I went shopping in a bookstore just before Mothers' Day and my husband told me to pick out a book for myself. As some of you know, I read a lot, but mostly they're books that people have asked me to review--lucky me, since I love reading! But there's something special about picking out a book to read just for me--not that I won't review it just the same since otherwise I'd probably forget I'd read it.
The new paperbacks shelf had the latest Alexander McCall Smith book from the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. But that was already wrapped and waiting as a gift for Mothers' Day. My eyes were drawn to the book next to it though. The cover had a border, just like the McCall Smith book, and a picture rather like a water-painting, just like earlier books in the series. In face, at first sight, I thought perhaps Mma Ramotswe was riding again. But no. This book, with a label underneath declaring "For all lovers of the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," was a mystery called "Granddad, There's a head on the beach," by Colin Cotterill. I picked it up and found it was number 2 in a new mystery series, so I searched for number 1, called, intriguingly, "Killed at the whim of a hat," and we got that. So...
Marketing works. Saying a book is "like" another, designing a cover that's "like" another, pointing out the similarities instead of the differences... It worked. We bought the book, and although Jimm Juree's really nothing at all like Mma Ramotswe, and Thailand's not Botswana, and Colin Cotterill writes much more edge fiction with a snarky protagonist and a biting streak of sarcasm, I really enjoyed the read.
Thinking of book covers, the cover for Eric Garisson's Four 'Til Late (Road Ghosts series) has just been revealed here http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/05/four-til-late-cover-reveal-with-eric.html... and the cover to J.L. Mulvihill’s the Boxcar Baby is revealed here http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/05/cover-reveal-of-jl-mulvihills-new.html
So, book reviews:
Killed at the Whim of a Hat by Colin Cotterill (see above) is a fun mystery/drama, intriguingly informative, oddly thought-provoking (with some great characters, such as the protagonist's sister who used to be a brother), and best enjoyed with a 4-star rich and complex coffee.
Continuing a theme of thought-provoking books, Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite, by Lianne Simon certainly provokes lots of thought, inviting readers to see through the eyes of a teen brought up as a boy who has always felt more like a girl. Wanting to please God and parents can be hard in such a situation, but this story's filled with honest emotion, intriguing information, and genuine hope. Enjoy weith another 4-star rich complex cup of coffee.
Tower Bridge by Hannelore Moore offers food for thought as well as the reader's invited into the lives of the musicians in a British 80s rock band. The time, locations and characters feel vividly real, as does the music. Drugs, sex, decadence, love and hope all combine as overwhelmed youths grow into wounded adults and slowly find their feet in in a changing world. Drink a 5-star dark intense coffee with this one.
Next is a tale of the nineties with a message for modern times. The protagonist of Bottom Line, by Marc Davis is the ultimate businessman, resurrector of failing businesses, holder of the keys to wisdom, sad conveyor of dire news. But he has a conscience and a heart, hard though he tries to hide them. And his meteoric rise suddenly stalls, just at the same time as his mentor's star falls. Part business noir, part action adventure, the novel's held together by the main character's hidden depths and the powerful anchor of past promise. Enjoy this complex tale with a 4-star complex cup of coffee.
Finally, Have No Shame, by Melissa Foster, takes readers in the American South of the sixties. Not so long ago, life was so different, and a young girl lets her parents dictate her life and love while her eyes are slowly opened to the evils around her. Will others end up opening their eyes too, or will she close her own to human needs as she tends to the needs of convention? Enjoy this haunting tale will a 3-star smooth-flavored, well-balanced coffee.
Click on the Image then Scroll Down for Book Trailers and More
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Seasons and Echoes
Today I get to welcome two authors, Marlene Mitchell and Gary Yeagle, to my blog, but first let me introduce them and their books while I wait for them to arrive. I've often wondered how authors work together, so I'm really looking forward to meeting them here. And the books look fascinating...
In the fall of 1969 in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, a
poor backwoods farmer and his wife were brutally shot and killed by four
drunken hunters, along with their three dogs, horse and two fawns. The farmer’s
two young sons managed to escape but were unable to identify the killers. Now
decades later, the murders of the Pender family remain unsolved. In Townsend,
Tennessee, in Blount County, someone has decided to take revenge.
Book Synopsis:
About Marlene
Mitchell:
Originally from St. Louis, Marlene makes her home in
Kentucky now. A mother and grandmother, Marlene has a wide range of interests
including watercolor and oil painting, yet writing has always been her passion.
That comes through loud and clear in her wonderful novels!
These novels reflect a genuine sincerity with very strong
characters to which her readers can relate. To quote Marlene: “It took me a
long time to start writing, but now I can’t stop. The stories just keep on
coming.”
About Gary Yeagle:
Gary Yeagle was born and raised in Williamsport, Pa., the
birthplace of Little League Baseball. He grew up living just down the street
from the site of the very first Little League game, played in 1939.
He currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife
and four cats. He is the proud grandparent of three and is an active member of
the Jeffersontown United Methodist Church. Gary is a Civil War buff, and enjoys
swimming, spending time at the beach, model railroading, reading, and writing.
Seasons of Death
Book Synopsis:
In the fall of 1969 in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, a
poor backwoods farmer and his wife were brutally shot and killed by four
drunken hunters, along with their three dogs, horse and two fawns. The farmer’s
two young sons managed to escape but were unable to identify the killers. Now
decades later, the murders of the Pender family remain unsolved. In Townsend,
Tennessee, in Blount County, someone has decided to take revenge.
Echoes of Death
Book Synopsis:
It’s springtime in the Smokies and despite the four murders
of the previous year, tourists from every corner of the country have made the
journey to Townsend, Tennessee. The hiking trails are packed, the restaurants
are jammed, and the campsites are full. Vacation season is in full swing in the
peaceful side of the Smokies.
But then… there is another murder.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
National Children's Book Week, and Delilah Dusticle!
Did you know it's USA National Children's Book Week? And here I am writing and rewriting my next book of children's Bible stories (published by Cape Arago Press). It's so easy just to tell the familiar story, and so much harder--also more satisfying--to find an anchor that might make kids relate and repeat, and maybe even learn from it. Still, the collection's growing, and I hope to have at least one more book completed soon.
Meanwhile, Delilah Dusticle, which I reviewed a while ago (click here for my review of Delilah Dusticle), is free to download via Amazon this weekend (Saturday
18th to Monday 20th May), and I'm happy to be part of the promotion party. Maybe Delilah will eradicate some dust and cobwebs for me...
Delilah Dusticle is a
short story that has been enjoyed by young people and adults alike. The story
has been described as heart-warming, captivating, delightful and fun.
"I loved Delilah, I loved Abi, I loved reading this story"
Delilah Dusticle has special powers, she can completely eradicate dust. With her quiver pouch of special dusters Delilah can run up walls and reaches places others just can’t. As a maid in the Fenchurch-Whittington house Delilah’s unusual skills soon lead to her being promoted to Chief Dust Eradicator and Remover. Until one day a broken heart leads to her powers taking an expected turn.
This is the first in a series of touching and funny stories about Delilah Dusticle. Follow her on a journey of self-discovery, friendship and adventure.
Excerpt:
A suit of armour standing beside her in the hall coughed and shot out a puff of dust from its helmet. “Staff are not permitted to fraternise with the family and any shenanigans would lead to instant dismissal,” wheezed the armour.
“Don’t I know it,” said Delilah who then waved her duster at the falling dust cloud making it vanish in mid-air. For good measure she selected her dandelion duster and polished the armour, who was very ticklish and kept giggling. She then made her way to the staff kitchen for dinner.
To download for free to your iPad, Kindle or computer, please click the Amazon link below.
For more information, please visit www.ajyork.com
Like Delilah www.facebook.com/
Follow Delilah on Twitter: @delilahdusticle
Friday, May 17, 2013
Burning the Middle Ground
Today my blog is hosting one of the character's from L. Andrew Cooper's dark fantasy, Burning the Middle Ground. Meet Mr. Winston Beecher, writing here about Fathers and Spiders.
[A guest post by L. Andrew Cooper, writing as a character
from his horror novel Burning the Middle
Ground]
Fathers and Spiders
by Winston Beecher
Nothing brings out those paternal feelings like seeing a boy
so damaged that no amount of fathering, no amount of care, could possibly bring
him back from…, well, from that. Some
reporter once asked me whether I knew when I walked into the McCulloughs’ house
that day that my career would “be forever changed.” Well, here I am, five years
later, still a deputy in the same town. Don’t get paid all that much better for
having been in the center of the McCullough Tragedy, national news, all that,
you know, 10-year-old-girl-shoots-parents-can-we-have-gun-control-now stuff, which is bull-stuff, if you
don’t mind my saying so, because we have the second amendment in this country
for a reason. But I do show up in a lot of that news footage you’ve got,
because I tried to stick by Brian’s side. Even when everybody was saying he had
something to do with it, I stood by. And then when they realized he was just as
an innocent goddanged kid who just lost his whole family, suddenly I’m a hero
for being the only one to treat him like a human being.
Now. Five years later. Now this Ronald Glassner character
wants to write a book about us. I can see how he’ll write me already—he’ll add
thirty or fourty pounds, make the accent thicker, make me twice as dumb, and
occasionally make me slip and say something racist. Of course the character
will not be me; he will be an amalgamation, a representation of his
experiences as a northerner of Southerners. Or maybe his preconceptions as a
northerner of Southerners. Ronald is a complete asshole, but he’s kind of…
alluring… too. Something about the match between his tennis shoes and his sports
jackets. And I swear to God, that man custom selects his own shoelaces. I
couldn’t have tried to make someone more unlike the town of Kenning, Georgia,
than my New York Ronald, but here he is, foreign messenger. I exoticize his
Yankee traits, so if he wants to giggle at my twang, so be it. Besides, he may
have given me the very thing I need.
And that thing, I think, is the will to refocus our
attention to Brian. The weird stuff that’s been happening all over town, more and
more people making reports fit for the loony bin, man, there’s no way that
boy’s behind any of it. Excuse me: young
man. He’s not behind it, but signs keep pointing in his direction, not so
clearly that we’re sure, but enough coulds
are adding up to a probably, if you
get what I mean.
I think I’m in over my head is what I think, but everybody
here is so disorganized and out of touch, police work is basically a
free-for-all. So I’m investigating Dave Holcomb and the bags of bodies at the
junkyard, and I’m investigating the assaults on that preacher, Jeanne Harper,
and I’m investigating Ronald’s supernatural visitations, too.
And then there’s Michael Cox, and I guess maybe to a lesser
extent, Jake Warren, our suspected bad guys trying to run an evil plot out of
First Church. At least before the McCullough Tragedy, Reverend Michael Cox was
a pillar of trustworthiness. And Warren was an accountant or something, right?
And these people are somehow the spiders building the web tying together all
the bizarre little pieces that, as of yet, have no larger logical explanation?
I can’t make any sense of it, and it’s a tough sell if we want to get folks on
board some kind of organized resistance. Right now, I guess we’re it. Vive us.
Vive nous? I took some French.
Okay, then, wrapping up, let me just come back to this
point, and that’s Brian. It started with him, that blood-spattered boy who just
made me want to fold him in my arms until he cried, and it’s all going back to
him. I’ve always felt a need to keep him close, and it has never been so
strong.
Wow. I have this on my reading list and I'm really eager to start. Thank you for talking with us Mr. Beecher, and I'm looking forward to learning what's really going on.
And now... Let me introduce the author, L. Andrew Cooper, too:
About L. Andrew Cooper:
L. Andrew Cooper thinks the smartest people like horror,
fantasy, and sci-fi. Early in life, he couldn’t handle the scary stuff–he’d
sneak and watch horror films and then keep his parents up all night with his
nightmares. In the third grade, he finally convinced his parents to let him
read grownup horror novels: he started with Stephen King’s Firestarter, and by grade five, he was doing book reports on The Stand.
When his parents weren’t being kept up late by his
nightmares, they worried that his fascination with horror fiction would keep
him from experiencing more respectable culture. That all changed when he
transitioned from his public high school in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia to
uber-respectable Harvard University, where he studied English Literature. From
there, he went on to get a Ph.D. in English from Princeton, turning his
longstanding engagement with horror into a dissertation. The dissertation
became the basis for his first book, Gothic
Realities (2010). More recently, his obsession with horror movies turned
into a book about one of his favorite directors, Dario Argento (2012). He also
co-edited the textbook Monsters
(2012), an attempt to infect others with the idea that scary things are worth
people’s serious attention.
After living in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California, Andrew now lives in Louisville,
Kentucky, where he teaches at the University of Louisville and chairs the board
of the Louisville Film Society, the city’s premiere movie-buff institution.
_Burning the Middle Ground_ is his debut novel.
Burning the Middle
Ground
Book Synopsis:
Burning the Middle Ground is a dark fantasy about small-town
America that transforms readers’ fears about the country’s direction into a
haunting tale of religious conspiracy and supernatural mind control. A
character-driven sensibility like Stephen King’s and a flair for the bizarre
like Bentley Little’s delivers as much appeal for dedicated fans of fantasy and
horror as for mainstream readers looking for an exciting ride. Brian McCullough
comes home from school and discovers that his ten-year-old sister Fran has
murdered their parents. Five years later, a journalist, Ronald Glassner, finds
Brian living at the same house in the small town of Kenning, Georgia. Planning
a book on the McCullough Tragedy, Ronald stumbles into a struggle between
Kenning’s First Church, run by the mysterious Reverend Michael Cox, and the New
Church, run by the rebellious Jeanne Harper. At the same time, Kenning’s pets
go berserk, and dead bodies, with the eyes and tongues removed from their
heads, begin to appear.
Author Links:
Website/Blog: http://landrewcooper.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LAndrewCooper
Google+:landrew42
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/landrew42
Tour Schedule and Activities
Tour Page URL:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Weeding, seeding, pleading and reading
So... The promotion's ended and the books were "sold." Now I'm just waiting (trying not to plead) to see if anyone liked them enough to buy more in the series. Meanwhile I'm reading, writing and researching books seven and eight (which might be called gathering seeds for story-starts). And I'm wondering why May keeps getting older while I still feel lost in February. Even the weather's betraying me--summer's arrived, which is very nice, both sunny and warm, but doesn't really do wonders for my catching up on overdue reading lists since I keep weeding flowerbeds instead. Ah well. Here are some books I was due (mostly) to read in April, with apologies, and with reviews...
Starting with a few short reads...
Sleeping Beauty, A modern fairy tale by John Phythyon, is exactly what it says--a very modern fairy tale. Blending the greeds of corporations and parents with the innocent hope of a young man staying true to the girl he loves, it sets the horrors of the familiar story in the familiar of the present day, creating a story that doesn't quite end, but certainly invites the reader in. Enjoy with a bold dark intense 5-star cup of coffee.
Trilogies, 18 sets of short fiction by Jerry Guarino, offers very short stories in sets of three, united by time, place, character or genre. Some threes form complete stories together. Others create whole worlds of mystery. And all have stings in the tale so read with care. Read these complex tales with a few cups of 4-star elegant complex coffee.
The Bad Lady, by John Meany, tells a haunting and scarily real story of a child lured into an abusive situation, and the many betrayals that leave him open to hurt. Read this starkly real, darkly haunting novella with a bold dark intense 5-star coffee.
The Tower Bridge, by Steve Simons feels like an adventure board game. Written for children, it details how two boys find themselves stranded in a different world, with aliens, a mysterious scientist, and all sorts of dangers to escape from before they get home. It's a fun tale with lots of oddities, various incongruities, and a satisfying conclusion. Enjoy with a 2-star easy-drinking coffee and get that board game out.
Challenging Zed, by Joss Stirling is a neat short story introducing a family of crime-fighters through the eyes of a jaded youngest brother. The new girl in school just might promise hope for his future, and the story's filled with great characters, promising an interesting series. Enjoy with a lively easy-drinking 2-star coffee.
and then some novels...
Beyond Tomorrow by P. L. Parker takes ordinary people and places them in extraordinary circumstances as a group of near-future scientists battle for their lives in the dim and distant past. As dangerous flesh-eaters draw close, one lonely woman finds herself falling for the handsome stranger. But how can she really have feelings for a primitive man, and what is his secret? It's not the first in a series, but it's easy to pick up Beyond Tomorrow without reading the earlier book--I did. Enjoy it's intriguing romance with a well-balanced, smooth-flavored 3-star coffee.
Between Dark and Light, by D. A. Adams, takes readers to a well-drawn world of elves, dwarves and men where powers are shifting and battles loom. Again, it's not the first in a series, but it stands alone well as a complete chapter in the larger adventure, leaving the reader both satisfied and eager for more.
Last but not least, Geraldine Solon's The Assignment is a real-world novel with mystery, history, enduring romance, and more as the village of Bataan lives on. Enjoy this elegant novel with an elegant 4-star coffee.
May the sun keep shining, and may February finally leave me!
Starting with a few short reads...
Sleeping Beauty, A modern fairy tale by John Phythyon, is exactly what it says--a very modern fairy tale. Blending the greeds of corporations and parents with the innocent hope of a young man staying true to the girl he loves, it sets the horrors of the familiar story in the familiar of the present day, creating a story that doesn't quite end, but certainly invites the reader in. Enjoy with a bold dark intense 5-star cup of coffee.
Trilogies, 18 sets of short fiction by Jerry Guarino, offers very short stories in sets of three, united by time, place, character or genre. Some threes form complete stories together. Others create whole worlds of mystery. And all have stings in the tale so read with care. Read these complex tales with a few cups of 4-star elegant complex coffee.
The Bad Lady, by John Meany, tells a haunting and scarily real story of a child lured into an abusive situation, and the many betrayals that leave him open to hurt. Read this starkly real, darkly haunting novella with a bold dark intense 5-star coffee.
The Tower Bridge, by Steve Simons feels like an adventure board game. Written for children, it details how two boys find themselves stranded in a different world, with aliens, a mysterious scientist, and all sorts of dangers to escape from before they get home. It's a fun tale with lots of oddities, various incongruities, and a satisfying conclusion. Enjoy with a 2-star easy-drinking coffee and get that board game out.
Challenging Zed, by Joss Stirling is a neat short story introducing a family of crime-fighters through the eyes of a jaded youngest brother. The new girl in school just might promise hope for his future, and the story's filled with great characters, promising an interesting series. Enjoy with a lively easy-drinking 2-star coffee.
and then some novels...
Beyond Tomorrow by P. L. Parker takes ordinary people and places them in extraordinary circumstances as a group of near-future scientists battle for their lives in the dim and distant past. As dangerous flesh-eaters draw close, one lonely woman finds herself falling for the handsome stranger. But how can she really have feelings for a primitive man, and what is his secret? It's not the first in a series, but it's easy to pick up Beyond Tomorrow without reading the earlier book--I did. Enjoy it's intriguing romance with a well-balanced, smooth-flavored 3-star coffee.
Between Dark and Light, by D. A. Adams, takes readers to a well-drawn world of elves, dwarves and men where powers are shifting and battles loom. Again, it's not the first in a series, but it stands alone well as a complete chapter in the larger adventure, leaving the reader both satisfied and eager for more.
Last but not least, Geraldine Solon's The Assignment is a real-world novel with mystery, history, enduring romance, and more as the village of Bataan lives on. Enjoy this elegant novel with an elegant 4-star coffee.
May the sun keep shining, and may February finally leave me!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Scholars, sphinxes, shades of nyx and a primal scream !
My latest children's stories are just reaching the edit and rewrite stage. I'm editing the first of the New Testament "Five Minute Bible Stories Series TM" while writing the second--and that scary panicky "This will never work right/sound right/feel write" phase is driving me crazy. So it was kind of fun to read Alison Reeger Cook's recent blogpost written as she completed rewrites for her fantasy novel, The scholar, the sphinx and the shades of Nyx. "There was sweat. There were tears. There was a stomach-cramping panic," she writes with a primal scream at http://scholarandsphinx.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-writer-rewrites-and-urge-to-scream.html, but the final result looks great and is sure to be a fun exciting read. Find it on Amazon TODAY at http://www.amazon.com/Scholar-Sphinx-Shades-scholar-sphinx/dp/1908483873/
KNOX ROBINSON PUBLISHING
PRESENTS
The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx
by Alison Reeger Cook
Published TODAY !
About the author A native of Riverside, Illinois, Alison Reeger Cook has always been surrounded by an artful atmosphere. She is the daughter of John Reeger and Paula Scrofano, "Chicago's royal couple of live theatre," who have been a constant source of encouragement for Alison. She attended the University of Iowa, where she studied English literature and theater arts with a focus on playwriting. During her undergraduate career, she had six short plays and one full-length children's play produced. After moving to Gainesville, Georgia, in 2007 with her husband David, her writing interests turned to novel writing, particularly fantasy (just ask the residents of her ever-expanding dragon and griffin figurine collection). She has continued to write short stories and short plays, which have been awarded honorable mentions in various magazines, such as Writers' Journal and Writer's Digest. For the past three years, she has been the book review columnist for the Gainesville Times, one of the most widely distributed newspapers in northeastern Georgia.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Welcoming aliens, and meeting the creator of the Shala
Today I get to interview Cathy Benedetto, author of the fascinating Shala novels. Like me, the author loves Anne McCaffrey, Robert Jordan and Orson Scott Card, so I know I'm going to enjoy these books as soon as I find time to read them. But first, let me introduce her:
About Cathy
Benedetto:
Ms. Benedetto is a writer, artist and avid reader. Her love
of science fiction and fantasy inspired her trilogy about the mystical race of
warriors known as Shala. Her favorite authors, Anne McCaffrey, Robert Jordan,
and Orson Scott Card, have spun stories that shifted Cathy’s imagination into
high gear.
The former Vice Principal and education consultant, Cathy
was also a five time softball All-American, and AAU basketball All-American.
She was a member of the U.S. Women’s basketball team that played in the World
University Games in Czechoslovakia and the Pan American Games in Canada. While
coaching, she was published in the Women in Sports magazine and wrote a column
for the Bellevue Journal American.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Cathy moved to Lexington, Kentucky in 2003. The former coach enjoys supporting the Kentucky Wildcats women’s basketball team, woodturning, lapidary arts, and loves fishing on her pontoon boat. A special joy is playing with David, Charlotte, Kendall, Lily, and Liz.
So Cathy, it's great to have you on my blog. Can I start by asking if you have a favorite McCaffrey or Scott Card series?
I
loved McCaffrey’s ‘Dragons of Pern’ books. There was an element of fantasy but
a stronger emphasis on science fiction, and being a former history teacher, I
was enamored by the more medieval culture she chose to center her Pernese
around. And, of course, the dragon lore and weyr rider personalities were
fascinating. She’s been a big influence.
Orson
Scott Card’s ‘Ender series’ is my favorite from his writing. His story is more
complex than McCaffrey’s, his major characters are more cerebral and
philosophically oriented, but I found Anne McCaffrey’s characters more
endearing and authentic.
It sounds like we share the same favorite series as well as favorite authors. My son loved the battles and politics of the Endor novels, but I must confess one of the things I liked best was the feeling of a truly alien culture. I've often wondered where Scott Card's ideas originated but I don't suppose I'll ever get to ask him. However, may I perhaps ask you where your ideas for the Shala came from?
Quite
a while ago I read Shogun and was impressed by the samurai desire to
completely mask their emotions by presenting a ‘blank’ face to others. The goal
was to be unreadable so rivals couldn’t figure out what you were thinking. The
Japanese court at that time was filled with complex intrigue, plotting,
assassinations and those who could play that game well were admired. This led
me to wondering – what if there was a race of warriors who were the opposite?
Instead of hiding their emotions, they radiated them through their eye colors.
And, instead of embracing violence, these warriors sought a way to end the
killing? Of course, in time these ideas expanded to encompass the trilogy and a
lengthier saga.
That connection between shared emotion and violence sounds intriguing. Given how well(?) we humans have dealt with meeting neighbors on different continents, how do you think we'll cope should we ever really meet an alien species--or an alien mutation in our own species (I'm thinking X-Men and so on).
I’m
not hopeful. Fear and competitiveness are powerful motivators, so I can
definitely see us being highly distrustful and afraid of such interlopers.
While I believe there would be a percentage who would welcome ‘visitors’ and be
excited about the possibilities, they would be heavily outnumbered by the
majority. We humans seem to have a hard time accepting differences. We don’t
tolerate going against the norm very well. We’re most comfortable when people
look and act like us. Actually, this is one of the themes that appear in my
stories.
I've not read the novels yet, but I'm guessing issues of trust and competition, together with a mix of battles, prophecies and aliens should make them appeal to both me and my (now grownup) son. Did you have any particular readers or types of reader in mind as you wrote?
Truthfully,
I try to write what I like to read. First of all, I like stories to move fast
and not be overly burdened by details (sometimes I don’t provide enough detail
so I’m working on finding that happy medium). I like battles and action as long
as they’re not overstated. Secondly, I’m attracted to characters that are
flawed, and are forced to struggle with the right and wrong of things. Thirdly,
I detest racism and presumptive ideas about the worth of another race, gender,
etc. Those themes were present in my trilogy. I wanted my main female
characters to be strong and opinionated and respected and my major male
characters to abhor the violence of war and the seemingly insatiable greed that
empire builders have.
As
a writer, my biggest struggle is with providing enough meat to bring those
themes alive. It’s hard to find the correct level of complexity and detail.
Without it, the story goes too fast, is over-simplified and readers find
themselves wanting more. But folks who
like a faster read, and rather use their imagination instead of having the
author tell them everything, seemed satisfied.
It sounds like a good balance. Here's one final question that I'd really like to know your take on: How do you think symbols, prophecies and myths all tie together?
Strongly!
Prophecies lead to the creation of symbols that serve as a shorthand for all
the prophetic details. Details might be lost or forgotten, but symbols serve as
reminders or catalysts for future generations. As time passes, details can
become skewed, or hazy, and story tellers who pass on lore from one from one
generation to the next, can inadvertently and sometimes deliberately create
myths to help people remember and not lose the complete memory of something
over time. Prophecies are ‘fun’, because they are open to interpretation which
can lead to taking sides, or cause the reader to go down the wrong avenue of
thought. I think that’s a good thing. One of the hardest things I face as a
writer is to not make plot outcomes obvious. Hopefully, some folks were
surprised by the events that eventually unfolded.
Thank you so much for letting me interview you. I've really enjoyed "virtually" meeting you and I'm really looking forward to reading your books. Good luck with the blog tour!
The Eyes of Sandala http://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Sandala-Cathy-Benedetto/dp/1613181159
Like the Navi on Pandora, the exotic warrior race called
Shala dominates the continent of Sandala. Over seven feet tall and as strong as
three men, the dark-skinned Shala share a life-long bond with wild felines. The
fierce fighters are blessed with telepathic powers, and have eyes that radiate
a kaleidoscope of colors.
The Shala live apart from the humans of Sandala, dwelling
inside the crater of an extinct volcano. But when invaders appear, they must
obey the prophecy and rise to defend the land. It will take all the cunning and
guile of their young leader, Tahjeen Tier, to contend with assassination and
betrayal, and a massive army poised to attack.
Book Synopsis:
Vigilance reader! There are more battles, more strategies,
more Shala and Fels and most of all more mysteries! Many questions about the
Shala from The Eyes of Sandala have been answered and many new ones arise. The
most pressing question being who are the Dark Shala and what is their place in
the war? But the mysteries do not end there, as new characters bring new
questions and new prophecies as well. The back and forth battles cause each
side to make adjustments in strategy which lead to more suspense and a strong
desire to find how the future will unfold.
The King of the Fels http://www.amazon.com/King-Fels-Cathy-Benedetto/dp/1613181396
Book Synopsis:
In the exciting conclusion to the Shala Trilogy, Latiga is
under siege, travel mirrors are lost, lovers have been torn apart by the
ravages of war, and the King of the Fels is dying. These are the challenges
that Tahjeen Tier, leader of the Shala, contends with as he confronts the King
of the Fels to find out why he must sacrifice his own people to save the
Sandalese. Is there something special about these particular humans? While
Tahjeen demands answers, the Surmese invaders are poised to launch their own
final two battles — one in the heartland’s frontier, home of the fels, and the
other at Latiga, the capital of Palaton. As humans and Shala gather for the
final battle, Tahjeen learns the truth about his unborn son.
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