Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - , No comments

Author Interview: Clovia Shaw


Hello all! I’m super excited to bring you an interview with Ms. Clovia Shaw, author of Nogitsune. Clovia and I met via Twitter and I am thankful for having the opportunity to get to know her.

A little background on Clovia (GoodReads Bio):
Clovia Shaw is an ordained Dudeist Priest (who can resist an Ordain Me! button?), a collector of Urban Vinyl art toys, and once designed a line of elongated pennies for belly dancers. She has degrees in both Journalism and Interior Design, and is probably thinking really hard about putting actual pants on right now.

A big fan of Kissing Books in which things blow up, Clovia lives in Annapolis, with her very patient husband and the ghost of a very good dog.

Time for the interrogation.. I mean interview: 


1.    You're introducing yourself to someone new. What words do you use to describe yourself?

What, like, in person? I’m a hermit, so the very idea of telling someone about myself near paralyzes me. Most likely I’d shake their hand, say “Clovia” and then just smile too big and nod too much while trying to find some polite avenue of escape before I did something fatally embarrassing.
It’s hilarious how much we share in common. My roommates and I, have and inside joke about how we are hermits. Introductions are always an awkward situation, there’s the “ice breaking” phase, the small talk phase, and eventually the awkward silence phase.

2.    Lets narrow down the above. What one word best describes you?

Neurotic.
            Haha love the word choice.

3.    I see that you have degrees in both journalism and design. How did you incorporate your education into writing Nogitsune?

The most obvious way is that Delia is an Interior Designer. I don’t go much into detail about her mundane job, but as a geomancer, it helps her get clients because of the way the house feels after she’s redone or rearranged it. I didn’t plan it that way, but it makes the most sense that a geomancer would be a decorator or designer.

4.    Becoming a published author sounds like no easy task. What, if any, were some of the obstacles you had to overcome? 

Well, I self-published, but I started out (many) years ago trying trade-publishing route. I queried this one to agents and pubs, too, but it just wasn’t what anyone was looking for at the time. And that’s okay. They have to make money, and some books just don’t fit what they’re acquiring for their lists, for many reasons. I’d still like to be trade published someday, but I felt like this was a story readers would enjoy.
I have no doubt you that you will succeed in becoming trade published.

5.    Nogitsune is based off of Japanese folklore; something I assume is uncommon to most readers. Where did you come across these stories?  

Growing up nerd, there was a strong thread of East Asian art and themes through my entertainment—anime, movies like Blade Runner, storylines in my favorite comic books, etc.—and I’ve always been interested in world mythologies and folklore. The kitsune is a living, evolving cultural icon in Japan, and I felt like fox people would feel just as natural in many UF worlds as European folk creatures like vampires and werewolves.
I absolutely love the concept behind Nogitsune. If you haven’t read it, you definitely should.

6.    I've studied the Japanese language, though I'm not fluent. Can you speak Japanese? Have you been to Japan? 

I have not been, but would love to go, if I ever have the means. In particular, I’d love to see the Inari Grand Shrine at Fushimi in person. I do not speak Japanese, though I have picked up some words and phrases over the years. I have several friends who do speak the language, and had them read through the manuscript to make sure I wasn’t misusing the words I do have throughout the book.
            For those who don’t know what the Inari Grand Shrine is:

Notice the kitsune???



7.    Is there a genre you like to stick to or is everything fair game? 

As a reader, everything is fair game, though mostly Spec Fic unless it’s Romance, in which I also read historical and contemporary. I read everything from Christopher Moore and Terry Pratchett to Jennie Crusie, which probably indicates that I look for a cockeyed sense of humor in the storytelling. As a writer, it all ends up being fantasy, either whole-cloth Sword-and-Planet, Portal, Urban Fantasy, or something unhelpfully genre-bending.
I applaude the diversity, I’m attempting to add some to my lineup haha.


8.    What are you reading now?

Mostly beta’ing for other writers lately, though I’ve been trying to get to a Gaiman joint on my tbr pile for awhile now.

9.    Are there any books on your TBR (to be read) list that you are super excited about?

If I’m super excited about something, I usually read it as soon as it’s downloaded or bought, haha, so nothing that jumps to mind.
I get excited about my TBR books too, but my list is growing faster than I can compensate for!

10. The cover is amazing. Nope, that's not a question, just thought I'd throw it out there.


Thank you! It’s by Ashley Neal, who’d never done a book cover before. I had a hard time finding an artist, and I’m so thrilled with how it came out.
            Wow, first time? She did a great job. 

 11. Are you planning any future works? If so, care to drop a hint or two? 

I’m planning at least two more books in the same world as Nogitsune, with the same characters. Then I have a couple more projects set in completely different universes, that I’ll probably try the trade publishing route with again before deciding whether or not to self-publish them. I’m in it for the long haul. It may take some fine-tuning before I find an audience, but I’m good with that.
            Awesomeness!!!

12. What advice would you give those reading Nogitsune? Likewise, what about those who are on the fence of reading it?

The biggest thing is: It’s Different. It’s not going to read like your average Urban Fantasy, but I think that’s a good thing. It’s an unfolder, a story I hope readers will sink into and enjoy taking their time reading, and a new twist on a very old folklore they might not be familiar with. Not a bad gamble for three bucks, right? 
            Nope, not at all. Seriously folks, give it a shot.


13. What advice would you give to future writers?

While it’s a scary time to be a writer now, it’s also a very exciting one. There’s a lot of anxiety about the state of trade publishing and brick-and-mortar stores, but I promise you, the book will survive. If you’re going to self-pub, be prepared to do the work, and put the best book you’re capable of writing out there. Write it, edit the absolute hell out of it, listen if your most trusted beta readers say something doesn’t work, then polish ‘til it shines. If you’re going the trade route, do all that before you query the manuscript, do your research before you submit, and don’t get discouraged by those rejections. Everyone gets rejections. Everyone.
For any of you who are considering this route, it would be wise to follow Clovias advice. Always put your best work forward, listen to your readers, and believe in your work. Great advice, thanks Clovia!

14. This is probably off topic, but it's been on my mind ever since I read your bio on GR and Amazon. You designed a line of elongated pennies for belly dancers? This is not something you hear of everyday. So, I'm curious as to how this came about. I'm sure it stems from your degree in design, but belly dancers?! Mind sharing a picture of your design?

Haha, sure! I took a lot of belly dancing classes back in the day, and noticed there weren’t a lot of copper costuming components for dancers. Just gold and silver. Elongated pennies seemed like a natural choice—great shape, fun and familiar to anyone who’s ever put a penny in a souvenir machine, and the possibility of unlimited designs. I thought it sounded like a good gamble for a well-targeted start-up business, and ended up doing five designs, and issuing three for purchase.
Clovia's elongated penny design, fancy huh?

Clovia's hand painted Hamsa earings. Wow, the design is awesome.

15. Anything you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me on your blog!

You are certainly welcome! I also want to thank you for taking the time to answer these questions and for letting my readers get to know a little about yourself.


Well… since you now know how awesome Cloiva is, here are some links to help you keep in touch. 

Twitter: @CloviasLawn
GoodReads: Clovia Shaw 
Link to Nogitsune: Amazon / GoodReads 







Monday, September 9, 2013

Monday, September 9, 2013 - , , 1 comment

The Guardian of Threshold



Rating: 4.5 Stars

Version: eBook
Author: A.A Volts

GoodReads Summary:
Love survives everything… even death. Unfortunately, so does hate.
When Mark wants to see his dead mother again… he gets his chance. But, like everything else in life… it comes with a hefty price.

While normal sixteen-year-old boys are out chasing girls, Mark is floating outside his own body being chased by a nefarious demon.
Death itself can't keep him from trying to see his dead mother again, but when he disturbs Phasma--the Guardian of Threshold, he may have gone too far.
Forced into Threshold--the mystical world of the dead--to rescue his clumsy best friend, Mark will not only have to defeat Phasma and his army of Night Dwellers but his own demons if he's going to save his friend, find his mother and survive the night.

How far would you go to see a dead relative again?

• "A fantastic and unforgettable journey into the astral realm"

The Guardian of Threshold is about 88,000 words or about 346 pages long.

Review:
How I started reading The Guardian of Threshold is actually a funny story. I decided to grab it via Pixel of Ink, figuring I would read it sometime in the distant future. The plot just didn’t sound enticing enough to place it ahead of my other TBR books. So, "what's this funny story" you ask? Well, it’s not funny in the “haha” sense; it's just out of the ordinary. While my Kindle was downloading recent purchases, I clicked what read “A Monster Calls”. However, I guess the screen hadn’t refreshed, so it was actually The Guardian of Threshold. This is where seeing the cover of books comes in handy …

Anyways, The Guardian of Threshold surpassed ALL of my expectations! As I said earlier, I placed it pretty low on my TBR list. However, I read late into the early morning on several occasions, absolutely hooked on this book. Essentially, I went to class with what we call "a book hangover” for a few days.

The story opens in the middle of a flight test with Mark -the main character - piloting a small aircraft. Soon after, something goes wrong and he has to make an emergency landing on an interstate. Feeling drained from his near death experience, Mark goes home to take a nap. Imagine his shock when he sees his physical body below him. What Mark experiences is called "astral projection" or as the book puts it, "freeing of the soul from the physical body." It happens supposedly every night, but few remember it and it takes practice to consciously control. The setting soon shifts to a dark cave, where other creatures are bound to the ceilings and chained. Despite their warnings to flee, Mark attempts to set them free, while in the process upsetting Phasma.

Phasma is the guardian of Threshold; an astral being that feeds off of hate and anger; and a creature who shares an extremely strong bond to Mark.  One thing that is unique about Phasma is everyone perceives him differently. He appears to those who can see him as a mixture of their deepest fears. In the story Phasma targets Mark because he is able to feed off of his suppressed anger (growing up without a mother, hating the world, etc…) You would think most people would avoid Phasma like the plague. However, when Mark discovers that astral projection gives him a chance of seeing his mother again, he vows nothing will stop him.

I haven’t said too much about threshold, so I’ll take some time to explain what exactly it is. Threshold is the astral (spiritual) world, where souls go after death. It is described in the book as not a copy of the physical realm, but rather the physical realm a copy of it. Furthermore, any and all “things” developed in the spiritual world, were first created in the astral realm (i.e computers, cars, Mozart's symphonies, etc.).  Threshold is also broken up into three sections of suspended light, night, and twilight with inhabitants in each. How you were as a person affects were you reside in the astral realm. It's very similar to the view of evil people go to hell, while those who are good go to heaven. 
However, I'm a little confused because if you're able to travel where ever you please, that would mean your location isn't fixed.   

Mark has two friends, Jonas and Carla (twins), both of which become entangled with Phasma; Threshold; and all things astral. Mark has a serious crush on Carla, but fears telling her because of Jonas. Needless to say, the feeling is mutual. Between the twins, Carla is my favorite. She is both more intelligent and determined, than Jonas – who comes off as extremely annoying.

In short, Mark and his friends meet creatures of all sorts, speak with spirits, and experience a whole new world. The Guardian of Threshold was an unexpected, but enjoyable read. I highly recommend it!


Be on the lookout for a free copy on Amazon via Pixel of Ink or other referencing sites. 


Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 - , , No comments

The Universal Mirror


Rating: 4.5 Stars
Version: eBook
Author: Gwen Perkins

GoodReads Summary:

On the island of Cercia, the gods are dead, killed by their followers and replaced with the study of magic. Magicians are forbidden to leave their homeland. Laws bind these men that prevent them from casting spells on the living-whether to harm or to heal. Quentin, a young nobleman, challenges these laws out of love for his wife. His best friend, Asahel, defies authority at his side, unaware that the search for this lost magic will bring them both to the edge of reason, threatening their very souls. The Universal Mirror shows how far two men are willing to go for the sake of knowledge and what they will destroy to obtain it

Review:

This was a very light, YA-fantasy read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The story’s main characters are Asahel, Quentin, and Catherine (Quentin’s wife) and they are all native to Cercia. The town obeys the laws of a caste system, meaning that the civilization is divided by ranks of labor and power.

When it comes to the caste system, Asahel is a very complicated fit. He is born under a merchant family (one of the lowest ranks), but also possesses the ability of a magician (something that is reserved for the upper class). Being the misfit that he is, Asahel goes through a torturous university life, which sadly carries on into his adulthood. This is especially noticeable whenever Asahel finds himself around others. It seemed that he was always feeling incompetent and unsure of himself. It probably didn't help that his “best friend” Quentin, never allowed Asahel to visit his home, meet his wife, or even speak in public together to satisfy social standards. It can also be inferred that Asahel is extremely powerful. He has a much higher capacity of control and summoning power when it comes to magic than to any mentioned in the story.

Speaking of Quentin, he is an upper-class magician who was “bought” – as the book puts it – by his wife’s father.  Quentin’s family, though respected and powerful, ran out of money.  He operates under the assumption that Catherine hates him for the first half of the book and learns the truth towards the end (I won’t say what that truth is).  Asahel and Quentin’s friendship developed during their university years when Quentin ignored the social class and stuck up for Asahel. Yet, why that doesn’t extend to the present, I’m not too sure about.

I don't have much to say about Catherine, except that I don’t really understand why she acted the way she did.

I could also bring up Felix, but there’s not much to say about him either, besides the fact that he is a “friend” of Asahel. By friend, I mean that he never teased Asahel, but he also never came to his defense.

Now the rule within Cercia is that magic cannot be performed AT ALL on any human (living or nonliving). Also, magicians’ are not allowed to leave the island. The reasons for this are revealed in the book. If one were to violate these rules, the punishment would be either death or severing of the hands. The latter punishment can also be seen as death, because a magician controls magic solely by his hands. In fact, it’s revealed that most commit suicide after dismemberment.  You can now see the danger Quentin and Asahel face when I reveal that they are casting magic on dead bodies. However, they have a good reason to be doing so. Read the book and find out why!

There were a few twists that I didn't expect, and you’ll immediately know what I’m talking about when you read the book J. Something that is important, but I would like to mention, is that the name Cercia sounds pretty awesome.

Also, I do prejudge books by their cover's. This book I was very leery about, however if you're like me, don't let it fool you! It seriously surpassed all my expectations.


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