Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

JK Rowling

“‘Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go.'”

When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it’s the start of another far from ordinary year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped mass-murderer and follower of Lord Voldemort, is on the run – and they say he is coming after Harry. In his first ever Divination class, Professor Trelawney sees an omen of death in Harry’s tea leaves … But perhaps most terrifying of all are the Dementors patrolling the school grounds, with their soul-sucking kiss …

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JK Rowling continues with her fabulous series and doesn’t let anything slip. There are so any good characters in this series, and a couple of new ones get introduced in this book, both good, though I prefer Lupin to Sirius. It’s not just the characters that make this book and the series great, it’s the plot, with Harry’s life becoming both better and worse as he learns more about his parents and how they died, and the writing; there is a good level of descriptiveness to every aspect of this book, but nothing that overwhelms the story, allowing you to access what’s going on without anything getting in the way.

The best thing about this book, compared to the first two, is that the plot doesn’t revolve around Voldemort, there is a different focus, and I believe that keeps the series from becoming boring. If I have one real complaint about any part of this book, it’s that there seems to be a contradiction between one part of this book and something that was mentioned in The Chamber of Secrets: in this book a character says there’s no cure for being a werewolf, but in COS Professor Lockhart mentions performing a spell that gets rid of a werewolf curse.

I’m not sure if Rowling forgot what she had written in the previous book, or if she needed to change that in order to use a plot thread she had come up with.

Regardless of that one niggle, this is a very good book in a very good series.

An Interview with Kay MacLeod

Welcome to ARCBookblog Kay, it’s so nice to have you here, joining me for an interview, first of all, before we get to the questions, why don’t you tell me and my readers a little about yourself.

Kay – Confession time, I’m a fantasy addict! For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the concept of magical worlds. I was the kid with dragons doodled around the edge of her school work, the one with her head constantly buried in a book. As a teen, I shunned partying to play Magic the Gathering and DM Dungeons and Dragons games.

Through the years, I’ve always made up stories and took characters on amazing adventures, in the privacy of my own mind. Now I want to share them with other people.

I live with my husband and cat in Nottinghamshire in England. When I’m not writing (or planning something I’m writing) I’m usually working, reading, playing bass for my church’s worship team, playing computer games (World of Warcraft, Dragon Age, Pokemon, Minecraft) or drinking tea.

Okay, now that we know you’re an Englander, just like me, let’s get to some questions.

Me – Is writing a full-time occupation, or do you have a job that keeps you from it?

Kay – I wish! I would absolutely love to be able to spend all day writing, and that is my ultimate goal. I’ve only released one book so far, and I know it will take time to get to the point where I can support myself with my writing. I can’t wait until I’m one of those irritating people that gets to do a job they enjoy.

Me – What aspect of publishing do you find the easiest?

Kay – Coming up with ideas. My mind is constantly churning with new characters, plot twists, worlds and settings. I’m on the second book of my first series, which I think will be four books long, and I already have plans for a prequel, about eight short stories, a different series of six books, a spin off from that series with the main character’s cousin and rough ideas for another four or five things I want to work on…

I even have big ideas for events or promotions (check out the Indie Advent Calendar I ran over Christmas  http://kaymacleodbooks.com/indie-advent-calendar/) I just love creating things, it’s only a problem because I never seem to have enough time to do everything I want to.

Me – What do you find the most difficult?

Kay – I think a lot of authors find promotion hard, I’m no exception, we tend to be introverts so talking about myself is always a challenge. I’ve found that I don’t mind discussing my characters or story though, it makes my day when someone talks to me about what they’ve read and start telling me their theories of what will happen later in the series. Then I find not giving away spoilers with my expressions really difficult!

Me – What is your perfect writing environment.

Kay – There has to be a cup of tea. Though that’s true for most things I do… I generally write from my office when I’m on my own, I prefer quiet and a good chunk of time so I can get into a flow. I especially like taking a week off work so I can just attach myself to the keyboard and let myself run away into the story, even with a full day to write I can sometimes still be there at 1am if I’m really feeling it.

Me – Do you have a process you follow when writing a book?

Kay – I plan well, and I really enjoy it. I use Evernote for keeping everything on track (including my life) I have character bios, maps, timelines, outlines and random ideas I may use at some point. I write out everything I want to happen during the whole book, shift it around if I need to, then bullet point each individual plot point. I like to leave my chapters with a hook into the next one so I decide where each chapter will end and have a loose idea of what will happen in it- even if it’s just a sentence or two.

I also have a list of things I want to develop in each character and ideas for dialogue or points that don’t need to happen at specific times so that I can fit them in wherever they feel right as I write. I never cling too tightly to anything I’ve plotted though, I end up revising my chapter placements a lot as I get into the story and have even changed huge chunks of original material when I’ve found something that will work better.

Me – Would you rather be critically successful or financially successful?

Kay – Financial success would be wasted on me, I’d still mooch around in a hoodie and jeans, still hate wearing jewellery and I wouldn’t be able to tell you the difference between an expensive car or a rubbish one! If I had enough to live comfortably on and spoil my husband now and again it would be enough for me. I remember a while ago before I was anywhere close to finishing Heirs of Power I heard something being described as ‘critically acclaimed’ and thinking, ‘one day my work’s going to be critically acclaimed.’

Me – If you could pick 1 celebrity to read your book and give an opinion on it, who would it be?

Kay – I don’t really…celebrity. I’m terrible at knowing who people are or what they are famous for. There are a few bands and actors I like but I’ve never been into celebrity culture. I think I’d have to say Peter Jackson then, if he likes it he can promise me that he won’t let the film adaptation be disappointing!

Me – Do you find it easy to avoid being distracted when you sit down to write?

Kay – I have good days and bad days. There have been days that I started in the morning, forgot to eat lunch and realised I’m supposed to be going out that evening and have an hour to get ready. Then there are the times when I just wonder what my word count is and then what that makes my average chapter length, or what my sales look like today, or I get side-tracked into researching new ways to say things or describe a colour.

The main thing that never fails to take my attention is my cat, he’s too adorable to ignore and he usually ends up laid across my left arm or shoulder while I work. It slows down my typing but I always feel better with him helping out.

Me – If you have published already, what has been the most successful technique/site/opportunity for you in terms of getting either exposure or sales?

Kay – Goodreads, for sure. It has such a wealth of opportunities and information for writers of all kinds. I’ve made some great friends on there, gotten reviews, done giveaways, promoted my events, even gotten interviews 😉

The groups on the site have been so helpful to me, there are some really amazing people on there, with much more knowledge and experience than me. Even a lot of the things I’ve done outside of Goodreads is because I learnt how to do them on there. I highly recommend it, for readers and bloggers too, come and say hi to me when you get on!

Me – Last but not least, and something a little fun, what is your favourite animal, and why?

Kay – I adore most animals, so I’m going to cheat and say my favourite domesticated animal is my tuxedo cat, Kai. He’s the cutest little thing ever, he’s four but I think he’ll be like a kitten forever, he’s so small with huge eyes and a bigger personality.

My favourite wild animal is a cheetah. They are perfection. Such beautiful and immaculately designed creatures, I love their sleek look, their incredible sprint and their fluffy babies.

If you’d like to know more about Kay, just follow the links below.

http://kaymacleodbooks.com/

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Heirs of Power

After stumbling upon an otherworldly ritual, Kitty Fairlow discovers that her own incredible hunting skills are not merely due to a lifetime of training. She has been gifted powers from an ancient spirit, passed down by her father. She is a Constellation.
And she’s not the only one.
A new generation of heroes have each inherited unique abilities in order to prevent the corruption of their world by the Tenebri, a race that thrives on life energy. Kitty, along with a high-born dancer and a snarky juggler, must find their allies before the Tenebri army picks them off.
With the powerful enemy emerging, can the Constellations gather in time to put an end to the threat for good, or will their foe succeed and wreak the same destruction they have unleashed on their own world?

If you like this you can buy the book at Amazon

 

 

An Interview With RL Jackson

Today’s guest on ARCBook blog is RL Jackson, who was instrumental in setting up the blog-a-go-round that I have recently been a part of, and which has resulted in me interviewing some lovely people. Before I get on with the questions, let’s find out a little about my guest.

R.L Jackson writes fiction and enjoys reading Romance, Fantasy, Dystopian, YA, and everything in between. She is also a seasoned screenwriter, an avid movie lover, ruthless supporter of all things creative and a hopeless romantic. Residing in the Sunny state of Florida, she plans on bringing many more worlds, from different genres to light in the near future.

And now it’s time for the questions.

 

 

Me –  How long have you been writing?

RL – I’ve been writing my whole life essentially, from short stories to screenplays and then on to novels

Me – Is writing something you’ve always wanted to do? 

RL – It is something that i’ve always wanted to do, and something I have been actively pursuing for a while now

Me – How would you describe yourself as a writer, a plotter or a pantser? 

RL – I’m not sure what pantser means, but i love a good plot. I try and create multiple dimensions in my characters as well as the stories..Always leaving clues that no one realises until later

Me – Do you write every day?

RL – I write almost everyday, whether it’s my own blog, new novel ideas, or current feature film or tv pilots

Me – What is your favourite genre?

RL – Too many to count, lol, but I guess my least favorite would be horror. Now I like vampires and witches, and I’ve come around to zombies, but ghosts and aliens..no thanks, lol

Me – Is your favourite genre one you write in? 

RL – Yes, I think if theres something you enjoy about a genre, you should attempt to write in it, but don’t pigeon hole yourself either. You should branch out and try other things as well

Me – If you could have written any book in history, what is it?

RL – The one I wrote. Any others works out there, are theirs and encompasses who they are. My book encompasses me, so Crashing Into Me is my answer.

Me – What would you like to achieve with your writing?

RL – I’d like to continue to creative interesting stories, screenplay adaptations of said stories, that I eventually turn into feature films. I’m actually reverse engineering a screenplay into a novel, so that will be interesting, lol

Me – Which of your books is your favourite?

RL – This is my first novel,so that would be this one. My very first short story in middle school “cyclops” is up there because its what sparked my love of writing…Cyclops…the memories, LOL

Me – Tell me about your next release.

RL – The next release will be Book Two of the Crashing series, as well as a YA Fantasy I’ve been working on for some time. Which will come first, I’m not sure, but I plan on taking my time to create quality material.Not a fan of pumping out books “willy nilly”

Crashing Into Me

A year after being left at the altar, headstrong E.R Nurse, Lana McKenzie is finally piecing her life back together. Tired of dealing with seeing her ex and his new girlfriend at every turn, she longs for blissful solitude and can’t wait to enjoy a peaceful vacation alone in the mountains. However, her plans go awry when a rude stranger literally embeds himself into her life and mind.

Handsome, wealthy, and troubled, Kayden Capshaw is struggling with the death of his brother, while also trying to escape the claws of his controlling mother. In his grief, the last thing Kayden wants to deal with is the fallout from his last run in with the law. Yet, he also longs to get to know the woman now snowed in with him at the house on the hill.

The ice between them thaws every minute they spend together, and they find that they have more in common than they realize. Will they find a way to make it through, or will it all, like the snow, melt away?

Book Release Date:FEB 14, 2017

If you would like to know more about R.L. Jackson, visit the following links.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon (Pre-order)

Indie Book Showcase 2017

The group I’m part of on Goodreads is having their first showcase of the year, it’s an event featuring books by the many members of SIA (Support for Indie Authors) a wonderful group that is incredibly supportive and filled with great people who write in just about every genre you can think of.

I’ve read and enjoyed several, and got more on my TBR list.

If you’re looking for books to fill up your kindle/tablet or other e-reader, or maybe you’re after some paperbacks to use your Christmas money on, look no further. Whatever you like to read, and whatever your budget, you’re bound to find something to suit you, just follow the link below and see what we have to offer

Support Indie Authors Event

Scrolls of Zndaria: The Golden Wizard – An Honest Review

Scrolls of Zndaria

J S Jaeger

Join Nathanial “Nate” McGray, the fifteen-year-old son of the king’s woodsman, on an unforgettable adventure. He is determined to be the first peasant to become a wizard in the magical world of Zndaria. Wedged in a sticky spot, Nate is saved from the town bullies by a mysterious elf named Blinkly. Together, Nate and Blinkly embark on a journey to the Halls of Magic. Along the way, they encounter vicious Dread Vikings, deadly bounty hunters, and a deranged beast. Just as Nate begins to learn magic, the Infinite Wizard and a devilish army attack his Kingdom. Will Nate become a wizard? Can he save his Kingdom? The story unfolds in Scrolls of Zndaria–Scroll One: The Golden Wizard.

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This is a difficult book for me to review, not for any bad reason, but because the target audience is ages 9-12 and I am definitely not in that group so it wasn’t easy to look at it from the view of a much younger person.

The story is decent, if undemanding, and likely to appeal to those children not yet old enough to cope with Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. The central character of Nate is pleasant, and well-enough written for the genre and intended target audience, though if I’m honest I thought he was younger than the book’s description says and I think it might be hard for such a young audience to relate to an older character.

I won’t spoil anything by giving away plot points but there was one that I think might upset some readers; fortunately it was handled well enough that it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

If there was one thing that disappointed me, it was the limited exposure given to Demon, I would have liked to see more of this interesting-looking creature. I have hopes that he will turn up again in the next book, and person feature a little more.

Overall I’d say this is a 3* read for adults, there isn’t enough depth to maintain interest in a more sophisticated reader – it being a series I may have to read the next book simply because I don’t like not knowing how a series ends – and a possible 4* for those in its target audience; I suspect 9-12-year-olds will really enjoy it.

A new direction

I have been having a discussion on Goodreads the last few days regarding writing erotica, and the fact that it can be a good way to get a steady, if not necessarily great, stream of money. I’ve never written in the genre before, and I’m not sure it’s really one I would be any good at, but one of the ladies I was talking to, who does write in the genre, pointed out that I won’t know until I try.

With that in mind, I took out my phone while on the bus to town this morning and let my imagination run, below is what I came up with; it’s not much, and I’m not sure where to go from here, but I’d appreciate any feedback.

DREAMING

The fingers, strong but gentle, traced their way up her legs. The tips caressed her skin, teasing and arousing as they moved closer to her most intimate of places.

She opened her legs, signalling, as much as her wetness did, that she was ready and willing to accept him – ready for his fingers, and ready for his manhood, which she could see standing proud between his his legs. He ignored the invitation, though, and continued his teasing. His fingers grazed her lips, the ones that stood at the entrance to her, and then moved on across her hip and up to her stomach.

Her head fell back onto the pillow, and a sigh, almost a moan, escaped her as he leaned over her and his lips joined his fingers in teasing, caressing and arousing her. Her nipples were hard before he reached them, but they stiffened further when she felt his breath on them.

“Oh god!” she gasped, her first words since his fingers found her skin, when his lips encircled a nipple.

She arched her back, wanting him to take more of her breast into his mouth as he teased the pebble that was its peak with his tongue. When he nibbled at it gently, she let out another prayerful gasp; she had never experienced anything so good before.

A hand slid down her body, seeking her sex, but he captured it before she could even begin to give herself the relief she craved. He secured both her hands, preventing her doing anything, as he transferred his attention to her other nipple. Soon they were both as hard as she had ever felt them; only then did he move on.

She expected him to continue his journey North to her lips, which ached to feel his passion. Instead he kissed his way back down across her stomach to the triangle of dark hair that hid her treasure. She thought she would cum the moment his lips touched those of her most intimate place; somehow she held back, wanting the pleasure to last, and he expertly kept her on the edge until she begged him for release.

“Please! I need to cum. Please!”

“Not yet,” he told her.

“Please!” She writhed and twisted, desperate to reach the orgasm she hovered on the edge of.

With a smile that hovered on the edge of evil, he flicked his tongue across her clit once more and then buried it within her so he could drink her juices. He stopped before she could achieve satisfaction and began to kiss his way back up her body.

She tasted herself on him when his lips found hers, something she had never done before, and it heightened her arousal. When the tip of his manhood found the entrance to her she thought she would come undone, she managed to hold back, but only until he slid into her – that was too much for her and felt herself explode around him.

Her orgasm was so strong it was several moments before she became aware that he was all the way inside her. No sooner did she, than he began to withdraw. Again and again he slid into her and then slowly pulled out until only the head remained within her; the sensation was incredible as he filled her entirely, and each time he withdrew she pushed her hips upward, seeking to keep him within her.

“Don’t tease me, please!” It was almost too much for her, and she bucked her hips again and again in an effort to encourage him.

Gradually the rhythm of his thrusts increased until he was pounding into her with a vigour she would not have thought to enjoy. It soon brought her to the edge of a second orgasm, and she sensed he was approaching her own – she wanted them to climax together.

*cough* *cough*

Emily woke with a start, dragged unwillingly from the most erotic dream she could recall. Her nipples strained against the shirt she wore to bed, and the dampness between her thighs told her how good the dream had been; her arousal diminished, though, as she listened to her husband cough next to her.

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Tentatively, I’m thinking of making this a story about a woman bored with her husband who has an affair with a co-worker – it’s a bit generic, I know, but it’s a starting point if I decide to go forward with this. If I do go ahead with writing an erotic novel or novella, I want it to have a reasonable storyline, which the erotic scenes enhance, rather than the plot being an excuse for them.

Anyway, thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated as I consider this idea.

Bargains, bargains, bargains

You like a bargain, don’t you? Of course you do, who doesn’t.

Well, for all of you out there who like a bargain, or better yet, something free, the writer’s group I am part of on Goodreads has a big event this weekend with lots of books listed as free or at reduced prices in a variety of genres. If you’d like to fill up your kindle with some new reading material, here’s the place you need to go  http://events.supportindieauthors.com/event.php

There’s some great reads here, and some great authors to support, so please dig into your pockets, you won’t have to find much, and you’ll be hard-pressed to get a better return on your investment.

Game of Thrones

A Song Of Fire And Ice Book One

George R R Martin

‘When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground’Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

From the fertile south, where heat breeds conspiracy, to the vast and savage eastern lands, all the way to the frozen north, kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men . . . all will play the Game of Thrones.

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This book is fantastic; I honestly don’t think there’s any other way to describe it. This is an incredibly complex story, only the first part of it in fact because it’s a 7 book series, with some of the best and most realised characters in fiction as far as I’m concerned.

The story is told from the perspective of multiple characters, and they are all given equal ‘screen’ time, with every chapter showing events as seen through the eyes of someone different. Because of this, you occasionally see the same incident from different angles, and the result is that no-one is painted as entirely black or white, and the more you read the more you learn about the characters, and the more you want to learn.

I like some characters – Tyrion and Ayra being my favourites – more than others, but they’re all really well written, as are the situations they get involved in, which are set in vastly different locations.

Some scenes may disturb readers because of the violence they describe but this is hard fantasy, and the type of world described is one that used to exist, which helps to make this book so good.

 

Phoenix – a YA fantasy

Today I am promoting a recent release from a fellow British author, a 99c bargain throughout the month of October

PHOENIX (The Peradon Fantasy Series Book 1)

Daccari Buchelli

Camelot meets lord of the rings – Stephen B Cooper on Amazon

Recommended for all lovers of fantasy intrigue – Michael Kelly on Amazon

Magic never ceased to bring Violetta joy, until the day it became her curse. Aged fifteen, the young Flame Mage and Princess finds herself drawn to the mysterious and charming Frost Emperor, Ryore.

Torn between her sudden feelings and inescapable duty to the throne, Violetta seeks to strike a balance. Will she surrender her will forever, or strive for freedom by doing the unthinkable?

You can buy it here

Amazon US

Amazon UK

If you would like to find out more about the author and his books, check out his site

http://www.buchellibooks.co.uk/books

Pawn Of Prophecy

Pawn Of Prophecy (The Belgariad Book One)

David Eddings

A battle is coming…

…And in that battle shall be decided
the fate of the world

Myths tell of the ancient wars of Gods and men, and a powerful object – the Orb – that ended the bloodshed. As long as it was held by the line of Riva, it would assure the peace.

But a dark force has stolen the Orb, and the prophecies tell of war.

Young farm boy Garion knows nothing of myth or fate. But then the mysterious Old Storyteller visits his aunt, and they embark on a sudden journey. Pursued by evil forces, with only a small band of companions they can trust, Garion begins to doubt all he thought he knew… (Taken from the product page on Amazon)

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I first read this book when I was a teenager, and at the time I really loved it. I still enjoy the book, having just finished it for probably the dozenth time, but no longer feel so strongly about it; I think that having read a number of other fantasy series over the years, with grittier and more realistic storylines, I now find this book to be a little simplistic and more suited to a teen readership.

There are areas in which the book, is really well written – the descriptions of the lands the company travels through are evocative and the histories of those lands and their peoples rich and a real pleasure to read. When it comes to the actual story, though, it falls down a little; as the story develops you learn new things about the characters but nothing that really advances the plot in any way, and though it is not out of the ordinary for the genre for the characters all to be excellent in at least one particular and necessary art, it does become a bit much after a time.

What perplexes me most about this novel is the fact that Pol and Mister Wolf have at least some idea of the future in store for Garion, yet they do nothing to prepare him for it. Most of the time in fact he’s treated as an ignorant inconvenience that is simply in the way.

Overall I like this book, and will almost certainly read it again, but I am not so inclined to recommend it to other fantasy lovers as I once was. My preference now is for books like George R R Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series, which are harsher and harder.