Tessa's Blurb

Insecure Writers' Support Group, #1

2012-02-01T01:00:00.000Z

Hello everybody!

Welcome to my Blurb. This is my first post for the wonderful Alex J Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group....

This is a blog hop where we (insecure writers everywhere - or at least those that were lucky enough to come across Alex' Blog) share our thoughts, problems, hopes, dreams, and whatever else occurs to us in our writerly endeavours. It's about having a peer group, getting support, and maybe that all-important little "Go on, you can do it" that we all need at some point or another.

For me, my writerly life has been put on hold at the moment. This is a recurring theme for me - so much so that I never seem to finish anything - but right now, I have a huge project in the works in my money-paying job (I won't say real life job, because writing is real life, too, isn't it?). I also have a humongous exam I need to pass beginning of March, so I'll probably be offline for most of February. I hate studying, my concentration is rubbish, and I have no time to go to the lectures that may help me along (the day job again).

So. I have several (countless) WIPs at various stages of (un)development. My "pet", Merle's story (you can read bits about him in my past posts), is about this far *holding up thumb and forefinger* from being done, but...but....there's something wrong with it and I've read and re-read, written and re-written bits and pieces of it so often I've decided to put it aside for a while. It's stewing in my desk drawer right now.

I also have a cast of favourite characters that always seem to try to pop up in each others' (totally unrelated) stories. They hang around at the back of my mind and try to shout me down on occasion, preferably when I'm in the middle of studying.

Duh.

Do you have a couple of favourite characters that don't leave you alone, even if you've put aside the story? Or am I just weird? Or maybe it's my subconscious trying to mess with my studying...

#headdesk

Really.

Here's the rest of the Support Group - this is a blog hop, remember? Go on, say a word to some of the others!

Monday Music, x2

2012-01-30T21:40:00.001Z

I really don't know if I love or hate this song...

And this one! It's great (kinda sad, too),but what do you think of the whole publicity controversy? You know...she says she made the video and got famous that way, some people say it's all a big stunt by some bit record company. Watcha think?

With This Kiss eBook Tour - a Fiction Friday Review

2012-01-27T00:10:00.000Z

(click HERE for tour schedule)

With This Kiss

by Victoria Lynne

Published: Amazon, July 2010 (eBook) and Dell, July 1999 (Paperback)

Source: ebook review copy from CBLS Promotions

The Blurb (as per tour info):

Beauty and the beast: they were the scandal of the ton. All eyes feasted on the beautiful flame-haired gambler in London’s most infamous club. But Julia Prentisse was interested only in the rake-turned-recluse whom they now called “The Beast.” She lured him out of the crowded club to a deserted warehouse, where she made her scandalous offer: If he married her and protected her from her uncle, she would help him capture the arsonist who had ruined his life.

An act of heroism had left Morgan St. James burned, scarred for life, but Julia’s bold gaze lit other fires he had long suppressed. And now this glorious stranger was his bride. But when he tried to claim his husbandly rights, she demanded three months grace—three months to know a stranger’s mind, to touch a stranger’s soul, to go where no woman had ever gone before. Into his heart…

Favourite quote:

"And as your wife, it is my duty to accommodate your wishes. I will attempt to do so—within reason."
"Whose determination is it if my requests are reasonable?"
"Mine, of course."

What I thought:

I spent most of my early twenties devouring Regency romance novels right alongside my perpetual favourite fantasy novels, so believe me when I say I've read a lot of them.

Ms Lynn's With this Kiss covers much of the traditional regency romance ground - handsome, rich has-it-all aristocrat and beautiful, not quite so fortunate heroine, love at once reluctant and sizzling. It's also the beauty-and-the-beast story the blurb refers to. Morgan St James is injured, scarred, made ugly in his own eyes and in the ton's, in a fire set by the ominously named Lazarus. Julia Prentiss, the beauty, has suffered at Lazarus' hands, too - and suffers still, for he will not leave her alone.

Let me start by saying that I love the names Ms Lynn gave her characters - nomen est omen, after all. "Morgan St James" - classic regency name, that. Morgan made me think of pirates, a bad boy, ruthless and successful. St James lends it respectability. Julia is a sensual name, smooth and almost lyrical. Prentiss brings her back down to earth. She's not sensual on the outside, she wants to be thoroughly governed by reason, be independent and proper all at once. She goes her own way as much as is possible in those times.

Ahem. Sorry, that's my inner writer.

So, as you can see, I started out reading the story with my writerly parts all expectant and happy. Well, they weren't dissappointed... while this is a regency story that does, as I said, cover much of the traditional ground, that's not all it is. The tragedy that cost Morgan so much comes back to haunt them both as Lazarus reemerges from the shadows, but the danger also pushes the two of them together...and the hunt is on. Out comes Morgan's inner pirate while Julia discoveres her sensual side! Nothing too surprising in that respect, but thoroughly satisfying. The ending is, too, but I'm not going to go into that because I don't want to spoil it for you.

Suffice to say that this is a smoothly written, easily read regency romance with strong murder mystery elements to heat up the action. The main characters - our beauty and beast - are likeable, loveable and easy to let yourself fall into. And isn't that what we're looking for, when we pick up a romance of any sort?

What you should consider:

If you've never read a regency romance, do give them a try. This book is certainly a good place to start - it has many modern-life elements (starting with a rather very socially minded and independent heroine) that appealed to me as a modern reader, but Ms Lynne still kept the style of storytelling (especially language-wise) well within the regency frame of things. If you're an old hand at regency romance and like mysteries too, give this a try!

My Rating:

(8 out of 10 cupcakes)

Where you can get this book:

Amazon Kindle Edition
Amazon Paperback Edition

Barnes & Noble Paperback
Smashwords

About the Author:

Victoria Lynne is the author of five historical romance novels. She’s received two RITA Award nominations, and has consistently earned Romantic Times’ “Top Pick” award. Called “A Fabulous Storyteller!” by Rendezvous Magazine, her work consistently draws rave reviews and continues to attract new readers. Her books have been translated into German, Italian, and Spanish, and are currently available online through Kindle and Nook.

Ms. Lynne lives in Vermont with her husband and two children. When she’s not plotting her next novel, she loves to get away from her keyboard to ski and hike.

Find her on Facebook, too!

Yikes...

2012-01-20T22:13:00.002Z

Tomorrow's my birthday, and it's a big one. I promise I'll blog after I've gotten over the fact that I'm turning XXX tomorrow....

10 Things about Myth(ology) Trends

2012-01-17T18:35:00.000Z

I'm sure you've noticed the recent (well, not that recent anymore) trend towards myth- or mythology-based stories, particularly in the YA-sector of the market. I don't mean myth-based stories in a Joseph Campbell (The Hero with a Thousand Faces ) way either, but stories that acually refer to existing myths and/or use existing mythological creatures.

The first move in this direction that I noticed was the use of Greek mythology. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, to name one extremely popular example. I didn't really like the books all that much (although I did read them all), but I did like that, all of a sudden, kids were interested in greek mythology again, if in a superficial kind of way. As with Harry Potter, anything that gets kids to read is a good thing.
There's many, many different sets of mythology (or religion, if you prefer to call it that). Pretty much everything humanity could imagine, in fact. The most popular ones are indubitably the Greek and Roman pantheons, followed by the Egyptian and Norse beliefs.
Japanese/chinese mythology is very popular, too, though (for now) mostly in the manga market. Or do you know of a (YA) novel inspired by/using this set of beliefs?
Norse mythology appears to be the current favourite, or at least the "new thing". I've come across a few romance novels and the odd YA using Odin and company. My favourite example: Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout.
What I like to call "Christian Mythology" - angels and demons, that is - are everywhere right now, in all kinds of incarnations. I find it particularly interesting that in the newer stories "angel" does not carry the traditional, halo-holy meaning. Nope, there's angel bad guys around, my dearies! Isn't life fascinating? Current favourite: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and The Fallen 1: The Fallen and Leviathanby Thomas E. Sniegoski (there's a cool TV-movie trilogy based on the latter, too)
As far as demons are concerned, everybody loves a bad boy, right? And who could be badder than a demon? And what greater joy than to reform him and make him yours? Countless romance and urban fantasy novels live off this particular concept, so I'm not going bother you with a list. Do you have any favourite demon-centered novels?
Folk mythology plays a great part in many novels (predominately fantasy and urban fantasy). I say folk mythology, but this term is one of my making. What I mean are vampires, werewolves and company. Come on, they're everywhere! And what are they, if not mythological creatures? There seems to be no clear origin, country/culture-wise - or perhaps many origins - for these "alternative people". The most popular is probably the transsylvanian vampire (thank you, Bram). I'm not sure what the equivalent "base tale" for werewolves would be - I know of some russian folk tales where wolves turn into men, and then there's that beast that haunted France in medieval times. My favourite take on werewolves as of this moment would have to be Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver (Wolves of Mercy Falls); for the vampires, I'll admit to being a Jean Claude girl (Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter) by Laurell K Hamilton). Sorry. Though...Anne Rice got me started on vampires, so The Vampire Lestat (Vampire Chronicles) definately deserves an honorable mention.
Veeeeeery popular these past few years: Faeries. Faeries are sometimes the same as Sidhe, sometimes not. They take many forms and are invariably rooted in celtic/gaelic mythology. The possibilities here are pretty much endless, because the fae have many, many forms even in the original mythology. I particularly like Julie Kagawa's The Iron Daughter (Part 1 of the Iron Fey Series) and Richelle Mead's Dark Swan Series.
Faerie Tales, in the non-celtic sense. Who doesn't love a good Cinderella story? Faerie Tale - Grimm or otherwise - retellings seem to be quite the rage right now. Or how about The Day After the Faery Tale-type stories...like what happened after Cinder married her prince? Or once Sleeping Beauty was finally awake? And what happens when Snow White discovers the Mirror and gets curious as to its' powers? (btw, have you heard of the new Snow White movie coming out? Other than the fact that Snow White is Bella, it looks like it might be quite good...) Example of a faerie tale out now: Cinders by Michelle Davidson Argyle.
The Next Big Thing: uhm yea. Did you really expect me to tell you? Do YOU know? If so, share with us, please. What I don't think it is, though: werewolves, vampires or faeries, unless someone thinks up a totally new twist on the theme (think Maggie Stiefvater for new twists on classic themes). I kinda have my doubts about angels, too.

Can you think of another set of beliefs/legends/another pantheon that's popular right now in fiction (YA or otherwise)? Do you use mythology in your story? If yes, what kind?

Monday Music

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000Z

Yes, I realize it's not the original version, but I like it and it's certainly right for today....

Sunday Wishes

2012-01-15T21:30:00.001Z

Sundays are strange, and this one was no exception. They tend to pass me by as if I were somehow in suspended animation, and then, all of a sudden, it's late at night and Monday and a working week loom ahead.

So now I'm watching Criminal Minds while I write this post and I'm wondering which particular pile of "it can't wait" stuff I'll tackle tomorrow.

Am I the only one who does this? Even when I have lots to do, friends and parties and what have you, on Sunday evening I invariably feel like the weekend just vanished on me completely.

Right now I wish I'd done more constructive things this weekend than I did. Since I think this pretty much every weekend, I'm going to try something new. Here's what I want to get done this week:

read two books I'm meant to review (they're short, so that should be doable)
do some preliminary plotting for a Shiny New Idea I had last week to see if it's worth my time or not
do at least half the cost/benefit projections for a major project I'm working on
get my work correspondence up to date, including contracts
find a dress for my birthday party
invite people for a dinner party next week
get my hot water boiler fixed (right now the water pressure is so bad that the shower won't work)

Quite a list, huh? We'll see how I do.

What about you? Do you get those oh-my-God-where-did-the-weekend-go feelings?

ps. I went to see Jane Eyre with my parents today - the first successful family cinema outing in a long time (as in we all liked it).

Check this out...

2012-01-14T14:02:00.000Z

And people wonder where writers get their inspiration!! Check out Lynn Viehl's new post:

Paperback Writer: Collecting Characters

Cut to the Quick (a dare)

2012-01-10T21:59:00.001Z

I was chatting with a good friend of mine (who's busily editing and proof-reading her most wonderful novel right now) on FB the other day and somehow we got to the topic of first chapters, or rather how problematic they can be.

She said she changed hers around over and over, and she's still not sure it's what it needs to be right now (she has my vote of confidence, though - she's brilliant, and so's her work). I've had this problem many, many times before - so much so, in fact, that more than one idea was stopped at chapter one because I came no further than that.

Then she mentioned something she read somewhere: When editing, just cut the first chapter off. In fact, cut the first two and start with chapter three.

I was a little taken aback by such a radical suggestion, but it did get me thinking...

How long does it take a writer to find his or her voice, and truly get to the meat of the story? How much of this voice-finding is part of the story?

The answer: I don't know.

So I thought I'd give it a try. Here's the first paragraph of the third chapter in one of my WIPs....

I followed along behind my master like the good dog I was, right up to the main doors of the temple and the silent guards on either side. I approached more slowly than the prince. I really hate to admit this, but they kind of intimidated me. I’ve always had a healthy respect for all things holy, and these guards fairly glowed with godly righteousness in their pristine white uniforms with their pretty but slightly disturbing blood-red crosses and golden sunbursts on their right shoulders.
I stopped a few feet from the entrance, not sure what to do. My master almost crossed the threshold, but he looked back, beckoned me forward.
But I couldn’t. Not one more step, not towards His holiest of holies. Their God, their male God, implacable, unforgiving. I would not, could not, go into this his most personal realm.
I think my master understood, or perhaps he felt my fear, because he gave me one of his half-exasperated, half-understanding looks and turned to speak to the guards instead.
“Marik, Soren, you keep an eye on Cavan, here”, he told them. “And you, my boy, you stay right here where they can see you. If someone bothers you, you may defend yourself this time.” He turned to the guards one last time. “You heard what I said. If someone attacks him, he is permitted to defend himself. See to it that he manages that, will you?” They saluted, but he was already gone, into the temple and whatever prayers called him there.

What do you think? Does this sound like a good place to start a story? What about you? I dare you to post the first paragraph of your third chapters on your blogs!!!

Monday Music - Foster The People

2012-01-09T01:00:00.000Z

Took me ages to figure out the lyrics to this one. Wanna have a go?

Backwards and Forwards

2012-01-05T14:39:00.000Z

Becca, one of my fellow book bunnies, had a great idea how to start this year. I know I already did my two 10-Things posts (one of things I didn't do in 2011 and one about my 2012 resolutions) but I figured I might as well give it a go... ; P

What I learned in 2011:

Stress can be a good thing. No, seriously, it can.
You can't choose your family, and sometimes there's no point in just fixing up your own side of the fence.
On the other hand, you can choose your friends. Yay.

What I hope for in 2012:

Finishing something to the point of submitting it, maybe even getting something published. *fingers crossed*
Finishing my current degree.
Not freaking out over the big birthday I'm celebrating in about three weeks' time.

Best Books in 2011: I'm going to take a page out of my friend Kerry's book here and do this one in a seperate post ; P

What I'm looking forward to in 2012:

My degree ceremony, which will be in the Sheldonian Theatre (Oxford). With gown and everything!
A couple of years ago I started a company with a friend of mine, and this year we'll probably be able to expand. Big time. YAY!!
My birthday party - even though it is a big one, and it makes me feel really old, I think it'll be great fun. Maybe I'll even let you see some photos... ; P

Things I'm proud I achieved in 2011:

Finishing all but one of the exams I need for the degree I'm currently working on.
It's not really an achievement on my part, but I got a third goddaughter last year, and she's sooooo sweet!!!!
Making a healthy profit with that company I mentioned earlier (hence the expansion plans) ; )

So what about you guys? What are you really proud of achieving last year, and what's the thing you look forward to most in 2012?

10 Things I plan to do in 2012

2012-01-03T01:00:00.000Z

10 Things Tuesday + Beginning of the Year = A List of Writerly Resolutions...

This year, I've signed up for three Reading Challenges (see tab above) and I plan on completing them all (they do overlap somewhat, as Alex pointed out yesterday, so that should be doable)
I will be blogging at least three times a week
I want to be more proactive in commenting on other people's blogs - I've seriously been slagging off in that respect - Sorry guys.
I've almost signed up for the Write One Sub One thingy, but then didn't because knowing myself I will just plain fail at it and I resolve not to set myself up for failure this year. Challenges, yes. Failure, no. Know your limits, I say.
I want to finish/edit/submit the three short stories that have been hibernating on my hard drive for most of last year. Two of them are horror/suspense stories, one is a fantasy/romance thingymajig. And I want to do this before I start a new one.
I will make notes of all Shiny New Ideas in my journal, but will not pursue them until I have time to give them the attention they deserve. By this I mean no more half-written stories if I can at all help it.
My writing desk will no longer resemble the illegitimate offspring of a fleamarket and a tornado-stricken library. No, really.
I will participate in NaNoWriMo again in November, but will NOT take part in any other NaNo-like challenges because quite frankly I have to do some paying work, too. That way I can really have fun in November and not just groan at the effort/time it takes.
I will seriously consider what to write for a thesis. I'm close to that point in my academic career, and it pays to have an idea of what you want to do before the time comes to find an appropriate supervisor.
That said, I will finish all other coursework/paperwork asap, so I can truly get on with it.

There, that's 10 doable things for 2012! I have a couple of less realistic ones, too, but I want to stick with these for now.

How about you? What are your writerly resolutions, or are you anti-resolution?

Monday Music - Happy New Year!!

2012-01-02T15:26:00.000Z

Challenging myself....

2012-01-02T12:48:00.000Z

It's the start of a new year, and that means...

READING CHALLENGES!!!

Although I didn't make all the challenges I joined last year, I'm doing it again. First and foremost, I've joined Book Chick City's 100 Books in a Year challenge:

(click pic for challenge home)

Along with the Goodreads Reading Challenge (see sidebar), also for 100 books in 2012. If you want to track my progress or see how I'm doing, an up-to-date list is up there amongst the tabs of blog pages ("Reading Challenges 2012").

I'm also joining their Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge, as this is my pet reading genre and I feel confident that I can reach the required 24 books (optionally 48 - we'll see how it goes) in 2012.

(click pic for challenge home)

I'm really looking forward to that one!!

And because this is supposed to challenge me, and because there's so many great new voices out there every single year, I'm joining Literary Escapism's New Author's Challenge, too. I'm going to try for 15 new authors this year....

go HERE for challenge home

All my challenge-related reading will be posted on the "Reading Challenges 2012" page, along with links to any reviews I'll be doing.

10 Things I didn't do in 2011

2011-12-27T21:40:00.001Z

Christmas is over and the whole year is coming to an end. It's time to take stock, sort out my desk and make the inevitable collection of what-to-do-next-year list.

So I thought I'd share with you guys all those things on my list that are going to make it onto next year's list, too... *sigh*

OK so I'll only share 10 things, but believe me, there's more.

Finish one of the WIPs to the point where it can actually be submitted somewhere
Stop hopping from one idea to the next shiny new thing
Actually organize my desk rather than just shuffling papers to and fro
Lose weight (yea, perpetual favourite there)
Be consistent with my blogging. Okay, so that worked for the first part of the year, but I've really been lazy blog-wise lately and I'm sorry to have lost touch with so many of my bloggy friends. I shall endeavour to do better!
Complete several reading challenges. I did pretty well, considering - I managed the 100-books thing on Goodreads - but I've been really, really lax in blogging about it or even keeping my lists up to date.
I managed to fail my own (!!) reading challenge - I've only gotten through five classics this year, and didn't write a single review. #headdesk, as one would say on Twitter.
Finish my (second) degree, which failed due to administrative problems (apparently I'm not the only one who messes with paperwork).
I also wanted to write a couple of short stories. I managed exactly one, and even that one is not looking good in edits. Maybe I'm not cut out for keeping things short?
Go visit more blogs and comment regularly, which is like the common-courtesy-handshake-thingy of the blogging world. And yet I failed so many times. My bad. Forgive me?

Anyhows, I hope I'll manage to get more stuff done in 2012....

Birth of a Novel - sort of, anyway

2011-11-29T15:26:00.001Z

Today, I'm a Winner.

Yes, you read correctly. I finished my NaNo-Experience of the year at 50,800 words. Good thing, too, since I won't be able to do any writing tomorrow!

Just over 50 000 words of utter nonesense, now that I'm re-reading it, but it's there, so YAY! I went ahead and ordered myself a Winner T-Shirt. Spend when you're winning, I say. The story, as it stands, will probaby live at the bottom of my endless story drawer (endless coz the stories will never end - get it, huh, huh?), never again to see the light of day until I'm brave enough to do a re-write.

Instead of touching that particular story now, I'm off to work on last year's NaNo, instead. I'm even considering the whole write one, sub one thing for next year - that's like NaNo all year long, pressure wise.

No idea if I'll dare, but maybe...who knows...

Thank you to everyone who popped in on my sporadic blogposts - I love you guys!!!

*HUGS*

And special hello and thanks to my fellow Birth-of-a-Novel-ers - sorry I've been so uncommunicative, but not updating my wordcount regularly and being offline a lot helped me get to the end this year. I'm gonna go say hi to you now....

Angela H.Anna M.Brooke Busse Charity Bradford Elizabeth Davis Elizabeth Poole Fida Islaih Huntress Jen McConnel Lena Hoppe Mia Hayson Miranda Hardy Nyxie Moon Tessa C Zoe

Monday Music - Jessica Bell

2011-11-21T09:00:00.000Z

Given yesterday's Jessica Bell/String Bridge Fest (please do go check out the interview and the review), here's some of her music:

String Bridge by Jessica Bell - A Review

2011-11-20T21:35:00.000Z

Yesterday I interviewed Jessica Bell, author of Spring Bridge. Today, I'm going to talk about her book...

String Bridge by Jessica Bell

(spoiler-free review, so no worries!)

Published: Lucky Press, LLC on Nov 1st 2011

Source: ARC from the author

Blurb (as per String Bridge Website):

Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage—and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits, and she realizes she's been seeking fulfilment in the wrong place.

Quote:

Music is the shadow of thought.

page 7

What I thought:

String bridge is an unusual book, and certainly not for the faint of heart. The story pulls you in - no, Melody does - and you fall right into Melody's world. The language is poetic and lyrical, so much so that music seems a character in it's own right, a player in the game of Melody's life as much as she herself is. Everything around her seems to be conspirint to stifle Melody's dreams and hopes, people around her are fairly drowning in their own problems, and Melody is left more or less to her own devices. Every day problems combine with more serious ones to form obstacles in Melody's path.

Life is not what she would have planned for herself, and reading her story, you can feel her trying to find herself again, see her discovering bits and pieces of who she was and who she is now. This book is a story of a path taken that leads off the plotted course and into Melody's very self.

Melody isn't perfect, and her life even less so compared to what she thought it would be, but she's a sympathetic character nonetheless. It's well worth taking the journey with her - if you dare.

I'm not going to go into details, plot wise - I don't want to spoil anything for you!

What you should consider:

Like I said, this book is not for the faint of heart. This is no airy romance or guess-along mystery. This is a powerful, emotional and very poetic book about one woman's journey to find herself, and perhaps even find her dreams. Be prepared for a serious and engrossing read (as well as seriously engrossing ; P).

Jessica Bell has also published a soundtrack to the book (of her own devising - she's a musician as well as an author and poet), which you should definately consider buying along with the book!

My rating:

(8 out of 10 cupcakes)

Links:

Book Trailer

String Bridge on...

Soundtrack on...

Find Jessica here:

String Bridge Website

Jessica Bell's homepage

Jessica's Blog

Jessica on Twitter

Jessica on Facebook

Say Hi to Jessica Bell, author of String Bridge

2011-11-20T15:38:00.001Z

First of all, I suck. I was supposed to post this yesterday, but - guess what - epic #Tessafail once again. (I've stopped trying to schedule things because it ALWAYS goes wrong somehow)

Jessica, I'm SOOO SOORRY!!

Welcome to Interview Saturday @ Tessa's Blurb! (*edit: OKAY so technically it's Sunday now, just imagine it were still Saturday!)

And doesn't that sound nice? Maybe I should make it a feature... ; P

I have a special treat for you today - Jessica Bell, writer and blogger extraordinaire, author of the recently released String Bridge, has been so kind as to let me interview her today. She's been busy busy busy this past month, zipping back and forth on her String Bridge tour, so I've decided to forgo the usual interview questions and ask her something DIFFERENT! HA!

But first, here's a little something about Jessica:

Jessica Bell is a literary women's fiction author, poet and singer/songwriter who grew up in Melbourne, Australia, to two gothic rock musicians who had successful independent careers during the '80s and early '90s.

She spent much of her childhood travelling to and from Australia to Europe, experiencing two entirely different worlds, yet feeling equally at home in both environments. She currently lives in Athens, Greece and works as a freelance writer/editor for English Language Teaching publishers worldwide, such as HarperCollins, Pearson Education and Macmillan Education.

In addition to String Bridge, Jessica has published a book of poetry called Twisted Velvet Chains. A full list of poems and short stories published in various anthologies and literary magazines can be found under Published Works & Awards, on her website.

From September 2012 Jessica will be hosting the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca, home of Odysseus.

And now, the questions....

Tessa: Hello Jessica! Thank you for taking the time to pop in on my blog and answer my questions. Let's get right to the meat of it, shall we? You write about music with such poetry that it seems to me this must be something very, very close to your heart - both music and poetry, that is. So here's my first question - if you had to choose one single instrument - voice and pen included - what would you want to be? (I write fantasy stories, remember ; ) )

Jessica: Ha! I hate these sorts of questions. I guess it would be my voice, because then I could sing and tell someone else what to write for me 

Tessa: Sneaky! And what if you could do only one thing, music or writing? Or are they so intertwined for you that they're one and the same?

Jessica: Definitely intertwined. What are you trying to do to me, Tessa? You’re as cheeky as Tessa is in my novel 

Tessa: Good to know I live up to the name! You live in Athens - do you find your surroundings inspiring? Or maybe something Greek just 'sneaks' into your writing, on occasion? Or do you think your writing would be the same if you lived somewhere else?

Jessica: I think being here is definitely inspiring. Sometimes I’m actually afraid I might forget how English speakers interact, because Greeks use their hands a lot.

Tessa: As a writer, I find myself reading a lot. More than a lot, in fact... ; P Is it like that for you? Do you have a favourite read, ever? Poetry, lyrics, novels - is there something you read, over and over again, something you can't leave on the shelf?

Jessica: Everyone has asked me this! Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson. Read it cover to cover numerous times and each time I’ve gotten something new out of it.

Tessa: Oh no! And here I wanted to be original. Ah well. Housekeeping? I don't think I've heard of that one before. I'll have to look it up! Ok, so at the risk of not being original... Do you have a favourite place and time to write? I'm partial to the local coffe shop, myself - whenever I can spare an hour or so. Or maybe you stay at your desk, approach it like a job and write for a set amount of time?

Jessica: I love writing in my purple and blue office, but I never approach it like a job. I write when I feel like it. But I can’t just sit and write for an hour. If I sit down to write I want to be able to dedicate an entire day to it.

Tessa: The whole day, really? That's dedication! I can only write for a couple of hours at a time before my muse runs screaming. Okay, one last question and I'll leave you to go write... What, exactly, is a "biriki"*?

Jessica: It’s a little pot that you make Greek coffee in!

Tessa: Ah! That explains a lot. I should know that, really, considering my addiction to coffee! Thank you, Jessica, for answering my questions, good luck this book and with all your future writing!

Tune in again tomorrow (*edit: later today) for a review of Jessica's debut novel, String Bridge.

* it's mentioned in the book

You should also visit Jessica's wonderful BLOG and her WEBSITE. There's a Book Website, too.

Other interesting interviews with Jessica:

Madeline Sharples (interview/review)
Emily White (interview)
Pam Torres (review/interview)

If you want to buy the book, you can do so here:

eBook

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/String-Bridge-ebook/dp/B005Y48DF6/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319369262&sr=1-1

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/String-Bridge-ebook/dp/B005Y48DF6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319370801&sr=8-1

Paperback:

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/string-bridge-jessica-bell/1030101696

Soundtrack:

iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=465313522

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Melody-Hill-Other-Side/dp/B005P7ARNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317118328&sr=8-1

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Melody-Hill-Other-Side/dp/B005P7G02A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317118484&sr=8-1

Friday Fiction - Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2011-11-18T02:00:00.000Z

Many of you out there in the blogging world may already know Ms Mafi and her wonderful blog or her Twitter escapades (@taherehmafi). You can also find her on her website.

Well, her first book has just come out and I'm thrilled to announce that I

pre-ordered it
received it on Wednesday
read it on Wednesday, in the bath, oblivious to the fact that the water had gone cold around me
LOVED IT and yet....
and am now reviewing it

You should probably know that I always read books all the way through before giving the review any depth of thought at all. I read it, liked it, then thought about the details and this is what I came up with...

SHATTER ME by TAHEREH MAFI

(carefull spoilers ahead!)

Published: 15th November 2011, Harper Collins

Source: pre-ordered off Amazon

Blurb/book description (as per Amazon):

"You can't touch me," I whisper.
I'm lying, is what I don't tell him.
He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him.
But things happen when people touch me.
Strange things.
Bad things.
No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.
But Juliette has plans of her own.

Quote:

"You can't touch me"

Juliette, at various points in the book

What I thought:

First of all: I absolutely had to finish it. That's aways a good thing - but then again, it was rather easy to read through it in one go. I did like it. But...

Well. Compared to other dystopian YA novels out there, Ms Mafi's book stands out in style, but not necessarily in plot. I was thinking X-Men through a lot of it (there's a girl that can't touch anyone in there, right?). The idea is a great one, and the book starts off great, too, but I did find it somewhat lacking in depth.

I'm of two minds as to the style used - strike-throughs and numbers and sentences that are pretty much stream-of-thought for Juliette, or perhaps diary entries (first person present, in case you were wondering). On the one hand, it eminently fits Juliette and lets you see her as she is, but on the other, it is a bit odd. I kinda liked it, but it took some reading to get to the point where I didn't consciously notice the oddities anymore, just the story and the mood created. To be fair, this kind of "gimmick"(as one Amazon.com reviewer called it) seems to be quite fashionable right now. About as fashionable as distopian YA novels, I guess. I'm not - in general - a fan of those (I didn't like The Hunger Games, either), but I know many people are (more about that in What I thought of the Setting).

What I thought of the characters:

Juliette's mind is a little shattered, much like the title, and it's reflected in the way she tells the story (that's the style thing I'm of two minds about). I'm not entirely sure I like her, though. While she's well drawn, I had the impression she sort of floated through the story, emotionally speaking. She does pull herself together a bit by the end, which is good - she's much more convincing at the end than at the beginning.

So she got abandoned by her parents - that wasn't really explained to my satisfaction, and I'd have liked to be clearer on the timeline of what happened. She was bullied in school, then there was that incident with the kid that put her in government hands and outed her lethal touch? Or the other way around, but then why was she suddenly given away by her parents? When, exactly, did people find out about her 'talent'? Maybe the (inevitable, given the end) sequel will clear that up.

And the actual touch thing? She's so afraid of it - everyone's so afraid of it they lock her away for 264 days without touch - that it overpowers pretty much everything else she may feel/think. I know that's probably the point but after a while it bothered me that she didn't seem capable of focusing on anything other than that and how nice Adam is/isn't.

And Adam is nice. He's the love interest, and he can touch her, too (YAY for love). And he appears to be on her side.... then not...then yes...well, let's say it's a major plot point.

Then there's the bad guy, Warner. He's actually the best-drawn and most convincing of the characters, and I kind of liked him, in a twisted sort of way. He's both the major villain of the piece (Reestablishment aside) and, at the same time, the major rival for Adam. At least in theory - the idea is there but the setup on Juliette's side is lacking. Who knows, maybe there'll be some redeemable features to him in the sequel that will give this kind of plotline more credibility.

For comic relief (of a sort) there's Kenji, who makes a brief (insulting) appearance early on and then comes back later. He makes (sometimes tasteless) jokes, comes on to Juliette, and turns out to have a bit of information they really, really need. Uhm yea.

What I thought of the setting:

This book is dystopian, yes, but only in a very schematic way. General dystopian features are there (they're hungry, government wants control, book burning, etc) but it's not really convincing and at times a little too preacher-y for my tastes. But then I'm not a fan of dystopian fiction anyhow, so maybe I'm not the best judge.

The start-up setting - the cell - was well thought out, though it appeared a little large to be truly intimidating (they fit two beds in there, didn't they?). Then there's the going-to-the-shower scene that seemed kind of pointless if to me. So what happened if she wasn't fast enough? Why make her go there in darkness? I guess it was supposed to build up the intimidation of the "prison" but it lacked something for that in my opinion.

The last bit, the bit 'opposition' to the Reestablishment, seemed somewhat contrived. What, they've always been there? Why not act earlier? Or did I misunderstand and this really is some resistance movement rather than a kind of we-are-the-last-of-mankind place where all the "gifted" and their hangers-on end up, protected from the Reestablishment? Again, I have hopes for the sequel...

What I think you should consider:

If you're a huge dystopian YA fantasy fan, go ahead and buy this. It's easy to read (once you get past the stylistic stuff) and certainly light entertainment. It's mainly romance, though, not so much dystopian society going on. Maybe this will be revealed in a sequel - which, judging by the end of the book, will have to come eventually. If you really, really don't like not having things explained, maybe wait for the sequel and then read them together.

If you liked The Hunger Games, you may like this book, but don't expect quite so complex a society here. The dystopian setting is just that, a setting, and not a pseudo-character like it is in The Hunger Games or similar books. The setting could just as easily be the 'ordinary world'.

All in all, though, I liked Tahereh Mafi's debut novel, and if you like YA romantic fantasy, do go ahead and have a read.

Quite apart from all that, do go visit her blog, it's fantastic.

Rating:

6 out of 10 cupcakes

Birth of a Novel (and I'm late AGAIN)

2011-11-16T21:48:00.001Z

Let's just say my Novel doesn't want to be born.

But please do give a shout out to the other Birth-of-a-Novel-ers...

Angela H.
Anna M.
Brooke Busse
Charity Bradford
Elizabeth Davis
Elizabeth Poole
Fida Islaih
Huntress
Jen McConnel
Lena Hoppe
Mia Hayson
Miranda Hardy
Nyxie Moon
Zoe

Birth of a Novel or How Tessa is Rubbish at Keeping Up

2011-11-11T12:13:00.000Z

Major Tessa Fail, here.

I meant to do this post on Tuesday. It's Friday today. What is wrong with me! And it's only Week 2 of NaNoWriMo, so no excuses there.

Although, come to think of it, Monday is about where my NaNo's at, wordcount wise. I'm at least 8000 words behind, and no hope of catching up any time soon. Maybe ever. NaNo keeps telling me that at this rate I will finish after Christmas (if I'm lucky), which is just SOOO cheery.

I don't know what's going wrong this year. Last year I practically breezed through NaNo (ok maybe it was more of a bumble but still), this year I can't seem to string two words together in a line, never mind a sentence. It's not even funny.

My story is completely stuck, what plot I had has come undone, and no replacement looming on the horizon, either. My Muse is apparently on holiday, and inspiration is slow going, if that. I'm piecing things together one very painful word at a time and it isn't getting me anywhere.

I blame the fog.

You see, for the last couple of days (weeks) we've had little but foggy weather around here. Ideal writing weather, no?

No. Because apparently, when there's a fog, everything at work decides to go wrong and/or need my personal attention, which leaves me with a) little time to write b) no brain cells left to think with at the end of the day, never mind type up some words. I'm seriously considering an investment into a dictaphone, though - who knows, maybe I can find the energy to talk, at least. Though goodness knows when I'll have the time to transcribe that (probably at 23:55 on November 30th, knowing me).

OK enough whining for now. How are you guys and gals doing with your NaNo? Everything on track, or are you perhaps one of those depressingly cheerful over-achievers who will end up with a gazillion words at the end of November, all of it neatly edited and wrapped up with a pink bow? Or maybe you're in the middle of a train-of-thought-wreck like me, and in dire need of some novelist first aid?

I use chocolate for that. It has just the right consistency to patch up brains and mend hearts, you know?

Ahem. So here's the other Birth of a Novel NaNoWriMo-ists, do go give them the shout-outs I couldn't give them this week...

Brooke Busse  http://brookerbusse.blogspot.com

Charity Bradford   http://charitywrites.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Poole  http://writerelizabethpoole.blogspot.com/

Fida Islaih http://fida-islaih.blogspot.com

Huntress  http://spiritcalled.blogspot.com/

Lena Hoppe  http://lenalothanas.blogspot.com/

Mia Hayson  http://literaryjamandtoast.blogspot.com/

Miranda Hardy   http://www.mirandahardy.blogspot.com/

Nyxie Moon  http://creativedawdle.blogspot.com

Have a nice weekend, everyone!

Monday Music

2011-11-07T14:57:00.000Z

Well, let me just say that concerning my NaNo right now, it feels like I don't speak English... *sigh*

Sunday NaNo Review

2011-11-06T13:57:00.000Z

It's Sunday today and NaNoWriMo is well under way. More or less.

I'm almost on track with my story, although I am still sorely tempted to change it to something else entirely...but no, I won't, because I'd have no chance of catching up.

ah well.

So....how are you doing this fine November? How's your NaNo? How's your non-NaNo stuff going?

Ten Things about my NaNo 2011

2011-11-01T01:00:00.000Z

Yep, I'm doing it again, starting today.

I'll be writing 1,667 words each day this November, or at least that's the plan.
This year, I'm also part of the Birth of a Novel Blogchain hosted by Charity. The aim of the game is to post updates on our NaNo progress every Tuesday, pop in on the others and generally revel in the madness.
I'm actually writing this post late on the 31st of October, and as of yet, I have NO CLUE what I'll be writing tomorrow. This will be the ultimate pantsing experience for me.
Actually, I'm always a pantser. Whenever I try to plan (too much or even at all) my characters go on strike and my Muse wrinkles his cute little nose at me in disdain before flouncing off to make someone else happy. Bitch.
I'm in a really busy place, job wise, so doing NANo is probably not the most intelligent thing. But hey, it's all about the rush, no?
I really wish I wasn't such a pantser. I'd love to be able to outline properly, just once, without it killing the mojo.
I love - LOVE - drawing maps. Yep, maps. What! I write fantasy. I'm allowed. Only problem? I have yet to figure out how to fit 1677 words onto a map.
Maybe I'll start off my NaNo with a map anyway.
I hope I'll be waking up tomorrow with my Muse at my side. The imaginary one, that is. The most I can hope for physically speaking is one of my two dogs. *sigh*
Please do pop in again next Tuesday and say hi! It'll make my NaNo week, really it will. And maybe, if you have time, say hi to the others, too? Here's the list of The Birth of a Novel-ers:

Brooke Busse  http://brookerbusse.blogspot.com

Charity Bradford   http://charitywrites.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Poole  http://writerelizabethpoole.blogspot.com/

Fida Islaih http://fida-islaih.blogspot.com

Huntress  http://spiritcalled.blogspot.com/

Lena Hoppe  http://lenalothanas.blogspot.com/

Mia Hayson  http://literaryjamandtoast.blogspot.com/

Miranda Hardy   http://www.mirandahardy.blogspot.com/

Nyxie Moon  http://creativedawdle.blogspot.com

Monday Music

2011-10-31T22:08:00.000Z

Oh come on. You know you love it.

My personal favourite: the penguins.

Goodbye, Campaigners! I hope to see you around!

2011-10-30T07:00:00.000Z

This year I thought I'd get in there, join the bloggy social life and participate in the wonderful Rachael Harrie's Platform building campaign.

Well. Par for the course things didn't go as I planned, and I've neglected my fellow campaigners horribly.

I'm SORRY!!!

I hope you'll forgive my scarce online presence during the past few weeks (months)!!! And it doesn't get better, coz I've gone and signed up for NaNoWriMo again this year. It'll be my second go at it and I kinda doubt, going from last year's experience, that I'll have much time to blog. I'll try to keep in touch, and make December a BloWriMo here on Tessa's Blurb to make up for it.

Love you all,

hugs,

Return to the Real World

2011-10-29T22:30:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow is a big day...not only do I get to sleep an hour longer (thank you, winter time), I'm also going home.

From Spain to Austria, in case you're wondering. Which means I have to

a) pack, which I hate

b) leave behind the wonderful weather

c) say goodbye to the beach

d) prepare to be inundated with work on Monday and

e) spend hours on airports tomorrow.

BUT

Hey, I'm going home! And once there, I can prepare for NaNoWriMo!! Can't wait! Although due to the buddy thingy only recently going up I'm sadly bereft of friends.

*hint, hint*

I'm Tessa C over there, btw!

Monday Music

2011-10-24T01:30:00.000+01:00

My oldest goddaughter (she's ten) is visiting right now...she wants to be an actress, or a singer, or maybe a make-up artist. She also spends much of the day (and every second she's in the shower) singing Selena Gomez songs...or trying to style herself like she does...

Sunday Blues

2011-10-23T14:30:00.000+01:00

What is it with time, anyway?

There never seems to be enough of it, and if you have it, you don't know what to do with it. I'm on a quasi-holiday right now, and yet I feel more rushed and stressed than I do when I'm home, working. Why is that? I packed my bags with the express intention of finishing a short story of mine before NaNo, then preparing for that, perhaps even getting in some painting time to exercise (or exorcise, as it may be) my visual muse...

Well. I've been here for 10 days now, and all I've written are a couple of diary entries. It's depressing. I'm starting to doubt myself in oh so many ways, and it's not a nice feeling.

Hence the Sunday Blues.

I'm hoping to get myself sorted (and isn't that a recurring theme, here - I'm sure regular visitors will recognise it) asap, but the more I plan to do so, the less it seems to work. Kinda like I always get stuck writing if I plot too much.

Hmm... maybe that's the problem? Maybe I should pants my life, too....

Ten Things about NaNoWriMo

2011-10-18T17:18:00.001+01:00

It's almost November, and you know what that means...NaNoWriMo 2011 is about to begin! So here's 10 things about NaNo that you should know....

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Basic, I know, but maybe you're new to this (I was last year) and don't know what people are going on (and on and on) about.
Just because it's NATIONAL doesn't mean you can't take part if you don't live in the US of A. I happen to live in Europe, and I'm taking part. I know there's people from all over the world NaNo-ing every November - just check out the forums on the website! There's bound to be a ML near you. And if not, why not try for the position next year?
The aim of the game is to write 50.000 words in one month. That's roughly 1.667 words each day...or approximately three pages of Times New Roman script size 12. Now I don't know about you, but for me, that's a LOT of words. Especially if you happen to miss a day and then try to make up the wordcount....
The original idea of NaNoWriMo was to start writing with, at most, an idea of a story. No plot, no plan, just writing wherever the words take you. Kind of like being dropped out of a helicopter in the middle of Alaska with a tempramental compass.
NaNoWriMo is a community experience. Even if you don't join any forum discussions, you post your wordcount, you can compare yourself to others, you can go join write-ins or what have you with your regional NaNo collegues.
Of course you don't NEED NaNoWriMo or their website to write 50.000 words in a month. That's not the point - the idea is to be part of something more, a community of like-minded madmen and women who take it upon themselves to flog their muses to the finish line. Not literally, of course...uhm...never mind.
You don't have to stop at 50.000 words - after all, what sort of novel would that be? 50.000 words exactly? Yeah right. But it'll be 50.000 words WRITTEN - a good base for your novel, even if you need to add 50.000 more words to get it done and edit the hell out of it to make it readable.
NaNoWriMo is a great opportunity to stick it to the man. The man in this case being your internal editor, not your local tax collector or parking ticket giving person. Although, who knows, maybe they'll be NaNo-ing too and you can beat their wordcount....
NaNoWriMo provides the perfect opportunity to obsess about your writing. Yep, that's right. If you NaNo, you can point out to all your friends that this is what you're doing and that's why you can't go see their slide show or whatever else you've been trying to get out of. OK no, seriously, this is a great opportunity to let your friends/family/hangers-on know what you do with your free time. After all, people all over the globe are doing it, too...
You don't absolutely HAVE TO write 50.000 words. There's no word-count police (unless you hire them). But think of the RUSH of doing it!!! I was on a high all through the xmas preperations (which is a bonus; I find pre-christmas time rather stressful normally) because I managed my 50.000 words last year.

So what do you say? Are you in? You can buddy me over on the NaNo site (Tessa C) and we can do this thing together!

WIPs and those that will be...

2011-10-12T02:30:00.000+01:00

Have you noticed the leaves changing colour outside? The end of the year is coming ever closer, and you all know what that means.

It's NaNoWriMo Time!!!

I NaNoed for the very first time last year, and while it was nail-bitingly stressful, it was also absolutely fantabulistically wonderful. What a rush, my dearies, what a rush!

50.000-odd words in one month! Daunting but thoroughly enjoyable.

However....

If you follow my blog you may already know this, but I suffer from severe WIP-hopping disorder. I have really deep-seated issues with finishing things. To take part in NaNo, I have to think up another story entirely (not a problem in and of itself, but that means one more WIP on my list), since the rules say you're supposed to start over.

Or I can do my own thing and NaNo an existing project of mine... hmmm...

Are you going to NaNo this year? What's your strategy - start new, or do some plotting beforehand?

Ten Things about studying for an exam...

2011-10-11T01:30:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I had to take an exam - a proper one, not some language course or other where all you do is get a certificate. In fact, it was so long ago that I had to relearn how to study for the exam I took on the 6th of October (the one that kept me from blogging/writing for close to a month).

Here's some revelations that smacked me on the back of the head while I was trying to remember basic accounting....

Make sure you schedule enough time. Now, I know there's different study types - those that cram and those that plan - but a certain amount of planning can never be wrong. You don't want to find yourself a week before the exam, not having started yet...
Organise your books beforehand. This is particularly important if you're studying law, like I do (or rather did). All sources you study from should be up to date, no matter whether you buy them, copy stuff (legally, please) or borrow them from the library. If you miss some new development, it's going to look really bad in the exam.
Find lectures on the subject if you can. It's surprisingly efficient to learn by listening - maybe you're even lucky enough to have movies on your subject. Just don't make the mistake of thinking that's enough by itself.
Make up a study playlist for your audioplayer of choice. Mix up lively songs with calm ones, make sure they're not too overpowering but not so gentle they put you to sleep, either. I like mine on the lively side of things, with a definite head-bobbing kind of beat.
Don't just read about what you're supposed to know (with or without highlighter in hand). Take notes! You'll find you remember more if you read AND write what you're supposed to know. Engage your brain.
Try visual methods of studying - make up mind-maps, diagrams, comic strips, whatever strikes your fancy. It'll help loosen those mental muscles, even if you're not really a visual type of person.
If you have a dictaphone, try reading your study material to yourself, tape it, then listen while you go for a run/walk/sit on the sofa. It'll be like your own private little lecture.
Change your actual study environment regularly. There's nothing worse than being stuck at your desk for hours on end, staring at the same papers/computer screen. Go to your local coffee shop, library, park, and study there for a couple of hours. If you find the noise surrounding you annoying, listen to your study playlist if you made one.
Cover your home in your notes if you can get away with it. Dedicate each room to a particular topic, stick your notes/mind maps up on the walls, doors, windows, and study whilst walking around. This is how many memory buffs train their brains (well actually they just imagine things in certain places in their home but hey).
Don't forget to take regular breaks. You're doing noone any good if you fry your synapses. Go take a breather, watch a movie, meet up with friends.

You know what? I think most of that can be applied to writing, too... who'd have thunked? ; P

Monday Music

2011-10-09T21:24:00.001+01:00

It's Monday and I'm BACK!!!

I'm sorry I've been gone for so long! Did you miss me? (Don't answer that - if noone did I'll be ALL DEPRESSED...)

I had an exam on the 6th of October and spent most of September either cramming for the exam or trying to stay up to date with my actual work stuff. No time for writing, blogging, or even thinking overly much... I'm so glad it's over! (I passed, btw) Now I can REALLY get on top of my work and...yes...WRITE both actual writing and the blog. So I hope you forgive my absence.

Especially all the campaigners out there - I'm bad at this, I guess.... : (

Ah well.

So to start of a week of proper blogging, here's one of my favourite songs:

Oh, and please check out the "Don't Miss" section in my sidebar, there's LOTS of (mostly halloweeny) Blogfests/Contests going on!!

Monday Music - Zaz up your Monday

2011-09-12T01:00:00.000+01:00

Hello my dearies,

Guess what? It's monday again... start the week with a smile and my new favourite song....

The first campaigner challenge!

2011-09-07T23:10:00.001+01:00

It's time for the first campaigner challenge!

The task: write a story (200 words) starting with "The door swung open" and, if you can, end it with "the door swung shut".

Quite a challenge! It took me a while to come up with this....

The door swung open.
I checked and re-checked my baldric, pulled my sword from its leather scabbard and let it fall back again. One breath, another.
Nothing happened. The black oak door frame looked innocently normal. It was also empty. Behind it, there was little but air and bucolic rolling hills that had me looking for shepherd’s pipes and frolicking lambs.
I slapped a hand - not my sword hand, thank you very much - before my eyes and counted to ten, then dropped it.
Still nothing. “What the hell?” I asked, but of course there was no one to answer, either.
Fine.
I took a deep breath and stepped outside into the light. I kept my hand on my sword hilt, though. Dragons, even when they decided to hide, were no laughing matter.
This dragon was having a whale of a time messing with my head, because as I stepped out of the house, I heard an ear-splitting roar. I dived towards the lamb-free hills to get away from the brightly burning hut. He hadn’t even singed me but by the time I turned around the damned beast was gone again.
Behind me, the burning door swung shut.

And guess what? It's 200 words, exactly!

I hope you're all having fun with the campaign, I'm sorry if I'm a bit lame in commenting on all your lovely blogs (yes, I've visited most of them, but that's about as far as I get at work) but my job has been a bit challenging lately and time comes at a premium.

Maybe this weekend I'll have more time...we'll see.

Ten Things about Vampires, Part 2

2011-09-05T22:43:00.000+01:00

Last week I posted 10 Things about Vampires (or rather 10 types of vampires), and it appears I've forgotten a whole load of things. Hence, Ten Things about Vampires, Part 2! To read the first part, go HERE.

As per Alex's reminder, Underworld is now on the list. I mean, how could I forget?? Ok, so I'm not a guy, and thus not obsessed with Kate, but still... Scott isn't bad, either!
Buffy. How could I forget Buffy? I must have hit my head just before I wrote that last post, because Buffy rules. Angel.... SPIKE.... come on, you GOTTA love them!!! I spent my teenage years watching the goings-on in Sunnydale, and Buffy & Co will always have a special place in my heart. (thanks Vamp)
mshatch kindly pointed out The Historian by Elisabeth Kostova. I haven't read that book (yet), but it looks good, so I'm all for it and it's on the list.
And thank you, Kerry, my dearest fellow Book Bunny, for pointing out True Blood! Eric rulz, totally. I've gotten a little annoyed with the books of late, but the first few are fantastic (yay Charlaine Harris), and what HBO made of it rocks socks.
Kerry is also correct in pointing out the brilliance of 30 Days of Night - classic scary, bloody and fairly disgusting vamps galore! Isn't it funny how the movies seem to keep more with the traditionally bloody kind of vampire?
The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith also make this list. I like most of LJ's books (I'm more partial to The Secret Circle trilogy), and the TV series is certainly entertaining. (thanks, Angela Brown, for reminding me of these books)
Roland Yeomans, fellow blogger and writer extraordinaire, is a master at vampire writing. His blog and his books are home to many of them. Here's what he has to say about them: "In my world mythos, they are known as revenants -- and like humans, they are each their own individual. Abigail Adams rules the American Confederacy of Revanants, clinging to the ideals of her husband. Empress Theodora rules the European Revenant Empire with the ruthlessness of the bear trainer she once was. And Father Renfield, a vampire priest, tries to walk the fine line between his hunger and his faith. Tough going, but that is the path of a heroic spirit, right?"
I've recently come across A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harnkess. I reviewed the book HERE, and I can definately recommend it. It's a brilliant combination of mystery, urban fantasy, classic sleuthing and romance.
Then there's The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy Mckee Charnas, with Weyland the vampire professor. I won this one in a blogfest/contest by Roh Morgon - thanks, Roh! It's a different take on the subject, fascinating and brilliant.
Last but not least, I'd like to point out the popularity of vampire characters in that much-discussed section of fiction writing that is Slash Fiction. It's fascinating what people come up with, and some of the writing is truly great. In fact, some of my very good bloggy buddies (fellow Book Bunnies, even) started writing slash fiction and have developed their writing lives from there. I myself started writing by re-writing endings to movies if I didn't like them. My buddy Vamp has a list of links up on her blog (she's of the Twislash tribe)(that's Twilight slash fiction for the uninitiated)(I think - I'm no expert here) if you're curious....

There! I honestly can't think of anything else vamp-related. Can you?

Monday Music and cats and their stripes

2011-09-04T22:08:00.000+01:00

Hello my dearies, hello to my new Campaigner friends!

I've been bad last week, not finding much time to blog (and hence not much time to go say hi to all of you - SORRY!) but I'm hoping to get around to that this week. To start things off, I'm pleased to meet you.... ; P

OK so that's not my name, I admit it, but that song always makes me smile for some reason... I guess I'm weird that way.

On to my second topic for today:

I am a cat of many stripes.

No, I kid you not. I do many things, sometimes all at once. But more to the point, I write in a variety of genres (that are totally connected in my mind but maybe not in yours).

I write fantasy of the traditional sort, urban, YA, paranormal (although I've never been entirely comfortable defining that one), post-apocalyptic (don't say distopian, please - I DETEST that word) and fantasy-crime combinations. I also dabble in horror, mostly short-story wise, although admittedly my blog is a little too cutesy to p(l)ay witness to that.

(In case you're wondering, although I have lots of stuff that's written, nothing is finished, never mind published. I'm still on the way there...)

Over the course of the Platform Building Campaign, I plan on doing posts on each of my favoured genres, but for now, I just want to say HI!! to everyone who shares a group with me (and I'm in loads).

Fiction Friday - Three books on London, elsewhere

2011-09-01T23:00:00.000+01:00

Today I'm giving you a different kind of review.

Today, I want to show you three books about, or rather playing in, one of my favourite cities ever - London, capital city of England.

This London they tell about is not the London you might find if you travel there (or live there). This is a different kind of London, in all three books - a London where magic is part of life.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Now, I'm sure you know what a brilliant writer of fantasy (whether you wish to call it urban or otherwise) Neil Gaiman is. This book, right here, is my favourite Gaiman. Hands down.

Here's what Amazon said about the book:

Richard Mayhew is a young man with a good heart and an ordinarylife, which is changed forever when he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. His small act of kindness propels him into a world he never dreamed existed. There are people who fall through the cracks, and Richard has become one of them. And he must learn to survive in this city of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels, if he is ever to return to the London that he knew.

If you haven't read this book yet, you definately need to do that. What can I say? @neilhimself (as he goes by on twitter) is brilliant.

(there was a tv series, too, if you're visually inclined)

A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin

Now, I came across this book by chance. I actually bought the second one in the series (The Midnight Mayor) and read it first - after having it on my shelf, unread, for ages.

I was hooked. Griffin shows us a different kind of fantasy, a world that reminded me a little of Neil Gaiman's American Gods (another great Gaiman book, btw). Technology develops a life of it's own, and Matthew Swift (who's a fantastic MC) is right in the middle of it. In fact, he's soon part of it.

It's said that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, then the Tower will crumble and the kingdom will fall. Resurrected sorcerer Matthew Swift is about to discover that this isn't so far from the truth. . .

One by one, the protective magical wards that guard the city are falling: the London Wall defiled with cryptic graffiti, the ravens found dead at the Tower, the London Stone destroyed. This is not good news. This array of supernatural defenses - a mix of international tourist attractions and forgotten urban legends - formed a formidable magical shield, one that could protect London from the greatest threat it has ever known. But what could be so dangerous as to threaten an entire city?

Against his better judgment, Matthew Swift is about to find out. And if he's lucky, he might just live long enough to do something about it . . .

(Amazon Blurb)

I've just bought the third book in the series (The Neon Court), and I can't wait till I have the time to read it!!

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

This is one of the few books I bought after reading a newspaper review (I'm not generally fond of newspaper reviews). I bought it in hardback, because I thought the idea fascinating - and let me tell you, it was well worth the money.

My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluable, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England. Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden . . . and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair. The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying.

(Amazon.co.uk blurb)

Sounds good, no? The book keeps the promise, definately. The world beneath the surface of London that Mr Ben A. (don't ask me to spell that name again, please) paints in this book is captivating, the characters convincing and the story perfectly plotted in the manner of police thrillers everywhere. I loved it, loved how the history of London made it's way into the plot again and again. Also, this is one of the few books I've come across that has an MC that isn't causican - there seems to be a lack of these, in main-stream fantasy in particular. I love the way cultural heritage was worked into the book, too.

Great stuff, Mr. Ben A., can't wait to read the next book!

So these are the three books I wanted to tell you about today. Do you know any other books about London in the fantasy genre? Any other books where the city is more or less a (main) character?

Welcome, my crusading friends!

2011-08-31T21:23:00.000+01:00

Hello to everyone joining me here for Rachael's Platform Building Campaign, and to everyone else, too, of course!!

Welcome to Tessa's Blurb!

I'm sorry if this introductory post is a short one - work is hell right now - but I'm realy glad to meet you all and I'm sure we'll have a great time together!

Meanwhile, go on, have a look around, see what I'm normally up to. There's some samples of what I write under the "writing" tab above, if you're really curious...

Toodles,
; P

What I'm Working On this Wednesday....

2011-08-31T10:00:00.001+01:00

If you look to the right on this blog, into the sidebar, you may have noticed my supposed blogging schedule. If you know me, you will have noticed I'm not big on schedules.

Sorry about that.

For a change, I'm going to keep with the programm today and give you a paragraph of what I'm working on....

I dreamed that I was lying on a battlefield, surrounded by the dead. Crows circled above, their hoarse cries painful to my ears. Fear pulsed in my veins, so rich and all-encompassing that it took hold of my every thought. I dragged my arms up to cover my head and cowered down on the ground.
No.
My body shook with effort, but I uncurled, sat upright, dragged myself onto my shaking legs. I could not be afraid. I was the last, I could not give up. There were dead soldiers around me as far as I could see. The ground was muddy with their blood, and in the harsh light of the sun, the smell was nauseating. I must have lain there for at least a day, presumed dead.
If there was anyone left to make presumptions. It did not look like it from where I was from where I was standing.
A crow landed on my shoulder, shaking me as it ruffled its wings.
I swiped at it but it would not go away, kept shaking me.
“Taren, you’re screaming,” the crow shouted directly into my ear. I batted it away but could not seem to catch it, or even touch it.
“Taren,” the bird insisted, “will you please wake up?”
I blinked and woke up with a shout, jumping upright and away from the crow…hand…away from Luce’s hand. “Shit!”
My heart was pounding faster than a galleon’s drum at double-time, as if it were trying to escape my chest and run away all by itself. “Shit,” I repeated, taking a deep breath.
(exerpt from Blood of the Land by Tessa Conte)

Ten Things about Vampires

2011-08-30T23:24:00.001+01:00

You know vampires, right? Bloodsuckers, issue with the sun, blah blah blah? Well, here's 10 things about vampires, or rather 10 takes on the vampire I've come across.

Go Bram Stoker, Mr Dracula himself! His book has to be the most famous vampire book, ever, and the only one (as far as I can tell) that's acceptably transcended into the "classics" section. Another book with a "dark and evil" take on vampires is Stephen King's Salem's Lot, which should be considered a classic, too, if you ask me.
Way the go, Anne Rice. You rock. Thank you, thank you, for giving us the sexy, seductive, endlessly compelling and wholly ruthless Vampire Lestat. I do believe that without him (or rather Ms Rice), vampires would not be what they are today.
Laurell K Hamilton, in her Anita Blake books, shows us a slow revelation of vampires as (very sexy and rather over-sexed) real people (with all the flaws real people have, from petty to megalomaniac, from compassionate to sociopathic)(ok so maybe there's more sociopaths but hey, you try living that long). I'm speaking early books, here, the series slides a bit further into erotica with every book (not necessarily a bad thing but not everyone's cup of tea, either). Her vampires are sexy (for the most part) and come in different varieties depending what bloodline they belong to. This can range from succubus/incubus powers to being able to let their body rot and repair again (need I tell you which ones are the good guys in most cases?). They are manipulative as hell, too. There's even a Church founded by a vampire, the church of eternal life...
Christine Feehan, with her Dark series covering the "Carpathians", as she calls her vampires - a different race entirely, searching for their true mates who are the only ones to save them from true darkness and turning into the more classically evil kind of vampire. They're immortal warriors (for the most part), shape-shifters and blood-drinkers but also extremely sensual. A much darker, grittier take on the "mates for the warrior vamps" theme can be found in JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series for those who need more suffering and angst with their romance.
MaryJanice Davidson's iconically funny Betsy, vampire queen and beloved of Sink-Lair (as she calls him). This is chick lit with vampires, pure and simple. It's quirky, it's fun, and there's lots of pretty shoes involved. Brilliant.
Ms Meyer's Sparklepires. Please don't make me say more.
Gail Z Martin's Chronicles of the Necromancer is the first book I came across that's fairly classic fantasy and has vampire characters in it. I'm sure it's been done before, but this is the first time I read something like it. Usually, it's urban or historical or some such.
In Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels series, vampires are mindless beasts 'navigated' by people with power over the dead (necromancers, to use the newly fashionable designation for such people). The vampires themselves are not characters, merely tools to be used.
And then, of course, there's Blade, ultimate movie vampire that he is. Daywalker, the only one in existance. Come on, admit it! He's cool.
More recently (Sparklepires aside), there's a lot of YA takes on vampires, with interesting variations. A good example is Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, which also has a "dhampire" in it. Then there's P.C. and Kristin Cast's House of Night series, which starts out great (I lost interest later on in the series but hey that's just me), too - vampires as those chosen by the goddess of the night. Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series is cool, too, full of fascinating characters, ghosts and intrigues. There's many more, but these are the first few that occured to me.

There, that's 10 takes on vampires, more or less.. did I miss any earth-moving vampire variations? What do you think of vampires, and what sort of vampire would you (or would you not) be interested in? I think I may do shifters/werewolves next....

Here the books I referred to, in order:

Monday Music

2011-08-28T23:22:00.000+01:00

I absolutely cannot believe it's Monday AGAIN....

*sigh*

Wanna meet someone new?

2011-08-25T22:41:00.000+01:00

Rachael is holding her THIRD Writers' Platform Building Campaign! If you've never heard of it, go check it out, it's worth the effort. I'm going to try and take part this time round!

LINK

Alex J Cavanaugh is holding another Movie Blogfest - you should check that one out, too. Those are always fun even if you don't take part - just go see what people come up with!

Come on, you know you want to.... HERE

And then, look what he's come up with now....

LINK

Sounds like my kinda thing.... ; P

Monday Music - Placebo

2011-08-22T00:01:00.000+01:00

My favourite Placebo song, ever...

This one's perfect when you're in a bit of a funk and need to dance around your living room like there's noone who could possibly see you.

Go on, you know you want to...

A Word from Random.org! (no Hate involved, promise)

2011-08-19T00:27:00.001+01:00

First things first:

THANK YOU EVERYONE

WHO TOOK PART

IN THE HATEFEST!!

I had a blast reading what you guys came up with, and I hope you had fun reading all the fantastic entries, too.

So now, as promised, without further ado, I present the Chosen e-book winners of Random.org!!!

For Purple Knot by Raquel Byrnes,

Amalia T.

For THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS by Roland Yeomans,

Robyn Alana Engel

For Searching by Stuart Sharp,

L. Diane Wolf

And for the BONUS book, CassaStar by Alex J Cavanaugh,

Michael di Gesu

*throws confetti*

*WHOOT*

OK So I'll be getting the prizes to you ASAP! I'll need your email to send them to you, though. I'll leave a note on your blogs.

If I made a mistake and you already have the book you won, I'm SORRY!!! Let me know it that's the case.

ALSO, Roland Yeomans is holding a fantabulastic contest over on his blog, you should DEFINATELY check it out (you can win autographes by Laurell K Hamilton, Stephen King, or Dean Kootz!). It'll be over end of August, so hurry on over to check it out...

(CLICK HERE FOR LINK)

And you mustn't forget the Star Trek As We Know it Blogfest going on over at Ellie Garratt's Blog on August 22nd!

CLICK HERE FOR LINK

And last but not least, I want to congratulate my fellow Book Bunny, Bella Leone - she's being published! Her short story "Happy Hour" was accepted for publication by the alternative romance publisher Torquere Press as part of their annual charity collection. This year, the It Gets Better Foundation will benefit. You can find her on twitter @bellaleone or at our The Book Bunnies blog if you want to congratulate her, too!

CONGRATULATIONS, BELLA!!!

OK now TODAY I do hate you... BLOGFEST TIME!!!

2011-08-12T00:05:00.002+01:00

Welcome to the

Hatefest!!

This is the day we share HATE - things our characters hate or despise, things that ruffle feathers and add that last drop that makes the barrel overflow... have a ball reading how all these lovely people handle being nasty...

*Tyffani if you're reading this noone seems to be able to comment on your blog I think you need to change some settings...*

If you want to join in, you can... GO HERE to yesterday's post to see a recap of the requirements and what you can win.

Now, the matter of my own contribution to this fest of dark emotions... sometimes, I find it hard to have my characters truly experience them. I write about good guys, right? Even when they're fairly bad? So I have to jump over my own shadow to let them feel true hate, and I never know whether I managed or not.

I'll let you judge if I got it right this time or not....

***

Beri stared, still not quite believing the traitor had gotten this close to him. First the bad luck of being caught in the siege, then this. At least Cal was busy gathering reinforcements while Beri endured the sour-sweat and blood stench of the rebel duke.

"You will kneel," the man said, a snarl etched into his face. He sounded more animal than man, and there was a glint of madness in his eyes. His shoulder-lenght hair was greasy and unkempt. Spittle dripped onto his grey-streaked beard and further down onto his green tunic. Not that it mattered much, it was already filthy beyond repair. The man really did stink up the clouds.

Beri snarled right back at him, showing his teeth. He was king, no matter what Jaren said, and he would kneel to no man.

"I will die, my men will die, this entire city will die before I kneel to you, traitor!"

Jaren, former Duke of the Icewall, now named traitor to the crown, looked the young pretender up and down, sneering at the battle-ripped clothes, the shaggy, white-bleached hair surrounding that pretty-boy face, the gold rings of office running up and down the edges of his right ear. His hand itched to rip them out, one by one. This...this boy...had done nothing, nothing to deserve them.

The prince should have kept a better rein on his pillow-warmer. The gall of it, a jumped-up slave pretending to the Throne of the North! Only those of the blood could sit there, it was Known fact, sanctioned by the White God himself.

Jaren hadn't been fooled, not like all those lily-livered merchantmen that called themselves high lords these days. Jaren had known, and a precious few others had followed his lead, and now here they were, facing down the pretender and winning. His hand's grip tightened on the pommel of his sword, though he did not draw it. The pretender king deserved no honourable death. No ice-forged blade would touch his flesh.

They'd hang him, maybe, or dig out the old rites and hang, draw, and quarter the bastard, right there on the walls where everyone could see.

***

OK so maybe it's cheating to let a bad guy show hate, so sue me. Let me know what you think, then pop over to some - or even better, all - of the other participants and give them some comment love, too! (no hate there, please - hate is for contributions, not comments. Ahem.) ; P

Check in friday next to find out who the lucky winners are!

ps. if you want to know more about Beri, there's a couple of other blogfest entries featuring him under the "writing" tab at the top of my blog

I HATE YOU ALL (but only tomorrow, promise)

2011-08-11T17:22:00.000+01:00

Welcome, one and all, to the evening before the

here on Tessa's Blurb!

Thank you for joining in (and if you haven't yet, you still can until the end of the 12th) (if you're not bothered about taking part in the giveaway, you can post till Sunday)! Those of you who don't know, here's what I said to do :

Sign up by the end of August 12th
On August 12th, post a story, an excerpt of your work or a poem you've written that shows HATE of some form or another - your character hates someone, someone hates your character, or maybe you hate someone/something?
Once you've posted, go check out the other entries and share some comment love!
Don't forget to link back to my blog when you post so people can find the other entries

As for the giveaway, there's some additional requirements:

Post your entry on August 12th, not later (date on post counts) - 1 extra entry

Advertise the Hatefest on your blog (sidebar note by Aug 6th) - 1 extra entry

Advertise the Hatefest on your blog (badge in sidebar by Aug 6th) - 1 extra entry

Do a blog post advertising the Hatefest (please tell me the link in comments so I don't miss it) - 2 extra entries

Advertise the Hatefest on twitter using #theHATEfest (and @tessasblurb to be sure I don't miss it) - 1 extra entry

Follow me on my blog, twitter or FB - 2 entries

Comment on at least two other Hatefest entries (mine doesn't count) - 1 entry

I have a master list of entries and I shall check everything twice, promise! Here's what you can win if Random.org likes you (all of these are books by blogging writers, click on the names to find their websites/blogs):

THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS

by Roland Yeomans

All of these are definately worth buying so if you've already done so, let me know so you don't win something you already have. If you have them all, the alternative prize is an Amazon voucher. There will be a seperate Random.org decision for each book, but you can only win one.

***NEWS***

And because his new book, CassaFire, is due to come out in Febuary 2012, and he's such a faithful commenter and wonderful writer, I'm ALSO giving away Alex J Cavanaugh's

CassaStar

Sound interesting? Go on, sign up! Here's the linky list:

And do pop in tomorrow to read the entries!

ps. the winners of the books shall be announced next Friday (19th August) ; P

A Dragon, reborn or otherwise

2011-08-09T22:20:00.000+01:00

Part 1 of the Common Themes in Fantasy Mini Series

So, my dearies - I've promised a mini-series, so here it is! In this series I plan on talking about things that you can come across in many, many fantasy novels, themes that are recurring in fiction in general, ideas that reflect real-life events or beliefs. For an easy start, I've chosen a universal fantasy favourite: Dragons.

Dragons are a recurring theme in pretty much every Fantasy I've come across (I'm speaking classic fantasy, here - urban is a different matter). They fly, they eat maidens, they do or provide magic, they read books, they are actually shifters, or maybe they're people that are just named Dragon*.

In short, they're all over the place.

You may have heard me say that I'm currently re-reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (a daunting project, let me tell you). In these books, the Dragon (reborn) has a name - Rand al'Thor, a young man faced with a frightening duty to save the world. I've recently read Sophie Jordan's Firelight. Here, the heroine is a draki, a shifter-type dragon, and faces no less frightening (if maybe a slightly less epic) future. Or then there's one of my favourite fictional dragons, ever: the little lizzard Mushu from the Disney Movie Mulan. The one who does that tongue thing. *grins*

Dragons are fascinating creatures, are they not?

It's magic, mystery, danger, or all of it together, that fascinates us. Because of course, there's no real-life equivalent of dragons.

Is there?

Why do we believe in dragons (in fiction)? Why do dragons occur in so many old tales, no matter where in the world you look?

Where they real, once? Some might argue that dinosaurs certainly fill the bill. Well... not entirely what I'd imagine in a dragon but I guess it comes close. I think dragons are one of those things that prove the human imagination is both limitless and still somehow...familiar? Reflective of each other? Running along the same lines, on the same wavelength?

What do you think? Why do we believe in dragons (yes, yes, dragons in fiction of course)? Is that belief based on some real monster our ancestors had to face, something so terrifying that the idea of it basically burned into our mitrochondrial dna or whatever you call it? Did someone start the story and it spread across the world?

Let me know what you think, please!

ps. the next installment will probably cover walls of all descriptions... ; )

pps. DON'T FORGET THE HATEFEST ON AUGUST 12th (see sidebar)

* Here's a list of some of the books I'm referring to:

they (or rather he) provides magic in the Obsidian Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory (Part 1: The Outstretched Shadow (The Obsidian Trilogy, Book 1)
Hero named Dragon: Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1)
Dragons read books in One Good Knight (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Book 2)
Dragons are shifters in Firelight by Sophie Jordan
if you want them to eat maidens, you'll have to get more medieval...think St George.
And don't forget the dragon in The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Begged and borrowed...

2011-08-07T21:19:00.000+01:00

I've recently started re-reading Robert Jordan's epic Wheel of Time series (and it truly is epic in so many ways), and in the process of doing so, I've come to a conclusion...

Writers are magpies (I've always thought this is particularly true of fantasy writers, but I'm probably wrong seeing as I read mostly fantasy and may be biased...).

We pick up anything that looks shiny or colourful or bright, brush it off and add it to our collection. Snatches of conversation, bits and pieces we hear on the news, our own experiences and those of others, folklore, religion and myth - nothing is out-of-bounds, everything has its use.

I think that, quite apart from doing it on purpose, most writers (me certainly) can't help themselves. Inspiration comes, the Muse strikes, and we write. Fragments of memory make their way into our stories whether we want them to or not.

Do you find yourself doing so?

Right now I'm toying with the idea of doing a mini-series of posts on what ideas writers incorporate into their stories, things that might resonate with the reader, familiar schemes and frameworks that are so, so familiar, and yet entirely part of the universe the writer created.

Would that interest you?

Maybe someone wants to join in?

Tessa was challenged!

2011-08-02T09:11:00.000+01:00

My fellow Book Bunnies challenged me to a Drabble, and this is the prompt they gave me:

If you want to know what I came up with, hop on over to The Book Bunnies!

Writing exercises galore!!

2011-08-01T12:18:00.000+01:00

With perfect timing (seeing as it's my CampNaNo month and I need to get hoppin'), Charmaine Clancy of Wagging Tales is holding a blogfest:

It's all about posting a writing exercise and trying out other people's. My favourite writing exercise is actually more of a characterisation exercise.

The Character Interview!

Imagine you're a journalist, writing a column for your favourite newspaper/magazine.
Pick a character you've been having problems with
Invite him or her to your office, offer them coffee/tea/lemonade
Play 20 questions with them! All questions must be relevant to the character and/or the plot. He/she asks you about things that will or did happen in the story, you ask him/her about what they think, feel, whatever.
Rinse and repeat as necessary ; P

I absolutely adore this exercise. Many, many of my plot and character problems have resolved themselves during these interviews. Sometimes, we (the character & I) discover entirely new storylines and plot points. I can definitely recommend this, particularly if you're suffering from writers' block!

Have fun!

ps. here's some character interviews I've done before:

Pet Peeves - concerning long series of books

2011-07-30T22:44:00.000+01:00

I'm mainly talking about fantasy, here, because that's my pet topic - but it does concern some other genres, too.

You know those sprawling epic fantasy series? The ones with lots of intrigue, politics and character development? Those are the ones I mean. I love those kind of things, but there are things that annoy the H out of me. Here's some of them...

There's usually a large time span between publication dates. At the start, they'll be reasonable, but move more and more apart as the series continues. Don't get me wrong, as a writer I totally understand. As a reader, however, it's inconvenient to say the least.
With some of them, later in the series, there's no more hardback books. I like having all books in a series in the same kind of edition, so I'm not a fan of this.
They require a lot of attention. There's so much detail in these books (I'm thinking Game of Thrones or Wheel of Time, or the Cheysuli Chronicles) - that's what makes them so fascinating - that the whole experience looses a lot if you can't read one book after another. I'm not talking publication this time, but pure reading time. I mean, who has the leisure to read 12 books in a row? Or the attention span?
Halfway through the series, they bring out a new cover design. *sigh*
Unless they're REALLY good, there's bits that the story could have done without. At least in my opinion. At some point, it has to end, right?
Then there's the stories where the poor hero NEVER gets left in peace. One book ends, happy ending, but you just KNOW the poor guy's world will be shattered all over again in the next one. And the next. And the next. Leave him alone, already!
When they DO end, these series, it's traumatic.

What about you? Any pet peeves with long series?

10 Things about The Book Bunnies

2011-07-26T12:27:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I told you about the new website/blog for my critique group, The Book Bunnies. Today I'm going to tell you 10 things you absolutely should know about us...

It took us, oh, maybe 2 months to come up with the name "The Book Bunnies" for our critique group's blog. In case you're wondering... we each of us have our own plot bunny farms, so book bunnies seemed the logical choice...eventually
We bonded over last year's NaNoWriMo. All of us had a blast, and the sense of community really helped get into the writing game.
All 6 of us write romance of some kind or another...
Four of us write m/m stories - that is, romance between two men. All of us greatly appreciate the "beauty of the male form", as Sasha put it...
Sasha Conte is my pen(name)sister, in case you were wondering about the name.
Kerry Freeman is a published author (!!). Her short story "Realize" is available at Torquere Press, and the novel she's been working on is set to be published, too.
We read. Lots. And then we talk about it... possibly on our newly minted website... ; )
We all have blogs/websites of our own...mine is here, obviously, then there's Kerry's, Bella's, Becca's, Kimberley's and Sasha's.
All of us are on twitter... Becca is @booknerdbecca, Sasha is @sashconte, Kerry is @kfwritesbooks, Bella is @bellaleone and Kimberley is @kimberleydane. Me, I'm @tessasblurb, in case you didn't know that yet....
And most important and somewhat self-serving is this: we'd be very happy if you'd stop by our new website The Book Bunnies and gave us a follow! *grins*

Welcome to the Book Bunnies (also, Monday Music)

2011-07-25T15:17:00.000+01:00

NaNoWriMo is a bonding experience. Quite apart from the challenge of writing 50.000 words in one short month, it's about the experience of doing so with a group of like-minded people.

A lot of it is about the "atmosphere", meeting up with real-life writerly folks in your area, or doing it virtually in the NaNo forums or one of the many groups dedicated to the experience.

Last year was my first NaNo, and I was lucky enough to meet some fantastic people. Our writerly friendship has since deepened, we critique for each other and do lots of writerly stuff together...amongst which, as of this weekend, is our very own website/blog....

The Book Bunnies

(in order: Sasha, Bella, Kerry, Tessa, Kimberley, Becca)

Go on, check it out!

And here's the Monday Music... it's a clip I taped myself at last Friday's Bon Jovi concert, so the quality is rather crappy, but it was a very, very cool concert....

Summer's Inspiration Blogfest

2011-07-18T21:06:00.000+01:00

Hello my dearies,

It's Summer's Inspiration Blogfest today! The task: post an inspiring prompt... so here goes...It's an old classic, admittedly, but I think it does well for all sorts of stories:

My Home is my Castle

and to go with that...

I hope this provides inspiration, I'm off to be inspired myself by the other entrants... (HERE)

Monday Music...

2011-07-18T00:23:00.000+01:00

10 Things about summer holidays

2011-07-12T00:05:00.001+01:00

I'm on holiday. I'm guessing a fair percentage of you guys are, too... or about to go, or already back. Here's 10 things I think everyone on summer holidays should remember/think of/have fun with...

Summer holidays require...wait for it...SUN. Ideally including sand and water of some sort or another. If you can't get to the beach, bring the beach to you... buy a mini zen garden, stirr the sand (ideally once it's warm from the sun) with your fingers (maybe sprinkle some on your hair for extra post-beach shower feeling later on). Have some ice-cold lemonade, or sangria. Put on your sunglasses and enjoy. Hey, presto, instant beach feeling.
Most summer holidays involve traffic jams or airport waiting times of some sort. So really, think about that zen garden.
Heat is nice. Unless you forget your sunscreen, your bottle of water, or your airconditioning is broken. Again with the zen garden.
Remember that pre-summer diet you meant to go on? Forget about it. Put it back on your schedule for post-christmanstime...
Summer holidays mean time to relax, to be yourself, to recharge those batteries. Don't forget that! Holidays can be stressful - don't let it get to you. Zen garden, I'm telling you.
BEFORE you go on holiday, sit down and write one of those "Last Summer I did..." essays we all used to ~~dread~~ be thrilled about when we were in school... write down everything you think your summer holiday should be about, then go to sleep. The next morning, read it and set out to do as much of the stuff in that essay as you can manage.
If you're going on holiday with your family, pack some extra patience (and anything that might help you with that - sugary treats, books, favourite music, whatever). You'll probably need it.
Don't go for one of those student-type get-as-drunk-as-possible holidays. You do want to remember what you were up to, right? Or maybe you don't...
Write postcards to friends and family. In the days of electronic everything, it's unbelievably nice to have something other than bills and/or stuff you ordered yourself in your mail. Also, it's nice to have a box of them and leaf through them on occasion.
Don't vanish off the face of the earth when you go on holiday. I have a bad habit of doing this - not answering my phone when I'm away and all that. Thanks to modern technology for making keeping in touch so easy... #lazyTessa...

Last but not least... HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!! Let me know if you want a postcard from Spain... ; P

And remember...

Monday Music...

2011-07-11T00:15:00.000+01:00

First things first:

I am NOT a morning person. In fact, I'm as much as a non-morning person as I can get away with. I oversleep my alarm on a regular basis (so I have two of them, one after the other). My brain takes some time to get in gear, and while I start my day with tea (Earl Grey, preferably), I definately need coffee.

And music. So that's what I'll leave you with on this fine Monday (well, fine so far)...

Hullo from Spain

2011-07-10T20:27:00.000+01:00

Sunshine, beach, bronzed skin and a very embarrassed Tessa who somehow forgot all about that I-will-fit-into-my-bikini diet she was supposed to go on.

But I digress.

What I wanted to say is...

HOLA CHICAS (Y CHICOS)! Estoy en Marbella ahora, disfrutando...

But strangely, it's difficult to write whilst lying on the beach. Ah well. I'll get there in the end, Camp NaNo or no Camp NaNo.

Hasta pronto,

ps. Do sign up for my Blogfest!! (see sidebar)

Blogfest, I Hate You! (+giveaway/contest)

2011-07-07T20:59:00.001+01:00

As promised...

OK, OK, so I overdid the design a bit... sorry

; P

I'm calling it the Hatefest for short. (MWAHAHAHA and all that)

Here's the rules my dearies:

Sign up by the end of August 12th
On August 12th, post a story, an excerpt of your work or a poem you've written that shows HATE of some form or another - your character hates someone, someone hates your character, or maybe you hate someone/something?
Once you've posted, go check out the other entries and share some comment love!
Don't forget to link back to my blog when you post so people can find the other entries

If you want to win something...

Now, for this blogfest, I shall be giving away some ebooks for your reading pleasure...

THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS

by my bloggy friend

Roland Yeomans

Purple Knot

by Raquel Byrnes, another fellow blogger

Searching

by Stuart Sharp, who does the funniest lists on his blog

So if you want to qualify for the one of these, you have to do the following in addition to the stuff up above:

Post your entry on August 12th, not later (date on post counts) - 1 extra entry
Advertise the Hatefest on your blog (sidebar note by Aug 6th) - 1 extra entry
Advertise the Hatefest on your blog (badge in sidebar by Aug 6th) - 1 extra entry
Do a blog post advertising the Hatefest (please tell me the link in comments so I don't miss it) - 2 extra entries
Advertise the Hatefest on twitter using #theHATEfest (and @tessasblurb to be sure I don't miss it) - 1 extra entry
Follow me on my blog, twitter or FB - 2 entries
Comment on at least two other Hatefest entries (mine doesn't count) - 1 entry

The 3 winners shall then be chosen by random.org and announced on August 18th. If you want to take part in the giveaway/contest but you already have one or more of those books, let me know so you don't get a double...

And finally, here's the Linky list!

Day 7 of Camp Nano

2011-07-06T23:38:00.000+01:00

It's already been a week of Camp, and guess what?

I've gotten exactly nowhere. *sigh*

Oh wait, that's not exactly true. I did get inspired for a new blogfest... which I shall be announcing tomorrow, so be prepared!

Welcome to Camp

2011-07-04T15:53:00.000+01:00

Hello dearies,

I'm back at my computer after a job-induced break. (Day jobs can be annoying, no?)

And guess what I'm doing right now? I'm off to camp!

Camp Nanowrimo, to be exact, which runs through July and August.

I've joined up with the express intention of completing...

a proper outline of last year's NaNoWriMo novel
an outline for Short Story #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10 or so

in July and then in August, the writing of those short stories.

OK so that's Action Plan #1. I have Action Plan #2, as well... it involves...

an outline for last year's NaNo Novel
an outline for the story provisionally called "King in the North"

and then, in August, the writing of 50,000 words of King in the North.

I know it's already July 4th but I still haven't decided which of the two I'll be doing. Ah well.

Anyone else giving the Camp a try? What are your holiday writing plans?

Blogfest....interrupted

2011-06-25T23:44:00.001+01:00

It's my friend Sash's first blogfest today...the

Blogfest....interrupted

...the task of which is the following:

On Saturday, June 26th, post a 500-1000 word scene of your characters being interrupted - doesn't matter what they're doing, doesn't matter what's interrupting them (end of the world, knock on the door, little voice in their head...), they just need to be interrupted.

Well, this is certainly a blogfest for me. Not only do my characters constantly interrupt me (preferably when I'm working), they do it to each other, too. The following is an excerpt from last year's NaNo novel The Blood of the Land. Taren (the MC) first gets interrupted in his musings by the brash Duke of Ware, then interrupted (or saved?) again by Esialetha...looking for something appropriate to post for this blogfest, I found out that conversations are the most-interrupted thing I have in my writing...go figure.

***

I watched through the dirty window as the people congregated on the field of brown grass that had once been the market green, offering their meager goods. Food was growing scarce and fuel was almost non-existent. The salt was everywhere and nothing would grow. The people grew gaunt and grey as the fields lay fallow and night descended on our kingdom.

I turned to watch my fellow lords and ladies chink glasses and make merry. There were so many candles burning that daylight and nightfall faded away to insignificance inside the Royal Lodge. They laughed and danced and made music. Servants circulated the room with heavy trays of crystal glasses full of bright and bubbly things. Others wandered back and forth between the great rooms and the kitchens with plates of food in finger-sized portions. I stared at the glass in my hand. A pretty thing, etched with patterns and swirls and the royal seal. I downed the amber liquid it held and stifled a cough at its bite.

A hand slapped my back and snaked across my shoulders, holding me still. “Amber! Why so glum on such a fine afternoon, your highness?” The sun is shining, the company is good, there’s drink aplenty. Are those not reasons to celebrate? And you off on the first quest in almost a century! We need to raise our glasses to that!”

I hated it when they called me Amber. Duke of Amber was my courtesy title so long my father held the throne, but right now I’d prefer some more amber in my glass, thank you very much. I looked about but there was no servant close enough to refill my glass right now. There might be alcohol aplenty swimming about, but apparently even a prince had to wait for relief.

“Your Grace,” I said, resigned to spend some sadly sober minutes with my least favourite amongst this inane throng of merrymakers. “These are indeed most fortunate circumstances.”

The Duke of Ware’s coarse laugh made him sound like a bear in rut, but I smiled along anyway. That man wouldn’t know irony if it came up and introduced itself, but he was the greatest landowner outside the royal family. His was one of the estates least affected by the salt creep. One had to play nice with such people, or so my father taught me.

Nobody came to my rescue as he started expounding on the fine music. Darkness fell most thoroughly and the market outside emptied as he rambled on and on. He’d finished with the music and the wonderful quality of drinks and moved on to the ingratitude of peasants when the rescue party finally arrived.

The most beautiful woman in the room had come to join us in our corner. Her red dress glowed in the candlelight and everything seemed to sparkle around her.

Esialetha.

“Ware, isn’t that your wife over there, drinking Castlewaithe’s whiskey?” she asked, pointing towards the court’s most ardent ladies’ man. Ware almost choked on his drink, then excused himself and ran off to corral his wife.

I bowed low to my golden beauty as she gave me her hand. I kissed her palm and pulled her into my arms. She smelled of honey and cinnamon. She was home and love to me, light in all the darkness.

“That was well done, my love,” I whispered into her hair. We swayed gently to the music. I rested my cheek against her hair and started to hum along. It would have been perfect, had we been alone.

“Taren, light of my life, you can’t let him get to you.”

“I do not want to leave tomorrow, my heart,” I said.

“And I do not wish you to go. But go you must.”

***

Did you like that? The scene isn't actually in the most recent edit of the story, because Esialetha's role has changed, but I still like it so I thought I'd share it with you. Let me know what you think!

...and don't forget to check out the other entries to this blogfest HERE.

Brenda's Cover Contest (a very late entry, please forgive me!)

2011-06-19T13:37:00.001+01:00

Sooo.... I had this post scheduled for Friday (the due-date) - or so I thought. Apparently blogger isn't liking my scheduling. Again.

I posted something last night but it seems I was too tired to realize my friday entry hadn't actually gone up.

I'M SOOO SORRY!!! So here's the post now...

***

It's time for Brenda's fantastic Cover Contest (you should see her Grapes of Wrath, lol)! The aim of the game is to post a cover image for a book - yours or some classic - that you've redesigned. I've decided to post one I made up for a comic sci-fi story idea of mine (one of my NaNo ideas last year that didn't get written - maybe next year...), hope you like it...

*grins*

What do you think? Appropriate cover/title for a sci-fi comedy? Let me know!! And don't forget to check out all the other wonderful entries over on Brenda's list.

Thanks for stopping by!

Here's some redesigns of traditional covers, too...

The Pillars of the Earth

by Ken Follett

(source of photo)

Thorn Queen

by Richelle Mead

(source of image)

Muse-ic Blogfest hosted by Tara...

2011-06-19T00:05:00.001+01:00

I'M LATE I'M LATE!!! SORRY!!!

Reason 1: I overslept today
Reason 2: I went to a bar-b-q lunchtime b-day party and it lasted till midnight...

So here goes... my entry to Tara's Muse-ic Blogfest! It's not really a scene, more of a monologue, and a bit slap-dash, sorry...it's after midnight here and I'm playing by ear...(oops was that a pun?)... read and then head over and read everyone else's entries!

***

You think you have problems, don't you? You're fools, the whole goddamned lot of you.

You whine and you grumble and you bleed and sweat and die and give birth and come back again to do it all over again, but still you don't get it. I'm right there beside you, laughing. You see me out of the corner of your eye and yet, you do not see at all.

You don't want to know my name, you don't want to call me anything remotely like it, and yet you take such great pleasure cursing by it. I shine my very own light on all the things in the depths of your soul that you do not wish to see.

Blame me if you wish, ignore me if you think it will do you any good. I'm still right there, hanging over your shoulder, whispering sweet nothings in your ear.

I don't care if you know me or you don't, I'll always be there, waiting, watching, saying my own kind of prayers.

Just wait and see.

***

The song that inspired this:

Fiction Friday: Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

2011-06-17T00:31:00.002+01:00

Prince of Thorns (The Broken Empire)

by Mark Lawrence

Published: 4th August 2011 by Harper Voyager

Source: ARC (Waterstone's promotional copy)

Blurb (as per Amazon):

When he was nine, he watched his mother and brother killed before him. By the time he was thirteen, he was the leader of a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be king...

It's time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what's rightfully his. Since the day he was hung on the thorns of a briar patch and forced to watch Count Renar's men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him-and he has nothing left to lose.

But treachery awaits him in his father's castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce, can the will of one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?

Quote:

You know, I warned them that we do this for a living. I said it to their leader, Bovid Tor. I gave them that chance, I always do. But no. They wanted blood and slaughter. And they got it.

Jorg, Prince of Thorns, p.1/2

What I thought:

Now, let me start by telling you I was really happy to get this book (I had it on my amazon wishlist) for FREE! I found it on the shelves of a London bookstore, where it wasn't supposed to be, and because someone put it there and I found it I got to keep it! *happy dance*

Ahem. OK. So what did I think of the book? The cover of the ARC I have compares the story to George RR Martin's A Game of Thrones, so I started reading it in expectation of intricate political manouverings, bloody fights and a general epic-ness that most modern fantasy seems to lack.

In reading it, however, I was put more in mind of The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman, or the Godless World Trilogy by Brian Ruckley. Lawrence has the same gritty style of writing as these two do.

Jorg, in particular, reminds me of Hoffman's Cale - a young man (a child by our standards, but they both live in worlds that require adulthood at a younger age) who has seen too much, who's view of the world and the morals he keeps as a result of the violence and pain he has grown accustomed to.

Lawrence drops the reader straight into the action, lets us see Jorg in full (somewhat sociopathic) action. He and his band of ruffians are busy raiding a village with all the blood and guts that implies, and Jorg is in no way reluctant to do his part and more.

Only as the story progresses does Lawrence reveal what made Jorg into the person he is today, and thus opens the reader's eye to what's really at stake...but I won't go into details, I don't want to spoil anything.

Suffice to say there's more to it than a ruthless and bloodthirsty young prince and his not-so-merry band of men.

What I thought of the characters:

Jorg is something of an anti-hero. He's ruthless, blunt, deliberately unpolished and not just a little cold-blooded and bloodthirsty. And yet, I couldn't help liking him, couldn't help sympathising when little details of his past slipped out.

His men are thoroughly unlikeable, with the exception of Makin. They have no redeamable characterisics that I could find, but that makes them even more interesting, or rather it is fascinating to see Jorg's dealing with them.

Throughout the book, Jorg is very definately the main character. There is no one who comes close - what I mean is that while there is a peripheral involvement of a female character whom Jorg shows interest in, this book is dedicated to Jorg himself, almost exclusively. This is not a bad thing. It's gotten to the point where most fantasies place such emphasis on 'love interests' that the line to the romance genre has blurred somewhat. It's nice to read a 'traditional' sort of fantasy, gritty or not.

What I thought of the setting:

This is fantasy, with a twist - the world is not something you'd recognize (ok at least I didn't), other than the universality of a war-torn country. And yet, Jorg's education includes familiar authors from by-gone days, he swears by Jesu...is this really a fantasy world, or is this our world in some distant future or alternate universe? It's certainly an interesting amalgamation of sword-and-armour fantasy and an almost post-apocalyptic vibe. There's more to this, but I won't go into any more details - I don't want to spoil anything!

What I think you should consider:

If you liked The Left Hand of God (or the Godless World trilogy) you will probably like this book, too. Don't let the reference to Game of Thrones on the cover (uhm...if that is even ON the normal cover and not just the ARC) mislead you. This is a single-character focused story, not a sprawling epic covering multiple viewpoints - or perhaps just not yet? It is only the first part in the series, after all. Who knows what the future will bring?

Rating:

(8 out of 10 cupcakes)

10 Things about Fantasy (genres) in bookstores

2011-06-14T14:02:00.000+01:00

It has come to my attention that a new species of bookshelf is turning up in bookstores all over the place... "dark romance" and "dark fantasy" abounds... but what exactly is that? Isn't dark romance just angsty vampire/shifter/randomsupernaturalcreature romance? Why the new category? So I though I'd do a post on what fantasy categories I could think of and see what you've got to add...

Fantasy/Sci-Fi: This is the most general category possible, and covers pretty much everything from Asimov to Tolkien to Bova to JK Rowling. And there we have the first problem with categorisation...why is JK Rowling not in every fantasy section? Because she writes "YA" books, of course. So head on over to the children's section to find her...
Horror: You'd be surprised (or not) to know that this is where most vampire books can be found. Why? Because vampires are bloodsucking monsters, of course! *sigh* I know at least one 'horror/dark fantasy' author who would be better placed in the erotica section, thank you very much.
Classic Fantasy: Ok so I've only seen this once in a bookstore (and in Goodreads) but still...what would you expect to find here? Tolkien again? Are we talking epic fantasy, here, or are we talking writing style (in my limited experience 'classic' fantasy seems to be more descriptive, the worlds drawn in more detail, than 'modern' stuff) - in which case George RR Martin and maybe David Gemmel would find their home here?
Epic Fantasy: One particular author comes to mind immediately: the late Robert Jordan, whose Wheel of Time epic is VERY epic indeed. Or again, George RR Martin. But what about Terry Prachett, whose DiscWorld series has uncounted books? Is that epic? Or how about Laurell K Hamilton? Her series are long, but play in an alternate present.
Romantic Fantasy: This type of book (or shelf subsection) is mostly found amongst the romance novels. Why? Because the main plotline is ROMANCE, duh. There are also, for the most part, two MCs rather than one. And lately, there's likely to be a werewolf or vampire involved.
Paranormal Romance: Uhm...what about the word "FANTASY" did people object to, exactly? Is this one of those old cow-new cow things? A marketing gag thingy? Because for the life of me I can't tell the difference between "romantic fantasy" and "paranormal romance". Maybe they thought "Paranormal Romance" sounds better?? Is that why Paranormal Romance sometimes rates its own shelf, unlike Romantic Fantasy? Discriminating, that's what it is... *grumble*
Dark Fantasy: is just what it sounds like. It tends to involve a LOT of night, seeing as there's usually a vampire or two running around. Think Christine Feehan, or (again) Laurell K Hamilton. Uhm...wait a minute. Those are writers with a definite trend towards romance...I don't know. Would you consider looking for Stephen King in Dark Fantasy? Because what he writes is surely dark and mostly fantasy. But no. He's in the Horror section. So what is Dark Fantasy, then? The nighttime sister of Paranormal Romance???
Dark Romance: don't even get me started on this. Last bookstore I went to, they had all the YA type "Dark Fantasy" and plain "Fantasy" shelved under "dark romance". Whatever.
Science Fiction: Oh, finally a category nobody seems confused about. Phew. Only....ehm...the recent development of the whole 'distopian world' topic, couldn't one consider that science fiction? I'm thinking The Hunger Games here. Or the Maze Runner Trilogy (though I'm not certain what that is actually shelved under). What do you think?
YA Fantasy/SciFi: I give up. Really I do. Does everything with a teen MC belong into this category? I don't know. Do you? What makes something YA rather than 'normal'?

I'm sure I could come up with some more categories, but let's leave it at that. Do you have anything to say that might enlighten me? Any category definitions I should know? Any pet peeves in terms of bookstore shelving policy?

Because let me tell you, I'm starting to get annoyed with not knowing where to look for what. *sigh*

10 Things about (written) Conversations

2011-06-07T16:04:00.001+01:00

I don't know about you, but I'm a HUGE fan of lists. I have lists all over the place...on my pinboard above my desk, on the desk, on my laptop, on my phone and even on the door to my study (it's white, so it's kind of like a whiteboard...).

I shared one of my many lists with you last week (10 Things about Plotbunnies), and because I'm feeling a little creatively challenged right now, I'm going to share another one with you today. Who knows, maybe I'll make a serial thing out of it? ; )

So here goes....

10 Things about (Written) Conversations

(otherwise known as Dialogue)

Conversations can move the (fictional) world (ok maybe the real one, too, but that's outside the scope of my blog - no, really, it is). Dialogue is a sensible fiction element to propel your story forward, to change pace, reveal backstory, set moods, show characters in more detail, indicate a theme you're going for - pretty much anything you like. Dialogue is a multi-purpose tool that every writer should be aware of.
People like to talk (at least most people do), so talking is a natural thing for your characters to do. Nonetheless one needs to be careful not to include dialogue just to include dialogue. It needs to come naturally to the characters, or the reader won't like it much. And with coming naturally to the character I also mean no stilted "Hello George, how are you today"-"I am fine, Michael, how are you?"-"I am well, George, but for this life and death problem I have..." - you know what I mean?
Dialogue can change the pace of your story, speeding it up or slowing it down, depending on what you need. Slow, rambling conversations can ease the mood and relax the reader, short sentences and exclamations indicate action and exitement, speeding things up again.
Dialogue can reveal quirks because nobody talks exactly the same as someone else. As a writer, this is something you can play with. You can use accents (though one needs to be careful not to overdo that), certain words a character may be fond of, dialogue tags revealing actions that are characteristic to one person or another.
You don't write the same way you talk because honestly, no one wants to read 'uhm' and 'ah' twice in every sentence. Written dialogue tends to be a lot more condensed - purposeful, even - than the real-life counterpart. Nonsense conversations get summarised into single sentences unless they have a particular point to bring across in the plot or character development. For example, you probably wouldn't add this (real-life) conversation to your story unless you had a REAL good reason:

Uhm, could I have a latte, please?
Would you like to double-shot that? Any flavours?
Ah....maybe...yes, double-shot, please. Let me see...uhm....could I have that with a shot of chai sirup?
One dirty double-shot chai? Soy milk, skinny or full fat? Any whipped cream?
Uhm...that's a dirty chai? Eh...ok...skinny, please, no cream.
One dirty double-shot skinny chai, coming up. What's your name?
My name? Uhm...why do you need that?
So we know which drink is yours, ma'am.
Oh, all right. My name is Annie.
Pleased to meet you, Ms Annie. Pick up your order at the end of the bar, please.
Oh, wait! Could I have that iced, please?
Of course, Ms Annie, one iced dirty double-shot skinny chai, coming up.
Uh... so I get it at the end of the bar?
Yes, you do.
Over there?
Right there, ma'am.....

People can reveal their own story, so you don't need prologues or backflashes or anything like that. They can tell the person they're talking to all about their life if they want to. Just be careful you don't include details for the sake of the reader that the parties involved would already know. No backstory links like "Oh Erik, do you remember when..." "Yes, Jessica, you mean when you...." or similar...
Words can make you cry (or laugh) because they can carry emotions, and I don't mean saying "Oh no, I'm so sad I might cry any minute" *cue swoon* kind of dialogue. I mean words that come from the bottom of the characters' hearts, or from the bottom of their sarky souls or whatever. True feelings, my dears, that's what it's all about. Keep in mind that while it's true that you're supposed to show, not tell, your characters CAN tell (or is that showing in their own words?).
Dialogue can go horribly wrong in oh so many ways. I think the best rule to go with here is too much of a good thing can be really, really bad. Nothing should be overdone unless it's on purpose, for comedy reasons or something like that.
Dialogue can, in a way, indicate genre because the way people talk is different in different types of literature. A regency romance heroine is bound to speak in a different manner than a high-power urban-fantasy butt-kicking Amazon.
Dialogue is fun. Keep this in mind, please?

So that's my quick-list on dialogue... any majorly important points you could add? Anything you totally, utterly disagree with? Let me know!

Pen or Keyboard? - A Necessities of (writing) Life post

2011-06-04T13:49:00.000+01:00

Like most people these days, I'm surgically attatched to my laptop - or so it seems some days. I have lots of word processing stuff - Scrivener (cool), Pages (classic) and Texteditor (boring) to name but a few, and I've been known to use all of them when the mood strikes me.

Only...

When I'm REALLY in a writing mood, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, beats pen and paper. The feel of ink flowing across the page, the physical act of turning a page when you've filled it with WORDS, the slight crampy feeling in my hand when I've written page upon page upon page... using a laptop just can't relate.

It's also really hard to doodle at the edge of a computer screen or keyboard.

I'm at a stage of I'm-so-stuck-yness right now that I'm considering putting away my laptop altogether (for writing, that is, God knows what I'd do without email, twitter, blog, tumblr, facebook.....I'm addicted, right? *sigh*), and get out a good old notebook and pen. Preferably a fountain pen, they just feel so much better when flowing across the page.

In fact, they're the only implement that really does flow - I tend to push to hard with pencils and normal ballpoint pens and that either makes these letter-shaped dents on all pages beneath the one I'm using or it gives me horrid cramps in my hand (I guess I'm getting old). I also managed to dislocate my little finger twice yesterday whilst writing *shudder*, but then I'm weird that way.

How does the writing process work for you? Do you feel more creative on a keyboard or when using pen and paper? Does your Muse have a preference either way?

All Evidence to the Contrary...

2011-06-02T18:10:00.001+01:00

I AM A WRITER

No really. I may have had little more than a handful of hours to write these last few weeks, and perhaps I'm terminally plothopping, and ok, so I'm really, really bad at finishing things.

But you know what?

I'm still a writer. Because, you see, no matter what I do, all I ~~want~~ need is to write, to tell the stories of all those people roaming around my head like so many ~~plot bunnies~~ ~~dust bunnies~~ tumbleweeds. I can't seem to stop. Even when I have no pen at hand, no paper close by, scenes and conversations run through my head and I curse myself for not having a dictaphone. I'll see something on the street, hear a snippet of someone talking on the phone/to their neighbour/to the waiter, and there it is, that bit of plot I've been missing. Or maybe a new plot, who knows.

According to some of my friends, I even have conversations with myself. o.O

So here's my statement of the day:

TESSA CONTE IS A WRITER

and ~~maybe, one day,~~ soon I'll be an author, too.

What about you, my dearies? What convinces you that writing is what you're meant to do?

10 Things about Plot Bunnies

2011-05-31T23:31:00.001+01:00

I think pretty much all of us have made the acquaintance of that invasive creature known as the Dust Bunny. Well now... you may or may not know it, but the Dust Bunny has a cousin (or rather lots of them), and they live in the corners of a writer's mind.

I'm talking about Plot Bunnies, of course.

The Plot Bunny Parade by Tessa Conte

So here's 10 things I believe you should know about plot bunnies (you might well be familiar with most of this...):

Fact #1: Plot Bunnies are cute

New ideas are always shiny. It's just the way they are - polished and beautiful and colourful and wonderful ect ect ect.

Plot Bunnies are fluffy and adorable and absolutely have to be cooed at. They are so cute, in fact, that you probably want to do nothing more than cuddle them and nurture them and show them to ALL your friends (preferably those currently without a cute plot bunny of their own to induce appropriate envy).

Fact #2: Plot Bunnies demand attention

They're like puppies. Adorable, sure. Cute as hell, in fact.

They also piddle on the floor if you don't let them out, and you have to feed them, water them, walk them and, yes, cuddle them.

In short, they need love and attention. LOTS of it.

Fact #3: Plot Bunnies multiply

Plot Bunnies really don't need any help to multiply. All you need to do is look away at the wrong moment and BAM! Your one fluffy bunny has suddenly turned into twenty.

Fact #4: Plot Bunnies have sharp teeth

Much like real bunnies, Plot Bunnies have teeth. Sharp ones that grow and grow (so they certainly have no trouble biting you)(even if you're not orange like a carrot)(if you are, stop using that self tanner already).

If you don't pay attention, they will certainly bite you.

Fact #5: Plot Bunnies shed

Oh yes. All that soft bunny hair? Be prepared to find it all over your sofa, your rug, your bathroom, your husband/wife/kids, your car and the rest of your life. Good look trying to get everything clean again.

Fact #6: Plot Bunnies like to hide in corners and under beds

They're kind of like ghosts and monsters that way. Don't think you can guess where they are - you can't. They'll hop out whenever THEY feel like it, not you. And don't bother trying to hoover... it won't work. Plot Bunnies are definately hoover resistant.

Fact #7: Plot Bunnies are carnivorous

Beware - if there's a particular bunny you like best, keep an eye on it. The little beasties have been known to eat each other whenever it's most inconvenient to you.

Fact #8: Plot Bunnies are treacherous little bastards

Plot Bunnies do not hop around on your whim, it's the other way 'round. And if you bore them, that's it, of they go, fluffy little tails twitching in the wind. They know no loyalty.

Fact #9: Plot Bunnies and Muses often collude

I've often wondered if my Muse has a bunny farm secreted away somewhere. In fact, I'm sure he does, because they always turn up when he looks at me with that deviously smug little smile of his.

Aren't I glad I provide amusement for him.

Fact #10: Plot Bunnies and Muses often fight like cats and dogs

Even more fun for them. My muse sulks, the plot bunnies gnaw on every available and unavailable surface, and I sit before an empty page tearing my hair out.

Bah.

So what about you? Any vital info on Plot Bunnies I missed out on?

TEA or COFFEE? - A Necessities of (writing) Life post

2011-05-18T11:50:00.000+01:00

Hello, my name is Tessa, and I'm addicted to coffee.

source

I drink tea with breakfast for the most part, but after that, it's coffee, coffee, coffee. Waaaay too much of it, probably. I tried switching to green tea (actually I try that about once a month) but this is usually crowned with spectacular failure and a rather grumpy sort of day on my part.

I do grumpy very well, if I do say so. In fact, I've been told my employees are scared of me.... (insert evil grin right here, please). Now now, I'm not the evil gremlin sort of boss...(more of a dark sidhe if anything, pretty please), it's just that I work in a mostly male-dominated sort of domain and if I don't put my foot down people have a tendency to walk all over me. I can play the dumb blond girlie if I need to, I just prefer not having to do that.

So, back to the coffee. The only time I can reasonably do without is in summer, when cold lemonade (preferably with a touch of hierbabuena) and Pepsi Max (TM) or Coke Zero (TM) prevail. Or iced soya chai from Starbucks (TM) (see me being proper with trademarks!! I've had my coffee today, you see...)(I'm vaguely lactose intolerant, in case you were wondering).

Other than during hot weather, I am not to be held accountable for my actions before I've had at least two cups of tea (proper english tea with milk) or a cup of coffee.

The need to be caffeinated increases exponentially when I'm writing. Apparently, my Muse is addicted to the stuff, too. He tends to sulk in a dank dark corner of my mind until I give in and dunk him in a nice cappuccino like a home-made cantucci biscuit (yep I make those myself and they're good, thank you very much).

What about you? What beverage is absolutely essential to your survival? What's your Muse's favourite drink?

Inanimate Objects...

2011-05-14T21:01:00.000+01:00

It's TRA's BLOGFEST of INANIMATE OBJECTS today!

The task she set:

The idea is to write an entry of NO MORE THAN 1000 words that somehow incorporates the personification of inanimate objects. It can be a poem, a short short, a letter (perhaps to your favorite childhood toy?), a fairytale, a scene from a dream, or even a song--anything you want! It can be something you've written in the past or it could be totally brand new...it's all up to you!

So here goes....

***

It moved.

I turned my back to it but tried to continue watching out of the corner of my eye. Yep, it moved. Again. But when I whirled around to face the damned thing, everything was just as I'd left it.

Dammit.

"I know what you're up to," I said, aiming for my aunt's patented you-brat-stop-that-now tone of voice. "Don't think I don't!"

I could have sworn the yellow glass eyes glinted with evil laughter.

Some days I really hated my job. As if managing a junk store wasn't bad enough, it had to be my aunt's (not that aunt, another one) magical junk store, full of monkey's paws, hands of glory and racks of supposedly lucky charms for wrists and keyrings.

And one decidedly evil-looking porcelain doll sitting right in the middle of the most prominent shelf in the store. It probably wanted to keep an eye on things, because it sure didn't agre to being moved.

I'd tried several times, but it was always back in its place the next day, giving me the evil glass eye.

We stared at each other until the little bell above the door tinkled and heavy steps dragged my gaze towards the customer.

Oh. My. God. No way was this guy human. Nobody was that perfect.

I worked hard at keeping my jaw up as I studied this excellent specimen of manhood. Black, curly hair hung down to his shoulders and dark stubble covered his chisled jaw, managing to look dishevelled rather than unkempt. Amber eyes glowered at me from beneath raven-wing eyebrows, burning with fury. He also had power rolling off him in tsunami-sized waves.

I almost cringed back. Mr I'm So Handsome It Hurts wasn't happy, and if my witchy senses hadn't entirely deserted me, he was at least half fey. I cleared my throat and put my hands down on the counter to steady myself.

"May I assist you, sir? Is there anything in particular you're looking for?"

He stopped a foot before the counter, crossed his arms before his chest (that caused some shivers on my part, what with the image of myself being in those arms running through my head), but didn't say anything.

"The Sprite-Off Candles are on offer this week."

He didn't look interested.

I couldn't quite stop myself from fidgeting as he stood there, doing no more than raising an eyebrow at me.

"What!" I shouted. Okay, so I couldn't deal with the silent treatment.

"I'd like my sister back."

My turn to stare.

"Now, if you please, witch," he said, leaning forward, fire sparking in his eyes.

"I have your sister?"

"Yes," he said. "Or more precicely, your aunt had my sister, and now that she's gone, I want her back."

"Ah....why did my aunt have your sister?" He frowned, clearly not liking the question.

"My sister wasn't always...wise...when it comes to dealing with witches."

A slow smile crept into my face in spite of my effort to restrain it. Auntie May had been notoriously bad-tempered and quite willing to let others feel it.

I turned to look at my friend the evil doll.

"Green God!" the fey exclaimed when his gaze followed mine and he spied his porcelain sister. I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable explosion.

It came soon enough, just not the way I was expecting. Was he laughing?

He was laughing, laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes, no less.

"Serves her right," he wheezed. "She always did think too much of herself."

With a loud crack, the shelf the doll was sitting on broke in half and dumped her on the floor.

***

OK I know so-so ending sorry. Hope you liked it anyway... ; )

Now off with you to check out the other entries... HERE.

Inspired by:

The Enchantment Emporium
by Tanya Huff

Dear Ms Harkness (a Review)

2011-05-05T23:10:00.001+01:00

Dear Ms Harkness,

Thank you for restoring my faith in the unputdownability* of a good book. I bought the audiobook version (read by Jennifer Ikeda) in a last-minute shopping spree for a long car journey I wasn't looking forward too (nine hours and rain all the way). I didn't even bother reading the blurb properly but went entirely by the cover (which is great - understated and yet fascinating).

It has been quite some time since I was last this fascinated by a book. I was so engrossed, in fact, that I arrived home and had to go and buy the book on my kindle so I could continue reading in bed (don't have a cd player there).

In fact, I stayed up longer than was wise after such a long journey, got up too early for complete comfort and continued reading until I absolutely had to leave for work. I kept reading at work, too (bad Tessa, I know, but I couldn't help it)(good thing I'm the boss).

Suffice to say, Ms Harkness, you are my new favourite author and I shall be waiting, breath abated, for the sequel to come out.

Sincerely Yours,

Tessa Conte

THE BLURB (according to Amazon):

An epic, richly inventive, historically sweeping, magical romance. When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires. Sensing the significance of Diana's discovery, the creatures gather in Oxford, among them the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, a vampire geneticist. Diana is inexplicably drawn to Matthew and, in a shadowy world of half-truths and old enmities, ties herself to him without fully understanding the ancient line they are crossing. As they begin to unlock the secrets of the manuscript and their feelings for each other deepen, so the fragile balance of peace unravels...

THE CHARACTERS:

Diana is a scholar down to her very bones. She lives and breathes her research and is full of historical facts that may or may not be relevant to the plot (I'm NOT going to include any spoilers here if I can help it!!). She's thoroughly convincing, understandable in all her idiosyncracies (like not wanting to use her magic but succumbing on occasion), her preference for solitude and her almost single-minded pursuit of knowledge.

Matthew is fascinating. He's dark, he's handsome, he has something of a dark knight about him (not surprising considering what he is), and Diana quite literally falls into his arms. He has secrets - a seemingly endless array of them - and he seems to detests giving them away. He's cold in more ways than one, towards everyone but Diana, though his rage is white-hot.

Together they face an increasing number of foes while Diana (re)learns her heritage, her power, and they try to unravel the mystery that is Ashmole 782.

THE WORLD:

The world Ms Harkness creates is fascinating in that it seemed so very real to me, it took me a while to even realize it was a fantasy (I know I know it's in the blurb but still). The magic seeps into the story so subtly, so much without fanfare or ka-bam that you almost need to turn around and check it isn't real, in this world outside of words and pages. I fell into this world (thanks, also, to Ms Ikeda's great reading voice), and I really rather resented the fact that the book had to end.

ALL TOGETHER:

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you like a realistic sort of fantasy, witches, vampires and intrigue, GO BUY THIS BOOK!!!

THE RATING:

10 out of 10 cupcakes!

* I realize that isn't a word but it seems eminently appropriate in this case.