Steve Stred's Blog, page 37

Book Review: The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan

Title: The Marigold

Author: Andrew F. Sullivan

Release date: April 18th, 2023

First, huge thanks to Andrew for reaching out to see if I’d be up for reading an eARC of this one. While it’s not out until April, after reading the synopsis I needed to dive in almost immediately.

I will say, Andrew’s email had the most convincing opening sentence I’ve had received for a review request. “Hey, Steve. My name’s Andrew F. Sullivan and I’m friends with Andrew Pyper.” Sold. Haha! He went on to say something like, I’m a well-respected Canadian author, I have a book coming out soon with Nick Cutter, etc etc etc, something else, but I skimmed. I knew I was in! Haha! I kid. In truth, Andrew F. Sullivan is a name that has been recommended to me previously and when he reached out, I was surprised and humbled that he’d even considered me. So, huge thanks to him for that boost!

Now, regarding the book. There were two key things that really caught my eye about the synopsis. That is was described a urban dystopia and featured environmental chaos. As much as the climate crisis fills me with ongoing dread and worry – both regarding what we’re doing now and what kind of future my son will have – I actually enjoy reading about it. Recent books that I’ve read and enjoyed were Eden and The Last Storm by Tim Lebbon, The Road by Cormac McCarthy and Lost Girl by Adam Nevill. All books that feature a significant change in our way of life directly due to the ecological impact and climate crisis events.

The other thing that had me intrigued was the Toronto aspect. I’ve mentioned it before, but Toronto is a mythical city for me. Growing up, it was where Canadian movies, tv shows and those appearing in them lived. It was where Hockey Night in Canada happened and where the Leafs and the Canadians battled. It created a spot in my small town brain that hasn’t left. So, I wanted to see what Sullivan was going to do to this place that continues to shimmer in my mind.

What I liked: ‘The Marigold’ follows a number of inter-woven storylines, all surrounding the strange mass growing below the surface of the city, called The Wet. This gelatinous mold material that seems to have a sentient component and a human-like emotive element is transforming and taking over everything in its path, including the people it comes into contact with.

The various characters that we are introduced to are all solid, well formed folks, people we either root for right away or (rightfully so) detest immediately. It’s one aspect of the book that keeps you turning the pages, hoping for redemption to those struggling (looking at you Soda) and ramifications for those who treat people poorly and only want progress and not well made, dependable product (looking at you all of The Marigold/Dundee folks).

Additionally, The Wet itself is an intriguing and often used device that keeps the tension high and when we get the ‘human’ aspects introduced, especially involving a search for a specific character, it worked so very well to give it a cinematic aspect.

The ending is powerful, reaching inwards to the reader and making us confront a tough question, one that revolves around our personal beliefs and challenges us to try and be better.

What I didn’t like: Yes, there are a lot of characters, but Sullivan handled that well. What I wasn’t too much of a fan of was the random entries/chapters regarding specific apartments in The Marigold building itself. After a couple of them, you know they are added purely to show how The Wet is pulling itself further into the building itself and the reader will have no care or concern for the resident themselves.

Why you should buy this: The way the dystopian aspect is positioned here, a lot of this book reminded me of what I loved about the 80’s and 90’s comic book movies and Tim Burton movies. Where Gotham City is overrun by crooks and crazies. Where Robocop patrols the streets of a Detroit overrun by gangs and madness. It turned Toronto into this heightened, horrifying place where the ground itself is crumbling, but progress can’t be stopped.

This was a fascinating, if not awful look, at just what our future could become, but done in such a way you want to hold onto hope.

Even when that seems impossible.

5/5

3Q’s Special – Glenn Rolfe prefers his blood not be sucked!

Super excited for today’s 3Q’s Special Guest! Glenn Rolfe has been super supportive of all of my work since my early days and was one of the first authors to reach out and see if I’d be up to reviewing an ARC of their work. Since then, it’s been great to see his new work and how much fan’s have been clamoring for his dark fiction!

Please, welcome Glenn!

 

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?

Glenn: I used to sit down for a set few hours before or after work, but in the last year, life has changed a lot for me. I’m writing whenever I can grab an hour or so to myself. With a new baby on the way, that is going to be even more spastic. I like to try and write every day. Even if it’s just a review or blog post, new outline, or idea sketch.  I’d love to hit between 500-2000 words a day. If I miss that mark, I don’t kick my ass. Life is crazy and you have to be flexible. 

 

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

Glenn: I’m bring Hunter Shea, Ronald Malfi, and Brian Keene. I want to be entertained, soak in their depths of knowledge and experience, and just have a good fucking time.  

 

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it! 

Glenn: My next novella comes out this winter from Crystal Lake Publishing. It’s part of their Dark Tides series where they feature three authors. Our books will consist of each of us offering a creature feature. Mine is called It Came from the Lake.  A couple of kids end up around a private lake and stumble upon the monster. A few other surprises pop up, as well. It was hellafun to blast that one out. As with all my stories, it’s more about the characters than it is about the monster. I can’t wait to start promoting this one.

 

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

Glenn: Frankenstein. I wanna wander around that castle and see the weird shit he has hanging around. Also, he won’t try to suck my blood!!!!

Excellent choice! Thank you so much for doing this Glenn!

To find more of his work – as always – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Glenn-Rolfe/e/B00AXYEBTY/

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

3Q’s – Naching T. Kassa sees dead people…

Just to clarify – my clickbait title has nothing to do with ‘The Sixth Sense’ and everything to do with an answer at the end… Just to clarify! Ha!

Hey, welcome, welcome, welcome! Another 3Q’s has arrived and today’s guest is a hoot!

Please do welcome Naching!

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?

Naching: I am the mother of three children ranging in ages from thirteen to four, so I usually write in the morning before they wake up. Then, I’ll try to get snatches in throughout the day while the older kids are at school. Word count isn’t really Important to me, because I believe in quality more than quantity, but I try to write something every day, even if it’s just a few words.

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?

Naching: Oh, I share it with the world. I can’t keep such a wonderful thing to myself. (Especially if it’s something by Dean Koontz.)

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Naching: My most recent release is a for fans of Sherlock Holmes and the Occult. It’s a short story included in the anthology Sherlock Holmes and the Occult Detectives Vol. IV, and it’s called “The Case of the Colonel’s Corpse.” In this story, the reader meets Sherlock Holmes’ cousin, Dr. Vernet, and must aid her in a strange mystery involving Colonel Sebastian Moran. Readers who enjoy Sherlock Holmes and his more paranormal adventures will enjoy reading this story of monsters and magic.

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

Naching: I’m a huge fan of comic books. When I was young, I read Batman, Superman, The Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Dr. Strange, Conan, House of Mystery, Tales from the Crypt, Secrets of the Haunted House, Warlord, Swamp Thing, and all the Disney, Harvey, and Archie comics I could. I love Batman and issues of Detective Comics were always my favorite, so I would be Shade Mistress and I’d have the superpower of speaking to ghosts and ghouls. I’d then use their information to solve murder mysteries. And if you’d like to know my secret identity, it would be Tammy Richards, a mild-mannered librarian who teaches children the value of literacy.

Very cool! Thank you so much Naching!

To find more of her work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Naching-T-Kassa/e/B005ZGHTI0/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nachingkassa

Website: https://nachingkassa.wordpress.com/

Book Review: Long Walk Back by A.S. MacKenzie

Title: Long Walk Back

Author: A.S. MacKenzie

Release date: December 2021

I love random book finds.

For example, I was recently scheduling folks for my ongoing 3Q’s interview series and came to scheduling A.S. MacKenzie’s. I’ve known A.S. for a number of years now – we are both former review team members over at Kendall Reviews and have appeared in an anthology together – and have enjoyed reading his dark and cerebral take on horror fiction. While scheduling it, he mentioned that his latest release was this one, ‘Long Walk Back,’ and that it was free on his website. Sure enough, when I took a look, there it was and immediately downloaded it to take a look. Then, when I realized that three of my current reads were pushing 500+ pages, I knew I needed a novella to slot in to give my reading brain a bit of a break. So, this one got bumped way up the TBR!

Look, if you’ve read any of my reviews or my own fiction, you’ll know the woods/the forest will always have a place in my heart, so knowing this was about two friends and a hiking trip gone wrong, I was excited to dive in.

What I liked: The story follows two co-workers that go on a weekend camping trip together. They hike into the area and enjoy a nice stay beside a lake. Things take a turn when it’s time to go and they can’t find their GPS. Suddenly, a storm rips through the mountains and they realize they’re lost.

MacKenzie does a great job of using the setting as the biggest antagonist, something I really do love. Even though it frustrated me (I’ll talk in a minute about that) that these two guys were so unprepared and still decided to do all the things you should never do if lost in the woods, it works well for their characters and keeps the reader pulled along, wondering what animals they’ll encounter and whether they will survive or not.

There’s a layered approach to the storytelling as well, with some glimpses into the ‘after’ of the hike at the start of each chapter, which helps to reveal the truth behind what occurred and the reasons for it happening.

What I didn’t like: Honestly, I couldn’t stand either of the main characters. They acted like children and their lack of preparedness and constant fighting was frustrating. But that was the point. So, even though it did grind my gears, MacKenzie used it perfectly to push the story along and heighten the ‘real-life’ stakes that revolved around their location and scenario.

Why you should buy this: Well, you don’t have to – it’s free on his website! But instead we’ll call this the ‘why you should read this’ section, shall we? If you want a survival story that has no paranormal/supernatural elements and focuses on two friends getting lost and doing their best to make it out alive, all while growing to hate the other one and dealing with that relationship dissolution, look no further.

This one was a fun one and will make you double check your supplies the next time you go camping!

4/5

Get your free copy at the link below!

https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/y1577OjG

My Fav Reads of 2022!!

Would you look at that! It’s that time of year when people start releasing their BEST OF lists and TOP READ lists! 

In the past, I’ve done a variety of things. Usually it ends up being top reads FROM the year and top reads from OTHER years that I read that year. Not so this year. This year, I’m purely doing a list of the books I loved in 2022 and I’ll have an Amazon link for each.

So, grab some popcorn, sit back, tune in, drop out and check out some rad reads!

(These are in no particular order!)

(Side note – I decided to not add in the re-reads I did of Andrew Pyper’s works this year to not have a hugely massive list. It’s safe to say though, being a super fan, that The Homecoming, The Damned, The Guardians, Lost Girls and Oracle all deserve to be read and easily could appear on this list!)

My Fav Reads of 2022:

Merlin’s Kurse by Joe Zito – the story of a young boy watching as his brother ascends to stardom in a rock band, Zito filled with with awe, emotions and nostalgia. Phenomenal read.

The Shadow of the Gods/The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne – Books 1 and 2 of The Bloodsworn Saga, Gwynn’s fantasy tale is filled with brutality, gore, death and creatures arisen from lore. Fantastic fantasy series thus far and can’t wait for the finale to arrive!

The Book of the Baku by R.L. Boyle – a novel telling the story of a young boy and his personal difficulties, managed to scare me as well as make me cry. Dark horror with a tinge of fantasy. Such a great novel!

The Root Witch by Debra Castaneda – in this fast-paced, creature-feature novel, we get returned to the 80’s when today’s technology can’t get people out of jam’s and the forest is fighting back.

Lost Girl by Adam Nevill – a novel that makes it impossible for the reader to breathe, Nevill transports us as only he can to rip out our hearts and keep us guessing until the end. A novel that’ll never leave my head.

Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum – a doctor falling apart, a devoted wife, and a horrific body horror novella that’ll have you squirming.

The Haar by David Sodergren – perhaps Sodergren’s first romantic foray, but certainly one of his best emotive pieces he’s done. We get an old woman, a ruthless land developer and an odd ‘thing’ brought in from the sea. Powerful read.

In Search of the Nobility Tx, Wildman by Elford Alley – an interesting look at one man’s search for something he believes in and how his life was directly impacted by that.

The Last Storm by Tim Lebbon – America is scorched, while a young girl tries to create her device to bring the rain. Lebbon fires on all cylinders in this one.

Below by Laurel Hightower – a snow-ravaged road trip takes a turn when a stranger helps a woman and then an accident happens. But something lurks in the dark and snowy night. Great stuff.

Gross Out by Duncan Ralston – Indie Horror’s bad boy, Ralston returns with a tongue-in-cheek skewering of cliques, conferences and community. This one also has a nice ‘Woom’ side story that gives fans some answers.

Sunray Alice by Jeremy Hepler – Hepler can’t write a book that isn’t a page-turner. Following a young girl making a discovery during World War II, we get heartfelt moments, pulse-pounding events and ultimately a riveting novel about how things planted can continue to grow.

Bent Heavens by Daniel Kraus – a moving story about a young girl who’s dad believes aliens exist, only for him to disappear, this was a page-turner and one that truly will make you wonder if we’re alone.

The Year Under the Machine by Peter Danielsson – in this thought-provoking story, we see how life has continued on after things arrive and remain. Truly a book that needs to be experienced.

The Watchers/The Creeper by A.M. Shine – While unrelated, these two stories by Shine are phenomenal. In The Watchers, we see a woman try and make a routine delivery, only to be lost in the woods with darkness coming. The Creeper takes us to a remote village where local lore suggests things might be happening that simply shouldn’t be. Two phenomenal novels.

The Dunnie by Keith Thomas – It still boggles my mind that I’m not seeing this book in more places. A grandfather in the grasp of Dementia, a grandson discovering something is below the house. Chaos ensues. Fantastic stuff.

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie – perhaps the first piece of Epistolary storytelling I’ve enjoyed, DiLouie takes us alongside a ghost hunting crew as they film a show and discover much, much more than they bargained for. 

A Strange Little Place: The Paranormal Secrets of Revelstoke, British Columbia by Brennan Storr – this second edition release of a prior version, Storr does a phenomenal job of educating the reader about Revelstoke’s history, while also sharing the stories that get told around the camp fires. Great stuff.

This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno – I wasn’t too sure what I was getting into with this one, but we get a layered and complex story that genuinely is unnerving and claustrophobic.

Six Stories by Matt Wesolowski – all six of the Six Stories series is phenomenal and honestly MUST-READ. Following a podcaster who looks at different angles of strange stories, Wesolowski has crafted a masterpiece of storytelling and a batch of stories that’ll become all-time horror classics.

Moonfellows by Danger Slater – Slater’s most ambitious and poignant piece yet, we get alternative history told through an emotional lens by a talented writer at the top of his game.

The Grizzly King (A Romance of the Wild) by James Oliver Curwood – released in 1917, this story showcases nature like few others and is a moving and powerful look at two bears and their father/son adopted relationship. Breathtaking work.

Woodhaven by L.J. Dougherty – a father and daughter escape to the woods following government upheaval. Things aren’t always as they seem and when someone appears from the trees, all bets are off. Compulsive.

Oracle 2: The Dreamland Murders by Andrew Pyper – the sequel to his hit ‘Oracle’ audiobook, this features an ensemble cast as we meet back up with Nate Russo and his talent at speaking to the dead. Pyper fires on all cylinders and creates complex characters like only he can.

https://www.audible.com/pd/Oracle-The-Dreamland-Murders-Podcast/B09CLMJPJ4

Helicopter Parenting in the Age of Drone Warfare by Patrick Barb – a future world where screens have taken over and a father loses touch with the son he thought he knew. Very powerful, if ultimately gut-wrenching.

Seven Days by Patrick Senecal – a daughter goes missing, a suspect is identified and a father pounces. In this gripping thriller, ethical boundaries are pushed and ultimately revenge is sought. Outstanding.

A Time For Monsters by Mason McDonald – in his debut collection, Mason covers a lot of ground and showcases just how fantastic of a writer he is. 

The Talosite by Rebecca Campbell – in this alternative history novella, we see a daughter of a famous doctor try to further her father’s research, all while battling internal demons and external temptations. Body horror done perfectly.

The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell – in a world filled with zombies, we follow a teen girl as she tries to survive and makes an unlikely connection. A different take on the zombie trope and one that worked very, very well.

The Outsider by Stephen King – an impossible murder, a suspect that can’t physically be the suspect and total chaos when a discovery is made and a chase begins. I really loved this one, but I’m also a fan of Holly Gibney, which can be a make or break character in the King world.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy – my re-read of this was as brutal, bleak and depressing as the first time, just now elevated to a different level being the father of a young boy. The story follows dad and boy as they try and find the coast where they hope to discover a place to call home.

There we go, that’s what I’m going with. At the moment, we are into the third week of December, so anything I read and love right now, will slot into the 2023 best reads list for next year!

I hope you all had a great reading year!

3Q’s Special – John Palisano invites you to his Glass House!

We got ourselves a truly fun one today, friends!

Today’s guest is one of the nicest guys out there in the dark fiction community! He’s been involved in the HWA in various roles throughout the years, and, at the same time been writing and releasing some fantastic fiction!

Please, do welcome John Palisano!

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: Writing time is sporadic and strange. Mostly I write in the early morning and late at night, primarily with Google Docs on iPhone for the initial drafts. Later, I go to a proper computer to do proper editing and cleanups. I travel a lot as of late so I also bring a moleskin with me. I use those a lot as they aren’t dependent upon wifi. I find I write differently by hand than on the computer. It’s slower, but I actually prefer it. Over the years, I’ve rarely had long uninterrupted times to write, so I do so when possible. I even used to write in the cars and vans when my bands did our micro-tours. On lunch breaks at work. Whenever!

 

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?

JP: So, this would mean I’d be standing in a stuck elevator with an undead Shirley Jackson? M’kay. Wow. I’d ask her what being dead is like, as well as coming back to life. See if there’s anyone I can pass a message to. Anything she’d like to clarify to her readers and biographers. Then I’d thank her for her amazing body of work, through and through, and hope she doesn’t drain me of my essence so she can roam amongst the living once again. Or maybe the cosmos would think that’d be a pretty swell switch: send me to hell, get Shirley Jackson back.

Living? Look: I was the same age as the kids in Stranger Things in the 80s and grew up a rabid Stephen King fan. He even sent me a signed postcard note, which was stolen during my 16th birthday party. Yeah. Been checking eBay for years hoping it turns up. I still pretty much have it memorized. So, I’d love to just be able to thank him personally for his stories and for giving a weird little kid so many great books to hide inside while the world around swirled hell.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

JP: GLASS HOUSE is my newest solo release. It’s a peculiar one that’s surprised me with how divided and what little reaction there’s been. It was going to be a novel but my Dad passed away in the midst and … well … there’s a not too subtle sequence in there reflecting that. It’s my most personal and experimental work. Dives into some uncomfortable territory. The antithesis of my pop-horror novels.

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

JP: My all-time favorite is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Growing up on the east coast, I got to see them several times right in New Jersey and even at Madison Square Garden. How many times have I dreamt of slinging my Strat and standing alongside the band and singing along with them to “Because the Night” or “Badlands”? Countless! Hey, there’s still the soul of that scrawny 16-year-old in me somewhere! I toured and played with bands for years, writing songs and weird stories all along the way, so it’s all intertwined. Recently, I did get to write an interview for one of Bruce’s cover artists Jimmy Wachtel for Backstreets, so that was pretty much all my passions in one place! Not much has changed, but then again?

Fantastic, John! How cool and what a great choice!

Thank you again for doing this! And to find more of John’s work – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/John-Palisano/e/B007EEH9JA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnpalisano

Website: https://johnpalisano.wordpress.com/

3Q’s: John Boden wants to be entertained!

Fun 3Q’s today!

John Boden is known as an author who’ll transport you back to a specific time and place with each of his releases. He has been super encouraging and supportive to so many writers and I was really excited to have him come on down for the 3Q’s feature!

Please welcome John!

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?

John: I do my best to carve out a sliver of writing time daily. Usually an hour or two, in the afternoon, depending on whether my after work nap overflows its banks. I work a 2am-almost noon shift so the nap is important to my survival. I try to add words to at least one of the few projects simmering at the moment. I don’t aim for a specific count just try to be happy with any wordage I’m able to cough out. I try to wrap up my office time by 4pm, that’s when the wife is done with her work and then we get to hang out most of the evening which is important. Been together as a couple for 32 years now and we still like to be together, nice, yeah?

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

John: First, I would never host it on an island. I’m scared of boats and water. But a big ass cabin in the woods…for sure. I’m going to say Chad Lutzke (because as close as we are we have never met in the real life world and I want that to happen more than anything.)  Stephen Graham Jones because I absolutely love his work and we could also talk about hair metal. Kelly Barnhill, because I adore her work and I’m still obsessed by her short story “Hush” and would love the chance to gush about it to annoying lengths. That’s my today picks. Ask me tomorrow and they’d be different.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

John: Most recent release would be Wounds To Wishes: Dark Tide Book One from Crystal Lake Publishing. It’s actually a trio of novellas, one by Chad Lutzke, one by Robert Ford and one by me. They are all connected to one another, some strongly others with more fleeting thread.  We were the debut book in the series and were expected to bring the sad, which we did. But I decided to tackle a different kind of grief and structure. My novella, Suet, closes the collection its actually the first thing I’ve written in some time that anyone has said was creepy and/or that it gave them nightmares. Those are sweet nothings in the ear to a horror writer, yeah?

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

John: I’d go with Victor because being a doctor, scientist and a little left of sane, there’d be a guaranteed entertainment factor. And maybe real food. With Dracula all that would ensue is that’d I’d get all tired and sweaty trying to avoid being bled dry.  Actually, I’d probably just not respond and sit at home holding out for my invite from Dr. Phibes.

Ha! Excellent!

Thank you so much, John!
To find more of his work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00FJFDI8C

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBoden1970

3Q’s Special – Don Gillette tells us what’s that sound!

Boy, do we have a fun one today! Don Gillette was one of my earliest supporters and he’s frequently a supporter and advocate for so many authors out there. He’s been around the publishing world for many years and brings his wealth of knowledge to all that he does.

I’m so happy that I got Don to come and do one of these!

Please, welcome Don!

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?
Don: You know, Steve, I would absolutely love to be able to say I have a routine because I think that’d make me more productive, but the truth is I write when the mood strikes me. Sometimes, it’s manic, like 30-40 pages or 3 or 4 short stories without stopping and sometimes there are periods of days where I don’t write a word. When I was a hired gun, deadlines were like gold. Nothing can pull me into a writing jag like a looming deadline. But since I quit that line of work, I like to really think about what I’m writing before I write it—analyze it, go over it in my head. So even though deadlines made me more productive, it’s nice to have the luxury of being able to plan the next day’s chapter or story or whatever without an editor breathing down my neck.

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?
Don: Jacques Pépin and Julia Child. Nah, just kidding, that’s my appetite talking. I was thinking the obvious—Stephen King—and then I thought, “I don’t know him. What if he’s not all that interesting?” So I’m going with the devil I know—Gabino Iglesias. Very interesting guy who deserves the success he’s seeing. And if William Goldman could be in that elevator, too, I’d be good. Goldman doesn’t get much recognition as a novelist because of his great screenplays, but he was one helluva fiction writer. No, he’s not Cormac McCarthy or Kurt Vonnegut, but he never wrote anything I didn’t enjoy reading.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Don: The latest thing I’ve got out there is Collected Poems: 1970 – 2020. Most of the selections were previously published, but I also included several new ones. In 1970, at the age of 17, I published my first poem and that poem won me a creative writing scholarship to the University of Tennessee (Martin). The thing was, the scholarship only covered tuition and books and the school was 3 hours away, so room and board would have been a little pricey. I couldn’t afford to take the scholarship, so I went to a college closer to home. I do have an upcoming novel, Dark Voices, which will hopefully be out before spring. The editors have it now and they’re driving me into wall-punching fits. It’s a story of a regular guy who possesses the ability to sense the presence of evil and he’s taken it upon himself to do what he can to stop it. He’s not always successful, either.

Steve: Bonus Question! If you were transported back in time, which Pop Band/Hit Band would you hope to find yourself a member of?
Don: I’d rather play guitar for Gordon Lightfoot, but for an actual band, I would have liked to have been a member of Buffalo Springfield. I know that’s way before your time, but Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Neil Young, and Jim Messina were kind of amazing. And hey–Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young are both Canadians. Shouldn’t I get extra points for that?

Great choice, Don! Such an amazing band!

Thanks again for doing this!

To find more of Don’s work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Don-Gillette/e/B00ISD24HI

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dongillette

 

3Q’s – Rowan Hill loves hypothetical questions!

Today’s guest delivered a super engaging novella earlier this year and continues to churn out darkness. Rowan hill is supportive, kind and encouraging and even more exciting – she’s today’s 3Q’s guest!

Please welcome Rowan!

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?

Rowan: Oh geez. Did I sleep well last night? Do I particularly need to exercise today? Does my lawn need mowing? No, there is no schedule, no rhyme or reason or word count. I will say this however for my chaotic process, when I get inspiration, I ride that sucker ’til it’s dead and buried and burn myself out in a fiery blaze and regret all my life choices.

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

Rowan: An island? Are we sure we can’t make it less Honeymoon and more Battle Royale? And if I am inviting authors I admire, I’m gonna give them some writing material out of this thing! So, now the question is who do I feel I could sufficiently maim or would be a good ally until we inevitably turn on each other at the last minute?

First, I am bringing someone I admire. Someone whose writing stirs fear, someone the others will naturally focus all their energy and blood lust on. You know, Gabino Iglesias. The arms on that guy, the pens he must just crush! He’ll probably be first to go (oh god, I hope).

Next I’m gonna have to go with a controversial choice. The matriarch of horror, Shirley Jackson. She’s gonna act all motherly, act like she would never hurt a soul, never would rip the wing off a fly. But I know her sick game, so I am immediately at an advantage. I’ll eat those peaches, Shirl.

Last, Kenzie Jennings. I love her and her Splatterpunk mind, she’s good and could easily take out the other two. Dy’all remember the boot through the head in Red Station? Superb. I winced. But let’s be real, she’s short. I’ve got the height advantage, a good foot I bet. She’ll never see my ax coming. 

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Rowan: The latest piece I have out is with the wonderful, hard working Kristi Peterson Schoonover at 34 Orchard. Memory Foam is a 2nd POV of a touchy subject of carers for the long-term disabled. I enjoyed writing it and it’s a fast read, so maybe check it out? For bigger stuff, stay tuned. I love glamorous Hollywood slashers and my Southern Arkansas roots have turned gothic.

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

Rowan: What! I love this question. Why are we talking about writing schedules when we could ponder these wonderful hypotheticals!? Essentially, you’re asking whether I am intellectually motivated or if I want a ‘good’ night that may or may not lead to death. On one hand, I am a science nerd, and the old Doc is very tempting. Pick his brain for a few hours? Why did he go big on the first experiment, a gigantic man he couldn’t control!? Why not start with a cute, chimera bunny? And the balls on that guy! Frankenstein was a lot of things, but no one ever really mentions his brass balls. On the other hand, I could sample some superb and erotic vampire dick. I mean…

 

Great response haha! Thank you for doing this again!

To find more of her work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rowan-Hill/e/B092DG2CFX

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WriterRowanHill

Website: https://www.writerrowanhill.com/

3Q’s Special – Angel Van Atta and the power of over-thinking!

Big time thanks for all of you who continue to read this series and support it so much! It’s been a ton of fun and I’ve loved seeing all of the comments from people who rave about finding new-to-them authors, which is one of the biggest reasons that I decided to even start doing this!

Today’s guest is a fun one! I connected with Angel Van Atta a while back over on FB and since then, it’s been a mutual support-fest! I’m super happy to have her as today’s Special 3Q’s guest!

Please, welcome Angel!

 

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?

AVA: To be honest, I am a total night owl, and so most of my writing gets done at night, while the moon is high in the sky and the world is asleep around me. It’s the magical time. The secret time. And I think my writing is better for it. As if, maybe, some of that magic gets wrapped up in it. At least, I’d like to hope so.

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?

AVA: I do love estate sales because I love drifting through times that have come before me. I love stumbling over items that show how much we have progressed, or regressed, as time has moved slowly, but steadily, on. And so if I were ever lucky enough to come across something as amazing as a long lost manuscript I would absolutely want to share that with the world! Though, I must confess, I would definitely spend some time with it first. All wrapped up in a comfy blanket with a steaming cup of chocolate coffee nearby. But then I would definitely pass it on. Anything I can do to spread some good will around, I try to. And what spreads joy better than books? They’re these magical items that transport us through time and space and allow us to have experiences we otherwise never could.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

AVA: My latest novel is called The Paintings That Hung. It’s the third in its series and it really is about the powers within ourselves that we can tap into when we are needed by others around us. About coming together to fight against evil for the common good and about love and family and finding our potential. But, also, a lot of really messed up and gory stuff happens along the way. My first book was about possession and my second was my haunted house tale. This one is my wicked witch story and the one I’m currently working on, the one that will finalize the series as of now, is my take on vampires. Well, a vampire. It’s fitting because these were the tropes that meant so much to me while growing up. They were the things that went bump in the night and that peered out at me through shiny, beady eyes from within my closet door. Which always seemed to be just slightly ajar.

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

AVA: Oh, man, this is a great question because I love me some super heroes. If I suddenly found myself bitten by a radioactive spider or fell somehow into a giant oozing vat of bubbling green chemicals, I would probably be known as Anxiety Angel. My superpowers would include the ability to tell the outcome of things through lightning fast overthinking! Though out of the one million five hundred thousand and fifty three possible outcomes I would come up with, which one that would actually end up happening would be as big of a surprise to me as it would be to you. Anxiety Angel really would be basically the same as regular Angel, just with super cute pink spandex and those boots that go up to your knees.

Thank you so much for including me in this. It was a lot of fun and I’m honored to be chosen. It was a lot of fun!

Welcome! Thank you so much for doing this, Angel!

To find more of her work and follow along – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Van-Atta/e/B0B57FDMPY

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HouswyfWithAPen