Gold in Havilah: A Novel of Cain’s Wife by Jean Hoefling.

 I reviewed this novel on 23/04/22 in another blog, now defunct. 

Gold in Havilah: A Novel of Cain's Wife

Cain's wife is a nameless biblical woman lost in the early Genesis narrative. Yet what if her life journey wasn't so different from your own?

Akliah is a daughter of Adam and Eve who has grown up at the foot of the pristine holy mountain where the Garden of Eden lies. She and Adam's other children know well the story of their parents’ fall from innocence and their banishment from Eden. And they know the prophecy, that their privileged brother Cain will soon crush the head of the ancient serpent who tempted their parents there. Fiercely in love with Cain, Akliah is determined to become his wife. But her schemes are shattered when Cain kills his brother, Abel, and abducts her to a barren land east of Eden. In Nod, she grieves her mistakes while Cain spirals into ever-deepening tiers of delusion through his bondage to a beautiful fallen angel. When she finally meets a man who offers a chance for genuine love and redemption, Akliah is torn between an honest confession of her past and her longing to be admired. Against the backdrop of life in the world's first city, Akliah must finally make the choice to regain her heart's integrity or die trying. 

Perspective by Peter:

I did not have this on my review schedule and only read it out of curiosity to see what this novel is like after I reviewed Ashes Like Bread, the latter as a request by the author. Hence the shorter review.

As I stated in my review of Ashes like Bread, this author writes well with an excellent command of the English language. It is also constructed well and holds your attention. The first-person narrative adds a great layer of intimacy between the character and yourself as she becomes very relational.

Yes, I give a tick to all other things relating to a novel. I was entertained and given a view of life in this era of the biblical timeline and this is done well. And it is written in the style and extensive detail that Hoefling has delivered in Ashes Like Bread. 

My only beef with this novel is the use of her poetic license in relation to the "other" humans that are present that Akilah comes across who are also in search of the One True God and who are not offspring of Adam and Eve. Hoefling adds a reference to where this came from and the author of this supposition that she includes is just that.

I love poetic license where this is used to fill in any gaps between an established narrative/account, truth, or fact where it does not undermine these. In this novel, Hoefling uses poetic license to add that God created other humans besides Adam and Eve so there was no lineage or offspring directly from the latter.

This undermines the Bible and its theology and the motive for God to have created Adam and Eve as the first humans. To me, it also adds other motives that are not explained as to why God did this.

I am willing to ignore this use of poetic license when it is used by authors who are not Christian or do not believe in the Sovereignty of God, doctrines of the Bible, and its doctrines as they know no better or feel they can write as they please. They do not consider they are accountable to anyone let alone God. That is between them and God in the final analysis.

I do have a problem when Christian authors do this. I do not feel it is worth it to change what we know, what the Bible says, or the motives of God. Despite it being fiction, this use of poetic license in this way could become a stumbling block to those whose faith is weak or those who are seeking to know the truth of God and His Word. 

Despite this, I am still interested in seeing what Hoefling does in her next novel, an account of Zyla's brother, Mahalalel. I liked him and his storyline in Ashes Like Bread.

Entertaining, but that is all. 

Review: The Secret of the Pelemnian Stones by N. J. Schmitt

 I reviewed this novel on 17/07/19 in another blog, now defunct. 

The Secret of the Pelemnian Stones

Eleven-year-old twins David and Derek Tulley are less than thrilled when they find themselves at their elderly babysitter’s house for the evening. As they settle in for what they think will be the most boring night ever, the twins have no idea everything is about to change when the babysitter’s wheelchair-bound sister, Anna, arrives and offers to tell them a story.

Anna uses a special story stone to help her spin a tale that without warning transports her and the boys to the imaginary land of Pelemnia that is filled with new creatures, tasty foods, and fun places to explore. In the fantastical land, Anna, who has transformed into a little girl again, encounters a childhood friend who helps reveal her past and the mysterious story behind the stone she holds in her pocket. Now the boys must help find a way to turn a poor choice from years gone by into a good choice for today.

In this exciting tale, young twins propelled into strange fantasy land with help from an elderly woman’s magical stone learn valuable life lessons and how to make God a priority in their lives.

Perspective by Peter: 

This novel was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! This is Schmitt's debut novel but it does not read as if it is. Written and aimed at the teen market, Schmitt is successful in creating this "feel" and this appeals to an adult's "inner tween" or kid at heart. I found this very enjoyable. Tweens should have no trouble relating to this novel, the pre-teen main characters and the world Schmitt has created. As an adult reader, I was transported to the world she has created. The adventure, action, intrigue and mystique of the world of Pelemnia and of the Stones keep you coming back for more. It makes it very hard to leave Pelemnia and return to reality.

David and Derek are very much typical tweens as they are now called (the ages of 8-12-years, but they are 11 years old). They are twins but from the description, Schmitt has them as non-identical as there are physical and personality differences. This lends itself to the plot and characterisation very well. This can be seen when one is enticed to become King of the race that wants to control the stones while the other does not and stays faithful to their original mission.

Speaking of characterisation, Schmitt is very good at this. The twins are very relational and will appeal to tween readers. A successful author is one who can depict characters as real, appropriate to their gender and age group. I liked Charles as I could relate to his personality and how he is pivotal to everything that happens in relation to the warring factions, the returning of the stones, Anna and her unfinished past with Pelemnia and the final unanswered questions relating to the twins "dead" grandfather.

Schmitt's sense of mystique is one of the factors that hold the story together. It is part of the backstory of the worldbuilding she has created. Now if this was an adult novel, I would expect more depth and detail of this but for this tween novel, it is just enough.

One clever aspect of the construction of this novel is that from one chapter to the next, you never know whether you will be back in the world of Pelemnia or the twin's world. Sometimes you would find yourself back in the latter and then you would find yourself back in Pelemnia. In both cases, it was the events in that current world that dictated how long Anna and the twins would be in either world. This had the great effect off keeping the storyline interesting and fast paced, adding to the mystique, action and adventure and intrigue of the plot.

It is in the last quarter of the novel, that all the questions I had about the world of Pelemnia, the Stones, their power, their origin, the truth behind the warring factions, who is the King of the Hipnoturi, and the lesson the twins needed to learn from being transported to Pelemnia are given their answers. And like any novel, having all these loose ends tied up and story arcs completed lends itself to a satisfying end. However, I would love to see more of the world of Pelemnia and the twins return to it, despite this author intending it to be a standalone novel! But I do look forward to more from her and the world of fantasy and spiritual truths that she is very much capable of as evidenced by this novel. 

Schmitt set out to illustrate one major spiritual theme in this novel and it resonates so well in me and in our secular world today: that of our need to worship the Creator and not solely anything that represents Him or is associated with Him. This is highlighted well in this novel relating to the Stones. Leaving God out of our worship but centring it on what is associated with Him or anything that is not, is just idol worship. This equates to the second of the Ten Commandments, and these idols can be of immaterial origin as well as people. This is also similar to the first Commandment: "You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me." And Christians should or need to know what God thinks about this and what is the penalty when we do this and do not return to Him, our first love! How much of this idol worship do we see this today? It is widespread and sadly, even amongst Christians! Schmitt's use of the Biblical story of the serpent on the stick for the people to have a visual representation of God as their healer is so appropriate to this message and illustrates it perfectly. So to have this debut author illustrate why we need to worship Him and Him alone and to have this impressed on tweens (or even from Sunday School) is to applaud her for being daring to do so! I see this in so many "Christian" novels where the Bible's tenets and Gospel are watered down or God is reduced to less than the Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient God He is! 

My only concern is the cover. Although colourful and represents an important event in the novel, it could be so much more. To me, it is flat and too childish looking. It needs more vibrant colours and a sharper look. As much as the being on the cover resembles the physical characteristics in the novel, it is the pose of this being on the cover that does not match their demeanour or behaviour as depicted in Schmitt's worldbuilding. Tweens nowadays are much more sophisticated than what they were in my generation and those onwards. Like any novel cover, it needs to immediately grab your attention and not let go until you have read the blurb, browsed through it and said to yourself, "I am going to read this!"

I pray future covers can live up to these criteria. So many times, I have passed on a novel due to its unappealing cover and missed a great story! The cover needs to match and showcase what the novel is about and be its first selling point!

All in all, this is an impressive debut novel and showcases the author's talent well. I do look forward to more from her. 

Strongly Recommended.

To buy, share or preview this novel, click on those words on the image below: 

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They also help promote the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

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Interview with Tim Frankovich And His Debut Novel, Until All Curses Are Lifted.

 I interviewed Tim on 13/08/19 in another blog, now defunct. 

Today, I am interviewing Tim Frankovich about his debut novel, Until All Curses Are Lifted. Tim used to have a website called Christian Fiction Review where he would review and showcase Christian Fiction. It was Tim and CFR that encouraged me to start reviewing all those years ago! It is my pleasure to now interview him about his new novel.

So let's get started! 

Welcome Tim! Thanks for stopping by!

How about we start with you telling us what inspired you to become an author? Has it always been a desire of yours to write?

It actually has. I started drawing stick figure comic strips when I was in 3rd grade. By the time I hit junior high, I had written four or five “novels,” which were highly derivative of other fantasies and mysteries I had read. Most were set in a Narnia-style world with talking dinosaurs. I re-wrote some of those stories multiple times all the way up until the birth of my first child. After that, I abandoned writing for years, figuring it was just one of those things that I had to sacrifice to be a good parent. Only in the last few years did I realize that I could come back to writing without it consuming all my time. As to what inspired me… that's hard to say. Comic books, Godzilla movies, and all the books I could read, I suppose.

You’re currently promoting your new novel Until All Curses Are Lifted. Can you tell us what it’s about?

Marshal has been cursed from birth because of his father’s sins. When his half-brother sends an assassin after him, he flees for his life, but he has to do more than just escape. If he ever wants to live without fear, he has to find a way to lift the curse.

Seri wants to become the first female master mage. But no sooner does she begin her training than the earth begins to shake. The magic that holds the world together is deteriorating. When Seri discovers a unique ability, she must use it to help discover the problem with the world's magic, and maybe a cure.

Needless to say, their stories are connected…

What inspired you to write this novel? Has any of your favourite authors influenced this novel?

When I decided to take writing seriously again, my first work was a YA novel (with dragons!). It didn’t get any traction for a while, so I started thinking about what I would write next. I went through my old notes and ideas and found the beginnings of a fantasy story that a friend and I concocted back in college. After some brainstorming, I combined it with another idea and started writing.

Yes, my favorites have influenced it. 

I can imagine some of them would have been introduced to you when you reviewed their novels in Christian Fiction Review. That was a great resource and I loved getting each new review from you. I picked up so many novels from that resource. I thank you for what you did with that website. You were one of the inspirations for my own review blog!

Thank you. I enjoyed that period of my life, and it definitely played a part in preparing me for getting back into writing. Congrats on your website. I know how much work that involves!

My favorite authors include the obvious: J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis - I have entire shelves dedicated to their works and writings about their works. But for living writers, my favorites are Stephen Lawhead, Brandon Sanderson, and James Byron Huggins. All three have influenced me in different ways: Lawhead for gritty descriptions that put you into the moment; Sanderson for incredible depth of world-building and fantastic climaxes; and Huggins for fast-paced action scenes. Toss Larry Hama into that action category too.

You have stated that Until All Curses Are Lifted is not a Christian novel in the sense of most of the Christian fiction you have read and reviewed over the years but you have taken something specific from the Bible and transplanted it to a different world and asked, “What if….?” This places your novel in the genre of speculative fiction. What have you specifically taken from the Bible for this novel? Or would that be too much of a spoiler?

I think “What if…?” is one of the greatest questions a writer can ask himself. What if Moses presented the moral law (Ten Commandments, etc.) to disparate tribes in a world where magic was real? And what if the magicians thought this was such a great idea, they should use magic to enforce it? And then what if Moses himself… oh, wait. That would be a spoiler…

As a writer who happens to be a Christian, I feel like I'm walking a narrow line. I write the stories that come to me. C.S. Lewis said “The first business of a story is to be a good story.” That’s all I want to do. Unfortunately, because of who I am, my work is generally going to be pigeon-holed. It's frustrating, because I want a wider audience.

Is my novel a “Christian” novel because most of the people in it have monotheistic beliefs? So do most of the people in Patrick Rothfuss’s novels, but he’s not called a Christian writer (and doesn't claim to be, I don't think). Mormon writers like Sanderson or David Farland don't get pigeon-holed, yet they include religious ideas throughout their stories.

So… it's hard to answer all of this.

Despite your novel not being in a similar vein to what you have read and reviewed, is there a Christian message or Biblical theme(s) running through it?

Theme? Yes. Preaching? No. In that sense, I would say grace versus law. It’s an important concept that I struggled with a lot as an adult. This book only begins to touch on that theme, but I hope to keep going with it, which leads to…

I visited your author website and noticed you have the next novel, Until All Bonds Are Broken, in the draft stage. Is this going to be trilogy? What can you disclose about this next novel?

In my current outline, the series has four books. I put up the progress counter to show that I’m not George R.R. Martin; I really am working on the next book. :)

I can't say much yet, since very few people have read the first book, but the story continues with the same characters (and some new ones). The scope widens, etc.

The title is referencing The Laws of Cursings and Bindings that govern the land, as described in the first book.

Some authors wait until a series is established with a few of its novels published and then release a prequel (or two!). Any plans for this in this series?

I have no prequel plans right now.

Who is your favourite character in the novel and why?

Tough question. It shifts constantly. I started almost exclusively focused on Marshal, but then Seri grew into such a wonderful character. Meanwhile, I have this problem with Kishin the assassin. He’s sooo interesting, but if I focus too much on him, it would derail the main story. He’s best in small doses. (Plus, if he was around too much, everyone else would be dead…)

As I’m writing the second book, my favorites keep shifting. Ask me next week and it would probably be different.

From the novel’s description on Amazon, you have mentioned Marshal and Seri as main characters. Am I joining the correct dots in that romance develops between them?

You can ship all the characters you want. I will neither confirm nor deny any romantic theories until they actually play out! Good try, Peter! LOL!

Do you show or imply the origin of magic in this novel? The inclusion of magic and it being a foundation of the novel’s world-building is a hot topic amongst Christian readers and authors. It is usually seen as a demonic and therefore considered not be in a novel written by a Christian, or in a novel with Biblical themes. However, a lot of Christian authors include magic in their novels. What are your thoughts on this?

It's a different world. It’s: “what if this world existed, and magic was a part of it?” I don’t worry about it any further than that.

That being said, the “origin” of this world’s magic is a subject of some debate late in the novel…

As far as world-building goes, what can we expect from this series? Maps, prophecy, other realms, other beings, supernatural power, unique language, history?

The book has a map. One prophecy has been alluded to. I do introduce a fantasy race that, as far as I know, is fairly unique. Lots of history. I’m toying with a unique language, but only a few words show up. There have been hints of some other things, but I can’t say more. Spoilers.

Why have you classified this novel as epic fantasy? What makes this so?

The term epic fantasy is usually a reference to scope. While the focus in this novel is on two specific people and what is happening in their individual lives, their choices and actions impact the entire known world. You could also call it high fantasy, as it takes place entirely in another world (or worlds).

You offer a free short story when someone joins your mailing list on your website, The Leper’s Second Kill. What is this about? Any connection to your novel?

Yes, it does! One of the minor (but important!) characters in the novel is an assassin named Kishin. This short story shows part of his origin. It’s not a happy story. It’s not necessary for the storyline of the novel, but it’ll be interesting to people who want to know more about him. It also contains a hint or two of something that may come up in the next book…

What kind of reaction are you hoping to receive from readers? 

In my author bio, I say that my goal as a writer is to transport readers to another world, make them care deeply about characters in dire situations, and guide them deeper into life itself. That’s kind of my credo, both for this novel and everything else I write.

What was the hardest part of writing your novel?

When I started, I wanted to give myself a challenge to really work my writing muscles, so to speak. I hadn’t decided on the nature of Marshal’s curse at first. Then I settled on the inability to communicate. He can't talk, he can’t learn sign language, nothing. Do you know how hard it was to get inside his head? What does that do to a person? I hope I succeeded, but that was quite a challenge.

How has writing and being an author impacted your relationship with Jesus Christ or vice versa?

Eric Liddell, the Olympic gold medalist in the 1920s, once said, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.” That’s the same for me. God made me full of stories. And when I write them, I feel his pleasure.

What advantages or challenges do you think does a writer in your genre face in today’s fiction market?

It's crowded. I just did an Amazon search for the Epic Fantasy category and there are over 40,000 results. Trying to find a way to stand out, to break out from that crowd is a huge challenge. I won’t know if I’ve succeeded at that for some time, probably.

Fantasy readers are a picky lot, and they can afford to be choosy with all these options. If a story doesn’t have solid world-building, plus compelling characters, PLUS a good plot, it won't get far.

When writing, how do you keep track of timelines, ideas, inspiration and such? By notes on the computer, a notebook perhaps?

I use everything I can. My primary software is Scrivener, which lets me make all kinds of notes and such, all over the place. Then I have some plain spiral-bound notebooks that I fill with brainstorming, character arcs, and so on. For the timeline in this novel, I had to set up a spreadsheet to keep track of the days, so I knew what was going on with one character while another character was doing something else, etc.

Do you prefer to extensively plot your stories (plotter), or do you write them as they come to you (pantser)? 

I’m a little of both. I write out a broad plot, and I have very specific scenes in my head from the beginning (usually the climax). But then as I write, new things tend to happen because of the characters. If I’ve done my job in giving the characters full personalities and motivations, sometimes they’ll decide to do things that I did not plot. Seri does this to me all the time. I almost can’t plan her side of the story.

Do you have a favorite genre? Is it the same genre you prefer to write? 

It’s definitely fantasy. I could read it all day. But I also enjoy some sci-fi, a little mystery and suspense.

Where can readers find you? What are your social media platforms:

I’m on Twitter: https://twitter.com/timfrankovich

My Facebook author page: facebook.com/timfrankovichauthor

And of course, my website: timfrankovich.com

I have Instagram, but I forget about it for weeks at a time, post a random photo, then proceed to forget again.

Tim, that ends our interview! I have enjoyed this. Thank you for giving us some great insights into you as an author and your novel. I am looking forward to reading Until All The Curses Are Lifted.  Please consider returning when your next novel is released. You are very welcome!

To buy, preview or share Until All Curses Are Lifted, click on those words in the image below:

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading Until All Curses Are Lifted then submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to). Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. 

Reviews also help promote the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.

Interview with Wendy Blanton and Dawn Before The Dark, (Book 1, Balpharhn Series).

I interviewed Wendy on 01/11/19 in another blog, now defunct.

 Today, I am interviewing novelist, Wendy Blanton. She has recently released her new fantasy novel, Dawn Before The Dark. This is the first in the Balphrahn series. When I read the description on Amazon, I contacted Wendy on Facebook for an interview to discuss her novel.

Before we go any further, let's see what this novel is about: 

An ancient curse keeps men in fear of dragons, so only women can ride them in Slan--while only men can perform magic. As a necromancer from beyond the edge of the known world threatens invasion, Briant appears--a young man who loves dragons. Wybren Tanwen must decide: Is Briant the Dragonborn, the answer to prophecy? Will he save Slan?

Now let's investigate more of Wendy's imagination and the back story to her as author and this novel.

Thanks for stopping by Wendy!

Let me start by asking how got started on your writing journey?

I had a group of friends who played role-playing games, and after a particularly good session, I thought what we had gamed would make a cool story, so I started writing it. A few weeks later, the guy who ran that session saw my document on the computer and asked about it. Turned out he was also writing the story, but from a different point of view and starting in a different place. We decided to collaborate and ended up with three books. We self-published The Dragon’s Lady (the first book) in 2002.

You love coffee. So do I! What is your favourite type, brand, style? How do you brew it at home? Mine is long black with cream.

I’ve been mostly cold brewing for a couple of years. I started when our son lived with us and worked nights, so he was brewing the coffee I’d set up for the morning. Cold brewing saved my sanity and family tranquillity. I like a splash of milk, but I tell people I like my coffee like I like my villains--dark, strong, and a tiny bit bitter.

I am a fan of cold brew coffee as well! So easy to do at home and healthier for you!

What was the hardest part of writing Dawn Before Dark? Figuring out how all the pieces fit together. I combined two short stories but I had to dissect them and move things around and then fill in the rest. I’m doing the same thing with Book Two now. Hopefully, Book Three will be easier because it will be straight creating.

How did this title come about? Is it linked to specific themes or message in the novel? 

I don’t remember the exact circumstances, but I heard someone refer to the darkness before the dawn, and the words flipped in my head. Dawn Before The Dark seemed a little foreboding, and that’s what I wanted. Things seem to get dark for the characters as they face a threat but in the end they think it’s over. Since there are two more books, you can probably figure out it’s not over.

This series is different for me in that I had all the titles before the books were written. Titles are usually hard for me. Most of the time I have the story done before I figure it out. It was affirming, in a way, that this is meant to be written and shared.

How long did it take you to write this novel?

Writing took the best part of a year, I think, and then it was another year of edits and revisions once Bear Publications expressed interest. There was a lot of development I had to do to get it into shape.

What type of author are you? Novelists tend to use one of the following methods:

-Plotter: by extensively plotting it out, 

-Pantser: as it came to you (that you write by the seat of your pants)

Or was it a bit of both?

I’m mostly a pantser, but I’m becoming a planser. I can’t plan too much in advance, but I do find it works a little better if I know the major points, especially since there are three books projected right now. Honestly, my process is messy and convoluted, and I don’t recommend it in general, but it’s what I have to work with.

What biblical themes or message(s) have you incorporated in the novel or based the novel on?

Since I’m a pantser by nature, I don’t usually start with a theme. It usually comes to me as I’m writing or editing. The main theme for Dawn Before The Dark is faithfulness to one’s calling or destiny as it’s called in the book, and that will continue through the series. There are characters who are called to roles that aren’t traditional for their status, and they have to overcome prejudices--their own and those of others--to become the people they’re meant to be.

I read that you consider that,

“……dragons symbolize challenges. We all have our share, and there’s no avoiding them. You could try to slay them, but why would you? Much better to sit with them over a cup of coffee and learn what they have to teach you. Much more civilized.”

Based on this, what do the dragons symbolise in Dawn Before Dark?

The dragons represent wisdom. They’re a long-lived race, so they see a bigger picture than the humans.

Does your quote seem to reflect a philosophy that you live by? Can you expand or describe what this means to you and how is this connected to your faith and relationship in Christ?

That really has become a personal philosophy. We all have dragons, whether we choose to call them that or not. Some are bigger than others, but they tend not to go away until you deal with them, and when they do leave, another will take its place. The older I get, the more I realize I still have a lot to learn, and sometimes wisdom comes from unexpected sources. In terms of working with this in my faith walk, it helps that my day job is with a church, and I’m the oldest person on staff. I have wisdom to share by virtue of my years, but I learn from my coworkers all the time. It’s a matter of staying humble and open to new ideas.

You have written three novels, The Dragon’s Lady, Rogue Pawn, and Sword and Scabbard, under the name Elizabeth Joy with co-author Scott Carman.

Why did you use a pseudonym?

We were baby authors back then, and my husband was still in the U. S. Air Force, so it was mostly for security and to protect our privacy. However, when one promotes a book in one’s home town, a pen name can be a marketing nightmare and I ended up outing myself anyway. That’s why I don’t use one now.

You have written novels and short stories in several genres (ranging from mythology and folk tales, science fiction, dark fantasy bordering on horror). How did that happen and do you find this difficult? With the release of Dark Before Dawn, are you now writing in the one genre? 

I also have historical fiction drafts on my hard drive that may or may not see the light of day at some point. I like to write in a variety of genres, but they mostly fall under the speculative fiction umbrella. I went through a horror phase after we moved to Chicago from the St Louis area. The move was a hard transition for me and my writing got pretty dark. I’m currently writing fantasy, but I won’t say that’s all I’m going to write from now on. Has your experience in the Military (Air Force) influenced your writing? 

Not much, but I left active duty in 1994. I have a dystopian draft on my hard drive with a disabled veteran for a main character, and another one I want to develop, but modern military service isn’t as much help as you’d think when writing in a medieval-ish era. Some battle tactics might be helpful, but I was in admin and didn’t get trained in tactics.

What authors have influenced your writing or genre? 

Brandon Sanderson, Mercedes Lackey, Stephen King, and Steve Pressfield are all authors I’ve learned a lot from. I’ve also learned a lot about the craft from Stephen B. Bagley, Tambo Jones, Susan May Warren, and Rachel Hauck.

I would not call Dawn Before Dark a spiritual warfare novel. There are battles, but they’re physical. The spiritual realm doesn’t come into play in this book, although it likely will in the third book. I think I’d have to say Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee, and Frank Perretti have influenced my ability to write books that convey my beliefs subtly and without preaching.

The character names in Dawn Before the Dark are generally Gaelic based, but the dragon names are French and Spanish since there were Celts in those areas as well as parts of Germany. Why is that? 

I wanted different kinds of names for the dragons, and I wanted to acknowledge the wide area that the Celts travelled. We have archaeological evidence of Celts in Germany, northern Spain, France, and western Germany. Using those languages seemed like a good way to pay homage to that, and to give the dragons' names that would be exotic to the characters. You specialise in telling Celtic folk tales, where did this originate from?

We found out my husband’s family was a sept of Clan Campbell about the time the St. Louis Scottish Highland Games were being held. We lived about 25 miles from there, so we went to check out the clan row. The man in charge of the Campbell tent was also a bard, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “I’m a writer. I’ll be your apprentice!” Long story short, I learned quite a bit about storytelling from him, and I tell stories, mostly on request at Scottish events where we represent Clan Campbell.

In your facebook launch party event for the release of this novel, you state,

“The whole thing started with a Facebook post. I needed to write a short story for an anthology and I didn't have any ideas, so I posted a plea on Facebook. (It's a tactic that has yet to fail me.) My friend posted something about fire exploding across the sky--the dragons were back. I thought it was cool, but I didn't want to do dragons. Of course, I changed my mind, wrote the short story, and got a lot of positive feedback.”

What was that short story about and how did this then evolve into Dawn Before Dark? 

There were two, actually: Dragon Rescue (originally published Blackbirds Second Flight), and Mage Hunt (originally published in Blackbirds Third Flight). The parts will be largely recognizable in Dawn Before The Dark, although a lot has changed, including several of the characters’ names.

What is the reason you depicted that men cast spells and women ride dragons? This opens up the topic of gender roles. One reviewer stated this was a "gender twist". What did you set out to achieve by this depiction? 

This is why I wish I was a plotter! I didn’t start out to twist gender roles. I like strong female characters, and the main character had to be female because the friend who suggested it is female. I thought it would be cool if women rode dragons and men couldn’t, so I had to figure out why. Giving them magic seemed like a good compromise.

Let's give the reader a break from this interview so they can read an excerpt of Dawn Before Dark, but we must warn them that this excerpt is a bit long!

Why did you choose this particular excerpt? I chose this excerpt because one of the themes is embracing your destiny even if it doesn’t seem to make sense. Briant is the first male who is not afraid of dragons since the curse that caused men to dread them five centuries before. Although Briant wants to join the dragon riders, it does come with a stigma he has to overcome. Also, Tanwen has to be open to the possibility of an anomaly to the curse and do her duty not only to go and investigate but also to bring him back and help him.

Who became your favourite character and why? You was your least favourite and why?

I think Tanwen resonates most strongly with me. She’s stronger and more capable than I am, so I kind of want to be her when I grow up. She’s raising a strong, stubborn daughter, which I have already done. I don’t really like Greer. She’s a misandrist and arrogant, but I can’t tell you all the reasons I don’t like her without spoilers.

You have a curse, a prophecy, and a necromancer in this novel. Are the curse and necromancer leaning towards the demonic in origin, or have you concentrated on them as they are and omitted their origin? Similarly, is the prophecy based on any Biblical origin or is it purely your imagination?

It’s all purely imagination. The curse exists solely to give a reason why only women ride dragons, and only men can work magic. The necromancer is the antagonist, so I needed him to be powerful and scary, and the prophecy is mostly foreshadowing at this point. I didn't really think about how odd it would be to have all three in the same book until you pointed it out!

You have 2 types of dragon in your novel. How did this come about and can you describe them (for the dragon lovers who are reading this!)

The dragons you see in this book are traditional fire breathing dragons. The males are metallic colors and the females are jewel tones. I allude to water dragons in this book, although you won’t see them until the next book. They’re based on Chinese dragons and live in or near water. Their breath weapon is either steam or ice, depending on the time of year.

Have you depicted fairies, stone trolls, and glomachs (cute shaggy little weasels that can’t be detected by magic) any different to those in other novels you may have read? I have not heard off glomachs, are they your creation or do they exist in mythology? 

Glomachs are entirely my creation, as are the stone trolls and a few other creatures in Book Two. The fairies are based more on the ones in ancient folk tales. They’re often mistaken for humans, unlike the modern Tinkerbell. (We can thank the spread of Christianity for Tinkerbell, by the way. As Catholicism spread across the British Isles, it minimized anything it couldn’t incorporate, so over time, fairies became smaller and smaller. It’s a good way to guess the age of a fairy story.)

Without giving away too many spoilers, what can we expect from the next novel in this series? How many novels have you planned for this series? Any prequels or novellas planned as well? 

Currently, I have a trilogy planned. I will write prequels and novellas, but my short term plan is to share those only with the people who get my newsletter (tinyletter.com/wendyblanton). I want to give them exclusive content, but I won’t rule out publishing it eventually. Book Two will expand the theme of following one’s calling, even if it doesn’t make sense, and it will introduce characters from other places in Balphrahn.

Apart from the Balphrahn Series, what other works in progress do you have? 

Not at the moment. I’m trying to get the draft for Book Two done before Dec 1, so that’s really all I have time for right now.

Any closing comments? 

For anyone struggling with their writing, or any art, really, hang in there. Trust the process. Art is hard. Regular people have no idea. Your art is important so don’t give up.

Thanks so much for having me!

Wendy, it is my pleasure to feature you and your new novel here on Perspective by Peter! That was a great interview and I hope piques the interest in our readers for Dawn Before The Dark! Please return when the next novel in this series is ready for release! You are always welcome!

About Wendy Blanton: 

Wendy Blanton has been writing since she learned to string words into sentences. She is a U.S. Air Force veteran with a long and eclectic resume. In addition to writing, she tells Celtic folk tales at Scottish festivals and other venues. When she’s not mired in stories of one form or another, she enjoys reading, camping, gardening, and drinking coffee. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three geriatric cats.

Follow Wendy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email Wendy to review her latest book; arrange a reading, signing, or interview with the author; or bring her storytelling to your event.

If this interview with Wendy has piqued your interest in Dawn Before The Dark, click on the image below to Buy, Share or Preview: 

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading Dawn Before The Dark and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Novel Review: The Tattooed Cat by Gary W. Ritter

I reviewed this novel on 19/11/19 in another blog, now defunct.

The Tattooed Cat

Dark forces are at work in a small Wisconsin community.

At the cusp of the new millennium, Elena and Greg Bailey arrive in Green Springs to help her hospitalized mother. As they drive into town, cats are everywhere and seem more populous than humans. Within hours, Elena and Greg discover a horrendous scene in the nearby woods. When they report their finding to the police, the response is not what they expect. 

The local church with its tainted past and charismatic pastor has become the only house of worship in Green Springs. Eccentric, billionaire architect Marcus Ahriman manipulates events to suit his satanic mission. At the same time, two mysterious sisters confound Elena as they work behind the scenes for a higher purpose.

If Elena doesn't get to the bottom of the great wickedness in high places that's at work in this enigmatic town, all humanity will suffer.

Perspective by Peter:

I was asked to review this novel by the author in preparation for the audiobook of this novel and Alien Revelation. After being blessed and thoroughly entertained with Alien Revelation, it was a no-brainer to accept this request.

Well, all I can say is that this is a brilliant novel! Made even better by the author's admission when he added the Biblical and spiritual aspects of it following his conversion to Christianity. He had written The Tattooed Cat before his conversion, as he states,

I initially wrote The Tattooed Cat in 1998.  In bringing it out of my dusty archives, it was exactly twenty years old.  The title had stuck with me all those years, so I was pleasantly surprised to read the story again and see that it still had potential.  The one thing I had to change was its strict secular nature, as in the intervening years I had become a follower of Jesus Christ and needed to modify the novel to align it generally with my belief system.  Given the supernatural aspects of the book, the end result is my calling it speculative Christian fiction.  Regardless, my prayer is that there will be some who have never sought a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and who will be convicted to do so through the evangelistic passages they’ve read here.  That’s why God placed me in the position of being able to write novels and to give Him all the glory.  For those who already know Him, please be encouraged that Jesus is coming soon.

It was a captivating, entertaining read and as the cliche says, "...couldn't put it down!" Annoying when life and reality have to shatter these reading episodes! Ritter seems to have this knack of constructing novels with a solid foundation of action, mystery and intrigue to keep you coming back for more and your curiosity piqued to the degree that you invest yourself heavily in the novel.

I am not a cat fan, (despite having two at home and we have an understanding between us!) and this novel has reinforced this. Two days ago, I saw a photo of about 12 cats or more huddled together and I immediately became tense as this reminded me so much of the pack of cats description in this novel. I scrolled past it quickly and had to move on! All I kept thinking about was the effect this had on the character, Charles Mayfair. Looks like this has rubbed off onto me! Ritter had successfully creeped me out! 

It is this cat description that is the first creepy aspect of this novel. They are everywhere! Even at a murder scene, but that is all I am going to say about that!

This "cats are everywhere!" scene at the beginning of the novel is a great platform to introduce our main characters, Greg and Elena and why they have come to Green Springs. It is from here that Ritter shows his expertise at characterisation. I was drawn to Elena but not so much to Greg. I picked up that this latter character had some issues and these were revealed as the novel progressed. It is Elena's well-developed character that becomes a mainstay in this novel as everything revolves around her reason for being in Green Springs and, as it is revealed, her crucial and pivotal role in the events that play out in the satanic manipulations and motives of Marcus Ahriman. But then again, all the characters in this novel are believable and credible to the degree of their involvement in Ritter's plot arcs.

Another engaging aspect of this novel is just that, plot arcs. Ritter has many of these going on at the same time and either after a few chapters of one arc and its characters, we are introduced to more with other characters, leading up to an explosive end where all these arcs intersect, leading to one very satisfying and action-packed finale. All ends are tied together and everything explained. And this is where the satisfaction comes into play. 

From the intersection of these arcs until the finale, I was exhausted and riveted, curiosity more than piqued! I wanted to know more about the mysterious two sisters, who really is Marcus Ahriman, what is the connection between him and Pastor Nesbitt, and what is it with all these cats! What will become of Charles Mayfair, is Greg really out of the picture or is there something suspicious going on with him? And then there is the sense of evilness that pervades everything to do with Marcus Ahriman and Pastor Nesbit. Is this just their persuasive personalities or is this due to something more? What is the connection between the new Millenium and an ancient artifact that places Elena and her mother at the centre of Nesbit's and Ahriman's attention? Who or what is The Tattooed Cat? 

My goodness if these questions do not keep a reader engrossed and invested in this novel, I don't know what would! 

I agree with Ritter's assessment of this novel being his entrance into speculative fiction, I would add that it is edgy, speculative fiction. I would also consider that it is also his entrance into the Christian Horror genre as well. Not sure if he has considered this, but it does fit into this genre and yes, there is such a thing as Christian Horror! Go here: Christian Horror? Is There Such A Thing by Thomas Smith and Christian Horror: On the Compatibility of a Biblical Worldview and the Horror Genre by Mike Duran for further investigation). Ritter does both well in this novel. However, I would not have picked this up from the original cover below.

I found this cover interesting. Normally a cover is supposed to show what the novel is about or reflect what genre the novel is. It is supposed to grab my attention and demand that I look inside or read the description. With this cover, I had no idea. I was drawn to this novel purely due to the word tattoo in its title. Why? One reason is that I read a secular horror novel about a soldier in WWII who was captured by the Germans and experimented on with tattoos over his body that had living demons in them. These would manifest when he was asleep and cause him to commit horrible atrocities to those he was with (while asleep). I wondered then if The Tattooed Cat was similar to this? The other reason was I wondered why anyone would tattoo a cat, taking the title literally. I then wondered what was the connection with the clock tower in the background that also takes up half of the cover image? These reasons, (a tattooed cat and clock tower) did not lead me immediately to see that this novel was about speculative fiction and Christian horror or even satanic oppression and demonic activity. So, it drew me in for the wrong reasons but is a novel I would have read based on the description alone.

Now, this is not a criticism of the cover. However, I would have preferred to have the cover to have a much darker and sinister atmosphere that would lead me to suspect horror, supernatural and demonic elements. To be fair though, both the cat and the clock tower play important roles in this novel. You will find that you cannot have one without the other and there is a reason why the title combines the two words together. For me to explain further would give away far too many spoilers and invoke the wrath of readers and the author alike. So not going there! To do this is a breach of the unwritten reviewer's code of practice! I have been guilty in the past but have only done so to outline a spiritual aspect of the novel that needed to be explained.

Speaking of spiritual aspects, Ritter has portrayed this well. It shows how easy it is for a congregation to follow blindly whatever a Pastor says or does without question and for all the wrong or inappropriate reasons. This novel shows what happens when a Pastor has no accountability and who is there for his own self-gain and nefarious motivations. No concern is shown for any aspect of his congregation's welfare and is treated as a means to his ends or should I say to the one he serves, and who is not the God of the Bible. How different it would have been if the latter was the case! His charismatic appeal is seductive to both men and women and especially evokes sexual desire in his female members leading to some forbidden boundaries being crossed with horrendous outcomes! When I saw the surname of Marcus I instantly Googled it and was not surprised as to its definition. I have had this name in another supernatural and demonic novel and both usages amount to the same definition. So this gave me more clues as to who Marcus could be and where Ritter was taking this novel. I wondered if this was deliberate on his part or not, but surely this could not be just a coincidence or made up by him? Only Ritter can answer that one.

Reading all the accounts of Nesbitt's congregation and specific ones where members are following blindly what he says and does, reminds me of so many Christians I have seen in other denominations who place their Pastor almost above God and would rather follow the former than the God of the Bible or what He says in His Word. It is tragic that this happens and these followers always end up spiritually mislead, spiritually abused and trapped in cult-like circumstances. We are instructed in his Word to be God pleasers, not man pleasers. However, in this novel, this congregation were not only blindly following the Pastor but were under the demonic oppression to do so.

Marcus also had the same seductive, charismatic appeal and was even more persuasive than Nesbit. Questions are raised in the first half of this novel as to his background and identity but towards the end of the novel, Ritter gives us tidbits of info that fit into place and add more suspense and tension that leads up to the explosive finale.

Ritter has God playing a behind the scenes part but nonetheless, it is evident that He is very much alive in this background as He has employed his human and non-human agents to do his bidding and raise up certain characters to confront and defeat the satanic powers behind the two antagonists. Ritter has God speaking to one main character directly in guidance and instruction when circumstances have become dire and this character is at the end of themselves. It is very much like the Old Testament verse that says,

So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts. Zechariah 4:6 (HCSB version)

Now how much of this type of supernatural is poetic licence and how much is experienced in reality? I would suspect that Ritter's depiction here is fairly accurate. I have many accounts from fellow Christians who have experienced similar where they have heard audibly or in their mind, the voice of God instructing them in the emergency of their situation or in spiritual warfare. I have experienced this myself. In Christian novels of this genre and calibre, it is very entertaining and suspenseful but in reality, it shows that we need to be open to the Spirit and obedient to His instruction and guidance. It all comes down to trusting in Him, not in ourselves and living out His Word in our lives and not just being hearers of His Word, as James 1: 22 says,

But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. (Amplified Bible)

Ritter shows this in this depiction of spiritual warfare. This character hears the audible voice of God, being urged forward on with specific instructions and learns to obey when they realise it is Him and He is Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omniscience, and Omnipresent. I pray that Christians will take this to heart of those who need this encouragement, while those who are seeking Him will see that a relationship with God and Jesus is victorious over sin and death, and of any evil employ of satan or any demon spirit.

There are some spiritual and Biblical gems that Ritter has included in the "tying up loose ends" (my wording not Ritter's) section at the end of the novel. Apart from them being relevant to the storyline, they also have more important relevance to the reader, whether Christian or not. And this is where Christian fiction can play such an important role in educating and uplifting the reader, it brings the Christian reader to greater truths of God's Word and challenges the non-Christian reader to consider such truths. This is very consistent with why Ritter writes the novels he does, for the same reasons.

The Editorial Review on this novel's Amazon page is a great advertisement that sings the praises of this novel very aptly. It sums up all my impressions of The Tattooed Cat and Gary's writing. I don't believe in reinventing the wheel so if something has been said before by someone else and it is what I have found to be true, then I will quote it. This is from Gary's Amazon Bio, the following quote is exactly how I find him from his novels:

All of Gary’s books are written from a Christian worldview that highlight God’s grace—just as Gary was saved by that same grace. They also show the flip side of God’s character. The trouble today in our Christian culture is there’s such an emphasis on grace that we forget God must also judge the wicked and condemn them through His wrath.

Gary’s books are realistic and powerful. They demonstrate the struggles many have in coming to the Lord in true faith. Spiritual warfare in its many forms is integral to Gary’s stories. Jesus has already won the victory over sin, but we in real life must fight the battle every day, just as Gary’s characters must as well.

I will leave this review on this positive and encouraging note. If Ritter continues to compose novels like this one and from what I reviewed in another of his novels, Alien Revelation, then this is one author to read, review and follow. God has His hand on this author and l can see will be instrumental in God ministering to Christian and non-Christian alike in his novels. Based on this, I must read his other novels sooner rather than later.

The three ratings below are based on my discernment:

World Building 5/5

Characters 5/5

Story 5/5

The two classifications below are based on the booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:

Spiritual Level 4/5

Enemy Spiritual Level 3/5

Overall Rating: 4.4 Stars

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Spiritually, based on my review and on the aforementioned reference booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland (Radiqx Press)and that The Tattooed Cat contains elements of the criteria of what constitutes Christian Redemptive Fiction outlined in this booklet, together with David Bergsland we bestow to Gary W. Ritter,

The Reality Calling Redemptive Fiction Award

Congratulations, Gary!

If you would like to investigate The Tattooed Cat, click on the image below:

 

Readers and reviews are an author’s greatest asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading The Tattooed Cat and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon.