Horror Novelist Needs Your Help

Hey kids, I need to pull on your sleeve about something.
Horror novelist Craig Spector, who wrote The Light at the End, Animals, The Bridge and Dead Lines with John Skipp, and A Question of Will, Underground and Turnaround, on his own has need of some monetary assitance.
Craig has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and the costs are mounting up. He has a gofundme page located at Craig's gofundme page
Any thing you can give, please do.

Review: Second Chance

Second Chance
by
Chet Williamson
Available from Amazon in
Kindle format, B&N in Nook format,
hardcover and paper back.

I've read some of Williamson's short story work, and I've read his novel Ash Wednesday.
Now I've read Second Chance.

In each instance, the writing is tight, the stories are well-plotted, and the characters become very real people.

However, there is another constant that runs through all these:
The ability to make me mutter, "God***n, Chet", when I'm blown away by a turn of phrase, or a twist in plot.

Second Chance is at turns scary as hell, sweetly reminiscent of a time gone by, and hopeful for a future that never should have existed.

The scary as hell parts are visceral when they need to be and are scary because they could very well occur.
The sweetly reminiscent parts bring back the era of the '60's in a way that brings a smile to your face at the innocence and passion of the time.
The hopeful parts - well...they are bittersweet. A future that never should have happened is the sweet, and the horrible way an unintended consequence unravels and is then corrected is the bitter.

Horror needs Chet Williamson to keep writing.
His tales are not the tired horror tropes we've all seen trotted out before and I highly recommend reading this and any other books of his you can get your hands on.
You will not go away disappointed.

Greetings constant reader.

As you may have observed, this blog has been spotty, almost from the day of conception. 
I started it after my father passed away in 2009...and it did OK.
Then my only child, my son, got in a car wreck in 2010 and died a month and a day later. He was in a coma from the time he hit the hospital until he passed.
Then my mother's dementia got worse...and worse...and she passed in May of 2014.
I've moved four times...and finally come to the realization I've been battling depression and anxiety my entire life.
I've got remitting/recurring MS on top of everything else...and am currently mostly bed ridden.

I don't tell you these things because I'm looking for sympathy.
I tell you these things to explain the irregularity of posting to this blog. I've got some novels in the pipeline to review and will do my best to post them soon. I'll also be posting other news as conditions warrant.

Yes, this has been a rocky road, but it's starting to smooth out. Thanks for being patient with me.

13 Questions with...James Newman

1. Name one thing you miss about being a child.

     That feeling of having all the time in the world to do whatever you want to do.  There were no boundaries, no limits.  The clock wasn't going to "run out", eventually.  The day-to-day worries and responsibilities of adulthood . . . it all seemed incomprehensible, a lifetime away.   Your loved ones weren't going anywhere, and you'd be together for a long, long time, everyone healthy and carefree.

2. You're hosting a dinner party. What is the menu? Do you cater or make it yourself?

     Spaghetti.  And my wife makes it (are you kidding?  I'm useless in the kitchen, would probably scorch a can of tuna). 

3. Are you a collector of anything and if so, what?

      Not really, other than buying books obsessively.  But I'm a reader, not a collector.  I have a two or three shelves stocked with signed limited editions, but for the most part I prefer an old dog-eared copy over a pricey edition that makes me feel like I should wear gloves if I get anywhere near it.  I'll also pick up a comic book now and then, usually horror stuff or the occasional Batman title.  But I'm definitely not a "collector".   

4. You're about to walk the Green Mile. What do you have for your last meal?

     My wife's spaghetti and a single glass of Jack-n'-Diet-Pepsi.

5. Physical book VS. an E- reader. Your preference and why?

       Physical book, all the way.  I don't care for reading more than news-feeds or Facebook on a computer screen, cellphone, Kindle, whatever.  I understand why it appeals to many people -- and my own aversion to e-readers doesn't prevent me from publishing my own work in that format! -- but it's not for me.  Give me the feel of an old-fashioned book any day.  I even love the way they smell.

6. What are you currently reading?

      PROMISE NOT TO TELL by Jennifer McMahon, and AVENUE X by Nancy Collins (one of my all-time favorite short story writers).

7. What musical artist are you currently into?

       Been listening to a lot of John 5's work lately.  Oddly enough, I've never been a fan of show-offy instrumental solo albums, but this guy blows me away.  He's such an amazing guitarist.  While I do enjoy a few songs from Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson (the latter more-so than the former), I think Mr. 5 is wasting his talent when he aligns himself with those bands.  He's so much better than that.

8. Do you have a hidden talent?

       I'm actually a pretty decent shot if you put a basketball in my hands.  Especially long shots, beyond the 3-point line.  Don't guard me, though.  Just let me throw it in the basket, uncontested.   LOL

9. What is your favorite word?

     Acetaminophen. 

10. What is your current desktop wall paper?

       A picture of Batman brooding.  I'm a huge fan of the Bat, like I mentioned before.

11. You're at a Chinese buffet. What goes on your plate?    

     Oh, man, I love Chinese.  Definitely two or three egg rolls, some crab Rangoon (sp?), some rice, and sweet n' sour chicken.  You've got me in the mood for Chinese now.  Think I'll have that for dinner tonight . . . .

12. What kinds of books make up your personal library?

     98% of it is horror and suspense, but then there's the occasional comic book . . . a few nonfiction book about movies, crime, or the craft of writing . . . even some humor.  My readers might be surprised to learn that I'm a pretty big Jodi Picoult fan too.  I know Picoult's got a reputation for being Oprah Book Club kinda stuff, but I've loved her work ever since I read THE PACT.  The human element in her stories is what hooks me.  

13. What advice would you give an aspiring author?

     Tell a good story.  Don't try too hard to impress.  Poetic prose will come, without forcing it.  It's all about the flow.  Most readers want you to tell them a good STORY, first and foremost.  Don't bore your reader.  Write a story so enthralling that you wouldn't be able to put it down unless someone was holding a gun to your head . . . and the folks who buy your work won't be able to put it down either.

13 Questions with JD Barker

1. Name one thing you miss about being a child.

I think it’s the wonder of not knowing. As children, we can look out over a large body of water and wonder what is on the other side, we wonder what is under it, we wonder what it’s like to swim above and below it. As an adult, we know all these answers. There is a magic in learning but I think the greater magic can be found in not knowing and allowing your imagination to fill in the blanks.

2. You're hosting a dinner party. What is the menu? Do you cater or make it yourself?

My wife is a vegetarian and I am not, however, she has gotten really good at tricking me. Last night we had tacos made from something called “crumbles” which tastes just like real beef. When people visit, she tends to roll out these culinary delights. She has done the same with pizza and meatloaf. So, catering is out and healthy, home-cooking is in.

3. Are you a collector of anything and if so, what?

I love old timepieces. I have a large collection of old watches, clocks, and hourglasses.

4. You're at a carnival. Favorite attraction and why?

Roller-coasters. I love a good adrenaline filled scare. I occasionally go skydiving, a good roller-coaster is the closest thrill I’ve found on the ground. Sometimes, they’re even better. If you’re ever in Ohio, check out the Millennium Force at Cedar Point.

5. Physical book VS. an E- reader. Your preference and why?

Oh boy, this is a question of much debate at our house. My wife firmly believes in only reading printed editions and I tend to lean toward e-readers. In my defense, I read a lot, on average 3-5 books per week both fiction and non-fiction. While we both like the smell and feel of a real book (I’ve been known to walk into a bookstore just to get a whiff of that scent), I’ve been spoiled by the convenience of e-readers. I can pull out my iPhone and read books from Kindle, Kobo, or Nook anywhere, anytime. And I do read anywhere, even if just waiting in the checkout line at the store. I’m also a huge fan of audiobooks. I listen to them whenever in the car or out exercising.
6. What are you currently reading?

Not sure if you heard the news, but the Stoker family has asked me to co-author a prequel to Dracula (http://jdbarker.com/j-d-barker-signs-on-to-co-author-prequel-to-dracula-with-dacre-stoker-draculabegins/), so lately I have been reading all things vampire both past and present. I recently just finished The Vampyre by John Polidori and the original Dracula. I’m currently reading The Historian by Elizabeth Kosova and Stoker’s Manuscript by Royce Prouty. I’m also digging through a substantial pile of material from Bram Stoker, both published and private.

7. What musical artist are you currently into?

I don’t listen to as much music as I probably should, particularly since I discovered audiobooks. If I listen to music at all, it’s usually a movie soundtrack. Lately I’ve been listening to the soundtracks for Interview With a Vampire and Mockingjay.

8. Do you have a hidden talent?

I love to build things and renovate old houses.

9. What is your favorite word?

Fiction. It allows you to visit places you’ve never been, meet new people, and experience thrills that reach far beyond our day-to-day lives.
10. What is your current desktop wall paper?

I typically don’t change my wallpaper, I have a boring black background. I do have a note taped to my monitor with the tagline for the new Dracula book: “Beneath Every Penned Fiction Lies a Truth”.

11. You're at a Chinese buffet. What goes on your plate?

Everything. Then I get another plate. I never seem to get full on Chinese food but I enjoy trying.

12. What kinds of books make up your personal library?

At this point, I have over a thousand books made up of nearly every genre. We tend to get hardcovers for everything we read (including the ones I read on my e-reader) and sign/date the back when we finish them. We ask borrowers to do the same. It’s fun to pick up a book and see everyone who has read it over the years. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid so the library has grown tremendously over the years.

13. What advice would you give an aspiring author?

I know you’ve probably heard this numerous times but you need to write daily. It really is necessary to succeed at the craft. In addition, your heart must be in it. If you take on a writing project and you’re not dedicated 100% to the topic, the reader will know. Here are two tips I tend to live by:

• I outline my next book while I’m writing the current one. This way, I don’t have any downtime between projects.
• I never leave my desk unless I know the next sentence I plan to write. Then, when I sit back down, I hit the ground running. If I stop writing for the day because the characters have nothing else to say, I’ll find myself staring at a blank screen the next day waiting for inspiration to hit.

On a related note, listen to those characters, even if it causes you to stray from your outline – they know what they’re talking about.

Author JD Barker to write prequel to Dracula with Dacre Stoker

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is without a doubt one of the greatest horror novels of all time. It has gained new audiences since it was written, been translated into over 40 languages, sold millions of copies across the world, and has been responsible for over 300 films.

But, what if the book we know and love was not the book Bram Stoker turned in to his publisher in 1897?

Official representative of the Stoker family Dacre Stoker has spent the last ten years researching his family’s legacy. He has examined documents public and private trying to piece together information on the man, his great-granduncle who wrote this epic work, and the events that inspired it. In doing so, he has come across a disturbing fact: Bram Stoker may have intended his novel Dracula as a warning, a glimpse of a very real entity of evil.

With Bram Stoket award winning author JD Barker, Dacre plans to explore materials including journals and other personal papers to delve into the idea that Stoker did not intend his novel as a
fictional entertainment, but a warning about a real menace.

For more information, go to Dracula Begins

Review: Midnight Rain

Midnight Rain
by
James Newman
Available in trade paperback and

Kindle format from Amazon.

Hello kids, miss me?

If a coming of age story set in the woods of North Carolina with murder and mayhem thrown in is your cup of tea, then this book is for you.

Midnight Rain starts off by introducing us to 12 year old Kyle Mackey. His favorite past time is riding his bike, Burner, in the woods and spending time in a deserted cabin, perfect for alone time.

But that all comes to a screeching halt one month after he witnesses the death of Cassandra Belle Rourke in his cabin. It's violent and bloody. Kyle puts two and two together and knows who did it...but who will believe him? He struggles with what to do and when to do it, and ends up taking matters into his own hands.
Newman has you firmly perched in Kyle's pocket every step of the way as he wrestles with what he's seen. The rain is almost a secondary character in the story and I swear I felt a little water logged by the ending.

If the trade edition or Kindle edition are not to your liking, you may find Midnight Rain in a used bookstore in a mass market edition as Leisure, the original publisher, is no more.
James Newman however, goes on. He's been writing for a while and deserves a wider audience. I've got one of his short story collections, People Are Strange... oh yes...you bet they are.
Go check Mr. Newman out, as he keeps getting better with each book.

Review: Forsaken (Shadow Cove Saga #1)

Forsaken
by
JD Barker
Available in Kindle format
and in paperback
on Amazon.

Forsaken is a Bram Stoker Award nominee for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. The award are currently being voted on and will be presented on May 9, 2015.
Will Forsaken win? Possibly. I've not read any of the other 4 nominees, but I'd say this has a fair chance at taking the prize.

Meet author Thad McAlister, who has just penned what he believes to be his best, biggest seller, "Rise of the Witch". Written in journal style, we're taken back to 1692, in the town of Shadow Cove where a witch trial has begun. Thad details the trial, and introduces us to a young woman who may or may not be guilty of witchcraft.

In present day, his wife, Rachel, is pregnant with their second child. Thad goes to New York to meet with his agent and Rachel and daughter Ashley are left at home alone, where odd things start to occur. Their yard is taken over by little piles of dirt. Then the dirt starts showing up in the house...along with...no, I won't tell you that part.

The chapters are short and lead up to a rattling conclusion. My first thought about a third of the way in was, "Man, this is giving me the creeping tinglies." And that is a good thing.

I hope Forsaken wins. And I hope JD Barker keeps writing.

Oh, and by the way, the last chapter is an homage to Stephen King in the best way ever. Not going to spoil it by telling you here. Read it for yourself.

Merry Christmas to all I've reviewed and all who follow my reviews

Merry Christmas Constant Reader.

I don't have a new book for review, (yet), but I wanted to take this time to tell you what I'm doing for all the authors I've favorably reviewed here. It's a small gesture for Christmas. I'm going to post the review I posted here on their author page on Goodreads.
Big deal, you may be saying.
Well. Yes, as a matter of fact it is.
Authors live and die with reviews, and if I've given them a good one, I need to post it where it will do some good.
Goodreads prides itself on the reviews posted there, so mine are about to join.
My TWU reviews are already posted on Amazon. Posting on Goodreads is just one more way for folks to find a good read. Pun intended. ; )

Review: Strange Roads by Steven Lloyd

Strange Roads
by
Steven Lloyd
Available in Kindle format
and in paperback
on Amazon

If you decide to come along on a journey with Mr. Lloyd, rest assured the roads he travels in his short stories are strange.

Steven Lloyd submitted his most excellent short story "The Wooden Box" to me last year and it was absolutely excellent (you can find my review of it here in the entry dated August 23, 2013. The story is part of this collection, or available by itself through Amazon.)

So imagine my delight when I was presented with Strange Roads, a small collection of more of Lloyd's short stories.

All of them will get under your skin. Some will horrify in a subtle way that lingers. Others will hit you over the head.

Among my favorites were "The Wooden Box", and like a juggernaut put into motion, it drags you down the road with you in it's wake..
"The Wallet"- just how much will one man go through to get his property back?
"Where There Be Dragons" - a wonderful short fantasy that is charming as hell.
"Dogwood Summer"(an excerpt), which I've been told by Lloyd will be fleshed out at some point as I wanted way more than the story delivered. Not that it came up short. It was so good I wanted more. Now!

This is a worthy addition to any horror lovers library. The horror is subtle in some cases...splatterpunk this is not, but that's OK.  The best kind of horror short story is one that doesn't bludgeon you to death. It lingers in your mind's eye long after you've read the last sentence.

Lloyd crafts his stories as if he's mining precious gems.
I can't wait for him to continue mining in this vein.

Not Gone and Never Forgotten

Bet you thought I'd disappeared.
Nope, no such luck.

Moved twice and about to move again (same apartment complex, larger apartment).

My mother passed away in May, peacefully in her sleep, which was how I hoped it would be.

I've been writing more cook books - 19 available now, under T. L. Sheppeard on Amazon, for the Kindle for $2.99 (go check 'em out).

Been doing a lot of for pleasure reading. I've discovered the brilliant writings of Cory Doctorow. Though intended for a young adult audience, the subject matter is relevant to any and all and is presented beautifully. If you like science fiction that's science fact and relevant to the times (cyber stuff, hacking, spying, how much privacy do we really have?), then you'll eat his stuff up - Homeland and Little Brother are the two I've read.

I liked the Anita Blake novels by Laurell K Hamilton and have read a great deal of them. But, I've found a series that I think is head and shoulders over Hamilton's books - The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward. I've read the first two and am on the third and have the rest on my Kindle to read. Full of sex, violence, blood, interesting vampires, this series is better written than the Anita Blake books. Too often Hamilton will come up with a nifty premise, only to drown it to death in sex, and then wrap it up nice neat in one chapter, telling us how things were resolved rather than writing it and showing us how. Lazy writing is what that is.

Got some interesting books coming up in the following weeks for review...
So stay tuned.

Hey, Reviewers Need To Eat, Too

Good afternoon constant reader.

I've not deserted the Universe. I've been busy with proofing books for a writer, and writing my own series of cook books. Both are time consuming and haven't left a lot of time for reading and reviewing.

The thing is book reviewers have to eat, too and pay their bills, so I've been engaged in things that will make me some money.
The Written Universe started out as a labor of love, with no expectation of making any money off of it.
Circumstances have changed, I have changed, so my time is spent differently these days.

I intend to use this blog to advertise my cook books from time to time and I intend to post relevant reviews from time to time, so don't jump ship and assume TWU is dead in the water.

I'm authoring a series of cook books, under the name T.L. Sheppeard. Check me out on Amazon. They're for the Kindle, run $2.99 a pop.

Holidays
Halloween 100 Recipes
Thanksgiving 100 Recipes
Christmas 100 Recipes
New Years 100 Recipes
Valentine's Day 100 Recipes
Saint Patrick's Day 100 Recipes

Foods

Ramen Noodles 100 Recipes
Sriracha 100 Recipes
Lasagna 100 Recipes
Nutella 100 Recipes

Diets

Paleo Diet 100 Recipes

**Coming Soon**

Easter 100 Recipes
Chili 100 Recipes

You can also find me on Goodreads

This is a new venture for me and I've got to say I'm loving every minute of it.
Cruise by Amazon and check out my cook books and buy one or buy 'em all.
No Kindle? No problem - get Amazon's free Kindle Cloud App Kindle Cloud App.
You can use your desk top (PC and Apple), tablet, lap top, or Smartphone (Blackberry, Android, iPhone, Windows Phone)

By the way, not only is Valentine's Day approaching on the 14th, but World Nutella Day is February 5th. 
I've got you covered on both fronts.

Review: Blue Into The Rip by Kev Heritage

Blue Into The Rip
by
Kev Heritage
Available through Amazon in Kindle format and pasperback, B&N in Nook format,
Createspace in paperback, and Smashwords in various e-book formats.

Good morning Constant Reader.

If you like fast paced, intriguing, thought provoking, character driven science fiction, then this book is for you.

Blue is a typical teenager, attending school, looking after his little sister, and putting up with his hippie parents. Until, one day, he is ripped out of his present and flung far into a future where the Earth has undergone some extreme changes. One of which is the military academy Blue finds himself rescued by and inducted into, in a future where the world is not what it used to be. Ravaged by climate change the only refuge is an under ground Desert Amazon. Blue finds life quite a bit different, especially as he is inducted into said military academy as a cadet, who only wants to return to the past. His past.

Blue is put to several tests and finds he does have some affinity for what he's supposed to be learning, but along the way, he discovers how the Earth got into it's present state. At one point, he visits the Museum Of Indulgence, which houses such diverse Earth artifacts as Stonehenge, the statue of Michelangelo's David, remnants of the Sistine Chapel, the head of the Statue of Liberty, some of the most famous paintings to have ever existed by the likes of Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Warhol, Picasso, Dali, etc.
He comes upon a gallery with a screen projecting how the world used to be, then another showing the wars, the pollution, the riots and finally the devastation of famine, the disease that followed starvation, poverty, then another gallery depicting the fall of civilization -raging fires in China, the US entirely covered by a hurricane, earthquakes devastating Northern Europe, Tsunamis, volcanic activity on a massive scale.

Still resolved to get through this academy and back home, Blue makes friends with the other cadets in his squad, steeling himself for the day he is instructed in rip technology, the way he will "rip" his way back to his time and his family.
Interspersed throughout the book are definitions of certain words, phrases, or people, which although I knew most of them, I found them a help, expanding on the reading experience the way they were used, much better than the inclusion of a glossary in the back of the book, with the words asterisked for reference or intruding foot notes.

Does Blue make it back to his Earth and his time?
Read the book and find out.

Read the book with the underlying lesson about climate change, which isn't preachy- it's so well woven  into the fabric of the story, you don't feel like you're being beaten over the head about an issue which is becoming more clear, day by day - quit hurting the planet we live on, lest we turn our cities into dust, and we along with them.

This is written for a young adult audience and being marketed that way but I can tell you, it's fine science fiction, with a great story and well imagined characters that keep you fully engaged.
I loved it.

For more information on Kev Heritage:
Kev Heritage author page
Kev Heritage blog page
Kev Heritage on Facebook
Kev Heritage on Twitter

Happy Halloween - sign this petition and maybe we'll all get this treat

Good evening constant reader.

By now some of you may be familiar with the character of Loki, brilliantly portrayed by actor Tom Hiddlestion in the films Thor and The Avengers. Loki is about to make another onscreen appearance in the new film Thor: The Dark World, opening on American screens tomorrow.

Loki is a scene stealer of a character and there is a movement to persuade Marvel to feature Loki in his own film.

I'm using my blog platform to ask you to sign this petition and to forward it far and wide, as many times as you can. With your help, they can keep going and hopefully get Marvel's attention.

Another way to get Marvel's attention is to vote with your wallet. Go see Thor 2 multiple times and then post the fact to your Facebook, Tumblr, and/or Twitter page. Marvel has eyes and ears all over the place and if they see people turning out to see Thor 2 because they want more Loki, then the chances are better that we'll get more Loki.
They've already given him his own comic.
You can get Loki merchandise.
There's Loki fan fiction on Amazon (which is what got yours truly to finally read a book for pleasure on her Kindle).
So why not a movie?
It's we the fans who drive the success of a film or book or TV show - don't forget that. Without us, they have nothing.

Petition to Marvel Studios to give Loki his own film

Loki comic coming this February

Going off the beaten path: Recommendation: American Horror Story

Good evening constant reader.
While I'm reading a new book for review, I'll be posting entries here and there on assorted topics.

This one deals with the television show, American Horror Story. If you've not had the privilege of seeing this magnificent series, then you should remedy that immediately.

I saw the first season and was suitably impressed. The house was nice in a creepy way and the things that went on there were weird as hell. The fact that I as a viewer kept getting jerked around from one time period to the next served to make things interesting, rather than keep me irritated. Oh yes, it kept me off balance, but that's what a true roller coaster ride is supposed to do - keep the rider on the alert for the next up hill climb. then free fall once over the hill.
American Horror Story has that formula down to a fine art. The acting was uniformly superb as well as the writing.

I've watched the first episode of season three, Coven, and am here to tell you the twisted minds are still at work.

It was because of that, I sought out American Horror Story Asylum.
When it was first aired, I watched the first episode and it scared the shit out of me. So much so, after the second episode, I quit watching.
It was too disturbing for me to watch.
ME! The one who will always choose a horror novel over a romance any day for the week.
ME, who sat through Dawn of the Dead, while the people's vomit from behind me seeped it's way down the floor of the theatre. Since they threw up during a pivotal time in the film, we couldn't really move, so we put our feet up.
ME, the girl who sneaked home a copy of the book The Exorcist to literally read under the covers at night as I had been forbidden to read it by my parents.

What is it about American Horror Story?
The writing plays on our common, every day lives and fears, and twists things to show us the dark underbelly. Disturbing imagery that isn't blood and guts does the job. Odd music cues, fantastic aural support to set the mood in the show musically and camera work that makes you think you might be losing your mind.

I'm on episode four of Asylum. It's freaking me out.
That's a good thing.

I hope the creators of American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk keep scaring the shit out of us for a very long time, as they're producing some of the best horror out there.

R.I.P. Phlip Nutman

Good afternoon constant reader.

It is with sadness that I must report the passing of yet another talent in the field of horror writing - Philip Nutman, author of the acclaimed novel Wet Work, passed away yesterday at the young age of 50.
An expatriate of Britain, Nutman was known for many things, but I first came in contact with him through his feature articles in Fangoria magazine in the '80's. He was one of the first to interview a then relatively unknown named Clive Barker for Fangoria.
Nutman's work appeared in two anthologies I have personal knowledge of, Skipp & Spector's Book of the Dead and Splatterpunks.
Nutman also wrote and edited 50-plus comic books and over a dozen screenplays. He was also instrumental in bringing fellow horror author Jack Ketcham's The Girl Next Door to the screen (if you've not read the book or seen the film, you need to).
This announcement also comes with a request.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Philip Nutman's funeral. His passing was unexpected and so quick, no pre-planning had been made.
You can find that page here: Philip Nutman's Funeral
If you can donate, please do.

13 Questions with...James A. Moore

1. Name one thing you miss about being a child.


 

Freedom. I miss being able to daydream without interruption and the ability to spontaneously try new things without fear of consequence.

 

2. You’re hosting a dinner party. What is the menu, and do you cook it yourself, or do you call a caterer?


 

An actual dinner party? We’ll start with a nice salad: tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, a red wine vinaigrette. For an appetizer let’s go with baked brie with apples and walnuts. For dinner itself a beef tenderloin en croute with béarnaise sauce, creamed spinach, artichoke hearts with drawn butter. For desert a properly decadent chocolate mousse cake.

Or, if we’re going with my usual budget, spaghetti and meatballs.

 

And I cook. I’m a mean cook.

 

3. Are you a collector of anything and if so, what?


 

I have a nice collection of skulls. No real ones. I believe the one I have in my head is the only real one I need but I do like to collect various skulls. I find them aesthetically pleasing. Also I have a small but growing collection of high-end statues of different comic book characters. Mostly villains.

 

4. You're about the walk the Green Mile - what do you have for your last meal?


 

My very last meal….Probably pizza. Or my mom’s goulash.

 

5. Physical book Vs an E-Reader. Your preference and why?


 

I like them both for different reasons. The physical books because I love the feel and smell of books. I like the weight in my hands and I love a good piece of artwork. Ultimately my preference is probably for “real” books. Ebooks because, hello, several hundred books that I can carry with me anywhere and when it comes to Stephen King, the real books are bloody heavy.

 

6. What are you currently reading?

 

Hair Side, Flesh Side by Helen Marshall, a brilliant collection of short stories put out by ChiZine Publications. Highly recommended. I am also rereading THE BLADE ITSELF by Joe Abercrombie, who has become one of my favorites. I am also line editing a few things for myself and reading about five different ARCS for different writers.

 


7. What musical artist are you currently into?

 

Almost easier to name the ones I’m NOT interested in, but currently my favorites include Ray LaMontagne, Disturbed, Gordon Lightfoot, Iron & Wine, The Derek Trucks Band, Amos Lee, Adele, David Gray, Gangstagrass, Kasey Lansdale, Norah Jones and Glen Hansig. The answer varies by the day.

 


8. Do you have a hidden talent?

 

Nope I’m pretty much a what you see is what you get sort of guy.

 


9. What's your favorite word?

That’s as cruel as asking an artist what her favorite color is.  Today’s answer is Love. Why? Because there an myriad connotations involved in the use and misuse of that word.

 


10. What is your current desktop wallpaper?

 

A galactic cluster. I’m contemplating going to an autumn motif, but not just yet.

 


11. You're at a Chinese buffet - what goes on your plate?


 

Crab Rangoon, salt and pepper shrimp, lo mein, a few chicken wings, a bowl of hot and sour soup.

 

12.  What kinds of books make up your personal library?


 

I have a staggering collection of horror. No real surprise there. I have a decent collection of fantast books and a number of classic science fiction volumes as well. In the non-genre set I have most of John Irving’s books and a few others.

 

13. What advice would you pass on to an aspiring author?


 

I went to 17 schools in twelve years of schooling. I did not do well in school and I had to teach myself the basics of grammar and the English language (I had some very good help and advice from a few friends of mine). Despite this minor setback I have managed to write and sell a good number of books.

 

My point? Never give up on your dreams. They are yours. Make them come true.

Review: Seven Forges by James A.Moore

Seven Forges
by
James A. Moore
Available through Amazon (print and Kindle),
B&N (print and Nook).

Good evening constant reader.

If you like a sword and sorcery epic with characters who all but grab you by the hand and drag you through the narrative, a story line that takes your interest and holds it hostage until it's had it's way with you, a lot of action, is well-paced and is so good, you don't want to put it down, but at the same time, don't want to finish it too quick (then the awesome is over), this book my dears, is for you.

Merros Dulver is leading a group of men making their way to explore the Seven Forges, spikes of mountain that can be seen from the distance of their home land Fellein, but until now have remained unexplored. They encounter a race of people who populate this wild and barren land and it seems as if they were "expected" - Merros's arrival was foreseen. The strangers he discovers there join him on his return to Fellein, but Merros wonders if this might be a mistake, to mix his people with the newcomers. The newcomers's Gods are rather martial and they have wild ways about them. Yet they return to Fellein, and the stage is set.

As I kept reading, I got more and more sucked in to this world and the magic and interesting creatures that abide there. There's more than enough sword play, a sorcerer who gave me the wiggins and made me never want to trust him, a young man who loses a lot and gains more, so much more, but at what ultimate cost, female characters that are more than just pretty faces, though there are some pretty faces, too, and an ending I didn't see coming and when it arrived, with too few pages left in the book, told me we're in for another installment in this series.

My biggest gripe about fantasy writing is it can get too caught up in itself and stretch on and on and on and on, lasting for umpteen volumes. With each new installment, the story starts to stretch our further and further from the core that captured one's attention in the first place.  This is why in my pleasure reading, I tend to shun multi-volume epics. Until now.

Mr. Moore, James if  I may...I hope you've got the next volume in this series written, or if not written, at least well mapped out, because I want more, and so will everyone else who has any taste other than in their mouths.

Circle September 24, 2013, as that's the date this bad boy hits the shelves.

For more information on James A. Moore:
The Official Web Site of Author James A. Moore
James A. Moore on Goodreads
James A. Moore on Facebook

The 2013 Hugo Awards

Good evening constant reader.

Here are the Hugo winners for 2013. This should steer you toward award winning Science Fiction reading and in the last two categories, viewing.

Best Novel
Red Shirts: A Novel With Three Codas - John Scalzi (this is on my To Read list)

Best Novella
The Emperor's Soul - Brandon Sanderson

Best Novelette
"The Girl-Thing Who Went Out For Sushi" - Pat Cadigan

Best Short Story
"Mono no Aware" - Ken Liu

Best Related Work
Writing Excuses Season Seven - Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler and Jordan Sanderson

Best Graphic Story
Saga, Volume One, written by Brian K Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
The Avengers, written and directed by Joss Whedon

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
Game of Thrones, "Black Water" written by George R. R. Martin

Update on the Ray Garton gofundme project

Good evening constant reader.

I'm happy to announce that the $1500.00 goal of Ray Garton's gofundme for Ray's biopsy exceeded that amount and now sits at a healthy $2,281.00.

This not only covers the out of pocket expense for the procedure, it also covers the percentage to the gofundme site and leaves a little left over for Ray and his family.
This type of outpouring from people renews my faith in humankind.


If you were able to contribute, then good on you. If you weren't, but sent good wishes Ray's way, still good on you. Here's the link to Ray's website where you can find a complete bibliography of his work, and links to order them:
Home page of Ray Garton