A.F. Stewart's Blog, page 43

Interview With Author Nathalie M.L. Römer

Today I have an interview for you dear readers, with author Nathalie M.L. Römer, who chats about her writing and her fantasy books. Enjoy!


Interview With Nathalie M.L. Römer


Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.

Hi, my name is Nathalie M.L. Römer, and I'm a author living in Sweden. I primarily write fantasy, science fiction and mystery but recent developments on the front on "coming up with new stories" means I've decided to embrace other genres as well, some of which will start being published in 2018. I own my own publishing company, and I've embarked on building an additional career as a book cover designer too now (I was already artistic long before I even wrote). I sold my first design recently so I feel really pumped up about this venture now. My career as a professional writer started in November 2014 when an inspirational short story made me want to make it into a long meaningful book...It became a series instead. I guess I had way too much story tucked away in my mind for just one book. When I'm not writing, or the little bit of designing, I play computer games (mostly World of Warcraft which was the direct inspiration for my book series The Wolf Riders of Keldarra), I'm an accomplished cook, I love to watch a good movie, and I like doing crafts.


How long have you been writing, and how many books have you published to date?

My writing career started in November 2014, and I've published nine books to date. It was only by chance that I decided to start writing but I've never looked back and I'm loving every day of my life because of the choices made.


Of all the books you've written, do you have a favourite?


To date I love The Wolf Riders of Keldarra. In the world building I've created such an expansive world that I just couldn't leave it at the seven books planned for this series. I will be writing other books in the future set in the same universe. It would be announced on my Facebook page what books are planned of course. I can reveal that the first book in the series is available free of charge on  November 1st and 2nd, 2017, so to start discovering this world you can go here on those days: The Wolf Riders of Keldarra


Do you have a favourite character? If so, why?

Marrida is my favourite character as she is a reflection of me. Like me she is vulnerable, compassionate and kind. Like me she loves mysteries. She cares about the people around her which will be seen in Book 2: Second Elder of Ruh'nar. I love writing characters with a depth of character, where their personality is uncovered bit by bit. A real person consists of many layers of personality so a character in a story should too. Readers will uncover Marrida's characteristics and personality as they read more of the story, and in a way that also introduces them to me too. She's not a carbon copy of me but she does have similarities to me so writing is one way that allows me to let people into my life a little bit.


You write in several genres. Do you have a favourite? And if so, why?

So far I've written epic fantasy, science fiction and mystery, and of the three it's epic fantasy that sways me as favourite. In 2014 when I started writing I had been playing World of Warcraft for almost seven years. I had seen a living, breathing fantasy world by playing, so to me it was easy to do the world building for a world of my own creation. This DOESN'T mean I don't like other genres though. I've been introduced to amazing stories by connecting to other authors in this journey, and that opened my eyes to the possibilities of what other genres could offer. I've got a long list of ideas that I'm going to put on paper as a story. In the end it may be that my favourite genre will shift, but only time will tell in which direction.


Who is your intended readership?

I decided to answer this question because the idea of an intended readership for a book intrigues me. I'd say I like people to approach my stories with an open mind. I know my prose isn't the best (I'm far from being another J.K. Rowling or James Patterson in that respect), but I do attempt to deliver a story that will intrigue a reader. A review for my first book reads as follows: "I completed the book and did enjoy it enough to get book 2 which was even better. It lead me to get book 3 which some parts were heart warming. I can't wait till I get book 4. If you pick up the books If you give them a chance, I think you will enjoy them as much as I did."

I would guess by this reaction I'm doing something right with the story telling. I just hope more and more readers will agree with this reviewer.


What did you find most challenging about writing your book?

I kind of answered it in the last question. It's the writing down the words that worry me. I constantly ask myself: Does this make sense? Is it interesting enough for a reader? Am I putting in too much info dump here? Is the grammar right? For me grammar is the biggest challenge as originally I'm Dutch and never really unlearned the Dutch grammar rules, even after using English as my native language for over 25 years. But I guess that's why I have my amazing professional editor Alison Jack to edit these mistakes away for me. As I don't have a daytime job other than my writing there's been a lack of income so paying for the editing is a challenge. So far she's done my first novel as a professional edit, and is almost done with the second. I would want to REMIND every person who may read this that work to improve my books is an organic process. If you purchase book NOW and find it not so good, please give me the chance to have it edited to be better. Income from my books would help here, and the more sales I get the fast ALL my books are professionally edited. I guess I'm learning from my editor how to be a better writer though as she's said she's seen improvements the second book being edited. It will mean that it gets easier to write a better book next time as I'm the sort of person who wants to learn from my mistakes.


Did anything surprise you about the process of writing your book?

That there a lot more involved in the process. Before I started writing I did have a vague idea of what it took to be an author, but what you learn from interviews with authors on tv and the reality are two different matters. I'd say the writing is the tip of the iceberg. The other 95% is what makes the writing process complete, most notably publicity and marketing.


What advice would you give beginning writers?

I'd say that the best thing is to DO your research and find a good, reliable editor even before you start on your first book if you want to be an author. A good editor is expensive (don't bother with Fiverr in this respect!!!). While you write, ask other authors for recommendations. Check them out. While you write, save up for the cost of editing. I found Alison (my editor) in the directory of vetter partner members of Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) that I'm a member of. Because of that the process of "checking them out" was done partly for me, though I still asked her questions about her work to see if I could work with her. A good editor doesn't rewrite your work, they improve the delivery of the technical part of writing. Make sure you have all the spell checking done, and gone through the writing at least once to spot issues, then let the editor DO his or her work. That's what they're there for. They are are the second pear of eyes to spot errors. --- See what I did there? Did you spot the deliberate mistakes made in that sentence? Now you see why the editor is so good for YOU!!!


What’s your next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?

My next project is going to be my first urban fantasy novel. I've done a fair bit of research into the typical "clichés" and tropes and I hope that when the book is written I've pushed the reader far away from both. Okay, I'll drop some hints of upcoming work. A fairytale, a book set in an alternate historic setting, a humorous book about an iconic creature, a space opera, and last but not least a book I'm looking forward to reading which ties in with the series The Wolf Riders of Keldarra that is called "Mountain Ghost". In my series my readers will be familiar with who she is. She's the wolf of the first person to ride a wolf, but long before there were any Wolf Riders. The book is set in a time of almost three thousand years before my current series when riding a wolf would mean the difference between continued slavery or the defeat of those enslaving it, when the defeat of that enemy would be the beginning of the land now known as Keldarra. I look forward to bringing all these books to life.



For more on Nathalie and her books check out these sites:
Website  Facebook  Amazon Page



And don't forget The Wolf Riders of Keldarra is free November 1st and 2nd.

Halloween Week: Book Spotlight for Mirror and Thorns

Welcome to the Final Day of my Halloween Week!
Today I have a look at the twisted fairy tale anthology, Mirror and Thorns. And the last chance to grab free books in my Instafreebie Halloween Horror Group Giveaway. Enjoy!




Mirror & Thorns - Twisted Fairy Tale AnthologyPublished by Catterfly Publishing, an OWS Ink LLC subsidiary

Where the fairytale ends, and the reflection begins
OWS Ink, LLC is very excited to announce the publication of our 2017 anthology, Mirror & Thorns. Just in time for Halloween, these fourteen stories from fourteen different authors will have you curled up on the couch ignoring those trick or treaters! These exceptional tales will stay with you long after the last page.The authors have weaved each one of these enchanting stories with quirky and intriguing characters as well as plots with compelling twists. You can learn more about these authors and the anthology by following along with the book blog tour which began on ourwriteside.com on October 20th. 
Mirror & Thorns

Where the fairy tales ends and the reflection begins....

A dark fairy tale collection from the twisted pens of: J.M. Ames, Kerry E.B. Black, J.K. Allen, C.L. Bledsoe, Lucy Palmer, Stacy Overby, T.S. Dickerson, Edward Ahern, Melanie Noell Bernard, S.L. Scott, Sarah Nour, Paul Stansbury, Cassidy Taylor, and J. Lee Strickland.

Available on: Smashwords Amazon



About OWS Ink, LLC: Stephanie and Amanda (A.L.) were partnered up during a writing project nearly 10 years ago. They learned they had much more than just writing in common and bonded right away. Over the years, they have supported each other’s other writing and have grown together, eventually adding Heidi to their dynamic duo. This writing relationship naturally evolved into a dream: to build a writing community that would offer others the support they found in each other. Our Write Side was launched in October of 2015 and has seen incredible growth since.

Halloween Week: Book Spotlight for A Persistence of Geraniums and Other Worrying Tales

Welcome to Day Seven of my Halloween Week!
Today I showcase a delightful book of Edwardian style murder and tragedy with a spotlight for A Persistence of Geraniums and Other Worrying Tales by John Linwood Grant. Plus there's the Instafreebie Halloween Horror Group Giveaway. Enjoy!




A Persistence of Geraniums and Other Worrying Tales by John Linwood Grant

Illustrated by Paul Boswell



Enter a world where the psychic, the alienist and the assassin carry out their strange duties as quiet tragedies unfold around them. These are tales of murder, madness and the supernatural in an Edwardian England which is never quite what it seems. From rural Yorkshire to the heart of the City of London, death is on the air, and no one can sense it better than Mr Dry, the lethal Deptford Assassin...

A PERSISTENCE OF GERANIUMS AND OTHER WORRYING TALES is available in paperback.
(With a forthcoming ebook).
Amazon UK
Amazon US






“HIS HEART SHALL SPEAK NO MORE”
An extract from the collection ‘A Persistence of Geraniums and Other Worrying Tales.’

We spent some hours exploring the lower beach, popping anything to which we took a fancy into Emilia’s sacks, and the sea was coloured with the first pink tinges of sunset by the time we abandoned our beach-combing to return home. Even Philip seemed more animated than usual.At Bitterns we washed, ate a cold collation (Isaiah was in Ipswich on business), and examined our finds. Most were akin to Emilia’s existing collection, but she had found a large tellin, the two halves of its shell spread in the manner of a perfect rose-coloured butterfly. Some of the urchin tests were broken, the material like fine porcelain. She discarded those as Philip went though his own sack.‘Mrs Rawkins…’ He stared at the rounded object in his hand. It was crusted with sand, the crude shape of a heart and some three and a half inches across.She took it from him gently, and frowned. Her hand-brush took the sand away, to reveal something which was clearly not an urchin.‘Wood,’ she said, peering through an eyepiece she had been using to identify crustacea. ‘It appears to be a wooden carving.’‘Of a heart urchin?’ he asked, though I thought that one would hardly need to make an effigy of these common animals.‘No, of an actual heart I think, Philip. Quite a curio. A sailor’s carving, perhaps, from a dull voyage.’She threw it back to him, and went about her work.‘I shall keep it as a memento of this afternoon.’He cradled it oddly in his hands, as if it were delicate, then slid it into his jacket pocket. I forbore from saying the cloth might stain – at least his attention had been dragged from his own unhappiness.Isaiah returned not long after, and a pleasant late supper ensued, punctuated by Isaiah’s tales of dim-witted shipping agents and watered whisky. Emilia and I laughed or nodded as appropriate, used to his stories. Philip picked at his food, saying little but offering the occasional faint smile.‘Emilia tells me you found a rather unusual “urchin”,’ said Isaiah, wiping his fingers on a napkin. ‘Might I have a look?’My nephew took the carving out of his pocket, though at first he seemed reluctant to hand it over. Isaiah turned the object in his thick fingers, examining it.‘Amazing what gets washed up around here. Emilia found, um, part of a figurehead once, half buried in the sands after a storm.’‘A shipwreck?’ I asked.‘Or an incompetent carpenter.’ Isaiah laughed. ‘This wooden thing, however, reminds me of something I once read, long ago. A local bit of, um, nonsense. You could try my library, young man.’‘Thank you, Mr Rawkins.’ Philip took the carving back, slipping it into his pocket once more. I had to wonder why the boy was still carrying it around. There was something about it which was not to my taste…


Author Bio:



John Linwood Grant is a professional author/editor who lives in Yorkshire with a pack of lurchers and a beard. He writes dark historical horror and weird fiction, including the Mamma Lucy tales of 1920s hoodoo and the Last Edwardian series. With some thirty stories published, he is also editor of Occult Detective Quarterly, plus forthcoming anthologies. His 2017 collection 'A Persistence of Geraniums' – stories of Edwardian murder, madness and the supernatural – has been widely praised, whilst his popular website greydogtales.com explores weird fiction and weird art.

Halloween Week: Book Spotlight for Hub City Survival

Welcome to Day Six of my Halloween Week!
Today I'm spotlighting another book. This time we go zombie with Hub City Survival by K. M. Cooper. And I also have an Instafreebie Halloween Horror Group Giveaway at the end of the post, so enjoy.



Hub City Survival by K. M. Cooper




"Writing in journals isn't really my thing. I find it sort of juvenile. But I need to talk about what happened yesterday and none of my friends want to talk about it."

These are the first writings of Tracey's journal. One day, while shopping, she witnesses a traumatising event that haunts her for days. Then, all hell breaks loose. With the help of her friends, Tracey must escape her own hometown, Moncton, which has been overthrown by a mysterious illness that makes the dead walk. While escaping, she has vows to chronicle the events in her journal.







Hub City Survival is available in paperback here:
Amazon Goodreads Lulu.com



Author Bio: 


K. M. Cooper is a creative director and self-professed Jacqueline-of-all-trades who specializes in fiction writing and world building. Her first book, Hub City Survival, is a zombie horror novella based in her hometown of Moncton, NB. She currently resides there with her husband--actor Brad Butland--daughter Amelia, and two very distracting cats.

For more on the author, check out her Facebook Page






And now for the giveaway...

Over 30 Free Books and Stories in this horror giveaway!Check it all out here!
Halloween Horror Giveaway!


And be sure to return tomorrow for a look at the book A Persistence of Geraniums and Other Worrying Tales by John Linwood Grant.

Halloween Week: Spotlight on The Birthrite Series

Welcome to Day Five of my Halloween Week!
Today I am spotlighting a dark fantasy book series, The Birthrite Series by Tiffany Apan. The third book in the series, Kindred, will be released on Halloween and I have an excerpt from that novel, as well as a trailer and a giveaway. Plus, I have the Halloween Horror Group Giveaway over on Instafreebie. Enjoy.


The Birthrite Series by Tiffany Apan


Kindred (The Birthrite Series, #2) 
It is the summer of 1933 and nearly two years since that fateful Halloween night in Plains, New York.

Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, eighteen-year-old Cletus Blake spends his days working to help his family through the massive economic recession spreading throughout the United States and many other areas of the world. As society struggles to accept that the economic surge of the 1920s are long gone, Cletus also clings to the memory of his last phone conversation with his cousin Dorothy. Having formed and maintained a relationship with two of her close friends - the recently married Reginald and Gail Carr Johnson - the three find solace in regular communication with one another.

Like Dorothy, Cletus possesses supernatural abilities inherited through his bloodline. His vivid dreams and visions - including ones of a beautiful young Romani woman and twin baby boys - continue to increase in strength. Meanwhile, Reginald and Gail begin falling prey to dark adversaries that have been lying in wait.

Evil surrounds at every turn, old friends race to help, and ancient evil re-emerges. A war between worlds brews beneath the surface, threatening to rip the protective seams that keep the portals sealed.

Then in the midst of it all, Cletus happens upon a caravan traveling through his Ohio town. The very familiar Romanichal family's history ties not only to his own past, but to all the kin of the four men that experienced worlds outside of their own on that summer solstice in 1844. All are linked to a future that will reunite the Blakes and the Livingstons, two families that at one time, shared a very unlikely friendship.

Kindred is the second full-length novel in The Birthrite Series. Picking up from where Descent and Sacred Atonement: A Novelette left off, the story continues to challenge all that is known about light and dark, good and evil. Passion, intrigue, and secrets abound as history unravels. Revelations uncovered in previous installments are given new perspectives, taking the reader on a thrilling ride into a world where nothing is ever what it appears to be.

Kindred will be available on October 31st
Pre-order it here: Kindred


And don't forget the great Birthrite giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Book Trailer


Excerpt from Kindred:
His eyes darted about and breath hitched when he saw the property of the Fleming Orphanage surrounding him. The summer breeze turned into a crisp, autumn chill as the song flowed with the wind that carried it. Leaves fell from their branches, blanketing the ground, seeming to undulate with the notes being played.He was compelled toward the woods, feeling Dorothy's presence and the grave danger she was in by being here. Confused and disoriented, he looked around, calling out to her, but she was nowhere in sight.His voice was getting lost in the wind stirring up as it carried DeBussy's song. The woods and empty buildings of the former orphanage took on menacing shapes, as if they were alive and mocking him. Every fiber of his being wrenched when he heard a distant howling from somewhere in the woods. His breath grew rapid as his lungs took in the icy air. The song to the moon faded and the sound of someone humming another familiar tune took over. All the Pretty Little Horses...Cletus tried moving in the direction of the hill, knowing that it would take him away from the property, but the wind increased in strength and invisible arms seemed to hold him back. He heard the howling again, only this time, it was much closer, sounding unlike any animal he knew of. A foul stench started crawling out from the buildings as the windows radiated a deep red glow.(Like blood...)The glow pulsed, spreading throughout the property as the stench of death and decomposition engulfed him. His body stiffened upon hearing a bloodthirsty growl closing in behind him.He tried to run, but his feet were planted to the earth. He could sense it inching closer, crunching over the cold, drying leaves. The creature's rancid breath assaulted his nostrils before it let out a deafening roar. Then the creature pounced, pummeling the young man forward…


And here are the other books in the series...



Descent (The Birthrite Series, #1)
Visions of infant twin boys, clouds, a young woman taking her own life, and a collision of space, time, and realms...

On the eve of Summer Solstice in 1844, four men in different areas of the world share an experience that impacts not only their own lives, but those of the future generations. The first man is Nicolae Ganoush, a young Romany fugitive from a slave village in Wallachia. The second is Jonathan Blake, an eighteen-year-old Irishman in the American Midwest who finds himself falling in love with a young woman from a nearby Sioux village. The third is James Livingston, a prominent figure in colonial America, and the fourth is Hector de Fuentes, a sixteen-year-old from Tuxpan, Mexico with special gifts and visions enhanced by a mysterious and wondrous cave. Each man carries his own inner battle, unbelievable ancient truths deep within their lineages, and demons that are much closer to home than any of them would like.
Descent  is available at:

Smashwords Amazon


Sacred Atonement : A Novelette (The Birthrite Series, #1.5)
"He wondered how she would react to seeing him. Not just his physical appearance, but seeing him for the first time since what happened between nearly a year ago. And what would happen once she found out what he really was?"
Sacred Atonement: A Novelette is available at:
Smashwords Amazon






Made in Heaven  (The Birthrite Series Short)
It has only been two and a half months since Reginald and Gail returned from that fateful night, a strange set of circumstances, and world they never thought could exist.
Made in Heaven is available at: Smashwords








Author Bio:

Author photo by Jessica SullivanTiffany Apan grew up among the thick forests of the Appalachian Mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It was there she began honing artistic abilities and received much of her creative inspiration. A misfit among her peers (she was the only one in her fifth grade writing class obsessed enough with Vikings and Norwegian mythology to write poems about them), Tiffany was highly active in the artistic community in Wilkes-Barre, PA, involving herself in all music, theater, visual arts, and writing. Eventually, she settled quite comfortably into a role as “that artsy kid in black” who sits in a coffee shop, drinking endless amounts of coffee and tea while writing furiously in a journal or sketchpad.
After graduating high school, she left the Northeastern PA ghosts for the Southeastern PA zombies (Pittsburgh). Upon the move, Tiffany became involved with the indie film scene, landing supporting roles in a couple films. This also gave way to the release of her music with partner in crime, Jason English. Since then, she has gone on to act in several films and theater productions with starring and supporting roles, release music to critical acclaim, and receive accolades for her writing and producing.

The Appalachian Mountains serve as a backdrop for many of her stories, including The Cemetery by the Lake and The Birthrite Series.  You can check out more of her work (writing, music, film, etc) on her website, blog, Amazon, and other social media.


AUTHOR AND BOOK LINKS:
http://tiffanyapan.com
http://tiffanyapanwritingproject.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/tiffanyapanfanpage
http://facebook.com/birthriteseries
http://twitter.com/TIFFANYAPAN
http://amazon.com/author/tiffanyapan
http://goodreads.com/tiffanyapan
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tiffanyapan



And now the Halloween Horror giveaway!





Over 30 Free Books and Stories in this horror giveaway!
A mix of horror, paranormal, dark sci-fi and fantasy.
Check it all out here!

Halloween Horror Giveaway!

Book Spotlight: Under A Hunter's Moon

Welcome to Day Four of my Halloween Week!
Today I have a great spotlight, for the urban fantasy short fiction book, Under A Hunter's Moon (Shadows Over Seattle: Prequels #1) by Timothy Bateson.  And be sure to check out my Instafreebie Halloween Horror Group Giveaway listed after the spotlight.  Enjoy...


Under A Hunter's Moon (Shadows Over Seattle: Prequels #1)





Richard Parsons is a lupine, one of the many breeds of shape-shifters living in Seattle. Mortal legends of his kind call them werewolves.When a traveling exhibition returns to Seattle, Richard takes a nighttime visit, with plans that go beyond seeing a particular display. However, he is unprepared for the memories and emotions that come flooding back.


Under A Hunter's Moon can be found on Amazon
(And from October 27th-31st it is free!)








Book Trailer: 




About Timothy Bateson
Timothy Bateson is a writer who broke into the market in 2014, with three short stories being featured in Halloween and science-fiction anthologies. In 2016, Bateson self-published a re-release of “Under A Hunter’s Moon”, the first of several stories set in the “Shadows Over Seattle” world, which he co-writes with his wife, Sandi.
Bateson is also a blogger who often spotlights books and fellow indie authors, alongside his other interests, such as the Brain to Books Cyber Convention events, falconry, journaling, quotes, and reading.

If you'd like to know more about the Shadows Over Seattle series, or the author, check out his links.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Timothy-Bateson/e/B00N7OXNJGAuthor Blog: (Ramblings of an Author) http://timothybatesonauthor.wordpress.comAuthor Website: (Timothy Bateson Sci-Fi & Urban Fantasy Author) http://timothybatesonauthor.weebly.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/timothy.bateson.3Twitter: https://twitter.com/timothybatesonaPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/timothybatesona/Newsletter: http://timothybatesonauthor.weebly.com/subscribe.htmlEmail: timothy.bateson.author@gmail.com




And here's my giveaway!


Over 30 Free Books and Stories in this horror giveaway!Check it all out here!
Halloween Horror Giveaway!





And be sure to pop back tomorrow for another spotlight, for the latest book in the Birthrite series by Tiffany Apan.

Halloween Week: The Dark Poetry Corner

Welcome to Day Three of my Halloween Week!Today I present my Dark Poetry Corner...(Plus a great giveaway!)





Seraphim Woods

Beyond the dark, in the faraway worlds, past the wispy zephyrs of a lost horizon the whippoorwill calls, and the raven sings of death and pain, and the shadows sharp Keep to the path, don’t stray a step Don’t walk alone in Seraphim Woods
Beyond the twilight, in the murky mists moonlight nocturnal will waltz with the dead while ancient rhymes disturb mortal sanity and lullabies croon to forgotten beasts Keep to the path, don’t stray a step Don’t walk alone in Seraphim Woods.
Beyond the realms, where the ravening dwell, where the footsteps crackle on the empty wind and the trees shiver as strange creatures pass,their muted voices whispering secret names Keep to the path, don’t stray a step Don’t walk alone in Seraphim Woods.


© A. F. Stewart 2017 All Rights Reserved





Ashen
Path of stones, pale bonesto carry them downHear the wild wind howl
The crow caws, give pauseShadows shift aroundHear the wild wind howl
Wolf in white, need bitesavagery unboundHear the wild wind howl
A scream lost, in frostcountless echoes soundHear the wild wind howl
None to save, buried graveThe dead, in the groundHear the wild wind howl
  From Colours of Poetry© A. F. Stewart All Rights Reserved 

Halloween Week: Interview With Author Kelly Charron

Welcome to Day Two of my Halloween Week!

Today I have a fascinating interview with psychological thriller author Kelly Charron who stops by to chat about her books, serial killers and a touch of horror. And don't forget to check out the Halloween Instafreebie Horror Giveaway featured after the interview. Enjoy!



Interview With Kelly Charron


Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.

My name is Kelly Charron and I am a thriller and urban fantasy author for teens and adults. I love all things dark and spooky. Halloween is my favorite holiday and it’s pretty difficult to scare me, though I love it! I have worked as a hairstylist and social worker (more similar that you’d think) and currently work as an education assistant with elementary school children.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?
I’m currently promoting the second book in my Pretty Wicked Series, WICKED FALLOUT. It is a psychological thriller that follows the main character, a twenty-seven-year-old woman named Ryann Wilkanson, who is in a maximum-security prison for claiming multiple victims when she was just fifteen years old in her attempt to become a serial killer. Wicked Fallout puts you in Ryann’s head once again but also features the point of view of a forensic psychiatrist named Dr. Nancy Clafin, who is given the arduous task of assessing Ryann when new evidence comes to light that may allow Ryann a commuted sentence. 
How long have you been writing, and how many books have you published to date?
I have been writing seriously for about eleven years now I think, though much of the first five years of that was interrupted as I pursued both an English Lit and Social Work degree. I have two novels published and am working hard on the next one, which is the fifth book that I’ll have written. I’d love to write quicker but I have so much going with my day job and a few side jobs that I can find it challenging to get to my laptop.

How did you become interested in writing? 
I’ve always loved stories and would devour them in any form. I thought about writing for years but was so intimidated by the prospect that I kept putting it off, but it was a passion that wouldn’t let go and so I began buying Writer’s Digest Magazines and books on writing. I studied the craft for a few years before finally jumping in. I started with a young adult urban fantasy and did many things wrong, but I learned so much along the way. I was hooked. I try and talk myself out of being a writer all the time since writing and publishing can be such a whirlwind of challenges but it’s such a part of who I am that I won’t ever leave it behind. It centers me and makes me content. When I can’t write for a few days, I start to get irritable and miserable. It’s not even a conscious thing. I have to stop and look at what could be bothering me and it’s almost always that I haven’t had time to write.

What’s your next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?
The latest book I’m writing is tentatively titled Blood Knot. It’s another thriller! Blood Knot centers around three women who have been friends since they were young. One of them is engaged and the three spend a night celebrating an intimate bachelorette party at a local pub. They split up, but two of them get a phone call the next morning from the fiancé saying that their friend never made it home. Her purse and keys are found on her front lawn, proof that she made it back, just never inside. It’s far more than a kidnapping story. I don’t want to give away the twists and turns (of which there are many) but there’s quite a bit of drama between the friends left behind. I’m exploring the idea of how well you really know the people in your life, including what they are actually capable of doing under the right, or wrong, circumstances.

Do you have a favorite character? If so, why?
I’d have to say Hannibal Lecter (Sir Anthony Hopkins portrayal only) because he is so charming and charismatic. We loathe him but are fascinated with him and are compelled to see what he does next. He’s complicated and clearly has a past that has informed who he’s become. When you get into his backstory you realize that there’s so much more to him and it becomes much clearer why he’s become the psychopath that he has. The layers of complexity in his backstory leave the audience almost feeling empathy for him and temporarily suspend the fact that he’s a sadistic serial killer who brutalizes people. I also find it interesting that he can keep the mask on for so long that most people who meet him have no idea who he is or what he’s capable of.

Why did you decide to write in the thriller genre? 
I have always loved to be afraid, even as a little kid. My interests have always tended to sway toward the darker side of things whether it be novels, TV, or films. The adrenaline rush and anticipation that comes with thrillers and horror have always be so fun to me and I wanted to create something where I could embark that same sense of enjoyable dread onto others LOL. I enjoy creating a mysterious ambiance and setting with dark, complicated characters that are so fascinating you can’t look away, even if you want to. I grew up on Stephen King (TV, Film, and his novels). I craved a safe place to experience that type of fear and suspense and often found it in his work. This is probably why it takes a lot to scare me now (desensitized LOL). However, I’m not a fan of gruesome and graphic for the safe of shock value. I’m not a fan of a lot of mindless horror movies that simply show people being butchered with no actual plot or character development.

What is the hardest part of writing thriller fiction? 
The hardest part for me is making sure my work is as original as possible. I love horror and thriller tropes and think there is always a place for classic elements like the creepy house up on the hill with ravens perched on the rooftop, but I strive to do something that I’ve yet to see. I will often aspire to take something that’s been done before and spin it on its head. There are tons of serial killer books, usually a detective going after a male killer, so in my novel Pretty Wicked, I wrote a peppy, blonde, teenage cheerleader as the serial killer and put the reader in her head instead of in the detectives. 

Did anything surprise you about the process of writing your book?
My research was very surprising. I delved into the crime world, specifically serial killers and child/teenager killers, to learn as much as I could about motivation, execution of crimes, how they were caught, the legal system etc… I want my novels to be as accurate and credible as possible, so it’s important for me to know the realities of a subject before I take it and extrapolate upon it. I was shocked to find so many young people who planned and executed murder. It was quite disturbing. I thought a few here and there, but I was confronted with hundreds of killers from all over the world, under twenty years old, going back in time to the early 1800s. Many of these killers, especially in the past thirty years, were teenage girls, which completely destroyed what I thought I knew about the profile of a killer.


About the Author: 

Kelly Charron is the author of YA and adult horror, psychological thrillers and urban fantasy novels. All with gritty, murderous inclinations and some moderate amounts of humor. She spends far too much time consuming true crime television (and chocolate) while trying to decide if yes, it was the husband, with the wrench, in the library. Kelly has a degree in English Literature as well as a Social Work degree. She has worked as a hairstylist, youth outreach worker and education assistant. She lives with her husband and cat, Moo Moo, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Website:  http://kellycharron.com Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KellyMCharron Facebook:  https://goo.gl/UNkH3g Goodreads:  https://goo.gl/rf4NlM

Halloween Week: Spotlight on The Haunting Season

Welcome to Halloween Week!
From today until October 31st, I'll be spotlighting spooky books, posting an author interview, stories, and poems in a wonderful creepy showcase for this horror Halloween season. I also have a great Halloween Horror Instafreebie Group Giveaway for you with over 25 free offerings for you to browse.
Up today, is a look at author Michelle Muto's book, The Haunting Season. Enjoy...

The Haunting Season by Michelle Muto

Be careful what you let in…Siler House has stood silent beneath Savannah’s moss-draped oaks for decades. Notoriously haunted, it has remained empty until college-bound Jess Perry and three of her peers gather to take part in a month-long study on the paranormal. Jess, who talks to ghosts, quickly bonds with her fellow test subjects. One is a girl possessed. Another just wants to forget. The third is a guy who really knows how to turn up the August heat, not to mention Jess’s heart rate…when he’s not resurrecting the dead. 
The study soon turns into something far more sinister when they discover that Siler House and the dark forces within are determined to keep them forever. In order to escape, Jess and the others will have to open themselves up to the true horror of Siler House and channel the very evil that has welcomed them all. 




The Haunting Season can be found at these retailers.
Amazon  Barnes and Noble  iTunes  Books A Million  Audible



Book Trailer

About the Author

Michelle Muto lives in Northeast Georgia where she spends a lot of time with her dog, Ronan. She loves changes of season, dogs, and all things geeky. Currently, she’s hard at work on her next book.
Connect with Michelle:
Blog  Facebook  Twitter 
Newsletter (get a free book!) 






Over 30 Free Books and Stories in this horror giveaway!Check it all out here!
Halloween Horror Giveaway!




Be sure and return tomorrow for an interview with author Kelly Charron.

Book Spotlight: Assassin Marked

Today I have another book spotlight, this time for the sci-fi/fantasy novel Assassin Marked by Michael C. Sahd. Enjoy!


Assassin Marked by Michael C. Sahd



Damian DuFonte, a professional assassin working for the Crime Syndicate, just can't seem to get past his need for revenge. So when the only woman he's ever loved asks him not to kill one of their bosses, her pleas fall on deaf ears. Although Victoria may be willing to forgive this transgression, the Syndicate certainly will not.

To prove Victoria's loyalty, the Syndicate tasks her with leading a group to hunt him down. Somewhere in the solar system, on the outs with his lover and on the run from trained killers, Damian is ... an Assassin Marked.



Assassin Marked is available at:
Amazon






Author Bio:

Michael C. Sahd grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From a young age, he read voraciously, particularly in the fields of fantasy and science fiction. Shortly after becoming a teenager, he learned to play and enjoy fantasy games such as Dungeons and Dragons. At around the same time, he began writing stories and D&D campaigns of his own.

As an adult, Michael attended New Mexico University, studying in the fields of English and literature. During this time, he honed his writing skills and expanded his writing portfolio. Although he has completed numerous short stories, "Assassin Marked" marks his debut published work.

Currently, Michael lives with his wife and four children in a small town in Texas.