I have had the good fortune to read and enjoy the work of Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine for several years. I like the writing styles of both but they are very different. When I heard that they were collaborating on a book, and a steampunk one at that, I was cautiously optimistic. Not because I didn’t think they could pull it off, but because I had no idea what the meshing of their two voices would be like.

In other words, would the result be a symphony or a cacophony?

I am delighted to say that the book, “Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel” is a symphony of the highest order. The characters are rich and the plot twists in a most satisfactory manner. And the pace of the story? Well, let’s just say I had to put the novel down periodically to catch my breath.

Tee and Pip (or Pip and Tee, if you would prefer) show what good research can do to improve a story. The use of language and the description of the everyday world ensured that I felt as if I were experiencing an alternate, steam-powered version of Victorian England.

Of course, steampunk is famous for its gadgets, gears, and cogs; writers must tread a fine line to ensure that these things do not overwhelm or undermine the story. That is not a problem here in the least.

The technology was in no way frivolous or ill conceived; the melding of our world and the steampunk realm was done cleanly and to great effect. It made me wish our technology was steam-powered now.

The relationships between the characters were ever evolving and interesting and the characters themselves surprised and delighted me with their layers upon layers of complexity. By the time I was done reading, they were living, breathing people, some whom I liked and others I reviled.

It may sound cliché but the only complaint I have with this book is that I am finished reading it and there isn’t another one ready to go. Believe me when I say, there are enough loose threads that I hope to be enjoying the series for a long time to come.

For now, I may have to reread it again just to pick up nuances I’m sure I’ve missed.

All in all, an extremely good book that I whole-heartedly endorse.

Tags: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, philippa ballantine, Phoenix Rising, review, steampunk, Tee Morris

I hate talking about money. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I firmly believe that if you see value in something (like stories), you should support them.

There are many ways to do this. One cheap and easy way is to talk about a writer’s work. If you like it tell people. Encourage them to sample that writer’s wares.

Another is to use the donate button whenever available and throw a buck or two in the pot. I have a couple stories out there right now that depend on this model. One is GalaxyBillies (found on podiobooks.com) and the other is Stolen Immortality found at Sorcerous Signals (http://www.sorceroussignals.com/StolenImmortality.html).

Yet another great way is to buy the author’s work. In the case of my short stories Apprentice and Brains are for More than Eating, they are available at the respective ePublisher sites.

So what is my point?

Well, I suppose if I have a point it is, please support what I and many writers like me do (if you like our work, that is). I received my first royalty from podiobooks.com earlier this week and it felt great. It meant that someone enjoyed my story enough to put value on it. That alone was worth more than the amount.

I’ve got a couple books coming out in the next few months. I would love it if you spread the word. I would love it just as much if you purchased a copy (or five). Should you be interested in a signed copy, let me know in advance and I will ensure I have enough copies to fit the demand.

Don’t worry, I will be posting more information about the books as I get closer to the release dates.

In the meantime, have a look at what I already have available. GalaxyBillies is in desperate need of iTune and Podiobook reviews. If you are unable to do any more than provide that, you will have done me a great favor.

As you should know by now, asking for support isn’t something I (or many other writers) normally do. Still, I want you to know that your support (both financial and promotional) is very important to me. Please take a few moments and decide if my work is something you want to help out. If you do, thank you. If not, I can appreciate that too.

Thank you for listening.

Tags: buy, donate, flying island press, irreverent muse, Michell Plested, podiobooks.com, promote, pure obsessions, review, sorcerous signals, support