NO! That is what I actually cried, out loud, at 3 am when I finished this book. Cameo, Cameo, Cameo! How could you do this to me?
I was so excited to be invited to read Cameo Renae's new book, Hidden Wings.I loved her debut book, In My Dreams. When you write an excellent book your first time out, it can be difficult to follow it up. Hidden Wings surpassed In My Dreams. I wish I could give more than 5 stars. I am in awe of Cameo Renae's talent.
Emma is 17. She wakes up in the hospital to find her entire world turned upside down. Both of her parents died in the accident that put her in the hospital, custody has been granted to an aunt she did not know existed, she is moving to Alaska (a good thing but I am biased about that) and leaving behind, in California, her two best friends. Escorts come to get her for the trip to Ak and she is attacked by Darklings, creatures she did know existed, in the SeaTac airport. Then she finds out they have been sent to kill her. Talk about a bad day! That is just the beginning. There is so much action packed into this book that I found myself having to take small breaks just to breathe! There is also a bit of romance in this awesome fantasy. The cliffhanger will absolutely leave you wanting more.
Cameo has done a terrific job with her writing. You get to know her characters and they become your friends. I was able to envision the fight scenes and the settings were vividly written.
The book contains mild swearing but it is only once that I can recall. There are no scenes of a sexual nature. The romance written is suitable for teens. I highly recommend this book to all fans of YA Fantasy and Angel Fantasy.
I received an ARC of Hidden Wings for review. No promises were made except to give an honest review of my opinion of the book. I received no compensation for this review.
Cameo's Debut Book:
is a current Goodreads Giveaway Book!! Good luck to all entrants. The giveaway runs on Goodreads until March 26, 2013. My blog has nothing to do with the giveaway. I am just sharing the news.
Human No LongerbyKathryn Meyer Griffithis a book I will be reading this week. I wanted to share with you all this awesome looking book. What do you think of the cover?
Looks great doesn't it? Cover is by Dawne Dominique.
Now check out the description.
Jenny and Jeff Sanders, on a summer night, become the victims
of a bizarre crime, leaving Jeff dead and Jenny in a coma. Their attackers aren't caught.
She returns to her children and her life. With Jeff’s
death his business and their income are also gone. Jenny, a novelist, hasn't written a book in years, so she must move back to her childhood home in Summer
Haven, Florida, where years before she and Jeff destroyed a sadistic family of
vampires.
At least her brother, Joey, who owns a local diner, is
there to help.
But Jenny has no appetite. She’s edgy. Her eyes hurt.
Could be trauma from the attack. Grief. Until one night, after they've moved
into the rundown family farmhouse, she can’t resist the night woods and going
out to drink animals’ blood.
Gradually she accepts the truth. Her attackers were
vampires. Now she’s becoming what she once hunted and fears she must either
kill herself or run. She can’t abandon her children, but promises never to drink
human blood; to find a way to live in the human world. It’s not easy. They renovate
the farmhouse, which local gossip says is haunted. At night she hunts, and
hides what she’s becoming from everyone. She fights to be a good mother and not
let the bloodlust overpower her. Gets a job and attempts to fit in.
People, bodies emptied of blood, begin dying. Like
years before. With her blackouts, she fears she may be the killer and confides
in Joey. While a detective, investigating her husband’s and his daughter’s
murders, complicates things.
Jenny suspects it’s her attackers doing the slayings. They've found her and demand
she join them–or her family will die. When she resists, her children are taken;
to save them, she becomes part of the vampires’ killing spree. Becoming a monster
like them…until she finds a way to outwit and ultimately destroy them.
In the end it takes supernatural intervention, a
ghost, and the help of a childhood friend to set her, and the world, free from
the vampires once and for all.
Wow! Imagine being a vampire hunter then changing into a vampire. Now add being a mother and single parent into the mix. You are trying to do your best for your children, help them over their father's death and keep them safe. After all, you are all they have now. Then they are taken and you must become the monster you hunted and hated to save them.
Kathryn has very kindly permitted me to print an excerpt from Human No Longer. So get comfy and enjoy.
Shutting her
eyes, she lingered at the door and listened to the night animals beyond the
glass. They were frolicking out there in the autumn murkiness among the crispy
leaves and cool dirt covered ground. Little creatures, with nocturne eyes and
speedy feet, full of hot blood.
The mother in
her fretted over leaving her children alone in the house but the hunger overpowered
the mother and she snuck outside into the darkness.
She told herself
they’d be fine. She’d be back shortly. That she should reward herself for her
self-restraint all day. She hadn't. attacked one living person. Hadn't gone
crazy or hung from the rafters by her feet. She’d done well.
She told herself
that killing innocent little animals wasn't all that creepy, wasn't all that
bad, considering the alternative. It didn't work. She loved animals and hated
having to kill them at all for any reason. Or had. But, she had to keep
reminding herself, animals died every minute of the day to fill humans’
stomachs. Right? Was what she did any worse than that? All she wanted was their
blood. It was her food.
She felt guilty
only until she captured the large fox, humanely snapped its neck to drink the
blood (which tasted better than anything she’d ever drank or eaten) and then
was too exhilarated to think of anything but further feeding her hunger; not
even that she could run faster than she ever had, could see like an owl through
the darkness, smell her prey miles away and that her teeth were changing. When
she stuck her finger into her mouth she could feel the points. Oh, great.
Little fangs. Oh, Lord, could this get any weirder? She thought about those
horror movies she’d seen over the years where some unlucky human had been
bitten and was slowly turning into god-knows-what and couldn’t believe or
accept it. Was in shock. Now she knew exactly how they’d felt.
Though, in the
end, she did feel regret for killing the poor fox and the one the night before.
But, yes, it was better than feeding off homo sapiens. Damn straight it was.
After ingesting
the blood she felt as if there was nothing she couldn't deal with. No problem
she couldn't solve, no disaster she couldn't avert. She was superwoman.
This wasn't so
bad, was it? It’d occurred to her perhaps if a good person became a
vampire that might be the key. Good person equals good vampire? Bad person
equals bad vampire? She could only pray that was the case. Oh, it could be
worse. She could lust after human blood and not be able to resist. Now that
would be a deal breaker.
She absorbed the
night poised beside a towering tree, its limbs shifting in the wind; inhaled
the dizzying perfumes of the forest. Her lips on the verge of smiling. She felt
better than she had since she’d come out of the coma weeks ago.
Her new world
revolved around her in slow motion. The night birds cooed in their nests. The
air danced among the dying leaves. Insects skittered between limbs and under
bushes. On the breeze there were aromatic wisps of brewing coffee and chocolate
(cake she thought), fresh baking bread and as always now, blood. Animal blood
in the small bustling creatures hiding out all around her and in the distance
the cloying scent of human blood. Her children asleep in their beds. Amazing.
God, the night
was beautiful.
That’s when she
saw the pale figure hiding between the trees to her left. A tall man dressed in
drab clothes watched her.
She merged
deeper into the woods among the thicker underbrush but when she looked back, he
was still on the fringe observing.
Waves of
uneasiness rippled through her and the vertigo was unbalancing. This man
stalking her wasn't her friend. This man was dangerous. If he was a man.
She ran all the
way home at a speed she never would have imagined a human capable of. More like
flying really. Her feet barely touched the ground, her night eyes so keen she
never once collided with a tree or stumbled over a rock.
Within seconds
she was inside the farmhouse peeking out the windows; the mysterious stranger
nowhere in sight. Thank God.***
How creepy is that? I am dying to know who the man is and why he is there. It makes me want to start it now. I suck at being patient. Are you wondering how Kathryn came up with the idea for this story? I am. I love hearing how stories come about. Here is the back story on Human No Longer.
Human
No Longer. It’s my 17th published book – yeah! – and my fourth
vampire novel. First, let me tell you where I got the idea for it. About five
years ago, I was still trying to please the agent (who I no longer have) who’d
sold four of my earlier paperback novels to Zebra in the 1990’s and, because
she didn't seem to like any of my new potential concepts, I asked her what she
would like to see. Out of nowhere,
she said, “You know your 1991 Zebra vampire novel, Vampire Blood? I liked that one a lot. The characters. Well, how
about writing me a sort of sequel with basically the same cast, but with this
premise: A woman, a mother, after being turned into a bloodthirsty vampire,
must learn to adapt to the human world and still be a good mother. You know,
how would she deal with everything when she had children she loved; didn't want
to hurt or leave them…but still had the need to feed on blood? Still had all
the urges and desires of a vampire?
Yikes.
I hated the idea but, to please her, I went ahead and begrudgingly wrote the
book. I tentatively called it The
Vampire’s Children or The Vampire
Mother or something like that. I finished it. Not too happy with it. I had
never liked writing what other people wanted me to write. Stubborn, I guess.
My agent, in the meantime, had begun her own online
erotic (which I don’t much care to write) publishing company and when I’d
gotten done with the novel she was too busy to even read the finished book. She
handed it off to an apprentice intern. An intern? What? Who didn't like it at
all. Duh. So, disgusted, I tucked the file away on my computer and, fed up with
the whole agent thing, returned to writing what I wanted to write. An end of
days novel called A Time of Demons
and a new vampire novel where the evil vampire wasn't a mother. In 2010 I went
with a new publisher, Kim Richards at Damnation Books/Eternal Press, and she
contracted not only those two books but asked me if I’d like to rewrite, update
and re-release all 7 of my older out-of-print Leisure and Zebra paperbacks going
back to 1984. Heck yes, I said! So for the next 2 years I was busy doing that. Some
of those books were over twenty-five years old and very outdated. Their
rewriting, editing and re-releasing took a lot of work and time.
Then, in late 2012, I decided to take a very old book
of mine (Predator) which was contracted to Zebra Paperbacks in 1993 but, in the
end, never actually released, and just for the heck of it, as my 16th
novel, self-publish it to Amazon Kindle Direct. Just in ebook form. A kind of grand
experiment. The first time I’ve ever tried self-publishing. See how it’d sell. Dinosaur Lake. A story about a hungry
mutant dinosaur loose in the waters of Crater Lake that goes on a rampage. Hey,
I wrote Dinosaur Lake before Jurassic Park, the book, ever came out! Really. I
had my cover artist, Dawne Dominique make a cover for it…and it was stunning with a dinosaur roaring on the
front. And I did everything else myself. Editing. Proofing. Formatting. With
forty years and endless publishers behind me I felt I was capable. And it’d
been selling so well I decided to
self-publish another one…and I remembered the mother/vampire book. Hmm So I
revamped (ha, ha, inside joke), polished, and self-published it, as well. I re-titled it Human No Longer. Got my
fabulous cover artist, Dawne Dominique, to make me a lovely haunting cover with
a troubled-looking woman standing outside a spooky house, with two children
behind her in its shadows, on the front and voila! All in all, I don’t think the
book turned out half bad. In fact, with the changes I made I think it’s not bad
at all. Now I just hope my readers will like it.
So that’s the story of Human No Longer. My 17th
published novel.***
Hmm. Interesting but now I am really curious. 17 published novels? Just who is Kathryn Meyer Griffith? Here is what she has to say about herself:
Since childhood I've always been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate
world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full
time. I began writing novels at 21, over forty years ago now, and have had seventeen
(ten romantic horror, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one
romantic time travel, one historical romance and two murder mysteries) previous
novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press,
Damnation Books/Eternal Press and Amazon Kindle Direct.
I've been
married to Russell for almost thirty-five years; have a son, James, and two
grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in
Illinois called Columbia, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis,
Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha, live cats Cleo and Sasha (Too),
and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I've been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing
has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably
write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.
As most of you know already I am a cover freak. So for your pleasure, and mine, here are the covers for Kathryn's other novels:
and her two novellas
There are some great covers there. I am eager to review Human No Longer and then, perhaps, on to Don't Look Back, Agnes. Or maybe Egyptian Heart. But then Vampire Blood was the start of Human No Longer. Ugh! That is what covers do to me!!
I hope you have enjoyed checking out Human No Longer with me. Later this week I will have the review up for you. For more on Kathryn Meyer Griffith please visit her websites:
I am back after a long, difficult year. Many things happened that were not good. One thing in particular nearly broke me completely. I spent the year destroyed by depression and in all honesty had contemplated suicide. I apologize to all and am going to do my best to get back into things. I did read some books last year and will be reading more this year. I have set my challenge at 100 books this year and am hoping to surpass that number. I definitely plan to participate in Book Chick City's Zombie Challenge 2013.
Zombie's have held a fascination with me since I first saw Night of the Living Dead - the original and still a favorite. Walking Dead is my my current Z addiction. Who else is waiting for February's return? In between episodes and during breaks I will be happily passing time participating in Zombie Challenge. If you haven't signed up yet and are interested head over toBook Chick City for all the info and to sign up. My understanding is you do not need a blog to join in the fun so come on and sign up!
For Goodreads 2013 Challenge I have chosen to read 100 books and have started with the following books:
Until You by Lou Aronica is a prequel to his novel Blue. It is a Novella not a full length book. The novella is the story of the breakup of the family. It starts with Chris wondering how to tell his daughter, Becky, that a divorce is coming. It takes us through the telling and to Chris moving out. Much like Blue it is an emotional read and also has the story of Tamarisk. For those not familiar with Blue, Becky is seriously ill as a young child and Tamarisk is a fantasy world that Chris and Becky make up with nightly storytelling. If you have not read Blue then I highly recommend both these books. Lou Aronica writes a beautiful story. I do not know if Mr Aronica has had a child die from cancer or not, (if so he has my deepest condolences). He captures the pain as one who has experienced it.
NightDrake by Lara Adrian, who is the author of Midnight Breed, one of my favorite series. This is a short story that took me only a couple of hours to read. I do not want to say much so I do not give away the whole thing. Such is the problem with short stories. *sigh*. I did enjoy reading it though it did feel rushed. another problem for some short stories. Do not look for a Midnight Breed vampire story. This isn't it. I enjoyed the trolls and dragon in it and am hoping she turns this story into a book.
Relative Identity by Holly Patrone is the follow up to Death Is A Relative Thing. I was so excited to see this sequel that I put aside my other books to read it. In her first book we are introduced to April and her husband Sal, who happens to be a ghost as he died in some birthday sex that left April with quite a reputation. In this book we continue on with April's story. She has finally found a boyfriend who does not think he will die while getting some satisfaction. Things seem to settling down since Sal got his wings. Then the car owned by April's son but which she signed for is repossessed. In asking about this, April learns someone is using her dead husband's identity. Then Sal shows back up and April finds out she can also see and hear another ghost! Along with the hilarious adventure, Holly Patrone also gives us a peek into April's feelings about Sal and her boyfriend Jack. We hear of her missing Sal and still loving him while wishing to move forward and let go. I really appreciated that the author addressed this and let us feel the bittersweet emotions. If you are looking for a light, fun read this is an excellent choice.
I am currently spending my time with:
The Great Starvation Experiment by Todd Tucker is a book that I cannot wait to discuss with you all.I am not yet halfway through it and my mind is racing with thoughts on it. Even though I have not completed it yet I highly, highly, recommend it.
I just happily received:
Hidden Wings by Cameo Renae, author of In My Dreams. I have waited on pins and needles for this book. I am so excited! I will be beginning this today.
If you have read any of these books or have them on your list, please leave a comment. I would love to hear your thoughts on them. If you have reviewed them or will be please leave the information on where to find it in a comment.
Please leave me a note if you will be doing Book Chick City's Zombie Challenge and or you watch Walking Dead. I am looking forward to reading the reviews and finding some new good books in this genre.
Hi all! Today we continue with Dopamalovi Books. Yesterday we met the authors and saw the books. Today we will continue on with the staff. You can browse the site athttp://www.dopamalovibooks.com/Come spend the night with us!
Created by Terrence Scott
First up say hello toDopamalovi Owner and Editor:
DONNA JEAN LYONS.
Donna Jean Lyons dwells in the secluded mountains of West Virginia with her longtime girlfriend, Missy, and two furry buddies, Merlin and Magick. When she isn’t spinning new tales, she can be found editing manuscripts for her publishing company, Dopamalovi Books, or reading new submissions. Her days carry her away to places few would like to visit, and her nights are spent with a cast of unsavory characters that few would want to meet. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. She loves her company, her extraordinary staff, and her amazing authors. And Donna wholeheartedly acknowledges the fact that Dopamalovi Books wouldn’t be the company it is today without them. It is her greatest desire to release books that stimulate the mind of the reader, allowing them an escape, helping them to lose their worries inside the pages, while pushing the boundaries of what they expect from a publishing company.
DOPAMALOVI POETRY EDITOR
Charlotte Emma Gledson
Charlotte Emma Gledson currently resides in the south-coastal town of Gosport, UK. Her heart however yearns to return to her roots in the Northwest of England, specifically Cumbria. With over 30 stories and poems published in anthologies and magazines, including, ‘The Serial Killer Magazine’, Charlotte is also penning a supernatural novel entitled ‘Bluebells for my Baby’. Her collection of unsettling stories, 'The Lonely Tree and Other Twisted Tales of Torment' is available at all good book retailers. Married with four gregarious children and a collection of ventriloquist dummies and porcelain dolls, she finds time relaxing while sipping wine, singing Karaoke, and going on paranormal investigations.
DOPAMALOVI COVER ARTIST & WEB DESIGNER
Terrence Scott
Terrence Scott spends most of his time imagining what makes people afraid, and where there are no places to hide from the things that come out of the darkness. As a result he writes constantly to exercise the demons from his head. This is only marginally effective. When he is not picturing someone’s horrible demise, he likes to dig graves to understand how long it would take, wonders how razor-sharp claws might tear through a body, and how much blood is actually in a human being.
He does not get invited to many parties.
DOPAMALOVI PHOTOGRAPHER
Angela Via
Angela Via grew up in the mountains of rural Virginia and in rural north central Florida. She is currently adjusting to the shock of urban life in Tampa, Florida where she attends graduate school. Nature provides Angela with peace and solitude. She sees beauty in the simplest things, and tries to capture that sight and emotion with her camera.
DOPAMALOVI BOOK CRITIC
Cristina Gutierrez
Cristina Gutierrez is a mom and grandma. She began reading at age 3 and hasn’t stopped yet. The first book she read was Barney the Beagle, still a favorite. She hung out a lot at local libraries and can now be found around town with Kindle in hand. She collects cookbooks and faeries, enjoys hiking and movies. Much like her reading habit of giving any and all books a chance, she will watch any movie that catches her attention. She loves her family and friends, East Kentucky and Alaska. On a blind double date her best friend Yolanda set her hair on fire. She wants to come back as Johnny Depp’s alien girlfriend because aliens get to probe. She lives in Alaska with her grandson
Yes this is me. The title still freaks me out. I can be found on Twitter, FaceBook and GoodReads.
DOPAMALOVI BOOK REVIEWER
Sue James
Sue James is a Braxton County, West Virginia native. She attended Florida State University and graduated with a Masters in Social Work (MSW). Twenty-two years later she retired as a clinical social worker and followed her heart back to the Appalachian Mountains, she calls home. She owns beagles and enjoys competing in field trails across West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, and the surrounding areas. Mrs. James is an avid reader and a young great-grandmother who enjoys family, friends, and good times.
Now you have met everyone. Yes we are a small but tight group of good people. I hope you have enjoyed meeting us all. We are happy to help you if we can. Head over to DOPAMALOVI BOOKSand check us out. The site looks great. The books are awesome.
Hi everyone! I am still down with the back injury but will do my best to get some reviews posted, news on upcoming books and of course some future giveaways on the blog in March. April is my birthday month so there will be lots of birthday fun to look forward to. Be sure to follow the blog with Linkys and/or Networked Blogs if you are not a Blogger user. I am waiting to see what the change today brings. *sigh*
Today also brings a happy event.....The official launching of Dopamalovi Books! Yay! Now you may be asking who? What? A new book publisher? Yes and no. Dopamalovi has been around putting out books for the past year at least, working with a small but tight community of staff. Things are going very well and so now we are having a Blast Off With Dopamalovi Books!
Here is an awesome and I do mean AWESOME, book trailer made by a very talented young man who you will meet in a few moments. The trailer will show you who we are and provide you with some cover lust moments. So check it out....
Here are our authors and their work. Enjoy!
Stacy Bolli
Stacy Bolli lives in the sun-soaked state of Florida with her three beautiful children. In her free time, Stacy enjoys letting her inner demons out to play inside the wicked stories she spins for the sake of her own sanity. You can find her on FaceBook.
Ollie
By Stacy Bolli
Rochelle doesn’t have much: a minimum-wage job, a mobile home in the sticks, and a prescription pill addiction. But she has Ollie, her pet Oscar fish, and she loves him unconditionally. If Ollie were a dog, free to roam around outside, Rochelle might have worried when a fire breaks out at the local chem-lab, releasing noxious fumes into the air. But Ollie is a fish, safe inside his fifty-gallon universe, so there is nothing to fear…or so she thinks. But somehow, inexplicably, Ollie is growing. And he seems to gaze at Rochelle with a new sense of understanding. Is it her imagination, or is Ollie just a little more…well, human these days?
For Rochelle, it makes no difference; she’ll love him and protect him despite the cost, even if it breaks her heart.
For Ollie, her heart may not be enough.
Ollie is a freaky good time. It hit me because Stacy wrote on something that truly does scare the crap out of me...chemical leaks. I so see stuff like this happening. No matter what I am told, when I read a book like Ollie, I am paranoid for weeks. Get the book and let your paranoia begin.
Patricia Clemmons
Born mid-century, learned the lessons of life in rural America. Using backdrops that she found along wooded trails as a child and later asphalt avenues as an adult, she writes about surviving the fittest.
Blind Trails
Park Ranger Kelly Daniels takes her job seriously and considers the Forest Preserve trails her backyard. So when Vincent Vecchione, a local crime boss, loses control of three henchman and they decide to use Kelly’s woods as a veritable killing field, she can’t sit idly by. However when Officer Maroney of the County Sheriff’s department begins his investigation, it may be more than just territorial pride keeping Kelly on the case.
Maroney’s the type of man who could set off fireworks in Kelly’s life, but can she let her guard down? And if she does, can she find love amidst the shadows of her own past and the blood-drenched bodies that keep turning up? For Kelly Daniels, that question may be a matter of life and death.
Cheap Perfume
Men believe they are right no matter how wrong they are, and Earl Dittmer is no exception. With his marriage on the brink of failure and his first son on the way, can Earl change his ways before it’s too late?
This tale from the tavern explores the darker side of matrimony, the pitfalls of redemption, and the hope of second chances.
Porcelain Cut
A man in anguish.
A lovelorn woman.
A porcelain doll.
When the three meet, a love affair is born, but normal conventions don’t hold true. For this love affair is peppered with blood, deceit, and the mysteries of a past no one can escape.
The Bakersfield doll does not forget, and for Steven, no amount of blood will wash away the horrors of his family’s demise, or the sins of his sister. Now, if he hopes to start a life with his newfound love, he must fight against the evil hunting him, and protect himself from the haunted eyes of the porcelain doll.
My mom collects dolls as her mom did. The rooms they kept them in always freaked me out. When my children would go stay at Grandma's house, they always begged me not to let her put them to sleep in that room. But of course, my mom always put them in there, (me too! ). I know she did it because she loved her dolls and thought we did to. Nope. No way! This book explains exactly why I have that fear. I now know it is not an irrational fear. Looking to get a book for someone who is freaked out by a room full of dolls? This is the perfect choice. They will never ask to sleep over at your house again.
Rosebud
McCaffrey, a police officer killed in the line of duty by an unseen assailant, is eternally bound to the road on which she was killed. She spends her time pacing the dusty ground, pitying the other victims of their shared killer, until a chance encounter with a young man named Barry allows her to hitch a ride and possibly achieve the only thing she’s desired since her death. Together, quite literally, they take on the burden of apprehending McCaffrey’s killer, in the hopes of setting free the tortured souls who walk the road.
I enjoyed this book by Ms Clemmons. The story is enough to keep you driving past hitchers. At the same time it is a haunting story of a life cut short and the desire for retribution that not even death can quench.Read it before a lonely road trip. *Evil smile*
Charles Day
Charles Day aka, The evil, little Jester, is an HWA affiliate member, the Mentor Program Committee Chairperson, and a full member of the New England Horror Writers Association. He has published 14 short stories with various small press publishers, including his novella LOCKDOWN, 2011. His biggest success to date is the sale of his first thriller/suspense novel, DEEP WITHIN, Spring 2012, a YA horror novel, LEGEND OF THE PUMPKIN THIEF, Jan 09, 2012, and a Novelette, THE PLAN, Spring 2012. His first edited anthology, TALES OF TERROR AND MAYHEM FROM DEEP WITHIN THE BOX, Winter 2012 contains 24-terrifying tales from many talented authors, including the first ever, all exclusive premiere of how the evil, little jester became so evil, titled THE GIFT by Charles Day and edited by Hollie Snider.
He is also the founder/owner of Hidden Thoughts Press—Non-fiction works where the primary focus is mental wellness collections—and Evil Jester Press, a fiction imprint. You can find him on FaceBook .
Alick Harris
As a young boy, Alick Harris enjoyed coming up with new concepts and working out how they would unravel into a substantial story. At school, Alick took every English writing project very seriously and spent hours planning what he was to write about, usually causing his teachers annoyance by writing far more than the required word count.
At the university, he is currently at the end of a film and writing degree along with various other elements of study. Throughout his academic life, he has written many short stories in his spare time, keeping to a childhood tradition of turning ideas into something more.
Regardless of his choices for working life after study, writing will still be a big part of his life. He is on FaceBook.
Retribution
What happens when you take everything from a man, but leave him breathing?
It’s the 1800s and the Wild West is rife with gangs vying for control and power in a land growing with wealth and stature.
It is only the incorruptible lawmen that stand in their way.
When the Gaust Gang sets upon Marshal John Steele and slaughters everyone that makes his life worth living, the gang of ruthless outlaws unknowingly allow him to survive their brutal attack. With the help of an impoverished doctor, the Marshal heals from his injuries and vows swift vengeance that only a man with nothing to lose can deliver.
Bret Jordan
Bret Jordan is a resident of southeast Texas, and an avid reader who devours books in almost every genre and tries to bring a little of that variety into his writing. It’s all about people, adventure, escape from the humdrum of reality, and the ever-present question, ‘what if?’
When not writing or spending time with his wife and children, Bret puts pen to paper as an illustrator and sometimes-digital artist. To get away from it all he can often be found riding the roads of Southeast Texas on the back of his motorcycle. Bret can be found on FaceBook.
A Pirate’s Tale
Shipwrecked and washed ashore, the pirate Block wanders a lush, jungle island until he stumbles upon a tribe of natives. Held captive, he is forced to embark on a mission he doesn’t understand, a mission that will test all of his considerable skill.
Plotting his escape, Block traverses the labyrinthine, underground caverns of the island, but the creatures he encounters there have a different plan. Now Block must summon all his strength and courage if he hopes to thwart them. But have the natives sent him here to test his mettle, or for something far more sinister?
Alone in the Mist
Waking one morning to discover his family missing, Jeff Taylor finds himself a prisoner in his own home. A thick fog has converged on the house, preventing any escape. Inside the walls, Jeff is unable to call for help, and the laws of time and space seem to no longer apply. Now Jeff must take stock of his life as he investigates the emptiness closing in on all sides. The ghostly whispers of his missing family are the only indication that he may not be…alone in the mist.
The perfect story to read on a foggy morning while enjoying a cup of coffee...in a coffee shop. Because you don't want to be alone in your house with the mist outside.
Avalbane
With a newly acquired journalism degree and a heart full of ambition, Jessica sets out through Turner’s Woods with the intention of exposing the horrible environmental practices of the local paper mill. Armed with no more than a test tube for collecting water samples and Toby, a former high school geek and classmate, Jessica searches for the rumored toxins killing the forest and streams, but what she discovers is far worse than any toxic waste.
An age-old entity still inhabits Turner’s Woods, and though she’s grown frail and weary, she’s had many years to seethe and wallow in her anger—anger towards the men who have slowly destroyed her home.
Avalbane feels no pity.
Avalbane shows no mercy.
Avalbane has only a deep hunger, which needs to be fed, and a pent up desire for vengeance that’s about to be unleashed. The one thing standing between her and the destruction she has sought for decades flows vibrantly through Jessica’s veins.
Jack Knight
Jack Knight was born in Lancashire, in the United Kingdom, and moved to South Yorkshire at the ripe age of ten. He did a spell in the army, where he discovered his love for writing. Currently, Jack is employed by The National Health Service, but now finds himself in a position to pursue his life’s ambition of being a novelist.
Outside of work he takes pleasure in reading, watching the odd movie, playing chess, and spending time with his supportive family—though not as often as he would like. Jack is on FaceBook.
Darkness Whispers
When a group of longtime friends decide to ignore the warnings of the locals and embark on a wild weekend fueled by alcohol and the desire for a good time, they quickly discover all legends aren’t urban—or created equally.
From the first shot of a gun-toting maniac’s military rifle, the friends’ idyllic getaway turns into an endless torrent of horror. The terror mounts as the remaining victims learn there’s no escaping, and the unseen assailant is mercilessly stalking the unyielding terrain in search of fresh victims. Soon the group is caught in a terrifying sequence of bloodshed, murder, and voodoo. But what happens next is beyond anyone’s darkest imagination…even Paul Docherty.
Doc, as his friends affectionately call him, is a man haunted by a nefarious past he cannot remember, and tormented by the beast within that he cannot forget. As Doc’s inner demon sets out to destroy him by seizing this opportunity to take complete control, it’s up to the few that are still standing to identify the supernatural madman while frantically searching for weapons to use against the encroaching danger because, as darkness falls, they realize their only hope for survival is to win the final battle in the fight for their lives on the notorious shores of Beacons Cove.
Donna Jean Lyons
Donna Jean Lyons teeters on the outer edges of sanity when writing, and disappears for long stretches of time from her mind as well as her secluded home in the mountains of West Virginia. She is animal-friendly, eco-friendly, and lesbian-friendly, but not family-friendly. Her work is raw, unrated, and not for the faint of heart. She writes about the ugly truths of this world, which others turn a blind eye toward or attempt to sweep under the proverbial rug. And even though she has been banned, condemned, and left for dead, she makes no excuses for her words because there is no mistaking that what she writes, she owns.
She has been sharing her morbid tales with hardcore horror fans, when the laws of publishing would allow, for more than fourteen years, and loves reflecting her own inner darkness out onto her faithful readers. Donna is on FaceBook.
The Devil’s Waterfall
Lacy isn’t happy with her life. She’s bored as a homemaker, her toys have become dull, and her lover leaves something to be desired. So when her boyfriend’s twin comes to town, Lacy is eager for a distraction from the humdrum monotony, and all bets—and clothes—are off. A one-night tryst leaves Lacy pondering her own desires, and she learns that some toys are more than mere playthings. It may be true that idle hands are the Devil’s workshop, but in Lacy’s case, the road less traveled leads straight to...the Devil’s Waterfall.
The Devil's Waterfall is a scorching good time! Not for those easily offended nor those under 18. All others ...if you want a book to crawl under the covers with get it.
The Angel Maker
On the streets of West Virginia, a homicidal maniac is preying on the homosexual community. With an insatiable thirst for blood and pain, the killer commits unthinkable acts of cruelty in the name of absolving all sins of the victim. Terrorized, tortured, and finally murdered, the unfortunate prey may ascend to Heaven as an angel, according to the deranged correspondence addressed to the lead detectives on the case.
Terry Marshall has seen her fair share of crime as a homicide detective, but she never imagined it could hit so close to home. When the love of her life is savagely slaughtered by The Angel Maker, she can no longer function within the confines of the law enforcement system, instead vowing to bring vigilante justice to the killer who has destroyed her life. But her path is dark and treacherous, and as Terry descends into the madman’s world she finds her former allies have turned their suspicions on her.
As sinister secrets come to light, Detective Terry Marshall begins to see the terrifying game for what it truly is, and she is but a pawn. She may not know the rules, but she knows in this game there are no draws, and the bloodbath doesn’t end until the The Angel Maker is destroyed.
I loved this book by Donna. It kept me glued to the pages. Donna has written a hot, HOT, thriller that will keep you guessing. With it's many twist and turns and sexy scenes this book will keep you warmer than warm on a cold night. Not for those easily offended nor those under the age of 18.
The Witchdoctor of Hog Holler
How far would you go to save the one you love?
Lucile Denmark must ask herself that question when a devastating automobile accident leaves her lover, Julie Parker, at death’s door. With everyone in Julie’s life giving up hope, Lucy refuses to do so. But she’s running out of time, and the only hope remaining lies with the legend of an old witchdoctor deep in the hills of Hog Holler.
Since childhood, Lucy has heard the terrifying tales of the high price for a supernatural favor, but with guilt and desperation driving her on, Lucy ignores the warnings and crosses the threshold between our world and the isolated Appalachian mountains of Braxton County, West Virginia. It is in this place, where wishes are granted by an unspeakable wickedness, that Lucy finds the demonic hope she sought.
But the legends were only half as horrible as the brutal reality, and Lucy discovers that when you make a deal with the witchdoctor, you’re never quite done paying. As the horror surges, Lucy finds herself relentlessly pursued by a force of ancient evil that will stop at nothing to collect its due.
Another book of Donna's that I loved. It reminded me of the legends I grew up with. Okay mine were more G rated but I was a kid. Come on. Do you think they told me everything? If your looking for some country legends type horror, for adults, I urge you to get this one. Not for the easily offended nor those under 18.
In the Blink of a Lie
An eccentric artist is tormented by lucid manifestations of a dark past she cannot remember—or let go.
While struggling with her sanity and a too successful career that put her in the public eye, a place she never wanted to be, the voices inside her head try to guide her to safety. But the harder the voice of reason pushes, the faster she runs away from reality, toward the land of the dead where the borders of dreams and nightmares become tangled inside a deadly web in the fragile recesses of her mind.
In her weakened state, she begins playing with vivid fantasies and blurs the boundaries between worlds as she plunges deeper into a realm of erotic dreams, haunted by what could have been.
Todd Martin
Todd has been a horror geek his entire life and has a special love for slasher flicks from the 80’s. He first published a collection of short stories called Nightmare Tales in 2006 and recently his story Just a Night in the Woods was published in the horror collection “Abandoned”. He wrote the segment Angel for the 2004 film, “Tales from the Grave 2: Happy Holidays!”, and is currently working on a slew of short stories, screenplays, and a new novel. He lives in Kentucky with his wife Trish and their pets, Buffy and Cujo. Todd is on FaceBook.
Trish Erickson-Martin
Trish is an avid fan of anything horror and has been her entire life. She was raised with a fascination for the creepy and macabre, which she attributes to her late mother (who was also a fan of horror). In 2004 she met her love-match and partner in horror, Todd, at a casting call for a low-budget horror film. Along with acting in these films, she has acted and created make-up effects for both local films and stage productions. When she is not in her college classes, she is writing book reviews for Horrornews.net, writing horror stories, assisting with rewrites for her husband, reading manga, or watching horror films. She currently resides in Kentucky with her husband Todd, cat Buffy, and dog Cujo. Trish can be found on FaceBook.
The Gardener
As a boy, Darren Gibson’s father was violently taken from him. As a man, Darren will collect on the debt he’s owed.
When 17-year-old Amanda and her mother Mary move to small-town Farmingdale, they know their lives will change. The old house needs a few repairs, and the yard desperately needs a gardener. Mary thinks she’s being charitable when she hires a local man to do the yard work; he’s mentally handicapped and the arrangement will be mutually beneficial. But the new gardener has more than work on his mind, and jealousy is the catalyst that sparks a night of rage-fueled murder.
Now Amanda and her friends, isolated from the town by a night of revelry turned sour, must fight for their lives if they hope to see the dawn. But the savage killer stalking them has plans to plant each of them, one-by-one, deep in the dirt.
The Gardener…weeds aren’t the only things he kills.
John “JAM” Arthur Miller
The first letters of John Arthur Miller’s name spell out JAM, what friends and readers call him. JAM began submitting short stories in 2007 and has 80 publishing credits: two pro, twenty semi-pro, and the rest appear in print, online, and in anthologies. As a full-time college student, his writing has slowed down. Today he submits fewer than two stories every month or so, choosing to target markets that show quality or hunger for success. Most of his days consist of spending time with his family; especially his three children whom he has full, physical custody.
Will the predecessor of Dr. Frankenstein’s lineage prevail in the octagon? Or will the werewolf devour his flesh?
Two enigmatic figures approach an underground octagon sanctioned by the U.S. Government in order to keep supernaturals in check.
One opponent comes from the realm of magickal science, forming monsters out of cadavers that he hopes will win prize money to fund expensive experiments.
The other, a ronin werewolf desiring to rejoin his pack, returns to Colorado to win a place among those that ostracized him decades ago. He follows the pack’s trail to Los Angeles and discovers the underground octagon, entering the contest against Frankenstein’s creations.
Both opponents know the consequences for failure, yet they face death to achieve their dreams. Two monsters enter, but only one can leave the octagon alive.
I loved Frankenstein and the Wolfman movies when I was a kid. Still do. I cannot wait for this title! I'm excited! You should be too!
Terrence Scott
Terrence Scott spends most of his time imagining what makes people afraid, and where there are no places to hide from the things that come out of the darkness. As a result he writes constantly to exercise the demons from his head. This is only marginally effective. When he is not picturing someone’s horrible demise, he likes to dig graves to understand how long it would take, wonders how razor-sharp claws might tear through a body, and how much blood is actually in a human being.
Terrence is one of the most talented guys I have seen! Yes, he is the one who made the trailer! You definitely want to check him out, (and he's easy on the eyes - lol).
Portrait of John Doe
When Randall Sheppard first saw the old house, he thought it was a disaster. Rundown, deteriorated, it had been unattended for years—but his family fell in love with the place. Despite his protests, they moved in and he began the long process of fixing everything that was broken. But the deterioration wasn’t the only thing wrong with the house. Something vile and ancient was waiting for him. Something that had been forgotten, something from Randall’s past. As he starts to uncover the enigma of the house on Canterbury Circle, Randall struggles desperately to protect his family from the malevolent force lurking within. And as the body count begins to rise, he realizes he isn’t the only one that knows.
Fran Brody has seen many families come and go from the house. She’s seen how they’ve disintegrated, how they’ve destroyed themselves—and the Sheppard family is no exception. The old woman has made a vow to stop the evil, but the years have taken their toll, and the Sheppard’s transformation is happening at an alarming speed. If she’s to finally end the horror she must risk everything. The house may have its secrets…but so does Fran.
Rand soon discovers he is not the first to encounter the horrors within, but if he’s unable to stop it he knows he’ll become just another John Doe in an ongoing series of forgotten bodies the house has claimed.
Matthew Warren Wilson
Matthew Warren Wilson has been a reader and writer all his life. He attended the University of Washington, where he obtained a degree in Creative Writing. He and his wife live in the Seattle area with their two cats and a boa constrictor named Charlie.
The Onnest Trooth
When Vanessa, a self-reliant eleven-year-old girl, witnesses a grisly hit-and-run accident, the victim entrusts her with a chilling secret. She finds herself thrust into the center of a supernatural drama, one that includes betrayal, murder, revenge, and the human spirit’s determination not to die.
Now an unwitting ally of Duke Carter, a hard-drinking redneck who claims he’s “never ben 1 fur reedin n ritin,” Vanessa feels compelled to do what she can to help. Should she believe Duke’s story? It’s difficult, despite his adamant assurance that what he’s written is the onnest trooth.
The Onnest Trooth is a horror story that, while reading, I kept having flashbacks to Stephen King's early short stories. When I read the final sentence my first reaction was to say out loud, "Oh f**k me!" While Duke's writing may be difficult to read at first, you will get use to it. It is definitely worth the effort and would not be his story if told in a cleaned up version. It really helps you to get into the character of Duke and be able to hear him speaking. Duke has a compelling story to tell, one you will not easily forget. The Onnest Trooth is an edge of the seat, hang on for the ride and leave the lights on type of read.
The Snow and the Darkness
Jason and Valerie wanted a nice, leisurely vacation, visiting Jason’s brother in Virginia, but Mother Nature intervened, delivering a hellacious snowstorm to the region. With their transportation plans thwarted, the travelers find themselves on a deserted road in the middle of the night, a blizzard raging all around them, and a suspicious stranger has joined their midst. To Jason, the newcomer seems a little off. He might just be a run-of-the-mill drunk, but Jason senses something else—a streak of sadism seems to emanate from him.
Little does Jason know, the stranger is the least of their worries. There’s something else out here in the woods, a creature that purrs as it feasts on human flesh, an abomination lurking in the snow, hidden in the darkness. But even if Jason and Valerie manage to survive, there’s one more surprise waiting for them, with a revelation that will test their very humanity.
Please leave a comment below welcoming the authors, letting us know what books caught your attention, and/or congratulating Dopamalovi Books on their blast off! There may be a surprise for one commentor in it. And come back tomorrow to meet the rest of the Dopamalovi Books Family!
