Call for Submissions: Stories of Seattle (an Anthology)

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Call for submissions for a Seattle Anthology: Stories of Seattle (working title)

This anthology will feature what Seattle is best known for, the places and the people and the feeling of being here. The purpose of this anthology is to showcase Seattle from an insider’s perspective. The stories should center around the ‘destination’ you choose such that the reader will gain a deep understanding of what it’s like to visit that place. Any person who has never been to Seattle should be able to imagine living here from the stories. The stories do not have to be true and they can be any genre.

Stories should be approximately 200 to 1500 words each. You may submit up to three stories.

Consideration will be given first to submissions received before October 31st, 2015.

You may choose from the below destinations or pick your own that is an iconic Seattle or Seattle area destination.

Please also answer the following questions to include with your submission. We will be using some or all of the answers in the backend matter of the anthology or/and within your ‘about the author’ section at the end of your submission(s). If you would like, you can provide a short (under 100 words) author biography and a black and white author photograph to be included in your ‘about the author’ section.

  1. What do you like most about Seattle?
  2. What do you like least about Seattle?
  3. What is your favorite restaurant/café?
  4. What is your favorite book or movie that features Seattle?
  5. What is your favorite local product?
  6. What makes you a Seattleite?

If you would like to help with copy editing or provide editorial help for this anthology, please let me know.

Send to rachel(dot)author(dot)barnard@gmail.com, the author name you wish to have credited for the story, the Seattle location you chose, answers to the ‘about the author’ questions and any additional about the author information you would like (up to 100 words) as well as your submission (up to three stories). Please also sign and return This anthology-Author Contract.

Possible destinations:

Alaska Way Viaduct Market Ghost Tour
Alki Point Microsoft Campus
Archie McPhee Molly Moon
Argosy Cruise Museum of Flight
Ballard Locks Northwest Trek
Bellevue Strawberry Festival Olympic Sculpture Park
Benaroya Hall Pacific Science Center
Beoing Factory Future of Flight Paramount Theatre
Bill Gates’ House Pike’s Place
CenturyLink Field Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Chihuly Garden and Glass Ride the Ducks
Costco Seattle Aquarium
Dick’s Drive-In Seattle Great Wheel
Discovery Park Seattle Pinball Museum
Elliot Bay Book Company Smith Tower Observation Deck
EMP Snoqualmie Casino
Fremont Troll Snoqualmie Falls
Frye Art Museum Space Needle
Gas Works Park Starbucks Original
Hat N’ Boots Teatro ZinZanni
Jimi Hendrix Grave Site Twin Peaks (North Bend)
Lake View Cemetery Underground Seattle
Lake Washington Unicorn
Lighthouse at the Lime Kiln State Park UW
Lunchbox Laboratory

Submissions received:

  1. Snoqualmie ice cream, Maltby
  2. Costco, Seattle

Book Review: Spectre of Intention by Tonya Macalino

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Spectre of Intention by Tonya Macalino

A Cerebral Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel published by Crystal Mosaic Books (12/10/2013)

 

Summary:

“…Kaitlin Osgood, Senior VP of Sales and Project Management for Countermeasures International. She was smart, she was competent, and she would find a way through this.” (Pages 61-62).

You might describe Kaitlin Osgood as having ‘two faces’ or being schizophrenic at times, but she has evolved to become Kaitlin, shedding her old life and self and personality as Ashley Porter. She is well into becoming a woman of business and success -as new and improved Kaitlin- when her current job leads to a run in with her old life and people she knew as Ashley. When her job and self are threatened, who will she turn to in order to get out of trouble – solid businesswoman and professional Kaitlin or street tough thief Ashley?

 

Keywords:

 Two-sided, Female Main Character, Sci-Fi, Space Elevator, Security Team, Professionals, Criminals, Violence, Threats, Thief, Past Life, Friends, Lover, Rebuilding Oneself, Sensing Emotions, Talents, Secrets

My Review:

The moment the book begins, it is as if the reader has been dropped into the middle of the story and the author gives no backstory or catchup or narrative explanation. As a reader you must glean as much information as you can to figure out what is going on. To help, you can re-read the summary of the book, as it gives the most precise explanation for what and who the main character is.

This story operates on the principle of the untold story as the author does more showing then telling, leaving the reader to go, “what?” It is difficult to understand what is going on and what the characters are thinking. The reader is on the outside looking in, left to the whims of what is going on and what the characters are saying without narrative guidance or character thoughts to guide the reader. It is difficult to grasp what is going on, especially at first.

The author brings to life the story of ‘what if.’ What if you had the superpower of… What would you be like? How would you live? What could you do if you had that power? Kaitlin is blessed (or cursed as is always the questions) with one such power and this book explores a piece of her life when another part of it intrudes and tries to take over. For those who like Science Fantasy novels that skirt the edge of philosophical, you might like Spectre of Intention

This novel was published by Crystal Mosaic Books 12/10/2013 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Tonya Macalino’s Website

Book Review: The Night Bridge by S.A. Huchton

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The Night Bridge by S.A. Huchton

A Fantasy/Romance Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (08/10/15)

Summary:

The little girl who believed in magic is now in her twenties and about to let go of her childhood friend forever, but when the mysterious Light Man shows up again and in great need, she will set aside her adult prejudices and believe once more. Eran is not just a magical man and he didn’t just show up in Shari’s time and place on accident. He was sent to her not to help Shari, but to be helped by her.

Keywords:

Fantasy, Romance, Evolution, Theory, Bridge, Distance, Love, Reality, Protection, Help, Save, Menace, Fighting, Technology

 

My Review:

One thing I know for certain about S.A. Huchton (aka Starla Huchton) is that she knows how to write a great romance, no matter the genre. Her romances are the most compelling, no matter if they occur within sci-fi or fantasy.

The Night Bridge had that pull that happens in a good romance where there is an inevitability that will make your heart lurch because you love the characters so much and their romance is so sweet that to tear that apart would devastate you as much as the characters.

I felt that this book was a bit rushed and a lot of the events seemed to happen as if they were in a bubble and not within the realm of a normal (our) world. Also, Shari was dead set against getting to know or even let her romantic feelings towards Eran take over and then suddenly (mostly all of a sudden but she does think it through) she changes her mind and is head over heels in a whirlwind fast romance.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on August 10th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information:

Starla Huchton’s Website

Goodreads

Call for Submissions: Stories of Seattle (an Anthology)

by in Local Authors and tagged , ,

Call for submissions for a Seattle Anthology: Stories of Seattle (working title)

This anthology will feature what Seattle is best known for, the places and the people and the feeling of being here. The purpose of this anthology is to showcase Seattle from an insider’s perspective. The stories should center around the ‘destination’ you choose such that the reader will gain a deep understanding of what it’s like to visit that place. Any person who has never been to Seattle should be able to imagine living here from the stories. The stories do not have to be true and they can be any genre.

Stories should be approximately 200 to 1500 words each. You may submit up to three stories.

Consideration will be given first to submissions received before October 31st, 2015.

You may choose from the below destinations or pick your own that is an iconic Seattle or Seattle area destination.

Please also answer the following questions to include with your submission. We will be using some or all of the answers in the backend matter of the anthology or/and within your ‘about the author’ section at the end of your submission(s). If you would like, you can provide a short (under 100 words) author biography and a black and white author photograph to be included in your ‘about the author’ section.

  1. What do you like most about Seattle?
  2. What do you like least about Seattle?
  3. What is your favorite restaurant/café?
  4. What is your favorite book or movie that features Seattle?
  5. What is your favorite local product?
  6. What makes you a Seattleite?

If you would like to help with copy editing or provide editorial help for this anthology, please let me know.

Send to rachel(dot)author(dot)barnard@gmail.com, the author name you wish to have credited for the story, the Seattle location you chose, answers to the ‘about the author’ questions and any additional about the author information you would like (up to 100 words) as well as your submission (up to three stories). Please also sign and return This anthology-Author Contract.

Possible destinations:

Alaska Way Viaduct Market Ghost Tour
Alki Point Microsoft Campus
Archie McPhee Molly Moon
Argosy Cruise Museum of Flight
Ballard Locks Northwest Trek
Bellevue Strawberry Festival Olympic Sculpture Park
Benaroya Hall Pacific Science Center
Beoing Factory Future of Flight Paramount Theatre
Bill Gates’ House Pike’s Place
CenturyLink Field Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Chihuly Garden and Glass Ride the Ducks
Costco Seattle Aquarium
Dick’s Drive-In Seattle Great Wheel
Discovery Park Seattle Pinball Museum
Elliot Bay Book Company Smith Tower Observation Deck
EMP Snoqualmie Casino
Fremont Troll Snoqualmie Falls
Frye Art Museum Space Needle
Gas Works Park Starbucks Original
Hat N’ Boots Teatro ZinZanni
Jimi Hendrix Grave Site Twin Peaks (North Bend)
Lake View Cemetery Underground Seattle
Lake Washington Unicorn
Lighthouse at the Lime Kiln State Park UW
Lunchbox Laboratory

Book Review: Al-Kabar: a novel of Ilauris by Lee French

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Al-Kabar: a novel of Ilauris by Lee French

A Fantasy Novel published by Myrddin Publishing (9/18/15)

Summary:

Fakhira’s home and almost all the people she knew were slaughtered in the middle of a war for power between two power-hungry men. Fakhira is devastated, but when she is chosen as the Champion of the Waters, she will rise to the challenge and the call to help those who can’t help themselves. What begins as hope for revenge will only end when Fakhira learns who she is and how she can lead a people to peace.

Keywords:

Fantasy, Arabia, 900’s, Female Main Character, Powerful Female, Gender Identity, Mysticism, Myth, Power, Leader, War, Fighting, Protection, Love, Weakness, Revenge, Rape, Help

 

My Review:

This story sucked me in from the very first page. There was such great detail and the tone and environment of a culturally inspired Arabia in the 900’s was eloquently developed from the very beginning. The first page and then first chapter and then rest of the book were so very excellent. The time period and culture and writing style reminded me of the Women of Genesis series by Orson Scott Card. French did an amazing job of putting me exactly where her setting was and making me feel like I was there in the middle of the action.

The story was more about Fakhira then about the time or the place. Fakhira is one of the role models for females. She is able to take things as they come. She is a strong character even in situations where she cannot do anything but control her impulses and not let herself get caught. I love how clever, thoughtful, and logical she is. Ultimately Fakhira was strong, yet still human.

French featured the most interesting and twisted love triangle I’ve ever encountered in a book. French plays with gender fluidity and sexual preferences. Though, due to the time and place of the book, a woman would most likely never be a leader, French also shows us Jannat, a strong woman warrior. French shows us the possibilities in a society where there are few chances and few possibilities for females to be their true selves if that true self is a leader or fighter with Al-Kabbar, Fakhira and Jannat.

This novel was published by Myrddin Publishing on September 18th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information:

Lee French on Facebook

Lee French on Twitter

Goodreads

Book Review: Burn (Salem’s Revenge) (Volume 3) by David Estes

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Brew (Salem’s Revenge) (Volume 1) by David Estes

A YA Fantasy/Paranormal Novel published by Amazon Digital Services (01/26/2015)

 

Summary:

Now knowing the secret of Martin Carter, Laney decides to try to see if she can do something about his curse because she loves Rhett Carter. She and Bil Nez are captured though and it will take all of their combined efforts to find a way out of their predicament. On the other side is Rhett, who is desperately trying to keep the peace between the magic born and humans before the all-out battle he knows will happen in three days’ time.

Keywords:

Witches, Warlocks, Wizards, Paranormal, World Domination, Power Struggle, End of Humanity, Death, Violence, Evil, Hero, Challengers, Revenge, Hunting, Killing, Grudges

 

My Review:

I didn’t think the chapters from the POV of Hex or Grogg were necessary. Grogg reminded me of Lord of the Rings’ Gollum in many ways. Grogg also reminded me of Perry in the Dweller Saga, whose function in the story I also did not get.

This third and final book in the trilogy was super exciting and full of action in the all-out final battle while still leaving the story open as a world to play in for further books.

What I loved the most about David Estes’ writing is the characters. He sums them up and their relationships with each other himself in this book, “Laney Harris, the Master of Witty Comebacks and Love of my Life, Tillman Huckle, the Surprisingly Brave Gamer and Weapons Seller, Hex, the Wonderdog (and so much more!), Grogg, the Master-less Mud Troll, Floss, the Pierced Non-Witch-Hunter, Trish, The Breaker of Curses and Bringer of Hope, Rain Carter, The Prodigal Daughter, Martin Carter, My Dad, and yes, even Bil-freaking-Nez, who hasn’t had a blackout in months, and the Reaper, who’s not such a bad guy after all.”
Estes is able to build an entire world and an entire cast of characters without losing any understanding of who is who and what is what. He layered the story and the characters perfectly throughout the books so that I knew each and every one.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services 01/26/2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 4.50

Links for more information:

Goodreads

David Estes’s Website

Twitter

Book Review: Boil (Salem’s Revenge) (Volume 2) by David Estes

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Brew (Salem’s Revenge) (Volume 1) by David Estes

A YA Fantasy/Paranormal Novel published by Amazon Digital Services (10/01/2014)

Summary:

“You can’t make yourself a hero,” I say. “You have to be born one. And sometimes the least likely heroes are the ones this world needs the most.” (Kindle Locations 4972-4973).

Rhett, after joining the side of the witch hunters, is bent on revenge. He thinks he now knows who is who and what is what in this battle between human born and magic born. There are three warring factions and Rhett is seeking out the New American Government to fight on their side for the humans. Laney is supportive until Rhett wants to use Trish, Laney’s sister, to help them. When they go their separate ways, it will take magic and their feelings for one another to bring them back together. Rhett’s anger has pushed him this far, but will it be too much? Will it cloud his judgement in the moment when he needs clarity, or will it prompt him forward past the point of bravery?

Keywords:

Witches, Warlocks, Wizards, Paranormal, World Domination, Power Struggle, End of Humanity, Death, Violence, Evil, Hero, Challengers, Revenge, Hunting, Killing, Grudges

 

My Review:

Second books in series with romance always seem to see the potential partners separated for one reason or another and Boil is no exception. Laney and Rhett have their differences, but so far it hadn’t kept them apart, but when Rhett wants to use Trish in his plan, that’s the last straw for Laney.

I like how Laney sticks by her convictions. So does Rhett, but in a world where it’s difficult to tell who’s on what side and where allegiances lie, convictions can only get you so far.

The brooding/boiling romance that was hinted at in book one is on fire in book two! David Estes writes such great budding/building romances in books. They aren’t just one and done or love at first sight. They are built on the stuff all great relationships are built on and Estes builds them up slow and steady to get a real heartbreaking relationship.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services 10/01/2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

Goodreads

David Estes’s Website

Twitter

Book Review: Brew (Salem’s Revenge) (Volume 1) by David Estes

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Brew (Salem’s Revenge) (Volume 1) by David Estes

A YA Fantasy/Paranormal Novel published by Amazon Digital Services (10/01/2014)

 

Summary:

“Let me teach you how to fight witches,” (Kindle Location 655).
What if the Salem Witch Trials actually did capture and kill witches? What if, many many years later more witches were discovered and hunted and killed? What if the witches banded together to wipe out all of humanity? Cue Salem’s Revenge and David Estes’ series about witches. Brew begins with Rhett Carter, your slightly off average black football playing book lover with a soft spot for others and a penchant to avoid violence. Add in his best friend who’s gay, Xavier and Beth the girl Rhett loves. When their world falls apart at the beginning of the Revenge, Rhett will do anything to find his two best friends, even learn to hunt and kill witches from his neighbor.

 

Keywords:

Witches, Warlocks, Wizards, Paranormal, World Domination, Power Struggle, End of Humanity, Death, Violence, Evil, Hero, Challengers, Revenge, Hunting, Killing, Grudges

 

My Review:

I don’t read books about witches. I stopped reading books about wizards when I was in high school but I had confidence in David Estes that he could write a book that I would love. I was right. Estes has a knack for building a story that anyone would love, even if the parts aren’t normally what you want to read. Witches. Sure. Wizards. Certainly. The main part of the story is the main character’s journey, how Rhett Carter exists and survives in this world of chaos and paranormal. His story is written well and his relationships with his friends, so briefly shown in the beginning, and the developing relationships between Rhett and Laney and Rhett and his new dog Hex are what brings the reader into the story and makes the story alive.

The first book in the Salem’s Revenge series sets up the main characters and the goal: to save themselves and humanity in the fight between witch gangs to end humans. Brew, the first in the series has an awesome end of the book battle that answers and raises questions to be answered with the continuation and conclusion of the series.

This book is told from Rhett’s point of view, but the reader gets a real good feel for Laney and many of the other characters. I loved all of the characters and felt that their strengths and their weakness brought them to life.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services 10/01/2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information:

Goodreads

David Estes’s Website

Twitter