Choosing Your Audience: You Think It’s Obvious, But Really…

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Ai Rei

Picture this:

Early July 2012 – Falls Church, Virginia (just outside of Washington D.C.)

Gretchen and Ai Rei have decided to exchange writing materials to give each other feedback. Gretchen is lying on her bed reading some short stories that are part of Ai Rei’s series. Ai Rei is sitting at Gretchen’s desk and reading an early draft of Terra. Gretchen finishes a handful of the shorts first while Ai Rei is only about halfway through the new draft of Terra.

Gretchen: I’m done.

Ai Rei: So… what did you think?

Gretchen: This is not YA (young adult).

Ai Rei: What are you talking about? The main character of my series starts out as a teenager. It’s YA.

Gretchen: That doesn’t make it YA.

Ai Rei: But… wait… it’s not YA?

Gretchen: Definitely not! There’s sex, and swearing, and violence, and gore, and scary stuff… you are not writing YA.

Ai Rei: Oh…. are you sure?

Gretchen: YES! (exasperated look)

And that was the moment when I realized that I hadn’t put enough thought into my audience for the book. I had simply assumed that I was writing for young adults because my main character starts as a 17-year-old teenage girl in high school at the beginning of the series. Little did I know that my protagonist’s age does not automatically equal to my target audience.

Thus began the process of putting some real thought into who I was writing for.

During the very early stages of the brainstorming process (back in 2008-2009), simply put, I was writing for myself. I came up with a story, a world, and themes that I enjoy reading and wanted to explore. Eventually though, if you want to be serious about writing, you can’t just write for yourself. Sure, you can include people like yourself in your demographic, but being selfish and closed-off in your writing will only deter others. You have to take your prospective readers into consideration.

After passing the phase of writing just for me, I came to the conclusion based on my protagonist’s age and situation that I was writing YA. It seemed like a fairly simple conclusion to come by. I began to read a lot of various genres of YA as a way to research this type of literature.

Wanting to help me with my writing process, Robot was a great roommate and friend and plunged head on into reading a bunch of YA. I’d like to think he had fun doing it.

I found patterns, recurring themes, narrative modes and many other things that make a YA novel, well, YA. As the brainstorming process continued, I tried to incorporate some of these elements into my books, despite the fact that there was clearly something not working in the union. Still, I was convinced I was writing YA. Plus, it’s a hot commodity right now, so it could only help me with future marketing and sales.

But then, with 7 short stories and the first third of the second book written (I don’t write the books in order), Gretchen stepped in and said four words (well, technically three words and one acronym) that changed how I approached the series: “This is not YA”.

With the YA label ripped away from the series, I suddenly found myself to be equally confused and free at the same time. So much effort had been spent on trying to fit my series into an easy to identify type of literature that I wasn’t able to see the big picture of what I was really writing. My book had to find a place somewhere in the vast world of literature, which I had mistakenly thought I’d found. However, with the YA constraints gone, I was free to really experiment with my writing. For the first time, I let the story take over and really pushed the limits.

My target audience was no longer made up of 14 to 21 year olds. In fact, I didn’t have an audience, so I wrote as I pleased. I didn’t write for myself or for anyone else; I let the series write itself and I was just along for the ride. With no boundaries to block me, I eventually took a step back (not a physical step, more like a month long break), came back to my writing and realized that the series was for adults, maybe even the upcoming genre “new adult” depending on how you perceive the distinction between the two.

Of course, adult is probably the broadest category of literature there is, so it has to be narrowed down to find your niche market amongst the age group of 18+. Upon further evaluation, I deduced that it is of the supernatural horror genre with some books leaning towards psychological thrillers and others to urban fantasy. It’s safe to assume that I haven’t figured it all out, but at least I know that I’m on a path that I am both comfortable with and is organic to the series.

So why have I already spent over 800 words to describe this whole process to you all? It’s because identifying your audience IS IMPORTANT. By doing so, it will help give your story more structure and focus. Also, the point of sharing your work in any creative field is to touch something in the public, and you can’t do that if they feel like you are yo-yo-ing with their emotions and preferences. As an example, the first book of the series is a psychological horror thriller. If I plan on scaring people and making them uncomfortable, then there’s really no place for me to drop in a cheesy love scene where characters say that they are “destined to be together”. Cheesy love and horror don’t mix! It would be like taking Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and plunking him into the high school setting of Mean Girls. Sure, the image puts a smile on my face since the combination could lead to some rather strange and amusing scenarios, but on a more serious story level, it just doesn’t work.

Identifying your audience is also important on a marketing level (because it’s unfortunately never too early to think about marketing). You’ll have to stick your book in the pre-determined categories of Kobo, Amazon and Chapters if you ever plan on selling it. There is no such section as “undefinable” (although I know a few pretentious people who would eat that sh*t up), so drop the artist’s ego and find your tree to nest in.

I think it’s time to wrap this up. I guess the main piece of advice that I would like to leave you all with is to take your time when finding your audience. Remember, this doesn’t just apply to writing a book, but also to writing a movie or tv show, to composing music, to painting, to designing, ect. There is a public out there who wants to know your work. You just need to know who they are to make it more accessible to them.

5150 rue des Ormes (51 Elm’s Way): Book Review

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Ai Rei

Not all books are for everyone. That is clear! Sappy romances might make the heart soar for one, but bring on cringes in another. Biographies are more appealing to some because they really happened, while others would rather be lost in a fantastical world. And then, there are the f*ed up books; the type of books that make you uncomfortable, leaving you to wonder “why am I reading this?” while being unable to put it down. Patrick Senécal is one of those authors that I LOVE, in some weird twisted way that makes me want to crawl into a hole and hide for a week after reading his books. My most recent read of him is 5150 rue des Ormes, or 5150 Elm’s Way in English.

5150 Elm’s Way by Patrick Senécal

Title: 5150 rue des Ormes (5150 Elm’s Way)
Author: Patrick Senécal
Genre: Horror
Published by: Alire
Edition: Paperback, 367 pages
Language: French
Published: 2001 (originally published in 1994)
ISBN: 2922145514

(English translation written by me follows.)
Il s’appelle Yannick Bérubé, il a vingt-trois ans, il est séquestré au 5150, rue des Ormes, dans la ville de Montcharles, et c’est pourquoi il a décidé d’écrire son histoire. Or, si son récit débute par une banale chute à bicyclette, la suite bascule rapidement dans l’horreur, car la famille qui le retient prisonnier est loin d’être normale… Pour Yannick Bérubé, l’enjeu est simple: il doit s’évader à tout prix de cette maison de fous, sinon il va y laisser sa peau ou sa raison!

Yannick Bérubé, 23 years old, is being held against his will at 5150 Elm’s Way in the city of Montcharles. This is why he decided to write his story. It all starts with a fall from his bicycle, but quickly descends into horror since the family holding him captive are far from normal… For Yannick Bérubé, the game is simple: he has to escape from this house of lunatics at the of risk losing his life, or his sanity.

Rating: 4 stars (more like a 4.5, and I never give half stars)

Consensus: Patrick Senécal gets under your skin as you try to reason your way through a book where absolutes rule. They might not be your own, but you can’t help but lose yourself along the way.

Story
Honestly, there is not much I can say in this section of the review. With two Senécal books under my belt, I have to say that the less you know about the story the better it is. Part of what makes Senécal one of the masters in his genre is his ability to shock you with twists, fear, gore, and down right insanity. If you know too much in advance, these themes and literary devices won’t have as much of an impact. Of course, this isn’t to say that reading a Wikipedia summary beforehand will take everything away from the book (I will give Senécal A LOT more credit that that), but it will ruin some big surprises along the way that will twist your stomach into a knot.

I really don’t know what to say. I hate giving away spoilers, and even describing the early events of the book would feel like spoilers. I guess all I can tell you is that the story is great! It’s hard to read. You’ll bite your nails a few times. You’ll have to put the book down to breathe for a second, but you’ll immediately pick it back up. You’ll want to yell at the characters to not look behind certain doors, but you want them to, because you’re just as caught up in the story as they are. Essentially, while you read it, you’ll be in it.

The only note I can really give is that the ending is, well, it leaves things hanging… in a frustratingly good way. There is no closure to the book, but it works for the story and makes the impact of the events even more poignant. I won’t say more than that. If you want me to embellish, please leave a comment and I’ll be happy to discuss it.

Characters
The majority of the book takes place within the Beaulieu household. The setting of the book is very confined, but because of the rounded complexity of the characters, the house becomes a living world on its own. Here is a list of the characters:

Yannick Bérubé is the main character of the novel. He is a young college student being held captive against his will by Jacques Beaulieu and his crazy family.
Jacques Beaulieu is the main antagonist. He is married with two children and is obsessed with the idea of justice. He believes that the game of chess is the perfect representation of how justice works.
Maude Beaulieu is Jacques’s wife and a devout christian. She lives under the tyrannical control of her husband and lives only to love her children.
Michelle Beaulieu is the eldest daughter of the family (a teenager) and in many ways the most dangerous member. She is highly aggressive with her own philosophies of power and justice.
Anne Beaulieu is the second and youngest of the Beaulieu children. She never speaks and appears to have no emotions. She is nothing more than an empty vessel.

Once again, I don’t want to say too much about the characters because it would only take away from your experience of reading the book. I will say, however, that every character in this book is rich with complexities. They each evolve into different people by the end, shaped by the events that unfold and are unable to ever go back to who they were.

Language/Narrative
Finally, a section that I can go on and on about without the worry of spoilers!

Senécal utilizes various narrative modes to tell his story.

More than half of the book is written in an epistolary format from the perspective of Yannick Bérubé. He writes down his experiences each day as a personal record.
Another section is also epistolary from Maude via sporadic diary entires starting in her teens to the present.
There are also a handful of chapters dispersed throughout in third person limited (perspectives of Jacques and Michelle).
The last chapter is third person omniscient.

This is the first book I have read that has utilized so many narratives modes and done it well. I have read a few other books where the narrative mode changed, but I found that it was often to the detriment of the book (exceptions are in the prologue or epilogue). Some others use it as a way to drop in information that they couldn’t find a way to add in without changing the point of view. Senécal, however, put a lot of thought into how he wanted to tell his story, because there is an excellent reason for the timing and presence of every narrative mode.

Senécal changes the point of view as a means to carefully peel back the many layers of his very complex characters. By seeing fragmented glimpses into the lives of the characters, the author manages to show us the bits and pieces we need to follow the story. Enough detail is subtly given and hinted at that we, the reader, are able to fill in the blanks ourselves as to how the characters feel and their motivations. Essentially, Senécal succeeds on every level at showing, never telling.

It is also important to note that the various narrative modes are different from other books that successfully practice this method (such as A Song of Fire and Ice). Not only does Senécal play with point of views, but he also plays with time. Specifically, we have the opportunity to know the past of the Beaulieu family via Maude’s diary. With each chapter dedicated to her, we get an inside look as to how the family developed and how they became the people they are today, as well as how it influences their decisions in relation to Yannick’s captivity.

Lastly, Senécal’s writing style is minimal. He crafts strong images with visceral responses while utilizing very few words.

Conclusion
This book isn’t for everyone. In fact, I can only name one person I might recommend it to. For those of you who enjoy horror and being mentally pushed, I highly suggest you pick this one up. It’s twisted in a horrifying way that will leave you hanging for days after you put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Seriously, just read it!… if you’re into this kind of stuff.

I don’t know if an English version of the book exists. If it does, please let me know via the comment section.

It’s Evolution, Baby! (cue headbanging)

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Ai Rei

Pearl Jam’s Do The Evolution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDaOgu2CQtI

Okay, so this song and this video have absolutely nothing to do with what I want to share with you today, but let’s just say that I’ve been listening to it A LOT recently… probably everytime I start working on book 1… and probably because this post relates to evolution. Not the evolution of man and his eventual demise (such optimism), but of one’s writing instead.

Anyone who has ever aspired to be a real bonafide writer has a history of writing material. Whether this means your diary, writing notebooks, LiveJournal site, napkins from drunk bar ideas, post-it stickies from work, scribbles in your math textbook, a dream log, or a binder of work that will never again see the light of day… it exists. Unless of course you suddenly become a writing genius overnight… and to that I say NO FAIR!

Every now and then I like to revisit my collection of notebooks I started in the 6th grade or take a look at some novels, shorts, and songs I had previously written. Sometimes, I get pleasantly surprised and think “Wow, I can’t believe I wrote that in the 8th grade. It’s actually really good!“. Other times, it’s more along the lines of “The writing is pretty bad, but at least the idea was good. I need to revisit this for real-zies someday“. And then, there are many unfortunate occasions where I wonder if it would be best to toss the writing into a fire so that no one will one day come upon it. What I find to be the most interesting thing about looking through my notebooks is to see the evolution of my writing, both in terms of language, style, genre, and subject matter. There is a very clear path with occasional stops along the way, like my goth phase, my Georgia Nicholson phase, my LiveJournal phase, my anime phase, ect. (I talk about these phases like they are in the past, but really, I like to delve back into some of them for fun every now and then, especially the anime phase. Yes, I am a nerd! If you haven’t figured that out by now, you clearly aren’t paying attention. I mean, come on, my roommate and best friend is a robot.)

So, how does all of this relate to the writing of book 1? Well, over a year ago, I wrote chapter 1 of book 1. One night, while working on book 2, my brain suddenly decided that it was time to write the first chapter of the first book. Let me explain: I’m not exactly writing the books in order. The series itself will consist of 5-7 books, depending on how things turn out. In a way, I’m kind of writing them all simultaneously, but more on that in a future post.

Back at the end of March, I finished writing the storyboard for the first book, which is a huge milestone in my writing process. After that, I took a week long break to recuperate creatively. Then my social life kicked in. Then Washington DC with Gretchen and Aileen happened. Then my work life took over. Sound familiar? It has been one excuse after another. But the worst one of all doesn’t involve any outside influences. I’m talking about myself.

The first few days when I did my absolute best to get back into the swing of book 1, I would open my Word document, read through the already-written chapter 1, then just get discouraged by how much I hate the writing. Sure, the story elements are there and the events aren’t bad… but the writing is just… so… AWFUL! It’s awful! There’s no other way to put it. I cringe every time I read through those first 12 pages. I don’t know if when I wrote the chapter I just put everything into words and not care about the actual writing (knowing that I would eventually edit it later), or if I actually thought this was good. I seriously hope that it was the former, because how could I possibly think THAT was good?! o_O The thought makes me want to cringe at myself.

Luckily, I have now forced it into my head that I need to stop looking at what IS written and focus on what NEEDS TO BE written. This doesn’t just qualify for the first chapter, but everything I write after. I won’t be getting anywhere if I keep editing what’s already on paper. First draft first! I’ll have plenty of time to hate my writing and myself when it comes time for editing. Warning: this blog might get depressing when we get there. For now, happy thoughts!

To sum it up, it’s important to move forward with your writing instead of staying stuck in constant rewrites. If you do, you’ll never get anywhere and probably eventually give up. BUT, it’s important to know where you came from, because it does shape everything in terms of your writing, or anything else creative.

So in the words of the ever wise Kang from The Simpsons: I must move forward, not backward; upward, not forward; and always twirling, twirling, twirling toward freedom.

(Sidenote: Technical difficulties made it impossible for Robot to appear. He will be added when computers are less stupid.)

At Hugh’s Room with The Gertrudes

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Ai Rei

Hello all! I hope you’ve all had a good start to your Friday. If you didn’t, fret not, IT’S FRIDAY!

Now, I know that Fridays are usually SUPPOSE to be for book reviews, but to be honest, I’m not ready to write one just yet. The next one will be 5150 rue des Ormes (5150 Elm’s Way in English) from author Patrick Sénecal, which I am still emotionally recovering from. As soon as I can wrap my head around that book, I’ll be able to write a constructive review about it. But for today, I would like to share some more music with you all, because, well, I think it’s pretty obvious how much I love talking about it.

Last weekend, on Saturday night, I had the absolute pleasure of making my first trip to Hugh’s Room… and had an AMAZING time.

Hugh’s Room is a dinner and show establishment and one of the premiere venues for live music in Canada. The setup is a dine and enjoy type, all wrapped in a warm welcoming blanket, creating the perfect setting for an intimate concert.

This place is a Toronto discovery that is to be revisited. I had such a great time that I’ve officially pencilled in Hugh’s Room as a destination to bring my tourist friends. There are a few factors as to why it is such a wonderful place.

You instantly feel welcomed as soon as you walk through the door. The hosting staff were incredibly courteous and ready to answer any questions newcomers had about the place.
The wait staff had customer service down like it was nobody’s business. Noémi and I had a waiter named Gary who was delightful in every aspect. Often times, in Toronto anyway, when you get an extra nice waiter, it usually comes off as fake for the sake of getting a good tip. Not at Hugh’s Room though! Every single waiter who attended to our needs was just pleasant without ever being annoying or intrusive. Noémi and I both emptied our change purses to give them as much of a tip as possible.
The sound was nice and clean. I could dinstinctly hear every instrument and vocal from where I was sitting. The sound mixer of that place is a live music genius! If I could only remember his name.
The food was delicious! I ordered the potato and beet cream soup, curious since I have never seen one listed on a menu before. The beets added a little something extra to the flavouring. Noémi and I also shared a cheese board that came with some apple butter (which was especially good with the blue cheese). It was all scrumptious! Unfortunately, since I’m not a food blogger, I didn’t take any pictures. Sorry!
The entire atmosphere was just great! It was like being in a little bubble that was in Toronto, but not quite Toronto. It was too friendly to be Toronto! I loved it!

So, enough about the venue. Hopefully I have peaked your interest enough to make a trip to Bloor West for Hugh’s Room, because YOU SHOULD! I can pretty much guarantee that you will have a good time.

The first band of the evening is one of my all-time favourite folk bands out of Canada: THE GERTRUDES.

This powerband of 8-9 members (it depends on which show you go to) has so much talent that this enthusiastic audience member can’t get enough of them. Seriously, I’ve been to at least a dozen of their concerts and own all of their albums. Charles Spearin of Canadian powerband Broken Social Scene described them perfectly as a “folkestra“. It’s a bit of a mystery when you really start to think about how they aren’t as famous as they should be. Perhaps with more touring they could soar to the heights of Arcade Fire. But until that day, they are a truly wonderful gem to add to your indie music playlist.

Listen/watch a video of them performing Wind From the South, one my Gertrudes favourites. (I still have yet to figure out how to insert YouTube videos into my posts.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjYvUCEihfA

On their website, they have two albums available for purchase, and each nicely priced at a very affordable $9.

Dawn Time Riot (2010) tracklist:

1) Cliff Jumping
2) Wind From the South
3) Blackbird and the Cedar
4) Slot Machines
5) Feight Train
6) Sailor
7) You Don’t Mind
8) Concession Street (Charge Across Cedar)
9) Ronnie Hawkins
10) The Gertrudes
11) Catfish John

On Dawn Time Riot, The Gertrudes manage to mix folk and bluegrass together with a contemporary feel. Unlike many bluegrass artists that try to remain as authentic as possible to how it used to be, The Gertrudes aren’t afraid to forge ahead. Instead of trying to replicate the origins of the genre, they add a distinctive mandolin, an omniscent theramin, a wall of harmonized vocals, and have not one, but TWO percussionists. I might be biased, but as soon as there are two percussionists in a band, the music lover in me can’t help but smile and jump for joy. There is a lot happening at once in this album, but it is never messy, nor does it feel like an egotrip from the band. It’s really about the love between the musicians and the music. You can buy Dawn Time Riot on bandcamp here.

The Gertrudes’s latest album is called Till the Morning Shows Her Face to Me, released in 2011.

Till the Morning Shows Her Face to Me tracklist:

1) Derby Girl
2) Six Jars
3) Dreams
4) Good People
5) Flashbulbs
6) Carolina
7) Summer Plans
8) Yellow Yard
9) Hearland
10) Lonely Days

Where Dawn Time Riot was upbeat , Till the Morning Shows Her Face To Me is a more somber and experimental album. There is less of a bluegrass nuance as The Gertrudes explore the space in between the melodies (I don’t know if that makes sense). You will be left with a reflective impression on tracks such as Yellow Yard and Carolina, another one of my favourites. In truth, Till the Morning Shows Her Face To Me compliments their previous album nicely, rounding off the sound of The Gertrudes as one that is well explored, but with still so many wonders yet to discover. You can buy the album at the bandcamp link here.

The Gertrudes with Charles Spearin of Broken Social Scene and The Happiness Project.

Official site: http://thegertrudes.com/
Bandcamp: thegertrudes.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGertrudes
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegertrudes
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theothergertrudes

Writers and Robot: A Ridiculously Rowdy Rendez-Vous

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Ai Rei

Back in December, as a treat to myself, I decided to plan a mini-vacation in the middle of April to visit my dear friend Gretchen in Falls Church, just outside of Washington DC. In a far less creepy way, I also really wanted to meet Aileen, Gretchen’s book editor for Terra and a fellow blogger. I have been ~~religiously~~ following her blog whilst trying to convince myself that it isn’t creepy/stalkery at all that I know so much about her without having ever met her… or even had an iChat conversation with her. She’s moving out of the area sometime in May, so I saw the weekend of April 13th to be my last opportunity to meet her. But more importantly, for the three of us to gather together and just enjoy each other’s awesomeness. It was also the weekend of Gretchen’s birthday, so I guess you could call it fate.

Of course, as soon as Robot saw me pack my suitcase and discovered what I was up to, he INSISTED on joining me. He said that he really wanted to meet the author for Terra and get his copy of the book signed. I told him that as long as I could get him past the border without any issues, it wouldn’t be a problem. However, if security wouldn’t let him through (metal detectors and all that), it would be up to him to find his way back to our apartment… and considering his tiny size and lack of funds, it was quite a big risk to take. Still, Robot was determined to meet Gretchen.

I was about to tell Robot that one of his socks was hanging out of his suitcase, until I started to wonder why he packed socks to begin with. He doesn’t have feet! He has wheels!

BUT, before leaving, I was inspired by Aileen’s incredible talent at putting together care packages that I decided to put together a few of my own. In short, I gathered some very Canadian chocolates (including Cadbury eggs that do exist in the States because, well, who wouldn’t want to receive some Cadbury eggs? NO ONE! Well, maybe not diabetics, but neither of them are. Moving on!) Some of these candies included Coffee Crisp, Aero, Rolo mini eggs (yes, Rolo does exist in the States, but not the mini eggs), and most important of all SMARTIES! To my American friends, no, Smarties are not the sweet-tart little pastel tablets, but round chocolates covered in a candy coating. To us, your version of Smarties are called Rockets. I know! Crazy right!

I don’t know how Gretchen and Aileen have survived without Coffee Crisp. It is my go-to chocolate bar, EVERYTIME!

I also couldn’t leave for the United States without bringing one of Gretchen’s favourite snacks: Lay’s Ketchup Chips. Yes, that’s right, Canadians, ketchup chips don’t exist in the United States! So be a good friend the next time you visit an American friend and bring them a bag of this delicious joy into their lives… or two if you’re me.

Unfortunately, our trip didn’t start smoothly. The original flight was cancelled and we were put on another leaving 4 hours later. With all of the stress, the long lineups, the frustrations, and the waiting, Robot kind of short circuited himself and shut down. It’s a bit of a built-in fail-safe-feature to prevent him from accidentally damaging himself further. Luckily, it worked out because I was now able to stuff him in my suitcase before checking-in, which diminished my fears of having to leave him at security. I don’t think the airport officers would have let him through with all that metal plating.

Once I made it to Washington DC, I was met with a very happy and excited Gretchen, which only made me even happier and more excited. Once my suitcase was dropped off at her place, we met up with Aileen. There may have been some squeals and exclamations that we were both so excited to meet each other that we might pee our pants. In short, a first-meeting of champions! Robot still hadn’t recovered from the small glitch that happened at the airport, so I decided to give him a hand and plug him into the wall. That usually helps to speed up the process and recharge his batteries. Until then, I wasn’t planning on stopping my fun. I explained to both Gretchen and Aileen that Robot had hitched a ride in my suitcase and was here, but needed to recuperate from the trip. They would meet him later. We proceeded to go out for dinner at The Melting Pot for some cheese fondue, hot pot, and chocolate fondue. To say that the meal was DELICIOUS would be an understatement.

Gretchen (left), Aileen (right), and I (centre)

Gretchen (left), me (centre), and Aileen (right)

The night was filled with hilarity, celebrating, and much book/writing talk. That’s what happens when you put a bunch of writers together. Gretchen writes a well-established healthy living blog called Honey I Shrunk the Gretchen and is the successful self-published author of Terra. Aileen is an editor and potentially the funniest blogger I have ever read over at Army Pants and Flip Flops. Me? Well, if you’re reading this blog, then you know me. I’m new to the world of blogging and I haven’t published anything yet. Clearly I was the most amateur out of all of us, but the girls reassured me that I am allowed to call myself a writer with all the work that I’m doing. Such lovely ladies! Maybe one day, I can add author to that, but not quite yet.

The next day was time for Gretchen’s birthday party. She is a real pro at theme parties and dedicated her 25th to The Hunger Games, calling it “Gretchen’s Quarter Quell”. Yes, she is a clever girl. You can read all about it in her weekend recap post here. It took 24 hours, but Robot finally woke up from sleep mode and was upset that he had been out of commission for so long. I told him to calm down, unless he wanted to short circuit again. Luckily, he was relieved to hear that he woke up just in time for Gretchen’s Quarter Quell party. He finally had a chance to meet the author and even posed with her at the party. A dream come true for him, me thinks!

Robot and Katniss “The Girl On Fire” (Gretchen) showing off their archery skills.

Soon after, I discovered that there was another reason why Robot was so adamant about tagging along with me to Washington: Aileen. It turns out that Aileen and Robot have been having quite the affair to remember through the internet. I had my suspicions that he secretly had an American girlfriend, but I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS AILEEN! He kind of ditched me during the party to be with her, which upset me greatly. I mean, come on! He wouldn’t have even made it to Washington without me.

Robot later described their first kiss as magical.

Eventually I got over it, realizing “who am I to stand between two people and true love”. Just… don’t tell Aileen’s deployed fiance about their risque relationship. I fear that he might not react so well to the idea that Aileen is having an affair with Robot.

The next day, after much recuperating from the previous evening’s festivities, Robot finally found the courage to ask Gretchen to sign his copy of Terra. She was more than happy to do so, truly completing Robot’s trip.

Gretchen with her “biggest” fan.

Robot was SO EXCITED to have his copy of Terra signed that he could barely keep his composure.

All in all, it was a fantastic time, but too short. It’s nice to be home, but I will miss the company of these two ladies. Luckily, we have the internet and many more writing/book talks in our future.

Sidenote: Now that I’m back, I guess I really don’t have any excuses left to stall on writing book 1. Sigh!

Matched: Book Review

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Ai Rei

Young adult dystopian fiction is so huge that I keep tripping over the genre’s large pile of books while I make my way through my reading list. Let’s knock another one off the list with Ally Condie’s Matched. I’ll admit that with the previous books The Hunger Games, Terra, and Divergent under my belt, I had coined YA dystopian as an action genre. Matched was not amongst them, forcing me to switch my brain to a different reading mode within the first third of the book. If you want thrilling action, do not pick this book up. You will be bored! I was at first, but then decided to give it a real chance and finished it. So, even after opening my mind to it, what is the verdict?

Matched by Ally Condie, photo from Wikipedia

Title: Matched (Matched Trilogy #1)
Author: Ally Condie
Genre: Young adult, dystopian, romance
Published by: Penguin Group (USA)
Edition: Kobo Epub, 238 pages
Language: English
Published: November 30th 2010
ISBN: 1101445440

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander’s face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate… until she sees Ky Markham’s face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it’s a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she’s destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can’t stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society’s infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Rating: 2 stars

Consensus: Condie presents us with a different take on the popular YA dystopian genre that unfortunately moves at a slow pace with concepts lacking the subtlety and depth required to make them memorable.

World Building
What I found to be the most problematic (especially in the first third) was how Cassia Reyes (the protagonist) would explain the procedure of certain things, and then instantly question them dismissively. It’s a little hard to explain, so I’ll use an example from the book that isn’t a spoiler if you’ve read the blurb.

Cassia spends a lengthy amount of time explaining why The Society still hires people to do a sorting job instead of computers. She states that all technology will occasionally fail, therefore people who are efficiently trained still perform certain tasks to ensure that everything goes smoothly and perfectly. Yet, when she sees a small glitch happen in the matching system, Cassia flips out and says that The Society NEVER makes mistakes. However, she had just stated in the previous chapter that technology occasionally fails and glitches – that these things were to be expected. There was no reason for Cassia to have acted as dramatically as she did to the small malfunction.

It thus made it very difficult to take certain parts of the book seriously; such as Cassia’s questions and how some information was revealed. One example of the latter is when an Official spills a lot of confidential information to Cassia about a certain Ky Markham, like she was gossiping with one of her girlfriends over coffee. Condie attempted to somewhat revisit this scene at the end of the book to make it more credible, to give a motivation to the Official for divulging this information. However, the reason is a weak one that doesn’t justify how the scene unfolded: Condie could have found a better and more intriguing way for the Official to spill those beans. The given reason felt more like putting a bandaid over a gaping wound. It Just. Didn’t. Work.

As a result of many of these scenes and inconsistencies, I had a lot of trouble believing the world Condie created. Let’s also add the fact that every citizen carries around a red pill that they will take when the government tells them to without question. Oh, I should probably mention that no one knows that this red pill does. Sure the population is submissive to a totalitarian government, but history, anthropology, and basic psychology have taught us that people aren’t so passive when faced with a potential threat on their lives.

Theme
Unlike The Hunger Games and Divergent, Matched is set in a dystopian world where Cassia and the other inhabitants believe to live in perfect harmony. Everything is decided for them from small things like what they eat and portion sizes to who they will marry and when they will die. This implies the illusion that choice is problematic and a cause for frustration and sadness. By taking away choice, people are free to focus on other aspects of life. To us, this screams totalitarian government, but Condie managed to show it as something positive through the eyes of Cassia… at least for a while.

By touching the subject of free will, Condie was able to tackle this theme from both sides: how it’s problematic, but how it’s also our freedom. I enjoyed the juxtaposition she laid out throughout the book, however Cassia’s constant questioning of every little thing took away any subtlety from the theme, making me feel like she was hitting a nail over and over again despite already being deep in the piece of wood. The reveal of the negative side of The Society was done slowly, like peeling back the layers of an onion until you finally get to the truth. Still, when those layers all look the same and you just want to get to the core of the vegetable, the process can become tedious and long.

Story
The main premise of the book revolves around a love triangle between Cassia Reyes, Ky Markham (the forbidden love), and Xander Carrow (the matched partner). Despite the dystopian world built, it is primarily a romance novel where Cassia has to choose between the two boys who are in love with her. It is easy to state that the 1-girl-2-boys love triangle targets this book to a female audience. Having completed the book, I can’t think of any males I would suggest this book to. Since the romance is so integral, pretty much all of Cassia’s thoughts and actions are linked directly to who she should choose to love, and what that would mean for her place in The Society. Essentially, who you choose to be with and how much you are willing to sacrifice to be with this person will shape your destiny and those around you FOREVER. Yes, this sounds very dramatic and over the top, but in the case of this book it’s true.

Characters
Condie focuses on the three main characters that are involved in the love triangle. The only one that feels well fleshed out and complete is Cassia. Perhaps it is because the book is seen through the young woman’s eyes, but it is hard for the audience to fall in love with Ky or Xander when neither of them feel whole. Personally, I feel so impartial to who she chooses that you won’t find me arguing with anyone over whether or not she made the right choice at the end of the book.

With all of the love triangles already out there in the world of books, it is hard to find a way to put a different spin on it. Still, I applaud authors who do put in the effort to make their triangle stand out above the rest. Unfortunately, I don’t feel this way about Condie’s triangle.

Cassia is a petite, smart, and beautiful girl who is amongst the best in her jobs and has a good group of friends. Essentially, she is every female protagonist in every romance story.

Xander is a tall, very smart, compassionate, kind, blonde, gorgeous boy whom all the girls wish would be matched with him. Of course, it is our young Cassia who is matched with him and he is completely in love with her. However, she might not feel as strongly as he does about the match, making you wonder if she’s just stringing him along… because after all, he’s such a nice guy.

Then there’s Ky, the tortured, silent, tall-dark-and-gorgeous boy with a mysterious past. Others don’t seem to notice him, except Cassia does. No one is suppose to love him, which might be the reason why our heroine finds herself intrigued by the forbidden fruit.

If these three characters sound similar to many others from romance novels, than it is not just you. The recycling of the stereotypes is very present in the book. Fans of romance novels will most likely still enjoy the characters and be able to use the recycling as a way to identify themselves more easily with the story. However, don’t expect anything new or innovative. This book remains in the familiar.

Language
The book is written in first person narrative, just like most of the popular YA fiction coming out. It is written from the perspective of Cassia and follows her thoughts closely. Everything that crosses her mind is shared with us, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. As a result, there is no subtlety in the book. Before you will even have the chance to question something for yourself, Cassia will do it for you. It is hard to build theories of what is happening when someone else bombards their own on you. I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if Condie gave the audience room to breathe and didn’t spend so much time with the internal conflict of Cassia’s decision.

Conclusion
Matched provides a different look into the world of dystopian YA, but doesn’t live up to its hype. There was a lot of potential and Condie did create a world with so many possibilities, but she didn’t explore them with much depth. Whether or not I will pick up the second book and give it a try is debatable. Since the love triangle story comes to a close at the end of the first book, it is possible that the second will focus more on The Society and the impact Cassia’s decisions will have on others – a book I would be far more interested in reading. For those who aren’t interested in romance, do not pick this book up, you will not enjoy it. For romance lovers who enjoy a touch of something more, give it a try and decide for yourself.

Storyboarding: The Art Of Piecing Together A Spine Without Being A Surgeon

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Ai Rei

Every writer has his/her own process. There is no one formula that will allow you to write the perfect/successful novel. Throughout the years, I have found my own that works for me, and one of the key milestones is THE STORYBOARD.

Some authors are able to write out an entire story from beginning to end in the first draft, feeling like the plot will figure itself out along the way. I, on the other hand, can’t do it. I need to know the end to know where I want things to go – kind of like figuring out the labyrinth that is my brain. When I approach a story, I tend to see it as a puzzle: I have some scenes clear in my mind, but there are gaps that need filling. Unfortunately, I can’t figure all of these out in the vast intangible space that is my mind. This is where CUE CARDS come in.

(Cue angelic music.)

In my method, each cue card represents a scene in the book. I include which characters are in it, the key plot point, and the setting. For a while, my storyboard will look like randomly placed cue cards that don’t make much sense. In the very beginning, there is usually the first scene, the last scene, and maybe 3-4 scenes that are clear in my head written down. By laying them all out, I am able to answer a few questions to build my story:

How am I going to get my main character to evolve into the person I want her to be by the end?
What events need to happen to propel my character to make a certain decision or feel a certain way?
What are the ideal moments to introduce the different themes?
Has enough time passed between this and that to make sense?
One character isn’t appearing enough to make the impact I want. Where can I add her to keep her integral to the plot? I don’t want the audience forgetting her.
At what point is the optimal time to introduce this new character?
Where can I hint and foreshadow things that will come later so they don’t come out of nowhere?

These are but a handful of questions I am able to answer while building my storyboard. By having a visual “puzzle” of how the plot and my character evolves, I am able to pave a path to get from the beginning to the end. Eventually, my storyboard will go from sparsely placed cue cards to organized rows of them. The reason I use cue cards is because sometimes, you end up moving your scenes around and change the order. Cue cards are perfect because if you aren’t sure about a placement, you just shift things around and voilà, instantaneous restructuring before your eyes. You can know in that moment if it works or not.

Personally, I like to think of the storyboard as the spine of a story. With the plot and major character developments figured out, my book feels like it is finally able to hold itself together. From the spine, I can continue to build the rest of the skeleton, which I consider to be the first draft. The muscles and all the rest come in while editing, but that’s for another time. If you have a spine, you have something strong that you can work with.

Luckily, on the evening of March 31st 2013, I finished the storyboard for the first book. Want proof? Well here it is!

Thankfully, I write small, so you won’t be able to read what is written on them. No spoilers here!

This was definitely something worth celebrating! I’ve had this book in my head for at least three years, but had so much trouble seeing it in its whole. Now, I can look at it all written down on cue cards. There is a real sense of accomplishment that comes with the storyboard. It means that I have a fully developed plot, which is awesome to have! Unfortunately, there is also a sense of terrifying panic that comes with a complete storyboard. Now it’s time for me to write it out, and it can be intimidating. Book 2 of the series only has about 21 cue cards. This one has 33!!! That’s a lot! I’ll be honest, I didn’t think this book would be so long, but it has to be if my main character is to evolve at a credible pace. The important thing is for me to write it well enough that it doesn’t feel long. Oh boy!

Of course, this storyboard isn’t set in stone. It is simply the base (or spine if you will). Things will change during the writing of the first draft up until the last, but having a clear vision of my story is crucial. It will keep me grounded so that I don’t go on tangents or forget about important elements.

I haven’t revisited this book in the last week because I needed to take some distance from it to come back to it with clarity… and maybe also because I’ve been partying a lot for the last 2 weeks. Oops! I tell you, my social life has been INSANE, in a great way! However, as I had mentioned in my previous post about finding excuses not to write, it has to stop eventually if I’m ever to accomplish this task.

All in all, things are happening! Now that the storyboard is done, it’s time to write it all out in prose.

PS. Robot is still in concert mode and going to plenty of shows. I need to find a way to calm him down before he breaks down. On the bright side, a lot of great music is coming into the apartment.

Canadian Music Fest 2013 part 4: Valleys, Lioness, Savages

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Ai Rei

Hello and welcome to part 4 of my Canadian Music Fest discoveries, as well as the last entry in this little series. Some of you might be disappointed, but fear not, because I am always going to concerts and am ready to share music. The rest of you are probably thinking “it’s about time, get back to writing about writing!“. Either way, thanks to those who have stopped by and I hope you enjoyed your stay.

I’ve got three bands for you that I saw on the Saturday of CMF at Lee’s Palace.

Let’s start it off with VALLEYS.

Here’s another good Canadian group coming at you from Montréal, Québec (Canada). This psychedelic-folk (yes, you heard that right) was formed in August 2005 and have been touring the music circuit ever since. Originally named There Were Valleys, duo Marc St. Louis and Matilda Perks originally played together as part of Brooklyn based Rachel Lipson’s backing band. In 2006, they self-released their first disc entitled Night War, bought a 1986 Volvo station wagon, began touring, and never looked back.

On their bandcamp website, they have two EPs (Stoner and River Phoenix) and their full-length album Sometimes Water Kills People (released in 2009) available for your listening pleasure. Personally, I am a fan of all of it.

Sometimes Water Kills People tracklist:

1) Killer Legs
2) Santiago
3) Tan Lines
4) The Heavy Dreamer
5) Slow Path
6) CR68C
7) Silent Woods
8) Le sujet est délicat
9) The Breakers

Having won Nightlife Magazine’s Pop Nightlife Award for ‘Most Promising Local Act’ in 2007, Valleys are still a band to look for 6 years later. Their talent lies in the ability to juxtapose opposites in perfect harmony, both lyrically and in sound. Their music is both warm and cold, hopeful yet sad, strong and breakable. In a way, it is the bittersweet of so many things we feel and want.

For those of you in the Toronto area, Valleys will be playing at The Drake Hotel this Sunday night (April 7th 2013). Here’s a list of a few more of their upcoming shows:
April 9th @ Great Scott – Allston, MA
April 13th @ Ritual – Ottawa, ON
April 26th @ Tralf Music Hall – Buffalo, NY
April 27th @ 3119 – Pittsburg, PA
April 28th @ The Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL

Official site: http://www.valleyssuperfunsite.com/
Bandcamp: http://valleysvalleys.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valleysvalleysvalleys
Twitter: https://twitter.com/valleysvalleys

And now it’s time for something to dance to, LIONESS.

This indie dance rock band from Toronto, Ontario (Canada) was formed in January 2007. Get ready to move your bootie, because this group combines a dark disco groove with an absence of guitars that works. Their sound is heavy with drumming, dirty bass licks, haunting keys, and an extremely powerful voice. When you see them live, you will be overtaken by the wall of drum and bass being shot straight into your brain. If you’re wondering why you have yet to hear of them, it’s because this band has been cruising under the radar for years, although one can’t help but wonder why since bassist Ronnie Morris is an ex-member of Controller.Controller and singer Vanessa Fischer used to be in No Dynamics.

Their latest album Golden Killer was released last year (2012). This album meant to be heard late at night with the volume turned up loud and the lights dimmed low. Press play and let yourself be taken away by a strange disco-electronic-voodoo-sonic experience.

Golden Killer tracklist:

1) Procession
2) Toxic Heat
3) The Night
4) Thunder
5) Golden Thorn
6) They Clip the Wings of Birds
7) White Moth
8) Electricity
9) Krokodil Tears
10) Temptation
11) Tastefully Obscure
12) Stay Awhile

If you would like to watch a video by Lioness, click below to see You’re My Heart from a previous album – they played this tune at Lee’s Palace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdQk1oiUmmQ

Officiale site: http://lionessmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LionessLionessLioness
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lionessmusic
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/lioness
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/lionessscrying

Last up in this series, SAVAGES.

Get ready for the band leading a new wave in female post-punk rock. This band isn’t for the light of heart. Savages is an all-girl punk band all the way from London in the UK. They officially formed in 2011 and played their first gig in January 2012. The Observer described this band perfectly: “it’s not exactly sexy, it’s not funny and they’re not going to be rolling around in mud like the Slits. But it’s the closest thing to art that “post-punk”… has offered in a while“. (R) Despite the sound at Lee’s Palace being loud and distorted to the point that I couldn’t hear the musicianship as cleanly as I’d like, I can not deny the pure talent of each member. I especially have to give a special mention to Ayse Hassan, who impressed me with her sick bass lines and an ability to rock out the whole time.

I can’t help but admire this group for their complete honesty when it comes to their music. They are theoreticians; they do not claim to be a new and original sound. Gemma Thompson, the guitarist, wrote in an email “I have been listening to a lot of Wire and My Bloody Valentine… I don’t want you to get the impression I think of this as a ‘new sound’ or anything pretentious.“. (R) During a time where artists are constantly fighting for their place and identity in art, it is refreshing to hear a talented group admit that they are not the only ones with their sound… which to me makes them cooler, amplified by the fact that they are probably the most well crafted in the genre.

Listen to a live version of their song Husbands here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neRGpHLj1EQ

Savages is not a band you listen to leisurely during your commute to work or sing to while doing chores around the house. In fact, singer Jehnny Beth (real name Camille Berthomier) doesn’t so much sing a melody as hash out the lyrics in a type of syncopated chaos that works.

Their first album, Silence Yourself, is set to be released on May 7th 2013.

Official site: http://savagesband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savagestheband
Twitter: https://twitter.com/savagesband

I guess that’s it for Canadian Music Fest. Next week, it’s back to book reviews and updates on where I’m at with writing. Thanks for sticking around and I hope you found something you liked in these 4 music posts.

Canadian Music Fest 2013 part 3: Peter Peter and Eight and a Half

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Ai Rei

Let’s keep the great music coming with a quick post about two more Canadian performers.

Let’s start with PETER PETER.

With a modern lo-fi vibe sound and emotional lyrics, Peter Peter (from Montréal, Québec) successfully managed to make himself known in both the anglophone and francophone music scene. Upon first listening to his music, don’t expect a dance party. Sure you might move and sway, but his voice will surely make a part of you melt inside. It’s impossible to let the velvety-smokey-yet-sad vocals pass you by.

Watch the music video for Tergiverse here (I’m listening to it as I’m writing this post).:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVIY1fYu2F0

At the moment, Peter Peter has two albums out. His self-titled debut album helped him break out into the scene. Tergiverse is actually from the first album. It is more along the lines of a low-key-folksy-relax-with-a-cup-of-tea sound. His sophomore album Une version améliorée de la tristesse (in English: An Improved Version of Sadness) sees saxophonist Adam Kinner join the band, as well as ex-The Stills guitarist Gregory Paquet and Malajube’s drummer Francis Mineau. Together, the sound of Peter Peter has transitioned to a more misty and synthy sound reminiscent of some music from the 80′s.

Une version améliorée de la tristesse tracklist:

1) Une version améliorée de la tristesse
2) Carrousel
3) Tout prend son sens dans le miroir
3) Réverbère
4) MDMA
5) Beauté baroque
6) Le monde n’y peut rien
7) Rien ne se perd, rien ne se crée
8) Barbès-Rochechouart
9) Les chemins étoilés

You can listen to the title track as a solo version (no band included) here from the TFO music show BRBR.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI07azomSJg

Or the full band version here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lkTiSxXovY

What does Peter Peter’s career look like in general? He’s already participated in many prestigious events such as Francofolies, Pop Montréal, M pour Montréal, Coup de Coeur francophone and Osheaga. He’s also toured in France, garnering a loyal fanbase across the ocean. While on tour, it appears that Peter Peter uses his keyboard to write new music during bouts of insomnia… which might explain the weightless feeling behind his music.

Official site: http://www.peterpeter.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/PETER-PETER/

Second to this post is EIGH AND A HALF.

Made up of The Stills’s Dave Hamelin and Liam O’Neil, along with Broken Social Scene’s Justin Peroff, Eight and A Half are a three piece band with some of Canada’s finest. However, don’t mistake them as just a rip-off combination of their previous bands. Eight and a Half have a distinct sound of their own. These aren’t just successful musicians who decided to hash out some music in their spare time. They are a band with serious ventures in music. Their lush and heavily layered music lives in the world of synth-based pop that will let your mind wander with its moody vocals and heavy drum beats.

They presently have a self-titled cd out.

Tracklist:

1) When I Was Twenty Nine
2) Scissors
3) Go Ego
4) The Turn Around
5) Took A Train To India
6) Wait Up
7) Two Points
8) Walked Into Diazepene

You can watch the official music video for their song Go Ego here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWnq8op-IN8

Through Hamelin’s melancholy vocals, you can hear the frustration of someone who has poured their love and soul into something special, simply to watch it fall apart in the end (perhaps a reference to his previous band The Stills). To a certain level, we almost all have seen something like this happen in our lives, making the overall theme of the album universal.

This trio is destined for greatness.

Official site: http://www.eight-and-a-half.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eightandahalfmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_eightandahalf_
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/eight-and-a-half

Canadian Music Fest 2013 part 2: Stacey Kaniuk, Irreverend James and the Critical Mass Choir, The Honeyrunners

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Ai Rei

Good Tuesday to all! I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend.

Since I’m already late writing this post, let’s get straight to it with more amazing music brought to you by Canadian Music Fest. (Those who are here for another writing post, I swear they are coming. Progress was made this past weekend.)

First up from Czehoski: STACEY KANIUK.

This sultry soul-blues singer from Toronto, Ontario (Canada) has got spunk and class all at once. Her rich velvety blues voice will enchant you while your head will bop to catchy pop hooks all night long. She might look like a tiny bubbly redhead, but behind that sweet smile is a powerhouse of a voice threaded with talent and honesty.

Stacey Kaniuk’s debut full-length album Hot Air Balloon is presently available for sale. This nine track cd is reminiscent of 1960′s soul, Motown, and some R&B.

Hot Air Balloon tracklist:

1) Ain’t Nobody Fallin’ In Love
2) What Have I Done
3) Not Quite Lovers
4) Hot Air Balloon
5) Song To Save My Life
6) Sink Or Swim
7) Last Nite
8) Out Of My Hands
9) Milk and Honey

As a performer, Stacey Kaniuk was never short of energy. She was able to give to the crowd, all with a smile and sincerity in every word. Essentially, you could really tell how excited she was to perform and how much it meant to her; you don’t get that from just anyone. As for the album, I’m sure I’ll be playing this at my next girls’ night.

Fans of Joss Stone need to check her out!

Official site: http://www.staceykaniuk.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/staceykaniukmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/staceykaniuk
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/steeze84

Next on our roster: IRREVEREND JAMES AND THE CRITICAL MASS CHOIR.

Where do I even begin? Hailing from Montreal, Québec (Canada), The Profit (the lead singer) started the show by saying that the Critical Mass Choir was all of us (the audience, the people) and that we were here to speak out against persecution and repression. They, the band, are Irreverend James.

In the words of the band:
Gospel music began as a cry for freedom
Freedom from oppression
Freedom from brutality
Freedom from shame
We’re bringing it back to its roots
By free thinking everything

Irreverend James and the Critical Mass Choir combine the sounds of soul-grabbing gospel with the fury of Rage Against the Machine, making you want to stomp out the evil in the world.

Listen to The Long Wait here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9DknBG3E2M

They have an EP available for purchase on their website.

The Introduction (EP) tracklist:

1) Better Days
2) The Long Wait
3) Leave It Alone
4) Walking On God’s Heaven
5) God Put That Rainbow In the Sky

I don’t know what the experience would be like when listening to their EP, but I will say that it is worth going to one of their shows. The Profit has an electric energy that will set you on fire. If you find this band passing through your city, or if you’re stopping by in Montreal, stop by for a show. You’ll sing out against all of the injustices in the world and have a blast!

Official site: http://www.irreverendjames.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrreverendJames
Twitter: https://twitter.com/irreverendjames
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCriticalMassChoir

Last, but in no way least, one of my Toronto indie music loves: THE HONEYRUNNERS.

In case you haven’t read my previous post about bangovers, or payed attention in general to my non-writing related posts, this band is BOSS. The Honeyrunners are a 4 piece rock-out-and-dance band based in Toronto that always manage to deliver a great show. Their Facebook description pretty much nails what they are all about: “Bona fide, soul-wrenching Motown Rock made by four scruffy white guys from Canada.” Oh yeah!

Why do I love this band so much? Because they are talented musicians who are carving out a place for themselves in the indie scene without compromising their music. Their live sound is tight, allowing the audience to enjoy bass grooves, clean guitar riffs, rich vocals, feet-moving drumming, and rhythmic keys.

Listen to their first single Jet Set here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nu5LsdexEo

At the moment, they don’t have an EP out, BUT the band has ~~FINALLY~~ announced that they plan to release on May 4th 2013. This fan is eager to honeyrun her behind to that release party! Calendar marked. EP, HERE I COME!!!

In the meantime, your ears will still have the chance to enjoy some sweet music by clicking on the music tab of their website. They presently have three songs available called Out Of My Mind and Sweet Thing, as well as Jet Set for download.

Don’t be a fool and miss out!

Official site: http://www.honeyrunners.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyrunners
Twitter: https://twitter.com/honeyrunners
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/honeyrunners

Ai Rei Dooh-Tousignant

Struggling through the writing process… and learning all along the way.