Today I bring you something that defies easy definitions. Ah, a word of warning. The book will be published (if there are no delays) on the 1st of December, so it might not be available for immediate download if you read this post on the day of its publication, but you could reserve it and won’t have to wait too long for it.
The Shivering Ground and Other Stories by Sara Barkat
The Shivering Ground and Other Stories by Sara Barkat
The Shivering Ground blends future and past, earth and otherworldliness, in a magnetic collection that shimmers with art, philosophy, dance, film, and music at its heart.
A haunting medieval song in the mouth of a guard, an 1800s greatcoat on the shoulders of a playwright experiencing a quantum love affair, alien worlds both elsewhere and in the ruined water at our feet: these stories startle us with the richness and emptiness of what we absolutely know and simultaneously cannot pin into place.
In the tender emotions, hidden ecological or relational choices, and the sheer weight of a compelling voice, readers “hear” each story, endlessly together and apart.
~
“The word ‘original,’ as a compliment, is both overused and quite often misused. But sometimes it’s the only word that will do. Sara Barkat is an original. Her imagination is imperious; she wields words as she pleases, in ways that delight and unsettle. In this, she reminds me of Emily Dickinson. Reading her, I expect you will agree. Don’t miss the opportunity.”
—John Wilson, editor of Books & Culture (1995-2016)
Author Sara Barkat
About the author:
Sara Barkat is an intaglio artist and writer with an educational background in philosophy and psychology, whose work has appeared in Every Day Poems, Tweetspeak Poetry, and Poetic Earth Month—as well as in the book How to Write a Poem: Based on the Billy Collins Poem “Introduction to Poetry.” Sara has served as an editor on a number of titles including the popular The Teacher Diaries: Romeo & Juliet, and is the illustrator of The Yellow Wall-Paper Graphic Novel, an adaptation of the classic story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
I write this as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team (author, check here if you are interested in getting your book reviewed) and thank her and the author for this opportunity to read and review an early ARC copy of this special collection…
I enjoy short stories, but I rarely read anthologies or collections of them, other than those of authors I already know and whose writing I love. However, although I had never read this author’s work before, there was something compelling and utterly different about this book, and the cover and the title added to the appeal.
Although I’m not sure what I was expecting to read, the stories were surprising and extremely varied. Some seemed to be set in the present (or an alternative version of the present), some in the past (or a possible past), some in a dystopian future, some in parallel universes, and the characters varied from very young children to adults, and from human beings to a variety of “Others”. Some of the stories are very brief, some are long enough to be novellas (or almost), and they are written from all possible points of view: first person, third person (in some cases identified as “they”), and even second person. I usually would try to give an overview of themes and subjects making an appearance in the stories, but that is notably difficult here. The description accompanying the book gives a good indication of what to expect, and if I had to highlight some commonalities between the stories, I would mention, perhaps, the desire and need to connect and communicate with others, in whatever form possible, and to create and express one’s feelings and thoughts, through any medium (music, painting, writing, sewing…),
These short stories are not what many readers have come to expect from the form: a fully developed narrative, with a beginning, a middle, and an end, although usually providing fewer details and not so much character development as we would find in a novel, and often with a surprising twist at the end that can make us reconsider all we have read up to that point. Barkat’s stories are not like that. They rarely have a conventional ending (even when they do, it is open to readers’ interpretations), sometimes there are descriptive passages that we aren’t used to seeing in short narratives, and the plot isn’t always the most important part of the story (if at all). The way the story is told, the style and beauty of the writing, and the impressions and feelings they cause on the reader make them akin to artworks. If reading is always a subjective and personal experience, this is, even more, the case here, and no description can do full justice to this creation.
Despite that, I decided to try to share a few thoughts on each one of the stories, in case it might encourage or help other readers make their own minds up. I’d usually add here that I’ve tried to avoid spoilers, but these are not that kind of stories either.
1. The Door at the End of the Path. A wonderful story full of vivid descriptions of a young girl’s imagination, her internal life, and a reflection of the heavy toll the difficult relationship of the parents can have on their children.
2. Conditions. A glimpse into the relationship between a brother and a sister, where the best intentions can have the worst results, set in a world that is half-dystopia, half an alternative present, with more than a slight touch of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
3. The Eternal In-Between. A dystopia set during a pandemic, with plenty of steampunk-like fancies, and an ode to the power of imagination.
4. The Mannequin. A dystopian world epitomized by the willingness of its subjects to undergo quite an extreme and symbolic procedure to keep the status quo in place.
5. Brianna. A very special retelling of a fairy-tale story that digs dip into the psychological aspects and the effects such events would have over real people, especially if it was a fate repeated generation after generation. One of my favourites.
6. Noticing. A story with a strong ecological theme, a generous dose of fantasy, some beautiful illustrations and eerie pictures, an endorsement of the power of stories, and a strong warning we should heed. Both terrifying and breathtakingly beautiful. Another favourite.
7. Entanglement. A short but compelling story/metaphor of a love affair, and/or the possibility of one.
8. The Day Before Tomorrow. Although set in a very strange and dystopic society, it is a Young Adult story of sorts, and the relationship between the two main characters feels totally natural and everyday, despite the extremely unusual surroundings. Perhaps our stories never change, no matter what might be happening around us. A hopeful story I really enjoyed.
9. It’s Already Too Late. Very brief, very compelling vignette with a very strong ecological message. A call to forget about our excuses and the reasons to carry on doing nothing.
10. The Shivering Ground. A sci-fiction/fantasy/dystopian story that might seem utterly sad and pessimistic, but it is also moving and (I think) hopeful.
11. A Universe Akilter. A wonderful story that kept wrong-footing me, as if the ground the story was set on kept shifting. A Universe Akilter indeed! It starts as the story of the breakup of a romance, seemingly because the man has been caught up cheating, set some time in the past (many of the details and the way the characters behave sound Victorian, but there are small incongruous details that pop up every so often and others that seem to shift), but as the story progresses, it becomes the story of a (possible?) love affair in parallel universes (the universe of our dreams, perhaps), that influences and changes the life of the protagonist, making him discover things about himself and his creativity he would never have considered otherwise. This is the longest story in the book and one that might especially appeal to readers of dual-time or time-travel stories (although it is not that at all).
As usual, I recommend those thinking about reading this collection check a sample of it. The stories are quite different from each other, but it should suffice to provide future readers with a good feel for the writing style.
I could not help but share a few paragraphs from the book, although as I have read an ARC copy, there might be some small changes to the final version.
All the wreckage, all the ruin, and the ground was brilliant red. Every morning, he would wake to more of the world ending, and the earth laid out a scarlet cloak as though waiting for an emperor to arrive.
He wishes, desperately, that he could remember the sound of her voice hen she still knew innocence; that he had thought to fold it in his pocket with the mementos of another life.
Perhaps being a mis-turned wheel in a spinning globe is only as it should be after all, when in the spring, the scent of mint and apple blossoms fills the acres behind you.
But, surely, I wondered, interpretability only goes so far. To go further would be to strike out onto one’s own adventure, breaking the mass of the art’s finished illusion.
I wouldn’t say I “understood” all the stories, or I got the meaning the author intended (if she had a specific design for each one of her stories), but I don’t think that is what this collection is about. Like in an exhibition of artworks, the important thing is what each one of them makes us feel, what thoughts and reflections they set in motion, and how much of an impression they leave on us.
I don’t recommend this book to readers looking for traditionally told short stories, with a clear beginning and end, and a satisfying conclusion. On the other hand, readers seeking something outside the norm and happy to: explore new worlds, try new experiences, ponder about meanings and possibilities, and get lost in the beauty of the writing and the magic of the words, should read this collection. It’s too beautiful to miss.
Thanks to Rosie and the author for this book, thanks to all of you for reading, and remember, if you’ve enjoyed it, to like, share, click and comment. Stay safe, keep smiling, and dare to explore all the wonderful worlds books can take us to.
I bring you the review of a pretty special book. If you’re looking for something a little different and love black & white photos, this is your book.
Surrendered Stories by Kristin Fouquet
Surrendered Stories with photographs by Kristin Fouquet
These four surrendered stories are accompanied by twenty-four b&w photographs. In “Cocteau’s Ransom”, two dognappers believe they’ve found the solution to their financial troubles until unexpected complications arise. A lonely young woman with employment issues finds her escapism in vintage films at “The Vestige”. When the Roussels “Return to Camp Bon Temps”, their annual summer fishing camp, it’s not all good times as their daughter cannot forget the previous summer. In “Margaux’s understudy,” an inexperienced home healthcare worker uses the past in creative ways to engage her wards.
Kristin Fouquet writes and photographs from lovely New Orleans. She is the author of for other books of short literary fiction: Twenty Stories (Ranks Stranger Press, 2009), a collection of flash fiction and longer short stories, Rampart & Toulouse (Rank Stranger Press, 2011), a novella and short stories, The Olive Stain (Le Salon Press, 2013), a chapbook of flash fiction, short stories, a novelette, and Parisian Graveyard Postcards, and Surreptitiously Yours (Le Salon Press, 2016), a novella. Her photography has been widely published in both online journals and in print: magazines, chapbook and book covers, and CDs. She enjoys constructing photo essays. Her preferences are fine art photography, street photography, street portraits, and the occasional traditional portrait. You are invited to visit her humble virtual abode, Le Salon, at the web address http://kristin.fouquet.cc
My review:
I received a paperback review copy of this book from the publisher. That has not influenced my feedback.
I was intrigued by the description of this book, by the author’s previous work, and by the fact that this volume of four of her stories includes twenty-four of her own black and white photographs, which illustrate and create an aesthetic dialogue with the content and the feel of the stories. I was also intrigued by the title and my curiosity was answered as soon as I read the opening quote in this slim but handsome volume: A piece of writing is never finished. You just surrender. (Carter Monroe). I love this quote because, as I write as well, I am familiar with the feeling that a story is never quite as good as it could be, and it is never totally finished. In my opinion, though, these stories are perfect as they are.
The four stories are very different, but the images and the writing style turn this book into a unique experience.
I’ll share a few comments about each individual story, but I’ll try to avoid spoilers.
“Cocteau’s Ransom”, written in the third person, is a story of a couple who believe they’ve found a way to make some money by kidnapping a dog, but they have made a mistake (an understandable one, for sure, but still…) A fun and humorous story (although it might upset animal lovers).
“The Vestige” has a touch of nostalgia (in fact, at first I thought it was a historical piece but I soon realised I was wrong), plenty of atmosphere, lovely characters, and it is also a sweet and gentle love (?) story that will enchant fans of the cinema experience and enthusiasts of old movies.
In “Return to Camp Bon Temps” we meet Martine, a girl who’s deeply traumatised due to something that happened last summer. The story, which is also narrated in the third person (all three first stories are), takes place in the summer camp where the members of her extended family meet every year, and each person has its own role to play. Martin, her father, is a larger than life character who seems to always get his own way, but things are not as they seem to be, and I loved the father-daughter relationship and their moment of truth.
“Margaux’s understudy”, narrated in the first person by a young woman who lands a somewhat odd first-job, has touches of the fairy and/or gothic tale (it made me think of Bluebeard), of old movies and movie stars of the golden era (Sunset Boulevard, for example); it includes fragments of diaries and quotes from plays; it is very atmospheric (and the photographs are gorgeous), and is a fairly whimsical but also touching love story and the story of an obsession. Oh, and one of its characters is a fabulous parrot called Ayo.
As I wrote this review I realised that if I had to come up with a possible theme that links all the stories, it would have to be “appearances can be deceptive”. In these stories, both characters and readers misjudge people and situations, and the twists and surprises come when we learn the truth.
These stories, mostly set in New Orleans, are perfect for reading during short breaks; they create an immersive atmosphere without going into excessive detail, and are ideal for people looking for an engaging interlude between long and demanding reads. I look forward to following this author’s career, and I’ll be sure to visit her website and learn more about her work as a photographer. A great collection.
Thanks to the author for her stories and photographs, thanks to all of you for reading, and remember to like, share, comment, click, review and always keep smiling!
Today I’m taking part in a Blog Tour that Rosie Amber alerted me to. I got a copy of the book, so it’s a blog tour with review. And it has the advantage of including two fabulous giveaways and even a playlist. I loved it and I hope you do too. Ah, and the book launches today. So you won’t have to wait to get it either!
DANGEROUS TO KNOW: JANES AUSTEN’S RAKES & GENTLEMEN ROGUES Edited by Christina Boyd
“One has all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it.” —Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s masterpieces are littered with unsuitable gentlemen—Willoughby, Wickham, Churchill, Crawford, Tilney, Elliot, et al.—adding color and depth to her plots but often barely sketched. Have you never wondered about the pasts of her rakes, rattles, and gentlemen rogues? Surely, there’s more than one side to their stories.
It is a universal truth, we are captivated by smoldering looks, daring charms … a happy-go-lucky, cool confidence. All the while, our loyal confidants are shouting on deaf ears: “He is a cad—a brute—all wrong!” But is that not how tender hearts are broken…by loving the undeserving? How did they become the men Jane Austen created? In this romance anthology, eleven Austenesque authors expose the histories of Austen’s anti-heroes.
Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues is a titillating collection of Georgian era short stories—a backstory or parallel tale off-stage of canon—whilst remaining steadfast to the characters we recognize in Austen’s great works.
What say you? Everyone may be attractedto a bad boy…even temporarily…but heaven help us if we marry one.
Here is the blog tour, if you want to follow it, as it features some of the stories, more fabulous content and if you follow and comment, you can enter the second giveaway:
🎩Monday, December 17: FEATURE w/Christina Morland (Sir Walter Elliot), Of Pens & Pages, http://www.ofpensandpages.com
THE GIVEAWAYS
Giveaway 1
Grand Prize #1.
Enter Rafflecopter to win fifteen books from the anthology authors! One winner. Fifteen books! Contest ends midnight, December 30, 2017. One “Grand Prize #1 winner” will be announced January 2, 2018.
Follow our “Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s #RakesAndGentlemenRogues” Blog Tour and comment on each stop to be eligible for #RakesAndGentlemenRogues Pleasures prize pack: ‘Pride & Prejudice’ Print, autographed by Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle; Bingley’s Teas (Willoughby & The Colonel); Jane Austen playing cards; set of 6 Austen postcards; and ‘The Compleat Housewife’ notecards set. (All guest comments will be entered in drawing to win. Comment at each site to increase your odds.) Contest ends midnight, December 30, 2017. One “Grand Prize #2 winner” will be announced January 2, 2018.
Dangerous To Know Ed. by Christina Boyd
And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for, my review:
Thanks to Rosie Amber from Rosie’s Book Review Team for alerting me to this opportunity and to the editor Christina Boyd for providing me with an early ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
After reading many great reviews of The Darcy Monologues, when I had the opportunity to sign up for this blog tour I could not resist. My fondness for Jane Austen’s novels cannot compare to that of the authors of this anthology, but rest assure that you don’t need to have read several times all of Austen’s novels to enjoy this collection (although I don’t doubt you might enjoy it even more if you have).
Each story centers on one of the rakes or gentlemen rogues in one of Jane Austen’s novels (sometimes several from the same novel). As the editor explains in her note, after The Darcy Monologues she and some of the authors started looking for another project and noticed that there are many characters that are fundamental to Austen’s novels, but we don’t get to know much about, and on many occasions we are left wondering how they got to be how they are, and what happens to them later. All the stories retain the historical period of the novels, sometimes going back to give us information about the background of the characters, to their childhood, early youth, and on occasion we follow them for many years, getting a good sense of who they become when they exit the novel.
Each one of the stories is prefaced by a little snippet about the character chosen, and by one or several quotations (sometimes spread throughout the story) taken directly from Austen’s novel, where the character is mentioned. I must say the authors remain very faithful to Austen’s words although they use their imagination to build upon those snippets, always remaining faithful to the language and the spirit of the period, although the modern sensibility is evident in the stories.
We have stories with happy endings, stories that are dark and sad, stories of broken hearts, funny stories (sometimes thanks to the wit of the characters involved, others thanks to the wit of the writers who follow in Austen’s footsteps and poke fun at the most preposterous individuals), and some touching ones. There are very clean stories and some steamier ones (as it seems only appropriate to these “gentlemen”), but the editor includes a very detailed classification of the degree of heat of each one of the stories, and apart from one of the stories A Wicked Game, the rest are not scandalous (even by Regency standards).
Many of the stories are told in the first person, and that helps us share and understand better the characters (however much we might like them or not), but the few told in the third person also work well, especially as they tend to centre on characters that are perhaps particularly insightless and more preoccupied with appearances than by the truth.
I imagine each reader will have his or her favourite stories. I was a bit surprised because I thought I’d enjoy more the stories featuring characters of the novels I was more familiar with, but that was not always the case. (OK, I truly loved Fitzwilliam’s Folly about Colonel Fitzwilliam from Pride and Prejudice, but not only because of the novel, but because the character is wonderful, witty, yes, Darcy makes an appearance so we get to see him from somebody else’s point of view and someone who knows him well at that, and I loved the female character in the story too). Some writers managed to create a sense of a small society, as it must have felt at the time, where characters from several novels kept meeting or just missing each other but are all connected or know of each other. I know this was a book about the gentlemen, but I was very taken by some of the female characters, that on many occasions were the perfect match for the men.
If you are curious to know which of the characters are featured, here is the list: John Willoughby (Willoughby’s Crossroads by Joanna Starnes), George Wickham (A Wicked Game by Katie Oliver. This is the hottest one and there are some similarities to the previous story but, if you’re a fan of the character, I think you’ll enjoy this one), Colonel Fitzwilliam (Fitzwilliam’s Folly by Beau North. I’ve already mentioned this one. I love Calliope Campbell too. Well, love everything about this story and the style and the repartee reminded me of Oscar Wilde’s plays), Thomas Bertram (The Address of a French Woman by Lona Manning. How blind can one be, or perhaps not!), Henry Crawford (Last Letter to Mansfield by Brooke West), Frank Churchill (An Honest Man by Karen M Cox. One of these characters enamoured of himself who tries to do the right thing but only if it is convenient and at little personal cost. I suffered for poor Miss Fairfax), Sir Walter Elliot (One Fair Claim by Christina Morland. This is one of the stories told in the third person that do follow the character for a long time. The song “You’re So Vain” might as well have been written about him. I really enjoyed this one, first because the comments about the character were funny, later, because the tone changes and I liked his wife, who, of course, loves to read), William Elliot (The Lost Chapter in the Life of William Elliot by Jenetta James. This somewhat related to the previous story but is quite different and particularly interesting for the comments about life in the theatre), General Tilney (As Much As He Can by Sophia Rose. This story, that uses both third and first person, I found particularly touching. Appearances can be deceptive, indeed), John Thorpe (The Art of Sinking by J. Marie Croft. This is a farce, the character a buffoon and the story really funny, especially because the character is the butt of all jokes but remains full of his own importance), and Captain Frederick Tilney (For Mischief’s Sake by Amy D’Orazio. Another great story. The main character justifies his actions insisting that he is helping other men avoid mistakes, but eventually learns to see things from a female perspective. A great female character too, Miss Gibbs).
I highlighted many passages and lines, but I don’t want to make this a never-ending review. I’ll just say the language is perfectly in keeping with the period and the stories and I’ll be exploring the books of all these writers. (There is information included about each one of them after their respective stories).
I did not cry with any of the stories (although some were quite touching), but I did laugh out loud with quite a few. I recommend this book to readers of historical romance and romance of any kind, those who enjoy short-stories with fully-fledged character, and I’m sure anybody interested in Regency novels and Jane Austen’s, in particular, will love this book.
And, I couldn’t leave without sharing a bit of information about each one of the writers and the editor:
ABOUT THE AUTHORS and the EDITOR:
CHRISTINA BOYDhttps://m.facebook.com/TheDarcyMonologues/ wears many hats as she is an editor under her own banner, The Quill Ink, a contributor to Austenprose, and a commercial ceramicist. A life member of Jane Austen Society of North America, Christina lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her dear Mr. B, two busy teenagers, and a retriever named BiBi. Visiting Jane Austen’s England was made possible by actor Henry Cavill when she won the Omaze experience to meet him in the spring of 2017 on the London Eye. True story. You can Google it.
KAREN M COXhttps://karenmcoxauthor.wordpress.com/ is an award-wining author of four novels accented with romance and history: 1932, Find Wonder in All Things, Undeceived, and I Could Write a Book, as well as an e-book novella companion to 1932, The Journey Home. She also contributed short stories for the anthologies Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer and The Darcy Monologues. Originally from Everett, Washington, Karen now lives in Central Kentucky with her husband, works as a pediatric speech pathologist, encourages her children, and spoils her granddaughter. Like Austen’s Emma, Karen has many hobbies and projects she doesn’t quite finish, but like Elizabeth Bennet, she aspires to be a great reader and an excellent walker.
MARIE CROFThttps://www.amazon.com/J.-Marie-Croft/e/B004HZD22W/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1508353662&sr=1-1 is a self-proclaimed word nerd and adherent of Jane Austen’s quote “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.” Bearing witness to Joanne’s fondness for Pride and Prejudice, wordplay, and laughter are her light-hearted novel, Love at First Slight (a Babblings of a Bookworm Favourite Read of 2014), her playful novella, A Little Whimsical in His Civilities (Just Jane 1813’s Favourite 2016 JAFF Novella), and her humorous short stories: “Spyglasses and Sunburns” in the Sun-kissed: Effusions of Summer anthology and “From the Ashes” in The Darcy Monologues. Joanne lives in Nova Scotia, Canada.
AMY D’ORAZIO
https://www.facebook.com/Amy-DOrazio-author-369312830172988/ is a former scientist and current stay-at-home mom who is addicted to Austen and Starbucks in equal measure. While she adores Mr. Darcy, she is married to Mr. Bingley and their Pemberley is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has two daughters devoted to sports with long practices and began writing stories as a way to pass the time spent at their various gyms and studios. She firmly believes that all stories should have long looks, stolen kisses, and happily-ever-afters. Like her favorite heroine, she dearly loves a laugh and considers herself an excellent walker. She is the author of The Best Part of Love and the soon-to-be released A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity.
JENETTA JAMES https://www.facebook.com/jenettajameswriter/ is a mother, lawyer, writer, and taker-on of too much. She grew up in Cambridge and read history at Oxford University where she was a scholar and president of the Oxford University History Society. After graduating, she took to the law and now practices full-time as a barrister. Over the years, she has lived in France, Hungary, and Trinidad as well as her native England. Jenetta currently lives in London with her husband and children where she enjoys reading, laughing, and playing with Lego. She is the author of Suddenly Mrs. Darcy and The Elizabeth Papers, as well as a contributing author to The Darcy Monologues.
LONA MANNING https://www.amazon.com/Lona-Manning/e/B01N7UJHJX is the author of A Contrary Wind, a variation on Mansfield Park. She has also written numerous true crime articles, which are available at www.crimemagazine.com. She has worked as a non-profit administrator, a vocational instructor, a market researcher, and a speechwriter for politicians. She currently teaches English as a Second Language. She and her husband now divide their time between mainland China and Canada. Her second novel, A Marriage of Attachment, a sequel to A Contrary Wind, is planned for release in early 2018. You can follow Lona at www.lonamanning.ca where she blogs about China and Jane Austen.
CHRISTINA MORLAND https://www.amazon.com/Christina-Morland/e/B01IJHEZKQ spent the first two decades of her life with no knowledge whatsoever of Pride and Prejudice—or any Jane Austen novel, for that matter. She somehow overcame this childhood adversity to became a devoted fan of Austen’s works. When not writing, Morland tries to keep up with her incredibly active seven-year-old and maddeningly brilliant husband. She lives in a place not unlike Hogwarts (minus Harry, Dumbledore, magic, and Scotland), and likes to think of herself as an excellent walker. Morland is the author of two Jane Austen fanfiction novels: A Remedy Against Sin and This Disconcerting Happiness.
BEAU NORTH http://beaunorthwrites.com/#top is the author of three books and contributor to multiple anthologies. Beau hails from the kudzu-strangled wilderness of South Carolina but now hangs her hat in Portland, Oregon. In her spare time, Beau is the co-host of the podcast Excessively Diverted: Modern Austen On-Screen.
KATIE OLIVER https://www.facebook.com/KatieOliverWriter is the author of nine novels, including the Amazon bestseller Prada and Prejudice, as well as the Dating Mr. Darcy, Marrying Mr. Darcy, and Jane Austen Factor series. She resides in South Florida with her husband (where she goes to the beach far less often than she’d like) and is working on a new series. Katie began writing as a child and has a box crammed with half-finished stories to prove it. After raising two sons, she decided to get serious and get published.
She is convinced that there is no greater pleasure than reading a Jane Austen novel.
SOPHIA ROSEhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose is a native Californian currently residing in Michigan. A long-time Jane Austen fan, she is a contributing author to The Darcy Monologues, Sun-kissed: Effusions of Summer, and Then Comes Winter anthologies, short stories based on Jane Austen’s works. Sophia’s love for writing began as a teen writing humorous stories submitted for Creative Writing class and high school writing club. Writing was set aside for many years while Sophia enjoyed a rewarding career working with children and families. Health issues led to reduced work hours and an opportunity for a return to writing stories that continue to lean toward the lighter side of life and always end with a happily-ever-after.
JOANA STARNEShttps://www.facebook.com/joana.a.starnes lives in the south of England with her family. Over the years, she has swapped several hats—physician, lecturer, clinical data analyst—but feels most comfortable in a bonnet. She has been living in Georgian England for decades in her imagination and plans to continue in that vein till she lays hands on a time machine. She is one of the contributors to The Darcy Monologues anthology, and the author of seven Austen-inspired novels: From This Day Forward—The Darcys of Pemberley, The Subsequent Proposal, The Second Chance, The Falmouth Connection, The Unthinkable Triangle, Miss Darcy’s Companion and Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter. You can connect with Joana through her website www.joanastarnes.co.uk and on Facebook via her timeline and her author page, All Roads Lead to Pemberley.
BROOKE WEST https://www.facebook.com/brookewestwrites/ has always loved the bad boys of literature and thinks the best leading men have the darkest pasts. When she’s not spinning tales of rakish men and daring women, Brooke spends her time in the kitchen baking or at the gym working off all that baking. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and son and their three mischievous cats. Brooke co-authored the novel The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy and the short story “Holiday Mix Tape,” which appears in the anthology Then Comes Winter. Find Brooke on Twitter @WordyWest.
And of course, the links! (You’ll better hurry because the special price is only on offer until the end of the tour!)
Thanks to Rosie, to Christina and all the authors for such enjoyable book and for allowing me to feature it here, thanks to all of you for reading and remember to like, share, comment, click, review, and of course, don’t forget to participate in the giveaways!
If you follow my blog you know I’ve been talking about this anthology for a while. Mother’s Day in the US is this weekend, and one of my author friends, Tamara Ferguson, told me about an initiative she was taking part in. A wonderful collection of books to commemorate mother’s everywhere, and for a very good cause, to support the research of Multiple Sclerosis. She also gave me the opportunity of getting to know some of the writers. Today is the last interview I bring you of another British writer whom you will love to meet. A true character. Allyson R. Abbott.
Mother’s day Magic…
with love
Every mother’s heart holds a bit of magic…her children’s love. Enchantment awaits in a dozen brand new, previously unpublished-stories, written by #1 bestselling and/or multi-award winning authors from across the globe. Whether it’s a captivating tale of romance or fiction fashioned from loving memories, these poignant stories are sure to touch your heart.
10% of proceeds from this anthology will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society toward research.
AN INTERVIEW WITH Allyson R. Abbott One of the Authors FROM MOTHER’S DAY MAGIC Anthology
Author Allyson R. Abbott
#1 Best Seller and 4 times 5★ seal award from Readers’ favorite
The Story I’ve Contributed Is An English Rose. A Mother’s Love, A Love Inspired
An English Rose. A Mother’s Love, A Love Inspired by Allyson R. Abbott
At eighty-five, Rose fears her usefulness and independence are shrinking. Her grown daughters have full lives, and Rose worries if she’s a burden to them. After meeting Bill, a spark of laughter and purpose comes flooding back into her routine, especially when her happy healthy family reveal a few cracks and turn to her for advice and support. And Rose blossoms, opening her heart to accept new challenges.
Allyson R. Abbott, British romance author, always finds a way of encouraging the reader to become attached to her characters. Using wit, humour and real life situations the protagonists could be your friend or neighbour.
What Was The Inspiration For Your Mother’s Day Magic Story?
My own mother. She is a great inspiration for me, even at 86yrs old, she is always on the go and her social life is more active than mine, even though she is visually impaired. She has a wicked sense of humour and laughs at everything, enjoying all she can in life.
How much research was involved in writing your story? How did you go about it?
I just sat and thought about my mum, it was easy and pleasurable.
How often do your characters surprise you by doing or saying something totally unexpected?
I’m a panster, and write as I go along. Bill, In An English Rose, was a total surprise, he came out of nowhere, but is such a loveable, jolly character.
Do you miss spending time with your characters when you finish writing this story?
I have a habit of trying to think about a follow up book, to keep the characters alive. I just can’t let go. I am the character, when I am writing, so I know they have so much more to give. I find it hard to remove myself from a book.
What writer has been your biggest inspiration?
I am great lover of the classics, especially by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. I love the way they subtly use humour. Most of my books have a humorous element. I also enjoy a Lee Child book and now, of course, having found his books, Cary Allen Stone. I am always in awe of writers who can weave a good plot. To round of my inspirations, I also need to add Janet Evanovich to my list. I love a book that makes me laugh out loud, and the Stephanie Plum series are so funny, I have read them all. I have just found a new author, Aimee Horton, her book Mother’s Ruined, had me howling with laughter.
What non-writer had the most influence on your life and why?
My husband, only recently married, but he has such faith in my abilities and is so supportive, he makes me believe that I can do anything. When you have someone at your side to lean on and trusts you explicably, if gives your live a boost and opens so many doors.
How important is the choosing of character names to you? Have you ever decided on a name and then changed it because it wasn’t right for the character?
The name of the character usually pops into my head as I write. If it doesn’t I will just leave a line XXXXXX until it reveals itself to me. As most of my writing is about people over 40yrs old, and sometime a lot older. I often think of friends or relatives names, of that era, that will suit my characters.
Do you allow others to read your work in progress, or do you keep it a secret until you’ve finished your first draft?
I usually share my work with my husband, by reading it aloud to him. This also helps me to edit it. If it is clumsy in speech or just doesn’t sound right then I can change.
What inspired you to write your first book?
For the first time in my life I actually found I had time on my hands. I had always wanted to have a go at writing a book, I think most people do, but I realised that there was an indie movement, and now was a good time. When my niece-in-law to be, celebrated her first published book, it took me by surprise. It gave me a push. I thought if my niece can do, so can I. So I took pen to paper and started writing.
What might we be surprised to know about you?
I like nothing more than to sit in an English pub with a pint of real ale in my hand. I really miss a good British beer, during my travels. I spend most of my time on the road, or at least abroad somewhere, flitting from one continent to another. It is a great life.
In Addition
An English Rose, was inspired by my mother. She is 86yrs old and has macular degeneration and is now registered as blind. Along with her deteriorating hearing, diabetes, asthma and extremely delicate thin skin, she drags herself to church every Sunday to make her peace with God. Her middle name is Rose, and she is a happy and active senior. Now she has a mobility scooter, she is never at home. Nothing seems to slow her enthusiasm for life down. Losing her sight has stopped her from her many hobbies of Green Bowling, painting, pottery, sewing, reading, but she still struggles on with her knitting, and laughs about all the air-holes that appear through dropped stiches. She talks about her numbered days, and then books a holiday abroad. I just love her to pieces.
The fabulous line up of Mother’s Day Magic
About the Author
I love to travel, but I also need to work. Being an author allows me to combine both of activities and has the added bonus of life being an adventure. I never know where I will be sitting writing from one year to the next. As I write this, I am in South Africa, in February I travel to Spain for a few months and by June, in the USA. It is a great life, if you don’t mind a little insecurity.
I try to bring a little of my adventurous personality into my stories. Being a ‘mature aging gracefully’ woman, I feel akin to the problems of aging and relationships. I spent many years on my own before finding my truly remarkable and very patient partner who I happily gave up my whole world for. My stories are about mature relationships with mature people. People who have character and humour, who have a history; people just like us.
I like to call it Hen Lit, Not Chick Lit, but they are not just about falling in love. They are about real relationships and adventure.
Allyson R. Abbott’s Hen LitGoodbye, Hello by Allyson R. Abbott
Thanks so much to Allyson R. Abbott for talking about her contribution to Mother’s Day Magic, thank to Tamara Ferguson for this opportunity, and you know what to do, like, share, comment and of course, CLICK!
Those who follow me might remember that a few weeks back I shared a post about a collection of books for Mother’s Day, Mother’s Day Magic, and information about one of the authors who’d kindly offered me the opportunity to share not only the collection but also interviews with several of the authors. Tamara Ferguson, a fantastic author and a great supported of fellow indie writers, was featured in the first post, here.
Today, I have the pleasure to remind you about that great collection and to introduce you to Daisy Banks, one of the UK authors taking part in the collection.
Ah, and don’t forget that 10% of the proceeds will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Towards Research.
And without any more blah, blah, here it goes:
Mother’s day Magic…
with love
Every mother’s heart holds a bit of magic…her children’s love. Enchantment awaits in a dozen brand new, previously unpublished-stories, written by #1 bestselling and/or multi-award winning authors from across the globe. Whether it’s a captivating tale of romance or fiction fashioned from loving memories, these poignant stories are sure to touch your heart.
10% of proceeds from this anthology will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society toward research.
Amazon
nook
Kobo
Itunes
24symbols
Scribed
Inktera (formally Page Foundry)
Tolino
Author Daisy Banks
AN INTERVIEW WITH Daisy Banks One of the Authors FROM MOTHER’S DAY MAGIC
The Story I’ve Contributed Is
December Roses by Daisy Banks
December Roses
A present-day gift of flowers sets off delightful memories for Jean. The recollections of the day love first bloomed and trust overcame a frightening challenge are carved deep in her heart.
What Was The Inspiration For Your Mother’s Day Magic Story?
My story is based on the true experience of my mother and her recollections of the day she and my father took their first important step closer to marriage. The magic is that I have been given the time to collect her memories and put them into a story for others to read.
How much research was involved in writing your story? How did you go about it?
My research has been through conversations with my mother, as she is in her eighties and rather frail these talks have had to fit into her daily routine as much as possible. I have found her memories a delight and evidence of the very different world she grew up and lived in. I hope I have done this part of her story justice.
How often do your characters surprise you by doing or saying something totally unexpected?
I’d expected a peaceful progress with the characters in this story as it is semi biographical but no, there were one or two twists I hadn’t anticipated. Primarily the way my grandmother turned out on the page. In this story she seems quite a difficult person. I never found her so, as my grandmother she was fiercely protective, loving, and always partisan in her support for all I did. However, her relationship with my mother had a different quality. She seems almost unfeeling at times. My mom has no explanation for that but I do wonder if some of the reluctance to see my mother and father marry didn’t come from earlier experiences. Gran grew up and married in an era where contraception was almost nonexistent and women still frequently died in childbirth. In her youth she lived through a time where married women had to give up their jobs and become housewives by government decree, leaving them and her without independent income. She also lived through all the hardships of the Second World War. Although she probably never explained her worries and fears to my mother I do wonder if that is why Gran was so set against an early wedding for her daughter.
Do you miss spending time with your characters when you finish writing this story?
Often when I finish a story it is hard to let go of characters but with this story being based on truth I don’t have to let go. I might well go on to write more of the romance between Jean and Jack and some of their early married life. There are some very amusing and poignant tales from their time together I’d love to share.
What writer has been your biggest inspiration?
I find it hard to name one. I have loved books and stories of all sorts since I first learned to read. I’ve read all kinds of genres and many different authors and enjoyed almost all of them. I fell in love with the world of Tolkien at a young age and still return to his work as some people do to comfort food. I like some of the classics and I love Fielding’s stories. I think each and every book I read is like a personal gift to me and I therefore would love to say thank you to all writers.
What non-writer had the most influence on your life And why?
This has to be one very important teacher I had in my secondary school. Her influence lifted me out of what might well be described as a mundane and inadequate education into something more. She encouraged my love of history and my academic progress by circumnavigating the rules in a system that had already consigned me to the bin by the time I was eleven. I achieved more and higher level qualifications than my peers because of her skill in teaching and her interest. This allowed me to go on to a sixth form college, and then later to gain qualifications to teach. I was the first person in my family to follow that pathway and without her I wouldn’t have done it.
How important is the choosing of character names to you? Have you ever decided on a name and then changed it because it wasn’t right for the character?
I spend quite a bit of time finding the right names for characters. I check out name meanings in several languages and see if there is something that fits with the character. I like names with additional meanings that reinforce qualities a character may have.
I have changed names once or twice but that’s unusual for me. In my story Marked for Magic the heroine begins life with the childhood name of Nin, but once she gains her true strength she becomes Tara, and that name means strong along with other things.
Do you allow others to read your work in progress, or do you keep it a secret until you’ve finished your first draft?
I have some wonderful critique partners who help me with my writing. They are all published authors and I depend on them to hammer me if I make mistakes. We have worked together for a while and I trust their opinions on my stories. I am deeply grateful for the time and effort they put in to help me improve my work.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first ever stories were recorded not written as I was too young to have learned to write. My parents had a reel to reel tape recorder and I told it my tales. I still remember the one about kittens. I must have been about four years old. The next lot of stories came after I’d learned to write. In primary school I wrote a lot of stories and plays.
Secondary education didn’t call much for stories though I did write some and authored the school play for two years running. I wrote a shed load of very poor quality poetry in my teens and then education crushed the stories. From the time I was eighteen I didn’t write anything but essays until I left college. Once I began work all my energies went into my job, and a little later my marriage and after that my two children.
When I became ill and could no longer work I fumbled my way back into writing. The first stories astonished me as they poured out, but they were learning pieces. Some wonderful people helped me to develop and with their assistance I learned a lot but I still have so much more to learn.
What might we be surprised to know about you?
While at college I once performed with a small dance troop and for one performance we danced the Can-Can. We wore full Can-Can costume and put in all shrieks, screams, cartwheels, and splits for the dance. It was an entertaining evening.
FROM THE AUTHOR
December Roses is dedicated to my parents and I have to say there were times when writing it that I got very emotional. Not for the frustration I sometimes feel with a story if it doesn’t go the way I want, but for the sheer innocence of my parents when they met and those days in 1950’s England. Those post war years were a time when ordinary people struggled to afford luxuries like afternoon tea and ice cream, and they lived with rationing of things we take for granted. I know my mother experienced real fear in a difficult situation, and yet in our modern world it would be one simply solved. My discussions with my mother about the story led to some very amusing conversations and I am very thankful to have experienced that with her.
Sadly, my father passed away some years ago and I couldn’t include him in the chat sessions about the story, but of course, I did discuss it with him in my thoughts. I am certain Dad would approve of the motivation behind my writing the tale and he would probably laugh about the mention of his first camera. I have a tiny photograph of him from those days of his National Service where he is in his army uniform and I’ve tried to hold that image for his character on the page.
About the Author:
Daisy Banks writes romances ranging from sweetly tender through to sexily spicy tales in the Historical, Paranormal and Fantasy genres. From Victorian devotion to a werewolf passion, a rogue and a courtesan, a clumsy fairy and a saucy ghost, you can discover a different world with Daisy in each of her stories.
Antiques and collecting entertain Daisy when she isn’t writing. There are also some rare occasions she makes a meal that doesn’t stick to the pan.
And a reminder of all the writers participating in this anthology:
The fabulous line up of Mother’s Day Magic
Thanks so much to Tamara Ferguson for alerting me to this wonderful anthology, to Daisy Banks for being my guest today, and thanks to all mothers and to you all for reading. And remember, today it’s the first of April… Take it easy and have a laugh. And of course, like, share, comment and CLICK!
As you know on Fridays I bring you new books and projects. I love to feature joint collections where several authors combine their books to offer variety and incredible value-for-money. It’s also a great chance to meet new writers that you’ll likely want to follow from then on, all under one roof.
Although I’ve featured some collections in the past, thanks to Tamara Ferguson who is a fellow author in one of the groups I frequent, I have the opportunity to bring you a great collection Mother’s Day Magic and not only that, but also to introduce you a few of the writers participating on the project. I’ll be sharing some insight information, interviews, etc, in the weeks to come, but I thought Tamara would be the best person to introduce us to this collection.
The floor is yours.
Mother’s day Magic…
with love
Every mother’s heart holds a bit of magic…her children’s love. Enchantment awaits in a dozen brand new, previously unpublished-stories, written by #1 bestselling and/or multi-award winning authors from across the globe. Whether it’s a captivating tale of romance or fiction fashioned from loving memories, these poignant stories are sure to touch your heart.
10% of proceeds from this anthology will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society toward research.
AN INTERVIEW WITH Tamara Ferguson One of the Authors FROM MOTHER’S DAY MAGIC
#1 Bestselling & Multi-award winning author of the Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Award in new adult romance
The Story I’ve Contributed Is
Two Hearts Unspoken (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance II) by Tamara Ferguson
TWO HEARTS UNSPOKEN
(Two hearts wounded warrior romance ii)
Retired air force captain and wounded warrior, Zach Logan, discovers that his scars are more than skin deep, when he falls in love with Beth Bowen; the lovely single mother of an autistic son. Could these two lonely people discover that love is that something unspoken that’s been missing from their lives?
What Was The Inspiration For Your Mother’s Day Magic Story?
I’m the single mom of a severely Autistic son. The story allows me to give some insight—not only about autism, but about the problems associated with his funding.
How much research was involved in writing your story? How did you go about it?
Not too much research—I decided to write about what I know—since I’m currently involved in a bunch of other writing projects. As far at the wounded warrior aspect—I also watch a lot of CNN—so the world’s problems always seem to be on my mind. My oldest son is a licensed athletic trainer and therapist, so the medical issues are much easier to research when you have your own personal consultant!
How often do your characters surprise you by doing or saying something totally unexpected?
All the time—my story is completely different from the story I intended to write! Sometimes the story just takes off in its own direction, and you have to go with the flow.
Do you miss spending time with your characters when you finish writing this story?
Definitely! That’s why I love writing series romance—many of my previous characters are popping up in each new story I write.
What writer has been your biggest inspiration?
Nora Roberts, Linda Howard & Mary Balogh are the 3 writers I’m the most inspired by—each in a different way—because their stories strike me the most emotionally.
What non-writer had the most influence on your life And why?
Probably my grandmother—I was the only daughter in two generations—so she pretty much spoiled me rotten—but she was also someone who inspired me to think that anything was possible.
How important is the choosing of character names to you? Have you ever decided on a name and then changed it because it wasn’t right for the character?
Names are very important to me—yes I change them if they don’t feel right! I also relate my cover pictures to my characters as closely as possible. This is the salesperson in me! First impressions are very important to the reader (speaking as someone who used to read 7-10 novels per week before I began writing!!)
Do you allow others to read your work in progress, or do you keep it a secret until you’ve finished your first draft?
No one usually asks to read my stories while they’re still in progress!
What inspired you to write your first book?
My son was supposed to enter a vocational program after he graduated from his specialized education, but this fell through because of Illinois’ budget cuts. My plans for expanding my own business were put on hold—since I had to take care of my son full-time. Writing is like therapy for me—and keeps me from thinking about the what-ifs in my life that I can’t do anything about. So the unexpected success I’ve been having has come as a complete surprise for me.
What might we be surprised to know about you?
Besides the fact that I’m a full-time caregiver of my youngest son—who’s severely autistic and an insulin dependent diabetic? There’s not a whole lot of choice in the matter because of the funding in the state of Illinois. That’s why I used this novella to bring up a few of the worries parents like myself are facing with the budget cuts being proposed by the new governor.
But there are also hidden joys in to found in the raising of a special kid—which I also touch base about in my story!
Otherwise, I have a ton of hobbies—including home improvement (I built an addition and put a new roof on the house—so big time home improvement, here)—gardening, cooking, floral arranging—all which I never seem to have time for anymore!
The fabulous line up of Mother’s Day Magic
About the Author
A member of the Romance Writers of America, Tamara Ferguson is the top-ten best-selling, multi-award winning author of the Kissed By FateRomance Series and the Tales of The Dragonfly Romance Suspense Series.
Her latest release is Two Hearts Surrendered. This military romance was her contribution to the bestselling Magical Weddings anthology, which included stories by fifteen USA Today, best-selling, and award-winning authors. Two Hearts Surrendered recently earned 3-5★reviews from Readers’ Favorite, and has just become a #1 Wounded Warrior Romance Bestseller, Kindle Book and Series.
Tales of the Dragonfly Book I: In Tandem was a romance finalist at the 2013 Indie Excellence Awards, while Tales of the Dragonfly Book II: In Flightwas a 2014 WINNER at the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards. Her latest release, That Unforgettable Kiss was recently a top ten Amazon bestseller in Kindle Saga Fiction, earned 3-5★editorial reviews from Readers’ Favorite, and has just become the 2015 WINNER of The Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Awards in New Adult Romance.
That Unforgettable Kiss is currently featured in the #5 bestselling A Touch Of Passion, 12 full-length novels by USA Today, New York Times bestselling and multi-award winning authors. This anthology is also a #1 New Adult Romance Bestseller, as well as a New Adult Bestseller.
A graduate of Illinois State University, Tamara Ferguson was a Vice-President of her graduating class and a Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She was awarded the Illinois State University College of Applied Science and Technology Collegiate Achievement Award upon her graduation.
Since she remains a full-time caregiver for an autistic son, you can usually find Tammy working at home, where she spends a lot of time not completing her numerous home improvement projects, because she’s writing or helping indie authors promote their books on twitter. A former horticulturist, she currently resides in central Illinois.
Tamara Ferguson
Never Underestimate the Power of a Kiss 💋
Tamara Ferguson
Multi-Award Winning, #1 Bestselling Author of
Contemporary Romance Suspense, New Adult Romance, & Military Romance-
Two Hearts Surrendered.
#1 Wounded Warrior Romance Bestseller, Kindle Book & Series
I’ve featured the Magical Weddings Anthology before (see here) and personally I can say I’m impressed by all of Tamara’s achievements and for pushing through with her writing no matter what.
Thanks so much to Tamara for this introduction to the collection and for such an open-hearted and honest interview and thanks to your for reading. As I mentioned before I’ll be sharing some more features about some of the other authors in coming weeks. In the meantime, don’t forget to like, share, comment and CLICK!
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