Reading Guilty Pleasures

A book that's a coffee table, did I mention I like coffee table books!

Reading Guilty Pleasures

By Brad R. Cook

We all have them… though we may only admit it to certain people. They’re the novels we can’t stop reading, the books we keep buying more of, and the covers we rest in our laps so no one will see. Guilty pleasures, the dark chocolate of the book world.

Some, like comic books, have moved from hidden pleasure to mainstream literature. Others, like erotic novels, became some of the bestselling titles of last year. Maybe, these secret, guilty pleasures are really everyone’s favorite books, and we shouldn’t have to hide their covers when waiting at the doctor’s office. There are many cover avoidance tools from the book within a book, to the paperback fold over.

But…

E-readers have made the consumption of guilty pleasures so much easier. No one needs to know what we’re reading, and there is no cover to give us away. Plus, the lower price point means we can snatch up more of this brain candy without so much of the guilt.

The beauty of the guilty pleasure is that they allow our minds to have fun. We call on our brains all day long, but when we read something just for the fun our minds get recess. It’s universal everyone loves recess – ask any kid. Yes, this means that fanfic is the recess of literature.

I read a lot of books that are not within my usual genres. I love it, from friend’s books, novels to review, as research for author interviews, magazine articles, essays, and more, it’s one of the joys of being a writer. We all read what we want, but I’m not referring to a favored genre, a guilty pleasure is genre you like but don’t want everyone else to know you like.

So, what is your favorite guilty pleasure read? Let me know in the comments or use tell us on Twitter using @writerslens

My guilty pleasure reads – I have two… that I’ll admit too  

Really Old Books (I recently reread The Three Musketeers)

and

Coffee Table Books (I stalk the oversized bargain racks at bookstores)

Brad R. Cook is a historical fantasy author and President of St. Louis Writers Guild. Please visit www.bradrcook.com or follow me on Twitter @bradrcook https://twitter.com/bradrcook

St. Louis Reflections http://www.stlbooks.com/B009271-1211-51/Review.aspx

What Makes a Horror Good?

I could ask this question of a thousand “horror fans” and get back at least as many different opinions. One of the biggest reasons for the differences is due to the number of sub-genres of horror. Some horror fans love tales of bloody knifes and slashed, hacked, and mangled bodies. Other fans enjoy stories of vampires, ghosts, golems or other supernatural monsters. A third set enjoy stories of human beings acting in horrific fashion as they commit monstrous acts.

What I tend to write falls into two of these categories: the tales of the supernatural and the tale of human beings acting monstrously. Yet, these categories do not truly define “good horror.” For that we need to look at the works of the genre (short stories, novels, and film) that have stood the test of time and ask ourselves why they have. Some of the common reasons are:

Identification with the characters
This is true for any story, regardless of genre. The characters have to be identifiable and believable. They have to feel like they are real and their fears or hungers shared with the reader. I don’t know anyone who can sanely claim to know the hunger for blood or flesh. These hungers are metaphors for other desires that are tangible to the common reader. They may be the addiction to a drug, suppressed lust, greed or any other dark emotion. They can just be as easily the search for salvation, the sense of being lost in a hostile world, or even the desire not to have to grow up and lose naivety. 

Suspense
There are tomes written about suspense. Despite all the volumes of suggestions on how to be suspenseful, it is an art that can only be produced with the foreknowledge of the author as to what kind of suspense is desired.

In a romance story, the suspense is hung on the relationship. In a mystery, it is on the question if the killer will escape justice. Each genre has a foci point regarding suspense. Horror’s suspense focus is on survival, escape, and –sometimes—salvation.

Fear
Fear is critical to a good horror. There should be scenes that engross the reader, seduce them into the story, and send shivers of fear across their bodies. Fear should be used in such a way that the reader feels like they are watching a train wreck as it unfolds. They are helpless to stop it. They want to turn away and cover their eyes, but if they do they are peaking between sprayed fingers in fascination.

Morality
Out of all the genres, horror is truly the tale of morality. How can this be? It is a study into the darkness of man. With great intention it looks upon the painted doll like facade of accepted societal morality and behavior and then pulls the mask off to show the maggots that lurk in rotten flesh just underneath. 

There are other common grounds that define good horror, but this makes up my list. I would love to hear from others what might be on their list.

Thank you for reading and please visit www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. Fiction is the world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the human condition as he chooses.

Sitting Down With Y/A Writer Cole Gibsen

Sitting Down with Y/A Writer Cole Gibsen
By Brad R. Cook

If you don’t know her name yet, you soon will, Cole Gibsen, author of Katana (published by Flux Books) and Breathless (published by Crescent Moon Press) is represented by Chris Richman of Upstart Crow Literary and she is part of the Apocalypsies, a group of debut Y/A writers all of whom will be published in 2012.

From Cole’s bio, one learns that she is a chipped-nailed rebel, a drinker from cartons, but it won’t tell you that she is a writer willing to push her characters into impossible choices. Her quick wit and snarky personality are infused in every word. She has that unique mix that all writers strive for – a compelling voice that clearly defines her, and the ability to infuse lighthearted comedy into tense action. Her hair might change with each new novel, but don’t underestimate her, Cole touches on deep subject matters, but will always make you laugh by the end of the page.

Cole is a great writer for young adults, she gives Rileigh and Edith voices that young people can identify with, one they can recognize, and her books carry messages that Cole knows every young woman needs to hear. She is deeply connected, not only to the teens of today, but the teen within herself. It is that inner strength that allows her to connect with her readers so effectively.


I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Cole and picking her brain about writing,

You have a great voice that comes through Rileigh - do you have any advice for those writers trying to find their voice?

I like to make character bio sheets for my characters before I even write a word of my novel. This can be anything from what my character looks like to their favorite color and favorite food. Even though this information might not show up in your book, I think it’s essential for getting an idea of who your character is and making sure that voice shines through on your page.

What made you choose to write Katana in the first person?

I like first person because I like the flexibility and ease it allows when switching from internal and external thought. My characters have a lot of snarky thoughts.

Obviously you love the Japanese, but besides Samurai and Geisha, what else do you love about their culture?

Oh gosh, so many things! One of my favorite martial artists was Miyamoto Musashi. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and watch him train and fight. At least his teachings survived—The Five Rings is one of my all time favorite books.

What's your favorite way to interact with fans/readers?

I love Twitter for chatting with, not only readers, but other authors that I admire. I love the casual feel of it—like you and your 2,000 closest friends are chatting it up at a café.

If you could meet one of your characters (beside the MC), who would it be and where would you meet?

I would love to meet Gimhae Kim (my once-samurai-now-martial-arts-instructor) who I picture looking like Rain from Ninja Assassin. But then again, my husband might not like that too much.

Which line do you struggle with more, the first or the last?

Definitely the last. Writing the last chapter has always been the hardest part of novel writing for me. I think it’s because the ending can make or break a novel and I want to make sure I get it just right.

Katana and Breathless both star 17 year old young women, what made you want to write for teens?

I love the raw emotions and drama that take place during the teen years. Er, at least I like writing about them—definitely not experiencing them.

Who is your favorite literary heroine?

Do comic books count as literary?

Definitely, especially around here at The Writers' Lens.

Because if they do, it’s always been a toss-up for me between Jean Grey as the Phoenix and Felicia Hardy as Black Cat. They’re both powerful, independent, and intelligent women. In the end, I think I’d have to pick Felicia Hardy because she has much better taste in men. Because if you read comics, you know that Spiderman is awesome and Cyclops is a tool. Thought Jean Grey does have that smoldering kiss with Wolverine…I might have to get back to you on this.

Do you have a process when you write? Do you write at the same time every day or whenever you can find time? Do you outline or let the words flow?

Yeah, this is a tough one for me. I have a little one who goes to preschool only two hours a day. So I only have two hours to get work done. I try to get as much writing as I can in those two hours, but sometimes blog posts, website maintenance, and emails chip into my time. Because of the little time I have, I definitely work better with an outline. It helps me stay focused.

Here at The Writers' Lens our motto is Bringing Fiction into Focus, so: What brings your writing into focus, the characters, the stories, or the love of crafting words?

Reading. I absolutely adore reading—which is why I got into writing in the first place. Every time I read a good book, it renews my passion to write all over again.

Those of us here at The Writers Lens’ couldn’t agree more. There, of course, is so much more to talk about, but Cole needs to keep some things still hidden away in her Kimono.

For more on Cole Gibsen check out,
http://www.colegibsen.com/
http://colegibsen.blogspot.com/
http://www.potsandpens.com/


KATANA
"This action-packed novel has a unique and compelling plot...Fans of Carrie Asai's Samurai Girl series will be particularly interested, but even readers who dislike supernatural story lines will enjoy this tale of modern samurais." ~School Library Journal~

"An action packed page-turner tempered with slow-burning romance." ~Booklist~

Kill Bill meets Buffy in this supernatural samurai tale

Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline gave her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of fifteenth century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings. While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.
(Flux ~ March 8th, 2012)

BREATHLESS
Obituary-reading emo girl Edith Small is broken - the end result of forcing herself inside a mold that doesn't fit. All she wants is to conform to her strict sergeant stepfather's rules long enough to make it to graduation day.

But a boat accident threatens to unravel the life Edith has worked so hard to keep. After waking up in a hospital with a lacerated shoulder, Edith fakes amnesia. Because admitting she received her injuries from a blue-haired girl who breathes underwater is all the reason Sir needs to send Edith on the first bus to military school.

Safe at home, Edith struggles to put the nightmare behind her. But the mysterious creatures that live in the ocean aren't about to let her forget.

After meeting Bastin - a strange boy with silver hair and black eyes - on a secluded dock, Edith learns about the war raging undersea to end human existence. A war that Edith, unwittingly, has become the key to winning.

In a world where death is an ever-present shadow and motives are as dark as the bottom of the ocean, Edith must decide if her life is worth risking for a love that can't survive past the shore. (Crescent Moon Press ~ 2012)

Check back on Monday for an exciting giveaway!

For the Reader: What is a Space Western? Why is it a subgenre to be taken seriously?

Space Westerns are a subgenre of science fiction that takes the themes of Westerns and applies them to futuristic space frontier. Do not confuse this with a Science Fiction Western, which is a science fiction story set in the old west (or similar location). Some very notable Space Westerns are:

Star Trek
Star Wars
Firefly/Serenity
The Beast Master
A Princess if Mars
Time Enough for Love
Cowboy Bebop
Outland
The American Astronaut

Space Westerns takes the idea that space exploration and colonization will be similar to the taming of the Old West. It’s settings may have dusty old towns (Star Wars’s Mos Eisley is great example). There may be horses or other beasts that are used for transportation. There may be “wagon trains,” bank hold ups, train heists, civil wars (as the story or as the background), saloons or cantinas and more.

There are many critics in the science fiction genre who see the Space Western as nothing more that “using old furniture in a new location,” or as a style of work that shouldn’t be taken seriously. I disagree. Mankind has a nasty habit of repeating history—the good, the bad and the ugly. Let us look for a moment at many of today’s nations that have been built with the blood and sweat of what Americans call “Cowboys.” Obvious the United States is the first one to come to mind. Let’s add Canada and Mexico next. In fact, if it wasn’t for the Mexican’s and their culture, there may not have been an American Cowboy. The Americans who settled in west had many of the “Cowboy” skills taught to them by the Vaquero. My disagreement doesn’t end with just the nations in North America. All of the countries of Central America and South America have been built on the same type of sweet and blood and “taming of the frontier” as Canada, Mexico and the United States. Furthermore, so have countries such as Australia and New Zealand. In fact there are some other nations that can fall into this list.

In these countries, the people developed a “western” type of society. It was different by degrees in each land, but there was commonality of personality that existed—a fiercely independent, self reliant, can do person who lived on the dream of a better world—an escape from a change in culture, slavery, or the coming of the mechanized society where machines replaced people and horses—on a often hostile frontier facing animals, disease, storms, and hostile indigents who were threatened with the loss of their freedom, land, religion, way of life, and very existence.

If mankind continues to repeat history (which we will) and if we go out to the stars (we have to or die on Earth), then yes, I expect to see some kind of frontiersman/cowboy. He may not be sitting on a horse. He may not engage in Hollywood style gunplay. However, the personality will still exist. The frontier will not be antiseptically clean or without the conditions that was seen in the old frontier—in fact I would be highly surprised if those conditions are not somehow magnified. Maybe I am wrong, but the genre of Science Fiction is the exploration of what may be. In that exploration is the exploration of the frontiers of reality and what lies in our imagination On that stage, the Space Western explores what it means to be human in a universe that is far from tame.

You can learn more about David and follow him at www.davidalanlucas.com