Large Print Please

I’m confident that I conjure up the phrase “easy on the eyes” but you are tougher for me to look at.

Don’t weep, my Quillers. It’s not you...it’s me. I am what you might call “visually impaired” if you are inclined toward political correctness. Though, I am not sure about the validity of that term as there are plenty of politicians who speak nonsense. New York City disallows hedgehogs because we are wild and pointy. You know what’s wild and pointy? Small children with scissors! While scissors may be plotting against your children, I’m all for people not running around with me without my consent.

Where was I? Oh yes, I was imparting wisdom on my “condition.” My eyesight is what you might call sucktastic. Not the best when your passion in life is reading and writing. Unless the text is big I need the assistance of my monocle. Sure, it makes me look mighty snazzy but it’s also one more thing I have to juggle while I read. I have small hands after all and turning pages is no cinch. I am always seeking easier ways to read.

When I lived in Wellington (that’s the capital of New Zealand where the hobbits are holed up) the main branch of the library had an entire section devoted to large print books. It was home to novels such as ‘Chocolat’ by Joanne Harris (taunt me with things I can’t eat why don’t you?) and ‘The Notebook’ by Nicholas Sparks (not my cup of worms) among many other bestselling and obscure titles. The large, clear letters made my reading experience so much easier.

Finding large print books in stores is not so luxurious. I was in a bookstore in New York today (let it be clear to the coppers that I was in New York state) where I came across a single shelf of large print titles. It had a select few bestsellers in paperback but nothing I wanted to read, had not read before (‘The Hunger Games’ trilogy) or listened to on audio (‘Water for Elephants’ and presently ‘The Help’) along with several James Patterson novels in hardback.

Large print books are my lovelies. Why must we be parted? It also appeals that so many of them are printed in paperback. Perhaps this is not such a big deal to humanoids but when you are the size and heftiness of a paperweight, every little bit helps. “Paperweight” would be a good superhero name for me.

There is a reason I like eBooks. They often have those neat little settings where you can make the text as big as you want. While I love listening to audio books (talk about easy on the eyes!) not every narrator can do justice to the titles I’m interested in. The ability to read a book with ease is not something everyone can boast. People can get their cranky on about the digital formats of books but I’m guessing they don’t have less-than-fabulous vision.

Does your local library or bookstore house large print books?

Nice Doggy!

Some breeds have a bad reputation, whether earned in part or not. We all know nice dogs and mean dogs, but you can’t judge a book by its cover — or in this case — a dog by its fur. Or three heads. Or slobbering jaws.

Cerberus is a hell hound. You’ve heard about him, and in Sirenz Back In Fashion, he’s there to guard the borders of Tartarus. Yes, he’s got huge teeth, drools all over the place and chases everyone. And as he’s a big dog, he creates big...you get the idea. But don’t let that stop you from liking him!

Greek myth does tend to...exaggerate on some character traits — especially wickedness and dangerousness. Maybe Cerberus is just a big old softie who loves a game of fetch. Sure, some of the time it’s with the bones discarded by the wandering souls—but that’s what happens when you leave things lying around.

A word of caution: DON’T RUN. He will chase you — he is, after all, a dog, and he wants to play. That said, if you find yourself on the beaches of Tartarus (yes, beaches — another talk for another time), carry a rubber ball—or three—in your pocket.

In Sirenz, boarding school roomies Meg and Shar learned the hazards of making a deal with Hades, Lord of the Underworld. The wearing of a Tiffany's diamond ring in Sirenz Back In Fashion reactivates their contract, they find themselves back in his employ as sirens. And things are a little different this time; Shar is whisked off to the Underworld to play hostess as the dark god attempts to win her affections, while Meg is stuck topside, obligated to send spoiled rich girl Paulina Swanson to the Underworld. Hot gods, mere mortals and the Underworld have their secrets. Will Meg and Shar ever ditch Hades, and keep their wardrobes and souls intact?
thesirenz.com

Nat: When not playing with pointed objects, Natalie Zaman is usually writing. She lives in central New Jersey with her family and several fine looking chickens.
nataliezaman.com
nataliezaman.blogspot.com

Char: Lover of sparkly things, Char doesn't have as many shoes as she'd like, but wouldn't have time to wear them anyway with her three boys, husband, cat with issues, demented squirrels and insistent characters all demanding her time. She is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency and is hoping to get all her characters into print just so they'll be quiet.
charlottebennardo.com
charlotteebennardo.blogspot.com

Giveaway!

To celebrate the fabulous 'Sirenz Back in Fashion' we will be giving away a copy of the book SIGNED by both of the lovely authors, along with some delicious swag.

Swag includes three Sirenz bookmarks, a Hades is Haute sticker, two heavenly chocolates, seven button pins and I've thrown in a couple of li'l Quill Café bookmarks too.

The giveaway is open internationally to those thirteen years of age or older. To enter, simply fill out the rafflecopter below. It may take a short while to load.

Giveaway ends at midnight EST on the 30th of June.
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The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

(Spoiler Warning for The Case of the Missing Marquess)

Enola Holmes, in London with wads of cash from her missing mother stuffed in her dress, discovers that she has a knack for finding people who have disappeared — all except for Eudoria Holmes, the very person who she set out to find.

She decides to take her skill and turn it into something more. Under the guise of Ivy Meshle, she becomes assistant to the nonexistent Dr. Leslie T. Ragostin, Consulting Scientific Perditorian, Finder of Lost Things.

Being an avid Holmes fan — from the Conan Doyle classics to Jeremy Brett’s portrayals, and now all the way up to the newer versions including BBC’s modern-day miniseries Sherlock — I had to pick up the first book in this series — 'The Case of the Missing Marquess' — when it was first published around six years ago. Meant for older elementary students, it had been nominated for 2007’s Sakura Medal: an annual reading program developed by librarians in international schools across Japan.

It was the first book picked for a Sakura Medal that I had ever read, and I must say that I was impressed. (This year’s nominated novels were definitely not as invigorating, but that is a story for another time.) I remember loving it just as much as 'Eragon' (my favourite book series at the time — and today as well). It was an adventure, and a mystery, and a comedy; it was enchanting and entertaining and I was captivated from start to finish.

However, once I’d finished, I never touched it again, and the librarians — we went through three — never thought to order the rest of the series.

I have since left the school that introduced me to the Enola Holmes series; in fact, I work at the same library now, but every time I saw the book on the shelves I would tell myself, I have to read this again and find the ones that come after this! I never got around to it.

But when my younger sister walked into the house carrying the same book that I had treasured ages ago, I took it from her almost at once and began to reread it. Usually, books that I considered fantastic when I was little seem a bit too simply-written to be of any interest, but this one held my attention for as long as it took to finish — which was about an hour or so.

Desiring more than the singular book I held in my hands — so fantastically written, so sublime of a plot! — I needed more. I purchased three more in the series on my mother’s iPad within the next few days, and read them all. I currently have the last two downloading on my Kindle.

'The Case of the Missing Marquess' had everything I love about Sherlock Holmes — including the man himself! The series is not, as you would think at first glance, about the famous detective’s daughter (it’s doubtful that he’d ever be the type to have children), but of his unmentioned little sister, fourteen years old, born far too late — she’s considered a shame because of it; not to mention she climbs trees and rides bikes and other things that completely disgrace the family — and living with her free-spirited mother, who has, by the time the book begins, gone missing. So Enola sets out to find her.

The tale is witty, charming, well-planned — each book ties in with the rest perfectly, no plot holes in sight as far as I can see — and, contrary to what your first thought probably was, the main character is far from annoying. She is one of the few female protagonists I’ve read of that seem to be just right. She might be stubborn and brash with her brothers, but she is easily embarrassed and she has next to no knowledge of the world before she goes to look for her mother in London. She is tenderhearted and her emotions often get in the way of things (she is fourteen), unlike Sherlock, who can ignore many of the more “moral” implications in a case. She compares herself to her brother a lot, and in the beginning says that one of the only things she can do well is draw accurate sketches, a skill that comes in handy later on. She wishes to be as great as Sherlock, and has a few self-confidence issues all throughout.

Despite the above, she is still determined, smart, and interesting; she looks far too much like her brother and, as previously noted, she admires the said detective greatly (who am I kidding, she practically worships the man), despite his attempts to ship her off to finishing school. Their relationship is possibly the only thing that bugs me. I don’t believe that Sherlock, had Doyle written him, would have as much affection for his sister as he does. I’d venture to say that their relationship in the beginning takes on a more romantic tone than familial; he is attracted to her in the way that he is attracted to Irene Adler — because of the brains. It’s not too apparent, though; I myself wouldn’t have noticed had a friend not mentioned it to me.

The frankly astounding number of puzzles, crypts, and codes that made their way into the series is also something I find very interesting. I do like plays on words and this series is anything but short of them. In fact, the main character’s name, backwards, spells "alone," a fact that she touches upon often.

My favourite sort of communication within the books is that of Enola and her mother. The two of them, through columns in magazines and papers, converse in what a few would call ‘floriography’ — the language of the flowers. Actually used in Britain during the Victorian era, flowers were used by people (mostly young women, and in many cases, their lovers) to send secret messages via bouquets that could not be spoken aloud. This is an older code that I find very useful, and have now vowed to learn by heart. Hopefully I will before the spring flowers are all out. Enola’s mother is a Suffragist, and that brings me to another thing I liked about the series.

It was truthful. It spoke often of the sexism during the time; indeed, Enola flees from her brothers simply because she could not bear the idea of having to wear a corset, and learning how to cook and clean and be yet another upper-class housewife in England serving under an upper-class, working husband with a flock of children to watch over. And let me remind you, this is a children’s book, and for Miss Nancy Springer to put what she did into a series targeted at elementary students, and expect them to grasp the concept, I admire her. Because who says that kids can’t understand such a subject?

On that note, I’m guessing she also expected them not to know too much, as there are consistent mentions of the prostitutes working in the dirt-poor areas of London, and many, many implications of things nine-year-olds probably shouldn’t be reading about.

I realise this is just a bit of a ramble about how I feel about the series but there are so many beautiful parts that I just love that I’m afraid it will be better to simply touch upon all of them than to delve deeply into a singular thing I adore about it, because I’ll get distracted anyway. If there was any one thing I would have to favourite about the Enola Holmes series it would be the sheer ingenuity of it all.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer borrowed this book from the library. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Penguin and is used solely as an aide to the review.

(Spoiler Free Review)

When Enola Holmes' mother disappears, she is frantic to finder her - but her two older brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock disapprove. Convinced that their mother has run away, Enola's brothers are determined to send her off to boarding school...but she is having none of that.

Setting off to find her mother, Enola stumbles across the case of a missing boy and finds herself in more trouble than she had ever conceived. London is not the sparkling place she had imagined and there are horrid figures that crawl the streets.

Katherine Kellgren is quick becoming my favourite audio book narrator, so after reading the above review I was ecstatic to discover that she narrated the Enola Holmes Mysteries.

Enola is a compelling character, sympathetic without being petty, head-strong and intelligent. Reiterated through the story are her mother's words, "Enola, you will do very well on your own." Boy, is it true! Even Enola's name spelled backwards is "alone." She is a driven character and I was drawn to her.

I will admit that I am not overly-familiar with the original novels by Conan Doyle. I listened to A Study in Scarlet and then gave up on the second installment. Springer does make references to A Study in Scarlet (in the sense of it being a non-fiction account by Watson) but I have nothing to really compare or criticise the borrowed characters in the book. Speaking of references, I did like the one Springer made to The Importance of Being Earnest with Lane and the cucumber sandwiches.

While I am not familiar enough with the Holmes brothers to know if they were portrayed well, I can say that they appear to me to be right arses. They belittle Enola less because she is young and more-so because she is female. Sexism to the max. This is what made me like the book all the more. It hones in on the issues of sexism but also shows Enola's cleverness and gives a right "stuff you" to the notion of her inferiority.

The descriptions Springer gives of East London and even the steel corsets young women are made to wear to refine their body shape was horrific. Almost as horrid as Mycroft's attitude. (If you nap so often, you'll get diabetes, Mycroft.) There was a wonderful grit to the novel and it was riddled with plenty of dangers, mostly "unmentionable" things which made the subtext all the stronger.

I wouldn't say that the case of the missing boy was the most interesting thing in the plot but rather Enola's own journey and how she thought outside the box - even outfoxing the great Sherlock Holmes who she honestly made look a bit of a ninny. I've already purchased the second novel, 'The Case of the Left-Handed Lady' and look forward to starting it...now.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Penguin and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Sirenz Back in Fashion by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

Meg and Shar think they're done being sirens...until they accidentally revive their contract with Hades. Now the Greek god has a new set of rules for them to abide.

With Shar pulled down to Tartarus to ten to Hades' amusement and clean after his gigantic hound, Meg must lure another target to the underworld - Pauline, a girl far more in sync with Meg's tastes than Shar.

Can Meg bring herself to deliver Pauline to Hades? Can Shar find a way to escape his clutches?

I found this book to me more addictive than the first. Tartarus was more alluring to me than the fashion world of 'Sirenz.' I loved to see all the new gods, demi-gods and historical figured that cropped up.

Sharisse is now decidedly my favourite siren. While I love Meg, Shar just had an extra oomph to her in the sequel. Perhaps it was the juxtaposition of her in a place like Tartarus. She fit in too well in the fashion world of 'Sirenz.'

Hades is a lot less skeevy than in the first book. I wouldn't call him sympathetic but his wit can be marvelous. It was fun to see him exasperated. He's described as having auburn hair (something I didn't pick up on in 'Sirenz') although he is illustrated on the back cover as having black hair.

The cover of this book is divine. I thought at first it was going to be an offensive shade of dark pink but it proved to be soft and mixed in with purple. Not to mention, Shar and Meg look amazing.

I was drawn to Pauline's character the way Meg was. Having her be annoying and irritable would have been too easy. She provided great inner conflict for Meg.

I really enjoyed 'Sirenz Back in Fashion' and can't wait to read more about Meg and Shar, along with their ever growing pantheon of gods.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer received this book from the author. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Flux and is used solely as an aide to the review.

A Cynic's Guide to Pity Partying Protagonists

10 Steps to the FML State of Mind

1. The protagonist's family is insensitive, cruel or ignores them. Possibly dead.

2. Friends stab them in the back...or the front. Metaphorical and physical stabbing from supposed allies is a great way to make the protagonist feel blue.

3. Protagonist has the weight of the world on their shoulders. Must protect friends, family and greater population, without any of them being aware of the fact.

4. Trapped "for their own good" and left powerless. Oppression to the max. Most effective with women and teenagers.

5. Love interest treats protagonist like dirt. Defeated and left without a fighting spirit, they fall into their lover's embrace. Quintessential love story in the works.

6. Thinks dying doesn't seem like such a bad idea. Thought occurs at least once in the story. Apply as needed.

7. Weather reflects protagonist's mood. Protagonist is sad about this, even though there are tons of other people who do not get preferential weather mood reflecting treatment.

8. Special ability or gift bestowed on protagonist is a curse. Why can't the protagonist just be an everyday Joe, like that insignificant minor character who just exploded?

9. No matter what feats the protagonist overcomes, their emotional state must be on the constant plummet.

10. As long as the protagonist gets hit with every miserable and unfortunate hurdle imaginable, the reader will sympathise, regardless of how often they mope and sigh like a prince with the wrong breed of puppy.

Please excuse me while I practice my dramatic exhale.

Yours,

The Cynic

Authors Who Sell and Repel

I’ve talked about an author’s attitude in the past but now I want to delve into how an author’s online presence can boost or blunder their sales.

Something I love about the internet and the world of online social networking is that it allows the readers an insight into what an author is like. Of course, this isn't appealing for all readers (some who like that separation and mystery) but as an aspiring author it fascinates me. However, there are things I've noticed about how authors behave online that either escalates my interest in them and their writing or causes me to switch off.

Twitter

Twitter is brilliant because you can use it for whatever purpose you wish. For writers and readers, it is a great way to connect with the people and goings-on of the literary world. There are so many books and authors I wouldn't know about if it weren't for twitter.

After reading the Writer's Guide to Twitter and learning that there were such things as Twitter Parties and Twitter Chats, I realised that there was more to this tweet thing than celebrities taking photos of their navels. Not only was it a great platform to let people know that I was alive and writing/procrastinating, it was also the hip location to find fellow readers and writer, including published authors.

I will admit that my interaction with authors on twitter has been limited but tweeting with an author - whether about their book or just random stuff - beyond neat. Authors actually reply to people on twitter and if they don't, they don't. I haven't replied to every tweet that's ever been sent to me.

However, there are a few twitter no-nos that I've witnessed authors commit. For instance, it is flattering to be followed by an author on twitter but if it is evident that an author follows more people than follow them, it's a little off-putting to me when I figure that this might be a strategy to get more people to notice them. I'm afraid, dear author, I just do not auto-follow people.

Then there are the beautiful twitter chats I like to participate in or at least peek in on to see what's a-happenin'. It isn't uncommon to find authors in these literary chats and they can provide some of the most stimulating insights into various subjects. However, there are a few that seem to pop in for the sole purpose of promoting.

Me: So, what good books have you guys been reading lately?

Enthusiastic: Well, I just had a book published, about dragons and princesses and exploding mimes. Here's the link.

Boisterous: I wrote one too. It's called 'I'll Have Your Garters for Guts!' Check it out! Link.

Blunt: Mine is good. Link.

Me: Uhhh...

Of course, not all authors are like this. It's also not in any way a trait that falls to self-published authors. There are plenty of writers, from all publishing backgrounds, who use twitter with wit and finesse. However, there are just some who don't understand that readers want to be talked to not marketed at.

In conclusion, I am more likely to take a gander at your twitter bio if you have something interesting to say, than if you thrust your bosom book in my face.

Facebook

A lot of people will scream and run just at the mention of facebook but you cannot deny that a lot of people live there. Yes, live. You know it's true.

There are a lot of different things you can do on facebook: friend people, make groups, make pages to like things and access a bunch of different apps through the site. It's a procrastination hole but it's also good for networking.

We have a facebook group for Quill Café (shameless plug) where we sometimes link to posts, interesting sources we find or just discuss literary and random things. While it's awesome when an author joins the group (it is for writers and readers, just as Quill Café is meant to be) and we welcome people to share their writing, when someone posts the same thing over and over again or DO SO IN CAPS LOCK it's a bit abrasive.

Spammy: Hey. My book has just come out. If anyone is interested check it out. Thanks.

Me: Oh, cool. I will!

Spammy: Hey. My book has just come out. If anyone is interested check it out. Thanks.

Me: Accidental double post?

Spammy: Hey, just a reminder that my book has just come out.

Me: Memory lacking but not that lacking, mate.

Cap'n: SO I WAS JUST INTERVIEWED ON THIS SITE HERE.

Me: Eyesight is fine. Also, ouch goes the voice in my head.

Always remember to treat your potential readers as intelligent beings. They may be on facebook but if you wouldn't yell at them or tell them the same thing over and over again in person, why do it online?

Blogging

I don't compulsively follow any authors' blogs but I can enjoy reading them. You'd think I wouldn't, since a blog isn't as interactive as twitter or facebook and I just gave a long-winded spiel about being "talked at" but I think blogs are pretty cool. Maybe I'm biased. This is a blog after all.

When an author is personable without getting too personal it is easy for the reader to be drawn to them. Sure, I don't need to know every little thing your kid does or what you had for your last meal but as long as someone is interesting and relatable (and doesn't lash out publicly at life or specific people) I'm captivated.

Let there be no mistake that everyone is out for themselves. Too blunt? Let me elaborate. When you write something that is helpful to someone else or gives them something to think on, you offer them something and they appreciate being able to take something away from it. I don't want to say that all readers are greedy but on a subtle level they are seeking something that is of use to them. Readers aren't wandering waifs waiting to be whisked away by your words. You need to impress, not stress.

Replying to comments on your blog is good (something I need to do a lot more) but there is no guarantee that the original poster will see it, unless they subscribe to the post in question or there is a reply option. It's all circumstantial. Replying to everyone might seem tempting but if you copy-paste the same "Thanks a bunch" over and over, it can look a little spammy.

An extension of blogging is video blogging. While vlogs don't disillusion me into thinking that an author in any way acknowledges my existence, they can make me feel a more automatic connection with them. I suppose seeing someone face to face, even impersonally is engaging.

In conclusion, I think that authors who use social networking to enjoy themselves will accomplish more than those who enter social networking because they feel they need to in order to help promote their writing.

I don't want to seem preachy. I'm far from perfect and a lot of these things I've noticed have helped me to understand what I should and should not do when engaging with others through social networking.

What are some things you've noticed authors do online that made you want to read their work and what are some that made you run for the glen?

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

If you thought you knew the extent of Abraham Lincoln's life and achievements, think again.

When his mother dies and his father reveals a horrendous truth, young Abraham devotes his life to the killing of vampires. The extent of his mission is brought into question when he meets Henry Sturges, a vampire who seeks to aide Lincoln on his quest to end the existence of the deserving.

A thorough account of Lincoln's life, told through gathered facts and his own journal entries, conveys the journey of one man to free a nation from tyranny.

I first came across this 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' in a book store two years ago, where I pointed it out to my dad who had no interest in it. Now, having been present in part while I listened to it on audio, he praises its execution.

Vampires and Lincoln should be ludicrous but Seth Grahame-Smith writes it with the same cleverness and authenticity he did 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.' He weaves the undead so seamlessly into the life of Abraham Lincoln that what could be ridiculous instead reads as plausible.

In the beginning, Abe hates and judges all vampires equally, just as his peers did the black men and women in those times. It was fascinating to see the parallel of how the whites treated the blacks and the cruelty the vampires dealt them both. The descriptions of slaves being auctioned off was unnerving; men for their build, boys for their potential...and the youngest of girls for their looks. Vampires took advantage of slavery, using a slave's low rand to easily feed on and kill them, without fear of reprimand.

I was enticed by Abe as a character. He was so very human; fragile and strong, righteous and prejudiced. It was amazing to learn just how many hardships and triumphs he had in his life. I could not help but sympathise with him from the start and feel for his losses. He is an inspiring figure, whether he walks the pages of fiction or otherwise.

Like Mike Lancaster in '0.4' and Gaston Leroux's 'The Phantom of the Opera,' Seth Grahame-Smith ties the story to reality with a prelude of how he came by the journals of Abraham Lincoln and set forth to write the manuscript. It was begun around the time of the last presidential election and - as my dad commented - is relevant today, where the political parties of the United States of America are drastically divided, much as they were in Lincoln's time. Here's hoping the vampires don't take advantage once again.

This was an impulse buy, so I was wary if I would like Scott Holst's narration. Now I know it was a brilliant decision. The ease of listening to 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' gave me more focus to enjoy every aspect of the story as it unfolded.

An excellent book, I would recommend it to vampire and Lincoln enthusiasts alike. Don't hesitate to check it out on audio.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Grand Central Publishing and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Hey there Audiobook fans!  Welcome to the JIAM Giveaway Hop hosted by ReadingTeen.net.

To celebrate "June is Audiobook Month" we are joining together with some awesome blogs to bring you this JIAM Giveaway Hop! Each blog will be giving away at least one amazing audiobook, so make sure you check them all out! This blog hop ends June 15th at midnight EST.

Today is the 11th of June, my 22nd birthday. To celebrate the awesomeness of audio books and this one in particular, I am giving away the audio book of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter as well as an Abe Lincoln VH poster. To enter, fill out the rafflecopter below. It may take a while to load. You must be 13+ to enter. This giveaway is open internationally.

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Here's a list of the blogs participating in the JIAM hop:



Check out my other June audio book listens, 'The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom' and 'The Fault in Our Stars.' ♥

Research: Inspiring and Intimidating

This last week I attended the Teen Author Carnival where I sat in on a panel of twelve young adult authors, titled 'Is this Real Life? Or Is This Just Fantasy?' I assumed plentiful discussion of magical and invented topics but instead one was brought up that pulled in my attention - that of research.

While some might think that authors don't put in much research to a book (especially if anyone utters the word "fantasy," although plenty of these authors were not in fact writing of that genre) it is astounding just to what lengths some authors go to guarantee that their novel holds plausibility and isn't easily dismissed by the reader. Sure, there is that notion of "suspend you disbelief" but there is also that of how the best of lies have something of a truth to them...and fiction is the fabrication of truths.

In the panel, there was discussion of hush-hush interviewees who shall not be named, extensive research to the point of obsession and the extra dimension a story can gain by building on some real fact, whether a physical or an emotional aspect.

Hannah Moskowitz spoke of setting 'Gone, Gone, Gone' in her hometown, a 9/11 novel she had meant to write for a long time. Barry Lyga, author of 'I Hunt Killers' mentioned how much research he had done on serial killers, only for a fraction of it to go directly into his manuscript. Eliot Schrefer wrote the first draft of 'Endangered' in New York City, before visiting a sanctuary for Bonobos.

Plausibility is an intimidating but important thing. It was fascinating how much these authors had done in the aide of bringing their novels to life. Such extensive research was, to me, was overwhelming but also inspiring. While I wouldn't want to freak out over plausibility before I'd started writing, I'd want to do my best to make a story as real to the reader as possible, while still giving it the leeway of a work of fiction.

Research isn't easy and sometimes it can leave a bad taste in your mouth but I know that the writing I have done which had stemmed from something real - such as writing on location - has felt all the more tangible and exciting to me. Surely that must translate to the reader.

So, I've been inspired to delve more into research and come up with inventive ways to give my stories depth. Who knows what may come of it. Something good, I hope.

What has your writing gained through research? Are their any particular novels you have reach which struck you as having en particularly striking in their incorporation of real places, people or events?

It's Not Personalised

I'm no good at improvisation. It makes me nervous, anxious. Even when I plan to say something in my head, when put on the spot I'm a bluster of awkwardness.

Being face to face with an author is unnerving, whether I have read their work or not. Other people may be able to gush with grace but I, alas, cannot. Mostly I am just silent.

Could I tell Guillermo del Toro how much I loved Pan's Labyrinth? Nope. Chris Colfer what an inspiriation he is? No way. Dude, I couldn't even stand a few meters away from John Green (having finished The Fault in Our Stars only a couple of days previously) without shaking.

I've always liked to pride myself on not being one of those crazy scary fan girls. Sure, I obsess over fiction...but people? Not to the same extreme. I've also never had much of an attachment to autographs. It's just a written name, isn't it?

Having a book you love signed by the author, I'll admit, is pretty epic...but what about an author you haven't read?

Some readers adore signed books, even if they aren't familiar with the author or didn't get it signed in person but received it second hand. There is nothing wrong with that of course but I find it strange to have a book by an author I have not read signed when I don't know if I'll like it or not. Even if I do like it, there is a wonderful freedom in knowing that I might be able to pass it on to someone else who will appreciate it...and if not them, someone else.

I'm ashamed to say that the books I've had personalised to me, before I had read the author in question, are ones that sit on my shelf still unread. You would think having my name in a book would make me more eager to read it but instead I feel that I am eternally stuck with a book that I am unacquainted with. I have been married off to it in a rush and now I'm panicking.

Yes, I am weird. It's no secret. I embrace this fact. Yet, there is nothing so awkward as when I go to a signing and have to tell the author in question that I don't want it personalised. Either it's a "just signed" or - in worst case scenario - I have to actually use the word "no" when they ask.

It's moments like these that my ability to say what I actually want to - like how I saw a promotional trailer for their book and am really enthused to read it - would come in handy. Instead I'm usually blundering a "thank you, thank you so much" and shuffling away as fast as I can.

To credit the authors, most of them are lovely and haven't given me that "sure, yeah, whatever" feeling when I was an awkward mess in front of them. They know that my preference in that moment isn't personal. It's the authors who always smile at me when I'm over-anaylysing everything I do, still unable to say anything that makes sense, that compel me more to read their books.

What is your preference when it comes to having books signed? Do you put much store by signatures and personalisations? Also, if you have any tips on how to act like an actual human being around authors, please share.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

You've heard the stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White...but what about the heroes of those stories? Known only as "Prince Charming," these four uncredited men share the same title and are yet quite different. Frederic is afraid of everything, Gustav is reckless, Liam is obsessed with acts of heroism and Duncan is, well...weird.

When the epilogues of their fairy tales prove to be less than happily ever after, each prince is left with a lack of accomplishment. When the very bards who credited them only as "Prince Charming" go missing, the four Princes Charming team up to thwart a wicked witch and earn themselves a tale worthy of their true titles.

Can Frederic, Liam, Gustav and Duncan overcome their blunders and insecurities and save their kingdoms?

From the moment I learned of this book, I knew I had to read it...or rather, listen to it on audio. I was compelled by the idea of these princes and what their real stories might be. Prince Charming? Such a base archetype, it was just itching to be developed into something worth noticing. 'The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom' is the result.

The wit is infectious from the start and I was smiling and laughing in ways that echoed through my apartment in ways that I might have found embarrassing had I not had but two ginger cats in the vicinity. They didn't appear to be traumatised but they gave me some strange looks. It felt good to enjoy a book in that way, to be compelled to see where this journey would lead but ultimately not caring about the result as much as the adventure of see what the princes would do next.

Liam is my favourite prince and I swear it isn't just because of the Irish accent. I was drawn to his good heart and even though he was a little single minded when it came to heroics, he wasn't ego-centric. Surprising that Sleeping Beauty's prince would be my favourite, since the Brothers Grimm made that story a lot more PG for their readers...but I won't go into that.

While I did have a favourite amongst the princes, I found them all to be engaging and humorous. They all had their obstacles to overcome and they were all on this quest for different reasons. It was great to see them learn from each other was being a hero is actually about. Even Liam had things to learn from Frederic, who was so sure he wasn't cut out to be a hero.

Another thing that this book has going for it is that the women are no damsels. From a mother of eleven children to a princess, women are not shown to be cowards. Ella was one of the main adventurers of the story and Liam's sister, Lila, was quite daring. The two aren't masters in the art of heroics themselves but it is their intelligence and persistence that drive them.

The only part of the book that had me squirming - not in a bad way, quite the contrary - was the romantic attachments that Healy hinted to and touched on. He doesn't establish anything but does enough that the reader can get excited about potential couplings that may not match up with the original tales of the bards.

I was excited to learn that there will be two sequels to 'The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom' and I do hope that they will also be narrated on audio by Bronson Pinchot. Although I don't want to cut the print version of the book short. The illustrations by Todd Harris are marvelous and I was rushing to my local bookstore to look at all the snippets of scenes I had only imagined.

'The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom' is a great children's book but something I would recommend to anyone looking for a good laugh, a great cast of characters and an excellent adventure.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Walden Pond Press and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Why Villains Work

Villains are evil. Villains are cruel. Villains exist.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who conjures up images of a super hero's nemesis when I think of the word "villain." Maniacal laughter, sickening ultimatums and time-limit games.

In reality, a guy who sports a crazy laugh is about as elusive as one whose bum lights up. Which it might, if he's sporting villainous neon green tights. Not the common get-up of your everyday criminal mastermind.

Then we have our action/spy/mystery villains. Gangs, mobsters, foreigners, cults, sadists, molesters, psychopaths... These non-neon-clad people seem to have more plausibly in our minds. They lack flair perhaps but they have more grit and realism.

Stereotypes exist for a reason...but they're old, they're boring. These cliché villains should make us roll our eyes and stop reading, right?

Except, they often don't.

Much as I may harp on about wanting to read multifaceted antagonists, those "bad guy" clichés still get under my skin. For example, that mean girl arch nemesis of the protagonist? I should hate her because she is tedious and predictable but she curls my toes and aggravates me in the way she does the main character.

Conflict is the key to story telling. Could it be that these unsympathetic and unoriginal characters are good for writing?

My thoughts are divided. On the one hand, I believe that cruel people do exist and to pretend they don't would be ignorant. There are characters who are in such opposition to the protagonist that they can't not hit all the wrong spots with the reader. On the other hand, if a character is cruel/mean/tedious to the point of being dull, I will stop reading.

Do villains work? Yes, they do. Why? It is because they hit a nerve with the reader. Think of all the Good v.s. Evil plots. They should be a cliché to be avoided but I am sure some of your favourites are among them.

A well-written villain is a powerful tool for a writer to wield as long as it is done right. Who are some of the villainous characters that have worked for you, despite their lack of redeeming qualities?

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Ransom Rigg’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a dark, yet fanciful read. It blends that which is horrific and mesmerizing perfectly to bring worlds of darkness and light together in a crescendo that leaves the reader spinning as much as it does the characters.

An especially peculiar aspect of this novel is that it includes pictures.

Pfft, pictures are for kiddies, aren’t they?

Not these. These pictures are haunting. At times, I found myself disturbed and not wanting to look at them, but it was impossible to stop staring, to quit studying them. I felt as if the photographs were pages of the story that I was reading along with the pages containing words.

It’s amazing, the idea of taking real (not to mention creepy) photos and extracting a story from them, and Riggs does this expertly. He dabbles in mystery, magic, time travel, super powers, monsters, and even sheep. A lot of sheep.

The characters are so believable despite being unbelievable that the reader comes to trust them just as Jacob, the protagonist, comes to terms with the amazing and supposedly impossible things he sees and people he meets. We need the peculiar, the fantastical, the things we don’t quite let ourselves believe, and Ransom Riggs provides us with that.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who desires those things and even some who fear them. It's a lovely ride.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Quirk Books and is used solely as an aide to the review.

A Cynic’s Guide to Slapping Feminism in the Face

10 Steps to Writing a Female Protagonist with No Self-Respect

1. The protagonist is flawed, allowing readers to relate to her...but later has her flaws fixed/overcome.

2. She is initially presented as someone who isn’t interested in fashion or material things but preens when she is dolled up for a guy she likes.

3. Whatever principles she has at the beginning of the story are happily tossed aside for the sake of a man. She was just a coy, bookish prude. Now she's a woman.

4. If her love interest leaves her – even temporarily – or is perceived to be unfaithful, she will fall into a pit of depression and will cease to understand the reason for living.

5. An nice, respectable man likes your protagonist. She is uninterested. He is either unexciting or secretly evil.

6. It is fine for a man to treat her like a piece of meat as long as he is exceptionally attractive. If the man is unattractive, he is a skeevy, dangerous pervert.

7. If the story isn't hung up on a man, it should be hung up on babies, marriage or virginity. If you want to make the story faux feminist and focus on a woman pursuing a job/dream, a sexy powerful man is a necessity.

8. Your protagonist should be rescued by her love interest at least once. This makes her exceptionally lustful for him, especially if he treats her like dirt afterwards.

9. The number of times a woman meets a specific sexy man is directly related to her chance of him being her destined true love. Even if these "coincidental" meetings are pre-planned by either party, it is destiny and not creepiness.

10. A character who excuses herself on the ground of being female for any or all of her actions is a role model for women everywhere.

Yours,

The Cynic

Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

Meg and Shar are just your everyday frenemies, until a fight over a guy and a pair of shoes sends them into the clutches of Hades, Lord of the Underworld. To reclaim their freedom, they must set about becoming Hades’ sirens and lure a fashion mogul into Tartarus.

Gifted with enhanced feminine wiles, the job should be a breeze…if only the gods would stop interfering. From unwanted attention to serious consequences of using their siren charms, Shar and Meg have a lot of difficulties ahead of them.

Can they complete their mission and return to their normal lives or are they doomed to be Hades’ sirens for eternity?

This is a book I was quick to be interested in. Contemporary fiction incorporating Greek mythology in inventive ways grabs my attention.

The book is co-written, with Charlotte Bennardo narrating Shar and Natalie Zaman narrating Meg in alternating chapters. The two are polar opposites, Shar being more into fashion and Meg interested in music. This character dynamic set-up had the potential to be a disaster but in the hands of two skilled authors it was a brilliant success.

There is a wonderful wit to the novel and the way that Shar and Meg approach situations – albeit in different ways – was refreshing to read. Even when they were in conflict, it never leaned toward tedious bickering.

I related to Meg more at the beginning of the novel, despite the fact that I look horrible in black, am clueless about music and could never be swayed to the Vegetarian lifestyle. Shar’s interest in shoes and fashion could have been a huge turn-off for me and yet I found her to be the more sympathetic character in the novel. She definitely drew the short straw when it came to the disadvantages they faced in their siren pursuits.

Hades was an interesting antagonist. I liked that the depictions of the gods were very much true to the myths. They were power-mad and manipulative. It sometimes bordered on skin crawling. Brilliant!

I won a signed copy of ‘Sirenz’ from a twitter giveaway by @FluxBooks and was pretty chuffed by all the cute swag that came with it. It even included the two charms that Shar and Meg have in the book. Talk about fiction coming to life! ♥

‘Sirenz’ is a fabulous read and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel, ‘Sirenz Back in Fashion.’

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer received this book from the publisher through a Twitter giveaway. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Flux and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Dystopias - Are They Plausible?

There has been quite the boom of dystopian settings in young adult literature and - while I have only read a smattering of them - I have found them to be enjoyable. However, there are a few questions that pop to mind when I read them.

'Could this actually happen?'

Humankind is no stranger to oppression and dictatorship. The quintessential dystopian novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell was inspired by the unnerving possibility that this could be the future. Dystopian fiction today uses that same inkling to get under the reader's skin, draw them in and keep them thinking.

In futuristic America, obsession with faux reality television has escalated to disturbing heights. 'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins takes a seemingly harmless fascination we have with watching disasters unfold for our amusement and turns it into something gripping and raw.

In a place that was once Chicago, segregation is turned on its head. While we strive to have our personalities and interests define us over our physicality and background, it is those very things that separate and unite the characters of Veronica Roth's 'Divergent,' beyond and above family bounds and residential roots.

Mike Lancaster startles with '0.4,' when the world changes in the early 21st century and humanity as we define it is questioned. A perturbing look at our growing obsession with and attachment to technology.

It seems that anything that holds uncertain potential can be taken to a brink that makes us cringe or shiver. When dystopia has its foundation in the land of "What if?" it will always be riddled with questions. Of course, questions are in no way bad. They keep the reader interested and attentive.

'How and why did this happen?'

Sometimes this question is addressed, other times it is only touched on. It is a simple one that branches out depending on the setting of the dystopia. When it comes to an American dystopian, I wonder how the nation was brought to such a premise.

'How far into the future do you need to stretch for a country like the United States of America to become a dictatorship? For it to be sealed off from the rest of the world? That no one would come to its aide?'

I used to wonder how the great power of the USA could descend into dystopia without any outside interference. That was until I learned that all it took for the United Nations to neglect the genocide in Rwanda was one word: veto. The United Nations Security Council has fifteen members, five of them permanent - UK, France, USA, Russia, China - while the rest are elected by the General Assembly for two year terms. One of the five permanent members vetoed the decision to help Rwanda and no other country on the security council could challenge it.

Those that have democracy often take it for granted but the world is not a democracy. Of course, the US is one of those five powers, so it brings even more extreme questions to mind when thinking about dystopian settings.

'What happened to American democracy? Did the United Nations sever and how?'

I don't ask these questions because I am skeptical or distrustful of the genre. On the contrary, I am fascinated by it, intrigued to know more. It makes me think and I like literature that makes me want to think.

How do you feel about dystopian fiction?

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda Wormwood is a bright child in a family who couldn't give a toss about her. Always treated as inferior, despite her higher intellect, Matilda delights in the small moments of trickery she plays on her parents.

When Matilda starts school, she is ecstatic to learn outside of her local library and make friends. Crunchem Hall isn't a place of fun and laughter, however. The menacing headmistress Miss Trunchbull hates children...and Matilda is fresh meat.

With all the adult oppression closing in on her, can Matilda use her brain power to triumph? It might just take something...phenomenal.

I'd never read 'Matilda' but after 'The BFG' I thought it was about time. The real magic of the story is the way in which Dahl wraps you up in the world of the characters and makes everything seem so vivid, without launching into endless descriptions.

Matilda is a wonderful protagonist. She is relatable, not because of her high intelligence (which could in fact alienate the reader) but because of how she is looked down on and spoken down to by adults. Anyone who has been a child has experienced first-hand what it is like to be belittled by a grown up because you are a kid and they feel they are justified to treat you as a lesser being, undeserving of respect but deserving of everyone's opinion. As least...I have.

Dahl didn't just create a character who was clever because she knows things but because of the way she acts and how she handles herself in situations. Indeed, she has a heroism to her that even adults like Miss Honey don't posses, although it would be unfair to fay Miss Honey is not an admirable character. She puts up with her awful living situations to continue with her love of teaching.

'Matilda' is a delightful read for all ages. I look forward to reading more of Dahl in the near future.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Puffin and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Your Writing is Not Your Baby

If I treated a baby the way I treat my writing...I would be tossed in gaol. I neglect it, get angry with it and try to alter it. It's okay to be that crazy with a product of your imagination. The same is not applicable for good child care.

Parallel to this is treating your writing like it's a baby you birthed. I don't know how many writers who claim this connection with one of their stories have children but...it's creepy.

It is one thing to love the act of writing. You need to be passionate and emotionally invested if you are going to succeed. That doesn't mean that you should sew your emotions so closely to the text that any upset toward your writing feels like stitches being ripped from your chest.

If you write the first draft of your story and think, 'This is perfect. This is the best thing I have ever done...' then you are delusional and a potential book-baby gusher.

More signs that you are treating your writing like a baby:

1. You fantasize about your novel or screenplay winning stellar awards and being adored by everyone. You are invested in making this happen at all costs.

2. Someone criticizes your writing or shows a lack of interest. You take it as a personal comment on your worth and cast them off as a horrible person.

3. You fail to get your book published and give up on writing. You don't want to have to suffer through that hard work, pain and rejection again.

There should be a rehabilitation center for writers who think they can't carry on unless a specific projects of theirs succeeds. Fall in love with your writing but don't cling to one story until you reach a moment of irreversible despair.

Have a few flings, lose a few loves but don't have a literary baby.

Do you think there is a sane point between coddling your crazy and neglecting your passion?

*Inspired by Beth Revis' post, 'The Book of My Heart.'