Gratitude, on many levels, for old friends and good reviews
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Gratitude, on many levels, for old friends and good reviews

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A friend from my distant past contacted me recently. She sent a kind email and thanked me for something I’d done for her, all those decades ago.

My service to her was important, even life-changing, I say that honestly. But I also know that she would have found a way to do it without me. She was that kind of person: bright, energetic, personable, poised, competent.

And it was reciprocal. I learned from her. With my modest origins, I was something of an uncut gem in my early 20’s. There were things I simply hadn’t learned, like how to apply make-up and the value of a great haircut. You can get away with some rough shagginess when you’re young like that, but it sure does help in life to sport a slick of polish. My friend took me to her salon and sat me down in a chair and I received my first ever truly great haircut.

Everyone judges a book by its cover, and she helped me to foist a better one. I’m grateful.

At the same time, it felt really good to be acknowledged, to be recognized, for a kindness I had done. I’m sort of used to my good works going unnoticed, or even denigrated. Not by Sabin and my little one,  who are appreciative people, but by others from my past. I suppose I should be enlightened enough to follow the Bhagavad Gita’s advice, and do good things without attachment, simply because they’re there to be done.

But, dang, it does feel super good to be acknowledged and thanked!

In that vein, I happily thank book reviewer Psibabe aka Ashley Perkins of the Game Vortex site for her wonderful, thoughtful, insightful, and well-written review of my first novel Immortal. Perkins had read Fallen and some of my other novels and liked them, so she went back to read Immortal. Game Vortex is a big international gaming site, and I’m delighted to have the exposure. Good reviews feel pretty great!

So to Ashley Perkins and all the other book reviewers who have taken the time to read my books and write a review: Thank You! I know you have busy lives and yet you’ve done me a splendid service. I appreciate your time and thought.

 

“Best of 2013” mentions for COLD LIGHT and FAR SHORE
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“Best of 2013” mentions for COLD LIGHT and FAR SHORE

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This year, my novels have enjoyed being enjoyed.

COLD LIGHT made it to charming French book-lover Melliane’s list on the bilingual book review site Between Dreams and Reality: “My best books of 2013 – Mes meilleurs livres de 2013.” Find the list here.

Her review of Cold Light is here, and she writes, “This series is really a great discovery for me… The plot itself is well done, we follow Emma in her mission to find her daughter, and this is really fraught with obstacles of all kinds.”

If you prefer Version Originale, it’s here: “Cette série est vraiment une grande découverte pour moi. J’étais tombée amoureuse du premier tome et quand j’ai eu l’opportunité de lire le deuxième et troisième tome de cette trilogie, j’avoue que je n’ai pas hésité.”

On the ever popular Paromantasy site, the exuberant paranormal romance Guru Evelyn Amaro puts FAR SHORE on her best of 2013 list, writing that it is “An adult dystopian romance that is haunting, thrilling, and romantic. You will not be able to put it down!” Find the list here.

Both lists are very sweet for me because my novels are rubbing shoulders with some very well known, very well and widely published works of fiction, including bestsellers and novels made into film.

So what are you waiting for? Go here to buy these great books!

 

Between D&R

“Join the apocalypse!”

“Join the apocalypse!”

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Columnist Margaret Marr of bustling Nights and Weekends blog wrote a fantastic review of FAR SHORE.

In Far Shore, the struggles are brutal, the emotions are high, and the dangers are constant. Emma makes decisions that you might not like, but you’ll understand why she makes the choices that she does—because no decision falls neatly into a black or white zone. She once again proves her strength and courage as she’s faced with one insurmountable problem on top of another. You’ll admire her for sticking with Arthur even at his worst and most pitiful moments. 

Interwoven into this apocalyptic plot is an epic love story that defies the ravages of time and incidents…

Once you begin reading Far Shore, you’ll be sucked in with no hope of getting out—nor will you want to. Page after page brings intrigue, suspense, and breathtaking thrills all wrapped up in a solid plot that will continue into another adventure with the next book in the series. Come on, what are you waiting for? Join the apocalypse! 

It’s especially sweet for me because Marr is an author herself. She’s an educated consumer, in the sense that she too has sweated through a few rough spots in a story. She has smart things to say about writing and revision. Here’s a great interview of Marr on a writer’s blogspot, talking about the necessity of revision and how she came to accept herself as a writer.

So come on, everyone–Join the apocalypse!

 

New Reviews and Giveaway of FALLEN
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New Reviews and Giveaway of FALLEN

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Reviews of Fallen.

So, over this lovely Thanksgiving weekend, with so much to be grateful for, come two wonderful new reviews.

Leslie Wright, paranormal author and passionate reader extraordinaire, wrote a warm and thoughtful review of THE LOVE OF MY (OTHER) LIFE.

Here’s a quick quote: This is a fun and romantic take on the power of soulmates. As Slatton creates her characters, she imbues them with warmth and recklessness. There is a boldness and vulnerability attached to Brian that draw you to his character.

The review is found here on her book review blog Tic Toc, and also here on Blogcritics. org for double the love. You can find Leslie on FB here and on twitter: @LeslieTicToc 

The inimitable Kelly Woodward, who has a master’s in literature and was once a ballroom dance teacher, is hosting a giveaway of FALLEN and an interview of me to go along with her insightful review. Her blog is called You can read me anything.

I loved when she wrote: I started reading Fallen in the car on the way home (relax…my husband was driving, not me!), and I asked my husband to let the car idle in the driveway for a minute…I needed to finish the scene and find out what happened!The rest of the book holds up to the promise of the first pages. Slatton’s writing is smooth and efficient; she crafts scenes so easily that you can’t help but see them in your mind’s eye….

Check out Kelly’s review here and ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF FALLEN here.

You can find Kelly on FB here and on twitter: @kellyswoodward

 

Crystal Book Reviews on COLD LIGHT

Crystal Book Reviews on COLD LIGHT

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The rather delightful Viviane Crystal enjoyed COLD LIGHT and wrote enthusiastically about it on her Crystal Book Reviews blog.

Here is one of my favorite passages:

Cold Light continues with scenes of adventure, treachery, brutality, and passion for these feisty characters who love and live with such fierce intensity that actually seeps into the reader while reading.  Traci Slatton’s series is a notable work of science fiction and/or paranormal fiction that will intrigue and thrill readers who love this genre.  

Find the review here.

 

Nights & Weekends on COLD LIGHT; Seacoastonlineblogs on FAR SHORE
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Nights & Weekends on COLD LIGHT; Seacoastonlineblogs on FAR SHORE

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Two new reviews: author and reviewer Margaret Marr of Nights and Weekends wrote a bang-up delightful review of COLD LIGHT,  saying:

Cold Light brings us adventure, suspense, and romance all wrapped within an apocalyptic tale of survival against the strongest forces that mankind has to bear. At the center is a tortured heroine who struggles to make the right choices, making it easy for the reader to relate to her and feel deeply for her. She’s damaged but strong, and it’s easy to root for her no matter what options she chooses, whether it relates to her heart or her survival. 
Traci L. Slatton is an amazing writer, and she proves it once again with Cold Light—a read that’s impossible to put down. It will draw you into a cold world that’s warmed by unforgettable characters and mankind’s desire to survive against all odds. 


Rebecca Skane of SeacoastOnline Blogs posted this thoughtful, careful look at FAR SHORE, writing, 
 

Although endearing, the diversity is meant to illuminate  and enforce the commonalities that all people share:  love, hate, friendship, and the desire to survive.  When the mists destroy most of the population, the rest of the survivors left on the planet have to set aside petty differences that may have once separated them in order to survive as a singular species….

I was positive that I knew how this book was going to end.  I was completely wrong.  I love it when that happens!  It also seems that this third book is not the end, although the series labels itself as a trilogy.  It appears that a fourth book may be coming and the series will have to rebrand itself as a quartet, while Far Shore is more of a bridge to the next and final book.  Or is it?

Find Rebecca Skane on Goodreads here.
Find Margaret Marr on Goodreads here.

To answer all the lovely bloggers, book reviewers, and readers: The After Series is no longer a trilogy, it is a series. I got to the end of FAR SHORE and there was story left over to tell…. So stay tuned for the 4th book in the series!