio says you work with numbers by day and words by night. That’s an interesting combination. Do you enjoy working with both, or do you have a preference?

At this stage of my life, I am enjoying working with words more. The numbers side comes easily to me and I’ve made a great career in business out of that. However, I’ve found that I love expressing myself creatively through writing and I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of that. Plus, in all my years in the business world, I’ve never had a stranger tell me how much they enjoyed one of my spreadsheets.

Your background in writing appears to be non-fiction. I understand you’ve had work published in the Welcomat (now Philadelphia Weekly) and wrote music reviews for the Wharton Journal. How does writing non-fiction compare with fiction, in your opinion? Do you find it easier to write fiction or non-fiction?

Non-fiction is certainly easier for me since I don’t need to think about the story line or the style of music. I just need to come up with the appropriate words to describe it. I prefer the freedom of fiction though.

I’m assuming that a background in writing music reviews means you have a passion for music as well as words and numbers! (I’m also guessing this as your debut novel has a musical theme). What is your favourite type of music and do you keep up to date with new music?

I have an extensive music collection, mostly rock, but ranging broadly within the genre. My favorite style is pop-punk which is how I would characterize many of my favorite bands including Green Day, The Ramones, The Clash, Social Distortion, and Rancid. I also like more mainstream musicians like Bruce Springsteen and I confess to being a Deadhead. I keep up with new music actively and have been to see both Green Day and the Black Eyed Peas with my kids, which is very cool for me.

What was the last CD you bought?

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, by Kanye West

When you did music reviews for the Wharton Journal, what did the reviewing involve? Did you attend live performances to review them, or was it based on listening to CDs?

It was purely based on CDs. The editor of the paper would supply me with a batch of demo CDs and I would listen to them and get to choose the ones I wanted to review. I discovered one of my all-time favorite CDs that way, Fire of Freedom by Black 47. Another time, I gave a bad review to this glam band whose name now escapes me. Days later, I saw a review in a major publication where this band was professed to become the next big thing. They didn’t, and my review was vindicated.

Your debut novel is a wonderful book. I absolutely loved it. I’m a music fan, and I feel it really captured the essence of a band and the passion behind music. Have you ever worked in the music industry? The book was so realistic, it made me wonder.

Thank you (*blushing*). That’s awfully nice of you to say. I have not worked in the music industry so I am immensely flattered when readers tell me how true the story feels. I did my homework when I was writing the book so I’m glad that paid off.

How much research did you do for Ladies and Gentlemen...The Redeemers, and how long did it take you to write?

I did a fair amount of research both on the music industry and the setting. My former company had offices in San Jose, so I was able to extend business trips to go to San Francisco and UC Berkeley. I spent a couple days there walking around, visiting the BART stations where many of the early scenes in the book take place, and wandering through the UC Berkeley campus, which is beautiful, by the way.

I have a tough time answering how long the book took to write. I started it about ten years ago, but there were long stretches of idle time.

Most of the characters in your book are musicians. Do you play any musical instruments?

I don’t. I dabbled with piano and guitar as a kid but never became proficient. My teenage son plays the trumpet and drums very well and I am enjoying performing vicariously through him.

Did you base any of the characters on people you know?

Abe Jackson was inspired by a blind singer that I saw regularly in Suburban Station in Philadelphia. There is a bit of me sprinkled throughout the other characters, both good qualities and bad.

Which of the characters in your book can you most relate to and why?

Bert Ingram. Like Bert, I am a dreamer and an eternal optimist.

Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?

You have to really want it. It is a long journey, not only the writing, but doing all the marketing and promotion afterward. So my advice is to be prepared for long hours, but don’t let that stop you. Writing and publishing has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.

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

Douglas Adams – brilliantly clever and utterly hilarious
J. K. Rowling – how could anyone not love the contribution she has made with the seven Harry Potter books.
J.R.R. Tolkien – I read Lord of the Rings as a teenager and it remains my all-time favorite
Robert Ludlum – I haven’t read much from him lately, but his stories are intriguing and captivating -- the definition of page-turners.

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

I generally don’t read books more than once, but the one notable exception is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

What was the last book you read?

I’ve been reading books from other indie authors of late. The last couple were Wish List by John Locke and Rock & Roll Rip-Off by RJ McDonnell.

Are you reading a book at the moment?

I’m reading My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking to see what all the hype is about. I’ve never read a paranormal romance and am unlikely to read many of them, but I just had to see.

What do you think of ebooks?

I love them. As an author, especially a relatively unknown one, publishing an ebook allowed me to first test the market by publishing the book for free, and later set the price at a very low $0.99. As a reader, they are also wonderful. I mostly read indie authors now and it’s great to be able to pick up books for under $5.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Reviews are extremely important. Truly independent reviews (read: not from my mother) validate the quality of my novel and give potential readers the confidence to invest in the book. Reviews are also really important for my psyche. There isn’t anything that lifts me up more than reading a positive review or comment about my book.

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

I first put together a cover using clip art and sent it to my wife for feedback. She promptly told me it was awful and guided me to find a photographic image instead. I then searched iStockphoto for scenes from a concert and immediately fell in love with the one on the cover here. It is just perfect – a silhouette of the band with an orange-yellow glow symbolizing the sun rising on the Redeemers.

What are you working on now?

I have a basic outline put together for another character-driven novel, but I’m reluctant to say more out of superstition. I will say that it takes place in Northern England, so Maria, I may be coming to you for help ϑ

Where can people buy your book?

Ahh, my favorite question. Here you go:

Amazon

B&N

It’s also available at many other sites including Smashwords, Kobo,the Sony Reader store, and Apple’s iBooks store.

Where can people go to read more about your work?

At ladiesandgentlementheredeemers, people can read the first chapter and access all the novel’s reviews and comments.

Thanks for the interview, Maria!

You're very welcome Michael. Thanks for being a fabulous guest. I don't know how much help I can be with your new book as it's set in Northern England and I'm in London... But give me a shout if I can be of assistance!



Remember to click the 'like' button or leave a comment below to enter for your chance to win a copy of this great book. It's an international competition. Good luck!

I'm participating in Adopt an Indie, this November. My book The Dream is among over 100 books being featured in this event.







You can 'adopt' an indie author by choosing his or her book to read and review, from the list, request the book using the 'Book Request Form' on the site. If your request is successful, you'll receive a free ebook version of the book to read and review!

It's a great way for readers and bloggers to find out more about independent authors.

Here's a link to the site: Adopt an Indie

My guest blog post, which will appear on the site on 1st November, is entitled Why "I'm self published" is not the same as "My novel wasn't good enough to be published traditionally"

I will be posting a link here when it's been posted. I hope you'll all stop by and have a look at the books that are available on the site, and if you have time please participate, either by spreading the word about the event, reading and reviewing some of the books, reading the guest posts, commenting on the blog posts.

Here's a bit more information about 'Adopt an Indie' month that I've taken from the website:

* Readers will be able to talk to published authors and learn about their experiences
* Authors will be able to find out what really matters to readers and if they really care about the ‘indie/SP/small press’ labels
* Bloggers can share their take – do they see traditional books as higher quality? Does the publisher even matter?

In addition, as part of the ‘Adopt an Indie’ theme, readers will be able to read and review one book from a selection available in order to see first hand the quality that is on offer. In effect, they will ‘adopt’ that indie and be able to ask more detailed questions about their work and get more of an insight into the indie world.

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I hope you'll get involved in this event in some way! If you do, please let me know by posting a comment below! Happy reading :)

I recently found out about a new website that recommends Kindle books. It has just been launched and the idea is that it will be a place to go to when looking for a good Kindle book to read. The site only features books that have at least 5 reviews on Amazon that are 4 or 5 stars. The good thing is that the site helps to promote books by independent authors that readers might otherwise never hear about.

I am honoured that my books have been chosen as the first to be featured on the site! Here's a link to the page: Reading Kindle - Featured Author

Authors can submit their books to be featured on the website.

If you're on facebook, please 'Like' the Reading Kindle page: facebook - Reading Kindle as this will help to increase the visibility and help to promote this great new website.

It's that time of year again, when we are frantically trying to think of just the right gift for the people we care about.

Books are wonderful gifts because they can educate, inspire and entertain. I think it's always nice to buy a print version whether it's hardback or paperback as a gift for someone, but nowadays because more people have e-readers, you can also buy e-books as gifts. Maybe you want to treat the book-lover in your life to an e-reader for Christmas and you want to download a few great books? Whatever you are planning, I hope you will find a bit of inspiration from my list of recommended books below.

I've read quite a lot of books this year, and most of them have been really great reads.

Here are purchase links for a few books that I would suggest as gifts:

The Other Room by James Everington - a collection of short stories



Here's the review I wrote for the book:
I am so glad I stumbled across this collection of short stories. It's original, well written, and one of the best collections I have ever read. Every story in this collection is good. There are some stand out ones because they are absolutely amazing, for example 'First Time Buyers'. I think my favourite of the whole collection has to be 'Red Route', the ending is just one of those that makes you go, "wow!".
It's a very diverse collection. There are horror stories, paranormal, thrillers.
This is an exciting new writer, the kind of writer that makes me proud to be a self-published author. In all his stories he takes you deep into the mind of the characters, so that you almost feel as though you are reliving their story. There are many memorable quotes... always a sign of a great writer in my opinion.
A couple of examples:
"Just the sense of the big machinery of the economy faltering and grinding somewhere... She thought of cog-wheels turning high above her, their aloof motion turning other wheels, and those wheels still others...'

"...as if the box of their room was just one box inside another, larger one...'

This is modern literature at its finest. Do not miss this collection.

Into The Light by Darcia Helle



Here's my review:
This is a wonderful story on so many levels. It contains humour, romance, and an element of mystery. It's a supernatural tale about a ghost, Max, who refuses to go `into the light' until his killer can be brought to justice.
Max, in life, was a very ordinary man, in fact he died feeling like a failure and as if his life had been in vain.
What Helle's book teaches us is that there are many things we do on a daily basis that have an effect on other people's lives, for good or bad. Max is forced to confront issues from his past when he dies, and this multi-layered story perfectly highlights the fact that we are often unaware of other people's thoughts and feelings and that makes all the difference when looking at the effects of things we do. Many readers will be able to relate to Max, and also the private investigator, Joe, who is roped in to help Max find his killer. Their relationship is an odd one, but they each learn something from the other as they both try to come to terms with their problems.
The book deals with the subjects of divorce, regret, relationships, insecurity, and miscommunication, among other things. It's a fun and often comical read, but also contains very deep thinking on human behaviour and relationships.
The underlying message appears to be that when we die we leave behind an imprint based on everything we have done, thought, and said... it's definitely food for thought.

Metallic Dreams by Mark Rice



My review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It's about a young man, Spark, who always dreamt of becoming a big name in heavy metal music. In his late teens he was part of a band 'Blood Brothers' who went their separate ways before they could make it into the big time. Some years later, Spark has a life changing experience and as a consequence he becomes determined to put his old band back together and live his dream. His belief is that the band will become successful, and he doesn't want to live his life in a dead end job when his passion lies in music. At its core, Metallic Dreams is about finding the courage to follow your dream, no matter how difficult it might seem to be. It is also about the power of love. It is indie fiction at its best, breaking out of the boundaries set by genre, and experimenting with new and exciting ways to write a story. It is extremely funny; hilarious in parts. I almost laughed out loud in public a few times whilst reading it. It does contain some controversial topics and taboo subjects, but those topics are skillfully woven into the story making them a realistic portrayal of very vivid characters' lives and experiences. This book is very original and entertaining. I would recommend Metallic Dreams to music fans, especially rock and heavy metal fans, as you will find much to relate to in the book. Due to some of the content in this book I would say it is only suitable for over 18s. I am looking forward to more books by this talented writer.

B-Sides and Broken Hearts by Caryn Rose



My review:
B-Sides and Broken Hearts is the story of 37 year-old Lisa, who is finding it hard coming to terms with the death of Joey Ramone, one of her favourite musicians. His death forces her to think about her life and she finds that she is not happy. Her relationship with the predictable, Ian, is not the type of relationship she had envisaged for herself when she was young. The death of Joey Ramone leads to a torrent of emails from Lisa's music-loving friends, and puts her back in touch with Jake, the singer with a successful band, Blue Electric. Lisa had been there with Jake and the rest of the band right from the start when they were unknown and penniless. She watched them grow into a band that could fill arenas. However, for the past 5 years her relationship with the band has been overshadowed by the fact that her boyfriend shows little interest in getting to know them. From the outside, all of Lisa's friends have always thought she should have ended up with Jake. None of her friends like Ian. After Joey Ramone's death, when Ian fails to understand why she is so upset, Lisa makes the decision to visit her old friends in LA. She packs some belongings, mainly CDs for the journey, and drives all night to revisit her past. Lisa goes on a journey in this novel, to find the person she really is. After a tragic relationship when she was younger, she had lost her way. Will her old friends in LA help her reconnect with the real Lisa?

This book is about dreams, friends, love, relationships, and above all it is about music and how music can have a profound influence on our lives.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt that the world had ended because their favourite band split up, anyone who obsessively waited for new albums to be released by their favourite bands and spent their last pennies on gigs and records, anyone who has ever screamed the lyrics to their favourite songs while driving in their car... This is a book for dreamers, and reaffirms the importance of believing in your dreams, and following your heart.
It is well written and engaging. I found myself feeling sad when I knew that the story would soon end. The ending is poignant and uplifting at the same time. This is a must read for music lovers.

Quiet Fury: An Anthology of Suspense



Another one by Darcia Helle. My review:
I am already a fan of Darcia Helle's writing having read her novels, Enemies and Playmates, Hit List, The Cutting Edge, and Into The Light. Darcia Helle has shown us with this anthology that short stories can be as compelling as novels. All of her characters seem real, they have feelings, they have a history, and we learn about them in fewer words than a novel, but still we know them. From the poignant first story, streaked with colour and tragedy, right through to the last one, that contains humour, human compassion and heart, Darcia takes us on a journey that we can relate to. We are all living in this world where calm and fury battle for our attention, just like the characters in Darcia's stories. There are stories to make you laugh, cry, wince, scream... there is every type of emotion within these pages. I enjoyed all the stories. Read Darcia Helle's stories and you will enter a world that may almost frighten you but you will be left curious enough to take another look. Her writing is addictive. She has mastered the art of suspense writing, and this collection is another example of that.

A Murderer's Heart by Julie Elizabeth Powell



My review:
I was already a fan of Julie Elizabeth Powell's writing before reading this book, and I just knew I would love it. Julie is a very versatile writer, with a compulsive and easy to read style. Her past books have been fantasy, children's, and non-fiction. 'A Murderer's Heart' is her first murder mystery. It's excellent!
Dr. Anne Blake is a psychiatrist who is good at her job. She has a firm belief that all mentally ill people can be cured, or saved so that they can lead a better life. She is involved in her own practice as well as helping at the Tadmore Psychiatric Hospital and she has lately become involved in a project 'Back Into the World' to try to raise money to help the mentally ill to be cared for so they can return to their lives in the community. Her busy life means that she has very little time for her friends or for a relationship.
When Dr. Blake meets Peter Armstrong, the son of a woman who needs psychiatric help, her world begins to change. A mysterious murderer is on the prowl and there seems to be a link to the Tadmore hospital.
After hearing that her close friend, Jenny, may be in danger, Anne resolves to do all she can to keep her safe from the killer.
In a dramatic and entertaining story, the author does a great job in putting across the idea that sometimes things are not as they seem and we don't always see what is in front of our own eyes. Dr. Blake is forced to face the limitations of her own knowledge and power.

I loved the way the tale progressed, with all the unexpected twists and turns. It kept me hooked from the start and the ending was delightful.
It's a quick, compulsive read. Highly recommended. I would also recommend all of Julie's other titles.

The Shelter by James Everington



Another one by James Everington. My review: The Shelter is a well crafted story by a master storyteller. I am a big fan of James Everington's writing. After reading his short story collection The Other Room I was excited to hear that he was about to release a novella. I just have a feeling that this author is going to be a big name in literature one day.
James has self-titled his style of fiction 'weird fiction' and I would agree that there is an element of the weird in his writing, but underlying it is a deep understanding of human nature and why people think or behave in certain ways. He takes us inside his characters' heads, and we live through their hopes and fears with them. This skill is proof of his talent as a writer.
The Shelter is a creepy, spooky, horror story. It contains elements of psychological thriller, ghost story, and mystery. The relationship between the schoolboys is realistic and well portrayed. It kept me hooked all the way through and deals with the subject of how guilt can change the course of a person's life. An interesting and thought provoking read.

To Begin Again by Jen Knox



My review: The first story in the collection really drew me in. It's a story that makes you question human nature and really makes you think. After reading that I was sure I was in for a very interesting journey reading this anthology. All of the stories have a 'fly on the wall' feel to them, as if you are watching events unfold that you would not usually be made privy to. I use the word 'watch' as it really felt to me as I read Jen Knox's prose, that these scenes were snippets of other people's lives, short clips of action, and I was seeing them as if on film. Such is the power of her description. The stories cover the subjects of desperation, regret, family relationships, the human condition, love, mental illness, and betrayal, amongst other things. Jen Knox moves a magnifying glass over current social problems, and expertly explores different scenarios on how people deal with loss, pain, fear etc. In Jen Knox's stories we glimpse fragments of people's lives, and she touches on emotions that we can all relate to with a subtlety that is sublime. This collection is a wonderful encapsulation of stories that reflect our current time in history, with all the social pressures and hardships. This is a very emotional and heartfelt collection. I really can't pick a favourite as liked all the stories for different reasons. I found two of them particularly heartbreaking, 'The Probability of Him', and 'Disengaged'. I loved the almost comical tone to the story, 'Absurd Hunger', which is written about a dark subject. 'Solitary Value' is a wonderful example of how Jen Knox observes human nature and the things that make us all the same. I loved the simplicity of the story, 'Dandelion Ghosts', which has a touching ending. I wondered whether some of the stories are autobiographical. An enthralling collection by a talented writer. Highly recommended

Losing Addison by Marty Beaudet



My review: I was hooked on this story from the start. I find the way it was written fascinating. The author literally dreamt this book, and then wrote it all out from his memory, without editing it. It's just perfect as it is! I heard about Marty Beaudet's experimental writing and, although curious, I didn't have time to go and read the serial as it was developing online. I finally found time to visit the blog and read the free online version when the author had already written 16 chapters. I read the whole thing in one sitting because it was that gripping!
Losing Addison is a psychological thriller exploring schizophrenia and the unexplained bond between twins. It's a story that will have you glued to the page. The suspense is well constructed and made me want to continue reading until I found out what was happening. The story unravels bit by bit, slowly revealing the reasons behind the characters' behaviour. Beaudet drip feeds the information in the most effective way, with flashback scenes and high drama. A wonderfully entertaining story. I'd recommend it to everyone who likes a good suspenseful thriller. And I am thrilled that the author chose to name one of the characters after me! My namesake appears in chapter 13!

Sink or Swim by Stacy Juba



My review: Stacy Juba is skilled at the art of writing a scene and making the reader feel the tension and suspense. When I began reading the book about a young girl, Cassidy Novak, who was a star of a reality show and then becomes concerned about a stalker, I was slightly concerned that 'Sink or Swim' would be just another forgettable run-of-the-mill story. But Juba is a professional. She has the reader right where she wants them, one minute Cassidy is concerned about her stalker, the next we are caught up in a multi-layered mystery where Cassidy is at the centre and I could feel the danger she was in. It's a gripping and enthralling read. At times, I was so engrossed in the book that I wanted to jump inside and save Cassidy... that is how adept Juba is at creating real characters and suspenseful storylines. I highly recommend this read from a rising star in the murder mystery genre.
The story deals with family relationships, the impact of reality shows on people's lives, obsession, love, trust, and of course murder!

The Word Gang by Mark McKenna



Mark McKenna has created a wonderful story based on every author's and reader's first love: the written word. All of the characters in the novel are well developed; we learn about their backgrounds and can sympathise with their flaws. Even the detestable teacher, Mr. Ralston, seems to have a side to him that we can all relate to.
After taking a year off school, without telling her mother, Kalisha Jackson begins to feel guilty and decides to go back to school when the new year begins. She finds herself in Project Restart, a new type of teaching system for students who are deemed to be failing in some way. On her first day, she gets off to a bad start when she turns up late, and her moody teacher, Mr. Ralston, immediately marks her out as a bad seed.

Kalisha quickly makes friends with two fellow students in Project Restart; BD, who lives with his alcoholic father; and Sahmbaht, whose family fled from Cambodia for a better life in America, but have brought their painful memories with them.

After helping out an elderly neighbour, Kalisha is given a gift; a dictionary. She begins to read it and starts learning new words. When she uses one of these unknown words in class one day, her teacher thinks she is trying to be disruptive.

Kalisha and her new friends formulate a plan. They have had enough of being treated as troublemakers through no fault of their own, so they decide to learn as many new and obscure words as possible with the intention of making a mockery of Project Restart and hopefully destroying it.

The ensuing adventure is a fun and engaging read; and also educational as there are many rarely used words contained in the novel. This is the type of book that could encourage teens and young adults to look at language in a different way, and perhaps inspire them to learn more words or even more languages.
The story held my interest all the way through. The elderly neighbour, Mr. Spinoza, is a wonderfully eccentric character, and I liked the interaction between him and Kalisha.

There seems to be is a deeper meaning to this story; all about how anyone can be misunderstood. For example, Kalisha is affected by her parents' divorce. Her teacher, Jack Ralston does not try to find out about reasons why the children in Project Restart might be failing, but labels them as disruptive and undisciplined; he has little patience with them. Meanwhile, Kalisha at such a young age has been helping to keep her family together, bringing up her two young siblings while her mother works the night shift at a hospital to make ends meet. Kalisha also shows her caring side when she first meets old Mr. Spinoza.

The Word Gang is all about how misunderstandings can make problems worse, and that it is best to try a bit harder to see the reasons behind the way people behave before you judge them.
Mark McKenna has somehow managed to get inside the minds of his characters and create realistic, believable people.
A very enjoyable read, highly recommended.

Oblivious by Neil Schiller



My review:
This is a wonderful collection of short stories. I enjoyed the sparse prose, the evocative description, and the fact that although the stories are all about different people, male and female, they could almost merge into one. All the main characters are struggling in some way. The themes of difficult family relationships, addiction, regret, depression, guilt, repeat themselves over and over. Schiller has created real characters; these could be people you pass in the street. Schiller has stripped away the layers that ordinary people use to hide their true circumstances or feelings, and gone beneath to examine and reveal the underbelly of human nature. We are taken right inside the characters' homes, hearts, and minds. Schiller has mastered the art of short story and likes to show off about it too. He has included a one sentence story, `Trapped', and a half a page story, `Half'--both of which are perfect--and the latter is one of my favourites in the collection.

The descriptive prose is fresh and original. An example of his writing, from, `Brand Awareness', a story about a man facing redundancy: "I've squandered six years of my life on this job. More if you count the myriad of spoiled hopes it pulled into the swirling vortex of its black heart. I've commuted over twelve thousand miles; I've missed my daughter's first steps, first words, first school play; I've worked and slept and stressed myself into an isolation around which my wife has built a new life to compensate. And it was all for nothing."

And from, `Sabotage', about a man estranged from his young son. "In the midst of the other families, in the kinetic frenzy and shrill excitement of the afternoon, we are silent and desperate and miserable. A dark stain on the gaiety of life. Two broken pilings of rock in a glinting sea of youthful energy."
There is much more where that came from in this fabulous collection.

This is a book that will give you a fly on the wall look at ordinary lives and the common scars and ties that bind us. It will reveal to you the hidden side of life, the side most people will never reveal, and of which we are usually 'oblivious'.

Highly recommended.

33 Days by Bill See



My review: The story of a 33 day tour by the band Divine Weeks. Bill See, the author, was the lead singer of the L.A. band who enjoyed some notoriety in the `80s.
In this memoir, See has collected together journal entries and memories to create much more than just a tour diary. He documents the tour with a great descriptive narrative that really captures the moment and brings his memories to life. He also talks about his own dysfunctional home life, which in some ways spurred him on to chase his dream.

See is a talented writer, who is able to impart wisdom and knowledge through his prose.

I enjoyed reading about the band's progression from an unknown group who played only weekday gigs in their home town, to a successful band touring nationwide. But this is not just a story about the band's journey, it's also about the individual band members' personal journeys along the way. See's introspective and thought-provoking prose make the book a compulsive and insightful read.
We follow the band on their first real tour, across the US and Canada in 1987, where they play small venues, often to a handful of people. But the band's passion is such that they are determined to do anything to reach their dream of one day becoming real rock stars. They survive with hardly any money and sleep in a van and cheap hotels, or even on friends' floors. There is a lot of humour sprinkled throughout the book which makes it an enjoyable read. I liked the fact that the author has included photographs of memorable parts of the tour and his life in the book. It gives an extra dimension to the story.

As well as being an enthralling tour diary, this book deals with such subjects as family life, alcoholism, racism, dysfunctional families, relationships, friendship, loyalty, and the power of dreams.
Divine Weeks's story is an inspirational one that shows what someone can achieve if they follow their dream. The author captures the essence of the book best, when he says: `This book is for everyone who's stood at their crossroads with a dream screaming inside wondering whether to choose the road that goes off the map or fold up their tent and head back home.'

Highly recommended.

The Cutting Edge by Darcia Helle



My review: From page 1, where Darcia Helle's protagonist introduces herself as Lilly Skye Destiny Summers (LSD Summers -- named by her hippie parents), and then goes on to explain that she is known as Skye, and her husband's surname is Skyler, so she kept her maiden name, I knew that I was going to enjoy this book!
Anyone who has worked in a job where they have to deal with the general public on a daily basis will appreciate the humour in this book.
Skye is a hairdresser and begins to have fantasies about killing her clients. She has reached the stage where she no longer enjoys her job and her clients irritate her. On top of that her husband's ex is causing problems. Skye wants her dead.
At the same time as Skye is having these murderous thoughts, there is a serial killer loose in town. He is killing women, seemingly randomly, no one is safe.
The book is written in the first person where Skye is narrating her daily life, and then in the third person where we follow the 'Mass Avenger', the serial killer, as he takes revenge on women for the way his mother treated him. He believes women use their 'power' to break men down. He sees something different in Skye, though. He is one of her clients. He becomes obsessed with her but does not want to kill her. He has other plans.
This is a murder mystery which you will not want to put down. Helle has written an entertaining, psychological thriller. One minute you will be laughing at Skye's wild thoughts, the next you will be on the edge of your seat wondering about the fate of the women abducted by the Mass Avenger. There is some violence in the book, prepare to be shocked. Also, prepare to be amazed by Helle's skill at crafting a book that hooks you from the first page, keeps you captive to the very last, and leaves you feeling awestruck.
This book reminds us how daily toils can turn us into someone we don't like, and that we should be careful what we wish for...

Those are just a few of the great books I've read this year. I hope you'll find one that will stand out as an ideal gift for someone you know.