Today is the cover reveal for fellow Booktrope author Michael-Israel Jarvis’s new novel, ‘Gravedigger’. Here it is. Enjoy!
Dead or alive. Good or evil. Hero or fugitive.
Valo needs a specific solution to a grave problem. The human Claimfold and prigon Torzsi draw apart. War is promised in the West. Worst of all, the magi of Nagyevo are meddling with the dead.
Perin is an apprentice Gravedigger: uneducated, unwanted, unsure. He may be the answer Valo needs, if he doesn’t get killed before he works out what’s going on. But of course there’s the chance that fate hasn’t called him after all. The gods are nameless and silent and the best laid plans have a way of going badly wrong.
Enter the spade and sorcery world of Valo.
Gravedigger subverts the expectations of that oldest of foes in fantasy, the dead that walk, in a fast-paced adventure through a world of culture, intrigue, magic and blood.
This stunning cover was designed by none other than Amalia Chitulescu who I am delighted to announce is also designing the beautiful new cover for my upcoming re-release ‘The Phoenix Project’.
Yesterday, I downloaded the book ‘Writestorm’ by Andy Mengel and I read it cover to cover in one sitting.
I was so inspired.
Andy’s experiences with writing his early books were exactly the same way I wrote The Phoenix Project. It took me ten years and I would write huge amounts one day, then literally leave it for five or six months, doing nothing at all. My next book, A Chronicle of Chaos, only took 3 years, and my latest – The Shield of Soren, 1.5 years. So it’s getting better.
But since Andy introduced the concept of Writestorm into our group, my whole writing ethic has been completely transformed. In two months I have written 30,000+ words – all entirely through Writestorm sessions.
Something he talks about in the book really resonated with me. I want to be a doer now, not just a dreamer. I’m ready to stop this being a little hobby and make it into a proper career now.
If you haven’t read Writestorm yet – do it. NOW. I promise it will revolutionise the way you look at writing a novel.
Today is the day of the official release party for one of the best creepy horror stories I have ever read. In Shadows Waiting had me jumping at every noise, but it isn’t just a mindless horror. It is a touching and fantastically well-written tale of love and loss too. So, here it is – the Booktrope re-release of In Shadows Waiting!
Young Simon Reynolds lives a bucolic life at his family home, White Pastures, surrounded by a loving family and a charming community. Simon finishes his A levels and looks forward to unwinding while his sisters work on their tans. Meanwhile the tiny community of Meriton has been plagued by a spate of burglaries, and White Pastures seems to be next. A shadowy figure stalks the house, but the police can find no signs of an intruder. Inspired by the author’s real-life experience with the supernatural, In Shadows Waiting recounts a summer that changes the Reynolds’ lives forever. As the summer progresses, the shadows take on an altogether more sinister implication, and White Pastures begins to reveal a terrifying secret. The epicentre of an event that has scarred an entire community, White Pastures grows more and more dark, possessed by a shadow that yearns, a shadow that will not be denied. At White Pastures, someone will die – but love never will.
This is my favourite excerpt:
The creature’s triumphant laugh was something that would be with me until my dying day. And something I never wanted to hear again.
It was the strongest memory to stir as I looked at the photo whose colours had dimmed with age. Thirty-two years ago it was vibrant and full of life. Just like the faces staring back at me from the time before shadows. From the time before torment. From the time when we were happy.
It all reminded me of when the world was young and innocent—hell, when I was young and innocent. My two daughters both started sleeping with their boyfriends as soon as they turned sixteen, probably before then if the truth were told. If they had, it was something both they and my wife kept from me. But it was a different era when my sisters were that age. Helen and her Mark. Sarah and the succession of boyfriends she brought to our home, White Pastures.
I rarely smile now. Even after thirty-two years, the memories are painful. Fifty now. A half century. I was eighteen then. Yet in some ways it still seems like only yesterday.
Time plays tricks.
A tear rolls down my cheek.
Here is my review of In Shadows Waiting:
As an avid fan of Stewart Bint’s work I knew I was going to love his latest release, but I wasn’t prepared for how much it would suck me into the story! I read this book in mere days because the writing was so good I couldn’t put it down.
The book follows Simon, a young man barely out of college, and his family. They are an ordinary family with an ordinary life, until they begin to see flashes of movement and shadows passing the windows. Simon begins to feel a dark and mysterious presence in his house as an unwelcome presence manifests. The haunting begins as merely mischievous, but rapidly escalates into menacing, and eventually downright terrifying. This malicious spectre is no longer content to remain in shadows waiting…
I was dragged along by this book, desperate to read each page, and my mind worked furiously, trying to pull together the clues and threads that ran throughout. I love a good creepy horror story and this one had me jumping at every noise and shadow. A thoroughly enjoyable read and another triumph for Mr Bint’s literary career.
I am delighted to be hosting the fabulous Kelly Hall as part of her book tour for the release of ‘The Secret of Strange Waters’. Kelly is here today to talk about her top ten young adult paranormal books:
Hi I’m Kelly Hall, author of The Light Keeper Series. When I’m not writing I’m busy reading. I love going on a journey in the pages of someone else’s mind, and this is a list of my top ten favorite YA paranormal book series and why I love them!
The Mortal Instruments- Cassandra Clare – This series is my absolute favorite of all time and I read it at least once a year, including the infernal devices because, well, it’s that good. I am also super happy that ABC family is going to release the TV show, Shadowhunters, in 2016! I can’t wait!
The Morganville Vampires- Rachel Caine- I just love Shane Collins so much and I adore this series. This is one that I read over again as well! It needs a TV Series too. I do hope the web series continues on Geek and Sundry.
The Infernal Devices- Cassandra Clare- This series is so much fun and I love learning more about my favorite characters from The Mortal Instruments. I can’t get enough Shadowhunters.
Bloodlines- Richelle Mead- I know that technically I should be naming this series AFTER Vampire Academy, but I kind of liked it more and I will admit that is probably because it has more Adrian. All books need more Adrian.
Vampire Academy- Richelle Mead- This series was so good I have read it a few times too. I even loaned out a copy of the last book and then never got it back, so I had to go out and buy it again because I refuse to not have the complete set. I also learned a valuable lesson about loaning my babies out!
Vampire Diaries- L.J. Smith- I honestly love many of L.J.’s early books, but this one is my favorite and mostly because of Damon and Bonnie! How cute are they? If you haven’t read the books and only watched the show I encourage you to read them. It’s a whole different experience.
Sweep- Cate Tiernan- This series was so good that— as I would finish one book, I’d go to the book store and buy the next. I read them so fast that after the third trip in my husband said to just start buying them two at a time. It helped a little. Instead of going every day, we went every other day. I devoured this fifteen book series!
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children- Ransom Riggs – Aside from the awesome photos, this book is full of interesting characters that come together for a great tale.
Evernight- Claudia Gray- I really enjoyed this series and its take on vampires. I love Balthazar and the fact that Gray used the name Balthazar. He’s a great character and I loved his book too.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth- Carrie Ryan- I found this book at my local library at a time where I had hit a reading slump. I just didn’t feel like reading and so I didn’t want to buy a book series and then not read it, so I found this and told myself I was going to try to read, thinking I would just read a bit and put it down, but I couldn’t. I read it all night then went back for the others the next day. It’s really a creepy fun story and it takes you through all of your emotions. Plus, all the books in this series have really awesome names. I’ve now added it to my personal library.
On top of that, take a look at these gorgeous character profiles from ‘The Secret of Strange Waters’. (I LOVE Talon!)
One of my favourite authors, the fantastic Stewart Bint, will be releasing his new horror novel very soon. Here it is, the brand new cover for ‘In Shadows Waiting’:
Young Simon Reynolds lives a bucolic life at his family home, White Pastures, surrounded by a loving family and a charming community. Simon finishes his A levels and looks forward to unwinding while his sisters work on their tans.
Meanwhile the tiny community of Meriton has been plagued by a spate of burglaries, and White Pastures seems to be next. A shadowy figure stalks the house, but the police can find no signs of an intruder.
Inspired by the author’s real-life experience with the supernatural, In Shadows Waiting recounts a summer that changes the Reynolds’ lives forever. As the summer progresses, the shadows take on an altogether more sinister implication, and White Pastures begins to reveal a terrifying secret.
The epicenter of an event that has scarred an entire community, White Pastures grows more and more dark, possessed by a shadow that yearns, a shadow that will not be denied. At White Pastures, someone will die – but love never will.
I’m feeling very proud of myself today as my fantasy novel ‘A Chronicle of Chaos’ came 3rd in the Fantasy category of the SpaSpa 2014 book awards!
This is the first time I had ever been entered into a competition such as this and for a first effort, I don’t think third is a bad result! Hopefully next year I can push for a first 🙂
Both of my novels have been long listed in the SpaSpa Book Awards 2014 competition!
The Phoenix Project is running in the Psychological Fiction category and A Chronicle of Chaos is running for the Fantasy prize. How exciting! Finger crossed 🙂
One of my current projects is a children’s version of my upcoming novel ‘The Shield of Soren’. This book is one of the tales in the Light and Shadow Chronicles series and the protagonist is a mischievous 10-year-old boy – Soren Nitaya. Due to this, I decided to have a separate edition of the story aimed at children aged 9-12. This book is entitled simply ‘Soren’ and is written under the name ‘Danielle Cain.’
As a primary school teacher, I am lucky enough to have a wonderfully creative and engaged class of children right under my nose! I am currently trialling the book with my class and we are three quarters through. The children do not know that I wrote the book as I wanted their honest feedback and didn’t want them to suck up to teacher!
Well, the feedback from the kids so far has been AMAZING! They absolutely LOVE the story and are thoroughly engaged with the characters. Some comments so far include:
I love the way that Danielle Cain describes things. It makes you feel like you are there in the book.
The book is so good because when the characters are sad, I feel sad too, and when they are happy, it makes me feel happy.
It is the funniest and saddest book I’ve ever read at the same time!
I asked them to rank the class books we have read over the past two years and, aside from one or two die-hard Collins fans, this was the unanimous result:
Soren
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
The BFG by Roald Dahl
So, as you can imagine, there is a huge grin on my face right now! I’ve even had some of the children writing letters to the author to ask questions and tell her how much they are enjoying it! I cannot wait for the day when we finish the book and I tell them the truth.
I have been editing as I go along, making changes here and there, listening to their comments, adding more of the characters they love, cutting short the parts that drag, and all of this is down to the children and their comments. When the book is finally ready, I plan to give each child a free copy so they can see the dedication in the front to all of them. I feel so lucky to have this amazing opportunity to test-run a book. It is perfect market research right at my fingertips!
On top of all of this, my headteacher and another local head (who is very influential in the area) are very enthusiastic about my writing and thrilled about the prospect of having a children’s author working in their school. I have completed all sorts of lessons and activities based around the book, and so I have decided to put all of my plans and resources together and release a teacher’s guide and lesson pack to go with the book. I can then sell this to schools and teachers!
I am really hoping this will be a huge opportunity for me and who knows, maybe I’ll even get one of the big kids’ publishers interested. It’s all taking off!
Here are some examples of the children’s work based around Soren:
Who would you rather find in your bedroom, a steamy hose-wielding fireman or a dangerously obsessed ex-boyfriend? What if you found both? Romance writer Allison Fairchild is growing frustrated with her first attempt at Erotica until she reads a well-timed magazine article. What working man makes the best lover? The article sparks an idea and her eyes are irresistibly drawn to the top-ranked firemen just across the street. It might be coincidence or driven by fate but it is all the motivation she needs.
Ali has herself assigned to a firehouse and is committed to doing her job; getting incredible sex stories from actual firefighters and, in the process, try not to become one. At least that’s her intention until she meets the Captain, a by-the-rules professional with an enticing off-duty wild streak. Ali and the Captain put their wills to the test to resist the chemistry heating up between them. But unbeknownst to Ali, her cheating ex-boyfriend has set his eyes upon her again and if he can’t have her, no one can.
Author Bio
Erotic and Horror author, S.E.Rise attended Austin Peay University on a track scholarship. Later in life, he became a Captain of an ALS Ambulance in 1996. On his off time, he enjoys salmon fishing and strives to do the impossible. He now lives in Alaska with his wife and children but in 2007, he published his first novel and continues to write gripping and enticing stories which leave readers breathless.
A few weeks ago I organised and took part in a huge worldwide author event on Facebook called Get Down with the #Awethors. Another author named Rocky Rochford and myself put the event together, including cover wars, tag-line competition, character takeovers and just general discussions about books and reading. It was an enormous success and I was proud to have been involved with it because, all the events aside, the people who came along on the day were simply amazing. They talked, joked, laughed, supported one another and generally showed themselves to be a lovely bunch!
Being an author is not always easy. There are low days, very low days, and sometimes it’s all you can do not to give up. There are negative reviews, tough deadlines, harsh editors and that’s all the external pressures. I won’t even start on the crippling self-doubts and neuroticism many writers suffer from.
This group, however, has reassured me on numerous occasions that I can succeed and that I am far from alone on this difficult journey. I feel like I have a hefty fellowship alongside me on my descent into the depths of Mordor.
Since the event, the discussions have continued. We’ve had word count competitions, post tag games, and every time somebody posts a snippet of their writing asking for feedback, they can be sure to get lots of support and valuable advice.
To top all of this off, Rocky Rochford had the fantastic idea of putting together an anthology of short stories by all of our awesome authors. This anthology is due for release around October 12th 2015 and will be an eclectic collection of all different genres and writing styles.
October will also see our next big Facebook event, which is sure to be even bigger and better than the first one. Hope to see you there!
Immersive fantasy fiction 