Jack Rollins's Blog, page 12
September 10, 2014
Review of Devil's Day, by Kyle Scott
Devil's Day by Kyle M. ScottMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Devil's Day tells the story of an American town suffering terribly at the hands of dark forces who have come to collect on an debt owed by the ancestors of the town's citizens.
Devil's Day is filled with realistic, well-drawn characters. My sympathies lay with the town's Sheriff, Mike Somerville, who has to face up to a threat he can not fully comprehend, attempting to save the townspeople while also desperate to help his own family stay safe.
The story's strength comes from its unpredictability, you don't know who is going to fall victim to the unstoppable evil, or what will be left of those who survive. There are lots of nerve-shattering scenes as the citizens of Blackhaven try to flee or hideout as the terror rolls over their town and these scenes disturb particularly when juxtaposed against the accurate portrayals of family life, lovingly sketched out only paragraphs before.
And then there's the carnage. Kyle Scott revels in the destruction wrought by not only his terrifying creatures of darkness, but by some pretty evil humans, too. You will be horrified, you will be on the edge of your seat and you will definitely keep turning the pages to see what happens next, rubbernecking as hapless victims are dismantled across the page before you.
For fans of slasher books and movies, creature features or those with a hankering for a throwback to the horror of the 80's, Devil's Day will clamp its claws around you and never let you go.
This was one of those stories that every now and then while reading it I had to come up for air, I was so drawn in. That is testament to the strength of Kyle Scott's accessible writing style, his great characters and a gripping story.
Go read it now. I dare you.
View all my reviews
August 24, 2014
The Seance
I've had a busy, exciting month. I hope you have too.
Friday saw the successful close of my Kickstarter campaign to launch (initially) the e-book of The Seance. Having hit the original target and added a stretch goal to it, I am pleased to be releasing a paperback version, too!
I will of course post updates here, but the Kickstarter was only the beginning, there is all the pre-release activity to attend to now.
Do keep checking in with me. I hope to be posting much more on this soon.
Friday saw the successful close of my Kickstarter campaign to launch (initially) the e-book of The Seance. Having hit the original target and added a stretch goal to it, I am pleased to be releasing a paperback version, too!
I will of course post updates here, but the Kickstarter was only the beginning, there is all the pre-release activity to attend to now.
Do keep checking in with me. I hope to be posting much more on this soon.
July 31, 2014
Time to catch up
The crowdfunding project has taken up a lot of time lately, mostly because my OCD makes me keep checking the i-phone to see if any new backers have appeared!
But I'm not the only one who is busy out there:
Stuart Keane posted on Facebook the other day a monumental list of projects he has coming off in the near future. I'm proud to be mentioned as a collaborator among them. I was shocked at how prolific he is, given the short space of time he has been on the go (if I remember correctly he's only been writing since February I think it was). Puts me to shame - Dr Blessing's Curse was released in 2011!
Kyle M. Scott has this week released his first full novel Devil's Day which I picked up straight away and can't wait to get going on!
David Basnett sent me an early draft of his next project. Connected to his YA De Omori series, this is a straight adult horror story and I'm about halfway through it. It's going to be a belter when released. I don't generally go for YA fiction, but really enjoyed his 3 De Omori/Eve Evans stories, especially the 3rd one as the characters grew up and became more badass, but this one definitely pulls no punches.
So once I get David's story read, but before I get on to Kyle's (my pretend-OCD means I have to read 'em as they came in) I get to take a little step back in time and across the Atlantic for A Return to Normalcy by C.A. McGroarty, which I am looking forward to immensely - it looks right up my Victorian psychopath street.
And sometime in between I have to deal with family, finances and finishing frightening fiction.
Where does one find the time?
But I'm not the only one who is busy out there:
Stuart Keane posted on Facebook the other day a monumental list of projects he has coming off in the near future. I'm proud to be mentioned as a collaborator among them. I was shocked at how prolific he is, given the short space of time he has been on the go (if I remember correctly he's only been writing since February I think it was). Puts me to shame - Dr Blessing's Curse was released in 2011!
Kyle M. Scott has this week released his first full novel Devil's Day which I picked up straight away and can't wait to get going on!
David Basnett sent me an early draft of his next project. Connected to his YA De Omori series, this is a straight adult horror story and I'm about halfway through it. It's going to be a belter when released. I don't generally go for YA fiction, but really enjoyed his 3 De Omori/Eve Evans stories, especially the 3rd one as the characters grew up and became more badass, but this one definitely pulls no punches.
So once I get David's story read, but before I get on to Kyle's (my pretend-OCD means I have to read 'em as they came in) I get to take a little step back in time and across the Atlantic for A Return to Normalcy by C.A. McGroarty, which I am looking forward to immensely - it looks right up my Victorian psychopath street.
And sometime in between I have to deal with family, finances and finishing frightening fiction.
Where does one find the time?
Stretch Goal: Let's launch a paperback!
I am pleased to announce that 'The Seance' kickstarter campaign has been a success and with 22 days still to run, it's only natural that a stretch goal goes in.
Now we're aiming to raise £350.00 and from this, to launch the novella as a paperback as well as the originally planned e-book.
What a great response I've had to this campaign, where only 12 backers have funded the £200 goal between them, with so much time still on the clock.
Many people liked the 'buy into a character idea' and many like that the future projects link back to the Dr Blessing series, which will return next year.
The biggest selling point, however has been the basic premise - you don't have to pledge loads to get something. You are essentially pre-ordering the novella for £2, helping me to put together a marketing budget for my back catalogue.
There's still time to get involved; this is a unique opportunity to make a great little horror story into something big and personal for you. How many paperbacks do you have on your shelf with your name in the special thanks section?
Now we're aiming to raise £350.00 and from this, to launch the novella as a paperback as well as the originally planned e-book.
What a great response I've had to this campaign, where only 12 backers have funded the £200 goal between them, with so much time still on the clock.
Many people liked the 'buy into a character idea' and many like that the future projects link back to the Dr Blessing series, which will return next year.
The biggest selling point, however has been the basic premise - you don't have to pledge loads to get something. You are essentially pre-ordering the novella for £2, helping me to put together a marketing budget for my back catalogue.
There's still time to get involved; this is a unique opportunity to make a great little horror story into something big and personal for you. How many paperbacks do you have on your shelf with your name in the special thanks section?
July 30, 2014
Help Kickstart my new horror E-book
I decided a little while ago, that I wanted to do something a little different with the launch of "The Seance". I have created a Kickstarter campaign so that across 31 days, backers could read a sample of the story, and order a pre-release copy of the story in the .mobi, .epub or pdf format. Although backers have the option to pledge only £1 to support the project, a pledge of only £2 will land you a copy of the story.
My hope is that these pre-release copies will generate (hopefully very positive!) reviews for when the story is released officially on Amazon, and that those reviews will appear on Goodreads, Shelfari and Booklikes. The funds raised will go towards paying for advertisements on Facebook and Goodreads, as well as print-on-demand copies of my previous work which I will send to bloggers and put up as competition prizes.
I have offered a range of rewards to my backers, including e-book copies of my back catalogue and several opportunities to have their name appear in some of my future releases (related to my popular Dr Blessing series).
These character-based rewards have been hugely popular and have contributed to the vast majority of the 69% of target achieved.
Anyone else interested, you are welcome to come and pledge using the link in this blog. What could bring your closer to a story, than being one of the people who helps to launch it?
Kickstarter link: http://kck.st/1pclEKR
My hope is that these pre-release copies will generate (hopefully very positive!) reviews for when the story is released officially on Amazon, and that those reviews will appear on Goodreads, Shelfari and Booklikes. The funds raised will go towards paying for advertisements on Facebook and Goodreads, as well as print-on-demand copies of my previous work which I will send to bloggers and put up as competition prizes.
I have offered a range of rewards to my backers, including e-book copies of my back catalogue and several opportunities to have their name appear in some of my future releases (related to my popular Dr Blessing series).
These character-based rewards have been hugely popular and have contributed to the vast majority of the 69% of target achieved.
Anyone else interested, you are welcome to come and pledge using the link in this blog. What could bring your closer to a story, than being one of the people who helps to launch it?
Kickstarter link: http://kck.st/1pclEKR
July 23, 2014
My Character Blog Tour by Jack Rollins
A short time ago I was approached by fellow author Stuart Keane, to take part in the Character Blog Tour. Before I jump into the insights into a new character of mine, here is a bit of information about Stuart:
Stuart Keane fell in love with the written word at aged 7, when he discovered his first Richard Laymon novel, Flesh. Since then, his horror education has formed and crafted, and after several years, he became a published author in 2014, with his novella, The Customer Is Always…
Stuart's first feature length novel, All or Nothing, is due for release in 2014. The book is currently being read by a potential publisher. He also has several short stories included in several horror anthologies in 2014 including Terror Train, Dead Harvest – A Collection of Dark Tales, Axes of Evil II and Journals of Horror: Found Fiction. He is currently working on several future novels including The Vector Series.
Stuart’s links: Website/Blog, Facebook, Twitter
Now that you know all about Stuart, it is time for me to introduce you to someone else I’ve been getting to know over the last few months. I should say, for those new to this blog tour, that each author taking part is asked 7 questions about a character they have been working on. I have several projects in motion at present, but one of them, The Séance, is due for release in the coming weeks so I thought I’d let you get to know the main character a little better.
1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?
Albert Kench is a fictional character and the lead in The Séance.
2) When and where is the story set?
The story is set in London in the 1870s, a time when Spiritualism clashed with new medicine, technology and science. There were those who wanted to believe in spirits and life after death, those who wanted to show them evidence that they were right to believe (for a price), and those who wanted to prove that mediums were charlatans and fraudsters by revealing their tricks to the world.
3) What should we know about him/her?
Albert is a man of science, a man of rational thought, who has lived his childhood under a tyrannical father only to have his eyes opened when he joined his uncle in Australia. In the colonies, he has seen the march of progress trample the culture of the indigenous population and, although this had given him some moral concerns, he has become certain that there is no room for religion anymore. Having learned a few lessons in survival on his voyages, he has returned to London to investigate the physical and mental collapse of a sister he left behind.
4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?
Albert feels a terrible guilt over his sister’s condition, having left her behind those years ago, and is driven to investigate her downfall. He learns that his sister attended a séance with friends and that events on that day defy everything he has come to expect from the physical world.
5) What is the personal goal of the character?
Spurred on by this guilt, Albert wants answers, wants revenge and wants to prove that there is no otherworldly evil out there, just the evil of man.
6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
The Séance is complete and being prepared for launch later this year. Details will follow very soon through my Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook pages, so I do hope you will join me for the build up to the release. In the coming weeks I will be revealing how you can get involved, not only in obtaining a pre-release copy of The Séance, but how you might be able to become even more involved in a future project of mine…
7) When can we expect the book to be published?
I am hoping for end of Summer, early Autumn, but like I say, come and join me (links below) so that you can follow the build up and get involved.
Jack Rollins can be reached on Twitter Facebook and Goodreads
Check out the teaser trailer for The Séance
Now it’s time for me to nominate the authors who will follow on from me. You can expect to see their blogs, hopefully in around a week from now.
My first nominee is my old partner in crime, David Basnett another writer from the North of England. David’s excellent De Omori stories revolve around an organisation of vampire hunters and a trilogy of stories aimed at adults and young adults (which I am privileged to be reading pre-release) is about to be followed by a brutal, adults-only addition to the canon. I strongly advise you get up to speed with David’s work, and those familiar with my own, might just see where his world and mine collide.
David's Website
My second nominee is a more recent acquaintance of mine, Kyle M. Scott. Prolific blogger, politically charged (I might need a passport by the time I get to go have a pint with him) and a thoroughly nice chap, this Glaswegian’s horror collection Consumed: Volume 1 is a stunning set of 4 nerve-shattering stories, and also features the added bonus of a preview of his forthcoming full-length novel, Devil’s Day. I highly recommend his work; wipe away the gore and see the utterly scathing social commentary and tar-black humour beneath.
Kyle's Blog
Which brings me to my third nomination, C. A. McGroarty. I have been drawn into McGroarty’s “Harley Basil Chronicles” and can’t wait to really get into this series as he prepares the next instalment. A man after my own heart in terms of his fascination with dark Victorian adventure, his series promises to be an epic, globe-trotting spectacle of insanity, murder and mayhem.
C.A.McGroarty's Website
Over to you, gentlemen!
Stuart Keane fell in love with the written word at aged 7, when he discovered his first Richard Laymon novel, Flesh. Since then, his horror education has formed and crafted, and after several years, he became a published author in 2014, with his novella, The Customer Is Always…
Stuart's first feature length novel, All or Nothing, is due for release in 2014. The book is currently being read by a potential publisher. He also has several short stories included in several horror anthologies in 2014 including Terror Train, Dead Harvest – A Collection of Dark Tales, Axes of Evil II and Journals of Horror: Found Fiction. He is currently working on several future novels including The Vector Series.
Stuart’s links: Website/Blog, Facebook, Twitter
Now that you know all about Stuart, it is time for me to introduce you to someone else I’ve been getting to know over the last few months. I should say, for those new to this blog tour, that each author taking part is asked 7 questions about a character they have been working on. I have several projects in motion at present, but one of them, The Séance, is due for release in the coming weeks so I thought I’d let you get to know the main character a little better.
1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?
Albert Kench is a fictional character and the lead in The Séance.
2) When and where is the story set?
The story is set in London in the 1870s, a time when Spiritualism clashed with new medicine, technology and science. There were those who wanted to believe in spirits and life after death, those who wanted to show them evidence that they were right to believe (for a price), and those who wanted to prove that mediums were charlatans and fraudsters by revealing their tricks to the world.
3) What should we know about him/her?
Albert is a man of science, a man of rational thought, who has lived his childhood under a tyrannical father only to have his eyes opened when he joined his uncle in Australia. In the colonies, he has seen the march of progress trample the culture of the indigenous population and, although this had given him some moral concerns, he has become certain that there is no room for religion anymore. Having learned a few lessons in survival on his voyages, he has returned to London to investigate the physical and mental collapse of a sister he left behind.
4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?
Albert feels a terrible guilt over his sister’s condition, having left her behind those years ago, and is driven to investigate her downfall. He learns that his sister attended a séance with friends and that events on that day defy everything he has come to expect from the physical world.
5) What is the personal goal of the character?
Spurred on by this guilt, Albert wants answers, wants revenge and wants to prove that there is no otherworldly evil out there, just the evil of man.
6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
The Séance is complete and being prepared for launch later this year. Details will follow very soon through my Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook pages, so I do hope you will join me for the build up to the release. In the coming weeks I will be revealing how you can get involved, not only in obtaining a pre-release copy of The Séance, but how you might be able to become even more involved in a future project of mine…
7) When can we expect the book to be published?
I am hoping for end of Summer, early Autumn, but like I say, come and join me (links below) so that you can follow the build up and get involved.
Jack Rollins can be reached on Twitter Facebook and Goodreads
Check out the teaser trailer for The Séance
Now it’s time for me to nominate the authors who will follow on from me. You can expect to see their blogs, hopefully in around a week from now.
My first nominee is my old partner in crime, David Basnett another writer from the North of England. David’s excellent De Omori stories revolve around an organisation of vampire hunters and a trilogy of stories aimed at adults and young adults (which I am privileged to be reading pre-release) is about to be followed by a brutal, adults-only addition to the canon. I strongly advise you get up to speed with David’s work, and those familiar with my own, might just see where his world and mine collide.
David's Website
My second nominee is a more recent acquaintance of mine, Kyle M. Scott. Prolific blogger, politically charged (I might need a passport by the time I get to go have a pint with him) and a thoroughly nice chap, this Glaswegian’s horror collection Consumed: Volume 1 is a stunning set of 4 nerve-shattering stories, and also features the added bonus of a preview of his forthcoming full-length novel, Devil’s Day. I highly recommend his work; wipe away the gore and see the utterly scathing social commentary and tar-black humour beneath.
Kyle's Blog
Which brings me to my third nomination, C. A. McGroarty. I have been drawn into McGroarty’s “Harley Basil Chronicles” and can’t wait to really get into this series as he prepares the next instalment. A man after my own heart in terms of his fascination with dark Victorian adventure, his series promises to be an epic, globe-trotting spectacle of insanity, murder and mayhem.
C.A.McGroarty's Website
Over to you, gentlemen!
July 8, 2014
Dr Blessing's Curse featured on Cult Of Me
It's an exciting day for me, as a sample of Dr. Blessing's Curse, or, The Baby In the Bell Jar has been featured on blog page The Cult of Me. Check it out and leave a comment to show your support. Have a trawl over the blog while you're there - you might discover some new favourites!
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/
This on the back of a great weekend giveaway of this title, which saw 4 new 5 star ratings and/reviews pop up on Amazon and Goodreads.
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/
This on the back of a great weekend giveaway of this title, which saw 4 new 5 star ratings and/reviews pop up on Amazon and Goodreads.
July 2, 2014
Last night
So last night I met up with my old pal and fellow horror writer David Basnett. By now, those of you who have at least read as far as Dr Blessing's Rapture will have picked up on the presence of an organisation called De Omori, and those who read the copyright info will know that this was created by David.
Our latest meeting was long overdue and we wasted no time, Quick little chat about how the kids are doing, then down to business.
I am pleased to say that David and I thrashed out some ideas which will help me to ensure that one of my works in progress will sit solidly and properly as both a continuation of the Dr Blessing series, and as a De Omori story in its own right.
Ok, it's all a long way from completion, and I'll want David's seal of approval at every step of the way, but this story, when it is ready is going to be one of the most ambitious projects I have ever written.
David had also told me about his work in progress, a long-gestating, adult fiction sequel to the Eve Evans De Omori trilogy. I was fortunate enough to learn of some of David's plans for this next story and excited to find the first draft in my inbox this morning!
A very productive evening and I do hope we'll be doing this more often.
Our latest meeting was long overdue and we wasted no time, Quick little chat about how the kids are doing, then down to business.
I am pleased to say that David and I thrashed out some ideas which will help me to ensure that one of my works in progress will sit solidly and properly as both a continuation of the Dr Blessing series, and as a De Omori story in its own right.
Ok, it's all a long way from completion, and I'll want David's seal of approval at every step of the way, but this story, when it is ready is going to be one of the most ambitious projects I have ever written.
David had also told me about his work in progress, a long-gestating, adult fiction sequel to the Eve Evans De Omori trilogy. I was fortunate enough to learn of some of David's plans for this next story and excited to find the first draft in my inbox this morning!
A very productive evening and I do hope we'll be doing this more often.
June 30, 2014
Writing Blog Hop
I have been asked to take part in my first Writing Blog Hop. For those who don’t know, this is a bit like a relay between authors, where each writer answers a set of questions, then signposts to other author blogs. They do the same and on it goes.
The author who tagged me is Stuart Keane, writer of “The Cusomer is Always…” and “All or Nothing” (which is currently being eyed for mainstream publication). You can find out more about Stuart and his work at his website http://www.stuartkeane.com or on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Now on to my bit.
1. What Am I Working On?
Several projects at once, in fact. The closest to release is a novella called The Séance which I aim to make available as an e-book this summer. The story is set in Victorian London, but is separate from the Dr Blessing series. Simultaneously, I am working on 2 stories connected to Dr Blessing. I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t read the first 3 parts, but I’ll give away a couple of hints: London between the Rapture and Christmas… And we have to go right to the beginning before we can get to the end…
2. How Does My Work Differ From Other’s In Its Genre?
The Dr Blessing stories are based in the horror genre, but, particularly with Dr Blessing’s Rapture (the second part of the series) I wanted to play with things a bit and add more of a sense of Victorian adventure, or thriller, along with some traditional horror aspects.
As the series has a blood-drinking monster at its core, it would be too easy to peddle out just another vampire story, but even vampire fiction has changed over the years. I have avoided the erotic, romantic, “vampires can live among us and be our boyfriends” stuff, by sticking to a simple principle: the creature in my stories is a malevolent, heartless being who will (literally) chew up anyone in its way. No romance. No sparkling in the sunlight. The creature is evil and out for survival by any means.
I think the creepy, gas-lit, foggy London setting helps to take the reader away from the familiar, and takes horror back to basics. Beyond that, I try not to simply throw gore at my readers, although there is naturally some bloodshed; I try to serve something more disturbing, something lingering, something that will make you wonder about it later and hopefully, something you will read again and find all of the little set-ups and connections that were there all along…
3. Why Do I Write What I Do?
I wouldn't say that I will always write horror; I follow specific ideas as they come. I think, for example, I have at least one contemporary thriller and three westerns in me, if I turn my attention to them. If a good sci-fi idea occurred to me, I would follow it up, but there is not a strong desire in me to concoct a sci-fi story. I have steam-punk niggling away in the back of my mind as something I might try one day.
My current and recent works stem from my fascination with Victorian life and there is something classic about horror stories set in that time that really gets my imagination going. I have a contemporary story/series that has been gestating for a long time and while I think of it as horror, it could be considered a supernatural thriller, urban fantasy or dark fantasy. Essentially I write what I believe and hope will be a good, entertaining story no matter what the genre. It’s difficult to explain… I just get an idea, follow it and build upon it, and it just sort of… writes itself.
4. How Does My Writing Process Work?
It all depends on the project. I have consciously tried to work in different ways over time. For example, there are stories I have written straight through from start to finish with very little planning, and there are others I have planned meticulously, act by act, chapter by chapter. Some parts of the story I will type directly, and other parts are notes, then handwritten sections, and then these join the typed material when ready. There are times that I have focussed on set-pieces first and then connected the dots and there are whole projects that have ground to a halt as I tried to find the time to get some research done… Then comes the re-reading and rewriting and the tuning up. I try to leave each draft for about a month if I can and around draft 3 or 4, I have to let go of the story and prep it for launch.
Well, that concludes the questions, and so I have to hand over to my nominated author (I hope he's still up for doing this!). Beneath my nomination I have have posted some additional info, including some promo information for those who are yet to get into the Dr Blessing series and who might like to give it a try as well as all the other ways to get involved.
My nominated authors are:
Terry M. West and David Basnett.
Terry is a well known and prolific author, filmmaker, actor and artist. He has written several books in the young adult field (most notably the graphic novel series, Confessions of a Teenage Vampire) and he has also written several horror short stories as well as the horror/thriller novel, Dreg.
Terry's Blog, Confessions of a Darkly Disturbed Ink Slinger is here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
David is another horror writer based in Northumberland, like myself. He has written a young adult horror trilogy: Eve Of The Damned, Island Of The Dead and The Shadow Of Life, based on the young members of a vampire hunting organisation known as De Omori. David also happens to be a friend of mine, and some eagle-eyes readers have spotted that although his stories and mine are separated by over 100 years, they are connected.
David's website is here: http://www.david-basnett.com/
Over to you, gents.
Additional Shoutout
Another horror writer, nominated by Stuart Keane, has put up his blog hop entry too, check out Kyle Scott and his work here: http://thehorrorhotel.blogspot.co.uk/...
More info on Jack Rollins:
The first part of the Dr Blessing series, “Dr Blessing’s Curse, Or, The Baby In The Bell-Jar” will be free for download as an e-book from Amazon from 4th July 2014 to 6th July 2014.
Alternatively all 3 parts are available in one volume, “The Cabinet of Dr Blessing” as an e-book on Amazon, and as a paperback.
There are lots of ways to get in touch and get involved – many of my readers and supporters already do, receiving updates and info on upcoming projects, links to other writers, promos, etc.
I would like you to enjoy my work, and if you do like it, please leave a review telling others about it.
The next best thing is for Facebook users to Like my page: https://www.facebook.com/doctorblessing where I post up to date info on all of my work.
Those who use Twitter, I would like you to follow me @jackrollins9280, and if you drop me a message saying you read the blog, I’ll know you are a real person and I’ll even follow you back!
The author who tagged me is Stuart Keane, writer of “The Cusomer is Always…” and “All or Nothing” (which is currently being eyed for mainstream publication). You can find out more about Stuart and his work at his website http://www.stuartkeane.com or on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Now on to my bit.
1. What Am I Working On?
Several projects at once, in fact. The closest to release is a novella called The Séance which I aim to make available as an e-book this summer. The story is set in Victorian London, but is separate from the Dr Blessing series. Simultaneously, I am working on 2 stories connected to Dr Blessing. I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t read the first 3 parts, but I’ll give away a couple of hints: London between the Rapture and Christmas… And we have to go right to the beginning before we can get to the end…
2. How Does My Work Differ From Other’s In Its Genre?
The Dr Blessing stories are based in the horror genre, but, particularly with Dr Blessing’s Rapture (the second part of the series) I wanted to play with things a bit and add more of a sense of Victorian adventure, or thriller, along with some traditional horror aspects.
As the series has a blood-drinking monster at its core, it would be too easy to peddle out just another vampire story, but even vampire fiction has changed over the years. I have avoided the erotic, romantic, “vampires can live among us and be our boyfriends” stuff, by sticking to a simple principle: the creature in my stories is a malevolent, heartless being who will (literally) chew up anyone in its way. No romance. No sparkling in the sunlight. The creature is evil and out for survival by any means.
I think the creepy, gas-lit, foggy London setting helps to take the reader away from the familiar, and takes horror back to basics. Beyond that, I try not to simply throw gore at my readers, although there is naturally some bloodshed; I try to serve something more disturbing, something lingering, something that will make you wonder about it later and hopefully, something you will read again and find all of the little set-ups and connections that were there all along…
3. Why Do I Write What I Do?
I wouldn't say that I will always write horror; I follow specific ideas as they come. I think, for example, I have at least one contemporary thriller and three westerns in me, if I turn my attention to them. If a good sci-fi idea occurred to me, I would follow it up, but there is not a strong desire in me to concoct a sci-fi story. I have steam-punk niggling away in the back of my mind as something I might try one day.
My current and recent works stem from my fascination with Victorian life and there is something classic about horror stories set in that time that really gets my imagination going. I have a contemporary story/series that has been gestating for a long time and while I think of it as horror, it could be considered a supernatural thriller, urban fantasy or dark fantasy. Essentially I write what I believe and hope will be a good, entertaining story no matter what the genre. It’s difficult to explain… I just get an idea, follow it and build upon it, and it just sort of… writes itself.
4. How Does My Writing Process Work?
It all depends on the project. I have consciously tried to work in different ways over time. For example, there are stories I have written straight through from start to finish with very little planning, and there are others I have planned meticulously, act by act, chapter by chapter. Some parts of the story I will type directly, and other parts are notes, then handwritten sections, and then these join the typed material when ready. There are times that I have focussed on set-pieces first and then connected the dots and there are whole projects that have ground to a halt as I tried to find the time to get some research done… Then comes the re-reading and rewriting and the tuning up. I try to leave each draft for about a month if I can and around draft 3 or 4, I have to let go of the story and prep it for launch.
Well, that concludes the questions, and so I have to hand over to my nominated author (I hope he's still up for doing this!). Beneath my nomination I have have posted some additional info, including some promo information for those who are yet to get into the Dr Blessing series and who might like to give it a try as well as all the other ways to get involved.
My nominated authors are:
Terry M. West and David Basnett.
Terry is a well known and prolific author, filmmaker, actor and artist. He has written several books in the young adult field (most notably the graphic novel series, Confessions of a Teenage Vampire) and he has also written several horror short stories as well as the horror/thriller novel, Dreg.
Terry's Blog, Confessions of a Darkly Disturbed Ink Slinger is here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
David is another horror writer based in Northumberland, like myself. He has written a young adult horror trilogy: Eve Of The Damned, Island Of The Dead and The Shadow Of Life, based on the young members of a vampire hunting organisation known as De Omori. David also happens to be a friend of mine, and some eagle-eyes readers have spotted that although his stories and mine are separated by over 100 years, they are connected.
David's website is here: http://www.david-basnett.com/
Over to you, gents.
Additional Shoutout
Another horror writer, nominated by Stuart Keane, has put up his blog hop entry too, check out Kyle Scott and his work here: http://thehorrorhotel.blogspot.co.uk/...
More info on Jack Rollins:
The first part of the Dr Blessing series, “Dr Blessing’s Curse, Or, The Baby In The Bell-Jar” will be free for download as an e-book from Amazon from 4th July 2014 to 6th July 2014.
Alternatively all 3 parts are available in one volume, “The Cabinet of Dr Blessing” as an e-book on Amazon, and as a paperback.
There are lots of ways to get in touch and get involved – many of my readers and supporters already do, receiving updates and info on upcoming projects, links to other writers, promos, etc.
I would like you to enjoy my work, and if you do like it, please leave a review telling others about it.
The next best thing is for Facebook users to Like my page: https://www.facebook.com/doctorblessing where I post up to date info on all of my work.
Those who use Twitter, I would like you to follow me @jackrollins9280, and if you drop me a message saying you read the blog, I’ll know you are a real person and I’ll even follow you back!
June 26, 2014
Out of the Shadows
This was an entry from my Booklikes blog and the nominations are out of date so I've left them off, I thought it would be a good opportunity to start my Goodreads blog.
I chose this one for 2 reasons:
1. it's about the networking that was started for me right here on Goodreads.
2. Embedded into the nominations event I built the blog around, is a little sample of one of my future releases (for those who have read the 3 Dr Blessing titles currently available, the story takes place between Blessing's Rapture, and A Christmas Blessing).
Here goes...
Being an independent author is a lonely business. The difficulty I have always found has been in wanting to promote my work, but at the same time wanting to protect it. I avoided adding authors on Facebook and Twitter like the plague.
One day, about 6 weeks ago, that all changed. A simple inquiry post on Goodreads led to a slew of responses from indie authors and bloggers who all wanted to help me. Then I realised, for the most part, we are not each other's competition. Indie authors are an industry all of our own. If one of us can convince a reader to take a chance on something not published by the mainstream publishing system, then all indie authors can benefit.
My facebook page, www.facebook.com/doctorblessing grew to almost double its following overnight, and in the coming weeks a sample of The Cabinet of Dr Blessing is going to feature alongside a Q&A on a blog.
Today I received an invitation to the writer's version of the necknominations fad, and I thought I would share it here:
I was tagged by Stuart Keane to take part in this:
Go to page. 7 or 77 of your current WIP.
Go to line 7.
Post on your wall the next 7 sentences or 7 lines- as they are!
Tag 7 people to do the same.
I have chosen one of several works in progress, with the working title De Omori: Dark Chapter (note I am awaiting permission from David Basnett the creator of De Omori, to run with this story). 7 sentences from page 7 as follows:
One of the labourers called, “You couldn’t take us all. A bunch of toffs and a leper!”
Some of the labourers protested against their fellow, others cheered his courage and began producing clubs, knives and razors.
The gangmaster screamed for the men to restrain themselves. “You don’t know what you’re doing!”
“No? I know what we’re all being paid is worth less than one of those silver balls there! And I reckon if these toffs aren’t going to give us our fair share, we should take whatever we think is fair!”
Now I need to nominate 7 people: Rog Archer, David Basnett, Terry M. West,Bruce J. Walker Jr., Angela Crawford, Michael Brookes, MD Rita
And if that little snippet got any interest from you, come and join me on facebook at that link above, and/or on Twitter where I tend to comment on films and TV shows I like etc, too: @jackrollins9280
It makes being an indie author a much less lonely thing to be...
I chose this one for 2 reasons:
1. it's about the networking that was started for me right here on Goodreads.
2. Embedded into the nominations event I built the blog around, is a little sample of one of my future releases (for those who have read the 3 Dr Blessing titles currently available, the story takes place between Blessing's Rapture, and A Christmas Blessing).
Here goes...
Being an independent author is a lonely business. The difficulty I have always found has been in wanting to promote my work, but at the same time wanting to protect it. I avoided adding authors on Facebook and Twitter like the plague.
One day, about 6 weeks ago, that all changed. A simple inquiry post on Goodreads led to a slew of responses from indie authors and bloggers who all wanted to help me. Then I realised, for the most part, we are not each other's competition. Indie authors are an industry all of our own. If one of us can convince a reader to take a chance on something not published by the mainstream publishing system, then all indie authors can benefit.
My facebook page, www.facebook.com/doctorblessing grew to almost double its following overnight, and in the coming weeks a sample of The Cabinet of Dr Blessing is going to feature alongside a Q&A on a blog.
Today I received an invitation to the writer's version of the necknominations fad, and I thought I would share it here:
I was tagged by Stuart Keane to take part in this:
Go to page. 7 or 77 of your current WIP.
Go to line 7.
Post on your wall the next 7 sentences or 7 lines- as they are!
Tag 7 people to do the same.
I have chosen one of several works in progress, with the working title De Omori: Dark Chapter (note I am awaiting permission from David Basnett the creator of De Omori, to run with this story). 7 sentences from page 7 as follows:
One of the labourers called, “You couldn’t take us all. A bunch of toffs and a leper!”
Some of the labourers protested against their fellow, others cheered his courage and began producing clubs, knives and razors.
The gangmaster screamed for the men to restrain themselves. “You don’t know what you’re doing!”
“No? I know what we’re all being paid is worth less than one of those silver balls there! And I reckon if these toffs aren’t going to give us our fair share, we should take whatever we think is fair!”
Now I need to nominate 7 people: Rog Archer, David Basnett, Terry M. West,Bruce J. Walker Jr., Angela Crawford, Michael Brookes, MD Rita
And if that little snippet got any interest from you, come and join me on facebook at that link above, and/or on Twitter where I tend to comment on films and TV shows I like etc, too: @jackrollins9280
It makes being an indie author a much less lonely thing to be...
