Summer Reads Blog Tour – Week Eleven
Sophie Tallis
I’m beginning to wonder where all the time has gone, I mean eleven weeks have already slipped by in this Summer Reads Blog Tour. Where has the summer gone?
I sure hope you’ve been enjoying the Summer Reads Blog as much as I have with meeting all these new faces and new reads. We’ve just got two more weeks left and I’ve saved the best for last. Let’s welcome Sophie Tallis and her books along with her recommended reads.
A Bristol born gal, I grew up in a sleepy village, dreaming of dragons and wild adventures. I haven’t grown up much and sincerely hope I never do. I live in the Cotswolds with my family, two enormous white wolves, two even bigger Alaskan Malamutes and a load of wild ducks who basically run the place! I was a full-time teacher, dulling young minds…ahem…I mean inspiring young children for the past 16 years and am now a librarian, a dream job being surrounded by books all day!
Although I primarily write epic fantasy, I enjoy most genres and love science-fiction, classics and contemporary literary fiction. Basically I’m a sucker for any good story.
I’m a painter, artist and illustrator and have a BA (Hons) Degree in Fine Art, photography and sculpture and a Post-Grad in Education. But, my first passion has always been for writing stories and poetry, which I’ve done since I was a child.
Apart from writing, reading, drawing and painting, I am an avid film buff, love stargazing, playing chess and traveling (when I get the chance) and am passionate about nature and conservation. I’d describe myself as a lover of wild places and the written word.
I have a passion for ancient history, anthropology, African and Asian mythology, natural history, archaeology, astronomy, geology, world geography, Paleolithic civilization, art history, photography and of course fantasy and science-fiction! Did I mention that I’m a huge nerd?
White Mountain – Book 1 of the Darkling Chronicles
Amongst our modern world lies another, an archaic and hidden world of tradition, sorcery and magic. As dark demons awaken from our past, the last remaining wizards are being hunted and murdered by a changeling of terrifying strength. Attacked and drained of most of his powers, a dying sorcerer must race against time to save himself and the fate of all, from an enemy intent on cleansing the plant and destroying humanity…
Links:
Facebook Book Page: http://facebook.com/FantasyEpic
Publisher’s Websites: http://kristell-ink.com/ and http://www.grimboldbooks.com/
Sophie’s Goodread list in no particular order:
1) Behind the Hood by Marita Hensen – Having spent 4 glorious months in beautiful New Zealand, this broody and compelling book by fellow Authonomy writer, Marita Hensen, really hooked me in. It centers around a group of disillusioned Maori youths and you realize the power of broken dreams.
2) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro – I loved this book to my core. It reminded me of the wonderful melancholic sci-fi books of my youth like when I read Philip K. Dick’s ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’, Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’ and tones of Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. Mesmeric and stays with you for weeks after.
3) The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold – A gut-wrenching story, beautiful, scary and tragic. You really feel every dangerous step the young protagonist finds herself on. MUCH better than the film!
4) The Last Mask by Stephen Winterflood – Wickedly and unreservedly dark. This puts the bitter in bitter chocolate! A truly unique book that twists its readers with every turn of its decadent theatrical blade!
5) In Search of Gods and Heroes by Sammy HK Smith – although I’ve not finished reading this yet, I just HAD to include this (lol, and not because she is my publisher – it’s just very VERY good!).
6) Vortex by Lindsey J Parsons – I LOVED this book and I’m not a big reader of the paranormal genre, but this was a delight from beginning to end. I found myself wishing I was Sam, the main protagonist as she begins to uncover another world within our own and her own part in it, and finds love in the most unexpected place.
The deployment of Professor Farnsworth is to celebrate the fact that the Grimbold Kickstarter is over 50% funded with 32 days to go – thank you to everyone who has generously made pledges so far, you’re all awesome. If you haven’t been able to support us yet, well that’s fine too, but if you can find it in your heart to spare a quid or two that would be lovely. Every pound brings us closer to the total and it really does make a difference.
Sophie E Tallis - Author/Illustrator 