System Syn - All Seasons Pass (Book/CD) Review

This fall when I went to the concert for Imperative Reaction/God Module/System Syn it was my second time seeing System Syn and meeting the founder and lead singer, Clint Carney. He is a good friend of my gal pal, Annabel (DJ AnnabelEvil) who is the manager of Vampire Freaks. She introduced him to me at the Pre-Triton Festival party. I saw him perform at Triton, spoke to him there, and now I got the chance to speak to him again, after the 2011 show in NYC.

Clint is not only a talented song writer/musician (he is a member of Imperative Reaction, God Module, and his own band, System Syn), but he's also a talented artist (his paintings can be found online for sale from time to time, follow him on Twitter to see more). On top of that, he's a well spoken, humble man who was both polite and interesting to speak with. What we spoke of this time around was that we both had been published this year. Yay us! Right? RIGHT! His book is a self published novella that you can get to go with his newest CD. That's right, WITH his CD.

System Syn's newest album, All Seasons Pass, is something unique and that is why I'm reviewing it for you all today. Even if you're not a fan of Industrial music, I think you'll find this interesting.

In 2010 a woman in California went missing. Then she was presumed dead, killed by her husband. Clint followed the story in the papers but due to how it intrigued him, he got in touch with those involved in the investigation. He was allowed to learn what they knew, as long as he didn't divulge real names and so on. He took what he learned and wrote a novella. He also wrote an entire album based on the events that revolved around this situation.

Per his website...

The album tells the true story of the final tragic days of a young woman, as seen through her eyes and through the eyes of those around her.

The book reveals the real life story that inspired the album, including never before published photos and evidence from the investigation.

Did her husband kill her? Did she just run away? Did she have a lover? Did he kill her? Did she kill herself? Or was she on the run? You only can find out if you read his book. It's a tragic tale and yet, one I feel people should know. This poor woman was plagued with depression. Depression her mother wouldn't even acknowlege. How can YOU accept something about yourself when your family doesn't? How can you beat it if you don't admit you need your medication or have support?

The music Clint has devised to go along with the story is amazing. He gets into the heads of multiple characters (including hers) and takes you on a journey. The music is powerful and the lyrics are quite compelling. One of my favorite lyrics comes from the song, Homecoming. It's written from the perspective of a man sitting, watching her house, waiting for her husband to come home...to see if she's with him or not. For he knows if she's not with him, she's very likely dead. He says, "I thank you for the time I have to wait." For in that time, she could still be alive and he's hoping...hoping she is...for he knows something no one else knows.

But I won't spoil any more for you...I recommend this album/book combo (only $26 on their website...click the title of this blog to go there) to writers, musicians, and lovers of industrial and rock music. The music itself is not as heavy as God Module or even some of System Syn's other stuff. I think it speaks to a wider audience.

I rate this with five out of five stars...

So go snag this book/CD combo OR...you can aways find the CD on iTunes!

Happy Reading/Listening!

Tamsin :)

P.S. You can also follow Clint on Twitter: @SystemSyn

You might have a bad download of Living Dead Girl

IMPORTANT MESSAGE! PLEASE READ ASAP!

If you purchased a copy of The Betrayal (A Living Dead Girl Novel) from Amazon or B&N and the book "ends" in the middle of the bar scene in NYC...you HAVE DOWNLOADED A BAD COPY! The book ends after a large battle.

Please email me at tamsinlsilver@gmail.com ASAP to let me know. I will then contact you on how to get a free, corrected copy from my publisher AND they'll give you a free book from their catalog as an apology.

Thank you and we're so sorry!

Tamsin

Happy New Year!

My plan for NYE 2012 was to stay home and do a Boondock Saints Marathan (I know there's only two movies but I was leaving time in there to watch the ball drop and laugh at all the crazy people in Times Square on my TV), cook a loverly dinner (for me and the dog) and maybe do some writing if the mood struck me. ---For I am in the process of editing LDG2---

BUT...

On late Friday night I received a invitation via Facebook to a "invitation only" private party at the soon-to-be-no-more Vampire Freaks store. Not much else could've differed me from my "stay at home" plans except this. You don't turn down a private party.


















As you can see above, the store is empty. Jet has decided that after three years, he's going back to the store being just "online." So, you'll be able to find the clothes at
fuckthemainstream.com. The money he'll save is going to be put towards more club nights, bringing in more bands, and supporting the goth/industrial social scene of NYC more. I'll miss that store a lot...but I think he's smart. Btw, in case you didn't know, VampireFreaks.com is the largest goth/industrial social networking site in the world. So...it makes sense for him to create some opportunities for people to meet up in person more.


My girl Annabel was there of course:













Here's Jet...looking high in his blue eye shadow! LOL!:













We all had a fun night! It was a small party and in the end we shimmied on down to the Pyramid Night Club to dance for a bit before heading home. Speaking of, by the time I did get home I was sober and it was 5:30am! Ha! My roommate said, "You partied like it was 1999!" I laughed. I sorta did. Which is funny considering my original plans.

Anyway, I hope you too had a lovely New Years night and that you got home safe and that the next day wasn't too painful.

I read all day so that'll tell you how "up and adam" I was. HA!

Much love and Happy New Year from me and Keziah (yes, he's wearing my beads and tiara in this pic...forgive me, I couldn't resist! I blame the late hour for my behavior.)



:)

xo

Tamsin

A Really Fun Ride!

A friend of mine from the gym has a pal in Florida who is an avid reader of the Vampire/Witches/Werewolves/Etc. genre. Reads it all. Who better to have an opinion of my series? So when my friend emailed to let me know she'd bought a copy of it for her friend Lisa in Florida, I was thrilled!

Well, today I was given the gift of a review by this avid reader of the genre!

HUGE thank you to Lisa Mena for the following review:

5 out of 5 stars
A really fun ride!
By Lisa Mena - This review is from: The Betrayal (A Living Dead Girl Novel) (Kindle Edition)

I had a great time reading this book and highly recommend it to any fan of this genre. It reminds me of a more grown up version of the House of Night books. I really look forward to the next book in the series.

I myself read the YA series of the House of Night books. And though I wish to bop Zoey (the series' leading lady) upside the head every now and again, I enjoy the series (I won't lie, I'm in love with Stark) immensely. It is a very character driven series and I like to believe the same for mine. So, to be compared to the House of Night series is a really wonderful compliment.

So thanks again, Lisa! I'm really happy you liked it! The 2nd book should be out in early 2012 if all goes as planned.

If you've read "The Betrayal" and enjoyed it. Please, toss up a review on Goodreads or your blog or Amazon and let me know.

Have a great week!

xo

Tamsin :)

Innapropriate?

Okay...I wanted to tweet about this but hell, it's too involved for just 140 characters.

I just had the oddest conversation here at work.

Let me preface this by saying that the floor I work on has two bathrooms. One is a restroom with a single toilet in it (it is marked "Women") and the other has a urinal and then a seperate stall (that locks) with a toilet in it. The door to that bathroom is marked "Unisex" and the door locks.

So here's where the strange conversation comes in.

Some chick on our new floor, no idea who she is...but we'll call her Bridgette. She looks like one. She walks up as my boss is telling me and my coworker that there is talk about labeling the Unisex bathroom "Men" instead. And I say, "That's fine, but if I have to go and the ladies room is busy, I'll be stepping into the men's room."

Bridgette looks appauled and hoity toity (did I mention she looks wound up so tight that the Ferris Beuller line about coal and diamonds would fit here?) and says, "That's innapropriate!" And I'm thinking she's kidding. So we all keep talking and she's wickedly infatic that for moral reason (no joke) we need to seperate these bathroom titles. Again I joke around and she again gets in a huge huff, "That is innapropriate!" This time she is almost spitting she's so flustered.

We're all at a loss.

Then Bridgette says, "It's not appropriate for a man and a woman to be in a bathroom together."

Ah...suddenly its clear. She thinks I'd go into there when a man is using the urinal or I'd be in the stall and let a man come in.

"IS SHE CRAZY?" I ask myself.

I find out later my boss turned to my coworker in the break room and said, "Bridgette's crazy."

I stand correct.

LMAO! She didn't realize there was a lock on the door! How are you up on this floor for YEARS and not know that?

I've come to the conclusion that Bridgette is nuts...end of story.

And...I'm okay with that.

Hell, she's not MY boss! :)

And that is my crazy office story of the month...year...whatever.

Have a good day all...and remember...men and women shouldn't share a restroom! ;)

Tamsin

P.S. I leave you with funny Unisex Bathroom signs I found...

Connections

Sunday night as I lay in bed I found myself thinking of writing this blog entry. Mainly because I've been having a dialogue with myself. (Don't give me that look, you do that sometimes too...I'm not crazy...well, not all the time ;)

Anyhoo, the dialogue I was having concerned a friend of mine. As I never use real names here, we'll call her Alison, Ali for short. Ali told me of a situation she's been dealing with and it got me to thinking about friendship and how as an adult it changes.

I know Ali through my theatre world...let's make that clear first and foremost as I feel it pertains to the issue at hand.

Anyhoo...here's her situation.

Ali has theatre friends and non-theater friends (as I do, which is why she came to me) and was debating the friendship of those non-theater-people. Why? Lack of support. You see, we theatre people are used to other theatre people plugging our shows for us (even if they've not seen them or if they did and didn't think it was amazing) or doing reviews on blogs of our shows for us and finding something positive to say even if the show only had a few high points. Theatre folks just support. Period. They are there for you, not your show.

So when her non-theatre-friends didn't act the same way she was concerned. Why would they not be supportive? Why would they be so closed to showing support "no matter what"? She was asking herself if they were really her friends and if she should limit her interaction with them.

See...I can understand this as I too am a theatre kid. I push my friends shows (be it a play or a band performance) even if I haven't seen it or have time to go to it. I push a friend's jewelry site even though I haven't bought anything and hell, I even promote my friend's new book that just came out before I've read it! Why? Cause I'm their friend...that's what friends do. Right?

Ah...see...that's my theatre background speaking...like Ali's. In the artistic community you know there is very little reward. Not everyone gets discovered at the age of 11 **cough cough Daniel Radcliff cough cough** and goes on to be this years Entertainer of the Year per EW Magazine (Congrats on that btw, Daniel! ) Yeah, like DR reads my blog! Ha! Anyhoo... Because of that fact, we all are supportive of each other's work NO MATTER WHAT.

I told her not to expect that from everyone. It didn't mean they were any less your friends, they just didn't have the same background. I asked her if she really wanted to remove those friendships from her world. If she would be fuller without them. Ultimately her answer was "no."

So, the next day I saw a show of one of my best friends. In that show was a guy I've not seen in FOUR years! His name for the sake of this entry is Nate. Nate and I weren't close, but we were connected through my best friend's work. Anyway, when he and I chatted after the show (at a bar, of course) we discovered we were both from Michigan, that we both attended the same college in Michigan (he years after me), that we both knew a slew of the same people, and that we both play Euchre (It's a card game mostly known in Michigan so don't wig if you don't know what it is...it's okay, we'll forgive you. Mind you, I would swear I majored in Euchre my 2nd year of Community College...but, that's neither here nore there, yes? Moving on.). It was hilariously amazing!

Here is a connection I didn't even know I had in the city. Here is a guy I'm connected to on TONS of levels and it opens up so many things...a new friendship that passes "casual aquaintence" is the main one. It also made be bubbly happy to connect to a life I left behind years and years ago. I may have only been at Western Michigan University for two years (I didn't graduate from there) but those two years felt like five and to open up those memories was wonderful! Thus, as I sat on the train Monday night heading home, I thought about this new connection and then thought of Ali.

As an adult you have different types of friends. Some are more supportive than others, some are more involved in your life than others, but all of them are important for one reason or another. I think that you can't classify them all the same...you can't hold them all to the same standard. They're not the same type of people with the same background. So how could they be the same?

They can't.

I sent Ali a text saying as much and she responded that it is true. And though some of your friends don't support you the way you wish, tons of other friends do, and that's what you need to dwell on. The others? They're still your friends, possibly with limitations, but it doesn't mean the love you less. They're just different. And if all the people in your life were the same, I feel you'd be an unbalanced person.

So...those are my thoughts on connections and adult levels of friendship. What are yours?

xo

Tamsin :)

Verbal Review

So, on Thursday night I spoke to a woman who has read my book. Her daughter was involved with the photo-shoot and she was so excited to buy it. For the sake of this blog post we'll call her Miriam. Hope she doesn't like, you know, hate that name.

Anyhoo...

I'd heard through the grapevine from her daughter that once she got started, she couldn't put it down.

YAY #1

When we spoke on Thursday I had no idea she'd already finished it. I asked her how far along she was and she excitedly said, "Oh, I'm done! But I'm DYING to get to the next one! When is that coming out?"

YAY #2

We then got to discussing the story. And I heard some things that were delicious! She, like the person who did my first written review, was so attached to/invested in the characters. She wanted a friend like Grayson, she pined for what was going to happen to Jensine, and she was torn between which of the two damanged men in Atlanta's life she wants her to choose. She loved them even though they are deeply flawed.

YAY #3

It's so important to me that people see them as flawed. Yes, they're pretty people. Yes, they have money. But that's mainly because of not only the genre (vamps tend to be pretty, lets face it...I said pretty, not sparkly...let's know the difference, people) and because I didn't want the conflicts of the story to revolve around money, I created viable ways for them not to worry about it. But, in exchange for giving them those small "outs" I gave them tortured backgrounds that revolve around moral dilemmas as well as life and death decisions.

No one is perfect. Even if they look it. They're not. No one is. From the dawn of time (well almost that long) we, as a species, have been sinners. We're flawed. But our baggage is what makes us who we are. It's what drives us to be passionate about one thing while we let other things slide. I spend much of the five books exploring Atlanta's faults as well as her positive attributes. In the first book you don't see as much of her flaws, but as the story continues, you will. She will fall on her face like we all do in life. In my mind, its how you recover from those falls, that defines who you are.

So to listen to Miriam talk about her love of the flawed men, it made my heart sing. It also was fantastic to hear someone enjoy the story, the adverture, and the world I've created.

I encouraged Miriam to go to Goodreads and post a review. If you have read my book, "The Betrayal" and feel it is 4 or 5 star (out of five) worthy. Please help a new author out and post the review.

Now, back to working on my NaNo novel...

xo

Tamsin :)