Tag: Historical

  • Evelyn Reads Sally

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    Sally is a western written by independent author Sara Flower Kjeldsen. It takes place in the fictional town of White Oaks during the nineteenth century, a place where things are not as they seem.

    Cover for the book Sally by Sara Flower Kjeldsen
    Sally by Sara Flower Kjeldsen

    This story is primarily focused on Sally, a young creative girl who plans to attend university to study art. However, her life is uprooted when a tornado touches down near her home, shattering her dreams.

    She finds herself married, barred off from the life she hoped for. As she struggles to find herself in her new life, the veil surrounding the town is lifted, revealing truths she’s ill equipped to deal with. This strains relation with her husband, family, and friends sending her deeper down the rabbit hole. In the end you’ll be left wondering how this will turn out.

    Sally is a quick read that explores what happens when a creative soul is denied an outlet. The characters are fleshed out and feel real, and the situations may seem all too familiar to some. After reading the last page, you’ll be left yearning for more!


  • Evelyn Reads The Turquoise Spider

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    The Turquoise Spider is the first book of the Elizabeth Hunter-Payne Steampunk Adventures written by Mikala Ash. This series takes place during the golden age of an alternate Victorian England filled with technology and wonder.

    Cover for The Turquoise Spider by Mikala Ash
    The Turquoise Spider by Mikala Ash

    This first-person novella focuses on Elizabeth, a war widow, who has a nose for mystery and a knack for asking hard-hitting questions. Before Elizabeth can hang her shingle at her detective agency, she’s pulled into a case that will blow the social norms and mores of the era out of the water.

    Ash breathes life into her characters, and the world they inhabit. Her choice of era specific language and cultural idiosyncrasies lends authenticity to the tale. 

    Elizabeth is relatable and a joy to follow. She’s feminine, cultured, headstrong, and gifted with a healthy dose of Holmesian wit. In the end, you may even find that she’s more of a Libertine than originally expected. 

    The Turquoise Spider is a steamy steampunk mystery that is easily consumed in a single sitting. Highly recommended for any fan of steampunk and mysteries, as long as you don’t mind the heat!


  • Evelyn Reads A Seahag’s Song

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    A Seahag’s Song is a historical fantasy written by independent author Sara Flower Kjeldsen. This short story follows a sea hag, a woman cursed to haunt the ocean depths. A creature who is focused on a young maiden pushing the boundaries of her society.

    A Seahag's Song by Sara Flower Kjeldsen
    A Seahag’s Song by Sara Flower Kjeldsen

    This character-driven tale involves many themes and forces the reader to ask. What is beauty? How much is our world view  tainted by our experiences? Have we been corrupted by how we view ourselves? Would we want to forget all our woes? If so, at what cost?

    Kjeldsen breathes life to these characters as the story reaches a surprising end. While you may be initially reviled by this cursed woman, you’ll soon fall under her spell.

    This quick read is well-worth your time!


  • Evelyn Reads The Peasant Woman

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    The Peasant Woman is a historical fantasy novella written by independent author Sara Flower Kjeldsen. Her tale begins with a prince whose life they spent waiting to become King.

    The Peasant Woman by Sara Flower Kjeldsen
    The Peasant Woman by Sara Flower Kjeldsen

    Plans have a tendency to fall off the rails, and in this case, fail spectacularly. After getting knocked out during an escape attempt, he wakes up in a peasant’s home. Soon after, he meets a woman and the life that could not be farther removed from his.

    What follows is a tale of discovery, introducing this prince the harshness of life and eventually puts him in a situation to choose the life they would rather live. Ultimately, The Peasant Woman is a fast read that delivers a satisfying conclusion.


  • Evelyn Reads The Inevitable Fate of E & J

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    Love has often been portrayed as a powerful force, capable of creating unimaginable beauty, or able to change the course of history itself. When dealing with such power, one may wonder if love could even transcend death. Could a pair of starstruck lovers be reunited in another life? What about the mechanics? Would there be strings attached? The Inevitable Fate of E & J by Johanna L. Randle aims to address these questions.

    Inevitable Fate of E & J by Johanna L. Randle

    This book is presented in first person form and is focused on two teenaged characters. There is a complex history between the two, nuanced by a tragedy that occurred outside of their control and a friendship that appeared to be destined to be unbreakable. Neither character is perfect. They are forced to deal with their insecurities, their place in the social strata, and the tempest of emotions many experience while going through high school. It is these flaws that make the characters seem… so human… so real.

    This book is a quick read, with chapters that split the story into bite-sized pieces for those of us who cannot dedicate large blocks of time to reading. Changes in point of view are clearly indicated at the start of a chapter enabling a reader to follow along with ease. There is also an historical component to this story which is woven beautifully into the chapters themselves in the form of dreams, flashbacks, and hallucinations.

    Johanna has done a beautiful job of bringing this story to life. This character driven tale is sure to please, and will leave you yearning for more as you wait for the next book of the series!


  • The Van Helsing Paradox is Hot!

    Wow! According to Amazon.com, the Van Helsing Paradox is currently ranked 1209th for free books in the Kindle store. It’s also listed at number 25 for Paranormal and number 41 for Urban Fantasy! While I don’t expect that to last, still it’s nice to see.

    Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,209 Free in Kindle Store

      • #25 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Paranormal
      • #41 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Urban

    The Van Helsing Paradox, a historical Dark Fantasy, is available in both print or as a free eBook.


  • The Grand is Out! Time to Celebrate?

    Even things that go bump in the night need a place to unwind

    The Grand is officially out and available on multiple platforms, formats and even in print! From Amazon to Smashwords the eBook is freely available for your delight. So time to celebrate? At least get to enjoy the doughnut!

    The Grand shown in multiple formats, including print

    Now for a little something about the Grand.

    Nestled atop a cliff overlooking a cursed valley and surrounded by foreboding mountains you will find The Grand. At this ritzy French palatial-style hotel where things tend to go terribly wrong for some. This hotel is not only for the rich and famous but a favoured destination for things that go bump in the night.

    The Grand is a collection of Gothic horror stories that revolve around a town prosecutor who accidentally discovers a series of grizzly case files. Individual stories incorporate supernatural themes based in the Roaring Twenties to create a rich historical, linguistic and cultural backdrop.

    Centred on victims of the Grand, each story brings a different point of view related to the hotel, their staff and esteemed guests.

    goodreads_inversed

  • The End of the Fourteenth Cycle

    Even Things That Go Bump in the Night Need a Place to Unwind

    I have completed my fourteenth review of the Grand. This review resulted in a 42% decrease in corrections when compared to the thirteenth cycle. Ethereal Nights had the most substantial drop of 88%, while Penny Dreadful increased by the 400%. Overall, there were 45 corrections which averages 3 changes per chapter.

    About half the chapters saw a drop in changes during this cycle. Of note, One Flight Over averaged of 4,452 words between corrections. Here is a summary for this cycle:

    • There was a 42% drop in corrections when compared to revision thirteen;
    • 45 modifications for the entire work;
    • 3 modifications per chapter;
    • Ethereal Nights had the most substantial drop at 88%;
    • Penny Dreadful increased by 400%; and
    • One Flight Over averaged 4,452 words between corrections.

    These revision took far less time than revisions prior to seven and for the following reasons:

    • It takes far less time to run through the material;
    • There are far fewer errors to find with an average of 1,951 words between corrections. This improves on the 1,209 words per change seen in revision twelve and is the first above a thousand; and
    • Changes implemented are minor in scope.

    This is effectively makes this revision my last. I have handed the work over to a copy editor and will include those changes in what would be officially known as the fifteenth revision. Also, since revision zero was my first revision the grand total would be sixteen total revisions to get this novel ready!


  • The End of the Thirteenth Cycle

    Even Things That Go Bump in the Night Need a Place to Unwind

    I have completed my thirteenth review of the Grand. This review resulted in a 15% decrease in corrections when compared to the twelfth cycle. Journey Through the River of Belief had the most substantial drop of 50%, while Old Soul increased by the same amount. Overall, there were 77 corrections which averages 5 changes per chapter.

    About half the chapters saw a drop in changes during this cycle. Of note Penny Dreadful averaged of 4,292 words between corrections. Here is a summary for this cycle:

    • There was a 15% drop in corrections when compared to revision twelve;
    • 77 modifications for the entire work;
    • 5 modifications per chapter;
    • Journey Through the River of Belief had the most substantial drop at 50%;
    • Old Soul increased by 50%; and
    • Penny Dreadful averaged 4,292 words between corrections.

    These revision took far less time than revisions prior to seven and for the following reasons:

    • It takes far less time to run through the material;
    • There are far fewer errors to find with an average of 1,209 words between corrections. This improves on the 819 words per change seen in revision twelve and is the first above a thousand; and
    • Changes implemented are minor in scope.

    I expect to keep pushing through these revisions until the total amount of corrections drop well below 50 for the manuscript. So as it stands, I expect there is one revision left.


  • On the Subject of Names

    Finding a good name has been the bane of authors and expectant parents alike.  For centuries we have struggled to come up with names that fits our characters and sets them apart from our other creations.

    Featured_On_The_Subject_of_Names
    Would Jane Doe work as a name for this young lady?

    It is my belief that stories set in the future names have no limits. How cold anyone fathom naming trends fifty years from now? How about a thousand? A good example of this phenomenon can be drawn from history. During the 1920s these were the most popular names for girls in the United States.

    • Mary
    • Dorothy
    • Helen
    • Betty
    • Margaret
    • Ruth
    • Virginia
    • Doris
    • Mildred
    • Frances

    Fifty years later these were the most popular names in the United States.

    • Jennifer
    • Amy 
    • Melissa
    • Michelle 
    • Kimberly
    • Lisa
    • Angela
    • Heather
    • Stephanie
    • Nicole 

    Who could have foreseen such a shift in names over a half-a-century? Mind you there is a reason why names from the 1970s are more mainstream now. Those names belong to people in their 30s to 40s which are now mothers, teachers and even celebrities.

    Still we look for inspiration when it comes to finding names. We desire some sort of guide which will shine the way. Fortunately, when it comes to historical names we have the benefit of foresight.

    Most countries have records spanning centuries, these also provide an invaluable source of names. The trick is to avoid using names from the decade in which the story is based. Instead, we have to rely on names from an earlier period.

    For example, a forty-year old character set during the Roaring Twenties would have been born in the 1880s. Knowing this, the name Dorothy may not be accurate for someone born in that era.

    For North America, a good source of names is the Social Security Administration‘s website and records.  To find names, select the decade you wish (starting from 1880) and look at the top 100 names for the period.  Next, simply scroll through the names and find one that strikes your fancy.

    As for family names there are a myriad of sites which carry that information as well.  I found a site which contains the 1000 most common family names in the United States.  Again, use such sites to narrow down your selection and make it historically accurate.

    That is how I came up with names like:

    • Ida Bell
    • Elmer Bell
    • Eleanor Green
    • Molly Webster
    • Thelma Walker
    • Mavis Johnson
    • Eugene White
    • Cecil Clark
    • Lewis Hall

    Some of these names are clearly dated but are oddly familiar. Hence these are the names that may be associated with a  grandparent or even a great-grandparent. They feel old and dated, hence they feel authentic for someone who lived during the Roaring Twenties.

    To find names which are modern, the same resources can be applied.  Just dial in the appropriate decade to work from and you are done.


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