Monday, April 13, 2015

Twice Upon A Time Blog Tour: Interview with Tracy Arthur Soldan


CONTRARY to the title of this anthology, working with such a talented cast of writers is an opportunity that usually comes once in a lifetime. From best-selling to greenhorn, independent or traditionally-published, the authors in this anthology span all ranges in addition to spanning the globe—from England to Australia and all over the United States. I've had the privilege of getting to know each and every one of them, and they have become a part of my extended family. I've even caught a glimpse of a secret side of them that only another writer...editor...is privy to witness through their words.

Through this series of posts, I plan on introducing you to my new family through a mini-interview of each. You may not get a chance to see their secret side, but you'll get a sneak-peek into their minds, their passions and inspirations, and what made them the writers they are today.


..The Mini Interview..


1. At what age did you start writing?

Forty-nine. I was on a long layover at Reagan National in August 2013 when an inspiration hit me. Writing wasn't on my radar at all until that moment, but it was so vivid I had to write it down immediately; it's still with me, and I'm still working on it. Prior to that, my only actual fiction writing was my involvement in an APA, or amateur press association, for about a year in the early 90s, primarily because a friend was also involved. Sinobrody 0.9.8 is my first published work.

2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction?

I have no idea. I discovered this wonderful edifice called a "library" about the time I was 6, and spent my summers there; I think I was the youngest person to ever request an interlibrary loan there. It was unusual for a small rural library in 1969 to have a section for speculative fiction, and I think I read just about everything that had a rocket ship or atom symbol on the spine. The first book I can clearly recall is The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin; I was the first person to check it out when a copy arrived in the summer of 1970.

3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite?

The Left Hand of Darkness. Le Guin's narrative powers were at their peak, and the exploration of a truly gender-neutral society was heady stuff for a 7-year-old boy. But realizing the implications of Estraven entering kemmer with Genly, the only other person around, was my first "whoa moment" from reading SF.

4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing?

I can't say there is one for me. I sometimes joke about the Muses collectively deciding, "Him. That's the guy," and showing up uninvited to whisper, cajole, declaim, and dictate to me while raiding my stockpile of Cheetos.

5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn?

Write it down. Just do it. Digital docs, typewritten, handwritten notebooks, cuneiform tablets...if you don't discipline yourself to Just Write It, regardless of the format or whether you'd rather just vegetate on the couch, you'll never get to where writing is the seemingly-natural action so many writers exhibit. And that's when the magic *really* starts to happen. You want to get there, trust me, you do, so Just Write It.

6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure?

Waiting for feedback. Urgh. A zillion what-ifs chasing each other—your hopes, your expectations, and your fears—around. Developing a small, reliable group of Beta readers is something every writer should do, they'll tell you what's not quite right before you share it with the world at large.

7. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart from the others?

Sinobrody himself. Getting into his head to figure out *why* he was doing what he was doing was a remarkable experience. He has a history that is barely touched on in the story, but it informs everything about him.

8. On what projects are you currently working?

That inspiration at the airport has taken on a life of its own, becoming a series of seven novels and a growing number of shorter works, in an alternate history setting. There are stories to be told over a 10,000 year span, from the Neolithic to a few hundred years in the future. I hope to have the first novel, Niall's Vale, in publishable shape by the end of 2015. I also have something in mind for the second volume of Twice Upon A Time.




Read Tracy's story, Sinobrody 0.9.8, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!

..About the Author..

TRACY ARTHUR SOLDAN is a recent transplant from the Pacific Northwest to Roswell, GA. He works for a large multinational you’ve never heard of because its industry is neither sexy nor controversial. He discovered science fiction and fantasy almost as soon as he learned how to read. He was introduced to roleplaying games (RPGs) with Blue Book D&D, and has been active in Live-Action Roleplaying (LARPing) for nearly 20 years. He wonders why the Muses waited until he was 49 before deciding to start inflicting him with stories to write. He lives alone, with no pets. Not even a goldfish.

..Connect with the Author..


Monday, April 6, 2015

Twice Upon a Time Blog Tour: Interview with AJ Bauers


CONTRARY to the title of this anthology, working with such a talented cast of writers is an opportunity that usually comes once in a lifetime. From best-selling to greenhorn, independent or traditionally-published, the authors in this anthology span all ranges in addition to spanning the globe—from England to Australia and all over the United States. I've had the privilege of getting to know each and every one of them, and they have become a part of my extended family. I've even caught a glimpse of a secret side of them that only another writer...editor...is privy to witness through their words.

Through this series of posts, I plan on introducing you to my new family through a mini-interview of each. You may not get a chance to see their secret side, but you'll get a sneak-peek into their minds, their passions and inspirations, and what made them the writers they are today.


..The Mini Interview..


1. At what age did you start writing?

I didn't seriously start writing until after college. I had dabbled in some short stories and scripts before, but I never thought of it going anywhere. It wasn't until my husband encouraged me to write a story based on a dream I had that I even considered becoming an author. Now, I can't see how I ever dreamed of anything else.

2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction?

It was either one of the "classics made for children books" (like The Time Machine or Frankenstein) or something I stole from my dad's shelf (like Jurassic Park or Timeline). I grew up reading this stuff so it's hard to remember where it all started.

3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite?

Just one? Gosh. Probably Harry Potter. If I had to be extremely specific, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Harry Potter was the book series that let me escape. I had gotten mega-grounded when I was in seventh grade. For six months, the only thing I was allowed to do for fun was read. I finally decided to try Harry Potter once the movie came out. Previously, I had mocked the books as stupid (because I was weak-willed and followed the crowd blindly back then). I instantly became sucked into Rowling's amazing world. This book not only opened up my imagination, it allowed me to accept the things I liked whether or not the popular kids liked it as well.

4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing?

It's probably not too surprising that J.K. Rowling is my inspiration. Of course, back in seventh grade, I never dreamed that I would be able to write anything original, so I settled for fan-fiction. My stories had terrible description, cliched dialogue, and predictable plots, but wow did I have fun.

Now, fifteen years later, as I'm attempting to write my own stories, I still look to J.K. Rowling for inspiration. I want to make my worlds like hers—immersive with the ability to provide an escape to those who seek one. Do I think I'll ever be on her level? Please, I'm not that naive. But she is my standard for writing.

5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn?

When you get that first bad critique, don't hide from it. Embrace it. It's going to hurt like hell, especially if it's the first time you ever show your work to someone, but it's going to make you and your work stronger.

6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure?

Waiting on the acceptance/rejection letter. It's like handing someone a sword—they're either going to knight you or stab you.

7. From where did the inspiration for your submission arise?

Honestly? I chose Jack and the Beanstalk and "rolled" for a genre from a list of 20 different types of speculative fiction. I got space opera and instantly thought, "This is perfect!" Since space operas emphasize on traveling, why not use the beanstalks as a way to travel through space? Hard brainstorming and daydreaming in the shower took care of the remaining story details.

8. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart from the others?

Jack, my titular character, was my favorite. As soon as I wrote him, I wanted to be friends with him. I loved him for his self-depreciating wit, fear, and accidental courage. He's a sharp contrast against the other main character Sasha, who's more serious and focused than Jack thinks any person has a right to be.

9. On what projects are you currently working?

Right now I'm working on a soft sci-fi adult novel through my MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. I'd rather not go into any specific details, but I will share the quote that inspired my story.

“According to Greek Mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate beings, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves.”
-Plato’s The Symposium


Read AJ's story, The Screw-Up, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!


..About the Author..

AJBAUERS finally accomplished her secret dream of writing a novel one year ago. Since then, she has packed her bags and moved from North Dakota to Maine to enroll in the University of Southern Maine’s Masters program in Popular Fiction. The Screw-Up is AJ’s first publication on her path to becoming a full-time writer. Follow her blog, listed below, for short stories and more.

..Connect with the Author..


Thursday, April 2, 2015

The TUAT Blog Tour Resumes! Interview with Bo Balder


CONTRARY to the title of this anthology, working with such a talented cast of writers is an opportunity that usually comes once in a lifetime. From best-selling to greenhorn, independent or traditionally-published, the authors in this anthology span all ranges in addition to spanning the globe—from England to Australia and all over the United States. I've had the privilege of getting to know each and every one of them, and they have become a part of my extended family. I've even caught a glimpse of a secret side of them that only another writer...editor...is privy to witness through their words.

Through this series of posts, I plan on introducing you to my new family through a mini-interview of each. You may not get a chance to see their secret side, but you'll get a sneak-peek into their minds, their passions and inspirations, and what made them the writers they are today.


..The Mini Interview..


1. At what age did you start writing?
As soon as I could—6 or 7?
2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction?
John Christopher's Tripod series. I was stunned to realize people could think about exciting stuff like that. I wanted more...
3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite?
The Crown of Stars by Kate Elliott. Not only does it depict a greatly realistic, detailed early Middle Ages, it has a kickass heroine, a wide scope, mythic creatures, love, wars, magic...
I can keep rereading it, it's too complex to keep in your head so there's never any boredom.
4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing?
Jack Vance. I just loved his ironic details and grotesque imagination. I wanted to be just like him...all my teenage work is one big Vance pastiche.
5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn?
You have to find a way to show yourself through your words.
6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure?
The waiting. Months, sometimes even years, to get an answer from a publisher or a magazine.
7. From where did the inspiration for your submission arise?
The Yde Girl was an actual bog corpse found in my country.
8. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart from the others?
My protagonist, because she tries so hard to fit in and to be loyal, and she has to make a choice to leave her family.
9. On what projects are you currently working?
A near-future, optimistic sf novel/series of shorts. I took up the challenge to write utopian instead of dystopian for a change....
Read Bo's story, Bog Trade, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!

..About the Author..

Bo is a freelance writer who lives and works in the ancient Dutch city of Utrecht, close to Amsterdam. When she isn't writing, you can find her madly designing knitwear, painting, or reading anything and everything from Kate Elliott to Iain M. Banks or Jared Diamond.
Her fiction has appeared in Penumbra, Electric Spec and quite a few anthologies. Her sf novel, The Wan, will be published in 2015 by Pink Narcissus Press.

..Connect with the Author..


Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Review: The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss



Blurb:

"Deep below the University, there is a dark place. Few people know of it: a broken web of ancient passageways and abandoned rooms. A young woman lives there, tucked among the sprawling tunnels of the Underthing, snug in the heart of this forgotten place.

"Her name is Auri, and she is full of mysteries.

"The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a brief, bittersweet glimpse of Auri’s life, a small adventure all her own. At once joyous and haunting, this story offers a chance to see the world through Auri’s eyes. And it gives the reader a chance to learn things that only Auri knows....

"In this book, Patrick Rothfuss brings us into the world of one of The Kingkiller Chronicle’s most enigmatic characters. Full of secrets and mysteries, The Slow Regard of Silent Things is the story of a broken girl trying to live in a broken world."

Review:

While eagerly awaiting Day 3 of Patrick Rothfuss's The Kingkiller Chronicles, I hunted down a copy of Slow Regard, thinking it was Day 3 (shows how much I did my research, eh?). I saw the book sitting on the shelf at Barnes & Noble and thought, "That is waaaay too skinny to be a proper conclusion to Kvothe's adventures. Gasp. So what treasure is this?"

Treasure, indeed. As the blurb indicates, this novella focuses on Auri, the girl who lives beneath the University featured in The Kingkiller Chronicles. Auri happens to be one of my favorite characters in the series, maybe even one of my favorite characters ever written. Right alongside Tyrion and Samwise. So when I saw that this slender volume was all about Auri, I snatched it up and devoured it the first chance I got.

The Slow Regard of Silent Things is not a typical story. Even Mr. Rothfuss explains in the Author's Endnote, "It doesn't do the things a story is supposed to do. A story should have dialog, action, conflict. A story should have more than one character." Well, it doesn't, and the story works magnificently. The conflict, the tension, comes from a race against time. Auri has only six days until her friend returns for a visit. Everything must be just so in Auri's world, and if something is out of place, she must find a proper place, and if she cannot, her brokenness surfaces in very convincing panic attacks.

In truth, I was hoping for some spoilers, hoping for some insight into Auri's past, who she was before she was broken, how she came to be broken, what she knows that might help Kvothe the Bloodless in his search for the villains who ... (no spoilers, if you've read the series, you know what I almost let slip). While I was disappointed that the novella didn't cough up any of these secrets (maybe just a hint about Auri's past), it was still a delight to explore this strange, magical girl's day-to-day and the facets of her unique and shattered mind. I learned that Auri is obsessive-compulsive, and that she's a Namer. Two things I hadn't realized while reading the novels (how I missed the latter, I don't know).

The real treasure, however, is Auri's voice. The trove of words found in this book, many of them made up, left my mouth feeling full of moonlight and unicorns. Seriously. The language Rothfuss speaks through Auri is magical and so very appropriate. The mashed-up syllables all work beautifully together, and bring to mind the word-magic of Lewis Carroll. Only, Auri's word-magic is actually decipherable.

And let's not forget the illustrations. Yes! This book is illustrated. Nate Taylor's sketches depict the things that Auri slowly regards in lovely detail. Honestly, without the illustrations, I might've had trouble imagining the brazen gear and the steamworks running through the tunnels. They brought the pages to life.

Conclusion:

The Slow Regard of Silent Things is poetry and a meandering exploration of a world underground. Your host is shy, selfless, reclusive, and creative. Bring Auri a gift, tell her what's inside it, and she'll lead you into her world, and in her world, a sewer, a boiler room, an abandoned brothel become places of wonder.

In short, it's been a while since a story has enchanted me from beginning to end. Hell, even the Author's Endnote had me sniffling. Yes, broken. Me too.

Rating:


5/5 Magic Wands



The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss is published by DAW Books, 2014. It is available at Amazon and all major book retailers and at your local library.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Cover Reveal, Falcons Progress Report

I have completed (I think) the arduous task of reworking each cover for the Falcons Saga. Some time ago, Amazon reworked how they want books in a series titled and numbered, so it's possible that Blood of the Falcon, vol. 2 is getting a bit cheated on exposure.

Even though volumes 1 and 2 are meant to be a single book and read together, I had to reconcile myself to the fact that I need to officially split them up. Which means new title, new covers, new blurb, new uploads. Fun stuff. :/ In the near future, Blood of the Falcon, vol. 2 is going to be re-released as Sword of the Falcon, an obvious and very fitting title, since the volume focuses heavily on Kelyn's personal journey. All I need is a blurb for the back and minor edits to the actual text and formatting. Not sure when this re-release will happen, but I'll be sure to post when it does.

For now, here's a peek at what the front cover will probably look like:


Still working on the cover for Book 4, Cry of the Falcon, so no sneak peeks on that one yet. But chapters are coming right along.

Project: CRY OF THE FALCON
Pages revised: 3.5
Became X Pages: 9
Scenes cut: 0
Scenes added: 1
Deaths: 2
Good things that happened: ... I'm sure there's something ... Um, nope, can't find a thing.
Bad things that happened: There is no option left to retreat.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

First Friday Writing Prompt: combining ideas

This month, instead of making use of a single image to inspire a story or poem, I'm going to be taking a single element out of two random images and smashing them together to produce (hopefully) strange and wonderful results. I learned this exercise in Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, edited by Laurie Lamson.

Image #1 "Lantern Festival" by Sharleen Chao

Image #2 "For a minute there, I lost myself" by Thorvaala

Hmm, the two elements to be mashed together in the (Questionably) Great Collider in my brain: a flower made of light and a basketball.

This might take a while...

(If you find inspiration and wish to share your creation with me, please do the following:
* DO paste a link to your creation as a comment to the prompt you’ve used.
* DO include a link back to my blog, Wordweaver.
* DO NOT copy anyone else’s work and publicize it as your own.


Prompt History
January's Prompt


Friday, March 6, 2015

AGoT fan prefers the books...

So, I started reading Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire years ago, right after Book 3 came out. I love the grotequery of the characters so much that I haven't wanted to watch the HBO series and have someone else's vision of the story mess with the lovely (ugly?) vision in my head, not until well after the last book is released and I've read it a couple times.

However, if I were to watch any version of A Game of Thrones, it would be this one, which I found on Sploid today:


(the full length animated version is at the bottom of the Sploid post)