Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 108
November 1, 2023
Blog Tour: GIRL ON TRIAL by Kathleen Fine
I am thrilled to be hosting a spoton the GIRL ON TRIAL by Kathleen Fine Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out mypost and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: GIRLON TRIALAuthor: KathleenFine
Pub. Date: October24, 2023
Publisher: CamCatBooks
Formats: Hardcover,Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 304
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/GIRL-ON-TRIAL
Does doing one bad thing make you abad person?
Sixteen-year-old Emily Keller, knownby the media as Keller the Killer, is accused of causing the deaths of fourfamily members, including young children. Emily is one of the youngest femalesto be accused of a crime so heinous, making this the nation’s biggest trial ofthe year. But what really happened that fateful night―and who’s responsible―isanything but straightforward.
Living in a trailer park in Baltimorewith her twin brother and alcoholic mother, Emily’s life hasn’t been easy.She’s had to grow up fast, and like any teen, has made questionable decisionsin a desperate attempt to fit in with her peers. Will her mistakes amount to aguilty verdict and a life in prison? It’s up to the jury to decide.
For readers who enjoy LuckiestGirl Alive by Jessica Knoll, 13 Reasons Why by JayAsher, and One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus.
Excerpt:
She glanced around her mom’s room, trying to take it all in. What if the jury convicts me and I go tojail for the rest of my life? What if this is one of the last nights I sleep inthis house? How can I ever live with myself again for what happened to thoselittle girls? Does one mistake make me a bad person even though I’ve lived allmy life being a good person? Can good people do bad things to good people? Whydid those little girls have to die? Where are those little girls now? Is therea heaven? Is there a God and, if so, why would God kill those little girls? Shetook a deep breath and closed her eyes. Goddidn’t kill those little girls . . . I did.
She wanted to tell her mom all her worries. She wanted totell her that she hadn’t been able to sleep for the past two months and whenshe did, all she saw were Sophie’s and Katie’s faces. She wanted to tell hermom that all she wanted to feel was nothing at all. But instead, she closed hereyes and tried to stop the tears from falling.
As if she were reading Emily’s mind, Debbie whispered,“Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.”
Emily raised her brows at her mom’s words of wisdom. Shewished her mom had been there for her a few months before when she’d neededher. She wished they could’ve done this then. Now it was too late. Emilythought back to her favorite childhood book that her mom used to read to her, The Runaway Bunny. No matter where thebunny went, the mommy rabbit was always going to find her.
But didn’t everyone know that rabbit mothers immediatelyleave the burrow after giving birth and only stop by for a few minutes each dayto feed the litter? After less than a month, the bunnies are left to fend forthemselves.
***
Review: Emily Keller A.K.A. Keller theKiller was standing trial for the murder of a family. How could sheintentionally kill all those people? She couldn’t have. Through a series ofback-and-forth channels, we get the scoop of what really happened that sent Emilyto trial.
In the past, Emily was so shy,nice, and truly genuine. She just wanted someone to be her friend. Weconstantly keep transitioning from past to present and present to past. Thetrial consisted of lawyer statements and witness accounts, making the whole readlong and slow. Of course, you wanted to get to the events of the murder, but wewere a long way from that and the details were presented in such a cut-and-dryway—basically like a trial, which made sense since this was a trial. I honestlydidn’t really get too much from reliving the past, especially so many monthsback. The only thing I got was the through impression of what Emily’s life waslike living in a trailer with a useless, addict mom. The premise was certainlyalluring, but I guess I just expected to get into this more. I expected more ofa mystery to figure out. But this really is a girl on trial, which was not bad.In fact, this would be good for people that like court dramas.
This is a fairly interesting readoverall.
Rating: 3 stars
Q&A with Author
1. What gave you the inspiration to writethis book?
I started toexperiment at a very early age with alcohol. I understand firsthand the effectsthat peer pressure can have on a teenage girl. When I think back to my teenageyears, I sometimes think what if? What if I had made this choice or thatdecision? There were so many terrible outcomes that could have occurred in mylife.
I wanted towrite this novel to show readers a “what if.” What if you caved into peerpressure and made the one bad decision that could alter your future forever?
As socialmedia is a huge aspect of teenager's self-esteem and decision making today,this novel will help demonstrate the harm in following the crowd.
I want myreaders to come out of this story with the lingering big question: Does doingone bad thing make you a bad person? Some choices we make can never be takenback.
I hope that teens who read this think twicebefore following a crowd and stand firmly with what they know is right in theirheart.
2. Who is your favorite character in thebook?
Emily, theprotagonist, is my favorite character. She is like a lot of teen girls—insecureand wanting to fit in with the crowd. She wants to be liked and is willing tolose her own morals to gain acceptance from her peers.
In thebeginning of the story, Emily’s major character’s flaws are being envious andweak-willed. She’s envious of the person she thinks she thinks she’s supposedto be, the influencers, actresses, models, and popular girls at school. Thatenvy makes her weak-willed. She’s unable to say no, even when she knows thatthe choices she makes are immoral.
Emily makes mistakes like every human on theplanet and loses her innocence in the process. But in that process of losingher innocence, she also becomes a survivor. I love how much Emily changesthrough the story and she shows teens that they can grow and learn from theirmistakes.
3. Which came first, the title or thenovel?
The novel!After finishing it, I was trying to come up with a title and simply thought ofthe basic premise of the book, a girl is on trial!
4. What scene in the book are you mostproud of, and why?
Hm, that istough! I would say I love the scene of Emily with her mother on her mother’sbed. It shows the imperfect, but powerful bond between a mother and daughter nomatter what their flaws and own traumas may be.
5. Thinking way back to the beginning,what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
I havelearned that you have to love your story because you are going to be rereadingit MANY times! I hadn’t realized how many edits and new drafts I would make.(Wouldn’t it be so nice if all of our first drafts came out perfectly?) 😊
6. What do you like most about the cover ofthe book?
I like thesimplicity of the cover. The first two rounds of covers my publisher had sent,I had said no to because there was too much going on. I just wanted asolid-colored background with a simple clue from the book on the cover. I lovehow the blue and yellow colors pop!
7. What new release book are you lookingmost forward to in 2023?
Hm that’stough, especially since 2023 is almost over! For 2024, I would say SallyHepworth’s Darling Girls or StacyWillingham’s Only if You’re Lucky.
8. What was your favorite book in 2023?
I am an avidreader, so it is so hard to just pick one. A few of my favorites were Demon Copperhead, Good Rich People, TheCollected Regrets of Clover, PromiseBoys, and The Soulmate.
9. What’s up next for you?
I finishedmy second novel, The Chesapeake House, in January. Here is a little blurb:
Akidnapping, an affair, and a murder….
TheChesapeake House, A Home for People with Abilities, is in disarray when theirhouse manager goes missing. So, when Dolores goes on a hunt to find her, whatshe discovers is more than she anticipated for…
TheChesapeake House is a brilliant take on finding family in the most unexpectedplaces and reveals that even people with disabilities can do amazing things...
TheChesapeake House is Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies and The Husband’s Secretmeets Mark Haddon’s, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
10. Is there anything that you would like toadd?
11. Which was the most difficult or emotionalscene to narrate?
Any of thetrial scenes were difficult for me to write. It was hard to delicately discusssuch disturbing events (the death of the family), while still trying to keepthe reader empathetic towards their alleged killer.
12. Which character gave you the most troublewhen writing your latest book?
Probably thecharacter I deleted! Lol. In my first few drafts, Emily’s mom had a best friendnamed Madge. I didn’t give her a huge role, but she was just in and out enoughfor my editor to tell me to either add her as a more integral part of the storyor get rid of her. So, I chose the latter 😊
13. Which part of the writing process do youenjoy more: Drafting or Revising?
I woulddefinitely say drafting since you only do it once! Every time I revise, Ithink, “This is it”, and then am told by an editor it needs more changes. Itcan get discouraging!
14. What would you say is your superpower?
Mysuperpower would probably be my ability to multitask and my efficiency. I canget things completed super-fast! (Although my weakness is not taking my time onthings 😊) So I guess I contradict myself!
15. Is there an organization or cause that isclose to your heart?
My secondnovel’s setting is in a home for adults with disabilities. A reason for this isbecause advocating for people who have disabilities is very close to my heart. https://www.pwdf.org/ (People with Disabilities Foundation) is an amazingorganization that provides education and advocacy for people with disabilitiesso that they can achieve equal opportunities in all aspects of life.
About Kathleen Fine:
KathleenFine received her Master’s in Reading Education from Towson University andBachelor’s in Elementary Education from University of Maryland, College Park.She is a member of the Maryland Writers Association, International ThrillerWriters, and Author’s Guild. When she’s not writing and selling real estate,she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to the Outer Banks, and ofcourse, reading anything she can get her hands on. She currently lives inBaltimore, Maryland with her husband, three children, and Sussex Spaniel. Herdebut novel, Girl on Trial, will be released in the Fall of 2023.
Sign up for Kathleen’s newsletter! (Scroll to the bottom of the page)
Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | BookBub
Giveaway Details:
1 winnerwill receive a finished copy of GIRL ON TRIAL, US Only.
EndsNovember 14th, midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
10/16/2023
Interview
10/17/2023
Guest Post
10/18/2023
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog
Blog Spotlight
10/19/2023
IG Post
10/20/2023
IG Post/TikTok Post
10/21/2023
IG Review
Week Two:
10/22/2023
Review/IG Post
10/23/2023
Review/IG Post
10/24/2023
Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
Review/IG Post
10/25/2023
Review/IG Post
10/26/2023
Review/IG Post
10/27/2023
IG Review
10/28/2023
IG Review
Week Three:
10/29/2023
Review/IG Post
10/30/2023
Review/IG Post
10/31/2023
IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
11/1/2023
Review
11/2/2023
IG Review
11/3/2023
IG Review/TikTok Post
11/4/2023
Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's
Review/IG Post
Week Four:
11/5/2023
Review/IG Post
11/6/2023
Review/IG Post
11/7/2023
Review/IG Post
11/8/2023
Review/IG Post
11/9/2023
IG Reviews
11/10/2023
Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense
Review/IG Post
October 31, 2023
Spotlight: FLOATS THE DARK SHADOW & BITTER DRAUGHTS by Yves Fey
Floats the Dark Shadow Excerpt:
Paris,Spring 1897:
There was a man in the rue de la Mire—notreally a street, but a long set of stairs descending the hillside, narrow as analleyway. Theo stopped and watched him for a moment, not sure why he had capturedher attention. He did not look at all like a bum or a ruffian, but neither washe a workman or businessman going about an errand. He was exploring. But why? Sheliked his attentiveness, however mysterious, and the way he moved, with economyand grace.
Almost instantly, he was aware of herwatching and turned. He paused then climbed the steps toward her. “Bonjour,mademoiselle,” he said, stopping in front of her. His manner was serious, hisvoice low and quiet. “I’m Inspecteur Devaux of the Sûreté.”
“What are you investigating?”
“The disappearance of Denis Armand.”
“Ah, yes,” she said, feeling the sadnessof that loss take hold of her again. She remembered how sweet the little boywas and how grief-stricken his mother had been. She had helped organize one ofthe many searches for him. “Is there any news?”
“No, I am looking at his neighborhoodagain. He would have used this passage on the night he disappeared.”
The other policeman she’d talked with hadnot told her that. Theo was appalled that Denis might have been taken rightbeside where she lived. There were bushes to one side where a kidnapper mightlurk. She shivered.
The detective perused a list. “You areMademoiselle Theodora Faraday, the American?”
Theo nodded. “Is it so apparent?”
“Your French is excellent. You simply lookmore like an American than a Frenchwoman,” he replied. “I saw the drawing yougave the police here. It was skillful.”
“Thank you,” she said, “but it was notmuch of a likeness—so small. His mother was the centerpiece.”
He nodded. “Still, it is good to haveanything like that during an investigation.”
She thought back. “He has been missingover a month now.”
“I do not expect to find him alive,” thedetective said bluntly.
“Doyou expect to find him at all?” Theo prickled—but she did not think Denis wasalive, either. There was a kind of emptiness around his name now.
He shook his head. “I doubt it.”
Theo felt a chill of premonition. “Hasanother child disappeared?
Bitter Draughts Excerpt:
Paris, Winter 1898:
Thebell above the café door jangled as Saul Balsam entered. Michel beckoned him tojoin them. Although Balsam was an astute and ambitious reporter, he had a quietmien. Behind the round glasses, his gaze was both searching and soulful. He waseasy to like, a helpful attribute in a reporter, especially for a Jew manywould feel obligated to dislike on principal.
“Whois your friend, Inspecteur Devaux?” Balsam asked.
Zeblifted an eyebrow, letting Michel choose what to disclose.
“MonsieurSaul Balsam, this is Monsieur Zebadiah Jones. We knew each other in theLegion.” Michel decided that a brief truth was better than prevarication whereBalsam was concerned. Frenchmen were not supposed to join the Foreign Legion,but many lied their way in, for as many reasons as there were men. Theinformation obviously piqued Balsam’s curiosity further, so Michel added awarning. “I don’t want to see that in the paper the next time I arrest ananarchist.”
“Itwould add both grit and glamour to the portrait of a heroic officer,” Balsamsuggested.
“Moregrit than glamour,” Michel countered. He supposed Balsam couldn’t resist tryingto coax more information from him.
WhenBalsam sat down, Zeb rose. “I’ll leave you alone.”
“No,stay please,” Balsam said. “It strikes me that the perspective of a Negro onthe Dreyfus troubles could be fascinating, having endured prejudice yourself.”
“Aslong as I remain nameless.” Zeb grinned, teeth gleaming. Michel recognized itas a warning.
“Asyou wish,” Balsam agreed, used to dealing with secrets. “Tell us yourthoughts.”
“Anti-Semitismis rampant in Algiers, both on the Right and the Left,” Zeb said. “The Frenchrulers consider Jews indigenous like the Arabs, and so inferior. The Arabsthink the Jews hold themselves apart and resent what little wealth theypossess.”
“Andthe soldiers?” Balsam asked Zeb.
“Withinthe Army, the hatred is intensified because of Dreyfus. Most of the officersthink the man guilty because he is a Jew. Half the men agree. The other halfsuspect the Army’s serving up a tasty scapegoat.”
“Abanquet of blame.” Balsam agreed. “Your French is very good—but there is anexotic hint. Are you from Martinique?”
“Martinique?”Zeb repeated without clarifying his origins.
Michelwas surprised Zeb did not volunteer his anonymat.Legionnaires invented histories to disguise their identity, or to givethemselves flair. Michel’s own sins had been too raw, too dark for him todisclose, much less embellish. Zeb had decorated himself in a story he recitedwith ease, but Michel had seen the darkness buried within.
TELLUS ABOUT YOUR TWO BOOKS AND WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE.
Most people love the art of the Belle Époque,but not a lot of books are set there, even fewer mysteries. In Floats the Darkshadow, my young American artist, Theodora Faraday, joins forces with my Frenchdetective, Michel Devaux, to search for children who’ve vanished mysteriously. They’reat odds at first, of course, but finally work in tandem. I’ve got artists,poets, psychics, criminals and courtesans adding to the drama, as well as myhorrifying copycat killer who believes he’s the reincarnation of Gilles deRais, who was once Jeanne d’Arc’s lieutenant.
Bitter Draughts takes place during the uproarof the Dreyfus Affair, and the whole political frame job, cover up, and radicaldivision of the populace is frighteningly relevant. Michel is investigating themurder of an editor which appears to be politically motivated but may well be acrime of passion, and must question his own motives and passions as he tries tosolve the crimes as they unfold. Bitter Draughts is a thriller rather than amystery. It’s a why done it and a will they do it again tale.
WHATINSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THESE BOOKS?
I’vebeen in love with Paris ever since I was a little girl. It always seemed soromantic and the language was very beautiful to my ears. Before I wrote myhistorical mysteries I wrote historical romance. I wanted to set one in Parisbut was informed that Paris wasn’t romantic. I was also told that Italy wasn’tromantic. I was supposed to write Regency (before you were allowed to writesexy Regency), Scotland, the American West or Medieval.
WhenI decided to write mystery instead I immediately went to Paris. I wantedsomething in the era of the Impressionists or Post-Impressionists as much of myfavorite art is from that era. I wanted my heroine to be an artist. I actuallyspent quite a while with the wrong character, who insisted she was ajournalist. I lost that argument. It was finding Gilles de Rais as my villainthat pulled it all together. He was a really terrifying model for a copycatkiller, and he’d been written about by a famous decadent author of the period.That gave me a link between my artists and poets and my detective.
HOWWOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERS IN YOUR STORIES?
Identityis a major theme throughout the trilogy. Theo doesn’t suffer from the self-loathingsome of the other main characters suffer from, but she is trying to become moreParisian, to become part of this new world, to discover who she is as an artist.She’s never had the family she wanted either in America or in France, so theart world and the world of her cousin Averill’s poets are her new home. She’svery self-sufficient and optimistic, but she still has a deep longing to belong.
Michelsuffers from terrible guilt about his past and is trying to make restitution.He’s very intense but tries to bury his passionate nature. As a detective he’s competent,very astute about others, but very constrained and cautious. Leaving his rebelliouspast behind, I think his creed is now “First do no harm” a difficult doctrinefor a cop. Devoting himself to his career, he’s lived almost like a hermit for15 years, without admitting how much he’s punishing himself. In different ways,Lilias, Theo, the charming criminal Dancier, and his new partner Rambert, allhave a hand in breaking down his barriers.
WHATDRIVES THE CHARACTERS IN YOUR STORIES?
InFloats the Dark Shadow, Theo is driven to try to discover the identity of the killerbecause she doesn’t want to believe it could be one of her poet friends, TheRevenants, especially not Averill. In Bitter Draughts, she’s very focused on herfirst gallery show but also must once again face a terrible betrayal by a friend.And she must also deal with her new feelings for Michel, and whether givinginto her heart will destroy her career.
Inthe first book, Michel is tormented by guilt, but is taking the first steps towardfriendship and the possibility of forgiveness and love. In Bitter Draughts the murdershe’s investigating force him to come to terms with his own past of vengeanceand grief.
WHATWOULD YOU SAY IS A PIVOTAL SCENE IN EACH BOOK AND WHY?
Ithought about some of the big dramatic scenes, which were all importantemotionally as well. There’s a Black Mass in Floats the Dark Shadow where onecharacter gets arrested that’s very significant. But for pivotal I decided ontwo emotional turning points in quieter moments. In Floats the Dark Shadow,there’s a scene where my poet, Averill, kisses his male lover knowing Theo iswatching. Averill believes he’s not good enough for Theo, so he deliberatelybreaks her heart and his own dream of happiness with her. There’s a chapter in BitterDraughts where Michel’s lover, the courtesan Lilias, breaks up with him. She’sseen him with Theo and realizes he’s falling in love with her before he does.She’s in love with Michel but she is not a woman to be put aside, so she endsthe affair. Michel is stunned by her decision and it’s the moment when he trulybegins to question his own emotions.
WHATWOULD YOU SAY IS THE MAIN DRAW FOR YOUR BOOKS AND WHY WOULD READERS WANT TO BUYIT?
Parisat the turn of the century was the most exciting place in the world. I try veryhard to capture both the darkness and the light of the era. Floats the Dark Shadowhas much about the poets, artists, and the occult movement in the first book—lotsof very colorful characters. For the political scene, the first book looks backon the hero’s history with the commune and the radical movement in Paris.Bitter Draughts takes place during the violent furor during the Dreyfus Affairbut keep the artistic and occult threads in play.
WHATWAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN WRITING THESE BOOKS AND WHAT DID YOU DO TOOVERCOME IT?
WhenI wrote Floats the Dark Shadow, my hero, Michel, refused to talk to me forweeks. He’s intensely private and didn’t want me to tell his story. It wasn’t acase of my not knowing about his past, but of his refusing to participate inthe novel I was trying to write about his present. This may sound crazy toanyone who isn’t a writer, but we have to collaborate with our characters. Hefinally stopped fighting.
Otherproblems with Shadow—writing about the charity bazaar fire was very difficult. Writingeffective action is always troublesome, especially when it’s such a devastatingevent. I also had to make it significantly different from the dramatic scene inthe book where I first read about it, so it was a double challenge.
BitterDraughts came into being when I realized that the Dreyfus Affair might well begoing on during Floats the Dark Shadow. Entirely by chance, I’d chosen the 9months or so after his conviction and before Zola’s accusation of a cover-up bythe Army. Knowing how important it was, and that the French weren’t discussingmuch else, I decided that’s when I ‘d set the second book. Easy, right? Hah! I lovedreading about the Dreyfus Affair and found it fascinating, but trying to write politicalconflict was a challenge. I was much more comfortable with my artists and poets,my psychics and even my serial killer. I was also interweaving several plotlines with various forms of prejudice playing off against each other. I finallytook out my favorite sub-plot and decreed it would become the third of thetrilogy. With that decision, Bitter Draughts became much more compact and thefocus on Michel’s story came to the fore.
WHAT CRITERIA DID YOU USE WHEN SELECTING THE COVERS FORYOUR BOOKS?
I’m an artist, but not skilled enough to do the realisticcover I wanted for Floats the Dark Shadow. I did look at paintings of the era,of course, but didn’t find any that evoked the story. I actually envisioned acover that looked exactly like the spooky photograph that I found, by MichelColson. It’s a stairway in Montmartre, the setting of much of the book, andthere are two shadowy figures at the top. After an endless hunt to find itagain, I was able to buy the photo from Michel, who was both a photographer andan artist—and a tour guide for me when I returned to Paris. He knew all sorts ofgreat nooks and crannies and great bits of history.
Having chosen a photograph for the first book, I wantedthe others to have a similar feel. I had some possible photographs of beautifultombs picked out for the second book because there was to be a big scene in PèreLachaise cemetery. But that scene got moved to the third book—along with theoriginal title, A Harmony of Hells and the cover. I had to come up with both anew title and a new cover. I found Alexandre Dumas’ quote about revenge for thetitle. I tried many cover images and finally chose the gargoyles because theyevoke Paris and have a creepy feel that suits the dark themes of the book. The photographI wanted had a great composition for the placement of the title, but I only hada low resolution photo. I tried several other gargoyle photos none of whichworked as well. Finally, I found a better resolution of my favorite image. Iused a variation of the same color palette of black, white, and teal. The letteringis an authentic Art Nouveau font, Trinigan.
WAS THERE A MESSAGE IN YOUR BOOKS THAT YOU WERE TRYING TOCONVEY? IF SO, WHAT?
I think both books are about the search for identity, aboutbeing true to yourself, insofar as that’s a message. Bitter Draughts, and theupcoming sequel, A Harmony of Hells, both deal with prejudice as well. There’sthe direct plot link to the anti-Semitism of the Dreyfus Affair, but also themisogyny that Theo faces as a woman artist and the general scorn for thefeminist movement. Averill deals with homophobia. Sex between men wasn’tillegal in France, but they were often arrested on lesser charges then given punitivesentences. Since my character Zeb is black, I look at the relative lack ofprejudice in France against Blacks in that era.
WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE SETTING OFTHESE BOOKS? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?
If you’ve seenMidnight in Paris, you know that the time-traveling hero has a chance to stayin the Paris of my era with his new found romance. The woman is going to stay inMaxim’s with Toulouse-Lautrec and can’t believe the hero wants to return to the20s, the era where he found her. I was, of course, urging him to stay therewith her. There were horrible things then too, but my favorite books andpaintings are predominantly late 19th-century and early 20th-century. I think I’dfeel right at home.
DOYOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW WRITERS?
Writewhat you love. It’s too hard to second guess the market.
DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR WEBSITE READERS CAN VISIT FORUPDATES, EVENTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS?
I have a gorgeous website with lots of great pages of thehistory and art of the era. There’s more about the characters, but also moreabout women artists, the Paris Commune, a page about Absinthe. Lots ofinteresting topics. I also have some wonderful trailers.
October 28, 2023
Review: GOOSEBUMPS: TRICK OR TRAP by R.L. Stine
Scaredy Scott, Scaredy Scott!
There just wasn’t anything ScottHarmon wasn’t scared of. Everyone tries to scare him, even his little sisterfor crying out loud. How to get braver by Halloween? Well, it involved a creepygraveyard and an abandoned house everyone said was haunted. If only those kidswould stop playing scary tricks on him.
It was official: Scotty would needto get into that haunted house to prove to everyone that he was not ScaredyScott. But what if the house really was haunted with all those creaks andgroans inside? Then the wooden mask comes into his possession and causes bigtrouble for Scott. What hold did the mask have over him? And who was thatcreepy, old lady?
This makes for a very hauntingHalloween night. A good read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: THE WITCH’S CAT AND THE BROOMSTICK BLUNDER by Kristie Watson
See how the witch’s cat tries tofly a broom. What happens when the cat sprinkles a little witch dust? The catflies through the roof. The blunder causes some hilarious outcomes.
With neat and colorfulillustrations, this little story was a joy. A good one!
Rating:5 stars
Review: THE NIGHTMARE ROOM: FULL MOON HALLOWEEN by R.L. Stine
The eccentric, new science teacherwas throwing a Halloween party this year and only 4 kids were invited. Weird.Why just the 4 kids? Why would the teacher talk about werewolves on a fullmoon? Perhaps because Halloween was a on a full moon this year. Was Mr. Moonpredicting werewolves on Halloween night?
“Don’t go to the party. If you do,you won’t return.”
If only the kids had listened. Atthe party, Mr. Moon locks them up in the house and accuses one of them of beinga werewolf. We spend the whole time trying to figure out which of the kids wasit while they were figuring out a way to escape.
A good, creepy read for Halloween!
Rating:4 stars
Review: BUFFY, THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Issue 24 by Jordie Bellaire
The battle with Dark Willow rageson. This time, Xander the vampire, gets in the mix, too. Awesome kicks andmagic! Wow, what an ending! Love it!
Rating:4 stars
Review: BUFFY, THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Issue 23 by Jordie Bellaire
Willow’s gone all dark and veiny,and the three slayers kick a-$$. Love it! Absolutely love it! This had somepretty cool battles with awesome and colorful graphics. A great read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: BUFFY, THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Issue 25 by Jordie Bellaire
Traveling back in time when Xanderwas human? I don’t know, I couldn’t really tell.
Rating:2 stars
Review: BUFFY, THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Issue 26 by Jordie Bellaire
Again, I couldn’t tell what wasgoing on here. Man, am I glad I borrowed these from a free trial of Comixology.
Rating:1 star
October 27, 2023
Blog Tour: DEATH TANGO by Lachi
Death Tango
by Lachi
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GENRE: Science Fiction/Horror
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BLURB:
In a Utopian twenty-third-century New York City, wherecorporations have replaced governments, AI dictates culture, and citizens arefree to people-watch any other citizen they choose through an app, thishorror-laden Sci-Fi Thriller follows four mis-matched coeds as they attempt tosolve the murder of an eccentric parascientist. Only someone or something ableto navigate outside the highest levels of croud-sourced surveillance could getaway with murder in this town. If the team can't work quickly to solve thecase, New York City will be devoured by a dark plague the eccentric had beenworking on prior to his death, a plague which, overtime, appears to bedeveloping sentience.
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Excerpt One:
It is nine years ago. I stand alone on an unstable rock.Beneath that rock are a few precarious slabs of granite. Beneath the granitelies a hundred feet of air, of silence, of potential bone-shattering death.Surrounded by a dusk sky, Mount Venom—the cliff aptly named for the lives ithas claimed—stretches endlessly beneath my quivering legs and far beyond myblurring vision.
Through the blaring wind, I hear several SOIs—School ofIntelligence kids—hurl down demoralizing insults from the cliff’s edge. “She’llnever make it!” “Fall and die, swine!” Each year the SOIs goad us TFs—TestingFacility subjects—into scaling the cliff. If successful, the TF is accepted asan equal, putting an end to constant ridicule and torment. There is littlesympathy for those who accept the challenge and fail. I tell myself to reachfor the next stone along the slope, to keep my hands steady, to breathe.
I near the finish line.
Every inch of my body tastes it as much as my mouth tastesit. Get there; say nothing; feel no pride. My face wet with tears and mucus, myfingers slippery with blood, I feel around for my next grip and pull on myburning calves. I have only two heaves left. Two heaves, and no more beingtreated like trash.
I notice a small gap between two large stones above me. As Iplace my dampened hands into the hole for leverage, the rubble on which I standgives out. My legs dangle freely. I have the willpower to lift my body onward,but my concentration is broken by a pair of black-gloved hands that pop out ofthe fissure above me.
Someone is hiding behind the rocks.
Tech Sports knitted in thin red stitching on each gloveslides into view. My body ignores the anxiety presented by this newpredicament, and I continue to lift. The gloves grab both my forearms and yank.I am now dangling by the grip of those hands; I am now at their complete mercy.
“Friend or foe?” I manage to growl between pained gasps, thewind forcing hair into my mouth.
“You’re so close,” replies a male voice I can hardlydistinguish.
“I know! I know! Help me up!” I yell. My legs work uselesslyto find hold. Receiving no verbal or physical response, I wriggle my shoulders.“Hey! Help me up!”
“Beg me!” the voice demands, barely audible over the bloodrushing in my ears. I fend off a rapidly growing well of despair. Despair is achoice, a manifestation of surrender.
“Please!” I bark, the word taking with it all of my remainingwillpower. I look up wide-eyed at the gloved hands, ignoring the falling stonesas I await my fate.
“This is for putting in the application!” he yells, and witha quick jolt he lets go of my arms.
I fall.
I keep my eyes open, desperately hoping for something tograb, but all I see are a mix of gray sky, red rock face and my flailing arms.I hear my bones smash against the jagged teeth of Mount Venom and scream onelong uninterrupted exhale, silenced only by the jarring collision of the backof my skull against the cold, hard pavement.
I don’t feel the fracture. I only hear it between my ears.Pop.
I lie at the foot of Mount Venom, looking up at dark clouds,a metallic taste oozing over my tongue, a harsh pain working its way down myneck. A thick puddle coalesces under my head as onlookers gather.
My vision snaps away instantly with a blink. Surroundingechoes fade slowly as the internal sound of my curtailed heartbeats takes over.Suddenly I feel cold and heavy. I am motionless, no longer taking in oxygen.
After an onslaught of euphoria, I feel my brain flatten. Ihear its slight gummy movements of deflation against my last few heartbeats.And somewhere between no longer feeling the ground beneath me and no longerfeeling the air around me, I realize I am dead.
I perceive only a black vastness about me. Like an autumnleaf I float in the Cartesian circle that is the keen awareness of mynonexistence. A mix of bliss and terror. I try to hold on to somethingphysical, something I can understand. “You are safe. You are safe,” I repeat,exercising the remnants of my inner monologue.
Then I begin to see things.
A single bright blue diamond, about the size of a fist,appears five feet before me. It is soon joined by two more on either side,followed by two more still, until a string of blue diamonds surrounds me. Irealize I can see my entire periphery, no longer limited by physical eyes. Alight source switches on behind me, revealing that I am floating at the centerof a rotating diamond-rimmed disco ball.
Trying to locate the light source, I push my perceptionupward, downward, left, right, only to find that I, myself, am the source ofthat light. The speed with which the disco ball spins steadily increases,faster and faster, until all is a blur of spinning frenzy. Suddenly thousandsof quick snapshots of familiar faces speed toward me: my friends, my bullies,the dark skin of my estranged father, the Spanglish ravings of my drunkenmother, their parents, their parents’ parents. Images of a cottage in France, avillage in Africa, past wars, ancient discoveries, tree scavenging, gaspingair, breathing ocean, swimming in gas, feelings of remorse, loss, shame,excitement, immense love, bitter anguish, and a desperate need for acceptance.Every imaginable emotion ravages me whole.
I experience my consummate past. A massive rewind that stopsat a sweeping explosion. A sphere of white fire so bright, it could hardly bedescribed as fire. I am an endless wave of raw emotion drowning in theunyielding flames. And in that eternal instant I understand everything.
Again, all fades to black, the warmth, the understanding.And though the blackness around me is infinite, I sense a presence. I am notalone.
“Look around you,” the presence communicates to me, notthrough sound, sight or touch, but through direct understanding. I am certainit is—at least in part—a being other than myself. I hold fast to my mantra. “Donot fear,” the presence continues. I allow the mantra to fade. “Do you see howfar the blackness reaches, stretching beyond infinite horizons? That is howmuch you do not know, how much you’ve yet to learn.” A brief silence. “Fear isthe great enemy of knowledge, and you, Rosa, are the switch between them.”
“Me?” I manage to convey through the slivers of myconsciousness.
“Us.”
“Us? How? Why? What do you mean?” My figurative words comechildlike and excited.
“You already know how,” the presence responds as it fades.“You already know why.” I feel a growing bitter loneliness as the presencedrifts away.
“Wait!” I yell. The blackness around me congeals to a bumpydark brown. “Come back!” The glistening euphoria gradually declines as myflattened brain begins to restructure. A physical atmosphere swiftly surroundsme, and a palpitating sensation starts beneath me, causing me to rise and fall.The pulsing sensation reveals itself to be my heart grappling for a pulse.
A crashing ocean of white noise fills my head. I feel that Ihave a head. A body. Arms. A face. My face.
I open my eyes as the rush of noise fades to the sound of anopen room. I am lying on a bed in the infirmary, surrounded by the school nurseand Dr. Ferguson himself, their blurry faces examining my head wound.
Dr. Ferguson bends forward. “You had a very nasty fall, Ms.Lejeune. Do you remember that?” He watches a nurse as she dabs a cloth at myface. “You’re lucky to be alive.”
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Topic: What was the hardest part about writing this book and howdid you overcome it?
Excited to come through Sandra’s Book Clubtoday! And happy National Frankenstein Friday and Black Cat Day!
The hardest part about writing ‘Death Tango’was finding the time and space in my hectic life to sit down and write it. Thestory had been burgeoning in my head since time in memorial, and for somereason, I was content with having it live there. As a touring recording artistand performer, it was taken too much energy to turn off tour-brain and enterauthor-brain.
One day my partner told me to just sketch itdown on paper to get it out into the universe. Once NaNoWriMo came around, andthe music industry had a nice lull, I took the opportunity to challenge myselfinto writing the full novel in one month. I ended up finishing it in two, justbefore year’s end, proving that I really did need to just sit down, hold myselfaccountable, and do it.
The world-building, four-dimensional characterdevelopment, the clever, intelligent dialogue, the horror elements, suspensefulcliffhangers, WhoDunIt romps, metaphysical and spiritual nods, those all justflowed onto the page as if waiting with baited breath to be released.
Whenever someone asks me what advice I’d giveto aspiring writers, it’s always to just write the damn thing. Once the book iswritten, the hard part’s over.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Lachi is aninternationally-touring creative artist, writer and award-winning culturalactivist living in New York City. A legally blind daughter of Africanimmigrants, Lachi uses her platform to amplify narratives on identity pride andDisability Culture. In her public life, Lachi has helped increase accessibilityto the GRAMMY Awards ceremonies as well as create numerous opportunities formusic professionals with disabilities, through her organization RAMPD. Lachialso creates high-quality content amplifying disability. She has hosted a PBSAmerican Masters segment highlighting disabled rebels and releases songs suchas "Lift Me Up" and “Black Girl Cornrows” that elevate disability anddifference to the pop culture market. Named a “new champion in advocacy” byBillboard, she’s held talks with the White House, the UN, Fortune 100 firms,and has been featured in Forbes, Hollywood Reporter, Good Morning America, andthe New York Times for her unapologetic celebration of intersectionalitythrough her music, storytelling and fashion.
In herfree-time Lachi writes sci-fi and fantasy novels with diverse, headstrongcharacters, focusing heavily on atonal world-building, quip-ridden characterdevelopment, likable villains and psycho-spiritual discourse.
Website: www.lachimusic.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lachimusic
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lachimusic
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lachimusic
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Tango-M-Lachi-ebook/dp/B0BLGYMCQ7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
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GIVEAWAY
Lachi will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BNGC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
