Whispers by Heath Stallcup

Synopsis
Some loves transcend time. Some loves were never meant to be. Some loves are cut short by the evil of others. When Sheriff James Tolbert and his fiancé were killed by a malicious rancher and his cutthroat minions, nobody could expect that the very passion that fueled their love would be the same passion that fueled ghostly revenge. When grave robbers unearth Sheriff Tolbert's tomb searching for Old West relics, a vengeful spirit is unleashed on a small Texas town hellbent on revenge. If those responsible couldn't be made to pay, then their progeny would, and they would pay in the most bloody and horrific manner the spirit could dream of. Can modern day law enforcement stop a spirit destined to fulfill an oath made in death? Even when aided by a Texas Ranger and UCLA Paranormal Investigators, how can they stop something that is already dead and buried?

Publisher: May December Publications (October 2013)
Print Length: 475 pages

Review
5 Stars out of 5
Amazon Kindle Version

Heath Stallcup is a great storyteller and this book is just another example of that truth. Whispers is a ghost story in the purist sense of the word. That is what I like most about it. It is reminiscent of the kinds of ghost stories told around a campfire where every snap of a tree branch or falling acorn makes you jump. Who doesn't like that? That's a rhetorical question; don't answer it.

Stallcup's characters are well-developed and rich in personality. The storyline has a western vibe to it, but that doesn't mean it will only appeal to readers who like westerns. There isn't anything about this story I didn't like. It provides just the right amount of everything that I love in a story: action, revenge, good versus evil, interesting character interactions, and a great scare factor.

I recommend Whispers highly!

Purchase Whispers on Amazon. 

About the Author
Heath Stallcup was born in Salinas, California and relocated to Tupelo, Oklahoma in his tween years. He joined the US Navy and was stationed in Charleston, SC and Bangor, WA shortly after junior college. After his second tour he attended East Central University where he obtained BS degrees in Biology and Chemistry. He then served ten years with the State of Oklahoma as a Compliance and Enforcement Officer while moonlighting nights and weekends with his local Sheriff's Office. He still lives in the small township of Tupelo, Oklahoma with his wife and three of his seven children. He steals time to write between household duties, going to ballgames, being a grandfather to five and being the pet of numerous animals that have taken over his home. Visit him on Facebook or heathstallcup.com for news of his upcoming releases.

Splinter (Banished from Hell) by H.J. Harry

Synopsis

For close to a thousand years they waited, waited for the old knowledge to fade away into the mists of myth. Imprisoned, banished, and separated, they waited as the population grew to numbers that could sustain their appetites. Humanity developed habits that made them fat; slow and ripe, memories of the old ways forgotten. They waited for a re-birth of the time of legend, for the time when demons ruled and man was naught but the fodder upon which they fed. They waited for the time when the old gods die and the new were anxious to take their place. They waited for today.
 
A young man resisted the sweet words of compulsion, forsaking money and unlimited power to be with the woman he loves. It was a condemning of his self to the focus of a demon who had once been banished to a minuscule grain of sand. A demon worthy enough to turn that grain of sand into the vehicle that starts the destruction of the sum of humanities freedom, enslaving an entire species to his will he knows that he can do what no other has. A thousand years ago he was accused of having a god complex when already he has done what god would never do.  God complex hell, he was god and the earth should rue the day, every day. 

Publisher: Self
Print Length: 229 pages


Review
5 out of 5 Stars
Kindle Version, Kindle Unlimited

I've read a few short stories and another book written by H.J. Harry, so I was looking forward to reading Splinter (Banished from Hell) when I found out it was available. 

The story begins with a creepy vibe that drew me in right away. The creepiness only intensifies as the story progresses, creating a fast-paced, hard-to-put-down book that reminded me of some of Dean Koontz's earlier novels. 

The author doesn't just tell a good story, though; he tells a good story well. I love the little details he includes when it comes to the scenes and his characters. The details are not the tedious kind... he includes just enough to make the characters memorable and the scenes vivid. This tale of classic "good vs. evil" has enough layers to appeal to all types of horror fans. 

I am guessing there will be a Splinter Two, and I can't wait to see how the story continues!

Purchase on Amazon: Splinter (Banished from Hell) 

About the Author
H.J. Harry was born Joseph Hansen In the early sixties. Raised in the northern mid west by parents of faith and good will he went on to do many things as he focused on writing in his spare time. Thirty some years later he self publishes for the first time. 

A natural storyteller, who sees things with a different skew than most, he has focused on keeping things fresh and fast paced. If you came here to see a list of jobs you can just pick something and H.J. has probably done it especially in the blue collar non-agriculture fields. 

Mostly a YA author, you will see multiple fiction genres coming available in future months from true-to-life fiction, to prehistoric fantasy, to post apocalyptic, including zombies. When H.J. Harry is not writing, drawing his covers or fishing, then he is working in his private wood shop, working on his house, helping a friend on their projects, driving a semi or trying to finagle time to go fishing.

Winter of Zombie Blog Tour Featuring Jay Wilburn

Sometimes the Story Picks You

by Jay Wilburn

My greatest breakout success to date has been a weird little zombie story titled “Dead Song.” I never intended it to be great even as I was writing it. Maybe it is really not. There have been some less than stellar reviews. Maybe it is just some strange, mass delusional halo effect that has some people thinking it is good. I’ve tried more than once to leave it behind along with zombie stories, but time and again opportunity pulls me back into the genre and this story keeps shambling onward. I working on a novelized version of “Dead Song” now.

I used to only write zombie stories. My first story ever published was a zombie story. I got a check with the note line reading “Payment for Zombies.” I slowly ventured out into other stories. I would eventually be writing full-time on the back of several genre and ghostwriting.

I write zombies whenever the opportunity arises. The genre, fellow writers, and publishers have pulled me back again and again even as I worked to expand in other areas. I have theory that my zombie stories actually got better and sold better because I was writing other things which expanded my tool box and improved me as a writer.

“Dead Song” was a strange idea. It hatched from a thought of creating a screenplay as a short story. It would evolve into a narrative format, but just barely. The concept is that a documentary is being made about the evolution of music during the zombie apocalypse. In reality, the story is a guy in a sound booth doing a voice over. If I have ever been accused of telling and not showing, this is my masterpiece of that.

This story was going to be published nowhere and I knew it.

Elektrik Milk Bath Press put out a call for strange zombie stories for a charity anthology. This one was strange, so I submitted “Dead Song” and forgot about it. The anthology came out and was full of zombie weirdness as advertised.

    Some time later, I started getting messages from Ellen Datlow. I thought I was being scammed. I was offered forty dollars to have the story reprinted in Best Horror of the Year volume 5. It turned out to not be a scam.

After the book came out, a few reviewers mentioned my story positively. I actually went back a read the story to try to see what was in it that I had missed. It was better than I remembered. The horror sort of snuck up on you in it.

Some time after that, Prime Books approached me and asked to pay me forty dollars to reprint it again in their Zombies: More Recent Dead featuring the best zombie stories of the last few years. The book features work by  Neil Gaiman, Joe McKinney, Jonathan Mayberry, Joe Lansdale, and more. I read the story again.

I began outlining a novelized version of the events and characters described in the story. As I went into the actual world detailed in “Dead Song,” I realized how dark, campy, twisted, and gritty that world was going to be. This place is full of zombies, drag queens, epic landscapes, Southern gothic, mystery, and magic. As I have churned out short stories while neglecting novels, I realized this story was choosing me again.

I have already been surprised myself by what has been revealed in the first few thousands words. I’m just more convinced that this story has more to offer still. I hope you get a chance to check out “Dead Song,” the weird little zombie short story that won’t quit and eventually the novel, Dead Song: The Legend of Tiny “Mud Music” Jones.

*   *   *   *   *

The stench of frozen rotted meat is in the air! Welcome to the Winter of Zombie Blog Tour 2014, with 10 of the best zombie authors spreading the disease in the month of November.

Stop by the event page on Facebook so you don't miss an interview, guest post or teaser… and pick up some great swag as well! Giveaways galore from most of the authors as well as interaction with them! #WinterZombie2014

https://www.facebook.com/events/1524813084430035/?ref_notif_type=plan_user_joined&source=1

AND so you don't miss any of the posts in November, here's the complete list, updated daily:

http://armandrosamilia.com/2014/11/01/winter-of-zombie-post-list-winterzombie2014/

All Things Zombie: The Gathering Horde by ATZ Publications

Synopsis

This collection of zombie stories features some of the top zombie authors in the genre; T.W. Piperbrook, A.J. Brown, Chris Philbrook and Eric A. Shelman. There are many newcomers here too, having had their dream of being published realized for the first time. You will find that telling them apart may be difficult - we had hundreds of submissions, and this is the cream of the crop. We hope you enjoy this romp through the apocalypse.

Publisher: ATZ Publications, November 7, 2014


Review
I give The Gathering Horde Five out of Five Stars

*Disclaimer one of the stories in this book was written by me, but my story is just one of the awesome stories in this book.*

I'm going to keep this review short. I've been super busy with my novel and need to get back to it. I just had to take the time to share this gem of a book. There are stories here by some well-known names in the zombie/horror genre as well as some new authors. 

The publishers and editors did a fantastic job selecting the best stories out of over one hundred that were submitted. I am truly impressed with the talent of the authors who wrote for this book as well as in the editing that was done. This is ATZ's debut publication, but the quality and professionalism put into this work are first-class.

If you're a fan of The Walking Dead, horror, zombies, or just being entertained, this is the book for you!  

It's only $2.99 or free if you have Kindle Unlimited. Get it by using the link below:

Happy Little Horrors: Freak Show

  No review... just shameless self promotion:

There is an awesome, new book available... just in time for Halloween! 

Description
Happy Little Horrors is an anthology of short stories, produced by author David Reuben and editor Monique Happy. 

Some of the best authors in the horror genre are represented, including Michael Robertson, Craig McDonough, Derrick LaCombe, David Reuben, C.L. Hernandez, Joseph A. Coley, James Michaels, Tania Cooper, Eila Oakes, Brandon Ryals, Michael Clary, Kya Aliana, Allen Gamboa, Dean Wild, John McIlveen, Toni Lesatz, Brandon Cracraft, and Steven G. Bynum.

If you look closely, you might notice my name sharing space with seventeen other amazing authors. It is an honor to be featured in this book!

Don't miss out. Get your copy today! Available in paperback and Kindle format. 

The Chest by Michael Robertson

Synopsis

Waking up in a hostile environment, paralyzed from the waist down, and unable to see any further than the end of his nose, James has to work out where he is and what the hell he's doing there.

Publisher: Self Published
Print length: 29 pages

Review
Format: Kindle (Kindle Unlimited)
I give The Chest 5 out of 5 Stars (I love it!)

Once again, Michael Robertson has blown me away! I read this book in one setting because once I started, I didn't want to stop. I had to find out how it ends. 

Like most readers, I made assumptions about what was going on and why the character found himself in the situation he did. All of my assumptions were wrong. I love stories that do that to me! 

The book is also very well-written. Robertson has a beautiful way with words... almost poetic, but without any pretentiousness. 

The ending is what sealed the "wow" deal for me: totally unexpected and meaningful. I recommend this book highly.

Buy The Chest on Amazon!


About the Author

Michael is a writer from the UK with several publications to his name both online and in print. He has recently won a competition with HarperCollins for his zombie short story 'In the Name of Science'. He writes because he needs to. He writes dystopian, sci-fi, and apocalyptic fiction. Crash is his first ebook release.

Follow Michael Robertson on Facebook and Twitter.
Website: Michael Robertson

Outage by T.W. Piperbrook

Synopsis
When newlyweds Abby and Rob awaken, the power is out, the neighborhood is covered in snow, and the house is freezing. 

They'll soon find out that the storm is the least of their worries. 

Somewhere outside, something else is lurking. 

Waiting for the chance to strike...

Publisher: Post Script Publishing (June 16, 2014)
Print Length: 99 pages

Review
This review can also be found on The Bookie Monster. For more great book reviews, visit their site!

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars on TBM and Amazon.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion or review of the book.

The beast watched her through the trees. It could smell her scent from several hundred yards away— the odor of fear and sweat, cutting through the air like the sharp edge of the knife she was holding. It didn’t care about knives. There were a lot of things it didn’t care about. It didn’t have to. It could heal from most of them. Ever since the start of the storm, the neighborhood had become the beast’s playground, its hunting quarters, and it would do whatever it pleased. The snow was little more than a prop in its game, a backdrop for the kill. It had waited for this moment for what seemed like forever, and now that it was here, the beast could barely contain itself. -- Excerpt from Outage.

T.W. Piperbrook's Outage is a quick read, and not just because it's shorter than most novels. I read it quickly because I couldn't put it down. The story oozes creepiness from the very first page and doesn't let up until the final word at the end of the book.

In many ways, the telling of this story is reminiscent of Stephen King. Like King, Piperbrook creates tension through the thoughts and feelings of his characters. When it's done right, the reader's fears rise and fall right along with the characters' fears... and T.W. Piperbrook does this very well.

I was not expecting the story to end how it did and it definitely left me wanting more. Outage is scary, intense, and a lot of fun-- sort of like a roller coaster ride for the mind.  And like any great roller coaster, once you're off, you want to get back on! Fortunately for us, Piperbrook is supposed to have Outage 2 out very soon. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

I recommend Outage to anyone who enjoys a well-written story filled with heart-pounding thrills and chills!


About the Author

T.W. Piperbrook was born and raised in Connecticut, where he can still be found today. In addition to writing, the author has also spent time as a full-time touring musician, touring across the US, Canada, and Europe.

He now lives with his wife, a son, and the spirit of his Boston Terrier.

Follow Piperbrook on Facebook

Sign up for T.W. Piperbrook's Newsletter  

Visit his website here!

After Death by Derrick LaCombe

Synopsis

After returning from a week-long expedition, a team of scientists realize - too late - that they've brought back more than they bargained for. The result is a terrifying onslaught that quickly overwhelms the resources of a small town, placing it in peril. 

Do you have what it takes to SURVIVE the zombie apocalypse?  Follow the characters of After Death and see if you can. Learn! Adapt! Survive! 

Will you be the person cowering in the corner of your bedroom or the hero that leads the way through hordes of zombies? Take a hold of the reins in this zombie thriller. 

Join a group of people in Texas, and see if you have what it takes to survive for the sake of all humanity. Pick a character. Be that person. Will you work together or will you and the rest of the group fall apart in the face of bone crunching death? This epic will have you wondering if you could overcome the odds or if you're all talk. 

Publisher: Self Published, March 29, 2013
Print Length: 260 pages
Edited by: Monique Happy

Winner of the Facebook
Zombie Book of the Month Club

Illustrator: Derek Edgerton

Review
I gave After Death 5 stars on Amazon
Purchased via Kindle Unlimited

As I mentioned in a previous review of a book written by Derrick LaCombe, I am fan of his work. His stories are always colorful, exciting, and very fun.  I've come to expect this level of entertainment from LaCombe, and After Death does not disappoint.

After Death is a book about zombies, so naturally, blood and guts are a big part of the story. Derrick LaCombe is descriptive when it comes to gore, but I didn't find it offensive or inappropriate to the story. In many cases, his descriptions are mildly humorous. That is why, when I think of Derrick LaCombe's writing, the word "fun" immediately comes to mind. 

The story is very fast-paced, with every chapter more exciting than the one before it. Try not to get too attached to any of the characters, because the chances are good that he or she won't make it to the end of the story. 

This isn't a book that is going to take you through months or even weeks of surviving a zombie apocalypse. The entire story takes place over a span of less than three days, and I have mixed feelings about that. I like that the short time span makes After Death move very quickly. The drawback, for me, is that there isn't enough time to really get to know the characters.  

I recommend After Death to those who like their zombie fiction bloody, exciting, and uncluttered by complicated subplots. 


If you found my review of this book helpful and decide to purchase it, I'd appreciate it if you would use the link above. Amazon throws a few pennies my way when purchased through my blog. Thank you! 

About the Author

Derrick LaCombe was born and raised in New Orleans,La. Growing up in "The Big Easy," he was exposed to a unique culture, culinary treats, the arts, and of course Mardi Gras! All of these ingredients and a heaping more shaped his creativity and zest for life. He puts this passion into the things he writes about; whether it's holiday fantasies, zombies or Twilight Zone style enigmas, and creates an awesome literary gumbo. Join him on the many adventures YOU'LL both take as he explores the rest of his imaginative mind.

Follow Derrick LaCombe on Facebook and Twitter.

The Terrors of Mardi Gras by Derrick LaCombe

The Terrors of Mardi Gras 
by Derrick LaCombe

Synopsis
A southern twist to a classic horror story. Enter the heart of the Louisiana swamp and explore the mind of a genius and maniac, where Cajun culture meets cutting edge technology. Forget about what you've heard, for fear is only the beginning as you run for your life down world famous Bourbon Street. Don't be late for the biggest free show on Earth. Laissez lês tetes roulent!

Publisher: Independent, June 16, 2014
Length: 55 pages

Review
I gave The Terrors of Mardi Gras 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads
Acquired for the Kindle using Kindle Unlimited (30-day trial)

This story is so much fun! This is the first book by Derrick LaCombe I've read, and I will definitely be reading more of his work. What I most appreciate about this story is LaCombe's ability to create rich scenes with colorful characters. 

The book is quite humorous, but this does not make it any less macabre than it is intended to be. There are a couple loose ends that do not detract from the story, but that seems to be common with short stories. I'm hoping the loose ends mean there will be a sequel to The Terrors of Mardis Gras!

Purchase The Terrors of Mardi Gras

About the Author

Derrick LaCombe was born and raised in New Orleans,La. Growing up in "The Big Easy," he was exposed to a unique culture, culinary treats, the arts, and of course Mardi Gras! All of these ingredients and a heaping more shaped his creativity and zest for life. He puts this passion into the things he writes about; whether it's holiday fantasies, zombies or Twilight Zone style enigmas, and creates an awesome literary gumbo. Join him on the many adventures YOU'LL both take as he explores the rest of his imaginative mind.

Follow Derrick LaCombe on Facebook and Twitter.

A New World (The Series) by John O'Brien

A New World (Series)
by John O'Brien

Synopsis
From Amazon

There is no sanctuary. 

That was taken away in the blink of an eye. Humanity went out not with a whimper, but a bang. Jack, a sometimes humorous, sometimes philosophical ex-special operations pilot and soldier is one of the few left to struggle through the desolation left in the aftermath; seeking to survive as a new ferocious species emerges from the rubble, hungry and unrelenting. Will his special forces training be enough? Will he be able to keep his children safe and guide the few survivors through perils that now roam the world they once knew? Or will the hordes that now own the night prevail, forever removing the last of mankind from existence? Humankind was once at the top of the food chain. But that has now changed. 

This hard-hitting, action-packed series begins with Jack Walker being suddenly thrust into a world where the infrastructure which cherished Armani suits, night clubs, fast and expensive cars and watching the daily stock market are gone. Left in its place is the material world mankind built but a majority of the population has vanished; replaced by a new, savage, unrelenting, cunning, animalistic species which hunts and operates at night.

The Order of the Books & Where to Get Them
1.  A New World: Chaos
2.  A New World: Return
3.  A New World: Sanctuary
4.  A New World: Taken
5.  A New World: Awakening
6.  A New World: Dissension
7.  A New World: Takedown
8.  A New World: Conspiracy
9.  A New World: Reckoning

Review
Note: I have purchased each book in the series on Amazon for my Kindle Fire

I have read all of John O'Brien's books in his A New World series, so I decided to review the series as a whole instead of as individual books. O'Brien's books are not the typical "zombie" stories.  I say that because his monsters are not technically zombies, although you won't be disappointed if you are a zombie-lover.  The flesh-eating creatures are similar to zombies, but different. That's all I'll say on that subject... I don't want to spoil it for anyone.

Why do I like this series? I thought you'd never ask! Read on...

First of all, O'Brien's books are well-written. He is a gifted story-teller and it clearly shows.  He could probably write in any genre he wanted and have the finished product turn out to be excellent. He seems to have a high standard when it comes to his own writing and this high quality is consistent throughout the series.

O'Brien tells a fast-paced, exciting story in each of his books. I especially like the military perspective that is woven throughout the plot. I do not have a military background but am still able to follow along. Those few times when I encounter military weaponry and/or equipment I am unfamiliar with, I look it up on Google. I enjoy learning, so that is a bonus for me.

John O'Brien takes the time to develop his characters. The "good guys" in his stories are truly good. There are times when the main character, Jack, seems to be able to do just about anything, which can become annoying in other books. What keeps his character "real", however, is his self-doubt and humility; Jack often worries about being able to protect his family and friends. He sometimes questions his decisions and even laughs at his short-comings along the way.   

What don't I like about the series? Well, that's a great question! 

What I don't like is having to wait for the next book in the series to come out. I know that sounds cliché, but it's the truth. If this is a new series to you, you'll be lucky-- you will have nine whole books to read in the series, and won't have to wait for the next one to come out until after you finish #9 (the most recent book in the series at the time of this blog post).

You also won't want to miss the author's companion book A New World: Untold Stories.

About the Author

John O'Brien is a former Air Force fighter instructor pilot who transitioned to Special Operations for the latter part of his career gathering his campaign ribbon for Desert Storm. Immediately following his military service, John became a firefighter/EMT with a local department. Along with becoming a firefighter, he fell into the Information Technology industry in corporate management. Currently, John is writing full-time on the series, A New World.

As a former marathon runner, John lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and can now be found kayaking out in the waters of Puget Sound, mountain biking in the Capital Forest, hiking in the Olympic Peninsula, or pedaling his road bike along the many scenic roads.

Where to Find the Author
A New World
Facebook

The Passenger by J. Cook & J. Guess

The Passenger
by James Cook & Joshua Guess

Synopsis
Publication Date: August 5, 2013

A single bite is all it takes.

During the Outbreak, like billions of others, a man finds himself infected with the Phage. Desperate to spare his family from watching him become a walking nightmare, he flees. Soon after, he is dead.

Two years later, he wakes up.

Not in the afterlife, but in his own body. Trapped, unable to control the monster that carries him, and forced to witness the horror of its existence.

A hundred miles away, Sergeant Ethan Thompson thinks he has seen the worst the apocalypse has to offer.

He is wrong.

Following the trail of a dying madman, he will embark on a journey of vengeance that will test the limits of his sanity. Along the way, he will learn that there is no justice at the end of the world. There is only the living and the dead, and in between, there is The Passenger.

Purchase The Passenger on Amazon

Review
Note: I purchased this book on Amazon for my Kindle. 

I was pleasantly surprised by The Passenger. I've been a fan of James Cook for a while, but I hesitated reading this. I'm not even sure why... I think maybe because I didn't think I'd be into the first-person perspective of a zombie. 

No offense to zombies, but I assumed a first-person account of a zombie would be all about ripping people apart and the eating of flesh. There was plenty of that, but there was so much more to the zombie character than just that!  I never knew a zombie could become a likable character in any book, but I found myself cheering this one on. 

The Passenger isn't written just from the perspective of one of the undead, however. The reader also gets a view of the world through the third-person account of Sgt. Ethan Thompson. Ethan is a character introduced in one of James Cook's earlier novels in his Surviving the Dead series.

The Passenger is sort of a companion book to the Surviving the Dead series. It is also a stand-alone story and it is absolutely possible to read this book without having read any of the other Surviving the Dead books. 

I gave The Passenger 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. If this is your genre and you haven't read it yet, do yourself a favor and get it!

Get The Passenger on Amazon

About the Authors

James Cook

James N. Cook (who prefers to be called Jim, even though his wife insists on calling him James) is a martial arts enthusiast, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a former cubicle dweller, and the author of the Surviving the Dead series. He hikes, he goes camping, he travels a lot, and he has trouble staying in one place for very long. He lives in North Carolina (for now) with his wife, son, two vicious attack dogs, and a cat that is scarcely aware of his existence.

Where to find James Cook:
Amazon
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter

Joshua Guess

Where to find Joshua Guess:
Amazon
Facebook
Goodreads
Joshua Guess' Blog
Living with the Dead
Twitter

My name is Joshua Guess. I used to have one of those impersonal third-person biographies here. I thought it would be a nice change of pace to just say hello and tell you a bit about myself.
Let's see...I wrote Living With the Dead, which is probably how you found my author page. LWtD was a serialized tale set in the zombie apocalypse. It's a little different from most zombie fiction in that it's told in real time and in blog format. Which means that you got a literal day-by-day look into the lives of people working to survive and rebuild in a world destroyed by the dead.
In March of 2013 I went full-time as a novelist. Since then I have published three novels--Victim Zero, Dead Will Rise, and Next--and have many more planned for the near future. For more, check out my author website (which is a blog) at JoshuaGuess.com
That's my work, though. I want to share a little about me as well.
I'm an avid and voracious reader. I have been since I was a kid. One of the things that pushed me to write in the first place was a deep love of the art form. In LWtD and "Beautiful", you'll see a lot of my personality and interests coming through. I've had a lot of hobbies and I'm almost pathologically curious, which shows in my writing.
For example my character in LWtD, who is simply a fictional version of me, has skills that include: Martial arts (Aikido, Judo, and some sword training), training as an EMT, a nurse's aide, Fire/Rescue, Carpentry, and many others. His scope of knowledge is wide and random, from physics to history, horticulture to biology. All of that stuff is from real life. I'm a huge nerd, and I love to learn.
I'm a big fan of animals. My wife and I have three cats, two dogs, and a pair of ferrets. We're right across the road from a nature preserve, so we get all manner of winged fowl in our neighborhood, as well as deer wandering our streets. It's pretty neat to have nature walk so casually across our paths.
Pretty random, I know.
One thing that draws me to authors is reading or hearing them talk about the craft of writing. Too often, it seems, writers forget that in fiction the idea is to entertain. At least, that's what I hope to achieve. It isn't my intent to beat anyone over the head with my beliefs, but instead to provide a good reading experience and hopefully make people sit back and think while they enjoy.
It is also my goal to be as interactive and responsive as possible. Part of the reason I set up my author website as a blog (other than my lack of ability as a webmaster and unwillingness to overpay someone to build me a website at the moment) is because I love talking with readers. I'm thrilled to get emails from people that have checked out my work. I love reading reviews and responding to them, good or bad.
That's me in a few hundred words.