Michael Noe's Blog, page 20
October 19, 2015
Hexad
Hexad - Andrew Lennon & Matt Hickman 5/5 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015URXLXK?keywords=Hexad&qid=1445318305&ref_=sr_1_3&s=digital-text&sr=1-3
Sometimes you pick up a title that features a couple of new authors and you begin to see a pattern emerge. One writer is actually better than the other and after awhile you notice that the other writer is carrying the entire book on his shoulders. Ever have that experience? It's not pretty and if anything you wonder how these two people got together in the first place. Was it an idea that they both had and figured fuck it; Let's do a book together! It would be almost as painful as having sex with Rosie O'Donnell. It's a moment you immediately regret and wish you could take back. The book game has changed a lot over the last few years and anyone with a keyboard can self publish a damn book. Widens the landscape for a whole lot of shit sandwiches.
I'm here to tell you that with Hexad you have nothing to worry about. This is by far one of my favorite horror novels and as I read it I began to see why these two work so well together. There's a nice balance to this book and each story has something for everyone. You like weird and gross there's a story for that, you like stories about a guy that will do anything to protect his family? We got that too. What we have are two guys trying to make a name for themselves and what a fine way to announce your arrival. When you talk about new horror and what types of authors are going to take it to the next level I place them both in my top five.
They have a style all their own and while Hexad may be a short read, it packs one helluva punch. These are a stories that cover a wide spectrum of horror and they both have talent. I kept waiting for one of them to deliver a bad story but that just didn't happen. Each story is well written and shows that these guys will write about anything and nothing is off limits This is a collection of horror stories that cater to the horror fan. Unapologetic and a lot of fun to read. This right here is exactly why I'm a horror fan and once you read this you'll thank me.
Sometimes you pick up a title that features a couple of new authors and you begin to see a pattern emerge. One writer is actually better than the other and after awhile you notice that the other writer is carrying the entire book on his shoulders. Ever have that experience? It's not pretty and if anything you wonder how these two people got together in the first place. Was it an idea that they both had and figured fuck it; Let's do a book together! It would be almost as painful as having sex with Rosie O'Donnell. It's a moment you immediately regret and wish you could take back. The book game has changed a lot over the last few years and anyone with a keyboard can self publish a damn book. Widens the landscape for a whole lot of shit sandwiches.
I'm here to tell you that with Hexad you have nothing to worry about. This is by far one of my favorite horror novels and as I read it I began to see why these two work so well together. There's a nice balance to this book and each story has something for everyone. You like weird and gross there's a story for that, you like stories about a guy that will do anything to protect his family? We got that too. What we have are two guys trying to make a name for themselves and what a fine way to announce your arrival. When you talk about new horror and what types of authors are going to take it to the next level I place them both in my top five.
They have a style all their own and while Hexad may be a short read, it packs one helluva punch. These are a stories that cover a wide spectrum of horror and they both have talent. I kept waiting for one of them to deliver a bad story but that just didn't happen. Each story is well written and shows that these guys will write about anything and nothing is off limits This is a collection of horror stories that cater to the horror fan. Unapologetic and a lot of fun to read. This right here is exactly why I'm a horror fan and once you read this you'll thank me.
October 18, 2015
Dee Snider - Shut Up And Give Me The ...
Dee Snider - Shut Up And Give Me The Mic - Dee Snider 5/5
Let's go ahead and get the disclaimer out of the way. This will no doubt contain a lot of foul language because this is the memoir of the legendary Dee mother fucking Snider of the one and only Twisted fuckin' Sister. While Kiss may have been my first foray into heavy metal it was without a doubt the boys in Twisted that blew the doors wide open and showed me just how awesome heavy metal was and could be. I was probably eleven when I was at Kenny Kessler's house and he pulled out this tape of a band that I had never heard of. The label of the tape itself was in German (at the time I had no idea that there were such a thing as imports!), and the music was heavy as fuck and no other band at the time looked like these guys. Talk about groundbreaking!
I headed to Big Lots to get my own copy of this amazing record which I paid roughly paid three bucks for and the rest is history. Soon the band was all over the place and Twisted fuckin' Sister was everywhere and then a sadly they were gone. When I got word that Dee's story was out I had to read it. Now that I have I have a better understanding of just what happened to Twisted and just how quickly a band can rise and fall. This isn't your normal run of the mill rock bio and Dee is like the metal version of Father's Knows Best. It's an unusual story to say the least but what else would you expect from Dee fuckin' Snider? The man may seem like a metal madman but he makes it clear that he's a family man that doesn't drink alcohol or do drugs and has actually been a happily married man for thirty five years. Not exactly the stereotypical front man, and you get to see that Dee also has a huge ego.
The one thing that I found interesting was just how honest Snider is. He could easily blame his failures on others but he lays the blame on himself and while most metal and rock bios love to sling a bit of dirt Dee doesn't. You also get the transcript of his testimony of Senate testimony from the PMRC debacle which surprised a lot of people because Dee was just a metal singer. No one expected him to be articulate and intelligent. The book just covers the Twisted years and goes into post Twisted Sister project such as the Bloodied, But Unbowed album from Desperado which was shelved due to the most insane reasons and of course the Widowmaker records. The man never gave up but as the book closes you see that Dee's fifteen minutes of fame were pretty much up or were they?
Shut Up And Give Me The Mic is truly a must read for the SMF's of Twisted fuckin' Sister. This is the story that Dee wrote himself without any help. Not many metal singers actually do that. We all kind of know who Dee is and despite the ego and PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), Dee has written a book that will make you laugh out loud and see exactly why and how Twisted seemed to fade away so quickly. It's also sets up the 2nd coming of Mr. Fucking Snider and hopefully there's a sequel in the works
Let's go ahead and get the disclaimer out of the way. This will no doubt contain a lot of foul language because this is the memoir of the legendary Dee mother fucking Snider of the one and only Twisted fuckin' Sister. While Kiss may have been my first foray into heavy metal it was without a doubt the boys in Twisted that blew the doors wide open and showed me just how awesome heavy metal was and could be. I was probably eleven when I was at Kenny Kessler's house and he pulled out this tape of a band that I had never heard of. The label of the tape itself was in German (at the time I had no idea that there were such a thing as imports!), and the music was heavy as fuck and no other band at the time looked like these guys. Talk about groundbreaking!
I headed to Big Lots to get my own copy of this amazing record which I paid roughly paid three bucks for and the rest is history. Soon the band was all over the place and Twisted fuckin' Sister was everywhere and then a sadly they were gone. When I got word that Dee's story was out I had to read it. Now that I have I have a better understanding of just what happened to Twisted and just how quickly a band can rise and fall. This isn't your normal run of the mill rock bio and Dee is like the metal version of Father's Knows Best. It's an unusual story to say the least but what else would you expect from Dee fuckin' Snider? The man may seem like a metal madman but he makes it clear that he's a family man that doesn't drink alcohol or do drugs and has actually been a happily married man for thirty five years. Not exactly the stereotypical front man, and you get to see that Dee also has a huge ego.
The one thing that I found interesting was just how honest Snider is. He could easily blame his failures on others but he lays the blame on himself and while most metal and rock bios love to sling a bit of dirt Dee doesn't. You also get the transcript of his testimony of Senate testimony from the PMRC debacle which surprised a lot of people because Dee was just a metal singer. No one expected him to be articulate and intelligent. The book just covers the Twisted years and goes into post Twisted Sister project such as the Bloodied, But Unbowed album from Desperado which was shelved due to the most insane reasons and of course the Widowmaker records. The man never gave up but as the book closes you see that Dee's fifteen minutes of fame were pretty much up or were they?
Shut Up And Give Me The Mic is truly a must read for the SMF's of Twisted fuckin' Sister. This is the story that Dee wrote himself without any help. Not many metal singers actually do that. We all kind of know who Dee is and despite the ego and PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), Dee has written a book that will make you laugh out loud and see exactly why and how Twisted seemed to fade away so quickly. It's also sets up the 2nd coming of Mr. Fucking Snider and hopefully there's a sequel in the works
October 10, 2015
Here's The The deal: Don't Touch Me
Here's The The deal: Don't Touch Me - Howie Mandel, and Josh Young 3/5
This is one of those biographies that I was quite interested in reading for obvious reasons. The problem that I had was if I had to give it a bad review someone would just call me an asshole for disliking it. This is a guy that suffers from OCD and ADHD and he probably had a hard time writing this book so I should be fair. As both a reader and a reviewer it's not helping anyone if I lie and say that I liked a book simply because the author has mental health issues. That's not how this works. I read the book and give you an honest opinion, If that makes me an asshole so be it. I think if I lied and told you it was a brilliant book and you bought and thought it sucked you would still call me an asshole for lying.
The fact is that the book feels like someone with ADHD wrote it, or told it to the ghost writer. Howie had help with this one, but the thing is that if you have ever seen his stand up you know exactly what you're in for. At times it feels a bit disjointed and rushed, but in a way I expected that. What I didn't expect was that Howie is kind of a dick. He pulls these practical jokes on people that are often cruel and not all that funny except to Howie. The thing that I really wanted to read more about was his OCD and how it truly affects his daily life. What kind of triggers he has and just how bad these truly affect him. It's never discussed in length. It's just kind of glossed over and you just have to accept that he doesn't like shaking hands, and that the OCD is a major factor in his life.
He talks about therapy, but he doesn't really tell you how it's helping him with his illness. We do get to read about his heart issues and he takes you into the thought process that he has about dying and how he actually called people to say goodbye because he truly thought he was going to die. He also talks about the loss of his father to cancer. This is a book that could have offered so much more but Howie held back quite a bit and it brings up more questions about his overall struggles with his mental health issues. That's why I bought the book. I was expecting a whole lot more than was offered.
As it stands Here's The Deal is a light book that gives you a glimpse of Howie Mandel. His rise as a comic and his OCD and ADHD. The most surprising thing is that he's a bit of a dick who at times tries to come off as a decent family man who is truly thankful for his success despite his being a dick. I don't know if every reader felt the same I did as they read it and I came away less of a Howie Mandel fan because of this book. Sure, he's funny and he's made me laugh, but he's still a dick.
This is one of those biographies that I was quite interested in reading for obvious reasons. The problem that I had was if I had to give it a bad review someone would just call me an asshole for disliking it. This is a guy that suffers from OCD and ADHD and he probably had a hard time writing this book so I should be fair. As both a reader and a reviewer it's not helping anyone if I lie and say that I liked a book simply because the author has mental health issues. That's not how this works. I read the book and give you an honest opinion, If that makes me an asshole so be it. I think if I lied and told you it was a brilliant book and you bought and thought it sucked you would still call me an asshole for lying.
The fact is that the book feels like someone with ADHD wrote it, or told it to the ghost writer. Howie had help with this one, but the thing is that if you have ever seen his stand up you know exactly what you're in for. At times it feels a bit disjointed and rushed, but in a way I expected that. What I didn't expect was that Howie is kind of a dick. He pulls these practical jokes on people that are often cruel and not all that funny except to Howie. The thing that I really wanted to read more about was his OCD and how it truly affects his daily life. What kind of triggers he has and just how bad these truly affect him. It's never discussed in length. It's just kind of glossed over and you just have to accept that he doesn't like shaking hands, and that the OCD is a major factor in his life.
He talks about therapy, but he doesn't really tell you how it's helping him with his illness. We do get to read about his heart issues and he takes you into the thought process that he has about dying and how he actually called people to say goodbye because he truly thought he was going to die. He also talks about the loss of his father to cancer. This is a book that could have offered so much more but Howie held back quite a bit and it brings up more questions about his overall struggles with his mental health issues. That's why I bought the book. I was expecting a whole lot more than was offered.
As it stands Here's The Deal is a light book that gives you a glimpse of Howie Mandel. His rise as a comic and his OCD and ADHD. The most surprising thing is that he's a bit of a dick who at times tries to come off as a decent family man who is truly thankful for his success despite his being a dick. I don't know if every reader felt the same I did as they read it and I came away less of a Howie Mandel fan because of this book. Sure, he's funny and he's made me laugh, but he's still a dick.
October 8, 2015
Dark Screams Vol 5
Dark Screams Vol 5 - Brian James Freeman, And Richard Chizmar
Let's be honest and admit that for horror fans the Dark Scream series is shaping up nicely. It took me a long to appreciate the benefits of anthologies, but as a writer I can appreciate them more because I've been in quite a few and when done right they have the potential to get you noticed. The Dark Screams series is interesting because it takes established writers and puts them together with newer names in one small, well priced digital book. I received this from Netgalley and wasn't sure how well it would stack up against the last volume, but I was pleasantly surprised. The editors have picked some real gems and I can see why this series is still going strong.
Each story here is solid and while I didn't find a stand out like I did in Vol. 4 I found it just as enjoyable. Let's be honest here and admit that if you're a fan of horror this is a must read volume. It's mixes in some new faces with established authors so you have a chance to find something new to seek out. If you're new to the horror genre this should be required reading. There's no B.S. here and and that's what makes this so good. Brian and Richard have once again picked an amazing set of stories and Dark Screams is certainly a must read anthology series
Let's be honest and admit that for horror fans the Dark Scream series is shaping up nicely. It took me a long to appreciate the benefits of anthologies, but as a writer I can appreciate them more because I've been in quite a few and when done right they have the potential to get you noticed. The Dark Screams series is interesting because it takes established writers and puts them together with newer names in one small, well priced digital book. I received this from Netgalley and wasn't sure how well it would stack up against the last volume, but I was pleasantly surprised. The editors have picked some real gems and I can see why this series is still going strong.
Each story here is solid and while I didn't find a stand out like I did in Vol. 4 I found it just as enjoyable. Let's be honest here and admit that if you're a fan of horror this is a must read volume. It's mixes in some new faces with established authors so you have a chance to find something new to seek out. If you're new to the horror genre this should be required reading. There's no B.S. here and and that's what makes this so good. Brian and Richard have once again picked an amazing set of stories and Dark Screams is certainly a must read anthology series
October 7, 2015
Dark Screams Vol 4
Dark Screams Vol 4 - Edited By Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar 5/5
I received a copy of Dark Screams Vol 4 from Netgalley and let's be honest here and admit that the line up here is pretty damn impressive. Clive Barker and Ray Garton alongside Heather Graham, Lisa Morton, and Ed Gorman. This is a line up you would expect big things from and while it does come in at a short 16o pages there's little wiggle room to screw things up. I have never heard of this anthology series before but I'm glad I picked this up. While the Garton, and Barker stories are good the real reason to buy this is because of The Brasher Girl. This story is a homage or a rip off of classic Stephen King and it's creepy and makes you long for the days when horror used to be simple. This is a story that builds up slowly without a great deal of gore. It's a story about obsession and yes, even insanity.
If you've never read horror before this is a good place to start. Each story presents an interesting element to the horror genre. These stories don't follow a simple pattern either. It gives you some great authors to seek out, and for the seasoned veteran it's a nice short read that reminds us that when horror is done right it's fresh and exciting. It's about atmosphere and Hydra has delivered a book that presents five great stories. With a lot of bargain anthologies there's way too much filler but this isn't the case with Vol 4. I do know that I plan on reading the other volumes but hope that they deliver as well as this one did.
I received a copy of Dark Screams Vol 4 from Netgalley and let's be honest here and admit that the line up here is pretty damn impressive. Clive Barker and Ray Garton alongside Heather Graham, Lisa Morton, and Ed Gorman. This is a line up you would expect big things from and while it does come in at a short 16o pages there's little wiggle room to screw things up. I have never heard of this anthology series before but I'm glad I picked this up. While the Garton, and Barker stories are good the real reason to buy this is because of The Brasher Girl. This story is a homage or a rip off of classic Stephen King and it's creepy and makes you long for the days when horror used to be simple. This is a story that builds up slowly without a great deal of gore. It's a story about obsession and yes, even insanity.
If you've never read horror before this is a good place to start. Each story presents an interesting element to the horror genre. These stories don't follow a simple pattern either. It gives you some great authors to seek out, and for the seasoned veteran it's a nice short read that reminds us that when horror is done right it's fresh and exciting. It's about atmosphere and Hydra has delivered a book that presents five great stories. With a lot of bargain anthologies there's way too much filler but this isn't the case with Vol 4. I do know that I plan on reading the other volumes but hope that they deliver as well as this one did.
September 27, 2015
Gillian's Marsh
Michael Faun - Gillian's Marsh 5/5
http://www.amazon.com/Gillians-Marsh-Michael-Faun-ebook/dp/B00XIHLSNU
Michael Faun's newest novella may be short but sometimes the shortest books pack the biggest punch. If you've ever read Michael's work you know that he often mixes in a variety of genres to create something unique, but this time he's written a straight up horror novel that holds back just a little and the results are quite stunning. Taking the idea of the occult and the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials and blending them together you get Gillian Marsh. This is by far the best novel that Faun has written. This is a writer who has attempted to stretch beyond his comfort zone and it works.
Gillian's Marsh has a classic horror feel to it while keeping just a hint of splatterpunk. As a writer Faun knows how to create a readable story, and the detail presented brings these characters to life. Throughout history we have always been taught to that witches are evil, but what if there is something far darker and far more sinister just beyond our realm of understanding? This is a novel that embraces the dark and it hinges on paranoia. While most horror novels tend to dwell on the silliness factor, Faun plays it straight and never ventures into the overly cheesy to hook his readers.
The fact is that Faun has created something unique and reminds us why darker fiction is so good. You don't need cheap scares to grab a readers attention. Gillian's Marsh is a damn good horror novella that is dark and often disturbing. Horror fans are always looking for something different and this time a writer has delivered. If you like your horror dark and a little disturbing do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
http://www.amazon.com/Gillians-Marsh-Michael-Faun-ebook/dp/B00XIHLSNU
Michael Faun's newest novella may be short but sometimes the shortest books pack the biggest punch. If you've ever read Michael's work you know that he often mixes in a variety of genres to create something unique, but this time he's written a straight up horror novel that holds back just a little and the results are quite stunning. Taking the idea of the occult and the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials and blending them together you get Gillian Marsh. This is by far the best novel that Faun has written. This is a writer who has attempted to stretch beyond his comfort zone and it works.
Gillian's Marsh has a classic horror feel to it while keeping just a hint of splatterpunk. As a writer Faun knows how to create a readable story, and the detail presented brings these characters to life. Throughout history we have always been taught to that witches are evil, but what if there is something far darker and far more sinister just beyond our realm of understanding? This is a novel that embraces the dark and it hinges on paranoia. While most horror novels tend to dwell on the silliness factor, Faun plays it straight and never ventures into the overly cheesy to hook his readers.
The fact is that Faun has created something unique and reminds us why darker fiction is so good. You don't need cheap scares to grab a readers attention. Gillian's Marsh is a damn good horror novella that is dark and often disturbing. Horror fans are always looking for something different and this time a writer has delivered. If you like your horror dark and a little disturbing do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
September 26, 2015
Cine
Cine - Stuart Keane 5/5
I started Cine after reading another novel knowing that I should have just gone to bed. I knew better, yet I started at about 12 A.M. early Monday and finally finished at about two. I was late to work and it's all Stuart's fault. See, Stuart is the kind of writer that writes stuff that is highly addicting. You want to stop reading yet you just can't tear your eyes away. Cine is probably the best book that Keane has written. It takes it's influence from guys like Barker, and yes even Laymon and presents a story that flows like blood from a freshly severed vein. This is a guy that loves horror and it shows.
If you've read the blurb you know what the story is about and I can tell you that the next time you're in a movie theater and the lights go down you're going to get a little nervous. Cine is about greed, and desire. At it's core the ugliness that society has become is what propels this story. The quest to achieve greatness through film. Cine is the ultimate film and as it reaches its stunning climax you may want to turn away but you won't. Keane is the kind of writer that moves his stories at a steady gallop. You don't get a chance to breath very often. This is a book that fans of gore will love while the story itself is what makes this such a good book.One thing that I've always found interesting about Keane's work is that the violence is interwoven throughout the story. In a way he's like Laymon. He gives us human monsters, and their depravity is an integral part of the book. These are people with one goal and will stop at nothing to achieve it.
As a writer he's starting to hit his stride and Cine is a horror novel is dark and disturbing, but it's also a book that reminds us that horror isn't as dead as people would have you believe. This is a book that presents us with something we haven't seen before and as Cine evolves we see just what Whispers Cinema has in store for the unsuspecting residents of Lake Whisper. As a horror fan I highly recommend Cine as well as all of Stuart's work. This is a writer who is constantly evolving and giving us something we haven't seen before. Keane is a horror writer that shouldn't be missed.
http://www.amazon.com/Cine-Stuart-Keane-ebook/dp/B015BZEAKY
I started Cine after reading another novel knowing that I should have just gone to bed. I knew better, yet I started at about 12 A.M. early Monday and finally finished at about two. I was late to work and it's all Stuart's fault. See, Stuart is the kind of writer that writes stuff that is highly addicting. You want to stop reading yet you just can't tear your eyes away. Cine is probably the best book that Keane has written. It takes it's influence from guys like Barker, and yes even Laymon and presents a story that flows like blood from a freshly severed vein. This is a guy that loves horror and it shows.
If you've read the blurb you know what the story is about and I can tell you that the next time you're in a movie theater and the lights go down you're going to get a little nervous. Cine is about greed, and desire. At it's core the ugliness that society has become is what propels this story. The quest to achieve greatness through film. Cine is the ultimate film and as it reaches its stunning climax you may want to turn away but you won't. Keane is the kind of writer that moves his stories at a steady gallop. You don't get a chance to breath very often. This is a book that fans of gore will love while the story itself is what makes this such a good book.One thing that I've always found interesting about Keane's work is that the violence is interwoven throughout the story. In a way he's like Laymon. He gives us human monsters, and their depravity is an integral part of the book. These are people with one goal and will stop at nothing to achieve it.
As a writer he's starting to hit his stride and Cine is a horror novel is dark and disturbing, but it's also a book that reminds us that horror isn't as dead as people would have you believe. This is a book that presents us with something we haven't seen before and as Cine evolves we see just what Whispers Cinema has in store for the unsuspecting residents of Lake Whisper. As a horror fan I highly recommend Cine as well as all of Stuart's work. This is a writer who is constantly evolving and giving us something we haven't seen before. Keane is a horror writer that shouldn't be missed.
http://www.amazon.com/Cine-Stuart-Keane-ebook/dp/B015BZEAKY
September 24, 2015
The Andy Peloquin interview
The Andy Peloquin interview:
I was supposed to post this earlier this month and totally forgot. It's been a busy month, You can find links to his J. Ellington Ashton Press release at the bottom. I also have a review here as well. I urge everyone to check it out.
. Q: Blades Of The Destroyer is your latest release from JEA. How did you come up with the Hunter?
I've always loved "bad guys". Villains usually prove to be the more interesting characters in classic (often clichéd) fantasy novels, so the idea of telling the story from the perspective of the "bad guy" was totally intriguing. Trying to find a way to make my readers identify/relate to this dark, cynical, cold, murderous character was a huge challenge, and one I'm thrilled to take on.
Q: How long have you been writing?
Off and on, since the age of 15. I have been a professional copywriter for almost five years, but I only started writing fiction two years ago. Making the decision to pen my first story (this was the second thing I wrote) was the best decision of my life.
Q: When did you realize that you wanted to be writer and who were your biggest influences?
I've always needed a creative outlet, but being a poor artist, I've never had one. When I discovered writing, it was like a light switch turned on. I suddenly had a way to share all the crazy, twisted things in my head with others.
My biggest influences when it comes to writing are Scott Lynch and Brandon Sanderson. I try to write the kind of characters Scott Lynch would write, and emulate the writing style of Brandon Sanderson. That's not to say that my work is a rip-off of these two authors, but I do my best to be worthy of the high opinion I have of their works.
. Q: Aside from The Last Bucelarii series are there any other projects coming up?
I'm going to be working hard to put out The Last Bucelarii series over the next four or five years. My goal is to put out a new book every 6 to 9 months, (Book 2 coming March 2016--fingers crossed!). However, when the book has reached its end (in five or six books), I will be publishing a separate SECRET side series, one set in the same world, but with completely different characters. There will be a few callbacks to The Last Bucelarii, but the series will focus on another aspect of the "darker side" of life on Einan.
Q: How difficult is it to write fantasy? Are there any guidelines that you follow?
Fantasy is a lot harder to write than you might expect. You can't just slap a story together and hope that it works, but you have to make it realistic. If you're going to use a magic system, you need to know how that system works and explain it to the readers enough that they can understand. Characters are much more important in fantasy worlds, as that is the only thing people can relate to.
. Q: What advice would you give to writers?
Be prepared for A LOT of hard work. I've discovered that writing a good, professionally-produced novel is about 20% fun and 80% boring editing, polishing, rewriting, and trying to make it better. If writers go into it understanding this, it can save them a lot of frustration and impatience.
You can buy Blade Of The Destroyer in paperback and Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Destroyer-Last-Bucelarii-Book-ebook/dp/B012EI9M4A/
http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Destroyer-Last-Bucelarii-Book/dp/1515038955/
Andy Peloquin: Lover of All Things Dark and Mysterious
Andy Peloquin--a third culture kid to the core--has loved to read since before he could remember. Sherlock Holmes, the Phantom of the Opera, and Father Brown are just a few of the books that ensnared his imagination as a child.
When he discovered science fiction and fantasy through the pages of writers like Edgar Rice Burroughs, J.R.R Tolkien, and Orson Scott Card, he was immediately hooked and hasn't looked back since.
I was supposed to post this earlier this month and totally forgot. It's been a busy month, You can find links to his J. Ellington Ashton Press release at the bottom. I also have a review here as well. I urge everyone to check it out.
. Q: Blades Of The Destroyer is your latest release from JEA. How did you come up with the Hunter?
I've always loved "bad guys". Villains usually prove to be the more interesting characters in classic (often clichéd) fantasy novels, so the idea of telling the story from the perspective of the "bad guy" was totally intriguing. Trying to find a way to make my readers identify/relate to this dark, cynical, cold, murderous character was a huge challenge, and one I'm thrilled to take on.
Q: How long have you been writing?
Off and on, since the age of 15. I have been a professional copywriter for almost five years, but I only started writing fiction two years ago. Making the decision to pen my first story (this was the second thing I wrote) was the best decision of my life.
Q: When did you realize that you wanted to be writer and who were your biggest influences?
I've always needed a creative outlet, but being a poor artist, I've never had one. When I discovered writing, it was like a light switch turned on. I suddenly had a way to share all the crazy, twisted things in my head with others.
My biggest influences when it comes to writing are Scott Lynch and Brandon Sanderson. I try to write the kind of characters Scott Lynch would write, and emulate the writing style of Brandon Sanderson. That's not to say that my work is a rip-off of these two authors, but I do my best to be worthy of the high opinion I have of their works.
. Q: Aside from The Last Bucelarii series are there any other projects coming up?
I'm going to be working hard to put out The Last Bucelarii series over the next four or five years. My goal is to put out a new book every 6 to 9 months, (Book 2 coming March 2016--fingers crossed!). However, when the book has reached its end (in five or six books), I will be publishing a separate SECRET side series, one set in the same world, but with completely different characters. There will be a few callbacks to The Last Bucelarii, but the series will focus on another aspect of the "darker side" of life on Einan.
Q: How difficult is it to write fantasy? Are there any guidelines that you follow?
Fantasy is a lot harder to write than you might expect. You can't just slap a story together and hope that it works, but you have to make it realistic. If you're going to use a magic system, you need to know how that system works and explain it to the readers enough that they can understand. Characters are much more important in fantasy worlds, as that is the only thing people can relate to.
. Q: What advice would you give to writers?
Be prepared for A LOT of hard work. I've discovered that writing a good, professionally-produced novel is about 20% fun and 80% boring editing, polishing, rewriting, and trying to make it better. If writers go into it understanding this, it can save them a lot of frustration and impatience.
You can buy Blade Of The Destroyer in paperback and Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Destroyer-Last-Bucelarii-Book-ebook/dp/B012EI9M4A/
http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Destroyer-Last-Bucelarii-Book/dp/1515038955/
Andy Peloquin: Lover of All Things Dark and Mysterious
Andy Peloquin--a third culture kid to the core--has loved to read since before he could remember. Sherlock Holmes, the Phantom of the Opera, and Father Brown are just a few of the books that ensnared his imagination as a child.
When he discovered science fiction and fantasy through the pages of writers like Edgar Rice Burroughs, J.R.R Tolkien, and Orson Scott Card, he was immediately hooked and hasn't looked back since.
September 22, 2015
Stealing Propeller Hats From The Dead
Stealing Propeller Hats From The Dead - David James Keaton 3/5
I received Propeller Hats from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and I felt at times that this was exactly what the zombie genre needed. Keaton takes a dark sense of humor and injects it right into his new book. No matter what you call it, be it spoof, or homage to the zombie genre it's a pretty decent book. Keaton is a talented writer that knows that zombie genre is the perfect genre to make fun of. Each of these stories take the genre in a new and interesting direction. These zombies aren't what you're expecting and that's why this book is so good.
Keaton is obviously a fan and that's why this works as well as it does. We all watch whatever zombie film we can get our hands on because nothing excites us more than the undead. Keaton shows us that it's okay to take the piss to the genre because it's an easy target. We know the various scenarios and we all have a zombie plan in our heads just in case a zombie outbreak occurs. We love zombies even when we're laughing at them or cheering them on as they attack a lost group of survivors.
Some of the best stories here are Greenhorns which is not only a zombie spoof but a pretty demented version of World's Deadliest Catch, Three Days Without Water, and my favorite the novella Zee Bee And Bee which you just have to read because a synopsis just doesn't do it justice. There are some that are just okay, but as a collection it isn't terrible. I like Keaton's writing style as well as his attempt to inject something new into the bloated zombie genre. If you're a fan of horror comedy you should give this a chance because it does at times make you feel as if your watching a really cheesy B-horror movie. It's funny as hell and entertaining to boot.
The link to Amazon only shows that the book is out of stock, but fear not this bad boy will be released on the 1st of October so hold onto this link and grab this sucker the second it comes out.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1943720002/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1943720002&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
I received Propeller Hats from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and I felt at times that this was exactly what the zombie genre needed. Keaton takes a dark sense of humor and injects it right into his new book. No matter what you call it, be it spoof, or homage to the zombie genre it's a pretty decent book. Keaton is a talented writer that knows that zombie genre is the perfect genre to make fun of. Each of these stories take the genre in a new and interesting direction. These zombies aren't what you're expecting and that's why this book is so good.
Keaton is obviously a fan and that's why this works as well as it does. We all watch whatever zombie film we can get our hands on because nothing excites us more than the undead. Keaton shows us that it's okay to take the piss to the genre because it's an easy target. We know the various scenarios and we all have a zombie plan in our heads just in case a zombie outbreak occurs. We love zombies even when we're laughing at them or cheering them on as they attack a lost group of survivors.
Some of the best stories here are Greenhorns which is not only a zombie spoof but a pretty demented version of World's Deadliest Catch, Three Days Without Water, and my favorite the novella Zee Bee And Bee which you just have to read because a synopsis just doesn't do it justice. There are some that are just okay, but as a collection it isn't terrible. I like Keaton's writing style as well as his attempt to inject something new into the bloated zombie genre. If you're a fan of horror comedy you should give this a chance because it does at times make you feel as if your watching a really cheesy B-horror movie. It's funny as hell and entertaining to boot.
The link to Amazon only shows that the book is out of stock, but fear not this bad boy will be released on the 1st of October so hold onto this link and grab this sucker the second it comes out.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1943720002/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1943720002&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
September 18, 2015
A God Of Hungry Walls
A God Of Hungry Walls 5/5
I received an advance copy of Walls from Deadite Press in exchange for an honest review. The book isn't available until October First and I don't believe it's up for pre-order either. I don't even know if I'm supposed to be reviewing this early but after seeing the cover and reading the blurb I couldn't wait to dive into this. This is Garret's first horror release and of course with Deadite Press being the publisher this has all the makings of a classic. Think of this as not only a review but a glimpse of hell and Cook is your Fedora wearing tour guide. I'm just a guy strapped into the seat wondering what the hell I''ve got myself into.
Garrett takes everything you thought you knew about ghosts and haunted houses and gives the genre a new, and much needed spin. This is a story told by the ghost himself or as he likes to call himself God. This isn't Casper either. This is an evil entity that calls himself God and he wants nothing more than to trap you within his walls. A God Of Hungry Walls is an assault on all of your senses, and leaves you mentally exhausted. This is perverse, sick, and strips away all sense of dignity. This is a classic splatterpunk novel that doesn't just tell you a story it shows it you in shocking detail. Garrett never lets you breath. He keeps whittling away at your senses until you reach the end of the book. You will either love this or you will hate it. There is no middle ground.
It's the pacing that I loved about Houses. You would think that because it's a ghost story there would be some ghostly activity like you see on Ghost Hunters, but here it's all about brutality and exposing weakness. When you take a second to look at the entity himself you see that he explores the weaknesses in people, and exposes it until he claims them. Garrett's ghost is all about ownership and making sure that he remains God, He takes what he wants and there's just no escape. There has never been a book like this and I have a feeling that soon we will see tons of these.
Cook has written something that redefines a genre. It's a dark, and vile work that most horror fans won't understand, and may in fact run away from. A God Of Hungry Walls is almost as perverse as Edward Lee's The Pig/House, and reminds us just how great splatterpunk can be. When this is released do yourself a favor and pick this up.
I received an advance copy of Walls from Deadite Press in exchange for an honest review. The book isn't available until October First and I don't believe it's up for pre-order either. I don't even know if I'm supposed to be reviewing this early but after seeing the cover and reading the blurb I couldn't wait to dive into this. This is Garret's first horror release and of course with Deadite Press being the publisher this has all the makings of a classic. Think of this as not only a review but a glimpse of hell and Cook is your Fedora wearing tour guide. I'm just a guy strapped into the seat wondering what the hell I''ve got myself into.
Garrett takes everything you thought you knew about ghosts and haunted houses and gives the genre a new, and much needed spin. This is a story told by the ghost himself or as he likes to call himself God. This isn't Casper either. This is an evil entity that calls himself God and he wants nothing more than to trap you within his walls. A God Of Hungry Walls is an assault on all of your senses, and leaves you mentally exhausted. This is perverse, sick, and strips away all sense of dignity. This is a classic splatterpunk novel that doesn't just tell you a story it shows it you in shocking detail. Garrett never lets you breath. He keeps whittling away at your senses until you reach the end of the book. You will either love this or you will hate it. There is no middle ground.
It's the pacing that I loved about Houses. You would think that because it's a ghost story there would be some ghostly activity like you see on Ghost Hunters, but here it's all about brutality and exposing weakness. When you take a second to look at the entity himself you see that he explores the weaknesses in people, and exposes it until he claims them. Garrett's ghost is all about ownership and making sure that he remains God, He takes what he wants and there's just no escape. There has never been a book like this and I have a feeling that soon we will see tons of these.
Cook has written something that redefines a genre. It's a dark, and vile work that most horror fans won't understand, and may in fact run away from. A God Of Hungry Walls is almost as perverse as Edward Lee's The Pig/House, and reminds us just how great splatterpunk can be. When this is released do yourself a favor and pick this up.
