tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20924531850677171972024-03-14T00:13:37.123+00:00Confessions of a Reviewer!!A good book makes you want to live in the story. A great book gives you no choice.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.comBlogger418125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-68931550900007838412017-01-12T19:17:00.000+00:002017-01-12T19:33:06.748+00:00AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT CONFESSIONS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mXn4YbJsXbM/WHdgMxrIt6I/AAAAAAAADks/yq2QcN8Hspskw-KRcMcqHbwuFQicc6GRACLcB/s1600/Sad-Minions-Drink-Coffee-HD-Wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mXn4YbJsXbM/WHdgMxrIt6I/AAAAAAAADks/yq2QcN8Hspskw-KRcMcqHbwuFQicc6GRACLcB/s400/Sad-Minions-Drink-Coffee-HD-Wallpaper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is with a very
heavy heart that I must announce to you today that, this is the very last post
I will ever be publishing on Confessions of a Reviewer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This has been a fantastic journey for me and I have met
some wonderful people over this past two years whom I cannot thank enough for
their encouragement, help and support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, times change and I now feel
that it is time for me and the blog to part company.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: x-large;">AND MAKE WAY FOR THE MOTHER OF ALL NEW WEBSITES!!!!!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/---dQG9CLXlw/WHdgMvcmlyI/AAAAAAAADko/x9DaeeeSjmgBV3QdOgo5kBm5evLrTskswCLcB/s1600/A-very-happy-minion-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/---dQG9CLXlw/WHdgMvcmlyI/AAAAAAAADko/x9DaeeeSjmgBV3QdOgo5kBm5evLrTskswCLcB/s400/A-very-happy-minion-image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Did I have you going there? Did I?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seriously though, this has been a wonderful two years
getting to know you all virtually, and in person in some cases. Things have
totally changed for me, going from the quiet man who used to sit and read all
the time, to the opinionated reviewer that I am today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some people say it is good, some not so good. It seems to
be working though so I will keep on doing what I am doing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, the new website will officially launch next Monday 16</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> January. It is not visible to any search engines just yet so you will not be
able to see it until then.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will obviously be sharing links everywhere in the world
I can and hope you will as well to help me out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There will also be a brand-new Confessions Facebook page
coming that I will use for all the sharing I do so I will ask you all to give
it a like when it pops its head up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Only thing left to do now is thank you all once again and
remind you to look out for the first night of the website, next Monday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh!! Did I mention it is launching with a two-night
interview with a living legend from the horror writing world?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sorry, I forgot about that bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wonder who it can be?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Watch out for this logo coming at you from all angles!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7a8UmFyQUpA/WHdgluokySI/AAAAAAAADkw/C_u8zfKMjcIAypq9KOa7TR1iNNZYsLDFwCLcB/s1600/conf%2B-%2BCopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7a8UmFyQUpA/WHdgluokySI/AAAAAAAADkw/C_u8zfKMjcIAypq9KOa7TR1iNNZYsLDFwCLcB/s400/conf%2B-%2BCopy.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks again for visiting Confessions of a Reviewer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nev.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-80754892306784329062016-11-14T19:44:00.000+00:002016-11-14T19:44:39.512+00:00REVIEW: Erik Hofstatter - Rare Breeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjpkz0Ff73c/WCn1NI8RGuI/AAAAAAAADig/FeVEsW6AHQgluAMV7cuVac8ZJkkZWr_nACLcB/s1600/1%2BRare%2BBreeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjpkz0Ff73c/WCn1NI8RGuI/AAAAAAAADig/FeVEsW6AHQgluAMV7cuVac8ZJkkZWr_nACLcB/s400/1%2BRare%2BBreeds.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genre: Horror<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publisher: Dark Silo Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publication Date: 13<sup>th</sup> October 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pages: 100</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY NEV</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rare Breeds</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> was sent to Confessions of a
Reviewer by the author, Erik Hofstatter, in exchange for an honest review. This
is said review. This book is published by Dark Silo Press.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Erik Hofstatter. If
you have been reading Confessions from the beginning, you will know this is my
favourite name in the world of indie horror. We have had an up and down
relationship in terms of how I like his books but that is what makes me like
him even more. He keeps on coming back. I have been waiting on him writing
something in the same vain as the first thing of his I read, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Pariahs</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Not particularly the same
type of story, just the same type of style.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His last short, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Katerina</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and his collection </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amaranthine and Other Stories</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> left me
wanting more from him. Was I going to get it with </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rare Breeds</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I
thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Zora and Aurel
are married and live with Zora’s daughter, Livie. It’s a relationship that has
had its ups and downs. Aurel sleepwalks and he can never remember what he has
done when he wakes up the next day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This worries Zora
a great deal. She is always worried in case he does something to harm Livie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She should be
more worried about what he is doing with his secret sister, Cornelia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you can
imagine, our main characters in this one are Zora, Aurel and Livie. Zora is a
loving wife, mother and health freak. She lives for Livie but worries about
Aurel’s sleepwalking. She nevertheless sticks by him one hundred percent. Livie
is a typical teenager. She lives for her make-up and prides herself on how she
looks and loves her music. She thinks Aurel is a bit weird but loves him none
the less. Aurel is a troubled soul. His sleepwalking gives him daytime
nightmares. He is always unsure of what he is doing or what he has done. His
relationship with his sister is strained at the best of times and perverted at
the worst. Cornelia is a secretive woman who never makes an appearance on her
own.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The plot is a
strange one. You don’t actually know what it is about until very near the end.
You know it centres around Aurel’s sleepwalking but what is going to ultimately
happen is expertly kept hidden from you by Mr Hofstatter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Did I get what I
wanted from him in terms of a return to what he writes best?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You bet I did.</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rare Breeds</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is a tale of confusion and secrets and perverted pastimes that
are straight out of the dark ages. It is a story that, although set in present
times, has a very medieval feel about it. It’s very dark and you could almost
imagine it being totally in black and white if it was on the big screen. Dare I
say almost Hammer-esque?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you start to
read this story, you will think it is going in one direction. Then you will
soon discover it is not going anywhere near where you thought it was
originally. Then you will get kicked in the head by a turn of events that seem
to be as alien to the story as Donald Trump is to being sane. It is absolutely
fantastic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are elements
in this story that I absolutely hate in a horror tale. You know what though?
They really fit in this one. Erik Hofstatter has written a story that is truly
terrifying. It’s written in such a way that you will think about it long after
you have finished it. It leaves an imprint on your brain and your psyche. It
makes you wonder if there are actually things like this happening around the
world. The frightening thing is that there probably are. Think about that when
you finish this book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then try and
sleep soundly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To summarise: a
tale of secrets and what they can do to everyone involved when they finally
come out. Don’t expect happy endings. Erik Hofstatter doesn’t write to make
people happy. He does it to scare them and mess with their heads. This one will
do just that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">✮✮✮✮✮ Mr Hofstatter has his mojo back!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Horror rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">✮✮✮✮✮ creepy and mysterious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rare Breeds</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> or any other books from Erik.
This not only supports me but also lets me know how many people actually like
to buy books after reading my reviews.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2gaG6mB" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2f9uWdp" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Aurel and Zora Schwartz are a married couple trying to
make a modern relationship work. But an old secret is going to affect them in
ways neither of them can imagine. And Zora’s daughter Livie may find herself
caught in a trap built long before she was born. The ending will leave you
stunned and speechless. Get ready to scream.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CONFESSIONS REVIEWS ERIK HOFSTATTER</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/review-erik-hofstatter-pariahs.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><i>The Pariahs</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/review-erik-hofstatter-katerina.html#more" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Katerina</i></span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/review-erik-hofstatter-amaranthine-and.html#more" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Amaranthine and Other Stories</i></span></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cfl2QmxPLPM/VipRECRBloI/AAAAAAAABiI/r70HI2pu7PQ/s1600/Erik%2BHofstatter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cfl2QmxPLPM/VipRECRBloI/AAAAAAAABiI/r70HI2pu7PQ/s400/Erik%2BHofstatter.jpg" width="348" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Erik Hofstatter's debut collection </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'Moribund Tales</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">' peaked at #2 on Amazon bestseller chart in horror anthologies. Several of these tales have been recorded for a podcast (Wicked Library, Tales To Terrify & Manor House Show) and printed in various magazines and anthologies around the world such as </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Literary Hatchet</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (PearTree Press) </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Morpheus Tales</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sanitarium Magazine</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. His novella </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'The Pariahs</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">' is available from Creativia Publishing.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He dwells in a beauteous and serenading Garden of England where he can be frequently encountered consuming reckless amounts of mead and tyrannizing local peasantry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Erik, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.creativia.org/erik-hofstatter.html"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">- </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/erikhofstatter?fref=ts" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ErikHofstatter" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6949371.Erik_Hofstatter" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Erik-Hofstatter/e/B00KO3SAQY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&linkCode=ur2&qid=1445612506&sr=1-3&tag=confeofarevie-21"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-91314641597329700022016-11-11T19:28:00.000+00:002016-11-11T19:28:10.798+00:00REVIEW: 13: An Anthology of Horror and Dark Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NWAJTdMBL04/WCYSbRPqZ8I/AAAAAAAADhw/zgQeDs2yjTQON24JI_g6NbLLJz2mSNy-gCLcB/s1600/1%2B13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NWAJTdMBL04/WCYSbRPqZ8I/AAAAAAAADhw/zgQeDs2yjTQON24JI_g6NbLLJz2mSNy-gCLcB/s1600/1%2B13.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Genre: Horror Anthology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Publisher: Limitless Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Publication Date: 4<sup>th</sup> Oct 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pages: 435</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY NEV</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13: An
Anthology of Horror and Dark Fiction</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer
by one of the contributors in exchange for an honest review. This is said
review. This book is published by Limitless Press.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anthologies. Love em or hate em, there have been a tonne
of them out this year. To be honest I have probably already read my fill of
anthologies and collections for the year so </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
is sort of up against it from the outset. It will need to be a good one to keep
me reading.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, I have read a few books from Limitless
and they normally produce some really good stuff so I am hoping this is the
same.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I won’t say which contributor sent the copy to me. If you
know me though it shouldn’t be too hard to guess.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, this is what I thought of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">MECHANTE REINE BY SAVANNAH BLEVINS</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
year is 1802. Lake and Abram are on a mission to try and defeat The Mechante
Reine, a witch that has terrorised their village for years. Both Lake and Abram
are keeping secrets from each other. Secrets that could mean the difference
between life and death.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
started with so much promise but slowly turned into a story that, to be honest,
I don’t think fits in an anthology of horror and dark fiction.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes,
there is a witch involved and yes she is evil but the story is more of a love
story about the lives of Lake and Abram.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They
do confront the witch and evil things do happen but I didn’t find much of it to
be horror or dark.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It
gets scored for the general writing but nothing scary about it for me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★.5</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">0</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">ROOM 313 BY THOMAS S FLOWERS</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will Fenning is washed up. His marriage is failed. His
business is lost. Now his car has packed up.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stopping at a hotel for the night, he has one thing on
his mind. If he has the guts to follow through.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a tale of a man with a troubled mind. A guilty
mind. A mind full of demons just screaming to get out. It's a tale of regret.
One man facing up to all of his problems.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can guess what is going to happen quite early in
the story but there is a twist coming that you will never have seen in a
million years. A twist that turns it from a story of regret to a story of
unbridled fear.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Creepy stuff.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">THE DEVILS DAUGHTER BY MARISSA FARRAR</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Erika is a journalist. She is on her way to Peru to meet
with an old photographer colleague to team up and investigate a strange series
of disappearances of members of one particular tribe.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When she arrives, she discovers a little girl being
shunned by the rest of the tribe. They call her the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">devils daughter</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Erika cannot understand why. Maybe she should not
interfere with things she does not understand.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is great. A tale of adventure in a foreign land
where modern world feelings clash with ancient world cultures and traditions.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is something very creepy about this one. The
atmosphere is set up perfectly to give you that skin crawling feeling when you
are in an unfamiliar setting.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love stories like this. Crosses a few genres but is
still scary.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">HAVERLY INSANE ASYLUM BY TAYLOR HENDERSON</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lacey and her boyfriend Jace, along with their friends
Corey, Debra and Quincy, are on a mission in the Haverly Insane Asylum.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are determined to see as much of the building as
they can to brag to their school friends and make themselves even more popular.
When they get split up, the fear factor starts creeping in and things start to
go incredibly wrong.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yeah it's a rehashed scenario of teenagers breaking into
an asylum and things start to go wrong and danger is around every corner.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one though has a couple of very clever twists in it
that make that rehashed story sort of fresh.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You will think you know how this is going to go. You will
be wrong.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">ANESTHESIA BY D.A. ROACH</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary works as a bartender in a respectable club while she
gets through college. The tips are good and her boss looks after her well. When
it is time for her to move on her boss doesn’t want her to leave. He doesn’t
want her to have some surgery she has planned either.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He seems to be rather over protective.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This story had so much promise until about half way
through. It was building the tension perfectly and then just sort of fell flat
for me.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Disappointing.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">THIS ONE’S BROKEN BY BRADON NAVE</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savannah is a quiet shy girl. She spends her days selling
lemonade to try and make pennies to get her broken bike fixed. Billy watches
her all the time. She has seen trauma after trauma. Billy intends to keep
showing her the trauma.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This, this is just brilliant. I wish I could tell you
more about it but it would just give it away. This is brutal, but sort of
satisfying at the same time due to what’s happening.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As well as being horrific, in an ironic sort of way, it
shows the different side of people with obvious mental imbalances and what they
see as good and what they perceive as evil.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brilliant stuff. I will definitely be picking up more of
Mr Nave’s work.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">RICOCHET BY CARISSA ANN LYNCH</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regan, and her brother Toby, live with their alcoholic
Dad. Things haven’t been the same since their mother disappeared after the
incident at Adventure Town theme park many years earlier.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The stories still go around town how Regan’s mum was
responsible for the deaths.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Adventure Town re-opens. Regan gets a job there.
Just like her mom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A theme park and mysterious deaths. An old plot line,
done many times before. There is something rather haunting about it though.
Especially when it is written like this. This is suspenseful and tense with
flashes of horror the whole way through.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did think at one point it was going a bit stale until
the twists kicked in and it totally turned on its head again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really good stuff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">REST IN PIECE? BY ERIN LEE</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lisa and Jeff are in a motel room. The end is in sight
for Jeff. Everyone knows this. The room they are in is supposedly haunted.
Maybe the ghost might have other plans for Lisa and Jeff.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A bit hard to tell you about this one without giving
anything away about the story. It is creepy but to be honest a bit weird as
well. The idea behind the initial storyline is excellent. A man and woman who
are married but always keeping massive secrets from each other and seeing it
through their eyes is very effective.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It just loses itself as the story progresses and becomes
a bit confusing.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">THE VIRUS: PREQUEL TO AM13 OUTBREAK SERIES BY SAMIE SANDS</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It starts in a school. It spreads so quickly no one
stands a chance of getting out of its way. Until the town is completely closed
off. And the dead begin to rise.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know what? Zombie stories have been through the
ringer a bit for a while now and just don’t seem to be getting any fresh ideas.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until this.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each chapter in this one is told through the eyes of a
different person running from the threat. It is punchy and fresh and has
definitely put me in the mood to go and pick up the rest of the books in this
series!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is excellent stuff.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">THE SIX-FOOT LADDER BY LUKE SWANSON</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ramona Price is running away. She has her worldly
possessions in her car with her. She is running from the spectres she sees
everywhere. Forced to stop in the small town of Crawford after her car breaks down,
she soon discovers all is not as it may seem.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hmmm. Not sure about this one. This is set in the 50’s
and it definitely gives off a feeling of that era. It is creepy and is very
well written but the problem I had with it was the fact I figured it out very
early in the story and it sort of dragged from there on in.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good but predictable for me.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">THE FIRST OF THIRTEEN BY SARA SCHOEN</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kelly is days away from graduation when her </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">friend</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, Steve kidnaps her. She thinks
she can get away in a matter of days. She better think again because she is in
for the long haul.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is another that had so much promise but just didn’t
get there. The idea was good; in that it did not pan out like a normal
kidnapping would. However, it just dragged on too long without anything to grab
me and keep me seriously interested.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★.5</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★.5</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">THE CHALLENGE BY SOPHIA VALENTINE</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carla is looking forward to taking her little brother
Cody to the circus. It hasn’t been to their town for years after the rumours of
the people going missing. They should have paid attention to the rumours.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This, I’m sorry to say, did nothing for me. It’s a story
full of so many clichés I wouldn’t know where to start. I mean a circus that
has something to do with people going missing that hasn’t been around for years
and you still go to it? Knowingly?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MIRROR MAN BY JACKIE SONNENBERG</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jean and August are a married couple with a young
daughter, Avery. Their life is pretty normal until Avery starts to talk with
her imaginary friend. He is called CJ and he lives in their mirrors.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one again had huge potential. The writing style just
didn’t do it for me at all. It was quite stop, start during the narrative and
read more like someone reading a statement than telling a story.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another disappointment for me because it certainly had
some creeps.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★.5</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, there are my thoughts on </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13: An Anthology of Horror and Dark Fiction</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. All in all, this one
didn’t float my boat as much as I had hoped. There are some fantastically
strong stories between the covers such as </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Room
313</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Devils Daughter, The Virus</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
and, my personal favourite </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This One’s
Broken</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. I just think as an anthology, there were more weak stories than
strong ones for me.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have, however, discovered some more new authors that I
will be checking out with great interest.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, if I can give you one piece of good advice, buy the
paperback version of the book. It is beautifully presented inside and would
look beautiful on your shelf.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As usual, the overall rating is done the scientific way
of adding the average scores and dividing by 13.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It comes out like this:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★.5</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horror Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> or any other books from Limitless. This
not only supports me but also lets me know how many people actually like to buy
books after reading my reviews.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2ePKOnY"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eKEbQh"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">13 has always been unlucky. But now it’s turned deadly…</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Darkness has fallen. Real and unseen, evil is out there.
Waiting. Watching. Biding its time. It might be your neighbor, your best
friend—or something much, much worse. It might be the shadow itself. It will
hunt you down when you least expect it. It will talk to you in the quiet hours
of the morning and follow your footsteps when you’re alone. It’s chosen you…and
it always gets what it wants.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">13 dark tales await you. Ready to bring your worst
childhood nightmares to life, to push you to the brink, and make you question
your every decision…</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">The circus. Your beloved carnival rides. That mom and pop
motel you pass every day on your way to work. They’ll never look innocent
again. Because they’re not. No one and nothing can be trusted. Not even
yourself.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Are you ready to take the ultimate dare? To spin the
devil’s wheel?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Be careful…</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">13 will get you every time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">The Authors</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Savannah Blevins</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savannah Blevins is an author of Fantasy and Contemporary
Romance from Corbin, Kentucky. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Méchante Reine</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is a legend told in her </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Witches
of Sanctuary</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Series. She was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains
that inspired her series and still lives there with her husband John and her
two wonderful daughters, Delilah and Gracie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/savannahblevinsauthor" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/savannahblevinsauthor</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/vannajodee" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/vannajodee</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.savannahblevins.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.savannahblevins.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Thomas S. Flowers</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thomas S. Flowers is the author of several character
driven stories of terror, including </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Subdue Series</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reinheit</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">,
among others. He grew up in the small town of Vinton, Virginia, but in 2001
left home to enlist in the U.S. Army. Following his third tour in Iraq, Thomas
moved to Houston, Texas, where he now lives with his beautiful bride and
amazing daughter. Thomas attended night school, with a focus on creative
writing and history. In 2014, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History
from UHCL. Thomas blogs at machinemean.org, where he reviews movies, books, and
other horror-related topics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThomasSFlowers?fref=ts" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/ThomasSFlowers?fref=ts</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/machinemeannow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/machinemeannow</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads: </span><a href="http://machinemean.org/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://machinemean.org/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Marissa Farrar</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marissa Farrar is a British author who has penned more
than twenty novels. She predominantly writes paranormal romance and horror but
has branched into contemporary fiction as well. When she’s not writing, she’s
fighting off the sticky fingers of her three young daughters and looking
forward to a glass of wine.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you want to know more about Marissa, please visit her
blog at <a href="http://www.marissa-farrar.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.marissa-farrar.blogspot.com</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can also find her at her Facebook page, </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/marissa.farrar.author" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/marissa.farrar.author</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To stay updated on all new releases and sales, sign up
for her newsletter! </span><a href="http://forms.aweber.com/form/61/19822861.htm" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://forms.aweber.com/form/61/19822861.htm</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Taylor Henderson</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taylor Henderson is a psychology major at the University
of Mary Washington who was born and raised in Northern Virginia. She has been
an avid reader and writer since she was young and has always found solace in
the worlds and characters other authors have brought to life in their works.
Taylor plans to continue writing and hopes to expand to different genres in the
future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008525042075" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008525042075</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TayMHenderson" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/TayMHenderson</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9885214.Taylor_Henderson" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9885214.Taylor_Henderson</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">D.A. Roach</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">D.A. Roach has been telling stories since she was a young
girl in the suburbs of Chicago. In college she met the man of her dreams, her
happily ever after, and married him two weeks after graduating. They have three
children together and two pet cockatiels named Gimli & Poppy. D.A.
discovered her love of reading and writing after college. Her preferred genres
are YA/NA drama, romance, or paranormal. D.A. has a treasured collection of
fiction that includes works by Rebecca Donovan, Larissa Ione, Jojo Moyes,
Sylvia Day, Nicole Williams, Stephanie Meyer, Richelle Mead, and E.L. James.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/DARoachDA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.facebook.com/DARoachDA</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/daroach12books" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.twitter.com/daroach12books</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Website: </span><a href="http://daroachbooks.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://daroachbooks.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/juozupaitis" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.goodreads.com/juozupaitis</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Bradon Nave</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bradon Nave was born and raised in rural Oklahoma. He
attended a small country school during junior high and high school and graduated
with only three people in his class. After graduate school, he decided to
devote his spare time to his passion of writing. Bradon currently lives in
Piedmont, Oklahoma, with his wife and two young children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bradonnavebooks" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.facebook.com/bradonnavebooks</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/BradonNave" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.twitter.com/BradonNave</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Google Plus: </span><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/108823460188949641774/posts?partnerid=gplp0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://plus.google.com/u/0/108823460188949641774/posts?partnerid=gplp0</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.bradonnave.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bradonnave.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Carissa Ann Lynch</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides her family, Carissa’s greatest love in life is
books. She’s always loved to read and never considered herself a “writer” until
a few years ago when she couldn't find a book to read and decided to try
writing her own story. With a background in psychology, she’s always been a
little obsessed with the darker areas of the human mind and social problems, so
she tried to channel all of that into her writing. She is the author of The
Flocksdale Files, Grayson’s Ridge, This Is Not About Love, and the upcoming
Horror High series. She resides in Floyds Knobs, Indiana.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CarissaAnnLynchauthor" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/CarissaAnnLynchauthor</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/carissaannlynch" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/carissaannlynch</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Website: </span><a href="https://carissaannlynch.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://carissaannlynch.wordpress.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11204582.Carissa_Lynch" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11204582.Carissa_Lynch</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Erin Lee</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Erin Lee is a freelance writer and therapist living with
her family in southern New Hampshire. She is the author of Crazy Like Me, a
novel published in 2015 by Savant Books and Publications, Wave to Papa, 2015,
Nine Lives, and Alters, 2016 with Limitless Publishing LLC. She holds a master’s
degree in psychology and works with at-risk families and as a court appointed
special children’s advocate. When she’s not busy writing about the human mind,
she’s obsessively taking pictures of her rescue dog and muse, Milo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her work can be found at </span><a href="http://www.authorerinlee.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.authorerinlee.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/gonecrazytalksoon" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/gonecrazytalksoon</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Samie Sands</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Samie Sands is the author of the AM13 Outbreak
series–Lockdown, Forgotten and Extinct. She’s also had a number of short stories
published in very successful anthologies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To find out more about her and her
work, check out her website at </span><a href="http://samiesands.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://samiesands.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SamieSandsLockdown" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.facebook.com/SamieSandsLockdown</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/SamieSands" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.twitter.com/SamieSands</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/SamieSands" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.goodreads.com/SamieSands</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke Swanson</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luke Swanson was born and raised in Yukon, Oklahoma. He
loves nothing more than a good story. He currently attends Oklahoma Christian
University, studying English writing, history, and international studies. The
Ten, his debut novel, combines elements of mystery, thriller, and comedy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Sara Schoen</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sara Schoen is a college student studying Biology, who
writes in her free time. She has published numerous titles and hopes to
continue writing throughout her life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005224038610" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005224038610</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/SaraNSchoen" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/SaraNSchoen</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/36172080-sara-schoen" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/36172080-sara-schoen</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">S. Valentine</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">S. Valentine grew up in England. Studying English
language and literature as well as law, she worked in a law firm for many years
before moving to Spain. She does, however, still visit the UK which, in a way,
will always be home. She writes contemporary fiction, including erotica,
thrillers and romance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more information, please visit: </span><a href="http://www.svalentine.wix.com/books" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.svalentine.wix.com/books</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SophiaValentineAuthor" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.facebook.com/SophiaValentineAuthor</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/SophiaVAuthor" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.twitter.com/SophiaVAuthor</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/SophiaValentine" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.goodreads.com/SophiaValentine</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Jackie Sonnenberg</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jackie Sonnenberg is the author of the YRESRUN SEMYHR
book series, telling the dark side of Nursery Rhymes. The first novel, My Soul
to Keep, is the story of a boarding school cult with paranormal activity…and
deathly secrets. Jackie lives in Orlando as a writer and actor for Zombie Outbreak,
a year-round haunted attraction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorjackiesonnenberg" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/authorjackiesonnenberg</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.jackiesonnenberg.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.jackiesonnenberg.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3268117.Jackie_Sonnenberg" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3268117.Jackie_Sonnenberg</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">The Publisher</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fwg6C4EHQoY/WCYaZ6c33-I/AAAAAAAADiI/EsvhUuco9pcLfEkqEStdgv_27VtqM3kNgCLcB/s1600/Limitless%2BPublishing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fwg6C4EHQoY/WCYaZ6c33-I/AAAAAAAADiI/EsvhUuco9pcLfEkqEStdgv_27VtqM3kNgCLcB/s400/Limitless%2BPublishing.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Limitless Publishing started in 2012 and has sky rocketed
to one of the most highly talked about publishing companies around. If you have
enjoyed this anthology and would like to see more from our wonderful team of
authors, please visit our website, or would like to submit submissions of your own
and join our team of authors:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Limitless Publishing </span><a href="http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Submissions Department </span><a href="mailto:submissions@limitlesspublishing.com" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">submissions@limitlesspublishing.com</span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-46361669707437774962016-11-10T19:43:00.000+00:002016-11-10T19:43:24.649+00:00COVER REVEAL: Robert E. Dunn - The Harrowing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XBQxnl7EKpk/WCRkVvV1VgI/AAAAAAAADhc/1Yw30uxysJEpQF_XaSvrKZ1jcyk_GADmQCLcB/s1600/book-question-mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XBQxnl7EKpk/WCRkVvV1VgI/AAAAAAAADhc/1Yw30uxysJEpQF_XaSvrKZ1jcyk_GADmQCLcB/s400/book-question-mark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Robert E. Dunn. One of the gentlemen of the indie book
world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have known Robert for a while now and I must say, from
all of the interactions I have had with him, every single one has been an
absolute joy. He is, without doubt, one of the most prolific supporters of
Confessions, continually tagging, reposting and retweeting everything we do.
For that, sir, we are eternally grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bit of a no brainer then when Robert contacted us to see
if we could do the necessary and set up a cover reveal for his new book coming
out. Even though Confessions is sort of semi closed at the minute, this is something
we could just not refuse to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have seen any of Robert’s previous books, you will
know he has a longstanding relationship with artist, Erik Wilson, who also
designed the artwork for two of Robert’s previous books, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Red Highway</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Motorman</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.
Both of those covers stand out when put on anyone’s shelf and I am sure you
will agree when you see the new one that it is equally as fantastic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new book is due out on 25</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> November and,
as usual, Confessions will keep you updated with the links to buy as and when
they become available.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, without further ado, Confessions of a Reviewer gives
you, the cover for </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Harrowing</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> by
Robert E. Dunn.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJvltmNJwXQ/WCRkRKSwanI/AAAAAAAADhU/P7-11xf0MxUkMdTPLGEihkYQkcJxOgvyQCEw/s1600/HARR.cover_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJvltmNJwXQ/WCRkRKSwanI/AAAAAAAADhU/P7-11xf0MxUkMdTPLGEihkYQkcJxOgvyQCEw/s640/HARR.cover_Small.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I mentioned earlier, the artwork on this little beauty
is by the wonderful Erik Wilson and if you would like to learn more about Erik
or see more of his work, then visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ErikWilsonArt"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yPV-z7tacgE/WCRkROOWg2I/AAAAAAAADhY/dBbrdjkg_Do-Q--2LUZ1j9NfpLfmLADIQCEw/s1600/HARR.fullcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yPV-z7tacgE/WCRkROOWg2I/AAAAAAAADhY/dBbrdjkg_Do-Q--2LUZ1j9NfpLfmLADIQCEw/s400/HARR.fullcover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The
Harrowing</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> is not fully available for pre-order in advance of
a November 25th release, yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As soon as it is though, Confessions will let you know in
with another post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Andrew Jackson Presley, a damaged veteran at loose ends,
learned the hard way--never trust an angel. Recruited by archangel Puriel for a
harrowing, a descent into hell to rescue the innocent, the first thing he has
to do is die in the grill of a Mack truck. From there, things only get worse.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Hell is a world of warfare, violence, and political
intrigue. Heaven is an insulated club for angels, no humans allowed. The two
worlds are at war. And there are secrets, buried in past lives, that make Jack
the key to victory for both sides. After his entrance into hell drops him in
the middle of gladiator style games against demons and hell spawn half-angels,
Jack becomes an attraction, and the target of an archangel who’s leading the civil
war against Satan. As he tries to finish his mission, he finds that the
woman he’s to rescue is Orisa, someone he had loved and killed for in life. But
Orisa is half-angel, with her own secret role to play in the war.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Negotiating brutal combat and angelic politics, Jack
discovers that he was chosen for more than just his fighting skills. While
magic, burned into him by angels, gets stronger, and the mystery of his past
unravels, Jack learns his quest isn’t to save only one innocent person. With
the help of Edgar Allan Poe, the Queen of Ghosts, an Earth Goddess, and the
most beautiful woman in hell--Satan herself, Jack must stop the angel’s final
battle from consuming Earth. Even as the truth takes shape and the plans of
eternity are playing out, Jack raises the stakes. To save the world, he risks
the entire universe by releasing the ancient gods imprisoned in hell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CONFESSIONS REVIEWS ROBERT E. DUNN</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/review-robert-e-dunn-motorman.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Motorman</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Robert Dunn (1960) was an Army brat born in Alabama and finally settled in Nixa, Missouri. A graduate of Drury College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications/Film he also earned a second major in Philosophy with a minor in Religion and carried an emphasis in Theatre. This course of study left him qualified only to be a televangelist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An award winning film/video producer and writer, he has written scripts for or directed every kind of production from local 30-second television commercial spots to documentary productions and travelogues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A writer of blognovels and contributor to various fiction websites his work has also included the book length prose poem, <i>Uncle Sam</i>, the collection of short stories, <i>Motorman and Other Stories</i> and novel, <i>Behind the Darkness</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mr. Dunn now resides in Kansas City where he continues to write genre fiction and experiment with mixed media art projects using hand drawn and painted elements combined through digital paint and compositing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Robert, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://robertdunnauthor.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008745731747&fref=ts" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="https://twitter.com/WritingDead?lang=en-gb" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/548149.Robert_E_Dunn?from_search=true&search_version=service" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> - </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1Ml8LzV" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-40504976105599239322016-11-07T19:25:00.000+00:002016-11-07T19:25:07.625+00:00REVIEW: Adam Howe - Tijuana Donkey Showdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WI5TtvfUHrE/WB9RbU2CLuI/AAAAAAAADgs/srhzQ1EeqMkCOaheTM5BWNB54-rx60YBACLcB/s1600/TIJUANA-DONKEY-SHOWDOWN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WI5TtvfUHrE/WB9RbU2CLuI/AAAAAAAADgs/srhzQ1EeqMkCOaheTM5BWNB54-rx60YBACLcB/s400/TIJUANA-DONKEY-SHOWDOWN.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genre: Pick One!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publisher: Comet Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publication Date: 9<sup>th</sup> December 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pages: 230</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY NEV</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana
Donkey Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author Adam
Howe in exchange for an honest review. This is said review. This book is
published by Comet Press.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is no secret that I absolutely love Adam Howe’s
writing. Anything I have read from him before gives me the greatest of pleasure
both during the reading, and once I have finished. You cannot help but have a
huge smile on your face for days after finishing one of his books. They are
that good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His mixture of genres is superb. His last book, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Die Dog or Eat The Hatchet</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, mixed up
horror and comedy and southern noir with splattering’s of crime and mystery and
a host of other genres to boot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the stories in it was </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Damn Dirty Apes</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> where the unlikely hero, Reggie Levine has to
battle all sorts of unspeakable things to survive, and keep his reputation
intact.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Tijuana
Donkey Showdown</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> is the sequel to <i>Damn Dirty Apes</i>. It was a no brainer that I was going to pick this
one up.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I thought.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s two for one day at Confessions!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">REVIEW ONE:</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Go buy it. Don’t read anyone’s review, including mine,
they will not do it justice!</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">REVIEW TWO:</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reggie is still on the road to recovery after his
escapade with the Skunk Ape.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Trying to get on with life, and make it as quiet
as possible, he gets roped into helping dodgy car salesman, Harry, when his
crested terrier goes missing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reggie thinks the job should be easy enough but as per
normal, it all goes terribly wrong, plunging Reggie into another scenario that
leaves him battered and bruised and wishing he just didn’t bother.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enter Enrique. A famous donkey with a secret to share but
not one that will benefit Reggie.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s time for the showdown!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, characters wise in this one you have a plethora of
absolutely wonderful people that will make you warm to them and hate them in
equal measure and equally as quick.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our main man is once again Reggie. A has been boxer
turned bouncer at The Henhouse, he seems to attract trouble like a Kardashian
attracts publicity. Some of it is laughable and some of it is deadly serious.
Reggie would be the sort of man you would feel sorry for on one hand and just
walk away from on the other. Walt is back as the owner of The Henhouse and is
as ornery as always.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are loads of other characters in this that are just
too many to mention. Nazi drug dealers, strippers, well hung donkeys and the
normal run of the mill losers that Bigelow has to offer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The plot is not easy to describe because of the
complications that arise throughout the story. It is simple enough in that
Reggie must get Harry’s dog back. The complicated bit comes when the Nazi drug
dealers and Enrique, the well-hung donkey, make an appearance. To tell you any
more about it would spoil it and, believe me, you really need to read this to
get the true effect of the story as it happens.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, what is the book like? Genius. Pure genius. I have no
other words to describe it. This story is perfect in every single way.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Adam Howe is a writing master. I’m forty-eight years of
age. I have had many heroes throughout my life. Homer Simpson, Peter Griffin,
Nicolas Cage. None of them come anywhere close to Reggie Levine. The man is
just superb. He is a big soft shite that would do anything for anyone while at
the same time being tough as nails and prepared to take on anyone or anything.
He attracts problems and shakes them off just as easily. Most importantly, when
you read the story through his eyes, you discover the dry, sarcastic sense of
humour that will have you peeing your pants as you read.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Again, Adam Howe is a genius. This man hails from London
yet this story is set in the deep south and you would think Mr Howe was born
and bred there. His grasp of the language, the settings of the landscape, the
clothes, the cars and anything else that you read about in his books, make you
believe you are truly living in the story. It makes you believe he has been
sitting in the bar himself watching everything happen. It makes you believe
whatever he wants you to believe.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This needs to be on the big screen. It needs to be a
series on TV. It would be the most popular thing since </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Game of Thrones</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. It has everything to be successful.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Adam Howe writes some of the funniest stuff I have ever
read in my life. I nearly got thrown off a bus for belly laughing. I nearly got
caught in work when I couldn’t resist reading another little bit to see what
happened next. Again, it was a belly laugh that I couldn’t stop.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I could keep going all night but I just feel like I am
talking total crap. I simply cannot put into words just how fantastically
brilliant this book is. It is everything I would want a book to be and so much
more.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To summarise: if this isn’t on your shelf a week after it
comes out then you are stupid. End of.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General rating:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ could not give it any less.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rating for everything else:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ and again</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As an added bonus, you get another short story in the
book.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I thought of it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CLEAN-UP ON AISLE 3</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Donnie needs some cash. The Kwik Stop seems to be the easiest
target for him. It’s late so it should be easy cash with no trouble.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He didn’t bank on a shopkeeper with a history and a
thirst for revenge.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a fairly simple tale of a thief looking for easy
cash and a shop that should have a till full of it. Donnie didn’t bank on
coming up against a shopkeeper who has been there before and doesn’t like to
part with his cash without a fight.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is brutal. Donnie is an obvious criminal but when
things start to go against him you can’t help but feel for him. On the other hand,
when you find things out later in the story you are totally behind the
shopkeeper.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a totally different type of story to </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana Donkey Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. No humour in
this one. It gives you a slight taste of what Adam Howe can do when he decides
to go straight. To be perfectly honest with you, he does the straight stuff as
well as anyone. You will cringe and you will gag at some of the scenes in this
one. It’s fight or run, live or die stuff and it becomes so desperate that you can’t
see anyone surviving it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wonderful writing that is so fast paced and full of
energy that you will not get a breath until you are finished.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General Rating:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ superb again.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rating for everything else:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ yup, again.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, there you go. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana
Donkey Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> in a nutshell. I’ve said it before but Adam Howe is a genius.
His writing is fantastic. He can write in any style and any genre and make it
his own.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You will go through every emotion known to man when you
read his books. And every single one of them will be used to its maximum.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have a complaint. Write faster Mr Howe! The world needs
more Reggie!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana Donkey Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> or any other
books from Adam. This not only supports me but also lets me know how many
people actually like to buy books after reading my reviews.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eCq2I5"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eCptOB"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Reggie Levine, ex-boxer turned bouncer, and hapless hero,
has barely recovered from his ordeal in Damn Dirty Apes, when he is called back
to action. Recruited to a retrieve a Chinese crested terrier from a fleapit
roadside zoo, where the ugly effing showdog has been mistaken for the
chupacabra, Reggie finds himself embroiled in a deadly criminal conspiracy
involving neo-Nazi drug smugglers, a seedy used-car salesman, a wannabe serial
killer, an ornery Vietnam veteran, a badass veterinarian, a freakishly endowed
adult entertainment donkey named Enrique, and in an explosive cameo, an Academy
Award winning Hollywood icon.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">From Adam Howe, writer of Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet,
Black Cat Mojo, and the winner of Stephen King’s On Writing contest, comes
another slice of pulp Southern crime, 80s action, pop Americana, and
pitch-black comedy.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CONFESSIONS REVIEWS ADAM HOWE</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/review-adam-howe-die-dog-or-eat-hatchet.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet</i></span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/review-adam-howe-die-dog-or-eat-hatchet.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet reviewed by Matthew Cash</i></span></a></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uAeZQjJVK8/V_kqX8K6TeI/AAAAAAAADbI/lAuCxRtmSAourL14X5HYbBU0c-Hx8c3mgCEw/s1600/mrm_056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uAeZQjJVK8/V_kqX8K6TeI/AAAAAAAADbI/lAuCxRtmSAourL14X5HYbBU0c-Hx8c3mgCEw/s400/mrm_056.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Adam Howe writes the twisted fiction your mother warned you about. A British writer of fiction and screenplays, he lives in London with his partner, their daughter, and a hellhound named Gino.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Writing as Garrett Addams, his short story Jumper was chosen by Stephen King as the winner of the international On Writing contest, and published in the paperback/Kindle editions of King’s memoir.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His fiction has appeared in places like Nightmare Magazine, Thuglit, Mythic Delirium, and Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 1. He is the author of Tijuana Donkey Showdown, and two novella collections, Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, and Black Cat Mojo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the pipeline: the occult thriller Scapegoat, co-written with James Newman, a horror/crime collaboration with Adam Cesare, and 80s action throwback, One Tough Bastard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Adam, visit his site or find him on social media:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://cometpress.us/adam-howe/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010461610941&hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/Adam_G_Howe?lang=en-gb"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4709251.Adam_Howe?from_search=true"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00TILFM2I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&field-author=Adam%20Howe&linkCode=ur2&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank&tag=confeofarevie-21&text=Adam%20Howe"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-66774835482052323312016-11-06T18:12:00.000+00:002016-11-06T18:12:37.965+00:00The Times They Are A-Changin.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rrLgJbmWhkk/WB9L4g2PWaI/AAAAAAAADgY/cca8EDVXY6kqt0XC7XEVwAjtEewIVER5ACLcB/s1600/change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rrLgJbmWhkk/WB9L4g2PWaI/AAAAAAAADgY/cca8EDVXY6kqt0XC7XEVwAjtEewIVER5ACLcB/s400/change.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s been a funny old time this past couple of weeks in
the Confessions office.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everything is changing. In fact, I am in probably the
biggest transitional period of my life. Ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A lot of you will know what’s going on but many of you
may not. That is the reason for this post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have just become unemployed from the day job. This is
mostly by choice but also due to enormous changes within the unit I was working
in. It seemed a fantastic idea at the time because of life choices, and plans
that myself and my wife Jo had in place to totally change the direction our
life was taking, and to try and finally make something for ourselves and live
out the dreams we have had for many years.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now the break from the day job has been made, it is
scaring the hell out of me. I didn’t expect to feel like this. Maybe it is just
the adjustment to not having to get up and spend three hours a day travelling
to and from a job I hated with a passion. Maybe it is the fact that now, I have
to put in place all the plans I had in my head and for whatever reason, they
don’t want to come out of my head and materialise into a workable plan that
will make those dreams become a reality. It will happen. I just need to get
over the fear of all the new stuff and get on with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To that end, I just wanted to let you all know that
Confessions may be a bit quiet over this next few weeks. We will still be
reviewing and posting as often as possible. It will not be as frequent though
until things settle down. I need to use as much of my time and energy in the
most constructive way possible to put plans in place to ensure that the implementation
of my business ideas and the setting up of Jo’s new business take priority. It
is our new livelihood after all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are exciting things just around the corner. The new
Confessions website isn’t too far away. I thought I would give you a sneak
preview of our new logo.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p4-iJvjEFLI/WB9MB09HhsI/AAAAAAAADgc/ZvHuR3Boz3sX_5nzBVzrnlLrzZdoqi2iACEw/s1600/Final.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p4-iJvjEFLI/WB9MB09HhsI/AAAAAAAADgc/ZvHuR3Boz3sX_5nzBVzrnlLrzZdoqi2iACEw/s400/Final.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also, not too far away is a new branch of Confession’s. This is my own new venture that is very exciting for me and that will
hopefully have me interacting more with a lot of you author types in trying to help
in whatever way I can to promote and manage all aspects of the promotional side
of things for you, so you can get on with the important task of writing more
stuff for all your fans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will let you all know what this is about very soon and post more details as I have them, so
keep watching the site for details.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, I thank you for your patience. If we are quiet for a
time, do not panic, we are not going anywhere. Just regrouping and coming back
even stronger! This will start tomorrow night with a review of a book that may
just be one of my all-time favourites and one that you really need on your
shelf!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks again for your continued support and for visiting
Confessions of a Reviewer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nev.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-57981744576975707682016-10-31T19:00:00.000+00:002016-10-31T19:00:58.146+00:00REVIEW: Michael Bray - The Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTDwb53P3Eo/WAuCq9DcziI/AAAAAAAADfg/t5OQV6L4ThUFXOxukpTaT5nhf7x1KUCzACLcB/s1600/1%2BThe%2BIsland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTDwb53P3Eo/WAuCq9DcziI/AAAAAAAADfg/t5OQV6L4ThUFXOxukpTaT5nhf7x1KUCzACLcB/s400/1%2BThe%2BIsland.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genre: Horror<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publisher: Severed Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publication Date: 4<sup>th</sup> October 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pages: 206</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY CHAD</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Island</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author, Michael Bray,
in exchange for an honest review. This is said review. This book is published
by Severed Press.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">,
by Michael Bray, we see a society in which reality television has become a
performance platform for violence and death. The island itself is a man-made
land mass on which a competition has been resurrected to air for the first time
as a television series.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Contestants are set loose on the island and only one
can survive to the end. Their prize? Whatever it is they desire. All they have
to do is make it from one side of the island to the other.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh, and they have to make it through an island packed
full of dinosaurs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The main character of the story, Chase Riley, decides to
take part in the newly revamped show in order to save his daughter who is
suffering from terminal cancer. Against the wishes of his wife, he enters into
the show, hoping that a victory will bring in the money they lacked, in order
to get their daughter, the treatment she needs.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Putting all my honesty down on the table, I have to admit
that I was a little dubious of the concept of this book going into it. My
concern was that this was going to just end up feeling like a modern
reimagining of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Running Man</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, but
with dinosaurs as an artificial attempt to add an extra element to an already
successful story. Still, I was also intrigued by the idea and was willing to
give it a go.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm glad to say that my reservations were unfounded. I think this book is a
good reminder that, regardless of the specific concept, effective writing and
characters that can be related to will carry a lot of weight, even if the story
has some familiar ring to it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To start off, I think that the strongest element to this book is that of the
characters. It's really easy when you have multiple characters to have trouble
keeping track of everyone and they all start to blend together. Despite that
challenge, I thought Bray did a really good job making sure everyone was
distinct and easy to tell apart from each other. Despite the fact that some of
the characters were fairly archetype-ish, I found myself interested in them and
engaged in their part of the story.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also really liked how he explored the dynamic between the characters within
the context of the game itself. More specifically, the notion of people who are
on one hand contestants but also still feel the urge to help each other. How do
you work with and against each other at the same time? How do you deal with the
fact that you might care for someone's well-being while at the same time
realizing that you may be put in a position where you might have to take that
person's life?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I found the pacing of the book to be great. I thought the
story moved along at a nice clip and once things really got going, they don’t
stop until the book ends. Bray did a great job creating a story that is
engaging and that held my interest throughout.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As it is probably to be expected in a story of this type,
things are not necessarily as they seem. The twists in the story are well done
and are used effectively in order to move things along. There were a few points
towards the end of the book where I felt like the twists were starting to
stretch the limits of credibility, slightly. However, this did not prevent my
ability to enjoy them and I was able to shut that part of my brain up and just
watch the book unfold.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If I had one critical comment about the book, it would be
that at times I thought the writing style got in the way of the flow of the
narrative, somewhat. There seem to be quite a few moments where the writing is
a bit dense in terms of the paragraphs being very long. There isn’t anything
necessarily wrong with this practice, but I think it can make scenes less
effective when there is a lot of action going on. I think it has a tendency to
slow down the reader and bring down the immediacy of the narrative. In my
opinion, some of the scenes could have been more powerful and effective if some
of the longer paragraphs had been broken up. This is just a personal issue of
my own and it’s a minor one. It didn’t interfere with my enjoyment, nor did it
necessarily make the book any less engaging.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In all, I thought that in a culture that has become rife
with dystopian literature, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
does a pretty good job keeping its head above the water and not feeling like
ground that is being re-treaded one too many times. It is a book I enjoyed and
would highly recommend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General rating:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reviewed by <a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me_2.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Chad</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> or any other books from Michael.
This not only supports me but also lets me know how many people actually like
to buy books after reading my reviews.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2esvxvo" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2etUZfH"><span style="color: blue;"><span id="goog_1517478552"></span>Amazon UK</span><span id="goog_1517478553"></span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">What if the next generation of reality show had your life
as the prize?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">The island is the largest manmade structure ever
constructed. Within its two-hundred-foot high steel walls are savage dinosaurs
created for one purpose. To hunt man. In addition, of those who are chosen to
enter the island, only one can leave and claim the prize.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">As television screens around the world tune in to watch,
the six contestants form an uneasy alliance as they battle nightmarish beasts
beyond comprehension. When a secret is uncovered which could bring down the
entire Lomar Corporation, the contestants find that some men are worse than
monsters, and some corporations will stop at nothing to protect that which they
tried so desperately to hide.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4fpFPaI1EQE/WAuC2Zr3BQI/AAAAAAAADfk/tNVOiGSWt4wkzIMaJ_1KGPWT4bAiNlJ5wCLcB/s1600/Michael%2BBray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4fpFPaI1EQE/WAuC2Zr3BQI/AAAAAAAADfk/tNVOiGSWt4wkzIMaJ_1KGPWT4bAiNlJ5wCLcB/s400/Michael%2BBray.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Michael Bray is a bestselling horror / thriller author of
several novels. Influenced from an early age by the suspense horror of authors
such as Stephen King, Richard Laymon, Shaun Hutson, James Herbert & Brian
Lumley, along with TV shows like Tales from the Crypt & The Twilight Zone,
his work touches on the psychological side of horror, teasing the reader’s nerves
and willing them to keep turning the pages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Several of his titles are currently being translated into
multiple languages and with options for movie and Television adaptations under
negotiation for others, he will look to continue his growth as a full time
professional writer long into the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Michael, visit his site or find him on
social media:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.michaelbrayauthor.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mikbray?fref=ts"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/Michaelbrayauth?lang=en-gb"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2301413.Michael_Bray"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://amzn.to/2etWnii"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-86026174241330647292016-10-30T19:10:00.000+00:002016-10-30T19:10:37.930+00:00LAST CALL FOR ALL YOU CONFESSORS! <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">If you follow the blog on a regular basis, (and if you don’t why the hell not?) you could not have failed to see the Confessions of my Past, Present and Future feature, where authors write a piece about what they like in books from their past, the present and the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">If you have never seen it, then go have a look <a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/p/confessions-of-my-past-present-and.html"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a> to see what it is about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">This feature has run for over a year. It still proves to be very successful and you all seem to enjoy reading about what your favourite authors like in books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">So, I am going to keep it going. This is where you come in. I only have a few submissions left and would like more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">If you are an author and would like to take part in this feature, then please see the guidelines for it below and email me at </span><a href="mailto:confessionsofareviewer@gmail.com" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">confessionsofareviewer@gmail.com</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> to let me know.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Also, I am throwing the floor open to ANY of you who would like to take part. Yup, that’s right, you don’t have to be a published author to send a submission in for this. If you love books and reading and always have and always will, I want to hear from you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Again the guidelines are listed below and if you want to take part then please email me at the blog email address. The only additional thing I would ask for from non-published authors would be a short bio and possibly a picture of yourself to include in the post. If this isn’t supplied, I will just make something up for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Also please share this with any of your friends who may be interested, be they authors or not. I know I am not friends yet with all the cool people on Facebook and Twitter so your help in sharing this around would be appreciated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Thanks again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Nev.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>CONFESSIONS OF MY PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES</u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Basically it is guest posts from authors, and now non authors, “confessing” to books you loved in your past, what you love to read at the minute and what you think may come in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">What I’m looking for (if you want to take part of course) is a piece from you split into three sections. The “past” would be where you would talk about either a book or series of books that either inspired you to write, read more or simply blew you away for no other reason than you thought it was bloody good. This would be from way back, not just last week. Maybe something you read in your childhood or you’re first favourite horror for example. Something old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">The “present” would be about something you have read recently. Again it could be something that inspired you or just stuck in your mind for the fact that is was different in some way or again blew you away because it was just bloody good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">The “future” is slightly different. I would like you to think what you would be writing or reading in 2045. Do you think you would still be writing or reading the styles or genres? Do you think you would like to write or read something completely out of your comfort zone or completely different to your current genre? Is there some style you have always wanted to try but were too scared?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">I want this to be about you. </span><i style="line-height: 17.12px;">Your</i><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> selection of books. </span><i style="line-height: 17.12px;">Your</i><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> favourites even if they were not common favourites amongst readers of the times. Books that mean something to </span><i style="line-height: 17.12px;">you</i><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> so forget about trends and don’t be scared to upset the cart. This will give the people who read your post a lot more insight into your individual personality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">In terms of length I would like this to be sort of standard blog length. About fifteen hundred words so if you split it three ways, about five hundred words for each section. This of course is not set in stone. Each section or indeed the entire length could be as short or as long as you would want it to be. I know that once people get writing about something you love, it can be hard to stop and I certainly wouldn’t try and stop you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">I don’t have any set time scales on this either. Whenever you feel you are happy with it, fire it over to me and I will add some pretty pictures and let you know when it will be posted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Whenever I publish any posts in the feature I would of course be including any pictures I can for any books you would mention (hopefully someone else will mention one of yours…..yay free advertising). I will also add in a profile picture of yourself and your bio and links to your website/blog/author page or any other site you would like me to add in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">This would obviously be fantastic for the blog to have you on board if you agreed but it wouldn’t just be about the blog. If there was anything else you would want added in the post feel free to suggest or request and I would do my best to help you out. Also this would be over and above any further interviews I would hope to do with you on the site.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you will consider taking part and be able to spare some time for it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nev.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-60431087175411114512016-10-27T19:52:00.000+01:002016-10-27T19:52:12.346+01:00SHOW-OFF AND TELL #42 - Mark Cassell - The Shadow Fabric<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#42 in the Show-Off and tell feature brings us, sadly, to
the end of a week-long special about its author. Tonight’s book is <i>The Shadow Fabric</i> by Mark Cassell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have mentioned a couple of times this week how much of
an approachable, decent fella Mark Cassell is. I hope that throughout this week
you have picked that up as well and also that you will go pick up some of his
books and give him the support he deserves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you decide to go and buy this weeks featured book, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, this post will give
you an idea of what you will have in your hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The cover alone gives you an idea of the mysterious
happenings on the inside of the pages and indeed, if you meet Mr Cassell at a
con, you will be able to see the hourglass in person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is my copy:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This was the first ever book I bought at a con so even
though Mr Cassell may not know it, this book holds a special place on my shelf.
To be able to pick a book up directly from the author and get it signed while
you are there is a wonderful feeling for anyone who wants to start their own
collection of signed stuff. I can highly recommend it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eDFiTw" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eti2XS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can but any of Mark’s other books here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark Cassell lives in a rural part of the UK with his wife and a number of animals. He often dreams of dystopian futures, peculiar creatures, and flitting shadows. Primarily a horror writer, his steampunk, dark fantasy, and SF stories have featured in numerous anthologies and ezines including Rayne Hall's Ten Tales series and horror zine, Sirens Call.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His best-selling debut novel, The Shadow Fabric, is closely followed by the popular short story collection, Sinister Stitches, and are both only a fraction of an expanding mythos. His most recent release, Chaos Halo 1.0: Alpha Beta Gamma Kill, is in association with Future Chronicles Photography.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Mark, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.markcassell.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarkCassell"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167114.Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://amzn.to/2eeor9i"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a> - <a href="http://www.beneath.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Blog</span></a></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-61401711687952294462016-10-26T19:43:00.000+01:002016-10-26T19:43:17.022+01:00REVIEW: Mark Cassell - The Shadow Fabric<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VW67NOoly3c/WAtX5Hol5QI/AAAAAAAADfA/C2biCweyi9AB-zJ42iJwg0SVNvuwGL9EQCEw/s1600/The%2BShadow%2BFabric-Mark%2BCassell-Horror-Novel-Book%2BCover-03%2B%2528sm%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VW67NOoly3c/WAtX5Hol5QI/AAAAAAAADfA/C2biCweyi9AB-zJ42iJwg0SVNvuwGL9EQCEw/s400/The%2BShadow%2BFabric-Mark%2BCassell-Horror-Novel-Book%2BCover-03%2B%2528sm%2529.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genre: Horror<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publisher: Herbs House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publication Date: 18<sup>th</sup> October 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pages: 340</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY NEV</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The
Shadow Fabric</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> is Mark Cassell’s first novel. This book is
published by Herbs House.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This book pops a couple of Confessions cherries tonight.
Firstly, it is Mark Cassell’s first time being reviewed on Confessions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today
he becomes a man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also this is the first ever book that I bought at a con. I
met Mark at Emcon in Nottingham and to be honest I had no intentions of buying
any books at that stage, but he impressed me so much with his enthusiasm that I
bought them all. And stole a few bookmarks. And sweets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is another one that sat on the pile for a while
because it wasn’t a direct submission for review. I was struggling to decide
which one to read next instead of following the normal strict list. When this
one caught my eye, I thought I would give it a go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Leo is confused. He has had a troubling life. The problem
is he can’t remember any of it bar the last couple of years. He has just
returned from a years traveling around the world and his guardian of sorts,
Goodwin, has a job for him. He wants him to go work for his friend Victor as a
chauffeur.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Leo soon discovers that chauffeuring will not be the only
job he will be doing for Victor. On his second day he witnesses a murder. On
his third day he witnesses much, much worse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What follows, is a race against time. A race against
evil. A race against unknown forces. A race against </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a race that no one can afford to lose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In terms of our characters we have a colourful and varied
selection. Leo is obviously the main man in this story. He is mysterious and
confused. He has no idea of his past and the only person who seems to know
about it, Goodwin, isn’t giving anything away. Goodwin himself seems to be the
quintessential English gentleman looking out for Leo. A sort of rich guardian
who doesn’t need to be doing what he is but does it anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Victor is seemingly a man of wealth as well. He doesn’t
seem to want for much but it is clear from the outset that he is searching for
something. This is what causes his problems. Stanley is Victor’s brother. The
nasty side of the family. We don’t learn too much about him early on but he
seems to be one to avoid. Polly is the last one of the group. Polly is blind.
She has a helper who looks after her permanently but again seems to stick to
the side-lines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This group, apart from Leo, have known each other for
years. They have secrets they are keeping from Leo. They also have secrets they
are keeping from each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As far as characters go, these ones are all great. You
don’t get a lot of back story with them which I love. Especially Leo, because
he hasn’t even got a clue about himself. The character’s individual stories all
become clearer as the story progresses, but again without overload.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In terms of the plot, this is one of my favourite styles
of story. An ancient evil is making a comeback. Some people know a bit about it
but not everything. They need to figure things out as they go. There are a lot
of secrets and a lot of twists and turns that I, for one, didn’t see coming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It isn’t a straight horror story. It is very much in the
mystery / thriller vain with a lot of horror thrown in. Sort of like Dan Brown
but good. And scary. Don’t be fooled by what I’m telling you though. This isn’t
done in the Spielberg or Disney styles of those films you could watch on a
Saturday afternoon with your two-year-old. This is dark, dark stuff. This is
the stuff of nightmares. The sort of thing that a bit of me always wants to
believe is happening somewhere in the world but we just never get to hear about
it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what was the writing like? Well, one thing that struck
me throughout this book is intelligence. It’s more literary in the sense that I
reckon people who live and breathe extreme horror may not take to this one. It
isn’t all blood and guts and gory gratuitous murder and mayhem. It’s extremely
well thought out. It’s extremely well put together, to weave a wonderful story
that genuinely mesmerised me in parts due to the beautiful descriptive
narrative, that gives you a true impression of what particular scenes must look
like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark Cassell has a very creative imagination. That is
clear from very early in this story. Although the plot theme is something that
has been done many times before, I haven’t seen it done like this. I am trying
to think of someone or a book to compare it with and I can’t. That must speak
for itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have a complaint though. For me, it lacked a bit on the
horror side. The true scary bits. The bits that make you read with one eye
closed or make you close it for a while because you don’t want to read what
happens next. It’s the sort of story that you get the feeling from the
beginning that the good guys are all going to ride off into the sunset, smoking
big cigars and drinking tequila. They don’t by the way. Or do they? You have to
read it to find out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One thing is for sure. I will definitely be reading more
of Mark Cassell. His writing is extremely good. The way his words flow should
put many other authors to shame and to be honest, there are a few who should
read this book to see exactly how intelligent writing is done. I think they
will pick up some valuable tips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To summarise: a mysterious and thrilling tale of modern
day misfits chasing an ancient evil to save themselves, and mankind. A bit
light on the horror for me but definitely worth a read to sample some very
intelligent writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★ practically perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Horror rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★.5 just needed more scares for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> or any other books
from Mark. This not only supports me but also lets me know how many people
actually like to buy books after reading my reviews.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eDFiTw" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eti2XS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Leo remembers little of his past. Desperate for a new
life, he snatches up the first job to come along. On his second day, he
witnesses a murder, and the Shadow Fabric – a malevolent force that controls
the darkness – takes the body and vanishes with it. Uncovering secrets long
hidden from humankind, Leo’s memory unravels. Not only haunted by the past, a
sinister presence within the darkness threatens his existence and he soon
doubts everything and everyone...including himself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Now Leo must confront the truth about his past before he
can embrace his future. But the future may not exist.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">THE SHADOW FABRIC is a story revealing the unknown
history of witchcraft and the true cause of the Great Fire of London. A
supernatural horror novel of sins, shadows, and the reanimated dead.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/YaRdMYq2pgATG6fbPYS29ZGmvrFcKPF4QCEw/s1600/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/YaRdMYq2pgATG6fbPYS29ZGmvrFcKPF4QCEw/s400/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark Cassell lives in a rural part of the UK with his wife and a number of animals. He often dreams of dystopian futures, peculiar creatures, and flitting shadows. Primarily a horror writer, his steampunk, dark fantasy, and SF stories have featured in numerous anthologies and ezines including Rayne Hall's Ten Tales series and horror zine, Sirens Call.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His best-selling debut novel, The Shadow Fabric, is closely followed by the popular short story collection, Sinister Stitches, and are both only a fraction of an expanding mythos. His most recent release, Chaos Halo 1.0: Alpha Beta Gamma Kill, is in association with Future Chronicles Photography.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Mark, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.markcassell.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarkCassell"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167114.Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://amzn.to/2eeor9i"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a> - <a href="http://www.beneath.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Blog</span></a></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-1073528640835929812016-10-25T19:27:00.000+01:002016-10-25T19:27:24.855+01:00INTERVIEW: MARK CASSELL - PART TWO<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Welcome back to Part Two of Confessions interview with
Mark Cassell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In tonight’s session, Mark tells us all about his book <i>The Shadow Fabric</i> and takes on The Ten
Confessions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s only Tuesday but go grab some pizza and a beer, sit
back, and mostly……enjoy!</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CoaR - Moving on to </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, what is that all about? What did you want to achieve with
it?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>It's a tale of a sentient darkness, of 17th-century
devices, and deceit among old friends, following one man's struggle to unravel
his past. I wanted to write a book that I needed to read. Having been bored to
death of vampires and werewolves, of zombies and goblins, I had to devise a new
evil and so I created the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've never read a book that strips down witchcraft and
demonology and turned it on its head, so I wrote it myself. Not once did I
expect it to expand into the mythos it's become, and I still get demands for
more stories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - It is very dark. Is this the sort of horror you
like to read and write rather than say, the out and out blood and guts?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Yep, I've never been one for gore and graphic
violence, not mankind's horror. We're reminded of that too often when switching
on the news. I prefer the supernatural or even alien horror, the stuff that's
on the other side of what we believe is real. It's my escape from reality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Without giving anything away of the story, it is
not really the sort of theme that you can research too much. Does this make it
harder or easier to write?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>It makes it so damn difficult. Tearing apart the
fact and fiction we've all grown up with takes time to develop, building the
foundations for a whole new mythos. With demonology and witchcraft there's a
certain amount of grounding, but it takes many drafts to make a new angle actually
work. Even some of the short stories in the mythos have taken a ridiculous
amount of drafts to perfect.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CoaR - I know from reading your site that you have more
plans for the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shadow Fabric Mythos.</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
Will this mean more novels? Even a series?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I am currently scribbling notes for a sequel and a
prequel, yes, and the mythos will certainly continue as a series. However, each
novel or novella will be a standalone story.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - What is it about prequels? Why not just write it
first?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>From what I've
discovered about storytelling, it's the background that matters. When fleshing
out a novel, especially when dealing with something as complex as this
particular sentient darkness, a writer needs to know not only </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">what</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is happening, but also the how and
why of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having filled a couple
of notebooks with scribbles, be they random sentences or entire scenes that
lost a place in the novel, they can all be used somewhere else. Whether in a
prequel or sequel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know precisely what
you mean about prequels though, and of course the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Star Wars</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> saga is recognised for that. Actually for me, it was a
fan (I'll give him a shout here: Mark Green, hi!) who came to my table at a
convention. He mentioned two characters from </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, asking of their hostility and history. I'll
answer him soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Where in the hell did you come up with the scenes
for this? It is very involved and imaginative.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I laid out plans from the very start, knowing the
beginning and end, and wanted to avoid every cliché there was. It took time.
Some scenes were lifted straight from dreams whereas others took a great deal
of shaping. For instance, I needed to develop a device with which to stitch the
</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, and even after
creating a 17</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-century hourglass complete with wrist harness, I
still had the issue of bringing it into the 21</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> century.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When it came to precisely how the stitching occurs,
that's when I truly had fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - So none of this is taken from anything similar in
legends or folklore? This is all out of your imagination?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Entirely from my noodle,
yes. I think that's why it took so damn long to lay down the groundwork. I
think I scribbled and scrawled more than I ended up typing, no joke.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I didn't realise it at
first but as the plot evolved, it was necessary to reshape witchcraft and
demonology into something more than a standalone novel.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Naming your lead character Leo – was this paying
tribute to your hero Leo Sayer?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Dammit, man! Ha! No, Leo was actually named after a
cat we once had.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The poor guy was killed out on a main road. He was my little
buddy, and was in fact one of the black cats mentioned in the dedication.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Was Leo the cat named after Leo Sayer?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Haha! No. No, he
wasn't. He was Leo long before I met him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - What do you like to do when you’re not writing?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I'm a gym-goer, and love cooking. I aim to be
healthy inside and out.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also, I'll admit
to being a tree-hugger at heart. I love the outdoors, hiking, etc. In fact, my
wife and I just got back from Madeira; beautiful walks through the mountains
with our heads in the clouds. That's pretty much what we’re about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our
honeymoon was the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu, incidentally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Have you ever been to China? Walked the Great
Wall? I was there once and could swear I saw someone like you there. Thought
that was where I recognised you from.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Perhaps it was my
evil twin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Closest place to China
I've visited is Hong Kong, and it is more British than Chinese. Given the roads
and signposts are the same as here, it was surreal to see such familiar
markings beneath looming skyscrapers supported by bamboo scaffold. Fantastic
vibe though, don't get me wrong. The atmosphere there was incredible. As for
the Great Wall, that's a walk I intend to one day dirty my boots with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - What’s coming in the future from Mark Cassell?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I'm working on a bunch of horror stories based along
the south coast. As for a longer project: I'm in the process of writing a
novella—the prequel I mentioned earlier—that features the history of Lucas and
Victor, two characters you may recognise from </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> novel. It'll be based in the 80’s when they both
were younger. The way it's evolving, think </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indiana
Jones</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> meets </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Grudge</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE TEN CONFESSIONS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Who would you view as your main competitor in the
writing world?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is something I have never thought of. There's so
many of us out there. So I guess I'm still trying to find the fucker.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">2 What book or author have you read that you think should
never have been published?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">G.P. Taylor's debut novel, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shadowmancer</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. It's terrible. I hated it so much yet still read it
to the end because I was determined to understand how and why I felt this way.
Reading the reviews, I saw I'm not alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">3 Are any of the things your characters have experienced
in your books been based on something that has actually happened to you? What
was it?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As mentioned earlier, the main character of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow Fabric </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">has a knee injury, and
the book opens with him returning from travelling the world. He also wears combats.
His attitude and mannerisms reflect mine, too. He is me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Does he owe people money too?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe that'll pop up in
a prequel. Just for you, Nev.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">4 Have you ever blatantly stolen an idea or scene and
adapted it for one of your own books? If so, care to share?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No blatant rip-off, but one scene from a Dean Koontz
novel has stuck with me for years. That man tricked me with a very clever
twist, a subtle warp of perception that worked beautifully. I loved it so much
that I wrote a short story with that in mind. It's completely different yet the
surprise factor—I hope—has a similar impact. In fact, this particular story of
mine will soon be published in an upcoming anthology.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">5 Have you ever anonymously left a bad review for someone
else’s book? If so, care to share?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nope, never. Even G.P. Taylor's book remains untainted by
my hatred.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">6 What’s the one thing you are least proud of doing in
your life and why?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Allowing people to walk over me. Back when I was
employed, working in supermarket retail and then the print industry, I let
management and salesman, and even customers, take me for a proper ride. I wish
I'd had the backbone to tell them to fuck off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We live, we learn. And now I can write each and every one
of them into a story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">7 What’s the one thing you are MOST proud of doing in
your life and why?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My round-the-world travels saw me bungee jump in New
Zealand. Against all reasoning and if only to prove to myself that I could
(temporarily) overcome my fear of heights, I set out to DO IT the moment I
landed in that country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There I stood, on the edge of a wooden platform looking
out over a ravine and wondering just what in hell I was playing at. Then I
stepped off. A freefall combined with fear, stomach knotted, cool wind rushing
past my ears…and bounce, bounce, bounce. Awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">8 What’s your biggest fault?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I take on far too many projects and get distracted far
too easily. I tackle many short stories at once and also jump between several
larger projects, often leaping from genre to genre. My DIY projects are the
same, and even day-to-day stuff is just as messy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd be in one room, doing one thing, get distracted and
start something else, then drift into another room and do exactly the same
thing. Eventually, there'd be drawers and cupboards open, stuff on the bed or
on the desk, things piled on the sofa waiting for my attention…all the while
the fridge door remains wide, begging me to grab the milk to make that tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But…oh! I didn’t even put the kettle on. Plus, I would've
been needing a pee for at least half an hour and now busting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">9 What is your biggest fear?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you guess? Please see Number 7: Heights. The older I
get, the more that leg-tugging, stomach-churning moment steals my reasoning
when looking over an edge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I seriously doubt I'll ever bungee jump again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">10 If you had to go to confession now, what would be the
one thing you would need to get off your chest?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back when I was a kid, at a friend's house, I wondered
how it would sound if I smacked his little brother over the head with a cricket
bat. A disappointing sound, if I recall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Am I sorry now? Not sure. Though I am sorry that I can't
remember the sound in detail. Could've used it in a story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Howzatt!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VW67NOoly3c/WAtX5Hol5QI/AAAAAAAADfA/C2biCweyi9AB-zJ42iJwg0SVNvuwGL9EQCEw/s1600/The%2BShadow%2BFabric-Mark%2BCassell-Horror-Novel-Book%2BCover-03%2B%2528sm%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VW67NOoly3c/WAtX5Hol5QI/AAAAAAAADfA/C2biCweyi9AB-zJ42iJwg0SVNvuwGL9EQCEw/s400/The%2BShadow%2BFabric-Mark%2BCassell-Horror-Novel-Book%2BCover-03%2B%2528sm%2529.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well boo hiss but that’s your lot for the interview.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I want to personally thank Mark for giving up his
valuable time to take part in this interview. He has been an absolute gentleman
throughout this whole process and it has been a pleasure to get to know him
over this past few weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one has been pretty involved with a lot of toing and
froing and I thank him for his patience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Please remember to come back tomorrow night for the
Confessions review of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow
Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and I will include all the links you need to go and buy this
little wonderful story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks again for visiting Confessions of a Reviewer!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/YaRdMYq2pgATG6fbPYS29ZGmvrFcKPF4QCEw/s1600/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/YaRdMYq2pgATG6fbPYS29ZGmvrFcKPF4QCEw/s400/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark Cassell lives in a rural part of the UK with his wife and a number of animals. He often dreams of dystopian futures, peculiar creatures, and flitting shadows. Primarily a horror writer, his steampunk, dark fantasy, and SF stories have featured in numerous anthologies and ezines including Rayne Hall's Ten Tales series and horror zine, Sirens Call.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His best-selling debut novel, The Shadow Fabric, is closely followed by the popular short story collection, Sinister Stitches, and are both only a fraction of an expanding mythos. His most recent release, Chaos Halo 1.0: Alpha Beta Gamma Kill, is in association with Future Chronicles Photography.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Mark, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.markcassell.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarkCassell"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167114.Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://amzn.to/2eeor9i"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a> - <a href="http://www.beneath.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Blog</span></a></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-75344802189479916142016-10-24T19:20:00.000+01:002016-10-24T19:20:34.781+01:00INTERVIEW: MARK CASSELL - PART ONE<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Welcome to Part One of Confessions of a Reviewer’s
interview with an author who is, quite possibly, one of the nicest men you will
ever meet at a con.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tonight, we present Mr Mark Cassell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I first met Mark at Emcon in Nottingham earlier in the
year and was immediately impressed by his manor and his set up at the con. This
has developed into meeting him a couple of times now and we have had quite a
lot of contact putting this together and I have to say my initial impressions
were spot on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Part One, tonight, Mark talks about himself and his
writing in general. He also talks about his obsession with seventies singing
star, Leo Sayer, and gives us some info on what he’s doing and how he does it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part Two, tomorrow night, features chat all about the new
book, some more general stuff and of course The Ten Confessions where it turns
out Mr Cassell has one or two demons of his own hiding in closets!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wednesday sees the Confessions review of his book </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> followed by
showing it off on Thursday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nothing left to say at this point other than go grab some
nibbles and a drink and sit back, and most of all……enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR – So, tell everyone a bit about yourself in general.
Who is Mark Cassell and what is he about?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I'm a guy who lives on the south coast of England
with my wife, a cat, a rabbit, and a guinea pig. And I have far too many
apocalyptic dreams featuring Sean Bean.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CoaR - Do you have a boring </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pay the bills job</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> or are you a bone fide </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">writer</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I'm part-time scribe, part-time driving instructor.
Twelve years ago I dropped the yes-sir-no-sir shit to embrace self-employment.
Becoming an instructor has proven invaluable, now giving me a flexibility to
write. It's only recently I've dropped to around fifteen hours a week, leaving
me more time for writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Why writing? Why decide on that as a career?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I need to get the weird stuff out of my head. I
can't draw or paint, so I did the word thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - That it? No long winded story about how your
family always wanted a writer in the family and because you were the last hope
they made you write short stories on the back of toilet paper?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I could give you
some profound bollocks about one day discovering the written word where
inspiration slapped me across the face and I began writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But no, nothing
like that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've always enjoyed
writing, certainly, and I've always loved telling stories and letting my
imagination wander. It's a bonus that I'm able to pour it out in written form.
Plus, it's a bonus that there are people out there who enjoy my work. Then on
top of that, those readers demand more. That's why I'm chasing this.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Take us through your process for a story. How do
you start it and follow it through to the final product?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Often it'll be a title that I work from, or perhaps even
an opening line, then I free-write a first draft where it spews out like a
kid's written it. I'll build and sculpt the story rather than write it linear,
often going back to delete chunks, shift stuff around and cringe. For me it's a
slow process whatever the word count. There are many, many drafts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - You seem to be one of those quiet men in the indie
horror world. There isn’t much info out there about you, including your own
site. Is this how you like it or is it all for show?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Perhaps it's both for show and the way I like it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - What’s it worth for me to keep some of the secrets
to myself?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>A free copy of my
next book? I'll sign it and give you a bookmark. In all honesty though, I guess
my fiction gives you a good insight into what makes Mark Cassell tick. Not only
that, I'd rather write a story than write stuff for my website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - How do you keep track of your ideas? Do you carry
a notebook with you everywhere or write stuff on the back of your hand?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Notebooks. Everywhere. In every room. That's why I
wear combats pretty much all the time, so damn handy with their many pockets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Music seems to play a big part in your life. As I
type this I know you are at a festival. How did it go? Who did you like best? I
know you were excited to see Leo Sayer!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Haha! Leo bloody Sayer! I was there for the camping
and the company, not really the music. Adam Ant headlined and although I think
I was keen to see him, I spent the duration of his set necking beer outside our
tents. The whole weekend consisted of me emptying beer cans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - In case there is someone out there who is
unfamiliar with Leo Sayer, Mark asked me to add this video. It’s one of his
personal favs.</span></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - On a serious note, I noticed a Dream Theater quote
on your site. Do you reckon, like me, they went to hell when Mike Portnoy left?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Absolutely hell all the way. I often play their
albums, and the one I always bounce back to is </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Images and Words</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. What year was that produced? '92 I think (I'm not
Googling it, can’t be arsed). I reckon my music tastes are stuck in the early
90’s. I often try to tune into new stuff and of different genres, but I always
lean on rock and metal of that decade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - It was 1992. You Googled it, didn’t you?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Believe me, I
didn't! I also know their </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Awake</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> album
was released in 1994. Back when music came in plastic cases rather than clickable
links onscreen, I would read—no, I'd </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">devour</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">—the
inlay cards. Remember when those inlays featured lyrics, too? Does that still
happen?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR – I believe it does
but I am a Spotify man now!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Can you tell us if any of the characters in your
books are based on people you have come across in your life or maybe even
yourself?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I'm a horror writer and I kill people. Every one of
my stories contains characters sharing traits with those I've met and yeah,
even family members. As for myself, the main character of my debut novel has a
knee injury, and that's just one example among many where a character's life
parallels my own.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Did you get embarrassed when you came back from
your pee at Horror Con and realised I had sold all your stuff while watching
your table? Were you even more embarrassed at the fact I had to give people
their change out of my own pocket?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I never get embarrassed; I'm emotionally stunted.
Besides, you know I desperately needed that pee. I did consider doing it under
the table, you know?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Yeah, I had a look under the table. What was with
all the masks?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Those, my friend,
are the faces of my enemies. Seeing that you still have your face intact and it
is not now a leathery feature in my collection, shows you're not an enemy.
Let's keep it that way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Are you ever going to give me that change back?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Dude! Did I not pay you back? Sorry, man. How much
do I owe you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - It was 50p. I was 50p short for my taxi to the
train station so I had to walk. Was the pee worth that?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>I'm outta change
right now, so it'll have to be an I-owe-you. That okay? Besides, walking's good
for you; keeps the blood flowing.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CoaR - Tell us about </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chaos
Halo</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>It's an ongoing dystopian cyberpunk saga inspired by
the images of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Future Chronicles
Photography</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, first published in their zine. I often attend conventions with
them, and their cosplayers and models have proven invaluable for ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Only released a couple of months ago, <i>Chaos Halo 1.0: Alpha Beta Gamma Kill</i> is
already pulling some fantastic reviews. Someone recently said it's like "<i>Blade Runner</i> meets <i>Mad Max</i>…with a cyborg chick."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - So this is definitely going to continue?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>It will. I have a
whole notebook dedicated to the protagonist, Abigail, and what she learns of
her origins. Right now however, the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chaos
Halo</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> series is taking a back seat so I can concentrate on the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shadow Fabric Mythos</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Who would be the authors you would give the credit
of being your influences and who do you just not “get”?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Brian Lumley is up there among my top influences,
with his awesome </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Necroscope</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> series
where he perfects the crossovers between horror and fantasy. There's a slice of
Sci-Fi in there, too. Next, I have to say the boundary-leaping Clive Barker:
his supernatural stuff is off the chart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for an author I do
not get, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have tried countless times to
read Terry Pratchett. I fail every time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - What’s the most difficult part of writing for you?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Shoving aside the procrastination demon, that sneaky
bastard. Social media is a time drainer, but you gotta be seen to be active
right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - Talking of social media, why do you have a website,
and a blog?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Sad as it is to
say, these days I hardly ever blog. I just want to write! My hits are pretty
low and I rarely add content.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">However, my website does
lead directly to a Free Story subscriber list, and that's where the attention
goes (</span><a href="http://www.markcassell.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.markcassell.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">). I'm actually amazed at how that list has
grown since I first started handing out those freebies. I guess everyone loves
free stories, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Plus, I have a <i>Shadow Fabric</i> page (</span><a href="http://www.theshadowfabric.co.uk/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.theshadowfabric.co.uk</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">) where all things to do with the mythos
exists. It even features fan art, and some of that is astounding. One fan has
actually had the <i>Shadow Fabric</i> sigil
tattooed on her foot. The website is slowly growing, but it needs a keen eye
for expansion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Again, I'd rather be writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CoaR - What would your ultimate wish be with your
writing?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">MC - </span></b>Simply a healthy readership, a committed following,
and I know I'm blessed with those I have already. On top of that, I'd love to
see the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shadow Fabric Mythos</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> become a
role playing game, or even adapted into graphic novels. You know, to really
expand the concept. I'm already in talks with some artists.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VW67NOoly3c/WAtX5Hol5QI/AAAAAAAADfA/C2biCweyi9AB-zJ42iJwg0SVNvuwGL9EQCEw/s1600/The%2BShadow%2BFabric-Mark%2BCassell-Horror-Novel-Book%2BCover-03%2B%2528sm%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VW67NOoly3c/WAtX5Hol5QI/AAAAAAAADfA/C2biCweyi9AB-zJ42iJwg0SVNvuwGL9EQCEw/s400/The%2BShadow%2BFabric-Mark%2BCassell-Horror-Novel-Book%2BCover-03%2B%2528sm%2529.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well unfortunately that is it for Part One of the
interview. Please remember to come back tomorrow night for Part Two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And please remember to tell your friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks again for visiting Confessions of a Reviewer.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/YaRdMYq2pgATG6fbPYS29ZGmvrFcKPF4QCEw/s1600/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/YaRdMYq2pgATG6fbPYS29ZGmvrFcKPF4QCEw/s400/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark Cassell lives in a rural part of the UK with his wife and a number of animals. He often dreams of dystopian futures, peculiar creatures, and flitting shadows. Primarily a horror writer, his steampunk, dark fantasy, and SF stories have featured in numerous anthologies and ezines including Rayne Hall's Ten Tales series and horror zine, Sirens Call.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His best-selling debut novel, The Shadow Fabric, is closely followed by the popular short story collection, Sinister Stitches, and are both only a fraction of an expanding mythos. His most recent release, Chaos Halo 1.0: Alpha Beta Gamma Kill, is in association with Future Chronicles Photography.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Mark, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.markcassell.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarkCassell"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167114.Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://amzn.to/2eeor9i"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a> - <a href="http://www.beneath.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Blog</span></a></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-70693343804236674482016-10-23T19:06:00.000+01:002016-10-23T19:06:03.877+01:00GUEST POST: Confessions of my Past, Present and Future #50 - Mark Cassell<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Confessions of my Past, Present and Future</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark Cassell</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;"><u>The Past</u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't know when I first became aware of Brian Lumley's
work, nor whether he indeed inspired me to become a horror writer. Atop that, I
certainly cannot remember how old I was when I read his 1986 novel, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Necroscope</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Before I say anything more, I'll
allow Mr Lumley to explain what a </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Necroscope</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
actually is (pulled from his website </span><a href="http://www.brianlumley.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.brianlumley.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">):</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Tele-
(Gk. tele: ‘far’.)</span></i></b><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> A
telescope is an optical instrument which enlarges images of distant objects.
For example: the surface of the Moon may be viewed as from only a few
hundred miles away.</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><b>Micro- (Gk. mikros: ‘small’)</b> A
microscope is an optical instrument which makes small objects visible to the
human eye. Through a microscope, a drop of ‘clear’ water is seen to contain
countless unsuspected micro-organisms.</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><b>Necro- (Gk. nekros: ‘a corpse’)</b> A
Necroscope is a human instrument which permits access to the minds of the
dead. Harry Keogh is a Necroscope – he knows the thoughts of corpses in their
graves.</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The main difference between these instruments is this: the first two perform
purely physical, one-way functions. They are incapable of changing
anything. The Moon cannot look back through the telescope; the amoeba does
not know it is under microscopic scrutiny.</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">That’s Harry Keogh’s big problem: his talent seems to work both ways. The dead
know – and they won’t lie still for it!</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For me, it's the way Lumley dunks the reader headfirst
into the Cold War era, where British and Russian secret services use psychic
investigators and spies. That's where Harry Keogh, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Necroscope</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, comes into play. At just over five hundred pages, the
novel is a little wordy at first yet Lumley weaves Rumanian history and ancient
lore into an incredible story, combining secret agents and time travel, and
introduces some seriously vicious undead creatures. These are in no way your
typical vampires. For a novel that's thirty years old, it can still hold its
ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Indeed, what Harry discovers beneath the ground of the
Rumanian mountains has to be my favourite antagonist in literature.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since the novel's release, the concept became a fifteen
book series. The first three—the original trilogy, no less—are by far the most
ground breaking. In the third instalment, <i>The
Source</i>, we're taken into the source world where Lumley tears apart all we
know of werewolves and vampires to lay down his own rules. Here, he creates new
myths and legends which reveal some truly gruesome characters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those guys don't just bite people, they ravage them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This was the first time I'd experienced a piece of work
that expertly played the cross-genre game. Lumley crafts horror, fantasy, and
science fiction together to rewrite our legends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;"><u>The Present</u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bringing us to today's literature, only last week I
placed back on its shelf a novel that gripped me from the first page. Being a
storyteller myself, I am one fussy bastard, and seeing that I could not put the
damned thing down, this is a book I must shout about. I'm talking about Paul
Kane's </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sherlock Holmes and the Servants
of Hell</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, a three hundred and eighty-page stonker that yanks the classic
detective into Clive Barker's </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hellraiser</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am a huge fan of the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hellraiser</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> movies as well as the original novella, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Hellbound Heart</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, let alone Barker's
work in general, so when I heard of this novel I was quick to scrawl it on my
birthday wish-list. Incidentally, I've recently gone under the needle and had a
Lovecraftian tattoo sleeve that includes the sneaky appearance of six puzzle boxes.
Such is my fandom level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Servants of
Hell</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, Holmes and Watson investigate a missing person's case, and the pair
are drawn into dealings with a shadowy organisation known as </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Order of the Gash</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Written in such a
way to be unique, this novel masterfully mirrors Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's
delivery of his finest supernatural tales from back in the 19th century. Alongside
that, it reflects a precision of Barker-esque horror where all hell breaks
loose and snatches the reader into familiar settings for both </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hellraiser</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and Holmes fans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kane manages to portray the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hellraiser</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> world better than the original author managed in his
2015 novel, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Scarlet Gospels</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Needless
to say I was disappointed with that one. The only way I can describe Barker's </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gospels</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> as a novel, let alone a </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hellraiser</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> episode, is it lacks
substance; there's little to the characters, the setting, and sadly even the
Cenobites themselves failed to shine. Anyone familiar with the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hellraiser</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> franchise knows the
importance of the Cenobites because they are, after all, Servants of Hell.</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Sherlock
Holmes and the Servants of Hell</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> had such sights to show me,
and I was not let down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;"><u>The Future</u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So here I am, supposed to look to the future, to see as
far as thirty years from now… And damn, that's tricky. What will I be writing?
What will I be reading?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First up, I'll be seventy years old. Mark Cassell: an
elderly gentleman with white tufts of hair sprouting from a liver-spotted
scalp, seated with a slight hunch from squinting into some new technological
wonder into which he's plugged, imagining his stories, his masterpieces, direct
to digital format. All the while, no doubt, confused at the world and how the
youth of that day aren't a patch on what he once was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just like my music tastes are mostly stuck in the 90’s, I
imagine my reading preferences would be the same where I'll revert to the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">classics</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> of my generation. But of course
I'll dig deep into my peers' work, and I'll keep up with current trends. I most
definitely refuse to become stale, to hate all the new </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">drivel</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> that's on the shelves. Or would that all be digital shelves
because no one uses paper anymore?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for what I'll be writing…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'll let you into a little secret: my debut novel </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> as a title was first
scribbled back in 1991 (Holy shit, that’s twenty-five years ago). Supernatural,
the paranormal, demonology, witchcraft, ghosts and creatures of the night have
always fascinated me, so I doubt that'll change. Thirty years from now? I'll
still explore the furthest reaches of the Other Side, of the darkness where
demons and spirits and hell's creatures lay in wait. Perhaps by the time I'm in
my seventies, I'll have shaken hands with at least one of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know for sure the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shadow
Fabric Mythos</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> will have become something larger by then. I do wonder how
many novels and novellas will have extended the original concept. Indeed, how
the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> will unravel further.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition to dabbling with the dark arts, if only in my
written work, I would like to think that I would've finally expanded on my
steampunk universe and have something out there in novel form. A series would
be nice, but a standalone novel would be just as satisfying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For those unfamiliar with steampunk as a genre, think of
it as science fiction but without spaceships, robots or laser guns. Instead,
there are air balloons, clockwork automatons and gas-powered rifles, all
typically set in an alternative Victorian England. There's even steam-powered
motorcycles rather than hover-cars, corsets rather than spandex.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of years ago when editor Rayne Hall first
approached me to write a story for her then-upcoming anthology, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cogwheels: Ten Tales of Steampunk</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, I
hadn't read anything in that genre. Let alone written anything. I immediately devoured
a number of books and eventually developed a tale of a disabled engineer whose
automaton breaks free to run amok through a sleeping town. Titled </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hole in the Sky</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, this story inspired me
to follow up with several flash fiction pieces if only to see if the concept
could be expanded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As way of signing out, here I'll leave you one of those flash
fiction stories:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Monice</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By Mark Cassell</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Smoke dirtied the moonlight, and fires crackled beyond
the trees. The gas lamps that remained upright still glowed, drenching the dead
in a putrid yellow. Most of the town's residents had fled to the park only to
be trampled or ravaged or snatched into cavernous mouths.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now the screams had stopped, Monice knew she was alone.
At her feet the Commander’s body lay twisted into the mud. A three-clawed
impression had crushed his weapon. And his head. The mud and grass blended
with skull and hair, flesh and oxygen mask. Shell casings glinted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like discarded mannequins, her platoon surrounded her in
various mangled states. Monice had been the only one to take cover beneath the
crumpled sheet of metal she guessed was an airship wing. Its length had
protected her from the onslaught as she'd fired round after round at those...things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She licked dry lips and adjusted her dented armour. Her
comrades' blood smeared the breastplate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a surprisingly steady hand, she hefted her
rifle. A green light pulsed within the valves, and chemicals bubbled
through coiled tubes. Of late, the Ministry were spending a heap of taxpayers’
money on weapon modifications. The contraptors in research and development had
unparalleled reputations but the mods had so far proved inefficient.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She refused to end up like the rest of her platoon.
Besides, she had aspirations to head for Sky Island once her duty ended. This
was, indeed will be, her last duty to the King.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Something crashed—a tree perhaps—and a roar echoed on the
smoky air.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Over the trees and beyond the park, tentacles lashed the
sky. Claws, too, on gnarled fingers. Spirals of smoke curled as those fleshy
limbs whipped and tore away the top branches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More trees crashed. The ground shook.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those things were close.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time to move. Towards them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mud squelched and she ran into the shadows. For now, the
trees would offer protection. She knew where the creatures were most likely
headed: the town centre, near the zoo, the clock tower. That was where it had
all began. No more than a couple of hours ago the tower created a portal, only
to snap shut on an emerging creature. That one was dead. Speculation from the
Ministry suggested that now the fabric between worlds had torn it was
inevitable more beings would come through. And they had, amidst a vortex that
spat red lightning. Two beings slithered into the world, and the rip in space
proceeded to suck everything into it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The hulk of a fallen evacuation ship loomed over her. At
least half of it—the other half, she could only imagine, was in another world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The curved panels of the fuselage lay buckled and tangled
with shreds of balloon fabric. Blood caked the inside of the cracked windows.
Suspension cables snaked across the grass. Glass and iron splinters littered
the area. Plus, several bodies, some with missing limbs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She ran faster.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once these creatures were defeated, her duty to the
country would end. Then Sky Island.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time to find a larger weapon…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can buy The Shadow Fabric here:</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/YaRdMYq2pgATG6fbPYS29ZGmvrFcKPF4QCEw/s1600/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/YaRdMYq2pgATG6fbPYS29ZGmvrFcKPF4QCEw/s400/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark Cassell lives in a rural part of the UK with his wife and a number of animals. He often dreams of dystopian futures, peculiar creatures, and flitting shadows. Primarily a horror writer, his steampunk, dark fantasy, and SF stories have featured in numerous anthologies and ezines including Rayne Hall's Ten Tales series and horror zine, Sirens Call.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His best-selling debut novel, The Shadow Fabric, is closely followed by the popular short story collection, Sinister Stitches, and are both only a fraction of an expanding mythos. His most recent release, Chaos Halo 1.0: Alpha Beta Gamma Kill, is in association with Future Chronicles Photography.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Mark, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.markcassell.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarkCassell" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_Cassell" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167114.Mark_Cassell" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="http://amzn.to/2eeor9i" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - </span><a href="http://www.beneath.co.uk/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Blog</span></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-37001064454073310382016-10-21T18:57:00.001+01:002016-10-21T18:57:37.891+01:00REVIEW: David Bernstein - The Sludge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DRu7L6jd9yY/WATVzmnrwGI/AAAAAAAADc8/PRaxsW6qkfwk8p5VP4gjAZCg9yWasA2HwCLcB/s1600/1%2BThe%2BSludge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DRu7L6jd9yY/WATVzmnrwGI/AAAAAAAADc8/PRaxsW6qkfwk8p5VP4gjAZCg9yWasA2HwCLcB/s400/1%2BThe%2BSludge.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genre: Horror<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publisher: Great Old Ones Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publication Date: 4<sup>th</sup> July 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pages: 131</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY NEV</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Sludge </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author, David Bernstein,
in exchange for an honest review. This is said review. This book is published
by Great Old Ones Publishing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes this reviewing game throws you surprises. A lot
in fact. A lot of welcome surprises. One of them that never fails to amaze me
is the fact that, sometimes you read someone’s work and rave about it. Then you
pick up something else of theirs and it doesn’t do a lot for you. When you
review it, you automatically think that is the last you will hear from that
author. Think this reviewing lark is easy? It’s a minefield I tell you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">David Bernstein’s last book, A mixed Bag of Blood was a
collection that I didn’t really connect with. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it,
but it didn’t grab me the way some of his other stuff has.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was delighted when David sent me a copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sludge</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to review. Firstly, because
he hadn’t fallen out with me, and secondly because…..well…..just look at that
cover! It screams old skool horror! I couldn’t wait to get my teeth into it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I thought.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bull and John are removing some toxic waste. They should
dispose of it carefully but they are just going to dump it in Lolo National
Forest.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They throw it in a lake and it mixes with some stuff they
dumped years ago and starts a chain of events that will create a monster no one
thought could ever exist.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cole and Derrick are brothers. They are about to rob a
bank with their friend, Dirk. The plan is to hide out in Lolo after the job is
done.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Edgar, June, Kim and Tyler are hiking in Lolo when they
stumble across the camp belonging to the brothers. Everyone is in for the shock
of their lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">The
Sludge </span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">is brewing.</span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our characters in this one are bloody brilliant. Bull and
John aren’t in it for too long so can’t say much about them other than they are
twats for what they did. Cole and Derrick are brilliant. Small time criminals
with big time ambitions convinced that robbing a bank is the answer to their
prayers. They probably would have been right if they picked somewhere else to
hide out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Edgar and June are a couple. Both outdoor types and
totally into their hiking. June is a nurse and seems to be pretty worldly wise
but Edgar is a different matter. Kim and Tyler are a couple too. Kim is like
Edgar and Tyler like June. Seems to me like they should swap. They also keep a
lot of secrets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then of course we have </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sludge</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. I’m not going to tell you what it is or what it looks
like. Just look at the cover. How it comes to be is unrealistic and nothing
short of fantasy but you know what? It is superb. Think B movie person in a
rubber suit type monster. Stupid in one sense but creepy in another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The plot is simple. Take the three situations mentioned
above and mix them all together and throw in some sludge. The thing that I love
about the way David Bernstein writes this stuff though is that although the
plot is simple and follows a certain path, it is unpredictable. You can guess
what way things are going to go. The chances are you will be wrong though. The
variables always change when you don’t expect them to. It’s like a
rollercoaster you have never been on before. You know you are going to get
thrills but you just don’t know when or where.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mr Bernstein has a knack for writing stories that make
you feel at ease very early. You feel like you belong. You can imagine yourself
being there watching everything that is happening or even taking part yourself.
He makes it believable. This is why I enjoy his stuff so much. There is nothing
complicated about it. You can set it down for days on end if you wanted to and
when you pick it up again you don’t have to try and remind yourself what the
story was doing. It hits you as soon as you start to read again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have a negative though. Not enough horror for me. When
you start to learn of The Sludge’s transformation – from what, and into what, I
am not going to tell you – it is horrific. You will cringe at the description
of how it interacts with a human. You will feel sick. You may hold onto parts
of your body very tightly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When it makes an appearance in the story, it is
genuinely creepy and tense. It just doesn’t happen enough for me. Doesn’t make
the story any worse, it just could have been a bit scarier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To summarise: a good old fashioned monster story that
could be directly out of a comic. Brilliant characters again that are easy to
read and make the story flow very well. Just needed some more scares for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General rating:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★ nearly there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Horror rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★ needed more for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sludge</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> or any other books from David.
This not only supports me but also lets me know how many people actually like
to buy books after reading my reviews.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eJdGz9"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eexRBx"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Deep in Montana's Lolo National Forest, toxic waste is
leaking from aged oil drums and mixing with a new batch of biological sludge
that has been dumped into a remote lake. It sickens, it mutates, and like
cancer, it spreads and devours.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">A group of hiker’s stumble upon bank robbers who've been
hiding out in the forest. Held at gunpoint, they soon discover they are being
hunted by a vicious predator, and it will take their combined efforts to make
it out of the forest alive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CONFESSIONS REVIEWS DAVID BERNSTEIN</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/review-david-bernstein-skinner.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Skinner</i></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/review-david-bernstein-goblins.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Goblins</i></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/review-david-bernstein-mixed-bag-of.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i>A Mixed Bag of Blood</i></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/review-david-bernstein-adam-cesare.html"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Jackpot</i></span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A4ptTG3-4Os/VtHYLeQfqKI/AAAAAAAACW8/w1aADBynwUI/s1600/David%2BBernstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A4ptTG3-4Os/VtHYLeQfqKI/AAAAAAAACW8/w1aADBynwUI/s400/David%2BBernstein.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">I am a dark fiction writer, a horror writer. I write the gamut, from atmospheric horror to extreme gory horror to dark fiction and dark thriller, oh, and the occasional bizarro tale.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Gory: The Unhinged, Damaged Souls, Witch Island, Apartment 7C, Amongst the Dead</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Extreme horror: The Unhinged (you were warned)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Horror with a twist: The Tree Man, Apartment 7C</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Zombie fiction: Machines of the Dead trilogy. Amongst the Dead.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Darkfuse horror: Relic of Death, Surrogate, Skinner (coming July 2015)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Dark thriller/supernatural/ action: Tears of No Return, Toxic Behemoth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Monster horror: Toxic Behemoth (Deep Sea/Kaiju book)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Bizarro/Gross out/funny horror: Fecal Terror</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about David, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://davidbernsteinauthor.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/david.bernstein.3?fref=ts" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="https://twitter.com/bernsteinauthor?lang=en-gb" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5895730.David_Bernstein" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/David-Bernstein/e/B0030MYLS2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=confeofarevie-20&linkId=L6ZO6WQLQSCA2EWC" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - </span><a href="http://sinistergrinpress.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Sinister Grin Press</span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-27386081308174416542016-10-20T19:42:00.000+01:002016-10-20T19:42:11.925+01:00NEXT WEEK: A WEEK OF MARK CASSELL<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next week sees another of Confessions week long features
on an author we think you should be reading more of, and certainly one we think
you will be seeing a lot more of in the years to come.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you have been to any cons in the UK recently you will
probably have met him, and you will probably agree as well, that he is one of
the nicest, most approachable guys in the UK horror scene.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We talk, of course, about the one and only, Mark Cassell.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/T_Uxg0Po7kAkfXjHnAuOSBiHwsVw6FafQCLcB/s1600/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBqKOMom9Y/WATJTeUUwGI/AAAAAAAADco/T_Uxg0Po7kAkfXjHnAuOSBiHwsVw6FafQCLcB/s400/Mark_Cassell_The_Shadow_Fabric_Mythos_Supernatural_Horror_Author_Chaos_Halo_Future_Chronicles_Writers_HQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I met Mark a few months ago and picked up a couple of his
books, one of which was </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Shadow Fabric</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.
This is a book that you should really pick up to get a feeling of how this man
writes. If you go to a con as well, don’t be shy, introduce yourself to him. He
is always up for a chat. Then steal all his sweets and run away very fast!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Akpx7fd1ufs/WATJTU8b-XI/AAAAAAAADcs/tS0ydRHsHvYyohOl1NKnvkO9w7aLQBRUQCEw/s1600/The%2BShadow%2BFabric-Mark%2BCassell-Horror-Novel-Book%2BCover-03%2B%2528sm%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Akpx7fd1ufs/WATJTU8b-XI/AAAAAAAADcs/tS0ydRHsHvYyohOl1NKnvkO9w7aLQBRUQCEw/s400/The%2BShadow%2BFabric-Mark%2BCassell-Horror-Novel-Book%2BCover-03%2B%2528sm%2529.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It all kicks off on Sunday with his Past, Present and
Future confession. Monday and Tuesday will see parts One and Two of an interview
with the man himself. Wednesday night is the review of <i>The Shadow Fabric</i> and
Thursday is me showing off my own copy of the book to give you an idea of what
to expect when you buy it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Make sure you all come back next week, and don’t forget
to tell your friends!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks again for visiting Confessions of a Reviewer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nev.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark Cassell lives in a rural part of the UK with his
wife and a number of animals. He often dreams of dystopian futures, peculiar
creatures, and flitting shadows. Primarily a horror writer, his steampunk, dark
fantasy, and SF stories have featured in numerous anthologies and ezines
including Rayne Hall's Ten Tales series and horror zine, Sirens Call.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His best-selling debut novel, The Shadow Fabric, is
closely followed by the popular short story collection, Sinister Stitches, and
are both only a fraction of an expanding mythos. His most recent release, Chaos
Halo 1.0: Alpha Beta Gamma Kill, is in association with Future Chronicles
Photography.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Mark, visit his site or find him on
social media:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.markcassell.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarkCassell"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167114.Mark_Cassell"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://amzn.to/2eeor9i"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a> -
<a href="http://www.beneath.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Blog</span></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-66845403057431117472016-10-19T19:40:00.000+01:002016-10-19T19:40:36.565+01:00SHOW-OFF AND TELL #41 - Angela Marsons - Play Dead<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#41 in the Show-Off and Tell series is another one that I
hold very dear to my heart. <i>Play Dead</i>
by Angela Marsons.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you have never heard of Angela Marsons or you have never
read her books, I have two things to say to you. Shame on you, and go fix it
right away!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been lucky enough to follow this woman’s career
from the beginning of the journey, with her first book in her DI Kim Stone
series, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Silent Scream</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. When I first
read </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Silent Scream</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, I knew Angela was
in for a bright career, but I don’t think anyone was prepared for the explosion
that happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you need any more encouragement to go check her books out,
then go read my reviews at the bottom of the page. If you don’t want to take my
word for it then check out these facts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">In two short years she has achieved this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wiped out twenty-five years of rejections.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Packed in the twelve-hour night shift job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One point seven million sales in two years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Translated into nineteen languages.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Book number five, due out in November, already #1 on
pre-orders.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Angela Marsons is living proof that when you keep going,
you get what you deserve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is my copy of Play Dead:</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-enJ5jmEzGmM/V_lJnoB9hGI/AAAAAAAADbk/JeybybxAMiUsWOJAnxsdXt9Cb794JYqCQCLcB/s1600/Play%2BDead%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-enJ5jmEzGmM/V_lJnoB9hGI/AAAAAAAADbk/JeybybxAMiUsWOJAnxsdXt9Cb794JYqCQCLcB/s640/Play%2BDead%2B1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have said this about a few authors I know but with
Angela Marsons, I truly mean it. When she is big and famous all over the world
for the wonderful books that she writes, I can say she signed one for me once,
and here it is:</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnKzXUR3rzM/V_lJnhALJoI/AAAAAAAADbg/aprlMsmDivgm7juPfb_Llpg-c8zgfqY3gCEw/s1600/Play%2BDead%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnKzXUR3rzM/V_lJnhALJoI/AAAAAAAADbg/aprlMsmDivgm7juPfb_Llpg-c8zgfqY3gCEw/s640/Play%2BDead%2B2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Play
Dead</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dJi1iX"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dNwHj9"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can buy any of Angela’s other books here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2e04XWi"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dSBXz2"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">CONFESSIONS REVIEWS ANGELA MARSONS</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/review-angela-marsons-silent-scream-di.html"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Silent Scream (Detective Kim Stone crime thriller series Book 1)</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/review-angela-marsons-evil-games-di-kim.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Evil Games (Detective Kim Stone crime thriller series Book 2)</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/review-angela-marsons-lost-girls-di-kim.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Lost Girls (Detective Kim Stone crime thriller series Book 3)</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/review-angela-marsons-play-dead-di-kim.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Play Dead (Detective Kim Stone crime thriller series Book 4)</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Angela Marsons is the author of Amazon #1 Bestseller SILENT SCREAM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">She lives in the Black Country with her partner, their bouncy Labrador and a swearing parrot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">She first discovered her love of writing at Junior School when actual lessons came second to watching other people and quietly making up her own stories about them. Her report card invariably read "Angela would do well if she minded her own business as well as she minds other people's".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">After years of writing relationship based stories (My Name Is and The Middle Child) Angela turned to Crime, fictionally speaking of course, and developed a character that refused to go away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">She is signed to Bookouture.com in an 8 book deal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Angela, visit her site or find her on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://angelamarsons-books.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AngelaMarsonsAuthor/?fref=ts" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - </span><a href="https://twitter.com/WriteAngie?lang=en-gb" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7942666.Angela_Marsons" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Angela-Marsons/e/B00J6D3914/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&linkCode=ur2&tag=confeofarevie-21"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-80090019381675580942016-10-18T19:32:00.000+01:002016-10-18T19:32:01.121+01:00WE PROMISED - WE DELIVER - TIJUANA DONKEY SHOWDOWN LINKS!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last week we dazzled and amazed you with images and words connected to the cover reveal for the amazingly wonderful <em>Tijuana Donkey Showdown</em> by the equally amazingly talented Adam Howe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you missed it then go </span><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/surprise-tijuana-donkey-showdown-cover.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> immediately.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One thing we couldn’t do at that time was supply you with the relevant links to buy it. We promised we would rectify that. And we have!</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AW0gWwu-1k/WAYn1jflTnI/AAAAAAAADdU/Vx7fNQLtUE0H4co1tCWefHg-ls6kU0a6gCEw/s1600/14741794_326204184404966_1169863801_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AW0gWwu-1k/WAYn1jflTnI/AAAAAAAADdU/Vx7fNQLtUE0H4co1tCWefHg-ls6kU0a6gCEw/s640/14741794_326204184404966_1169863801_n.jpg" width="419" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So now you can pop along to Amazon in whichever country you may reside and get your pre-order in for this little beauty.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reggie Levine needs a new home for this book. It should be yours!</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBgrTkho1Y8/WAYn1n-Ig1I/AAAAAAAADdY/gQET-59AeyE4DLGInx3CWm6FRFuMeWJLgCEw/s1600/14800858_326205007738217_157684300_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBgrTkho1Y8/WAYn1n-Ig1I/AAAAAAAADdY/gQET-59AeyE4DLGInx3CWm6FRFuMeWJLgCEw/s640/14800858_326205007738217_157684300_n.png" width="442" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">You can pre order </span><em style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana Donkey Showdown</em><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> below. Get clicking!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2e4wuKE"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amazon US</span></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2e4wday"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amazon UK</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uAeZQjJVK8/V_kqX8K6TeI/AAAAAAAADbI/lAuCxRtmSAourL14X5HYbBU0c-Hx8c3mgCEw/s1600/mrm_056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uAeZQjJVK8/V_kqX8K6TeI/AAAAAAAADbI/lAuCxRtmSAourL14X5HYbBU0c-Hx8c3mgCEw/s400/mrm_056.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Adam Howe writes the twisted fiction your mother warned you about. A British writer of fiction and screenplays, he lives in London with his partner, their daughter, and a hellhound named Gino.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Writing as Garrett Addams, his short story Jumper was chosen by Stephen King as the winner of the international On Writing contest, and published in the paperback/Kindle editions of King’s memoir.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His fiction has appeared in places like Nightmare Magazine, Thuglit, Mythic Delirium, and Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 1. He is the author of Tijuana Donkey Showdown, and two novella collections, Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, and Black Cat Mojo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the pipeline: the occult thriller Scapegoat, co-written with James Newman, a horror/crime collaboration with Adam Cesare, and 80s action throwback, One Tough Bastard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Adam, visit his site or find him on social media:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://cometpress.us/adam-howe/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010461610941&hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/Adam_G_Howe?lang=en-gb"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4709251.Adam_Howe?from_search=true"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00TILFM2I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&field-author=Adam%20Howe&linkCode=ur2&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank&tag=confeofarevie-21&text=Adam%20Howe"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-69831790317520128042016-10-17T19:13:00.000+01:002016-10-17T19:13:37.340+01:00REVIEW: Wayne Lemmons - The Story's Writer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpab77vDYSU/WATBNIymY_I/AAAAAAAADcY/saYNf4JYtsUFPUlKL6bm5Zq3Ov3WI-YIQCLcB/s1600/1%2BThe%2BStorys%2BWriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpab77vDYSU/WATBNIymY_I/AAAAAAAADcY/saYNf4JYtsUFPUlKL6bm5Zq3Ov3WI-YIQCLcB/s400/1%2BThe%2BStorys%2BWriter.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genre: Horror<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publisher: Self-Published<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publication Date: 1<sup>st</sup> April 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pages: 172</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY NEV</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Story’s
Writer</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author, Wayne Lemmons, in
exchange for an honest review. This is said review. This book is self-published.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know how I like a funny story of how I got a book to
review? Well, Mr Lemmons doesn’t know this, but there is a funny story for this
one. Someone recommended his writing to me and said I should check it out.
Well, they didn’t, exactly. They recommended someone else. I got the name
wrong. I didn’t find this out until a few months after we had made contact and
the books were in the pile for review.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, obligated as I was, I couldn’t do anything about it
and had to go with my promises. Did it turn out to be a fortuitous mistake on
my behalf?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amy is a single mom. She works very hard to keep a stable
household and a steady life for her son, Bailey. The only thing she keeps for
herself is a lifestyle of one night stands that, while leaving Bailey to fend
for himself, keeps her sane. Not ideal for anyone, but they survive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On one of these one night stands, she meets Grant. A horror
writer that seems to be very grounded, and very interested in meeting Bailey,
when he can. Could this be Mr Right at last?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When things blossom and Amy and Bailey move in with
Grant, all seems to be going swimmingly. Until Grant starts to write his new
book about ghosts. It really seems to Bailey like Grant has brought some of his
research home with him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not too many characters to talk about in this one. Amy,
Bailey and Grant are the three the story features most. Amy seems to be a
bright young woman working hard to keep things as normal as she can for herself
and Bailey. He is her life, even if she is selfish in her ways at times. Bailey
is eight years old. A very mature and very bright eight years old. He doesn’t
have many friends but he doesn’t seem lonely. He is more than capable of
looking after himself in whatever way is needed. Even when his mom is off on
one of her nights out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Grant seems to be the ultimate catch for any single
woman. Successful enough to live a nice life with his own place. He seems to
have morals and manners that would match any gentleman of old. And he seems to
like kids.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another couple of characters to note would be Amy’s
sister Deb, pub owner Chuck and Joanna. Deb is another single girl living her
life just how she wants to. Fully supportive of Amy, Bailey is a love of her
life. Chuck owns a pub with a history. An older man, he has a heart full of compassion,
if not the energy to match it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Joanna……nah……. read the book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The plot? Amy and Bailey move in with Grant and all seems
to be rosy. Grant starts to write his new book and things start to turn not so rosy.
Bailey seems to be the only one that notices and must set about finding out
what the problem is and trying to fix it. It isn’t going to be that easy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sounds simple doesn’t it? Well, it is. And it isn’t. I
won’t lie to you. It’s not very hard to figure out what is going on in this
story quite early on. I don’t think it was ever written in a way that Mr
Lemmons wanted to keep things a secret, or have you guessing right to the end
what was going to happen. You won’t be guessing in terms of the actual story. You
will be guessing how it is going to pan out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what was it like in terms of a book and how was the
writing?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am going to make a very bold statement right now and
make my feelings on this story very, very clear:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is one of the most harrowing, difficult to read (due
to emotional highs and lows), dark and frightening stories I have read in
years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It took me a long time to read this book. A lot longer
than it normally would for a book of its length. Not because it was bad or I
lost interest. Because I had to keep putting it down and walking away from it
to try and get my levels of anger and disgust back to a point where I could
read on and not want to throw my nice new Kindle out a window.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you read the synopsis, if will be no surprise to you
that Bailey suffers a lot of abuse in this story. Thankfully there is no sexual
abuse or I would have just closed the book. It is mostly psychological but does
get worse as the story progresses. I must highlight at this point, in the
strongest possible terms, the abuse in this story is handled in such a way
that, yes, it is not pleasant to read, but no, it is not done in a gratuitous or
sensationalistic way. It is just right for the story. Mr Lemmons deserves huge
pats on the back for that aspect of the story alone.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you read this book and do not feel sad at times and
angry at times and truly wish that you could dive into the pages and get Bailey
out of there then you are one heartless son of a bitch.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what does all of this tell you? What it should tell
you is this; I have read hundreds of books throughout my lifetime. Most times
nothing surprises me anymore. Then I pick up a book like this. It makes me
realise that there are some people out there who turn into monsters. There may
be a reason for it as there is in this story. It makes me realise that the old
stories of ghosts and hauntings and demons terrorising simple people, could
really exist. It makes me a believer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All because of how good someone has been at putting the
words, on this page that I am reading, together in such a way that they
entertain me, scare me, absolutely terrify me, make me want to run and hide,
make me want to run and get help, make me put the book down and go and talk to
my wife about it because it has affected me so much, make me cry.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do I have to tell you any more about how Wayne Lemmons
writes?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Didn’t think so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To summarise: a harrowing, brutal at times, creepy as
hell story about ghosts that don’t want to be held back. Read it at your peril,
but read it you must.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ superb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Horror rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ superb again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Story’s Writer</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> or any other books
from Wayne. This not only supports me but also lets me know how many people
actually like to buy books after reading my reviews.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2e0Ot4M"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2e9dXto"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Grant is handsome, charismatic, and charming. He’s also a
horror novelist who’s had moderate success in his craft. The only thing more
attractive than the man is the fact that he actually wants to meet Amy’s son,
Bailey.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Bailey is independent for his age, as competent at caring
for his own daily needs as most children twice his age, but overweight and
ailed by a lack of personal confidence. His reservations about meeting a new
man are evident in his resistance of his mother’s demands, but soon he warms to
the charming writer. Bailey sees an opportunity to gain not only a father, but
a friend.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Months later, after Bailey and his mother have taken up
residence with this new man, odd behaviors begin to emerge as Grant researches
the basis for his new novel. It’s a nonfiction manuscript, based on ghost
stories originating at a local bar with a reputation for appearances from the
other side. It’s a good book with a good story behind it, but it’s taking Grant
down a path of hatred, violence, and ultimate destruction.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">When Amy begins helping Grant with his editing, she too
falls victim to the effects of prose, Bailey begins to receive a more brutal
version of parenting. Now he’s hungry, in pain, and afraid with little or no
help in sight as the story being written in his home stops mirroring the events
at a remote bar, and becomes the new terrorizing story of his life.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBPDE-yISic/V4oV26jhAgI/AAAAAAAADDE/gtM1YJsqngU1TKWekWyKlSS2qhjO7i_DACEw/s1600/Wayne%2BLemmons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBPDE-yISic/V4oV26jhAgI/AAAAAAAADDE/gtM1YJsqngU1TKWekWyKlSS2qhjO7i_DACEw/s400/Wayne%2BLemmons.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Remember when you were a kid and told everyone that you wanted to be an astronaut-cowboy-billionaire? I didn't really do any of that, but the principle still remains the same. I'm a wrench-monkey by day, a writer/editor/proof-reader/drunkard by night, and a scuba diver on the weekends. I was born in Kentucky and somehow found myself on Clearwater Beach living in a houseboat with a group of eclectic neighbors that are sure to grace the pages of one of my books in the near future. What a terribly boring life I lead, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">I've been writing since I pumped out my first short story at the glorious age of nine. For some reason the story was absolutely violent beyond belief and I'm thankful that I've been able to tone down the language since then. I was a vulgar little kid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">I'm continuing the dream of that nine-year-old by writing full-length novels that will take you to emotional places that you may or may not want to go, but the journey will leave you fulfilled and unsettled. Two feelings that I love to invoke.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">So read my books! You'll love them, I promise!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">And for more about Wayne, visit his site or find him on Social Media:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://waynelemmonsblog.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010779768301&fref=ts" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="https://twitter.com/wayne_lemmons?lang=en-gb" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15013605.Wayne_Lemmons?from_search=true" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – </span><a href="http://amzn.to/29JJ21X" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-28667018678171176622016-10-11T19:51:00.000+01:002016-10-11T19:51:41.135+01:00REVIEW: Rich Hawkins - King Carrion - Review #2<div style="margin: 0cm;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oyZeh3RpOzo/V_k4JidatgI/AAAAAAAADbQ/PMnErhZIyPESakdaefTiClyH4AOIq2ssACLcB/s1600/1%2BKing%2BCarrion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oyZeh3RpOzo/V_k4JidatgI/AAAAAAAADbQ/PMnErhZIyPESakdaefTiClyH4AOIq2ssACLcB/s400/1%2BKing%2BCarrion.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genre: Horror<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publisher: Sinister Horror Company<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publication Date: 17<sup>th</sup> Sept 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pages: 132</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY ALEX</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">A copy of King Carrion was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the publishers, Sinister Horror Company in exchange for an honest review. This is said review.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Getting back into the spirit of posting multiple reviews
for the same books, Confessions gives you the second review of </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">King Carrion</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> by Rich Hawkins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tonight’s review is brought to you by Alex Kimmell:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you’re a fan of horror fiction, chances are pretty
good that you’ve read at least a couple of books about vampires and zombies.
You’ve seen the movies, television shows and maybe even flipped through the
overabundance of comic books out there. You are familiar with the end of the
world tropes where all of us humans are scraped from the face of the Earth like
so many crumbs from a plate of chocolate chip cookies. As the saying goes,
there is nothing new under the sun, or even the moon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, there are a certain, special few who divert from
these well-worn, shadowed paths just enough to impress new footprints in the
muddy diversion of a fresh trail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rich Hawkins is one such tour guide on the terrifying
journey through his new book, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">King
Carrion</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Relentless in pace, the nightmare begins on page one and refuses
to let up until the final sentence. Small town horror yarns with demonic hordes
descending over the population have obviously been spun before. But with his
unique vision angling a finely focused lens through the devastating and often heart-breaking
circumstance, Hawkins commands your attention with never ceasing action.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Personally, I have grown weary with the tsunami of
hangers on riding the coattails of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Walking Dead</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">World War Z</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and
other Hollywood-ized apocalyptic fictions. The majority of genre books lately
are regurgitations of the same trope patterns. Reading </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">King Carrion</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> has given me hope that there are still new stories to
tell if the authors are brave enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Being an avid reader of horror fiction, out of habit I
took the book to bed with me for some night reading. Big mistake. Not many
things frighten me to the point of losing sleep. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">King Carrion</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> crawled down the stairs with me in the middle of the
night, peered over my shoulder in the bathroom mirror and traced its icy
fingers up and down my spine. Every shadow hid dagger teeth, fire red eyes and
ancient tattered bandages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unlike what I expected, this is an extremely atypical
vampire legend. Hawkins’ creatures are not romanticized in any way, shape or
form. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">King Carrion</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is a uniquely
crafted monster who is brutal in physical violence in amounts equal to his
emotional depredation. Sifting through the gory blood and viscera, there is a
vast amount of heart in this story. Love plays perhaps the largest role in its
cast, heartbreak painting agonizing strokes across the canvass of our
protagonist’s journey. We eagerly follow him from the beginning, wholly
understanding his skilfully implied history. At once distant and intimate, we
know the story without needing details fogged over by the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once the real meat of the book is chewed, that emotional
context is not simply washed down by the gore and removed from the plate. Every
morsel is flavored by it. It is the underlying taste of every swallow. The
entire meal is elevated to a new level. The violence is made all the more
brutal. The inhumanity more depraved. After all, if there is no emotional
investment, why bother to continue reading something so powerfully unnerving?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is my first reading of a book by Mr. Hawkins and it
will most certainly not be the last. Fortunately, he has several others
available and I eagerly anticipate what lies between their covers. If anything is
similar to </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">King Carrion</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, I know I’ll
have to prepare myself for the brutal rides ahead of me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you are looking for something to keep you hiding under
the covers with all the lights on, a book with familiar monsters made fresh and
new, a story that will make your heart race as well as break, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">King Carrion</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is a great read. He may not
be a name you have heard mentioned much, but don’t be surprised if Rich Hawkins
starts becoming all too familiar very soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reviewed by <a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me_2.html"><span style="color: blue;">Alex Kimmell</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="line-height: 17.12px;">King Carrion</i><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> or any other books from Rich. This not only supports me but also lets me know how many people actually like to buy books after reading my reviews.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Thanks.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2d2iYpU"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2cWRHRd"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a town in southern England, people are going missing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mason, a homeless ex-con, arrives in the town to beg his wife for a second chance and atone for past mistakes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A vampire god once worshipped by ancient Britons has awoken from hibernation and plans to turn Great Britain into a vampire isle. But first, people of the town must be converted, and the gospel spread.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Within a week, the town is quarantined by the military, and the nights belong to the undead.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There will be no escape for the survivors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CONFESSIONS REVIEWS RICH HAWKINS</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/review-rich-hawkins-fallen-soldier.html#more"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Fallen Soldier</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/review-rich-hawkins-scavengers.html#more"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Scavengers</i></span></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zS5O7JyCApY/V2Wje9GPxoI/AAAAAAAAC7k/CVw0OMJmB_IO9T7HySsrhFx0BV-e1oyYACKgB/s1600/Rich%2BHawkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zS5O7JyCApY/V2Wje9GPxoI/AAAAAAAAC7k/CVw0OMJmB_IO9T7HySsrhFx0BV-e1oyYACKgB/s400/Rich%2BHawkins.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Rich Hawkins hails from deep in the West Country, where a childhood of science fiction and horror films set him on the path to writing his own stories. He credits his love of horror and all things weird to his first viewing of John Carpenter's THE THING. His debut novel THE LAST PLAGUE was nominated for a British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel in 2015. The sequel, THE LAST OUTPOST, was released in the autumn of 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">The final novel in the trilogy, THE LAST SOLDIER, was released in March 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">And for more about Rich, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="http://richwhawkins.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> –</span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rich.hawkins.98" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">–</span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/RichHawkins4" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">–</span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7720077.Rich_Hawkins" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - <a href="http://amzn.to/1Upck8Y"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-81597149594434497602016-10-10T19:51:00.000+01:002016-10-10T19:51:17.262+01:00SURPRISE!! Tijuana Donkey Showdown - Cover Reveal!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cb-sCr9elUA/V_kqRDqVlJI/AAAAAAAADas/05XIMHUdvSA5uD9YOeLBxw-sBj6sQk-dACLcB/s1600/book-question-mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cb-sCr9elUA/V_kqRDqVlJI/AAAAAAAADas/05XIMHUdvSA5uD9YOeLBxw-sBj6sQk-dACLcB/s400/book-question-mark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well
it looks like the cat is out of the bag. I have no idea how that could possibly
have happened!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I didn’t
give anything away! I suspect there is a spy in the ranks somewhere
intercepting my private messages. There is no other way people could have
known!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I
really do despair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway,
now the secret is out, Mr. Adam Howe would like to tell you all about his new
book, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana Donkey Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and let
you see, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, the wonderful cover. I have absolutely no
idea what it is about because I have never, ever in my life heard that phrase
before, honest gov!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If
you have never read Adam Howe before then I can only suggest you check out my
review of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">,
<a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/review-adam-howe-die-dog-or-eat-hatchet.html#more"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>, or my interview with him <a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/interview-adam-howe-part-one.html#more"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>, to see what he is all about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once
you do that, then pay very close attention to the pre-order news further down
the page and get yourself prepared to hit the important pages to do just that and
pre-order this little gem, which promises to be another big hit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Go
Mr. Adam Howe……….</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Mr Howe clears throat)..........</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you Mr Murray.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As
you’ve probably guessed from the title, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana
Donkey Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is a wholesome children’s book about the rivalry between a
pair of adorable jackasses at a Mexican petting zoo…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just
fucking with you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s
as worrisome as it sounds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But
I won’t rule out writing a children’s book some day. If you were to remove the
sleazy sex and depraved violence from my work, there’s still a lot for a child
to enjoy. And I aim to test this theory on my newborn daughter, Georgia Mae. If
she grows up to be a basket case, I’ll hold my hands up and admit I was wrong.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For
the innocents among you – yeah, right – who would claim not to know what a
‘donkey show’ is – obviously this excludes Nev – let me clue you in: It’s a
live sex show involving a gal and a jackass.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because
sometimes </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spearmint Rhino</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> isn’t
enough.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A
‘donkey show’ is also the term used to describe a fucked-up situation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And
in </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana Donkey Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, that’s
exactly the kinda situation my character Reggie Levine finds himself in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tijuana
Donkey Showdown is the (ahem) eagerly awaited sequel to </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Damn Dirty Apes</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> from my </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Die
Dog or Eat the Hatchet</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> collection, in which I continue the misadventures
(or prolong the misery) of my unlikely hero: ex-boxer turned strip club bouncer
turned ‘skunk ape’ slayer, Reggie Levine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In
</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Damn Dirty Apes</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, Reggie led a misfit
posse on a backwoods safari to rescue the local high school football mascot,
Boogaloo Baboon, from an oversexed skunk ape, and stumbled across a gang of
meth-cooking bikers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As
Reggie himself admits:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Probably
that sounds a little strange to you? Well, no shit. I was there and I still
struggle to believe it really happened.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When
we catch up with Reggie in </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana Donkey
Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, the events of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apes</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> have
since been adapted into a critically panned Video on Demand motion picture
directed by Uwe Boll and starring Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage as Reggie. (I
can neither confirm nor deny rumours that Mr. Cage makes an explosive,
gotta-read-it-to-believe-it cameo in </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana
Donkey Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.) Reggie has become a local celebrity in his small town of
Bigelow, Arkansas, and is much in demand as a yokel troubleshooter, or a
one-man A-Team, as he puts it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When
a seedy used-car salesman named Harry Muffet recruits Reggie to retrieve his
prize Chinese crested terrier from a fleapit roadside zoo, where the ugly
fucking show dog has been mistaken for the chupacabra, Reggie soon finds
himself embroiled in a deadly criminal conspiracy involving neo-Nazi drug smugglers,
a wannabe serial killer, an ornery Vietnam veteran, a badass veterinarian, and
a freakishly endowed adult entertainment donkey named Enrique.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(And maybe, maybe not Nicolas Cage; I simply
cannot say.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pretty
much business as usual for Reggie Levine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s
not a lot more I can tell you without giving away spoilers…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So
how about we drop the curtain on some art?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsLl3dVc28E/V_kqWNaOQeI/AAAAAAAADaw/4NrujR8ni_wLU5iTi8bsMZtqqEZADuE1gCEw/s1600/TIJUANA-DONKEY-SHOWDOWN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsLl3dVc28E/V_kqWNaOQeI/AAAAAAAADaw/4NrujR8ni_wLU5iTi8bsMZtqqEZADuE1gCEw/s640/TIJUANA-DONKEY-SHOWDOWN.jpg" width="417" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
cover for my previous book, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Die Dog or
Eat the Hatchet</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, was so well received, that this one really had to be special.
I kept seeing the work of this ‘Mike Tenebrae’ dude on my Facebook feed. I
understand that Mike is a friend of Confessions! So you don’t need me to tell
you how crazy talented this guy is. I didn’t have much in the way of an art
budget, but I figured there was no harm in reaching out to him, even if only
for future reference. To my surprise, Mike dug my pitch for a ‘video box
art’-style poster, agreed to work in exchange for glamour shots of myself in
compromising poses, and created something that exceeded my giddy expectations. This
led to Comet Press commissioning Mike for the cover design, and again, he
knocked it out of the park. So, big props to Mike; he’ll be my first port of
call as and when I write that children’s book.</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Tijuana Donkey Showdown</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is now available for
pre-order in advance of a December 9th release. Plenty of time for those of you
who haven’t read <i>Damn Dirty Apes</i> in
the <i>Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet</i> collection
to get yourselves up to speed. Between now and then, I’ll be sharing early reviews
as part of my promotion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like
these, from Messrs. James Newman and Pete Kahle:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"It
would be easy to say that Adam Howe writes like Lansdale on meth, or like '80s
action-movie icon Shane Black on crack, so I won't say that. I will say
that I have yet to read anything by Howe that didn't have me laughing so hard I
wondered more than once as I flipped the pages if I might have sprained
something vital inside of me. He's done it again with </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TIJUANA DONKEY SHOWDOWN</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. The only thing I hate about this
guy's books is the fact that, as soon as I finish one, there's not another I can
start right away. Dammit."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">James
Newman (author of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">UGLY AS SIN</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ODD MAN OUT</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ANIMOSITY</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Adam
Howe has oodles of insane talent. His latest offering, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TIJUANA DONKEY SHOWDOWN</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, is the perfect follow-up to </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">DAMN DIRTY APES</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. It reads like the
script of the greatest B-movie ever, written by the unholy offspring of Joe R.
Lansdale and Jeff Strand, and directed by Uwe Boll. Howe is a purveyor of
beautiful, ridiculous violence, and I hope the misadventures of Reggie Levine
continue for a long time."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pete
Kahle (award-winning author of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE
SPECIMEN</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If
that doesn’t whet your appetite – tough crowd – I would ask you to look closely
at this picture of my daughter Georgia Mae, and consider that, much to my
surprise as a new parent, babies require food and clothing; I would hate for
you to be complicit in her neglect. So please, pre-order generously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVnKMjf4zqo/V_kqXGdoptI/AAAAAAAADa0/br1ce1K1iRcyliOZXDtq0iyjWxQ0Y7f0QCEw/s1600/mrm_028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVnKMjf4zqo/V_kqXGdoptI/AAAAAAAADa0/br1ce1K1iRcyliOZXDtq0iyjWxQ0Y7f0QCEw/s640/mrm_028.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PS.
Some of you may be wondering: How far did I take my research? Did I actually
witness a live donkey show in preparation for this book, in order to give my
readers the gritty realism they have come to expect from the author of titles
like </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus In A Dog’s Ass</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">? Alas, I was
unable to attend a live donkey show; although Gabino Iglesias assures me the
offer remains open when I next visit the States. However, in the name of art, I
did investigate this particular paraphilia at notorious bestiality website, Rustler.
The site has since been shut down pending the outcome of a lawsuit issued by
Larry Flynt. Curious parties should contact me personally for the video(s). But
rest assured I was thorough in my research. And that it was not my proudest
wank.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GUzeh3x4pwo/V_kqZ2LaHQI/AAAAAAAADbI/p3DQpBhuPr0ygEERh9VfiEgV4cqRIJuaACEw/s1600/donkey%2Bshowdown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GUzeh3x4pwo/V_kqZ2LaHQI/AAAAAAAADbI/p3DQpBhuPr0ygEERh9VfiEgV4cqRIJuaACEw/s640/donkey%2Bshowdown.png" width="442" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PPS.
After the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Damn Dirty Apes</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> controversy,
I was mindful not to anger any other factions of the cryptozoological
community. I’m pleased to report that I’ve yet to hear a peep from the C.D.L
aka the Chupacabra Defamation League. This may change when </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tijuana Donkey Showdown</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is translated into Spanish.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Udtitwcy8WU/V_kqZnbgGZI/AAAAAAAADbI/v8UjjOe4YP8X48b3d7mAliQPL5_2323yQCEw/s1600/damn%2Bdirtyapes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Udtitwcy8WU/V_kqZnbgGZI/AAAAAAAADbI/v8UjjOe4YP8X48b3d7mAliQPL5_2323yQCEw/s640/damn%2Bdirtyapes.png" width="406" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Tijuana Donkey Showdown</i> is not fully available for pre-order in advance of a December 9 release, as yet.<br /><br />As soon as it is though, Confessions will let you know in a style Mr Cage would be very proud of!</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book
Synopsis:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Reggie
Levine, ex-boxer turned bouncer, and hapless hero, has barely recovered from
his ordeal in Damn Dirty Apes, when he is called back to action. Recruited
to a retrieve a Chinese crested terrier from a fleapit roadside zoo, where the
ugly effing show dog has been mistaken for the chupacabra, Reggie finds himself
embroiled in a deadly criminal conspiracy involving neo-Nazi drug smugglers, a
seedy used-car salesman, a wannabe serial killer, an ornery Vietnam veteran, a
badass veterinarian, a freakishly endowed adult entertainment donkey named
Enrique, and in an explosive cameo, an Academy Award winning Hollywood icon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">From Adam Howe,
writer of Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, Black Cat Mojo, and the winner
of Stephen King’s On Writing contest, comes another slice of pulp
Southern crime, 80s action, pop Americana, and pitch-black comedy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Adam Howe writes
the twisted fiction your mother warned you about. A British writer of fiction
and screenplays, he lives in London with his partner, their daughter, and a
hellhound named Gino.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Writing
as Garrett Addams, his short story Jumper was chosen by Stephen King as the
winner of the international On Writing contest, and published in the
paperback/Kindle editions of King’s memoir.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His
fiction has appeared in places like Nightmare Magazine, Thuglit, Mythic
Delirium, and Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 1. He is the author of
Tijuana Donkey Showdown, and two novella collections, Die Dog or Eat the
Hatchet, and Black Cat Mojo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In
the pipeline: the occult thriller Scapegoat, co-written with James Newman, a
horror/crime collaboration with Adam Cesare, and 80s action
throwback, One Tough Bastard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And
for more about Adam, visit his site or find him on social media:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://cometpress.us/adam-howe/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a>
– <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010461610941&hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/Adam_G_Howe?lang=en-gb"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4709251.Adam_Howe?from_search=true"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00TILFM2I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&field-author=Adam%20Howe&linkCode=ur2&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank&tag=confeofarevie-21&text=Adam%20Howe"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-84241213578862880902016-10-09T19:36:00.001+01:002016-10-09T19:36:17.045+01:00GUEST POST: Confessions of my Past, Present and Future #49 - Dan Weatherer<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Confessions of my Past, Present and Future</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dan Weatherer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;"><u>The Past</u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are probably rules for this sort of thing, but
rules (like promises) are made to be broken. As a young, awkward sort,
struggling to find his place in the high school hierarchy, books were a welcome
retreat from a world I did not much understand, never mind wish to be a part of.
(Likely I was a troubled youth!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There were several books that not only afforded me my
escape, a few of which have stuck long in the memory, and provoke a smile and a
familiar tingle when recalled. I will not pretend that any of these books are
literary heavyweights, but then I never did harbour notions of snobbery. A good
story is just that, and these kept my imagination alive and kicking during
those tediously grey teenage years.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Backwards</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – by Rob Grant</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dwarf</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> before
it was cool. I read this book out of sequence, later seeking out others in the
series and fell in love with the idea of travelling backwards through life. The
thing with </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Red Dwarf</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> was that it
often posed deeply philosophical questions and explored theories my young,
pre-pubescent mind could scarily comprehend. It was also damn funny. I think I
will look this one up on the Amazon store, as sadly (and this is the case with
the majority of my books) I have long misplaced my copy.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Psycho</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – Bret Easton Ellis</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are two books that I wish I had written, this, and
the next on the list. Their genius supersedes anything I might ever hope to
commit to words, and this book moved me in a way that no other has ever come
close too. Yes, it was brutal, sickening in parts, but I was struck by the ease
with which the prose flitted effortlessly from daily tedium to acts of insanity
(and the occasional CD review). This book, more than any other, showed me the
power of the written word. Yes, I admit that I purchased it for the hype, but I
returned time and again for the ride.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Divine Comedy</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – Dante Alighieri</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The second book that I wish that I had written. I came
across this (and other similarly epic works) while at University, not out of
course necessity, but personal interest. I know this looks terribly high-brow
of me, but I will be honest, I do not understand what much of the poem talks
about. Scholars have spent their entire lives pouring over its structure etc.,
and while that is to be commended, I believe you do not need to understand the
significance of every line or verse to appreciate the vision of the
author.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I often wonder to myself if
anything of such length, depth and lasting impact could ever be written today.
I seriously doubt that it could.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;"><u>The Present</u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you have read this far, then I must have caught a hold
of your interest. Alas, this is where I feel I might disappoint you. You see,
as an author of dark fiction, I endeavour to steer clear of pieces that I feel
might subconsciously influence me. That might sound terribly precious, but I
have, on occasion found myself adapting a voice similar to what I might be
currently reading. While I have read King, Poe, Barker and Lovecraft (and
become a huge fan of) in the past, I avoid them now as much as possible. There
will be a time to read them again, perhaps when I decide to call it a day on my
writing career.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Still with me after that shocking admission? Good. Then I
must confess that my present reading is wildly unpredictable. I have dabbled
with </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Song Of Fire And Ice</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (haven’t
we all) but, (and as a playwright this might make some form of sense) I am
increasingly drawn to the Graphic Novel.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preacher</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> – Garth Ennis</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know there’s a TV run, but I will not watch it. I do not
want my vision of Ennis’s world shattered. I do not own all of the novels; I am
still several light, but what I will say is that I have read Moore, Gaiman and
Miller, and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preacher</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> knocks them all
out of the park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The appeal of the Graphic novel for me is that the
immediacy of the characters and the narrative lives and dies via its use of
dialogue. I am not an art man. I do not know good pencil work from bad, but I
do know a good line when I hear it, and well written graphic novels have
characters that are rounded, gritty, flawed and relatable. A good comic writer
can make the implausible seem almost second nature. As a playwright, I try to
tap into that technique, for when you have nothing to tell the story but a bit
of plywood, a lick of paint, and a team of committed actors, great dialogue
makes or breaks your work.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a graphic novel, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preacher</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
is up there with the best of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;"><u>The Future</u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now we come to the part of the article that I feared
writing the most. It is impossible for me to say what direction my writing will
take me in the future. In the three and a half short years of my career so far,
I have explored most aspects of the horror/dark fiction genre in one form or
another, having insane amounts of fun in the process. I am sure that I will
steer clear of the horror genre, at least in it is more traditional form, as I
find myself drawn more to the deeper shades of humanity, and away from traditional
scares.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will say that I am confident that I will continue to
explore the darker themes of modern life. I just feel that this is where my
interests lie, and though I dabble with social and political topics in some of
my work, at heart, I will always write about people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have said before that I believe there is beauty in
darkness, and I imagine I will continue to try and show that in my books and my
stage plays. At least that is the plan for now, and it is a plan that sits well
with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you
for reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neverlight</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dACWZr"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dDLmw7"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can buy any of Dan’s other books here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2ed4OSk"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2e1TA3P"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy any of the
books mentioned in this feature. This not only supports me but also lets
me know how many people actually like to buy books after reading my
reviews.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2ed17fo"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dDLYBS"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz7yCmrQU-c/V_j3gwuh1aI/AAAAAAAADac/xXEqZJwk3i0RCxH3cklMq4202pEUBfifgCEw/s1600/Dan%2BWeatherer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz7yCmrQU-c/V_j3gwuh1aI/AAAAAAAADac/xXEqZJwk3i0RCxH3cklMq4202pEUBfifgCEw/s400/Dan%2BWeatherer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dan Weatherer is represented by The Cherry Weiner
Literary Agency (Author) and Julie Fox Associates (Playwright).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dan Weatherer was first published by Haunted Magazine in
Spring, 2013. “The Legend of the Chained Oak” was an immediate success and was
made into a short film which won the award for ‘Best Horror’ at the Portobello
Independent Film Festival (2014), ‘Best Short’ at The Bram Stoker International
Film Festival (2014) and also the ‘Best UK Short Film’ award at the Stoke Your
Fires Film Festival 2014. The film featured at numerous film festivals around
the world during 2014. The premiere screening took place in his hometown of
Cheadle, Staffordshire, where he kindly donated all of the proceeds to local
charities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 2015 Dan was shortlisted for the prestigious position
of Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2016-2018.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aside from the publication of numerous short stories with
a multitude of presses, his next major project was a solo collection of short
stories titled ‘The Soul That Screamed’ (Winner of the Preditors & Editors™
Readers' Poll ‘Best Anthology 2013’.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A further two collections “Only the Good Burn Bright” (Spring
2015, James Ward Kirk Fiction) and “Neverlight” (Spring 2016, Spectral Press)
quickly followed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His first non-fiction book titled ‘What Dwells Within’
was released in the Autumn of 2015 and details the life’s work of paranormal
investigator Jayne Harris.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An accomplished playwright, Dan was a finalist of the
Blackshaw Showcase Award 2016 and a two-time finalist of the Congleton Players
One Act Festival, 2016. Dan has had several of his plays appear at festivals
and fringe events. Expect to see more of his work on stage very soon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Work continues in earnest on his second novel and a
fourth collection.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He lives in Staffordshire, where is married to his wife
Jenni and is a (proud) full-time dad to his daughter Bethany and his son
Nathan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Dan, visit his site or find him on
social media:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fatherdarkness.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FatherDarkness?fref=ts"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/dweatherer21?lang=en-gb"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14825732.Dan_Weatherer"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://amzn.to/2e1TA3P"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-56410587039407076102016-10-07T19:30:00.000+01:002016-10-07T19:30:33.906+01:00REVIEW: Patrick Lacey - Dream Woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSutR6-n3k0/V_VGOshxIUI/AAAAAAAADZA/oJGeZvHiNkwu6mhZNAc0EO7tdl6bMe1YwCLcB/s1600/1%2BDream%2Bwoods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSutR6-n3k0/V_VGOshxIUI/AAAAAAAADZA/oJGeZvHiNkwu6mhZNAc0EO7tdl6bMe1YwCLcB/s400/1%2BDream%2Bwoods.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genre: Horror<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publisher: Sinister Grin Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publication Date: 1<sup>st</sup> October 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pages: 135</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY NEV:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dream
Woods</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Patrick Lacey, was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the
publisher, Sinister Grin Press, via Hook of a Book Media and Publicity in
exchange for an honest review. This is said review.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sinister Grin is a press I respect a lot. They put out
some wonderful books and seem to be on the pulse when it comes to how they
operate, and how they look after their authors. That needs to be commended when
talking about a smaller, up and coming press. Especially in today’s climate,
when so many small, and also bigger presses, seem to be falling by the wayside.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They also seem to be getting their hands on some
wonderful authors at the minute. One of those is Patrick Lacey. This is a young
man who I have previously tipped for big things in the horror world so I was
delighted to get an opportunity to read and review his latest novella, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dream Woods</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I thought.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Vince is an ex punk. Covered in tattoos that he needs to
keep hidden for his new life as an accountant, he lives for his family. He is
also trying to keep his family together. His wife, Audra, doesn’t seem happy
and he suspects she wants to leave. He would be right. He sees an opportunity
to try and make things better when he sees a billboard advertising the
reopening of his favourite ever place from his childhood, Dream Woods Amusement
park. This could be perfect for himself, Audra, and their two boys, Tim and
Andrew.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Author Regina Michaels, is working on her latest book. It
is about Dream Woods. She wants to expose the truth about it’s dark past. She
should know all about it. She used to work there.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When circumstances throw them all together, they must
join forces to try and survive the evil that lurks within the gates of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dream Woods</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The main characters in this one have all been mentioned
already. Vince and Audra met when they were younger. Vince sang in a punk band
and Audra fell for him whilst he was doing this. They got together and had the
kids. Vince still has the old punk inside of him but will live any life as long
as his family are happy. Audra wants out. She selfishly does not enjoy her
current life and just wants the old punk days back. Tim and Andrew are twins.
Tim is diabetic and seems to get all of the family attention while Andrew gets left
in the shade. No one seems to see this as important, apart from the resentful
Andrew.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Regina has a very dark past and it has shaped her life
ever since. She has been successful in her own rite but this book about Dream
Woods is something she must complete. If not for her own sanity, then to tell
the world the truth. Determined and tough is how she comes across.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The evil side of things are run by The Director. He is a
man that is very mysterious but very noticeably evil to the max. I cannot tell
you anything else without giving stuff away so that is all you are getting.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The plot is simple. The family take a trip to Dream Woods
and everything seems to be going very well, until The Director’s plans come
into effect. Once this happens, they all need to try and survive as best they
can.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This story is just fantastic. It’s like the ultimate
horror flick from the early 80’s which is quite amazing because I doubt Patrick
Lacey was born then to witness them first hand. He must have watched them
since. Think </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charlie and The Chocolate Factory</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
made by Rob Zombie with a John Carpenter soundtrack. That’s what you get with </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dream Woods</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Opening with an insight into Vince’s life with Audra and
his wonderful memories of visiting Dream Woods as a child, it gives you a
perfect introduction to the story and, through Vince’s enthusiasm and
excitement to get back to the happy days he had as a child, it builds things
perfectly to give you a buzz of anticipation and a desire to get to the park
and enjoy the rides yourself.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As is the norm, Patrick Lacey introduces his characters
with just enough detail to give you an idea of their make-up and what to expect
from them in the story. This is something I have noticed about his writing
before. It is something I like a lot. He has this knack of getting you inside
their heads in a second. You feel like you have known them for years. To have
you feeling such empathy with made up people this quickly in a novella is, for
me, mind boggling.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I want to tell you so much about this story but it just
wouldn’t be fair on you because it would most definitely spoil things for you.
I will try to give you a flavour of what it is like without the detail.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This imaginary theme park Mr Lacey has created is huge.
It’s absolutely vast. If you let your imagination go wild, it has a beautiful,
wondrous backdrop with all the magic of the fair in the middle with the most up
to date rollercoasters and rides in the world. It is full of fun and frolics
for all the family.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Flip to the dark side and it is bleak beyond words. The beautiful
backdrop becomes one of jagged, grey mountains with a constant rumble of
thunder in the background and grey roiling clouds. In the middle it is full of
rides powered by unimaginable things with beasts and monsters running amok.
This alternate world actually did give me a nightmare the night I finished the
book.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can’t remember the last time I had a nightmare after
reading a book. It has been a couple of years. To me, this demonstrates just
how much this story affected me. It definitely tapped into my innermost fears
and gave them a great big poke with a sharp stick.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Job done Mr Lacey.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To summarise: a family trip turns into an absolute
nightmare in a theme park from hell. With wonderful characters and descriptive
writing that will give you vivid images in your head, this is a must buy story
if you have a few hours to kill and want to have your pants scared off!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General rating:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ enough said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Horror rating:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ enough said twice.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dream Woods</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> or any other books from Patrick.
This not only supports me but also lets me know how many people actually like
to buy books after reading my reviews.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dSPNlt"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dSfPcn"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Follow your screams…</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">When Vince Carter takes a shortcut to work he notices a
billboard that nearly sends him into an oncoming van.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">The ad is for Dream Woods, New England’s answer to Disney
World. It closed decades ago, but now that it’s back in business, Vince is
eager to take his whole family, hoping the magic he remembers will save his
failing marriage.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">His wife, Audra, isn’t so sure. She’s heard the rumors of
why the place closed. Murder. Sacrifice. Torture. But those are just urban
legends. Surely there’s nothing evil about a family tourist attraction.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">The Carters are about to discover that the park’s
employees aren’t concerned with their guests’ enjoyment. They’re interested in
something else. Something much more sinister.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Welcome to Scream Woods!</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CONFESSIONS REVIEWS PATRICK LACEY</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/review-patrick-lacey-debt-to-be-paid.html"><span style="color: blue;"><span id="goog_1496304115"></span>A Debt to be Paid</span><span id="goog_1496304116"></span></a></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/review-patrick-lacey-sleep-paralysis.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i><span id="goog_1457084005"></span>Sleep Paralysis</i></span><span id="goog_1457084006"></span></a></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGvInNe9Mw4/VZpgI-tXuYI/AAAAAAAAA2c/5YwWfkn3Ljg/s1600/Patrick%2BLacey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGvInNe9Mw4/VZpgI-tXuYI/AAAAAAAAA2c/5YwWfkn3Ljg/s400/Patrick%2BLacey.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">Patrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He currently spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, his Pomeranian, his cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">And for more about Patrick, visit his site or find him on social media:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://patrickclacey.wordpress.com/" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> - </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/patrick.lacey.77" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18.4px;"> – </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/PatLacey?lang=en-gb"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18.4px;"> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6569851.Patrick_Lacey"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patrick-Lacey/e/B00EWLHT6Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1441119571&sr=8-1&tag=confeofarevie-20&linkId=HQYAHYHNIW7PTCY4"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-53473598490419083952016-10-06T19:51:00.000+01:002016-10-06T19:51:22.725+01:00Confessions has a surprise for you next week!!!!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know when someone tells you something and asks you to
keep it a secret</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Someone did that with me last week. Problem is, I am
really no good at keeping secrets. I like to give hints, and try to get people
to guess what the secret is without directly telling them the secret because
then I would feel incredibly guilty about them knowing the secret and then it
isn’t a secret anymore and the person who told me the secret wouldn’t tell me anymore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a difficult position to be in isn’t it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway……should I tell you the secret now, or just give
you a hint?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think if I just told you, then it wouldn’t be very
fair. As well as that I wouldn’t have a surprise for you next week because you
would already know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If I just give you a hint will you promise not to tell
anyone?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy days!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The secret involves this man:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Man</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And a donkey:</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P68ZzFGgDGQ/V_U6t0zfN0I/AAAAAAAADYg/3iSErxAF_6I8xBJTrgE1EffaoIhrvpPugCLcB/s1600/Donkey-With-Big-Smiling-Funny-Face-Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P68ZzFGgDGQ/V_U6t0zfN0I/AAAAAAAADYg/3iSErxAF_6I8xBJTrgE1EffaoIhrvpPugCLcB/s400/Donkey-With-Big-Smiling-Funny-Face-Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">The Donkey</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you guess? Can you? Eh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everything will be revealed on Monday 10</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
October!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-33596674130740643062016-10-05T19:49:00.000+01:002016-10-05T19:49:10.254+01:00SHOW-OFF AND TELL #40 - Daniel Marc Chant - Into Fear<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#40 in the Show-Off and Tell series is one that has just
come out this week. It is <i>Into Fear</i>
by Daniel Marc Chant.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">You can read the review at the bottom of the page. It is
worth reading giving the quality of the book and it’s high score for a
collection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">I have to advise that the one featured in this Show-Off
and Tell is </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">not</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> the one you will get
when you buy the book. I am extremely lucky to have in my possession a very
early proof copy with a different cover on it. One that didn’t see the light of
day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Not only am I delighted to own a copy of the book but, to
have this version gives me an extra opportunity to stick two fingers up at one
and all! That’s what showing off is all about! Isn’t it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">This is my copy:</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbezTUBjIUo/V_EDuBRjxdI/AAAAAAAADYI/F3El17H93DgfAnB2LVxWRGGZ4xqKvFebQCLcB/s1600/Into%2BFear%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbezTUBjIUo/V_EDuBRjxdI/AAAAAAAADYI/F3El17H93DgfAnB2LVxWRGGZ4xqKvFebQCLcB/s640/Into%2BFear%2B1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">This little beauty came to me in a rather large parcel
from Mr Chant in which I was expecting a signed copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Mr Robespierre</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">, but ended up getting a signed copy of everything he
had written to date.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Lucky me eh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">First unedited proof that I own. Hopefully there will be
many more!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5tyTnGXT7U/V_EDuELPQTI/AAAAAAAADYE/DqoQp3HIq4Y9FQT-UFs14wYl-uVZa7z1ACLcB/s1600/Into%2BFear%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5tyTnGXT7U/V_EDuELPQTI/AAAAAAAADYE/DqoQp3HIq4Y9FQT-UFs14wYl-uVZa7z1ACLcB/s640/Into%2BFear%2B2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">You can read my review of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Into Fear</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> <a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/review-daniel-marc-chant-into-fear-22.html#more"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">You can buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Into
Fear</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2d5Z34G"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dj8rns"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dj8rns"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<b style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CONFESSIONS REVIEWS DANIEL MARC CHANT</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/review-daniel-marc-chant-mr-robespierre.html#more"><span style="color: blue;"><i><span id="goog_1983158086"></span>Mr Robespierre</i></span><span id="goog_1983158087"></span></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/review-daniel-marc-chant-aimee-bancroft.html#more"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><span id="goog_1032760310"></span>Aimee Bancroft and the Singularity Storm</i></span><span id="goog_1032760311"></span></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://confessionsofareviewer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/review-daniel-marc-chant-into-fear-22.html"><span style="color: blue;"><i><span id="goog_1457083968"></span>Into Fear</i></span><span id="goog_1457083969"></span></a></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YIJa7MKDppk/Vh6u3SdMOdI/AAAAAAAABf8/qlGQ8vyBhhM/s1600/Daniel%2BMarc%2BChant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YIJa7MKDppk/Vh6u3SdMOdI/AAAAAAAABf8/qlGQ8vyBhhM/s400/Daniel%2BMarc%2BChant.jpg" width="253" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Daniel Marc Chant is an up-and-coming author of Horror and strange fiction. His passion for H. P. Lovecraft genre and the films of John Carpenter inspired him to produce intense, gripping stories with a sinister edge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Currently based in Bath -- a picturesque town in Somerset, UK -- Daniel launched his début, "Burning House," to rave reviews, and swiftly followed with the Lovecraft-inspired "Maldición," the story of a lone survivor of a desert island plane crash fighting for his life with an ancient predator.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Daniel continues to hone his craft with a number of dark titles waiting to hit shelves, including "Mr. Robespierre" and "Devil Kickers." He also created "The Black Room Manuscripts" a charity anthology featuring twenty stories from twenty experienced authors and talented newcomers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He hopes to one day contribute to the Cthulu Mythos. Although hopefully not as a sacrifice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And for more about Daniel, visit his site or find him on social media:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="http://danielmarcchant.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">- </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008177957587&fref=ts" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - </span><a href="https://twitter.com/danielmarcchant?lang=en-gb" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8380500.Daniel_Marc_Chant" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Daniel-Marc-Chant/e/B00LIZ32MO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&linkCode=ur2&qid=1444850826&sr=1-6&tag=confeofarevie-21"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092453185067717197.post-3887124023319811862016-10-04T19:24:00.000+01:002016-10-04T19:24:16.068+01:00REVIEW: L.X. Cain - Bloodwalker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syeZyyoOlqo/V_Dluw_hqhI/AAAAAAAADX0/lQpGWQ_AZIoK3BVGkjGwykdcWw5oes0yACLcB/s1600/1%2BBloodwalker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syeZyyoOlqo/V_Dluw_hqhI/AAAAAAAADX0/lQpGWQ_AZIoK3BVGkjGwykdcWw5oes0yACLcB/s400/1%2BBloodwalker.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genre: Horror<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publisher: Freedom Fox Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Publication Date: 4<sup>th</sup> October 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pages: 284</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REVIEWED BY NEV</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A copy of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bloodwalker</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author, L.X Cain, in exchange for
an honest review. This is said review. This book is published by Freedom Fox
Press.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another fresh name to me that I had the pleasure of receiving an
email request to read and review </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bloodwalker</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
from. L.X. Cain is a name I have seen around. A lot. I always meant to pick
something up but this old reviewing lark doesn’t leave a lot of personal time
for reading stuff I just want to pick up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the other hand, when you want to
pick something up by someone and they ask if you can review something, well,
you’re obligated aren’t you?</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bloodwalker</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> had a very interesting
synopsis. It intrigued me. This is what I thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Zorka Circus is travelling through Europe. It doesn’t stay
long in any one place but when it leaves, it always takes something extra with
it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Young children are going missing and the Circus’ security chief,
Rurik, thinks it is one of the performers that is responsible. He needs to find
out who it is and put an end to it. For his own sanity and the security of the
circus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sylvie is getting married at the circus. She is known as a
bloodwalker, from the Skomori clan, a clan despised by nearly everyone.
Untrusted and seen as ghoulish, they get a hard time wherever they go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When Sylvie discovers some bones in a trailer, this puts her
directly in the path of the killer. It looks like Rurik is the only one that
can help. What they are about to have to confront, is something neither of them
could have ever imagined.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OK, characters wise in this one, we have quite a few, so rather
than go through them all one by one, I will just tell you about the main ones.
Rurik is the chief of security but one of the most timid men you will ever
meet. Scarred by being struck by lightning when he was younger, he is self-conscious
and conscientious but knows he must find the killer. Sylvie is a girl whose
life is mapped out purely by the clan she was born into. The bloodwalkers have
responsibilities and supposed gifts but she doesn’t believe she has any of
them. A caring and thoughtful girl that really needs to toughen up or she will
never survive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Other names of note would be the circus owner, Alyosha, and his
wife, Zora. She is a woman who is shrouded in mystery and is rumoured to be the
oldest Skomori alive. The Markarov family are the strong men performers in the
circus. Always trying to steal Rurik’s thunder, they are not to be trusted.
Ivan is the motorcycle rider and probably Rurik’s best friend. Another who will
come to the fore later in the story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The plot is simple. Wherever the circus goes, kids go missing.
Rurik knows this and wants to stop it. On his own. Well obviously that isn’t
all but I am certainly not going to tell you anymore other than to warn you
that this story gets very dark, with some startling revelations coming as it
progresses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have a problem with how to categorise this one. I wouldn’t
exactly call it horror. To me it is more of a thriller with some very dark
undertones and a lot of supernatural hints that always have you wondering just
what is going on and what is going to happen next. You know the murderer is a
strong person but you never know if there is something supernatural involved
and are always left guessing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One thing that I can tell you for sure is that this is one hell of
a ride. I absolutely love the way this story is written. It is so fresh and
unique. I haven’t read a story with this sort of effect for a long long time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is set in modern times. You know this because everyone lives in
RV’s and there are obvious references to modern day technology throughout. But,
when you first meet Sylvie and the Skomori clan, it gets turned on its head.
Their ways and traditions are so old that you could be forgiven for thinking
that the scenes they appear in are set in the middle ages. I had to remind
myself many times that this is a modern day tale and not one from the 1600’s.
LX Cain’s writing is very effective at fooling you into thinking you have
slipped back in time. You can almost feel and smell the old ways and traditions
of an era long since gone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The story is also set mainly in Hungary and Romania. Although
written in English, you know the characters are mainly speaking Hungarian and
Romanian and also Russian at times. Again you get a distinct Eastern European
feeling to the story that gives it a certain eeriness that I definitely don’t
think would be present if it was set in say, modern day America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Intrigue and mystery are probably the key words for this one. You
know what is happening but right up to the last few chapters you never know who
the villain is. You might guess but you will be wrong. When you do figure it
out, that’s when things really kick off and the monsters appear. But I am
starting to say too much. I’ll leave it there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To summarise: a dark, dark thriller that will have you on the edge
of your seat for most of it and keep you guessing for the rest. Excellent
atmospheric writing that gives you a true sense of the times and the people
involved, drawing you into their lives and traditions whether you want to or
not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ excellent first time read of a new author.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thriller / Horror rating:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">★★★★★ really good all rounder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">If you would like to help support Confessions of a
Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Bloodwalker</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> or any other books from L.X.
Cain. This not only supports me but also lets me know how many people actually
like to buy books after reading my reviews.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Thanks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dig3HP"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon US</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dgHWiH"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Book Synopsis:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lightning flashes. Another child disappears…</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">When Zorka Circus performs, its big top roars with
laughter and cheers, but when it moves on, there are fewer children in the
European towns it leaves behind.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Circus Security Chief Rurik suspects a killer hides among
the international performers, but they close ranks—they’ve always viewed
lightning-scarred Rurik as the monster. Nevertheless, he's determined to find
the culprit and stop them before anyone else dies and the only place he can
call home is ripped apart by the murders.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Into Zorka Circus comes the Skomori clan, despised as
gravediggers and ghoulish bloodwalkers. A one-day truce allows bloodwalker
Sylvie to marry. Instead, she finds a body. Alerting others will defy her
clan’s strict rules, break the truce, and leave her an outcast.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">When more bodies turn up, the killer's trail becomes
impossible to ignore. Rurik and Sylvie must follow the clues—even if they lead
to something unimaginable.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T799iHumkv0/V_DlupPdtlI/AAAAAAAADXw/30YzHiqbMIQdbsdxJyPjIptS7c90uYwhQCLcB/s1600/L.X.%2BCain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T799iHumkv0/V_DlupPdtlI/AAAAAAAADXw/30YzHiqbMIQdbsdxJyPjIptS7c90uYwhQCLcB/s400/L.X.%2BCain.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">L.X. Cain was born in the U.S. but now lives on the Red
Sea and busily taps away at a laptop, coming up with stories to thrill and
entertain readers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Author of novel Bloodwalker (Thriller/Mystery from
Freedom Fox Press, Oct. 2016), and upcoming novels Coldest Night, Soul Cutter
(re-release), and Paris Underworld.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Also author of short Horror stories "Biggun,"
"The Mission," and "The Inter-Galactic Gourmet" for sale on
a different vendor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">And for more about L.X. visit her site or find her on social
media:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a> – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexa.cain.1?fref=ts"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/LXCain?lang=en-gb"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13767305.L_X_Cain"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://amzn.to/2dwoZX0"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon Page</span></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572151885177417042noreply@blogger.com1