First, let me say, I’m excited to announce that LURE is a finalist in the 2022 Wishing Shelf Book Awards in the Adult Fiction category. There were 155 entries and 58 finalists. Congratulations to my friend, JP McLean, who also made finalist with her supernatural thriller, Ghost Mark.
Many thanks to all the readers who voted for LURE!
Authors are constantly invited to enter contests and they all charge fees—some are HUGE. Many are nothing but money grabs. This one is for real and is vetted by ALLi (pronounced ally.) The Wishing Shelf is a UK Contest organized by Edward Trayer, himself a writer and great communicator. Books were read by teams in London and Stockholm and are judged on editing, theme, style, and cover. They advertise the finalists on Goodreads and offer feedback to authors. And, they support Blind Children UK with Guide Dogs. How cool is that?
I’m especially honored to be part of this wide genre—Adult Fiction—which includes all kinds of sub-genres. The winners will be announced in April. Fingers crossed.
This news comes at a great time as my LURE ebook is on sale this week at Amazon.com and Amazon.UK If you haven’t read it, here’s your chance. You can also find it on The Fussy Librarian today under Contemporary Romance.
Finally, LURE is now available as an audio book on Google Play and Kobo!
This is the life of an Independent Author/Publisher. We’re constantly juggling a zillion balls. Thank you to all who support my writing journey!
Alright. I had to do it, With all the hype about AI, and particularly, this bot, I had to see what it would say about my first novel, To Charm a Killer. As most people know, I’m a book reviewer, and I was curious how this new intelligent writer could help me out. Is it ethical? I don’t know enough to go down that rabbit hole yet, but I will say this. I’m not a paid reviewer, and I actually read books that I review, sometimes twice, but I know many people who are paid reviewers, and I’ve read reviews where I can tell the person did not read the book. There’s a load of hype pulled from the blurb and maybe they’ve read the first few pages to get an idea of the writer’s style. Considering that I pay my publicist for reviews (usually $50) I want to know the parameters of this new intelligent literary force. I can see this becoming a profitable business since, for now, ChatGPT is free to play with.
In the first example, I asked it to write a review and gave minimal information. Here’s what I typed in the chat: Write a 5 star book review about an edgy urban fantasy mystery called To Charm a Killer by W. L. Hawkin. Here’s the review:
To Charm a Killer by W. L. Hawkin is an electrifying urban fantasy mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The book follows a young woman named Lila, who has the ability to charm anyone with her words. She is drawn into a dark and dangerous world of murder and magic when a killer begins targeting those closest to her.
The world-building in this book is simply phenomenal. The author has created a rich and complex urban fantasy setting that is gritty, dark, and filled with danger. The use of magic and supernatural elements is well done and adds to the overall sense of mystery and intrigue. The author’s attention to detail in building this world is impressive, and I found myself completely immersed in it from the very beginning.
The characters in the book are equally impressive. Lila is a strong and compelling protagonist, with a unique set of skills that sets her apart from other urban fantasy heroines. Her journey throughout the book is one of self-discovery and growth, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. The supporting cast of characters is also well-developed, with each one adding a unique layer to the story.
The plot of the book is fast-paced and filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The mystery aspect of the book is well done, with enough red herrings and false leads to keep me engaged throughout. The action scenes are also well written, with just the right amount of tension and danger to keep me on the edge of my seat.Overall, To Charm a Killer is a fantastic urban fantasy mystery that I highly recommend to fans of the genre. The world-building is superb, the characters are compelling, and the plot is thrilling. The author has crafted a unique and engaging story that will keep readers entertained from start to finish. This book is definitely deserving of five stars, and I look forward to reading more from W. L. Hawkin in the future.
Okay. It didn’t have enough information so it created a protagonist and plot. However, Lila and her ability to charm people with her words is a very cool character I could get behind, and this review sounds much like some I’ve read of my own work. I decided to give it a little more information and see where it would go. I typed in the following details that could be extrapolated from the blurb by an unethical book reviewer: Write a 5 star book review about an edgy urban fantasy mystery called To Charm a Killer by W. L. Hawkin about a Vancouver wicca coven who spin a charm to catch a serial killer abducting witches. The problem is the killer falls in love with the wicca high priest Estrada and will stop at nothing to get his attention including kidnapping people he cares about including Maggie, an innocent 17-year-old girl who travels to Ireland to escape the killer. Here’s the response:
To Charm a Killer by W. L. Hawkin is a thrilling and captivating urban fantasy mystery that I couldn’t put down. The book follows the story of a Vancouver wicca coven who spin a charm to catch a serial killer who is abducting witches. However, things take a dangerous turn when the killer falls in love with the wicca high priest, Estrada, and begins targeting those closest to him, including the innocent 17-year-old girl, Maggie, who travels to Ireland to escape the killer.
The world-building in this book is truly exceptional. The author has created a rich and intricate urban fantasy setting that is both dark and alluring. The use of magic and supernatural elements is well done, and the details of the Wiccan rituals and practices are well-researched and add to the overall sense of realism. The book is set in Vancouver, but the story expands to Ireland, adding to the mystique and enchantment of the book.
The characters in the book are equally impressive. Estrada is a compelling and complex protagonist who struggles with the weight of his responsibilities as a high priest. Maggie is an innocent and endearing character who becomes embroiled in the dangerous world of the coven. The supporting cast of characters is also well-developed, each adding a unique layer to the story and creating a sense of community.
The plot of the book is fast-paced and filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The mystery aspect of the book is well done, with enough red herrings and false leads to keep me engaged throughout. The author has done an excellent job of building tension throughout the book, and the final showdown with the killer is both thrilling and satisfying.
Overall, To Charm a Killer is an exceptional urban fantasy mystery that I highly recommend to fans of the genre. The world-building is superb, the characters are well-rounded, and the plot is thrilling. The author has crafted a unique and engaging story that will keep readers entertained from start to finish. This book is definitely deserving of five stars, and I look forward to reading more from W. L. Hawkin in the future.
Alright. This I could use. It sounds like the person read the book, doesn’t it? There are even phrases I could use as pull quotes.
So what does this mean? For one thing, I’ll be scrutinizing reviews and reviewers in the future. Having said that, it could help me write more exciting book reviews of books I’ve read;) For another, I think the bot could be used in a positive way to inspire, even generate plot lines. Here’s an example. I’ve been considering sending Estrada back to Merida to finally reunite with his family. This is what I typed in: Write a review about a magician named Estrada who travels to his childhood home in Merida Mexico to see people he’s been estranged from for many years, and there he becomes embroiled in a murder mystery that touches his family. And here’s the review:
The Magician of Merida by W. L. Hawkin is a captivating mystery novel that centers around a magician named Estrada who returns to his childhood home in Merida, Mexico after many years of being estranged from his family. Upon his return, he becomes embroiled in a murder mystery that touches his family and threatens to unravel secrets from their past.
The author does a fantastic job of building the setting, drawing readers into the vibrant and colorful world of Merida. The descriptions of the city and its culture are vivid and immersive, and they add depth to the story. The characters are equally well-developed, each with their own unique motivations and personalities. Estrada, in particular, is a fascinating character with a complex backstory and a deep connection to his family and heritage.
The plot of the book is engaging and keeps the reader guessing throughout. The murder mystery aspect of the story is well done, with plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The pacing is excellent, with just the right amount of action, suspense, and introspection to keep readers engaged.
The author also weaves in themes of family, identity, and cultural heritage throughout the book, adding depth and complexity to the story. The book is more than just a murder mystery; it’s a deep exploration of what it means to belong to a family, a community, and a culture.
Overall, The Magician of Merida is an excellent mystery novel that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The setting, characters, and plot are all well-crafted and make for a satisfying reading experience. The book is definitely worth reading, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery novel.
Inspiring? What do you think? Not much of a plot line, but I do like the idea of involving his family in the murder and unveiling their secrets. And I love this piece: “the author also weaves in themes of family, identity, and cultural heritage throughout the book, adding depth and complexity to the story. The book is more than just a murder mystery; it’s a deep exploration of what it means to belong to a family, a community, and a culture.” I’ve been to Merida and it is a “vibrant and colorful world” I’d love to explore again. Could this be book 6?
AI is here to stay, so let’s keep an open curious mind, play with it, and see what happens. Thoughts???
The Life and Death of a Druid Prince: The Story of Lindow Man An Archaeological Sensation. Anne Ross & Don Robins. Summit Books: New York, 1989
This is an “old“ book now as you can see from the date, written by Dr. Anne Ross, Ph.D. in archaeology and expert on the Celts, and Dr. Don Robbins, Ph.D. in solid-state chemistry and faculty of the Institute of Archaeology in the University of London. Credentials aside, the book is written for the popular audience; hence the title, “archaeological sensation.” It is, perhaps, the first of its kind, and that makes it important. Also, it’s accessible, written in the style of an historical novel, without all the archaeological jargon, and this I like.
A writerly-friend recommended it to me because I’d studied and written about Old Croghan Man for To Kill a King, another Iron Age bog body, who was unearthed by a peat cutter in June 2003. Lindow Man came first. He was discovered on Lughnasadh (August 1) 1984, and before him came the Danish bog bodies.
In this book, the authors attempt to prove that Lindow Man (called such because he was unearthed in Lindow, England) was “a Druid nobleman and priest, ritually murdered in a spectacular Celtic May Day ceremony, sacrificing his young life to appease the gods following a brutal invasion by the Roman army in what has been called ‘the darkest hour in Britain’s blackest year’.”
reconstruction of Lindow Man
What do I think of their book-long argument?
There is much conjecture. They suggest this and that, refute the argument, then make their point; a strategy that stretches a paper into a sensational book for profit. At times, I hear myself saying “that doesn’t make sense” and then they go on to tell me why it doesn’t make sense, which I already know. Such is the price of publication. I can accept their key argument, but there is a lot of filler.
The “Celtic” history is compelling and highlights much that I’ve read on Druid beliefs:
Druids were gods incarnate and could be both Druid and King.
Bards trained for up to twenty years. They memorized secret lore in triads using complex meter and rhyme
The Celts were not afraid of death as their spiritual beliefs were so strong so made incredible warriors. I envy them their strong beliefs.
They believed in reincarnation, both human and animal. In the interim, the spirit would go to a happy Otherworld of physical pleasures to await rebirth.
They performed sacrifices to ensure victory and show gratitude to the gods.
Captives from battle were sacrificed to the gods, but there were also willing sacrifices, and self-sacrifice
They believed in ancestor worship. The dead could be tricksters with potent power (think of the sidhe: faeries from passage graves)
The Druids had power over the elements. Macbeth echoes this belief.
In the end, the authors give Lindow Man a name: “Lovernios” because of his fox fur armband, and assert that he was an Irish king: a well-nourished noble, unblemished and so not a warrior, with manicured hands much like Old Croghan Man; small by our standards, 5’6” and only 154 pounds, O-blood type, an insular Celt.
The authors assert there was a trade route for Wicklow gold, supervised by the Druids, that ran from Ireland through Anglesey, Wales, into England. And this is the route “Lovernios” took to arrive in Lindow. They provide several maps and offer two appendixes: one of The Druids, and a second on Celts and Germans.
They hypothesize that “Lovernios” offered himself for sacrifice on Beltane in 60AD in a desperate attempt to stop the Romans who had already taken control over much of England. This makes sense to me.
There is an excellent piece on the Celtic Queen Boudica of the Iceni. “She was flogged and her daughters raped, and she vowed bloody vengeance” (87). Boudica sacked three provincial cities, including London, but was defeated, fled, and committed suicide. I’m intrigued by Boudica and want to know more. Why hasn’t her movie been made?
The reason for sacrifice must be epic: a life and death situation, not just for one but for all. Either bad weather and crop failure equaling slow starvation, poor decision-making, or invasion. In this case, the Roman invasion of Britain could be motivation for such a sacrifice. The Roman force was just too strong.
Lindow Man ate charred pancakes, and drank water with mistletoe, as was customary for sacrifice, and died a Triple Death (as did Old Croghan Man.) Kneeling, he accepted three blows to the head that left him stunned. Then a thrice-knotted garrot strangled him at the same time as his jugular was severed, the blood running into a cauldron, and finally he was tethered in the water as an offering. (I will note here that Old Croghan Man had defensive wounds so was not entirely willing but was also tethered in the water by withies.)
Lindow Man at the time of his discovery
Is their argument plausible? Indeed it is. Since that time, the idea of Kingship & Sacrifice has been studied and written about by other archaeologists including Dr. Eamonn Kelly, who created the current exhibit at the National Museum of Archaeology in Dublin.
Creating this book list was much harder than it looks. First, I had to choose books that had a similar bent to my own book, To Charm a Killer. Then I had to craft a short review to introduce each story in the light of the overarching theme. It had been so long since I’d read Interview with the Vampire, I bought the paperback and reread it. I was surprised at the depth of character, the broodiness of Louie, and the madness of Lestat.
One of my favorite reviewers writes this of To Render a Raven:
“I think the true draw of this novel for me, and this is probably true of the whole series, now that I think about it, is the intricate psychology of the characters, who are complex, nuanced, sympathetic, and occasionally, deeply irritating— a sign of just how invested I’ve become, and how well drawn their inner lives, as well as outer adventures, really are. Highly recommended read.”
To Charm a Killer started it all. As I complete the draft of Book 5, my mind drifts back to everything that’s come before, Estrada’s complex psychological journey, his desires, his loves and losses, and how he’s changed over two years of his fictional life—something that’s impacted several years of my life and continues to inspire me.
Finally, I recommend Shepherd.com as it’s a very cool, professionally vetted site. You can search for comp lists on all kinds of topics. For example, if you’re looking for adult fiction featuring witches, try this. If you’re an author, contact them to find out how to create your own list.
Susanna Kearsley conjures one of the most vibrant voices I’ve ever heard in The Winter Sea. It’s so vivid it’s as if a real writer is experiencing this psychic phenomenon, rather than a fictional one. In a twist on the usual time-slip novel, Kearsley interweaves two complimentary tales, one contemporary and one historical, threaded by ancestry. As intricately woven as a Scottish tapestry, with multiple layers of colour and contrast, this novel may propel you to a place where you lose yourself, and begin to wonder, is this possible?
Author, Carrie McClelland settles into a cottage in the village of Cruden Bay, on the northeast coast of Scotland in Aberdeenshire, after being intuitively drawn to the ruins of Slains castle. She’s come hoping to write a novel about the 1707 Jacobites, who planned to sail young King Jamie, the exiled king, from France to Scotland to foil the English plan to unite the two countries under British rule. Fans of Outlander will resonate, and find The Winter Sea just as compelling.
Carrie’s father is an amateur genealogist who’s shared the family tree with his daughter, so she creates a character based on her ancestor, Sophia Paterson. As soon as she begins to write in Sophia’s voice, the words begin to flow. It’s as if Sophia is whispering in Carrie’s ear, and she is but a channel to the truth of what transpired centuries before. I was taken by this fascinating concept as I’m an intuitive writer myself, and to see it accomplished so brilliantly impressed me greatly. Carrie discusses the theory of DNA and ancestral memory with Dr. Weir, a trusted intellectual in the village, who tells her that, “some aspects of our nature, of our temperament, are clearly carried in our genes. And memory, surely, is no more intangible than temperament” (216). He goes on to report that people who are “regressed under hypnosis and recall what they believe are former lives in other bodies, may in fact be nothing more than their remembering the lives of their own ancestors” (217).
In parallel plots, both Carrie and Sophia fall in love and must weather the obstacles enduring love brings.
As a former museum curator, Kearsley brings her knowledge of historical artifacts to the page in detailed, sensory script. She’s won multiple awards including a RITA, the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award, and the National Reader’s Choice Awards. This Globe and Mail, New York Times, and USA Today bestselling author educates and entertains with this riveting romantic drama that sweeps through time to leave the reader breathless.
I breezed through the whopping 509 pages because I just couldn’t put it down. Four times chills rushed up my legs in the closing chapters as Kearsley caught the unravelled threads and knotted them together with such precision I didn’t see it coming.
The Winter Sea is historical fiction layered with the intuitive writing of it. Two heroines, two heroes, and all indelibly linked through lineages, symbols, artifacts, and ancestral memory. See for yourself.
