ANNOUNCEMENT: INTERVIEW WITH SHANNON KIRK AND REVIEW OF METHOD 15/33

Shannon Kirk? Nope me neither. That’s probably because this lady is just on the verge of publishing her first novel Method 15/33. It’s a thriller and trust me, it’s one you do not want to miss.

I was lucky enough to get an advance reader copy through NetGalley. I am so so glad I did.

I was also lucky enough to get an interview with the lady herself in the run up to publication next week.

The interview will be published in two parts starting on Saturday 2^nd May, continuing on 3^rd May and my review on 4^th May.

Shannon was very gracious in giving an in depth interview answering questions on her life in general, her life as a lawyer and her life as a writer. Shannon will also take on “The Ten Confessions”. It is extremely interesting and inspiring interview so please come along and meet the woman behind the story. I have a feeling this will be the first of very many interviews about this book. I think it is going to be huge!

Nev.

ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT REVIEW SUBMISSIONS!!

I'm sorry to say that I am having to close the blog down to review submissions at the minute.

I have quite a backlog and don't want to keep my current submissions waiting any longer than they already have.

This will probably stay in place for the next month or two but I will announce when I have opened it up again.

Thanks for your patience.

Nev

REVIEW: John Palisano - Dust of the Dead

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publication Date: 2^nd June 2015

Pages: 217

MY REVIEW:

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is published by Samhain Publishing.

The only thing I have read previously by John Palisano was his short story in Widowmakers, Splinterette and his novel Nerves. I absolutely loved both of them so I was really excited to get the opportunity to review this one early with NetGalley. I can’t help but feel a little bit robbed and disappointed.

Mike has just recently started working for the Reclamation Crew in Los Angeles. It’s been 5 years since the first outbreak of the “zoms”. His job now is to work with his fellow crew members and investigate reports of “undead” that may be going through the process of coming back. Generally things have settled down and LA is getting back to normal. The undead are getting fewer.

Mike and his team have noticed a change in the zoms though. They are getting smarter. Smarter to the point of actually being intelligent and being able to interact with society. This causes new problems for the world and it doesn’t take long for a new outbreak that threatens man’s very existence again.

JOHN CONNOLLY: AN UNEXPECTED INTERVIEW AND REVIEW OF A SONG OF SHADOWS

On April 15^th this year I was lucky enough to grab myself a ticket for an evening with John Connolly, hosted by Waterstones bookstore in my hometown of Newcastle Upon Tyne. This was billed as an event where John would speak for a while and sign copies of his new book A Song of Shadows.

Now – for any fans of John Connolly this type of event would be fantastic to attend. A chance to meet the man behind the legend that is Charlie Parker. Giving that most fans consider Mr Connolly to be a writing legend himself you would half expect some big entourage and fanfare on his arrival. Nope. We were all gathered sitting waiting on the event to start with sweaty palms and expectant glances at the door, watching for a glimpse of the man himself as he arrives with his agent, publisher, hair dresser and chair puller outer, ready to entertain us mere mortals.

REVIEW: Erik Hofstatter - The Pariahs

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Creativia

Publication Date: 18^th Oct 2014

Pages: 80

MY REVIEW:

A copy of The Pariahs was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author Erik Hofstatter in exchange for an honest review. This is said review.

Erik Hofstatter – what a fantastic name. Say it again Erik Hofstatter? Ever heard of him? I hadn't although I bet many had. This my friends is the best part of being a book reviewer and having your own blog open for review submissions. Every now and again someone actually comes along and takes a gamble that you will pick their book up and read it for them. I learnt a while ago that when a well-known name comes along and asks you for a review, you jump at the chance. I have also learnt that when someone you have never heard of comes along like Mr Hofstatter, you again jump at the chance to review it. You never know when you might pick up a little gem. Like this one.

Demyan and Akilina are brother and sister. They have been born in a radiation ravaged Russia after a nuclear disaster has left many, including themselves, severely disfigured and disabled from birth. In the middle of the night they are attacked, gagged and kidnapped and wake up in a cold dark cell. Demyan sets about trying to figure out where exactly they are and how they are going to escape. His only hope is a girl called Taisiya who he can talk to through a sewer pipe in the ground. He needs to escape this hell, before they all die.

ANNOUNCEMENT: UPCOMING INTERVIEW AND REVIEW: JOHN CONNOLLY

This evening I had the immense pleasure of attending an evening with the legendary author of the Charlie Parker novels, John Connolly.

This was to launch the new Parker book, A Song of Shadows.

The evening was fantastic and I will share more of that later. John talked for about an hour about the series and then stayed behind to sign copies of the book.

When I approached him for my signing, I thought I would be bold and brave – or stupid and foolish – and ask him for an interview for the blog, on video.

He only went and agreed!!

So next week, when I finish the book, I will post my review as normal but I will also include the video of me interviewing Mr Connolly where he will be taking on The Ten Confessions! Keep a look out for the post!

Thanks.

Nev.

REVIEW: Mark Matthews - Milk-Blood

Genre: Urban Horror

Publisher: Wicked Run Press

Publication Date: 24^th June 2014

Pages: 157

MY REVIEW:

This review of Milk-Blood by Mark Matthews is the result of a copy sent to Ginger Nuts of Horror in exchange for an honest review.

As I like to do with review requests coming into Ginger Nuts, this is the first time I have read Mark Matthews. It won’t be the last but this one has left me, eh, disturbed is probably the best description.

Lilly is 10 years old. She has cyanosis. It basically makes her skin a bit blue and a bit see through. Her mom has gone. She doesn’t know where to. She doesn’t know her dad has killed her and buried her across the street. She doesn’t know her dad isn’t her dad. Jervis is a homeless man living in the derelict house across the street. The same one her mom “lives” at. Jervis has secrets too. He also has a lot of voices in his head telling him to do all sorts of nasty things. Lilly is becoming addicted to heroin. Jervis wants her to come stay with him. She has no idea why but she’ll find out soon enough.

OK. I really don’t know where to go with this. I knew this had to do with drug use. The definition of Milk-Blood after all is removing the blood containing drugs from an addict and injecting it into yourself thus getting a high. Wonderful. Sickening. Harrowing to think that people actually do this.

REVIEW: Scott M. Baker - Yeitso

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Blood Bound Books

Publication Date: 22^nd Aug 2014

Pages: 282

MY REVIEW:

Scott M. Baker is one of those authors I have seen a lot of but never read any of his stuff. It was the cover initially that drew me to this one and after reading the blurb, I requested it and got it. I’m bloody glad I did!

Los Alamos has a new Chief of Police. His name is Russell Andrews. He has recently moved here from New York with his daughter, Kiera, to get away from a nasty city and a nasty divorce. Little did he know the nasty little surprise that was coming his way instead of the quiet life he wanted.

One boy is dead and a girl is missing. It looks like they already have a suspect until it emerges that the boy was burned by an organic liquid sprayed over his body. This liquid could only have come from one thing. An insect. Problem is, the amount of liquid suggests this insect is absolutely huge. Where is it hiding? Is it alone? Russell has a race against time to find out.

If you are around the same age as me then you would have sat as a child in the 70’s possibly watching creature features on a Saturday afternoon. You know the ones? Rubber monsters, screaming women running for their lives and a Sherriff trying to solve something he knows nothing about? Brilliant weren’t they? Although there is a line in Yeitso that states “this isn’t a film from the 1950’s”, that’s exactly what it is, and it’s rather well executed.

REVIEW: Evans Light / Adam Light / Edward Lorn / Jason Parent / Gregor Xane - Dead Roses: Five Dark Tales of Twisted Love

Well folks I am very very sorry to say that this is the last instalment of the Dead Roses Special week. Some of you may be glad of that fact to get away from my ramblings but I have enjoyed myself so much with this one that I want to do it all over again! Right now!

I honestly can’t find the words to properly thank the guys for taking part in this for me. Mike, Edward, Jason, Gregor, Adam and Evans were all kind enough to take time out from their busy schedules to answer all of the questions I threw at them to put this feature together. None of them moaned or complained and were only too happy to help in any way they could. For all of this I am eternally grateful.

I have discovered that these six are all totally down to earth guys with huge hearts and a massive love for horror, writing, art and anything to do with their fans. I like to think I have made some new friends through this and hope to keep a hold of those friendships for a long long time.

All the info you need for either contacting this crew or buying their stuff is at the bottom of this page. Please please support them in their work so that we can all enjoy reading their words and appreciating their artwork for years to come.

Thank you again for visiting the blog this week. I will have some more features coming up in a week or two’s time as well as my normal reviewing in between times so please keep coming back for more Confessions of a Reviewer……and please tell your friends!!

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Corpus Press

Publication Date: 16^th March 2015

Pages: 250

MY REVIEW:

This copy of Dead Roses was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer as part of a special article on the site for the books launch and in return for an honest review. This is that review.

I have been looking forward to this one for a long long time after hearing such good stories about this group’s previous collaboration, Bad Apples: 5 Slices of Halloween Horror. I have read all but one of these authors previously and already know they can produce some very powerful short stories.

ELEANOR BY JASON PARENT

Stuart is a priest in a small West Sussex church. Someone abandons a child on the steps of the church. The little girl was extremely disfigured. Stuart took her in and kept her from harm. Fifteen years later Eleanor is growing up. She is becoming sexually aware but surely Stuart can do nothing about this? He is a priest. Eleanor just wants to be beautiful. But how can she when she always must wear a mask? She can fix this. She can make herself beautiful.

Beautifully twisted. That’s about the only way I can describe this tale. On one hand you have a priest trying to do his level best for an abandoned, disfigured young girl. God will help him with this. But why keep her hidden away for fifteen years and tell no one?

DEAD ROSES SPECIAL: BONUS EBOOK GIVEAWAY!!

Thanks to the extremely generous gentlemen of the Dead Roses crew, I have been able to add this bonus post!

I now have 4…….yes 4…..ebook copies of Dead Roses: Five Dark Tales of Twisted Love to give away, to you, the faithful people who have managed to stick with us for an entire week of specials.

Winning is easy. Well for four of you anyway. All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning one of these copies is……..confess!

If you fancy winning a copy of the book then confess to something by posting a comment at the bottom of this blog post with your confession.

Your confession can be absolutely anything (obviously within certain decency criteria). I will leave this open for the next five days to give everyone a chance to share it about and post. Once the entry is closed, my gorgeous wife Jo will peruse the entries and select the four winners. If I am not friends with you on Facebook or any other site then either add me or leave me some way of contacting you in case you win.

I only ask that you share this giveaway anywhere you can, be it social media, Goodreads or anywhere else you can think of.

Good luck!!

PS Even if you have already got yourself a copy, you can still confess to something!!

Nev.