I feel fortunate that I got very into reading before my public education commenced. I also was very discouraged by the process in which literature is chosen and taught, but I already had a foundation of love for reading. It just meant I didn’t do my homework and instead opted for my own reading materials. π But in all seriousness, I am so happy for you. Can’t wait to see The Hollow Gods in print!
Thank you <3!!! I too was notorious for not doing my homework. I learned to read my teachers in class and deduce what themes/points they thought were important. I actually got through all of high school English this way. The only book I remember reading with some interest was The Catcher in the Rye, and I have no idea why. I'd probably hate it now.
I love it so much! I am very happy for you and for your beautiful book. Canβt wait to see it in person! *slowly dies waiting for July 28th to arrive*
I’m so sorry to hear about all the cancellations etc. Don’t lose faith, Hollow Gods is absolutely brilliant and now the audiobook is coming out, things should start picking up. I can’t wait for the second book to come out and, if you want me to review for you again (but maybe can’t afford NetGalley) send me an email and I will review it for you anyway. You have a great talent, don’t lose heart.
Thank you so much, Caroline! Your encouragement means the world to me, and I’ve honestly been so blessed to have a dedicated group of readers that really believes in my work. I’d love for you to review the second book and will definitely be reaching out when I have eARCs!
If it helps you get better publicity for the book, I can wait…I think! Well I will try but I’m desperate. Best of luck hon you deserve it, the best fantasy I have read in a very long time!
Thank you for always being so supportive! Honestly it was a tough call but I do think it’s for the best. Two months will fly by, and hopefully eARCs will be a salve! <3 <3 <3
Thank you! He tries, though sometimes the empathy comes through via head-smashing. I might collect them one day, though I’d probably have to remove them form the website then, unless I self-publish them!
I know exactly how you feel, I became bedridden some years ago and rely on visits from my adult children and my carer for external support plus my three rescue cats, Remus and Charlie from Greece and Thor from a couple of miles away, who live with me and look after me. We did have a Romanian Shepherd dog rescued from…you’ve guessed it…Romania, but he died in June which broke my heart. Life goes on, I read and review and you write brilliant books! We survive, I don’t worry about getting the virus, something will finish me off one day, but I worry about my children and my son’s children – he and his partner are expecting twins in July and they already have Lily 8 and Penny almost 1. Our new strain of virus over here in UK seems to affect children- worrying. However what will be will be. Keep up the good work. Caroline x
Hi Caroline,
It’s so wonderful you have the support of your kids and animal family! I’m sorry to hear about your tribulations with health, though I’m happy your life is so full of amazing people and pets. It’s funny–one of my good friends volunteers with a dog rescue that brings strays over from Greece and Serbia (our motherland!). They do such amazing work, and I’ve found their dogs to be some of the most well-socialized I’ve ever seen. They really make amazing companions. I’m sorry you recently lost one of your babies :(. We lost our dog a few years ago, and I just feel fortunate to have two cats to keep the apartment feeling full. Re: coronavirus–this new strain is truly worrying; I am hopeful that the vaccine is effective against it, but I still wish we didn’t have to wait another 6-12 months for full-scale roll out!
Thank you as always for the compliments and support <3
Excellent short story as usual. I love Kai and Miya, they are so well written, completely three dimensional, you care about them. I love their sparky relationship, the snarky sniping and I must admit that Kai is right, living with her parents must have been hell for Mia!
Thank you so much, Caroline! I had a lot of fun writing this piece :). I also love Kai and Miya’s snippy interactions, and it was a welcome break to think about what sorts of domestic conflicts they’d end up having!
Such a thoughtful review. I am more excited than ever to read this book, and I have dug it out of my ever-growing tbr pile after reading this breakdown. I love how you talk about the nuance and complexity that should be allowed women characters, and I hope to see more discourse like this open up in review spaces.
I happened upon this blog when trying to look up the distinguishable different between urban fantasy and magical realism, out of a frustration of being unable to find Latine fantasy writers.
I agree with everything said here. It feels like a weird, colonized take to ascribe magical realism solely to Latin American because it’s chaotic. I won’t even get into the layers regarding that. But I find myself increasingly frustrated by the fact that any type of fantastical story written by a Latine author is immediately classed as magical realism, which then puts it into an inaccessible bucket.
I’m a Latine author, and I consider what I write to be fantasy. I would really scratch my head if someone tried to call it magical realism solely because of my ethinicity.
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Malorie
I feel fortunate that I got very into reading before my public education commenced. I also was very discouraged by the process in which literature is chosen and taught, but I already had a foundation of love for reading. It just meant I didn’t do my homework and instead opted for my own reading materials. π But in all seriousness, I am so happy for you. Can’t wait to see The Hollow Gods in print!
A. J. Vrana
Thank you <3!!! I too was notorious for not doing my homework. I learned to read my teachers in class and deduce what themes/points they thought were important. I actually got through all of high school English this way. The only book I remember reading with some interest was The Catcher in the Rye, and I have no idea why. I'd probably hate it now.
Malorie
I am so thrilled that you have a release date! Congratulations!!! I canβt wait to get my grabby little hands on this.
NicoleW
Loved this! Really well done.
A. J. Vrana
Thanks so much Nicole!
Brenton
I loved this! Absolutley loved the idea of an old witch watching this for sheer joy and entertainment!
A. J. Vrana
Thank you <3
Malorie
This was so eerie! I definitely had chills while reading this, and the ending got me GOOD. Excellent piece. Thank you for sharing!
Malorie
I, also, am a sucker for deep reds, especially in my trees. π
NicoleW
That is stunning! You’re right — PH really does do amazing cover work.
A. J. Vrana
Don’t they?? They never disappoint with their covers!
Malorie Nilson
I love it so much! I am very happy for you and for your beautiful book. Canβt wait to see it in person! *slowly dies waiting for July 28th to arrive*
A. J. Vrana
You and me both, sister! *dies with you*
Malorie Nilson
Bonus: We will make lovely dead things. π
Debbie Cancel
I thought I was more than ready for the next book. No. NOW I’m ready and thirsty for it π€£π€£
Malorie
This is giving me LIFE right now, honestly. π€£π€
Malorie
I am so happy for you and wish you and your book all of the best. Congratulations on being a published author!
Malorie
I am SO thrilled for you…and for all of us that get to read TER!
Nicole
That’s amazing! Congrats, and I hope it’s a wonderful experience.
Caroline Price
Hi,
I’m so sorry to hear about all the cancellations etc. Don’t lose faith, Hollow Gods is absolutely brilliant and now the audiobook is coming out, things should start picking up. I can’t wait for the second book to come out and, if you want me to review for you again (but maybe can’t afford NetGalley) send me an email and I will review it for you anyway. You have a great talent, don’t lose heart.
A. J. Vrana
Thank you so much, Caroline! Your encouragement means the world to me, and I’ve honestly been so blessed to have a dedicated group of readers that really believes in my work. I’d love for you to review the second book and will definitely be reaching out when I have eARCs!
Caroline Price
Keep up the good work!
Nicole Willson
That was adorable! Thanks, A.J.!
A. J. Vrana
Thanks so much, Nicole!
Shatarupa Dhar
Aww! This is such a cute Halloween story.
A. J. Vrana
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed!
Caroline Price
Perfect, I love it, it goes so well with The Hollow Gods! A great choice!
A. J. Vrana
Thank you so much! I’m glad you like it π
Caroline Price
You really deserved for the book to be a success, it’s absolutely brilliant and I can’t wait for the publication of volume 2!!!
A. J. Vrana
Thank you, Caroline! It was such a pleasant surprise to have so much interest in my debut novel π
Caroline Price
Brilliant, I loved that xxx
A. J. Vrana
Thanks, Caroline! Glad you enjoyed <3
Caroline Price
Wonderful, I love Kai, I can’t wait to read the second book! Thanks hon, brilliant writing!
A. J. Vrana
I’m so excited for you to read the second book as well!! Thank you so much for always reading and commenting <3
Caroline Price
If it helps you get better publicity for the book, I can wait…I think! Well I will try but I’m desperate. Best of luck hon you deserve it, the best fantasy I have read in a very long time!
A. J. Vrana
Thank you for always being so supportive! Honestly it was a tough call but I do think it’s for the best. Two months will fly by, and hopefully eARCs will be a salve! <3 <3 <3
Caroline Price
That is one brilliant story, I love Kai, he has empathy. I hope you’re going to collect your short stories for a collection later.
A. J. Vrana
Thank you! He tries, though sometimes the empathy comes through via head-smashing. I might collect them one day, though I’d probably have to remove them form the website then, unless I self-publish them!
Caroline Price
Hi,
I know exactly how you feel, I became bedridden some years ago and rely on visits from my adult children and my carer for external support plus my three rescue cats, Remus and Charlie from Greece and Thor from a couple of miles away, who live with me and look after me. We did have a Romanian Shepherd dog rescued from…you’ve guessed it…Romania, but he died in June which broke my heart. Life goes on, I read and review and you write brilliant books! We survive, I don’t worry about getting the virus, something will finish me off one day, but I worry about my children and my son’s children – he and his partner are expecting twins in July and they already have Lily 8 and Penny almost 1. Our new strain of virus over here in UK seems to affect children- worrying. However what will be will be. Keep up the good work. Caroline x
A. J. Vrana
Hi Caroline,
It’s so wonderful you have the support of your kids and animal family! I’m sorry to hear about your tribulations with health, though I’m happy your life is so full of amazing people and pets. It’s funny–one of my good friends volunteers with a dog rescue that brings strays over from Greece and Serbia (our motherland!). They do such amazing work, and I’ve found their dogs to be some of the most well-socialized I’ve ever seen. They really make amazing companions. I’m sorry you recently lost one of your babies :(. We lost our dog a few years ago, and I just feel fortunate to have two cats to keep the apartment feeling full. Re: coronavirus–this new strain is truly worrying; I am hopeful that the vaccine is effective against it, but I still wish we didn’t have to wait another 6-12 months for full-scale roll out!
Thank you as always for the compliments and support <3
Caroline Price
β€
Malorie
This is so exciting, and well deserved! I canβt wait to attend!
Caroline Price
Excellent short story as usual. I love Kai and Miya, they are so well written, completely three dimensional, you care about them. I love their sparky relationship, the snarky sniping and I must admit that Kai is right, living with her parents must have been hell for Mia!
A. J. Vrana
Thank you so much, Caroline! I had a lot of fun writing this piece :). I also love Kai and Miya’s snippy interactions, and it was a welcome break to think about what sorts of domestic conflicts they’d end up having!
Caroline Price
Of course Maia picked the wolf, a touch of prescience in her makeup, a touch of foreshadowing by one of my favourite authors?
Caroline Price
Sorry had a DYAC moment there and only saw it had ‘corrected ‘ Miya as I pressed submit…I hate it when that happens!
A. J. Vrana
No worries at all! Autocorrect always ruins my sentences as well. Thank you for reading!!
Caroline Price
My reviews will be up and running asap. Thanks for the heads up about NetGalley, I will post there too.
A. J. Vrana
You’re the best! Happy reading!
Ink
This one is so cute.. aww lol.. he IS kinda sweet..
A. J. Vrana
Bahahah don’t let him hear you!
Inkslinger
Oh.. but that would be 90% of the fun.. lol
Malorie Nilson
I love this relationship origin story. <3
A. J. Vrana
LOL rivals Miya and Kai’s!
Ink
This is gorgeous as always, love the imagery!
A. J. Vrana
Thanks so much for reading!!
Malorie Nilson
This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. π₯°
A. J. Vrana
Yesssss thank you!! I am so excited to hold it in my hands!
Malorie Nilson
Such a thoughtful review. I am more excited than ever to read this book, and I have dug it out of my ever-growing tbr pile after reading this breakdown. I love how you talk about the nuance and complexity that should be allowed women characters, and I hope to see more discourse like this open up in review spaces.
Fleur
Hear, hear! Well said.
Roxanne
I happened upon this blog when trying to look up the distinguishable different between urban fantasy and magical realism, out of a frustration of being unable to find Latine fantasy writers.
I agree with everything said here. It feels like a weird, colonized take to ascribe magical realism solely to Latin American because it’s chaotic. I won’t even get into the layers regarding that. But I find myself increasingly frustrated by the fact that any type of fantastical story written by a Latine author is immediately classed as magical realism, which then puts it into an inaccessible bucket.
I’m a Latine author, and I consider what I write to be fantasy. I would really scratch my head if someone tried to call it magical realism solely because of my ethinicity.