Andrew Richardson

Acceptance – ‘Art Class’

2012-02-03T18:18:00.001Z

I heard a couple of days ago that ‘Art Class’ has been accepted for publication. This is an erotic novelette about a shy woman who poses for a class of art students.

I’m excited to be working with this publisher for the first time, but as usual I’ll refrain from naming them until contracts are signed so as not to embarrass anyone if something doesn’t work out.

A very big thank you to Gianna Bruno who read the story’s first draft and gave me several suggestions which improved it a lot.

‘Art Class’ is my second erotic sale. The first was ‘The Shoot’, which is still available from Eternal Press.

Wood Review

2012-01-19T21:05:00.001Z

“The Wood” has been reviewed by British writer Neil Evans. Neil describes the novel as “Highly recommended.”

Read the full review here.

Boy Racer

2011-12-26T07:19:00.001Z

I don’t have much to report in terms of my writing at the moment. ‘The Well’ has been assigned to an editor, so that appears to be going along.

The first story I ever got paid for was a short called ‘Boy Racer’ which appeared in the long defunct ‘Planet Prozak’. In fact, Planet Prozak is so long defunct I can’t find anything but passing references to the magazine on the internet.

As things are a bit quiet, and for a bit of fun, I’ve cut ‘Boy Racer’ into a few bite size chunks, and I’ll serialise it in several bursts over the Christmas and New year break on my Facebook page:

http://tinyurl.com/bwnlkwt

‘Boy Racer’ is a humorous fantasy without any horror elements for the squeamish to avoid.

Interview!

2011-12-17T16:13:00.001Z

I was recently interviewed by fellow writer Neil Evans. Neil has read ‘The Shoot’ and has a few words to say about that.

Thank you to Neil for having me, and apologies for the delay in putting up this notice.

Live Chat

2011-11-19T17:44:00.001Z

Fellow Eternal Press author Gianna Bruno has invited me – along with erotic and historical romance author Alice Gaines – to a pre-Thanksgiving chat.

This’ll be at 1-3pm EST (6-8pm UK time) tonight – Saturday 19th at the Coffee Time Romance Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karendevinkaren/

From Legend to Fiction

2011-10-18T18:39:00.001+01:00

Occasionally I get asked about my thought process for writing fiction based on myth, and in particular how I go about fleshing out the bare bones of stories and characters.

Anyone who knows me will know how much I love the wild moors and mountains of north Wales, and the ancient, gentle legends that abound in the region – it seems that every hill, river or town has a host of Celtic stories attached to it.

I’m toying with rewriting one of may favourite Welsh myths – the story of King Math of Gwynedd and his footholder, the beautiful Geowin.

In the story, Math is tricked into leaving Geowin unprotected, where she is ‘taken’ (to be tactful) by his nephews. Math finds out, and makes Geowin his wife to maintain her honour, while banishing the nephews.

So, among the questions the writer needs to ask…

What did the characters look like?

What does a footholder do? (I don’t subscribe to the view that the king needed a virgin to hold his foot otherwise he would die. I prefer something more straightforward, like hiring a nursemaid to look after an old wound that needs continual treatment.)

Was Geowin an unfortunate victim of circumstances who became queen by luck? Or was she a manipulative young woman who seduced two impressionable young men and was prepared to see them banished in her drive to be queen?

The story of Math is a particularly complicated one, with sub-plots and war and magic. Most of the places mentioned in the story are easily identifiable, and I know some of them very well.

I may or may not ever decide to turn this into a novel. If I do, one of the fun bits will be filling in the blanks left by the ancient storytellers!

Doe-Dragon Blurb Listed

2011-09-15T20:00:00.001+01:00

Up and coming British thriller writer Neil Evans has kindly put ‘The Doe and the Dragon’s’ blurb on his blog.

I’ve had the opportunity to read a portion of Neil’s current draft novel. At the moment he’s unpublished, but if the quality of what I’ve read is maintained throughout, that won’t be the case for long.

Black Death - Review

2011-09-14T19:38:00.001+01:00

‘Black Death’ is a horror film I wasn’t aware of until I found a cheap copy in my exchange shop. It stars Sean Bean, who plays a role not dissimilar to that of Boromir in ‘Lord of the Rings’.

The story is set in England at the time of the Black Death, and uses the plague to good horror effect, with corpses that get the viewer into the mood immediately.

Bean’s character and the hero – a young monk – have to make a journey across England to look for a sorcerer whose capture they believe would halt the disease. The plot is simple but effective (the sort that makes you ask, “Why didn’t I think of that?”) and the horror elements are emphasised throughout, but sewn into the story seamlessly without being forced.

I thought the special effects were particularly effective. That is, there aren’t (m)any, and the lack of flashy graphics give the film a realistic look, rather than the almost ‘cartoony’ feel of films where special effects play an important role.

There were some elements that didn’t quite work for me. As a historian I thought some of the sets more continental and perhaps more dated than I’d expect from medieval England – although in fairness that did add to he atmosphere. My main concern though was in the exposition at the end. Although dramatically done, I do know if I’d tried explaining the plot in a novel my critiquers would give me a good kicking!

But overall it’s a fun, well crafted film and deserves to be more widely known. 8/10

‘Well’ Update

2011-09-02T13:39:00.001+01:00

I’ve had an email from eTreasures Publishing updating me on ‘The Well’s’ progress.

Release has been delayed by work on ETP’s theme novellas, but the manuscript went for second editing in late August, so things are moving!

Review - The Saw Films

2011-08-28T19:30:00.001+01:00

Despite writing the occasional slasher, I’ve never particularly been a fan of films with a lot of gore. I saw the first Saw film when I bought a very cheap second hand copy, and almost had to dare myself to sit down and watch it.

I was very pleasantly surprised. The film did have gore, yes, but the overall plot – of a dying madman forcing tests on people to see how badly they want to live – stands up very well.

I’ve managed to get hold of the rest of the series – seven in all, I think - and watched the lot over the last year or so. Toward the middle the films seemed to become more interested in gore than plot which disappointed, but they do contain enough continuity from the earlier films to retain interest. Each film is a stand alone, but also refers back cleverly to those that came before it.

The final film was back in the spirit of the earlier films, with characters and plot playing a more important role. The film also brings things full circle and while the resolution is a little complicated, it’s good to have the loose ends from previous films in the series tied up.

In all, this is an entertaining series of films. They’re not perfect, but as well as being violent they made me think a bit about human nature. I think it’s best to watch them all quite close together so as to keep a grasp of the complicated strands that run through the series.

It’s difficult to give a mark out of ten because some in the series are so much better than others. However, I’m pleased to have watched the lot and there is certainly more to like than to dislike.

Do I write the wrong genre?

2011-08-07T09:49:00.001+01:00

I was talking to someone a few days ago, and it got mentioned that I do writing. As usual I was asked what I write, and as usual I said I usually do Celtic-based fantasy/horror. I added that I’ve also had a short GLBT erotic piece published (‘The Shoot’, published by Eternal Press).

He was more interested in this than in all my horror/fantasy books put together!

While I’m as proud of Shoot as I am of any of my books, it is frustrating that people don’t seem as interested in my longer horror works, which I enjoy writing more and which I think of as ‘my’ genre.

I’ve often read that erotica is ‘the’ genre to write in. Maybe I’ll have to think about doing some more!

Character interview to come!

2011-07-24T16:22:00.001+01:00

I’m putting together an ‘interview’ with Connie Straker, Heroine of ‘The Well’. More details to come.

Doe-Dragon now in print!

2011-06-25T07:04:00.001+01:00

‘The Doe and the Dragon’ is now available in print, direct from Rogue Phoenix Press.

Here’s the link: http://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysite.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=THEDOEANDTHEDRAGONPOD

Interview: ‘The Wood’s’ Kath Mahoney

2011-06-19T09:34:00.001+01:00

I was going to provide some of my thoughts on the creation of The Wood. My ideas, though, are reflected in the character of my heroine, Kathleen Mahoney. What better, then, for Kath to explain the background to the book in an interview a few days before the book opens? (Kath is also my heroine in The Shoot, a prequel to Wood.)

She sits on an ordinary settee in an ordinary flat. Only a scattering of books drop any hint that she is one of Ireland’s moist gifted young historians. Green eyes regard me with uncertainty; long black hair is pulled around her, as if acting as a subconscious barrier between us.

One of Kath’s friends, with her hair dyed a trendy white, pushes a coffee into my hands. “I’m Philippa. Pippa. I’m Kath’s best mate. I’m here to tell you what a brilliant historian she is, because Kath is too modest to blow her own trumpet.”

There is a strained silence, so I begin by asking Kath when she first realised she had a flair for Celtic history.

She shrugs. “I don’t think I ever thought I had a gift or a flair. I always assumed the reason I seemed to do well in history lessons was because I liked the subject and worked hard.”

“See! I told you she was modest,” Pippa broke in.

“But you must have known you were good when you got your degree and then your doctorate.”

“Effortlessly,” Pippa added. Her blue eyes are sparkling.

Kath fingers her mug and sips coffee before answering. “I suppose, as the citations mounted, I began to realise people were interested in my opinion.”

“And what is your opinion?”

She shrugs again. “My opinion is much the same as anyone else’s, I suppose. The Celts had so many different beliefs, but they were completely different to anything anyone takes seriously in this day and age.”

I drink some coffee while I wait for Kath to continue.

“It’s generally accepted that druids were in the upper reaches of society, and were close to the kings. Like the church and the medieval monarchy. And like Egyptian priests and pharaohs.” She leans forward with her eyes wide and passionate. “The beliefs all seem to make sense in a logical way, if you take away our scientific understanding. But, of course no-one will ever have seen any of the gods or spirits or monsters they believed in.”

“I suppose not,” I said.

“So, it makes sense that the druids fuelled superstition by claiming to have experienced these things themselves. I can’t prove it, of course, but that’s what I reckon happened.”

“And she’s had all the academic world sitting up and taking notice,” Pippa adds.

Kath tightens her hair around her. I’m certain she’s starting to blush. Embarrassment, I suppose. She does seem to be modest.

I said, “Anyway, you’re having your thesis published, and you’ve been invited to publicise it.”

“Yeah. Nine of us have been invited on an overnight live role playing adventure, celebrating the Celtic myths. We’re going to walk through a wood, and pretend we’re living in a place where the myths are real.”

“If you need eight others, who else is going?”

“I am!” Pippa exclaims. “Although roughing overnight in a pretend fantasy world it isn’t really my thing. I’d rather be shopping.”

Kath grins and flicks her eyes to the ceiling. “My professor, Max is going, too.”

“He’s more into Celts than spending money.” Pippa tuts. “I wonder if they’ll have a visitor centre with Celtic jewellery.”

“And Aaron’s going. He’s one of my undergraduates, but he does a lot of my research on the side.”

“Only ‘cos he fancies you, Kath.” Pippa gives a suggestive wink. “There are loads of us going. The organisers said we have to have a party of nine. It’s a sacred number that’ll keep us safe.”

“What happens if someone drops out and you don’t have nine?”

Kath shrugs.

Pippa laughs. “I suppose without the magic of nine to help us, we’d all die unspeakably horrible deaths.”

(This interview originally appeared on my web site.)

Horror and Celtic Fantasy

2011-06-04T21:42:00.001+01:00

When people find out I’m a novelist, the first question I usually get asked is, “What do you write?”

When I say Celtic fantasy/horror, the second question I get asked is, “Why?”

Well, that’s a long story…

I’ve always liked horror, even as a kid. That’s partly because it was difficult to get hold of – as a child I was (probably rightly) shielded from much that was unpleasant. On the other hand, having it forbidden raised my curiosity and as a teenager I read as much horror as I could, and when I was 18 hired horror videos.

Having read and watched horror I learned something of how it works - in terms of plot structure and the like – so it made sense to write in the genre. I’m not keen on mad serial killers no mater how well done (for example Halloween), and much prefer supernatural horror.

I’ve read some fantasy and quite liked it, and I’m happy to bring some fantasy themes into my work. I get frustrated by the lack of ‘realism’ in fantasy fiction though - fantasy worlds in fiction seem unreasonably comfortable. I want to show the constant battles against disease and starvation people faced, and to include the unpleasant deaths available instead of assuming everyone breaths their last peacefully in their sleep, or with a short, swift, instantaneous arrow to the heart.

In short, I think fantasy lacks the ‘bite’ that draws me to horror.

It’s myths, though, that particularly interest me. I studied the post-Roman Celts at university, and I read some of their legends. Celtic myths and legends made an immediate impact on me, and having lived in Wales I’ve got to know some of their settings intimately. The stories have some obvious fantasy elements, too. Having decided on supernatural horror as my subject matter, it wasn’t a surprise that I turned to the Celts and their fantasy-themed stories for inspiration.

So, that’s how I came to concentrate on Celtic fantasy/horror.

Review of ‘The Descent’ 1 and 2

2011-05-31T10:04:00.001+01:00

I’ll start of by admitting a bias – I think ‘The Descent’ might be the best horror film I’ve ever seen.

The premise isn’t different from a lot of horror flicks – get a group of people together, and have them picked off one by one. Where ‘The Descent’ differs, though, is in that the tension is maintained throughout, and the claustrophobia of a previously undiscovered cave system comes over brilliantly.

The six characters are out of their depth as they have to battle their unfamiliar, tight environment as well as the monsters. It’s this extra dimension as well as the skilled pacing that place this film among the best.

I give ‘The Descent’ 10/10. It’s that good.

Like a lot of sequels, ‘The Descent Part 2’ suffers from being a sequel. There’s nothing much wrong with it as a film, but the premise is the same – explorers underground in an uncharted cave system. The monsters are familiar by now, so lose a little of their scariness. This left little scope for anything new, so the gore and general ‘yuk’ factor has been upped at the expense of original plot.

If the first film hadn’t been made I reckon we’d all be drooling over the sequel (does that make sense?). Anyone seeing ‘The Descent Part 2’ first is likely to be impressed, and because of that I’ll give it 8/10.

Roll on ‘The Descent Part 3’!

Review of ‘The Ruins’

2011-05-22T15:15:00.001+01:00

Static Multimedia’s review of ‘The Wood’ likened it in some aspects to Scott Smith’s ‘The Ruins’. It wasn’t a story I’m familiar with and I still haven’t read the print version, but I have managed to get my hands on the DVD. From reading both synopses on Wikepedia the two seem to be slightly different so this review will concentrate on the film version.

(Static Multimedia’s review of ‘The Wood’ isn’t live any more, but I have a Word copy which I’ll post at some stage.)

Anyway, I can see why Static Multimedia would think ‘The Wood’ similar to ‘The Ruins’. Both feature a group of people thrown together, whose numbers are reduced as the horror picks them off one by one and both are, as the review says, tales of ‘…unbeatable odds.’

‘The Ruins’ is as much psychological as bloody, with most of the gore being less explicit than I’d expect of an 18 certificate film. That, of course, is an observation rather than a criticism, and the film has enough tension and a good enough ending to be a worthy, if somewhat routine, watch.

On the downside, the deaths are nearly all the same, with little variety. The plot has several unplugged holes and as an (ex)archaeologist I was disappointed that the Mayan setting provided nothing more than the film’s location.

Overall, this is one where the tension just about overcomes the flaws and I’d give it six out of ten.

Doe-Dragon Print Release

2011-05-08T19:40:00.001+01:00

Rogue Phoenix Press have confirmed to me that the print version of ‘The Doe and the Dragon’ will be available around a month after release, although this is flexible.

This might put the print release at some time in early June.

Release Day!

2011-05-01T17:27:00.001+01:00

So, I woke up this morning to find myself a published novelist for the fourth time (okay, ‘The Shoot’ was a novelette…).

‘The Doe and the Dragon’ is released today, from Rogue Phoenix Press.

As with any book it’s my name on the cover, but there are a number of other people without whose help it wouldn’t have happened. So, thank you to, in no particular order:

* Rogue Phoenix Press for accepting the work and all the editing;

* Genene Valleau for a great cover;

* Philip McCormac for, as usual, ploughing through the very first draft and helping me get the outline plot in shape;

* Carole Ann Moleti and Cathy Chance who read the novel, and in particular for their help refining the characters, their relationships, and the romance (which I found the most difficult elements);

* The numerous Critters and others who provided suggestions and advice along the way;

* Finally, but by no means least, to Emma and Peter for their support and their willingness to walk across stunning Welsh scenery (often weighed down by ice creams) to help me check out various locations in the novel.

Doe-Dragon Trailer

2011-04-30T09:39:00.001+01:00

Here’s the trailer for ‘The Doe and the Dragon’ from my YouTube channel:

Acknowledgement to Peter Richardson.

Trailers for all my books are on my YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewJRichardson

The Well

2011-04-26T20:20:00.001+01:00

So, contracts have been signed, so I’ll confirm that The Well will be published by eTreasures Publishing. A big thank you for showing faith in the story.

A possible publication date is 30 May, but this still has to be fully confirmed.

‘The Doe and the Dragon’ Preview

2011-04-25T17:51:00.001+01:00

Thank you to Carole Ann Moleti for providing a preview of ‘The Doe and the Dragon’:

http://caroleannmoleti.blogspot.com/2011/04/doe-and-dragon-by-andrew-richardson.html

Monkey Hangers…

2011-04-22T19:42:00.001+01:00

I’ve pointed out several times that ‘The doe and the Dragon’ incorporates myths and legends from Arthurian North Wales. It also includes one story that has little to do with Wales, but which gave inspiration for one of the events in the novel.

The Napoleonic Wars are separated from Arthur by a thousand years, and then some, but there one event from the Napoleonic era that I couldn’t resist slipping into the novel. Legend is that a French ship was wrecked off the coast of Hartlepool, in north-east England. The only survivor was the ship’s monkey, who was dressed in a French uniform, and, naturally, spoke gibberish that the people of Hartlepool didn’t understand.

The locals hung the monkey as a French spy, and since then the good people of Hartlepool have been known – with varying degrees of affection - as ‘Monkey Hangers’.

The story may or may not be true, but I couldn’t resist having a couple of monkeys mistaken for the enemy by a naive character in ‘The Doe and the Dragon’. Of course, I don’t have the monkeys hung, they end up…well, you’ll just have to read the book!

”…a Grim but Spellbinding Tale…”

2011-04-20T19:30:00.001+01:00

So says prolific Black Horse Western author Philip McCormac about ‘The Doe and the Dragon’. Here are Phil’s comments in full:

“There are those writers who do historical and are good at what they do. Then there are those who write horror and that’s good too. But Andrew Richardson melds the two and his talent is such it works excellently well. Throw these ingredients into a cauldron of Celtic savagery and magic and you wallow in a grim but spellbinding tale of heroic warriors and beautiful maidens.”

Doe-Dragon ‘Blurb’

2011-04-17T12:00:00.001+01:00

‘The Doe and the Dragon’ is published on May 1. It’s a historical fantasy set around Welsh myths, in 5th century north Wales. The story includes legendary characters such as Merlin, Vortigern, Uther Pendragon, the Lady of the Lake, and Igraine in a historical setting.

The book will be available from Rogue Phoenix Press.

Here is the ‘blurb’:

Prince Einion, The Impetuous Warlord of Gwynedd, boasts that he fears nothing. Deep inside, though, he is terrified of beautiful women and would rather face a hundred Saxon warriors than have to approach a pretty maiden.

Breena, a settler-girl, captures Einion’s heart when he comes across her in an enchanted valley. His tongue dries and ties itself in knots, rendering him incapable of speech. She runs away, fearing he is a spirit form the Otherworld --but the smitten prince vows to woo her.

When Breena is captured by Einion’s enemy, the prince must overcome sadistic raiders, religious intolerance, and an ancient, violent evil in his attempt to rescue her. Only then can he try to win what he most desires-- the stunning woman who terrifies him more than any enemy he has faced on the battlefield.

Doe-Dragon Release Date: 1 May

2011-04-05T20:35:00.001+01:00

A reminder that my Arthurian-period historical fantasy, ‘The Doe and the Dragon’, is due for release on 1 May, from Rogue Phoenix Press!

There are a couple of previews to come before release, and I’ll post links when they’re available.

The Doe and the Dragon Listed

2011-03-27T15:57:00.001+01:00

I’ve been doing some surfing, and found the “The Doe and the Dragon’s” first listing – at Manic Readers. They’ve got my name a bit wrong, but I assume that’s a database error that will soon be rectified.

Here’s the link: http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=bookdetail&bookid=12033

Einion the Dragon

2011-02-18T20:27:00.001Z

‘The Doe and The Dragon’ continues to near publication. I’ve sent final edits back to Rogue Phoenix Press, and I assume the next stage is to await a publication date.

The novel is set in fifth-century north Wales, and the hero is the semi-historical Einion Yrth (‘The Impetuous’). But who was Einion Yrth? And how have I treated him?

According to the myths, Cunedda was a minor kingt who came down from the north of England to settle in north Wales to help fend off Irish raids. He had numerous sons who travelled with him, and Einion later became king of the region, despite being the youngest. (Sadly for romantics, historians are trending to the view that the story and sons are made up to give the dynasty a history and provide names for sub-kingdoms.)

We know little else about Einion, but his title ‘Yrth’ has led some to suggest he might have been the original Uther Pendragon (Arthur’s father, of course).

I had to make Einion heroic because he must be worthy of being a leader. But I also wanted him vulnerable, to make him sympathetic. So, I have him self-confident, and of course impetuousness, and quick to anger. But I gave him a flaw – an inability to deal with beautiful women.

It is this shyness that I have tried to play up in the story; he loves Breena, the beautiful Irish woman he meets, but does not know how to woo her. This isn’t a story about heroism or good against evil, or about history, although they all play an important part. It is about Einion’s almost blundering efforts to win the hand of the woman he loves.

Spotlight Day

2011-02-08T08:03:00.001Z

Fellow Eternal Press author Gianna Bruno has invited me to join her ‘Spotlight Day’ at Coffee Time Romance this Thursday, 10 February.

We’ll be talking about writing from the viewpoint of the opposite sex, and I’ll also give an update of where we are with getting ‘The Doe and the Dragon’ and ‘The Well’ published.

Please come and join us!

Writing Review of 2010

2011-01-06T21:35:00.001Z

At this time of year the world seems to be full of reviews of 2010, so I though I’d do a brief one, too.

In terms of output, the year was a slightly disappointing one. A mixture of computer problems, Junior needing the main PC for exam work, and family illnesses meant several periods of inactivity. Not only did that mean less writing, but also problems of continuity – it’s not easy to remember the detail of what characters are doing when I haven’t been able to work on them for a week!

I did finish one novel, though, which is due to go through Critters in the next week or so. I do think the various breaks have had an impact, but I’ll know soon whether Critters agree.

I’ve not had any new publications, but acceptances for ‘The Doe and the Dragon’ and ‘The Well’. Both are due for release in 2011.

It’s also been a good year for writing friends. Gianna Bruno has had ‘Hot Chocolate Kiss’ and ‘The Journey’ released. Phil McCormac has continued with his line of westerns, and has also seen his first crime novel published. Congratulations to you both.

Well, Well, Well…acceptance

2010-12-05T19:25:00.001Z

I’ve had some good news, that my horror/adventure novella, ‘The Well’, has been accepted for publication. As usual, I’ll refrain from naming the publisher until contracts have been signed.

The story concerns an heiress who wakes up at the bottom of a well, and a college nerd who is stuck up a tree.

The story is very much in the vein of my literary hero, the late, great Richard Laymon, and I like to think of ‘Well’ as a tribute to him, with some of the elements he sometimes included. I’ve got a feisty blond heroine, a slightly nerdish hero, and the type of plot that I hope Laymon might have used. I only hope readers think it’s a fraction as good as the great man’s work.

Preview: The Journey, by Gianna Bruno

2010-11-27T07:26:00.001Z

Released by Eternal Press, 7 December 2010

They don't hang witches in Salem anymore, but Milena's punishment is being shunned. When her lover Thomas' ship is lost at sea, she fears he perished with the rest of the crew leaving her alone in a town bracing for a war over slavery, but still rife with an older form of prejudice.

Milena travels into the Forest and Sea Otherworlds to search for him, paying the fairies for her passage with bodily pleasures. Circe, the evil mermaid holding Thomas hostage, demands even more. She faces off against Circe in her underwater lair, endures the wrath of a colony of escaped slaves, and learns the terrible truth of what led to the shipwreck that left Thomas as its only survivor.

On the long journey, Milena learns to use her powers in ways she never imagined and discovers surprising truths about her own past. Left questioning everything she has ever believed, she must make the choice whether to return home with Thomas or stay in the Otherworlds forever.

“The journey is not about the destination, but rather overcoming the obstacles along the way.”

So says the tag for Gianna Bruno’s new novella, ‘The Journey’, which will be released by Eternal Press on 7 December. The story is about more than destinations or obstacles, though. It is about a woman who will do anything, and go anywhere for the man she loves. As such, it is very much a story about an impressively drawn character.

Milena’s lover Thomas is lost as sea shortly before the War Between the States. ‘The Journey’ follows Milena’s quest to find her love and takes her over much of the US’s eastern seaboard and beyond – so far beyond, in fact, that her travels take her to the Otherworld itself.

The plot is well thought through, and enough to keep the reader gripped on its own. The story’s highlight, though – as with Gianna’s previous Eternal Press release, ‘Hot Chocolate Kiss’ – is the strength of the main character. Milena is totally committed to her man. Not in any wimpish way, but with the sort of love and passion that makes her a strong heroine.

It might have been easier to have written this as an adventure story. Gianna shows everything through Milena’s eyes, which gives the tale an additional strength. Throughout, the reader wants to know what will happen to Milena, and whether she will ever live happily ever after with Thomas.

The story begins just before the outbreak of the American Civil war, and in particular highlights the misery of the slave trade. The prejudices and beliefs of the time are well illustrated, in particular, the villagers’ attitude toward Milena – a witch. The heroine’s sense of desolation at being shunned at a time when her man is missing, and she most needs a friendly face, is soon magnified by the plight of escaped slaves she meets.

Even to one unfamiliar with the period Gianna writes with a confidence that assures the reader of its historical accuracy.

‘The Journey’ is an erotic romance – and rightly comes with a high heat rating. Gianna doesn’t pull any punches with this aspect, and writes the sex scenes with the same confidence as the story’s other elements. The erotic element is all in context, though, and fits seamlessly into the story.

In all, this was an entertaining and thought-provoking read.

And, finally, Gianna will be giving away a copy of ‘The Journey’ to one reader who leaves a comment below.

Doe-Dragon – Front Cover

2010-11-01T21:12:00.001Z

The front cover for ‘The Doe and the Dragon’ has been finalised – here it is! Thank you again, Genene, for your work on it.

The release is likely to be in Spring 2011.

Cover Art

2010-10-18T21:27:00.001+01:00

I’ve been fortunate with the cover art for all my novels. I’ve been chuffed with the pictures I’ve had for every book so far.

‘The Doe and the Dragon’ looks like being another impressive cover. The picture is still being finalised, but artist Genene Valleau has come up with something particularly striking and eye catching. I can’t wait to see the final version.

Thank you Genene!

See more covers from Genene at: http://www.designsbymsg.com/MoreSamples3.html

I’m Back!

2010-10-03T13:57:00.001+01:00

There has been quite a hiatus recently, which has stopped me writing and posting updates.

I had a great family holiday in North Wales. Not only was it wonderful be be back amid Snowdonia’s breathtaking scenery, it was refreshing to revisit some of the sites I used in ‘Andraste’s Blade’ and ‘The Doe and the Dragon’. I also had a flickering of an idea for a new work, but maybe more on that in due course!

I’ve also spent a lot of time editing ‘The Doe and the Dragon’ for Rogue Phoenix Press. It seems to have taken me ages, and almost prompted me to promise myself never to write anything that long again. I hope it’ll be worth the effort, though, as I’ve got a soft spot for this story.

Then, just as I was about to get back into the groove with my current novel…my wife got rushed into hospital. All will be fine, but she is still very weak. It turned out to be e.coli, and I can see why it can be very dangerous in the young, old or inform.

So, that’s a couple more weeks without writing, and I’ve spent the lat few days in North Wales again, this time on business. I did manage to stay an extra night after my meeting, though, so I got a couple of walks in as well as a night in my favourite inn, the Tyn-y-Coed.

So, now I’m back, and I hope all will return to normal writing-wise. I know I owe a few reviews and critiques, and after the hiatus I need to work on my Critters standing, so it might still be a while before I can type anything new.

Rogue Phoenix Press

2010-08-29T16:40:00.001+01:00

So, contracts have been exchanged, and it’s all official – Rogue Phoenix Press will publish ‘The Doe and the Dragon’. The book will be available both electronically and in print.

I’ve no news of a release date yet, but I’ve just finished the first round of edits. I don’t like this stage of the writing process, and it’s taken two long weeks of hard work. Every time I have a novel published, I swear to restrict myself to novellas in future!

Hammer of God

2010-08-05T19:57:00.001+01:00

‘Hammer of God’ is Phil McCormac’s tenth western; this hard hitting and gritty story is a worthy addition to his list of credits.

The theme is one of a good man wronged, and takes us breathlessly through the highs and lows the hero, Deputy Joe Hammer, goes through to bring the bad guys to justice.

After a fierce shootout in which Hammer and a fellow deputy are outnumbered but still slaughter all the gang against the odds, he moves to Mexico and joins a monastery. Trouble continues to follow him, and after several adventures Hammer is sentenced to hang for a murder he didn’t commit. He is wounded in another violent shootout, but at least has the comfort of a hint of a relationship with a rancher’s daughter…

The story is recognisably McCormac, with its tight style and theme of a man fighting for justice against the odds. It has a likeable but realistically flawed hero who manages to extract himself from several seemingly helpless situations to eventually triumph and win the beautiful girl. The pace pulls you along and kept me reading to the end, and ‘Hammer of God’ is yet another worthy addition to my ‘McCormac collection’.

I’ve been interviewed!

2010-07-28T17:44:00.001+01:00

Thank you to fellow Eternal Press author Sonnet Odell for interviewing me for her blog. The interview is here:

http://www.sonnetodell.com/sonnetodell/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=13

Sonnet’s Eternal Press release is ‘Soul Market’.

Acceptance!

2010-07-25T20:46:00.001+01:00

I’ve heard this weekend that a publisher wants my historical fantasy novel, ‘The Doe and the Dragon’. It’s set in 5th century north Wales, and uses local and wider legends to tell a semi-historical story of the generation before Arthur. As usual, in case anything goes wrong I’ll wait until contracts are signed before revealing the publisher.

It’s a time and place that has always fascinated me – I even studied Dark Age Wales at university. I find the half century before Arthur is more fascinating than the period of the great man himself, with the break-up of Roman Britain and the Celtic re-emergence. It was a time of change, with civil wars and the establishment of Saxon and Irish kingdoms on the British mainland, and the beginnings of Christianity’s triumph over the old beliefs. And, of course, there are semi-magical names such as Vortigern, Ambrosius and Cunedda.

The countryside itself lends itself to fantasy writing, with hidden glens, cloud-covered peaks and stunningly-located hillforts. It seems that every stream and hill has a story associated with it.

I’ve tried to capture all this in ‘The Doe and the Dragon’.

While my name will be the one on the cover, as usual thanks are due to others whose help has been invaluable. Phil ploughed his way through my first draft and told me what did and didn’t work. Gianna and Cathy read a later version and in particular helped with the characterisation.

Finally, an acknowledgement to Emma and Peter, who walked countless miles – willingly, I think, particularly when we could find an ice-cream shop - through hidden valleys and over dramatic hillforts while I researched locations on our north Wales family holidays.

More to follow, including an outline of the main characters.

Dark Hedges

2010-07-04T20:51:00.001+01:00

Black Horse Western author Phil McCormac sent me a postcard showing the Dark Hedges of Ballymoney in Northern Ireland. I’d never heard of them, but I almost did a double take when I saw the card – the hedges are almost exactly what I was thinking of when I wrote ‘The Wood’.

These trees lean over the road, with their twisted boughs and darkness. All that is needed is a line of skulls on sticks, and The Wood sits in front of you!

Here are some links for pictures:

http://ysr23.com/blog/?p=521

http://www.archiemiles.co.uk/Images/Beech/am_Dark%20Hedges%20N.Ireland.%20jpg.jpg

http://www.photographyblog.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=85713

Gianna Bruno – Coffee Time Romance

2010-06-27T18:34:00.001+01:00

28 June is Gainna Bruno’s spotlight day on Coffee Time Romance.

There will be prizes and previews, and Gianna has invited me to talk about writing love scenes from the point of view of the opposite sex.

The Shoot - Reviews

2010-06-12T11:56:00.001+01:00

Here are a links to a couple of reviews of ‘The Shoot’:

By Gianna Bruno. (This was a preview, to be picky!)

By Seriously Reviewed, who gave the book a very pleasing seventeen out of twenty!

In Praise of the Shorter Form

2010-05-31T14:53:00.001+01:00

No, this isn’t a piece about my wife who is five foot zero and wonderful!

I’ve always enjoyed writing and reading novels, with the opportunities for sub-plots and characterisation that their length allows. I’m not so keen on short stories, but I do appreciate the skill in writing something short and sharp that sticks in the reader’s mind.

I’ve always thought of novellas as a compromise between shorts and novels, and like a lot of compromises they often bring out the weaknesses of both rather than the strengths of either. But I’m beginning to come around to the idea of novellas. So, what’s changed my mind?

Well, having ‘The Shoot’ published has helped, although as this started off as a part of ‘The Wood’ that got separated I still tend to think of it in the context of being part of Wood than a stand-alone piece.

It’s being part of the Eternal Press family, though, that has really got me reading. EP published a lot of novellas, and of course I’ve had the chance to taste several pretty good ones. Seeing some of the techniques used by other writers has been more helpful than reading any number of ‘how to’ guides, and I’ve learned that it is possible to get everything in a novella that you see in a novel; it just has to be done differently.

While anyone wanting to see how to do a novella well could probably pick up an EP release at random, two of their books show off aspects of the shorter form perfectly.

Gianna Bruno’s ‘Hot Chocolate Kiss’ is a masterpiece of characterisation. Keela Branford is a great character anyway: likeable, and both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. I was really impressed with the way Gianna managed to achieve such a well-rounded heroine in only ten thousand words – many full length novels struggle to deepen a character this well.

‘Frenzy’ is the other EP release I’ll recommend. This is a gritty story about eight men who find themselves stranded on a lifeboat in shark-infested seas. Carole Johnstone has put together a cast of complex characters and the story is about the people themselves as much as their predicament. Carole weaves both strands together seamlessly in only 28,000 words, but doesn’t leave any loose ends – all this without making the work seem rushed.

So, after reading other Eternal Press authors, I’ve changed my mind about novellas, and maybe I’ll have another one published one day.

The Horror of Modern Horror Writing

2010-04-02T10:03:00.001+01:00

I read somewhere, once, that as technology moves us forward, it becomes more and more difficult to write horror set in the modern day.

The introduction of the internet, mobile telephones and the like does tend to complicate things, as I’ve found out in a couple of recent works. It’s certainly harder to get a character on their own, out of communications with the rest of humanity, when all they have to do is pick up a mobile telephone.

And what about that top secret installation, miles from anywhere, where horrific experiments have been going on for years? Or the clearing in the remote forest, where carnivorous beasts previously unknown to nature, live? Google Earth will have spotted the installation, or the remote caves, within seconds!

Thus, the modern horror writer faces dilemmas that wouldn’t have been thought about, perhaps even ten years ago. Andraste’s Blade was published in 2005, and even that recently I don’t think it raised any eyebrows that most of my main (modern day) characters didn’t carry telephones.

So, what to do? Well, an obvious answer is to set a story in the past. As anyone who knows my work will know, a lot of my writing is based around Celtic myth and set around the time of the legends. No difficulty there, then (except the problem of getting the period right).

A second answer is to set the story somewhere remote. Again, that’s something I tend to do anyway. In remote places, telephone reception is often non-existent, so the problem of communication is lessened. However, as communication networks improve, I’d expect even this to become a difficulty over the next few years. It doesn’t take away the problem of aerial photography, though, but that isn’t something I’ve had to address up to now.

So, what about modern urban horror? What’s to stop our hero or heroine simply ‘phoning for help? We have to stop them doing that, don’t we? We need out characters out there facing the horror on their own, so we have to get rid of that mobile. Having them lose it, and then maybe looking for it, can add an interesting plot twist and a couple of challenging chapters. Or it can be a pain. I’ve read one novel (and I can’t remember which one) where trying to find the lost telephone was integral to the story.

So, whatever plot the writer comes up with, modern communications technology needs to be written into it.

I’m Back!

2010-03-17T22:21:00.001Z

Not that I’ve been away, but I haven’t posted for a while. So, here’s an update on what I’m doing.

I had a potentially catastrophic PC crash a few weeks ago, caused by a power surge immediately before a power cut. Fortunately I back up regularly, so I didn’t lose much data, although it’s been an ongoing job to get my desktop and links and the like as I used to have them.. However, I did need to buy a new hard drive (upgrade!). I also took the opportunity to switch to Windows 7.

Writing-wise it’s been a bit quiet. ‘The Well,’ a novella about a young woman who wakes up in a…well, is with a publisher who expressed an interest after seeing an outline and a sample chapter.

‘The Doe and the Dragon’, a historical fantasy set around early Welsh legends, will be sent out to publishers soon. Anyone who knows me well will know that for my history/archaeology degree I concentrated on post-Roman Wales which has always been one of my passions (along with Aldershot Town Football Club and horror fiction). I’ve always wanted to write something based on the period, but wanted to wait until I could think of a plot that was both original and did the period justice, and I like to think I’ve managed it here. I also tried to avoid Arthurian clichés, and again I hope I succeeded. The main difficulty was that I don’t know the fantasy genre too well. I couldn’t resist putting some horror elements in, but it is primarily a fantasy work and I hope I didn’t get any important fantasy elements wrong.

Guest Blogging

2010-01-29T13:59:00.001Z

I'm guest blogging at Roxanne's Realm today, and giving away an electronic copy of 'The Shoot' to a lucky commenter.

Join us at: http://www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com/

Hot Chocolate Kiss: Character Interview

2010-01-09T16:21:00.000Z

On Thursday, January 7, Gianna Bruno’s short story "Hot Chocolate Kiss" was released by Eternal Press.

Extreme weather, three witches, two skiers fighting their own demons--and each other…who wins?

The ‘star’ of the story is Keela Branford. Keela’s passion for extreme winter sports, fueled by anger at a cheating soon to be ex-husband, drives her to brave sub-zero wind chills and break a lot of rules--including the one to never ski alone.

Gianna granted me a few minutes of Keela’s time for a short interview between adventures.

You are one of the joys of ‘Hot Chocolate Kiss’, and I’m sure the reader will share your pains and take pleasure in your joys. Tell me about yourself.

Wow, it's nice that someone thinks I'm a joy. I teach high school so my students don't always love me. My ex and kids haven't been treating me too nice lately--they blame me for everything. It's hard not to be bitter, but that's really not my nature. Thanks for the compliment.

You’re going on a bit of an adventure, particularly venturing out skiing alone. What drives you out into the wilds?

We New Englanders-- and folks from New Hampshire in particular where the state motto is "Live Free or Die"-- pride oursevles on self-sufficiency. We also love the outdoors and the natural beauty and majesty of the mountains. They can be as treacherous as much higher peaks in the Western United States and Europe, though.

Physical activity in the natural environment always makes me feel better since it challenges me to push on, to survive.

You’re obviously attracted to Rick. What is it that draws you to him?

I miss being a part of a couple: the coziness of cuddling on cold winter nights or skinny dipping in a pristine mountain lake after a strenous hike on a hot summer day. I don't want to get my hopes up too high that Rick and I will stay together, but for now I'm savoring his attentions. He seems like the perfect balance of outdoorsman to gentleman for me right now.

Hot Chocolate Kiss’s web site at Eternal Press is here: http://www.eternalpress.ca/hotchocolatekiss.html

Readers can connect with Gianna at:

http://giannabruno.com/
http://giannabruno.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/Gianna_Bruno
gianna_bruno@yahoogroups.com

Subscribe to Gianna's webpage forums for character blogs – including Keela’s: http://pub42.bravenet.com/forum/3559210654/

Hot Chocolate Kiss Author Interview: Gianna Bruno

2010-01-06T17:26:00.000Z

I’ve invited Gianna Bruno here to talk about Hot Chocolate Kiss, which will be released by Eternal Press on 7th January. Gianna has written non-fiction for a long while, but this is her first stand-alone fiction piece. Readers will delight at Keela’s character, who manages both a charming woman-next-door ordinariness with that certain indefinable ‘something’ that raises her well above the mundane.

First off, thanks for having me, Andrew. It always makes me happy when readers identify with my characters since it shows I've succeeded.

‘Hot Chocolate Kiss’ is your first published piece of fiction, so it’s possible that the name ‘Gianna Bruno’ is going to be new to a few people. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Yes, Gianna is new on the writing scene but her alter ego does freelance work, journalism, and feminist nonfiction. I also write urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and magical realist fiction. Somehow, I found myself venturing into erotic fiction--most of it in the speculative genres-- even though I do come back to reality from time to time.

I know you run a busy life, with a family, a job, and several outside passions. You also spend a lot of time helping fellow writers. How do you fit in time to be creative – do you put aside time or just write when you can?

My life is wild. I have three kids whose foibles and activities keep me running. Plus a big hound dog and a very mean cat who doesn't like the dog--or men. Lots of mess and confusion all the time. But due to the chaos that is New York City, I'm used to doing several things at once and blocking out extraneous noise and stimulation. Riding the subways gives you a finely honed sense of who and what you need to pay attention to and what it is best ignored.

I do volunteer work with women in crisis so I thank the gods everyday for my crazy but happy-go-lucky life, my wonderful, patient and loving husband, and fairly well-adjusted kids. Yoga and ballet keep my physically active (important for writers who sit around and munch a lot). Dance classes keep me quick and sharp, and the music-mostly classical-stimulates the creative and artistic processes. Yoga relaxes and centers me. Two to three hours blocked out of my day three times a week pays me back two-fold with increased productivity and creativity.

Where do I find the time? Well, any writer knows that when you have to write -you do. I get up at 5:30 most mornings for a couple hours of quiet time. I'm most efficient then--fueled course by very strong coffee and carbs (bagels and thick old fashioned oatmeal are my staples) and use the time to organize what must get done that day.

I squeeze in reading/writing during down time, including on the subway and while waiting for the kids at music and dance lessons. I try to do some writing after supper and before I fall into bed about 10 p.m. to read a few pages of published fiction or nonfiction so I know what the current trends are.

And of course, deadlines are a writer's best friend. I pride myself on keeping all my promises to editors, submitting at least one piece of fiction or nonfiction per week, and pitching stories and proposals on a regular basis.

So many editors and other writers have helped me over the years. I am committed to "paying it forward." If they hadn't extended their support and advice, I wouldn't be so successful. This is a tough business.

You’ve said that some people thought you were the inspiration for Keela’s character. Can you confirm or deny!?

Those that know me "see" a lot of my personality in Keela. But Keela is fictional-I'm happily married and not searching for amorous adventures in the wild. Hell, I'm just looking for a few hours of peace and quiet--and sleep.

‘Hot Chocolate Kiss’ has a background of skiing. You write about it with a confidence that has me guessing you know the skiing scene well. What sort of things provide inspiration for your writing?

I lived in Vermont for a while. Thanks to my husband, I spend a lot of time on New England adventures like back country skiing and hiking. The forces of nature are awe inspiring and surreal at times. I've been at the summit of Mount Washington with fog so thick I couldn't see my hand in front of my face, crawling my way from cairn to cairn to avoid getting lost and dying of exposure (in May). I've skied with wind chills well below zero, when brain freeze and hypothermia make you deaf and disoriented.

Even less intense moments: walking through a quiet forest or sitting on the beach on a gorgeous summer day fills me with the sense of a spiritual presence. Those are the moments I imagine the fairies and witches nestled amidst the pines. There are a lot of magical creatures hiding behind rocks on the Atlantic coast. Aliens prefer to make their appearances on the New York City subway, though.

Do you have any other plans for Keela and Rick? Are we likely to come across them again?

Oh, it's very likely they will take a backcountry hike next spring, and Keela wants to try surfing. Being lost in the woods during Samhain might be in their future.

For the immediate future, what are your hopes for Hot Chocolate Kiss?

I hope that readers will understand the deep metaphors in HCK. It's about survival and winning a spiritual as well as physical battle. It's about the wisdom people develop as they get older, and the lessons they learn. It's about staying vibrant, fit, and sexy even though life has other plans.

And in the longer term, for your writing future?

I'm very excited about an historical/paranormal/erotic novella I just finished which is under consideration someplace. Talk about cross genre! I have no idea where that came from, but my beta readers were thrilled with the story.

I'm also working on a humorous mainstream story about a couple in the suburbs trying to "reinvent" their relationship. The working title is At Home With Peter and Sandra and it's got some ménage, BDSM, and M/M scenes.

Here’s a random but not particularly original one to end up with. You’re stranded on a desert island but can take one of each: novel, CD, DVD and luxury. What would you pack?

The CD would be The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky. That music evokes so much magic, especially the Waltz of the Flowers and the Grande Pas de Deux. The DVD would be "A Room With a View" by Merchant Ivory Productions, which is one of the most romantic, sumptuous films I have ever seen. I'm Italian so the backdrop of Florence makes it even better.

The luxury would be a Jacuzzi. Some desert island, huh? Running water, electricity.

Favorite novel: that's tough. My favorite classic is Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a close second. I think that was my favorite of JK Rowling's series.

And can we reach you on January 7 - launch day?

In addition to hanging around on the Eternal Press Readers Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EternalPressReaders/ every day to answer readers' questions, I'll be the guest at a live chat on the Eternal Press website http://eternalpress.ca/ on January 7. Please join me for a trivia contest about New England and skiing, and a chance to win a PDF of Hot Chocolate Kiss. I'll announce the time on Twitter and on my group.

Hot Chocolate Kiss’s web site at Eternal Press is here: http://www.eternalpress.ca/hotchocolatekiss.html

Readers can connect with me at:

http://giannabruno.com/
http://giannabruno.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/Gianna_Bruno
gianna_bruno@yahoogroups.com

They can also subscribe to my webpage forums for Rick and Keela’s upcoming character blogs: http://pub42.bravenet.com/forum/3559210654/

PREVIEW: "Hot Chocolate Kiss" by Gianna Bruno

2009-12-29T10:34:00.000Z

On Thursday, January 7, Gianna Bruno’s short story "Hot Chocolate Kiss" will be released by Eternal Press.

Extreme weather, three witches, two skiers fighting their own demons--and each other…who wins?

Keela Branford’s passion for extreme winter sports, fueled by anger at a cheating soon to be ex-husband, drives her to brave sub-zero wind chills and break a lot of rules--including the one to never ski alone. There are just some battles that have to be fought despite the risks.

Keela doesn't think much of Rick Marston, a ski lift attendant who is brazen enough to question Keela's judgment. And she thinks even less of his invitation for a drink when she comes down from the summit. She's sworn off controlling jocks like her ex, and is determined to exorcise the demon of self-doubt inside her. Will Keela win the battle against The Witches waiting for her on the ski slopes? And will the heat between Keela and the man who gets in the middle rout them for good?

Gianna certainly knows her stuff when it comes to both plotting a story and telling it, and she uses her skills to good effect in this debut novelette. Gianna knows the New England skiing scene well, and her skiing experiences provide a confident background to the piece.

Readers will immediately indentify with Keela, who is a skilful mix of vulnerability and willpower. I shared in Keela’s determination to beat the elements as she battled the witches; I willed her to make the right decision when deliberating over Rick’s interest. In short, I couldn’t help wanting Keela to succeed.

Most of all, though, I sat back and enjoyed the narrative. 'Hot Chocolate Kiss' pulls you along almost like the moods of a river - sometimes fast and furious, at other times more gentle, but always taking you with its flow.

The story is both erotic and romantic, and I finished it wanting to read more about Rick and Keela. I know Gianna has hinted that 'Hot Chocolate Kiss' might be the first of a series, and I for one am looking forward to meeting the characters again.

Hot Chocolate Kiss’s web site at Eternal Press is here: http://www.eternalpress.ca/hotchocolatekiss.html

Readers can connect with Gianna at:

http://giannabruno.com/
http://giannabruno.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/Gianna_Bruno
gianna_bruno@yahoogroups.com

Subscribe to Gianna's webpage forums for Rick and Keela’s upcoming character blogs: http://pub42.bravenet.com/forum/3559210654/

In addition to hanging around on the Eternal Press Readers Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EternalPressReaders/ every day to answer readers' questions, Gianna will be the guest at a live chat on the Eternal Press website http://eternalpress.ca/ on January 7. Please drop in for a trivia contest about New England and skiing, and a chance to win a PDF of Hot Chocolate Kiss. She’ll announce the time on Twitter and her blog.

"The Shoot's" First Review!

2009-12-08T20:29:00.000Z

"The Shoot" has been given an emphatic 17 by "Seriously Reviwewed"! They gave the story eight and the presentation nine to arrive at that score.

Read the full review here.

Release Day Quiz!

2009-12-07T20:27:00.000Z

To celebrate "The Shoot's" release, I'll give away a couple of free copies! All you have to do is leave a message, telling me which other Eternal Press release "The Shoot" is a prequel to.

As a strong hint, the answer is in my previous post, below.

Release Day!

2009-12-07T08:09:00.000Z

“The Shoot’s” release is here!

It forms a prequel to other Eternal Press release, “The Wood”. The books have two common characters: Kath Mahoney, a young and gifted archaeologist, and Pippa Laws, her best friend. “The Shoot” is erotica, while “The Wood” is mainstream horror.

Preview (Thanks to fellow EP author Gianna Bruno)
Interview (Thanks to Carole Ann Moleti)

I’ll be online at EP from 9-10pm EST.

Here’s an excerpt from “The Shoot”:

“And how about you?” Robyn asked.

Kath’s brows rose. “Me?”

“Well, it’s just as easy to take pictures of two as it is of one. And if she’s with someone she knows, it might ensure that your friend—Philippa, isn’t it?—is totally relaxed.”

“I haven’t got anything to wear.” Kath pointed to her casual clothes. “It’s hardly modelling material.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got a wardrobe through there. You can choose whatever you like.” Robyn nodded toward the door Pippa had disappeared through. “Have you ever been photographed before?”

“Not since I was a kid. Mum hired someone every year so she’d have a picture of me and my sister to send to relatives at Christmas.”

Robyn regarded her. “You’re a gorgeous girl, Kath. I’m pretty sure you’d be really photogenic. I’d really encourage you to give it a go.”

Kath’s cheeks warmed. “I want to be an archaeologist, not a model,” she said. She pushed her hair behind an ear in an embarrassed gesture, but agreed to pose. She followed Pippa into the changing room.

She told me I was gorgeous. A smile curled Kath’s lips.

Release Day Approaches!

2009-12-03T21:40:00.000Z

“The Shoot” will be released by Eternal Press in less than a week – Monday 7th December! Be sure to come back on the 7th, when I’ll have some celebratory prizes to give away.

I’ll be doing a live chat on the Eternal Press website between 9-10pm EST on Monday, and I hope to see loads of people there. There’s also Eternal Press’s monthly launch party at their Reader’s Yahoo Group. These are always fun events. And Eternal Press also have a secret surprise in store. It’s so secret that even I don’t know what it is! Sign up for EP’s eZine to find out.

Thank you to Carole Ann Moleti who has interviewed me to celebrate the release. Fellow EP author Gianna Bruno, for a preview. Gianna’s “Hot Chocolate Kiss” will be released by EP early in 2010. I want to give Gianna a public thank you for her help with “The Shoot’s” early drafts – I doubt it would have got published without your help.

Finally, check out “The Shoot’s” video trailer on my YouTube channel. There are trailers for my other books there, too.

"The Shoot" - Coming Soon!

2009-11-21T15:40:00.000Z

The Shoot has now been put up on Eternal Press's Coming Soon Page, along with all their other December releases!

The Decemebr releases are here: http://www.eternalpress.ca/ComingSoon.html

Click on "The Shoot's" cover for the blurb and an excerpt.

'The Shoot' - Launch Date Confirmed

2009-10-25T11:52:00.000Z

I’ve had confirmation from Eternal Press that ‘The Shoot’ will be launched on 7th December.

Eternal Press always have a virtual party on launch day – why not join us all at EP’s reader’s Yahoo Group?

And finally, a plug to remind everyone that ‘The Shoot’ is a prequel to my other EP release, ‘The Wood’.

Guest Blogging and a Wood Review

2009-10-01T07:03:00.000+01:00

Thank you to fellow horror writer Carole Johnstone (author of ‘Frenzy’) for asking me over to her blog to talk about the mythological aspects of ‘The Wood’. Carole has also written a review of the book, which I’m pretty chuffed with.

Please come and join us at: http://carolejohnstone.blogspot.com/

Thank you Carole!

"It's a Cracker!"

2009-09-24T16:42:00.001+01:00

"Like it says on the box of fireworks: light the blue touch paper, stand back and enjoy this sparkling narrative. Its a cracker!"

Thanks to Phil McCormac (author, Black Horse Westerns) for these early thoughts on "The Shoot."

'The Shoot' and Other Updates

2009-09-11T20:01:00.000+01:00

I’ve got ‘The Shoot’ back from my editor now, asking me to look at some of the proposed changes. I’m expecting it to keep me quiet over the weekend! I’ve not had any new news on a release date, so December 7th is still looking likely. It’s only 11,000 words, so at least the editing should be a breeze compared to ‘Andraste’s Blade’ and ‘The Wood’!

I’ve still got a couple of other ongoing projects that are at the redrafting stage, so it’s going to be a while before I get to sit at a keyboard and produce anything new.

‘The Well’, a story about a young woman who wakes in a dried-up well, needs another proofing. For reasons I won’t bore you with it’s had to be set in the American Mid-West, and early feedback from Critters is that the story is okay, but I need to work on getting the American accents right.

‘The Doe and the Dragon’ (or DD) also needs another rewrite, mainly getting the characters just right, and I think the writing quality needs to be beefed up in places. This one is more fantasy than horror, which I think makes it harder to keep the reader reading – so it needs to be particularly good. DD is a historical one set in North Wales a generation or so before Arthur (hence I affectionately call it, ‘King Arthur’s Parents’). Again, early feedback is that the plot works, although the characters need to be stronger.

I suppose I should get these out of the way before carrying on with any new writing. That might take until mid-October.

Gianna Bruno

2009-08-30T19:52:00.001+01:00

Congratulations to Gianna Bruno, whose ‘Hot Chocolate Kiss’ has been accepted by Eternal Press! I hope Gianna will guest blog at some stage to tell us all about it.

Find out more at: http://gianna-bruno.livejournal.com/

I really struggle with love scenes, and I must acknowledge Gianna’s help in getting ‘The Shoot’ into a submittable condition before I submitted it.

The Final Frontier

2009-08-26T07:15:00.000+01:00

Guest Blogger: Carole Johnstone

First of all I'd like to say a big thank you to Andrew for inviting me to guest on his blog today, and for giving my novella Frenzy such a glowing review on Sunday's post!

When I was thinking about what to write today I was reminded of a question I was asked recently about why the ocean is so often used as a medium for dark fiction. I answered the question badly. This is what I wanted to say.

From a personal point of view, I've always had a fairly healthy terror of the sea, but I know I'm not alone in that. We have long been obsessed by what we imagine lurks in the deep. Novels like Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Conan Doyle's The Maracot Deep, celebrate lost worlds and civilisations - and discoveries that always come at a price.

We recognise that we can't ever know what alien creatures exist too far beyond our reach or knowledge, and so create legends and monsters that we are better able to understand. To control. Classic tales like Moby Dick, Megalodon, and H.G. Wells', The Sea Raiders, describe a sense of awe usurped; a human need to conquer that is arrogance as much as obsession. But there are a great many more stories - most notably true accounts - that speak of neither wonder nor vanity. Novels like Adrift or Staring Into the Abyss, which describe only our own powerlessness when set against the might of the sea.

As Andrew quite rightly realised, I wanted to convey all of these opinions through the development of Frenzy's characters. All are very different; all exhibit differing responses to their predicament: awe, respect, fear, arrogance, anger and obsession. And these reactions are not static. They change as the story changes - as people always change.

Ultimately there are two stories within Frenzy. On the surface, there are the physical and mental battles to survive an indifferent host and its monsters - lurking among which is a far greater horror. And under the surface, there is the hidden spectre of what the ocean represents. Our own demons, our own fears. An insurmountable sense of what it is to be alone and a recognition of our own insignificance.

Principally I wanted Frenzy to frighten, of course I did. But it was also very much my intention to affect, to move. I wanted anyone picking it up to be invested, excited, saddened, even amused. Because so little in this world is truly black or white.

And that is what the ocean has always been for me. A monster of its own that redeems as often as it takes. A monster that forces introspection, and reminds us that for all our achievements there is still much that we can't ever know or control.

The sea is the last great unknown on this Earth. It is fear and it is wonder. And it is not a place that you are ever likely to bump into me!

"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity; and it was not meant that we should voyage far."
The Call of the Cthulhu; H.P. Lovecraft

Frenzy is available from Amazon.com, and electronically from http://www.eternalpress.ca/frenzy.html

Find out more about Carole Johnstone at: http://www.carolejohnstone.com/

Frenzy...

2009-08-23T21:19:00.001+01:00

Eight men wake up alone in a life raft, in the middle of the ocean, with no idea how they got there. That’s the premise in Carole Johnstone’s thought-provoking debut novella, Frenzy.

The story is true horror, but anyone looking at the cover and expecting to see the thrust of the story being the characters bloodied and devoured by sharks and other marine nasties is going to be disappointed. Or perhaps pleased, because although big fish add to the effect, this story takes you into the true fears lurking in the recesses of the characters. At one stage I was really inside the mind of the hero, Pete, as he looks down into an almost bottomless depth of water beneath him. I could feel his frustration, surrounded by sea, but unable to drink. In the almost exquisite characterisation, as we see what makes each of the characters tick, and the personal demons driving them.

Johnstone has put together a mishmash of people, cleverly using characters who play off each other to increase the tension. Some get on, some don’t, but all serve their purpose. The story pulls no punches in playing on the character’s relationships. It is very raw and maybe near to the knuckle in places, a feeling helped by the stark writing style and the decent pacing. It had me questioning myself, asking, ‘would I behave like that?’ given the stress of the situation. The author has obviously done her research on the effects of exposure at sea, and the deterioration in mind and spirit comes over excellently.

I have – rightly, I think - enthused over the book; but was there anything that didn’t work for me? Well, I always felt slightly in the dark about the ‘why’ of the men’s captivity – I would have liked to have the hints thrown at me earlier to avoid the nagging feeling of not quite knowing everything I wanted to.

The novel includes a lot of flashbacks. These are notoriously difficult to incorporate into any work, and to a large extent Johnstone skilfully pulls them off. In one or two places, though, I did feel the flashbacks butted in when the now was more important.

My criticisms are only minor nits, though. All in all, this doesn’t read like a first stand-alone release. Frenzy is a mature-looking work from a writer who clearly enjoys the craft and who hits the keyboard with confidence.

Frenzy is available from Amazon.com, and electronically from http://www.eternalpress.ca/frenzy.html

Find out more about Carole Johnstone at: http://www.carolejohnstone.com/

Today's the Day!

2009-08-08T07:46:00.000+01:00

Do you know how sometimes you wait so long for something, that you think the day will never come?

That's how summer has always felt for me. But today, the football season restarts. I'll be giving up a day's writing to travel to the Recreation Ground, to watch (the mighty) Aldershot Town take on Darlington. Read a preview here.

A pose for a picture...or a lesson in love?

2009-07-28T19:13:00.000+01:00

That's the tag for my new work - 'The Shoot'. 'Shoot' is an erotic prequel to The Wood, and has a tentative publication date of December. I'll confirm the publisher when contracts are signed (just in case anything goes wrong). In the meantime, here's the cover art:

Interview with a hero

2009-07-23T22:31:00.000+01:00

I've added an 'interview' with Peter Davis, 'Andraste's Blade's' hero, to my web site: http://ajrichardson.tripod.com/id13.html

'...I'D SAY IT'S EXCELLENT'

2009-07-09T20:11:00.000+01:00

At least, that’s what SkyWalker at ghostwriterreviews.com thinks about The Wood, having given it a humbling five out of five. Apparently, it has ‘..a first-rate cast of characters, human and not, and a very good story line.’

Read the full review here!

Visit GhostWriter Literary Reviews at: http://ghostwriterreviews.com/

Another review has come from staticmultimedia.com, who gave The Wood a highly pleasing 2.5 (out of four), and felt it could make a good movie. The book is decscribed as ‘…a page turner…’

Read the full review here!

Visit Static Multimedia at: http://staticmultimedia.com/.

Future Plans

2009-06-21T20:07:00.000+01:00

So, with the euphoria of ‘The Wood’s’ publication little more than a happy memory, what am I up to writing-wise at the moment?

Well, ‘The Wood’s ’ prequel is in its final stages, being reviewed as I write. It’s an erotic flashback to Kath’s first love that didn’t make the final cut in ‘The Wood’. It’s probably passable as a stand alone longish short (or a short novella?), though. I hope tying it in to an already published novel will increase its changes of publication. Any foray into erotica, though, is likely to be a one-off. Boy, do I find writing erotic scenes difficult!

Another novella, ‘The Well’, is already in the queue for a Critters review. It’s a tribute to Richard Laymon’s style and type of subject matter, about a woman who wakes up from a drugged sleep to find herself a prisoner in a dried-up well. Her story entwines with a teenager who is stuck up a tree.

I’m also tidying up a couple of older novels. “The Mound’ is a tongue-in-cheek story about a football (soccer, to some readers!) team who sacrifice away supporters to the gods in order to secure a win. I put some opening chapters through Critters, and got a better reception than I’d expected. I’m finishing this, and will put the whole thing through Critters.

‘The Doe and the Dragon’ is a story set in North Wales in the mid-fifth century. This time and place are, of course, thick with Arthurian myth. While Arthurian characters and events play a part – it’s almost impossible not to include them – I categorically don’t see this as an Arthurian story (even if it’s early working title was ‘Pre-Arthurian Fantasy’!). I love the time and place, which I studied at university, and I hope this affection comes through in the piece.

‘Doe and Dragon’ has been through Critters, and the feedback will be useful. I need to focus much more on the characters, especially the growing relationship between my hero and heroine. The hero in particular needs more work, feedback suggests. That’s fine, as I wasn’t certain the plot worked, but people seemed to endorse it. It’s a relief as if the plot didn’t work, that would have been terminal!

There's also a slasher set in a remote Scottish castle, mixing ghosts and serial killers, but I'm having trouble getting it to work so have put it to one side for a while after about 20k words. Maybe Critters will be able to tell me where I'm going wrong.

Also, I’m thinking about the next new work and I’ve even drafted a tentative first chapter. I’m having difficulty working up enthusiasm while there’s still a lot of older stuff needing attention, though. ‘The Bog’ is set in Celtic Ireland, and involves dark things like bog bodies, human sacrifice, Samhain (Celtic Halloween), ghosts and the like. It should be great fun to write, but at the moment it’s still being planned. It’s unlikely to be more than a novella, but I’m considering bringing it up to novel length by adding a sequel-type thing based in the modern day.

Goldie and the Three Bares

2009-06-17T06:50:00.000+01:00

Most people who know me will be aware that I studied archaeology at university. I specialised in fifth to seventh century Britain, and worked on a handful of digs, including one in Scotland.

Fellow Eternal Press author Kat Duarte’s June release, Goldie and the Three Bares, is about an archaeologist working on a site in Scotland, in what I think of as ‘my’ period. There was no way I was going to let this one pass without being read!

The story is en erotic romp through history, focussing on Goldie’s – the archaeologist’s – hunt to decipher the Pictish language – a real-life problem for historians. Things don’t quite go to plan, with Goldie’s adventures being played out in an enjoyable romp through the period, that reflects the title brilliantly.

I have to admit that I don’t really know the erotic genre well enough to pass critical comment on quite how good it is compared to other stories. I did, though, love the comedy that runs throughout, particularly in the early part of the story. Kat has given Goldie a deliciously naughty sense of humour, and this had me grinning in several places, and made the book a very relaxed read. I’d even suggest this is a fun book as much as an erotic one!

And the history? Well, the period specialist may raise an eyebrow in a couple of places, but, even coming from the history angle, I don’t think it matters. The book is such a fun read that I was immersed in Goldie’s world and stopped looking for the history after the first few pages.
In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed Goldie and the Three Bares.

Too Much Research?

2009-06-02T15:52:00.001+01:00

I’m back off holiday now. We (me, wife and child) had a really relaxing week in our favourite haunt, north Wales. We climbed Snowdon (well, we got part way up until fatigue and my thing about sheer drops defeated us), had refreshments from an award-winning ice-cream shop in Beddgelert, and we generally unwound.

As an aside, writers might enjoy the legend of Gelert, which gives the village its name – it’s got a great plot!

Anyway, a bonus reason for going to north Wales was so I could do some more research on my 5th century story I have set there (working title: ‘The Doe and the Dragon’). Having lived in the area I know most of the places I’ve used pretty well, and my background in the place’s history and archaeology gives some confidence that I can get the background right.

The only place in the story I’ve not visited is Carn Fadryn, a little-known hillfort on the Llyn Peninsula. I need the hillfort as it’s associated with Sister Modrun, (legendary) granddaughter of High King Vortigern. She plays a prominent role in the story, so I wanted to get Carn Fadryn in there!

I had assumed the fort would be similar to Tre’r Ceiri, another fort in the area. Tre’r Ceiri has been described as the best preserved hillfort in Britain. This is mainly because everything is of stone. In one place, you can even walk through the rampart through a gateway, under the original lintel – and this is two thousand years old! Also, some of the huts survive to about waist height, again due to them being made of stone, as opposed to the turf/wood combination in the lowlands.

Sadly we didn’t make Carn Fadryn’s summit – a combination of my sunburn and wife’s wobbly legs, both results of the assault on Snowdon the previous day. It looked vary steep. And imagine my concern when from our distance we saw no ramparts, and a very steep, uneven slope – not the smooth, easy-to-run-across fort I’d hoped for, based on several walks up Tre’r Ceiri.

Would this scupper my story? “Do American publishers know the topography of obscure Welsh hillforts?” I asked wife and child, in a panic.

Both assured me that it was unlikely. And I decided that maybe I was doing a little too much research, and would allow myself some license…

The good news is, that I’ve looked on Google Earth and surfed for pictures. Thankfully, the view of Carn Fadryn from below is deceptive, and there are huts and ramparts, even if it’s a little rougher than my ideal. I got some good pointers, though – I need to change my draft to take into account the steep approach, for example. And the way the hill just sticks out of the ground in an area of otherwise gentle hills makes it visible from miles around.

We go up to Wales again in August, and this time we won’t attempt Carn Fadryn the day after Snowdon. And in future, I’ll do my research before writing.

Characterisation

2009-05-20T17:17:00.001+01:00

I've had an article on characterisation published at Horror Writers UK.

This gives an outline of the process I used in getting my group of adventurers ready to enter 'The Wood'.

The Washer at the Ford

2009-05-10T17:35:00.000+01:00

I've added the first Celtic fantasy/horror I ever wrote to my web site.

This story was first published in 'Unhinged' in 1999. As I own all the rights to the shorts I've had published, I'll post a few others on my site in due course.

The Wood's Sales

2009-05-09T17:34:00.000+01:00

They say statistics don’t prove anything. However, given that publishers don’t release sales figures until the end of a quarter – even to authors – it takes a bit of detective work to find out how books are doing. (And it’s quite right that publishers don’t provide figures on request, even to authors – they have better things to do than respond to daily requests for updates!).

So, how is ‘The Wood’ doing?

Well, I don’t know in terms of number of sales. Fictionwise, though, list all Eternal Press (EP) publications by (electronic) sales, and Wood is listed as the fourth best selling EP work during the last 20 days. That makes Wood the fourth best selling title out of the eight released this month.

Considering some of my fellow EP authors have a back catalogue and therefore an established following, and that I hold down a day job and so have limited marketing time, I think that’s a respectable showing.

Mobipocket have me down as 50th out of 164 EP titles. I assume that’s an all time list; if so, I’m particularly pleased.

I terms of hardcopy, Amazon have me down as 6th out of 20 recent (last 30 days) EP releases; again, I’m happy with that.

Something I did notice is that Fictionwise show Andraste’s Blade as the second best selling Dark Realm Press title over the last 20 days. That has surprised me a bit, but I have been using Wood’s release as en excuse to advertise my ‘back catalogue’ as well. It’ll be interesting to see at the end of the quarter how much – if at all - Blade’s sales have risen as a result.

Here we are...

2009-05-09T16:38:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone and welcome to my Blogger blog!

I already have a blog over at Livejournal, and I'll be maintaining both, at least for the time being. I've decided to open this duplicate blog because it seems to be the one most of my fellow-writers use, and it also seemes to have more options, that are of use to writers.