Tag Archives: Writing Community

Spanking the Pomegranate – The Triumph of #Communication

19 Sunday Sep 2021

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Pomegranate

I cannot speak for other languages as I do not know any others fluently, (unless you are including Dlalth, but since that is one I made up myself for my story Dark Fey, it really doesn’t count) but the English language is a curious thing. Have you ever noticed how often we say things that mean something entirely different from what we are actually trying to say? Our slang is chock full of examples. (such as the one I just used.) Chock? How does a word that means to block or stop something from moving; a ships fitting or cable, or an anchor or brace, end up in an expression that means completely full? Even Wiktionary cannot say for sure.

I loved the Linguistics class I had in high school; learning all about words, phrases, slang and etymology; what’s not to like, really? For someone (like me) who spent their free time constructing grammatically correct, compound, complex sentences worthy of praise from Charles Dickens and then diagramming them (correctly, I might add!) just for fun; explaining that I enjoyed the systematic study of (the English) language is like saying Mr. Spock is Logical or Hobbits have hairy feet. It’s a given.

The variety of vernacular that exists, depending on the region (or country) you live in is truly amazing or, one might say, is enough to make your head spin or leave you gobsmacked. As I have lived in several distinctly different areas of the country (that country being the US) I’ve picked up more than a few catch phrases (although how I picked up an inanimate object and what exactly said object was catching I am by no means sure).

In South Central Pennsylvania, where I presently reside, there are a plethora of colloquialisms derived from the Pennsylvania Dutch community that are peculiar enough to make anyone who is not from the area stare at you like you just started speaking Klingon should you happen to use one. For example, if you are embarrassed about something you Feel Your Nerve. If you cannot sit still you are Ruchy. If you want me to move down lower in my chair or make room for you on the park bench you would ask me to Ruch Down or Ruch Over. Similarly, the milk bottle is not empty, It’s All, and you don’t turn off the light, you Make Out The Light.

When I lived in the South (Alabama to be exact, which was an experience worthy of its own bizarre post) I swore left and right (although I never actually turned my head) that I would not be Fixin’ or Reckon’ anything. Nevertheless, I often found myself saying things like It’s Fixin’ to Rain, which means It’s Getting Ready to Rain, or It’s Fixin’ to Get It, which means Things are About to Get a Little Crazy. Fixin’ simply means Getting Ready, unless, of course, you say I’m Fixin’ to Get Ready, which, literally translated, would mean you are Getting Ready to Get Ready, but in reality it means you are already Ready to Do whatever it is you are going to do. Confused yet? I Reckon’!

(Disclaimer to my friends across the pond: As I am not British, {a tragedy I will forever lament}, I believe I understand the proper use of the following examples of British slang, but should I be mistaken, please do feel free to correct me)

In America we say Ta! when we mean Goodbye and Cheers! when we mean Thank you; however in England they say Cheers! when they mean Goodbye and Ta! when they mean Thank You. In America we ask if someone is All Right? when we are concerned over their health or state of being; however in England saying All Right? to someone is like saying Hi, How are you? And if someone in England said to me Give Us a Bell, being American, I would raise a delicately arched brow and hand them a bell, when what they really mean is they want me to call them (or ring them) on the telephone. Perplexed? Me too!

The differences in our own language are endless and with all these intricacies, dialects, regional connotations, and interpretations about (or around, depending) not to mention slang usage and hyper-text abbreviations, it is a miracle that we understand each other at all. So the next time you (or I) labor for hours masterfully interweaving descriptors, plot, characters, research, and good old fashioned fancy into something post-worthy; yet it ends up sparking only minimal interest (or the editor/publisher requests an absurd number of rewrites), take heart! Even if only a handful of readers ultimately respond, you can still consider it a triumph of communication in a sea of chaff.

OH….any for those of you who were lured in by the double-entendre of this post’s title, Spanking the Pomegranate is simply a culinary term used for liberating those delectable little jewels of sweetness from the otherwise inconsequential husk of the fruit.

~Morgan~
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Beautiful Photograph found on pinterest

ACX Holds #Authors Hostage #AudioBook Company Refuses to Pay Royalties

17 Friday Sep 2021

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ACX is an Amazon marketplace where authors, literary agents, publishers, and other Rights Holders can connect with narrators, engineers, recording studios, and other Producers capable of producing a finished audiobook. The only problem is, they refuse to pay royalties.

Theft is theft, regardless of how you try to hide it, justify it, or finagle it. A bully is a bully whether they are a pack of kids of the playground or a multi-million dollar company, and the only way I know how to respond is to tell as many people as I can.

As an author, it is undeniably exciting to have your work artfully created into an audiobook. It’s an indescribable feeling to hear your words come alive by a talented voiceover artist, narrator, or actor and ACX offered a unique opportunity to bring creators together in order to produce a winning product. Unfortunately, ACX has not held up its end of the agreement.

I am a published author with Next Chapter Publications. Twice within the last year, ACX has closed my publisher’s account, stating reasons that were unsubstantiated by any sort of documentation, legal or otherwise. The company continued to sell the audiobooks listed under my publisher’s account; yet refused to pay out any royalties. Although my publisher made tireless efforts to negotiate, ACX was uncooperative and resistant to make any resolution.

The most recent action by ACX has locked my publisher out from their account. When we, the authors, write to ACX with concerns, we are told since we are not the account holder, ACX cannot communicate with us about the situation. Meanwhile, our audiobooks continue to sell and ACX is holding all the royalties.

“Today on 17th September, our audiobook production account at ACX was closed without warning. Moments later, we received a cryptic email from them about a copyright infringement on one of our titles, and they have informed us that any outstanding royalties will not be paid. Next Chapter does not have any infringing material on our account, and ACX has shown us zero proof of any copyright infringement.” — Next Chapter Publishing

Understandably incensed, I have done some research into the company and have found a plethora of similar complaints from other authors, narrators, and even the Alliance of Independent Authors-

“The Alliance of Independent Authors has launched an AudibleGate Campaign resource to disseminate information about the latest developments in this case. There, you’ll find breaking news, a summary of the issues, and information on how you can take action to demand a fair deal for rights holders, click here. Below ALLi Watchdog John Doppler explains what’s going on and why the company’s recent “concession” of a seven-day limit on returns misses the point, and is wholly insufficient.”

ACX’s rating on TrustPilot is a woeful 1.9 with page after page of complaints and issues. You can take a look at them here.

“Sales reporting is a mess. Often nothing is reported for days, and seems somewhat random. No transparency: I have no idea if reported sales are accurate. Last month I was getting dozens of sales every day. Then, the new month began and no sales were reported for 6 days. There are still an estimated 150–200 sales missing. I wrote to customer support, who said they were aware of the problem and that many others have complained, but nothing since.

Edit: overnight, ACX deleted 139 of my sales. These were not “returns” (the returns number remained the same as the day before). Still no response from my first email. I’ve written again.”

ACX is hiding sales, changing contracts, and reneging on agreements on a daily basis. This recent article by the ALLi Watchdog Report cites multiple offenses. As does this article by Fictive Universe and this interview with a narrator by AudibleGate. The list of articles and scams goes on and on….and on.

So what does this mean and why am I ranting?

Because theft is theft, regardless of how you try to hide it, justify it, or finagle it. A bully is a bully whether they are a pack of kids of the playground or a multi-million dollar company, and the only way I know how to respond is to tell as many people as I can.

IF you feel as outraged about this as I do, please take a moment to share this article. Bad press can move mountains. Should you feel inclined to further action, you can contact ACX through these channels.

ACX contact information is as follows:
EMAILS: info@acx.com, support@acx.com, exec-relations@audible.com
PHONE NUMBERS: 1–888–396–6347 (US) and 0800–031–4086 (UK)

Thank you for your support.

~Morgan~

#Fantasy Can #Change Reality – A #Group Just for YOU.

11 Saturday Sep 2021

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Yet another group that talks about fantasy books, you might ask? 

Yes, but with one specific difference. Here, we aim not only to entertain, but to inspire! Fantasy is a great place to hide away from the real world, thus the name, but it’s also a place where the characters, plot twists, and ultimate goals can alter your perspective and, perhaps, change your present reality.

Remember that great scene in Lord of the Rings where Sam is talking to Frodo: “It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy. How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.”

This is the most quoted soliloquy in movie history and for good reason. It points to the entire purpose behind the trilogy. The positive message borne upon the backs of hairy-footed, pointy-eared, and hideously ugly peoples.

That’s what I mean when I say Fantasy Can Change Reality….and that’s what we strive for here. To share stories that will shape your perspectives, point you in a new direction, or maybe just give you one of those “A-Ha” moments.

But Wait…yes, of course, there’s more 🙂 Should you want more, that is….Subscribe and get tons of original content found No Where Else!

  • Book teasers/snippets
  • Behind-the-scenes articles and author insights
  • Character Interviews/Spotlights
  • World-Building Tips
  • Plot Twist suggestions
  • Character Development advice
  • Special Promotions and Giveaways just for YOU!

Interested? Stop by and take a look around.

****** If you’re an Author and would like to join as a contributor, please leave a simple comment below -“I want to help weave the magic!” and I’ll get back to you straightaway.

 

~Morgan~

How Do You Know it’s Write? – A #Perspective on #Writers #Inspiration

28 Saturday Aug 2021

Posted by in Just Me Musing

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snow

August…BLECK! (I’m not entirely sure that is a word, but I’m going with it) This week has been the hottest week of the year (so far) and I am one unhappy little camper. Tuesday 94 degrees; Wednesday 96 degrees; Thursday 97 degrees; Today (yep, it’s Friday!) 98 degrees with enough humidity to make it feel like the notorious sauna outside (Or In HERE, Thank you Cosmo Kramer). Under these circumstances, being an autumn and winter person myself, I am not likely to be found out of doors under many circumstances if it can possibly or, with a little ingenuity, be avoided. Thank God in His Heaven for the man who invented air conditioning!

Unless, of course, your central A/C unit has burned up. Uh-huh, you heard me correctly: hottest week of the year and me with no A/C. (Weep for me if the tears will come!) Now for someone who will happily go for a walk in 30 degrees and flying snow, this situation is certainly not ideal, and for someone (like me) who has a sunlight allergy (It’s true, but that’s an entirely different post, yet again) and literally becomes ill if exposed to heat for any great length of time, the situation is more like HADES on Earth. Fans are wonderful, yes, and they are of great benefit when you are sitting at your computer writing with three of them pointed at you (as I presently am) and have ice packs draped over your body to keep you cool; still, when its 95 INSIDE your house…..(again, feel free to commiserate tearfully should the spirit so move you )

Understand, my wonderful sister and her family live less than 5 miles away and their A/C unit is working perfectly; cool, dry, sweet air abounds and the tropical swelter of July is blissfully locked out of her home, yet here I sit, (enjoying a free sauna whether I want one or not) typing away rather than tearing out of here like I’ve just seen a 6 foot tall spider in the dining room. One might question my mental stability (and probably with good reason!)

What the Harry Potter is wrong with me, You ask? Nothing. Well, nothing that can be easily diagnosed. The simple truth is, I love writing this much and I love sharing my writing so much that I would willingly subject myself to the tropical torture of 95 degrees and 99% humidity (OH please let it rain!) rather than go postless for a single day (again, not sure if that’s a word, but you all understood me so it’s staying…)

So if you ever find yourself wondering if you are on the right path, doing what you are “supposed” to be doing, using your gifts as intended, you might consider what is it that YOU would endure to do whatever it is that you want/like to do. If you find yourself answering that you would rather go sit in the A/C, that you would sacrifice nothing, or you would find the path of least resistance in order to achieve your objective, you may just want to reconsider your strategy.

(and now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to submerse myself in Happy Thoughts!)

Let it Snow! Let It Snow! LET IT SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Morgan~

Living the Dream – A Brief Perspective on #Success

03 Tuesday Aug 2021

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Here I am into Week Two of the Master’s Class Im taking to learn the industry better, understand just how to find the right agent, and then how to perfect my pitch and target my proposal. Im doing a lot of research and SURPRISE SURPRISE 🙂 One thing I’m noticing across the board is that most of the authors represented by the agents I’m looking at have Amazon Ratings that are the same as, or LOWER, than mine!!!
No, Please understand, This isn’t me trying to brag….well…ok maybe the tiniest little bit,….but more what Im trying to say is how we as Indie or Non-Traditionally Published authors see ourselves.
All our lives we’ve seen the giants. We’ve watched their movies, read their books, and craved their success. I’m talking about people like Stephen King, JK Rowling, and Diana Gabaldon. They are the “Golden Standard” we set our sights on, but should we? After all, they are the 10th of 1 % of published authors out there today.
What I’m saying, perhaps poorly, is maybe we’re selling ourselves short (pun intended 😏)
I’ve often seen being somewhere in the 100K rankings on Amazon as some sort of failure on my part, but the simple mathematical truth is….(Ok, maths has never been my strongpoint and I confess I used an online tool to figure this out…but just for the sake of accuracy ) 😉 There are roughly 3.5 million books available on Amazon today. If you’re in the 100K rankings like I am, then we fall within the top 3% of all the books on Amazon!  Thats nothing whatsoever to snicker about.
(100000 is 2.8571428571429% of 3500000)
My point? Yes, in this case I actually have one and it’s very simple.  Don’t beat yourself up and certainly dont give up. You are already LIVING THE DREAM!!!
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~Morgan~

Crowman by David Rae – An #Interview with the #Author of #EpicFantasy, #Myths&Legends & #ConceptualFiction

21 Thursday Jan 2021

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Touch the light. Hold the light. The light burns. The light runs away. Hold the light. Lock the light away.

The great spirit Vatu keeps the Sun in a box, where no thief can steal it. Once a year, the box is opened and life springs across the dark lands. The whole world belongs to Vatu. He is darkness, he is master of all. There is no hiding from him.

But Utas must try, for his daughter’s sake. She is sick from darkness, and yet she glows with a mysterious light. If Vatu can find them, he will destroy them, or worse, drag them back into his mad, dark world. Torn between duty and mercy, between justice and freedom, Utas tries to escape, but it seems inevitable that the darkness will reclaim him.

For the greatest mercy and the greatest punishment Utas can suffer is to return to his true self.

Author David Rae lives in the West of Scotland. He lives in a world of his own; a world of wonder, a world where hoards of workers spill out of factories, a world were fog and smoke shroud all kinds of creatures, a world where ruined castles, factories and houses were haunted by ghosts, gangs and memories. He lives in world where witches have been burned at the cross and martyrs have been hung on the Gallowgreen. He writes poetry and short stories and reads every trashy novel, every children’s book and every comic that comes his way.

David recently chatted with me about his remarkable story:

Is there an Author you consider your inspiration? Just one? I was that geeky, spectacled boy that always had a book under his nose. I’ve read and read my whole life. As a boy I loved Tolkien. I also love the classics. My current favorite is Amin Maalouf. If you have not read SAMERKAND then get a copy now.

What Inspired you to write your book? CROWMAN is inspired by the Native American myths about the sun being kept in a box and freed by the crow. Once I started to think about what such a world would look like, the book began to form in my head. I lived near the arctic for a few years, and I got some insight into what a world with no sun is like. It’s a lot brighter than you’d think. The moon, the stars, the northern lights and the reflection of light from the snow, all become very important. I even learned to tell the time by the position of the moon.

Although it’s often hard to select just one, do you have a favourite or least favourite character? In CROWMAN, my favorite character is MUKITO. He’s a young bandit boy who once he meets up with UTAS and ERROI changes his outlook on life. He’s not always the smartest, but honest with himself and in the end shows a great deal of bravery and resilience. The story would have been very different without him

My least favorite is GUTUZO who is a greedy, cowardly bully. He abuses his power and the people around him. He is completely self-centered.

Which one of your characters would you like to meet and why? In my latest project, I have a character called Tito. He is a bit clueless and gets into all sorts of trouble, but his heart is in the right place. He’s usually the butt of someone’s joke or victim of someone’s scheme yet somehow always lands on his feet. He’s sweet and innocent and very kind. I wish I was like that.

What is the hardest part of editing- grammar checks, reducing content, or something else? I am terrible at editing. I use all sorts of soft-wear and text to speech but I always miss something. The hardest part is not to get discouraged. No one ever wrote a first draft that didn’t need work. Thank God for editors, I say.

If you could live in a book, which one would it be- why? Well, I would not want to live in CROWMAN. It’s an interesting world for sure, but it’s a harsh world and it’s ruled by an evil spirit. Life is cheap there, and did I mention no sun.

What’s exciting you about your next project? I’m finishing the Sun Thief trilogy, CROWMAN is book one and CROWTOWER comes out in June. I’ve started on CROWBAIT, the final book, and I am surprised and excited at the way things are heading in that book.

OH I cant wait for these follow-up! Thank you so much for sharing some of your insights with us. I truly wish you all the very best success with this unique and amazing series.

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My Recent 5-Star Review!

I was intrigued by this metaphysical dark fantasy from the moment I read the description. Uniquely named characters and concepts drew me in immediately and filled my mind with questions and lush imagery…a masterful book blurb to say the least!

Vatu, the great spirit of darkness. I could see him, an ethereal and all-consuming shadow intent upon absolute control. Utas, the hopeful apparition fleeing from himself, and his beautiful daughter who is delicate and mysterious. Their plight pulled me along. I was invested in their harrowing journey, their disappointments, their hopes. Symbolism and spirituality are illustrated like characters, filling the narrative with thought-provoking themes that made me pause and consider.

As father and daughter make their way, they are joined by a melange of artfully created characters: Erroi, the warrior, whose body and spirit are independent of each other and who travels in dreams. He is beautifully silent and deliciously mysterious. Mukito, a boy whose cruel stepfather has left him few alternatives other than thievery. The innocent Zintoa, and noble Eskanza. The characters are elaborate, simple, fully-developed, flawed and entirely captivating.

The narrative is rich with unfamiliar people and places, intriguing me page after page. Dialog forms much of the story, yet there are descriptions that whisk the reader away. Poetic tangles of dream-like reveries adorn the journey, some so intricate and imaginative I simply had to read them again….and again! There were times I wasn’t sure what was reality and what wasn’t and I was reminded of an episode of STNG, ‘Masks’, where the hunt of Masaka and Korgano parallels the birth of Athena at the Parthenon.

Mythological and magical, Rae’s Crowman is a masterpiece of epic fantasy, conceptual and allegorical fiction in which I would willingly immerse myself book after book after book.

I hope you’re intrigued and will take a moment to look David up:

Find David on Amazon

Find David on GoodReads

Find David on WordPress

Subscribe to David’s Newsletter

Connect with David on Twitter: @DRDVDRAE

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~Morgan~

Beauty in Words – #Motivational Thoughts on #Poetry and #Writing

17 Thursday Sep 2020

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hades_and_persephone_2_by_sandara

Poetry is the Rhythmical Creation of Beauty in Words.
Edgar Allan Poe

Need anything more truly be said? And yet, since I have the inclination to natter, I shall attempt to agree, poetically.

And by agreeing to say that there is nothing worth saying that could ever be said, even in the starkest form, that is not, by some measure and in the generalist terms, some form of poetic entrancement. For if, in speaking or writing, we utter anything at all worth saying, it shall be remembered.  If something is remembered,  then, it can be considered remarkable enough to have made remembrance worthwhile, which leads one to the eventual conclusion that, if it is worthwhile to be recollected, there must be some form or nature in it that catches the imagination, sparks the well-spring of contemplation or illuminates musings.  Also that, being colourfully or creatively inspired is, in its most basic state, a creation of beautiful words that should be deemed poetry.

(excuse me while I gasp for breath!)

Having said as much, of course the opposite is also true and begs to be argued: that the inestimably horrible, atrocious and staggeringly inane is also imprinted upon our minds in a similar fashion as the most lovely sonnet or passing fair soliloquy.  To follow this particular train of rationale to its logical yet absurd conclusion, it must therefore also be considered a form of poetry; although some (including myself) would vehemently argue that such assaults on the psyche are hardly worthy of the title. Yet to be fair and even-handed it must be stipulated.

(Ok I promise, no more caffeine for me tonight!)

Alas, (and perhaps alack for me), and all those who call themselves Poet, to be mixed with such baser matter that we may, at some time and under some inexplicable circumstance, undertake to pen such phrases that I (and perhaps you as well) would never, willingly, undertake to read or promote.  Nevertheless, where there is one there is always the other.  Where there is Light, there is dark. Where there is Good, there is also Bad. (Where there is Chocolate, there is also Vanilla.) And although some may argue that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter (with which I should in most cases concur) I cannot in good conscience agree with the subsequent postulation that all poetry, despite its thematic structure or outpouring is, by its very nature, Beauty in Words.

Where does that leave us then? You may ask with that quizzical expression, yet again, upon your face? (which does tend to happen when I start whirling words)

I return to Poe, master (as I see it) of both sides of the poetic coin, who said: Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality. Edgar Allan Poe

And thus, by saying that there is always Light and Dark, Right and Wrong, Beauty and Ugliness, is to say there is, or at least should be, Balance in everything. But to let one side of the coin rule the other, to let the darkness overshadow the light, or to let the atrocities to over rule the kindness is to live out of joint, which bring me to Hamlet (naturally, though you may argue that bringing Shakespeare into nearly every conversation is, by no means, natural) who said: “Time is out of joint. O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right.”

And therein lies the paradox, or at least, the challenge. Do I set anything right through the action of my pen?  Do I Shine my Light into the darkness of these current times or do I snuff it out in support of the darkness? Do I Stand on the mountaintop and extol Liberty or do I hide in the safety of my home and shake my head ruefully? Do I proclaim Beauty in my Art with every fiber of my being, or do I bow to the pressure of sales, rating, and stats, producing something other than what would shimmer and glimmer, touch lives and speak quietly to hearts? It is a choice worth considering and a decision well worth making, though some may disagree with my logic and call me as mad as some named (or still named) Hamlet.

~Morgan~
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Beautiful Original Artwork of Hades and Persephone by: *sandara at Deviantart.com

Immortality- A State of Mind or Body? – #BookReviews

06 Saturday Jun 2020

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What if the Fountain of Youth was real?

Humans have always been obsessed with aging and death. Throughout history, the quest for a way to remain forever young has consumed mankind. What if two men stumbled upon a way to ensure eternal youth? What if it changes their lives, not only for the better, but in ways they never could have imagined?

Immortal is a story filled with adventure, mystery, and thrilling twists. Follow these men as they stumble upon not only their greatest discovery, but possibly their ultimate undoing.

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My Review-  5-Stars!

Through the shifting tides of time, humans have yearned for eternal youth. How does one achieve the seemingly impossible? Is youth a physical or mental condition? Immortal unlocks the mind to explore these questions and more. It challenges the reader to step beyond the box of contemporary thinking and reach beyond accepted limitations. Each page invites the reader to not only enjoy the tale unfolding around two compelling and relatable characters, but to question deeper and seek further along with the characters.

A thoroughly unexpected and satisfying page-turner, Immortal will tempt you to unlock the Fountain of Youth waiting in your own life. A highly recommended read, particularly for these challenging times.

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Immortal by David Boiani

David Boiani is an American author living in Coventry, RI. He writes Psychological thrillers mixed with a touch of horror. He has two short story collections available, Dark Musings and Darker Musings. His debut novel, A Thin Line and its sequel, The Redemption are also now available. He is currently working on two more novels: Immortal, which will be released in the fall of 2019 and Azreal’s Ledge, which will be released in the spring of 2020.

You can visit his website here

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~Morgan~

Demons, Chaos, Shadows and Light -The #Creative Dynamics of #Fantasy #Author #D.M.Cain

04 Thursday Jun 2020

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I’d like to introduce D.M. Cain to you.  A marvelously skilled author who has a new series – A Chronicle of Chaos (The Light and Shadow Chronicles)

D.M. Cain is a dystopian and fantasy author working for Next Chapter Publishing. The Light and Shadow Chronicles series features a range of books which can be read in any order. The series installments to date include A Chronicle of Chaos, The Shield of Soren, Genesis of Light and Origin of Shadow.

Cain has released one stand-alone novel: The Phoenix Project, a psychological thriller set in a dystopian future. The Phoenix Project was the winner of the 2016 Kindle Book Review Sci-Fi novel Award.

Cain lives in Leicestershire, UK with her partner and two young children, and spends her time reading, writing, reviewing, and indulging in geek culture (Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Final Fantasy).

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Bound by fate. Severed by blood.

In a realm ravaged by war, The Brotherhood of Shadow and The Children of Light will stop at nothing to destroy each other.

The warrior known as Chaos fights in the name of honor and glory. Arrogant and headstrong, he considers himself the strongest in the land, until fate puts him at the mercy of the demon Anathema.

The two strike up an intense rivalry, but their obsession to defeat one another only leads them closer together.

When the forces of Light and Darkness collide, where will their loyalties lie?

Praise:

★★★★★ – “Outstanding. Strongly recommended to anyone who likes young adult fantasy.”

★★★★★ – “A unique and different approach to the old themes of angels and demons.”

★★★★★ – “Fantasy world, demons, angels, complex moral dilemmas. I’m sold.”

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HI DM  🙂  What do you love most about writing?

I love the sense of discovery and adventure that comes with writing fantasy. Although I plan my work and have an idea where I want scenes to go, there is still a sense of the plot unfolding before me. Sometimes, after a long and difficult day all I want to do is lose myself in my fantasy world.

I know precisely what you mean!  So tell us, what inspired you to write your book?

When I was around ten years old, my friend and I created a whole imaginary world and made up hundreds of stories that existed in those settings. The books I write now are inspired by those stories. As I got older, it became less a passing interest and more of a calling – I couldn’t allow the stories to remain locked in my head forever.

I , for one, am so glad you didn’t!  For me, the story just seems to happen and I just type it out  Do your characters dictate what or how your write in any way?

In order to write believable and likeable characters, an author needs to really get into their heads, and know them inside and out. By doing so, it almost gives the characters life, and with time they start acting on their own! Sometimes I can be deep into a scene and something can happen that I had never intended. For example, in my current novel, a character grabs a flaming torch off the wall and sets fire to a room (which is very much in his character!) and I had no idea that was going to happen when I sat down to write! Characters have minds of their own and sometimes all I can do is to go along with the flow.

Thats often difficult for a non-writer to understand, but characters really do become alive while you’re writing the story.  And so often, the story takes turns you might not expect.  Are you a painstaking plotter or are you a discovery writer?

I have always been somewhere in the middle. I tend to plan my overarching plot points and get to know my characters really well. But it takes a while to get into the tone of a book and sometimes my original plans have to change because they don’t work anymore. I think, for me, the most important thing is to be adaptable and to be willing to change the plot if the story needs it.

What’s your number one tip for an aspiring author?

Get into the online writing community. There are so many fantastic writing groups on Facebook and Twitter. The writing community is fantastically helpful, inspirational and supportive. I have met editors, illustrators, promoters, publishers and many more through my online presence and it has given me a lot of knowledge about the industry. Plus, I have made lots of amazing friends who are always there to motivate and push me, read my work and give tips, or just have a brainstorming session with.

Are there any characters you’ve created that you would like to meet and why?

Hmm.. tricky. Raven from The Phoenix Project is moody and intense, Chaos from A Chronicle of Chaos is arrogant, Callista is too intimidating. I really like Dana and Soren from A Chronicle of Chaos – they’re both friendly and cool.

I liked Raven as well.  His intensity was what drew me into the story.  Do you get drawn into stories too?  If you could live in a book, which one would it be – why?

Again, a tricky question, as all the books I like are in dystopian, war-filled, cataclysmic or apocalyptic nightmares! I wouldn’t mind living in the world of The Magic Faraway Tree – I loved it so much as a child.

Writing really does become our lives, even if we still have day-jobs.  Its fabulous when someone recognizes all your hard work with a stellar review, but What about bad ones? How do you deal with those?

I used to take the criticism badly and get upset for days. But unfortunately, bad reviews are just part of being a writer. Now, I don’t dwell on them but I make sure to read them carefully. They can be a valuable source of advice – if you know what a reader doesn’t like, you might be able to avoid it in future.

Speaking of the future….What’s exciting you about your next project?

My current project is a new novel in my fantasy series, The Light and Shadow Chronicles. The Sins of Silas is so much fun because it is from the POV of the opposing army and I haven’t written anything from them before. It’s great fun to have the characters inverted – the bad guys are now the good guys and vice versa. Plus, Silas Wilder himself is a mischievous trickster and a hedonistic bad boy, so he’s all kinds of fun!

Before you go, can you tell us something about you that we don’t know yet…like…Do you have a Mantra  or a Quote you try to live by?

‘Every book is written one word at a time’ – I like to remind myself of this. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to write the words. Even the classics were only written one word at a time.

You can D.M Cain here:

Amazon Author Page

D.M Cain’s Website

Publisher’s Author Page

A Chronicle of Chaos Book link  

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I’d like to thank D.M Cain for sharing her valuable time and talent with BnV.  I hope you enjoyed learning more about her amazing work and will take a few minutes to explore her website….its amazing!

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~Morgan~

Of #Archangels, #Hypnotherapy and #Psychopaths – #Author Leo Kane!

27 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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My friend and fellow author Vanda…oops Leo Kane…has stopped by to share a little about herself, her books, characters, and upcoming projects.  Personally, I want to try out the hypnotism!  No really, read on and find out what Im blathering about 🙂

Hey there Friend…tell us a wee bit about yourself 🙂

Born and raised in the Steel City of Sheffield, England; I spent a lot of my life day dreaming and can’t seem to outgrow the habit. Despite this I gave managed to raise a family of three wonderful girls, a tolerant husband and crazy husky who inveigles his way into my books posing as the hero, Furface. I somehow acquired a career in human resource management and the employment law courts and a Master of Science degree along the way.

I am also a qualified clinical hypnotherapist with a fascination for the human condition. When I am not sending people into a trance and curing their phobias I happily plot my books whilst staring out of windows.

Oh and by the way, I see dead people some of whom are kind enough to chat with me.   (This is entirely worthy of another post, you know!)

 

Do your characters dictate what you write?

Jake, the main protagonist of the Heavensgate Series won’t allow me a moment’s peace until I get his story down exactly as he wants it told. I outline the plot and he derails it. I choose his enemy and he attacks a stranger. I pick him a lover and he runs off with another. The man is a nightmare to write about. He just said I write for him not about him. See what I mean?  (I love this character, Leo!!)

Do you have a Favourite and least favourite character?

The character I love to hate in Book 1 Heavensgate, Hope is Mary Barrington wife of a Darth Vader impersonator and the most dangerous foster parent ever. Despite her very obvious defects she’s a ballsy woman and nobody’s fool. Unfortunately she loves Jake rather too much and, even without her disgusting predilections, she would scare the life out of me.

My least favourite is Joy’s mother, the eternal virgin you can meet in Book 2, Heavensgate, Joy. The woman has no redeeming qualities whatsoever; it’s a kindness to call her a soul sucking wretch. She is based on someone very close to me and for that reason I sympathise with and forgive her.

I would love to meet the Archangel Gabriel, Gabi to his friends, who along with the Angel of Redemption plays a starring role in the series. Gabi and I could have a girly day out having our hair and nails done and shopping for clothes. At the end of a busy afternoon we would relax, gossiping over Earl Grey and cake while sneaking high heels off our aching feet and sighing with pleasure.

Got any fun Tips?

I am better at baking tips if you need any. However, if I must offer some advice to any aspiring author I suggest you read widely, write every day and edit with a ruthlessness that makes you cry, but ultimately makes you proud of your art.

What upcoming projects are you excited about? 

Ooh where do I start?

I am thrilled that Book 3, Heavensgate, Faith will be published very soon. Jake’s story takes a shocking turn when he meets Faith and Mercy – I think this is the first time I’ve surprised him with a plot twist he couldn’t wriggle out of. However, he says that my bad behaviour suggests I may have to write at least one more book for the annoying man.

I am very excited to encourage my talented granddaughter, Keira, as she launches her web-based clothing designs. She also sells bespoke art some of which I am honoured to say are my photographs reproduced on canvas. The clothes and the prints are limited editions, so why not pop in for a peek at: (This sounds awesome…Im off to check it out..OH< wait, we have an interview to finish!)

www.keke-kreation.teemill.com  

Tell us about Book 1 in the Heavensgate series

When Jacob was a child a mysterious girl comforted him at the funeral of the family he accidentally killed.

Years later and grieving for his lost wife and son, Jacob is at Heavensgate. He strongly believes that the dead should stay dead, but he sees things other people don’t see.

Even worse Jacob is besieged by his alter ego the taunting, foul- mouthed, sex-crazed, dangerous, Jake, a personality with a twisted sense of fun and no conscience.

Jacob battles for his sanity and soul surrounded by supernatural enemies and allies as he struggles to free the Keeper of the Forbidden Book and ignore the menacing pink Cadillac that drives by his lakeside lodge every night.

Wherever Jacob goes people die. The cops are moving in on him when a terrifying and seductive presence arrives on the frozen lake.

Now Jacob will discover that even hope has a dark side.

http://mybook.to/Heavensgatehope

Where can we find you?

http://hgleokane.wix.com/heavensgate

http://www.facebook.com/Leokaneheavensgate

http://twitter.com@h-gleokane

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Its always a delight to spend time with Vanda….LEO …I mean Leo!…. and Im so happy she stopped by to share a little about her books, her characters and her cool new project with her granddaughter. …..tho I was kinda hoping Jake would stop in too….maybe next time 😉

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~Morgan~