Guest Post: “Conflict Drives a Story” by Michelle Hauck

November 12, 2015November 12, 2015 Civilian Reader Guest Post Birth of Saints Series, Fantasy, Grudging, Harper Collins, Michelle Hauck, Voyager Impulse

HauckM-AuthorPic Conflict drives a story. It’s what makes the excitement. It provides the obstacles for character motivation. It’s what makes a reader care. Without conflict, a book has nothing but dull words on a page. Who would want to read a story where everything was happy and good? Where everything went the main character’s way? It might be nice to live, but not so entertaining to read about.

Ever read a story that should have been great, but it felt kind of flat? Possibly some of the types of conflict are missing.

Without all sorts of conflict and tension, readers will yawn. It needs to be ongoing and in every scene. There are many types of conflict and the smart writer includes all of them into the page. If they build in only one type, the story will still be dull. Continue reading →

Quick Q&A with NATHAN GARRISON

October 30, 2015October 29, 2015 Civilian Reader Interview Fantasy, Nathan Garrison, Shadow of the Void, Veiled Empire, Voyager, Voyager Impulse

Let’s start with an introduction: Who is Nathan Garrison?

I am a father, husband, musician, chef, soldier, dreamer, and geek. Oh, and I write stuff too!

Your debut novel, Veiled Empire, is published by Voyager. It looks pretty interesting: How would you introduce it to a potential reader? Is it part of a series?

I’d say it’s got a decent blend of classic and modern styles, both in tone and content, and is packed with action. It is part of a (forthcoming) series, but it can also be read as a standalone. Continue reading →

New Books (June-July)

July 4, 2015August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Abaddon, Andy Abramowitz, Bennett R Coles, Caseen Gaines, Charles Stross, Ctein, Daniel H Wilson, DAW Books, Dead Assassin, Del Rey UK, Dennis Dunaway, Drew Karpy, Ed Greenwood, Edgar Cantero, Fran Wilde, Gollancz, GP Putnam's Sons, Janet Groth, Jo Fletcher Books, John Gilstrap, John Joseph Adams, John Niven, John Sandford, Jon Wallace, Joshua Cohen, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Matthew Dunn, Michael R Fletcher, Random House, Regan Arts, Ronda Rousey, St Martin's Press, Teresa Frohock, Thomas Dunne, Titan Books, Tom Pollock, Tor Books, Touchstone, Vaughn Entwhistle, Vintage, Voyager, Voyager Impulse, Witness Impulse

Featuring: John Joseph Adams, Andy Abramowitz, Edgar Cantero, Joshua Cohen, Bennett R. Coles, Ctein, Dennis Dunaway, Matthew Dunn, Vaughn Entwhistle, Michael R. Fletcher, Teresa Frohock, Caseen Gaines, John Gilstrap, Ed Greenwood, Janet Groth, Paul Kane, Marshall Ryan Maresca, John Niven, Tom Pollock, Ronda Rousey, John Sandford, Charles Stross, Neely Tucker, Jon Wallace, Fran Wilde, Daniel H. Wilson Continue reading →

New Books (May-June)

June 2, 2015August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Ace Books, Aidan Levy, Alexandra Petri, Century Books, Chicago Review Press, Christopher Robinson, Corey Taylor, De Capo Press, Doubleday, Douglas Lain, Ernest Cline, GP Putnam's Sons, Harper Collins, Hodder, Jack Campbell, Jessica Knoll, Judy Blume, Knopf, Lincoln Child, Loren Rhoads, Macmillan, Mark Lawrence, Mat Johnson, Matthew Palmer, NAL, Naomi Novik, Nathan Garrison, Neal Stephenson, Nick Brown, Ron Perlman, Scribner, Spiegel & Grau, Stephen King, Titan Books, Voyager Impulse

Featuring: Judy Blume, Nick Brown, Jack Campbell, Lincoln Child, Ernest Cline, Nathan Garrison, Mat Johnson, Stephen King, Jessica Knoll, Douglas Lain, Mark Lawrence, Aidan Levy, Jason Matthews, Naomi Novik, Matthew Palmer, Ron Perlman, Alexandra Petri, Loren Rhoads, Christopher Robinson, Neal Stephenson, Corey Taylor Continue reading →