Hello, everyone!
Don't mind me - I just want to write down here a couple of lovely reviews I found today, so I can come back and re-read them whenever I want to feel all fuzzy inside... :)
Straysod's 5 star review of The Tea Demon:
I hate short stories. I really do. They simply never feel quite finished, always rushed, never enough time spent developing characters. Or, at least, I hated short stories till I read some by Cornelia Grey. Obviously, I've just been reading the wrong things.
This was the most brilliant bit of steam-punk, pirate and thief filled insanity that I've ever read. It's the third short story by Grey I've read, and I still haven't figured out how she does it. It's not long, but the characters are brilliantly developed, the setting is rich and vibrant, the action ridiculously awesome, the one sex scene hot as hell, and the story utterly engrossing! Aargh, I can't even write a coherent review. I just want to run around shouting random adjectives: Brilliant! Amazing! Hilarious! Gorgeous! Spectacular! Fantastic! Super Fantastic!!
Ok, seriously though. This reminds me of the fantasy books I grew up on, with a lovely dash of very hot male on male action to spice it up. Just so much more substance than your standard m/m romance, and even when comparing it to full novels.
I adore thieves, and Eric is ideal. Jonathan is the best kind of pirate: dashing, dangerous, cheerful and daring. (I hate to break up my lovely string of accidental alliteration, but he is not the dark brooding type of pirate, more cheerful rogue than dark soul. Still deliciously dangerous though!) And the crew of the Tea Demon, for all that we don't get to spend nearly enough time with them, are just awesome.
And the humor! Omg, definitely laugh out loud. I'm not sure I could say whether it's more action, more romance, more steam-punk or more humor. It's just a bloody brilliant blend of all four. But the humor definitely is a defining characteristic, part of both the world and the characters. It toes the line of being slapstick goofy, but never crosses it, instead staying firmly in the realm of charming absurdity that none-the-less makes absolute sense within the world Grey's built.
Everything moves quickly, not in the sense that it's rushed, but in the sense that there is nothing wasted, no scenes, sentences or even words that are not deliberately crafted, used to further the story. Gods, I've read 1000 pages novels with less skillful world building and less developed characters!
It's very hard to remember than this is a short story! You don't even notice the passing of pages or time until you're at the end, out of breath and totally in love, when the story stops and all you want to do is shout, "No! I need more!" This is not to say that the story is incomplete in any way. I've never read an author that can make such short stories feel so whole. But when you fall this hard and fast for characters, you can't help but want more! I wish this was a series--the chance to follow Eric and Jonathan and crew through several novels would be a dream come true.
Gods, I'm babbling. Sorry. Ok, long story short (too late) I adored this story and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes steam-punk, m/m romance, thieves, pirates, or charmingly funny short stories. This, combined with the totally different but equally amazing Apples and Regret and Wasted Time, has put Cornelia Grey firmly on my list of favorite authors.
And Straysod's 4 star review of The Ronin and the Fox:
Gods, I love Cornelia Grey's writing. She has such an amazing talent. Her characters are always so real, complex and rounded, her worlds always have such beautiful detail. If you've liked other short stories by her, you will absolutely love this one too, and if you haven't read anything by her yet, this is an excellent place to start.
A little longer than some of her stories, this one is immensely satisfying. Typical of her stories, Grey paints a vivid and beautiful world without wasting words. The characters are so awesome, and you connect almost instantly with them. The depth and realism of the emotion is something I really enjoy about her writing, particularly in this story. And the action in this one is definitely the best yet. The story doesn't rush along at breakneck speed, but neither does it meander aimlessly. Grey strikes the absolute perfect balance of action and rising tension, steamy sex scenes, and moments of quiet where you get to really know the characters. I love that her stories are never overly-complicated--no surprise endings, or red herrings, or twists--but the characters are complex and believable, and the story is none-the-less sweeping, with moments of breathlessness.
Aargh. I suck at reviewing books I love. Suffice it to say, I have found Cornelia Grey to be a spectacular author, and this book is a shining example of her skill. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes m/m romance, fantasy, tricksters, honorable warriors, or MCs that seems like opposites, but fit together and compliment each other perfectly.
..*squishes reviews*
febbraio 22, 2013
gennaio 08, 2013
New release: Benjamin Pepperwhistle and the Fantabulous Circus of Wonders
You all know by now that I'm... specialized in short stories. Well, here is my latest one - another gun!kink story, which you can find in Storm Moon Press' anthology Weight of a Gun II!
Cole Beauchamp is the greatest pistoleer of all time; he's also thoroughly unpleasant and has a habit of scaring away his assistants. But when he is sought out by a devotee with a love of guns that matches his own, Cole finds a new respect for Benjamin Pepperwhistle and the Fantabulous Circus of Wonders.
Excerpt:
The air inside the tent was hot, damp and heavy, and it seemed to grow thick like syrup, converging around that gun, as the dark-haired man took careful aim at the target. There was a moment of perfect quiet, when Benjamin found himself holding his breath, when even the dust motes hovering in the light seemed to still. There was only the tanned skin of the man's arm, the damp fabric of his shirt clinging to his back, and his strong hand, cupping the gun with such confidence that Benjamin felt consumed by a deep, wordless yearning.
When the man pulled the trigger, there was an explosion of smoke and sparks, the sulfuric smell of burnt black powder was blasted through the air, so intense and rough that it made Benjamin's eyes water.
That had to be the man he'd come looking for. There was no mistake.
The man swiped his hand over the hammer, reloading quickly. He shot again, and then again, and again—three rapid detonations, three bouts of smoke, three showers of sparks falling on the dry sand beneath the man's leather boots. When he stilled, a cloud of smoke lingered in the tent, seeping slowly from the crack left by the tent flap. Benjamin closed his eyes and inhaled it greedily, loving the sharp tang of it on his tongue. He opened them again, and saw— Saw that the man was staring at him, eyes black and gleaming, just like the gun now aimed at Benjamin's face.
"Don't make any sudden moves, or the last bullet will be for you."
You can grab a copy on Storm Moon Press' website!
Cole Beauchamp is the greatest pistoleer of all time; he's also thoroughly unpleasant and has a habit of scaring away his assistants. But when he is sought out by a devotee with a love of guns that matches his own, Cole finds a new respect for Benjamin Pepperwhistle and the Fantabulous Circus of Wonders.
Excerpt:
The air inside the tent was hot, damp and heavy, and it seemed to grow thick like syrup, converging around that gun, as the dark-haired man took careful aim at the target. There was a moment of perfect quiet, when Benjamin found himself holding his breath, when even the dust motes hovering in the light seemed to still. There was only the tanned skin of the man's arm, the damp fabric of his shirt clinging to his back, and his strong hand, cupping the gun with such confidence that Benjamin felt consumed by a deep, wordless yearning.
When the man pulled the trigger, there was an explosion of smoke and sparks, the sulfuric smell of burnt black powder was blasted through the air, so intense and rough that it made Benjamin's eyes water.
That had to be the man he'd come looking for. There was no mistake.
The man swiped his hand over the hammer, reloading quickly. He shot again, and then again, and again—three rapid detonations, three bouts of smoke, three showers of sparks falling on the dry sand beneath the man's leather boots. When he stilled, a cloud of smoke lingered in the tent, seeping slowly from the crack left by the tent flap. Benjamin closed his eyes and inhaled it greedily, loving the sharp tang of it on his tongue. He opened them again, and saw— Saw that the man was staring at him, eyes black and gleaming, just like the gun now aimed at Benjamin's face.
"Don't make any sudden moves, or the last bullet will be for you."
You can grab a copy on Storm Moon Press' website!
gennaio 04, 2013
Guest post + Giveaway!
Hello, everyone, and happy new year! I hope you enjoyed your holidays and are now ready to tackle an awesome 2013 :)
To celebrate, I'd like to invite you to a great giveaway from Storm Moon Press. Commenting on my post at The Armchair Reader, you'll be entered in two drafts, with the chance of winning:
- one free ebook from my backlist
- one free ebook every month of 2013 from Storm Moon Press, for a total of twelve free ebooks!
Characters’ Goals: Climbing the Social Ladder?
(...) Of course, however, one can’t live as an adventurer forever; I understand that characters eventually need to settle down, because a life of adventure can only lead, eventually, to a violent death. But I don’t think I like this idea that climbing the social ladder must be the ultimate, most desirable goal for a character. I don’t like the idea that being a scruffy, down-to-earth character with dirty hands is undesirable, that a poor, modest life has to be negative.
Personally, I identify a lot more in character arcs pertaining, for example, to the Hobbits. After the adventure and the danger, they don’t evolve into posh-Hobbits: they don’t repudiate their simple life. They go back to it, a little wiser, a little wearier, and at the same time a lot stronger, and appreciate it even more after what they’ve been through, because they’ve seen how precious it is.
So, how does that reflect on my stories and my characters?
Read the rest of the post HERE!
To celebrate, I'd like to invite you to a great giveaway from Storm Moon Press. Commenting on my post at The Armchair Reader, you'll be entered in two drafts, with the chance of winning:
- one free ebook from my backlist
- one free ebook every month of 2013 from Storm Moon Press, for a total of twelve free ebooks!
Characters’ Goals: Climbing the Social Ladder?
(...) Of course, however, one can’t live as an adventurer forever; I understand that characters eventually need to settle down, because a life of adventure can only lead, eventually, to a violent death. But I don’t think I like this idea that climbing the social ladder must be the ultimate, most desirable goal for a character. I don’t like the idea that being a scruffy, down-to-earth character with dirty hands is undesirable, that a poor, modest life has to be negative.
Personally, I identify a lot more in character arcs pertaining, for example, to the Hobbits. After the adventure and the danger, they don’t evolve into posh-Hobbits: they don’t repudiate their simple life. They go back to it, a little wiser, a little wearier, and at the same time a lot stronger, and appreciate it even more after what they’ve been through, because they’ve seen how precious it is.
So, how does that reflect on my stories and my characters?
Read the rest of the post HERE!
novembre 10, 2012
The Joy of Short Stories @ Lou Sylvre's :)
Hello, dear friends!
I'm taking a break from frantically working on my Phd proposal (-20 days to deadline, just had words I need to radically re-structure the entire thing: yargh!). Lou Sylvre was so kind to interview me on her blog. We talked about settings, names, titles, hot characters, sharing hot excerpts... and my special fondness for short stories :)!
Here's an excerpt from the post:
Q: In what locale is your most recent book set? How compelling was it to set a story there? Do you choose location the same way every time? How?
A: The one thing that most of my settings have in common is – they aren’t real. But they usually aren’t 100% fantasy either. Let’s just say I like – tweaking reality, adding stuff to it, bending its rules. It’s probably got something to do with my love for magical realism. I always find it especially intriguing: there’s a base of reality, so you come into it with all sorts of logical expectations, and yet at every turn there might just be something unusual, absurd, magical popping up and turning all your certainties upside down. I find it exciting, that added layer of possibilities to a world that already offers so many; I love the added degree of freedom it allows, and the fun that comes with playing with the expected and unexpected, the unreal juxtaposed on the real.
In fact, most of my stories are set in a world that’s never grounded – no dates, no exact locations, no names, no definite reality. I like that, and I think it works for me because I mostly write short stories, and they have different rules than full-length novels. I love the idea of tuning in to whatever’s happening, wherever’s happening, and simpy watching it unfold for a while before departing again. Not every question is answered; this isn’t a full meal, it’s a bite, a savoury morsel. The story I’m currently editing follows this rule, too. It’s set in a circus – an old-fashioned circus, in a setting that has some historical features, but remains open to other possibilities. The atmosphere is steampunk-ish, even though there are no actual steampunk elements. I’d been wanting to play with a circus setting for a long time, and while I hope to use it in a longer piece soon, this was a very enjoyable start!
I guess I could sum up this ramble by saying that I really enjoy speculative fiction, and I similarly enjoy speculative settings – the ones that always leave you guessing!
Q: Are readers involved in making your fiction—do they suggest stories or say what they’d like to read?
A: A little, yes! Mostly, I get many requests for sequels to my short stories. Often I’m tempted too; as I was mentioning, my short stories are often but a bite of something much bigger and more complex. I get to describe glimpses of fantastic worlds, introduce strange characters, hint at legends and mysterious pasts… and I’m left wanting more too; I want to keep exploring that world, to know more about those characters, to learn everything there is to know.
But unfortunately, I am also very easily distracted: when I get a new shiny toy (= a brand new sparkling idea) all I want to do is dive into that next world that I still know nothing about and explore that. Since I have more ideas than I can write – I currently have 12 full plots competing for my attention, and clamoring when they get bumped back yet again in favour of the latest idea! – I end up never having the time to go dust off a world and characters I’ve already played with to see what else they might have to say. I’m terrible, I know! But I keep them neatly lined up on their shelf anyway, and dust them every now and then. They are always ready for action. So, dear readers, please don’t give up hope – hopefully I’ll get around to writing one of those sequels someday :)
Read the rest of the post HERE!
I'm taking a break from frantically working on my Phd proposal (-20 days to deadline, just had words I need to radically re-structure the entire thing: yargh!). Lou Sylvre was so kind to interview me on her blog. We talked about settings, names, titles, hot characters, sharing hot excerpts... and my special fondness for short stories :)!
Here's an excerpt from the post:
Q: In what locale is your most recent book set? How compelling was it to set a story there? Do you choose location the same way every time? How?
A: The one thing that most of my settings have in common is – they aren’t real. But they usually aren’t 100% fantasy either. Let’s just say I like – tweaking reality, adding stuff to it, bending its rules. It’s probably got something to do with my love for magical realism. I always find it especially intriguing: there’s a base of reality, so you come into it with all sorts of logical expectations, and yet at every turn there might just be something unusual, absurd, magical popping up and turning all your certainties upside down. I find it exciting, that added layer of possibilities to a world that already offers so many; I love the added degree of freedom it allows, and the fun that comes with playing with the expected and unexpected, the unreal juxtaposed on the real.
In fact, most of my stories are set in a world that’s never grounded – no dates, no exact locations, no names, no definite reality. I like that, and I think it works for me because I mostly write short stories, and they have different rules than full-length novels. I love the idea of tuning in to whatever’s happening, wherever’s happening, and simpy watching it unfold for a while before departing again. Not every question is answered; this isn’t a full meal, it’s a bite, a savoury morsel. The story I’m currently editing follows this rule, too. It’s set in a circus – an old-fashioned circus, in a setting that has some historical features, but remains open to other possibilities. The atmosphere is steampunk-ish, even though there are no actual steampunk elements. I’d been wanting to play with a circus setting for a long time, and while I hope to use it in a longer piece soon, this was a very enjoyable start!
I guess I could sum up this ramble by saying that I really enjoy speculative fiction, and I similarly enjoy speculative settings – the ones that always leave you guessing!
Q: Are readers involved in making your fiction—do they suggest stories or say what they’d like to read?
A: A little, yes! Mostly, I get many requests for sequels to my short stories. Often I’m tempted too; as I was mentioning, my short stories are often but a bite of something much bigger and more complex. I get to describe glimpses of fantastic worlds, introduce strange characters, hint at legends and mysterious pasts… and I’m left wanting more too; I want to keep exploring that world, to know more about those characters, to learn everything there is to know.
But unfortunately, I am also very easily distracted: when I get a new shiny toy (= a brand new sparkling idea) all I want to do is dive into that next world that I still know nothing about and explore that. Since I have more ideas than I can write – I currently have 12 full plots competing for my attention, and clamoring when they get bumped back yet again in favour of the latest idea! – I end up never having the time to go dust off a world and characters I’ve already played with to see what else they might have to say. I’m terrible, I know! But I keep them neatly lined up on their shelf anyway, and dust them every now and then. They are always ready for action. So, dear readers, please don’t give up hope – hopefully I’ll get around to writing one of those sequels someday :)
Read the rest of the post HERE!
ottobre 25, 2012
Stuff to do before 2013...
So! There are a few things I'd like to accomplish before the end of the year. Some are deadlines, some are projects I started as far back as February and that I'd like to complete before the year is up. Some tasks have absolute priority - such as the Phd proposal - and I have to take into account that, once I go back to Italy on December 8th, I won't have a lot of free time to work. Between greeting relatives and friends, the emotional crisis I foresee when I'll have to come to terms with a cat-less house, Christmas stuff, and minor surgery on my shoulder and under my arm... ugh, I have no idea if I'll manage to do everything I'd like to!
Anyway, I decided to write the list here, so hopefully peer pressure will at least help me avoid the procrastination trap. There isn't much I can do about the other circumstances, but at least that one... :)
To do List - November & December 2012
Mandatory
• Phd Proposal (deadline December 1st)
• edits of Benjamin Pepperwhistle and the Fantabulous Circus of Wonder for Weight of a Gun II anthology
• proofreader edits of Cut & Run translation
• final round of corrections on 18& Gray translation
Optional
• write short story about deal with the devil
• finish short story Bounty Hunter II (the sequel), currently at 6000 words (started in June)
• revise first draft of novel The Traitor (sequel to The Mercenary (started in January, complete and abandoned since February)
Phew... I foresee an increased consumption of coffee in my immediate future :)!
Anyway, I decided to write the list here, so hopefully peer pressure will at least help me avoid the procrastination trap. There isn't much I can do about the other circumstances, but at least that one... :)
To do List - November & December 2012
Mandatory
• Phd Proposal (deadline December 1st)
• edits of Benjamin Pepperwhistle and the Fantabulous Circus of Wonder for Weight of a Gun II anthology
• proofreader edits of Cut & Run translation
• final round of corrections on 18& Gray translation
Optional
• write short story about deal with the devil
• finish short story Bounty Hunter II (the sequel), currently at 6000 words (started in June)
• revise first draft of novel The Traitor (sequel to The Mercenary (started in January, complete and abandoned since February)
Phew... I foresee an increased consumption of coffee in my immediate future :)!
ottobre 19, 2012
And the winner is...
Dear friends,
thank you all for taking part in the poll! It was a hard battle. It was a close finish between the three top stories, while the other two only got one vote each! So, without further ado, I give you the winner...
First Place: The one with Two Princes!
Second Place: tie between The one in Post-Apocalyptic Florence and The one in Steampunk London
Third Place: tie between The one with the Sulphur and The one with the Lightning Flower
Thank you all for participating! The story of our two princes, dealing with deceitful kings, evil advisors, and a friendly democratic dragon, will be the first one I will write in 2013. Considering it's been languishing in my notebook for two or three years, I'd say it's about time! It came to me one afternoon, as I was walking home in my tiny Italian town, listening to music on shuffle, and the song 'Two Princes' by Spin Doctors came up. And I thought, "Hmmm... two princes! What could I do with that?" And the rest, as they say, is history ;)
I leave you with this beautiful drawing by Takmaj, posted with permission of the author. Do check out her DA gallery!
thank you all for taking part in the poll! It was a hard battle. It was a close finish between the three top stories, while the other two only got one vote each! So, without further ado, I give you the winner...
Second Place: tie between The one in Post-Apocalyptic Florence and The one in Steampunk London
Third Place: tie between The one with the Sulphur and The one with the Lightning Flower
Thank you all for participating! The story of our two princes, dealing with deceitful kings, evil advisors, and a friendly democratic dragon, will be the first one I will write in 2013. Considering it's been languishing in my notebook for two or three years, I'd say it's about time! It came to me one afternoon, as I was walking home in my tiny Italian town, listening to music on shuffle, and the song 'Two Princes' by Spin Doctors came up. And I thought, "Hmmm... two princes! What could I do with that?" And the rest, as they say, is history ;)
I leave you with this beautiful drawing by Takmaj, posted with permission of the author. Do check out her DA gallery!
ottobre 15, 2012
Pick the first book Cornelia will write in 2013!
Hello, dear friends!
2012 was a memorable, super-busy year for me. (I know technically it's not over yet - but, for me, it's already fully booked ;) ). There were some great things going on. I handed in my thesis for university; graduated; had internships in all sorts of great places; moved in with my boyfriend (when I'm in Italy, at least!); had my whole family come visit me in the UK for the wonderful graduation ceremony. There were also very sad things. And these last two months will be intense too: I have to hand in a Phd proposal which will pretty much determine the next 4 years of my life!
So, this year, I had to put writing on the backburner. But I kept accumulating ideas nonetheless - and now I have a pile of plots, and I just need to pick which one I'll start with. So, dear friends, I thought I'd ask for your input with this poll. Which of the stories listed below would you like to read first?
Pop to my livejournal for the blurbs of the five possible stories and the poll!
Blurb and Poll: this way!
2012 was a memorable, super-busy year for me. (I know technically it's not over yet - but, for me, it's already fully booked ;) ). There were some great things going on. I handed in my thesis for university; graduated; had internships in all sorts of great places; moved in with my boyfriend (when I'm in Italy, at least!); had my whole family come visit me in the UK for the wonderful graduation ceremony. There were also very sad things. And these last two months will be intense too: I have to hand in a Phd proposal which will pretty much determine the next 4 years of my life!
So, this year, I had to put writing on the backburner. But I kept accumulating ideas nonetheless - and now I have a pile of plots, and I just need to pick which one I'll start with. So, dear friends, I thought I'd ask for your input with this poll. Which of the stories listed below would you like to read first?
Pop to my livejournal for the blurbs of the five possible stories and the poll!
Blurb and Poll: this way!
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