Monthly Archives: April 2012

I have been nominated for the Sunshine Blog Award

2 Replies

Patrick from Beyond Imagination has been kind enough to nominate SadieForsythe.com for a Sunshine Award. I’ve run an emotional gamut in response to it. I was initially thrilled simply to have been thought of, and then I wondered if this wasn’t just the blogging equivalent of a high-school chain letter, and then I decided I simply don’t care–Yeah, I got an award! While I get the distinct honor of passing it on to other blogs that bring momentary rays of sunshine into my virtual life, for the moment it is all mine.

Here are the rules…
1. Include the award logo in your post & on your blog.
2. Answer 10 questions about yourself – You can make up your own or you can use mine.
3. Nominate 5 – 10 other wonderful bloggers.
4. Let the other nominees know they are nominated and include links to their blog.
5. Link the person who nominated you.

So, here are my nominations:

Scarlett Rains
Ann Haines
Michael Cargill
Y. I. Lee
Eliza Baum

Some of them will be happier than others to receive such a chipper award, but they bring joy to me so…

1. Who is your favorite author ever?
This is an encredably hard question to answer. If asked what my favorite book is I would answer Dune, by Frank Herbert. But the question isn’t what is your favorite book. It is who is your favorite author; and the answer to that question changes from time to time. Right now I think I would have to say Anne Rice simply because she has written so many books that I have enjoyed.

2. What is your happy food?
Steamed artichokes with drawn butter. Oh god, I think I’m drooling just thinking about it.

3. Hardback or Paperback?
It depends – if it is a book I want to save and cherish, then a hardback. But if it is just a bit of fluff that I’m reading for the ephemeral joy of it, then I like a paperback that I can thrown in a smallish bag and drag about with me.

4. If you could visit one new country what would it be. 
Japan – I’m enamored with the culture, architecture, and atmosphere.

5. What is your favorite movie?
I don’t have many favorite movies. I would usually prefer a book or my computer.  But I would put Amalie right at the top of he list.

6. Manga or Anime?
Manga – it’s a little shot of happiness.

7. What is your favorite color?
I have always been partial to dark heather grey. I know, I know it may not technically be a color, but still it is my favorite.

8. What is your dream vacation?
Somewhere lush, leafy, and green like a lake or forest cabin. If I could just be left alone with the scenery, a stack of good books and a fast internet connection I would be in heaven.

9. Tea or coffee?
Ooh that’s a tough one. If I am at home it is always tea. But if I am out and about I generally want a latte at about 3:00pm.

10. What did you buy this week?
Other than groceries, nothing

A New 5 star review for the Weeping Empress

Leave a reply
6837929

Barbara Rayne‘s review

Apr 14, 12
5 of 5 stars false
Read on April 14, 2012
Sadie is an incredible writer. I got drawn into Chiyo’s world from page one and couldn’t put it down until I finished.

The book started with Chiyo not knowing where she was or what was happening, and as I went through the same emotions, it had an effect on me as if I was there, going through the same situations. That created an emotional bond with Chiyo, which intensified as the story progressed.

I’m a huge fan of Japanese world, their tradition, and sense of morale and duty, so I was rather susceptible to this kind of story, and was enchanted by the dance of the good and bad Sadie created. It really makes you think how you’d react, you are pulled deep into character’s psyche, you start to understand their reasoning and motivations behind their doings, and although they are killing people, that doesn’t bother you. Somehow, I viewed them as the “good guys” and fell in love with their personalities.

The biggest thrill this book caused was my own redefinition of good and bad. I was so happy that the characters were not typically goodish or notoriously bad, that they walked the edge of grey, as well as the fact that the book did not end in a perceivable way. What creeped me out is how much I was in tune with the characters, how their actions were not so odd to me, how much I felt as part of their group. Well, I guess that makes me a weirdo. 🙂

There’s nothing beautiful in being ripped out of your happy, cozy life, losing everything and everyone you loved. But there is something beautiful in surrendering to the beast inside of you, in grotesqueness of killing, in mind’s power over the body, and the self-discipline. In a very dark and destructive way, you find out who you truly are, what you’re capable of, what you’re made of. If I compare her previous happy life and this one, I say she was given an opportunity of a lifetime. She could have had a normal, happy life, but what’s so spectacular about that?

The Weeping Empress and the London Book Fair

2 Replies

The London Book Fair

My novel, The Weeping Empress, will be on display in the New Title Showcase of the London Book Fair. This is really exciting. The London Book Fair had close to 25,000 visitors last year and there is no reason to think that this year will see anything less; and there among thousands of other titles will be my book. It’s the first time I’ve had a book in a fair. I’m thrilled. 

Here’s the thing; I can’t be there. I won’t be able to see it. I have a deadline to meet and can’t jet off to London, even if I want to – and I do. It makes me want to cry. I want so badly to see it there on the shelf with all the other books. I want to stand across the isle and watch to see if anyone picks it up. I want to get a cheesy picture of myself grinning like a Cheshire cat while holding it next to my face. I want to be there, but I really just can’t.

SO, IF ANYONE HAPPENS TO BE GOING AND SENDS ME A SNAP OF THEMSELVES HOLDING THE WEEPING EMPRESS, I’LL SEND YOU A SIGNED COPY IN RETURN. 

Sadie@SadieForsythe.com

newtitleshowcase