Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. And she's never known any others of her kind. Until now. As Mercy comes to terms with this new information, an evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River. Something deadly is coming, facts are thin on the ground and Mercy feels ill at ease. However, her father's people may know more. To have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need all the resources the shifters can offer. Or death will be the least of their worries.
REVIEW:
As a fan of Patricia’s Mercy Hautman (Nee Thompson) series I really couldn’t wait to get my paws on this title. Whilst other series by Patty don’t quite thrill me (Alpha and Omega) there’s something gripping about this shapeshifter Coyote that strikes a chord (whether its her street smarts or perhaps her quips, I’m not sure) and keeps me glued as each adventure takes her onto a road to discovery.
Whilst previous titles have centred in and around the tri-state area, this one takes our heroine and her beau a little further afield and gives the reader some backstory as well as presenting them with a twist or two along the way. It’s beautifully written, the characters wonderfully descriptive and when added with some great prose allows the reader to become lost in this Urban Fantasy World for a number of hours. A great addition to the series and perhaps something that will present the reader with something that will come back to haunt us in future titles.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Satyrus and Melitta, twin heirs to a rich kingdom on the Black Sea, were hounded into exile in FUNERAL GAMES after their mother was brutally murdered by one of their father's former comrades, Heron. Heron now rules the land that is theirs by right, but the twins are older and battle-hardened in the wars of Alexander's Successors. Once they have gathered their forces, nothing will stop them from exacting a terrible revenge...
REVIEW:
If you love historical fiction with high octane action packed scenes but don’t want guns, then you really have to try Christian Cameron. The writing style is distinctive, will appeal to fans of David Gemmell and above all else delivers a great book to satisfy the reader.
Add to this great prose, some cracking characters alongside top notch dialogue backed by with a distinctive author voice and you know that it’s a book to set standards by and whilst this isn’t my favourite book by Christian (that’s already owned by Killer of Men.) I eagerly await each new title by this author and it’s going to be a long wait for the next title in the Long War series Marathon out in August.
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Discover the fate of the original black Magician, Pug, and his motley crew of agents who safeguard the world of Trigia, as prophecy becomes truth in the first book of the last ever Midkemian trilogy. THE KINGDOM BESIEGED The Darkness is coming! The Kingdom is plagued by rumour and instability. Kingdom spies in Kesh have been disappearing - either murdered, or turned to the enemy side. Information has become scant and unreliable; but one thing appears clear. Dark forces are on the move! Since Pug and the Conclave of Shadows enforced peace after the last Keshian invasion, the Empire has offered no threat. But now factions are rising and Jim Dasher reports mobilizations of large forces in the Keshian Confederacy. As the men of the West answer the King's call to muster, Martin conDoin - left as caretaker of Crydee Keep - will suddenly be confronted with the vanguard of an invading army. He reminds himself that he is a year older than his legendary ancestor, Prince Arutha, was when he stood firm against the Tsurani invasion, but Arutha had an army to command, and Martin is left with old men and young boys. Massive events are about to unfold, events which threaten the future of all human life in Midkemia!
REVIEW:
The latest title in a new chapter of the world of Midemia has hit the shelves and to be honest its setting up to be one of the hardest and perhaps most epic wars in the lands to date. Raymond’s writing is wonderful, the prose delightful and when backed with solid action, political double dealing alongside some great twists it’s a title that will keep the established fan glued to the last page. Whilst old friends are about within, what the author has done very well in this title is bring some new perspectives alongside heroes in waiting to the fore in order to allow this series to be saved by the next generation with some wonderful backstory touches. All in great fun and a title that I was pleased that I picked up sooner rather than later. Great stuff.
Hail Mighty Readers,
Andy Remic, part time author, full time "fruit and nut bar" let us know all about his latest project, Anarchy Books.
Here's the blurb:
Are you feeling lucky, punk?
ANARCHY BOOKSA fusion of writing, music, game and filmANARCHY BOOKS is a radical new publishing company. Our focus is on multi-strand publishing projects, concepts which combine different media to present a wider experience for the entertainment junkie.Our first project, SERIAL KILLERS INCORPORATED, is a thriller novel by Andy Remic, author of Spiral, Quake, Warhead, War Machine, Biohell, Hardcore, Cloneworld, Kell’s Legend, Soul Stealers and Vampire Warlords, with the music album provided by th3 m1ss1ng (featuring Jon Bodan from Atlanta’s Halcyon Way) and short film shot and chopped by Grunge Films. The novel and album release 1st April 2011, with the SERIAL KILLERS INCORPORATED short film June 2011.Following SKINC comes SF novel SIM by Andy Remic, SF/horror novel MONSTROCITY by Jeffrey Thomas, the anthology VIVISEPULTURE featuring such notable authors as Neal Asher, Lauren Beukes, Eric Brown, Ian Graham, Vincent Holland-Keen, James Lovegrove, George Mann, Gary McMahon, Stan Nicholls, Andy Remic, Jordan Reyne, Ian Sales, Stephen Saville, Wayne Simmons, Jeffrey Thomas, Danie Ware, Ian Watson, Ian Whates, Conrad Williams, and with artwork by Vincent Chong, then horror novel RAIN DOGS by Gary McMahon. Each “project” is a work in progress, and will ship with varying degrees of album, game and film components.ANARCHY BOOKS is looking to collaborate with musicians, video game creators (any platform) and filmmakers. Please read our SUBMISSION guidelines.Welcome to our little corner of ANARCHY…Finally, there’s ANARCHY in the UK!
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Dal'yth. The forces of the Greater Good have established a strangehold on the planet, and the time has come for the Imperium to move against them. The White Scars lead the ground assault against the tau, launching into combat with speed and fury, shedding blood as they gain ground against their enemies. Meanwhile, the members of the Crusade Council are determined to pursue their own agendas, and their politicking and back-stabbing will place the entire war effort in jeopardy. But little do they know that Inquisitor Grand has more extreme measures in mind, and the White Scars must achieve victory quickly or the cost to Dal'yth will be devastating.
REVIEW:
As a fan of Andy’s last title, I really hoped that this one would continue to build the authors writing talent to help give the reader everything that they may expect from a Black Library author. What unfurls is a beautifully written title where great characterisation meets politics in a hard combat world where the Marine’s fight the Tau. It’s a great novel, one that was wonderfully plotted and had a great understanding of pace to allow the reader to relax as well as appreciate the high octane combat sequences within. Andy’s work really is a joy to read and I’ll eagerly await the next arrival.
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Raven Whitney is a psychic who has used her gift to help the police track down a serial killer. Now she is determined to escape the glare of recent publicity for the peace and quiet of the Carpathian Mountains. Despite her own emotional fatigue, Raven finds herself connecting psychically to another wounded individual somewhere close by. Prince Mikhail Dubrinsky is the leader of his people but, as his ancient Carpathian race grows ever closer to extinction, he is close to giving in to the heavy weight of loneliness and despair. Then a female voice enters his mind and tries to console him. Intrigued, Mikhail becomes obsessed with finding this unusual human female. From the moment their minds touch, Raven and Mikhail form a connection. But there are those who incorrectly view all Carpathians as vampires, and are determined to give their extinction a helping hand.
REVIEW:
Having come to this series a lot later than the earlier titles I was interested to see how it all began as well as to see how the authors writing style had changed over time. It is definitely creative and whilst in some places it can feel a little simplistic the characters are what has driven Christine’s writing since the beginning. She knows how to get them to appear to the reader and whilst there are some flaws within, you really don’t tend to notice it so much as you can’t get enough of the principle cast members complexity as well as their romance.
Finally add onto this that this edition has been extended by the author and alongside being wonderfully written with interesting dialogue as well as backed with a decent set of prose, it leaves the reader more than satisfied with the additional material. I’ll have to keep up with these reprints to make sure that I get the most from the series.
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Meet Andy Warner, a recently deceased everyman and newly minted zombie. Resented by his parents, abandoned by his friends, and reviled by a society that no longer considers him human, Andy is having a bit of trouble adjusting to his new existence. But all that changes when he goes to an Undead Anonymous meeting and finds kindred souls in Rita, an impossibly sexy recent suicide with a taste for the formaldehyde in cosmetic products, and Jerry, a twenty-one-year-old car crash victim with an exposed brain and a penchant for Renaissance pornography. When the group meets a rogue zombie who teaches them the joys of human flesh, things start to get messy, and Andy embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will take him from his casket, to the SPCA, to a media-driven class-action lawsuit on behalf of the rights of zombies everywhere.
REVIEW:
I love a novel that strikes out on its own and if you’re fed up of the typical zombie bumbling cannon fodder affair that’s out there, then you really have to get yourself a copy of this book. It has misadventure, it has some twisted events and is a title that demonstrates that whilst you may be deceased you’re still human and need interaction. It’s very clever, it has some great authorly slight of hand and above all else it’s a book that the reader can really get their hooks into. Add to that an author with an understanding as well as a love of the Zombie and you know it’s a book that’s going to impress which made this hard to put down and a real joy to read. The only real warning to come out of this book is if anyone however offers you venison jerky you might want to pass. LOL
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
A plane crash survivor questions his sanity when the new life that he has built for himself, in a new town, is suddenly thrown into doubt by terrifying discoveries and the revelations they bring about.
REVIEW:
Conrad’s writing, for me, can be a little hit and miss and after not enjoying his previous Solaris release I was a little apprehensive about starting this one. I really shouldn’t have been as this title had so much going for it. The principle character was likeable, the outline intriguing and above all else the pace was ideal for this title. Add to this a great author voice which when backed with what I can only surmise as Basic Instinct meets Wicker Man and you know that it’s a title that will entertain the reader. A real joy from Conrad and one that leaves me wondering what he’ll hit back with next.
Prolific author Jon Courtenay Grimwood has recently released a brand new series blending the complexities of historical fiction with urban fantasy touches to embark upon a Historical Fantasy adventure that takes the reader to a Venice that should have been.
Whilst the political intrigue is a key component of this new series, it has great action, seriously delicious characters as well as hidden mystery that keeps the reader guessing to the last.
We decided it was time we have a chat with this author and with a certain assassini currently MIA we got our own to deliver our demand and find out mroe about writing, nailing characteristics and cats...FT: 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? JCG: There are people who write novels simply because they're good at stringing sentences together and it makes a decent living and beats having a proper job. Mostly they're ex-journalists and I count several as friends (they tend not to be SFF). Almost everybody I know in SFF writes because they have no alternative. And yes, that probably says something not very good about us... In my case writing is what keeps me sane and if I don't write I quickly turn into a gibbering wreck (takes about three days). I do think there's a strong truth for many writers in the statement that you don't really know what you think until you've written it down. I envy writers who can stand up and toss out anecdotes or - even more scary, like China M - simply draw on a ground swell of waiting intelligence. My brain is a fruit machine in which endless tumblers whir away and very occasionally enough pineapples line up in a row and I think - jackpot! FT: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer? JCG: I wrote my first novel at seven, drawing most of it because my writing was so bad. By the end of my teens I'd written two full length novels, both appalling. In my early twenties I threw in my job as a production editor and went to Spain and lived, very frugally, while I wrote another. I had great fun but the book was still shit. Over the next ten years I wrote the first 30,000 words of three very different books. And then, in the mid-90s was made redundant, wrote a novel over the summer, found an agent and got a two book offer that was turned into a four book offer. That's massively simplified, obviously. 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? JCG: No idea if it's true or not. I hate writing short stories and envy people who find it easy or easy enough to approach with ease. My gut feeling is if you can think yourself inside a world and a set up enough to write a short story why the hell isn't it the first chapter of a novel? But that's my personal prejudice. And there are stories by Bruce Sterling, Will Gibson, Greg Egan and China Mieville I'd happily kill to have written. 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? JCG: The Fallen Blade is a love story between a boy who may be dead and a girl who doesn't want to be what she is but isn't really sure what she wants to be. It's a riff off Othello, features an alternate 15th Century werewolf-infested Venice and introduces the first Vampire into Europe. Warning, contains occasional outbursts of weirdshit FT: How would you "sell" your book in 20 words or less? JCG: Take first or last 20 words from the above. 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? JCG: James Lee Burke, Haruki Murakami, Dona Leon, Those are the most recently bought general/crime novels. I'm not going to get into SFF simply because I'm a Clarkes judge and my answers would obviously reflect what I've just read. 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? JCG: Every book starts with a single image (sorry if I'm repeating myself from elsewhere). For this book it was an impossibly beautiful naked boy chained to the bulkhead of a ship in the Venetian lagoon. From there all I had to do was work back to how he got there and forward to what happened next. I don't do psychological profiles, since most of being a writer is about having an ability to inhabit pretty much anyone's head. What I do is the obvious. Hair colour, eye colour, height, body shape, distinguishing marks, like, hates, wants, fears, weakness. FT: What do you do to relax and what have you read recently? JCG: Writing relaxes me when deadlines aren't approaching like hundred mile an hour brick walls. Digging out the Triumph Bonnie and belting round the back roads of Hampshire works, as does walking and swimming. I've just read my way through every book submitted for the Clarke Award this year and am slightly read out on SFF, and am obviously not going to comment on individual books! For total brain change I'm reading Hobsbawn's Changing the World, which is a collection of his essays. Strongly suspect Marxism may be more use as a glass to look at the world than a template for changing it. FT: What is your guiltiest pleasure that few know about? JCG: Like I'm going to tell 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?) JCG: A doctoral student once wrote to me to ask what the significance was of cats in my books. And I thought, there are cats in my books? But yes, apparently there are. I have a black tom with delusions of grandeur who's slowly coming to terms with the fact he can no longer win every fight. He's not turned up in a book yet. (And would probably charge me for the privilege) 
FT: Which character within your latest book was the most fun to write and why? JCG: The hero, Tycho, was the hardest but also most rewarding. Nailing down the almost but not quite human is hard. Giulietta was fun because she is just so cross most of the time (she's based in part on someone I knew who had a serious temper that mostly manifested as fury with herself). FT: How similar to your principle protagonist are you? JCG: He's young, fantastically beautiful and has hungers he can't control and powers he doesn't yet know about (there is no similarity!) Obviously, every character in a book is a facet of the author or the author wouldn't be able to write the book. That doesn't make the character the author, or the author even approve of the character. I get fairly furious when people can't tell the difference. That said, I think all authors bring themselves to their books and it's pretty easy to tell a Peter Hamilton hero from a Paul McAuley hero, even if both are in space... My main character is never going to be a right-wing misogynist who worries about what kind of car he drives and thinks money is everything simply because I don't like people like that enough to want to spent an entire book inside their heads! Equally, Mary Sues are really easy to spot and should be stamped on immediately. FT: Do you ever encounter writers block and if so how do you overcome it? JCG: I worked in publishing and wrote for newspapers and magazines for years; and during that period I worked for and with brilliant, hyper-intelligent and talented people; and I worked with self-deluded idiots, and occasionally I worked for self-deluded idiots... You only have to have had one job you loathe so badly that getting up every day and going to work requires iron discipline to make you realise that being allowed to write for a living is a real privilege! I understand the concept of writer's block but it's a job. You get up, you do it. If you sit there for eight hours and write the equivalent of la la la... then fine, next day you cross it out. I suspect, in the end, I'm too superstitious to give much thought to that particular fear. We all spent quite enough time staring into our own personal abysses without going out to hunt down other people's. 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? JCG: I work from first thing until I'm done, unless I'm towards the end of the first draft, the edit, or the rewrite, then I just work and don't much care if its day or night. I'm married to the workaholic editor in chief of a glossy magazine who writes novels in her spare time (ha!) She's spent the last two weekends away from home/out of the country, and I'm taking the eurostar to Paris next weekend simply so we can say hello. If I objected to living with someone who works 14 hour days 7 days a week the marriage would have been over years ago, and vice versa! 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? JCG: redRobe was written to Dutch Trance, and it shows. The Ashraf Bey/Arabesk books were written to Rai/North African punk. End of the World Blues was written to the Akira soundtrack. The Fallen Blade was written to Gregorian chant and Against Me, Sigur Ros and whatever came on the iPod when I couldn't be bothered to chose carefully. FT: How did you get past the initial barriers of criticism and rejection? JCG: Right back at the beginning I managed through sheer luck to persuade a famous editor from a literary imprint to read two of my very early and thankfully never published novels. He came back to say the first book had an excellent plot but no real characters and the second book had excellent characters but no real plot. I was so crushed that for the next ten years I didn't even let my friends know I was still writing and I binned all three of the novels I started and subsequently gave up as having either crap plots or crap characters... Looking back it was a funny if glib rejection letter, but I took it as gospel If you want to write you will write. Getting published is as much about luck as talent, which isn't to say you don't need talent but is to say you need luck also. I got lucky.To view our review of The Fallen Blade (Act One of the Assassini Trilogy) please go here.
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
When two college freshmen decide to use Spring Break making magic on the gambling tables of Las Vegas, little do they imagine that Vegas harbours a dark magical secret of its own… And as they say, what happens in Vegas stays in vegas – alive or dead.
REVIEW:
Matt Forbeck is one of those strange authors that leave you wondering what they’ll turn up with next, last time it was a Methuselaic agent, this time hidden magical covens in Vegas. It’s all inventive and to be honest this has to be one of my favourite titles by this author. Not only is the plot cleverly woven but the characters rely on smarts rather than outright power which makes a serious change for the genre. Back that up with some seriously cool characters to hang with (although I still think Dino should have made an appearance,) some great plot lines which when backed with a serious understanding of pace alongside slight of hand and it was a title that I really got a blast from. Some seriously devious work has gone on underneath and I’m starting to wonder which devil Matt did a deal with to be so creative.
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Junks, an ancient evil alien scourge, are flooding Quad-Gal with terror as they spread their toxic plague. Combat K, proficient in infiltration, assassination and demolition, are sent on a mission to find an elusive alien retrovirus which can be used against an enemy. SLAM-dropped to CLONEWORLD, a planet ravaged by violent civil war, not only are Combat K hunted by elite junk assassins, but they get caught in a global conflict between ORGS, huge augmented mechanised war machines, and GANGSTERS, slick, genetically modified humans who have the ability to ganger, or clone themselves at will.
Through a mash of constant battle and vast, war-torn landscapes, through mechanised ORG factories and G.U.N. workshops, through GANGER SlushPits and CloneCities and SexVats, Combat K must think and fight their way to victory, to save the planet, and save the Four Galaxies. But how can Combat K possibly succeed, when their main foe are their own elite and deadly clones?
REVIEW:
Andy is one of those authors that treads the fine line of twisted combat junkie and action obsessed nut job as he cluster bombs the readers brain with seriously hard-core fight sequences, devilishly complex missions and finishes it with a cocktail of fully formed characters, full throttled adrenaline, seat of the pants rocket fuelled plotline and twists it off with few drops of Nitro-glycerine as he shakes this mix and waits for the explosion as Combat K face off against the greatest threat imaginable, themselves.
It’s definitely a new outlook and with each of the characters having a nightmare of a story struggling to survive it does leave you wondering where he can go from here. Prior to this, I have called him either a genius or a madman, and the way that this f-bombed outing seems we can firmly state that Solaris has him safely under lock and key awaiting the next manuscript. I just hope that they’ve managed to keep the chemicals away from Andy as otherwise he may well escape in a MacGyver inspired Haggis manner and then who knows what will happen.
Release Date: 03/03/11
BOOK BLURB:
The armies of Hochland are at breaking point. Beset on all sides by the feral beastmen, the safety and prosperity of the province is shattered. These are desperate times. Mercenary Captain Eriksson looks to capitalise on the conflict, buying the freedom of a group of prisoners to form a new free company. The criminals are delighted to be released, but this comes at a terrible price - to fight and die in the upcoming conflict. Eriksson must lead his makeshift company into one bloody conflict after another, putting his faith in those who gave up on honour long ago. On the battlefields of Hochland, either damnation or redemption awaits them.
REVIEW:
Whilst the death legions of the 40K worlds are well known, the Warhammer ones are not only rare but few and far between (the last Warhammer Dirty Dozen/A-Team were the Blackhearts by Nathan Long) so when this title landed pitting the few against the masses in a beastman version of Rorkes Drift then you know that it’s going to be happening pretty hard and fast with the odds of anyone getting out few and far between. Beautifully written, Roberts latest release is a title that will have fans clamouring for more as well as lapping up the blood soaked gore (or Gor if you prefer) right up to the last page. Add to the mix some great descriptive prose, a descent dialogue as well as giving the readers exactly what they want and I suspect that this new band of Warhammer “heroes” stereotypes will return in one form or another.
Release Date: 03/03/11
BOOK BLURB:
Across the war-torn galaxy, the Imperial Guard are a bastion against the enemies of mankind. From the punishing heat of Tallarn's deserts to the bonechilling tundras of Valhalla, these are soldiers who give their lives in the Emperor's name. Whether shoulder to shoulder or crushing their enemies in vast machines of war, they are unwavering in their devotion to duty. On a thousand stars, they repel the forces of Chaos and the foul xenos in an eternal conflict. This omnibus collects three tales of savage warfare and heroism in the frontline.
REVIEW:
There’s nothing more heroic in the 40K universe than the common man, his fear is higher along with need to run for his own mortality but to me it makes his deeds more heroic than that of the modified superhuman astartes. Brought together here are three Imperial Guard titles that will take you to all environments alongside extremes.
Whilst I personally didn’t rate one of the three books highly, the other two more than made up for it. The writing is snappy, the dialogue war torn and harsh with the prose sticking to the action thick and fast. All in it’s a good bit of fun and gives the reader something different to the norm especially when their troops take to the battlefield and the readers get a chance to slog it through the dangers as if they were there. Great stuff.
Self Confessed Comic Fangrrl, Jackie was an author that we've been interested in for quite some time and with the chance to recently enjoy her Hell on Earth series, we thought that it was probably time to bite the bullet (or should that be Succubi?) and have a little chat.
Tracking her down to her own "Circle of Hell" we chatted about stories, strippers, chocolate and death...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?Jackie Kessler: Afflicted. Definitely. I have to write. Have to. It’s this burning need to tell stories, and have people read them. And, ideally, earn enough money to keep on writing stories so people can read them. Very, very Vicious Circle. There are times when I wish I was afflicted with something saner, like bungee jumping or ultimate fighting. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. (Sorry, world.)FT: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?JK: When I was younger, I wanted to be a comic book artist. Which, if you think about it, is still about the storytelling, just in a different form. In college, I fell in love with writing. I’d always enjoyed it before, but starting freshman year, I discovered a passion for it, so I took tons of creative writing workshops. I started working on a book when I was 18, but I didn’t get serious about wanting to write and get published until 2003. And starting in 2004, I began the ongoing process of learning about the publishing industry. (It’s good to have a sense of humor.)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 point of view?JK: Frankly, I think that’s a pile of cowcrap. You can be a marvelous short story writer, but that skill set doesn’t translate nicely to longer forms of writing. It’s the same in reverse: you may be brilliant at writing a 90,000-word novel, but terrible at writing a 4,000-word short story. And writing short fiction is worlds different that writing a nonfiction essay of the same word count. Different formats of writing require different skills. Just because you excel at one doesn’t mean you naturally do at another. Sure, you can learn how to write in those different formats. That doesn’t mean you’re going to have a terrific final product. Just as important as knowing how to write in a particular format is knowing which format is best for a particular story.I’ve written flash fiction (ack), poetry (ack/in verse/with line breaks), short stories (mostly great fun), novelettes (for the stories that didn’t know when to stop), novellas (difficult), novels (ranging from the words just coming to me banging my head against the keyboard), essays (shoot me now), and two short comic book stories (difficult, but so worth it).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?JK: I’d bribe them with chocolate. Or maybe slip them a $20.FT: How would you "sell" your book in 20 words or less?For the Hell series: Sex, strippers and demons—what’s not to like?For the Icarus project: Dystopian superhero fiction—BLADERUNNER meets the Justice League.For HUNGER: An anorexic teenage girl becomes the new Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.For RAGE: A teenage self-injurer becomes the new avatar of War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.For LOSS: A bullied teenage boy is tricked into becoming Pestilence. Ditto the Four Horsemen.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?JK: In no particular order: Neil Gaiman, Christopher Moore, Heather Brewer, Rachel Caine, Jim Butcher, Rob Thurman, A.S. King, Ty Drago...my God, so many more! Right now, it’s a tossup which book I’m dying to read more: Jim Butcher’s GHOST STORY, or Rob Thurman’s BLACKOUT. Or Rachel Caine’s BITE CLUB. Or...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?JK: It depends. (Don’t you hate those answers?) Some books just flow, like HELL’S BELLES and BLACK AND WHITE and HUNGER. Others, like HOTTER THAN HELL and SHADES OF GRAY and LOSS, are more heavily plotted before and during the actual writing.FT: What do you do to relax and what have you read recently?JK: Relax? Um. Tae kwon do. And, um, napping. I’m currently reading Karen Mahoney’s THE IRON WITCH. Great fun!!!FT: What is your guiltiest pleasure that few know about?JK: And you’re just going to have to use your imagination here. I promise, whatever you come up with will be far more interesting. ;)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?)JK: Two years ago, one of my cats was dying, so we opted to put her to sleep. God, that sucked. That also sparked the first sentences of the book that would be RAGE: “The day Melissa Miller killed her cat, she met the Angel of Death. But he was no angel—and he wasn’t there for the cat.”FT: Which character within your latest book was the most fun to write and why?JK: In the Hell series, I adore Daun. He’s such an evil bastard. In a cuddly sort of way. For the Horseman series, Death is terrifying fun. In HUNGER, he was far more fun than terrifying. That will change as the series progresses—we see more of him in RAGE, and a different side (well, sides) of him in LOSS. And then, there will be his own book, BREATH. **rubs hands gleefully**FT: How similar to your principle protagonist are you?JK: I used to joke that if I were a demon and Jezebel were Jewish, we’d be the same person. But really? You’d never catch me stripping on stage.FT: What hobbies do you have and how do they influence your work?JK: My newest hobby is tae kwon do. I actually wrote a blog post about how TKD has helped me with writing fight scenes: FT: Where do you get your ideas from?JK: I put an ad on Craigslist. (Wouldn’t that be nice?) More seriously, ideas really come from all around. Sometimes, it’s from personal experience; other times, it’s from something you’ve read or seen. Sometimes, it’s something completely out of the blue. With HELL’S BELLES, I meshed the fantasy that I loved so much (Good versus Evil) with a sassy first-person protagonist.FT: Do you ever encounter writer’s block and if so how do you overcome it?JK: Ugh, the dreaded writer’s block. Yes, I’ve encountered it. For me, it occurs when I’ve taken the story down the wrong path. It’s like the back part of my brain knows the right story, even when the front part of my brain is still dithering around. So the back part hits the brakes until the front part figures it out. Very obnoxious, really. And don’t get me started about what happens when the characters argue with the writer. Flippin’ prima donna characters...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?JK: Hey, I’m quite civilized. I’m sipping tea as I’m answering this question. But yes, I do my writing usually late (late) at night, or during the weekends. It is what it is, you know? I have to write, so I write when I can.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?JK: Oh, the Hell series has tons of music! See? Sometimes, I use music to help me set the mood for a particular scene. Like in THE ROAD TO HELL, when Jesse summons Daunuan, I played Depeche Mode’s “Pimpf” over and over and over. Brrr, shivers! For the Horseman series, I like to listen to Nirvana and Linkin Park.FT: What misconceptions, if any, did you have about the writing and publishing fields when you were first getting started?JK: For writing, I had this crazy notion that I had to write something only once, and then it was done. For publishing, my biggest misconception was that all writers need to do is write.FT: If music be the food of love, what do you think writing is and please explain your answer?JK: If music is the chocolate, then writing is the...nah, writing is also the chocolate. Everything can be related to in terms of chocolate.FT: What can you tell us about the next novel?JK: For the Hell series, HELL TO PAY, the final novel, will be available as an ebook...er, shortly. For now, it’s still available in its entirety on my website for free. I’ll be writing the first book in a related series, Pit and Paradise, later this year. BEFORE THE FALL will be a digital book only. The tag line for the new series is: “Some days, it just doesn’t pay to stop the Apocalypse.” Stay tuned!As for the Horseman series, I’m currently writing LOSS. That book is giving me hives. Which is appropriate, given that the Horseman in question is Pestilence...FT: What are the last five internet sites that you've visited?JK: Twitter, Daily Kos, AbsoluteWrite.com, Facebook, CNN.com.FT: Did you ever take any writing classes or specific instructions to learn the craft? If so please let us know which ones.JK: I took plenty of creative writing workshops in college—mostly, those were critique sessions. I later launched my own writing workshop for local authors, and I had that going for about three years. Again, that was all about the critiquing—the more you meaningfully critique other people’s work, the stronger your own work will become. I also attend plenty of panels and workshops when I go on conventions—RT, SDCC, NYCC, Albacon, DragonCon, RWA, whew, others too. And author C.E. Murphy gave me a fabulous crash course in scripting a comic book. (Thanks, Catie!)FT: How did you get past the initial barriers of criticism and rejection? (if that was indeed necessary!)JK: You’re assuming I don’t obsess over every bad review or rejection, aren’t you?FT: In your opinion, what are the best and worst aspects of writing for a living?JK: The best? Writing is the best job in the world. The other week, I spent a good chunk of the evening researching the Black Plague, the Crusades, and Robin Hood, and then I started coming up with a timeline for my WIP. And as I said to my Loving Husband: “I can say that I spent the evening imagining, and that counts as real work! I love my job!” But the worst part is transforming what I do as craft into an actual business. Stressing over the numbers, the promotion, the business-ends of writing can suck the joy out of the craft—to say nothing about murdering my sense of humor.
Release Date: 20/01/11
SYNOPSIS:
Once upon a time, Jezebel was a powerful succubus, capable of seducing men and sucking out their souls. But that was before Hell put a bounty on her head. Now her only chance to escape a fate far worse than death is to live as a mortal, losing herself in a sea of unfamiliar humanity, in a place where sinners walk hand-in-hand with saints - a place like Belle's strip club in New York City. Working as an exotic dancer is a piece of cake for a former demon that once specialised in sex. But she hadn't counted on meeting sexy Paul Hamilton, a man haunted by his past. Goodbye, succubus; hello, love struck. Learning all about how complicated - and pleasurable - love can be, Jezebel thinks she's turned her back on Hell. But Hell hasn't stopped looking for her as the secrets Jezebel holds are the most dangerous of all. Demons are closing in, which is enough to make Jezebel shiver in her G-string. But it's her love for Paul that's going to have deadly consequences . . .
REVIEW:
The first of Jackie’s Succubus titles and one that launches as the series means to go on. Whilst many urban fantasy titles that feature succubi tend to have them being just members of Hell’s circle, Jackie takes a novel approach and has one that tries to break away and succeeds in becoming something unique. It’s definitely a story that will appeal to fans of the erotic urban fantasy as well as to fans who love a good story. Back it up with a lead character who stands out on her own, has some real kick ass friends who all know some killer one liners and it’s a title that will satisfy in more ways than one.
A real gem of an opener and one that we hope will set the tone and continue to impress as the tale unfolds in further outings.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Jesse may no longer be a soul-stealing succubus, but she's got a Hell of a past. She'd love to come clean to her sweet, super-hot boyfriend Paul but how exactly does a girl start that conversation? There's no name tag that reads: I Used to Have Sex with Men before Taking Their Souls to the Lake of Fire - Ask Me How! Just like some people are worth being monogamous for (shudder), some secrets are worth keeping. Like the fact that bad boy incubus Daunuan keeps popping up from the Underworld to put some toe-curling moves on her; that her former associates are trying to strong-arm her back into the fold; and that every supernatural entity on the planet seems to want to have a conversation with her in the bathroom. But someone in the Underworld isn't ready to play nice, and this time, the stakes are nothing less than Paul's immortal soul. If Hell wants Jesse back so badly, they've got her. But payback's a bitch, and this bitch is about to rock Hell like a hurricane - or lose her soul trying...
REVIEW:
Here in the second book of Jackie’s series, our heroine has a monumental task ahead of her so what does she do but knuckle down and kick some demon butt however whilst many would literally do this in a beat down sort of sense, Jackie’s hero does it with brain power. It’s a nice turn up and its definitely something that made her stand out to us as readers. Back that up with more kickass one liners, a fast paced plot as well as an imaginative version of hell and you know that its going to be good.
Finally with the series all set now for a climactic conclusion in the third part out next month, we really can’t wait to see what Jackie has lined up next. “Look Sir, demons, bloody thousands of them..”
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Daunuan was never the ambitious type. There's so much to love about his job just the way it is - mind-blowing sexual prowess, the power to seduce any human, excellent dental plan. But now Pan, the King of Lust, has offered to make Daun his right-hand incubus - a position other demons would give their left horn for. All he has to do is entice a soul destined for heaven into a damnable act of lust. Should take, oh, seven minutes, tops. Then he meets his target, Virginia Reed. She's cute. Funny. Smart. Unfathomably resistant to his charms. He can't understand it. But Duan has centuries of seduction to his credit. Sooner or later, he tells himself, he'll transform this polar ice-cap of a female into a pool of molten desire...Meanwhile, he has to deal with a plague of rogue demons. Hell-bent on taking him down, sent by an unknown enemy with a serious grudge. And one other problem: the dawning realisation that he's falling in love - that unholiest of four-letter words - with the woman he's about to doom for all eternity...
REVIEW:
Jackie is an author who loves to tease, enjoys twisting perceptions and above all else knows how to keep her readers happy as she brings one of her supporting cast members forward to star in this, the latest offering in her Hell on Earth series. Whilst in the previous two titles Daunuan helped out due to his own twisted sense of desires readers have long suspected that there were greater depths to this Incubi and whilst this title is all about him and his progression through the ranks of hell we get a richer deeper flavour that will make him a firm fan favourite.
Add to this wonderful creative outing, a dark twisted tapestry of sins alongside serious pace and plotline, a potion of redemption, a dash of selfishness, a drop of love and boil until reduced and the whole creation will leave readers firmly in Kessler camp eagerly awaiting the next release in the series. Great stuff.
Release Date: 20/01/11
SYNOPSIS:
Allison Hewitt is trapped. In the storeroom of Brookes & Peabody's. In a world swarming with the Undead, the Doomed, the Infected.
Locked away with an oddball collection of colleagues and under siege, Allison takes advantage of a surviving internet connection and blogs. She writes, as the food runs out and panic sets in, as relationships develop and friends die, and as zombies claw at the door, all in the hope of connecting with other survivors out there. But as she reads the replies to her posts, Allison begins to comprehend the horrifying scale of the damage. And when no one comes to the group's rescue, they are forced to leave the safety of their room and risk a journey across the city; streets that crawl with zombies, and worse - fellow humans competing for survival.
REVIEW:
With Zombie books all the rage they tend to be either out and out hard-core slay fests or a comedic version set to entertain. Whilst this title by Madeleine does has the qualities of a Romero film, the overall arc of this title is about the survival of the titles female lead as she seeks to help her friends find a safe location to wait out the days that the undead walk the earth. Unlike other titles out there, the undead have a certain lifespan and as such, if no feeding occurs they weaken and die. I like that in a title as it demonstrates that there are some realistic tendencies with this work. Add to that additional blog posts from readers of the blog and you know that it’s got all sorts of arty touches that really will strike a nerve with many readers the world over.
Finally, what Madeleine does well is present a story with a great lead, has a decent support cast and clearly demonstrates throughout that she plays for keeps as the events unwind. That said however, my only real problem with the book is that at the beginning you know that what occurs within is looked back upon in hindsight and as such means that during a lot of the story the tales lead is in very little danger until we creep towards the end which is when the tension, to quote Spinal Tap, cranks right up to 11.
It is definitely something new, it has some great prose and when backed with realistic dialogue and an author who will deal in the unpleasant (Bucket Toilet duties) then you know a great deal of thought and planning has gone on before which will make this title definitely one for the Urban Fantasist out there and a title that will threaten as much as engulf the reader’s imagination.
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
It is fall in Philadelphia and the mutilated body of a man is found in one of the poorest neighbourhoods of the city. The victim has been viciously tortured to death. It's the work of a sadistic mind in free fall. When homicide detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano investigate, they soon realise that their crime scene is linked to the past. Eight years ago, another body was found in the same place, in the same position, killed in the same manner. That case was never closed. Apart from their killer's unusual calling cards, the crime scene photos - past and present - are identical. As another brutalised body appears, then another, it becomes horrifyingly clear that someone is recreating unsolved murders from Philadelphia's past in the most sinister of ways. And the killer is closer than they think...
REVIEW:
Crime has never been so good as it has recently. Within this title you get scares, you get chills and above all else you get a tale that keeps the reader glued to the last page especially when you back it with some cracking backstory to reveal more about one of the principle protagonists. It’s well written, it’s definitely a title that has a great overall arc and its one that adds to the characters previous adventures in such a way that it keeps it moving at its own pace.
Finally add some great prose, a good sense of dialogue backed by believable characters and the reader really is in for a treat. Richard is back to form so please ignore The Devil’s Garden and turn straight to this title. A real faith restorer.
Hail Mighty Readers and Bat Fans,Our pals over at the BFI Imax (London) wanted us to let you know that the Caped Crusader has his own special night with them on the 26th March 2011. Yep thats, 26th March 2011 where you can attend and enjoy:Batman (35mm) (12)
| Director | Tim Burton |
| Country | USA |
| Year | 1989 |
| Running time | 126min |
| Certificate | 12A |
Batman Returns (35mm) (12)
| Director | Tim Burton |
| Country | USA |
| Year | 1992 |
| Running time | 126min |
| Certificate | 12A |
Batman Begins (IMAX DMR) (12A)
| Director | Christopher Nolan |
| Country | USA |
| Year | 2005 |
| Running time | 140min |
| Certificate | 12A |
The Dark Knight (IMAX DMR) (12A)
| Director | Christopher Nolan |
| Country | USA |
| Year | 2008 |
| Running time | 152min |
| Certificate | 12A |
There's even a competitions and prizes for the best dressed Batman. So Book Early or the Joke may be on you. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
When the city was founded, he was the mad native spirit that waited in the dark, on the edge of the torchlight. When the streets were cobbled over, he became the footsteps heard on stone that you cannot see. When the Victorians introduced street lighting, he was the shadow who always shied away from the light, and when the gas went out, there he was. The shadow at the end of the alley, the footsteps half-heard in the night. A daimyo of the Neon Court is dead. So are two warriors of the Tribe. And a freshly-prophesied 'chosen one' is missing. Each side blames the other and Matthew Swift is right in the middle of it, trying to keep the peace. Because when magicians go to war, everyone loses. But Swift has even bigger problems. A dead woman is trying to kill him and the city itself is under attack from a force of unimaginable power. As if trying to stay one step ahead of an assassin and juggling magical politics weren't challenging enough, Swift must also find a way to defeat a primal threat from humanity's darkest nightmares. Or there may not be a London left to fight over ...
REVIEW:
Having felt a little disappointed with the second title in the series I hoped that this one would pick up on not only the excitement but also the potential that the first novel showed and whilst there’s a number of new titles coming out I’ve missed something on the scale of Neverwhere with the touch of the Noughties added. What this title does is keep the reader enthused with a lead character as vivid as Mike Carey’s Felix Castor, the scope/wonderment of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London and tied up with the dialogue and smart-ass style of Suzanne McLeod’s Spellcasters.com.
Add to that great pace alongside a plot outline to keep you going to the last line and you know that this series really has got a lot more potential to evolve into something entirely unique. A real joy to read and I really can’t wait for the next instalment.
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
The violence of an age-old war casts a long shadow. It falls on a world where mercy is weakness and conflict is a way of life. Young Malian is being trained to rule. Her people garrison the mountain range known as the Wall of Night against an ancient enemy, keeping a tide of shadow from the rest of their world. Malian is expected to uphold this tradition, yet she's known little of real danger until the enemy launches a direct attack upon her fortress home. In the darkest part of the night, the Keep of Winds becomes a bloodbath. Women and children, warriors and priests, are slain by creatures with twisted magic flowing in their veins. And as the castle wakes to chaos, Malian flees deep into the Old Keep, her life at stake. Then when the danger is greatest, her own hidden magic flares into life. But this untapped potential is a two-edged blade. If she accepts its power, she must prepare to pay the price.
REVIEW:
A debut that will have a number of readers standing up to pay attention as this cleverly woven tale takes the reader on a journey of adventure, of discovery and above all else plays to the strengths of the genre for which it was created. Back that up with some solid descriptive writing, so wonderful prose and a style that takes the reader by the hand to show them around this dark world and it’s one that announces Helen to the adult world of fiction. All in a wonderful tale and one that will appeal to fans of the sword and sorcery genre with its own deliciously dark bite to add its own spice to the readers imagination which when backed with some colourful characters will remain a tale that haunts as well as lures you back for seconds.
Release Date: 30/06/11
SYNOPSIS:
The year is 1777. The place, North Carolina. And as the American rebellion grows in intensity, Highlander Jamie Fraser and his wife Claire need to decide which side their family is going to be on. The choice should be an easy one, given that Claire was born in the twentieth century and has already seen the future - in history books. But things are never simple where the Frasers are concerned, as father and son unwittingly come face to face on the battlefield, and an old adversary reaches forward in time to threaten the next generation. Up to now, Claire and Jamie's love has survived every danger history has put in their path, but in the chaos of war, with families bitterly divided against each other, is the future finally going to catch up with them?
REVIEW:
Fans of Diana’s writing have had to wait a little while, for this the seventh release in her Outlander series. Whilst the readers may have been left a little apprehensive due to the lack of action within the last book (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) then they’ll be pleased to see that it picks up in this release. Whilst the history concerned is well known to the reader, the characters within have a quality that the reader just can’t let go of. They’re beautifully created and with the next generation getting bigger and better chances to take centre stage the reader has a lot to look forward to.
What can be a little troublesome is the sheer amount of subplots within, so much so that as the tale progresses it can be quite easy to either get confused or wonder what the author is intending with these for future titles. Diana is an author that represents quality writing, one that my Mum put me onto as she’d read the series from its inception way back in the early 90’s and whilst it has taken me a few years to appreciate this authors writing it’s the emotional context that she does well which when backed with a great writing style, a serious sense of pace as well as a need to give the reader the emotional content that they desire which creates a series that few others can currently even dream of.
All in a seriously wonderful read, although to be honest, I was lucky enough to be able to get the most from this due to a reread of all the titles from the original release (Outlander) which is what I’d advise other readers to do as well. Great stuff.
Release Date: 25/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Planet by planet, darkness creeps across the galaxy. Among warriors and generals, among ordinary beings living in far-flung worlds, the fear will not go away: We are losing this war...
Anakin Skywalker feels it, too. The Separatist Alliance, with ruthlessness and treachery, is beating the Republic to every strategic target. But after a costly clash with General Grievous for the planet Kothlis, Anakin has a mission that will focus his anxious mind. Alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi, he is posing as a long-lost native of Lanteeb, an impoverished world on the Outer Rim. This seemingly unimportant planet has drawn the interest of the Seps—and Anakin and Obi-Wan soon discover the disturbing reason: A scientist enslaved by General Lok Durd is drawing on Lanteeb’s one natural resource for a devastating bioweapon.
Now Anakin and Obi-Wan have entered the eye of a storm. Their presence has been exposed, Lok Durd’s plans unveiled, and a fight has begun for survival behind enemy lines—and a chance of winning a war that must be fought at any cost.
REVIEW:
Usually I’m a fan of Karen’s writing but with this title in the Star Wars Clone Wars Gambit series it fell a long way short to keeping this reader happy. The plotline was stuff we’ve seen before almost a direct rehash, the characters felt flat and clichéd and to be honest with you so little actually happens that the tale really felt like a cash in on the franchise rather that a serious offering.
Whilst this is there to help finish this part of the series off (building to a climax for the next book) the whole thing really felt more of a damp squib than a roaring lion almost as if the author was a little short of managing to create a decent two-parter title without having to go for much overused plotlines. A great shame all in and one that I won’t be recommending to fans of the franchise. If you have to buy one book then make it the other recent Star Wars release: Knights Errant. You’ll be so glad that you did.
Hail Mighty Readers,Here's this months round up of previously reviewed titles that have either been released in PB format or have undergone new binding/artwork. (Covers in review may differ from current incarnation.)This month you'll find:
Watcher of the Dead - JV Jones
Secrets of the Fire Sea - Stephen Hunt
Under Heaven - Guy Gavriel Kay
The Golden City - John Twelve Hawks
If we've missed one please let us know,Gareth
Release Date: 03/03/11
