Saturday, 7 September 2013
Now is Gone: Are you kidding me??? Why critical reviews are nec...
Now is Gone: Are you kidding me??? Why critical reviews are nec...: I'm just about ready to blow a gasket over here, people, really. So, here's the thing. For the past couple of years, I've be...
Thursday, 5 September 2013
The NightLife: GOODREADS SOCK PUPPET RATINGS: The many faces of A...
The NightLife: GOODREADS SOCK PUPPET RATINGS: The many faces of A...: Please don't feed the sock puppets - they multiply like gremlins This blog post has a deceptive title, because there's real...
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Flash Release--Nexus by Nicholas Wilson!
Hello hello!
I am right in the middle of an excellent new book, Nexus, and I had to share it. Just released by Nicholas Wilson, you can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more.
I am right in the middle of an excellent new book, Nexus, and I had to share it. Just released by Nicholas Wilson, you can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more.
I have been on a hard sci fi kick lately, and the quietly subversive setting is still full of excellent goodness--think Star Trek meets Galaxy Quest, with a bit of The Electric Church series thrown in for good measure. I have to recommend it. There's a few info-dumpy bits so far, but the main character's engaging voice, the dirty jokes, and the nicely logical setup of the world are irresistible. Cruising around space and meeting new cultures, and only phuquing them sometimes, should be overused--but the plot's compelling, and this was just too fun not to post. The nice thing is that Wilson doesn't require one to turn off their brain to enjoy the book.
Both posters supplied by author.
Incidentally, this seems like a good time to mention that I'll be uploading occasional short reviews from other books I've read--sci fi, a bit of fantasy and horror, and a stray paranormal novel here and there. Some will be old reviews from books I've already read; some will be new. They'll all be short, which means you can get your Michelle fix more often. I'm not currently taking review requests or recommendations, because my Kindle is ready to explode, but feel free to comment and share books for other readers!
All right--time to get back to editing for me. Then, I'll be rewarding myself with more Nexus.
All right--time to get back to editing for me. Then, I'll be rewarding myself with more Nexus.
*****
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Fear and Loathing in Koi Samui: An Interview with John Dolan
Hello hello!
I'm BACK, with another fabulous interview! Today's guest is the always witty and often snarky John Dolan. I first fell in love with Everyone Burns after discovering it by chance. I'm not usually a mystery person, but the haunting, maddening tale of murder and longing on a tiny Thai island stayed with me. Naturally, when Hungry Ghosts came out, I knew I had to track down the hatted cynic and get him to talk about it. I love a good noire atmosphere, and Dolan delivers. So, without further ado, please welcome: John Dolan!
*****
Q: Describe yourself in 20 words or less.
A: Smarty-pants, lover of all things arcane and obscure, chocolate addict, anal retentive, hat-wearer.
Q: Tell us about your novels.
A: I’ve embarked on a seven-book series entitled “Time, Blood and Karma” which runs from the late 1950s up to present day and tracks across various parts of the planet. Although each book has a ‘complete’ story in it, they will all link up. The whole exercise is about showing how interconnected we all are; how when you throw a stone into a pond its ripples spread out; how you never fully know the way your actions and decisions affect others.
Q: ‘Everyone Burns’ reads like a love-letter to Thailand. Tell us more about how that came to be.
A: We’ve been living in South East Asia for a few years now – we have a house on Koh Samui – and it reflects our deep love for this part of the world. Thailand is not without its problems, just like anywhere else, but for now I can’t think of a better place to live (except maybe Bali, but that’s not a practical proposition for us at present).
 |
| Cover photo supplied by the author. |
Q: How would you describe the role of Buddhism in the story?
A: As I mentioned above, the whole series is about interconnection which is a key feature of Buddhist philosophy. Another central tenet of Buddhism is a focus on what ‘reality’ is, how the world as we perceive it is merely an illusion. You could say that the story is in a sense an illustration of Buddhism ‘in action’ – although that sounds a wee bit heavy. It’s impossible to write realistically about Thailand without interleaving Buddhism anyway: too much would be missing.
Q: Your protagonist’s actions are often (delightfully) morally questionable. Do you think they were justified? Why or why not?
A: My protagonist, David Braddock, has his own peculiar moral code and acts accordingly. He is in many ways a damaged human being and although he may have some useful insights into life he also has some major blind spots. There will be times when the reader will want to strangle him (I’ve already had some book reviews to that effect). I leave it to others to decide whether his actions are justified. For myself, I can only say I wouldn’t do some of the things he does …
Q: Do you feel your background influenced the main character, or was he inspired by external forces?
A: There is some of me in Braddock. I think that’s unavoidable. We share some experiences and attitudes. However, he is also a creature of my imagination. I try not to make a habit of sleeping with other people’s wives. That sort of thing can get you into trouble, right? I’ve also just quit smoking – something Braddock would struggle to do.
 |
| Photo provided by the author. Also, in spite of being British, he's taller than you'd think. |
Q: There are heavy noire aspects to the
book. Which writers or films inspired you?
A: The
writings of Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett, for sure, but also some of
the wonderful old black and white movies – especially the ones with Bogart in
them.
Q: What do you plan to write or publish
next?
A: The
second book in the series – “Hungry Ghosts” – is hitting the internet ether
right at this moment. It picks up where “Everyone Burns” left off. Then I’m
having a month away from my laptop before starting the next book – “A Poison
Tree” – which goes back in time to the events preceding “Everyone Burns”. I
hope the time-jumps won’t be too confusing for the readers. There is also an
upcoming project with writer Fiona Quinn: we’re co-authoring a novel. I’m
pretty excited about that, although the logistics of her being in the USA and me
being in Thailand are pretty formidable!
Q: Which foods do you absolutely hate?
A: Cement gives me acid reflux, and I’m not
too keen on anything laced with arsenic. Other than those, I eat pretty much
everything. Except people, of course.
Q: What is your favorite noire or black and
white movie?
A: “The Maltese Falcon”, although the
romantic in me wants to say, “Casablanca”.
If you would like a FREE taster of John’s writing, download a copy of his wickedly funny short story “Jim Fosse’s Expense Claim” from Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260738
NOTE: For the launch period of “Hungry Ghosts” you can buy “Everyone Burns” for the special price of $0.99 (or 79p if you’re a Brit!).
*****
Friday, 30 August 2013
The Underlighters: Launch!
August 30th: the Dust is here! Now available
exclusively on Kindle and in print—The Underlighters!
Buy from Michelle Browne’s author page here: http://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Browne/e/B00BGWZRCW
18-year-old Janelle Cohen is an electrician in an
underground city. The world above has been swal-lowed by mind-destroying Dust.
Her small life changes forever when a dragon attacks her on the way home from
work.
Her friends worry that she has the Fever, Dust-induced
insanity. As more monsters strike down citizens, they change their minds. A
terrifying trip to the surface of the world, the ancient and abandoned Up,
deepens the nightmare. With no world left above, she and the other Crows cannot
afford to fail…
5 stars: “…You will be rewarded with a dive into the depths
of imagination that may leave you questioning, breathless and inspired.”
–www.TracingTheStars.com
5 stars: “… Engaging, ground breaking prose that is not
afraid to test the reader’s boundaries. “—Sara Celi
5 stars: “…A wonderful read that is full of life,
nightmares, fear, and dreams.” –Casey Peeler
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for an exclusive chance
to win a very exclusive prize pack! Three winners will be selected…don’t miss
out!
Art by Kit Foster, © 2013. used with permission of the
artist. http://www.kitfosterdesign.com/
*****
Thanks for dropping by the nest once again. Don't miss any
of the phuquerie. Find Michelle on Twitter, Facebook, and
on Tumblr. More
interviews and witty commentaries are coming. Keep checking back to see those
surprise posts, too. This is your darling SciFiMagpie, over and out!
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