Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "jen-knox"
Writers you should get to know...
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!
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!
Read an Ebook Week!!
Last week was a great one for writers and readers, with World Book Day, and now it's Read an Ebook Week! From 6th March - 12th March 2011
Here are a few reading suggestions from me:
Firstly, my own Amazon kindle books :) 'Cutting The Fat', 'Pieces of a Rainbow', and 'Love and Loyalty' are currently only $0.99/£0.70!! My novels are just $2.99/£2.20. I would love it if you'd try one of my books this week!
Remember, you don't have to own an ereader to read kindle books. Amazon.com have free apps for iphone, ipad, pc, mac, blackberry and android, so you can read the books wherever or how ever you like!
Here are a few more suggestions, either books I've read and loved, or books I'm looking forward to reading, by some of my favourite authors!
Many authors are reducing the price of their books for Read an Ebook Week, so keep an eye out for free ebooks and discount codes.
A great website to check out for free/discounted ebooks is Smashwords.com
I hope all of you will read an ebook this week!! :)
Here are a few reading suggestions from me:
Firstly, my own Amazon kindle books :) 'Cutting The Fat', 'Pieces of a Rainbow', and 'Love and Loyalty' are currently only $0.99/£0.70!! My novels are just $2.99/£2.20. I would love it if you'd try one of my books this week!
Remember, you don't have to own an ereader to read kindle books. Amazon.com have free apps for iphone, ipad, pc, mac, blackberry and android, so you can read the books wherever or how ever you like!
Here are a few more suggestions, either books I've read and loved, or books I'm looking forward to reading, by some of my favourite authors!
Many authors are reducing the price of their books for Read an Ebook Week, so keep an eye out for free ebooks and discount codes.
A great website to check out for free/discounted ebooks is Smashwords.com
I hope all of you will read an ebook this week!! :)
I've won an award!
That got your attention, didn't it? Well, I haven't won the Man Booker Prize for fiction... yet ;)
I have been awarded the "The Irresistibly Sweet Blog" Award, by my fellow author and blogger, the awesomely talented Jason McIntyre
Thank you, Jason, that's very "sweet" of you :)
The rules for accepting the award are as follows:
1) Thank and link to the person that nominated you.
2) Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3) Pass the award to 15 of your blogging buddies.
4) Notify the recipients.
Here's where you can find Jason's blog
I would highly recommend it as a very entertaining place to visit on the world wide web.
7 Random facts about me...
1. I am no good at writing lists of facts about me
2. I'm currently putting the final edits on my soon to be released novel, 'The Dream'
3. I like heavy metal music
4. I once acted as a defence lawyer for a celebrity's brother when I was a criminal solicitor, and met the said celebrity's mother (sorry, can't disclose who it was... client confidentiality)
5. Babies always seem to like me for some reason
6. I can knit
7. I can't swim
Here (in no particular order) are 15 more wonderful blogs I would recommend:
Darcia Helle -- A Word Please
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick -- The Tale is The Thing
Lisette Brodey -- Molly Hacker
Neil Schiller
The Secret Writer
Julie Elizabeth Powell
Quentin R. Bufogle
Ann Mauren
Catherine Rose
Stacy Juba
Jen Knox
Paul Mansfield Keefe
Marty Beaudet -- By A Thread
Susan Helene Gottfried -- West Of Mars
Notes from an Alien
I have been awarded the "The Irresistibly Sweet Blog" Award, by my fellow author and blogger, the awesomely talented Jason McIntyre
Thank you, Jason, that's very "sweet" of you :)
The rules for accepting the award are as follows:
1) Thank and link to the person that nominated you.
2) Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3) Pass the award to 15 of your blogging buddies.
4) Notify the recipients.
Here's where you can find Jason's blog
I would highly recommend it as a very entertaining place to visit on the world wide web.
7 Random facts about me...
1. I am no good at writing lists of facts about me
2. I'm currently putting the final edits on my soon to be released novel, 'The Dream'
3. I like heavy metal music
4. I once acted as a defence lawyer for a celebrity's brother when I was a criminal solicitor, and met the said celebrity's mother (sorry, can't disclose who it was... client confidentiality)
5. Babies always seem to like me for some reason
6. I can knit
7. I can't swim
Here (in no particular order) are 15 more wonderful blogs I would recommend:
Darcia Helle -- A Word Please
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick -- The Tale is The Thing
Lisette Brodey -- Molly Hacker
Neil Schiller
The Secret Writer
Julie Elizabeth Powell
Quentin R. Bufogle
Ann Mauren
Catherine Rose
Stacy Juba
Jen Knox
Paul Mansfield Keefe
Marty Beaudet -- By A Thread
Susan Helene Gottfried -- West Of Mars
Notes from an Alien
Writing is like...
My good friend and fellow author Jason McIntyre has asked me to continue this blog meme... You can read his blog about what writing is like, here: The Farthest Reaches
Well, how do I follow that?
Jason is a very talented writer, I would say he has a gift. As many of you already know, I wrote Cutting The Fat with him as an online novel on BestsellerBound.com last year. It was a fun experience and it definitely made me realise that he is a top notch author. Try reading one of his books and you'll fall for the magic too.
Here goes, I shall attempt to describe what writing is like...
Writing is like walking into a movie theatre and having a choice as to what happens up there on the big screen... it’s exhilarating, exhausting, and it takes you away to places you never thought you’d go. It’s exciting. The way I write is by having a brief outline of what my novel will be about and then I start writing and the story flows as I go along. I create the characters and they will then direct me as to what should happen based on what type of person they are and what happened to them in their journey of life. Writing is like reading someone’s secret diary and finding out all their secrets and sharing them with the world... it’s only when you read over the finished product that writers will realise that those little secrets you are sharing are most often your own... Our subconscious mind is responsible for creativity and it also hoards a lot of information about our pasts. It’s all stored away there like old belongings in boxes in an attic that you just don’t want to get rid of. Some of the boxes have fun items which translate into the more humourous portions of the book, some of the boxes have been sealed because we’d rather not look back there, but sometimes if we take a peek, we can find that writing about it can somehow help us to deal with the darker memories. These usually translate to the more dramatic aspects of our writing.
Writing is a solitary experience but with all the characters in our heads and the stories overflowing in our imaginations writers are never really alone.
Writing is like baring your soul to the public, hanging your laundry out for all to see. The great Paulo Coelho once said, “Writing books is a socially acceptable form of getting naked in public”. Many writers will relate to that statement.
Now, I have to ask some of my fellow authors to continue this meme. I choose:
Quentin R. Bufogle because he is so funny and I know I'm just going to love his blog post about this :)
Jen Knox because I'm currently reading her collection of short stories and am mesmerised by her talent
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick because I know he will come up with a spellbinding blog post.
Well, how do I follow that?
Jason is a very talented writer, I would say he has a gift. As many of you already know, I wrote Cutting The Fat with him as an online novel on BestsellerBound.com last year. It was a fun experience and it definitely made me realise that he is a top notch author. Try reading one of his books and you'll fall for the magic too.
Here goes, I shall attempt to describe what writing is like...
Writing is like walking into a movie theatre and having a choice as to what happens up there on the big screen... it’s exhilarating, exhausting, and it takes you away to places you never thought you’d go. It’s exciting. The way I write is by having a brief outline of what my novel will be about and then I start writing and the story flows as I go along. I create the characters and they will then direct me as to what should happen based on what type of person they are and what happened to them in their journey of life. Writing is like reading someone’s secret diary and finding out all their secrets and sharing them with the world... it’s only when you read over the finished product that writers will realise that those little secrets you are sharing are most often your own... Our subconscious mind is responsible for creativity and it also hoards a lot of information about our pasts. It’s all stored away there like old belongings in boxes in an attic that you just don’t want to get rid of. Some of the boxes have fun items which translate into the more humourous portions of the book, some of the boxes have been sealed because we’d rather not look back there, but sometimes if we take a peek, we can find that writing about it can somehow help us to deal with the darker memories. These usually translate to the more dramatic aspects of our writing.
Writing is a solitary experience but with all the characters in our heads and the stories overflowing in our imaginations writers are never really alone.
Writing is like baring your soul to the public, hanging your laundry out for all to see. The great Paulo Coelho once said, “Writing books is a socially acceptable form of getting naked in public”. Many writers will relate to that statement.
Now, I have to ask some of my fellow authors to continue this meme. I choose:
Quentin R. Bufogle because he is so funny and I know I'm just going to love his blog post about this :)
Jen Knox because I'm currently reading her collection of short stories and am mesmerised by her talent
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick because I know he will come up with a spellbinding blog post.
Meet author Jen Knox and enter to win an ebook!
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I am thrilled to be introducing you to one of my favourite indie authors today,Jen Knox.
I met Jen online over a year ago. I was interested to read her memoir,Musical Chairs, as it had been getting some great reviews. It's one of those books that made me realise that memoirs can be just as entertaining as fiction books. I used to only read fiction. Musical Chairs is written about Jen's decision to run away from home at the age of 15, the reasoning behind it, and all the ensuing problems. It's a book of hope and inspiration against the odds. It really is an interesting read, and even if you don't usually read memoirs I would recommend it because it is written by a born storyteller.
I could tell, when I read Musical Chairs last year, that this was a writer with a gift, so I was very happy when I found out that she also writes fiction. I recently read and enjoyed her collection of short stories,To Begin Again.
She is an award winning author, a creative writing tutor, and an all round fabulous person.
As well as agreeing to answer my interview questions, Jen is very generously giving away 2 ebook copies of her short story collection! All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is leave a comment on this blog post, or 'like' the post. It's that simple! Winners will be announced on 30th June 2011.
Here are Jen's answers to my questions:
From the bio on your website, I see that you are a creative writing professor. Do your students ever read your books and if so, what kind of responses have you had from them about your writing?
Yes, and I love teaching writing. So far, most of my students read more fantasy and thrillers, so I haven’t had too many approach me about my own work. Those who have seem to like my stories. But who knows? I mean, if I’m in a position to grade a person, how objective will s/he be?
Have any of your students ever written anything you wish you had written?
I don’t tend to read things and wish I’d written them, but I’ve read some remarkable work by my students—work I’d love to read again.
How do you go about telling a student that his or her story or writing is not very good? Is there an easy way to do that?
It’s never that simple. We all, as writers, have something positive to work with. I’m a very generous reader in that I give a piece time to develop the way the author intended. Often, critiques are balanced. What’s remarkable to me is that it’s often the writers who struggle most and have to work the hardest that really stick with it. I think the most common error I find in student writing is too much imitation, but this may just be a stage all beginning writers go through.
Many of your short stories and essays have been published in online literary magazines and journals. Do you have any advice to give to other writers who would like to approach such websites for inclusion of their stories, and are there any websites that you would recommend in particular?
Read the magazines. Familiarize yourself with what they publish. Unless you’re independently wealthy, I recommend picking journals, online or print, that pay. Or, if they don’t pay, ask how they represent their authors; many journals are very supportive of their authors, and as any writer knows, we need as much support as possible right now (as do the journals). NewPages.com is a great resource.
To Begin Again, is a collection of stories, some of which have been published before in other media. Did you write any of the stories specifically for the collection, or were they all stories that had already been published?
Most were published, but a few were written for the collection. “Absurd Hunger”, for instance, was written for the collection. I’m hoping the protagonist of this story, Wallace, will have his own novel one day.
Do you have any favourite stories from the collection?
“Disengaged” and “Absurd Hunger” are nearest my heart.
I think that some of the stories in the collection may be true stories, is that correct?
Yes, this is a collection of short fiction and nonfiction. The original title was To Begin Again: A Collection of Fact & Fiction but my publisher dropped the subtitle. I kind of liked this idea, though, it makes for interesting conversation.
In your fiction stories in To Begin Again, did you base any of your characters on real people?
Well, half of them are essays, such as, “At the Window” and “Dandelion Ghosts”; but those that are fiction, such as “Disengaged” and “Soft like Snow”, are purely fiction.
I enjoy reading your blog whenever I get a bit of time. I have worked out that you like to experiment a lot with writing. You were trying out different music to listen to whilst writing, and recently I’ve seen that you have started writing poems and short pieces inspired by art and photography. Have you concluded anything interesting from your experiments that you would like to share with us?
This is what I tell myself: Don’t get too comfortable with routine when it comes to writing. Mix things up a little. It’s fun, and what’s more, you may surprise yourself with what you can accomplish outside of your comfort zone. Writers can stop growing if they turn themselves into little factories, churning out variations of the same story again and again. There’s so much more out there to explore.
I think I’ll always be experimental with writing.
I read that you recently tore a tendon in your wrist in your writing hand. That must have been a bit of a nightmare as most of your work involves writing and typing. I hope you’re on the mend. Have you discovered any ingenious ways around this problem that you can share with us?
It is a nightmare. I’m in pain even now. I’m getting good at typing and writing with my left hand, but it’s painstakingly slow.
One of the stories from your collection, To Begin Again was featured in an anthology Short Story America Anthology, Volume 1 this year. How did that come about?
"Disengaged" has made its way around the literary landscape, and I’m quite proud. It was originally published in Superstition Review then reprinted in Short Story America. Because it was a “Story of the Week”, it also made it’s way into the SSA anthology. I’m very proud of this story. It’s my favorite in the collection, and I hope of all the work I’ve done before 2010, it will endure.
Congratulations on your recent award. I understand To Begin Again has won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for short stories 2011. That is a wonderful achievement. How did it feel to win that?
It feels good to get recognition for the work. But awards are a temporary high.
I read that you recently suffered a bout of writer's block. Did you discover a good way to get around it that might benefit other writers?
I tend to write a lot, so when my writing slows I get dramatic. I’m not really sure what writer’s block is, but days that I don’t write are tough days, so when I’m not writing creatively, I tend to complain about not writing. I’ve never figured a way around writer’s block. I just wait it out, and write about it. Any tricks outside of this technique have not worked. Luckily, the blocks I’ve faced have not lasted long. (Perhaps the key is to write about writer’s block?)
Your memoir, Musical Chairs, launched you as a writer. It’s a very honest and open account of your life. It can’t have been easy to write as you would have been re-living many traumatic memories in doing so. Reviews have been very positive and it seems that readers find the book very inspirational. Would you encourage people to write a memoir, and what have you learnt by doing so?
I would only encourage it if the writer is already 100% sure s/he wants to write a memoir. The genre is tricky. The writer has such a huge responsibility to tell the truth and also protect certain identities. There were details in Musical Chairs, for instance, that might’ve made the story arc a little smoother; but these details would also compromise certain privacy rights of those I wrote about. These decisions are not easy. The genre is tough to do well with such constraints.
Further, there tends to be a backlash. Some readers tend to analyze the writer instead of the writing. I’d tell a writer of memoir to be ready to face personal attacks as well as a lot of judgment (positive and negative). Just don’t let it catch you off-guard. All that said, memoir is also the most rewarding of genres. It’s liberating in a way no other genre has been in my experience. So, if you’re in for an emotional roller coaster and some tough decisions, but you feel your story could truly benefit people or tell a story they’ve not yet heard, write a memoir!
Having written both fiction and non-fiction, what is your preference?
Fiction, I find, is far easier to write well. It’s more enjoyable to write as well, but there’s something about nonfiction that feels so raw and important. Nonfiction, when well done, will always be my favorite genre to read. Fiction will always be my favorite to write.
Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?
Tobias Wolffand Erica Jong, for their memoirs. Vladimir Nabokov because his sentences are perfect. Amy Bloom and Mary Gaitskill because they write such realistic, nuanced fiction. There are so many more…
Do you have a favourite book?
Nabokov’s Lolita. It’s brave and beautiful, and it makes readers face real demons—people need to do that more, quit ignoring what’s uncomfortable.
What was the last book you read?
Caraliza by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick, a remarkable new author whose work I look forward to reading more of.
Are you reading a book at the moment?
I read two to three books at one time. Fusion by you, Maria Savva; The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard and Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories by Tobias Wolff.
What do you think about ebooks?
Not a fan. I don’t mind them for short stories, but novels are tough to read on ebooks. I just don’t like clicking a button to turn a page—as silly as that sounds, I’m on the computer all day, clicking. At the end of the day, I just want to curl up with a book.
How important are reviews for you as a writer?
Pretty important. Feedback is not something a person should ignore just because someone’s decided to publish my work.
What’s your favourite part of the writing process?
The third revision. It’s when things start to come together like a puzzle I’ve finally figured out.
How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?
My father’s design is on the first. He’s an artist who has recently started a business, so I have to plug his site: knoxworx
For the second cover, I actually solicited the services of Laura J Miller because I liked the covers of her own works (she writes under Jaimey Grant). She is incredibly talented.
What are you working on now?
I’m trying to give Wallace that novel—to take "Absurd Hunger" from a short story to a 250 page book. I have written a lot of pages, but they are pages that need a lot of work.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?
The early adopters tend to be the most daring, intelligent, remarkable people on earth. I appreciate you all.
Where can people buy your books?
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Indie Bookstores can order from IndieBound
Thank you, Jen for answering my questions!
Remember, to enter to win an ebook of To Begin Again just 'like' this blog post or leave a comment below. Good luck!
I am thrilled to be introducing you to one of my favourite indie authors today,Jen Knox.
I met Jen online over a year ago. I was interested to read her memoir,Musical Chairs, as it had been getting some great reviews. It's one of those books that made me realise that memoirs can be just as entertaining as fiction books. I used to only read fiction. Musical Chairs is written about Jen's decision to run away from home at the age of 15, the reasoning behind it, and all the ensuing problems. It's a book of hope and inspiration against the odds. It really is an interesting read, and even if you don't usually read memoirs I would recommend it because it is written by a born storyteller.
I could tell, when I read Musical Chairs last year, that this was a writer with a gift, so I was very happy when I found out that she also writes fiction. I recently read and enjoyed her collection of short stories,To Begin Again.
She is an award winning author, a creative writing tutor, and an all round fabulous person.
As well as agreeing to answer my interview questions, Jen is very generously giving away 2 ebook copies of her short story collection! All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is leave a comment on this blog post, or 'like' the post. It's that simple! Winners will be announced on 30th June 2011.
Here are Jen's answers to my questions:
From the bio on your website, I see that you are a creative writing professor. Do your students ever read your books and if so, what kind of responses have you had from them about your writing?
Yes, and I love teaching writing. So far, most of my students read more fantasy and thrillers, so I haven’t had too many approach me about my own work. Those who have seem to like my stories. But who knows? I mean, if I’m in a position to grade a person, how objective will s/he be?
Have any of your students ever written anything you wish you had written?
I don’t tend to read things and wish I’d written them, but I’ve read some remarkable work by my students—work I’d love to read again.
How do you go about telling a student that his or her story or writing is not very good? Is there an easy way to do that?
It’s never that simple. We all, as writers, have something positive to work with. I’m a very generous reader in that I give a piece time to develop the way the author intended. Often, critiques are balanced. What’s remarkable to me is that it’s often the writers who struggle most and have to work the hardest that really stick with it. I think the most common error I find in student writing is too much imitation, but this may just be a stage all beginning writers go through.
Many of your short stories and essays have been published in online literary magazines and journals. Do you have any advice to give to other writers who would like to approach such websites for inclusion of their stories, and are there any websites that you would recommend in particular?
Read the magazines. Familiarize yourself with what they publish. Unless you’re independently wealthy, I recommend picking journals, online or print, that pay. Or, if they don’t pay, ask how they represent their authors; many journals are very supportive of their authors, and as any writer knows, we need as much support as possible right now (as do the journals). NewPages.com is a great resource.
To Begin Again, is a collection of stories, some of which have been published before in other media. Did you write any of the stories specifically for the collection, or were they all stories that had already been published?
Most were published, but a few were written for the collection. “Absurd Hunger”, for instance, was written for the collection. I’m hoping the protagonist of this story, Wallace, will have his own novel one day.
Do you have any favourite stories from the collection?
“Disengaged” and “Absurd Hunger” are nearest my heart.
I think that some of the stories in the collection may be true stories, is that correct?
Yes, this is a collection of short fiction and nonfiction. The original title was To Begin Again: A Collection of Fact & Fiction but my publisher dropped the subtitle. I kind of liked this idea, though, it makes for interesting conversation.
In your fiction stories in To Begin Again, did you base any of your characters on real people?
Well, half of them are essays, such as, “At the Window” and “Dandelion Ghosts”; but those that are fiction, such as “Disengaged” and “Soft like Snow”, are purely fiction.
I enjoy reading your blog whenever I get a bit of time. I have worked out that you like to experiment a lot with writing. You were trying out different music to listen to whilst writing, and recently I’ve seen that you have started writing poems and short pieces inspired by art and photography. Have you concluded anything interesting from your experiments that you would like to share with us?
This is what I tell myself: Don’t get too comfortable with routine when it comes to writing. Mix things up a little. It’s fun, and what’s more, you may surprise yourself with what you can accomplish outside of your comfort zone. Writers can stop growing if they turn themselves into little factories, churning out variations of the same story again and again. There’s so much more out there to explore.
I think I’ll always be experimental with writing.
I read that you recently tore a tendon in your wrist in your writing hand. That must have been a bit of a nightmare as most of your work involves writing and typing. I hope you’re on the mend. Have you discovered any ingenious ways around this problem that you can share with us?
It is a nightmare. I’m in pain even now. I’m getting good at typing and writing with my left hand, but it’s painstakingly slow.
One of the stories from your collection, To Begin Again was featured in an anthology Short Story America Anthology, Volume 1 this year. How did that come about?
"Disengaged" has made its way around the literary landscape, and I’m quite proud. It was originally published in Superstition Review then reprinted in Short Story America. Because it was a “Story of the Week”, it also made it’s way into the SSA anthology. I’m very proud of this story. It’s my favorite in the collection, and I hope of all the work I’ve done before 2010, it will endure.
Congratulations on your recent award. I understand To Begin Again has won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for short stories 2011. That is a wonderful achievement. How did it feel to win that?
It feels good to get recognition for the work. But awards are a temporary high.
I read that you recently suffered a bout of writer's block. Did you discover a good way to get around it that might benefit other writers?
I tend to write a lot, so when my writing slows I get dramatic. I’m not really sure what writer’s block is, but days that I don’t write are tough days, so when I’m not writing creatively, I tend to complain about not writing. I’ve never figured a way around writer’s block. I just wait it out, and write about it. Any tricks outside of this technique have not worked. Luckily, the blocks I’ve faced have not lasted long. (Perhaps the key is to write about writer’s block?)
Your memoir, Musical Chairs, launched you as a writer. It’s a very honest and open account of your life. It can’t have been easy to write as you would have been re-living many traumatic memories in doing so. Reviews have been very positive and it seems that readers find the book very inspirational. Would you encourage people to write a memoir, and what have you learnt by doing so?
I would only encourage it if the writer is already 100% sure s/he wants to write a memoir. The genre is tricky. The writer has such a huge responsibility to tell the truth and also protect certain identities. There were details in Musical Chairs, for instance, that might’ve made the story arc a little smoother; but these details would also compromise certain privacy rights of those I wrote about. These decisions are not easy. The genre is tough to do well with such constraints.
Further, there tends to be a backlash. Some readers tend to analyze the writer instead of the writing. I’d tell a writer of memoir to be ready to face personal attacks as well as a lot of judgment (positive and negative). Just don’t let it catch you off-guard. All that said, memoir is also the most rewarding of genres. It’s liberating in a way no other genre has been in my experience. So, if you’re in for an emotional roller coaster and some tough decisions, but you feel your story could truly benefit people or tell a story they’ve not yet heard, write a memoir!
Having written both fiction and non-fiction, what is your preference?
Fiction, I find, is far easier to write well. It’s more enjoyable to write as well, but there’s something about nonfiction that feels so raw and important. Nonfiction, when well done, will always be my favorite genre to read. Fiction will always be my favorite to write.
Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?
Tobias Wolffand Erica Jong, for their memoirs. Vladimir Nabokov because his sentences are perfect. Amy Bloom and Mary Gaitskill because they write such realistic, nuanced fiction. There are so many more…
Do you have a favourite book?
Nabokov’s Lolita. It’s brave and beautiful, and it makes readers face real demons—people need to do that more, quit ignoring what’s uncomfortable.
What was the last book you read?
Caraliza by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick, a remarkable new author whose work I look forward to reading more of.
Are you reading a book at the moment?
I read two to three books at one time. Fusion by you, Maria Savva; The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard and Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories by Tobias Wolff.
What do you think about ebooks?
Not a fan. I don’t mind them for short stories, but novels are tough to read on ebooks. I just don’t like clicking a button to turn a page—as silly as that sounds, I’m on the computer all day, clicking. At the end of the day, I just want to curl up with a book.
How important are reviews for you as a writer?
Pretty important. Feedback is not something a person should ignore just because someone’s decided to publish my work.
What’s your favourite part of the writing process?
The third revision. It’s when things start to come together like a puzzle I’ve finally figured out.
How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?
My father’s design is on the first. He’s an artist who has recently started a business, so I have to plug his site: knoxworx
For the second cover, I actually solicited the services of Laura J Miller because I liked the covers of her own works (she writes under Jaimey Grant). She is incredibly talented.
What are you working on now?
I’m trying to give Wallace that novel—to take "Absurd Hunger" from a short story to a 250 page book. I have written a lot of pages, but they are pages that need a lot of work.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?
The early adopters tend to be the most daring, intelligent, remarkable people on earth. I appreciate you all.
Where can people buy your books?
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Indie Bookstores can order from IndieBound
Thank you, Jen for answering my questions!
Remember, to enter to win an ebook of To Begin Again just 'like' this blog post or leave a comment below. Good luck!
Fusion
My short story collection, Fusion is now available as an ebook on Barnes and Noble, for those of you that like Nook books :)
Click here to purchase the Nook version of 'Fusion':
Fusion at B&N
Here is a list of the story titles:
1. Only time can divide us (you can read an excerpt from this story here:Excerpt on Goodreads)
2. Untold Crimes
3. There but for the grace of God
4. The last time he saw her
5. A vicious circle
6. Me and my dictionary (read a fun introduction to the main character in this story, here: Meet Giles)
7. Waiting on a Train
8. Justice for Ernie
9. Cold calling
10. Make hay while the sun shines
11. The legacy
12. Hope springs eternal
13. The reunion
14. Something new
15. Obsession
16. Visions
17. A Virtual Affair
18. Till death do us part
19. Seize the Day
20. One woman’s stand
21. The Time Machine
22. The Valentine’s card (Read the whole story on Bookbuzzr, here: The Valentine's Card)
And, in case you missed it, I did post a blog a while back about the inspiration behind some of the stories in the collection. Click here to read it: Inspiration behind Fusion
The ebook version of 'Fusion', whether you buy it on B&N, Amazon, or Smashwords, also contains bonus material by a few of my favourite indie authors:
A short story 'Soft Like Snow' by Jen Knox, from her collection, To Begin Again
An excerpt from the story, 'Inside Out', by Neil Schiller, from his collection, Oblivious
A short story by Darcia Helle, called 'Wilted Brown Eyes'
'Smoke Break' by Susan Helene Gottfried, from ShapeShifter : The Demo Tapes -- Year 1
An excerpt from, 'East meets West', by Jason McIntyre, from his soon to be released short story collection, 'Black Light of Day'.
The idea behind including this bonus material is that you can get a taste of other indie writers' work and maybe go on to purchase one of their books. I would highly recommend all of the above
writers.
Remember, 'Fusion', along with some of my other kindle books, is available for just $0.99/£0.86 at Amazon until the end of this month!
Click here to purchase the Nook version of 'Fusion':
Fusion at B&N
Here is a list of the story titles:
1. Only time can divide us (you can read an excerpt from this story here:Excerpt on Goodreads)
2. Untold Crimes
3. There but for the grace of God
4. The last time he saw her
5. A vicious circle
6. Me and my dictionary (read a fun introduction to the main character in this story, here: Meet Giles)
7. Waiting on a Train
8. Justice for Ernie
9. Cold calling
10. Make hay while the sun shines
11. The legacy
12. Hope springs eternal
13. The reunion
14. Something new
15. Obsession
16. Visions
17. A Virtual Affair
18. Till death do us part
19. Seize the Day
20. One woman’s stand
21. The Time Machine
22. The Valentine’s card (Read the whole story on Bookbuzzr, here: The Valentine's Card)
And, in case you missed it, I did post a blog a while back about the inspiration behind some of the stories in the collection. Click here to read it: Inspiration behind Fusion
The ebook version of 'Fusion', whether you buy it on B&N, Amazon, or Smashwords, also contains bonus material by a few of my favourite indie authors:
A short story 'Soft Like Snow' by Jen Knox, from her collection, To Begin Again
An excerpt from the story, 'Inside Out', by Neil Schiller, from his collection, Oblivious
A short story by Darcia Helle, called 'Wilted Brown Eyes'
'Smoke Break' by Susan Helene Gottfried, from ShapeShifter : The Demo Tapes -- Year 1
An excerpt from, 'East meets West', by Jason McIntyre, from his soon to be released short story collection, 'Black Light of Day'.
The idea behind including this bonus material is that you can get a taste of other indie writers' work and maybe go on to purchase one of their books. I would highly recommend all of the above
writers.
Remember, 'Fusion', along with some of my other kindle books, is available for just $0.99/£0.86 at Amazon until the end of this month!
Looking for good books to read?
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.
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.
Book trailers
I have a lot of fun making trailers for my books. I've posted mine here on Goodreads, so you can have a look if you like :)
When I first heard about people making trailers for books, I thought it would never catch on, after all a book is not a movie, a book trailer can never really give you a glimpse of what is inside the book, or can it??
I have found that recently some authors have been very inventive with their book trailers, so I thought I would point out a few that have caught my eye over the past year or so.
I really do believe now that book trailers can help with promoting books. They can entertain and inform about the book content.
I haven't read all of the books that the below trailers are advertising but those that I haven't read are on my to-read list!
(I haven't figured out a way to embed the videos into my blog, so I've just added links to the YouTube pages here. Click on the titles to watch the trailer.)
Oblivious by Neil Schiller
I like this trailer because it is a bit different to the usual trailers out there. It doesn't have background music, and includes a few quotes from a few short stories in the collection.
Caraliza by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
This video really caught my eye and makes me want to read the book. It's very creepy and I love the sound effects and the way the author has set the scene for the story with the trailer.
Into The Light by Darcia Helle
I like this trailer because it's fun and reflects the humour in the book, while also giving the reader an idea as to the story line.
Musical Chairs by Jen Knox
This was one of the first book trailers I saw and I like this one because the author is actually reading the start of the book, and as it is a memoir it's nice that she appears in the trailer. This really made me want to read the book.
33 Days by Bill See
The author Bill See gives a tour of the LA music scene. The book 33 Days is a memoir about a touring band in the '80s and this video really does a great job in introducing the book to potential readers.
Breathing Into Stone by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
I like this trailer as it is original and really reminded me of the book.
I hope you'll enjoy looking at the trailers that I've picked out.
I'd be interested to hear from authors and readers about your thoughts on book trailers in general.
Do they make you want to read a book? Do you have any favourite book trailers?
When I first heard about people making trailers for books, I thought it would never catch on, after all a book is not a movie, a book trailer can never really give you a glimpse of what is inside the book, or can it??
I have found that recently some authors have been very inventive with their book trailers, so I thought I would point out a few that have caught my eye over the past year or so.
I really do believe now that book trailers can help with promoting books. They can entertain and inform about the book content.
I haven't read all of the books that the below trailers are advertising but those that I haven't read are on my to-read list!
(I haven't figured out a way to embed the videos into my blog, so I've just added links to the YouTube pages here. Click on the titles to watch the trailer.)
Oblivious by Neil Schiller
I like this trailer because it is a bit different to the usual trailers out there. It doesn't have background music, and includes a few quotes from a few short stories in the collection.
Caraliza by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
This video really caught my eye and makes me want to read the book. It's very creepy and I love the sound effects and the way the author has set the scene for the story with the trailer.
Into The Light by Darcia Helle
I like this trailer because it's fun and reflects the humour in the book, while also giving the reader an idea as to the story line.
Musical Chairs by Jen Knox
This was one of the first book trailers I saw and I like this one because the author is actually reading the start of the book, and as it is a memoir it's nice that she appears in the trailer. This really made me want to read the book.
33 Days by Bill See
The author Bill See gives a tour of the LA music scene. The book 33 Days is a memoir about a touring band in the '80s and this video really does a great job in introducing the book to potential readers.
Breathing Into Stone by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
I like this trailer as it is original and really reminded me of the book.
I hope you'll enjoy looking at the trailers that I've picked out.
I'd be interested to hear from authors and readers about your thoughts on book trailers in general.
Do they make you want to read a book? Do you have any favourite book trailers?
Alternative National Short Story Week 2011
I've just seen an email saying that 7th-13th November 2011 is National Short Story Week in the UK. The website associated with that email has a list of recommended reads for National Short Story Week. The list is, frankly, predictable and boring (sorry). It includes 'classics' and books published by big publishing companies. In my opinion, those books have enough publicity; we don't need a Short Story Week to promote them. We do, however, need to have a Short Story Week that celebrates up and coming talent, and hard working Independent and self-published writers. Those writers DO need extra publicity because their books are often ignored.
Here's an alternative list of short stories and anthologies recommended by me. I urge you to read these authors. Many of them have now become good friends of mine, but that is NOT the only reason I am promoting them. I simply LOVE their writing, and I only got to know them AFTER reading their work. There are some seriously good stories here. Click on the book covers for more details:
The following are my own short story collections:
Here's an alternative list of short stories and anthologies recommended by me. I urge you to read these authors. Many of them have now become good friends of mine, but that is NOT the only reason I am promoting them. I simply LOVE their writing, and I only got to know them AFTER reading their work. There are some seriously good stories here. Click on the book covers for more details:
The following are my own short story collections:
Looking for good books to give as gifts this Christmas?
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.
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.
