Interview with Author Michael Chukwudi

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

Michael Chukwudi: I graduated with a First Class (Honours) Bachelor's degree from the department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. I had my National Youth Service Corps in the department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State. I’m a member of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Ebonyi State Chapter. My writing includes poems, fictions, essays, research writng and short stories. I’ve published in Water Anthology India, 2020 Mahmag Plague Anthology, FCMB Flexx Zone website, Best African New Poets, Zimbabwe and African Brave Voices Poetry Journal 60. I’m a writer who sees things as they happen in the society and writes them.

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Michael Chukwudi: I have read a lot of books but these two books really shaped my creativity; 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe and 'The Princess' by Jean Sasson.

Alexis: Things Fall Apart is a really powerful book!

Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)

 Michael Chukwudi: My favourite character is 'Ikechukwu.' He is the protagonist in the book 'Undeserved.' The things I liked about him is his tenacity, patience and perseverance. He believed there's a god called 'Chi' who blesses one at the appointed time. And do you know what, most of those attributes he exuded are my real life qualities. 

What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?

Michael Chukwudi: The pandemic really affected everyone but I know it's just a temporal challenge that's already disappearing. The popular misnomer is 'writers are easily depressed' and in return they commit suicide. To be stress-free, I have been writing, reading, watching movies and exercising. And that keeps me busy. I'd recommend that everyone should observe the pandemic rules and do what he/she loves doing and avoid stress which leads to depression...

What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Michael Chukwudi: I love adventure. If I have the opportunity to travel to every part of the world, I'd gladly do that. As a writer, I love cultural diversity. It helps me know about people and their cultural heritage.

Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).

Michael Chukwudi: The mystery in a place I have temporarily visited is that of the two rivers. I used this river in the creation of the story 'Undeserved.' However, there is a little bit of fictional elements included. The two rivers bore different colours at the confluence and people in this society believed the rivers are quarrelling. According to tales, the two rivers hardly stay in one container; in an attempt to mix them, the container shatters.

Cover of Undeserved by Michael Chukwudi!

What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?

Michael Chukwudi: I watch movies inclined with Sciences. Do not forget, I'm a scientist. Though due to the nature of my storyline (Historical fiction) I watch a lot of African movies. It helps me learn about Africa and her people. I'm an African anyway and I write African Literature. 

What’s your favorite animal?

Michael Chukwudi: My favourite animal would be the Eagle. I love soaring so high like this animal.

Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now?

Michael Chukwudi: I hardly play video games but when I do, it'd be 'Firewatch.' Oh yes, the Firewatch influenced my writing because I learnt how to keep suspense which will make the reader stick to the end.

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?

Michael Chukwudi: My advice is this 'No writer writes in a vacuum.' Read, read and read to see how words are woven. A good writer is a good reader. Implore tenacity, patience and perseverance just the way Ikechukwu did in the novel 'Undeserved.'

Alexis: That’s always some of the best advice! Books are food for your soul and your creativity.

How do you choose what books you want to read?

Michael Chukwudi: When I enter a bookshop or the library, the first thing that attracts me is the cover page, then the title and the author's bio. I do not believe in the popular saying 'do not judge a book by its cover.' What appeals to the eyes is also good for the mind. The eyes first...

Do you like Greek/Roman/Norse/Asian/African mythology or folklore? What’s your favorite myth?

Michael Chukwudi: I said it before that I love diversity, I read everything but when it comes to writing, I write African. In that case, African Myth is my favourite.

If you write sci-fi, what technology or innovations or scientific discoveries have inspired your work?

Michael Chukwudi: The first book I wrote 'The Road to Discovery' is all about scientific discovery. Though, yet to be published. The Ebola virus saga was the inspiration behind the piece.

Picture of Author Michael Chukwudi!

Find Out More About Michael Chukwudi!

Book: Undeserved

Website: www.zumapublishing.com

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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Interview with Fantasy Writer Katie Zaber, Author of Ashes and Blood

Check out my next author interview with Katie Zaber! Her book Ashes and Blood is free this weekend!

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

Katie Zaber: I’ve always been creative, but never took up writing until I was recovering from surgery, was on a lot of meds, and let my imagination loose. Once off the meds and healed, I edited the story, building and rearranging, working through drafts until I was happy.

Alexis: Interesting! One of my story ideas actually came to me while I was in the hospital recovering from a C-section. I think something about the enforced rest and boredom does kind of inspire you (not to mention the morphine).

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Katie Zaber: There are a few books and authors that really influence my writing. I’d say J.R.R. Tolkien’s use

of description in fantasy, Margaret Atwood’s style, and Chuck Palahniuk’s obscurity influence

me the most. However, I’d like to think I’ve absorbed a little bit from every book I’ve read.

Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them?

Katie Zaber: I love Kilyn. She is a preteen Fae slave who was sold by her parents because she has bad blood and was born with no magical gifts. She’s spunky and fearless, using her wits and resources to

survive. I just might write a spinoff series with her...

What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?

Katie Zaber: Put down the phone. Stop panic scrolling and get your mind out of the daily insanity. Every time you have the impulse to scroll, pick up a book, start a new interesting show, learn something

new, or start a new hobby. I’ve been trying to keep my screen time on my phone to less than an

hour (with the exception of work and reading). That has helped relieve the stress and stop

wasting time.

Alexis: So true! I’ve had to delete Facebook off my phone or disable it to keep from spending too much time distracted. Now if I go on my phone, I try to at least do something worthwhile, like trying to learn Spanish on DuoLingo.

Cover of Below Dark Waters by Katie Zaber

What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Katie Zaber: I love baking delicious desserts and breads, almost as much as I love to eat them. I spend hours in the kitchen, blasting music, sipping sweet wine with flour up to my elbows. When not in the

kitchen, I’m reading a book or trying to find something to find on TV. If the weather is nice, I’m

visiting my hometown and going to the beach or heading to Six Flags Great Adventure to scream

and people watch for the afternoon.

Alexis: I love baking too! I’m a huge fan of the Great British Baking Show, so I’m always trying recipes from the show! BTW, Paul Hollywood’s chocolate babka is incredible.

Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).

Katie Zaber: I grew up on the coast in South New Jersey. My town bordered on the New Jersey Pine Barrens, home to the New Jersey Devil. I can remember going to Wells Mills Park, a few miles away

from my elementary school, to go on a field trip and read about the Devil’s notorious birth and

how he still haunts the woods. He is even rumored to make appearances at kid’s birthday parties.

What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?

Katie Zaber: Anything fantasy or sci-fi, I like action too. Right now I’m excited for Hand Maid’s Tale.

Anything with powers, magic, robots, alternate universes, otherworlds, outer space, anything that

isn’t reality is something I’d watch.

What’s your favorite animal?

Katie Zaber: Can I pick a dinosaur? Ankylosaurus. The ones with a club tail that they would use to whack

predators and their backs had bone plates and horns. They were so cool looking. When I was a

kid, I really wanted Jurassic Park to be real life.

Alexis: You can totally pick a dinosaur, and Ankylosaurus is awesome!

Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now? Has a video game

ever influenced you as a writer?

Katie Zaber: YES! Jumping into another world and exploring is so much fun!!! Right now I’m playing

through all the Assassins’ Creed games.

Do you like playing board games or role playing games like D&D? If so, which games do you like best?

Katie Zaber: I like to play chess and card games.

Do you have pet(s)? If so, share a picture of your pet!

Katie Zaber: Yes, I have a ball python named Wrathy. He is the best.

Katie Zaber’s snake, Wrathy!

How do you choose what books you want to read?

Katie Zaber: The cover has to grab me. It has to make me ask questions or want to know more. If the blurb is amazing, I’m sold.

Do you like Greek/Roman/Norse/Asian/African mythology or folklore? What’s your favorite

myth?

Katie Zaber: I like myths and folklore, and read more Celtic folklore, but don’t have a favorite.

You can travel the same path countless times, but it can sometimes lead to another realm.

Cover of Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber

Ashes and Blood

A mystical tree captures the attention of Megan and her friends, morphing the surrounding environment, transferring them to an exotic planet with bloodthirsty creatures. Saved from the deadly beasts by hunters, Megan finds herself stuck in a rural town still maimed by the plague. A chance encounter with a familiar face gives Megan and her friends some security during their adjustment to this new world. While settling into promising lives, they are attacked and stalked by planet Dalya’s humanoid inhabitants, who focus solely on Megan. 

One dark night, after a magical attack, the Fae King’s knight is sent to fetch Megan for a reason she can’t possibly guess. When she wakes up a prisoner, she learns that there is much more to this strange place, and it is oddly more like home than she ever would have expected. 

The more Megan learns about the strange world of Dalya, the more she realizes that finding a way home is insignificant compared to everything else at stake.

More about Katie Zaber

Katie Zaber knows the best way to decide who is cooking dinner is with a Nerf gun fight in the living room. Her boyfriend is an exceptional cook. When she isn’t baking, reading, or going to wine tastings, she’s busy planning her next trip to Six Flags Great Adventure or Long Beach Island, New Jersey. As a child, her mother would read stories about Atlantis and other fictional places that she dreamed of exploring, fueling her love of history, adventure, and fantasy. These days, she finds herself captivated by her many projects and enjoys quiet nights at home.

Books: Ashes and Blood and Below Dark Waters

Website: https://zaberbooks.com/

Social Media: Goodreads, Bookbub, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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Fantasy in a Time of Crisis: Guest Post by Suzanna J. Linton

I left Twitter earlier this year but before I did, I noticed many writers talking about using their writing as a form of activism. This isn’t exactly a new concept. Many novels have been written in reaction to the times in which writers find themselves. Neither is this a bad thing. The written word can bring a society to its knees, not because there’s actual magic there but because of the force of the ideas contained therein.

Fantasy makes a good vehicle for activist writing because of its flexibility and the broadness of its audience. Some of the highest grossing films right now are some form of fantasy or science fiction. However, in times where it seems like a new crisis emerges every other day and you’re the living manifestation of that meme of the dog in the burning room (“This is fine.”), is there still a place for fantasy whose goal is not activism?

This question reminds me of an interview involving Brie Larson and Jeremy Renner, who were promoting Avengers: Endgame. The interviewer asked, essentially, if they felt any responsibility as actors. Larson responded that she definitely saw her acting as a platform to spread her ideals. Renner, on the other hand, responded that there was nothing better than seeing the joy on children’s faces. Both responses were perfectly valid. As actors, they do have the ability to reach a wide audience and influence people. Whether they do or not is up to them and it’s a very personal choice that relates to their overall goal as an actor.

For writers, it’s no different. We could go into writing a novel with a specific message or theme in mind. We could build a fantasy world so that we can examine a value or belief we hold dear. In fact, I wrote the novel Clara to answer a highly personal question. When I couldn’t answer my question, I continued the series. In a way, the series Stories of Lorst is a manifestation of an ongoing conversation I’m having with myself about fate and knowledge of the future. It’s not activism but it is writing for a specific end.

Cover of Clara by Suzanna J. Linton

However, maybe someone else is having the same conversation with themselves. Or, perhaps they see another theme or value in my series my subconscious placed there but which calls to the reader. Or, maybe they enjoy being sucked into another world, one that does catch on fire but the good guys ride in to put out the flames. 

Writing a novel where good triumphs over evil is valid. We need hope in a world that seems a mess, where everything is complicated and simply going to the store feels like a colossal quest full of dangers of one sort or another. 

Writing a novel where questions are posed and values are examined is valid. We need honest conversation and thought in a world full of people screaming at each other and no one listening.

Writing a novel where the greatest goal is entertainment is valid. Sometimes, we just need to slip into a different world where everything has to make sense.

Using writing as a platform for activism is a perfectly valid reason to be a writer. But it is still perfectly valid to write if all you want to see is the joy on people’s faces when they pick up your book. Whether you do or don’t depends on your goal as a writer and your choice is not one for which you should be ashamed.

Picture of Author Suzanna J. Linton!

More about Suzanna J. Linton

Website: https://suzannalinton.com/

Social Media: Goodreads, Instagram, and Books2Read

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Guest Post by Wendy L. Anderson, Author of Ulrik

Hello, I’m Wendy L. Anderson. I am a fantasy author! I will also reveal that my fantasy writing has a bit of romance thrown in. There is action, adventure, magic, danger, and intrigue in all of my books. 

My first foray into the world of writing was my five book Kingdom of Jior epic fantasy series. I have created an entire world full of fantastic and noble beings and it all begins with book one Of Demon Kind. Most of my reviewers have found this book series surprises them with its uniqueness.

One thing I love about writing fantasy is world creating. Would it be bad of me to admit that I love to escape into the worlds I make up rather than face the one I’m in?

I am a pantser which means I write by the seat of my pants and do not use a formal outline, process, or formula to write. I just sit down and start typing an idea I have or a scene that pops into my head and I just go from there. I also use many themes in my writing because they are my favorite things and places and they just happen. Being born in Colorado, it should not come as a surprise, that I love the mountains. I also love winter, forests, waterfalls, hot springs, crystals and jewels, prisms, and anything medieval. Knights, chivalry, swords, and honorable quests inspire me to write these fantasy adventures. Those favorites appear often in many of my stories, but I am always pushing the boundaries and I do try to expand my writing horizons.

In addition to my five book fantasy series, I have written a stand-alone Viking story titled, A Cut Twice as Deep. This is a beautiful tale I saw in a dream and is about twin sisters who only have each other in a world where women are not particularly valued. They have grown up serving their tyrant of a father when suddenly they find out that they have been given in marriage to the highest bidders. Forced to separate and travel great distances they are parted so that their father may increase his wealth and power. This story has everything danger, intrigue, and romance, and did I mention Vikings? I test the waters of historical fiction with my special brand of fantasy thrown in. A Cut Twice as Deep is an emotional tale of sisterly bonds and finding love in a land where blood and ice reign.

I once read, and perhaps you have heard the saying, that a true writer needs to write it is in their nature just like a painter needs to paint or a sculptor needs to sculpt. That is me. When it comes to writing, I live by Winston Churchill’s wise words, “Never, never, never, never give up.”

 I hope you have enjoyed this ramble. You can learn more about my books and my writing on my website www.wendylanderson.com. Be sure to subscribe and feel free to contact me about anything you’d like to know about me and my fantasy writing.

Until then… Enjoy the fantasy!

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Death was the beginning of their adventure.

Drowning when his ship went down in a vicious storm, Ulrik the Viking thought it was the end. Instead, he awakens on a new and brutal Earth. Believing he was banished to this strange land by the gods as punishment, he faces the mountainous wilderness alone.

Tessa, a lonely and broken-hearted woman, dies in her sleep on her 85th birthday. She too awakens surrounded by the frightful and the unknown. Both are mysteriously thrown into new bodies facing new lives, new hopes, new dangers, and new desires.

Cast through time and other dimensions, fate has given Ulrik and Tessa a second chance at life and love. They must survive in a ruthless new world against a brutal warrior race determined to use them to conquer extinction and enter into the age of metal.  All that stands against them is ULRIK.

Book Cover: Ulrik by Wendy L. Anderson

Excerpt

Ulrik sat on the bank of a cool stream that ran down the mountain where he usually hunted. He watched as the water trickled over smooth rocks and sprayed the moss-lined bank. Down the mountainside, the stream narrowed and was eventually joined by another river, widening to become a rushing, roaring froth of cold, crystal blue water flowing swiftly over rapids. His gaze followed the stream as it meandered off into the distance and gently widened into a deep slow-moving river. He listened to the different sounds the water made. The roar, as it cascaded down the waterfall further uphill, to the trickle of the stream over moss-covered rocks, and finally the faint pounding of distant rapids. The forest was raucous with sound and full of breath-taking sights.

The forest’s majesty was lost on him today. Ulrik was bored. He reached for a stone and tossed it into the stream then stood, grabbed his spear, and walked up the hill toward the lake at the bottom of the waterfall. He decided he had better find something for his supper and thought fish sounded as good as anything else.

Memories swamped him as he recalled all the times he had fished with his brothers as a young man. Those thoughts led him to contemplate, for the hundred thousandth time, his current solitary situation. By his count, it had been around two years that he lived alone in these mountains in this strange place. Being banished by the Gods he knew, enraged him and his loneliness made him feel like less of a man. Two years without speaking to another soul or without seeing another human’s face made him angry. He cursed, kicking at a stone in his path. The stone shot forward, struck a tree, and fell uselessly to the ground.

“By Odin and all the gods! I wish I had a woman!”

He cursed out loud and continued stomping up the path until he came to his usual fishing spot at the lakeside. He hefted his spear and waded into the lake, not even bothering to remove his boots.

The warm spring wind blew across his face. As he had a hundred times before, Ulrik stood still, slowed his breathing, and searched the deep emerald depths for the flicker of a silvery tail. Quick as lightning he stabbed down and, wrenching his arm back, pulled an impaled fish out of the water. He grasped the wriggling tail, pulled it from the spear blade, and threw it to the bank of the lake where it flopped, struggling to breathe as its life leached away.

Wendy L. Anderson, author of Ulrik

About the Author

Wendy L. Anderson is a Colorado native and mother of two boys. She has an English Degree from Regis University and writes books, short stories and poetry. Wendy is a devout reader of the classics, fantasy, sci-fi and historical fiction. She has decided it is time to write down the fantasies from her own mind. Writing about everything from fantastical worlds to the stuff of her dreams she takes her stories along interesting paths while portraying characters and worlds she sees in her mind’s eye. Her goal is to deviate from common themes, write in original directions and transport her reader to the worlds of her creation.

Website: https://www.wendylanderson.com/

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads

Win a free copy of Ulrik here!

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Review: A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry

It must have been fate, or perhaps intuition. Only a couple of days before the winter storm that would pretty much disable most of Texas and keep me from 1. leaving home and 2. using the internet very much, I happened to see a copy of H.G. Parry’s A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians in Barnes and Noble. I already had a couple of other books I was reading. I had a full nightstand of books I was intending to read. And I rarely buy thick, heavy books at full price from B&N (and this book is very thick and heavy). But this time, for whatever reason, I took a chance. I thought it had an intriguing premise, and I liked the cover. I also love history and fantasy, and this book seemed to be full of both of those things.

I’m glad I did. While we were lucky enough not to lose power during the winter storm (we live close to a hospital, so I think they spared our section of the grid from the rolling blackouts), we didn’t really have much internet connection, and I tried to keep TV watching to a minimum to keep from using too much electricity. So I ended up spending a lot of time reading. I finished the two books I’d been working my way through (reviews of those to come), and started on this hefty books I bought on a whim. It sucked me in from the very first pages.

Cover of A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians

I will warn you, the book contains some very graphic and intense descriptions of violent and horrifying historical events, from the infamous Middle Passage that brought slaves to the West Indies to the horrifying violence of the Reign of Terror in France. Some of the reading is gut-churning, but the story, and the amazing characters, make it all worthwhile in the end. Speaking of characters, H.G. Parry manages to capture and humanize some of history’s most notorious figures, in particular Robespierre. As someone fascinated by the French Revolution, I’d always imagined him as a sociopath who took advantage of the Revolution to indulge a taste for violence. Yet, Parry’s depiction, of an ultimately tragic character who desperately wanted to bring freedom and equality to France, feels heartbreakingly true.

I also loved her depiction of Fina, a slave girl who ultimately escapes and joins the resistance. I liked that Fina was so human and honest. She was vulnerable and sometimes she does despair (which I think is a very reasonable response to her situation). But when she finally escapes, she fights to regain the life that was stolen from her.

I wouldn’t have expected William Pitt the Younger to be quite so interesting a character as Parry depicts him, but in her hands, even English parliamentary debates feel exciting and engaging (and of course, magical).

Speaking of magic, Parry has created an interesting magical system. In her world, magic is an “inheritance” which is freely practiced by the Aristocracy, but suppressed, often violently, in the common people. Dark magic, including blood magic and necromancy, is forbidden. Slaves are controlled by a combination of alchemy and mesmerism (or mind-control magic). The magic in her world feels natural, like an extension of someone’s personality.

Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy or history. It’s an epic, incredible story with amazing characters and interesting magic. It’s just a great book to read, even if you’re not snowed in!

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Review: Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears

I do love fairytale re-tellings, and after reading Black Thorn, White Rose (as well as Black Swan, White Raven and The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest), I decided to read another collection by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling: Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears.

Like many anthologies, this one has many stories that I loved, a couple that were good, and a few that didn’t work for me for various reasons. I loved Tanith Lee’s The Beast, which was a haunting, disturbing story about the selfish cruelty a beautiful face can sometimes hide. I think this story had even more power because it felt as though it somehow surfaced subtle elements of classicism and perhaps racism that can underlie some types of stories. Likewise, Masterpiece by Garry Kilworth established an eerie, disturbing, twist on Rumpelstiltskin, one that examines how much we understand and except the bargains we make, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for the things that we want.

Another story I loved was Ellen Steiber’s The Fox Wife, a Japanese-inspired tale that contrasts the confining, controlling horrors of domestic violence with the freedom and wildness of foxes. It’s setting is beautiful and opulent as well as dangerous. Jane Yollen’s The Traveler and the Tale is another great story, one that examines the importance of stories and tales in a culture. I loved the references to the strange, dark fairytales that don’t get retold as often as the happy stories, but somehow stick in your memory so vividly.

Cover of Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears

Several of the stories in Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears are powerful, but also very disturbing and hard to recommend unless you have a strong stomach and are not easily triggered. In particular, Anne Bishop’s Match Girl is extremely hard to read, with some very intense depictions of violence against women and rape. I won’t deny it’s a powerful story, but it’s so grim and cruel, it’s not necessarily a story I’d want to read again. Likewise, The Real Princess by Susan Palwick is a very disturbing, extremely violent story. with a weirdly unsatisfying ending (though I think it was supposed to be a happy one, it certainly didn’t feel that way).

Most of the other stories in the book are interesting, but didn’t quite capture me in the way that some of the others did. They’re good entertainment, but didn’t particularly speak to me on a deeper level. I will say that the book didn’t have any stories I disliked or thought were badly told.

Overall, I’d recommend Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears to anyone who enjoys fairy tales and fantasy stories, with the caveat that a couple of the stories might be too violent for some readers.

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Book Spotlight: The Book of Uriel by Elyse Hoffman

Congratulations to author Elyse Hoffman on the release of her absolutely stunning novel, The Book of Uriel! Check out the description, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon giftcard!

In the fires of World War II, a child must save his people from darkness…

Ten-year-old Uriel has always been an outcast. Born mute in a Jewish village known for its choir, he escapes into old stories of his people, stories of angels and monsters. But when the fires of the Holocaust consume his village, he learns that the stories he writes in his golden notebook are terrifyingly real.

In the aftermath of the attack, Uriel is taken in by Uwe, a kind-hearted linguist forced to work for the commander of the local Nazi Police, the affably brutal Major Brandt. Uwe wants to keep Uriel safe, but Uriel can’t stay hidden. The angels of his tales have come to him with a dire message: Michael, guardian angel of the Jewish people, is missing. Without their angel, the Jewish people are doomed, and Michael’s angelic brethren cannot search for him in the lands corrupted by Nazi evil.

With the lives of millions at stake, Uriel must find Michael and free him from the clutches of the Angel of Death...even if that means putting Uwe in mortal danger.

Cover of The Book of Uriel by Elyse Hoffman

About the Author

Elyse Hoffman can write a lot of things, but finds her own story dull and difficult. She has been interested in the Holocaust and Nazi Germany since she was thirteen. Her somewhat morbid fascination is purely intellectual and emotional. She advises you to be careful when signing contracts. You never know where or when you may end up.

More About Elyse Hoffman

Books: Barrack 5, Barrack 4, Barrack 3, Barrack 2, and Barrack 1

Project 613: https://project613publishing.com/

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, and Bookbub

Don’t forget to check out the giveaway!

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Book Review: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Wow. Sometimes you just read a book, and it’s just an incredible journey. That’s what this book is—a haunting, beautiful, magical journey though a world that’s vivid and still so surreal. Yet, the language and writing is beautifully clear. There’s no hard-to-follow stream of consciousness writing, just evocative imagery and an incredible mystery. What’s more, unlike some books that taunt you with a deep mystery and then never answer any questions or solve anything, Piranesi comes to an incredible, heartfelt, and well-earned ending.

Much of the charm of Piranesi is probably due to its protagonist, a man who is called Piranesi, though he’s certain that’s not his name. He has a kindness, warmth, and decency to him, as well as wonder and love for the incredible world around him, that makes him incredibly likable and fun to read. The world he inhabits is a magical house with seemingly infinite halls and a sea in the lower rooms, yet Clarke draws it so realistically that you can picture every statue and doorway.

I wish I could explain more without giving away parts of the mystery, but honestly, if there’s one book you read this year, it should be this one. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who like fantasy, or honestly any thoughtful and compelling books at all. I’m literally tempted to re-read it now that I know what happens, just to catch all the fantastical details and haunting secrets.

The cover of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

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Cover Reveal: The Place Beyond Her Dreams by Oby Aligwekwe

I am so excited to share this beautiful cover for Oby Aligwekwe's debut YA Fantasy, The Place Beyond her Dreams. The book is available for preorder on Amazon now, with an expected publication date of March 16, 2021!

At the sudden death of her grandfather, Ona’s pain drives her to mystical Luenah—a place of infinite possibilities. There, she discovers she is an Eri, chosen to accomplish a special purpose on earth, and is handed a box in exchange for what she desires the most.

Burdened by her quest, Ona learns that dreams carry a hefty price, and no one is who they seem. As evil looms, she must unmask the villain and save the one she loves, even at the risk of losing everything she holds dear.

Set against the backdrop of two warring towns, The Place Beyond Her Dreams delivers life lessons using a powerful fable. This coming-of-age fantasy takes the reader on the path to self-discovery and demonstrates the transformation one must go through to realize and eventually occupy their purpose. 

Cover of Oby Aligwekwe's debut YA Fantasy, The Place Beyond her Dreams

About the Author

Oby Aligwekwe is the author of Nfudu and Hazel House. The Place Beyond Her Dreams is her Young Adult debut. A talented writer, Oby is also an inspirational speaker and a chartered accountant. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her family and supports her community through her charity Éclat Beginnings.

Oby Aligwekwe, author of The Place Beyond Her Dreams

More About Oby Aligwekwe

Books: The Place Beyond Her Dreams, Hazel House, and Nfudu

Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads

Website: www.obyaligwekwe.com

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Interview with Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer Mark Rice

My next author interview is with Mark Rice, author of The Cabin Incident and Heathen Howff, a collection of Scottish stories inspired by Aesop’s Fables, but for adults.

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Mark Rice: The big one was The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.  I first read it when I was ten.  It was the book that made me think, ‘I want to do that.’  The book that made me want to infuse my writing with humour was another I read as a kid – Wee MacGreegor by JJ Bell, one of the funniest books ever written, and very Scottish.  The dialogue in that is pure gold.  As a teen I mostly read sprawling fantasy novels by the likes of Robert E. Vardeman, Victor Milan, JRR Tolkien, Piers Anthony, Raymond E. Feist…that sort of epic stuff. The books that have most influenced me as a grown-up are The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie, The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the entire literary output of Kurt Vonnegut, and – just recently – Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell.

Alexis: Wow, it’s cool that you read so widely, from humor to epic fantasy to some very intense and thoughtful modern works. I remember finding The Satanic Verses such an incredible and powerful book, and I still love The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them?

Mark Rice: My favourite characters are usually the non-human ones (the same is true in life). In Metallic Dreams my favourite characters are a rabbit named Fluff and a little girl called Sunshower, partly because those characters have innocence that the others, to some degree or other, have lost (or never had in the first place).  Sunshower was a gift from the literary gods.  Most characters in fiction are either based on real people or they’re cobbled together Frankenstein’s monsters featuring a trait here and an idiosyncrasy there.  Sunshower wasn’t like that.  She fell out of the sky, fully formed, and landed in my mind ready to live her story.  I could see her more vividly than I see people in real life.  As I said, a gift from the literary gods.  The same thing happened with the character Tam the Bammus in my short(ish) story Revelation Was Wrong.  Tam stomped into my mind, fully formed, grumpy and ready to tell his tale.  I didn’t even have to put effort into that story – it told itself.  I just acted as a conduit.  Other characters I really enjoyed writing (and still enjoy writing in the sequel) are DT, Pete, Paul, Oz, Iain, Archibald, Brian, Ted and Manie in Metallic Dreams.  They’re based on friends I’ve known and loved since childhood, which makes them extremely easy to write: I know exactly how each one would act in any given situation.  And the Devil was/is fun to write.  Worryingly easy too.

What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Mark Rice: I’m obsessed with 3D digital modelling.  I first got into it nine years ago when I created the cover for my story Revelation Was Wrong.  This year I created the cover for my bear-heavy story The Cabin Incident using the same 3D modelling software.  In addition to those book covers, I’ve done hundreds of high-resolution 3D renders, some as possible future book covers, but most of them just for fun and creative satisfaction.  It’s a whole other Universe which I find immersive and fascinating, and I learn more about it every day.  Most book covers are formulaic.  I approach cover art in a different way.  I grew up buying vinyl records and marveling at their cover artwork.  This has led me to view book-cover design in that way – why use a generic cover when you can create original art that stops people in their tracks?  In that sense, my book covers are more like album covers.

Music’s a big pastime – listening to it and making it (if cranking out loud riffage on electric guitars counts as making music).  I grew up in a house that had no television, but it had an abundance of music, musical instruments, books and animals.  That sums up how I became what I am.

Exercise is important to me.  I swam competitively from ages 7-22, so the habit of hard daily exercise was set then.  When I donned my wetsuit recently and plunged into the sea, my wolfdog sidekick pulled me out by my flipper…twice. On the second instance he ripped off my right flipper with his teeth, ran half a mile up the beach with it and buried it in the sand.  He obviously figured I was an idiot who didn’t realize that the sea is dangerous.  After hinting at it once (and me not getting the message), he felt that more drastic action was necessary to prevent said idiot from making a third venture into the ocean.  I ride my mountain bike through a nearby forest each day while the wolfchild runs at my side.  I enjoy lifting heavy things.  I’ve been weight training since back in my competitive swimming days.  I lift heavier these days…because there’s more of me.

Alexis: I love that your wolf dog tried to “rescue” you while you were swimming! I had a golden retriever who use to do the same thing when my sister and I went swimming. She’d grab our hair in her mouth and try to pull us back to shore! Otherwise she loved the water, though she clearly didn’t trust us in it.

Cover of The Cabin Incident by Mark Rice

Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).

Mark Rice: I live on the mainland of Scotland but have spent a lot of time on the Scottish islands of Skye and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides (my dad was from Lewis, as was his mother, and so on back ad infinitum).  One of my cousins in Lewis showed me a piece of footage filmed on Skye.  In it, an English interviewer spoke to a local crofter about a supposed ghost sighting. 

The interviewer said, “I understand you saw the ghost of a woman walking down the road.  Can you tell me about it?” 

The crofter replied, “Yes.  I saw the ghost of a woman walking down the road.” 

That was it.  Not another word.  The interviewer waited and waited, expecting more, but none came.  My cousin and I were in tears laughing.  I think that’s the best ghost story ever told.  That crofter understood the beauty of brevity.

What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream? 

Mark Rice: Justified, Deadwood, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, South Park, Game of Thrones, Shetland, Twin (Norwegian drama), Borgen (Scandi drama), The Bridge (original Scandinavian series), just about any other Finnish or Scandinavian drama noir – I love their dark ambience, and the production values/writing quality are phenomenal.  I also can’t get enough of Captain Caveman or Scooby-Doo (that’s not a recent development, I should stress).  The greatest TV show ever made, I reckon (I believe that George RR Martin nicked loads of his story ideas from it) is Chorlton and the Wheelies, ostensibly a children’s show about a kingdom under a black spell due to a Welsh witch (who lives in a kettle), until a dragon called Chorlton (a happiness dragon) blunders into the realm one day and breaks the spell, after which he inadvertently foils all the witch’s evil schemes just by being his happy, authentic self. What a powerful message that is. Even though it was intended as a children’s show, there’s a lot of adult subtext.  For example, the queen’s always grumpy because she doesn’t get enough attention from the king, who is perpetually distracted by his love for Chorlton.  So there’s a sexually frustrated queen and a gay would-be bestiality practitioner king who’s in love with a dragon.  In addition, one of the Wheelie people – a male called Zoomer – clearly has drug issues: he can’t concentrate on anything for more than a couple of seconds as he zooms around day and night, which leads me to conclude that he’s on speed and/or cocaine.  It’s all there in Wheelieworld.  And I’ll watch anything with Fran Drescher in it.  In a parallel Universe she and I met and married in the ‘90s.

What’s your favorite animal?

Mark Rice: I love all animals, from the biggest ones right down to the tiniest insects. That’s why I don’t eat them, wear them or buy any products that cause them suffering.  To pick a favourite species is an impossible task.  The four particular animals I’ve most resonated with are a white rabbit who lived with me for her whole life, starting when she was a baby small enough to fit on my palm (the rabbit in Metallic Dreams was based on her), the aforementioned wolfdog who is my training partner/sidekick, a female camel I met in the desert while living with Bedouins (she and I fell in love at first sight), and an octopus I made friends with while scuba diving off the coast of Cyprus (he rested his head on my left hand and wrapped his tentacles around my left arm while I stroked his head with my free hand and we looked into each other’s eyes, really saw each other; when the oxygen in my tank ran out and I had to reluctantly surface, the octopus didn’t willingly let me go – I had to (again reluctantly) prise his suckers off my arm; they left circular marks that remained there for hours; I hoped they’d never fade, as they were reminders of a transcendent experience; the sentience I saw in that creature was unique and unlike anything I’ve experienced on dry land).  I have an affinity for horses, bears and elephants too.  And pigs.  Mustn’t forget the pigs.  And sheep.  And goats.  I could go on all day…

Alexis: That’s an amazing story about the octopus—they’re fascinating creatures, and supposed to be incredibly intelligent.

Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now? Has a video game ever influenced you as a writer?

Mark Rice: I love first-person shooters but haven’t played them much recently (only because they take up a lot of time that should be spent writing).  Back when Quake I, II and III came out, along with Half Life, Unreal and Unreal Tournament, I spent ludicrous amounts of time playing them – days and nights on end, sometimes.  Great fun, but they don’t pay the bills.  No video game has influenced my writing – its influences come more from mythology, lore, music, legend and real life.

Do you have pet(s)? If so, share a picture of your pet!

Mark Rice: I’m right-hand man to a wolfdog, but he’s no pet – very much a wild animal.  A force of nature.  Our current daily training session is 34 miles through a forest – I ride my mountain bike, he runs.  We also play-fight a lot.  The mutual trust is absolute.  He bites me hard enough to get a reaction but not hard enough to cause major injury.  My arms have a lot of bite marks but those are love bites, really.  If he wanted to cause real damage he could do so with ease.  He bites through large frozen branches as though they were overcooked spaghetti, so a human ankle, wrist or neck would be nothing by comparison.

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?

Mark Rice: Write every day, even when you don’t feel like it.  Sometimes that’s when the best stuff comes out.  Other times it acts as exactly the therapy you need.  If you feel inspired, write.  If you don’t feel inspired, write.  If you feel good, write.  If you feel terrible, write.  Just write.  No excuses.  This means learning to say “no” to people, to put your solitary time and your writing before the dramas and nonsense of others.  But that’s what you have to do.

How do you choose what books you want to read?

Mark Rice: I prefer books that are innovative, clever, funny, groundbreaking or all of the above.  If they feature mythology or folklore, whether established or new, even better.  I also read a lot of autobiographies by musical artists/bands I like.

Do you like Greek/Roman/Norse/Asian/African mythology or folklore? What’s your favorite myth?

Mark Rice: I love folklore and mythology.  When I was a kid my father had a HUGE book of mythology – the sort of book that would collapse most coffee tables.  It was split into chapters by world region.  That book’s now on my (reinforced) bookshelf.  I’ve bought a lot of Scandinavian, Finno-Ugric and Celtic lore/mythology.  They resonate more with me than most other mythologies do.  Perhaps that’s because my ancestry is Norse and Celtic.  Maybe on some deep genetic level those tales are already known in me, so reading them feels like going home.  One favourite story, Celtic in origin, tells of Oisín’s journey to Tír na nÓg, the Land of the Young. I won’t tell any more about that – wouldn’t want to give away spoilers!  Also, the story of Cúchulainn is captivating.  My favourite character from folklore/mythology is, by a country mile, Cernunnos the Horned God.  A bronze Cernunnos adorns the wall of my music room.  A poem I wrote called Cernunnos tickled the fancy of my favourite metal band, so much so that it led to a collaboration.  The band created sublime music to go with my lyric/vocal.  It’s not released yet, but I have a copy of the original recordings and they sound amazing. Best guitar tone ever.  It’s an honour to be part of that project.

Mark and a friendly camel!

More about Mark Rice!

Books: Metallic Dreams, The Cabin Incident, and Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Eejit

Social Media: Twitter, Goodreads, Wordpress, and Facebook

• author interview
• book review
• book spotlight
• books
• fantasy
• science fiction