Imbrued by Emma Edwards

Two weeks ago, I reviewed "Sanguinary" by Emma Edwards. You can find the review here on my headquarters author interview blog.

http://greenwizard62.blogspot.co.uk

I don't give star ratings in my book reviews.

Star ratings are entirely typical of the modern education culture of targets, evidential assessment, big folders full of meaningless reflection and an obsession with statistical quantification.

None of it matters to me.

For a writer, there is just one dimension worth caring about: did you, dear reader, finish my book? 

If you finish one of my books, I love you, even if you detested every sentence.

If you think about it, what does a 5* rating mean, exactly? It's the qualitative assessment that's important. Never mind the quantity - feel the joy!

Why not a 6* rating?  Why don't reviews go up to 7*? Heller's 22*?  Douglas Adams' 42*? King's 247*? Just make a number up and go for it...

Spinal Tap

The amps that go up to 11

I loved reading Sanguinary. 

And I have to say I loved reading the sequel, Imbrued.

Slain by wooden stake, one of the Erebis band is found speared outside a nightclub. Angel, the unhinged, alcoholic, feisty, sex-crazed, Ash-besotted heroine of the first book, now off the booze and on the case, realises that there is a slayer on the loose, a zealous Van Helsing, whose psychotic, obsessed mission is to torture and destroy blood drinkers whereever they are. 

Cue Cat's house; For so long a sanctuary, the haven becomes a prison. Lead singer Ash - vain, pathologically angry, jealous, self-obsessed, boorish, stalks the corridors, raising the temperature inside the house to boiling point. 

The questions hover like last night's cigarette smoke. 

Who is the slayer? Who is next on his infernal list? And how come he always seems to be one step ahead? Can Angel solve the clues? Can she find the slayer before its too late? And can she stop the blood drinkers from turning on themselves?

___________________________________________________

All the characters are there from the first book. Angel, a twenty-something cocktail of narcissism, aggression, wit, balls-pounding rebellion and anything goes sexual liberation, makes me glad I'm not twenty five again, yet there;s something softer about her this time. After her struggles with drink in the first book, she manages to stay away from the demon whisky and she's a more rounded character for it, acting as conscience, guide and mother hen for the confused, sometimes vulnerable vampires she finds herself living with.

Except Ash of course, the muscular, lithe, sex-God cock-substitute lead singer of Erebis with whom Angel has a love-obsession-hate relationship. 

No one guides Ash. 

Ash is his own man and won't listen to anyone and in many ways, his narcissism is much worse than the first book. 

Women love Ash, apparently, yet I have to confess I'd quite happily go toe to toe with him on the steps of the Domain. 

Both Ash lovers and detesters will enjoy his antics in Imbrued. He's well over the top.

The gang's all here. Jay moons over Angel; a Caliban, upstaged and sexually usurped by the arrogant Ash every minute of his life. Cat hates Angel with a passion - nothing new there! Mike broods, either because brooding is what he does, or he has nothing to say, and the gorgeous, vulnerable Celeste glows with quiet dignity, absorbing the problems of the world, the moonchild rising. 

You really do become involved with Emma;'s characters because they are so richly drawn. If you're expecting non-stop action, you will be disappointed. This is a baroque piece, an old fashioned relationship tome, where the characters are paramount and it seems that action occurs in real time. 

This is quite a trick to pull off - Peter Carey, the Australian genius behind Illywhacker and Oscar and Lucinda expends entire novels purely on character - and you suspect this is Emma's interest. 

They grow, develop lives of their own at their own pace and their personalities are sumptuously drawn and written.  This is everyday British life. You sometimes have to pinch yourself, reminding yourself that Emma is writing about possibly insane people, who live in the dark, and who need to drink blood to survive.

There isn't as much sex in Imbrued, though it happens off-camera - notorious rabbit impersonators Angel and Ash being in dire need of a dose of bromide and a healing tube of petroleum jelly, natch -  Emma deciding to go inside heads rather than panties in the sequel, which adds to the complexity of the piece.

But the highlight of the book, for me, is the Slayer. 

He is worth the eight quid or so it will cost you to buy this book all alone. From his first appearance, he steals the show. 

Emma has managed to pull another bunny out of a hat in a vampire-obsessed marketplace - a completely original villain! I rolled with laughter when I discovered who he was: Emma had definitely tickled me under the chin here. 

Picture the magnificent Peter Cushing in Hammer's Dracula. 

Picture the vampire slaying bishop warming his rump against the fire in Prince of Darkness. 

Picture Hugh Jackman in silly CGI overkill flick Van Helsing. 

You're not even close.

Not everyone will like the book. It is very character based. Fans of bangs-per-buck might be frustrated as the plot is a definite second best to the observations of normality, and the deep character sketches Emma does so well.  

Yet its funnier in parts too, at times laugh out loud funny. It's noticeable that Emma (wisely) decides to focus on the blood drinkers instead of the annoying norm bit parts (Angel's irritating sister, Coral, for example, who wants the door shutting in her face permanently), while introducing some excellent new characters who add to the context. 

There is a brilliantly observed subplot involving Angel and her best friend Minnie which shows that Emma really does know what she is talking about, has clearly been there, and can write about it acerbically and with poignant pause. I winced. Twice.

I'm a big fan of Emma as a writer. Beware though - this is an old fashioned book and I can see all the ivory-tower based MA fiction theorists tutting in parts at the density of the writing. However, for me, that's a strength: somehow, Emma has managed to merge an urban tale of real people in Cardiff with the vampire genre and miraculously ensured that the reader suspends quite natural disbelief. 

That's no mean feat. 

There's a third part on the way and I am queuing overnight for the launch ticket. Buy this book. It's worth every penny.

Contact (including Amazon Links, reviews etc)

http://greenwizard62.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/sanguinary-review.html

Emma discusses Imbrued

http://greenwizard62.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/imbrued-novel-by-emma-edwards.html

Top reviewer for the Cross Plains Examiner, K-Trina Meador, reviews Imbrued

http://www.examiner.com/article/imbrued-by-emma-edwards?CID=examiner_alerts_article

Emma 

Edwards

Independent Gift Shop Catalogue

Hi guys.

Been a while. The Wizard's Cauldron has taken off and I've neglected this a bit. Sorry. 

However.

Work on the Catalogue begins this weekend. 

I intend to feature all 102 books currently in the Gift Shop.

I intend to create an A4 PDF of approximately 45 pages which I will distribute to the four corners of the cyberglobe (though, as you know, a globe doesn't have corners. I do remember some maths!).

I intend to send the e-Catalogue to READERS and GIFT BUYERS.

All your covers will be included, plus links. 

Gifted poet and immaculate memoirist, Sue Lobo, has kindly written three poems on the subject of writing which will structure the catalogue.

If you have multiple books in the Gift Shop, I shall feature them together in double pages if necessary. 

There will also be Ten Vignettes featuring authors and their current work, with a photo, a bio, links, blog details and a sample extract from their book. 

So.

This is what I need from you.

1) JPEG COVERS.  If you haven't done so, let me have a decent JPEG of your cover. If all you have supplied so far is a link to your amazon page, then that's fine, but you'll be going to toward the back of the catalogue.

2) LINKS: Send me your current links to the books. I'm toying with the idea of having a separate WEBSITE/BLOG LISTING page, so let me have your blog links too. I'm possibly going to include cover artist details so let me have those too.

3) EXTRACTS: If you have a particular extract (around 50-100 words) of your book you think is a big selling point, send it to me and I shall try to accommodate you.

4) TITLE SUGGESTIONS: What shall I call the catalogue? Suggestions please.

I'm sure I'll think of something else. Keep your eye on the blog. 

I'm going to disappear from Facebook and the shop for about two weeks beginning October 2nd. This is going to be high intensity work. 

My good friend Mary Ann Bernal is going to be keeping things ticking over for me while I slave in my garret with cutting knife, pasteboard and cauldron. She'll keep me posted.

There is still room in the Catalogue for more books if you know someone with a paperback. But only for one more week.

And now a word from our sponsors...

"I firmly believe that there is an active, affluent, keen and effervescent market for niche, high quality paperback books, entirely separate to e-books. Also I believe that your books are an ideal gift for friends and relatives struggling to think of what to buy as stocking boosters, Secret Santas etc. Some of them are so beautiful to look at, it doesn't matter about the writing! One can just stare at the covers. I hope your sales figures raise the roof. Look forward to the launch party!"  

All the best, Wiz.

The Sword Bearers, by Monique Rockcliffe

The Sword Bearers Book One

Perhaps the most beautiful cover on the site, South Africa's own Monique Rockcliffe's epic fantasy series "The Sword Bearers" is available at the Independent Paperback Gift Shop. 

Exquisitely produced and with a calming, soulful cover, Monique's epic tale would make a fantastic gift for fantasy fans this coming Autumn and Christmas period.

Biography

"I'm a fantasy author living in South Africa. My debut novel, The Sword Bearers, is an exciting fantasy adventure that travels across time and space with a vivacious, talented, powerful female hero to lead the way! The Sword Bearers is the first of a series of four books, a truly epic fantasy tale. The Sword Bearer's Journey is Book 2, and Book 3 is to be published soon!

I also have a desire to write Sci-Fi and horror, along with urban fantasy added into the mix!

Stay tuned for short stories published through Kindle soon!"

Monique Rockcliffe

Monique also constructs a well written and often inspirational blog on WordPress. Here's a sample of her work.

Monique on Using Your Imagination

Extract from "Sword Bearers" Book 1

"The malevolence radiating from him was beginning to make her feel ill, and it took every scrap of will power she had not to reveal what she was thinking and feeling. She had an idea this was not a u’man man standing before her but something much worse. 

So, this was the creature that had finally seduced her son, and this was most probably the immortal Namic had told her about that appeared to be the leader of her enemy. She studied him carefully and he bore it with a contemptuous smile playing around his mouth. She refused to be baited and kept quiet, waiting with a pounding heart to hear what he’d say next. Movement at the throne room’s huge double door where guests usually entered caught her eye, and she looked past Malis to see who it was.

“I have brought someone with me that I’m sure you will want to see,” he said with great amusement.

Raising a hand without taking his burning eyes off her the throne room doors flung open and at least fifty armed u’mans and aliens came flowing into the room. Between two of the men they half-dragged, half-carried Jaryth, and Ahloren finally dropped her mask and reacted as any mae would at seeing her son so hurt.

Malis smiled wickedly. “Ah yes, it is he, Ahloren. A little worse for wear, but still alive.”

 Jo'Burg

Monique is a resident of Johannesburg in South Africa which, unusually, enjoyed snowfall today. It is currently winter in South Africa. Some might say that's the same season as the UK, but it will always be somehow more beautiful.

Johannesburg plus photographs

Back garden of best selling author's residence in Cape Town. Probably.

Facts about Johannesburg

There is only one other city on the continent that is bigger than Joburg, and that is the bustling metropolis of Cairo in Egypt. 

Johannesburg is the second biggest city on Africa.

With the rich archaeological site known as the 

Cradle of Humankind 

on the outskirts of the city, it’s not surprising that 40% of the planet’s human ancestor fossils have been discovered in the Jo’burg area.

Astonishing Egg Fact

It takes one-minute longer to boil an egg in Johannesburg than it does in the coastal cities of Cape Town and Durban. This is because Joburg is 2000m above sea level, and the air is not as dense.

Johannesburg plays host to hugely popular 

horse racing at Turffontein racecourse.

Turffontein Racecourse in Johannesburg, one of the most beautiful in the world.

Oh...and the South African cricket team are doing rather well against the English this year.

:-)

Contact Monique On:

Monique's Blog

Buy "The Sword Bearers" Book 1 and Book 2 (Kindle)

on

Buy "The Sword Bearers" by Monique Rockcliffe on Amazon

or at The Independent Paperback Gift Shop on Facebook.

Monique also has 1300 Twitter Followers apparently. That's quite a lot. 

I know nothing about such new fangled phoney type things so I shall leave you to find out how to follow her. Details and a prominently displayed TWITTER button can be found on her blog.

_______________

"Engulfed" by Jennifer Kane

Jennifer Kane

Jenny Is 26, a mother, a wife and a Christian. Originally from North Carolina and currently a resident of Southern Florida. 


She's am avid fan of History and the daily lives of ordinary people in the past. 






Look out for more of the Engulfed series soon.

Engulfed



"Possibly the most enticing cover in your shop, Marky" (MH, 36, Gift Shop Customer)


Synopsis

Endless nightmares, haunting memories and frustrating silence. 
That is Jane's life. Jane fears for her sanity and struggles to move past the night she witnessed her mother's murder, her father's torture and became a mute. Jane welcomes the distractions of growing up the daughter of a rich land owner and enjoys matching wits against those who would cross her and between her stepmother trying to improve her and her nasty neighbor plotting against her Jane has much to occupy her mind in the day light hours but Jane is about to get more then she bargained for when strange travelers come in to play bringing poison and betrayal with them.

She will soon find herself facing the monster of her nightmares. Will she be able to defeat him alone or will she be Engulfed in the past?


Review

"I really knew nothing about this book, but was pleased on this rainy saturday to sit and devour it.It was a very good plot and was woven and tied together masterfully. With the rain falling on the roof as a backdrop, I felt as though I was a part of the story and became engulfed in this book. Though I wish it had of been longer and could have more information on the murderer but I guess I'll be waiting for a sequell and another rainny day.It was cool the way the girl was able to use her surroundings to defend herself and get help to the others. Beleivable is important.The way people used to visit back and forth and things that were important to them was helpful in drawing me into the plot.I found myself wanting to experience the christmas season with them in that era." (Stuart, Amazon)


You Tube Book Trailer

Being young, Jennifer has embraced computer technology and here's a You Tube trailer for Engulfed!!

"Engulfed" Book Trailer

Florida

Fun facts about Florida

Florida is home to one of the biggest Greyhound Racing stadia in the world at

Jacksonville. They race eight dogs in America and just six in Great Britain.

Miami is the setting of one of the greatest novels of the modern era - Charles Willeford's "The Shark Infested Custard"

Oranges from Florida are particularly juicy.

	The state of Florida is roughly the size of England and Wales covering an area of 58,000 square miles.
	Florida has over 1,300 miles of coastline with 800 miles of beaches.
	There are 30,000 lakes and over 1000 golf courses.
	Florida receives over 41 Million visitors each year.(abridged from http://www.myflorida.org.uk/htm_pages/my_florida_fun_facts.htm  ) Of course, everyone knows Florida is famous for its alligators, which can often be found on front lawns and in bedrooms. One famous take on the Florida alligator experience comes in the form of the classic Roger Moore Crocodile Escape scene in the film "Live and Let Die." The insane stunt man responsible is Ross Kananga - ironically, the name of the Yaphet Kotto villain from the film.

Live and Let Die Crocodile Jump Stuntwork

Engulfed can be purchased from the following website - at EIGHT outlets!!!

Worth having for the high production value cover alone, according to one customer!! The best of luck to Jennifer from all at the Gift Shop.

Jennifer Kane Website

"Lollipops of Dust"

Today we feature Lollipops of Dust, a memoir about a childhood in Botswana, beautifully recounted by accomplished poet and author, Sue Lobo


For those of you who have never read her blog, you are in for a treat.

Sue is a poet of real talent and vision and the blog is a literary cave of magnificently elegaic poems and prose pieces.

Sue Lobo Blog

Unfortunately, I tried to steal a poem (there are so many) to add lustre to this blog article, but Sue's blog is brilliantly protected.

However, please allow me to link you to a poem I discovered therein.

Fragments of Shattered Mind Poem

A lovely, simple piece of work and like many poems on there, deserves a wider readership. I have been lucky enough to have met several people educated and raised in Africa and their use of English, both written and spoken, is something from a bygone age. "Lollipops" is one of those books which will have even the most experienced of writers enrolling on English classes. Flawless grammar, perfectly placed syntax and rules strictly observed. In a world where this no longer matters, Sue is one of those writers who shows us a glimpse into a sadly fading past.

Here she is.

Sue Lobo

Sue lives in Benidorm, Alicante and is the author of two books. 

Interestingly, Sue studied as a Druid with the BRITISH ORDER OF BARDS-OVATES & DRUIDS FOR 4 YEARS and is now qualified!

Short Explanation of Druidry

Druids at Stonehenge

Sue's blog readers and purchasers of "Lollipops of Dust" will know how much she pines for Africa, specifically Botswana.

Map of Botswana

Botswana, home of the pink Elephant

This book would make an absolutely ideal Christmas or Birthday Gift, offering hours and hours of memorable reading.

You can buy Sue Lobo's "Lollipops of Dust" from

Woodfield Publishing

Buy Lollipops of Dust from Amazon#

The Descendant

Today, PIGLET showcases the highly rated new wave vampire novel...

"The Descendant"

by

Kelly Grealis

The Descendant Description

"Allison Carmichael wakes from a car accident with no memory of the past three years.  She doesn’t recall her husband’s death or how she alienated her friends, and she definitely doesn’t remember her new boyfriend Vincent Drake – a charismatic man with a penchant for rare and unique possessions.  The only things familiar to Allison are her seemingly common ailments – insomnia, lack of appetite, erratic body temperature – which have gone undiagnosed and are worsening. 

Vincent knows exactly who, and what, Allison is – a mortal descendant of the first vampire.  He is a vampire who has watched over Allison and her ancestors since the biblical times of Cain and Abel ensuring their secret is kept.  Once he realizes Allison’s symptoms are accelerating and transforming her, he’ll stop at nothing to have her.

Vincent reveals to Allison that she is a descendant and it’s the devil’s venom in her blood causing her ailments.  She must decide between risking her mortal death if she cannot control her symptoms or fully transforming into a vampire and damning her soul for eternity…a decision made even more difficult once Allison learns that Vincent has manipulated her life, and everyone in it, so he could have the first descendant-turned-vampire all to himself. "

Kelly Grealis

Kelly Grealis - lover of all things Vampire.

About Kelly

Kelley Grealis was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.  She has a B.A. in Accounting from Baldwin-Wallace College and a Masters of Businss Administration from Cleveland State University.  She has loved all things vampire since she was a little girl, and it was that passion combined with thirteen years of Catholic schooling, that inspired her to write THE DESCENDANT. She lives in a Cleveland suburb with her husband.

Reviews of "The Descendant"

"NO! is what I wanted to scream when the book ended, I wanted more. This was not your typical vampire story with Ms. Grealis creating her own spin on how the first vampire came to be. From the very beginning of the book, Ms. Grealis draws readers in by making Allison someone most people can relate to. We've all been in that place of dis-satisfaction where we want to find our purpose in life, whether or not it will really make us happy. Allison's journey to find her true origins takes the reader on many exciting twists and turns. The vivid use of language sucks the reader right there alongside Allison. I'm eagerly awaiting the follow up book to see where Allison's journey takes her next. (Sunshine, from Amazon)


I liked that this book offered a different perspective to the traditional vampire story. The descriptive writing kept my interest. (Corine D, Amazon)


I really enjoyed The Descendant... fabulous book! felt drawn into the story based on the descriptive language used of the setting and the characters. I found the new twist on vampires to be really interesting, and I liked how it was carried throughout the story. My only frustration/disappointment was when I realized I was coming to the end of the book .... and I did not want it to end! I cannot wait to read the next book(s) about Allison's journey! (Kristina F, Amazon)


(Read 7 more reviews also on Amazon)

About Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Home of the Cleveland Browns...

Browns Stadium, with the infamous "Dawg Pound"

... Marilyn Manson

Cleveland's most famous son




...and the first traffic light! It is technically in Ashville, OH, and has been there since  1914.

Contact

Gift buyers can contact Kelly and buy vampire novel "The Descendant" on:

Website and Contact Details

Buy The Descendant Here!

The Briton and the Dane - Paperback Showcase

Ideal Christmas Gift for fans of hard core historical fiction

Welcome everyone to the first Daily Independent Paperback Showcase!


Each day, I'll feature a paperback and share it across the three sites. 


Feel free to share. 

The more people get this blog, the more people will get to read about your Paperback when it's your turn!

Hopefully, the blog will turn into a Mobile Gift Shop, like those little red library vans that come round your village. Or state. Or wherever.

The Briton and the Dane

After the last of Rome’s legions left Britannia to the mercy of the invading barbarian hordes and before the age of chivalry, when knighthood was in flower and troubadours sang of courtly love, there lived a King whose love for his people and the land left a legacy coveted by his descendants who sought to wear his crown.

Travel back in time to the late Ninth Century, to the tumultuous days in the reign of Alfred the Great who successfully defeated the Danish Viking King Guthrum and kept his precious Wessex free from Viking rule.

Alfred The Great Video

Journey to the Burh of Wareham where Lord Richard oversees the training of Alfred’s army; where his children, Stephen, David and Gwyneth, swear fealty to their King  and support Alfred’s vision to build a nation to rival the glory that once was Rome in a land ravaged by war and conquest.

Buy The Briton and the Dane at the following online retailers:

Amazon US Special Edition

Amazon UK Special Edition

Barnes and Noble

Reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed The Briton and the Dane. From beginning to end it is filled with romance, treachery, and suspense. I felt as though I could have been right there with Gwyneth and Erik. Mary Ann did a great job of taking the reader back in time to the days of King Alfred with great detail. I did not want to put the book down! She leaves you hanging with anticipation for the sequel.

Diane Spaulding, Omaha, NE

The Briton and the Dane was, for me, a delightful surprise on many fronts. Mary Ann Bernal displays a remarkable talent with this tale set in 9th century Britain. She has a formidable ability to constantly surprise the reader with a supply of plot twists and turns. The storyline quickly becomes addicting and hard to put down. The book is a solid package of history, romance, and political intrigue. It is obvious that Ms. Bernal has a great love for and knowledge of this world of the past. Her enthusiasm is contagious! The reader is quickly immersed in a world of events and emotions which seem at once foreign and familiar. And what an array of memorable characters we come to know! Part of Ms. Bernal's talent is to surprise us with revelations of her characters' loves, longings and unexpected relationships to one another. One need not be a history buff to appreciate The Briton and the Dane. By the book's conclusion, I felt a brand new connection with its world of so very long ago.

Paul Auerbach, Douglaston, NY (English Teacher, Writer)

Who is Mary Ann Bernal?

Mary Ann Bernal, author of The Briton and the Dane novels, is an avid history buff whose area of interest focuses on Ninth Century Anglo-Saxon Britain during the Viking Age.  While pursuing a degree in business administration, she managed to fit creative writing classes and workshops into her busy schedule to learn the craft, but it would take decades before her “Erik the Viking” novel was ultimately published.

Mary Ann is also a passionate supporter of the United States military, having been involved with letter writing campaigns and other support programs since Operation Desert Storm.  She has appeared on The Morning Blend television show hosted by KMTV, the CBS television affiliate in Omaha, and was interviewed by the Omaha World-Herald for her volunteer work.  She has also been a featured author on various reader blogs and promotional sites.

Mary Ann is a New York “expat,” and currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska.

Nebraska

(While many British people will have visited New York City, many won't know much about Nebraska. Here's a guide:) 

Map and photographs of Nebraska

Map of Omaha, plus service links

Of course, many people will associate the great mid western state with Bruce Springsteen's iconic "road" album, so evocative, inspirational, hollow, empty and enchanting.

Contact

Contact Mary Ann at: Mary Ann Website and E-mail links

(Mary Ann Bernal will be interviewed by the Wizard on "The Wizard's Cauldron" in Mid August. Don't miss it!)