Tuesday 30 September 2014

Tuesday Top Ten: Musicals

So, today I'm going musical with my top ten list. I adore musical theatre and thought I'd share a few of my fave shows with you. I've drummed up a few videos to give you a better idea of what each show is like. Here we go....

1) Elisabeth

Sunday 28 September 2014

Book Review: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Title: Neverwhere
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher:
William Morrow
Publication Date: 2009 (1996)
Pages: 246
Format:  E-Book - EPUB
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Bought Copy

Cover Reveal - Stranded Anthology (featuring 'The Raider' by Asta Idonea) (M/M 18+yrs)

Today I am thrilled to reveal the cover and book trailer for the M/M anthology Stranded which features my first published M/M story 'The Raider', written under my alternate pen name, Asta Idonea. Graphic M/M sex means this is an 18+ years read, but if it's your sort of thing, I hope you'll check it out. Read on for more info!

STRANDED-cover preview sizeDefinition – Stranded
adjective
  • (of a boat, sailor, or sea creature) left aground on a shore.
“a stranded whale”
  • left without the means to move from somewhere.
“he offers a lift to a stranded commuter”

The boys in this collection of short stories have most definitely been left STRANDED!
They’ve been shipwrecked and abandoned.
Marooned and cast away.
And left helpless and high and dry.
But you should never underestimate the tenacity of the human heart…

Friday 26 September 2014

Follow Friday # 69

http://www.alisoncanread.com/2014/08/feature-and-follow-friday-215.html#more
Book character(s) you'd like to see with their own Twitter page

Ooh, interesting. I would say Enjolras (Les Miserables) - he could try to gain new followers to join him at the barricades.
The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire Trilogy) - he could update us on his cats.
And finally Loki (Gospel of Loki) - he'd provide daily quips and sarcastic commentary.

Thursday 25 September 2014

Blog Tour Book Promo & Giveaway - Dakota Skies by Taylin Clavelli (M/M 18+yrs)



Dakota Skies

Taylin Clavelli

Wayward Ink Publishing





Synopsis

Born in the wrong time…

In 1875 Dakota, Sheriff Jamie Carter has to hide his interest in men, even from his gutsy twin sister, Anna. On a good day, the truth can mean a bullet between the eyes, and on a bad, one in the back.

A man on a mission…

Jamie leaves Anna in charge of Blackrock and he hits the bounty hunting trail, along with his faithful equine companion, Houston. Five territories, scores of ‘Wanted’ posters, and many bullets later, his path unexpectedly converges with that of enigmatic loner, Kit Brooks.

Tuesday 23 September 2014

Sketching: Sweet Hal, Sweet Wag (Prince Hal - Hollow Crown)


A sketch of Tom Hiddleston as Prince Hal in The Hollow Crown (Henry IV Part I)
My scanner doesn't pick up lighter shades well so I did adjust the tone of this in Photoshop so it would be viewable on here.

Drawn over approx. 8 hours with pencils 2B and 3B.

I am hoping to do to more Prince Hal sketches in the future to show his transformation from wag to king through the two plays, so keep an eye out for those later in the year.

Book Review: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Title: Slaughterhouse-Five
Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Publisher:
The Dial Press
Publication Date: 2009 (1969)
Pages: 133
Format:  E-Book - EPUB
Genre: Fiction
Source: Bought Copy


Tuesday Top Ten: Indie Films

Today's Tuesday Top Ten reveals my favourite indie films.
Just to clarify, I am counting anything not made as a US blockbuster as indie for the purposes of this exercise.


1)   Only Lovers Left Alive                  
Tom Hiddleston, vampires and existential crisis - what more do you need?
2)   Lost in Translation A film that had a huge impact on me the first time I saw it - and still does.
3)   Unrelated                                       An amazing film from Joanna Hogg with stellar acting from the cast.
4)   Nymphomaniac Lars von Trier at his best in a thought-provoking piece on sex and sexuality.
5)   Donnie Darko Another film that really spoke to me when I first saw it as I turned twenty.
6)   Pans Labyrinth Beautiful, enchanting and creepy. This is del Toro at his absolute best.
7)   Open Hearts A perfect performance from Mads Mikkelsen and a deep, heartfelt film.
8)   Amelie The sweet film that gave the Hollywood rom-com formula a European twist.
9)   The Piano Teacher A wonderful adaptation of the book with an amazing performance from Huppert.
10) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind      Quirky and fun, yet also full of deeper ponderings. I never grow tired of this one.




Once again, this was harder than I thought it would be. I'd chosen this one next as I thought it would be easy, but I was wrong. There are so many others I couldn't include and, like last week, if you asked me this again next month, some of the selection could be different.

Sunday 21 September 2014

Book Review: On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Title: On the Road
Author: Jack Kerouac
Publisher:
Penguin
Publication Date: (1957)
Pages: 265
Format:  E-Book - EPUB
Genre: Fiction
Source: Bought Copy


Tuesday 16 September 2014

Tuesday Top Ten: Shakespeare Plays

Today I continue my Tuesday Top Ten series with my top ten Shakespeare plays.

1)   Richard II
2)   Hamlet
3)   Coriolanus
4)   Othello
5)   Twelfth Night
6)   Titus Andronicus
7)   Love's Labour's Lost
8)   Measure for Measure
9)   Cymbeline
10) Henry IV Parts I & II (sorry, I know that's two but I love them both equally)

This one was harder than I thought it would be. The top five were easy, but it was hard to pick the remaining five as I love all the other plays in nearly equal measure. Ask me again tomorrow and the choices 6-10 could well be different. All I can say is: go and read/watch all of Shakespeare's works because they are all amazing! :)


Monday 15 September 2014

Book Review: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Title: American Gods
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher:
Harper Collins
Publication Date: 2009 (2001)
Pages: 624
Format: E-Book - EPUB
Genre: Fiction / Mythology
Source: Bought Copy


Book Review: Warrior Lore by Ian Cumpstey

Title: Warrior Lore
Author: Ian Cumpstey
Publisher:
Self-Published
Publication Date: August 2014
Pages: 85
Format:  E-Book - EPUB
Genre: Folklore/Mythology
Source: Review Copy from Author



Book Review: Loki by Georges Dumezil

Title: Loki
Author: Georges Dumezil
Publisher:
Flammarion
Publication Date: 2010 (1948)
Pages: 310
Format: Paperback
Genre: Non-Fiction / Mythology
Source: Bought Copy

Friday 12 September 2014

Release Day Blitz: Dakota Skies by Taylin Clavelli (M/M 18+yrs)

Today I have a little promo to share with you for Taylin Clavelli's M/M historical novel Dakota Skies.
I was involved in the editing on this book and can promise a captivating tale with memorable and delightful characters. It is M/M and does feature sex scenes, so 18+ yrs only, guys.

Dakota Skies
Taylin Clavelli
Wayward Ink Publishing

Synopsis

Born in the wrong time…

In 1875 Dakota, Sheriff Jamie Carter has to hide his interest in men, even from his gutsy twin sister, Anna. On a good day, the truth can mean a bullet between the eyes, and on a bad, one in the back.

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Tuesday Top Ten: Celebrity Crushes

Welcome to the first post of a new weekly blog feature that I plan to run from now until the end of 2014. It is entitled Tuesday Top Ten and I will use it to tell you some of my favourite things in a wide variety of categories, but mostly arts related.

That said, this first week is a little frivolous as I expound on my top ten celebrity crushes. Next week will be more highbrow when I discuss my top ten Shakespeare plays.

Top Ten Celebrity Crushes


1)   Tom Hiddleston
How could anyone resist Tom? He acts, dances, sings, plays guitar and is the all-round perfect English gentleman.
2)   Mads Mikkelsen Mads has the older-man allure working for him. Especially as Hannibal Lecter in the TV series Hannibal. Notice a cheekbone theme?
3)   Benedict Cumberbatch                                                              Another British gent. Ben does not have a classical beauty but he has a style and look all of his own and is a wonderful actor.
4)   George Blagden Youngest of the bunch (almost feel I'm cradle-snatching), George is a rising star having first made his name as Athelstan in TV series Vikings.
5)   Misha Collins Everyone's favourite angel. I love Misha's quirky sense of humour on Twitter and his down to earth character.
6)   David Tennant David has great charisma, especially in shows such as Doctor Who and Casanova. He also rocks Shakespeare.
7)   Ewan McGregor Ewan is a versatile actor whose indie work I particularly love. Who didn't fall in love with him in Moulin Rouge?
8)   Daniel Gillies Daniel plays to perfection the oh so noble Elijah in The Originals. Boy can that man wear a suit.
9)   Alex Skarsgard Alex is of course currently best known as Eric in True Blood and he could suck my blood any day.
10) Robert Carlyle And finally Rob who has starred in some great films and TV series and who always continues to please.


Monday 8 September 2014

Emerging Writers' Festival Adelaide 2014

This weekend just gone, I attended the Emerging Writers' Festival here in Adelaide. It was the first time this festival had come to Adelaide, and I hoped to pick up some useful tips for my writing as I near the end of the second draft on my novel.

On Saturday, I spent the day in Bowden at the one-day Masterclass. The day kicked off with a looking at the role editors played and how to approach them to submit work. This was followed by a look at freelance writing, and then a discussion on performance writing. After lunch, the masterclass resumed with a panel looking at writing memoirs, blogs, commentary etc., followed by a look at the rise of digital/online publishing.

The whole day was very interesting, but my favourite session was definitely the one on writing for performance, featuring Jane Howard, Phillip Kavanagh and Ben Brooker. Although I don't write plays or scripts myself, I've often wondered if I should since I create my stories in a very visual way. Many of my first drafts are dialogue heavy, and I picture the scenes being acted out as I write them. Something to consider for the future perhaps....

Book Promo: The Marian by Taylor Hohulin (YA/Post-Apocalyptic)

Today I welcome author Taylor Hohulin to the blog to tell us about his forthcoming YA Post-Apocalyptic novel, The Marian, which releases on 19 September 2014.

Thursday 4 September 2014


A sketch of Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Williams in Cheek by Jowl's 2006 production of Rowley & Middleton's The Changeling.
Based on the image HERE

Drawn over 8 hours with a 2B pencil

Apologies for the scan quality. My printer really objected to this drawing for some reason.

This is a major departure from my usual work. I tend to prefer close-up faces, but I loved this image so much I had to attempt it. Plus I thought it would be good to get away from my comfort zone for a while. Overall, I am happy with how it came out since I don't usually work on this scale. I was especially pleased with Tom's hand (the one near her elbow) as I usually hate drawing hands.

Monday 1 September 2014

Book Review: The Book of Life (All Souls #3) by Deborah Harkness

Title: The Book of Life (All Souls #3)
Author: Deborah Harkness
Publisher:
Headline
Publication Date: July 2014
Pages: 592
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fiction
Source: Bought Copy