Book Review of Darren Joy’s upcoming novel “A Malignant Fetch”, book two of the Plagueborn novels
By Dan Watt
Joy’s second book in the Plagueborn series: A Malignant Fetch, is just as exciting and engrossing as his first novel: A Viral Imperium.
A Malignant Fetch flows like a great movie. The writing is engrossing; the cinematography vivid; with knowledgeable actors portraying fallible and real characters; all coming together under Joy’s superb direction.
The story focuses on the unwitting growth of Threadfin Todder into a viral mage. We also learn more about the history of the High Mage, Rasnal Nalrost; the former Aidari, Wither; and why Lorn Larthuz stole something that could change worlds.
As the story progresses we become familiar with the role of Shraeds and Torments and what they are. However, it’s Threadfin Todder and his connection to the Fetch that have us riding on a raft down rapids we don’t want to escape.
Joy hasn’t just written another epic fantasy story but one that swirls with dark fantasy and dark humour. It’s a story that is both physical and simultaneously metaphysical.
A Malignant Fetch is available on November 8th.
Darren Joy can be reached at: darrenjoy.com
You can also learn more about the first book in the Plagueborn series “A Viral Imperium” at this website.
If you want to look through a window, a doorway, or as you stand nearby at non-fiction scenes described in vivid verse, follow the poetry of Shayleene MacReynolds.
Stop Take a breath What do you see? A teardrop stain, like dripping condensation on a window It smears against the pad of my right thumb. Green fingers of an aloe reaching out and to the light Rotting soil A black gnat sitting on a spore. My hair is everywhere Coming out in clumps it hangs like Spanish moss from the branches of an armchair Wrapped around my son’s big toe Be still I whisper and unwind. Cold coffee congealing in a mug A daydream hovers near The dog pees on the carpet A clock lies dripping on the floor— Nonsense Where has all my time gone? Dollar store dinosaurs and perfect penmanship A gauze mask bent along the bridge Sky blue I sit in search of words But words are everywhere. With the fine strands of my braided hair I tether myself back to earth Stay, she says,
Nandita Khandelwal’s “Climate Change – Health Connection” explains everything you want to know about climate change and how it affects Earth’s: water, land, and every species. She also explains how it affects our overall health and the nutrition value of our foods.
“Climate Change – Health Connection” is an enjoyable and thought provoking read. At the end of each chapter Khandelwal asks questions that encourage all of us to make a difference. This is the perfect book for the general public, and as an educational resource for schools, from junior high, to college and university.
Khandelwal writes in understandable language, backed up by scientific research. The structure of the book, and its chapters, are a great template for further books on climate change, and for other environmental subjects.
This is a positive book. Khandelwal explains what climate change is, how it affects every aspect of our life, and offers suggestions on what we can do to alleviate the situation. She encourages us to work with the government as well as special interest groups.
“Climate Change – Health Connection” is available through Amazon at:
As I read through Darren Joy’s, A Viral Imperium: The Plagueborn Series: Book One, I was immediately caught up in the imagery and banter. Joy has written a book that pulls you into a world where magic and undead make sense. There is also an introduction to Viralic and Spectralic magic, and the combination of the two. The characters are not always who, or what they seem to be, nor is it always clear if they are good, bad, or complicated. As the story progresses, you’ll find yourself reading long past your bedtime.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a story that caught my attention and held it to the very end. How long have you worked on A Viral Imperium?
I began this book way back in 2014. I had written three unpublished novels before it, so technically this was my fourth book. It should have been completed much sooner, but due to illness, I had to shelve it for a time in 2016. I managed to finish it last year. Overall, it’s taken almost three years.
Your description of characters, creatures, buildings, and sceneries is both vivid and engrossing. How do you go about writing those scenes?
A lot of rewriting, lots and lots of rewriting. No kidding. That’s how. What’s in my head never translates to the screen as I write it, or at least, I’m never happy. So going back and reworking those descriptions, and the novel as a whole is essential, and that’s what I put it down to. That, and I read a lot, so descriptions in other books do grab me. I try not towrite paragraphs of description too often, but blend it in with the ongoing story wherever possible.
Within the main plot there are many subplots. The webs and layers of George R.R. Martin’s: A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones TV series); Ken Follett’s: Pillars of the Earth, and Edward Rutherford’s: Sarum come to mind when I consider the plots within A Viral Imperium. Did you sketch these out beforehand or did you find them writing themselves?
Well, put simply, ’I’m a pantser. I write from the hip, not having much of a clue where it’s going to go. Well, maybe a little clue, but I certainly don’t have it all planned out. This means I have to do heavy rewrites. Ideal? Probably not, but I tried planning novels in the early days, and I never finished those. I tend to plan as I go, adding in notes to the first draft, and rewrite drafts, which I then read as I go through the book the next time, also making more notes. It’s my process, and I don’t know if other writers work that way. It works for me though. I also write each main character’s storyline as a separate manuscript before combining them later, so as to make sure the structure for each story is as I want it.
If I was a publisher I would be contacting you and Amazon books to work out a deal. How do readers and publishers contact you and where is A Viral Imperium available?
For the moment, it is only available on Amazon, but I am strongly considering having it available on other platforms soon. I don’t know if any publishers will contact me, but anyone including readers can get me through the contact page on my website at: www.darrenjoy.com
I also understand you have the second book in the series coming out. Could you tell us when and if there’s a pre order?
Yep, anyone can pre order it now on Amazon. It’s called A Malignant Fetch and it is on sale for 99cents from the 8th of November this year, so not long to go. I’m getting nervous all over again. Easiest way to pre order it is to just pop over to my website, www.darrenjoy.com, and there is a link from there.
Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. I’m very much looking forward to reading A Malignant Fetch!
The movie starts off with Chris Pratt’s character, Dan Forester, waiting to find out if he has a new teaching job. Everything is normal until individuals from the future show up.
The script by Zach Dean (Deadfall, 24 Hours To Live) is about a future war with aliens but with a twist.
I really enjoyed the human reaction to everything that goes on in The Tomorrow War. The interaction between the characters reminds me of George Lucas’s 1978 Star Wars (Episode IV). In Star Wars the characters are so endearing because they act like we would to situations. Dan’s interaction with his wife and attitude towards his father is down to Earth and real. I also enjoyed Dan’s interaction with his daughter(s). The casting for this film was right on. Everyone makes the scenes believable.
Unlike the screenplay by Edward Neumeier (Robocop) for Starship Troopers (based on the book of the same name by Robert Heinlein) the social and political comments aren’t commercials or newsreels but ones we make to each other daily. In The Tomorrow War lack of faith in world leaders and NATO is brought forth by individual comments.
The battle scenes are similar to Ridley Scott’s Blackhawk Down. The director, Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie) makes sure you’re right there.
A pivotal realization in the movie made me think of Neill Blomkamp (Elysium) and Terri Tatchell’s (Chappie) screenplay for District 9. And for anyone who has read Liu Cixin’s Dark Forest, the movie suggests another terrifying possibility.
The Tomorrow War gives me hope that Joe Haldeman’s The Forever War can finally be made.
The Reason I Wrote: Healing the Temple of the Soul
(A story about body image and eating disorders)
By D. Watt, B.A., PT
I remember volunteering at a YMCA when a very thin girl came up to me. She grabbed the skin of her arm and asked me how she could lose fat. I could see her bone through her skin. I knew very little about eating disorders then so I told her she didn’t need to lose fat but needed to add muscle.
On TV there would be fashion shows. I expected to see eye appealing curves and femininity. What I saw instead was skin and bone; androgynous wraiths wearing clothing that hung on their emaciated bodies.
Initially I didn’t find many books about girls with eating disorders so I wrote a book about a girl struggling with an eating disorder and body image. Knowing, that as a male, I could only take what I had heard, seen, and read and bounce it back to create the main character Cynthia, I decided to ask women I knew to read it. It was strange to have women who had and were dealing with an eating disorder tell me I was on track while professionals who worked with individuals with eating disorders told me I was far off track.
Over the years I did find some books on eating disorders. The one that stayed with me is Joan Ryan’s Little Girls In Pretty Boxes. Ryan did research on female gymnasts and figure skaters and interviewed some of the athletes. After mentioning the book to women I knew or trained my view of what causes eating disorders and body image struggles altered greatly. Up to that point I had thought eating disorders were only a symptom of trying to control body weight and appearance. I was shocked when I was told that much of it is caused because of physical, psychological, or/and sexual abuse at a young age. Healing the Temple of the Soul deals more with the need to belong, attention, and sports.
A client told me about a model friend of hers who was giving a seminar on modeling. This was another eye opener. Programs like Photoshop allow editors to completely change the physical attributes of a model. A size three can become a size zero, facial features like freckles can be removed, bosoms can be enlarged or shrunk, and the neck and waist can be made thinner. I am not a fan of what I would call the “mannequin” look.
I wanted the cover to represent a scene in the book so I asked my Goddaughter to model for the cover of Healing the Temple of the Soul. She looked healthy and vibrant in the picture so Stephanie McColl did an amazing pointillism portrait of her looking gaunt.
There’s a song I include in the book by Alanis Morissette called Mary Jane. A verse in the song says what so many people who care are:
I hear you’re losing weight again Mary Jane Do you ever wonder who you’re losing it for
Arcade Fire’s Creature Comfort points out the need for attention:
Some girls hate their bodies Stand in the mirror and wait for the feedback
Now there’s a new song/message from Billie Eilish called Not My Responsibility in which she deals directly with body image and weight:
Is my value based only on your perception?
Or is your opinion of me?
Not my responsibility
Body shaming can come in many forms: too heavy, too light, showing too much skin, or not enough. Sexual attraction is natural but it needs to be surrounded by respect. The movie The Fifth Element comes to mind when discussing sexuality and respect. Bruce Willis’s character Korben reaches out to touch a mostly naked Leeloo played by Milla Jorovich. Leeloo grabs Korben in a strangle hold and tells him, “Never without my permission.”
The goal of Healing the Garden of the Body is to encourage anyone with an eating disorder or body image struggle that they can overcome their fears. I also wanted to point out that everyone has struggles and the importance of support. Mostly though, I want people who are struggling to understand that there are others who care about them, including men.
Chef Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and the importance of
Communication, Teamwork, Praise, and Leadership that Earns Respect
By Dan Watt, Fitness Trainer and Author
For years I had heard about Hell’s Kitchen and seen Gordon Ramsay on talk shows. I didn’t really pay attention until became available on Prime Video. I decided to see what it was all about.
As I started watching Season One of Hell’s Kitchen my impression was that Chef Ramsay, who once played professional soccer, is one of those male soccer players who crumble to the ground, fakes being hurt and cries as he points an accusing finger at the other team. I noticed he was allowed to swear at the contestants but if they swore back they were chastised. It didn’t seem he understood if you dish it out you have to be able to take it.
His attitude was also similar to how I imagine a captain of an ancient galleon would behave: terrible and all powerful. As I continued to watch Season One and other seasons I realized the bathrooms must have a lot of liquid soap for Chef Ramsay and the contestants. If I owned a swear jar on the show I would be very rich right now. However, it’s better to relieve tension by getting it out by swearing than holding it in and exploding in violence. The contestants get to express their true thoughts and feeling in separate interviews, suggesting Chef Ramsay isn’t afraid to be criticized outside of the kitchen.
The winning teams are always rewarded with amazing prizes that include visiting restaurants, helicopter and plane rides, and numerous activities, such as surfing. Chef Ramsay becomes Gordon outside of Hell’s Kitchen and a much more enjoyable person to be around. The prizes have at least two important purposes. See what fun you can have if you work hard and succeed, and an introduction to fine dining with the introduction of wine and food tasting. A good palate is extremely important to Chef Ramsay when he’s looking for a chef to run a restaurant.
Chef Ramsay also educates the contestants (and the viewer if they pay attention) by demonstrating how to make different dishes, such as crêpes. He also shows his love and respect of the cooking industry by bringing in guest chefs to judge the food, and food critics to be included during dinner services. Fire fighters, military personnel, kids and others are invited to breakfast or lunch, and in some of the shows, food trucks are used to serve construction workers. There’s an interesting point made about what foods to serve; knowing your customers preferences leads to better sales and customer returns. Type of work, what city, and time of day all can have a bearing on a customer’s food preferences.
For those who choose to look beyond the drama there is a great deal to learn watching Hell’s Kitchen. As Chef Ramsay says in one episode, great chefs are imaginative, think on their feet, and understand the importance of combination, execution, and marriage of foods. Using that knowledge they are also willing to take chances.
The importance of having a good palate and tasting food to make sure it’s the right food being served is drilled in constantly.
Chef Ramsay has contestants wear blindfolds and headphones than gives them a variety of foods to taste in a competition between teams. The point is a chef must have a great palate and be able to taste the differences between foods such as beef and chicken, and distinguish one cheese from another.
The contestants need to work as a team to prepare a plate of food properly. That means calling out cooking times constantly to each other. The contestants need to know how long it takes to cook chicken, beef, and pork to perfection compared to how long it takes to cook potatoes, broccoli, and garnishes properly so all of it can be served at the same time.
As a dreaded vegetarian I greatly appreciate that Chef Ramsay demands certain foods are not cooked together. He also makes it clear mixing foods can be a health issue because of potential food allergies. If food isn’t cooked correctly he’ll call the contestants up and tell them in the most colourful language why it isn’t. If the contestants can ignore the yelling and name calling they’ll learn a tremendous amount about proper food preparation.
I also appreciate that he has contestants who lose a competition sort out recyclable food waste from non-recyclable and makes them aware of how much food is wasted when it can’t be served because it’s under or over cooked.
His decisions don’t seem to be based on who is the most experienced but on other qualities. I second guessed whose jacket he would take and tell to leave Hell’s Kitchen until I started to notice a pattern. He’s looking for who improves the most, who has the best palate, who works the best with others, who shows the greatest leadership qualities, and who shows the most passion to succeed.
The show is a reminder that during busy times there isn’t always time for niceties. Minds are racing to remember orders, and how long to cook food at what temperature in unison with the other cooks’ preparations. Hearts are pounding with exertion to get the orders delivered on time. However, it’s also imperative to commend those who do a good job, show improvement, and to let go of anger and frustration once the orders are done. The swearing is for effect on the TV Show. Swear words will escape out of frustration or exhilaration but should be avoided using towards another individual. However, it’s better than bottling up to let out as violence towards someone else, especially an innocent bystander.
The four vital factors I’ve been reminded of by Chef Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen are: communication, teamwork, praise when deserved, and a leadership quality that earns respect.
Caedar Writing & Artwork 