I have upset my cats. They do not approve of me pacing backwards and forwards, practising my reading for BristolCon.
I forgot how challenging readings can be. Trying to find a self-contained, exciting, interesting excerpt of about a thousand worlds is trickier than it sounds, and you really have to practise reading it. It has to be almost automatic, or you dont get a chance to look up at the audience who have (hopefully) gifted you with their time.
So, please feel free to drop by the Doubletree Hotel, this Saturday at 16.45 in room 2, where I shall regale you with a thousand words of Warrior Stone: Underland
Now, if only I had time to prep something for the open mic session.....
22/10/2014
17/10/2014
I'm a baaaad man
Three months without a post. I'm really not trying, am I. Soz
I have been having half the house ripped apart, a new kitchen put in, and various other 'stuff' going on though. Sort of an excuse. Can't believe I didn't even blog about my steampunk adventures at Lincoln in September. Have a look on my facebook page for those, if you're interested.
So, news. Most important is BristolCon. My favourite con of the year (although Weekend at the Asylum came pretty close). Saturday October 25, at the Doubletree Hotel (five minutes walk from Temple Meads Station).
They have been kind enough to let me play again: I am moderating a panel on writing problems at 11.00, doing a reading from Warrior Stone: Underland at 16.50, and am on a panel discussing social classes in steampunk at 19.00. Load of brilliant panels, a great trade room, and an eye-popping art show if you are in the area.
Warrior Stone: Underland will be on sale at the Convention book stall
I have been having half the house ripped apart, a new kitchen put in, and various other 'stuff' going on though. Sort of an excuse. Can't believe I didn't even blog about my steampunk adventures at Lincoln in September. Have a look on my facebook page for those, if you're interested.
So, news. Most important is BristolCon. My favourite con of the year (although Weekend at the Asylum came pretty close). Saturday October 25, at the Doubletree Hotel (five minutes walk from Temple Meads Station).
They have been kind enough to let me play again: I am moderating a panel on writing problems at 11.00, doing a reading from Warrior Stone: Underland at 16.50, and am on a panel discussing social classes in steampunk at 19.00. Load of brilliant panels, a great trade room, and an eye-popping art show if you are in the area.
Warrior Stone: Underland will be on sale at the Convention book stall
22/05/2014
Great review for Warrior Stone
C Horner (thank you C) says 'Stone Rocks', and adds:
“Warrior Stone : Underland” is reminiscent of Neverwhere, and if you liked that you’re likely to enjoy this. Harkess has put a lot of thought into the world he’s created, with the different races; the bureaucratic, cunning Grenlix, the Hrund who provide the muscle, the dangerous, scarcely-seen Angels, who are in no way angelic. He has also done a very good job of getting inside the head of an awkward teenage girl – Claire might be flitting between the Real and Underland, but the problems she encounters in both realms will be familiar to all, from school bullying to embarrassing encounters with attractive boys."
Review: 'Graham's Charlotte' by Drew Farnsworth
Well that was refreshing. Bumped into this entirely by accident, and so glad I did. Now, I dont do summaries of the story (too much chance of spoilers and others have already told the tale), but let me tell you what I thought about the book.
Its a spy adventure/techno-thriller. Whilst its set in a school environment, it neatly avoids most of the cliches and stereotypes of the location (unlike ‘I am Number 4’), and actually turns several of them on their heads. The strong female lead is not so unusual in YA, but Mads is believable and appealing in her uncertainty.
The style reminds me strongly of Malorie Blackman (especially her collection ‘Deadly Dare Mysteries’), or Kimberly Pauley’s ‘Sucks to be Me’ books. The action is tight paced, the secondary characters dense enough not to feel like cardboard cut-outs, and whilst the book touches on schoolyard politics, it doesn’t dwell on them or get bogged down in unnecessary romance.
My only gripe with the book is the title. It does make sense within the context of the book, but its not descriptive or indicative of the content. Dont let it put you off.
Quite my most enjoyable YA read since ‘Shift’ by Kim Curran. Recommended
Its a spy adventure/techno-thriller. Whilst its set in a school environment, it neatly avoids most of the cliches and stereotypes of the location (unlike ‘I am Number 4’), and actually turns several of them on their heads. The strong female lead is not so unusual in YA, but Mads is believable and appealing in her uncertainty.
The style reminds me strongly of Malorie Blackman (especially her collection ‘Deadly Dare Mysteries’), or Kimberly Pauley’s ‘Sucks to be Me’ books. The action is tight paced, the secondary characters dense enough not to feel like cardboard cut-outs, and whilst the book touches on schoolyard politics, it doesn’t dwell on them or get bogged down in unnecessary romance.
My only gripe with the book is the title. It does make sense within the context of the book, but its not descriptive or indicative of the content. Dont let it put you off.
Quite my most enjoyable YA read since ‘Shift’ by Kim Curran. Recommended
11/05/2014
Warrior Stone: Underland Available Now
I am absolutely delighted to announce that my latest novel, Warrior Stone: Underland is now available as an ebook from Amazon. Paperback to follow soon.
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Underland is a twisted copy of The Real that uses industrialised magic to power a weird mix of stolen technology. It’s just enough like The Real to make travellers over-confident and get them into trouble. Which is just what happened when Claire Stone accidentally falls through rushing home one night. Claire is offered a job as a Warrior, hunting down and destroying shape shifting monsters.What adventure-hungry lover of fantasy could refuse? Everything seems great, until a friend goes missing and the Warrior has to turn Hunter.
Cover Art by Linzi Goldstone
25/04/2014
First Review for "Warrior Stone: Underland"
A big thank you to Tony Lane for my first review of "Warrior Stone: Underland". I've copied the text for this post, but you can see the original here
The cover art for this book is by Linzi Goldstone. It is quite simple at first glance but it really does put you inside the story. The subtle steampunk hints are in the art and similarly woven in to the story. Except things are not steam powered. There is a magical field in the Underland.
I’d much rather teenagers read books like this rather than ones about sparkly vampires. Underland is a place between worlds. A magical yet industrialized realm tantalizingly close to this one. Only children can jump between realms and they act as guardians against the encroachment from the other side of the Underland.
I usually have a pretty good idea what’s going to happen when I read a book but this one keeps you guessing until the end. Don’t expect everything to be resolved though. The ending closes off the story nicely but it certainly feels like the first in a series. I still have plenty of questions that I’d like answering.
The characters in this book are believable and real (as much as magic using dimension shifting teenagers can be). I found this book to be a refreshing change of pace from my usual reads. It is bright and positive in a way that left me feeling better about life.
Oh and Evie is every bit the kick-ass heroine without the need for overt sexuality or reliance on a male.
16/04/2014
Cover Reveal! Warrior Stone
Published by Fox Spirit 30th April 2014
Inexpressibly excited about this one. Fox Spirit are a bright and vibrant publishers, and a great fit for this book. I hope to publish many more with them.
Warrior Stone Underland is a steampunk/urban fantasy adventure for all ages, but especially the 12-years-and-over reader.
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