Review: The Trusted by John M. Green

* From publisher for review *

I was lucky enough to attend the Pantera Press book launch of The Trusted in Sydney earlier in the month, and I'm happy to say that this eco-terrorist thriller definitely lives up to the pre-launch hype.

Written by successful Australian author John M. Green (Nowhere Man, Born To Run) The Trusted is a stand-alone novel introducing new character Dr. Tori Swyft.  Tori is Australian, a surfer, and child prodigy earning a PhD at a young age, and is now ex-CIA.  She ends up being recruited by an Organisation called SIS whose concept will blow your mind.

The 'trusted' of the title are members of a group who have climbed the corporate ladders within their own unique fields of industry and specialty, and earned great positions of trust. In an attempt to save the environment and the planet from overpopulation, these radicals will abuse their positions of trust in the most unexpected of ways, causing untold damage to the financial markets, security services, and much more.

Personalised autographed
copy of The Trusted

Reading the plans of some of the members actually gave me chills; what if someone could actually pull this off, it would cause a global crisis!  Green has conjured some terrifying scenarios here, that are real and worrying enough to keep you turning the pages into the night to find out if and how it can all be stopped.

I found the plot very convincing and not once did I need to suspend belief, which is what sometimes happens when reading a Matthew Reilly of similar scale.

Green also employed a clever writing tactic of redacting (blacking out) a few details in the book which made me smile at first (how clever) but then made me frown as I spent way too much time trying to make out the words and beat the author at his own game.  This technique definitely added to my enjoyment and is something - as a reader - I don't remember having come across before.  

My rating = ****1/2

Carpe Librum!

Review: What Lies Beneath by Sarah Rayne

I've been reading thriller novels from author Sarah Rayne for years now and really enjoy her writing style.*

I'm pleased to say that she's getting even better over time, and I thoroughly enjoyed What Lies Beneath, published in 2011.

Essentially the novel is about a town which is going to be cleared to build a highway, but before it is, the government decides to use it for testing.  Unfortunately the tests leave the area poisoned and it's locked up and out of bounds for decades.
Characters in the past are linked to characters in the present and both have something to hide and something to discover.

I especially enjoyed the section where one of the characters in the past was being treated for Syphilis using the methods and treatments available in 1912.  I found it completely and utterly fascinating, as one of the treatments included an infusion box where the patient has their body seated and fully enclosed in a box with just their head exposed.  A mercury solution is heated underneath the box which turns to vapour the patient inhales during the process which takes several hours.

Apparently the treatment was incredibly painful and exhausting as the fumes were being absorbed into the skin as well as the lungs, and Rayne's description of the process had me gripping the book and shaking my head in disbelief that this was occurring a mere 100 years ago.

I almost wanted to get up and go and research this illness, era and treatments and find out more.  It just seemed so surreal; who would come up with such a therapy and how could they possibly believe it would work? I was thinking about it long finishing the book, and for this What Lies Beneath earns an additional star.

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

* For more books by popular UK author Sarah Rayne, check out my reviews of the following:

The Death Chamber - 4 stars
Tower of Silence - 4 stars
Spider Light - 4 stars
A Dark Dividing - 3.5 stars
House of the Lost - 4 stars

Carpe Librum wins the Liebster Blog Award

Exciting news this week is that I've received the Liebster Award for bloggers!!  I was nominated by author Kerry Letheby of A Novel Journey.

Here's how the award works:

• The nominated blogger must post 11 facts about themselves;
• They must then answer 11 questions from the blogger who nominated them;
• Then nominate 11 bloggers and give them 11 questions to answer;
• Link to your chosen 11 bloggers in your blog post; 
• Let them know you have nominated them;
• Don't nominate the blogger who nominated you;

Here are 11 facts about me:

1. My favourite hobby is reading;
2. I collect bookmarks and love stationery, paper, notebooks and pens;
3. I am a night owl by nature;
4. I met my husband at karaoke;
5. I have a tattoo on my left ankle;
6. My favourite colour is red;
7. I was awarded the Australian Defence Medal for service in the Royal Australian Navy;
8. My favourite website is GoodReads;
9. My most popular blog post has had 3,231 hits;
10. I have proofread and edited two books currently in print: one novel and one memoir;
11. I can smell donuts from a block away.

Here are the answers to the 11 questions asked by Kerry Letheby, author of Mine To Avenge:

1. Who knows you best in life?  In terms of my personality and character, it would have to be my husband.
2. If you could spend your life doing anything you like, what would it be?  Reading and studying.
3. What is your earliest memory?  Playing in the backyard.
4. What lifts you up when you are feeling down?  A massage, loud music, ordering take away, or someone who makes me laugh.
5. What are you most thankful for in life?  The health of my family.
6. If you were given $1000, what would you spend it on?  Boring, but I'd probably put it in the bank.
7. Are you a hot weather person or a cold weather person?  I think I'm a cold weather person. Even though I'm always cold (especially my feet), you can always get warmer, and it can be quite cosy snuggling up with a blanket in winter.  I hate being covered in sweat and rushing inside for the relief of an airconditioner.
8. Name one thing on your bucket list.  To be invited to an awards night within the publishing industry.
9. What is your favourite movie? The Matrix
10. What is your favourite 'get away from it all place'? My bed!
11. What piece of advice do you hand out most often? Hang in there.

Congratulations, here are the 11 blogs I've tagged to receive the Liebster Blog Award:

Some blog humour

Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
All The Books I Can Read
Book'd Out
Booklover Book Reviews
Deliciously Fictitious
I Heart Dog
Mary D's Nordic Crime Reviews
The Reading Room
Selwyn's Sanity
Stone Soup
Women Friendly Services


Here are my questions for the winners:

1. Can you tell us a little about your blog?
2. What's your most popular blog post to date?
3. How do you increase your followers?
4. Where does the inspiration for your blog posts come from?
5. A little about you now.  Can you name your favourite book?
6. What song has the most number of plays in your iTunes? (Or, what's your fav song?)
7. What's your all time favourite TV Show?
8. What was your favourite game to play as a child?
9. Do you have a second hobby, other than the one your blog focusses on?
10. Stationery lover or iPhone / online all the way?
11. Funniest comment left on your site?

Congratulations to the winners, I will enjoy reading your posts (please post the URL in the comments if you can), and I hope you enjoy visiting each other's sites.  Happy blogging!

Carpe Librum!

Review: 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz

Background
I'd been looking forward to reading 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz for a while.  It was published in 2011, and when I didn't receive it for Christmas that year (my family knowing I'm a big Koontz fan), I was a little disappointed.

Well, now that I've read it (from the library), I'm so glad no-one I know spent a single dollar on this book.  It was rubbish.

Review
In essence, 77 Shadow Street is about a building called the Pendleton, built on top of Shadow hill in the late 1800s.  Every 38 years, something weird happens on this site - even the Indians knew to steer clear of this place - and it has been the site of murders, suicides, madness and disappearances.

Koontz introduces the reader to the current tenants of the Pendleton, and through each of them we experience this round of weirdness as the 38 years is about to kick in and the past, present and the future cross over.

Dominating this world is the One:

"I am the One, the all and the only. I live in the Pendleton as surely as I live everywhere. I am the Pendleton’s history and its destiny. The building is my place of conception, my monument, my killing ground. . . ."

77 Shadow Street has elements of horror as Pogromites pursue and kill the tenants and the One controls everything.  I thought this was a weak plot, the horror scenes were gross and frightening but without being engaged with the narrative I found them pointless and wasted.

I remain a fan of Dean Koontz and most likely always will, but go on the record as saying 77 Shadow Street is a dud read; don't bother.

My rating = *

Carpe Librum!

Book Launch for The Trusted by John M. Green

Now that I've started reading it, it's a good time to share with you my recent trip to Sydney to attend the Pantera Press book launch of The Trusted by John M. Green.

Book display of The Trusted by John M. Green

I was thrilled to be invited to the launch of John M. Green's third novel, following on from the success of Nowhere Man and Born To Run.

The Trusted is an eco-thriller, where a group of radical environmentalists strive to  cause a global depression in order to drastically reduce the world's population.

Held at Bar Cupola on Thursday 4 April 2013, close to 200 people gathered for the launch of The Trusted, and drinks and  delicious canapés were enjoyed amongst the buzz.

Over 180 people attended on the night

While circulating, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and chat with Pantera Press author B. Michael Radburn.  After reviewing two of his books (The Crossing and Blackwater Moon) and interviewing him here on Carpe Librum it was such a thrill to meet him in person. After begging him to write a book featuring the Librarian character from Blackwater Moon, he let me know his latest book will be coming out in a few months and I'll definitely be looking forward to that.

L-R: Tracey Allen, Wanda Wiltshire
and Wanda's friend, also a writer

I also met the warm and vivacious CEO of Pantera Press Alison Green, who acted as MC during the evening.  I was shocked and thrilled when during her opening speech she gave me a special thank you for coming so far to attend.  WOW!!!

Alison introduced me to new Aussie author Wanda Wiltshire who readily told me about her writing and her upcoming fantasy novel coming out in less than two months.  She is counting down the days until she becomes a published author and I sense she will enjoy much success.  Wanda and her friend (pictured right) had just been to a Kate Forsyth event and we eagerly compared notes on how much we all love her work and her as an author; it's funny how quickly bookish people can bond :-)

Author John M. Green signed many copies on the night

Then it was time to meet the guest of honour John M. Green who kissed my hand and thanked me for flying to Sydney for his event.  He gave me a copy of his book and signed it "We love you."  I was so happy!  Here's a pic of him below, there was a massive queue for those eager to have a personalised copy.

All in all, I had a brilliant time, and it was definitely worth the trip.  Back home, I found out the event was written up in the Weekend Australian social pages; fancy that!

I'm now 100 pages into The Trusted, and enjoying it so far!  Review to follow.

You can read a free extract here.

Carpe Librum!

Review: The 5 Love Languages - The Secret To Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman

According to author and Dr. Gary Chapman, each person has their own love language, or preferred method of being loved by others, and it falls into one of five categories, or languages.  

The 5 Love Languages are:

1. Receiving Gifts
2. Words of Affirmation
3. Acts of Service
4. Physical Touch
5. Quality Time

Once you know your own love language and that of your partner or spouse, it can be easier to ensure you communicate in the love language that best suits them.  If they desire words of affirmation (e.g. I love you, I appreciate everything you do), then giving flowers won't mean as much as a card filled with meaningful expression of your feelings.

This all seems so straight forward and logical that it's quite funny.  There is a survey at the back of the book (one for men and one for women) or you can complete one for free online at 5lovelanguages.com  

All in all, The 5 Love Languages - The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman was an enlightening read, and I'm glad it was recommended to me by a friend.  What's your love language?

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Review: Prophecy by S.J. Parris (Book 2: Giordano Bruno series)

Prophecy is the second in the Giordano Bruno series by S.J. Parris and follows on from Heresy while also being a stand alone read.

Bruno is still acting as a spy for Sir Francis Walsingham with a view to protect Queen Elizabeth I from plots to dethrone her.  In Prophecy, the threat comes from within the Queen's own court with several murders taking place and small astrological markings being carved into their chest.

Bruno is in London staying with a group of Catholics and is undercover trying to unearth potential plots to put Mary Stuart on the throne.  His challenge: to investigate these deaths without betraying his true alliance.

I loved the portrayal of Dr. John Dee, philosopher and astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I - and his infamously well stocked library for the period; what self respecting book-lover wouldn't?

This was an interesting time in history; one where the line between the two religions and the Queen's own interest in astrology was very fine.

Basically this is an historical fiction whodunnit for the Renaissance period, and is a light and entertaining read.  I didn't enjoy it as much as Heresy (4 stars), and will probably leave the series here.  For those wanting to continue, there are two further novels to discover:

- Sacrilege  Book 3 in Giordano Bruno series
- Treachery Book 4 due for release 18 June 2013

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

P.S. I forgot my favourite quote from this novel, it made me hoot with laughter:

"You had a face on you for a moment there like a man trying to shit a turnip."

- Page 272

Review: The Drawing Of The Three (Dark Tower Book Two) by Stephen King

Book Two of The Dark Tower series

The Drawing Of The Three is Book Two of the Dark Tower series by bestselling author Stephen King, and picks up where The Gunslinger left off.

Essentially the 'three' of the title are three people that the Gunslinger acquires or draws to him throughout the novel.  The door on the front cover is the means by which the Gunslinger travels but I won't say any more than that.

Compared to The Gunslinger, I found Book Two of the series to be more enjoyable and straightforward.  The reader is still aware of the overarching narrative - a journey to the Dark Tower - however it's clear that this novel is about survival and acquiring three people to join the Gunslinger on that journey.

I think it's fair to say I've never read anything before with such a colossal scope, however I'm keen to keep reading and see where this master writer takes me.

Now that the Gunslinger has his 'three', I'm looking forward to the next part of the journey: The Waste Lands.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Alex Cross Series & Review: Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo

I've read many of the novels in James Patterson's Alex Cross crime series:
-  Along Came A Spider
-  Kiss The Girls
-  Jack and Jill
-  Cat and Mouse
-  Pop Goes The Weasel
-  Roses Are Red
-  Violets Are Blue
-  Four Blind Mice
-  The Big Bad Wolf
-  London Bridges
-  Mary Mary
-  Cross 
-  Double Cross
-  Cross Fire

However; Alex Cross's Trial is a departure from the above suite of novels. Essentially it's a family tale involving a lawyer by the name of Ben Corbett, and a man called Abraham Cross, who happens to be Nana Mama's Uncle. (For those familiar with the Alex Cross series, Nana Mama is Alex's Grandmother). Alex decides to write the story after reading Corbett's journals.

Taking place in the early part of the Twentieth Century, President Roosevelt sends Corbett from DC to Eudora Mississippi, his hometown, to find out more about the supposed lynchings that have been reported. Racism is rife, lynchings are commonplace and Corbett must gather information and stay alive despite being quickly labelled a 'nigger lover'.

Overall, an exciting departure from the regular series, and a great historical fiction read from the time of the Ku Klux Klan in the South.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Interview with Loren DeShon, Author of Redemption On The River

I recently had the chance to interview Loren DeShon, author of Redemption On The River, reviewed here.

Loren, you've had quite a varied career: a certified public accountant, a US Navy fighter pilot and now a commercial airline pilot.  When did you start writing? Was it something you always dreamed about doing?
Yes, I've done some different things.  I know there are other airline pilots who are authors, but I doubt there are many certified public accountant fighter pilot authors.

I've always enjoyed writing but until now I've never been very serious about it.  I took creative writing as occasion offered in school and I've written a few magazine articles and dabbled with short stories, but until now my most popular works have been my family Christmas letters, which people tell me they like.

I've always had a nebulous ambition to write a novel and made several abortive attempts.  I finally realized that I needed to actually get off my butt and do it—or wait until the next lifetime.  So, I guess one way to characterize the project would be to call it a bucket list item, but once I sunk my teeth into telling the story it became much more than that.

How does an airline pilot become interested in steam boats?
I have intrinsic interest in the magnificent machines that provide transportation—airplanes, trains, ships, for example—and steamboats are a relatively short-lived technology from a very colorful period in history.  Mark Twain does a marvelous job of presenting them in many of his works—he was a licensed river pilot before he became an author—and he is a big influence on me.

What inspired you to choose the Mississippi River as the location and 1848 as the setting for your first novel?
The time and place are a nexus for powerful currents in American history.  The creep of expansion West is just starting to become the flood out onto the Great Plains and the west coast.  Steamboats are entering their heyday in providing the first reliable mass transportation on the continent and in so doing uniting the markets of East, North, South, and the world.  This brings the various regions of the U.S. into much more contact with each other than before, and not everyone likes what they find.

1848 is one year from the great California Gold Rush of 1849, and two years from the Missouri Compromise of 1850, which set the simmering debate over slavery on its way to full boil.  

What kind of research did you need to undertake to write Redemption On The River?
I used original or authoritative sources whenever I could.  Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi, which is autobiographical and wonderfully evocative, and George Devol's Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi (Devol is a significant character in the book) are but two examples.

I used the internet, of course, which was a huge help in identifying the best sources.  The friendly folks at steamboats.org for example, pointed me to Way's Packet Directory, which is a definitive work that lists every steamboat known to have ever operated in America.

Thanks to Way's (and other sources), most of the steamboats in which the characters in Redemption on the River travel are as historically accurate as I could make them, right down to the names of the captains and pilots.  I did indulge myself, though, for I named one after my wife.

One fun research thing I did was to use Google Earth to "travel" to various places and make sure that I had cities correctly oriented, streams flowing the right way, and get a general feel for the terrain, etc.

All in all, I did absolutely the best job I could to make the history and places in the novel as accurate as I could.  Any errors are mine.

What are some of your writing habits or routines? Do you have any quirks you can share with us?
I'm not sure that it's a quirk, but I did a lot of thinking and writing in the airplane.  I hope nobody freaks out, but we spend a lot of time at altitude on autopilot, and I would jot ideas down in my notebook or write out scenes in longhand.  Really? That's amazing and definitely unique!

As far as at-the-keyboard routines go, I typically have classical music running in the background.  I play classical because I find anything with lyrics to be distracting while writing.  I've done that classical music thing long enough now that it's become a sort of Pavlovian response.  When I hear it now I feel like I should be at the keyboard.

Do you have any literary influences?  What are some of your favourite books/authors?
I've already mentioned Mark Twain, and also Larry McMurtry, whose talent for creating unforgettable characters is amazing, and whose book, Lonesome Dove, is on my personal All-Time-Best-List.

I'll throw in Richard Bach, the author of Illusions and Jonathon Livingston Seagull, among others.  He gets big ideas across in a very plain style, which I like.

Author and pilot, Loren DeShon

As a GoodReads Author, do you have any opinions on the recent purchase of GoodReads by Amazon?
I hope GoodReads can remain member-driven and independent.  It's goal is (was?) to provide a venue for avid readers to recommend and discuss books, and that is not necessarily coincident with Amazon's goal, which is to sell gobs of stuff.

GoodReads is one of the best places there is for an debut and/or obscure author to get discovered and generate that most valuable marketing commodity - word of mouth buzz - and I hope that doesn't change.

What's next? Are you working on anything else at the moment?
I took a big break from writing when the novel came out.  I've been concentrating on marketing, mainly by soliciting book reviewers.  I had no idea how much time that would consume.

In the short term I'm now writing some short stories and polishing old ones.  I plan to release them for free and include the first chapter of Redemption on the River in the hopes of generating exposure for the novel.

My next novel?  I have an outline for historical fiction set during the Vietnam War, but readers have been asking for a sequel to Redemption on the River.  That's something I hadn't considered, but I've sketched out some ideas that I think are pretty good.  I hope to make a decision and commit soon.

What would you like to tell your readers?
Thank you very much for reading Redemption on the River, and I hope that you enjoyed Silas's journey.  It was a journey for me to write it.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you—a whole, whole lot—for reviewing my book and offering this interview opportunity.  It is the dedicated readers, bloggers, and reviewers who give authors like me the chance to reach a larger audience.
You're more than welcome Loren! And good luck for your next novel.

Review: Chasing Odysseus by S.D. Gentill

* From publisher for review * 

Chasing Odysseus by S.D. Gentill is essentially a modern reader's introduction to Greek mythology in an adventure and action packed plot beginning with the siege of Troy and soon after the famed Trojan war.

We follow the tale through the eyes of strong young female protagonist Hero and her brothers, as they chase Odysseus (Greek King of Ithaca) over sea and land, seeking answers for how their beloved city of Troy was breached and subsequently destroyed by the Greeks.

Chasing Odysseus introduced me to Greek myths and legends in a gentle and extremely accessible way and is suitable for adult or YA readers alike.

If you're interested in Greek mythology but are too afraid to read Homer's Iliad or the Odyssey, then this is a fabulous contemporary place to start.  Chasing Odysseus is the first in a three part series referred to as the Hero Trilogy published by Pantera Press and written by Sulari Gentill, otherwise known as S.D. Gentill in this series.

My rating = ***1/2

Carpe Librum!

Review: Redemption on the River by Loren DeShon

* From author for review *

Redemption on the River is set up and down the Mississippi River in 1848, and features Silas, our main character escaping dark problems on the farm at home and looking for redemption and a way to make things 'right'.

Silas learns how to gamble, use a knife, falls in love, makes a best friend - a giant of a man named one-ball - and all this against a background of slavery.

Big steamboats, big stakes at the faro gambling tables and lots of danger make Redemption on the River an exciting and action packed read.

The only other book I've read set on the Mississippi is Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, and interestingly, I found out afterwards that it was set in 1845 (around the same time as Redemption on the River) although published in 1884.

Now, while I didn't enjoy Huckleberry Finn (2 stars), I'm pleased to say I enjoyed reading Redemption on the River, and the book even permeated my dreams.  I had several dreams about boats on the river while I was reading it; the sign a book is getting to you!

I recommend Redemption on the River by Loren DeShon to those who would like to know more about this era, life on the Mississippi in the time of steam boats, and the gambling lifestyle that went on, also made famous by the 1994 movie starring Mel Gibson, Maverick.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Interview with Major General John Cantwell (ret'd), author of Exit Wounds

After reading Exit Wounds, by Major General John Cantwell and giving it 5 stars in my review, I feel very honoured to interview him here on Carpe Librum!

Author, John Cantwell with his book Exit Wounds

Good Afternoon John and thanks for joining us.  When I attended your event at The Shrine of Remembrance in October last year, you mentioned one of your goals was to get the message about PTSD out into the community.  You also wanted people to know that many people can suffer from PTSD: policemen, bushfire victims, paramedics etc.  Do you feel you have achieved this through the writing of Exit Wounds?
The response to Exit Wounds has been extraordinary. Hardly a day goes by when I do not receive a letter or email (sometimes half a dozen or more) thanking me for speaking out on PTSD. When I talk publically or attend a book signing, many people tell me their own stories about PTSD, either as someone who has wrestled with it or known someone who has. A consistent message has been that people feel my book has "given them permission" to tell their own story. The most gratifying response is when I hear that people who have been struggling with PTSD in silence or secrecy feel encouraged to get the help they deserve. It's a good feeling.  

What advice would you give a person supporting a loved one suffering from PTSD?
PTSD can invoke some difficult emotional issues, such as loss of interest in life, anger, anxiety or mood swings. This can be very hard on others in the relationship. Sleeping problems, chronic tiredness or alcohol can add to the mix. The most important thing is to encourage the PTSD sufferer to seek help. There is nothing shameful about having PTSD; indeed, it is a perfectly normal response to abnormal events. Counselling and medication can do wonders to help restore some equilibrium in the life of someone with PTSD. Early intervention is very important on the road to recovery.


How has writing Exit Wounds changed you?
Writing the book was sometimes difficult, in the sense of forcing myself to confront long-buried painful memories. Announcing to the world that I had PTSD wasn't easy either, because I am essentially a fairly private person. But it was important to me to speak out and help others, and the results of doing so have more than made up for the discomfort of laying my soul bare on the issue of PTSD. The writing process and especially the many talks I have given have also helped to take some of the sting out of issues that have troubled me in the past, so it has been a somewhat cathartic process.

Major General John Cantwell

How has Exit Wounds been received by senior members of the Australian Defence Force?
My book and related efforts to raise awareness of PTSD have been strongly supported by the ADF senior leaders. The Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley, attended the launch and has used my example in his own talks about the importance of getting help for PTSD. There seems to be a much more open approach to the issue of PTSD in the Defence Force since my book was published, which is great. There is still some way to go but I'm confident that the senior leaders 'get it' and are trying to make the PTSD response and support framework better. 

Which part of the book did you write last?
I wrote the Epilogue last, although I'd had it in my head for a while. I tended to write in the sequence of events that happened. I found I could construct paragraphs and chapters in my head, tossing around the words to get it right. Once I started on a chapter I could generally get it down fairly quickly. There was a bit of polishing and editing but this diminished as I found my voice. My writing partner Greg Bearup mostly helped with the polishing process. I spent a little extra time refining the Prologue, once the rest of the book was finished. 

During the First Gulf War, you shared some horrific moments with two men Steve and Pete, and later they didn't respond to your attempts to make contact.  As a reader, I found this quite sad and upsetting, wondering at their reasons.  Have you heard from them since the release of your book?
Unfortunately I haven't heard from Steve and Pete since the Iraq war in 1991. The letters I sent though the British military system soon after the war came back unanswered, so I suspect the boys left the army shortly after getting home, as so many soldiers did back then. I hope that one day word of my book will reach them and they'll recognise themselves in the story, and get in touch. (I really hope so too John).

Some of the Americans I mentioned in the book, from both Iraq wars, have discovered the book and made contact with me, which is wonderful. Best of all, many of the Australian diggers I described in the section of Exit Wounds covering Afghanistan have become firm friends, especially the wounded and parents of the fallen soldiers.

What do you enjoy reading and can you share some of your favourite books/authors?

The Yellow Birds
by Kevin Powers

In the past I read a lot of military history but I don't find the same allure there that I once found. That said, I recently enjoyed Chris Masters' excellent Uncommon Soldier which is a great account of what makes Australian soldiers special. I occasionally read broader history works, such as 1776 which is David McCullough's account of the dramatic years leading up to American Independence. These days I tend to read fiction more often. Many years ago I read Lord of the Rings at my wife Jane's insistence and loved it; I must have read it half a dozen times over the years. I often re-read books I like. I sometimes dabble in science fiction, and especially enjoy Iain M. Banks works in that genre. I recently finished The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers, which is a powerful fictional story of the recent war in Iraq. Kevin is also a poet and the lyrical character of his work is quite special. I met Kevin at a writers festival recently and was struck by his humility and thoughtfulness. Right now I'm almost finished reading Among Others by Jo Walton, which is a delightful story of a young Welsh girl who sees fairies - sounds odd, but its terrific.

Do you or your wife Jane have a favourite bookshop?
We live in the Sunshine Coast hinterland and the little village near our home only has a very modest bookshop, sadly. I love any book store. I particularly love bookshops that encourage browsing and coffee. Lately I often listen to audiobooks, which takes away the wonderful experience of buying a book and holding it in one's hands, but which is another great way to enjoy the skills of a writer (and narrator) while doing something else, like mowing the lawn. At least that way I get some enjoyment from the process!  (Really? *laughs* I can't imagine listening to an audio book while mowing the lawn, that's a new one!)

What's next?  What do you have planned for 2013?
I've got a couple of projects in the early stages of planning.  I think there is room for an account of the Australian experience in Afghanistan, through the eyes of a small group of soldiers. The idea is to follow the true story of soldiers in one particular period of the war, probably 2010, when the fighting was especially fierce. I also plan to walk the Kokoda Track next year, over Anzac Day, along with a number of wounded and emotionally damaged soldiers, plus the parents of some fallen soldiers. That would also make a good story, perhaps a long-form magazine article. Looking further forward, I'd like to try my hand at fiction. I recently entered a piece in a short story competition and found that I really enjoyed the idea of creating a character then making them walk, talk and feel. 

What would you like to tell your readers?
I'd like to sincerely thank those who bought my book and especially those who contacted me to say that it had touched them in a special way. That's a very satisfying response, especially for a first-time writer. And of course, they should recommend my book to their friends!

Anything else you'd like to add?
I really appreciate the opportunity to be part of the Carpe Librum blog!  Thanks John!  And good luck for the Kokoda Track next year, it will be a huge physical and emotional undertaking and achievement for all.

Carpe Librum!

Review: We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson

We Have Always Lived In The Castle was written by Shirley Jackson and published in 1962, and was one of Time Magazine's 'Ten Best Novels' of 1962.

Essentially a story about the Blackwoods who suffered a mass poisoning which killed several of their family members around the dinner table one night during dessert.  

Constance was tried but acquitted of the crime, and together with her younger sister Merricat, live with their Uncle Julian in the house where it all took place. The family are hated by the villagers and isolate themselves from all outsiders.

It is interesting to note that the author suffered from agoraphobia and has admitted that Constance and Merricat were fictional versions of her own daughters. This is where the interest ends for me though.

This short novel was strange and I never really 'got it'.  Merricat's narrative was dreamy and unreliable at times. At one stage I thought that perhaps Merricat was a ghost, or maybe they were all ghosts, but now I don't think so.  

One of my favourite authors Stephen King lists Shirley Jackson as one of his literary influences and her book The Haunting Of Hill House as one of the finest horror novels of the late 20th century.  

Perhaps I should have read that instead.

My rating = *

Carpe Librum!

Author interview with Kate Forsyth, author of The Wild Girl and Bitter Greens

It gives me great pleasure to introduce one of Australia's most successful and prolific authors, Kate Forsyth; author of Bitter Greens and her latest release The Wild Girl.

Kate, thanks for joining us on Carpe Librum.  Let me ask you, with over 25 published books to your name, what do you love most about being a writer?

Kate Forsyth

Everything! I love every stage of writing a new novel from buying myself a beautiful new notebook to building the story, step by slow step, to the actual rush of joy that comes when the writing is going well. I would never want to do anything else. 

Do you plan your novels in advance or does the story unfold as you go?
Both. I spend quite a long time doing my research, immersing myself in the period, daydreaming, pondering the story, scribbling down ideas, sticking photos and maps into my notebook, exploring possibilities, imagining my characters and the setting and so on. I write an outline, and then draw up a rough plan which normally takes up a page or two in my notebook. I play with ideas for the structure, and establish my keystones - the title, the opening and closing scenes, and a few vividly imagined scenes along the way. I cannot start writing until I have these things firmly in my head, as well as the first line. Once I start to write, the story will unfold in new and unexpected ways, and I really love that part of the process too. 

I've read that as part of your research for writing The Wild Girl, you read the personal diaries of Wilhelm Grimm, one of the Grimm brothers. What was that experience like and how does one even gain access to such historic papers?
It was quite amazing, I have to admit. I knew fairly early on that I needed someone in Germany to help with all the research and translations - so many books on the Grimms have never been translated into English. I knew that Dortchen had dictated a memoir to her daughter while on her deathbed, plus there were many other essays and books about the Grimms that I needed help with. I tried for months to find someone to help me but had no luck. One translator I hired was hit by a car, another simply vanished off the face of the earth (or perhaps he simply stopped responding to my emails). 

The Wild Girl

One day I was googling in German, looking for any information I could find on the Wild family, when I stumbled upon a blog written by a German artist and cartoonist called Irmgard Peters. She was recounting an old family story about a white cot that had been passed down through generations of her family. In that cot, she said, slept the Wild girls who told the Grimm brothers all their fairy tales. I wrote to her in my execrable German to see if it was at all possible that she meant the Wild girls as in Dortchen, Lisette and Gretchen Wild, and she wrote back (in perfect English) saying yes, she was the direct descendant of Rudolf Wild, their brother, and why did I want to know. When I told her about the novel I was writing, she was very pleased that Dortchen was at last been brought out of the shadows and asked what she could do to help me. 

She translated Dortchen's memoir (its only a few pages long), and sent me photos of family portraits, and then she corresponded with some of Germany's foremost Grimm scholars on my behalf. Wilhelm's diary had recently been unearthed and one of the scholars was planning to work on it with plans to publish. He told Irmgard and she asked if she might see it and translate it for me, and was given permission. It was so exciting! The diary is not very long and only covers a few years, and Irmgard only translated the pages in which Dortchen is mentioned, but it helped me enormously with the last section of the book. I was unbelievably lucky to have found it! 

How wonderful to have liaised so closely with a direct descendant of Dortchen's brother, Rudolf. It must have been such an unexpected joy!  That leads into the next question quite well.  I was going to ask if you knew if any descendants of Dortchen Wild have read The Wild Girl?
I have sent Irmgard a copy of The Wild Girl and am now very anxious in case she hates what I've done. I do hope she likes it!

I loved reading how Dortchen collected and harvested herbs and plants that she and her father used - in Germany in the early 1800s - to create herbal remedies for sale in the family shop.  How did you conduct the research for this aspect of the novel?
I have always been interested in herbs and natural healing have a large  library on the subject already. However, most of my books are about English herbs and remedies, and so I needed to find out about German beliefs and practices. A few things helped me. Firstly, I borrowed a book on German apothecaries from the university library and struggled my way through it - the book was incredibly arcane and difficult but taught me a lot about some of the stranger remedies like bezoar stones and the breathing in of mercury fumes to help asthma patients (no wonder Wilhelm was so ill!). It also gave me the recipe for laudanum which was fascinating - I had never realised that the apothecaries bought the opium in its raw state and made up the tincture themselves. 

Then, when I was in Germany, I visited an apothecary museum which was really illuminating too. Plus, of course, lots and lots of Google Book searches!

What was the hardest part of writing The Wild Girl?
The research was difficult and took me a long time. Discovering my story was also hard - so little was known about Dortchen's life and her inner world. I turned to her stories for inspiration and was troubled by the darkness and cruelty in many of the stories, particularly in 'All-Kinds-of-Fur' which is an incest tale. It seemed so strange for a young German woman of Dortchen's time to tell such a story to a young man - and it was so striking the way he later rewrote the story to transform it into a story of escape and healing, rather than imprisonment and pain. And then he called the girl in his version of the story a Wild creature ... like that, with a capital on the W. The more I read, and the more I thought, the clearer it seemed to me that there was darkness and cruelty in Dortchen's own life .... but then I really struggled with my right to imagine a tale like this based on a real woman's unknown life. I talked it over with a number of people I really trust, and decided that this is what we do as fiction writers - we spin stories out of fragments of other stories and other lives. 

Which part of the book did you write last?
The last scene. I always write in a linear fashion, from beginning to end, as much as I can.

One of Kate's fav books
The White Queen by
Philippa Gregory

I've heard that you love to read.  What are some of your favourite books/authors?
I do love to read! I have so many favourite authors its impossible to list them all, but I'll give it a go. I love: Georgette Heyer, Mary Stewart, Juliet Marillier, Robin McKinley, Philippa Gregory, Joanne Harris, Tracy Chevalier, Kim Wilkins, Kate Morton, Karen Maitland, C.J. Sansom, Geraldine Brooks, Christopher Gortner, Sarah Dunant, Ellis Peters ... check out my website for more.


Where does your love of history or historical fiction come from?
I think the books I loved to read as a child - Geoffrey Trease, Rosemary Sutcliff, Jean Plaidy plus many more.


Do you have any literary influences?
I think any book I have ever read which I have loved - and so we're talking thousands and thousands of books here! 

Do you have a favourite bookshop?
I love any bookshop! I especially love old bookshops with hidden treasures in dusty, cobwebby corners ... ooh, me too; love hidden treasures but hold the spiders!

What's next?  What are you researching or working on at the moment?
I'm working on a 5-book children's fantasy adventure, and then I'm planning another historical fairytale retelling - this one set in Nazi Germany.

What would you like to tell your readers?
I hope you love my books!

On that note, thanks so much for joining us today Kate!