YOUNG ADULT REVIEW: Spiderwick Feature - Holly Black, Tony Di'Terlizzi

BOOK BLURB:

When the Grace children moved into the old, abandoned Spiderwick Mansion, little did they realise that their lives would never be the same again. Having uncovered a fantastical world of sprites, faeries and goblins there's no turning back.
The Ultimate Spiderwick Chronicles features all five of the original books plus great new bonus content! Discover the three 'lost' chapters that were included in the Nestle Cereal Partners cereal boxes, and the special 'development' section showing sketches and early drafts. Readers both old and new, young and old will be completely immersed in the world of Spiderwick with this Ultimate collection.


REVIEW:

OK, you’ve come to Spiderwick late, you’ve heard that your son/daughter/niece/nephew, really wants this set of books as they’ve recently enjoyed the DVD, so what are you going to do. Well panic not, here is your opportunity to get the original series beautifully wrapped up and presented in this Omnibus edition recently released by Simon and Schuster. Whilst the film is touched upon in the series, you get greater depth as well as exploration of the Spiderwick world within. A great thing to do for new readers and a time/space savour for the adult involved along with being true value for money.



BOOK BLURB:

Nick and Laurie thought their giant problems were solved after they lured all the giants into the sea. But now, the Grace kids are back to tell them they may have caused more trouble! It turns out the giants control the population of Hydra, a dragon like creature that creates sinkholes all over Florida. But with the mermaids refusing to return the giants to the shore, Taloa still demanding their help in looking for her lost sisters and the threat of Florida's destruction drawing closer, the kids have to take matters in their own hands. Will Nick and Laurie be able to stop the chaos they unwittingly caused? Is the giant hunter Noseeum Jack really as helpful as they thought? Can Arthur Spiderwick's infamous Field Guide help them out of this mess? Find out in the final instalment of the bestselling series, Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles!


REVIEW:

Spiderwick is something of an institution in my home. I have the DVD, I have the full set of books and I’m getting ready to do something special for my nephew to introduce him to the wonderful world created by Black and illustrated by DiTerlizzi.

One thing I will say before we go much further is that this is not a book to jump into having just seen the film, you have to immerse yourself into the world and to do that fully, you have to have read each novel to get the maximum effect and pleasure from the book. Each tale expands on the world as we explore themes and meet new creatures with each jump of the tale and to be honest its definitely something that will enchant old and young alike. A great book and a cracking addition to the next layer of Black’s and DiTerlizzi’s. Well written, beautifully illustrated and above all a story arc to get pure pleasure from. Great work.

INTERVIEW: Nancy Holzner

With the year drawing to a close, readers always love to hear about new talent, so we thought that we'd go out with a bang and whats better than guns, Urban Fantasy and Zombies in Miniskirts? Here with her first Urban Fantasy Nancy brings all this and more to the table, so sit back, grab a beverage of choice and overindulge in the luxurious...

FALCATA TIMES: Writing is said to be something that people are afflicted with rather than gifted and that it's something you have to do rather than want. What is your opinion of this statement and how true is it to you?

NANCY HOLZNER: Whoever said must have been in the middle of a bad writing patch. There are times, when you’re in the middle of a story and things aren’t yet coming together, when you wonder why the heck you do this. Yet you can’t put it aside, either. The characters stay with you, possible solutions bubble up from somewhere in the subconscious. You dream about the story. Thoughts about it pop into your head while you’re in the shower. Writing can feel like an affliction at those times, because the story isn’t doing what you want but it also won’t leave you alone.

But I don’t agree with that statement because it takes all the joy out of writing. I don’t write because I’m afflicted; I write because there’s nothing more satisfying than the creative process, with all its frustrations and pleasures.


FT: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?

NH: I’m one of those people who started writing as soon as they could hold a pencil. So I’ve always written, although I went back and forth about whether I wanted to be A Writer. (Yeah, I thought of it with Capital Letters like that.) For a number of years I pursued an academic career, getting a Ph.D. in English and working as an assistant or adjunct professor. While I was doing graduate work and teaching, I didn’t do much creative writing. I loved research and teaching. Teaching was my form of creative play. But seven or eight years ago, I started getting ideas for stories and writing them down. I took an online writing class, and there was no looking back.


FT: It is often said that if you can write a short story you can write anything. How true do you think this is and what have you written that either proves or disproves this POV?

NH: I think short stories and novels are different experiences for both readers and writers. From a reader’s point of view, a short story is kind of like peering through a window into a house, while a novel is like moving in and living there for a while. Both forms contain all the elements of fiction: plot, character, setting, point of view, tone, style, theme, and so on. But short stories use all that in a form that requires a precision almost like poetry. Short stories teach writers not to waste words, and that’s a skill that benefits novelists, too. But I think that writing a novel requires an additional skill, and that’s the ability to sustain a story over hundreds of pages. Short stories don’t teach you how to do that.

That said, I admire short story writers. I think it’s a difficult form to write well. I’m one of those writers whose short stories get longer and longer until I realize that I’m actually writing a novel.


FT: If someone were to enter a bookshop, how would you persuade them to try your novel over someone else's and how would you define it?

NH: Yikes, I’d be very uncomfortable trying to say, “Don’t buy that book, buy mine!” I don’t think I could do that. But I might suggest to people browsing in the science fiction and fantasy section to take a look at Deadtown’s first page and hope that it grabbed them. I’m a lousy salesperson; I think Deadtown can sell itself better than I could ever sell it.


FT: How would you "sell" your book in 20 words or less?

NH: Shapeshifter Victory Vaughn kills other people’s personal demons for a living. When the Hellion who murdered her father threatens Boston, Vicky must face the demons of her own past.

Okay, I needed more like 30 words, but that’s the best I can boil it down to.


FT: Who is a must have on your bookshelf and whose latest release will find you on the bookshops doorstep waiting for it to open?

NH: I started my career as a medievalist, so all my must-haves are at least 600 years old. The complete works of Chaucer, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Malory’s Morte d’Arthur and a bunch of obscure medieval texts. I’ve got my favorites from every period, which is probably why we’ve got bookcases in every room of the house. I also read pretty widely in urban fantasy—I find the myriad approaches to the genre endlessly fascinating. I’ve got too many favorites to name them all, but I never miss a new book by Ilona Andrews or Devon Monk.


FT: When you sit down and write do you know how the story will end or do you just let the pen take you? ie Do you develop character profiles and outlines for your novels before writing them or do you let your idea's develop as you write?

NH: A little of both. I work with a loose outline that sketches out a novel’s inciting incident, plot points, and climax. The outline helps me get started and gives me goals to write toward, but it’s subject to change as I write. It’s helpful to revisit the outline from time to time during the first draft and to make changes that reflect the unfolding story. Working this way gives me a sense of structure but also lets me be open to surprises along the way.


FT: What do you do to relax and what have you read recently?

NH: I don’t have a lot of downtime. I write how-to and reference books as my day job, and I write fiction every spare minute I can. To clear my head, I’ll take a walk (I live in a wonderfully walkable neighborhood and within walking distance of two waterfalls). For pleasure, I read. But sleeping is the only way I know for sure that I’m relaxing. J I’ve just finished reading Three Days to Dead, Kelly Meding’s debut urban fantasy—fun book.


FT: What is your guiltiest pleasure that few know about?

NH: Even though I’m a crazed opera fanatic, I sometimes listen to ’80s pop music. (You won’t tell anyone, will you?)


FT: Lots of writers tend to have pets. What do you have and what are their key traits (and do they appear in your novel in certain character attributes?)

NH: I don’t have a pet right now, but I’d love to have a dog. When my daughter was small, we had a border collie named Loki. He was a terrific dog—smart and loyal and loving. I still miss him.


FT: Which character within your latest book was the most fun to write and why?

NH: In Deadtown Tina, Vicky’s teenage zombie apprentice, was a blast to write. She’s kind of a brat; she comes across as shallow and self-centered, and she doesn’t listen, so she gives Vicky a hard time. But she’s also a kid who lost everything when she was zombified. There’s something very brave in the way she insists on being herself, despite the fact that she’s become a monster. Plus she’s just fun. She always surprises me.


FT: How similar to your principal protagonist are you?

NH: Vicky’s a lot more physical than I am. She lives very much in her body; I live more in my head. I think our emotional reactions are similar sometimes, although she’s braver than I am. And she also looks way better in leather jeans than I would.


FT: What hobbies do you have and how do they influence your work?

NH: I used to call writing fiction a hobby. Even though I’m making some money from it now, it’s still what I do for fun.


FT: Where do you get your ideas from?

NH: Ideas are everywhere; you just have to pay attention. I brainstorm a lot by playing “What if?” When I get the seed of an idea, I ask myself a lot of “What if?” questions to flesh it out and see where it wants to go. I can brainstorm for weeks before I start plotting.


FT: Do you ever encounter writers block and if so how do you overcome it?

NH: When it’s time to sit down and write, I can put up a lot of resistance to getting started. But that’s procrastination, not writer’s block. If I get stuck when I’m writing, I usually find it’s because I’m grasping the role of “author” too firmly, trying to make things happen rather than let the story unfold. The best way I’ve found to deal with that is to step back from being the “author” and try to get more fully into the characters’ point of view. I might write out a conversation with the character, for example, or freewrite in the character’s voice.


FT: Certain authors are renowned for writing at what many would call uncivilised times. When do you write and how do the others in your household feel about it?

NH: I write fiction in the evenings and on weekends. My husband and I both work at home, so in the evenings we go out to a coffee shop and I take along my laptop and write. I’ll write from about eight until ten in the evening—until midnight or later if I’ve got some momentum going.


FT: Sometimes pieces of music seem to influence certain scenes within novels, do you have a soundtrack for your tale or is it a case of writing in silence with perhaps the odd musical break in-between scenes?

NH: I concentrate best when I’m not distracted by sound. I can usually tune out coffee-shop conversation and whatever’s playing over the PA system. But ideally, I like it to be quiet. I can slip inside the story faster that way.


FT: What misconceptions, if any, did you have about the writing and publishing field when you were first getting started?

NH: By the time I sold a novel, I’d written several nonfiction books and before that I’d done some freelance editing, so I was familiar with the basics of the acquisition, editing, and production processes. Fiction publishing moves much more slowly than nonfiction publishing, which made it hard to stay patient at times. With this novel, I’m learning that promotion takes a lot more time and effort than I’d imagined. But it’s also fun.


FT: If music be the food of love, what do you think writing is and please explain your answer?

NH: Writing is the playground of the imagination—and that’s true for writers and readers both. I love it that I can put words on a page and somewhere, a reader picks it up and lives the story. Readers bring their own experiences and perceptions to the story, so no two people ever read it in the same way. That’s amazing to me.


FT: What can you tell us about the next novel?

NH: Deadtown’s sequel is currently with my editor. In it, actions Vicky took to solve the central problem of Deadtown cause a whole new level of trouble for her, and she has to travel to Wales for further training from her Aunt Mab.


FT: What are the last five internet sites that you've visited?

NH: Facebook. Twitter. Amazon. Sirius Radio’s Metropolitan Opera channel. Gmail.


FT: Did you ever take any writing classes or specific instructions to learn the craft? If so please let us know which ones.

NH: When I decided to give writing a serious try, I signed up at Writers Village University (www.wvu.org) and took their free online course. I was in a group of aspiring novelists there for several years and made some really good friends among my critique partners.


FT: How did you get past the initial barriers of criticism and rejection?

NH: My very first submission was a short story to a small, local literary journal. Not only did they accept it, they made it the first story in the issue. I was thrilled. That gave me a boost that kept me going when the rest of the literary world didn’t follow suit. I try to look at rejection and criticism as part of an author’s life. Those things are part of completing a manuscript, part of having book out there. I want people to read my books, and it follows that not everyone will love them. That’s part of the deal. With criticism, I look to see if there’s something I can learn from it. If so, great. If not, I move on. I’ve never been particularly thick-skinned, though, so thickening my skin is something I’m still working on.

FT: In your opinion, what are the best and worst aspects of writing for a living?

NH: I’m a full-time author, but right now most of my income comes from writing nonfiction. As a freelance writer, all too often I find that projects tend to bunch up on me, and I end up working frantically trying to meet too-close deadlines on multiple projects. That’s the worst. (But it’s really not a bad thing at all, because multiple projects equal money coming in.) The best aspect is letting the people who live in my head come out and play.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Deadtown - Nancy Holzner

BOOK BLURB:

They call it Deadtown: the city's quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders - but Victory Vaughn, Boston's only professional demon slayer, isn't exactly human.


REVIEW:

Urban Fantasy is perhaps the genre that’s grown most over the last few years. With a bumper year set for releases from many UK publishers next year, its been booming in the US for slightly longer. What is perhaps worth noting is that it also feels like the genre that is increasingly giving the readers more new names who currently fight it out amongst themselves for shelf space. But how do you find a goodie from the baddies that are out there?

Well it’s always difficult but if you can find a book that has an opener that just grabs you by the eyeballs and run’s you’ve got a great start there. A prime example being this offering from Nancy Holzner who not only grabs the reader by the unmentionables but also tops it off with a Zombie in a Pink Miniskirt in the first couple of paragraphs.

That’s a seller right there and with that as an opener you know that you’re in for a serious treat with this book. Its engaging, the characters are fascinating and above all whilst many authors are having virtually unkillable protagonists leading the way, the vulnerability of this tough cookie makes it even more gripping. Yep she’s a smart ass, yep she’s got a tough outer shell but in the centre of her being is much gooeyness that the reader can’t help but like. It’s a good opener, it’s a cracker of a story arc but perhaps most of all it’s a story that will lead the reader by the hand into a series that will capture the imagination as the author interweaves myth’s, legends and prophecies into a web of intrigue. Great stuff.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Lover Avenged - JR Ward

BOOK BLURB:

Rehvenge, as a half-breed symphath, is used to living in the shadows and hiding his true identity. As a club owner and a dealer on the black market, he's also used to handling the roughest nightwalkers around - including the members of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. He's kept his distance from the Brotherhood as his dark secret could make things complicated on both sides - but now, as head of the vampire aristocracy, he's an ally that Wrath, the Blind King, desperately needs. Rehv's secret is about to get out, though, which will land him in the hands of his deadly enemies- and test the mettle of his female, turning her from a civilian into a vigilante...


REVIEW:

OK, I did the unthinkable here and having enjoyed another novel by Jessica picked this, the seventh offering in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Whilst I did enjoy the book I did realise part way through that I was missing greater undercurrents that must have been revealed in other novels. That said I did get a cracking story, I did get great characterisation and above all a story arc that can only add to the series, but having realised what I missed I’m going back to read the series from scratch and then enjoy a reread. I’d advise other readers to do the same.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Gardens of the Sun - Paul McAuley

BOOK BLURB:

The Quiet War is over. The city states of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn have fallen to the Three Powers Alliance of Greater Brazil, the European Union and the Pacific Community. A century of enlightenment, rational utopianism and exploration of new ways of being human has fallen dark. Outers are herded into prison camps and forced to collaborate in the systematic plundering of their great archives of scientific and technical knowledge, while Earth's forces loot their cities, settlements and ships, and plan a final solution to the 'Outer problem'. But Earth's victory is fragile, and riven by vicious internal politics. While seeking out and trying to anatomise the strange gardens abandoned in place by Avernus, the Outers' greatest genius, the gene wizard Sri Hong-Owen is embroiled in the plots and counterplots of the family that employs her. The diplomat Loc Ifrahim soon discovers that profiting from victory isn't as easy as he thought. And in Greater Brazil, the Outers' democratic traditions have infected a population eager to escape the tyranny of the great families who rule them. After a conflict fought to contain the expansionist, posthuman ambitions of the Outers, the future is as uncertain as ever. Only one thing is clear. No one can escape the consequences of war - especially the victors.

REVIEW:

What many people have yet to realise about Paul is that his writing it not only gripping but beautifully constructed from the characters he creates to the situations and worlds in which they inhabit. Each word is carefully chosen to fit the situation and whilst it can feel a tad spartan at times it’s a novel that really will remain with you long after the final page it turned. In this, the sequel to The Quiet War, the reader is literally thrust into the struggles after the events in the previous novel unfurled and really won’t be let go until the dawn breaks with you realising you’ve been up all night. A master of Hard Sci-Fi and an author who will be as revered as a number of predecessors in years to come, you really have to try him to see the quality. All in all, this is a great offering and one that left me clamouring for the next novel as I turned the final page. Dammit, its going to be a long wait.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Wings of Wrath - Celia S Freeman

BOOK BLURB:

In a world where the price of magic is life itself, a group of seemingly immortal sorcerers appears to have cheated the system. But only one man knows the true origin of their power, or understands the true cost. Now Kamala - born to poverty and abuse, the first woman to claim a Magister's power - will seek her rightful place among these mages, and lay siege to their secrets. The monk Salvator will claim his father's throne, and test his faith against a legendary darkness. The beautiful Siderea Aminestas, consort to Magisters, will be offered the thing she desires most - at the cost of her human soul. And an ancient Evil thought long-destroyed begins to stir anew, corrupting kings, shattering alliances and ultimately threatening to unweave the very fabric of human civilisation. A mystical bloodline was cultivated to withstand this darkness, and its power must be wakened. But this will demand sacrifice of its warriors - and corruption is rife.


REVIEW:

If you love novels where characters take central the full three dimension stage by storm then you really will love Celia’s writing. Not is her characterisation above par but there’s very few authors out there that can even match it. Whilst the other novels have remained a bit on the quiet side, it has, I’ll admit been a little bit of a secret of mine as much as a guilty pleasure to enjoy these novels as they’ve come out as each successive novel has built itself up for a sequel that I wondered if she’d be able to pull off.

What also makes this series a great one is that Celia takes a stand on one key element. No one is safe and death comes on swift wings even for the principle protagonists. Whilst it’s a lot of the supporting cast taking centre stage for this one it’s a novel that will contain shocks for many readers and will make this a firm favourite for a number of nominations this year. If you have a fantasy fan in your house and are unsure about what to get them this year, then take a sneaky hint from us, this series is something that’s been a bit on the down low so they may not have heard of it. Extra household points will be won and you can near enough guarantee a quiet seasonal few days around the house as the reader is held in Celia’s fist until that last page is turned.

INTERVIEW: Paul Doherty

As many are aware if there's a mystery involved theres a novel to be written and none have ceased onto the possibilities quite like Paul Doherty. Having written a few novels under pseudonyms he's recently begun publishing just under his name with the latest series featuring the Templars, a knightly order of intrigue, politics and the warfare. Here we chatted to Paul about his work and tried to unravel the mysteries behind this author...


Falcata Times: Writing is said to be something that people are afflicted with rather than gifted and that it's something you have to do rather than want. What is your opinion of this statement and how true is it to you?

Paul Doherty: Writing is both a gift and an addiction. I feel I have to write and thoroughly enjoy it but sometimes it can almost haunt you and there are different moods for different stages. The creative phase is great the harsh task of editing can be a onerous.


FT: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?

PD: I always wanted to be writer ever since I was knee high to a daisy.


FT: It is often said that if you can write a short story you can write anything. How true do you think this is and what have you written that either proves or disproves this POV?

PD: Writing short stories is only proof that you can write short stories. I admit it can demand tremendous skill but, on the other hand, writing a novel of over a hundred thousand words also has its difficulties!


FT: If someone were to enter a bookshop, how would you persuade them to try your novel over someone else's and how would you define it?

PD: If I had to recommend my novel in a book shop above someone else’s’ I would tend to “ignore” the other person, I wouldn’t argue that my novel is necessary better but unique, in that it is a time machine which would take the reader back to another age and culture as well as being riddled with murderous mayhem and mystery.


FT: How would you "sell" your book in 20 words or less?

PD: The Templar Magician explores the dark and sinister side on the mysterious Templar Order against a background of the turbulent politics in the Middle East and England in the 11th century. In doing so The Templar Magician offers a solution to a grisly mystery regarding two Templar holdings in this country which have acquired a reputation of being very haunted.


FT: Who is a must have on your bookshelf and whose latest release will find you on the bookshops doorstep waiting for it to open?

PD: Undoubtedly, my most favourite author is Robert Harris. I am thoroughly enjoying his latest novel “Lustrum”. It’s magnificent!


FT: When you sit down and write do you know how the story will end or do you just let the pen take you? ie Do you develop character profiles and outlines for your novels before writing them or do you let your idea's develop as you write?

PD: Planning and writing a novel are often contradictory – you start with ideas but the flow of the narrative does change what you originally thought. I find that one of the most exciting aspect of writing.


FT: What do you do to relax and what have you read recently?

PD: To relax I am an ardent cyclist. I enjoy watching murder mysteries. At the moment I am reading Robert Harris and James Ruddick’s non fiction work on the Bravo poisoning case. Both are brilliant books.


FT: What is your guiltiest pleasure that few know about?

PD: My guilty pleasures are dark chocolate and red wine, together!


FT: Lots of writers tend to have pets. What do you have and what are their key traits (and do they appear in your novel in certain character attributes?)

PD: We have horses which, of course, figure prominently in my novels. We also have two Jack Russell Terriers. They don’t appear in my novels except that I have a horror of rats and there nothing under God’s sun a rat fears more than a Jack Russell!


FT: Which character within your latest book was the most fun to write and why?

PD: I have fun writing all the characters but the rather sinister Templar, Philip Mayele personified the darker more dangerous sides of the Templar Order.


FT: How similar to your principle protagonist are you?

PD: The hero of The Templar Magician is an idealist. My day job is Headmaster of a large comprehension in East London. Idealism is essential for work in education, though it can be hard to cling onto.


FT: What hobbies do you have and how do they influence your work?

PD: My principle hobbies are cycling and reading. The former takes me out into the countryside where you can get the feel or recapture some of old England.


FT: Where do you get your idea's from?

PD: I am a voracious reader and of course you get ideas from the most unlikely places. I was reading about Borley Manor in Essex and Bruer Temple in Lincolnshire both are haunted, both once had a Templar presence both had gruesome remains found on their site.


FT: Do you ever encounter writers block and if so how do you overcome it?

PD: I very rarely get writers block, in the sense of coming to a full stop completely. I do encounter difficulties but that is part of the thrill.


FT: Certain authors are renowned for writing at what many would call uncivilised times. When do you write and how do the others in your household feel about it?

PD: I am a fairly civilised writer though I have startled my family by dictating long before dawn.


FT: Sometimes pieces of music seem to influence certain scenes within novels, do you have a soundtrack for your tale or is it a case of writing in silence with perhaps the odd musical break in-between scenes?

PD: Music does play a great part in my writing particularly when it comes to the mediaeval period. Gregorian chant is marvellous in creating the right atmosphere.


FT: What misconceptions, if any, did you have about the writing and publishing field when you were first getting started?

PD: I had many misconceptions about writing and publishing when I first began. The main one is you just under estimate how many books there are out there!


FT: If music be the food of love, what do you think writing is and please explain your answer?

PD: Music can be the food of love and I would say ‘Writing is the drink’, preferably a warm rich Bordeaux. The writer must love what he is doing, have a passion for his subject which fires his own imagination and that of its reader.


FT: What can you tell us about the next novel?

PD: My next novel is a Gothic Vampire novel. I think quite unique. It is set in the first century AD and begins with a massacre of a Roman army in Germany in AD 9…


FT: What are the last five internet sites that you've visited?

PD: I have not visited any internet sites.


FT: Did you ever take any writing classes or specific instructions to learn the craft? If so please let us know which ones.

PD: No – I have attended any writing classes. I was educated in the Old Catholic Percussion method – beaten into you!


FT: How did you get past the initial barriers of criticism and rejection?

PD: Criticism and rejection are part of the trade. Constructive criticism, a critical friend is great. On a few occasions criticism can be cruel though most people have a goodness in them. I try to write the very best, I hope I succeed and there is nothing more you can do.


FT: In your opinion, what are the best and worst aspects of writing for a living?

PD: There are no ‘worse’ aspects of writing for a living. I just thoroughly enjoy it, and that I receive money for it, makes me a lucky man.

HISTORICAL FICTION/CRIME: The Templar Magician - Paul Doherty

BOOK BLURB:
The year is 1152, and Jerusalem is still in the hands of the Crusaders, although the lofty ideals of before have now been replaced by subtle power-play. Meanwhile, inEngland, King Stephen is waging bloody war against Henry Fitzempress. The Templar Order, now fifty years old, is a wealthy power, glittering with tempting riches. Against this background of bloodshed, Robert de Payens, grandson of Eleanor, one of the co-founders of theTemple, and Englishman Edward Sendal find themselves caught up in a murder mystery when Raymond, Count of Tripoli, is brutally assassinated. Who would have wanted to murder Raymond, and is it possible that the answer may lie within the hallowed ranks of the Templar order itself?


REVIEW:
If you want a mystery and are unsure on what to present as an unusal gift to that adventure Histocial Fiction/Crime fan in your life then you can pretty much guarantee that if they have a love for the mysterious Templars, that this, the latest offering by Paul Doherty will find a willing reader as his adventure unfurls. Taking myths and blending his own unique style of story telling to the adventure the reader will be kept on a rollercoaster as they try to keep up with our protagonists as each step appears and takes them in a new direction. A fun book and a good bit of light escapism.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: King Arthur: Warrior of the West - MK Hume

BOOK BLURB:

The second book in an exciting, brand-new Arthurian trilogy

Twelve long, blood-soaked years, have passed since Artor fulfilled his destiny and was crowned the High King of the Britons. Against all odds, Artor has united Celtic Britain and with a last great campaign, has banished the Saxon scourge. The legend of Camlann has begun. But even as Artor’s kingdom is at its zenith, even as he has succeeded in conquering all external threats to his rule, his kingdom is being undermined from within.

For Artor has chosen Wenhaver (Guenevere) as a second wife. Queen of the Britons, Wenhaver will always love what she cannot have and have what she cannot love, and her bitterness threatens to bring down all those around her. Not only is Artor betrayed by the one person he should be able to trust, he has also learned of appalling perversion at the heart of his kingdom. He must make a terrible choice. Does he commit a deed that leaves him open to comparison with the despotic Uther Pendragon, or does he let evil go unchecked? The burden of leadership, of power, now rests solely – and heavily – on Artor’s shoulders for Myrddion Merlinus, master tactician, guiding light for so many years, has left Artor to his fate. Could all that Artor has fought for, the destiny of Britain, be lost?Will Britain be torn apart?


REVIEW:

Having been gripped by the original offering my MK, the second really was a novel that I wanted to read especially after exploring the land of mist in the 5th Century (a time period commonly known amongst Historians as the Arthurian Period.) After the events in the first novel, Artor is now king and having fought off the Saxon threat to the Celtic lands of Britain is about to enter a time of peace only to face a greater threat from within. What MK does well with her writing is her characterisation. Its not only gripping but you find that you gain a bond with each character and understand their motives regardless of whether you like them or not. Its gripping and with a story arc that you can’t help but be dragged along with, it’s a series that I’ve really fallen for. A great addition to any Christmas stocking and if you’re a tad stuck for that special couple of books for that hard to buy for historical fiction reader in your life, these two Arthurian’s are a real gem.

YOUNG ADULT REVIEW: The Santa Trap - Jonathan Emmett, Poly Bernatene

BOOK BLURB:

Bradley Bartelby is bad, VERY bad. He’s greedy and naughty and selfish and spoilt – and Santa Claus knows it. But when beastly Bradley empties his Christmas stocking to find nothing but a pair of socks, he does quite the baddest thing he has EVER tried to do. He builds a trap – a SANTA TRAP! With guillotines, dynamite and a tiger or two, Santa doesn’t stand a chance. Or does he?


REVIEW:

Having come across Jonathan on various trips to the bookshop I thought that I’d take a careful look at this, his Christmas offering when it landed. Back up a cautionary tale about being good with the crazed antics of a young mind and you get something that’s going to not only be fun but a great offering to help your younger readers get to sleep on that most difficult night of the year. Its different to the usual fare that’s out there and it’s also got a touch of something new alongside great illustrations, so give it a go and see where it leads. A good bit of fun.

YOUNG ADULT REVIEW: Bad Kids - Tony Robinson

BOOK BLURB:

So you're standing outside the Head's office, waiting to be told off for breaking a classroom window. You've got sweaty palms and a serious sinking feeling in your stomach. Do you think no one's ever had a life as bad as you? Well, you're wrong. Kids in the past have had to suffer much worse punishments than a lecture about how they've let the whole school down. For instance however angry your Head gets, it's fairly certain that she's not going to put you in a pillory and nail your ears to it.

All through history, children have been getting into some serious scrapes. And they didn't often get off lightly. Tony Robinson takes you on a guided tour through the lives of outlaw children from history, their dastardly crimes and awful punishments.


REVIEW:

History is always one of those things that either the YA loves or hates. There’s not generally any middle ground so who can you get that will make it not only fun but add a touch of humour to the mix. None other than perhaps Histories simplest mind, Baldrick (or in this case Tony Robinson.) What he does along with the artist is take a look at different time periods, slash out the boring bit and keep the fun and perhaps more relevant to the reader pieces of history left. It deals with everything from fines to crimes, from characters to examples of history in action that allows the reader to get to know the people who came before in a personal yet easily understood way explained as only a mind that’s never truly grown up can. Its fun, its exciting and perhaps best of all it lets you know that kids today have never had it so good.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: The Burning Land - Bernard Cornwell

BOOK BLURB:

The latest in the bestselling Alfred series from number one historical novelist, Bernard Cornwell. In the last years of the ninth century, King Alfred of Wessex is in failing health, and his heir is an untested youth. The Danes, who have failed so many times to conquer Wessex, smell opportunity! First comes Harald Bloodhair, a savage warrior leading a Viking horde, who is encouraged to cruelty by his woman, Skade. But Alfred still has the services of Uhtred, his unwilling warlord, who leads Harald into a trap and, at Farnham in Surrey, inflicts one of the greatest defeats the Vikings were ever to suffer. This novel, the fifth in the magnificent series of England's history tells of the final assaults on Alfred's Wessex, that Wessex survived to become England is because men like Uhtred defeated an enemy feared throughout Christendom.


REVIEW:

OK, I’m going to hold my hands up here. I’m a huge fan of Bernard’s writing and I’ve really fallen for this series set in the time of Alfred and told from the perspective of one of Bernard’s ancestors. What you get is full tilt no hold barred combative fiction from the very get go. It’s a cracking series and if I’m honest perhaps my favourite to date. How can I tell?

Well I put this title on the backburner for a while as a novel to cheer me up when I felt down. Not only did it pick me up but it was a tale that I really wished I’d rationed as I just devoured the novel looking up after putting it down to realise the ridiculous time and wondering how best to call in sick for work in a few hours time. Yeah, I know, that’s bad but when a book gets you as much as Cornwell’s writing draws me in, it’s can be painful to put it down especially when you’re right in the midst of battle.

As usual a great offering and one that continues to spread the fame of the warriors from the north. Beautifully told with neither side being portrayed as truly good or evil but the subtle shades of grey it’s a story that will do as much for the Historical Fiction genre as David Gemmell did for fantasy.

FANTASY REVIEW: The Silver Mage - Katherine Kerr

BOOK BLURB:

The fifteenth and final novel in the celebrated Deverry series, an epic fantasy rooted in Celtic mythology that intricately interweaves human and elven history over several hundred years. Spurred on by the priestesses of the false goddess Alshandra, the Horsekin hordes are massing on the northern border of Prince Dar's holdings. Their leaders believe that the rich grasslands of the prince's domain belong to them by divine right, no matter whom they must destroy to claim them. But Dar has powerful allies on his side, including the dragon Arzosah, who has hated the Horsekin for hundreds of years. She will vow to take a revenge worse than anything the Horsekin and their priestesses could possibly foresee. The prince's most powerful ally, however, is the one the Horsekin refuse to understand: the deep magic of the dweomer, as wielded by the band of sorcerers sworn to protect him, and especially by the elven master of magic, Dallandra, the silver mage.


REVIEW:

If I’m going for honest here, I really do have to say that the series on the whole has dragged and become very convoluted as well as confusing as to each novel’s placement. So when I read that this novel was to be the final in the series, I pretty much raised the banner and celebrated and thought that I’d stick it out to see if the conclusion had been worth all that wading through of a number that felt full of not only waffle but unnecessary book filler. Which is pretty much what you got here, more filler developing the only aspect as yet that hadn’t been done to death in an over clichéd series. I really wish that the author had pulled the plug a few novels back before it got this silly. A great shame as I really had loved the earlier novels in the series.

NEWS: Black Library Book Trailer

Hail Mighty Readers,
Through hell and high water, the Space Marines are battling to save the Emperor and mankind during the most decisive part of history in the Warhammer 40k universe. The Horus Heresy War is still being waged and we're proud to bring you a trailer for the next couple of books that BL has made.

So hold onto your hats (or helms perhaps), follow the linky and sit back to enjoy what Dan Abnett and Graham McNeill have to say on the next two offerings (Prospero Burns and A Thousand Son's.) We think that those titles are going to make the wait for thier release feel like they've stretched millenia.

Book Trailer

Have fun and we wish you a happy and safe holiday time.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K Le Guin

BOOK BLURB:

Genly Ai is a diplomat of sorts, sent to observe the inhabitants of the snowbound planet of Winter. But the isolated, androgynous people are suspicious of this strange, single-gendered visitor. Tucked away in a remote corner of the universe, they have no knowledge of space travel or of life beyond their own world. So, bringing news of a vast coalition of planets they are invited to join, he is met with fear, mistrust and disbelief. But also something more. For Genly Ai, who sees himself as a bringer of the truth, it is a bittersweet irony that he will discover truths about himself and, in the snow-shrouded strangeness of Winter, find both love and tragedy ...First published in the year Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, The Left Hand of Darkness is a classic of science fiction and a masterpiece of modern literature.


REVIEW:

As many readers will undoubtably know, Le Guinn is perhaps the premiere female author of the genre who did for female authors what Arthur C Clarke did for the male writers out there. With this offering having reached its 40th Anniversary its always nice to get a special print to not only commemorate but to demonstrate the best that the genre has to new readers.

What you can expect from this is a book that has a great anthropological background, beautifully descriptive with enough “history” to make the world not only believable but a place that will be remembered for years to come. Add to the mix some good solid characterisation and a well put together plot and its will soon become apparent why this is perhaps a modern classic of the genre

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Born of Night - Sherilynn Kenyon

BOOK BLURB:

In a world where the price of magic is life itself, a group of seemingly immortal sorcerers appears to have cheated the system. But only one man knows the true origin of their power, or understands the true cost. Now Kamala - born to poverty and abuse, the first woman to claim a Magister's power - will seek her rightful place among these mages, and lay siege to their secrets. The monk Salvator will claim his father's throne, and test his faith against a legendary darkness. The beautiful Siderea Aminestas, consort to Magisters, will be offered the thing she desires most - at the cost of her human soul. And an ancient Evil thought long-destroyed begins to stir anew, corrupting kings, shattering alliances and ultimately threatening to unweave the very fabric of human civilisation. A mystical bloodline was cultivated to withstand this darkness, and its power must be wakened. But this will demand sacrifice of its warriors - and corruption is rife.


REVIEW:

To be honest whilst I loved another of Sherrilyn’s books I really couldn’t get into this one. I felt that it was not only clichéd but also one that really didn’t bring anything new to the fore. The principle characters not only got on my wick but also didn’t do anything other than fall into each others arms, they were flat, one dimensional and just seemed to be there as if forced with basic substandard soap opera lines. Whilst there are a number of positive reviews out there I do wonder if they’d read the same novel as me as this one was not only dated (originally released in the 80’s) but also a book that really didn’t do anything for me. Other authors have had similar plots and made it their own but when you have truly irritating substandard characters with a substandard plot then you know that this wouldn’t have even gotten a £1 video budget. A great shame to be honest.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Relics of the Dead - Ariana Franklin

BOOK BLURB:

Combining the best of modern forensic thrillers with the drama of medieval fiction, New York Times-bestselling author Ariana Franklin returns with the third title in the Mistress of the Art of Death series.

England, 1176. Beautiful, tranquil Glastonbury Abbey - one of England's holiest sites, and believed by some to be King Arthur's sacred Isle of Avalon - has been burned almost to the ground. The arsonist remains at large, but the fire has uncovered something even more shocking: two hidden skeletons, a man and a woman. The skeletons' height and age send rumors flying - are the remains those of Arthur and Guinevere?

King Henry II hopes so. Struggling to put down a rebellion in Wales, where the legend of Celtic savior Arthur is particularly strong, Henry wants definitive proof that the bones are Arthur's. If the rebels are sure that the Once and Future King will not be coming to their aid, Henry can stamp out the insurgence for good. He calls on Adelia Aguilar, Mistress of the Art of Death, to examine the bones.

Henry's summons comes not a moment too soon, for Adelia has worn out her welcome in Cambridge. As word of her healing powers has spread, so have rumors of witchcraft. So Adelia and her household ride to Glastonbury, where the investigation into the abbey fire will be overseen by the Church authorities - in this case, the Bishop of St. Albans, who happens also to be the father of Adelia's daughter.


REVIEW:

Personally I’ve loved Ariana’s previous novels so you can pretty much bet that I had to grab this offering fairly quickly to enjoy the full extent of the overall story arc present within. As usual the cast is gripping and Ariana weaves a tangled web of deceit, duplicitous cast members and an arc that will keep you guessing as to the events as she distracts with the left whilst the right works the magic.

It’s a cracker of a series and theres very few for me who give other historical crime authors a serious run for their money. Whilst you can read this novel as an independent you’ll sadly have missed out on a great set of storytelling, an intriguing cast list and above all a time period that will not only keep you glued but dispel the myth of the honourable knight in this murky world of death and intrigue. Cracking stuff.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Trades of Flesh - Faye L Booth

BOOK BLURB:

Preston, 1888: as the century draws to a close, the prostitute murders in London have made young Lydia Ketch’s ‘trade’ a political issue. Lydia, the tough but optimistic daughter of a former workhouse inmate, has spent a year working in the ‘introduction house’ of Kathleen Tanner, a job that has given her an income few others could match.

When Lydia meets Henry Shadwell, a young surgeon with a passionate interest in biology, the two develop an instant – and non-professional – bond. And Henry soon enlists Lydia’s help in his underground sidelines; first as a model for pornographic photography; then as an assistant in procuring corpses for medical experimentation.

With the dangers of her own line of work becoming clearer by the day, and her newfound delight in her own sexuality burgeoning, Lydia becomes disillusioned with her life as a prostitute. And it soon become clear that her trade – and Henry’s – are even more dangerous than either had imagined.

Trades of the Flesh is a gripping novel about the body and its desires, from a precocious voice in historical fiction.


REVIEW:

Multi genre books are becoming more popular these days and none will appeal to quite so many as this novel by Faye. Trades of the Flesh has elements that will grab readers from here to eternity and whilst the core of the novel is the romance between the two principle cast members there’s a touch of crime, a dash of literotica and bound together by a historical fiction romance. It’s a pretty impressive combination that few will even delve into let alone attempt to weave together. Whilst the story arc in itself is a bit on the weak side what the author really does well is bind her leading man and lady into an arc that makes them not on fascinating but a couple that you want to hang around to see how their tale pans out. It’s a bit on the silly side in places but anyone that can create characters that you want to spend so much time with really has to be congratulated. I’ll definitely keep an eye on Faye’s other novels purely for the entertainment. Come for the Cast stay for the arc.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: The Queen of Silks - Vanora Bennett

BOOK BLURB:
Don't confuse Vanora Bennett with Philippa Gregory. Granted, it wouldn't be a stretch to do so: Both are female British writers whose novels focus largely on the lives of English royalty in the 15th and 16th centuries. But not everything about their work runs parallel. While it seems that Gregory has pretty much cornered the market on writing about the Tudors, Bennett tends to write about the people just on the edge of history. Her latest book, Figures in Silk, is a fast read that effortlessly brings to life one of England's most tumultuous periods. Figures in Silk captures the uncertainty of a world in flux, a mood that many of its readers may share as their own world shifts around them. And yet those looking for escape will find this book offers a satisfying respite. Vanora Bennett's medieval England comes alive in ways a reader cab immediately related to, even while being transported away from the modern world. --Christian Science Monitor, March 2009


REVIEW:

When two authors write books close together set in the same time period you’ll always get comparisons between the two. In this case Vanora Bennett Vs Philippa Gregory in their own War of the Roses. As you’ve no doubt already read our review about Philippa’s novel we’ll waste no more time than to dive into our thoughts about Vanora’s novel.

Whilst the time period is interesting and there’s plenty of time to play with and speculate in regard to the fates of the populace from peasant to royal, there are certain things that you come to expect from a novel. For one thing time consistency rather than a bit of a hodge podge darting around with the events that in a strictly linear sense shouldn’t be malleable. Whilst Vanora really did do a lot of research in order to bring the novel to life, it’s the lackadaisical sense of the time period that she really did make some stunningly simple errors with which when you’re used to the best in historical fiction really shouldn’t have happened. Add to this a principle cast member who I just couldn’t get to grips with and didn’t gel with what I already knew from history alongside Philippa’s time period and you get a novel that left me feeling a tad dissatisfied. A great shame as its one of the great time periods of British History. Vanora is a talented author and its only her descriptiveness and attention to the minutae that made this novel worth reading to have the glaring error’s really shouldn’t have happened and with luck the characters within future novels will be more engaging for me as a reader.

YOUNG ADULT REVIEW: Dinosaur's, Dragon's and Kraken's Day

BOOK BLURB:
Welcome to Dinosaur Park - a prehistoric explosion of four lavishly illustrated pop-ups! Unlock the press-out dinosaurs and release them into each scene. Help Tyrannosaurus rex chase a herd of hadrosaurs among the rocky cliffs of T-rex Valley and find the Maiasaura babies' mummy in the forest. Have a headbutt competition with the Triceratops beneath the fiery Triceratops Volcano and meet all the prehistoric residents of Diplodocus Lake. Use the spotter guide to find out whose footprints wind across every scene.


REVIEW:
What do you get when you take Dinosaur’s, Pop Up books and top it off with a childs imagination. Dinosaur Theatre. Does this sound strange? Are you intrigued?

Well to be short about it, yes I was and I really did have a lot of fun with this. What made it all the more magical was a Dinosaur guide, some cut out Dinosaurs kept in what looked like a locked box and a nephew who was very perplexed. Obviously this didn’t last long and when he got the idea of what was happening as well as seeing some of the scenes a good couple of hours was had playing with the Dino’s and enjoying everything that this book had to offer. Whilst it’s a tad unconventional I do get the feeling that this might inspire a Palaeontologist or two in the future. A great book and one that I’ve already had his Mum and Dad, both sets of Grandparent’s and a jealous friend or two asking about. One thing I will say to people is, if you get this title see if you can buy some plastic dinosaurs of about the right scale to go with it. Dino theatre will be at your beck and call and theres hours more fun to be had.



BOOK BLURB:
Are you ready with your roars? Let's say hello to the dinosaurs!

Go wild with this baby T Rex and all his dinosaur friends. Young children will love to stroke their bumpy scales and join in calling out their noises: Swish! Kaaark! Roar!

Bright and colourful, with tactile coral frosting on every page, this is sure to appeal to any young dinosaur fan.


REVIEW:
If there’s one subject guaranteed to grab the mind of most Young Adult Readers it is Dinosaurs. So when this book landed I wanted to get an expert opinion. Obviously as an adult my thoughts only count a little but when you bring to the fore a nephew who is absolutely quackers (and who’s to say some Dinosaur’s didn’t) about the subject then it stood to reason that what he said would be right.

What he noticed pretty quickly was that each of the dinosaur’s had a texture that could be felt beneath as the tale was read to him and it was something that jumped out and had him touching each and everyone as each page was opened. Add to the mix that he loved repeating the dinosaur names alongside the rhythm of the words and it really did become something special in his mind. What I especially liked was a quiz at the end to see how much was remembered by the reader which demonstrated to me that a book and time with a young reader is perhaps one of the best ways to spend that quality time together as reading is a gift forever.



BOOK BLURB:
Kenneth is a little rabbit with a very big problem. His two best friends are heading for a battle of legendary proportions - with each other! In one corner there's Grahame, a well-read and cultured dragon, with sophisticated tastes and no stomach for battle. In the other, there's George, a retired knight and dragon slayer who would be content to spend the rest of his days in his bookshop with a pipe and a good book. But when the townsfolk catch wind there's a dragon running loose in the countryside, and call George out of retirement, the stage is set. And it's up to Kenny to avert disaster. A fun-filled, thoroughly theatrical spin on a classic tale of subterfuge and showmanship.


REVIEW:
Most people will know Tony from his work with Holly Black, yet here in his own book is a story that will take the reader into a different world of knighthood that they will come to love.

It's a story of honour, valour and above all friendship that will have the readers enjoying the tale as it unfolds. A great offering and one that shows that people can get along no matter what their differences are, or how they feel about the world when friendships can change the outcomes of everything and not everything has to end in conflict.



BOOK BLURB:
The Time Pirates are getting bored. No-one has tried to take over the world for weeks, and things are getting pretty dull. But all that's about to change when water levels start rising fast . . . very fast! A journey through history to the underwater city of Atlantis holds the key to the rising water. Can the Time Pirates battle the crazed kraken and break Poseidon's curse in time to save the world?

With a nail-bitingly exciting story, press-out pieces, two stand-alone pop-up vehicles and an amazing pop-up underwater world - this is the perfect book for young adventure fans!


REVIEW:
This offering is a bit of a strange one, whilst you have a tale to unwind within, there’s also a wondering added bonus of creatures, human’s and sets of a theatrical nature for you to open and play with utilising the pop up feature within. It’s a corker of an idea and one that will present a few hours of pure entertainment even for adults like myself, so god know’s how much fun your Young Reader will have with this. (Mind you they won’t appreciate it on as many levels as you do. LOL) A quirky, fun thing that will allow you to try something a little different out in your household.

INTERVIEW: DB Reynolds

Inside every reviewer is a writer trying to get out. This may sound like a simple statement but its on that I think holds true. As part of writing I've joined a number of places online where you can get people to crit your work as well as having the chance to read others in the same boat as you.

It was whilst doing this that I originally came across DB Reynolds who's work just lept from the screen into the imagination so when she had her first release we were pleased for her and so with the second we really had to do a feature. Its great to follow a writer from humble beginnings but when you pick up one of Donna's books you know that you've got a treat in store. Here we chat to her to get the low down on life in the publishing lane and to see where she buried the bodies...


Falcata Times: Writing is said to be something that people are afflicted with rather than gifted and that it's something you have to do rather than want. What is your opinion of this statement and how true is it to you?

Donna B Reynolds: I definitely wouldn’t use the word “afflicted,” because I find such joy in writing, but I do get the point, and there’s something to it. I am definitely driven to write. I can take a few days off, especially after the pressure of meeting a deadline, or when the latest story is completed. I always take a few days to breathe again, after that. But very soon, I begin to get edgy and (my husband would say) irritable. And I know it’s time to start writing again.


FT: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?

DBR: When I was in high school. I’ve always been a reader—I think all writers are. But in high school, when I was maybe fifteen years old, I took some creative writing classes for the first time, and I thought, Huh, I really like this. Real life intruded for many years after that, and although I kept writing and was always working on something in my spare time, it wasn’t until about ten years ago that I had the time again to really focus on it.


FT: It is often said that if you can write a short story you can write anything. How true do you think this is and what have you written that either proves or disproves this POV?

DBR: I’m not sure that’s true. Writing a short story has its challenges, but so does writing a novel, and I don’t think they’re the same thing. A short story demands a burst of intense, short-lived effort, while a novel requires a much longer, labor intensive effort. The writer needs to stay in the story for weeks or months at a time. So while some writers produce brilliant short stories, they don’t have the mindset for that longer journey. I’ve written both short stories and novels, but I think my novels are better, because I like to develop the characters and the story over time, to delve a little deeper than a short story permits.


FT: If someone were to enter a bookshop, how would you persuade them to try your novel over someone else's and how would you define it?

DBR: I would never try to sell my novel over someone else’s. I might say something like, “If you like that, maybe you’ll like this.” But in general, I’d rather sell a book on its own merits, which I think include a good story, a fast-moving plot and well-developed characters . . . plus in the two books I’ve published, a strong undercurrent of sensuality. As for defining it, I see my books as character-driven Urban Fantasy.


FT: How would you "sell" your book in 20 words or less?

DBR: A fast-moving plot with strong characters, simmering sensuality and a race to the finish that has the pages turning themselves. Ha! 20 words exactly, just ask MSWord.


FT: Who is a must have on your bookshelf and whose latest release will find you on the bookshops doorstep waiting for it to open?

DBR: There are so many! I really am a voracious reader. I keep track of what’s coming out and when, and I carry a little notepad with all that information in my purse, for when I’m at the bookstore. It’s something of an obsession. Just to name a few, though, I love Patricia Briggs and Charlaine Harris. Charlaine, in particular, has a couple of series that are less well-known than her Southern Vampires, but they’re wonderful. I always read the latest by Suzanne Brockmann, Tami Hoag, Kelley Armstrong and Adrian Phoenix, and I love pretty much anything by John Sandford.


FT: When you sit down and write do you know how the story will end or do you just let the pen take you? ie Do you develop character profiles and outlines for your novels before writing them or do you let your ideas develop as you write?

DBR: I always know how it will end, but I don’t always know every step of how it will get there. I do fairly detailed character profiles for my main characters, and even for the significant supporting characters. I also outline the rough story arc of a novel before I start, with notes on specific scenes I’m carrying in my head. Those scenes typically cover the length of the novel, although not every part of it.


FT: What do you do to relax and what have you read recently?

DBR: Mostly I read and listen to music, although I’ve been described as “artsy-craftsy” and I frequently have a project I’m working on. I do make pretty quilts for all the new babies in my rather large family. The last two books I read were (1) Wicked Prey by John Sandford—his latest Lucas Davenport book. I love this series. It came out in May, but this was a hectic few months for me and I didn’t get to it until now. (2) Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs, from her Alpha and Omega werewolf series, which spun off from her Mercy Thompson books. Both wonderful.


FT: What is your guiltiest pleasure that few know about?

DBR: Junk food, one kind in particular. But I only indulge once a year, around my birthday. I eat my junk food and go to see a big, noisy action flick all by myself. I love it!


FT: Lots of writers tend to have pets. What do you have and what are their key traits (and do they appear in your novel in certain character attributes?)

DBR: I don’t have any pets. I travel too much for pets to be practical or fair to the animal. And there are generally no pets in my books—at least none that I turn into characters. I do have nice horses in the epic fantasy I’ve been working at, on and off, for years.


FT: Which character within your latest book was the most fun to write and why?

DBR: I always fall a little in love with all of my characters, especially the main characters. But in terms of fun to write . . . I do have a great fondness for Lonnie. He’s a minor character, a not very strong vampire trying to build a niche for himself and get by, but he’s got a slightly warped view of life that made him fun to write.


FT: How similar to your principle protagonist are you?

DBR: I have friends who read my books and see me in the female protagonist, especially Cynthia. But I’d say Cyn is more the person I’d like to be, rather than the person I am. Certainly there’s some of my personality in her, but Cyn isn’t bound by societal norms, because she’s a fictional character. I have to live with my neighbors! There’s actually another character in a story I wrote which hasn’t been published yet—I’d say that character is closest to who I really am.


FT: What hobbies do you have and how do they influence your work?

DBR: Other than reading, I’m something of a geek. I like computers and neat gadgets. I have graduate degrees in political science and history, so those years of study influence my writing, especially in terms of world building. Plus I worked for more than ten years as a sound editor—which is all done on computers these days—hence Cyn’s technical knowledge of computers and sound editing in Raphael.


FT: Where do you get your ideas from?

DBR: They just pop up! Usually when I’m not thinking about anything in particular, especially when I’m in the shower or sitting in traffic and just sort of free associating.


FT: Do you ever encounter writers block and if so how do you overcome it?

DBR: I’m lucky (knock on wood) that I’ve never had that problem. If I ever did, I’m a fairly disciplined person and I know there are exercises a writer can do that will push the mind to think the right way. I guess I’ll know if they work if it ever happens to me—which I hope it never does!


FT: Certain authors are renowned for writing at what many would call uncivilised times. When do you write and how do the others in your household feel about it?

DBR: I suspect uncivilized means late at night, and that’s definitely me. I’m a night owl, so from my perspective, three a.m. is pretty damn civilized. If it were up to me, I’d never go to sleep before five a.m. I do my best writing from about midnight on, because the house is quiet and I can write without interruption for hours at a time. The late hours can cause problems, because my schedule doesn’t mesh with most others. I usually compensate by simply making do with less sleep, but sometimes I just hit a wall and crash for a few hours.


FT: Sometimes pieces of music seem to influence certain scenes within novels, do you have a soundtrack for your tale or is it a case of writing in silence with perhaps the odd musical break in-between scenes?

DBR: I write in silence, because I have this weird brain that memorizes lyrics and/or music to any song I’m hearing, even if it’s in the background. I know the lyrics to all sorts of songs, even though I can’t necessarily tell you the title or who’s doing the singing. And if there’s no singing, my brain hums the tune instead. Which makes it difficult to concentrate on writing. The one exception to this is when I’m writing an action sequence. For those, I put on my headphones with some really loud, head-banging rock and roll, I close my eyes and I just write what I see as it unfolds. I don’t worry about descriptions or grammar or any of the niceties, I just write what I see, as if it’s a movie inside my head. And then I turn off the music, go back and make the words pretty.


FT: What misconceptions, if any, did you have about the writing and publishing field when you were first getting started?

DBR: My only real misconception was the time it took, first of all to write and polish an entire novel. It’s very time consuming. And secondly, to hold a book in my hand even after the contract’s been signed and the manuscript submitted. It takes far longer than one would think.


FT: If music be the food of love, what do you think writing is and please explain your answer?

DBR: Writing is the ultimate freedom of the mind! It’s the ability to travel somewhere you might never go, to someplace that might not even exist in real life. It frees the mind and soul of the writer and if she’s good enough, of the reader too.


FT: What can you tell us about the next novel?

DBR: The next novel would be the third book in my Vampires in America series. Book 3 is titled RAJMUND and takes the reader to Buffalo, NY, which is not exactly glamorous! But it’s where a very old Vampire Lord has been nesting for a very long time. Rajmund is his lieutenant, a very powerful, younger vampire, who is effectively the master of New York City—a position granted him by his master who wants to keep him happy and far away. When Raj is called back to deal with the human police in the matter of a missing young woman, he meets Cyn’s friend Sarah, who has a secret she’s kept hidden from everyone for years. Sarah’s secret will prove pivotal to solving the crime of the missing girl.


FT: What are the last five internet sites that you've visited?

DBR: BittenByBooks.com, KellyArmstrong.com, Amazon.com, CNN.com, to see if the world is crashing around us yet, and YouTube where I watched a really cool guitar performance which I then put on my blog.


FT: Did you ever take any writing classes or specific instructions to learn the craft? If so please let us know which ones.

DBR: I did take a couple of classes and the best thing I got out them—and the reason I took them—was that the instructor was Amy Stout, a well-known and highly regarded editor of Science Fiction/Fantasy. Her comments and critiques of my work, plus her encouragement and belief that I really did know how to write, came at a critical juncture in my life and kept me writing.


FT: How did you get past the initial barriers of criticism and rejection?

DBR: It’s all a matter of believing in your own writing skill. I’m a fairly confident person. I can listen to a critique, take out of it what I think is useful and disregard the rest. But, as I said above, the endorsement early on of someone who really knew what she was doing, made a huge difference in my ability to believe in myself. The rejections continue, though, even after you manage to get published. Not everyone will love, or even like, what you do. It’s a very subjective business. You just have to know that and move on. Not that the rejections don’t hurt, and they do get me down, I just don’t stay down very long.


FT: In your opinion, what are the best and worst aspects of writing for a living?

DBR: The worse aspect would be that very few writers can afford to write for a living. I know authors who produce three or four best-selling paperbacks a year and who still have daytime jobs. Unless you’re in hardcover, you’re probably not earning a living, especially not if you live in California like I do. The only writers I know personally who can afford to “write for a living” are the ones who have a spouse bringing in a second income. But then I don’t know any really famous writers like Stephen King. I’ve met a few, but I don’t know really know them.