Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

Book review: Foiled Stars by Jennifer Ascienzo

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9/10

WARNING: SPOILERS

I received a review copy from Stag Beetle Books as part of their Street Team.

Foiled Stars was one of those books that I never wanted to finish. I enjoyed it so much and ended up tearing through it.

Whilst it’s quite a long book, the short chapters divide it into bite-sized pieces so I progressed through it very fast.

I received this book as part of the Stag Beetle Books Street Team and this review forms my own unbiased thoughts and opinions.

I initially selected this book to review as the next in the series is due out in July and I thought I’d read this one first. The title and cover image caught my attention.

Foiled Stars is the first in a trilogy about an alien called Dante, who is on a mission to conquer Earth, and Autumn, a human girl with whom he falls in love.

What I loved…

The characters. Dante is flawed enough to be realistic but not enough to hate him. In fact (not sure what this says about me) but I found him quite likeable!!

The storyline. There’s a great mix of action and adventure.

The villains. From snotty girls at school to universe-destroying aliens, the author does a great job at depicting villains.

The descriptions. The author is skilled at painting word pictures so you can see and feel everything that goes on. Autumn’s work as a waitress, her ill-fated venture to a party, Earth through an alien’s eyes – it’s all beautifully done.

What I didn’t love so much…

Literally every guy who meets Autumn falls for her. She has four men (well, technically two aliens and two humans) who want to go out with her. This seems a bit unrealistic.

The ending. The ending felt a little abrupt – so much so that I was trying to turn the page without realising I’d got to the end of the book. It also didn’t end particularly happily but as it’s a trilogy I’m hoping the action will pick up where the first book left off.

I’ll definitely be picking up the next one. I can’t wait to explore more of Dante’s home planet and there are some unresolved questions in the first book (like who killed Autumn’s Mum and what was Maeve like?) that I hope will be answered in the trilogy.

Conclusion: I absolutely loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A whole lot of little bits

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The blog has been quite quiet lately – but a whole lot of little bits have been going on. They’re not big enough to warrant individual blog posts, but I thought it might be fun to share what I’ve been doing behind the scenes.

Growing my author socials

Various people (publishers, friends, fellow authors and more) have all emphasised the importance of having a healthy following on social media. So I’ve been trying to create amusing or meaningful book-related content and grow my author social media accounts. I find this time-consuming and a bit of a maze as I don’t really know how to do that, but I can see it’s worthwhile.

Working on the work in progress

My beta-reader-turned-friend CJ is currently making her way through my work in progress. I particularly wanted CJ’s perspective as she’s a phenomenal author and her ability to pace a story and keep the reader on a simmering tenterhook is second to none. While my stories tend to get going, get in and get it over with, CJ could run a masterclass in creating and maintaining anticipation. So I really wanted her to consult with me on how I’m doing when it comes to the book I’m currently working on. This book has absolutely nothing to do with Mirrordom and is a stand-alone novel set in the future. And, yes, I’ll be trying to get it published. I have such a deep and abiding affection for this book.

Lots of reading

I’ve been accepted as one of Stag Beetle Books’ Street Team, which means I now get ARCs of their latest books and be able to review them. I’m currently halfway through my very first read for them.

I’m also reading a book I was sent by author, Sue Moorcroft. Sue and I have been chatting on and off as some of her lovely books are set near where I live. I always enjoy reading books set in Scotland as it feels familiar.

Learning about gardening

I love salad so I’ve always wanted to try and grow my own lettuce. This desire hasn’t developed further than me thinking: “I’d like to grow my own lettuce” but I have successfully kept a jasmine plant alive for over two days and some mint for over three. Not to mention the fact that I planted some sweet peas in tubs and they grew! I never saw the appeal of gardening before at all, but the idea that something grew and thrived because I had a tiny hand in it is just lovely. So I’m trying to learn this new skill.

Waiting for the print copy of Venom and Blaze to arrive

I’ve been reliably informed this should come by next week, so I will probably do an unboxing video to celebrate. Then I’ll go through it for my final proofread and sign off on any changes to be made. That will be the last review and edit I ever do for my debut novel. Once that’s done, it’s off into the world.

The day job

I am not a full-time author, so all of the above needs to be balanced around my day job. I’m lucky enough to work from home in the main, which takes away the stress of travelling, but it does mean I can’t just sit and write novels whenever the mood takes me.

What’s next?

I have three books accepted, with two due to be released this year. So, I’ll need to do editing, admin and promotion for all three of them. I also have plans for more in the series, so I need to actually get on and write them!

The work in progress has pulled me out of Mirrordom for a bit as well. I’ll need to get on with editing that, especially once CJ gets back to me as her eagle eyes will no doubt have spotted grammatical issues and typos. Then I will try and find a good home for it with a publisher. I would be really sad if this one never saw the light of day as I love the story and am very proud of it.

What are you up to this week? Tell me all about it in the comments.

‘I never back down from a project’ – interview with author, Dana Gricken

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Dana Gricken is a prolific author from Canada, whose titles include The Soulless War Trilogy and the upcoming Jessica Prince Mysteries. Dana kindly agreed to be interviewed for my blog and give us an insight into how she creates so many magical worlds.

What’s your first memory of writing?

In first grade, I wrote a short story and illustrated it called “I Lost My Cat”. It was about—you guessed it—losing my cat. There may have also been some aliens written in. Don’t worry, the cat was saved! I was a little girl who adored her cat, and I usually wrote about what I knew back then.

You are incredibly prolific. What are your secrets to remaining disciplined and finishing projects before starting exciting new ones? (Something I think all of us writers might struggle with!!)

It can be difficult sometimes to focus on one task, but I learned a long time ago that you have to in order to get things done. Jumping from one project to the next is fun, but not very productive! I write down clear goals for myself to follow and hold myself to them. If I follow through, I’ll reward myself with chocolate or free time. That way, there’s more of an incentive to stay focused on one project at a time! Always, always, always finish what you start.

You’ve said your dreams can inspire stories – I’d love to hear an example?

I once had a dream where my husband had been murdered in bed next to me. Graphic, I know—and I didn’t even have a husband! That would eventually inspire my thriller novel, In the Middle of the Night, where a journalist’s husband is murdered and she must solve it while learning some terrible things about her beloved. I’m still hoping that will find a publisher one day.

You started your writing career self-publishing. Tell me about that. How did you go about it? What did you do that you’d perhaps change in hindsight?

I self-published my first fantasy novel, The Girl Who Walked Through Fire, in 2018. I had tried for years to find a publisher and agent and it just wasn’t happening for that novel. I was still determined to get my work out there, so I self-published through Amazon and Draft2Digital. I designed the cover myself and had my mom give me feedback on the story. It was fun! In hindsight, I think I would’ve done some more marketing for it and spread the word a little more. I’m grateful that it’s finally getting readers seven years later! That’s the great thing about writing—it doesn’t need to be a success right out of the gate. You can find your audience, even a large one, decades later.

How do you balance writing with marketing and building an online presence?

It can be tough! I have timers set for myself. A few hours of writing in the morning, then an hour or so on Twitter/X and Instagram in the afternoon. It can be a struggle but marketing and building an online presence are so important! No one will buy your books if they haven’t even heard about them.

What does your average day look like?

It’s pretty much the same every day! I wake up very early, then write a chapter of my current novel. I’ll break for breakfast, answer some emails and social media messages, then a little reading and video game time. For the rest of the afternoon, I write another chapter of my current book and do some light editing on a previous project. Then I usually take the evenings for myself to cook dinner, watch TV, and just relax. I am very blessed to be a full-time author with my family’s support—both emotionally and financially! All my productivity wouldn’t be possible without them, and I love my parents and grandma dearly. Also my two cats, Whitey and Timmy, who sleep next to me while I write. I usually don’t work on weekends either unless I’m on a deadline and need to get something done. I try very hard to balance work and play. If not, I can get a little stressed out!

How do you unwind and chill out?

Video games! They are my true love. Reading books, watching Star Trek with my cats, hanging out with my boyfriend, and going shopping with my grandma helps too. I love buying (and posting selfies in) dresses! That’s very clear across my social media, ha ha.

You’ve said you like to write with a clear plot. How do you go about plotting it? Do you map out every detail? What’s your process?

I keep a notebook on my desk as I write that lists characters, the setting, and major plot points. Sometimes even a world map if I’m writing fantasy or sci-fi, and I hand draw it. I try to make sure I have a clear beginning, middle, and end before I start writing, and I usually write a blurb before too. Who is the protagonist/hero? Who is the antagonist/villain? What is the hero trying to do, and why does the villain want to stop them? How far will they go? What are their best and worst traits to make them seem as realistic and human as possible, even if they aren’t human themselves? (No one is completely evil or completely good, so I try to write complex and flawed characters.) Those are some questions to ask yourself before sitting down to write. I try to outline as much as I can, though I do leave some legroom to improvise. Surprisingly, some of my best ideas have come on the spot! Ultimately, everyone’s process is different, but mine has worked for me for years. The best part about writing is personalizing it and finding what works for you and your schedule.

Do you like to listen to music while you write?

I listen to instrumental music, yes! Mostly soundtracks that fit with the theme of the book I’m writing. For example, if I’m writing fantasy, I might listen to the soundtrack for Game of Thrones. I can’t have any words or singing since it’ll distract me. My favorite soundtracks to listen to are Skyrim, Baldur’s Gate 3, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and James Bond! When not writing, my favorite artists are Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Dua Lipa.

What are you currently reading?

I just finished The Unknown Witch by my friend, Grace Herbst. Right now, I’m currently reading an early copy of The Serpent’s Bridge by SZ Estavillo, a gritty crime thriller with fascinating characters. It releases in August of this year. She’s a talented writer and a lovely friend—plus we now share a publisher—so do check out her work and support her debut novel!

What’s your all-time favourite book?

Oh boy, this is a tough one! Percy Jackson definitely comes to mind. Also the Vampire Academy series. My good friend, AG Rodriguez, has a great fantasy novel called Stone Feather Fang which incorporates Puerto Rican mythology. I love to see diverse authors sharing their cultures and history while weaving them into fantasy and sci-fi worlds. So many good books to choose from!

Is there anything you would like to talk about and mention? Feel free!

You can find out more about me at danagricken.com. Currently, I have eleven novels out and seven book deals coming soon! I write, read, and love all genres and age groups, and I never back down from a project, even when it gets difficult. I’m still in talks for a few other projects, including film and TV rights for my existing novels, so hopefully those will work out. Fingers crossed! All my books can be found on Amazon and other book retailers, both in e-book and paperback forms.

Tell me about your upcoming projects, if they’re not top secret.

Absolutely, I can share a bit! I have a romantic fantasy trilogy coming out with Oliver-Heber Books this year. The first one is called Modern Fairytale. I also have books releasing with Fire and Ice Young Adult, an imprint of Melange Books, called Kingdom of V (a young adult vampire novel and the first in a series), and Coming of Age, a young adult sci-fi and the start of another series, both next year. They’re also publishing my standalone paranormal novel called Chatter this year. Jessica Prince and the Crimson Caper, a young adult mystery and the start of a series in the vein of Nancy Drew, releases this fall from Roan and Weatherford Associates (their young adult imprint called Mad Cat.) Additionally, Evernight Teen is publishing my YA horror novel called Desire and a young adult thriller novel called A Billion Reasons. Whew, that’s a lot—and there’s more going on behind the scenes! My latest release, Whispers in the Woods: A Short Story Collection, inspired by Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, and The Twilight Zone will be released on June 17th, 2024, self-published. More details are found on my website, danagricken.com, or my social media.

And one last question: how do you determine which publisher is a good fit for your book? I guess this isn’t so much of an issue as you’re agented. But how did you avoid publishing scams and cons?

My agent, Jessica Reino of Metamorphosis Literary Agency, is a wonderful resource, yes! She has a lot of knowledge about the publishing industry which is helpful to avoid scams. But anyone can do some investigating. Just typing in “publishers open to submissions” will reveal a treasure trove on the internet. I try to submit to publishers widely, then cross my fingers and hope they like my work. It can be a shot in the dark, but sometimes, it does work out. Make sure to read the submission guidelines on their website to see if they publish the genre you’ve written. When looking at a publisher, investigate their social media first. Do they seem professional? Do their book covers look good? Do they try very hard to promote their authors across social media and maintain a website? Then check websites called Writer’s Beware, Absolute Write, and QueryTracker to see if there are any complaints when it comes to the publisher you’ve chosen. Publisher’s Marketplace also has lists of reputable publishers. Whoever you choose to submit to, they should be respectful, pay their royalties on time, design your cover art, edit and compile your book, market it all, and NEVER ask for money. If they do, that’s a red flag—so run! Make sure to carefully read any contracts you receive for hidden clauses. Remember, if something feels wrong, it usually is. You can always reach out to me or other authors on social media for clarification on contracts and terms if you’re confused. I’ve chatted with many authors and given them free advice and encouragement, something I love to do. Best of luck publishing your books! Please don’t get scammed or get discouraged. Lots of rejection is normal. Keep writing, keep trying, and keep believing! For reference, I have been published by Fire and Ice Books, Roan and Weatherford Associates, Evernight Teen, and Oliver-Heber Books, four publishers who are very reputable and lovely to work with. Feel free to query them or my agent if you think your work is a good fit and they’re open to submissions!

A writer’s search history

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As authors, we sometimes write about things that we don’t necessarily agree with. So our search history can range from bloodthirsty to bizarre (it’s just research, we swear!)

I thought it would be fun to share some of the more weird questions I’ve asked Google in the name of writerly research.

What do you call the chairs they use in nursing homes?

I wanted to know if those special covered, urine-repellent chairs had a name. I still don’t know. I tend to make the mistake of asking Google direct questions, rather than just chucking keywords at it. As a result, I’m so specific it doesn’t understand me.

Another word for… insert whatever word we need a synonym for rather than just reaching for a thesaurus…

Honestly, I’ve lost count of all the times I’ve asked Google for synonyms. I do have a thesaurus as well. I just never use it.

How to throw a javelin.

One of the characters in my latest novel is a highly-proficient thrower of the javelin. Thanks to Google, I now have a basic knowledge of how to stand and how to best throw the spear.

If you’re a writer, what’s the most obscure thing you’ve ever Googled?

Cover reveal for Venom and Blaze!

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I’m so excited to reveal the cover for Venom and Blaze!

Created by the amazing Ashley of Redbird Designs, this cover absolutely exceeded my expectations. I love the simple, striking design and the opulent gold colours.

And, of course, no book cover for Venom and Blaze could be complete without a few spiders here and there. Ashley cleverly came up with the idea of having a spider in the letter O, which I think adds a lovely touch.

For any independent authors or self-publishing authors, I can absolutely recommend working with Ashley. She created an amazing profile that required minimal tweaks and simply blew me away.

My advice for authors briefing cover designers

Take the time to put together the details

Your designer won’t have read your book, so they can only work with what you give them. That means you need to get down to the granular details, including what colour eyes your characters have.

What sort of details do you need to give your cover artist? These might include (but probably aren’t limited to):

  • the name of your book
  • your pen name, if you have one
  • back cover blurb and any taglines, if you have one
  • the time period your book is written in
  • the genre
  • a detailed description of your main characters
  • any design aspects you do or do not want included
  • any visual inspiration – for example, other covers you really love
  • any input on fonts.

I also included a full, hundred word synopsis with spoilers so Ashley could really get a feel for what was going on in the book.

Be respectful

Your designer is also a creative – and we all know how it feels when someone disparages work we’ve put our heart and soul into. If you need them to make amends, be sure to ask for them politely and clearly. Be as specific as possible.

I couldn’t be happier with how the cover turned out – and I really can’t wait to see what magic Ashley comes up with for Fable and Legend, the second book in the series!

What stage are we at with Venom and Blaze?

I am still waiting for the proof print copy to reach me. As my publisher is in the United States, this is taking a wee while. Once I receive it, I’ll go through it one more time with a fine-tooth comb to check for any errors. I’ll then sign off the errata form, either confirming all is okay or requesting any final tweaks. After that, I’ll be able to confirm the release date and then the countdown begins!

A playlist for Venom and Blaze

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I love it when people take the trouble to put a playlist together for me to listen to. So, my little present to you is a series of songs to listen to while you read Venom and Blaze. Every song has a link (in my head) to the story of one of the characters.

Venom

Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me? – Taylor Swift

Venom is a complex character who has the potential to choose between right and wrong. Her upbringing and situation has made her feel powerless in life and there’s a very clear moment in the story where she has to choose which way she wants to go and whether to to what she knows is right or embrace her darkness.

This song, by Taylor Swift, reminds me of Venom’s personality and the descent of compromising who she is in a desperate bid for survival.

Blaze

Thunder – Imagine Dragons

Blaze is a dreamer who doesn’t fit the mould. Irrespective of the jeering of his contemporaries, he has his own path to forge and he does so with relentless conviction.

This song, by Imagine Dragons, reminds me of Blaze’s fearlessness in the face of all odds.

Thorn

We Could Be So Good Together – The Doors

I can’t say too much about why this is Thorn’s song without giving away some key plot details. Sufficient to say, if you study the lyrics to this song by The Doors, it fits Thorn’s motivation and actions surprisingly well!

Viper

you should see me in a crown – Billie Eilish

Power is what drives Viper – and what better song to celebrate his unhinged actions than with a spot of Billie Eilish?

There are, of course, other characters in the book. Once you’ve read it, I’d love to hear what songs you think would suit their personalities.

My first draft is completed!

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My first draft of my latest WIP has just been completed!

This story has been simmering away for several months, having been started (and then unceremoniously dumped as Mirrordom demanded attention) and then re-ignited again over the month of May. I then decided to meticulously map out what was going to happen in the story so I could have a plan in mind. And then, at the end, it didn’t matter because a twist happened that even took me by surprise.

Most brilliant writers say their process involves having a basic plan and then writing what comes. I wish I could do that, but unfortunately being a careful planner, I need to write down, chapter by chapter, what is going to happen next. In spite of this, however, I still get taken by surprise by things that happen.

Completing the first draft

Now the first draft is done, I’m going to…

…do absolutely nothing with it.

The fallow period, where I let the work sit for several weeks or months, is an important part of the process. It allows my brain to change gear and then come back to the manuscript afresh. Invariably, this means I pick up a ton of faults that I have to change.

Once the fallow period is over, I’ll go back in and edit it to within an inch of its life. I already know I need to do a lot of character developing and flesh out some of the villains to make them more threatening.

As always, I will format the book for print (which is another good way of encouraging my brain to look at it in a different light, rather than just reading a Word document.) I’ll be looking out for typing errors and inconsistencies, as well as a healthy chunk of developmental editing – which basically means ensuring the writing itself is as tight and gripping as it can and should be.

Will it ever get published?

Who knows? At this stage, it’s not on the radar in the immediate future because there’s far too much work to do to get the manuscript up to scratch. After that’s done, I do have a few publishers I’d like to send it to but nothing is ever guaranteed.

What’s the point of mentioning it then?

This blog has always been about documenting my journey to getting published – and that includes mentioning all the ones that may not get there. I have loads of WIPs at any given time – this is just one of them and it may or may not see the light of day. What I can say is that this is one of my current favourite stories and I’d be really proud to see it on shelves at some point in the future. Until then, there’s a lot of work to do.

(But first, a nap. I have just finished the first draft of a novel, after all!)

The next project

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The year 3034 is the setting for my current work in progress, a novel about a dystopian future. I’m working on this as we speak and really enjoying making predictions about how the world might be a thousand years from now.

I had the idea for this novel based on a BBC programme from the 1960s where a group of adorable youngsters were interviewed about what they thought the future would be like. Something one of the young lads said got me thinking and sparked off an idea.

The novel is told from dual points of view and has a host of new characters and lots and lots of robots!

Currently, I’m 20,000 words in and on the tenth chapter. It’s been one of those that I’ve picked up and put down a few times so there’s no prognosis for when it gets finished – but I know that it will get finished (unlike the many, many other drafts that remain in various states of abandonment on my laptop!) I needed to take a break from it while I processed ideas and figured out what might happen next.

I like to plan all my books out, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, so I have at least a loose grasp on what might happen next. I don’t find this inhibits me at all, as the story does its own thing regardless of how carefully I plan it.

What is the premise?

It’s 3034. Society is structured into three tiers, with the lowest tier having virtually no rights. Naturally, this highly unfair system causes quite a lot of discontent. There’s a robot to perform virtually every task, from gardening to nursing to teaching.

The protagonist is a girl called Serena who attends the highly-elite Lynwood Academy, which just so happens to founded by the man who created the tier system for modern society. And when one of the robots is found deliberately destroyed on the front lawn, it sparks off a chain reaction of consequences. Who would want to do that? And why?

What genre is it?

In spite of all the robots, I really wouldn’t call it sci-fi. Probably more dystopian YA, which seems to be my favourite to write. I love creating a flawed world and having characters that are idealistic enough to try and fix it. I feel that premise allows me to explore different facets of humanity and how good intentions can lead to differing consequences.

What has been the most fun to write so far?

The little predictions for the future have been the most fun. I love anticipating what technological advances could be achieved by then and how they might impact everyday life.

Who is my favourite character?

My favourite characters are always the villains. They’re the most fun to write, in my opinion, and it allows us authors to unleash our dark side. So, I can’t wait for you to meet Scorpio Lynwood and Governor Blake.

What next?

Next, I have to finish the writing part! After that, the editing part. After that, more editing. And more. And more until I wither away completely.

Not all novels I write are intended to be published – quite a few of them I simply write for fun. This may well be one of them, but I thought it would be worth sharing this part of the journey so anyone interested can get a feel for what’s going on behind the scenes.

I also have to think about promotion for Venom and Blaze, editing for Fable and Legend, editing for City and Shadow, finishing off Flame and Phoenix and then editing Quiver and Arrow. So, along with my day job, I do have plenty to keep me out of mischief.

Can I write two books simultaneously?

Yes, I put a pen in each hand and off I go!

The non-facetious response is actually, yes, I can. I don’t find it too much of a problem – perhaps I’m not doing it properly and immersing myself in it as I should be – but it almost seems to me that the process of doing two together unlocks different parts of my brain. Or perhaps the act of switching tones of voice and changing tack allows me to unconsciously solve problems I’m not deliberately thinking about? I’m sure it’s not the done way to go about things, but I do enjoy having multiple projects on the go at once. So I’m currently working on more books in the Mirrordom Legends and my futuristic novel. Watch this space*!

*If, after ten minutes of watching this space, nothing has happened yet, you can always read other blog posts or take my quiz to find out which City and Shadow character you are. Then come back here and post your results so I can see them!