Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "mark-rice"

I've just been told that Lulu.com have a site wide sale at the moment (through 7th October 2011). If you're in the UK and purchase any books through that site, just use the coupon code: TANGOUK305 and you'll get 15% of any order (save up to £200)!
If you're in the mood to shop, you can get 20% off any purchase over £200 by using code: DANCEUK305






If you check out my author spotlight, you'll see that most of my books are on sale at the moment (up to 40% off!). You can take the extra 15% off the discounted price. I hope this will entice more of you to shop at Lulu. It really is a great site where many independent authors publish their books. I have found many of my favourite books there :)

Here's a link to my book page at Lulu:

Maria Savva: Author Spotlight

I would also like to recommend the following Lulu.com authors to you:

Julie Elizabeth Powell

Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick

Ami Blackwelder

Bill See

Scott M. Liddell

Paul Mansfield Keefe

Susan Helene Gottfried

Mark Rice

Jess C. Scott

Alex Sumner

Happy browsing, shopping, and reading!!

My good friend and fellow author, Susan Helene Gottfried is celebrating October by combining her twin obsessions, music and books on her website Westofmars. I, too, am a self-confessed music freak, so have decided to celebrate Rocktober with Susan. (It would be great if we could actually change the name of the month permanently to 'Rocktober', it has a certain ring to it.)

In celebration of all things music and literature, I will list below some music inspired books, some of which I have read and enjoyed, others I have yet to read, but are on my to-read list as I would love to read them.













If any of you have other suggestions for music inspired books that should go on my to-read list, let me know :)

As for actual music, there are a few new bands that have caught my eye (or should that be 'caught my ear'?) in recent months who are celebrating new releases. Check out the following:

Le Monnier

[image error]

Get Le Monnier's new single 'Haunt Me' for FREE! Haunt Me Listen to their whole album online: Russian Doll Life









World Versus Me

There are free downloads of a few tracks available, and a new album due out on 11.11.11

[image error]


World Versus Me website




OWL

Currently on tour in NY and LA, Owl have a new album scheduled for release soon.

[image error]

You can watch a video and get free downloads from their debut album on the website here: OWL

Enjoy the books and music!

Happy Rocktober!

I am very happy to be introducing you to my guest today. I met Mark Rice through Goodreads. As soon as I saw the cover of his book I knew I had to read it. As many of you already know, I am a heavy metal fan, so how could I not read this book? I had high expectations of Metallic Dreams and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It's a brilliant novel, a perfect gift for the metal fan in your life. It's one of the funniest books I've ever read, too. I almost laughed out loud while reading it in public, a couple of times.

You have the chance to win a print copy of Metallic Dreams, and can choose whether it is signed by the author! In fact, Mark has very generously offered to give away two copies of his book. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post, or simply 'Like' the post. Two lucky winners will be picked at random on the 30th November 2011.




A word of warning: This is an adult book and not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

Mark kindly agree to answer a few interview questions I sent him:


Your bio on your Lulu page, states that you started writing at the age of 5. Firstly, that’s quite impressive, is it true? If so, have you kept any of your earlier stories or do you remember what they were about?

It's absolutely true, yes. I grew up in a house with no TV. My father believed that staring at television diminished creativity. The house was full of books, music and musical instruments. My Dad taught me to read (music and words) before I started primary school. We spent endless hours - both at home and in the local library - reading and writing. At the time, I thought the lack of TV at home was a harsh measure, but with hindsight I wouldn't change it, as I learned to love music and literature. My early writing fell mainly into two categories: poems (especially acrostic poems, which I had a real fondness for) or stories involving frogs, witches and trees (which were/are three of my favourite things).



I even made a tree-shaped cover for one of these early stories, and sellotaped various types of bark onto the empty spaces on each page. It was a child's literary equivalent of a concept album, I guess. My mother still has that book. She reckons it's the best thing I've ever written!

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

The poetry of Robert Burns has been a presence in my life since early childhood, once again thanks to my father, who was an aficionado of Burns and knew most of his poetry off by heart. Burns's masterful use of language, rhythm and rhyme instilled in me a love of the Scots dialect and inspired me to write poetry. His Magnum Opus, Tam O' Shanter, was partly responsible for my childhood obsession with witches (which I've never fully recovered from - witches still find their way into my writing). As far as prose goes, Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy blew my mind with its seamless blend of the profound and the preposterous. At his best, Adams was creativity and cleverness run amok. More than any other author, Douglas Adams inspired me to write novels. So blame him!

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

Do it. New novelists could wait for years on literary agents finding them a publishing deal. In the meantime, their manuscripts will be a low priority to the agencies acting on their behalf. Self-publishing is easier than ever before, especially with the advent of e-books, so there's no excuse for sitting around waiting on responses from agents and publishers. Start the ball rolling by yourself. If your self-published book becomes a success, established publishing houses will approach you anyway. One thing I'd say is don't ever publish a first draft. My rule is to spend at least as much time editing a piece of work as writing it. This ensures that only polished material goes to print. It also provides priceless editing experience. Another vital skill for writers is marketing their work. Don't wait until your book is published before learning the ins and outs of online marketing. Begin promoting your book before it's published. If you have a well-written blog with followers, that's an excellent start, as those followers will be likely to read your book when it's released.

Your debut novel, Metallic Dreams, is as the title suggests, about heavy metal music. What was the first metal gig you attended, and what are your memories of that gig?


Iron Maiden at Glasgow Apollo, on The Beast on the Road tour in 1982. I was in primary six at the time. Initially, my Mum and Dad had doubts about me going to a metal gig on my own, especially on the mean streets of Glasgow. When my friend David (who was three years older) bought a ticket, my parents became happier about the whole thing, as I wouldn't be going alone. I remember every detail. The support band, The Rods, were so good live that Dave and I didn't think Iron Maiden could possibly top their performance. Then Maiden hit the Apollo stage and blew the roof off the place. I knew their songs inside out, but was used to hearing them in darkened rooms. Seeing those same songs performed live by musical icons clad in spandex, denim. leather and studs was a whole different experience. The wall of sound was vast. The band members' manes of hair billowed under stage lights as they wandered through clouds of dry ice. Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, Maiden's giant mascot Eddie (famous from their album covers) lumbered onto the stage. Beaming at each other, Dave and I shared a telepathic moment, thinking, 'Now this is living!'



One of the questions the rock journalist in your novel asks the band members is ‘What would you change about Heavy Metal?’ What would your answer be to that?

I'd allow gig-goers to carry electric cattle prods into concerts, for the purpose of zapping voltage into anyone who farts during the performance. My friend Darran is a prime example of why I'd introduce this change. More times than I care to remember, Darran has let loose an evil mist during a gig, sending everyone within a ten-foot radius into a state of panic. The most disturbing thing about this is that he enjoys it. If I'd had my electric cattle prod on those occasions, he'd have learned his lesson long ago and would be more considerate as a result. I'd have zapped that deviant grin right off his face.

As for metal music, I'd leave it alone, as it's developing fine by itself without any intervention, spreading out into an ever-expanding number of subgenres, all of which have artistic merit. Lyrically, I'd clean up the shabby grammar and questionable poetics that are a little too prevalent. That'd be my only change.


Do you have a favourite Heavy metal band? If so, what is it about their music that you love?

My all-time favourite band is the AC/DC line-up of Bon Scott (vocals), Angus Young (lead guitar), Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Cliff Williams (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums). Their live album If You Want Blood (You've Got It) - recorded at Glasgow Apollo - has been my favourite album since I first heard it at age eleven. The energy level is off the scale, the songs are anthemic, Bon's vocals are flawless and the guitar riffs can strip wallpaper.






Of currently existing line-ups, my favourite two bands are from Finland - Insomnium and Amorphis. They both have a stunning ability to blend extreme heaviness with poignant melodies, as well as writing beautiful lyrics influenced by their country's folklore. I should also mention Nimbatus, a musical project which is the brainchild of one genius, Marco Jodocy, who plays guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, strings and various other instruments, all to an astonishingly high standard; the result sounds like a heavy metal orchestra, yet it's all the work of one man.


Without giving any of the story away, a couple of taboo/controversial topics are explored in Metallic Dreams, were you ever worried about how people would react to the said content?

No. I don't believe in censoring my art or walking on eggshells. I think the best way for a writer to shine light on a particular prejudice isn't to preach against it (which can annoy readers), but to create storylines - often shocking ones - which highlight the futility of that prejudice, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions. It worked for Aesop with his fables all those centuries ago, and it still works today.

There are five members of Transcend Everything, the metal band in Metallic Dreams, with very different personalities. Were any of them based on people you know and/or famous band members?

All five band members were based on people I know and grew up with. The names have been (slightly) changed to protect the guilty.


It is said that writers put a lot of their own soul into their fiction work. How autobiographical is the book?

That's a loaded question if ever I saw one! The early chapters are much more autobiographical than the later ones. As for which events actually happened, I'm not telling!


How long did it take to write Metallic Dreams?

One year to write then two years to edit and polish.

As well as Metallic Dreams, you have a story featured in an anthology A Blended Bouquet. Can you tell us a little bit more about how that anthology came about, and a bit about your featured story?





Five years ago I was lucky enough to become part of Writers Inc, which was started by author/playwright Drew Campbell back in the '90s. Based in East Kilbride (the town in which I grew up), the group includes writers from a variety of disciplines: authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, songwriters and short-story writers. Writers Inc had already published two anthologies when I joined, with a third on the horizon. After I'd been part of the group for three years, the elusive third anthology showed no sign of becoming a reality. In fact, it had become a bone of contention within the group, with arguments exploding over whether or not it should be themed or free-form. Realising that this non-existent book was causing chaos among the group, I stepped up to the plate, took over as chairperson (by vote, I should stress, not by force!) and offered to edit, compile and publish the anthology. All I needed from the other members was their submissions and - as if by magic - I'd make the anthology appear. The others liked this idea. Submissions arrived thick and fast. My story, Revelation Was Wrong, tells the tale of a drunken Scottish prophet who claims to be a descendant of Nostradamus. It's a light-hearted piece of social commentary infused with a healthy dose of preposterousness. The idea for Tam, the unlikely prophet who foretold that the end of the world would be heralded by the 'Buckfast Apocalypse', came to me out of the air one day. In my mind's eye I saw Tam, knew him, so I figured I should tell his story. I'd long been fascinated by tales of the Brahan Seer (Coinneach Odhar), Scotland's answer to Nostradamus. This fascination probably played a subconscious role in inspiring Revelation Was Wrong. A strange thing happened with regards to the anthology: James Pettigrew and I both submitted poems called Homecoming, each with very different subject matter. His dealt with the desecration of Scotland's wild places, while mine told the true story of taking my father's ashes to his home, the Isle of Lewis. At first, we thought that one of us would have to change the title of his poem. Then we realised that 2009 - the year of the anthology's publication - was the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, and events to celebrate this milestone were being marketed under the banner Homecoming Scotland. James and I looked at each other and smiled, realising that the Universe had somehow lined up these serendipitous events. As a tribute to Burns, James and I left the titles of our poems unchanged. My Homecoming opens the anthology and James's Homecoming closes it in style.


Are the rumours true, did you sell your soul to the devil in exchange for literary prowess? After reading Metallic Dreams, I am left wondering...

Auld Nick and I are acquainted, but we're neither friends nor enemies.


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

Douglas Adams blows my mind with his cleverness, creativity and humour. Salman Rushdie's command of descriptive prose is out of this world, as is his ability to weave myriad story strands into a coherent, interconnected whole. Markus Zusak's writing - especially in The Book Thief - has immaculate delicacy and tenderness. By succeeding without pandering to literary trends, Irvine Welsh opened the floodgates and showed that it was possible for a Scottish author to be fearless, funny and authentic. Tom Bryan, under whose strict tutelage I learned a lot, is a master of saying more with less; Tom taught me the importance of relentless editing. Kevin MacNeil is a force of nature whose writing is shaped by a poet's soul and a wonderful Hebridean heart. The heavy metal legend Zodiac Mindwarp (who writes books under his real name, Mark Manning) is monumentally creative and side-splittingly funny. And Bill Drummond...well, everything he does is pure art.


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

There are several. One that might surprise some people is The Bible, which I read cover to cover countless times while still at primary school. I've read all the Douglas Adams books multiple times. I liked Raymond E. Feist's Faerie Tale enough to read it twice. Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings is another one that's been read multiple times. There are loads of others too, but these are the ones that spring to mind.


What was the last book you read?

The Silver Mist by Martin Treanor. The main character, Eve, moved me to tears more than once. Set in Northern Ireland during the '70s, the story - especially the dialogue - has gorgeous Irish warmth. A beautifully written novel.


Are you reading a book at the moment?

Gods Without Men by Hari Kunzru. Rather impressive.


What do you think of ebooks?

As a writer, I love them. As a reader, I prefer the tactile experience of handling a paperback.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Very important. They influence potential buyers and - in extreme cases - can affect the way a writer perceives his/her work. Writers, like other artists, tend to be sensitive souls who can take negative reviews personally. It's an amazing feeling to know that a story has made an emotional connection with a reader. It's always heartening to hear that a story I've created has resonated with a reader. I'm also happy to read constructive criticism...if it's justified. The only review that ever riled me was by a wannabe literary critic who started out by saying, 'I'm a music critic, not a book critic.' He should have left it at that, as what followed was incoherent, immature and peppered with grammatical mistakes such as misconjugated verbs. His voice was that of a pseudo-superior smartarse, yet he had trouble correctly constructing a sentence. I did the unthinkable for a writer: I posted a comprehensive rebuttal of the entire 'review', ripping it to shreds, pointing out every grammatical error, highlighting his absolute failure to perceive message/humour in the story, and advising him to stick to his day job and leave literary criticism to those equipped to do it properly. So yes, reviews - whether glowing or scathing - have an impact.


How did you choose the cover for Metallic Dreams?

I had various ideas in mind, one of which was a pentalpha (pentagram) in blood, as that symbol and substance are integral to the story. The artist David Gurrea had created the exact pentalpha I'd envisioned, red blood on a white canvas. (Albums by Venom and Bathory had featured the pentalpha and goat's head, but the goat/Devil head David Gurrea created was a million times more menacing, right down to the way one eye was half shut, creating the impression that the beast was glaring out at the viewer.) I contacted David, who was happy for me to use his artwork. A fiddly job ensued: using Photoshop to remove every single drop of spattered blood from the white canvas, then superimposing them onto the book cover I'd created.


What are you working on now?

My second novel, which is set on the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland's remote Outer Hebrides. I won't reveal more than that just now, as I don't want to jinx it. I'm also working on a few poems, a couple of short stories and one not-so-short story (about witchcraft in Scotland). See what I mean about those witches? They always find a way into my work. While researching the story, I accessed the University of Edinburgh's 'Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Database', which is the most comprehensive record of the witch trials that happened here. I discovered that four members of my family, all on my mother's side, were tried as witches. Worryingly, but not surprisingly, there is no record of what happened to them after the trial. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what that means. Perhaps that's why witches have always been in my consciousness: maybe I could sense that ancestors had suffered inhuman treatment after being accused of witchcraft.

Where can people buy your book?

Lulu

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Smashwords


Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?

Facebook

Thanks for answering my questions, Mark and for the great giveaway!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember, all you have to do to enter the competition is leave a comment here, or simply 'Like' the post. Good luck!

Mark is a charming and friendly author and is here on Goodreads, so don't forget to add him as a friend!

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.

Lulu.com is currently running a promotion where you can get 25% off any purchase until 6th January 2012 using the code ONEMORETHINGUK at the checkout.

I am only able to access the UK site so I am unsure whether there is a similar promotion for US customers, but I assume there must be. You just need to go to the Lulu.com homepage to check out the details of the discount code.

I also currently have a promotion running with up to 50% off my print books at Lulu, so if you use the special discount code you can get even more of a bargain!

Here's a link to my Lulu author page: Maria Savva -- Lulu Spotlight

Whilst you're there why not browse some other author pages. Here are some authors & books that I recommend:

Julie Elizabeth Powell -- Lulu Spotlight



Julie writes across the genres. She has written children's books, murder/mystery, fantasy, chick lit, short stories, poems. She is a very versatile writer and I enjoy her books immensely

Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick-- Lulu Spotlight



I can't say enough good things about Breathing into Stone, which is the only book I have read by this author. I love it! I am looking forward to reading his other books.

Alex Sumner-- Lulu Spotlight



I recently read The Magus, a murder/mystery with a paranormal twist. Definitely one of my favourite books of 2011. I am about to start the second book in the series.

Mark Rice-- Lulu Spotlight



Metallic Dreams is one of the best books I've ever read, I would highly recommend it; especially to music lovers and in particular rock/heavy metal fans.

Susan Helene Gottfried-- Lulu Spotlight



Susan Helene Gottfried writes rock n' roll fiction. After reading her short story Mannequin: A Short Story, I'm looking forward to reading her other work.

Bill See-- Lulu Spotlight




I would definitely recommend 33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream. by Bill See, former lead singer in '80s rock band Divine Weeks. It's an insightful memoir, and one of my favourite books of 2011.

Scott M Liddell-- Lulu Spotlight



Scott is a photographer, and in fact his photograph appears on the front cover of my novel Second Chances. When I contacted him to ask permission to use the photo, I discovered that he is also an author. I really enjoyed his novel The Beatle Man

Happy Reading!

If you buy any books from Lulu up until 6th April 2012 you will get a mystery discount. The way it will work is that you don't need a coupon or special code, just browse and place the books you wish to purchase in your basket and a discount will be automatically applied by Lulu.com.

To find out how much you can save, visit Lulu today!

Here's a link to my author page on Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mariasavva

Here are some other authors on Lulu:

Julie Elizabeth Powell http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/julizpow

Mark Rice http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/metalli...

Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kirkpat...

Paul Keefe http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/thrille...

Jess C Scott http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/jesscscott

Susan Helene Gottfried http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/susan1134

Alex Sumner http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/alex_su...

Cindy Bauer http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/cindybauer

As many of you already know, I am running a series on my blog where each month I will pick one of my favourite indie books to recommend.

Here are my picks so far:

January: historical romance
February: murder/mystery
March: humour
April: supernatural/suspense

This month will be slightly different, as I will be recommending 5 books that all have a similar theme.

I read a lot of books that have been inspired in some way by music. I am quite obsessed with music :) I don't necessarily seek out books to read that have music as a theme but somehow I end up reading a lot of them. I have read many outstanding books by indie writers recently that have musical themes, so I thought it would make sense to recommend them together.

Firstly, I would like to recommend Metallic Dreams by Mark Rice



This one is simply a must read if you're a heavy metal or rock fan. This is one of my all time favourite books. The humour is wonderful and will have you laughing out loud. I'd recommend it to any music fan actually. Of course, this book can only be read by those with an open mind as there is some controversial content that may offend if taken out of context. One for the over 18s.

Here's the review I wrote when I read the book:

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.

If you'd like to find out a bit more about the book, and the fabulous writer, here's a link to a recent radio interview where he talks about his writing journey and reads an excerpt from the book: Melissa Craig and Charity Parkerson Show. It's a very entertaining interview. (I was honoured to have been mentioned by the author in this interview!)


The next book, I would like to recommend is 33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream. by Bill See



Bill was the lead singer of the '80s rock band Divine Weeks, and this book is a memoir. It is a diary of a 33 day tour by the band. It's in essence a book about following your dream.

Here's my review:

‘It’s not about the having and the getting, it’s about the being and becoming.’

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 great thing about this book is that it is about a real band with real music. After reading the book, I looked up some of their music on YouTube and really like it. That makes the book extra special. Here's a link to the book trailer that also includes clips of their music. 33 Days Book Trailer

Bill See has an exceptional gift for writing and getting his message across. He comes across as very wise; a true artist.
33 Days is another must read for music fans, and for anyone who has ever had a dream. It's one of those books that stays with you long after you've read it. A permanent favourite.

Thirdly, I am recommending a wonderful novel, B-Sides and Broken Hearts by Caryn Rose



This one had me hooked from the start. I could relate to the main character, a music lover to whom music is like a lifeline.

Here's the review I wrote when I read the book:

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.


This is a novel but reads almost like a memoir. Again it's a must read for music lovers. I found it hard to put down, and really wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters.

The next book I'm recommending is by wonderfully talented musician and writer, who is also very friendly and supportive of fellow artists.

Pixels of Young Mueller by Jerry Schwartz is a coming of age story about a boy who always dreamed of becoming a rock star.





It's about how life can get in the way of our dreams. In a similar way to B-Sides and Broken Hearts, it reads almost like a memoir. And, like 33 Days, it has the added bonus of being based on an actual band. Jerry is the lead singer/musician behind the band The Jerrys whose music is mentioned in the book. Here's a link to the band website: The Jerrys

Here's my review:

"My life is a movie in which the main character spends his life running from one dumb job to another" Klaus Mueller.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a breath of fresh air in respect of the honesty of the lead character's thoughts within the pages. At times I was questioning whether this is in fact a memoir or a fictional story, and perhaps the author would like us to wonder about that.
Klaus Mueller is a young boy when we meet him, he has dreams of becoming a rock star. This entertaining story is written in chapters relating to different stages of Mueller's life as he grows from a boy to a man, becomes a husband and a father.
Anyone who has ever wanted to break free from the confines of a 9-5 job will relate to young Mueller; anyone who has ever dreamed to making a living from their artistic endeavours will also relate; anyone who has ever loved music to such a degree that it became all encompassing will relate; and anyone who has just stopped to look around and questioned that there must be more to life than the life they are living will relate to this young man's story. I think that just about covers everyone.
This is a story of an ordinary man who does not live blindly but questions everything around him. It's an entertaining look at life. I found myself agreeing with a lot of the character's opinions about things, and I could relate to the struggles of an artist trying to fit into 'normal' routine existence.
Well written, insightful and thought provoking, with some laugh-out-loud moments, I would recommend this book to everyone. It's also almost a social history book, as notorious events from the past 5 decades are scattered throughout the story. Anyone who grew up in the '60s or '70s will no doubt enjoy this trip down memory lane.

Finally, I'd like to recommend Ladies and Gentlemen...The Redeemers by Michael Scott Miller.

[image error]


Here's my review:

This is a wonderful book, well written and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers, tells the story of Bert Ingram, a once successful music rep who worked for a major record company. Now facing middle-age, he finds himself destitute with nothing to show for the years he spent following his dream and the passion he has for music and spotting great talent. His former colleagues have given up on him and he seems destined to spend the rest of his life as an outcast. Bert has something to prove, so he makes it his mission to find raw talent among the down and outs in San Francisco; the musicians who play music on the streets. He has already set his sights on a singer he has spotted at Montgomery Street BART Station. We follow Bert as he tries to put together a band of musicians and lead them to super stardom, to prove to his former associates that he is still a major player.

The characters are introduced by the author in individual chapters, where we learn about their backgrounds and lives. Although they are all quite different, they are brought together by one man who has seen something in them. Bert Ingram prides himself on being able to spot talent when he sees it. I liked the interaction between the band members and between Bert and the individuals in the band. It is a very realistic portrayal of a band and all of the behind the scenes aspects of that. I recently read an excellent memoir about the life of a touring band 33 Days by Bill See, and I was reminded of certain parts of that book when I was reading Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers.

The story of The Redeemers teaches us that everyone can learn something from another person, no matter who that person is. It also shows that it is possible for people of different social classes and backgrounds to come together and get along with each other when ignorance and prejudice are set aside.

Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers, reminds us that following our dreams is important, and listening to those who have experience is an important part of the journey.

Highly recommended. A book that music fans will love.

I love the characters in this book, they are so realistic. It's fiction, but you would be mistaken for thinking that the author is writing about real people, real band members. Another book that music lovers will enjoy.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you'll try the books.

Look out for next month's pick!

I Interviewed Mark Rice last year after reading his novel, Metallic Dreams. Here's a link to that interview for those of you who missed it: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

Metallic Dreams blends two of my favourite things, music and words. It's also a very funny book. I love Mark's writing style, so I was very excited to hear he had a new release, a short story, Revelation Was Wrong.

After reading that very entertaining story, I was keen to invite Mark back to my blog for a chat about the book.





In your novel, Metallic Dreams, you based many of the characters on people you know. Your latest release is a short story 'Revelation Was Wrong'. There is an eccentric character Tam who predicts the end of the world. Is he based on anyone you know, or entirely fictional?

Tam the Bammus is purely fictitious. He came to me one night, fully formed in glorious detail: a gift from the literary gods.

What are your views on prophecies? Do you think it's possible to predict the future? Have you ever had any premonitions yourself?

I grew up listening to my father’s stories of Coinneach Odhar, the Brahan Seer, who was Scotland’s answer to Nostradamus. Coinneach’s prophecies were much more specific than those of Nostradamus, which tended to be vague. Many of the Brahan Seer’s predictions about Scotland came to pass, just as Orwell’s description of a Big-Brother state in 1984 is eerily close to what surveillance-obsessed modern society has become. Were these just two incisive men who observed their cultures and made educated guesses about the future, or were visions channelled into their minds from elsewhere? That’s a question I find fascinating. My view: the future is a blank page and we write on it with every one of our actions, no matter how small. I’ve never had any bad premonitions, but I have experienced vivid déja vu many times.

An alien appears in Revelation Was Wrong. I won't ask if he is based on anyone you know lol, but feel free to answer that if you do actually know aliens. My question is, do you think there is life on other planets?

The alien isn’t based on anyone I know, although many of my friends could easily be mistaken for extraterrestrial lifeforms. As for life on other planets, I’m certain of its existence. Bacteria have been found in meteorites and also outside the Earth’s atmosphere. If bacteria are hurtling around in space, it would be preposterous to think that other forms of life aren’t out there too. I started a short story based on a (fictional) conflict between the organisation SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and two primary-school geniuses. I can’t say any more about that without giving away the surprise, but it’s on the back burner for now anyway. I’ve always thought it one of the biggest examples of closed-minded human ignorance to believe that we are the only sentient beings in the Universe. (I’ve found animals to be more sentient than most humans.) I’d bet my entire music collection that there’s intelligent life outside our planet.

I don't think it's giving too much away to say that your main character Uriel is faced with a dilemma, to either stay on earth and risk being killed, or go to a different planet. He wants to take certain things with him that are close to his heart. If you had to leave earth in similar circumstances and could take three things with you, what would they be?

I presume by ‘things’ you mean inanimate rather than living ones. If I had to leave Earth and couldn’t take any living beings with me, I’d take: (1) a laminated photo of my cowgirl Deena Rae; (2) my kilt of MacLeod ancient tartan; (3) some of my rabbit Fluff’s fur.

I'm interested as to how the idea for Revelation Was Wrong was inspired, and how long did it take to write?

The idea was sparked by an experience I had three summers ago. On an unusually hot day for Scotland, in the middle of summer, I decided to walk to my local corner shop for an ice lolly. I had noticed a big chest freezer in the shop, so I figured it must contain a selection of icy things. On this day - to my horror - I discovered that it was a deep fridge full of Buckfast: a super-high-caffeine-content tonic wine which is implicated in most of Scotland’s violent crimes. (It turns regular garden-variety neds into amped-up maniacs.) Sweating like a racehorse, I asked the shop owner where the ice lollies were. He replied that he didn’t sell ice lollies, as no one in the area wanted them; they wanted Buckfast. He then tried and failed to sell me a chilled bottle of Buckie (also known as Wreck-the-Hoose Juice, Commotion Lotion, Devil’s Water and Vino Tonic Supersonic). I told him exactly what I thought of his no-ice-lolly policy and ruminated that the whole area was going to Hell in a handbasket. While wandering home, I realised with absolute clarity that if the Apocalypse were to come to the west of Scotland, Buckfast would be involved. After that, it was easy. The story came out in a stream-of-consciousness flow that lasted three days and nights. Tam dropped out of the sky to take his rightful place as the unlikely hero of the tale. This year, I spent a couple of weeks revamping the text and three weeks creating the book cover with 3D modelling software.

You are currently writing a sequel to Metallic Dreams, which I am very much looking forward to reading. Can you tell us anything about it yet, or is it still at the top secret stage?

It’s very much at the top-secret stage. I have a GREAT title for it and a GREAT opening line, but it’d ruin the surprise if I unveiled them now. The band’s ability to court controversy and fall into trouble is in no way diminished. Quite the opposite. For example, while touring India they manage to make a host of cultural gaffes as well as breaking several laws.

Have you been to any good gigs recently?

Aye, I went to see Steel Panther, which was the most fun gig I’ve experienced: excellent musicianship, good songs, wet-your-pants-funny lyrics and band members who are natural entertainers. Thin Lizzy was a good one too, earlier in the year. Most recently, I saw Paradise Lost and Insomnium, two of my favourite bands, play in King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.

What's the most recent CD or mp3 album you've bought?

Ready as Hell by Jim Dandy (legendary frontman of Black Oak Arkansas). I’d been waiting decades for it to be released on CD, and it finally was. For anyone who thinks that Axl Rose has a unique voice, think again; go listen to the early Black Oak Arkansas albums and it becomes very clear whom the G ‘n’ R frontman modelled his vocal style on: ‘Big’ Jim Dandy Mangrum.

You recently enrolled your debut novel, Metallic Dreams, into the KDP Select programme on Amazon. KDP Select is a bit of a controversial subject amongst authors. Some think it's great because it increases the visibility of our books on Amazon when we give them away free. Others say that by giving our books away free we are in effect making it harder for authors to ever sell any copies of their books. After all, with so many free books out there, why would anyone ever have to buy a book? What are your thoughts on these issues? Can you tell us a little bit about your decision to enroll your book into the programme and whether you would recommend it to fellow authors.

I would recommend it to fellow authors once they’ve launched a book, gathered some momentum and received some good reviews. For me, the KDP promotion was a huge springboard that took Metallic Dreams to a wider audience. It hit #1 in both of its Amazon categories during the promotion and stayed at the top of one category for over a week. The knock-on effect in terms of sales and visibility has been considerable. It’s unlikely that my novel would have been at #1 in any paid category without the free promotion to launch it up the rankings in the first place. I know that there are people who don’t (or rarely) buy books, as so many free ones are available. I can only speak from my perspective: while I’m happy to like, tag, tweet and download free books to help other authors, I only read what I truly want to read. If this means shelling out some cash, I knuckle down and do it (which, as a stingy Scotsman, hurts like Hell). For example, last year I spent a small fortune on True Norwegian Black Metal, a huge limited-edition hardback full-colour glossy photobook by Peter Beste. Worth every penny. If a book’s quality is good enough, people will buy it, regardless of price. That should be a mantra for all authors: refine, polish and make your work perfect, then people will buy.

To help with promotion of your novel, you have appeared on internet radio shows. What is your experience of taking part in that type of promotion and have you gained new readers directly as a result of that? Would you recommend it to other authors?

Yes, I gained new readers as a result of appearing on the Charity Parkerson and Melissa Craig show. Yes, I would recommend it to other authors. Hurl yourself onto the show and don’t be afraid to put foot in mouth, as those gaffes end up being the most entertaining bits. For example, when I said to Charity, on air, “I reckon everyone you know is a pervert,” I rapidly realised that I know her mother and several other authors who might not take that as a compliment. My frantic attempt to dig myself out of that hole was one of the funniest parts of the show.

Do you have any other news you'd like to share with your readers?



The anthology A Blended Bouquet by my writers’ group – Writers Inc – is finally available on Kindle, just three years after the paperback came out! I was having some niggly formatting issues and eventually surrendered to a professional at eBookBuilders. The finished product looks perfect. My witchcraft-themed shortish story (about 20,000 words) is moving along. It has taken far too long, as I’ve been juggling so many things, but I’m almost happy with most of it. It’s also worth mentioning that I’m currently reading and enjoying your novel The Dream, Maria.

Thank you, Maria, for another cracking interview. Excellent questions, as always. I look forward to your new novel.

Thank you, Mark, for being a charming guest. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying The Dream

Last week, I was interviewed by Mark Rice (author of Metallic Dreams), and Deena Rae Schoenfeldt of eBookBuilders, on their Internet radio show, Bluebonnets, Bagpipes & Books!

We talked about my upcoming novel, Haunted, which I hope to release on Hallowe'en. We also talked about my experience with the Amazon KDP Select Programme. The show was fun to do.

You can listen to the podcast here: Bluebonnets, Bagpipes & Books

I hope you enjoy it!

Deena and Mark created their radio show so that they could discuss the ins and outs of the publishing industry with those in the know.

If you're on Facebook, you can keep up to date with the show here: http://www.facebook.com/Bluebonnets.B...

You can also follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BBandBPodcast

For the next few days there are great savings to be had at Lulu.com (offer ends 16th November 2012).

I, and many other self-published authors, publish our books through Lulu.com. I've discovered some of my favourite writers there, including, fantasy author Julie Elizabeth Powell.

Check out my author page where you can find copies of all my books. I have discounts available on all my paperbacks, ranging from 20% - 50%!

On top of those existing discounts for the next few days, if you use the code: SERENTIS at the checkout, you get an extra 20%

What this means to you is you're basically getting the books cheaper than the usual price and saving the cost of postage and package. So it's well worth checking out the site.

My latest novel,Haunted, has a 20% discount already, so with the extra 20%, there are some real savings there.

Here's a link to my author page: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mariasavva

Below are links to some other authors' pages on Lulu that I recommend. Perhaps you can get all of that Christmas shopping done early and stock up with gifts for your bookworm friends :)


Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kirkpat...

Julie Elizabeth Powell,
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/JEP

Bill See,
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/billsee

Heather Grace Stewart
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/heather...

Jess C Scott
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/jesscscott

Alex Sumner,
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/alex_su...

Susan Helene Gottfried,
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/susan1134

Mark Rice,
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/metalli...

Remember, you can use the code: SERENTIS to get 20% off any books at Lulu, not just mine. So stock up!

Happy Browsing :)