Hello, Riddlers! We're a day late due to the holiday, but can you guess our theme this week? According to Homer, it will turn you inside out. ; ) ~ F
Sometimes patchy when I roll in, a tease for what might have been. You'll cancel the trip if I don't lift; sail with me, the ship's adrift. Cast as mysterious, I'm hot and cold. The sun burns me up, water is gold. I sneak by on what fell, but a beacon of light does tell.
What am I? Stop by Thursday for the answer.
I gave you 2 clues!
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Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Author Interview with Kurt Chambers
The
DMS was lucky enough to interview Kurt Chambers. Lizzy reviewed The Wrath of Siren, the second book in his Truth Teller
series and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours!
We're excited to learn a little more about his story. So, without further
ado... take it away, Kurt!
The Wrath of Siren
is Book Two in the Truth Teller series. How was writing it different from
writing the first book?
In all honesty, it
was exactly the same. When I first started writing I was a complete novice. Truth Teller and The Wrath of Siren were originally one book when I first wrote this
series. A middle grade novel that was about 125,000 words, how funny! I had no
idea there was a problem with that. Once I joined a writing forum and started
to learn stuff, I split it into two separate novels.
How long did it take you to write The Wrath of Siren? Will there be a
third book? (We want one!)
It took me about
two years to write. Having to live in real life and support a family didn't
leave me much time. I would sit in my builder’s van on my breaks and scribble
into a little notebook, then type it up in the evening when I got home.
Yes, I have a
third book in this series, Favian's Law.
I am planning to release this title some time later this year and then publish
a special edition with all three books in one. I have already received a very
reasonable quote from a friend/editor, so the ball is rolling I'm pleased to
say.
Siren is definitely a villain we wouldn’t want to
meet! What was your inspiration for his character?
I would have to
say, Terry Brooks, was my greatest inspiration. I love the way he writes, he is
a master at what he does. His Shannara books are my favourite fantasy series.
In the 2nd book we get to catch up with some characters we've grown to love, but there are many new characters too. Who was your favorite new character? Why?
Charlotte and Elderfield both go through a lot of intense experiences in this book. If you had to give either of them words of advice what would you tell them at the end of this book (no spoilers, of course)?
Beware of unusual
strangers. And don't forget to use the bathroom before you go out! Enough said.
lol
Do you have a writing schedule that you follow?
What do you do to when you get writer’s block?
I found over the
years that I'm not like most writers. I have no schedule, I just write when I
want to write. If I get writer's block I find it easier to get over if you
don't stress out about it. Don't ever beat yourself up, all that will do is
stress you out more and make it even harder. I try to write a little bit, even
if it's just a line or two, but if nothing comes to me, I just won't write. Try
again another day when I have more of a head on for it. In the meantime, I just
run ideas over in my head. Sometimes, something pops in there that gets you all
excited and you're off again!
You have recently published Unknown Reality, a sci-fi adventure. Can you tell us a bit more about your latest book?
Yes! How very
excited I am too. After only twenty submissions I got a reply from a top UK
publishing agent saying there was so much about this story that she loved and
how sorry she was it was a near miss from her. Just GETTING a reply from an
agent is a result these days with their no interest, no reply policy. After
much deliberation though, I decided to publish it myself in order to keep a
happy medium between my writing and real life.
I also get to aim
my new book at a whole new audience: Science fiction fans. Up until now I have
only been known as a fantasy author. Here is a blurb of the story.
Blurb...
Eleven-year-old
Chloe gasps in awe at the magical splendour of a theatre performance, but her
excitement soon vanishes during an autograph hunt and an encounter with the
baddie from the show. His unbelievable claim of a flawed universe freaks her
out. This starts a chain of unexplainable events that threaten to destroy the
only reality Chloe has ever known.
Then one
night...they come for her.
Claiming to be her
friends, the Scientists try to persuade Chloe her life was some kind of
experiment that went horribly wrong, and a computer virus left her with no
memory of this alien planet. Struggling to come to terms with a world she doesn’t
understand, she is kidnapped from the futuristic outstation by a clan of
Savages that live out in the wilderness. When confronted by a father and
brother she never knew she had, she is torn between two cultures, none of which
she wishes to be part of. All she wants is return to the only family she knew;
a family that never really existed.
Are you currently working on a book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?
Yeah, I have
nearly completed a story I have been working on for a long time. It's called, The World in Johnny's Back Garden. I
wanted a story that gave children an alternative view of all living things. I
was originally going to write a set of adventure stories from the point of view
of different living things you would find in an English garden, a mouse, a
dandelion, an ant, a tree. You get the idea. But this proved to be too
difficult. Then my youngest daughter insisted I read a book she was working on
at school called, Feather Boy. It was
a kind of strange contemporary story, but gave me an idea for a starting point
for my story. I wrote a whole plot for my book and just started writing it. I
have no idea of what reaction I will get; it's quite a strange story.
I posted the first
chapter on my blog as it works quite well as a short story for anyone who
is interested.
I was also working
on another book called, Lost Childhood.
This is another strange story about a young boy, Charlie, who gets a talking
teddy from his dad. Again, I have the whole plot for this book and even started
writing it, but then the film, Ted,
came out. Admittedly, the story is completely different, just a case of bad
timing so I shelved this one for now.
Where can we
purchase your books?
Truth Teller and The Wrath
of Siren can be purchased here...(Truth Teller is free)
You can also find them on Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, iBooks and all other leading book retailers. Just search by title or author.
Unknown Reality can be purchased here...
Again, this can also be found in all major book retailers.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Will the Pendant Get Back into the Right Hands?
Charlotte, the truth teller, has been back from the
other realm for so long that her time there feels like a dream. Unfortunately,
the dark and evil druid, Siren, is on the move making it dangerous for
Charlotte to ever return. When her old friend, Elderfield, is given a pendant
that will allow him to travel between realms he realizes that he must seek out
Charlotte and warn her never to come back to his land. Elderfield’s luck runs
out when he loses the key to the gateway and it is found by Siren who wants to
destroy the truth teller so he can carry out his plan without obstacles. Siren
comes to Charlotte’s world and believes that he gets rid of her, so he goes
home and begins to put his plan in motion. Charlotte has no choice but to
return with Elderfield to try to make things right. But war has already begun
and Siren will stop at nothing until he destroys those who oppose him. Will
Charlotte be able to help stop the war? Is it possible for her to find the power to defeat Siren and his army of
beasts? Will she be able to get back to
her world or has she seen her family for the last time? Read this sequel
to find out more about this intense fantasy world and learn what happens when
evil is unleashed and hope is running out!
Wrath
of Siren by Kurt Chambers begins right where Truth
Teller left off. Charlotte continues to be a strong and
inquisitive character who's braver than she knows. She seemed stronger in this book, and I liked that she resigned herself to what the other
world entailed. Elderfield is such a good friend, and I was happy they were
reunited, even if it was under dangerous circumstances. This series is perfect for kids who are interested in the Lord of the Rings or other high
fantasy stories. I would recommend this book for kids in fourth grade and
up. This was an action-packed adventure, and with a war going on there were
some scenes with violence. These were handled with enough details that you
could picture what was happening, but they weren't gruesome or overly
descriptive. Readers will be on the edge of their seats turning the pages.
The storyline wraps up, but I'm hoping for more books in the series, because I hate to leave characters I've grown attached
to!
Has anyone else read Wrath of Siren? Have you read another book by Kurt
Chambers? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy Reading!
~L
~L
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Answer to Monday's Riddle: A Friendly Reminder...
Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Friday, Lizzy has a special pendant to tell us about, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F
A fancy spot, close to your heart. Hanged together, but apart. A reminder for you, a memory past, something special that can last. It could be anything, but sparkly at best; conveniently located center chest. While you're you, it's your style. At this thing, you shall smile.
A fancy spot, close to your heart. Hanged together, but apart. A reminder for you, a memory past, something special that can last. It could be anything, but sparkly at best; conveniently located center chest. While you're you, it's your style. At this thing, you shall smile.
What am I referring to? Answer: Pendant
Fairday's Riddles: Volume I
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats
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