Author Interview with

Samantha Evans

Author of: Dragon Master and The Land of Four Series

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

My newest book which will be released on May 3rd:

Arabella is a girl of high standing, and her father wants her to marry someone she barely knows. But she wants to be someone more than just a member of the court. With the help of some new friends and her curiosity, will she get her to wish to become what she wants, or will there be barriers along the way.

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

Just a new idea came to my mind. It is going to be a two-book series. 

Do you write in more than one genre?

Just fantasy fiction. 

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

I love writing in the first person. 

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

I am a loving fan of fantasy fiction. Reading books have been a hobby of mine. 

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

Being a mom of three reading, and writing has become a common thing I do at home every day. 

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

My dear Friend Vicky Peplow writes fictional historical thrillers. Here is a blurb about her most recent book:After Billy loses his life in a mining accident, he becomes the carrier of the Old Coal Miner's Lamp, helping to guide other lost souls on their way to the Light.

Mike begins having strange flashes of the past and seeks out the help to make sense of what he is going through.

Danielle answers the call to assist Mike with his visions, but when she too begins to have some strange sensations, will she continue to search for the truth or steer clear of the unknown?

Connections will be revealed and a darkness will rear its head along the way.

Will Billy, Mike, and Danielle be able to work together to overcome the obstacles and defeat the darkness?

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

Ella is everyone’s favorite. Due to how it is about a dragon who helps someone and they develop a deep friendship. 

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

After writing, and publishing Ella I realized that I can continue on with writing and not be afraid. 

Do you have a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it? 

“ Never give up on your dreams.” My grandma says that to me. Always stuck to me, and when I write I think about this all the time. 

______________________

Thanks to Samantha for participating. Her book covers are stunning.

For those of you who may recall that I sometimes refer to the home here as Le Chateau du Chat Gris, I give you evidence of the reason for the nomenclature.

Although my wife and daughter have another name for the cat, to me she is Lynx. I'll include another picture and more information about her in my February newsletter, which you can get here to keep up to date on my books and special deals. Last year I made some of my books free and put the rest at only 99 cents for a couple days -- only my newsletter subscribers got notice of that limited time deal. I'll also give a short book review in the February newsletter.

In my writing this week, I sent off a short story. I'm rereading Threading the Rude Eye, book one in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series. I have to admit that once I get a few chapters in, the story really captures me. Some of the characters don't have the depth and richness that they will eventually acquire, but the mystery and incompleteness of exactly what they plan to do and how they plan to do it intrigues me. The reread is a good way to get back into the story as I write book 5 in the series.

 Links to my books are above.

Author Interview with

Cully Mack

Author of The Voice That Thunders Series

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

I’m over halfway through writing my Voice That Thunders Series and currently I’m writing book five. The series features siblings, Mirah and Gabe, who become central characters along with a band of rebels fighting against immortals conquering their realm. Think epic battles with Immortals and beasts of all kinds, throw in elemental magic, huge plot twists, portals and unique worlds, and an ever-growing number of characters trying to save their world. If you love character-driven fantasy, you'll love my books. I warn you now; I don't go easy on them.

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

I have a fascination for mythology. The older the better. My primary sources are from myths from Mesopotamia. Most people have never heard of them. This is because, until around 150 years ago, the cuneiform tablets detailing their accounts was undecipherable. Mesopotamia is otherwise known as the birthplace of civilisation and its historical setting is in the ancient near east. Differing cultures lived in proximity, so there is a blending of myths and traditions. I mainly draw from the Sumerians, the Akkadians, the Semites and the Babylonians.

YA readers may have heard the term Nephilim from Cassandra Clare’s series or watching Supernatural among other popular sources. Most modern Nephilim depictions are drawn from Semite sources such as the Book of Enoch, where they are portrayed in an urban setting and regarded as fallen angel/human hybrids. As interesting as this is, the Semite account is only one version of the mythos.

Mesopotamian texts differ on many topics. For example, creation epics, deity names and culture heroes. But they agree on one thing… the gods came, slept with human women, and created giant hybrid offspring. Yes, those Titans, gods and beastly monsters from Greek, Roman and biblical myths were known to older civilizations! Some saw these gods in a positive light, others as negative. It makes for great conflict. I wanted to create a work more aligned with the earliest accounts of this mythos.

Do you write in more than one genre?

I write high/epic fantasy, myth, legend and fairy tale retellings, and speculative fiction. I also short film scripts and creative nonfiction.

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

I’m not afraid to write what the story needs. In places, it’s dark (but not grimdark). People die! The battles are intense, blending weapons, magic and intelligence. No one is safe! I’ve got messages from fans to prove it. I always tell them the same, trust me, keep reading. The monsters are unique. Ever heard of Dactyrs or Dagani? The cast is huge, with two or three plot arcs often running parallel, and narrated from multiple pov’s. I’m a discovery writer, so the edge of your seat plot twists in unexpected ways. You’ll find romance and broken hearts (sorry). Even so, romance isn’t the main plot. I’ve been told many times that my writing is very visual and how reading my books is like watching a movie. I’ll let you be the judge of that…

 

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

For many years, I worked with people who were the most broken, those experiencing homelessness, isolation, trauma, and addictions. My characters tend to go down similar paths, and even though their journey darkens, in one form or another, it becomes a redemptive arc, finding themselves, who they truly are, kind of thing. I’m an advocate for nothing and no one can break me unless I give them the power to do it. So, yes, I test my characters to the point of shattering, and watch them rise from their brokenness into who they were meant to be.

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

I’m on most social media

Links:

Amazon author link: https://www.amazon.com/Cully-Mack/e/B07QBLXZLT

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19033629.Cully_Mack

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CullyMack

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CullyMack

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cullymackauthor/

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

Shawn Dressler’s A Tale of Cloak and Shadows. This was a new author for me. The prose is poetic, and the world is painted with vivid imagery. The way Galindel switches back and forth from the present to his memories is enchanting and intriguing. It’s not technically a novel, more of a prequel to the Kingdoms of Core series. Everything about it feels so alive and made for intense reading. The world building, characterization and dialogue were all spot on. An author to try out for sure.

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

I’d recommend book three, A Fire That Whispers. But to get there, you’d need to read the first two books in my series. Why book three? My writing is stronger. What I loved most about writing this book, is how the two main characters are trying to discover the truth but are unable to discuss and compare their findings. Nothing is as it seems. I drop hints and foreshadow the plot. There are some huge plot twists! Other characters who know the truth are possibly lying. Even I didn’t know how it was going to play out until the latter part of the book. The reader learns the truth as the characters do, because that’s how it was revealed to me. This is the beauty of discovery writing.

 

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

I had the opportunity to return to university to study English Literature and Creative Writing. As a mature student, I had a blast. I stayed on and completed my Master’s in Creative Writing.

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

How can I join your mailing list? The best way to do this is to sign up for Sojin. A free prequel featuring Ammo and Sojin, two side characters in the Voice that Thunders series. It can be read at any point in the series.  https://BookHip.com/QVLCRL

Do you have a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Aristotle, Metaphysics

______________________________

Thanks to Cully for participating in the interview.

I had a great time writing this week. I did miss one day, but I made it up the next day. I'm on the home stretch in writing the dystopian thriller. It's an action adventure novel set in the near future--like the week after next--and it's a fun ride. Abductions, rescues, surveillance drones, government agents, farms attacked by gangs of drugged convicts, secret government experiments, oppressive government interference, conspiracies, plot twists, and unstoppable action are yours in The Shrinking Zone by Stanley Wheeler. Until that one is ready, I invite you to read my flintlock fantasy series in which the American Revolution, magic, and dragons collide. The series begins with THREADING THE RUDE EYE.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter here.

 Author Interview 

with Claudia Klein

Author of The Heir and The Crown

Note that I have interjected a comments and questions (in parentheses and in italics) throughout the body of Claudia's interview. She may post responses in the comments, or send me her responses in an email and I will supplement them into the interview later).

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

I’m currently working on the sequel to my debut novel, The Heir.  The sequel will be out in 6 months and it’s called The Crown.

(It has taken me some time to work through the author interviews. Claudia sent me this interview in November 2020. Is The Crown available yet? If so, send me the cover pic with a brief description and I'll add it to the interview.)

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

I wanted to write a book where the bad guy wins. That’s why one of the main characters, Prince Thomas isn’t the best of characters. But I discovered during the writing of The Heir that I can’t write a story where the bad guy wins. So Prince Thomas actually turns out to be the good guy in the end.

(That's great, Claudia. I don't think the bad guys should ever win -- except temporarily - why do you think you can't let the bad guy win?).

Do you write in more than one genre?

I started out writing real world stories when I was 10 and wrote those for a few years. Then I switched to writing fantasy sometime in high school and have stuck with that ever since. I have had a dystopian in the works for about 2 years now though, so we’ll see where that goes.

(I'm just about to start writing a dystopian novel. I would love to hear from you about anything you've learned in the process of writing in the genre.)

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

I’ve been told that the dialogue is really well written. But I think the main thing that sets my writing apart is that it’s completely clean high fantasy, even though there’s romance in everything I write. No bad language and no adult scenes. There is killing, but I’ve always been a blood and gore type person.

(I commend your choice of keeping things clean. I prefer books without the profanity and vulgarity which is becoming more and more prevalent. I keep my books clean as well.)

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

Probably that none of my characters are super talkative, like myself.

(And yet, your answer is so brief, laconic, even)

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

I’m a military wife and I’m a stay at home mom to my 2 year old daughter. When I’m not working on my author business, I’m working on my network marketing business or my crochet and yarn spinning business. I’m a really good cook and recently started a Youtube channel. Right now the channel is under my name, but it’ll eventually be under Cooking with Clauds.

 (Cool! what recipe should I try - or ask my wife to try?)

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

I really liked Ember and Stone by Megan O’Russel. I’m not sure how widely known she is, but her book was really good high fantasy with a strong female lead, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

The Heir, because right now it’s my only published book. But keep a lookout for my Endorlothorien trilogy coming out in a few years.

 

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

Definitely learning about self publishing on KDP. If someone hadn’t told me about that option I’d probably still be looking for a way to publish.

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

About my writing or anything in general? Because I wish people would ask me how many states I’ve lived in. I’ve lived in 13 and some of them twice and I’m not even 30 yet. About writing I wish people would ask if I need any help marketing, haha. Because I do.

Do you have a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

I have 2:

Never, never, never give up. -Winston Churchill

The best if yet to come- Robert Browning

I like the first one because I’m stubborn and don’t give up easily. And the second one because the best is yet to come. Unless you make a really bad life decision your life will only get better.

___________________________

Thanks to Claudia for participating in the interview.

In case I haven't mentioned it, after reading his Wendigo, which I loved, I did read Algernon Blackwood's The Willows. In short, I didn't care for it. I have acquired his Three John Silence Stories which features a paranormal detective. I haven't had a chance to read it as I dived into another book which has a popular following...and it fell flat for me. I cast it into the DNF pile. I won't mention anymore about that unless I decide to go back and extract the N from that description. I'm currently reading Zane Gray's The Rainbow Trail. At first, I enjoyed the picturesque descriptions, but I have grown weary of them. I'm a firm believer that the plot and characters should carry the story with scenic descriptions as an infrequent treat. I'm pretty sure I'll finish this book, but if something doesn't happen soon (I'm over 60% through the book), I may set it aside at least temporarily.

As for books with interesting characters and lots of action, Promise of Carnage and Flame is getting closer to release. I need a final proof read and then it will go up. I want to publish it in the 5x8 format rather than the 6x9 format. It was an unfortunate accident that the first book in the series, Threading the Rude Eye was published in 6x9. I went back last week and re-formatted Threading the Rude Eye for 5x8 and corrected some small errors that had sneaked by the original proofing. Unfortunately, when I tried to upload the new format, KDP wouldn't let me. Once the book as been published, the format can't be changed. That's when I remembered why I had also published the next two books in the 6x9 format. Oh well. I don't care, the print version of Promise of Carnage and Flame is going up in the 5x8 format.

 Author Interview

with Michael Ross

Author of the Wand Chronicles

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

In all honesty I am just finishing off one series and have just started the next. The Wand Chronicles is an epic fantasy trilogy where humans meet elves for the first time and the adventures center around a very powerful wand called Elvina (www.thewand.me)

 But have started another series called The Big Fairy Adventures. Book 1: ‘How it all began’ is now published. This is another fantasy series involving humans, elves, Orcs but mainly fairies. It centers around a rather overweight fairy called Tinker Tanker (she likes her nectar too much) she is covered in little bruises she gets from bumping into walls as she is buzzing along. Her wings can’t quite cope with her body shape. But she has a heart of gold and very brave. The first adventure concerns a powerful magic amulet called The Golden Quandrill that an unfortunate Orc called Chard Bhum tries to steal. Why is he called Chard Bhum? When he was born, his mother dropped him bum first into a red-hot lava stream that caused scar tissue to form around his bum so he walks with an unusual gait. I also have other characters that appear from my previous trilogy, The wand Chronicles

 Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

The ideas generate from my last trilogy, plus I have always had a very imaginative mind. I still believe I have the mind of a 6-year-old! I have always lived in my own little fantasy world

 

Do you write in more than one genre?

Yes, I’m multi-genre. True Life story, comedy, an extensive range of children’s picture books, Short scary stories, books for teens and young adults, and soon to write my first Sci Fi book

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

 If I liken my writing style loosely to anyone, it could be a mixture of Tolkien and Terry Pratchet. So I wanted to write a book where the characters feel as real as possible. I am an actor, a method actor, so bring that into the mix. Also wanted a dialogue that was at times comedic. It can be done even in situations where the mood is dark and depressive. My books have original quotes, illustrations, and even a phonetic table to help pronounce some of the characters names. I’m a pantser, so believe that makes my writing fluid and flow so much better. As I write a chapter, I can surprise myself in the twists and turns in the adventure as it happens.

 Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

Well, certainly my acting comes to the fore. I could tell you for each character, what they like to eat, how long they like to sleep, where they like to go on holiday, what annoys them and so on. And this isn’t just for the human characters, but others like the orcs, the elves, the fairies and so on

 What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

I also developed a fitness system called Kettfusion which is in the top 3 most popular systems used in the UK and is also in 4 other European countries. I still act now, not so much Theatre or TV anymore but in big films like the Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Junior.

I developed a board game to go with my Wand Chronicles trilogy, which went on to be voted into the top 10 most popular games in the UK in 2019

Also, I got into writing after a visit to a clairvoyant, who kept insisting I write. This was 6 years ago, so I did and haven’t looked back.

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

Oh, here goes. I am a researcher into Out Of Body Experiences. An excellent book on the subject is by an Author called William Buhlman entitled ‘Adventures Beyond The Body’ It is a very easy to read book that will set you on the path to exploring this subject. BTW, I tend not to read other authors in the genre I write in when writing. I don’t want anyone else’s ideas to filter into my work. I want everything to generate from my own imagination.

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

That will be my Wand Chronicles trilogy, I spent a lot of time working on making it a complete set of books We are talking 110,000 words per book. Complete with original illustrations, original quotes for each chapter, a detailed glossary, and a phonetic help table for some of the characters names and places.

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

14 years ago my wife was violently murdered. I was left with 2 boys who were 4 and 6 at the time. A number of year later I chronicled it all into a true life story book called ‘Just Five More Minutes’ which went on to become a best seller. I also narrated the audiobook and it won the Independent Audiobook Awards held in Kansas city in 2019. It is a very positive book and because of my guidance and honesty, it has helped thousands pf people who have been coping with tragedies in their life.

I always said when I wrote it, if I can help just one person I will be happy. It went onto helping thousands all around the world

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

‘Are you famous?’ but of course I then have to be honest and say no, not yet. I am quite well known in the UK as an actor, but would like to be a very successful author.

 

 Do you have a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

‘Oh God, what now?’ This helps me a lot when writing. I say it to myself a lot, and something exciting pops into my head that’s takes the adventure I am writing in another unpredictable direction. Unpredictability I believe is the key. And I believe the author can be just as surprised to find out why and where the storyline follow a different direction.

Thank you.

 

Michael

Useful links: website: www.thewand.me

Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/2ZPPWzd

_____________________________________

Threading the Rude Eye is the first book in my Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Trilogy. 

Alex wants to finish his indenture and complete his studies with his mentor so that he can get married to his sweetheart and become a barrister in England. His Majesty's Supreme Commander destroys those plans with ruthless efficiency when a map to a cache of magic power is brought to his island. Alex is swept into a revolution which pits him against the might and magic of an empire. If he fails to protect the map and its treasure, the commander will crush two nations--along with Alex and his friends--beneath tyranny's boot, and the cause of liberty will fail

***

Writing in the first book in the sequel trilogy--Promise of Carnage and Flame--went superbly this week. Iago's thread is filling out nicely with the little man discovering that the fate of a family and band of strange new people rests upon his small shoulders. Alex and an enemy enter the dragon's lair together, while Akram and the others continue their clandestine mission. I love the way it's coming together.

All three books in the first trilogy are available for only $0.99 cents each for a limited time.

This is America -- with dragons, and magic, and monsters!

Here are links to each:

Threading the Rude Eye -- Available as an ebook and in paperback.

Power to Hurt -- Available as an ebook and in paperback.

Clamorous Harbingers--Available as an ebook - and coming soon in paperback.

Another episode from the Kru Wars, specifically "Tellereth Outpost Part II" will post next week if all goes as planned. The episode will add some new elements to the story as more enemies of Nahorn appear.

Today I have two books to review. Before that, let me prattle on about my writing in Book 3 of the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series. I had a blast writing about captures, escapes, skirmishes, burning buildings, and a dose of banter about political philosophy. Alex, Lucette, the dragon hunters, Lee, and the smugglers are divided into various groups and are working out their separate (but connected) adventures. Young dragons, crown troops, native warriors, gryphons, and French soldiers thwart their heroic endeavors. I estimate another 40K words to the exciting conclusion.

Here's a link to the first three chapters of Book 1

If you have read and enjoyed Threading the Rude Eye, please post a review on Amazon, goodreads, and the many fantasy or alternate history oriented fb pages. As long as I'm on my knees in supplication, let me add that Book 2, Power to Hurt really needs reviews. I promise that Book 3 is even more fun and exciting than the first two books in the series.

Now, having risen from bended knee, let me tell you about a book I absolutely loved: Harlow Giles Unger's Lafayette.

When I was in school, we learned a little about Lafayette. He seemed to be a side note, a peculiar Frenchman who tagged along with Washington during the latter part of the revolutionary war. Although he was tremendously popular in America during his lifetime, we have mostly forgotten about, or have under rated his contributions to the war for independence. I've come to the conclusion that he was as indispensable as Washington. I don't see how the war would have been won without the victory at Yorktown and that victory could not have happened without the French; arguably, the French would not have been there had it not been for Lafayette.

“Such a glorious cause,” wrote Lafayette, “had never before rallied the attention of mankind. Oppressors and oppressed would receive a powerful lesson; the great work would be accomplished or the rights of humanity would fall beneath its ruin. The destiny of France and that of her rival [England] would be decided at the same moment. . . . I gave my heart to the Americans and thought of nothing else but raising my banner and adding my colors to theirs.”

Unger, Harlow Giles. Lafayette (p. 15). Turner Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. 

Unger takes the reader on a journey through the American Revolutionary War, as well as the French Revolution, Bonaparte, and subsequent events and revolutions in France up to the time of Lafayette's death. Unger includes many letters to or from Lafayette, and he details the marquis' crucial role in all of these events. One cannot help but admire and love Lafayette as presented by Unger. He is an heroic, tragic figure, instrumental in helping America achieve independence and liberty, and yet unable to bring his own nation to taste of the same blessings. Especially interesting are the letters of the American statesman Gouverneur Morris from Paris at the beginning of the revolution. He could see what Lafayette could not. Lafayette may have opened up a can of revolution in France, but the French chose license rather than liberty because they had not the same culture and history as the Americans. Lafayette remained on intimate terms with many of the founders, including Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton, until their deaths. His return tour of the 24 states in 1824 lasted over a year and was a veritable nonstop celebration of love and admiration for Lafayette.

It is a fascinating read. I rate it: Liberty's Love Story, a romantic tragedy must read for every American.

Although I was truly saddened when I had finished Lafayette because the story had ended, I felt the exact opposite when I concluded Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms.

I received this paperback from my daughter (the talented artist who won't do a book cover for me) when she graduated from college. (I know the picture is for the audio book, but it was the paperback that I read). It was one the bookstore would not buy back. Having read it, I don't blame the bookstore.

Hemingway has a way of taking a story rife with danger and excitement and running it through a fine sieve to filter out all of the interesting bits. The weak and tepid remains are what make it into his story. I guess some people like that. I'm not one of them.

SPOILER ALERT -  If you read the next paragraph you won't need to read the book at all, as the paragraph reveals absolutely everything--and may even be more exciting than the actual book.

In this story, an American who has enlisted in the Italian Army drives an ambulance during WWI and falls in love with a nurse--and the love story is just that exciting. He gets wounded, goes to the hospital, and drinks a lot. He goes back to the front. The Italian Army disintegrates. He is nearly executed. Most of the people he knew die. He escapes with the nurse to Switzerland where he drinks some more. She dies giving birth to a dead child. The end.

I rate it: Watching Paint Dry -- dull, boring, nondescript paint upon an uninteresting surface.

Well, they can't all be winners. Sure it may have layers and make commentary upon the futility of war in particular, and of life in general, of the death of nations giving birth to a stillborn peace, but a pithy short story could have made a more potent statement, and wasted less time.

For fun, here's a picture from next week's episode:

Best news of the day: Someone obtained a paperback copy of my detective novel Smoke and stopped me to tell me that they were enjoying it. Links to my books, including Smoke, are at the left hand side of this blog. Check them out for yourself.

That leads me to this painting by Thomas Badger. I have no idea what it's supposed to depict, but I think it represents writers tracking down a reader to insist that he post a review.

Speaking of reviews. I did finish

I picked it up with my prime membership for less than a song, free, in fact--which is precisely what it was worth to me. I have seen this book, or at least a book of Ellison's short stories with this name on the cover ever since I first started reading science fiction as a kid. The title alone struck me with all the sweetness of a shot of kerosene in a dirty glass with a needle in it. I always avoided it, even as a free library book. So why would I chose to read it now? I recently saw a documentary, or at least part of one, about Harlan Ellison. His life story was interesting, to severely understate the matter. In one clip he called Dan Simmons the best writer in the room. The show also indicated that those two writers had an extreme disagreement when they met, but the documentary didn't explain the nature of that disagreement. So the documentary prompted my curiosity, and I was also familiar with the Star Trek episode "City on the Edge of Forever" which Ellison wrote. Although that is a great episode, it's not my favorite. It is, however, much better than any of the stories in this book. Ellison is was (he passed away in 2018) obviously talented. He put words together in a way that piques my interest...and then consistently makes me sorry that I became interested. In these stories, he frequently launched a series of word punches with the apparent intent to pummel the reader into submission to  his innate superiority, to compel the reader into accepting the unbelievable story because he demanded it. It's a forced hallucinogenic trip by proxy, an overdose of LSD nihilism. I thought some of the stories had great potential and would have provided the settings for great novels. Instead, they all raced to the same rat hole of despair. I did enjoy a few of the stories until the endings. The endings were always predictable, saturnine, lugubrious, and grim. Of course, my opinion is vastly overshadowed by the hordes of Ellison fans. The guy can write. I'll have to try some of his other works to see if these stories merely represent one side of a great writer.

***

I'm suddenly reminded that I was thinking about actors that I would cast in roles for the characters in Threading the Rude Eye, and Power to Hurt. I think Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson would make a great Atu. I'm torn between a young Anna Friel and Zoe Boyle for the role of Cat. Jeremy Irons or Pierce Brosnan would be interesting choices to play Jonathan. Actually, I might like Irons for the role of Old Will. Antonio needs a young John Rhys-Davies type. A late 30ish Jeff Bridges might work for Charles, but I'm not sure about that one, as Charles keeps a lower profile than I've seen in a Bridges character. I wonder about the Alex and Lucette characters. I would play with the idea of a young Tom Cruise for Alex and a young Heather Lind for Lucette. I'm sure there are other good choices of actors who are the right age now, but they're not coming to mind. I may consider more roles, and reconsider these roles another time. It's not as if the series will be made into a movie in the near future.

Some days the writing flows smoothly like yarn passing through deft knitting needles; other days the experience is more akin to stapling down strips of cloth; and at other times it's like throwing globs of cooked spaghetti noodles at a sheet of paper stapled to a cat chasing a ball of rolling yarn. Each of those days are worthwhile, but some are more productive than others.

As you can see from this link here, my newest book is live at the big river site. And the first book in the series is FREE.

Here's the link to the FREE BOOK. -- for only 4 more days.

Here's the link to the SUPER LOW-PRICED SEQUEL -- only $0.99.

I really like this book. I enjoyed writing the sequel even more than writing the first book in the series. The final five chapters are worth the rest of the book (which is pretty exciting anyway). I would rather read this book than use baby chicks in place golf balls on the driving range. If that's not compassion for animals and a fine show of humanitarianism, I don't know what is. I like the cover even better than the cover of the first book--probably because the flames look a little bit like a dragon, which is entirely apropos.

As with the first book, Threading the Rude Eye, the title to Power to Hurt comes from something Shakespeare wrote. The reference is in the Author's Foreword. The first book shows today ranked at #15 in the alternate history category. Magic, Flintlocks, Dragons -- What's not to like?

***

Speaking of things that I may or may not like, there's this:

These have creamy peanut butter centers with the sweet succulent deliciousness of diced unicorn heart. As for the granola coating, it gets a firm "meh" from me as I like the rolled oats but something else in he mix gives it the texture and taste of gravel shards in syrup. Maybe I can make my own using just peanut butter and oats.

Instead of contemplating the taste of unicorn hearts and feeling disgusted that anyone would consider putting baby chicks to such an ill use, go read the sample pages from the two books above. You'll kick yourself if you miss this opportunity.

If you're looking for a reason to read Threading The Rude Eye, you need look no further than this review:

 Beyond satisfying! May 17, 2019

I loved this book! I especially love America's Revolutionary Era and the story set in this period. Characters were complex and varied in their growth, the story was thrilling and captivating. Having read other books by this author, he does not disappoint in his story telling abilities. I consider this author a master storyteller and this book a masterpiece!

It's not often that I get that kind of review - the 5 stars are not uncommon; the unconditional praise as a masterpiece is rather more rare. To be honest, I don't consider any of my books to be a masterpiece. Smoke does come the closest in my opinion - of course, your mileage may vary. I will, however, receive and bask in the sweet warming rays of such praise when I can. You can judge for yourself by clicking the link at the upper left to get your own copy of Threading The Rude Eye - or any of my other books on that side of the page. 

I'm at 36K words on the sequel which means it's nearly half complete. I sort of got lost in that fog that always drifts in on me somewhere between the 30k and 40k word mark. I lost writing time rethinking some plot points and characters, doing some outlining and attempting to get the major scenes in the proper order before I started writing them. I found it helpful to write the final scene, an exciting confrontation toward which the first two books have been building. Writing the ending and ordering the other scenes helped clear some of the fog. I'm hoping the rest will clear as I race through it at increasing speed--because the pace and action will continue to mount from this point.

***

I don't usually listen to music while I write. I prefer to get immersed in the story and characters without the danger of being pulled away by some music that I like. On the other hand, if I'm writing while other things are going on--someone else watching a television program or movie, for instance--I will put in the earbuds and either play classical music, or play one of two playlists. One is a compilation of favorite downloaded music; the other are tunes that I have selected and compiled especially for writing time. There is some overlap. The songs on the list that might be considered "classic rock" (like Stairway to Heaven, Ziggy Stardust, Black Magic Woman, and all of the Queen or Rush songs) are actually the Vitamin String Quartet versions which are quite nice with no lyrics: 

I suppose a generous characterization of the lists would be: eclectic.

You don't often see a mix of Electric Light Orchestra, Styx, some French artists, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Nat King Cole, Little River Band, Jethro Tull, Handel, Wagner, Christopher Cross, soft instrumental versions of classic rock tunes, and Doris Day.

"I am sorry to think that you do not get a man's most effective criticism until you provoke him. Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness."
--Thoreau


I cast a book into the chasm this week. I never heard it hit the bottom. Although that may sound like a reference to the way I publish my own books, it's actually about a book that I was reading which I cast off; I'm not going to finish it. The story ceased to interest me. I didn't like the characters and I discovered that I didn't really care where the story was going. It was a book that I picked up for free and thought it would be a quick read, a break from Brandon Sanderson's Oathbringer.  I saw that I still had 22 hours of Oathbringer left and I needed a break. Even a tasty main dish benefits from an interesting side dish. I chose the free book as the side dish. At about 40% or so through that book, I saw that I still had approximately 11 hours of reading left. I considered the characters--there wasn't one that I liked. The main character, while sympathetic, acted too foolishly to tolerate any longer--I really think his own people would have killed him. He was, I believe, about to go on and become mighty and powerful in a war that seemed too contrived to me and which featured that which has a tendency to push me toward the realm of daydreaming about whether I would rather have a root canal or a kidney stone--demons. It featured demons. So into the chasm it went. Many people have rated it highly and the author has a nice style. It just wasn't for me.

Brandon Mull spoke in one of Sanderson's videos about characters. If I remember correctly, he said something like, "I make up stories about imaginary people doing things that never happened, and I want others to care. How do I get other people to care about what a centaur says to a 13 year-old girl in my story?" (I've put that in quotes but it's not an exact quote). He placed characters at the head of his five point list for writing a great story. The story lives or dies by its the characters. One of my sample readers congratulated me on the excellent character development in the early chapters of Threading The Rude Eye (He said that he liked the battle scenes too, but this bit is about characters). He may not have heard the French girl's accent in his head quite the way I did when I wrote it, or admired her caramel colored eyes, or enjoyed the subtle and not so subtle insults delivered by the former Japanese peasant become-successful-English-businessman, but he did enjoy something about the characters. If he can find some interest and pleasure in learning about the players in my story, my creation has been at least partially successful. I'm confident that he'll like where the characters go and the arcs through which some of them will travel. The action and combat in a story are fun to imagine and to write, but if the characters don't matter, the combat and its results lack importance and impact.

I know what you're thinking:

Speaking of combat (which is my understated way of segueing into a completely different topic) I engaged in an epic battle in the ongoing campaign against the prolific growth of plant based lifeforms surrounding my home. It was the first battle of the season. The enemy had gathered in numberless hosts. The Craftsman warmachine fired to life with the first turn of the key. It did insist on a shot of go-juice, and a morale boosting harangue in the form of compressed air blasted into three of the four tires, but it performed without protest. While I listened to episode 2 of Supernova in the East from Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast, the warmachine slaughtered the grassy foe with both blades whirling like twin cyclones that spewed verdant corpses like a grossly efficient abattoir roulant. (It occurs to me that "roulant" is not an English word; it should be--it sounds better than saying a "rolling abattoir"--although, "slaughterhouse on wheels" probably conveys the idea just as well but then I don't get to sound like a pretentious bore who slips in foreign words for artistic effect while attempting to fill that empty void where self-worth is supposed to be located. "Empty void" is redundant but I like it for the three syllable emphasis that using "void" alone would not achieve).

Finally, sometime this week I slipped in (meaning I "found time for," not that I "stepped upon and fell to the ground as a result")a little Charlie Chaplin. I thought this was a scream. My favorite scene was the duel/wrestling match. The title is "A Burlesque On Carmen." Enjoy it if you get time.

And uberfinally, the progress on Power to Hurt continues with the 14K mark having been passed.

"The more thrilling, wonderful, divine objects I behold in a day, the more expanded and immortal I become."
-Thoreau

Speaking of thrilling and wonderful objects, take a look at this:

Which you can get here (hatchet and knife not included). Immortality is looking me in the rude eye and I intend to expand. As far as the expansion goes, I fell short of my goal for the week on the sequel, but I did more than double what I had last week. I'm just over 8,500 words in -- so it's ten percent finished; I'm in chapter three.

As you can see from the picture, my paperback copy came this week, honestly I set the paper size larger than I intended so the book is a little thinner than I had planned. Rather than change it, I'll make each book in the series that size--and I'm looking for reviews. The ebook is only $0.99.

***

On another thrilling front, I dismembered three corpses this week.

These three individuals had been hanging around my house for some time now. I was getting a little annoyed with the way they threw shade in my direction. I waited, knowing that I could get the drop on them without too much effort. When I started the chainsaw they quivered but were too scared to move. It was like they was rooted in place, I tell ya. I do got to confess that two of them were already dead and the third was so sick that it couldn't have been saved by even the best soigeon.

The first day, my son Paul Bunyan and I cut off all the limbs from the one what was still breathing. We was going to put the blade to the torso, and we did, a little, but we had inferior cutlery that wasn't suited to cutting through a body of that size. So anyway, my son knew a guy who had what we needed. He came back another day with the improved hardware and we cut down all three like it was the St. Valentine's Day massacre. It got a little messy but we didn't mind too much. My son did most of the cutting.

We piled the smaller body parts where we could put the torch to them when we get ready; the rest we're saving for special occasions to dispose of when we got family over and need something to throw on the fire. We like our celebrations. We'll put the torch to the smaller parts later this month.

***
This seems like a good time to give a little review of The Highwaymen.

I saw it via vidangel so that I could filter out the unpalatable parts--which in the case of this movie was mostly language but you might want to filter some of the violence if you want to avoid scenes of bloodshed.

Costner and Harrelson play Frank Hamer and Maney Gault, the Texas Rangers who helped put an end to Bonnie and Clyde. The movie is shown almost entirely from the point of view of these two. If I'm capable of doing basic addition and subtraction (and that is a matter of reasonable dispute), I calculate that Hamer was 50 years old and Gault was age 48 in 1934 when these events took place. Costner and Harrelson play the pair as old men who appear to be in their 60's. It worked for dramatic effect in my opinion.

The film is stunning in a way that doesn't draw attention to that fact. The camera angles, broad shots and narrow shots, are excellent without resorting to peculiar angles or perspectives. The sets/locations are beautiful in a plain and apparently authentic way. I'm no authority on the way things looked in 1934, but the film looked good. The old cars are always beautiful. Notably, there really aren't any good shots of Bonnie and Clyde until they look up into the camera (which is substituting for the eyes of Hamer and Gault) just before their very timely demise. They look like a pair of jr. high school kids skipping class.

The Hamer-Gault relationship is done well but not over done. They share some nice banter. Harrelson is of course the more talkative of the two. His character in speaking with other characters provides background about the pair of rangers. There were a couple quotes that I wanted to remember--but didn't.

I've previously mentioned the 1967 Faye Dunaway, Warren Beatty Bonnie and Clyde movie. This movie is nice contrast to that romanticized version of the criminals. If you're looking to see the seated herky-jerky dance by Bonnie and Clyde to the rapid staccato of several machine-guns, you won't be disappointed--but that scene isn't as memorable for me as it was in the 1967 movie. 

“...Deal mercifully with any whose wounds are too serious to treat. Put tomahawks in their hands before you send them to Valhalla. We’ll escort the wounded to town before we continue the chase. First we’ll construct a pyre.”
--The last words we hear from the Supreme Commander in chapter one of the sequel to Threading The Rude Eye (Tentatively entitled, Power to Hurt)

All of which means that not only is the first book available, the sequel is underway with the first chapter nearly complete--and serious carnage happens. (Serious Carnage -- should be a cartoon character name).

I spent about 5 hours Friday night and Saturday morning working on the paperback version -- I got an email last night or this morning telling me that the paperback is now also live for purchase. I'll order my copy tomorrow and post a picture when I get it. I went to significantly more effort getting this one into paperback than I did with Smoke. It looked fabulous on the screen. I hope the finished product is even better.

I said I was nearly done with the first chapter; that's correct. The new books is at 4K--it would've been double or triple that word count but for the fact that the flu fairy paid me an unsolicited visit and I thought it unwise to allow my fevered brain and trembling limbs to venture into the fictional world of my creation and thereby inflict the characters with tribulations any more severe than I have already planned for them: Things will get bad--very bad--for Alex and the crew. No point in giving them the flu too.

***

Finally, two unrelated items. 
First, from H.D. Thoreau:
"We are sometimes made aware of a kindness long passed, and realize that there have been times when our friends' thoughts of us were of so pure and lofty a character that they passed over us like the winds of heaven unnoticed; when they treated us not as what we were, but as what we aspired to be."

Second, for no particular reason, a partially painted woodland Indian

Picture taken a week or two ago during actual game play of A Song of Drums and Tomahawks. The woodland warriors were victorious over my frontier fighters.