I hesitated because they are such a different genre from Remix and Replica. Difficult to pin down what they are precisely - in fact, the way I generally describe them is fantasy for readers who don't usually like fantasy. For one thing, the characters talk like normal people instead of in that stiff archaic way so common in fantasy fiction. The setting is medieval with dragons, but no magic or elves. Especially not elves. They are suitable for any age reader from young adult upwards.
One of my favourite comments came from Steven Cudahy: "I love the characters. You seem to have managed to create a set of people halfway between Lord Of The Rings and Monty Python's Holy Grail."
I'm looking forward to seeing what the new gatekeepers, readers, think of them.
That's how I described my fantasies exactly, Lexi. 'For people who don't read fantasy.' And if i can pull people to the dark side, I'm sure you'll succeed 100%.
ReplyDeletePrue, nice to know there are two of us writing with a reckless disregard for ticking the boxes.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with those, Lexi!
ReplyDeleteCovers to die for! See you in the top 100 in a few days!
Thanks Mark! I enjoy tinkering around with covers, though what I really needed was a photograph of a dragon, and Google failed to come up with one.
ReplyDeleteYou finally did it! Wonderful, I'm happy for you. Don't worry, there are many fantasy readers out there; it's a huge market. Good luck with everything and many many excellent reviews.
ReplyDeleteI hope my comment doesn't come up twice, if so, please delete on of them.
Yay!! Good luck with these, Lexi!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow could anyone not like fantasy?!?!!? Not normal! I'm kidding - no offence, off I go! Take care
x
Congratulations and good luck with them! The writing may be a different style, but I love how the 'Revellian blue sky' background gives a definite Hoxton Press house style to your cover design.
ReplyDeleteK
'Revellian blue sky' - you have a point, K - I hadn't noticed.
ReplyDeleteI do love when it's dusk but the sky is still a deep, deep blue. And those evenings when the sky is slatey, and the setting sun lights brickwork and treetops to a golden glow.
beautiful covers! Good luck with these!
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny, thanks for dropping by :o)
ReplyDeleteLexi, just to let you know, the US link for Trav actually takes one to the UK site.
ReplyDeleteI think you will do well with these two. Careful, though, you will find readers wanting you to deliver more and soon. Is the third book in the works at all?
Gah! Now corrected. Thanks for spotting that, Alan.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, The Torbrek Trilogy is like the Thompson Twins - i.e., a tad misleading where numbers are concerned. If popular demand is great enough, there will be a third book. Probably.
Brave woman, Lexi - the very best of luck with these. Self-publishing seems the best possible solution for books that don't quite fit familiar genres.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jo. (It's always somewhat alarming to be called brave...)
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a departure, or, given that these were your first novels, does that mean that Remix and Replica are the departures?
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm confused. But I like the covers!
Fantasy is a good genre to start with as it gives you so much freedom, and there isn't the new novelist temptation to simply write about your own life.
ReplyDeleteI also like the stakes being higher - if you make an enemy, he won't just cross you off his Christmas card list, he may try to kill you :o)
I've just started the first one and I'm loving it! The lack of archaic language is a good start, and so is the gentle humour, and even with this earlier book there's that sense of easy competence I loved in Remix and Replica. (Which isn't easy at all as we all know.)
ReplyDeleteGlad you are enjoying it, FH. I wouldn't start a book these days the way I started Torbrek - a bit too leisurely - but it does gather pace as it goes along, I think.
ReplyDeleteAs for the 'easy competence' - I re-edited Torbrek many, many times as my writing improved. It's been laboured over much more than my later novels :o)
I love that phrase 'easy competence'. That's exactly what it is.
ReplyDeleteI have just finished Torbrek and absolutely loved it.
Lexi, you are my favourite author since I found the world of Kindle.
My day has suddenly improved!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joo :o)
Lexi, your books look great. We've already downloaded Torbrek. I just wanted to let you know that I have given you a Liebster Blog award on my site. The post is here: http://jamiesedgwick.blogspot.com/2011/09/paying-it-forward.html
ReplyDeleteThanks!
[Grits teeth] Congratulations. I'm sure both books will be [chews carpet] very successful.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, I have spotted an error in your post. One word too many, to wit, "usually". You couldn't delete it, could you, just so's I can say, "Lexi Revellian? Oh yes, I knew her before she was famous. Influenced her style, in fact."? [choose carpet]
I dunno, I think that 'usually' is needed to cover readers like me who have read the odd fantasy, but usually don't read the genre. And I still have doubts there's a market for it.
ReplyDeleteYou can stop chewing things. I think you probably did influence my style back in the old YouWriteOn days when we were young and carefree. How long ago it seems now...
Jamie, thanks for the Liebster Blog Award, and even more for buying Torbrek, which I hope you enjoy :o)
ReplyDeleteIain, we really do need to get you some other sort of snack food.
ReplyDeleteDo you like granola bars?
Licorice?
Gelato?
I'm still reading the first one (it's slower on the computer because I can't tuck it under my arm and carry it everywhere with me) and I'm loving it. The gentle humour, the pacing, the characters, the cat...
ReplyDeleteSo far it's a very gentle ride and I hope that doesn't change too much. I do love your writing, Lexi.
So pleased, FH.
ReplyDeleteThe offspring used to tell me Torbrek was, in her expression, too happy happy joy joy. I have made later books a bit darker and edgier, but I'm afraid overall they remain resolutely upbeat.
Wow,Lexi! Didn't realize you had written so many books!
ReplyDeleteYou're like a veritable Shakespeare. Although in his case, I think it was plays.
I'd pay well more than a quid for any one of your books. Ummm, what is a quid again?
Perry, a quid is not what it used to be.
ReplyDeleteI've just fished your comment out of Spam - and once I'd done that, Hotmail didn't like it either. I think your mistake was saying Wow! Blogger regards exclamation marks with suspicion.