Please Welcome Christine Rose

Welcome to my blog tour! This week, I'm giving away a $50 Gift Card to Amazon.com at Bitten by Books starting Thursday, and I'm also giving away FREE BOOKS to ANYONE WHO WANTS ONE! All week long, Dec 11-15, you can download Rowan of the Wood (Book 1) and Power of the Zephyr (Book 4) on your Kindle or Kindle App for FREE!!! THAT's RIGHT! Follow my blog tour for excerpts and podcasts from all of the Rowan books, and enter to win great giveaways! After the guest post on my Top 10 Gifts for Writers, you can listen to Chapter 1 of Rowan of the Wood and read an excerpt from Witch on the Water, Book 2.

Now, onto the post!

 It's that time of year again. The time when even people who don't shop shop. Store are open earlier and later. Everything seems to be busier and more crowded. People are spreading goodwill and maxing out their credit cards, postponing payment until the New Year in order to celebrate the season today. And what a wonderful season it is! There is so much out there with advertisements coming at you from every direction. How does one know where to begin? I have a few suggestions for the writers on your gift list. Most of the items below are affordable, that is less than $100 (most less than $30), but there are one or two that are higher priced, just in case. So here are my suggestions for the Top 10 Gifts for Writers:
 #10 TrekDesk Treadmill Desk Okay. So this is a little silly, if only because it's so expensive. But I would LOVE one of these! Between writing and blogging and researching and marketing and day jobs and just, well, life, the modern writer has no time to exercise! It often falls way down the priority list and the numbers on the scale go way up! This handy desk liberates two birds with one key! It's an excuse to exercise AND to write! It's totally going on my Amazon Wish List. :)

#9 Prescription Coffee Mug While I personally this this is an ugly coffee mug (I'm rather partial to my Starbucks London mug with Shakespeare and the white cliffs), it is a great gag gift and quite apropos for most writers. Coffee is our fuel, our life blood! Other great gifts would be a mug warmer for their workspace or even a coffee dispenser that they can access without getting up. We certainly don't want to interrupt that flow of inspiration just to get more coffee!
  #8 Keep Calm and Write On T-Shirt I love this. Perhaps the only think I love more are the "Careful, You'll End Up In My Novel" merchandise. The WWII saying "Keep Calm and Carry On" has made a comeback. Big Time, in case you haven't noticed the original saying and a myriad of altered ones like this on everything from T-shirts to coffee cups to iPhone cases. This is perfect for writers, and there are so many colors available! #7 Writer's Block Motivational Folding Cube Fun and useful! It's got quotes from several writers like Mark Twain, Dickens, and Thoreau, plus other motivational quotes from major historical figures. This is a wonderful desktop adornment that can turn writer's block into inspiration! From the Amazon.com description:

This clever desktop gadget is actually eight blocks bonded together. Initially the writer's block has six inspiring images with six motivational quotes. The block can be simply folded into six completely new scenes with uplifting quotes...The palm-sized cube naturally folds to and from its original cube and its inverted cube for a mesmerizing effect.

#6 Writer's Book of Days One of the best-selling writer motivational books on the market in the past decade. This is full of writing prompts, web resources, and more! There is a new writing prompt every day, plus read fun and "astonishing tidbits" from literary giants like Eliot, Flaubert, and others. Sometimes, we just need a little push! This is SO going on my Wish List!

#5 Moleskine Writers Gift Box I adore Moleskine. It is the legendary notebook of writers and artists like Hemingway, Wilde, Matisse, van Gogh, and Picasso. This wonderful kit not only gives your writer this legendary journal, but it also includes a pen that stays attached to the notebook! Ooooh! Okay! Wish List, check! Perhaps this list should've been called this this writer wants for Christmas! Buy this Moleskine Writers Gift Box Today (for me, please!)   #4 Noise Isolating Ear Buds One thing you can't buy your favorite writer, and what every writer needs, is silence and solitude. These are the next-best thing. For me, if I can't manage silence, then Classical Music directly in my ears is the way to go. Simultaneously soothing and inspiring, it blocks out distracting sounds and allows the author to disappear into his or her world, delving into the minds of their characters. Although you can spend hundreds on high-quality noise canceling headphones, these are light and affordable and will do the job for most situations. They come in a variety of colors. Couple these with a $16 yearly subscription to Pandora, and you're all set!

 #3 Scrivener I don't personally use this software, but I know many writers who swear by it. As many writing coaches will teach, one should write by scenes rather than chapters. Scrivener does this beautifully, helping the writer organize thoughts, notes, and research all under one tool. Available for both Mac and PC.

 #2 On Writing, by Stephen King This amazing book is what finally pushed my inspiration over the edge into a workable writing strategy. By reading how this literary giant got his start, manages his life, and creates his prose, I was able to write my first novel, which became Rowan of the Wood, an award-winning, Amazon best-selling novel, and the first of a five-book series. If you get no other writing book ever, get this one.

Well...and this one, too: #1 Publishing & Marketing Realities for the Emerging Author, by Christine Rose My no-nonsense book for writers to help them navigate the shark-infested and often murky waters of publishing as well as the overwhelming world of marketing. Each writer is unique, so my book guides the emerging author toward a publishing and marketing plan that will fit their needs, dreams, time, and budget. As a bonus, there are several essays in the back by published authors for further inspiration.

“This book gives readers a look into an author’s life while simultaneously imparting invaluable advice. It turns reading what could have otherwise been a dry textbook into an exciting learning experience. Needless to say, I highly recommend Publishing & Marketing Realities for the Emerging Author to everyone who wants to be published…The lifetime benefits as a writer that you’ll receive from this book far outweigh the small price you pay for it.” ~Rachel Brooks, Emerging Author (full review)

“Christine’s book offers a thorough, fresh, and honest look at both traditional and self publishing options. Reading it is like sitting down and having coffee with a good friend who’s in the know about the publishing industry.” ~Evelyn Lafont, author of The Vampire Relationship Guide, Volume One.

“Christine Rose’s book is mandatory reading for anyone who is thinking about writing a book, in process or has just completed one. As a successful, published author, Christine shares a treasure trove of information about marketing and publishing in a witty, concise manner. A mind-boggling world awaits. Let Christine’s guidance help you to get your work into the right hands.” ~ Caroline Kirby, emerging author.

“This should be required reading for emerging authors.” ~ TS Tate, freelance editor. “This is the one that will guide you through the jumble of today’s publishing options. Packed with practical information, the writing is fast-paced and to the point. No fluff, just facts. A must for every writers reference library. This author has experienced it all, and she graciously reviews the entire process enabling you to realize potential and practical options for your book. I bought the Kindle version and stayed up to read it. Couldn’t put this one down.” ~N. Bright via Amazon.com Reviews

Find more of my books, including the newly released Power of the Zephyr (Rowan of the Wood, Book 4) on Amazon and wherever books are sold!  

BONUS GIFTS: Every emerging author needs a smart phone! It is their on-the-go marketing tool. With apps to record ideas, read, scribble notes, socially network on so many platforms, and research virtually anywhere, anytime, a smart phone is A MUST! My personal recommendation: the iPhone4S or iPhone5, as you can utilize your personal assistant, Siri, and dictate ideas while you drive. Additionally, I would highly recommend a subscription to Pandora, as mentioned above, and to Amazon Prime. Every writer needs inspiration from time to time, and as Stephen King says in the book recommended above, writers should spend at least as much time reading as they do writing. By gifting them Amazon Prime, perhaps along with an eReader like the Kindle Paperwhite, your favorite writer will never be without a book to read. Prime members can borrow thousands upon thousands of books for FREE for two weeks, plus they get thousands of streaming Amazon Videos for free as well as free two-day shipping. Well worth the $79/year, which comes out to less than your monthly Netflix subscription. I put off getting this for years, and in two weeks it's already paid for itself. I LOVE IT!  

LASTLY: Remember, books (especially author-signed) always always always make great gifts for writers, so if I may be so bold, I'd love to recommend mine:

Throughout this week, you can buy the Yuletide 4-Book Package, which includes all four Rowan of the Wood books, author-signed and dedicated to your favorite reader, tied in a beautiful ribbon, and adorned with a handmade, calligraphy gift tag, and have it shipped directly to your door for only $60, including priority shipping! That's a savings of over $15, so it's like you're getting one of the books for free!

BUY NOW via PayPal & Credit Card payments

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 In addition to all this writerly goodness, please enjoy Chapter 1 of Rowan of the Wood via podcast as well as a short excerpt from Book 2, Witch on the Water. After a millennium of imprisonment in his magic wand, an ancient wizard possesses the young boy who released him. When danger is nigh, he emerges from the frightened child to set things right. Both he and the boy try to grasp what has happened to them only to discover a deeper problem. Somehow the wizard’s bride from the ancient past has survived and become something evil. Appropriate for all ages. Rowan of the Wood, Chapter 1
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Excerpt from Witch on the Water, Book 2

Max looked at the clock on the wall. 7:35. Time was crawling by. She checked the mirror again and touched up her lipstick. Why was she so nervous? It was only Ralph after all, the same sweet, clumsy guy she saw every day. She jumped at the knocking on the door. Wow. She really was nervous, but then she smiled. Ralph was early. He must be really anxious, too. She felt like a schoolgirl with a crush. “Who is it,” she said with a smile in her voice, knowing full-well who it was.

“Maddy and April,” a small voice said from the other side of the door.

Or she thought she had known. Max looked through the peep hole and saw the two young girls waiting there. She opened the door and asked, “What are you two doing here?”

“We wanted to wait with you until Cullen and Moody come back,” Maddy said as she and April let themselves in. They removed their coats and threw them on the sofa, plopping down beside them, synchronized.

Max had so effectively put Rowan out of her mind by focusing on the possibilities with Ralph, that she had forgotten about tonight. Sadness filled her. She was just deluding herself with Ralph. Her heart belonged to Rowan. He would be gone from this world tonight, and he would take her heart with him. Perhaps it wouldn’t work. Perhaps he’d still be here. Hope blossomed in her heart at this possibility of failure, and her hand went involuntarily to her chest.

“Hello?” Maddy said, jolting Max out of her daydream. “Anybody in there?”

“Sorry girls,” Max said as she closed the door. “You can’t wait here, though. They won’t be back for another four or five hours yet, and I—um—I have a date,” Max stammered with a little bit of embarrassed excitement.

“Oooooh!” the girls sang in stereo.

“Okay. Okay,” Max said feeling genuinely happy again.

“Who is it?” April asked.

“None of your business,” Max replied coyly.

“I bet it’s Mr. Grims,” said April playfully.

“It’s not Mr. Grims,” said Max flatly. “Anyway, Mr. Grims is married.”

“Well who is it then?” Maddy asked through a sly smile.

“C’mon Ms. MacFey. We won’t tell anyone. Promise!” April continued.

Even Maddy looked truly interested for a change.

“Well, if you promise you won’t tell,” Max said, playing their game. “It’s Mr. Ferguson.”

“Ew!” Maddy said, screwing up her face.

“I think he’s very nice,” April said. “Good for you, Ms. MacFey!”

“Yes, but you haven’t seen him,” Maddy said.

“Don’t be rude, Maddy. He is very nice, and there are more important things than looks. Besides, he’s not all that hard on the eyes, in a mature sort of way, something little girls wouldn’t understand,” Max said, crossing her arms playfully.

“No. I mean, he’s okay looking. But he’s so old!” Maddy said.

Max laughed out loud. “Yes. Well us old-fogies must stick together.”

“Can we have some hot chocolate? It’s cold out there,” Maddy said.

“I’ll get you each a quick to-go cup. He’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

“Ooooooh!” the girls sang again.

Max rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. They were so full of life. It was nice to have them around. Somehow their banter made her less nervous. She heated the water in the microwave and stirred the hot chocolate mix into two of her travel mugs. She could hear the two gossiping and giggling away in the next room. Kids were so very resilient. After everything that had happened last November and with the shooting today and what with Rowan leaving tonight, but there they were, acting as if they hadn't a care in the world. She smiled to herself, glad that she called Ralph. Maybe if things went really well... “It’s really hot, so don’t burn your tongues” she said to the girls as she returned to the living room, “and you can drink it on the way home.” She emphasized the word “home.”

“Oh, we don’t have to go home, we told our mothers that we were spending—”

“Yes, that you were spending the night at each other’s house. You’re going to get caught one day!” Max warned, and then playfully added, “Besides, as a member of the PTA it is my duty to—”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Maddy interrupted, sounding a little too grown-up for a thirteen-year-old. She helped April on with her coat and then put back on her own coat. They took their travel mugs and headed for the door.

“You can return my mugs tomorrow, girls. Get home safe,” Max said.

“Whatever,” Maddy said, but she was smiling, too.

Max closed the door behind them and watched them go down the stairs into the darkness. 7:50. Only ten more minutes. She checked the mirror and touched up her lipstick. A sudden uneasy feeling made her turn around just as the front door slammed shut. The same leather-clad vampire who had attacked her last November stood before her. She dropped her lipstick.

“Nice how invitations stand, no? What a pleasure to see you again,” James said.

 

Follow the rest of my 2012 Blog Tour via this link!

Book Review: Archive of Fire

 Archive of Fire, Sentinel Book One by Betsy Dornbausch is a dark urban fantasy. Twins Aidan and Kaelin have been trained by their mother to fight and kill since they were young kids. She has told them their father descended from the demon Asmodai. When the book starts, they are teenagers and nothing has ever happened. Until their mother disappears and they are kidnapped by their father. They reluctantly join their father and the Sentinel, a coalition of demidemon rebels who work to protect humans from demons.

The twins end up separated and unsure who to trust. They join with the demidemons to protect humankind, but that means trusting their father. And when their mother returns, they’re not sure they can trust her either.

Humans can’t detect the demons and demidemons, so they don’t see what goes on around them. The story is complicated, but woven well. The twins get separated and aren’t sure if either will survive.

I don’t know if this is classified as adult or YA, but either group could read it. There’s a lot of fighting and pain, and in places it was intense. On the other hand, it’s also a tale of two brothers finding their way in a world they didn’t know existed.

Amazon
Kindle
Nook

I give Archive of Fire by Betsy Dornbausch a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.

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FTC Disclaimer: I believe I downloaded this book for free. But getting it for free – or paying for it – does not influence my review. I had heard of demigods before, but had not heard of demidemons. But it makes sense that if there’s one there’s the other. Like, if there are shoes, there must be feet. If there are mothers, there must be children. If there are spelling bees, there must be bees. If there are dragonflies, there must be dragons. And if there are Demi Moores there probably are Demi Lesses.

Book Review: My Enchanted Life

My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno is a YA Fantasy. For Emma, the main character, it is a rite of passage. At 18 and barely out of high school, she receives a letter from a British solicitor notifying her that she has inherited a house in England. Since the notification also includes money to come see the house, she sets off on what she thinks will be a vacation before college.

It is anything but.

A taxi ride from the airport to the middle of nowhere is just the beginning of her enchanted life.

Laura Eno has the most vivid imagination and is a most adept teller of fantasy. My Enchanted Life moves quickly with twists and turns and wonderfully thought out characters, some deadly, some loveable. My Enchanted Life is not only a fantasy, it is in part, a love story. In the magical town, there are gnomes, dragons, Sentinels, and villagers, but it is a demon who captures her heart.

My Enchanted Life, like most books, presents the reader with a book question. In this case: Will Emma survive the new world she enters? But unlike other books, it also asks the question: Will she stay in the fantasy world or will she go home to the aunt and uncle who love her and raised her?

I would not be at all surprised to see Laura Eno write another book set in the magical community of Wode Gate. And I would not be surprised to find myself reading it.

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

I give My Enchanted Life a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.

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FTC Disclaimer: Laura Eno not only sent me My Enchanted Life, she signed it. That did not influence my review. It will, however, ultimately influence my library. My library is my office closet. The shelves are overflowing and beginning to sag from the weight. Books are stacked on the floor, both in the closet and my office. So, sadly, I set it on the donate stack in the corner of my office. When I went to write this review, I looked for the book … and finally found it on one of my autographed books shelf in the closet. Uh-huh, you read that right. Apparently, Emma’s life is not the only thing enchanted. Where do you think that book is now? Uh-huh. On the top autographed books shelf. Uh-huh. Mama didn’t raise no fool.

Book Review: City of Ashes

 Last month, I reviewed the first in the Immortal Instruments series, City of Bones. Today, I’m reviewing the second, called City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare.

Since this is a series, we’re back with the protagonist, Clary. She has some of the same cohorts, Simon, Jace, Luke, Magnus, plus some newer cohorts who play a bigger role than they did in the first book, Maia, Isabelle and Valentine.

Clary’s now a full-fledged demon-slayer. Her mother is in a magically-induced coma. Her father, Valentine, is intent on destroying the world, both the world you and I live in and the magical world. Clary’s in love with Jace, except she can’t be because he, it turns out, is her brother. Simon is in love with Clary, except, well, she’s not exactly human, except, well, there’s a big twist in the book, except, well, this is a paranormal/fantasy book so….

Anyway, everyone’s at war with someone. Valentine controls the demon world and will kill everyone, including family, if it means he gets his hands on the Immortal Instruments.

And there you go. City of Ashes has much more action than Book 1. It’s fast-moving with nary a dull moment. As with the first, it has a few too many characters to keep up with, but it was easier this time around since I knew the main players.

Clary has advanced in her skills as a Shadowhunter. I liked seeing her fight and stand toe-to-toe with the others. The alternate world that the faeries, vampires, werewolves, shadowhunters, and others live in is handled well in this book. I could see the differentiation and uniqueness of the various clans.

This book seemed to really focus on those main characters, instead of the “adults” in the two worlds.

The drawback for me was, as with Book 1, there’s so much going on that it’s a bit difficult to keep up. But then, I probably need to read more slowly. But that’s hard to do with the action is fast and often.

Amazon
 
Barnes & Noble

I admit that I’m well-past the target age of this series, which is probably around 16, but I’m still giving City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.

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FTC Disclaimer: This book was loaned to me by an unknown girl who is a friend of my son who read all four books, but was not overly impressed, but then he’s not a teenage girl, so that’s logical. That, however, did not influence my review. I was influenced by the uptick in the action from the first book, and by Clary getting her armor on. She’s now a fighter and can get in the fray with the rest of her friends and hold her own. I like that in a female protagonist. Next time I find a tarantula in the garage, I’m gonna see if she’ll come get it and set it free in the woods.

Book Review: Tempest Child

[For the sake of readability, I’m capitalizing the title of this book. In reality, it is all in lower case (tempest child).]

Tempest Child is the sixth book by Laura Eno. My guess is that the genre of this book is fantasy, but I would label it paranormal-romance-fantasy-kick butt. (Got your attention with the “kick butt,” didn’t I?)

Here’s the back cover blurb:

As future Queen and Guardian of the Elements, Princess Skylather’cha’eab thought her worst nightmare was the impending find-a-husband party until events take an ominous turn. Now she must put her life at risk to save her Kingdom.

Armed with only a staff, a bow, and her wits, Skyla’s world is turned upside-down when she enters the Crossroads and encounters the beast she’s destined to kill. Does she have the courage to sort truth from lie, or will she die not knowing who betrayed her?

Skyla is no shrinking violet. She’s been training all her life to fight for her kingdom. She’s been training to become Queen. At 17, she’s at the age when her father is about to marry her off. His idea of a husband is different from hers, but it’s not like she’s had time to find love on her own. All that goes by the wayside when the Kingdom is suddenly in danger and it’s up to Skyla to save it.

And that is where the kicking butt comes in.

It used to be that I read primarily mystery and thriller, not fantasy. Laura Eno has turned me into a fantasy reader. Her characters are multi-dimensional and different from each other (you won’t get them confused!) and her worlds are complex and well thought out. In Tempest Child there are five worlds, counting Skyla’s home. Each is totally different. Each is dangerous. Each could kill her.

I’ve read and reviewed two other books by Laura Eno: Don’t Fall Asleep and Prophecy Moon. I recommended both. And I recommend this one. I wouldn’t mind reading more adventures with Skyla.

Tempest Child - Amazon
Tempest Child - Barnes and Noble

I give Tempest Child by Laura Eno a rating of Hel-of-a-World because she’s created not one, but five, unique and interesting worlds.

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FTC Disclaimer: Tempest Child was sent to me by the author. This did not influence my review. I was influenced, though, by Eno’s mind. She takes us to five completely different worlds. To my way of thinking, creating one world would be difficult. Eno also created a perfectly imperfect character, who was not modeled after me. If she had been, Skyla would have missed her chance to go to the Crossroads because she would have been napping in her office. I mean … planning what weapons and supplies to take on the journey.

Author N.R. Williams

N.R. Williams, author of The Treasures of Carmelidrium, a high fantasy, is here today to talk about the term “world driven” and how it applies to fantasy. She’s stopping by Straight From Hel on her blog tour.

 N. R. Williams lives in Colorado, U.S.A. with her husband. She’s a long time member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and has attended conferences and workshops. She said that since her formative years, she’s been inventing fantastical stories and since she could spell she’s been writing them down. While she majored in art in college, she didn’t make a living at it. Now, she uses her skills of observation to create fantastical worlds, interesting characters and stories that touch the heart. She’s certainly done that in her book, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.

Welcome Nancy!

Character-Driven versus World-Driven

Thank you Helen for having me as your guest during my blog book tour for “The Treasures of Carmelidrium.” I appreciate it.

I’m going to start this post by flipping the title. What is “World-Driven?” Is that the same as “Plot-Driven?”

World-driven is a little different from plot-driven, but not by much.

Fantasy and Science Fiction are known for their worlds. I can name many, “Star Trek,” “Star Wars,” “Narnia,” “Harry Potter.” The list goes on. We traditionally think of these examples when we think about world building, or world driven. Things just wouldn’t be the same without “warp drive” in “Star Trek,” or “Darth Vador” in “Star Wars.” Excuse me a moment while I tell him to stop breathing down my neck. You naughty character you.

Another example is the one and only “Sherlock Holmes.” So you see world-driven is not just for fantasy or science fiction. A well written world will set the stage for our characters. But should it be the main focus? I don’t think so. If it is the main focus, then you have a writer caught up in, let’s say, the Elizabethan age, with endless descriptions of clothing, manners, and travel. These things are important, but not if the characters are buried in fabrics.

Character-driven. By the term, we already know, or hope, that the main characters are as three dimensional as possible. The writer has taken care not to use cookie cutter characters, each one a duplicate of earlier works. Our characters should be unique.

Let’s assume that strong willed and opinionated Elizabeth Bennett has somehow been transported onto the deck of the Enterprise. Does she belong there? Perhaps a similar character, but Capt. Prichard is not Mr. Darcy. So to build a character with Elizabeth’s strength is what the writer should study and implement. Now we have a woman who is capable of being the Captain of the Enterprise.

In my high (or epic) fantasy, “The Treasures of Carmelidrium,” Missie is a modern American. She reacts to her surroundings as a liberated woman. She can’t do otherwise, because she isn’t a meek person. Her counterpart, Prince Healden, (pronounced with a silent “a” like Hel-don) is well mannered, charismatic, and handsome. He is used to women falling all over him. Missie has ignored men in order to pursue her music career. She is stubborn, intelligent, beautiful, talented, and funny. Healden can’t get enough and doesn’t understand anything that motivates Missie. This is the underlying tension in my story while the main problem is defeating the villain and figuring out how to do that.

A good story will have the main plot, set in an interesting world, with additional twists and turns to help the characters develop and grow while searching for the answer to their journey. It’s up to the writer to craft the character’s struggle in a way that is thrilling and enjoyable to the reader.

Thank you Nancy!

Before you link away, leave a comment or question for Nancy. You can also leave your email to be entered in a drawing for a free e-book. She’s giving away a free e-book to three lucky commenters during her tour. You can enter multiple times by commenting here and on other blogs participating in the tour.

Book Review: Don’t Fall Asleep

Don’t Fall Asleep by Laura Eno is part of the Dream Assassin series starring Cassandra Dade.
<< In the 27th century, a psychic aberration has manifested in humanity, gifting a select few with the ability to weave dreams for others. They apply their addictive trade, calling themselves Dream Merchants.

Rarer still are those who can assassinate people while they dream…>>

In Don’t Fall Asleep, Cassandra has recently arrived on Altair IV. She is one of the dream assassins and she works and lives by her own code of ethics. She’s also rich, beautiful and running from her past. She decides to seek out a partner, one she can train and trust. In her line of work, she’ll need someone who has her back and will “stand between her and mental destruction.”

Altair IV is not a pretty planet. The common people live in horrible conditions in the underworld and buy dreams like drugs. The rich live above ground in their lofty bubbles and tourists visit the domes in-between.

Cassandra chooses Nathan, but he, like her, has secrets. She teaches him to assassinate without being detected. He teaches her to let loose and smile. The question is will either of them survive when they go after one of the most corrupt men on Altair IV.

There’s a lot of action in this book, as well as quiet moments of introspection. Neither Cassandra nor Nathan is portrayed as a super hero incapable of being hurt. Both have their demons to conquer, but they realize they have a better chance of surviving if they stick together.

I give Don’t Fall Asleep by Laura Eno a rating of Hel-of-a-Writer. This is the first book in the Dream Assassin series, but it’s not the first book I’ve read by Laura Eno. Once again, she has not disappointed.

Don’t Fall Asleep
ISBN 145385519X
EAN-13 9781453855195
Amazon
Kindle
Nook

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FTC Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author, but that did not influence my review. The author did not ask for a review, although she did, in her autograph, say, “Please enjoy!” I took that as encouragement, not a demand. And, no, I did not read this during jury duty. That would be a no-no and would get me kicked off. If I got caught. Which I didn’t. Besides, have you seen the cases they try in Federal Court? I bet the government has its own squad of dream assassins who come after people who hide books in their laps or listen to books on tape with a teeny ear plug. Not that I did that. I didn’t. Shoot. Now I’ve scared myself and won’t be able to sleep tonight.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Writers have many dreams. We dream of finding an agent, of selling our manuscript to a publisher, of holding our book in our hands, of seeing our books in a bookstore, of someone asking us to autograph a copy of our book, of a director buying the rights to our book, and on and on. Maybe that last one, having our book made into a movie or television show, should be put into the nightmare list.

Zip over and see the list of “Worst Television Versions of Science Fiction and Fantasy Books” – and the video clips to prove why each was included in the list. Here’s the winners … or losers in this case:
A Wrinkle in Time
The Martian Chronicles
Earthsea
Riverworld
Legend of the Seeker
Day of Triffids
Eastwick
FlashForward
Trucks!
The Andromeda Strain

Watch the videos and then tell us what you think about the list. Do you agree? Is there one that should have been on the list, but wasn’t?

Book Review: Prophecy Moon

 Prophecy Moon, by Laura Eno, is a fantasy. It has romance involved, but is a fantasy through and through. As far as I know, it is not a series, but it’s also not Eno’s first book. She’s also written: Realms of the Red Rabbit, Book 1, Realms of the Red Rabbit – Jake, Book 2, and Seducer of Her Dreams.

I tend to read a lot of mystery, suspense, and thrillers. Very little romance or fantasy. I really liked Prophecy Moon, though. It’s fast paced and will keep you reading, sort of a fantasy thriller.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Loner Travis O’Conner becomes the unwilling champion of a mysterious seer who plunges him into another dimension. His only guide – a deck of Tarot cards in her possession.

He falls in love with a woman who may not be his ally, while battling wizards intent on destroying him. Must Travis lose his love in order to save his world?

Travis goes off on a quest to save his world and meets a group on their own quest to right their world. Thrown into the strange dimension of wizards, he must adapt quickly and learn who to trust or die. He will also learn many things about himself and come to doubt his own world.

The characters were well developed, the action came fast, and the story kept me guessing as to what would happen next.

I give Prophecy Moon by Laura Eno a Hel-Yeah!

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FTC Disclaimer: This book was autographed and sent to me by the author, but that’s not why I’m recommending it, nor did it influence my review. Laura Eno is able to build a foreign world that feels real. In that respect, Prophecy Moon reminded me of Harry Potter. Both books took you into a strange world and let you see the world and the people so clearly that you believed. Prophecy Moon could be a tutorial for The Writer’s Journey, another book I’d recommend you read if you’re an author. Unlike Harry Potter, though, Eno’s book will not take you two weeks to read … nor 27 hours with no sleep if you’re a teenager … nor three months if you’re over 45.

Book Review: Sword and Sorceress XXIII

 This thirteenth issue of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s anthology Sword and Sorceress was edited by Elisabeth Waters. It is the first one I’ve read. Judging by this one, I’ve missed out on some great stories. Until I started blogging and met so many fantasy/magical arts writers, I rarely read books or stories in this genre. Marian Allen, one of the authors included in this anthology, generously sent me a copy of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Sword and Sorceress XXIII.

One thing I liked was that Elisabeth Waters, who edited the book, wrote a short introduction for each story. She’d tell a snippet about the story and/or the author, sometimes letting the reader know that the story character lives on in the author’s books.

Usually, I read novels, although I sometimes tackle nonfiction books about writing (primarily). This anthology was great fun. I could read a story in one sitting. When I picked up the book again, I didn’t have to try to remember what happened before since I would be starting a new, standalone story. A lot of the authors were returning and even told stories with characters who had appeared in earlier anthologies. Almost all are authors published in magazines, novels or other anthologies. Their experience in writing came through in these nineteen stories. I enjoyed them all.

Here’s part of the blurb on the back cover:

 Here are nineteen original stories of powerful women, swashbuckling and magic, spells and duels, arcane sorcery and heroic sacrifice, written by familiar spell-casters of wonder and bright newcomers who are sure to become favorites.

You don’t have to get the book because you love fantasy. Sword and Sorceress XXIII will make you a fan, plus introduce you to new authors to follow.

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FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by Marian Allen, one of the anthology’s authors, most likely in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review, although it did influence my attitude toward fantasy. Since Marian signed this copy, it’s going on my bookshelf, which, if my husband doesn’t find time to prop up, will soon crash to the floor since it’s already tilting that direction. It’s to the point that I’ve given up on alphabetizing the books. Now they’re just stacked or slipped into crevices in what used to be my closet library, but has now been taken over by my son’s clothes. Frankly, I think having an organized library is more important than my son having clothes. But I seem to be in the minority.

Abe Lincoln? Seriously?

I have not been hiding in a closet. No, really, I haven’t. And yet…I had not heard that a book called “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” had been published. Honest Abe slashing and killed vampires? Seriously?

Let’s not stop there, though. It’s now in line to be a movie.

Grahame-Smith, who combined zombies and Jane Austen in the best-selling novel "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," will write the screenplay.

Wondering how Hollywood heard about the new book? According to Reuters,

One of the factors that cemented the filmmakers' interest was a peek at an in-house trailer for the book.

Who are these filmmakers? Tim Burton (as in “Alice in Wonderland”) and director Timur Bekmambetov.

Here’s a synopsis of the movie:

"Lincoln" reimagines one of the great U.S. presidents as an axe-throwing, highly trained vampire assassin, promising to give new context to real historical events such as the Civil War and Lincoln's ascension to the White House. It begins with his mother's murder when he was still a young boy and his vow of revenge.

How about you? Sound like your kind of movie? Sound like a book you’ll want to read? Whether you’re interested or not, did you ping on that one quote that said the filmmakers’ interests were peeked by the book trailer?

What Would You Do?

If you read a book and really, really, don’t like it, what would you do? Review it anyway? Set it aside and move on to another book? Trash it?

If you’re Ashleigh Johnson who writes for the Daily Titan (Cal State Fullerton), you trash it. I don’t even have to officially name the book; I can just give you the title of her November 9th article: “Nerdgasm: Basking in the ‘Twilight’”

She gets down to business in her second sentence:

Allow me to rephrase my first sentence: I don’t hate everyone, only die-hard “Twilight” fans. You know, profoundly stupid people. I hate them. The end.

Of course, it’s not really the end of her review of the entire series.

No one knows for sure what happened on that fateful day – some say that a high-powered publisher’s black tar heroin bucket ran dry and he, knowing that teenage girls will read anything that involves angst and glitter, made an unholy pact with the elder gods (Oprah and a drug dealer with a heart of gold named Skidz) to bring the book into the public consciousness in exchange for another hit.

As you can see, she’s taking on everyone involved in publishing or promoting the series. Mostly, though, Johnson doesn’t like Meyer’s writing:

All of the characters are boring, whiny and one-dimensional, to the point where I wanted to pull a Meyer and create my own self-insert character who would then go all Rambo on their asses. Or at the very least, backhand them, I’m easy going like that.
Meyer doesn’t deserve her fame. The story she told (It’s not a saga, shut up before I smack you) is nothing special. Her writing style is sub-par at best. Her characters are unlikable twits.

Okay Johnson, quit dilly-dallying. What do you really think?

More important, though, what do YOU think? Could you write this kind of review? Have you? Have you ever thought about doing it?

Fairy Tales

A few years ago, wizards lit up the YA book world. Then came vampires who sucked up book sales. Now fairies are flittering into the bookstores.

If you write YA, you may already know about the fairy invasion. I don’t. And I didn’t.

According to The New York Times, “These aren’t gift-shop fairies. They’re capricious, twilight creatures that travel between the fairy realm and our own, meddling in human lives.”

The fairies seem to come with different powers, friends and aspirations.

In Cyn Balog’s “Fairy Tale,”a clairvoyant high school girl discovers that her perfect boyfriend is actually a changeling — a fairy child raised by unsuspecting humans. Malinda Lo’s somber and lovely “Ash” is a lesbian retelling of “Cinderella.”

In the majority of these fairy YA novels, the conundrum is a choice between an earthly and a fairy lover. There’s, of course, the usual teen angst over fitting in with the rest of the kids at school, only sometimes with a twist:

Laurel, in “Wings,” has the worst time with this because she discovers she’s not only a fairy but a plant.

Some of the books are apparently quick reads. Some are complex. At least one is getting attention from more than just the pre-teen and teen crowd.

Another much-admired writer in the fairy genre is Laini Taylor, whose fantasy collection “Lips Touch” is a nominee this year for a National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.