Sunday Spotlight: Scott Kinkade, Author of God School

Sunday Spotlight is a weekly scheme I am running to bring publicity to lesser known authors who, in the book blogging community, it is important to support. If you are an author and you wish to be considered for it please email me at emily.confessionsofa

bookaholic@gmail.com with 'Author Spotlight' in the subject line.

Visiting with us at Confessions of a Bookaholic today is Scott Kinkade, author of God School who is sharing a guest post with us today. 

About Scott:

I write science fiction. I frequently imagine a past that never was, and futures that never will be.

I run a sci-fi blog where I post book and movie reviews.

I also work to educate people about the reality of living with clinical depression and Asperger's via my YouTube channel.

World Building in Fiction 

Most sci-fi and fantasy novels have their own world, and it's the author's job to make that world believable. To me, there are three essential aspects of making that happen: lore, diversity and religion.

First, let's start with lore. Your world absolutely has to have a rich history. What happened in the past to make your world interesting? Who are your historical figures? How was history shaped to bring your inhabitants to the present? An unparalleled scribe in this regard is George R. R. Martin. He has spent countless hours fine-tuning the details of his world, and it shows. From Mad King Aerys to the Dothraki, there's no shortage of history to be learned in his A Song of Ice and Fire series. 

Another loremaster is Stephen Hunt. For those who have read his Jackelian steampunk series, you know his world of Jackals is rich in detail. He gives us many tidbits of Jackals' history throughout the series, steadily forming it into a compelling, believable world.

But perhaps the all-time king of lore is J. R. R. Tolkien. He inserted an obscene amount of lore into Middle Earth. Ever read The Silmarillion? He wrote an entire book dedicated to the history of his world. That's true dedication.

Also, if your story takes place in an alternate Earth, we need to know what's different about it. How does its history differ from our own timeline? For example, in my steampunk Infini Calendar series, Marie Antoinette championed steam power, leading to the creation of airships and other steam-powered technology in the 18th century, well before the Industrial Revolution. And in Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series, the American Civil War started much earlier and went on for over a decade.

Next, let's take a look at diversity. Every good world must have different peoples and cultures. Again, George R. R. Martin is very good about this. You've got your Starks, your Lannisters, your Dothraki, your Wildlings and many others. Each of them has their own unique viewpoints and motivations which drive them (and continually bring them into conflict with one another). And I must again cite the work of Stephen Hunt. Jackals has Victorian-esque society, a jungle region,a sky city, and a country where women rule over men, just to name a few.

Finally, any good world you create should have religion. Here I must mention--you guessed it--George R. R. Martin. The characters in his world share a wide variety of beliefs. They worship a multitude of gods, including the Drowned one. It seems like everyone in that world has their own set of beliefs.

In my own novels I've explored the role of religion in our lives. In my Infini Calendar series, Joan of Arc struggles to stay faithful to God despite knowing she's going to be burned at the stake (a struggle she fails in that timeline). I go even further in my Divine Protector series (beginning with God School), creating new religions in the world of Narska. The Holoists worship the god Bethos, while the citizens of the Faust Kingdom bow to the Lost Gods which include Earth deities. Conversely, the students at Divine Protector Academy don't worship any gods because they are gods (or, at least, gods in training). But even before attending the school for gods, protagonist Ev Bannen wasn't religious at all. He couldn't reconcile the idea of a benevolent creator with the physical and emotional abuse he and his mother suffered at the hands of his father. So, in a sense, even a lack of faith counts when coming up with your world's belief systems. 

There's a very good book by Jay Marian called Creating God: Worldbuilding a Religion (How to Write Fantasy Book 1) which details the important functions of religion within a fantasy world.

Well, that's about it. I've covered what are, in my opinion, the three most important aspects of a fictional world. Really, though, that's just the starting point. Feel free to be as creative as you want in designing your world. Just make sure it's believable.

About God School

18-year-old Ev Bannen was just hoping to get admitted to college. He never expected to be recruited to a school for gods, where he’ll be spending his days building up his strength, learning to answer prayers and getting an education in religion alongside aspiring god of money Jaysin Marx, the lovely but troubled Maya Brünhart and anger-prone ginger Daryn Anders. But the organization of evil gods, Zero Grade, has plans to unleash hell on earth, and they require the blood of potential gods to do it. What’s more, someone close to Ev is not who they claim to be, and their betrayal may doom mankind forever. Ev steps up to save the day, but does he even stand a chance in hell of defeating a legendary deity?

Find God School on Goodreads| Amazon

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If you are an author and want to be spotlighted drop me an email. Don't forget to share my spotlight posts wherever you can, it's really important to support the lesser known author community! Also if you want to be included in my scheme then you need it to be popular enough for you to have maximum publicity!

If you do share my scheme let me know where and I will post an endorsement of your blog/book/anything in exchange on my Twitter account.

Sunday Spotlight: Carys Jones, Author of Dare to Dream

Sunday Spotlight is a weekly scheme I am running to bring publicity to lesser known authors who, in the book blogging community, it is important to support. If you are an author and you wish to be considered for it please email me at emily.confessionsofa
bookaholic@gmail.com with 'Author Spotlight' in the subject line.

Today’s author is Carys Jones, author of the new YA release Dare to Dream! She has written a guest post for you all to enjoy – although it is not bookish it does discuss some book-to-tv adaptations among other things which is always interesting!

About Carys: 

Carys Jones loves nothing more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader's imagination. Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and her adored canine companion Rollo. When she's not writing, Carys likes to indulge her inner geek by watching science- fiction films or playing video games. She lists John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews as her favourite authors and draws inspiration for her own work from anything and everything.
To Carys, there is no greater feeling then when you lose yourself in a great story and it is that feeling of ultimate escapism which she tries to bring to her books.

Visit Carys’ Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Guest Post: My Favourite TV Shows

I’m lucky enough to be able to work from home full time as a writer. Yes, this does mean that sometimes I sit about in a onesie all day and don’t leave the house. No, I don’t watch TV all day I do actually do (some) work. Saying that, I like to treat myself in the middle of the day to a break watching one of my favourite shows! I can be quite a fan girl about shows I like so allow me to share with you some of the ones I’m currently gushing about;

The Vampire Diaries
I LOVE TVD! I’m unfashionably behind and have only just finished season 5. I did cry. A lot. Some were tears of joy because I’ve been gunning for Alaric to return for AGES! I am most definitely team Damon. I absolutely adore him; he’s the bad guy with the heart of gold and I can’t get enough of him! He’s back in season 6 right? Right?!

American Horror Story Coven
I watched American Horror Story Coven over Christmas and was just blown away by it. It was by far my favourite of the AHS shows so far. I've never been a huge fan of witches when they've appeared in other shows like True Blood and The Originals. I felt like Coven was the first time I actually thought witches were cool and would flirt with wanting to be one! It was also refreshing to see a show crammed full of strong, empowering women. I loved it and recommend it to anyone (so long as you aren't squeamish…)

Grey’s Anatomy
If only doctors in real life were as handsome as they are in Grey’s Anatomy! My life would be a lot more fun! : ) I've loved Grey’s Anatomy for years and feel sad to think back to a time when it wasn't in my life. For me, there is always just the right amount of drama and angst weighed against the interesting medical issues being dealt with. I hope the series never ends though sadly I fear that one day it probably will as nothing lasts forever. Though Grey’s could be the exception, don’t you think??

Pretty Little Liars
I got into this show thanks to Netflix when I was searching for something new to watch. As with most of the shows I watch, I’m behind as I don’t watch them on TV. I’m almost at the end of season 4 so no spoilers about season 5 please! The show frustrates me as much as it excites me. Who the hell is A and are we ever going to find out?! Probably not but that’s half the fun! I spend most of the time coveting all the fabulous clothes the girls in it wear. And if you wondered who I identify with most in the show it would probably be Aria as I've secretly always wished I was brave enough to dye my hair pink…

Reign
Again, this was another Netflix discovery but oh my, am I glad we met! Reign is thrilling, exciting and full of sumptuous ball gowns which make me wish I wasn't actually locked in the house writing all day so that I could have an excuse to get all dressed up! I’m still deciding between Bash and Francis but leaning towards Bash as he’s the forbidden brother which makes him all the more alluring…

So…yeah, like I said, I’m mostly writing when I’m at home all day. Mostly… *coughs nervously*

About Dare to Dream:

"The world was going to end. Of that, Maggie Trafford was certain."

Fourteen-year-old Maggie Trafford leads a normal life. Well, as normal as being crammed in a three-bedroom house with four siblings and a single parent can be, anyway. But despite being somewhat ignored at home, Maggie excels, earning top grades, a best friend who would do anything for her, and stolen looks from a boy in Maths. 

It’s not until the dreams start that Maggie realizes “normal” is the least of her problems. Every night, she lives the same nightmare—red lightning, shattered glass, destruction. But nightmares are just that, right? No one believes her when she says it’s an omen. At least, not until the already mysterious pillars of Stonehenge start falling. 

No longer alone in her fear, Maggie and the world watch with bated breath as one after another, the historic stones tumble, like a clock counting down. But only Maggie knows what it means: when the last stone falls, destruction will reign. And when the world ends, there’s only one option left—survive.

Horrifying and raw, Dare to Dream is equal parts tragedy and hope, detailing the aftermath of apocalyptic catastrophe, the quest for survival, and the importance of belief.

Check out Dare to Dream on Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Carys has also kindly agreed to a giveaway of two copies of her novel Dare to Dream, how exciting! Enter below to be in for a chance of winning her amazing novel.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you enjoyed learning more about Carys and Dare to Dream, don't forget to enter the giveaway to be in for a chance to win! If you are an author and want to be spotlighted drop me an email. Don't forget to share my spotlight posts wherever you can, it's really important to support the lesser known author community! Also if you want to be included in my scheme then you need it to be popular enough for you to have maximum publicity!

If you do share my scheme let me know where and I will post an endorsement of your blog/book/anything in exchange on my Twitter account.

Sunday Spotlight: Gina Dickerson, author of the Mortiswood Tales

Sunday Spotlight is a weekly scheme I am running to bring publicity to lesser known authors who, in the book blogging community, it is important to support. If you are an author and you wish to be considered for it please email me at emily.confessionsofa
bookaholic@gmail.com with 'Author Spotlight' in the subject line.

Today's author joining us at Confessions of a Bookaholic is Gina Dickerson, author of the Mortiswood Tales. She has kindly agreed to a guest post and a generous giveaway, look for both below!

About:

Gina Dickerson lives by the Thanet coast on the north-eastern tip of Kent, in the UK, with her family and playful Siberian husky. She is a full-time author and writes romantic suspense with a twist, horror, and fantasy because her characters refuse to play nice and wind up with more than a few bone-rattling skeletons in their closets.

She is the author of the magical fairy tale, The Penning Christmas Curse published by Limitless Publishing, the murderous romantic suspense novel Unveiling Christmas, the twisted short story collection, Underleaf, as well as the fantasy, adventurous romance series, Mortiswood Tales. She has also written fashion and shopping columns for a local newspaper. Her latest release is the second book in the Mortiswood Tales series.

Website / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter /Mortiswood Blog / Facebook

The latest Mortiswood Tales Book:

With the promise of power comes the threat of the ultimate sacrifice...

Losing those she loves and learning she’s The Chosen One catapulted Kaelia’s life into the fast lane. Having battled Dybbuk demons, discovered an unexpected ally in the form of a Vallesm, and ventured through Niflheim, her adventure is far from over.

Determined to fulfil her destiny as the one who will destroy The Salloki, Kaelia still has many obstacles to overcome. As secrets rise to the surface and Kaelia’s powers continue to evolve, she is not the only one fighting a battle...

Can Calix find a Rosealrium bloom in time to stop Cadence’s transformation? What exactly is the truth behind Bran’s connection to the goddess Hel? And will Kaelia finally uncover what happened to her mother?

One thing is certain, Kaelia is not the only one who is evolving...

Amazon / Amazon UK / Goodreads / Smashwords

Where it all began:

The story began in the first book of the Mortiswood Tales series, Mortiswood: Kaelia Awakening

Amazon / Amazon.co.uk / Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / itunes

A little about the inspiration behind the Mortiswood Tales series:

Margate Harbour and Stone Pier 

I wanted the Mortiswood Tales books to have their roots in my hometown even though the series is fantasy. So, the setting is part in Thanet, part set in a magical wood (Mortiswood!), as well as crossovers into realms of Norse myth. Here is one of the real life places which feature in Mortiswood:

The Stone Pier is a significant feature in the Mortiswood Tales series. It was originally built between 1810 - 1815, and parts have had to be rebuilt over the years due to storm damage, and bomb damage in WWII. The coloured doors are home to a variety of cafes, artists’ workspaces, and even an art gallery. It overlooks the vibrant Old Town, Turner Contemporary art gallery, and the main Margate sands and I just adore this seascape.

As for the creatures within Mortiswood I have to admit that the Vallesm was heavily influenced by my pet pooch. He’s a Siberian husky and having him around made it easy to visualise how the Vallesm would move. Here’s a snap of him enjoying a walk.

* * *

It's certainly always interesting to hear more about the inspiration behind novels, especially when they include such scenic settings and adorable four legged friends!

Gina has also kindly agreed to give away two sets of the first two Mortiswood Tales books in either Kindle ready or epub format. That means two of you lovely people can win the first two books in Gina's fantasy romance series. Enter below to be in with a chance!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just A Thing That Is (Guest Post)

Here's a guest post from John Vorhaus, author of Lucy In The Sky, enjoy!

So here I am out promoting my new novel, Lucy in the Sky, and I’m doing it the hard way, through Twitter, Facebook and guest blog posts like the one you’re reading here. It’s a challenge for me, because I’m a writer who loves to write, and I’d much rather be working on my next novel than out promoting this one. In the world of my imagining, I don’t have to do any outreach to readers at all, because they’ll all find their way to my work (in the millions!) by magic. But that’s the world of my imagining. Much as I would have it otherwise, I live in the real world, and I’ve always found that reality works better for me when I accept it rather than fight it.

I’ve devised a strategy for this, a mantra if you will, that helps me cope with all sorts of life situations where I encounter a gap between the way things are and the way I wish they would be. In times of such stress, I tell myself simply, “This is not a good thing. This is not a bad thing. It’s just a thing that is.” That keeps me balanced, present in the moment, and generally happy. And nowadays I’m leaning on this mantra almost daily as I attempt to meet the demands of publishing in the post-paper world.

Which doesn’t mean that I can’t repurpose reality just a little bit to suit my needs. For instance, being an older human, I confess to harboring a certain prejudice against what we might call “entrepreneurial publishing.” Back in the day, this sort of work was called… dark drum roll please… vanity press, and carried with it all sorts of negative connotations. The assumption was that anyone who published his or her own book was somehow not worthy of consideration by “real” publishers and therefore by readers. Of course, we all know that the model and the marketplace have completely changed. Today’s consumers of entertainment, especially young ones, recognize that the quality is in the product, not the brand. Just ask anyone who’s ever downloaded music from their favorite unsigned band. Therefore, simply for the sake of feeling more comfortable in the post-paper world, I choose to follow the new model of music distribution and call what I do indy publishing, not self-publishing. This helps me sleep at night.

There will be those who still see it otherwise, and I honor their right to their perspective. For instance, I recently received the following comment in response to one of my essays on this subject: “Self-publishing by any other name,” wrote a skeptical reader, “is still self-publishing. I suspect readers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in this developing electronic world. They’re catching on to the little tricks authors use to say, ‘See, I’m not a self-publisher.’ Publisher Imprint x # of employees 1 = self-publishing.”

Now, I love the math of this. I do. It tickles my whimsy. But I hate the pejorative undertone. I agree that readers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but I suspect that this sophistication manifests itself not in trying to sleuth out a writer’s publishing cred but rather to cut through the clutter and find, and enjoy, a great read, regardless of its provenance.

So is Lucy in the Sky a great read? Well, I think so, but what would you expect me to say? I can tell you what it’s about: A coming-of-age story set in 1969, it tells the tale of Gene Steen, an earnest young striver who gets a chance to make his hippie dreams come true when the eponymous Lucy rolls into town. I can tell you who I think the book appeals to: young seekers, old geezers and anyone else who wants to experience or re-experience the Sixties. I can even tell you the point of the story: that being a hippie isn’t about love beads and peace signs but about the choices you make and the chances you take. If that sounds like something that floats your boat, then I can point you to places on the web where you can sample the wares and decide for yourself whether the book is worth read. The rest is up to you.

But when you’re done, and if you’ve enjoyed it, I’ll bet you won’t remember whether Lucy was released by my former publisher, Random House, or my current one, Bafflegab Books. And then, who knows? Maybe you’ll read some of my other stuff. Goodness knows there’s plenty of it out there – more every day. And that’s how a writer, or at least this writer, makes his place in the post-paper world: not by magic but by hard work. By writing, and promoting, and then writing and promoting some more. I love the writing part. I don’t love the promoting part, but I recognize it as an absolute necessity.

It’s not a good thing. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just a thing that is.

And that’s my attitude. For publishing, for life as a whole, it’s not a bad one to have.

About the author: 

John Vorhaus has written five novels and more than a dozen works of non-fiction. His comedy writing book, The Comic Toolbox, is considered a classic how-to book for writers, and will be making money for someone long after he’s dead, buried and gone. He tweets for no apparent reason @TrueFactBarFact and secretly controls the world from www.johnvorhaus.com.

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

A Song On Sunday (9)

Beka, whom you all MUST know by now, asked to do my Song On Sunday post because she found the perfect song. And I much happily obliged. Don't worry I haven't gone AWOL again! Enjoy.

Hiya everyone! Tis me (Beka). Well seeing as Emily hasn't got round to posting her own SoS I'll go first. I have been ridiculously over-excited since Thursday evening when and descovered this song... then inspiration hit! (and inspiration never hits) for the first time I have a book to go with my song YAY :D So without further ado (is that how you write it?) my Song on Sunday for this week is:


'Lonely' by Christina Perri

As I said I discovered this song on Thursday when looking up Christina Perri songs... and I have been singing it several times a day since XD This song I have matched with 'Shatter Me' by Tahereh Mafi. I think this song is perfect for Juliette while she is living in her cell... so sad :'( Anyway I'll let you listen and get back to me: Do you agree? Do you have a better book to match this song? or even do you have a better song for Juliette?


P.S. I advise you to skip the first 30secs as it only consists of very irritating type-writer sounds >:(

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK