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Below
Group Reads: Guest Author Invite
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September 2021 Group Read #2 with Guest Author, Kev Harrison
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That cover is amazing.
Hey folks, I'll join in on the discussion but I've already read this one, can't wait to talk about it with you all, and ask Kev some questions.
Alan wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Gosh this cover is a stunner, I can't stop looking at it."That cover is amazing."
The cover is badass! And I am in! Sounds like a fantastic! Welcome Kev!
Thanks so much for the warm welcome, everyone.I look forward to seeing how you get along with Below and answering any questions you may have. Enjoy!
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Alan wrote: "OK, so the first time I saw Nick's grandfather's name all spelled out I thought it said Nicholas Jonas. I thought, really? Nick Jonas is a main character in the book. Oh...JonEs. My bad."This made me laugh! But Nick Jonas is already a horror story! ;)
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Kenneth wrote: "Kev. Being an Englishman living in Portugal, how were you able to capture the authenticity of being in an American mine from the 1950s?"That's a great question.
I read articles about them and watched YouTube videos of people visiting some newly unearthed ones to get an idea about how much might be collapsed and how much intact. Also to get an idea of the man-made support structures in them.
I also had a student in Poland who was a mining project manager. He took me to a coal mine at the end of our course, to see what it was like and, very kindly, fielded questions while I was writing Below.
Hi Kev! I'm happy to see you here! I'm hoping to start this one soon.
Thanks, Char and likewise! I hope you enjoy it when you do! 😁🖤
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Latasha wrote: "I am beginning this today & I will do my best but like Nick- I’m claustrophobic."Hi Latasha! Thanks for picking it up and checking it out. Hope the claustrophobia enhances your experience, rather than the alternative. 🤞🏼
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Hi Latasha! Thanks for picking it up and checking it out. Hope the claustrophobia enhances your ex..."
your welcome! Hopefully I won't have to skip over too many scenes. I'm up to chapter 7 and can already say hell no! But what's crazy is that I have toured 3 caves- one in Mexico when I was on a cruise, Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tn and one near Pigeon Forge, Tn. What was I thinking?!
Latasha wrote: "Kev wrote: "Latasha wrote: "I am beginning this today & I will do my best but like Nick- I’m claustrophobic."Hi Latasha! Thanks for picking it up and checking it out. Hope the claustrophobia enha..."
Whoa! That's brave! I don't really get claustrophobia at all, but if I did, I would be staying the hell away from caves, mines and caverns, trust me! ;)
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Hi Latasha! Thanks for picking it up and checking it out. Hope the cla..."
I didn't have to crawl through any of them. That's what really gets me, not being able to move or the thought of getting stuck in them with no way out. any place, not just caves and such.
Latasha wrote: "Kev wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Kev wrote: "Latasha wrote: "I am beginning this today & I will do my best but like Nick- I’m claustrophobic."Hi Latasha! Thanks for picking it up and checking it out. ..."
100% get that. One of my friends was describing a caving experience to me the other day. Literally lying on her front and wriggling through a gap, with the rock pressing on your from all sides. No thank you!!! :O
I just started on my lunch hour and I'm loving the set up so far. I, too, am a bit claustrophobic, but I think I'll be okay. The set up is intriguing, so hopefully I can stay focused on that and not the walls closing in...
My husband and I went on a tour of Howe caverns in New York state, but that's about it. Oh also?! (And it's sad to say now, given what day it is.) I did get severely claustrophobic in one of the two elevators you used to have to take to get to the top of the twin towers buildings. They were very small elevators and they just packed the people in there. :(
You've done a lot of cave or underground exploration, Kev?
Char wrote: "I just started on my lunch hour and I'm loving the set up so far. I, too, am a bit claustrophobic, but I think I'll be okay. The set up is intriguing, so hopefully I can stay focused on that and ..."
Eek.... elevators in skyscrapers can be pretty stressful, huh?
I've been to a fair number of caves - we have a bunch in Portugal, where I live and some more in the UK where I grew up, but I've really only visited ones you can walk around.
I did have the "fun" experience of visiting a coal mine in Poland, though. One of my students was a project manager there and invited me to check it out after a year of talking my ears off about it.
Darkest place I've ever been in my life - even with floodlights. Surreal!!
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I used to climb a lot and I could not come anywhere near to her level 🤣So glad you're enjoying the book! 🤘🏼
Thanks so much for checking it out and reviewing! So glad you had a good time reading it! 🙏🏼
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Kimberly wrote: "I plan on starting this one tonight!!"Awesome! I hope you have fun with it. Hit me with any questions or comments you might have! 😊
I'm only about half way through...enjoying things so far. I have to say, though, the most surprising thing for me thus far is that there's a social media influencer character who acts like an actual human being and not an hyper obnoxious animatronic. I feel like that's exceedingly rare in fiction.
Haha! I used to be a travel blogger before writing fiction and got to know a few travel influencers. And as much as they did usually adhere to the 'always looking perfect' stereotype, they were almost always really pleasant, normal folk. I wanted to get that across through Jess. 🤞🏼
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Super glad. I wanted her to have that first impression of being straightforward and not all that bright, but to prove people wrong. 💪🏼
I finished last night and really enjoyed myself!Unfortunately, my guess as to what would happen turned out to be correct and I hate when that happens,
However, I did enjoy the writing, the characters and the fast pace. I look forward to reading more of your work in the future, Kev!
When did you start writing fiction? What prompted you?
Thanks for checking it out! I'm glad you enjoyed it, but sorry that you figured it out (I also get a little upset when that happens!)I wrote fiction as a really navel gazing adolescent at university but, thankfully, all of that stuff has been wiped from the annals of history. I decided it wasn't for people like me and gave up.
After that, I wrote lyrics in the bands I was in and then switched up to travel blogging for a bit. But I always wanted to tell dark stories. Circumstances clicked at the end of 2016 and I decided to make a go of it. 😊
Wow! This book sounds fantastic! Is it too late to read it for the group?Zain 🤷🏽♀️
I don't think so. I'm still here and very happy to answer questions, etc! Hope you enjoy it if you do! 🖤
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Zain 🤷🏽♀️"
Jump on in Zain!
I finished! Echoing others I really like the cover too, and I also guessed what was going to happen, but I don’t mind it as much I lined this book it was a great quick read and I like *SPOILER*.
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That Nick redeemed himself and his family at the end by saving everyone!
Finished! Interesting read!
Kev wrote: "Thanks for checking it out! I'm glad you enjoyed it, but sorry that you figured it out (I also get a little upset when that happens!)I wrote fiction as a really navel gazing adolescent at univers..."
Thanks for sharing that with us and thank you for joining our discussion. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Thanks so much to everyone that's checked out the book and shared their thoughts. It means so much! 🙏🏼🖤
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