OUT NOW: My Dream Woman Audiobook, by CH Clepitt, narrated by Natalie Husdan

CH Clepitt is a smashing writer - follow the keywords at the bottom and you'll see I've raved about her books before, from the Crew Chronicles through to her novel I Wore Heels To The Apocalypse. Her latest series is now available as an audiobook - and I offered a spot of space to the blog for CH to tell you all about it herself. Take it away, CH! 

My Dream Woman Audiobook

My Dream Woman, written by C H Clepitt and narrated by Natalie Husdan is available now as an audiobook.

When your dreams are real there’s nowhere to escape!

Andi is just holding it together. Working two jobs means she doesn’t need to rely on anyone, but doesn’t have much of a life. In her dreams, however, she is a hero: battling monsters and saving innocents. When her dream woman turns out to be very real, Andi’s life begins to spiral out of control.

Step into an exciting urban fantasy that will have you on the edge of your seat. Think The Book of Abisan, only sexier!

Author’s note:

I loved writing My Dream Woman and was thrilled with the response it received from readers. Hearing it brought to life was absolutely amazing, and Natalie Husdan does a superb job - every single character sounds just as I imagined them.  I could not be more pleased with the finished version.

Narrator’s Note:

My Dream Woman was so enjoyable to narrate because there were numerous different characters to voice and the writing switches continuously between the real world and the dream world of the main character Andi. The action scenes were fast-paced, exciting and frequently humorous, something I've not voiced before and I found the attraction and love story that grew between Andi and Dionne quite unique and moving. Anyone into romantic, action or fantasy fiction will enjoy My Dream Woman; it's a fluid read with a satisfying ending that leaves you wanting to read more in the series.

Find out more and Listen to a sample here: http://www.chclepitt.com/dreamwoman/

Audio Links:

Get it on:
Audible US: https://www.audible.com/pd/B07K6YY1X7/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-132746&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_132746_rh_us
Audible UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B07K6XF1ZV/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-132746&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_132746_rh_uk
Audible FR: https://www.audible.fr/pd/B07K6YH8N2/?source_code=FRAORWS022318903B-BK-ACX0-132746&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_132746_rh_fr
Audible DE: https://www.audible.de/pd/B07K6XM2CW/?source_code=EKAORWS0223189009-BK-ACX0-132746&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_132746_rh_de

BOOK REVIEWS: Hobgoblin, by John Coyne; Steering The Craft, by Ursula K Le Guin; The Spider, by Maria Savva; Voices in Crystal, by Mary Woldering; Lineage: The Memory of the Sphinx, by CH Clepitt.

Welcome back to our regular review round-up here at Altered Instinct. A couple of changes have taken place in Amazon Land since our last round-up. Ordinarily, the reviews posted here have previously been posted as well to Amazon UK, Amazon US and Goodreads - but Amazon has changed its criteria for posting reviews. Now, a reviewer has to have spent a certain amount of money within the past 12 months in an Amazon store - so for example, I no longer live in the UK so don't tend to have a reason, or sometimes even a possibility, of spending money in that store. So sadly, I can't post to as many places as before. I feel a little sad about this - as posting reviews is a positive thing to do, whatever you may think about a particular book. I hope they reverse that policy, but we shall see. Members of the AI team will continue to post reviews wherever possible - sorry to writers in zones where we can't post to their local stores because of the new rules! Anyhow, back to some good reading - and starting off with Brent A. Harris reviewing Hobgoblin, by John Coyne, and Ursula K Le Guin's Steering The Craft. I'll hop in with my reviews after that. 

Hobgoblin, by John Coyne

If you like games based around mythology and adventure, if you play Dungeons and Dragons, LARP, do SCA, or play Magic: The Gathering - drop your dice, cards, meeples, hand-forged swords, and go read John Coyne’s Hobgoblin.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Done?

It was good, wasn’t it? Told you. Now, roll them bones, Brian Boru!

Hobgoblin mixes Irish mythology, roleplaying, and social outcasts, in a very real-to-life horror story set against the backdrop of Ballycastle. Our sword-swinging hero is Scott Gardiner, a high-schooler in New York, whose father dies at the same time his fictional character also falls in battle. Devastated, the lines between reality and fiction blur for Scott when they move to an old Irish castle (moved brick by brick to the States).

Scott begins to see threats from Irish myth encroaching into daily life. But, he also must navigate the treacherous waters of high-school, as the new kid, where his RPG daydreams just don’t fit in. When bullies begin to cross the line to real, violent harm, the school intercedes to help Scott out, by suggesting students attend a Hobgoblin party (the name of the RPG which Scott obsesses over) at Balleycastle for Halloween. At the same time, a black annis - a creature of Irish legend, threatens the castle and all those who enter it.

What I liked most about this book was that the horror was real. These are real people facing real problems, and what students go through as an outsider, particularly those who would rather spend their days playing card games over football, which can be terrifying (and also a bit relatable).

The biggest issue is that Scott is a bit off-putting. He’s not sympathetic, or likeable. I almost think this was done on purpose, so that at times, you side with the bullies against him, which then places you in an uncomfortable position. Later, you begin to empathize with Scott, and relate to him, and once you can see things from his grief-stricken teenage adolescent, PTSD point of view, he takes on a much more heroic role.

Hobgoblin is tight-woven narrative that will make you wish the game was real and the horror wasn’t.
5 out 5 Hobgoblins!

AI Rating: 5/5

Brent A Harris

Steering The Craft, by Ursula K Le Guin

I was given this book by a very good friend of mine for my birthday awhile back. Given that this book is by the late Ursula K. Le Guin, whom I respect and admire, there’s no way I could give her book on writing anything less than five stars. She is a master storyteller and wordsmith. So, instead, let me tell you how the book has helped me.

Each chapter is divided into one of those tough obstacles of writing: voice, tense, style, characters, adjectives and adverbs, etc. At the end of each section, there are examples by authors who do those things well. It’s straightforward: most books on writing follow their advice with examples. But, where craft sails past other books is in Ursula’s matter-of-fact voice that fans of hers will recognize, and in her exercises pulled straight from her teaching days. She’s not only someone who can do, she knows how to help others do it too.

I’ve found taking the chapters one each week and doing the exercises the best way to approach the book and learn from its author. The book is great for readers of most ages. I’ve used some of her examples and exercises in teaching creative writing to 4th-6th grade students, and my 11-year old has stolen this book a couple of times - she’s enjoyed the exercises too. She’s going to be a much better writer than her dad. Dare I hope, the next Ursula K. Le Guin?

AI Rating: 5/5

Brent A Harris

The Spider, by Maria Savva

Do you ever have a book that has been sitting on your Kindle for far too long? Well... this was one on mine. And I'm kicking myself for not reading it earlier.
The Spider is a most unexpected novel. At first, it seems almost a very straightforward horror thriller. There's a bad man, doing bad things, and innocents are getting caught up in his plan. And yet... that seems to be resolved quite early on.
It's the after-effects that linger. There is guilt. There are lies. There is deceit. And somewhere in the middle of it all, you find yourself in the centre of the web being spun around the central characters that may be entirely in their heads, or may be very, very real.
The writing is deceptively straightforward, painting a seemingly humdrum world - under which things lurk and crawl and skritch-skritch with their otherworldly limbs.

AI Rating: 5/5

Stephen Hunt

Children of Stone: Voices in Crystal, by Mary Woldering

This is an intriguing book - and a thoroughly determined piece of world-building.
Voices in Crystal is the first in a series set in the shade of Mount Sinai, and the author carves out a mythology that is rich and sumptuous.
The story focuses on Marai, who becomes more than the simple shepherd he begins as, transformed by alien powers into... well, even he is not so sure what he is exactly. His powers seem god-like to those who knew him, and the world he grew up in is changed forever.
Elsewhere, a pharaoh's son wrestles with his own destiny, his path to leadership foiled. Where will his path cross with Marai's? That would be telling!
It's a big saga - a little light on action but exploring the history of the world in depth, and the psychology of its protagonists thoroughly. It can be a little slow as a result - only in that one needs to pay attention to the detail of the story to really appreciate it.
Woldering really does create a whole new world to experience - and deserves plaudits for that.

AI Rating: 4/5

Stephen Hunt

Lineage: The Memory of the Sphinx, by CH Clepitt

I honestly thought I'd reviewed this already - the day it came out, I gobbled it up, which shows how much I enjoy CH Clepitt's writing.
This continues her Lineage series of short stories - stories of vampires and the legacy they have bestowed down the years.
This time round, the author riffles in a whole extra legacy, that of the Sphinx, and the conflict that brings to the vampire family of the earlier titles.
It's very neatly, nicely done, and broadens out the potential for this series of stories. What myths come next? I'll be here to find out when the next short in the series appears.

AI Rating: 4/5

Stephen Hunt

NEW RELEASE: Curtain Call, by CH Clepitt

I'm a regular reader of the work of CH Clepitt as those scouring my book reviews will know - so when she mentioned she had a new book coming out, I was only too happy to let her tell blog visitors all about it. Without further ado, let me raise the curtain on...

Curtain Call, by C H Clepitt

C H Clepitt has a knack for creating real, relatable characters, who face adversity with humour and humanity, and Curtain Call is no exception.

“Possibly the best thing I’ve read by C H Clepitt so far.” - Murray McLean

When an assistant to the director role turns into P.A. to her favourite film star, Jen can’t believe her luck. Eleanor Francis is charming, kind and funny, but she has a secret, and when tragedy strikes, things threaten to unravel at an uncontrollable pace. Despite being out of her depth Jen has to adapt to her new role quickly, to protect Eleanor, with whom she is rapidly falling in love.

This is a sweet, understated story that will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. If you’ve enjoyed C H Clepitt’s other books then this is not to be missed.

Release Date: OUT NOW

Reviews:

“The story is very well written and flows nicely… I would love to read more about the two main characters in future books.” - Simon Leonard - Black Books Blog

“Love blossoms in an unexpected place in this emotional short story. A change of direction for Clepitt but delicately written and heartfelt.” - Claire Buss - Author of The Rose Thief and other novels.

“The story's optimism that makes it such a joy to read and leaves one feeling there must be

hope after all.” A.M. Leibowitz - Author of Keeping the Faith and other novels.

Available on Kindle: relinks.me/B07CKFLYW6

Get in touch via chclepitt.com to order paperback

A Word from the Author

This started as a short story, prompted by an anthology call by friend and colleague A.M.

Leibowitz. I was at the maximum word limit, and felt the characters still had more to say, so,

when it turned out my submission was four times longer than all of the other submissions, I

withdrew it, expanded it and this novella was born. I am really proud of what I have achieved

here, and think it might be some of my best writing to date. I really hope you enjoy reading it as

much as I enjoyed writing it.

BOOK REVIEWS: Godfall and Other Stories, by Sandra M Odell; I Wore Heels To The Apocalypse, by CH Clepitt; The Last City: A Dust Anthology; A World of Darkness, by Joshua Griffith; Dragon Lords, by Chris Turner

Godfall and Other Stories, by Sandra M Odell

One of the delights of the ebook market is the ability to discover new writers. I likely wouldn't have found Sandra Odell's book on the shelf in my local bookstore - and that would have been a darn shame.
This collection of short stories is a delight and a treasure - yet it's more than your typical collection. There's a challenge here, a defiance. The stories are broadly within the fantasy and science fiction realm, but many of these tales scratch at itches under the skin, or make you feel the pain settled deeply into bones.
Nowhere is this better seen than in The Home For Broken. It's a story confronting the issues of disability - challenging the idea of people being broken. It's an agonising, painful story of parental choices, denial, and dealing with a life that has no easy choices. It's never been published outside of this collection, and it is absolutely worth your money alone.
But it's not alone. There are other gems scattered throughout this book. There's Godfall, the title story, with humanity mining the fallen corpses of deities as they crash to earth. There's The Poison Eater, bitter with the taste of small town life. There are issues of sexuality, sexual identity, gender roles (Black Widow absolutely kicks butt while exploring this), mortality (or immortality in The Vessel Is Never Empty), and far more, all wrapped around characters who are never soaring ideals but as screwed up and complicated as any of us. Like any collection, there will be stories that hit the mark with a reader and others that won't - I wasn't sold on the whimsy of A Troll's Trade, for example. That's not to diminish the work as a whole, though. This has quality throughout - not so long ago I read an Octavia Butler short story collection, and I couldn't help but feel reading this that Odell's work bore comparison. 

I read this book before going on holiday and didn't have time to write this review before taking off. All through the trip, parts of this book stayed with me. As a reader, it opened horizons. As a writer, it makes me want to do better. Go read it, you owe it to yourself.

AI Rating: 5/5

I Wore Heels To The Apocalypse, by CH Clepitt

Given the amount of work by CH Clepitt I've read already, I probably shouldn't have been surprised by the splendidly named I Wore Heels To The Apocalypse. And yet here I am, surprised and delighted in equal measure.
I Wore Heels ain't nothing but a good time. It's fun, it's a frolic, it's the end of the world. Kerry is a website designer inclined towards baggy clothes and comfy shoes when an unexpected apocalypse leaves her in her least favourite shoe choice and with an absence of transferrable skills. Not much use for html in the wilderness since she left her one-bedroom flat.
Instead, she finds herself caught up in less of a battle for survival, more a forage for comfort - all while her travelling companions deal with their own issues of sexual fluidity. The end of the world can apparently do great things for clearing out those social pressures preventing you from admitting your attraction to the same sex. They won't laugh at you down the pub any more, after all.
This is a quirky, perky ride, frequently making you giggle and chortle in ways that make people eye you suspiciously on the tube train. Don't worry about that, you never know when an apocalypse might come along to let you chortle in peace.
I Wore Heels is the best I've read yet by CH Clepitt - and I was already a fan.

AI Rating: 5/5

The Last City: A Dust Anthology

Back in the day, I used to be a big fan of the Thieves' World anthologies - shared-world stories inside a fantasy city by a host of great writers. So it was with some glee I picked up The Last City, a sci-fi version of something similar.
The city of the title is the last bastion of humanity, built into an asteroid and separated by levels which function not only as physical structure but as social strata. The further you go from the hieracrchy, the dirtier the city gets and the cheaper life feels.
The opening pair of stories do a great job of setting the scene - first there's Robert M Campbell's tale of an adventure gone wrong and the low lifes ready to exploit an opportunity for advancing themselves, then there's Jane Jago's fabulous tale of Sam Nero PI, a detective up against the odds but smart enough to make the most of the technology at his hands.
There's a real mix of tales here - you might not get the most cohesive feel for the city as a whole but you sure do get a glimpse at the fragmentary nature of life there.
I really enjoyed Thaddeus White's tale of a colony ship on the way to the city whose crew is forced to make tough choices, and it was great to encounter a new writer to me in Juliana Spink Mills, whose Blood Makes Noise both intrigued me with its exploration of an unusual death and had me humming Suzanne Vega all day.
This isn't the last we'll see of the Dust universe - I look forward to more.

AI Rating: 4/5

A World of Darkness, by Joshua Griffith

There's a decent starting premise in this book - but alas, it tends to go wayward after that.
After the apocalypse, supernatural creatures have tiptoed back out from the hidden places they had survived in during the time of mankind - and have now reasserted their dominance of Earth.
We start with a group of such beings thrown into an impromptu alliance as they try to escape imprisonment. There's a native American shapeshifter - the lead character - and his unexpected companions, a witch, a necromancer and a gremlin, who collectively hightail it out of there and seek refuge in an abandoned Costco.
So far, so good - but sadly we get so bogged down in descriptions of the large breasts of the red-headed companion and before you know it, it's all about whether the shapeshifter will be sleeping with one or both of his female companions as they get overexcited by his magical touch.
It's shallow, and it treats the female characters as little more than sex objects, and from where it started out, it really could have been much more.

AI Rating: 2/5

Dragon Lords, by Chris Turner

If you're into old-school fantasy, then this is what Chris Turner seems to be aiming for. You know the type of tale, full of derring-do, sword-swinging and busty maidens, the kind that Robert E Howard used to pack Conan off on.
The busty maiden in particular in this tale is introduced as "barely a day over sixteen" so the frequent mentions of her high proud perky breasts and the swiftness with which she hops into bed - or, well, nearby bush - with muscled hero Vetra is more than a little uncomfortable. Oh, and of course she's a feisty redhead too - why is it always feisty redheads? (And I say that as a redhead)
The story zips along, and Turner also incorporates some of the horror elements that Howard used to love too. If you're into such old-school swords and sorcery, you may well have a good deal of fun. I just wish it had steered clear of cliche and not had me feeling uncomfortable and muttering about the age of the perky redhead.

AI Rating: 2/5

Meet CH Clepitt, author of I Wore Heels To The Apocalypse

Regular readers of my blog will be familiar with CH Clepitt. She's the writer behind the Crew Chronicles series - which I've reviewed every release yet - as well as the Lineage series of modern vampire tales. I haven't yet dived into her books I Wore Heels To The Apocalypse - despite its fabulous name - and its sequel. That's merely a matter of time, I assure you. Beyond her books, she is also a very supportive enthusiast of indie writers, and a fan of, well, badgers. But let's let her tell you all about that. 

Tell us a little about your most recent book - what is it called, and what is it about? Give us your elevator pitch to make us fall in love with it!

My most recent full length book is Everything is Better With a Cape: The Second Part to I Wore Heels to the Apocalypse.  Everyone loved the characters from Heels so much that a sequel was almost essential, but I'd already squeezed all the satire I could out of the Apocalypse, so this one had to be a super hero spoof.  If you like supersonic sarcastic badgers, you should really give this one a try!

What inspired the story?

I love super hero films, it is one of my favourite genres, but in spite of recent improvements, with characters like Anissa in Black Lightning, and Sarah in Legends of Tomorrow (both series rather than films) there is very limited LGBTQ+ representation within the genre.  As indie authors, we are in a unique position to rectify under-representation, and as almost all of my characters from Heels are LGBTQ+, what better way to achieve this, and kill two birds with one stone? As with all satire, I make some serious points, but it's a fun story, so give it a try.

Who are your favourite authors to read? And whose writing do you feel has inspired your own work most?

I love reading Sarah Waters. You can tell the amount of research that goes into writing her books, reading them you feel like you're in whatever time period she has set her story in, and the characters are so real, it's amazing.  I also love Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials, which was the first series of books I actually read for pleasure, and Neil Gaiman. In terms of Indie authors, I would recommend checking out Rose Montague, Claire Buss (The Rose Thief is particularly good) N C Stow and I'm sure I'm missing loads, so hit me up on Twitter!

Are there any particular themes you address in your story? What issues do you explore, overtly or otherwise?

Wow... I am fairly... erm... opinionated.... there tend to be politics running throughout my books, and they aren't too subtle, you should spot them...

What has been your favourite reaction from readers?

What touched me most about Heels was people saying that they could really relate to it, it made me feel like I'd done something right.  It's always wonderful when people tell you that they enjoy something you've written, it makes it all worthwhile.

What’s next for you as a writer? What’s cooking in your literary kitchen?

I have a fantasy and a sci-fi on the brew, along with several more episodes in my short story series. Watch this space.

What’s the most fun piece of technology/magic that you’ve included in your novel that you wish you had in real life?

Peter's knock out pen. If I had a pen like that I'd be knocking out annoying people left, right and centre!

What has been your most satisfying moment as a writer so far? What made you punch the air?

I had a brilliant Sabotage Review of Heels, it was amazing, because a friend told me they aren't backwards about coming forwards if they don't like something, so it felt really good to know that they'd liked it.

Away from books, what are your loves when it comes to TV and movies? (Altered Instinct will plant a flag on behalf of Quantum Leap, Babylon 5, Stargate, The West Wing and Star Wars, and fight to protect it!)

I am very upset that you have not included Buffy in your list... I am really into all the DC series at the moment, Arrow, Legends, Supergirl, Black Lightning. They are doing an amazing job.

Are your books available in audio format? How have you found the process of transforming it from the written page?

I am in the process of turning all of my books and short stories into Audio.  The process has been very rewarding. I wasn't holding out much hope of getting a narrator, as I didn't have the budget to pay up front, so offered all the stories as royalty share.  All the sites say you are unlikely to get any auditions going down this route, but I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the number and the quality.  What it has told me is my books are good enough, and other people believe it too, and that is an amazing feeling.  The narrators I am working with are brilliant and have done an amazing job on the stories. 

Wait, what's this in the middle of the interview? Someone has gone and gatecrashed with an Easter egg hunt! Oh well, you'd best explore and find out more. Go on, click it. Right after you read the rest of the article, of course!

Marketing is always a challenge for writers - to share the love, what have you found the most useful tip for spreading the word about books?

Honestly, marketing is something I really struggle with. The best tip I can give you is keep plugging and don't get disheartened.  People need to see a thing something like 7 times before it stays with them, so just plug, plug, plug!

I have to ask for readers who might want to know: Is this a kissing book?

Er... yes...? There is kissing in the book... and sometimes boys kiss boys and girls kiss girls, which some readers have found a touch confusing...

I love the short story series that you do - particularly the Crew Chronicles and Lineage. What plans do you have for those for the future?

I am excited to say that Lineage: Of Blood will be out on audio later this month, and I am currently writing the third in that series.  I am also in the process of producing audio for The Crew Chronicles, so will be working on the next in that series soon.

Where can readers follow you to find out more about your work?

You can sign up for my newsletter: http://www.chclepitt.com/about/  I send about one every three to four months, so you won't be overwhelmed. Or alternatively you can like me on www.Facebook.com/chclepitt or follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BadgersTweetToo. I also have an author group on Facebook, which you can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/869641253197505

A traditional question here at Altered Instinct - what are you reading at present, and what is the best book you’ve read in the past year?

I am currently reading The Well of Loneliness, and the best thing this year so far is probably Fracture: Divergence by Eric Schubach.

Thanks for stopping by, it's been a pleasure to have you stop by. Swing on back anytime - especially if you've got more Crew Chronicles! 

Thanks for having me.

Check out CH Clepitt's books on Amazon here. 

I Wore Heels To The Apocalypse is free to download over Easter weekend. Check it out at the link below.