Steve Stred's Blog, page 51

3Q’s – Meg Hafdahl blinds us with SCIENCE!

Alright, like 50% of people reading that headline will understand the pun. If you don’t get it, go Google Thomas Dolby. We’ll wait…….

Ok, you’re back! Great! So, today’s guest is a fantastic researcher and co-author (alongside Kelly Florence) of a number of truly intriguing and interesting books.

Please welcome, Meg Hafdahl!

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

Meg: I think it would be nice to be so organized! But, no, depending on the project I carve out the time I need. When I write non-fiction I tend to be able to write twenty minutes here, ten here. With fiction writing I really like to immerse myself in the creativity so I need at least an hour of dedicated, quiet time. I try not to concentrate on word counts, rather setting goals of finishing a scene or writing until I have to pick my kids up!

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

Meg: Oh wow, well we interviewed Richard Chizmar for our book The Science of Stephen King and he got the chance to contribute to the world of Castle Rock which is such an honor. He clearly took it seriously, and of course in talking to him my mind was going… wondering what it would be like to write in Castle Rock or Derry. Playing with those places and characters that King created would be a dream. His world building is second to none. I’m also a huge Shirley Jackson fan so revisiting Hill House or the Blackwood Estate in the modern era would be pretty damn cool!

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

Meg: My latest co-authored book is The Science of Witchcraft coming September 6th. It’s a mash up of history, witch cinema, science, and interviews with quite a diverse group. We speak to everyone from drag queens to an indigenous botanist who specializes in healing plants! I’m really proud of it, and I think anyone would enjoy it who has the slightest interest in witchcraft; whether from a historical or fictional perspective.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

Meg: Oh wow! Too many! I think if my library was burning down I’d grab one of my copies of Jane Eyre. No one should be in this world without one.

Very cool choice!

Thank you so much for doing this, Meg!

To discover more of her work and her co-authored work with Kelly – click the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Meg-Hafdahl/e/B01B0W4PHA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MegHafdahl

Website: https://www.meghafdahl.com/

RELEASE DAY! And a bunch of other stuff!!

IT LIVES!!!!! IT’S ALIVE!!!!

MUAHAHAHAAH!

That’s right! Today, September 9th, 2022 sees the launch (re-launch?) of An Endless Darkness: The Novellas. Cover art and wrap done by the phenomenal Greg Chapman. I’m a huge fan of his artwork and his writing and he’s honestly one of the nicest guys out there. Super excited that he crafted this beauty.

For those unaware – this collects four of my novellas and two novelettes/short stories and packages them together in one grubby little price. Today (and depending on Amazon maybe this weekend) is the last day you can get the ebook for 99 cents. It’ll return to non-preorder price of $2.99 shortly. I tried my best to keep the paperback as cheap as I could, but two things blocked that number being under $10. The first is this behemoth is almost 500 pages. The second is – printing costs have gone up.

As for the content – three of the stories within here are being released in physical form for the first time – Wound Upon Wound, Daisy’s House and Seth, and all have been re-edited/re-vamped. The other three – YURI, The One That Knows No Fear and Jane: the 816 Chronicles all sparkle and shine now as well!

If you want to grab it;

mybook.to/anendlessdarkness

Writing:

It’s been a while since I did a ‘what’s up’ with me type post. I don’t have a real newsletter per se, just this website/blog. If you’ve signed up for updates, thanks! If not, no worries, if you come across this and read it, cheers. I appreciate that.

So, I’ll dive into a number of things on the go – be prepared, this won’t be short lol!

Next novel – So, An Endless Darkness comes out today. My next release is already in the works. I’m not prepared to share the title or the cover just yet. What I can say, is that I am over the moon for this one to land. It does feature artwork from Greg Chapman again – and the few I’ve shared it with have raved about it. I reached out to esteemed reviewer (and awesome friend) Tony Jones, as well as awesome writer and great guy C.J. Bow to beta-read my first draft and give me some critical feedback. What I got back was some truly solid feedback and I’ve been using that to improve upon this latest draft, before it goes to David Sodergren for fine tuning. Tony has said this is my best thing yet – even in it’s early stages – and I’d have to agree. More will be revealed soon, but I’m thinking a February 2023 release for this one.

456 Blatchford Drive – if you’ve followed me for any time, you’ll have seen this novel mentioned a number of times. Well, guess what – while this isn’t some Book Three of The Kingkiller Chronicles level wait – this one will be coming to you next summer. I have to go through it again, clean it up and convince David to do his due diligence on it like he usually does – but it is done and I’m excited for this one. Cover art has been done by A.A. Medina which I’ll share at some point.

Cathedral – for those who like my dark fantasy leanings, the sequel to ‘Piece of Me’ has been “completed.” Much in the same stage as 456 Blatchford Drive, I need to clean it up. Cover art is done, this time by Christy Aldridge, aka Grim Poppy Designs. Expect this one to arrive end of next year.

The Empyrean Saga – for the few of you who dig my sci-fi literary series, books 1, 2 and 3 are currently out. The final two novellas are mapped out, but on the back burner until most likely 2024. This always depends on my writing time/schedule and it may be something I’m able to pop in and get done and released. I don’t know how to say this properly – so apologies – but I do know not many folks ‘care’ about these books as much as they do my other work. Totally fine. I love these characters, but I also don’t make a huge deal out of the series haha! Something I need to write and release and express and for those who have discovered Lizzie and they journey, I thank you.

Mastodon sequel – Mastodon has been the biggest thing I’ve ever created. Easily. I’m super proud of it and honestly, I never expected it to take off like it did. I said early on in a few interviews that I would be open to a sequel if/when something came to me. It did and I’ve mapped it out completely. It will be the finale. Two books – purely on this aspect. Of course my other works (a few short stories, The Stranger and Jane: the 816 Chronicles) outline a fair bit of the land and the mysterious aspects, but this one will definitively answer the why’s while also focusing on a few key ideas. I’ve ran the outline/synopsis by a few close friends and they loved it. Fingers crossed I stick the landing.

Wagon Buddy Trilogy – book three is loosely mapped out. I have the ideas, just not the ‘how.’ Hopefully it comes together soon.

I have a number of other works in various stages, but nothing far enough along to really ramble about them.

Collaborations:

I’ve got a few collaborations in various stages. It’s been great working with others and we’ll see what comes of them.

Novella – Simon Paul Wilson and myself are in the early stages of a novella. It’s a merging of two of our existing pieces we each had but somehow worked well to update and collaborate. Really excited for this and Simon’s a top notch guy and a stellar writer. More when I can share.

Novella Collection – Myself, Brian Fatah Steele and Joseph Sale have begun the initial work on creating three novellas that are interconnected. I can’t share much more, we’ve had extensive email convos and even the beginnings of a map (which means you know this will be EPIC), but once more comes along that I can share, I will. These two guys are such phenomenally gifted writers with huge imaginations, I’m desperately trying to keep up and not make it obvious I’m the weak link!

Second Sodergren Collaboration – when David and I wrote ‘The Navajo Nightmare,’ it was a blast and resulted in my first gold banner on Amazon when it was released. We’ve got the idea in place and I’ve actually written a draft of my portion. So, we’re making progress! Stay tuned.

Lastly, I’m putting this out there – Sonora Taylor and myself have previously discussed working together a number of times. Timing just hasn’t been there, but I’m hopeful we can finally figure this out and we can work officially together. She is a stunningly talented author and I’d be so honored if I can get my act together and get this done!

Audiobooks:

This year I finally got over my fear and dove into getting some of my books into Audio format. So far Mastodon, Incarnate and The Window in the Ground have been completed and I’m currently waiting for Wagon Buddy to be approved for sale. Scott: A Wagon Buddy Tale, the sequel has begun production. I’ll be looking at getting Piece of Me and An Endless Darkness done as well. So far, the talented Shep Pryor has narrated everything. For Piece of Me I’ll be looking for a female narrator to bring Kari’s journey to life.

3Q’s:

Earlier this summer, I launched my author interview series called 3Q’s. It has been a blast and I’m truly shocked to see so many people mention it and share how much they’ve loved it. Truth be told – I did this purely for me haha! These were some serious and silly questions I’ve always wanted to know, so the easiest way to ask is to do an official series! They’ve been great and the variety of answers has been staggering! I’ll be keeping these going for a bit, so if you’d like to find out who has done them so far, here is the link to the archives on my site;

3Q’s Archive

Real life:

When we had our son, who just turned six! SIX! WTF!, one of the things we immediately decided was that we would do as much fun stuff as we could and give him a ton of cool experiences. Myself and my wife both grew up in very small towns. Even though she was born here, in Edmonton, she moved away when she was still very little, so neither of us ever had the benefit of all that was available living in a city. Auryn has that fortune and we knew we wanted to make sure we took advantage of it.

We’re always planning things and doing stuff and while at times it can be exhausting, it is always rewarding.

This summer, we went to Jurassic Forest; a fave spot for us, travelled out to see my sister in Trail and my mom out in Nakusp. We visited our Zoo a million times. We hit up Taste of Edmonton, which is a fun food truck event, attended Monster Jam and of course the Telus World of Science. For Auryn’s birthday, we went out to Discovery Wildlife Centre, then onto Drumheller. Drumheller is such a cool town and the Royal Tyrell Museum is stunning. We carried on to Calgary where we went to the zoo there and finished off with a trip out to Cochrane and their amazing Wolfdog Sanctuary. I had a wolfdog many years ago, so it was amazing to see them in such a phenomenal location.

Throughout this, we hit up spray parks, took our pup Cocoa for walks and spent some time camping up at the In-Laws seasonal lot. All in all it’s been a blast.

When August ended – it was time for Auryn to return to school and I gotta say – him going into Grade One was a huge emotionally gut punch. I wish he never had to grow up, just stay my little bubs forever. But here we are. Definitely not something I was prepared for.

Coming up – at the end of September I’m heading to Toronto for a professional event. Two days at Sunnybrook Hospital, which will be really interesting. I’ll try and connect with a few of you out there, but no promises!

Movies:

As Auryn has gotten older, we’ve had the chance to watch more movies as a family. When he was born, I essentially gave up watching TV and Movies and focused my time on reading. It may be odd to some of you, but I still co-sleep with him, which I think has been instrumental in him feeling safe and secure and after the difficulties of his arrival, helped eliminate my own fears and some of the PTSD I suffered. With co-sleeping, I read while he settled and we’ve just stuck with that. Some day here, we’ll transition, but for now, it works for us.

Going back around to what I began to say – so, now we’ve begun to watch more movies and even went to the theatre recently. We went and saw DC League of Super Pets which was a lot of fun. We recently watched Jurassic World: Dominion which was a blast (if not ridiculous in parts) and enjoyed The Sea Beast and Lightyear. It’s been awesome watching Auryn grow from someone who kind of paid attention to someone who’ll sit and watch the entire thing.

On the TV front, we’ve been enjoying Amazing Race Canada and will most likely dive into the new season of Survivor when it starts!

Tik Tok:

Lastly, I’ll finish with a bit of social media stuff. I’m actually a big fan of social media. I love seeing what everyone’s up to and I’ve curated my feeds to remain mostly positive which really helps. At the start of Summer, I finally took the plunge and created a Tik Tok account. My wife had been telling me for some time to create one, so I finally did. You can find me at stevestredauthor. I’m not using it to get a million followers or rake in cash, it’s more of a spot for me to share some fun stuff and some book love. I’m also using it to do a series discussing the four years I joined a cult on the dark web when researching my Father of Lies Trilogy. Sacrament, the third novella in the series, was most-recently nominated for a Splatterpunk Award, and while it didn’t win, it was still very exciting to see.

So, if you want to give me a follow or even drop by – I just posted Part 7 in the series yesterday. Be warned – not for the squimish.

Alright, I’ll end it here. Thanks to all of you who’ve read this.

Cheers,

Steve

3Q’s – Beau Johnson – FUN WAS HAD!

OH CANADA! WE HAVE ANOTHER 3Q’s FOR THEEEEE!!!

That’s right, everybody’s favorite and unabashedly supportive Canuck drops by the craziness that is 3Q’s today!

Everyone, please welcome …………. Beau Johnson!

Welcome, Beau!

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?

Beau: My writing time is as fickle as the wind, my friend. I’m a panster by nature so whenever an idea strikes is whenever an idea strikes. Do I wish things were different? At one time, sure, but this has been me for so long, I’ve come to dig it.

Steve: If you started a series and for some reason had to have another author finish it, who would you choose?

Beau: Hmm. My first thought is King, of course. I mean, that man is my own personal Vader. Not Anakin. VADER. But someone closer to home I’d go with Nick Kolakowski or Laird Barron. Shawn Cosby too, for sure, as well as Jordan Harper. Each of them could do justice to a bad man attempting to do good things in other words.

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

Beau: Well, my newest release happened a year ago this month. A couple of stumbling blocks hurt me (no pre-order link from Amazon until a week before release) and I feel BRAND NEW DARK has never really gotten a fair shake. Does it sting? Sure, but there’s nothing I can do to fix that particular problem except to say BRAND NEW DARK is now my most reviewed book (yay!) and is dedicated solely to the life of Bishop Rider, a man who for quite some time has been attempting to save the world the only way he knows how.

Steve: Bonus Question! If they made a movie about your life, what actor or actress would you suggest they get to play you?

Beau: A movie? About my life? Who would play me? ‘HOW YOU DOIN?’

Great casting choice!

Thank you once again, Beau!

For more about Beau, follow the links!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/beaujohnson44

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Beau-Johnson/e/B079MHF7RG/

Book Review: The Deep (The Rise Trilogy Book Two) by Robert P. Ottone

Title: The Deep (The Rise Trilogy – Book Two)

Author: Robert P. Ottone

Release date: August 8th, 2022

Having read the first book in this series and really loving it, I had wanted to dive into book two when it came out right away, but life and my TBR (and some review requirements) got in the way. Now, having finished this one up, I’m so excited for the finale and how Azlynn’s storyline comes to its conclusion.

Book One set the stage – and some of this will mildly fall into spoiler territory – so read no further if you’ve not read Book One!!

OK – here we go – last warning!

In Book One our characters travelled into The Triangle and retrieved The Pearl, the mythical ship. Onboard the ship was the sphere, the mysterious orb that was the gateway to Dagon. We ended with The Pearl being docked and Azlynn deciding to carry on and continue searching the ocean’s in the hopes of finding the island she keeps seeing in her visions.

We all know that the second book in a trilogy is often purely a means to an end. It fills the middle space to get us to the third and final act, so I was intrigued to see what Ottone could do to make this special all on its own.

What I liked: Book Two is essentially a 150 page Hollywood Summer Blockbuster. It’s filled with tons of action and finishes with an insane battle that sets us up for the finale. This was both a good thing and a bad thing (I’ll discuss what I didn’t like so much in the next section) but it worked really well to get us from where we ended to where we need to be and just what awaits Azlynn.

I mentioned it in my review of the first book, but I love this ‘Waterworld’ setting. With the world having been flooded, we get little tidbits of just how much throughout, even at one point we get a character mentioning they found something on the tip of Mount Everest that still juts out of the water. The imagery even in my description is so profound, but Ottone’s vivid descriptions of settings drives how difficult this new world is.

In this book, Azlynn finds an unlikely ally, Eux, leader of a group that is known to be cannibalistic, but who has also experienced Dagon’s pull and visions. It makes for a solid pairing and an emotional stake when the battle rages and people fall.

How Ottone ends this was spot on and exactly where it needed to leave, especially for setting up for the finale.

What I didn’t like: As I mentioned, this one is battle heavy, with the final third being mainly the battle between The Deep and the group that is forced to work together. I found it to be a bit much, especially considering how much ‘what needs to happen next’ is added in. It became a bit jumbled, but that might’ve been just this reader.

Why you should buy this: If you read and loved Book One, then Book Two is a must. If you’re a fan of Lovecraft’s lore but dislike him or his writing, this is a great spot to dive in and learn about the mythos and find some fantastic new characters to follow.

A solid sequel. Now, we wait for the finale!

4/5

3Q’s – Cailyn Lloyd takes her Elders to The Mill!

Good grief, sometimes my titles for these are awfully punny. My apologies to Cailyn for this one! HA!

Well, well, well, welcome to this 3Q’s with the awesome Cailyn Lloyd! I’ve had the pleasure of reading Lloyd’s The Elders series as well as her latest, The Mill, and have to say – she has no problem delivering creeps and frights!

Welcome, Cailyn!

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

Cailyn: I write the same time every day from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Though I have no specific word count targets, I’m happy with 3K words a day. I work longer hours when I edit, which is most of the time. Writing is about 80% editing for me.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

Cailyn: What an interesting question, one I haven’t considered—and yet, none of us are writing fully unique works. We are influenced by everything that came before and therefore, in some sense, we are writing in the fictional worlds of the authors we admire. Is this another way to determine our influences? To answer the question directly: although I love and write horror, it would be thrilling to write an installment of the Jack Reacher series.

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

Cailyn: I’ve just finished the first draft of a new novel, tentatively called The Farm. The title may change as Amy Cross has a book by the same name.

Kat Lundquist, a woman on the run, seeks refuge in an old farmhouse. Soon, she is joined by a geologist and a medium, both in search of a mysterious force rising in the rock beneath the house. In the end, she must deal with the problem underneath the house, the people around her who are acting ever more strangely, and the cartel killers pursuing her. It will be fast paced with lots of action and plenty of spooky elements.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

Cailyn: Carrie, The Shining, Cujo, The Dead Zone, Different Seasons, and Christine are all a tie.

All excellent choices!

Thank you so much, Cailyn!

Follow the links to keep up to date with her work!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cailyn-Lloyd/e/B07SPDPPC5/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cailynrox

Website: https://www.cailynlloyd.net/

3Q’s Special – Mike Thorn shares his superpower!

Welcome back to a special bonus 3Q’s! You know it’s funny – I’ve probably had close to 100 3Q’s now, but haven’t posted/scheduled one in probably a month! So, when Mike sent in his replies and I said I’d slap them up for a special 3Q’s, I realized I was out of sync with doing it! Rusty for some reason! But I got my mojo back and here we are!

When you hear the name Mike Thorn, your reading brain should automatically squirm. He crafts brutal darkness, unsettling situations and characters that you want to root for. His short fiction is phenomenal, his long fiction is fantastic and he has been a massive supporter of so many writers, myself included!

Please welcome Mike!

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? 

Mike: I rarely maintain consistent writing schedules for extended periods of time. When I have writing assignments (anthology invites, collaborative projects, etc.), I tend to work fast and furious. In cases like those, I’ve sometimes written upwards of eight hours a day. When it comes to my own work, I’m not always so regimented. I’ll write in bursts, sometimes I’ll have periods of stasis, sometimes I’ll chip away a little bit every day. I often get much more obsessive and zoned in during the editing process.

Having said all that, I believe that a regular writing routine is the ideal way to go, if possible. Do as I say, not as I do.

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? 

Mike: Well, to be overly literal about it, I’d need to look into the rights situation, because chances are slim that I’d even be legally allowed to share this unpublished manuscript with the world. But if I could help get it out into the world, of course I would!

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

Mike: My most recent release is the short story collection Peel Back and See. I think it’s probably the most pessimistic book I’ve written. It features sinister Internet-dwelling entities, occult artwork, an otherworldly orgy gone wrong, and several deals with the devil (among other things).

I also have a new story called “The Events” in Shattered & Splintered, edited by the awesome Laurel Hightower and James Sabata. All proceeds from that anthology go to the Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department.

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

Mike: My comic book character would be Writer Able To Sustain Himself Purely On Earnings From Creative Work Man. My superpower is evident in the name.

Well played, Mike, well played!

Thank you again for doing this! As always, check the links to find more of his work!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Thorn/e/B07XQHXNGW

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeThornWrites

Website: https://mikethornwrites.com/

3Q’s – Ronald Kelly – a Horror Veteran continues to drop New Scares!

Look, I’ll level with you – today’s guest is an author who has been around for a long time. Ronald Kelly has been on the Horror world rollercoaster for four decades. His renewed vigor and output have been truly inspirational to watch and not only is one of the nicest guys out there, he’s also one of the most supportive.

It truly is an honor to have Ronald Kelly as today’s 3Q’s guest!

Welcome, Ronald!

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

RK: Currently, my writing time is pretty much whenever I can fit it in. I mostly write an hour or two after work and late at night – five to six hours – on the weekends. I’m planning on retiring soon and writing full-time, so that will give me the opportunity to be a helluva lot more productive without the stress of having to scramble for writing time between family life and a nine-to-five job. I don’t worry about word counts at all. I just take it as it comes. When the story or novel is finished, it’s finished. Of course, sometimes I have to focus and keep a steady flow going on a daily basis if there are deadlines involved.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

RK: There’s a couple of authors’ mythos I can think of offhand that I’d love to explore. First, Manly Wade Wellman’s Silver John and his Appalachian dark magic/horror universe. I always loved those stories and their dark rural atmosphere. Secondly, Brian Keene’s character Levi Stoltzfus has always intrigued me. I can imagine him fighting dark magic and snake critters in Fear County.

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

RK: I actually have several. First, my extreme post-apocalyptic horror collection, After the Burn, was just released by D&T Publishing and Crossroad Press has done a new paperback release of my novel The Dark’Un. A couple of old RK favorites that haven’t been available for a while. Also, on September 6th, Stygian Sky Media is releasing my memoir and writing guide, Southern Fried & Horrified, which I’m very stoked about. There’s whole lot of my personal journey and horror genre history in that book, as well as writing advice and tips, and some fun and informative essays. And my three-chapbook series, Somewhere South of Hell, from Death’s Head Press is up for pre-order; a sampling of my brand of Southern-fried rural horror both now and then.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

RK: My favorite book of all time is Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Growing up in the South, I really connected to it when I read it as a fourteen-year-old and motivated me to try my hand at writing. It’s my favorite movie, too. As far as my own work, Fear holds a special place in my heart. Writing it was a pure joy and it was one of those rare occasions in a writer’s career when the prose flowed effortlessly. I consider it to be the best novel I ever wrote… my magnum opus.

Fantastic! Thank you so much!

There is much, much more to discover from Ronald!

Check the links and grab some great books!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ronald-Kelly/e/B0055Q14YK/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonaldKelly4

Website: https://www.ronaldkelly.com/

3Q’s – Kerry E.B. Black delivers us an early Spring!

Yeeeeeeettt another fun one today! I’ve had the pleasure of reading Kerry’s work, both novel length and short stories and I’m a big fan of the way she crafts her tales! So, what better way to share my love of her work than by getting you all to learn more about her!

Please welcome Kerry!

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

Kerry: I write between work and appointments for the family. I seize little moments here and there as I can, and I always have stories floating about in my grey matter. The only time that is specifically my “writing time” is after I’ve tucked the kids in for the evening. Since one of my little darlings has ADHD and fights sleep, sometimes I don’t get to start until quite late. However, I can check in on social media during the day even if sitting at a doctor’s appointment or whatever, so even stolen snatches of time can be productive. I try to write at least 1000 words a day, and I am committed to sending out at least one short piece of some sort every month.

Steve: You win the lottery and the only condition is that you need to fund another author’s book to be made into a movie. What book would you choose to be filmed?

Kerry: Question 2 is rough! I’ve befriended so many great Indie authors, including you. I’d want to start a production company and film many of the books I’ve read and enjoyed. If I must pick, though, Zoje Stage’s Baby Teeth would make an incredible film, as would one of Nuzo Onoh’s atmospheric African horror stories.

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

Kerry: My most recent release was Spring of Spirits, which is my second YA novel. It follows an unlikely hero and her friends as they come to terms with spiritual changes they’ve experienced as the result of an autumn equinox ceremony on their school campus. This second book introduces a few new characters and, as the “big bad,” a shapechanger intent on mischief. Later this year, I’m releasing a poetry collection through Tree Shadow Press, and I’m working on a new collection of short stories. (I adore short stories!)

Steve: Bonus Question! If you could be an extra on any TV show, which one would it have been and why?

Kerry: Oooh, a bonus question! Fun! I would adore a spot on the newest Creep Show incarnation. If it was still running, it would be great fun to meet Mulder and Scully or the Winchester Brothers. Alas, though I adore the show, I’m too ancient to be of use on Stranger Things. However, I would probably make a great zombie!

Oh, excellent choice! Thank you so much, Kerry!

To discover more of her work – click the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kerry-E-B-Black/e/B00IKURGVS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackKerryblick

Website: https://kerrylizblack.wordpress.com/

3Q’s – Tim Meyer believes in dinosaurs!

It’s crazy for me to think back to discovering Tim’s work with the brutal slasher ‘Kill Hill Carnage.’ Tim has put out some truly stunning releases and he continues to deliver the goods time and time again. I’m truly honored that he agreed to do a 3Q’s!

So, welcome today’s guest – Tim Meyer!

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

Tim: For me, I like writing early in the morning. As soon as I wake up (usually around 4-5am) I get some exercise in, then hit the word processor. It’s the quietest time in my house, so I’m more productive in those early morning hours. I have a weekly word count goal of 10k, but I don’t always hit it. Anything above 5k a week and I’m usually satisfied.

Steve: You win the lottery and the only condition is that you need to fund another author’s book to be made into a movie. What book would you choose to be filmed?

Tim: This is a good one! I’ve longed for an adaptation of Robert McCammon’s novels. One of his more epic stories, like Swan Song or The Wolf’s Hour, would be awesome to see on the big screen. Both are perfect for a summer blockbuster release.

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

Tim: Sure! My newest novel is Pteranodon Canyon, and it’s about a trio of bounty hunters tracking down an infamous outlaw in an alternate Old West populated by prehistoric creatures. It’s a fun action/adventure western that’s filled with dino carnage, so if cowboys and dinosaurs are your thing, I think you might enjoy it!

Steve: Bonus Question! If you could be an extra on any TV show, which one would it have been and why?

Tim: Any TV show ever? Oh, this is difficult to choose, but I’m going with one of my all-time favorite shows, LOST. Why? The show is bonkers in the best of ways, and I’ve been told many, MANY times that I’d make a pretty good plane crash survivor marooned on a mysterious island.

Fantastic choice! Awesome answers, Tim! Thank you so much for doing this!

Check the links and grab some great reads!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tim-Meyer/e/B009ISFTZ6

Twitter: https://twitter.com/timmmeyer11

Website: https://timmeyerwrites.com/

Book Review: Ghosts of Grief Hollow (Return to Grief Hollow Book 2) by Shawn Burgess

Title: Ghosts of Grief Hollow (Return to Grief Hollow Book 2)

Author: Shawn Burgess

Release date: October 18, 2022

Back in early 2020, I read Shawn Burgess’ debut novel ‘The Tear Collector.’ It was a dark, atmospheric, coming-of-age horror novel that introduced us to a group of kids dealing with something stalking the woods near their homes, in Grief Hollow. Just the other day, I read the prequel novella, ‘Sour Roots,’ which expanded upon the mythology of the location and the ‘why’ of arriving at ‘The Tear Collector.’

Now, we get to return to the town, to the woods and to the group of friends who are a group Shawn has done a stunning job with capturing that feeling of being a teenager, who doesn’t fit in, but who’ve all found a group of friends that connect with them and lift each other up.

I read this as an advanced ARC – and have saved this review until now, having read it back in late 2021. I’m super excited for this one to arrive.

What I liked: In ‘Ghosts of Grief Hollow,’ we pick up a short time after the events of the previous novel. I’ll do my best to remain spoiler free for both books, but be warned, that may not be completely possible.

The friends, the police and the town itself have even had time to process what has taken place a short time ago, when suddenly odd things begin to happen again and strange things are seen.

Burgess does a great job of keeping the same dread throughout this book that was in the first, while also using previous set pieces to the reader’s advantage. We get a return to a certain house, which allows for some truly unnerving moments and of course we get a return to the woods and Shiner’s Gorge where nothing good ever happens.

Throughout, we get some new relationships, more inter-group dynamics, which works really well when some beloved members leave us and we get to see, once again, the belief they all have in each other as they band together to try and destroy this evil which has found its way to them.

What I didn’t like: Three things I found, personally, really stuck out for me this go-around. The first was, the police make a stunning discover below a place early on. It’s kind of completely glossed over after that and we never really go back or hear any more about it. That may be purposeful, in the event of a follow up, but boy did I want to read more about that. The second – and this is a completely personal thing – I’m typically not a fan of the specific evil the ‘bad guy’ practices within. It’s never something I actively seek out to read and it’s turned me off previously while watching movies or TV shows it the past. Burgess does a great job with it, but not my cup of tea. And lastly, and again more of a personal thing, I got a bit annoyed with the POV change between chapters. I’m an odd reader, in that sometimes it just doesn’t bother me and other times it grinds me. Not sure why!

Why you should buy this: If you loved ‘The Tear Collector’ you’ll absolutely love what Burgess has done with the follow up. This has a ton of emotions, lots of dark, dreadful scenes and ultimately the group shows why they’re better when together and have the support of each other than apart.

This ticks off a ton of boxes for why horror can be so amazing and I think this will make many people very happy.

4/5