As many of our regular readers know I tend to hang around a few online message boards that accommodate not only fans of a certain authors but also help those who want to write get better at what they do.
Though the OWG (Otherworld Writer Group) hosted by the delightful Kelley Armstrong (here) a whole host of fab writers have become authors. As such it’s always a great delight when I can let one of them lose with us here on the forum.
Unfortunately (and it’s with great regret) I’ve sat on this interview for a little while in the hopes of getting an E-Reader so that I can review Julie’s full length title.
Alas the god/dess/e/s of the written word have not been kind but due to devout devotion I hope to have one by years end but rather than just keep this hanging on I wanted to give you the chance to discover this wonderful talent. So here without further ado, I give you Julie Campbell in all her, er, glory…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?That’s kind of a funny way to put it, afflicted, yeah I can see how people feel that way. It is more of an addiction for me. I chose to become a writer. Sure I always dabbled in it, that I didn’t chose, but I chose to take it to the next level. I love what I do, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.FT: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?I’ve always written stories, told stories, made things up, but I first decided that I wanted to be a full time writer about ten years ago in college. I’m getting published, so I’m closer to that goal, but I’m not full time yet.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?I started writing novels before I ever managed to write a short story. In fact my short story series that is coming out is a serial short story series. That really means that it is going to end up longer than some of the novels I’ve written. I don’t think it truly counts as a short. It’s like the difference between being a sprinter and a long distance runner in track. Sprints are short and they are over much more quickly. It doesn’t require as much staying power as the long distance stuff. To me short stories are quick bursts of creativity and the novels are kind of like the long distance races. I was a sprinter in track, but I’m in it for the long haul with the stories I write. I believe that people have their strengths and some people are just good at short stuff and some people are just good at the long stuff. A few lucky souls can do both. I’m actually not sure I’ve written anything that really proves or disproves the view since I really don’t write short stories and I do write novels. Maybe that’s the answer you are looking for.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?Horses, cowboys and wrangler butts… need I say more? LOL, well that’s for the short story series. It’s a paranormal young adult western about a New Jersey Teen who ends up out in Arizona and has quite a few adventures while she learns to adapt to desert life.FT: How would you "sell" your book in 20 words or less?Typical city girl who loves horses moves out to ghost town Arizona and has a bunch of wild west adventures.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?Kristin Britian’s Blackveil is my latest must have. Horse centric epic fantasy for the win I also got Wise Man’s Fear for my Kindle. I’m going to reread Name of the Wind first though.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?Outlining is a dirty dirty word. I hate outlines. Usually I know where the story is going to go, but I don’t always know how I’m going to get there. I’m a pantzer, though I do make “outlines” as I write so I can reference them to find out what chapter things happened in, instead of searching back through the entire novel. FT: What do you do to relax and what have you read recently?I shoot guns, ride my horse, read and play with my dog – not in that order. I just finished Blackveil by Kristin Britian and Meant to be by Tiffany King.FT: What is your guiltiest pleasure that few know about?Oh gosh… I’m pretty open with my pleasures and I don’t really feel guilt about them. Hmm, hard one to answer. I love pumpkins. (lots of people know that, but usually only if they know me in person). They are beautiful, cheerful, happy things that fill people with joy. Love them. (Ignore Sleepy Hallow pumpkins please)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?)OMG I could go on forever about my critters. They are my family. I’ll try and keep this short. Tux is my male black and white cat, he’s the evil genius sort. Solstice my calico is his brainless sidekick and Sophie my tabby is the mighty hunter who often upsets the evil plans. My cats haven’t yet featured in my stories. Sabaska is my horse, she’s a mighty adventurer and my main equine character in Arabian Dreams is directly and unashamedly based off of and named after her. Kira, my border collie puppy, is – well she’s a border collie. She does everything. Doc, my vampire hunting dog, is based partially on her.FT: Which character within your latest book was the most fun to write and why?Cowboy Pecos Rowe is my favorite in my short story series. He’s just everything a cowboy should be, a little rough around the edges but very charming, good in a fight, and level headed – even when faced with a New Jersey teen.FT: How similar to your principle protagonist are you?I can’t say that I don’t draw bits and pieces of myself into my work, but really I don’t try to write myself into my stories. I draw from lots of people I’ve known to create my characters. If I were going to be one of my characters I’d want to be Anna from Arabian Dreams, but I already have her horse, so I don’t need to be. FT: What hobbies do you have and how do they influence your work?I shoot, I ride horses, I sometimes paint or craft, hiking, camping, outdoors stuff. I have a lot of horses in most of my stories. I love horses and it shows in my writing.FT: Where do you get your idea's from?Hahahaha… em… story land. They come to me from the eather and I channel them onto the screen. Or well, I don’t know to be exact.FT: Do you ever encounter writers block and if so how do you overcome it?Writers block is crap. It doesn’t exist, it’s an excuse for the inability to write. The inability to write stems from things other than this mysterious blockage. Yeah, I’ve had times where I couldn’t write, and usually it stems from fear. I either walk away, play with a different project for a time while my subconscious works on the problem, or I just force myself to get through my inability to write. I haven’t failed yet.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?My border collie doesn’t like it when I’m writing, because then I’m not playing with her. The cats love it cause then they can sit on my lap. My boyfriend is awesome and doesn’t argue with writing time. I write whenever I can, though I’ve actually managed to tailor my work schedule around my writing. I work nights, that way I can use my mind when it is the freshest for writing and then go about the rest of my day. I am not a morning person, though I’ve gotten up at 5am for months at a time to finish a novel before I was working nights. It sucked, but that novel is getting published so it was worth it.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?I don’t do soundtracks. I put my mp3 player on shuffle and go to it. Music is just background noise for me. If I really need a kick to get writing I put in one of my character’s theme songs Earshot’s Get Away. That usually does the trick.FT: What misconceptions, if any, did you have about the writing and publishing field when you were first getting started?Em, well, I’m sure I had misconceptions but it has been a long time since I started researching the field and I think I’m pretty on top of things at the moment. Of course I say that, and then things will change. I guess the biggest thing I can think of was the “get an agent then get a publisher” model. It doesn’t always work that way anymore.FT: If music be the food of love, what do you think writing is and please explain your answer? Writing is the food of the subconscious and the soul. I have a great relationship with my subconscious as long as I keep feeding it stories. If I stop then it keeps me awake at night. My soul withers and I feel dead when I’m not writing. 
FT: What can you tell us about the next novel?Well, I have two coming out this summer, Senior Year Bites a young adult urban fantasy and Arabian Dreams, a young adult fantasy. Arabian Dreams is about a girl who travels to other worlds on horseback and has adventures. Senior Year Bites is about a girl who gets turned into a vampire her senior year of highschool – and then people start dying and she isn’t doing the killing.FT: What are the last five internet sites that you've visited?Twitter, Facebook, LiveJournal, lfgcomic.com, www.writerjacampbell.comFT: Did you ever take any writing classes or specific instructions to learn the craft? If so please let us know which ones.Hahahaha…. I started to take a creative writing class… it was horrible… I dropped it because the teacher got up in class and insulted me. She didn’t like genre fiction. No, I’ve never taken an official writing class, just read lots of blogs, given and received lots of critiques, and had a ton of helpful friends along the way.FT: How did you get past the initial barriers of criticism and rejection?I knew it was coming. Stephen King’s On Writing really helped with that. Carrie got rejected a ton of times before he made it big. I figured if he could do it then so could I. I just “expected” rejection, didn’t get my hopes up and kept sending out queries. It got frustrating and hard to continue, but I did it.FT: In your opinion, what are the best and worst aspects of writing for a living?The best is that you get to set your own hours, you get to work from anywhere, and you get to do what you love all the time. The worst is the uncertainty and unpredictability that goes with the field.Thanks so much for having me here!For more information on Julie please visit:Julie's WebsiteWhere to purchase Range Feud
Release Date: 19/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
The Internet has become sentient. The world's governments are terrified, it seems the evolution of a new intelligence might have left mankind behind. It is up to one blind girl, a maths genius, to convince mankind that this new digital life is not its enemy. Perfect for fans of Charles Stross and Vernor Vinge this is a rich imagining of a future that may be just around the corner.
REVIEW:
Whilst to some Robert J Sawyer burst onto the scene with Flash Forward, he’s has been a pretty close kept secret by readers of Science Fiction as an author of not only incite but one with a unique twist and flavour on the possible future that he sees. This is perhaps no more prevalent than in his World Wide Web series, of which this is the third concluding part.
What unfurls within is a story of hope, a tale of discovery and perhaps best of all a novel of character growth and development. Add to this Roberts pretty unique and identifyable writing style, great prose and a pacey use of story arc that made this not only satisfying but a tale that was hard to put down. All in, this title was not only a wonderful conclusion to this series but one that readers deserved as all too often many end up with the apocalyptic ending which not only depresses but really doesn’t allow the reader to gain anything from it and when you add a clever look at how we’re developing technologically which really brings to mind a reworking of a statement utilised by Dr Ian Malcom in Jurassic Park which would be “God creates technology, God destroys technology. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates technology...”
Release Date: 26/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
The year is 1016 and England burns while the Viking armies blockade the great city of London. King Ethelred lies dying and the England he knew dies with him; the warring kingdoms of Mercia, Wessex and Northymbria tremble on the brink of great change. One man lives to bear witness to the upheaval: Godwin, barely out of boyhood and destined to become one of his country's great warriors. When Ethelred's son Edmund takes the throne, determined to succeed where his father failed, he plucks Godwin from domestic peace to be right-hand man in his loyal shield wall. Godwin must traverse the meadows, wintry forests and fogbound marshes of Saxon England, raising armies of monks, ploughmen and shepherds against the Viking invader. With epic courage and ferocity, Godwin and Edmund repel the butchering Danes in three great battles. But an old enemy, the treacherous Earl Eadric, dogs Godwin's footsteps, and as the final battle approaches, around the valiant English the trap begins to close.
REVIEW:
To be honest there has been quite a glut on the titles set in the 11th Century recently and with so many out there, authors are having to seek new tricks as well as characters to place in the overly populated world to help bring their tale to life. Whilst some take a completely fictional aspect with the characters interacting with the heroes and kings of the age, others have attracted and played with some of the real heroes of that time and perhaps none more so than Justin in Shieldwall.
All in the book has a clear idea of where it wants to go, the characters have a realistic feel and whilst we’re reading about them out of time and know the history, the author has in no way compromised his storytelling with manipulating the facts or the outcomes, that said, whilst some sources will remember Godwin differently I prefer to go with Justin’s interpretation as to be honest history is written by the victors and a smear campaign has never gone out of fashion.
Add to this a beautifully constructed arc, decent prose as well as leaving the tale where a new instalment can pick up and I suspect that it won’t be long before Godwin rides again.
Release Date: 26/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Siberia, 1939. Pregnant with her first child, Lena Orlova plans a daring escape from a brutal Soviet prison camp to the one place she knows is safe: a cave containing the legendary Altar of Bones, hidden behind a frozen waterfall deep in the icy wilderness. San Francisco, Present Day. Zoe Dmitroff discovers that she is the last in a line of women who have been entrusted with a secret so great many have died preserving it. Propelled into a dangerous quest to discover exactly what she was born to protect, Zoe is soon running for her life from a vicious assassin and an all powerful businessman with chilling plans. Only ex-Special Ops soldier, Ry O'Malley, can help her survive, but with time running out and the web closing in, Zoe will have to make a devastating decision that will transform her forever. From the frozen wastelands of Russia, to the winding maze of Paris's backstreets, from Washington D.C, through America's mid-west all the way to San Francisco, THE ALTAR OF BONES is a gripping global thriller that spans the generations and unearths the dark secret behind one of the biggest conspiracies of all time.
REVIEW:
Whilst this is first and foremost a thriller, what Philip does best of all within this title is the characters, as they’re not only fully formed but have some great flaws as well as strengths as the stories principle protagonist (Zoe) has to trust those she knows nothing about. It’s gripping, it has some great twists and when you add a masters touch of pace as well as prose, the reader will be glued to the last page in this Dan Brown style thriller. Whilst Brown may be well known for his twists, Carter has taken no prisoners as “he” tempts the adventures with beguiling tricks and misdirection throughout the adventure unfurls.
Finally add to all of this a novel that will keep the reader glued to the edge of their seat to the final page as they try to solve mysteries from seemingly unconnected links and you know that it’s a title that could be this year’s mystery thriller to set your standards by.
Release Date: 28/04/11
SYNOPSIS:
Embassytown: a city of contradictions on the outskirts of the universe.
Avice is an immerser, a traveller on the immer, the sea of space and time below the everyday, now returned to her birth planet. Here on Arieka, humans are not the only intelligent life, and Avice has a rare bond with the natives, the enigmatic Hosts - who cannot lie.
Only a tiny cadre of unique human Ambassadors can speak Language, and connect the two communities. But an unimaginable new arrival has come to Embassytown. And when this Ambassador speaks, everything changes.
Catastrophe looms. Avice knows the only hope is for her to speak directly to the alien Hosts.
And that is impossible.
REVIEW:
China to be honest is the author that in the future will be looked back on and whispered in the same tones as Arthur C Clarke and Ursula K Le Guin. Whilst that may seem like blasphemy to many readers you have to admit that with a growing number of awards to his name and a talent for turning up quality reads time and again that he is definitely an author to not only watch but to set your standards by. Whilst previous outings have been more firmly in the Urban Fantasy side of the genre this one makes no bones about being pure Science Fiction which when added to the typical China nuances makes this hybrid title something new to many people.
Add to this the authors own wonderful turn of phrase, an authoritative story telling style that shows rather than tells and a whole new lexicon added to help give the world not only a semblance of balance but of language development and its something that really has to be read to be believed. Finally mix in an alien race, a wonderfully creative arc and a good dollop of literal misinterpretations which will confuse the reader as much as the characters and it’s a title that was hard to put down which I think will make this not only a serious contender for most awards but perhaps the one that’s going to take most by the hand and run like hell.
Release Date: 26/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
This is the second installment of a two-book Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker adventure, set against the backdrop of the Clone Wars! Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are trapped on the Separatist controlled planet Lanteeb, on the run from General Lok Durd and his droid army. After being forced to abandon their jerry-rigged groundcar they continue on foot, hunted, as they try to find a safe place to hide and regroup before escaping the planet altogether. Eventually they seek shelter in a remote Lanteeban village, but the Separatists track them down. Now they're under siege...and the little time they've bought themselves is running out.
REVIEW:
Part of the problem with the whole Star Wars Universe is that we know that certain linear things have to happen and that certain characters are never going to be in any serious danger as otherwise it would a parallel Universe. What does occur within this book is a more routine type of mission for the Jedi with the majority of the book being devoted to character dialogue over a huge amount of plot. It does have some interesting aspects, the Durd Bioweapon for example and it also has some character growth though the interaction. But what it really lacks is a seriously deep plot to keep the reader going.
Yes it’s good to get a more emotionally charged tale but by the end it felt that the author had just come up with something basic and decided to fluff up character development at the expense of action (although there is some.) Personally I read the series for a no hold barred action blaster/sabre fest but hey, you can’t have that all the time. All in, a this book is well written, the authors understanding of pace gets it through a few sticky patches but compared to a number of other titles out there its merely mediocre.
Release Date: 12/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
A Deputy DA specialising in high-profile cases, Rachel Knight is addicted to her work and fiercely loyal to her friends. But when her colleague Jake is found dead in a seedy Los Angeles hotel room next to the body of a teenage male prostitute, Rachel realises she might not know those around her as well as she thinks.
The police want to write off Jake's death as a straightforward murder/suicide. Rachel doesn't believe it's that simple. Warned off the case but determined to track down her friend's killer, the investigation takes her through the dark and tangled city from its wealthy suburbs to its seamy downtown heart.
And a truth so dangerous it could kill her.
REVIEW:
Guilt by Association is a debut novel for Marcia Clarke and is set following DA Rachel Knight as she crusades through her most important cases to her, the sexual attack on a politically connected man’s daughter and the murder of her friend and colleague Jake who is found dead with a teenage rent boy.
What Marcia does well in this title is bring the crimes to the reader’s attention as well as maintaining the linear requirements for an investigation and whilst there are twists that throw the principle characters for a loop they all help get to the bottom of the relevant cases in order to make sure that justice is done. The prose is reasonable, the investigation plausible and when blended with an authoritative look at the law system (well she was the lead prosecutor for the OJ Simpson case) keeps the reader going with enough material to make it hard to leave for long.
However that said, in my opinion, I absolutely detested the authors overuse of romantic descriptive clichés alongside an over fondness for going into detailed descriptions of the clothing. Personally, when I read crime I don’t care, I want a story that shows not tells me what happens rather than throwing me for a loop and getting off track on inane detail about the characters ensemble, just say that she got dressed and headed to the office.
All in, for a debut novel it was satisfactory and I think that Marcia clearly has a gift to bring it all to the fore, add experience into the story and it’s definitely a tale written based on what the author knows. I hope that the problems that I had are fixed in subsequent titles but if you can look past the descriptive errors then it’s a book that whilst perhaps not the best debut out there certainly one that deserves to be read.
Release Date: 05/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Two peoples have been fighting over the same land for a thousand years. Invaders crushed the original inhabitants, and ancient powers have reluctantly given way to newer magics. But Ember was to change all this with a wedding to bind these warring people together - until her future goes up in flames. Ember's husband-to-be is murdered by a vengeful elemental god, who sees peace as a breach of faith. Set on retribution, she enlists the help of Ash, son of a seer. Together they will pit themselves against elementals of fire and ice in a last attempt to end the conflicts that have scarred their past. They must look to the present, as old furies are waking to violence and are eager to reclaim their people.
REVIEW:
What Pamela does well in her writing is creating complex plots as well as fully rounded characters to populate her world. Whilst this title is yet again set in the same as her Castings trilogy, things have taken a turn for the worse as the elder gods awaken when mankind begins its quest for fire. Obviously the resulting meddling of these ancients causes all sorts of death and destruction but also unites and begins the quest of the two title characters.
It is well written, the characters vivid and when you add to this the complexities within alongside a good sense of pace and prose left me feeling very full after completing and forced me into taking a couple of days to consider what I’d just read. In certain respects its left me ruined for future authors but it’s one that really is going to have to be handled gently as I can see this series quickly becoming bogged down in complexities as well as power. Here’s hoping that the series carries on as well as this original tale.
Release Date: 12/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
AD 65. Sebastos Pantera, spy to the Emperor Nero, has undertaken the most dangerous of missions. Hunting often alone, with few he can trust, he must find the most dangerous man in Rome’s empire, and bring him to bloody justice.
Against him is Saulos. Consumed by private enmities and false beliefs, Saulos is pledged to bring about the destruction of an entire Roman province. Brilliantly clever, utterly ruthless, he cares only for his vision of total victory – and not the death and devastation such a campaign would bring.
Between them is the huntress Iksahra. Beautiful and deadly, feared by men, loved by the beasts she cares for, she must decide who to support if she is to avenge her father’s death.
Fought inside the palace of a royal city and within the rocky fastness of a desert fortress, this will be a conflict between two men who have everything to gain – and a kingdom to lose …
REVIEW:
Having enjoyed Manda’s first outing in her Rome series I really couldn’t wait to see what unfurled in the second. After all she does a great twist on double dealing, politics and of course espionage which whilst containing some combat is more about the mental aspects alongside some strong emotional reactions from the characters within.
As can be expected they grow as the tale unfurls with loyalties and trust being tested along the way. Add to this a story that is wonderfully written, two master spies trying their best to outdo the other and finish off with great prose and solid pace which creates a novel that has all the right elements to keep you hooked. All in, this was a wonderful read and at a time of year when you’re perhaps wanting to escape from everything I can think of nothing better to help you not only relax but also allow the mind to wonder as you think the possibilities through during breaks in your reading schedule. Great stuff.
Release Date: 19/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Chief of State Natasi Daala has been overthrown, and the Jedi Order has taken control of the Galactic Alliance. But while the new governors dismantle Daala’s draconian regime, forces still loyal to the deposed official are mobilizing a counterstrike. And even the Jedi’s new authority may not be enough to save Tahiri Veila, the former Jedi Knight and onetime Sith apprentice convicted of treason for the killing of Galactic Alliance officer Gilad Pellaeon.
Meanwhile, Luke and Ben Skywalker are relentlessly pursuing Abeloth, the powerful dark-side entity bent on ruling the galaxy. But as they corner their monstrous quarry on the planet Nam Chorios, the two lone Jedi must also face the fury of the Sith death squadron bearing down on them. And when Abeloth turns the tables with an insidious ambush, the Skywalkers’ quest threatens to become a suicide mission.
REVIEW:
The seventh outing for this series and one that is designed to keep the readers glued to the last page as the Fate of the Jedi series gears up for one hell of an ending with final two books Ascension and Apocalypse. As usual with Aarons’ writing, its crisp, the characters come to life and its one hell of a ride from start to finish. The prose is spot on, the universe infinite and when the chips are down events have an unusual way to work things out as well as making for strange bedfellows. Add to this a couple of decent twists, an alliance that will see the universe change again and it’s a rather pleasing addition to the series. Great stuff.
Release Date: 12/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
In 1998 Magna Britannia remains the undisputed superpower of the world whereas, since the Second Great European War, Hitler's Nazi party has been reduced to the status of an underground terrorist movement. But fifty-five years ago... The Nazis are at the height of their power. Much of Europe has fallen beneath their inexorable march, but with the automaton armies of Magna Britannia poised to invade and bring about a swift end to the war, Germany finds its resources stretched to the limit. What Hitler's legions need now is a miracle. And a miracle may be what they are about to receive; a gift from the future, something that should not exist in the year 1943, for one man has stolen fire from heaven. But another has followed him back from the future to ensure that history follows its pre-determined course. Ulysses Quicksilver finds himself in Anno Frankenstein where the bodies of the fallen are reconstructed and resurrected that they might fight again. Behind enemy lines, Ulysses Quicksilver must infiltrate the most heavily-defended fortress on the planet, and there face an age-old enemy one last time. Should he fail, history will be re-written and Ulysses Quicksilver will cease to exist, having never even been born at all.
REVIEW:
One of Abaddon’s most inventive series out there is the Pax Britannia and no one does it so well as main author Jonathan Green. You get Steampunk, you get a dandy Flashman like hero and above all else you get a series with a story arc that is not only exciting but one that you just can’t put down.
This, the seventh outing for series hero Ulysses Quicksilver picks up where the last one left off with him flung through the time portal chasing Dashwood into the Second World War where the villain gives futuristic aid to the Nazi’s. Whilst Ulysses is usually the main character in this title he’s more secondary to his father (and also Agent of Magna Britannia, Hercules Quicksilver) takes the lead role and proceeds to keep the stiff upper lip and heroics on auto.
Add to this Dr Jekyll (who ala League of Extraordinary Gentlemen turns into the Hulk like Mr Hyde), the original creation of Baron Viktor Frankenstein as well as modern German interpretations named after the original Creator (the Frankenstein Corps) and it’s a title that really doesn’t let up. Finally add the twist of an ending that’s reminiscent of a certain popular in the late 80’s to early 90’s and it pretty much ticks all the boxes. As usual with the author the prose is neat and snappy, the characters a lot of fun to hang around and above all else the dialogue and tips of the hat to modern interpretations alongside other Steampunk outings make this series what it is. Definitely one to get in on the ground floor and work your way up although if you wish to start her you can do although you’ll miss a lot of the defining moments of our agents career to date.
Release Date: 05/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
A score of years after he first walked into the histories of men, Anasurimbor Kellhus rules all the three seas, the first true aspect-emperor in a thousand years. As Kellhus and his Great Ordeal march ever farther into the perilous wastes of the Ancient North, Esmenet finds herself at war with not only the Gods, but her own family as well. Achamian, meanwhile, leads his own ragtag expedition to the legendary ruins of Sauglish, and to a truth he can scarce survive, let alone comprehend. Into this tumult walks the White Luck Warrior, assassin and messiah both, executing a mission as old as the World's making ...
REVIEW:
The second title in the Aspect Emperor series and one that continues to build upon the success of the first which, whilst some thought was slow set the scene beautifully and allowed the reader the chance to get to know the principle players. What this title does though is not only build upon the world building and characters but also allows the reader to get a fuller picture of the events that have shaped the world to this point in the novel. It allows character growth organically, it allows a better understanding and above all else it sets the world up for the best possible conclusion in the third and final part.
Add to this Bakker’s wonderful sense of pace, some great action sequences and above all else the reader will have a title that really will satisfy the fantasy fan within. A great title all round and one that really has left the final book in the series as one where everything is to play for. Great stuff.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
It's not green fingers that have kept the Empousai family's roses blooming for centuries - it's the drops of blood that their women secretly sacrifice for their gardens. But Mikki would rather forget this family quirk and lead a normal life. Until the day she unwittingly performs a ritual and ends up in the strangely familiar Realm of the Rose. As its goddess, Hecate, reveals to her, Mikki has the blood of a high priestess running through her veins. And the realm has been waiting for her ...In a long ago flash of temper, Hecate cursed her Guardian beast with a slumber that only her priestess can undo - and Hecate is counting on Mikki to set things right. At first the beast terrifies Mikki - but soon he intrigues her more than any man ever has. But the only way he and the realm can be saved is for Mikki to sacrifice her life-giving blood - and herself ...
REVIEW:
This for me is perhaps the strangest of the Goddess Summoning series to date as whilst in some way or form I’ve been able to connect to previous lead characters, here Mikki is not only detestable but difficult to get a handle upon, she’s a woman of contradictions and with her choices following no discernable pattern made her easily the hardest choice for a female lead that PC has done to date.
Not that I’m saying it’s a bad thing but when I cannot connect with a lead I have trouble enjoying the book in which they appear. In part this tale is the ancient mythos of Hecate, in others it feels like a modern interpretation of Beauty and the Beast with more carnal knowledge than Disney fluffy bunnies (unless of course they were in the dog’s dinner.) It’s a wide leap from the previous titles in the series that I’ve read to date and whilst different to a certain degree allows the reader the chance to meet and understand a character different to the norm. All in, I felt highly rewarded by the tales conclusion and whilst it isn’t my favourite in the series it has cast another layer to the overall feel.
Release Date: 12/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Pea Chamberlain needs help. Her shoes, hair, clothes, make-up are all disasters and she really needs a makeover - especially if she wants to attract sexy fireman Griffin DeAngelo at the firemen's masked ball. And who better to coax Pea out of her pod than the Goddess of Love, whom she invokes when she gets her hands on a book of enchantments. Sure enough, Venus works her magic on Pea, which is what she has been doing for eons - helping others find love. But who will help the Goddess of Love when she finds herself falling head over heels for the same sexy fireman she is trying to land for Pea? Could it be that Venus needs a love makeover herself?
REVIEW:
OK, I read the first title in this series and loved it, I’ve had a break and whilst I’m currently waiting for the others to land, couldn’t resist the temptation of this, the latest release in the series. As with the original, its beautifully crafted, the lead female characters are not only emotionally strong but also allow others to develop on their own paths and whilst in this book, Pea starts out as a meek and mild, easily embarrassed woman, she blooms to her full potential though the administration alongside care and attention of the delightful Venus.
All in a satisfactory read, a real gluttony of passion, of character growth and if you love a bit of the more hardcore angle of romance, this title will more than meet your expectations. Throw into the mix, a wonderful arc, some great prose and characters who can not only stand up for themselves but also stand out from the rest and you know that it’s a series that will more than please the reader. Perhaps PC’s best solo work to date.
Release Date: 07/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Born into a working-class family in London in 1919, Victor Gregg enlisted in the Rifle Brigade at nineteen, was sent to the Middle East and saw action in Palestine. Following service in the western desert and at the battle of Alamein, he joined the Parachute Regiment and in September 1944 found himself at the battle of Arnhem. When the paratroopers were forced to withdraw, Gregg was captured. He attempted to escape, but was caught and became a prisoner of war; sentenced to death in Dresden for attempting to escape and burning down a factory, only the allies' infamous raid on the city the night before his execution saved his life. Gregg's fascinating story, told in a voice that is good-natured and completely original, continues after the end of the war. In the fifties he became chauffeur to the Chairman of the Moscow Norodny bank in London, involved in shady dealings and strange meetings with MI5, MI6 and the KGB. His adventures, though, were not over - in 1989, on one of his many motorbike expeditions into Eastern Europe, he found himself at a rally of 700 people in a field in Sopron at a fence that formed part of the barrier between the Soviet Union and the West. Vic cut the wire, and a few weeks later the Berlin Wall itself was destroyed - a truly unexpected coda to an incredible life lived to the full. This is the story of a true survivor.
REVIEW:
Life as they say can be stranger than fiction and that’s exactly what occurs within this autobiographical story by Victor Gregg who tells of his life experiences during the Second World War, from marching in Africa through Italy as well as being an eyewitness to the devastation of Dresden.
It’s beautifully written and brings a human personal look to events that are pretty static and impersonal in the history books. Add to this a good understanding of pace, a solid comprehension of keeping it linear and it’s a tale that should be passed on to others to read. With so much of recent history being lost with the elderly generation we need to get these stories down so that when the last one passes the stories are there otherwise we’ll be left with a history that has no connection, cold and sterile.
Add to this events in his life after the war and it’s a tale that will have many an author scrabbling to create an equally large as life character.
Release Date: 05/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Half dragon, half woman, can she save her friend's soul - without losing her heart? Mercy Wilson is a reporter in the San Francisco Bay Area, but she's also more - and less - than human. Half woman, half air dragon, she's a 'draman' - unable to shift shape but still able to unleash fiery energy. Now something will put her powers to the test. Mercy's friend Rainey has enlisted her help to solve her sister's murder. Then a horrible accident claims Rainey's life, leaving Mercy only five days to find the killer. If Mercy fails, according to dragon law, Rainey's soul will be doomed to roam the earth for eternity. But how can Mercy help when she herself is a target? With nowhere else to turn, she must join forces with a sexy stranger - the mysterious man they call 'muerte', or death itself, who's as irresistible as he is treacherous. But can even Death keep Mercy alive for long enough to find her answers?
REVIEW:
Mercy Burns is the second outing in the Myth and Magic series that started with Destiny Kills. Whilst I haven’t read the original title in the series, I didn’t feel that I was alienated in any way and was able to connect with the tales principle heroine within the first few pages and whilst parts of this title may come across as a story of vengeance it’s a title about salvation as well as allowing characters to grow out of adversity and prejudices. It’s wonderfully written, it has great pace and with brings to the table a wonderful blend of paranormal romance alongside a good old fashioned crime novel. All in, this title is a satisfactory read and one that will have readers going through the emotional wringer along with the lead character as well as feeling rewarded by the titles conclusion in all its glory.
Release Date: 10/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Churches contain much of the most interesting medieval sculpture in the country. Magnificent effigies, whether of cast copper-alloy or stone, never cease to provoke awe and wonder, conjuring up glamorous images of an age of chivalry. Yet in their intended setting such monuments are often little known to non-specialists. Among the joys of visiting churches is the experience of alighting upon sculptural treasures; monuments open doors to the past and introduce us to the characters from our history books that inhabited that lost world. Lavishly illustrated with high-quality colour photographs, this book uncovers monuments as a rich source of information for anyone interested not only in church history but also in costume, armour, heraldry, sculpture and genealogy.
REVIEW:
The modern world often believes that there is little to be learned from the past, as they feel that if you can’t see or touch the past it doesn’t exist. What this title does is bring prime examples of intricate carving to the reader and the makes sense of the hidden messages within each of them that allows the modern viewer to decode the message as to whom the marker is for alongside who they were in their everyday life. Beautifully presented this title has lots of examples of carving that survived the dissolution of the monasteries as well as decoding the messages within in such a delightful way that you’ll never look at another headstone the same way again. Fascinating, intriguing and above all else a wonderful link to our own past.
Release Date: 18/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
This book examines some of the most spectacular ancient monuments in Britain: the iron age brochs of north and west Scotland. It places the building of these unique fortifications in context and examines some of the impressive sites that may still be visited, including the brochs of Mousa and Clickhimin in Shetland and Carloway on Lewis. There is a short section on what brochs are not – including ‘Pictish’ towers. A select gazetteer of some of the most important brochs is followed by a list of museums in which representative artefacts are preserved.
REVIEW:
The unusual as well as fascinating derelict towers dotted around Scotland have long held the curious in thrall for centuries. Yet very little research has really gone into them leaving the modern viewer with more than a few questions as to the origins as well as practical application to their structure. What this book reveals is the uses of these ancient fortifications as well as clearly demonstrating the defensive as well as building skills required by the ancients in their constructions. Its fascinating, it’s a real delve into the curio of these constructs and a wonderful look into a past that is restricted to the highlands rather than all over the UK. A great addition and with the use of illustrations, diagrams and of course a little common sense make use of these ancient constructs.
Release Date: 10/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Beginning with the transition from hunter-gatherer societies in the Neolithic period, this book traces the evolution of agriculture from the initial struggle to engage creatively with the landscape to the full ‘agroscape’ of the late Iron Age. Much of the evidence for prehistoric agriculture, especially for the late Iron Age, has been subjected to experimental research at the Butser Ancient Farm Research Project in Hampshire, of which the author has been the director; many of the latest results of that research have been incorporated into the text, enhancing theory with practical probability.
REVIEW:
Whilst I’m not an out in the fields archaeologist, I do have an innate fascination with the past, whether it is the weaponry or warfare or even the day to day survival of the ancestors. What is revealed in this title by Peter J Reynolds, is the ancient farming methods that have barely changed over the millennia. However rather than just basing the work on what can be dug up or discovered, Peter was a practical archaeologist, demonstrating through practical application what did and what didn’t happen using the closest animals and crops to those from the correct period to back up his research as well as his actual findings.
This book is not only fascinating but a wonderful look into the past and it is perhaps due to the careful research and proof that modern day survivalists such as Ray Mears utilise the methodology to demonstrate the skills of the past that have died out throughout most of the modern world. All in this title is a fascinating read and for those who have a bond with the land such as modern farmers will be fascinated at how little some of the methods have changed or even just to help fill in some of the gaps from the past for the modern reader and could even allow modern authors to add a touch of authenticity to their fiction.
Release Date: 18/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise. When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love or if she’s a ruthless con artist using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.
REVIEW:
OK, I’m a huge fan of the Pirates Franchise as I love the character of Captain Jack Sparrow. Add to this the return of old friend Hector Barbossa and First Mate Gibbs and it should have been a reuniting of characters that would set the tone for the newer members of the cast (Ian McShane and Penelope Cruz) to rise to.
What actually unfurled was a tale that whilst it contained some of the magic from the previous films lost something with the script. Jack wasn’t as crazy or as funny as usual and Barbossa was sadly downbeat and not his usual full steam ahead pig-headed stubborn self. Add to this that the script writers had changed and I feel that the new arrivals to the scene could have done a lot more to maintain the standards of the other films.
Don’t get me wrong it is still a lot of fun, but without the characters being as strong as previous they really need to do something special for the rumoured fifth and sixth films. With luck Jack’s gold lust from the first will reappear and he’ll go after El Dorado possibly even so far as sword fights on poles sticking up from the lava as well as taking on some of the old Aztec Gods (well we did have the Kraken,) this way he could fight against Echecatl (for the jewels that control the wind as mentioned in this film), Quetzalcoatl (the feathered serpent) as well as having to face down Cihuacoatl (woman serpent) who could be a Medusa type of creature. Thus exploring a lot of original myths as we all know Jack loves a story or two. With luck it would bring things back on form and if they manage to return the Pearl to full size it would give an adventure the likes of which hasn’t been explored before. With luck Jerry will also bring back the original writers as things could quite easily go south if the characters aren’t brought back to their magnificent form of previous outings. (Incidentally Jerry, I am available. LOL)
All in reasonable and the new cast did the best with what they had but for me it was too much about Dry Land and not enough sea faring buccaneering that many will come to expect from this series.
Release Date: 20/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Stretching from the North Sea to the Solway Firth, the Border region has a sharply diverse landscape and was a battleground for over 300 years as the English and Scottish monarchs encouraged their subjects to conduct raids across their respective borders. This Warrior title will detail how this narrow strip of land influenced the Borderer’s way of life in times of war. Covering every aspect of militant life, from the choice of weapons and armour to the building of fortified houses, this book gives the readers a chance to understand what it must have been like to live life in a late-medieval war zone.
REVIEW:
As a fan of the Border Reivers ever since I was introduced to them in Tully House (Carlisle) it’s always fascinating to get an historians point of view alongside the documentary evidence to back up their point of view. That’s what this series by Osprey does extremely well as they present the facts in not only an interesting manner but an easy to follow as well as comprehend example of great text.
Back that up with some wonderful illustrations along with photos and this book is a title that will more than help bring this period of Border History to life for School Children or for curious adults alike. All in a wonderful addition to the series and a book that will be not only read through but enjoyed time or again.
Release Date: 10/01/11
SYNOPSIS:
'Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions!’ supposedly yelled Augustus Caesar when he received the news of the disaster in the Teutoburg Forest. One of the greatest military disasters of the Roman Empire, Teutoburg Forest witnessed the near-total annihilation of three Roman legions at the hands of the German barbarians led by their Roman-educated chief Arminius. Michael McNally tells the complete story of the disaster, supported by the incredible artwork of Peter Dennis.
REVIEW:
In a modern world where we have documented evidence of the errors of the past its always interesting to read what caused some of the calamities to the powers of the day. In this case, the Roman Legion (or rather Varus’ legions,) during their march to replace the legion that had been stationed in Germany during the first century. What is perhaps most fascinating is not only the legions destruction but also the guerrilla tactics utilised by the German tribes in order to hamstring the usual fighting style of their foes.
This title is concise; it has great details and is easily comprehended by any interested in this time period. There are lessons there for everyone from the modern military strategist to the young table top war gamer. All in a great read and one which when backed with great detailed illustrations alongside historical information to help explain the events make this a title that is one to be not only treasured but also read time and again for inspiration.
Release Date: 04/04/11
SYNOPSIS:
When the Romans occupied the southern half of Britain in AD 43, the Iceni tribe quickly allied themselves with the invaders. Having paid tribute to Rome, they continued to be ruled by their own kings. But 17 years later when Prasutagus, the king of the Iceni, died the Romans decided to incorporate his kingdom into the new province. When his widow Boudicca protested, she 'was flogged and their daughters raped', sparking one of the most famous rebellions in history. This book tells how Boudicca raised her people and other tribes in revolt and nearly took control of the fledgling Roman province, before being finally brought to heel in a pitched battle at Mancetter.
REVIEW:
Depending what you watch and when you watch it depends upon the details that are given to do with the Boudicca uprising of 60-61 AD. Whilst some concentrate purely on the warrior queen, others tend to stick with the Roman Legions and whilst a number of the details are the same, they can vary greatly depending on the sources cited by the presenter or historian.
What this title by Nic Fields does is take the reader by the hand, present the events of the time in a clear concise manner and above all else presents the reader with the facts in such a way that they can follow and comprehend without being coloured one way or the other. Add to this great illustrations, maps to help bring the details to life and you have a book that is a wonderful read as well as a great addition to your shelves.
Release Date: 05/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Legendary warrior Kell must choose to flee the conquered land of Falanor, or fight for its people in this triumphant conclusion to the epic Clockwork Vampire Chronicles!
REVIEW:
To be blunt I wasn’t a fan of Andy’s first Clockwork Vampire tale (Kell’s Legend) and whilst I did enjoy the second outing I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to get from the third. Yes I expected hard combat, with Howardesque blood and guts everywhere, yes I expected harsh language and also a whole host of villains to be minced and I also expected a kick ass overall plot to keep me glued to the last page through the viscera.
What I actually got was a tale that continued the bloody no quarter asked or given war against the Vamp Warlords (who’ve now been released) with various factions coming through, how they’re going to interact once the threat is over is anyone’s guess but there is a whole host of options open to Andy. Finally add to this solid combative prose in a spartaneque writing style and it’s a title that will pretty much tick the boxes for all fans of his writing.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
The Thing on the Shore takes place in a call-centre in Whitehaven, just a short hop from Sellafield along Cumbria's grim western coastline. When Artemis Black (from The Leaping) is assigned to manage the centre on behalf of a mysterious multinational corporation called Interext, the isolation and remoteness of the place encourage him to implement a decidedly unhinged personal project, installing what purports to be cutting-edge AI technology, with a real, human' voice, on the automated answering systems. As a result of Artemis' actions, one of his employees, Arthur, becomes aware of an intangible landscape inside the labyrinthine systems of the call-centre - a landscape in which he can feel some kind of otherworldly consciousness stirring and in which, perhaps as a result of his father's increasingly alarming eccentricities, he feels that he could find his recently deceased mother. Arthur takes refuge in this belief as his father, his job, and his house slowly deteriorate around him. He begins to conflate the mysterious, interstitial region that exists down the phonelines with the sea, as that was where his mother drowned. In a way he is right - Artemis' meddlings have attracted something, it is just not as benevolent as he thinks...
REVIEW:
Being a lad from Haven I looked forward to seeing what Tom Fletcher would do with the town, likewise I was also interested to see how things would work out with the horror set in familiar locations. Unfortunately I did end up wondering if the author had ever visited. The locations which whilst technically correct had a lot of the inner details wrong, add to this a stereotypical villain that felt almost laughable in his evil almost moustache twirling schemes left me feeling that parts of this title were just that a joke.
Add to this what felt like poor description, bad prose and an overall arc that really wasn’t anything more than a novella expanded to full novel length and I did end up wondering why he even bothered. There was so much more that could have been done such as the utilisation of the old Marchon facility and the author really sold himself short. A great shame to be honest.
Here at Falcata Times, we just love the chance to chat to new authors, so after getting the bejesus scared out of us with Girl 4, we were a little apprehensive as to what we were letting ourselves in for with this creative mind.
Here Will chats to us about writing, about music and his pride and joy...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? Will Carver: I think there is a romantic notion that writers are afflicted with a talent they feel almost obsessively driven to use, in the same way that people often talk of suffering for their art. I like to think of the ability to express your thoughts clearly and interestingly through the written word as a gift. If you have it, you will want to use it. FT: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?WC: I thought I wanted to be a painter up to my mid-teens until a teacher suggested I had a particular aptitude for poetry. I started to write a poem every day and found I could express myself more clearly than I ever could with paint. Things changed after reading Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. It was the first time I’d read a book and thought, ‘God, I wish I’d written that.’ From that day, poetry took a back seat to my new love of the novel form. By the end of university I had written my first novel. I keep a copy of Fight Club on my desk whenever I write. 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?WC: I don’t believe that is true at all. I do not set out to write a poem in the same way that I write an essay, neither would I prepare in the same way for a novel as I would for a blog post or online article or screenplay. They are entirely different disciplines. Just because someone can play the piano it does not mean they could keep time on the drums. The short story is a notoriously difficult format. I have some ideas that I think would suit it well and I will get around to trying them at some point but I realise my approach will have to differ from the way I develop a full-length novel. FT: If someone were to enter a bookshop, how would you persuade them to try your novel over someone else's and how would you define it?WC: Girl 4 is a psychological thriller that I hope will excite fans familiar with that genre, but it also breaks a lot of boundaries and challenges reader expectations. So hopefully it will please both regular and new readers of Crime & Thriller novels. I like to think it shakes up the genre a little and dares readers to put their preconceptions to one side and experience something fresh. FT: How would you "sell" your book in 20 words or less?WC: When my editor first read Girl 4 it scared him so much he was afraid to answer his door at night. 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?WC: I think everybody should own a copy of The Great Gatsby: that is how you write the perfect book. Also, anything by Hemingway. I am working my way through every word he scribbled onto paper at the moment. Going back to the short-story question, The Old Man and the Sea must be the greatest of all; there can’t be an editor in the world who is brave enough to suggest that a single word of that could be changed for the better. With regards to the author who will have me camped out on a bookshop doorstep, it has to be Chuck Palahniuk. He is so original and his voice so distinctive. 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?WC: I start with the ending, the pay-off. Always. I don’t think chronologically and this is reflected in the structure of my books. I won’t start writing until the ending and the beginning are firmly planned in my head. Then I make up the middle as I go along. Taking the same journey as my characters. Finding out about them as I write. If someone in my book has walked a certain path, eaten in a cafe, visited a library, stood on the edge of a building, strolled across a bridge, I have done this myself. To develop the character profiles I will visit the places that my characters visit, I write their journey as though I am that character - whether this be detective, killer or victim. This is usually part of my research and is the most planned aspect of my writing. Because I write in the first person for every character in Girl 4, giving them each their own voice in the story, it was important that I experience situations as they would. So, in short, I know how a novel will start and end. I know my individual characters in detail and how they will succeed, fail or die. The rest is a join-the-dots journey for all of us. FT: What do you do to relax and what have you read recently?WC: There aren’t many things more relaxing to me than sitting in a corner on my own with a guitar - and a whisky if possible. Before I was paid to write novels it was my perfect antidote for a stressful day in the office. Just half an hour as soon as I got home. Now I tend to intersperse my day with short bursts of finger-picking. I tend to read a lot more when in the research period of a book but I am currently immersed in writing the third January David novel. However, I recently finished reading The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson, which I really enjoyed, and the next on my list will be another from my pile of Hemingway. FT: What is your guiltiest pleasure that few know about?WC: In this world of online social networking there isn’t a lot we don’t all know about each other. 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?) WC: I love animals but I don’t have any pets.I have a sixteen-month-old daughter who requires my time and attention; if I also had a dog or cat I would undoubtedly forget to feed one of them at some point. FT: Which character within your latest book was the most fun to write and why?WC: Probably Eames. It is great fun to write a serial killer, particularly if you write him in the first person as I do - and you research in the way that I do. He’s very plain-speaking. He’s knows what he is and he makes no apologies for that; he doesn’t blame anyone or any circumstance for the way he has turned out. I always find the dislikable characters more interesting to write. It’s even more fun if they are supposed to be detestable but you find yourself sympathising with them in some way . . . FT: How similar to your principle protagonist are you?WC: I enjoy whisky and so does January David. We are both a little scruffy but that’s about it. You can’t help but put parts of yourself into your writing but I’d never base a person completely on myself. I am not just one of the people I write, I am all of them. FT: What hobbies do you have and how do they influence your work?WC: Film is a huge passion of mine. I own thousands of films. I used to have a rule that I had to watch three films each day but I have cut that down a little over the last year or so. This has a huge influence on my work. I tend to picture everything as a film before I write and I try to instill that visual aspect into my prose. Music is very important too. I taught myself to play the guitar and I am dabbling in a bit of piano. The only influence it has on my work though is to remind me that I should be a writer and not a musician. FT: Where do you get your ideas from?WC: Ideas can spark from so many places. It may be the emotion towards a piece of music or a certain lyric. A news item or article. It could simply come from conversation with another person. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact place that an idea begins - a lot of things come to me in the shower, for some reason. I’d love to tell you how I came up with the idea for Girl 4 but I feel it may ruin the ending. I jot ideas down all the time on scraps of paper that get lost for months or years. I like to believe that these scraps will find me when it is their turn to come to life as a story. FT: Do you ever encounter writers block and if so how do you overcome it?WC: I’m very fortunate to have not sat down at my keyboard and been unable to write. There are days when I am happier with the words I have written than others. Sometimes I will reach the end of a writing session, read back over it and delete in its entirety, but I am yet to experience a day where nothing comes out. 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?WC: This has changed with each book for me. I have suffered with insomnia for a long time because I find it difficult to wind down at night with ideas buzzing around my head. I used to use this time to write. Girl 4 was written mostly at night, often into the early hours of the morning, on my laptop in my office. This office became a nursery and I found myself writing at very odd hours in cafes or at the dining table while my daughter napped. I have a had a little getaway built at the bottom of the garden now which houses my books, computer, whisky, guitars, coffee machine, and I generally write early in the morning. Sometimes this can be for a few hours, sometimes for the entire day. I try to fit my writing around my family so that I get to spend as much time with them as possible. I can write at any time. 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?WC: I find it quite difficult to listen to music while I write, particularly if it has lyrics. It gets a bit distracting - I don’t even have a window in the room I write in for the same reason. Sometimes I will listen to a little Gershwin, something instrumental, but that is about it. When I research locations - all my novels to date are set in London - I will close myself off from the world with a large pair of headphones and listen to Elliott Smith’s Either/Or album. Only this album. For some reason it gets me into the frame of mind I need to write in the style that I do. I can often be found wandering the streets of London wearing huge headphones and scribbling inside a leather notebook. FT: What misconceptions, if any, did you have about the writing and publishing field when you were first getting started?WC: I still feel as though I am getting started. I don’t believe I ever thought about the publishing side of things, I just knew I wanted to write so I got on with doing that. I’m learning something new every day about what is required as a published author. FT: If music be the food of love, what do you think writing is and please explain your answer?WC: Writing is the drug of self-loathing. It feels great while you are doing it. There is a buzz or euphoria that comes with the sound of fingers tapping against keys and producing something new that you created from nothing. Afterwards, there is a come-down as you read back what you have written. I often have to take myself away from the screen for the evening because I think it is sub-standard. The only way to feel better is to write again the next day. The fuller you are on writing the harder it is to digest the self-loathing, the more you then have to write. One cannot exist without the other. FT: What can you tell us about the next novel?WC: My second book is called The Two and will be released on 10 November, 2011 (although it is available now for pre-order on Amazon). It continues the January David series and sees him enter into another high-profile case searching for a killer seemingly using Pagan ceremony when slaying their victims. The problem our detective faces is that the killer he seeks has already been captured by a vigilante who goes by the name V. It is told in the same style as Girl 4. FT: What are the last five internet sites that you've visited?WC: Twitter and Facebook, obviously. Amazon because the Kindle version of Girl 4 is now available and I wanted to take a look. www.willcarver.net because I made some changes to the website and wanted to check that they were working properly. Google. I googled myself to check that my website ranking was moving up after doing some Search Engine Optimisation. Also, it can throw up some surprising links occasionally . . . 
FT: Did you ever take any writing classes or specific instructions to learn the craft? If so please let us know which ones.WC: No. Never taken any writing classes or courses. In fact, I slept through the final exam of my English A-Level. I have learned so much from working with my agent and editor, though. Having a fresh pair of eyes and the feedback that comes with it is absolutely invaluable; I’ve learned more about writing from the editing process than I think I would sat in a class listening to someone telling me how I should write. FT: How did you get past the initial barriers of criticism and rejection?WC: I got past the criticism and rejection of my first book by writing a completely new book, Girl 4, which was picked up by Random House very quickly. In terms of my initial rejections, I would just tell myself that Harry Potter was rejected too or that Fitzgerald was told his book would be much better if he just got rid of that Gatsby character. I knew my book wasn’t going to click with every single editor. You have to be realistic and I always was. Also, constructive criticism is always useful. I never went into it thinking that I knew best. I’m telling myself that I won’t allow myself to get bogged down with reading every review of Girl 4, that there will be people who like it and people that do not, but perhaps you could ask me this again in three months. FT: In your opinion, what are the best and worst aspects of writing for a living?WC: The best part of my job is that I can dictate my own hours. My wife works for half of the week and I take care of my daughter on those days. I’m very fortunate that I get to see so much of her growing up. I can write when she naps or in the evening when she goes to bed. I can choose to have a day or week off from writing without consulting a boss and ensuring it fits in with everybody else’s holiday entitlement. I can write for two hours one day and eighteen the next. I suppose it is the freedom that is the best part. (I do try to write every day, though.) I suppose the worst aspect is telling people I am a writer while my book isn’t even out yet. The first question someone asks when you tell them you are a writer is ‘Anything I would know?’ You find yourself having to justify yourself a little. I’m sure this will change after May 12th . . .
As many of our regular readers know I tend to hang around a few online message boards that accommodate not only fans of a certain authors but also help those who want to write get better at what they do. 
FT: What can you tell us about the next novel?
