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Archive for the ‘horror’ Category

Teaser Tuesdays #56 ~ The Hand That Feeds

Posted: February 4, 2014 in horror, Meme, Teaser Tuesdays, Zombies
Tags: Michael W. Garza, The Hand That Feeds

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page.

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~~~~

My Teaser for today is from The Hand That Feeds

A Horror Novel

by Michael W. Garza

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My tease from 8 %

In a daze, he ran down the hall to the rear of the house. He stood in Alex’s open doorway looking in. Angela gazed up at him from the edge of the boy’s bed. Her eyes bulged in the sockets, her stare wild and crazed as she spoke in a murmur.

“He’s moving.”

~~~~

Synopsis

How far will a parent go to keep their child alive?

John and Angela Mason’s lives are brought to a tormenting halt when their ten year old son is reduced to a lifeless shell. John watches his wife slip into madness as his son rises from the dead. He realizes they must escape the terrifying infection in order to survive but how can he choose between the insanity consuming his wife and the undying hunger of his son.

An appetite for death will come in one form or another and it will be left to John to decide on the hand that feeds.

~~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

Monday Minis #23 ~ Distance To Empty by Lee Moan

Posted: February 3, 2014 in horror, otherworldly, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: Distance to Empty, Lee Moan, Monday Minis

magnifying glass photo: Magnifying Glass magnifying-glass.jpg

Welcome to my Monday Minis.

This is where I review short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about Distance To Empty

by Lee Moan

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My Review

It only took me about 20 minutes to read this. That’s what I love about short stories. That and how well written some of them are. How the author can grab you and keep you totally enthralled.

The dilemma. The gas gauge says 10 miles to empty. Their destination, Barrington Ford, is 11 miles.

Joe sits in the car, his wife Susie asleep beside him, mentally kicking himself for not having the gauge fixed.

It’s been twitchy for a while now and can’t be trusted. So does it have enough gas or not? Should he keep going, hoping the gauge is wrong, or should he head back to the nearest gas station, hoping the gauge is wrong? Knowing his wife will let him have it, he hopes for the best and presses on.

They are close to their destination when Joe wakes up Susie. They both stare out the windshield at the eerie grey mist between them and town. It’s odd that behind and above them the sky is clear and blue. Whatever it is, they’re going to have to drive through it.

Yeah, there have been plenty of books and movies with something in the mist as the story line. The Bremuda Triangle, Stephen King’s The Mist and The Fog come to mind quickly. But Lee was able to make this his own version.

The couples disintegrating relationship, the grotesque things in the mist, the mysterious passenger they pick up. All of this makes for a surprisingly full plot in such a short story.

It never felt confusing, slow, or lacking. The stage is set, things start happening, and then even stranger things happen.

I really liked the huge surprise waiting in the mist. That is where the author owned this story.

The title has more than one meaning. My mind was left to wander, to wonder.

I sure hope there will be more added to this story. I need to know what happens.

Until then, I’m going to read more books by Lee Moan.

4 Stars

~~~~

Click on these links for more about Lee Moan and his books.

Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website

Freakin Fridays #28 ~ Just released! CRAWL ~ In your face horror ~ My Review

Posted: January 31, 2014 in Adult Fiction, Guest Post, horror, New Release, Release day, reviews
Tags: Crawl, Edward Lorn

Freakin Fridays

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

~~~

With the new year here, I’ve started implementing my new plans for my blog.

While I’ll still be doing my memes and posting for book tours and giveaways, I’m going to be doing a lot more reviewing.

I asked you to help me with this. I gave you 5 books and let you choose which one I should review each week for the 5 Fridays in January. Your response was fun and I did get four of the weeks choices reviewed. However, the last book has been put off temporarily as I work with the author to arrange a guest post and giveaway. I’ll let you know when it’s all set.

So for today, I have something extra special!

First off, I’m thrilled to be telling you about another winner from Edward Lorn.

The moment I read he was writing a new story, and a novellette at that, I stalked E. I had to have it ASAP! He should be getting used to it by now.

Horror is my first love and when I find an author whose words make me shudder in horrific delight, I have to read everything they write. Not only does Edward’s stories do that, he’s also a really witty guy.

When he sent me Crawl, I begged him to do a guest post. I wanted all of you to see the guy behind the books. The one who captivated me as much as his stories.

So here he is. Take it away E!

Crawl For Me

CRAWL is my first jaunt into novelette territory. In case you don’t know, a novelette is anything between 7,500 and 25,000 words. Anything less is a short story. Anything more is a novella. CRAWL is meant to be read in an hour or two (depending on your reading speed, of course), and that’s exactly how I like it. Early reviews are begging for a follow up, and I am currently working on that, but CRAWL is what it is. A bite-sized chunk of salted caramel, a mixture of sweet and savory. At its heart, the story is a character study which covers love on the brink of disaster. The circumference of the piece is a tale of survival, and I get about as bloody as I ever have. This one’s not for the squeamish.

About a month ago I came across “Say Something,” by A Great Big World, featuring Christina Aguilera. The song broke my heart. But it also inspired me. I wanted to tackle the death throes of a relationship. That’s how I met Juliet Harryhousen, the lady who carries my new novelette, CRAWL, on her very capable shoulders. When she started talking, the story told itself. I was nothing more than a dictation device. I love characters like that. That’s that magic.

CRAWL is an ode to the classic “Trapped and Must Survive” horror trope. Think about Poe’s THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO (but only in the sense that both have characters that are chained up at some point) or, most recently, GERALD’S GAME, by Stephen King. Okay, so maybe GERALD’S GAME isn’t recent, but it’s the most recent book I can think of with the same theme. I think every author tackles the idea at some point in their careers: You take a person who’s either restrained or incapacitated and you see if they survive the situation. It’s dirty fun, like monkey sex, and like an orangutan-gang-bang things get messy fast. The human body is a fragile thing, but it can also be a fountain of strength. Just like our minds. Sometimes, though, you have to go mad, you have to break just a smidgen, to see exactly what you’re capable of doing to survive against all odds. In CRAWL, Juliet Harryhousen has to do just that. Did I mention she’s a bad mother(shutyomouf)? Yep. She’s a firecracker, folks; someone I think most readers will have a good time with. I haven’t had this much fun writing a character in a long while. I’ve been spending a lot of time with morose bastards, so Juliet’s snark and humor was a breath of fresh ozone.

I want to talk to Laura Thomas for a minute. Thanks for having me today. You’ve been an avid supporter of not just my work but countless others. Whether they’re traditionally or indie published, you highlight them. You love to read as much as I do, and that’s only one of your many amazing qualities. I’m just as much of a fan of your blog as you are of my writing. Keep up the good fight, lady. People like you never go out of style.

To the rest of you, it’s been my pleasure. Thanks for letting me throw words at your face. I hope you decide to check out my fiction at some point or another. And even if you don’t, thanks for reading this post.

~~~

Thanks so much for sharing Edward. And you made me blush! Such a nice compliment for doing what I love.

And now that ya’ll have met E. it’s time for me to tell you about CRAWL.

I had so much fun writing my review. I agonized over what to say and what not to hint at. I giggled and snickered and had such devilish fun.

Enjoy!

~~~

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You’re out in the middle of nowhere.

You’ve been crippled and left for dead.

There’s something in the woods.

It’s coming.

There’s only one thing you can do…

CRAWL

My Review

What do you do when you catch your husband bumping uglies with the dog-sitter? You get as far away from them as you can. That red haze you’re looking through could be lethal.

That’s what Juliet’s doing. Yeah, she’s letting Colton drive her to her mothers, but he’s not welcome to stay. She needs time and space, and then, maybe, she can forgive him.

There’s cold silence and instant rage as they travel through the night.

Soon, these two will be worrying about something much more immediate. Much more ominous than an illicit transgression.

One of the great parts of this story was the trip through the night.

I think Juliet held herself together very well. Colton expects her to forgive and forget. He can’t stand not knowing what she’ll do.

For Juliet, it’s not that easy. Ugly, hurtful thoughts and images slip into her conscious at will. Walking in to find them going at it on the couch. Fumbling for their clothes, hurrying to hide their nakedness.

What’s with Colton? Why does she have to forgive him? Why does he expect her to give him a crumb, a bit of hope? She’s still in shock, raging over the betrayal, and trying to tape her heart back together. To keep breathing.

Colton ticked me off. He’d just destroyed them as a couple. Thrown away all they had. And now he wanted her to reassure him? What a jerk. I’d leave him hanging. It’s not like I’d make a decision without crawling out from under the pain first.

I found Juliet’s actions and reactions appropriate. She didn’t give an inch. Didn’t soothe his anxiety. And she let him have it when he pushed too hard.

I may be a sick puppie, but when something horrible happened to Colton, I was snickering, especially over what Juliet was thinking. She’s a really tough cookie.

Reading this story is like an assault. The author shocks you into seeing the disgusting scene when Juliet walks in on the humping. Then he blasts you with Colton’s whining and bullying. He revs you up with Juliet’s outrage. And then he stumps you with the weird guy in the car.

Yeah, there’s a creep they keep bumping into. He looks ghoulish, dresses funny, and acts like he knows something they don’t. Which he does.

The freakiness comes out to play. Darting from shadow to shadow. Taunting and terrifying with malevolent glee.

As the title says, you’ll ‘crawl’ out of this story, trying to shake off the horror.

Edward never sugar coats it. His stories are down and dirty. So I’d only recommend this to adults. And then, to those who like it in your face.

5 Creepy Crawlie Stars

~~~

This just in from Edward Lorn!

Here it is in all it’s glory!

CRUELTY EPI3

CRUELTY is a serial novel in ten parts.

Episode Three.

The corpse in the cooler of Bob’s Bait and Fuel might not be the innocent victim everyone first assumed.

William Longmire is released from police custody only to find out his buddy Kirk is in the hospital.

Innis Blake is stuck between two worlds. Will she find her way out before Cruelty has his way?

Regret is born.

Author’s note: CRUELTY: Episode Three will be released in February. CRUELTY: Episode Four will be out sometime in March. Thank you for your patience.

~~~~

Cruelty: Episode 1

and Cruelty: Episode Two

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Go HERE for my reviews

~~~~

More books I’ve read by Edward Lorn

Life After Dane 1400x2100

Go HERE for my review.

And more books.

Go HERE for my reviews.

~~~~

About Edward Lorn and where to stalk him.

Edward Lorn is an American horror author presently residing in the southeast United States. He enjoys storytelling, reading, and writing biographies in the third person. Once upon a time, during a session of show and tell, a seven-year-old Edward Lorn shared with his class that his baby brother had died over the weekend. His classmates, the teacher included, wept while he recounted the painful tragedy of having lost a sibling. Edward went home that day and found an irate mother waiting for him. Edward’s teacher had called to express her condolences. This was unfortunate, as Edward had never had a baby brother. With advice given to her by a frustrated teacher, Edward’s mother made him start writing all of his lies down. The rest, as they say, is history. Edward Lorn and his wife are raising two children, along with a handful of outside cats and a beagle named Dot. He remains a liar to this day. The only difference is, now he’s a useful one.

For more about Edward Lorn and his books:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

Edward’s page on RAP: http://redadeptpublishing.com/edward-lorn/

Edward’s blog: http://edwardlorn.wordpress.com/

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

More Cruelty coming soon! And what’s this I hear about Crawl?

Posted: January 30, 2014 in Book Promos, Cover Reveal, horror, New Release, Series
Tags: Cruelty, Edward Lorn, serial

This just in from Edward Lorn!

Here it is in all it’s glory!

CRUELTY EPI3

CRUELTY is a serial novel in ten parts.

Episode Three.

The corpse in the cooler of Bob’s Bait and Fuel might not be the innocent victim everyone first assumed.

William Longmire is released from police custody only to find out his buddy Kirk is in the hospital.

Innis Blake is stuck between two worlds. Will she find her way out before Cruelty has his way?

Regret is born.

Author’s note: CRAWL and CRUELTY: Episode Three will be released in February, one week apart. CRUELTY: Episode Four will be out sometime in March. Thank you for your patience.

~~~

Can’t wait to tell you about Crawl and to get my hands on Episode Three.

I’m reposting my reviews for the first two episodes of Cruelty to tell you what you’re in for!

~~~~

Cruelty: Episode 1

My Review

William wishes she’d point the gun another way. The strung out hooker wouldn’t get any money out of him if he was dead. The way she keeps screaming at him, it’s a wonder he can’t hear her, even though he’s deaf.

Too bad his car broke down. Now here they are. Walking down the road in the dead of night. Even if someone did come along, it’s doubtful they’d stop and offer them a ride. Especially with her waving that gun around.

Jennifer finally realizes she’s been screaming at a deaf guy and she bends over laughing. Then, she’s not. She’s gone.

Now, imagine yourself driving down the road. You’re distracted, it’s dark outside, and you glance away from the road for just a second.

Wham, you’ve hit something. Do you get out and walk over to see what it is? No way. It’s dark out there. But what if it’s a person. They could be still alive, even though it’s not likely. You plowed into it without touching your brakes.So, you open the door and go see. Oh jesus, it’s a woman, or what’s left of one.

Here’s where the story goes to the dark side. If you haven’t read any of Edward Lorn’s stories, I’ll warn you, they are gritty and in your face. Every character flaw is brought forth, bared to you in dramatic fashion. You don’t have to like them, but you will suffer with them.

The author is really good at getting you focused, really into a scene, and then. like a punch to the gut, he stops you in your tracks.

There it is. The what the…? moment when you wonder what you’ve got yourself into. Keep on reading. The real horror is waiting just around the corner.

A word about Cruelty. Yes it’s a 10 part serial novel, with a new episode releasing each month. Think about it like this. Do you have a series you love? Do you wait anxiously for the next book even though it could be months or even over a year before it’s released? With Cruelty, you know you’ll be getting a new episode in a month. Not such a long wait. Sure the ending leaves you hanging by your finger tips, but it’s well worth it. A few broken nails and bloody fingers is nothing.

5 Stars

~~~~

Cruelty: Episode Two

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My Review

So here is Episode Two.

I thought I was prepared, but right from the get go. the author made me cringe. His description of Turtle, the druggie in withdrawal, made my face screw up in disgust. You know it’s good writing when you react physically to a scene.

But let’s push on.

William is still alive and kicking. I’d say that’s a miracle since the 600 lb doll thing likes to play with people. Like when a kid pulls the legs off a daddy-long-legs spider, it bends and twists and rends the bodies. It likes it best when they’re still alive. When it can hear them scream.

As he did in the first episode, Edward Lorn wields a bloody pen. By the time I got to the end, I was thinking, no more. Once the doll thing arrives on the scene again, the rest of the story is a runaway train. And the ending is so sudden I almost got whiplash.

For me, it’s a good thing I have a couple of weeks until the next episode releases. Just how much can I take. This brief pause will give me time to recuperate. Then I’ll be saying, “Feed me Seymour.”

5 Stars

~~~~

About Edward Lorn and where to stalk him.

For more about Edward Lorn and his books:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

Edward’s page on RAP: http://redadeptpublishing.com/edward-lorn/

Edward’s blog: http://edwardlorn.wordpress.com/

~~~~

More books I’ve read by Edward Lorn

Life After Dane 1400x2100

Go HERE for my review.

And more books.

Go HERE for my reviews.

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

Teaser Tuesdays #55 ~ Bitter Fruit: A Taste of the Antholocaust

Posted: January 29, 2014 in horror, otherworldly, Short stories and collections, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: Bitter Fruit, Justin Osborne, Teaser Tuesdays

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page.

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~~~~

My Teaser for today is from Bitter Fruit

A Taste of the Antholocaust

by Justin Osborne

My tease from Post 2.

…Trevor quickly brought the light back up to the hole. The light caught whatever was in the pipe, coming out, but as soon as the light touched it, it retracted back inside with great speed.

What the hell was it?

My tease from Muffinz

It wasn’t really a kitten, but not a full grown cat either, and it looked like something was wrong with it.

Then Muffinz opened his mouth, showing rows upon rows of little white daggers…

~~~~

Synopsis

A collection of 5 previously released Horror shorts.
Post 2 – A lone security guard does battle with a horror from the depths of the earth.
Muffinz – A man discovers that adopting a strange cat changes his life forever.
You Can’t Kill Rock And Roll – Sometimes an apartment comes with ‘extras’, like the spirit of a murdered guitar prodigy.
Prepped – The Zombie Apocalypse as experienced by a ‘Doomsday Prepper’.
Prepped 2: Field Trip – Ol’ Crazy Dave returns and finds himself saddled with ‘extra baggage’.

~~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

Freakin Fridays #27 ~ The Monster Man of Horror House and Days With The Undead ~ Reviews

Posted: January 25, 2014 in apocalypse, Freakin Friday, horror, reviews, Supernatural, Zombies
Tags: Days With The Undead by Julianne Snow, The Monster Man of Horror House by Danny King

Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

With the new year here, I’ve started implementing my new plans for my blog.

While I’ll still be doing my memes and posting for book tours and giveaways, I’m going to be doing a lot more reviewing.

I asked you to help me with this. Below are the 5 books I’ll be reviewing for the 5 Fridays in January. You’ve let me know which one you want me to review first. The book with the most votes for my first 2014 Freakin Fridays review was The Little Mermaid of Death!

There is a link further down in the post for my review if you missed it.

Your next pick was Spooky Short Stories. You can check out my review further down in this post.

And your next pick was The Monster Man of Horror House which I’ll be reviewing now along with the next choice Days With The Undead!

I had a glitch and had to miss my Freakin Fridays post last week so making up for that now.

~~~

The previous week’s choices!

The Monster Man of Horror House

by Danny King

~~~

My Review

Every town has one. That mysterious person. A recluse. You can’t help but listen to the rumors about him. His very aloofness invites it.

John Coal has been having trouble with a group of teenage boys. They pull pranks, destroy property, and torment him. At first, he’s at a loss, wondering, “Why me?”

Then it hits him. He’s that creepy old guy in the creepy house. The odd one that everybody whispers about. People cross the street to avoid contact.

The gang of boys continue to plague him so he figures he’ll give them what they believe. He’ll be the monster man.

So he sets the bait, making it easy for the boys to get, and adds one more thing to entice them further into the house. Then he springs his trap and the boys end up in his cellar, scared and shaken.

Who knows what horrible plans he has in store for them. They should have minded their own business.

John Coal has quite a history. He’s dealt with things we only dreamed about in our nightmares. Drawing on his past experiences, he goes to extremes to teach these boys a lesson.

The author threw me for a loop from the moment John trapped those boys. I didn’t have any idea whether John was just a grumpy old loner or something else. I quickly found out. I can see why he’s called the monster man now.

I had to stretch my imagination a bit about the elaborate trap John set. But as I learned about his past, it became easier to believe and them I was all in to the end.

A good read for a dark and stormy night.

3 Stars

~~~

Days With The Undead

by Julianne Snow

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My Review

This was a bit different for me. The story is narrated by Julie as an ongoing journal on the internet. She is recording everything that has happened to her and her 4 friends starting three days after the outbreak, as they go on the run, seeking someplace safe from the zombies.

Right away, I liked how the author addressed people’s reactions to the news of the flesh-eating outbreak. Many just went about their daily lives. That is, until the zombies came calling.

Some of the towns they passed through were untouched, while others were ravaged. They had to be careful not only of the zombies. There were pirates out there, goons who would as soon shoot you as help you. They want what you’ve got, plain and simple.

While telling her tale, Julie begins relating each of her friends stories. What happened to them when the outbreak occurred and how they came to be together.

If you are going to survive, you have to get tough, keep your group small, and keep moving. No stopping to help anyone, and no letting someone join the group, no matter what.

It’s easy to think, but harder when they’re faced with some choices.

Zombie fans know that things happen. Not everyone can survive. You expect losses. But don’t you wish it didn’t have to be that way?

By writing this as a journal, Julianne did an excellent job. I was actually picturing the scenes, nodding at some things, and hoping the zombie apocalypse stayed what it is. Fiction.

You can learn a lot about surviving the apocalypse by reading Julie’s journal.

I was going to give this 4 stars but the ending bumped it right up to 5! I read it several times and it floored me.

5 Stars

~~~

Your previous choices were:

Spooky Short Stories

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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My 5 Star Review

***

Your first choice!

The Little Mermaid of Death

by Kevin Richey

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My 4 Star Review

And for next week!

Cold Blood

by Donna Ansari

As the winter holiday season descends on New York City, vampire Emma Hammond is anticipating celebrating with Tammy and David, her witch and werewolf roommates. But when an odd Christmas ornament unleashes waves of the undead from her neighborhood graveyard, Emma finds herself as an unwilling shield between ravenous zombies and an unsuspecting city. Even worse, despite having everyday dealing with supernatural creatures, Emma finds that she has an unnatural aversion to the shambling dead, and must get to their source and stop the invasion before she’s forced to cancel her holiday party!

***

Stay tuned for February. I’ll be giving you some new choices!

Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith ~ My review of small town evil with a bite

Posted: January 23, 2014 in horror, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Vampires
Tags: Kathryn Meyer Griffith, Vampire Blood

For today I’ll be telling you about Vampire Blood

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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My Review

When I read Human No Longer, I knew I’d be reading more of Kathryn’s books. When she told me there was another book that was a prequel written before it, I had to read it.

They say nothing ever happens in a small town.

Jenny and her brother Joey are going to wish that were true.

A family of vampires are on the run after one of them made a mess of things. The leader, Michelson, decides it’s time to return to Summer Haven, Florida.

Michelson struggles to control the younger vampires, but it’s hopeless. They feed on anything and anyone and the heck with the consequences. The old town theatre seems like a good place to maintain their cover, but with the indiscriminate killings, trouble has followed them.

The poor town is losing citizens at an alarming rate and the murders are vicious and bloody. Soon Jenny and Joey will be drawn into the horrific events, caught between the feuding vampires.

No one is safe and the bodies keep piling up.

The author really had me squirming. I know I shouldn’t have cared about the vampires, but their leader almost had me on his side. I got where he was coming from. He had a family to feed and protect.

Michelson had a good idea when he bought the old theatre and started getting it ready to reopen. He could make a living and the hours would be convenient. Too bad the brat, Irene, couldn’t keep her fangs to herself. A small town probably wasn’t the best choice when you’re trying to survive and stay undiscovered.

Jenny is my favorite character. She’s a horror writer and just moved back home after a bad divorce. She’s having to start over and find herself again. Imagine her surprise when the creatures she wrote in her fiction books turn out to be real.

Joey, her younger brother, owns the local diner. With his personality and his amazing cooking, the diner becomes the town hub and gossip central. In a small town there are no secrets. I live in one and someone is always coming up to me and asking, did you hear about or guess what so and so did.

Together, these two siblings make a lethal combination. They both have people they care about, and the vampires chose the wrong town.

I couldn’t believe I was feeling sorry for some of the vampires. For the most part they’re cruel and toy with us like a cat with a mouse. We being the mice.

I’ve read several of Kathryn’s books and one thing she’s consistent with is her ability to spin an in-depth plot. Another is her abundance of characters, each with their own voice, easy to tell apart.

The beginning is bloody, then there’s the calm before the storm. Once the action starts it’s hang onto your butt until you reach the end.

5 Stars

~~~~

Other books I’ve read by Kathryn

Click on the covers to read my reviews.

Reviewing soon.

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Reading now.

~~~~

About Kathryn Meyer Griffith…

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. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-two years ago now, and have had eighteen (ten romantic horror, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance and three 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 over 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.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for her Horror novel The Last Vampire–Revised Author’s Edition

2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for her Suspense/Thriller novel Dinosaur Lake

*All Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s books can be found here:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Kathryn%20Meyer%20Griffith

*All her Audible.com audio books here:

http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_mn_at_ano_tseft__galileo?advsearchKeywords=Kathryn+Meyer+Griffith&x=17&y=16

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forge, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire, Witches, The Nameless One (short story), The Calling, Egyptian Heart, Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes novella & bonus short story, A Time of Demons, The Woman in Crimson, The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Fiction: Vol. 1 (Introduction), 4 Spooky Short Stories, Telling Tales of Terror Chapter on Putting the Occult into your Fiction), Dinosaur Lake, Human No Longer, Scraps of Paper–Revised Author’s Edition, All Things Slip Away.

My Websites:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1019954486

https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/profile

http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/889499.Kathryn_Meyer_Griffith

http://www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyerG

http://tinyurl.com/ma58spm

***

Delta Legend by Kelan O’Connell now in paperback ~ What’s in the water? Tag Team International Giveaway and Review

Posted: January 22, 2014 in Creatures, Dark Fantasy, giveaways, horror, Humor, reviews, Supernatural
Tags: Delta Legend, Kelan O'Connell, mythical being

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It’s time to celebrate!

Delta Legend is now out in paperback!

I’m reposting my 5 Star review and Kelan has written an awesome guest post.

That’s not all.

This is a Tag Team Event.

I’ll be giving away one paperback copy of Delta Legend generously provided by Kelan O’Connell. After entering my giveaway, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental for another chance to win!

Synopsis

When 16-year-old Oakland teenager, Calvin Pierce, makes a bad decision and winds up getting arrested, his mother is quick to take action. Determined not to lose a second son to the drug and gang violence of the inner city, she sends Calvin to spend the summer working for his great uncle in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

There in the predominately white region of agriculture and recreational boating, Calvin’s a fish out of water with a chip on his shoulder. But when severed body parts are discovered floating in a slough, his summer of proving himself takes on new meaning.

Something deadly is lurking in the deep, murky waterways of the Delta. Now the daunting task of containing the living incarnation of a mythical creature falls to Calvin and his ragtag posse of oddball characters.

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Enjoy Kelan’s Guest Post

THE RIDE OF SUSPENDED DISBELIEF

Writing Urban Fantasy Adventure is a bit like creating a wild new theme park ride. It’s a really fun gig. If done right, readers will happily board your attraction and stay engaged through the whole crazy ride, ping-ponging between anticipation, fear, laughter, and satisfaction.

Photo by Dan Hatfield, OrlandoInformer.com

As a novelist, I have to make sure my story has all the necessary elements required for a great ride, and suspended disbelief is a key element in good fantasy fiction.

In Urban Fantasy, fantastical things happen in the modern world as we know it. Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge of writing for this genre is creating a sense of isolation in our modern world. Considering the sheer number of humans crawling all over the planet armed with multiple means of connecting, this can be a formidable task. Enter the all-important selection of location.

The setting for Delta Legend goes by both the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the California Delta. I refer to it by both names in the book. Though surrounded by populated cities, the heart of the Delta retains a sense of isolation due to its vast expanses of farmland and seemingly endless waterways that snake on for 1000 plus miles. That’s right—one thousand.

It was definitely challenging to describe this unique region in a way that would give people who’ve never been there a visceral sense of the place. Luckily, I have a couple things going for me in this regard. One, I have a background as a screenwriter, so I write visually. And two, I spent a good deal of time in the California Delta from the time I was 15 until I was in my mid 30′s. And let me tell you, no matter how old I got, swimming or waiting to get picked up on a water ski in the Delta, always freaked me out a bit. Anything could be lurking in those deep murky waters.

Photo by Kelan

Of course, if anything like what happens in the book were to actually happen in the Delta, it would be extremely hard to keep it on the down-low, but that’s where the all-important suspended disbelief and sense of isolation come into play.

Then there’s the fact that every once in while, something fantastical happens in our real world—something that makes fantasy all the more plausible.

In case you missed it, check this out: This very real sea creature was discovered recently off the shores of Catalina Island, a place I visited several times when I lived in Los Angeles.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/15/us/california-18-foot-oarfish/

Nope, not Photoshopped.

The gal who found this creature (dead) while snorkeling, grabbed it by the tail and hauled it to shore (holy crap) because she knew her friends wouldn’t believe her if they didn’t see it for themselves.

And that, my friends, is the stuff that fuels imagination and inspires all manner of Urban Fantasy and folklore. Laura Thomas’ review of Delta Legend is titled, “There’s Something In the Water!” Hell yeah, there is.

Wanna come along for the ride? It’s fun … and a little scary.

~~~~

My Review

Delta Legend is so much more than a scary creature story. It is about second chances, community, new friendships, budding romance, courage and honor.

There is an inner story that provides vital background for the legend. Kelan has really done a lot of research in order to tell you about this creature and where the events take place. Her descriptions of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are almost visual. You can almost feel the sluggish, dark water on your skin and the cold, silty bottom between your toes.

There are many characters that have their parts to play in this book. They are all essential to the plot and add depth, believability and some comic relief.

When Calvin has a brush with the juvenile court system, his mother, Angela, knows she has to do something. After losing her older son Leo to drug and gang violence, she does not want him going down the same path. Her solution is to send Calvin to stay with his great-uncle Samuel for the summer break. He wants no part of the “cuts”, or back country life and arrives with a big chip on his shoulder.

Samuel was apprehensive about taking in Calvin, but is pleasantly surprised when his great-nephew shows a penchant for machine and engine repair. He proves to be a hard worker and an asset at Samuel’s Marine Repair Shop.

Calvin’s first encounter with Mei Li, a young Chinese farm girl, is confrontational. She sees through his tough guy persona and calls him on it. She is sassy and bold and he wants nothing to do with her.

Samuel takes Calvin into the local cafe and small grocery owned by Frances. It is also where the rental desk for Heron’s Harbor Marina, which her teenage son Jess runs. The locals come there to hang out, have a bite to eat and catch up on the daily news around town. It seems every small town has one of these.

After a little bit of juggling, Calvin and Jess start up a friendship. Mei Li is friends with Jess and includes herself on their outings. It is not hard for the others to notice that Jess has developed an interest in Lauren. She is a nice girl, but hangs with the town bullies. But soon enough Lauren sees them for what they are and joins up with Jess, Calvin and Mei Li.

Good old boys Terry and Neal just want to fish and drink cold beer. They motor to their favorite fishing spot and settle in to catch some dinner when they spot what looks like debris from a boat floating in the water. Seeing what they think is a wig, they hook it and take a look. What they had on the end of that hook was someone’s face. Their return trip broke records. This is not the only encounter they have with body parts, it seems like they just can’t get a day of fishing in.

It soon becomes obvious that something is preying on the people of the Delta. Something hungry. The fatalities start piling up, and finally even Sheriff Ray Cruz has to accept that there is a deadly creature cruising the waters, killing and eating the unsuspecting .

The mish mash of locals, along with Calvin and his posse of friends and Sheriff Cruz and bumbling Deputy Burt Watson, unite to combat this evil monster. There are many more characters that I’ve not mentioned, each one adding flavor and dimension to the story. Kelan has the ability to weave them in without confusing you or slowing down your reading enjoyment. No flipping back and forth to see who’s who.

I particularly liked her characterization of Joe, Tak and Samuel. I smilingly think of them as the Over the Hill Gang.

There are a few surprises, you think something has been left out, but then Kelan slips it in effortlessly, providing all of the answers.

And I can’t wait for you to read the great “Oh No!” ending.

If you are looking for a unique monster story with lots of action, adventure and scares, I recommend you get Delta Legend and get reading.

5 STARS.

You can go HERE to read my original review post and check out my interview with Kelan!

Author Kelan O’Connell

Though she’s been writing in one form or another since the age of 20, Delta Legend is Kelan O’Connell’s first solo novel. She began writing in college, creating character monologues as a way to stand out in auditions and later went on to write sketch comedy, one-act plays, and more specs for screen than she cares to admit.

Kelan holds a degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University and has worked in the Film and Television Industry in Northern California and Los Angeles—among her many other day jobs.

She currently lives in Northern California with her partner, Sound Engineer/Producer, Tom Size, and the incredibly spoiled pets of Camp RunAmuck.

Be sure to visit Kelan’s blog: http://kelanoconnell.blogspot.com

and the Delta Legend website: http://deltalegend.com

Other Links

Goodreads / Twitter

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I have one print copy of Delta Legend to give away!

An International Giveaway!

To enter, please leave your email address with your comment so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:

“What sea monster scares you the most?”

This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry at fundinmental.

You can visit Sherry’s blog for another chance to win and see what she thinks about Delta Legend HERE.

Giveaway ends February 3rd.

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Monday Minis #21 ~ Drop Dead Tavern

Posted: January 14, 2014 in apocalypse, horror, Monday's Minis, reviews, Zombies
Tags: Chad P.Brown, Drop Dead Tavern, Short story

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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about Drop Dead Tavern

by Chad P. Brown

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My Review

You’d think after watching Walking Dead nothing would shock me.

This short story should have come with a warning. “Brace yourself.”

All Kent wants is a bottle to swill away his grief. To forget about the loss of his brother, the zombies gnashing around, and his loneliness.

He pulls his bike up to the tavern and after making sure the coast is clear, he enters.

Aah, right there amid the broken bottles stands one survivor. Looks like he’ll sleep good tonight. Maybe there’ll be no dreams.

Suddenly, he’s confronted by a boy. He looks like a street urchin, filthy and haggard.

Once Kent establishes the boys trust, he gets his story.

Any zombie fans would love this short tale.

It didn’t take me long to read it, but by the end it felt like forever. Like those dreams you have where you are running and running and never seem to get anywhere.

I must have been lulled somehow, because what happened in that tavern really tore me up.

Without fluff or wasted words, Chad got right to the matter, dragging me in.

You have to remember, this is a zombie apocalypse. It ended leaving me torn and wishing there was more. I really liked Kent and wondered what would become of him.

4 Stars

~~~~

About Chad P. Brown

Chad P. Brown was born in Huntington, WV. Once he outgrew his childhood fears of haunted houses, clowns, and toy monkeys with cymbals (although those still creep him out a little bit), he discovered a dark love for writing and an affinity for macabre and eldritch matters. He holds a Master’s in Latin from Marshall University and is an Affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association. In October 2011, he released his first horror novel, The Jack-in-the-box. He has appeared in the anthologies SPIDERS (August 2012 by May December Publications) and Gothic Blue Book Vol. 2 – Revenge Edition (October 2012 by Burial Day Books). His current projects include a recently released zombie novella, Messiah of the Zombie Apocalypse, and various short stories, as well as a dark fiction novella, The Pumpkin House, which is in submission.

Monday Minis #20 ~ The Basement ~ Don’t ever say I’ll be right back!

Posted: January 6, 2014 in horror, Monday's Minis, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: Chad P.Brown, ghost, haunted house, The Basement

Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about The Basement

by Chad P. Brown

15828409

My Review

I’ve seen the movies. I’ve read the books. But, I just can’t say it enough. Don’t go in the basement! There’s always something bad just waiting to make you dead.

So the story goes, Heather takes a dare and enters the Blackwell House. Everyone knows it’s haunted, and really bad things happened. But, like the foolish girl she is, I guess she figures it can’t happen to her. She’ll show her friends there’s nothing to be afraid of and that’ll be the end of it.

Not quite. Heather doesn’t run into the Blackwell family ghosts. Instead, she’s confronted by her dead mother.

What the author did really well was hook me in right from the beginning. This isn’t a new scenario. I’ve read many similar stories, but the author made it different. The ghost Heather thought she should be worried about isn’t the one that appeared.

The atmosphere is set, from the door slamming shut after she enters, to the creaking and moaning of the old house settling.

Another thing that I liked was how the author let me into Heather’s head as she tried to dispel her own fears and find logical explanations for what was occurring. It enabled me to feel her fear, her disbelief, and finally her terror.

Kudos to Chad for his surprising ending. After I read the last sentence I said to myself, “Got ya!”

3 Stars

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About Chad P. Brown

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Archive for the ‘horror’ Category

Teaser Tuesdays #56 ~ The Hand That Feeds

Monday Minis #23 ~ Distance To Empty by Lee Moan

Freakin Fridays #28 ~ Just released! CRAWL ~ In your face horror ~ My Review

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Freakin Fridays #27 ~ The Monster Man of Horror House and Days With The Undead ~ Reviews

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Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith ~ My review of small town evil with a bite

Delta Legend by Kelan O’Connell now in paperback ~ What’s in the water? Tag Team International Giveaway and Review

Monday Minis #21 ~ Drop Dead Tavern

Monday Minis #20 ~ The Basement ~ Don’t ever say I’ll be right back!