The Celwyn Newsletter Issue 25

In this issue, interviews with:

• Taggart Rhenn, Canadian bookworm and speculative fiction author
• Ken Mora, graphic novelist and screenwriter
• Naching Kassa, mystery writer
• And part 2 of an interview by Mark Barsotti of science fiction writer Paul Di Filippo.
• Editor Jennie Rosenbloom’s article Marketing, the Hardest Part
• Gina Rae Mitchell’s article How Bookshop.org Works

Celwyn’s Cats

Interview with Taggart Rhenn

Hunting down a demon from the stars … an alien world … Meanwhile, would they go back to save their loved ones and risk the End of Days, or finish their mission, hoping Kemet can survive just a little bit longer?

Balancing work life against your writing muse: How much does real life affect your writing, good or bad?

Writing feeds in part from one’s life experiences—but it also requires time away from them. Pearl S. Buck said: “Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that’s how you renew your springs that never dry up.” The outside world, however, is always trying to get in there—more often than not, uninvited. If real life creates intolerable stress, or devours one’s writing time, the Muses go on holidays, and it may be difficult to do more than mechanically edit until they’re back.

For your own reading, what genre(s) do you read and why? If it isn’t the one you write in, would it be someday?

I was an Antiquity nerd before I became a History buff, a dark fantasy nerd before being a vampire lore buff, and a space opera nerd before attempting to blend a bit of all those passions in my novels. Why do that? I don’t know. I have an eclectic, but very segmented, reading taste—by this I mean: I have read other genres, some books among them excellent in their craft, yet they’re definitely ‘not-my-thing’. Will I ever attempt pure historical fiction or dungeons and dragons fantasy? I have no idea—the Muses are temperamental and they take us to unimagined places when we least expect it.

Can a villain be sympathetic, or should they do good deeds in order to be redeemed in the eyes of those around them (or the readers)?

Except in comedic writing, ‘cartoonishly’ evil or good characters often seem stilted. Moreover, sometimes doing what’s right is simpler, even for the vilest of beings. Is that redeeming, then? Should evil characters always seek redemption? In action packed stories, villains are very bad, crafted to be destroyed in some spectacularly savage way, to loud cheers by the intended audience. (Baron Harkonnen being gobbled up by a Shai-Hulud, e.g.). In more romantic settings, they might start being horrible, to end up transformed by the power of love (Lestat in Queen of the Damned). In short, depending on the genre, redemption might not be practical or even desirable—or, conversely, the story itself, make it almost inevitable.

Do you feel there is a place in your books for politics or changing cultural viewpoints? Is that a danger to driving away readers?

Nowadays, politics and cultural issues are so prevalent that any believable story probably touches on them. Given that, one can become a crowd-pleaser, at the risk of boring readers with über-sanitized stories, or hope that those who can read between the lines can disagree without getting angry—and those who can’t, won’t notice. How risky each approach might be ultimately depends on the target audience. For example, tackling Romulan politics probably is safer than Roman politics, and that, safer than Romanian politics—especially in Romania.

Eight of Taggart’s novels are available now (see www.taggartrehnn.com/discover-new-titles), and two more will be published soon. Readers have compared his work to movies such as Underworld, The Da Vinci Code, Indiana Jones, Mission: Impossible, and Dune.

Find The Revenants on Amazon.

An Interview with Naching Kassa

Do you have advice for an author tackling a new genre?

My advice is to READ. Read the best of the genre and read the worst. Take notes.

I write horror and mystery, two genres that seem unconnected but actually are. Find the similarities in the genres and use them. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

What kind of characters in what you read or write appeal to you the most, and why, with examples?

I enjoy writing and reading about people who could actually exist. That’s why I love Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. So much of their interactions are realistic. They joke with each other, argue, and work together only as two real friends can. That’s what makes them so great.

Who is your favorite villain of all time and why?

There are so many wonderful villains, it’s hard to choose. I guess I’d have to say my most favorite villain is Colonel Sebastian Moran. Now, I know that Professor Moriarty is Sherlock Holmes’ equal, and nearly ended him at Reichenbach Falls, but he doesn’t have the pure fury and skill of Moran. Moran may not be as intelligent as Moriarty, but he is clever and he’s loyal to the memory of his friend. He’s so loyal, he pursues Holmes even after the Professor’s death. A good villain shouldn’t believe he’s evil. He should believe what he’s doing is right. And Moran believes he’s in the right.

Can a villain be sympathetic, or should they do good deeds in order to be redeemed in the eyes of those around them (or the readers)?

If you’ve ever read Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, you’ll understand the definition of sympathetic villain. Raskolnikov is an axe murderer, a man who murdered two innocent women. He’s irredeemable, and yet, the people around him don’t treat him so. Sonya, the girl who loves him, is entirely devoted to him. Even Porfiry Petrovich (the inspiration for Peter Falk’s Detective Columbo) treats him kindly. By the end of the book, you actually feel sorry for Raskolnikov. Maybe, it’s because what he endures after the crime is worse than any punishment he could have received.

Find Sherlock Holmes and The Arcana of Madness: A Horror Mystery (Dark Tide Horror Novellas Book 11) on Amazon

An Interview with Ken Mora

His art revived the dying Church. Ambition exposed his hidden lover. His sword sealed their tragic fate.

Can a villain be sympathetic, or should they do good deeds in order to be redeemed in the eyes of those around them?

This is a facet of a most compelling question. You can see I’m a screenwriter by my examples. Today’s most compelling villains are heroes. Heroes defend some undeniable truth, as do modern Villains which makes them relatable. Characters like Walter White (Breaking Bad) and Jasmine French (Blue Jasmine) aren’t “redeemed,” but we understand them. We don’t condone their bad actions, or fear their consequences; we cheer their rare good ones, seeing them as steps to some path to redemption.

Walter White (played by Brian Cranston), is a brilliant mind sidelined by the tacit machinations of business partners who offer a ‘good deal’ buy-out, and then he sees that company flourish, as his career degrades. He’s tempted into crime not out of malice, or greed, but by a wounded pride we can all relate to. A truth we would all defend.

Jasmine French, is a socialite who collapses into ruin with no capacity to adapt. When faced with divorce despite being the perfect Trophy Wife for their fertile, productive years, she faces being left behind for a younger woman and being expected to live on a fraction of the wealth she helped amass during her marriage. She was used, and now pursued for liability in financial crimes in which she was tacitly complicit. She took the risks, and where are her rewards? Her downfall is real and relatable even if the situation isn’t. We wish both her and Walter White some path to grace.

Welcome, to the new Villain, the one that defends some undeniable, even noble, truth which we too can relate, and would seek to defend, though perhaps not from the ramparts of the shattered lives, withered dreams and broken bones of victims we fashion in their construction.

Do you have suggestions about promoting books on social media?

Yes I do, and it sucks to hear, but this is it. Prepare to spend money. It’s going to cost – oh, sure, you can substitute time and effort, but as the saying goes, time is money, so you’ll have to make the decision about whether you are a better publicist or writer.

I know a couple of writers that are good at both. And by that I mean two. One is Russel Nohelty, and if you can’t learn from him and become a New Your Times bestselling author and Amazon top 100 for your genre the way he is, then you’re not qualified to be one of the do-it-yourself promoters. The other author prefers I not use her as an example, but I’ll take the liberty of divulging her gender. She keeps her self-made success secrets to herself. Oh, and by the way, they’re both really good.

The rest of us either need to spend money or learn the hard way that we should have. I was at the point, after having spent around $28K altogether in putting my Graphic Novel together (not accounting for sweat equity) when I met a good publicist: the type that could get me on hundred thousand plus podcast shows, local tv news shows before local bookstore signings in the book reading hotspots across the country. The kind who knew which celebrities read my kind of book and would talk about it. She told me that after a year, I would spend easily as much to promote, but judging by the quality of my books, my consistent Amazon star rating, and my award win-to-enter percentages, I should be a best seller. But selling myself would be my second job. The planning and the drudge part would be hers, and I just had to show up and be engaging, but it would take a year or year and a half, and I could do it.

She gave me the names of authors she had done it for, aside from the one (a romance writer who I can’t mention – and I’ll let you guess why) and I was impressed.

And instead, I decided to save myself money and not go with her. It was a mistake.

Find Caravaggio: A Light Before the Darkness on Amazon.

Editing!!! Jennie Rosenblum

MARKETING – THE HARDEST PART

Hands down, the hardest part of writing a book is not during, but after, when the marketing takes over. Here are a few things you can do while writing your book that might help make that path a little easier.

Build Your Author Brand

• Create a professional author website with a blog, contact page, and links to your social media.
• Set up social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.) and start engaging with readers in your genre.
• Start an email newsletter to build a mailing list of potential readers.

Grow Your Audience

• Engage in online book communities (Goodreads, Reddit, Facebook Groups).
• Share behind-the-scenes content (writing process, character teasers, cover reveal).
• Run a giveaway or contest to generate interest.

Prepare Marketing Materials

• Have a compelling book blurb and author bio ready.
• Create eye-catching graphics (cover mockups, teaser quotes, countdown images) using tools like Canva.
• Write press releases and pitches for bloggers, bookstagrammers, and book reviewers.

Plan for Reviews

• Send ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) to book bloggers and influencers in your genre.
• Set up a launch team of enthusiastic readers (spouse, sibling, neighbor) who will help promote the book.

Optimize for Sales

• Research and choose relevant keywords and categories.
• Write a strong book description with compelling hooks.
• Decide on pricing strategies, including launch discounts.

Plan Launch Events

• Organize a virtual launch party (Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube Live).
• Set up book signings, if possible, at local bookstores, libraries, religious centers, etc.
• Plan blog tour or podcast appearances to discuss your book.

Consider Paid Promotions

• Research book promotion sites (BookBub, Bargain Booksy, Fussy Librarian) for launch-week deals.
• Run targeted ads on Amazon, Facebook, or BookBub.

Have a Long-Term Plan

• Outline a content calendar for ongoing marketing (blog posts, social media updates).
• Plan follow-up books or short stories to keep readers engaged.
• Keep engaging with your audience to maintain interest in future projects.

Absence and hopefully only a temporary farewell from Jennie.

I’ve loved sharing with you all through this newsletter, but I’ll be taking a break from my column. Around here, we believe in saying YES and figuring it out later—so when the hubby suggested we take over daycare for our brand-new grandson, I didn’t hesitate. The “figuring it out” part, though, has meant trimming my workload, and sadly, this column ended up on the chopping block.

But honestly… have you seen that face? How could I say no?

Keep writing, keep reading, and I hope our paths cross again soon!

At the end of the day, book blogging is a passion project.

So, if you want an easy way to buy books (print or digital) while supporting small businesses, Bookshop.org is a great choice!

Here is a link to my Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/GRM

Mark Barsotti’s interview with Paul Di Filippo Part 2

Mark: I think you deserve a huge audience. Any theory why that didn’t happen?

Paul: Some writers strike a popularity chord that others just don’t hit. Bruce Sterling once told me there are 10,000 Bruce Sterling fans in the universe and that’s as high as it’ll go. It’s no shame to have a smaller audience, especially if they’re fervent and smart and dedicated. There’s no formula to manufacture mass success. I consider career perseverance almost as important as instant and perhaps fading celebrity.

Mark: What’s one piece of advice for writing effective science fiction?

Paul: I always remember Chip (Samuel) Delany’s advice: it’s not necessary to be an expert to write science fiction; you just have to sound like an expert.

Mark: Your recent collection Starfields contains 19 stories published between 2016-2023. Ever worry about running out of ideas?

Paul: Well… I work slower. Hopefully wisdom and experience will carry you through. I’ve still got a huge love for the short story mode. I try to do more novels but short stories will always draw me back.

Mark: Your 1990 story “One Night in Television City” famously featured Donald Trump as the President of the United States…

Paul: I’ll take credit or blame for that. (laughs) But it’s really the only score that I’ve ever made in terms of science fiction prophecy.

Mark: Why do great villains appeal to readers?

Paul: Probably because we get to vicariously explore our own dark nature in a safe, non-destructive way. And other than in speculative fiction or fantasy, no genre lets you actually destroy everything (laughs). It’s definitely an emotional itch people like to scratch. It’s like the song, ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World.’

Mark: Your stories often contain a lot of humor and great zingers. Do you carefully craft those lines or do they just spontaneously emerge?

Paul: I would say maybe it’s 50/50. You always want a certain amount of spontaneity, but sometimes, like a good comedian, you’ve got this zinger that you’ve crafted some time ago and decide, here’s a good place to work it in. That involves a certain amount of artifice, which you hope you know isn’t too apparent.

Mark: In your story “Providence,” the main character’s a tank-like robot addicted to old vinyl records. Today’s pop culture often pops up, even in far-flung futures. Why?

Paul: The difference between so-called low culture or pop culture and actual, quote culture, is an artificial division. Robert Heinlein said every writer is competing for the consumer’s beer money. There’s like a zillion entertainment opportunities today, and how we consume and love one as opposed to another is very fruitful and interesting territory to work in.

Mark: What’s the role of a writer of speculative fiction in today’s hyper-speed, social media world?

Paul: The first and most important job is to entertain. Beyond that – and this doesn’t certainly apply to every story – the best science fiction can invoke a kind of gravitas that we need to help understand life, or at least explore very existential realities, life and death…

Mark Barsotti is the author of the novel Adrift Just East of Denver, and the rock music books Rock Is Dead They Say… Vol.1 and Yakety Yak Rock’s Greatest Quotes. His short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and elsewhere. During his six years as a rock critic, his work appeared regularly in Denver’s Westword and magazines like Musician, Request, and D.J. Times. He lives in San Diego with his cats Ed and Harlan.

The Celwyn Series YouTube channel

What is New with the Celwyn Series?

In case you need some background: 

Book 6 Swango Mini-blurb: The adventurers find Mrs. Nemo, and her twenty year- estranged husband, Captain Nemo, is a bit upset. The magician’s first encounter with Swango is told as they plan for the Nautilus’ journey to the Castell de Ferro in Spain where Doctor Jurik Lazlo is hiding. Captain Nemo has been searching for him for a long time.

For book 7, Lucky and Mrs. Nemo, here is the unofficial blurb. 

On Findbar, they’ve added another scientist. Dr. Martha Gluck (aka Lucky) who is a character, literally and figuratively. She enjoys a lively gunfight, doesn’t faint at the sight of magic, and accepts danger as a jolly good time. She finally draws the line when she meets up with the broadsword wielding ghost, Mrs. Spencer.
An educated guess is that it will be out in fall 2025.