Blog Archives
Dig Two Graves: A Noir Thriller of Revenge
Dig Two Graves is a hard-hitting noir tale about a man just out of prison, stumbling back into the world with nothing but a Bible, some rage, and a whole lot of unresolved history. Von Martin is bitter, raw, and desperate. He wants to see his daughter, reclaim his place, and claw back respect in a world that seems determined to keep him down. What unfolds is a tense ride through betrayal, revenge, and the messy business of survival, with every page steeped in grit and sweat.
I felt torn while reading. On one hand, the writing is sharp and immersive. The author captures the voice of Von with uncanny precision. It feels like you’re right there with him, stuck in his head, tasting his anger, hearing his rationalizations, even when you know he’s full of it. That intimacy made me uneasy, but in the best way, because it’s rare to find a book that commits so fully to the flawed perspective of its main character. On the other hand, Von is not an easy guy to root for. He’s selfish, volatile, and often cruel, and I caught myself rolling my eyes at his self-pity while also sympathizing with his hunger for dignity. That push and pull kept me hooked.
The ideas in this book hit harder than I expected. It’s not just a revenge story. It’s about the weight of time wasted, the way choices narrow your life, and the slow decay of trust. There’s this constant tug between the possibility of redemption and the lure of destruction, and I felt that tension every step of the way.
By the time I turned the last page, I was impressed. Dig Two Graves is not for someone looking for a comforting read. It’s for readers who want to wade into murky waters, who can handle being close to a character that repels as much as he fascinates. If you like crime stories with grit, moral ambiguity, and a voice that sticks in your head, then this one is worth your time.
Pages: 214 | ASIN : B0FRD5R9L7
Misfit’s Magic: Twisting in Time
Twisting in Time tells the story of Goff, a boy who desperately wishes to live a normal life but finds himself constantly dragged back into a world of magic, danger, and tangled loyalties. At Amworth Academy, what should have been quiet moments with friends and his first love quickly unravel into chaos as strange forces whisk people away, shadows stretch into monsters, and visions of looming battles return. The story swings between his present struggles and the origins of his curse in Slaathwick, where he is burdened with being a Verlokken, a kind of outcast whose magic is feared as much as it is needed. Through duels, betrayals, and heartbreaking losses, Goff keeps stumbling forward, hoping for safety and love, yet always being pulled into another storm.
What I liked most was the way the book balanced whimsy with darkness. There are scenes filled with warmth, like meals shared, jokes between friends, even the sweetness of Goff’s awkward romance with Joy, that made me smile. But just when I started to settle in, the story twisted into something darker. The shadows, the grotesque enemies, and the way time itself bends gave me a pit in my stomach. The writing has a playful rhythm in places, almost silly at times, and then suddenly sharp, reminding me of how childhood wonder collides with the dread of growing up. It kept me off balance, which I liked, because it mirrored Goff’s own unease.
Goff is both stubborn and insecure, and that mix makes him feel real. He longs to protect his friends, yet he keeps secrets, pushes people away, and sometimes gives in to anger. I wanted to shake him, but I also wanted to hug him. That kind of emotional pull is rare. The author’s choice to lean into food and cooking as recurring motifs was lovely too. Those moments grounded the story. A dish described in detail, or a meal shared, often felt more magical than spells or battles. It made me feel like magic wasn’t always in wands or words but sometimes in butter, lavender, or a loaf of bread.
By the time I reached the end, I felt both drained and hopeful. The book is heavy with loss and with the idea that time doesn’t really heal so much as twist and fold, carrying pain forward in new ways. Yet it’s also filled with small sparks of loyalty and friendship that remind you why the characters keep fighting. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantasy that doesn’t shy away from sorrow but still knows how to laugh at itself. It’s for anyone who wants a coming-of-age story tangled with monsters, magic, and heartache, but also with friendship, food, and flickers of joy that make the struggle worth it.
Pages: 318 | ASIN : B0FDQYQ8GK
Patterns of Finance and War
Prophets Of War follows a young financial advisor who stumbles onto a horrifying truth: his own father has created a shadowy business empire that bankrolls Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I didn’t sit down one day and decide, ‘I’m going to write a novel.’ Prophets of War came to me gradually, one breadcrumb at a time. For about a year, I carried around the seed of an idea for a compelling story, but it wasn’t until I was working on my Master’s thesis about the origins of national debt that I had my ‘aha’ moment. A thousand years ago, European monarchs borrowed from banks to wage profitable wars — and in many ways, that was the birth of public debt. I began connecting those historical dots to more recent examples and realized I wanted to explore the idea of war as a business model. The Russian invasion of Ukraine became a natural setting, especially since so many of the mechanics — shell companies, offshore secrecy, private military contractors — are real-world systems.
From there, tone became just as important as plot. When I finally read The Wolf of Wall Street (after seeing the film multiple times), I loved its darkly funny, irreverent voice and knew I wanted to channel some of that energy. Tom Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities was another stylistic touchstone. So the book grew out of both history and literature — from centuries-old patterns of finance and war to the sharp, satirical voices of modern storytelling.
What inspired your characters’ interactions and backstories?
Alex is probably the most personal character — he’s a reflection of me, but exaggerated. I gave him many of the same questions I’ve wrestled with in my own life, then pushed them further to see how far they could go under pressure. The other characters came from a mix of real experiences and public figures I’ve studied. Some are composites — Lena, for example, was inspired by several real women, but I wanted her to embody duality: someone magnetic and vulnerable, yet someone you can never fully trust. Devil Bill, on the other hand, was meant to be the incarnation of corruption and power without conscience. And Langston was my chance to write a parody president — larger than life, full of contradictions, but all too familiar.
Some events in the book were chillingly similar to real-life events. Did you take any inspiration from real life when developing this book?
Absolutely — I drew inspiration from real events, but Prophets of War is still very much a work of fiction. You can’t write about finance, politics, or war without noticing the patterns that repeat throughout history. Shell companies, corruption, shadow networks — these things are in the news all the time, but fiction gives me the freedom to connect the dots in ways that journalism can’t. My goal wasn’t to retell any specific headline, but to create a story that feels uncomfortably close to the world we live in. Readers should come away thinking, ‘This could happen… maybe it already is.’ But at the end of the day, it’s still a novel — a thriller built to both entertain and provoke thought
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
I’ve been asked that a few times now, which is exciting in itself. I do have ideas for where the story could go next. If Prophets of War is about uncovering the financial machinery behind conflict, then the follow-up might explore how those same hidden networks shape politics — through propaganda, dark money, and campaign donations where no one really knows who’s footing the bill. I could see a storyline where a presidential candidate is backed entirely by the business of war. That said, whether I actually write it will depend on how this first book resonates with readers. If there’s demand for more, I’d consider it.
There will also be a podcast coming out soon that you can listen to. I am featured on Read, Beat (…And Repeat) on Spotify but it has not come out yet. It will be posted to my website once it’s live.
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When Alex Morgan, a rising star in wealth management, stumbles onto a trail of cryptic financial clues, he doesn’t just uncover corruption—he unmasks a global conspiracy.
Behind the headlines of the war in Ukraine lies something far more chilling: a private empire of shell companies, black-market trades, and political operatives turning global conflict into personal profit.
The deeper Alex digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes. His own father may be at the center of the scheme. His mentors may be funding both sides of the battlefield. And the woman he trusts most might be the key to it all—or the final betrayal.
From Caribbean tax havens to Wall Street boardrooms to shadowy Zoom calls between oligarchs and ex-presidents, Prophets of War is a pulse-pounding political thriller that rips into the machinery of modern power. Inspired by real systems, real tactics, and real moral failures, it asks a question no one wants answered:
What if the next world war is already on the balance sheet?
Second Chances in Brittany
Second Chances in Brittany follows Sarah Pullen, a retired professional whose life in France with her husband James is anything but the romantic adventure she once imagined. What begins as a medical mystery about Sarah’s relentless headaches slowly unfolds into a deeply personal struggle for autonomy, identity, and renewal. Through Sarah’s quiet courage and resourcefulness, the story shifts from despair and control toward resilience and rediscovery, set against the evocative backdrop of Brittany’s landscapes, communities, and rhythms of life.
The writing itself struck me as unpretentious, direct, and steady. At times, the prose felt plain, but that plainness carried its own weight. It mirrored Sarah’s methodical thinking and gave her voice a grounded, believable tone. What I enjoyed most were the moments where the local community came alive, like the social clubs, the Qi Gong classes, and the warmth of neighbors. Those glimpses of ordinary joy felt like bursts of fresh air in Sarah’s otherwise suffocating marriage. I did wish that the book lingered a little more in those brighter spaces, but perhaps the contrast is what makes them stand out so strongly. It reminded me that healing often starts in small, overlooked places.
I found James exasperating. His constant belittling of Sarah and his obsessive control were difficult to witness. Yet this very reaction shows how vividly the author sketched him. Sarah, on the other hand, grew on me page by page. Her quiet defiance, her small acts of rebellion, and her longing for connection outside of her marriage carried a raw honesty that made me root for her. I admired the way she strategized like a project manager even while navigating deeply personal pain. It felt relatable in a way that made me both ache for her and cheer her on.
By the end, I found the book both sobering and uplifting. It’s a quiet story of a woman reclaiming herself after decades of silence, which I found moving. Second Chances in Brittany reminded me of The Awakening by Kate Chopin, since both novels capture a woman’s quiet but determined journey toward reclaiming her independence and sense of self against the weight of a controlling relationship. I’d recommend Second Chances in Brittany to readers who enjoy character-driven stories about resilience, reinvention, and the complicated textures of later life. It’s especially powerful for anyone who has felt overshadowed in a relationship and is looking for a narrative that validates the strength in carving out a new path.
Pages: 394 | ASIN : B0DTBZTH65
Invisible Tragedy
Driven follows a woman recovering from the brink of madness who discovers a man is searching for unammi survivors to experiment on, and humans are being kidnapped, leaving her determined to find a way to save them all. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Our own world is beset with social issues. I wanted to take these two—slavery and medical experimentation on living beings (humans and animals)—and kind of push them into the reader’s face, so that they couldn’t be ignored. Slavery, also known as “human trafficking” or “sex trafficking,” takes place every day, but for those of us who are insulated in privilege, it’s an invisible tragedy and easy to overlook.
It’s the same with the experimentation; though that’s a bit harder to see in contemporary civilization, it’s definitely there, hidden behind closed doors and shuttered windows. Because we don’t see these problems, it’s easy to pretend they don’t exist.
There are many ways to fight these issues, not all of which are as bold as Alira’s choices. But here’s the thing: if we don’t face them with unflinching outrage, they will never stop.
Regardless of the methods we choose with which to fight, no one person can solve all these problems. Not alone. Yet even though one person can’t save everyone, they can help a few. And that can start a larger movement.
Alira is that person, the one who saves those she can reach. She’s already gone through so much; she is the unflinching (okay, she does flinch on occasion, but it doesn’t stop her from moving forward) individual who says, “If not me, then who?”
Alira is a fascinating character. What scene was the most interesting to write for that character?
That’s a tough choice. Alira’s whole character arc is so tightly woven that choosing a single scene as “most interesting” is like trying to choose a single favorite thread in a completed tapestry. And Alira has her peak moments in each book in this trilogy.
For Driven, I lean toward one of Alira’s “rescue” scenes—either of Bika (which has two parts, the rescue and the aftermath), the ikanne harvesters, or the brothel slaves. Each of those times gave Alira’s spur-of-the-moment creative problem-solving skills room to shine.
I find that authors sometimes ask themselves questions and let their characters answer them. Do you think this is true for your characters?
Definitely. Sometimes, their answers surprise me.
But at least one major focus of my writing is to ask big questions, sometimes even the ones we don’t want to face. I think The Founder’s Seed trilogy manages to do that. I feel like Alira’s answers to those questions came from a courageous heart and a strong spirit.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
Oh, their story continues in the coming follow-up trilogy, tentatively titled Nexus. That trilogy will be told through the eyes of non-POV characters that were introduced in The Founder’s Seed, but Alira, Botha, and Galen/Thrace will all be there. We see the start of that at the end of Driven, in the new secret colony Alira and Kilbee have established.
Stay tuned.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | BlueSky | Website | Niveym Arts | Amazon
On Danua, acting Clan Admiral Knøfa experiments on his unammi prisoner. Except the squib isn’t healing any longer, and the medics aren’t working fast enough to save her. Knøfa starts searching for another unammi—maybe a male this time, so he can create all the test subjects he wants.
Stopping the Cartel is enough to keep Alira’s hands full. She doesn’t want to fight the Clan, too. Yet, when she learns Knøfa is searching for the unammi survivors, she races to warn them. As Knøfa’s ship approaches them on Earth, the council tries to force it to leave. But Alira knows that if the humans escape, the unammi are doomed. Knøfa’s “experiments” will escalate, and other humans will follow his example. To protect her people’s secrets, she must stop that ship. Her only hope is to attempt something no Founder’s Daughter has ever done.
Alive and Forgotten
The Lights of Greyfare follows a burned-out journalist who goes to a small seaside town on assignment, and she discovers the small town is hiding terrifying secrets. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Greyfare began as a place in my imagination long before it had a name. I’ve always been fascinated by towns that seem both alive and forgotten, where the fog feels like another resident and silence carries its own folklore. I wanted a setting that could reflect Katherine Calder’s unraveling, a place where her grief and addiction would meet an environment that seemed to breathe and press back against her. Maine’s coastal isolation gave me the perfect canvas for that tension, where a story about strange lights could spiral into something much darker.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
Horror has always been about intimacy, about getting uncomfortably close to the things we would rather avoid. The paranormal allows those inner struggles to manifest outward, in ways that are unsettling but true. Kat’s sarcasm, self-destruction, and longing all take shape in Greyfare’s uncanny atmosphere. I love that horror lets us put grief, obsession, and identity into forms that are at once monstrous and heartbreakingly human. It’s not about shock alone, it’s about resonance… leaving the reader haunted in ways they didn’t expect.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
Kat fought me every step of the way. She’s painfully real. I wanted her inner spirals, her addictions, and her sharp humor to feel unvarnished, and I think that comes through. Some of the townspeople surprised me, too, especially in how their secrets entwined with hers. I don’t believe in tying everything up neatly. I prefer characters who linger with you after the last page.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m currently in the early stages of my next novel. It will return to the gothic tradition, a story shaped by architecture, community, and the way hidden histories leave their mark on the living. While it won’t be set in Greyfare, it will share that same interest in place as a character. I hope to share more in the coming year. In the meantime, readers can follow updates and join my mailing list through my website, https://junoguadalupe.com/.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
A gothic horror novel about grief, obsession, and the monsters we become when the sea calls our name.
After a brutal divorce and the loss of everything she thought she was, journalist Katherine Calder is on assignment to the fog-drenched town of Greyfare. She’s come to write, to recover, and to disappear for a little while. But Greyfare has other plans.
The town is strange. Too quiet. Full of faces that seem familiar, even when they shouldn’t be. At night, something walks the shore—a reflection of Kat that mimics her, imperfectly. The harbor groans with secrets, and the townspeople cling to ancient traditions they won’t talk about.
When Kat meets Dean, a reclusive widower with a weather-beaten boat and a haunted past, she feels herself unraveling in ways that are both terrifying and intoxicating. Their bond deepens, even as Kat uncovers hints of a centuries-old pact—one that demands sacrifice to keep the devils in the deep.
But the sea is waking.
And Kat may already be part of the offering.
Darkly lyrical and emotionally charged, The Lights of Greyfare is a supernatural descent into love, memory, and the terror of losing yourself to something older than the tide. Perfect for fans of The Haunting of Hill House, this is a horror novel that lingers long after the last page
Military Kids
Seasons in Manana follows a boy growing up in a military family in the early 1970s, with a passion for baseball, who, after moving to Oahu, is kidnapped by a radical organization, leading to a lifelong trauma. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My co-author, Scott, and I are brothers—only an 18-month age gap—and we actually did spend the better part of 1971 to 1974 as military dependent kids on the island of Oahu. And, as in the book, we actually were baseball-obsessed. So while the overall story is definitely fiction, there was very little of our baseball experiences that we had to make up. The counter-culture elements we experienced during our time in Hawaii were also very much the inspiration for what happens in the story—again, some of it fictional, some very much taken from real life. Also, it is my brother, Scott, who is the real-life counterpart of the main character, Alan. I would be closer to the Eric character.
Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your character’s life?
As mentioned above, both Scott and I made liberal use of our own experiences as military kids living in Hawaii for that three-year period in the early 70’s. That would include the stress and awkwardness of trying to fit into an island culture (albeit on the elementary school level) as “haole” mainlanders. In addition, there truly was a growing awareness of the dark and the menacing that surrounded us, even in a gated military housing area (and yes, it was named Manana). Much of that had to do with the current climate of the early 70’s. It actually was a quite unsettled time with America trying to wrap up the war in Vietnam, teenagers and parents often in bitter conflict with each other—not just over politics, but also over hair length, music, clothes, and yes, drug use. But having the Hawaii Five-O TV show on every week, also made that “menacing” aspect of island life seem all the more real (Oahu is a small place)! On the other hand, the emotion of discovering the glory of playing baseball for the first time—that is definitely in the book!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It wasn’t just simply exploring the glorious, and sometimes painful, world of all things baseball (Little League, following pro baseball, collecting baseball cards, etc.). Scott and I wanted to share how this captivating game could be viewed through the eyes of unjaded, elementary-school-age boys. Scott and I (as well as my younger brother, Kevin) were all on a mission during our Hawaii years: to play in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. After that, once we reached adulthood, the goal was to play in the Major Leagues. However, Scott and I were on the threshold of teenhood, so the flip side of our idyllic baseball-heavy island life was the aforementioned uneasiness with an often-scary youth counter-culture that was pervasive in the early 70’s. Throw an intense crush on an older teenage girl into the mix, and there’s a cauldron of mixed emotions going on!
What is the next book you are working on, and when can we expect it to be available?
I do know that Scott is working on another book. He hasn’t gone into it with me in detail, but it sounds like it will be a military thriller type novel. As for me, I do have a manuscript completed: it’s a novel having to do with the French Children’s Crusade of 1212. My goal is to have it published next year some time, but I don’t have a definite date yet.
I LOVE Superheroes
Guardian: Into the Light of Day follows an alien inhabiting a human’s body who has secretly protected humanity for centuries, until an asteroid strike exposes her existence and unleashes forces bent on Earth’s destruction. What were some sources that informed this novel’s development?
I LOVE superheroes. I have since I was a little kid watching TV on Saturday mornings. I can still remember the first superhero comic book my dad bought me. I don’t have it, but I have another copy bought through a collector. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel (Billy Batson), Spider-Man, and a host of other heroes helped give me a background in the genre. Guardian herself came out of a superhero roleplaying game.
She would not leave me alone, dogging me for thirty years before I finally sat down and told her story. I think she’s someone we all wished existed in the world, someone who suddenly drops out of the sky and turns a bad situation around, whether it’s a crime, a medical emergency (she is a surgeon who can heal with a touch,) or a avert a natural disaster.
Elizabeth has lived for over eight centuries. How did you approach writing her perspective across such a vast timeline?
I really had to sit and ponder what the outlook for someone who has lived among humans while not aging a day. She still resembles the young woman who died on the Cornish moors and rose, healed and vibrant. She has had time to accumulate wealth and wisdom, and has meet and helped the best of humanity and to be blunt, in many cases, to confront some of the worst. Often there have been situations where she could have changed the course of history but in doing so she would have needed to reveal herself which would dramatically impact humanity’s natural evolution.
In the modern era she has had to be creative in the places she works, places where cameras and recording devices are far less common, like refugee camps and aide camps where she can practice medicine and remain a nomad, pulling up stakes every two to three years while zealously avoiding interactions with the media.
The book raises questions about identity and belonging. How do you see Elizabeth’s alien nature shaping her humanity?
Elizabeth is an outsider; she does not share historical animosities, or preferences that a human might hold. She regards humans as wonders, full of potential. She often works to bring out the best in people by being an example to aspire to. The events of the novel force her into a role that she struggles with while living in proverbial media goldfish bowl.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have two in the works one with GG Michaels which I am still not sure will be a novelette or a novella. (Plus another 15 other stories.) The other project will be a full length Guardian novel. As for concrete dates of completion, I’m working as quickly as I can. Family emergencies derailed my spring and summer writing as I planned to have them both out by now. I’m playing catch-up. I am grateful for my readers’ kind words and support. GG and Guardian will both return!
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Its explosion sent her crashing back to Earth in a fiery shower of meteorites.
Caught on video by a teenager, her anonymity is destroyed in an instant.
Turmoil ensues…
Meta-powered beings begin to appear. Humanity is frightened and confused. The media, and a politician with an agenda, seek to take advantage.
Into this global chaos a new threat emerges, one greater than any she has ever faced, one that, if she fails, will destroy all that she loves.
With the fate of the Earth hanging in the balance, all that stands between the world and obliteration is its Guardian, Elizabeth.
A New Superhero Rises…
LITERARY TITAN 