Congress of the Dead by Timothy W Long (a review)

What a brilliant idea....America was in shutdown at the time this short story was written, politicians bickering over the budget, people not being able to go to work in certain sectors. In a time of gloom and despondency one man set out to have some fun and put a smile back on peoples faces by doing what he does best.......sending the zombies to Congress.

What impressed me first and foremost was that although this is only a short story there is still time for the author to give a reason for the start of the zombie outbreak (so few zombie authors do that these days).

Timothy. W. Long is one of the leaders in the field of both zombie fiction and comedy zombie fiction. This falls firmly into the latter catagory and is a must read.

Now, any chance the same can be done for the UK government ;-)

Six of the Best: A Hellish Half Dozen by Kevin Bufton (a review)

A couple of weeks ago I entered a competition on facebook, the prize was a copy of this book - thankfully I won. This is a really good collection!

As you would expect from the title their are six short stories in this collection, three zombie tales and three general horror.

The book opens with Mother's Milk, a truly disturbing tale of mother and child in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse. I had become a little tired  the whole zombie genre before reading this story but this author has really made me change my mind. It has moments that will truly set the reader on edge, horror as it should be.

Next comes 'The Shoot' where a wrestling fan gets to interview The Masked Marauder, the first interview the MM has ever done, and learns a secret he wasn't expecting.

Next up, '53' another zombie tale, set in the same universe as Mother's Milk. The 53 in the title is the time between death and reanimation. The story is set in what is left of a hospital and shows another angle to life after the apocalypse.

Roots, story 4 is set in the Old West with a father and two sons under siege from..........tumbleweed

The Wren is in the style of a folk tale set around Christmas but certainly not with a Christmassy ending.

The final story, Hooked, is another zombie tale but this time with a nautical leaning and set in the mid 19th century.

All these stories are of a very high quality. Horror, as a genre, can seem a bit overdone at times but this collection gives me hope for the future. I will certainly be looking out for more from this author and I suggest that, if horror is your thing, you do too, but for now I am heartily recommending this collection to you.

The Starers by Nathan Robinson (a review)

Well, this was a pleasant surprise. Imagine, if you will, the usual zombie/ heroes under siege story.....then turn it on it's head!!

The heroes, such as they are, are Dylan Keene,  his wife Kirsty, daughter Lucy and his brother Lennon. It starts, innocuously enough, with Dylan and Lennon heading home from a night in the local pub. What they do not notice is the guy at the bus stop who just sts and watches them......he is just the first.

By the morning there are more. Many more. They are on the lawn, they are surrounding the house. Throughout the town everybody seems to have just stopped to stare at the Keene house.

The 'family under siege' aspect of the story is one that has been done many times before but always, you know something is going to happen. The zombies, or whatever the threat is (and let's be honest, these days it's nearly always zombies), are going to attack at some point and start with the ripping and tearing and flesh eating. And that is where this story is different, the antagonists, the people outside, do..................absolutely nothing! They just stand outside the house and throughout the town, and just .................stare.

It really is quite unsettling for the family, they cannot leave, and the people outside continue to do......nothing!!

Something is coming, but no-one knows what and when the something arrives, things will surely take a turn for the worst.

This is a good turnaround for the genre, the unzombie novel and a good tale it is too. Nathan Robinson is certainly a name to watch for the future - you'll be hearing a lot more from him.

Beyond the Tempest Gate by Jeff Suwak - a review

This novella, telling the tale of The Holy Knight Gabriel and his quest to go beyond the elemental Tempest Gate to dispose of the demon Elezear really is a pleasant surprise.

The tale kicks off with Gabriel approaching the Gate by boat. The Gate was put in place by wizards after an earlier event (sorry if I seem vague here but I don't want to give spoilers). He is on a quest to rid the world of the demon Elezear, a quest that only he, as The Holy Knight, can complete.

The chapters flow well - current storyline / backstory / current storyline etc and there really is so much here that I really found it hard to believe it was only a novella (76 pages but worth every penny/cent/euro).

The world on both sides of The Gate is really well drawn as is the actual Gate itself and shows good skills for world building which promises lots for this author, as does the way he adds little twists to the characters and their motivations.

Some of the scenes later on in the story reminded me, in a way, of the films of the late Ray Harryhausen - and I do believe this story would benefit from being filmed by a quality effects studio.

So, all in all, a wonderfully told tale that will leave you wanting more from Mr.Suwak - I know I will be eagerly waiting for more from this promising young author

Go see a show

So, this weekend, my better half, Marie, and I headed down to London on a mini-break. We always try and see a show when down in the capital and this year we went for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory..................and, boy, did we make an excellent choice.

The show was quality from start to end, actors, story, stagecraft all beyond wonderful. Believe me, we left the theatre with a smile and the knowledge that we had just seen something special.

It did make me realise though, and I'd not thought about this before, but I believe Charlie and the Chocolate factory may well have been the story that set me off on the path that leads to where my reading preferences are today. The world of Charlie Bucket is a place of wonders and magic and the characters are so larger than life it almost seems like an understatement.

The point I wanted to make today though is this - you can go and see all the multimillion dollar blockbusters at the cinema you wish but if you want a truly magical and entertaining evening, go to the theatre.

A theatre show is a one chance thing - the actor forgets his/her lines there is no retake, the scenery/effects are only as much as you can fit on the stage, but it is so much more than a movie experience. You almost feel as if you are a part of the show and you are certainly part of the experience.

So, take the chance - GO SEE A SHOW!!! (and hey, you'll be supporting the arts as well)

Guest post by Cas Peace

Today, my blog features a guest post from Cas Peace, author of the Artesans of Alba series from Rhemalda Publishing. An article about getting the books published, the blurb for the books (and trust me they are a wonderful series) and a chance to enter a draw to win copies.

 

So, please welcome Cas

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Bio:

Cas Peace lives in the lovely county of Hampshire, UK, where she was born. On leaving school she trained for two years before qualifying as horse-riding instructor. During this time she also learned to carriage-drive. She then spent thirteen years in the British Civil Service before moving to Rome, Italy, where she and her husband, Dave, lived for three years. They enjoy returning whenever they can. As well as working on her writing, Cas loves walking, growing cacti, and playing the bodhran. She supports many animal charities and owns two rescue Lurchers, Milly and Milo. She also loves to sing, and is currently writing and recording nine folk-type songs to accompany each of her fantasy books.

See the video of her performing ‘The Wheel Will Turn,’ from King’s Envoy, live at the King’s Envoy book launch in 2011:

http://www.caspeace.com/cas-peace/the-wheel-will-turn

All her songs are available as free downloads from her website: www.caspeace.com

Blurb for King’s Envoy:

Taran Elijah’s quest for knowledge uncovers a plot that threatens the world…

In Albia, the Fourth Realm, the precious Artesan gift is dying. Although born to the craft, Taran is struggling to achieve his potential. Against his friends’ advice, he embarks on a foolhardy plan to acquire the teaching he craves. Alone, he crosses into Andaryon, the Fifth Realm, but instead of finding a mentor, he stumbles upon a treacherous plot.

In the wake of Taran’s actions, Albia suffers a series of vicious raids. Major Sullyan of the High King’s forces is sent to oppose them. But a dark and treacherous force is moving through the realms and both Taran and Sullyan will feel its power.

Their craft, the lives of their friends, the very existence of their realm are under threat unless they expose and oppose the evil.

Blurb for King’s Champion:

After surviving brutal torture and escaping from Lord Rykan’s dungeons, Major Sullyan is trapped in Andaryon, too injured to cross the Veils. Slowly dying and determined to find some purpose in the shattered remains of her life, she travels to the Andaryan capitol to offer the Hierarch her sword and Artesan gifts in the fight against Rykan and his vast army. Because women hold no power in Andaryon, Sullyan is met with prejudice, hostility, and suspicion.

Before she can seek vengeance on the field of battle, she must prove herself to the Hierarch’s generals. Finding support from the unlikeliest sources, Sullyan sets a plan in motion to defeat Lord Rykan and end his bid for the throne. The fate of two realms depends on her success, but her strength is fading fast, and time is running out.

Blurb for King’s Artesan:

Unable to purge herself of the poison that is slowly killing her, Major Sullyan remains trapped in Andaryon. The only thing that can save her is the Staff, which still lies buried in Taran’s cellar.

Robin Tamsen sets out on a desperate quest to recover the artifact, but the enemy is two steps ahead of him. Sonten knows where the Staff is, and he will stop at nothing to get it back. If he does, Sullyan’s life will be forfeit and no Artesan will be safe.

The race for the Staff has begun.

Post:

How I Kept Going in the Dark Days

Sometimes, when I look back on the last two and a half years, I have a really hard time remembering what it was like trying to get my fantasy series published. Here we are in 2013, and King’s Artesan, the third book in the first trilogy of my Artesans series, has just been published by Rhemalda Publishing. The entire process has been a wonderful experience – from Rhemalda’s initial request to read the full ms of King’s Envoy, to getting an offer, receiving the contract, trying to understand the contract, getting advice on it and doing some negotiating, to signing (and becoming a bona fide “AUTHOR” – Yay!!) through the editing process, the book layout and cover design. All of this has been a true rollercoaster of excitement, self-doubt, euphoria, worry, achievement depression, elation, and stress. Pretty much the full gamut of human emotions. Sometimes I wonder how on earth I coped with it!

Having said that, I guess the dark days of researching publishers and agents, submitting, and getting rejections, were just as high and low. I’d forgotten the childlike excitement of finding a new outfit to submit to. That initial buzz when you read “what we are looking for” and realise that your book fits the bill to a T. Writing that very carefully-worded query letter I mustn’t sound cocky – but how do I sound upbeat and enthusiastic without sounding cocky? and agonising over the synopsis. Just how DO you condense 150,000 words and a complex plot and sub-plot into three pages?? It simply can’t be done! And then printing off the brand-new, shiny white, never-touched-by-human-hand sample chapters of your masterpiece that you just know they’re going to love, and slipping it into a specially-bought, double-strength manila envelope that – yes! – you lovingly kiss for luck as you send it on its way.

Then – eventually (maybe) – there’s a thump on the doormat. Your fingers tremble as you struggle to open the SAE you so carefully enclosed. You can tell before you open it that they’ve returned your sample chapters. Oh-oh. Is that good or bad? It’s good, surely – they’ll want the entire ms sent in one go, silly, they won’t ask you to just send chapters 4 – 31! Still trembling, you slip out the letter – only to find it’s actually your letter, the one you spent so much time on. Not a good sign. The heart begins to droop. It droops further when you fish around in the envelope and find (if you’re lucky!) the standard, pre-printed rejection slip. “Thank you for your query, but I’m afraid your work doesn’t fit our list at present. Yours, A. N. Agent.” If you’re even luckier, you might get a personal letter from your chosen recipient telling you that they thought your work was good, it just wasn’t for them. Is that better or worse than the standard, impersonal slip? What’s even luckier – and I was fortunate indeed to receive a few of these – is the entirely personal, hand-written reply giving you valuable feedback and even a suggestion as to whom you might try next. Those really help lift spirits downtrodden by the evil rejection of your potentially-award-winning masterpiece!

So how did I keep going during the ten years it took me to find Rhemalda Publishing? The answer is Faith. Faith in myself and my work. Every time I received a rejection, I allowed myself to feel disappointment. It’s no good telling yourself not to, you will anyway so you might as well accept it! Then I picked myself up and looked for someone else to query. I didn’t waste too much time thumping the wall, or smashing plates, or being grumpy to my husband (yes, I was sometimes, sorry Dave!) I just tried to stay positive. I do believe that if you feel negative, you invite negativity, but if you stay positive, positive things will happen. Somewhere deep inside, I just knew my books would find their home. Too many agents and publishers told me that for me to doubt it. I just hadn’t found the right one yet. Too many coincidences associated with my characters or storyline kept happening and they all helped keep me motivated and pushed me to keep trying. And I took notice of that old mantra we’ve all heard a million times – NEVER GIVE UP. Because it works.

And now here I am, celebrating the publication of Book Three, King’s Artesan. I am in talks with Rhemalda regarding the next trilogy in the series, Circle of Conspiracy. If all goes well, the next three books could be published during 2014. After that comes the final trilogy, Master of Malice. And I am also working on a YA prequel to the series, working title Maiden of Mysteries.

So you already know my advice – have faith and KEEP TRYING. You never know how close you could be to that deal … J

Now, for the link to the rafflecoptor prize draw
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2f8dd3/

Good luck to all and thanks for joining us today
 

 

 

The Demi-Monde (Summer) by Rod Rees - a review

And the fun and adventure continue with Summer, the third book in Rod Rees' quite wonderful Demi-Monde series. For starters though, let me advise that you read Winter and Spring (books 1 and 2 in the series) first because, believe me you will be completely and utterly lost. This is a series that rewards you for sticking with it by opening up a new area of the Demi-Monde with each new book - this being the third we visit the area known as The Coven (Rangoon, Tokyo and Beijing) as well as the places we visited in earlier episodes.

The usual characters are here, but there are a bunch of new "figures from history" again, half of the fun is wondering who will make an appearance next. If you've got this far really you'll know what to expect - the humour and clever wordplay once again running strong throughout.

With Summer things are slowly starting to come to a head, ready for Fall, the fourth and final book in this thoroughly entertaining series. All the major players are starting to show their hands, things in The Demi-Monde and The Real World may never be the same again. It's going to be down to a small group of heroes to save both worlds.

In short, rip-roaring, non stop action in a cyber reality and the real world. Don't miss this series, it's a real treat.

Four and a half stars