Author Interview: Ander Louis (The Liberation of Sundrian CIty)

Earlier this week, Ander Louis took some time of his busy schedule to sit down for interrogation with me. After severe torture, he finally broke down and spilled some juice about everything from character back stories and future novels, along with some amazing randomness.

For convenience sake, the following has been abbreviated.

Ander – A          Me – R         The Liberation of Sundrian City – TLoSC

A Daily Dose of R&R is happy to have Ander Louis, the author of "The Liberation of Sundrian City" with us today. 

R: Ander, first can you tell us a bit about yourself?

A: First, I’m Happy to be here!

A: About me….Sure…. 26/Male/Australia ;)

A: Wait, are you old enough, Roger, to remember the old A/S/L days of random internet chatrooms? 

R: I am 23, and I definitely remember those days, infamously.

A: Haha, creepy old internet days…

 R: Many a night I found myself hitting on a less than desirable person thanks to AOL's misguidance.

A: About me, I used to be a Business Analyst and a bass guitarist in a rock back, and then I gave both of them up and started writing novels.

R: Any particular reason why you chose to make War Elephants such a large cornerstone to your debut novel?  They're awesome, and I enjoyed reading about them.

 A: I was reading about war elephants and came to learn about the real history of them and how they worked was really fascinating, and they were almost like something from a fantasy novel without even having to embellish.

A: Also, the concept of musth rampages was interesting (look up some youtube clips, it is crazy!) and just elephants in general.

A: I loved the emotional bonds between them and their relationships to humans.

A:  Also, a lot of the elephant gear in the book isn’t too far exaggerated - just a little bit of creative licensing applied! 

R: Sounds pretty interesting. I'll definitely have to check some of those videos out for myself and get back to you. Unfortunately, like you once noted in another interview, the first thing that popped into my head when I think of war elephants is the scene from Lord of the Rings.

A: Ah yeah, that is an awesome scene - in the film when Legolas takes down the big one - I remember the people in the cinema cheered in that bit, which never happens in Australia!

A: To be honest, the influence wasn't drawn from LOTR - I've never read those books and once people read my book they will see my take on war elephants is very different!

A: Perhaps I shouldn't be admitting that I've never read LOTR! Haha.

R: It was quite evident you went for a more brutal take on elephants when I saw how executions were done...

 A: You know, those executions are based on real life too.

R: I assumed as much, but it's crazy to imagine that type of judiciary system today.

A: Oh, not the judiciary system, that's fictional. But when war elephants were used to execute people, the riders had more control over the elephants as they would have over a horse. More precision. 

 A: Furthermore, they could control the trunk too…and the elephants are quite smart - they knew what they were doing. If the rider wanted to torture the criminal for the crowd’s pleasure, the elephant knew not to step on any vital organs until the rider wanted it to.

R: Pardon my French, but Damn...

A: Yeah! See what I mean, sounds like fiction! When I was reading all this I was thinking “wow, this almost writes itself!”

R: I'm sure a lot of authors wish it was so. What part of writing this was the most difficult for you?

A: the hardest was the filler - let me explain.  

A: Before I started writing this, I plotted out the novel for a full month, marking out all the major and minor plot points through the story. What I never did, however, was plan what happened in between those plot points! And, as you can imagine, the build up to a plot point and the repercussions from the last plot point (the filler, for lack of a better term) makes up a large portion of the book. So I kept finding myself getting to those in between parts and being completely unprepared and at a loss as to what to write.

R: Did you ever catch yourself wanting to go off on a tangent when writing certain “in between” scenes? I only ask because I found several of your supporting characters very interesting, and personally would have enjoyed learning more about them.

A: Hmm, no I don't think so. I try to keep detail fairly minimal but consistent - that way a character can seem deep and intriguing even though you know little about him or her. It also allows the reader to project their imagination into the story, which I find important. 

R: That's a great way of putting it. I guess it makes sense for a mute not to tell all his secrets.

A: Garresh has a whole life behind him that I'd love to tell.

R: I'm so glad you said that! He was, by far, my favorite part of the book. I know you've stated this was to be a standalone novel, but I would love a prequel of his story.

A: I think his past was a bit too dark for this novel though. The same goes for the history of the city and how it came to exist.

R: Any chance we'll see that story one day?

A: Yeah, sure there is! I don't think it will be a prequel, but maybe another story set in the same world which might include a younger Garresh - or maybe some kind of promotional short story about him.

A: Hmm, hey, stop putting ideas in my head; I’ve got enough to get done! Haha. 

R: Well, since I've got you on the topic of yet to be released novels. Can you tell me anything about this sophomore novel mentioned at the end of TLoSC?

A: I sure can - it's part one of a duology called “A Duet For Swans”, which is a fantasy novel too, but a little different style. It is inspired by the films of Hayao Miyazaki, and has a more sentimental and bittersweet sort of feel to it.

A: The story is about a boy who has magic powers growing inside him, who travels across the land in a flying tugboat looking for the ocean. Oh, and hey, how would you like to get a VERY advanced peek at the cover art!?

 R: I definitely do! The cover art for TLoSC was gorgeous.

A: Oh thanks! Jimmy Manton did the cover artwork on the first one, very talented dude, also a fellow Melbournian. Google him and check out his stuff!

R: I definitely will! 

A: Feast your eyes!

(Tune in for cover art image coming soon. Trust me, it’s amazing and worth the wait!)

R: I must say, that cover art is gorgeous and definitely worth the wait for anyone not lucky enough to see it yet!

R: I appreciate your taking the time to discuss your work with me, and I've enjoyed the tidbits and spoilers about your future work! Before I let you go, there's just one thing I must ask! The silly question!

R: So here it goes...   Ander Louis, you've just found a genie. What are your three wishes?

A: Oh gosh. Let’s think...

A: Sex, money, power?! Haha.

R: Wise words from a wise man.

A: Haha, terrible answer.

R: Haha, but it was funny!

A: I'd wish for a better handle on language to better express my thoughts, more time to write, and to meet John Frusciante. 

R:  Ander, you've got good taste. The Red Hot Chili Peppers own a portion of my soul.

A: Mine too my friend...  Mine too.

Anyone you all want to hear interviewed? Have crazy questions you want asked? Chime in and share! Who knows, I just may use em. Hmm, who shall I interview next?! >:D 

Book Review: The Liberation of Sundrian City by Ander Louis!

Book Review: "The Liberation of Sundrian City" by Ander Louis

(Cover artwork by Jimmy Manton)

To summarize this book in a single word, I'd have to say "fun." Ander Louis wastes no time advancing the stories plot, so as a reader, you don't have to worry about the somewhat standard beginning book lull that many fantasy novels tend to have. I actually ended up reading this from cover to cover in a single setting. This is by no means, saying the book is short. The author simply shapes a story that makes you want to continue on to see what happens next.

I greatly enjoyed reading about the war elephants in the story. It's clearly evident that Ander has a true passion for the topic, and it's showcased in multiple scenes within the story. In fact, I found myself wishing portions of the book had been further fleshed out so I could have read more about the lead character, Linus, and his progress to tame the unruly elephant, Missy.

Also, the mute, Garresh was another highlight of the book. Ander avoids the stereotype of the mindless brute by portraying this character as a surprisingly competent and sensitive person. Every scene involving him was especially enjoyable for me, as I liked how his thoughts where explained to the reader.

Overall, the book is not without it's flaws. There are some standard action cliches in this novel, but I found myself welcoming them like an old friend because of the stories lighthearted feel. At no time during my read-through did this pull me out of my enjoyment of the overall story. The purpose of reading fiction is for entertainment, and on that front, The Liberation of Sundrian City delivers! If you can overlook an occasional bit of predictability, you'll find a story about a young man that is more than worth your time to discover. The books pros far outweigh the cons.





If you were on the line about reading this novel, I fully suggest you man-up and check it out for yourself! I'm quite glad I did, and I'm sure you will be too.




The book is currently available on Amazon in both paperback and E-book.

Thanks,
Roger Bellini

 P.S. A huge thank you to Ander Louis for allowing me to review his book.

Movie Review: Ruby Sparks

From directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton comes Ruby Sparks! If those names don't sound familiar, maybe you have heard of their previous film, also starring Paul Dano, Little Miss Sunshine. This film is also the debut screenplay for co-star Zoe Kazan.

 A young writer who's best pages seem to be long past embarks on a writing assignment from his therapist. This story soon takes on a life of it's own, literally!

The movie wastes no time introducing Ruby and quickly turns into an adorable little romance. It's quite enjoyable to see their relationship blossom, but our lead, Calvin, soon pushes her away with his socially awkward and controlling nature.

Without giving up anything too substantial of the plot, Calvin soon learns that writing your dream girl is not as easy as he thinks. Tampering with the details can have a substantial butterfly effect on a person.

Calvin is a good example of a man who falls in love with the idea of a woman rather than the person they really are. Honestly, by the end of the story I had a hard time liking the person he became. However, the movie itself was still quite enjoyable and does make an attempt to redeem his character.

If you're a fan of Indie comedy romances, this film is still worth worth checking out. But going in, know that this is not a comedy. By the end, this romance drama-evolves into a full fledged drama-drama. What starts as the story of two characters evolves into a story of two people, flaws and all.

I found the film refreshing, and would gladly recommend it to others to check out. However, I've always been a fan of stories that don't just aim to give you the warm and fuzzies. At some points in the film I was disturbed by what I saw on the screen. Credit goes to the directors and the cast for delivering an honest love story rather than more of the same that Hollywood often over floods the screen with.

Final Verdict: There's a place on my movie shelf for this little gem. The beauty of a person is in the flaws, as is the case with this film. It's far from perfect, but it's darn good.

Thanks,
Roger Bellini

Disney, this is where Star Wars needs to go!

Alright, so I know this topic has already been beat to death but I cannot resist! Now that Disney has acquired the rights to Star Wars they plan to release new films to take place after "The Return of the Jedi." That's not so bad, I'd rather have Lucas-free movies than no more movies at all in my lifetime. So, I'm going to pitch my ideas for Star Wars films that Disney should get busy and start making! These are purely what I want to see, and are very unlikely to get the movie treatment, sadly.

"Boba Fett" the movie

This movie just makes so much sense to make, and is actually probably the most likely one to be made on this list. The potential for storyline is limitless as there are hundreds of comics and novels that reference his character. Also, there are enough open spaces in his life to not even worry about ever treading on already covered ground. They could easily churn out a trilogy based on his swashbuckling bounty hunter adventures. They could turn him into a very enjoyable anti-hero, and maybe soften his character up a little by giving him a bit of Robin Hood flare. The clone wars has been a step in the right direction for the Star Wars franchise showcasing some of their non-Jedi characters; it's time to take the next step and make a (mostly) Jedi-free movie.

"Darth Bane" the movie

 

If you've not yet read the Bane trilogy of books by Drew Karpyshyn than you are missing out! This characters story is beautifully covered in the books from his rise all the way to his demise. If ever there was a book  in the Star Wars series that needed the cinematic treatment more, this would be it. For those of you who do not know, Bane is one of the most powerful Sith lords to brace the pages of Star Wars fiction. Despite being a bad guy, he is a very likable character that viewers would have no problem rooting for. The time has come for the bad guys to get their stories told, I propose we start with Bane and work from there. If the movie took off, the studio would then have easily enough material for a trilogy of films, and beyond if they wanted to pursue his legacies story arc after.

"Kerra Holt / Knight Errant" the movie 

Like Bane, Kerra's story also takes place in the "Old Republic Era" of the Star Wars universe. This period of time is especially interesting because of the large number of Sith baddies that came to power during it. Kerra's story is particularly interesting because she is forced to ally herself with enemies to the Jedi order to complete her mission. Also, it would be nice to see a film about a Jedi that is not "all powerful! The Anakin's and Vader's are fun, but the small-fries often have great story that needs telling too. The ability to overcome insurmountable challenges is what the hero story is all about after all!

"Obi-Wan Kenobi" the movie

Before you say this would be retreading the story told in episodes 1-3, think about the end of "Revenge of the Sith." I highly doubt Vader just holed himself up waiting for near twenty years to get revenge on Obi-Wan for schooling him. There could easily be an entertaining story with these two dueling it out. Also, Obi-Wan was wonderfully acted by Ewan McGregor in the past three films, and I would love to see him reprise that role to show fans a little bit of what transpired throughout the galaxy between episodes 3 and 4. It's a large void in the story mythos that Disney should consider filling before the original actor gets too old.

"Darth Revan" the movie

If you asked me to name one and only character from a game to make a movie about, it would be Revan. Knights of the Old Republic was more than just a Star Wars game for me growing up! It was the reason I'm a RPG fan today and also the reason I will always love Xbox more than Playstation. Revan's grandeur was significantly reduced after Karpyshyn's novel on the character, but he still remains one of the most popular secondary characters in the minds of Star Wars geeks everywhere.  Heck, it could be entertaining enough just to watch a origin movie for the character showing his rise to power and end it with his fall to the dark side, then have a sequel showing his redemption. The idea of a jedi that's tasted the dark side of the force and maintained control is a fascinating thing. Essentially, with Revan we get our cake and eat it too!

Please feel free to mention any Star Wars characters you'd like to see get the movie treatment. You'll probably notice I'm quite the fan of the Old Republic Era. If you are a bit lost with some of the characters in that part of the Star Wars universe, I highly recommend you track down Knights of The Old Republic and try it out. You won't regret it!

Thanks,
Roger Bellini

Bookplates! The easiest way to get your book autographed.

Hello again! This post is all about how to go about requesting a bookplate from an author. However, let me first briefly explain what a book plate is in case anyone does not know.

Bookplates are tiny stickers that you can get signed by your favorite author to put inside your book. This is a really cool way for people like myself, who are unable to go to conventions and do not live in large cities, to customize their book copy with their favorite authors signature.

Ok, so now that we're all on the same page of what a book plate is...  How do I get them?!

Step #1

Locate the authors blog or website and see if they've already listed a way to attain autographs or bookplates. If they do offer them, great! Follow their directions and the author will mail one to you!! However, if they do not offer them, never fear. Locate a contact email address and write a polite and brief letter explaining how you enjoyed their work and would like to customize your book by getting a signed book plate. This next part is key! Don't expect the author to do all of the work.

Step #2

Create a awesome bookplate to send to the author for signing! All you'll need is sticker paper to load into your printer and a little creativity!

Often times, I will draw designs for bookplates, upload the image and add a clean line to sign on then print! Simple, and a nice way to make your book unique. However, if you lack the skill to draw your own design, checkout other people's work on DeviantArt and Google Images. Find something you like and want to use? Contact the creator of the image and explain what you'd like to do. Most of the time people are pretty cool about letting you use their art and are even flattered you chose their piece. Please do not use others art without permission!

Step #3

Now your bookplate is all ready and just missing that shiny signature! You will need two envelopes, because your bookplates are hobbits and must travel "There and back again." The outside envelope should be addressed to the authors fan mail address and the inner envelope should have your address for the authors convenience. Be sure to have postage on both of your envelopes because the inner envelope will be used by the author to send the signed bookplates back to you (failing to include proper postage may result in you never getting your prize). I also find it never hurts to include a small letter explaining how you made the bookplate and thanking them for taking the time to sign for you.

Step #4

Be patient! Authors are busy people and, believe it or not,  they often have lives beyond just writing!!! I've been met with nothing but pleasant experiences when contacting authors with bookplate requests.

Below are some bookplates that I've received recently.

David Anthony Durham

Drew Karpyshyen

(The ones above are made by me, and the ones below are the authors plates)

Peter V. Brett

 Mark Lawrence

Lian Hearn

                                  

Pretty cool, right?! Hopefully this post has equipped you with the necessary know-how to get your favorite books autographed for the price of a few stamps! Please feel free to let me know what bookplates you've gotten in the comments and share if you get or make any really cool ones! 

Thanks,

Roger Bellini 

Sci-Fi / Fantasy movies to look forward to in 2013!

The following are my must watch Sci-fi and Fantasy movies. If you know of any good ones I might have missed, please feel free to share in the comments! 

 

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

January 25th, 2013 

The first solid fantasy offering of the upcoming year should offer a fun popcorn flick to hold me over until the big boys come out later in the year! The classic tale with a horror twist is a promising genre of movies that took a tough hit with the Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter film last year. Hopefully hunting witches will prove more entertaining. 

Jack the Giant Slayer

March 1st, 2013

If Hansel and Gretel proves to be entertaining, then I will be very excited to see this film. Unfair as it may be, I will have a hard time getting excited to see this though if H&G does not. The trailer looks awesome, and Ewan McGregor's witty dialogue in the trailer should prove amusing in a film that shouldn't take itself too seriously. People fighting giants sounds a bit like a medieval Troll Hunter's film with an actual budget. I'm alright with that!

 

Oblivion

April 19th, 2013

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, written by Joseph Kosinski comes this gorgeous piece of cinematography! I'll admit I know little of this film, but after watching the trailer, that's all I need. The lead character is a drone repairman on earth who discovers an escape pod with a woman inside. This woman opens up his eyes to a far wider vision of how his world really works. I'm thinking a government conspiracy on a desolate destroyed post apocalyptic earth with space crafts...YES!

Iron Man 3

May 3rd, 2013

 

There are no doubts this film will be a financial success! However, in my opinion, the Iron Man movies have been on the decline; Tony dancing and eating donuts just wasn't for me. I'm hoping after a strong performance in The Avengers that Stark will step up his game and deliver the best Iron Man movie yet. Also, with Guy Pearce attached as a bad guy, I expect us to see the best bad guy in the series to date!

Star Trek: Into Darkness

May 17th, 2013 

Star Trek is a franchise that I have never enjoyed. When they decided to reboot this series, I assumed this would remain the case. Thankfully, I gave the movie a shot and loved it! Into The Darkness looks to be even better, and with BBC Alum Benedict Cumberbatch added to the cast as our bad guy, I expect to be blown away by the next installment of this franchise. Heck, I may even dress up like all the other Treky's...

Epic

May 24th, 2013

Animated films are becoming some of the best films every year. It just wouldn't be right to make a list of fantasy films for the year and exclude Epic from it. After watching the trailer, it's hard not to make a connection to James Cameron's Avatar. This comparison is in no way a bad thing! This should be a family friendly film that the young and old will enjoy. I'll be dragging my 2 y/o nephew to the theater as an excuse to see this film.

After Earth

June 7th, 2013

Shyamalan, this is your last chance. If this film is bad then I am done, no matter how cool your name is! Will Smith and Jaden Smith star in this film about a father and son (sound familiar?) who crash land on a abandoned planet and must survive the dangerous wild until their rescue arrives. Simple plot, but why fix it if it's not broken?

Man of Steel

June 14th, 2013

We're all hoping they finally reboot Superman for good this time! Also, a bit of Nolan's gritty realism would be nice. If the posters and trailers are to be believed, they have heard our pleas and will deliver. I'll remain skeptical until I've seen the movie because Zack Snyder is very hit or miss, but my fingers are crossed! 

Pacific Rim

July 12th, 2013

Anime fans, this one might be a bit familiar for you. Giant aliens rise up from portals under the sea to conquer earth. We respond by using giant mecha soldiers to fight it out for the planet. Evangelion has taught me this is a very good thing. Also, Guermo Del Toro is the director, and I've been a big fan of his films ever since The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth. Lastly, this movie probably has the most badass poster I've seen since the Joker Dark Knight poster (pretty darn badass!).

Elysium

August 9th, 2013

This film is interesting because beneath the sci-fi action exterior is a story about people seeking equality. It's nice to see a movie not only develop action, but also some substance. Don't misinterpret this to mean the film will not be action packed; it will have lots of action! Matt Damon will prove he's still got his Bourne skills.

Ender's Game

November 1st, 2013

 

 

We'll be lucky enough to have Orson Scot Card in my city over February 22-24th, so hopefully I'll have some words from the man himself! But in the meantime, I'll just say "wow," After years of waiting, Hollywood is finally bringing us the literary adaptation that us fan boys and girls have been longing for! I dare not spoil a thing with a synopsis. Read and love the book to see for yourself! Ohh, and watch the movie too of course! 

Thor: The Dark World

November 8th, 2013 

 

 

Of all the Marvel individual ensemble films, Thor was the one I enjoyed the most. I also believe Thor is the one with the most room for improvement. The first film was a very contained origin film. The second has a world of options, heck multiple worlds of options! I hope to see some more of my favorite Norse viking kicking butt and taking names. Also, I wouldn't mind a Loki team up for the final fight. Loki has a lot of marketability, and this could be their chance to humanize him and bring him to the light side! 

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

December 13th, 2013

Need I say anything? The second of three installments of Peter Jackson's epic Hobbit trilogy. The first film was gorgeous, and I suspect more of the same from this one; with one big difference, more Smaug! The big negative for this film is that, like the predecessor, the film is stretched a bit thin over the long run time. But for a die-hard Tolkien fan like myself, I wouldn't miss this movie for the world! 

The Prototype

Unknown Date, 2013

This title is by far my most anticipated on this list! I've got a thing for the underdog, and this one certainly fits the bill with it's budget coming in under 40mil. it will be one of the lower budget offerings in this batch of movies. The plot revolves around a thesis by Dr. Maxwell about how machines are the next step of mankinds evolution. Little does he know, he is the prototype for this evolution. On the run from the military that wishes to detain him, he struggles with his new state. I suspect there will be a philosophical undertone in there about the line between machine and man that people like myself love to reflect on.

 

Honorary Mentions

The Host

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

The Wolverine

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

 

 

Fantasy books by Debut Authors in 2013!

First, this list is far from comprehensive! These are only a handful of first time published authors that I am greatly looking forward to reading this year.

Coming in at #1....

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan 

This book is due out on April 16th and will be published by Orbit Books. From what I've gathered, this book will include the big three! Guns, swords and sorcery all in a deliciously action packed political suarez! I'll definitely be posting more about this book once I get a chance to read it. I recommend you do the same as it's available in hard-cover edition on Amazon at the very reasonably price of $13 and change for pre-order. If all of that is not enough to convince you to give it a shot, how about this..  he's a former student of the legendary Brandon Sanderson!


#2

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

 This book choice is one that I struggled with whether to include or not at first. Purely judging the book by the cover, you'd think this is not exactly a fantasy author. However, after learning more about the novel my curiosity was peeked and it earned a place on this list, and very nearly took the top! Being a huge fan of H. G. Wells work, I was delighted to hear this book drew inspiration from one of his books. That, along with the talking animals reminiscent of chimera's should make for a good read! I can plow through a little bit of love triangles if the story payoff is worth it.


#3

Blood's Pride by Evie Manieri

This novel will be released on February 19th by TOR Books. The conquered Shadari people hire a badass evil mercenary to help fuel their rebellion! Sounds like a good plan, right? Well, maybe it was, but this ladies got her own evil agenda and may prove to be a volatile friend to have. I love novels that show a bit of power squabbles and I enjoy when the good guys have a division within their ranks. This read should prove to be a juicy bit of war and deceit. 

#4

The Liberation of Sundrian City by Ander Louis

The best thing about reading a first novel is the unknowing! So, I'll steal a line from this books synopsis "If ignorance were bliss, would you seek truth?" For me, the answer is yes! I suspect there may be some cheesy cliches and cookie cutter characters, but sometimes I just want action!! Ohh, and a thirteen year old riding a elephant death machine also never hurt (Or would it?).

  

Like I said, far from comprehensive, but I am sure I will read many more than just these debut authors this year. I'll tell you what I think as I get to each one! That way I can read the duds and help you find your next diamond in the rough! Thanks to all the authors for their hard work, blood sweat and sleepless nights that went into creating these novels! 

Happy Holidays! 

Roger Bellini

Lets try this again....

Alright, now is the time to revamp the idea of keeping up with a blog. The topics I will mainly focus on are Fantasy books, movies and anything else that sparks interest and leaves me with an urge to share!

Realistically, I do not expect to have many (or any followers), but maybe all this blogging will catch on and people will be able to relate to posts or discover a new favorite book or movie. You should know I am a huge fan of foreign films, particularly Korean and Swedish films. If you have any lesser known movies that you would like reviewed, please feel free to let me know and I'll see what I can do!

Sincerely,
Roger

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