Guest Post By Miranda Stork: How Does Coffee Help My Writing?

It’s the release day of Miranda Stork’s newest novel, Erin, the sequel to Conner. To help celebrate Miranda will be traveling around the interwebs doing interviews, guest posts, and having other fun activities. For most details check out the event page on Facebook. To find out more about the book, be sure to read the blurb after this post.

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How Does Coffee Help My Writing?

Well, in short, it has no effect on me. Basically because I don’t drink an awful lot of coffee. I’m the annoying picky sort who only likes coffee when it’s really milky and from a huge steel machine. Coffee at home just doesn’t do it for me.

But I know an awful lot of writers who constantly say how much they need it. Because they all post pictures of coffee up at the same time on Facebook. And as we know, if you saw it on Facebook, and it’s about coffee, it must be true. Right?

And nearly all of them will proclaim that they need it to write the next chapter. Now speaking as someone who isn’t hooked on coffee, I find this interesting. I don’t even drink tea that often. I drink…wait for it…milk. And juice. But not tea or coffee on a morning because they’re too hot and I would upset the tummy monsters. Or something. But to be so hooked on caffeine would be amusing. I have recently discussed a possible plot about coffee with a friend, where we pondered what might happen if coffee suddenly wasn’t available. Would there be an increase in murders committed early in the morning by writers across the world? Would drug dealers be replaced by baristas on street corners? “Psst, buddy. I’ve got some genuine African dark coffee bean. You want some? You can make one hell of an espresso with this; you’ll be bouncing off the walls.”

People would be trying to make coffee substitutes. Wives and husbands would return from work to find their partners mixing tea and brown paint in the kitchen, grinding it in the blender. “I’ve got this time-I’m sure of it!”

Eventually, one dark and stormy night, people come out of their houses, in some sort of caffeine-deprived zombie state. They roam through the once-coffee shops, now turned into banks or diners, or something else soul-crushing. Cars are tipped over, supermarkets have to be closed, as the half-dressed people fill the streets with their dark-ringed eyes. “Coffeeee…..coooofffeeeeeeee.”

Something like that anyway. That would totally happen.

Now I’ve got a confession to make.

I may not drink tea or coffee. And I like me a little ‘adult drink’ but definitely not when I’m writing. But…I do smoke. I know, I know, spare me the lecture, I’m not deaf. You have your crutches, I have mine. And the world keeps on turning.

But the point I want make, is I do understand the need for something to get you going on a morning. Something that your body screams for, before it lets your brain kick into gear and decide what kind of multi-coloured nonsense it’s going to spill onto the laptop this early morn. And my first cigarette is like that. When I wake up, I can try struggling along without that first one. And I have done that. I’m clumsy, I forget everything, I struggle to think properly…but if I do have a cigarette, everything instantly falls into place.

I would just like to also note at this point, I don’t smoke that much. Probably seven a day-max.

But I still need that ‘something’ going through my bloodstream. And I’m not the first. And I won’t be the last. All throughout history, it’s well documented that writers and poets of all descriptions have used some sort of ‘crutch’. Whether it was coffee, alcohol, cigarettes…or even drugs…almost all of them have or do use something. And if they say they don’t, they’re lying.

So in conclusion, these are my thoughts. Come back here a minute, I’m not finished yet. No, not yet. Yes, that coffee will stay hot. All writers seem to need an extra something to help us get on with our writing. Lots of people who aren’t writers do as well, but writers make a bigger point of it. And we shouted loudest, so we win, and you can’t have any give-backsies. Where was I? Oh, yes.

I say this. If writers have the capability to pull entire worlds from their minds where you can lose yourself, if they can create characters so real women swoon over them and men snigger at them, if they can create villains so nasty they keep you up at night…then shouldn’t they be allowed their ‘extra something’? Coffee or otherwise? Because it might just be that vital ingredient that is helping to create the next book you want to read.

So if you see a writer struggling, buy them a coffee. It’s for the good of everyone.

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Erin is a suspense horror/paranormal fantasy, a sequel to Conner, a werewolf story that makes the usual story a little bit darker than most. It continues to tell the story still from several different angles, making it unique to other similar stories. Erin is different to any other book in its genre. It is written in an entirely new way, turning the myth of werewolves completely on its head; not borrowing from the tired Hollywood genres, but using more ancient myths as the springboard for its ideas. It is far edgier and darker than its prequel, drawing people further into the dark world of the supernatural. It has more than one side to it, as it encompasses horror, suspense, romance, thrills, and even dark humour.

You can purchase the NEWLY RELEASED novel ERIN from Amazon US & UK! Be one of the first to own it.

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About Miranda Stork

I was born in Guisborough, North Yorkshire in 1987 and have lived in various places around Britain, including Newcastle and Glasgow.

My writing is inspired by various writers, including the vivid characters of Charles Dickens, the imagination of Stephen King, and the gothic imagery of Anne Rice.

My love of horror began at an early age, when I was only three or four. I could read proficiently at the age of three, and devoured fairy-stories, but I always had a bent towards the darker stories, such as the Brother’s Grimm’s tales…Red Riding Hood was always a firm favourite, although I always felt sorry for the wolf, despite him having tried to eat everyone!

Find more on Miranda:

• Miranda’s Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
•  Amazon Author page
  • US
  • UK

Interview with Miranda Stork And The Bassinville Witches Series

Miranda Stork is the author of the ongoing series The Bassinville Witches. It already has two installments and has already grabbed me in for the long-haul. I wanted to know a bit more about the series and what’s in store for the future, so instead of asking Miranda privately, I felt like asking her to share her answers with my readers.

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Hello Miranda, you’re no stranger to my blog lately. Because of that I’d like to skip all the “nice to have you here” crap and get to why we’re all here; you’re series of novellas, The Bassinville Witches. Would you like to introduce people who don’t know the series to it?

Charming, shall I get my own tea as well? Only kidding!……but not about the tea. The Bassinville Witches is basically an idea I had a couple of months ago. I wanted to create a series that was almost like a serial story publication of the Victorian era. On top of that, I’m Wiccan myself, and wanted to create something that was based on Wicca. Of course the series suspends belief a little; I certainly can’t do most of the things in the books! It follows Catherine, a young witch from England, now living in Louisiana in a Wiccan town, as she goes on the trail of twelve mystical stones. This isn’t your usual magical fairy story though, there’s kidnapping, sex, danger, and even murder!

Tea? You want tea? What kind of place do you think I run here?!?!?!? Just kidding, here’s some tea for you. Don’t mind the funny taste, that’s just a little whiskey. It might calm you down a little. Hands over the tea….and bottle.

Now back to the questions. So far you have two installments, With You in Spirit and Playing With Fire. I’ve enjoyed them both and eagerly await your next release. How many should readers expect to see in the series and what kind of release schedule are you planning? Will they all be monthly installments?

Yes, I’m going to have a novella in the series out every month, and there will be 12 altogether in the series, one out on the 20th of each month. The next one, ‘An Ill Wind’ is out 20th August. I may be compiling them in some way into special editions when all of them have come out.

Wow, an entire year of sex, murder, magic…and sex. I know what I’ll be doing during that time of the month. The 20th I mean, weirdo. I know what you thought I meant.

Why did you choose to write twelve serial novellas instead of, say, 3-4 novels. I can tell from the ending of Playing With Fire that the format gives a better chance for multiple cliffhangers while a series of novels would only allow for a few.

I hadn’t really decided how many to write when I started out, but when I began to write the first one, I realised I would have to choose how many. I needed enough that I would be able to fit in all the things I had planned, so I chose to it over a year, and do one every month. It does allow for more cliffhangers as well, as you say, which hopefully will keep the excitement hanging on.

It sure does have me excited. I’m still on the edge of my seat after that last one.

You are from across the pond, yet you decided to set the series in Louisiana. What was your reasoning for doing so?

I have visited New Orleans and a little of Louisiana some time ago, and absolutely fell in love with both places. Aside from the heat, which I really didn’t like, I loved the atmosphere and the laid-back attitude there. The magical eclecticness of New Orleans really stayed with me as well.

I’m glad you enjoyed it there. I’m not one for the heat either, so maybe I’ll stay away. Thanks for sharing about the series a bit. If you wouldn’t mind, I have just a few more questions for you.

Aside from The Bassinville Witches series you also have a novel entitled Conner and a story collection Craving. Would you mind telling my readers a little bit about them and any other projects you have in store for the future?

Well Conner was my debut novel, and the sequel, Erin comes out in September. Conner is a paranormal fantasy thriller about a young psychologist who gets given a strange new patient to work with. The patient believes he is a creature of legend-a werewolf. But it soon becomes clear that there is more to him than meets the eye. Craving is a collection of paranormal erotica; I wrote these because erotica sells quite well at the moment, and I was told my *ahem* ruder scenes in Conner were okay. So I thought, ‘why not’? As I said before, the sequel to Conner, come out on September 3rd, Erin. It continues the story on from Conner, and……well, I can’t say much more yet, unless you’ve read the first one! I’m also starting a new series in December, the Scarlet Rain series. It will be focussing on a futuristic dystopian society, where vampires have taken control of humans, and humans have become somewhat de-volved. The first book will be set in present day, but will set up the series, with events that lead to the futuristic society. 

You have a variety of different paranormal and mythical creatures in your writing. What is your favorite to write about? And if you can let us know (without spoiling future Bassinville stories) of any creatures to look out for.?

Wow, that’s a good question. I think my favourite creatures I’ve written about so far would have to be werewolves. They aren’t used much in literature now, and when they are, they are normally Scottish ones with too much muscle and a centuries-old longing for some random women. I wanted to change that up a little and make them more like the animal that resides within them. Ooh, I can’t give any of that away! But I can tell you that I will be including some folk-lore form the Orkney Islands, and some creatures from Nordic legend as well. It’s going to be a big cast!

Darn it! I was hoping you’d let something slip out. You already have a great and growing cast in the series. I guess I’ll just have to be surprised. Let me get to the final question, now that I see the tea is gone…and where’d that bottle go? Oh, wait. There it is. Looks like it was in my hands the whole time.

As always, I like to leave the hardest question for the end of interviews. If I stump you, I’m sorry…just try to answer it to the best of your ability without making yourself look bad, please: If a kitten, a puppy, a wombat, and a giraffe walk into a bar….what day is it?

Well, I’ll admit I don’t know what day of the week it is, but that is one funky bar! When does the lion turn up?

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If you’d like to find more about Miranda Stork please drop by her blog or any of the following links:

• Miranda’s Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
•  Amazon Author page
  • US
  • UK

Since this was mainly about The Bassinville Witches Series, I’d like to direct you to the current releases as well as my reviews for them. I highly recommend them for fans of genre.

With You in Spirit
Buy US UK
Review

Playing With Fire
Buy US UK
Review

Authors We Love Part XIX: Miranda Stork And A Great Crime….Writer

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I’m back! Yup, I have yet another ‘Author’s We Love’ post today, thanks to the brilliant Rob Zimmermann for inviting me back. So sit up straight children, and listen, because it’s very interesting. Yes, even you at the back.
Most of the authors I love seem to be older ones, as last time I chose Charles Dickens, and this time I am choosing…..Agatha Christie.

Of all female writers who wrote crime, she was definitely a pioneer. She wrote not only a character called ‘Miss Marple’, but also another character, a favourite of mine, Mr Hecule Poirot. Just saying his name bring up the wonderful image of the short, elaborately-moustached Belgian detective. In a time where women and men were thought to think in different ways, she wrote a male character-and he was more than believable. Agatha Christie showed that a woman could think as sharply as a man-if not more than most people anyway, in her case-through her novels.

I loved that it showed you could write anything you wanted, with no barriers, and it had a huge effect on my writing. To this day, I write as I want, no barriers. I blend several genres in the same melting pot, and cook them into something (hopefully) readable. I don’t panic when I have to write a male character, as I’m confident enough that from observing human behaviour, and talking to men, I can create a believable character. Christie’s novels showed me that as a writer you must not only write what you know, but also what you learn.

I remember the first novel I read by Agatha Christie was Murder on the Orient Express. Now, I pride myself on being that annoying person, five minutes into the film, says “I know who did it!” But I never saw the twist coming. I’m sure most of you reading this may have at least seen the film, if not the book, but in case anyone has I’m not going to mention it here. But it was enough of a twist that I put my book down at the point I found out, stared into space for a few seconds as I thought it over in my mind, and realised that if this had ever been done since, it had never been so well, and this had been the very first one. It was an original twist. Something that I at least strive for in my novels and stories.
Agatha Christie also had a great command of dropping ‘red herrings’. Anyone who has read my novels knows that she definitely influenced me here. I drop them left, right, and centre like they’re going to be rotten tomorrow. The subtle (or sometimes not so subtle) dropping of clues which are misleading is something of an art form. She managed to lead people just far enough down the garden path to let them make their own incorrect conclusions, leaving you hanging on to see if you were right, until she spins around with the lead-pipe in her hand and says, “Ah hah! No, this is where I hid it.” And bam! Christie hits you with another twist. I also want to do this in my novels, because although there are within the paranormal genre, they are at least slight thrillers. It can be great fun to spin readers around until they get dizzy and point to the wrong word, all while unfurling the story further along the road for them to discover. I can’t think of a single Agatha Christie book where this wasn’t done.

A complaint I hear a lot in regards to Christie’s novels is, “But it’s something old people watch or read; what enjoyment will I get out of it?” Okay, so I don’t know anyone who asked me that well, but I’m not going to muddy this post by including a Teesside accent from England. The beauty of Christie’s novels is that they are timeless. Even if you are somehow unaffected by the opulent grace and style of the Thirties, or the posh English and clipped American accents bickering over who killed Grandma across afternoon tea, you can still appreciate that her storylines continue to this day. All of the morals she brings up still exist, and people do still murder each other and try to get away with it. It’s the sign of a great book, that it becomes so classic it will never go out of fashion.

Agatha Christie inspired my writing maybe as strongly as Charles Dickens, and that is the main reason she is another of my favourite authors. I strive for her cleverness and quit-witted thought in all my writing, pondering how I could make something seem more mis-leading, or altogether a fat red herring. Aside from being an amazing writer with an incredible knack for getting a character exactly right, she had humour and logic in her novels, two qualities I feel set her books apart. There have been many attempts to imitate her, but I feel none will ever touch that amazing thought than ran through my head when I discovered the twist of Murder on the Orient Express.

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About Miranda:

I was born in Guisborough, North Yorkshire in 1987 and have lived in various places around Britain, including Newcastle and Glasgow.

My writing is inspired by various writers, including the vivid characters of Charles Dickens, the imagination of Stephen King, and the gothic imagery of Anne Rice.

My love of horror began at an early age, when I was only three or four. I could read proficiently at the age of three, and devoured fairy-stories, but I always had a bent towards the darker stories, such as the Brother’s Grimm’s tales…Red Riding Hood was always a firm favourite, although I always felt sorry for the wolf, despite him having tried to eat everyone!

Find more on Miranda:

• Miranda’s Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
•  Amazon Author page
  • US
  • UK

Review: Playing With Fire, By Miranda Stork

Title: Playing With Fire (The Bassinville Witches Series #2)
Author: Miranda Stork
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Catherine has found herself even more deeply embroiled in a centuries old struggle for the stones, but she now has the enigmatic Caden by her side, although she still doesn’t know if she can trust him yet…

Meanwhile, another person has an interest in the stones, a fury who has been locked away for an eternity, and isn’t too welcoming towards people. Then one night she sees Catherine and her friends peering in on her through scrying…

Remember, you will always get burnt if you play with fire…. (Description from Goodreads)

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This is the second of MANY novellas that will be compiling The Bassinville Witches Series from Miranda Stork. It takes off right where With You In Spirit left off. I  can’t tell you where that is though. You’ll need to read the first installment in order to find out.

Everything that I enjoyed from the first novella shines through again in this one. The characters are great, the pace moves right along making it hard to put the book down (my iTouch dying is the only reason I really stopped at times), and there are ever a few more characters to fall in love with.

Since it’s mentioned in the blurb, I’ll tell you that I can’t wait to see more of the fury, Pelephone. She’s a very intense no-nonsense character who immense power. Another new character Sebastian, while not being on my good side, was a great addition as well. He’s an arrogant prick really, but it works for him. I also see a lot of Barney Stinson in him…that’s always a plus.

Oh, for those wondering, there is more steamy action between the sheets…well kind of. I won’t ruin that by telling you any more. Just know that you’ll probably enjoy it if you’re into that stuff

If I were going to give a rating to various sections of this novella, I’d give the ending scene 15 out of 5 stars. Does that sound like an exaggeration? Well, it’s not. It’s an intense scene and then to put it bluntly, it bluntly ends. I wanted to yell at the author for making me want to read the next installment right away SO BADLY. I actually did “yell” at her on Facebook as soon as I read the last line. It was brilliant. I’ve read some cliffhangers in the past but this one is by far the most painful to sit through. I know August isn’t that far away for the next one, but I WANT IT NOOOOWWWWWW!!!!

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I was born in Guisborough, North Yorkshire in 1987 and have lived in various places around Britain, including Newcastle and Glasgow.

My writing is inspired by various writers, including the vivid characters of Charles Dickens, the imagination of Stephen King, and the gothic imagery of Anne Rice.

My love of horror began at an early age, when I was only three or four. I could read proficiently at the age of three, and devoured fairy-stories, but I always had a bent towards the darker stories, such as the Brother’s Grimm’s tales…Red Riding Hood was always a firm favourite, although I always felt sorry for the wolf, despite him having tried to eat everyone!

Find more on Miranda:

• Miranda’s Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
•  You can buy this novella from Amazon
  • US
  • UK

Great New Releases For This Week!

Because I didn’t give my readers an Authors We Love post for this week, I’d like to appease you all with something else.

Yesterday was a great day for books. There were THREE great authors all releasing some great novellas. I was lucky enough to receive and fall in love with two of these novellas as ARCs in recent weeks. The third novella I’ll share with you is the second in a series of novellas, which I have just finished the first of a few days ago.

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Her Sweetest Downfall by Rebecca Hamilton

Great Paxton, 1808
Ophelia knew two things for certain: First, the mark where her neck met her shoulder was not there yesterday, and second, if Lady Karina caught sight of it, she would hand her over to the church.
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The town would make no exception of her; she would suffer the same fate as Alice Russel, declared a witch and murdered in a fury of violent outcry. 

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Ophelia’s been successful at hiding her true identity, until the mark of the serpent appears on her neck—a death sentence, should it be seen by anyone in her town. Hiding the mark might save her from falling victim to the witch hunts of her era, but the scorching sensation it carries can’t be ignored.

When mysterious Ethan is sent to collect her for a life of something more, she learns concealing the mark is the least of her worries. She’s destined to don a new mask—to join a dark, supernatural world and protect the future of people she may never meet.

What she doesn’t know—what she learns too late—is that her initiation won’t be complete until she kills the man she loves.

HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL is a novella of around 30,000 words, written as a gift to fans of the Forever Girl series. This novella will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, fantasy, and vampires.

For a little more convincing here’s my review.

Can be purchased on Amazon (FREE day July Sunday 22 & Monday 23)

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The Sin Collector: Thomas by Jessica Fortuanto

This story is meant to be read following Book One in The Sin Collector Series.

Thomas has taken vows. As an immortal, he is impervious to harm on the battlefield. As a Collector, he alone can take away the sins of the fallen and allow them to move peacefully into the next life. 
But valor never comes without sacrifice.

Far away from combat is his home, and her name is Lucy. Lucy is a human and frail from the explosion that nearly took her life, but Thomas’s duty pulls him from her before she can recover. His letters are his only connection to her, and to her caretaker, Thomas’s best friend Emmilina.

Thomas has gone to War for his God and for honor but there is an even more personal mission that drives him. 
He will find other Collectors, and tell them the secrets he has learned.

Read my reaction to this novella here.

Grab a copy from Amazon and GET COLLECTED today!

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Playing With Fire by Miranda Stork

Catherine has found herself even more deeply embroiled in a centuries old struggle for the stones, but she now has the enigmatic Caden by her side, although she still doesn’t know if she can trust him yet…

Meanwhile, another person has an interest in the stones, a fury who has been locked away for an eternity, and isn’t too welcoming towards people. Then one night she sees Catherine and her friends peering in on her through scrying…

Remember, you will always get burnt if you play with fire….

This is the second novella in the Bassinville Series. If you haven’t read With You In Spirit, you can find that one here. You can also read my review of that novella here.

To buy Playing With Fire, get your butt over to Amazon.

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I hope one or all of these novella’s caught your reading eye. As you know I enjoy sharing great books with my readers. These novellas are great for lazy summer afternoon reads. They’re fast, but great all at once. I’m looking forward to more from each one of these authors