I honestly have been properly smitten with the book releases coming out of Month9Books, which is quite easy to understand if you follow the category threads for my book showcases & guest author features highlighting the new releases coming out of this Indie Publisher! When it comes to reading Gothic Literature, this is a topic I’ve explored on my blog as it has a tendency to be a genre I am quite intrigued by and readily find myself seeking out authors who write either Southern Gothic or Traditional Gothic Lit stories! And, of course, there is the realisation that I am still attempting to dig back inside Jane Eyre after picking it up for the first time in September 2013! One day. One day I shall find myself happily entrenched and will not re-emerge until I know how it all ends as it was originally written!
Late last year, I came across Sarah E. Boucher’s fairy-tale style of story-telling where she took on the legend, lore, and essence behind Beauty and the Beast. Becoming introduced to this style, I started to notice how many times I was being drawn forward into modern writer’s take on the classic fairy-tale story by re-aligning it inside their own worlds of fantasy and/or taking the lesser travelled historical fiction route. I have believed the key elements inside Beauty and the Beast, have always been arching back into the Gothic sub-genre sections due to it’s broodingly dark tone hanging over the Beast and the castle itself.
Part of the appeal for me to seek out these modern variants on the classics, is a step forward into reading fairy-tales as a previous #ChocLitSaturday chat already proved that more than two of us in our huckleberry circle of chatters are not meant to read the originals due to how dark and how horridly horrific they read on the page! I am finding enjoyment in seeing a new thread of chapters which pull back the dark horror side of the fairy-tale segments and instead fuse our imaginations into a story we can honestly enjoy reading without being on pins on what our eyes will drink in.
This is how I came to approach a yearning to read The Artisans and why I requested to be placed on the tour to host the author in an interview, such as the one your about to read below! I know each time I catch sight of a Month9Books title I dearly want to read, I will be hosting the author for a conversation or a guest post in lieu of reading the book(s) in print editions. It is my hope after six months from publication, I can start to query the books out of inter-library loan. I find I have quite a good bit of luck in this regard, as I recently queued up another Young Adult release I had yearned to read last year (not Month9Books) which was Snow Like Ashes. Until then, the Month9Books & Swoon Romance novels I wish to read in the near future will be populating my Riffle Lists!
As an aside, I was attempting to participate in the Book Blitz for this novel last week, but due to a variety of different reasons not worth mentioning I lost the hours to do so. However, in the end, it worked out for the best as I hadn’t realised there were ‘required bits to include’ as I was going to write a bit more about the book itself and why it entranced me to read it whilst giving the First Chapter a bit of a go too.
I received a copy of the ePub version of this novel (as this is a new compliment to hosting Month9Books blog tours), but as mentioned several times on my blog, I can only read novels in their full length in print. Therefore, the best I can do is settle inside the opening bits of the First Chapter or even a smaller portion of that if it is a chapter on the longer end of the spectrum. I consider these little ‘tastes’ prior to reading the novels in full. To understand what I mean, you might want to visit how I expressed my appreciation for another Fantasy novel for Middle Grade readers based on a Chapter Sampler. I will be separating my thoughts on behalf of The Artisans from this interview and publishing them (hopefully) lateron in the day.
Book Synopsis:
They say death can be beautiful. But after the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands.
To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day.
Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad’s drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.
But Raven’s stepdad’s drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she’s ever known out of jail, or worse.
Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries’ clothing line, signing over her creative rights.
Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can’t imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes.
But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be? And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?
Published By: Month9Books (@Month9Books)
on 12th of May, 2015
Available Formats: Paperback, Ebook | Public Library | Add to Riffle
Converse on Twitter via:
#TheArtisans & #YALit OR #Month9Books
Hi Jorie!
Before we start, I just want to say how nice it is to be here,
and thank you so much for having me! :D
Fairy-tale re-tellings are becoming a bit popular recently, as I previously read another take on “Beauty and the Beast” wherein I was quite delighted by the scope of the story being half historically bent and half rooted in the mythos of the fairy-tale. How did you settle into this spectrum of fantasy literature and did you envision this to be a stand-alone or a series? If a series, a duology, trilogy, or quad?
Reece responds: I’ve been a fairy-tale junkie since I was three. My parents were nice enough to indulge me by reading the cover off my Anderson and Grimm books. As I got older, I still read them to the point of taking a college class just for fun. And by the way, if you’ve never read the original Grimm stories, they are super-dark and edgy. *shivers* I guess the desire to tell a fairy-tale myself came naturally from that influence.
The Artisans started as a standalone, because that’s all I’d ever written. When Georgia McBride read my story, she liked it so much she offered for a trilogy! Being the noob I was, I was equal parts flattered and terrified. Ha! Georgia was so great helping me down off the ledge (thank you!) and we settled on a duology. Now that I’ve written the sequel, I could easily keep going with a series. Not that it’s happening or anything. Lol. I just mean that I conquered my fear of sequels.
Yes, I do know about the original Grimm stories — it was a topic that was broached during one of my weekly Romance chats during #ChocLitSaturday and hopefully at some point this Summer I can make a bit of headway on being able to release more of the archives for those chats! At the time I was a bit gobsmacked to have learnt just ‘how dark’ those stories of Grimm were, but as I thought on it as the convo was in progress, it does make a bit more sense if you consider that ‘Grimm’ tv series! I can barely stomach the teasers they run whilst I am watching ‘lighter faire!’
I grew up on fairy-tales myself, but somehow they were full of cheeky humour rather than the horrific; although how I grew up knowing Little Red Riding Hood the way in which I had is a wonderment to me; as that was another thread of our convo; how can everyone have two versions of the same tales!? Clearly, the writers of ChocLit and I were reading the watered down versions where they altered the stories for more sensitive readers! lol
Ooh, I *love!* how you were terrified of writing serials! Let me explain, it’s because my own confidence falters when it comes to short stories! I tend to think of novels in sets of series as I think those were always my top preference to read whilst I was younger; I never wanted to ‘let go’ of the characters I loved reading about. Now if I set my mind to write a stand-alone, I truly have to put extra thought into that, because somewhere along the route towards composing it’s interior pages that one book develops into more than what is contained therein! Laughs. Now, when it comes to writing shorts? I get twisted up in knots trying to sort out how to have the breadth of a well-built world against the backdrop of a character a reader can believe in.
We (fellow writers) all have to find ways to conquer what freaks us out in our writerly trade, so perhaps my time is coming to where I can overcome this hiccup of mine!? Congratulations!
As your novel “The Artisans” is an after canon re-telling of the classic “Beauty and the Beast” written with a bent on the paranormal and Southern Lit genre of suspense, how would you best describe the supernatural elements therein? Would this be a good comfort level for readers who like stories on the ‘cosy’ side of Horror, or is this more intensely written to where graphically it reveals more than it eludes?
Reece responds: Great question! I love Southern Gothic literature and thought the genre would blend nicely with a B & B retelling. I don’t write horror because I’m a chicken at heart, and I’d have to sleep with the light on. Southern Gothic stories tend toward satire and poke a little fun at horror (and themselves) which I like. For readers who want a little creep-factor and mystery without full-blown horror, The Artisans might be just right.
You are speaking to my readerly soul with your response, you know that right!? I am DEFINITELY the demographic your talking about who is seeking Psychological Suspense stories this side of Cosy to which develops into *Cosy Horror!* For a full recount of what this new sub-genre includes (as of course I’m taking credit for creating it!) visit my interview with Lynn Carthage!
The setting of the series is the South Carolina Low Country which is a unique place to host the story and I was curious what drew you into this setting to anchour the contemporary and modern aspects of the novel? Is it a paranormally inclined area where hauntings are the norm?
Reece responds: My husband is from South Carolina. He is my personal ‘Beast’ and the setting is a nod to his heritage. The Carolina’s have a rich and long history of ghostly tales. My husband has scared me half to death with these stories, but my Lowcountry favorite is The Gray Man of Pawleys Island, which is actually quite sad. I’ve included a link if your readers are curious to know more.
I love the autobiographical historical influence of both using your husband as a model for the Beast himself and for setting the entire story in your husband’s area of origin! I have felt the Carolinas were as paranormally inclined as the rest of the Southeast; especially as I know about the ghost who has the sword on his watch over the Outer Banks or Wilmington beaches? I cannot remember which is which, but I felt his story was quite sad as well.
What is your favourite part about reading ghost stories where hauntings either occur to a person or are settled around a ‘place’ of origin? What pulls you into the veil between worlds the most?
Reece responds: My favorite part is the very first moment where tension spikes just enough to hint at possible danger. I love mystery, mythology, and folklore. I love watching as the hero/ heroine stumbles onto a secret and must then navigate a path that’s dangerous and forbidden. For me, suggestion builds more thrills and suspense than graphic, gory detail does. That’s just me, though.
Ooh, it’s not just you — you’ve perfectly described what I am seeking myself! Hey!? Maybe there is a kinetic compatibility amongst dyslexics who like to read the same kinds of stories!? I’d definitely take a pass on ANY story where gore is featured because I do not even watch those kinds of tv serials or films! Ick. No. Not this girl! It’s definitely how you stated it — it’s the illusion and eluding of the suspense that plays on your mind moreso than the actual scene. Did you ever see “Gaslight” with Ingrid Bergman? Definitely a classic example of how this effectively can work OR any wicked good Alfred Hitchcock motion picture! *Save the Birds and a few others I avoid
The title of the novel is a bit of a nudge to the past centuries where artisans were revered for their mastery of their trades, and I was curious if the title itself is eluding to perhaps a hidden history on behalf of one of your lead characters?
Reece responds: Gosh, tough question. The idea of an artisan was meant to ping a broad spectrum of characteristics among my cast of players in the book. I wanted to think more deeply about what it means to be an artist and widen the definition. What does it mean to be an artist? Can it apply outside our traditional perceptions? Raven’s sewing creations make her an obvious artist, but what about other mediums? Dane and loyalty, The Maddox heritage and cruelty, Raven and sacrifice, Maggie and exhortation, Jenny and service … I was thinking: if someone is a ‘master’ at something, whatever it may be, then they’re an expert, or an artisan.
Also, my brain is fairly abnormal, so I hope that made sense! Lol.
You wrote this as a stream of conscience thought — which is quite keen to read, however, I’m at a plumb loss about the Maddox heritage as to know how it infers cruelty, etc. I would presume for those who are reading the book itself, this makes a bit more sense, but one thing came through for me, is how you were adding layers to your story — getting the reader to think outside the box by which the word is generally attached and re-define it on your own terms. Now that’s quite brilliant!
I love how we share a mutual history of dyslexia where we fought to read whilst compensating for your difficulties therein. We both curated a healthy appetite for reading stories as much as we curated a spark of creativity to create them ourselves. What was the first author or story you remember appreciating after you conquered your own battle to soak inside imaginary worlds? For me, it was Robinson Crusoe, even though I never did finish the novel. (boredom set in)
Reece responds: Oh, yes? Well, hello sister dyslexia conqueror!!! That’s awesome! ((hugs))
I wrote a bit about my own journey on My Bookish Life. Yes, we both embraced our gift! Returnt hugs!
Reece responds: I think for me, I picked the hardest, most ridiculous book that I could find just to prove to myself that I could read it, and prove that I wasn’t dumb. So, I started reading Precious Bane by Mary Webb. And though I might have chosen it for the wrong reasons, I ended up loving the story, the diverse characters, and the swoony romance. Weaver is a great hero. Stole my heart. Sigh.
At least you ended up getting through the first story that challenged you! I have yet to finish Crusoe’s journey and I do not believe this will change. However, you have tempted my curiosity to see if I can seek out a bit more about the book you read, instead! I looked up the synopsis and found it most encouraging as I like characters who have a bit of a challenge to overcome; either through adversity or something that sets them apart and they have to prove they are not any more different than anyone else. Thanks for the suggestion!
Did you name your lead character Raven as homage to Edgar or did you want her name to reflect a part of her personality and/or a transitional eclipse of her coming-of age portion of the novel as we greet her as a seventeen year old? Perhaps she has not yet come into her own and her name curiously is a signal to the reader to warrant foreknowledge?
Reece responds: On the surface, I guess the name Raven does seem a little obvious, doesn’t it? I mean, it is a definite nod to Poe and all things dark and Gothic. But beneath that, my youngest daughter and I have a ‘thing’ for crows and ravens. A raven is incredibly intelligent. They are survivors, because while they scavenge for what they need, they can step up and hunt when they need to. I love that they roam in teenage gangs before adulthood, and I hate that they have been misunderstood for centuries. Lastly, they mate for life. All of that symbolism is sort of awesome and reminds me of my heroine.
Ooh, I positively love finding out there are other families, and in particular Mums and daughters who like to celebrate the beauty of a misunderstood species of birds! For my family, it would be the vulture, however, we have a healthy appreciation for ravens and crows too, especially as no one else in our area seems to understand all the ‘chatter’ crows like to give to their environs. Again, I love the layers you’ve knitted into your novel and how you are endeavouring to give Young Adult readers a chance to see more than what is on the superficial level. Rock on!
Southern Gothic and Southern Lit in broad strokes encompasses a wide range of potential back-stories, world-building, and epic scope for what can be included in the undertone of their stories. I was curious, did you underlit your novel with light or with an increasing darkness that eludes to a more Urban Fantasy centered story-line? What prompted your choice?
Reece responds: Hm, you ask some tough questions, don’t you! Lol!!
Technically I get inspired by the stories themselves and I like to ask the questions other book bloggers and readers might not ask themselves. I love researching the author I am interviewing, digging through their previous interviews or guest author features; sometimes I simply read their blogs or websites; wherever I can gleam a bit more insight into who they are as a writer, I can then extend into a more focused interview. I love how you tackled each question I pitched you!
Reece responds: Though set in contemporary times, I think the story has an old world feel. I wasn’t purposely plotting an Urban Fantasy as I wrote, but it qualifies. There’s more at play than the good and evil in a person’s heart and mind, because the characters in my book fight not only a darkness created by their own choices, but a darker evil they don’t yet understand. So, to answer your question, the character’s spirits lighten while the plot-line grows darker. I followed this premise knowing how I planned to continue their story later. (Hint: book 2) Yay!
Now this gives me hope for reading this in the future! I am never quite sure how each writer will tackle each story they are penning inside the genres where I am far more cautious than I am curious to devour them. Your responses throughout our conversation have confirmed I can handle what is contained inside the novel but moreso than even an ease of worry — I truly have appreciated getting an ‘inside glimpse’ into how you underwrote the back-stories and had the forethought to plan out how the continuity would be upheld.
Redemption plays a strong role in the original “Beauty and the Beast” story arc and I was curious how you approached the dynamics of both Gideon’s character and Raven’s as far as how the two see each other from a different perspective than their original opinions of each other? What sparked the change within them or how did you approach revealing their changes whilst owning a story outside the thread of the original?
Reece responds: From the beginning, I wondered if someone as hardened as Gideon could be saved. I think it’s denial to believe humans don’t change, they do. There will always be some degree of hardship and pain in life. It’s all about choice, and we can choose to grow, and forgive, and love, or we can sink into bitterness, resentments, and isolation. I also believe there are a few major crossroads we’ll come across that provide a catalyst for change, and in those moments, we decide who we will become. For Gideon, Raven’s response to tragedy challenged him to look at his life differently. When Raven saw changes in Gideon—considering the courage it took to even try and overcome a lifetime of pain—she had to rethink if he was the monster she first thought him to be.
This is a strong reason to read The Artisans, and I am blessed in gratitude for asking the ‘right questions’ to give my readers and visitors a wicked glimpse into what they will find inside the book! I love how you put a lot of time and heart into the choices you wrote into your characters; you counter-balanced their natural inclinations with fusing them with bits and bobbles of humanity’s free will to set aside their own thoughts on how they understood their lives and the people they were encountering. Growth takes courage; both for characters and for the writers who breathe life into them. Sounds like you did a keen job!
What was harder to capture within “The Artisans” the modern world or the fantasy world that is in-step to the contemporary scenes? Did you find it hard to broker a balance between the two or was it quite a natural transition? How did you approach the duality of the sequences?
Reece responds: I wish I had something profound to say, or that I could explain the process, but this story just sort of wrote itself! The more I wrote, the more the storyline fell into place. There are plenty of times I struggle with a scene or get stuck on the plot-line in a book that I’m writing, but not this one. Thank goodness! I wish all my ideas flowed like this one did. :)
An honest answer is never limited by it’s length of response — I understand what your saying as these are the kinds of stories all of us hope to find alight in our lives. For me, it was last felt and seen during NanoWrimo 2008. I cannot wait to get back into my own writerly projects and see where the characters will take me next, but never feel that your answer is wrong. If it’s representing your own truth as a writer, than it’s the right response!
As you’re a big appreciator of Urban Fantasy, what are your favourite fantastical creatures or characters and how do they knit inside your heart?
Reece responds: I’m a huge fan of Urban Fantasy. HUGE! I couldn’t winnow out a certain creature, character, or mythology down to one favorite. Truthfully, I just love it all. But I was influenced early on by the characters and creatures in The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe series, by C.S. Lewis and Phantastes by George MacDonald. They set a permanent standard in my heart for UF done well.
*cough* *cough* Yes, honestly I *knew!* the proper word was ‘huge’ but I was attempting to deflect it a bit to sound more like a proper question. lol Wow!? Truly!? I never would have considered ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’ to be Urban Fantasy! I never cease to be amazed by learning something new! I personally couldn’t read the stories but I truly enjoyed the film series whilst skipping over Part II and embracing Parts I & III. I was shattered emotionally at the end of the third Narnia film. So beautiful and sad at the same time.
What are your top three Urban Fantasy novelists whose stories are akin to your own and a celebration of a conjoined love of the genre?
Reece responds: I’ll share three more recent series that I love (and the authors whose boots I’m not worthy of wiping) but I wouldn’t dare compare my writing to theirs in a million years. Lol! Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys series, Michelle Hodkin’s Mara Dyer series, and Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments / Infernal Devices series.
Hmm, I am a bit surprised you listed Cassandra Clare as you earlier mentioned you didn’t like horror/gore sequences; for me, as I borrowed the first of her Mortal Instruments series from my local library, I couldn’t even stomach the first page or two of the novel! It was far too intense for me, but I yield to knowing not every story is for every reader. I have read about The Raven Boys series on Oh! The Books (a blog I like to follow as it’s where Asti & Kelley alight; a Sci Fi November connection) but I am never sure if it fits me. I will have to seek out the third series and see what it involves.
When you’re not creating your next story or researching the back-story of your characters, where do you find your joy being uplifted the most?
Reece responds: I love spending time with my family riding horses or whatever else we might do together. I’m a TV/movie junkie, but I also have addiction issues with dark chocolate, kayaking, painting, playing with my cats, and haunting museums.
Ooh dear me — if you ever drop by @ChocLitSaturday, you’ll find we all have a healthy vice of chocolate, even if some of us only eat it every blue moon! The moments when we do are happily shared amongst us as a group. I love kayaking — against rapids not flatwater, and oh boy, definitely a motion picture and tv serial appreciator! See my recently published 10 Bookish / Not Bookish Thoughts to learn a bit more! Riding horses is one experience I’d love to bring back into my life as I used to ride as a child. Cats — oh the smiles of joy they give us! And, like you, I love spending time with my family too. It’s a wicked good answer and one I can relate too!
Thank you so much for having me here today.
I had a lovely time. For those of you who’ve supported The Artisans,
or are even thinking of taking a chance on the story and reading it, XOXOX!!!
Julie
About Julie Reece
Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.
I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.
Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess… or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.
Then I thought I’d write one down…
Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!
I’d like to extend a note of gratitude to Ms Reece for being openly candid with her replies to my enquires as much as giving me such a lovely conversation where we could knit together key insights into her debut novel whilst getting to know each other a bit in the process! I hope what you’ve found revealled will tempt your palette of interest as much as it has mine! Don’t forget to see if your local library can get the book for you, in case purchasing it right now is not an option. Libraries rock!
This Month9Books blog tour is courtesy of:
on behalf of Month9Books (@month9books)
In conjunction with:
{ click through to visit the rest of the tour! }
Return on 29th May 2015 | during the blog tour,
as my guest post by the author Donna Galanti will be featured!
IF you missed the *book trailer* reveal, click over here!
Before you have the chance to read my stop check out the rest of the blog tour:
Reader Interactive Question:
What do you love the most about stories set within the breadth of Southern Gothic or the broader scope of Gothic Literature!? Do you have a propensity for seeking out psychological suspense OR do you prefer a bit more of a ‘horror-bent’ story rather than the illusion of spirits and ghosts? Do you like stories with hauntings this side of cosy OR a bit more intense!?
Previously I’ve hosted an eclectic mix of Month9Books Authors, some of whom are linked below in the *Related Posts* section! You can also use the tag for the publisher ‘Month9Books’ to pull up a threaded directory of features! I have only had the pleasure to read one of their titles in print format as they do not release print copies for review; therefore all the guest author features are being hosted by me as a precursor to the day where I can ILL the books through my local library system.
NOTE:
Similar to blog tours where I feature book reviews, as I choose to highlight an author via a Guest Post, Q&A, Interview, etc., I do not receive compensation for featuring supplemental content on my blog. I provide the questions for interviews and topics for the guest posts; wherein I receive the responses back from publicists and authors directly. I am naturally curious about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of stories and the writers who pen them; I have a heap of joy bringing this content to my readers.
{SOURCES: Cover art for “The Artisans” along with the author photographs & biographies, the book synopsises, the individual blog tour badges & badge and the Chapter by Chapter badge were all provided by Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours and used with permission. Tweets were able to be embedded by the codes provided by Twitter. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Conversations with the Bookish badge created by Jorie in Canva.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2015.
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— Jorie Loves A Story (@JLovesAStory) May 20, 2015
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