Book Review:" Diary Of a Small Fish" By Pete Morin

 Blurb:

When Paul Forte is indicted by a federal grand jury, everyone suspects prosecutor Bernard (don’t call him “Bernie”) Kilroy has more on his mind than justice. Then the FBI agent in charge of Paul’s case gives him a clue to the mystery: Kilroy is bent on settling an old family score, and he’s not above breaking the law to do it.

Paul is already dealing with the death of his parents and divorce from a woman he still loves. Now, with the support of an alluring grand juror, Paul must expose the vindictive prosecutor’s own corruption before the jury renders a verdict on his Osso Buco.

Book Review: Diary Of a Small Fish by Pete Morin

Author, Peter B Morin has written an outstanding debut novel.

Irrespective of your nationality or familiarity with the laws of the United States of America, this author writes in such a way that it is clearly understood.  His professionalism is clear in every wonderful court sequence.

The character of Paul Forte is such that you just cannot help liking the guy.  His wicked humor, ability to laugh at himself and his touch of innocence in a non-innocent environment has you caring what the hell happens to the him.

 Hell erupting into this guy’s life is pretty much what happens.

 He has an addiction that is not fatal, but it is an addiction; albeit one that most folks seem to understand…what is it?  Golf …he has a handicap to die for on the best golf courses the U S of A has to offer.

Hyannisport  anyone?

Paul Forte is being hunted; he may be a small fish, but a sufficiently interesting fish to be subpoenaed to appear before a Grand Jury.

  

Assistant U.S Attorney Bernard ( don’t ever call him Bernie) Kilroy has his sights set on the coveted position of Attorney General of The United States of America…he wants exposure, he will do anything he has to do to get it.  Is he also motivated by something far less altruistic?

The author allows us to smell the set up, yet this is not a predictable story, far from it.  This fast paced and clever work takes you to the most unexpected places…

The character of Paul Forte is not one dimensional..  He is capable of deep and abiding loyalty, his heart is able to be broken, and his love is yearning to be earned.  We share with him his abiding love for his father, his relentless loyalty to friends he believes in, and his sudden and unexpected love for a woman that completes his life.

Meet Shannon, a beautiful, quirky, lovable, odd ball.  A complex woman; a character crafted with skill and a depth of understanding into unresolved guilt that is moving and right on the money.

The technical aspects of the trial are beautifully handled.

The dialogue is rich and often darkly funny.

The willingness of good people to do what is right in a bad situation is attacked, and…

I will not spoil this for you. 

It is a damned fine read, fast paced, and at times intensely moving. 

A fine debut novel indeed.

I look forward to reading much more from this author.

Author Bio:

Pete Morin has been a trial attorney, a politician, a bureaucrat, a lobbyist, and a witness (voluntary and subpoenaed) to countless outrages. He combines them all in this debut novel.

Pete’s short fiction has appeared in NEEDLE, A Magazine of Noir, Words With Jam, 100 Stories for Haiti, and Words to Music. He published many of them in a collection titled Uneasy Living, available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When he is not writing crime fiction or legal mumbo jumbo, Pete plays blues guitar in Boston bars, enjoys the beach, food and wine with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two adult children, and on rare occasion, punches a fade wedge to a tight pin surrounded by sand or water. He lives in a money pit on the seacoast south of Boston, in an area once known as the Irish Riviera.

Pete is represented by Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency.

 Links to where you can purchase this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Small-Fish-ebook/dp/B005Q33C1K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317216686&sr=8-1

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91217

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1105969700?ean=2940013335851&itm=1&usri=diary%2bof%2ba%2bsmall%2bfish

__

Interview with Gerry McCullough author of "Belfast Girls" and a great deal more.

You were born and raised in Belfast, during very turbulent times. Can you share with us what is was like for you growing up in that time and place?



I’ve always loved Belfast. It’s my home city. But there’s no doubt that for a time, at the height of the troubles, it was no longer a good place to be. I remember incidents like being caught in the evacuation of a city centre area where a bomb had been left, seeing the clouds of smoke and hearing the noise of the explosion so close at hand. There were regular searches and checkpoints which were constant reminders of the risk of being there. There were tragic events, too, such as serious injuries to more than one of my friends. When I married, we moved out of the city, and I’ve always been glad that my children were able to grow up in a relatively safe environment.


When did you discover that writing was something you loved to do?


Do you know, I can’t even remember? Since I first learned to read, I’ve tried to write as well. It just seems to have been a basic instinct, to try to do something which gave me such pleasure when others did it.


What came first, poetry or prose?


Prose came first. I didn’t attempt to write poetry until I was in my teens, and then it was a very private process. But I wrote stories from early childhood, and made up plays for my friends and myself to act out as a regular game. At that time, I was happy to share what I’d written. Later I became very secretive about my prose writing, too, and would only show my stories to my close family.


Do you have a preference between them?


They fulfill different creative needs. My poems come mainly from a desire to create beauty by putting words together. My stories exist because I have the urge to create characters and to write about their lives. But having said that, the distinction isn’t always so clear cut. Some of my poems are about people; and I certainly want to use words to create effects in my prose as well as in my poetry.


You are married with grown children. Has this enabled you more time to dedicate to your writing, or were you able to write throughout raising the family with their support?


My family have always been very supportive, and having young children never stopped me from writing. In fact I had a useful built-in audience. The main difficulty was when I had a demanding full-time job after the children started school. It’s since I’ve been able to give it up my job and concentrate on my writing that I’ve been able to put in enough time to see some success.


What was your first published work?


My first published work, apart from a poem in a local paper and a number of articles in different magazines, was a short story which was accepted by the Irish weekly magazine Ireland’s Own. It was the first of my Tales of Old Seamus, about a lovable old rogue who isn’t too law abiding, but will do anything to help his friends. The magazine has been happy to publish these stories on a regular basis, and although they are much lighter than my other short stories, I always enjoy writing one, and have a specials affection for them.


Your husband Raymond is a talented singer/songwriter, have you combined your talents and produced things together that you would like to share?


There’s quite a long list. Some years ago, I worked with Raymond on the magazine Bread, which was sold all over Ireland, North and South. Raymond was editor and I was assistant editor. Raymond moved on to producing podcasts, running an internet radio, and producing a regular programme which is broadcast worldwide on satellite, and I’ve occasionally been involved in this, reading some news items, for instance, but mainly when he records one of my stories for podcasting. As far as the singing/songwriting goes, my only skill in this area is as a listener, so there he’s on his own.


You have had in excess of forty short stories published. Do you have a favourite? And if so why?


Of my lighter stories, two of the Old Seamus ones, The Parish Outing and The Cuckoo Clock, are my favourites. Both of them are, I think, particularly funny, and I also consider them better written. But they could be superseded at any moment, since I always, temporarily, think the story I’m currently writing is the best ever. Of my more serious stories, Dark Night, which has been published and has had some flattering things said of it, is one I particularly like, but so is Tigers, which I personally think is as good as anything I’ve ever written, but which has yet to find a publisher. Maybe some day!


Do you prefer to write short stories or novels? Or do they each fulfill the need to write in different ways?


A short story is easier because it’s short. A novel takes a lot more work. But I suppose my main desire has always been to write novels. Perhaps I write so many short stories because it’s the lazy way out. Both fulfill the creative urge which seizes me from time to time.

Belfast Girls is your first full length novel. What inspired you to write it?


I had written novels before - but this is the first published one, and gives me a marvelous sense of achievement! Growing up, as I did, during the troubles, I was very aware that all over the world there was a very simplistic view of what was happening in Northern Ireland, i.e. people seemed to believe that all Catholics thought one thing, and all Protestants thought something else, and that all Catholics hated all Protestants and vice versa.

I knew that wasn’t true. It was so much more complex than that.

Many on both sides of the divide were horrified at what was happening and only wanted peace and reconciliation. I wanted to write something to show, without lecturing, that ordinary people in Northern Ireland had no problem with each other - it was just a small percentage who were fighting.

By the time the book was finished, the troubles were over, so I rewrote it to reflect the same thing in the current climate. Of course, like any writer, I also just wanted to write a book, whatever it was about. And I wanted to create characters who had something of me in each of them, and write about them.


It has been very well received. How long did it take you to complete from word one to final manuscript?


I suppose the first version took me about six months. But then I edited and rewrote, and then rewrote it completely when I changed the date, and then went on editing. So the answer could be six months, or years and years, however you want to look at it.


In 2005 you won the Cuírt International Literary Award for 2005 (Galway); a very exciting event. Tell us about the winning entry, “Primroses”.


Did it change your life as far as publishing a story was concerned?


Primroses is a story about an elderly man, a widower, who is wrongly suspected by gossiping neighbours of being a pedophile, and of how he deals with this painful experience.


It wasn’t the first story I had published, but it was certainly the most important. When I heard I had won such a prestigious literary competition, I thought I had it made. Everyone would want to publish everything I had written from now on, and I could consider myself a successful, established author. Alas, I soon found out that that wasn’t how it was. The rejections kept coming. But then, so did the occasional acceptance. I had so much more confidence in my writing, and that was a major difference. It helped me to plough on, believing that since I had had this success, I would have others. It’s really just a question of keeping on keeping on, isn’t it?

This is what the judge Helon Habila had to say about "Primroses'

The Cuírt prize was judged by celebrated Nigerian writer, Helon Habila, who had this to say about the winning entry:



I choose Gerry McCullough’s ‘Primroses’ as winner because it is a simple and well judged story about very difficult themes: courage, paedophilia, and growing old. The author has managed to truly inhabit [her] narrator, to use his voice, and to clearly see his point of view – these make the story so convincing that the reader is not aware how difficult it is to achieve.


Age and the passage of time are shown in the change in the landscape, in the ugly square houses that have sprouted to replace the beautiful flower gardens of the narrator’s youth. The relationship between the narrator and the little girl, Jacqueline, is used to recapture the relationship between the narrator and his dead wife: youth and age, present and past are thus simultaneously captured in a single frame.


The narrator refuses to back down from his purely innocent relationship with Jacqueline even at the risk of being seen as a paedophile, this takes courage. Finally the story is about flowers – primroses – those beautiful, non-utilitarian things that symbolise the brittleness of existence, the fine balance on which everything rests, transience, and trust."



You have won and been short listed for a number of other awards, share that with us?


I won the Cuirt with Primroses in 2005. In 2006 I was runner-up in the Ireland’s Own/Original Writing Open Short Story competition, for The Cuckoo Clock. In 2008 I was short-listed in the Brian Moore Short Story Awards, for Stevie’s Luck. In Spring 2009 I won the Star Prize in Ulla’s Nib, the Magazine of the Creative Writers’ Network, for Slipping, and in September 2009 my story Giving Up was commended in the Sean O’Faolain Short Story Competition and selected to be included in the Stinging Fly Anthology, Sharp Sticks and Driven Nails, published in October 2010. This has all been very encouraging. A bit of success now and then is a great help!




You have two more completed novels

 “Lady Molly and the Snapper”

Brother and sister Jik and Nora are bored and angry. Why does their Dad spend so much time since their mother’s death drinking and ignoring them?

Then they meet the Snapper, a cross looking saint with a sailor’s cap, who takes them back in time on the yacht Lady Molly to meet Cucholain the Irish warrior and others.

Jik and Nora plan to use their travels to find some way of stopping their father from drinking - but it’s fun, too!

Or is it? When they meet the Druid priest who follows them into modern times, teams up with school bully Charlie Flanagan, and threatens them, things start getting out of hand.

Meanwhile, Nora is more than interested in Sean, the boy they keep bumping into in the past…

“Not The End of the World.”

It’s the end of the world! Or is it? Merc Swingly, young, naive employee of the seven multi-national companies running the planet Luxuria, is sent back, after a scary dream, to save the planet. He has to contend with his crocodile-smiling boss, Flacker Winterbotham; the terrorist organisation, the Twisted Rosebud; and the Twisted Rosebud’s unknown leader.


But he has help - his smart, tough wife, Seraphina, his personal supernatural yuppie advisor, ‘Mr Brown’, Alexa, the feisty orphan, and the sexy Kyra Hotberthy – who may or may not be on his side!

Will Merc manage to carry out his mission?

If you can stop laughing long enough, you’ll find out!




Please share with us what they are about, and again what inspired you to write both of them?

Lady Molly is a children’s/YA story about time travel, in which the children go back to important eras in Ireland’s history. Not the End of the World is a comic fantasy novel (think Terry Pratchett with a touch of CS Lewis) set in the future. I wrote both of them because, as I think CS Lewis once said, they are the sort of books I want to read myself. I’m still hoping to have both of them published before too long.


Do you currently have a new work in progress?

Yes, while Belfast Girls was still looking for a publisher, I began a follow up book of the same type, although with different characters, and had worked up to halfway through when my agent suggested I should go on Authonomy. Since then I’ve hardly had time to breathe!


You made the Editors desk on Authonomy the Harper Collins site. That in itself is an awesome feat. How did you find the Authonomy experience?

Weird, wonderful and both physically and emotionally exhausting! Some really good things came out of it for me. I would never have heard of my present publishers, Night Publishing, if it had not been for my Authonomy friends and contacts, so I have to be very grateful for that. Besides, it has opened several doors in terms of publicity, getting my name known, etc, so that has to be a good thing.


Would you recommend Authonomy to other writers for gathering feedback on their work?

I went on Authonomy on the advice of my agent, Bill Jeffrey of the Wordsmith’s Forge, and I certainly gained from it. It’s good to have had my book reviewed by experts like Harper Collins, even if I don’t accept all their advice. They felt I should change my approach to make the book genre specific, either romance or thriller.

 But I believe a writer should be free to write about life in all its aspects. I now know that I could have had good feedback, and been published, if I had gone on Night Publishing earlier. Authonomy has a lot to offer, but I would only recommend it to anyone if they have the stamina for a long haul! I spent six months working long days every day, with practically no breaks, on the site. The changes they have recently made may mean that isn’t so necessary now, but I take leave to doubt it!


The world of publishing is undergoing enormous change, where do you see it heading?

Undoubtedly, as more and more people buy Kindles, iPads, etc, the eBook is going to become more and more natural and normal. A dozen years ago, few people used the internet. Now those who don’t are becoming the exceptions. I think people who don’t have eBook readers will be the exceptions twenty years from now.


Your work is available on Kindle, yet many people still come to your book signings and readings, do you believe the paperback novel will survive the new innovation of eBooks?

Yes, I think there will always be people (including myself) who will want to read an actual paperback or even hardback book. I have a collection of books, bought over the years, which I know will never be available on Kindle because they are not classics or best sellers, but which I really love, and reread. Many of these I have had to buy second hand because they are out of print. The eBook reader can never replace these. I would see the place of eBooks as an addition to paperbacks, not a replacement.


What are you plans personally and professionally for the next 12 months?

To try to publicise Belfast Girls as much as possible. To finish my follow-up book. And to try to get some rest!


Do you have a special place where you sit and write?

Yes, when our children moved out, we transformed two of the bedrooms into offices, one for my husband Raymond and one for myself. I need to be on my own if I’m going to write. I’m not one of these multi-tasking women you hear about who can chat and write and cook a four course meal all at the same time. When I write, I need to be able to concentrate.

 I aim to write at least a thousand words a day, and having a special place to go into for that purpose helps to get me started. I used, years ago, to write in an old notebook on my knee, curled up in an armchair. But then it all had to be typed. Nowadays I write my first draft straight onto the computer, and of course that’s so much easier. Have I already mentioned that I’m lazy? Anything that makes life easier is a blessing!

REVIEWS ON BELFAST GIRLS:

By Jessica L. Degarmo - This review is from: Belfast Girls (Paperback)

Not only is this book an entertaining read, it's also an important look at the life and times of young women in Ireland. This book has a depth to it that adds to its believability. The issues of religious struggle, coming of age, and high fashion are expertly woven into the plot so that we care about the characters. The author has done an amazing job with this work, and it deserves to go far. Hats off to Ms. McCullough!

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfully written!
By Mel Comley (France) - This review is from: Belfast Girls (Paperback)I loved this book. The characters were believable and as a reader I felt connected with them straight away.

Also loved the fact the book takes place in Ireland it's a place I've always enjoyed reading about but never had the fortune of vistiting.

An intelligent read that has been wonderfully written.

You won't be sorry if you buy this stunning novel.



5.0 out of 5 stars Troubles of a different sort, December 1, 2010

By T. Hewtson LE ROUX - This review is from: Belfast Girls (Paperback)

I suppose it is true of most places that are covered in the news daily for years; when the story is over, we rarely hear what happens next.

In the case of Northern Ireland, the violence of the IRA and the UDA has been taken up by drug gangs (a bit like the former KGB still controls Russia, but in another form).

I certainly hadn't associated Belfast with the fashion industry. I hold my breath for when Belfast fashions arrive in Hull.

'Belfast Girls' is an excellent street-level briefing on Northern Ireland in the Troubles and post-Troubles era, seen through the eyes of three girls who are schoolfriends. One gets directly into drugs and ODs, another gets into someone who is an opo for a drugs syndicate, and the third gets into fashion which is also a drug in its way.

The supermodel among them, Sheila has probably the most comprehensively irritating boyfriend in the history of fiction - an update to Jane Austen's Darcy whose appeal I have never understood - a portrait which is not only accurate of a certain sort of man, but also emblematic of the political and religious prejudices that have blighted Northern Ireland. It is fascinating how Gerry McCullough can make a 'righteous' character appear generally more low-life than Phil's drug dealer boyfriend who may indeed be the more principled of the two leading males, until the self-righteous John redeems himself.

In short, the streets of Belfast remain as dark as the front cover, but the writing is both educational and compelling.

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a MUST read., November 28, 2010By Soooz Burke -

This review is from: Belfast Girls (Paperback)

Author Gerry McCullough has not merely written a book. She has lovingly crafted a work that insinuates itself into your soul.

The world of the 'Belfast Girls' is life in Northern Island as it is today, a contemporary world steeped in ancient traditions.

Gerry McCullough has given life to her characters, they live and breath, laugh, hope, cry and dare to dream.

You cannot help but become connected with them, such is the nature of the book and the skilled hand of a craftsman or in ths case craftswoman at work. She lures you into their world and you are there with them, feeling their pain and sharing their joys.

The pacing is fast, the characterizations are truly memorable. Be aware...this book is un-put-down-able, so allow the time to enjoy it in one sitting.

Bravo Gerry McCullough, you have crafted a book that will endure.



5.0 out of 5 stars Booker Prize Contender, December 9, 2010) This review is from: Belfast Girls (Paperback)

I can't help quoting this amazing article! Teresa Geering says, " I have just finished reviewing Belfast Girls and I sincerely believe it has the potential to be shortlisted for the 2011 Booker Prize.

Belfast Girls is primarily about the lives of several friends, totally unaffected by different religious beliefs which is considered against all the rules.

As we move through the years, the writing expertise of Gerry McCullough, cleverly shows us how lives can be so deeply affected by religious and political issues of the Irish nation. Yet strength of friendship can still maintain and provide solidarity.

The story begins within the fashion world, and we learn that Sheila Doherty has survived the gangly carrot top teenage years and matured into a beautiful, green eyed, red haired super model walking the famous cat walk.

Nicknamed the Ice Maiden through indifferences in her personal life she contentedly lives up to the image.

Her friends pass through her life at various stages, including her original love interest John Branagh a reporter with BBC TV. Will they ever get together I kept asking myself?

We watch with bated breath, as drug gangs intent on holding their territory to the extent of murder are introduced into the story. Close friends from childhood, each following their own political viewpoint.

As we move on to the closing chapters, we observe Shelia Doherty now an international star walking the famous cat walk for Delmara Fashions. Suddenly hooded gunmen break in and in the mayhem Shelia is kidnapped due to mistaken identity ..............

BELFAST GIRLS for me has been an absolute pleasure to review. This is a story that held my interest from beginning to the unexpected ending.

Like many other readers of BELFAST GIRLS, I would certainly recommend it as a 5 star read.

A serious contender for the 2011 BOOKER PRIZE"


5.0 out of 5 stars Get Ready For A Wild Ride!, January 9, 2011

A Kid's ReviewThis review is from: Belfast Girls (Paperback)

From the very first paragraph author Gerry McCullough "abducted" this reader. She forced me into a car and took me down the dark, icy, uncertain streets of Belfast. I had no choice in the matter. All I could do was clutch the armrest and go for the ride.

I'd never had the opportunity to visit Northern Ireland's capital city until this book transported me there. Not only is the imagery cinematic, but you can also touch, smell, feel, and hear Belfast during some of its most trying times. As for the characters and their dilemmas...well...just read the first few pages.

It's no surprise this book has done so well since its recent release.

Thomas J. Winton

author - Beyond Nostalgia




Time to plug your sites:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belfast-Girls/dp/B004DNWS3W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295033707&sr=1-1 


http://nightreading.ning.com/profiles/blogs/belfast-girls


http://gerrymccullough.podomatic.com/ (Podcasts of my 'Old Seamus" short stories, published in Ireland's Own; and one of Actress Kate O'Toole reading Primroses, the Cuirt prize winner.)http://www.facebook.com/gerry.mccullough


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerry-McCullough-Irish-writer-poet/158344784181619

Interview with Sessha Batto author of" Shinobi "and a great deal more.

Welcome, Sessha and thanks for joining me.



Thanks so much for having me. I really appreciate this opportunity.


I like to begin by getting a geographical location, where were you born and raised?


I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I spent my first six years in an orphanage there before being adopted by a couple in America and moving to Detroit.


Where do you live now?


Currently I'm living in Baltimore, on the east coast of the US.


Are you in a relationship?


I've been married for twenty years, and lived with my husband for ten years before that.


You write with such a deep insight into Eastern culture. Have you ever visited Japan?


Not yet, although I've promised my teenage son a trip to Japan when he graduates from high school. It's actually been on my list of places to visit for many many years, but finances and opportunity have never coincided.


Were you always interested in writing?


I've always been interested in reading, and in making up stories and people. It's only recently that I began actually writing those stories down.


When did you write your first story and what was it about?


Well, when I was four I wrote my own illustrated book, Obediah the Panda, about a giant panda visiting the city for the first time. However, my first attempt at serious writing was two years ago.


I read in a response to a different question elsewhere that you were a very shy and bookish child, is that correct?


I was always the one sitting on the very edge of the playground with my nose in a book. I learned to read at three, and from that moment forward, books were my refuge. For years I read a book every day, and even now I still read three or four books a week.


Did you exclude yourself from groups of people as a result of the shyness?


I don't think I excluded myself particularly, but I didn't fit in, and as I grew older I really stopped trying. I always liked myself the way I was, I had no desire to change to fit other people's expectations.

Your book “Shinobi” is based on the ancient Japanese culture of the Samurai, and includes homoerotica. When did you make a decision to write in this genre?


My first introduction to the genre was actually by accident. I was looking for anime for my son on-line and stumbled on a fanfiction site. I started reading and realized, much to my surprise, that most of the stories were nothing but sexual encounters between the characters. I've never been particularly interested in traditional male/female erotica, but I found the male/male scenes much hotter and more compelling than I expected. Fast forward several years to find me unemployed for a year and bored out of my skull. Since I had no money to buy books I thought, why not try to write a book I'd like to read? So I decided to see if I could write a homoerotic story that was more than just an excuse for a series of sexual encounters. Thirty days later I had a completed first draft and I never looked back.


The book has received marvelous feedback on a couple of writing sites which I’ll include further on in the interview, for now can you tell us of any negative responses you received and how you were affected by them?


There have been plenty of negative responses, I assure you. I've been accused of perversion, lying about being female and sins against god and my fellow man since, unfortunately, there are still many many people who are offended by homosexuality. Add to that the fact that the subject matter is dark, and it can provoke very strong reactions. I have to say though, I am surprised at how few bad reviews there are, although perhaps that speaks more to 'if you have nothing good to say remain silent' than to people's actual opinions. Like any other book, it isn't to everyone's taste.


You include heavy warning labels on your erotica, yet people still seem to be shocked when they read them why is that do you think?


I know a number of people started reading assuming the content wouldn't be as strong as the warnings implied . . . they were, of course, mistaken. I always feel bad in those situations, I certainly don't want to expose anyone to anything upsetting. At the same time, I don't have much patience for people who ignore warnings and then get upset. About half of the people who complain seem to be more upset by the fact that they found it arousing. Since that is the intent, I feel good about it, even when the review is negative.


How long did “Shinobi” take to write from word 1 till final edit?


Shinobi took three months to write, another six to edit into two finished volumes and half of a third.


You have 5 other books. Listed below. Which of them is your favorite and why?

I will always love Shinobi, but at the moment I'm really enjoying working on a pair of unfinished works In the Desert of the Porcupines which is proving to be emotionally exhausting, as it explores the pain/pleasure continuum and Onna Bugeisha, which is the first book I've attempted with a major female character.


You are an artist in many senses of the word, creating marvelous book covers for others and movie trailers for other peoples work. I have personally benefited from this immense talent. Tell us more about this side of your work. Do you take on requests for covers and trailers and if so where can you be reached for a quote on costs?


I spent 25 years working as a video editor and motion graphics artist, so in many ways that is my real work, I suppose. It was only natural that I extended my skills to creating covers and trailers for my own books. In fact, one of the first things I do is create a cover, it helps me 'set' my vision for the piece.

I also do covers and trailers for Pfoxmoor Publishing and a few friends. I'm always interested in talking with people about their needs. The easiest way to get in touch is to send an e-mail to sessha@sesshabattousai.com.  You can also tweet me @SesshaBatto.


Where can people interested in your artistry see your work on display.


The covers and trailers I've created for myself as well as some of my favorites that I've done for other people are posted on my website http://sesshabattousai.com/.

Just check the book covers and trailer pages.

Back to the writing, tell us about the serial Blacksmith?


Blacksmith is an interesting project. I had originally planned it as a novel, but once I started I realized that it would also work nicely as an on-going project to run on my website as an extra for my readers. I've done a few serial fanfictions and really enjoyed the feedback I got on each chapter as I went. Just letting the story unfold as I go means I can tweak the direction the plot takes to tailor it to what the readers want to see happen.


Do you intend writing more of these?


One at a time is enough. I will probably always have some sort of serial project going somewhere though. It's a great way to really get the kind of in-depth reader feedback that helps me plug into what the audience will really enjoy, and to add twists to keep them on their toes.


You also run a weekly contest on Authors On Show. How did that come to be?


Lorraine Holly, the mastermind behind Authors on Show, was looking for ideas to drive traffic to the site. I suggested they run a weekly flash fiction contest after seeing how popular they were. The next thing I knew, I was posting prompts.


Do you discipline yourself with a set amount of time for each project?


Not really. My biggest downfall is having too many projects going at once. I need to concentrate on finishing one before starting the next to work most efficiently. But, when a great idea floods your brain, it's hard to ignore the urge to put it on paper.


Are your family supportive?


My family is amazingly supportive, especially since I've committed to writing pretty much full time over the last two years.


Where do you see yourself both professionally and personally in the next 12 months?


Of course, I would love for this to be the year where my books take off, that's every writer's dream. My goals for the year are simpler: to finish the re-edit on my first book Strength of Will in preparation for its re-release, find a publisher for Shinobi and finish Onna Bugeisha.


Have you written in other genres?


No, not really. I love my genre, I'd much rather introduce it to a wider market. My goal is to, eventually, bring homoerotic stories to a mainstream audience.


Do you find a large publishing market for erotica exists?


There are a huge number of small and midsize presses feeding a large and steadily growing market of avid readers. What surprises me is that the major publishers aren't making more of an effort to tap into this burgeoning market, especially in the face of declining sales in general.


Your books are crafted, not simple words forming sentences, how much research have you done into Japanese culture to weave such a convincing work?


None, really. At least, not for the books in particular. My interest in Japanese culture goes back 35 years and has progressed hand in hand with my studies of battojutso and Buddhism. At this point I feel more comfortable with portraying that culture than my own, I've certainly assimilated it more thoroughly.


I found myself hearing a Japanese accent as I read, the dialogue is so convincing…how difficult is it to maintain?


Before I start writing I have an extremely clear vision of my characters, which makes their voice easy to maintain. I can hear them speaking in my head, I just mimic the speech patterns on paper.


Time to promote your sites:

http://sesshabttousai.com/ is my main website.

It includes excerpts from and links to all the other places to read my work as well as links to covers, trailers and my blog. It is the single best way to see it all in one place.

Shinobi is also available to read/comment on at both authonomy http://www.authonomy.com/books/14506/shinobi/read-book/#chapter

Reviews on Shinobi:

Hi Sessha From the opening chapter you capture the reader with the complex character of Yoshi and the ruthless Takahashi Clan. Your descriptive style is excellent, as I could visualise Yoshi both as a six year old and as a man - toned, skilled and beautiful, with an etheral quality. This book makes stark reading, but you intend it to. Every reader will have their own interpretation, depending on their life experiences and knowledge. As a mother, I reacted to Yoshi's treatment as a mother might and I felt devastated. At 35 he should have goals within his grasp, but he is driven by duty. "My own desires are unimportant" "When I am no longer needed perhaps" I could have been watching from a city apartment as this lithe sprit summons a pack of wolves and it seemed appropriate - completely believable in the setting you have created. You bring the 'background' to the reader before you introduce Sasaki and although he is depicted as ruthless and cruel, his life mirrors Yoshi's. He too is weary and bound by duty.

I am almost grateful when their paths become one - they need each other. Really good hooks at the end of the chapters, but I felt you didn't actually need them. It was compelling and disturbing enough to make me turn the pages regardless. Yoshi's vulnerability seems more pronounced after his encounter with Sasaki - he wavers and I could feel his uncertainty. This man/boy has only one friend, but from chapter three, he may as well have none. You write with such precision that despite the graphic horror unfolding before me, there was a beauty to your words. Not one sentence is wasted and I want to change Yoshi's life as I am reading. Great intrigue as the heads of clans meet with Sasaki - he takes a brave step in asking Rin to be removed and finally there is a glimmer of hope that Yoshi will be rescued. By this time I am desperate to stop reading, but of course it is too late - you know your craft well and capturing attention is effortless for you.

 When Yoshi rebels my admiration for him grows even more, but he is rewarded only with self loathing. His loyalty to his clan. Healed and defiled, healed and broken - what life is this? I was quite 'upset', 'moved' by the sheer depths of depravity and the cruelty inflicted on others - but again, this is what you intended. The fact that you can hold a reader in the palm of your hand is surely a testimony to your skill. The use of dialogue is excellent - easy to follow and realistic to the storyline. So whilst I found the actual content extremely shocking, I have to rate your book as excellent. It will be interesting to read your other comments to see if others were as affected - I suspect they were. absolutely best of luck with this. Hatts Comment from Hatts - 09/05/2010 10:23:58

SHINOBI Sessha Batto I started reading Shinobi in spite of your disclaimer of the content. I am one of those who will do that even though I don't have a desire for erotica. However, I looked at the setting and the atmosphere. I've always been fascinated with what may hide beneath the surface of such pristine and disciplined people.

Then I looked at the characters, sympathizing with their humanity in spite of the paths they walk. Usually, the story is everything when I am reading. In this work of art, I was more grounded in the meticulous style of your writing. I could almost see you sitting on a bamboo mat with a pot of ink and a brush making Kanji symbols on rice paper to tell this story.

It has a ring of authenticity that slices through ordinary fiction. You wield your blade with great skill. This is so well crafted the only advice I can give you is never store your shurikens in your shorts. Thank you for your backing of A King in Time. From you that means a lot. Mary Enck
Comment from Sharahzade - 06/05/2010 22:05:52


I am familiar with (and a fan of) this genre, and I can say quite honestly that it is rare to find something quite so engaging, well written and ultimately satisfying as Shinobi. Right from the start the characterisation is deep, complex and doesn’t rely on stereotypes; Yoshi’s strength comes through despite the fact he is initially the victim, Makoto’s vulnerability is evident despite his job and Daisuke’s innocence and youth even though he becomes Kage, and the exploration of the erotic and romantic relationships between them and the other characters is wonderfully varied and in places quite beautiful.

Chapter 3 in particular is fearless, the hurt part of the hurt/comfort theme done graphically but not gratuitously, and Yoshi’s reluctant responses (and the build up of tension and trauma that causes) are very well realised. All credit for not backing down or softening that at all, but also for knowing exactly when to leave what is happening to the imagination of the reader, the worst only alluded to by the state of Yoshi when Makoto finally rescues him. The comfort part is exquisite, Yoshi not recognising Makoto to begin with is a lovely touch, and by the end of this arc I found myself completely drawn in and already rooting for a happy ending.

The introduction and portrayal of the other characters is also done well, they are strong and interesting enough in their own right to make the exploration of the other various pairings and erotic relationships possible and viable within the overall story. The plot itself is captivating and unpredictable, and the complex background world that the story is set in is vividly brought to life without bogging the story down with description. I thought that the end couple of chapters seem a bit thinner than the rest and could do with fleshing out a bit, but having started this a while ago and re-reading after the latest changes, I found the first 8 chapters are hugely improved, there is no confusion any more over who is who and no OOC dialogue.

Overall I thought this was fantastic, I will be keeping my fingers crossed that the rest will be available to read at some point. It deserves to do well, thank you for writing it!
Comment from Elle Lawliette - 13/03/2010 19:04:00


and slushpile reader http://www.slushpilereader.com/index.phpoption=com_manuscripts&view=book&id=186&Itemid=5option=com_manuscripts&view=book&id=186&Itemid=5

where it has been in the top twenty for the last several months.


Since excerpts of Shinobi and my other completed works are available on my website, I thought I'd give a sneak peek into one of my works in progress.

 Here, for your enjoyment, is the first chapter of In the Desert of the Porcupines. I hope everyone enjoys it.






WARNING TO ALL READERS: THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT CONTAINS HOMOEROTICA AND SHOULD BE VIEWED BY ADULTS ONLY.

Desert Dreams


He dreamt of the desert, endless expanses of emptiness, the hiss of the wind on the dunes like the insomniac porcupines in his attic, quills shshshing on the floorboards as they listlessly paced away the hours of the night. Thoughts spun in the glittering pinprick the world had closed down to. When the silken choke hold loosened, the sound of waves lapping on the desert shore deepened, thickened, into his lazy heartbeat, and the shshshing of grains of sand dancing in the taunting wind, and the quills of the porcupines skritching their way into his consciousness.


“That was very nice.” Master's praise was important and he nuzzled into the warm flesh as his body began its usual litany of complaints. But master was happy, so they were pushed to the back of his mind. An embarrassing near purr escaped his lips when that rich baritone once again addressed him. “Are you ready for more, pet?”


Truth be told, he was always ready for more. It was something master knew all too well, and the reason he found himself here. Before this, before Master and his carefully balanced games, he had almost died. No was a concept that eluded him, and the consequences had been horrific. Where everyone else saw a flaw to be exploited, master had seen the seeds of greatness.


He shifted slightly, relishing in the sticky warmth oozing down his legs, proof of Master's pleasure, proof of his devotion, proof of the bond they had forged outside of society's boundaries in the desert of the porcupines.


“Have you eaten?”


He turned and fixed his lover with a beatific grin. “Does Master wish me to eat?”


“Of course I wish you to eat. If you don't you will grow thin and pale. That would not please me.” The handsome face grew stern, thin lips quirking downward ever so slightly. “You are mine. I will not allow anyone to harm what I have claimed, even you.”


“Yes, Master.” The reverently purred response seemed to mollify his owner. He was proud to have such a generous and caring master, grateful for the heavy collar that strong hands were once more fastening around his neck.


The supple leather band was thick and wide, just tight enough to serve as a reminder that Master controlled even the air that he breathed. His thoughts slipped back to the first time those hands had touched his throat, long fingers brushing over fading bruises in a near caress.


Master had paid dearly for him. Too much, really. He was, after all, scarred, bruised and most assuredly broken. He tried to remember a time before he had made friends with pain, but thinking just confused him. As always, too many related memories swirled up at once, the hidden curse of an eiditic memory. At least, in this, the choice was easy.


Such a familiar scene, silver blade, red blood. Just the thought slowed the panic threatening to claw its way out through his skin. Rooting him, once again, firmly in the world. He studied the landscape of his inner arms, intricate crosshatched scars that seemed to shift in the low light, turning and twisting like an M.C. Escher etching.


“I will be very angry if you hurt yourself.”


“I don't need to,” he murmured, eyes never even flicking up as he traced the intricate patterns with a calloused fingertip. No explanation was given or expected. In this, as in all else, Master's wishes were law. Besides, why disobey Master? He, alone, understood what was needed, balancing the pain with pleasure, and never, ever, going too far.


The first time had been an accident, the ragged slice welling crimson until it gained critical mass, sliding in a bright, glittering stream down the pale flesh to drip, unheeded. He bent to suck at the wound, the sharp sting of pain and the taste of copper flooding his mouth, clearing his mind of the traitorous thoughts threatening to topple it.


Before long it had grown into an elaborate ritual, his favorite silver blade cleaned and prepared as every cell in his body began to thrum under the pressure. The sight of his skin parting in its dancing wake blurred the cacophony of competing thoughts, granting him a few moments peace. First the right arm. Five cuts, no more, no less. The left arm was trickier, it took years to train his weaker hand to the precision required.


When the scars became too interwoven he moved to his thighs. The deeper, sharper pain proved even more addictive, and all too soon the traces of his escape wound their way over every inch of skin easily hidden from prying eyes.


His scars are what caught the eye of his first master. Out of school, and firmly ensconced in the working world, he could no longer disappear inside an oversized sweatshirt. He wasn't aware of the way his cuff rode up, exposing his secret to the world. But he couldn't help but notice the way he was pushed up against the wall, the boss's thigh between his legs and a firm hand on his throat. The relieved acceptance that rushed through him at that moment was the closest he'd come yet to the bliss of his secret addiction.


“What are you thinking about?” Master's stern voice pulled him back from the wasteland of his memories.


“How much I adore you, Master.”


His lover laughed, a warm, husky sound that sent electric pulses dancing over his synapses. Then he found himself lifted to sit astride the welcoming lap, strong arms wrapping tightly around his chest to pull him close. The feel of the thick shaft inching its way inside him as he was pulled down to sit flush grounded him in the present, forcing his traitorous mind to concentrate solely on the sensation.


An index finger looped through the ring on his collar, pulling his head back to rest on master's shoulder. “Who do you belong to?”


“Only you, Master.”


“I'm not sure I believe you. I think you need to show me.”


His eyes popped open, locking briefly with Master's intense grey before slamming shut again. A nervous tongue flicked out to lick at his suddenly dry lips.


“Did you just look at me?” The amused tone did nothing to put him at ease. A rule had been broken, now he would be punished. Master couldn't afford to go easy on him, he was willful and needed a firm hand.


“I'm waiting for an answer.” Master's voice was firmer now, but not harsh, never harsh.


“I'm sorry, Master.” He hung his head, thoroughly ashamed by his own lack of obedience. Such a simple rule. One of the very first he'd been taught, and he still couldn't get it right.


“You're thinking when you should be trying to get back into my good graces.”


Distraction bled away, his thoughts blurring into the soft susurration of his desert, all his power and energy focused, like lightning, on this one man, this one moment. The tapestry of scars decorating his thighs came alive as muscles bunched and he slowly slid upwards, hovering for a long moment before dropping hard into Master's lap.


Fingers twisted in his collar, stopping the flow of air into his lungs. “You can do better than that, pet.”


Pinpricks of light in the darkness. The scratching of quills on a hardwood floor. He was alone in the desert of his mind, the tiny sips of air Master allowed him only enough to fuel his body, leaving his perception in the calm eye at the center of the raging sands. It was only in these moments of perfect clarity that he was ever, truly, at peace. This was Master's gift, the reason for his devotion, the chance to let go of his control and just experience, without his convoluted thoughts getting in the way.


The collar loosened imperceptibly, chapped lips parting, body struggling to fill the void his lungs had become. “I love you, Master.”


“Then why do you disobey me?”


Again the slightest loosening of the band around his throat. “Because you spoil me, Master. I need punishment.”


“No, you want punishment. You're manipulative, boy, and willful. I don't know why I bother with you.”


“No, don't say that, Master.”


He found himself being lifted up and away from the warm lap, and his mind wailed at the emptiness that filled him when that thick length retreated. Then he was dumped unceremoniously on the floor. “Perhaps I'll wait until you can behave.”


“Master, please, I'm sorry.” His tears wet the floor where he lay, but Master steadfastly ignored his pleas.


He shivered and shook on the cold floor, knowing better than to turn and look at the man who ruled his world. When a hand fisted in his hair and pulled, though, he couldn't stop the smile that tugged at his lips. “Proud of your disobedience?” Master dragged him across the room, yanking first one arm, then the other, over his head and clipping the cuffs on his wrists to the hook on the wall. “How many strokes have you earned?”


“Ten for looking without permission and ten for talking back, Master.” The muscles in his back fluttered, tensing and relaxing in waves as he tried to anticipate where the first blow would fall.


“Keep the count. If you lose your place we'll start again.”


He tensed slightly, preparing himself for the first impact. The crack of the strap on his inner thigh caught him off guard, and he barely managed to squeak out his response. “One, thank you, Master. I love you, Master.”


Time and again, the lash seemed to somehow find the place he least expected and send a trail of fire licking across his skin.


“Seventeen, Master. Thank you for my punishment, Master.” The words came automatically, his voice calmer and more certain with each count. When he shut his eyes he could see the porcupines frantically racing to nowhere while their quills bounced and rattled. The steady hiss blotted out the fears and doubts that had plagued him. How foolish to doubt Master, who always knew what he needed.


“Feeling better?”


“Yes, Master. Thank you for your correction.”


Master didn't answer, carefully freeing his slave's hands before scooping him into his arms. “Enough for now. Let me get you cleaned up.” Long legs carried them into the bathroom while he stayed curled up against Master's chest.


His hair was washed, blunt nails scratching against his scalp before his eyes were shielded and it was carefully rinsed. His body was washed next, gentle hands lingering on the marks of his punishment, stroking and pinching before a wet tongue soothed the sting.


He remained unresponsive as he was dried and his teeth brushed, concentrating on the shshshing the atoms of his body made as they raced endlessly to nowhere. Dark eyes blinked in surprise as he was slipped between silken sheets.


“You please me very much, boy. You'll sleep in my bed tonight.”


“Thank you, Master. I love you, Master.”


He knew this was Master's favorite time, although he tried not to let it show, pride could lose him his hard won place. He looked his best like this, warmly pliant from their play, his satiny skin enticing in the flickering light, like a rich damask, the scarred ridges giving shape to the whole. Strong hands ran down a twitching flank, spreading muscular cheeks to gaze at the rosy pucker.


“Gods, how you tempt me.” He barely heard Master's muttered complaint. Every hair on his body stood on end when that thick cock pushed inside, filling him beyond the point of words.


Then Master's mouth was on his neck, nipping and sucking as he pounded into his willing body. A calloused hand wrapped around his hardening cock, plucking at the thick rings adorning the head before smoothing down the silky flesh, twisting the barbells studding the underside.


And he could only sigh and press back, opening himself totally to this most intimate assault. “Pinch your nipples for me.” Master's command had him twisting the heavy gold rings until they throbbed. A sharp line of pain stitched together his excitement, from neck to nipples to cock to anus, binding him as surely as any shackle.


“What do you have to say for yourself, boy?”


“Fuck me harder, please, Master.”


“Any harder and you'll be able to taste me.” Despite Master's protest he sped up the pace, roughly twisting and folding his lanky lover to achieve the deepest possible penetration.


“Please, please, may I come, Master? I'm so hard for you.”


“Not until I give you permission. Do you need your training repeated, boy?”


“No, Master.” Dark hair stuck to his cheek as his shook his head in vigorous denial.


“Are you sure?” The conversational tone was at odds with the hard thrusts steadily targeting his prostate.


“Yes, Master. Anything that pleases you, Master.”


The hands wrapping around his throat left him struggling not to come. He could feel his heart beat in his cock, see the tiny droplets splatter from the tip as the world slowed down to a crawl around him. He twisted and jerked when the hot jet of cum hit his prostate, crying out soundlessly as the world greyed out around him.


“Come for me, boy.”


The whispered command had him screaming his adoration, thrashing spastically as his seed shot over his chest and his oxygen starved brain tried to decipher which way the world was turning. “Thank you, Master.”


“Clean up your mess. Then thank me properly.”


He gratefully bent to suckle the salty trickles off Master's skin, dropping his head to swallow the soft cock and balls, laving them thoroughly with his tongue before reluctantly moving on.


“That's enough. Now get some sleep.”


“Thank you, Master.” He shut his eyes and almost immediately drifted off, unaware of the confusion now painting his lover's face. Content in the peace he had once again found, however brief the respite might be.


                                                       ***********


THE TRAILER BELOW IS FROM MY OWN BIOGRAPHY 'EMPTY CHAIRS' WRITTEN UNDER MY PEN NAME OF STACEY DANSON. IT WILL BE RELEASED BY NIGHT PUBLISHING IN FEBRUARY 2011
The Trailer was created by Sessha Battou