A Slice of Cake With... Steven Smith

This week I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Steven Smith.

Steven lives in Bedfordshire, in a small town just under an hour train ride north of London. He has a passion for books, owning and runing a book blog called Books and Beyond Reviews. He reviews books there, as well as the occasional author Q and A, guest post, cover reveal and weekly feature, Friday Face-Off. So in case you hadn’t worked it out, Steven is an avid reader.

Aside from books, Steven is a lover of music, films, a range of sports (mostly from the sofa) and video games. He has an interest in all things historic, from ancient to modern.

Having spent a lot of time reading and writing on his blog, the next obvious step for Steven was to write fiction of his own, rather than always commenting on the works of others. His first book is Chasing Shadows, a steampunk adventure following roguish airship captain Edison Crow and his childhood friend Selah as they battle through a life of petty crime to tackle a threat to their very safety and that of their crew.

What kind of books do you write?

I write fiction based on an alternative history. Think the Victorian era with steam technology. Vast steam engines, airships, and other contraptions all powered by steam. A world where the Victorian period became technologically advanced through steam power.

Can you describe your writing why?

I’ve always loved creating characters and worlds. There is something satisfying in taking a nugget of an idea and fleshing it out into a fully realised character, location or situation. I am not much by way of a planner, more of a panster. I love writing and fully knowing what is coming next. But the feeling once I finish, nothing comes close. It’s a fantastic sense of accomplishment.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

This particular passage takes place in the late stages of my debut novel, Chasing Shadows. It’s close to the endgame. It highlights a meeting between my lead character Captain Edison Crow and the villainous Atticus Rigby.

Head bowed, his long hair covering his face, Atticus Rigby held his mangled right hand close to his chest. An animalistic sound rose from his chest, unsettling Crow deeply. It evolved into a maniacal howling laugh. He threw his head back to let it ring around the room. As the laughter died, he levelled his eyes on Crow, peering through matted, dishevelled hair.

Tell us about your latest project

I am currently working on the sequel to Chasing Shadows. It’s working title is As The Crow Flies. It follows on from the events in the first book, with Captain Edison Crow and his crew seeking to unravel a long hidden mystery.

What is your favourite cake?

This one is probably the toughest question yet - either coffee and walnut, or Black Forest gateau. Not sure I could choose just one!

You can connect with Steven here:

Website: authorstevensmith.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorStevenSmith
Twitter: twitter.com/ATCFpublishing
Instagram: instagram.com/stevensmithauthor
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCIyIm3T0MwTxyLHv1WE8eLw

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Ella Cook. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake on Kofi - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

A Slice of Cake With... Barbara Carter

Today I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Barbara Carter.

Photo by Nicola Davidson 2018

Barbara is a visual artist and writer living in Nova Scotia, Canada. She likes to take walks, read, watch TV dramas, and practice Qi-gong. Her stories are often about the darker side of life, beyond the white picket fence and the dream of happily ever after. She has published several memoirs and has been published in Foliate Oak Literary Magazine and Understorey Magazine.

What kind of books do you write?

I write about difficult situations in life. About finding your truth. Your voice. Searching for love and happiness. My stories are raw and real from a female perspective.

Can you describe your writing why?

Why I write is because this is where I’ve been led. As a teen I wrote poetry to survive my pain. It was the only safe place where I could express my feelings. Say the things I couldn’t tell anyone else. Visual art won out over writing because I felt I had to choose one over the other. My thinking was so limited back then. I write because there came a point in my life that I felt if I did not write, did not release all I had inside me, I would lose my mind. I share the things we don’t like to talk about, so others might not feel so all alone. I write to heal. I write to bring the darkness into the light.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

This is the hardest question ever! 

But this paragraph from my first book, Floating in Saltwater sticks with me.

I snapped open my purse which contained my nickel—my payment to God. Mother gave Troy, Margaret and Jamie a penny each to drop in the plate. I wondered if maybe that was why their lives weren’t as good as mine. Maybe if they had more money for God their lives would be better. I thought of slipping Margaret my nickel, but I didn’t want to risk losing what I had.

Tell us about your latest project

My next book, Things Aren’t Always as They Seem will be released in September 2022. It’s about two messed up twenty-something people in the 1980s who fall in love, start a family, and work on getting beyond their dysfunctions.

What is your favourite cake?

Devil's Food Cake.

Connect with Barbara at the following places:

www.barbaracarterartist.com
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/16278274.Barbara_Carter
Instagram: @barbaracartermahonebay
Facebook

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Steven Smith. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake on Kofi - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

34 Hours

I have discovered that I can stay awake for 34 hours and that is my max. At that time I walk like I'm intoxicated, cry a lot and continually nod off, waking myself up with a jolt when travelling on a train. 

I won't go into the reason why I was awake for so long but I have experienced limited sleep before - two children lol - however this was on a whole new level. 

My hat goes off to anyone who regularly has to function with little to no sleep. 

Seven hours into my 34-hour stint, I went to a garden centre I've visited many times before and the little pagan shop that has never been open before was open. Obviously I had to go in and have a rootle. That's when I found her. My Gaia. Practically the exact goddess I imagined in my books so very excited to see her and bring her home. 

We are about to head on into the summer holidays so writing time will be shoehorned in as and where possible but the next book is well on the way and I just need to keep the momentum going. 

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

A Slice of Cake With... Gail Aldwin

Today I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Gail Aldwin. 

Novelist, poet and scriptwriter, Gail’s debut coming-of-age novel The String Games was a finalist in The People’s Book Prize and the Dorchester Literary Festival Writing Prize 2020. Following a stint as a university lecturer, Gail’s children’s picture book Pandemonium was published. Her second contemporary novel, This Much Huxley Knows, uses a young narrator to shine a light upon the follies of adults. Gail has appeared at national and international literary festivals, including the Bridport Literary Festival, Stockholm Writers Festival and the Mani Lit Fest in Greece. Prior to Covid-19, she volunteered at Bidibidi in Uganda, the second largest refugee settlement in the world. When she’s not gallivanting around, Gail writes at her home overlooking water meadows in Dorset. 

What kind of books do you write?

I write about relationships, communities and what it means to trust.

Can you describe your writing why?

As humans, I think we all need a creative outlet. For others, it may be cooking or gardening or painting, but for me, it’s about writing. Ideas are like dandelion seeds floating in the air. I just have to reach out and grab one. I find the whole process of writing absorbing from the terror of putting ideas onto a blank page to the gruelling process of getting a first draft down. Redrafting and editing is fun. I love the way stories become nuanced and layered with more detail and crafting applied. I find nailing the plot the biggest challenge and when it’s done, this brings the greatest satisfaction.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

Here’s an excerpt from This Much Huxley Knows a contemporary novel for adults which uses a young narrator to shine a light on the follies of parents. Huxley is a lonely boy who corrupts the words he’s heard adults use to amuse himself. 

Only me and Mum go to church on Sundays because Dad thinks it’s a waste of time now I’ve got a place at St Michael’s School. But this morning Mum doesn’t want to go as she can’t face seeing Lucy after the dee-bark-all that was last night. She says I can eat my toast sitting on the beanbag. This is my favourite place when all the little bits inside the bag scrunch around me. To be snug you have to dig your bottom in and wiggle about. Right after I’m comfy, Mum passes me a plate with squares of toast and honey. She knows triangles taste wrong. 

The novel has received some excellent reviews from book bloggers: 

This book is really unlike anything you have read before and I absolutely loved it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Julie Morris, A Little Book Problem

Funny, poignant and thought-provoking, it's a timely reminder that perhaps we should all try to see the world through the eyes of a child.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Karen Cole, Hair Past A Freckle

Tell us about your latest project

The Girl and the Tutor is an 80,000-word mystery which introduces menopausal journalist Stephanie Brett. She rediscovers her mojo through a cold case investigative podcast into a missing teenager. The dual timeline also provides the girl’s story of infatuation and exploitation from 1979 and offers an unforgettable twist. It’s set in the West Country and will appeal to anyone who’s a fan of the TV show Vera. The manuscript was shortlisted in the Novel London Literary Competition 2021. I am currently querying The Girl and the Tutor and have had full manuscript requests so I’m keeping my fingers crossed about securing representation. 

What is your favourite cake?

I was introduced to Ekmek Kataifi at the Mani Lit Fest in Greece. This cake is a speciality of the venue which hosted my talk and workshop. The cake has a base of shredded filo pastry soaked in honey, a layer of vanilla custard, another of whipped cream and it’s topped with pistachios. Delish. 

You can connect with Gail at the following places:

Twitter: twitter.com/gailaldwin

Facebook: facebook.com/gailaldwinwriter

Instagram: instagram.com/gailfaldwin

Blog: gailaldwin.com

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Barbara Carter. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake on Kofi - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me. 

A Slice of Cake With... W. H. Mitchell

Today I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author W. H. Mitchell.

Mitchell is the author of the space opera series The Imperium Chronicles, including The Arks of Andromeda and The Dragons of Andromeda. With dark, dry humor, he explores the hubris of humanity through palace intrigues, mega-corporations, and occasionally confused robots. He has also written a humor book based on his tweets called A Little of Me Goes a Long Way, and a comic strip, A Frog Named Moss.

Born and raised in Omaha, NE, W. H. Mitchell has called Kansas City his home for more than a decade. With a degree in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Mitchell’s writing has been compared to “Frank Herbert through the eyes and voice of Douglas Adams.” He currently lives in Olathe, KS with his wife and two cats.

What kind of books do you write?

Although I technically write in a single genre, I tend to mix several into my works. It’s all a bit of a mishmash at times, but I don’t know why. I use a lot of dark humor in my books, mostly as comedic relief from some of the darker themes that I include. Both Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett have influenced me, as well as Joseph Heller, so a satirical strain of humor runs through my writing style.

Can you describe your writing why?

I’ve been making stories since before I could read, drawing stories when I didn’t know how to write yet. I’ve dabbled in game design (both pen-and-paper and computer games) but writing my stories has remained the best way I know of telling the ideas in my head.

My favorite part of writing is when my mind makes connections in the plot that I didn’t originally plan. It’s like when you suddenly see how a piece of the puzzle fits, even before you knew there was a piece missing.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

From The Dragons of Andromeda, Chapter 13:

With one of the froglings guarding Sisa, the others rushed into the trees and attacked the sporemen. The two sides squared off, each lunging with spears. Sisa could feel their fury and fear, mixed with her own. She didn’t understand why any of this was happening, why they kidnapped her, or why this was so important that someone had to die because it. Mostly, Sisa just wanted to be home in bed, the smell of her mother’s hotcakes wafting down the hall from the kitchen.

The Katak shouted when they died, croaking their last breath, but the fungus people, gentle in their own way, made no sounds at all. They fell quietly, like the morning fog burning off in the sunshine.

Tell us about your latest project

My newest book is The Dreams of Andromeda, the fourth book in the Imperium Chronicles series. Although the book continues the series, in many ways it can be read on its own. I introduce a new character, Private Detective Thomas Martel. He’s a hard-boiled detective in a science fiction world, exemplifying how I mix different genres. He’s investigating a new drug on the streets called Lotus and its mysterious origins.

What is your favourite cake?

Carrot Cake!

You can connect with W. H. Mitchell here:

Website: whmitchellfiction.com

Facebook: facebook.com/authorwhmitchell

Twitter: twitter.com/willbot3000

Instagram: instagram.com/authorwhmitchell

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Gail Aldwin. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake on Kofi - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Tuesday Poem - Sand

In between your fingertips

In between your toes

Sprinkled round your mouth and lips

Sneaking up your nose

You find it in your socks

You find it in your shoes

It got inside the cool box

In all the food you choose

There's some in your pocket

There's some in your hair

Scratching in your eye socket

Feeling gritty everywhere

It got into your trousers

It got into your vest

Inside the girls blouses

All while you got dressed

It doesn't want you to go

It wants you all to stay

It infests your whole body so

You'll remain and play

But you just brush off the best you can

Get everybody back in the van

Driving away, heading inland

Taking with you all the grains of sand

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.