Good Reads Giveaway: Dark Winter

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Dark Winter

by John Hennessy

Giveaway ends March 04, 2014.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Forever Scary - The Shining Twins

Warning - this post is a bit scary and rather gory.

Still here? Great. Please read on :)

Following on from my book review of Doctor Sleep (The Shining, Book 2) I thought I'd share with you a picture of the twins from the very famous film of The Shining. Don't they look like perfectly nice ladies, which I'm sure they are.

However, I will always see them like this.

What images remain with you, long after you have read them in books, or viewed them in films? Many say the scene of Jack looking at the window whilst Danny and Wendy play in the Overlook's maze is truly scary. It is - you see a man having a mental breakdown on screen. It is amazing cinema.

When I was writing my own horror, Dark Winter, I wanted to feature a demonic ghost girl too, and my 'Dana' looks like this. (Thanks to OS for this image). Dana is not just a ghost, she's a witch, a succubus, a demon, a vampire. Basically not girl-friend material, unless having your guts ripped out are your kind of thing.

Going back to the Twins for a moment, I wonder why it scares me so much. I can recall every detail of seeing them....the wallpaper design around them, the colour of their dresses, the dead eyed look of the one twin, and the half-smile of the other. My take on the scene was the the girl on our right was genuinely scared, and the other girl was thinking 'oh, that's a play-axe...Daddy wouldn't really kill us!'

Regardless of how Dana is, I admire her as a character and I think the story would have been weaker without her. That said...I was in a Subway the other day grabbing a sandwich, and the server was called Dana.

A bit too close to comfort for me. I paid for the sandwich and left. Quickly.

I promise to get back to less gory posts next time! So long as Dana leaves me alone....

Book Review: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

People fall into two camps when the conversation turns to Stephen King. Some find his writing a bore, self-indulgent, a mess. Others find his descriptive style and narrative tone engrossing. For me, I find myself sometimes in group one, at other times, in group two. As a youngster, I would buy one book after another of Stephen King's, placing me firmly in group two.

It's not hard to know why. Carrie, The Shining, Salem's Lot, Pet Semetary et cetera were all brilliant books in my view. How can an author strike gold three times with his first three novels? It cannot be all down to luck, can it?

However, I will admit to having seen the film version of The Shining before I read the book, and here's where I encountered a problem. You see, I thought the film was brilliant and utterly terrifying. I can watch it again and again and still feel very scared. It fails to date, even though it should.

The film was criticised by Stephen King, who said it was more Stanley Kubrick's version than his own, and on reading the book, I understood why Stephen King felt that this was not a book-to-screen adaptation.

Too many things are different between the two, but I appreciated the book for what it is, and also the film.

Inbetween the release of the follow-up, Doctor Sleep, there was a Stephen King approved TV movie version of The Shining, but I didn't like it at all,sorry to say.

So I had this book on order for a while, but kept from reading it because I was a bit in Group One regarding his books in recent years. Yes, he could still do it....books like Desperation, and Misery, were high points....others, like Gerald's Game and Hearts in Atlantis were poor offerings indeed.

So I opened the book up and it reminded me of a post I saw recently about FEAR (Forget Everything and Run / Face Everything and Rise), because it says FEAR stands for F*** everything and run!

Typical King. He uses a LOT of profanity, but sometimes, it's really funny when kept in context.

People who have seen the film of The Shining but have not read the book, will be most confused by reading Doctor Sleep, so you really have to read Book One, and that book did set a standard for scares (although I do believe Pet Semetary is the book SK should be remembered for).

I even re-read The Shining prior to finally reading this one and I am glad I did.

The pace is reasonable at the start, and I wondered how Danny would fair as an adult, given all he had gone through as a kid. Two parts of Book One stood out for me - the woman in the bath tub (which scared me more in the book than in the film....if that doesn't seem possible I assure that it is) and the twin sisters who would appear asking Danny to play with them - forever.

Doctor Sleep makes more of an impact through our emotional connection to Danny, Wendy and Dick, although I kind of miss Jack (John) Torrance as a principle character, and it is something I wrestled with when writing my own take on the horror genre.

It starts well, but kicks into high gear about mid-way through the book. Stephen King is back to his best in this story, and it's the best book of his that I have read since 1997's Desperation. I hope he keeps going now. It's very brave to revisit a story so well known, but I think he's just about pulled it off. It is not as good as The Shining, but Dan the adult is an interesting, well rounded character, though there is a generous homage paid to him as a child from the first book.

In a world where writers feel pressured to write trilogies relatively quickly, it's refreshing that Stephen King can take his time to craft a wonderful sequel. The two books are best read together.

I suppose he has the luxury of being an established writer, so much so that there was great excitement about the title of the book, long before it was released.

Where the book failed a bit, was to put the Jack Torrance template, to a large degree, onto Dan as an adult. I felt it was a bit of cop-out to make him an alcoholic, just like his father. It's like SK is saying 'you've got your daddie's genes, so if he downs a litre of bourbon a day, you will too son!'

So I think it was an opportunity missed, because Danny as an adult should have come to terms with the events he had as a child. Of course, we have all had experiences as children that may shape us as an adult, but we should not let those dark elements win. They must know their place - and we should put them in their place.

It's like the adult Dan totally gave into it, and in this regard, Doctor Sleep fails in the scare factor, whereas The Shining hit them out of the park time and again.

It's a good to almost great book. If The Shining didn't exist, in a weird way, this book would be higher rated in my view.

So it's good - very good - and worth reading. Just forget (to some extent) all about The Shining and you'll enjoy the ride!

What Happens When A Second-Hand Book-Store Is Supported by the Local Community

As much as I have grown to like e-books, there's clearly a slightly dark side to it. As I reported earlier, books can be pirated all too easily, which is a disgusting practise. Fortunately, many decent people still buy through legal channels and support writers, many of whom struggle to make it as a career.

What of the more traditional outlets then? In the news story below, the shop owner let people know of his dwindling profits, and via Facebook no less! It shows that the local communities do play a big part in keeping shops like these open.

Perhaps he needs to become a more up to date shop, but it is difficult when there are so many titles out there, and yes...the internet makes it easy to buy.

But I must say that my own shopping experience showed that the internet and how we buy things now was just waiting to happen. I could often go in any bookstore, record shop, and so on, only to ask for a given item, only to be told 'oh, we don't have that in stock.'

It's lazy at best, poor customer service at worst. Amazon have just simplified the supply-chain process.

All the same, I'm happy for this shop owner, as nothing beats browsing through books...the internet just doesn't have the same charm for me!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2539862/Struggling-second-hand-bookshop-owner-shocked-dozens-customers-descend-store-posting-dwindling-profits-FACEBOOK.html

Book Review: Rebecca's World by Terry Nation

This book has the distinction of being the first book I ever loaned at the library. It stood out because it was one of those in a rack, not a shelf, and although it had the promotional strapline of 'by Terry Nation, creator of the Daleks', I wondered if I had not stumbled upon the wrong kind of book.

(I was never a Doctor Who fan and the current mania about it still hasn't swayed me, but anyway....)

The book is simply told, but has engaging characters and a plot which makes you want to keep going to see what happens next.

I was eight years old when first reading this, and now, I must have completed it for the umpteenth time, it's a book that, despite its age, never gets old.

Rebecca is bored. Rebecca is not allowed to go up to one of the rooms in the house 'because her father keeps expensive equipment there.' Quite why Rebecca appears to be on her own is uncertain, but she takes her chance and goes in the room anyway.

There's a telescope there, much bigger than Rebecca herself, and she peers through it, and becomes fixated on this one star. As she looks, the star gets closer, and suddenly, she finds herself transported out of the room, onto this planet, the 'World' of the title.

It's easy to see why it's called Rebecca's World. She is one hell of a confident eight year old, and goes from adventure to adventure without losing her mind. Initially, when she finds herself in the room with some mad scientist (aren't they all, but then, without them, where would we be?!) who is very cross with her and informs her that he won't be able to send her home, Rebecca cries. A lot. This makes the scientist even more mad and cross with her, so she is forced out of his lab until such time as he can find a way to send her home.

Along the way, Rebecca meets Grisby, a man who wears more than one overcoat (I counted four at one point) and owns the 'most painful feet in the universe.' Kovak is a spy who, despite his many disguises, everyone can tell it is him. Finally, there's Captain 'K', who owns the only GHOST stick in the world.

Oh. So finally, a plot! 

It turns out that a very nasty man, Mister Glister, is the richest man in this world, and as he explains to our heroine most seriously, 'I've made it my life's work to make everyone poor', and he has done it by burning all the trees down in the world to feed his industry and make himself rich. Some of the shelters from the said GHOSTS are made of the wood from these trees, but given Mister Glister's over the top approach to construction, there stands only one tree in this world, and it is guarded by the GHOSTS.

Captain 'K', however, owns a GHOST stick...a weedy twig, really, but one zap / kerpow / thunk in the direction of a GHOST, they 'pop' and disappear. hence why Mister Glister would like to have it for himself.

Rebecca and her new friends hatch a plan to get the map to this last tree (in Mister Glister's possession) to save the people of the world, and Rebecca hopes by then that she would find a way back home.

This is where the book really kicks off and we meet all manner of nasties, the Silkies, the Bad Habits, the Tongue Twister Monster.

If you haven't read this story, you really should. Rebecca seems more grown up than most eight year olds, which makes the plot (reading as an adult) more believeable.

Do I ask too much from a children's book? Probably. But this remains one of the best examples of a simple story executed brilliantly. 

Seek out a copy and enjoy it!

The Writer's 'Red Shirt' Syndrome...How Do You Ensure That None of Your Characters are Redundant?

Anyone who watches Star Trek (especially in the original series) will know that anyone wearing a red shirt was basically expendable. Despite the many dangers Captain Kirk and the others faced, it was inconceivable that they would actually die (which makes Kirk's exit in 'Generations' all the more annoying).

Red shirts, on the other hand, were The Expendables long before Sly Stallone coined the name for his films.

As writers, we have to guard against creating our own Expendables. Okay, in some stories, like thrillers, or murder mysteries, someone has to die. Already, this character is an expendable...he or she is redundant.

Or are they?

The best example I can think of an Expendable (note, NOT redundant) is in this book, the superlative 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier

How many stories do you know of that have already killed off their main character? Or if you do, how many do it as well as 'Rebecca'?

One of my other favourite authors, Stephen King, can either write tonnes of expendable (and sorry to say, forgettable) characters like in Needful Things, or can focus on just a handful, and do it brilliantly, as in Misery.

Any which way we cut it....if you are a reader and are then told 'and then Mikey died...' you might feel cheated. After all, did we care about Mikey enough to have some feeling about his death? No? Then the writer did not build his story up enough.

If we knew that Mikey had been orphaned because his parents had been murdered, if we knew that he had been put into social care because he had no other family....if we knew he had found love, lost it, and found it again (or that the love of his life actually killed him)...we would care, wouldn't we?

But some characters get a line or two of introduction in an 800 page story, and before you can say 'man....you have to GO'...they're gone. Have you read books like that? How did you feel when you read that? If it was 'okay, I forgot who Mikey was because he hasn't been mentioned since page 142', then I think the author has overlooked a very important thing.

Sometimes, we read a book and watch a film just for the ride....I'm talking 007, Rocky, any Doctor Who episode. Will anything fatal befall the main characters? Really? Unlikely. So where's the drama? If no-one is at risk - no-one that we care about...no-one that we care about that the author has created, then basically, all you can do is enjoy the ride.

But creating swathes of expendable characters is not good. It is not good 'filler' for a story.

You can create a sword wielding goon, for instance, if it is possible he or she can kill the main character. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, there was originally a long fight scene between Indy and the sword guy. But the final script was that Indy just shoots him! Is it funny? In this context, sure....but do you recall the character? We remember him, because of his part in the movie. We don't need to know his name or anything else. In a film like this, it is a good use of an Expendable. As writers, we are not afforded the same luxury, and our Expendables have to be better drawn.

We cannot simply  introduce someone, give them a name, describe their looks and their basic motivations in a paragraph, only to drop them off the radar, only to bring them back near the end of the book to create some drama. And then, they realise that they were an expendable character.

I got the same reaction from someone who watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but who hadn't read the book.

"Why does Cedric die?" he said.
"So he can turn up in the next Twilight film, I suppose," was my reply.

His point was (even though others watching the film had read the book) that to a viewer, Ced was an expendable....he is hardly in the film version of GoF (by far the worst HP film I believe).

WOOP! WOOP! SPOILER ALERT!!!
Mike Newell may as well have gone and put Cedric in a red shirt, for all the screen time he got. I know he dies in the book, but the film took the assumption that everyone had read the book.

(ends)

So, one of things I try my hardest to do is create characters that readers will have some feeling about. If you don't care about the main characters, you will care even less about the supporting cast. Going back to Star Trek, and specifically, to Deep Space Nine, one of the strengths of that show was an amazing array of supporting characters, who would turn up every other episode.

Hate the show if you must...but what can't be denied is that it had great characterisation, and (save for two characters which I genuinely hated!) these characters gave a sometimes lightweight script, increased gravitas.

So unless your Expendable is 'Thug Number Two,' remember that all your characters must be relevant.

Happy reading and writing!

Happy New Year to you all :)

Over 2013, it's been very interesting developing this blog and interacting with some of you!

So, I'm just dropping you a quick note to wish you a very happy and healthy New Year. I often say we are nothing without great health...money, other people, jobs, mean a lot less when you are unwell.

So do your best to have a fit and healthy new year, as well and a happy and prosperous one!

Thank you to all of you who have interacted with me...either through comments, messages, friend adds, blog comments, ratings, reviews and so on.

I hope you continue to enjoy reading many different new books in 2014, maybe revisit some old ones, and just enjoy the rather unequalled pleasure of enjoying the world writers create.

Happy New Year !!

What's happening?! My Writing Progress and Release Schedule

I thought I would give you an update on where I am currently with my writing. With Christmas coming I have been less busy with my work, but that doesn't mean I have been less busy! There's been Christmas visits to friends and family that will continue over the holiday period.

Writing can be more difficult than ever to schedule in over the Christmas period. But I'll admit I am hacking away at my writing, and it is going well.

So, what's happening?

December 2013: The Essence of Martial Arts: Special Edition (Non-Fiction)

The original EOMA did okay....4,683 copies sold to date. Not bad for a niche book! But I knew I could write one a LOT better. So the Special Edition is not so much a re-hash but an entirely new version that I think will satisfy martial arts fans. A few interesting reviews on Barnes and Noble, no less :)

January 2014: Dark Winter #1 (Fiction)

Well, I am prepping Dark Winter for a printed release in January. I am still checking the proof at the moment which looks great but still needs a tidy here and there.

It's already had some reviews on Amazon UK and .com as well as a few ratings on GoodReads so I am happy with the differing ratings and reviews so far. I can't stress enough how much authors value reviews, so please leave me one if you get around to reading the book. I know many of you are Kindle or other e-reader users, but some like a print version too, so make your choice...personally I would go for the print edition :)

April 2014: *t**m**** (Fiction)

I know! "*t**m****" is such a catchy title, but before you start blogging it everywhere, tweeting it and wearing the tee shirt, I must tell you what I know all you very intelligent people know already  - that it is not the full title or some attempt by me to be *funny / clever / intellectual. 

In fact, there are only two people on Earth who know the title right now, and what can I tell you about it....

well, not much, except to say that I am in the 'polishing' phase of the book and debating cover ideas with Claudia @ http://phatpuppyart.com/ who did the amazing cover art for Dark Winter and I can't wait to work with her again on this and future projects!

The book is much lighter in tone than Dark Winter, but no less thrilling (I hope) and yet is much more epic in scope. I originally penned four huge story arcs for this, so expect an announcement - title, cover, synopsis, and so on, soon. Going to be pretty magical though....that's all I'm saying.

October (Halloween) 2014: Dark Winter #2 (Fiction)

It won't be a sequel, it's a definite follow-up, continuation, whatever you would like to call it. I have a three story arc for this,  so if you liked Book One, you may love Book Two. I have been working very hard to get the words in my head onto screen. But it takes time, even typing at my sluggish pace (oh, right - THAT'S why...!)

So that's me, for now. What are your projects, and how are you progressing with them?

Remember that they will only happen if you give it your all. Not your friends, not your family - YOU. I'm wishing for you that you will get your work out there. People need new stories, new things to enjoy. As writers, we have the potential to fill that need. So let's go and do it :)

Happy reading, writing, enjoying life :)

 

The Writer's Dilemma: Points of View, Head Hopping, First or Third Person?

Having written two distinct works to date, I wrote for the non-fiction sector and also the fiction sector.

The former was, for most part, written in third person. The latter worked better as first person.

The decision to go with first or third person is one of the most important things you can decide as a writer. You would think this would be obvious, and perhaps it is, especially for those of you who had a creative writing course or something similar to guide you.

I did not, and I will be considering doing one in the future, although my work-home life balance may prohibit me doing that!

So how to come to this decision?

In my novel, though it had just a handful of characters, it focussed the reader's attention on the main protagonist, because I wrote her sections of the story in first person. Because of the themes of the book (paranormal fantasy, horror, ghost story) I thought it would be more claustrophobic for the reader if you were literally behind the character (or indeed, as one review on Amazon put it "You feel like you're inside her head!") and so, feel what she is going through as she was going through it. Hopefully, I conveyed the sense of dread she was feeling, and the weight of the responsibility she was under.

I have failings as a writer but as I always say, and I will continue to do so, this is a hobby for me. A project. I'm learning as I go. It is a constant, gnawing, will-sapping process. But I promise you, it is worth it.

I was very clear from the start of two things. Anything featuring the main character would be in first person.

Anything else, would be in third person.

However, there was a third option I explored, and executed.

If a chapter focussed exclusively on one character, I would sometimes use the first person perspective. This isn't as conflicting as it sounds (honestly!).

I just wanted people to be as close to the action, suspense, drama....et cetera as possible. So it wasn't a case of rooting for your hero or heroine.

I just wanted to put the reader, right the story. Only over time, when the book has been out awhile (and indeed, the print version too) will I know if I have been successful.

One reviewer wrote to me about the head hopping. Of course, I created the characters, and I created the world in which they function. So I know them well. The reader is just getting to know them. So head hopping can be problematic. I do feel, however, for this story at least, that it was the right things to do.

If you were to ask me So what if you wrote it in third person? What would it have been like? 

I think it would have been less engaging for the reader. So as the author, you make the decisions. Your book will live or die by those decisions. I made the decisions I made and I stand by them.

A print version of the book should be out by January 2014. It's possible that the written printed word will have a bigger impact. On Kindle, and its various cousins, it's easy to skip swathes of text. You may miss the dramatic elements I wished to convey. The pre-Kindle authors didn't have this issue, and it took me a while to convert to this new reading platform. I am a convert, but I still prefer and will buy a printed book that I enjoy.

My advice, would be to get personal advice on your work via editorial critique. You can read on the internet people's way of doing things, and in many cases, it will be all common-sense, very practical stuff. The problem is, it is not personal and necessarily applicable to you, or to what you are trying to achieve.

So consider how your work will best suit either format, and then go all out to make it as great as you can.

I can't say for certain that future works of fiction I write would be first person, but it seems that the writing flow worked best in that format for me. You simply have to find the right way that works for you.

I'm wishing you all the best in this venture.

Book Review #10: Cascade (Rivers of Time, 2) by Lisa Tawn Bergren

There was a danger of Cascade being a bit of a let down after the superlative first book in the Rivers of Time series. Waterfall was my fave fantasy book of the year. Like many books, they get recommended to you, unless it's a really popular series like Twilight or the Mortal Instruments series, you may not have heard of it.

I think this is a shame because Cascade (and if the others in the series follow suit) deserves much more recognition than it gets. It may seem to some that this is written by a Cassandra Clare-lite, but Lisa Bergren has her own writing style. It was engaging from page one of Waterfall, and Cascade literally picks up from where the first book ended.

I think fantasy is a difficult genre to pull off, but this is no ordinary fantasy, but a time travelling one. For me, that's much harder to make work. 

Within the first few pages of Waterfall, our heroine Gabi was in ancient Italy. Here in Cascade, we are mainly back in present time. I'm not so fussed about Gabi and her beau, Marcello, but I do like the interplay between Gabi and Lia (Gabi's younger sister) although I think their interactions were slightly better in Waterfall.

There's some real shocks in Cascade that, for young-adult, is pretty strong stuff. To reveal it here would be to reveal too much, but I was like 'oh my God' at some of the scenes.

The energy and pacy style I would say are as good as anything Cassandra Clare has written. I only mention her because these are similar stories in size and scope, but maybe CC is better with the humour. 

Cascade is a rare thing - a brilliant 'second' book and I think will, in time, be recognised for the simply smashing adventure story that it is. I may have to re-read it, along with Waterfall, but it left me gasping for more. Bring on Torrent !!

Be Disciplined in Writing, and You'll be Disciplined in (almost) Everything

What is the single most difficult thing I faced as a writer?

Without doubt, it was the start. So, what to do? In my case, I made extensive notes for Dark Winter, writing out, in some detail, a plot, character list, a 'world that they existed in', and  how they interacted with others in the story. What were / are their motivations? What effect was I going for? Drama, a love interest, a murder....all three?

It's a wonder any books get written at all when we consider what's involved.

Admittedly, you learn as you write, and you learn more once you've completed what you've written.

However, the notes planning was very important. So I had one file called 'Notes', the other called 'Draft One'.

I had the basics of the story in my head. But I will also say that this wasn't my first go at a full length work of fiction.

I credit that story with helping me write this one better.

I not suggesting you attempt to write two stories to achieve one good one. But it is true that the more we use our muscles, the stronger they become. In this case, our writing muscles have to be developed, and this is not as easy as it sounds.

So, how to get the discipline then? One thing I avoided was loads of websites saying 'how to do it'. Before you say 'well there's a conflict with this post then!' I am just writing this to show you what I did, and currently do. Hopefully, it will work for you. At least, I hope some elements will.

As martial arts is a big part of my life, let me explain how the discipline there, helped me, here.

I could be teaching at any time of day, literally. So writing at say, 7am through to 8am sounds great. But writing is not my main income...teaching is. So if I have a lesson then, the work goes into that. The writing project is shelved.

You want to write when you have finished in the evening, so you decide on 10pm through to say, 12 mid-night. But your other half wants you to sleep earlier, so you do that instead.

What I am saying is, writing is important, but things will always come up that you must simply give attention to. We cannot be like Jack Torrance in The Shining, who hates his wife interrupting his writing (not that he did much :).

Of course, we would like to be left alone to write our novel. Yes, the one we'll be remembered for.

Or, if I can share with you my view....the one you will be happy with.

This is not a small world, I-can't-achieve-big-things-vision.  It's more about being happy writing, whether it is non-fiction or fiction.

If you don't enjoy writing, it will become a chore, you will labour to the end, that's if you get there at all, and most likely, you will detest what you've written.

The first step, is just a small one.

Set yourself not a daily goal, or even a weekly one. Just commit to start.

Once you start, you will get it going. Yes, the road will be bumpy, even if you have done extensive notes. Even then, be guarded against those notes constraining your story. As you write, it will naturally develop.

Don't kill off a character in chapter six just because your old notes says so. Do it if it is right. Think about about it, and resolve to make the first draft workable. That is all. Because the net stage, re-drafting, is a longer, more tricky thing to do well.

I find that once I am passed 5,000 words, there is no stopping me. Soon, you will be on 10,000, and depending on the length (novella, series, epic!) you will soon have that first draft completed.

If you have to set a goal, look at it now...we are in 2013, so let's say you will have your draft done - draft One - completed, within six months. Does that sound reasonable? Let's say you don't complete it, but you have say, 80% done...isn't that better than nothing?

I can write from 500 words to around 4,500 words in a day. It doesn't mean I won't delete some, or re-edit large swathes of text as I'm going along, but it's all about getting your writing muscles stronger.

In martial arts, I have that discipline...I've just transferred it to other areas off my life.

You can do it too. Ask yourself what it is that you are most disciplined at, and how you can use that energy and focus to write.

And I will be then happy to see your book out there!

Happy writing!

Currently Reading: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

I know, I know!  It seems like I've been mired in romance novels for a while, but historical romances really are something else, and worth a dime (or more) of anyone's time.

This book was hotly recommended to me by two authors I follow, and it's great to read novels in a historical context, because it's something I wish to learn and be good at.

From the GR profile...it seems an excellent read and just the kind of thing I would like:-

"When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother is easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton."

Wouldn't we love to have that problem? Anyway, my main problem is, it is nearly 1am in the morning and I am still reading this!

Book Review: The Infernal Devices ~ Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Book One. Great. Book Two. Just as good? Book Three wouldn't let me down, right?

Tessa. She seemed stronger in the earlier books. Is it a Book Three thing (read Hunger Games for this!) that it seems we have to make the main character weaker for some reason....shouldn't that be in Book One, and by Book Three she has grown from her experiences?

I admit this was a fast read and pacy novel. 500 pages flew by with ease....until the last few. Let me explain why. 

Tessa. Again. Tessa. My oh my. I got more frustrated with her as the book wore on....and I think some heroines have to show why they do (or don't do) the things they do.

I regret to say that having read the first two in this series, I was a bit disappointed by this book. 

I expected MUCH more from this book, not just from the love triangle but in general. I didn't get what I wanted. I think this book could have been a lot shorter if some of the things were cut off but that's not what I want. I wanted more....and after nearly 600 pages, I was wondering why the series ended the way it did.

Will, was a cool character and I liked his interactions with Jem and Tessa but some of the ending of the story arcs seemed a bit rushed...especially with Will. All seemed a bit forced to me.

Jem hung this together for me. A great character from the start and like an annoying younger brother type. I rated him a lot.

I know this is a lead in into the Mortal Instruments, so maybe that's where the book's story arcs will pick up. I found the win win love triangle resolution a bit 'off' for me. 

Even in fantasy, there has to be some logic, and I struggled with the whole three of them thing. 

Still. Maybe that's my closed eye view of things.

I'm...kind of numb after finishing the book. I haven't read all the MI stories but were less likely to like them, having really liked Clockwork Angel and a Clockwork Prince.

Clockwork Princess is the weakest of the three, but if you take the story as a whole, it's a super super fantasy. The story telling was so good, I can kind of forgive Cassandra Clare for where it was lacking.

Cracking trilogy, all things told. Recommended.

Book Review #8: A Year in Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

This was my review of Catching Fire from a year ago. I'm about to read it once again, just ahead of the UK movie release. I think it was a brave decision to follow up the amazing Book One, but from what I recall, Suzanne Collins did it, and then some.

I just hope I will still agree with what I wrote a year ago.

2012 review:-
After the truly superlative 'Hunger Games', I hoped 'Catching Fire' could be at least half as good, then I would be happy. It starts off and sets quite a pace, in line with the first book. Katniss is still super cool without being too into herself, and I really love how she is written. 

The book itself does feel like a 'middle story' though, and when it ended, I was 'hmm - so where do we go now?' - obviously, onto 'Mockingjay' the third in the series, but Catching Fire, and the other two books, will have to be seen as a whole, so until I read Mockingjay, I can't be for certain where this all fits.

Where Catching Fire excels over so many other books is how gripping it is written, and just keeps you turning the pages. It lacks the pow pow pow of the first book, so why the five stars? It deserves five - it is gripping, great character development, and shocks aplenty, but not just for the sake of shock value. 

I am reading Mockingjay right now, and I hope for an amazing end to this trilogy. Suzanne Collins certainly created a great story for teens to adults. It's gory, but great!

Editorial Critique and How It Helped Me Write A Better Story

On my blog I tend to talk about other books, and apart from some self promo which I hope you can live with. But I 'd like in this post, to share with you some thoughts about the last six months, in which I sought and received professional feedback on my book. If you are a writer, I cannot stress how important it is to get good critique.

Many things have happened. Many things have not happened, or will happen. So  let's break it down.

What is for certain though, is that once I hit the 'publish' button, I was like 'is that it?' Will no-one buy it / read it / download it (even on a free)?

What right would I expect to make a splash with this story?

What happened.

26th September 2012. I started writing Dark Winter, which was actually my second go at a full length story. I already had the characters and story arcs pretty much mapped out in my head, and I was enjoying writing it that much that it didn't seem to be a chore, and I never had writer's block, at least, not for this story.

I also had a lot more time to myself so although I knew I was a novice at writing, by doing so I would improve my skills, surely? I also continued to read, widely, but also at books aimed at YA / NA, which is where I felt this story would sit most happily. In truth, it is probably for young adults of 13+. Maybe a bit gory for the very young. Of course, us fully grown adults should be able to read it too!

By April 2013, at the end of the UK's very own long dark winter, I had completed the first draft. I resolved to work obsessively on it, but knew I could not do this own my own. I would need help, much like the main protagonist in the book.

I had previously purchased The Writer's & Artists book which has a lot of helpful things in it. I also knew that I would have to get editorial help, and researched some costs, before electing to go to the Writers Workshop, who were certainly brutal in their critique. But that is a good thing, friends, because as writers sometimes we may get too protective of our 'work' and we just have to get over ourselves.

I certainly could not call myself a writer, or an author. If people see me like that, well, great! That's just fine.

A bit like in my main profession...I do not expect to be called Sifu, or Sensei...I'm a martial arts teacher, and I just want to impart my knowledge to those I am lucky enough to teach. It is a privilege to teach, and it is a joy to know that someone, somewhere, is interested in my little book.

After editorial's critique, I felt a bit deflated. I couldn't see the light in the things they were saying, but some friends said to me...'they want more of this...less of this...give it to them and you will have a great story!'

So I didn't respond to editorial straight away. I let things lie, tried to consider what I could take from it, but also, the things I would absolutely not compromise on.

Check that again....does it seem arrogant to say that I wouldn't compromise on something? Didn't I say earlier in the post that we had to 'get over ourselves'? Well, allow me to explain!

I had previously indie published a book on martial arts, and whilst I 'border-line' enjoyed the experience, I have to say that I let editorial (a different house) batter me into submission. The reason was because I had no experience of the writing / publishing industry, and I felt I should defer to their better judgement.

Editorial evaluation is just that, though. You don't have to edit it if you don't want to. As the creator of the work, you should have the right to do that.

As time passed, I began re-drafting again, and the editorial was starting to look less harsh. I could see what they were saying. I accepted in large part what they said, and several re-drafts later, I believed I had a story that maybe people would enjoy.

Still, I stuck to my guns on certain aspects, and again, I think my cold evaluation of that made for a better story.

Imagine you are in a relationship where the other person tells you to change this part of yourself, or this and that, and you feel a whole range of emotions.

Do you concede ground entirely, or do you put down a marker and refuse to budge? Or maybe you choose a third option and move a little their way, and improve your own position by doing so. I think it is this 'middle ground' that we should strive for.

For future stories, I don't think I'm 'quite there' in terms of being sharp enough to critique my own work. So I will still need editorial advice.

However, in Dark Winter's case, there is a beginning, a middle, an end. There's a lot of scope in the initial story, and I would not dare stretch it out without there being a reason (I dislike 'filler' chapters myself!).

A month on and the story has two reviews on Amazon, and two on Goodreads. That's very heartening to me and whilst I accept some will not like what I have written, that is life!

What is happening.

I've made extensive notes for book two, and I'm reworking the earlier draft of (name decided but to be revealed later!) the fantasy adventure yarn that is really big in scope and scale. I will have to work like demon to get a 2014 release, but as it is not 'timely' (i.e. Dark Winter is best timed for Halloween, but 'can be read at any time', as one review said) I think that is okay.

I haven't mentioned the cover art but it's likely to be with Claudia again if she can cope with me!

My thanks to those of you who featured the book on your blogs, some of which I include here:-

http://www.bookish-brunette.com/cover-reveal-dark-winter-john-hennessy/

http://melissaseclecticbookshelf.com/cover-reveal-dark-winter-by-john-hennessy/

http://jbthebookadict.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/cover-reveal-dark-winter-by-john.html

http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/cover-reveal-dark-winter-by-john.html

http://momwithakindle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/cover-reveal-dark-winter-by-john.html

http://darkestaddictions.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/DarkWinterBlitz.html

...and many more of you.

What might happen.

Some of you already let me know your thoughts on the story, and the martial arts book has been out for two years now, and despite being very niche, has garnered four reviews on Amazon.

I haven't mentioned the cover art for book two or for the fantasy novel, but it's likely to be with Claudia again if she can cope with me!

What will happen.

November 2013:-

The revised 'Essence of Martial Arts' book will be out.

As for 2014:-

• Look out for a print release of Dark Winter, some time in January 
• Dark Winter, Book Two will be done in time for Halloween 2014 - it has to...otherwise Dana will get me
• The fantasy novel will be done in time for April, I hope. So bear with me for news sprinkling through the blog-o-sphere on that one!

I hope you'll go along the journey with me. I need your support and you can be sure you'll get mine.

If you've read, will read, are 'to-read' my book (s), thank you so much and I hope you get something from it, and let me know what you think. Amazon, Goodreads, email, blog...I don't mind...just let me know, I'll appreciate all feedback!

Lots of love to all the readers and writers out there, see you again soon.

Currently Reading: Screamscapes by Evans Light

How fantastic is it when you come across really gripping horror yarns? In the first two stories, which I have completed, Crawlspace and What Ever Possessed You? are picture perfect horror tales, and I seriously loved them both.

Evans Light is clearly an excellent writer and understands his genre well. What I particularly like from these first two stories is how the gore is kept to a relative minimum, but the creep factor is high throughout.

I suppose comparisons to Stephen King are obvious, in that perhaps all horror writers wish to emulate him. But I suspect readers of Evans Lights will find he has his own distinct voice - and it will be heard!

The first two stories are great, and I hope the remainder are too. I'm very impressed!

Book Review #7: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Some of my friends had read The Hunger Games trilogy by the time I had caught on in early 2012. Not wanting to give into fandom, I hesitated to buy the book. But when I finally did, it blew me away.

This was the book that got back back into reviewing books and generally being more active in cyberspace. There's a lot been made of comparisons with the Japanese version of this tale called Battle Royale, but honestly, I'm happy to accept the world which Suzanne Collins has created.

This first book was utterly engrossing, super compelling, to the point that all I wanted to do was stop the world, get off, and read this book to its conclusion. I haven't read such a gripping novel in years. The second and third books in the story are all worthy of praise, and I will review them here in due course.

First off, I must say that this book is not for young children. It's quite graphic in parts, without being gross. The Hunger Games is simply one of the best books I have ever read, and I have read many books over the course of my 40 years. It's not a twee romance, although there is a love story, it's well written, and doesn't detract from the story.

That's why we read - to find good stories, and I was engrossed from the first page to the last. The last book to affect me that was was Stephen King's Desperation, and yet, while that was one of King's best, this is even better.

I'm happy to say I missed the film in the cinema, because reading the book was such a joy, I'm now looking forward to the film on DVD. Suzanne Collins has wrote believable characters in a world we can understand. I would describe the story as a mix between Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four, King's (writing as Bachman) The Running Man, and TV's the Crystal Maze.

Much has been said about the rather grisly theme of children killing children - true, although the story is so good, you almost forget about it.

The twists and turns are magnificently paced and introduced, creating a non stop tension throughout the book. My heart beat quickened at some scenes, such was the quality of the writing here.

Bravo to Suzanne Collins. This slots into my top ten books ever.

Last of the Halloween plugs

You don't want her to get you, do you?

Amazon UK

Amazon.Com

Free Kindle copy of Dark Winter !!

Free Kindle copy of Dark Winter !!

24 hours only though

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Winter-J...

All I ask if you get a copy is PLEASE let me know what you thought of it on GR and Amazon! Thank you!

Halloween is not the only time you might see her....

“There’s always a plan. A design. Nothing ever just happens, and you can’t escape your fate. Two will die. Don’t forget that.”

Dana Cullen (Dark Winter)

Buy the book:-

Amazon UK

Amazon.Com