P.J. Berman's Blog, page 9
August 19, 2019
Author Interview - Jacqueline Terrill
Hello all,I hope you're having a great week. Today I'm talking to American thriller author Jacqueline Terrill.PB: So, Jacqueline, welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.JT: I've been an entrepreneur over twenty years of my lilfe.PB: What made you decide to become an author?JT: I honestly pre-conceived my Authorship when I was in the sixth grade. I told my best friend that I was going to write a book one day! Here we are!PB: When did you first start writing?JT: I started to write as an Author in 2013.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?JT: The Hunt.PB: And speaking of your recent novel, The Hunt, tell us a bit about that.JT: The book is about a woman that is married for thirty years, and her marriage declines, and she tries to keep it together as much as she can. No matter what she does, she runs into detours that cause her to keep her feet on the ground, and stay strong.PB: What inspires you?JT: Loving what I do, by being creative, and finishing a story that people will like.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?JT: Winning an award in business in 2005 & 2006 for being one of the The Most Influential Professionals in Las Vegas at the Bellagio. PB: What is your favourite book series to read and why?JT: Mystery - I want to know what, why, how, and where.PB: What are your long term ambitions career wise?JT: To collaborate stories with another author in my same genre.PB: If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?JT: Business OwnerPB: What’s the next target for you?JT: Female audience between the ages of twenty-five and above.PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.JT: I love the beach, ocean, and the sand! I'm a Leo.Thank you Jacqueline for talking to us today.Don't forget, guys, you can find out more about Jacqueline's work and purchase The Hunt via the below links:Official WebsiteFacebook Author PageAmazonGoodreadsUntil next time, all the best!Peter
August 12, 2019
Author Spotlight - Jacqueline Terrill
Hello all,I hope you are having a great week. Today's author spotlight focuses on mystery and suspense novelist Jacqueline Terrill. Jacqueline has been an entrepreneur and business owner for over twenty years. In that time she had attended Cheena's Beauty Academy, Shenango Valley School and Gannon University.Here passions are cooking and writing. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, her dog and her cat. She began to focus more on her writing while undergoing treatment for breast cancer, although her love of books goes back all the way to her childhood, thanks to the influence of her mother.She is a member of an author's group at Penn State Shenango, as well as Pennwriters Area One in Western Pennsylvania. She now works both as an author and a book reviewer.The HuntAfter thirty years of marriage, Rachel observes herself amid a matrimonial nightmare. While at first, she sought to write off Seth’s night time escapades and drinking as a midlife crisis. The local sheriff hands her a foreclosure notice because her mortgage hasn't been paid. Rachel perceives something is awry.Devastated and needing space to reflect, Rachel accepts a respite from her best friend Lauren to hang at her cabin in the Allegheny Mountains for Thanksgiving, where she reconnects with Lauren and her family.When Rachel tries to understand Seth’s change of heart, the schemes of her husband, mother-in-law, and the entire Blackstone crew. The family she married into became an illusion.As her thirty-year marriage dissolves, Rachel realizes that getting into the Blackstone family is one thing, but getting out alive is another.Desperate to get off of this rollercoaster ride without shattering, Rachel must figure out the shrewdest way to pull herself up out of this turbulent charade.Can she stay alive through the worst episodes that marred her down to her knees?Social MediaFacebook Author PageFacebook GroupOfficial WebsiteAmazonGoodreadsDon't forget to check out my interview with Jacqueline here next week!Until then, all the best,Peter
August 5, 2019
Author Interview - Alison Lyke
Hello all!It's that time again, and today my guest is sci-fi and fantasy author Alison Lyke.PB: So, Alison, welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.
AL: I’m a sci-fi and fantasy author of two novels, Honey (2013) and Forever People (2019). I’m an English and Communications professor with a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing. I live in Western New York with my partner and two sons. My hobbies include gaming, hiking, yoga, and meditation.PB: What made you decide to become an author?AL: My family always surrounded me with books, and I developed a love of reading. I wanted to be an author since I understood what one was.PB: When did you first start writing?AL: I used to write and illustrate little books when I was in elementary school. My illustration skills are still lacking.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?AL: When I was about six years old, I wrote a story about a girl’s whose imagination was so strong all her stories came true. I’m still waiting.PB: Tell us about your upcoming release.AL: Forever People came out in April, my publisher, Black Rose Writing just released the book on Kindle Unlimited, and it will be on sale for $0.99 from 11/08 to 16/08. Other than that, I’m in the editing stage of my 3rd novel.PB: What inspires you?AL: I read and listen to podcasts from on a ton of different topics and perspectives. I’m inspired by learning about other points of view, scientific breakthroughs, and world culture.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?AL: I am the proudest of finishing my book Forever People. My brother passed away in an accident as I was finishing the novel. I put the book aside, and I didn’t write for the first time in life. That lasted about six months, and I realized I had to overcome and keep going, so I finished the book.PB: What is your favourite book series to read, and why?AL: The Lord of the Rings is my favorite series. I enjoy the classic fantasy setting and the timeless story.PB: What are your long term ambitions, career-wise?AL: I’m hoping to have continued success with my books. My next novel is launching a series, so I’d like to gain some attention from the series. I plan on writing a book every year or two.PB: If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?AL: I’m also a professor and I love teaching. It’s complementary to my writing, and it’s the perfect combination for my life.PB: What’s the next target for you?AL: I’m hoping to launch the first book in my new series in the next year or so.PB: And finally, tell us a random fact about yourself.AL: I was bitten by a fox while rescuing my Siamese cat from an attack and I had to go to a clinic for a series of rabies shots. I experienced the only perceptible Western New York earthquake that has happened in my lifetime, while in the rabies clinic waiting room. Thank you so much to Alison Lyke for talking to us today! Don't forget you can find out more about Alison and purchase her novels, Honey and Forever People here:Official Website
TwitterFacebookGoodreadsAmazonUntil next time!Have a great week!Peter
AL: I’m a sci-fi and fantasy author of two novels, Honey (2013) and Forever People (2019). I’m an English and Communications professor with a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing. I live in Western New York with my partner and two sons. My hobbies include gaming, hiking, yoga, and meditation.PB: What made you decide to become an author?AL: My family always surrounded me with books, and I developed a love of reading. I wanted to be an author since I understood what one was.PB: When did you first start writing?AL: I used to write and illustrate little books when I was in elementary school. My illustration skills are still lacking.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?AL: When I was about six years old, I wrote a story about a girl’s whose imagination was so strong all her stories came true. I’m still waiting.PB: Tell us about your upcoming release.AL: Forever People came out in April, my publisher, Black Rose Writing just released the book on Kindle Unlimited, and it will be on sale for $0.99 from 11/08 to 16/08. Other than that, I’m in the editing stage of my 3rd novel.PB: What inspires you?AL: I read and listen to podcasts from on a ton of different topics and perspectives. I’m inspired by learning about other points of view, scientific breakthroughs, and world culture.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?AL: I am the proudest of finishing my book Forever People. My brother passed away in an accident as I was finishing the novel. I put the book aside, and I didn’t write for the first time in life. That lasted about six months, and I realized I had to overcome and keep going, so I finished the book.PB: What is your favourite book series to read, and why?AL: The Lord of the Rings is my favorite series. I enjoy the classic fantasy setting and the timeless story.PB: What are your long term ambitions, career-wise?AL: I’m hoping to have continued success with my books. My next novel is launching a series, so I’d like to gain some attention from the series. I plan on writing a book every year or two.PB: If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?AL: I’m also a professor and I love teaching. It’s complementary to my writing, and it’s the perfect combination for my life.PB: What’s the next target for you?AL: I’m hoping to launch the first book in my new series in the next year or so.PB: And finally, tell us a random fact about yourself.AL: I was bitten by a fox while rescuing my Siamese cat from an attack and I had to go to a clinic for a series of rabies shots. I experienced the only perceptible Western New York earthquake that has happened in my lifetime, while in the rabies clinic waiting room. Thank you so much to Alison Lyke for talking to us today! Don't forget you can find out more about Alison and purchase her novels, Honey and Forever People here:Official WebsiteTwitterFacebookGoodreadsAmazonUntil next time!Have a great week!Peter
July 29, 2019
Author Spotlight - Alison Lyke
Hello all!It's time for another author spotlight, and today we're meeting a writer of multiple genres, Alison Lyke.Based in Rochester, New York, Alison showed early literary prowess and obsession with the creative process. In second grade she wrote a play that her class performed for the school. By sixth grade, she had read a library worth of classic literature, and moved on to more esoteric work, science fiction, fantasy, and horror, which would become the foundation for her lifetime of creative work. Alison has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree, and, when she’s not reading or writing, she teaches English and Communications at a local college. Alison loves nature, and she’s especially fond of hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. She also enjoys cooking, yoga, meditation, running, and gaming, both tabletop and video games. Inspired by her artist father’s mythological painting series, her first novel, Honey, uses fantasy to explore the interplay between religion and legends while following a young woman’s spiritual awakening. Her second novel, Forever People’s cyberpunk conventions delve into a world of technology generated immortals seeking to undo the consequences of their achievements.Forever People
“Forget poetic dreams of ghosts in machines. We are the machine. We donated our souls to it.”Welcome to Zeta City, where the whole world goes to die. Here, the Node System uploads the minds of the dying so they can spend eternity in a digital Promised Land. But, this cyber heaven is causing hell on earth for the living because the System forces them to earn Points to buy data in the afterlife.Camille is a salty mercenary out to hoard as many Points as possible by exploiting the dying with illegal technology. She's on the hunt for Toy, a rebel leader who uploaded lethal technology to her own brain in an attempt to wipe out everyone’s Node Points.Camille goes to increasingly dangerous lengths in pursuit of Toy. She soon finds that the Node is full of warm reunions with loved ones and otherworldly creations.It’s also full of lies.You can purchase 'Forever People' and find out more about Alison via the below links:Official WebsiteTwitterFacebookGoodreadsAmazonDon't forget to catch my interview with Alison here on pjbermanbooks.com next week!See you then.Peter
Based in Rochester, New York, Alison showed early literary prowess and obsession with the creative process. In second grade she wrote a play that her class performed for the school. By sixth grade, she had read a library worth of classic literature, and moved on to more esoteric work, science fiction, fantasy, and horror, which would become the foundation for her lifetime of creative work. Alison has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree, and, when she’s not reading or writing, she teaches English and Communications at a local college. Alison loves nature, and she’s especially fond of hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. She also enjoys cooking, yoga, meditation, running, and gaming, both tabletop and video games. Inspired by her artist father’s mythological painting series, her first novel, Honey, uses fantasy to explore the interplay between religion and legends while following a young woman’s spiritual awakening. Her second novel, Forever People’s cyberpunk conventions delve into a world of technology generated immortals seeking to undo the consequences of their achievements.Forever People“Forget poetic dreams of ghosts in machines. We are the machine. We donated our souls to it.”Welcome to Zeta City, where the whole world goes to die. Here, the Node System uploads the minds of the dying so they can spend eternity in a digital Promised Land. But, this cyber heaven is causing hell on earth for the living because the System forces them to earn Points to buy data in the afterlife.Camille is a salty mercenary out to hoard as many Points as possible by exploiting the dying with illegal technology. She's on the hunt for Toy, a rebel leader who uploaded lethal technology to her own brain in an attempt to wipe out everyone’s Node Points.Camille goes to increasingly dangerous lengths in pursuit of Toy. She soon finds that the Node is full of warm reunions with loved ones and otherworldly creations.It’s also full of lies.You can purchase 'Forever People' and find out more about Alison via the below links:Official WebsiteTwitterFacebookGoodreadsAmazonDon't forget to catch my interview with Alison here on pjbermanbooks.com next week!See you then.Peter
July 22, 2019
Author Interview - C.R.Langille
Hello everyone!I hope you are all having a great week. Those of you who read my recent author spotlight on horror author C.R.Langille will know that this week he's back. so let's take the opportunity to get to know him a little better.
PB: Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com! First, tell us a bit about your background.CRL: I grew up watching monster movies on Saturday afternoons with my mom at a very young age. Hell, I was probably too young at the time, but I became a huge fan of Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and all sorts of things like that. I believe those early interactions with the dark influenced my love of horror. As a teen, I got into reading King, Koontz, Little, Lovecraft and the like, as well as reading all the Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance books. Fast-forward to today and I'm getting ready to retire from the military (20 years in Air Force Intel). I plan on staying at home to raise my two daughters and write full-time. PB: What made you decide to become an author? CRL: When I was in 6th grade I checked out the Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore from my school's library and devoured it. It was the first time I ever really enjoyed reading at all. From there I started reading tons of those fantasy books, with Salvatore being my favorite. As my tastes expanded, I got into horror as well, but it was really the Crystal Shard that got me hooked and first ignited the spark of wanting to write. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to an author when I grew up and she fully supported the idea. PB: When did you first start writing? CRL: I played around with some things throughout high school but started really writing in the 11th or 12th grade. Nothing too crazy and of course it was all kind of crap, but that was over 20 years ago. PB: What was the first story you can remember writing? CRL: The first long story I ever wrote was in the 12th grade. It was about a mercenary who gets hired by a king to protect his daughter from an infamous bandit. It was pretty bad, but I think it was about 80 pages or so and I was quite proud of it at the time. Perhaps one day I'll rewrite it into something. PB: Tell us about your upcoming work. CRL: Where to start. I'm working on a few different projects at the moment. First and foremost, I'm finishing up the third book in my Dark Tyrant Series, which is my dark urban fantasy series that I like to think is a mix of Lovecraft, Clive Barker, and Jim Butcher. Hopefully, that will be out by Feb of next year. I'm also writing a serialized grimdark/post-apocalyptic fantasy series in a shared world. Basically, all the gods were killed off at the same time and now the world has fallen to ruin, darkness, and demons. It's pretty fun. Hoping to see that out by this time next year. I'm also drafting up the second book in my middle-grade fantasy about a teddy bear that protects kids from nightmares. I've also got a few projects in the works under a couple of different pen names as well as a few short stories and novelettes I'm trying to finish up for various anthologies. Needless to say, I'm quite busy on the writing front.
PB: What inspires you? CRL: I love hearing from folks who have read my stories or books and loved them. It's a wonderful feeling to know that I provided someone an escape from reality for a short time. I love entertaining people in this way. It's the same reason why I like running tabletop roleplaying games. I get to create a world for others to have fun with. PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of? CRL: I'm most proud of my collection of short stories, Tales from the Storm. It represents some of my first professional writing credits. Every story in that collection was previously published in various other anthologies throughout my writing career. As I had my rights returned, I saved these stories and then decided to clump them all together into that collection. You can see my process improve and my techniques tighten as you go through the volume and I open each story with a little bit of background on each piece. PB: What is your favourite book series to read and why? CRL: There are certain series that have a special place in my heart. First and foremost would probably be the Dark Elf books by R.A. Salvatore. Those books about Drizzt Do'Urden really shaped my tastes when I was younger. Following that would be Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. I love the world he created and how he made his magic work. PB: What are your long term ambitions career-wise? CRL: I'm about to finish up a career in the military. Depending on when this interview posts, I may already be on terminal leave. That means my next ambitions are to pour my energy into writing and make that a full-time career. As a side gig, I'd love run Dungeons and Dragons adventures for folks professionally. I've been playing D&D for almost 30 years, pretty much as the DM for all of that. PB: If you weren't an author, what career would you be in? CRL: I think I'd be a Forest Service Ranger. I love the outdoors and if I could find a job that let me spend the majority of my day in the wilderness, that would be great. PB: What's the next target for you? CRL: Other than finishing up all those projects I listed earlier, I have a couple of new ones rolling around in my head. For one, I am doing the world-building and background creation for a Fantasy/Western, think elves and magic, but Old West. I also plan on creating a line of Choose Your Own Demise storybooks that play out like the old Choose Your Own Adventure; however, most of the choices will lead to some dark demise with only one path leading to survival. Finally, I'm planning a line of books for a younger audience, a YA coming of age, Scooby-Do(esque) meets Lovecraftian horror series. PB: And finally, tell us a random fact about yourself. CRL: Almost half of my body is covered in tattoos that help me express my love of fantasy, horror, and the outdoors.Well, thank you so much to C.R.Langille to agreeing to talk to us today. Don't forget, you can find out more via the below links:AmazonOfficial WebsiteHappy reading!Until next time,Peter
PB: Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com! First, tell us a bit about your background.CRL: I grew up watching monster movies on Saturday afternoons with my mom at a very young age. Hell, I was probably too young at the time, but I became a huge fan of Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and all sorts of things like that. I believe those early interactions with the dark influenced my love of horror. As a teen, I got into reading King, Koontz, Little, Lovecraft and the like, as well as reading all the Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance books. Fast-forward to today and I'm getting ready to retire from the military (20 years in Air Force Intel). I plan on staying at home to raise my two daughters and write full-time. PB: What made you decide to become an author? CRL: When I was in 6th grade I checked out the Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore from my school's library and devoured it. It was the first time I ever really enjoyed reading at all. From there I started reading tons of those fantasy books, with Salvatore being my favorite. As my tastes expanded, I got into horror as well, but it was really the Crystal Shard that got me hooked and first ignited the spark of wanting to write. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to an author when I grew up and she fully supported the idea. PB: When did you first start writing? CRL: I played around with some things throughout high school but started really writing in the 11th or 12th grade. Nothing too crazy and of course it was all kind of crap, but that was over 20 years ago. PB: What was the first story you can remember writing? CRL: The first long story I ever wrote was in the 12th grade. It was about a mercenary who gets hired by a king to protect his daughter from an infamous bandit. It was pretty bad, but I think it was about 80 pages or so and I was quite proud of it at the time. Perhaps one day I'll rewrite it into something. PB: Tell us about your upcoming work. CRL: Where to start. I'm working on a few different projects at the moment. First and foremost, I'm finishing up the third book in my Dark Tyrant Series, which is my dark urban fantasy series that I like to think is a mix of Lovecraft, Clive Barker, and Jim Butcher. Hopefully, that will be out by Feb of next year. I'm also writing a serialized grimdark/post-apocalyptic fantasy series in a shared world. Basically, all the gods were killed off at the same time and now the world has fallen to ruin, darkness, and demons. It's pretty fun. Hoping to see that out by this time next year. I'm also drafting up the second book in my middle-grade fantasy about a teddy bear that protects kids from nightmares. I've also got a few projects in the works under a couple of different pen names as well as a few short stories and novelettes I'm trying to finish up for various anthologies. Needless to say, I'm quite busy on the writing front. PB: What inspires you? CRL: I love hearing from folks who have read my stories or books and loved them. It's a wonderful feeling to know that I provided someone an escape from reality for a short time. I love entertaining people in this way. It's the same reason why I like running tabletop roleplaying games. I get to create a world for others to have fun with. PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of? CRL: I'm most proud of my collection of short stories, Tales from the Storm. It represents some of my first professional writing credits. Every story in that collection was previously published in various other anthologies throughout my writing career. As I had my rights returned, I saved these stories and then decided to clump them all together into that collection. You can see my process improve and my techniques tighten as you go through the volume and I open each story with a little bit of background on each piece. PB: What is your favourite book series to read and why? CRL: There are certain series that have a special place in my heart. First and foremost would probably be the Dark Elf books by R.A. Salvatore. Those books about Drizzt Do'Urden really shaped my tastes when I was younger. Following that would be Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. I love the world he created and how he made his magic work. PB: What are your long term ambitions career-wise? CRL: I'm about to finish up a career in the military. Depending on when this interview posts, I may already be on terminal leave. That means my next ambitions are to pour my energy into writing and make that a full-time career. As a side gig, I'd love run Dungeons and Dragons adventures for folks professionally. I've been playing D&D for almost 30 years, pretty much as the DM for all of that. PB: If you weren't an author, what career would you be in? CRL: I think I'd be a Forest Service Ranger. I love the outdoors and if I could find a job that let me spend the majority of my day in the wilderness, that would be great. PB: What's the next target for you? CRL: Other than finishing up all those projects I listed earlier, I have a couple of new ones rolling around in my head. For one, I am doing the world-building and background creation for a Fantasy/Western, think elves and magic, but Old West. I also plan on creating a line of Choose Your Own Demise storybooks that play out like the old Choose Your Own Adventure; however, most of the choices will lead to some dark demise with only one path leading to survival. Finally, I'm planning a line of books for a younger audience, a YA coming of age, Scooby-Do(esque) meets Lovecraftian horror series. PB: And finally, tell us a random fact about yourself. CRL: Almost half of my body is covered in tattoos that help me express my love of fantasy, horror, and the outdoors.Well, thank you so much to C.R.Langille to agreeing to talk to us today. Don't forget, you can find out more via the below links:AmazonOfficial WebsiteHappy reading!Until next time,Peter
July 16, 2019
Exciting News!
Hello all!I’m so excited to announce that the Vengeance of Hope audiobook, narrated by the wonderful Chris Dukes, is out now on Amazon, Audible and iTunes!I have 10 FREE promo codes to give away. Just email me via the website if you’d like one, or comment on this post if your viewing this on social media.First come, first served!Click here to download your copy!Vengeance of Hope is medieval epic fantasy fiction with a military edge. Devious plots, political intrigue, and bloody battles are all just a part of life in the Kingdom of Bennvika. 
Can freedom ever be for all?How do you save a nation from tyranny?When the King of Bennvika dies in suspicious circumstances and a foreign usurper named Jostan Kazabrus seizes the throne, ruthlessly imposing his will on the population, a disunited triumvirate of leaders and their followers must attempt to resist him.The first is Silrith, the ousted philanthropic princess who had been expected to take the throne.The second is Ezrina, a vengeful rebel who is desperate to overturn the years of ethnic oppression of her people, the Hentani.The third is Zethun, a minor noble who believes the only way to fight for the common people is to abolish the monarchy altogether.As the various factions fight the threat of tyranny and religious persecution, each must be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for their cause.I’m looking for verified reviews to help publiscise the audiobook, so if you could leave a review, I'd be really grateful!Happy listening!Peter
Can freedom ever be for all?How do you save a nation from tyranny?When the King of Bennvika dies in suspicious circumstances and a foreign usurper named Jostan Kazabrus seizes the throne, ruthlessly imposing his will on the population, a disunited triumvirate of leaders and their followers must attempt to resist him.The first is Silrith, the ousted philanthropic princess who had been expected to take the throne.The second is Ezrina, a vengeful rebel who is desperate to overturn the years of ethnic oppression of her people, the Hentani.The third is Zethun, a minor noble who believes the only way to fight for the common people is to abolish the monarchy altogether.As the various factions fight the threat of tyranny and religious persecution, each must be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for their cause.I’m looking for verified reviews to help publiscise the audiobook, so if you could leave a review, I'd be really grateful!Happy listening!Peter
July 15, 2019
Author Spotlight - C.R.Langille
Hello everyone,I hope you are all well. Today I would like to introduce you to the work of a world builder whose work takes you deepinto the realms of dark urban fantasy and horror. Langille grew up watching many monster movies, and this is what started him on the road to writing stories. To bring his writing to life further, he uses rural Utah, an area he knows well, as the setting for many of his stories. He is an affiliate member of the Horror Writer's Association (organizer for the Utah Chapter), a member of the League of Utah Writers, and received his MFA: Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University.Tales of the Storm Vol. 1: A Collection of Horror Stories[Insert promo shots here]The storm rages on, leaving death and destruction in its path. With the chaos comes strange tidings and wicked ordeals. From C.R. Langille, author of the Dark Tyrant Series comes a collection of weird and horrifying stories spanning all across history: the Spanish Conquest; the Old West; present day; and even a desolate, apocalyptic future. Haunted hotel rooms, mysterious, mind-bending spots, infernal cargo, and misplaced wishes abound in this collection. Stories Included: The Spot Brine & Blood The Deep Well All Aboard Damned The Scratch Horishi Tom Only one thing is certain when the storm passes by - nothing will ever be the same again.Click here for a full review of Tales of the Storm Vol. 1 by Guild Master Gaming.You can find out more about Langille and his work by following the below links:AmazonOfficial WebsiteDon't forget to check out my interview with Langille, which will be available to read here at pjbermabbooks.com next week.Until next time!All the best!Peter
into the realms of dark urban fantasy and horror. Langille grew up watching many monster movies, and this is what started him on the road to writing stories. To bring his writing to life further, he uses rural Utah, an area he knows well, as the setting for many of his stories. He is an affiliate member of the Horror Writer's Association (organizer for the Utah Chapter), a member of the League of Utah Writers, and received his MFA: Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University.Tales of the Storm Vol. 1: A Collection of Horror Stories[Insert promo shots here]The storm rages on, leaving death and destruction in its path. With the chaos comes strange tidings and wicked ordeals. From C.R. Langille, author of the Dark Tyrant Series comes a collection of weird and horrifying stories spanning all across history: the Spanish Conquest; the Old West; present day; and even a desolate, apocalyptic future. Haunted hotel rooms, mysterious, mind-bending spots, infernal cargo, and misplaced wishes abound in this collection. Stories Included: The Spot Brine & Blood The Deep Well All Aboard Damned The Scratch Horishi Tom Only one thing is certain when the storm passes by - nothing will ever be the same again.Click here for a full review of Tales of the Storm Vol. 1 by Guild Master Gaming.You can find out more about Langille and his work by following the below links:AmazonOfficial WebsiteDon't forget to check out my interview with Langille, which will be available to read here at pjbermabbooks.com next week.Until next time!All the best!Peter
July 10, 2019
Author Interview - John Coon
Hello all,We have another interview from the world of fiction writing today, and this time our special guest is sci-fi author John Coon, who some of you may have read about in last week's author spotlight.
PB: So, John, welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.JC: I'm an urban dwelling journalist who yearns to return to a place with more open spaces again. Right now, I'm based out of Salt Lake City, Utah as a sports journalist for the Associated Press and Athlon Sports. In this role, I mainly write about NBA basketball, college football, and college basketball. My writing mainly consists of game stories, previews, and features.PB: What made you decide to become an author?JC: No single moment caused me to pursue that path. My desire to become an author evolved naturally over time. I've always had an active imagination and loved creating stories. When I was a little kid, I would daydream about being an actor and starring in my own movies. I came up with quite detailed plots and characters for those fictional movies and a few of those early ideas evolved into the foundation for novels and short stories when I entered high school.PB: When did you first start writing?JC: My first serious stab at writing came at 12 years old. My parents owned a manual typewriter and set it up on a table at the back of the kitchen. I had an older sister who had been writing some stories and I made up my mind I could write stories too. I went out to the kitchen and started typing up my stories on orange colored typing paper.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?JC: My earliest stories were a series of adventure tales involving a litter of mischievous kittens. The kittens were based on family pets we had at the time. I didn't complete the project until about five years later. I still have a rough draft of those stories and would love to publish them someday if I can partner with the right illustrator.PB: Tell us about Under a Fallen Sun.JC: Wow. I am so excited for this book! This is my second novel after Pandora Reborn. Under a Fallen Sun is a reworking of a short story I wrote while attending the University of Utah. That story, which I originally called "Village of the Gargoyles," was about four friends who had to escape from a cursed town before sunrise or risk turning into monsters. The novel length version bears scant resemblance to the original story beyond character names and elements in a couple of scenes.Under a Fallen Sun centers on four Louisiana college students who become trapped in an isolated Texas town after their car breaks down during a spring break road trip. It turns into a battle for survival against an extraterrestrial adversary who has laid siege to the town and done terrifying things to the surviving residents. Under a Fallen Sun is designed to be a gripping dark sci-fi thriller that I hope my fans will enjoy.PB: What inspires you?JC: I find inspiration from many sources. The settings for my novels are often influenced by the rural environment where I grew up or places I've lived in the past. My characters are a melting pot of personalities based on people I've interacted with over my 15 years as a journalist. I draw ideas for plots from urban legends, myths, folklore, historical events, and theology. When you throw it all together, it creates a nice reservoir of ideas to spin a story or two.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?JC: My ability to write at all is a blessing from God and I will always consider it one of my greatest achievements. When I was around a year old, my left hand was partially severed in an accident. A pediatric orthopedic surgeon was brought in to save my hand. He was able to reattach it, but I suffered some permanent nerve and tendon damage. I had limited dexterity in my left hand throughout my childhood and I struggled so much with typing that, at one point, my eighth grade computer science teacher told me that I better find a career where I didn't need to use a computer. Going from that point to being an accomplished journalist and author is an incredible journey.PB: Other than sci-fi, what is your favourite fiction genre and why?JC: I enjoy reading a good horror story. When it's done right, horror can explore real-world fears through the medium of ghosts, witches, and monsters. Just like sci-fi, you can shine a light on human nature and what it means to be human.PB: What’s it like juggling your fiction writing with sports reporting?JC: It can feel a bit hectic at times. I wrote the rough drafts for both Pandora Reborn and Under a Fallen Sun during the NBA season and had to work overtime to make time for it. It can be draining trying to muster up enough energy to write fiction after putting in 7 or 8 hours of writing and travel to cover a basketball game. That's where making an outline of each chapter and doing detailed character sketches is a lifesaver. It helps me stay on track and not abandon a project if I hit a creative wall.PB: What are your long term ambitions career-wise?JC: Eventually, I'd love to transition to being a full-time fiction author and see my stories be turned into movies and TV shows. I love creating stories and to have a chance to do that for a living would be a dream come true.PB: What’s the next target for you?JC: I'll likely work on some smaller stories following the release of Under a Fallen Sun. I have a few short stories I've completed that I'd like to publish. Each one connects to the fictional worlds I introduced in Pandora Reborn and Under a Fallen Sun in some fashion. Beyond that, I plan to rework and release a sci-fi novel I wrote at 18 years old that will be the first book in a six-book series. I'm also developing a pair of sequels to Pandora Reborn that I plan to publish in 2020 or 2021.PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.JC: I have a really strong memory. I can recall all sorts of trivia with ease. When I was a child, for example, I watched each movie in the original Star Wars trilogy so many times that I eventually memorized the entire dialogue from each movie word for word. I still retain recall of most of it all these years later.Once again John, thank you for talking to us today.Pandora Reborn is available through booksellers worldwide. You can get it as an ebook or a paperback from Amazon:US:PaperbackEbookUK:PaperbackEbook
Under a Fallen Sun is available to pre-order now, and will be released on July 15th:Amazon (Universal Link)You can get updates on John's other forthcoming novels and stories at his website and author pages:Website: johncoon.netOfficial Facebook Page: facebook.com/jcoonAmazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/johncoonUntil next time,All the best!Peter
PB: So, John, welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.JC: I'm an urban dwelling journalist who yearns to return to a place with more open spaces again. Right now, I'm based out of Salt Lake City, Utah as a sports journalist for the Associated Press and Athlon Sports. In this role, I mainly write about NBA basketball, college football, and college basketball. My writing mainly consists of game stories, previews, and features.PB: What made you decide to become an author?JC: No single moment caused me to pursue that path. My desire to become an author evolved naturally over time. I've always had an active imagination and loved creating stories. When I was a little kid, I would daydream about being an actor and starring in my own movies. I came up with quite detailed plots and characters for those fictional movies and a few of those early ideas evolved into the foundation for novels and short stories when I entered high school.PB: When did you first start writing?JC: My first serious stab at writing came at 12 years old. My parents owned a manual typewriter and set it up on a table at the back of the kitchen. I had an older sister who had been writing some stories and I made up my mind I could write stories too. I went out to the kitchen and started typing up my stories on orange colored typing paper.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?JC: My earliest stories were a series of adventure tales involving a litter of mischievous kittens. The kittens were based on family pets we had at the time. I didn't complete the project until about five years later. I still have a rough draft of those stories and would love to publish them someday if I can partner with the right illustrator.PB: Tell us about Under a Fallen Sun.JC: Wow. I am so excited for this book! This is my second novel after Pandora Reborn. Under a Fallen Sun is a reworking of a short story I wrote while attending the University of Utah. That story, which I originally called "Village of the Gargoyles," was about four friends who had to escape from a cursed town before sunrise or risk turning into monsters. The novel length version bears scant resemblance to the original story beyond character names and elements in a couple of scenes.Under a Fallen Sun centers on four Louisiana college students who become trapped in an isolated Texas town after their car breaks down during a spring break road trip. It turns into a battle for survival against an extraterrestrial adversary who has laid siege to the town and done terrifying things to the surviving residents. Under a Fallen Sun is designed to be a gripping dark sci-fi thriller that I hope my fans will enjoy.PB: What inspires you?JC: I find inspiration from many sources. The settings for my novels are often influenced by the rural environment where I grew up or places I've lived in the past. My characters are a melting pot of personalities based on people I've interacted with over my 15 years as a journalist. I draw ideas for plots from urban legends, myths, folklore, historical events, and theology. When you throw it all together, it creates a nice reservoir of ideas to spin a story or two.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?JC: My ability to write at all is a blessing from God and I will always consider it one of my greatest achievements. When I was around a year old, my left hand was partially severed in an accident. A pediatric orthopedic surgeon was brought in to save my hand. He was able to reattach it, but I suffered some permanent nerve and tendon damage. I had limited dexterity in my left hand throughout my childhood and I struggled so much with typing that, at one point, my eighth grade computer science teacher told me that I better find a career where I didn't need to use a computer. Going from that point to being an accomplished journalist and author is an incredible journey.PB: Other than sci-fi, what is your favourite fiction genre and why?JC: I enjoy reading a good horror story. When it's done right, horror can explore real-world fears through the medium of ghosts, witches, and monsters. Just like sci-fi, you can shine a light on human nature and what it means to be human.PB: What’s it like juggling your fiction writing with sports reporting?JC: It can feel a bit hectic at times. I wrote the rough drafts for both Pandora Reborn and Under a Fallen Sun during the NBA season and had to work overtime to make time for it. It can be draining trying to muster up enough energy to write fiction after putting in 7 or 8 hours of writing and travel to cover a basketball game. That's where making an outline of each chapter and doing detailed character sketches is a lifesaver. It helps me stay on track and not abandon a project if I hit a creative wall.PB: What are your long term ambitions career-wise?JC: Eventually, I'd love to transition to being a full-time fiction author and see my stories be turned into movies and TV shows. I love creating stories and to have a chance to do that for a living would be a dream come true.PB: What’s the next target for you?JC: I'll likely work on some smaller stories following the release of Under a Fallen Sun. I have a few short stories I've completed that I'd like to publish. Each one connects to the fictional worlds I introduced in Pandora Reborn and Under a Fallen Sun in some fashion. Beyond that, I plan to rework and release a sci-fi novel I wrote at 18 years old that will be the first book in a six-book series. I'm also developing a pair of sequels to Pandora Reborn that I plan to publish in 2020 or 2021.PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.JC: I have a really strong memory. I can recall all sorts of trivia with ease. When I was a child, for example, I watched each movie in the original Star Wars trilogy so many times that I eventually memorized the entire dialogue from each movie word for word. I still retain recall of most of it all these years later.Once again John, thank you for talking to us today.Pandora Reborn is available through booksellers worldwide. You can get it as an ebook or a paperback from Amazon:US:PaperbackEbookUK:PaperbackEbookUnder a Fallen Sun is available to pre-order now, and will be released on July 15th:Amazon (Universal Link)You can get updates on John's other forthcoming novels and stories at his website and author pages:Website: johncoon.netOfficial Facebook Page: facebook.com/jcoonAmazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/johncoonUntil next time,All the best!Peter
July 3, 2019
Author Spotlight - John Coon
Hello all,Today's author spotlight focuses on sci-fi writer and sports reporter John Coon. John made his debut as a fiction author with the release of Pandora Reborn in June, 2018. Pandora Reborn follows Ron Olson, a newcomer to Deer Falls, who is drawn into a battle with a mysterious ancient witch after she is released from an unearthed chest. Ron must find a way to stop the witch before she destroys the small Colorado town and everyone he loves. 
When he isn't crafting suspenseful novels, John works as a sports reporter for the Associated Press and Athlon Sports. He covers NBA basketball, NCAA football, and NCAA basketball for those media outlets. John has worked as a reporter since graduating from the University of Utah in 2004. He lives in Utah and can be found hiking a trail and snapping photographs when he isn't working.John's second novel, Under a Fallen Sun, is scheduled to be released this month. This science fiction thriller follows a group of Louisiana college students who become trapped in an isolated Texas town under siege from an extraterrestrial adversary.Pandora Reborn is available through booksellers worldwide. You can get it as an ebook or a paperback from Amazon:US:PaperbackEbookUK:PaperbackEbookUnder a Fallen Sun is available to pre-order now, and will be released on July 15th:Amazon (Universal)You can get updates on John's other forthcoming novels and stories at his website and author pages:Website: johncoon.netOfficial Facebook Page: facebook.com/jcoonAmazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/johncoonDon't forget to look out for my interview with John, which you'll be able to fine her on pjbermanbooks.com next week.Until next time,All the best!Peter
When he isn't crafting suspenseful novels, John works as a sports reporter for the Associated Press and Athlon Sports. He covers NBA basketball, NCAA football, and NCAA basketball for those media outlets. John has worked as a reporter since graduating from the University of Utah in 2004. He lives in Utah and can be found hiking a trail and snapping photographs when he isn't working.John's second novel, Under a Fallen Sun, is scheduled to be released this month. This science fiction thriller follows a group of Louisiana college students who become trapped in an isolated Texas town under siege from an extraterrestrial adversary.Pandora Reborn is available through booksellers worldwide. You can get it as an ebook or a paperback from Amazon:US:PaperbackEbookUK:PaperbackEbookUnder a Fallen Sun is available to pre-order now, and will be released on July 15th:Amazon (Universal)You can get updates on John's other forthcoming novels and stories at his website and author pages:Website: johncoon.netOfficial Facebook Page: facebook.com/jcoonAmazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/johncoonDon't forget to look out for my interview with John, which you'll be able to fine her on pjbermanbooks.com next week.Until next time,All the best!Peter
July 1, 2019
Getting to Know the Man Behind the Voice - Christopher Dukes
Hello all!It is my pleasure to announce that the Vengeance of Hope audiobook, narrated by the wonderful Christopher Dukes, is now complete and will be available to download from Audible, iTunes and Amazon in a matter of weeks!In the meantime, let's take a moment to get to know Chris, the man whose voice will be bringing Silrith Alfwyn and many of the Bennvikan world's other inhabitants to life.
PB: Hello Chris. I have to say, it's been fantastic working with you over these past few weeks. I'd like to start the interview by asking, what made you decide to become an actor?CD: I began acting at the young age of seven actually in a local pantomime playing the Buttons-style character! But I think the moment when it clicked into ‘this is what I want to do’ was watching the special features to both Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings. Seeing the interviews with the cast and the passion behind what they were doing was beautiful.PB: Tell us a bit about your background and your hometown. CD: I was brought up in the town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, right in the heart of England. I come from a theatrical family, my Mother and Father met at a village drama school that my Father taught at. Nowadays, my brother Robert Dukes and I are both working actors! As supportive as my parents always are, the best piece of advice my Dad ever gave me was when I told him I wanted to be an actor. He said “Okay. You might never get hired though. It’s a tough world and you have to work extremely hard but if you want it, go get it.”PB: What was your first acting job? CD: My first professional acting job was actually a site-specific theatre piece, celebrating the work of the railways in the North of England.PB: What is your favourite fiction genre and why? CD: I have always been a huge fan of fantasy, most definitely due to my Dad. Growing up he would read me masses of books: Famous Five, Swallows and Amazons, Chronicles of Narnia, Treasure Island, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings. He would put on these incredible voices, which I always loved, and they immersed me into the stories completely.I guess he inspired me to get into audiobooks!PB: Tell us a bit about the creation process that went into converting Vengeance of Hope into an audiobook> CD: Turning Vengeance of Hope into an audiobook has been a mammoth challenge; understanding your vision and bringing it to life through audio. As the readers and listeners will come to know, the world your has created has its own lore, expansive Kingdoms and diverse cultures. When I was in training at drama school, I had a fantastic voice coach who impressed on me how accents have developed the way they have due to landscape and terrain. I hoped to have brought an element of this into the world of the novel, by bringing a handful of accents and qualities that can help to embody your characters!
PB: Well, you've certainly done an incredible job! What are your long term ambitions career-wise? CD: As an actor my ambition has always been the same; to make a living at this acting malarkey. I love what I do and I do what I love! Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be Captain Britain one day for Marvel, there’s actually a friend of mine in Manchester who placed a bet on me to one day play the part of Captain Britain... Apparently I’m his retirement fund... no pressure...Marvel?PB: If you weren't an actor, what career would you be in? CD: If I wasn’t an actor...In another life, wouldn’t mind have running a ranch, but y’know, out West in the late 1800s.. so a cowboy basically.. In this lifetime? Probably something still within the arts, perhaps a director.PB: What do you do in your free time when you're not acting? CD: When I’m not acting I’m a huge fan of video games. It’s certainly how I unwind, diving into a fictional, historical, futuristic world etc.PB: What's next for you? CD: After Vengeance of Hope is completed, the next step for me is picking back up my personal projects. I’ve been writing a web series based on the Grim Reaper... but that’s all I’m saying for now. PB: And finally, tell us a random fact about yourself! CD: Well, my Father is huge train fan, and many years ago, we bought a rail for the Welsh Highland railway, so technically I own about a yard of railway somewhere along the tracks!Well, thank you so much Chris for taking the time to talk to us today, and thank you for doing such a wonderful job creating the Vengeance of Hope audiobook!Photos of Chris Dukes courtesy of Robert Dukes.
PB: Hello Chris. I have to say, it's been fantastic working with you over these past few weeks. I'd like to start the interview by asking, what made you decide to become an actor?CD: I began acting at the young age of seven actually in a local pantomime playing the Buttons-style character! But I think the moment when it clicked into ‘this is what I want to do’ was watching the special features to both Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings. Seeing the interviews with the cast and the passion behind what they were doing was beautiful.PB: Tell us a bit about your background and your hometown. CD: I was brought up in the town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, right in the heart of England. I come from a theatrical family, my Mother and Father met at a village drama school that my Father taught at. Nowadays, my brother Robert Dukes and I are both working actors! As supportive as my parents always are, the best piece of advice my Dad ever gave me was when I told him I wanted to be an actor. He said “Okay. You might never get hired though. It’s a tough world and you have to work extremely hard but if you want it, go get it.”PB: What was your first acting job? CD: My first professional acting job was actually a site-specific theatre piece, celebrating the work of the railways in the North of England.PB: What is your favourite fiction genre and why? CD: I have always been a huge fan of fantasy, most definitely due to my Dad. Growing up he would read me masses of books: Famous Five, Swallows and Amazons, Chronicles of Narnia, Treasure Island, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings. He would put on these incredible voices, which I always loved, and they immersed me into the stories completely.I guess he inspired me to get into audiobooks!PB: Tell us a bit about the creation process that went into converting Vengeance of Hope into an audiobook> CD: Turning Vengeance of Hope into an audiobook has been a mammoth challenge; understanding your vision and bringing it to life through audio. As the readers and listeners will come to know, the world your has created has its own lore, expansive Kingdoms and diverse cultures. When I was in training at drama school, I had a fantastic voice coach who impressed on me how accents have developed the way they have due to landscape and terrain. I hoped to have brought an element of this into the world of the novel, by bringing a handful of accents and qualities that can help to embody your characters!PB: Well, you've certainly done an incredible job! What are your long term ambitions career-wise? CD: As an actor my ambition has always been the same; to make a living at this acting malarkey. I love what I do and I do what I love! Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be Captain Britain one day for Marvel, there’s actually a friend of mine in Manchester who placed a bet on me to one day play the part of Captain Britain... Apparently I’m his retirement fund... no pressure...Marvel?PB: If you weren't an actor, what career would you be in? CD: If I wasn’t an actor...In another life, wouldn’t mind have running a ranch, but y’know, out West in the late 1800s.. so a cowboy basically.. In this lifetime? Probably something still within the arts, perhaps a director.PB: What do you do in your free time when you're not acting? CD: When I’m not acting I’m a huge fan of video games. It’s certainly how I unwind, diving into a fictional, historical, futuristic world etc.PB: What's next for you? CD: After Vengeance of Hope is completed, the next step for me is picking back up my personal projects. I’ve been writing a web series based on the Grim Reaper... but that’s all I’m saying for now. PB: And finally, tell us a random fact about yourself! CD: Well, my Father is huge train fan, and many years ago, we bought a rail for the Welsh Highland railway, so technically I own about a yard of railway somewhere along the tracks!Well, thank you so much Chris for taking the time to talk to us today, and thank you for doing such a wonderful job creating the Vengeance of Hope audiobook!Photos of Chris Dukes courtesy of Robert Dukes.
