Kasper's Ramblings from Kasper Beaumont - Hunters of Reloria

Hunters of Reloria

Review: Wonder Woman. The best super hero movie for a long time #WonderWoman #movie #review

6/18/2017

So much has been said about a female super hero lead and a female director, girl power yada yada. Seriously folks, who cares? I sure don't. A good movie is a good movie and I reckon this one is mighty fine. Sure it has some world-building plot and character development which may seem a little slow in places to the adrenaline junkies, but I found it well done.
There is plenty of eye candy for all with gorgeous Gal Gadot and hunky Chris Pine wearing nothing but a few drops of water. The scenery and cinematography are visually splendid.
I went with my 15 year-old comic reading son and he said it was regrettable how much they differed from the comics, especially with the Gods and Chris Pine's character. He thought her powers weren't quite true to the comics, such as her forcefield or telekinetic powers. He also said that the action scenes were awesome, so I'm pleased he came along with me and enjoyed it. I also saw it with hubby who said much the same thing.

For me, it was a great all-rounder with lots of heart, relatable characters and really cool action. I found the backstory of Diana (Gadot) growing up with the Amazons on the hidden isle of Themyscira (I hope I spelled that correctly) all quite wonderful and it brought a cool fantasy edge to the movie for me. I guess she's a bit like a female version of Thor. I'll just step back and let the DC and Marvels fans argue that one out LOL.
I've been a Gadot fan for years from the Fast & Furious movies. I was pleasantly surprised at her emotional depth in the role and such a lovely chemistry with Chris Pine.
Also the battle scenes and horsing riding action were fantastic. The lasso work was well done. 5 stars from me.

Gee..I hope you all get this meme. It's a good one

Until next time, happy days, from Kasper :)

Book review: Trust a Few by exciting sci-fi author E.M. Swift-Hook @emswifthook #scifi

5/31/2017

Snubs in the air for the evil boogeyman!
Trust a Few is a great novel by E.M. Swift-Hook
Review: Avilon Revid was the 'bogeyman of ultimate evil,' Gee, I love that description.
He was, but now he isn't. Avilon is a shell of his former evil greatness. I think I would enjoy the preceding books to find out how his demise came about, for it isn't explained here, and it sounds intriguing. I'm betting his was a badass evil genius. That said, this is quite a well-rounded stand alone.
Avilon is discharged from the special military forces, just after his mentor, Jazatar Baldrik, and seeks to find his friend.

Along the way he meets other dangerous characters including Shame Cullen; murderous twins Foss and Faust, as well as Durban Chola who is more than he first appears. One character who stood out to me amid all the violence and dark scheming was Charis, who trusts Avilon and whom I found to be the most relatable character in the story. I found it difficult to connect with many of the blunt, no-nonsense fighters, but I sense that Charis will be the heart of this series. That said, I could be wrong, for I have idea where this grand space adventure will lead.
What's to like: the world-building is well done and you can almost see the snub guns, A.I. mechs, holofacade wall and picture the brain-linked data port. The characters are complex, flawed and well described. The writing style is good and easy to follow.
The downsides: I found it a bit slow in places, where so much back story, talking and character thoughts took place that the action seemed a bit slow. I would also like to have felt more of an emotional connection to the characters.
Trust a Few is the perfect name for an interesting novel. I recommend it for fans of dystopian sci-fi.
I bought this novel on the recommendation of a friend.

Review of Cherry Pickers sci-fi by Bonnie Milani @homeworldnovel #amreading #scifi

5/12/2017

My review of Cherry Pickers: On the women's penal colony of Sisyphus, 17 year old Nikki has a one-track mind and that is to get her gun licence to impress her mother. The only way to do this is to lure a man from a passing space ship, to pick her cherry. Not quite a romantic coming of age, but a promising synopsis for a speculative fiction novel. Being a penal colony, it's a kill-or-be-killed world, in which having just a machete is really not conducive to survival.

An interesting concept from author Bonnie Milani, is the house bugs, AKA giant hairy spiders, which can be quite the docile type, but can also be aggressive and murderous. There is the whole Black Widow, death-after-mating thing going on here, so it's no wonder there aren't many guys hanging around. Another Sissy planet nasty is the man-eating Nosher plant with its deadly tendrils.
The most enjoyable character for me was Sam, the spider who lives with Nikki, kinda like an eight-legged creepy-looking brother type. Sam is actually really sweet, loyal and noble. He is the only person who is nice to Nikki in the whole story. Unfortunately his future is pretty bleak, with him likely to be mated and eaten in the near future.
The story begins with Nikki searching the house for the book of Grimms, the only book on the entire planet. I didn't really get hooked in by this beginning and ended up having to re-read the first chapter to take in all the alien world-building. There is plenty of information at the start as Milani draws you into her world. Once I got into the story, I found it well-paced and enjoyable. Other interesting concepts included the click speech of the house bugs and the chron implant, which was mentioned briefly. There is action aplenty and a few surprises to keep you guessing. I did find it a little tricky to figure out who was a human and who was a spider, as the personalities seem rather similar. On the whole, I enjoyed Cherry Pickers and would recommend it to new adult readers.
I bought this book on Amazon and this is my honest opinion of the novel.

Review of the exciting 'Suffrage' scifi adventure by Julian Green @jsagreenauthor #scifi

5/7/2017

My review of Suffrage: 5 stars. A brilliant debut novel
From the very first page, I was hooked in by the tale of young Jay with her superhuman powers being rescued from a laboratory-type prison.
The setting is modern-day Earth, but the characters come from an alternative reality, where the utopian lifestyle for some comes at a harsh price for others. Our group of alternative-reality heroes wake up with amnesia in a present day air-force base. They slowly come to realise that their mission is to find a hidden world key in our reality, which can grant the wielder great powers. Unfortunately for Jay and her friends, a huge spaceship full of angry pursuers is hot on their trail and eager to destroy them.

Suffrage is very well written and edited, with a perfect balance of action and character development. At the heart of the story is the core group of friends on their mission to find the key. Each character is unique and has a part to play in the team. There are dozens of other characters introduced and I did find it overwhelming at the start, but it all comes across well as the story progresses. On character named Stanford seemed important at first, but then disappears and left me wondering why.
The author uses tension and pace very well in this multi-focal story. There are a lot of characters with differing motives and agendas. I would have liked more defined chapters and less points of view, but overall it works pretty well.
For me the standout point of the story is the harmonic time-travelling device used by the character named Snake. It shows great originality and creativity from the author.
I'll definitely read this again and eagerly await the next instalment in the World Key Chronicles.
I purchased the paperback version and posted the review on Amazon.

Suffrage's Blurb:
There is something hidden on Earth. A secret so immense it's worth killing for. In a race against time, five travellers arrive, hunting a key that will change the balance of power in their world.

Jay's birth father is a monster. He destroyed half her world and established a twisted version of utopia from the ashes, ruled by the Five Monarchs. But his blood flows in her veins, giving her power beyond any human. She has to prove that she's not him; that she's better. With the help of her teammates, she has to stop him from destroying her adoptive family and her world by finding the one thing that can make her his equal. But will the world key make her a monster, too?
Dr Stanford Ellis, an American scientist, is tasked with understanding these travellers. What does their arrival mean, for his country and the world? He must unravel the mystery before it’s too late.

Little do the travellers know, they were followed to our Earth. The Walker King has come seeking the rebels, and will let nothing stand in the way of his revenge. Freedom comes at a price.

Julian's avatar

Author interview with fellow Aussie: Jeanette O'Hagan @JeanetteOHagan #FSFNet #fantasy #interview

4/16/2017

I enjoyed reading Heart of the Mountain by Jeanette O'Hagan. Luckily for me, I had a chance to interview the author herself.
Book blurb:
Twins Delvina and Retza’s greatest desire is to be accepted as prentices by their parents’ old crew when they stumble across a stranger. Trapped under the mountain, young Zadeki’s only thought is to escape home to his kin. Peril awaits all three youngsters. Will they pull apart or work together to save the underground realm?

Jeanette is a fellow member of the Intricate Worlds writing group and I'm stoked she has followed me over to the FSFNet.
We did an interview for the Fantasy Sci-Fi Network, and you can read it all here.

These are some of the highlights:
* Jeanette began the world-building of Nardva when she was just 9 years old.
* An interesting fact not in our interview is that she studied in script writing at university and helped me with my first script at a recent writers' critique meeting.
* I like the fact that her story title has a double meaning
* I'm getting the feeling that Jeanette may be a bit of a Whovian

Make sure you check out the full interview here

Title: Heart of the Mountain: A short novella
Author: Jeanette O'Hagan
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: By the Light Books
Release Date: August 2016

Heart of the Mountain is YA Fantasy Adventure in the lost realm under the mountain.

Drop Everything and Read Day - April 12th #DEAR #FSFNet

4/3/2017

The Fantasy Sci-Fi Network will be celebrating.“Drop Everything and Read Day.” It is designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives. Because, what’s more fun(damental) than reading, really? Much has been written in recent years about declining literacy, so let us do our bit to promote reading.

D.E.A.R. programs are held on April 12th in honour of Beverly Cleary’s birthday, since she first wrote about D.E.A.R. in Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (pages 40-41). Inspired by letters from readers sharing their enthusiasm for the D.E.A.R. activities implemented in their schools, Mrs. Cleary decided to give the same experience to Ramona and her classmates. As D.E.A.R. has grown in popularity and scope, the program has expanded to span the entire month of April . . . offering classrooms and communities additional time to celebrate!

We encourage you to “Drop Everything and Read” every day throughout the year. The goal of the program is to prompt people to make reading a regular part of their routine . . . whether they’re reading solo or together with their classmates, parents, or friends. So, go ahead and join the millions of families, schools, bookstores, and communities who have participated throughout the years and pledge to “drop” what you’re doing in order to read a good book.

As an organization, library, school, or bookstore, you can participate by hosting a “Drop Everything and Read” event at your location (or elsewhere) during the month of April. As an individual, you can participate by attending an event in your community or by reading at home with your children, siblings, or friends.

You can find loads of great D.E.A.R. resources on the D.E.A.R. website:
http://www.dropeverythingandread.com/resources.html

The Fantasy Sci-Fi Network, of which I am an admin, is having an online author event, as well as books on sale and a Rafflecopter with many great prizes to be won.

Here is the link to the Fantasy Sci-Fi Network event.
Awesome fantasy, sci-fi and steampunk authors will be hosting
in timeslots throughout the day.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1042589222540002/?active_tab=discussion

Here is the link to the Rafflecopter.
There are Amazon gift cards, paperbacks and ebooks up for grabs.

You will be able to enter the competitions on the 12th of April.
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/77a940171/

A book for fans of the Da Vinci Code: The King's Spy by Andrew Swanston #historical #mystery

3/19/2017

The King's Spy: Synopsis
Summer, 1643
England is at war with itself. King Charles I has fled London, his negotiations with Parliament in tatters. The country is consumed by bloodshed.
For Thomas Hill, a man of letters quietly running a bookshop in the rural town of Romsey, knowledge of the war is limited to the rumours that reach the local inn.

When a stranger knocks on his door one night and informs him that the king's cryptographer has died, everything changes. Aware of Thomas's background as a mathematician and his expertise in codes and ciphers, the king has summoned him to his court in Oxford.
On arrival, Thomas soon discovers that nothing at court is straightforward. There is evidence of a traitor in their midst. Brutal murder follows brutal murder. And when a vital message encrypted with a notoriously unbreakable code is intercepted, he must decipher it to reveal the king's betrayer and prevent the violent death that failure will surely bring.
My review:

Well written and great tension

The author had me hooked from the beginning to end, with the mysterious plot and clever cryptology. It's exactly the type of book I love to get lost it. The historical imagery was well done and I really enjoyed the read. I'll have to check out other works by this...

Magic and dragon mythology make for a roller-coaster adventure by Dianne Astle @bendragonborn #dragons #fantasy #FSFNet

3/19/2017

Ben and the Watcher of Zargon
Synopsis: Grade ten isn’t turning out the way Ben hoped. Ben’s best friend is no longer his roommate, but has been replaced by a strange boy who follows Ben everywhere. Jealousy awakens the dragon fire within Ben when the girl he likes returns to school with a boyfriend. That fire and the scales peeking out from under his shirtsleeves are making it increasingly difficult for Ben to keep his secret. Ben needs to go to his mother’s home world to learn how to transform into a dragon. Meanwhile Ben is changing and if the training comes too late he is in danger of becoming something that is neither human nor dragon.

After reading Ben the Dragonborn (book 1), I was hooked. I bought the sequel the very next day. Ben and the Watcher of Zargon book has a lovely familiar feel to the start, as we again open in the paranormal school where Ben studies with his friends. He is starting to show obvious signs of turning into a dragon, so the principal decides he must go immediately to the dragon world to learn how to be a dragon. Things don't go quite to plan, with unexpected companions and a dragon world on the brink of civil war.
As with book 1, Ben must learn quickly to develop and use his talents to assist the local populace. There a new characters, but a similar theme of teamwork and camaraderie in their mission to save the day.
What I liked: dragons, of course. There are plenty in this book. I also like the characters and their mission. One new character is a delightful surprise. I also found the author's style and craft had much improved in this book. It was really enjoyable.
What I didn't like: the names really did my head in. Everyone in the entire world has a name beginning with Z. There are only so many Z names in existence, and I found it difficult to keep track of which character was which. Thanks goodness for 'Ben.'
I'm looking forward to Ben's next adventure.

Using Twitter lists to auto retweet #SocialMediaTips #Twitter

2/25/2017

Ok, so by now you should have created an eye-catching Twitter profile pic and name, and chosen some tweeps to follow. Last article we created Twitter lists for retweeting. If you're not up to speed, please read my earlier articles first:
Getting started on Twitter
Hashtags - friend or foe?
Who to follow on Twitter
Twitter follows - are you a wolf or a sheep?
Is auto-retweeting for you?

Remember that we have carefully selected those we are going to retweet by studying their tweet and retweet histories to ensure the content is suitable for our public profile by being entertaining or informative.
Alrighty, now we're going to jump straight into using those lists you have created to auto retweet via a platform such as Roundteam. Feel free to shop around and find the best website and plan (free or paid) to meet your needs.
When you go onto your chosen site and create a profile, you are asked to nominate lists to retweet. Be advised that you can actually use other tweeps' lists if they are made public.
First step, enter each of your lists and decide how many tweets to auto retweet per day or per hour. This can be different for each list.
Criteria you can choose to include in your schedule includes:

keywords to include
keywords to avoid
do you wish to retweet retweets or mentions?
how many #hashtags or @tweeps can be included in the tweets
you can avoid certain URLs, #hashtags or @tweeps
you can seek preferred URLs, #hashtags or @Tweeps
time between retweets

There really is a plethora of variables, so have a good look before you commit to a plan and check how the retweets appear to unsure you are happy with the result.
Remember that Twitter can be a great marketing tool, so be careful to ensure you have created the right feel to suit your profile. Many tweeps will reward a retweet with a retweet from them, and likewise with a mention or promotion of their own content.
Happy tweeting,
cheers, Kasper

Next time: Meaningful content on Twitter

Is auto-retweeting for you? #SocialMediaTips #Twitter #Retweeting

2/25/2017

Ok, so by now you should have created an eye-catching Twitter profile pic and name, and chosen some tweeps to follow. If not, please read my earlier articles first:
Getting started on Twitter
Hashtags - friend or foe?
Who to follow on Twitter
Twitter follows - are you a wolf or a sheep?
The next step is retweeting informative and entertaining content to network with the right kinds of tweeps and building your brand or Twitter persona.

OK, so now you have some choices to make:

Do I care what I am retweeting? (I really hope you answer yes to that).
What sort of content matches or enhances my own profile? Is there a certain age group or interest group you wish to follow you? For me the answer would be fantasy, medieval and scifi pictures and information and also other authors. No doubt you have your own areas of interest. Basically you need to be retweeting things that would interest you to follow your profile as it were.
Should I auto-retweet to save myself hours per week of finding appropriate content? If your answer is yes, then read on...

I use an auto-retweet program called Roundteam. Trust me there are plenty of options around for retweeting. Note that there are free and paid options, so it's best to look around to find what suits your needs.
Choosing who to retweet can depend on not only content that appeals to you, but you may wish to retweet those who retweet you. I do this and I do a check every few months to check they still retweet me too. It's amazing how many tweeps are consistent for months, then change their habits.
To set up auto retweeting, you need to create Twitter lists. I have several list, some public and some private. It has taken me years to develop these lists, so I do keep some information to myself. Of course if you are retweeting all you fave football team's tweets, then that may not require privacy. Creating a list involves going to your own profile and clicking 'create a list.' Once you have named your list, then go to a profile and click the cog symbol next to the 'follow' button.
You can make lists of similar types of tweeps (eg: my Fantasy Sci-Fi Network) list, or your lists could be based on other criteria such as how often they tweet (eg: tweeps who post frequently in one list and more seldom in another.)
One thing to be mindful of is not to add too many tweeps to one list. Remember that the more people in a list, the less each will be retweeted.
Okay, I'll let you go and make some lists and I'll be back next time with tips for using those lists.

Next article: Using lists to auto retweet