Deadly Desire by Keri Arthur (Guest Review)

At my previous job, in the property industry, I met fellow reader and urban fantasy fan-girl, Carla Hale who became my touchstone of sanity. We would disappear into the kitchen for ages, talking about books, authors, books, authors, books, authors...you get the drift.

I supply Carla with some books which I don't have the time to read and she duly devours them in big gulps going NOM NOM NOM and loves me loads for giving her pretty books. It is a win-win relationship. All I have to do is now convince her to create an online blog or LJ account!

Synopsis:

Guardian Riley Jenson always seems to face the worst villains. And this time’s no different. For it’s no ordinary sorceress who can raise the dead to do her killing. But that’s exactly what Riley expects to find at the end of a trail of female corpses used—and discarded—in a bizarre ritual of evil. With pressure mounting to catch one fiend, another series of brutal slayings shocks the vampire world of her lover, Quinn. So the last thing Riley needs is the heat of the upcoming full moon bringing her werewolf hormones to a boil—or the reappearance of a sexy bounty hunter, the rogue wolf Kye Murphy.

Riley has threatened Murphy with arrest if he doesn’t back off the investigation, but it’s Riley who feels handcuffed by Kye’s lupine charm. Torn between her vamp and wolf natures, between her love for Quinn and her hots for Kye, Riley knows she’s courting danger and indulging the deadliest desires. For her hunt through the supernatural underworld will bring her face-to-face with what lurks in a darkness where even monsters fear to tread.

Carla says:

This is the 7th book in the Riley Jenson series and I am already looking forward to reading number 8 purely for the continuation (or maybe not?!) of the love affair between Riley and Quinn.

I found this book to be a bit on the weak side with regards to the actual story. There was a lot less mentioned about her brother Rhoan and his lover Liander who I grew to love in the other books.

There did not seem to be so much action with Riley and solving the murders - it all seemed a bit easy this time around.... but all that said.... I still cannot wait to read the next installment to find out exactly what happens with Riley and her two soul mates..

I'm rooting for Quinn all the way but reckon that her wolf side will win and Kye will be it!

Horror Blog Fest - Sam Enthoven talks Alan Moore, destroying London and monsters

The Eye of Sam Enthoven - the one that sees all and remembers everything!

I am a huge fan of Sam Enthoven - he's been there and done it. In fact, he's still doing it. Back in the he worked in a bookshop, saw the gap in the children's market for well written, funny and off-the-wall stories for kids and decided to try it himself. And whaddaya know, he's managed to pull it off. He is a personal hero of mine and also incredibly funny and entertaining to interview.

He has very kindly agreed to take part in the Horror Blog fest and has also offered to sweeten the deal with a giveaway, exclusive to MFB.

Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit more about you and your writing career.
Hi! I'm Sam Enthoven. I write fantastical action thrillers aimed at young people. The two you might (perhaps!) have heard of so far are The Black Tattoo and Tim, Defender of the Earth.

What is your most recent novel about – if you are allowed to tell us?

Tim is a giant monster smackdown in the classic kaiju style, over the course of which pretty much all London's famous landmarks are thoroughly and gleefully destroyed – MOO HOO HA HA! Um, sorry.

If you're talking about the one most recently written (as opposed to published – this one's not currently due out in shops 'til April 2010) then my latest project is a survival horror story. I visit lots of schools as part of my work: when I recently explained to a roomful of ten-year-olds that the new book is a bit like Alien meets Night of The Living Dead I was worried they maybe wouldn't get the references. Not a bit of it: they cheered!




What do you think makes the horror genre so fascinating to readers and writers?

People love to be scared. Or at least, scared in a way that's supposed to stop when the film ends, the game finishes, or you put the book down.

As a horror writer / fan, what sells a story / concept to you?

Atmosphere and psychology are important. A payoff that justifies the buildup is crucial. But I'm a 'Show Me The Monster!' person at heart. If it's got monsters, I'm there. :D

What movies / books influenced your development as a genre writer? Similarly, what books, movies, comics, get you excited as a fan?

Influences? Wow, too many to list here – but do check my LibraryThing profile if you like. Right now (April '09) I'm into Robert Kirkman's comics (smart, superfast, light touch storytelling: try The Astounding Wolf-Man – brilliant!); the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher (I have to pace myself with those or I'd devour the whole series in one gulp) and everything by Neal Asher (Monsters! Spaceships! Obscenely large-calibre weaponry! Huzzah!) Also I just read a terrific book called Invisible Fiends, by Barry Hutchison. It's not out 'til next year but he's a name to watch, for sure.

Who do you go all fan-boy about when it comes to the horror genre? Have you ever met anyone more famous than yourself and how did you react?

Liz already knows my Neil Gaiman story: that was embarrassing enough. But my personal nadir in the gibbering fanboy stakes was the time I met Alan Moore [You've read his run on Swamp Thing, right? That's some of the finest horror writing ever!] His book Voice of the Fire had just been published, and until I bothered him he was quietly going around the bookshops in London's Charing Cross Road signing copies. I said, 'Mr Moore?' He turned to look at me - and I promptly lost the power of speech.

I stood there for a while like a landed fish, my lower jaw flapping up and down uselessly. Mr Moore blinked a couple of times, then in a very kind voice said: 'Is there something you'd like to ask me?' -'YES!' I squeaked. He signed my V For Vendetta and we ended up having a wonderful and, to me, enormously inspiring chat. But it wasn't the most auspicious first impression I've ever made on someone, I imagine!

Lights on or off when watching horror flicks?

Off, except (heh!) for a very dim bloodred floor lamp I keep especially for the purpose.

Which do you prefer: Romero originals or remakes?

The original Dawn is great of course, and the black and white Night is just unbeatable. But I'm not a 'fast zombies bad' hard-liner: I thought the Zack Snyder Dawn was excellent.

What is the best advice you ever received from someone about horror writing?

It's all about the characters. Sometimes I wish it wasn't so: characterisation is hard! But it's true. You can have all kinds of mayhem going on, but the only thing that's going to make audiences and readers really jump is if it's happening to people they care about. Not necessarily like (see above re NOTLD – genius!) But, know and believe in? Definitely.

The horror genre has seen many incarnations over the past few years – what do you think the future holds for the genre?

I couldn't begin to guess. That's one of the things I love about it. And the possibility, however unlikely, that my stuff might influence a whole new coming generation of horror creators… wow, that makes me very excited!

Do you have a zombie apocalypse survival plan – apart from going to hide in the Winchester, that is! – and will you be able to implement it?

Have you read World War Z, by Max Brooks?? If it happens, we're screwed: I'll be straight down the pub, and I ain't coming out 'til I'm zombie nosh!

Are there any “how to” books on your bookshelf you would recommend to aspiring authors?

I see previous interviewees have picked this already, but it's worth saying again: On Writing, by Stephen King. Never mind horror, anyone who's thinking of writing anything should read it. It is, without doubt, the single best book I've come across so far on the subject.

If you had a chance to invite any horror legend, be it actor, writer, director, author (living / dead / undead) over for some tea, who would you choose and why?

I don't drink tea. But if you're talking about something stronger, to be sipped, perhaps, in comfy leather armchairs, in a book-lined room, with no light but a flickering log fire and the occasional shattering flash from the storm outside, then having M R James and Saki round trying to out-spook each other would be pretty much my ideal. Hee hee hee!

Thanks and best wishes to all reading this,

Sam (April '09)



Giveaway Details:



Sam has agreed to let one luck entrant have a personalised copy of Black Tattoo from his personal hoard. In other words, this is a limited first edition. I know some kids who would stalk the winner if they found this out...It will be personalised to the winner. It is UK entrants only. It will run until Friday 12 June 2009. The winner will be chosen through Random.org. You will be emailed on Friday to be informed of your win and I will be sending your details onto Sam so that he can post your copy of Black Tattoo onto you.

To enter email us at: myfavouritebooksatblogspot(@)googlemail(dot)com with Black Tattoo in the subject line.


Play by the rules. Tell your mates. Read responsibly.

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan (Summer Reads List Choice)

Synopsis:

Nick and his brother Alan are on the run with their mother, who was once the lover of a powerful magician. When she left him, she stole an important charm - and he will stop at nothing to reclaim it. Now Alan has been marked with the sign of death by the magician's demon, and only Nick can save him. But to do so he must face those he has fled from all his life - the magicians - and kill them. So the hunted becomes the hunter… but in saving his brother, Nick discovers something that will unravel his whole past…

Three things about this novel:

1. Sarah Rees Brennan is someone to watch!

2. Bad boys are truly cool

3. Sarah Rees Brennan is someone to watch!

I almost wish that this can be my entire review but I know I'll get beaten up, so here's the rest.

There is so much that is just "right" in this astonishing debut - pace, characterisation, the plot, the feeling of an overall tale being told and the knowledge of more good stuff to come. (No pressure, SRB!)

In Nick and his brother Alan we have two very different people and the author takes great care in exposing us to that - she is very careful with her scenes, allowing us to zoom in on the action taking place and then skipping out before it gets tedious. This makes the book also a deceptively quick read but NOT an easy one. I gulped it down in two half an hour train journeys, two ten minute bus rides and one hour of lunch. And I don't think I'm a fast reader.

We quickly learn that magicians are after Alan and Nick – we have to very quickly become comfortable with the fact that beneath the façade of normality which they project, the boys are very capable when it comes to defending themselves. Alan has his bookish nerdy ways and Nick is the scary one who bristles with weapons and one-liners that are Whedonesque in their aptness.

Into their lives stroll Jamie and Mae Cameron – two kids who know nothing about the supernatural world but they suspect something is going on…and this is proved true when they walk into the aftermath of a magician/demon attack on Alan and Nick.

Nick’s resentment of Mae and Jamie’s presence is another item of conflict and serves to move the story forward rapidly, developing the storyline with great ease. The author keeps the emotional conflict interesting and Jamie’s continued terror in the presence of the inscrutable Nick is used as a comedic foil – it could have been grating if not handled properly but it works very well. Jamie’s terror and Nick’s apparent fearlessness contrasts vividly, serving to highlight Nick’s ruthless character.

Speaking of ruthless character – it’s only been in Kate Thompson’s Creature of the Night that I’ve previously come across someone as distanced, violently angry (seeming all the time) as Nick’s character in Demon’s Lexicon.

Nick cares about no one – Alan is his world. He would do anything to keep him safe and alive. Nothing else enters his mind – it is only that. He intensely dislikes his mother for her insanity, her dislike of him, her apparent love for Alan and for putting them in a situation as vile as this – running for their lives, all the time. Interestingly, unlike in Rob Thurman’s books and many other books written in the YA urban fantasy genre, Demon’s Lexicon is told in third person. I was surprised at first, but the author allows Nick’s observations and his thought processes to highlight how distanced he is from the normal world. It could have been jarring, it could have gone very wrong, we might have turned around and had issues with this awful character but we are pulled up short by how humane the author has made her main character in the small ways that matters.

The climax of the novel, the big reveal took me completely by surprise. You see what happens is…that you need to read the book to find out! I gaped when I read it, having expected a sneaky twist of a twister and you know, I did not expect the revelations. And looking back at what I had read I should go “duh, but of course!”

The novel works on many levels – oh it has the usual urban fantasy and young adult tropes, but it’s a testament to Sarah RB’s devious little mind that it never ever falls into the trap of being a trope and lifts it above being yet another novel following in the wake of the Stephanie Meyer cruiseliner. It is fresh, it is new and most of all, it has introduced two very well developed main characters and a supporting cast set in a world not so dissimilar to our own. Just keep an eye out for that mist.

Summer Reads List Score:

9/10 Stars

Find Sarah Rees Brennan’s site over at http://www.sarahreesbrennan.com/ . There is also a fun Q&A with Sarah at her UK publishers site here - http://authors.simonandschuster.co.uk/Sarah-Rees-Brennan/46599925/author_revealed . I’ve heard from my friends at The Booksmugglers - http://thebooksmugglers.com/ - that they are hosting Sarah on Monday, 8th June and that there will be a competition.

Sarah will also be in town next week – she will be appearing IN THE FLESH (as opposed to being a hologram) courtesy of the Murder One UK Film Club. Please note that the signing is a public signing but that the film event is only for those belonging to the Murder One Film Club. Those interested in joining, please contact Tania and Trisha on UK number: 0207 739 7796

Murder One UK Film Club

NEW FILM NIGHT!

Film night with Sarah Rees Brennan

June 8th (Monday)

6:30pm start

Approx. 7:30pm film start

Venue: HOME BAR (101-106 Leonard Street [EC2], in Shoreditch)

Murder One Film Club presents the launch of debut YA fantasy author Sarah Rees Brennan’s THE DEMON’S LEXICON (Simon & Schuster), plus a screening of her film pick, HELLBOY.

Red Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells (Guest Review)

Reviewed by Skarrah (aka Lexi)

When Liz asked me if I wanted to review Jaye Wells’s RED-HEADED STEPCHILD, I pretty much ripped her arm off for the chance. I’ve been waiting for this debut and I was not disappointed.

A mission that seemed simple, if not a little inconvenient to her reputation, soon gets complicated and Sabina finds herself making friends and enemies and discovering things about herself and her family that she never even dreamed of. None of which is helped by Adam Lazarus, a sexy mage bringing her an appointment with destiny and a promise of power. Whether she likes it or not.

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.

This time, it's personal.

Straight off, I have to say my favourite thing about the book was the way Ms. Wells has used Biblical mythology in crafting Sabina’s world. All vampires bear the mark of Cain and an apple a day won’t keep the doctor at bay.

That and a certain demon cat.

I couldn’t put the book down. There’s conflict on just about every page and the characters are both fun and funny. I loved watching as Sabina started to question the very foundations her life has been based on. I loved seeing her deal with her new found friendships, something she hasn’t had all that much practise in. Sabina is tough, she can kick ass, but that’s not all there is to her. For a half vampire Sabina is remarkably human. It’s that humanity mixed with her ability to mop the floor with smart mouthed tough guys that sticks with you and makes you want to keep turning the pages.

Whilst there are undoubtedly some sexy bits in this book I was over the moon to find out Sabina doesn’t jump in bed with the nearest red-blooded male. No matter how appealing he may be. It’s nice to read a woman that has her priorities in order, and sex not being at the top of the list.

All in all RED-HEADED STEPCHILD is a good solid read with something for everyone. There’s mystery, romance, action, a butt load of secrets and surprises all seamlessly woven together.

You can find Jaye Wells on her website http://jayewells.com/ or at http://reluctantadults.blogspot.com/ Her book RED-HEADED STEPCHILD is available now, published by Orbit.

Horror Blog Fest: Half a Booksmuggler Tells tales of Horror

I had heard about these two crazy girls called Ana and Thea doing all kinds of wild reviews online at a blog called The Book Smugglers from a mutual friend, Kaz Mahoney. Now Kaz, to be honest, is a bit of a mediator. She brings bookpeople together and deserves a huge bouquet of flowers and free blackberry or something. (grins) So, through Kaz I got to know The Book Smugglers and also got to meet Ana, in person recently on a trip to London from Cambridge. I had approached the girls during the time they were running their Zombie Week to take part in the Horror Blog Fest and Thea, the OTHER half of the Booksmugglers replied (she lives in Los Angeles) that she would be keen to do so as she is a horror-nut. And here is Thea, spouting forth about horror.

Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit more about you and your writing career.
Howdy, my name is Thea James, and I co-run The Book Smugglers – a website dedicated to book reviews. I’m 24 years old, I live in Los Angeles, and I like moonlight strolls, barefoot, on the beach. Ok not really the moonlight strolls part. Really, I love horror movies, basketball, and the Sci Fi channel. And books. Lots and lots of books.

I’m not a writer (though I do secretly aspire to writing the Next Great Horror Novel or comic someday), but I am an avid reader and have been reviewing works of speculative fiction for over a year now.

What is your most recent novel about – or what are you currently reading?

If I had a recent novel, it would totally be a ‘cabin in the woods’ kind of story. I’ve always wanted to write one of those...

The novel I’m reading at the moment is Hunger by Michael Grant. It’s a young adult horror novel, book 2 in a series, about a small, nuclear plant powered seaside town in California. One day, all of a sudden, everyone 14 and older disappears, leaving the children of the town to fend for themselves. The town itself is sealed in by a bubble-like force field, so no one can get in or out. The kids start, of course, going all Lord of the Flies on each other and two camps emerge. Oh, and some of the kids start to develop superpowers – as do animals (they are mutating; coyotes can talk and grow wolf-like in size, snakes can fly, etc). To spice things up, the instant they turn 14, the kids disappear just like their parents before them. Oh, and there’s a “monster” too. Like I said, very William Golding, with a good measure of Stephen King thrown in. I’m really enjoying it.

What do you think makes the horror genre so fascinating to readers and writers?

It’s in human nature to crave feeling – whether it is love, happiness, sadness, or terror. What fascinates about horror is that it gives us a different kind of emotion, outside of that standard range. It’s not something we usually feel on a day to day basis, so it’s even more exhilarating. In books and film, it’s like the equivalent of a roller coaster – we really shouldn’t be getting into machines that hurl us through the sky at insane speeds, but the thrill is unparalleled. The same applies to the horror genre – true fear is an experience. I’m always looking for my next good fix.

As a horror writer / fan, what sells a story / concept to you?

In the books I read, the first thing that catches my attention is the writing. Horror, unfortunately, is not as popular or respected a genre as fantasy or mystery/thrillers, and more often these books are lumped in the general fiction section, or in a dusty corner under the speculative fiction umbrella. As such, a lot of the new horror I read is published by smaller presses, up-and-coming authors, internet-only books, etc. And, unfortunately, this sometimes means books are rougher – namely, they are in need of serious editing, or the authorial voice just isn’t up to par. So, for me, a horror novel that is well written will gain a big upper-hand.

The other things that sell a horror novel to me are strong characters and originality. One of the paradoxical pitfalls of the genre is a desire to write something terrifying, so much time and effort is spent on atmosphere and detailed descriptions. What makes a book terrifying (for me) is putting characters I care about or can relate to in horrifying situations – the emotional investment makes it all the more real. (Unless you’re H.P. Lovecraft you can’t really get away with extensive atmosphere/monster stories)

And then there’s originality. The idea itself doesn’t have to be original (although that will immediately grab my attention). Go ahead and have vampires terrorizing a small town or zombies shambling up to a farmhouse or whatever – what matters to me is what you DO with these older ideas and plot lines. How can you add something different to make it entirely your own? What makes you different from the rest of the aspiring writers out there? That spin is what will sell a story to me, as a reader.

What movies / books influenced your development as a genre writer? Similarly, what books, movies, comics, get you excited as a fan?

Oho. How much time do I have? Heh. Ok, broad strokes:

One of the first books my dad read to me at night was this gorgeous, illustrated version of Edgar Allen Poe’s poems and a few short stories. The first poem I memorized was his “El Dorado.” As such, Poe has always been a big part of my growing up – including the old Vincent Price films (The Raven, The Black Cat, Morella, The Masque of the Red Death). My family on my dad’s side are huge into horror, and my family had no scruples about showing me some scary shit when I was a kid. As a child of the ‘80s, I got all the goodie old slashers – Chucky, Freddy, Jason, Michael, and my dad’s favourite, Pinhead. But there were also the B-movies and oldies that played a huge role (Carnival of Souls, Basket Case), the obligatory classics (The Omen, The Exorcist, Evil Dead/II/Army of Darkness, Romero’s then-trilogy), and my obsession with shows like Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt and The X-Files. And, of course, Stephen King. I read It when I was twelve and I have never looked back. Other formative books: the Scary Stories books from Alvin Schwartz, anything by Clive Barker, and my first author love Christopher Pike.

I still have all of my Christopher Pike books. Unlike that weaksauce, juvenile R.L. Stine, Pike wrote stories. He wrote about characters, heartbreak, and true horror. I really do wish he’d keep writing – his adult books were wonderful as well.

As for what gets me excited now? Anything new, basically. I like The Walking Dead comics, though the series is kinda dragging in these later instalments. I like the new adaptations of Stephen King’s The Stand and Peter David’s continuation of Roland’s younger years following Wizard and Glass in his The Dark Tower arcs. I like the ongoing Marvel Zombies specials, even though they don’t quite have the same humor and sparkle as the first couple of arcs did. As for books, I am loving the new wave of young adult horror: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, Life as We Knew it and the dead and the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Gone and Hunger by Michael Grant, The Devouring by Simon Holt, The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness...my favourite horror novels in the past year or so have all come from the young adult field.

And, of course, I’m always excited by the prospect of a new King book. I’m stoked for Dome.

Who do you go all fan-boy about when it comes to the horror genre? Have you ever met anyone more famous than yourself and how did you react?

Stephen King. Haha. Couldn’t you guess? Yes, I know his books are over-long, his endings tend to be weak, his recent books have been less than stellar...but he’s my favourite author. I love the stories he tells, and I am an unabashed fangirl. I think I’d shit myself if I ever had the chance to meet him.

As for meeting anyone famous...not really! Certainly no one from the horror field anyways. Unfortunately.

If you had a chance to invite any horror legend, be it actor, writer, director, author (living / dead / undead) over for some tea, who would you choose and why?

I’d invite Vincent Price over. We wouldn’t do anything except sit across from each other and have an epic stare-off.

Lights on or off when watching horror flicks?

Off, baby. You know I like it like that.

Which do you prefer: Romero originals or remakes?

Originals. Although I do like the remakes, original recipe is the best beyond a doubt.

What is the best advice you ever received from someone about horror writing?

Stephen King told me (ok, he told everyone in his book On Writing) that in order to be a horror writer, you really do have to get out there and read. And I think this holds true for authors of any genre – a love for reading is a cornerstone.

Sam Raimi

The horror genre has seen many incarnations over the past few years – what do you think the future holds for the genre?

Remakes are still going strong, and I’m tentatively excited for Rob Zombie’s H2 at the end of summer. But, what I’m hoping for is a resurgence of original horror films, in the mainstream. Raimi’s Drag Me To Hell is a good start, and hopefully other major studios will follow suit (as opposed to putting out that Molly Hartley crap or yet another shitty knockoff of J-Horror/Asian Tartan Extreme).

Books seem to be focusing more on the apocalypse theme, which has me happy as a clam. I’ve read a good number of apocalypse/post-apocalypse new releases this year, and am altogether pleased with the new direction. In both young adult and adult horror novels, vampires are being phased out (fingers crossed) and zombies are taking their place...hopefully this trend sticks, too.

Do you have a zombie apocalypse survival plan – apart from going to hide in the Winchester, that is! – and will you be able to implement it?

Oh, you best believe I do. Seriously, I do. In a nutshell:

Thea’s Zombie Escape Plan

(Assuming the Apocalypse occurs and I am in my apartment)

I’m lucky enough to live on the top floor of my apartment building, and my unit can only be accessed via a single flight of stairs ending at my doorstep. So, it’s Z-Day. First thing I do once I notice some shambling brain-munchers outside is immediately take my handy power drill (it’s always charged) and unscrew the iron siding of my staircase in an attempt to disconnect the stairs from my front door. Once that’s accomplished (or even if it is a fruitless task), I lock the front door (which, by the way is incredibly sturdy, I know from experience having been locked out recently) and barricade it and my front hallway with my dresser and other assorted furniture. Next, I fill both bathtubs and my sink with water (in case of a longer siege and considering how fragile our infrastructure is, I’ll need all the water I can get), also trying to bottle and save as much liquid as I can get. I get my handy baseball bat and any other melee weapons (table legs, lamp stands, golf clubs) and keep them handy…and I settle in for as long as I can–at least until the initial chaos ends. I keep the battery powered boombox handy, and I wait for further instructions. After the initial chaos runs its course, I evaluate my options (and how busy the street is with corpsicles). I am one block away from a local high school (you might recognize it from Buffy and other movies), and two blocks away from a national guard and army training facility. Using my handy ladder, my exit route is through the bedroom window, down three stories to the ground (in a pinch, I could probably chance a jump) then running, baseball bat in hand, for the car in the gated garage…or if worse comes to worst, running the streets to get to the army facility. If it’s abandoned, or a zombie haven, or if the facility is full of d-bags as in almost all zombie films and literature, I double back to the school (which is gated, mind you) and hole up or gather supplies depending on how dire the situation is….and then, it’s back to the waiting game. Eventually I might make a stab for the Getty (elevated position, great art, possibility of growing stuff off the land, etc) should things stay hairy.

The Getty Center
At least, that’s the plan. For now.
You asked.

Are there any “how to” books on your bookshelf you would recommend to aspiring authors?

Stephen King’s On Writing. Again, huge fan here.

Mea Culpa, mea maxima culpa (Horror blog fest post)

In my isane search for people before the Horror Fest started and during April and May became such a success that I exceeded what I thought I would post. So, it's officially true that the Horror Blog Fest will continue into June.

I sincerely apologise to everyone I had contacted who had not yet appeared on the blog as part of the Horror Blog tour - it's all still happening and I'm looking forward to setting the other blogs up in the next few days.

So, I apologise, this time for those of you who may not have enjoyed the Horror Fest all that much - sorry, it's still here and everyone else who loved it, gets to enjoy more of it. Plus there are some super cool competitions to go with the continuing Horror Fest, so keep an eye out for that too!

Summer Reads List

For a little while now, Mark and I have been thinking about doing our own version of the R&J Summer Reads. Now that Summer is here officially - in the northern hemisphere, at least - we've decided to go ahead and do exactly that.

The books on the Summer Reads list are books that I've received recently or bought because something about them drew my attention. There is no high brow criteria when it came to choosing these books. I may have liked the cover or the premise sounded interesting or it may have come to me by way of my writerly/bloggy friends who said that they liked it. The books on this list will also be the only books on the blog to receive starred reviews. Rare in itself.

The selected titles will grow - as more books come in / are bought. These reviews may not be as intense as our previous reviews, purely because we will be working towards a tight deadline. We will also be working very hard to get some of these to give away on the blog.

The way the books appear on the list is not in any specific order - they'll be read as Mark and I grab the next one in the pile. I may be getting some people to do guest reviews. So, fellow bloggers and friends of the blog, watch our for a nagging email from my side!

The intial list stands as follows:

Standalone Novels

Adult Reviews

• Storm Glass by Maria V Snyder, published by MIRA in May 2009
• The Cold Kiss of Death by Suzanne McLeod, published by Gollancz in July 2009
• Hunt at the Well of Eternity by Gabriel Hunt as told to James Reasoner, published by Dorchester Publishing
• The Secret of Excalibur by Andy McDermott, published by Headline in May 2009
• At the City's Edge by Marcus Sakey, published by Penguin in May 2009
• Night of the Miraj by Zoe Ferraris, published by Abacus Books in May 2009
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, published by Gollancz in June 2008
• A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin, published by Orbit in April 2009
• Principles of Angels by Jaine Fenn published by Gollancz in June 2008
• Nights of Villjamur by Mark C Newton published by Tor UK in June 2009
• Black & White by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittridge (double review with guest reviewer) published by Bantam Spectra in June.
• Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar to be published by Piatkus in 2009
• The Amulet of Vichalace by Zoe Stead published by Olympia Publishers 2008

Children / YA Reviews

• The Poison Garden by Sarah Singleton, published by Simon & Schuster May 2009
• The Eye of the Serpent by Philip Caveney, published by Red Fox in August 2008
• Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr, published by Harper Collins
• Who is Charlie Keeper by Marcus Alexander
• Sprout by Dale Peck published by Bloomsbury
• The Demon Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan published by Simon & Schuster

Series Reviews:

Adult

• Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy
• Kat Richardson's First Four books in the Harper Blane series (ongoing)

Children / YA

• Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (S&S)
• The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (S&S)
• A great and terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (S&S)

• Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, published by Walker Books
• The Ask and The Answer - by Patrick Ness, published by Walker Books

• Mirrorscape by Mike Wilks published by Egmont
• Mirrorstorm by Mike Wilks published by Egmont

It looks a lot but then Summer is long and we are doing our utmost to keep our weekends free as the past six months have been insane.

Winner! HATER Competition

And we have a winner in the David Moody Hater competition. Thanks to Random.org who came up with entry number 22, which happened to be Robert Banning. Sadly, I have no idea where Robert lives...which is why I'm using his full name here....

Congratulations Robert! I've sent you your confirmation email so please do get in touch with us with your address details as soon as possible which I'll forward onto David so that he can send the signed dedicated limited super dooper edition of Hater onto you.

Can I just say that this has been a blast - thank you everyone for entering! I was worried our inbox was going to explode. I wish I had treats for all of you - some of those emails were so funny. I love chocolate, I honestly do, just not THAT much!

Thank you to David for this fantastic gesture and for making this competition possible. To those who didn't win, thank you for entering regardless. You've proven your dedication to your man!

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Synopsis:

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead —but still walking— and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever — or whoever — is hunting her?

I have WANTED to read Strange Angels since the first time I saw the cover up on Lilith's site. The look is dark and moody and you just know the main character is going to be kick-butt and cool.

As my friends Karen and Ana can testify, once I started reading Strange Angels I had my doubts. I won't deny it. It was not what I expected. But then I realised how biased I am being, reading this as an adult novel in the same vein as Lili's other books for adults (which she writes under her name Lilith Saintcrow). So, I made the effort to stand aside, see Strange Angels with fresh eyes and take it in as a newcomer to Lili's work and seeing it from a YA reader's perspective, and you know what? This book is pretty darn fab. (Liz eating humble pie)

Dru is not a happy person. She's grumpy and a bit of a cow and she has an attitude. But taken into consideration the type of life she's lead and how close she is to her father and how demanding he's been of her, you understand her motivations and her grumpiness.

Lili's world-building in Strange Angels is quite good but what shines is her characterisation of Dru, Graves and Christophe. The bleakness of the landscape the novel is set against highlights the characters' isolation and forms a strong contrast for the warmth of real friendship which grows between Dru and Graves.

There is the teeniest, tiniest, bit of romantic interest but it is almost an aside as the situation these characters find themselves in does not lend itself to a furtherance at this time. Which - I personally - found refreshing.

The mystery surrounding Dru is revealed in good old fashioned drips and drabs and even then there are some questions remaining. The mythology is strongly European and probably a bit more brutal than expected - readers should be warned that this is not a novel to be tackled lightly, expecting it to be LJ Smith or Stephenie Meyer-alikes.

Strange Angels has this brutal and intense fight scene towards the end and you know something? If there is one thing that Ms. St Crow can write, leaving her contemporary YA and adult urban fantasy authors in the dust, it is fight scenes. Well executed with tremendous action and superb descriptions it leaves you aching and breathless.

I think that Strange Angels sets up the characters and storyline very well and in retrospect, my regret is now that I rushed out and bought it early...and therefore have a long(ish) wait for the second novel: Betrayals to show up. *waits*

I am unsure if Strange Angels will be published in the UK but it is available online and from bookstores - I bought my copy from one of Amazon's sellers: aphrohead_books because Amazon did not have copies in, at that time.

Find Lilith Saintcrow / Lili St. Crow's site here. Strange Angels has been published in the USA by RazorBill, part of Penguin USA.

The Lost City of Z: A Legendary British Explorer's Deadly Quest to Uncover the Secrets of the Amazon' by David Grann

Synopsis

Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett was the last of a breed of great British explorers who ventured into 'blank spots' on the map with little more than a machete, a compass and unwavering sense of purpose. In 1925, one of the few remaining blank spots in the world was in the Amazon. Fawcett believed the impenetrable jungle held a secret to a large, complex civilization like El Dorado, which he christened the 'City of Z'. When he and his son set out to find it, hoping to make one of the most important archeological discoveries in history, they warned that none should follow them in the event that they did not return. They vanished without a trace. For the next eighty years, hordes of explorers -- shocked that a man many deemed invincible could disappear in a land he knew better than anyone, and drawn by the centuries-old myth of El Dorado -- searched for the expedition and the city. Many died from starvation, disease, attacks by wild animals, and poisonous arrows. Others simply vanished.

In The Lost City of Z, David Grann ventures into the hazardous wild world of the Amazon to retrace the footsteps of the great Colonel Fawcett and his followers, in a bracing attempt to solve one of the greatest mysteries. It is an irresistibly readable adventure story, a subtle examination of the strange and often violent encounters between Europeans and Amazonian tribes and a tale of lethal obsession.

I grew up with Indiana Jones – I wanted nothing more than to be an explorer and an archaeologist or an anthropologist, discovering ancient lost things and mysteries, finding lost tribes and learning about them. In fact, I dug up our backyard for years keen to find a lost treasure. I went so far as to bury some of my toys and then a week later I would dig around to “rediscover” them. My parents despaired. I lost a lot of toys. In fact, I still mourn my box of smurfs I hid on a beach in Durban all those years ago! Upon our return a year later the entire beach had been landscaped and my smurfs were gone!

When I received Lost City of Z from S&S I was initially not that keen to read it – I thought, bah humbug, search for El Dorado, done, done, done – it cannot be anything new. But then I read the blurbs, did some googling on the main character of Fawcett and fell under the sway.

Lost City of Z is the story of writer David Grann (who presents himself in a very humourous, non-heroic fashion to the readers) in pursuit of the legend that is Percy Fawcett who in turn was a British explorer at the turn of the 19th century.

Fawcett’s obsession was the Lost City of Z (a term he coined) – we know it as El Dorado - was all consuming. He became paranoid, keeping his diaries and the place he thought it would be, hidden from everyone, even his family. In the early 1900’s Fawcett walked into the jungles of America and off any known map. He disappeared without a trace. There were clues though – several in fact, about the route he took. Initially the world waited with bated breath – here was a true adventurer – stoic, heroic, stubborn and almost superhuman when it came to endurance.

Before setting off on his last journey, Fawcett mapped several remote areas on South America and came home victorious – if a lot thinner with a reputation. As much as he appeared in public as an amazing explorer and wayfinder and mapmaker, he was also an intensely personal man, which I think, helped keep his legend alive.

David Grann’s description of his journey and who he is, is an honest one – he states: “Let me be clear, I am not an explorer or an adventurer. I don’t climb mountains or hunt. I don’t even like to camp. I stand less than five feet nine inches tall and am nearly 40 years old, with a blossoming waistline and thinning hair.” More honest than that, you do not get.

We follow David on his hunt, as he tracks down the real Fawcett. What I thoroughly enjoyed in this book, is how he got into Fawcett’s mind. Yes, there is conjecture, but it is all based on common sense and supported by factual letters and other papers held by various people (including papers held by Fawcett’s remaining family members).

The resulting and incredible research, the dedication to detail, the conversational tone of the book and the author’s own adventures make for gripping reading. The author touches on what can only be called mythic anthropology during his journey – conjecturing on the fates of forgotten explorers who in turn went searching for Fawcett and El Dorado / City of Z and hoping to find those elusive the lost shadowy tribes of this dense jungle.

As important as Fawcett and his expedition is to Mr. Grann’s story, what looms and overshadows and takes centre stage is the amazing jungle which seems to swallow everything before it. We read about other badly managed expeditions into the jungle where one or two survivors managed to make it out – close to death, with horror stories of being eaten alive by insects as they were traversing this dark and dangerous place. So much happened back in the early 1900’s – it was the time of the amateur adventurer, the gentleman soldier – and Grann serves to cut through the gloss down to the bone of the matter, stripping the veneer of Victoriana away, revealing the hardships and horrors these men had to endure, during the race to map and explore the furtherest reaches of our known world.

The book is a hugely entertaining read – shocking, illuminating and beautifully written. No wonder it’s being turned into a movie (starring Brad Pitt). I kid you not. Read it now, before everyone else does – read it because this is what adventure writing is really about.

David Grann’s journey into the jungle and his search to find Fawcett is plainly said one of the best reads I’ve had this year when it comes to non-fiction or rather non-fictional writing. Non-fiction has the bad rap for being dry and boring and dull and only good to buy for parents or friends you don’t like. I think David Grann manages to pluck that image out of our heads and trample it in this instance.

It is the perfect summer read and one that will make you look at books written during this time by Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, Jules Verne, Lord Dunsany and a host of others with fresh eyes. They lived in a time when people like Fawcett became legends to content with – real men of discovery who made fictional stories appear pale by comparison.

Find David Grann’s site here. The Lost City of Z can be found here at Simon and Schuster, his UK publisher’s site or in any good bookstores. David's also written a very interesting and in depth article for the Telegraph which can be found here. And I am happy to report that Lost City of Z has been nominated for the long list and chosen for the shortlist for the Samuel Johnson Prize with the winner being announced on 30th June 2009. Hold thumbs - Lost City of Z must win!

THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE 2009 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

The shortlist for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2009, the award for a first novel published in the UK, is announced today, Tuesday 26 May 2009. The line-up features three outstanding first novels described by the judges as “three haunting books, all gripping in different ways.” Edward Hogan, Nathalie Abi-Ezzi and Anthony Quinn from Derby, Lebanon and Liverpool respectively, all use their homelands as the backdrop for their novels.

The three novels shortlisted for The Desmond Elliott Prize 2009 are as follows:

Blackmoor by Edward Hogan (Simon & Schuster)‘There's a subtle magic to Hogan's prose, and a passionate concern for the part of the world where this novel is based, which invites comparison with D H Lawrence – but that would be lazy. This novel … has confidence, mystery and an entrancing sense of itself.’ The Independent on Sunday. Find the link to S&S page for Blackmoor here.

A Girl Made of Dust by Nathalie Abi-Ezzi (Fourth Estate)‘Captivating. A subtle, pertinent depiction of civilian life in the midst of bewildering conflict.’ The Guardian Find the link to Harper Collins (Fourth Estate) site here.

The Rescue Man by Anthony Quinn (Jonathan Cape)
‘Ambitiously conceived...perfect pitch when it comes to the prose of each period' The Observer Find the link to more information at Random House (Jonathan Cape) here.

Candida Lycett Green, on behalf of the judges, comments:

“We have been both entertained and inspired by the quality of writing amongst the contenders for this year’s shortlist and it was very difficult to decide on a final three. The result is a shortlist of three haunting books, all gripping in different ways while dealing with the complications of love and life in extremis. Together they are a celebration of new writing of which Desmond Elliott would be proud.”

The Desmond Elliott Prize 2009 panel of judges is chaired by Candida Lycett Green who is joined by former Literary Editor of The Independent on Sunday, Suzi Feay, and Rodney Troubridge of Waterstone’s.

William Hill bookmakers gave the following odds on this year’s shortlist:

Blackmoor by Edward Hogan (Simon & Schuster) – 5/4
A Girl Made of Dust by Nathalie Abi-Ezzi (Fourth Estate) – 7/4
The Rescue Man by Anthony Quinn (Jonathan Cape) – 2/1

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe commented, “There is a well-known horse racing adage which says 'always back the outsider in a three horse race'. This is one of the most competitive three horse literary races I can recall, and it is impossible to rule any one of the three out as a potential winner. Each has its own very worthy merits and I don't envy the judges their task of selecting a winner from what looks to be a genuine three-way photo finish.”

When judging the Prize, the judges are looking for a novel of depth and breadth with a compelling narrative. The work should be vividly written and confidently realised and should contain original and arresting characters. Books from all fiction genres have been considered.

The inaugural prize was won by Nikita Lalwani in 2008 for her novel, Gifted. The novel enjoyed great critical and popular success and went on to be named as one of The Observer’s Books of the Year.

The Prize was established in honour of publisher and literary agent Desmond Elliott, one of the most charismatic and successful men in this field, who died in August'03. He stipulated that his estate should be invested in a charitable trust that would fund a literary award “to enrich the careers of new writers”.

Worth £10,000 to the winner, the prize is intended to support new writers and to celebrate their fiction.

The winner of the 2009 Desmond Elliott Prize will be announced on Wednesday 24 June at Fortnum & Mason, Desmond’s ‘local grocer’, in London.

Horror Blog Fest - Allyson Bird nestles in for a chat

Mark and I got to meet Allyson Bird this year at Eastercon and after several long chats I got her to agree to take part in the Horror Blog Fest. We did a review for Bull Running for Girls a while back and I knew I had to pick her brains a bit! And in her own words...

1) Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit more about you and your writing career.

Allyson Bird is my name and I live on the edge of the South Yorkshire moors in England.

My short story collection Bull Running for Girls (for adults) has been published by Screaming Dreams Press and has been recommended for The British Fantasy Society awards http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/ for best collection 2008 and my short story The Caul Bearer has been recommended for best short story. The story can be found on the Screaming Dreams website as a rather cool Issuu flip-book or PDF. http://www.screamingdreams.com/

The cover is by the artist Vincent Chong and the process of getting to the final artwork was a wonderful experience. I gave him a photo of Diana Rigg in The New Avengers and we developed it from there.

I’ve always written but after my mother died recently I started to write short stories to work my way through the grieving process. I spent many long nights at the computer due to insomnia and sometimes in floods of tears. It didn’t end there. Last year my sister Sylvia died too and with the deadline fast approaching for the collection to be finished I once more turned to horror to relieve my darkest fears and nightmares. I wrote through fear of death, anger at many and was amazed that I got through it all. Now the book stands as a tribute to my strong and fascinating women.

I kept this in front of me as I wrote.

‘To live is to war with trolls
In the holds of the heart and mind;
To write is to hold
Judgement Day over the self.’ by Henrik Ibsen.

2) What is your most recent novel about – if you are allowed to tell us?

My novel Isis Unbound is under consideration by a publisher at the moment so I can’t say much about that. Hope to soon though but I can talk about Bull Running for Girls which is a selection of adventure-horror stories set in many locations, from the excitement and danger of bull running in Pamplona, to small town life in Madison County U.S. Stories set amidst the bustle of Hong Kong and under a hunter’s moon in Bordeaux. It is about women protagonists who ‘seize the day.’ The collection explores innocence and experience. Not all the main protagonists are female, and some of them aren’t even alive. Bit of a blurb there.

There are 21 stories in all so too many to mention here but The Conical Witch and Medium Strange are set in Penistone Yorkshire, although names and locations have been changed to protect the innocent…In the Hall of the Mountain King, The Bone Grinder and Wings of Night are all set in Manchester. On Shadow upon Shadow. When Alice Harwood committed adultery she expected to pay for it one day but the form and manner of that payment touched the essence of evil. Quote from Ramsey CAMPBELL. ‘A Dark tale indeed!’ In the Wake of the Dead: set in nineteenth century Sligo where magic and ritual have terrible consequences for the occupants of Elsinore House. ‘A potent brew of historical facts and gruesome imaginings.’ Simon CLARK.

Influences include Lovecraft, Ramsey Campbell, Hemingway, Orson Welles, Christina Rossetti, Edith Wharton, R.L. Stevenson, Yeats, Keats, Shakespeare, Bram Stoker, Boccaccio, William Blake, Aleister Crowley, Lisa Tuttle, Lansdale and Robert Aickman.

3) What do you think makes the horror genre so fascinating to readers and writers?

I’m quite a personal writer so I never hold back within the narrative therefore there is quite a lot of thinly-disguised autobiography in some of the stories. I look for that in other writers and some sort of challenge for the mind and to the senses too. One such writer is Herman HESSE and in particular Steppenwolf which I read at a pivotal time in my life and it really made me think about human nature. Reading Lisa Tuttle’s A Nest of Nightmares recently has done the same. The isolation of protagonists and their relationships come to mind – especially those of siblings which I’ll return to time and time again. Readers look to identify with characters – sometimes even to see them go through worse ordeals than they do in their everyday lives. People read horror for escapism, identification with emotion – for all sorts of reasons.

4) As a horror writer / fan, what sells a story / concept to you?

Horror is ‘any medium which intends to scare, unsettle or horrify.’ If we just take the last 2,000 years we could mention revenge tragedy written by the Roman stoic philosopher/dramatist SENECA and also OVID both mentioned as being sources for SHAKESPEARE’S Titus Andronicus (one of the more famous full blown blood bath revenge tragedies, cited as having been written during Shakespeare’s Quentin Tarantino period). In this play we have rape, murder, and so much mutilation that the Victorians put it to one side. It has seen a revival lately and was put on at the Globe Theatre in London 2006, directed by Lucy Bailey.

Think about original fairy tales for children – quite gruesome sometimes, told perhaps as a warning to children and so for didactic reasons there is the good old fashioned ghost story too. DICKENS wrote A Christmas Carol (by the end of that tale Scrooge indeed treated people a little better). Oscar WILDE—The Picture of Dorian Gray. There are always consequences for usurping the natural order of things. Be careful what you wish for— for indeed it may come true; The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. JACOBS comes to mind. Be careful what you dabble with, it might just come back to haunt/kill you—Frankenstein by Mary SHELLEY.

Exotic places and travel are often featured in weird tales. We have stories set against a background of ‘arctic ghostliness’ in The Captain of the Polestar by Arthur Conan DOYLE. A quote from TENNYSON, ‘nature—red in tooth and claw,’ aptly introduces a story by David MORRELL called They. Incidentally this story which appears in Best New Horror 18, edited by Stephen JONES focuses on the creatures that I am most afraid of—snakes.

We could look at the gothic novel Northanger Abbey by Jane AUSTIN, Wuthering Heights—Emily BRONTE. Lovecraftian cosmic horror—which explores our place in a chaotic universe. In The Willows by Algernon BLACKWOOD travellers camp by the Danube river in the worst spot possible where another dimension touches our own.

H.P. LOVECRAFT can conjure up more identifiable characters such as the witch in The Dreams in the Witch House. Robert AICKMAN—simply read any strange story by him. Fritz LEIBER presents us with 1970’s modern eerie scariness in Our Lady of Darkness.
There are writers who explore reality and madness, Robert BLOCK’S Psycho. Silence of the Lambs by Thomas HARRIS and One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken KESEY. Alice SEBOLD’S Booker prize winner, The Lovely Bones. This one is a compelling read about the murder of a child.

5) What movies / books influenced your development as a genre writer? Similarly, what books, movies, comics, get you excited as a fan?

When I was younger films like The Poltergeist, Quatermass and the Pit, Dr Who, the witches in Macbeth, Stephen KING’S Salem’s Lot, any ghost story on the telly would do it and now the more traditional work of LOVECRAFT, the strange stories of Robert AICKMAN and watching the news does the same. Horror is a part of life, whether it is going through the harrowing experience of nursing a dearly loved sick relative or facing the fears that dwell deep within our own minds.

Joe R LANSDALE serves plenty of humour with his horror in this little novella, Bubba Ho-Tep, where an ancient mummy is terrorizing a retirement home. It is a comedy, (Elvis and J.F.K have ended up there) but could be seen to be about aging and growing old in a society which puts youthfulness first. Thomas LIGOTTI—modern writer of the weird tale, including his collection, The Shadow at the Bottom of the World so - from gothic to weird, the new weird and the miserablist writers. All influences for the genre writer.

6) Who do you go all fan-boy about when it comes to the horror genre? Have you ever met anyone more famous than yourself and how did you react?

I’m crazy about Joe R. LANSDALE ’S fiction and I got to meet him at the World Horror Convention in Toronto in 2007. I was a little awe struck but managed to tell him that he influenced my writing. I love The Steam Man of the Prairie and The Big Blow especially – the latter set against the great Galveston storm of 1900. I sent my collection to him and he actually read the stories. He wrote back and said in his Texan way ‘Kid, I like all your stories. Your book is killer and a class act for a first collection. Allyson BIRD is a rare bird indeed. An original voice in a world of plain vanilla. She rides some dark waves with grace and a heart full of light and shadow. If there’s any justice, she’s on her way to true recognition.’ Cool.

7) If you had a chance to invite any horror legend, be it actor, writer, director, author (living / dead / undead) over for some tea, who would you choose and why?

Slightly cheating here. I’m going to say Orson WELLES. Why him you might well ask?

Well for his borderline horror in Macbeth, and the fact that his radio production of War of the Worlds definitely scared the living daylights out of some people. I’d have him for tea with H.G. WELLS. I heard them both interviewing each other on Youtube the other day.

8) Lights on or off when watching horror flicks?

Off.

10) What is the best advice you ever received from someone about horror writing?

Put your heart into it and don’t hold back. Be honest.

11) The horror genre has seen many incarnations over the past few years – what do you think the future holds for the genre?

Probably more apocalyptic fiction because of the recession and worries about the planet. Hopefully more introspective fiction too.

12) Do you have a zombie apocalypse survival plan – apart from going to hide in the Winchester, that is! – and will you be able to implement it?

Way too cold for the zombies up here on the moors and if they have any sense they will swap places and stay in the Winchester.
13) Are there any “how to” books on your bookshelf you would recommend to aspiring authors?

I have some but the best for me has been Fear in a handful of Dust by Gary BRAUNBECK.

Patrick Rothfuss: The Legend

Mark speaking actual words at the legendary Patrick Rothfuss.

As I mentioned in the previous post we got to hang out with some cool people attending the Patrick Rothfuss signing on Thursday evening at Forbidden Planet. Not only was Simon, Jon and Gillian from Gollancz there basking in the afterglow of a well arranged signing, Danie Ware from FP shepherded everyone along and took photos.


Graeme from Graeme's Fantasy Book Reviews was there as well as Adam from Wertzone. We also met an amazing new friend, April from Norfolk. Well, to be honest, she had no choice - she got roped into random discussions about book covers, fan-girling, cats and dogs and of course, Patrick Rothfuss as we stood in the queue with Karen Mahoney - all of us waiting for a few moments of Pat's time.



Mark anguished about what to get Pat to write in our copy of Name of the Wind. Eventually he struck on an idea and once his turn came up, he explained to Pat that he (Mark) is currently penning a zombie tale and would like to know what Kvothe would say if he ever came into contact with one...and you know what, Pat spun that around and came up with an amazing line from his upcoming THIRD NOVEL NOT YET PUBLISHED.



Kaz was up next and I didn't really get a chance to hear what Pat chatted to her about - but I did hear advice about writing and perseverance etc. I was too terrified about the story I wanted to tell him...

Karen chatting to Pat




My turn came up, I grabbed Ana's copy of The Name of the Wind along with a copy of the review she had done. I introduced myself and explained to Pat that Ana was a huge fan of the book and of Pat (of course) and please could he respond in his own words to this comment from Ana which I had received via email on Thursday afternoon:


"I simply said in my review that it was the best book I read since the Book Smugglers' inception. gave it a 10 and wanted to have babies with it."


He did falter. He quirked an eyebrow and burst out laughing. Then he paused. And said: "No, I can't possibly write that because I could be arrested for writing that..." Then he wrote his reply to Ana and well, I'm not going to say what he wrote - she can blog that herself when she gets the book, hopefully tomorrow if Royal Mail plays along.

After chatting to Jon from Gollancz for a few minutes he said we should come along to the Patrick Rothfuss Talk and Reading afterwards, at The Phoenix. And as we are free wheelin' we agreed and dragged a lovely new friend, Zoe along.



The evening went by in a blur of laughs and too much lime and lemonade. Patrick is a natural orator. Okay, that sounds rude, but it isn't. He appeared incredibly at ease chatting to a group of people who would quite easily rumble him for the contents of his backpack, especially when we realised he was carrying some pages of the second book with him...BUT we behaved ourselves and got do a fun, informal rambling Q&A session with him. He is a storyteller - every question he answered was a story. He is incredibly amusing and very down to earth - I mean, this guy is a god of epic proportions when it comes to writing and here he was, telling us about his writing techniques and what a weirdo he is. We lapped it up.


And when we didn't think it could get better, it did. He did a reading of one of his poems. Yes, you saw that correctly - a poem. Not just a skilled novelist but a gorram poetry writer too. We hates / loves him! The poem was light and incredibly funny and a little rude - like Patrick. Next he read us one of the pieces from the column he wrote when he was at Uni. Equally funny but incredibly erudite. Words are indeed his power. There was a small recess, a bit of a break to buy more booze and a chance to accost him with a handmade sign for Ana.



After the break it got even better - he read a few pages from his second upcoming novel and OMG - it is a hook and claw critter of goodness and I think we could quite happily have barred the Phoenix and made him read us all of it.


We left just after ten, filled up on encouragement, stories, too much lime and lemonade and feeling like we had a chance to spend an amazing evening with a new friend. It was very cool - one of the best events I've attended this year. Everyone had a blast and seemed genuinely reluctant to leave - but then you don't ever want to at the end of a really good evening.


Thanks to Danie and John at Forbidden Planet and to Jon, Gillian and Simon at Gollancz for arranging this. We loved it and we can't wait for Pat's next book - but you know, we understand perfection times time, so we'll not complain too much!

Patrick Rothfuss Loves Ana

I discovered today, via friendly email banter, that our good friend and fellow reviewer, Ana from The Booksmugglers is a huge fan of author Patick Rothfuss. As Mark and I were to meet him at FP whilst he was doing his European/UK tour, I promised Ana some pimpage. We chatted to Patrick at the signing and afterwards at his reading and told him of Ana's true love for him and his work. And we were very chuffed to discover that it turns out Patrick loves Ana as much as she loves him!

He was even doing kissing face without prompting. Go figure! Someone must have bribed him with an awesome review or something.

But is late / early and I will blog more about this amazing evening when I can actually think straight.

The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw

Synopsis

An ancient artefact is discovered in a dusty antiquities shop in Alexandria, Egypt - the long forgotten trinket soon becomes the centre of the most deadly archaeological hunt in history.

The 20,000 year-old relic is inscribed with what appears to be the long lost language of Atlantis. Only one man would seem to be able to decode its meaning - the world's foremost linguist, Dr Thomas Lourdes - but only if he can stay alive long enough…

Meanwhile, an earthquake in Cadiz, Spain, uncovers a most unexpected site - one which the Vatican rush to be the first to explore… Perhaps the lost city of Atlantis is finally ready to be found?

But is the world ready for her secrets?

I am a very determined reader. Even if it takes me three months to read, I'll try not to give up on a book. In this instance it took me a week. I kept picking it up and putting it down again, undecided about finishing it. In the end I left it as I did not have the time to dedicate to it as I have so much else to read.

The novel has so much going for it - a fantastic high concept, interesting sounding characters and evocative settings and it is my favourite kind of genre, a quest novel, action adventure and some dodgy people from the Vatican thrown in to boot.

The Atlantis Code did not work for me because of the author's use of language. It was stilted and archaic. The story did not flow, the characters' dialogue was genuinely tough to read as it was just too over the top dramatically. I could not suspend my disbelief and found some of the actions the characters take in the novel very hard to equate with them.

I can give the author his full due when it came to thinking up a good twisty story but the writing let the concept down - very badly. The main character was too perfect in many instances - there wasn't enough conflict within him and between others whom he meets to keep him interesting and the story going. There is also a devastatingly static love scene in the novel which had my eyebrows climbing into my hairline. And the bad thing is, I could tell why the scene was put in there! It was purely to prove that Thomas Lourdes was a dab hand (sic!) in the bedroom and to create a bit of interest between the two female characters which attach themselves to Thomas Lourdes.

It follows so many - now very old - tropes in the action adventure genre that even if it wasn't for the unskilled writing and odd turns of phrase used, I would still have been disappointed with it. There is nothing new here to explore. Admittedly the setting of what they assume is Atlantis is new but others have been there and done it so much better.

I hope that someone else with fresh eyes can pick this up and find merit in the novel. I am devastated that I did not like it - as regular readers know I am a sucker for these books and have got an entire two shelves dedicated to action adventure and quest novels.

I am in fact going to set a challenge - I am prepared to send my unfinished copy off to anyone who would be keen to read it and let me know their view. So, if you are interested in proving me wrong, let me know either by commenting or sending me an email and I'm happy to post this onto anyone anywhere, not just in the UK. I will also be happy to blog your review!

I have been unable to locate a website for the author and will therefore only be able to point you to Penguin UK's website which be found here. The Atlantis Code will be published in the UK by 4th June.

Press Release: Agatha Christie breaks a third world record

43 murders, 12 poisonings, 143 cups of tea, 11 philandering lovers, 59 red-herrings, death by an arrow and one blow to the head ...

On Wednesday 20 May, Agatha Christie, the ‘Queen of Crime’, breaks a new world record for the book with the thickest spine – ever. For the first time, all the Miss Marple stories - 12 novels and 20 short stories - are collected and published in one volume, for fans and collectors alike.

The Complete Miss Marple runs to a staggering 4,032 pages. Its spine, a work of inspired engineering by master craftsmen, is over a foot thick (322mm). Agatha Christie already holds two world records – for the longest running play, The Mousetrap – and as the best-selling novelist of all time.

In all, 43 murders are solved: 12 poisonings; 6 strangulations; 2 drownings; 2 stabbings; a burning; one blow to the head; one death by an arrow and 2 people pushed.

There are 68 crimes committed; 11 philandering lovers; 68 secrets and lies; 22 false accusations; 59 red-herrings and 21 romances. 143 cups of tea are drunk in the massive volume, there are 66 maids and 47 garments are knitted.

It is a visually stunning book bound in dark red leather with gold lettering and red-edged pages. Weighing 8.02 Kg, it is presented in a suede-lined wooden box with brass fittings and a leather handle.

The Complete Miss Marple is introduced by Kate Mosse, a lifelong fan of Agatha Christie’s work and bestselling author of Labyrinth. She writes, ‘The character continues to speak to readers some eighty years and more after her debut precisely because, in those quiet moments at the end of the day or when a
difficult decision needs to be made, each of us wishes for our own Miss Marple to give clear and unequivocal advice’.

The book will be launched and judged by Guinness World Records™ at Foyles bookshop on Charing Cross Road in London on 20 May, where it will be on public display throughout that day, with the adjudicated copy being sold at the end of the day.

In his preface, Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard, writes, “My family and I are delighted to welcome the appearance of this giant Miss Marple book, the only way in which it has been possible to fulfil a long-held ambition of mine. Indeed, over the years, everyone has told me it could never be done – to collect together all my grandmother’s stories about Miss Marple into a single volume. Whilst this book is, in publishing terms, a landmark event, it also symbolises the great affection the public, both in Britain and elsewhere, have for Miss Marple. And with everything finally in one book, we hope that some people may even find a story or two they have not yet read!”

Crime writer Val McDermid, a fan of Christie’s work, comments, 'Miss Marple would love the idea of being collected in a volume that would make a perfect blunt instrument. Go Jane!’

Only 500 copies of this limited edition record-breaking book will be produced and they will retail at £1,000 each. They go on sale at 9am on Wednesday 20th May 2009

Copies, complete with Guinness World Records™ certificate, can be purchased via www.agathachrisie.com or by calling 0844 576 8112.

The Design

The Complete Miss Marple is 4,032 pages long and printed on Munken Pure 130gsm paper by Cromwell Press. It measures more than a foot in width (322mm) and weighs 8.02 kg. In its box, the book weighs 10.02 kg. It is made up of 252 sewn 16-page sections and the page edges are sprinkled with red dye. In a feat of engineering, it has been bound by Cedric & Chivers Period Bookbinding. It is cased in Winters Wintan leather, blocked in gold on the front and spine and includes head and tail bands and four silk ribbon markers. There is a full colour endpaper map of St Mary Mead, drawn by Nicolette Caven.

Miss Marple

The character of Miss Jane Marple first appeared in The Tuesday Night Club, a short story published in The Sketch magazine in 1926. Christie described her canny detective from the village of St. Mary Mead, as a ‘fluffy old lady’, and claimed that Miss Marple’s character was inspired by Dr Sheppard’s sister in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd; certain friends of her grandmother and indeed her own grandmother. She appears in a total of 12 novels and 20 short stories.

Christie never expected Miss Marple to rival Poirot in the public’s affections but since the publication of The Murder at the Vicarage in 1930, her first full length Miss Marple novel, Marple’s popularity continues to grow.

The role of Miss Marple has been famously played by many actresses on stage and screen. The first actress to play her in a (TV) film was Gracie Fields, followed by Margaret Rutherford – a friend of the Christie family; the Academy Award winning actress, Angela Lansbury, Helen Hayes, Joan Hickson, and most recently, Geraldine McEwan. Julia McKenzie is due to take over the role for ITV.