Character Interview: John Charming from Fearless

When I was first approached to participate in the 'Fearless' blog tour, I wasn't too sure. I knew I wasn't able to get a review out in time (have you seen my review queue? Seriously.) but it still sounded interesting. I wanted to be involved. So I asked if one of the characters would be willing to have a chat with me.

Here's my interview with the main character, John Charming.


Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is John Charming, but that’s really not my fault. I’m a Leo. I like long walks on the beach, sunsets, hot fudge sundaes, and jazz. Well, okay, I don’t really like jazz. I do love big band music though. Oh, and I come from a long line of witch hunters, dragon slayers, and enchantment breakers, which is where my family name comes from. On the one hand, villagers were saying “These guys ward against evil” and on the other they were saying “Lock up your daughters, these wandering knights with short life expectancies and stories of far-off lands are coming through town.”

What is your relationship like with your parents?

Both of my parents died when I was an infant, so I honestly don’t know if my relationship with them is better or worse than average. My father was a monster hunter, and it came back and bit him on the ass. And the throat. And the shoulder. And the elbow. In any case, I grew up in an orphanage that was really a front for the secret order of knights that my father belonged to. I’m still connected to my parents in odd ways though. I have some werewolf tendencies because my mother was bitten by a werewolf when she was pregnant with me, and I inherited a geas - a kind of magical blood oath - from my father. It compels me to hunt down any monsters who are violating the Pax Arcana, a magical truce between man and monsterkind.

How would you describe the path your life is on right now?

Dangerous curves ahead. No, seriously, I’m in a relationship and it’s weird. The person I’m with is a Valkyrie. She speaks to the dead fairly regularly…well, irregularly, but she does it a lot. And she’s also a monster hunter, and caring about a lover who gets in danger a lot was supposed to be my mate’s job. Also, there’s a very real chance she can kick my ass. So I guess what I’m saying is, I’m having to explore personal growth in ways I never anticipated.

What is the most unique, or unexplainable, thing that has happened to you?

I travel a lot, and everywhere I go, someone has gotten there before me and put a Bible in an end table drawer. I can’t make up my mind whether this freaks me out or whether I find it comforting.

Without going into too much detail (we don’t want spoilers!) can you tell us a little bit about your thoughts on this Kevin guy?

Kevin is kind of what Harry Potter would be if Harry Potter was Asian American and psychic and never went to Hogwarts. Kevin has a supernatural and homicidal family history that he has spent most of his life completely unaware of.

Do you have any idiosyncrasies, or quirks?

I have a sarcasm problem.  I would love to go to an anonymous help group for it, but for some reason nobody wants to host one.  I can’t sing, but I do anyway, and when I start to forget lyrics I just keep going. So I’ll be hunting a monster and start singing that Sting song “I’ll Be Watching You” in the car.  “Every breath you take, every clam you bake, every milk you shake, every claw you rake, I’ll be watching you.  Every single day, and every shade you grey, every will you sway, every town you prey, I’ll be watching you…”

Last question: what is your favourite season?

I’d have to say winter. I actually kind of get that whole argument about how we would never truly appreciate good things without bad things, because one of my favorite things in the world is to get cold and then go inside and get warm. Just like with the good/bad thing though, you have to be very careful about the emphasis. I’m currently reading this book called “Into the Wild” about this kid who went off into the Alaskan wilderness and froze to death. And I really like the kid the author describes, which I didn’t expect, and I can’t help thinking how different the book would be if it was called “Into the Hot Bath.”

FEARLESS

When your last name is Charming, rescuing virgins comes with the territory -- even when the virgin in question is a nineteen-year-old college boy.

Someone, somewhere, has declared war on Kevin Kichida, and that someone has a long list of magical predators on their rolodex. The good news is that Kevin lives in a town where Ted Cahill is the new sheriff and old ally of John Charming.

The attacks on Kevin seem to be a pattern, and the more John and his new team follow that thread, the deeper they find themselves in a maze of supernatural threats, family secrets, and age-old betrayals. The more John learns, the more convinced he becomes that Kevin Kichida isn't just a victim, he's a sacrifice waiting to happen. And that thread John's following? It's really a fuse...

FEARLESS is the third novel in an urban fantasy series which gives a new twist to the Prince Charming tale. The first two novels are Charming & Daring.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Buy the book on Amazon

Visit the author's website

Book tour spotlight: The Alpha Plague by Michael Robertson

Book Spotlight

Rhys is an average guy who works an average job in Summit City—a purpose built government complex on the outskirts of London.

The Alpha Tower stands in the centre of the city. An enigma, nobody knows what happens behind its dark glass.

Rhys is about to find out.

At ground zero and with chaos spilling out into the street, Rhys has the slightest of head starts. If he can remain ahead of the pandemonium, then maybe he can get to his loved ones before the plague does.

The Alpha Plague is a post-apocalyptic survival thriller.

About the author

Michael Robertson is a writer of dark post apocalyptic fiction, horror, and science fiction. He's been writing for over fifteen years and has been published in several anthologies and magazines, as well as being published by HarperCollins.

His most poplar series is his Crash series. It's a dark look at the apocalypse, brought about by financial collapse rather than a zombie plague. Although his next book The Alpha Plague, is a much more traditional post apocalyptic story inspired by 28 Days Later.

He has plans for several science fiction books and is currently writing the first draft of New Reality 3: Fear, which will finish off his New Reality series.

Buy the book on Amazon

Visit the author's website

Click here to read reviews of the novel

Book Review: The Set Apart Woman by Leslie Ludy

Leslie Ludy's book is one of few that has moved me. She is bluntly honest, which is a rare feature in Christian non-fiction/lifestyle books currently and much appreciated. Her chapters are well-written with relevant anecdotes which show her to be a regular woman, although set-apart. She has had struggles, and doubts, and admits to be continuing her journey past them. Her honesty is humbling and allows the reader to connect not only with her, but with a reachable relationship with God. Too many times have I heard Christian women say it's not reasonable to expect a high level of set-apartness, but Ludy makes it clear that it is.

I will admit that at times I found myself disagreeing with certain points. But after contemplation, and prayer, I realized my disagreement was based on the points challenging my faith. That is never a bad thing. Since accepting the challenge, I have already begun to change my habits. I fear not every woman will rise to the occasion, but I know the Holy Spirit will move them to do so at the right time.

The group discussion questions at the end of each chapter were wonderful as well. While I would have liked the scriptural references to be slightly longer than a mere verse (as context can be lost in such situations) it spurred me to read more than what was recommended.

Overall, 'The Set-Apart Woman' is a wonderful novel for women of all ages and in all stages of their relationship with Christ. It is a reminder of our calling, Who has called us, and that we have been given everything we need to truly be set-apart.

Book review - Heart of Stone by H. Lynn Keith

While my own series is sci-fi, I've found that I'm quite picky about the sci-fi that I read. That being said, I've found that I'm not a fan of techno sci-fi. Heart of Stone is an interesting book. It goes into extreme details about nearly everything (from sailing to computer systems) but most of it was just way too much for me. Someone who enjoys details will really enjoy the novel, but after roughly 62 pages there was enough information and detail about Stone sailing that I feel as though I can get on a sailboat and do a decent job. 

There's a good story deep down, looking at AI as a person and the inherent consequences that come along with that. I loved seeing Joyce develop, and the relationship between her and Stone. But the rest of it seemed too much. He'd been under the radar for years, and now suddenly all at once everyone is after him. There were some characters who simply didn't need to be included at all and only further complicated the story.

Other characters were there for convenience, but could still be written out, like Skip's son Craig. That was probably the worst scene, between Craig, Sandy, and a bunch of people blackmailing them. Including Skip. On the other hand, there was some great relationships with some of the minor characters, such as the dock master in Singapore. It was the little things like that which made those parts of the book realistic and endearing.

Overall, for what it is (a techno-thriller/spy book) I think it's pretty good. It's definitely not my cup of tea, though. Anyone with an understanding of programming, hacking, and sailing, would thoroughly enjoy this book.

Book review - The Sons of Brabant by Michael Bolan

In a war-ridden Europe, Willem, Leo, and Isabella exile themselves from their tyrannical brother, Reinald. They rely on each other and their growing group of mercenaries in their goal to depose Reinald, who has become part of a movement to bring about the Apocalypse. With the help of an Irishman, the siblings find that they must aim higher than their rightful inheritance. They must put an end to the work of the Four Horsemen for the sake of the world.

The Sons of Brabant is a wonderfully crafted novel. While I wasn't sure of it in the beginning, the writing and story quickly drew me into the 1600s. This is probably the best start to a series I've read in quite a while. The characters were all fully developed by the end, smaller plots were completed, but all this was done with the promise of more, yet I wasn't left frustrated by unanswered questions or dangling plot lines. The ending perfectly sets up the second novel, which I was gratefully told will arrive in the Fall of 2015.

I'm also grateful to see a strong female character in Isabella. Of course there was some romantic mentions, but that wasn't what made her character. She's beautiful, but that's not what other characters remember of her. It's her passion, intelligence, and her kindness that sets her apart and makes her the true leader of the exiled siblings (which her brothers admit.)

Bolan shows his deep understanding of European history with his descriptions of the wars and battles, along with the political climate. It's refreshing to read a novel where I am so immersed that I don't bother fact checking. For me, that's saying a lot. I fact check menus. There's a fantastical element to the novel which made that much easier. I loved the inclusion of so many cultures and seeing how they interacted.

Overall I think this is a great novel for anyone who enjoys action and history. This is one novel that makes you ponder the consequences of right and wrong, and who determines those sides of the coin.

Buy the book on Amazon

Visit the author's website

New editing service

When I first began reviewing novels, I had no idea what I had in store for me. My intention was to help fellow indie authors get their novels noticed and reviews (as we all know those are important in order to gain more readers) and in a way it would help get my name out there as an author and member of the writing community. I've reviewed for Reader's Favourite, I'm a member of NetGalley and the Tyndale Blogging community, and of course I have this wonderful blog. I've also recruited a good friend of mine, Lilaina, to participate on this blog as well. While it hasn't necessarily meant more sales for my own novel, I feel I've gained such a wealth of knowledge and I've been in contact with some truly wonderful people. But now I'm taking it one step further.

My goal is to have my career based in the writing field, whether it's as an author, reviewer, or editor. To me, all three are connected and for some reason I've always thought that if someone was going to be one of those they would be all three. And that's exactly what I've done.

Featherweight Editing

Freelance editing delivered with a punch

I have started my own editing company, focusing on Stylistic editing, Copy editing, and Proofreading. I've based my fees on the Editors' Association of Canada, of course using the lower end of the range as I am only starting out.

I am accepting new clients of all types. I know most freelance editors have preferred genres, but I'm open to all. Editing is much different from reviewing, for me. The genres I won't review aren't necessarily the genres I won't edit. That being said, I will edit all genres, including non-fiction. I'm open to editing webpages, blogs, and academic work (however I do not deal with formatting or adhering to a specific style guide.)

If you've seen the types of reviews I write, I hope you know how professional I try to present myself, and how passionate I am about helping indie authors succeed. I'm one of you. I know what it's like to go it alone without the support of a publishing house. This is just another way I know to give back to the writing community. If I've reviewed your novel in the past and are working on another one, I hope you'll consider me for your editing needs.

Review for "The Vengeance Game" by Dennis Ciapura

The Vengeance Game by Dennis Ciapura

The Vengeance Game by Dennis Ciapura is the tale of two worlds. The first, the events of a very real military operation from the Second World War set against the fictionalized account of a terrorist attack on the United States in the year 2017. The book was adapted from a screenplay also written by the author for the same material. The book details the efforts from British Intelligence as well as polish resistance fighters on the ground with a sprinkling of the complex relationships that can develop during war. Despite speaking different languages, hailing from different countries and being different genders everyone is working for the same cause and the biggest question is, will they succeed?

The Vengeance Game by Dennis Ciapura is a bit unique in the book world, it was originally conceived as a screenplay which the author adapted into a novel, however many elements from the screenplay remain. These elements really helped to convey the feelings and thoughts of the characters and did a great job at setting the scene. I loved how Ciapura balanced the story with the facts as well as the human side to it, and though he admits there may be some artistic license due to the circumstances having the story of the resistance fighters and their struggle to complete their goal really brought the story to life.

Be warned however, if you are expecting this to read like a typical novel you are going to be in for a surprise. While there are the typical elements of any book like an intro, climax and end, character development and background the whole book still has the feel of a screenplay to it and came off a bit cold because of this. There was almost no description of the scenery, and where the characters were described it sounded more like a doctor or examiners report of a patient. The short length of the book only seemed to compound this matter, preventing Ciapura from exploring the events further.

I feel like I complain about the short length of these books a lot, perhaps I am just too greedy but I would love to see this book expanded. I think Ciapura has something great here, even though some might say the World War II era genre is a little oversaturated Ciapura blends facts and fiction very well and I think, if given more room to expand could craft an amazing novel from this story.

If you want to buy this book, check out this link : 

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0047DX0QC?keywords=dennis%20Ciapura%20the%20vengeance%20game&qid=1436137667&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1