Steve Stred's Blog, page 58

Book Review: While You Sleep by Caillou Pettis

Title: While You Sleep

Author: Caillou Pettis

Release date: March 8th, 2022

Huge thanks to Caillou for reaching out to me over on IG and sending me a digital ARC. I’m constantly trying my best to fit in new to me authors as well as authors who’ve not got a lot of ratings/reviews posted on GR and/or Amazon.

‘While You Sleep’ intrigued me, because of the consistent location aspect. Much like King does with his work, and recently Josh Malerman with ‘Goblin’ (which I still need to read) and Alan Baxter’s fantastic Gulp novellas, there’s something about a constant connection in dark fiction that seems to grab and hold a reader’s mind.

This one is made up of ten stories, all interconnected based on taking place in the town of Newryst. The stories are of varying lengths, though the majority of them are short and snappy. I’d guess 3-5k words. It featured one longer story, but for the most part, I think you’d be able to consume this in a single sitting.

What I liked: For a debut collection, there are some really strong stories in here. Some of them fall into “tried and true” plotlines, but in dark fiction, that’s a given at this point. As I said in a different review for a book recently – it’s really about what the author can do with that narrative that matters.

In this case the highlights for me were;

‘Birthday Bumps’ – our character, Gavin, wakes up confused on his birthday and things spiral‘He’ll Be Back’ – the best story of the batch in my opinion – two boys have a sleep over and inadvertently notice something in the backyard. Great stuff.‘The Antique Store’ – the longest story in the collection, this one was a ton of fun. I’ll actually leave it there, not wanting to give anything away.‘Webs’ – a well done, quick story that went in some fun directions.

I would gather these stories were written separately over time and ultimately combined and edited to work for this collection. I say this because the stories that seem more polished and as though Pettis grew as a writer are the ones that had the best ‘readibility’ and the ones that had my interest the most.

What I didn’t like: As mentioned, the ones that seemed more realized really grabbed me. A few felt as though they were either written a while ago and not as matured/polished or were written by a writer not as sure of themselves. I wasn’t a fan of the writing voice in ‘While We Sleep’ or ‘Paralysis’ which bummed me out because the idea’s in both were great. Those stories read more like we were being given directions to find a store, not reading a story that unraveled in front of us.

Why you should buy this: I think this is a great addition to people’s TBR’s if they’re fans of collections set in a single location. Pettis has some really fun ideas that he delivers to us and the characters felt solid which really created engaging events.

Overall, a solid collection, but as always reader mileage may vary!

3/5

Book Review – Slattery Falls by Brennan Lafaro

 

Title: Slattery Falls

Author: Brennan Lafaro

Release date: Originally released July 18th, 2021, re-released May 7th, 2022

Huge thanks to Brennan for sending this my way.

When this was first released through Silver Shamrock, I was simply too swamped to accept an ARC – passing on the offer. Brennan’s always been a super nice guy to interact with and connect with, so when he offered up the ARC’s in advance of the sequel coming out, I reached out. Truth be told – I should’ve already purchased this, but sometimes those things slip through the cracks.

I went into this fairly blind, other than knowing it revolved around ghost hunters, which had my interest.

What I liked: The strength of this novella is rooted in Lafaro’s short, snappy chapters and engaging writing. Let’s face it (and I mean ZERO offense here), but the plot isn’t brand new. Because of that, it’s always up to the author to keep the reader guessing and engaged and Lafaro’s prose does just that.

The story follows two friends, Travis and Josh, who connect and decide to investigate haunted houses in their spare time. Along the way, Josh’s cousin, Elsie, joins the crew and the trio continue investigating places. One particular house offers up some horrors and because of that, they stop – but get drawn in years later.

The set up is solid, but it’s the second half that really takes off. Travis and Elsie are now married and keep in touch with Josh. When he says he’s figured out the ‘how,’ ‘who’ and ‘why’ of that last place, they reconvene and strike out, ready to put the hauntings to rest.

The characters are fantastic here and they really do feel like people you’ve known your entire life. The banter is great and even when the feces hits the fan blades, Lafaro keeps the dialogue solid and entertaining.

The ending gives us the emotional gut punch you’d expect in a story like this and while I’m not 100% certain what a sequel will entail, I’m super intrigued to see where we go.

What I didn’t like: I’m all about suspension of belief – that’s half the battle with paranormal/supernatural stories – but I did find it a bit far-fetched that Josh discovered this old journal/diary that had all of this back story. I’m saying that because I don’t believe it’s a spoiler – it’s a fairly typical plot point for ghost hunting/research stories. It was necessary yes – but it was almost a little too convenient.

Why you should buy this: An incredibly solid novella (which I believe was also his debut release), Lafaro played on his strengths by keeping the pace the entire time and keeping the reader guessing. The results work really well to create a horrifying story, one that could be read in a single reading or slowly digested over a few days. Great stuff and I’m keen to see where book two goes!

4/5

3Q’s – Duncan Ralston is here to gross you out!

Today’s guest is a fantastic author, great friend and all around rabble-rouser! That’s right, it’s fellow Canuck, Duncan Ralston!

Welcome, Duncan!

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?

Duncan: Hey, thanks for asking! I tend to work evenings so I write most mornings, on weekends as well if I’m able. I don’t tend to have a word count but I’ll generally stop if I’ve hit 2 or 3k before I have to start getting ready for work.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a character you could write about forever?

Duncan: I guess my favorite character would have to be a tie between Ben Laramie and Rex Garrote from Ghostland. I had a hell of a lot of fun writing Garrote, who’s kinda of gleefully evil. I put a lot of myself as a kid into Ben so I wanted to be sure I played fair with him and Lillian (his best friend) throughout the trilogy.

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

Duncan: My latest novel is Gross Out, which is in part a soft sequel to what has become my most popular release, Woom. Gross Out is about a horror convention where all the writers and critics and fans have ulterior motives for being there, some of them not very nice. In a way I kind of felt like it was the bastard offspring of Palahniuk’s Haunted and King’s Needful Things… in the sense that everyone has an axe to grind with another of the guests. If nothing else you should read it if you’re a fan of Woom, since it features a return of Shyla and Angel at the Lonely Motel.

Steve: Bonus question! Do you have a favorite album?

Duncan: Impossible question, sorry!

Steve note – because Duncan was a knob and wouldn’t choose a fav album, I’ve chosen one from his personal collection – Californication from The Red Hot Chili Peppers! I know Duncan loves RHCP a ton, ever since he met them at Woodstock… true story?

Thanks so much, Duncan!

To find more from Duncan, check the links;

Twitter: https://twitter.com/userbits

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Duncan-Ralston/e/B00F23Y41Q/

Website: duncanralston.com

3Q’s – Tim McWhorter loves to shout at the devil!

Hello! In the past we’ve had a few authors who also did cover design. For today’s guest, we have an author who is also a publisher! Please welcome, Tim!

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?

Tim: I learned years ago that if I didn’t establish an official writing schedule, then my output was very hit and miss. Nowadays, Wednesday evenings and Saturday and Sunday mornings are official writing times. I either go someplace to write, or I shut the door on my home office. At this point, the family knows what those days represent and what I’m doing. Additionally, I can usually pepper in time to write here and there throughout the week. Which seems to be more often now that the kids are grown and no longer need (nor want) my attention. As for word count, I gave up on tracking that years ago. I get in what I can and try to be happy with the progress.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a favorite character you’ve written?

Tim: I have two. Both are supporting characters who may get the main protagonist treatment at some point. One would be Dallas Tipsword from Blackened. He’s the teenage protag’s boss and friend, a sixty-two-year-old Vietnam vet with a salt and pepper ponytail and beard to match with an affinity for tie-dye t-shirts and flipflops. He’s got a cutting sense of humor and a heart of gold. The second would be Claudia Forrester from The Opening. She’s one half of a husband-and-wife paranormal investigative team. She’s sharp, witty, and sarcastic. She likes to play up the goth look while working, but enjoys lounging in sweats and an oversized t-shirt just as well.

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

Tim: The Opening is my latest, a paranormal novel that takes place in an old theater. Due to financial reasons, the original owner has lost the property and proceeds to torch himself on the theater’s front steps. Now the new owner has renovated the place, yet the aura of tragedy continues to hang over the theater. Add strange phenomena to the mix, keeping customers even further at bay, and the new owner must call in a husband-and-wife paranormal investigative team. Together, the three of them with the help of a local journalist, start digging into the happenings at the theater. But can anything prepare them for the dark secrets they discover? Fans of the paranormal and interesting characters should read this book.

Steve: Bonus Question! What is your favorite album?

Tim: Asking a music lover to choose their ONE favorite album is like asking them to tell their life story using only one word. It’s not possible. I’ve picked up a favorite at different stages of my life and have been carrying them all with me. There isn’t one I’d want to go to a desert island without. At most, I can narrow it down to five: Shout at the Devil by Motley Crue, Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers, LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS by Thirty Seconds To Mars, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles, and the score to Legends of the Fall by James Horner. I could easily expand this list, but I’ve already cheated enough, so…

Thank you so much, Tim!

To find more awesome work from Tim, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tim-McWhorter/e/B00J22DF9K/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tim_McWhorter

Website: timmcwhorter.com

3Q’s – Daniel Volpe goes to great lengths to be beautiful!

Ok, I’m going to level with you. You see that bright and shiny RED 3Q’s logo I made (yeah it’s horribly amateurish but that’s the point. This is DIY and I wanted a punk DIY logo to fit!), well the red is supposed to signify the start of season two of 3Q’s! BUT – the reality is – when I reached out to start inviting people to season two, some of them had pressing release dates and as you know – I’m here to support and encourage and promote!

Today’s author was one such invitee who mentioned in his reply that he actually had a new release dropping TODAY! JULY 14th! So, I decided I’d post it today and try and draw some eyes his way and to his work!

As you all know – 3Q’s features three questions and a fun fourth and for season two we got some new ones to keep those reading these guessing!

So, without further wait – welcome, Daniel Volpe!

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?

Volpe: Most of my writing is done between 5 am and 6 am. I’m an early bird, and I always allocate some time on weekday mornings to write. I will occasionally write on the weekends, but that’s usually if the family is away. I don’t have a daily word count limit, but my rough goal is around 20k monthly.

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

Volpe: I think an author that has a similar style to mine and would really fall into my work would have to be Brian Keene. Our styles are simple, pure storytelling, without a lot of flourish and fluff. Just straight-up, pulpy horror that’s going to entertain.

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

Volpe: My newest release, PLASTIC MONSTERS, is a story about a woman obsessed with beauty and the lengths she’s willing to go to achieve it. It also follows a disgraced plastic surgeon, who wants one last hurrah. It really plays on our society and the pressure we put on young women to obtain this unrealistic goal of “beauty”. It’s available on Amazon in ebook, paperback, and hardcover, with signed copies coming soon to danieljvolpehorror.com.

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

Volpe: If someone was foolish enough to spend money telling a story about my life, I’d have to pick Shia LaBeouf as my actor. He has range and just the right level of instability to play.

Awesome! Thank you so much, Daniel! All the best with launch day!

To find more goodies, check the link!

Website: danieljvolpehorror.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DJVolpeHorror

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7455706.Daniel_Volpe

3Q’s – Zachary Ashford is ready to demanufacture a murder!

Another 3Q’s – another great author!

Today, we welcome Zachary Ashford, all the way from Australia!

Welcome, Zachary!

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?

Zachary: My writing time largely varies according to my lifestyle and my workload as a teacher. Towards the ends of terms/semesters, it’s pretty much negligible. In holidays, though, I usually manage to get some solid chunks in – and when I’m closer to finishing something, or in the zone with an idea, I’ll capitalize on that time and prioritize writing for myself.

Otherwise, it becomes something I’ll try to sneak an hour or two a night. I don’t have a word count I’m aiming for, although I’ll often be stoked/disappointed when I reach certain numbers. What I am a fan of, though, is setting a stopwatch and embarking on a writing sprint. I find that if I have a regular routine of these one or two hour sprints, I can push thousands of words out in a week.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a favorite character you’ve written?

Zachary: I’ve never really thought about this before. The first that comes to mind is probably December from the Sole Survivor books. I think that Cora in Cicadas is quite possibly more of a badass, but December is the one who was perhaps least expectant of her situation, and she’s become pretty tough and resilient by the end of the second book. So, yeah, maybe I’d go for her.

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

Zachary: At this moment, my latest release is When the Cicadas Stop Singing. It’s an atmospheric post-apocalyptic tale set in the foothills of an outback mountain/forest. It’s full of action and trauma, but most importantly, it’s a tale that explores what it means to move on when the things that hold us back become too much to bear. I was thrilled that it was nominated for the Aurealis Award this year.

As for why people should read it, I think it’s a tonne of fun. It’s gripping. It’s lean and powerful, but also, I think it’s a weighty ride for its length.

Steve: Bonus Question! What is your favorite album?

Zachary: This is the hardest question of the lot. I’m often inclined to opt for Fear Factory’s Demanufacture album, but I have to go with Everblack by the Black Dahlia Murder. I love that album to bits, and it means so much to me on a personal level and the ways it has been involved with key moments in my life.

Awesome! Thank you so much!

To find more goodies, follow the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Zachary-Ashford/e/B087LV2SQP/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashford_zachary

3Q’s – Matt Wildasin knows what Stings!

Would you look at this! Yet another writer joining us for the 3Q’s series who also happens to design book covers! How cool!

Please join me in welcoming Matt Wildasin! Welcome, Matt!

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?

Matt: I usually try to get my writing in before and after work. I wake up around 6am, take the dog for a walk and then plop down to write. After I finish up work for the day, I lift some weights, have dinner and then write some more. My word goal each day is 1k. Most days I make that goal, some days I don’t. Still, even three hundred words is better than zero.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a character you could write about forever?

Matt: I have a character I created for my Horrors Untold short story volumes. His name is Major Mark Sunderland. Mark is the head of the CAPS (Contain, Analyse, Protect, Secure.) A secret sector of the government meant to handle strange anomalies on our planet. So far, Mark has cataloged strange staircases in the woods around the world, Yeti’s, A portal leading to a kaiju dominated future, Jason Voorhees and so on. Someday I hope to write a series of books based around this character.

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

Matt: My most recent release is Horrors Untold Vol 5. As the title suggests, this is the fifth entry in the series and, in my opinion, it’s some of my best work yet. I had a blast writing these stories and the book has a great variety of tales in it that is sure to please most readers. You can find it on Amazon in eBook, paperback and Kindle Unlimited.

Steve: Bonus Question! Did you have a favorite wrestler as a kid?

Matt: I did! Now this was more when I was in my teens, but when Sting started doing his silent gimmick and was coming out to the ring dressed as The Crow, that shit was the best! I remember waiting for the match between him and the NWO’s Hollywood Hulk Hogan.

Very cool!

To find out more about Matt, check out the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Matt-Wildasin/e/B09RQYGBZD

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Matt_Wildasin

Book Review: Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi

Title: Black Mouth

Author: Ronald Malfi

Release date: July 19, 2022

First – huge thanks to Netgalley, Titan Books and Ronald for approving me for a digital ARC of this one!

I’m admittingly late to the Malfi game. I discovered his work through his novella ‘Mr. Cables,’ (which if you’ve not read you need to immediately) and then last years phenomenal ‘Come With Me,’ (which if you’ve not read you need to immediately). I’m stick shaking my head in disbelief that ‘Come With Me’ was nominated for a Stoker  – and yes this is coming from the guy whose book was on the prelim ballot. I don’t understand the how’s or the why’s but I was in utter shock when my novel was there and his wasn’t.

Malfi is a sublime writer. People often talk about how Stephen King has a writing voice that immediately transports you into their writing, but I’ve found my favorite author (cough… cough… Andrew Pyper) and Malfi have two of the strongest writing voices out there. You instantly leap into their worlds and with Malfi, those are often times worlds you’ll wish you didn’t inhabit.

What I liked: The story follows a group of three friends and an older brother, who have an experience together in the area referred to as Black Mouth. Years later, they are beckoned back to their hometown and they’re forced to confront what happened, all those years ago.

Yes, this is an idea as old as time in dark fiction. Yes, other authors have done it and yes, King has a massive tome out there that has something like this, but the reality is, this is ALWAYS a plot that will survive and ALWAYS a plot that is engaging and has so, so, so much potential. And Malfi grabs that potential and runs with it.

The main character here, Jamie Warren, SUCKS. He’s a guy you’ll dislike and each reader will have to determine if they will root for him or not. BUT. It’s a key aspect to the story and Malfi handles him with nerves of steel. Jamie is a coward, an alcoholic and a selfish jerk. When his mother dies and he returns (after a phone call about his brother, who has significant cognitive issues), Malfi begins the wheel of Jamie attempting to flee. Of him not wanting to confront the horrors of life (whether real or supernatural) and, as so often is true, is only able to continue on with the help of his friends.

This is a key narrative throughout and I think the strongest aspect of the book. There’s a few moments in here that will punch you so hard in the gut.

What I did enjoy was how a moment we are led to believe will be the “climax” of the story occurs further in than expected, which elevated what happens after even more. It was as though we got an extended epilogue. I often wish books would tell us more about what happens after the big events and was really happy to discover that Malfi did just that here, making sure we get to see how the characters cope and live once the ‘big event’ has happened.

What I didn’t like: There’s a few bits that I wasn’t overly fond of. An incident with a dog seemed completely unnecessary. Yes, it was there in place to show derangement and how repulsive a specific character was, but I could think of other ways to handle that. And I wasn’t completely sold on the ‘over there’ vs ‘over here’ revelation near the ending. I’ll leave it at that to keep it as close to spoiler free as possible.

Why you should buy this: I preordered this as soon as it was announced, knowing how amazing Malfi is. We’re also in for a second treat this year as he has a collection of novellas arriving near the back end of 2022. This book takes the coming-of-age aspect and pairs it with some heavy topics (most notably alcoholism) and doesn’t pull any punches. Malfi writes like a man possessed throughout and is one of the few authors who will put the pedal to the floor – and still somehow find another gear.

Really great stuff from a master!

5/5

3Q’s – Eric Raglin lives a life of Mysterio!

Today’s guest is an exciting one! Eric Raglin has put out some great solo work, as well as some really fantastic anthologies! 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: I write four or five days a week, but my schedule is all over the place. My preferred time to write is in the early afternoon. To avoid extra stress, I don’t generally keep track of daily word counts.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a character you could write about forever?

Eric: I mostly write short stories, so the lives of these characters often feel pretty contained. But if I had to choose one character I could explore forever, it would be Remi Rook the Cannibal Cook. How’d he become a cannibal? How’d he come to host the biggest public access cannibal cooking in the tri-county area? These are questions I need to answer at some point.

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

Eric: The most recent book I’ve published was Antifa Splatterpunk, an anthology of anti-fascist horror stories. It’s politically engaged, weird, cathartic, and bloody as hell. If you hate Nazis and dig horror, you’ll love this book.

Steve: Bonus Question! Did you have a favorite wrestler as a kid?

Eric: I was a huge fan of Rey Mysterio as a kid. His high-flying athleticism is top notch.

Very cool! Thank you so much, Eric!

Follow the links to find more cool stuff!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-Raglin/e/B08RXWD7G8

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericraglin1992

Website: ericraglin.com

3Q’s – A.A. Median is designing beasts!

Isn’t it awesome how multi-talented a lot of writers are? Case in point – A.A. Medina, our guest today, is a fantastic author and an amazing cover artist. At some point in 2022, the cover he did for my novel 456 Blatchford Drive will be revealed (this is more me getting my act together and finishing it off!), but he’s constantly sharing new work that he has available!

Welcome, A.A.!

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?

A.A.: My writing time is extremely sporadic. Sometimes I wake up in the morning ready and willing to grind out some words, and sometimes the motivation doesn’t come until late at night. As much as I’d like to have a disciplined routine when it comes to my writing, I just don’t work that way. I work from home, so when the inspiration or the desire to write comes it’s akin to capturing lightning in a bottle and riding that wave as long as I can. When it comes to word count, I don’t have a set goal in mind each day. Rather, each week I try to at least get 5,000 words down on various projects. If I don’t write one day, I try to write twice as much the next.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a character you could write about forever?

A.A.: Dr. Gary Phillips. Phillips is the protagonist in my debut novella, Siphon. Before I really knew how to write or decided I wanted to be an author, I had the gist of the story floating around in my head for years. In Siphon, I explored some dark corners of his psyche but there is a lot that remains untouched. He will be making a comeback in a future Claybrook County Chronicles installment.

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

A.A.: God Forbid: Short Stories is my latest release and is a hodgepodge of previously published and unpublished stories and short screenplays spanning genres from psychological horror to military science fiction. I decided to put it together because I had all these stories that did not fit anywhere but I wanted to release a new collection. So why the hell not?

Steve: Bonus Question! What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?

A.A.: This is a tough one, but I would have to say Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was born in the late 80’s and a child in the early 90’s during the height of their popularity. That and my father’s name was Rafael, so I had an affinity for Raphael in the cartoon.

Awesome! Thank you so much, A.A.!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/A-A-Medina/e/B0777WP6TK/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UglyByProxy

Website: https://fabledbeastdesign.wordpress.com/