Sean Black: Post

Sean Black is an action adventure author who's newest novel is all about how far the government will go to create the perfect soldier:

Byron Tibor is a war veteran who is exhausted from the amount of combat he has seen. Often working alone to infiltrate where no one else can, on his last mission things get too much for him and he has decided he has had enough. Haunted by a little girl he struggles to maintain his humanity and sanity and when doctors approach him with a cure to help with his PTSD, he doesn't know the consequences of saying yes. Byron thinks that he has become sane again, can return to his loving wife, but there is something very wrong with Byron, past and present are intermingling in his mind and Bryon does not know which war zone he is going to end up in next. Byron is on the run as the cure is not working as it should and there are a string of bodies that he is leaving behind that puts him on everyone's hit list.

I really enjoy action adventure novels that inject a bit of sci-fi into their story as you never know what militaries and governments around the world are willing to do to get the edge on the competition. It was interesting that Black decided to use a process that would overcome PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as this does occur to many people who serve the public whether it be within the army or police department ect. Having the ability to overcome what has haunted a person in combat would be a great achievement but with anything there can be side effects to the process and for this one let’s just say the body count increases.

Byron is an interesting character, and I was immediately drawn to him in his first chapter. He has so much going on mentally with his memories and whether he is in the past present or even where on Earth he believes he it. This makes the chapters from Byron's point of view very interesting as you never really know what you are going to get. This also affect's Byron's overall state of mind as you can imagine not really knowing what is true can make it difficult to deal with any reality. Also to have to live again some of your worst moments in combat would be hard for anyone to try to deal with mentally. Byron is also very deadly character, what he is able to achieve as one man is amazing.

There are quite a few point if views in this so if you do not like that you're not going to enjoy this book. I think these multiple point of view may have hindered the book some as I feel like the plot was never fully developed; there are still holes in the story that were not filled. I am not sure if this going to be a series or not, but I feel like there are things left over once this book was done. I would read another book in this series, mainly just for Byron and I hope that he would have more chapters from his point of view; and really for being a story really based around him, there were too many other and sometime insignificant, people given more time than Black needed to give them.

This is a short read action packed as it is 259 pages on my nook, so really easy to read this one in one sitting if you can get past all the point of view. I really liked the concept that Black brought forward and found that it was very current for today as more information and people come forward with hoe PTSD has affected their lives. I would read another book by Black and if this is a series I would continue on in it as long as Byron got more chapter time.

Enjoy!!!

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Interview & Giveaway: Cassie Alexander

I was first introduced to  Edie Spence in Nightshifted and as I continued on in the series, Moonshifted and Shapeshifted, Edie has become one of my favorite female protagonists in the paranormal genre for the fact that she is a nurse and she is human, which means that is long as Edie is around I will continue to read Cassie Alexander's novel. Please Welcome to Blood Rose Books:

Cassie Alexander

 

If there was one author you could co-write a novel with (they can be alive or dead) who would you choose and why? 

That inspired a lot of looking around my office-library, trying to figure out an answer! I think if I had my druthers, I’d co-write a book with Zelazny, because Lord of Light was an amazing, amazing, book.  

Is there a book, author, story or person that inspired you to become a writer? 

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths – in the third grade. I checked this book out for the entire year, I think, until I’d memorized the thing. I knew wanted to tell stories like that, about epic and crazy things that happened larger than life people.  

The Urban Fantasy / Paranormal genres appear to be the genre that everyone is writing in these days (even authors that are well established in other genres), what do you think draws authors to these genres? How do you believe your novels stand out from the rest of the crowd? 

Well, mostly because my protagonist is very level headed, and up until the last two books, had a real job being a nurse. She wasn’t special or fancy, she just cared a lot about other people and wanted to protect them, just like nurses do – only she had to worry about vampires and werewolves. 

You began writing in the Urban Fantasy / paranormal genres and recently you released two Erotica based novels (The House and The Haunted), why did you decide to write within the Erotica genre? What were some challenges you had when writing in a new genre, especially one that can be highly criticized? Did you find out anything about yourself by writing Erotica? 

I’d gotten a fair amount of fan mail that said that people really liked my sex scenes in my Edie books, so I felt pretty confident branching off into erotica. Plus, The House (the choose your own adventure erotica I wrote) was written right after I found out my publisher wasn’t going to continue to my Edie Spence series. It was really nice to work on something that was just for me and didn’t even have to have a linear plot. 

After that, I wrote the Haunted because I really wanted to write a girl-and-a-

ghost story, and I’ve written The Hunted, which’ll be my girl-and-a-werewolf novel – it’s been really fun to break with traditional genre expectations and write more soap-opera-y stuff. While assorted relatives have expressed mild disappointment, I haven’t gotten any criticisms yet – and I’m also working on some more mainstream books too. It’s the best of both worlds, really.  

What do you think would be the hardest or most challenging genre to write a novel in and why? 

I don’t think I could do military historical fiction ;). I love research, but when I start researching guns and ammo for books my eyes glaze over.  

I think the aspect I love about Edie the most is that she is Human trying to make her way in a monster’s world. Why did you decide to keep Edie as a human and not have even a spark of power in her? What do you think Edie’s real power is? 

Her power is that she cares. Shamelessly, openly. You never wonder where you stand with her. You can trust her. You know.  

One of the most interesting creatures that Edie comes in contact with are The Shadows. I have not read another book in the paranormal genre that anything close or similar to them. Where did the idea of The Shadows come from? Are we going to see more of them and their manipulative ways? 

They come from the basement of my own hospital. You do not want to go down there in the middle of the night. It’s a creepy place.  

The Shadows play a very large role in Deadshifted and Bloodshifted :D. 

You obviously use your nursing experience in order write about Edie’s own career. While you are at work and something strange, unusual or gross comes in, do you start to think (of course after helping the patient out), how can I apply that to a paranormal creature or a situation for Edie? Do any come to mind that you would be able to share with us? 

Ha, no…it’s not quite like that. It’s more the moments than any one person. Like I was watching a coworker pull gauze out of a wound, and it was a deep one so there was a ton, and it looked like they were performing some sort of shitty magic trick where you just keep pulling knotted scarves out of someone else’s pocket, only this time it was someone else’s body and the scarves were gauze soaked in blood…things like that ;). 

Do you have any information on upcoming works or events that you are able to share? 

My werewolf erotica, The Hunted, will be coming out on 10/1 if you’d like to keep an eye out for it! :D  

What is one book (other than one of your own) that you think should be a must read for everyone? 
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson. 

I was very sad to read that her Edie Spence series will not be continuing on but sometimes this leads you to new ventures in your life and new projects like it has for Cassie. Cassie has very nicely provided an Giveaway (US) to go along with her interview, anyone who like paranormal, urban fantasy or paranormal romance will want to enter this giveaway. Please fill out the rafflecopter information below to enter. Thank
 you once again Cassie

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Interview: Mark Alpert

I think that Mark Albert and his novel The Furies was one of the most interesting books that I read last year. You can really see the science background that he has and it is such an asset to plot creation. Please Welcome to Blood Rose Book:

Mark Alpert

If there was one author you could co-write a novel with (they can be alive or dead) who would you choose and why?

I’d love to write a novel with Stephen King. Brainstorming with that guy would be a lot of fun. So many of his books seem intended to answer the question, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” As a neurotic hypochondriac, I’m often thinking along the same lines. When I walk down the street near our apartment building in Manhattan I automatically catalogue all the things that could kill me – the crazy taxi drivers, sagging tree limbs, open manholes, etc. My wife and kids think I’m crazy, but I bet Stephen King would encourage this kind of thinking. He would say to me, “What about killer dogs? Shouldn’t you worry about them too? Or killer clowns, killer cars? Insane fans of your books? An enormous dome crashing down on your neighborhood? There are lots of dangers out there that you’re totally ignoring! Use your imagination!”
 

Is there a book, author, story or person that inspired you to become a writer?

Yes, The Lord of the Rings inspired me. I read it when I was a very impressionable teenager. I loved the world Tolkien created, all the fictional cultures and languages. Immediately after finishing the book I tried to write my own fantasy novel. It was a disaster – I wrote only a couple of pages before giving up. But the dream stayed with me.
 

From astrophysics to fiction author, can you explain how this transition occurred?

Astrophysics and fiction really aren’t so different. They’re both methods for understanding and exploring the universe. I majored in astrophysics in college and enjoyed learning about the fundamental laws of nature. But I also liked to read and write poetry, which can reveal fundamental truths too. I tried to combine my interests by becoming a science journalist. I was a staff editor at Scientific American for ten years and I’m still a contributing editor for the magazine. And the work there inspired my imagination. While editing an article about Albert Einstein I got the idea for a thriller about his quest to discover the Theory of Everything. That became my first published novel, Final Theory.
 

You began your writing career with poetry and then short stories, why did you change to writing full length novels? Did you have additional challenges of writing a full length novel?

I’ve always loved reading novels but I didn’t make a serious attempt to write one until I was 27. The challenge, then and now, is to keep the book interesting. It’s so easy to get bogged down. If the chapter you’re writing isn’t the most interesting thing in your life – more interesting than any book you’re reading, any TV show you’re watching, any story in the newspaper – then you should think about revising the chapter, shortening it or cutting it completely. 
 

What do you think would be the hardest or most challenging genre to write a novel in and why? 

I think humorous novels are the most challenging to write. That’s why I admire authors like Carl Hiaasen and T.C. Boyle and John Kennedy Toole. You know the saying: Death is easy, comedy is hard.
 

I personally found to story of the Furies very interesting and what they are willing to do to make sure their gene pool and culture survive at all costs. Where did the idea for the story come from?

My son wrote a term paper about the Salem witch trials and discovered that it was just a minor affair compared with the witch hunts that raged across Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Mobs led by secular and religious leaders killed tens of thousands of suspected witches – the great majority of them women – in France, Germany and Switzerland. Historians still argue over what caused the homicidal hysteria, which didn’t start until the 1400s and mostly burned out by the 1700s. I thought it would be interesting to imagine a specific trigger for the killings, a large, extended family of accused witches who were feared and hated by their neighbors because they were genetically different. That was the inspiration for The Furies.
 

In your novel The Furies, you begin the novel during the witch hunts in Europe and then later refer to different times in history for America was it hard to merge fact and fiction together? What type of research did you do in order to get it right?

Yes, I did some research to ensure that the historical references in The Furies were accurate. For example, I’ve become something of an expert on the Battle of Brooklyn, a Revolutionary War battle whose outcome was influenced by one of the witches in my novel. I’ve attended reenactments of the battle at Green-Wood Cemetery, which now occupies one of the sites where the fighting took place.
 

After reading your novel The Furies, I can tell where your science background has come into play with your storyline, how real is the possibility of the science for immortality? Is it important for you to include your scientific background in your novels and have science aspect have a hint of truth to it?

Many, many scientists are studying the mechanisms of aging and the possibility of developing treatments to slow the process. I put some information about this field in The Furies because I like to weave real science into my thrillers. Slowing the aging process will be a difficult feat because the deterioration of certain types of cells seems to be unavoidable. But if researchers manage to find ways to significantly increase the human lifespan, the effects on society would be enormous. Writing The Furies gave me a chance to explore some of the possible repercussions.
 

Do you have any information on upcoming works or events that you are able to share?

My next book will be a Young Adult novel. We haven’t chosen a title yet, but it’s about a group of terminally ill teenagers whose minds are transferred to robotic bodies. It’s like a mash-up of Harry Potter and the Transformers. It’ll be published in June 2015.
 

What is one book (other than one of your own) that you think should be a must read for everyone? 

Everyone should read The Grapes of Wrath. What an amazing book.

I just want to say Thank You once again for Mark taking the time to answer the questions for his interview. Make sure to check out his books if you are looking for a fantasy or sci-fi book that edges with what could be real.

Interview & Giveaway: Jane Casey

I was fortunate this year to discover Jane Casey, whose first novel, The Burning in her Maeve Kerrigan series, really caught my eye due to the police procedural being so well done. Please Welcome to Blood Rose Books

Jane Casey

If there was one author you could co-write a novel with (they can be alive or dead) who would you choose and why?
I would love to write a book with Agatha Christie because I think we wouldn’t squabble too much. She loved plots and puzzles but wasn’t so interested in character and psychology. I’d love to hand over the plot to someone else and concentrate on the fine subtle details of character development and dialogue! And who better than Agatha Christie – she had a mind like a steel trap and a very inventive approach to evil-doing.

You entered into the literary world, before you became a successful author, as a children book editor. What did you learn about writing while editing those books?
I learned all about being a good author – the boring bits, like checking the manuscript obsessively because it’s not the editor’s job, despite what many people think, to correct spellings and make your work consistent. That’s your job. The editor backs you up! And I learned a huge amount about pacing stories. Children are very unforgiving; they tell you when they’re bored. You can’t let the pace drop. I learned that the best way to see if a passage of writing works is to read it out loud. It’s amazing what trips you up and what stands out as unnecessary when you hear it instead of reading it.

You began your writing career with your D/C Maeve Kerrigan adult mystery series, but last year you released your YA novel How to Fall. Why did you decide to start a YA series? What were some additional challenges that you encountered writing a YA novel?
I’ve always been a huge fan of YA and I loved editing it. I played around with a YA idea when I was supposed to be writing my second book for adults. It didn’t work, but an editor who read it approached me to try a YA crime novel. I love writing the Jess Tennant books and I particularly enjoy working out how to get a teenage girl involved in a serious criminal investigation! There’s a strong romantic element to the plots too, and I will cheerfully admit that’s one of my favourite parts. Because Jess isn’t a police officer, it can be hard to resolve things in a believable way. Peril is a regular feature of her life. If I had Jess as a daughter, I’d never let her leave the house.

What do you think would be the hardest or most challenging genre to write a novel in and why?
For me, probably literary fiction. I read it but I miss the sense of climax you get in a crime novel – justice must be done. In literary novels, that’s not a given. Sometimes the stories fade out and I’m not sure how satisfying that is for readers. In general, I think you should write books you would like to read yourself. I fear I’d lose heart.

What do you think are the essentials to make a great crime mystery novel? How do you think your Maeve Kerrigan series differs from the many other mystery novels out there?
I think great crime novels need all of the elements of a great novel: compelling characters, believable dialogue, pace, a good setting that’s evoked in a vivid way, plus a little something extra – a mystery that must be resolved. The best ones are those that end with a villain who the reader feels is the only person who could have committed the crime, but also the last person they suspected. Then again, I love novels that turn that idea on its head. Donna Tartt’s THE SECRET HISTORY is about how to get away with murder – or not – and it’s just as compelling as a generic whodunit.

The Maeve Kerrigan series is strongly focused on the characters, and really, they are what the readers remember and love. The series characters’ personal lives and relationships are a big part of the books. I also benefit hugely from having a prosecutor husband, so every book is grounded in fact and every aspect of the police investigation is as accurate as I can make it.

There are some very dark themes and aspects within your Kerrigan series, what appeals to you about the dark and disturbing aspects of human nature?
I think readers and authors of crime novels are definitely fascinated by the dark side. It’s a strange thing – every newspaper is full of examples of violence and cruelty yet most of us are lucky enough to encounter it in fiction only. But if you go back to the very beginnings of English literature, the great Anglo-Saxon poem BEOWULF is about good confronting evil. Turning our fears into fiction and vanquishing them is a human tradition. I send Maeve into battle against some very awful individuals and so far she has always triumphed.

Maeve is a very interesting character and at times seems innocent but jaded at the exact same time as she is just starting out her career, what do you think are the defining characteristics of Maeve’s character? As she is starting at the bottom in the unit as a D/C and has a lot ahead of her, do you have a planned number of books for her series?
I see Maeve as someone who wants to fit in but can’t – she’s an outsider in many ways. It’s a male-dominated world and she’s female; she’s young but better at her job than many of the older detectives in the unit. Her background is a traditional Irish one but she’s grown up in London, in a very different world, so she isn’t what her parents expect and she isn’t the same as her contemporaries. Although Ireland and England are close geographically, they are worlds apart culturally.

As for being jaded, she has to prove herself again and again, and that gets exhausting! I think she’d like to believe the best of people but she’s taught herself to expect the worst rather than being disappointed all the time. I love it when other characters underestimate her and she proves them wrong.

I wanted to write about a young woman in a tough world because her life is complicated in a way that a male character’s life might not be. Will she choose family and a gentler career path? Will she become a senior detective and make her work the focus of her life? Will she prove that she’s not there to balance the genders or because she’s attractive, but because she deserves to be there? I like the different perspective she gives on the investigation – she does the leg work and she has to persuade her superiors to trust her. I’d like to keep writing her for another few books, definitely, but although I’ve mapped out the next three or four, I’m not sure where she’ll end up yet.

The police procedural content within your book is really well done and I think accurately shows to be how a Detective would follow the evidence as well as the hierarchy within the police culture. Where did your information and knowledge come from as you do not have a history in this or similar occupation?
As I mentioned briefly earlier, my husband is a prosecutor – a criminal barrister, technically. He wears a wig and gown in court, the full traditional costume, and he has many years’ experience of the legal system. He’s a great source of information on procedure and as he’s worked with many, many police officers, he has access to officers who can answer any questions I may have. He also works as a volunteer police officer in his spare time so he has personal experience of the immediate aftermath of violent crime, arresting people, giving evidence and so on. He is probably the ideal partner for a crime writer.

Do you have any information on upcoming works or events that you are able to share?
The fifth Maeve Kerrigan novel, THE KILL, will be out in the US in the spring next year. The UK is a year ahead at the moment. I’m working on the sixth now. So basically, if you like them, there will be more!

What is one book (other than one of your own) that you think everyone should read?
BRING UP THE BODIES by Hilary Mantel. It’s not an easy read but it’s hugely interesting: a vivid study of how we convince ourselves to do the unthinkable. The novel focuses on the trial and execution of Anne Boleyn but I think it has echoes of the very darkest moments in world history. Cromwell sees himself as a good man doing what is right, when what he is actually orchestrating is a tragedy and an outrage. Very clever!

I Just want to say Thank You once again to Jane for being part of my Blogoversary. I am looking forward to continuing on in her Maeve Kerrigan series, I love it when I am able to start a new series that already has mutiple books released mean I don't have to wait to get my hands on the next book. Jane has very kindly supplied a Giveaway (US) to go along with her interview. Please fill out the Rafflecopter information to participate.

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