Author Interview: John Connell

photo provided by Sea Lion Books

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Massachusetts outside of Boston with my wife Kim and our children Bailey and Max. Our dogs Chewy and Jed hang out in my studio with me while I’m working. I’m 42 yrs old and have been fortunate enough to be a professional artist for over 20 yrs . 

2. Can you tell us about your graphic novel Carnal: Pride of the Lions? 

Carnal is a big world that will be displayed in latter books, I wanted the first book Pride of the lions to be a close up focused look at a pride struggling for survival and they discover something that will threaten all of Africa.

3. What was your favorite part of the writing process of Carnal: Pride of the Lions?

That has to be when I’m doing something else like driving to the gym or hanging with the family not thinking about the book at all and a solution to a scene or idea pops into my head for Carnal, I can’t write it down or sketch it fast enough. This being my first book the writing process is new made a lot of mistakes the first time around that I learned a lot from that I wont make on book 2.

4. Where did the idea of Carnal: Pride of the Lions come from?

The idea for Carnal came to me in a nightmare about 10 years ago. It was about a giant humanistic rhino fighting of a pack of humanistic Hyenas . It was such a cool image in my head I was just going to do a painting of the nightmare image. As time passed I turned it into a story of how maybe the Rhino and other animals became humanistic. It seemed like a cool solid unique story that I was passionate about turning into a book but I’m a terrible writer. I let the idea sit for a few years. I would do pieces of art for it hear and there and write down outlines of how the book would be written. But 2 yrs ago I made a promise to myself that this wouldn’t be a half finished project. That I would see it all the way through and be able to see it at stores and on bookshelves. Jason Bergenstock is part of Carnal and helps me write and put my thoughts into words. 

5. Who was the hardest character to write?

Well she hasn’t really made an appearance yet in book 1 but that would be Kuma. She is evil squared. I want to portray her differently than your typical bad guy. It is presenting a real challenge.

courtesy of deviantART

6. What is the most interesting comment you have received so far concerning Carnal: Pride of the Lions?

I’m thrilled to get any positive feedback on Carnal, It’s pretty damn exciting to read good reviews, but this one line from a review stuck with me. It stuck with me because I worked really hard to make the daily life and struggle seem real to the reader and some one noticed “The details that went into the minutia of the day-to-day within the culture are superb. The characters are fleshed – out and the reader buys right into them. Within two pages into the book I was sucked in and became a huge fan.” That was from the Pullbox.com.

7. What has been the best advice you have ever been given?

It is a saying my head Jiu Jitsu instructor keeps saying when were training is “keep trying to improve your position” When your in a bad position in Jiu Jitsu you keep incrumently trying to improve your position. I apply that to my work ethics also. Learn from my mistakes and keep trying to improve and persevere.

8. If you could ask yourself any interview question, what would you ask, and how would you answer it?

I would ask what would you differently on your next book and what did you learn from your first?

I’m hyper critical about my work. I’m never happy or satisfied. I learned a lot about the process of writing and even how I should go about doing the art and page layouts.

9. When you aren’t writing, what do you like to do?

Drink coffee eat a sandwich put a Netflix on , have my dogs chilling behind me . I like a bunch of stuff going on. I’m in front of my computer close to twelve hours a day. I get stir crazy.

10. What is coming up next for you?

Book 2 then book 3 and so on. There are some other really exciting upcoming possibilities for Carnal but I don’t want to jinx them by mentioning it now. I’ve got my fingers crossed that it will all happen for Carnal.

ABOUT JOHN CONNELL

John Connell is a graduate of the Art Institute of Boston. He is a freelance artist working in many mediums, from oil paintings to digital art. His clients include numerous Fortune 500 companies. He lives with his family in Massachusetts.

AUTHOR LINKS

Nightmare Rhino  /  deviantART

Facebook

photo courtesy of Sea Lion Books

ABOUT CARNAL

The first graphic novel in the Carnal series, Pride of the Lions takes place on the continent of New Africa and focuses on three main species of humanistic animals.

After the Great War decades earlier between the hyenas and the lions, the victorious and once united lion prides now lay scattered across the land, torn by civil unrest over territory disputes and food shortages. The hyena clans that survived the war were forced deep into the Earth and now live in a massive underground city under the control of a terrible witch. The buffalo race is indifferent to most other species and have walled themselves off from the rest of the kingdoms. Humans have lost their hold on the African territories long ago and live as a simple, nomadic species.

The first book opens with Long Eyes, an old sapphire-eyed lion who is determined to save the lion kingdom and rescue his warrior son, Oron, who has gone missing. Long Eyes believes Oron is the key to uniting the prides. A young lioness tracker named Omi is sent out with the protection of two lion brothers to locate the missing warrior, but what they find is something that may unravel the very foundation of life for all species.

PRE-ORDER CARNAL

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Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

image courtesy of GoodReads

Hex Hall

By Rachel Hawkins

Publish Date: February 1, 2011

Publisher: Hyperion Book

Format: Hardcover

Source: Personal

 FIRST LINE

Felicia Miller was crying in the bathroom.

Sophie Mercer was only trying to help a fellow student. Now because she has outed herself as a witch (for the 19^th time) and her mother has no choice but to ship her only daughter off to Hecate Hall, a boarding school for wayward supernaturals. Not knowing who her father is, she is met with hostility from many of the students. But that is the least of her worries. Students are turning up dead and trying to figure out who is doing this is very important, considering Sophie could be next on the list. Also, a coven of witches want her for their fourth. And these witches you do not want to cross.

One of the suspects is Sophie’s own roommate, Jenna, the resident vampire. Vampires are new to Hecate and are considered beneath the “elite” supernaturals. Also suspected is a group called The Eye of God. Their job is to hunt down and kill supernaturals in order to protect the human world but because supposedly they shouldn’t be able to breach the spell that protects Hecate.

The reader is taken on a very imaginative journey of discovery. Discovery of who Sophie actually is, what The Eye of God are about and the reader discovers that sometimes you need to accept people that may be slightly different than you. The author takes interesting characteristics out of Roman and Egyptian history and weaves them into the plot of Hex Hall.

I couldn’t stop flipping the pages on this one. Even though it seems to be the same old storyline that we have been seeing a lot in the YA genre but I thought the aspects that were thrown in added the extra needed to keep the reader enthralled. Thought it was a very strong first book and I do look forward to the next installment.

PURCHASE HEX HALL

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Help Publish the Last Witch Series!

photo courtesy of author's site

HELP PUBLISH THE LAST WITCH SERIES!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1960643778/help-publish-the-last-witch-series 

A little about me and a lot about this project:

My name is Elizabeth J Kolodziej and I have been writing about the paranormal all my life (cliche, I know) however, I didn't know until my early twenties that my writing might be something other people want to read too! Go figure. Writing is my passion and I found that I also love the marketing, publishing and everything that goes into the process of getting a book printed. It's said that most indie authors won't sell more than a 100 copies of there book. In one year I sold, not gave away, but sold over 1,000 copies of Vampyre Kisses.

I was very lucky to have a family that believed in me and sponsored me when I needed it. Sadly, March 22nd 2012 will be the one year anniversary of my father, David Kolodziej, death. Without him in my life I have had to fight and work long hours to get the money for my books to be printed. Now, it is getting to the point where I'm running out of ways to get the money for publishing and marketing Witch Devotions, the third book in the Last Witch Series. Because it is the third I want to be able to give this book everything it deserves. A terrific cover (with a live model), creame paper, advertising on websites and much more.

Details of the Plan
Witch Devotions is done and just about ready for print. I have already put together the marketing plan for Witch Devotions, which will entail: 

• Button advertising on five big sites that are book blogs or book related sites.
• Setting up a blog hop AND a blog tour
• Blog radio spots during the month of release
• Book reviews from places like RT BookLovers, Kirkus, Amazon Vine, Apex, Reader Views, etc.
• Making a book trailer
• Release "party" on bittenbybooks.com

And much more. I have never done something as big as this for a marketing plan since I have never had enough money to do it. Most of my marketing for my series was free. I know this series is great though and with the third book out it will get so many more readers. That is if I can get your help.

cover courtesy of author's site

Synopsis for Vampyre Kisses
Vampyre Kisses is an enthralling story about a young woman named Faith, who was content with her life, but deep down craved more excitement. Then a mysterious man named Trent enters her life and everything changes. Surprising to Faith, Trent is a green-eyed vampire from Ireland. She is even more surprised to find out that she is a witch, and the last of her kind.

Faith finds out that she is destined to restore her witch line and becomes more powerful as she gains confidence and knowledge, but danger lurks everywhere. Especially when unknown assailants steal the most important gems from the vampire master and werewolf royalty.

Now surrounded by a world full of mystifying vampires and werewolves, can Faith gain enough power to help her friends and rescue the stolen gems?

cover courtesy of author's site

Synopsis for Werewolf Descent
Last witch in the world, Faith Scott, and her Irish vampire boyfriend Trent have just come back from fighting for their lives to recover the Vampiric Blood gem and Werewolf Moon gem. Thinking they could finally relax and work on the romance growing between them, they now meet a mysterious psychic vampire named Vincent who has his heart set on being with Faith.

Soon bizarre killings of Zou Tai’s werewolf pack begin, with rumors of an alchemist possessing the famed philosophers stone being the assailant; which, causes Faith to turn to Vincent for help in figuring out why the werewolves are being murdered.

It isn’t long before all those around them test Trent and Faith’s love, along with their abilities, once again. It is all Trent can do to keep Faith safe by his side while both go up against a deadly alchemist, deceptive gods, and having to rescue the werewolf prince; yet, after a deal with the God of Werewolves will Trent be able to save himself too?

Working synopsis for Witch Devotions:
With Trent gone, Faith feels that she can not go on without him. The pain grows so intense that she even shuts out her friends and loved ones to be alone; unsure of what to think about the supernatural world anymore. However, on a trip to see Gordon she realizes what she can do to make the pain go away. A spell.

The spell ends up back firing and Faith, last witch in the world, has now forgotten the past six months. All the memories of vampires, werewolves, and guardians have vanished. And the first to find her is Louis, her mother’s close friend and slayer.

With webs of lies and deceit falling upon her ears, Faith doesn’t know what is up and down. Then Louis gives her the option to become a slayer and she takes it, thinking vampires are evil. Along with the Goddess Circe interfering, Lilith still missing and Faith unable to remember Trent no one knows what will happen next!

Then walks in Patrick who has a secret about him that he doesn’t even realize. Through him Morgan finds out where Faith is and fly’s to Vegas to save her, but Faith is more untrusting that a rabid wolf.

Are these vampires and werewolves telling her the truth? Is she a witch in love with a vampire? Or will she proceed with being a slayer? The coin is still up in the air…and Faith doesn’t know where her devotions lie.

Along with this series, I write short stories and novellas under my own company name and other publishers. To learn more about me, my books, and see reviews please go to www.vampyrekisses.com

What about money left over?
I'll be amazed if there is BUT for such an occasion know that the money will go into the next book in the series and getting it published.

I hope you will contribute!

<3's and fangs,

Liz ^_^

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1960643778/help-publish-the-last-witch-series

I pledged my dollar...how about u? 

Review: Secrets by Aris Whittier

image from author's blog

Secrets

By Aris Whittier

Publish Date: 2012

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

Format: Digital Review

Source: Author

 

FIRST LINE

“What’s your name?”

Ashley Dawson is use to waking up to spirits but this certain spirit is different. This spirit, named Sara, manifests and wants Ashley to visit a man named Nathaniel Marshall. Ashley is instantly drawn into the mystery that is surrounding this spirit and wants to help Sara immediately. She finds out that Nathaniel was Sara’s husband and Sara wants her to help Nathaniel heal. This is one hard job to do when Nathaniel is not about to believe Ashley’s bizarre explanation.

Nathaniel was devastated when his wife passed away and has never fully recovered. Now that a curvy, vivacious woman has shown up on his doorstep saying that his dead wife has sent her to heal him, Nathaniel really thinks he has gone crazy. But maybe, what happened to his wife wasn’t an accident and that is what Sara is trying to say. By bringing Ashley into the picture the truth will come to light but at what price? Will Nathaniel lose Ashley too at the hands of someone hell bent on revenge?

The beginning is hauntingly good and continues its pace throughout. Whittier weaves characters from her previous book and continues the intense emotions all the way to the end. I do have to say that the tidbit about her friend’s boyfriend was predictable but I am thinking there might be another story coming out with those two.

PURCHASE SECRETS

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Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay (Hunger Games, Bk 3)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publish Date: August 24, 2010

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Format: Nook

Source: Personal

Challenge Met: TBR

**Spoiler Alert** I try not to include spoilers but unfortunately some are unavoidable.

FIRST LINE

I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather.

In the finale of the Hunger Games, Collins leads us out of the games and into the start of the revolution with Katniss smack dab in the middle. Katniss herself asks herself what events have led her to be standing in the ruins of her city. Much has happened and because of the concussion that she has received at the hands of another tribute leaves a lot of memories and thoughts jumbling around in Katniss’s brain. What she does know is that she is with Gale in District 13 (previously thought destroyed) and Peeta is held captive in the Capital fighting on the Capital’s side.

Katniss begins to find that District 13 is really no different than the Capital. Everyone is trying to use her as a pawn piece to further themselves. President Snow tried to use her and now Coin wants to use her to bring District 13 into power. The lies and manipulation continue and Katniss must wade thru it all if she wants to survive. Gale is more prominent in this storyline and instead of Peeta at her side; Gale is now fulfilling the role. This series is definitely not about a love story but a struggle for a civilization to survive. The love triangle does play out in the background but do not expect a fairytale ending.

I wish that Mockingjay could have been a 5 for me but it just fell a bit short. The world is still amazing that Collins’ built but taking the games out of the equation made it a bit slow for me. Considering they are in a full blown rebellion I thought that there would be more action. You do find out many secrets that the Capital has been hiding about what they do with previous winners of the Hunger Games and that revelation shocks you.

I would definitely recommend this series to anyone. It is very imaginative and at times disturbing but on a whole an amazing piece of fiction. I do look forward to how well this will play out on the big screen.

PURCHASE MOCKINGJAY

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THE TRILOGY

Guest Post: Death-Pepper Books by C.S. Marks

Sketch by Hope Hoover of a character from Elfhunter

Death-Pepper Books

by C.S. Marks

So, I was reading a news blurb this morning about a new species of death-pepper recently discovered. It’s called a ‘Scorpion’ pepper, supposedly has enough capsaicin to eat through a rubber glove, and can cause a blistering ‘high’ that has been compared by some spicy-food aficionados to crack cocaine. 

I’ve never understood spicy-food addicts. I love good food--everyone who knows me will soon realize that--but I want to taste what I’m eating, not overwhelm my palate with the same substance we use as a counter-irritant on a damaged leg muscle. At least I won’t go out of my way to seek out hyperinflammatory chili.

Is it the thrill? The dare? The claim of superior strength and ability to withstand the dreadful assault on one’s delicate senses? (You...can’t...beat...me! I...WILL...prevail!) Or is it the idea that one is so insensitive (aka ‘tough’) that one is unaffected? (‘You call this hot? Ha! I laugh at your feeble attempt to break through my barrier of insensitivity.’) I’m not sure.

I once purchased a bottle of hot sauce named ‘endorphin rush’ on a dare. When I got it home, I opened it (carefully!), inserted a clean (afterwards probably sterile) toothpick about 0.5mm into the surface, and then touched the very tip of the toothpick to my tongue.

An immediate numbing sensation followed. I had no feeling in that area of my tongue for several hours. I gave the bottle to one of my insensitive friends. The Scorpion peppers of the world are quite safe from me.

As I often do (especially when pressured to write weekly blog posts), I became reflective. That pepper represents that (name withheld) book I tried to read last year. I recall the book--it was an assault on my imagination, throwing everything violent and disagreeable at my poor brain, non-stop, from the very first page. The book had been highly touted as a best-seller, but my ‘tongue went numb’ and I couldn’t finish it.

I won’t elaborate on the sort of (ahem!) ‘plot elements’ included in chapter one, but let’s just say I was thankful the book is a fantasy. The reviews described it as ‘gritty’. I suppose the author forgot to wash the dirt off the death-pepper first. 

I read the reviews. There was obviously some of the same kind of thinking going on--the same appeal--as with the tongue-numbing hot sauce. Some reviewers called the book a ‘non-stop thrill ride’. Others praised the ‘guts’ of the author (and, by association, their own courage as readers) for not shying away from unpleasant realities. Some addressed the naysayers, referring to those who criticized the work as wimps who would obviously rather read about fluffy bunnies. We should all ‘get over it’.  

Okay, I get it. And I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy a little grit (especially in the literary equivalent of an excellent clam chowder). For example, at the moment I’m reading the latest Stephen King novel, 11/22/63, which I classify as fantasy. It’s a wonderful mix of flavors and textures--dark and decadent, light and refreshing, saltwater-tangy, sometimes even a little fruity--and, yes, the grit is definitely there. But the Scorpion-pepper? Well, I don’t know yet. I haven’t finished it.

I have decided I really can’t handle death-pepper books. My imagination blanks out, my eyes get stuck in permanent roll as the gritty author tries to shock me with escalating graphic violence and degradation (aka ‘smut’), and I end up doing the reader-equivalent of drinking a big glass of milk: I abandon the ‘gritty’ book and re-read one of my old favorites like James Herriot or Richard Adams (Watership Down was one of the best literary meals I have ever enjoyed). I might even feel compelled to go up to my loft and write, which, for me, is the equivalent of a big ol’ slug of ‘Maalox for the mind’. In Alterra, I get to cook.

I acknowledge the appeal of death-pepper books. I can visualize a bunch of rugged, Carhart-clad guys slouching in the corner booth at their favorite chili parlor re-living past glories. Yeah. That stuff in Fort Worth was pretty bad--had m’gall bladder out next day. Yeah. Those rape scenes involvin’ the explodin’octopus weren’t so bad, though. I’ve read worse. Yeah...the one with the (censored)...now THAT was gritty. I had to watch four hours of Winnie the Pooh afterwards. 

They’re just not for me.

One of my aforementioned favorite authors loves to throw chapters of unmitigated grossness in an otherwise gripping story--it’s become almost a game for me to guess what and where--will it be roaches? Maggots? Horrible, mutant rats? I know there’s gonna be slime and other forms of mutant mucous somewhere. Oh, well...nobody’s perfect. And of course there’s the obligatory ‘sex chapter’...well, can’t have realism without it, I suppose. I still love the author. His books are a real festival of flavors.

Some books are like dessert-carts. Delicious at first, but too sweet. Variety of flavors, but nearly all in the same family. Some books are like boxed mac n’ cheese. They are all the same, are predictable, and sell by the millions. I will eat...err...read both, depending on my mood, but what I really want is a unique combination of flavors, textures, and images that will delight my ‘palate’, keep me involved from first course to last, and perhaps even leave me thinking about it for a long time afterward. (And, no, I am not going to draw the analogy of onions ‘repeating’ for hours after one eats them, nor will I remind readers that eating a whole banana just before departing on a hundred-mile horse race is NOT a good idea. That’s not the kind of ‘afterthought’ I was referring to.)

ABOUT C.S. MARKS

C.S. Marks has often been described as a 'Renaissance woman.' The daughter of academic parents, she holds a Ph.D. in Biology and has spent the past two decades teaching Biology and Equine Science. She is currently a Full Professor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in west central Indiana.

She began writing shortly after the untimely death of her father, who was a Professor of American Literature at Butler University. A gifted artist, she has produced illustrations and cover art for all three books. She plays and sings Celtic music and a few examples of her songwriting may be found within the pages of 'Fire-heart.' She enjoys archery, and makes hand-crafted longbows using primitive tools.

Horses are her passion, and she is an accomplished horsewoman, having competed in the sport of endurance racing for many years. One of only a handful of Americans to complete the prestigious 'Tom Quilty' Australian national championship hundred-mile ride, she has described this moment as her 'finest hour.'

She has been happily married for nearly three decades. She and her husband, Jeff, share their home with ten dogs (predominantly Welsh Corgis) and five horses. They live deep in the forest, where there are miles and miles of trail riding to be had.

ABOUT ELFHUNTER

Elfhunter is the first of the tales of Alterra, the World that Is. It concerns the quest of an unlikely pair of heroines, Gaelen and Nelwyn, who are Wood-elves of the GreatwoodForest. They are hunter-scouts in the realm of King Ri-Aruin, and they have sworn to protect their woodland home, but they are drawn into a quest to defend all the Elves of Alterra as they seek to destroy the 'Elfhunter' a monstrous entity intent on exterminating the Elves until none remain. Along the way, Gaelen and Nelwyn are joined by other interesting characters as they make their way through the realms of Alterra in pursuit of the Elfhunter, whose true name is 'Gorgon' What headstrong Gaelen and her gentle cousin do not know is that Gorgon is in league with the Dark Power, and that the forces of Evil have forged an entanglement between Gorgon and Gaelen herself. Now she and all she loves are in jeopardy, and only an inspired plan put forth by Orogond, a mortal man, can save her. Watch the Book Trailer!

PURCHASE ELFHUNTER 

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Review: Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton

Hit List (Anita Blake, Bk 20)
By Laurell K. Hamilton
Publish Date: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Format: Hardcover
Source: Personal

**I try not to include spoilers in my reviews but since this is part of a series, some spoilers are unavoidable.**

Anita Blake and Edward have been called in to investigate a slew of killings that have the mark of a serial killer. This draws Anita away from the protection of Jean-Claude and out into the open for the Mother of All Darkness and her henchmen The Harlequin. I smell a trap for sure!

Anita has always progressed in her character from one book to another in this series. Still deep down we feel how much she is still that small town girl who is unsure of what she is doing. We see a lot of resentment from men towards Anita. As she puts it, they think she is sleeping with everyone so they hate her because she is slut or she just hasn’t slept with them. Very hard to work when you have those feelings directed towards you. Anita, of course, perseveres with her quick wit and straight forward in your face attitude.

I miss the comfort of Anita with her group of merry men (as I call them). Having the story take place away from all the other characters and only inject a few familiar characters made Hit List fall short for me. We end up being introduced to more minor characters that play an intricate part in the ending. Olaf is also brought back and might just have a more starring role in books to come. Not entirely sold on this installment but hopefully Hamilton gets back on track with her next one.

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