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Thursday, October 30, 2014

"In My Cell" #Excerpt from LUCIFER & THE INDIGO KIDS by @Lord_Ra_Krishna #AmReading #Poetry

In My Cell

Sitting in my cell / meditating, half dreaming...
See a picture on the wall / black girl in bikini

And we’re both looking happy / we embrace and we smile

As I got my eyes closed smoking on a black and mild...

Better yet / a cigarette
I wish I had one now

Meditate a little harder...
Then I crack another smile...

Cause I'm back on the beach
Sun shining on my face…

Ask me what did I learn?
Most of all / appreciate

Every moment... every second...
Every thought... every breath...

While they’re killing all the prophets / I'm the last one left...

With a wrist full of beads
And a neck full of crystals...

And the city that I'm from busting Shots with their pistols…

But I'm sitting in my cell / and my soul's in outer space

As I astral project / sun kissing on my face…

Now I'm back on the beach
With my son and my daughter

And my son thinks’ he's God
So he’s walking on the water…

And my daughter thinks’ she God
Cause that's what daddy told her...

And they both think that they could save the world when they get older....

As I'm sitting in my cell,
My body's there but I'm not in it

Tell my babies "Not to worry"
I'll be home in a minute


"This “new age” book of poetry reflects the diverse views and philosophies of it’s author Ra Krishna EL. It’s an intimate, humorous and thought provoking group of poems intended to evoke strong emotion. To quote the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, this style of poetry can be called “Zukunfts poesie“ which translates into “Poetry of the future”, where truly original ideas are presented thru poetry. Also known as post Nietzschean poetry.

It’s subjects include society, pop culture, love, religious dogma, God and the new age of Aquarius. This book was written and published during the false incarceration of its author in Chicago’s notorious Cook County Jail, the largest jail in the country."

Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre - Poetry, Philosophy
Rating – PG-13
More details about the author
Connect with Lord Ra Krishna EL on Facebook & Twitter

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

@MarcADiGiacomo on Retirement & Inspiration for "IN A SMALL TOWN" #Thriller #Suspense #TBR

What inspired me to write In A Small Town?
I always believed I had a book somewhere within my warped brain. Its one thing to have that feeling about yourself but to actually write that book is a story within itself. How do you motivate one’s self to follow through on a conceptualized idea? For me, I have three small children. Only my oldest will remember the late night/early morning calls from the police department notifying me of the latest crime to occur within our boundaries. He would watch his father leave with bright, wide opened eyes fully believing I would return as soon as I could. Truth be told; it was very difficult to leave him, but I had a job to do, a responsibility to others I was sworn to uphold.
When I retired from the police department after a string of back injuries and surgery, I needed to set a new course for myself. My back injury makes it difficult for me sometimes but it was just another challenge I needed to overcome. What started off as a memoir of a small town cop’s career quickly grew legs and became an organized crime thriller. I had a very unique police career working for such a small town; I wanted to emphasize to others even though I worked for a small town, big crime still happens and needs to be solved.
The encouragement I received from my oldest son was all I needed. His face upon seeing In A Small Town, was a priceless memory I will never forget. He’s only eleven, and will not be reading any of my books for quite some time, but his praise and reassurances have motivated me to write more. So, I write for my kids, and one day, when they read my books, they will know a little piece of their father is alive and well within those pages.
InASmallTown

The shotgun blast catches Detective Matthew Longo by surprise. His world unravels into a nightmare that seemingly won't end. Murder, rapes, pedophiles, the small town of Hutchville, N.Y. is changing. It is up to him to make a difference.

While partner Donny Mello is in Italy attending a funeral for a family member who is connected, to say the least, a beautiful F.B.I. agent waits to question him about his family business. Can Matt keep from answering the Agent’s questions? More importantly, can he hide a potentially career-ending secret from his community, his brother, and most especially Agent Cynthia Shyler?

Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre - Thriller
Rating – R
More details about the author
Connect with Marc A. DiGiacomo on Facebook & Twitter
backintown

The small town of Hutchville, New York is turned upside down. No longer is it the quaint, sleepy, suburb of New York City. Detective Matt Longo is back on the job and embroiled in his latest nightmare. Further complicating matters is the revelation of his partner’s corruption and organized crime ties; Donny Mello has left a bitter trail of lies and deceit. With his kid brother and newly promoted Detective Franny Longo by his side, will Matt be able to put his past behind him?

Special Agent Cynthia Shyler, (F.B.I.) has been reassigned due to her meeting with Matt Longo. Will this move complicate their relationship? Or will a new stranger in town spin a web that entangles the entire Hutchville Police Department, especially our most seasoned detective, Matt Longo?
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre – Thriller
Rating – R
More details about the author
Connect with Marc A. DiGiacomo on Facebook & Twitter

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

@TheSMBoyce Judging Books by Covers & Amazon Top 100 #WriteTip #AmWriting #Fantasy

Heyo! I’m S. M. Boyce, author of Lichgates, and I’m here to talk about book covers and why it’s important to have a professional one for your book!
So let’s start with a story.
You’re scrolling through Amazon’s top 100 and something catches your eye. It stands out from all the others–a book with a great cover. You click on the thumbnail to bring up a larger image and then you continue to read the blurb and then, once that stellar book description hooks you, you click “Buy now.”
This story is a common one, especially in our fast-paced world where little holds my attention for longer than a few seconds.
You know the old adage: don’t judge a book by its cover. That’s nice and all, but people do it anyway. The cover—the colors, the text, the image, the artwork as a whole—grabs my attention and makes me pause long enough to look deeper.
Okay, one more story.
Let’s say you’re visiting a friend in a new town and you want to do some clothes shopping. You see a strip mall and park in the lot. As you look at the exterior of the shops, you see one that has a gorgeous sign, bright lights, and a door with “Welcome!” painted on it in green script.
Next to that, you see another shop that has a broken sign, flaky two-year-old stickers on the window glass, and a door with multiple pieces of paper taped to it indicating rules and regulations of the shop.
Which shop would you rather go into?
Even though both shops may have the same exact shirt, or the same pair of jeans, you will most likely find yourself visiting the shop that seems more colorful and professional. In fact, this shop might even have higher prices or it may have lower quality clothing, but it was the one that grabbed your attention. You may hate the shopkeeper and walk out in disgust in five minutes, but its appearance made you give it a chance.
A chance is all an author needs to win over a new fan. That’s why you must have a cover that pulls the reader closer to the blurb and the ultimate buy. It gives you as the author a fighting chance among all those other books in the same genre. A cover is the welcome sign for readers.
So let’s open the floor, shall we? What are some of your favorite covers? Why do you like them?

“The writing is flawless. The kingdoms and surrounding landscapes breathtaking. The Grimoire is a piece of imaginative genius that bedazzles from the moment Kara falls into the land of Ourea. – Nikki Jefford, author of the Spellbound Trilogy
Spring 2013 Rankings
#6 Kindle Store | #1 Science Fiction & Fantasy | #1 Epic Fantasy | #1 Sword & Sorcery | #1 Teens
Now an international Amazon bestseller. Fans of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Eragon will enjoy this contemporary remix of the classic epic fantasy genre.
—————-
Kara Magari is about to discover a beautiful world full of terrifying things: Ourea.
Kara, a college student still reeling from her mother’s recent death, has no idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her in a sunken library. With nothing to do, she opens an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which means Kara now wields the cursed book’s untamed power. Discovered by Ourea’s royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old conflict – a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn’t trust anyone… but she’s being hunted and can’t survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn’t know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.
For twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.
Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.
—————-
Novels in the Grimoire Saga:
Lichgates (#1)
Treason (#2)
Heritage (#3) – Available Fall 2013
Illusion (#4) – Available Fall 2014
Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords
Genre – Fantasy
Rating – PG13
More details about the author
 Connect with SM Boyce on Facebook & Twitter & Pinterest

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Kat de Falla on on Writing, Nancy Drew & William Shakespeare @KatDeFalla #AmReading #Fantasy



What scares you the most? Smug people
 
What makes you happiest? Lying in my soulmate’s arms.

What’s your greatest character strength? I’m defiant.

What’s your weakest character trait? I’m a clutz.

Why do you write?
I can’t not…haha.

What books did you love growing up? Nancy Drew!

Who is your favorite author? William Shakespeare

What book genre of books do you adore? Fantasy

What book should everybody read at least once? Tao Te Ching

Is there any books you really don’t enjoy?
Historical!

The Seer's Lover

For years, Calise Rowe has been able to sense unusual energy from people, making her believe she is different. Pulled into an ancient war raging for centuries between demon hunters and seers, she's about to find out she's right.

Her search for the truth leads her to Lucas Rojas, a seer of angels and demons who walk the earth shrouded from normal human eyes. He's hidden his gift for years and refuses to endanger Calise by sharing it with her.

In the sultry Costa Rican Jungles, their worlds collide. As their passion and desire ignite, so does the ancient war between demons and seers. Will their combined efforts be enough to save themselves and the entire human world, or will their new found love be their downfall?

**Download free music for The Seer's Lover at http://www.bayafaya.com/

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords
Genre - Dark Fantasy
Rating – R
More details about the author
Connect with Kat de Falla through Facebook & Twitter

Thursday, October 9, 2014

A Day in the Life of Author Sue Parritt @OdysseyBooks #AmWriting #AmReading #SannahAndThePilgrim

A day in the life of Sue Parritt

The day begins around 7.15 when my husband, an early riser, brings me a cup of tea in bed and slips back in beside me. I savour each sip; this first cup somehow superior to all those that follow, ponder between brief conversation yesterday’s paragraphs awaiting attention. Out of bed no later than 7.45, lingering, daydreaming or staring into space isn’t an option for this well-organised writer. Breakfast a brief affair: muesli, toast, and another cup of tea. Next item on the agenda is the morning walk along the cliff top. I walk at a reasonable pace for half an hour, one day one direction, next day other direction. Where tangled trees give way to coastal shrubs or grassy banks the view is magnificent and ever-changing. Mirror-smooth or white-capped, I never tire of Port Philip Bay. Then it’s back home to domestic deeds or a quick trip to the shops, cursing long queues in the bank and post office, toddlers running riot in the supermarket, the spiralling cost of household necessities. Like the late Elisabeth Jolley, I can’t settle to writing until these chores have been completed.

Mid-morning I begin the key business of the day, the pursuing of a long-held dream, reward for long years supplying others’needs. In order to focus my mind, particularly if writing a first draft, I return to the previous day’s work, rereading and editing obvious errors. Major edits are generally postponed for the second and subsequent drafts but as a reminder I insert directions such as ‘extend para’ or ‘rewrite whole chapter’ into the text in upper case. When ideas pertinent to a different part of the narrative surface, I scribble them on paper, adding them later to a file of notes on the computer. A cataloguer in my former life, I am meticulous about organising my files in an easily retrievable form. Atypically, my desk is often a mess with pieces of paper scattered around, and by the end of the day, numerous empty teacups, plates and here I confess to a bad habit, crumbs caught in the keyboard!

Writing is a lonely business and occasionally a phone call or knock at the door can be a welcome intrusion (as any writer will attest) when staring at a problem paragraph threatens to cause meltdown or migraine. However, the longer I spend writing, the more I resent intrusions and am considering having a studio built in the garden (no phones, no temptation to run and answer the door) in order to achieve the desired peace and quiet.

Around five or six, depending on whether I’m on a roll or literally stuck for words, I save my document to a USB despite the fact I have a Seagate backup plus drive and venture into the kitchen to prepare the evening meal. Sometimes, in an attempt to ignore my secondary role, I set the oven timer for an hour or so and settle back down in front of the computer. Oh, for a string of servants to perform those boring but essential domestic tasks!

Sannah and the Pilgrim by Sure Parritt


General Information - Sannah and the Pilgrim by Sue Parritt
ISBN: 978-1-922200-14-3
Genre: Speculative Fiction / Sci-fi / Dystopian
Release Date: 26 April 2014 (Paperback and ebook)
Publisher: Odyssey Books (http://www.odysseybooks.com.au/)

Description:

When Sannah the Storyteller, a descendant of environmental refugees from drowned Pacific islands, finds a White stranger on her domestep, she presumes he’s a political prisoner on the run seeking safe passage to egalitarian Aotearoa. However, Kaire’s unusual appearance, bizarre behaviour, and insistence he’s a pilgrim suggest otherwise.

Appalled by apartheid Australia, Kaire uses his White privileges to procure vital information for Sannah and her group of activists regarding new desert prisons that are to be built to house all political prisoners. The group plans sabotage but needs help, and Kaire is a willing accomplice. But when Sannah turns Truthteller and threatens to reveal the country’s true history, even Kaire’s White privilege and advanced technology cannot save Sannah and her daughter from retribution.

About Sannah and the Pilgrim:

Sannah and the Pilgrim is a tale of courage, defiance and deceit that asks the reader, ‘Would you risk death by telling the truth about your country, or would you play it safe and spend your life as a storyteller?’

Are you concerned about our governments’ (both past and present) failure to act on climate change and the detention and inhumane treatment of refugees? I am, so I have drawn on contemporary conservative attitudes to present a dystopian view of a future Australia in my speculative fiction novel Sannah and the Pilgrim. Read it and discover what could happen to our‘lucky’ country.

Sue Parritt author pic

About the Author:
Sue Parritt is an Australian writer, originally from England. Her poetry and short stories have been published in magazines and anthologies in Australia, Britain and the USA. After graduating BA University of Queensland 1982 (majors: English Literature, Drama and French), Sue worked in university libraries until taking early retirement in 2008 to pursue her long-held dream of becoming a professional writer.  Since then she has written Sannah and the Pilgrim, numerous short stories and poems andFeed Thy Enemy, a feature film script set in Naples in 1944 and 1974 and based on a true story (Sue is currently seeking a producer). She recently completed a second novel Safety Zone and is now writing a sequel to Sannah and the Pilgrim  the working title is Pia and the Skyman.

Kelly Wilson's #WriteTip on Using Negative Space to Focus on Writing @LiveCheap #Memoir #Humor


Use Negative Space to Focus on Writing

Negative stuff gets a bad rap. I have this set of pint-sized pub glasses in my cupboard, each one labeled “The Pessimist’s Glass” with a line that shows the exact middle of the container and the phrase, “This glass is now half-empty.” These are my favorite dishes in the house, and the only ones that remain unbroken by my children.

“The glass is now half-empty” is considered a negative statement in this “Power of Positive Thinking” culture of ours. I don’t have anything against positive thinking, except that sometimes it feels like entirely too much work without the bang for the buck. Negative space seems to be a more comfortable place for me, in both life and writing.

Negative Space = Positive Results

There are several articles out there about the fascinating hidden messages in popular logos. I love secret meanings in simple forms, but after viewing about fifty of the logos, I realize that many of them use the same concept in their “hidden” messages.
Negative space.

Case in point: take a look at the Hope for African Children Initiative logo:

Viewed one way, you see the continent of Africa. But viewed another way, you see an adult and a child looking at each other.

There are many examples of artwork like this, but I'm an artist with words, not pictures, so try these terms: What someone DOESN'T say is as important as what he or she says.

This applies in life in general, but also for those characters who live in your work. What are they saying – and not saying – that contrasts with their actions? How can you use what they don’t say to build tension in your story?

The Motivation of Negative Space

Recently at a Weight Watchers meeting – yes, I attend this very inexpensive form of weekly therapy with a few good friends of mine – the leader asked us, "What motivates you?"
And the searing honesty of my answer was fear and self-loathing. There are a lot of reasons for this that I won’t get into here, but at that moment of realization, I decided that I no longer wanted to be motivated by fear and self-loathing.

What would I be motivated by instead? I have no idea. But I recently made a decision to volunteer with the kids program in my church because the main hesitation I had involved fear. I don’t want to be motivated by fear. What if I volunteer with this program and it’s wonderful? I thought I would give it a try.

Questions to Take Advantage of Negative Space

I worked with a guy who once told me to make a "Do NOT List" - putting down on paper what tasks and projects I would avoid that day instead of making a to-do list. This is an amazing and valuable concept, helping to get the crud out of the way and allowing me to focus.

Just another example of the power of negative space: Knowing what you DON'T want to do is just as important as knowing what you want to do, in your writing life and in your “real” life.

In light of how negative space can produce positive results, consider these questions for your writing life:

What kind of writing do you NOT want to do?
What activities do you need to stop doing so that you can focus more on writing?
What is not working in your writing routine?
What is not working in your latest piece of writing?
What does one of your characters need to NOT say to contrast with his or her actions to create tension?

Empower yourself by inhabiting some negative space for a while, taking the emotion out situations and deciding what is not working.

Then you can figure out what works.

Bio: Kelly Wilson is a Portland, Oregon author and comedian who, according to the glasses in her kitchen cupboard, is a pessimist. She is the author of Live Cheap & Free, Don’t Punch People in the Junk, and Caskets From Costco, along with numerous articles and short stories for children and adults. Kelly Wilson currently writes for a living and lives with her Magically Delicious husband, junk-punching children, dog, and cat, with a stereotypical minivan in the garage. Read more about her at www.wilsonwrites.com

Caskets From Costco

For twenty years, Kelly Wilson thought that she had been marching through the stages of grief in a straight line. She had been following the formula, crossing each processed grief experience off her list.

Except that Kelly was totally deluded. And she didn’t discover that until Jim, her beloved father-in-law, died. She found herself drying off from her shower the morning after his death, really hoping that he couldn’t see her naked. Or, if he could, that he was averting his eyes.

From that moment, Kelly's path through grief resembled a roller coaster, spiraling and twisting and turning, circling back around. Echoes of past trauma, including childhood abuse and cheating death, would no longer be ignored. She somehow needed to get from the beginning to the end of this grief adventure, and she doesn't have a good sense of direction.

But what is always present during a journey through grief, regardless of the path chosen?

Hope.

Caskets From Costco is a funny book about grief that demonstrates the certainty of hope and healing in an uncertain and painful world.

Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre - Memoir, Humor
Rating – PG-13
More details about the author
Connect with Kelly Wilson on Facebook & Twitter

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Kirsten Mortensen on Being in the Mood : What Book Do You Want to Read? @KirstenWriter #Suspense

In the Mood: What Book Do You Want to Read Right Now?
By Kirsten Mortensen

Oh, how I envy people who know exactly what kind of book they like to read!

Because if you asked me what books I like, I’m not sure how I’d answer.

The problem is, my “taste” changes from day to day—even hour to hour—depending on all kinds of factors. The mood I’m in. What books I’ve been discussing lately with my friends. How my day went, even!

Because I’m a writer, I read some books out of curiosity. Although I enjoyed science fiction when I was in high school, for example, I didn’t touch it at all for many years. Now I’ve met some sci-fi fans and I’ve become curious about the genre. I’m reading a sci-fi book now by the novelist Sarah Hoyt, and I’ve picked up some classic sci-fi titles for my TBR pile. I love how it’s expanded my reading world!

Another type of book I enjoy is classic literature, but I have to be in just the right frame of mind to tackle it. So often, classics are denser and longer than genre or “poplit” books. I think of it like the difference between stopping at taco stand and booking a reservation at a 5-star restaurant. Both meals can be fun and satisfying, but one demands a bit more of a commitment. The next classic I plan to read: Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas.

Sometimes all I want is to escape. You know that feeling? I want to read something that just takes me away from day-to-day life—something that gives me a rest from the hassles of paying the bills, getting over a head cold, or whatever other little problems are bothering me at the time. For this, the prescription is a fast-paced, plot-driven book. When Elmore Leonard passed away, for example, I bought a couple of his novels, and wow, I enjoyed them. Fun, fast-paced, and often laugh-out-loud humorous. Perfect escapist books!

A related feeling I have, sometimes, is the desire to become aware of the reality of the non-physical or spiritual dimensions of life. I satisfy this by reading non-fiction books on spiritual topics or first-person accounts of spiritual experiences. I recently read a book by Mason Winfield on supernatural phenomenon in Upstate New York, and I loved how it made me slow down and think about the impressions the past leaves on the present.

I find reading non-fiction to be very settling, so I gravitate toward books about history as a way to feel calm.

So how about you? Do you look for different kinds of books depending on your mood?

darkChemistry

A woman's worst nightmare

Drugged by something...that makes her think she's fallen in love.

All Haley Dubose has ever known is beaches and malls, clubs and cocktail dresses.

But now her father is dead.

And if she wants to inherit her father's fortune, she has to leave sunny Southern California
for a backwater little town near Syracuse, New York. She has to run RMB, the multimillion dollar
chemical company her father founded. And she has to run it well.


Keep RMB on track, and she'll be rich. Grow it, and she'll be even richer. But mess it up, and her inheritance will shrink away before she gets a chance to spend a dime.

Donavon Todde is her true love. But is it too late?

He's RMB's head of sales – and the more Donavon sees of Haley, the more he's smitten.
Sure, she comes across at first as naïve and superficial. But Donavon knew Haley's father. He can see the man's better qualities stirring to life in her eyes. And Donavon senses something else: Haley's father left her a legacy more important than money. He left her the chance to discover her true self.

Donavon has demons of his own.
 
He's reeling from a heartbreak that's taking far too long to heal. But he's captivated by this blond Californian, and not only because of her beauty. It's chemistry. They're right for each other. But has Donavon waited too long to woo this woman of his dreams? Because to his horror, his beautiful Haley falls under another spell. Gerad's spell.

A web of evil.

Gerad Picket was second-in-command at RMB when Haley's father was alive. And with Haley on the scene, he's in charge of her training. But there are things about RMB that Gerad doesn't want Haley to know.

And he must control her. Any way he can.

Romantic suspense for your Kindle

Will Haley realize that her feelings are not her TRUE feelings?
Does Donavon have the strength left to fight for the woman he loves?
Will the two of them uncover Gerad's plot to use RMB pheromones to enslave the world?
And even if they do – can they stop it?

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords
Genre – Romantic suspense
Rating – PG-13
More details about the author
Connect with Kirsten Mortensen through Facebook Twitter

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

The Three Sisters by Bryan Taylor #ReviewShare #BlogTour #Satire

The Three SistersThe Three Sisters by Bryan Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Concept wise, this was a good book. It made me laugh and think of the "traditions" we've had to get used to over the years. Technique wise, this book needs tons of work. It's all over the place. Literally. I can understand if some sections are out of place for stylistic reasons but the vocabulary, placement of scenes / chapters didn't always make sense.

Satire and parody can sometimes be easily misunderstood so it is difficult to find middle ground. However, in the case of The Three Sisters, Bryan Taylor did take some views too far. Especially this was a FICTION read.

Sister Act (Whoopi Goldberg) and We're No Angels (Demi Moore) are at least two movies that have taken their swipes at Christian churches. However, you can walk away with some appreciation for the technique and style of these movies.

As much as I liked the concept, I think this book needs a good developmental editor. Recommended if you are okay with some flaws.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

View all my reviews

The Poetic Art of Seduction: Erotic #Poetry Collection by @ClarissaClemens #ReviewShare #Erotica

The Poetic Art of Seduction: Erotic Poetry CollectionThe Poetic Art of Seduction: Erotic Poetry Collection by Clarissa O. Clemens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love means different things to all of us. Intimacy and sex also means different things to different people. Given this fact, Clarissa Clemens has created a universal treasure. These love poems were extraordinary. More than one poem will take you right to the edge of mind-numbing passion.

Some poems are seen as strong, powerful. The kind that will sweep you away into waves of lust and passion. Then there were the gentle, longing poems that reminded me of lovers past.

Love, longing, lust. Any and every single emotion you have ever felt is captured most eloquently by Clarissa Clemens. Simple words with the strongest of impacts.

I highly recommend this book to all lovers.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

View all my reviews

Christopher Mannino on What #Love Means to Him @Ctmannino #AmWriting #AmReading #YA


Have you always enjoyed writing?
I’ve always enjoyed books and reading. In elementary school I wowed my teachers by constantly coming in with more advanced books, reading every spare second of each day. During the summers, I’d sit on my parent’s porch in front of the beaver pond, reading book after book, gorging myself on fiction like it was candy. I’ve also always had an active imagination, and I’ve written in some form, from poetry to diaries, for over twenty years.

What else do you do to make money, other than write? It is rare today for writers to be full time…
My two greatest passions in life are writing and theatre, and I’m fortunate to pursue both professionally. My full-time job is as a high school theatre teacher. I teach in a school with a large and active theatre community, and am the sole theatre teacher/director. I teach 6 classes of drama a day, in four levels of experience, and wrote all of the syllabi for my class myself. We also mount large productions, including a musical, advanced drama production, student production, one act festival, and skit festival. I also coach my school’s improvisation team, and teach little kids theatre at a local stage during the summers. Theatre is a wonderful venue to explore creativity and to help inspire others, however it is a struggle to find a balance time-wise between my school life and my writing life. Most of my drafting now takes place solely in the summers.

What other jobs have you had in your life?
One of my first jobs was working inventory at a Borders Bookstore. I loved being around books, and it was also my first exposure to the world of publishing. I was shocked when I first learned that new releases had a limited shelf life, but it was my job to go through the store, see which books had reached the end of their run, then take them down, rip their covers, and send the “destroyed” books back to the publisher. I also worked there during the release of one of the Harry Potter books (Book 6), and I loved seeing the fervor around the release and the anticipation from so many fans, it helped inspire me to write myself.

What movie do you love to watch?
There are some movies that I can watch again and again and never tire of. My favorite movies are Howl’s Moving Castle and The Princess Bride. Each tells a brilliant fairy tale, one that is well-crafted, based on a novel, and yet depicted beautifully on screen. Typically I enjoy any movie that takes you to another place emotionally. I am a huge fan of the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings films, and was lucky enough to perform as part of a 200-adult chorus, which performed the films, one year at a time, at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. We performed the full soundtrack, with a massive orchestra and children’s choir, beneath a version of the film that had the soundtrack removed, and singing the melodies of Howard Shore’s brilliant music was one of the best performing experiences of my life.

What’s your next project?
School of Deaths is the first novel in a trilogy called The Scythe Wielder’s Secret. I’m currently editing the sequel, Sword of Deaths, and the series will end with Daughter of Deaths. There is a free prequel to the series available on my website ChristopherMannino.com, and I hope to add more short stories as well. After the series is complete, I’m going to write in other genres. There are some other YA Fantasy novels in my head, but I also plan to write adult genre fiction, including sci-fi, and I would like to write historical fiction as well. Eventually, I hope to write a full-length musical as well.

What does love mean to you?
Love means dedication, friendship, and caring more than anything. My wife is the love of my life. She inspires me as an artist, but also as a human being. She pushes me to be better at everything, and supports me when I struggle. Love means putting their needs before your own, and taking joy in their actions. Love is happiness.

What is your favorite color?
Purple.

What inspired you to write your first book?
The idea for SCHOOL OF DEATHS emerged when I was finishing my graduate degree at Oxford University. I spent four months abroad, far from everyone I knew. Every week, I traveled somewhere I had never been before. I would climb castle ruins in Wales and visit cathedrals in England. One of my favorite trips was to Tintagel Castle in Cornwall. After misjudging the time it’d take to get there, I became stranded. The tourist office was closed, and I couldn’t find a hostel. I walked from pub to pub asking if I could sleep above their bar.

The next morning, having slept none, since I’d found a room over a noisy pub, I crept to Barras Nose before dawn. Barras Nose is a stone peninsula, or rocky outcropping jutting into the Celtic Sea, just north of Tintagel. Tintagel itself is a small island with castle ruins on its cliffs. Some believe it to be the birthplace of King Arthur. When I reached Barras Nose, the winds howled so fiercely that I had to crawl on all fours to keep from being blown into the ocean below. Then dawn broke. No other humans were in sight. I struggled to keep my balance, but watched the sun rise on the ruins of the ancient castle, listening to the thunder of waves pounding the fifty foot cliffs I clung to. Wind battered me with ferocity, and I imagined a character being buffeted by winds, completely alone. I envisioned Suzie, alone in a world of men, buffeted by sexism.

Do you intend to make writing a career?
On my first date with the woman who’s now my wife, we discussed life goals. I was in graduate school at the time, and told her my dream was to teach full-time high school theatre during the school year, and write during vacations. I’d be able to pursue both passions professionally. That’s now what I do, and don’t have any plans to change.

What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Having a vivid imagination helps me create vibrant and unique settings for my novels. My background in theatre, especially in theatrical design, also helps me visualize a story like movie in my mind. Taking those images on conveying them in words is my greatest strength.


School of Deaths

Thirteen-year-old Suzie Sarnio always believed the Grim Reaper was a fairy tale image of a skeleton with a scythe. Now, forced to enter the College of Deaths, she finds herself training to bring souls from the Living World to the Hereafter. The task is demanding enough, but as the only female in the all-male College, she quickly becomes a target. Attacked by both classmates and strangers, Suzie is alone in a world where even her teachers want her to fail.

Caught in the middle of a plot to overthrow the World of Deaths, Suzie must uncover the reason she’s been brought there: the first female Death in a million years.

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Genre - YA Fantasy
Rating – PG
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