Blog Archives
The Need for a Futurist Story
The Chip follows a brilliant CEO who finds the world bends to his every whim after he secretly implants an advanced AI chip in his brain. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The need for a futurist story that would begin with one man that want to manipulate the world and with technology gets this power.
What is it that draws you to the technothriller genre?
Its exciting to picture a world that is not to far away from our ways but just around the corner yet is more interesting to see new technologies to play along the main story.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think makes for great fiction?
Í painted a fictional story but given the right circumstances Humans are able to behave in irrational ways that everyone relate or understands it that can actually bring realistic thoughts and emotions to the reader while is a techno thriller story.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have a story that is starting to boil in my head that is very ambitious. However, right now I am sitting on this book to see some reactions to it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Still Waters Run Deep
PEOPLE PERSONnel follows a burnt-out HR manager trudging through her final year at a shrinking charity while juggling caregiving for her declining mother and quietly plotting a radical act of mercy. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I have worked in HR in the not-for-profit sector for over 30 years and I live in Whitstable (UK). I have written before (historical) but thinking of the old adage, ‘write what you know’ I decided to do just that. I wrote something where character and location were key. You’ll notice it is not set in a particular time because I didn’t want it to date. I hope it will be picked up and televised one day so that my antihero can reach a wider audience and I can retire, like Janice.
I found Janice to be a very well-written and in-depth character. What was your inspiration for her and her emotional turmoil throughout the story?
Thank you. No spoilers but I wanted her to be a very ordinary person who ends up in the position of doing extraordinary things. She flies under the radar. She is invisible and for what happens in the story the fact that she is so overlooked gives her a very significant advantage.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Still waters run deep. It’s the quiet ones you want to watch out for. Again, no spoilers, but most fictional killers are larger than life as are the characters who catch them. To me it’s far more disturbing if the killer turns out to be someone just like you. I put, ‘But she always seemed so nice…’ on the back cover because that’s what people always say when their crimes come to light. Janice is a person who keeps herself to herself.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I wrote this book 8 years ago and only very recently revisited it and got it published. I do have ideas for another book about Janice, perhaps a prequel, and hopefully that will be out in the next 6-12 months rather than in another 8 years.
Author BlueSky
She commutes every day from her home in Whitstable, Kent to London and is soon to retire from her standalone role for a not-for-profit sector organisation, that is facing very difficult financial decisions. She is innocuous, dull, easily overlooked and cut an inconsequential, loveless path through, what appears to have been, a largely non-eventful life.
Everyone knows she wouldn’t lift a finger. Everyone knows she wouldn’t swat a fly. Everyone knows she’ll just sit there and be quiet. No one would think twice about her, but Janice Mead’s savage way of exiting those who are now surplus to her requirements may change all that. See what kind of a person Janice Mead really is.
PEOPLE PERSONnel
PEOPLE PERSONnel follows Janice Mead, a seasoned HR manager trudging through her final year at a shrinking charity while juggling caregiving for her declining mother and quietly plotting a radical act of mercy. Set against the backdrop of a dreary office and the grey sprawl of southeast England, the story slips between sardonic workplace comedy and unsettling introspection before veering into a shocking yet oddly tender act of revenge and redemption. Holup delivers a narrative that simmers slowly, then boils over in a morally complex and relatable way.
Holup’s writing is dry, sharp, and deeply British. The voice of Janice (or Myra, depending on which identity you trust) is both painfully funny and heart-achingly bitter. Her observations cut deep, especially on ageism, bureaucracy, and the way society quietly dismisses older women. I found myself wincing at how real it all felt. There’s no sugar-coating here. It’s the raw, unfiltered truth of late-career burnout and quiet domestic despair, until, suddenly, it’s a murder mystery disguised as an act of grace.
What really surprised me is how effortlessly Holup builds a character who is both forgettable and unforgettable. Janice is invisible in the way that older women often are, and yet she becomes the exact opposite by the end: powerful, decisive, terrifying in her stillness. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The bees, the gloves, the crispy pancakes, all these odd details add up to something chillingly intimate. The ending, though extreme, felt almost inevitable. It left me with that odd emotional mix of satisfaction and sadness, like watching a long-overdue storm finally break over a parched field.
If you like character-driven fiction with bite, with humour that borders on cruelty but never loses its humanity, then you’ll get a lot out of it. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, but wish Eleanor had a darker side and a plot to poison someone. PEOPLE PERSONnel is bleak, funny, and full of feeling.
Pages: 307 | ASIN : B0FC462XY8
Would You Rather…
Kimberly Baer’s Would You Rather… is a young adult thriller that starts as a harmless classroom game but quickly twists into something much darker. When a substitute teacher introduces a game of “Would You Rather” in physics class, the students think it’s just another way to kill time. But then, their chosen fates start coming true. Winning the lottery? Check. Losing hair? Check. Going missing forever? That’s when things get real. The story follows a group of high school students trying to unravel the mystery of their eerie predicament before it’s too late.
The dialogue is sharp, and the characters feel authentic. Henry, Blake, Ava, and their friends banter like real teenagers, sometimes goofy, sometimes awkward, but always believable. The moment the substitute teacher, Mr. Trinkley, enters the scene, the atmosphere shifts. He’s unsettling in a way that’s hard to pinpoint at first, but his chilling presence grows with every page. The game starts off lighthearted but quickly escalates. The moment Maddy pulls the card that forces her to choose between killing someone or being kidnapped by a serial killer? Goosebumps. It’s the kind of scene that makes you grip the book tighter.
Baer does a fantastic job balancing suspense with emotional depth. The friendships in the book feel genuine, especially the bond between the “Alphabet Quartet,” Ava, Blake, Charlie, and Deej. Their easy camaraderie adds a layer of warmth to the story, making the stakes feel even higher when things start spiraling. One of the creepiest moments for me was Reina’s hair loss. Her “Would You Rather” choice seemed harmless at first, but when her bald spots start appearing, it’s impossible to ignore the growing sense of doom. The way Baer describes it, little by little, until Blake accidentally yanks off her wig sent a shiver down my spine. It’s these slow, creeping horrors that make the book so effective.
The pacing is solid, though the middle drags a bit when the students are still debating whether the curse is real. I also wish we had more insight into Mr. Trinkley. He’s terrifying, but I wanted to know why, what his real deal was beyond being a creepy substitute. That said, once Maddy goes missing, the urgency skyrockets, and I couldn’t put the book down. The final chapters are a whirlwind of fear, desperation, and a race against time.
I’d highly recommend Would You Rather… it’s perfect for readers who love a mix of supernatural horror and high-stakes mystery, with just enough teenage drama to make it relatable. If you’ve ever played “Would You Rather” and thought, What’s the worst that could happen?—this book has your answer.
Pages: 178 | ASIN : B0DP364MX2
The First Harm
Steven Piskula’s The First Harm is a gripping, action-packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Tanna’s discovery of a cadaver in the lab sets off a chain of events that leads her down a dangerous path. When her roommate, Krystal, dies in what appears to be a murder disguised as an accident, Tanna begins to suspect that something sinister is afoot. Her investigation soon uncovers a shady body parts trading scheme between the university and a mortuary and the nefarious activities of Modern Genetics, a research laboratory creating deadly viruses.
Tanna becomes a target of the malevolent plotters, and with nowhere else to turn, she teams up with Jason, a former drug addict, to hunt down the bad guys. Despite being outmatched and outgunned, their unwavering commitment to justice and the safety of others is truly admirable. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of characters, including Solomon, who stands up for the truth at a significant personal cost.
The First Harm boasts a well-crafted plot filled with unending twists and turns, and the characterization is top-notch. The chemistry between Tanna and Jason is palpable, and their courage in the face of danger is inspiring. Piskula’s writing style keeps the story moving rapidly, sprinkling in just the right amount of humor and romance to make it a delightful read. The plot moves quickly, but that is because the scenes are intense and violent.
The First Harm is a well-written and engrossing medical thriller that will satisfy fans of mystery mixed with science fiction and conspiracy. The storyline is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the suspense is mind-blowing. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling read that will keep them on the edge of their seat.
Pages: 328 | ASIN : B0BCXCF88X
LITERARY TITAN 