TopShelf Magazine September 2023

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THRILLING DUO

PRESTON & CHILD

Exclusive Interview

The thrillers of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child “stand head and shoulders above their rivals” (Publishers Weekly).

Preston and Child’s Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities were chosen by readers in a National Public Radio poll as being among the one hundred greatest thrillers ever written, and Relic was made into a number‑one box office hit movie. They are coauthors of the famed Pendergast series, and their recent novels include The Cabinet of Dr. Leng, Diablo Mesa, Bloodless, The Scorpion’s Tail, and Crooked River.

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Q: HOW MANY BOOKS DO YOU BOTH HAVE PLANNED FOR THE NORA KELLY SERIES?

Linc—The idea came to us after Doug wrote a piece in the New Yorker about an old, unsolved mystery involving the inexplicable deaths of several young winter hikers in Russia. We took the barest bones of what was, in essence, a campfire ghost story; set it in the Manzano mountains of America’s west; populated it with characters we thought were memorable; and, essentially, made it completely our own.

Linc—We’re really enjoying this series, probably because of the unique characters and their specialties (crime investigation and archaeology) which we both are fascinated with. The books are mostly set around Santa Fe, which Doug knows well and which offers endless locations for colorful stories. So that’s a long way of saying we can promise several more books in the series. Q: WHO ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERS IN DEAD MOUNTAIN? We have no plans to stop.

Q: WHEN DID YOU BOTH AGREE ON BECOMING COAUTHORS?

Linc—The main characters are the archaeologist Nora Kelly, her impulsive brother Skip, and the FBI agent Corrie Swanson, who is still completing her training on the job.

Linc—We agreed from the very beginning. When I was an editor at St. Martin’s Press, I signed up Doug to write a non-fiction book about New York’s natural history museum.

We became friends; we both had an interest in writing fiction; and when Doug pitched an idea for a murder mystery to me just as I was leaving the publishing, field I countered with the idea of a jointly-written thriller.

That was RELIC, our first book.

Q: WHAT THEMES WILL READERS FIND IN YOUR NEW RELEASE COMING OUT THIS AUGUST 22ND? Linc--Intrigue on many different levels; some feisty and fiery interplay between our heroines; and a central puzzle that, we hope and believe, is not only an exciting read but one with a very surprising ending.

Q: IS IT MORE DIFFICULT GOING SOLO OR TO COAUTHOR A BOOK?

Q: HOW MUCH RESEARCH GOES INTO YOUR NOVEL?

Linc—Writing solo books is very satisfying, of course, because it’s all your own work…but it’s harder and lonelier than coauthoring a novel. There’s nobody except your editor to brainstorm with, and you can only take up so much of their time. Of course, the hardest part is finding somebody you respect and can get along with enough to help take on such a monumental task!

Q: TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE, DEAD MOUNTAIN, BOOK 4 IN THE NORA KELLY SERIES. 6

Doug--We research our novels extensively. I am an avid traveler and I often journey to the settings we choose and explores them in detail, keeping notes. We’ve found ourselves researching such diverse subjects as Stradivarius violins, nuclear engineering, cryptology, Southwestern archaeology, cannibalism, biochemistry, and esoteric meditation practices, all in an effort to create a world for our readers in which they not only enjoy

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a good story, but also learn something new. In terms of research, there is very little “fiction” in our fiction—we hew closely to reality as much as we can.

Q: WHAT ARE THE THREE KEY ELEMENTS THAT EVERY MYSTERY THRILLER MUST HAVE?

answer it. I have such a clear idea of what Corrie and Nora look like, how they speak, how they behave, that I simply can’t seem to think of actresses who would fit those characteristics. I’d like to turn the question around and ask our readers that same thing: who do you think should play Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson? Maybe you could post your thoughts on our Facebook page.

Doug--A mystery thriller must have an opening that injects the reader into the story and introduces a central Q: WHAT OTHER PROJECTS ARE YOU BOTH WORKING ON AT mystery or enigma. A great thriller—indeed any novel— THE MOMENT? must have vivid and three dimensional characters, real human beings who are a mixture of good and bad, Doug--Linc and I are writing the final book in our Cabinet competence and idiocy, courage and cowardice—just like series, called The Angel of Vengeance. That series, which living people—and who also have clear and convincing features Agent Pendergast, consists of The Cabinet of motivations that propel their actions. And finally, a great Curiosities, Bloodless, The Cabinet of Dr. Leng, and then, thriller must transport the reader to a setting in a time finally, The Angel of Vengeance. period that is well researched, evocative, and interesting.

Q: WHERE CAN READERS FIND YOU BOTH ONLINE? Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLES? Our website: https://www.prestonchild.com Doug--The way we work together is that we each write a Linc’s website: https://www.lincolnchild.com string of chapters, and then swap the material and rewrite Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ each other. In this way, our two somewhat different styles PrestonandChild merge to become one. Linc’s prose is a bit more Baroque Doug’s personal Facebook page: https://www.facebook. than mine, more elegant perhaps, with complex sentence com/douglasjpreston structure and a lot of dashes, semi colons and colons. He Doug’s Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/ likes to use a lot of adverbs and adjectives. Mine is more douglaspreston6/ streamlined, spare, and simpler. So when Linc rewrites me, he enriches my prose with more detail, especially ABOUT LINCOLN CHILD when it comes to character notes, while I strip down and simplify his prose to make it more direct and clear. In this Lincoln Child was born in Westport, Connecticut, which he way we each add benefit the other’s work. It’s not always a still calls his hometown (despite the fact that he left the smooth process and we sometimes have disagreements, place before he reached his first birthday and now only but I respect Linc’s judgment a great deal, and he does goes back for weekends). mine.

Lincoln seemed to have acquired an interest in Q: IF DEAD MOUNTAIN WERE TO BE MADE INTO A BIG SCREEN PICTURE MOVIE, WHO WOULD YOU BOTH CHOOSE TO PLAY THE MAIN CHARACTERS? Doug--This is such a tough question that I find I can’t

writing as early as second grade, when he wrote a short story entitled Bumble the Elephant (now believed by scholars to be lost). Along with two dozen short stories composed during his youth, he wrote a science-fiction novel in tenth grade called Second Son of Daedalus and a

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shamelessly Tolkienesque fantasy in twelfth grade titled The Darkness to the North (left unfinished at 400 manuscript pages).

Both are exquisitely embarrassing to read today and are kept under lock and key by the author.

After a childhood that is of interest only to himself, Lincoln graduated from Carleton College (huh?) in Northfield, Minnesota, majoring in English. Discovering a fascination for words, and their habit of turning up in so many books, he made his way to New York in the summer of 1979, intent on finding a job in publishing. He was lucky enough to secure a position as editorial assistant at St. Martin's Press.

Over the next several years, he clawed his way up the editorial hierarchy, moving to assistant editor to associate editor before becoming a full editor in 1984.

While at St. Martin's, he was associated with the work of many authors, including that of James Herriot and M. M. Kaye. He edited well over a hundred books--with titles as diverse as The Notation of Western Music and Hitler's Rocket Sites--but focused primarily on American and English popular fiction.

While at St. Martin's, Lincoln assembled several collections of ghost and horror stories, beginning with the hardcover collections Dark Company (1984) and Dark Banquet (1985). Later, when he founded the company's mass-market horror division, he edited three more collections of ghost stories, Tales of the Dark 1-3.

In 1987, Lincoln left trade publishing to work at MetLife.

In a rather sudden transition, he went from editing manuscripts, speaking at sales conferences, and wining/ dining agents to doing highly technical programming and systems analysis. Though the switch might seem bizarre, Lincoln was a propeller-head from a very early age, and 8

his extensive programming experience dates back to high school, when he worked with DEC minis and the nowprehistoric IBM 1620, so antique it actually had an electric typewriter mounted into its front panel. Away from the world of publishing, Lincoln's own nascent interests in writing returned. While at MetLife, Relic was published, and within a few years Lincoln had left the company to write full time. He now lives in New Jersey (under protest-just kidding) with his wife and daughter.

A dilettante by natural inclination, Lincoln's interests include: pre-1950s literature and poetry; post-1950s popular fiction; playing the piano, various MIDI instruments, and the 5-string banjo; English and American history; motorcycles; architecture; classical music, early jazz, blues, and R&B; exotic parrots; esoteric programming languages; mountain hiking; bow ties; Italian suits; fedoras; archaeology; and computer MMORPGs.

ABOUT DOUGLAS PRESTON Douglas Preston has published thirty-six books of both nonfiction and fiction, of which twenty-nine have been New York Times bestsellers. He is the co-author, with Lincoln Child, of the Pendergast series of thrillers. He writes about archaeology and anthropology for the New Yorker Magazine, and he worked as an editor at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and taught nonfiction writing at Princeton University. He currently serves as President of the Authors Guild, the nation’s oldest and largest association of authors and journalists.

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

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RAGTOWN KELLY STONE GAMBLE

Gamble creates a compelling saga made all the more riveting for its foundations in historical fact. The astute reflections of each character cement a sense of the times which includes not just a taste of place and history, but the life lessons and conundrums which transfer between generations as well as between individuals...hard to put down, complex in its associations and changing milieus, and attractive in its psychological depth and sense of place and purpose." world has disintegrated. Civilization has collapsed. Chaos is the new normal.

—D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Helen Carter lives in the back seat of her father’s Model T in the harsh Nevada desert, surrounded by thousands of desperate souls trying to endure the hardships of the Great Depression.

When her father dies while working on the Hoover Dam diversion tunnels, she finds herself alone. In this unforgiving landscape where marriage, prostitution, and starvation seem to be her only viable choices, Helen is determined to defy society's expectations of a young woman and create her own American dream. She relies on her resourcefulness to survive but soon realizes she can't go it alone.

Ezra Deal, a young dam worker, brought his sister to Nevada in search of the father of her child, only to have the man reject her. Tragically, both his sister and the baby pass away during childbirth, leaving Ezra with a profound sense of guilt. Determined to distance himself from any further responsibilities, he focuses on his job and locating the man 10

who callously denied his sister. But when he learns that his friend Helen is running from not only the law but also a Las Vegas gangster, he must decide between his independent lifestyle and helping her.

As Helen and Ezra grow closer and become more invested in the diversion of the Colorado River from its course, their lives parallel this monumental change. Ezra can picture building a life with Helen, but she has other ideas. With the help of a thirteen-year-old runaway, a few prostitutes, a dead desperado, and Ezra, Helen embarks on a journey to live life on her terms.

Incorporating actual dramatic events gleaned from the oral histories of the dam workers, Ragtown highlights a time in American history when ordinary men and women overcame the challenges of the Great Depression and thrived.

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DESCRIBING CHARACTERS THE QUICK & EASY WAY

by Matthew Hughes

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any writers who are still learning their craft devote too much energy to describing the physical appearance of their characters. They believe that the reader won’t be able to picture the character unless they’ve given a complete physical description. Which, of course, is not true.

And it compounds the error to stop the story, or at least throw it into low gear while a succession of unneeded details about hair and eye color, height and weight, and so on are doled out.

I’ve written entire novels in which the lead character’s appearance is not described. I mean, not at all. Not a single word. In The Damned Busters, for example, Chesney Arnstruther is described merely as a young man. The reader probably gains the impression that he has not spent any time in fitness centers or on playing fields, but his physique is not dwelt upon. Nor are his eyes or hair or lips or chin.

He is described by another character as “highfunctioning autistic,” but the astute reader will have grasped that facet of his personality long before the phrase is uttered. Yet he carries the story along because he is constantly doing something to address the problems that, inwardly and outwardly, confront him.

But, for those writers, who don’t feel comfortable unless they give at least a minimal description, here’s a technique I use: give a general description, add two or three details that say something about the character’s character, then add one characteristic motion. The motion is important, I think, because it is easier for us to envision moving objects than still ones – something to do with our evolution as creatures that were more likely to be prey than predators.

Here’s an example from The Damned Busters,

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describing Billy Lee Hardacre, the labor lawyer/novelist turned tv preacher: He was broad-shouldered, tall, and fiftyish, with silver hair that looked as if it had been poured into a mold and let to set overnight. He wore tailor-made suits with western-style piping on the lapels and a big gold and diamond ring that flashed as brightly as his piercing blue eyes whenever he raised his hands to call down divine blessings--or, more often, wrath--on some celebrity whose behavior had caught his attention over the preceding week.

DEMON PRINCES series.

I’m Canadian, a university drop-out from a workingpoor background. I’ve sold twenty-four novels to publishers large and small in the UK, US, and Canada, as well as nearly 100 works of short fiction to professional markets.

I've won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award and the Endeavour, and have been shortlisted for the Aurora, Locus, Nebula, Philip K. Dick, Endeavour (twice), A.E. Van Vogt, Neffy, and Derringer Awards.

In 2007, I took up a secondary occupation -- that of an unpaid housesitter -- so that I can afford to keep on writing fiction yet still eat every day. These days, any snail-mail address of mine must be considered temporary; but you can send me an e-mail via the address on my web page: www.matthewhughes.org. I'm always interested to hear from people who've read my work.

I also have a Patreon page: https://www.patreon. com/user?u=4687520

If I've done that right, you should have a pretty good mental picture of Billy Lee, and at least the beginnings of a sense of what kind of guy he is.

ABOUT MATTHEW HUGHES I'm Matthew Hughes.

I write space opera science fiction and fantasy mostly set in my extrapolation of Jack Vance’s Dying Earth. I make no bones about being heavily influenced

by Vance, whose work I first encountered as a thirteenyear-old in the early 1960s.

Booklist has called me Vance’s “heir apparent” and George R.R. Martin says I “do Jack Vance better than anyone except Jack himself.” I am very proud to have been authorized by the Vance estate to write BARBARIANS OF THE BEYOND, a companion novel to the

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AUDIO BOOK REVIEW LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH JENNIFER PEEL

by Pelican Freak

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE NARRATOR!!!

HOW is it that I hate reality TV, yet always find myself so invested in reality-TV trope-y books? Well, great writing is my guess. This is a clean, super sweet, high-speed (the pace, not the relationship) romance read with lots going on …

Small town vibes.

Reality TV partial setting.

Second-chance / rekindling vibes.

Catty enemies / frenemies.

Strong female lead.

Lovable hero.

ALL the gossip.

Pure shenanigans.

Very fast-paced.

No spice, but not exactly ‘wholesome’.

Girl squad.

Catty in-laws I loved to hate.

Starts out with a ‘back to school’ scene, so for me, it lowkey packed Fall vibes too.

Overall, it was adorable and I’d be open to reading more from this author, based on this experience.

Audio: Wow—absolutely amazing narrator.

She truly made this sound like a ‘fullcast’ narration. ALL the stars. Honestly, I’m not sure I’d have finished this book in digital or print formats— the narrator inserted so much life, attitude and humor though, that I couldn’t get enough.

Overall sound quality is perfect as well.

About The Reviewer - Pelican Freak Pelican Freak is the online alter ego of an author PA who works with authors in all genres, some of who are international best sellers. Pelican Freak reads all genres and is brutally honest in what is reviewed.

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Quick & Easy

DOUGLAS WEISSMAN QUICK INTERVIEW 14

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TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF. I am a travel writer and novelist living in the Los Angeles area with my wife, daughter, dog, cat, and all the squirrels my wife feeds in the backyard. I love visiting bookstores, exploring new corners of the world and the city, and having dance parties with my daughter, which usually means putting on Magic Dance from Labyrinth on repeat (and I love it!).

WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I have lived in Florence, Italy, Rome, Italy, San Francisco, CA, and spent lots of time in Sydney, Australia. I currently live in Simi Valley, CA.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? I love to travel, write, hike, and visit bookstores. I would gladly spend all day browsing my local bookstore, sipping a cup of tea, and snacking on a pastry. This is how I would spend most of my days given the chance. I›m also a fan of a good living room dance party.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY?

ground.»

After traveling, I applied to graduate school t w i c e because I was eager to bring this mission to life, and I could do it by traveling, by writing, and by finding inspiration from my experience and the lives of others that needed sharing.

IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE? Passionate, curious, loud

I wrote my first story in second grade. My teacher loved it and had me read it in front of the class. It really WHAT INSPIRES YOU? encouraged my creative side. But after a certain point in Books, movies, hiking, the imagination of a toddler (my my life, I thought creativity wasn’t viable as a career.

I avoided writing for years. I was ready to climb the daughter), a really great sentence, surreal art, things ladder in hospitality, I sold timeshares, I thought I›d end up that are just weird enough (like the Museum of Broken working in a bank (which is fine for some but not for me). Relationships), other creative people and their processes.

I kept coming back to writing in one form or another and realized without exception, it is where I need to be. I say SHARE SOMETHING YOUR READERS WOULDN’T KNOW on my website that I [write] stories about building bridges, ABOUT YOU. about burning bridges, about growing trees, about turning trees into bridges, and the ways strangers find common A lot of the way I view my creativity and writing is from a REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

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Jewish tradition and the mythology I grew up with.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO WRITING ?

the vulnerability in the writing and that›s felt when reading.

WHERE CAN OUR LISTENERS CONNECT WITH YOU Even though I avoided writing, I did a minor in creative ONLINE? writing in my undergrad. I had an instructor who was so encouraging and help my writing mature from the voice I thought I needed, one that was too busy looking for sarcasm and jokes that I missed the real story I was trying to tell. I eventually realized that I come from a storytelling family, a tradition of oratory, from my father, my grandparents, and my own experience, that I wanted to hone that voice and put in on paper.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT INSPIRED YOUR BOOK/ WORK AND WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND IT? My book was inspired partially by my visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina. I saw the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo, watched these women march, listened to their stories, and became so enamored by their story and mission, as well as my connection to the concept of disappearing people because of the Holocaust education I grew up with, that the character Sofia took shape in my mind.

ARE YOU WORKING ON ANYTHING AT THE PRESENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? I recently sold my book about a woman serial killer set in occupied Paris during WWII. I am also working on a new novel that›s The Great British Bake-off meets The Breakfast Club.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS? I want to inspire with my creative work and the stories I share. It›s not just about creating stories but having those stories connect with readers and the right time, bringing emotion to the forefront and celebrating

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My website is: http://douglasweissman.com/ I’m active on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglasweissman/ I’m also active on Instagram at: https://www. instagram.com/douglasweissman/ I’m currently reading Life Between Seconds one page at a time and posting videos on Tik Tok and Instagram.

Check it out.

ABOUT DOUGLAS WEISMAN I wrote my first story in second grade about the unhappily ever after of Cinderella. My teacher had me read it to the class. I hated reading until my dad introduced me to comic books. They were a gateway to choose-your-own-adventure stories, then spy novels, then thrillers, and eventually learned that a perfectly crafted sentence could take me anywhere.

Writing can be both exhilarating and scary, making each work a new experience, whether when working on a novel, a screenplay, or a travel article.

I find excitement in working with others to develop gripping narratives true to the heart of the author's intention.

I live with my wife and our gigantic dog who demands attention from strangers, our quiet cat who might be plotting my demise, and our daughter who is plotting to corner the cat. I love to spend time writing short stories, novels, and travel essays. When not writing, I am often reading in a cafe, exploring new corners of the world--or undiscovered areas of my city--and hiking through the wild hills surrounding Los Angeles, the untamed nature and beauty of which often surprises newcomers.

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AUDIO BOOK REVIEW SECRETS REVELED ALISHA WILLIAMS

by Pelican Freak

INCREDIBLY ADDICTIVE...

Book 1 was an addictive wild ride which displayed expert writing, character development, suspense, action … all while making me think. This one does all of that, while further advancing the plot and adding in new twists.

This author is incredibly talented and one to watch—don’t miss her! She manages to show the whole ‘hurt people hurt people’ thing and gets me thinking (so far, every time I read her) about things like forgiveness, my own trauma and along other lines like those ones.

As a result, she’s helping me to further process my own trauma, grow stronger, move on and … even reminding me to love myself.

Her female lead is inspiring in this and other details.

etc.

Other parents I loved to hate.

Stalking.

M/M Group scenes.

Slow-burn, relationships-wise, at least for some.

Mean girls!!

Small-town vibes.

Lots of action/violence, police involvement, bail-posting, Laugh-out-loud moments, mixed in with heavy ones.

A broody, tortured-hero.

Found family vibes.

More but I was too invested to work on this review a ton—a testament to the writing and world-building.

Absolutely cannot wait for the next!!

Audio: Absolutely amazing—this book had 2 narrators who made it feel like full cast and performed beautifully. 5 stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ Overall sound quality is absolutely perfect. 5 stars here too. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Danger.

Adorable, hilarious kid (important secondary character).

Supportive parents.

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QUICK INTERVIEW Quick & Easy

KELLY STONE GAMBLE 20

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THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A MULTIPLE BOOK SERIES? Q. IF YOU COULD GIVE 3 TIPS TO ASPIRING AUTHORS OR THOSE No, I didn’t. But after I finished, I felt that some of the other JUST GETTING STARTED characters had stories to tell, and I liked Cass, and wanted ON THE PUBLISHING JOURNEY, WHAT WOULD to talk to her some more. I can’t speak for other authors but I’m sure there are many who, just like me, start relating to THEY BE? their characters on a more personal level. When you spend I think, above all else, an so much time in someone else’s mind, even if that someone aspiring author should is a fictional character, you find yourself talking to them love to write. That and more importantly, listening to them. may seem like a fairly fundamental part of the journey, but what I mean is, their goal should be to write because it makes them happy, not because they think they are going to get rich or famous. The reality of writing and publishing is that most of us don’t make a living from our writing, which brings me to tip #2: Don’t gauge your success by the number of books you sell. Writing a novel is not an easy thing to do, and not something everyone is able to do, so if someone manages to write one, that is success. #3 Understand that editors are there to help. I hear a lot of new writers going through the editing process throw their hands up when they see an editor’s comments. The editor doesn’t hate your work, they are trying to help you make it the best it can be. Read their comments, throw a fit, hit a pillow, then go back and look at their comments again.

Q. WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THEY CALL ME CRAZY?

Q. YOUR CASS ADAMS BOOKS DEAL WITH SOME DARK ASPECTS OF LIFE, DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A DARK PERSON? Sometimes, maybe? I like dark humor and the Cass Adams books are meant to show that. I don’t know that I would call the themes dark aspects of life, but maybe difficult aspects of life met with dark humor.

Q. WHAT ARE THE 3 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOUR STUDENTS AND AUTHORS (ASPIRING AND PUBLISHED) NEED TO KNOW AND REMEMBER? I I’m not great at giving advice-we are all so different, our journeys, our goals, our experiences are all so diverse. I’m going to take the easy road here and say: Be responsible, be happy, and be kind to animals (and humans, too).

Q. YOUR UPCOMING I was in a bar watching a show about building koi ponds, RELEASE IS RAGTOWN, and talking with the bartender. I said the koi ponds looked WHAT MADE YOU WRITE like a grave, he said-no, too shallow, one good rain and THIS STORY? the body would be discovered. One idea led to another, and CALL ME CRAZY was born.

I volunteered at the Boulder City Museum Q. WHEN YOU WROTE THEY CALL ME CRAZY DID YOU KNOW many years ago to help REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

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with an oral history project they were doing related to the Hoover Dam. During that time, I transcribed many, many oral histories that were recorded from people who lived in Ragtown, a Hooverville near the site of the dam. Their stories fascinated me, and I knew I wanted to write something about them. You know, history tells us what happened and when, but to really understand a time period, you have to know how the people who lived through the events reacted to those events and in the case of the Great Depression, how they survived. That was my goal for Ragtown; a glimpse into the lives of the people who survived the desert during the building of the dam.

Q. WHEN RAGTOWN WAS IN VELLA IT DEBUTED IN THE TOP 5 AND REMAINED IN THE TOP 100 FOR MORE THAN A YEAR...DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO RELEASE IT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS A BOOK INSTEAD OF SERIALIZED? Yes. Vella was a new platform, I had this huge novel that I wanted to publish, and I thought the Vella platform would be a great way to gauge interest. I was pleasantly surprised at its success on Vella; it even hit #1 for a few days. Readers loved the author notes that were included in Vella and in the novel, I included those. Some readers may find it distracting, but they don’t have to read them. Most, I have found, like hearing more about the history and the character development.

Q. WHAT IS THE PREMISE OF RAGTOWN? Before the Hoover Dam could be built, the Colorado River had to be diverted so they had a dry bed to build the dam 22

on. This involved carving four tunnels, each 56 foot in diameter and roughly a mile long out of the rock on either side of the river. Ragtown takes place during this phase of the project. The premise-Helen Carter, a seventeenyear-old girl who lives in Ragtown, is left alone when her father dies while working on the project. Ragtown is about Helen’s journey as a young woman alone during the Great Depression who doesn’t want to get married, or become a prostitute, or starve to death in the desert, which seemed her only choices. Ezra Deal, a young dam worker, is also alone in the desert after the death of his sister and is trying to find his own path. Their lives parallel the changing course of the river, but they have different ideas of what the future looks like. I think it’s important to note that Ragtown is NOT a historical romance. There is some romance and the tension involved with young love, but Helen and Ezra’s “happily ever after” is not…well, I’ll stop there. No spoilers!

Q. HOW DID YOU RESEARCH THE BUILDING OF THE DAM FOR THE CHARACTERS? As I mentioned earlier, I had helped with an oral history project about the dam and I read all of transcripts from that project. I went over everything the Boulder City Hoover Dam Museum had in their archives: pictures, documents, etc. I read newspapers that were on microfiche at the Nevada State Museum and perused documents at the UNLV library as well. I read everything I could find about the dam. I lived about 30 minutes from the site and I walked the railroad tunnels, hiked the mountains, and explored the desert areas not only around the dam but the Railroad Pass area, which also plays a big part in the novel. The original site of Ragtown in underwater, part of Lake Mead, and I even donned my scuba gear and went to visit! I used a phone book from the 1930’s to draw a scratch of a map of downtown Las Vegas and read a lot about Vegas during that time period as well. Ragtown is about 500 pages in length, and I estimate for every page I wrote, I read at least ten times that. And Ragtown ends the day before the actual dam building begins; it takes

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place during the first phase, the diversion of the Colorado River. So I have a lot more story if I choose to keep going.

and actually began researching about the Hoover Dam 3 years before that. The novel has gone through several complete rewrites, and now, finally, I’m getting to see it in print.

Q. IF YOU HAD A TIME MACHINE AND COULD GO TO ANY POINT IN TIME - PAST OR FUTURE - WHAT TIME WOULD YOU VISIT? WHY? WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH OR Q. IS THERE A CHARACTER IN ONE OF YOUR BOOKS THAT EXPERIENCE? YOU THINK IS MOST LIKE YOU? I’m afraid to time travel. I mean, who’s to say if I went back to any time period and tried to change anything that my tiny ripple might make things worse?

And going back to ancient times, which would be fun to see, as a lefthanded, redhead who likes to speak her mind, 9 out of 10 times I’d be executed as a witch, so no thanks. Even going back to change something about my own life, what if I had a “better” life, but at the expense of not having the two sons that I adore more than anything?

And going forward in time to see my sons and my granddaughter in 50 years, I might not like what I see. So at the most, I’d probably just go ahead a week and get the lottery numbers. LOL.

Not really. I think most writers use some personal experience for their characters, so many of my characters do things I’ve done or exhibit some of my own characteristics, but I’ve never really patterned a specific character after myself. Helen, in Ragtown, is the strong young woman I wish I had had the courage to be, and maybe that’s why I enjoyed writing her. I’m certain when I was her age, in her situation, I would have continued to dream about freedom, but would have never been able to defy society’s expectations and actually pursue it. I loved being able to “become Helen” when writing Ragtown and let her do the things I’m certain I would have been afraid to.

Q. IS THERE A GENRE YOU HAVEN’T CURRENTLY WRITTEN BUT WANT TO ATTEMPT AND IF SO DO YOU ALREADY HAVE AN IDEA OF THE STORY?

Q. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS?

I like to read apocalyptic fiction and would love to write something in that genre at some point. However, I have two stories I’m working on now and don’t know when I will be able to start something in that genre; and I don’t have a story. Yet.

Can I say I don’t really have any? I read so much, and in so many different genres, I honestly can’t think of anyone whose work I devour and want more, more, more. I like so many! My favorites of all time would have to be Barry Lopez, Kate Chopin, and Marguerite Duras. And The Lover

by Marguerite Duras is still, without a doubt, my favorite book.

Q. OUT OF ALL YOUR “BOOK BABIES” IS THERE ONE THAT YOU FEEL THE MOST PROTECTIVE OF?

Q. WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL WRITING REGIMEN?

Ragtown is my baby. I’ve worked on it for almost 13 years,

I drive several hours a week for work and if I’m not listening to an audiobook, I’m thinking. I spend a lot of

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time thinking about writing, which I know sounds a bit unwriterly, but, this is my process. I think about a chapter, map it all out in my mind, then when I know where that chapter is going, I put it all on paper. I might think for weeks about “the next chapter,” or I might write a chapter a day for several in a row. So my typical writing regimen is, I spend more time thinking and planning, and I write when I have something to say. I’ve managed to write a novel about every two years at this pace, and I’m okay with that.

ABOUT KELLY STONE GAMBLE As a reader, my tastes are very diverse. I have a passion for the classics and love a good adventure. As a writer, I enjoy creating memorable characters that may be a bit eccentric, but experience life on their own terms.

I am the author of Ragtown, the USA Today Bestseller They Call Me Crazy, Call Me Daddy, and Call Me Cass. My work has appeared in a variety of publications including Red Earth Review, Tower Journal, Family Digest and Chicken Soup for the Soul. My fiction has won awards from Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Writers Weekly, Writers Courtyard, Women on Writing and the Ground Zero Literary Project.

I teach communications, humanities and literature at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and make my home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS Website: kstonegamble.com Facebook: @KStoneGamble X (Twitter): @KellySGamble Instagram: @kellystonegamble BookBub: @kelly-stone-gamble Goodreads: @Kelly_Stone_Gamble TikTok: @kellystonegamble

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

The Book Marketing team of Abundantly Social and Creative Edge are pleased to announce joint representation with not one but two recipients of the Readers Favorite Awards for 2023!!

2022 was also the year that both companies began to work together with joint clients focusing on a combination of book marketing efforts coupled with targeted social media and leveraging key traditional media outlets for coverage.

The business model has been a win-win and today the joint effort has resulted in not one but two winners with Bronze Awards at the prestigious Readers Favorite Awards.

Dr. Roger Leslie has achieved a substantial number of accolades throughout his writing career including receiving the Ben Franklin Silver Award, receiving the Foreword Magazine bronze Award, and being recognized by Writer’s Digest’s and having a #1 Inspirational Book of the Year. At its inaugural event, Leslie received the Houston Literary Award for his body of work. With Roger’s newest memoir, Light Comes Out Of The Closet, the accolades have continued with positive critical

acclaim from mainstream reviewers such as Publishers Weekly, upcoming coverage with USA Today, and now a Bronze Award from Readers Favorite.

David A. Bowles is a Texas writing legend. David has had mainstream success with his Westward Saga® series and the fifth book in the series, The Sherrif of Starr County has achieved mainstream commercial success including positive critical acclaim with an A rating from Publishers Weekly, receiving positive reviews from influencers such as Top 100 Amazon reviewer Grady Harp, and continuing to be a prolific writer with themes about Texas history and true-life characters he has met. The Sheriff of Starr County was also the recipient of a Bronze Award from Readers Favorite.

CONTACT To request additional review copies or an interview with Roger or David, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail. com / 403.464.6925.

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THE TYPES OF PRE-RELEASE READERS WHO HELP AUTHORS

by Deena Rae

A

An ARC reader, which stands for Advance Reader uthors rely on a variety of pre-release readers to make sure that they are publishing the best book Copy reader, is an individual or group of individuals possible for the general reading public. Alpha, who receive advance copies of a book (known as Beta and ARC Readers each serve an important purpose. ARCs or galley copies) before the book is officially An alpha reader is someone who provides published. ARC readers play a crucial role in feedback and insights to a writer in the early stages generating buzz and interest for a book prior to its of a writing project. They focus on the big-picture release. aspects of the work and help the writer refine their ideas and storytelling. Alpha readers often play ALPHA READERS a crucial role in the developmental process of a manuscript, offering support, encouragement, and Alpha readers responsiblities include: valuable input as the writer brings their creative vision to life.

Early-Stage Feedback: Alpha readers A beta reader is a volunteer or hired reader are typically involved in the earliest stages of a who provides constructive feedback and a critical writer's work, often before a complete draft of the evaluation of a manuscript to help an author improve manuscript exists. Writers may share individual their work before publication. Beta readers serve as chapters, outlines, or even early drafts of a few a valuable part of the author's quality control and chapters to gather feedback on their initial ideas, revision process, helping to make the final published plot concepts, or character development. work more polished and engaging for readers.

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Trusted Confidants: Alpha readers are often people close to the writer, such as friends, family members, writing group members, or individuals who have a deep understanding of the writer's style and goals. These individuals are trusted to provide honest and constructive feedback.

Big-Picture Feedback: Alpha readers focus on big-picture elements of the writing, such as the overall concept, plot structure, character arcs, and themes. They help the writer identify major strengths and weaknesses in the story idea and execution.

Developmental Insights: Writers may engage with alpha readers to brainstorm ideas, work through plot problems, or discuss character motivations.

Alpha readers can provide valuable insights and suggestions for the writer to consider as they continue to develop their work.

Iterative Process: The relationship between the writer and alpha reader often involves ongoing collaboration. The writer may revise and refine their work based on the feedback received from alpha readers, and these iterations can continue until the manuscript reaches a more mature stage.

early and sometimes vulnerable stage. Trust and confidentiality are essential in this relationship to create a safe space for open and honest feedback.

BETA READERS Beta readers responsiblities include: Feedback on Manuscripts: Beta readers read unpublished manuscripts, often in genres or subjects they are interested in or familiar with. These manuscripts can be novels, short stories, essays, or any form of written work.

Critical Feedback: Beta readers provide critical and constructive feedback to the author. They assess various aspects of the manuscript, including plot development, character development, pacing, dialogue, writing style, continuity, and more.

Objective Perspective: Beta readers offer an objective perspective on the manuscript, as they are not typically involved in the creative process. This objectivity allows them to identify issues that the author might overlook due to their closeness to the work.

Building Confidence: Alpha readers can provide encouragement and support, helping the writer gain confidence in their project and their ability to bring it to fruition.

Audience Feedback: Beta readers can represent the author's target audience, helping the author understand how their work might be received by readers once it's published. This feedback can be invaluable in making the manuscript more appealing to the intended readership.

Confidentiality and Trust: Alpha readers are privy to the writer's creative process at an

Diverse Insights: Beta readers bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the evaluation

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process. This can be especially helpful for authors seeking to ensure their work is inclusive and representative.

Sensitivity and Respect: While beta readers offer criticism, they do so with sensitivity and respect for the author's work. The goal is to help the author improve, not to tear down their confidence.

Anonymous or Collaborative: Beta reading can be done anonymously, with the author not knowing the identities of the beta readers, or it can involve direct communication and collaboration between the author and the beta readers, allowing for discussions and clarifications.

Iteration: Authors often use beta reader feedback to revise and refine their manuscripts.

This iterative process can go through several rounds of revisions to ensure the work reaches its highest potential.

Beta Reading Communities: Some authors work with beta reading communities or groups where multiple beta readers collectively provide feedback and diverse perspectives on a manuscript.

Acknowledgment: Authors typically acknowledge and thank beta readers in their published works or in the book's acknowledgments section as a way of showing appreciation for their valuable input.

BETA READERS Beta readers responsiblities include: Read the Book Promptly: ARC readers should read the book in a timely manner, ideally before the official publication date. This allows them to provide early reviews and generate pre-release buzz.

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Provide Honest and Constructive Reviews: ARC readers are expected to write honest and thoughtful reviews of the book. This includes discussing both the strengths and weaknesses of the work. Constructive criticism can be valuable to both the author and potential readers.

Respect Embargo Dates: Publishers often set embargo dates, which are dates when ARC readers are allowed to start sharing their reviews.

ARC readers must respect these embargo dates and not share their reviews or any details about the book before the specified time.

Review with Integrity: ARC readers should review the book with integrity and transparency.

They should disclose if they received the ARC for free in exchange for a review. Honesty and transparency build trust with readers and publishers.

Avoid Spoilers: ARC readers should be mindful of spoilers in their reviews. While it's essential to discuss the book's content, revealing major plot twists or key plot points can spoil the reading experience for others.

Engage with the Author and Publisher (if desired): Some authors and publishers appreciate feedback and engagement from ARC readers. If you have feedback, questions, or comments about the book, you can consider sharing them with the author or publisher, but always do so respectfully.

Share Reviews Widely: ARC readers should post their reviews on multiple platforms, including book review websites (e.g., Goodreads), their personal blogs, social media, and retailer websites (e.g., Amazon). Sharing reviews across different platforms helps reach a wider audience.

Promote the Book: In addition to writing

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reviews, ARC readers can help promote the book by sharing their excitement, recommendations, and thoughts about the book with their followers and networks on social media.

writing groups, workshops, or online communities where writers share their early drafts. Building relationships with writers can lead to opportunities to become an alpha reader.

Provide Feedback (if requested): Some publishers and authors may request feedback on errors, typos, or other issues found in the ARC. If you're willing and able to provide this feedback, do so in a clear and organized manner.

Offer Assistance: Express your interest in reading and providing feedback on early drafts.

Writers often appreciate the input of trusted readers during the creative process.

Respect Copyright and Confidentiality: ARC readers should never share, distribute, or reproduce the ARC or its content without permission. The ARC is provided for review purposes and is not meant for distribution.

Maintain Professionalism: ARC readers should maintain professionalism in their interactions with authors, publishers, and other readers. Even if you didn't enjoy the book, express your thoughts and opinions respectfully.

Follow Any Additional Guidelines: Publishers or authors may have specific guidelines or requests for ARC readers. Be sure to follow these guidelines if provided.

BECOME A PRE-PUB READER Becoming an alpha reader, beta reader, or ARC (Advance Reader Copy) reader involves slightly different processes, but all three roles generally require a love for reading, a willingness to provide constructive feedback, and an understanding of the responsibilities involved. Here's how you can become each type of reader: ALPHA READER:

Demonstrate Your Skills: Share examples of your analytical and constructive feedback to showcase your ability to help authors improve their work.

BETA READER: Join Beta Reading Communities: Look for online forums, social media groups, or websites dedicated to beta reading. These communities often connect authors with beta readers.

Create a Beta Reader Profile: In these communities, you can create a profile that highlights your reading preferences, genres you enjoy, and your experience as a reader or reviewer.

Participate in Calls for Beta Readers: Authors frequently post requests for beta readers in these communities. Respond to these requests if they align with your interests.

ARC READER: Build an Online Presence: If you're interested in becoming an ARC reader, establish an online presence as a book reviewer. This can include creating a blog, a BookTube channel, or actively participating in book-related discussions on social media platforms.

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Request ARCs from Publishers: Reach out to 29

publishers, particularly smaller ones, and request ARCs for books that interest you. You can find contact information on publishers' websites or on their social media profiles.

Join ARC Programs: Some publishers and book marketing companies have ARC programs that allow readers to sign up and receive advance copies of books in exchange for honest reviews. Look for these programs and apply to join them.

Participate in Book Blogger/Reviewer Tours: Some book tours and blog tours offer ARCs to participants. Join these tours to gain access to advance copies and contribute reviews.

In all these roles, whether as an alpha reader, beta reader, or ARC reader, you are engaging with literature in a unique and impactful way. Your feedback and involvement can shape stories, help authors, and

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contribute to the literary world. It can also be a way to connect with authors and other readers who share your passion for books. If you enjoy reading and want to be part of the creative process, or if you simply love being among the first to discover new books, these roles offer meaningful opportunities to do so.

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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INTERVIEW Upclose & Personal

GINA MAIER VINCENT 32

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Gina Maier Vincent, a Transformation Expert, has husband and I make a day of it with a picnic lunch. been stretching her high-achieving female clients’ personal boundaries for 20 years. In 2017, she Q. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? founded Blissed-Out, Fit & Feisty, and the “Opening to Possibilities I and II” decks of journaling, A. Both my intuition and beauty. Beautiful people whose contemplation, and conversation starters. More lights shine from within. Beautiful places. Beautiful things recently, she launched Exquisitely Aligned; a 3-step that people create. And of course, beautiful conversations. proven strategy she discovered during one of her hardest times. Gina hosts the Exquisitely Aligned Q. IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE show found on Experts & Authors TV as well as WORDS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE? the Exquisitely Aligned podcast. She appears on podcasts around the world. Gina believes when you live Exquisitely Aligned… you become EXACTLY A. Lover of Beauty.

Take nature for example. Did you know, what the world is missing.

"

My life has been full of twists and turns. And the New Yorker in me simply cannot sit back and watch someone stay stagnant and waste time. That is why I do this work. I help people go deep to their soul so they can enjoy living Exquisitely Aligned more quickly and easily. After all…

The Answers Are On The Inside.

—Gina Maier Vincent

Q. WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

nothing in nature is perfect or symmetrical? I bet you’d agree, nature is beautiful.

There’s an energetic exchange between us and nature. As admirers of its imperfect beauty, we are fueled or energized. Studies show that spending time in nature is healthy; it reduces stress. And spending time by the ocean has been proven to reset the natural rhythm of the heart for cardiac patients…that’s an energetic exchange! We are asked or invited to spend time surrounded by beauty in nature, our home, our office when we look in the mirror, you name it.

Beauty is not superficial. Beauty is super fuel.

A. I was born in NY during a blizzard. Since then, I’ve been Q. HOW DO YOU GENERATE NEW IDEAS? on a lifelong journey for the ideal combination of sun, sand, and sea. In my first career, in the fashion industry, I A. New ideas are always flowing to me throughout the day was transferred with a job in NYC to Charlotte, NC. and week.

That is where I met and married my husband. We I believe when we align with our truths, desires, had our son and adopted our daughter from Guatemala. and gifts we come into a place in which new ideas and Although beautiful and warmer, it wasn’t close enough to possibilities flow freely to us. For me, a challenge is finding the ocean. In August of 2020 we moved to sunny, southern the time and the right people to help me bring these new Orange County California – which is a dream come true. ideas into fruition…and that’s a good problem to have.

Q. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORD AND WHY?

A. I love paddleboarding in Newport Harbor. Typically, my

A. Possibilities. I believe in opening ourselves up to all our

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possibilities each and every day. I especially love helping Q. WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR LIVING my clients begin to experience this first hand.

EXQUISITELY ALIGNED?

Q. SHARE SOMETHING OUR AUDIENCE WOULDN’T KNOW ABOUT YOU. A. I’m bionic. I’m now 54 years young and recently had my second major total joint replacement so I have a brand-new left hip and right shoulder. After four very uncomfortable years of misdiagnosis, I am pain free and enjoying movement again.

Q. HOW DID YOU GET INTO DOING THIS WORK?

A. When it comes to living you finest life it’s about becoming your truest self.

Here are my 5 tips: #1 Stop playing the one-size-fits-all game.

You were born with a specific purpose, calling, truths, desires, and innate gifts. You were BORN exquisite. #2 Stop chasing your dreams. They’re not running from you!

Your dreams are WAITING for you to be you. #3 Be your own authority.

Trust that your inner knowing will guide you, and you’ll discover more about yourself than you ever thought possible. #4 Know you are worthy.

No matter what you do or who you are, you are ALWAYS worthy of pursuing that meaning. Internalize this value, and there is nothing you can’t do! #5 Say “Yes” to the Invitation of Being Intimidated & Intrigued.

When you feel the twinge of intimidation (and a little bit of intrigue) behind a decision or a moment of enlightenment, you know you’re on the brink of something EXTRAORDINARY.

A. I’ve lived a life full of twists & turns. Each one was an invitation for me to step up & take a BOLD, BRAVE, & UNCOMPROMISING stand for my future and that of my family. Sometimes, I felt alone, unsupported & out of my depth. Nonetheless, I always answered with a wholehearted “YES!” In 2009, while my husband lay fighting for his life, I was fighting the rules of the broken hospital system.

Intuitively, I knew something was off; you can imagine how thrilled his doctors were with my (non-medical) opinions.

And at that point, I faced a choice. To watch him slowly die or to step up & take a stand for not only his physical health, but for the future, we still had left to live, as a family…

Q. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST FOR SOMEONE WHO IS ON It took 8 1/2 grueling months of advocating daily on A SELF-HELP JOURNEY? his behalf, but finally, he received the life-saving organs he needed…

The truth is, when you feel like something is missing from …and we have been blessed to go on to create the life your life, you tend to go looking for answers outside of & family we had envisioned together. yourself. But really, what’s missing is… YOU. And now, this is the work I do with others… because Transformation is an INSIDE journey. A journey deep I never want anyone to feel alone, unsupported, or out of to your soul. One that doesn’t and shouldn’t take years for her depth, as I once did. you to enjoy the rewards.

As a New Yorker by birth, I move fast. And I don’t sugarcoat. I help my clients take a stand for their amazing Q. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO PROMOTE? future, the one calling them in the wee hours of the night.

What I call – Exquisitely Aligned.

A. “PURPOSE, POSSIBILITIES & PROSECCO” which is a

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2-hour PRIVATE (in-person or virtual) session in which the YOU are the rock star with the spotlight shining on your life’s purpose and possibilities. The CLARITY you receive will help you take BOLD and COURAGEOUS ACTION INSTANTLY. This avant-garde program combines time-tested ancient and modern face reading with new-age transformation methods that work. So, you get personalized guidance and support from two experts in complementary fields.

Cheers to your exquisiteness!

ExquisitelyAligned Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ exquisitelyaligned/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ ginamaiervincent/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ exquisitely-aligned/id1634430524 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ exquisitelyaligned Experts & Authors TV: https:// expertsandauthors.tv/categories/ category-ju4Dx4iCdkw

Q. ARE YOU WORKING ON ANYTHING AT THE PRESENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? A. Yes, I’m excited because we are getting ready to roll out “COLLEGE, CAREER & CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS”. Similar to Purpose, Possibilities & Prosecco, but with high-school and college students as the focus.

Q. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS? A. I want to revolutionize the self-improvement industry with fast, lasting one-on-one transformative experiences so people can break free from mundane thoughts and mediocrity. Those things that keep us playing small, asking us to detach from who we REALLY are.

It’s my goal to inspire each of us to live authentically & unapologetically. Because I believe that when you express your truest self outwardly… you become EXACTLY what the world is missing. And that’s your super power.

WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU ONLINE? Email: Gina@ExquisitelyAligned.com Website: https://exquisitelyaligned.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

ABOUT VINCENT

GINA

MAIER

Since 2003, Gina Maier Vincent a transformation expert has been stretching women’s personal boundaries.

To help women discover their inner beauty, she designed the Opening to Possibilities Cards.

In 2021, Gina discovered & launched Exquisitely Aligned. Her 3-step proven system guides women to express their finest selves outwardly… so they become EXACTLY what they see missing in the world.

Gina is bold & intentional. She’s passionate about appearing & giving a voice to this very powerful message.

She can be heard the world over.

She hosts the Exquisitely Aligned Podcast which can be found on Apple & anywhere else you like to listen in.

She makes special appearances on podcasts and radio shows like A Quest for Well-Being, The Relatable Voice, and the Dare to be Authentic Live Radio Show, to name a few.

Her podcast earned her the invitation to be featured on Experts And Authors television, which she gladly accepted.

She’s been interviewed & her articles have been published in print and online media both domestically and internationally. She even writes a blog.

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AUDIO BOOK REVIEW RUTHLESS SAINTS ELLA JADE

by Pelican Freak

DYING FOR MORE!!

Overall:

4 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“People will treat you the way you let them.”

This was a fun read about … loyalty … and shifting Audio: loyalties. It made me think at times and was entertaining. This was a perfect specimen in this regard. 5 stars Based on this book, I’d absolutely read more from this author—I’m glad I gave this one a chance.

Dubcon.

Arranged marriage About The (between rival families).

U n d e r c o v e r Reviewer -

⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘spying’.

Crime families.

Slight age-gap.

V!rg!n heroine (she’s 22).

Betrayal.

Scandal.

Violence.

THAT ENDING! Cannot wait for book 2.

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⭐

Pelican Freak

Pelican Freak is the online alter ego of an author PA who works with authors in all genres, some of who are international best sellers. Pelican Freak reads all genres and is brutally honest in what is reviewed.

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DOCTOR JEKYLL ALIEN HUNTER Dr. Jekyll Alien Hunter chronicles the adventures of Henna Jekyll, a professor who is following in her father's footsteps researching extraterrestrials. Her research takes her around the world where she discovers the hazy boundaries between life and death, and reality and dream.

BRUCE OLAV SOLHEIM, PH.D. Bruce Olav Solheim was born in Seattle, Washington, to Norwegian immigrant parents. Bruce was the first person in his family to go to college. He served for six years in the US Army as a jail guard and later as a warrant officer helicopter pilot and is a disabled veteran. He also worked as a defense contractor with Boeing for five years.

Bruce earned his Ph.D. in history from Bowling Green State University in 1993. Bruce is a distinguished professor of history at Citrus College in Glendora, California. He was a Fulbright Professor and Scholar in 2003 at the University of Tromsø in northern Norway. Bruce has published twelve books and has written

ten plays, six of which have been produced. The Bronze Star won two awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. The Epiphany was commissioned by the Kingdom of Norway and funded for a full production run with the original American cast. Bruce is a co-founder of Lockdown Theatre which has produced four streamplays (online, live, with remote actors) during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has lived a paranormal life since age four having experienced angels, demons, ghosts, cryptids, telepathy, psychokinesis, mediumship, and alien contact.

Bruce has published a trilogy of paranormal books about his personal paranormal experiences: Timeless, Timeless Deja Vu, and Timeless Trinity, and most recently published a book about his contact with an ancient alien mystic— Anzar the Progenitor. Bruce has also published two comic books featuring an alien hybrid character named Snarc and will publish a new comic book called Dr. Jekyll Alien Hunter in 2022. Bruce is married to Ginger and has four children and two grandsons.

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Find Bruce at: https://www.bruceolavsolheim.com/

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QUICK INTERVIEW Quick & Easy

JENNIFER ANNE GORDON 38

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Q: TELLS US ABOUT BEING A POPULAR HOST OF THE VOX VOMITUS PODCAST. Vox Vomitus is probably the most fun I have each week. My co-host, Allison Martine, and I talk with top and trending writers about what went right, and what may have gone very wrong in the writing cave. When we started the show a little over three years ago I never imagined the people we would meet and be able to call friends. I also never imagined that thousands of people would tune in each week to see us be so silly.

I think the key to our charm as a podcast is that Allison and I are huge fans of our guests, and we are both avid readers. We always read the book of each guest, and it really allows us to get a feel for the guests as writers and just as people. It also allows us to find fun little things in many of the books and then we come to the interview in costume, or with props, or special food or drinks. The guests love it.

for Agents and Editors and also am on the diversity committee.

I feel like these organizations as well as my podcast allow me to give back to the writing community, and help to give people opportunities and just be an overall good literary citizen.

Q: YOUR LATEST RELEASE, THE JAPANESE BOX AND OTHER STORIES, IS A NEW COLLECTION THAT YOU FINISHED. CAN YOU GIVE US, READERS, MORE DETAILS ABOUT IT? The Japanese Box and Other Stories is a short collection of literary horror that uses elements of memoir, creative non-fiction, and poetry to explore stories of deep trauma and psychological suspense.

Q: WHAT THEMES WILL READERS FIND IN THE JAPANESE BOX AND OTHER STORIES COLLECTION?

Q: AS A WRITER, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO JOIN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA AND THE HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION? I think it’s really important to always be surrounded with other writers at various stages of their career. There is something to learn from everyone in your genre, and people outside your genre.

I know for me, joining the HWA was important because I always wanted to be involved with the Stoker Awards in some way… voting, being on a jury to help select some of the work.

I joined MWA after I got involved with the New England Crime Bake Convention (I am the chairperson REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

The Japanese Box deals with identity, and how your early family life can shape that. At it’s core it is a coming-of-age story, following a woman’s life from the age 10 into her 40’s, during this time you realize she is being haunted by her invisible twin.

The story The Lithium Moon, deals with mental illness, pregnancy, a failing marriage, artistic block, and lots and lots of full moons.

Simulacrum is a dark comedic tale about a toxic college relationship between a narcissist and a sociopath.

And finally, the poem “What Stage of Grief is it?” Deals with grief of the living, the dead, and the idea of who you are and who you could have been.

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Q: IS PRETTY/UGLY YOUR FIRST NOVEL? Pretty/Ugly was the last novel I released in 2021. It won the Helicon Award for Best Horror Novel of 2022, as well as the Reader’s Choice for Best Novel 2022 from the Kindle Awards. My first novel was the award winning gothic ghost story Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent (2020). It won Best Horror Novel of 2020 for The Kindle Book Awards.

Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE? I would describe my overall style as literary, lyrical, poetic, and visceral. I like to combine horror themes and images with reality and psychological fiction.

Q: WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A FEATURED ESSAYIST? HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THIS ROLE? I really enjoy writing personal work and exploring creative nonfiction. I think as an author (or any artist) it is important for readers to know you as a person and not just through your work.

I started working on personal essays and creative nonfiction while taking grief writing, and memoir classes.

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Q: OTHER THAN WRITING YOUR OWN STORIES, NOVELS, AND ESSAYS YOU ALSO SERVE ON A JURY FOR THE STROKER AWARDS AND AS THE AGENTS AND EDITORS CHAIR OF THE NEW ENGLAND CRIME BAKE COMMITTEE. HOW DID YOU GET SELECTED FOR THESE ROLES? HOW DO THESE ROLES HELP INFLUENCE YOUR OWN WRITING? I don’t think they influence my writing per se, though of course reading in general does influence my work but probably in a subliminal way. I am an avid reader, so even without sitting on a jury I tend to read close to 100 novels a year plus short stories etc.

I was selected for a couple of juries for the Stokers over the past couple years, and I am not sure how they select people, I know I applied for specific categories and was very pleased.

I was asked to be the Agents and Editors Committee Chair by my literary agent Paula Munier. She was the former chairperson, and she liked my energy and thought it would be a good fit—and in this business when your agent asks you to do something, you do it.

Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING WRITERS WHO SUBMIT THEIR WORKS TO JUDGING PANELS AND CONTESTS? WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES YOU HAVE SEEN SERVING AS A JURY MEMBER? Honestly with the juries I have been on I am already seeing work that out there in the world in a professional manner, so I can’t really give advice based on what I have seen. I would give the advice to always make sure you are nice

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and polite and honest and true to your word. Be respectful and humble. This goes for being on social media or at in person conventions.

Bad behavior is always noticed.

Q: WHAT OTHER PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT? I have a novel that is currently making the rounds out on Submission, and I can’t really talk too much about that. I also have a short story coming out in October in an anthology published

by Parlor Ghost Publishing, as well as a few essays being released in Diane Zinna’s upcoming book “Letting Grief Speak: Writing Prompts for Life After Loss.”

I am also working on a couple of new stories as well as a new novel.

Kindle Award for Best Novel of the Year (Reader’s Choice), as well as the Gold Medal from Literary Titan. Jennifer is a member of Mystery Writers of America, the Horror Writers Association (where she serves on a jury for the Stoker Awards) and is the Agents and Editors chair of the New England Crime Bake Committee.

Her upcoming collection The Japanese Box: Tales of Grief and Horror will be published in August 2023 (Last Waltz Publishing) she is also a featured essayist in Let Grief Speak by Diane Zinna (Columbia University Press 2024).

Her personal essays on grief, trauma, and horror have been published in The Horror Tree, Ladies of Horror Fiction, The Nerd Daily, and Reader’s Entertainment Magazine.

For more information you can visit her website at www.JenniferAnneGordon.com

Q: WHERE CAN READERS FIND YOU AND YOUR BOOKS ONLINE? Books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, but if readers would like a signed copy of anything they can order from my local Indie bookstore Gibson’s Bookstore, they do offer shipping.

All of my social media information is available on my website http://www.JenniferAnneGordon.com

ABOUT JENNIFER ANNE GORDON Jennifer Anne Gordon is an award-winning author and popular host of the Vox Vomitus podcast. Her novel Beautiful, Frightening and Silent won the Kindle Award for Best Horror/Suspense for 2020, Best Horror 2020 from Authors on the Air, and was a finalist for American Book Fest’s Best Book Award- Horror, 2020. It also received the Platinum 5 Star Review from Reader’s Choice as well as the Gold Seal from Book View. Her latest novel Pretty/ Ugly won the Helicon Award for Best Horror for 2022, the

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INTERVIEW Upclose & Personal

STEPHANIE ELLIS 42

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Q: TELL US ABOUT YOUR NOVEL, THE WOODCUTTER. The Woodcutter is a folk horror but written with the intention that it could equally be regarded as a psychological thriller – by having the two main characters as unreliable narrators, the reader is kept guessing somewhat. Set in the village of Little Hatchet, surrounded by GodBeGone Wood, The Woodcutter tells of the recreation of an old legend, the legend of the Woodcutter and Grandma, as a reality TV show in order to raise funds for the village which is dying. Whilst Alec Eades returns to the village he left as a child to be reunited with his father and halfbrothers, another, Oliver Hayward also returns. He, too, left as a child, but has come back as a property developer.

As the story moves on, it brings the legend of The Woodcutter to life and explores the mystery of a horrific murder many years before.

Q: WHO ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERS?

Q: WHEN DID YOU BEGIN WRITING STORIES? Not until later in life though I have always been a reader. I started writing verse for fun when my children were small but didn’t start working on short stories until I was about 49/50 and it was at that point that I began submitting and achieving some success. The longer works only came a few years back. What I would like to say here is that you are never too old to pick up a pen or type on a keyboard or even voice to text to create your stories.

I had to wait until I had time for ‘me’, like so many women, raising a family and working as well was all-consuming. I have been lucky, but I am also aware that a lot of women not only are raising a family and working, but are also looking after elderly parents. The role of primary carer is still very much a female thing and prevents so many from doing something for themselves – until they feel that maybe it is too late. I’m here to say it is not!

In addition to the two mentioned above, Oliver Hayward and Alec Eades, there is also the Reverend Chadwick, the last of a long line of ministers from his family in the village church, whose job it was supposed to be to keep the demonic Woodcutter away from the village.

And of course in the break ground, the legend of the Woodcutter and Grandma looms as large as an character Q: CAN YOU SHARE WITH US, READERS, WHAT YOUR in the book!

NOVELLA, BOTTLED IS ABOUT? Q: WHAT THEMES WILL READERS FIND IN YOUR NOVEL? Bottled is a gothic horror which grew out of a short story I never write with the intention of exploring a theme when I’d written for a Stephen King competition in The Guardian, I tell my stories but I always discover I have touched a UK national newspaper. The remit was to write about upon something when I read the completed work. In this haunted objects. I chose the idea of ‘impossible bottles’, instance it is the idea of trust, trust in those around and those bottles you find that might contain a ship inside or in yourself, your own sanity. Juxtaposed with this idea of a delicately crafted landscape, the sort you wonder how trust is manipulation. How far is it possible to get people they did it. Although the story didn’t get anywhere the to believe something is true, and what lies behind a idea stuck with me and I developed it into a novella, my person’s motives for that manipulation: power, money, or first long piece of work.

In Bottled, Tyler Vitrum inherits his estranged just plain cruelty? grandfather’s house with its collection of impossible REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

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bottles. It’s a house which holds bad memories for him and he returns only with the intention of staying one night to put those memories to rest. The house, however, has other ideas and he learns the truth of what is expected of him, of what he has really inherited.

Q: YOUR SECOND NOVEL, REBORN, IS UNDER THE GENRE OF FOLK HORROR. WHAT IS FOLK HORROR?

but is a standalone story. It’s set during the pagan festival of Yule which begins with Mother’s Night (or Modranicht).

I really wanted to write a story set during the deep midwinter, something that could serve as a Christmas read and this one is it. It’s just started to gather pace and I’m using the old story of the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King to deliver some of the initial ‘horrific’ moments.

At the back of my mind are two other books I want to get to work on – once Mother’s Night is finished. One is a follow up to a dark historical mystery novel, Women of the Witch Eye, set in 1649 in Lancashire. The other is a folk horror but retelling Hel’s story or rather what her story might have become. I love Norse mythology, and with my family tree being traced back to the Vikings (and yes, there’s some in the DNA!), it just feels ‘right’ to introduce what I love into my work. I actually wrote the first paragraph of Hel’s story the other day but I’m trying to leave it alone until I finish Mother’s Night!

Folk horror is something that people have a hard time defining, there are certain tropes which are expected to appear: usually an isolated rural setting or community, a distorted or Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE? skewed morality system – often centred upon some form of pagan or folkloric belief with their associated rituals In terms of process, it’s very much a pantser’s style. I don’t and sacrifices, all of which combine to build up a sense of plan, or outline. I just see a character in a certain situation dread when a stranger stumbles across the community, and then I slip into their mindset, look at the world or it is challenged from within. It is the belief system through their eyes and we go off on our journey together. which drives the story forward. Ultimately folk horror is I tried outlining once, outlines, a story based upon the relationship of the people to the chapter characters, the whole land, with past beliefs existing in the present. shebang – it just didn’t work, nothing went Q: WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON AT as I thought and was THE MOMENT? depressing. I haven’t I am currently writing a slasher horror novella in verse with outlined since!

In terms of the another poet, Shane Douglas Keene. This is something not end product, my style too far off completion, we’re near the ‘final girl’ moment!

I’m also writing the third in the Five Turns series is very much one atmosphere (currently consisting of The Five Turns of the Wheel and where Reborn) and I’ve just tentatively named it Mother’s Night. and setting come It features some of the characters in these earlier books to the fore. I try to immerse my reader in 44

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the surroundings of the main characters, so that they are ‘there’ with them. The senses are important to me and I try to include as much as I can in my work. It makes things more real.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME KEY ELEMENTS EVERY HORROR NOVEL SHOULD HAVE?

writes for three hours every morning and doesn’t worry about the quantity written. I tried it and it does work – although now I do those hours in the afternoon as I work around the family at home.

By all means read the advice of others but don’t feel you have to follow it, it might take a bit of trial and error until you find what works for you.

And ultimately, and most importantly, read. Read in your genre so you get to know your field, but read widely in general so you do not become stale. You learn more from reading than following any writing class!

Emotion. Fear and dread are key for me, pull the reader in on an emotional level and you will have them for the whole story. A horror novel does not have to have blood and gore, nor does it need those moments which might translate into the ‘jump scares’ beloved of movies. The Q: HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE HORROR GENRE? novel should ensure the reader engages with the character (even if they don’t like Accidentally. When I first had a go at them). I’m a great believer that violent short story writing, I used to subscribe to acts of whatever kind should certainly Writers’ News magazine. I did their short not be gratuitous. story course which resulted in being told I could write but my output was not Q: WHICH CHARACTERS AND FROM the sort for the women’s magazines!

WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS DID YOU ENJOY They said competitions were my best CREATING THE MOST? bet – but I wasn’t going to fork out all the time for that (they always seemed That’s easy, it’s the unholy three: Tommy, to demand entry fees) so I checked out Betty and Fiddler from the Five Turns the submission calls that were listed and series. The three appear in some ways to found one for a horror anthology themed mimic the traditional mummers troupes on potatoes and I thought why not? I which used to travel from village to submitted a story, Death is not a Potato, village but they are so much more than and got rejected. The editor however, that, their performances being more to do with ritual and Theresa Derwin, said I should submit to future calls and sacrifice than a comic turn. They can be grotesque in I did – and was accepted. I found that I could have fun their treatment of others, and they are certainly amoral, on the dark side, create stories where awful characters but I have flavoured that with a little humour at times, would get their comeuppance. It’s quite satisfying to see given them characteristics which make them somewhat that happen when in real life you see so many get away human so that no matter how ‘bad’ they are, you still can’t with so much and it makes you feel helpless. After that, I completely hate them! found Stuart Conover’s HorrorTree.com which hosts loads of submission calls on behalf of publishers and the rest Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING WRITERS? is history.

I will throw in that I’m hoping to write in other genres To just get on and do it. Write when you can but don’t as well, specifically historical fiction and also cosy crime! get hung up on word counts. Joe R. Lansdale told me he Ultimately I would like to be known as a storyteller, REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

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regardless of genre, although I think that whatever genre I write in, there will always be that little touch of darkness.

ABOUT STEPHANIE ELLIS

Q: WHERE CAN READERS FIND YOU AND YOUR BOOKS ONLINE? Links to my work can be found online at my website https:// stephanieellis.org and on my publisher’s site, https:// brigidsgatepress.com. For a wider variety, ie all the anthologies I have been published in, you can check out my author page at amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stephanie-Ellis/.

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Stephanie Ellis writes dark speculative prose and poetry. Her novels include The Five Turns of the Wheel, Reborn, and The Woodcutter, and the novellas, Bott led and Paused. Her short stories appear in the collections The Reckoning and Devil Kin. She is a Rhysling and Elgin Award nominated poet and has written the collection Foundlings (with Cindy O’Quinn), Lilith Rising (with Shane Douglas Keene) and Metallurgy, as well as appearing in the HWA Poetry Showcase. She can be found supporting indie authors at HorrorTree.com via the weekly Indie Bookshelf Releases.

She is an active member of the HWA.

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON P. L. HAMPTON Family, ancient artifacts, and the dark things that creep into our shiny happy world from the past—that’s the land of break-out dark fiction author P. L. Hampton.

Let him regal you with authentic familial lore that led him to write Shadowland. Discover the truth behind the mysterious Yoruba (Yor-oo-ba) Divination Board that plays as the central artifact in his novel. How does it work? Where did it come from? And why does it open a path of no-return for the fictional Aaron Langford and his family in this story — which is inspired by true events and real history?

P. L. Hampton was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and is currently a college professor and law student pursuing his JD. Before returning to academia as a professor and student, P. L. Hampton worked for close to twelve years in various finance industry sectors.

ABOUT P. L. Hampton, an emerging dark fiction author, draws readers into a world of family, ancient artifacts, and the hidden shadows of the past. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Hampton now serves as a college professor while also pursuing his JD, balancing his academic pursuits with his passion for writing.

His novel, Shadowland, weaves authentic familial lore with intriguing historical truths. Inspired by real events, this gripping tale centers around the mysterious Yoruba Divination Board, an artifact that spirals Aaron Langford and his family into an inescapable path. Hampton skillfully blends fact and fiction, inviting readers to ponder the origins and workings of this central artifact while immersing them in the Langford family’s unanticipated journey.

Before turning to academia and writing, Hampton spent nearly twelve years navigating various sectors of the finance industry, gaining experiences that undoubtedly shape his richly layered narratives. Currently residing in San Diego with his wife, Tonya, he continues to explore the fascinating intersection of history and horror in his works.

Discover more about P. L. Hampton’s unique storytelling and connect with him on LinkedIn.

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THE KING OF LATE NIGHT GREG GUTFELD

IT'S ALL ABOUT FLIP.

Greg Gutfeld writes with such intelligence and snark, it's almost like sitting with a close friend, having a conversation over a few adult beverages.... without the risk of hangover.

Yes, the book is about the totally unexpected meteoric rise of Greg Gutfeld's late night talk show — GUTFELD! — and how it broke all expectations and WHY. With glimpses of his early life, rites of passage and hedonistic shenanigans, Greg shows how a brainiac California boy grows up to attend the Berkley, espouse liberal ideals and ends up — currently— as the number one TV host on a decidedly conservative cable news station.

Full disclosure, I started watching Greg's original Fox News show, Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld when it first aired in 2007. GG likes to joke that his main audience was breastfeeding moms, graveyard shifters, and meth heads. I didn't however fit in that demographic, instead I was an insomniac suffering from depression. His show, airing at 2 o'clock in the morning in Texas made me laugh and think. It was a great escape for me, and I was shattered when GG left the show.

Why do I mention Red Eye? Well, a lot of what was so great with that show was utilized on GUTFELD! The revolving panelists, the rapid-fire conversations focusing on issues of the day — some political, some ideological. It was a totally off the wall show, nothing sacred and no viewpoint was safe.

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"

Getting canceled at twenty-five is far worse than fifty-five or sixty-five. Maybe that explains the death of risk and rise of this tattletale mentality.

—Gutfeld, G. (2023). The Comedy Flip. In The King of Late Night (pp. 128–128). essay, Threshold Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

I didn't watch The Greg Gutfeld Show regularly, (the show aired aired on weekends), but I usually watched a few times a month, however I still watched him on The Five (and have since it started). But when it was announced that he would have a new weeknight late show, I made a point to tune in the first night and I wasn't disappointed.

No canned jokes, no more "orange man bad" instead of true comedy. Everyone at the large networks thought the show would fail spectacularly, it didn't. It drew viewers from all walks of life, all political viewpoints; the guests were known names and obscure comics and YouTubers. No one could understand why the show, and Greg, didn't fall flat on his face. The secret was although GG is on a conservative station, he's not conservative, he's not a Republican, he advocates magic mushrooms, he jokes about his sexual preference and pokes fun at everyone.

Greg Gutfeld zeros in on the hypocrisy of the differing sides of issues and how nonsensical some ideological stands are Lambasting the left and right, Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, no one is safe if they follow an ideology based on talking points rather than in depth research and information.

He disagrees with the two political parties and instead advocates for the after party. Finding a middle ground on issues that resonate instead of the extreme of both sides.

The King of Late Night is exactly like the shows Greg has hosted. He examines issues, notes the key points, finds a comparable event then shows the hypocrisy of the reactions — how if it happened to someone the media agrees with it's an outrage, how 50

if someone the media agrees with perpetrated it, it's not covered or swept under the rug. And he goes after all political sides, he speaks to the middle not the extremes. He brings common sense to all the hot button issues and asks the reader (and watchers) to think for themselves instead of following talking points or ideology.

I give The King of Late Night 5 stars because it made me think and laugh (his snarky commentary and ribbing of everyone — including himself — added to my reading experience. GG also includes photos in the ebook, including his adorable dog Gus.

⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Disclaimer

I received via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County or Houston Public Library system. It was read as a Kindle eBook.

About The Reviewer — 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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INTERVIEW Upclose & Personal

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JERRY ROTH

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Q: WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A WRITER?

When I got my start as a writer, my first ambitions were as a screenwriter. The art of screenplays is a balance of setting and sparse descriptions. Writing for the big screen means getting your point across with as little words as possible so the director can fill in the empty parts.

It is this early start that influenced how I write horror novels. My experience with screenplays allowed me to keep only what was necessary to move the story along but with the shackles off, I was free to flourish my stories with dread and atmosphere.

I can honestly say that even as a small child, listening to my parents reading me bedtime stories, I always knew I wanted to be a storyteller. If I had to put ma pin into the very time that I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life, it was when I entered high school and I discovered horror authors.

All at once, my attention to my classes and grades to a back seat to the worlds that I found inside worn, paperback editions from authors such as H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Matheson, and Ray Bradbury. Their style and dark energy fueled my future and set me on a path to create my own Q: WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE FOR YOU AS YOU WERE worlds full of mystery and WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING YOUR WORKS? tragic ends.

As anyone who has spent time in the book business will tell you, it’s a difficult and sometimes thankless profession.

Q: WHAT INSPIRED But even as I always new I wanted to become a published YOU TO CREATE YOUR COLLECTION, THROWING author, I let life sidetrack me for a while. I got married, SHADOWS? had a family, and worked on another career for most of my life.

As a child of the 80s, But in 2020, I decided to reach out to a few publishers nothing was more about my novel Bottom Feeders that had been sitting in a exhilarating than drawer. And as if destiny had a hand in it, my manuscript watching old episodes was accepted by Sunbury Press books and published of Tales from the Crypt or through their imprint, Hellbender books. From that taking in a Twilight Zone moment on, I worked marathon. The creativity hard to hone my craft that those televisions and keep writing a shows were able to capture in less than a half hour was large part of my life. astounding.

When I became more established as a writer, I never Q: CAN YOU TELL US, forgot the effect those shows had on me. My goal was to READERS, WHAT TWO bring a book of character-driven short stories to life in YOUR CHARACTERS ARE one collection. The challenge was to give my short stories LIKE? a feeling that the characters inhabited a real world and had a life before you met them. I wanted to bring the In my latest novel, essence of the episodic stories to life on the page for a Throwing Shadows, a character I’m proud of modern audience. is a teenager named Matt who discovers Q: HOW WOULD DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE? an old Ouija board and REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

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receives messages from the beyond.

Creating the character Matt was my way of placing the readers behind the eyes of a vulnerable boy who had to somehow save his family.

from anything else.

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

Writing this novel was a labor of love and I was happy to explore each character and understand their journey. But the true happiness I got from writing this collection was the feeling that although this type of writing is nothing new, I was able to create stories that were unique from other books authors were writing.

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

As a writer, you will always be drawn to a favorite category. But when it comes to reading, step out of your genre. You will be surprised how little, unexpected things will trickle into your “Work in Progress”. Leave Grammar behind: The biggest mistake I see aspiring writers make is editing as they go. Too often, writers will restrain themselves during a first draft (tone, language, descriptions) because they are concerned that a reader might be offended or bogged down. Let yourself go! Let your future self or editor argue about what is appropriate. Your job is to get it on the paper.

Q: WOULD YOU EVER WRITE BOOKS IN ANY OTHER GENRE? My one and only selfpublished book is titled, On the Tip of Her Tongue.

I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to create this science fiction/ thriller about a woman who discovers someone else has been stealing her memories. Although I moved beyond horror, my true love when it comes to writing will always be horror. There is a seductive nature to frightening others that I can’t get 54

Q: WHERE CAN READERS FIND YOU AND YOUR BOOK ONLINE? My new novel Throwing Shadows: A Dark Collection, and my other books can be purchase on my website: www. jerryrothauthor.com, on Amazon, or from my publisher Brigids Gate Press.

ABOUT JERRY ROTH Jerry Roth is an award-winning author of Bottom Feeders and his follow-up thriller, On the Tip of Her Tongue. He has written for Ohio newspapers and sports articles for the Disc Golf Pro Tour.

His fiction career began as a screenwriter.

Although his career began as a screenwriter, novelists such as Anne Rice and Stephen King have influenced his writing.

After reading The Stand, he became enthusiastic about creating a novel of his own.

The author currently lives in a converted 1908 Catholic church in Ohio with his wife and children.

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PODCASTS OF INTEREST She Blurbs Podcast

Cool Conversations with Creatives with host akaRadio Red Hey Y'all I'm Brook Nichelle and I am a podcast interviewer. I love to get stories out about inspiring others! Want to share your story?

Child Abuse Domestic Abuse Alcohol Abuse Substance Abuse Authors People who inspire Musicians Book Reviews Brook Wright is a student that with be graduating with her

paralegal degree in April 2024. She currently host 10 podcasts on her Youtube channel. She created her podcast in September of 2020 during the time of the pandemic. She started out interviewing coaches, celebrities, musicians, authors, and people who wanted to be on a platform. Now in 2023, she focuses more on survivors, authors, and musicians. She wanted to focus more on survivors, because there are people trying to survive everyday and think they Brook Nichelle are alone, but Brook has found those who have healed and want to share their story.

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HOUSE OF THE MOON Covina, California, in the 1960s is a clean, white place to live just twenty-four miles east of Los Angeles. The maze of three-bedroom, twobath housing tracts is the perfect place for a respectable undercover agent for the State, his wife, teenage son, and two daughters. But beneath the veneer of normalcy lies the truth of a violent, psychopathic father, an alcoholic wife, their pacifist son who is sent to war, and their two daughters—prime candidates for a cultural revolution that is gathering recruits with every toke.House of the Moon is a haunting and ultimately triumphant memoir about coming of age during the decade that changed the world.

With an unflinching voice, Donna Conrad chronicles her teenage years through lyrical vignettes.From encounters with Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and other legends of rock ‘n roll, to loaded shotguns at home, sexual violence in the streets, and flying high on drugs just to get by—this fast-paced memoir brings to life her quest to change the world—only to find herself changed by the times.

DONNA D. CONRAD Donna Conrad is an award-winning author, journalist, activist, and teacher. Her core values revolve around the concept of individual empowerment, a sustaining ideal running through the books she writes. Her writing interests are varied and include articles for fine-art periodicals, memoir/narrative non-fiction, as well as historical, flash, and paranormal fiction. She is a regular presenter at writers' conferences.

Her upcoming four-book historical fiction series, The Magdalene Chronicles" has been acquired by Cold Creek Press. Book One, "The Last Magdalene," will be released April 9, 2024 She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their three cats.

When she's not writing, you can find Donna cruising the back roads in her black-onblack Miata MX-5, Maya - named for one of her favorite poets, Maya Angelou.

As family members shed their polite facades and embrace their true selves, hilarity ensues and a wild rollercoaster of events awaits. Experience the erratic highs and lows, the stomach-aching laughter, as Viktor navigates the Hindlegs’ very own unpredictable make-shift reality TV show.

Will his audacious endeavor lead to discovery, chaos, or a revelation that changes everything?

Step into a realm where reality blurs with entertainment as you immerse yourself in “Hysterical Hangouts with The Hindlegs” — award-winning author G. S. Gerry’s groundbreaking concept — and embrace a wild ride of madness, fast-paced comedy, and jawdropping revelations.

HYSTERICAL HANGOUTS WITH THE HINDLEGS What happens when families stop being polite and start being real?.

In a world where reality is stranger than fiction, Viktor Sniperbone’s inspired idea takes you on a hilarious wild ride filled with near-death antics, secrets, and the crazy dynamics of one unforgettable family.

Meet Viktor Sniperbone, a guy who seems to have it all — youth, good health, independence, and a promising future. But something’s missing. When he meets Mandi Hindleg, the woman of his dreams, his life takes an unexpected turn.

They’ve only been dating for six months, and yet Viktor is convinced she’s “the one”. The only hurdle? Meeting Mandi’s quirky family, the Hindlegs.

Viktor then hatches a crazy plan to secretly film the Hindleg family, capturing their real-life drama like you’ve never seen before. Get ready for an uncut, authentic reality show that will redefine the literary game and leave an indelible mark.

G.S. GERRY Check out G. S. Gerry and exclusive content on https://gsgerry.com

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DAKOTA COUNTRY POEMS

G. W. WIETGREFE

Rhyming light-hearted poems are rare today.

There is no better stress reliever than a smile after reading Half-Assed Ranch, Duck Lesson, Innuendo, Rock in the Road, Need Credit, Can, Time's Right, Anticipate Fishing, Dad's Desk, or a book full of relaxing poetry. Keep Dakota Country Poems on your desk, end table, or nightstand and smile.

Gary W. Wietgrefe is an inventor with six patents, an internationally published researcher, military intelligence veteran, economist, agriculturalist, systems developer, societal explorer, cyclist, hiker, outdoorsman, poet, and an award winning author of eight books. He writes poetry for fun!re his independence is permanently restricted.

CONFESSIONS OF A KNIGHT ERRANT: DRIFTERS, THIEVES, AND ALI BABA'S TREASURE Confessions of a Knight Errant is a comedic, picaresque novel in the tradition of Don Quixote with a flamboyant cast of characters. Dr. Gary Watson is the picaro, a radical environmentalist and wannabe novelist who has been accused of masterminding a computer hack that wiped out the files of a major publishing company. His Sancho Panza is Kharalombos, a fat, gluttonous Greek dancing teacher, who is wanted by the secret police for cavorting with the daughter of the Big Man of Egypt. Self-preservation necessitates a hurried journey to the refuge of a girls’ camp in rural Texas. Then a body turns up nearby that is connected to Middle East antiquities, and they are on the run once more.

GRETCHEN MCCULLOUGH

from Brown University in 1984, she taught in Egypt, Turkey and Japan. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama and was awarded a teaching Fulbright to Syria from 1997-1999.

Her stories, essays and reviews have appeared in The Barcelona Review, Archipelago, National Public Radio, Story South, Guernica, The Common, The Millions, and the LA Review of Books. Translations in English and Arabic have been published in: Nizwa, Banipal, Brooklyn Rail in Translation, World Literature Today and Washington Square Review with Mohamed Metwalli. Her bi-lingual book of short stories in English and Arabic, Three Stories From Cairo, translated with Mohamed Metwalli was published in July 2011 by AFAQ Publishing House, Cairo. A collection of short stories about expatriate life in Cairo, Shahrazad’s Tooth, was also published

by AFAQ in 2013. Currently, she is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Rhetoric and Composition at the American University in Cairo.

Gretchen McCullough was raised in Harlingen Texas. After graduating

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MONEYWISE MABEL’S BURSTING BANK What should Mabel do now that her piggybank is full to the brim? Buy lots of candy? Spend it all on that toy she’s been eyeing? Finally get that unicorn sprinkler that sprays water from its horn?

When Mabel pulls her piggy bank out from under the bed, it’s stuffed. She can’t fit one more coin inside–Piggy is bursting!

What should Mabel do with all that money?

Buy candy? Toys? Games!? Mabel’s so excited that her bed becomes a trampoline and she wants to spend it all. But then her mother explains that money doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket—a lesson that sends Mabel on a journey to learn what it means to become “moneywise.” Follow her as she takes her first steps to independence by opening a bank account!

Teach your school-aged kids fundamentals about money management with this approachable, fun, and charming debut from Kalee Boisvert, full of colorful illustrations and easy-to-understand concepts.

PAW PRINTS ON THE COUCH: HOW PETS ENRICH OUR LIVES Paw Prints on the Couch highlights the importance of our furry companions and the impact they have on our lives. The joy and yes, the heartache we experience when we have to say goodbye. Nonetheless, we celebrate the moments shared with our pets and the memories that will always be with us. What would our world be without our furry friends?

The stories acknowledge the joy that comes with opening your heart and home to a furry companion and is a testament to the eternal bond between humans and our animal companions.

With tales of loyalty, bravery, and above all, unconditional love, this book is a reminder of the powerful impact pets have on our lives. So grab a blanket, curl up with your own furry friend, and let the charming stories within "Paw Prints on the Couch" touch your heart and soul..

KALEE BOISVERT Kalee Boisvert has been in the financial industry for over fifteen years, but her love of money began very young. Growing up in a single parent household, she watched her mom struggle with finances and wished there was something she could do to help. She wasn’t going to allow her circumstances to define her, and thus her own journey into financial literacy and wealth management began. Kalee now has an MBA in Finance from the Haskayne School of Business and is a financial professional whose focus remains on sparking healthy and positive conversations around wealth and investments. She is also a proud mom to eight-year-old Ivy and new baby Jax. She lives with her family in Calgary, Alberta. MoneyWise Mabel’s Bursting Bank is her first book for children. Her selfhelp title Make Money Your Thing will be released by RE: Books in Spring 2023. www.kaleeboisvert.com

KIM LENGLING As a multi-published author, Kim shares her love of nature, animals, living with PTSD, and her mission of tossing Nuggets of Hope into the world through writing and her podcast, Let Fear Bounce.

She is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book series titled When Grace Found Me and two stand-alone anthologies, When Hope Found Me (released November 2022) and Paw Prints on the Couch (released August 2023.)

In addition to writing, she hosts the podcast Let Fear Bounce, spotlighting people who make a positive difference in the world, whether by writing, film production, philanthropy, teaching, founding non-profits, and more.

You can regularly find Kim drinking copious amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog.

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SHELTER IN A HOSTILE WORLD: A LOVE AND PEACE NOVELLA

MACK LITTLE

Mack Little’s second installment in her Love and Peace series traces the fascinating and often painful Caribbean history through the life experience of Badu Obosi, who challenges the fury of his ancestors in his quest to marry the beautiful Ekemma.

Badu is mesmerized by the beauty and wit of the charming Ekemma. However, he faces powerful forces bent on keeping them apart. In 1651, twenty-three years later, Badu is a wanted man after leading a slave revolt in Barbados.

He is determined to keep his family safe, no matter the risks of torture and death. Shelter in a Hostile World depicts the strength, resilience, and courage of enslaved and marginalized people in the Caribbean.

Shelter in a Hostile World skillfully depicts life in seventeenthcentury Igboland and Barbados, weaving exciting details about Igbo history as lived experiences rather than a sociological study. This makes Shelter in a Hostile World an exciting historical fiction novella that is still relevant today.

I was born in Conyers, Georgia. Leaving my small town, I landed smack dab in the middle of another small town to earn a BA in English from the University of Dubuque, Iowa. Since I had not found my "writing voice" by the time of my graduation, and I did not want to teach English to school kids and had no money for graduate school, I joined the Army. After five years, I earned a bonus that paid for my Master of Information Science from the University of North Texas. Upon graduation, I became a medical librarian. But alas, teaching turned out to be my destiny. I taught medical and nursing students, as well as doctors and nurses, how to conduct research using online resources.

I even served as an adjunct professor at the Texas Women's College, teaching a graduatelevel class on research using online resources.

FATE OF THE ARGOSI

SEBASTIEN DE CASTELL

The third utterly compelling fantasy adventure in the ARGOSI trilogy, exploring the origins of the SPELLSLINGER series to enrapture devotees as well as newcomers alike.

While liberating a notorious thief from prison, Ferius Parfax encounters an inmate named Chedran, one of the last living members of her people, the Mahdek. Chedran is leading a group of young Mahdek who are determined to make a future for their people and Ferius agrees to help them find a place where they can live free from persecution.

Meanwhile, having repaid her debt to the thief, Ferius finds her feelings towards Arissa becoming more complicated as she decides what debt she owes the society into which she was born.

Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in Archaeology when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he actually hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, each of these fields plays a role in his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that way.

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• When did crime investigation become more common as seen in Murder on the Orient Express?

• Has science made it possible to uncover the truth behind the investigative powers of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple?

• How did Agatha Christie use isolated settings to best explore the psychology of her characters?

Join Kelly and Meg as they discover why sometimes the impossible must be possible!rful illustrations and easy-to-understand concepts.

THE SCIENCE OF AGATHA CHRISTIE: THE TRUTH BEHIND HERCULE POIROT, MISS MARPLE, AND MORE ICONIC CHARACTERS FROM THE QUEEN OF CRIME Uncover the theories behind Dame Agatha Christie's most thrilling mysteries: Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, The A.B.C. Murders, and so much more!

Gothic media moguls Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence, authors of The Science of Stephen King and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there”

by Film Daddy, present a guide to the Agatha Christie stories and supersleuths we all know and love. Through interviews, literary and film analysis, and bonechilling discoveries, The Science of Agatha Christie uncovers the science behind the sixty-six detective novels and fourteen short story collections that have become an integral part of the modern murder mystery, answering such questions as: • What is the science behind the poisons used to commit murders in Agatha Christie’s stories?

TIMEREAPING IN DEADWOOD (DEADWOOD HUMOROUS MYSTERY)

MEG HAFDAHL & KELLY FLORENCE Meg Hafdahl is a writer and co-host of the Horror Rewind podcast. Her female-driven horror fiction has been produced for audio by The Wicked Library. She is the author of Her Dark Inheritance, Daughters of Darkness, and the short story series Twisted Reveries. Meg lives in Minnesota with her husband, two young sons, and a menagerie of pets.

Kelly Florence is a teacher, a mother, and a horror film lover.

She is passionate about female representation in all media and particularly in the horror genre. Kelly teaches at Lake Superior College in Duluth, Minnesota, and produces and co-hosts Horror Rewind.

ANN CHARLES

Time is a tricky devil. And so is that blasted imp!

Violet Parker needs to catch the little terror before it wreaks even more havoc in the Black Hills. But now that she’s saddled with this dang Timekeeper gig, she has a lot to juggle, like the real monsters wanting to tear the flesh from her bones just for fun.

If she can’t figure out how to wrangle “time” to save her family, the Grim Reaper might come swinging for them next.

But what about that danged honey-loving imp?

“Bravery badges are frickin’ overrated."

Ann Charles is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes award-winning books that are splashed with humor, mystery, suspense, romance, supernatural elements, and whatever else sounds fun.

Ann has a B.A. in English with an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Washington. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Western Writers of America. She is currently toiling away on her next book, wishing she was on a Mexican beach with an ice-cold Corona in one hand and a book in the other. When she is not dabbling in fiction, she is arm wrestling with her two kids, attempting to seduce her husband, and arguing with her sassy cats. You can find her on all major social media platforms.

~Violet Parker

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REVIEWED BY PELICANFREAK

REVIEWED BY PELICANFREAK

Picks up right where book 2 left off, THANKFULLY, because that was intense. We finally meet Croc … stakes are as high as ever, despite certain other aspects having wrapped up (or seemingly so anyway).

Oh and the totally bada$$ female lead, who has evolved before the readers’ eyes for 3 books now? Brilliantly executed.

“I am Winnie f—ing Darling and I bow to no man…” * Group scenes. * Darrkkkkk fairytale retelling. * Lots of fun villain POV. * Vampires. * Dark Fae. * Corruption. * Royals, lots of juicy royal family drama. * Extortion. * Conspiracy. * Danger.

Absolutely love this very twisted fairytale / dark read. There were some fun twists, but none that I didn’t see coming since at least one previous installment. Still fun!

Overall: 4 stars.

Once upon a time, I decided to check out this author because I loved a cover … I am so glad!

After books 1 & 2 in this series, this was obviously an absolute must-read! This installment has lots of drama still to finish unfolding and then of course, resolve so it’s intense and non-stop and the world-building, all the while, is absolutely stellar.

I expect this book has something for everyone, as it hits so many tropes and k!nks: * Crime. * Extortion. * A / B / O dynamic, but with humans! * Lots of steam, multiple partners, group scenes. * Praise. * F/F. * M/M. * Strong family bonds and found family. * Vengeance. * 0mega heat. * Multiple alphas. * Abü$e. * Lots of witty banter. * Daddy / DDLG. * Male d0m / female d0mme. * Rope play. * Violence *There’s no way I listed everything with so much going on!

Read the complete review on Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5827771182

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Audio: This audio is amazing—the narrators all have excellent voices and perform the book well. Overall sound quality is perfectly smooth. 5 stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

BOSCH & WALLING ARE ON THE JOB….AGAIN….

HISTORY, SUPERNATURAL, AND LAUGHS….

Bosch is asked by Terry McCabe’s widow to investigate his death, she doesn’t believe he died from causes related to his heart transplant and wants answers. While Harry is investigating Terry’s final days, he crosses paths with FBI Agent Rachel Walling once again. The Poet has finally surfaced and has sent Rachel a taunt.

Harry’s case and Rachels hunt for Robert Backus converge when Bosch believes that Backus did something to kill Terry and make it look like natural causes. The mind bending threads of the storyline will keep you turning pages and totally enmeshed in the Bosch Universe.

Things go from semi-normal (at least for Violet) to downright crazy.

In this installment of the Deadwood series Violet battles Det Hawke who thinks she's a murderer - nothing new therethe strangely seductive Dominick, her Aunt Zoe's susceptible to Dominic, her feelings for Doc and her devil’s spawn sister just to name a few.

Det Cooper is coming to terms with his newfound abilities while becoming less suspicious of Violet. Will they quit verbally fighting? Will he ever quit threatening her with jail?

Ms. Charles has been able to build a world with wacky characters, villainous villains, and mythological elements to make a series that is a joy to read. She delivers spooky twists and turns with a smattering of tipsy relatives and a plethora of alliteration.

Recommend I absolutely recommend this book and this series to anyone who love humor and snark with their mysteries.

Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I was asked to review this book from the author's publicist, but I received the digital book via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County or Houston Public Library system. It was read as a Kindle Book.

I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Complicated plot line, lots of action, an overload of suspense.

This book is a great escape.

Recommend Recommend to anyone who likes humor with their heat.

Disclaimer I received via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County Library system. It was read as a Kindle Book.

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REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

ATLEE IS STILL REELING FROM THE PANDORA’S BOX SHE OPENED Still on the hunt for her sister’s kidnapper and to answer questions about her parents and past.

When Atlee and Carol arrive in New Jersey they step in the middle of an ongoing drug ring investigation by CID warrant officer John Puller. Mr. Baldacci was able to seamlessly blend two of his series – John Puller & Atlee Pine – with minimal backstory issues. Brava!

Puller and Pine join forces and along the way they find more than a drug ring, they find a national security threat. Even with the various character storylines – Atlee’s past, search for Mercy, Army Base criminal case, the book moves forward at a rapid pace but doesn’t drop any of the lines.

Atlee is one step closer to Mercy and what she's found up to now is heartbreaking.

Recommend Recommend to anyone who likes political corruption with every day lowlife criminals wrapped in a fast paced storyline.

Disclaimer I received via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County or Houston Public Library system. It was read as a Libby epub.

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GETTING BANISHED FROM HELL IS A KILLER This installment in the Hot Damned series deals with Satan’s daughter Dixie, approaching the age of her majority when she gets exiled from Hell to live on Earth. We get to experience Dixie falling in love and finding her destiny…and who her love is in the grand scheme of things.

When Dixie arrives on Earth and attempts to blend in at a Kentucky college, she encounters mean-girl bullies, mythological beings she never thought were real and finally finds out who her mother is. Not only does she get to develop a relationship with her mother, but she also finds a half-sister she knew absolutely nothing about.

During her sojourn in Kentucky, Dixie uncovers a plot between rogue demons and other entities to kill Satan and overthrow his dominion over Hell. Dixie then exposes the conspirators and unmasks the mastermind.

Recommend Recommend to anyone who can laugh at fictionalized depictions of religious entities, demons, vampires, shapeshifters, angels, and Mother Nature.

Disclaimer I received via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County Library system. It was read as a Kindle Book.

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REVIEWED BY ROXB Ms. Diann Mills immediately pulls readers into this actionpacked thriller mystery with the multidimensional characters of Risa Jacobs and Gage Patterson, Special Agents of the FBI. Their working relationship has built a successful record in solving their cases. There may be an unexplored personal relationship simmering below the surface.

Risa finally meets with her younger brother, who overcame his addictions and turned his life around. Their joyous meeting ends with him dying at her feet from a hit-and-run driver.

Circumstances turn on a dime from a note to Risa, which compels her to resign from the FBI and return to teaching. Her FBI boss won’t accept the resignation and convinces her to try to find the killer who threatens her family and friends.

Gage is a tough, level-headed man who takes on a new partner to continue the battle to stop violent crimes against children and women. His new partner, Jack, is very different from Risa but has a knack for uncovering evidence to find those to blame. The dynamics between the characters and the heart-wrenching situations the agents investigate keep the pages turning into the night.

Behind the scenes, Risa’s guilt for her brother’s death shows her commitment to work, family, and faith. The combination strengthens her when her experience and instincts save her more than once as the action escalates. An unexpected final project submission from a talented student, Carson, shakes her to the core and opens up lines of investigation....

REVIEWED BY ROXB A POIGNANT REFLECTION Mr. Morgan brings a perspective of hope and faith within the pages of this short story. The journey from life to the afterlife is steeped with foundation convictions for each person and varies based on beliefs. Karl’s experiences are told in first person based on his Christian beliefs in Emannuel and the possibilities in the afterlife when individuals do their best.

He used his dogs, often considered man’s best friend, as a stepping stone to other family members, making the unknown less scary. The descriptive world Mr. Morgan created, and the easy dialogue pulls readers into the story to feel, see, smell, and taste the experiences of Karl. The reflection on his life and relationships with others was delightfully highlighted with a jury of his peers. Executed with an outstanding surprise ending you’ll want to experience firsthand. Congrats, Mr. Morgan.

Read the complete review on the Rox's site. https://roxburkey.com/facing-the-enemy/

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REVIEWED BY PELICANFREAK

REVIEWED BY PELICANFREAK

This is a fun, quick listen, perfect for spicing up a work day.

Overall, well-written and plotted. Though I did predict every single little detail, I had a good time hearing it play out still. * Arranged marriage. * Misunderstandings. * Old friends, to enemies to reluctant spouses. * V!rg!n FMC. * Crime families. * Rivals. * Trafficking. * “Touch her and d!3” hero. * Edging.

Off the bat, I was struck by the realness of this, not something I stumble upon in fictional romance reads on the regular— combined with the fun setting, likable female lead and amazing narrator, I was hooked.

It was quick and cute, and ended very abruptly.

3 stars.

Overall: 4 stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Audio: Absolutely perfect.

4 stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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⭐⭐⭐

This book hits soooo many tropes, I’ll list as many as I can think of: * * * * *

Pop culture references.

Fast-paced, witty / real-feeling dialogue.

Rockstars.

College setting / college student FMC. Forced proximity … ish.

Audio: The narrator was fantastic!

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REVIEWED BY PELICANFREAK

REVIEWED BY PELICANFREAK

Intriguing start, the FMC is really put through it, and I’m hooked. It turns weak for just a small bit, but still works as I enjoy the hotel management aspects. I predicted how it’d go early in but for the most part, still enjoyed seeing it play out. * Billionaires. * High profile / celebrity secondary characters. * FMC business owner. * Arranged / convenience marriage. * Elites gossip. * MMC innkeeper. * Set in NYC / hotel. * Crime families. Bratva. * Dubcon. * Extortion. * Dirty talk. * Cheating (secondary characters). * Manipulation. * Scandal.

This gripped me right away and I didn’t really feel like I was missing anything, despite not having read book 1. Nyla K. is a brand-new-to-me author, and based on the quality of their writing here, I’ll explore more. * Bi-curious adults and young teens. * Prison setting. * Cheating. * Lots of steamy scenes, various pairings. * Group scenes. * Daddy k!nk (just a bit). * Experimenting * Graphic violence. * Talk of past SA. * Dubcon. * Light beedee essemm. * Forbidden vibes. * Crime boss.

Based on this read, my first for both authors, I’d be open to reading more from either.

Overall: 3.5 stars.

⭐⭐⭐

Audio: The narration, performance, voices and overall sound quality are completely perfect.

5 stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book had so much going on, I’m sure my list is missing a ton and I’d expect there’s something for everyone here. The writing was decent, overall. Some of the spicy talk could be a bit cheesy, but there was just sooo much of it—there’s bound to be something for everyone to love, and for everyone to cringe about. I think this characters did just about everything possible.

Overall: 4 stars.

Audio: Excellent.

Narration: 5 stars.

Overall sound quality / production: 5 stars

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MEET THE TEAM!

Mickey Mikkelson

Aimee Ravichandran

Co-Publisher

Co-Publisher

Deena Rae

Danielle

RoxB

PelicanFreak

Design, Writer, Reviewer

Interviewer & Reviewer

Writer, Reviewer

Reviewer

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