Author:ย Debarshi Kanjilal Release Date:ย 15th August 2020 Genre:ย Contemporary Series: Format:ย E-bookย Pages:ย 117 pages Publisher: Blurb: You cried with Hachiko. You got spooked and then laughed it off with Scooby Doo. And you fell in love with John Grogan’s incorrigible Marley. But you have yet to meet a dog quite like Super Bu โฅ. After years of arguments on the matter, the Bera family has finally decided to bring home a dog.โ Ajay has wanted a dog since he was a child. He has fantasized about every version of his future life around them. โ His brother, Arun, would love to get a dog as much but doesn’t mind not having to clean up after one. โ Ajit, their father, also wants to get a dog. He just wants to feel the love of a dog again, like he used to when he was a child. โ Barnali, Ajit’s wife, loathes the idea of having a dog in the house. She spent her childhood praying for only one thing, that she shouldn’t get married into a family that has dogs. And until now, she got her wish. But now, Ajay has finally worn out his mother’s resilience and the Beras are bringing home a dog. Will this be the homecoming that the dog or the family had anticipated? Read now and find out.
P.S. This is not a children’s book or a fairy tale. This novella is not all about fun, or that fuzzy feeling you get from stories about dogs. It is a dramatic story of a family who brought home a dog. If you are looking for a book that’ll keep you continuously smiling through the antics of an adorable puppy, this is perhaps not the book for you. So, now that you know what not to expect, let’s talk about what you can expect from this book. Have you or someone you know ever felt like something is missing in your life and getting a dog could help you fill a void? Did you, or an acquaintance of yours, end up actually getting that dog? Did you and your dog figure out how to navigate through life together? This is the story of that dog, or a dog like that one. But more importantly, this is the story of that version of you, or that acquaintance of yours, who decided to act and bring home that dog, or of people like you who went through similar experiences in life. โ If you have ever felt like you needed to be loved a little more than you are, I hope that this story tells you exactly how to find that love. โ Some early readers said, โThis is a book about poop, the pooper, and the poop cleaners, but it is about much more.โ โ A significant portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go toward funding the Buzoland project. The Buzoland project is a personal endeavor of the author of this book to create a home, not a shelter, for stray and abandoned dogs in India. The goal is to give these homeless dogs the same love and care that one would give a purebred dog.
Book Review
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
Superbu: Homecoming by Debarshi Kanjilal is a beautiful book about the journey of the main characters as new dog-parents. It not only had a lot to offer to those who’ve gone through similar experiences but also for those who want to have a pet or wish they had one and plan for it someday.
The writing in the book is good which was, of course, why I rated this book so highly. The story had a very nice flow and I am looking forward to reading more books by the author in the future.
Being a cat-mom of over 8 house-cats and another 10 outside-cats, I was able to relate to this book a lot. It managed to tug on my heartstrings and, therefore, I’d definitely recommend it to everyone.
Author: J. Scott Coatsworth Release Date: 16th October 2018 Genre: Science-Fiction Fantasy, LGBTQ Series: Liminal Sky (Book #2) Format: E-book Pages: 388 pages Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Blurb: Earth is dead. Five years later, the remnants of humanity travel through the stars inside Forever: a living, ever-evolving, self-contained generation ship. When Eddy Tremaine and Andy Hammond find a hidden world-within-a-world under the mountains, the discovery triggers a chain of events that could fundamentally alter or extinguish life as they know it, culminate in the takeover of the world mind, and end free will for humankind.
Eddy, Andy, and a handful of other unlikely heroesโpeople of every race and identity, and some who arenโt even humanโmust find the courage and ingenuity to stand against the rising tide. Otherwise they might be living through the end days of human history.
Book Review
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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
The Rising Tide by J. Scott Coatsworth is the 2nd book in the series Liminal Sky and my second book by the author. In one sentence, I loved it!
This book picks up 5 years after where the first book ended and carries on from there. There is no Earth now and so this book is set in a humungous space-ship which sustains life. I loved the new settings. The world-building was impressive and I enjoyed imagining the life in this one-of-a-kind world throughout the book. Though the best thing about the book is the utopian dream that the villain nurtures. I loved it because whenever in a book, especially in sci-fi-fantasy books, the concept of a seemingly utopian dream is introduced, it invariably leads to the exploration of a lot of interesting as well as important themes. And that is exactly what happened in this book. Therefore, it won’t be wrong if I’d say that I actually liked this one better than the first book!
Even though this book is a part of a series, you can read it as a stand-alone novel (at least, in my opinion,) because even though the events are carried forward, most of the book is based in a new world than the last one and except for a couple of main characters, the rest of the characters are mostly new – and that is kind of the whole point of this story, so you can definitely read it as a stand-alone. Anyway, reading the entire series is definitely recommended.
Today, at TRB Lounge, we are hostingย Debarshi Kanjilal, author of SuperBu: Homecoming, to share some secrets of being a successful independent author.
Note: Read author Debarshi Kanjilal’s interview with TRB here
The Four Secret Ingredients of a Successful Indie Author
I wanted to be a writer since the age of eight but didn’t know the path to becoming one. At the time, my idea of being an author was being published by Penguin Random House or Bloomsbury. Indie publishing had too much stigma around it.
Years later, when I did end up choosing the path of indie publishing, I was still fighting against similar stigma. But several books, blogs, forums, and courses later, I now know the reason for that stigma as well as the way to avoid it.
A traditionally published author enjoys a few unfair advantages because they’re backed by a big money business. But the unfair advantages created by that money can be offset by the additional effort and time put in by an indie author. So, what are these unfair advantages?
Editing
People often jump to the conclusion that big publishing houses sell more because they have a bigger marketing budget. While not untrue, they don’t just put money into marketing. They invest heavily in their editorial team – professional proofreaders, copy editors, substantial editors, they make sure that every book is editorially perfect. An indie author doesn’t always have the budget for all of that, but most rookie indie authors make the mistake of publishing without any editing whatsoever. I have been there and I still have some books out in the market that suffer due to editorial inferiority. But having learnt from those errors, I now have a formula that works – I try to work with at least three beta readers and at least one copy editor and implement their feedback before publishing anything. This ensures that my books have minimal editorial issues without shooting a hole through my pocket.
Typesetting and Formatting
Books are for readers – a very finite market segment. The truth is not many people who are not readers will buy and read your book. And readers are conditioned to expect a certain way of typesetting and formatting books. A good book will just not capture a reader’s imagination if it is formatted or typeset in a way that distracts them. The good news is that the bulk of indie publishing happens on Amazon, and Amazon has a product called Kindle Create that makes it easier to properly format and typeset both print books and e-books. It is important to utilize these resources efficiently.
Mailing List
While big publishers have access to a vast group of readers who are already waiting for their next book, indie authors do not have such a vast pre-existing audience. They need to cultivate that audience and regularly engage with them. A mailing list is the most effective tool to this end. Yes, you can also cultivate your audience via social media, but email is still the most effective way to connect with them on a personal level. A person who receives an email from you will care more about you and your book than someone who stumbles upon your post about your own book on social media. Social media works best when other people start talking about you and your book.
Digital Marketing
Lastly, big publishers have access to thousands of physical bookstores to display their books and therefore putting their books in front of innumerable eyes. As an indie author, you and I may not have this luxury. However, if your book cannot get any eyeballs then your book isn’t going to sell any copies. This is where digital marketing helps. Amazon ads, Google ads, Facebook ads, etc. democratize advertising to the extent possible. Even an indie author can set aside a small budget to test an online ad, see how it performs, optimize it further, and get in front of thousands of eyeballs. This is an opportunity you wouldn’t want to pass.
Being an indie author can be a rewarding as well as a fulfilling journey. But make no mistake, an indie author needs to work harder and keep toiling alone much longer in order to achieve success. That said, a good story supported by these four secret ingredients can make your journey absolutely worthwhile.
About the author:
Debarshi Kanjilal
Debarshi Kanjilal (DK) is an urban fiction writer based out of Bangalore, India. His debut novella, Based on Lies, was touted as a gripping psychological thriller by several reputable reviewers.
His latest novella, SuperBu: Homecoming is an emotional journey of a family and their dog. Debarshi ran the โGod of Absurdityโ blog from 2012 to 2015, which published humorous anecdotes and reflection pieces.
He is also an accomplished learning experience design professional who has helped shape adult learning strategy for some of the most well-known organizations globally.
This is not a childrenโs book or a fairy tale. This novella is not all about fun, or that fuzzy feeling you get from stories about dogs. It is a dramatic story of a family who brought home a dog. If you are looking for a book thatโll keep you continuously smiling through the antics of an adorable puppy, this is perhaps not the book for you.
So, now that you know what not to expect, letโs talk about what you can expect from this book. Have you or someone you know ever felt like something is missing in your life and getting a dog could help you fill a void? Did you, or an acquaintance of yours, end up actually getting that dog? Did you and your dog figure out how to navigate through life together?
This is the story of that dog, or a dog like that one. But more importantly, this is the story of that version of you, or that acquaintance of yours, who decided to act and bring home that dog, or of people like you who went through similar experiences in life.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your authorโs guest post on TRB, then please get in touch through email at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge, the part of TRB that helps authors and publishers promote their titles.
Today, we are featuring Debarshi Kanjilal, author ofSuperBu: Homecoming,ย for our Author Interview feature.
About The Author
Debarshi Kanjilal
Debarshi Kanjilal (DK) is an urban fiction writer based out of Bangalore, India. His debut novella, Based on Lies, was touted as a gripping psychological thriller by several reputable reviewers.
His latest novella, SuperBu: Homecoming is an emotional journey of a family and their dog. Debarshi ran the โGod of Absurdityโ blog from 2012 to 2015, which published humorous anecdotes and reflection pieces.
He is also an accomplished learning experience design professional who has helped shape adult learning strategy for some of the most well-known organizations globally.
Welcome to TRB! Please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself before we begin.
Hello to the readers of TRB! I am an urban fiction author based out of Bangalore, India. I published my first novella, Based on Lies, in 2017 and now I have a new story to share with the world. When I am not writing, you will find me lecturing people about the way adults learn, spending time with dogs, fiddling with my phone, or begrudgingly cooking a meal in the kitchen. Before the pandemic hit, youโd also have found me planning weekend road trips around the city.
Please tell us something about your book other than what we have read in the blurb?
I donโt think it will come as a surprise, but the story of SUPERBU is inspired by the life of Buzo, who was a part of our family until recently. When I had first started planning the story, it was meant to be a fantasy about a four-legged superhero. But with time, I realized that every dog is already a superhero for its family; I didnโt need to give Bully, the dog who this book is about, any additional superpowers to tell the story I wanted to tell.
As for Buzo, she will always be my superhero. And if this book does well, she will, hopefully, become a superhero for some other dogs. I plan to use most of the proceeds from this book to fund the Buzoland project, which will provide a real home for a few stray dogs. Being able to get the Buzoland project off the ground will mean much more to me than any accolades this book may or may not earn.
Who is your favourite character in this book and why?
In its essence, SUPERBU Homecoming is the story of a flawed family. I care deeply about each character in that family. Homecoming is the first novella in the SUPERBU series and it focuses heavily on Bully a.k.a. Bu, who the novella is named after and Barnali, the lady of the family. Homecoming is as much Barnaliโs story as it is Bullyโs.
What inspired you to write this book? An idea, some anecdote, a dream or something else?
I think I kind of answered this question earlier. I wanted to write a book to commemorate my dog, Buzo, who we lost a couple of years ago. This is, among other things, my attempt to do some good in her name.
How long did it take you to write this particular book?
Homecoming is the first of three novellas in the SUPERBU series. The idea to write a book like this came to me a couple of years ago, conceptualization happened a year ago, the actual writing took a month, perhaps, and editing took another month and a half. I work with a few amazing beta readers in my network who really help me refine my work after the first draft is done.ย
What are your writing ambitions? Are you working on any new projects presently?
I think the goal is to transition into being a full-time writer but right now I just want as many people to read the stories of SUPERBU as possible. I have a few too many projects in the pipeline, to be honest. The immediate focus will be on two of them:
The next novella in the SUPERBU series โ Becoming
And a novelette I have in the works called Government
Why have you chosen this genre?
I find genres quite limiting. I tell people that I write urban fiction because it allows me to explore a variety of themes within an urban setting. I wrote SUPERBU because I love dogs and to commemorate my dog.
When did you decide to become a writer?
When I was eight, and every couple of years after that. But I think I have been serious about it for the past couple of years. I like the idea of being an indie author. I feel that it liberates me to write about the things I want to write about and in the manner that I want to write about them. I truly believe that novellas and novelettes are the future of books and yet traditional publishers often push these formats to the sidelines. If we are to capture the imagination of a new generation of readers, we cannot expect them to spend days or even months reading one book. As an indie author, I can cater to that modern reader who is reading on electronic devices and hopping from one interest to another every couple of days.
What is your writing ritual? How do you do it?
A lot of ideation without any actual writing for weeks, followed by panic and a few weeks of 3 or 4-hour writing sprints, and then editing like a madman. Personally, working with chapter outlines or scenes hasnโt really worked out for me. I like to write my stories in sequence.ย
How do you prefer to write? On computer/laptop, typewriter, dictation or longhand with a pen?
I write on my laptop but I am getting more savvy with mobile word processors. In time and with the advent of superior technology, I wonโt mind writing books on my cellphone.
Your 5 favourite books?
I love answering this question, thanks.
The book that got me interested in reading as a kid was Moby Dick.ย
A favorite of mine in contemporary Indian literature โ Ghachar Ghochar.ย
Third, Iโd say Lord of the Rings. Iโd recommend anyone to pick LOTR over Harry Potter books, if you had to choose.ย
Four, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. Not many people have read this but it is such a fantastic, whimsical book.
Lastly, The Story of My Experiments with Truth. I loved learning about a different side of Mahatma Gandhi.
If I may take the liberty of adding one more to the list, Maneaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett is a blast of a read.
How do you deal with Writerโs Block?
By procrastinating until an idea hits me.ย ๐
No, but seriously, the answer is often care. If I care about a story, I am more likely to be able to write about it than if I donโt. I have realized that writerโs block often comes from an attempt to be inauthentic. I often found myself not being able to write something that I have not experienced in any way, shape, or form. Having had those experiences, I try to only tell stories that I can relate with on some level. Also, switching off for a bit of time helps โ music, movies, a long drive, they all seem to work for me.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Getting your work published is easier than ever now. But that also means that competition is stiffer than ever, post publication. Take your time. Invest in professional editing. Know that writing is 20% of the work but the good news is, no oneโs stopping you from acing the other 80% either. Persevere and you will succeed.
Thank you, Debarshi, for all your insightful answers!
About The Book
Superbu: Homecoming
This is not a childrenโs book or a fairy tale. This novella is not all about fun, or that fuzzy feeling you get from stories about dogs. It is a dramatic story of a family who brought home a dog. If you are looking for a book thatโll keep you continuously smiling through the antics of an adorable puppy, this is perhaps not the book for you.
So, now that you know what not to expect, letโs talk about what you can expect from this book. Have you or someone you know ever felt like something is missing in your life and getting a dog could help you fill a void? Did you, or an acquaintance of yours, end up actually getting that dog? Did you and your dog figure out how to navigate through life together?
This is the story of that dog, or a dog like that one. But more importantly, this is the story of that version of you, or that acquaintance of yours, who decided to act and bring home that dog, or of people like you who went through similar experiences in life.
If you are an author and wish to be interviewed or if you are a publicist and want to get your author interviewed on TRB, then please get in touch through direct e-mail: thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author:ย Abby Arthurย Release Date:ย 1st January 2020 Genre:ย High Fantasy, Novella Series: Format:ย E-book Pages:ย 104 Publisher: Blurb: A crown prince and his twin brother are secretly skilled assassinsโฆ โฆkilling for a cause they both despise. A crown prince and his twin brother are secretly skilled assassinsโฆ โฆkilling for a cause they both despise.
Bound to a dragon by a powerful spell, Tarrek and Albree are sent on their deadliest mission yet: Overcome an archangel, capture an innocent snake whisperer and smuggle him across foreign soil, alive. If they fail to comply with the spellโs demand, it will drive them to insanity. Yet a deadlier force commands their attention when an ice-wielding slave trader freezes several civilians in a local village, ensnaring Albreeโs love interest in the process. Will the twins choose to complete their near-suicide mission or fight insanity to save innocent lives?
Twins Of Shadow by Abby Arthur is a fantasy novella about assassin twins. I was sold on the idea of the book as soon as saw the cover and read the sub-title as I am a big lover of assassins and the idea of twin brothers being that totally made me want to read it. And thankfully the book turned out to be good!
I appreciate the fact that it was a novella, which Is pretty rare for the genre where you get only these elaborate series. So you can get a taste fo the author’s writing in a comparatively short piece of work which was damn quick to read. Though obviously, it came with another set of problems – the world-building and the characterisation weren’t able to develop as well as they would have done in a full-length novel (there’s obviously a reason why fantasy books tend to be so long.) So it won’t be wrong to say that I really wished that the author would have explored the world further and given us some more character development making it a lengthier book, but well it is what it is.
Still, for a debut work, the book is pretty good, the writing decent, the characters were not overly relatable but I liked them enough to be happy to follow them on their journey and the plot was really good. So, given the length of the book, I’d definitely recommend it to all fantasy lovers.
Author:ย Heather Morrisย Narrated by: Richard Armitageย Release Date:ย 11th January 2018 Genre:ย Historical Fiction Series: Format:ย Audiobook Pages:ย 8 hours Publisher: Bolinda/Bonnier Audio Blurb: A tale based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov.
In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tรคtowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.
Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarismโbut also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.
One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.
Book Review
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is the real-life story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, who was imprisoned in the infamous Auschwitz Concentration Camp during the holocaust. Although the story is mainly about how he met his wife, Gita, and fell in love with her, the details and the insights of the concentration camp were horrifying and agonisingly insightful. The horrors of the camp were told from a very neutral perspective and therefore gave the readers a chance to feel things on their own without clouding their judgement. And for me, that was the best part of the book.
The romantic part was not particularly appealing to me, but the rest of the story was pretty good. I really thought that the character of Gita wasn’t done enough justice in the book, especially considering how the book was actually written for her. Male ended up dominating the story far more and it felt like his tale alone.
Though I did like the epilogue by Lale and Gita’s son as it lent an air of eery realism tot he book. I’d definitely recommend it to all historical fiction lovers and to all holocaust enthusiasts.
Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, Iโd like to welcome author Debarshi Kanjilal, for the cover reveal of his upcoming book SuperBu: Homecoming.
Presenting the beautiful cover of SuperBu: Homecoming by Debarshi Kanjilal
This is not a children’s book or a fairy tale. This novella is not all about fun, or that fuzzy feeling you get from stories about dogs. It is a dramatic story of a family who brought home a dog. If you are looking for a book that’ll keep you continuously smiling through the antics of an adorable puppy, this is perhaps not the book for you.
So, now that you know what not to expect, let’s talk about what you can expect from this book. Have you or someone you know ever felt like something is missing in your life and getting a dog could help you fill a void? Did you, or an acquaintance of yours, end up actually getting that dog? Did you and your dog figure out how to navigate through life together?
This is the story of that dog, or a dog like that one. But more importantly, this is the story of that version of you, or that acquaintance of yours, who decided to act and bring home that dog, or of people like you who went through similar experiences in life.
Debarshi Kanjilal (DK) is an urban fiction writer based out of Bangalore, India. His debut novella, Based on Lies, was touted as a gripping psychological thriller by several reputable reviewers.
His latest novella, SuperBu: Homecoming is an emotional journey of a family and their dog. Debarshi ran the โGod of Absurdityโ blog from 2012 to 2015, which published humorous anecdotes and reflection pieces.
He is also an accomplished learning experience design professional who has helped shape adult learning strategy for some of the most well-known organizations globally.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge, the part of TRB that helps authors and publishers promote their titles.
Today, we are featuring AbbyArthur, author of Twins of Shadow,ย for our Author Interview feature.
About The Author
AbbyArthur
Abby Arthur writes young adult fantasy in a fascinating modern world full of magic and adventure that lingers even after the last page. With over 20 years of writing experience, she loves giving readers an escape from reality and is constantly creating new stories. Her magic portal is located in small town Iowa, protected by herself, her husband, and their son. Her first book is Twins of Shadow.
Welcome to TRB! Please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself before we begin.ย
Hi beautiful readers! Iโm Abby Arthur, a young adult fantasy author. I strive to take you on an adventure in a magical land you can never forget with characters and experiences that linger even after the last page.ย
Please tell us something about your book other than what we have read in the blurb?
TWINS OF SHADOW is the first book Iโve published in a world of magic thatโs been living inside me since I was 8 years old. Tarrek and Albree (the twins and the narrators) are some of the first characters I created. They have been with me for almost twenty years. The twins have, therefore, woven themselves into many more books to come.
Who is your favourite character in this book and why?
My first reaction: Albree! Because heโs tall, dark, and handsome โฆ (Wait, so is Tarrek. Theyโre identical!)
My second reaction: Ok, letโs be serious now โฆ Looking back. Tarrek used to be my favorite (When I was, like, 12) because he was so sensible. However, a friend of mine mentioned how she loved Albree and his โbad-boynessโ. She said he had more depth to him because of his rebellious behavior, and something inside me just agreed with her. Heโs been my favorite ever since.ย
What inspired you to write this book? An idea, some anecdote, a dream or something else?
I was inspired to write TWINS OF SHADOW for a few reasons:
I wanted people to start falling in love with the characters Iโve lived with for years.
Books can break through all kinds of barriers. Books reach across the world, helping people connect with each other. (I think of LORD OF THE RINGS and HARRY POTTER when I say this.)
I dream of creating a reason for people to connect, to form a fantasy loving family around the books I write. TWINS OF SHADOW is my first step towards that goal.
How long did it take you to write this particular book?
A week.
I was on fire.ย The story idea rushed me like a raging river and sucked me under time and time again. I would lay down for bed and jump back up to write more. Then Iโd wake up early and start at it again. I wrote around 5,000 words a day.ย
What are your writing ambitions? Are you working on any new projects presently?
My ambitions are to write until my soul is called home. Stories run thicker than blood in my veins. Iโm addicted to writing and canโt imagine life without it.
Iโm always working on new projects. I want to see my books spread across the world in multiple languages so the fantasy family can grow.
Just in the last 6 months, Iโve written 3 novels and finished a short story collection. (Itโs faster to write than publish :)) All of the stories Iโve finished take place in the same world as TWINS OF SHADOW, and in many of the stories I completed, the twins make multiple appearances.
One of the novels I wrote is told by Sheva, Tarrek and Albreeโs crazy younger sister. (She makes an appearance in the second half of TWINS OF SHADOW.) Her novel shows us why sheโs crazy (and freakishly powerful). It also follows what she was up to while the twins were on their mission in ToS. Shevaโs story also has a mysterious heart throb and his rival, Albreeโs best friend.ย
Why have you chosen this genre?
I first chose fantasy as a child around the time HARRY POTTER came out. Iโve never read the books myself. (Dramatic gasp). My parents were a part of the โAnti-Harry Potter fan clubโ when I was young. But I watched the movies at a friendโs houseโthe most rebellious thing I ever did, I promise.
That said, the book that got me into fantasy was SHADOWMANCER by G.P. Taylor. Followed by the LORD OF THE RINGS movies.
My books were originally inspired by Tolkienโs world and featured a 13-year-old boy as the star. (I was 8 and 13 seemed like such an old age to me!) My characters grew up with me, gained technology, and eventually got stuck in their teens. What a way to be, right?ย
When did you decide to become a writer?
When I was 8 and my sister read young adult books to me at night. I thought the stories were awesome and just thought, I can do that! So I started writing, and Iโve never stopped.
What is your writing ritual? How do you do it?
I get to my computer, open my current story, and set to it.
My writing time has changed over the years as Iโve grown up, moved around, and gained my own family. I now tend to wake up at 5:30 AM to write for a few hours before everyone else is up. My son takes a nap at 9, and I write again.
I go to work at 12pm and get off at 5pm, so if my husband is home at night, I write some more. Iโm obsessed, and my husband feeds the obsession by reading what I write. Heโs always up to speed on my characterโs lives.
If my husband isnโt home at night, I read books and watch TV shows to feed the stories inside me.
I also always have a notebook with me to brainstorm ideas on the go and during downtime at work.
Making time to keep my body healthy is crucial as well. If my body isnโt in good health, my writing lags. Therefore, I always tend to do something physical in the 8โoclock hour. Yoga has been my go-to for months! My exact writing formula is to break my stories into 4 parts, brainstorm the overall goals of the book, then write all my scenes in order. I can go on, but I explain more on my writing style in my YouTube videos. The one titledย โShort Story Writing Tips for Fantasy| 4 EASY STEPSโ is actually the formula I use for everything I write, not just short stories.
How do you prefer to write? On computer/laptop, typewriter, dictation or longhand with a pen?
Computer!
I tried a pen and paper when I was 16. My hand cramped so bad! And I still had to move what I wrote to a computerโฆ I ainโt got time for that!
Your 5 favourite books?
Number one is easy. Cassandra Clare is my idol! So of course CITY OF BONES is number one. Sabaa Tahir has a way of making me shake to the core with her un-conventional plot twists, so her AN EMBER IN THE ASHES is number two. THRONE OF GLASS was just so good, and though Iโm not in love with every Sarah J. Maas story, I LOVED that one. Four is the POISON EATERS AND OTHER STORIES by Holly Black, because her short story, COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN, is burned to my mind! The fifth is harder to choose, because thereโs a lot of good books Iโve readโฆ but right now Iโd say KISS OF DECEPTION by Mary E. Pearson.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.ย
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
The Poison Eaters and Other Stories by Holly Black
Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
How do you deal with Writerโs Block?
Ooo, the notorious question! Thereโs not too often I run into writers block these days, as the muscles in my mind related to book stuff seem to be on overdrive! BUT, in the last year I remember one moment where I stood before the computer unsure as what to write, like my inner writer fell asleep! (How dare she!)
After about a minute of contemplating the little curser blinking at me, I took a step back, grabbed a notebook and pen, and implemented something I learned from the author of WRITING BETTER LYRICS, Pat Pattison.
Shameless plug*
WRITING BETTER LYRICS is about the craft of writing itself as much as it is about writing songs. It is the single book I credit to GREATLY improving my writing style, so I highly recommend it!
Anywayโฆ Pat teaches something called Object Writing, where you pick one thing to write about (a phone, paper, etc) and ramble about it. However, the rambles are to use all your senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste). This naturally causes me to write with metaphors and similes. I do this exercise quite often (for about 5-10 minutes) in the mornings before I write. It has turned out to be an INSTANT writerโs block conqueror for me.
So that one day when writerโs block thought it could claim me, it was instantly conquered by a 5 minute Object Writing session. My inner writer woke up and my story came rushing to me. The blank page disappeared, and I had 1000 words to show for it!
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Read books in your genera. Read a lot! But also read how-to-write books from people whoโve gone before you. It will accelerate your writing skills and make your books better faster.
If writing is your dream, and all you can think about is being a writer, you can do it! You will learn to brush off rejection, improve your skills, and never give up. Because you canโt ever give up, even when your fingers cramp from writing 5000 words for three days straight, and youโre rejected too many times to count.
As in the words of Lisa Nichols, โQuitters never win, and winners never quit.โ
Thank you for sharing your time with me!
-Abby Arthur
Thank you, Abby, for all your enthusiastic and insightful answers! I personally love doing prompt-writing too and object writing sounds fun! Will definitely give it a try.
About The Book
Twins Of Shadow
A crown prince and his twin brother are secretly skilled assassinsโฆ
โฆkilling for a cause they both despise.
A crown prince and his twin brother are secretly skilled assassinsโฆ
โฆkilling for a cause they both despise.
Bound to a dragon by a powerful spell, Tarrek and Albree are sent on their deadliest mission yet: Overcome an archangel, capture an innocent snake whisperer and smuggle him across foreign soil, alive. If they fail to comply with the spellโs demand, it will drive them to insanity. Yet a deadlier force commands their attention when an ice-wielding slave trader freezes several civilians in a local village, ensnaring Albreeโs love interest in the process. Will the twins choose to complete their near-suicide mission or fight insanity to save innocent lives?
If you are an author and wish to be interviewed or if you are a publicist and want to get your author interviewed on TRB, then please get in touch through direct e-mail: thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author:ย John Mathews Release Date:ย 25th January 2015 Genre:ย Mystery, Thriller Series: Format:ย E-bookย Pages:ย 72 pages Publisher:ย DSP Publications Blurb: Two criminals are responsible for an innocent man getting sentenced to life for murder. An inept defense attorney and a crooked prosecutor are the other players in this case of egregious American corruption.ย The four of them have been lured into a trap in an abandoned warehouse. Someone wants vengeance. This is a story of vigilante justice for the wrongfully convicted. Marked doors lead to four locked rooms, one where each of them will have to pay a price for what they have done. What will they be required to do in order to survive?ย This riveting crime thriller puts the American justice system in public view and will keep you guessing until the very last scene. A dark masked figure watches…waits…and wants revenge.
Book Review
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Conviction: Enacting Vigilante Justice by John Mathews is a surprisingly amazing read! I usually don’t expect much from a novella unless of course it is written by authors like Stephen King, but this book turned out to be an absolute delight.
This novella is jam-packed with high tension scenes, mind-boggling manipulative games, fast-paced action and clever twists and turns โ all this in just 72 pages! And for me that itself was the best part. This book was an intense yet quick read and kept me on the edge the entire time.
This book was able to accomplish what a lot of lengthy mystery and thriller novels fail to achieve and so I would definitely recommend this book to all thriller lovers.
Today, at TRB Lounge, we are hosting Abby Arthur, YA Fantasy author of TWINS OF SHADOW, to share some insights into her process of writing.
Note: Details on the giveaway running for the month of August 2020 are at the end of the post*
The Power of Metaphors and Similes
Ever read a book that sucks you in, describing the setting like a whirlwind of mystery wrapped in the snuggly arms of a wild grizzly bear?
Or have you found yourself so deep in the thick of a battle scene, you could feel the blood gush from your own arm?
I have experienced this, my friend. And Iโve come to analyze these stories to understand why I was so captivated.
To give you real-life examples of stories that have sucked me in, there are:
CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi
SORCERY OF THORNS by Margret Rogerson.
From the very start, the books above use words that paint pictures, pictures that make you feel what the character is feeling.
To do this, the authors use METAPHORS and SIMILES.
What is a Metaphor?
According to author Pat Pattison in his amazing book, WRITING BETTER LYRICS:
โIn its most basic form, a metaphor is a collision between ideas that donโt belong together.โ
Hereโs an example: The princess is a delicate lily.
With using a metaphor to describe the character, you canโt see the princess without seeing a delicate lily, and therefore, you instantly know the princess is beautiful and fragile.
Try this: The princess is a vicious wolf.
In this example, you donโt think of a flower or fragileness. You see a powerful woman with strength, determination, and a dangerous drive to survive.
What is a Simile?
A simile is a lot like a metaphor, but it differentiates by the connecting word โlikeโ or โasโ. A metaphor says the subject IS the descriptor (the princess IS a delicate lily). But a simile merely compares the two (the princess is LIKE a delicate lily).
Iโve noticed more similes in stories than direct metaphors. Both are beautiful, but I feel saying โthe princess IS a vicious wolfโ has a more substantial impact on the story verses she is LIKE a vicious wolf. The โISโ transforms her before your very eyes. Donโt you agree?
So How Do You Make Great Metaphors and Similes?
Practice. Take 5-10 minutes a day before you start writing your stories and create metaphors and similes. You can describe your characters, your settings, your cup of coffee, your dinner, your dog…
The more you practice, the faster your brain will be able to call upon them when youโre writing.
I promise, it works!
Try the practice exercise for 7 consecutive days and you will be AMAZED at your progress in such a short time!
Implement Metaphors and Similes in Your Story
When you write, start to watch for moments you can implement a metaphor or simile.
Just knowing to keep your eyes open will bring forth the opportunity to add them.
For example, maybe youโre writing something like, โThe princess was tall and thin.โ Now that you know to watch for a chance to insert a metaphor or simile, you will realize you can say instead, โShe was tall and thin, a towering tree overlooking the kingdom like a noble guard.โ
The more you implement metaphors and similes, the more your story will come to life and transport your readers into your magical world (fantasy or not)!
The Major 17 YA Fantasy Book Giveaway
Now for the moment youโve been waiting for!
For the month of August 2020, Abby Arthur is giving away a total of 17 YA Fantasy novels and a new eReader from Amazon โ the Kindle Fire 7, over the course of the next 4 weeks.
Follow Abby on her social platforms (Gives you 50X more chances to win!)
Share your lucky URL (extra 20X chances to win per friend to enter)
Good Luck, my friend!
About the author:
Abby Arthur
Abby Arthur writes young adult fantasy in a fascinating modern world full of magic and adventure that lingers even after the last page. With over 20 years of writing experience, she loves giving readers an escape from reality and is constantly creating new stories. Her magic portal is located in small town Iowa, protected by herself, her husband, and their son. Her first book is Twins of Shadow.
A crown prince and his twin brother are secretly skilled assassinsโฆ
โฆkilling for a cause they both despise.
A crown prince and his twin brother are secretly skilled assassinsโฆ
โฆkilling for a cause they both despise.
Bound to a dragon by a powerful spell, Tarrek and Albree are sent on their deadliest mission yet: Overcome an archangel, capture an innocent snake whisperer and smuggle him across foreign soil, alive. If they fail to comply with the spellโs demand, it will drive them to insanity. Yet a deadlier force commands their attention when an ice-wielding slave trader freezes several civilians in a local village, ensnaring Albreeโs love interest in the process. Will the twins choose to complete their near-suicide mission or fight insanity to save innocent lives?
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your authorโs guest post on TRB, then please get in touch through email at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author: J. Scott Coatsworth Release Date: 10th October 2017 Genre: Science-Fiction Fantasy, LGBTQ Series: Liminal Sky (Book #1) Format: E-book Pages: 284 pages Publisher: DSP Publications Blurb: Some stories are epic. The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed. Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested from the asteroid belt. This is the story of one of themโ43 Ariadne, or Forever, as her inhabitants call herโa living world that carries the remaining hopes of humanity, and the three generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers working to colonize her.
From her humble beginnings as a seedling saved from disaster to the start of her journey across the void of space toward a new home for the human race, The Stark Divide tells the tales of the world, the people who made her, and the few who will become something altogether beyond human.
Humankind has just taken its first step toward the stars.
Book Review
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Stark Divide by J. Scott Coatsworth is a dynamic beginning to a new sci-fi fantasy series Liminal Sky that turned out to be equal parts entertaining and equal parts adventure. I was pulled into the story right from the beginning and was blown away by the fantastic world the author has created. This proved to be an unputdownable book with great pacing and tension. I am really looking forward to reading the next part of this amazing series.
Along with the main story, I also enjoyed the side plots just as much. The characters were really likeable, the story was good, the narration felt good and made the book a fast read and the flow of the story was amazing! I’d recommend this book to all sci-fi lovers, especially to those who like reading about LGBTQ side-themes.
,ย for our Author Interview feature.
The Reading Bud 