TopShelf - December 2022

CONTENTS MASTHEAD

Interviews

Glenda Benevides 4 JM Landels 19

Articles

Guest Audio Book Review Last Breath by karin Slaughter ........... 8

Gimme A “Citizen Reader” 10

Industry Spotlight - Global Book Award to Robert B. French 13

Industry Spotlight - Freddy Cruz 15

Industry Spotlight - Bridigs Gate Press ........................................ 16

Industry Spotlight - The Con Hour Podcast .................................. 17

Industry Spotlight - The House of Wonders Kickstarter .............. 21

Hot New Releases

Teddy Loves Spaghetti 9 The Traitor 9 In The Grimdark Strands of The Spinneret ................................... 11 When Hope Found Me ...................................................................... 11 The Jade and Sage Thriller Relaunched with new covers ...........12

Reviews

Just Tyrus 23 Exposed ........................................................................................... 23

Blood Mark ....................................................................................... 24 Runaway Husbands ........................................................................ 24 Stowe Away .................................................................................... 25 Below 25

Judgement Day 26

Spooky Sleuths #1: The Ghost Tree 26 Paused ............................................................................................. 27 The Black Echo ............................................................................... 27

Publisher:

Aimee Ravichandran Mickey Mikkelson

Magazine Content Creator: Deena Rae; eBookBuilders

Interviews: Danielle Urban Book Reviews: Scribblesworth Scribblesworth Reviews Team: Seraphia B. The Book Trollop The Reviewbler Khanani Daniella Tripti Kandari Poetic Monologues Julio Carlos

eBookBuilders Review Team: Deena Rae

BADASS GODDESS

GLENDA BENEVIDES

Exclusive Interview

Glenda Benevides is an award winning, Recording Academy voting member, GRAMMY® considered singer-songwriter who weaves stories that touch the soul. Imagine the soul singing love child of Heart, Janis Joplin, and Bessie Smith and that is Glenda. A powerfully resonate voice, emanating with blues and soul, demanding attention, calling to action and uplifting the very fabric of love shared amongst us all… Like a wild tent revival preacher, Glenda’s sermon is empowerment, enlightenment and building bridges of understanding all wrapped in powerful self-expression that moves you from the head to the feet!

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Q: WHEN DID YOU BEGIN JUGGLING BOTH YOUR MUSIC AND BOOK WRITING CAREERS?

I’ve always had a professional music career from an early age but I guess starting in 2018, it seemed I was doing a fair amount of insight coaching for a few friends and it seemed to truly give empowerment. So, I wondered if I had anything extra of value to share along these lines for a book. I thought how hard could it be? I’ll do 10 to 15 chapters and I’ll do a chapter a day. It was an inner personal challenge and I wanted to see how hard it could be. So, I started with an outline and my theme was courage because I knew what it took to have it.  I decided inside the outline would be my journey on how I created Courage. Well, I tell you I did it. The outline ended up being 10 chapters and I finished in 15 days. Yes, success! I thought. Well that was only the beginning and the road to hell was paved with my inspired good intentions! Needless to say no more books, but I do write songs and inspired blogs on themes worth speaking about. I try to write from experience and inspiration more than my opinion. There’s a lot of opinions we don’t need one more uninformed one from me.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR MUSIC GODDESS ABOUT?

It’s a celebration of life’s differences, love and to embrace our own empowerment with solutions. The Goddess EP was also a connection to Global Badass Goddess which is my workshop on  Owning The Goddess Within. Yes, music and self realization is the key to ones own clear thinking, the heart and empowerment. I believe there are no accidents and that we are creating our world at every moment with every though and words we speak. I know that we are all amazing human beings if we just look and look deeply to see. We can all find that special something we have to give and to share it with others. I truly believe that. I feel my music reflects ideas and experiences that honor the depth of trails and triumphs we all go through. To see the love we have inside even when we feel painfully flawed -  Beautiful Flawed, or that a friend could be as close to you as a family member but not be of blood like in Soul Sister.

Q: HOW LONG WAS IT SINCE GODDESS WAS RELEASED THAT YOU BEGAN DOING YOUR NEW SINGLE, LULUWHITE?

Good question. Well, with anything it takes time after a big project to rest and regenerate ones creativity and see who you are as a

human being/artist afterwards. Sometimes you have completely shifted. This time I would say a few weeks. Taking that time I saw something new about myself and wanted to explore what that meant. It was in that discovery Lulu came out of me. It was wanting me to dive into a more deeper soulful blues sound. My voice was feeling more at home and more roots oriented, so I thought I would look at the south. New Orlean to be exact. I jumped online and started looking for women who were inspirational first. There was all the usual dark suspects that you would associate with NOLA, but I knew there was something much deeper I kept looking. Then, I came across Lulu White. She was a real woman of color in the late 1800’s. A women who was one of the most successful and richest business owners in New Orleans. So, I began to dig and I thought that if she could be that wealthy in that time where rights were limited, what about us women now. I thought man we have nothing to complain about now. This woman over came immense restraint

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and hardship and she was very successful. She was a very clever business women and branded herself as an octoroon from the West Indies. You ask… what’s a… An octoroon? The term meant someone who was one eight of color and in that time, it was considered exotic. So all the men near and far wanted to have an octoroon experience and would pay handsomely for it. Yes, she was a brothel owner. A real Badass Goddess of her time.

Q: I NOTICED THAT FOR EVERY SONG ONE BUYS, YOU PLANT A TREE. WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Yes, every song or Courage handbook, I plant. I know that we all need to support our environment when we can, to do our part to shift the lethargic attitude that comes with these shifting times. Once we are all in action with something we stop thinking about ourselves and positivity grows when we are supporting something or someone we believe in. Also, knowing that the trees are the lungs of the planet is key for me! They take in carbon dioxide and give us oxogen and so does the oceans inner cycle of life.

We all need to be aware, educate ourselves and choose something to do to support the eco system we are all in. We are

all connected if you just look. When trees burn they destroy all habitats in their path. Some of the burning is normal but the dryer we get the harder it is on the plant and animal life which is also connected to us, the human life. We are just out of balance seeking to be back in balance this is where the rubber meets the road.  We are being asked to balance our inner knowing and heal to be able to balance the microcosmos/macrocosm inside/outside. It’s all a reflection and a dance.

Q: HOW DOES YOUR SELF-HELP BOOK, COURAGE, HELP EMPOWER READERS?

I feel that with my stories and the actual practice I share, it can help people to see a bit deeper into what is important in their life. A foundation of creating clarity about your life helps with what it is you honestly want. This can lead into courage, then confidence and finally commitment to what it is you say you are clearly passionate about. This is not what someone else wants for you, but what you want for you, and that feels like alignment and flow.

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

Besides GRAMMY® consideration time, I’ve got a new track called  Walkin that will be released next year and a music video release along with that for Walkin. I will be preparing to tour 2023 in the UK. The whisper is that I will be at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh which I absolutely love!  I don’t want to belabor you with all the details that come along with being a full time artist, so I will leave it up to your imagination. Imagine what it would take to be a heart surgeon or an Olympic athlete - it’s like that! Yes, seriously!

All things Glenda can be found at glendabenevides.com

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW

LAST BREATH : KARIN SLAUGHTER

by Rachael Tamayo

Last Breath is the prequel to the book, The Good Daughter. This is a novella, but don’t let its length fool you. This is my first book by Karin Slaughter, and it absolutely didn’t disappoint.

This short, four-hour audiobook introduces us to defense Charlie, a lawyer in a small down Pikeville. It is not short on suspense or character depth as we build to a surprise ending that I didn’t see coming. It’s an incomplete story, leading to the next book, The Good Daughter. But she has a masterful way of tying everything up in a perfect bow while still leaving you panting for the next book, knowing that there is more coming just around the corner. That being said, I picked up The Good Daughter as soon as this one ended.

The book is fast-paced with realistic characters. Their reactions are real, making the book that much easier to fall into.

The narration of the audiobook is done by Kathleen Early, a superb voice actress that pulls you into the story with outstanding character work and perfect pace as you listen. Her inflection and work make a great story that much greater.

This is a great place to start if you haven’t read her books before. It’s short enough that you aren’t committing to anything heavy, leaving you grasping for more.

If you are a fan of mystery and thriller, grab this one. You won’t be sorry.

About The Guest Reviewer

Rachael Tamayo is the bestselling author of the award-winning Deadly Sins Series and awardwinning thriller Crazy Love, among several other titles.  Before she started her writing career, she was a highly awarded 911 emergency services dispatcher with twelve years of experience and many commendations under her belt.   Upon exiting law enforcement, she focused her writing career on the dark, suspenseful, and psychological after beginning as a romance author.  Now Rachael uses her dark thriller as a sort of self-therapy after all those years answering 911 calls and working all that she knows and was exposed to into the frighteningly realistic and layered characters her readers know and love her for.  Rachael lives on the Texas Gulf Coast in Houston, Texas, with her husband and their two children.

You can also read Rachael’s book reviews on her website at www. RachaelTamayowrites.com, Bookbub, and Goodreads.

TEDDY LOVES

SPAGHETTI

The Adventure of Teddy series, are all non-fiction stories for children and families about my real-life rescue cat named Teddy. Teddy lost his ears to frostbite while being homeless in freezing weather conditions in central Canada. All of the books in the series will highlight educational points about pet care, support inclusivity and celebrate being different, together. Teddy Loses His Ears is the introduction book into the series, and touches on self esteem and disability awareness as we fielded many questions about Teddy's abnormality while emphasizing his beauty and purpose, despite injury. Teddy Loves Spaghetti uses humour to educate children about nutrition, alternatives to foodbased rewards and introduction to diabetes. We've had many unique experiences since fostering Teddy, and my children's reactions to these incidents were inspirational. We hope that children connect with Teddy as a loveable character who shares his stories to

THE TRAITOR

Eric’s search for Rafael, the Order’s betrayer, is leading to a dead end. Running out of time, he decides to enlist the help of some old acquaintances in Salem’s underground.

In the meantime, the Garcia Clan, the deadliest of all the shifter assassin families in the world, has been attacked. Tensions are rising as Sasha is forced back on the field to investigate and bring the culprit to justice.

With both the Order of Witches and the Garcia Clan searching for the truth, Eric and Sasha are the only ones standing between a full-on blood bath.

* The Traitor is book two in the Urban Fantasy Series The Order’s Assassin. Our favorite witch and former cop, Eric, from the Intern Diaries Series, has a new job with the Order of Witches. With no way out, he must continue

help save other animals from preventable injuries, just like his. Everybody has a story. We need to listen to one another to create opportunities to learn from their journey and perspective to grow to become kinder, more compassionate humans, to animals and each other.

Christine Milkovic Krauss

I am a full-time essential services worker and mom of two primary school-aged children. My kids enjoy choosing books from the school library and I’m always genuinely impressed with the messages of acceptance and kindness in the stories they select for us to read together. During the pandemic, we had to get creative to keep our home an exciting and positive space that we all wanted to spend a lot of time at! Our entire family loves animals, so we decided to foster a litter of kittens over the Christmas Holidays. They brought so much joy into our lives, that we planned to continue to foster animals as much as possible! Then we saw Teddy. Teddy just belonged with our family and we knew it the moment we met him. Since that day, he has made our family feel complete. His uniqueness and character have inspired a series of stories that we hope to share with other avid child readers that love animals!

his mission to clean out the Order, before he becomes the one hunted down.

D. C. Gomez

D. C. Gomez is an award-winning USA Today Bestselling Author, podcaster, motivational speaker, and coach. Born in the Dominican Republic, she grew up in Salem, Massachusetts. D. C. studied film and television at New York University. After college she joined the US Army, and proudly served for four years.

D. C. has a Master’s Degree in Science Administration from the Central Michigan University, as well as a Master in Adult Education from Texas A&M- Texarkana University. She is a certified John Maxwell Team speaker and coach, and a certified meditation instructor from the Chopra Center.

One of D. C. passions is helping those around her overcome their selflimiting beliefs. She writes both non-fiction and fiction books, ranging from Urban Fantasy to Children’s Books. To learn more about her books and her passion, you can find her at www.dcgomez-author.com.

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"What is a 'Citizen Reader'?" you ask. I am a citizen reader. I am not an editor, writer, aspiring author, or literary agent. I am just a normal Jane who reads for the escape and enjoyment. And I am your friend.

I am going to write a completely unbiased review. I am not going to pick the grammar to death (it would be hilarious if I did, as a friend — who often edits my blog posts so I don't embarrass myself —calls me a grammar vandal). I read for the joy of reading. I enjoy the story. I don't write a review as a favor. My reviews are not a matter of 'I will give you a good review if you give me a good one'. And I am not alone.

Yes, retail sites contain loads of reviews from other authors and literary folk who can break down manuscripts according to their technical and grammatical features, but we voracious readers - who read not because we are expected to but because we love the feel of a book in our hands, and characters' dialogue in our minds - are a useful barometer of a book's reader engagement.

Does your storyline grab me? Are your characters likeable, evil, lovable or sanctimonious? Is your action believable or straining the bounds of credibility? Citizen Readers will tell you.

GIMME A “CITIZEN READER”

by Deena Rae

A Citizen Reader won't tell you that your character was an archetype or that your story followed the traditional hero journey. Unless your grammar and spelling are worse than a three-year-old's, it probably won't be a major issue in a review of mine. Citizen Readers don't care about these things in books: they care about whether they are drawn in to the story, whether they connect with a character, whether they were able to escape their stress-filled lives for a period. A Citizen Reader won't offer technical critique, but will give something just as important - a reader's experience and perspective.

So, before you bombard all your author friends for a review, try to find Citizen Readers, tap into their opinions, actively search them out.

ABOUT DEENA RAE

Deena Rae was born and raised in Texas – home of bluebonnets, boots, beef and big hair – into a family that was in the printing and publishing industries.

With a total of 20 years in publishing, in 2010 she decided to branch out as eBookBuilders helping established & new authors, designing books, ebooks and websites.

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IN THE GRIMDARK STRANDS OF THE SPINNERET

Betrayal brings grave ending to a noble bloodline. Forced to flee, its sole surviving heir is spared this fate by the timely intervention of a haunter of the wilds. In his charge, the maiden embraces the lore of the dark arts and rises to become the watch-keep of the woods. As decades pass, with her legend growing, the ‘witch of root and earth’ weaves subtle deceits in a tangled web of vengeance.

But will there be a fairy tale ending, or will poisoned legacies and pacts with dark forces see ambition unravel in her relentless pursuit of power?

Keith Anthony Baird

Keith Anthony Baird is the author of The Jesus Man: A PostApocalyptic Tale of Horror (Novel), Nexilexicon (Novel), And a Dark Horse Dreamt of Nightmares (Book of Shorts), This Will Break Every Bone In Your

WHEN HOPE FOUND ME

Where can you find hope when all seems hopeless? That question is answered in various ways through the personal stories shared within this book.

Each story is unique with at least one story that will resonate with you. The co-authors cover tough topics such as suicide, addiction, incarceration, divorce, mental health and more. But there is one thing they all have in common; each story ends with finding hope and having hope to carry into the future.

Kim Lengling

Kim is a multi-published author, writer, podcast host of Let Fear Bounce, and TV show host of The Write Stuff, The Authors Voice with the Believe In Your Dreams TV Network.

In addition, she is an active speaker sharing her story of being a female veteran living with PTSD and spreading a message of

Heart (Novelette) and Snake Charmer Blues (Short), and a psychological/horror novella titled A Seed in a Soil of Sorrow. His works can be found on Amazon and Audible.

The Diabolica Britannica horror anthology was his brainchild, in which you will find his own contribution Walked a Pale Horse on Celtic Frost. 2021 saw the release of the Diabolica Americana and HEX-PERIMENTS anthologies, the latter in partnership with author Ross Jeffery.

His dark fantasy novella In the Grimdark Strands of the Spinneret is coming from Brigid’s Gate Press in November 2022.

He is currently querying a dystopian/cyberpunk novella titled SIN:THETICA and writing a vampirethemed novella called A Light of Little Radiance in collaboration with fellow British author Beverley Lee. He lives in Cumbria, in the United Kingdom, on the edge of the Lake District National Park.

Hope. She regularly speaks for local veteran and women’s organizations in her hometown area and across numerous global organizations.

She has been writing and speaking with empathy and emotion since 2004 showcasing her faith, nature, love of rescue animals, and advocacy for veterans living with PTSD. She showcases her writing through her books, business, and website; www.kimlenglingauthor.com.

She is the lead author and coordinator of the collaborative 3-book anthology series titled When Grace Found Me. In addition, she is a published co-author in nine anthologies and numerous print and online global newspapers and magazines.

Kim sees each day as an opportunity to spread hope and encouragement.

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THE JADE AND SAGE THRILLER SERIES BEING RELAUNCHED WITH NEW COVERS

DEALER’S CHILD

Jade locates a once prominent and respected lawyer, now known as Noxzema Man, homeless and panhandling in Fan Tan Alley. He warns Jade. Judges, lawyers and police make up the Society. Trust no one. The MotoCityDolls, her sister’s all-female motorcycle gang, save Jade from a Society assassin. Forced to take a leave of absence, Jade packs up her office, but not before coming face-toface with Jules’s murderer.

Jade Thyme must delve into her mother’s freespirited past if she wants to prove her father was murdered and hadn’t died from a cocaine overdose.

Legislative Clerk Adam Younghusband gives Jade damning evidence linking her to the island’s once feared drug dealer,

Oscar Cooper. Immediately Jade and her sister Sage are targets as they uncover generations of drug dealers, while hiding from an arsonist determined to destroy them. Is it all connected?

From her mother's ghost appearing on the picnic table to a possessed typewriter tapping a warning, 1968 clashes with the present as Jade uncovers a deadly secret while trying to stay one step ahead of a murderer hellbent on revenge.

THE UNRAVELLING

Jade Thyme celebrates successfully defending her ex-husband Jules Cranbury on a murder charge. Her celebration is short-lived when she finds Jules murdered. Jade investigates and uncovers a secret justice society whose members hide behind white tabs and black robes while delivering their own vigilante justice.

Joanna Vander Vlugt

Joanna Vander Vlugt is an author and illustrator. Her motorcycle illustrations have been purchased world-wide and her Woman Empowered motorcycle art series has been featured in on-line art and motorcycle magazines. In 2006 her short mysteries Egyptian Queen and The Parrot and Wild Mushroom Stuffing were published in the Crime Writers of Canada mystery

anthologies. Her personal essay, No Beatles Reunion was published in the Dropped Threads 3: Beyond the Small Circle anthology.

The Unravelling, her debut novel, featuring the sister duo, Jade and Sage, was a Canadian Book Club Awards finalist as well as its sequel, Dealer’s Child. She is currently working on book three in the series. Joanna is proud of her podcast JCV Art Studio and the many artists and authors she’s interviewed. Joanna’s novels, art and podcast can be found at jcvartstudio.net.

GOLD IN GLOBAL BOOK AWARDSMYSTERY CRIME FICTION

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT ROBERT P. FRENCH’S NOVEL CAPTIVE WON THE GOLD MEDAL IN THE MYSTERY CRIME FICTION CATAGORY IN THE 2022 GLOBAL BOOK AWARDS!

THANK YOU TO ALL THE READERS FOR VOTING IN THE AWARDS. YOU ARE AMAZING!

Robert French is a software developer, turned actor, turned author. He is the writer of the seven (so far) Cal Rogan Mysteries crime-thrillers about a drug-addicted ex-cop who fights his way from living rough on the streets to being a muchsought-after PI. The series, set in Vancouver, Canada, reflects the best and worst of the city. He is passionate about having the right words on the page and with every new book, his goal is to make it better than the previous one.

His loves are his family, science, language, certain elements of philosophy and craft beer.

You can find him at https://www.robertpfrench.com/

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FREDDY CRUZ

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR NOVEL, ALLOW ME TO RUIN YOUR CHRISTMAS?

The book was born out of a need to exercise my shadow. Sometimes things get a little too jolly. So flipping the script on what tends to be a happiest time of the year seemed like fun. And guess what? It was!

WILL THIS BE PART OF A SERIES?

One of my beta readers asked me the same thing and now I’m thinking that it’s possible. Eventually but not anytime soon, though.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE?

In a word, Cruzian. I feel as though my favorite books, authors, and entertainers have all shaped my voice. Too many to name.

WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE FOR YOU AS YOU WERE WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING YOUR WORKS?

As with any long term creative endeavor, it was (and always is) equally rewarding

and challenging. Sometimes, the words write themselves and all I do is hold the pen to paper. And sometimes, the selfdoubt demon in my head convinces me to blame writer’s block for my lack of creativity.

WHEN WILL THIS BE RELEASED AND WHERE CAN READERS BUY IT?

Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas is available now at ruinmychristmas. com.

CAN YOU TELL US, READERS, WHAT YOUR MAIN CHARACTER IS LIKE?

Beckett is a college kid whose life gets turned upside down after he finds out that his favorite podcaster (Lex Griffin) is dating his mom. To make matters worse, Beckett learns that Lex was involved in his dad’s death. Beckett’s a ticking time bomb of rage. But he’s also pretty funny and selfunaware. He’s the guy you’d get along with until you make a mistake and end up on his list of enemies.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING WRITERS IN YOUR GENRE?

My advice for writers is to never give in to self-doubt and/or negative self-talk. The world needs your story—whatever the genre.

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Somewhere out there, your first fan is waiting for you to FINISH WRITING YOUR BOOK.

WOULD YOU EVER WRITE BOOKS IN ANY OTHER GENRE?

I’d say romance. But only because conventional wisdom suggests men that “can’t” write romance. My gut reaction to people saying that I can’t do something is to do it out of spite.

WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS AS A WRITER WHEN WORKING ON YOUR BOOK?

The point at which Beckett snaps is my favorite part because it sets the tone for the entire second half of the book.

WHERE CAN READERS FIND YOU AND YOUR BOOKS?

freddycruz.link/books and on your favorite social channel, except for MySpace.

ABOUT FREDDY

Freddy Cruz is the founder of Freddy Cruz Creative Works, a boutique media company in the Greater Houston area.

Freddy’s work spans twenty-six years, three with the iconic KDWB/MinneapolisSaint Paul and twenty-one with the legendary, two-time Marconi Award winning KRBE/Houston. When he's not creating auditory satisfaction, you can find him nose deep in a book, snuggling with his dog Sparrow, or jogging on the trail (trying hard to not sound like a horror movie villain).

Meet Brigids Gate Press

Brigids Gate Press, an indie press established in 2021 by Heather and S.D. VenturaVassallo, believes in the power of STORY. Above all, we seek to do our utmost to help and encourage writers on their journeys.

Underrepresented authors are welcome. Though we are happy to work with agents, you do not need to have an agent to submit.

ABOUT HEATHER VENTURA

Heather Ventura, co-founder of Brigids Gate Press, believes there are few things that can’t be solved with tea, cookies, and a good book. She enjoys reading a wide range of genres, but can’t resist fairytales and gothic novels. She currently resides with her husband, son, and

two horribly mischievous black cats under the vast prairie skies of the Midwest. She continues to believe the world is a place full of magic and wonder.

ABOUT S.D. VASSALLO

S.D. Vassallo is a co-founder and editor for Brigids Gate Press. He’s also a writer who loves horror, fantasy, science fiction and crime fiction. He was born and raised in New Orleans, but currently lives in the Midwest with his wife, son, and two black cats who refuse to admit that coyotes exist. When not reading, writing or editing, he can be found gazing at the endless skies of the wide-open prairie. He often spends the night outdoors when the full moon is in sway. Find out more at www.brigidsgatepress.com

Spotlight on The Con Hour Podcast

Greg Kelso is an award winning author turned podcaster. In July of 2009, Greg was diagnosed with stage iv Colon/Rectal Cancer. After fighting the disease for a few years and multiple surgeries, Greg was left disabled. Instead of giving in to the disability, he began writing.

His First Book, Alonica: Rise of the Dragon Heirs won book cover of the year in 2016. He used the characters in the book, while going through radiation, to help aid in his battle against his second bout of cancer. He continued to write and his second book, Alonica: Splitting Heirs also won book cover of the month in March of 2018.

After beating cancer for a third time, Greg decided to switch genres and wrote a western, Tess: Law Woman of the West where he won best Young Adult Western in the state of Texas. Shortly after he was diagnosed with a fourth bout, which he is continuing to fight today.

In April of 2021, Greg began a podcast dealing with everything Comic Con related and more, he called the show, The Con Hour. He started getting guests such as Kevin Sorbo, DC Glenn (TAG TEAM), Stephanie Nadolny and Steven Andreno which assisted in a quick growth of his show.

Shortly after he began media where he started going to comic cons and interviewing guests, artists and vendors to bring more attention to these shows being held.

Being his second year, the team has interviewed many voice actors, musicians, authors, athletes and artists. They have also interviewed Comic Cons overseas to bring light to their shows as well. Greg has also split off a branch of his show calling it the Con-Versation in which he spotlights an artist for 15 to 20 minutes to all of his followers. He now represents cosplayers and actors to also attend shows around the nation. If you attend a Comic Con, be sure to look for him, he can most certainly be spotted with his signature look of a black cowboy hat and a ponytail.

Join The Conversation www.facebook.com/groups/theconhour/

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FANTASTIC

FANTASY

JM LANDELS

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR NOVEL, ALLAIGNA’S SONG CHORALE?

I wanted to write a fantasy about women, and specifically mothers and daughters, and the everyday heroism that goes into raising a hero. So much fantasy -- even works with so-called ‘strong female characters’ (and I won’t go into what’s wrong with that term) -- is framed within the heroic male tropes. Allaigna isn’t a hero because of her gender, nor in spite of it, and it’s not her abilities that make her heroic. She’s a hero because of the very real and human choices she, her mother, and her grandmother make in the course of the trilogy.

WILL THIS BE PART OF A SERIES?

Chorale is the third book of the Allaigna’s Song trilogy. The first two were Overture and Aria. However, even though the trilogy is over, there are still more stories I want to tell about the peripheral characters in this world. Two of them, Gwannyn’s Song and Zara’s

Song, a pair of mirrored stories, appear in Pulp Literature Issues 35 & 37 and reveal some twists that the characters in Chorale are only partially aware of. (If you don›t like spoilers, read Chorale first). There are more stories waiting, like those of Allaigna’s twin sisters, Irdina and Branwen, her illegitimate half-brother, Lennis, and her oath sister Kîan. These and more might make it into a collection in the future -- you heard it here first!

Again, I am so sorry for the delay ��❤

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE?

Well, I don’t tend to describe my own writing much at all. Some reviewers have called it poetic,

though honestly

I am not a poet in any real sense of the word. I think ‘spare’ is one word that fits -- I like to write short scenes that convey important turning points, and trust the reader to imagine the ‘filler’ in between. So much so, that I sometimes have to go back and add material in the editing process (usually after an editor has pointed out that I really haven’t given the reader enough info). So in the sense that poetry packs a lot of meaning into a very few words, I guess my writing is poetic -- though I use a lot more words than a poet!

Q: WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE FOR YOU AS YOU WERE WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING YOUR WORKS?

Writing first draft is delightful, as I usually do that in the company of my writing

partners using The Hour Stories prompts by Dale Adams Segal.  Subsequent drafts are more painful, especially when I’m trying to unite the three timelines of Allaigna, Lauresa, and Irdaign. I’m a pantser, not a plotter, so that means my first draft often takes me unexpected places.  In the first book it worked like magic:  I wrote the three storylines separately, and when I went to interweave them they fell into place beautifully.  Aria was harder to wrangle into a logical timeline, and Chorale was the most difficult of all.  Once the book goes to editors there’s more headscratching and rewriting as they point out inconsistencies alongside errors, but honestly I enjoy the collaborative aspect of the editing process.  My amazing editors Genevieve Wynand and Amanda Bidnall have made this book SO much better than it was when I handed it in.

CAN YOU TELL US, READERS, WHAT YOUR MAIN CHARACTER IS LIKE?

Stubborn, prickly, a reluctant leader, and more generous and warm-hearted than she will admit.  She is a jack-of-all-trades -- swordswoman, ranger, troubador -- but her most powerful talent is also the one she has to keep secret: the dangerous and illicit ability to sing music into magic.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING WRITERS IN YOUR GENRE?

Throw out tropes.  Lord of the Rings is a wonderful work that I thoroughly love, but it›s been done. We don›t need any more bearded wizards, gruff dwarves, cheerful halflings or beautiful elves.  Likewise, we don't need another Game of Thrones, or Wheel of Time book.  Victorian fantasy is getting a bit old too. Take whatever characters and situations you first come up with and turn them on their head: change the time period, world, race, gender, sexuality, or key characteristics.  But more important than the trappings, the story has to be one that moves us.  Reach deep and see if you can grab us by the heart and squeeze.

WOULD YOU EVER WRITE BOOKS IN ANY OTHER GENRE?

I’m currently working on The Shepherdess, a historical action novel about a shepherdess turned spy in 17th century France.  You can catch excerpts of it in even-numbered issues of  Pulp Literature.

WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS AS A WRITER WHEN WORKING ON YOUR BOOK?

Seeing it available for pre-order online at last!

WHERE CAN READERS FIND YOU AND YOUR BOOKS?

The Allaigna’s Song series is available on all major platforms -- Amazon,  B&N, Kobo, Apple etc -- as well as at pulpliterature.com.  I can be found at  jmlandels.stiffbunnies.com, am on most social media platforms as @jmlandels, and I would love it if readers would follow me on Bookbub!

ABOUT JM LANDELS

JM Landels, writer and illustrator of the Allaigna's Song trilogy and co-founder of Pulp Literature wears far too many hats. The strange mix of a degree in Mediaeval English Literature, a misspent youth fronting alternative punk bands Mad Seraphim and Stiff Bunnies, and a career as a childbirth educator and doula informs her work. These days, when she isn't writing, editing or drawing, she can be found heading up the Mounted Combat Program for Academie Duello in Vancouver BC where she swings swords and rides horses for fun and profit.

Cutting Edge Comics are proud to announce the launch of their first Kickstarter Campaign

Join us on this galactic journey of self-discovery as Joshua Davis aka Skycruiser battles alongside his new family and friends against the evil clutches of Vir Magnus; leader of The Summa - a warring lizard race.

“

The House of Wonders is a jaw-dropping space faring adventure spanning the far reaches of the universe.

Joshua Davis, abused by an alcoholic father, wants a new life. He doesn’t seem to fit in and bad things have a way of happening to people around him. When he runs away and joins a circus Joshua is forced to, literally, grow-up quickly. Being chased by aliens has that effect on a person!

His life makes a dramatic shift taking him on a galactic journey learning the truth about himself - he’s an alien with unimaginable powers. He is Skycruiser, potential saviour of his galaxy.

We are now in Day 25 of our 30 Kickstarter campaign.

Check out the 1st Chapter

The writer, Frank Krulicki, lives in Lloydminster, AB and has been an Alberta/SK resident for most of his adult life. He was a former resident of both Medicine Hat and Regina. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to stock this book in your store and support our campaign.

REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

Written by Canadian Author Frank Krulicki, with pictures/colors by Artist Alberto Crespo and joined by Book’s Designer and Letterer Corey Breen.

A galactic journey of selfdiscovery sends Skycruiser into battle against evil Vir Magnus - for the fate of the world.”

REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

NOT POLITICAL, JUST INSPIRING & ENGAGING

I was first introduced to Tyrus on Red Ey and now watch him on Gutfeld!, one of the 2 shows I try to watch every weekday, not for the politics, for the humor of the situation the county is in.

Tyrus shows intelligence and common sense in his analysis of what is happening. His book is like that. He gives his background, while respecting the privacy of people in his life, which is hard. He experienced some racism but does not make that the focus of his story. Rather than making his memoir a pity-party, he tells how his adversity made him better, made him want to achieve more. This was an engrossing read, I couldn't put it down. The good, bad, sad and ugly - be doesn't sugar coat his actions, doesn't make excuses, be owns his actions. He gives respect and credit where due which is refreshing. If anything, his story made me like and respect him even more.

A great read and worth the time and price.

Recommend?

I absolutely recommend this book even if you have never heard of Tyrus before or if you think it will be a book filled with politics. It is NOT political.

DRAWS YOU IN WITH THE FIRST SENTENCE

From the first sentence of the prologue, I was hooked. It was a great storyline with most of the action and plot being believable. The prologue starts out with a woman being held prisoner and while there is sexual assault mentioned, it is not on the page or described in great detail so no worry about triggers. The premise hooked me, I wanted to know more about the story and see where it would go.

The main story centers around a historical landmark in Los Angeles - a building that was originally sort of like a rooming house for Hollywood starlets. This building called Temple House, had been turned into apartments when the studio sold the building when they no longer kept their starlets under the contract system. I loved how the author wove real-life Hollywood history into the storyline of Temple House.

This storyline has a multitude of characters - makes sense since this will be a series - and I did find myself getting confused a bit. The author did a good job of introducing each character but of course, more attention was paid to this storyline's main male and female leads.

There was no slow lead-up to the action and mystery, from the first page til the last, I was guessing. (And I can hardly wait for Vanished - book two in the series.)

Recommend?

I absolutely recommend this book to readers and non-readers of romance. The mystery was central to the story, the romance was secondary. If you are a fan of J. D. Robb's "In Death" series, this will be right up your alley and should be on your Kindle or bookshelf.

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

IMPRESSIVE PLOT

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next installment. The twists and turns were a delight. The thought put into such an interesting plot impressed me.

What I loved was the attention to detail. Not only did it pull the story together, but it made it believable. No stone was left unturned, which gave a complete picture that satisfied me as a reader.

The characters were interesting and original. They were normal people who struggled with life… The unconditional friendship between Jane and Sadie was realistic as well as admirable. They were flawed, called each other out on their BS, but loved each other nonetheless.

Then there were the paranormal elements. The author’s choices were smart and tickled my love of history. Drawing on Inca culture was brilliant, lending richness and credibility to the tale.

I recommend this book. Readers who enjoy mysteries, women’s fiction, friendship stories, or paranormal suspense will want to grab a copy. It’s an entertaining read and a strong start to a promising series.

MOVING & UPLIFTING

I’ve not been a victim of Wife Abandonment, but my husband of 30 years did die somewhat quickly. So I thought I would read this book to see if it was relatable to grieving wives.

The first half of the book is about the incredible heartache of women who’s husbands just one day, out of the blue, said “I’m done,” and out the door they go. I have no idea how I would have handled that type of drama. Would I ever learn to trust again? And that is an issue these women face. Not only trying to find who they really are without being a “part” of someone else, but learning to move on and trust again. I can definitely relate to the fact that women do lose themselves in their marriages and it becomes all about ‘him’ and his wants and needs. So, when you’re suddenly alone, you actually have to face ‘yourself’, and for some women, it’s the first time they’ve ever been alone.

The second half of the book is about overcoming the hurt and learning to move one. Here again, I can relate. Even when suffering grief, we still get obsessive about our past and we reflect over and over on the good and bad times of our relationship. It was brought up in the book that losing your husband due to abandonment versus death is harder. Not sure if I agree with that idea. Death is final while divorce, though you may hate him, at least he’s still alive.

If you’ve been abandoned by what you thought was a loving and caring husband, this book might help you come to terms with all the self-doubt and learning how to move on to a better and more fulfilling life. I give it 4 stars.

REVIEWED BY J.M. NORTHUP

REVIEWED BY SAHARA FOLEY

AN ENJOYABLE NOVELLA

This is the second in the series, although it felt more like a prequel. It is billed as book 2, an explanation at the back describes it as book 1.5. The next book is Fear and Longing in Los Angeles, which I will be reading next.

Michael, is a successful author who transforms to a werewolf when the moon is full. As a human, this gives him heightened senses. I enjoyed this aspect as it gave more depth to the story. Michael’s actions and interpretations of people become a lot more interesting.

It starts with Gail, his ex girlfriend, who he still has strong feelings for, contacts him to say she’s had to fly out to be by the bedside of a sick uncle, who appears to be on death’s door. We met Gail in A Canadian Werewolf in New York, where she comes to him for help as her fiancé had gone missing. Now she is alone and upset and Michael’s instinct is to go and support her.

He can only take a train because of his lack of a passport. Here is where the adventure begins. Not only does he have the dilemma of knowing he’ll still be aboard when the moon is full and he’ll change to a werewolf, but he meets Bridget. She is a young girl in peril who is being pursued by an angry friend of her fathers. It was an interesting sojourn to the story.

Although I enjoyed the Michael and Bridget storyline as that was the main part of the book, I felt it was incomplete because it didn’t return to the beginning, and finish where it started with Gail.

As with A Canadian Werewolf in New York, the author had a whole chapter dedicated to the writing of Stowe Away and of the series. It’s a fascinating insight for readers like me who enjoy knowing more about the history and the inspiration behind the writing of a book.

SPOOKY AND SUSPENSEFUL!

I have not read anything by Kev Harrison before, but I will be in the future!! Not a regular horror/suspense fan, I DEVOURED this book! Below is a suspenseful, shocking story of a man’s search for answers about an ancestor who died saving his fellow miners in 1957. Heading into the freshly opened mine entrance, the documentary crew – Nick, the scholar and great-grandson; Jess, the aspiring reporter, and Sofia, the camerawoman/producer –discover journal pages strewn throughout the web of rooms and tunnels far beneath the ground. The pages tell a dark and horrific story of survival and madness.

The characters are well rounded and relatable. I found myself rooting for them and just as invested in finding the truth. I could almost feel the warm dry rock of the mine as I read, and the darkness crept up the corners of the room the deeper the characters plunged into the mine.

I would recommend this book especially to fans of horror and suspense, but anyone who appreciates good storytelling will love it as well!

REVIEWED BY KAREN J. MOSSMAN

REVIEWED BY NICHOLE

WOW!

Well, I am sad to be finished with the last of the Death’s Intern series. So many good things to say about this book but sad to see this group of characters move on. I will be looking into some other books by Gomez about some of the individuals origin stories, especially Constantine.

I would not recommend this as a stand alone book. I believe , to thoroughly enjoy this story, you will want to read the previous ones so that you will have the full character descriptions and to understand how things came to an attempt at an apocalypse.

Isis gets a whole new makeover mid book. One that made this reader say, “YES!” I would love to read a post story about her now, after everything she has gone through.

There was also a little romantic touch between Isis and an elf named Iason. I would love to see what happens there.

I think a really great book does that to you; leaves you writing stories in your head beyond the written page.

If you like a fantasy story full of action, gritty, loveable, hate worthy and heroic characters, this one is for you. I give this book 5 stars as I did all the others in this group. It was a book, rich with intrigue, crazy combat and commitment to family. This author knows how to lay down great dialog as well.

I will never think of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the same way again.

Thank you D. C. Gomez!

A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION

This mystery was entertaining. At times, it was gross, but it wouldn’t be a good horror story if it wasn’t, right? Goosebumps move over, there’s a new series in town LOL

Though the paranormal elements drew me in, it was the children’s friendship that moved me most. There was a shared respect for science, their teacher, their families, and each other that was refreshing. It was a delight to see them support one another, research for better understanding before just diving into things, and for them to share notes. This story has great ghost information and a wonderful spooky tale, but there’s also heart and cooperation.

Malachi and Devlin started as bullies, but Rokshar quickly put a stop to that. I think the interplay opens the potential for adults to address how some behaviors are reactions to fear. It certainly was in the case of the brothers. Perhaps there’s a lesson for communication? Afterall, when the characters talked in a safe place, they liked each other. It helped to unite them.

This was my first children’s book, albeit middle grade, where a nonbinary person is depicted. Some people will struggle with this in a text for young readers, but it never defined the character, nor did it have anything to do with the plot. The author only highlighted the teacher’s gender as a means of explaining their title (Mx) and preferred pronouns (they/them). It was handled in a matter-of-fact way and stayed age appropriate.

I recommend this book. It was an interesting read for me as an adult. It’s something I think middle graders and teens will love. Surely, it’ll encourage readers to utilize their libraries more as well as impress such a positive impression of community.

REVIEWED BY DEBBIE REVIEWED BY J.M. NORTHUP

A REAL PAGE-TURNER

Paused, a book written by Stephanie Ellis, was a real page-turner. The premise is that a pandemic has swept through the world which causes people to “pause”, rendering them unable to move or speak but leaving them cognizant of what’s happening around them. The book starts off with great momentum and continues throughout. The characters are well-thought out and relatable, making it that much more heartbreaking when a character succumbs to the disease. The end of the book is very thought provoking, leaving one to ponder what the world would look like after this type of pandemic, especially how much the world changed after COVID. Paused wasn’t a long book, which made it easy to read; however, I felt a little more substance related to the main character’s family could have been added to build up to the end. I would rate this book 5 stars because I enjoyed the dramatic, nail-biting development of the events.

IT’S THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE PRIME SERIES.

First, the book is not like the series. The books take place starting in the 1990s, closer to the Vietnam war when the scars and trauma were still visibly present and close to the surface. Although the book is not set in our present day, it holds up, the storyline is fresh and engaging.

The characters are there, Bosch, J. Edgar, Lt. Pounds, Chief Irving and of course Eleanor Wish; but they’re all different – in some cases very different. Even though I had watched the series several times, I still didn’t know ‘whodunit’, because as I said, the books were the blueprint but the series was not a faithful adaptation in terms of the crime or characters.

In The Black Echo, Bosch’s demons are closer to the surface. He deals with insomnia and nightmares. His anxiety about going back underground in two tunnels plays a minor role in the storyline. So far in the Bosch series, LA/Hollywood is a separate character that is integral to the story. Michael Conley weaves history of the city into all aspects of the storyline. His attention to detail and history helps make the story come alive on the page (or on the screen as the case may be).

Like I said, the story is similar to the first season of Bosch available on Prime, but there’s a different time frame, different characters and overall really a different conclusion. Both the series and the book are a must for lovers of drama and crime drama.

REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

REVIEWED BY SUSAN

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

REVIEWS

BY

The Reviewbler Khanani Daniella Tripti Kandari Poetic Monologues

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.

Reviews Team:

Seraphia B.

The Book Trollop

Julio Carlos