Due to a little miscommunication, I didn't tell you this while the CFRB was running a blog tour for William McGrath's book, Asulon: The Sword of Fire Book One. On each of the CFRB sites where the novel Asulon is featured you'll
find a clue to answer this question. "Under which city is the Sword
of Fire hidden?" The first 25 people in the U.S. who answer this
question correctly will receive a free copy of Asulon, plus a DVD
showing the sword fighting techniques used in the novel.
(Hint: It's in the prophecy in the video, more or less. Think of a city with special roots for Israel and Jesus)
Send your answer to: tuhonbillmcg@yahoo.com
Specifically, you can find the answer here and here.
Hurry! I want my friends to be the winners!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
VIDEOS: ASULON and Pekiti-Tirsia
These are short videos, both of which I think are helpful for understanding Asulon: The Sword of Fire Book One by William McGrath. I will get into the spiritual and the characters later this week, but I was so intrigued by this Pekiti-Tirsia Pilipino marital arts connection that I wanted to include this video of a demo that Bill did with a grand master of the sport. First the book trailer:
The demo video is a bit grainy, but you'll get the idea. I read the novel before I saw this, and I was amazed because Bill had described the fight sccenes so well that I could easily imagine it exactly like he demonstrates here:
For an even further example of what to expect, Bill has audio and text samples from the book on his website. Three chapters, plus the first chapter of the second book, Eretzel. You can find these here.
I urge you to check out the sample if you are the least bit interested.
Other blogs on Bill McGrath's novel:
CFRB
Back to the Mountains
Bibliophile's Retreat
Virtual Tour de Net
Rebecca Wire
Bill's websites:
http://www.theswordoffire.com and
http://www.pekiti.com/
You can buy Asulon from Barnes and Noble,
Target,
Amazon,
Amazon.uk, or directly from the publisher (see address at the sword of fire website) If you buy it from the publisher, you may also get a package that includes a DVD about Pekiti-Tirsia.
The demo video is a bit grainy, but you'll get the idea. I read the novel before I saw this, and I was amazed because Bill had described the fight sccenes so well that I could easily imagine it exactly like he demonstrates here:
For an even further example of what to expect, Bill has audio and text samples from the book on his website. Three chapters, plus the first chapter of the second book, Eretzel. You can find these here.
I urge you to check out the sample if you are the least bit interested.
Other blogs on Bill McGrath's novel:
CFRB
Back to the Mountains
Bibliophile's Retreat
Virtual Tour de Net
Rebecca Wire
Bill's websites:
http://www.theswordoffire.com and
http://www.pekiti.com/
You can buy Asulon from Barnes and Noble,
Target,
Amazon,
Amazon.uk, or directly from the publisher (see address at the sword of fire website) If you buy it from the publisher, you may also get a package that includes a DVD about Pekiti-Tirsia.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Tuhon Bill: Interview with Bill McGrath, Author of Asulon
Bill McGrath, author of CFRB's book of the month, Asulon: Sword of Fire Book One, was kind enough to answer a few questions for me, shedding some light on himself and his novel.1. Could you tell us a little about yourself. You know, the basic stuff, like where you live, where you come from, family, pets, etc.
I was born in 1960 in Queens, NY and grew up there. My wife, son and I live in a small town in upstate New York called Fishkill. We live on the edge of a forest and see deer, wild turkey, hawks or some other wild creature almost every day right outside our door.
I work for New York State as a court officer. If you remember the TV show “Night Court” from the 1980’s and the character “Bull” played by Richard Moll, well that’s me – same job, same haircut, only a bit shorter.
2. I understand you have a huge interest in martial arts and even teach it. What kind do you practice?
I’ve been practicing a Filipino martial art called Pekiti-Tirsia since 1975 and have been teaching since the early 80’s. Teaching has given me a chance to travel quite a bit as I conduct seminars throughout the U.S. and Europe. Pekiti-Tirsia is a weapons based art, so I get to use its techniques and principles in the sword fights in my novels. You can learn more about this art (and see some video demos) at my website: www.pekiti.com
3. Have you always wanted to be an author? What has been your writing experience so far?
When I was younger I wanted to be a full time martial arts instructor. I even tried it for a few years, but decided something more stable would be better if I wanted to have a family. Prior to Asulon my publishing history has been articles for martial arts and law enforcement magazines.
4. What influenced you to write the Sword of Fire novels?
I began writing the story in 1981. A friend had called and told me about the storyline of the movie “Omen III, The Final Conflict,” which he had just seen. Typically of Hollywood at that time when handling a biblical subject, the story had very little to do with what’s actually in scripture (in this case, regarding the Antichrist and the Second Coming of Christ). I reacted both as a Christian, “That’s not what the Bible says” and as a twenty year old guy, “I could write a better story than that.” So that’s what I set out to do. I decided to set the story of the tribulation and Second Coming in a fantasy setting, figuring that non-Christians would be more likely to read a biblical story if written that way. I wrote on and off for the next few years, getting about 120,000 word done, but stopped writing when my father died in 1986. I took up the story again in 2001 when my son was born. I wanted to write a story for him that brought together many of the things in the books I read as a teenager that gave me a life long love of reading and, I like to think, help point me in the right direction in life in general. What I envisioned as one book (The Sword of Fire) has now grown into three (Asulon, Eretzel and Apocalypse). The direct spark for my writing was to write a better story than The Omen, but the tinder, the fuel for my story was all the great books I read as a teen. Therefore, you’ll see influences in my story from authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Dante Alighieri, Edmund Rostand, Alexander Dumas, James Fennimore Cooper, Edgar Rice Boroughs, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Robert E. Howard.
5. I notice a serious inclusion of mythology in Asulon along with Biblical material. It reminds me of C. S. Lewis’ fiction. Do you have a penchant for mythology like he did?
I grew up watching all those great movies from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s that had classical mythology at their base: Jason and the Argonauts, Ulysses, The Thief of Bagdad; even those low budget Hercules movies were a wonder to me. When I was a teen, I came across Bullfinch’s Mythology in the library and I was hooked. As a writer, I think Tolkien’s Silmarillion was more of an influence on me than Lewis. I liked how Tolkien “explained” the origins of the Greek gods in the Silmarillion and wanted to do something similar in my own work. What also helped was reading apocrypha, specifically the Book of Enoch, in which a third group of angels who tried to stay neutral during Satan’s rebellion were banished to earth as punishment for their neutrality. That’s the basis for the background of Anak the earthbound angel in my story.
6. I also noticed quite a few political ideas. Did you have a particular message or messages that you were trying to send with that?
I’m a Conservative in my political beliefs and a teacher by nature, so I wanted to teach some of the things I’ve learned about people and politics to the young people who are the target audience for my novels. I always recall my reaction on my first reading of Roman history and how the problems and issues of those days seemed so much like today, (usually the political elements in my stories that a reader will point to as being too much like this week’s headlines are the very ones I wrote more than twenty years ago and took directly from my reading of ancient history). My point is that mankind always seems to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. The political elements I have in my novels are my way of pointing this out to my readers and asking that they not make the same mistakes.
7. Could you give a summary of Asulon in your own words?
Asulon is the first book in my trilogy titled “The Sword of Fire.” My concept for The Sword of Fire was to tell the story of the Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ in narrative form and to show the images from the related books of the Bible verbatim. That is, when Revelation tells of locusts with men’s faces and scorpion’s tails, that is what I show, rather than translate the locusts into attack helicopters, as some will do when setting their End Times story in the near future. I wanted to tell this story as a fantasy tale, because the images fit so well into a fantasy setting and because clothing a biblical tale in a fantasy story would get a Christian story in “under the radar” of people who would not normally read an overtly Christian novel.
In Asulon, I introduce my major characters (both good and bad), set up some of the major problems that get bigger in book two and reach a climax in book three.
8. In the beginning of the story, you gave a great deal of detail of Daniel hunting a deer and then dressing it afterwards. Have you done a lot of deer hunting yourself?
I’ve only been on one successful deer hunt and have much more experience with small game (when I was 20, there were a few months I spent in Arizona where I pretty much survived on Jackrabbit chili).
The opening scene in Asulon, where the wild country is thought of by Daniel with such affection, comes from my own days in the Boy Scouts and our monthly camping trips in the Catskill Mountains. I live next door to them now and they remain a very special place for me.
9. If you can tell it without too many spoilers, what would you like for readers to carry away from Asulon after they have read it?
One theme I wanted to explore in Asulon was what it means to be a godly warrior; to recall the Christian knights of the medieval tales. In the beginning of Asulon I give what I call the Paladin’s code (shown below).
The Warrior Virtues
DISCIPLINE
LOYALTY
COURAGE
HUMILITY
The Kingly Virtues
WISDOM
HONOR
CHARITY
JUSTICE
The Godly Virtues
FAITH
TRUTH
MERCY
LOVE
I use a phrase as a motto for the young warriors in Asulon that sums this all up. In Latin it is NOBILIS VOS ESTO. In English it is “Be Noble.” That is what I would like the reader to take away from Asulon. The desire to be noble.
Thank you so much for your time and such a wonderful interview. You've give us so much insight into your writing and the person that you are.
Some shots of Bill (in the floppy hat) during summer training with a Pekiti-Tirsia group. Much of the fighting in Asulon is similar to these demonstrations.
Websites for Bill McGrath:
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Asulon: Sword of Fire
Asulon by William McGrath is the book of the month of May for the CFRB. As per usual with the CFRB, a new article will be posted each day May 4 through May 10. With this novel, there are an abundant number of subjects to be addressed.
Asulon is a “manly” novel if I ever read one. Hunting, survival in the wilderness, adventure, coming-of-age for a young prince, martial arts, assassins, intrigue, political hijinks, secret society, strategic warfare, swordplay, danger on every hand, the future of a country and the whole world at risk. With great detail and relish, Bill McGrath has written a fantasy filled with elements that are obviously close to his heart, creating a compelling tale of a young prince who is embroiled in a war of epic, even Biblical, proportions. It is not just a war of human enemies but Abaddon versus the forces of Heaven fighting for the souls of men.
Daniel is a young nobleman of Asulon. He is first introduced while on a year-long survival foray in the wilderness, a rite of passage for those of his station. His mentor Moor comes to take him home a bit early because his father Argeus needs him. It seems the old king died while Daniel was out in the forest, and his father had become the new king. This changed the scenario for Daniel’s education a bit, thus the need to return ahead of schedule. The next step in his life was to be a ten year stay in Logres (yes, the ancient name for Britain in Arthurian legend) at his grandfather’s court for training to befit his rank. Unfortunately, there are other forces at work that wish to dispose of the royal family and take control Asulon themselves. Actually, they wish to control the whole world. Thanks to these evil men, King Argeus is murdered the night before Daniel is scheduled to sail to Logres. Although the trip is delayed, it soon becomes apparent to Moor that Daniel will be the next target, and so plans change a bit to a stealthy flight heading for Logres. Only now Daniel is accompanied by Moor, the most skillful weapons-master in all the country; an old priest named Simon who has more than just spiritual insight to offer; and Rachel, an especially gifted young lady, who must return to her people in the land of Eretzel. Their escape and the times ahead are filled with danger and unexpected events, but to tell more may be too much information.
There are so many themes and elements to this story that I would love to discuss further, but I already tend to write too long. Some of these will be addressed in other essays this week. This is a book I would heartily recommend for young adults, young men in particular, but it is also quite appropriate for all adults. Daniel and his family is guided by high moral principles based on scripture and following the will of God, making this not only an exciting fantasy, but also one full of true Christian values.
Book
Details:
Asulon is a “manly” novel if I ever read one. Hunting, survival in the wilderness, adventure, coming-of-age for a young prince, martial arts, assassins, intrigue, political hijinks, secret society, strategic warfare, swordplay, danger on every hand, the future of a country and the whole world at risk. With great detail and relish, Bill McGrath has written a fantasy filled with elements that are obviously close to his heart, creating a compelling tale of a young prince who is embroiled in a war of epic, even Biblical, proportions. It is not just a war of human enemies but Abaddon versus the forces of Heaven fighting for the souls of men.
Daniel is a young nobleman of Asulon. He is first introduced while on a year-long survival foray in the wilderness, a rite of passage for those of his station. His mentor Moor comes to take him home a bit early because his father Argeus needs him. It seems the old king died while Daniel was out in the forest, and his father had become the new king. This changed the scenario for Daniel’s education a bit, thus the need to return ahead of schedule. The next step in his life was to be a ten year stay in Logres (yes, the ancient name for Britain in Arthurian legend) at his grandfather’s court for training to befit his rank. Unfortunately, there are other forces at work that wish to dispose of the royal family and take control Asulon themselves. Actually, they wish to control the whole world. Thanks to these evil men, King Argeus is murdered the night before Daniel is scheduled to sail to Logres. Although the trip is delayed, it soon becomes apparent to Moor that Daniel will be the next target, and so plans change a bit to a stealthy flight heading for Logres. Only now Daniel is accompanied by Moor, the most skillful weapons-master in all the country; an old priest named Simon who has more than just spiritual insight to offer; and Rachel, an especially gifted young lady, who must return to her people in the land of Eretzel. Their escape and the times ahead are filled with danger and unexpected events, but to tell more may be too much information.
There are so many themes and elements to this story that I would love to discuss further, but I already tend to write too long. Some of these will be addressed in other essays this week. This is a book I would heartily recommend for young adults, young men in particular, but it is also quite appropriate for all adults. Daniel and his family is guided by high moral principles based on scripture and following the will of God, making this not only an exciting fantasy, but also one full of true Christian values.
Book
Details:
Asulon
William R. McGrath
Epic Fantasy
PTI Press; January 1, 2008; 296 pgs; $14.95
ISBN: 978-0-9801058-0-3
Bill McGrath's website:
http://www.theswordoffire.com/
Purchase a copy of Asulon at
the following sites:
Other reviews and blogs about this fascinating novel can be found at the following sites:
http://cfrblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=7433 (This was on Charles Colson's Breakpoint magazine)
http://afrankreview.blogspot.com/
http://ansric.blogspot.com/
http://thetimemistress.blogspot.com/
http://cfvici.blogspot.com/
http://authorlauradavis.blogspot.com/
http://www.carolemcdonnell.blogspot.com/
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Beyond the Reflection's Edge
Readers beware: there are NO dragons in this book! Bryan Davis proves to be an author with more than one angle and many more stories inside his head. Beyond the Reflection’s Edge, the first book in the new series Echoes from the Edge, is an intense tale of mystery and murder set (for the most part) in modern times in the Heartland of America.
The novel begins with a concert in Chicago. Sixteen year old Nathan Shepherd joins his mother, a world famous violinist, on the stage for their special duet. While Nathan is playing his solo section, his mother steps back and leaves the stage. As soon as he finishes the piece, Nathan searches for his mother and has the great shock of finding both of his parents dead in a back room of the concert hall. Then before his very eyes, the mysterious Dr. Simon is also murdered when a strange little man named Mictar uses his burns the eyes right out of his head and eats them. Mictar likes to eat eyeballs from fresh victims. Nathan and his long-time tutor, Clara, have to run for their own lives, a flight that will continue throughout the book. Their escape takes them to the home of an old college friend of Nathan’s father, Tony, who lives out in the country in Iowa with his teenaged daughter Kelly. A dazed and grieving Nathan tries to understand what happened to his parents and why. Oh, and by the way, his father was a secret agent of some kind who had been involved in a lot of heavy cases over the years. Just before that fateful concert, he had given Nathan a mirror that he called Quatro, stressing its importance to Nathan. Nathan and his new ‘sister’ Kelly soon discover that this mirror has very odd properties, somehow able to show people and images that weren’t there, sometimes that come true a few minutes later, but phenomena even stranger than that. The bad guys also want this mirror, and Nathan is convinced it may help them find out what happened with his parents.
As a result, Nathan and Kelly go on a voyage that includes parallel worlds, uber-evil foes, unexpected deliverance, and a lot of confusion. The reader is swept along with the mystery and adventure, compelled to decide whether the clues are red herrings or important pieces of this puzzle of many dimensions. Nathan is never sure who to trust or not, yet he and Kelly, with the help of some friends, eventually are able to unravel the incredible story.
While Bryan Davis is known for fantasy, this book is more like science fiction. It most certainly will appeal to young adults, both male and female. The constant action is most appealing, but it is full of spiritual content as well. Faith and love are two important elements that drive the action. There is a satisfactory conclusion to this portion of the story although it leads directly into a continuation. As further enticement (as if it were needed), the first chapter of the second book, Eternity’s Edge, is included at the end.
I couldn’t hardly put the book down. I admit to being thoroughly confused at times, so I had to do a bit of retracing and going back a page or two, but I think that’s because I start reading too fast and then miss some important points. It may be a book for and about teenagers, but many other adults will enjoy it as much as I did.
You can find out more about Bryan Davis and all his books at http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/index.html . Bryan also has a page at http://www.shoutlife.com/echoes.
Beyond the Reflection's Edge can be ordered directly from the author's website and should be available at many Christian bookstores and other stores such as Barnes and Noble and Borders. It is also available online at christianbook.com (http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=715542&netp_id=511096&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=details)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Award of Excellence to Molly Noble Bull!
The winners have just been announced for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for 2008. This is an award given by the Southern Magic branch of Romance Writers of America. In the Inspirational category, the winner is . . .
Molly Noble Bull!! Her book Sanctuary was voted as tops in this category by librarians, booksellers and avid readers of romance. It is exciting to see one of the books I reviewed receiving recognition for a novel that clearly presents a Christian worldview and seeks to glorify our Lord. Congratulations, Molly!
A review of this book appears in my blogs from October 2007.
The entire list of winners of the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence:
Historical-- My Lady's Treasure by Catherine Kean
Short Contemporary-- Blackmailed into Bed by Heidi Betts
Long Contemporary-- Riding the Thunder by Deborah MacGillivray
Paranormal-- Lady of Light and Shadows by C. L. Wilson
Inspirational-- Sanctuary by Molly Noble Bull
Contemporary Single Title-- Learning to Breathe by Karne White
Series Romantic Suspense (tie)-- The Perfect Stranger by Jenna Mills and
One Cool Lawman by Diane Pershing
Young Adult-- Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Novella-- Two For the Money by Leigh Wyndfield
Molly Noble Bull!! Her book Sanctuary was voted as tops in this category by librarians, booksellers and avid readers of romance. It is exciting to see one of the books I reviewed receiving recognition for a novel that clearly presents a Christian worldview and seeks to glorify our Lord. Congratulations, Molly!
A review of this book appears in my blogs from October 2007.
The entire list of winners of the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence:
Historical-- My Lady's Treasure by Catherine Kean
Short Contemporary-- Blackmailed into Bed by Heidi Betts
Long Contemporary-- Riding the Thunder by Deborah MacGillivray
Paranormal-- Lady of Light and Shadows by C. L. Wilson
Inspirational-- Sanctuary by Molly Noble Bull
Contemporary Single Title-- Learning to Breathe by Karne White
Series Romantic Suspense (tie)-- The Perfect Stranger by Jenna Mills and
One Cool Lawman by Diane Pershing
Young Adult-- Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Novella-- Two For the Money by Leigh Wyndfield
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
LET ME INTRODUCE SOME...FIENDS...I MEAN FRIENDS
May I introduce you to the main characters of Never Ceese? While the plot is important to the story, the characters are essential. After all, it's named for Ceese. And the sequel is named for Richard.
Ceese
She was born Cecilia Collette Porter in Port Hampton, Wales, on January 8, 1802. Her parents were the Reverend Meredith Porter and his wife Julia, who had seven children before Cecilia was born. Ceese was her nickname. From the prologue, the reader knows that her mother was attacked and raped by a man, then scratched by a werewolf. It was for a sign, and it somehow affected Ceese before she was even born. She never knew the truth behind the attack on her mother, and Meredith raised her as lovingly as any of the other children. Ceese has striking emerald eyes, or at least she did as a child. After she became a werewolf, they were golden in wolf form and a greenish-gold in human form. With her round face, short blondish brown hair, and the striking eyes, She would have probably been noticed by others even when she didn't speak. I get the impression that she appears to be about 18, perpetually, in spite of being around for a couple of hundred years. When it became too difficult to live with humans, she turned to the wolf form for countless ages, and so when she answered a call to turn to the human again, she was like a naive child in the society of the 21st century. She had hidden from it for so long that it was only with difficulty that she even remembered speech and wearing clothes. There are some humorous scenes because of this, such as when she uses her leg to scratch an itch, and when she attacks Richard's 'mouse,' the one on his computer. Even with the tutoring she got from Penelope and Richard, New York was like a foreign planet to her.
I feel a warmth for Ceese from the very beginning, because she seems to be a sweet person, one who really wants to escape the curse of the wolf. When something startles her or angers her, however, she quickly loses control to the wolf. My guess is that it is the prayers of others, on her behalf, that has helped to restrain the urge to curse others. Ceese wants to remember her family and the teachings of her father. She tries to remember scripture, and even manages to say words that hurt her because of the curse. Holy words. She has a special ability to get inside people's minds and plant thoughts to make them act or say what she wants. She can also read thoughts of others at times, sometimes even at far distances. In, addition, Ceese displays some of the instincts you would expect from a wolf, although they are somewhat muted in human form. The others soon learn to trust her instincts about people and situations. And once she has connected with a person, as she did with Penelope or Rodney, she displays complete trust in that person. A dangerous enemy, but a most loyal friend.
Richard
The vampire is probably in his twenties, tall, with long bleached-blond hair and refined manners. Unlike Ceese, he refuses to remember his past. He has successfully forgotten who he was or who his parents were. It seems that he gave up long ago on any thoughts of redemption and has resigned himself to remaining in the cursed state. And yet...he takes pains to resist cursing another. He insists that he can't have feelings like normal people, yet he does not want to be parted from Penelope (he calls her Mama) and always gives in to her wishes (once he throws a bit of a tantrum). While he shows great disdain for his immoral neighbor and some unsavory characters in New York, he's considerate enough to the maid. And then there is his odd relationship with Ceese. When she shows up, he is jealous of all the time she spends with Mama, he loathes having a werewolf around, he fights with Ceese physically and vocally, but once he promises Penelope that he will look out for Ceese, he becomes quite protective. In fact, the more time they spend together, the more protective he becomes. Richard is sardonic, cynical, and jaded. Yet he shows his soft side with Penelope. He would do anything for her. She brought out the good in him which he denies is there. It's interesting how modern technology has entered his world, unlike that of Ceese, and his prized possession is his computer. And the main activity he does on this computer? Order blood, of course! Thanks to blood banks and such online, he gets a supply that fills his refrigerator.
Penelope
Penny, also called Mamá by Richard, is the key connection for the werewolf and the vampire. Penny was a childhood friend of Ceese's, probably the closest friend she ever had. For some reason there is a very strong supernatural bond between them. The bond is strong enough that Ceese comes to the castle in answer to a telepathic call from Penny. Somewhere after the time Penny met Ceese, she met Richard and fell in love with him. Details leak out slowly about hem, so I don't want to say too much. Suffice it to say that Richard bonded with her in a way he didn't with any other human, but there was no sexual encounters. This is one detail that I think is quite different from some of the other modern vampires; Sue Dent's vampires and werewolves apparently don't become aroused that way. Penelope has grown old while Richard hasn't changed, and as the story begins, she is quite feeble. Yet she has this telepathic ability and a few other supernatural ones as well (hey, remember, this IS fiction!). She seems to know things that others don't. Unlike Richard and Ceese, her emotions run deep and true. At some point in the past she also became a Christian, and her faith is strong. Her greatest desire is to see Richard and Ceese break free from their curses, to be redeemed. Thanks to Richard, Penny learned to use the computer and found a relative in New York, a "granddaughter" named Cassie Felts. She began corresponding with Cassie, discovered that the young woman was working with genetics and DNA, and had a fascination with vampires. After many email back and forth, Penny became convinced that the answer to breaking the curse lay with Cassie. Before her time was gone, she called Richard in to tell him all of her plan and push him to take Ceese to New York and meet with Cassie.
Cassie Felts
American college student, working as an assistant to a strange but brilliant DNA researcher. Not knowing any family at all, Cassie is overjoyed to hear from a grandmother in England, Penelope. Eventually she learns that Penelope shares her fascination with vampires. Even more than that, she knows one intimately. Her grandmother's notes make up an important part of Cassie's personal notes, since she knows very few other people will believe it. Cassie appears to be a rather brilliant student, a young woman of the 21st century who is fairly sure of herself and what she wants to do. Unfortunately, she is just a bit too trusting and shares too much with Dr. Henderson, the obsessed professor that she worked with. Cassie naively believes that Henderson wants to help people, as she does. She doesn't realize that this megalomaniac is searching for eternal youth.
Rodney
Rodney is Cassie's suitemate, and when he first appears in the novel, he is totally out for himself, even if it means selling information to get good grades. He had been passing Cassie's emails on to Dr. Henderson. Worse, he even conspired to waylay Richard and Ceese when they arrived, taking them to Dr. Henderson instead of Cassie's place. Amazingly, Ceese connected with Rodney (just how much she connected is kind of funny), and he started to change to a good guy as the action progressed. He and his two friends Josh (a hopeless drug addict) and Kyle provide some drama and humor in the second half of the book. Necessary minor characters that move the story along as well as providing some laughs and gasps.
I've mentioned Dr. Henderson, but since his role is mostly in the last section of the story, I don't want to write any spoilers, at least not more than I may have already. Let's just say he is the main nemesis, the great obstacle in the path for Ceese and Richard. Other characters that appear include Meredith and Julia Porter, Ceese's father and mother, who are essential to the tale. Zade is another werewolf, one who wants Ceese to come back with him, who lurks around the castle while Ceese is there.
OTHER NEW BLOGS TODAY:
On the main CFRB website, David Brollier has a wonderful discussion about the curse. I love how he applies it to all of us.
I missed one at Back to the Mountains, written by Stephen Rice. Interestingly enough, this one also has to do with the curse.
Melissa Meeks recorded her musings today at Bibliophile's Retreat.
Christian Mystery Writer
Although Never Ceese is available through other venues, we urge you to go to your local Barnes and Noble or order it through them online. If your local store doesn't have it onhand, they should be happy to order it for you.
Ceese
She was born Cecilia Collette Porter in Port Hampton, Wales, on January 8, 1802. Her parents were the Reverend Meredith Porter and his wife Julia, who had seven children before Cecilia was born. Ceese was her nickname. From the prologue, the reader knows that her mother was attacked and raped by a man, then scratched by a werewolf. It was for a sign, and it somehow affected Ceese before she was even born. She never knew the truth behind the attack on her mother, and Meredith raised her as lovingly as any of the other children. Ceese has striking emerald eyes, or at least she did as a child. After she became a werewolf, they were golden in wolf form and a greenish-gold in human form. With her round face, short blondish brown hair, and the striking eyes, She would have probably been noticed by others even when she didn't speak. I get the impression that she appears to be about 18, perpetually, in spite of being around for a couple of hundred years. When it became too difficult to live with humans, she turned to the wolf form for countless ages, and so when she answered a call to turn to the human again, she was like a naive child in the society of the 21st century. She had hidden from it for so long that it was only with difficulty that she even remembered speech and wearing clothes. There are some humorous scenes because of this, such as when she uses her leg to scratch an itch, and when she attacks Richard's 'mouse,' the one on his computer. Even with the tutoring she got from Penelope and Richard, New York was like a foreign planet to her.
I feel a warmth for Ceese from the very beginning, because she seems to be a sweet person, one who really wants to escape the curse of the wolf. When something startles her or angers her, however, she quickly loses control to the wolf. My guess is that it is the prayers of others, on her behalf, that has helped to restrain the urge to curse others. Ceese wants to remember her family and the teachings of her father. She tries to remember scripture, and even manages to say words that hurt her because of the curse. Holy words. She has a special ability to get inside people's minds and plant thoughts to make them act or say what she wants. She can also read thoughts of others at times, sometimes even at far distances. In, addition, Ceese displays some of the instincts you would expect from a wolf, although they are somewhat muted in human form. The others soon learn to trust her instincts about people and situations. And once she has connected with a person, as she did with Penelope or Rodney, she displays complete trust in that person. A dangerous enemy, but a most loyal friend.
Richard
The vampire is probably in his twenties, tall, with long bleached-blond hair and refined manners. Unlike Ceese, he refuses to remember his past. He has successfully forgotten who he was or who his parents were. It seems that he gave up long ago on any thoughts of redemption and has resigned himself to remaining in the cursed state. And yet...he takes pains to resist cursing another. He insists that he can't have feelings like normal people, yet he does not want to be parted from Penelope (he calls her Mama) and always gives in to her wishes (once he throws a bit of a tantrum). While he shows great disdain for his immoral neighbor and some unsavory characters in New York, he's considerate enough to the maid. And then there is his odd relationship with Ceese. When she shows up, he is jealous of all the time she spends with Mama, he loathes having a werewolf around, he fights with Ceese physically and vocally, but once he promises Penelope that he will look out for Ceese, he becomes quite protective. In fact, the more time they spend together, the more protective he becomes. Richard is sardonic, cynical, and jaded. Yet he shows his soft side with Penelope. He would do anything for her. She brought out the good in him which he denies is there. It's interesting how modern technology has entered his world, unlike that of Ceese, and his prized possession is his computer. And the main activity he does on this computer? Order blood, of course! Thanks to blood banks and such online, he gets a supply that fills his refrigerator.
Penelope
Penny, also called Mamá by Richard, is the key connection for the werewolf and the vampire. Penny was a childhood friend of Ceese's, probably the closest friend she ever had. For some reason there is a very strong supernatural bond between them. The bond is strong enough that Ceese comes to the castle in answer to a telepathic call from Penny. Somewhere after the time Penny met Ceese, she met Richard and fell in love with him. Details leak out slowly about hem, so I don't want to say too much. Suffice it to say that Richard bonded with her in a way he didn't with any other human, but there was no sexual encounters. This is one detail that I think is quite different from some of the other modern vampires; Sue Dent's vampires and werewolves apparently don't become aroused that way. Penelope has grown old while Richard hasn't changed, and as the story begins, she is quite feeble. Yet she has this telepathic ability and a few other supernatural ones as well (hey, remember, this IS fiction!). She seems to know things that others don't. Unlike Richard and Ceese, her emotions run deep and true. At some point in the past she also became a Christian, and her faith is strong. Her greatest desire is to see Richard and Ceese break free from their curses, to be redeemed. Thanks to Richard, Penny learned to use the computer and found a relative in New York, a "granddaughter" named Cassie Felts. She began corresponding with Cassie, discovered that the young woman was working with genetics and DNA, and had a fascination with vampires. After many email back and forth, Penny became convinced that the answer to breaking the curse lay with Cassie. Before her time was gone, she called Richard in to tell him all of her plan and push him to take Ceese to New York and meet with Cassie.
Cassie Felts
American college student, working as an assistant to a strange but brilliant DNA researcher. Not knowing any family at all, Cassie is overjoyed to hear from a grandmother in England, Penelope. Eventually she learns that Penelope shares her fascination with vampires. Even more than that, she knows one intimately. Her grandmother's notes make up an important part of Cassie's personal notes, since she knows very few other people will believe it. Cassie appears to be a rather brilliant student, a young woman of the 21st century who is fairly sure of herself and what she wants to do. Unfortunately, she is just a bit too trusting and shares too much with Dr. Henderson, the obsessed professor that she worked with. Cassie naively believes that Henderson wants to help people, as she does. She doesn't realize that this megalomaniac is searching for eternal youth.
Rodney
Rodney is Cassie's suitemate, and when he first appears in the novel, he is totally out for himself, even if it means selling information to get good grades. He had been passing Cassie's emails on to Dr. Henderson. Worse, he even conspired to waylay Richard and Ceese when they arrived, taking them to Dr. Henderson instead of Cassie's place. Amazingly, Ceese connected with Rodney (just how much she connected is kind of funny), and he started to change to a good guy as the action progressed. He and his two friends Josh (a hopeless drug addict) and Kyle provide some drama and humor in the second half of the book. Necessary minor characters that move the story along as well as providing some laughs and gasps.
I've mentioned Dr. Henderson, but since his role is mostly in the last section of the story, I don't want to write any spoilers, at least not more than I may have already. Let's just say he is the main nemesis, the great obstacle in the path for Ceese and Richard. Other characters that appear include Meredith and Julia Porter, Ceese's father and mother, who are essential to the tale. Zade is another werewolf, one who wants Ceese to come back with him, who lurks around the castle while Ceese is there.
OTHER NEW BLOGS TODAY:
On the main CFRB website, David Brollier has a wonderful discussion about the curse. I love how he applies it to all of us.
I missed one at Back to the Mountains, written by Stephen Rice. Interestingly enough, this one also has to do with the curse.
Melissa Meeks recorded her musings today at Bibliophile's Retreat.
Christian Mystery Writer
Although Never Ceese is available through other venues, we urge you to go to your local Barnes and Noble or order it through them online. If your local store doesn't have it onhand, they should be happy to order it for you.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
The Unstoppable Cecilia (Ceese for Short)
There’s a little novel that has been out for over a year now. People like me continue to discover it, each one of us certain that we’ve have found a hidden gem that defies description. That is to say, it doesn’t exactly fit into any tidy categorization or cubbyhole. Much like its author. What am I talking about? Never Ceese, the debut offering of Sue Dent. This week, the first full week of April, CFRB has decided to make Never Ceese their feature novel. A list of some participating bloggers will appear at the bottom of this article.
Is it a horror story, fantasy, science fiction, adventure, thriller, or what? Yes! While the story begins in the forest in Wales and a medieval castle in England, this vampire and werewolf are not typical of Gothic horror. Much of the traditional legend is present, but Sue Dent has added quite a few of her own twists in a modern-day setting. As a result you find a neighbor shooting silver bullets, a vampire with no reflection, but also a scientist gathering DNA and experimenting with genetic engineering, New York gangers at night, and University politics. For once the vampire and werewolf are the good guys, not monsters, and the reader will be rooting for them as they look for a way to remove their curses. Unlike any such creatures I have known before (and granted, I am not that familiar with lycanthropy or vampirism as a whole), Ceese and Richard have controlled the monster-curse in that neither of them has ever “cursed another” by biting or killing any other person. Richard is cynical, but Ceese holds to a hope of redemption The characters have plenty of tension, but a lot of humor is written into the tale, situational as well as in the conversations.
I’m not saying very much in the article today, but I intend to delve further into the characters and some issues later on in the week. I hope you get the idea, though, that I like the story. Action, humor, and spiritual matter; it’s a great story and more. If you haven’t read it yet, I hope you will soon. The sequel, Forever Richard, is due to be released in 2008, so you will want to read the first book in order to get the most out of the second one. I am extremely anxious myself to read the further adventures of Ceese, Richard and their friends (and nemesis).
Never Ceese
Author Sue Dent
Young Adult Fantasy
ISBN: 978-159958-017-3
Publisher: Journey Stone Creations
2006; 300 pgs; hardcover; $17.95
You can find more about Sue Dent and Never Ceese at http://www.suedent.com/ , www.shoutlife.com/suedent, and http://www.neverceese.com/
CFRB will be running blogs about Never Ceese all week at http://cfrblog.blogspot.com/
Other bloggers include the following:
A Frank Review
Back to the Mountains (Stephen Rice)—by the way, at least one of Stephen’s blogs is guaranteed to be hilarious.
Bibliophile’s Retreat
The Time Mistress (I’ve heard rumor of some unusual interviews that involve characters from a couple of stories. Should be interesting.) At least some of these blogs will also be posted on Geralyn Beauchamp’s Shoutlife page.
The Queen of Convolution
I will add more as the week progresses.
You can purchase Never Ceese at Amazon.com (price $12.73), and Barnes and Noble ($12.99).
Is it a horror story, fantasy, science fiction, adventure, thriller, or what? Yes! While the story begins in the forest in Wales and a medieval castle in England, this vampire and werewolf are not typical of Gothic horror. Much of the traditional legend is present, but Sue Dent has added quite a few of her own twists in a modern-day setting. As a result you find a neighbor shooting silver bullets, a vampire with no reflection, but also a scientist gathering DNA and experimenting with genetic engineering, New York gangers at night, and University politics. For once the vampire and werewolf are the good guys, not monsters, and the reader will be rooting for them as they look for a way to remove their curses. Unlike any such creatures I have known before (and granted, I am not that familiar with lycanthropy or vampirism as a whole), Ceese and Richard have controlled the monster-curse in that neither of them has ever “cursed another” by biting or killing any other person. Richard is cynical, but Ceese holds to a hope of redemption The characters have plenty of tension, but a lot of humor is written into the tale, situational as well as in the conversations.
I’m not saying very much in the article today, but I intend to delve further into the characters and some issues later on in the week. I hope you get the idea, though, that I like the story. Action, humor, and spiritual matter; it’s a great story and more. If you haven’t read it yet, I hope you will soon. The sequel, Forever Richard, is due to be released in 2008, so you will want to read the first book in order to get the most out of the second one. I am extremely anxious myself to read the further adventures of Ceese, Richard and their friends (and nemesis).
Never Ceese
Author Sue Dent
Young Adult Fantasy
ISBN: 978-159958-017-3
Publisher: Journey Stone Creations
2006; 300 pgs; hardcover; $17.95
You can find more about Sue Dent and Never Ceese at http://www.suedent.com/ , www.shoutlife.com/suedent, and http://www.neverceese.com/
CFRB will be running blogs about Never Ceese all week at http://cfrblog.blogspot.com/
Other bloggers include the following:
A Frank Review
Back to the Mountains (Stephen Rice)—by the way, at least one of Stephen’s blogs is guaranteed to be hilarious.
Bibliophile’s Retreat
The Time Mistress (I’ve heard rumor of some unusual interviews that involve characters from a couple of stories. Should be interesting.) At least some of these blogs will also be posted on Geralyn Beauchamp’s Shoutlife page.
The Queen of Convolution
I will add more as the week progresses.
You can purchase Never Ceese at Amazon.com (price $12.73), and Barnes and Noble ($12.99).
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