Review: Forgotten Storm by A.R. Vagnetti

This is a novel by A. R. Vagnetti and published by Kyanite Publishing. I had the privilege of being able to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this entertaining novel. Find out more about this story and where to purchase it here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/forgotten-storm/

So, as usual, I didn't do more than a quick scan of the back cover blurb before reading. One day I should learn to do that so I am not surprised by anything. Right on the Kyanite page for this novel, it says "This title contains graphic sexual content." 

Oh boy, does it ever. For now, we are going to put that aside and I will get to talking about it further down. This is your one warning that I will be talking about some of the sex and related scenes later on. 

Overall, this is a well-written novel with strong characters and good world-building. Nicole, our heroine, is a hell of a woman. She may be falling apart, but she's still ready to kick-ass and take names. I loved her. I was rooting for her. All the characters in this story were dynamic and strong. I had no problem getting a sense of the vast supporting cast in this novel.

You will not find much to disappoint you in the action-packed fantasy portion of the plotline. It flows beautifully and is well supported by the romantic elements. Speaking of which, I want to address that part next. If honest talk about sex or the BDSM community offends you, skip the next two paragraphs. 

One of the things that always annoys me when authors touch on anything to do with BDSM is that they get it wrong. One of the most important things within this community is consent, a close second to that is open communication. I was relieved to see that A.R. did make mention of this fact and is represented in this novel.

As for the sex scenes, well damn. They were high on the steam side and low on the usage of purple prose. It was also nice to see something a little different from what I'm used to seeing when I do venture into erotic romance (as it is not my typical read). So, once again, kudos to A.R. for not keeping it the straightest of vanilla. That was slightly refreshing to read.

While I went into this novel not expecting this amount of sexual content, it was appropriate for the world and society that A.R. created for the paranormal portion of the world. I definitely enjoyed reading this story and I think you might too. She did a great job and I am happy that I got a chance to read this novel.

Guest Post: Bridging the Literary Gap - B.K. Bass

B.K. Bass

I am honoured to be able to share my blog with this incredible author. I have always enjoyed reading his insights about being a writer, an editor, and about the art of our shared craft.

I hope you all enjoy this incredible guest post as much as I do.

***

In the world of literature, there is a line drawn in the sand. Those on either side stare across this no man’s land, eyes filled with anything ranging from curiosity to contempt. Some dare to step across. Some are bold enough to straddle the line. Some of us, probably more than we think, are ready to kick the sand over the line and end the feud once and for all.

So, who are these two divided camps? Genre fiction and literary fiction. But, what’s the difference?

Genre fiction can be defined in several ways, but most sources agree that it is focused on plot and written to appeal to a wide selection of readers. It also follows certain formulas and features certain elements known as tropes so that it falls into one of many categories; such as historical fiction, mystery, romance, science fiction, or fantasy.¹

Literary fiction is harder to put such a clear definition on, but the NY Book Editors propose a set of defining characteristics. They posit that literary fiction “doesn’t follow a formula, uses creative storytelling, explores the human condition, may be difficult to read, is character-focused, [and] has an ambiguous ending.”²

If you’re a genre author, you’re probably spitting out your coffee right now and screaming at the screen, “But, my book is genre fiction, and it does everything on that list for literary fiction!”

Congratulations, you’re straddling the line.

If the only thing that defines genre fiction is its formulas and tropes, and these books can readily incorporate the elements of literary fiction, wouldn’t literary fiction simply be non-genre fiction? Why do proponents of literary fiction feel they have a monopoly on character-driven stories, creative storytelling, and deeper themes? Who drew this line in the sand, and why is it there?

Many believe that the only purpose of genre fiction is to entertain, amuse, and provide an escape from reality. They may or may not look down upon literary fiction as trivial or childish; but in all likelihood, they do not pay it the same respect as its counterpart. Those who hold to this belief also view literary fiction as the only avenue to tell compelling stories that delve into the human condition, analyze our world and our place in it, and invoke an emotional reaction in the reader through a “symphony of words.”³

1874 Edition Book Cover

Some disparagingly call these people the literati, a term created by combining literary and illuminati to invoke the image of a clandestine inner circle of the literary elite. The term makes me think of a group of bearded old white men in smoking jackets, sitting in a proper English parlour, groaning over their snifters of brandy as the latest young adult paranormal romance novel climbs to the top of the New York Times bestseller list.

The question remains: why is there a distinction? There are many books that have crossed the line and can be considered both genre fiction and literary fiction, not the least among them being Jane Eyre, Crime and Punishment, Dracula, Gulliver’s Travels, and Journey to the Center of the Earth.⁴ So, if all these great classics—and many more, including contemporary works—are considered both literary and genre fiction, why should there be a difference between the two?

I’m one of those kicking the sand. I don’t think there should be a line at all. I’ll be the first to agree that there’s hacks out there just following the formulas to create marketable genre fiction, but isn’t entertainment itself a noble pursuit? Is not the betterment of another person’s life, if even for a handful of hours escaping our reality, something that should be applauded? And are there not authors writing “literary fiction” whose quality of work and purity of intention equally as questionable? Are there no “hacks” trying to break into the world of literary fiction? You know what I say? Good for them for putting some effort into it. I know people whom I couldn’t get to read a greeting card, so anybody who dedicates themselves to writing a book deserves some praise simply for giving it a go.

I say it’s all simply fiction. Perhaps some of it defies being slotted into a genre definition. What if I told you there was a genre for that? “Contemporary Fiction” or “General Fiction” are genre tags used by book distributors. Guess what, literati: your fiction has a genre too.

Choosing to write in a genre—or discovering your work falls into one—shouldn’t automatically exclude an author from delving into deeper themes, exploring the human soul, and provoking their readers to consider new ideas. In fact, I say many forms of genre fiction are better at this. People are more likely to be receptive to new ideas if they are enjoying the context in which they are presented. If you want to convince somebody to consider a different viewpoint on an issue, lace that into something they will find entertaining. They may or may not change their minds, but at least they’re more likely to read the whole thing. Looking back to the characteristics of literary fiction defined above, I say there’s nothing on that list which genre fiction can’t incorporate.

Releases October 25, 2019

I’d like to stand up and say I straddle the line. I’d love nothing more than to proclaim that I write genre fiction that is also literary fiction. Would that be pretentious? Maybe. So, I’ll let Crystal Kirkham speak for me in an excerpt from her review of my newest book:

“What Once Was Home stunningly combined the incredible speculative elements that I love about science fiction with the engaging personal stories and moving internal struggle that continues to draw me back to contemporary [literary] fiction.” [read full review here]

So, how does one mix the conventions of genre fiction with the characteristics of literary fiction? It’s much simpler than it appears. When you’re developing your story, whether this involves extensive outlining or simply sitting down and seeing what happens, remember that your genre conventions are simply setting the stage for your story. In What Once Was Home, the alien invasion and post-apocalyptic scenarios explored are simply the setting of the story. The plot, from surviving the first wave to the rebuilding of a community, is simply the vehicle that carries the story forward. The real story is in how the characters react to these circumstances. The real question is how one can retain their moral compass in the face of impossible decisions.

Your story and your question will be different, as will your setting and plot. Create a world in which to explore deeper ideas, and develop a situation that propels your characters into facing them.

Or, just write something fun. Fun, for it’s own sake, is a worthwhile endeavor. When I started writing What Once Was Home, that was my primary goal. The book itself surprised me. You may be surprised along the way to find your own “escapists drivel”֫—as those surly old men in that English parlour would call it—evolves into something more.

About the Author

B.K. Bass is an author of science fiction, fantasy, and horror inspired by the pulp fiction magazines of the early 20th century and classic speculative fiction. He is a student of history with a particular focus on the ancient, classical, and medieval eras. He has a lifetime of experience with a specialization in business management and human relations and served in the U.S. Army. B.K. is also the Acquisitions Director for Kyanite Publishing, the Editor-in-Chief of the Kyanite Press journal of speculative fiction, and the Writing Department Chair for Worldbuilding Magazine. You can find out more about B.K. at https://bkbass.com.

Works Cited

1. French, Christy Tillery. “Literary Fiction Vs. Genre Fiction.” Author’s Den. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=18884. July 22, 2005. Accessed October 22, 2019.

2. “What is Literary Fiction?” NY Book Editors. https://nybookeditors.com/2018/07/what-is-literary-fiction/. Accessed October 22, 2019.

3. Petite, Steven. “Literary Fiction Vs. Genre Fiction.” HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/literary-fiction-vs-genre-fiction_b_4859609. February 26, 2014. Accessed October 22, 2019.

4. Rothman, Joshua. “A Better Way to Think About the Genre Debate.” The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/books/joshua-rothman/better-way-think-genre-debate. November 6, 2014. Accessed October 22, 2019.

The Brutally Honest Author - Part 2

Ready for another session with my foul-mouthed self? God, I hope so because I have some questions that demand to be answered.

Want to know more about where "The Brutally Honest Author" started? Read this post.

Once again, remember, these are my experiences and opinions only. Others may think or feel differently than me because they've experienced things differently. I'd love to hear your opinions as well, so please do respond in the comments! And if you got questions, ask away and I will try to get to them in the next “Brutally Honest Author” post!

@NicoleDCarver asked me a bunch of questions! This post is all for you, Nicole.

1a. "What did you unexpectedly learn about traditional pub?" & "What surprised you?"

Man, where do I even start? I had done a lot of research into traditional publishing before attempting to go that route. I wanted to be prepared so there wasn't a whole lot that surprised me or that I learned unexpectedly.

I did learn a few things second hand in my experience. Some have inspired blog posts like 'Critical Critique Conduct: Handling Feedback like a Pro'. There is a bit in there about arguing over edits with a publisher. Had I written that post the way I really wanted to then it would have been the true first post in the Brutally Honest Author series.

Things that surprised me but should have were the amount of fucking authors that fight over every little error (like, seriously, who the fuck fights over fixing a damned spelling error???).

2. "Do you have an agent and if so how did you decide they were a good fit?"

I do not have an agent and I'm not 100% sure I will go that route since I am rather content with my current situations and contracts, but I did ask a good friend to answer this who does have an agent. When I have an answer from her I will tag you in a revisit of this question!

However, I do have an opinion on one thing. Don't be so desperate for an agent that you say yes to someone that you are not comfortable. Remember you fucking have to work with this person, they are representing you and your novel. Also, do your research, talk to agents when you see the #AskAgent tag pop up.

Hell, be a stalker and learn all about the ones you're interested. Do not be afraid to make sure you like this person.

3. "Why did you do trad pup after self-pub?"

Before I ever did self-publishing, I'd had a dream of being traditionally published.Not going to lie self-publishing is a hard row to hoe, but traditional is no walk through the garden either.

I knew this before I wanted to try and see if I was good enough to find someone who believed in my work too. I want to learn more about the industry as well. I do not regret doing self-publishing first, I regret not doing my research before I did it and being so quick to give up a dream of mine.

4. "How did NaNo help you write?"

NaNo (aka NaNoWriMo -- National Novel Writing Month for the unindoctrinated) first taught me to finish a draft. It taught me the art of fast drafting. It gave friends that understand writing to lean on. It allowed me understand the value in a shitastic first draft.

Seriously, so many look down on NaNo because "all you do is produce crap". Well, yeah, that's the fucking point of it. Not to be good, not to worry about if it makes sense but to just write. That seems to be where so many aspiring authors struggle. Not only writing, but writing to completion.

NaNo gives you the freedom to totally suck...and in sucking at writing that first draft, you end up learning HOW to write a first draft. And then after that you learn to edit those drafts.

Everyone who reads this, though, do me a fucking favour. Do NOT think you wrote the great <insert country of origin here> novel in 30 damned days. You didn't. Editing is a thing for a reason.

Join me next time for questions from @BBMorgan_W and @jlperidot

Feathers and Fae - The World of Mythos

Feathers and Fae is an intrusion fantasy. It's a term I didn't know about until long after writing this story. All I knew was that I'd never written a fantasy at this level before where I had to create a whole new world outside of Earth instead of based on Earth.

Once I had written the first chapter of Feathers and Fae and got my characters to Mythos, I had to decide 'what next?'. I drew my inspiration on what to do from Lord of the Rings and I sent them on a journey.

While the idea came from a well known epic fantasy, I knew that the only way to write this was to draw from my own experiences. I've spent many years hiking, exploring and travelling so I had plenty to draw from. It's these memorable moments and landscapes that I used to paint the descriptive word pictures of the many landscapes of Mythos.

I would like to think this brought a sense of realism to the experiences of my characters and the places that they visited.

With no further ado, I will tell you where the inspiration for each of these incredible landscapes came from.

Tithoriea's forest near Abernath
 
In the town where I grew up, there were "forests" that my friends and I played in. These areas weren't heavily forested, but small patches of treed areas. They were large enough that there were multiple paths running through them. Here the dirt trails were worn down to show the roots of the trees. It felt like another world to us kids. Maybe it was.

Small those these patches of forest were, they were full of life. Wild berries, bird song... and a laughing group of teenagers who may or may not have been up to no good.

I am sad to say that those stands of woods where I spent much of my youth are gone now in all but memory.

As a side note, the baseball field described while in Blakely Grove on Earth is an only slightly altered version of one I knew well as a kid. I fell out of a tree there and hit my head pretty hard. I think that may have been the moment I decided to become a writer.

Strophia's Hidden Valley

This is one of the few places that is based mostly on imagination. Although I drew inspiration from multiple hiking and sightseeing trips throughout North America as well as a bit of tropical flavour thrown in. I figure a water nymph could coax the water in her home a little more towards the brilliant side.

Waterfalls and the small pools that form along some areas is something I have seen more than once. Beautiful secret valleys that are a little off the beaten path, I've been there too. These are the places that sometimes you only get to see once, but they stick with you forever.

Álfheimr (The elven woods)

I know I mentioned that I grew up in a temperate rainforest area. If you've ever been out hiking in those forests you may understand just how dark they can get when you're not on a well-travelled path. Deep and dark, I took this feeling and intensified it until I get the thick protected woods that make up the land of Álfheimr.

A place where the trees lean towards each other to whisper secrets. Where a squirrel sounds like a bear crashing through the underbrush, but the deer you're hunting moves by without a sound. A place that feels both dangerous and welcoming at the same time. If this is what you imagine when you read it, then I guess I did a good job of describing this place.

Baksüz Bog

Near where I grew up there is a bog called, Burns Bog. I've driven by it. In fact, I've seen and been to numerous bogs, but for some reason, this big bog that was turned into a protected park was one of those places that I've never actually spent time in. What makes it stand out in my mind (besides that fact that EVERYONE back home knows about Burns Bog) is the summer that Burns Bog was burning.

This, of course, is nothing more than an aside to say that because it is such a well-known area where I grew up, we were taught a lot about peat bogs and other types of wetlands. Growing up in a rainy area, we are pretty familiar with marshes and bogs of various types.

When I was asked to add a bit more adventure to the middle of the story by my good friend and freelance editor, Naomi, it seemed only natural for me want to want to add something that I was familiar with, but with a twist of the fantastical. I made this bog a bit easier to travel through in some ways, if not in others.

I think this may have ended up as one of my favourite places that my poor characters were forced to traverse through.

Verilindore Mountains (hiking through them)

If you haven't figured this out yet, I spent a lot of life communing with nature. Summer road trips where we camped and discovered. My parents were always willing to randomly take a detour because it sounded interesting. It was an attitude I took with me into my own travels. It has been the root of many incredible memories.

Living in a place surrounded by mountains led to a natural interesting in hiking. Although hiking is something I can't do with the same passion I once pursued it, I still love being out in nature and up in the mountains. The Verilinidore Mountains are loosely based on the Rocky Mountain Range that separates British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. If you've been to them, you'll understand. If you haven't then you should see them when you get a chance. Go to Banff and Jasper, drive along the highways. Go through Rogers Pass. You'll understand.

The views and experiences along the way are many of the things I've seen or experienced myself as I've hiked through the mountains. Until you get to the part about the snow and the sundogs, those experiences come from my current locale.

Where I grew up, it rarely ever snowed then I moved to the Canadian Prairies. My first winter was a learning experience where I had to trudge through knee-deep snow in -40C, fearing frostbite because I didn't own long underwear and I had missed the last bus. Thankfully, my friend rescued me after 10 minutes of walking, but I will never forget what those 10 minutes felt like.

And I can tell you about the time my buddy and I went ice fishing and it was snowing so hard we lost sight of the landmark we needed to navigate off the lake and we couldn't stop or slow down for fear we'd get stuck in a drift out on the ice.

These are the things I've based some of the experiences my characters go through while hiking through the mountains. I do fear that I may not have done sundogs on a bitterly cold morning proper justice in my description, but some things are too awesomely beautiful for words to do them justice.

Gigan Moreus Ridge

There is this one hike that is on my bucket list, but I never did get to it. I fear now that I might never get to go there. I'm supposed to limit my weight-bearing exercise due to an injury. It meant not being to run long distances anymore or go on long hikes. I miss hiking and I still want to do this hike even if it means I will be eating painkillers like candy.

This is Akamina Ridge. I have maps, plans, equipment. I figured if I couldn't traverse this scenic mountain ridge than I can at least have my characters do so for me. And thus, this part, the beautiful panoramic view from here is based on years of research for a hike that I may never get to do.

***

Okay, this isn't an exhaustive list of every incredible landscape that you'll discover in Feathers and Fae, but I sure don't want to bore anyone! I mean I could describe every time I've gone spelunking or exploring the lava tubes in Idaho or visiting ice caves that played into the dwarven caverns. I could describe my trip up to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada, how I fell in love with that rocky landscape.

Maybe I will another time but for now, this is probably enough. I do hope you've enjoyed this bit of insight into what went into these landscapes and things that I described in Feathers and Fae.

Feathers and Fae - Twisted Myths

Before I even knew what I was writing, I knew that I wanted to create this world that was very much like ours but based entirely on the myths of so many cultures throughout the world.

Though I do focus more on the European myths, I give my head a nod to myths from multiple other cultures as well. This is something that is important to me since I grew up in a highly multicultural area and I want people to know that cultures all across the world have their mythologies that are just as valid as the ones we read about.

However, if you read my last post about how I got started writing Feathers and Fae, then you might have an inkling why I would focus more on the European myths. Familiarity was key to writing a full novel in 30 days and I only had time for the quickest research. As much as I would have loved to add even more from other cultures, I didn't want to do any of them an injustice.

One of the things that I was thinking about was how stories can change over a short amount of time, imagine how much these myths and stories may have been changed and been misinterpreted or mistranslated over centuries. Not to mention the fact that people may not have always understood what they were looking at when they created the stories about these myths.

I approached these myths that we know today with this thought in mind about how could they have become the myths we know, but stem from something that differed from what most of us are used to seeing in stories. I didn't want to write the same elves and dwarves and dragons we were all used to seeing. I wanted something new.

And thus, the slightly skewed world of Mythos, a world of magic and wonder where the myths of our world stemmed from, was born. You'll read about a lot of creatures, perhaps some that you may have never heard of before, as well as those you're used to, but perhaps not how I've written them.

And I hope you enjoy my unique perspective in this world.

The Brutally Honest Author - Part 1

One afternoon I was sitting at the office on my break. I should have been editing, but instead, I was on Twitter. I was scrolling through some writing community questions and it got me thinking—which is always a dangerous thing.

So many questions. So many people wanting answers. Twitter is a bit restrictive and most people try to be nice about their answers. In fact, unless I know someone well, I tend to be rather nice about my answers.

But sometimes nice doesn’t really cut it. And I thought, what can I do differently? How about some no-holds-barred, brutally honest answers to your questions?

So, I put the question out to the writing community on Twitter. Are there questions that you want to ask a writer or author and get a brutally honest answer for?

Thankfully, the community did not disappoint. The questions rolled in. To the point that this may just become a regular series for me. Just keep in mind that when I say “no-holds-barred, brutally honest answers to your questions”, I mean I will more than likely be cursing.

Now, do remember, these are my experiences and opinions only. Others may think or feel differently than me because they've experienced things differently. I'd love to hear your opinions as well, so please do respond in the comments! And if you got questions, ask away and I will try to get to them in the next “Brutally Honest Author” post!

@CJPDouglas asked "How do you make yourself edit? It's such a slog for me..."

I often tell people that I love the editing stage but as much as I love it, I also hate it. It's tough to tear your own work apart and, somedays, it can be hard to convince myself to sit down and do it.

In fact, that's the hardest fucking part, actually sitting down to do it. I moan and groan and bitch about it, until I start the process. As I read through I find myself falling in love with the story, if not my flawed and typo-laden writing. 

As soon as I start actually getting into the editing I find myself eager to see how well I can polish my words. How I can take the block of granite and turn it into an artistic masterpiece. When I rediscover the love for my story I realize how much I want to make this better, make it something that I would want to buy if I were wandering through a bookstore.

One thing I have noticed, when I find editing the hardest is those spots in my manuscript where I really screwed the pooch. Not just clunky writing, but terrible bouts of crappy exposition. I find if I make it through a chapter and I am still hestitating moving on to the next then I have to go back and take a harder look at my work

And after all of this—rinse, lather and repeat. I know I have something good when I find myself getting consumed by the story every time I go into edit. Although I always have that "Oh, dear god, do I have to do this AGAIN?" feeling before every edit session.

@_WARoberts asked "Which do you find better, self-pub or the traditional pub? Or are they both about the same?"

This is such a hard question to answer. Each of them have their benefits and downfalls. I love having full control in self-pub, but it can be such a maze to navigate, especially for first timers. I had no fucking clue what I was doing when I first self-published my novel. How it turned out decently is still a mystery to me. 

What I enjoy about traditional pub is that I have a support network built into my experience. I have someone to do that cover design. I mean, I have a background in graphic design, but I am sometimes at a loss as to what I want to do with the cover for one of my own stories. I am too close to it. And, covers are the first thing people see. It needs to be good.

I think what it comes down to is if you know what you're doing, have access to good editors, designers and formatters—have at it with self-publishing. It's going to be a tough go for most people. Getting reviews, getting noticed, marketing. It's hard.

However, traditional publishing only takes some of this pressure and expense off your shoulders. As an author, be prepared to sell not only yourself, but your books as well. Both are tough, you need to be prepared for tough.

Unless you're one of those rare, lucky bastards who manages to knock out an international best seller for their first novel. In that case, I both hate and admire you.

@JoshMGillingham asked, "Where do your ideas come from?"

Oh man, this fucking questions. First off, as an author, have two answers for this question at all times. Your socially acceptable, tell at interviews answer that is pithy and quoteable. Then have the real answer that you only tell to a few people.

Today we explore the real answer. For me, it starts with a sentence, a couple of words, a random comment, something I see. It marinates in my brain and starts bumping uglies with other thoughts. Before I know it, story ideas start falling out of my ears.

Seriously, I don't often go looking for ideas. They find me. If you keep your brain air conditioned enough (aka - open), they'll come looking for you too. My first novel was inspired by a Santana song and an image it provoked in my mind (Road to Redemption). Another was me thinking about a what if - what if an elder god got trapped in the body of a girl.

Often the end product looks nothing like the inspiration, but all I need is that first domino in a string of thoughts to end up with a story that makes people go "What inspired this story?" By the time it's written the answer is usually "I don't fucking know. It just happened."

Thanks for tuning in for Part 1 of the Brutally Honest Author. In the next Brutally Honest Author post, I will be addressing questions from @NicoleDCarver.

If you asked me a question on Twitter, don't worry. You are on the list. Each question that I have responded to has been added to the queue. I will get to it! 

Feathers and Fae - Where it all began

This was not a novel I had ever planned to write. Heading into November 2016 I had no idea what I was going to write for NaNoWriMo. I had a lot I could write, but nothing I wanted to write. A joke about having someone give me random prompts turned into a challenge between friends.

Three random, unrelated prompts were given to a few of us by another friend. Our story had to incorporate all three prompts.

I received my prompts on noon of October 31st. I had twelve hours to think up a way to combine these three unrelated prompts into a story that made sense. I wasn't sure I could do it, but I sure as heck was going to try my hardest to make it work.

These are the three prompts we were given:

And, yes, all these elements made it into the story. I finished the month of November by hitting 'The End' on this novel at a bit over 60K words. And, even after umpteen million edits, they are all a part of the story still.

I had no idea what I was writing until I wrote it. I put one word in front of the other with no plan and somehow I got a novel out of it. I did add several chapters after the first draft on the recommendation of a good friend and freelance editor, but that was about all I did besides the normal editing processes and a few slight changes to chapter one.

So what is it about?

Our story focuses on the close friendship between Emmett and Kami, starting in our own world in the town of Blakely Grove. However, the story quickly takes you on a journey into the realm of Mythos. A place where all the creatures of myth and legend live.

While the focus is on Emmett and Kami, the story expands to include Jewel, a seer, and Bob, a yeti. It’s a fun cast of diverse personalities and a very handsome villain who will stop at nothing to reach his goal – destroying Emmett and Kami. Oh, and ruling over all the five realms – Mundialis, Mythos, Immortui, Anabasa, and Castus.

If that wasn't hard enough, there is a web of secrets and lies that is slowly unravelling and it has the potential to tear Kami and Emmett's friendship apart.  

What makes this novel special?

For me, it’s the characters and how their relationship changes and develops over the course of the journey that takes you from forest to peat bog to the frozen mountaintops. It’s a slow and deliberate reveal of the secrets that Emmett is hiding and the lies he tells to protect those around him. Although, you can be the judge of whether the lies did more harm or good in the end.

Why should I read it?

I honestly believe that not every story is for every person. However, if you love a bit of sword and sorcery, wild adventures, incredible landscapes, mysterious secrets, and end-of-the-world thrill rides then you will probably love this story.

Or just read it for Bob the Yeti. Everyone loves Bob.

Feathers and Fae - An Adventure in Pantsing

Next month, on October 11, my first traditionally published novel will be released. One thing I wanted to do was share a few things about this book and my adventure in writing this story.

Starting in two weeks, every Wednesday leading up to my release date there will be a post about how this novel came to be, about the myths I used to create the world of Mythos and about the incredible landscapes I write about and the inspiration for them.

However, this first one will be about the fact that this was an entirely unplanned novel. As I describe in more detail in my next post, this started as a dare/challenge between friends for NaNoWriMo. I had three unrelated prompts and 12 hrs to come up with a story. For those not familiar with writing terminology, this is what is known as 'pantsing'.

I started doing NaNoWriMo back in 2008. This novel was written in 2016. In the years between I have pants many novels and I've also planned novels to the extent of having written 10K word outlines and 11-page spreadsheets. And of course, I've done everything in between.

This also isn't the first time I'd taken on a challenge like this. I did something similar once before so going into this adventure I had some practice with learning how to let a plot flow and follow the narrative.

Things I decided to do as I wrote...


I planned my two main characters, Kami and Emmett, around the prompts. While Kami's name did change in the first set of revisions, Emmett has always been Emmett. Because I planned the prompts around these characters I had a basic idea of who they were and what I wanted to reveal about them right from the beginning.


Once I decided on who my characters were (mostly), then I had to decide what sort of world that I wanted to create. Once again, like many fantasy writers, I leaned on the myths of our world and naturally decided that this world, Mythos, would be the place where those stories originated, from a time when their world and ours moved more closely together. This would allow me to draw from many sources and bend a few myths as necessary to fit the story.

As I'll mention in one of the upcoming posts, when I finished writing the first chapter I knew I wanted to write a journey that was reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings. I wanted incredible landscapes and danger at every turn. Each adventure more dangerous than the last.

I also knew that my characters were going to need help, what was so that is where Jewel came into existence. Someone to tell them what to do and how to do it. I knew I wanted her to be a bit out there, but knowledgeable.


Things that surprised me...

Tithoriea and Malawli were not supposed to be nearly as interesting as they turned out to be. Maybe one day I will write their story, but those characters that appear for all of one scene ended up having a wonderfully complex history.

I had no idea that Jewel would join them on the journey. I wrote it and then I rolled with it. Why not, a third person to give an outside perspective on the relationship between Kami and Emmett didn't seem like a bad idea.

Kami's character arc developed naturally. I hadn't planned it and as I realized what I was doing with the character I made sure to keep an eye on it as I wrote. Like her name, a lot of her interactions required significant rewriting and alteration after the fact because of this. I do think that rewriting this part made for a better novel (and a more likeable character).

Bob the Yeti. He just showed up, pushed his way into this story, and left me wondering what the hell happened. What was supposed to be a throwaway innkeeper who would give my three weary travellers a small hand in their journey turned into what is most people's favourite character in the entire novel. I would also like to credit my friend Ashe for naming him. Bob's name was originally be more exotic, but he got named Bob and it stuck.

THAT CHAPTER. You'll know what I mean when you read the book, but there is that one chapter when it seems all hope is lost. Every good story like this needs to have that moment when we all doubt that our heroes will win. But how that happened in this story? Man, it still breaks my heart a little.

About the creative process of pantsing...
Planning is necessary for many types of novel, but a straight-up fantasy adventure works nicely for a pantsed story. A lot of this kind of tale involves a point A to point B to point C thinking style. While I still had to develop an ending and antagonist on the fly, I found that I was still able to work in plenty of groundwork for all the things that had to be added later

One of the things I did was using a decision-maker to decide on a path if I couldn't decide which way to take my story. Like the flipping of a coin trick, if I really hated the option that was chosen then I went with the one I really wanted, but this rarely happened. I sometimes even used this method for deciding what my characters would say some instances.

I could go on and on about how I made this novel happen, but I won't too much. To be honest, it's a lot like driving down a strange road at night. I got there a little at the time without knowing what the road would look like, but I followed where my characters took me. Thankfully, they were strong enough characters to carry me along.

ARC Review: What Once Was Home - by B.K. Bass

This novel is published by Kyanite Publishing. I, once again, had the privilege of being able to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this compelling story. Release date is October 25, 2019. Find out more about this story and where to purchase it here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/what-once-was-home/

When this novel first came up as an ARC, I knew I wanted to read it. However, I was on vacation and didn't have time to respond to the message. Shortly after returning home, I had a message from B.K. asking if I wanted to read this even though I had recently reviewed another novel of his.

I didn't hesitate to assure him that I was eager to read this novel after hearing about it and seeing the back-cover blurb. It sounded right up my alley and I've enjoyed all his work immensely so far. 

Before I get into the writing, look at that freaking cover. Gorgeous right? It may not seem much to people, but the interior formatting on this story was wonderfully done. I don't often notice interior formatting unless it stands out as exceptionally beautiful or it's so bad it annoys me (and as a result affects my opinion of the story). So, yeah, I couldn't NOT mention this little tidbit.

This book is nothing like I've ever read from B.K. before. I knew I was in for something special when I read the 'Introduction' that he wrote. By the time I finished reading the first chapter my thoughts on this subject were confirmed. 

I thought I had been excited to read this before, but now there was no doubt in my mind that I was about to go on one hell of a journey that would spare no emotions. This story lived up to all my expectations and then some. B.K.'s talent at world-building is apparent from the start and you can tell that this is a novel that he poured a lot of emotion into writing.

Every step of the way, I was enthralled by Jace's story. Every word drew me so deep into this world, that it became real to me. It's what I want when I read a book, a movie in my head. An incredibly engaging and heart-wrenching journey. With an ending that made me sit back and repeat the word "Damn" to myself several times. Because, damn.

What Once Was Home stunningly combined the incredible speculative elements that I love about science fiction with the engaging personal stories and moving internal struggle that continues to draw me back to contemporary fiction. 

Compelling characters, fast-moving plot, and a world you can sink into—you really cannot ask for more from any story. Even if science fiction and alien invasions aren't your things, this is a book you do NOT want to miss out on. Jace's journey is one that I think will touch many readers and bring them back again and again. 

Until this moment, my favourite book by B.K. was Warriors of Understone, but this story far surpasses it. 

ARC Review: It Starts With a Kiss

This is a novella by J.L. Peridot and published by Kyanite Publishing. I had the privilege of being able to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this novel. Release date is September 13, 2019. Find out more about this story and where to purchase it here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/it-starts-with-a-kiss/

Romance has never been one of my favourite genres. I still have hangups from the days where a romance novel meant one of those Harlequin cheese-fests with a half-naked guy on the cover that were so annoyingly formulaic they made my head ache.

While I do read romance and erotica, it never ranks high on my list of things I read unless there is a primary plotline to engage me. With a title like "It Starts With A Kiss", I wasn't too sure what to expect in the way of a strong and engaging plotline. However, knowing the standards of Kyanite Publishing is the reason I wanted to see what this story was about.

Once again, this is a case of 'I'm glad I got to read this'. As with many of the titles that this publisher has invested in, it was a great story—even if romance or erotic romance are not your things. If you are worried about the word "erotic", don't be. Seriously, it's not heavy on any sort of erotic content and the few parts that are there are done very tastefully. Don't let that word be a reason to avoid this wonderful story.

Right from the word go I can sympathise with Celeste Cho, our delightfully sweet protagonist working in some crap conditions. I swear J.L. describes Celeste's terrible boss so well that I had flashbacks to some of the terrible bosses I've had my life. In fact, I'm sure her situation is one we can all relate to.

J.L. does a wonderful job of setting the scene right from the first page. This is, first and foremost, science fiction. Though the romance element is strongly present, the science fiction plot is equally as strong. This is a well-developed futuristic world with enough tidbits of techno-babble to make most science fiction fans happy.

For those that live for the dynamics between characters than you will not be disappointed with the wide variety of personalities in the main cast. I love how they work together, or sometimes don't work together. JL didn't create characters, she wrote real people. That's how they read on the page and I loved it.

Even if romance isn't your thing, this is a great science fiction story. It just happens that the romance paired well with it. I found almost all the romantic or even slightly sexual stuff, very well done, no purple prose or awkward wording. It was incredibly well-done, you'll see when you read it.
So, what are you waiting for? Go, preorder your copy now.

Review: Loved Mars, Hated the Food by Willie Handler

This is a novel by Willie Handler and published by Kyanite Publishing. I had the privilege of being able to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this entertaining novel. Find out more about this story and where to purchase it here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/loved-mars-hated-the-food/
I have to say that it is always a delight to be able to read an ARC from another Canadian author and to have a chance to go back to my love of science fiction. Some of the first science fiction stories that stuck with me were rather humourous (see Spider Robinson) and whenever I get a chance to laugh as I read sci-fi, I'm ecstatic.

So, thank you for writing this, Willie. This story checked off so much that I love and then went a step beyond.

Dix Jenner is a protagonist to which most of us can easily relate. I know I did, although I certainly do not share in how he chooses to 'chill out'. He feels like someone you might know or have met before. I loved that he wasn't especially extraordinary. It made me relate to his journey so much more because I could easily put myself in his shoes.

Seepa, Bleeker, and Plinka make for an engaging supporting cast to Dix's life on Mars. I loved them all and found each of them relateable. In a way, I can almost see them as if they were a sitcom.

When it comes to world-building, I have to extend my kudos to Willie for making the Martians and their society as a fallible as our own, but in a different way. I do get annoyed at the trope of the superior alien race that has it all together. It made the society I was reading about far more real to me.

I adore the world that Willie created for the Martians, right down to why we've never seen a trace of them before. I love their society and the impact the Dix has on it with his presence there. It is an amusing and thought-provoking story at the same time. A light hearted-take that touches on a few serious topics.

Now, don't go into this expecting an epic adventure, but it is a wonderful and entertaining story to read. One that you will not regret having as a part of your personal library. It never once disappointed me.

This is a book for those who enjoy a lighter take on science fiction, who enjoy humour, and for the food lover out there. Yes, you read that right. This is a book for people who love food (and coffee) as both those items play a prominent part in this story. In fact, I spent a good part of the novel thinking about a described dessert that I wanted desperately to make this Christmas.

Though I received this book as a digital ARC, I went to the expense of ordering a paperback copy and I am especially glad of this one. When you get to the delicious appendix to this novel, you'll understand.

Review: Parting the Veil by B.K. Bass

This is a novel by B.K. Bass and published by Kyanite Publishing. I had the privilege of being able to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this incredible novel. Find out more about this story and where to purchase this story here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/parting-the-veil/

This isn't the first book I've had a chance to read as an ARC by B.K. Bass. I previously reviewed Warriors of Understone and absolutely loved it. I consider myself lucky to be able to read more of his work. Of course, that means I have certain expectations going into reading this novel.

If you read my previous review of his work, you will have noticed that I went on and on about the world-building. While this is an entirely different style of novel with it based in our world instead of one that B.K. wholly created, that doesn't mean a certain amount of world-building isn't required. In fact, you are trying to create your own reality within an existing world can sometimes be harder.

I am happy to report that once again, B.K. delivers on giving you a rich and wonderful world based on our reality. Not to mention delivering some incredible imagery with an exciting, rapid-paced plot.

I will also be honest in saying that this is my first time reading cosmic horror though I am someone who does love my standard horror novels. This is not a book that sets out to scare you like standard horror novels. This is a good thing for me since I am not someone who is easily scared

All right, enough of this. Let me tell you about this book. Right away I was drawn in by the Indiana Jones atmosphere of the first chapter that played beautifully into the genre. Our main characters Richard and Wilkins have a wonderful dynamic that I liked at the beginning and loved by the end of the book.

This book is a thrill ride right from the beginning. The pacing is wonderful, the settings are alive and. from my knowledge, well researched. I enjoyed it immensely. Going to say the story went from this is good to 'I don't want to put it down' by the time we hit the bayou. I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

As the story progressed into Spain there was no denying that I was hooked and though the ending is great, nearly perfect in fact, it leaves you knowing that there will be more to look forward to! If you love adventure, if you have any fondness for cosmic horror at all then this needs to be on your must-read list.

Or as the French would say, cette histoire est incroyable!

Review: Murder in Mind by Majanka Verstraete

This is a novel by Majanka Verstraete and published by Kyanite Publishing.

 

I received this as an advanced reader copy. So, my version may vary slightly from yours. Find out more about this story and where to purchase this novel here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/murder-in-mind/

 

If there was a way to tell if someone had criminal tendencies well before they ever committed a crime, would you be okay with locking that person up? If someone is likely to become a criminal, does that mean they WILL become one no matter what?

 

It's an interesting thought and the central theme in this thought-provoking science fiction novel. There is no hiding the influence of George Orwell's '1984' on this story since the author even quotes the book in a place or two. 

Rey, the protagonist of this novel, is a compelling character and I enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes. Her journey is one that carries you along with a need to know what happened in the past and what will happen when they do find the monster that killed her parents. Her interactions and the relationships that she develops with the other characters in the book are believable—especially the issues between her and her sister. 

 

I found the worldbuilding done for this novel to be interesting and it made me think hard about the role that technology plays in our lives. As well as ask the question, if AI becomes a real thing, will computers have feelings? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It's fascinating to ponder on such things.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It drew me in quickly and kept me in the story until the end. The ending only left me wanting for a second book, but the conclusion was believable and satisfying for the story arc in question. 

There was only one small thing that threw me off a bit. I felt there may have been a bit of inconsistency in the story. It was nothing that greatly affects the plot or the enjoyability of the story, but small things that made me stop and go 'hmmm'. Of course, these issues may have been fixed in the published copy because, as I mentioned above, mine was an ARC that specifically stated that it was an uncorrected proof. 

 

I would highly recommend this book no matter what because the story was wonderful and it did pull me in—which is what a story is supposed to do.

How I Got Into Dog Showing

Treble at the Pride festival

We all have those hobbies that some people don't peg us for doing. Recently, in a Twitter
discussion about things we writers do other than read and write. I mentioned that one of my hobbies showing dogs. Someone found this an unexpected hobby and asked how I got into that.

Well, that is not an explanation that fits into a tweet.

I never grew up with dogs. We always had cats growing up. Patches. Smokey. Mandarin. This is what I was used to. When I moved out on my own, I didn't have a cat, but my neighbour's cat often crawled into my dingy little basement suite to cuddle with me.

It wasn't until I started working in the pet industry that I even began to spend any time around dogs at all. I worked as a cashier for a big chain pet store, then they offered me the position as a dog trainer so I learned how to do that. Now, at this time my best friend had learned to be a dog groomer. And she is a damned awesome one. This was the beginning of my journey into dogs.

Fast forward a few years. My bestie had introduced me to a local poodle breeder that she had befriended and groomed for. We became friends. One of her dogs fell in love with me. This dog would scream until I came to see her any time I visited. She was a retired show dog and the breeder was looking to get one litter out of her but after that, she wanted to find a forever retirement home for this dog.

Naven on first night with me

Enter Naven. 

She came to live with me as a gift from the breeder. We had so much fun together. We walked all over the city together, we travelled a lot. She was awesome.

We learned together - her to be just someone's pet and me, I learned how to groom a poodle and to own a dog.

Oh, the stories I could tell! However, this isn't about that. At the same time I had her, my best friend got her first poodle to show and the beginning of her kennel.

I'm sure you can guess where this is going, but it's not a direct path. Not exactly.

On September 13, 2014, my best friend whelped her very first litter. In the end, she had two girls that she couldn't decide which to keep for her breeding program. Each girl had some incredible qualities. It wasn't easy.

On December 13, 2014, I drove the 6 hrs to go and visit her. I hadn't met the puppies yet and she was busy at acting rehearsal when I arrived so she asked if I could 'swing by and let the puppies out to pee'. Of course, I did. She also told me the girl with the purple collar might not come near me because she wasn't a fan of strangers.

And purple collared girl saw me and leapt into my arms to kiss my face. The next day, December 14, 2014, my best friend asked if I wanted another dog.

Well, I lived in a tiny apartment in the city and my dog was currently grandfathered in. I said sure, but she also wanted the dog to be shown and finished. So, she would show this dog, finish it and when I was better situated, she would come and live with me.

But the best plans do not always go as planned. 

One of my last pictures of Naven

On January 12, 2015, I came home to find that Naven was very sick. She had been happy and bouncing and playing in the snow that morning. I won't go into the details, but I spent the next couple of days awake, trying everything I could between myself and the vet to figure out what was wrong and get my dog better.

On the morning of January 14, 2015, I dropped her off for another day of IV antibiotics to help with what we all thought was a case of pneumonia. Fifteen minutes after leaving her, she passed away. There was nothing any of us could have done and had we known what was actually wrong when she fell ill on Monday afternoon there still would have been nothing we could have done.

I still get so sad when I think about those few years we had together. My best friend asked if I wanted the puppy to come and live with me early. I said yes. Technically, I already owned my dog, she had filed the paperwork with CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) to make me a co-owner of 'Treble'.

Treble on the truck ride home

On February 18, 2015, Treble came home with me for the first time.

Guys, I'd never had a puppy before. Naven had been my first dog, but she was 5 years old when she came to live with me.

There was a deal in place, this puppy would live with me, but my local breeder friend would help groom it so that the coat would be in show condition and my best friend would get someone to show it. I was not going to have to do the show thing.

I didn't want to do the show dog thing. Nope. Wasn't happening.

Obviously, that is not the way things went. Somehow, I ended up learning to take care of a show coat on a poodle. Let me tell you, that is a LOT of work to do. Poodles have hair, and for showing them, you need a lot of hair. There is a specific way to brush a show coat. There are weekly baths and specific ways to dry them.

Of course, the one thing I did was take her to handling class because someone had to teach this puppy to act like a show dog. I was okay with. It wasn't showing and I was already doing the grooming thing anyway.

Her first show coincided with my trip across the country. Someone else showed her, as was the plan and I enjoyed my vacation.

Treble and me

To be honest, I'm not sure what changed, but I decided I wanted to try to show my dog. I wanted to do this thing with this adorable puppy I had fallen in love with.

Besides we worked well together. I will be honest. My first few shows ended with me bawling in an x-pen with my dog because I thought I was doing her a terrible disservice by being so bad at this showing thing.

Of course, I am also stubborn as fuck. Nothing was stopping me from doing the THING. In this case, the thing was successfully showing my dog to a championship title.

Once I got a hang of it, well I found out that I loved to do this thing with my dog. I got to spend time with her. Grooming, playing, performing. Sometimes we had bad days, and some days we were almost unstoppable.

Our first group placing

We had our first win together. Eventually, at a show in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan we managed to attain our champion title. Treble was now a Canadian Champion with each point earned with a brand new owner-handler on the end of that leash. For those not in the dog show this a huge accomplishment. Especially in a hair breed like poodles where so many of the dogs are handled and shown by professionals.

Not only did we get that champion title, we got by attaining a group 4th placing which is also a very big deal in the dog show world.

Well, I was feeling cocky and having fun. So, I moved her up in the classes and decided to go for a Grand Champion title.

And guys, we did that too. 

Together.

I was hooked. There was no denying that. After that we went on to try things like rally-o, chase ability, barn hunting. The possibilities were endless and slightly constrained by time and money. We even became a dog therapy team certified to work with both adults and children.

Our first breed win

Today, I am officially an extension of LaBelle Standard Poodles. 

Next year, my girl will be bred and I will be whelping that litter on my best friend's kennel name. I didn't want to be a breeder, but it happened. I am passionate about responsible and ethical breeding. I am passionate about my dogs.

Last year, I brought a rescue Australian Shepherd into my home. She may be an Aussie x border collie. No way of knowing, but she looks like an Aussie. I am hoping to bring her to a point in her recovery where she can be an obedience prospect for me.

When we breed my girl Treble next year, I will be keeping a puppy from that litter and I will be starting this journey all over again with her.

And I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Treble and Nahni

(and of course, through a lot of this, I still have a cat lol. She rules the house over the dogs)