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Let My Imagination Work its Magic
IP Spall Author Interview
2PM On A Black Summer’s Day is a genre-crossing novel with elements of dark fantasy, paranormal, and horror as well. Did you start writing with this in mind, or did this happen organically as you were writing?
Definitely organic – I had a few ideas to begin with, but everything else just came flooding out as I let my imagination work its magic.
The characters in this novel, I felt, were intriguing and well developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?
May Walker (the white witch) – I think there’s potentially a lot more to her character than we’re all told…
There is some amazing surprises in store for readers in this book. When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
Once I started, it all just came flooding out… so all the little twists and turns just appeared before me. It was like watching my own film inside my head, with the added benefit that I could take the story in any direction and anything could happen.
What is the next book that you’re working on and when will it be published?
Although I am a great fan of horror – primarily supernatural or fear-based horror – when the first thoughts of writing came to mind, I decided to challenge myself to see whether I was actually capable of writing a book, but also whether I was capable of writing different types of story or genre, and not just horror. I wrote the book back in 2015 and since then, I have written a few more, although all unpublished so far, so 2pm is my first and so called trial run.
The next book will be monster based – huge colossal monsters, so completely different in every way, although after repeatedly re-reading it, I do feel like it could definitely be my best work to date.
Finger’s crossed, it will be released later this year.
If that goes well, I’ll then return back to horror again, with another dark and menacing local story that will raise the hair on the back of your necks. This story will not only be a hair raising adventure, but it will also have added elements of real life events that I personally experienced as a teenager….
Author Links: Facebook
“It all started with an ancient wooden box…
Little did Chris know that in years to come, despite being unknown to the world, his actions would have such an impact.
His idea for a bit of alternative fun one night went terribly wrong, leaving his best mate’s house in ruins and a few of his closest friends dead and missing.
No one could foretell the devastation that would occur or the destructive forces that would be released that night, as a series of events ended in total disaster, leaving the city with a multi-million-dollar clean-up bill and the death of thousands.
The fight soon build’s to an immense and climactic battle, with their only hope being an alliance between age-old opposing enemies that had been fighting each other for thousands of years.”
Recusant
I was delighted to discover the writing of Jim Cronin in Recusant, the second book of his series, The Brin Archives. This fantasy/adventure/science fiction tale chronicles the journeys of two peoples, the Brin and the Kolandi, through time. The story depicts two different species whose lives and struggles are intertwined over more than a millennium.
Maliche Rocker, descendant of the original “saviors” of the Brin race on their new planet, was a very talented archeologist, and therefore, an embarrassment to his family, as most of the Brin people believed that genetics was the only honorable profession. Maliche came into possession of an article which enabled him to not only glimpse, but to experience the long-forgotten past of their forbearers. The history that subsequently unfolds will shake the very foundations of the Brin and their beliefs.
Many of the occurrences in the story parallel important issues in our world (past and present), such as slavery, greed, lack of tolerance, and abuse of power. A meaningful example of this is in some of the Brin people’s willingness to abuse another race. This corresponds with humans’ tendency to justify the abuse of others that may be different from us by demeaning their worth, and labeling them as undeserving of compassion. Because of this, the tale can strike home with many readers, allowing them to fully engage.
I lost myself in the narrative, as it felt quite real; palpable. I became truly fond of many of the characters, especially Jontar and Maliche. Their spirit, along with their ability to love, trust, and to overcome adversity particularly appealed to me. In addition, I loved the courage and tenacity of Vidad and Neas. I was totally absorbed, and could not put the book down.
The artful approach of the author in interlacing past and present to reveal, bit by bit, the characters’ missions, secrets, fears, and ambitions, is fresh and exciting. Although I enjoyed the creativity of Cronin’s unique approach, I did have to go back and re-read certain sections a couple of times to determine what was actually transpiring (and in which timeline). It is not absolutely necessary to first read Recusant’s predecessor Hegira in order to enjoy this book, however, I feel it would be helpful.
Mr. Cronin has created a reality with this series which will captivate and enthrall readers, young and old, for many years to come. I highly recommend Recusant, and the entire Brin Archives series.
Pages: 269 | ASIN: B01KTVTMNK
Thing Bailiwick: A Collection of Horror
Insensately macabre.
Thing Bailiwick is a collection of short horror stories by the ever-talented Fawn Bonning who pulled no punches in the gathering of these works. Stretching from the horribly, “pus-filled” scenes of stomach-wrenching gore to the much lighter, yet psychologically damming sets and characters, Ms. Bonning did not hesitate to irrevocably leave the reader checking corners and under beds. Her mix of both psychological fear and physical torment coincide within these pages as a ghoul may live at peace within a swamp; the epitome of bliss.
Within this particular swamp, a word I have chosen to use affectionately, there can be found many ghouls and shadows. Containing 12 individual stories, some longer, some shorter, each and every one leaves the reader wondering what would happen next, and what in the world happened throughout! The sense of mystery one feels at the conclusion of each story is enough to drive one insane, not to mention the insanity gained from reading just one or two of these tales. From hell hounds to the trials and tribulations of a young boy, this collection of horror stories has some form of terror for everyone!
I would have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Thing Bailiwick; each story had its own bit of charm and personality to it. The various styles and settings used within the collection make it seem as if there were multiple authors involved, instead of just reading the works of one single artist. As minuscule a feature as that may seem, it was almost unhinging for me personally when multiple stories were read in one sitting or within a short amount of time. The reader was initially in one location learning about the personality of this character and their problems when suddenly you start another story and it is something completely different. Now, this wouldn’t be so unhinging if it wasn’t for the different types of language the author is able to use. It was definitely the changes in dialect and characters ways of speaking that provided me with the feeling of being lost within the book; a feeling I have found to be most fun to deal with within the confines of horror fiction.
While I had a lot of love for this collection and for the authors writing styles, I must admit that the previous mention of mystery at the end of these stories is done much more gracefully in some stories than others. I did find myself wondering what the author meant to imply after finishing two or three of the tales. It is obvious that the beginning of some of the stories foreshadow the endings, but I could not get a handle on some. It appeared that the author attempted to make some endings very deep and pensive in order to allow the reader to continue thinking about the story long after they’ve finished it. I love that angle, it works, and I respect it.
Ms. Bonning has an affinity for pulling the monsters, kicking and screaming, right out of the closet and forcing them into the light. She has taken the seemingly innocent and innocuous and made them into devils, and sorcerers, and anything else one may fear. This collection is phenomenal and I recommend it highly to those who have a taste for horror fiction and psychological trauma! A sure cure for hypersomnia, this collection will prevent you from ever sleeping again!
Pages: 452 | ASIN: B015EQAM02
