Category Archives: Interviews

CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner-Review & Guest Post

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CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner-Review and Guest Post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 8, 2024

‘Eight years ago they sent a single ship to test our defences. Now they’re building an armada.’

Cole grew up in the shadow of grief. Kyoko grew up in the shadow of war. Two pilots, separated by time, set out on parallel journeys to Proxima Centauri. What they find could be the start of something new. What they bring with them could be the end of all we know.

In this sweeping science fiction debut from Ross Garner, readers will find an Earth that is transformed by fear of an imminent invasion; a space station in orbit that acts as a gateway to other worlds; a Martian colony with all of the threat and violence of the Old West; and a distant star where answers can be found.

What is ‘the signal’? A greeting, or a threat?

••••

REVIEW: CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner is an adult, science fiction thriller focusing on a potential war on the horizon with an alien race.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Cole and Kyoko), focusing on two timelines, CENTAURI’S SHADOW follows in the wake of a message from space possibly signifying a senscient lifeform from beyond the sun but the UNSA’s (United Nations Space Agency) first attempt to circumnavigate the sun, ends in disaster, and years later, the sole remaining survivor, volunteers to set a plan into motion, to reach the Centauri system, in an effort to complete the original mission.

Meanwhile, several decades into the future, Earth and its’ colony on Mars have been attacked by an unknown enemy, and Kyoko and her crew of fighter pilots is tasked with ending all future attacks but Kyoko will quickly discover that all is not well on her voyage towards the end.

The characters are numerous, determined, dynamic and often lost. Mars is not so much a respite from Earth, but a virtual imprisonment for those who have been forgotten or have no direction home.

CENTAURI’S SHADOW is a detailed, complex and intriguing story of what ifs and whys. Humans have not learned from the past, and the past is gearing to repeat itself over and over again. Every generation or two fights for power and control, and in this, vengeance and greed lead to another war that no one will win.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Click HERE to read the first chapter of CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner

The Wright Flyer to Apollo 11

By Ross Garner

In 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made history as the inventors and pilots of the Wright Flyer: the first airplane. Of the first four test flights, the most successful was the last: covering a distance of 260 metres.  

Just 66 years later, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins flew Apollo 11 a distance of 953,054 miles. They landed on the moon, and returned safely.

There aren’t many people who lived through both events. A person born in the United States in the 1880s had a life expectancy of just 40 years. But there were some: a miraculous few who experienced first hand the transition from the Old West to the Space Age.

What was their reaction to this dramatic change in our technological capability? Did they feel like time travellers, leaving the world of the horse and wagon behind in favour of rockets and satellites?

It was this idea that led to the writing of Centauri’s Shadow, my first novel.

I imagined an astronaut, setting out alone to visit our closest star: Proxima Centauri. The journey would take him 40 trillion kilometres away from Earth. With today’s technology, it would take 70,000 years.

He would need to be frozen somehow, waiting to be reawakened on arrival.

And how might his home planet have changed while he slept?

If humankind’s technology could shift from a flimsy biplane to a rocket-fuelled spaceship in just 66 years, how might it evolve over 70,000 years?

It seemed reasonable to conclude that our technology would continue to improve. That the journey time would shrink from 70,000 years, to something more manageable.

By the time our astronaut arrived, Proxima Centauri could be home to millions of people: living in spaceships, space stations, and on other worlds.

I thought about this astronaut: sacrificing his life on Earth to be the first great explorer to visit another star, only to find that the journey had been pointless. The time, wasted. The sacrifice, meaningless.

And I decided to turn this idea into a book.

The story of Centauri’s Shadow evolved in the writing. The astronaut in question became Cole Anderson, and he journeys to Proxima Centauri not with a traditional rocket but with the use of solar sails: a method of propulsion that already exists and uses the pressure from solar radiation to gain speed.

With a bit of science fiction fudgery, the journey time was reduced to 30 years: allowing for a stronger emotional tie to Cole’s life and relationships back home. But the core concept remained, including the themes of time and sacrifice.

And the original idea lingers in the novel in another major way: the notion of the Old West, complete with saloons, brothels, missionaries and violence, re-emerged in the form of the first martian colony.

It took me 10 years in total to finish the story. A rather damning reflection of my ability to get things done when compared to the accomplishments of those who followed in the steps of the Wright brothers.

But I came to have sympathy for Cole, with all his faults. He did his best to find his way, as we all do.

Readers can make up their own minds whether it was worth it.

Centauri’s Shadow is available now on Amazon (US / UK / Canada)

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BLACK HEARTED by Julie Ann Walker-review, excerpt, guest post

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BLACK HEARTED (Black Knights Inc: Reloaded 2) by Julie Ann Walker-review, excerpt & guest post

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 26, 2023

He’s everything she ever wanted. She’s everything he never knew he needed. Can she convince him she’s the one?

The Black Knights are back and better than ever!

Samuel Harwood has spent his entire career working in the black and gray areas of international intrigue. Living in the shadows for so long has made him forget who he was and where he came from. Then a blast from the past, in the form of his ex-girlfriend’s kid sister, arrives on the front steps of Black Knights Inc, reminding him of everything he left behind. Except, she’s no longer a kid. And she’s in serious trouble.

Hannah Blue has been in love with Sam Harwood since she was in braces. When someone sabotages her entire life, he’s the first person she turns to. She has critical information about a potential cyber-attack on the U.S. power grid that could end in catastrophic financial damage and loss of life. But the FBI thinks she’s a traitor. And now she’s on the run to save herself and the fate of the entire nation.

Who does Samuel trust? The smart, sexy woman he’s known since he was a teenager? Or the government authorities who give him his orders and cut his paychecks? He’ll make one desperate play to find out. A play that could cost him everything…including his heart.

•••••

REVIEW:BLACK HEARTS is the second instalment in Julie Ann Walker’s contemporary, adult BLACK KNIGHTS INC: RELOADED romantic suspense series-a spin off from the author’s BLACK KNIGHTS INC. This is thirty-four year old, former US Marine Raider turned BKI agent Samuel Harwood, and twenty-nine year old, DOD IT specialist / hacker Hannah Blue’s story line. BLACK HEARTED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line or series is revealed where necessary. Several characters cross over from the original series for cohesion.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Hannah and Sam BLACK HEARTED follows in the wake of the arrest of our story line heroine. Hannah Blue uncovered a possible threat to the US power grid but someone has placed the blame squarely on our story line heroine. Arrested by the FBI and held on terrorism charges, Hannah’s one call to her best friend Cesar results in the escape and rescue of our story line heroine. Enter thirty-four year old, former US Marine Raider turned BKI agent Samuel Harwood, the man Hannah has love most of her life. What ensues is the search for the truth, and the building relationship between our story line couple.

The world building continues to focus on a new crew of Black Ops agents working for Black Knights Inc. Hannah Blue has lusted after Samuel Harwood since the first time her older sister brought Samuel home but Samuel sees Hannah as a younger sister, and as such is desperate to keep their relationship as friends but when the FBI comes looking for our story line couple, Samuel becomes guardian and protector of our story line heroine.

The relationship between Sam and Hannah is one of unrequited love. Sam has kept his distance from the woman that stirs something deep but it is only a matter of time, and a suspicion that Hannah has been set up to take a fall, that Sam will realize Hannah is the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Several of the original Black Knights Inc team return a secondary and supporting characters. We are re-introduced to Eliza Meadows, Fisher Wakefield as well as Grace Beacham and Hunter Jackson (Back in Black 1). The requisite evil has many faces. There is something developing between Fisher and Eliza.

BLACK HEARTED is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, espionage and terrorism, family, friendships, relationships and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing, captivating and dramatic; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are powerful, determined and dynamic. BLACK HEARTED ends on a happily ever after for now-the main conflict and the people involved has yet to be resolved.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one BACK IN BLACK

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

She didn’t have the strength—or the will—to lift her hands to brush her tears away. Which meant they ran down her face, dripped off her chin, and plopped onto her shirt.
“I’m s-so sorry,” Sam said as he gingerly removed the last boot from the five-toed iceberg that was her foot. His hands were shaking so hard he dropped the boot the instant it came free. And she wondered why she wasn’t shivering. She was absolutely frozen. Shouldn’t she be quaking like him? “I kn-know you’re hurting, ’cause I feel like s-someone’s shoving f-frozen pokers into me, and you were more exposed than I was. B-but hang on a little bit l-longer, okay?”
“That’s not why I’m crying,” she whispered.
“No?” He cocked his head.
“I’m just…” She sniffed. “Thank you, Sam.” She hiccupped as a new sob shook her entire body. “You saved me.”
“You mostly s-saved yourself. I just d-did the d-driving.”
“No.” She shook her head, wanting to tell him how much she appreciated the risk he’d taken in coming for her. Wanting to explain how much it meant to her. But no matter how hard she tried, the words wouldn’t form. What came out of her mouth was, “I feel like I only have two brain cells functioning, and they seem to be fighting each other for third place.”
One corner of his mouth twitched. “There sh-she is, the funny, flippant H-Hurricane Hannah I know and l-love.”
The instant the word love left his lips, fresh tears welled. She’d waited her whole life to hear him say that. And now he had.
But he hadn’t meant it.
Not the way she wanted him to.
“C-come here.” He gathered her close and she thought he was going to hug her. She was more than a little disappointed when instead he scooped her into his arms so he could quickly transfer her into the tub, T-shirt, pajama bottoms, and all.
“No!” she yelped. Her brain went from slow and sluggish to blaring danger, Will Robinson! Danger! The water was burning tongues of fire licking over her skin. “It’s too hot!”
He kept her in the tub with a firm hand on her shoulder. “It only f-feels that way ’cause your sk-skin is f-frozen.”
Every instinct told her to jump from the lava bath lest her flesh melt right off her bones. But she trusted him. Gritting her teeth, she stayed put. And then watched, dumbfounded, as he peeled his White Sox sweatshirt over his head before tackling the zipper on his jeans.
Once he was down to black, thermal long johns that hugged his muscular body like a second skin, he stepped into the tub.
“S-scoot forward,” he instructed.
When he lowered himself into the tub behind her, his big body made the water rise. Every new inch of skin it touched burned like blue flames. She only managed to keep from hissing her pain by biting the inside of her cheek.
“Now l-lean b-back.” He patted the place over his heart and she gingerly reclined until her back was pressed against his chest.


 

Old world. New Characters. Who dis?

When I first considered jumping back into the world of motorcycles and mayhem—a world I left behind almost 5 years ago—I was worried. You see, I closed the door on the series when I penned the final Black Knights Inc. book. But…knowing me and knowing how much I loved the characters and their world, I did have enough forethought to leave open a window. My concern was the readers wouldn’t be willing to crawl through it. Not now. Not after so much time had passed.

Imagine my surprise and delight when the first book was met with hand-flapping excitement and rave reviews. Turns out, the fans were willing to crawl through, jump into, and throw rocks to break the glass of the window in order to get back to Black Knights Inc. And I am both humbled and so incredibly happy to be able to continue to write stories in a setting the feels like home to so many.

(Author’s note: You don’t have to read the original 12-book series to enjoy the new Black Knights Inc: Reloaded stories. All books can be read as standalones. Although, I would suggest starting at the beginning of the spin-off, with Back in Black.)

FOLLOW Julie: Facebook / Goodreads / Website /   Bookbub | Instagram | Newsletter

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Julie grew up in a house full of women – she has three older sisters. As you can imagine, there was no lack of drama… or romance. Her mother enrolled her in a book club as soon as she began to read and it was the small spark that ignited her voracious appetite for the written word.

Because of Julie’s early immersion in literature, she found writing came quite naturally. In high school, she won multiple writing contests and was the proud senior editor of The Tiger’s Tale – her school newspaper.

During her college years, however, she longed for a challenge. “Reading and writing felt like second nature to me, so I looked for a way to flex my mental muscles,” she recalls. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, Julie began teaching advanced high school mathematics.
“I loved working with the students and facing the challenges of the classroom, but I longed for the occasional snow day when I could race to the local book store, buy two or three new novels, and curl up in front of the fire to read.”

It wasn’t until a fortuitous move to Chicago that Julie once more returned to her first passion.

Now Julie loves to travel the world looking for views to compete with her deadlines. When she’s not writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, cycling, cooking, petting every dog that walks by her, and… reading, of course

Be sure to sign up for Julie’s occasional newsletter at: http://julieannwalker.com

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A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY by Julianne MacLean-review & giveaway

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A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY by Julianne MacLean-Review, Interview and Giveaway

 

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N paper /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 12, 2023

Scarlett Fontaine is a true Hollywood legend—a singer, actress, and beloved fashion icon. But Scarlett dies tragically at just thirty-six years old, leaving behind no children. Or so the story goes…

Gwen Hollingsworth is the curator at a museum dedicated to Scarlett’s life. She’s also sole heir to Scarlett’s fortune as a descendant of the star. But all is not well in Gwen’s world. She’s dealing with a messy marital separation and is struggling to move forward. So when Peter Miller, a biographer and photojournalist, comes to the museum with shocking claims about Scarlett—a life of exile in Alaska, a baby born in secret—Gwen’s whole world is turned upside down. Again.

Determined to uncover the truth, Gwen and Peter set out for Alaska together but soon find themselves on a path toward something far deeper and more meaningful than either of them ever expected.

A Storm of Infinite Beauty takes readers on a breathtaking journey from a lush vineyard in Nova Scotia to a rustic lodge in Alaska where old family secrets are revealed and the quest for true happiness begins.

•••

REVIEW: A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY by Julianne Maclean is a stand alone story line of women’s fiction focusing on two timelines, two women, two pregnancies, and a family history ripe in fame, secrets and lies.

Told from omniscient third person perspectives and dual times lines 1963-64, and 2017, A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY focuses on Hollywood legend Scarlett Fontaine aka Valerie McCarthy in the year before her life changed in the blink of an eye.

In 2017, former photojournalist turned author Peter Miller is hoping to write the biography of the late award winning, Hollywood legend Scarlett Fontaine, and his search for the truth brings him to Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada where the Scarlett Fontaine Museum is located and housed in a large Victorian mansion. Meeting curator and Scarlett Fontaine descendant Gwen Hollingsworth sets into motion a journey to Alaska where Gwen and Peter will uncover the heart breaking story and beginnings of the woman the world would come to know as Scarlett Fontaine.

In 1963-64, the reader is ‘told’ the story of Valerie McCarthy as she is banished, by her family to Alaska, where she will never come to terms with a perceived betrayal, accepting of the present, and a new direction in life going forward. A secret pregnancy, the Great Alaskan earthquake of 1964, and the death of 139 lives forces Valerie to take on a new role, a new life, and the personification of someone who has it all.

A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY is a dramatic, heart breaking, emotional and tragic story of betrayal, unrequited love, dysfunctional family behavior, loss and acceptance set against the real world earthquake and ensuing tsunamis in Alaska in 1964. The premise is edgy, haunting and real; the characters are desperate and impassioned. A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY is a journey; a trek into the past focusing on loss, love and taking back control.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC:Hi Julianne and welcome to The Reading Café.

Congratulations on the release of A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

JM:  Sure! I’ve been writing novels for thirty years, and I have a wonderfully supportive husband and a 26-year-old daughter who is currently studying to be a chiropractor. I live in Nova Scotia, Canada.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

JM: There have been many influences over the years. I was very lucky to have a mentor early on when I began writing historical romance. I joined a writers’ group in the 1990’s and met the late Jo Beverley, who was incredibly generous in sharing her knowledge. It was amazing to meet a real published author when I was just starting out. Later, when I began publishing novels independently, Bella Andre was an incredible inspiration for me. She’s very smart about the business of publishing and I learned a lot from her about focus and discipline.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties have you encountered writing and publishing your stories?

JM: It was tough to break into the publishing world in the late 1990’s. It took me six years before I landed a contract, so I spent those years writing and submitting — and usually getting rejected! But I have no regrets about that because it forced me to keep improving my manuscripts to become a better writer. I also learned to persevere and not give up, even in the face of rejection.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY?

JM: A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY is a dual timeline novel which takes readers back to the great Alaskan earthquake of 1964 (a true historic event), so there’s quite a bit of action surrounding the main character’s emotional journey. I think readers will enjoy the escape to stunning and beautiful Alaska while also learning about what happened there in 1964. And they’ll experience it through the eyes and hearts of the two female leads who each have personal battles to fight in their own lives. There’s also a love story at the book’s core, which readers have come to expect from me. I don’t think I could write a book without a love story, even if it’s tragic or unrequited.

TRC: How do you keep the plot(s) unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

JM: That’s a great question, and it’s a challenge to keep things fresh when sometimes it feels like everything in books and movies has been done before. But generally, when I’m plotting a novel, I try to lead the reader down what looks like a predictable path, but then I steer away from the obvious and take a sharp left turn.

In my opinion, whether something feels believable depends on the characters’ thoughts, emotions, and actions. If those feel real and make sense, how they navigate through unexpected events should also feel real and authentic.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

JM: I can’t speak for other readers, but for me, the cover image is often what initially attracts me to a book. It’s what catches my eye if I’m simply browsing in a store or online. If it looks like a quality read, and the title is intriguing, then the back cover description becomes the most important element that truly sells it to me.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

JM: For me, it’s a little of both. I usually have the broad plot points figured out before I begin writing a novel, so I know the main events that are going to happen, but within each scene, and while getting from one major plot point to the next, the characters lead me there. Sometimes I’m not sure what will happen within a scene until the characters start talking and interacting.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen?  Where do you believe writers fail in this endeavor?

JM: At the most basic level, I think a good writer needs to write cleanly and clearly, and that’s where craft is important. I’m referring to the use of strong verbs, avoiding passive sentences, repetition of words or ideas, and making sure the structure and length of each sentence is varied so that they all flow together with a pleasant rhythm. (Note that this can be handled during the editing and polishing phase.)

Outside of that, I feel the writer needs to get into the mind—as well as the skin—of the character and strive to feel the emotions as they write. This of course requires the all-important use of imagination. If the character is being chased by a bear or is falling down a mountain, the writer’s heart should be pounding as they imagine and describe such an experience.

The icing on top of all that is the use of all five senses. The writer shouldn’t lose sight of the physical world when his character is moving through a scene. This might be where writers fail in the goal of pulling a reader into the storyline and keeping them there. The writer might communicate the character’s thoughts and feelings very well, but the reader wants to be transported fully into the character’s personal experience. They want to feel what the character is feeling, emotionally and physically as well. For example… Is it raining? Is the character’s skin wet and cold, and is this making him shiver when he’s trying to talk to someone? Or is he drunk and losing his balance? Or is the smell of lilacs reminding a character of her childhood and helping her to make sense of her current situation? So, the bottom line is this: emotions are important, but so are physical sensations. The reader needs the whole experience.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

JM: I don’t listen to music. I need absolute quiet, or at least white noise. The rhythm of the words is my music!

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family.  With whom do you bounce ideas?

My husband is my sounding board for plot ideas, and he’s great at it. My cousin is also my critique partner, and she will let me know if something in my book needs a shot in the arm.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

JM: I’m not sure, but maybe there’s an expectation that an author should know everything about every single aspect of the world. Sometimes we make mistakes (about a setting detail for instance) because we’re human. It’s not because we don’t care or are too lazy to do research. We’re really trying to do our best. Sometimes even a copyeditor won’t pick up on an obscure detail that a certain reader might notice. Mistakes happen to us all, and it only bothers me when a reader says it ruined the whole book for them and they didn’t bother to finish.  

TRC: What is something that few, if any people, know about you?

JM: I have a weakness for crystal stemware.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

JM: I’m almost finished the first draft of my next book which is due in a few months. It’s set on Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia, my home province.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

JM: Thanks for having me!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – salmon and ratatouille

Favorite Dessert – Crème Brûlée

Favorite TV Show – I have lots of favorites, but I’ll go with Succession today.

Last Movie You Saw – In the theater, it was Oppenheimer.

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush – Ethan Hawke

Last Vacation Destination – New York for a Billy Joel concert

Do you have any pets? – No. Our dog Molly passed away in 2020 and I’m not over that yet.

Last book you read –The Undiscovered Self: The Dilemma of the Individual in Modern Society by Carl Jung

Thank you, Julianne, for taking the time to answer our questions.Congratulations on your new release.

JM: Thank you!

Spark Points Studios is offering a paper copy of A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY by Julianne MacLean to ONE (1) commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

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3. Please LIKE Julianne MacLean on Facebook

4. Please LIKE/FOLLOW The Reading Cafe on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

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8. Giveaway open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from September 11-15, 2023

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Of Thieves and Shadows by BSH Garcia-review & guest post

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Of Thieves and Shadows (The Heart of Quinaria) by BSH Garcia-review & guest post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 1, 2023

Some secrets are best left to the shadows. But shadows have a mind of their own.

The ancient land of Quinaria teeters on the brink of war, as its most precious resource is unearthed and exploited. Three nations have maintained tenuous peace for centuries, but as the life-giving nevethium dwindles, rumors of an ancient evil long thought dead spread like wildfire.

Elaysia never wanted to lead. As the high chieftain’s only surviving heir, she’s thrust into a role that jeopardizes the already fragile peace. A deadly attack on the day of her induction strengthens her resolve—and her suspicion that her parents’ murders and these disturbing rumors are connected.

With newfound companions, she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. But as they unravel layers of secrets, they find themselves in the clutches of a dictator whose unethical nevethium experimentation threatens to bring about a new world of terror and violence.

Elaysia and her allies could be all that stands between war and a dying world—if their conflicting ambitions don’t destroy them first.

•••••••

REVIEW:Elaysia is the Main Female Character(FMC) and I found her a joy to read. Her journey is a hazardous one, and at times she definitely has to step up and be the leader, through the book she grows up and I can’t wait to see her again in book two.

Secondary characters are interesting and they all get a say on this book, there is a little confusion as the characters multiply and split off into adventures of their own, but it soon settles back down.

The descriptions in this book captivate and transport to this new world with ease, you immerse yourself in the lives of the characters, you feel their pain, you hold your breath as each story unfolds.The smallest of detail wasn’t missed, gods had names, weather and villages were described, the journey to stop the chaos was tough going, you actually felt every step they took.

It is a little political and topical for what’s going on on the world at the moment, but it doesn’t detract from the story at all (I never got that the author was on a political podium).

The battle scenes are intense, the action doesn’t stop until the last page. If this were a rollercoaster, it would have left you breathless with the twists and turns…..

I’d call this a dystopian adventure with a murder/mystery vibe.
I throughly enjoyed this book, and although this author is a new one for me, I’m definitely going to be reading the next book.

It doesn’t leave a cliffhanger ending, the story is wrapped up pretty well. But it does leave a few questions that I’m hoping book two will clear up.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

The Role of Setting in Storytelling: Creating Vivid Worlds
Close your eyes. Imagine your favorite story, recall a cherished fable from childhood, or replay a scene from a top-five film in your mind.
Chances are high that the setting or world-building of that story was one of the first things to take shape in your memory, if not the very first thing. Not only does setting make up the building blocks of any great story or character, it is also what shapes them, sets the tone, and often what makes them unique. Imagine Star Wars without the desert waste of Tatooine, or Lord of the Rings without the enchanting paradise that is Rivendell. How could we properly appreciate the stakes in Dune or Game of Thrones without the historical implications driving the narrative?
The world-building of a story shapes its characters, the plot, and conveys the culture intertwined through it all. It’s as subtle as a meal, and as glaringly obvious as a mythological being spewing prophecies. A story without a clearly defined setting is like a crew without a ship. All the players are there (the crew) ready to sail the ocean (the plot), but without a vessel (the world-building), they are going to flounder, and many will drown. But if your ship is too big and flashy, if it dwarfs the ocean and swallows your characters, that’s not much of a story either. Like most things, crafting a solid setting and weaving the right amount of it into the story is a precarious process. But when done right, it yields excellent results.
Now, I wouldn’t dare compare myself to Tolkien or one of my modern-day favorites, N.K. Jemisin, but I spent a great deal of time crafting the land of Quinaria until I could taste the Beridian Moonlight and dip my toes in the Khitamic Ocean off the northwestern coast of Neharem. I then spent even more time dropping in bits of it here in there, allowing it to shape the narrative, the characters, all while avoiding info-dump mode (or so I hope). What follows is a brief overview of my process and how it shaped my narrative and characters.
The world-building comes first. Now, this is partially a lie because, ultimately, the story idea itself comes first, doesn’t it? That burning question, that spark of a conflict, that character that just won’t leave you alone. However, once I embraced my story idea and sat down to work through it, the first thing I tackled was the world. Without knowing the societal norms and expectations, I couldn’t assess my characters’ dreams and fears. Without understanding the world’s history, I couldn’t determine sources of conflict. Without mapping out the terrain, I couldn’t understand what people ate, how they dressed, how they acted.
I began my process with simple questionnaires I found online, cherry-picking my favorites and throwing them together in a giant Word Doc. Some were as simple as, “are all the inhabitants in your world human?”, while others delved into matters of religion and history. From there, I expanded my brief answers, turning them into essay-style responses that eventually grew into a document the size of a novella. I spent nearly two months world-building alone, and only once I felt comfortable with the world I created did I dare to delve into the story itself. Everyone uses their own approach, but for me, I would’ve never done my story justice without this step.
What I found fascinating, however, is how my world-building continues to grow and change throughout drafts. Even now, as I work on book two, I find myself learning even more about the world. It drives the narrative, and the narrative enriches the world-building. The setting helps me better understand my characters, and my characters teach me more about their world. In a way, world-building is fluid for me. While I must strive to ensure it never contradicts itself, everything within those boundaries is fair game. Every question from a beta reader, every interesting tidbit I read in a non-fiction book or catch in a documentary, adds more depth and more believability. It’s a never-ending process, at least until the series ends. And by doing it organically and allowing it to play off the other storytelling aspects, I believe it inserts itself organically. I didn’t need a prologue dedicated to the history or setting because the story itself is those things, woven into the tapestry of the tale.
But you be the judge. Take a stroll through Quinaria sometime and let me know if you find yourself lost in her. If, for even a moment, I can transport you to an alternative reality, then I’ve done my job. I’ve given you escape from this world so you can better process it through the lens of another.
Until then, farewell.

B. S. H. Garcia is the author of the epic fantasy series, The Heart of Quinaria. A household manager by day, writer by night, she graduated with honors from The University of Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in English Writing. To get into character for her stories, she trudges through the woods in cosplay with a mead-filled drinking horn and has traveled from Oregon to New Zealand seeking inspiration. Visit her online at www.bshgarcia.com. There, you can get your hands on a FREE copy of The Heart of Quinaria prequel novelette, From the Ashes. All she asks for in exchange is your soul.

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The Shadow of Theron by Kathryn Troy-Review & Guest Post

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The Shadow of Theron (Age of Shadows 1) by Kathryn Troy-Review & Guest Post

ebook only 99¢Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.UK /B&N / KOBO /

The powers of old are fading. A new Age is dawning.

Holy relics are all that remain of Theron’s sacred legend.

Now those relics, the enchanted weapons forged by the Three-Faced Goddess to help Theron defeat the wicked Sorcerer Argoss, are disappearing.

Lysandro knows the village magistrate Marek is responsible, and he searches for proof disguised as the masked protector the Shadow of Theron.

But when Marek wounds him with an accursed sword that shouldn’t exist, Lysandro must find a way to stop Marek from gaining any more artifacts created by the Goddess or her nemesis.

The arrival of the beautiful newcomer Seraphine, with secrets of her own, only escalates their rivalry.

As the feud between Lysandro and Marek throws Lighura into chaos, a pair of priestesses seeks to recover the relics and return them to safekeeping. But the stones warn that Argoss is returning, and they must race to retrieve Theron’s most powerful weapon.

While they risk their lives for a legend, only one thing is certain. The three temples to the Goddess have been keeping secrets: not just from the faithful, but from each other.

•••••••••

REVIEW: Another magical read for me. And I loved it. Although a little slow and confusing in the beginning, it’s worth continuing as it’s a really good read. Written really well, plenty of descriptions and feelings put into this book.

A little Zorro in places, he fights for justice wearing a mask, Lysandro wants answers and thinks Marek knows the answers to his questions.

Seraphine becomes entangled in the two’s world, she’s not a pushover by any means. She’s not impressed with Marek (who really is a nasty person) but with Lysandro that’s a whole different story, how she didn’t guess Lysandro wasn’t Theron I’ll never know (but look at the weak guise superman/Clark Kent used!) and her reaction when she finally knows the truth was a little overboard.

Both Lysandro and Marek make a play for Seraphine, but it’s Lysandro that wins her heart, but it’s not an easy task, it might be love at first sight for Lysandro, but it took a little time to convince her ?

There are triggers in this book, it’s a dark fantasy with a splash of romance. There is mentioning a of rape (not the MFC) there is a hanging scene, and scenes of torture! But the violence is kept to a minimum, and for those who don’t like bad language, that’s hardly used.

Can Lysandro find the missing relics that will help him overcome evil? Can he convince Sera to give them a chance, and if she does, then will they be able to stay together? Will he ever find the mystical items to help him beat the evil Sorcerer?

I really enjoyed the book. So I’d recommend this one to those who enjoy action and adventure with a little romance.

Copy supplied for review

? Reviewed by Julie B

Lysandro moved along the edges of the room, circumnavigating the central space occupied by countless dancing couples. Then he saw her. At the far end of the hall, the normal view out over the coast had been replaced by a painted backdrop of the Maghreve Desert, at the very farthest border of Mirêne. With her arms wrapped around herself, Seraphine looked out over the artificial horizon. She wore a sleek ivory dress covered in gold and copper crystals that left her shoulders daringly bare. That now familiar ache that hadn’t left him since this morning grew more pronounced.
As he observed the faraway, wistful look in her eyes, he realized he recognized it—homesickness. He took a deep breath and called on well-used skills to smooth his nerves and keep them tightly tucked away under a charming façade.
He inhaled the hypnotic scent of her hair again as he stood close to her, and almost lost his nerve. He agonized over what to say, knowing he might have only one shot to get her attention.
“Is the city of stars as beautiful as they say?”
She turned to face him, and he saw the truth in her eyes.

Guest Post: The Act of Creation by Kathryn Troy

So many writers are so often asked by avid readers and aspiring writers alike: “Where do you get your ideas?”

It’s a natural question to ask, but it can be just as hard for some authors to answer this as it is to come up with the “elevator speech.” Which got me to thinking what it is about this query that bothers everybody so much.

The simple, semi-redundant answer to “where I get my ideas” is: I get them from my head. Because I’m creative. It’s in my nature to be observant, thoughtful, and reflective. I also have a knack for stringing words together because I’ve been doing it so long and make it a regular habit. To read the question in an unkind way, asking someone where they get their ideas is another way of saying “I have no ideas of my own, and I don’t know why.” Some people are creative. Some people are not. It’s wiring in the brain that causes this, and it’s not a personal affront to people who can’t imagine or tell stories, the same way it’s not an affront to the large majority of people who can’t draw beyond a kindergartner’s level, or those who become nauseous at the sight of the formulae of an astrophysicist. It takes a certain kind of brain function, coupled with practice, instruction, and discipline.

The same is true of writing. There are multiple skill sets at work here: the ability to research (possibly), deep reading (to understand themes of other authors and engage with them in your own work), understanding narrative (plot, narrative tension, setting, character, etc. etc. etc.) the actual writing (technicalities like grammar and sentence construction, poetic ability, vocabulary, mood), an imagination, an understanding of tropes and how to bend them, just enough to be new but not totally out there…and the list goes on and on.

So again: Where do I get my ideas?

1. From what I read: I see divergent storylines, or ways to fulfill my anticipation if the actual writing did not. I also absorb character types, environmental description, the setting of mood, and dialogue patterns. In the case of my latest book, The Shadow of Theron, its influences were, for starters: Zorro, Wheel of Time, Pyrdain, Indiana Jones, The Legend of Zelda, Xena: Warrior Princess, regency romance, the Spanish Inquisition, Italian principalities, Chinese mystery novels, The Odyssey, Berserk…I could go on. And on.

2. From what I see and hear: my stories are shot in full trillion-dollar color in my head-then I find the words to describe what I see in my mind’s eye. A collection of movie aesthetics, sounds, actor mannerisms, lighting, framing, perspective. Inspiration has come from tense strains in music-like the theatrical accompaniment of a musical movement. It promotes mood production and emotion.

3. From what I’ve experienced: Places I’ve been have given me plenty of inspiration- places that speak of the past, or promise the future. Where I’ve traveled. The activities I participate in. Everyday circumstances and practicalities.

4. From daydreaming: experimenting with my characters, allowing them multiple possibilities to understand behavior, predictability, authenticity.

To summarize: if you’re looking for inspiration, some things you can do that might help you: Reading, Writing, Observing, Living, and Dreaming.
There. I’ve given you the keys to the universe. Use wisely.

I’m a history professor by day, a novelist by night. I like to write what I read – fantasy, romantic fantasy, gothic fiction, historical fiction,  paranormal, horror, and weird fiction. Horror cinema and horticulture are my other passions.

When I’m not reading or writing or teaching, I’m gaming, traveling, baking, or adding some new weird creepy cool thing to my art collection. I’m a Long Island native with one husband, two children, and three rats.

Blog/  Facebook/ Instagram/ Amazon Author Page/ Goodreads

 

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The Widow by Kaira Rouda-Review and Interview with the Author

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The Widow by Kaira Rouda-Review and Interview with the Author

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N Paper/ Chapters/Indigo Paper /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2022

Jody Asher had a plan. Her charismatic husband, Martin, would be a political icon. She, the charming wife, would fuel his success. For fifteen congressional terms, they were the golden couple on the Hill. Life was good. Until he wasn’t.

Martin’s secret affair with a young staffer doesn’t bother Jody personally. But professionally? It’s a legacy killer. Soon a reporter gets word of this scandal in the making, and Martin’s indiscretions threaten to ruin everything Jody has accomplished.

When Martin suddenly dies, it’s a chance to change the narrative—but the reporter won’t let go of his lead. As the balance of power shifts in the Asher house and on the Hill, it’s time for Jody to take control. And there’s nothing the ruthless widow won’t do to secure the future she’s entitled to. Even if she has a secret of her own.

•••••

REVIEW: THE WIDOW by Kaira Rouda is a stand alone, contemporary, adult political suspense story line focusing on Congressman Martin Asher, his social climbing wife Jody, and Washington Think Tank operator Mimi Smith.

Told from three first person perspectives (Martin, Jody and Mimi) THE WIDOW follows in the wake of the death of Congressman Martin Asher, an elected official facing the downfall of a rapidly building scandal. In the weeks before his only daughter’s lavish nuptials, Martin Asher takes ill and succumbs to his ailment on the day of the wedding. In an effort to keep her position as part of the political machine of Washington DC, Jody Asher invokes the Widow’s Succession Mandate, a little used practice that allows a widow to succeed or run for office upon the death of their politician spouse. Jody, ever the manipulator and power hungry politician’s wife, uses every dirty tactic available at her disposal but Jody has overestimated her popularity and her husband’s reputation on Capitol Hill. Facing down an aggressive,investigative reporter, a Think Tank manipulator whose own secrets are dangerous and dark, and a past shrouded in secrets and lies, Jody must tread carefully, in an effort to get what she believes she rightfully deserves.

THE WIDOW is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, manipulation and collusion. The fight for control is dirty; power is manipulated and abused; the political machine is deceitful, unethical and unscrupulous. Back room deals are the norm; blackmail is rampant; illegal and controversial deals are an everyday occurrence, and no one is above the ultimate betrayal. THE WIDOW is gritty and intriguing story of fiction; an up close and eye opening look at the what ifs, the probabilities, and the disturbing reality / unreality of the people in charge; the characters are relentless and destructive -politicians are a different breed of people, their humanity and hearts are non-existent.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC:  Hi Kaira and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of THE WIDOW.

Kaira Rouda:  Thank you. I’m excited about this one, and hope everyone enjoys my first political thriller.

TRC:  We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Social Media Links: Amazon Author Page/ Goodreads/ Website/ Twitter/ Facebook/ Instagram/

Kaira Rouda: Sure. I live in Southern California with my husband and two dogs. We are lucky that all four of our 20-something kids live in various parts of Southern California, too. I’m a Pickleball fanatic and I’m so happy to be living near the beach.

TRC:  Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Kaira Rouda: My dad is a professor and an author, business books, and my mom is an elementary school teacher, so our home was filled with books. In elementary school, my third grade teacher asked us to write to the person we wanted to be when we grew up. I wrote to Robert McCloskey, of Make Way for Ducklings fame. I knew then I wanted to be an author. My first published book was in fifth grade. My librarian, Mrs. Gardier, lamented my story and put it on the shelf for checkout. I was thrilled.

TRC:  What challenges or difficulties have you encountered writing and publishing your stories?

Kaira Rouda: I’m impatient, and my background is marketing. So the speed of publishing – the very slow process involved in bringing a book to life — is something I’ve struggled with. But I’m so grateful to be doing the career I dreamed of as a child.

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about the premise of THE WIDOW?

Kaira Rouda: The Widow’s premise is based on the tradition of The Widow’s Mandate. When a sitting member of congress dies in office, their spouse is often appointed by the governor (senate) or runs for the seat in a special election (house) to complete the term. The tradition is the way the first women began to serve in congress. In fact, statistically speaking, for women aspiring to serve in congress, the best husband has been a dead husband. I thought that was a good starting point for a political thriller.

TRC:  Are any of the events in THE WIDOW based in reality?

Kaira Rouda: Some of the settings are based on real events I had the chance to attend while we were in DC: The Congressional Dialogue Dinners at the gorgeous Library of Congress, the First Lady’s Luncheon, The Congressional Club. Congressman Asher’s office set up is based on the office my husband had. If you’re referring to the plot points, those are all my imagination. Although I will say Chinese spies are everywhere in DC, and there are a lot of stories about corrupt lobbyists.

TRC:  How do you keep the plot(s) unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Kaira Rouda: I’m a pantser, who writes by the seat of her pants. I don’t plot. So I just let my characters loose on the page and hope for the best.

TRC:  Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Kaira Rouda: I do think people judge a book by its cover — thus the expression!

TRC:  When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Kaira Rouda: The characters are in charge.

TRC:  The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Kaira Rouda: Characters, even the killers, need to have relatable traits. I hope my characters are the kind you love to hate, at least some of them. The ones up to no good.

TRC:  Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Kaira Rouda: No. I write with no music, no noise. I’m not a cafe writer, either. I like to be at my desk, by myself.

TRC:  Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Kaira Rouda: My agents are great first readers, and my friend Andrea Katz of Great Thoughts is a fabulous brainstorming partner.

TRC:  What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Kaira Rouda: I’m not sure. Do you know? 😀

TRC:  What is something that few, if any people, know about you?

Kaira Rouda: I love to hula hoop. And, I’m afraid of heights. Oh, and I’m shy, but people never think I am.

TRC:  On what are you currently working?

Kaira Rouda: I’m in edits on my next novel, BENEATH THE SURFACE, out September 2023. So excited.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Cheese

Favorite Dessert
Cheese

Favorite TV Show
Just binge watched LOOT. Loved it. Huge fan of Succession.

Last Movie You Saw
A Simple Favor. So good.

Dark or Milk Chocolate
I am one of the few people in the world that does not like chocolate. Halloween was tough growing up!

Secret Celebrity Crush
Cheryl Hines

Last Vacation Destination
Hawaii

Do you have any pets?
Two dogs! Mine is a shipoo named Tucker. He’s thirteen and my right-hand man. My husband’s dog is a crazy bernedoodle named Cali, who is a year and a half.

Last book you read
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger

Thank you Kaira for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on your new release.

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Alice Takes Back Wonderland 1 & 2 by David D Hammons- reviews

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Alice Takes Back Wonderland 1 & 2 by David D Hammons- reviews & interview

 

Alice Takes Back Wonderland
by David D Hammons
Genre: adult, fantasy, fairy tale reimagined

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / Chapters Indigo Paper /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

After ten years of being told she can’t tell the difference between real life and a fairy tale, Alice finally stops believing in Wonderland. Only when the White Rabbit kicks her down the rabbit hole does Alice realize that the magical land she visited as a child is real. But the Ace of Spades has taken over Wonderland, and is systematically dismantling all that makes it wonderful. Alice must help the Mad Hatter and all those fighting to keep Wonderland as mad as it’s ever been. To do this, Alice journeys across the stars to unite an army. She discovers that fairy tales are real in the magical world beyond the rabbit hole, but they are not the fairy tales she knows. Alice must overcome the trials of these old stories if she wants to unite the lands against Ace. With the help of Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Snow White, and heroes old and new, Alice may have the strength to take back Wonderland.

•••••

REVIEW:As most of you probably know the story of Alice, you know if the take…..

A young girl who falls into a strange world filled with magical beings. 

But in this authors version, Alice is a young girl with a different story to tell, this is what happens after………

When she returned real world she was diagnosed with ADHD and Schizophrenia. She was then forced to believe that the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and all the other characters she met were all just figments of her imagination. So Alice finally believed them and let wonderland fall into just a memory.

But ten years later the white rabbit reappears and leads Alice back to Wonderland…… But all is not how she remembers  it!! 

The Cheshire Cat is dead and the Ace of Spades is now in charge. (And he’s a tyrant!) Nothing is as Alice remembers it to be. This world resembles the world she just left, it looks far too “normal”! 

The Ace of Spades has decided that the magic/wonder that made this realm special is to be removed. Madness is now forbidden! 

Alice has her work cut out for her, it’s going to take a huge plan to restore this realm back to the Wonderland Alice remembers and loves. 

Alice Takes Back Wonderland is not just a retelling of the Lewis Carrols story.  It’s a lot more, we see the characters from the original book play their part in trying to overthrow the Ace of Spades. 

Bye we also see other characters from fairytales, like Peter Pan, Pinocchio and Snow White. 

It is aimed for a YA reader, but I found it deeply interesting and I couldn’t put it down. 

? Reviewed by Julie B

______

ALICE TAKES BACK WONDERLAND
Alice and the Ice Queen
by David D Hammons
Genre: adult, fantasy, fairy tale reimagined
Release Date: November 25, 2022

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Alice has returned, and Wonderland is covered in snow. An icy wind pulls Alice and Peter Pan back into Wonderland through a mirror-like portal, trapping Peter in a frozen palace. After Snow White informs Alice that all of Wonderland is in danger, Alice joins forces with Don Quixote, Hanno of Carthage, Long the Dragon, Snegurochka, and many more legends both new and old to save Peter Pan before Wonderland is lost.

••••••

REVIEW: This is the second book in the series, I’d recommend you read book one before opening book two. 

Alice and Peter are together in the real world, living their best lives. Growing up together, life seems too good to be true…..

This one I felt a little older than the first book. It’s a great read, throughly engaging and plenty of action and adventure. I’ll have to admit I did like the first on a little more. But it’s still a great read. 

I did find Alice a little hard going in places, she can’t commit, she won’t look forward to either a future or even tomorrow. When Peter asks her about what she wants to do, she becomes frustrated, and when Snow White asks her to become Queen of Wonderland to unite the realm, Alice doesn’t really want to do it. I understand that for years she was told what to think and feel. 

After Peter is sucked back into Wonderland, Alice has no choice but to rescue Peter. But how can she rescue him when she’s not sure where she is? It looks like Wonderland, but it’s covered in snow…..

Meeting Don Quixote, they set about trying to figure out in which direction they need to go to free Peter Pan. Along the way, Alice explains why Wonderland might be different from when she left it. Don tells her what happened after they left. 

We catch up with Snow White, who tells her that the Ice Queen now controls Wonderland, but it’s worse than that, NeverLand and Grimm are also in danger, it looks like Alice is going to have to battle a new foe! Her friends want her to be queen! She’s not cut out to lead, she o it wants to rescue Peter ad go home. 

We catch up with a few characters from the previous book, we also meet new adversaries and allies in this book. I love Snow White and her dwarves, they have a few lines that will have you chuckling. Battles come thick and fast, a few twists and turns will keep you reading this book well past your bedtime. 

A highly recommended read. 

? Reviewed by Julie B

Copies Supplied for review

TRC:  Hi David and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of ALICE TAKES BACK WONDERLAND 2: ALICE AND THE ICE QUEEN.

David D Hammons: Thank you!

TRC:  We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Social Media Links:Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Youtube/

David D Hammons: I’m an avid world-traveller and always like to incorporate stories and visuals from the places I’ve been, especially under-appreciated places. For instance, a major character in this book is from a Carthaginian folk tale. We owe so much of our culture to Carthage and the Phoenicians, and they’re almost never talked about. I love bringing to light these previously under-appreciated elements of our shared past.

TRC:  Who or what influenced your career in writing?

David D Hammons: I saw a documentary about Hemmingway and essentially wanted to emulate a lot of what he did, save the last part of his life. I wrote a few stories for a creative writing club at school and people laughed (which was a good thing because they were funny stories). I got hooked on the reaction and the thrill of writing and have been clogging away at it ever since.

TRC:  What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing this story? This series?

David D Hammons: Writing this story was a whirlwind. I wrote the first book in 2013, and thought I’d never write a sequel, so it took me back to a lot of emotions. I’d actually written the first few pages around 2015 because my publisher wanted to see them, and I ended up using it. Publishing it was more complicated, though, because the original publisher sold me a lot of lies on what they were going to do and tried to steal from me. The first book was successful, and they even sold the audio rights to it, but never told me about it so I had to fight them to get my portion of the advance they received. I eventually got the rights back after that company essentially went bankrupt, and I decided to take more control of my writing career and stop trying to please these publishers and just write something fun. I essentially hit the reset button on my career by going back to Wonderland.

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about the premise of ALICE TAKES BACK WONDERLAND 1 & 2?

David D Hammons: It started out as a gag, if I’m being honest. I had this idea of parodying all the dark and gritty fairy tale remakes by putting Alice on a poster with a pair of crossed Uzis. But the more I fiddled with it, the more fun the premise became, and so I dropped the parody angle and just did it for real. The original concept was to literally throw every single fairy tale I could into a single story. The problem with the sequel is that left no new fairy tales to pick from, save the ice queen. So rather than use lesser-known European fairy tales, I went with non-European fairy tales that may or may not be popular, but aren’t widely known in the US.

TRC:  What types of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning ALICE TAKES BACK WONDERLAND 1 & 2?

David D Hammons: I might say that I spent about seven years brainstorming it, because my publisher was always asking about a sequel and I never really gave up the idea. I had this premise, and I didn’t really tinker with it much but it never went away. I got my MA in History recently, and that inspired a lot of the stories I used, so I essentially copied my own homework and used that as research.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

David D Hammons: I have at least one more. I love a good trilogy, and the third one’s gonna knock your socks off!

TRC: Who or what triggered your re-imagination of Alice in Wonderland?

David D Hammons: When I was in elementary school, I was diagnosed as ADHD. I was given pills to ‘control’ it. The result was that instead of acting out in class, I shut down. All my thoughts were forced inward, and I felt zombified while screaming internally at the same time. After a few years of this, I told my parents I would no longer take the pills, and I rediscovered how beautiful life and the silliness of childhood was. This was the metaphor that inspired me. Wonderland has often been used as a metaphor for mental challenges, so I wanted to turn that on its head and say that Wonderland was a good thing, and that taming it was bad. Wonderland was this silly, limitless space of potential, and an outside force came in to sterilize it. For the sequel, I went with a modified version where childhood can’t be used as a crux for some sort of arrested development, and Wonderland faced new internal challenges rather than outside dangers.

TRC: Other than Alice, do any of the original cast of characters join the journey?

David D Hammons: The original cast shows up in the beginning, and Cheshire Cat shows up throughout, because they’re probably my favorite character to write. But most of the journey Alice goes on is taken with brand new characters taken from lesser-known folk tales.

TRC: Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories with a paranormal / fantasy premise-readers like to think ‘what if?’. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you think some author’s fail?

David D Hammons: I think Wonderland provides a cheat code for this. The reader knows that Wonderland is inherently fantastical, so they just take it for granted that fantastical things happen. Where I had to struggle was tying Wonderland to the real world. That required some clever world building using semi-scientific foundations. I essentially use an ‘if-then’ test, where I tell myself if something I’ve established is true, then what else does that imply? For instance, if these stories are real, then why do we tell them? What about stories that are no longer told? Testing my setting for logical validity is one of the things I enjoy playing with in world-building, and I think too many authors fail at this. For instance, my wife tells me I’m not allowed to do with this with the world of Harry Potter, because apparently the implication that NASA could use magic to settle Mars makes the setting less fun.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

David D Hammons: I hate to say it, but yes, the cover matters a great deal. Fantasy is a bit watered down with a lot of bad books. I’ve gotten very picky about the fantasy that I read, because you have to be, so anything an author can do to prove that their book isn’t another crummy machismo sword-and-sorcery the better, and this includes solid cover art.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

David D Hammons: I’d say the best writing comes when there’s a symbiosis. You know what the characters would logically do, so when you hit them with external motivations, they go along the path you want. Crafting both creates those great story results.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

David D Hammons: My agent is always telling me that what matters are the stakes. What happens if the character fails, succeeds, does nothing? Why is that good/bad? Why should the reader care? These basic things sound sterile, but they’re required to get a reader to become invested in a character’s story. Forgetting that every character has the option to do nothing is an easy trap, but a reader can always sense that. A good character does things with intent, even nothing, and every action they choose has consequences. The knowledge of the potential for both good and bad consequences creates that emotional connection.

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

David D Hammons: I love listening to fantasy movies scores while I write. Lord of the Rings is always a go-to, but I love the score to How to Train Your Dragon and Pirates of the Caribbean. I avoid music with lyrics, because they’re a bit distracting, and try to play music with an emotional cue that fits the scene I’m writing. I don’t do this too much, because that would be very distracting, and oftentimes if I just cue up my Lord of the Rings station on Pandora, I’ll get the right mix to keep me focused.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

David D Hammons: That we don’t like bad reviews. I love feedback, good or bad, and have incorporated some feedback from the first book with the second. For instance, one reader didn’t like how the first book used a lot of guns. I saw it as a unique challenge for Alice to now refuse to use a gun, and that provided some really neat drama and emotionality. An author loves, loves, loves a basic review, even just some stars on Amazon, so if you read this, please rate and review and I might just incorporate your feedback into the third book!

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

David D Hammons: I’ve always wanted a ferret. I don’t care if they’re stinky, I think they’re amazing.

TRC: Who or what influenced your path towards writing?

David D Hammons: It’s a weird thing to say, but cartoons. I loved shows like Ed, Edd, n Eddy and Powerpuff Girls and the like, even the new My Little Pony, which was made by the same people as those two shows. They made me want to create funny, engaging stories like that.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

David D Hammons: I’m currently working on a fantastical version of an epic in my Sevens Prophets universe. If you want to see the early draft material, you can read it on Royal Road!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

David D Hammons: I’m going to Egypt this January, as well as Istanbul, and I can’t wait to see what sort of inspiration I’ll get while I’m there for book number 3!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Lasagne

Favorite Dessert
Chocolate torte

Favorite TV Show
Ed, Edd, n Eddy

Last Movie You Saw
The Creeping Flesh (my wife loves old horror movies)

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush
Emma Watson

Last Vacation Destination
Hermann, MO

Do you have any pets?
Dante, our Jack-Russell mix.

Last book you read
The God of Forgotten Things by Cameron Johnston

TRC: Thank you David for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of ALICE TAKES BACK WONDERLAND: ALICE AND THE ICE QUEEN. We wish you all the best.

David D Hammons: Thank you so much!!!

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Blue Like Me by Aaron Philip Clark-Review & Author Interview

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Blue Like Me (Trevor Finnegan 2) by Aaron Philip Clark-Review & Author Interview

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 8, 2022

A brutal homicide sets an ex-cop and his former partner on the hunt for an enigmatic killer in a gripping thriller by the author of Under Color of Law.

When former detective Trevor “Finn” Finnegan became a PI, he adopted a new mandate: catch the LAPD’s worst in the act. While on surveillance in Venice Beach, Finn tails two potentially dirty cops: Detective Martin Riley and Finn’s ex-partner, Detective Sally Munoz. Things take a deadly turn when an unknown assailant executes Riley and wounds Munoz. In an instant, Finn goes from private eye to eyewitness.

Munoz needs Finn to help find Riley’s killer, but doing so could blow his cover. She’s an officer shaded by rumors. Maybe she’s still a good cop—but maybe she’s not. Finn’s reluctance ends when his dear “uncle,” an ex-LAPD detective, is murdered, and it might be connected to Riley’s death.

To prevent more bloodshed and avoid becoming the next targets on the killer’s list, Finn and Munoz will have to bury their complicated past, trust each other, and come face-to-face with painful secrets that could destroy them both.

••••

REVIEW: BLUE LIKE ME is the second instalment in Aaron Philip Clark’s contemporary, adult TREVOR FINNEGAN murder, mystery, thriller series focusing on former LAPD Detective turned PI Trevor Finnegan. BLUE LIKE ME can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading book one UNDER COLOR OF LAW as most of the events of Blue Like Me are as of a direct result from the previous instalment.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Trevor) BLUE LIKE ME is set in 2016, and follows former LAPD Detective turned PI Trevor Finnegan as he is tasked with tailing two LAPD police officers thought to be involved in $ex trafficking crimes but a new assignment finds Trevor following two more detectives, detective of whom he has personal knowledge but all does not go according to plan when a gunman kills one of Trevor’s targets, and injures the other while on the run. Trevor knows that to get involved means facing the wrath of the department for which he once worked, a department that labelled our hero, just another dirty cop. As Trevor works in tandem with injured LAPD Detective Sally Munoz, secrets begin to reveal a connection to a case long thought buried and gone. While his life as a PI is getting more dangerous and dark, his personal life begins to spiral out of control.

Trevor Finnegan lost his job as a detective two years earlier in the wake a scandal, accountability in law enforcement, and the death of a murdered black academy cadet. Fast forward to present day, Trevor now works as a private investigator but quickly discovers many of his targets are members of the LAPD, men and women for whom he once worked. From dirty cops to murder, evidence tampering and bribery, secrets and lies, Trevor uncovers a trail dating back several decades, decades in which time served resulted in the death of a possible innocent man.

BLUE LIKE ME is a gritty and impassioned story of desperation and reprisal, power and control, betrayal and injustice, exposure and lies. The premise is tragic and dramatic; the characters are desperate, determined and broken.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi Aaron, and welcome to The Reading Cafe.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Social Media Links: Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Website/ Amazon Author Page /

Aaron:I’m a native Angeleno, but I lived on the east coast for twelve years and experiencing both coasts influenced my writing.

I’ve always loved the power of fiction. Before pursuing novel writing, I worked as an independent script doctor revising scripts for clients while working on my thesis. After publishing my thesis novel, I decided to focus solely on fiction. However, I recently returned to screenwriting and found more enjoyment this round than before.

TRC:What challenges or difficulties have you encountered writing and publishing your stories?

Aaron:Admittedly, the road to publication came easier for me than for some. I published with an independent press for my first three novels and then with a larger publisher for my recent books.

TRC:Would you please tell us something about BLUE LIKE ME and the Trevor Finnegan series?

Aaron: Blue Like Me is the second book in the series. Trevor is no longer an LAPD detective and is working as a private investigator whose mandate is exposing crooked cops. Trevor’s character pays homage to the antiheroes of classic noir. He plays by his own rules, and the path of doing the right thing sometimes means operating in a gray area. Right and wrong are subjective, which makes him complicated and someone the reader will route for because he truly strives to do the right thing.

TRC:Is the lead character Trevor Finnegan based on a real person or a mix of people/ law enforcement members?

Aaron: Trevor’s an amalgamation of police officers I knew in the academy and my personal life. In many ways, he’s an ode to Black law enforcement officers who have had to contend with obstacles both within their respective departments and out on the street.

TRC:Are / will any of Trevor’s stories be based on real-life events or a mix of them?

Aaron: I wouldn’t describe the novels as “ripped from the headlines,” but they do crib aspects of their plots from cases I studied in the police academy.

TRC:What kind of research and plotting was involved in the writing of BLUE LIKE ME? How long did you spend researching the premise?

Aaron: It took me two to four months to outline the novel, including researching cases involving the LAPD that inspired aspects of the story. Some cases are well-known, while others are obscure and typically don’t receive media coverage.

TRC:How many books do you have planned for the series?

Aaron: Likely five or six.

TRC:Are the stories stand-alone, or would the reader benefit from reading the series in order?

Aaron: The reader would surely get more out of the series if they read the books in order, but the stories hold up on their own and can be read as stand-alones.

TRC:How do you keep the plot(s) unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Aaron: I spend considerable time ensuring my novels are grounded in reality and authentic police procedure. I don’t have any secret formula, but many twists come from characters’ behavior rather than being heavily plot-driven.

TRC:Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Aaron:The cover image is part of branding and marketing. If a cover is poorly designed or fails to catch a reader’s attention, that could hinder the book’s success unless they’re well-known authors. Debut authors or authors that are publishing with a large commercial publisher for the first time need dynamic covers–it’s a must. Unfortunately, publishers often go with the most cost-effective design, which isn’t always eye-catching.

TRC:When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing, or do you direct the characters?

Aaron: It’s 50/50. I set the scenes and plot the narrative, but once the characters begin to take shape and act from their established beliefs and motivations, it’s their show.

TRC:The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writers fail in this endeavor?

Aaron: Point-of-view plays a considerable role in eliciting a vicarious experience for the reader. Writing in the first-person or close third can facilitate that connection more seamlessly, depending on the writer’s goal. Keeping a distance from the reader can also prove useful, especially if it’s an unreliable narrator.

TRC:Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Aaron: I tend to complete a draft, then elicit feedback if I think something needs refinement.

TRC:What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Aaron: Many people presume you’ve sold thousands of books if you have a New York Times Bestseller. That’s often not true, and the New York Times Bestseller distinction is predicated on a reviewer’s taste. So, I always tell people to support books that interest them rather than be swayed by any trade list.

TRC:What is something that few, if any people, know about you?

Aaron: I’m a classic car enthusiast.

TRC:On what are you currently working?

Aaron: I’m writing a thriller set in the music industry inspired by The Talented Mr. Ripley and other works by Patricia Highsmith.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Aaron: My novel, Blue Like Me, will be published on November 8th and is available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Lamb Dry Pot

Favorite Dessert: Apple pie

Favorite TV Show: Homicide: Life on the Street

Last Movie You Saw: The Batman

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush: Issa Rae

Last Vacation Destination: Hawaii

Do you have any pets? No

Last book you read: The Force by Don Winslow

TRC: Congratulations Aaron on the new release. We wish you all the best.

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