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Interview with author Emma L. Edwards

Interview with the author of a blood-thirsty new Vampire series

Author Interview – Emma L Edwards

Emma Edwards is the author of blood-thirsty new vampire series Sanguinary.  Taking a different approach to the vampire genre Sanguinary is about ‘real vampires’, whilst still infusing more traditional vampire legends to give a fresh new twist on the vampire tale.  There are currently two books in the series – Sanguinary and the follow up, Imbrued.
Sanguinary300DPIAbout Sanguinary
Would you bleed for the one you love?
Angel Harris has always had a thing about vampires, but not so much the killer that is claiming victims in the city where she lives and works. The press are calling him ‘The Vampire’, because the victims are found drained of blood, with bite marks to their necks.
Ash is the lead singer in a local rock band. Angel is drawn into his world when she is asked by her boss at the local newspaper to investigate rumours of blood drinking within Ash’s band.  Ash and Angel bond on a deep level and she finds herself welcomed into this group of supposed blood drinkers.
But the body count continues to rise and Angel will soon find out that ‘The Vampire’ is closer to her than she ever would have believed.
Sex, blood and rock n roll.
The interview…
Firstly, tell us about your book/series.
Sanguinary is about a different kind of vampire.  My vampires are otherwise human but have a physical need to drink blood.  The series has elements of horror, vampirism and romance all set to a rock n’ roll backdrop.  It tells the story of Angel, who is drawn into a world of blood-drinking when she falls for the singer of a local rock band.  But whilst she is loved up and getting to know the vampires there is a killer stalking the city, leaving young girls exsanguinated.  The path of true love doesn’t run smoothly and things rapidly begin to spiral out of control for Angel, whilst the killer circles closer to her.  Imbrued is the follow up to Sanguinary, continuing Angel’s relationship with the vampires, whilst a different threat appears.
What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I am working on the third book in the Sanguinary series.
What inspired you to become a writer?
A love of reading led to a love of writing.  As a child I was always in the library, devouring every Stephen King and James Herbert book that I could get my hands on.  Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles was my introduction to vampire literature.  And reading all these amazing stories made me want to create some of my own.
How long have you been writing?
For a long time! I started writing when I was a teenager, I used to write freehand then, scrawling stories into note books.  And I’ve never stopped since.  But it has taken me a while to get here, to having two books actually published.
What is your relationship with your characters? Do you have a favourite?  Is there one that you find a bit more difficult?
Angel is so easy for to me write, she just flows.  And as for Ash, well he’s arrogant, jealous, possessive and has anger issues but he is as hot as hell and I’m completely in love with him.  None of my characters prove too difficult, with the exception of Ash, they are a well behaved bunch.
Is there anything that you find challenging about being a writer?
Time management at the moment.  What with promoting and networking with other writers, sometimes it’s hard to find the time to actually write.
Do you have a strict writing routine/word count per day?
Not at all, some days it comes easy and the words will flow in their thousands, other days are harder but hopefully it all evens out in the end.
Do you have any plans to write in a different genre in the future?
Yes, I have a few outlines for books much more set in reality.  But I guess it will always end up coming back to my first literary love, vampires!
Are you also an avid reader?  What are you reading at the moment?
Absolutely, when I get the time I love to read but I don’t get as much free time as I used to.  At the moment I’m reading Poppy Z Brite’s Lost Souls.
The vampires are attacking!  Grab the first thing you see to your right and hit them with it!  What was it?  And how do you think you did in the ensuing fight?
A glass of strawberry flavoured water.  I guess unless the vampire really doesn’t like strawberries then I may be in trouble.  But hey, if he’s a hot vampire, who’s fighting anyway?
The afore mentioned vampire attack didn’t go so well and you were bitten by the vampire…now what?
Well, if he is the hot vampire that I was hoping for then I guess I would be quite content to spend immortality with him.
In the event of a zombie apocalypse what item would you make sure that you took with you to your underground safety bunker? (we will presume that your family are already safely in the bunker!)
It would probably be the memory stick that I have all my writing files saved on to.  They are all backed up in about three other places (yes I am that paranoid about losing it all) but I would have to make sure that I had at least one copy with me.  And if I’m grabbing the memory stick, I may as-well take the laptop too, I’d getting plenty of time for writing in that bunker….until the zombies start banging on the door.
Can you give us five random facts about yourself?
I have three tattoos which I have had done in dedication to my books.
A canvas art of Brandon Lee from The Crow is on my living room wall.
One of my dogs is called Luci-Fur.
I love the film The Lost Boys and have watched it countless times.
Despite all the blood thirstiness that I write about I have been a vegetarian for 18 years.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
My biggest issue with getting my writing published was confidence.  It is a scary concept, putting your work out there, open to criticism.  But since I have done it, so far I have had a great response.  So my advice is sometimes you have to take a chance, because you never know how it may all turn out.
Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?
The first thing I would say to anybody who has taken some of their precious time to choose to read my books is thank you and I would hope that they have enjoyed the experience.  The other thing that I would say is that books live and die by word of mouth, if you have read any book and enjoyed, pass the word on, tell your friends, leave a review or rating on Amazon or Goodreads and help to make the book that you enjoyed a success.
About Emma
Emma (2)Neo-gothic Welsh wordsmith Emma Edwards has written since childhood. She worked in Business Administration, married and nurtured her beloved kids, but it was only when they started to get older that she had the time to create, write and publish her first novel Sanguinary and more recently the follow up, Imbrued.
At thirteen, Emma watched The Lost Boys and ever since, she’s had a thing about vampires, so it was inevitable that they would be the focus of her debut novel.
Emma’s writing style is sassy, sharp, dynamic, uncompromising and tends to the dark side. Let’s just say it’s never going to be rainbows and fluffy bunnies with Emma. Okay, there is one fluffy bunny in Imbrued, but he doesn’t last long!

Purchase Information:

http://www.emmaedwards.net/index.html

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008JYK7FC/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008JYK7FC&linkCode=as2&tag=ilovevampiren-20
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sanguinary-ebook/dp/B008JYK7FC
 

History Trivia


January 31

 On this day in the early 9th century, several men supposedly stole the body of St. Mark from Alexandria and transferred it to Venice. 

36 BC Antonia Minor, daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia Minor was born.

314 Silvester I began his reign as Pope of the Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Miltiades. During his pontificate, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, St. Peter's Basilica, and several cemeterial churches over the graves of martyrs were founded.

1606 Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes was executed for his plotting against Parliament and James I of England. Guy Fawkes and fellow surviving Gunpowder Plotters were hanged, drawn and quartered at Westminster.

 

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History Trivia


January 30

1077 Pope Gregory VII pardoned German emperor Henry IV.

1487 Bell chimes were invented. 1522 Duke of Albany took captured French back to Scotland.

1648 Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster and Osnabrück was signed, which ended the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain.

1649 King Charles I of England was beheaded.



1661 Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England was ritually executed two years after his death, on the anniversary of the execution of the monarch he himself deposed.

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The Briton and the Dane Concordia by Mary Ann Bernal Amazon Review

 
 
 
 
 
 
5.0 out of 5 stars History brought to life, 29 Jan 2013

This review is from: The Briton and the Dane: Concordia (Paperback)
This is the first of Mary Ann Bernal's novels I've read but it won't be the last! I enjoy historical fiction but don't want to be bombarded with facts at the expense of a good story so, I'm delighted to say, the author did not disappoint.

Concordia, a wilful, spoilt young girl, brought up close to the court of King Alfred during the late 9th century, has her heart stolen by an exotic, foreign dignatory before he returns to his homeland. Her infatuation and naievity take her on a journey, by boat, to Europe and beyond. The scenes are beautifully set to stage battles, voyages and royal courts and the reader sees through Concordia's eyes the violent, often uncivilised times she lives in, as well as the honour, gallantry and bravery of many of the characters. Part of me wanted to see Concordia's journey from naievity and innocence to maturity and wisdom but that would have been a different story!

This book receives my 5* rating as I loved the story telling, would recommend to others and read again. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

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History Trivia

January 29

904 Pope Sergius III came out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher. 

1119 Pope Gelasius II died. The brief reign of Gelasius II was plagued by the lingering investiture controversy and the aggressive actions of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor. Henry took possession of Rome and twice drove the pope from the city, installing in his place the antipope Gregory VIII.  

1327  Edward III was crowned  By laying claim to the French throne, he started the Hundred Years' War.  He also created Britain's highest knightly order, the Order of the Garter because of his fondness for chivalry.





1595 William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet was performed for the first time on this day.




1613 Galileo observed Neptune but failed to understand the significance of his find.

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History Trivia


January 28



814 Charlemagne, King of the Franks and creator of the Holy Roman Empire, died in Aachen.

1077 the excommunication of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor was lifted by Pope Gregory VII.

1099 First Crusaders began the siege of Hosn-el-Akrad Syria.

1262 Flemish/Dutch coast was ravaged by a north western storm.

1495 Pope Alexander VI gave his son Cesare Borgia as a hostage to Charles VIII of France to ensure the Pope's good behavior as Charles left Rome to conquer Naples.  However, Cesare did escape and returned to Rome. 

1547 Henry VIII died. His nine-year-old son, Edward VI became King, and the first Protestant ruler of England.

 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

History Trivia

January 27



484 BC, the temple of Castor and Pollux, the Heavenly Twins, was dedicated.

98 Trajan became Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva.

1186 Henry VI, the son and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, married Constance of Sicily.

1302 Dante became a Florentine political exile because of his political activities that included the banishment of several rivals. 

1606 Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators began, ending with their execution on January 31.

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History Trivia


January 26





66  5th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet.

1316 Revolt in Wales against the authority of Edward II began.

1340 King Edward III of England was declared King of France.

1531 An earthquake killed thousands in Lisbon, Portugal.

1564The Council of Trent issued its conclusions in the Tridentinum, which established a distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

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The Illustrated Woman by Mark Barry - Amazon Review


5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down! A must read! Unique and Powerful!, October 16, 2012
By 
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: The Illustrated Woman (Kindle Edition)
The Illustrated Woman has a unique plot that will capture your attention, hold it, make you angry, make you cry, make you desperate and it will make you fall in love. It will remove you from your present world and transport you into the life of a single mother who turned her back on the world her parents desired her to have and created her own.

This book is not for the shy or timid. It is graphic and realistic. It is emotionally open and evasive. It is good and evil. It is stimulating and abusive. It is life and broken dreams. It is enthralling and deceiving. It is truth and lies. It is honor and immoral. It is beauty and ignorance. It is love and selfishness. It is desire and hatred. It is commitment and it is fear. It is enlightenment and it is disillusionments. It is about second or even third chances and it is unforgivable. It is choices and it is consequences. It is maturity at its worst and it is immaturity at its best. It is a book that will make you think...about circumstances, choices and consequences.

Emily learns early on that choices are her choices to make, not her mom and nor her dad's, thus leading her astray from the life her parents were molding her into. Acceptance...of who she is, what she wanted, who she wanted was denied creating a void in her that was filled with pain due to the rejection of a stoutly proud man...her father.

Tyrone: Attractive. Lazy. User. Her obsession. Her destruction. Her love. Her destruction. Her everything. Her on again, off again.

Penny: Obedient. Cooperative. Happy. Her life. Her daughter. Her one constant.

The Clients: Pornographic. Solicitation. Lust. Her way of paying for her Illustration.

Enter Alan: Quiet. Shy. Reserved. Suffering. Attentive. Listener. Consistent. Eager. Accepting. In love with Emily. Her, not quite sure what.

The Illustration: Her future. Her history. Her dreams. Her failures. Her life in ink. One half, pure; One half, not so much.
The Choice: Tyrone, Alan. Alan, Tyrone. Her choice. Their choice.

The Illustrated Woman is to be read as entertainment only and should only be read by adults of maturity. The Illustrated Woman has extensive usage of curse words, references to drug usage, explicit sexual relations incorporating power exchange, sexually abusive scenes, BDSM references and intense anger scenes.

And...I could not put this book down

History Trivia


January 25

41 Tiberius Claudius Drusus was proclaimed as emperor by the Praetorian Guard.  After a night of negotiation, Claudius was accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate. 98  The Emperor Nerva died of natural causes.

1327 Edward III became King of England.

1348 An earthquake destroyed Villach (Austria) that killed thousands.

1494 Alfonso II became King of Naples.

1533 Henry VIII of England secretly married his second wife Anne Boleyn.

 

The Ritual by Mark Barry - Amazon Review

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.0 out of 5 stars The first of many!


This review is from: The Ritual (Paperback)
This is the first book I've read by Mark Barry...but it won't be the last!
Initially intrigued by the title, I soon became embroiled in the diverse characters and fast moving storyline. The author's vast knowledge of the setting for the book and descriptions of the characters allowed me to 'see' the story unfolding...my favourite way to read. As the ravens massed on the rooftops and the mysterious beast crashed through the undergrowth, I was hooked.
Though there were a few editing niggles, I have no hesitation in giving this book my 5* rating...I enjoyed the story, I would recommend it and I will read it again.

History Trivia


January 24



41 Caligula was murdered along with his wife and infant child by a Praetorian tribune while attending the Palatine games. Claudius succeeded his nephew.

76 the Emperor Hadrian was born.

1328 King Edward III of England married Philippa of Henegouwen.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

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Kid Atomic by Mark Barry - Amazon Review

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.0 out of 5 stars Mark Barry does it again

By 
Quietclayer "Mary" (Florissant, MO USA)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kid Atomic (Kindle Edition)
I just finished reading Kid Atomic. Mark Barry has surprised me again. This is a character and relationship driven psychological thriller that, if you have read any other books by Mr. Barry clearly shows his incredible range. The characters are ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Set in current day Britain, it tells the story of good friends that have joined a protest movement at the University they attend. They are chosen by the leader of the movement to go to London to pick up materials for an upcoming demonstration. What they pick up will change their lives forever. The characters are well developed, invoking strong feelings in the reader. Feelings that run the gamut from empathy to revulsion. The relationships are as intertwined as those in the reader's own life and entirely believable. Although the story starts out in an easy going manner, things soon begin to turn dark and sinister. Mr. Barry keeps the reader guessing right up to the very surprising and satisfying ending. An enjoyable and suspenseful story from beginning to end.,

History Trivia


January 23,


27 BC, Augustus Caesar (Octavian) founded the Roman Empire that would last until A.D. 476.  Octavian was granted the title 'Augustus', meaning lofty or serene, by the Roman senate.

393 Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaimed his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor.

1265 First English Parliament formally convened.

1510 18-year-old Henry VIII of England appeared incognito in the lists at Richmond, and was applauded for his jousting before he revealed his identity.

1533 Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII of England, discovered she was pregnant.

1570 The assassination of Regent James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray threw Scotland into civil war.

1571 The Royal Exchange opened in London.

1579 The Union of Utrecht formed a Protestant republic in the Netherlands.

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By ngaire

Format:Kindle Edition

Hollywood Shakedown was a phenomenal read; compelling, wonderful, outstanding! Fast-paced with carefully crafted characters. Thriller, a bit of sex/romance and a massive amount of intrigue weaved into a well thought out plot. The ending is unforgettable and suits the story very well. Mark Barry has created a novel that few writers could only dream of authoring. The only downside, the story came to an end. A must read for all adults

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5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful adventure!, 18 Jan 2013


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Cecilia Spark sets off on a much longer adventure than Brimstone Forest, following the Quest compass into the Mystical Mountains of Terra. The characters are beautiful and we learn more about Soldier and are introduced to Ractus and Pacha along the way. There's tension and suspense as well as humour. A highly recommended read for all ages.

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History Trivia

January 22

565 Eutychius was deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus.

871 Battle at Basing: Danish invasion army vanquished Ethelred of Wessex.



1371 King Robert II Stuart of Scotland was crowned.

1506 The first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrived at the Vatican.

1521 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, opened the Diet of Worms.

1552 Sir Edward Seymour, uncle to King Edward VI of England, was executed.

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Carla (and other Green Wizard stories): The Ritual Redux





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Carla by Mark Barry - Amazon Book Review




By K. Meador

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Remember the scene in Forrest Gump where he is sitting on a bench waiting for a bus to go see his "Jenny" and he is telling his story as people come and go?

Well, I felt like I was in a pub, on a barstool, as he drank his ale and I, mine, and he spoke quietly as he told me his story about Carla and him. He spoke from his perspective and quite literally I was enamored. Being taken into the depths of his mind, thoughts, actions and reactions to situations real or perceived was an amazing and sometimes scary journey.

Scary....as in....I know that kind of feeling....kind of scary.

Carla is a beautiful person who has been projected to be exactly who she is: an open minded, busy, young, and attractive woman who knows her mind and also deals with her own set of insecurities giving Carla a mixture of attributes that makes an appeal to the reader.

Sharna is the dedicated friend to Carla and it is interesting to watch how she projects herself as Carla's protector when meeting John and then the development of their friendship with Carla being the vine that connects them.

John is an older man who struggles internally with each encounter - perceived or real - that occurs. He has come a full circle in his life and finally has an understanding of who and what he is; both the good and the bad. You will fall in love with John and then you will love to hate his actions or reactions. You will cheer for John but in the next breath you will berate him. You will definitely be able to relate to John at some point in the story!

And by the time you get to the ending....oh my... No spoiler here! You must read to find out; but, I promise you one thing, it won't be what you expect!

 

History Trivia


January 21




1189 King Philip Augustus of France, King Henry II of England, King Richard I, and Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa initiated the Third Crusade in response to the victory of Saladin in 1187.

1276 Pierre de Tarantaise, the first Dominican pope, was elected, choosing the name Pope Innocence V.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

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History Trivia


January 20

250  Fabian who was created pope in 236, was martyred under the persecution of Decius.

1265 The first English parliament was held by Simon de Montfort in the Palace of Westminister (Houses of Parliament)and was attended by elected burgesses and knights.



1327 Edward II of England was deposed by his eldest son, Edward III.

1356 Edward Balliol abdicated as King of Scotland.

1523 Christian II was forced to abdicate as King of Denmark and Norway.

1649 Charles I of England went on trial for treason and other high crimes.

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Saturday, January 19, 2013

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History Trivia

January 19

379 Theodosius installed as co-emperor of East Roman Empire.

973 Pope Benedictus VI elected 

1419 The French city of Rouen surrendered to Henry V in Hundred Years War.

1520 Sten Sture the Younger, the Regent of Sweden, was mortally wounded at the Battle of Bogesund, an important conflict in the campaign of Christian II to gain power over Sweden.

1523 Ulrich Zwingli, founder of the reformation in Switzerland, published his 67 Articles, the first manifesto of the Zurich Reformation which attacks the authority of the Pope.

1783 William Pitt became the youngest Prime Minister of England at age 24.


 

Friday, January 18, 2013

History Trivia


January 18

350 Flavius Julius Constans was assassinated.

1486 King Henry VII of England married Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV.




1520 King Christian II of Denmark and Norway defeated the Swedes at Lake Ã…sunden.

1562 Pope Pius IV reopened the Council of Trent for its third and final session, which defined the mass as a true sacrifice and issued statements on several other doctrinal issues. By the end of the 16th century, many of the abuses that had motivated the Protestant Reformation had disappeared, and the church had reclaimed many of its European followers.

History Trivia

January 17

 38 BC Octavian married Livia Drusilla.

 69 Etruscan Roman Emperor Otho committed suicide after a night of meditation in his tent. A companion of Nero, it is believed that he died to prevent civil war.

395 the Roman Empire was split into eastern and western parts upon the death of Emperor Theodosius I, whose will provided that his two sons would inherit the two parts.




1377 Pope Gregory XI moved the Papacy back to Rome from Avignon.

1501- Cesare Borgia returned in triumph to Rome from Romagna.

1648 England's Long Parliament passed the Vote of No Addresses, which broke off negotiations with King Charles I, setting the scene for the second phase of the English Civil War.

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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Briton and the Dane: Concordia Amazon Review

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.0 out of 5 stars This book has everything a person could want in Historical Fiction, January 15, 2013

By 
Quietclayer "Mary" (Florissant, MO USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: The Briton and the Dane: Concordia (Kindle Edition)
It's not my way to reiterate the story line in a review. I prefer to give my opinion of the writer's ability to paint pictures with words and engage the reader.

Mary Ann Bernal paints lavishly vivid pictures of the romantic and exotic locales in this excellent book. The characters are fully detailed, physically, mentally and emotionally. The reader is fully engaged from the first page. Drawn into a world of romance, intrigue, duplicity and adventure, I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes Historical Fiction or even just an excellent story. This book is right up there with Pillars of the Earth, if you liked that book, you will like this one. Don't miss it.

History Trivia


January 16

27 BC The title Augustus was bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate.

550 during the Gothic War (535–552), the Ostrogoths conquered Rome after a long siege, by bribing the Isaurian garrison.

1120 The Council of Nablus was held, establishing the earliest surviving written laws of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.

1219 Floods in Northern Netherlands after storm, 1,000s killed.

1245 Edmund Lancaster was born. Edmund was the founder of the House of Lancaster and son of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence.

1362 a storm tide in the North Sea destroyed the German city of Rungholt on the island of Strand (North Frisian Islands).

 1412 the Medici family was appointed official banker of the Papacy.

 1572 Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk was tried for treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholicism in England.

1581 The English Parliament outlawed Roman Catholicism.

1605 The first edition of El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha (Book One of Don Quixote) by Miguel de Cervantes was published in Madrid.


In the Midst: Author K Meador Interviewed by Spotlight

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Gladiator's Pen: Gladiator's Pen chats with publishing icon Bella A...

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Wizard's Cauldron: Mackenzie Knight - The Queen of the Paranormal

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History Trivia


January 15

 588 BC Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon lay siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah's reign. The siege lasted until July 23, 586 BC.

69 the Emperor Galba was murdered in the streets of Rome. Otho (Marcus Salvius Otho Caesar Augustus) seized power and proclaimed himself Emperor of Rome, but ruled for only three months before he committed suicide.

1535 Henry VIII declared himself head of English Church.

1559 Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey, London by Owen Oglethorpe, Bishop of Carlisle.


1759 British Museum opened in Montague House, London


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Five Star Review of The Ritual by Mark Barry

Amazon UK Customer Review

5.0 out of 5 stars The first of many!, 14 Jan 2013
This review is from: The Ritual (Paperback)
This is the first book I've read by Mark Barry...but it won't be the last!
Initially intrigued by the title, I soon became embroiled in the diverse characters and fast moving storyline. The author's vast knowledge of the setting for the book and descriptions of the characters allowed me to 'see' the story unfolding...my favourite way to read. As the ravens massed on the rooftops and the mysterious beast crashed through the undergrowth, I was hooked.
Though there were a few editing niggles, I have no hesitation in giving this book my 5* rating...I enjoyed the story, I would recommend it and I will read it again.

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Monday, January 14, 2013

History Trivia


January 14

973 Ekkehard I, monk of St Gallen, distinguished as a poet (Vita Waltharii manu fortis), died.

1131 King Valdemar I of Denmark was born. In addition to winning independence from the Holy Roman Empire, he also gained the approval of the church for the dynastic rule of his family, the Valdemars.


King Valdemar I of Denmark


1236 Henry III of England married Eleonora of Provence.

1501 Martin Luther (age 17) entered the University of Erfurt (founded in 1379, it was the first university in modern day Germany, and for some time was the largest university in the country).

1514 Pope Leo X issued a papal bull against slavery.

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An Interview with Author Matt Posner




Welcome to Meet The Author! Today Matt Posner has stopped by to give us a little insight into his life and his books.  So let’s get started.
 

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I live and work in Queens, New York and I teach a city school in Brooklyn. I'm originally from Miami, Florida and have an academic background in fiction writing. I'm also a performing point in an avant-garde multimedia band called The Exploration Project. I've been happily married to Julie since 1999. 


What projects have been published?

I am still working on the School of the Ages series, set to constitute five novels and an indefinite number of shorter books that are short story collections or novelettes featuring my characters. I published three novels and two short books so far, and the fourth novel is deep into the first draft now. Also, along with Jess C. Scott I am the author of Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships, an advice book for teenagers on the topics in the title.

 Tell us about the School of the Ages series.

The School of the Ages series is about a magic school in New York City and the kids who are in it. My main character is Simon, who with his friends grows up in the books with lots of loss and adventures. The books feature a strong ensemble supporting cast of both entertaining student magicians and really horrendous villains. The books are multicultural, combining magical and mystic traditions of East and West, and featuring a lot of real-world places and events. I don't like to mention Harry Potter, but I keep getting asked, and no, except for the commonality of the magic school setting, the books are nothing like Rowling's books. They are darker, and they don't have any of that bother about fate and prophecy and dark lords:  I used to use the slogan for them that I still like:  GROWING UP MAGICAL IS HARD.


How did you select the title of your novel?

The first book is The Ghost in the Crystal. I chose the title because it features a ghost attached to a crystal, and both ghost and crystal are strong nouns that properly suggest adventure and magic.

The series title School of the Ages came about because of my mistake. I wanted to name the series after the painting by Raphael in the Vatican, with all the philosophers. I thought that painting was called "The School of the Ages." But I made a mistake as it is actually "School of Athens." My  mental mistake occurred because that painting is on the cover of Harold Bloom's book The Western Canon:  The Books and School of the Ages.  Harold Bloom is to me as a lion to a jackrabbit; he couldn't care less if he tried with both hands.

What was your inspiration?

I love to write about magicians and wizards. I've done it since my teenage years. I was originally planning to write a series about one master wizard and three or four teenage apprentices. Then I was working in a yeshiva high school in Long Island, and became fascinated by the Mishnaic (Orthodox Jewish) subculture that controlled life there, and wanted to write it into a novel. So I created a school that was half Jews, studying Cabala, and half non-Jews, studying mostly Hermetic magic (European/Middle Eastern tradition) with some Indian culture mixed in.

Overall, my inspiration is reading nonfiction, history and culture and science, which I then incorporate in various ways into plotlines.

What are you currently working on?

I am working on School of the Ages 4:  Simon Myth. So far, the largest and the longest book because it encompasses a lot of characters and settings and resolves many plotlines that have been ongoing for a long time. I am sure the fifth book will be much shorter because it will be just a series of adventures.

What are you reading at the moment?

I read almost exclusively independent authors, but it happens that I am reading Rowling's The Casual Vacancy. I read about fifty pages and then had to take a break, and when I returned to it I had forgotten who the dozen or more characters were, so I may need to start all over again. The last time I had such a problem was when I tried Anna Karenina, which I ultimately set aside.

Do you have any advice for other authors?

It's not a living for most people who do it. Don't try to make writing a profession if you have any choice. If you want to be an independent author, learn marketing (which I myself have had to learn in small bites and still have not mastered). You can be published, you can have some readers, but big money and success are very elusive.

Don't trust large publishers. They specialize in screwing authors out of money and rights, and they are in financial trouble and desperate.

And finally, can you tell us some fun facts about yourself, such as crossed skydiving off my bucket list.

I guess I have an informal list in my mind of great paintings I want to see. Here in New York I've seen "Persistence of Memory," "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon." In Philadelphia I saw a Cezanne Large Bathers. In the Louvre I saw -- well, who can list everything you see in the Louvre? In Amsterdam I saw "The Night Watch." Most recently, I walked into a room in the Vienna Museum of Art History and it was filled with Breughels. "Tower of Babel," "Procession to Calvary," "Peasant Dance," "Hunters in Winter." OMFG! Standing in front of things I've admired since childhood. This year or next we hope to see "The Scream" in Copenhagen. Stuff in Italy will have to wait a few years, though.

Where can we find out more about you, and where can we purchase your books?

I'm a reader-friendly author, ready to hear from people who like my books or have questions about them. Here's how to reach me.



http://www.twitter.com/schooloftheages

http://www.pinterest.com/mattposner

I'm also a Goodreads author.

All my books are available for Amazon Kindle. All my novels are available at the Nook store also. Teen Guide is available in every digital format and in paperback at all online booksellers. In India, my first two novels are exclusively in paperback from Times Group Books, available at online booksellers like infibeam.com and flipkart.com and others.