Author Interview: Resa Nelson

I have enjoyed Resa's fantasy books and now her new book as well, All of Us Were Sophie. You can check out my review of her new book on the blog. Please do as it's new and different from her previous book. Well done!

I do hope you learn a bit about the book in this interview, and it sparks a curiosity to take a look at it.

Please give a warm welcome to Resa...


M:  Hi Resa! It is a pleasure to have you back to the blog once again.

I’m thrilled to announce you have a new book out, the center of your current tour – All of Us Were Sophie. Would you like to share a little about the new book with the readers?

RN:  Sure! Thanks so much for that warm welcome. All Of Us Were Sophie is a murder mystery with a science fiction premise: human duplication is possible. Not cloning, which is essentially growing a baby that has your exact DNA. But making exact copies of yourself in an instant, complete with your personality and life experience. Kind of like making real-life photocopies of yourself except they’re human, not paper. That’s what my main character Sophie does because she knows someone is trying to kill her and she believes making copies of herself is her best choice. But she also knows that the process of duplication will kill her. Once that happens and the copies of Sophie are created, they must figure out what’s happening, escape the killer, and find out what’s happening and why.

M:  Resa, I know you throw yourself into your work. You usually ‘try’ or talk too many about what you are writing. I think this is amazing as it really helps make the actions feel real.

There is detective work here. Both professional and unprofessional. We have a cop that is trying to solve a crime then we have the Sophie’s trying to solve who is trying to murder them. Did you have a lot of research to make it feel so true from the detectives view?

RN:  I did a couple of things. I wrote the first version of this book 25 years ago, and at that time I interviewed a Boston homicide detective. It was fascinating, because I sat in his office and he answered all incoming calls during our interview. Just listening to his conversations gave me a lot of insight. But I also had a big list of questions, and his answers made me look at things differently. The first version of this book sold to a major publisher who later dropped the deal, and I gave up on the book. When I realized how I could rewrite it to make it more fresh and relevant, I decided to change the setting from Boston to a fictional bedroom community on its outskirts. This time I interviewed a detective in a small town, and the difference between the two experiences was jaw-dropping. Years ago, I dated a Boston cop and gained some insight from him, as well. Also, I’m a huge fan of the ID TV channel and series like The Closer, which a minor character mentions watching in my novel.

M:  Sophie has her own way of doing things, one that feels almost a tad OCD. How did you come up with Sophie’s ways? (By the way, I’m so glad there is a personalized feel to Sophie. Makes her feel real to the reader.)

RN:  I drew mostly from my own experience. Whenever I needed to figure out a way to make something work, I would think about my own idiosyncrasies. For example, within the past few years I’ve realized that I’ve always had my own unique way of communicating with myself – and that not everyone else does this! And it’s all about visual things. For example, if I need to take something with me when I leave my home, there’s a specific place where I’ll put it because I know that for some reason I also look at that place. If I put things anywhere else, I’m likely to walk off without them. Another example: last weekend I decided I wanted to eat the last bit of an Ethiopian lentil stew I’d made for breakfast. But I’m a creature of habit. I knew that I had to do something to remind myself or else I’d go on autopilot and make my regular morning oatmeal. So I took a bag of uncooked lentils out of my kitchen cabinet and put the bag on the countertop where I make breakfast. Sure enough, a couple of hours later when I started to make oatmeal, I saw my reminder and heated up the stew instead. I don’t know why I’m like this. I can’t explain it. It’s just how my brain is wired. And especially because I’m dealing with multiple versions of the same character, I felt that my best bet was to make Sophie as much like me as I could bear!

Resa, I think we all have our own idiosyncrasies. It's great to really focus on them and use them in the book.

M:  The Detective, Jeromy, touches on memory loss with his suspect. And there is an explanation of why the Sophie’s don’t remember the last two weeks. Did you do a lot of training on memory and memory loss for the book?

RN:  It’s a combination of things. In college my required courses included human biology, human physiology, and human anatomy (including dissection, which I initially dreaded but ended up loving). I also have a degree in sociology and a keen interest in psychology. Plus for many years I’ve been reading books about the brain just because I think it’s interesting. So there were a lot of things I already knew and understood about memory, but I also did some research. But most of the credit goes to my consultant, Dr. Geoffrey Landis, who is a scientist and a terrific science fiction author. When we’ve talked about the possibility of human duplication and how it would work, Geoff is the one who theorized that the duplication process would cause short-term memory loss.

M:  In this new book, you touch on science fiction. But, the nice thing, it creates the plot of the story yet is not overwhelming to people who love a great mystery story. Do you feel this book falls more in the mystery section?

RN:  Thank you so much for saying that! That’s exactly my intent. I’m a huge fan of mysteries, and I want this book to be easy to read for mystery readers as well as science fiction fans. My goal was to put in just enough science so that you can understand the most important things you need to understand. I think there’s a grand total of about four pages of science fiction spread throughout the book, and the rest I consider pure mystery.

M:  Did you find it easier writing of your local area as you went? Or more of a challenge to keep a close to home, real feel?

RN:  I’ve lived in different parts of the United States, and I feel that this country is more like Europe in that different regions (or even states) have their own culture. I once read a novel where one of the main characters was supposed to be the city in which it took place, but the authors did very little to describe the city or what made it unique! That’s what I thought about when I wrote this book, because I want anyone who has never lived in New England to get a glimpse of what it’s like – and it made the writing easy because I had a goal. I kept thinking about the culture shock I’d experienced when I first moved to Boston as well as all the things I love about it and the surrounding area. My goal is that no matter where you live, when you read my novel you’ll see my vision of what makes this region unique.

M:  Resa, thank you for stopping by. I wish you all the best in words and pages. And look forward to having you back by in the future, many times.

RN:  Melissa, thank you so much for hosting my blog tour and for asking such great questions! I’m so happy and grateful that you read All Of Us Were Sophie and enjoyed it. Thanks for the kind words, and I’m already looking forward to coming back!

~~~~~~~~~~

All Of Us Were Sophie

What if the only way you could save your own life was to kill yourself?

Someone is trying to kill Sophie Rippetoe, and she has no place to hide. But Sophie has a unique option. Her husband designed and built a duplicator machine to make exact copies of complicated and sophisticated machine parts. She knows how the duplicator works.

Will it work for people? No one knows.

There’s just one problem: the duplication process destroys the original. The only thing Sophie knows for sure is that trying to make copies of herself will end up killing her.

Sophie isn’t sure who’s trying to kill her or why – but she has her suspicions and has gathered some evidence. Before she takes the leap of faith to use the duplicator on herself, she creates a trail of clues, hopeful that at least one of the Sophies she creates will figure it out in time to save herself.


Author Bio:
Resa Nelson’s first novel, The Dragonslayer’s Sword, was nominated for the Nebula Award and was also a Finalist for the EPPIE Award. This medieval fantasy novel is based on a short story first published in the premiere issue of Science Fiction Age magazine and ranked 2nd in that magazine's first Readers Top Ten Poll. The Dragonslayer's Sword is Book 1 in her 4-book Dragonslayer series, which also includes The Iron Maiden (Book 2), The Stone of Darkness (Book 3), and The Dragon’s Egg (Book 4).

Resa's standalone novel, Our Lady of the Absolute, is a fantasy/mystery/thriller about a modern-day society based on ancient Egypt. Midwest Book Review gave this book a 5-star review, calling it "a riveting fantasy, very highly recommended."

She has been selling fiction professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop. Resa was also the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine for 13 years and was a contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Resa lives in Massachusetts. Visit her website at http://www.resanelson.com and follow her on Twitter @ResaNelson.

Find Resa:
Resa’s website:  http://www.resanelson.com
Twitter:   @ResaNelson
Email:  ContactResa@aol.com

GoodReads giveaway (10 signed copies, U.S. only): https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/77022-all-of-us-were-sophie

Ebook ($4.99) and trade paperback ($12.95) are available directly from Mundania Press at:
http://mundania.com/book.php?title=All of Us Were Sophie
(get a 10% discount at checkout with the coupon code MP10)

Paperbacks and ebooks are available also from Amazon, and Barnes&Noble:
Amazon: All of Us Were Sophie
Barnes & Nobles: All of Us Were Sophie
Book Depository: All of Us Were Sophie

Blog tour schedule: http://www.resanelson.com/all-of-us-were-sophie-blog-tou/

Book Review: All of Us Were Sophie

All of Us Were Sophie

By:  Resa Nelson

Publisher:  Mundania Press

Publish Date:  December 17, 2013

Format:  ARC, 220pgs

Genre:  Science Fiction, Mystery

Series:  Stand-alone

Recommendation:  Yes. You enjoy mystery? This is a new blend of a touch of science fiction that created the 'Sophie's' that need to solve their murder, before it happens.

Book Synopsis:
What if the only way you could save your own life was to kill yourself? Someone is trying to kill Sophie Rippetoe, and she has no place to hide. But Sophie has a unique option. Her husband designed and built a duplicator machine to make exact copies of complicated and sophisticated machine parts. She knows how the duplicator works. Will it work for people? No one knows. There's just one problem: the duplication process destroys the original. The only thing Sophie knows for sure is that trying to make copies of herself will end up killing her. Sophie isn't sure who's trying to kill her or why - but she has her suspicions and has gathered some evidence. She has created a trail of clues, hopeful that at least one of the Sophies she creates will figure out who the killer is in time to save herself.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

**I read this story for an honest review.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Sophie is on the run. Hiding. Someone is trying to kill her for the information she's uncovered. She suspects who, but not sure. She's left clues hidden where she'd find them, in a form only she would understand. The only thing she has left to do, before the killer gets to her...make replicas of herself to find the clues and figure it out. The problem, the replicating machine destroys the original. Hopefully, one of the multiple selves she creates lives and figures out the clues.

Resa had me from page one. Curiosity flared in me as I wondered what was going on with Sophie and what was happening. I had to keep reading to know. I found this suspenseful because you only know what the duplicate Sophie's know. Which, they have lost the memory of the original Sophie's last two weeks, and all the information and clues tie this time frame in as we acquire it.

We follow the lives of the different Sophie's as they hid and solve the mystery, without dying first. Watch, and learn, as they put the clues together in different areas and with different people that have impacted Sophie's life over the years. I fell into all the characters lives. You got to see how the same person could take different paths in life, one that is very possible for all of us.

I thought it was neat watching as multiples of the same interact, or have to do what needs done for the other selves. The duplicates that are together get to see how they look and sound from a viewing perspective, and know very well the thought that fuels it. It's an eye opener to the observer of ones self and know what they are thinking. Something they learn to try and improve on their selves.

The book has many different aspects it touches on. Their is the science side with the replicator. Which, I will mention, the story is NOT overly science fiction. Detective work to find the killer of Sophie's husband. There is a brief touch on memory psychology with memory. Very interesting seeing all these blended into this story. Even the relations of those you would never realize are there when you speak and see others.

Resa sucked me into the lives of several Sophie's. Made me worry for them and curiosity flare to life with the mystery of who and why. Resa has taken mystery and added an additional element that science fiction can add, creating a blend that keeps us reading.

Mythical Monday (27)

It seems there are many books based on or influenced by Myths and Mythological Beings.

There are so many different Mythology and Mythological Beings recorded. Some are very popular and well known, others not so much. There are many similar beings, yet different depending on the culture it’s based in.  The definition of Myth covers about anything in the Urban Fantasy/Fantasy realm to me.

I’ve invited authors to share briefly the Mythological being or Myth that influenced their character(s) or story, or what their character(s) are based on influencing their books.  Hosting here, one author and being or myth per week.

This week we have:

Fantasy author Resa Nelson

Talking of the Hidden People.

The Legend of the Hidden People

Many years ago when I was doing research for my Dragonslayer series, I spent a couple of weeks traveling around Iceland. I’ve always been a fan of Viking culture, partly because I have a bit of Scandinavian heritage. I found it thrilling to visit places where real Norse men and women had lived. But one of the stories told by my tour guide surprised me: the legend of the Hidden People. What follows is my recollection of this legend.

The story goes like this: Eve had many, many children. One day when she was in the midst of bathing them, she found out that God was coming to visit. Embarrassed that about half of her children weren’t yet clean and presentable, she told them to hide and stay quiet.

Adam and Eve presented the clean children to God, and they had a nice visit. However, Eve forgot that God sees all. At the end of the visit, God asked if there were any more children to meet, but Eve lied even when asked again. Now angry, God told Eve that because she felt so ashamed of her own flesh and blood and had lied about their existence those children that she’d hidden from God would be granted immortality but would be doomed to remain hidden forever.

My tour guide explained that Hidden People live in rocks and hills, but are mischievous. If you catch sight of one, you must keep your distance so that you don’t disappear and become hidden, too. Some recent definitions I’ve found of the Hidden People include fairies, elves, dwarves, and trolls. (A surprising fact: today there are even Hidden People tours offered in Iceland!)

What struck me about this story is the fact that in the year 1000 Europeans forced Icelanders to convert to Christianity by threatening to stop all trade with them. Because Iceland is an isolated island in the far North, this kind of boycott at that point in history would have brought a lot of hardship and possibly death to its inhabitants. Iceland agreed to the conversion, although the Europeans who forced it agreed that the Icelanders could keep their pagan beliefs as long as they did so in secret. I wonder if many Icelanders still do so.

I began to wonder. What if the story of the Hidden People had been changed to make it easier for Christians to hear? What if the woman hadn’t been Eve in the original story but a Norse woman instead? And what if God had been Odin or possibly a group of Viking gods?

Then I started thinking about the warnings that the Hidden People might make themselves known to you and maybe even try to kidnap you. One of the many places I enjoyed seeing in Iceland was the Dark Citadels, an astonishing natural formation where tourists can easily get lost, allegedly sometimes never to be heard from again. All of these ideas came crashing together, and I wrote a short story called “The Hidden People” (published by Buzzy Magazine) that you can read for free at this link: http://buzzymag.com/the-hidden-people-by-resa-nelson/ And if you’ve read any of my Dragonslayer novels, you might have noticed that a different version of the Hidden People crop up in one of those books!

Author Bio:
Resa Nelson has been selling fiction professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop.

Resa was also the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine for 13 years and was a contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Her first novel, The Dragonslayer’s Sword, was nominated for the Nebula Award and was also a Finalist for the EPPIE Award. This medieval fantasy novel is based on a short story first published in the premiere issue of Science Fiction Age magazine and ranked 2nd in that magazine's first Readers Top Ten Poll. The Dragonslayer's Sword is Book 1 in her 4-book Dragonslayer series. Book 2, The Iron Maiden, was published last December, Book 3 was published in May, and the final book in the series is scheduled for publication in November.

Resa's standalone novel, Our Lady of the Absolute, is a fantasy/mystery/thriller about a modern-day society based on ancient Egypt. Midwest Book Review gave this book a 5-star review, calling it "a riveting fantasy, very highly recommended."

Resa lives in Massachusetts.


Find Resa and Links:
Resa’s website:   http://www.resanelson.com
Free “mini” ebook of Dragonslayer short stories:    http://www.resanelson.com/files
Facebook page:    http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Resa-Nelson-The-Dragonslayers-Sword/122200661871
Twitter:    http://twitter.com/#!/ResaNelson
Email:   ContactResa@aol.com

And two short stories that started the world for Resa, in one place:

Author's Favorite Quotes Fantasy, Resa Nelson

I wanted to include authors of books I've loved.  And what better way of including them then having quotes from the books?  A great way to introduce you to the books and share a bit from them.

This author got to share from two books from the Top 5 Fantasy list.  Resa Nelson has two of her books to share from.  Resa shared 5 different lines from the book that she really loved.  I have to agree, these lines are powerful!  Amazing picks Resa!

From The Dragonslayer's Sword:

Astrid knew she was a monster, and she didn't know what the world outside her isolated home would do to monsters.

***

Unwittingly, her breath began to match the rhythm of the dragon's panting.

***

So she threw a hammer at his face, as hard as she could.

***

"Blossom was the prettiest, sweetest horse I ever stole."

***

But her opinion of others still carried the power to change them, whether Astrid desired it or not.

From The Iron Maiden:

When she looked down and saw the mass of her long, dark hair on the ground, surrounding her like seaweed that had washed up on the beach, someone might as well have stolen her dagger and driven it through her heart.

***

"But there is more to life than being safe."

***

She had every faith that he understood the intention of a sharp blade, even when it belonged to the lowly head of an ax.

***

A woman made of strands of white and gray smoke turned to look at Vinchi.

***

He stood for several more seconds before he realized that if he didn't wipe the tears welling in his eyes, they might turn to ice before he could rejoin the men walking away from this ghastly place.

Guest Post: Resa Nelson on Dragon Egg Tour

Please welcome back to the blog fantasy author Resa Nelson!  I'm thrilled to have Resa stop by with a guest post.  She's going to Map her characters journeys through her Dragonslayer world.

If you want to learn more here at the blog, I've:
   Interviewed Resa Nelson
 Reviewed:
   The Dragonslayer's Sword
   The Iron Maiden

Do check the links at the bottom as there is currently a giveaway running on Goodreads you might want to enter.

Mapping My Characters’ Journeys through 

the Dragonslayer World

When I created my Dragonslayer world, I modeled it on the beginning of the Viking era and works like Beowulf and the Icelandic sagas. Because I’m a lifelong fan of Viking culture, I’ve traveled throughout Scandinavia to gather research material and inspiration. So although the Dragonslayer series is set in a fantasy world, it draws from our world.

Book one, The Dragonslayer’s Sword, introduces Astrid, the female blacksmith who is the hero of the series. We meet her when she’s a child who has spent her life on an island owned by her family, who give her to a childseller. When he takes her from the island, they travel through the Northlands, which are modeled on Norway and Sweden, and all of it feels new and exciting to Astrid. During book one she travels throughout the Northlands from jagged mountain passes to fjord-like coasts to deep, dark forests. She also visits a series of islands, which are based on the islands off the coast of Scotland (the Faroes, Orkneys, Hebrides, etc.), which were explored by Vikings. In this and all the other Dragonslayer novels, many of the places I describe are based on sites I’ve visited and the notes and photographs I took while there.

In book two (The Iron Maiden), Astrid’s plans to stay in the Northlands, but unexpected events cause her to travel to the Midlands, which are inspired mostly by Denmark. Her traveling adventure begins in a port city in the southeastern corner of the Northlands. This port city is inspired by Birka, a major trading city in Sweden during the Viking era. She crosses the sea between the Northlands and the Midlands. One of her most important destinations is a forest temple that has been ravaged by the army of Krystr, a warrior king who spreads a new religion, forcing it upon others. This was inspired by a real-life incident during the Middle Ages. In addition to my own travels, I drew upon library research to create this temple and its destruction.

In book three (The Stone of Darkness), Astrid covers more of the Midlands and ventures into the Southlands, inspired by France and Italy. Because I’ve seen little of France and have never been to Italy, I turned to a different source for my inspiration –paintings by Impressionists like Van Gogh and Monet! Astrid travels through the countryside, sometimes on horse and sometimes on foot, passing farmers in their fields, spectacular waterfalls, and villages, some bustling and some abandoned. She encounters a magnificent mansion, mysterious alchemists, women warriors, and the sprawling camp of the deadly warrior king.

In the fourth and final book (The Dragon’s Egg), Astrid’s journey returns to the Northlands. But other characters accept a quest that takes them to parts of the world that might be nothing more than rumor: the Land of Ice (inspired by Iceland) and the Land of Vines (inspired by North America, which the Vikings called Vinland).

Although The Dragon’s Egg brings the series to an end, I plan to start a new series where my Dragonslayer characters will explore the rest of their world. You’re welcome to sample the Dragonslayer series by downloading a free ebook of two short stories I wrote that take place in that world. There’s no information gathering or obligation—just a simple download at http://www.resanelson.com/files.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Learn more about and Purchase Resa Nelson’s 4-book Dragonslayer series:

The Dragonslayer's Sword (Book 1)
For Astrid, a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, the emergence of a strange gemstone from her body sets in motion a chain of events that threaten to destroy her life. Her happiness is shattered when her lover--the dragonslayer--disappears without a trace, and the life that she knows and loves implodes without warning.

Astrid lives in a world of shapeshifters whose thoughts have the power to change not only themselves but others. Everything Astrid knows to be true is called into question when she learns the truth about her past and the mysterious family from which she was separated as a child. Reality turns inside out as Astrid gradually learns the truth about the people she loves as well as those she disdains. With the fate of dragons, ghosts, and slaves in foreign lands resting on her shoulders, Astrid faces the challenge of deciding who she is and how she will stand up inside her own skin. Will she withdraw and hide from the world that has disappointed her so much...or will she rise to lead others to freedom and peace?

The Iron Maiden (Book 2)
Astrid is reluctant to travel the winter route beyond the Northlands, even though it’s her duty. She’d rather stay home in her village, surrounded by friends and neighbors. Ignoring the bonds of tradition, she decides to spend the cold winter months in the warmth of her blacksmithing shop. Why should she leave the comfort of her cottage to serve and protect foreigners who might raid and harm her native Northlands?

Everything changes when a traveling merchant steals Starlight, the first dragonslayer’s sword Astrid forged and her last link to her sweetheart DiStephan. Having no time to alert her friends, Astrid races in pursuit of the merchant, determined to reclaim Starlight as her own and return home in time for dinner. Instead, her quest leads her to new lands, unexpected friendships with foreigners, and a harrowing encounter with the damage done by the followers of a new god that considers women as nothing more than servants to men. All the while, she must be ready to face any dragon traveling the winter route. In Book 2 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid must learn that deciding who she is isn’t a decision she can make just once. It’s a decision she must make every day.

The Stone of Darkness (Book 3)
In Book 3 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid accepts her duty and follows the winter route--until she's bitten by a dragon. Everyone knows dragon bites are poisonous and deadly, so she reluctantly accepts her impending death. In a twist of fate, she survives. Desperate for an explanation, Astrid believes she has somehow been protected by the black stone she keeps with her at all times, a stone that emerged from the sole of her foot a year ago.

Determined to find out what the stone is and what kind of powers it possesses, Astrid begins a journey that leads her to alchemists and an army of men under the rule of the powerful warrior, Mandulane, the acting lord of the Krystr army. Mandulane's mission is to spread the word of the new god Krystr, which preaches the evil intent of women and the danger they pose to all men, who are entitled to dominate the world. Rumors about this new god and army have spread, but Astrid is the first Northlander to encounter them.

Soon, she stumbles upon a secret of a far-reaching and mind-numbing plot that will impact the entire world. Astrid must find a way to spread the news of this threat and protect her people and everyone else at risk. She's convinced the answer lies inside the Stone of Darkness, and she must find a way to understand the stone and the powers she's convinced it must hold before it's too late.

The Dragon’s Egg (Book 4)
In the fourth and final book of the Dragonslayer series, Mandulane’s army is poised to attack the Northlands in the name of a powerful god, but in truth Mandulane is using the act of spreading this new faith as a way to disguise his own personal greed and hunger for power. Astrid has succeeded in warning her beloved country of imminent danger, and the Northlanders scramble to set up a clever defense, never realizing a spy in their midst is poised to take critical information directly to Mandulane.

After sacrificing herself in order to set her brother Drageen free for the sake of protecting the Northlands, Astrid finds herself controlled by the stone of light. Although it forces her path of destiny, Astrid learns she must make one final choice about who she wants to be. Most important of all, her new sweetheart Trep encounters a dragon that entrusts him with the care of a dragon’s egg. Trep embraces a dangerous journey and accepts the duty of protecting the unhatched dragon, knowing that its safety could impact the fate of the entire world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About Resa:
Resa Nelson’s first novel, The Dragonslayer’s Sword, was nominated for the Nebula Award and was also a Finalist for the EPPIE Award. This medieval fantasy novel is based on a short story first published in the premiere issue of Science Fiction Age magazine and ranked 2nd in that magazine's first Readers Top Ten Poll. The Dragonslayer's Sword is Book 1 in her 4-book Dragonslayer series, which also includes The Iron Maiden (Book 2), The Stone of Darkness (Book 3), and The Dragon’s Egg (Book 4).

Resa's standalone novel, Our Lady of the Absolute, is a fantasy/mystery/thriller about a modern-day society based on ancient Egypt. Midwest Book Review gave this book a 5-star review, calling it "a riveting fantasy, very highly recommended." She has been selling fiction professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop. Resa was also the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine for 13 years and was a contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Resa lives in Massachusetts. Visit her website at http://www.resanelson.com.

Find Resa Nelson and Links:

Resa’s website

Free “mini” ebook of Dragonslayer short stories

GoodReads Giveaway of The Dragon's Egg

Facebook page

Twitter: @ResaNelson

Email: ContactResa@aol.com

Ebooks ($4.99 each) are available directly from Mundania Press   (get a 10% discount at checkout with the coupon code MP10)

Paperbacks are available from Mundania Press, Amazon, and Barnes&Noble

 (get a 10% discount at checkout with the coupon code MP10)

Book Review: The Iron Maiden

The Iron Maiden

By:  Resa Nelson

Publisher:  Mundania Press

Publish Date:  December 31, 2011

Format:  eBook, 266pgs

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  2nd in Dragonslayer Series; 1st Book ~ The Dragonslayer's Sword

Recommendation:  Definitely, great follow up to an enthralling world, keeping you curious about the dragons and dragonslayers.

Synopsis:
Astrid is reluctant to travel the winter route beyond the Northlands, even though it's her duty.  She'd rather stay home in her village, surrounded by friends and neighbors.  Ignoring the bonds of tradition, she decides to spend the cold winter months in the warmth of her blacksmithing shop.  Why should she leave the comfort of her cottage to serve the protect foreigners who might raid and harm her native Northlands?

Everything changes when a traveling merchant steals Starlight, the first dragonslayer's sword Astrid forged and her last link to her sweetheart DiStephan.  Having no time to alert her friends, Astrid races in pursuit of the merchant, determined to reclaim Starlight as her own and return home in time for dinner.  Instead, her quest leads her to new lands, unexpected friendships with foreigners, and a harrowing encounter with the damage done by the followers of a new god that considers women as nothing more than servants to men.  All the while, she must be ready to face any dragon traveling the winter route.

In Book 2 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid must learn that deciding who she is isn't a decision she can make just once.  Instead, it's a decision she must make every day.

First Sentence:
Don't move, Astrid told herself.

Purchase At:

Amazon ~ Print & Ebook   /   Barnes & Nobles

My Thoughts and Summary:
Astrid's been a dragonslayer only for a few months, but thanks to DiStephan's ghost she's learning and knows much of what to do.  Astrid's making her rounds through the area as the lizards migrate south this time of year, and looking forward to a relaxing winter by her anvil pounding metal.  Taddeo, a true dragon, visits Astrid telling her where to go, on the dragonslayer winter route, in order to restore her arm - the ghost arm that only those eating lizard blood and meat can see and she believes in.  Finding late hatching lizard eggs, Astrid decides to do the one thing against what dragonslayers are to do, she keeps them.  Once she's back to Guell and settling in, a merchant arrives looking for the current dragonslayer since DiStephan is dead.  He claims to have always traveled with DiStephan south in safe passage.  Astrid refused to go and wakes the next morning to find her first made dragonslaying sword that belong to her deceased lover and her only connection to him, Starlight, has been stolen.  When she catches up to the thief, she finds she needs to travel on as someone forcefully took it from him as well.  Astrid finds herself unknowingly following the Dragonslayer southern route for the winter.

Start right off with Astrid fighting with a lizard and seeing how smart they are.  Early on in the book we have mentions of DiStephan and I remember the heartache I felt in the first book.  Yet by the end of the book I'm not as heartbroken over DiStephan, and have hopes of more with Astrid.

This seems to be a journey of much more than wandering the country side for Astrid.  She is on a journey learning more about herself and others that she would protect.  She grows to learn who she is and what she is to do, either a blacksmith or a dragonslayer.  Astrid has some guilty feelings for the losses she willingly let happen in Dragonslayer's Sword, but they were bad and need to happen for the world.  Astrid makes a new friend and we see a journey of a woman who was abused, not knowingly, and raising to more in herself to find more in life which she lost long ago.

We get to see Norah, the young scared dragon again.  Taddeo sends Norah to follow Astrid's scent to the dragonwell with the dragon set free from the long prison of stone.  To drink from this well the dragon will heal in any way they are hurt or harmed.  We get much more of Norah here.  Getting to know Norah along with Astrid.  She is such a scared girl, dragon, after the torment she lived yet has a good heart.  Even the things she did to Astrid as a kid, cruel, were done with her good heart in mind.  You have to read to understand that.  I liked seeing Norah grow as a character as well.  She is finding herself through her own journey as well.

We travel through the land in this story, spending time with new characters; Margreet, Gershon, and Vinchi.  We watch the world unfold a touch more with mentions of the attacks by the Krystr (from first book) on people and much more.

We learn a touch more with the real dragons here.  There is an unknown mysterious bond between dragon and dragonslayer.  One created in a promise from long ago, now relating to Astrid and Norah.  I'm liking this and want to know more about it and the history here.

I'm thinking the Krystr will come more into play in the future books along with the dragon link and real dragon existence.  There are even the lizards that Astrid kept, I hope to see them again in the future.  So much learned here in this book, yet so much I look forward to learning.

This series has captured my attention with the magic of the lizards and dragons and having grown more in the connection with the slayers.  I've enjoyed reading this world created and do look forward to the next two books.



**I received this book from the author for an honest review.

Who? What? Where? (96)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

his is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )

This Week:

I'm with Gershon and the men he hired, trailing the people who took his wife, starring at dozens of men and women frozen in ice blocking our entrance of the Forest of Aguille, which was once a sacred ground until the Krystr came through.  But it appears these frozen people are moving!  I do know the truth about them, hee hee, they did move. ;)

The Iron Maiden
By:  Resa Nelson



Others have shown interest in joining in this post, and linking up.  So I've created a linky for that.
My only requests; copy the picture to use, and link back to My World...in words and pages.
Please visit any joining in.
Thank you!

Teaser Tuesday (144)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests



This Week:

Screeching in surprise, Norah hurried to escape, only to back into the cart, wincing as she struck an elbow against the wood.

"Well?"  Wendill said.

The Iron Maiden
By:  Resa Nelson
123 pg

Interview with Resa Nelson

I have a great guest with us today.  One that writes a dragon fantasy series I've started and enjoyed.  (Review of first book is posted, go check it out.)  Resa is celebrating the release of the third book in the series and soon the fourth book will be released as well.  So I've got some catching up to do to be ready for the fourth on release day.  And I plan on being ready!

Please give the blogger warm welcome to Resa.

M:  Welcome Resa!  Thank you for stopping by the blog on your tour! It is an honor to have you by. 

RN:  Thank you so much for hosting my tour, Melissa! I’m honored that you were willing to take a chance on me and my work. 

M:  You are currently celebrating the release of book 3, The Stone of Darkness, in the Dragonslayer series. Congratulations! I’ve read the first book, The Dragonslayer’s Sword, and fell in love with the creation you have here. (I’ve got the second, The Iron Maiden, and third book here ready to go.) Would you like to share a little of what the series is about for my followers as they are new to the series as well? 

RN:  The series is all about Astrid. She’s a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, which is ironic because she’s a pacifist. She loves her work but struggles with the idea that what she creates is used to kill. The world she lives in is one where ghosts are real and many people (including Astrid) are shapeshifters. But shapeshifting is all about perception, so it’s controlled by how you feel and see other people as well as yourself. We first meet her when she’s a little girl and is covered from head to toe in scars because she’s been chewed up and spit out by a dragon. 

M:  There are a few elements in the book that were surprises and very interesting to learn. They are all related but rather interesting to learn throughout reading. The shifting. The dragons (and real dragons). And Dragonslayers. Did any of these pieces come first or all together? 

RN:  That’s a great question, Melissa – thanks so much for asking it! The shapeshifting came first. This series began as a short story that was published in Science Fiction Age magazine many years ago. I wrote it after I’d been propositioned by a co-worker – a married man with two young children! But he had a lot of power at work, and I had none. Based on my experience with the company, I knew the odds were good that I’d get fired if I reported him because I suspected he’d lie and they’d believe him, not me. So I decided to put my experience in a fantasy world modeled on the Middle Ages where a female blacksmith would be propositioned by the dragonslayer responsible for protecting everyone she loves and cares about. I used shapeshifting as a way to illustrate how his actions were having an impact on her. So that’s how everything started. Most of the details about the dragons and dragonslayers didn’t happen until I wrote Book 1, which came about 10 years after I wrote the short story. 

M:  Astrid is a damaged character as we start, and even later in the book we see her falter in that feeling again. For me the book had a strong feeling of Astrid finding herself and where she belonged. Was this the underlining feeling as you wrote the story? 

RN:  This was my intent for the book and actually for the entire series. I think there are many people in the world who don’t realize they have the power to take control of their lives, and that ‘s what I wanted to write about. I know what that feels like. The world can be an overwhelming place, especially if there are any people in your life who want to control you for their own benefit. I think our culture is one that supports judgment, and being judged by others can make it very difficult to live the life you believe is right for you. In my opinion, the bottom line is that you are the only person who has ever lived inside your skin, and for that reason you are the only person who knows what’s right for you. Astrid’s journey is about getting to a place where she can understand that concept and then figure out who she wants to be. 

M:  Do you have any inspirational places to bring you into the fantasy world? Or spark ideas in the fantasy world? 

RN:  No, I’m lucky in that it’s all internal. So I can be sitting in my dentist’s waiting room or on an airplane or standing in line to get my driver’s license renewed and go into my fantasy worlds whenever I want. When I do that, the “real” world literally disappears. It’s kind of like being inside a movie. 

M:  Resa, that sounds like a great ability!  You can go anywhere at anytime.

M:  Resa, I have to ask and you mentioned in your acknowledgements, there was a lot of work that went into the metal working to be able to write so detailed in this arena. This is what Astrid does, and it’s her life work-love. Could you please share just a taste of what you did to understand the process of metal forging to write it?

RN:  Absolutely! I read several books, including one book that explains the technique Astrid uses to make swords. But I’m a big believer in “physical” research, meaning, if there’s anything I can do that my characters would do, I want to at least get a taste of it. So to get a better idea of what Astrid’s life is like, I took a 10-week course in blacksmithing, which was a fantastic experience. There was only one class each week, but each class was 4 hours at an anvil hammering iron or steel. By the end of the course, my forearms were as hard and solid as rocks – I felt so powerful! But I learned a lot about things like building a fire and the different colors it turns and what the smoke is like. I learned about the different colors iron turns when it’s heated and what those colors mean. So the blacksmithing details come from my own personal experience. 

M:  I love the sounds of doing the work as well.  And blacksmithing would be something neat to try and learn.

M:  Now, I’m just curious, and I’m not that far yet, but is that a Bloodstone in sword on the cover of The Stone of Darkness or something new completely I have yet to learn about?

RN:  It’s like a bloodstone, and it comes to Astrid in the same way that bloodstones come to her. But it’s black, not red, so it has different properties. And because of its color, it’s called a stone of darkness instead of a bloodstone. (Although the stone of darkness on the cover is surrounded by a bunch of smaller bloodstones.) Astrid spends a lot of Book 3 trying to find out what the stone of darkness is and why it has come into her life. 

M:  Oh man!  I really need to get to The Stone of Darkness now.  I'm curious about this new stone.

M:  Have you always been a fantasy fan? What attracted you to fantasy worlds? 

RN:  Yes! I was a regular at my hometown’s public library when I was a kid. I’d always been a big fan of fairy tales, which led me to read folk tales from all over the world, and I think that led me to fantasy. It felt like a natural progression. 

M:  A few fun questions for you… 

M:  One question I ask all visitors on their first visit… If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? 

RN:  I’m a huge fan of travel so that’s a tough question because I have a long list of places I want to go! At the moment I really want to go to Costa Rica because I love nature and animals. 

M:  Tea or Coffee? 

RN:  Tea, definitely. I tried coffee when I was three years old (after pestering my mom until she gave in) and hated the taste. I’ve never gotten over it. 

M:  That's cute, and yes coffee seems to be an acquired taste. :)

M:  Favorite Color: 

RN:  Red

M:  Favorite Childhood Fictional Creature? 

RN:  Oooh … another tough question! So many to choose from! Pegasus, the winged horse. 

M:  Oh I do enjoy that question. :) I was always flipping back and forth between Pegasus and Unicorns.

M:  Now as an adult what’s your Favorite Fictional Creature? (can be the same as when you were a child) 

RN:  I like gargoyles.

M:  Favorite Word? (Any word at all) 

RN:  Defenestration.

M:  Honestly I had to go look up Defenestration.  And as it's cool to say, I like the definition as well! LOL

M:  Thank you for joining us today! 

RN:  Thank you, Melissa, for letting me be part of your blog and for asking such great questions!

M:  I do wish you all the best in words and pages. And look forward to finishing out the series! 

RN:  You’re so kind! I really hope you enjoy the rest of the series.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About Resa:

Resa Nelson has been selling fiction professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop.

Resa was also the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy

magazine for 13 years and was a contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Her first novel, The Dragonslayer’s Sword, was nominated for the Nebula Award and was also a Finalist for the EPPIE Award. This medieval fantasy novel is based on a short story first published in the premiere issue of Science Fiction Age magazine and ranked 2nd in that magazine's first Readers Top Ten Poll. The Dragonslayer's Sword is Book 1 in her 4-book Dragonslayer series. Book 2, The Iron Maiden, was published last December, Book 3 was published in May, and the final book in the series is scheduled for publication in November.

Resa's standalone novel, Our Lady of the Absolute, is a fantasy/mystery/thriller about a modern-day society based on ancient Egypt. Midwest Book Review gave this book a 5-star review, calling it "a riveting fantasy, very highly recommended."

Resa lives in Massachusetts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feel free to visit Resa.  She can be found...

Resa’s website:  http://www.resanelson.com                                                                       

Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Resa-Nelson-The-Dragonslayers-Sword/122200661871

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/ResaNelson

Email:  ContactResa@aol.com

Resa mentions above about the short story that started it all.  She has this available for free reading on her site.  Free “mini” ebook of Dragonslayer short stories:  http://www.resanelson.com/files

*** There's a giveaway currently going on at Goodreads!  For The Stone of Darkness

GoodReads giveaway:  http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/27323-the-stone-of-darkness

If you would like to purchase the books, there are a few places to find them and a few deals as well:

Ebooks ($4.99 each) are available directly from Mundania Press at:  http://mundania.com/author.php?author=Resa+Nelson (get a 10% discount at checkout with the coupon code MP10)

Paperbacks are available from Mundania Press, Amazon, and Barnes&Noble:

http://mundania.com/author.php?author=Resa+Nelson (get a 10% discount at checkout with the coupon code MP10)

http://www.amazon.com/Resa-Nelson/e/B002C78D2Q/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/resa-nelson

About Resa's 4-book Dragonslayer series:

Synopsis for The Dragonslayer’s Sword (Book 1)
For Astrid, a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, the emergence of a strange gemstone from her body sets in motion a chain of events that threaten to destroy her life. Her happiness is shattered when her lover--the dragonslayer--disappears without a trace, and the life that she knows and loves implodes without warning.

Astrid lives in a world of shapeshifters whose thoughts have the power to change not only themselves but others. Everything Astrid knows to be true is called into question when she learns the truth about her past and the mysterious family from which she was separated as a child.

Reality turns inside out as Astrid gradually learns the truth about the people she loves as well as those she disdains. With the fate of dragons, ghosts, and slaves in foreign lands resting on her shoulders, Astrid faces the challenge of deciding who she is and how she will stand up inside her own skin. Will she withdraw and hide from the world that has disappointed her so much...or will she rise to lead others to freedom and peace?

Synopsis for The Iron Maiden (Book 2)
Astrid is reluctant to travel the winter route beyond the Northlands, even though it’s her duty. She’d rather stay home in her village, surrounded by friends and neighbors. Ignoring the bonds of tradition, she decides to spend the cold winter months in the warmth of her blacksmithing shop. Why should she leave the comfort of her cottage to serve and protect foreigners who might raid and harm her native Northlands?

Everything changes when a traveling merchant steals Starlight, the first dragonslayer’s sword Astrid forged and her last link to her sweetheart DiStephan. Having no time to alert her friends, Astrid races in pursuit of the merchant, determined to reclaim Starlight as her own and return home in time for dinner. Instead, her quest leads her to new lands, unexpected friendships with foreigners, and a harrowing encounter with the damage done by the followers of a new god that considers women as nothing more than servants to men. All the while, she must be ready to face any dragon traveling the winter route.

In Book 2 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid must learn that deciding who she is isn’t a decision she can make just once. It’s a decision she must make every day.

Synopsis for The Stone of Darkness (Book 3)
In Book 3 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid accepts her duty and follows the winter route--until she's bitten by a dragon. Everyone knows dragon bites are poisonous and deadly, so she reluctantly accepts her impending death. In a twist of fate, she survives. Desperate for an explanation, Astrid believes she has somehow been protected by the black stone she keeps with her at all times, a stone that emerged from the sole of her foot a year ago.

Determined to find out what the stone is and what kind of powers it possesses, Astrid begins a journey that leads her to alchemists and an army of men under the rule of the powerful warrior, Mandulane, the acting lord of the Krystr army. Mandulane's mission is to spread the word of the new god Krystr, which preaches the evil intent of women and the danger they pose to all men, who are entitled to dominate the world. Rumors about this new god and army have spread, but Astrid is the first Northlander to encounter them. 

Soon, she stumbles upon a secret of a far-reaching and mind-numbing plot that will impact the entire world. Astrid must find a way to spread the news of this threat and protect her people and everyone else at risk. She's convinced the answer lies inside the Stone of Darkness, and she must find a way to understand the stone and the powers she's convinced it must hold before it's too late.

Book 4 will be published in November 2012

Do hope you get a chance to try out this dragonslayer series.

Book Review: The Dragonslayer's Sword

The Dragonslayer's Sword

By:  Resa Nelson

Publisher:  Mundania Press

Publish Date:  June 2008

Format:  eBook

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st in Dragonslayer series

Recommendation:  Yes!  A fantasy read that will keep you enthralled with wonder of the world and what new you learn of Astrid, the world, and secondary characters.

Book Synopsis:
For Astrid, a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, the emergence of a strange gemstone from her body sets in motion a chain of events that threaten to destroy her life.  Her happiness is shattered when her lover-the dragonslayer-disappears without a trace, and the life that she knows and loves implodes without warning.  Astrid lives in a world of shapeshifters whose thoughts have the power to change not only themselves but others.  Everything Astrid knows to be true is called into question when she learns the truth about her past and the mysterious family from which she was separated as a child.  Reality turns inside out as Astrid gradually learns the truth about the people she loves as well as those she disdains.  With the fate of dragons, ghosts, and slaves in foreign lands resting on her shoulders, Astrid faces the challenge of deciding who she is and how she will stand up inside her own skin.  Will she withdraw and hide from the world that has disappointed her so much...or will she rise to lead others to freedom and peace?

First Sentence:
When Astrid was eight years old, she was given to a child seller.

My Thoughts and Summary:
We meet Astrid as she is looking forward to her future, even after being given to the Child Seller and travels the land finding someone to buy her.  To Astird it's better than where she came from, and what they did to her.  Along the way he picks up another little girl, Mauri.  Heading into Guell with both girls they come across a dragonslayer boy, DiStephan, and his father.  Astrid is taken by the idea of a dragonslayer and thinks the boy is cute.  This is the last town the Child Seller will attempt to shack Astrid, because of her marred face no one will take her, so she may die at the Child Sellers hand soon.  The blacksmith, Temple, understands why Astrid is special, knowing what the scars are from, and is a strong person and takes her.  Astrid is to stay inside the Smithery, where no one but Temple sees her, until she comes of age and can change her body to look as she wishes.

Over ten years later she's eighteen, loves being a blacksmith and realizes she loves DiStephan.  However, eight months ago DiStephan did something that Astrid didn't approve of with a dragon.  Sending him away, she didn't realize he'd not return.  The town is left vulnerable until a new Dragon slayer arrives.  However, the new Dragonslayer seems to take a liking to Astrid, creating issues for her; changing her body, and other things.  But when a dragon shows up at her smithery one day, it's not good for her or her town...or is there something more here.  When her town is then attacked by bandits and her past is drawn forth to Astrid, will she fight or hide from all of the world?

Astrid considers herself a monster, one people stare at and are scared of.  As I went through the book I learned there is more behind the monster claim Astrid makes, other than just the scars all over her body.  Her history is tied into this as well.  Astrid was scarred by a dragon, chewed up and spit out.  Astrid is physically and emotionally a scared character, from the time we meet her as a child.  DiStephan, a very nice young man who helps Astrid, giving with the support of his father the name of someone who will take her if no other will.  Someone they know.  This being Temple.

Very Interesting!!  People get to an age (maturity) and can change their bodies (allowed to do) to what they want.  There are those who are strong enough to change others, which is NOT allowed to do, that can make the world dangerous.  Astrid could hide her scars then.  Then we have the Dragons.  I really like the stories of the dragons in relation to the perception of others.  Dragons see humans as small and weak, so people become so.  But a few are strong enough to over come that forced change, hence they are Dragonslayers.  The lore behind the dragons is interesting, and the ties it has with the storyline, really held me to the story to learn the way it works out.

This book is done in sections that highlights Astrids life, important pieces of her life.  First we learn of her travel to Guell as a young girl.  Then we jump to ten years later where Astrid is older, happy with life, and maybe even in love.  We see times of when she learned to make a dragonslayers sword with her father-figure and mentor Temple.

In the first hundred pages I wasn't sure where the plot would lead.  We meet Astrid and secondary characters.  Grow attached and learn their life history leading to where they are now.  This set up made me curious to Astrids scary past and scars and the ability to change ones skin, and to see the dragons as well.  After that all falls apart and Astrid learns secrets of her past, her heritage, and of the true dragons.

I'm not one for metal yielding.  I don't know much about how to do it, but Resa had to have taken great effort and time to learn it to describe it so detailed for me to understand what to do.

This story is of the birth of a dragonslayer.  This story struck me as an adventure in love, not love of lovers but the love when you are where you belong and finding your way there.  The love of friends and family, other than blood related.  Being accepted by yourself for who you are and others accepting you as well.  Feeling comfortable in your own skin.  This adventure we take with Astrid as she is sold a few times, tries to fit in with her scars, hides who she is along with her scars of her scary past.  A journey through life and love.  A love for self and acceptance ~ with others and in ones eyes.

If you would like to purchase:

Amazon ~ Print:

Amazon ~ Ebook:

I read this book for an honest review from the author, for tour.