Interview with Author Helen Hollick

1.      Who or what inspired you to become an author?

Oh I have always wanted to write – I was scribbling away when I was at least thirteen. I wrote pony stories then, because I desperately wanted a pony and we couldn’t afford one, so the natural thing (I thought) was to invent one, and write stories about our adventures together.

Eventually I moved on to science fiction and fantasy, and then I discovered the wonder of writing historical fiction.

I suppose there were two major “inspirations” for me. The first was Mary Stewart’s Hollow Hills / Crystal Cave series, where I discovered that if King Arthur had existed it is more likely that he was around in the post Roman era (5^th / 6^th century) This appealed, as I had never been very interested in the Knights in Armour versions. And then I read Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Mists of Avalon. Now it was a terrific book, but oh dear, her portrayal of Guinevere drove me mad.

So that was it, I decided to write what I thought should be the “real” story. The Kingmaking, the first of the Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy was the end result.

2.      What is your favorite book you have written and why?

This is hard because they are all favourites for various reasons.

The Kingmaking because it was my first adult novel, Harold the King because I love that novel (called I am the Chose King in the US) The Forever Queen (called A Hollow Crown in the UK) because it became a bestseller – my first official bestseller. And Sea Witch because I am head over heels in love with my pirate character, Jesamiah Acorne.

I suppose if I really had to choose…. Sea Witch.

3.      How do you choose your subjects to write about?

I don’t. The subject chooses me. I have no idea where the ideas come from, they just come.

4.      What is your next book project?

I am in the middle of writing the fourth Sea Witch Voyage (it’s called Ripples In The Sand) and then I am going to do a follow-on to the Harold novel – what happened after the Battle of Hastings, 1066

5.      What is your favorite quote?

 Save the Earth – it’s the only planet with chocolate

6.      What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Stop talking about “when I write my book” – get on and DO it!

Bio:

I live on the outskirts of NE London, England, close to Epping Forest with my husband and adult daughter – and a variety of pets. I have been passionate about books and writing all my life. My first employment was in a local library, where I discovered the history behind the legends of King Arthur, which eventually led to the writing of my Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy, the first of my historical novels.

I have been Chair of the local Dyslexia Association and worked part-time as a School Librarian in a Special Needs school. I especially enjoy encouraging new writers to achieve their dream of writing a novel. My best advice? ‘To finish, you must first get started!’

I was first published by William Heinemann (Random House UK) but when my books were not to be re-printed I obtained the copyright and re-published with a small UK independent company as part of their even smaller mainstream imprint. The company recently closed, however, so rather than fall out of print again here in the UK I republished with an assisted publishing company, SilverWood Books, based in Bristol.

My Historical Fiction novels are also published in the US by Sourcebooks Inc and I was delighted to make the USA Today best seller list with The Forever Queen in the summer of 2011.

I have recently volunteered to become the UK editor for the Historical Novel Society Online Review section, with the ultimate aim of improving the standard of self published historical fiction novels.

I firmly support writers who decide to publish their books as either “self” or “independent”, as I feel too many excellent writers are being overlooked for various reasons. It must be emphasised, however, that to be taken seriously self published authors must produce their books to a professional standard. There is no reason why a self published novel cannot be as good as any mainstream book. Which means professional editing and production. This costs money, but quality is never cheap.

Main website                 www.helenhollick.net

Facebook:                    www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

Twitter:                          http://twitter.com/HelenHollick

Author of

The Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy

(the ‘what might have really happened’ story of King Arthur)

Published by Sourcebooks US

And Silverwood Books UK

A Hollow Crown (UK title) / The Forever Queen (US title)

Harold the King (UK title) / I am the Chosen King (US title)

(The first two books of a proposed trilogy regarding the people and events that led to 1066 and the Battle of Hastings – probably the most famous date in English history)

The Sea Witch Voyages:

Voyage One: Sea Witch

Voyage Two: Pirate Code

Voyage Three: Bring it Close

Pirate-based adventure with a touch of fantasy.

Hornblower meets Richard Sharpe and Indiana Jones – at sea

If you enjoyed the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, you will love these.

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Helen+Hollick&x=15&y=18

Amazon.co.uk : http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Helen+hollick&x=8&y=17

Thank you Helen for giving me the honor and pleasure of this wonderful interview.

Stephanie

Interview with Author Sophie Perinot

1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?

My sister gave me a shove in the direction of becoming a writer.  So, if you love my book thank her, and if you don’t, you know who to blame.  I was a lawyer at the time.  I’d wanted to be one since I was a little girl.  It was my dream job but it was turning out to be not-so-dreamy.  I knew I wanted to do something new, but deciding what to be when you grow up when you are already grown up is an angst filled business.  I don’t do angst without my sister (much as she doubtless wishes I would).  So I was on the phone with her using her as an unpaid career counselor/therapist when she said, “I know you are making up a story right now in your head.  Whatever that story is pick up your dictaphone and start saying it out loud.”  I was leaving on a family beach vacation, but I took my dictaphone along and followed my sister’s orders.  The result was my first completed manuscript.

2. What inspired you to write about Queen Marguerite of France?

I first encountered Marguerite while researching a different project.  I was reading about Notre Dame de Paris.  She and Louis jointly presented the church’s last and smallest door—the Porte Rouge—and if you look up, you can see Marguerite’s kneeling image carved over that charming door.  Anyway, in the pages of a history of Notre Dame I discovered all four remarkable daughters of Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence.  I wondered how such women, with their powerful Savoyard connections and politically significant marriages, could have slipped through the fingers of history.  The fact they had aggravated me.  So I started a file folder with their names on it, vowing to come back and tell their story.  The Sister Queens is the result of that vow.

3. Who is your least favorite character you wrote about in The Sister Queens?

King Louis IX of France.  I suspect some readers will be surprised that I don’t say Blanche of Castile.  She was certainly a harridan, and very unkind to Marguerite but as they say, “hatred isn’t the opposite of love, indifference is.”  Blanche hated Marguerite because Blanche feared Marguerite.  The Queen Mother wanted to retain her power over her beloved son.  Her motivation, while certainly not laudable, is understandable.  Louis’s indifference to and neglect of his wife seemed more sinister—at least to me.  There was no reason for him not to embrace and value his queen.  She was a lovely and educated woman with many fine qualities.  More than this, her family could have been a real asset to him.  But Louis was weak.  He couldn’t put mommy aside.  And he was also a religious zealot and used his piety as an excuse from some very unchristian behavior. 

4. What is your next book project?

Having tackled the relationship between sisters, I am working on a novel driven by the mother-daughter dynamic.  It is set in the 16^th century, which is one of my all-time favorite periods in French history.  My main character is Marguerite de Valois, sister to three kings of France (Francis II, Charles IX, Henri III) and wife of a fourth (Henri IV).  Here is the tagline I am using to focus my writing:  “The mother-daughter relationship is fraught with peril—particularly when your mother is Catherine de Médicis.”

5. What is your favorite quote?

I have a quote or quip for every occasion.  Sometimes I mangle them so badly their original author would weep.  But there is a sub-genre of quotes that relate to the guiding principals of my life.  These are the ones that I bludgeon my children with.

1) Mr. Knightly on duty (which is no longer a popular virtue but is certainly high on my list):

“There is one thing. . . which a man can always do, if he chooses, and that is, his duty” 

Jane Austen’s Emma. 

2) On love

Mr. Shakespeare:

 “. . . Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;”

From Sonnet 116

And Mr. Munsch:

 I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be."

Love You Forever

3) Mr. Somebody (doubtless centuries ago) on the living up to promises:

“A man’s word is his bond.”

6. What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

To aspiring authors generally I would say it’s not enough to hone your craft you have to learn the business (unless you are writing solely for your own satisfaction).  That way when the happy day arrives and you have an agent and a book contract, the facts of life (e.g. authors need to be involved in marketing and promotion) or simple definitions (do you know what it means to “earn out”) won’t stop you in your tracks.

To historical writers specifically I would say respect history but don’t be smothered by it.  When I read a work of historical fiction I want accurate historical detail yes, but I need a compelling story.  Any academic historian will tell you that history is fluid—interpretations change and even the “facts” as we know them aren’t set in stone.  New information and artifacts are discovered.  Old theories and artifact identifications are discredited.  As a writer, you get to make choices based on evidence.  If you change something that is currently accepted as “fact,” please mention that in your author’s note.  But if you have conflicting sources don’t hesitate to choose the facts that support the narrative arch you are trying to build.  This is fiction.

Bio:

Sophie Perinot was the first member of her college graduating class to declare a history major. Following her BA from The College of Wooster, Sophie earned a JD from Northwestern University School of Law. After practicing law for a number of years, her inner-artist could no longer be subdued and reinvention as a writer was in order. Given her life-long passion for history it seemed only natural that Sophie should write historical fiction. As someone who studied French abroad, and a devotee of Alexandre Dumas, French history was a logical starting point.

Sophie's debut novel, The Sister Queens, weaves the captivating story of medieval sisters, Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence, who became queens of France and England. She is currently working a novel set in Valois France which plumbs the mother-daughter relationship.

When she is not visiting corners of the 13th and 16th centuries, Sophie lives in Great Falls Virginia with her three children, two cats and one husband.

To learn more about Sophie and her work, visit http://www.sophieperinot.com

Thanks you Sophie for giving me the pleasure of this wonderful inerview!

Stephanie

Interview with Author Cheryl Landmark

1.  Who or what inspired you to become an author?

From as far back as I can remember, reading and writing have been my passions. Even as a young child in elementary school, I was constantly scribbling short stories and poems on scraps of paper and reading them to my friends. As I grew older, I started to write full-length novels in many different genres...romance, mystery, young adult and suspense in the vein of Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. But, it was fantasy that really began to pique my interest and gave full rein to my overly-active, fertile imagination.

Probably my very first favorite author and inspiration was Carolyn Keene, who wrote the Nancy Drew girl detective series.  I read every one of her books I could get my hands on and even attempted to write a similar series of my own when I was in high school.  It didn’t get very far, but I still have the two or three manuscripts that I wrote back then.  Later on, Anne McCaffrey became one of my much loved science fiction/fantasy authors. I became besotted with her dragons the first time I read "Dragonriders of Pern" and have hungrily devoured many more of the books in the Pern series since. I have many other favorites as well--way too numerous to name them all--but a few of them include J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Brooks, Jim Butcher, J.K. Rowling, Kelley Armstrong, Stephen King, Agatha Christie, and Robin Hobb.

2.  What is your favorite book you have written and why?

Well, of course, all of my “babies” are loved and hold their own special place in my heart.  But, if I had to choose between them, my latest fantasy POOL OF SOULS is probably the one I love best so far.  It’s very character-driven, and I tried to write interesting and humorous interactions between the characters.  It’s dark and serious in places, but there is also a lot of levity and humor.  I had a ball writing it.

3.  Please tell us a little about your two fantasy books WIND AND FIRE and POOL OF SOULS.

WIND AND FIRE is the story of a young woman named Tenya, who is plunged into a world of terrifying danger and evil as she struggles to save her mother, the Mistress of the Wind, and the world of Tellaron from a Demon Master.  Tenya must quickly learn to control the power of the white fire that runs through her veins in order to accomplish her mission.

This book was originally published by Asylett Press in 2009 and has recently been re-edited, reprinted and furnished with a brand new cover on Smashwords, Amazon Kindle and CreateSpace.

My latest fantasy novel, POOL OF SOULS, follows twenty-two year old Cazlina Narzin and her loyal mare, Miris, on their adventures as they journey to join a rebellion against a renegade queen and her soul-killing talisman, the Pool of Souls, which drains the energies and life forces from its victims.

This book is also available on Smashwords, Amazon Kindle and CreateSpace.

4.  What is your next book project?

I’m currently working on a dog detective series, which I hope will be published early this summer.  After that, it’s on to a sequel to my young adult adventure novel SHADOWS IN THE BROOK.  And then…well, let’s just say I have visions of more fantasies in the near future!

5.  What is your favorite quote?

 This quote from Groucho Marx cracks me up every time I see it!

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend.  Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”

6.  What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Never give up, first and foremost.  If your passion is writing, stick with it through thick and thin.  There will undoubtedly be times when you hit a snag and it seems like you just can’t get past that particular roadblock.  But, don’t let a temporary hitch discourage you.  Let the story percolate for a while in your head; don’t force it.  Eventually, those characters and scenes and dialogues will start flowing again and you’ll find you can’t get them down on paper fast enough!

Secondly, don’t close yourself off to constructive criticism and honest, helpful suggestions.  Be flexible and open-minded.  We don’t all become bestselling authors the first time around, or even the second or third.  We can all grow, learn and improve as we go along, so don’t become angry or resentful if a reader says they don’t like something about your book.  See if you can take something positive from it and apply it to your future writing to make your next book even better.

Thank you so much, Stephanie, for this opportunity to chat with you and your readers! 


Author Bio:

Cheryl Landmark lives in a small hamlet called Gros Cap just west of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada on the magnificent shores of Lake Superior with her husband, Mike, and faithful canine companion.  She has always been an insatiable reader even as a child and that has inspired her to create her own fantasy worlds.  She particularly enjoys young adult and adult fantasy in both her reading and writing, followed closely by mystery and suspense.

 When she’s not engrossed in her writing, she is working fulltime as a sales analyst, reading, doing challenging jigsaw puzzles, or enjoying the great outdoors.

Cheryl is the author of two fantasy novels called WIND AND FIRE and POOL OF SOULS and a young adult adventure called SHADOWS IN THE BROOK.


Thank you Cheryl for this wonderful interview!

Stephanie

Noble Satyr by Lucinda Brant

Book Review Coming Soon! 

Spare Change by Bette Lee Crosby

Book Review Coming Soon!

Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus by Victoria Grossack

Greek Mythology can be tedious to read at times. However this story of Jocasta was so refreshing and the story line flowed beautifully. I didn't want the story to end. When I found out from Victoria that there would be a sequel, I was delighted! If you haven't read about Jocasta then this is the story for you. A must read!

Stephanie

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

I felt the characters in this story lacked substance and unique personalities that you would see in Kate Morton's other stories and I felt the characters didn't really connect with each other. There were several situations that were never fully explained and was left to interpretation and I was disappointed with the conclusion. I felt there was no closure to the story. The ending fell flat.

However, the idea Kate had for the story line was good. I did enjoy reading parts of this book and I thought about the characters for sometime after reading it and thought about how things might have been different for them and the choices they made in their lives. I did like how Kate Morton described some of the scenes. They were written in a way.... I felt I was right there in the story experiencing them for myself. 
I rated this book three stars.

Stephanie

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseine

          

 I don't remember a time where I cried so much over a book. I was so outraged in the beginning where Amir would be cruel towards Hassan. When Hassan was so loyal to him and how Amir didn't protect Hassan from rape. 

Having said that, I felt Amir was a victim of circumstance and a victim of a fathers guilt. I didn't admire Baba for hiding such a big secret. He should have been honest to Hassan and Amir from the beginning. That was only the right to do. Amir had to over come so much of his fathers mistakes and treatment towards him. But in the end he redeems himself from the mistakes he had made. I was so disturbed when Baba died without telling Amir the truth about his family and what he had kept from everyone.

Hassan was a good boy and grew up still courageous, strong, loyal and never lost his integrity. Even after everything he had gone through.

This was a moving story that will haunt me for a very long time.

I rated this story five stars.
Stephanie

Interview with Susan Higginbotham

1.  Who or what inspired you to become an author?

I can't point to any specific inspiration because I have been writing almost as long as I remember. There have been times when my writing took a backseat to other pursuits, but never a time when I gave up on the idea of authorship altogether.

2. What is your favorite book you have written and why?

They all have a special place in my heart, but The Traitor’s Wife is the book that got my career as a novelist started, so it's probably my sentimental favorite.

3. Who is your favorite character you wrote about in Her Highness, the Traitor and who is your least favorite?

When I started writing Her Highness, it was originally going to be about only Frances. Then I came across the letter that Jane Dudley wrote to Lady Paget begging for help in saving her husband’s life, and it moved me so much, I knew I wanted to tell her story as well as Frances's. So for a time, Jane Dudley became my favorite character—to the point where she eclipsed poor Frances. But as I got to know Frances better, I became very fond of her too. John Dudley also endeared himself to me. I even developed a sneaky affection for the Duchess of Somerset, to the point that I'd like to give her a novel of her own someday.

I find it very hard to dislike any of the characters in Her Highness—at least any of the major characters, because I think they all had some redeeming quality. Collectively I dislike the men who deserted Jane Grey's cause at an opportune time and left John Dudley to face the queen’s wrath alone.

4.  What is your next book project?

I'm working on a novel about Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, who was a niece of Henry VIII. As a young woman, Margaret had the bad judgment to become secretly engaged to Lord Thomas Howard and got thrown into the Tower as a result. Later, Margaret schemed to marry her son Henry, Lord Darnley to Mary, Queen of Scots. It was a match which would in tragedy—and which would ultimately put the Stuarts on the throne.

5. What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 

Read widely in your chosen genre, so you can figure out what works and what doesn't and so you can develop the skill to recognize when your work needs to be improved. Listen to constructive criticism and be willing to learn from it. Above all, write! Too many people wait for the perfect time and place to write and because of that never get anything done. You don't need the perfect writing nook; you don't need to retire or to have the kids in school. You just need your imagination and your passion to tell a story, and if it’s a story worth telling, you need to make the time to tell it.

Thanks for interviewing me!

 Bio:

Susan Higginbotham has worked as an attorney and as an editor and currently works for a legal publisher. She lives in North Carolina with her family. Her first novel, The Traitor’s Wife, won the gold medal for Historical/Military Fiction in the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Susan has written two novels, The Traitor’s Wife and Hugh and Bess, set in fourteenth-century England, and two novels, The Stolen Crown and The Queen of Last Hopes, set during the Wars of the Roses. Her forthcoming novel, Her Highness, the Traitor, is her first foray into Tudor fiction.

The Mistress's Revenge by Tamar Cohen

This girl Sally has a five year affair with this married man named Clive. He dumps her and of course she is upset and wants revenge. But what does she expect would happen? She thinks he would have left his wife for her? She should have gotten the clue that wasn't going to happen after the first year or so! It gets better....She is with a man name Daniel and they have two children together.

I have to admit I was mentally exhausted after reading this story. A story about infidelity, obsession and revenge.I was utterly disgusted with Clive and Sally. More so with Sally and just how far she went. She should have left it alone when Clive dumped her. Sally had her revenge and she payed a high price for it. She broke up a family, including her own. Of course Clive helped with that also.

I felt Sally had no shame, guilt or remorse. In the end of the story she says, "If I've learned anything from this at all, it's that life goes on and we must move on too." Separately.

Wow! What a nut case!

This book is definitely a page turner. The Author Tamar Cohen does an excellent job exploring a person's mind on obsession and revenge.

Stephanie

I am The Chosen King by Helen Hollick

I first discovered Helen Hollick on Goodreads. When I read Forever Queen I was captivated by the story of Queen Emma. The story was so beautifully written, I wanted to continue on to the sequel as soon as I could. In the sequel the story moves on to Harold Godwinsson. Who becomes King of England after Edward dies. Harold was the last Saxon King of England.

The horrid Duke William of Normandy wants England for himself. He invades England, which leads up to the Battle of Hastings. Needless to say... I was devastated when Harold died, especially in such a horrific way. But I understand Helen wanting to stay true as possible to the historic events that took place.

It has taken me a while to write this review due to the fact the story is so good I wanted it to do the story justice. Helen said to me, “Just be honest, even the “didn’t like” bits. Constructive criticism is always welcome.” I reply,“ In my little fantasy world if I were to change anything. It would be that my love king Harold would have crushed Duke William and his army, taken all his lands and live happily after with me.”

Throughout reading this amazing story, I kept on thinking how Helen describes the politics and drama of the royal court. She describes it as if she lived during that time to see it all unfold with her very eyes. That is how wonderful and intriguing the story is. One can tell that Helen does extensive research on her subjects and history, which is inspiring. I could only dream of becoming as good a writer as she and I mean that with the utmost sincerity.

Stephanie

Jocasta by Victoria Grossack and Alice Underwood

Book Review Coming Soon!

Interview with Author Victoria Grossack

Authors Victoria Grossack & Alice Underwood

1. Who or what inspired you to become an author and to write about Greek Mythology?

When I was fourteen – a very long time ago – we read Sophocles’ play, Oedipus Rex, in my high school English class. I was fascinated by the story but I felt that it was being told wrong. (Such heresy, criticizing Sophocles!) Sophocles’ play gives the point of view of Oedipus, but I thought that Jocasta’s perspective was far more interesting. She gave birth to a son who was taken from her; she lost her first husband, King Laius; after the death of Laius she was challenged by the Sphinx. Her life was rich with drama. Moreover, she had more clues than anyone, and so I was fascinated by the question: did she ever realize that Oedipus was her son, and if so, what did she do about it? I thought Jocasta’s story would make an incredible novel, covering about forty years of her life – as opposed to Sophocles’ play, where everything happens in one day.

I longed to write this novel, but I realized that I could not write well enough to do justice to it. I also knew I knew nothing about ancient Greece. This was before the internet, when research had to be done in libraries, and when I was too young to travel to Europe and explore archaeological ruins. But the story stayed with me. I remember crossing my fingers throughout the years and hoping that no one else would attempt it, because I always felt that it was my story.

Fast forward several decades. By the time I met Alice Underwood in Switzerland I had several writing projects under my belt – some terrible unpublished novels, and a few successful short stories and articles. I can’t say that I was a good writer when we met, but I had improved significantly since my time as a freshman in high school.

Anyway, Alice and I were working for different divisions of the same company and collaborated on a work-related project. We found we made a very good team and wrote several non-fiction articles together. We were also both interested in ancient Greece, and fortunately, Alice had minored in classics, which meant that she already knew a lot of details about Bronze Age Greece. And so we decided we to write Jocasta together.

Writing fiction with another person is very different from writing non-fiction articles, and our first pass was abysmal. It took us a while to work out a rhythm, based on our own strengths and weaknesses. Amazingly, our strengths and weaknesses are mostly complementary.

While writing Jocasta we became intrigued by Niobe, who was queen in Thebes just before Jocasta. Her story is absolutely fascinating – she’s the daughter of King Tantalus – and so we tackled that next. The project was rich and complicated and so needed a trilogy to do it justice.

2. What is your favorite book you have written and why?

What a question! If you have several children, aren’t you supposed to love them equally? Anyway, Alice Underwood and I have written four books together: Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus, and the Niobe trilogy, which consists of Children of Tantalus, The Road to Thebes, and Arrows of Artemis. I’m truly happy with how they all turned out. Children of Tantalus is a great adventure as well as a coming-of-age story, and Arrows of Artemis offers a solution to a mass murder that has gone unnoticed for more than three millennia.

But favorites? It’s a toss-up between Jocasta and The Road to Thebes. Jocasta has a pure intensity that keeps building until the truth explodes. The Road to Thebes has great characters – a cowherd turned musician, a villainess plotting a coup, and a wisecracking ghost. They both have romantic elements, too – which for me is usually a turn-off, but works in these books because the characters are so appealing.

3. What is your next book project?

Alice and I are working on Guardians of Thebes, a sequel to Jocasta. It covers the showdown between Jocasta’s brother, Creon, and Jocasta’s daughter, Antigone, as well as the time from the end of Jocasta to the war between Argos and Thebes.

Each book has presented unique writing and storytelling challenges, and currently Guardians, although it has some great scenes, is driving us crazy. We’re not sure if it will ever reach the point where we can publish it. However, we encountered monsters in each of our other projects, and somehow slew them, so we hope to get through this one too.

4. What is your favorite quote?

When in grade school, I was forced to memorize Rudyard Kipling’s poem If, and lines come back to me when I need them. Here are my favorites:

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same

Life has given me successes and failures and I have learned that often neither is fully merited. Other lines, when I consider political discourse these days, strike me as especially apt:

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

By the way, your questions make me realize what an impact education has on our lives! How different mine would have been if I had not read Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Kipling’s If!

5. What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

First, start with small projects. For example, if you wanted to run a marathon, you would focus first on jogging around the block instead of going out to run 26 miles. The same is true for writing. Work on a short story, or write up a comic or dramatic episode from your life. Blog. Get used to producing clean sentences and good paragraphs. You need training for writing just as you need training for anything else.

Second, study so that you actually know what you’re doing. Good writing has many aspects to it. There’s plot, and character development, and dialogue, and themes, and conflict, and tension, and even deciding which spelling rules to use – to name a few. You could try to learn how to do this all on your own, or you could get help. There are books on writing. There are writing courses. There are writing groups in which the members critique each other’s writing. I belonged to a group for years, and I actually learned tons from critiquing others’ writing. As I went through scenes written by others I discovered what worked, what didn’t and why or why not, probably with more objectivity than if I were reviewing my own words.

Finally, write because you love it, and not because you want to make money. Money and fame may come – but they probably won’t. Nevertheless, if you have a story that you are burning to tell, telling it will enrich your life.

Victoria Grossack's Bio:

Dartmouth graduate Victoria Grossack leads an international life, with homes in Switzerland and Arizona and a professional career in the financial industry that has spanned the Atlantic. She is fluent in German and French (and English of course) and has an MBA. Her last full-time position was as a Senior Vice President in New York City for a reinsurance company, but she is currently writing full-time and living with her husband who is a professor at the University of Arizona. Her writing has been published in Contingencies, Woman’s World, I Love Cats, and The Journal of Actuarial Practice. She was a regular columnist for Fiction Fix, writing monthly articles that have been used in several writing classes. She teaches writing courses at Coffeehouseforwriters.com on historical fiction, creating characters, and the levels of structure in fiction. She also tutors mathematics, as solving problems in algebra and geometry make a nice break from creative writing.

Alice Underwood Bio:

Alice Underwood studied classics at The University of Texas and Princeton University while earning her degrees in mathematics. Her passion for antiquity has taken her from the shadowed catacombs of Princeton’s libraries to the ruins of Pompeii and the sunny shores of Crete and Santorini. Her work has been published in Consortium, Networks, and The Journal of Actuarial Practice. Currently an Executive Vice President at one of the world’s top insurance brokerage firms, Alice lives and works in New York City.

Thank you for giving me the pleasure of this wonderful interview!

Regards,

Stephanie

I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish

This is probably one of the best memoir I have read in sometime. I was feeling so many different emotions reading this story.

I was conflicted with the political side of it though. It's a horrific and complicated situation. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a unique person. He was raised in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Srip under horrible conditions. The lack of humanity these people are under are appalling and tragic. Abuelaish never gave into to the bad situation he was living in. He stayed strong and never gave up. Which is understandable if he did. He grew up to become a medical doctor. He is certainly a person to admire.

One of the things I respect him for most is that when his daughters were killed by Israeli soldiers. His sadness over the loss of his daughters never turned towards hate and wanting revenge. He wants peace between the Palestinians and the Israeli people.

Matched By Ally Condie

Imagine a Society where every choice was made for you. You're brainwashed into thinking a certain way. Then if you showed any emotion or have thoughts that you weren't supposed to have according to the governement, you were then forced to take a pill too wipe out your memory of those events. Matched was a easy, fast paced read and the content was good. I enjoyed reading it very much. However, none of the characters really stood out for me except maybe for Ky. I wanted too read more ab...more Imagine a Society where every choice was made for you. You're brainwashed into thinking a certain way. Then if you showed any emotion or have thoughts that you weren't supposed to have according to the government, you were then forced to take a pill too wipe out your memory of those events. Matched was a easy, fast paced read and the content was good. I enjoyed reading it very much. However, none of the characters really stood out for me except maybe for Ky. I wanted too read more about him. Matched is the first in the series. So hopefully in the next books to come there will be more character building. I rated this three stars.

Folville's Law by David Pilling

A novel set in the closing years of Edward II's reign, following the adventures of Sir John Swale, knight of Cumberland, as he investigates a murder in the Midlands that threatens to destabilize the kingdom. Along the way he meets a widow, Elizabeth Clinton, and makes an enemy of the ruthless outlaw Eustace Folville. Meanwhile, England is threatened by invasion and civil war, and it remains to be seen who will survive and who will perish in the brutal game of 14th century war and politics.

David Pilling


My review: David told me that Folville's Law was his first published book. I was pleasantly surprised! He did a splendid job. I've read a lot of first published books that I didn't like. He is a wonderful story teller. This is a book you want to keep on reading to find out what happens next. I was at the edge of my seat a few times. This story is full of wonderful characters (fantastic character building by the way), adventure, intrigue, betrayal, villains and more. I'm looking forward to continuing on with the series. A must read!

I gave this book four stars!

Interview with Author Christy English

                                                     Author Christy English

1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?

I started writing as a child and never stopped. I began to write again as an adult, but only for myself. Characters showed up with their stories, and I wrote them down for pure pleasure. For the first few years, no one read them but me. Then, one day, I was in Barnes and Noble and saw Tracy Chevalier's Girl with the Pearl Earring and I realized that not only did other people write historical fiction, a lot of people wanted to read it. So I began working harder, making my books better so that more people could enjoy them than just me.

2. What is your favorite book you have written and why?

My books are like children. I love them all for different reasons. I love The Queen's Pawn because of the fiery connection between Eleanor and Henry, and for Alais' sweet innocence at the beginning and at the end of the novel. I love To Be Queen for Eleanor's passion and courage, for her bravery in the face of great odds, a woman who ruled in a man's world, and who ruled well.

3. What fascinates you the most about Eleanor of Aquitaine?

I love that Eleanor never gives up. Though faced with insurmountable challenges, Eleanor never surrenders. Though she loses many battles, she never gives up on the over all war. The war she fights all her life is to rule in her own name, to protect herself and her power, to become the woman she was born to be. Like few women in history, Eleanor succeeded in that, and in many other things.

4. What is your next book project?

I am currently writing Regency romance novels for Sourcebooks, and I am loving it. I am re-telling Shakespearean comedies, beginning with The Taming of the Shrew. It is so much fun to delve into a new time, and to completely immerse myself in romance. I am a sucker for true love, and in a romance novel, true love always triumphs.

5. What is your favorite quote?

"Write what you love."

6. What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Keep writing. Stay in the chair, no matter how tempted you are to give up, to give in, to give out. No one can write with your voice, no one else can tell your story but you.

Much love,
Christy


Christy English
Author of the Historical Novels

To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine
and The Queen's Pawn
From New American Library
www.christyenglish.com

Author Bio:

Raised in Wilmington, NC, Christy English received her undergraduate degree in history from Duke University, then began her work as writer of historical fiction. For years Christy attended writers’ conferences, listening to the stories and the experiences of published authors. She decided to take to heart the wisdom of the renowned southern American author, Reynolds Price, given once at a North Carolina Writer’s Conference: “Go into your room, close the door, sit down at your desk, and write.” While continuing to follow Mr. Price’s advice, in 2006 Christy moved to New York City, where she worked as an executive assistant by day, and as a writer of historical fiction by night. Christy’s novel, THE QUEEN’S PAWN, caught the eye of experienced editor, Executive Director Claire Zion at New American Library, an imprint of Penguin Publishing. Claire and Christy met for lunch, and the published version of THE QUEEN’S PAWN was born. Christy’s second novel, TO BE QUEEN: A NOVEL OF THE EARLY LIFE OF ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE, was released from New American Library in April 2011. Her new Regency romance series Shakespeare in Love will be published by Sourcebooks in the fall of 2012.

With many thanks!

Stephanie

Ladies & Literature Contest

If you are not a member of Ladies & Literature and you are looking for a ladies book club! We are it!! We are holding a contest, winner gets a prize. So please come on over and join us. We would love to have you!

Here is the link: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/40140.Ladies_Literature

Best,
Stephanie

We're a ladies only club.

Zoo Station by David Downing

A few years ago my Grandfather started to speak of the war in bits and pieces. He sparked my interest in learning more. I've read several fictional books over the years about the war, but Zoo Station puts the icing on the cake.

What an intellectually fascinating written story of espionage, good and evil and the time leading up to the brink of war. As I got deeper into the story the more intrigued I became by the characters and their situation. This book touched my heart. A must read.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

	I was blown away on how good this story was! If you are fascinated with Greek Mythologies. Then you will love this story. It's puts a whole knew spin on Greek Myth. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

I Am the Chosen King By Helen Hollick

                                I rated this novel five stars. Book review coming soon!

Rival to the Queen by Carolly Erickson

This was a fast easy read. However, the book didn't portray Queen Elizabeth in a good light. Lettie was about the only strong character, I thought in this book. This story is about Lettie Knollys -Queen Elizabeth cousin-the only women to stand up to Elizabeth. Lettie Knollys secretly marries Robert Dudley and the Queen basically tries too make Lettie's life hell for doing so. I enjoy reading about Tudor England and I felt that this book really didn't portray Tudor England in the way we normally read about. But...having said that, overall it was an interesting read. The plot was good, but could have been a little stronger. So I gave it three stars.

Her Highness, the Traitor by Susan Higginbotham

Susan Higginbotham does a superb job with this story! This is my first novel I have read by Susan. I have read several books about Lady Jane Grey and her family. Susan puts a new light on Jane's mother, Frances Grey. I've never been too fond of the women. I have always thought her to be a mean and abusive women.

The story of Lady Jane is a tragic one. I've always thought her unfairly punished for the actions of others around her. After all I believe she was controlled by others.

This novel will be published in June of 2012. Add it to your TBR list! It's a must read.         

Coming Up for Air by Patti Callahan Henry

This story begins with Ellie at her mother's funeral. A day or so later Ellie finds a journal belonging to her mother and discovers a part of her mothers past she didn't know about. Meanwhile Ellie's marriage to Rusty is in trouble. So Ellie decided to leave town for a few days to get away and to do some research on her mother. She discovers things about her mother and makes a decision about her marriage.

This story to me was about a daughter wanting to know more about her mother and how she lived her life when she was younger. It's also about first love, marriage,loss and healing.

I really enjoyed this story. I love the fact that Ellie is an Artist. So I liked how she saw life. I also enjoyed reading about the jubilee. The meaning of it and the traditions. This story takes place in the South and as a Southerner, I felt right at home with this story. This is a good story to curl up with and get lost in.

Lot's Return To Sodom by Sandra Brannan

I first discovered the Author Sandra Brannan through Goodreads and had won this book. What caught my attention to this book was the title. When I started to read this book I really got into fast. Liv Bergen, the main character is smart, witty, spunky, and a go-getter. She will stop at nothing to find the killer and to clear her brother's name. Sandra Brannan did a fabulous job setting up this story. The plot was great and I loved how she ended the story. She writes a heck of a myster...moreI first discovered the Author Sandra Brannan through Goodreads and had won this book. What caught my attention to this book was the title. When I started to read this book I really got into it fast. Liv Bergen, the main character is smart, witty, spunky, and a go-getter. She will stop at nothing to find the killer and to clear her brother's name. Sandra Brannan did a fabulous job setting up this story. The plot was great and I loved how she ended the story. She writes a heck of a mystery. Throughout the whole story I was trying to figure out who the killer was. It could have been a number of people. Then at the end when the killer was revealed I was totally surprised who it was. I didn't see that twist in the story coming at all. I love that!