TopShelf - October 2022

MASTHEAD

Publisher:

Triad

GEO-POLITICAL THRILLS

HUMPHREY HAWKSLEY

Exclusive Interview

His recent non-fiction Asian Waters: The Struggle Over The Asia-Pacific And The Challenge To American Power a has been acclaimed on every continent by those at the heart of global decision-making, such as Indian cabinet minister, Hardeep Puri; the last governor of Hong Kong Baron Lord Patten of Barnes; and Dr Wu Shicun, President of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies. China's rise is a fast developing story.

Humphrey’s work as a BBC foreign correspondent has taken him all over the world with postings in beijing, hong kong, manila, delhi and colombo. He has contributed to ABC, National Public Radio and other networks in the United States and global publication of his work includes the Financial Times, New York Times, Yale Global, Nikkei Asian Review and others.

Q: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS TO CREATE NOVELS LIKE ICE ISLANDS?

I try to absorb characters, conversations, landscapes of the world around me. From my work as a journalist, I peek behind lives, ask tricky questions and activate my imagination to weave that material into fiction. I am fascinated by how a single character can create high-stakes global events. Donald Trump is a living example. ICE ISLANDS is the fourth in the RAKE OZENNA series which originated from a BBC assignment to the U.S.-Russian border in Alaska. The border runs through a narrow strip of water between two islands, the Russian Big Diomede and the American Little Diomede. That is all that separates these two hostile nuclear-armed powers. There are no visible border protection or markings on either side.. Big Diomede is a closed Russian military zone: Civilians were moved off decades ago. An Indigenous American community of around 80 live on Little Diomede. My novelist mind kicked in by asking what would happen if a fleet of Russian helicopters suddenly flew across and occupied this American territory. From there, was born my protagonist RAKE OZENNA, a Little Diomede islander, who is very good in tough, cold environments at keeping people safe. Each of his subsequent adventures is anchored in realistic global enmity. In ICE ISLANDS, RAKE OZENNA tackles the nexus between organized crime and the Japanese government and the little-known dispute between Japan and Russia who, incredibly, have yet to sign a peace treaty to end the Pacific War.

Q: DESCRIBE YOUR LATEST BOOK, ICE ISLANDS, IN THREE WORDS.

HUNT. COLD. EVIL

Q: WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS WAS THE TOUGHEST TO CREATE WITHIN YOUR NEW RELEASE?

Sara Kato is the daughter of a Japanese crime boss who exiled her to an English boarding school when she was just ten years old. Servants looked after her during early childhood. Both parents were cold and unemotional. Her twin brother bullied her. Her older brother, Michio, now heir to the crime empire, is the only family member she loves. But Michio is an epitome of ambitious evil. While Sara craves family love, she loathes her family for what it does and how it has treated her. All of this is set against her attraction to Rake Ozenna who is tasked with keeping Sara safe and turning her into an informant against her

family. Also in Rake’s life is Carrie Walker, a trauma surgeon, who is the only woman he cannot get out of his mind.

Q: DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY STRUGGLES IN FINISHING YOUR ICE ISLANDS?

It is easier if there is a contractual deadline. For the ending itself, there were a number of re-writes to try to get the zing of the last line as right as can be, ideally a surprise and leaving the reader wanting more. After the final dramatic clash what are the denouement revelations and how to pace and order them. I take comfort in the numerous draft Ernest Hemingway wrote for his endings and that they filmed two alternate endings to Casablanca as to whether Ilsa Lund joined Victor Lazlo on the plane to Lisbon or stayed behind with café owner, Rick. With all stories, the most important element the reader really wants to know is who gets together with who at the end

Q: WHAT OTHER PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US, READERS?

I am structuring the next RAKE OZENNA thriller, while excitedly working on the expansion of the Goldster Book Club where we host two, sometimes three, hour-long live interactive interviews with authors of all genres. We range from global best-sellers like Sir Ian Ranking and Ely Griffiths to grassroots topics like The Knackered Mother’s Wine Guide by Helen McGinn and Justin Marozzi’s vividly compelling Islamic Empires. In September 2022, we have been running an Agatha Christie-themed month on the ‘cosy crime’ genre, tempered of course with appropriate shows on the passing of Queen Elizabeth. I urge anyone interested in writing and in the publishing world to take a look at the Goldster Book club and the past shows on my website.

Q: WHAT IS THE USUAL DEADLINE FOR WRITING EACH BOOK?

I like to give it a loop of a year, usually delivering December. That, of course, changes with publisher slots and different genres.

ABOUT HUMPHREY HAWKSLEY

Humphrey Hawksley has reported on key trends, events and conflicts from all over the world.

His work as a BBC foreign correspondent has taken him to crises on every continent. He was expelled from Sri Lanka, opened the BBC’s television bureau in China, arrested in Serbia and initiated a global campaign against enslaved children in the chocolate industry. The campaign continues today.

His television documentaries include The Curse of Gold and Bitter Sweet examining human rights abuse in global trade; Aid Under Scrutiny on the failures of international development; Old Man Atom that investigates the global nuclear industry; and Danger: Democracy at Work on the risks of bringing Western-style democracy too quickly to some societies.

Humphrey is the author of the acclaimed ‘Future History’ series Dragon Strike, Dragon Fire and The Third World War that explores world conflict. He has published four international thrillers, Ceremony of Innocence, Absolute Measures, Red Spirit and Security Breach, together with the non-fiction Democracy Kills: What’s so good about the Vote – a tie-in to his TV documentary on the pitfalls of the modern-day path to democracy from dictatorship.

His work has appeared in the The Guardian, The Times, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Yale Global and other publications. His university lectures include Columbia, Cambridge, University College London and the London Business School. He is a regular speaker and panellist including at Intelligence Squared and the Royal Geographical Society, and he has presented his work and moderated at many literary festivals.

WRITING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

by Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey

Breakfield

and Burkey are full-time technologists who see tremendous technology inroads misused and weaponized depending upon who creates and executes the programs. For hundreds of years, across nations of the world’s diverse people, greed has played a role in how products are traded, consumed, and discarded. As storytellers, we focus on real technology as today’s cyber threats in our novels to alert folks that bad actors are ready to attack them from the Darknet. The results are often unexpected, even when a follow-on investigation uncovers the plans that were in motion from the beginning. To that end, we focus on the disturbing possibilities visible on our modern-day horizon with technology in the hands of the greedy and power hungry.

1: We envision someone will decide to commission a Global Cyber Police (GCP) force to patrol cyberspace around the planet. The global agency would likely consist of two distinct branches. The first is a back-

office group trolling the Internet, hunting for bad actors. The second would be a physical team sent to collect the evidence and perpetrators for trial.

The GCP would be a strike team against cybercrime that propagates disinformation. One of the mandates of this group is to detect and intercept deep fake technology used to masquerade as a legitimate source of information. People need to feel confident that the leadership offering guidance is authentic.

2: We have seen the rise of cyber bounty hunters across the digital landscape. We expect a pushback by some nations with the GCP entering the country and whacking bad actors operating from the Darknet. Today tracking software is available sophisticated enough to pinpoint your geolocation. The next stage would see rewards posted for persons of interest operating in countries that provide sanctuary for the bad actors.

3: We expect to see the emerging technology of Metaverse colliding with software gaming companies to produce a whole new way of delivering stories to the general population. We envision Internet on-ramps for readers/gamers to enter stories as active or passive participants. This approach can provide story settings in a virtual existence that readers/players can join via Augmented Reality.

Visitors to the virtual world use cryptocurrencies and NFTs (NonFungible Tokens), allowing the author to monetize their created worlds—Ticket sales, souvenirs, Avatars, etc. The Metaverse is the next author publishing platform.

4: We believe the battle between cryptocurrency and standard fiat money will end in a draw. Cryptocurrency will inherit strict regulations to eliminate the Ponzi schemes foisted off on an unsuspecting public, thus resulting in a similar status as fiat money. Both forms of currency will continue near-term interdependencies in the future. Neither has any intrinsic value, but cryptocurrency›s portability enhances a person›s financial strength if tied to fiat currency with the backing of a sovereign nation. Solid regulations governing cryptocurrency and legitimate digitalto analog currency arbitrage will rise to a global standard. We expect independent cryptocurrency mixers to be outlawed or displaced by standard financial organizations.

We took elements of the above points into The Enigma Beyond as a foundation for artificial intelligence exploitation. The technology thriller

steps into today’s world, where decisions are moving from people to machines. People seem oblivious to how quickly they are relinquishingtheir freedoms. The theme continues in the novel, The Enigma Threat, to a surprising outcome. Both stories explore cyber combat between humans and AI-enhanced supercomputers. Each side is determined to win while painting an uncomfortable future where we live and work today.

Read our featured book, The Enigma Beyond. Can the R-Group Terminate the Poisoned Supercomputers in Time?

US Congressional leaders are investigating the technology stronghold of the MAG leaders. It may be too late. MAG has geopolitical ambitions using artificially intelligent supercomputers to control politics, social media, finances, healthcare, and military defenses across the world.

Jacob, Petra, and other key members of the R-Group, including ICABOD find evidence of extensive and deadly cover ups by unknown culprits.

Now they’re forced to use the current crisis to train their next generation of cyber savvy techno geeks against the AI cyber threats infused into every aspect of human life.

With all that the R-Group youth have been taught, will it be enough to unravel the mystery involving the US and Chinese defense space stations? Will the R-Group find the solution before humans become servants?

Tech·nol·o·gy (tek’näl je) is Today’s weapon of choice….

with males and females, as well as young and experienced adults. They bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today in exciting stories. Visit their website for more information and free stuff.

CONNECT AND FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Breakfield is a technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. Charles is a fan of wine tastings, winemaking, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.

Burkey is a echnology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments. She works with customers all over the world focusing on optimized customer experiences. Rox writes white papers and documentation, but found she has a marked preference for writing fiction.

Together these Texas authors create award-winning stories that resonate

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlesbreakfield and www.linkedin.com/in/roxanneburkey Twitter:

@EnigmaSeries and @1rburkey

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheEnigmaSeries/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/ UC6Vz4x5ctTnx3yUhZk1OJkw

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/enigmseries/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/enigmabookseries/ Email: Authors@EnigmaSeries.com Website: www.EnigmaSeries.com/ Blogs: EnigmaSeries.com/the-enigmachronicles/category/blog-statement/ https://wwww.RoxBurkey.com

Meet Your New Bookish Buddies at The BookFest®

Do you want to hangout with fellow bibliophiles? Would you like to discover new reads? Want to meet your new favorite authors? Then become a BookFester and check out the always-free to attend livestream event which happens every spring and fall.

The next BookFest is October 22nd and 23rd and streams from The BookFest website. No evites, passwords, or fees, just kick back with a cuppa and watch the fun. Chat with other booklovers and the speakers in the chatrooms. The BookFest streams through the Books That Make You YouTube channel and you can watch natively there, or on Facebook and other social media platforms.

The BookFest features Panels, Conversations, Live Author Chats, the winners of the recent BookFest Awards, the epic Big Bundle of Books Giveaway, and all BookFesters – meaning everyone who signs up on the website – receive a Virtual Gift Bag at the end of The BookFest.

THE BOOKFEST FALL 2022’S THEME

The BookFest Fall 2022 has a spooky, autumnal theme. It is presented by the Horror Writers

Association (HWA) and Bookstagrammers. Several HWA writers will join the Live Author Chats on Saturday night, October 22nd. They have poems in the Horror Writers Association’s Poetry Showcase Vol IX, edited by Angela Yuriko Smith, and will read their poetry, tell scary stories, and chat with the audience. The Live Author Chats are hosted by A.G. Billig and Herbie Pilato.

DAY ONE OF THE BOOKFEST GEARED TOWARD READERS

Highlights to look forward to on Day One of The BookFest, which is geared toward readers, is the opening keynote by Beatrice Adenodi, author of Mindless Behaviors: Breaking Through Unseen Barriers . Philip Fracassi, who The New York Times calls, “terrifically scary,” will be in Conversation. Plus, there are panels about climate change-themed books; science fiction, fantasy and dark fiction; a Conversation with author and speaker Neil Bockoven, PhD.; and what promises to be an insightful and poignant panel with experts discussing book bannings and challenges in the US.

DAY TWO OF THE BOOKFEST LEANS TOWARD WRITING COMMUNITY

Day Two of The BookFest, which always leans over to writers – and let’s face it, many of us who read also dream of writing one day – kicks off with an opening keynote from Karla Olson of Patagonia Books. In Conversation is Angela Bole from the Independent Book Publishers Association (and soon-to-be with Firebrand Technologies). New York Times best-selling author David L. Robbins and Katharine Sands from the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency return for a BookFest favorite: The Critiki Bar, which has the duo delivering page one manuscript critiques.

The legal eagles of the publishing and entertainment world also speak on a panel to answer common questions about the legal aspects of becoming an author. The BookFest organizational design team talk about building an author platform. Other segments show how authors can land TV deals, make valuable connections, submit to anthologies, and effectively write historical fiction.

WHY THE BOOKFEST BACKSTORY IS LIKE STONE SOUP

The BookFest launched May 2020 at a time when lockdown forced many live events to be cancelled. The backstory is much like the classic Stone Soup as folks from the reading and writing community came together to contribute to the success of The BookFest.

The BookFest is produced by Black Château Enterprises and presented in part by Books That Make You. All three were founded by Desireé Duffy. She, along with head of Operations David Duffy, and associate Dr Raye Mitchell, were honored to speak about the success of The BookFest livestream at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Las Vegas Convention in 2022. In just a few short years The BookFest has grown to be a global phenomenon and is attended virtually by people around the world. It’s been recognized with a Webby Awards nomination in

2021, a gold award from the Muse Creative Awards in 2020, and a silver award from the w3 Awards in 2020.

THE BOOKFEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE AUTHORS, CELEBRITIES, JOURNALISTS AND LEADERS IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY

The BookFest features an array of literary speakers which has included: Mitch Albom; Mark Coker; Cheryl Willis Hudson; Wade Hudson; Sarah Kendzior; Jonathan Maberry; Lisa Morton; James Rollins; Michael Shermer; Mark K. Shriver; Dennis E. Taylor; Danny Trejo; Helene Wecker; and more.

HOW TO BECOME A BOOKFESTER

To become a BookFester subscribe to receive email alerts on The BookFest website: https:// TheBookFest.com and click Sign Up Now. You will also receive a free Virtual Gift Bag with freebies, downloads, and exclusive offers. Also, enter the Big Bundle of Books Giveaway for a chance to win books and prizes.

BIOS FOR THE BOOKFEST CREATORS:

BIO FOR DESIREÉ DUFFY

Desireé Duffy is the Founder of Black Château, a marketing and public relations agency; Books That Make You, a Webby Award-winning a multimedia brand that promotes books and authors through its website, podcast, and radio show;

and The BookFest®, a biannual online event that brings together booklovers from around the world.

Duffy is an advocate for spreading stories. Her expansive marketing, event production, broadcast, and public relations background, mixed with her passion for storytelling, led her to found the multiaward-winning, full-service marketing and public relations firm Black Château in 2016, Books That Make You in 2018, and The BookFest® in 2020.

Duffy hosts and is the executive producer for the Books That Make You Show and is a speaker on topics such as branding; marketing; digital and traditional media; livestreaming technology; diversity, equity and inclusion; and public relations.

BIO FOR DAVE DUFFY

Dave Duffy is the Head of Operations

Black Château and The BookFest®. He skillfully masters the intersection between technology and operations. He is a data expert who puts the numbers behind the strategies and promotions of the company and spearheads advertising, social media, and self-publishing initiatives for the companies.

Dave’s background in entertainment, retail, and digital cinema includes professional experience working for entertainment and videogame companies like Cinedigm and GameRush. A skilled website designer and developer, he is also

talented at audio/video production, photography, editing, graphic art, and digital media.

BIO FOR BREE SWIDER

Bree Swider oversees marketing communication and manages client projects for Black Château and organizes the social media team and the Big Bundle of Books Giveaway for The BookFest. Having acquired a degree in paralegal studies from College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California, Bree gained valuable experience from her past positions as a paralegal and administrative assistant before joining the Black Château team.

BIO FOR BRIAN BOSCH

Brian Bosch started teaching HTML and managing technical support back in the mid-to late-1990’s, when working for one of the earliest internet startup companies. He later spent several years traveling the globe, helping ISPs and global companies get interconnected. He has traveled to over 40 countries and has conducted business in most of them. Brian has worked in product marketing and has consulted for companies like Verizon, MCI, UUNet and CompuServe. Brian created The BookFest website and its underlying database. His support in managing the platform and providing technical assistance helps makes The BookFest recognized as a leader in livestream bookish events.

MARK LESLIE

Q: Will readers find the superhero’s creed that ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ in your Fright Nights:Big City novel?

That’s a great question. The creed, which is most popularly known from the SpiderMan comics and movies, is one my main character Michael Andrews lives by. While he may not often actually repeat the creed in each of the Canadian Werewolf novels, he does refer to this line in Fright Nights, Big City. And regardless, in every book in the series it’s always very clear how much of a fan of the wall-crawler he is.

In this particular novel, which outlines Michael’s misled belief that he can just live a normal life, take advantage of an important new “talisman” in his life that removes his enhanced werewolf powers and prevents him from turning into a wolf. But his longtime best friend, and former lover, Gail, reminds him of Michael’s constant need to help people. It’s part of who he is. So denying these special powers that he can use to better help people goes against his nature. The novel also contains an underlying message about the dangers that can come when a person tries to repress who they really are.

Q: How did you get started in writing stories about werewolves?

To be honest, though I’ve been writing in the horror and speculative fiction fields for decades, I’ve never been a fan of trying to write stories using the standard tropes and monsters from horror.

The main reason I wrote a werewolf story in the first place was in response to a call for short stories for an anthology entitled The Beast Within. It had been about the time of my first visit to New York City. The editor for that anthology had been looking for stories that focused on the person, rather than the monster they turned into. It made me think about the possible side-effects of being a man who turned into some typical horror movie monster. Someone like the comic book version of The Incredible Hulk who had no control over the monster, and would wake up with no memory of what had gone down while they were the monster.

So, while walking through Battery Park on the south-western tip of Manhattan, I imagined what it might be like for a man who, living with a lycanthropic curse, woke up there, completely naked, and had to — yet again — figure out what had happened the night before and how to make it home

without being arrested for indecent exposure.

The resulting tale “This Time Around” was a 10,000-word short story about a man in this position who, despite his desire to get home and to an important work meeting, ends up repeatedly using his enhanced strength, hearing, and sense of smell to help others as he makes his way across the city. It never sold to the original anthology. But I liked it enough to want to try to cut it down some and sell to another market. When my friend, horror author Sean Costello read it, instead of cutting it down, he asked me what happened next.

“Nothing,” I told him. “That’s it. That’s the end of the story.” After a few trials and challenges along the way he made it home. And, like every other day during his monthly wolf-moon cycle, he can never truly understand what he did the night before. That’s part of the frustration of being who he is.

But Sean kept prodding me to explore the rest of his day, saying there was a novel

there is I just explored how the rest of his day went. And thinking about that helped me to re-adapt “This Time Around” into an 80,000word novel called A Canadian Werewolf in New York

Ironically, this stand-alone single-dayin-the-life novel about a man living in Manhattan with a werewolf curse stayed as a single novel for several years. It wasn’t until a call for a different anthology called Monster Road Trip prompted me to imagine what it might be like for this same character to be stuck on a train speeding across the country-side knowing it wouldn’t arrive at the final destination until 20 minutes after sunset during the cycle of a full moon. That more than 20,000-word tale turned into Stowe Away, the novella-length 2nd book in what was now the Canadian Werewolf series.

Q: Where did the original idea for Fright Nights: Big City come from?

While the end of Fright Nights, Big City had been with me all along, I didn’t even realize it would include an entire novel. Fright Nights, Big City was not supposed to exist. What happened was the story I was building in Fear and Longing in Los Angeles was larger and longer than I had originally intended. So, I had to reimagine a much longer story arc between those two novels. The challenge was that each book needed to work as a stand-alone story, but also work as part of an ongoing series with continuation.

Fear and Longing in Los Angeles ends with Michael Andrews, the werewolf in question, finally finding what he believes

is a “happy ending.” He is returning from an extended trip to Hollywood where found his true love, and a way to suppress the lycanthropy that has plagued him. For anyone reading that novel as a stand-alone, it’s a selfcontained story with a happy ending of a man finding a new life.

Fright Nights, Big City continues from the point of his return to the Big Apple where Michael learns that the horrors he thought they left behind in LA have followed them home. And that putting aside that aforementioned sense of responsibility and trying to repress the beast within him just makes things worse. There’s a direct parallel, within the bad guys in these two novels, the PFA, or Proud Fighters for America, a neo-Nazi group attempting to build a new race of supernatural soldiers and chase out nonpure people from the US. There’s a belief that the Nazi’s were beaten in World War II and they ceased to exist. But they didn’t. They continue to fester, globally and infect the world with their hatred, fear, and lies. I leveraged a lot of research into the paranormal and occult activities conducted by Hitler’s Third Reich when developing this fictional hate group.

In case it’s not already clear, if you sympathize with Nazi’s, racists, misogynists, homophobes, or domestic terrorists, you’re going to hate this book.

Q: What is the lure of superhero and paranormal fiction?

People usually like to believe that there’s always some higher purpose to them and their life. Superhero stories allow them to

see a character making a different, helping others, saving the day, working for some higher, purer cause. They may imagine themselves in the shoes of the hero and wonder if they would be able to do the same things. Or they may see the hero as someone or something external to them, there to make the world a better place.

Superhero stories are often stories of hope, and of triumph over bizarre or otherwise unexplainable circumstances. They take the unknown, the strange, and the unexpected, and turn them into stories that are often good beating evil.

When it comes to paranormal. I believe that’s also a fundamental uniqueness of humans. For me, I’ve always enjoyed stories that spark a “sense of wonder” or explore a unique and intriguing “what if.” That has led me to want to write speculative tales, and, often, tales that involve paranormal elements. Because from humanity’s earliest days, when we huddled around fires inside our caves, we always wondered, with a combination of curiosity and fear, what lurked outside those dancing shadows, in the deep dark vastness of the night.

Q: Besides the Canadian Werewolf series, what other projects are you working on?

I have so many irons in the fire it’s hard for me to keep them straight.

In October of 2022, on what’s the 35th Anniversary of the John Hughes movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles I’ll be releasing a project I’ve been working on in bits and pieces, for a few years. I’m a huge fan of that movie, and of Hughes and Canadian actor John Candy. My book, The Canadian Mounted, is a trivia guide to the classic comedy, and intentionally takes the title and looks like a book that John Candy’s character, Del Griffith, is seen reading in the

New York airport where Del and Neal Page officially become acquainted. You also see a version of The Canadian Mounted in one of the Deadpool movies. Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds had the prop department create a replica as a nod to John Candy.

I’ve got a straight up thriller, or perhaps a techno-thriller, called Evasion that I released back in 2014. After finishing that stand-alone, I came up with an idea for two more books in that series, to make it a trilogy. But the half-finished first draft of book two in that series, A Covert Life, remains on an untouched back-burner. I’m looking forward to getting back to that. But readers are enjoying and want more Canadian Werewolf novels, and I’m still having so much fun exploring the further adventures of Michael Andrews and his friends.

Right now, Julie Strauss, who coauthored the paranormal romantic comedy Lover’s Moon, the fifth book in the series that immediate follows Fright Nights, Big City, and I are in the planning phase to begin work on the very next one called Hex and the City.

Another project I’m beginning to work on for late 2023 is Weird Waterloo – a book of true paranormal and ghost stories of the Greater Region of Waterloo, which is about a one-and-a-half-hour drive west of Toronto, Ontario. I’ll be writing that one with coauthor Alyssa Kuron.

Q: How would you describe your writing style in three words?

Stream of consciousness.

Q: For aspiring writers in your genre, what advice would you give them?

I would advise young writers who are truly passionate about building a life-long career as an author to never give up on that dream. And remind them that patience, practice, and persistence are three of the hallmarks of success for any writer. Regardless of which path a writer chooses, traditional publishing or self/indie publishing, it can take years of a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears, to realize their dreams, or reach their goals and achieve whatever level of success they intend.

And that being said, try your best to not judge your beginning with someone else’s middle or end. You’ll likely have no idea of how long they might have spent getting to where they did. So attempting to be anywhere other than ahead of where YOU were the previous day can be a fruitless and debilitating endeavor. Keep looking forward. Keep persisting. Keep focusing on that passion that drew you to writing in the first place.

ABOUT MARK

Mark Leslie Lefebvre has been writing since he was thirteen years old and discovered his mother’s Underwood typewriter collecting dust in a closet. He started submitting his work for publication at the age of fifteen and had his first story published in 1992, the same year he graduated from university. Under the name Mark Leslie, he has published more than a dozen full length books. He pens a series of non-fiction paranormal explorations for Dundurn, Canada’s largest independent publisher. He also writes fiction (typically thrillers and

horror) and edits fiction anthologies, most recently as a regular editor for the WMG Publishing Fiction River anthology series. The very same year, Mark saw his first short story in print he started working in the book industry as a part-time bookseller, and was bitten by the book-selling bug. He has worked in virtually every type of bookstore (independent, chain, large-format, online, academic and digital). He has thrived on innovation, particularly related to digital publishing, and enjoys interacting with the various people who make the book industry so dynamic. Between 2011 and 2017, Mark worked at the Director of Self-Publishing and Author Relations for Kobo where he was the driving force behind the creation of Kobo Writing Life, a free and easy to use author/small-publisher friendly platform designed to publish directly to Kobo’s global catalog in 190 countries. By the end of 2016, Kobo Writing Life established itself as the #1 single source of weekly global unit sales for Kobo and, in primarily English language territories, responsible for 1 in every 4 eBooks sold. Mark has spoken professionally in the United States and Canada, in the UK and across Europe, specializing in advances in digital publishing and the vast and incredible opportunities that exist for writers and publishers. Stark Publishing is an imprint Mark created in 2004 when he released his first book One Hand Screaming. He has used the imprint to publish more than 25 books. Campus Chills (2009) and Obsessions (2020) are two of the titles he used to anthologize other authors writing. Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough is the first single author title from a different author that he has published.

markleslie.ca

Unleash Your Inner Goddess

MICKEY MIKKELSON OF CREATIVE EDGE PUBLICITY IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT SIX OF OUR TALENTED AUTHORS ARE FEATURED GUEST SPEAKERS IN THE MUCH ANTICIPATED UNLEASH YOUR INNER GODDESS SUMMIT.

Are you ready to live your life in a more powerful selfassured fashion?

Every time you choose to take care of yourself, to learn, and to grow is a time where you tell the world, “I know I deserve the best and I am getting it!”

It’s time! It’s time to start connecting with yourself. Time to understand your motivation. It’s time to forgive, and shape your life up to be a life you enjoy every single day of living.

If you agree, you’ll want to join me, Amy Walston, and these six thought provoking author/speakers represented by Creative Edge for the Unleash Your Inner Goddess Summit. You’ll also be able to listen to twelve other inspiring speakers on a variety of topics designed to improve your overall well being and bring out your best self ever.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE ACCESS

Whiskers Abroad

Whiskers Abroad is a lively travelogue featuring a trip to Japan shared by two main characters, Audrey and her cat Ashi, who alternate recounting their versions of events.

During a twelve-day trip, the pair visit several cities. Adventures abound. Audrey is still trying to find her place in the universe, while Ashi believes Audrey would sink beneath the waves were he not present to rescue her. Audrey’s daily horoscope offers tantalizing clues as to what’s in store for the pair. Written by Carrie Carter and designed by Stacy Vickers, Whiskers Abroad is both an amusing travel story with unforgettable characters and a useful guide for tourists going to Japan. Lavishly designed, Whiskers Abroad will

A Child Alone with Strangers

When young Henry Thorne is kidnapped and held prisoner in a remote farmhouse surrounded by miles of forest, he finds himself connecting with a strange force living in the woods—using that bond to wreak havoc against his captors. Unknown to the boy, however, is that this ancient being has its own reasons for wanting the interlopers gone—there is something hidden beneath the house, tucked away in the dark, damp root cellar . . . waiting for its return.

delight both your eyes and your sense of adventure.

Carrie Carter

Carrie Carter has a profound love for Japan, cats, sumo, dioramas, and eating unusual foods. She has traveled with her husband Jim to Japan fourteen times, so her numerous holidays across her favorite country were the inspiration for her first book, Whiskers Abroad: Ashi and Audrey’s Adventures in Japan. Carrie has run multiple marathons including the Tokyo Marathon, and, as expected, Carrie and Jim live with an adorable cat named Frenemy, who was unhappy at not being selected as the model for the book.

She started and has been playing in an ‘80s band, Molly and the Ringwalds, for over

Philip Fracassi

Philip Fracassi is the author of the award-winning story collection, Behold the Void, which won “Best Collection of the Year” from This Is Horror and Strange Aeons Magazine.

His newest collection, Beneath a Pale Sky, was published in 2021 by Lethe Press. It received a starred review from Library Journal, was named “Best Collection of the Year” by Rue Morgue Magazine, and was nominated for a Bram Stoker award.

His novels include A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, and Boys in the Valley.

Philip’s books have been translated into multiple languages and his stories have been published in numerous magazines and

two decades now! In addition to playing the keyboard, Carrie also plays the recorder and bagpipes.

Carrie lives in Houston, TX, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. At home, she loves to cook, design/ create Halloween costumes, daydream about meeting Jacques Pepin, and watch Elvis movies, although not necessarily at the same time. She dislikes overly dramatic music used in reality TV shows. Currently, Carrie is working on her second book, a sequel to Whiskers Abroad, where Audrey and Ashi explore further into Japan and get themselves into even more interesting predicaments.

anthologies, including Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Black Static, Dark Discoveries, and Cemetery Dance.

The New York Times calls his work “terrifically scary.”

As a screenwriter, his feature films have been distributed by Disney Entertainment and Lifetime Television. He currently has several stories under option for film/tv adaption.

Philip lives in Los Angeles and is represented by Elizabeth Copps at Copps Literary Services. For more information, visit his website at www.pfracassi.com. He also has active profiles on Facebook, Instagram (pfracassi) and Twitter (@philipfracassi).

Chris Denmead hosts a midnight horror themed radio show The Dr. Chris Radio of Horror show in Worcester MA. The show has been broadcasting on 91.3 FM from the WCUW building since Oct, 2007 It Airs Sunday night at 10pm. He recently published Vlada a Dracula Tale, a Graphic Novella and Audio Book and Tie in Prequel Comic Book with artist Ken Hunt. He gender swaps the cast of Dracula. He lives in Framingham MA. He has one son and his Black Cat. When he is not writing books on the most unusual filmmakers in New England, he is watching Godzilla movies with his son or playing video games. He is an avid comic book collector.

Christopher Denmead has both updated and gender-swapped Bram Stroker's life-impared Transylvania nobleman. Vlad is now Countess Vlada Dracula, and she is pitted against a female Harker and —of course— a new take on Van Helsing. It's both a retelling of the story and an original take, bringing freshness and a dark sense of fun to a story we only think we know by heart.”

Jonathan Maberry— NY Times bestselling author of V-Wars, Ink, and Dot & Ruin

“

QUEENS

MEG HAFDAHL & KELLY FLORENCE

Q: What led you both to teaming up and writing books such as The Science of Witchcraft?

We have always liked scary things and when we became friends, we realized we both liked doing research into the history, science, psychology and more behind our favorite horror movies! We started talking about it weekly on our podcast, Horror Rewind, then realized we should be writing about our passions. It started with The Science of Monsters in 2019 and now our latest, The Science of Witchcraft.

Q: Tell us, readers, what makes The Science of Witchcraft such a unique read?

Like all of our books, we approach the subject from many different angles. As horror movie fans we begin with the filmic POV, and Meg is a bookworm and Kelly is a theatre expert, so we add those in too! We believe our love of art, science, and

history really shine through and gives the reader such a prismatic view into witches.

Q: How did you both go from screenwriting and writing fiction to this nonfiction analogy?

Since we are naturally drawn to horror, it was a logical step to write about the truth behind our favorite fictional characters. We learned that sometimes truth is scarier than fiction and many times fictional monsters are based on real people! We’ve also had so many discoveries in our research about real medical conditions that inspired horror franchises, like A Nightmare on Elm Street, and gave us a new appreciation for the movies.

Q: Is coauthoring easier than writing solo or tougher?

We’re working on our sixth co-

written book right now, and are award nominated co-screenwriters, so at this point we have found our writing rhythm! We often say we share the same brain, and that’s true sometimes, but it’s also vital to recognize the differences we bring to the project that make it even better! That being said, we both have solo projects which gives us the opportunity to create on our own. What’s easier? Having a writing partner makes it so much more fun!

Q: What other projects are you both working on that you can share with us, readers?

Meg is working on her next novel, Kelly is working on a chapter for a Golden Girls anthology (with a horror twist!), and together we continue to write scripts and our next book, The Science of Agatha Christie.

Q: What is your advice for writing in the non-fiction genre?

The big one is to infuse your own personality into your work. Why do you care about this subject? What makes it fascinating to you? As a non-fiction reader I want to know that. Also, don’t be afraid to admit there are people who know more than you on any particular thing; reach out to them, interview them. Don’t be afraid to explore differing opinions, oh and cite those sources!

ABOUT MEG

Horror and suspense author Meg Hafdahl is the creator of numerous stories and books. Her fiction has appeared in anthologies such as Eve’s Requiem: Tales of Women, Mystery and Horror and Eclectically Criminal. Her work has been produced for audio by The Wicked Library and The Lift, and she is the author of two popular short story collections including Twisted Reveries: Thirteen Tales of the Macabre. Meg is also the author of the two novels; Daughters of Darkness and Her Dark Inheritance called

“an intricate tale of betrayal, murder, and small town intrigue” by Horror Addicts and “every bit as page turning as any King novel” by RW Magazine. Meg, also the co-host of the podcast Horror Rewind and coauthor of The Science of Monsters, The Science of Women in Horror, The Science of Stephen King and upcoming The Science of Serial Killers, lives in the snowy bluffs of Minnesota.

Web: www.meghafdahl.com

ABOUT KELLY

Kelly Florence teaches communication at Lake Superior College in Duluth, MN and is the creator of the Be a Better Communicator podcast. She received her BA in theatre from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and her MA in communicating arts from the University of WisconsinSuperior. She has written, directed, produced, choreographed, and stage managed for

dozens of productions in Minnesota including Carrie: The Musical through Rubber Chicken Theatre and Treasure Island for Wise Fool Theater. She is passionate about female representation in all media and particularly the horror genre. She is the co-author of The Science of Monsters, The Science of Women in Horror, The Science of Stephen King, The Science of Serial Killers, and The Science of Witchcraft with Meg Hafdahl. They co-host the Horror Rewind podcast and write and produce horror projects together. Kelly is repped by Stacey Kondla (Literary Agent) at The Rights Factory and Karmen Wells (TV/Film Agent) at The Rights Factory.

Web: kellyflorence.com

Author of Dealer's Child and The Unravelling, Joanna Vandervlugt will take you on a creative journey whether it's discussing writing tips, chatting with guest authors and artists or escaping into a story. Joanna has over 20 years of writing experience and herdebut novel The Unravelling (the first in herJade & Sage thriller series), was a CanadianBook Club Awards finalist. She's a member of the Crime Writers of Canada, and her short stories have been published in their anthologies. Her personal essay No Beatles Reunion was published in the Dropped Threads 3: Beyond the Small Circle antho.

REVIEWED BY J.M. NORTHUP

DON'T BE SCARED BY THE PAGE COUNT - IT'S FABULOUS!

Yes, I was initially thrown by the page count, but I've read short stories that felt like they'd never end because they were so bad. Then there are novels like this one, which are so good they fly by. I was blown away - this story just kept giving more.

The author's knowledge base was authentic and accurate while creating an alternate reality. This story is amazing historical fiction brought into the realm of sci-fi. The details are what made this book thicker, but they're also the reason it's believable.

The characters are well formed. The author did a wonderful job showing the best and worst of individual personalities as well as politics and ideologies. I was impressed by the way he fully represented the shades of truth and the varied responses people had to it - their perceptions and reactions.

There's not really anything I didn't like. Nothing pulled me out of the story. The author's writing style was staccato at times, and though I prefer more complete sentences, his choice is appropriate for this genre. Plus, it worked well. The action described was immense - had it been visual, it would've happened in the blink of an eye. His pacing was wonderful.

Clearly, I enjoyed this book. Even the things I don't prefer were pleasant and welcoming. LOL

This story has great adventure, thrilling action, splashes of humor, and realism. It has amazing technical knowledge that is brilliantly written, and presented in an entertaining manner. It will appeal to many readers across various genres. There's really something for everyone!

REVIEWED BY SAHARA FOLEY

INTERESTING READ

At 63 years-old, I’ve seen the changes in our political environment and the massive rift that’s developed between the two parties. I went into this book expecting the narration to be slanted toward one side or the other. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t. I’m sure left leaning Liberals would say it is, but that’s because the truth hurts. However, the finger of shame points both ways.

The majority of this book are quotes from selected party members from both the Republicans and Democrats. Some are hilarious but the majority made me realize how stupid and worthless our politicians are. They all pretend to be so smart and looking out for your best interest, but it’s their own pockets they care about. They all have their own political agenda and will do everything in their power to advance it. Which means cheating, lying, and stealing from the American people.

To prove that point, David listed the Members who’ve made the most money while in some form of office. Of course, Biden leads the top with all the money he’s squandered over the years and positions of power he’s created for his family and friends. Yeah, no hiding from the truth there.

I’m really not sure what the purpose of the book is, as it doesn’t solve any issues, but it does point out the problems we have with our government. If you like non-fiction, political recourse, with some tongue-in-cheek humor, you’ll enjoy this book. I give it 4 stars.

REVIEWED BY J.M. NORTHUP

SINFULLY TWISTED DARK TALE

This is a difficult review for me. I opted to read MINE with a bibliophile friend so we could discuss the title as we went (something we both love). We ended up completely enthralled with the story, absorbed and unable to really discuss it until the end. LOL

What I loved about it was the twists and turns. I cannot count how many times I gasped. There were so many surprises along the journey of this dark tale. I am sure some of it was shocking to me simply because it is not fathomable for my naïve mind. LOL

What I didn’t like was that this should have been a 5-star, hands down. However, in Part III (the story is divided into three parts), details become inconsistent, and I found myself arguing with the errors I easily recognized. Small adjustments would solve the issues, but it completely disrupted the engagement I’d otherwise had with the reading experience. It was a bit disappointing, to be honest.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a great book for those who love a sultry mystery thriller. It’s naughty without being tawdry – cruel without being explicit. The pacing is excellent and the crimes sinful. This novel quickly becomes a short read because you cannot set it down.

REVIEWED BY DEBBIE

NEW KIND OF WEREWOLF TALE.

I have to say, this is a new kind of werewolf tale. Sure, there’s a moon and a guy that becomes a wolf when it’s full but that’s where this story goes on it’s own path. I am new to this author and though I started this series with book 4, I didn’t feel lost.

The book is told in first person by the main character, Michael Andrews, who is a famous author and the werewolf in the story. I love that he admits to being a beta male and as uncomfortable as I found some of his worries and especially his crying jags, they made his admission to being beta more defined.

His relationships with the 2 women in his life were well written and I especially liked many of the humorous moments throughout this tale.

The story and narration of this book, I would give a strong rating of 4 star. The reason I needed to rate overall a 3 was the 3 areas of the book where I felt Leslie went off topic and flat in explaining things that were not necessary and did not advance the plot in any way.

That said, I feel that Mark Leslie did a great job of taking a fictitious story and addressing the real world problems of the hate and prejudice that have been growing in America today, showing the time bomb that is brewing and the importance of keeping vigilant to in these unsettling times.

I believe this book would appeal to readers of paranormal, action and romance novels.

REVIEWED BY DEBBIE

BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK!

In this second book of D. C. Gomez’s Intern Diaries, Isis Black and the gang have a zombie plague to overcome.

We get introduced to Death’s sister, Pestilence, who’s crew of all male scientists create the world’s ills. I enjoyed the obvious rivalry between the two of them.

I love the way Gomez writes dialog! It’s worth saying in this review as well. The flow and clever banter is very entertaining.

This could be a stand alone book but personally, I could not just walk away from these characters. (Starting the third book next!)

I recommend this to people who enjoy urban fantasy and also for someone that just needs a great distraction from real life

REVIEWED BY J.M. NORTHUP

CREATIVE TECH DYSTOPIAN

This is an original spin on some existing concepts. A creative story bringing together pieces of Star Trek, Hunger Games, and True Blood/Soosie Stackhouse.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. It had lots of action and intrigue. I found Xo and Lamp a believable dynamic. The unique blend of technology with this post-nuclear world was well developed. The author did a great job adding in small details to allude to big reveals.

I must admit, considering this is a Bram Stroker Award Winner, I was disappointed with the inconsistencies and errors I easily spotted. Without giving anything away, an example is a scene where Lamp isn’t present, yet the author still has her commenting (happens in more than one scene). Also, the enhumans (ennies) are never fully explained. Perhaps they don’t have to be, but with everything else explained, traditional vampires being compared to them, and their origins being alluded to, that would’ve been nice. It felt like a lost opportunity, which left me wondering.

If based on structure and editing, I would rate this book lower. However, the story is entertaining, there’s a good message (if sometimes preachy), and it is a powerful tale of love, survival, and teamwork. The content is where the higher rating comes from.

REVIEWED BY NICHOLE

TWISTS AND TURNS, ACTION, AND PARANORMAL ELEMENTS

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is the first in a new series by the author, and sets up the characters well for future adventures. There were moments when the story seemed to stall, but the pacing was overall great, and fed the desire to keep reading.

I loved the protagonist and her best friend. Their relationship had its bumps and stumbles, like any long-lasting friendship does. But there is an underlying unconditional commitment to each other that engages the reader and has you rooting for Jane and Sadie to overcome anything the world throws at them.

There were times when the quick, short chapters that bounced from character to character seemed a little too short. However, this literary technique kept this reader on the edge of her seat, and aided in sustaining the suspense throughout the story.

I also felt there were moments when the characters’ thoughts went around in circles – not really moving the development or plot along, but repeating previously shared feelings. However, the growth of the “good guys” and the descent into obsession of the antagonist played well overall. Jane and Sadie grow more confident as individuals, which makes them even stronger together, and Rick’s loss of his carefully manicured control propels the plot and keeps the reader wanting more.

This book had twists and turns, action, and just enough paranormal elements to interest a fan of the paranormal thriller. I am excited to see what JP McLean has in store for Jane and the gang in the next adventure.

REVIEWED BY SUSAN

WOULD GIVE IT A SIX IF I COULD

Love, love, love this book. Very articulate with creative usage of language. It was easy to get caught up in the characters since they were so vividly described – their emotions and physical aspects. Even descriptions of the surroundings – the seas and islands –made you feel you were actually there experiencing it.

The author stayed true to the era, using old-fashioned words that added to the experience of the book. It was a stellar depiction of what it might have been like in the 1600s era of slavery and piracy. I was enthralled through the entire book, especially with the romance between Dinny and Lei which was poignant and poetic. It was very erotic at times, but well-written, almost poetic, and it made you feel the true love between the couple. The storyline kept you involved with all of the numerous characters and how they would all fit together in the end.

The contrasts between when life was good and when it was not showed the starkness and hardships of life in those times, especially for the slaves and orphans. There was brash and brazen language about the mating lives of the pirates, and their propensity to take whatever was there, “be it lass, lad, or man” but seemed to go along with the type of story line at the time. I was elated at times, shocked at other times and totally crying at others. I can’t wait to read the next in this series and would give it a six if I could.

REVIEWED BY KAREN J. MOSSMAN

AN ENJOYABLE READ, BUT IT’S NOT A STANDALONE

A friend suggested I read this book, but I was a little reluctant at first because it was Book 5 in a series. . Something bad had happened, and Michael, one of the main characters, had spent two weeks in bed and his girlfriend, Gail, stayed to look after him. Someone had died, but I didn’t know who. When chapter one started it went back in time six years to when the two first met. All would be revealed.

The relationship between Gail and Michael was so entertaining as they bounced off one another with great dialogue. I really enjoyed it. Especially because Michael, a successful writer, turned into a wolf when the moon was full. I loved how the chapters swapped, so we had Gail’s viewpoint and then Michael’s. He was trying to work up the courage to tell her who he really was. Something I waited for, and looked forward to.

The intrigue was Gail’s brother, Ben, who had taken a dislike to the affable Michael. I wondered if he somehow knew. It kept me reading and waiting with anticipation.

What I didn’t like was that Michael didn’t tell Gail. Neither did I find out what Ben knew. Or who died at the beginning of the book.

The story leapt suddenly into an epilogue. It had moved forward six years, and I had no idea who anyone was or what was going on.

Clearly, this book is not meant to be read without reading the first four. Often it doesn’t matter as most things get explained, but it clearly did with this.

The writing and storyline was terrific and enjoyable. For those who love a fantasy shifter series, will love this, as would I if I had started with the first book.

REVIEWED BY SAHARA FOLEY

AN ENJOYABLE READ.

After reading Shooting Star by Sasscer Hill, I thought this story would be another murder mystery. Instead, it’s a coming-of-age novel with a murder woven into it.

The backdrop of this book is the Irish American Traverlls which I found very interesting. I was intrigued enough to do a Google search to see if they were real. They are, but in very limited areas of the USA. Probably why I’ve never heard of them.

Born into one of these cloistered clans, Quinn was taught how to lie, cheat, and steal. I love her character and found her relatable as she struggled with her feelings of guilt for scamming ‘country folk’ and dealing with her horrible step-mother and step-brother. Maeve and Connor were perfect villains. Then Quinn’s life was turned upside down.

I also liked the Ballymoor farm. I could smell the sweet hay and hear the nickering of the Gypsy Vanners. Made me want to live there.

I was really enjoying the story until I got to the end which was a disappointment for me. As a con artist, Quinn should not have been so trusting and trapped the way she was. The plot twists were too obvious, and the police would not have shown up as fast as they did during a raging hurricane.

If you’re looking for a coming-of-age story with a sweet romance, mystery, and horses, you will enjoy this book. I give it 4 stars.

REVIEWED BY NICHOLE

ORIGINAL AND, WELL, SPELLBINDING!

This is the first book by these authors that I have read. The Garretts have a beautiful grasp of descriptive story telling. The scenes they set are, truly, spellbinding. I could hear the insects in the swamp and feel the warm breeze of the bayou as I read.

As we follow the young Garreth and Raven through their adventures, the growing bond between them is infectious. Even the witch is written in such a way that the reader feels empathy for her, and she is not so much the villain as another soul caught up in the whirlwind of the joys and sorrows of life. The story is filled with adventure and emotion, as the two young people navigate through the deep waters of a budding romance that is tainted by both of their wishes to save their respective parents. At the end, I was left with a keen desire to know what was next for these intriguing characters. The only thing I could have wished for was that it was longer!

I would recommend this book to those who love magical tales of adventure in a coming-of-age setting, and rich descriptive scene-setting.

REVIEWED BY KAREN J. MOSSMAN

UTTERLY ABSORBING & IMMENSELY ENJOYABLE

This is a romantic Mafia story. A friend suggested it to me. At over 400 words long, I wouldn’t have read it no matter how appealing the blurb. However, my friend’s enthusiasm won me over.

Natalie is an ordinary woman attending a family wedding in a Chicago hotel. She doesn’t expect to run into the hotel owner, handsome Mafia Don, Jaxon Pace, and fall for him. This is when the sparks fly, and the reader is sucked right in.

Each chapter is written in the first person. We go between Natalie and Jaxon and within that, we are treated to their thoughts in reaction to a situation. This made it incredibly intimate.

Equal amounts of the story were dedicated to the business side of Jaxon’s operation, as well as the slow brewing romance with Natalie.

In two days, I read over half the book, unable to put it down.

The supporting cast were Jaxon’s right hand men. Each of them had their own back story, and I fell in love with these hard men.

Every word, every paragraph of this massive book, counted. But, in my opinion, it would have been better as two books.

Although not a cliffhanger ending, it was incomplete, as there were still questions to be answered. I wanted to know what happened next; I wanted to be back with the characters I’d come to love. Was there a hope the second book would be slightly smaller? Not a chance! Book Two, Ignite is hundred pages longer.

Would I recommend Catalyst? Oh yes, one hundred percent, yes. I adored it. Catalyst, will go down as my best read of the year so far.

REVIEWED BY JULIO CARLOS

“SIX STRINGS” IS A TOTAL PUNCHER.

I must admit that I rarely get spooked, specially through a book given that I am well acquainted with names such as Carlos Ruiz and Dean Koontz, so the fact that I got the chills on the first pages is a shocker.

C. Billie Brunson comes towards us with a gelid narrative and with an approach that narrows the macabre, as we can see that the author CLEARLY enjoyed herself and went all out as she wrote the scenes that makes “Six Strings” of the contestants for the BEST indie thrillers of 2021.

One of the remarkable traits of the author is the ability to spread humor, be it light or dark, in circumstances where the reader least expects it, adding to the punch of the whole work that’s narrated in a dark and pleasant manner.

The narrative is demanding as it masterfully pulls you closer to the next line, making the reader’s eyes race as he switches place with the current character. Very well done.

Unlike most stories, the plot of “Six Strings” isn’t built on a single main character but around two or three that switch dynamics and share the spotlight in varying degrees in a way that is almost imperceptible to the reader, with a clear focus on female characters taking the lead and being pivot to the progression of the story.

Six String is a without a doubt, one of the best YA Fantasy Thrillers in the Indie books scene. AMAZING!

REVIEWED BY BUNNY

WHAT IF YOUR REFLECTION WAS WATCHING YOU?

What if it was plotting to take life as you know it away from you? What would you do? Would you fight? This thrilling novel asks these very questions and digs deeper as the characters find themselves plagued with a danger that threatens everything they know.

Double Jeopardy is the first book that I have read by Alan Bayles, and I am already eager for book two. I have to know what happens next!

Once you start you’re not going to want to put it down and don’t be lulled into the false sense of security and calm the author wants to lure you into! Don’t do it! I fell for that trick and by the end of the chapter my jaw was on the floor, and I was in pure shock. If you’re guessing that I immediately dove right back in to find out what exactly is going on, you’d be 100% correct! This science fiction thriller is one book you’re not going to want to miss.

Page by page the author builds scenes of calm and then moves in to smack you in the face with danger and drama. The twists keep you on edge as you just don’t know what is going to happen next.

Trust me when I say that this book is packed with mystery, intrigue, and edge-of-your-seat thrills. There are particular scenes that are dark on their own, but the author doesn’t stop with the expected. No, the author takes things a step further with the full intent of leaving readers horrified and shaken. Being a fan of horror – I absolutely LOVED it! I love it when an author keeps me on my toes and takes me down the road of the unexpected.

The ending is going to send a shiver up your spine. Cue sinister smile. LOL! The author’s attention to detail, the mystery, and the drama make this sci-fi conspiracy thriller novel a must-read.

REVIEWED BY BUNNY

TECHNOLOGY IN THIS BOOK IS TRULY ADVANCED

Sky Curse is the first book in Janet Kravetz’s genre-blurring The Chosen Five series. In this sci-fi dystopian-themed novel, the author takes readers into the not-so-distant future, where humanity has brought Earth to its knees. Climate change is rampant and the dangerous weather is unpredictable. The population has overwhelmed the planet, and humans are using advanced technology to “evolve”—into cyborgs. Not only that, but AI are a step away from knowing they can run things.

The book unfolds slowly. It takes a chapter or two to gain its footing and become interesting. Once the story gains some stability, it will engage you more, and there will be a variety of elements that will pique your interest.

The technology in this book is truly advanced. The author details cyborgs, enhanced DNA, PowerNap pillows, learning while “dreaming,” and so much more. Technology has advanced rapidly, but with the advancements of technology have come serious dangers. Wireless communication has advanced, but due to this, the electromagnetic spectrum has polluted the air. This probably doesn’t sound like a big deal, but consider the interference with radar this creates. With radar crippled by this pollution, accurately staying ahead of a deadly storm becomes a game of roulette. A game you don’t want to be on the losing end of.

Lesson of the book: Technology, no matter how advanced, will not be the answer. Humanity and its connection to the planet will be the key.

REVIEWED BY BUNNY

ONE SURPRISE AFTER ANOTHER

Intersections in Time is the long-awaited book two in Michael D. Brooks Destined series. Book two starts off in space with the crew of the Infiltrator.

After a particularly dangerous and hair-raising collision, Captain Vee tempts Fate itself, and Fate answers in kindness, or might I say: in spite, because things reach a whole new level of danger and disaster!!! And the revelations to come? OMG! They will leave you squealing and screaming “No way!!!” in shock, and this will entice you, as it had me, in taking a deeper into this story to find out more. My fellow reader, you are absolutely going to love how quickly the author ties the title into the story. Although it’s done quickly, it is done flawlessly.

You will barely be three chapters into this book before the author is hitting you with one twist after another. One surprise after another will have you tempted to speed read to find out what happens next. Just relax, slow your roll, and read. This beauty of a book isn’t going anywhere. I promise. But this is one of those books that will have you shirking responsibilities to keep reading attentively to find out what happens next.

I fully enjoyed this book, and if you enjoyed the first book in this series (review here) then there is NO way you can dislike “Intersections in Time“. I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next for these characters as things continue to gear up to what I hope will be a big and exciting finale

REVIEWS BY

Reviews Team:

*Nicole Hawkins

*J. M. Northrup

* Sahara Foley

* Susan Bintz

*Debbie Nelson

*Karen J. Mossman

Reviews Team:

Seraphia B.

The Book Trollop

The Reviewbler

Daniella

Tripti Kandari

Poetic Monologues

Carlos

INTERVIEWS BY DANIELLE URBAN

Danielle Urban lives in North Central Arkansas with her family. She started by blogging about her favorite books, short stories, and writing prompts. Soon her blog became something more than just that. Writers needed more than just reviews. That's how Urban Lit Magazine came to be. It features reviews, interviews, news of new literary agents and more. Her goal was to help readers connect with writers from all over the world. Danielle has worked as an article writer, editor, journalist, and interned as a senior publisher for romance novels. In addition to that, she started the journalism club at ASUMH and it's very first digital and print publications. From there, she continued her studies in Arkansas and graduated with an M.A. in English. Today, Danielle continues to inspire writers and encourage readers to try something new. When she's not subbing at school, she is busy writing.

and writer should be reading