Val Muller

The Electronic Wordsmith

Writer Wednesday with Lana Kortchik

March 30, 2016 1 comment

This week I got to chat with Lana Kortchik, author of Savaged Lands, released with Endeavor Press. I enjoyed her tale, “Sixteen Days Ago,” in Freedom Forge Press’s Forging Freedom anthology. She’s had experiences living in diverse locations around the globe, and that certainly seems to have influenced her writing! I enjoyed getting to know more about how her experiences influenced Savaged Lands, which I will be featuring on one of my Monday book reviews soon.

  1. Tell us about yourself:

I grew up in Russia when it was still the Soviet Union. When I turned sixteen, my mother and I moved to Australia – the Lana Kgreatest adventure of my life. Having recently lived in the UK for six years, I have now settled down on the Central Coast of NSW with my husband. My interests include writing, martial arts and Napoleonic history. I first started writing six years ago at University when my history lecturer suggested I give it a go. Since then, my short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies. I was the winner of Historical Novel Society Autumn 2012 Short Fiction competition and the runner-up of 2013 Defenestrationism Short Story Contest. My first novel, Savaged Lands, was published on 8 January by Endeavour Press.

  1. Tell us about your book:

Savaged Lands is a story of war and betrayal, of love and forgiveness. It is September 1941 and Hitler’s Army Group South has occupied Kiev. A young Soviet girl named Natasha falls in love with Mark, a Hungarian soldier of Russian descent. Trapped on opposing sides of a brutal conflict, they are forced to keep secrets from everyone they love. With everything stacked against them and nothing to hope for, the two characters are compelled to fight for their love and their survival.

Savaged Lands was inspired by one of the short stories I wrote a few years previously. After it was published in a historical fiction magazine, people would mention how much they liked it and then ask a lot of questions. They wanted to know what the political situation was in Ukraine during the war, what life was like for average Soviets, what happened before, during and after the occupation. And that’s when I knew that there was more to the story than I had first thought. I started researching the period of German occupation of Ukraine and reading memoirs and diaries of survivors. And that’s how the idea of the novel was born. The book took eighteen months to write and another year for final edits and to find a publisher. It was a great feeling to finally see it out there and have people read it and say how much they’ve enjoyed it.

  1. Who is your favorite character in your book, and why?

Savaged LandsMy main character is a Hungarian soldier in Nazi-occupied Kiev. He’s not just any soldier but a soldier of Russian descent. Having grown up in a Russian family and now fighting on Hitler’s side, seeing Hitler’s atrocities on Soviet soil firsthand must be incredibly difficult for him. When he meets and falls in love with a Soviet girl called Natasha, he wants to do everything possible to protect her but it turns out he himself needs protection. Mark and Natasha are trapped in an incredibly difficult situation and try to do all in their power to find a way out. He is my favourite character because of the way he faces his impossible choices.

  1. What’s your favorite scene or location in the work you’re currently promoting, and why?

My book is set in Nazi-occupied Kiev. I spent three years there as a child, and when it came to choosing a setting for my first novel, I knew it had to be Kiev because the city holds such a special place in my heart. And it had to be Kiev during war because, like many Russians, I have always been fascinated with war stories. My grandparents have lived through the period, and I grew up listening to their reminiscing about those times. Reading about all the places I love as they were devastated by war was an intense experience. I hope this intensity is reflected in the novel.

  1. What book or author has been most inspirational for you, and why?

My favorite author of all time is Alexandre Dumas. I love the adventure, the intrigue, the camaraderie of Dumas novels. I became obsessed with historical fiction when I read The Three Musketeers for the first time at the age of nine. It was love at first page and from that moment on, I have read everything by Dumas I could get my hands on.

  1. Are you working on any other projects at the moment?

I have two works in progress at the moment. One is a middle grade book set in London during the war. And another a suspense novel about a woman who has lost her memory due to an accident. She returns home from hospital to discover dark secrets about herself, her husband and her relationships with others.

  1. What question do you wish I had asked?

Who is my favourite fictional character. The Count of Monte-Cristo has been my favorite novel for the last twenty years. I think the character development in that book is astonishing. Monte-Cristo is a happy, carefree sailor who loses everything only to reinvent himself as an evil genius in possession of immense power and fortune. He is hell-bent on revenge and this desire takes over his whole existence until there’s nothing left. He thinks he can play with destinies of others just like his own destiny was once played with but he is wrong. Although the prevalent theme of the Count of Monte-Cristo is revenge, ultimately the book is about forgiveness.

You can find out more about Lana on her website, on her Facebook page, or on Twitter.

A bit more about the book, which you can find on Amazon.com:

September 1941, Kiev. Life for teenage sisters Natasha and Lisa Smirnova is about to change beyond their worst fears.

Despite Stalin’s assurances to hold the Ukrainian capital at all costs, Hitler has ordered his troops into the Ukraine and for the Russians and Ukrainians living there, it heralds a terrible time of fear, hunger and peril.

All too soon, the danger of living under Nazi occupation impacts on the lives of the ordinary citizens. The eldest Smirnov son, Stanislav, sets off to fight for the Red Army at the front. On the brink of marriage to her fiancé Alexei, Lisa’s happiness quickly turns to despair. Her older sister Natasha watches as their frail grandmother stands up to a Nazi and pays a hard price. But who is the mysterious soldier who steps in to rescue Natasha?

As the harsh winter of 1941 draws in, the Smirnov family watch Jewish friends dragged from their homes, never to return. The family are further torn by war when Natasha’s father is taken away. Distraught Natasha turns to Mark, a Hungarian who she grows quickly fond of. The consequences of their relationship could be dire for both Natasha and Mark if they are discovered, and their future looks fragile.

Two years pass and the noise of Red Army planes is heard once again over Kiev, prompting new hope to rise up among the citizens of the city. The Nazis look set to move out, but will the Smirnovs’ loved ones ever return to Kiev? Natasha waits and hopes for better times to return, not knowing whether she will ever see the people she cares for again.

Savaged Lands is a novel of love and loss, which chronicles the lives of ordinary citizens of Kiev during this dark and desperate period of their history in World War 2. Its descriptions and characters portray the horrors, and ultimately the hopes, of family members looking to survive oppression and starvation.

Whilst moving and chilling in parts, it ultimately bears testimony to the strength of the people of Kiev, and to their faith that life and love could still prevail against all the odds.

interview, Writer Wednesdays, writing none

Networking Opportunities for Writers

March 27, 2016 1 comment

When I was in high school, I heard the cliché “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know” so many times that I vowed to disprove it. I always felt it was important to obtain skills and knowledge. The world wouldn’t be fair if someone without knowledge could climb the ladder of success, right?

And to an extent, it’s true. One must obtain skills in order to succeed. But networking turned out to be more important than I realized.

2016PennWriterMarchAprilWhen I think about writing, it’s a largely solitary activity. When I started out, it was just me, a pen, and a notebook. Sure, there was the amorphous “reader” implied in the mix, but until the writing got out there and got published, it was just me and my lonesome. In fact, I seemed to share in a misperception that famous writers simply became famous overnight. Almost like the New York Times would call them up and say, “We’ve decided we’d like you to write a novel that we’ll put on our bestsellers list!”

I kind of thought things would just happen. For a long, long time, I wrote and wrote and entered a few contests and … never got anywhere.

Then I decided to take an adult enrichment class at a local community college. It was a small group—about five of us, I think. And it was work I submitted during that course and shortly after that became my first published pieces. It wasn’t that my cover letters magically stated that I now “knew” some other writers, but it was the skills brought to me by the other writers that helped my writing rise to a new level.

See, when I was writing all by myself, it turned out I was “overwriting.” I was using all the skills I had as a writer, but my language was flowery and long-winded. When I got to the enrichment class, we had an assignment: use a picture from a magazine as the start of a story. I chose a magazine ad for a grandiose staircase. Much of my story described what the rest of the mansion would look like.

The feedback I received from others in the class, including the instructor, was helpful. They told me that based on just a sentence or two, they could picture the rest of the house. I had only to provide an outline and trust the reader to fill in the rest. Instantly, they had given me the power to cut wordiness from my writing and leave room for more relevant character development and plot.

During this class, the instructor shared some “secrets” about places to look when seeking publication. It was using his resources that earned me my first two publishing credits.

So in the case of the adult enrichment class, it wasn’t that I didn’t have skills; it was that I needed other people to help develop those skills and apply them to the marketplace. Since then, I have gone on to publish dozens and dozens of short stories, essays, and novels.

In fact, through networking at various conferences, classes, and presentations, I have forged many relationships with other writers. And with the Internet, it’s easy to keep in touch even if we don’t live close by.

An announcement about the Pennwriters Area 7 Conference from the Purcellville Gazette.

An announcement about the Pennwriters Area 7 Conference from the Purcellville Gazette.

I try to attend one or two writing enrichment activities each year (at the least!) in addition to attending my writer’s group twice each month. I also like sharing my experiences with others, which is why I signed up for two events happening soon in the Greater Washington, DC area.

The first is the Pennwriters Area 7 Conference taking place on Saturday (April 2, 2016). I’ll be presenting five strategies I use for improving writing. These strategies, working in tandem, are what helped me become a published writer.

The second event is one being organized by the Loudoun County Library system. It will take place April 23 at the Purcellville Library. I’ll be speaking about writing and publishing for young adults, referencing my novel The Scarred Letter. (Stay tuned here for details)

If you’re in the area, consider attending one of the events. If you live somewhere else and are an aspiring writer, consider making it your goal to attend at least one event this year. Although you need skills to succeed as a writer, you should never underestimate the power of other people.

To register or learn more about Writers Project Runway, check out the official Facebook page or go to PennWriters.org.

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Fantastic Friday: Winter is Leaving

March 25, 2016 No comments

I had a little fun this week with winter’s departure. Anyone who knows me knows that I detest snow. Not only did I have plenty of it growing up in New England: more recently, snow has caused a sprained thumb, thirteen hours stuck in a car alone, and an emergency trip to the hospital when the baby decided to arrive mid-storm. So, each spring I’m a little eager to say goodbye to winter in a rather less-than-friendly way.

One year, for instance, I used my gladius on a snowman:

IMG_5883epic

I thought winter was “over” a few weeks ago, but a cold snap brought more snow. Knowing (or hoping, at least) that it would be the last snow of the season, I rolled a bit of it into a big snowball. I thought I’d repeat my celebratory “kill the snowman” fun of last year:

IMG_5671

So I ended up with a large snowball. Here is my dog Yoda about to, um, pay his respects to the snow. (Don’t worry—no yellow snow here. Yoda is a “low rider,” and anything the corgi “marks” usually stays dry, as his aim is a little low!):

20160320_162911

But on the first day of spring, when I was all set to make my celebratory snowman, my eight-week old had to go for her shots. It was her first round of immunizations, and it made her grumpier than grumpy. For several hours, I had to sit perfectly still while she slept. Even the smallest movement woke her up and sent her wailing. Needless to say, by the time the Tylenol kicked in and the effects of the shots started to wear off, I was tired and it was dark out. So no snowman. I woke the next morning to find my opportunity to celebrate winter’s demise shrinking—literally:

20160322_080717

Not only that, but the snow had melted during the day and then frozen hard again. No snowman-making for me. I had to think of another way to celebrate the end of winter. So I did:

Going…

20160322_081726

Going…

20160322_081737

Gone.

And the grand circle of life continues.

Happy Spring, everyone! And Happy Friday!

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Flash Fiction: Goodbye, Old Friends by Tom Robson

March 24, 2016 No comments

Welcome to the Spot Writers. The prompt for this month is to use in the story “Just breathe and count to ten…” Today’s tale comes to you from Tom Robson, author of Written While I still Remember, A Patchwork Memoir. See if you can guess the identity of the “friends” before you read the last paragraph!

Goodbye, Old Friends!

By Tom Robson

They stand, solid and upright, in a quiet corner, these harbingers of spring and comforting reminders in the cold of winter. Unmoving and unmoved for over a year and a half, these friends, under-appreciated to the point of neglect, bring memories of my younger days.

Though we did not meet their first antecedents until I was in my fifties, I soon became obsessively involved in the sometimes rewarding search for replacements. New friends served me better by times. Those they replaced were handed on. New-found-friends provided more satisfaction and better prepared me to face the ups and downs of life. They promised to help me bypass life’s wrong turns and, if by some mischance I found myself in a hazardous situation, experiencing rough times, one of them was there to offer rescue.

The pockets in their protective cover are full of other comforts and items that I have needed on the picturesque, but oft unnoticed walks through green pastures. brush and water’s edge. In another section of the garage the ‘wheels’ for my companions dwell, unmoving and awaiting solid ground on which to travel. They too, are not inclined to winter use.

Can I finally give up the comforting feel of my thirty year friends manly grip, their resilience, their forgiveness of minor errors and the lessons imparted, but not always learned from major misplays?

Will my life be better if I abandon their discriminatory and wayward  behavior, the inconsistencies, the broken promises, the errant actions and the utter folly in choosing to employ them on an almost daily basis in some summers?

There is also the companionship factor to consider. These are friends for the unarthritic, for those who scorn the closer starting places; a tool for those to whom length still matters. They are companions of an ongoing search for perpetual youthfulness.

They are not for those whose mobility is threatened. They do not belong to those who no longer rant and rave, with expletive ridden venom, at the friends who misguide them on an increasing number of occasions. Once you accept that advancing age allows you to forgive the failures and foibles of the now, garage-bound friends and blame failure on your own advancing years, it is time to let the friends go.

So, just breathe and count to ten. Accept it. Then press that final key that will put those now useless golf clubs up for sale, on Kijiji.

The Spot Writers–our members:

 RC Bonitz: rcbonitz.com

Val Muller: https://valmuller.com/blog/

Catherine A. MacKenzie:https://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/

Tom Robson: https://robsonswritings.wordpress.com/

 

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Writer Wednesdays: Dystopian Express

March 23, 2016 No comments

Welcome to Writer Wednesdays. Today I’d like to highlight a book hot off the presses (well, the electronic presses, for now. The paperback is on its way!). It’s called Dystopian Express, and I’m especially excited because dystopian writing is probably my favorite genre.

Dystopian Express

When someone asks me what my favorite book is, I always feel guilty–the way I imagine parents of multiple children would feel when asked which child is his or her “favorite.” As a writer and English teacher, I feel like if I name one book as my favorite, I am betraying so many other amazing works. And, sort of like having multiple children, each one brings something unique to the table. They’re not “better” or “worse”; they’re just “different.” But when pressed long enough, I cave in and name 1984  as my favorite book.

What I love about the work is how paranoid it is. The perspective, through Winston’s eyes, is limited so that we know only what Winston knows–and he knows that he can never know everything. We never are told with 100% certainty exactly what is real and what is made up. It’s, sadly, the way a story might be told by someone living reluctantly in North Korea. How could they ever be sure about anything they were told?

Following the dystopian vein, I wrote a short story called “Cohort 17” about a society in which Preceptors are created with a mutated form of cancer, allowing ordinary humans to have superhuman abilities–which are used “for the greater good,” of course, to keep everyone else in line. I just learned that the book has been released, so I haven’t gotten a chance to read the other stories yet, but I can’t wait!

From the publisher:

 

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

You are followed.

You are watched.

Suppress your thoughts.

Do as they say.

You stand as one against them all.

What happens when every aspect of your life is managed, manipulated, and controlled by someone else? Everyone is guaranteed the opportunity to suffer equally for the greater good in this dystopian society. You become weary in your helplessness and have no voice in what happens to you, your family, friends and neighbors. Your possessions, your body, and even your thoughts, belong to them and not yourself.

What will you do? Jump on board and witness how the landscape has changed as we ride the rails of the Dystopian Express.

Available for Kindle here.

Writer Wednesdays, writing none

Book Review: Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

March 21, 2016 No comments

I happened upon this book in a used book store. I had previously read the (now award-winning) blog of the same name and was excited to see there was now a book. It was there in the illustrated humor section, right next to The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes.

The book is a quick read, as it’s mostly illustrated. The author uses a highly stylized hand to create entertaining drawings meant to look like a kindergartener drew them, and I mean that as a compliment. You can check out what I mean at http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/.

Since I am a dog person, I only ever checked out the blog’s dog-related post in which the author humorously chronicles the life of her “challenged” dog and her “helper” dog. The book has several chapters about these dogs (which are just as funny as the blog) and also chapters about the author, including her childhood, a goose on the loose, and depression. I preferred the chapters about the dogs, though her childhood chapters were funny as well.

The book does have adult language, so even though it looks like a “comic book,” beware of allowing young’uns to read it. If you’re not sure, check out the blog first. If you enjoy the blog, you’ll like the book.

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Flash Fiction: Just Breathe by Cathy MacKenzie

March 17, 2016 No comments

Welcome to the Spot Writers. The prompt for February is to begin your story with “Just breathe and count to ten…” Sorry this post is a little late. Tiny Baby is Queen of the Universe and makes Mommy sometimes question what day it is!

This week’s flash fiction, “Just Breathe,” comes to you from Cathy MacKenzie. Check out her Facebook page, OUT OF THE CAVE [and the call for submissions (payment of $10 if accepted) for a horror anthology for teens]. In the spirit of horror, this one is a little dark.

~*~

Just Breathe

by Cathy MacKenzie

“Just breathe.”

“But I can’t. It’s so hard…the stuff going in my mouth—”

“Try, please try. I need you to survive.”

“I want to, too. You think I want to die?”

“Breathe. Just breathe. Count to ten.”

“I can’t count to ten.”

“Come on. One, two, three, four….”

“I counted to three. No more breath—”

“Breathe.”

“Ah, I did. You hear me?”

“Yes, you did well. Another. And another. Keep going. One breath. Two breath.”

“I can’t.”

“What did I tell you? Breathe. One—”

“What makes you queen of all shit?”

“Just breathe, sweetie. One—”

“No more. Stop. I can’t.”

“Please. I don’t want to lose you.”

Silence.

“Please. For me?”

Silence.

“You there?”

“I’m here.”

“You took a breath, then.”

“I did.”

“You stole it!”

“I did?”

“Well, yes. You said you were done, so you stole it from someone.”

“No, I’d never steal.”

“You’re still there, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And you said you had no more breaths, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So you stole. If you had no breath left, then you stole.”

“No….”

~*~

 The Spot Writers–our members:

 RC Bonitz: rcbonitz.com

Val Muller: https://valmuller.com/blog/

Catherine A. MacKenzie:https://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/

Tom Robson: https://robsonswritings.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review: Dead of Summer by Sherry Knowlton

March 14, 2016 No comments

I enjoyed reading Knowlton’s first book, Dead of Autumn, and was excited to learn there is a sequel (and a third book coming soon). You can read my review of Dead of Autumn here. Now, for Dead of Summer:

Synopsis (from the publisher)

In a tale of suspense that travels from South-central Pennsylvania to Africa to the iconic Woodstock Festival of 1969, Dead of Summer embroils Alexa Williams in the dangerous world of sex trafficking.

With help from friends, family, and her yoga practice, Alexa Williams is finally starting to recover from last autumn’s trauma of finding a dead body and the violence that ensued. The young attorney can’t believe that her summer has begun with the discovery of another body. This time, the dead woman was famous for her worldwide campaign against sex trafficking. The murder hits close to home: the late activist was a friend and mentor to Alexa’s best friend, Melissa.

While the town mourns, Alexa stumbles into a burglary at Melissa’s home, barely escaping serious harm. A client asks for help in convincing the police that her foster child is not a runaway, and Alexa learns that other local girls have gone missing. Drawn into the fight to save lost and exploited children, Alexa discovers a community of child activists. A local philanthropist wants Alexa to join his foster care empire. A sexy social worker and a hip college professor want a more personal connection with Alexa, but she is also drawn to the police detective leading the murder investigation.

Searching for answers, Alexa becomes entangled in a web of deception and danger that puts both her heart and her life at risk. By the time she discovers that the key to the present lies in the halcyon days of peace and music, it may be too late.

My review:

Like the first book, I enjoyed Dead of Summer. The author’s selection of detail helped me imagine that I was there with the characters, and by the end Alexa once again felt more like a friend than a character. I knew about her coffee and yoga habits, her family dinner on Friday night… It helped that Alexa seems as tied to her giant and lovable dog as I am to my corgis.

With all Alexa has been through, she seems to become skeptical of almost everyone (especially guys), and since we see much of the story through her eyes, her skepticism helped keep me guessing. I especially enjoyed that the thrills kept coming, even after I reached what I thought was the denouement.

The Woodstock story was entertaining, and I kept waiting for the connection to modern day to be made–which it was, adding to the tension of Alexa’s situation. All in all, I enjoyed this thriller.

 

I received a review copy of this novel, but the opinion expressed is my own.

book reviews none

Book Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

March 7, 2016 No comments

I had read so many summaries of John Green novels written by my students that I wanted to choose a novel I didn’t know about. This is his first novel, and none of my students had ever reviewed it or spoiled it for me.

Like Green’s other works, this is a young adult novel, a coming of age work following a boy nicknamed “Pudge” who goes away to boarding school. In his life prior to boarding school, he had no real friends and no real life. When he arrives at the boarding school, he is drawn into a world of pranks, drinking, smoking, and philosophy. He pushes himself beyond his comfort zone, making friends in the process.

The chapter headings indicate “X Days Before” or “X Days After,” alluding to an event surrounding Pudge’s new friend (and crush), Alaska. I won’t reveal in this review what happens involving her, but it forces Pudge and his friends to question life, hence the coming of age portion.

I started reading this novel over the summer and then forgot about it (not because it wasn’t good; simply because I misplaced it and became distracted reading other things). So it might be that I was in a different place reading the first half, but I remember getting annoyed at Pudge’s new friends in the beginning of the novel because they were encouraging him to do things like drink and play pranks on others.

But then, as the novel went along, I saw that maybe I was being a little too uptight—the way Pudge was in his old life—and missing some of what makes life fun and memorable. It’s a young adult novel, so it’s somewhat predictable, and it’s got its share of profanities and “bad” things, like minor alcohol use and sex. But overall it’s a solid coming of age book that I would have benefitted from as a teenager. It reminds me of Dead Poets Society, only without a “Captain” to lead the youths—they are left to discover the “Great Beyond” of life on their own, synthesizing their own discussions with what they are learning in school and experiencing in life.

book reviews none

Fantastic Friday: Finding the Humor

March 4, 2016 No comments

A little late posting this one, but happy weekend, folks!

If you haven’t heard, I’ve been a little busy lately with a newborn. She’s a bundle of joy, for sure, but as with all newborns, there are trying times. So it’s good to keep a sense of humor. For instance, I never knew that newborns made, um, grown-up sized farts until I was sitting watching TV with my husband, when I heard a low rumble from that side of the room.

“Was that you?” I asked, concerned.

“No,” he said. “I thought that was you.”

We both turned toward the baby, at which point she let another one loose. Maybe it was the sleep deprivation, but the moment reminded me of the Monty Python rabbit scene. You know the one–an innocent-looking white rabbit suddenly attacks the knights, drawing blood. It was the same thing with a little baby passing such big gas–compounded by the look of total contentment taking over her face. I laughed and laughed until tears ran down my cheeks.

It made the sleepless night that followed all the more bearable.

It’s important to keep a sense of humor, which is why I especially appreciated a gift we received for our newborn. It arrived in the mail, and we removed it from its packaging to reveal the box:

cribdrib003I thought, “I know everyone has that one relative, but is this for reeeeal?”

I turned it over:

cribdrib001“This can’t be real,” I said aloud. My husband, too, grew concerned. We read the testimonies and the details, balancing skepticism with the concern that the gift giver may have actually thought this was a good idea:

cribdrib002But sure enough, on the other side, was a small note to the effect of calm down; your real gift is inside.

The real gift was a very cute baby outfit and book. But the real gift was the moments of laughter that followed, breaking up the anxiety of having a new baby at home. It was an important reminder the humor is a helpful part of life, and no matter how serious things are, there’s always room for some levity.

Especially from that one relative.

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