Horror Aficionados discussion
This topic is about
Eight Cylinders
Group Reads: Guest Author Invite
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December 2020 Group Read with Guest Author, Jason Parent
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Welcome, Jason! I've already read EIGHT CYLINDERS but I'd love to participate in discussion. No spoilers, I promise.
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Hi, Jason! It'll be good to "see" you again.
Welcome, Jason! I have read this book and it was great! But I will be peeking in on here to see everyone's thoughts. The book was loads of fun! :)
Hello all, and thank you for giving Eight Cylinders a read! I'm thrilled to take part in this group, and happy to answer any questions about the book, writing in general, or just about anything!I think the blurbs for the book really capture it's spirit - a fast-paced, action-packed creature feature with (I hope) enough smarts to appeal to fans of commercial and literary horror alike. I have copied them below for anyone looking to get an idea of what the book is about, though my covers and synopses always aim to convey genre, atmosphere, and mood.
"Set in the mountainous desert just outside Sin City, Jason Parent's Eight Cylinders is a wild mix of Fury Road, Dante's Inferno, and Lovecraftian horror. Whip-fast and oozing darkness ‒ monster lovers won't be able to resist this slick little read."--Lee Murray, award-winning author of Into the Mist
"In Eight Cylinders, Jason Parent serves up memorable characters, fast-paced action, and monstrous terrors. It's hard-boiled, high-octane horror that rips the reader along while delivering genuine chills on a road to redemption paved with death and danger." --James Chambers, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of On the Night Border
"Eight Cylinders is a Mad Max blowout straight from Hell. The action piles on and on,until it reaches a boiling point where an all-or-nothing gambit is their only shot to beat the Devil. A thrill ride from start to finish." - Rex Hurst, author of WHAT HELL MAY COME
Thanks to all of you taking part!
Michael wrote: "Here's my spoiler free review . . . . . .https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Thanks for reviewing, Michael! Glad you liked it!
Marie wrote: "Welcome, Jason! I have read this book and it was great! But I will be peeking in on here to see everyone's thoughts. The book was loads of fun! :)"
"Loads of fun!" - Thanks, Marie! I want my books to have it all, obviously, but what I want most from them is for readers to think just that :)
Holy crap this sounds amazing! I'm in!
Jason wrote: "Marie wrote: "Welcome, Jason! I have read this book and it was great! But I will be peeking in on here to see everyone's thoughts. The book was loads of fun! :)"
"Loads of fun!" - Thanks, Marie!..."
You are welcome, Jason! :)
Got both books. If I find time to read, I'll join you guys!
Katy wrote: "Got both books. If I find time to read, I'll join you guys!"Thanks of the support, Katy. I know how that is. In addition to daily life and job, I have consulting, editing, and reading assignments stacked up so much that new writing is on hold through at least the end of the year. This book is a novella and reads fast (or I hope it does, anyway), so at least it wouldn't be a huge time commitment. Thanks for chiming in either way, and happy holidays!
I know you folks are just starting out with the novella, but I'm always overwhelmed by the HA folks and readers that come out to these things to show horror authors and the genre support (we all rise together). I feel it is important that I show my appreciation for what you all do, so here's what I'm offering (and none of you already participating have to do thing more to get it, except perhaps to consider (not required) reviewing the novella on Goodreads and Amazon).For the number of people chiming in on this group up to 10, I will randomly select one person from this group (mods are eligible) to win a signed copy of Eight Cylinders and a novel or novella of mine of your choosing. For every tenth person after that (counted by number of different participants reading and commenting) I will add another novel to the count of the winner's choosing and add another signed copy of Eight Cylinders for another winner. In the highly unlikely event we reach 100 different participants (proof of purchase of Eight Cylinders ebook/paperback may be required), I will award one winner a signed paperback of each of my 8 novels, 3 novellas, and 1 collection. It's a time for giving and sharing in a difficult holiday season for many, so I hope my actions reflect my generosity of spirit and brighten at least a few peoples days. No restrictions on eligibility.
So please share with all your friends here on Goodreads and elsewhere and bring them onboard for what I hope is one hell of a ride! I don't write for the money (what money, lol?). Your enthusiasm is the fuel that keeps me going! Sincerest thank you to all here and the mods for putting this together.
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I don't have this book myself, (though, as one reviewer put it "tentacles and muscle cars" has me very intrigued) but I think this sounds like a wonderful thing for our members. So I'm posting to say thank you and to help get the numbers up so more people can receive your generous offer.
Wow so generous! What a great opportunity! I started it last night and already loving it, and I imagine it will be a speedy read for me. Already intrigued by the Magic 8 Ball lol
Jason wrote: "I know you folks are just starting out with the novella, but I'm always overwhelmed by the HA folks and readers that come out to these things to show horror authors and the genre support (we all ri..."That's awesome! Much thanks.
Wow! Thank you so much, Jason! :)
Finished this morning and I really enjoyed it! I have so many questions! First and foremost being: Do you have other books set in this same world? If not, do you plan to return to it??
Just snagged a copy last night so I'll be joining the fun
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Alan wrote: "Hey Jason,I don't have this book myself, (though, as one reviewer put it "tentacles and muscle cars" has me very intrigued) but I think this sounds like a wonderful thing for our members. So I'm ..."
No problem, Alan. I try to do what I can, where I can - it's been a tough year for so many.
Krystal wrote: "Finished this morning and I really enjoyed it! I have so many questions! First and foremost being: Do you have other books set in this same world? If not, do you plan to return to it??"Thanks, Krystal, and thanks for reviewing! Most of my thrillers take place in the same universe, so there are Easter Eggs for many readers, but it's not necessary for one to have read the other books to read any one of the others (though probably best to read What Hides Within before reading Victoria; and Seeing Evil before Hearing Evil and the upcoming Speaking Evil (nope, there won't be a Smelling Evil). All those books I just named, along with A Life Removed and another upcoming book take place in the same universe. Eight Cylinders is an outlier, though there's no reason why it couldn't be the same universe, though none of the characters have appeared elsewhere or since (which is too bad, as I could have taken a character with a violent backstory from one of my earlier works and placed him/her in that lost colony - wish I had thought of that sooner!)
As for going back to that universe or creating a sequel, I haven't intended to, but if readers wanted more, I'd be happy to provide it. Works like these are a whole lot of fun to write - and I think readers can tell I had some fun and have fun along with me, those that don't need everything to be gravely serious.
Ctgt wrote: "Just snagged a copy last night so I'll be joining the fun"Thanks for reviewing, and glad you enjoyed it!
Kenneth wrote: "Jason, can you describe how the idea of this story came about and the writing process it took to get to the written page? Do you outline or free-flow organically when writing a story?"The idea for this story came straight from a dream. I've heard lots of authors pull from their nightly ventures into nightmare, but this was a first for me, at least when it comes to longer works.
With most stories, I outline, then scrap the outline when my mind and fingers go in whole new directions. My dream gave me the basic skeleton: a group of terrified humans in a post-apocalyptic setting fleeing from a giant, mostly unseen monster attacking from the shadows. There was only one car in my dream.
From there, I had to get to answering the main questions? Who are these people? Why are they in their predicament? Can they get out?
With the ending it really seems as though you've set yourself up for a direct sequel.....????Loved how the (view spoiler)
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I received my copy and I’m about halfway through. Having a blast so far, Jason! I’m a fan of American muscle cars, but why couldn’t it be a Camaro? I can’t stand Dodges. 😂
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I’m a fan of American muscle cars, but why couldn’t it be a Camaro? I can’t stand Dodges. 😂"
I have to second this... a Camaro would have been a great choice. ;)
Ok, I’ll take the black 69 Chevelle SS from page 64. That works for me.
Ctgt wrote: "With the ending it really seems as though you've set yourself up for a direct sequel.....????Loved how the [spoilers removed]"
Spoilers about the ending forthcoming. (view spoiler) These are some of the questions I wanted the reader to draw conclusions from little hints dropped along the way. I definitely had my own conclusions when I wrote it. But we see the story from Seb's perspective, not the Magic 8 Ball's or the unknown/unknowable creature lurking in the mountains, and Seb certainly doesn't and couldn't have all the answers. And he's more of the type to attack a problem head on than to sit around and discuss it.
Thanks for reading, Ctgt!
Char wrote: "Ok, I’ll take the black 69 Chevelle SS from page 64. That works for me."I am not sure why I went with the Hellcat. I wanted something modern with a lot of power, and that car has A LOT of power. But I am actually not a huge car guy, despite this story. But my favorite car did make it into the story: the all black 69 Chevelle SS. With all black interior, that car would be an oven out in that desert!
Mental note - if I do ever revisit this world, a Camaro needs to make an appearance!
Kenneth wrote: "Jason, how did you get into writing horror and who were your influences?"Like most horror authors my age, King was an obvious early influence. Poe from the standpoint of language and even that spirit of fun I try to inject into my work (a la A Tell-Tale Heart). But my biggest influences are easily the 80s horror directors: Carpenter, Craven, Corman, etc. As you can see from Eight Cylinders, I love big action, a touch of pulp, and a hint of camp - perhaps more than a touch and a hint. Again, I just want people to have a good time when they're reading my stuff - the world is a scary place, politics and pandemics making us all want to hide under our pillows. I read for an escape from that, and I hope my work provides a chuckle or an evil smirk as you enjoy a hopefully creative death. And if it makes you think a little, that's great, too - as long as you can not think about the real world for just a little while.
Char wrote: "Ok, I’ll take the black 69 Chevelle SS from page 64. That works for me."Thanks for reviewing, Char! Sorry the characters didn't really resonate for you. I will keep trying to impress, as your opinion means a lot to me and your critique will only help me to improve :)
Hope you are well!
Thanks for answering all of our questions, Jason! I really enjoyed thinking about all the other parts of the story that hadn't been written, so it's nice to have those extra slices of information! Thank you Kenneth for organising. :)
Thanks again, HA and Kenneth, for hosting this. The winners are:1. Marie - 2 novels (of your choosing) and 8 Cylinders
2. Latasha - signed 8 Cylinders.
PM me with the address you'd like me to send the books to and I'll get them to you this week.
Thanks!
Thank you so much, Jason!!! I will pm you my address. :)
https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Cylinder...