Road Rash - Bonnie Benard

Wayne Wright is dead, head removed from his shoulders, what a way to go. We meet Wayne as he travels through the light to the next plain, which of course will not run smooth.

As a short story I really didn’t know what to expect from this book. It questions different belief’s, incorporates some and laughs at others, all in a very easy going manner. We see everything fresh from his eyes, everything confusing, unanswered.

I like the concept of this story, how the transition to the hereafter is strange and complicated. I have to say that I found it hard to read. After the characters favourite line of ‘are you s**ting me’ was mentioned for the tenth time in as many lines, I wanted to put it away. It’s purely a personal gripe for me, I don’t mind swearing, but if it doesn’t feel natural I find it hard to get into the story.

The idea of separating mind, body and soul was an interesting one and the tests they had to complete. All I can say is I hope they don’t test me like that; I can see the lightning bolt already. When you read short stories you only get a snap shot of the characters, so it is hard to develop them. There is a good effort made here to change Wayne as he goes through his trial. The pace is good, moving us along nicely. The writing didn’t quite flow but again that may have something to do with trying to complete the story in so few words.

It’s always interesting to read a new take on the afterlife and this is new and usual.

A New Year Already??

I hope everyone had a fun, safe Christmas and New Year. It was a little strange for me this year. The boys are growing up fast and the idea of all of us being in the same room for more than 30 minutes seems to send terror into their very core. Bizarre I know, who wouldn't want to listen to me wittering on about books and films?

With the New Year comes resolutions. I'm not really one for resolutions, I think it's just in me to fight against rules, even if I set them myself. You need to set goals in life, that's for sure, but I always break resolutions within days. I have told myself to get organised, needing to find time to write, to market my books, to complete my day job and look after the family. The house can look after itself ... can't it?

So no resolutions, but I need to widen my audience. There are a few kind souls who have read and enjoyed my books, though I am not hitting my target, not getting out into the world. What I should say is that it is out there but nobody knows it exists.

I sat in on a great workshop by Sara Sheridan who mentioned she met with her agent about every 6 weeks to compare marketing opportunities and what they had achieved. If the author only had one or two rejections it was decided that she hadn't been doing her job. Obviously I may not be the best person to give advice on this as I can't keep on top of this but I can tell you what I have learnt through my journey.

You may already have your on-line presence, the author facebook page, twitter, goodreads and blog, just to name a few. A street team may be sending out information for you just as you read this post, but it seems to be about finding that fine line between promoting and pestering.

Don't just go out and scream at the top of your lungs, buy, buy, buy. Get involved in the community, not only the writing one, though most authors are only too happy to help. I am talking about reading groups, general forums on other people's work.

What took me some time to get to, was the real world presence. I have since gone into a few schools, after all my series is young adult, talked about books in general and recently given workshops of my own, in a hope of finding the children out there who will enjoy reading my books and to be honest any book. If they're reading, I am happy.

The Citizens - L.M Smith

Jasmine Marshall is a loner, she had no family, lives on her ranch and the only interaction she has with the outside world is her on line one, where she can be something she’s not. She likes it that way. Things are about to change. One night she is attacked in her home only to wake up in a strange hotel. The place is deserted except for four other people, all in the same boat as her.

Why have they been taken, what could be achieved in keeping them in constant fear?

Reading the first few chapters I wasn’t sure about this book. I had seen the story too many times. Back to The Prisoner and more recently a T.V series where a woman wakes in a hotel, in a small town with a group of others with no reason as to why they are there. It follows a very similar line to the T.V series, that is until I got 60% through. Now that was a twist I never expected and I loved where it led. Together with the consequences that would reverberate around the world.

The writing is good, the plot moving it along nicely. It would have been nice to get a more rounded picture of the kidnapped group but I suppose that was the point. The idea of not really trusting all of them, to keep you on your toes. This was a nice easy read, nothing too taxing and something you can enjoy over a day or two. It will be interesting to see where they go next after the final revelation and I will be reading the next instalment.

Wicked Souls - Sabrina Samples

Spencer Bishop is a woman with a wonderful husband, a great life and everything is going right. That is until the day she sees a figure in white in her windscreen and swerves to miss it. Life changes as she finds her whole life is a complete lie.

Dealing with the loss of her husband in the car crash where she saw the figure, the action quickly speeds up. There is a new someone in her life, someone who appears to her like a ghost only she soon realises that he is an angel and she knows him from her past. A past that she cannot remember, memories that have been hidden from her.

The writing moves us quickly from one scene to another, one minute Spencer is grieving for her husband, the next she becomes involved with the angel Aiden. She is soon caught up in a fight against good and evil, being the one that could change Heaven and Hell forever. I feel it could have been a little longer, with the scenes giving us a little more insight into how she feels with everything that is happening to her, maybe a little more description about the people and surroundings. I like the use of angels, fallen angels and demons and the love between humans and otherworldly creatures. The plot is strong; the editing great and for a debut novel it is a good start to a series. It will be interesting to see which way Spencer will lean in the battle ahead.

 

Catching Fire

 

 

Release Date: 21st November

 

Top billing: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth                         



 



After their joint victory in the 74th hunger games, Katniss and Peeta become targets of the Capitol. President Snows knows the people have seen the display at the end of the games as defiance against him and revolution is around the corner. Therefore something needs to be done and it all points to the annihilation of the victors.

What can I say, after watching Hunger Games I was really hopeful about this film and it didn't disappoint. I was at the pictures at the earliest time on the Friday morning, sat waiting in anticipation. The cinematography is breath taking and the characters of the other victors well acted, again Jennifer Lawrence is great in the main role. It builds the tension really well, there might be the odd thing missing however all the important elements are captured and as in the book you see how Katniss is simply a pawn used by both sides.

I loved this enough to watch again and again.

St.Damians - Budding authors??

I recently visited the very impressive looking high school, St. Damians. What a friendly reception to something I was extremely nervous about, my first 'structured' workshop at a high school. I have been in to a few schools but usually on a casual basis, really just saying hello and talking about books, how hard can that be? Once you get me on the subject of books or films I am in my element.

I had a small group of great children, who happily listened to me talking about characterisation, plot and structure. They even completed the little tasks I set them about building characters and at the end of the session I am sure there was the odd story running around a few heads. There were laughs over the cut out heads I provided for them and they kindly took to it with a great deal of enthusiasm.


From my point of view I love to see children immerse themselves in stories and it doesn't have to be books. If they take something out of a film or a comic, even a lesson and I hope they do ... of course, it means that they open their horizons to so much more. What I can't understand is the reluctance to do so. They might want everything instantly and with the advent of e-books they can do just that but that still seems to be in the minority.

I can't express enough what reading can do for you. Reading a lot means your school work improves across every lesson, you feel more confident about speaking up, giving your opinion, well I hope you do. The fact that you could all read the same book and everyone takes something different from it, always amazes me.

Broken Prince - Jen Wylie

This is the second in the great series The Broken Ones. Arowyn and her ‘family’ continue on their journey to the elven homeland to save the elven prince, before he dies. On their way they will feel love, hate, pain and sorrow which will test their friendship and bring them ever closer. As they travel, thoughts are never far away from the prophecy but they are just words, and things can change.

What I liked immediately about this book is that we jump straight into the action. We follow them on their travels with their only thoughts of getting to the elven homeland before Prince fades away. It does not jump into weeks or months but follows them day to day moving slowly on, which I thought worked really well. These characters are all well developed, each one has something to add to the story. Whether it is the other human Bo, or the fey Kei, whose relationship with Aro is so closely bonded you can start to believe the prophecy, or Prince whose feelings are so hidden no one knows what he thinks. We also have a new addition to the family in the form of a Were.

The action never stops, they are once again faced with Damon together with new enemies that leave them in life threatening situations. How can you not feel for Aro as she sees her ‘boys’ in pain? The action scenes are really well written and I have to say graphic but that works for me. I read this in two sittings with the dust bunnies gathering in the corner and didn’t give them a second thought. I can’t wait to read the third.