The Raven and the Pig by Lou Kemp

Posted: March 21, 2022/By: achristay@aol.com

Please welcome Lou Kemp author of The Raven and the Pig

Lou Kemp will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner, a 2nd randomly drawn winner a mug and pen with the book image and a 3rd randomly drawn winner will win a eBook via rafflecopter during the tour.

The Raven and the Pig

by Lou Kemp

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GENRE: Magical realism

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INTERVIEW:

What or who inspired you to start writing?

The fairy tales I read as a kid. I have read them all.

How did you come up with ideas for your books?

I knew I wanted an immortal magician, and made it up as I went. Also, I love the 1800s and find it a romantic adventurous time liberally painted with a steampunk brush.

What expertise did you bring to your writing?
I enjoy it, it isn’t work, and have a good sense of what works and what doesn’t. I rarely rewrite my text. Edit, yes, a zillion times.

As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

To continue the Celwyn series and the offshoots, companion books, that feature Pelaez.

If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
If I am in a bad mood, Pelaez. If I am in a good mood, Celwyn.

When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

There wasn’t a decision to do that for this series—it was always a part of the plan. Early work, people in my critique groups influenced my submittals of early work.

What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

The best advice I’ve received is to let other people read or listen to my work and then listen to their feedback. I did not start getting better until I could do that.

The worst advice I heard (from friends and relatives) was that my writing was wonderful as I started out. It wasn’t.

Do you outline your books or just start writing?
No outline, just make it up as I go. I think outlines stifle creativity.

Do you have an all time favorite book?

Yes. Siege by Richard Hoyt. It is a satiric mystery spy story and a real ride. Skip the first chapter until you are about halfway through the book. The book is still available used and at Amazon.

Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?
I have started book 6 in the Celwyn series. It continues the story in the middle of a battle. Then the scene shifts to a derelict castle off the Spanish coast. What might be there is a personal and dreaded interest of Captain Nemo.
Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series.

A lot of fun. Because there isn’t an outline, it is like being on the ride yourself as an author. Hang on, and see what happens next.

BLURB:

Synopsis of The Raven and the Pig Book 2

As the music dies, the magician Celwyn is mortally wounded. His darker, immortal brother Pelaez brings him back, barely, with his magic. The party of protagonists travel on the Nautilus to the Cape Verde Islands and the healer of immortals. During the journey, Professor Kang and Bartholomew can not tell if Pelaez will keep his brother alive. Captain Nemo is ready to evict Pelaez forcibly, and keeping Celwyn alive is the only thing that restrains him.

After Celwyn is saved, the healer requests payment for his services. This sends the adventurers to the catacombs in Capuchin where their experience is one they will not forget. Before it is over, several of the protagonists question why it seems everyone from warlocks and vampires to witches, seem to be congregating in their world. Before it is over, some of them become surprising allies, and a few of their allies turn against them.

In part II, work on the new flying machine begins in earnest bringing attention from the Mafioso and a cherub-like warlock called Duncan. After a final battle with Duncan, the flying machine is destroyed and everyone at their compound is murdered by one of their own.

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EXCERPT:

Prelude

The rolling hills near Odessa, north of Constantinople 1867

With each step he took, Professor Xiau Kang sensed the intensity, and importance of what he would find. Above all, he felt the weight of his sadness. He had done his best to ignore that there was no guarantee Captain Nemo had located Thales, if Nemo failed to find him, Jonas Celwyn would be dead within a matter of days, perhaps hours.

A long time ago, on the Zelda, the magician had doubted a mechanical man could feel. Kang paused, swaying on his feet as he fought to regain his control; at this moment, the automat knew real despair, a wrenching grief that they would lose Jonas. He swallowed hard and walked faster, climbing to the top of the berm.

There she was! The long black submarine lay still in the water. A single sailor stood on patrol, and another perched in the cage on top with a spyglass.

Kang called, “I’ll get Mr. Celwyn. Please let the Captain know we’re here.”

Conductor Smith joined him as they ran back to the coach. The others had seen them and began unloading the magician onto the stretcher that Kang had fashioned for this moment. He skidded to a stop and grabbed Celwyn’s hand.

“The Nautilus is here. It isn’t far.”

In the distance, a low hum reached them; the sound sputtered and grew stronger.

The magician’s eyes opened slowly, like a thread from his memory raised his lids, impelling him to look. Everyone, including Jonas, gazed upward, as if they had already known what was to come.

The noise grew louder, and then a bright yellow flying machine crested the low hills and headed toward the estuary.

“Yes!” Kang shouted, raising his fist in triumph.

The plane swerved to the north, banked, and then flew toward them again in a wide arc.

“Oh, my God, it’s Bartholomew,” Elizabeth exclaimed.

Bartholomew wore a broad smile and his scarf fluttered in the breeze as he sailed over them. He waved. As he banked again, the engine revved and he turned, descending for another pass. Celwyn raised himself onto an elbow to wave back.

“Hurry,” Kang said. “Bartholomew is going to land. We have to get Jonas onto the ship.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Early work was horror and suspense, later work morphed into a combination of magical realism, mystery and adventure painted with a horrific element as needed.

I’m one of those writers who doesn’t plan ahead, no outlines, no clue, and I sometimes write myself into a corner. Atmospheric music in the background helps. Black by Pearl Jam especially.

More information is available at LouKemp.com. I’d love to hear from you and what you think of Celwyn, Bartholomew, and Professor Xiau Kang.

Milestones:

2009 The anthology story Sherlock’s Opera appeared in Seattle Noir, edited by Curt Colbert, Akashic Books. Available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble online. Booklist published a favorable review of my contribution to the anthology.

2010 My story, In Memory of the Sibylline, was accepted into the best-selling MWA anthology Crimes by Moonlight, edited by Charlaine Harris. The immortal magician Celwyn makes his first appearance in print.

2018 The story, The Violins Played before Junstan is published in the MWA anthology Odd Partners, edited by Anne Perry. The Celwyn series begins.

Present The full length prequel, The Violins Played before Junstan, to the Celwyn book series is published on Kindle. The companion book, Farm Hall is also published where Pelaez, another immortal magician and Celwyn’s brother, makes his first appearance. The remaining books in the series: Music Shall Untune the Sky, The Raven and the Pig, The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died, will be available beginning in August 2021.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouKempBooks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lou-Kemp/100070730154592/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LouKempAuthor/

Book Video: https://youtu.be/L9AP32VkY2E

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Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Pig-Book-Celwyn-ebook/dp/B09KXFWBZC/

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