Martyrs and Traitors by: Marina Julia Neary

Martyrs and Traitors

By: Marina Julia Neary

This author sought me out because of her writer friend, Iryna Combs, the Author of “Black Wings”, which can be found within my blog. So to begin, allow me to thank Iryna for the referral, I totally appreciate it.

Marina sent me her info, along with her list of books, and ask me which one I wanted to read. I like that. So I looked over everything, and this one: “Martyrs and Traitors” just pulled me in. I read the other ones, and then re-read this one three times. 

I wasn’t sure if it was something my audience would get into, but I wanted to read it. Is that wrong? I thought for a minute. Why not. Let’s be selfish, and feed my reading needs. 

This amazing tale takes you into the past, 1916 to be exact. And it tells you the stories of one of Ireland’s own. 

Here you will learn of conspiracy theories, love stories, fights with then have make for a bloody messy, and so much more. 

Bulmer Hobson is the very misunderstood antihero, if you will, of this time frame. And when his captors capture him, and joke about shooting and killing him, Hobson’s terrified fiancé must try and find him.

Hobson was branded the most dangerous man in Ireland at one time. And all he was trying to do, was make a difference. 

Marina looks deeply into the real story, and gives us insight that you didn’t know, and helps you to understand the real Hobson better. She allows us to relive a bit of history through her eyes, giving us a wonderful five-star insight into the past, so that we may understand it better. This is a wonderful book, well written, and easy to understand, and wonderfully inspiring. A definite must read for anyone who loves history!

My questions for Marina:

1. What made you write this book and how long did it take you?

I was going through an Irish phase. While purging my hard drive, I found a few drafts of novels I attempted writing in college. So I decided to revisit them and see if I could complete them. The timing was perfect - a few years before 2016 - the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Dublin. After selling the first novel in the series, "Brendan Malone: the Last Fenian", I started writing "Martyrs & Traitors". I wrote it in the middle of a minor family crisis, and it took me about 4 months to cough up this 450+ page beast. It was a rough time, with illness and death in the family, and general economic uncertainty. I believe my overall anxiety fueled my creative process.

2. Did you do any special research for this, I mean you did date back to 1916....

Having assisted professors with research, I already had a lot of background knowledge about the Easter Rising, so I had the general outline of the events. Of course, I had to tap into more obscure resources. Some of the historical figures I was writing about were rather controversial, and many of the primary sources pertaining to them were either destroyed or hidden from the public. I wanted to get my hands on those sources, to give my readers something they would not necessarily get from textbooks.

3. Do you have any photos or descriptions of the characters?

Oh, heavens, yes! You would not believe the legwork, the sleuthing and the stalking involved in obtaining some of the photos. I was able to get in touch with Bulmer Hobson's grandson, who was kind enough to share some photos of his grandfather. Unfortunately, I cannot share them to the rest of the world. Interestingly, Hobson was "a man of a thousand faces". He had a very bland, Northern Irish appearance, and he looked different on all photos. Some people are like that.  They have that chameleon quality.

4. What is your very favorite book of all time?

Various books are tired to various seasons in my life. As a teenager, I was absolutely infatuated with Victor Hugo and the whole French Romanticism.

5. What makes you desire to write?

I always tell my readers that it's a nervous tick. You can't shake it easily. It's an uncontrollable compulsion. As a child, I would spend a lot of time inside my head, daydreaming, imagining various scenarios and outcomes.  I would construct entire worlds inside my head. And if you don't let those ideas out, your head will explode.

6. Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?

It depends on what your goals are and how attainable they are. Do you aspire to spit out 10 paperbacks a year, like some established genre authors? Or do you want to write something authentic, sincere, outside of most people's comfort level?

7. Have you ever met any writers IRL?

Yes, I've been to a few author conferences. Where I live - Fairfield County - we have a large concentration of writers, so we naturally we bump into each other at book events.  There are fewer and fewer physical book shops.

8. Do you write many stories on History, or just this once?

Out of 8 novels, 6 of them are hardcore historical. 2 are set in 1980-1990s, but they still reference many historical events.

9. What are you working on now?

I am relaunching three of my novels that were released from my prior publisher and placed with a different publisher. Sometimes a book needs a bit of a face lift.

10. Please share with us your social media and book links:

My blog: http://ctcommie.blogspot.com/
My FB link: https://www.facebook.com/marina.j.neary
My Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Marina-Julia-Neary/e/B0030L2MK2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1469277286&sr=8-3
My bio: http://www.penmorepress.com/penmore_authors_/marina-julia-neary.html

Martyrs and Traitors: A Tale of 1916 by Marina Julia Neary
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This author sought me out because of her writer friend, Iryna Combs, the Author of “Black Wings”, which can be found within my blog. So to begin, allow me to thank Iryna for the referral, I totally appreciate it.

Marina sent me her info, along with her list of books, and ask me which one I wanted to read. I like that. So I looked over everything, and this one: “Martyrs and Traitors” just pulled me in. I read the other ones, and then re-read this one three times.

I wasn’t sure if it was something my audience would get into, but I wanted to read it. Is that wrong? I thought for a minute. Why not. Let’s be selfish, and feed my reading needs.

This amazing tale takes you into the past, 1916 to be exact. And it tells you the stories of one of Ireland’s own.

Here you will learn of conspiracy theories, love stories, fights with then have make for a bloody messy, and so much more.

Bulmer Hobson is the very misunderstood antihero, if you will, of this time frame. And when his captors capture him, and joke about shooting and killing him, Hobson’s terrified fiancé must try and find him.

Hobson was branded the most dangerous man in Ireland at one time. And all he was trying to do, was make a difference.

Marina looks deeply into the real story, and gives us insight that you didn’t know, and helps you to understand the real Hobson better. She allows us to relive a bit of history through her eyes, giving us a wonderful five-star insight into the past, so that we may understand it better. This is a wonderful book, well written, and easy to understand, and wonderfully inspiring. A definite must read for anyone who loves history!

View all my reviews

Azaria by J.H. Hayes

Azaria

By: J.H. Hayes

Azaria is only a fifteen years old girl. She is a very curious and brave teen too. Always out to show the boys and the men, she was their equal, if not even better!

Sadly, for her, one day she accidentally witnessed her Father, Azerban, involved in the sacrifice of a rival tribesman. This upset her very much.

Azaria is a character driven historical novel in the vein of Jean Auel’s Earth Children series. It’s woven around the mysterious hunter-gatherer culture that erected Gobekli Tepe the massive, 13000-year-old-temple structure in modern day Turkey whose discovery rocked the archaeological community and is now widely believed to mark man’s transition to civilization.

Natu customs are under the microscope, and Azaria must lie, deceit and keep her own secrets from those in Natu in order to try to make what she hopes- a difference. Azaria might be only fifteen, but she thinks much wiser, and knows and goes after what she wants. She wants to show those of her world, that she can be the first to be the one, to make the stand of a difference, and show her father, and the people of Natu, it’s time to make changes.

This book “Azaria” not only is a wonderful read, it guides you through History, and enlightens you about the people, and the World around the Natu people. You will feel like you are right there, you can see and feel like you are learning the ways of these people, and their world. It is a whole new time, and it is truly amazing. This is true five star educational read. It is like a History lesson, and so much more.

Here are my questions for Mr. Hayes:

1. What made you decide to write the book Azaria?

I was fascinated with the idea of the temple structure of Gobekli Tepe. What sort of people built it? Why? How? We really know very little so far about the civilization that built GT. We know they were hunter-gatherers who were perhaps just beginning to domesticate certain grains and maybe animals too. We know a little bit about their iconography and what they hunted and how they lived. But we don't know much more.

No matter how much I read and researched I just couldn't quench my thirst for why and how GT was built. This fascination (almost obsession) needed an outlet and eventually the ideas for a story came together. After several months of pondering and more research, I started writing. After that, it was all downhill.


2. Do people need to read www.Azariablog.com first before the book?

No. The novel stands on its own. Azariablog.com is a nice supplement after reading it though. There are posts on scientific articles related to the subject matter of the novel, as well as some excerpts and cut scenes. In the future, I plan on including brand new content that you'll only be able to find on my blog: short stories taking place in the Azaria universe and such.


3. How long did it take you to write this book?

It took about a year to research and another year to write the first draft. The editing process took the longest - 2 whole years. It was great fun though. I thoroughly enjoy every part of the process from beginning to end.


4. Other then the cover, do you have any other photos?

I don't have any illustrated artwork, but I do have some some personal photos of Gobekli Tepe I took when visiting the site in the winter of 2012-2013. I really should post those to Azariablog.com


5. How did you learn about Natu's Customs?

The specific customs and traditions are a result of my imagination based heavily on research. I studied the Natufi (Natu) and Kebaran (Kebar) Cultures, which are both historical neolithic cultures in the Levant and Fertile Crescent areas. The excarnation ritual is borrowed from a Tibetan practice.


6. Have you been in this temple?

Yes. I visited Gobekli Tepe in Southeastern Turkey in the winter off-season. The site was officially closed, but I was able to gain access by bribing the security guard with a couple of loaves of bread. It's a truly magnificent, awe-inspiring location. The monumental slabs tower over you. The reliefs are cryptic and exotic. When you stand there trying to take it all in, you feel like you should be able to gather some meaning from it all. You know it was built for some purpose, but you just can't put your finger on it. I really envy the researchers that get to spend their lives their. Besides all the incredible discoveries they are making, it's just a majestic place to get to work.

7. What is you very most favorite book of all time?

That's a really tough one. I'm tempted to say The Princess Bride, but it's really my favorite movie, even though the book is even better. I guess I'll go with Douglass Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. His satire slays me. Another favorite is Mysts of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.


8. Who is your favorite Author(s)?

My favorite authors, in no particular order, are Neil Gaiman, Jean Auel, Mark Twain, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Isaac Asimov, Douglas Adams and Carl Sagan.


9. What are your hobbies?

Obviously I like to read and write. If you've read Azaria, it's probably no mystery either that I like history, archeaology and anthropology. I also like politics and religion. When not working, reading or writing, I love to travel.


10. What all education do you have?

I have a B.S. in Physics and Astronomy from Sonoma State University. I also took some graduate level courses at Harvard while working on the Chandra X-Ray Telescope at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.


11. Please share with us your links and social media sites:

www.Azariablog.com

@azariablog = Twitter

www.facebook.com/azariablogpage/


12. Anything to add:

Just thank you so much to Deneale for reviewing and spotlighting my novel. Independent writers can not have success without good people like her.

Azaria by J.H. Hayes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Azaria is only a fifteen years old girl. She is a very curious and brave teen too. Always out to show the boys and the men, she was their equal, if not even better!

Sadly, for her, one day she accidentally witnessed her Father, Azerban, involved in the sacrifice of a rival tribesman. This upset her very much.

Azaria is a character driven historical novel in the vein of Jean Auel’s Earth Children series. It’s woven around the mysterious hunter-gatherer culture that erected Gobekli Tepe the massive, 13000-year-old-temple structure in modern day Turkey whose discovery rocked the archaeological community and is now widely believed to mark man’s transition to civilization.

Natu customs are under the microscope, and Azaria must lie, deceit and keep her own secrets from those in Natu in order to try to make what she hopes- a difference. Azaria might be only fifteen, but she thinks much wiser, and knows and goes after what she wants. She wants to show those of her world, that she can be the first to be the one, to make the stand of a difference, and show her father, and the people of Natu, it’s time to make changes.

This book “Azaria” not only is a wonderful read, it guides you through History, and enlightens you about the people, and the World around the Natu people. You will feel like you are right there, you can see and feel like you are learning the ways of these people, and their world. It is a whole new time, and it is truly amazing. This is true five star educational read. It is like a History lesson, and so much more.

View all my reviews