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OBS is looking for moderators for our upcoming message board we're preparing to launch!! If interested, please email Dawn at dawn@openbooksociety.com

I had to cheat on this one to get the game going...I searched on goodreads:)

Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber

Sookie Stackhouse is the series that True Blood is based off of....but it's a very loose interpretation....they have gotten so far away from the books that it's not even funny!!

I've only gotten a chance to read the first Night Huntress book so far, but I loved it!!

Ham

You know how when you read something and it reminds you of another book?? Well let's test that knowledge in this new game. All you have to do is state the title of a book starting with the last word of the previous one. Note: the words "the", "a/an" don't count, so if you state a book that starts with one of those words, put the first word in parentheses, because it's the next word that counts.

Example:
Person 1: Club Dead By Charlaine Harris
Person 2: (The) Dead Zone by Stephen King
Person 3: Zone One by Colson Whitehead

Got It?? Let's get started!!

Archangel's Storm by Nalini Singh

Welcome to the group, Heather!!

Have you tried any of the typical vamp books, Sookie Stackhouse, Night Huntress, or if you want some smut with your vamps The Black Dagger Brotherhood?

Black

http://openbooksociety.com/article/ta...

It’s almost the end of the week and OBS reviewer Lindsay has a new interview with author Tally Harbour author of ‘Strange People, Scary People’, where they discuss the inspiration behind the short stories, its characters, curious facts about animals, future projects and more. Enjoy!

Read the review for ‘Strange People, Scary People’ here.

Lindsay: What made you decide to write Strange People, Scary People and where did you get the inspiration for the stories?

Tally Harbour: Horror always intrigued me, even as a young kid, and when, in my early twenties I finally realized that I was meant to write, this subject naturally governed my pen. And so I gathered together a collection of short stories and called it SPSP. As for the inspiration: it came from within and without. The former from my own hangups, fears and nightmares and the latter from strange and scary people I have known in my life.

Lindsay: In many of these stories, the main characters seem to be average people. Some are hiding secrets and others are struggling with mental disorders or illnesses. Did any of your characters evolve from people in your life or did they all evolve from your story ideas?

Tally Harbour: Most originated, I suppose, in my own head, others came from real people.

Lindsay: In Cousin Pete’s Armadillo Farm, why did you choose armadillos for the mutant’s in the story? Do they hold any significance for you or was it just an idea that come out of nowhere?

Tally Harbour: I consider them quite repulsive creatures, and when I heard a rumor that they carry leprosy (or Hansen’s disease) a spark went off in my mind for a story. (And some of them, by the way, do carry this affliction.)

Lindsay: As I mentioned in my review, Rebecca’s Hand was my favorite story. I have to ask what was your inspiration was for this story and also for Ezra Stone’s character specifically?

Tally Harbour: I think it is my favorite too. Anyway, I was for some reason perusing through a bible one day and I happened to discover the scripture mentioned in the story. It’s very cruelness inspired the tale. As for the inspiration for Ezra Stone, it was based on no one in particular. I just needed a real self-righteous bastard to make the story complete.

Lindsay: Could you please explain what you feel makes a good horror story?

Tally Harbour: Although I suppose I get fairly graphic at times, I think subtleness is the recipe for a truly great horror tale. Hint at something terrifying and leave them guessing.

Lindsay: In Procedure Monomania, I am impressed at how you were able to guide the reader through the thought process in Hylas Mire’s head that led to his demise. What was your inspiration for his character and the mental illness that overcomes him?

Tally Harbour: It was my own OCD. I just carried it to the extreme.

Lindsay: Please elaborate on what happens in Timothy’s mind at the end of She of the Other Kingdom?

Tally Harbour: His mind, free of conventional thought, became aware both of everything and of nothing.

Lindsay: Do you have any plans to write any more stories or a full length horror novel perhaps?

Tally Harbour: I have several more short stories that I hope in the future to be published in anthologies. As for a novel, I really don’t think right now that I could ever write one.

Lindsay: Two part question: who is your favorite horror author and if you could have lunch with any author, past or present and from any genre, who would it be and why?

Tally Harbour: I suppose my favorite author is H. P. Lovecraft. But if I could dine with any writer, it would definitely be Edgar Allan Poe because he was the master of psychological horror–which, I think, is horror in its most terrifying form.



Thank you to author Tally Harbour for an amazing interview!

http://openbooksociety.com/article/ke...

OBS reviewer Vicki is back with a new interview to share with or readers, this time with Award winner Northwest author of romance Kelly Fitzpatrick and her latest book ‘Pleasant Lake P.D.’, where they discuss her characters and real life inspiration behind them, romance and other genres, favorite quotes and more. Enjoy!

Read the review for ‘Pleasant Lake P.D.’ here.

Vicki: First things first, is Miguel Diaz based upon a real-life person and if so can I get his number?

Kelly F.: I make no secret of the fact that I love the Latin men. Miguel is probably a compilation of the “best” qualities of many men I’ve known, some Latin and some not. I did not want to write the typical bad boy who can be changed by the love of a good woman. I think it’s irresponsible to tell women over and over again through romance novels that if you are pretty enough, sexy enough and smart enough you can change a man. That line of thinking lays the blame squarely on us when the relationship doesn’t work out for one reason or another. We weren’t thin enough or young enough or just enough. To quote my heroine, Alex, “Miguel was like the illusive unicorn. A good looking, impeccably dressed, highly educated, well-groomed, polite, single, straight guy. Often spoken about in legend and lore, but never seen.” In other words, he probably doesn’t exist and if he does I don’t have his phone number. If I did, I wouldn’t be flashing it around.

Vicki: And Roman Plow, who’s name is ridiculously appropriate by the way, is like the hooker with a heart of gold (kinda.) How did you manage to make a manwhore redeemable?

Kelly F.: Roman is a compilation of the worst qualities of many men I’ve known, so I had a lot of material to work with. I loved Roman and discovered that other women did too, which I found troubling because I thought I was the only one with poor judgment when it came to men. I’ve read many books where the “wrong” guy is so wrong you have to wonder what the heroine saw in him to begin with. Roman is witty and charming and sexy in a one-night-stand sort of way. I did not want to vilify him (too much). But since women were so drawn to his character I had to, like you said, manwhore him up, stopping short of giving him an actual STD or turning him into a serial killer.

Vicki: Alex is a sassy and unique character. Her narrative was almost like a stream of consciousness, which is something that makes her seem all the more honest and authentic. It was extremely refreshing reading this type of romcom heroine. Was it your intention to shy away from the damsel-in-distress and what was your main inspiration for Alex?

Kelly F.: If you think the mind of Stephen King is a scary place, welcome to the mind of Kelly Fitzpatrick, the anti-romance, romance writer. Although I do have other published books, Pleasant Lake PD was the second novel I wrote. The first was a futuristic, interplanetary mail-order bride story that we don’t talk about. I wrote Pleasant Lake PD with no filter. If I thought it, I wrote it. It wasn’t until I began entering writing contests that I was told “you can’t write that” and “Alex can’t say that”. Since I was kicking ass and taking names in writing contests, I didn’t really change much (in that regard) until my editor at Medallion told me “you can’t write that” and “Alex can’t say that”. She gave me a lot of latitude to be outrageous, inappropriate and over the top, but she had her limits. One of us had to be the voice of reason.

Vicki: Crime, mob life, FBI, sexual slavery, shoot outs and punch ups. With lusty lovin’ and comedy! I particularly enjoyed the way in which you subverted genres in order to tell Alex’s story. You could write the same novel from Agent Kilgore’s point-of-view and it would be completely different. You’ve established yourself as a romcom author but do you think you’ll ever crossover to a different genre?

Kelly F.: I love to joke and laugh. I have a bit of a dark, warped sense of humor. Sexual slavery is nothing to laugh about. I think it’s an important issue that I tried not to make light of. But I do make fun of the FBI and criminals and cops. Oh, and family. But so far there is always an element of humor whether I’m writing paranormal or contemporary or anything.

Vicki: Do you have a favourite quote and/or scene?

Kelly F.: I think it would be the scene where Alex and Miguel meet and she’s rifling through his car.

“I wouldn’t say I was above rummaging through a guy’s personal belongings to ascertain his creep ration, but I’d never gotten paid for it before. Not that I was actually getting paid extra. The FBI never mentioned compensation, which started to deeply trouble me.”

Vicki: What do you recommend for readers who enjoy Pleasant Lake P.D. and want more Kelly Fitzpatrick?

Kelly F.: Lily in Wonderland – Lily is a bad girl tamed by the love of a good man. Novel in print and ebook with Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

This Side of Dead – The lines between life and death are blurred in this paranormal ebook novella with Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

Dodging Cupid – An anti-Valentine’s Day short love story out in ebook with Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

Holiday Hostage – Kidnapped by your family for Christmas, a short free ebook with Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

Vicki: What’s the most important message that readers can take away from Pleasant Lake P.D.?

Kelly F.: Have safe sex, wear sunscreen and trust your instincts when it comes to men and danger. Oh, and laugh often.



Thank you to author Kelly Fitzpatrick for a great review!

Men

http://openbooksociety.com/article/h-...

OBS owner/reviewer Dawn had the opportunity to interview once again author H.K. Savage! This time with her latest book ‘The Path’, where they chat about the inspiration behind the story, types of witches, her characters, upcoming series, bad reviews, fun facts and more. Enjoy!

Dawn: What was the inspiration behind The Path?

H.K. Savage: I think magic is a fun subject to read about but often not done well. There’s a fine line between giving the reader enough information to understand your world and the magical systems within it, and turning the book into an instruction manual. Mostly I write the books I want to read that aren’t available. Of course after I wrote this one Deb Harkness’s Discovery of Witches came out and I thought that was great fun. Maybe I wouldn’t have written mine if I’d read hers first. Nah, I would have had to get it out.

Dawn: How did you come up with the different types of witches? i.e. chameleon, diviner, mixed-blood, watchers, water, earth, air, etc…

H.K. Savage: I liked giving samples of all of the different possibilities within the world of alternative spiritualities. Once I had the elemental powers covered and built the world of Veritas, the supporting cast and their roles all fell into place. It seemed pretty easy to bridge from a witch’s intrinsic energy, to those whose energies would read others’ or take on the characteristics of those around them. And Watchers and such just made sense and lend to that whole “alternate reality” feel I love so much. It makes it feel plausible.

Dawn: Pritchard is a seriously sick man. He used fear mongering and religion to manipulate to further himself. It’s often mirrored in our political system. What kind of message did you want to portray with his “church” and behavior?

H.K. Savage: That one was a bit ticklish. Obviously people’s faith/spirituality is hugely personal and important to them. I don’t like to make fun or call anyone’s wrong. However, it is because our spirituality is so personal that it can be used to manipulate us. To me, that is one of the scariest possibilities of dogma. If the right person comes along and is charismatic, sticks to the doctrines relatively closely, and then throws in his/her own little twist, like fear mongering, it’s not too hard to believe they can lead people astray. Look at Jim Jones, Waco, Charles Manson, even some past dictators. A lot of evil is possible just a few steps outside of right.

Dawn: Brandon evokes anger and sympathy. I hope to see him take his 2nd chance and use it well. We don’t really know him other than when he was controlled by Pritchard. Will we learn more about him in the next book?

H.K. Savage: Brandon is my biggest challenge in book 2. I’m stuck right now and have taken a little break to get to know him. How would he feel having been allowed to live and now having to deal with the fallout of his mistakes? That would be pretty devastating. I would think he’s going to want to redeem himself or maybe he won’t think he’s worth it. I’m not sure.

Dawn: I like Julie and Quan. Might there be a romance in the future?

H.K. Savage: Not between them. I am opening Quan up though. He’s kind of that crank we get to know and love and I’m going further into his story and personality in the next book. Same with Julia. She’s maybe going to find someone though. We’ll see. She was considering maybe some retirement/teaching options at the end of book 1 so maybe she’s thinking of settling down now that she knows Cassie will be okay. I’m going to have to see how it comes out.

Dawn: What can we expect in the next book in the series? When will it be coming out?

H.K. Savage: I’ve highlighted some of the big stuff above but there’s a complication that’s been tossed into Cassie and Drew’s relationship. Veritas doesn’t always care about who it hurts when there’s a mission on the line. And Drew has a certain skill set that makes him valuable to the organization; even if he doesn’t think he’s ready. The hard part is when he has to start keeping secrets from his girlfriend. She’s an investigator for pete’s sake.

Dawn: Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, how do you get past it?

H.K. Savage: Of course! Sometimes it’s because I’m absolutely spent. Launching a business, a rigorous writing schedule, family and summer vacation are huge energy drains. I love each of them but they can get overwhelming. When I need to refill the coffers I get out my trusty music and tennies. Some long walks with a particular playlist always gets me in the right place. Then, even if I can’t get more than a line or two, I make myself sit down at my computer for a few hours a day. Reading the last page I wrote can help too if things are having trouble getting started.

Dawn: How do you handle a negative reviews?

H.K. Savage: They’re so hard. I used to read all of my reviews, even checking Amazon and B&N daily. I have to say I don’t look anymore. When a reviewer sends me a review, I read it. Fortunately, none of those has come in “bad” thus far. Try as I might to say it’s all a matter of opinion it still hurts. You know, there aren’t many other professions or even hobbies where we put a part of our heart out there and ask for opinions. It feels like someone called my baby ugly if they don’t like a book. But, if one gets me down, I go in and read a few good ones. Fortunately for my fragile ego there are currently more of the one than the other thus far.

Fun stuff:

Dawn: What is your favorite supernatural creature to write about?

H.K. Savage: Vampires! Hands down, vampires. That’s why I’m going back to them in my new series coming out this fall with the first book, Second Sight, in November.

Dawn: What is your favorite supernatural movie or TV series?

H.K. Savage: Hmmm, I’m not sure. In a show I might have to say Eric Northman. Not my favorite in the books but wow is he uber great in the show. Not just the looks, he’s a more intriguing character in the show and I like him. He’s balancing business, politics, patriarchal duties, and an allergy to sunlight all while trying to seduce his neighbor’s woman. He’s even busier than me.

Dawn: Who is your favorite male or female actor/actress?

H.K. Savage: Not a huge tv fan but I have to say I have a thing for Jason Statham. I know, but he’s just fantastic in his movies. He’s the tough but sensitive guy and he’s in wonderful shape. Fun to listen to, watch and I usually like his stuff. Except Crank 2, but everybody gets a stinker.

Thank you to author H.K. Savage for another amazing interview!

You know how it works...read the last word posted and post the first word that comes to mind.

Let's start with...

Little

http://openbooksociety.com/article/sa...

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

This episode picks up where last week’s left off. Russell has just killed the fairy elder and can now see where the other fairies are hiding. The fairies all work together and zap Russell at the same time, but it doesn’t appear to be doing much. Then Eric swoops in to the rescue stabbing Russell. Sookie rushes out to tend to Jason who is still passed out. Nora smells Sookie and starts to run after her. Eric makes her swear on Godric that she will not eat Sookie as he explains how Sookie has saved his life countless times.

Eric and Nora go to Fantasia where Tara informs Eric that the authority took Pam. He starts to prepare for her rescue. Nora tries to talk him out of it, but he tells her that Pam is family and he also tells her to be nice to Tara as she’s family as well. They then go to Sookie’s to ask for her help as he feels that Sookie is their best chance of getting through to Bill. Jason (who is also seeing visions of his mom and dad) tries to keep Sookie from going, but she decides to help Eric so Jason insists on going as well.

Sookie and Jason load up Eric, Nora, and Tara, in their travel coffins and stop off at the weapon store, they break in and steal all the vampire fighting equipment they can. Sookie tries to talk Jason out of killing all the vamps, but Jason is insistent as are their parents.

Sam is taken to Bill as his breakfast entree. Sam tries to convince Bill to help them get Emma back, but Bill is angry that Sam knows too much. Sam shifts into a fly and Bill tries to catch him, but can’t as Sam escapes through the air duct. Bill then calls on all the security agents to inform them that there has been a breech and puts the place on lockdown.

Sam returns to Luna and hatches a new plan to rescue Emma.

Steve Newlin goes to the cages where they are keeping the ‘livestock’ to retrieve Emma saying that he wants to take her for a walk. He takes her insisting that she doesn’t shift. When he gets to the lobby the receptionist starts chatting him up and notices that he isn’t using his accent, he tells her that it’s time for his brand to evolve. As he’s hesitating at the elevator another council member catches him and takes him directly to a live TV segment for him to fix the mess that was created by him and Russell’s latest mass killing. He starts throwing up blood on set and then shifts; it was Luna all along and Sam is buzzing around as a fly. Luna yells about the vampires holding humans hostage. The council member comes after her, but Sam flies in her mouth and then shifts, killing her.

Alcide and his dad are grilling when Martha pulls up with Rikki in the backseat. Martha yells for Alcide to help her with Rikki. J.D. has forced all the wolves to drink blood and she thinks Rikki is overdosing. They take her inside and give her something that causes the blood to leave her body through her pores. Alcide then finds out that J.D. also forced some of the younger girls to have sex after forcing the V on them. Alcide wants to fight J.D, but knows he can’t while J.D.’s on V. Alcide’s dad tells him that he has some strong vampire blood and that if J.D. is on the same stuff Rikki is, then he could easily take him.

Alcide takes the V and goes to challenge J.D. Martha and his dad go along to make sure nobody interferes in the fight. Alcide kills J.D. which makes him the new pack master. He then tells the pack that it ends now, there will be no more V or forcing weaker members and if they don’t like it they can leave or challenge him now.

Andy takes his very pregnant fairy into Merlotte’s so that he can tell Holly about the pregnancy. As he is breaking the news to her, the fairy goes into labor and Holly ends up delivering the four babies. Then the fairy tells Andy to take care of them and to make sure that at least two of them make it to adulthood. Andy then looks to Holly for help and she tells him that he’s a dick.

Eric and Nora drive back into the authority compound, with Jason, Tara, and Sookie bound and gagged in the back of the truck. After Bill clears them, Jason, Eric and, Nora take out every vampire in sight. Then, they go to get Pam and Jessica out of their cells. Jessica admits that she loves Jason, but he tells her that he could never love a vampire. Eric sends everyone upstairs and him and Sookie go to try and save Bill.

Salome is having a celebration for becoming the chosen one. She drinks all of the blood of Lilith in front of Bill and is in instant pain. He tells her that she was too greedy that she didn’t even smell the silver he put in the blood. She is upset that he would desecrate the blood of Lilith, but he pulls a bottle out of his pocket telling her that he didn’t. He then stakes her.

Eric and Sookie come in and try to talk some sense into Bill, but to no avail. He instead talks to Sookie and about how little she means and how naïve she is, which angers Eric (and I was wishing Eric would kill him, but I knew better). Bill then drinks the whole bottle of Lilith’s blood and starts bleeding out of his orifices until he is nothing, but a puddle of blood. Sookie cries on Eric’s shoulder and Eric starts to see the puddle of blood move. He alerts Sookie. The blood reforms to look like the vampires visions of Lilith, only it’s Bill. Eric tells Sookie to run.

I thought this was a decent episode, but definitely not the best I’ve seen. In fact, episode 1 was my favorite of season 5. I really enjoyed seeing a glimpse of the Eric I love. Cunning, manipulative and fiercely protective and as cute as ever! Alcide also did the show justice, but couldn’t he have barbequed or fought J.D shirtless?? I have not seen enough of his naked body this season!! Jason attacking all the vamps just seems so been there done that. And what happened to the whole Warlow storyline? I thought for sure we’d at least see him by the end of this epi. And now I’m sure Andy will have to protect his babies from the vampires as they will have the intoxicating fairy blood. And what will Holly’s sons think of Andy now? I have a feeling next season will be about defeating Bill, but I can’t help, but think if they kill Bill that will be the end of the show. Time will tell, I guess.

OBS reviewer Heidi is back with a new interview. This time she had the opportunity to chat with author Belinda G. Buchanan where they discuss her second novel ‘The Monster of Silver Creek’, just like her motivation for writing, her characters, future projects and more. Enjoy!

Read our review for The monster of Silver Creek here.

Heidi: When did you decide that you wanted to be an author? What age did you start writing?

B.G.B.: I’ve always like writing, and can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be an author. I was around fifteen when I wrote my first story.

Heidi: What motivates you and makes you want to write?

B.G.B.: My biggest motivator is hearing from fans that tell me how much they loved my books. I have made many, many new friends over the past year.

Heidi: What is the most nerve-wracking thing about writing?

B.G.B.: For me, it’s making sure the details, time-line and plot all fall in line. I’m rather anal about details and sometimes I drive myself nuts. For this book in particular, I had to make sure my dates were right in regards to the murders and how they unfolded over a four week time span. I keep a small journal that denotes my characters’ birthdays, anniversaries, etc. See? I told you I’m anal. LOL!

Heidi: What do you read? For pleasure? Motivation?

B.G.B.: I love reading mysteries, chick lit and some sci-fi. I also love celebrity memoirs. I always read for pleasure, although I don’t get to read as much as I’d like to.

Heidi: In the Monster of Silver Creek, Nathan is plagued with grief and guilt over the loss of his wife and unborn child. Where did you get your inspiration for this powerful and heart-wrenching storyline?

B.G.B.: I wanted Nathan to be a widow, because it brings a certain vulnerability to him. His connection to his past is what drives the story. It’s what makes him who he is as well as who he becomes.

Heidi: Any particular reason you chose Montana as the setting for this story? Do you have a personal connection with the state?

B.G.B.: I have always loved Montana, although I have never been. I just felt Montana would be a good setting. It’s a beautiful state and I hope to visit it someday.

Heidi: With Nathan being a do-it-all kind of police chief, there were several police codes in the book. Were you already familiar with these codes when you wrote the book or how did you learn about them?

B.G.B.: I spoke with my police chief about the codes, and I found the Montana State Police codes on their website. I wanted to make sure I was using them correctly.

Heidi: I was a little sad that this book didn’t have the happily ever after ending that I was expecting. Why did you choose to go the route you did?

B.G.B.: I wanted to make it like real life. Sometimes we don’t get the things we want or need, but we pick ourselves up and go forward.

Heidi: What was your favorite thing about The Monster of Silver Creek (a certain scene, character, etc)?

B.G.B.: My favorite scene was when Nathan went up to the tree, where his wife died. It was very moving, and I get a little misty when I read it.

Heidi: Both of your books, After All is Said and Done and The Monster of Silver Creek center around cheating spouses. Is there a reason for that?

B.G.B.: I love writing about characters with emotional flaws. I believe that makes them more human. For After All Is Said And Done, I always wanted to write a story that dealt with adultery and its aftermath. So many times we see the short-term effects, but not the long term.

Heidi: What future projects are in store for you? What are you working on now?

B.G.B.: I am currently working on Seasons Of Darkness, a prequel to After All Is Said And Done. After that, I will be working on a follow up to The Monster Of Silver Creek, which picks up almost exactly where the book left off.

Heidi: Well I guess I will just have to read the sequel to find out what happens next!! I can’t wait. Thanks, Belinda for taking the time to talk to us and I wish you great success on The Monster of Silver Creek and all your future endevours!!

http://openbooksociety.com/article/mi...


OBS reviewer Lee is back with a new interview featuring Mitzi Szereto & Teddy Tedaloo author of ‘Normal for Norfolk‘. They chat about the inspiration behind the story, characters, upcoming projects and more. Enjoy!

Lee: You’ve mostly written a lot of erotic fiction in the past, and even taught workshops on it. What made you decide to switch directions and write Normal for Norfolk?

Mitzi: It isn’t as much of a switch as you might think. There’s a misconception that I only write erotic fiction. Granted, I am known for it, but in reality, I’ve done a lot of genre blending and crossing over in my writing career, even within the erotic fiction area. I did a crime anthology called Getting Even: Revenge Stories, and my anthology Dying For It: Tales of Sex and Death was a mix of many genres of fiction, including literary, crime, romance and horror. Plus my upcoming anthology, Thrones of Desire: Erotic Tales of Swords, Mist and Fire is very much fantasy oriented. As a writer, I don’t want to be typecast or stuck in a rut. I want to keep doing new things and keep readers guessing as to what I’ll come up with next. Normal for Norfolk (The Thelonious T. Bear Chronicles) is adding something else to my portfolio, expanding on genres I’ve already taken a pen to, i.e. crime, mystery, fantasy and humour.

Lee: Your co-author is Teddy Tedaloo, a bear character that features on your website. What led to Teddy’s creation?

Mitzi: He isn’t a creation. He’s a bear with his own mind—and he isn’t afraid to speak it either! We met about 14 years ago in Seattle, Washington. It’s a long story as to how he ended up on my doorstep, but we became inseparable from that moment on. He’s quite a character and a personality in his own right. I know for a fact that Normal for Norfolk’s ursine protagonist Thelonious T. Bear would never have existed were it not for Teddy. He’s got a lot of fans and admirers, so I’m really chuffed that he agreed to allow me to write this book with him.

Lee: What I liked most about Thelonious T. Bear is that, apart from the quite obvious fact that he is a teddy bear, he could also pass for any uptight, proper Englishman with a love of nice clothes and a good pint. What led you to write the story about a bear rather than just an average Englishman?

Mitzi: Who wants to read about the average uptight proper Englishman? There’s nothing new in that! Our entire concept was to write a novel featuring an ursine protagonist, so Thelonious T. Bear became the key component before anything else in the book was developed. Thelonious took on a life of his own, more so than I’d ever envisioned. He does have his share of bad luck—things just keep happening to him beyond his control, which is something we can all identify with. He can speak for many people, in that he’s fed up with the nonsense of urban life and just wants a peaceful existence without stress and hassle. He’s also fed up with being made to feel as if there’s something wrong with him because he’s different. The story can even be seen as an allegory for those who don’t fit into society because of how they look or perhaps due to a disability or some form of physical limitation. The book is intended to be good fun, but there are things going on beneath the surface that will make you step back a bit and think.



Lee: The gangster characters seem like they walked straight out of a Guy Ritchie movie like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, while various plot devices reminded me strongly of Raymond Chandler. What were your literary and cultural influences when writing the story?

Mitzi: Teddy and I didn’t have any specific literary influences when writing the book, or any we were aware of. It was pretty much all cultural, stemming from living in Britain and seeing and experiencing the various elements of British society for ourselves. I’ve spent time in London’s East End, living only a stone’s throw away by train, plus I’ve known many people from East London as well as from Essex (innit!), so you tend to pick up a few things. If you can believe it, Grant and Phil Mitchell from the BBC television series EastEnders initially inspired the characters of Vinnie and Desmond Clark. Mind you, the Clark brothers take things a lot further than the Mitchells. The Clarks, and Vinnie in particular, fancy themselves as the contemporary Kray Brothers—the famous gangster twins in 1950s and 60s East London. They also see themselves as members of the disenfranchised white working-class England—the kind of blokes who support the old-school British National Party and accuse every foreigner of taking away their livelihoods and mooching off the system. Ironically, it’s the Clark brothers who are mooching off the system. And unless you consider activities of an illegal nature to be a proper livelihood, they don’t have one of those either. The character of Detective Chief Inspector Horatio Sidebottom of Norfolk Constabulary CID came from outside the UK. There are many references from Thelonious comparing him to the American TV detective Columbo—and that’s who we patterned him on, except Lieutenant Columbo actually did possess skills in crime solving, unlike the annoying DCI Sidebottom, whose experience with crime seems limited to the apprehending of sheep-rustling Gypsies.

Lee: As a die-hard Arsenal supporter myself, I enjoyed the football references in the novel. Are you a West Ham supporter in real life, like Vinnie and Desmond Clark?

Mitzi: I actually don’t like sports and never have, so I’d have to say no. However, East London and Essex tend to be diehard West Ham supporters, therefore the Clark brothers, living in Bow, East London, would support the team. What amuses me (and this is referenced in the novel) was how everyone kissed the ground Carlos Tévez walked on when he joined West Ham—until he ran off to Manchester when more money was dangled in front of his nose. In fact, Vinnie goes berserk every time the man’s name is mentioned; he considers Tévez a traitor of the worst kind!

Lee: The Drowned Duck pub seemed very real to life, as did all of the characters who populated it regularly. Is any of that based off of a real life pub that you know?

Mitzi: It wasn’t based on any one specific pub, no. But I did pick up some bits and pieces from my stay in Norfolk. The pub’s creation was triggered by a Welsh vicar from a parish in Essex whom we met in a Norfolk village pub. You’ve got to admit that’s quirky in and of itself. That encounter pretty much set things in motion for us. The idea for the character of Fag-stain Man came about when I ran into one of the neighbours at my friend’s rural Norfolk farmhouse. He was apparently some ex-rock music personage from the Sixties—and so the idea of Fag-stain Man was born. Surely you must have guessed who he’s based on? We made it as obvious as possible without setting ourselves up for a lawsuit! Lord Nelson, the publican’s dog at The Drowned Duck, came about while we were having pints and dinner in a pub near the Norfolk coast. There was a small dog at the bar, and it was apparent that he’d taken an interest in my friend’s dog, who just so happened to be in season. I don’t think I need to say anything further on the subject. I would love to have The Drowned Duck as my local. In fact, I’d probably be quite happy living in Little Acre with Teddy!

Lee: Norfolk is an interesting place to set a novel, particularly for American readers whose familiarity with England mostly covers just London. What was it about Norfolk that appealed to you as a setting?

Mitzi: It’s a place that’s full of surprises and oddities, not to mention having an oddball reputation when it comes to the locals, ergo things being “normal for Norfolk.” The county is set away from the rest of England, being at the complete eastern edge of the country, and there’s no motorway that takes you directly there. It’s quite conceivable Norfolk, or a sizeable chunk of it, will end up underwater at some point, since much of it was drained in the past to create farmland. In Norfolk if you don’t leave the beach by a certain time, the tide will come in and drown you—and many people have lost their lives, so it’s a precarious place in some respects. You also have a strange dichotomy in population—the unpretentious Norfolk country folk versus all these Londoners and celebrities going up on the weekends, turning the pubs and villages into mini Londons. That scene in the book where Thelonious stumbles into a gastropub and sees a humidor full of Cuban cigars is actually true. The pub exists, along with the hooting and braying Chelsea-ites in the beer garden. By contrast, you can find a house with a display box selling sprigs of freshly picked lavender via an honour system. So in many ways Norfolk is that return to the past Thelonious was seeking, minus the gastropubs, of course!



Lee: Will any of the colorful supporting characters in Normal for Norfolk return for future installments of Thelonious’s adventures?

Mitzi: That’s always a possibility and we’d love to have them back! I can’t tell you how much fun it was to create these people. We developed quite a fondness for Zimmer-frame Granny and Fag-stain Man and their whisky-drinking competitions. And let’s not forget the flatulent Lord Nelson. Who knows when and where they might reappear?

Lee: What kinds of adventures can we expect Thelonious T. Bear to get into next? Where else will his photojournalism work take him besides Norfolk?

Mitzi: We’ve already decided on a location, but it’s top-secret, I’m afraid! All I can tell you is that it won’t be in the United Kingdom. As for Thelonious’s adventures, he’ll be ending up in a right pickle again! But this time he’s going to be more pro-active. Thanks to DCI Sidebottom, he’s learned not to count on law enforcement to have any common sense, let alone do their jobs properly, so Thelonious’s trusty Sherlock Holmes-style deerstalker hat will be getting a bit more use in the next instalment.



Thanks to author Mitzi Szereto and Teddy Teladoo for a great interview!

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We’re starting this week with a new interview brought to you by OBS reviewer Angie! This time she has the opportunity to chat with the author of the Infinite series, L.E. Waters, where they talk about the inspiration and research behind the story, multiple lives, names for souls, characters and some fun facts about the author that you might not have known. Enjoy!

Read our reviews for:

Infinite Sacrifice
Infinite Devotion
Angie: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was one that once I started I couldn’t put down. It was 3am when I finished and I was already looking for book 2! I’ve read your forward so I already know a lot about your views, but would you please share them with our readers who may not have picked up your book yet?

Angie: How did you decide that you were going to write about Heaven in such a non-traditional way?

L.E.W.: I wanted to bring a unique perspective to the after-life. I’ve always been interested in new-age ideas (anything out there) and I’ve created an amalgamation of various sources for the purpose of this series.

Angie: Do you yourself believe that we live multiple lives?

L.E.W.: I believe that it’s possible, just like so many possibilities of what may happen to us after death. I’ve researched quite a few non-fiction books on the topic and there are some very convincing accounts. I myself have experienced those déjà vu moments, the detailed dreams, and nostalgia for specific time periods and locations. I would like to believe that we get to experience many adventures rather than just one.

Angie: Why did you decide that the soul needed a name? That really touched me and made me wish that I knew my soul’s name.

L.E.W.: If we lived many lives, all with different names, than it would only make sense that we would have one original soul identity. The soul’s name. The one constant. It would have to be an ancient name that didn’t pertain to any specific culture.

Angie: Is there significance to spacing Maya/Lazrina’s lives apart by centuries?

L.E.W.: I wanted Maya to be an old soul, so that she could visit a wide assortment of cultures and periods. I want readers not only to experience history as though they are living it, but I also want them to get a sense of how these lives change Maya/Lazrina. She is very different from the first life to the last, and time changes everything.

Angie: I know that you did a great deal of research before writing these stories. Have you based any characters in these stories on real-life people you discovered in your research?

L.E.W.: In books two and three, I base some characters on well-known people, but the lives in the first book came to me as I researched. Whenever I stumbled across something interesting, I’d mark it down to include it with one of my characters. I had a rough idea of plot, but all the details were filled in through my research.

Angie: When Lazrina asks if Zachariah is part of any of her lives he says that he chooses not to incarnate anymore. Is that a “No” or is he being intentionally evasive?

L.E.W.: Zachariah is intentionally evasive when it comes to any discussion about his incarnation and you will have to see why later in the series J

Angie: Did you choose the characters names with a particular prophetic meaning to the story they appear in, or did you choose/create names that just felt right to you?

L.E.W.: I struggled with this since I want every name to have a deeper meaning, but the farther back I went in history, the harder it was to get names that meant something and could be easily recognized and remembered. That was so tricky, but if the reader looks up the meanings of these names, they will see that there was intent. Obviously, the characters’ names that are based on real people, I could not choose.

Angie: I was crying so hard throughout Liam and Thora’s story. Do you already know how one of the life-stories is going to end or or does it come as a surprise to you as well?

L.E.W.: That means so much to me. I love hearing how my readers connect to my stories. I am a plotter. I do a vague outline before I do my research, then I research and make a very detailed outline. I follow this for the most part, but if the story takes me on a little detour, I will follow inspiration. When I read about the Viking funerals, I knew I needed to include their unique burial ritual into my story (phew! It is so hard to answer these questions without giving too much away!)

Angie: What inspired you to place the same people in Lazrina’s life time after time?

L.E.W.: That was what made me want to write this series. Group reincarnation is a topic and theme discussed in almost every non-fiction book on past lives. Yet, so many reincarnation fantasy books focus on just the soul mate with one or two others following them through time. Can’t we all think of many people in our lives that have had profound impact? If we were to travel throughout time, wouldn’t it make sense that we travel in a pack? I truly wanted to explore and illustrate how this would play out.

Angie: I love your idea of fate – that if two people are destined to meet then they will at some point regardless of the obstacles that keep getting in the way. Your prologue explains so much that I don’t want to give away to readers. Is there anything you’d like to add that I’ve not questioned?

L.E.W.: I do believe that, with or without reincarnation. I am a strong believer in fate and destiny and that things are meant to happen for a reason. I wrote this series for three different types of readers: 1) for those that are new to the idea of reincarnation, I wanted to entertain them and maybe open up their minds to the possibility. 2) For those who have dabbled with the idea of reincarnation, I strove to show evolution of the soul and give them the first hand experience of reliving those lives. 3) For lovers of history, as I can’t get enough of period pieces, I wanted my reader to feel immersed in history.

Angie: I haven’t read Infinite Devotion yet. I’m assuming it picks right back up with Lazrina discovering more about herself?

L.E.W.: Yes, it starts right where Infinite Sacrifice ends and we follow Lazrina on three more journeys: Renaissance Italy, the Golden Age of Spain, Cromwellian Ireland.

Angie: Here are some “fun” questions we like to ask authors. Feel free to answer a few or all of them.

Angie: Do you have a favorite teacher that stands out to you as someone that inspired you above the others?

L.E.W.: I actually devoted a whole post to this: here. I had an amazing history teacher who inspired and encouraged me. I made sure to thank him in my second book and I even sent him both of my books with a thank you letter. He actually replied on my blog! It was fantastic!

Angie: What hobby do you have that gives your brain a break from writing?

L.E.W.: I actually have so many hobbies but right now with a ten-month old and a six-year old, I’m lucky if I get time for my research and writing. When I do get some free time in the future I love hiking, crafting, antiquing, gardening, cross stitching, and reading for fun!

Angie: Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what helps fuel your muse?

L.E.W.: Every time I begin a new life, I look up authentic music from that era. I download ones that relate to the life and I put them on replay the whole time I write. It really does wonders to transport me to that time so that I can bring my reader along with me.

Angie: What screensaver do you have on your computer?

L.E.W.: I actually have a picture of my son at a Wild West birthday party we threw for him. My love of history even reaches to my party planning!

Angie: What is the last book you read for pleasure that you didn’t write?

L.E.W.: I’ve been reading non-fiction books for my third book, Infinite Loss, but fortunately, I do enjoy reading them. I’ve found some time for short stories along the way, by fantastic self-published authors such as Steve Vernon, Lee Moan, Brian James Freeman, and David Gaughran. I recommend all of them.

Angie: If you could have a dinner dinner party with any persons living or dead who would you invite and what would be on the menu?

L.E.W.: Oh, such a great question! I would invite all of the historic characters I plan to include in my series. I would love to hear their thoughts on my portrayal and ask them some questions about the mysteries they left behind. Moreover, if you all knew whom I plan to include in my third and fourth books, what a dinner that would be! I would need something fancy since all these historic people are used to eating well.

Angie: What would you do if you knew that you wouldn’t fail?

L.E.W.: I would play the lottery!

Actually, I’m much more afraid of regret than I am of failure. I wouldn’t do anything differently if I were promised that I wouldn’t fail. Failing is all part of the process and I welcome it with open arms. I would still be quite pleased with myself for trying and living through any experience.

Angie: Thank you so much for indulging us in these questions!

L.E.W.: Thank you so much for asking such thoughtful and interesting questions! I love the fact that you read so carefully and have so many wonderful questions. I really enjoyed this.

Come Check it out!!

http://openbooksociety.com/article/gi...

GIVEAWAY: THE WAKING DREAM BY JENNIFER FORD SIGNED PAPERBACK

Who: Jennifer Ford
What: She is giving away a signed paperback copy, open to US residents only!
When: Tuesday August 21st through Friday August 31. Giveaway ends at at midnight mountain time

GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO UNITED STATES RESIDENTS ONLY!!!

Check this link out to see how to enter!! http://openbooksociety.com/article/gi...

Read this on the web http://openbooksociety.com/article/su...

Brought to you by OBS staff member Heidi

Lilith shows herself to Bill and tells him that only one can lead them and that she chooses him. She then tells him to drink all of her and encourages him to drink the entire bottle of her blood, but he refrains. Lilith continues to show herself to him and the other vampires on the council. When one of the other vampires tells him that Lilith chose him, Bill killed him.

Jessica wants to use Bill’s phone to warn Jason that Russell is on the loose, but Bill refuses to let her telling her that humans are just food and she shouldn’t be concerned with them and their problems. Jessica then tells Bill that she wants to turn Jason. Bill knows she’s manipulating him and sends a couple of his men with her to make sure she turns Jason. Once there, Jessica tries to keep from turning him, but the men inform her that if she doesn’t turn him they will. Jessica starts to feed on Jason and is crying as they burry them. Then Jason shoots both of Bill’s men…Jessica had no intention of turning Jason.

Godric appears to Nora and she finally sees what they’ve been doing is wrong. She goes to Eric’s room and she and Eric have sex and he tells her that he’ll get them both out. When the military general comes to see them after discovering that the vampires are the ones that blew up the True Blood factories, Eric kills him. The others panic and Eric tells them that he will go on glamour campaign to glamour all those that know what the general does and Nora agrees to help him. Bill insists they take a couple of security detail along for backup. Eric kills them both and Nora and Eric flee.

Another of the council members show up at Fangtasia to investigate Elijah’s death, she was his maker. Pam tells her that she killed Elijah and is arrested. She also finds Jessica and takes her back to Bill. Bill is angry and Jessica for choosing a human over two vamps and smacks her.

Luna and Sam look through the authority compound and find Emma. But security comes through to grab one of the humans for one of the vamps breakfast. Sam volunteers and tells Luna to do whatever she has to.

Sookie talks to the oldest fairy to get more information on her Warlow problem, but Jason shows up with the warning about Russell, which sidetracks the fairy. They set up a plan to have Jason bring Russell to the field so they can attack Russell. But the elder decides to take him on herself and Russell drains her and then can see the other fairies.

This to me was another boring episode to this incredibly boring season, but hey we at least got to see Alcide shirtless and Eric half naked as well.

OBS is desperately needing people (especially those of the male persuasion) that enjoy reading sci-fi or comic book & Graphic Novels that would be interested in reviewing them for our site! We are often offered books before they are released to the general public and the reviewers can keep anything they review!!

If interested please email dawn at openbooksociety dot com

Thanks!!