PRAISE FOR THE VERY DEAD OF WINTER

There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary. -- Brendan Behan

You may have noticed I am never shy about publicizing my writing, but perhaps I can be forgiven this rather venal sin. Independent authors have to cling to praise and awards like Scrooge clung to coins. I would therefore like to announce that Literary Titan is the first reviewer to weigh in on my new novel, The Very Dead of Winter: A Sinner's Cross Novel. , and their verdict is as follows:

"The Very Dead Of Winter by Miles Watson is a work of historical fiction revolving around the Battle of the Bulge and is set during World War II. This interesting story centers around the three main characters with intermingled storylines, Halleck, Breese, and Cramm.

"In The Very Dead of Winter, Miles Watson explores the very concept of war. The author addresses how war affects the mind, morality, and the relationships of the soldiers involved, in addition to the cruelty and horror of the subject matter in which enemies actively murder each other in an effort to advance their personal cause.

"Each of the main characters in this book is complex, and we see in his writing how Watson brings each to life in the pages. Though the characters are different war officers, Watson portrays them in such a way that they are convicted by their morality, each one striving to do the right thing.

"Watson has written a book that is sobering but intriguing. If you are looking for a book with rich characters, an enticing story, and significant historical context, this book is for you. It will make you think, empathize, and put yourself in the shoes of those men and women in the military, specifically those in active combat. This book is well worth the read and will give readers a brand new perspective. I highly recommend it.

"The Very Dead Of Winter is a complex and thought-provoking historical war fiction novel. This captivating book can unmask the stereotypical idea of what the average citizen thinks a soldier looks like. The author’s storytelling abilities allow readers to get to the heart of the matter in distinguishing the humanity and moral choices people in the armed forces make in their daily decisions. FIVE STARS."

As first blushes go, this ain't bad. I am certainly very proud of the book, and God knows it had one of the most lengthy drafting processes I have ever undergone. I'm looking forward to the critical reactions to come, even if they should prove less sanguine than this one: Sinner's Cross, viewed from an awards/acclaim standpoint, is certainly not an easy act for me to follow. Every writer knows when he's fouled or bunted, but he also knows when he's hit one out of the park. This second book in the series will have to sweat hard to escape its progenitor's shadow.

Ultimately, my objective with these novels is not to build temples to "Greatest Generation" worship, nor to cater to war movie stereotypes, nor to produce one of those novels so slavishly faithful to actual history that you may as well ditch it for a book by Cornelius Ryan, but to do what I feel that I do best: create a highly atmospheric story that immerses the reader not only in the physical sensations of war, but the emotional pressures and their ultimate effects on my characters. In short, books that try to take you there. I trust that I have succeeded, but whether I succeeded or not, that was my aim, my working ideal.

So if you haven't already, give the series a try, or at least a look. You may not like what you read, but I guarantee you will never forget it.