Archive for the ‘Short stories and collections’ Category

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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review very short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about The Devil’s Walk

by Brian Harmon

The Devil's Walk

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Carl Delsh is dying. He’s lived a long time and he’s ready to join his love who went 20 years ago.

His granddaughter and great granddaughter sit vigil as his time draws near.

In one of his last lucid moments, he tells his granddaughter, Amanda, about the tall man with long white hair who murdered his best friend Lonnie so many years ago.

This would be the perfect story to tell late at night, sitting in the woods, surrounded by trees, and the only light comes from the sputtering fire you sit around.

You’d be looking over your shoulder, squinting into the darkness.

Did something linger in the dark? Is someone peering back at you?

You’d be waiting from someone to yell Boo! You’d just want the suspense to end.

That’s how this story unfolds. Slowly gaining momentum and building in suspense.

This is not a ghost story. It’s a cautionary tale. And a really creepy one.

4 Stars

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I’ve also read another short story by Brian

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My Review

In the six years Allan has owned his house, it has never been even remotely haunted. But after his wife is startled by an unknown noise, he begins to notice very strange activity throughout the house. At first, he’s excited by the idea of a ghostly visitor, but his enthusiasm quickly turns to dread as he realizes that his phantom guest has also begun to notice him.

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And on my next Monday Minis I’ll be reviewing another one of Brian’s short stories.

The Man in the Fire

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The Man in the Fire took everything Daniel ever held dear. Now Daniel sets out for one final confrontation.

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Brian Harmon

Brian Harmon is a writer of horror fiction, suspense and dark adventure. He grew up in Missouri and currently lives in Southern Wisconsin with his wife, Guinevere, and their two children.

You can find Brian and all of his books HERE.

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Welcome to Thursday Theatre

Here is where I’ll be posting video clips about books and movies and fun stuff.

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Check out this very short story by Mr Creepy Pasta.

It’ll make you hair stand on end in only three minutes!

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVzKbU7TkWU]

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What’s this I hear?

Adam Light has released a new book!

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TOES UP: A brand-new collection of unforgettable horror.
Set your expectations aside and run screaming down dark corridors of inescapable terror.
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– A waitress in Slidell, Louisiana is about to meet Jack, a truck driver hell bent on pleasing the goddess in TAKEN.
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– A diabetic man who neglects his health pays for it in truly twisted fashion in VENGEANCE BY THE FOOT.
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– Greg is having a really bad day at work, and can’t find his shoe or his mustard in the spine-tingling GONE.
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– Winning the lottery isn’t quite all it’s cracked up to be for Gordan in WAY OUT OF HERE.
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– Survivors of the apocalypse find an invitation to terror waiting on their doorstep in THE CONTINUANCE AGENCY.
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Includes SERVING THE SPIRITS, a thrilling novella available for the very first time in this collection!
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These are the dark, forbidding realms that exist at the edge of sanity. No one is safe. In the end, we all leave TOES UP.
I’m going to have to get this collection! I’ve read and reviewed all of these, except I see Adam has slipped in a new one I haven’t read yet!
All of these incredible stories in one book. I must have it!

Ebook is available now for only $3.99 or free on Amazon Prime and paperback is coming soon!

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Adam Light

Adam   Light

Besides being the best father and husband I can be, my ultimate goal in life is writing horror fiction that will knock people’s socks off.

I began the journey into writing for the public in the fall of 2011, and I have not looked back since. I admit that I got a late start on it, as I am pushing 40 now, but I believe that an eleventh-hour commencement is preferable to none at all.

I have self-published five short stories to date. The most recent one entitled THE CONTINUANCE AGENCY is the first chapter in a planned series still in progress. This one is a departure for me, and comes as a refreshing turning point in my writing. I look forward to writing longer works, my long term goal being to write full length novels.

I have been humbled and emboldened by all the positive responses to my stories, and thus encouraged to continue my quest. Thanks to all who have read and reviewed my work, giving an unknown author such as myself a chance to unleash my madness upon you.

Goodreads

Amazon

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And here is Evans newest release!

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SCREAMSCAPES: This new collection showcases the dark fiction of  Evans Light, with a beautiful cover designed by Bram Stoker award-winning author Kealan Patrick Burke.

Prepare to find your way through a dark world as nightmares and screamscapes unfold in these ten strikingly original tales. Lingering lovesick ghosts, wives hellbent on revenge,along with sinister demons, underground dwellers, forgotten campgrounds and malintent friends haunt this compelling collection of modern horror.

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(In addition to this trade paperback, there is a Special Limited Edition available exclusively through www.evans-light.com/book-store)

Includes the bestselling novella, ArborEATum!

Stories include:

* Crawlspace- My Review
* Whatever Possessed You? – My Review
* ArborEATum – My Review
* Dark Curtains – Reviewing Soon
* Gertrude – Reviewing Soon
* Black Door – My Review
* The Mole People Beneath the City – My Review
* Pay Back – My Review
* Nose Hears – Reviewing Soon
* The Package – Reviewing Soon

At only $3.99 this is a steal!

All of this horror in one awesome book.

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Evans Light

Evans Light

Evans Light is a writer of horror and suspense who suffers from frequent bouts of delusional grandeur interspersed with moments of soul-crushing suspicions of personal inadequacy.

He has a collection of short stories and novellas, SCREAMSCAPES, in the bag and now available from fine retailers everywhere, and a first novel well underway.

Evans works closely with his brother and frequent collaborater Adam Light, who is a stellar horror writer in his own right. Intense sibling rivalry and incessant one-upsmanship will ensure that nothing but horror of the highest caliber will be produced by The Light Brothers for years to come.

Connect with us:

Join “Q&A with The Light Brothers – Evans Light and Adam Light” – Goodreads group: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/8…

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Evan…

Goodreads

Facebook

You can also stalk Evans here.

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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review very short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about Hummingbirds

by William Sharp 

Hummingbirds

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John and Carley have found the perfect getaway.

When Carley spotted the rustic cabin for sale on-line, there was no stopping her.

The idealic little cabin with its panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado was an escape after the noise and stress of New York.

Still very much in love after six years of marriage, they are quite happy with just each other for company.

While enjoying his morning cup of coffee and the breathtaking scenery, John’s peace is shattered when he sees Carley stumble out of the brush and collapse.

She’s rushed to the CDC’s Genetic Displacement Lab, where she comes to and is able to tell what happened to her on her morning walk.

A hummingbird had attacked her. She knew immediately it was one of them, and hurried to get to the cabin before the symptoms overtook her.

The first thing that caught my attention was what could a little old hummingbird do to cause such distress.

Well, these aren’t really hummingbirds, they are just labeled as such because they look similar to them.

These things are actually hatched from meteorites that made it through our atmosphere and landed in various locations.

They are indiscriminate creatures, attacking men, women, children, and animals, injecting their victims with something.

If that’s not creepy enough, their injections cause irreversible changes.

A really good horror story is one where you have a real connection to the characters and are concerned for their well-being.

In this case, I just hated what might happen to these two. The author had me connect and like them immediately, so I felt sadness for Carley and John. I wanted to go back and change what happened.

The author had all of the power and wielded it well. I was completely hooked right to the bitter end.

If you like horror and science fiction, I recommend you read Hummingbirds.

It has a lasting impression.

4 Stars

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The term Trochilidae isn’t what these creatures are called. It’s the latin word for hummingbird and I just used it for my title because it sounded alien!

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William Sharp

William    Sharp

William Sharp is a life-long scifi fan. He has been writing for pleasure since he was a child, right on through creative writing in high school and college, and lots of medical/technical/professional writing in his career as a litigation attorney.

William’s stories are heavily influenced by the themes and style of Golden Age and some New Wave scifi. He believes the most memorable scifi stories explore the human condition, human interactions, and common human problems, against a backdrop containing futuristic scifi elements. The writings of Arthur C. Clarke, Harlan Ellison, Issac Asimov, and Robert Heinlein are the most influential to his work

William is married and lives in Texas. He dabbles in acting in community theater, enjoys playing the guitar, and has just recently written his first one-act stage play. He loves his wonderful German Shepherd named Liesl and loves even more his terrific wife and three kids, all of whom would kill him if he repeated their names here.

You can find the author and his books HERE.

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review very short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about Morning Warning

by A.M. Sawyer 

Morning Warning

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I’m not sure if this would be categorized as suspense, horror, or paranormal. I would say all three as it has some of each.

Young Anthony drags himself out of bed and gets ready for school. It’s Friday and one week closer to the summer break.

After the usual race to beat his older sister, Rachel, to the bathroom, which he lost, and the fight over the TV remote with his big brother, Alex, which he also lost, it’s time to meet the school bus.

As usual, his sister and brother leave him at the door and he runs to catch up with them.

As they wait for the bus, Anthony notices how quiet it is, how still it is. He looks back up the long driveway to his house and sees the heavy green clouds. They cover the sky, hanging low to the ground.

Living in a tornado prone area, he’s so used to the tornado sirens going off all the time, he wonders if he should be worried by this calm. There are no sirens, but he becomes uneasy, then fearful. He really wants to go back to his house.

The author’s description of the weather is dead on. I’ve been through a few tornadoes, and how he describes the greenish clouds and the sense of foreboding they cause, brought back some vivid memories.

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The family dynamics, with the older brother and sister teasing their little brother rings true. I am the youngest of six and was at my older siblings mercy.

As the weather takes an ominous turn, the author creates a sense of apprehension, of fear. It builds just like the storm does.

Morning Warning made me shiver.

Though a short story, the writing is powerful, and the author gave me quite a surprise with the conclusion.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the ending was a twister!

5 Stars

About the author

A. M. Sawyer has written several books, delving in poetry, humor, science fiction, and fantasy.

You can find out more at these links:

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Who doesn’t love a free book?

In the mood for a dark paranormal romance?

Evans Light has his short story, Dark Curtains free on Amazon.

August 5th – 6th. Don’t wait!

Get your free copy HERE!

Dark Curtains

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When Claire and James move into a beautiful Victorian home together, she soon discovers that he is being seduced by a secret from his past, one thought buried long ago.

“If you love writers like Joe Hill, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson or Joe R. Lansdale, you owe it to yourself to give Evans Light a try…this new voice on the scene packs enough inventive storytelling twists to delight even the most jaded fans of horror and suspense.”

Look for my review tomorrow!

***Click on the Amazon Icon below to get your free copy now!***

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What’s this? Evans is working on something new!!!

We Don't Need No Water

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When his little sister ends up dead in the local jailhouse after being taken in for a misdemeanor, Iverson doesn’t believe for a minute that she committed suicide. After he and his brothers learn the harsh truth about what really happened, what the Sheriff and his friends did to her, they set out to make the whole town pay for their sins – and nothing but the truth can stop the flames of hell that burn in the wake of their brutal vengeance.

This brand-new story from Evans Light is coming August 2013!

You can bet I’ll be grabbing this as soon as it’s available!

And he’s working on another one! Can’t wait to learn what it’s all about.

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I’ve read almost all of Evans Light’s stories

Be sure to visit THE LIGHT BROTHERS web portal at www.evans-light.com for exclusive discounts and giveaways.

Check out my reviews!

ARBOREATUM

ArborEATum

PAY BACK

Payback

The Mole People Beneath the City

The Mole People Beneath the City

Whatever Possessed You?

Whatever Possessed You?

CRAWLSPACE

Crawl Space

Black Door

Black Door

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****Short story collections****

Screamscapes

SCREAMSCAPES serves as the definitive collection of Evans short story/novella output from 2011-2012, and is available in ebook and paperback through quite a few retailers, including Barnes & Noble (ebook is currently Amazon-exclusive, but that will change in another month).

Screamscapes – Reviewing soon.

Screamscapes - Limited Edition

The limited edition signed/numbered paperback of SCREAMSCAPES is available exclusively through THE LIGHT BROTHERS Book Store at www.evans-light.com/book-store.

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***written with Adam Light***

The Corpus Corruptum

Corpus Corruptum – Reviewing soon.

Evans Light

Evans Light

Evans Light is a writer of horror and suspense who suffers from frequent bouts of delusional grandeur interspersed with moments of soul-crushing suspicions of personal inadequacy.

He has a collection of short stories and novellas, SCREAMSCAPES, in the bag and now available from fine retailers everywhere, and a first novel well underway.

Evans works closely with his brother and frequent collaborater Adam Light, who is a stellar horror writer in his own right. Intense sibling rivalry and incessant one-upsmanship will ensure that nothing but horror of the highest caliber will be produced by The Light Brothers for years to come.

Connect with us:

Join “Q&A with The Light Brothers – Evans Light and Adam Light” – Goodreads group: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/8…

Goodreads

Facebook

You can also stalk Evans here.

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!

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My tease for today is from Written All Over Her by Mia Darien

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“It happened really fast, you know? I barely even remember it, except that it was sudden and darkness followed. It’s like there were two lives, or maybe like there were two of me. There was the Nykk who existed before and then the long moment of darkness before the Nykk that existed after.”

“I guess that leaves a frightening question.” Her pale brow furrows in the most pronounced show of emotion you’ve seen yet.

“Who am I now?”

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Wow! That cover art is astonishing!

I’ve been wanting to know Nykk’s story. Now I will!

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Welcome To The Harvest!
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc0KWClT2Zw]
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I know. Harvesting season usually takes place in the late summer.
Here on the Gulf Coast, we harvest all year long.
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The Harvesters (Harvesting Series #1)
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When she finds her boyfriend shackled to a white metal table Ashley feared for the worse.
On a small trip of dropping off a package for Jason’s father, the young couple never thought they would be running for their lives. Running away from supposedly friends whom in turned to be a family of harvesters.
Human harvesters and they are looking for something specific. And Ashley just might be the perfect match for that something.
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Most of you know how much I love me some horror and short stories.
After I checked out The Harvesters, I hopped over, did the click thing on Amazon and started reading this.
You can catch my review over on my Monday Minis.
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Author Info:
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harvesters trailer ashley5
I’m a college student still trying to get a handle of the adult world. When I need to get away from it I lose myself in books, my own writing, and in spending time with my amazing boyfriend which he supports me to no end.
Finding my passion in books has led me to finding a passion in writing my own fictional stories back in 2009, I have turned this into a dream career and going one step further I would love to open up my own book store.

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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review very short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about The Harvesters

by Ashley Hill

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goodreads-badge-add-plus.

You get all of the ingredients for a good horror story. A thunderstorm, a rustic old cabin deep in the woods and some really creepy characters. There’s the huge shambling guy with the axe, the sly shotgun wielding old man, and the creepy kids.

I think the kids creeped me out the most. It had me thinking Blair Witch, when they hear the weird voices outside their tent and the kids giggling and slapping the tent.

The Harvesters is relentless and you land right in the thick of it from the get go.

Ash creeps around in the cellar of the ratty cabin and finally spots her boyfriend, Jason. He’s manacled to a metal table.

From this point on, I girded myself for what was coming.

Ash manages to get his hands free before this huge man throws an axe at her. She heeds Jason’s warning and hightails it but is rushed by a little kid. She sweeps past him and slams the door of the cellar shut behind her.

That’s when she hears the whispering.

She rushes to the truck outside, but, of course, there are no keys. A vision flashes in her head of the keys hanging on a hook inside the cabin.

This is where I wonder what I would’ve done. We know the warnings for these scenes. “Don’t go back inside!” But if your true love is lying in there, helpless, about to be carved up, what else can you do?

So, in she goes again.

From the very beginning it’s a mad dash through this short story.

You’ll get to read about it from two points of view. Ash narrates most of the story, but Jason does have his own side to tell.

Then their story meets again as they struggle to survive multiple attacks with no help for miles in any direction.

 I was thinking serial killers or a family of cannibals maybe. I’m still not sure exactly what they wanted from Ash.

That brings me to the ending. It’s a cliffhanger and a big one. I kind of saw it coming, but I think I would have been disappointed if it wrapped up neatly.

This way, I get to look forward to more. I wonder if one of the next books will be about Jason. He has a dark past and I think his story would be harrowing.

We’ll see.

3 Stars

Go here to check out the trailer!

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Author Info
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harvesters trailer ashley5
I’m a college student still trying to get a handle of the adult world. When I need to get away from it I lose myself in books, my own writing, and in spending time with my amazing boyfriend which he supports me to no end. Finding my passion in books has led me to finding a passion in writing my own fictional stories back in 2009, I have turned this into a dream career and going one step further I would love to open up my own book store.
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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review very short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about The Rain Wouldn’t Take Away The Pain

by Cedrix E. Clarke

The Rain Wouldn't Take Away the Pain

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The cover left me clueless, but it did catch my eye while browsing for a short story.

I downloaded this for free and want to say thanks to Cedrix and to all of you wonderful authors for your free books.

How else could I afford to sample so many different stories.

What was supposed to be a lovely drive to my parents house for Thanksgiving was turning into something more serious.

Mary, a brilliant and lovely young woman and possibly the love of my life, was showing an unusual side of herself.

I never realized she was so insecure about how strangers would feel about her.

I was trying to figure this out, but the odd noise coming from under my car was a distraction. I should have got that looked at before we left.  Also, as I was behind the wheel, I needed to pay attention to the road.

I admit, I was a bit over it with her worries, but I felt a need to reassure her, and to find out what she was so afraid of.

Meanwhile, I’m worried about those noises still coming from under the car. They seem to be caused by turning to the left, so I baby the car around those turns. The tunnel ahead, created by a canopy of thick trees, is a straight shot and we are almost to my parents, so I feel safe to speed up.

There, smack dab in the center of the road, stands a magnificent buck. Expecting him to move, I’m surprised when he calmly gazes at me, standing motionless.

I keep expecting him to move as I draw nearer. If he doesn’t, maybe I can go around him.

I apply the brakes, not knowing what the deer will do….

So much in such a short story.

The conversation between these two lovers and the introspection by the narrator make you feel like a fly on the wall, viewing and listening to everything.

The conversation flowed so naturally and the scenes were depicted in visual detail.

As the story progressed, I became curious about Mary and what was going through her mind to make her so worried. But, then I felt this creeping sense of dread, of suspense. Somehow, without really mentioning it, the author weaved in this calm before the storm feeling. I began to anticipate what could be coming.

What came, was so different from what I was thinking. I actually wasn’t sure what would happen, but I never saw this coming.

The Rain Wouldn’t Take Away the Pain will make you think. It will make you ask yourself some poignant questions and it will push the limits of believability.

This is a very short story that left me with a “what do I know” feeling.

4 Stars

About the author

Cedrix E. Clarke is a pseudonym for a Kentucky writer that has written his entire adult life, but only recently began publishing. Cedrix has a professional day job in a small town in Kentucky and writes at night, and like most comic book heroes, he must protect his identity. Cedrix does not fight crime…not yet, anyway.

For more about the author and his books:

Amazon / Website