The Narrator and Audiobooks – Our Interview with Narrator Joel Leslie (Audiobooks Part II/Giveaway) & This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

The Narrator and Audiobooks – Our Interview with Narrator Joel Leslie (Audiobooks Part II)

Last Sunday, I started our conversation about the fast-rising audiobook industry with my blog Are You Listening Now? The Popularity of Audiobooks. This Sunday, that conversation continues with The Narrator and Audiobooks – Our Interview with Narrator Joel Leslie (Audiobooks Part II).

As I have said before, and as reviewers/listeners we have noted many times in our reviews, a good or great narrator makes or breaks an audiobook. It doesn’t matter that you have read it before. Listening to a book makes it fresh once more. It gives a reader a new and different perspective. Often times I hear things I missed in the story, or catch things from a narrator’s inflection that highlights a previously hidden element. I love that about this format.

Also the opposite is true. A narrator you don’t connect with, or one with a flat delivery, or monotone voice…well, that can sink a terrific story faster than a lead anchor. So what’s the key? How to get some insight into those people behind the voices we love to listen to?

Well I was so lucky to hook up with the very talented Joel Leslie who agreed to answer some questions for me. A favorite narrator for both Barb, our Zany Old Lady and Ali, I was delighted to have this chance to talk audiobooks, voices and favorite genres. Here is my interview with Theatrical Director, Designer, and Audiobook Narrator Joel Froomkin , known to most of the LGBTQIA listeners of audiobooks as Narrator Joel Leslie. For you authors out there thinking of putting your story out on audio? Hmmm, I think you might find this as enlightening as our readers.

book-covers

Welcome, Joel, to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. We love our audiobooks here, including several you have narrated including Dinner at Fiorello’s by Rick R. Reed and Ali’s Audiobook Review of Desert Heat and Native Tongue by Lucy Felthouse. I have so many questions for you but these were the first ones that came to mind.

My Interview with Joel Leslie

How did you get started with narrating audiobooks?

Long answer… lol…

It was a long and winding road actually – but I’m so grateful to have landed here. My undergrad was in performance at USC and then I did my MFA there in design and directing. My entire professional career up until the past few years has been concentrated on directing… I did a lot of assisting as well, working on shows with Dame Maggie Smith and lots of other amazing folks. About ten years ago my partner and I started a theatre company in Indiana. It was a labor of love, but despite our efforts the community wasn’t able to financially support the scale of professional productions we aimed to do. I have also been a college professor, teaching dialects at NYU and I was the Director of Drama at a university here in Indiana for a while.

While we were doing shows, in between productions I would sometimes present one-man radio dramas… I would abridge classics like Christmas Carol, Treasure Island, Jekyll and Hyde and do them for a few nights. The audiences loved them. As we were looking to be able to move the theatre company to another area, one of my long time friends who is a fantastic female narrator suggested I give it a try. So I began auditioning and the first contract I landed has actually been most successful series (the SkylerGo Foxe Mysteries by Haley Walsh).

It is a perfect blend of skills really – because 99% of the time with audiobooks you are directing yourself… so my performer background is obviously helpful, but also being able to listen to yourself with a critical ear and shape the performance I think is a terribly useful tool. And now it’s a full time job. I’m booked through February at the moment! Eep.

Do you listen to audiobooks yourself and was that an element in your career or just a plus?

I came to audiobooks largely because I was a huge fan of them. I have always loved the theatricality of an actor playing multiple roles in front of an audience… the ability to be a chameleon. And I fell in love with audiobooks because of that. My favorites were Jim Dale, Davina Porter and Roy Dotrice… they don’t just read a story – they perform it for you. I listen to an audiobook every night… I think that one of the trickiest things is actually working of authors who AREN’T listeners to audiobooks, because they don’t really have a familiarity with the art form and what the audience wants.

What is the hardest part of narrating a story?

Gosh – great question. I narrate under two names… Joel Froomkin for most of my material and Joel Leslie for my m/m material (simply so that I have a consistent brand for my m/m listeners). But Joel Froomkin does a lot of historical and fantasy stuff – and I hate doing battle scenes. It’s difficulty to not try to over act them, or speed up to make it seem exciting… and those are traps. I just think they are hard. Maybe cuz I’m not into sports lol! Other than that, I have a tough time when there are a lot of alpha american men in conversation with each other in a scene. Flamboyant characters can have quirks and personality that make them easily identifiable… and when you are doing a British book it’s so much easier because class and level of education is so distinctive with their speech and also dialects change in England every 21 miles… so you have great variety for how you make characters sound to pull them out for the listener. But if I have a bunch of super-butch American alpha males in a room having a conversation in a book I usually have a panic attack.

It’s also very challenging to do a series where the author gives you multiple POV chapters. Usually you would make your main character your own voice… because it’s going to be the most authentic and resonate as the most truthful with the reader… but when you have a bunch of characters speaking in first person… you can’t do that. And it can be a real challenge. I’ve had two like that recently (“Absolution (The Protectors #1)” by Sloane Kennedy (which is the first in an amazing series) and “Guns Blazing” by Eva Lenoir and Andrea Smith) that I sweated bullets over.

And the easiest?

People are so shocked to hear this…but the sex scenes. Because usually there isn’t that much dialogue and it’s all descriptive. So you can just settle back and read… it’s kind of like putting your car on cruise control. And after doing this for almost two years now, there really isn’t much I can read that will make me blush!

I can remember listening to books being read to me as a child. How they were read had a huge impact on me. Using different voices, no matter how silly it might have seen to the adult (bears, rabbits…you know…childrens books). The same carries over here. In some stories, you play many characters where there are different pov. Or do you only narrate stories with a singular pov?

It depends on the narrator… but I am very much a narrator who creates characters. It’s funny that you mention animals, because when I first get a book I send the author a bunch of questions and one of them is “if your character was an animal what would they be”… Finding the voice for someone is much easier if you know the author thinks they are a ferret vs. a hamster or a Persian cat. But I think the m/m listeners that really respond to my work usually do so because they enjoy how much individuality I try to give my characters. Also, because I grew up in the UK with American parents, I’m kind of a dialect ambidextrous lol. I jump between authentic British and American accents and I do as much British work for British authors as I do for American authors. Listeners who have tried multiple books of mine are often confused about what my real voice sounds like.

I would imagine, being a narrator lets you go into any genre you want…am I correct in that? Or do you have a particular favorite

Well I love that I get to do so much m/m work. I find it really important and empowering to be able to put those kind of stories out into the world. I know the main audience is female for m/m romance, but I also think about the young adults who are struggling to feel ok with themselves and they might discover one of these stories by the brilliant authors I get to work for and find some hope. And the thing about audio is it’s so private… you really are one-on-one with the listener. So it means a lot to be able to give voice to m/m romance. I also love doing fantasy stuff because it means you can use every dialect in the universe and play with crazy voices. You don’t get to do everything you want – I think you can get pigeonholed as a narrator. But I’m luckily not in that place yet, and my audiobook career has a lot of room to grow.

What’s your favorite types of stories to read or listen to?

I am such a sucker for cozy mysteries. I don’t know why. I LOVE MC Beaton and the Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin books. I think that’s why I love doing Haley Walsh’s Skyler Foxe so much…because it really is a gay spin on that type of mystery. I think TJ Klune is one of the most amazing authors out there in any genre. I don’t think I could ever get tired of listening to Jim Dale doing Harry Potter or Roy Dotrice doing Game of Thrones… they are just extraordinary examples of old-school storytelling. I’m also so lucky to have an ongoing relationship with authors like N.R Walker, Kim Fielding, Andrea Smith, Kiernan Kelly, TM Smith and Grace R Duncan – they always seem to have something wonderful for me to play with.

What current projects are you working on that you want to share with our readers?

Absolution, the first in the protectors series by Sloane Kennedy just came out, as did Fame and Fortune by TM Smith. Upcoming things I’m really excited about are the sequel to Black Balled called Hard Edit by Andrea Smith and Eva Lenoir, the second book in the Red Dirt Heart series by NR Walker and The Naked Prince and Other Fairy Tales by Joe Cosentino.

If you were an bard of old….how would you start your story of your life and what would it be called?

“Once upon a time there was a kid who could never keep his big mouth shut… It took two decades for him to realize there was a career for that.”

Thank you, Joel, that was a wonderful interview. I’m sure there are many more questions rumbling about inside my head. I hope you will stop back by Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for another conversation about narration and audiobooks and any future projects you want to share with us.

To listen to Joel, here are three different excerpts:

Desert Foxe by Haley Walsh: https://soundcloud.com/jojofro-1/desert-foxe-by-haley-walsh
Treasure by Kim Fielding: https://soundcloud.com/jojofro-1/treasure-by-kim-fielding
Absolution by Sloane Kennedy: https://soundcloud.com/jojofro-1/absolution-by-sloane-kennedy

~

If you want to reach out to Joel, we have listed his contacts below. We also have a giveaway today for our readers brought to you by Joel who is giving away 10 copies, yes 10 winners… the winners could choose the first book in any of my series they wanted to try (Skyler Foxe, The Protectors, Jimmy McSwain Mysteries, All Cocks, or Black Balled)!

About Joel Froomkin

Joel is a UK transplant, growing up with an American parents in a British commonwealth. He is often cast for his unique ability to deliver native, authentic combinations of both American and British sounds. His wit and comedic timing also appeal to producers. He has developed a strong body of work for young audience, historical, fantasy, new-adult, romance and m/m fiction.

His author’s have praised him as “a narrator among narrators, a man whose ability to create different characters rests on the power of his voice and his impeccable delivery”, and a “true delight…” “legendary, and his professionalism, good humor, and charm make him a dream to work with”, “Anyone else would only be second best”.

Joel records under two names, for mainstream and children’s fiction as Joel Froomkin, and for m/m and adult material under Joel Leslie and has consistent access to home studio for all production needs.

You can contact Joel Froomkin at:

www.joelfroomkin.com/audiobook-narration is my website…
Even better is my Facebook page “Joel Leslie Narration”
Or they can follow me on twitter at joellesliefro @joelfroomkin

Giveaway

We are giving away 10 copies (1 copy a winner so 10 winners overall) , all thanks to Joel Froomkin! The 10 people chosen will get to chose from the first book in any of Joel’s series they wanted to try (Skyler Foxe, The Protectors, Jimmy McSwain Mysteries, All Cocks, or Black Balled).

To be entered, tell us who’s your favorite narrator or narrators are. Tell us what you like best about a narrator and maybe name some of your favorite audiobooks. New to audiobooks? OK, name the ones you’d love to be able to listen to if you had a way to listen to audiobooks. And after you do that, make sure you leave a contact name and email address where you can be reached if chosen. Contest is open until midnight, September 30th. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

(Special Note: If you are a Amazon Prime user, Audible is now free with your account.)

audiobook-concept-headphones-books-white-background-39281337

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 18:

The Narrator and Audiobooks – Our Interview with Narrator Joel Froomkin (also known as Joel Leslie)(Audiobooks Part II)
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
A Paul B Audiobook Review: The Autumn Lands by J Scott Coatsworth

Monday, September 19:

Riptide Tour and Giveaway ~ Bitterwood by Rowan Speedwell
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Dad’s Nerdy New Boyfriend by JM Snyder
An Alisa Release Day Review: Power Bottom by Rowan McAllister
A Lila Release Day Review: Safe House (Buchanan House #4) by Charley Descoteaux
A Paul Review: Orion’s Circle (Sirius Wolves # 1) byVictoria Sue

Tuesday, September 20:

Release Blitz & Tour – Sweet Summer Sweat by Clare London
An Alisa Review: Broke by Amanda Young
A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Pill Bugs of Time (Offbeat Crimes #2) by Angel Martinez
An Ali Review: Looking for Group by Alexis Hall
A Stella Review: Three More Wishes by Sean Michael

Wednesday, September 21:

Its Release Day for Flight: Queer Sci Fi’s Third Annual Flash Fiction Contest Anthology (QSF Flash Fiction #2) by J. Scott Coatsworth , Angel Martinez , et al.
Series Recap Tour – Guns n’ Boys by KA Merikan
A Stella Review: Resistance (Village Love #1) by Lillian Francis
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Taming the Wyld by Lucie Archer
A Ali Review: David, Renewed by Diana Copland

Thursday, September 22:

Riptide Tour and Giveaway: Gambling on Love by Jane Davitt
A Stella Review: Gambling on Love by by Jane Davitt
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Run for it All by Carolyn Levine Topol
An Alisa Audiobook Review: The Queen & the Homo Jock King (At First Sight #2) by T.J. Klune and Michael Lesley (Narrator)

Friday, September 23:

Keep Me In Mind tour: Deanna Wadsworth ‘Too Good To Be True‘ (Excerpt and Giveaway)
In the Spotlight: Immortal Watch by Olivia Helling (blitz, excerpt and giveaway)
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Breakaway (Scoring Chances #1) by Avon Gale and Scott R. Smith (Narrator)
An Ali Releases Day Review: Raven’s Rest by Stephen Osborne
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Model Citizen (Haven Investigations #1) by Lissa Kasey and Mike Pohlable (Narrator)

Saturday, September 24:

A MelanieM Review: Wriggle & Sparkle by Megan Derr

A Free Dreamer Young Adult Release Day Review: Do-Gooder by J. Leigh Bailey

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

do-gooder-by-j-leigh-bailey No good deed goes unpunished, and for seventeen-year-old Isaiah Martin, that’s certainly the case. The gun he was caught with wasn’t even his, for God’s sake. He only had it to keep a friend from doing something stupid. No one wants to hear it though, and Isaiah is banished—or so it seems to him—to live with his missionary father in politically conflicted Cameroon, Africa.

However, when he arrives, his father is so busy doing his good deeds that he sends Henry, the young, surprisingly hot do-gooder with a mysterious past, to pick up Isaiah and keep him out of trouble. Even while Isaiah is counting down the days until he can go home, he and Henry get caught in the political unrest of the region. Kidnapped by militant forces, the two have to work together to survive until they are rescued—unless they manage to find a way to save each other first.

“Do-Gooder” was an exciting, action-packed read. The romance mostly took a back seat, since the protagonists were a little busy trying to survive.

I mostly decided to read this book because of the setting. Not a lot of m/m books are set in Africa and I’ve always liked reading about exotic places. We don’t get to read much about the culture, though, since the story is mostly set in the middle of nowhere, with our two protagonists as prisoners of international mercenaries. I didn’t mind too much, since there were plenty of other things to keep me interested.

It’s interesting how the author managed to keep the story so suspenseful, even though it’s mostly set in a single hut and the MCs mostly just talk. Still, there’s the constant worry about Isaiah’s health, the mystery of Henry’s past and of course the mystery of why they were kidnapped and the worry about the next step of the kidnappers.

Even more amazing is the fact that she also managed to keep the feel of the story very realistic. All the explanations we get throughout made sense and the whole plot seemed like something that could totally happen under those circumstances.

The one part I didn’t really like was the romance. Not so much that it played only a minor role, but Isaiah’s feelings felt awfully rushed. It’s pretty much insta-love for him, which is a trope I despise. I didn’t quite buy into the intensity of the feelings. It read more like a crush to me and they just didn’t spend enough time with each other for me to believe that this was grounds for a serious relationship. Maybe Henry’s POV would have helped, because we only get to see Isaiah’s side. As it is, I didn’t really get the impression that Henry was returning Isaiah’s feelings for a long time.

The result was that I didn’t buy into the ending either. It felt like a forced HEA and pretty unrealistic. A HFN ending might have worked better, at least for me.

If you’re looking for a light, fun read, keep looking. This is not the book for you.

If, however, you’re looking for an action packed story full of intrigues and mystery, with a dash of romance, you’ll love this book.

The cover by Aaron Anderson represents the story perfectly: bullet holes and the all-important backpack with an African landscape on it. I’m not too fond of the background colour, but otherwise this is a great cover.

Sales Links

Harmony Ink Press

Book details:

ebook, 200 pages
Expected publication: September 15th 2016 by Harmony Ink Press
ISBN 1634772903 (ISBN13: 9781634772907)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Are You Listening Now? The Popularity of Audiobooks and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Are You Listening Now? The Popularity of Audiobooks

I’m not quite sure when I first started noticing the increase in audiobook reviews on our website. A year ago? Two? Whenever the year or month, audiobooks and our reviews of them are definitely on the increase. In fact, according to Audio Publishers Association and MarketWatch*, audiobooks racked up over $1.5 billion in sales last year alone and remain, “the fastest-growing segment of the book publishing industry.”* No we aren’t saying the old print is dead thing again, or that e-books are a thing of the past. No. Just that along with those other formats, audiobooks has not only taken their place along side them but perhaps surpassed them in sales.

Not that I’m surprised. With our fast-paced lives, driving to and from either work, soccer games or what have you, moving about the apartment, or whatever you may be involved in from packing up a house to pushing through some other chore, listening to a book is a wonderful way to pass the time or lose yourself for a while.

Yes, romances are among the top sellers, not that any genre or type of book is outselling another. Self help? Yep, its there among top audiobooks, But so are business books and action thrillers along with the love stories I just mentioned. People want to listen to them all. Again, according to MarketWatch, Amazon reports that its Audible sales are approximately 4 times higher than its books in the printed formats, although Amazon didn’t want to be precise about the numbers. That’s a staggering figure in a short amount of time, especially as it includes self published authors or authors producing their own audiobooks for the first time.

Another surprising factor to audiobooks I’ve seen here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words? That an audiobook can make a reader take a fresh look at a book or series. Why? It all comes down to that one elemental factor ~ the narrator. How well the narrator or in some cases as a book this week, narrators, does their job, can make or break an audiobook.

I know that the reviewers here often ask first who is the narrator when an audiobook comes across for review. Yes, narrators often accumulate a following when they are good or even spectacular (or not so spectacular). The ability of a narrator to bring individual voices alive for a reader or in this case a listener goes back I think to the storytellers or bards. Whether they were gathered around a campfire or in a great hall, a bard’s ability to engage their audience, to connect with them and pull them in varies little emotionally with our narrators today. Both need to hook their listeners, make them feel the characters, move them to tears or laughter. That’s a great narrator.

We’ve interviewed a narrator and an author who narrated their own novel. See the links below.

Dreamspinner Press, Riptide Publishing, Less Than Three Press, Mischief Corner Books are, along with other publishers and Audible, companies who offer audiobooks for sale. I know there are others. Mind blank, send me names and help me out. Authors are also putting out their own audiobooks, like Jay Northcote for one. Our options to listen are getting enormous.

I hope to bring in more narrators for interviews. What questions would you like to ask them? Do you have favorite narrators of your own? Send me their names. I know several reviewers here have already accumulated their own lists.

Audiobooks have come a long way and are here to stay. Again MarketWatch is reporting that famous actors are getting into the narrating business. I’m not sure that’s a great idea. I want to be lost in the character…not thinking “oh, that’s Clint Eastwood or whoever doing the voice over”. How do you all feel about that?

And lastly, can any of you name your favorite audiobook to date? Hmmm? Start thinking about answers to all these questions. You just might find that answering them will get you a prize come the first of October.

Now on to our schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words and yes, there are audiobooks being reviewed this week!

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 11:

Are You Listening Now? The Popularity of Audiobooks
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, September 12:

Riptide Publishing’s Blog Tour and Giveaway – Counterbalance by Aiden Wayne
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Counterbalance by Aidan Wayne
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Obsidian Moons by Jon Keys
An Alisa Release Day Review: Cougar Chaos (Mountain Spirit Mysteries #4) by A.J. Marcus

Tuesday, September 13:

In the Spotlight: Bread, Salt & Wine by Dev Bentham (excerpt and giveaway)
Jay Northcote’s Into You Release Tour
A MelanieM Review: Heart of the Warrior by Kendall McKenna
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: A Cowboy’s Home (Montana #3) by R.J. Scott
A Caryn Review: The Eleventh Hour by Elin Gregory

Wednesday, September 14:

Series Spotlight: Crooked Tree Ranch Recap by RJ Scott (excerpt and giveaway)
Blog Tour and Giveaway: “Is This Desire?” by R. Paone
A MelanieM Review: Open Road by M.J. O’Shea
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Kyle (Legacy Ranch #1) by R.J. Scott
An Alisa Audiobook Review: The Burnt Toast B&B (Bluewater Bay #5)
by Heidi Belleau and Rachel Haimowitz with Dorian Bane (Narrator) andTobias Silversmith (Narrator)

Thursday, September 15:

Riptide Publishing’s Blog Tour and Giveaway: Rented Heart by Garrett Leigh
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Rented Heart by Garrett Leigh
A MelanieM Release Day Review:Commitment Ranch (Leaning N #1) by B.A. Tortuga
A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: Do-Gooder by J. Leigh Bailey

Friday, September 16:

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Tied Up in Knots (Marshals #3) by Mary Calmes
A MelanieM Review: Skyships Over Innsmouth by Susan Laine
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Sweetwater by Lisa Henry and Dorian Bane (Narrator)
A Caryn Release Day Review: Waiting for Patrick by Brynn Stein

Saturday, September 17:

A Stella Review: Resonance by Lillian Francis
A MelanieM Review: Midlife Crisis by Rob Rosen
A Paul B Audiobook Review: Black Balled (Black Balled #1) by Andrea Smith and Narrator Eva LeNoir

A Free Dreamer Young Adult Release Day Review: Running with the Pack by A.M. Burns and Caitlin Ricci

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

running-with-the-pack Finn is about to start his senior year of high school when he and his family move from Austin, Texas, to Woodland Park, Colorado. Everything is different—even the elevation—and Finn’s having a hard time getting used to his new home. Life takes a turn for the better when he meets Ivan Dubovasky at a farmers’ market. Finn finds not only a close new friend but a fulfilling volunteer position at the High Mountain Wolf and Wild Dog Center, which Ivan’s family runs. Before long Finn develops an affinity for the wolves under the center’s protection.

Things only get better for Finn when he starts a relationship with Ivan; and Ivan’s best friend, Adrian, who’s asexual, completes their small pack. But it all comes crashing down when the bully plaguing Adrian crosses the line and Adrian goes missing. Finn and Ivan are determined to bring their boyfriend home safe, but they might not be able to do it alone. Luckily there’s a special wolf ready to lend a paw.

For some reason, I fully expected this book to have werewolves. It took me a while to realize that the wolves were perfectly normal wolves and nobody was secretly a werewolf. That definitely didn’t stop me from fully enjoying “Running with the Pack”, though.

Reading this story was truly delightful. The MCs were adorable and were a perfect match. The angst level was pretty low and there wasn’t a whole lot of drama either, but I was never bored. I didn’t even realize I was essentially inhaling this book until I was almost done, just over 24 hours after I’d started it.

There are a lot of m/m books out there with a poly relationship. There also a few m/m books with an asexual character. But I’ve never seen both in one book, and neither in a YA story.

I loved how natural it was for Adrian, Finn and Ivan to become a trio. Adrian’s asexuality and the poly aspect of their relationship were portrayed in a very positive light and felt absolutely natural. There simply was no other way for either of them. They just fit. And I also loved that they started their relationship as a trio, rather than as a couple adding a third party.

It probably wouldn’t have hurt if they’d talked more about their relationship. But they are teenagers and relationship talk is hard for anybody, so it didn’t bother me too much. I did, however, feel like we were missing something from Finn’s past. The authors kept making implications about his old school and the reasons why his family decided to move so far away, but we never really got a good explanation. It just felt like there was more to the story than was being said.

Overall, “Running with the Pack” is a truly lovely YA story and definitely also suitable for younger readers. There is only one scene with sexual action and that happens completely off-page.

I would love to have a sequel where the three of them figure out how to be together in the long run. I’d especially love to find out how involved Adrian will get in the sexual part of their relationship. I don’t know if the authors are planning on writing a follow-up or leave this as a standalone, but I’m all for another visit with these three wonderful boys.

If you like YA, asexual MCs and/or poly relationships, then you should give this book a try. Chances are, you’ll be as charmed as me.

Cover: The cover by Bree Archer isn’t really to my tastes. It’s a bit cheesy, tbh.

Sales Links

Harmony Ink Press

Book details:

ebook, 180 pages
Expected publication: September 8th 2016 by Harmony Ink Press
ISBN 1634770641 (ISBN13: 9781634770644)
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL

Of Computers, Technical Difficulties, and Moving Forward. This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Of Computers, Technical Difficulties, and Moving Forward

As you all may have noticed (I hope you all noticed) things did not run smoothly for us last week. Yes, it was computer problems. Mine to be specific. It decided to die. Slowly. Day by day…it just refused to work at certain things. Wheels spinning, posts taking honestly hours to get out until it finally ground to a complete halt. Ordered a new one. Issue solved. Right? Nope. Order messed up, as was delivery. New one ordered…saga continued until yesterday…when after a 24 hour learning curve (mine)…we are now back and up and running, to our reviewers and co manager’s relief and mine.

Hopefully, yours too.

So first my apologies to the authors, publishers, and promotions companies. For all the missed deadlines on tours….we are playing catchup and they will go out asap. Our reviews too. Nothing I hate worse than missed deadlines, ditto for Barb on reviews, so here we go.

Our new look is coming…still! I promise…its just slid into July or August at this point.

Next week we continue our look at our summer reading lists and anticipated summer big or even little books. What are you reading, what are you looking at reading….what new releases are you highly anticipating? Let me know! Trust me I need the diversion.

And now for something old and new at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words this week.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, June 19:

Of Computers, Technical Difficulties, and Moving Forward
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
In the Spotlight: Unbidden Dragon by Louisa Kelley (excerpt and giveaway)
Why Love Matters by Jay Northcote– A charity book release Announcement
An Alisa Review: Sins of the Past by Amanda Young

Monday, June 20:

Beauty, Inc by Tara Lain Tour and Giveaway
A Lila Audiobook Review: Lollipop by Amy Lane
A MelanieM Review: 7 & 7 Anthology
An Ali Audiobook Review: How to Be a Normal Person by TJ Klune
A Paul B Review: Wolfsong by T.J. Klune

Tuesday, June 21:

Wet Heat by RD Hero—Blog Tour—Riptide
Blood & Milk by N.R. Walker Tour and Giveaway
A Paul B Review: Delivered With Hope by AJ Marcus and Caitlin Ricci
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Wet Heat by RD Hero
A MelanieM Review: Blood & Milk by N. R. Walker

Wednesday, June 22:

Picked Fresh (Naked Organics #2) by Posy Roberts (excerpt and giveaway)
Taking a Chance—Blitz—Indigo Marketing Tour and Giveaway
Roped In by Marie Sexton and L.A. Witt— Riptide Blog Tour and Giveaway
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Roped In by Marie Sexton and L.A. Witt
A MelanieM Review: Finding Family by Connie Bailey

Thursday, June 23:

Collars ‘N’ Cuffs, A Wayward Ink Publishing Anthology Book Tour and Giveaway
Independence Daze Tour Blitz and Giveaway
Release Event and Giveaway : Picked Fresh (Naked Organics #2) by Posy Roberts
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Rekindled Flame by Andrew Grey
A MelanieM Review: Sandman’s Family by C.J. Elliot

Friday, June 24:

In the Spotlight: ‘Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist’ by K.E. Belledonne
Blog Tour – The Pinkerton Man Series by CJ Baty
Taking the Plunge by Scott Kramer—Blitz and Giveaway
A MelanieM Review: Mud, Movies, Bullets and Bulls by B.A. Tortuga
An Ali Review: Reaping Fate by AJ Rose

Saturday, June 25:

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Little Wolf by R Cooper
A Paul B Review: Psychic Says by JJ Black

The Importance of World Building in Fantasy/Sci Fy Fiction and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

The Importance of World Building in Fantasy/Sci Fy Fiction

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been talking about the little overlooked trope of historical stories in LBGTQIA fiction and I’m going to get back to that next week, way back in authors and eras this time. But for now, lets look forward.

Whereas those authors face entirely different obstacles when tackling their stories, primarily making their designated time period is accurate down to the details while still able to make their stories and characters come alive for their readers, the author that decides to write fantasy or science fiction has an entire different issue ahead of them. They have to imagine new worlds, build them up, complete with cultures, languages, religions, sexes or not, biologies, mythologies, or use old world gods and myths and sciences, or any combination thereof. And make it believable. Yes, a daunting task.

And if you notice and read our reviews here its one of the first things we bring up in our reviews. The line in the review usually starts something like this “the author’s ability to world build….” and then goes on for better or for worse. And it occurs right at the beginning of the review, again in the middle and sometimes again at the end. Why? Because its so important. If you don’t get this right, if you make us question parts of your universe, if its illogical, got huge holes in its fabric that makes us stop reading and start thinking about it and not your characters, then, you’ve lost us, your readers.

What elements do you find important in world building? What do you look for in your fantasy and science fiction in order for you to feel like your world in that novel is complete? Write and fill us in. I’m curious. Some seem to think its tons of pages. Hmmm. No.

Its not volume that speaks either. I have read books of well over hundreds of pages that made virtually no sense where the author threw in a kitchen sink worth of narrative for a space opera that was just sort of crazy…nothing made sense but it was huge in pages. And yet a small sharp story as was noted in A VVivacious Review: Fire Up My Heart by Asta Idonea put in all out there for the reader to see in a small, terrific package.

So I’m thinking its time to put together a list of recommended fantasy and science fiction authors and stories. So gather together your recs and start sending them in. I hope there are plenty I and our reviewers haven’t read yet, we are always looking for more, you know how we love our fantasy and science fiction here. Come on, send us names and books…but make sure their world building is up to the challenge…

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 29:

The Importance of World Building in Fantasy/Sci Fy Fiction
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, May 30:

Riptide Publishing’s No Remedy blog tour with Christine d’Abo (giveaway)
A VVivacious Review: Dark Side by Shannon West
A Lila Review: Guardian by Jordan Taylor
A BJ Review: Til Death Do Us Part by Addison Albright

Tuesday, May 31:

A Lila Review: First and First by Santino Hassall
A Free Dreamer Review: Song of Song by L.J. LaBarthe
An Alisa Audiobook Review: In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: A Helping Hand by Jay Northcote

Wednesday, June 1:

Cover Reveal Blitz: A Second Harvest by Eli Easton (cover reveal)
Dragon Men Series by Amber Kell – Series Recap Tour and Giveaway
A Stella Review: Stained by Chris T Kat
A Paul B Review: Seducing His Reluctant Vampire by Charlie Richards
An Alisa Review: The Pirate’s Cove by Michelle King

Thursday, June 2:

New Book Blitz – Love Off the Radar Collection by A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly
The Scorpion’s Empress Release Day Blast and Giveaway
A Lila Audiobook Review: Fish Stick Fridays by Rhys Ford, Narrator Spencer Goss
A Paul B Review: Wooing the Lighthouse Keeper by Charlie Richards
A Free Dreamer Review: Lost Souls by Barbara Sheridan

Friday, June 3:

Book Blitz and Giveaway for Becoming Rory by Ashavan Doyon
A Paul B Review: Alexi’s Mouse by A C Katt
A Lila Review: Chevalier by Mary Calmes
An Alisa Review: Reckless by Caitlin Ricci

Saturday, June 4:

A MelanieM Review: Safe In His Heart by Renae Kaye
A BJ Audiobook Review: Covet Thy Neighbor by LA Witt

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, April 17:

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, April 18:

Return to Bluewater Bay with Selfie by Amy Lane (Riptide Tour and Contest
RJ Scott’s Love’s Design Tour and Giveaway
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Selfie by Amy Lane
A Lila Audiobook Review: Buchanan House by Charley Descoteaux

Tuesday, April 19:

A.M. Arthur ‘The Heart As He Hears It’ book blast and giveaway
L.J. LaBarthe’s Book, Line, and Sinker Dreamspinner Author Tour
T.J. Klune’s Guest Blog for Withered + Sere (Release Day Author Spotlight)
A BJ Review: Withered + Sere Review by TJ Klune

Wednesday, April 20:

Lord of the Hearth, Lord of the Hollow by Sara Kane Guest Blog
A MelanieM Review: Lord of the Hearth, Lord of the Hollow by Sara Kane
A Stella Review: Old Town New by BA Tortuga release day review
A MelanieM Review: Professional Distance by Silvia Violet

Thursday, April 21:

Old Town New by BA Tortuga Author Blog
In the Spotlight: Tali Spencer ‘Victory Portrait’ (Excerpt and giveaway)
A MelanieM Review: Hidden Wings by Ana Raine
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Pulling Leather by L.C. Chase

Friday, April 22:

COZZI COVE: MOVING FORWARD by Joe Cosentino, guest blog
A Lila Review: Pride Weekend (A Buchanan House Love Story )Charley Descoteaux
A Paul B Review: A New Alpha in Town by A J Marcus
A BJ Audiobook Review: The Two Gentlemen of Altona by Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock

Saturday, April 23:

A Free Dreamer. YA Review: “Boy Meets Boy” by David Levithan

Cloudy with a Chance of What? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Cloudy with a Chance of What?

As I sit here in my big chair, Kindle in hand, dogs clustered about, I’m looking out the window and watching snow flakes fly by. In April. In Maryland. In a yard that has hyacinths blooming, not to mention a few scarce cherry blossoms struggling to hold on after all the fierce winds we’ve had lately. There are violets out like mad, and a pollen count off the charts enough to keep Winston sneezing along with everyone else, now we have snow, frigid temperatures and more on the horizon.

Not just the expected frosts, but actual snow. Sigh.

And only a few days ago it was in the 80’s, thoughts of flowers, plantings, bar-b-ques and flip flops were in my head or actually walking down the street. My winter coat was tucked away, along with gloves, hats, and, my ever present scarves.

Now all are back and I can’t tell you for how long and neither can the meteorologists.

From day to day I never know what to expect from the weather these days. Snow, heat, torrential downpours, light rains, gale force winds to gentle lovely breezes that stir the air…we’ve had them all recently, and sometimes within a manner of a week or two.

Life feels a lot like that in many respects. Whether its health or family issues or things like a computer who doesn’t feel like upgrading this morning and just shuts down, the unexpected seems to rise up and then wait to see how well you deal (or don’t) with the results. I’m still working on those. How about you?

For now, I’m still looking out the window as the snow appears to be giving up…for now. I do know that Spring is coming, the weather will eventually turn, finally, for the better and then we’ll all be complaining about the heat. But for now? The forecast by looking at our skies is cloudy with a chance of what exactly? Mother Nature’s not telling. It’s a toss up here. So I’m returning to the chair, the dogs and my Kindle for the rest of the day. Seems like a reasonable course of action. But here is our schedule for the upcoming week. There is something wonderful for everyone. Check it all out.

☁♢☁♢☁♢☁♢☁

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, April 10:

Cloudy with a Chance of What? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, April 11:

Our Author & Book Spotlight: Meg Harding on Inspiration and ‘The Last Favor’
Mary Newman’s ‘A Prince’s Ransom’ Book Blast and giveaway
Determined Mate (Holland Brothers #2) by Toni Griffin Audiobook Tour and giveaway
‏Black Dust by Lynn Charles Book Blast and giveaway
An Alisa Review: Planting His Dream by Andrew Grey
A Stella Review: Ravel by R. Phoenix

Tuesday, April 12:

Cover reveal: Elizabeth Noble ‘Code Name Jack Rabbit (excerpt and giveaway)
Up Close and Personal with AJ Marcus on her release Moose Fever and more (Guest Post)
Coffee Sip and Book Break with Knit Tight’ by Annabeth Albert (excerpt and giveaway)
A MelanieM Review: Knit Tight by Annabeth Albert
An Ali Review: Moose Fever by AJ Marcus

Wednesday, April 13:

Bad Magic (Spell Slave #1) by Evelyn Elliott – excerpt and giveaway
J. Scott Coatsworth’s Myths Untold- Faery Anthology Release and Guest Blog
In the Spotlight: The Case of The Thwarted Lovers by L.G. Fabbo-Gonnella (excerpt and contest)
A Jeri Review: Pop LIfe by Ryan Loveless (a release day review)

Thursday, April 14:

In the Spotlight: The Dilemma by Victoria Sue (excerpt and giveaway)
Cornelia Grey’s Devilish Circus is back with ‘The Empty Hourglass’ by Cornelia Grey (giveaway and guest blog)
You’ve Never Been Hurt by Jaime Samms (tour and contest)
A Paul B Review: Enemies of the State by Tal Bauer
An Ali Review: Better Than Safe by Lane Hayes Audiobook Review

Friday, April 15:

Cover reveal for North to Zombieville by Meg Bawden
Jay Northcote ‘Imperfect Harmony’ Book Tour and contest
Second Skin by Alex Whitehall. Riptide Tour and contest
An Ali Review: Grizzly Discovery(Mountain Spirits Mysteries book 2)‏ by AJ Marcus
A MelanieM Review: Hidden Wings by Ana Raine

Saturday, April 16:

A MelanieM Review: Professional Distance by Silvia Violet

An Aurora YA Review: The Sun Dragon by Annabelle Jay

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Dragons once roamed the skies, as common as our modern-day airplanes but much more beautiful in their gliding, soaring thermal choreography. Until King Roland and his gold-greedy men defeated them.

Years later King Roland reveals that not only did he let the dragons live, but he turned them into humans so that they could enter the population and breed him an army. Allanah, a sophomore in high school, saves her know-it-all friend Victoria from exactly this fate with magical powers she never knew she had. Allanah’s first high school crush, Jason, reveals that he’s been sent by a secret society of wizards to bring Allanah and Victoria to the Council to have their magical abilities tested by The Egg. Everyone, including Allanah, is shocked by what she produces: the world’s first light dragon.

Allanah must save her best friend and all of the rest of the dragons from Roland’s evil plan, but when she meets the beautiful Dena, a member of the native forest-dwelling Igreefee camp, she must wrestle between her feelings for her new wizard crush, Cormac, and her attraction to Dena.

There were a lot of things I really liked about this book. The biggest thing that I really loved was the characterization of every single character. While main characters in books, and especially YA books, almost always have full and fleshed out characterization, but sometimes the side characters don’t necessarily get the same treatment. In this book, that is not a problem at all. In fact, I found myself connecting more with Victoria than with Allanah. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Allanah too! But my connection with Victoria just showed me that the author really took the time to develop every single character, and not just the protagonist. In fantasy books, and especially modern fantasies like this one, I find that characterization is what keeps the stories grounded in reality and makes it so the audience can still connect with a story that may be very fantastical. In this book, I think the author did a wonderful job with that.

Now, to the actual plot of the book, which overall I really liked. I will say that I had some small problems with the beginning of the book. I found that there was a lot of suspension of disbelief in the first few chapters, and the very first chapter in particular. There were little things that seemed slightly unrealistic to me, and a lot had to be taken on faith.

However, by the end of the book, I had pretty much forgotten about the concerns I had at the beginning which, to me, just showed that the story and characters pulled me in and brought it back. I would say that the book had really picked up by about halfway through chapter two at the very latest, and there weren’t really any other lapses after that, so I didn’t have a huge problem with taking some things at the author’s word toward the beginning.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book, I found it to be a unique idea with very colorful characters no matter how minor they may have been. The author did an especially good job of grounding everything fictional in the modern reality that the book is set in.

Cover art .I really liked the cover for this book. It seems really soft and appealing, in a way that is really nice to me. Obviously we can see the connection to the story, and as you actually read the book you can gather even more information and see some foreshadowing in the cover. The thing I enjoy the most about the cover is the color palette. I think everything works together really well. I really liked this cover and definitely think that its aesthetic would appeal to a lot of people.

Sales Links: Harmony Ink Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 180 pages
Published January 29th 2016 by Harmony Ink Press (first published January 28th 2016)
ISBN 1634763416 (ISBN13: 9781634763417)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesThe Sun Dragon #1

Old Labels, Tagging and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Old Labels, Tagging and The Need to Move Forward

Something one of our reviewers said to me this week got me thinking about labels and tagging. She said that there was a controversy stirring about a current release and the GFY label and bisexuality, blurring/confusion between them. She wanted to give me a head’s up. Now I had no idea (still don’t) because I wasn’t paying any attention but it brought to mind things that have been swimming around the brain for some time now…that there are some labels that need to be put to rest.

In the book review world there are certain three letter or three character abbreviations we use all the time to quick label a book. Among some of the most widely used are M/M, D/s, HEA, HFN, and of course, GFY. Its the later that I’m going to be blogging about on Saturday. I think we’ve grown past that label, and now its rolled into hurtful territory. Why not use the term pansexual (among others) where proper? And bisexual where the character clearly loves and desires both sexes?

Not getting into it today but look for a much longer and thoughtful post on Saturday. Join in on the discussion and let me know how you feel about tagging and labels. I’m really curious. Haven’t be gone past these old perceptions? Isn’t it time we laid them to rest? We’ve enlarged the LGBT to include LGBTQIA, lets bring the book review world along with it.

Now we’ve got a stacked week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words, lets get to it.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 13:

Old Labels, Tagging and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, March 14:

Chris T. Kat ‘Mending the Rift’ virtual tour and giveaway
‘At Your Service’ by Ariel Tachna – Author Guest Blog/Release Day
Book Spotlight: Bound (Guards of Folsom, Book Five) by Author: SJD Peterson
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Bound (Guards of Folsom, Book Five) by Author: SJD Peterson
A MelanieM Review: At Your Service by Ariel Tachna
A Stella review: Mending the Rift by Chris T Kat

Tuesday, March 15:

Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh – Riptide Publishing Contest
Its Release Day for the Riverdance Anthology (excerpts and giveaway)
In Our Contemporary Spotlight: Trial by Fire by BA Tortuga DSP tour and guest blog
A MelanieM Review: Trial by Fire by BA Tortuga
A Lila Review: Ghosts (The Power of Zero, #2) by Jackie Keswick

Wednesday, March 16:

Coffee Sip and Book Break with Lioness in Blue by Shira Glassman
A Ali Review: Eagle’s Nest by AJ Marcus
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Lay It down by Mary Calmes
A Jeri Review: Him (Him #1) by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
A Lila Review: Balls Up by Kate Aaron

Thursday, March 17:

Dianne Hartsock’s ‘Stuck on Rewind’ virtual tour and giveaway
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Being True by Jacob Z. Flores
A F.D. Review: Lima Oscar Victor Echo and The Truth About Everything by Suki Fleet
A Jeri Review: Us By Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
A Lila Review: Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

Friday, March 18:

Katey Hawthorne’s Blood and Clockwork Tour and Giveaway
Love Comes to Light Author: Andrew Grey’s Guest Blog
A Stella Review: Spencer Cohen by NR Walker
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Two Pet Dicks by John Inman
A Paul B Review: Love Comes to Light by Andrew Grey

Saturday, March 19:

Melanie M Thoughts On Labeling – Isn’t It Time to Put Away GFY?