Harmony Kent's Blog, page 70

A little about blog tours

An interesting post on blogging from C S Boyack over on Story Empire today >>>

As most of you know, we just finished up our Story Empire – Something Wicked, blog tour. This was a massive effort on our part, and many of you came along for the ride. Whether you followed i…

Source: A little about blog tours

#Book Review: Viral Blues by Craig Boyack @virgilante, and Finding Hunter by Marcia Meara @MarciaMeara

Hello everyone. Today, I’d like to share two book reviews with you, both from indie writers whoom I respect. The first book is by my friend and fellow Story Empire writer, Criag Boyack, and features many old-favourites character-wise. The second work is from Marcia Meara, and is the second book in her Riverbend Series. I greatly enjoyed both books. From here, I’ll let my reviews and the book descriptions tell you all you need to know >>>

Viral Blues

[image error]Someone knows about the hat. The creature from another dimension that helps Lizzie fight against the creatures of darkness.

They are summoned to a cryptic meeting with a secret society, where they meet other people with enhanced skills. It turns out someone, or something, has been tampering with the world’s vaccine supply. The goal doesn’t appear to be political or financial, but biblical pestilence.

Can this group of loners come together in time to make a difference when even the proper authorities are obstacles?

Check out Viral Blues, for your dose of paranormal adventure, with a strong sample of dark humor. And in recent superhero style, don’t miss the secret last chapter after the back material.

 

 

 

 

My Review:

[image error]

 

 

I greatly enjoyed reading The Hat, and the two main characters from that book feature largely in this one. As do lots of old favourites from C S Boyack’s fiction. As ever, I loved the humour that the author injects into his writing, and this book kept me highly entertained.

A few technical issues in the writing interrupted the flow sometimes, mostly around using the word ‘sat’ when what is called for is ‘set’, and then the complete lack of using ‘had’ when it is desperately needed to put the sentence into the proper time frame for when things are happening or have happened. A lot of times, I found myself having to re-read something to get the sense of it because the author had omitted ‘had’, which changed the whole perception of the thing.

Other than those hiccups, this was a fantastic read with a great plot and storyline, as well as brilliantly written characters that never fail to amuse and entertain. As the book description promises, you get a good dose of paranormal adventure, with a strong sample of hilarious dark humour. I’ll be eagerly awaiting more books from this author. Viral Blues gets a solid 4 stars from me.

 

Finding Hunter (Book 2: Riverbend Series)

 

Before, I never[image error] thought about taking a life. Not once.

Now, the thought fills my mind day and night, and

I wonder how I’ll hide that terrible need,

As an old car swings to the shoulder,

And stops.

~ Traveling Man ~

Hunter Painter’s darkest fears have shaped his offbeat personality since he was a child, crippling him in ways invisible to those unable to see past his quiet exterior. In a sleepy Florida town known for its eccentric inhabitants, he’s always been a mystery to most.

Only one person sees beyond Hunter’s quirky facade. Willow Greene, the new age herbalist who owns the local candle and potpourri shop, has secretly loved him since they were in high school. When, sixteen years later, she discovers Hunter has loved her just as long, Willow hopes her dreams are finally coming true.

Soon, Willow learns that Hunter fears happiness at her side isn’t in the cards for him. With her natural optimism and courage, she almost convinces him he’s wrong—that they can really have that life together they both long for—but even Willow can’t stop what Hunter knows is coming.

One by one, his worst nightmares become reality, culminating in an unthinkable tragedy, which devastates everyone it touches. Willow’s battle begins in earnest as Hunter is plunged into a bleak, guilt-ridden despair, threatening to destroy not only their love, but Hunter, himself.

Finding Hunter is the story of a lost man’s desperate struggle to make his way home again, and one woman’s unshakeable faith in him and the power of their love.

My Review:

[image error]

 

 

 

 

 

After thoroughly enjoing book one in The Riverbend Series, I went on to read book 2, Finding Hunter. While there isn’t a serial killer or any other type of outside threat to the happy couple in this story, there is most certainly a threat, and one all the more perfidious because it’s an internal threat, and a triple whammy to boot: depression, lack of self esteem, and PTSD.

The author writes fantastic character-driven fiction, and this read brought tears at times because I got that involved. I particularly liked the poems that opened each chapter, and for a while told one of the character’s stories in his absence.

As ever, this writer delivers strong characters, great fiction, and a compelling setting in Florida. I will be reading book 3 in this series just as soon as I can. Finding Hunter gets a resounding 5 stars from me.

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

 

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

 

#SomethingWickedTour @StaciTroilo @StoryEmpire

[image error]

Hello everyone. Today is the fifth and final day of the Story Empire Team’s Something Wicked Blog Tour. I hope you’ve all enjoyed following us for the week and seeing what we have to offer.

Today, it gives me great pleasure to host author Staci Troilo, who talks about book 1 in The Astral Conspiracy Series, The Gate.

Writing in a Shared World

Thanks for welcoming me here today, Harmony.

[image error]

Ciao, amici! Yesterday in the Story Empire Something Wicked tour, I discussed macro- and micro-level details to use when developing a story world.

For me, the next logical progression is to talk about existing story worlds, and how to write in them.

Let me explain.

Most of the time when we write, we create everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. Not just the plot and the characters, but the world in which everything happens. Each decision—from the overarching theme to the most minute detail—is ours and ours alone. It can be a bit daunting, especially to a beginning writer, but we get used to it. In fact, much of it becomes second nature and we lose sight of the mechanics behind the scenes. We become blind to both the power of world creation and the responsibility of it. We just do it. (And, hopefully, do it well.)

 

 

 

 

[image error]

But there is actually another way to write. One that takes away a lot of the decisions that need to be made, freeing the author to focus solely on plot and character.

That’s writing in a shared world.

Perhaps you’ve heard of author Richard A. Knaak. No? You may have heard of the Diablo books or the Dragonlance Chronicles. I’m sure you’ve heard of World of Warcraft. I heard Knaak speak at a conference in 2012, and it was my first introduction to shared worlds. He said he got his start not by writing a novel in a world he conceived of, but by writing a novel in a world that already existed. He advocated beginning writers try that path if they couldn’t break into publishing otherwise, saying once writers have some titles under their belts, they will find it easier to get a publisher interested in their original works.

It’s actually the path I chose. My first published novel was written in a shared world.

There are pros and cons to doing this.

Pros:

The world already exists, so there’s a built-in fanbase.
Many of the details have already been established, so you have far fewer decisions to make.

Cons:

The fans are likely more knowledgeable of the world than you, so mistakes will be noticeable (and likely pointed out in a very public and emphatic way).
Many of the details have already been established, so you can’t do whatever you want and have to stick with established canon.

My Astral Conspiracy series takes place in a shared universe. I already know what the aliens look like, how they behave, what their agenda is, and what is going to happen on the grand scale. It was nice having these decisions taken off my shoulders. But there were also times when I really wanted to do something but I couldn’t because an alternative was already established.

The Invasion Universe is rich with lore and characters and settings—far richer than a standalone novel (or even a series) could ever be on its own. It’s been a challenge to create the story I wanted to tell within pre-established constructs, but it was challenging in a fun way. It’s forcing me to flex different writing muscles, which I always enjoy in a project. If you’re interested in seeing how I merged my stories into the existing universe, I invite you to check out all the offerings in the series, and my opening novel, The Gate.

[image error]

He lost his job. Lost his girl. Now it’s all he can do not to lose his life.

Landon Thorne is a disgraced archaeologist, a laughing stock in his field because of his unconventional beliefs – he’s an ancient astronaut theorist. No one takes him seriously.

Until an alien armada targets Earth.

Now Landon’s in high demand – by the US government and someone far more sinister.

They race across two continents to the Gate of the Gods, the one place on Earth that might give humans an advantage over the aliens. But no one is prepared for what they’ll find.

And not everyone will make it out alive.

The Gate is the first of five novels in the Astral Conspiracy Series, part of Sterling and Stone’s Invasion Universe.

Universal Purchase Link

About the Author:

Suspense, Passion…Fiction That Flutters The Heart

Genres:
Romance, Suspense, Paranormal, Mystery, and Mainstream

Quirky fact I don’t want anyone to know:
The socks in my sock drawer and some books on my shelf are arranged in rainbow order.

Bio:
I grew up knowing family is paramount. I was blessed to spend time with extended family daily, not just on holidays or weekends. Because of those close-knit familial bonds, every day was full of love and laughter, food and fun.

Life has taken me a thousand miles away from that extended family, but those ties remain. And so do the traditions, which I now share with my husband, son, and daughter… even my two dogs. And through my fiction, I share those traditions and the importance of relationships with you. Mystery or suspense, romance or mainstream—in my stories, family is paramount.

To learn more about me, visit me at http://stacitroilo.com or connect with me on social media.

Relevant Links:
Blog | Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads | Newsletter
Twitter | Facebook | FB Group | Pinterest | Google + | LinkedIn

[image error]

Here are the rest of the tour stops for you:

Craig is hosting Joan, who is talking about Fatal Attractions.
Joan is hosting Harmony, who is talking about her book, Finding Katie.
Mae is hosting Craig, who sent Lisa Burton to reveal an excerpt from Viral Blues and share one of her posters.
P.H. is hosting Mae, who is talking about Curses.
Staci is hosting P.H., who is talking about dwarves and dressing up.

#SomethingWickedTour @JoanHallWrites @StoryEmpire

[image error]

Hello everyone. Welcome to the fourth day of the Story Empire Author’s Something Wicked Tour. Today, it gives me great pleasure to welcome my fellow author and friend Joan Hall. Get ready for Something Wicked >>>

Hello, everyone. I’m delighted to be with you on this stop of Story Empire’s Something Wicked Tour. Harmony, thank you for hosting me. Today, I’m going to talk about the danger of keeping deadly secrets.

Imagine you are a sixteen-year-old living with your over-bearing father who is supposed to be an upstanding member of the community.

Kyle Lawrence is a minor character in Unseen Motives the first of the Driscoll Lake Series. As a teenager, he witnesses something that leads him to believe his father might be a murderer. At the least, he knows something about a recent killing and the disappearance of another prominent community member.

But Kyle said nothing. He knew his father wasn’t perfect, but Curtis Lawrence was the only parent Kyle had, having been abandoned by his mother years earlier. He remained silent for twenty years. After all, keeping the secret won’t hurt anyone. Or would it?

For years, Stephanie Harris believed her father was a killer.
Rachel Jackson was left without a mother and blamed Robert Harris for the murder.
Christine Starnes, who later became Kyle’s wife, was estranged from her best friend.
Kyle’s obsession with the crime affected his marriage.
A burgeoning teenage romance was destroyed. Both parties later married. One marriage ended in divorce, the other with the untimely death of a spouse.
Kyle’s daughter later had trust issues and became rebellious after it was revealed he kept secrets.
A killer went unpunished for two decades.
And perhaps the worst, the secret lead to another death.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” ~ Sir Walter Scott

Kyle’s secret is an overlapping arch throughout the series. Although the truth is discovered in the Unseen Motives, you’ll see how it affected different characters in Unknown Reasons and Unclear Purposes.

 

Curious? Click here to learn more about each book.

Unseen Motives Purchase Link

Unknown Reasons Purchase Link

Unclear Purposes Purchase Link

Connect with Joan:

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub

Here are the rest of the tour stops for you:

Craig is hosting Mae, who is talking about the Hopkinsville Goblins.
Joan is hosting Craig, who sent the fabulous Lisa Burton to talk about music.
Mae is hosting P.H., who is talking about another chilling encounter with the Bane.
P.H. is hosting Staci, who is talking about creating a story world.
Staci is hosting Harmony, who is talking about her dystopian planet, Exxon 1.

#SomethingWickedTour @MaeClair1 @StoryEmpire

[image error]

Hello everyone. Welcome to the third day of the Story Empire Author’s Something Wicked Tour. Today, it gives me great pleasure to welcome my fellow author and friend Mae Clair. Get ready for Something Wicked >>>

 

The Spooky House Thanks for hosting me today, Harmony! It’s fun to be here with your readers kicking off my third stop of Story Empire’s Something Wicked Blog Tour. October is a fun time that brings plenty of shivers and goosebumps as we draw closer to Halloween. Today, I want to wind back the clock to the spooky house in my neighborhood. Almost every community or town had one.   When I was six, the spooky house was tucked on an urban, tree-lined street, two doors down from where my family lived. A brooding three-story structure of gray stone with a sprawling covered front porch, white columns, and side bump-outs, it oozed mystery. The adults might have been oblivious, but all the neighborhood kids knew it was haunted. No one actually lived there. It had been converted for business offices with a huge rear parking lot butting against an alley. The lot was sectioned off with lengths of heavy chain strung between squat cement pilings. We’d see people come and go, swallowed up inside, but there were never many cars in the lot. Naturally, we were suspicious. My friends and I were convinced a coven of witches met there. If you ventured too close to the sides where the shadows were thickest, you’d be sucked up into a coffin hidden beneath the eaves. No one would know what happened because an evil twin—capable of fooling everyone—would take your place. (Hmm…I wonder if this is how my love of weaving stories first bloomed?) The house had a resident ghost who lived on the second floor. We knew this because a trio of beautiful stained-glass windows framed the south-facing room, an ideal spot for a ghost to languish. Our phantom was female, a melancholy soul who’d been separated from her true love and imprisoned by the witches because they were jealous. She spent her time listening to an old-fashioned music box while weeping and looking romantically tragic in a flowing white dress. (It’s amazing what six-year-olds can envision when inspired by Dark Shadows and Quentin Collins!) Once, when we were swinging on the metal chains in the parking lot—kids do dumb things when adults aren’t around­—one of the neighborhood boys fell and cracked his head on the asphalt. It was a traumatic experience with a lot of screaming, crying, and blood splatter. I remember following the trail of blood down the alley and across a connecting street to his house a day later. The evidence stayed there a long time before the rain washed away the grisly reminder. Although Chester recovered, we were sure the witches had caused his fall, angry that we’d discovered their secrets. I don’t think he ever swung on the chains again. I’m not sure I did either. Not long after that, my family moved to the suburbs where I made new friends and found a new house to invent stories about. Why is it that old homes twine so effortlessly with the paranormal? In my Halloween-themed romantic suspense novel, Myth and Magic, I chose an old lodge in a secluded location for the setting. The house­­—once the site of an infamous murder in an earlier century—has long since been converted to a corporate retreat. No cell phones, laptops, internet, newspapers or television, just plenty of seclusion. It’s a place for business executives to “de-stress” and rejuvenate. But as Halloween approaches, strange occurrences plague the lodge and its guests—disembodied lights in the trees, damaged food stores, a ghostly woman in white (sound familiar?) ominous messages. When the local police are unable to make any headway, a private investigator is hired. But Caith Breckbill has reasons for not wanting to return to Coldcreek, Pennsylvania, much less with his nine-year-old son. Sometimes real life is more frightening than the supernatural, and Caith’s memories of the town where he grew up are filled with monsters far deadlier than any phantom. If you enjoy spooky old houses, mystery, romance, and strong family dynamics, I’d like to recommend Myth and Magic. Halloween reading never goes out of style. BLURB: AS CHILDREN THEY PLAYED GAMES OF MYTH AND MAGIC… Veronica Kent fell in love with Caith Breckwood when they were children. As a teenager, she was certain he was the man she was destined to marry. But a traumatic event from Caith’s past led him to fear a future together. He left Veronica, hoping to save her from a terrible fate. Twelve years later, Caith, now a P.I., is hired to investigate bizarre incidents at the secluded retreat Veronica manages. Returning to his hometown, Caith is forced to face his nightmares—and his feelings for the woman he’s always loved. THEN ONE DAY THE MONSTERS BECAME REAL. After the callous way Caith broke her heart, Veronica isn’t thrilled to see him again. But strange occurrences have taken a dangerous toll on business at Stone Willow Lodge. Forced to work together, Veronica discovers it isn’t ghostly apparitions that frighten her, but her passion for a man she has never forgotten. Or forgiven. Can two people with a tarnished past unearth a magical future? UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK Connect with Mae Clair at BOOKBUB and the following haunts: Amazon | BookBub | Newsletter Sign-Up Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | All Social Media

Here are the rest of the tour stops for you:

Craig is hosting Staci, who is talking about alien technology.
Joan is hosting P.H., who is talking about The Banshee Curse.
Mae is hosting Harmony, who is talking about people coming back from the dead.
P.H. is hosting Joan, who is talking about Stalkers.
Staci is hosting Craig, who is talking about his main character(s).

#SomethingWickedTour @ph_solomon @StoryEmpire

[image error] Hello everyone. Today is the second day of the Story Empire Team’s Something Wicked Blog Tour. I hope you will all enjoy following us for the week and seeing what we have to offer.

Today, it gives me great pleasure to host author P H Solomon, who talks about The Bow of Heart Saga. Take it away, P H >>>

Thanks to Harmony for hosting me today. It’s been a lot of fun so far on the Something Wicked Book Tour with the rest of the authors at Story Empire. Please make sure to share this post and visit the other stops this week and share those too.

The Bow of Hart Saga contains several frightening and disturbing moments. A number of those include the Bane, a creature conjured by the wizard Corgren under the leadership of Magdronu. The purpose of the Bane is to instigate a reaction with some actions and then serve as an implacable minion as Magdronu’s plans reform about events. [image error]The Bane is a shadowy figure from the start and creates a dark presence, one which seemingly feeds off of light and life. Corgren is even unsettled by the Bane and it’s lifeless aura. But this creature is not some sort of undead existence, a reanimation of something once alive. Instead, the Bane is empty, devoid of life and feeds on the world around it. No wonder it creeps out Corgren, let alone others who come in contact with it. It’s also a good thing that Magdronu ultimately controls the Bane since it could, conceivably, consume much in the world. Purpose driven by the dragon’s control is what fuels the Bane and constrains it. If Magdronu wanted more, then more would be done. But the dragon has other goals than destruction, instead thirsting for control of everything. Here’s when the Bane is first conjured in The Bow of Destiny: The wizard returned to the table and twisted the lamp-wick to a weak flame. Corgren raised his hands and spoke the incantation that brought him pain. The rosy water swirled in the gloom as lurid light glimmered from the bowl. It flared brighter and cast the cellar in a crimson glow. Pressure throbbed in Corgren’s ears and eyes as the horned head of his master formed in the rippling water, growing clearer each moment. “Ah, Corgren.” His master’s rattling growl grated on the wizard’s ears, slicing through his mind with searing pain. “Magdronu, my master.” Corgren gasped his respectful reply as his face trembled with the effort. His master’s pain was his own. “You have set the trap?” “It has been done.” “Good. Use this spell and conjure the Bane. Command it to kill anyone in the house. Do not wait; weeks have passed since our last…visit.” “But what about that ranger?” “Plans have changed. He is far away and had received the inheritance. We strike now. This will lure him back.” “I – understand.” “Here are the words.” The spell’s words rolled into Corgren’s mind. The wizard’s eyelids fluttered. Magdronu’s sending concluded. “You have the others ready?” “Yes, I have set all the plans in motion.” A pleased growl rumbled through Corgren’s skull. “I will have my ascendancy over Eloch and shed this cursed dragon’s form.” “Your rule will come with true freedom.” “I must speak to the priests in Rok. I need more tributes’ blood to hold back this curse.” A roar, and fire erupted from the dragon’s maw floating in the bloody bowl. “Eloch will pay for his false judgment. This impermanent form slips from me too soon. I must have enough sacrifice even if the mountains must run with blood if I am to defeat my enemy with my deception.” The communication spell snapped, and Corgren staggered from the painful recoil as his master departed. Relief. He gasped and swayed. Still shaking, Corgren removed one coin, adorned with deer antlers, from the bowl. Before the words faded, he spoke them, raising the blood token. The wizard repeated the words with growing effort, his voice strained as the magic taxed his strength. Darkness billowed into the room and crowded the scant light back onto its source. A brooding presence coalesced in the corner, growing more corporeal by the moment. He must speak firmly or it would consume him. Corgren groaned until he sensed magic restraint snap into place. The Bane reared in the corner, hooded and cloaked in gloom. The wizard faced the swirling shade. “Go, find the cursed knife. Kill all in the house when you find it. Leave the knife behind.” For a moment the Bane lingered, then it melted into the wall. Corgren exhaled and grabbed the desk as his knees buckled. Every threat to his master’s cause ended this night. They had won, though the world didn’t know it. “It’s all for you, Lucinda – and Lord Magdronu, the righteous.” As you can read, this is a scary figure making a sudden appearance which unnerves the dauntless Corgren. Additionally, at this point in the books, the Bane is a mysterious and menacing figure already, a creature capable of danger and totally obedient to the will of Corgren – if the wizard can control it with his will.  

[image error] About The Bow of Destiny:

Haunted by his past. Hunted in the present. Uncertain what is real. Athson suffered hallucinations ever since he was orphaned, including a dog no one else sees. The will in his possession, bestowed in a dream, can’t be real. But the trolls now hunting him are. A destiny, both inconvenient and unavoidable, drags Athson into an unwanted quest that challenges all his assumptions. Can he trust anyone? Sworn to secrecy by his dead father about the bow, Athson wants nothing to do with it. A dragon and a wizard want the bow – and Athson dead. Running from the quest and his destiny are tempting options. Then he finds something unexpected. Will his discovery destroy him before he recovers the bow?     [image error]    

Find The Bow of Destiny on Amazon in e-book, audio and print.

Also in this series: An Arrow Against the Wind

The White Arrow  

 

[image error]

About the Author

P. H. Solomon loves reading and writing fantasy of all kinds, especially epic fantasy. If a book has dragons, elves, dwarves, wizards, magic or mythical creatures, it’s in his reading zone. He lives in the greater Birmingham, AL area where he strongly dislikes yard work and sanding the deck rail. However, he performs these duties to maintain a nice home for his loved ones as well as the family’s German Shepherds. In his spare time, P. H. rides herd as a Computer Whisperer on large computers called servers (harmonica not required). Additionally, he enjoys reading, running, most sports and fantasy football. Having a degree in Anthropology, he also has a wide array of more “serious” interests in addition to working regularly to hone his writing. His first novel, The Bow of Destiny was named 2016 Book of the Year by Fantasia Reviews and is the first book of The Bow of Hart Saga. The sequel novel, An Arrow Against the Wind, was released in April of 2017. The third book of the series, The White Arrow, was released during October of 2017. P. H. Solomon also authored the award-winning short story, The Black Bag, which won best published short story at SCWC 2012. P. H. is also a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

Thanks for stopping by today. Please take time to share this post. Whether you’ve read The Bow of Hart Saga or not, please leave you reactions to this scene and the book.

Here are the rest of today’s tour stops for you:

Craig is hosting Harmony, who is talking about what happens when your damaged ship lands on a lonely planet and the natives are not friendly.
Joan is hosting Staci, who is talking about the Gate of the Gods.
Mae is hosting Joan, who is talking about Playing With Fire.
P.H. is hosting Craig, who is talking about issues he faced bringing diverse characters from different genres together in Viral Blues.
Staci is hosting Mae, who is talking about Home Circles and Ouija Boards.

#SomethingWickedTour @Virgilante @StoryEmpire

[image error]

Hello everyone! Today is the first day of the Story Empire Team’s Something Wicked Blog Tour. It gives me great pleasure to host author Craig Boyack today, who tells us all about his latest book in The Hat series, Viral Blues.

Take it away, Craig …

Hi gang. Craig here on today’s leg of the Something Wicked blog tour from your Story Empire crowd. Harmony is stopping by P.H. Solomon’s blog today, so make sure and visit her, too.

My Halloween push this year is called “Viral Blues.” This is a sequel for “The Hat,” which I pushed last year at this time. Don’t panic though, because there is no prerequisite reading here. “The Hat” is a series, but not the kind where you have to read them in order.

[image error]

This series is all about dark humor, which posed something of a problem. I included some characters I’ve previously written in this book. They all have their own unique style, and I needed to be true to that, too. Some of them weren’t particularly humorous people, so it became a balancing act.

Some of the characters are a bit snarky. That didn’t have to change. I have one character that seems to have humorous things happen to her. That seemed to work. I spread some of that idea to another character, but didn’t push it very hard.

Then there is the one character who tends to laugh at dumb things. Things that might be creepy or bloody. He’s the kind who will watch dumb accident videos on YouTube. His bits worked very well. He appreciates the Wile E. Coyote kind of humor and isn’t afraid to express that.

For the more serious ones, I let this kind of thing go on around them. Added a few eye rolls, and left them true to character.

Overall, I think it worked out pretty well. There are monsters and gore in this tale. Phantoms, undead, and a dangerous real world situation are the backbone, but then you get a bit of whistling in the graveyard to go along with it.

Readers will be the ultimate jury here, but I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out.

How do you like your Halloween reading? Are you more hack & slash, or is there room for a laugh or two along the way? Are you more Ash Williams or Jason Voorhees? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Blurb:

Someone knows about the hat. The creature from another dimension that helps Lizzie fight against the creatures of darkness.

They are summoned to a cryptic meeting with a secret society, where they meet other people with enhanced skills. It turns out someone, or something, has been tampering with the world’s vaccine supply. The goal doesn’t appear to be political or financial, but biblical pestilence.

Can this group of loners come together in time to make a difference when even the proper authorities are obstacles?

Check out Viral Blues, for your dose of paranormal adventure, with a strong sample of dark humor. And in recent superhero style, don’t miss the secret last chapter after the back material.

If you’re interested in taking a look look at Viral Blues, click HERE:

 

About the Author:

Craig came to fiction writing later in life than most authors. He always had to write, to one degree or another as part of various jobs. Early one winter morning, he conquered the Internet and didn’t feel like shoveling the sidewalk until the sun came up. He tried a few pages of fiction and got hooked.

Craig doesn’t like limitations and calls himself a writer of speculative fiction. It’s a broad field, but he limits himself to science fiction, paranormal, and a bit of fantasy.

He has eight published works—six novels and two collections of short stories.

You can find him at the following locations:

Amazon Author Page | His blog: Entertaining Stories
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

[image error]

Here are the rest of today’s tour stops for you:

Craig is hosting P.H., who is sharing an excerpt about Corgren’s disguise from The Bow of Destiny.
Joan is hosting Mae, who is talking about Red Eyes and Winged Beasts.
Mae is hosting Staci, who is talking about the Great Serpent Mound.
P.H. is hosting Harmony, who is talking about her latest book, Creative Solutions for the Modern Writer, which shows us how we can use Tarot for character and plot development.
Staci is hosting Joan, who is talking about The Root of All Evil.

How Do You Write What You Can’t Know?

I didn’t post this on Wednesday because I had a hospital procedure. And yesterday ended up being a hell of a day, lol… so here’s my Story Empire post for you if you haven’t seen it yet. Some useful information in here on publishing on Amazon >>>

Hello SErs. Harmony here. Today, I have a question for you >>> How do you write what you can’t know? Or, more to the point, how do you write it convincingly? My current WIP is set ab…

Source: How Do You Write What You Can’t Know?

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – TheGlade by Harmony Kent

Marcia Meara shares an old but hilarious book review for The Glade over at her place today … check it out for a few giggles >>>

 

So happy to get back into the swing of things with a wonderful–and wonderfully funny–review of Harmony Kent’s apparently very scary book, The Glade. This is the kind of review mos…

Source: #ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – TheGlade by Harmony Kent

#Book Review: Daddy has Cancer Verwayne Greenhoe and A Soldier’s Children Jan Sikes

Hello everyone. Today, I’d like to share two book reviews with you, both from indie writers whoom I respect. One book is about dealing with a terminal cancer diagnosis, and while fictionalised, is inspired by the author’s experience from working in that field. The second book is pure fiction, but the characters are so well drawn, I felt so angry at the mother while caring deeply about the girls. So, from here, I’ll let my reviews and the book descriptions tell you all you need to know >>>

Daddy has Cancer by Verwayne Greenhoe

[image error]Written with the idea that too many families, especially children, are losing loved ones without a clue of what is happening and why, the author explains in a story form of what happens when ten-year-old Mason is told that his Daddy has a highly advanced lung cancer that will bring about his death in less than a week.

While not a children’s story, it might help the adults in a child’s life to understand how to talk with a child in the same circumstance as Mason.

 

My Review:

[image error]

 

 

This is a short but heavy book, and one that needs to be read for anyone dealing with cancer themselves or if they have a loved one who has cancer.

The author has aimed the narrative at both the adults and any children involved, and to that end, sometimes the writing seems a little too simplistic for my perception. However, that said, I know that in times of great stress and/or grief, often simpler is better, so at those times, I can see this approach as being beneficial. The text has a few errors here and there (for example,the Kirkpatricks keep becoming Kilpratric and then swapping back and forth), but otherwise it’s a clean read.

Sometimes, I felt too removed from the characters, and I think this is because it is told from distant 3rd person point of view, which allows us to see and hear how each family member feels and responds. Also, I’m relieved at this touch of distance, as this would have been an incredibly harrowing read otherwise. Even with this gap between the reader and the characters, the narrative brought tears to my eyes at times.

Though the American care system seems vastly different to that in the UK, I feel this book is useful regardless, as it helps show how to handle the difficulties of a terminal cancer diagnosis with calm and compassion, whether that be with fellow adults or with children.

This is a brave book to write. It gets 4 stars from me.

 

A Soldier’s Children by Jan Sikes

[image error]At the tender age of fourteen, Jennifer shoulders the full responsibility of running a household and caring for her seven-year-old sister. It’s bad enough that their father is lost at war in Afghanistan, but troubles multiply when their so-called mother abandons them for another man. Hardships and struggles are constant companions. Family is whatever Jennifer can make it. That’s the way the cards have been dealt, and that’s the way she’ll play them.

This strong young girl meets every obstacle head-on, while never losing hope for a better tomorrow.

 

My Review:

[image error]

 

 

 

 

 

A Soldier’s Children is a short but riveting read. If I could get hold of the absent mother, I’m not sure what I would do with her. The main character is the big sister, trying to keep her and her sister out of trouble, and fed and housed, after her mother ran off with some bloke six months ago. I connected with her immediately and cared what happened to all the characters. The ending was well rounded, and all the story threads (except for the mother) were tied off. This short read gets a solid 5 stars from me, and I shall be reading more from this author.

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

 

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.