Steve Stred's Blog, page 23

3Q’s Special – Espen Aukan and the no good, very bad back!

Over the course of the 3Q’s, I’ve managed to chat with many writers, an illustrator/writer with a massive following (looking at you, Trevor Henderson) and a number of cover designers. One type of writer I’ve not had yet is someone who focuses solely on Screenplays/Screen Writing.

One thing I’ve really loved about social media and its global reach, has been connecting with some really amazing people. Which brings us to today’s guest.

Espen Aukan and I connected a year or so ago on Twitter and IG. I think Espen is my first Norwegian guest in the 3Q’s series and if you’re reading that name and knowing you’ve seen it somewhere but can’t place it – Espen co-wrote the screenplay for one of the biggest movies of 2022 on Netflix – TROLL.

Espen has been beyond kind to both myself and my son, Auryn, answering our questions on the movie (a movie I’ve watched four or five times and Auryn over a dozen) and we’ve developed a great friendship through the wonders of social media. I am super happy that Espen was able to answer the 3Q’s!

Welcome Espen!

Steve: What does your process look like once you finish your first draft? Do you immediately dive back into it, or do you take some time away?

Espen: Well, my writing process is a mess, so it’s hard to give a simple answer. I guess it all depends on the project and how soon my impostor syndrome kicks in. Many of my screenwriting heroes always says that a first draft should be written fast so that you don’t have time to let doubt creep in. But for me that doubt usually comes really quick and I struggle with it all the way through, so a first draft can take forever to complete because I do rewrite after rewrite after rewrite while writing the first draft. So my first draft is actually never a first draft really, it’s more like a freaky mess of different parts that may not even go together as a whole.

So, getting through the first draft is really rough, and then when I finally get to the end and have to deliver it, that’s always the moment when everything becomes clear and I realize how I should have written it and I see everything that I have screwed up. But then it’s too late of course, and I have to wait for notes from the director or producer(s) or whoever is reading it before starting the second draft.

By the time I get the notes, I will have forgotten everything and have to start struggling all over again, but this time with new doubt already waiting and with a shitload of notes on top making the second draft even worse. What can I say, writing is hard…

But in a perfect world I think I would prefer to let it rest for a while, maybe while working on something else, before going back to it again after some time away from it, maybe a couple of months so I would be able to see things more clearly and just let it evolve naturally. Alas the world is far from perfect and instead I live in this nightmare.

Steve: Do you believe cryptozoological creatures exist? If so, which one do you think has the best chance of being proven to exist?

Espen: After TROLL was released on Netflix last year, the director actually got messages from people who could prove that giant troll-like creatures did exist at one time. They claim to have evidence of this. Although the biologist I talked to when doing research for the movie is pretty damn sure that it would be impossible for such large creatures to even be able to walk, because gravity would make them so heavy that their legs would be crushed by the weight. The heart wouldn’t even be able to pump blood through to a body that large. It’s just physically impossible. So I guess trolls are off the list. Werewolves on the other hand…

Steve: Do you have a personal favorite script or piece that you’ve written? And if so why?

Espen: I hate everything I write. And I don’t say that to be funny. I just don’t think anything I write is any good. But the thing about writing movies is that there are a lot of other talented people involved in front of and behind the camera that can take my crappy script and make it look and sound good. And I’ve been really lucky with both TROLL and VIKING WOLF in that regard, and I can actually watch both movies without thinking “Dammit, I suck!” But as far as my writing go, I don’t like it much. The best I can hope for is that the other people involved like it enough to go make it and make it good.

Steve: Bonus Fun Question – You’re on a camping trip when suddenly a wild animal confronts you. You take off running and it follows. What animal are you confident in thinking you could outrun?

Espen: As everyone who follows me on social media knows, I’ve just been bedridden with horrible back pains. The first time I got these pains was last June when I went to a Scout tournament to do research for a movie. To get the whole Scouting experience I slept in a tent and my back went all to Hell because of it. So, if I go camping my back would probably do that again and I would be too crippled to even be able to walk. I would therefore be toast if any wild animal came after me. Hopefully it would be a sweet-natured animal and there would be cuddles instead of me getting eaten.

Steve: So, so sorry to hear about the back pain! I hope you’re on the mend!

Thank you so much for doing this, Espen!

To follow along on his journey, check the links!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EspenAukan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wordslinger_esp/

IMDB:

Book Review: How Lovely to be a Woman: Stories and Poems by Tiffany Michelle Brown

Title: How Lovely to be a Woman: Stories and Poems

Author: Tiffany Michelle Brown

Release date: May 1st, 2023

Huge thanks to Tiffany for sending me an early digital of this one. I have it preordered but wanted to do my best to help support her as she’s always been an amazing supporter of mine. I’ve previously read one of her stories in an anthology before this, but was excited to see what her author’s voice was and how it weaved and flowed throughout an entire collection.

I will say this right off the bat – I’m a 41-year-old, CIS, straight, white guy. I am absolutely NOT the target market for this collection, but you know what – that didn’t matter. Each story and poem within are really engaging, wonderfully written and you can either take them at face value as simply a story or you can read them and take in the deeper meanings and implications within each.

What I liked: This collection starts off with a bang and never wavers from there on out. The stories crackle and have an emotional depth to them, which made this one a harder one to really tackle, as I needed to pace myself more than I usually do, wanting to digest each story once done.

Standouts for me were;

The Price of Motherhood – the opening story is one of the most visceral pieces in here. We follow Leslie, who has struggled with infertility and losing her significant other to another woman because of that, who orders an AI baby from an infomercial. At first things seem perfect, but soon she realizes she’s in over her head. This one was gut wrenching and really focused on themes of fertility and the lengths some will go for social media likes.

Something Black – The first of a few office/work based stories, this one features Lois, our MC, who discovers a new algorithm that’ll help make the company more profitable. But, the more her boss won’t make time for her and take her seriously, the more crows appear. A fantastic, quick piece of brutality.

Pursuit – a flash fiction piece, we follow along in the mind of a woman walking to her car at night knowing someone is pursuing her. Very unnerving and one that’ll hit home for anyone who has ever experienced that sensation of being followed – even more if you’re someone who has been followed.

Extraction – a fun body horror story, Val wants to be more beautiful. Getting some new makeup, she falls asleep. When she wakes up, the makeup is fused to her face. So, she begins to try and remove it. Horrifically amazing and a great riff on beauty standards.

This Woman’s Work – another flash fiction piece, all I’ll say is it involves the moon and a transformation.

Seeing Double – this one was a blast. Frat guy, Brad just wants to hook up and finally get laid. When he finds out that there’s more to the hot chick he’s making out with, he gets put into a precarious position and wishes things would’ve went very differently.

The Wailing – perhaps my favorite story in this collection (and one I hope Brown expands upon in the future), it opens with a woman making an important presentation when one of her teeth pop out. At home, another. And things escalate from there. We get a mysterious man and a frantic 911 call and a story that will absolutely make you squirm and want to turn the lights on.

The poetry within was great as well, as were the other stories I didn’t mention. I just found the ones I’ve listed to be the standouts for me.

What I didn’t like: Again, as I said, I’m not the target market here. But, I did love this collection and found Brown’s voice to be very refreshing. BUT – if you rail against the wokeness of the world, if you wish the former orange one was still in office and if you are happy with the current state of the US, where women and anyone that isn’t an old white, Christian male are losing their rights, you may want to stay away from this.

Why you should buy this: Tiffany Michelle Brown should be really proud with this collection. From start to finish the stories and poems create a phenomenal experience for the reader and her writing voice and take on dark fiction was wonderfully macabre. There are trigger warnings listed in the back for those who may need them, and that shows you just how dark this set of stories goes. There’s no holding back here, no pushing you to the edge only to back off. Brown makes sure to knock down all of the pins with each and every throw and the reader is all the better for it.

Really fantastic collection.

5/5

Book Review: Devil’s Track by Julie Hiner

Title: Devil’s Track (Detective Mahoney Series, #4)

Author: Julie Hiner

Release date: April 27th, 2023

Huge thanks to Julie for sending me a digital ARC of her newest!

I connected with Julie a few years back now, and we were both involved with the HWA Alberta chapter (not sure if that’s still happening or not, I’ve heard nothing lately), and it’s always great seeing not only an Albertan author releasing new work, but also a Canadian.

Julie is known for her heavy metal horror, works that feature heavy metal or have it as one of the narratives throughout.

I’ve not read any of the previous Detective Mahoney series, and honestly, when Julie offered this up, she never indicated that I’d need to have read the previous ones. I don’t think you’re missing anything and if you are, it most likely is related to Stella and her father, which I feel like this novel fills in a lot of what you might’ve missed anyways.

What I liked: Detective Stella Mahoney is an up-and-coming detective in Calgary, Alberta, living in the shadows of her father’s legendary career as one of the cities top detectives. She’s trying to walk the line between straight laced public servant and die hard metal head who likes to party on the weekends.

In this one, a body is found, displayed in such a way that Stella immediately suspects the potential for witchcraft to be involved. After some sleuthing and a discovery of a mysterious song, she follows that lead with the help of, Jake, a guy capable of tracking down information online. Hiner expands on Stella’s dislike of people throughout and does a great job of really pushing her buttons by mixing in a partner and showcasing just how much Stella has to battle to be seen separate from her father’s legacy.

I really enjoyed the pacing throughout, the story rumbling along and really keeping the reader on their toes.

As the clues begin to fall into place and Stella and her partner dedicate their time to connecting the dots, Hiner never lets up, but also continues to infuse our main character with a solid amount of doubt, which really humanizes her.

The ending was a blast, with Mahoney coming into her own and really showcasing her internal and external strength.

What I didn’t like: I actually found the chapters dedicated to Val and Damaris – our antagonist’s – to slow things down. I was fully rooted to seeing Stella connect the clues and get to the bottom of it, and I don’t know if I needed to see the other side of things. It was hard to make any connection with them and I didn’t find it really added any tension.

Why you should buy this: From start to finish, this is a really engaging and rollicking crime-fiction, thriller, with a lot of information infused within to really give the witchcraft aspect depth. Hiner has really created a character that readers will instantly come to like and as this is book four, that’ll give you time to go back and read the first three before we undoubtable get a fifth installment.

This was a blast.

4/5

Book Review: The Circus of Hungry Clowns by Caesar Ruell

Title: The Circus of Hungry Clowns

Author: Caesar Ruell

Release date: November 19, 2022

Huge thanks to Tony Jones for connecting Caesar and I and thanks to Caesar for sending me a digital review copy of this novella!

I gotta say, I went into this 100% blind and it was a blast. I quick, snappy read, I read this in about an hour last night and it was such a fun ride!

Whether you go in blind or read the synopsis, one thing is clear – that cover screams loudly that attendees of this circus will not be having the fun time they believe they are!

What I liked: The entirety of the novella takes place over two days. We follow as Joe takes his son, Bobby to the circus that has came to town. Bobby is BEYOND excited to see the clowns. Once there, they sit and patiently wait, before show begins.

Once the show begins, Ruell unleashes unholy Hell on his characters, camouflaged through the fine mist of neurotoxins and laughing gas.

It’s here where the crux of the story falls – Bobby is selected to be part of one of the acts – the last act of the night. When he doesn’t return and Joe learns the truth of what is going on, the novella turns into a splatter-riffic, carnage-filled, survive-at-all-costs story. Joe desperately does what he can to get his son back and to save as many of the other kids as possible.

The ending was a really frantic, fantastic sequence. Once the dust settled, we see who survives, what the aftermath was and what lays ahead in the future.

What I didn’t like: This is a really fast novella which may or may not leave you wanting more of wishing more occurred. Ruell does a solid job of having a fully formed story within this tight page count, but that may also leave you wishing there was more of everything.

Why you should buy this: Sometimes, as a reader, you simply want a book you can read in a single sitting and when it will have you reading it with a smile on your face as the shit hits the fan, so be it. That is this novella. This rips along, you’ll root for Joe and for Bobby’s safe return and you’ll quickly learn to fear the clowns.

4/5

Book Review: The Ballad of El Hacha by JP Wenner

Title: The Ballad of El Hacha

Author: JP Wenner

Release date: March 29th, 2023

Huge thanks to JP for sending me a copy of his debut novella!

I’ve long, long been a wrestling fan, having cut my chops growing up on the classic WWF era and into the WWE era. Truthfully, though, it’s been a solid twenty years since I’ve watched and followed wrestling of any kind, but that might be changing as my six-year-old son is slowly becoming intrigued with some of the clips he’s been watching on Youtube.

JP described this as a Splatterpunk wrestling story with some Bizarro mixed in. I was worried about the Bizarro slant as sometimes it can really take me out of a story, but I was intrigued and leaped in off the top ropes.

What I liked: The story begins with a bang. We arrive in the middle of a wrestling match in honor of El Hacha Cuarto father, one of the most revered wrestlers to ever live. Now, El Hacha Cuarto is destined to take his place, even as his family roots against him and doesn’t believe he deserves the honor.

The story really ramps up when, after the match,  El Hacha Cuarto hits a deer while driving and soon learns that the deer was actually a powerful forest beast, who takes possession of the van. The van is El Hacha Cuarto’s prized possession and thus the story takes off. About a wrestler, trying to get his van back from a vengeful entity, who is accompanied by a woman, Abby who longs to help.

Wenner goes to a number of great spots in this novella, as well as some really odd spots, but that is expected with the Bizarro component. We get a talking flower, some crazy characters and a ton of action spots that really work to dole out a warehouse volume of carnage.

Throughout, Wenner has done a solid job of wanting us to root for El Hacha Cuarto, and it doesn’t take long before you see just how much is stacked against him and how hard he needs to battle to survive, get his van back and become the greatest wrestling champion of all time.

What I didn’t like: Like I mentioned, the Bizarro aspects can be tough for me and there were a number of times where I was loving the storytelling and then got really pulled out because of the odd directions it went. If you love the Bizarro world of dark fiction, it’ll work great for you, otherwise do be aware.

Why you should buy this: ‘The Ballad of El Hacha’ was a really fun time and Wenner has created a character in El Hacha Cuarto that the reader will instantly believe in and root for from page one. The story has great pacing and we get enough action and intrigue to pull us all along really well.

Fans of wrestling and crazy-zany antics will be very, very happy!

4/5

The Ballad of El Hacha by JP Wenner

Book Review: The Black Cabin by Wayne Fenlon

Title: The Black Cabin

Author: Wayne Fenlon

Release date: March 8th, 2023

Look at this! Wayne Fenlon’s debut novel! Wayne has long been one of my most vocal supporters, so when he previously announced his drabble collection, I was all over that. With this one, I was really excited and intrigued. Sadly, I was unable to get to it ASAP when it was released due to my ridiculously overflowing TBR at the moment, but there was no way I wasn’t going to squeeze this in for release month! So, apologies to you, Wayne, but here we are and what a great ride this was!

What I liked: The story opens with a delicate scene of a man finishing up repairs to a cabin. It then transforms into a raging inferno of a narrative as we follow a few different POV’s as multiple characters all converge into a dramatic finale.

Throughout, Fenlon crafts a story that is powerful and moving. We connect with the characters – even the despicable ones – and root for the ones we want to see succeed. Intertwined within this is the duality of vengeance and revenge. It comes from both aspects, the good side and the bad side and this worked really well to have us on the edge of our seats. It’ll have you screaming at the book to “not trust him!” or “don’t go there!” over and over.

Wayne weaved the story masterfully, with all trails lining up and a really fantastic, thrilling climatic scene. The reality of what was happening and how it all came together was great.

What I didn’t like: I do struggle when chapters jump back and forth between characters. Just something I’ve always found when reading books. And while the end scene was chilling and great, I do wish there had been a little bit more there, as things seemed to go from 100 mph to 1,000,000 mph which made for a jarring pace change.

Why you should buy this: This was a really well-done debut novel, one that had multiple layers of emotions and gave us truly wonderful characters that will stay with the reader long after you’re done reading.

It’s great to know this is only the beginning for Wayne. Can’t wait to see what he gives us next!

4/5

3Q’s – Eric Butler takes his turn on the catwalk!

Really fun 3Q’s today with the awesome Eric Butler!

I’ve shared a TOC or two with Eric and he’s got a really great fanbase that is always anticipating what he’s got coming down the pipeline!

Please welcome Eric!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Eric: It’s a bit like that Sponge Bob Gif where his brain is destroying his memories, absolute chaos. While I try and plot each story, I usually end up flying through them by the seat of my pants. I do try and write on a schedule, usually after everyone else in the house have gone to bed. However, if I’m working on a deadline, I will shoehorn writing time all throughout the day. I usually don’t set a daily word count, but I do try and get something down each day no matter what.

Steve: You’re riding an elevator and BAM! It gets stuck. What two authors (one living and one dead) would you happen to find yourself stuck with?

Eric: This is the question that I’ve had trouble answering. My brain immediately thinks zombie. So, no matter what dead author I pick (I’m gonna say Laymon since he’s my favorite), he’s hungry for brains. I’m gonna pick Daniel Volpe as my living author. He seems to be in pretty good shape and hopefully can keep it occupied while I climb up the escape hatch. If he isn’t bit, I’ll pull him up and if he is … well, that’s the start of a great novel.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release and why someone should read it!

Eric: I have 3 shorter works I’ve released first on Godless, and then followed up on Amazon. All three are creature features, each one showcasing an original story loosely based on legends. The first was Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny. This is a toxic monster story, that has an old school monster vibe. The second one was The Surrogate. This one is about the horror of bringing someone into your house, and they not being what you thought. And the third one, There’s Something In The Water, just came out. It is about a lake monster gone wild.

I offer the eBooks on Godless, and eBooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks on Amazon.

Steve: Bonus Question! If you were transported back in time, which Pop Band/Hit Band would you hope to find yourself a member of?

Eric: I’m thinking it would be Right Said Fred, cause I’m too sexy for my shirt …

Steve: Haha, great answer! Now, everyone will expect you to take your little turn on the catwalk!

Thanks for doing this, Eric!

To find more of his work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Eric-Butler/author/B081FQHVQV

Website: https://www.ericbutlerauthor.com/

3Q’s – The kinetic power of JP Behrens!

Hey, hey! Look at this! A new 3Q’s! That’s right. As they roll in, I’ll be scheduling them! So, if you’ve been sent the 3Q’s questions, answer them and send them back! Sheesh! Lolol!

Today’s guest is a fun one. JP Behrens has released some scintillating short fiction and last August, saw the arrival of his debut novel!

Please welcome JP!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

JP: My process is always evolving as the demands of balancing life, family, and career forever fluctuate, especially with school age children.

I start the day with exercise and reading a short story. I’ve managed to read one short story a day since 2021, so I’m into my third year without missing a single day. The rest of the morning is for housework. After lunch, I write until I hit my goal for the day, no matter what. When putting down new words, the goal is 1000 words a day, but I’m hoping to work that up to 3000 over time. The project I’m working through right now is in the editing phase, so I aim for 10 pages per day or a full chapter.

Steve: You end up at an estate sale and discover an unpublished manuscript from an author you love. Do you keep it just for yourself or do you share it with the world?

JP: That would require a lot of research. If I discovered that this was some lost manuscript the author always regretted misplacing, I would absolutely reach out and share it with everyone. On the other hand, if this is a work that they wanted burned, I would never let it out into the wild. The controversy over GO SET A WATCHMAN and the final wishes of Terry Pratchett as performed by Neil Gaimen have influenced my opinion about posthumous works and the ultimate intent of the author. If one cares about an author, it’s best to respect their wishes as closely as one can.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release and why someone should read it!

JP: My debut novel, PORTRAIT OF A NUCLEAR FAMILY, is a cross between WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN and MOMMY DEAREST with taxidermy.

Wanda has discovered her eldest son, Nathan, is keeping a dark secret that threatens to tear apart the carefully constructed image of the perfect family she’s worked for years to maintain. After a tragic incident, Wanda becomes determined nothing with stand in her way to preserve the idealized version of family she’s always been taught to desire.

If you like psychological horror with characters who could be living right next door, grab a copy of this book. It’s dark, twisted, and pulls absolutely no punches. Be warned, there is a content warning.

PORTRAIT contains depictions of animal abuse (central to character development and plot and in no way glorified) and depictions of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse.

Steve: Bonus Question! You wake up in a comic book. What is your comic book character and what is your superpower?

JP: My character would be someone who doesn’t necessarily agree with the social pressures of society but has a very strict code of ethics to keep him from hurting people through impulsive reactions to everyday annoyances. Willing to suffer the consequences of his questionable actions, he is unwilling to allow anyone else to pay that price, even in a secondary way. I think how the public at large sees him could be interesting to play with and. The conflicts with that possible dynamic are legion.

His power is to control all forms of energy; kinetic, potential, psychic, magical. He can redirect or block energy, but if he loses focus it can explode with tremendous force, endangering whoever happens to be nearby. He is forced to maintain a mental and physical discipline that will be constantly tested.

Steve: That’s a great answer!

Thank you so much, JP for doing this!

To find more of his work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/JP-Behrens/author/B004ZZP72C

Website: https://jpbehrensauthor.com/

Book Review: The Caverns by Olen Crowe

Title: The Caverns

Author: Olen Crowe

Release date: June 23rd, 2022

Thanks to Olen for sending me a copy of this one. We connected a while back on Twitter and I always love checking out other’s work, so this was a cool novel to discover.

Look, anything involving crazy events/incidents in a cave – I’m pretty much game for. Whether it is supernatural, weird mutated creatures or simply bad guys holed up and trying to scare folks away, cave based horror will always get me amped up.

What I liked: The story takes place in the Linston Caverns, a tourist attraction off the beaten path. The book opens with a group of tourists out on a boat in a lake inside the caverns that gets tossed around and the people disappear.

Crowe ramps things up by having two investigative journalists partner up with three college kids who’re wanting to explore the caves to see if they can get to the bottom of everything happening. Insert a slightly crazy local who believes the caverns are haunted and a small town hellbent on doing whatever it can to keep the tourist dollars flowing and you have a rollicking, multi-layered novel.

The story has some unique bit-parts, characters that fit in to push the novel along and many of them will feel like characters you’ve known for years, which is always a blessing when an author can pull that off.

The ending comes like a crushing wave onto shore, wrapping things up as well as leaving some lingering questions for us readers to really ponder.

What I didn’t like: No matter how much I tried, I just didn’t like the Junior character. The way he is portrayed almost became like inserting Jim Carrey at his most ridiculous into a drama piece. Felt like oil and water. He has a purpose and aides with how the story moves, but I just couldn’t get a handle on him.

Why you should buy this: This was fun from start to finish. The caverns offer up an immediate place to create chills and make the readers squirm and Crowe uses all of that to his advantage.

Overall, a really solid, claustrophobic story that’ll have people developing anxiety as the novel progresses.

4/5

Book Review: Starry Nights by S. Kovax

Title: Starry Nights

Author: S. Kovax

Release date: November 3rd, 2022

Big thanks to S. Kovax for sending me a digital copy of this one. I read his excellent collection ‘The Uninvited Words – Tales of Horror and Dark Fantasy Volume I’ back in 2021 and have the second volume on my Kindle to be read soon.

Kovax had indicated that ‘Starry Nights’ was a novella that he really loved and wanted to see if I enjoyed it as well and after having read this, I found it really engaging and a refreshing take on the unknown that lures us in concept.

What I liked: ‘Starry Nights’ follows Margo, one of the leading painters in the world. She’s gorgeous, addicted to drinking and having fun and fucking whatever moves. But it’s not want she wants, not deep down in her soul, and after giving a farewell speech at her latest unveiling, follows in the footsteps of Van Gogh and moves to Arles, where he famously cut off part of his ear.

This is where Kovax really accelerates the narrative. Margo meets a young man, a fan of her work but also a painter in his own right and after sharing what his subjects are, they team up to paint together. It is a fascinating study on how creative people create, but also what happens when one wants something they’ve never had, while the other has achieved all of it and more.

The subjects were fascinating and it lead to a horrible reality, but also an expected direction, when placed in the context of the story leading up to that point.

The ending was great and I gotta sale, Margot was such an amazing character to follow along.

What I didn’t like: While I thought the subjects were intriguing and had me curious, I wish we would’ve had more about the who, the why and the what. This was most likely done purposefully (God knows I’ve gone that route before) but it left me dying to discover so much more about it.

Why you should read this: Kovax is a really gifted writer. He gets to the heart of what makes a character tick quickly and has the reader engaged and following along within minutes. This one hums along and, while I’m not a fan of the painting/art world much in real life, I do enjoy reading about it in a horror novella/novel setting and this worked really well.

5/5