BLOG TOUR - GUEST POST
Book Title: Hathonatum
Author: Taylin Clavelli
Publisher: MLR Press
Genre/s: Science Fiction, Contemporary M/M, Interracial (Alien/Human), Inter-dimensional, Reincarnation. Multi-Verse, Historical elements.
Heat Rating: 3 – 4 flames
Length: 89 000 words
The story can be read as a standalone. It is the first book in the Pelethus Series. The next book involves different main characters that are connected to those in Hathonatum.
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Hathonatum is a love story that spans time, dimension, universe and death.
Have you ever wondered if that little voice inside you is actually your voice?
Egypt captivates Benjamin. As an adult, he immerses himself in his chosen profession, as an archaeologist in the ancient city of Abydos. For Ben, the hieroglyphs, and paintings unlock dreams of a time long lost.
The dig Ben works on is financed by Ashari Hathonatum. For many years, the man has been looking for the one who completes him. He initially saw his heart’s match from a distance. But that was a long time ago and from an alternate universe. When Ashari encounters Ben, he wonders if he is the reincarnation of the man he saw, through another’s eyes, all those years ago. Will the secrets Ashari hides about his heritage stop their love blooming, or will others from his dimension, determined to keep Ashari from his heart’s match, rule the day?
**The story is written with British spelling/grammar. **
Excerpt
Though Ben loved the thought of studying Seti, he was part of a small crew concentrating on Narmer (3180-3120 BC), whose tomb was located to the west of the dig, almost as far away from Seti as a tomb could get. Not much was known about the first pharaoh of the combined kingdoms, and Ben wanted to help discover something new. He wanted to shed light on a life that no one knew about—a new phenomenon to capture the imagination.
Ben had been on-site for a little over a week when he saw an intriguing man talking to Terry, his dig leader. Judging by his skin, Ben suspected the man to be local, but it was difficult to tell. Other than his face, the only other exposed part of him was his hands. The rest of him was covered with clothing designed to keep out the worst of the sand—layered, lightweight, loose, and black.
When the man locked gazes with him, Ben found himself staring into a vibrant blue sea of lapis lazuli, framed with black lashes and dark eyebrows. It wasn’t until a fellow worker walked between them that the connection was broken. When Ben sought to re-establish contact, the other had his back to him. Ben returned to his work, clearing out a trench of sand. The heat and excitement over what his group might find overshadowed any musings concerning the stranger.
At the end of the day, Ben was so tired he clambered onto the city-bound truck with as much grace as a stumbling mummy.
That night, while lounging on his bed, images of dark blue assaulted him. The event was rare for him, considering Egypt was his prime…prime everything.
Every day, the journey to the ruins was like being transported back in time. Ben could close his eyes and almost feel like he was there, in ancient Egypt. Often, he imagined he could see a partial image of the hustle and bustle of the ancient civilization continuing around him. At other times, he was in the quiet solitude of a temple. The images were odd, considering ancient Abydos was a graveyard.
From the drop-off point the next day, Ben made his way to tombs B17 and B18—the tombs attributed to Narmer. He worked there all morning with his small, square trowel and brush, slowly moving away the sands of eons.
As lunchtime approached, he relocated to the edge of the main dig and took his break. From there, he would imagine life in ancient Egypt.
Daydreaming, he chose to walk back to his station.
Suddenly, an alarm sounded. It was the warning for a sandstorm. It was similar to what his grandparents had described as the air raid warning from the war.
There was a flurry of activity while people efficiently covered artefacts and other areas of importance. Ben glanced around, noticing the storm was a lot closer than he’d originally thought. It had come out of nowhere. What crept toward the dig seemed like a moving wall of cloud, dense enough to shield the view and engulf anything below it. If it wasn’t for the cottonlike plumes of wheat colours, Ben could have believed a curtain of rain was heading his way. The screen of rapid shadow was making quick progress toward the dig, swallowing all in its path. Briefly, Ben went rigid, unable to move. When the sound of hissing reached his consciousness, and sand stung his feet and face, he dashed toward shelter. He was running a losing race.
Abruptly, he was grabbed and pulled to the floor behind a shallow wall. In a spell of activity as sleek as the sandstorm, a mask was put over his face, and his body along with that of his saviour rolled together. Over and over, they turned. Coming to a halt, and dizzy, Ben found himself cocooned, head to toe in a thick blanket. From the outside, the two of them probably resembled a fat, discarded mummy.
As Ben regained his senses, he could feel a wall to his back and secure arms around him. The only thing between them was his messenger bag containing the bottles of water he was required to keep on him to prevent dehydration in the desert sun.
Panting, he opened his eyes to a familiar sea of lazuli.
GUEST POST
Taylin Clavelli: Author vs Reviewer
Since childhood, I’ve always had a book by my bedside. I then became an author and later a reviewer. All of the above has taught me something. A lifetime of reading solidifies what makes a good story for me. Writing taught me that there is soooooo much more to the process than putting some sentences on paper – it is a team effort. Having a pre-reader that will honestly tell you when something sucks, is terrific. The editing of a book can be the make or break of it, too. Being a reviewer made me think more about what others would like a in a story as well as appreciating a technically sound manuscript. A story can have a good story arc, but if it is technically inadequate, then the story itself is affected.
For me, a good story is like riding a wave. It has highs, lows, calmer parts and rocky moments. I love a story that gives me an emotional ride. A beginning that grabs the attention and an end that leaves me smiling are essentials. The bits between make me connect with the characters, root for them, cry with them and want to hit someone for them. I guess I’ll find out if that is what I’ve written. Knowing what one is supposed to do and reconciling it with what is right for the characters, can be difficult.
Being a writer and reviewer forces me to see story from multiple viewpoints. I appreciate that as an author, characters become our children, and we hate it when a third party suggests that part of their journey should be cut or is diverting from the main storyline. In the author’s mind, every word on the page is essential. When reviewing, I see more of what a good edit means. When a story goes off on a tangent or I read a scene that could have been punchier, it distracts from the overall enjoyment.
As a reviewer, I have seen many a manuscript where the author has squeezed the angst for every word they could, or made every other event a life-threatening occurrence. Not giving a piece of drama the exposure it deserves can be just as bad. These elements dilute the emotional effects of a story. It is a delicate balance between getting it right and overdoing/underdoing it. Individual reading tastes means that a creator can never get the perfect combination. It is what makes writing so subjective and as much as an artist may want everyone to like their work, the prospect is unlikely. It is a reviewer’s responsibility to be tactfully constructive in those instances where a story doesn’t tick all positive boxes.
When I write, it is because the story is there. Hopefully, someone other than me loves the result, too. I don’t think of it as something that is exhausting or energizing – purely an activity that makes me happy.
When friends and family discovered that I had written a novel, everyone was chuffed. When it was revealed that I wrote m/m, there was a mixed response. Initially, the family were curious but supportive and accepting – especially my daughter, whose response was ‘Cool mom’. The boys took a little more time, but education won out and they have since fully embraced LGBTQ and enjoy attending PRIDE. Close friends are accepting, though male acquaintances further afield, insist that any book where the coupling is m/m, is porn. Therefore, irrespective of my arguments to the contrary, they are convinced that I write porn and delight in shocking their friends with the info. Their wives though, are curious and have peaked at my stories wanting to know when the next novel is out. I live in the hope that one day, they become enlightened.
Literary works are themselves, forms of education and enlightenment. I believe it is vital that novels are not only out there but are written well. That way, no one can say that gay fiction is a load of poorly written crap. Even if a person doesn’t like my stories, I hope that they appreciate the technicalities. A well-written book will always have readers and reading broadens the mind.
Being a writer and reviewer forces me to see story from multiple viewpoints. I appreciate that as an author, characters become our children, and we hate it when a third party suggests that part of their journey should be cut or is diverting from the main storyline. In the author’s mind, every word on the page is essential. When reviewing, I see more of what a good edit means. When a story goes off on a tangent or I read a scene that could have been punchier, it distracts from the overall enjoyment.
As a reviewer, I have seen many a manuscript where the author has squeezed the angst for every word they could, or made every other event a life-threatening occurrence. Not giving a piece of drama the exposure it deserves can be just as bad. These elements dilute the emotional effects of a story. It is a delicate balance between getting it right and overdoing/underdoing it. Individual reading tastes means that a creator can never get the perfect combination. It is what makes writing so subjective and as much as an artist may want everyone to like their work, the prospect is unlikely. It is a reviewer’s responsibility to be tactfully constructive in those instances where a story doesn’t tick all positive boxes.
When I write, it is because the story is there. Hopefully, someone other than me loves the result, too. I don’t think of it as something that is exhausting or energizing – purely an activity that makes me happy.
When friends and family discovered that I had written a novel, everyone was chuffed. When it was revealed that I wrote m/m, there was a mixed response. Initially, the family were curious but supportive and accepting – especially my daughter, whose response was ‘Cool mom’. The boys took a little more time, but education won out and they have since fully embraced LGBTQ and enjoy attending PRIDE. Close friends are accepting, though male acquaintances further afield, insist that any book where the coupling is m/m, is porn. Therefore, irrespective of my arguments to the contrary, they are convinced that I write porn and delight in shocking their friends with the info. Their wives though, are curious and have peaked at my stories wanting to know when the next novel is out. I live in the hope that one day, they become enlightened.
Literary works are themselves, forms of education and enlightenment. I believe it is vital that novels are not only out there but are written well. That way, no one can say that gay fiction is a load of poorly written crap. Even if a person doesn’t like my stories, I hope that they appreciate the technicalities. A well-written book will always have readers and reading broadens the mind.
About the Author
I am proud to be British and proud to be an author of gay romance stories from varying genres. I write under the pseudonym Taylin Clavelli, not because I don’t want my real name out there, but because I think my real name is unmemorable for an author. The name came about from a night of Skype and a lot of wine.
My first published work - a comedy called Boys Toys and Carpet Fitters - came out in 2012. It was part of a Dreamspinners anthology called Don't Do This At Home. Since then, I have produced a further two novels and five short stories, not including Hathonatum.
As well as being married for close to thirty years, and have a grown-up family, who I adore - I work part-time at a Manor Hotel, where I am also the resident historian. I am a book reviewer, too for a well-known site.
Not being a spring chicken anymore, I have a few hobbies that over the years have come, gone and resurfaced again. I am an experienced horse rider, and 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. I help my husband with DIY projects, upcycle as much as possible and love my garden. As for those simple things that make me stop in my tracks. The dawn chorus, baking bread, lasagne, and the scene where Shadowfax makes his screen entrance.
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Giveaway
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win:
A choice of paperback + swag from Dakota Skies, Secret Of The Manor or 5 shorts from Taylin - 3 winners
A choice of 1 ecopy from Dakota Skies, Secret Of The Manor or 5 shorts from Taylin - 5 winners
Thank you so much for hosting me. It is truly appreciated.
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