BOOK BLURB:
The people of Noreela are just beginning an era of expansion, with explorers going constantly further into unknown territory for profit and glory. Blocking the voyagers' southward journeys, however, is the Great Divide, a cliff that reaches into the clouds. Ramus Rheel, an aging explorer battling cancer, and Nomi Hyden, whose wealth has not diminished her craving for adventure, are 'friendly enemies' who set out to scale the Divide and earn recognition as the greatest voyagers of all. When they find the lair of one of the ancient Sleeping Gods, they get considerably more excitement - and terror - than they bargained for.
REVIEW:
A prequel to Tim’s earlier works (“Dusk” (2006) and “Dawn” (2007) this novel continues exploring the world of Noreela in much the same sort of way. Add to the mix an Indiana Jones type of tale where a team is put together only to fall out and race each other to their objective. An objective that they discover was something perhaps best left where it was.
It’s a quirky tale, it move’s at its own pace (and lets face it when you’re talking about a 700 mile journey it can only go so quickly.) Nether the less it’s a tale of fascination, of discovery and above all about what each characters emotional journey when their “grail” ends up not so much the imagined cup, but something else entirely. Definitely a book if you’re looking for something a little different in the fantasy field and definitely a bit of fun. Highly recommended although the book back really doesn’t seem to do the tale justice as I only really decided to read the tale after it had been nominated for the David Gemmell Legend Awards.
BOOK BLURB:
Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. She travels from town to town with her father, hunting the things that go bump in the night and eat the unwary. It’s a weird life, but a good one–until it all explodes and a zombie busts into her new house.
Alone, terrified, and trapped in an icy town, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. Can she trust the boy who is just a little too adult–and just happens to get bit by a werwulf? Or the strange blue-eyed boy who tells her she’s heir to a long-forgotten power? Can she even trust her own instincts?
Because Dru is not the first in her family to be killed by the darkness of the Real World. The monsters have decided to hunt back–and now Dru has to figure out who to trust, who to fight, and when to run. And not incidentally, she has to figure out how she’s going to get out of this alive.
And she has to do it in the next 24 hours, or it’s all over…
REVIEW:
When an established author takes a crack at a YA you have to wonder why they fancied writing outside their usual comfort zone and exactly how their writing will translate to a new audience.
Here Lili’s tale unfolds as an epic adventure with hints as to the otherness of the principle protagonist giving the reader not only a tale to keep them on the edge of their seats but also a story that has identifiable characters along with emotional context to give them an overall rounder appearance than a lot of other characters within YA books.
It’s well written, will appeal to both genders and presents a cracking start to a new supernatural series that has huge potential for a myriad of jumping off points. Add to the mix Vamps, Zombies and Werewolves along with a touch of Warner’s Supernatural and you’ve really got a sure fire smash. We’ll have to wait to see which way Lili will take this but I for one will be waiting its follow on with baited breath.
Epic adventure, fantastical characters with an adrenaline fuelled writing style…. Perfect.
BOOK BLURB:
When the body of a murdered woman is found in the extraordinary, decaying city of Beszel, somewhere at the edge of Europe, it looks like a routine case for Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad. But as he probes, the evidence begins to point to conspiracies far stranger, and more deadly, than anything he could have imagined. Soon his work puts him and those he cares for in danger.
Borlú must travel to the only metropolis on Earth as strange as his own, across a border like no other. It is a journey as psychic as it is physical, a shift in perception, a seeing of the unseen, a journey to Beszel's equal, rival, and intimate neighbor, the rich and vibrant city of Ul Qoma.
REVIEW:
With a number of readers being a bit disappointed with China’s last release, this latest offering had to give the readers something special which he managed to do. Carefully blending fantasy with a pulp noir fiction the tale really does clip along in such a way that it keeps the reader glued to the last page as well as allowing the reader to follow and try to solve the case as they continue with the principle protagonist.
Lovingly crafted, beautiful world building and a tale that keeps you guessing to the last China has definitely retained his previous form presenting the reader with a book that will enthuse you long after the final page is turned.
Cyanide, an independent video game studio, and George R. R. Martin today announced their partnership to create the first-ever video games inspired by the author’s award-winning, international bestselling ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ fantasy series.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cyanide has obtained the exclusive rights to develop ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ video games for next-generation consoles and PC, and in collaboration with George R.R Martin, development has begun.
"We are all huge fans of ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’, so it is a true honour for our teams to be entrusted with creating the first video games inspired by this masterpiece" stated Patrick Pligersdorffer, Managing Director of Cyanide. "The twists and turns of the plot will allow us to deliver an experience which can be enjoyed by both long-time fans as well as gamers new to the series."
Published most notably by Bantam Books in North America and Voyager Books in the United Kingdom, the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ novels have been translated into more than twenty languages (including Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian) and have been nominated for numerous prizes. Set in a world where nothing is simply black and white, the rich web of characters makes it an ideal background for numerous genres of video games.
‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ has already been adapted into a card game and a board game. More recently, HBO acquired the rights with the intent of turning the novels into a television series of which casting has begun with one notable role already filled, that of Tyrion "The Imp" Lannister by Peter Dinklage.
BOOK BLURB:
When a messenger bat arrives at the RSPCB, Ulf the werewolf receives news of trouble in the wild. Trolls are being smoked out of their mountain home for use in a beast-hunting range. Can Ulf stop the troll hunt, or will he be hunted too? The future of the RSPCB depends on him...
REVIEW:
If you want adventure for a younger reader and a tale that brings the conservation message home then you really can’t beat this series of books by “The Beastly Boys.” Its entertaining with a protagonist that the reader can get behind especially when he outwits the principle antagonist. Highly novel with its use of monsters as the endangered creatures of the world it really is a high octane read especially when backed up with the artistic talent within. A definite recommendation as my nephew loved hearing the story with the others of the series being firm favourites.
BOOK BLURB:
Harry Dresden, professional wizard, has done his best to keep his nose clean where the White Council of Wizards is concerned. Even so, his past misdeeds have cast a constant shadow of suspicion over him in the eyes of the Wardens, those wizards responsible for enforcing the Laws of Magic. Now Dresden finds himself faced with a nightmarish dilemma: Morgan, formerly his chief persecutor among the Wardens, has been wrongly accused of treason against the White Council - and has come to Harry for help. Dresden faces a daunting task: clear Morgan's name while simultaneously hiding him from the Wardens and the supernatural bounty hunters sent to find him, discover the identity of the true turncoat and, of course, avoid accusations of treachery of his own. A single mistake may mean that heads - quite literally - will roll. And one of them could be his own ...
REVIEW:
As mentioned in other reviews you really can’t beat Jim in modern urban fantasy as he really is the name to beat. The characters within the tale continue to grow along with the paranoia of the greater supporting cast as the idea’s of a black council that Harry’s been selling for years comes more the fore in this latest offering. Well written, heart rending, comical and above all a tale that demonstrates the ebb and flow essential to a truly great journey and you have a satisfactory story even though it will more than upset a number of the established fans.
BOOK BLURB:
Two young companions, Totho and Salma, arrive at Tark to spy on the menacing Wasp army, but are there mistakenly apprehended as enemy agents. By the time they are freed, the city is already under siege. Over in the imperial capital the young emperor, Alvdan, is becoming captivated by a remarkable slave, the vampiric Uctebri, who claims he knows of magic that can grant eternal life. In Collegium, meanwhile, Stenwold is still trying to persuade the city magnates to take seriously the Wasp Empire's imminent threat to their survival. In a colourful drama involving mass warfare and personal combat, a small group of heroes must stand up against what seems like an unstoppable force. This volume continues the story that so brilliantly unfolded in Empire in Black and Gold - and the action is still non-stop.
REVIEW:
With the release of his debut last year we really have come to expect great things from this author especially given the context as well as enthusiasm with which we devoured The Empire of Black and Gold. So what can the reader come to expect from the latest offering?
Its well written, with an expanding cast that help make this such a stupendous debut series. The characters are well rounded and with hidden politics, excellent combat sequences and a tale that continues to expand upon the previous that will more than hook readers within. Definitely a tale to pick up and a trilogy that really does demand the upmost of your attention and time. Make a special trip to the bookshop for this and if your worrying about finding an ideal Fathers Day present, you really can’t go wrong with this series.
BOOK BLURB:
Dark Lord
Rod Everlar is a writer who mysteriously finds himself drawn into a fantasy world of his own creation. Once there he discovers that three dark wizards dominate the land. Facing danger at every turn, he must learn how to seize control of Falconfar and find a way of defeating the spreading corruption before it's too late. Dark Lord displays all the hallmarks of Ed's reputation for creating a richly realised fantasy setting, and characters that shine.
Arch Wizard
Arch Wizard is the second thrilling adventure in The Falconfar Saga. Having been drawn into a fantasy world of his own creation, Rod Everlar continues his quest to defeat the corruption he has discovered within. He sets off in pursuit of the dark wizard Malraun, only to find that he has raised an army of monsters and mercenaries in order to conquer the world.
REVIEW:
I, like a number of other readers, grew up with Ed Greenwood’s Elminster and his Forgotten Realm series so when Solaris let it be known that they were to print his latest series I really couldn’t wait for them to land.
Dark Lord see’s the principle protagonist starting out in our world and is sucked into a world of his own creation (similar in certain respects to the 1982 Anime Flight of Dragons.) Its well written and allowed me a touch of nostalgia to get back in touch with my childhood which really did allow me a few magical hours at a time. Add to the mix Ed’s typically Spartan descriptiveness along with a well driven plot and you’ll find yourself sucked into this world and willing to spend a good while exploring it.
Arch Wizard, the follow up to Dark Lord, takes the hero from the original and plunges him into a great chaos than he believed could be possible. As you’d expect from Greenwood, well written with a character that keeps you guessing as to what they’re going to do up to the moment in which they act. A great new series from one of the rejuvenator’s of the nineties.
John Jarrold kindly let us know about a couple of deals that he helped negotiate:
First of all Gollancz have purchased a Young Adult Fantasy series by Stephen Deas who burst onto the adult fantasy scene in March with his debut Adamantine Palace. His new series will be interleaved with the adult fantasy with the first volume, The Thief-Taker's Apprentice, delivered in December for publication in early Autumn 2010. Currently Stephen is putting the finishing touches to King of the Crags, the second novel to follow on from Adamantine Palace.
Secondly, the US rights to Mark Charan Newton's forthcoming Nights of Villjamur have been sold to Del Rey. Chris Schluep said "I am so excited to be publishing NIGHTS OF VILLJAMUR, which is an absolutely wonderful book, and I’m very much looking forward to launching the U.S. career of an important and talented new writer in the field. I’m convinced that Mark has a bright future ahead of him; he’s one of those writers that you come across only on occasion..."
Antipodean author MK Hume can be said to have galloped onto the Historical Fiction scene with the first of her trilogy based on the tales of King Arthur. With the first offering already out and with the second scheduled for release in October, we thought that we'd like to get to know this relatively new author who's made a splash with her interpretation of the 5th/6th Century. Here she chats to us about live, unsociable writing hours and above all the chance for immortality...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?
Marilyn K Hume: Long before I considered writing seriously, I always wrote for pleasure, and I’ve got the writer’s callus to prove it. I started writing for pleasure when I was eight years old because I adored heroic poetry (eg, Horatio at the Bridge and Hiawatha). I enjoyed entering competitions as a child and wrote a diary, although it’s patchy. Because I painted as well, I was able to keep the writing itch at bay. Later, when I became a teacher, I wrote gruesome stories for students and even when babysitting, I adored inventing and telling stories.
I am a storyteller by inclination, and I’d hope I was also a song master. I think all good writers have to be to describe their internal world that goes on, waking and sleeping, inside our heads. I’ll tell the tales, write them and paint them – but first I have to birth them! It’s like breathing, I suppose. A friend once called me a Pied Piper because of it. I love to paint with words, to choose the correct words and to find the most apt, unusual imagery, or to try to discover a way to turn what I see behind my eyes into pictures that readers are forced to see as well.
PS. I hate the Post Modernist idea that the author has no place in text, and that it’s the reader alone who matters. Yes, the reader makes us or breaks us as commercial successes, but I’d still write even if I didn’t sell a single book. Writing and painting is me, a more important guide to my thoughts than what I say when I speak.
FT: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?
MKH: When I was a child, I had a particularly vivid dream (in colour) where I was riding a black horse across a wild landscape. I recall I was wearing a necklace of black diamonds in white metal (silver, I guess) and I was being pursued by something. I tried to writ down the details of the dream at the time, but I didn’t have the skills. I still remember the details of the dream.
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?
MKH: From my perspective, a short story demands a brief burst of incredible discipline. I wrote short stories from childhood for personal pleasure and, when I was teaching, I wrote gruesome little short stories of all types as examples for teenagers. I entered competitions, and won quite a few (just small local ones) but I really enjoyed the discipline of stretching myself out for 700 to 1000 words.
I also believe that it’s the best starting point for allowing a writer to set their imagination free. Why can’t harlequin and Columbine dance in Times Square at midnight? Could an incubus stalk a man and only be seen on a light reflective surface? What would have happened if Pontius Pilate had set Jesus free?
I eventually found writing a full-length novel to be relatively easy because I’d been writing short stories for years, and I was surprised how free and exciting I found novel writing to be. But I also believe academic, business and short story writing provided the discipline that has ensured that I pay attention to the vocabulary I use.
I self-published all my short stories some years ago under the title, Little Tales of Light Madness, and I was surprised how many sold through word of mouth and in spite of completely inadequate marketing skills.
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?
MKH: Initially, I’d show them the cover. Unlike many books, the cover is a reflection of the contents in this case. I’d tell them that it is a different view of King Arthur, not medieval or magical or constrained by the rather distant, idealized and, dare I say it, wimpy image of Arthur. My Arthur has flaws, is violent and capable of savagery - but he’s a real man! A hero must be attractive, charismatic and brave. He/she must have real enemies, not monsters or ill-defined, magical threats. The invasion of the Saxons seemed to me to be an enormous problem that Arthur could pit his valour against. Besides, if Arthur existed, the Saxons really were his enemies.
I’m really passionate about this topic, and I’d trust my enthusiasm to help. Also, I believe in my Arthur, who is not a prototype idealized king. Nor are my other characters the traditional, legendary forms. I tried to create some sense of truth to explain why this man and his adherents would be preserved by the ancient methods of story telling.
FT: How would you "sell" your book in 20 words or less?
MKH: Valour, vile, death and despair! A man’s heart holds the only salvation for his people but he must give everything!
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?
MKH: The Lord of the Rings (Tolkien) is my favourite book, closely followed by Tea With the Black Dragon and The Black Angel. I adore the writing styles of John Connolly and Carol O’Connell and I pursue their books passionately.
P.S. I also re-read Judas Child (O’Connell) every year as well.
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?
MKH: I never know how the story will end. In my defence, however, I spend ever so long creating my characters before I pick up my pen. I can tell you about their ancestors, their parents, where they’ve grew up, everything, whether I use it or not.
Then, when the characters are more familiar to me than my own family, I pick up my pen and follow them through my story, recording what they say with my imaginary video camera. There are times when I become quite desperate because my hand can’t keep up with them as they charge through the world I’ve invented for them.
No, I don’t write down the character profiles. It’s all done internally. I’ve been told that I should follow a plan, but this method works for me. Of course, I have some idea of the broad time period and the over-riding conflict, as I’ve done a great deal of general research before hand.
FT: What do you do to relax and what have you read recently?
MKH: I read a book a day and I hunt through thrift shops for treasures. I write letters (as distinct from E-mails) because I love the rituals of letter writing. I hunt for gifts for friends or, if I have more time, I paint.
I’ve just finished Dexter by Design (Jeff Lindsay) and I’m also reading Myth (G. S. Kirk) as a refresher. To keep my wits sensitive, I’m also reading Dante’s Purgatorio with the Salvatore Dali illustrations. I dip into it occasionally, as I can’t even pretend that I can read it in one hit, but it’s normal for me to be reading half a dozen things at the same time.
FT: What is your guiltiest pleasure that few know about?
MKH: I don’t think I have too many guilty pleasures – I’m depressingly open as a personality, so the world generally knows everything I do. However, I have been known to derive enjoyment out of (mentally) punishing certain people who have harmed me or mine, and planning how to get away with it successfully. Once I’ve ‘killed her off’, I find they don’t bother me anymore! Pathological, I suppose, but it’s fun to imagine how ‘the worm could turn’ - and how I’d go about 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?)
MKH: Animals like me. I have an 18-year-old miniature terrier called L.G. (for Little Girl) who was given to me when she was 8 because her owners had died. She’s convinced she’s a rotweiller and I admire her courage and her loyalty.
I own a cat called Salem who is eight and she was given to me when her owner had to move to an apartment that didn’t permit pets (Yes, I’m a sucker!!!). She’s a black-haired, green-eyed killer who has been fitted with bells because she insists on trying to feed me with birds, mice, lizards, geckos. I also find a very large black cat called Satan who comes to visit on a daily basis. He’s lazy, indolent and capable of bursts of enthusiasm for food and cuddles.
I inherited my son’s goldfish that live in a huge, 6 feet deep and 15 feet diameter plastic pond and are now an average of 12 inches in size. I feed them when I remember, but as they have a living environment, they’ll never starve. I don’t know if fish have ears, but they rise to the surface when I call out ‘fishie’!!!
I don’t consciously use my pets in my stories but I guess I admire courage, loyalty, ruthlessness, devotion and power - so I guess that explains me.
FT: Which character within your latest book was the most fun to write and why?
MKH: Targo is my idea of a real man, and I had a great deal of pleasure creating him. He can say all the things I’d often like say, with impunity. He’s certainly mine because there are no equivalent characters in the legends.
FT: How similar to your principle protagonist are you?
MKH: I wish I were like the young Artorex, although I wouldn’t enjoy the price he pays to achieve greatness. I’m drawn to people who struggle with great troubles and strife, and I’m relieved when a person breaks the constraints of society and rises above their condition.
Despite my best efforts, I’ve never really fitted in with my various peer groups throughout my life. I suppose outsiders are therefore important to me, and now that I reflect on it, many characters are outsiders in Dragon’s Child and the other two books that follow. Even my villains don’t fit comfortably into their societies. I’d like to believe that the aliens amongst us are the one who achieve, because they don’t have the comfort of people who fit into the shapes that life makes for them. Artorex is a ‘square peg’, but is a really superior example, as are Myrddion, Targo and Odin. Even Caius is alien, and his vices reflect an inability to understand his peers.
FT: What hobbies do you have and how do they influence your work?
MKH: I read anything and everything. Obviously, wide and catholic reading really helps with all sorts of scraps of information. Art has provided me with habits of observation, the use of colour and an ability to visualise. Thrift shops provide a means of collecting people from all walks of life. I am an inveterate chatterer and even while sitting and having a cup of coffee, I collect fragments of conversation, pieces of faces and gestures, all the minutae that creates good characterisation. Even bad experiences are grist for the mill.
FT: Where do you get your idea's from?
MKH: Anywhere and everywhere! With the trilogy, I obviously had the legends to go by, even though I had to find realistic ways to translate these legends into prosaic life. I loved that challenge.
I like to write all kinds of genre. I would have to have to write historical epics until I died, although I love them. It’s the stories and the characters that face through the cracks that appeal to me. For example, what happened to Nefertiti? How would you feel if you were a survivor of The Charge of the Light Brigade? What would your life be like after you had won fame as a war hero? Did Pontius Pilate commit suicide at Lake Geneva? Where did Keats get the idea for Bella Dame Sans Merci? There are so many subjects for historical novels, so how can anyone get writer’s block?
FT: Do you ever encounter writers block and if so how do you overcome it?
MKH: No. That’s not to say I don’t write absolute rubbish on some days, but I can also tear up what I don’t like and keep what I do. For me, the trick is to keep writing. Some of it will be useless but some will be fine. Therefore, I write every day because I have a ‘real job’. Many people think that being an author is a kind of hobby, and I believe that’s a dangerous path for any writer to follow. I write between 6am and midday, at least, every day, and I don’t ever get writer’s block.
FT: Certain authors are renowned for writing at what many woudl call uncivilised times. When do you write and how do the others in your household feel about it?
MKH: I write as above, but that doesn’t mean that thoughts of a book don’t go with me everywhere I go, so I can get things down or write a few pages. Having a quiet drink at a pub, or a coffee break when I’m shopping, or midnight when I cannot sleep – I just write whenever the mood takes me.
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?
MKH: I write to the music of TV, my invalid son’s never-ending calls for real or imagined needs, the cat’s insistence on sitting on the page I am working on, and the occasional talk-back radio program. I enjoy music in the background, when I am afforded the opportunity, and I suppose I like stimulating stuff such as Meatloaf, Chicago, Leonard Cohen, Lily Allen, etc. Once again, I like a wide range of music as long as it stimulates - but I can do without it!!!!
However, I believe very strongly that the written word has its own musicality and I read my work aloud to make sure that the sound is true to what I am trying to say. Certain words and phrases can drive me crazy - because they damage the music and the song.
FT: What misconceptions, if any, did you have about the writing and publsihing field when you were first getting started?
MKH: My biggest misconception was how long it all took. I knew there would be a great deal of work involved, but I never expected that it would be quite so much. This is not a complaint, as I rather like the challenge and the discipline. What I didn’t realise was that when your publisher’s core business is historical literature, they expect perfection in the research that you present to their public – and if you come close to achieving their standards, then they will do everything in their power to “achieve the grail”. My agent has the same exacting standards.
What I never expected, as an Australian, was how genuine, clever and committed the people in the publishing industry can be. In Australia, writing is an exclusive club and you aren’t expected to apply unless you belong. When I first met my agent and publisher in London in 2008, it was with a great deal of trepidation.
When they told my how much they appreciated my work and the standards that I was setting, I’m ashamed to say that I doubted them because of the “Australian Cultural Cringe”. Even now, I don’t belong to “The Writer’s Club” or the Literati of Australia. I don’t think I ever will, because I fervently believe that there’s no sin in writing material that the public want to read.
FT: If music be the food of love, what do you think writing is and please explain your answer?
MKH: Writing is the food of my life! If we can agree that life is a very mixed bag of joy and tragedy, virtue and vice, heroism and cowardice, and anything else you care to mention, then writing records, analyses, enlightens and en-nobles life in all its vividness. It’s my food anyway!
FT: What can you tell us about the next novel?
MKH: Each of the volumes of the trilogy approximates a decade in the life of King Arthur. The first volume, Dragon’s Child, is set in Artor’s teen years up the to point where he becomes king at about 20 years of age.
Part Two of the trilogy, The Warrior of the West, chronicles Artor’s success in his wars against the Saxons, his unfortunate marriage and the building of his fortress at Cadbury Tor (My Camelot). This volume is set in Artor’s thirties. Targo is back, but he is very old. Nimue has grown into an adult and Perce has become Percivale, Artor’s purest and most decent warrior. Artor is at the peak of his powers, but he is constantly on guard to avoid the pitfalls of absolute power
Part Three of the trilogy, The Bloody Cup, chronicles the final decade of Artor’s life leading to his death in his late fifties.
FT: What are the last five internet sites that you've visited?
MKH: http://www.lifeinitaly.com/beauty/cosmetic-history-rome.asp.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/taliesin.html
http://www.ynysprydein.org/bran/bardic_notes.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picts
Google on Seamaster, Omega watches (Can’t remember the address).
FT: Did you ever take any writing classes or specific instructions to learn the craft? If so please let us know which ones.
MKH: I tolerated one seminar by the Queensland Writer’s Centre on preparing for Publishing about six years ago and was bored rigid. The purpose of the seminar appeared to me to be about selling the lecturer’s recently released book. Most of the content was common sense.
I also undertook a Short Story Seminar at a convention held by well-known Australian writers but they read our work out to us, verbatim, which served little purpose to the audience as all present were quite capable of reading for themselves.
I learned most of my writing skills by immersing myself in literature, and have come to appreciate that you must study the good, the bad, and the very ordinary, to appreciate the differences between them.
FT: How did you get past the initial barriers of criticism and rejection?
MKH: Nobody likes rejection, but any Australia writer gets used to it quickly. I always had the feeling that life would work out if I could just get someone to read my stuff. I soon realised that it’s getting an agent that’s hard (impossible in Australia) because 99% of all published works are contracted through an agent. If you’re a tyro, nobody wants to read you - so you don’t reach first base.
To get my writing career off the ground, I wrote a Mills & Boon style novel. I was frustrated to find that I passed through the hands of several of the company’s readers before I was eventually rejected. I wasn’t actually upset by the rejections, although I badly wanted to see myself in print.
I then proceeded to write a Georgette Heyer style novel (it was an excellent read but remains unpublished). This was followed by two historical romances set in the setting of the Australian gold rush. These also remained unpublished in spite of the fact that one of them was the winner of Second Prize in the Random House/Australian Women’s Day Literary Competition of 1996. The book won $5,000 against a Melbourne Cup field of almost 3,000 entries from Australia’s best novelists. My ego was assuaged, but my bank account remained empty.
I’ve struck a few of the pitfalls of publishing. One well-known internet publisher took one of my books on a twelve month contract, paid me nothing, and kept selling the novel for seven years. She ignored my protests during all of this time. It was only intervention of lawyers from the Copyright Council that got my novel off her website.
I was rather angry at the ethics of this particular lady. She was, and remains, a thief.
Basically, we have a situation where writers set themselves up for rejection as soon as they begin to write, as happens in all the creative arts. You can’t enjoy the praise without the criticism. Yes, it hurts, but you have to learn from it and roll with the punches.
FT: In your opinion, what are the best and worst aspects of writing for a living?
MKH: I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a salary – because writing can be an endeavour that you do for love – and nothing else! I’d hoped to make a living out of writing. And then, my life would be perfect!!!! I love being the master of my own destiny, and I’m prepared to suffer the drawbacks that come with this freedom. I am also drawn by the opportunity to say something that will outlast my lifetime. Some writers do have the opportunity to become immortal.
BOOK BLURB:
Uther Pendragon, High King of Britain, is dying. As he weakens, Britain is being torn apart by the squabbling of kings. Only one man can bring them together. This is the legend of Artorex, the man destined to be King Arthur.
Artorex, tall for his years, is growing up in the household of Lord Ector. Artorex was sent here by the Bishop of Glastonbury when he was but a babe in arms and, although his parentage is unknown, life has been unremarkable. That is, until the arrival of three men who arrange for him to be trained in the skills of the warrior; blade and shield, horse and fire; pain and bravery.
By the time the men return, Artorex is both a father and a warrior – and married to Lady Gallia. The country is in a desperate state – Londinium is about to fall to the Saxons and Artorex is needed to help fight their advance. But to do so, he must leave his wife and family in the care of others. In an act of appalling treachery, they are slaughtered. But despite his terrible grief, Artorex’s destiny is set. He launches into a campaign of battle against the Saxon hordes, earning himself the trust of all men, and proving himself to be the only worthy successor to Uther. But Uther cannot accept Artorex’s role and hides his sword and crown.
If Artorex is to unite the kings and fulfil his destiny, he needs the weapon destined to be worn by the High King of the Britons. Can he find the embittered Uther's hiding place? The future of Britain is at stake...
REVIEW:
With a great many books having been written about the life and times of King Arthur, an author really does have to come up with something a little special to stand out in the sea of literature. Here MK Hume steps into the front line with her first tale in whats set to be a trilogy of a tale that utilises the best of the myths along with transfering them to what many believe is historically the real time period of the King.
What ensues in this first book (of the trilogy) is his journey from boyhood to manhood and his taking of the throne upon the death of Uther with a tale that really will enthuse the reader. The writing style is a pure joy to read and its obvious from the opening couple of pages how enthused the author is along with how clued up they are about the time period. Definitely a tale for all who love a good historical epic with characters so tangable you can almost meet them face to face. Cracking offering and we'll eagerly devour the next tale in October.
BOOK BLURB:
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug. She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po. She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace - or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.
REVIEW:
This debut novel is perhaps a bit of an unusual tale to be brutally honest as it feels that it has elements of YA over the Adult fantasy that we tend to review yet with the context of the material along with the attitude of the principle character we had to place it within this category. Its interesting in a debut sort of a way however it doesn’t quite pack a hard enough punch as the principle protagonist seems to be more of a 2d character than the fully rounded that we’ve come to expect. This I have no doubt will be fixed within future novels however it did leave me feeling a tad unfulfilled especially when you consider how much of a power house the physical abilities of the protagonista actually are. Its quirky, its lead is female and above all it will probably help to broaden the female readership for the genre but as a new novel it isn’t that impressive. With luck the author will hopefully correct the character oversights in her next novel.
Angry Robot (the new imprint from Harper Collins) were proud to announce signing Colin Harvey today.
For some years Colin has bene a contributor to the British Small Presses and blogs as well as a regular reviewer for Strange Horizons.Signed for two novels, the first, Winter Song, will appear in October and follows a bio engineered Starship Pilot Karl Allman who crashes his craft onto a snowy planet in habited by Vikingesque tribes, the remanants of earlier colonisation efforts. As the ntives help him find a way back to the stars, he comes to realise that they are far from primitive.
BOOK BLURB:
There's something in the air tonight ...Practical, sceptical Grace McDaniel was not looking for romance. The sheriff of Lake Bluff, Georgia, and the granddaughter of a Cherokee doctor, Grace's hands are full with the daily trouble of small-town life. Arriving in the wake of a freak storm is Ian Walker, a mysterious stranger who blends modern medicine and traditional Native American cures. Even though she is wary of his ideas, Grace cannot resist what his touch awakens in her. But Ian is hiding a terrifying secret. And only he knows the truth about a creature stalking the citizens of Lake Bluff. A creature who preys on the dying ...and then on the young, the living, the vibrant ...Now, to save her people, Grace must put her faith in Ian's haunting power and succumb to her wildest passions - before the rumble of thunder fills the air, and a relentless evil strikes again...
REVIEW:
With a great number of readers loving werewolf fiction there’s one lady who blends the supernatural romanticism with that of the Loup Garou and ties it up with native American myths to generate a series that flies in the face generating a tale that many will come to love. Here in her latest offering you get more of what made her famous along with a tale to really get your teeth into.
Its fun, its heroines are feisty and above all there’s a plot that you’ll just enjoy to the max. Well written, humorous in places but above all Lori’s ability to describe things in quite a spartanite way allow the book to focus on the story. As usual you can jump straight in with any of her books without having to have read any of the previous as all tales are more or less self contained with repeat character appearances to tie the series together. Good fun.
BOOK BLURB:
How can a plucky young orphan girl save the world from ultimate destruction?
Born into captivity as a product of the Royal Breeding House, lonely orphan Purity Drake suddenly finds herself on the run with a foreign vagrant after accidentally killing one of her guards.
Her mysterious rescuer claims to have escaped from terrible forces who mean to enslave the Kingdom of the Jackals as they conquered his own nation. Purity doubts his story, until reports begin to filter through from Jackals' neighbours of the murderous Army of Shadows, marching across the continent and sweeping all before them.
But there's more to Purity Drake than meets the eye. And as Jackals girds itself for war against an army of near-indestructible beasts serving an ancient evil with a terrible secret, it soon becomes clear that the Kingdom's only hope is a strange little orphan girl and the last, desperate plan of an escaped slave from a land far, far away...
REVIEW:
The third novel in Stephen’s long awaited trilogy and one that continues to add greater depth to the world created by the WH Smiths New Talent award. It’s well written, it’s cleverly crafted but above all a novel that continues to build upon the success of its predecessors which adds to a more epic feel for the reader, yet it also means that you cannot dive into this if you haven’t read the other novels without ruining a lot of the magic. If your looking for something special and a little different then make this trilogy your new adventure for the year.
BOOK BLURB:
In a world of lies, the truth can be deadly…
Under the harsh regime of an ambitious master, Eon is training to become a Dragoneye – a powerful Lord able to command wind and water to nurture and protect the land. But Eon also harbours a desperate secret – he is in fact a young woman living a dangerous masquerade that, if discovered, will mean certain death.
Brought to the attention of the Emperor himself and summoned to the opulent court, Eon is thrust into the heart of a lethal struggle for the Imperial throne. In this new, treacherous world of hidden identities and uneasy alliances, Eon comes face-to-face with a vicious enemy who covets the young Dragoneye’s astounding power, and will stop at nothing to make it his own.
Inspired by ancient Chinese lore and sharing the wonders of films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this thrilling, timeless novel of deadly politics, sexual intrigue and dazzling swordplay is set in a brilliantly envisioned world where both appearances and loyalties can prove so very deceptive…
REVIEW:
If you love your martial arts or books connected to the mystical east, then this is a tale that's going to be a real treat for you. Blending ancient myth with mystism, martial prowess with political intrigue and characters that literally just jump off the page into your imagination and you've got one cracker of a book to enjoy. Full of thrills and twists, with emotional aspects to form the cast along with beautifully painted scenery and you can't go far wrong. To sum up, lets just say we've tipped you the nod on this tale.
BOOK BLURB:
Tomb raider Simon Bonner wants out of the looting game...until a mysterious crystal lens lands on his doorstep. Legend has it that this lens holds the key to the archives of man - a Mexican tomb that explains the root of all knowledge. There's just one problem - he doesn't know how to use it. Museum curator Jillian Talbot's ability to see an object's history is her secret, so when Simon approaches her, she finds it hard to believe that she's the seer of legend - that only she can unlock the mystery behind the crystal lens. Journeying into the jungles of Mexico, with evil crooks hot on their tail and a growing passion between them, every move for Jillian and Simon becomes a terrifying dance with danger.
REVIEW:
A romantic adventure that blends Indiana Jones, Lara Croft with Romancing the Stone and a huge set of double deals that everyone else appears to be in on apart from the principle characters. Its well written with the key to the tale being blurgeoning romantic development between the principle protagonists as they both learn repect for each other whilst learning their own roles within their group struggling to get past their own traumatic pasts as well as learning to trust other people again. What didn’t quite work so well for me was the name of the male lead, one Simon Bonner or Boner as I elected to call him, which seemed to be quite ironically accurate as he did numerous times within the tale. Whilst I don’t object this within a story I do like a tad more build up with hormonal angst literally getting them to rip each others clothes off after a few near misses.
Don’t get me wrong, it is a good bit of escapism and it’s a fun trail to follow, but I got the feeling that the build up could have been something more than it was. Why? Well to be blunt, I was left feeling slightly cheated when the discovery of the quest goal, along with completion of the tale seemed to wind up in the last 20 pages after a carefully controlled build up. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for successive novels in the series and I hope that the author allows the final part of the next book to eek itself out rather than allowing an outpouring rush to reach the end.
BOOK BLURB:
The Aux have been dropped on a far-flung planet called Hekati, only it's in Uplift space and not really a planet at all. As for their mission, it seems it's so damn secret that General Jaxx hasn't even told Lieutenant Sven Tveskoeg what it's about. It seems a citizen of the United Free, an empire not only more vast than OctoV's but far more technologically advanced, has gone missing on this artificial world and it's up to Sven and the Aux to find the poor soul. But Hekati is a realm where nothing and no one can be trusted. Smelling a rat, Sven is so not happy - and when he's not happy is when bad things start to happen and the body count starts to rise...The devil-may-care not-quite 100 per cent human mercenary soldier-cum-killing machine Tveskoeg and the Death's Head squad are back: cue more extreme violence, a mega death toll, dirty sex, fiendish plot twists and explosive, non-stop action!
REVIEW:
OK, you read the first book, were grabbed by the character of Sven and loved the sci-fi combative nature of the worlds and were wondering where to go next. Well no surprise that with the second tale being unveiled it was either going to be a big hit or a huge miss. Fortunately for us this tale falls into the first category as the characters are just as violent as ever with the old style of Sven Hassel brought to the future as each character fights for survival on near suicidal missions reminiscent of many of the books released back in the 70's.
Addictive, humorous in places and with a story that keeps the reader going it's with exhaustion that you complete the last part of the tale after the ups and downs of the adventures of Sven's unit take you through a rollercoaster of emotion as well as bloody combat. Not something to enjoy if you're fairly sensitive to the high levels of violence or swearing but the fact that it comes from a man with combat experience as a Merc and you can pretty much understand where a lot of Sven comes from.
BOOK BLURB:
In the remote village of Mandryn, Tessia serves as assistant to her father, the village Healer - much to the frustration of her mother, who would rather she found a husband. But her life is about to take a very unexpected turn. When treating a patient at the residence of the local magician, Lord Dakon, Tessia is forced to fight off the advances of a visiting Sachakan mage - and instinctively uses magic. She now finds herself facing an entirely different future as Lord Dakon's apprentice. But along with the excitement and privilege, Tessia is about to discover that her magical gifts bring with them a great deal of responsibility. Events are brewing that will lead nations into war, rival magicians into conflict, and spark an act of sorcery so brutal that its effects will be felt for centuries ...
REVIEW:
When people finished Trudi’s initial trilogy of The Black Magician, they were instantly captivated by her writing style as well as the world to which they inhabited wondering what had led to the events transcribed within those pages. Here she returns to her roots and brings those events to light in such a way that it not only brings back favoured characters as their younger selves but also explain the world formation in greater detail whilst leaving enough of a gap for futher adventures. Well written, with a touch of fun it’s the novel that fans have been crying out for yet for a beginner I’d suggest reading the original trilogy first to get a full grasp of the world and politics rather than diving in on this tale straight away.
BOOK BLURB:
The epic voyage of the spacecraft Leonora Christine will take her and her fifty-strong crew to a planet some thirty light-years distant. But, because the ship will accelerate to close to the speed of light, for those on board subjective time will slow and the journey will be of only a few years' duration. Then a buffeting by an interstellar dustcloud changes everything. The ship's deceleration system is damaged irreperably and soon she is gaining velocity. When she attains light-speed, tau zero itself, the disparity between ship-time and external time becomes almost impossibly great. Eons and galaxies hurtle by, and the crew of the Leonora Christine speeds into the unknown.
REVIEW:
It might be short, it might be compact but if there's one thing that you have to say about Anderson is that its always well written. Throwing mankind into what currently is an impossibility it’s the way that he brings the human emotional conflict into his writing that makes this an absolute must read. Its gritty, its science is clearly explained and above all there’s characters that the reader can easily identify with. It’s comes as no surprise why this has been recommended as a modern great and makes this essential reading for all fans of the Sci-Fi genre.
BOOK BLURB:
From the American expert in the fitness and combat techniques of Krav Maga, a guide to real fighting techniques and rigorous conditioning. Based on the principles of using appropriate force and enhancing natural instincts for self-protection, anyone can master the moves of Krav Maga - regardless of strength, size, age, or gender. In this guide to advanced techniques, David Kahn explains: how to neutralise an opponent; essential footwork, positioning and manoeuvres; self-defence principles for women. By using common sense, taking basic precautions, and presenting yourself in a confident manner you can minimise the chances of being attacked. But if you are, David Kahn's lessons will help you to overcome your opponent and keep yourself safe. And the conditioning you will achieve by practicing these techniques will tone your muscles, improve your reflexes, and get you fit.
REVIEW:
As a fan of the martial arts, I’m always interested to see the development of the new along with the ancient to the full potential. Here David Khan brings the Israeli Army’s hand to hand martial art to the masses with clear demonstrative purpose to allow an understanding perhaps unequalled by any other release. Its fascinating, it’s clear to understand with explanations that really are concise and to the point. An offering that will be invaluable to not only the martial artist or one who wishes to learn some basic defence techniques but also a book to be used for reference by other groups such as authors. An offering that’s understandable for a huge cross reference of the population and a fascinating book to boot.
Debbie at the David Gemmell Legend Award has been kind enough to let us know this:
The FINAL batch of 30 'Friend & Fan' tickets to the Award Ceremony on 19th June, are available NOW!!! This is a few more available than we anticipated as we've sadly had a couple of reluctant cancellations. If you would like to come along to what promises to be a WONDERFUL and glittering new genre event, tickets cost just £20 each. Simply send me (Debbie) a Message via the website and I'll reserve them for you... (click on my pic on the Blog post & it will take you to my Page).
Confirmed author Guests/attendees so far include: Robert Holdstock, James Barclay, our own Chairman, Stan Nicholls, Juliet McKenna, Sarah Ash... and of course, the Shortlisted Nominees are all trying to re-arrange their schedules!
BOOK BLURB:
Eden City, 1785. Sam's mother's Magical Medicine Show is going down a storm, especially with Prometheus helping them out. Suddenly they are rumbled. Luckily for them, Zeus is in Eden City looking for the Avenger, and saves them. In return Sam has to help Zeus defeat seven terrifying monsters who have descended on the city. Will Sam overcome the monsters, and can Prometheus survive all this to find a human hero? In the Fire Thief trilogy, Terry Deary reinvents the myth of Prometheus, the Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to the human race. To escape the gods' revenge, Prometheus travels through time to the murky metropolis of Eden City. There he befriends a motley assortment of comic characters and learns what use humans have made of his gift.
REVIEW:
Having followed Terry’s tales that blend Greek myths with a modern flavour as Prometheus does his best to aid mankind whilst avoiding Zeus and his wrath as two worlds collide in mirror image of events proving that mankind really hasn’t learned although there’s always hope. A great story that really does give the reader a lot of fun and allows them to develop thoughts and idea’s of their own that are presented in an informative way.
BOOK BLURB:
Trey thought he was an ordinary teenager. Then he meets a mysterious stranger, Lucien Charron - luminously pale, oddly powerful, with eyes that seem flecked with fire and skin that blisters in sunlight. Somehow Trey finds himself in a luxury London penthouse, like a Bond villain's lair. It's the heart of a sinister empire, built on the powers of the netherworld - werewolves, vampires, sorcerers, and djinns. And Trey himself has a power that's roaring to break free. Is he a boy or is he a beast?
REVIEW:
A modern Urban Fantasy for a modern young adult audience whose principle protagonist really does step off the page and is identifiable by all young males who read the story. Written by Steve Feasey (who you’ll find an interview with on the site), it’s a tale of redemption, hidden pasts and above all doing what’s right for all as opposed to the individual. Add to the mix characters that just leap off the page and you really have a series to look forward to as they endeavour to do their best to aid each other in burgeoning friendships against the darkness that lurks within. Good stuff.
Coming from a tough background and having gone through an deducation that only a school of hard knocks can give a young man, Steve Feasey came to writing relatively late.
Here we chat to Steve about his first published novel, Changeling, which presented a snapshot scene to him after watching a documentary about the history of the adventure book as well as giving his own thoughts about writing, dream-genies and how a teenage Steve helped formulate his principle protagonist...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 you opinion of this statement and how true is it to you?
Steve Feasey: I like the idea of writing being described as an affliction because at times, for me at least, it does feel like some kind of compulsive disorder. Waking up at four o’clock in the morning because the dream-genie has visited, plodding downstairs in your dressing-gown and writing the chapter that your muse has just whispered into your ear cannot be normal, can it?
FT: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?
SF: I’m new to the game. Changeling is the first thing that I’ve written – not written and had published; first thing written, full stop. But when I started it nearly eighteen months ago, I immediately knew that writing was what I had wanted to do; I just hadn’t known it.
FT: Its 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 your POV?
SF: I’d imagine that there is a huge difference between writing short stories and writing a novel. I admire anyone who can condense the essence of a story into such a short form and still produce a fully-fledged, rounded piece of work. You have to be very disciplined to be able to pull that off.
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?
SF: I’d tell them that if the story hasn’t grabbed them by the throat and demanded to be finished by the time they’ve got to chapter three, I’d give them their money back from my own pocket.
FT: How would you "sell" your book in 20 words or less?
SF: A contemporary fantasy-horror that embodies the best aspects of adventure/thriller writing, appealing to both teenage and adult readers alike.
FT: Who is a must-have on your bookshelf and who's latest release will find you on the bookshops doorstep waiting for it to open?
SF: Stephen King is the best story-teller out there. A bookshelf without a copy of The Stand is simply incomplete. I hate queuing, but I’d happily stand in line outside a bookshop for the next Donna Tartt novel.
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?
SF: I’m simply too disorganised to even attempt to plot a story. I like to have a beginning, an end, and if I’m lucky, a key scene somewhere in the middle of the book. I like the organic nature or writing a story and the way that your characters can surprise even you when they end up in a situation that you’ve written them into. I like to keep myself guessing as to how it’s all going to pan out.
FT: What do you do to relax and what have you read recently?
SF: An obvious answer, I know, but I read when I want to relax. Some people say that you can’t enjoy reading as much once you’ve written a book, but I don’t agree. I’ve always used reading as a means of escape. When I was a teenager it was all I had at times, and I would lock myself away in my room and take myself away. Luckily, I’m still able to do that.
FT: What's your guiltiest pleasure that few know about?
SF: Timepieces. I love wristwatches. There is something about strapping time onto you in the morning that is immensely satisfying and terrifying. There is a shop near to where I live that repairs and sells old clocks. I love going in there and looking up at these time-machines; listening to the their voices and wondering about the history behind them
FT: Lots of writers tend to have pets (mainly cats.) What do you have and what are their key traits (and do they appear in your novel in certain character attributes?)
SF: We have some fish that refuse to die. They’re ancient, and despite my inability to remember to feed them regularly, they carry on coasting around their tank, occasionally leering at me through the glass with a look of utter disdain on their faces.
FT: Which character within the book is the most fun to write and why?
SF: Tom is my go-to man. He’s great fun and I love the way that he can diffuse a scene with a few choice words. I also love the way that he deals with all of the madness around him as though it’s the most natural thing in the world.
FT: How similar to your principle protagonist(s) are you?
SF: There’s quite a bit of the teenage me in Trey. I felt very lonely at that age – who doesn’t? – and didn’t really fit in, but I was never as resourceful as he is. I would love to be like Lucien, but I’m just not cool enough (if at all).
FT: What hobbies do you have and how do they influence your work?
SF: I used to be into photography, and worked in that industry throughout my life, and I think that my experiences with visual media gives me a big hand when I need to close my eyes and ‘be somewhere’ with my characters. I also coach rugby and love the controlled violence of the sport.
FT: Where do you get your idea's from?
SF: My dream-genie visits me quite often. Usually when I least expect it. I imagine him as this huge, brawny hells-angel figure, and when he talks, I listen. I also like obscure medieval folklore, and I use aspects of some of these stories to create elements of my nether-creatures.
FT: Do you ever encounter writers block and if so how do you overcome it?
SF: I haven’t been writing long enough to have experienced it yet, but I have begun to experience the dreaded ‘writer’s procrastination’.
FT: Certain authors are renowned for writing at what many would call uncivilised times? When do you do write and how do the others in your household feel about it?
SF: I like the mornings. I like to wake up, get the kids packed off to school, down a pot of coffee and then get to it.
FT: Sometimes pieces of music seem to madly 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?
SF: I write in silence. I can’t ‘get there’ if there is music on. I’ve tried to write with music in the background, but I just cannot be a passive listener, so I have to get up and turn it off.
FT: What misconceptions, if any, did you have about the writing and publishing field when you were first getting started?
SF: I was blissfully naïve about the industry and I can’t help but think that this was a good thing. Macmillan have been tremendous in their support for me and Changeling, and since becoming published the book has been nominated for the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize.
FT: If music be the food of love, what do you think writing is and explain your answer?
SF: It’s a mirror to life. Whichever genre you choose to explore, writing attempts to form an amalgam between life and fantasy to try to make sense of it all. (Eeek, that sounds a bit poncy…)
FT: What can you tell us about the next novel?
SF: It picks up where the last one left off. It was great to be able to get right into the story and not have to worry too much about backstory (as you inevitably do with the first book in a series). There are some really exciting new characters, a few new nether-creatures and a denouement that I hope will have everyone tearing through the pages to get to the end. It’s a bit ‘darker’ than the first book, but I wanted it to ratchet the tension up from Changeling and put more of the characters ‘on the back foot’.
FT: What are the last five internet sites that you've visited?
SF: www.facebook.co.uk
www.writewords.org.uk (a good site for aspiring and published writers)
www.theonion.com (so funny)
www.framleyexaminer.co.uk (even funnier – especially the classifieds)
www.stevefeasey.com
FT: Did you ever take any writing classes or specific instruction to learn the craft of writing a novel?
SF: No. After I’d written Changeling I asked my agent if she thought it would be a good idea to go on a creative writing course. Her reply of, “God, no!” put me off of the idea.
FT: How did you get past the initial barriers of criticism and rejection?
SF: You grow a great, thick, rhino-like hide and suck it up. Honestly, there is no way to prepare for the pain of rejection (and I had a LOT of rejections), so you just have to take it on the chin and keep believing in your writing.
FT: What are the best and worst aspects of writing for a living, in your opinion?
SF: The rare moments when you come back to something that you have written recently, read it back and think, “Damn, did I write that?”
The worst thing is the self-doubt that constantly threatens. I am never going to be good enough in my own mind, and I beat myself up too much over my writing. Most times you come back to something that you have written recently, read it back and think, “Damn, did I write that?”
BOOK BLURB:
Against the rising power of Rome, Egypt is the last and strongest bastion of the Eastern Hellenistic kingdoms. Charmian is Cleopatra's half sister, daughter of Pharaoh and a woman of the harem. She shares a great honour and a terrible burden with Cleopatra and their sister Iras - they are fated to defend Egypt from those who would destroy her. So when Roman Julius Caesar comes to Egypt in pursuit of his enemies, Charmian and her sisters are drawn into a deadly struggle. One that will shape the world to come. From mysterious temples hidden in the desert to the perilous palaces of Rome, from the tomb of Alexander the Great to the very Gates of Amenti, Charmian must face foes seen and unseen in a battle for her family, her love and her gods.
REVIEW:
When I originally read Jo’s breakthrough novel last year she was a name that I made a note of so that every time a book by her landed it would go to the top of my reading pile. Why? Well she has an engaging writing style, lovingly created characters and above really does take the reader on an emotional rollercoaster. So when this latest novel landed the envelope was pretty much ripped open and the book started within the first five minutes of landing whilst I was giving the mantra of “Please don’t let this be the second novel flop”, that many authors suffer from.
Luckily for me, it wasn’t. It was wonderfully crafted with the time period created in such a way that it stepped off the page straight into my imagination in full technicolour wonderment which I absolutely loved. Throw into the mix her fast becoming trademark of wonderfully sculpted characters and top off with a plot to take you far away and I was in seventh heaven for the full duration of the tale. A wonderful piece of escapism that really is a top piece of fiction and a book that I have no doubt about passing on to literature fans of all genres.
