Collins Booksellers Edwardstown

Gillian Polack Interview

2015-10-18T14:32:00.001+10:30

I interviewed Gillian Polack as she celebrates soon the release of her new book The Time of the Ghosts.

Someone has to write this down.
Someone who has seen it all.
Seen the ghosts.
Eaten the food.
Even washed the dishes.

Ghosts trail after us. They are our fears and the shape of our hates. We bring them into our lives and into our homes.
A fairy – variety melusine – tells of her private ghosts in unreliable fairy stories. She handles her own haunting.

Some years our fears and hates are so strong that we turn our ghosts tangible. Instead of trailing after us forlornly, whispering “Believe in us, or you are damned,” they fracture our landscape. Poltergeists and the spirits of drowned girls; malicious presences and portents; cat vampires and roaming bushrangers.

These ghosts haunt Canberra. These ghosts can kill.
It takes four women, one cup of tea at a time, to deal with Canberra’s haunting.

1) – I was reading Mary Victoria’s interview with you and saw that you went to Aussie Con! I can’t believe I missed out on meeting you in the flesh at World Con in Melbourne. Where were you hiding yourself?

I wasn’t hiding! I was, though, a bit busy. Baggage was launched there (and now has a US edition) and I was on a few panels. Wherever I went, I ran into people I knew. I remember going down an escalator and waving at all my friends who were going up. I was so impressed by how many people I knew who were there that I sat down with the members’ list and counted and I knew well over 200. It was my first big convention (the biggest I’d been to before than had 500) and it was amazing. So much to do! So many friends! My only regret is that I couldn’t do more and see more people. I needed to clone myself. If only I were a scientist, I’d have been a contender…

2) Tell me a little bit about yourself?

I live in Canberra. I’m younger than most of my characters in The Time of the Ghosts, but old enough so that five year olds hug me sympathetically for being so old (five year old friends are very sympathetic towards middle age – they also laugh at my jokes). I enjoy cooking, chatting with friends, most things to do with science fiction and fantasy, being a historian, being a writer, teaching and research. I do not enjoy housework.

3) - Can you describe your new book in three words?

Haunting, Canberra, fairies.

4) – What is the basic premise of your latest book?

The Time of the Ghosts has two premises. The first is that elderly women can do exciting things without the rest of society knowing because we tend to leave them to themselves a lot of the time. This is why my novel contains superheroes who are female and beyond menopause. Two of them are very far beyond menopause. The second is that the fears and hopes and despair we carry can manifest themselves and can be really, really dangerous.

5) - Who was the worst character to write and why?

The worst character was Ann. She’s a nice person going through very hard times and I wanted to talk about them and show how nice she was. Instead all the less charming bits of her showed because of what she was going through. She’s your next best friend, really. It’s just that many of us are our worst selves when life goes wrong. Ann wants to be as extraordinary as her best friends and thinks she’s a failure. We’re not seeing the thirty years when she was there for everyone, but the few months when she lost herself.

6) - Tell me more about Little My. Where did it come from and why?

Little My is a character from Tove Jansson’s Moomin books.

I went to Finland last year as part of my GUFF experience (I was representing Australasia at the world SF convention and got to meet fans in England, Ireland, Finland and Croatia as part of this) and I came back supporting the world convention in 2017. The convention organisers gave me a Little My soon after. When I visited Sydney, I gave her some adventures. Then there was a science fiction convention in Canberra and she had some adventures there. She absconded on the last day (to the disappointment of fans who wanted their picture taken with her) and was last seen flying over the Northern Territory. You can follow her adventures by looking me (Gillian Polack) up on Facebook and going to my photo albums. Little My is very social and got to know a lot of writers during her adventures, so you may well find pictures of her with your favourite writer. I remember she posed with Isobelle Carmody, for example, and scared Sean Williams.

7) – Why should people buy this new book?

Because it’s a lot of fun and just a little scary. Because the food side of it is amazing and I want to attend all those dinner parties myself. Because it will make you look at little old ladies with a lot more respect. Because it’s not the Canberra everyone thinks they know.

8) – How many more books have you got coming out this year?

None! I had three and they’re all out!! The three were The Art of Effective Dreaming (a novel about making dreams come true), The Middle Ages Unlocked (written with Katrin Kania – loads of useful stuff about medieval England) and The Time of the Ghosts. I have another three coming out next year. Two novels and a non-fiction book again. I had a huge backlog of books sitting in various publishers’ in-trays and they were all signed up at once and are now magically appearing. I don’t actually write three books a year. I write about one every two years. What’s emerging now is fifteen years of very hard work.

9) – What is your favourite flavour of ice cream?

Chocolate. Dark and rich and streaked with other flavours.

10) – Lastly, what inspired The Time of the Ghosts?

I was giving a lecture on the Middle Ages to a huge crowd of elderly women. One of them was my mother. I had a sudden idea and asked them (after the lecture) whether their families knew just how much they did with their lives. No. It turned out that they asked their families what they did, but their families assumed that their elderly parents/grandparents lived in a kind of limbo, waiting for younger people to turn up and tell them about living.

I asked my mother on the way home (she drove) if she wanted to be a super hero or a villain.

“Why do you want to know?”

“You’re fit and healthy and have a steady income. You do a lot with your time. And no-one asks you about it. You could plan to take over the world and people would just assume you were waiting in limbo.”

At that moment I started planning a novel. If enough people buy it, I’ll write another one. Elderly women make the best protagonists. Dark secrets and long lives and strong opinions!

Gillian Polack is an author at Satalyte Publishing and has many other fantastic books. Check out Gillian here

You can purchase the books through Satalyte here

Author Event - Supper with Fiona McIntosh 2015

2015-10-01T14:00:00.000+09:30

Come join us on the 19th November at 6:30pm to welcome Fiona McIntosh to the Noarlunga Library.

Free event but bookings are essential:

Please call us Collins Booksellers Edwardstown on (08) 8277-8857 or the Onkaparinga Libraries - Noarlunga Library (08) 8384-0655 to place your bookings or you can follow the links and reserve your seat via Eventbrite

Order tickets via Eventbrite:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/author-event-supper-with-fiona-mcintosh-tickets-18769623449?aff=efbevent

Fiona will be talking about her new book 'The Perfumer's Secret' then signing copies of her novels.

'I am at one with Nature's perfection – her beauty, her colours, her fragrances – and she has allowed me to glimpse it in a man.'

On the eve of the First World War, Fleurette, the only daughter of the wealthy Delacroix perfume dynasty, is being forced to marry a man she loathes, Aimery De Lasset, head of the pre-eminent perfume manufacturer in France. It is only the cathedral bells tolling the rally to the frontlines that save her from sharing his bed.

When she receives an unexpected letter from Aimery's estranged brother, Fleurette is left holding a terrible secret, and the sparks of a powerful passion. Her discoveries risk shattering the two families and their perfume empires, bringing tragedy down on them all.

The Perfumer's Secret is an intoxicating feast for the senses, a highly passionate and dramatic story of duty, deception and desire from the beloved, bestselling author Fiona McIntosh.

Tea, Coffee and a light supper will be provided.

Katrina Germein Reading and Signing 2015

2015-10-01T13:41:00.000+09:30

Saturday 10th October - Collins Booksellers Edwardstown will be having Katrina Germein in store at 10:30am to read from her new book

'Thunderstorm Dancing'

Bring the kids in to listen and help support an Adelaide author :D

Mandy Foot Event Photos 2015

2015-10-01T10:08:00.000+09:30

Author Event - Katrina Germein - Reading and Signing

2015-09-17T10:26:00.000+09:30

Come bring the kids to hear Katrina Germain, author of 'My Dad Thinks He's Funny' and many more books, read from Katrina's book 'Thunderstorm Dancing'

Katrina will be here at Collins Booksellers Edwardstown, Castle Plaza Shopping Centre on the 10th October at 10:30am.

When a sunny day at the beach turns stormy, a little girl runs for cover. Her daddy and brothers are wild in the wind and lightning, and her poppy is as loud as thunder. They fill the house with stamping and crashing while Granny plays piano to their riotous thunderstorm dancing. until the storm passes and they all fall down. Then, in the stillness, the girl is ready to play. What will she be, now that the rain has stopped and there's a glimmer of sunlight?

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

Looking forward to seeing you all here!

Andy Griffiths 2015 EVent

2015-09-17T10:21:00.000+09:30

Lee Holmes Event in the Weekend Notes :D

2015-09-01T11:33:00.003+09:30

Our Lee Holmes event is in the Weekend Notes. Go have a look!

http://www.weekendnotes.com/heal-your-gut-with-lee-holmes-collins-booksellers-edwardstown/

Author Event - Mandy Foot - This Little Roo Went to Market

2015-08-25T10:10:00.000+09:30

Author Event - Lee Holmes - September 4th

2015-08-14T09:20:00.000+09:30

Come to Collins Booksellers Edwardstown in Castle Plaza Shopping Centre on the 4th of September at 2.30pm to hear Lee Holmes speak about her new book 'Heal Your Gut'

We will also be taste testing recipes from Lee's book so book it into your diaries!

National Bookshop Day Photo's 2015

2015-08-09T13:59:00.000+09:30

Yesterday we celebrated National Bookshop Day with an Alice in Wonderland theme. Such an action packed day, filled with eight author readings/signings, the people from the Animal Rescue Network, Centre wide treasure hunt, the launch of the Quirky Kids Book Club and so much more. Here are a few photos from yesterday.

QuirkKids Book Club Launch

2015-08-09T07:50:00.001+09:30

Thank you for helping us celebrate National Bookshop Day!

Books are such an important part of growing up and there have been studies that show, childrens brains form stronger and smarter if they are read to and taught a love of reading from a young age. We are passionate about books and love to see kids and teens reading. A book is like a portal into another world. You can be anything and anyone. You can experience things that you might not be able to in real life and the most important thing is readers can identify with situations that resonate with them and provide them with hope, support and guidance.

We have, in conjunction with James Patterson, have designed a brilliant reading program to inspire kids and teens to start reading and finding books that they love.

We are proud to launch the Quirky Kids Book Club.

Now, this book club is split into two sections – Junior and Teen. They will be held on alternate weekends. For only $5, your child/teen will receive a years membership to the Quirky Kids Book Club. There will be two books chosen every month and your child/teen can choose which ones they want to read. Then for each review, maximum two a month – they will get their card stamped. When they have all five stamps then they will receive a $15 gift card to the store to spend. Each review will be posted on our blog and in store as well. So not only will they find great books to read but they will get some publishing and writing experience too.

Another bonus is their membership card entitles them to a 10% discount on all childrens books when they present their card. Not only that we will be hosting activities and giveaways, and will be bringing in authors to talk to the children/teens as well.

For anyone who can’t make it in the teens book club, I will be setting up a closed forum for them to post online and to discuss their books.

I really hope that we can stoke the love of reading in our children and broaden their horizons.

Quirky Kids Book Club Launch

2015-07-30T16:09:00.000+09:30

Drum roll *boom boom* In conjunction with James Patterson, Random House Books AU and We Love Kids' Books we will be launching our Quirky Kids Book Club on the 8th of September! We are really excited about launching this project and hope to get as many kids as we can to love reading! Come in on ‪#‎NationalBookshopDay‬ and join up

Author Event - Lee Holmes Friday 4th September

2015-07-30T16:04:00.002+09:30

Book Review - Uprooted - Naomi Novik

2015-06-21T21:46:00.000+09:30

Uprooted by Naomi Novik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I couldn't put this book down!

The characters were instantly with you and the story was great. You get to see the growth between the Dragon and Agnieszka deepen and see how she compliments his magic. Her love for her friends drives her and forces her to confront very scary situations.

Compassion, in the end, is the only way.

Very fast driven plot, yet the characters deal with it and grow.

Loved this book!

View all my reviews

Book Review - Book of Speculation - Erika Swyler

2015-06-21T21:36:00.000+09:30

The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was slow to start but gradually gained it's pace. I was more interested in the back history parts of the story but it was a good read.

The characters were a little hard to grow a bond with, but you understood them. Very interesting concept and I enjoyed reading about the families and their history.

Look forward to this book in August 2015

View all my reviews

Book Review - Finding Audrey - Sophie Kinsella

2015-06-21T21:25:00.000+09:30

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy most of Sophie Kinsella's book and this was no exception.

A little bit different from her other books as this one is set in the world of high school bullying and the consequences of the fall out.

Audrey is basically housebound, unable to face people and she wears dark glasses to stop herself from looking into the eyes of her loved ones. After an episode at school, she is now on a break and is forced by her councillor to make a video of her daily life. She is set a series of moves designed to push her boundaries and try to overcome the mental break she has suffered. Her goal - to go to Starbucks and to talk to someone other than her family.

I enjoyed this book and teens should definately read this.

View all my reviews

Book Review - Forged From Silver Dollar - Li Feng

2015-06-21T20:36:00.000+09:30

Forged From Silver Dollar by Li Feng
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very fascinating look at three generations of Chinese women. I found this to be an enthralling read and I learnt a lot about how insidious the slow rise to change of power is. We see what it was like before the Communist rule, we see what it was like under the CP rule and we see what it is like for women today in China.

The three women are all very different characters and each has their strengths and weaknesses that make a whole in Li Feng as she draws from her history to tell her ancestor's stories.

A great read for anybody who loved Amy Tan's 'Wild Swans'

Loved it!

View all my reviews

Book Review - Avery - Charlotte McConaghy

2015-06-21T19:57:00.002+09:30

Avery by Charlotte McConaghy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The lengths that people will go to for revenge is clearly portrayed in this book. It also shows the healing people can do when they think all is lost.

The bond between loves is infallible and life shattering. To lose your bond mate is to lose your life... except in the case of Ava. When her bond mate Avery is murdered, she expects to die but she doesn't. Instead she lives with half a soul and dreams of revenge.

I loved this storyline and the characters had real depth. You could feel the anger and the pain that Ava feels about losing Avery and then you can see her journey towards redemption. The characters are in your face with their flaws so you sometimes struggle to see their gems, but there they are shining in the development of each one.

A high recommended read and look out for book two next year (I hope!)

View all my reviews

Twice Upon A Time Blog Tour: An Interview with Brian T. Hodges

2015-06-06T07:10:00.001+09:30

CONTRARY to the title of this anthology, working with such a talented cast of writers is an opportunity that usually comes once in a lifetime. From best-selling to greenhorn, independent or traditionally-published, the authors in this anthology span all ranges in addition to spanning the globe—from England to Australia and all over the United States. I've had the privilege of getting to know each and every one of them, and they have become a part of my extended family. I've even caught a glimpse of a secret side of them that only another writer...editor...is privy to witness through their words. Through this series of posts, I plan on introducing you to my new family through a mini-interview of each. You may not get a chance to see their secret side, but you'll get a sneak-peek into their minds, their passions and inspirations, and what made them the writers they are today.

..The Mini Interview..

1. At what age did you start writing? I used to use my grandmother's typewriter when I was around 6 or 7, and finished my first story on it. But when I was 19, I tried National Novel Writing Month. I 'won' this, completing a 50,000 word draft in 30 days, and that gave me the boost to try writing on a regular and more dedicated basis.
2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction? I grew up reading about animals who talked and curses/prophecies. The most influential for me was The Sight by David-Clement Davies. Mixing a strange-to-me landscape, wolf gods, sentient animals, and prophecies was my window into fantasy and supernatural books.
3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite? My favourite book is probably still The Moon Riders by Theresa Tomlinson. It introduced me to strong female characters, spoke of living in harmony with the seasons, and held divination and dance as sacred powers. In terms of writing, it’s the book I remember when I need to create more tension because the main character survives and manages so many devastating events.
4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing? I began writing more seriously due to a friend asking me to do National Novel Writing Month with her. When I’m stuck or struggling to write how I want to, I re-read Dianne Sylvan’s first Shadow World book, Queen of Shadows. I personally find her writing style works for me, and I own nearly every book she’s written, so she’s definitely a positive influence. 5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn? Perseverance. And because picking just one is tricky, I’d also say to expect your first drafts and early planning to have gaps, holes, issues or be plain rubbish. Writing isn’t a race. I believe even well-known, prolific writers have rubbish chapters in their first drafts and sit staring at a scene wondering how on earth they can fix it. Therefore, my two-sided advice is to not rush the process—to give the writing time to breathe and yourself time to recharge when writing. However, don’t give up. Don’t let your writing sit in a drawer for too long. Keep moving forward, step by step.
6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure? It’s difficult to pinpoint something specifically in publishing, but while people at the publishing end are getting things sorted, the author can be left waiting without much communication (as they’re busy getting things rolling) at times.
7. From where did the inspiration for your submission arise? I studied the story of Taliesin as a module on Celtic mythology, so I felt familiar with the symbols and messages often found within it.
8. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart from the others? When I studied the tale, it rarely gave Morfran’s view of this magic to be bestowed upon him; that led me to tell his side of the story—with his secret power and the balance of wanting his own life versus pleasing those around him.
9. On what projects are you currently working? I’m currently editing a young adult novel draft which focuses on a young falconer and her hawk discovering the secrets of a city during rebellion
.

Read K.R. Green's story, The Night of Awen, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!

Available for Purchase at...

Amazon|Paperback ♦ Amazon|Kindle

B&N|Paperback ♦ B&N|NOOK ♦ Kobo|eBook

Schuler Books|Paperback ♦ Smashwords|eBook

..About the Author..

KRGREEN writes about dragons, falconry, mythology, and sorcery. She attends a local writing group, and outside of writing enjoys herbal teas, reading, and gazing up at the stars. When she isn’t painting pictures with words, she works in the Mental Health sector in London and for Children’s Services in Sussex.

..Connect with the Author..

Twice Upon A Time Blog Tour: An Interview with Kelly Hale

2015-06-06T07:08:00.000+09:30

..The Mini Interview..

1. At what age did you start writing? Ten. By thirteen I was writing short stories, plotting out novels that were far too unwieldy for my skills. I also wrote Star Trek fanfiction (although I don't think it had an official name yet. It was 1969).
2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction? Beauty, by Sheri S. Tepper. I'm pretty sure I'd read speculative fiction prior but Beauty was the first one that I said, "oh, this is that thing which isn't exactly science fiction but also isn't remotely mainstream. I'm going to write this."
3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite? That is a horrible question to ask a writer, you know. Currently, my all time favorite book would be Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. The way the clues to the twist have been layered in from the first page and you only realize it at the same time as the narrator, when it's too late and you're hit with the same crushing betrayal and rage and desperate fear. As a writer, it's kind of awe-inspiring. I'm so glad I knew nothing about it when I began the read.
4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing? To really really start writing? Margaret Atwood and The Handmaid's Tale. She boldly claimed she didn't write science fiction, damn it, she wrote fiction. All fiction speculates. It's all fiction. Plus, that's a brilliant little book.
5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn? Most important, trite but true, write because you love it, because you want to, because it challenges you and also gives you joy. Odds are you will not become rich from writing, you may never make enough from it to live on. There was a great cartoon in The New Yorker once, showing a guy on the street selling pencils and the caption was, "Sold my first story and foolishly quit my day job." Don't do that.
6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure? Well, your work is going to be rejected so you have to get over that. The toughest I think for most writers (as most of us are introverts) is having to self-promote. It's easier now because of the internet, but not that long ago when print publishing was starting to slow, publishers required new work to be all lined up with blurbs and glowing reviews before they signed a contract with you. Which worked fine, I suppose, if you'd gone through Clarion or another prestigious workshop. If not you were forced to beg for a person who didn't know you to "please, please, please read my book and write a little blurb!"
7. From where did the inspiration for your submission arise? I was thinking about women as exploitable commodities now and throughout history. So my story was going to deal with that in some way. I have always been interested in the cultural clashes and co-mingling of the early interactions between white traders and Native Americans. So I began with the idea of a Shoshone man who offers his daughter to a mountain man in exchange for saving his life. The similarities of mythical figures from varied cultures is one of the most consistent connecting threads of our humanity. There is always a beast somewhere that can be tamed, tricked, or rescued by a woman.
8. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart from the others? My favorite character is, of course, Dove, the narrator. I liked her from the moment she started talking. I think every narrator is my favorite character when I'm writing them though.
9. On what projects are you currently working? I am working on three novels and must soon decide which one I'm going to spend the next six months working on until the end. One is a time-travel, YA thingy called The Moontree Women. The other is the second novel in my Erasing Sherlock series. And the third is an expansion of a short story called Project Thunderbird, which is due out in March 2015 in the anthology Liberating Earth, edited by Kate Orman.

Read Kelly's story, Blood Medicine, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!

Available for Purchase at...

Amazon|Paperback ♦ Amazon|Kindle

B&N|Paperback ♦ B&N|NOOK ♦ Kobo|eBook

Schuler Books|Paperback ♦ Smashwords|eBook

..About the Author..

KELLY HALE lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where the streets are paved with espresso beans and the garbage recycles itself. She is the author of a bunch of short stories in a bunch of anthologies, and a couple of novels (including the award-winning Erasing Sherlock). She has loved science fiction and fantasy for so long that the characters from the original Star Trek represent archetypes in her dreams.

..Connect with the Author..

Twice Upon A Time Blog Tour: An Interview with Bobbie Palmer

2015-06-06T07:05:00.000+09:30

..The Mini Interview..

1. At what age did you start writing? I wrote my first story in 6th grade for a class assignment and I haven't been able to stop.
2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction? Harry Potter; it opened me up to a world I never knew existed.
3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite? The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. When I first read it, I fell in love with the writing style and I felt like I connected to Mercy.
4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing? Stephen King. His determination to have his work out there is inspiring.
5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn? Writers need to rember to have fun. Its too easy to get caught up in edits and promoting. Both are important, but you need to have fun writing so you keep doing it. Don't let the pressure get to you.
6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure? Edits. I like getting lost in the story. When you edit you can't, you need to check grammar and spelling, make sure the story flows.
7. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart the others? Scarlette Gunn. She's the main character in a series I've been working on for a few years. She is who I want to be, but won't become. She stands up for herself and won't let anyone beat her down.
8. On what projects are you currently working? My latest paranormal romance, Emily's Captive, was just released on May 30, 2015.

Read Bobbie's story, Iron Strong Adalie, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!

Available for Purchase at...

Amazon|Paperback ♦ Amazon|Kindle

B&N|Paperback ♦ B&N|NOOK ♦ Kobo|eBook

Schuler Books|Paperback ♦ Smashwords|eBook

..About the Author..

BOBBIE PALMER writes both paranormal and thriller novels. She loves reading just about anything and when she’s not writing she has her nose stuck in a book. She loves to cook and hang out with her nephews and two cats. She is very involved in the writing community, hosting a writer’s breakfast once a month and a former municipal liaison for NaNoWriMo.

..Connect with the Author..

Twice Upon A Time Blog Tour: An Interview with Nick Nafpliotis

2015-06-06T07:04:00.000+09:30

..The Mini Interview..

1. At what age did you start writing? Really young, although I can't quite pinpoint the age. I remember enjoying the act of writing since early elementary school. It has always been a hobby, but I finally decided to get serious about it a few years ago.
2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction? I'm certain there were others before this, but the My Teacher is an Alien series by Bruce Coville had a huge impact on me. It was written for kids, but had some terrifying horror elements and ended up tackling some huge philosophical questions. That series of books really stuck with me. It also ensured that whenever the school book fair came around, I'd be there to find my next favorite story.
3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite? That shifts from year to year. Right now its a toss up between The Cormorant by Chuck Wendig and Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes.
4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing? This is a weird one—Lewis Grizzard. He was a humor columnist for the Atlanta Journal Constitution back when I was kid. Some pretty severe heart problems eventually caught up with him, taking his life at the age of 47. I bought some books that were filled with his back issue columns, many of which were written before I was even born. I didn't get all the pop culture references sometimes, but his words still moved me, mostly to laughter, and sometimes even to tears. I remember telling my mom how reading his work made him feel like he was alive again. Even though Mr. Grizzard wasn't around anymore, his work and his thoughts were still able to grab hold of me better than most people could if they were speaking in the same room. I wasn't sure at that point if I had the talent to to write (and I'm still pretty shaky on that one to this day), but I thought it would be pretty cool to have that type of impact, to create written words that lived on and touched people's lives longer after your voice would no longer be heard in the living realm. ...or maybe I just had a narcissistic wish to always be remembered or something.
5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn? It's a process. I know, I know, it's a cliche piece of advice, but its one I still keep having to remind myself about. Even the best writers in the world don't just wake up one day cranking out bestsellers. They write (and READ) on a daily basis, honing their craft and evolving as artists. We obviously can't all be Stephen King or Chuck Wendig or J.K. Rowling, but we can constantly improve our ability to tell stories and speak to readers. That journey alone is worth putting pen to page (or fingers to keyboard).
6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure? The stream of rejections that comes vomiting out of your inbox. When that letter comes, it doesn't matter that your favorite authors also experienced the dreaded 'we're sorry, but' qualifiers to their precious creations. In that moment, it sucks like nothing else.
7. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart from the others? My favorite character to write still hasn't found a home yet, but she's just getting started :)
8. On what projects are you currently working? I'm currently in the final draft/edits of my first novel, Snipe Hunt. It's a bit like Lovecraft meets The Goonies (I think).

Read Nick's story, The Wolf's Gambit, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!

..About the Author..

NICK NAFPLIOTIS is a music teacher and writer from Charleston, South Carolina. During the day, he instructs students from the ages of 11-14 on how to play band instruments. At night, he writes about weird crime, bizarre history, pop culture, and humorous classroom experiences on his blog, Rambling Beach Cat. He is also a television, novel, and comic book reviewer for Adventures in Poor Taste.

..Connect with the Author..

Twice Upon A Time Blog Tour: An Interview with Tarran Jones

2015-05-18T19:26:00.004+09:30

..The Mini Interview..

1. At what age did you start writing?
I started writing at about age five. My first short story was about a white sports car with black velvet seats. 2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction?
I would have to say there were two books that introduced me to Speculative Fiction: The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. These two books changed my world.
3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite?
I have a wide range of favourite books that I read. If I had to choose one, it would be Tamora Pierce's world of Tortall, especially her Song of the Lioness Quartet. Alanna: The First Adventure is the first book in that series. I love the threads of magic, life, and love that are woven throughout the series; I loved the characters, too, whom we get to see grow and develop.
4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing?
C.S. Lewis, Michael Ende, and Tamora Pierce. I loved these authors' worlds, and I wanted to create worlds just like them, filled with so much life and soul.
5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn?
Never give up! Writing is a hard business with constant rejection. Develop a hard skin, suck it up, and learn from it. Choose your Beta Readers with care, as you will want the truth and not fluff.
6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure?
The waiting. That is the hardest part for me. All you can do is try not to stress and keep writing.
7. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart from the others?
I loved writing Sigrun. She rose from being a scared little girl to the formidable woman who eventually gets justice.
8. On what projects are you currently working?
I have a full-length fantasy manuscript, Stones of Power, which has been picked up by Satalyte Publishing. I also have a few other short stories submitted to various magazines and collections.

Read Tarran's story, All That Glitters, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!

..About the Author..

TARRAN JONES works at Collins Booksellers Edwardstown. She lives in Adelaide, Australia with her partner and young daughter. Tarran has been in the book industry selling other people’s books for over 10 years and thought it was about time she started thinking about her own. She has finished her first novel, Stones of Power, and is now writing the second. Tarran has previously written articles, reviews, and blog posts for her bookstore’s blog and has written a great many short stories and one unpublished novella. She has had three short stories published online and was a finalist in the Australian Literature Review short story competition for one of her works. She loves writing all kinds of speculative fiction and thinks that it fires up the imagination. Gardening is one of Tarran’s passions and when she isn’t writing she can be found out in the vegetable garden talking to the plants.

..Connect with the Author..

Character and World Building Workshop - Jason Fischer and Melanie Casey

2015-05-14T10:50:00.000+09:30

Events! National Bookshop Day and Workshop

2015-05-14T10:46:00.000+09:30