The Gentleman’s Alliance +

By Arina Tanemura

Rated T for some adult themes and mild swearing

When she was young, Haine Kamia was sold to the Otomiya family for 50,000 yen.  Now a high-school-er, Haine attends Imperial Academy, a school for the rich and privileged.  Her primary goal is to be close to Shizumasa Togu, the boy she loves!  The only problem is that Shizumasa is the Emperor of the school–and completely unapproachable by a low-ranking student like her!

However, a random meeting with Maora, a member of the Student Council and Shizumasa’s friend, gives Haine the chance she needs to be accepted to the Student Council, where she is close to Shizumasa every day.  Haine’s delighted by this turn of events. . . but Shizumasa isn’t.  In fact, he practically hates her!  Will Haine find a way into his heart. . . ?

The Gentleman’s Alliance + isn’t as silly as it’s premise would have you believe.  As time goes on, more serious tones and plot points come into play–like Shizumasa’s feelings for Haine, Haine’s troubled relationship with her best friend, Ushio, and her rocky relationship with her birth family.  Nevertheless, The Gentleman’s Alliance + always comes back to its roots as a lighthearted romance. However, it is not for children (it’s rated T for a reason, unlike a couple of other stories like Aqua and Aventura).

I fell in love with Arina Tanemura’s style when I read the second volume of The Legend of Princess Sakura, which is why I picked up The Gentleman’s Alliance +.  I found that Haine’s adventure was fun and absorbing.  In short order I read all eleven books in the series, and bought the beautiful art book, The Gentleman’s Alliance +: Arina Tanemura Illustrations.   (It was well worth the money I spent on it. )  Tanemura’s art is light and pretty (though I must admit that her characters’ eyes seem way to big for their heads), and her enthusiasm for her work shines through brightly.  It makes her stories especially enjoyable, even when they take a turn towards the silly side.

~River

Dan Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual

By Dan Poynter

Note:  The review below is for the fifteenth edition, which was published in 2006.  Some of the information is dated, but the book still provides a good foundation of how to self-publish.  The latest edition that I found on Amazon was published in 2007, and Poynter has since written Dan Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual Volume 2 (2009), which I haven’t read yet but which presumably has updated information on the subject.

For those wishing to publish their own book or start a publishing company, I have found no better guide than Dan Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual. Poynter established his own publishing company, Para Publishing, in 1969.  According to Para Publishing’s web site (www.parapub.com/sites/para), Poynter has written over seventy books and revisions of books since then.  And perhaps best of all–for both him and the people who want to follow in his footsteps–he has learned the best ways to publish a book.

Granted, he doesn’t tell you how to be a big-time publisher like Random House or HarperCollins.  Instead he leads you, step by step, through the process of setting up and maintaining your own small to mid-size press.  This is definitely a good thing because as a self-published author or a new publisher, you need effective approaches that give you a quick return on investment, and this book provides many such strategies.  It also includes a detailed publishing calendar so that you can effectively plan for the publication of your book.

If there is a problem with the main bulk of the Self-Publishing Manual, it is this: Poynter is primarily a nonfiction author and publisher, and most of his advice is slanted for nonfiction writers.  He does provide some advice for authors of fiction, but it is sectioned out and in some cases feels more like an afterthought.  This doesn’t detract anything from his the book’s value, but authors of fiction will find themselves adapting his advice for their own circumstances.

As I said in the note at the beginning, I read an older edition of the Self-Publishing Manual.  If you want updated information, the Para Publishing Website is regularly updated.

Venturing Foward into 2012

Two posts ago and not long after New Year’s Day, I posted about my goals for 2012.  Now I am revising and adding to the list, so be prepared for all of the changes that will come in the next few months!

Goal #1: For the Writer: The Writer’s Corner

Strike a Spark started out as a book review site.  Now, I’m making it a site for the writer as well.  I’ve already published a small Writer’s Corner that is, quite frankly, sparse and uninspiring; the current message posted on the page (“This part of Strike A Spark is currently under construction.  In other words, if you think it’s a little skimpy, then you are right”) is so true, it’s not funny.  At all.  So, I plan on really fleshing out the Writer’s Corner until it’s a comprehensive reference.  I will also post my tips and tricks here on the main blog so that you can read them as soon as I write them.

If you use this part of Strike a Spark, I would love to hear feedback from you so that I can make it better.  Just post it in the “Comments” section of the respective post or page that you’ve read.  Thanks.

Goal #2: For the Writer: Reviews

Along with revising the Writer’s Corner, I will review more books aimed at authors: Goodness knows that I’ve read enough of them!  Like Gail Carson Levine’s Writing Magic, Jan Venolia’s Write Right, and many, many books on the subject of publishing and self-publishing.  So, starting with my next post, you can look forward to that, too!

Goal #3: The Blog

Like I said before, Strike a Spark was started as a book review site.  Well, starting with this post, Strike a Spark will be about more than media.  Not only do I plan on updating and revising The Writer’s Corner (see point 1), and adding more nonfiction reviews aimed at writers (see point 2), but I am going to make this blog a little more personal.  Why?  It’s simple: I’m an author, too, and not just for book reviews!  So why should I limit my posts to book reviews?  Answer: I shouldn’t!  As I go through the journey that all authors make, I hope to share my triumphs an tribulations with you, here on this blog.

Side Note: The Header

If you read my New Year’s post, then you may recall that I promised a shiny new header for the site.  Fear not, because I am not breaking that promise.  I just wanted to say that if you want to see some of my work, check out the Cyber Creations Club blog here: http://cybercreationsclub.wordpress.com/.  We might not have any artwork up on the main page at the time that you visit, but never fear: Just go to the Chibi Chronicles tab to read our ongoing comic, or to the Member’s List to check out some images.

Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness

By Nahoko Uehashi; Translated by Cathy Hirano; Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness is the sequel to Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit.  However, each book stands on its own, and while there are some references to Moribito, you do not have to have read Moribito to enjoy Moribito II.

Balsa the Spear-Wielder has not been to her native country, Kanbal, since her foster father Jiguro gave up everything to save her from the King’s assassins when she was six years old.  Now that the tyrannical King Rogsam is dead, she has decided to return to Kanbal to find Jiguro’s family and tell the truth behind his disappearance and seeming betrayal.

But King Rogsam was devious, and he before he died he created a conspiracy that would haunt Jiguro and Balsa for the rest of their days.  When Balsa was a small child, Rogsam had her father killed for knowing too much.  He would have murdered Balsa as well to make sure his secrets were safe and his chosen heir could ascend to the throne. When Jiguro saved Balsa and fled with her from Kanbal, Rogsam framed him for stealing the nine Spear Rings, the most precious treasures of Kabul.  This lie followed Jiguro for the rest of his life, and now follows Balsa, though she does not know it.

Once back in Kanbul, Balsa helps two children, Kassam and Gina.  After they part ways, Balsa doesn’t expect to see Kassam or Gina ever again, but her actions have allowed the conspiracy of the past to catch up with her and start an adventure that will test Balsa again.  This time, though, her adventure will take her to the depths of the darkness in Kanbal, where she will either save a country or destroy it.

The second book in one of my favorite series, Moribito II:  Guardian of the Darkness is a worthy successor to Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit.  When I read it, I was absorbed by Balsa’s second adventure and Yuko Shimizu’s beautiful illustrations made the story a little more tangible.  And of course we can’t disregard Cathy Hirano’s excellent translation!  Hirano skillfully navigates the language barrier, and the result is elegant.  I just wish that the other books in the series were published in English.  Then everything would be perfect.

Happy New Year!

2011 was an amazing year: Strike A Spark celebrated its second birthday, I attempted the Post-a-Week 2011 Challenge, and I started a blog with the amazing people at the Cyber Creations Club.  I found a really cool web animation project called Fate Saga that I’m now following–I can’t wait until it premiers!  (You can check it out at http://fatesagathesis.blogspot.com!)  I laughed, I cried, I read more books than I can count. . . though I’m still learning about writing more posts than I can count.  Yeah, 2011 was truly an amazing year!  What was your favorite part of 2011?

About the Post-a-Week 2011 Challenge: I didn’t make my goal of posting every week in 2011.  With a grand total of 46 posts spread over two blogs, I was close.  I don’t think of it as failing, because I learned a lot and my dedication is better now, which was my goal all along. And this year I will do even better:  I will try to up my posts from once a week to twice a week, one post per blog per week.  I think that it will be a good exercise, and a good way to capitalize on what I learned last year!

My plans for 2012 are big:  I’m going to add a custom header for Strike a Spark, and I will try to add images to all of my book review posts (even my old ones!).  Like I said, I’m going to try to post here at least once a week, so stick with me and see what happens!

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope that you all have a wonderful year!

~River