Showing posts with label Grant Leishman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grant Leishman. Show all posts

Friday 27 October 2017

Tales of the Fantastic: A Fantasy & Paranormal Sample Anthology

This sample anthology features a number of Indie writer and showcases some of their work. I picked it up because it was free and I already read and reviewed some of Grant Leishman's work.

Here is what the blurb says about the other writers:
Six daring authors from around the globe met in an online fantasy/paranormal author team. We present to you:

Daccari Buchelli, a British fantasy novelist, who developed a love for reading at a young age. He found himself drawn to Fantasy genre, with its magical worlds and mythical beings. When away from his trusty ball point pen, Daccari enjoys sketching, as well as horror films, and curling up with a good book and a rich coffee.

Alex E. Carey, a U.S. novelist, was born in Texas and moved to North Carolina for college. When not at work on her latest book, she enjoys reading, walking trails, gem mining and spending time with her family and their three dogs.

David Gilchrist, a UK novelist from Scotland, is a writer of words, a lover of music and a designer of electronics. He has loved fantasy since first reading Lord of the Rings and has been devouring the genre ever since. Wherever his reading takes him, he always finds his way back to dragons, magic and fantasy.

Grant Leishman, a former New Zealander living in the Philippines, started out in finance and journalism, but finally found his true calling in life as a full-time author. When he's not writing, he loves spending time with his family and interacting online with his readers and other authors.

Caitlin Lynagh, originally from Wales, now living in England, received degrees with honors in Biology and Geology. Though she loves science, she also loves writing, and so her first fantasy novel, Anomaly, was born. She also enjoys traveling, reviewing books, and interacting with her readers.

Kim Ross, a born Novocastrian, resides in Australia with her family and their golden retriever. When she isn't writing, she enjoys belly dancing and performs professionally with the Silk Caravan Belly Dance Troupe.

Here is my 4 star review:


I got this book when it was a free promotion. I was already familiar with the work of Grant Leishman and thought this was a good opportunity to try some of his author friends’ work. This book contains sample chapters of novels, short stories and flash fiction. It is mostly in the fantasy genre, hence the title. This book wants to showcase 6 independent writers and tempt the reader to buy the full book via the links at the end of their segment. There are certainly a few writers that caught my eye, I was sorry to arrive at the end of their sample. It is a real mixed bag of styles and topics and some bits are going to appeal more than others. But it is a showcase and in this the book has achieved its goal.

 


Wednesday 17 May 2017

Just A drop in the Ocean by Grant Leishman

Spring is hotting up here and I hope to get a lot more reading done on the beach. The water is still a little chilly at 17°C but refreshing non the less. This book was quite an epic read spanning a generation and a large part of the Pacific. I gave it 5 stars.
Just a Drop in the Ocean by Grant Leishman on Amazon.co.uk
I’ve wanted to read another book by this author ever since reading ‘The Photograph’, that was a supernatural thriller with a fair bit of tongue in cheek humour. A drop in the ocean is a more serious affair but again a very good read. What I like about Grant Leishman is his ability to create a mature character. They are complex characters formed by their experiences and not without faults. This portrait about two penpals who lose touch but never stop thinking about each other was fascinating. Alternating between New-Zealand and the Philippines it offered us a glimpse into the ordinary lives of two cultures. There was still a bit of wry humour in the form of Nick’s wife Marivic who came into Nick’s life like a tropical cyclone. Excellent read and a nice reminder that romance is sometimes slow burning and ageless.

Tuesday 5 July 2016

The Photograph by Grant Leishman

Summer here is in full swing and it is hard to concentrate when the temperature hits 32°C. I also have the excuse of the combined distractions of the European cup and friends wanting to meet up for drinks, beach parties or a gossip and a swim. Luckily I get a bit of reading done on my lunch break. This book was a real treat; a good original story and some well developed characters that were closer to my own age and I could relate to. I would like to read more of this writer as I like his sense of humour. A great supernatural thriller which I gave 5 stars.
The Photograph by Grant Leishman on Amazon

When Tony Logan finds a roll of undeveloped film clearing out his house, a nagging feeling in the back of his head tells him not to develop it. His sister Marie however urges him to print some photos when he tells her they were taken at their mother’s funeral many years ago. What they discover on the photos is something that shocks them to the core. Tony and his sisters; Marie and Cheryl embark on a quest to find out the truth about their mothers death and abandonment by their father. It leads them into the dangerous world of the occult. This is a well written supernatural thriller with a twist at every turn. Although it deals with the occult and there are a few nail-biting and gruesome moments it has enough humour and warmth to steer away from full out horror. This is what I liked best about this book, the depth of the characters. Before any spooky happenings, we get to know Tony Logan very well. He is not your usual hero; middle aged, down on his luck and recently divorced from the love of his life. He struggles with getting back on his feet again. I had great empathy with Tony and I understood his actions, despite willing him to leave the past well alone. The interactions between Tony, his estranged sisters and husbands, provide some of the comedy moments. But as they argue we feel that they still care for each other and that in the end blood is thicker than water. I enjoyed reading this book and was surprised and delighted by its originality and unexpected plot turns. The book is mostly written in the first person and we share Tony’s views and insights. Later in the book it turns to 3rd person narration as we follow his brother in law’s antics. I thought this was a good change of pace and worked with that particular plot line. This is my first book by this author but I’m hoping to discover more. Maybe the follow up to this book as the ending is left temptingly open.