A. Renee Hunt's Blog, page 64

The Chronicles of Jake Tanner: Hell's Lane by Neil Paul Noriega

     Okay, so I'm like, "Wow!"
When I was approached by Neil Noriega, I figured I'd be getting a cool book.  Uh, no!  I got a small, swagtastic gift-galore box!  I mean, two t-shirts, HD cards/bookmarks, the book, a cap and pictures!  One of them being the one I posted here, the cover sleeve for The Chronicles of Jake Tanner: Hell's Lane!  I was like, "Dude, thank you!"         What do you get when you mix ten people, a broken down subway car with a bunch of New Yorkerish-styled attitudes covered in sin and a Soul Protector?  Have you heard this one before?  Man, you get a run for your life, don't listen to the voices from flying demons that want to slowly devour you for an eternity- that's what!

     Hell's Lane is about the road traveled when your sin's caught up to you!  Jake Tanner is a Soul Protector.  His job is to be around when 10 people are selected and must stand up to their pasts before going upstairs, or the dreaded down.  As Jake carries them through portals with demonic beings on their heels, he does his best to reach a particular cathedral, a sanctuary of sorts.  Sadly, he loses half his charge along the way.  It's only when they reach their destination that they realize, their biggest dangers aren't the monsters that want to devour their souls but themselves...

     I enjoyed Hell's Lane; the pace was steady and something was happening in every single chapter.  The characters were given just enough back ground to keep them interesting, but a few really were rather imbecilic!   They didn't follow instructions, even though they saw creatures chasing them, one was even boorish in the church!  Yeah, it was a church in a Purgatory of sorts, but still!

     The book was about 115-pages long and well worth the read.  There was but one thing I wasn't happy with, but it may be answered in the follow up chapter of Jake Tanner's life/afterlife/other life...  I don't know!  LOL   I'm looking for another tale to clear that up!
Next!

Fangirls Rule the World by Sam Maggs and Quirk Books

     This will probably be one of the shortest reviews I'll ever post, but I had to do it.  Not only are the women in this book amazing, but they're Way-Makers.  Pioneers and so much more for the phenomenal, female authors of today!  

     Names like Rosalind Franklin (DNA), Wang Zhenyi (astronomy, mathematician), Ada Lovelace (mathematician) and Lise Meitner (Austrian nuclear physicist) to the ones who make our amazing fandom's shine, like Emma Watson, Carrie Fischer, and Daenarys Stormborn!  There are so many people and items discussed in this book- down to debates, like who likes Picard more than Kirk?  

     It's a cool little book and if you're able to get your hands on one, as I did, via my FanMail subscription box, get one!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

artwork taken from here.        I tried so hard to wait on reading this book, because I knew the follow up, Crooked Kingdom, is coming in a couple of months- but it was next on my list.  I had to do it.  But I'm glad, because when book two releases, I'll be meeting Leigh Bardugo in the flesh too!        So have you read this book? Six of Crows is really a great story.  The sad part about it all is, they're all bad guys!  The dirt steal from the dirty and so on and so on.  Everyone's got a horrible past story and I'm thinking, I'm glad I'm not in this world.  No one's happy and folks are always carefully watched.  The only one who's not come from something horrid in their past is Nina and she's on a mission because something horrid happened to people like her!  Ugh!

     So the story was awesome.  I loved the character storylines and what drives them.  Everyone was introduced and served purpose.  Even the ones that really didn't... :"hint hint- Jesper!"  Always the brutha!  lol  Anyway,  I found the story pretty steady and I didn't get bored one bit.  I mostly listened while jogging in the mornings- a great time to get into stealing, back-stabbing and conspiracy, yeah?  

     I will give no spoilers, but the cliff-hang at the end just leaves me hungry for more.  And I'm thrilled that I got to edit the closing portion of this review post, because the book came in and I held an awesome giveaway with some of the swag I got.  Tonight I will perform my final drawing for the grand prize and someone, out of my 19 winners, will get The Heartless Box.  I can't wait.  If you haven't read Six of Crows- get it now, then purchase Crooked Kingdom- the follow up novel!  I'm on to my next read!  Cheers!

Deadly Messengers by Susan May

                                                                                                                                                                              *Audiobook review    

     It's always nice to open your email and find a free audiobook!  That's what happened when I received Deadly Messengers, by Susan May.    I met May via Goodreads.com and a co-author and book blogger, Mind Xing.  Sadly, I wasn't able to download the book, but later, I was rewarded with the audio recording.  Always nice!

     So the thriller, Deadly Messengers is about a man set on revenge.  Something tragic happened to him, causing him to lose someone he loved.  His only way was to send a message to the world, using people and a powder called the Zombie Drug.  Because of his determination, he used others to carry a message.  One that tore apart families, friendships and everyone's sense of safety and security.  How could the police stop him when the people who were committing the atrocities weren't in any way connected to him?  Would they ever stop him, or would he continue to use strangers to carry out his deadly message...
     I really want to say this book was amazing.  I want to tell you that it was full of surprises and kept me on my toes the entire time.  I can not.  I can say it was an interesting story.  I can say that it was creative and very different, making the tale a psychological thriller.

     Let's do this like so: What I enjoyed about the story was Trip.  He was a good cop, probably the most normal of anyone in the story.  He was likable and smiled a lot.  He carried no luggage and was who he was.  What I did n't like: Everyone carried black baggage!  Kendall, our heroine, was an over-eager child, looking to work a story that was nowhere in her field!  She was manipulative and, in my opinion, should have died like the others.  O'Grady was callous and insensitive, making himself a very waspish guy- how the formation of an odd-sort of love story with the two of them was obtuse.  

     Also, I understand how the story was of a psychological nature- people's heads were being messed with, emotionally and actually!  But as for the thriller portion, I knew who the killer was as soon as they started in on our first actual suspect!  It was given away and I don't quite understand that.  It normally doesn't happen!  I am used to following bread crumbs and sometimes being guided in the wrong direction.  Everything placed me at the killer's front door.  The method of the story was off and it bothered me.  Once I knew for sure who was orchestrating it all, I really didn't want to go further.  I only finished the story because I was walking and I listen to books when I walk!  That's not good.

     Also, there wasn't a lot of description.  I know the author is from Australia, but the story was in the US I believe.  I can't remember, but I I have no clue where they were.  Also, had I not looked up Mark Ruffalo, I wouldn't have had a clue as to what O'Grady even looked like!  I saw Kendall as just another pretty blonde, because not much was stated on her other than her athletic build, blue-grey eyes and golden hair.  I couldn't see these people!  None of them, so I didn't really care.  

     It's sad- I think this could have been so much better.  I like guessing in the "Who dun nit" game, but I don't like when I win from the very start.  Let me guess and re-guess a little.  I wanna doubt myself and even be wrong!  This one didn't do much for me but it was a pleasant read for a while. Next story! 

Agent 1.22, a graphic novel by Angelo Panetta & Tom Dheere

     I have been fortunate enough to come in at ground zero (0) with a comic once in my life.  I blew it back then, but not this go-round!  I don't remember how I came across Agent 1.22, but I am so happy I did.  I see so much potential in this graphic novel, so much originality and hopefully some blood splatter!      Created by Angelo Panetta and Tom Dheere, Agent 1.22, Episode 0 is an introduction at something beautiful.  With crystal clear, HD graphics, Agent 1.22's innocent face and a viral outbreak on an isolated outpost brings this inaugural tale to SciFi Life!   Because it's episode zero, you are told just what you need to know, allowing you to observe her alone.  Her and her mission, of course.

     The details are right in your face, allowing you to take in observations that would normally be lost.  You find appreciation body wear that's metallically alluring, shapely legs and  a set of voluptuous breasts.  Uh... and the virus that may be out of control!  There is a purpose to this- but mostly... yeah- you're supposed to see her.  I'm not trying to sound lewd or anything.  It raised a ton of questions!  Questions that I got to ask in an interview with both Panetta and Dheere!  If you missed out on it- you can check it out.  (Author Interview Series: 2016, 9/20/16).

     If you like graphic novels and comics and want to get in on an amazing story- check out Agent 1.22!  You will read it over and over again, finding something different every time.  On to the next read!

A Big Thank You, from Alyssa, To All Participating Authors!

     I can not even begin to tell each and every one of my participating authors, how grateful I am for their participation in my second annual An Author Interview series!  Through the impromptu locations, audio hang-ups and camera sliding- everyone hung with me through my toughest time yet.  Thankfully it all turned out pretty awesome!  LOL  I can't express how much my heart swelled with excitement and nervousness the entire time.      While conducing homeschool, being a housewife, writing my own novel, reading for reviews, blogging, updating my website for 2017 and editing, Editing, EDITING, I pulled it off!  It was an adventure to remember, but what really helped me through the trials and triumphs was the patience, kindness and the sharing of all the authors I got to work with. This is my BIG THANK YOU!:

Author Untamed           Nicole Campbell          Avril Somerville          Kate Locke          Brian M. Taylor
Beverly Lee                    Rhonda Ryde                Sam Reed                     Jason Werbeloff
Adelise M. Cullens        Angelo Panetta and    Tom Dheere                and Mike Lackey

     All of then were amazing and so cooperative- I can't say thank you enough.  What I will do is let them know that I will always be supportive of all their endeavors, post and repost pics of their work, purchase their products on my book budget and share, share, share!  You were all true inspirations- some of them even wrote out my interviews for me!  LOL  It was so funny and cool!
Cheers!

Alyssa

2016 Author Interview: Untamed, an Author and Publisher

     This is a Powerhouse!  Do you know Author Untamed?  She's a mother, author, publisher and student!  Yes- she does it all... and her novels?  They are amazing!

     I don't normally read urban fiction; I'm one who tends to push aside a vast majority of genre, but only because I love monsters, horror and other supernatural incidents, but her book, King Suites: The Rise of Pooch Smalls (a novella), blew me away!

    What started out as an audio interview later turned into a normal interview, but the information you receive from this interview will let you know You Must Read Her Books from the Never Again... No More series!  Alyssa: Please share about yourself and King's Suite!!
     I am known as Untamed or Author Untamed, and I’m a multi-genre fiction author with books written in urban fiction, erotica and poetry. Currently, I have 7 published novels which are King’s Suite-The Rise of Pooch Smalls, Never Again…No More, Never Again…No More 2-Getting Back to Me, What Goes Around-Never Again…No More 3, Game Over- Never Again…No More the Final Chapter, The View and my poetry book entitled, This Side of Heaven-A Poetic Journey of Strength and Survival.
     Aside from that, I launched my publishing company this year. I am also a full time employee, a full time college student, a volunteer with MADD and a wife and mom. Trust me, the plate is full and the cup runneth over, but I must say I love every bit of it and my family is the best. They are the REAL MVP’s for tolerating my hectic life, and I love them immensely.
     Now that you know a little about me, let’s just dive right into the juicy stuff! King’s Suite is actually the prequel to my four book series, the Never Again…No More series. The kicker with this book is that it was written after the entire series was written and published. King’s Suite is the life story of Pooch Smalls, who is one of the main characters in the Never Again…No More series. He was one of the series most loved and hated characters. Every reader always had so many questions about him because he was so complex. I tend to think it’s because his character was so different from the rest. I had to dig deep to bring his character to life. I received so many questions about Pooch that I took a poll one day to ask if readers would like to read his background story and of course, the answer was yes. So I developed his story from childhood up to the point where the story begins in Never Again…No More.
 
Alyssa:   How did you come up with such a complex story. 
     The Never Again…No More series came about because of my life experience as a teen mother. To be completely honest, I’d already made the decision to become a published author, but was struggling with what story I wanted to release. I had some books lined up and ready to go, but I didn’t know if they were strong enough for a debut. Out of the blue, my daughter’s father contacted me and the conversation turned into a “hash-out” session, so to speak. Immediately following, I knew what I had to write about, which was being a teen mother. That night I actually wrote the first 5 chapters of the first book of Never Again…No More. I developed the story line of 4 young women each who had different perils with being teen mothers and the story is about how they conquer life’s struggles and their love lives all while trying to be good mothers for their children. King’s Suite leads into the Never Again...No More series.

Alyssa:   How did you know you not only wanted to write but become a publisher too!  
     Writing is something that I have had a passion for and done almost all my life. To me, writing is as natural as breathing. It’s something that has always been a part of me, so in essence, that decision was made at birth by the Almighty. Publishing, however, is a different story. I never wanted to be a publisher. However, I was placed in the position where I witnessed a lot of authors being taken advantage of, and I was blessed to learn some key factors about the industry so I began to help some of the indie authors. After that, God literally came to me in my dreams to begin the publishing company…on more than one occasion. So I call the decision to be a publisher…divine intervention, lol.
 
Alyssa:  Was King's Suite easy to write? (I loved your explanation on this too!)
     As far as the story line goes, King’s Suite was fairly easy for me since much of the background story for Pooch was in the series. What was interesting about King’s Suite was more about writing Pooch as a character. Oddly enough, his character is extremely intense, conniving and calculating yet there is a loving and softer side that just tugs at your heart, even when you don’t want it to, because you’re not sure if it’s real or fake. I was even questioning myself at times, lol! His character took me into new dimensions so much so that at times I would literally have to detox myself after writing. I was so into his character that I could find myself adapting his attitude, and I believe that’s what made his character so captivating.
 
Alyssa:  With so many characters and backgrounds, what was your process to keep from becoming confused?
     Every writer has their own way of setting up their book. For me, I have to develop my characters. I have to write out their complete profile: how they look, the way they talk, how they dress, their ages, their features…just a full compilation of the character. That’s how I am able to distinguish between them. I think that’s what’s made my novels successful with readers. The characters are relatable on so many different levels yet each one is distinct. I hate to sound schizophrenic, but the characters truly do take a life of their own in my head.
 
Alyssa:  Tell about your current project and genre branch. 
     My latest release is entitled, The View. It is my very first erotica book. I laugh when I think it over because so many people assumed I wrote erotica because of my pen name. In actuality, my pen name has to do with my freedom of expression through pen and not the genres that I write. The View is a book I wrote based off of a picture. True Story! It is about the perfect marriage and perfect life that goes awry when the perfect stranger enters the picture.
     One thing I loved about this book too is that throughout I give highlights to other indie authors, artists and businesses. I feel that’s a great way to support others. I’m always looking for new and inventive ways to support small business.
 
Alyssa:  Is there a crazy side to "Untamed"? What do you enjoy doing when you aren't in school, writing, working, the whole nine!?  :)
     Untamed outside of writing is actually very tamed. As we both mentioned, I have a lot going on in my daily life, so I really don’t have the freedom to be crazy. Or maybe I just learned to tame the Untamed from her teens/twenties, lol! But I don’t mind being regular any other time. Even regular is a bit crazy for me! However, when I am in Untamed mode that is my time to be Sasha Fierce! I embrace it either way. 

Thank you so much for sharing your time, life, and story babies!  Best of luck to you and all you represent in publishing!  Cheers!

2016 Author Interview Series: Avril Somerville, A Journey Of Life On Purpose.

     I had a tough time getting my emails to this lovely lady, but I got it together.  Avril Somerville is a woman on a mission- in her community, the book community and hopefully the world!  She's a mom, educator and author and educator.  Her book, A Journey Of Life On Purpose is more than a sharing of essays and poetry, it's life.  Trials and victories for the female sex are pressed into the pages of her book and they create inner-strength and confidence.  I'd love to see her speak!

     Please enjoy my small set of questions; an opportunity to get to know this talented author and motivator.  If you can, grab her book- available everywhere! Please share a little about yourself:  I’m a writer, wife, momma of three beautiful souls, friend, sister to many. I was born in the Caribbean in the Commonwealth of Dominica, grew up in Brooklyn and the Bronx, and have lived in the Northeast and Midwest. I enjoy working out and dancing; they both make me feel capable and strong.
 
Alyssa:  When did you know you were destined to not just write a book but to become active. What set you onto this path?
Avril:  I’ve always been a reader!  Family members always seem to recall me with a book in my hand as a child, but I think I was more enamored with words and their inherent power early on. When I came to the United States at ten years old, I took to writing my thoughts in a composition book. Eventually, many of these thoughts became free verse and poetry. Composition books, for me, was where I found solace and quietude, where I was alone with my thoughts without the judgment and public sneer that comes with knowing you're different and displaced somehow. So, I’ve been a writer for quite a while; however, it was not until 2010 that I began to share my writing publicly. At my 40th birthday celebration, I declared to my friends that I would pursue a career as a full-time writer and I haven’t looked back since!
 
     There’s always a story to be written, and even more to be read. I use my Life experiences and encounters as my canvas for writing material that help others navigate emotions and experiences that are transcendent such as struggles with vulnerability, feelings of inadequacy and/or other insecurities, tenuous relationships with our parents, and so on. These “issues,” while transcendent, are largely misunderstood and overly simplified.  Because I believe that we’re more alike than we are different, my goal as a writer is to underscore these commonalities. If I can do this authentically, then there’s a good chance that what I write will resonate with someone needing the same validation.
​ Alyssa:  How long did it take, from start to finish, your first novel?  
​ Avril:   My first book, A Journey Of Life On Purpose, is a memoir of personal essays and poetry, was written over four years. As a woman who had found success in a corporate career with a Fortune 100 company at the time, then later as a classroom teacher, who then chose to stay-at-home to support my husband’s career and raise our children, I questioned my life purpose. What exactly was I put on this earth to do? I mean, really do? Not what paid the bills or what I was trained to do, not what titles or positions I held, but what gave me tremendous passion, what would I do even if I was never paid for it?
 
     As I set out on my journey to find my purpose, I began writing the epiphanies as they were revealed to me. I learned that not only am I a writer, but that I am privileged to be able to document my experiences, when so many cannot, for whatever reason. I came to understand my writing as both gift and responsibility. I learned that I had an empathetic lens on matters that are often politicized, yet are so much more personal and universal than meets the eye—race, identity, the urgency to create, responsibility to our gifts and to community. I shared some of these revealed answers on my blog, Life As An Art; others, I reserved solely for A Journey Of Life On Purpose. My first novel, How Dare You Say Goodbye? has taken me over three years to write. It is currently being edited.   Impressive!
 
Alyssa:  Did you set out writing just to women on purpose, knowing her actions could infiltrate & mold those around her- or was this just for her in particular?
Avril:  I did not. I set out to write to find my own life purpose, to understand myself better, and to find answers to much more intricate questions that cannot be readily satisfied by someone else’s voice or with simplified answers. A Journey Of Life On Purpose, is for anyone who wrestles to extract meaning and personal fulfillment from their everyday living.
 
Alyssa:  As you wrote A Journey Of Life On Purpose, what reactions were you expecting the readers to experience? 
Avril:  Good question. One of my expectations was that the reader become empowered by the knowledge that s/he already has gifts that are worth sharing, not just for his or her personal transformation, but for their respective communities, and ultimately, the world. With specific regards to the selections on race and identity, my hope was that the reader connects with the work viscerally as a person who is also deeply affected by loss, displacement, and exclusion. I felt that if readers could recall the feelings associated with these experiences, then they could possibly also develop an empathetic lens, and ultimately, the personal courage to do something differently.
 
Alyssa:  I saw that you're a speaker as well; what do you walk away with when you leave a conference or meeting?
Avril:  I am! My hopes are always that I have done justice to the gift of being able to connect with others on an intimate level, and that I am authentic in my sharing. My prayer is always that my words are delivered in truth and spirit, that personal agendas are set aside in order to reach the people where they also walk away with new questions and/or discoveries about themselves.
 
Alyssa:  I think I mentioned before that I saw you as a very serious person- but I see your joy on Instagram.  What's the best tv show you've ever seen and did it assist in creating the person you are today?
Avril:  Whatever gave you that impression! If you saw me dance, you would definitely change your tune! I can be a lot of fun, actually.
    I am embarrassed to say that I have no “favorite” TV shows, though this is probably due to hostile takeovers of the TV by my children. What I would like to watch has too much innuendo to watch while my children are home, hence my first answer! When I do watch TV, however, I enjoy something more lighthearted, or even something more contemplative that might challenge my thinking differently. I grow easily irritated and become angered by shows that showcase stereotypical characterizations of people of color and women, or worse yet, shows in which women and/or children are often the subjects of violence, so I tend to limit my TV viewing. Also, I’m generally late to the viewing of any TV series, whether we’re talking about Scandal, Downton Abbey, How to Get Away with Murder, etc. I still haven’t watched a single full episode, let alone a season. I tell myself that I’ll catch up on all of them one day … maybe:)
     I relish independent films. Some of my favorites include The Lunchbox, Wadjda, Dope,  I never grow tired of more well-known movies such as Fried Green Tomatoes, Mother and Child, and  A Beautiful Mind. The human story never grows old! I am quietly looking forward to enjoying Queen Sugar and Greenleaf, both on OWN TV, this fall.
     I’d like to think that all that I see, read, the places I’ve travelled, as well as my day-to-day experiences continue to shape who I am becoming. 

I'm going to be looking at your Instagram for the dancing, Avril!  :)  Thank you so much, Avril and I wish you nothing but the best in your future projects.  Thank you for sharing!
Cheers!

2016 Author Interview Series: Kate Locke's The Immortal Series

     As soon as I saw the new covers to this fun series, I knew I had to have them.  Then when I'd discovered the story was based in an alternate Britain, with a huge chunk of Steam Punk- I definitely had to have them!  Thanks to my reaching out to Kate Locke- I will soon have the chance.  Till then, I've been reading up on her and the series.  

     In today's interview, I got to ask a bit about how she put together such a story and   Check out her what she says!

Author Interview Series:
The Immortal Series-
Alyssa:  What made you decide to become an author?
Kate: "I was 8 years old. My teacher asked us all to write a short story. When we were done, she read them to the class. Everyone laughed and clapped at the end. I remember thinking that I wanted more of that. That was the day I started writing."​ Alyssa: What  Brought about the conception of your steampunk-styled, extreme paranormal world?
Kate: "I wanted to combine things I loved. I love the look and feel of steampunk, but I also love the paranormal and history, so it just seemed the perfect way to combine all my favorites." 

Alyssa:  Has the supernatural genre always been your thing?  What other genres have you written in and which is your fav, if there are more?
Kate: "Supernatural and thriller have been my two favorite genres since I was young. I bounce back and forth between them and historical for publishing. Right now I'm writing contemporary YA  under the name Kady Cross, Thrillers as Kate Kessler, and I am currently working on a supernatural/fantasy story that will either be published as Kady Cross or Kate Locke. I'm not sure which voice it fits better."

Alyssa:  How did you develop Xandra and was any of her personality from You?
Kate: "Xandra's love for her family is all me, but that's about it. She's the kind of person I'd like to hang out with, until she annoyed me too much! lol. She sort of jumped into my head fully formed, which was a real gift. I knew her world, and I knew that her sister would be in peril. It all came from that.

Alyssa:  In The Queen is Dead, how did you go about creating a world where Xandra was now the Goblin Queen?  
Kate: "In a lot of Urban Fantasy stories, the heroine ends up being 'the One', or something very special. I wanted to add a spin to that where the 'special' was actually something monstrous and reviled. The worst thing Xandra could be -- in her world -- is a Goblin. I really wanted to muck up her life and force her to make choices that would eventually lead to her being exactly what -- and who -- she's meant to be." 

Alyssa:  Was it fun writing about an alternate Britain?  Did you go about the city looking for areas or did you already know where the tale was taking place? 
Kate: "I started out writing Historical Romance, so I already knew a fair bit about Victorian London. I did look for areas to include in the story, but most of them were used because I'd found out about them in earlier research. I found out about Down Street Station while watching a documentary about Winston Churchill. And then, of course, I decided to use Churchill, or a twisted version of him, in my story. It really was so much fun to take things and twist them, or try to figure out what they'd be like if we were still stuck in the Victorian era."

Alyssa:  With Long Live the Queen and the other books, you have a lot of action taking place.  How did you go about setting your plots and arcs- was it frustrating or easy?
Kate:  "With the first book it was very easy to see the arc. The hard part was wrapping it all up, and figuring where I wanted Xandra to end up. When I finished the trilogy I thought I was truly done with the world. I had no more ideas of what to do with Xandra. I still don't, but I've been thinking about that world some. I might return to it some day, or maybe switch to another city... Anyway, I never find plotting frustrating. It's just like putting together a big puzzle. It only gets difficult when you try to put pieces in the wrong place! Sometimes the plot you craft is not the right one and you have to rework it, but when you fix the problem, it's so rewarding!"

Alyssa:   When you write, do you see everything playing out as a movie?  Is it easy to write?
Kate: "I do see it play out in my head, yes. Sometimes it plays out in front of me like I'm the character as well, which is really weird when I'm writing from a male perspective! lol. It's not always easy to write because I have to decide how much of what I'm seeing is actually important to the reader. Sometimes I get it right, and sometimes I miss the mark."

Alyssa:   What’s your discipline for writing?  So many words a day?  So many hours?
Kate:  "I'm trying to be more disciplined again. I am a fast writer, so I can get a lot done if I just sit down and do it. I let myself get distracted more than I ought, but I'm working on it! Normally, I work in pages or words. 10-20 pages is what I shoot for once the book gets rolling."

Alyssa:  What’s your next project and will there be more of the supernatural?
Kate:  "Right now I'm revising a Kate Kessler book, and then I'm working on a Kady Cross. I also have that fantasy project I mentioned that takes place in New York City -- but a strange New York (or should I say *stranger*? lol). I don't want to say much about it as it's in the planning stages. I also have an idea about Jack the Ripper and Lizzie Borden that I would like to do, but we'll see. There are only so many hours in the day..."
     Thank you so much, Kate and good luck in all your endeavors!  

2016 Author Interview: Brian M. Taylor, author of 12 Blackened Petals- Gospel of Sam

​My name is Brian Taylor and I’m the author of 12 Blackened Petals. This story is wild ride that is a part of a series. I’ve spent most of my life as an artist, and a fan of comic books and manga. I am also an anime nut. This story has been cooking in my head for probably four years now. It finally got the point where it wouldn’t shut up, so I had to turn it into a series of books.
I have been many things in my lifetime. I have been an artist, athlete, businessman, and now an author. Being a first-time author has been a very scary experience, but a fantastic one. 12 Blackened Petals was definitely a monumental undertaking because it is a story that spans several novels.

How did you come up with such a cool cover?
I’ve been an artist for about 33 years now. I knew that when I was writing this story, I wanted something pretty dynamic on the cover. But I could never figure out exactly what. However, by the end of the story, the writing process that is, I knew I had to start working on something awesome.
So believe it or not I took a picture with my cell phone of a friend of mine (who just so happens to be a world-class freerunner). The image went through several iterations before it evolved into the image that is on the cover now. I self-published through create space, and getting an image that would look good from their printers was kind of tricky. It took a little bit of patience and perseverance but I was finally able to develop a cover that I like.
Quick side note that image has about 50 photoshop layers, and the guy on the front was originally blonde with a man bun. Sam was so angry – tell me how Malice, the demon, caused him to lose himself so quickly.
Sam is a pretty dynamic character because of his upbringing. His childhood is marred with anger, violence and abuse. Having been through that kind of a childhood myself, I know firsthand that it’s easy to lose your temper, and very difficult to get rid of the hate that is built into you from day one. So Sam is constantly fighting a battle with himself to be a good person. He’s the type of guy that is cool and calm most of the time, but, gets caught off-guard by the little things.
Malice is an evil bastard that has hijacked Sam’s anger. Imagine if you had a bad day in traffic, and somebody said,
“Here’s an AK-47 and a rocket launcher. Now get out there and have some fun Tiger! Also you can kill as many people as you want, and not have to pay any penalties. By the way, did we mention that we were giving you a half pound of PCP?”
Malice would be the voice telling you to go have fun, and lay waste to as many people as possible.
Malice is a devilish creature that lives inside Sam, and not only fuels his anger, but his self-doubt as well. I got the idea for Malice from a CNN show. Anderson Cooper wore a pair of headphones all day long in order to experience what a schizophrenic would hear. Imagine having someone constantly in your ear telling you how worthless you are and then when you get mad at them, they pour gasoline on the fire that is your anger. That is what Malice is.
 
Did you start out thinking: I have a story to tell? Or were you already working on a series?
That’s a really good question. The beginnings of the story are a little fuzzy with me. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that wanted to tell stories my entire life. This story in particular, pulls from so many different things in my life. As I’m writing this story I’m seeing pieces of things that I’ve actually experienced, influences from stories that I’ve read, and daydreams that I’ve had while listening to music.
The vast majority of the scenes were designed around the music that I was pumping in my ears at the time. When I sat down to write this story I knew that it was going to take more than one book to tell it. Since the story is driven by very specific events, 12 of them to be exact, I thought it would be a good idea to actually spread this out into a series of novels. Though I had never written a novel before, I’m not the kind of guy that gives up really easily.
So when the story told me that it needed to be done in several novels, I shook my fist and cursed the gods in the sky and said, “Several novels it is."

I am a fan of anime and kung fu theater. Were they huge inspirations for this epic story?
Absolutely. I grew up with a healthy diet of G.I. Joe and X-Men comic books. I’m also a huge fan of action and martial arts. I’m an experienced martial artist myself, as well as a fight choreographer for film and commercials. There have been so many anime over the years that have molded and shaped the way that I see the movies to play in my head. So yeah, I would say there was some influence there.
I distinctly remember when I was a kid, watching Sunday morning kung fu movies that would barely come in on our crappy TV with poor reception. Watching those movies, reading comic books, drawing, and occasionally getting to see some anime, where the only things that really got me through my childhood. So to answer your question, yes, those type of things had very large influences on the story.
Can the city, heck – the world recover from Sam? From malice? Will there be any humanity left, because it seems malice wants to ruin it all.
I can’t go to terribly into detail without spoiling the story, but I will tell you this, the world is never going to be the same. The fury and hell that Malice unleashes at the end of the book are kind of a launchpad for a whole world of shit that happens in book 2. I am a firm believer that humanity has gotten really comfortable with our current state of being. As an author, telling such an epic story, I feel it’s my duty to knock humanity on its ass.
While Malice does play a huge role in the catastrophic events that plague humanity throughout this series, it’s not the role you think it is. Let’s just say in book 2, I hit you with a punch that comes way out of left field. Enough said.

I listen to your audiobook (available via Amazon.com, audible.com, iTunes, and Google play. And just about anywhere else music is sold) the voicing is so frustrated, vile and angry – was that necessary to see Sam or to reflect what he was enduring/to come?
The audiobook was really a challenge for me because I tried to keep pace with the story. When I originally put the story up on ACX (Amazons audiobook self-publishing platform) all the auditions we got were pretty boring. This story however is very tense and dark. It needed narration that matched it. The first few chapters of the audiobook are pretty chill. You only hear Malice once or twice. But as the story accelerated, and the tension was wound tighter, I felt a strong need to make the listener experience that.
The thing I’ve always hated about audiobooks is that it is generally somebody with a boring ass voice, in a silent sound both. I make it through the first couple of chapters and then I wake up somewhere around chapter 8 saying, “Shit!!! What did I miss?"
So with this book I really wanted to make the listener feel the tension, and the angst that Sam was experiencing. Then I decided to jack it up another level by adding the soundtrack and the sound effects. This put the audiobook on a whole other playing field, and really made it a listening experience. So if you’re reading this interview, I’d definitely recommend checking out the audiobook, as well as, the physical copy. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

What were you like in high school? Were you the jock, nerd, dork or nobody? If you could run into value from before what would you tell yourself in preparation of becoming an author?
High school was a pretty shitty experience for me. I had the self-esteem of a dog that was beat every day. I was constantly ridiculed by my parents at home, as well as, everyone I went to school with. You gotta remember, I went to high school in a little redneck town in Alabama. I was definitely a nobody that desperately wanted to be somebody. By the end of my short high school career, I was spending four periods a day in the art room. It was really the only place in school that I felt comfortable. I failed every class except for art and physical education.
I’ve always had a very strong sense of what is morally right and morally wrong, and that affects my interaction with situations. Everything about the high school I went to was morally wrong. The people I went to school with pretty much sucked, except for a few and they know who they are. My home life sucked at the same time, therefore my interaction with school was short-lived. I dropped out at 16.
I don’t advise that for anybody reading this article that is in high school. That was just my life at the time, and the outside circumstances left me no other option but to drop out.
Stay in school kids.
As far as what I would tell myself about being an author… That’s tricky.
I’ve spent my whole life looking for my Dharma, my purpose. And I wasn’t able to find it when I was young. I needed to go through all the experiences that I went through, in order to become who I am now. I’ve always been a storyteller, but I wasn’t good at telling stories, until I lived a few of my own. Considering I was complete fuck up for a vast majority of my life, I think I would only have one thing to say to myself.
“Get your shit together and stop being such a fuck wad!!! You are destined for great things Brian Taylor and you are more powerful than you can imagine!!!"
Then I would kick myself dead square in the nuts, and throw in a punch to the teeth just to get my point across.
 
Closing statement
Regardless of what you believe or don’t believe, no one is here by accident. The fact that we are tiny specks of life built from Stardust, should prove that point. I’ve experienced many things in my life, some good, some bad, some horrific. Throughout all of my crazy experiences, I’ve started to notice a common theme. Life gives you exactly what you need to become the person you are supposed to be. All you have to do is listen.
To those that read this: You are powerful beyond measure. The universe speaks through you. If you want to know what you’re supposed to do with your life, just shut up and listen.
And if no one ever said this to you, let me be the first. “I Love You. Now go be the best you that you can be.”
Brian, you rock!