BOOK REVIEW by Katherine Wong

Nathalie M. Leblanc “IS” a superb Canadian writer of children’s fantasy. Her first book in the Magic Coat Series entitled “Shrinking Forward” is a must read for any fantasy enthusiast age 8-12. It’s a book you won’t want to put down until you reach the very end … and then you’ll be wanting more.


Leblanc skillfully engages us in a monumental struggle where the fate of an entire civilization rests on the small shoulders of Samantha, her best friend Catherine and a fairy queen. Staying completely true to the genre, Leblanc doesn’t shy away from tragedy and demonstrates that “sometimes” good can only be accomplished with a bit of sacrifice.

Her style, her prose, her characters, her plot all mesh together in a well thought-out and balanced journey through an alternate world. The protagonist, Samantha, is thrust into an unimaginable adventure where trust, friendship and determination are the only things pushing her forward, even when the odds are completely against her. It is a journey of self-discovery that helps define who she is, where she came from and why she always felt a little bit different than her friends. All Leblanc's characters have very believeable personalities which adds to the enjoyment of the story.

Leblanc’s first book in the series depicts the true meaning of the genre “heroic or quest fantasy” which allows her the advantage of sending her fictional characters into adventures that are virtually endless. These stories are very popular with young children as the extraordinary events only happen in the secondary world and the primary world continues to be a safe and normal haven. Will Samantha triumph over good and evil or will it be just too much for her young age to handle?

Kids self esteem.

Having a healthy self-esteem is a child's armor against the challenges of the world around them. Kids who feel good about themselves seem to have an easier time handling conflicts day to day and resisting negative pressures. They tend to smile more readily and enjoy life.


Nathalie M. Leblanc was born in Sarnia, Ontario. After graduating from Heritage College in Social Sciences majoring in Psychology, Nathalie decided to pursue her dream to write fantasy novels for readers aged nine to ninety-nine. Shrinking Forward is the first book in a trilogy entitled ‘The Magic Coat’. As a parent of four adorably energetic children, she sees the value of teaching morals, self-confidence, and co-operation through the written word.

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http://www.amazon.ca/Shrinking-Forward-Nathalie-M-LeBlanc/dp/0981150454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299695999&sr=8-1

Book signing "Shrinking Forward" at Michabou book store

An interview with Anne Holly, a contemporary romance novelist.

INFO:

Current Location: Ontario, Canada

Upcoming release:
Strings Attached,
Wild Horse Press,
May 31, 2010

Good for the Goose (Xmas erotica short), Wicked Nights,
November 19, 2010

Already released: Waking Kara (paranormal erotica short), Wild Horse Liquid Heat, Oct 2010



Main Website: http://www.anneholly.webs.com/

Erotica Website: http://annehollyerotica.weebly.com/index.html

Blog: http://anneholly.blogspot.com/

Publisher: http://www.the-wild-horse-press.com/

Book Teaser Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCZSTLoSvxY

Twitter: http://twitter.com/anneholly2010

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Holly/140519945969686

Waking Kara on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Kara-ebook/dp/B0046ZRL2K

(Excerpts, photos and more bio info, etc, can be found on Facebook, blog and website.)


How do you describe your work?

Well, I am primarily a romance writer – contemporary romances, with some sensuality. Recently, I have done some contemporary and paranormal erotic, which was a stretch for me, but they turned out ok. So, I describe myself as a romance writer, who occasionally does erotica!

My writing itself… Either erotica or romance, I’d say it’s all about the characters, as I am fascinated with character motivation and internal struggle. So, my work is not plot driven so much – no averting alien invasions and things. Just thinking and writing about what makes people do what they do, and that’s sometimes a sad thing, and also often a funny thing. And I love it!

Tell us about Strings Attached, your first full length release.

My first full length release comes out in 2011 from Wild Horse Press, and is tentatively scheduled for May 31, 2011. The novel is a contemporary romance set in Manitoba, Canada, and in Australia. It revolves around the themes of loss and healing, and the risk in having a marriage end badly and deciding to try again. And, of course, about irresistible attraction, and the power of love to force us out of our protective shells. In it, Josie, an optimist, must bring the damaged Theo back to life, and the results are often funny and often poignant.

What did you learn from writing Strings Attached?

I made a very serious study of romances before and during the writing of Strings – the flow and expectations of the genre. This piece was a freshman piece, so I was careful to learn from the great romances, which I had always read and enjoyed. With Strings, I learned how to love the characters and respect their lives, and then how to produce a story that people would appreciate.

What is a difficult thing about writing for you?

Actually, oddly enough, the writing is the easy part! The other stuff – researching publishers and, most of all, doing promotion – that is the difficult stuff. But, I am learning, one step at a time. Making the most of the web, and learning to do book trailers, and doing interviews, and blogging… All of it takes a lot of time and effort, which is difficult when you have a small child and “real life” work to do, as well.

What new projects are you working on these days?

Right now, I am gearing up for NaNoWriMo, which will be a complete new full length romance written entirely in the month of November. I took a week or two off in late October to work on some other (non-fiction) stuff, and to rest up for NaNo, but that is my new focus now. I finished three short pieces in Sept-Oct, so a rest was important there to refresh my writing batteries. In December, I will be working ahead for Valentine’s Day.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Philip Roth once said something to the effect that hobbyists wait for inspiration, while professionals just get up every day and go to work. I think this is wonderful advice! Hoping for inspiration to strike, or that calm and quiet time, just results in a lot of waiting. If you want to write – Write! Once I start writing, even if I don’t feel like it, it usually starts to flow after a few difficult paragraphs.

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