Interview with Joshua Grant , Author of 'The Lost Boy'

Aug. 19, 2020

I was privileged to invite Author Joshua Grant for an interview to discuss his latest book The Lost Boy and the inspiration behind it. Enjoy! 

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What's your book The Lost Boy about, and what inspired you to write it?	The Lost Boy is my retelling of the classic Peter Pan tale as a modern beat em up vigilante superhero thriller!  It follows Peter Barrie as he seeks revenge against crime boss J.M. Hook after the murder of his best friend.  A lot of little things inspired me to make this weird conglomeration.  I was watching The Dark Knight around the same time I was playing the great video game series Kingdom Hearts and it sort of clicked in my head.  I wanted to make a gritty examination of justice versus revenge like in the movie.  At the same time, Kingdom Hearts is this weird mash up of Disney characters with Final Fantasy, two genres that don't seem like they'd fit but it works really well.  It's fun to see who from the two franchises will show up next and I thought it'd be really fun to do something like that, a different take on a popular story.  After that I couldn't stop thinking about it and decided I had to write it.
Who is your target audience, and why do you think this book will appeal to them?	The Lost Boy can be enjoyed by a diverse audience. It's definitely for the comic book lovers out there, but even people who don't normally read comics have enjoyed it.  People who love revenge thrillers, crime dramas, superheros, or redemption stories can definitely get into it.  It's a story packed with emotion and depth that can appeal to a broad audience!
What message do you wish to pass across to your readers with this book?	I wanted to make a comic book with a lot of emotion and examine some deep moral issues.  It's my hope that readers will pull from it that nothing is truly broken beyond repair, and that differences and diversity are what makes us strong.
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?	Writing The Lost Boy was a challenge simply because it's not what I usually write.  I'm a bestselling author of novels, but I've never written a comic book before.  It's a lot of fun, but challenging!  With novels, you can write and write and just pull stuff out later without thinking about it.  In a comic, you have to have it pretty well figured out while you're writing it, because every time you pull something out or change something, you have to change all the panels around it.  It's like building a house of cards and yanking one out each time!  It's really challenging, but honestly I have a lot of fun with it!
As a writer, is there anything you've learned about yourself while writing this book?	One of the many things I love about writing is how each thing I write changes me or gives me a different look at the world.  This book was all about reinventing an old story and is also about examining diversity and innocence.  It challenged and forced me to think in new directions and try entirely new things, both in the writing and in life.  I'm kind of a guy that likes the safe thing, so it was good to be forced to be adventurous.
What is your niche genre, and if you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?	I typically write Young Adult Fantasy or Sci Fi, but I'm also a bestseller in Horror/Thrillers.  Someday I'd love to write Lit Fic since I love a good tear-jerking drama though!
What books and authors have most influenced you?	A weird mash up of books have really influenced me. Mostly S.D. Perry and her novelization of the Resident Evil video game series.  Lois Lowry is truly the best (The Giver, Number the Stars).  And I love a lot of Dean Koontz too.
Do you have any more books in the works?	The Lost Boy Episode 2: Neverland has entered into the art stage and I'm almost done writing the whole first season of the series (6 episodes).  I'm also continuing books in almost all of my series (The Ascendants, The Hollow Men, Albanon, and The Organization).  It's a lot right now, but I'm almost there with a couple of them!
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?	I love to read reviews!  It's so much fun to see what readers latch onto and what they don't like.  It always stings a little when you get a bad review, but it's also helpful because readers are super diverse and you want to try to get a little something for everyone in your book within the boundries the story will allow, so different opinions matter.  I basically celebrate all reviews because they all mean I made someone feel something!
What is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, Goodreads, etc.)?	I love to engage with readers (and authors) on my website Diabolic Shrimp!  I'm also very active on Goodreads if you'd like to stop by and say hi there!

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Joshua Grant is a self-proclaimed Bond villain and a thousandaire philanthropist (like a billionaire philanthropist, just with a lot less money).  He has survived a flash flood, encountered numerous bears, and sailed the ocean blue.  Josh loves to read, write, play video games, and occasionally read up on the crazy science that’s happening in the world, but most of all he loves just getting people together to love, laugh, and grow alongside each other.  Currently, Josh makes a living teaching and working with kids in various environments, with the occasional novel always in the works.  To learn about his work, please visit www.diabolicshrimp.com.

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Why I do what I do - A Glimpse

As an editor and writer, I sometimes get asked why I do what I do, and how it is that I enjoy it so much. In the past, I’d wondered how it was that people could actually say they didn't read, but over time, I've come to understand we’re all wired differently, with different strengths, talents and gifts. I've also come to understand that sometimes, our passion for things can appear a bit (or maybe a lot) strange and extreme to others, and vice versa. Regardless, I’ll try to explain a little about why I do what I do.

So, allow me to digress with this post – I’m going to talk less about books, and a little more about me (although I can hardly talk about myself without talking about books!).

I’m a thirty-something-year-old reading junkie who fell in love with reading at a very early age. Or perhaps I didn't just fall in love... perhaps I was already created to love books from the get-go 😉 

My earliest memory of reading a book was at age 8, and thinking back now, I’m not sure how exactly I got hold of the books I used to read, but somehow I saw, grabbed, and devoured them like they were food to my soul. Fast forward to a few years later as a teenager earning pocket money – yeah, you can guess what I used those earnings on! I devoured Mills n' Boon series, Harlequin Silhouette series, Malory Towers and Famous Five series, Nancy Drew series, Sweet Valley High series… you name it, I read it all. Through those books, I created my own world in my own mind, and through those books, I began to imagine and envision my own characters, settings, plot. Because of those books, I began to write my own stories.

I was an introvert through and through, living in my own mind and loving it! To the outside world, I was this quiet little girl, sometimes a little too quiet… if only they knew how loud my mind was, how energetic my soul felt, living in these dream worlds.

I fell hard for the written word, and as I transitioned to university, I knew what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be. I wanted to play with words for a living; read them, write them, fix them, whatever it would take, however long it would take, regardless of what anyone would think. 

Today, I’m living that dream, however long it might have taken me to get here. I love what I do, and because of my passion for words, this awesome blog was born. Through this blog, I’ve been able to connect with wonderful authors and readers alike, share my love for books, and appreciate the efforts and courage it takes authors to put themselves out there – it’s never an easy accomplishment.

You must be a great beta reader, someone once said to me. But I’m not just a beta reader (although I actively offer this critique service to authors). I don’t simply read books in a robotic-like way and move on to the next. Reading a good book to me is like savoring the sweet and sour taste of an aged wine, or listening to music that speaks to your soul. I’m moved by the play on words by great authors, which is why literary fiction is, to date, my favourite genre in fiction. 

Lit Fic authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Margaret Atwood, Jane Austen, George Orwell, Lois Lowry, Neil Gaiman, and Celeste Ng play with (and on) words so insanely, I get pleasure pangs every time I read their works. It’s not because the words used are delightful or pleasing. On the contrary – the words are sometimes hard to swallow. They’re deep, revealing, enlightening. The words show, rather than tell. That’s where the beauty in these words lies for me - the act of revealing the truth in all its unpretty, yet exquisite, nakedness.

In time, I’ll start sharing my little eccentric stories here for all to read and enjoy! For now, get on this reading wagon with me (if you haven’t already)!

Happy reading!

What You Need to Know About Reading

Reading isn't for me.

I've heard people tell me that when I ask them if they like to read. Usually I look at them in dismay, because I'm baffled by the concept that reading isn't for anyone. On the contrary, it's exactly for everyone. If only everyone knew what they could gain from reading - and I don't just mean the act of reading, but reading books (whether fiction or non-fiction), magazines, journals, and even textbooks!

This isn't kindergarten, I’m aware. We don’t need reminders about how reading is essential, or lectures on how to read. So I'll have this labeled as a friendly article that should serve to remind and enlighten us on the great benefits that reading -- especially literary fiction -- can give us. 

Knowledge expansion
There are three main areas where our knowledge can be expanded  on when we read literary (or other inspiring genre) works. They're as follows:

a. On cultural awareness. Good fiction (and even non-fiction) allows you to be in a place where you might never be, and visualize what you might not otherwise have on your own. It shares insights about other cultures, plants that seed of interest, expands on the little cultural knowledge we may have previously gained, and helps us see these cultures from a new and different perspective.

b. On life experiences. When we read literary fiction or any good genre literature, we get to be in the shoes of the characters in the story, feel their pain, relive their experiences, mistakes, and so on. It brings a sense of understanding about the different situations some people face in real life and how different individuals handle them. We get to understand the prevalent social, economic, political or even psychological issues the author is trying to show the reader and the significance of some actions that these important characters make. We also learn a few things about ourselves as humans -- our limitations and shortcomings, but also our strengths and potency.

c. On world history. Some literary fiction plots are centered on historical periods and events that gives the reader a broader understanding of the era in discussion and the way of life at the time. It expands on the historical knowledge that may have already been attained from education, and adds a fresh outlook on what it was like to live through world-known events such as WW1 and WW2, the Great Depression, The Renaissance period, and so on.

Brain exercise 
a. Thinking outside the box. Reading literature is not only for entertainment purposes, but it's literally a form of exercise for the brain. For example, when we read about the different characters in a plot and the situations they may be facing, we find ourselves thinking and feeling for them, in a way that we may never have thought for ourselves and on our own. 

b. Vocabulary improvement. Reading improves our vocabulary tremendously. After reading familiar words and phrases repeatedly, we automatically figure out their meanings without going for the dictionary, and we begin to insert the phrases in our everyday conversations, which also leads to increase in our general intelligent level.

c. Increase in emotional intelligence = better interaction with those around us. When we're made aware of the issues going on around the world, we gain a better understanding of why things are the way they are, and why people appear to be the way they are or act the way they do. This gives room for allowance and tolerance in our subconscious, allowing us to gain the patience to be more understanding, and thus interacting better with those around us. 

Entertainment
Reading is a great form of entertainment; just like we go to the theaters, karaoke, bowling, skating, or dancing, so is reading in the same category. Reading, especially for book lovers, gives a sense of excitement and anticipation, like watching a movie with your mind's eye – being able to visualize every place, character, access situations, and so on. A jolly good book brings happiness and lightness to the reader, strongly improving the mood of the reader prior to reading.

I'm aware that for some, reading books doesn't always come naturally, especially reading literary fiction, as it's been deemed to be quite dull and wordy. I can assure you, though, that it's not always the case with all literary books. Granted, it's a fact that some books are slow in getting to the 'exciting' part. However, there are also some books in which the details of the very first pages might seem unimportant and mundane, but once you get through those first pages with patience (and maybe a little discipline), you will not regret picking them up, that's an assurance on my part.

So give yourself a chance, pick up a novel to read. If you're an unhurried reader, give yourself a month at most to finish one. Read books (fiction, self-help, history, philosophy, and so on). Read magazines. Read newspapers. Just read. You'll see how much knowledge and awareness you'll gain by doing something so simple, yet so empowering. 

I know you didn't ask, but I thought I'd share my top 12 all-time favorite random fiction books (in no particular order) that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I hope that you'll find the slightest bit of enjoyment if you choose to read them too!

1. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte
2. Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood
3. Tell Me Your Dreams, by Sidney Sheldon
4. Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway
5. The Gift, by Danielle Steel
6. Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
7. Delirium, by Lauren Oliver
8. An Ordinary Woman, by Donna Hill
9. Immanuel's Veins, by Ted Dekker
10. We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart
11. Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
12. Everything the Heart Wants, by Savannah Page

Happy reading!

It's the 2018 Reading Challenge!

Jan. 02. 2018

Happy 2018!! It's a new year and the season to make resolutions and promises to ourselves (that we most likely won’t keep after the first month! 😉) While we're making resolutions, why don't we add one more to our list -- to read a certain number or types of books this year?

If you've never read a certain genre before, perhaps this is the year to try something new and read a different genre, - maybe a mystery or sci-fi book, a religious or historical romance... something different from your norm.

Maybe you’re someone who reads a few books in a year, or you’re one who can barely finish one… whatever your past reading habits may have been, why don’t you consider committing to reading 1 book a month for the year 2018? It’s certainly doable, and I'm about to get on that commitment wagon!

I'm committing to reading 12 books this year (excluding books I accept for review), and will include books in genres I normally wouldn't read.

Okay, okay, more like 10 books, if I'm being honest. I’ll admit it can be a tad challenging trying to keep up with a reading list when you've got hundreds of review requests to consider and books waiting to be read. I've got a few books in my To Read list that I'd love to jump on though, so this is my opportunity to make it happen. I used to be able to read at least 5-6 books a month; now I'm ready to get back on that reading treadmill and work my way through this challenge.

Why don't you join me in my run? Let's do this together in 2018 -- roughly 1 book a month, minimum of 10 for the whole year. I’ll gladly share with you my list of 10 books I've chosen to read (in no particular order), and I promise to give a brief 200-word review after completing each. Of course, you don't have to read from my list if you don’t want to; feel free to insert your choice of books for your own challenge.

Here's to a fruitful and healthy reading life in 2018!

1. Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman (Fantasy)
2. Tomorrow Died Yesterday, by Chiemeka Garricks (Literary Fiction)
3. Rich Woman, by Kim Kiyosaki (Self Help, Non-Fiction)
4. The Silent Wife, by Kerry Fisher (Mystery)
5. Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng (Literary Fiction)
6. Diary of A Young Girl, by Anne Frank (History, Non-Fiction)
7. Vision, by Tom King & Gabriel Walta (Graphic Literature, Fiction)
8. Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold, by Ellen O'Connell (Historical Romance)
9. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, by John Locke (Philosophy, Non-Fiction)
10. Becoming Naomi Leon, by Pam Munoz Ryan (Y/A)

Swap list below -- if, for any reason, I'm unable to finish any of the books above. You should create a 'swap' list too!

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie (Self Help, Non-Fiction)
2. Where'd You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple (Literary Fiction)
3. A Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity, by Lee Strobel (Christian Nonfiction)
4. The One I Trust, by L.N. Cronk (Christian Fiction)
5. Vanishing Girls, by Lauren Oliver (General Fiction)
6. Dear Ijeawele, Or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Literary Nonfiction)

Book Review - Everything The Heart Wants

Book Summary:
Writer Halley Brennan couldn't dream up a better love story than her own. Married for eleven years, she and her husband, Adam, are still living their happily ever after. They both know what they want—and don’t want—for their life together. And that includes being child-free. But when one of them has a change of heart about wanting a baby, it brings their marriage and life plans into harsher focus.

Devastated that this bombshell might destroy their relationship, Halley finds comfort in her closest friends: Nina, who’s finally pregnant after years of trying; her sister, Charlotte, an overwhelmed mother of three; and Marian, a successful businesswoman who regrets letting go of her one true love.

Now, with their guidance and support, Halley begins a painful journey of self-discovery. As she searches her heart to make a life-changing decision for both herself and Adam, she realizes that someone is bound to get hurt. Will their perfect love be too great a sacrifice for everything her heart wants?

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Everything the Heart Wants by Savannah Page is a story about identity, being totally true to yourself, and just being downright brave. Halley, the narrator and main character, is quite the strong and resilient character even in her moments of weakness, to put it mildly. Be prepared to feel a roller coaster of emotions tumble through you as you go on this emotional journey with Halley. You might even get upset and take a break for a few hours or days as you try to wrap your head around some things, and understand some decisions made. It was difficult to accept the decisions Halley made were real and final, even though deep down I knew she was right. I thought she was being selfish (perhaps a part of me still thinks so), and that frustrated me to no end.

This is a ‘real-talk’ book about being true to yourself in every sense of the word. Would you be willing to sacrifice love so you can stand by what you want out of life? Or do you sacrifice what you stand for in order to have -- and keep -- love? What do you do when you can't have what/who you love and also stand by your heart's true desire?

These are obviously tough questions we women face at some point in our lives, maybe not in the exact circumstance as Halley and Adam, but in other situations as well. How far would you go (in spite of what you stand to lose) to stay true to yourself? They were tough questions I struggled to answer along with Halley, and although my answers at the end were different from Halley's, I respected her decision very much, and I know it took a lot of brevity and courage to take that leap. To the women who are brave enough to stand for what they truly want and take those tough leaps, they're true heroes and I applaud them for their courage.

Savannah Page is a great writer, and I'd no doubt read other books by her. I feel privileged to have read this one!

I received a copy of this novel from the Publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

GENRE: Women's fiction/Literary fiction

COARSE LANGUAGE: Low

VIOLENCE: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: Moderate

MATERIAL CONNECTION: Given to me by publisher in exchange for review 

15 Signs You're a Book Eccentric

September 6, 2017

Ahh, the beautiful world of books. If you’re reading this, then it means you either have some interest in books, or you somehow found yourself on this page and are probably slightly… curious. Either way, whether you’re a new visitor or a regular, come play a little game with me and let’s find out if you embody the traits of a Book Eccentric. If you say Yes to all 15 scenarios below, then you’re most certainly one of us. *Big wink*

You're a Book Eccentric if...

1.    Reading is definitely on your hobby list – or perhaps your only one. You do little else in your spare time. Maybe watch a little TV here and there, maybe hang out now and then, but 85% of your 'play' time is spent with your eyes buried in a book

2.    Your eyes light up when you drive or walk by a bookstore. You have the urge to just pop in quickly and look around, even though you know doing so will make you late for work, or school, or that job interview

3.    While at the bookstore, even if you don’t buy a book, the mere sight and touch and feel of them… is enough to satisfy you. Temporarily. Until your next trip to the bookstore… tomorrow. When you actually buy a book

4.    You make mental notes and correct errors you come across on your social media feeds. Yes, that one friend on Facebook that keeps mis-using ‘you’re’ and ‘your’. Ughh

5.    You have a hard time pinpointing a favorite book – because you've read too many amazing books to decide on one

6.    You’re confused by people who say they don’t read. What’s life like for these people, you wonder

7.    You mourn a favorite character’s death like they were your real-life relative, best friend or spouse

8.    You love love love the scent of a fresh new paperback

9.    Your heart fills up with joy and climactic anticipation just staring at your e-book collection of unread books, or holding newly-purchased print copies in your hands

10. You find way deeper meanings and interpretations to a book’s theme than the author ever intended

11. You most likely majored in English. Or Literature. Or both

12. You laugh or gasp out loud while reading in public. Who cares who’s watching? Something major just happened to your fav character!

13. You try to convert others to become a Book Eccentric like you... you shake your head in disappointment when they look at you like you’re an alien

14. You absolutely cannot and will not watch the movie until you finish the book. Period.

15. You have serious book hangovers that last for days. You’re still reeling over what just happened to Will in Me Before You (by Jojo Moyes), shocked that it really did happen and wondering why he couldn't have somehow worked it out with Louisa whom he’d fallen in love with and who loved him back. Yep, major hangover

Did you affirm to all 15 signs? 13? How about 10? If you said Yes to even 1 of the above signs, then you’re on your way to becoming a Book Eccentric.

That’s right. It’s time to embrace the eccentric in you ;)