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Little Town Blues
Set in the fictional town of Fryebury Falls, this story revolves around police chief Mike’s family and a diverse community of people suffering from various mental or psychological issues brought together by the hand of fate. Like in a typical small town in Fryebury, everybody knows everybody, and their lives are deeply interconnected. But when Jack Cleary joins Mike’s department as his deputy, the fine state of balance between reality and fantasy, right and wrong, sane and insane, becomes suddenly upset.
Little Town Blues by David Gonthier Jr. starts as a police procedural and eventually develops into a mystery novel with a hint of paranormal in it. One might find it interesting how the narrative builds towards a particular ending but surprises us with a completely different resolution. Although it is unclear as to why the author chooses to conclude his novel in this fashion, it is not one that the readers can quite anticipate. However, it is worth noting how each character has been given the opportunity to flourish within the story.
The novel is replete with literary and movie references, allowing us to identify characters with specific traits or preferences that were previously established in the original works and giving the readers an impression of the vast knowledge base of the author himself. However, some references make us question their significance to the plot. One must admit that stories loaded with references can be a distinctive style of writing, but keeping the targeted audience in mind can be equally challenging. Despite the unconventional mode of writing, as a thriller and mystery novel, this book captivates readers with its innovative delivery and a healthy dose of melodrama.
Little Town Blues is a thrilling genre-crossing novel with mystery and suspense. From the police procedural side of the story to the paranormal elements, this story will intrigue readers that are looking for excitement, unpredictability, and memorable characters.
Pages: 368 | ISBN: 1639885153
Evil Isn’t Always So Black And White
Lord Have Mercy follows a young woman who is sent to boarding school after the disappearance of her parents; there, she discovers the secrets of her past and must choose what side she will follow, good or evil. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
There were a few inspirations for this story. The first being the character Mercy and her physical draw to the sensations of stone. I used my own personal experiences of living with a sensory disorder that causes me to have heightened senses; one of which is a sensitivity to what I touch. Growing up falling in love with stone walls and statues has been quite the experience. One that I have had trouble expressing. How Mercy feels when she touches Talus for the first time is very similar to what I go through.
The second inspiration has been my own struggle with the light and dark side of my personality. It has been a war that has raged a life time and I have never known which side was going to win. Learning to accept both sides has never been that easy. All the characters from Lord Have Mercy and the books to follow have allowed me the freedom to explore hidden parts of myself and just bring together a story that I hope is entertaining to read and resonates with the reader on some level.
Mercy thought she was a normal person till the truth is revealed and she is forced into a war she never knew existed or wanted to be a part of. What were some driving ideas behind your character’s development?
I guess one of the ideas I wanted to get across was that a persons strength comes in many forms. That Mercy doesn’t have to be some kick-arse superhero to be strong, that courage isn’t the absence of fear but acting in spite of it. Like being scared of the notorious bully but standing up for a friend, even though it put a target on her back.
I also wanted to get across that living through trauma in a crazy hostile world and still being able to open her heart to friendships and love is a commendable strength.
The war began with the warring within herself, but it soon progresses with a questioning of Mercy’s religious beliefs as Heaven and Hell and all that comes in between turns everything she’s ever known on it’s head. Being pulled apart by warring forces is something many can relate to and choosing between good and evil isn’t always so black and white.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I guess I’ve already mentioned a few, but another important theme I wanted to explore was how it would feel to write a character that is supposed to be the epitome of evil and find logical and emotional ways to make that character and others more than that, more than what everyone ese see’s.
I guess I also touch on sexuality, but in my eyes it wasn’t a conscious theme, but rather the way individual characters spoke to me.
There are many instances of my own life that get mingled within my work, but I never set out to write that way. I suppose it is cathartic to write characters that live and die how I want them to.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently writing the 3rd Book in The Mercy Aymes Series. It will be released some time next year. I’m hoping for early in the year, but I don’t like to make promises. I’m also working on a revamp of Book 2 Mercy on Your Soul. Which will be rereleased soon. Then, it’s on to editing of two stand-alone novels I wrote before Mercy was even conceived.
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Lucifer’s time has come for the outcome of his failed rebellion to be righted. When the Lord of all Demons is seated on Heaven’s throne, he will revel in the sight of God powerless at his feet. All he requires is the one thing he could never claim to possess, until now—Mercy.
Mercy Aymes always thought she was a normal girl living a normal life, until five years on from the mysterious disappearance of her parents that left her world a seething pit of black, she finds herself thrust into the chaos of unfamiliar territory. It’s more than the torments of her past that stalk her through the cold and lonely halls of the Lincoln boarding school.
In a desperate bid for survival, Mercy races for an escape from the wickedness of the school’s notorious bully, and stumbles on the secrets of the Lincoln towers, hidden from the mortal realm for hundreds of years. With the blinders torn from her eyes, Mercy’s world fractures at the sight of true monsters—but the eyes of their King are only for her.
Though captivated by the discovery of an odd array of Gargoyles, Mercy finds more than solace in the silent presence of one she favours above all. But when a powerful connection to the stone figure claims her heart, it’s not long before the mysteries of Mercy’s life unravel.
The discovery of unfavourable blood ties propels Mercy into an age-old war that splits the realms and tears her heart in two. Soon, she must choose which side is to dominate her future, as she faces unfathomable dangers from both forces.
The Archangels want her dead and the Devil wants her to lead. But whose side are the Gargoyles on?
LORD HAVE MERCY is a gripping paranormal, dark fantasy that will transport fantasy fans to a fascinating world, filled with suspense, danger, and paranormal romance. This fantasy is the epitome of the universal conflict between good and evil. This vividly drawn cast of Angels, Demons and Gargoyles embark on a battle for the realms and humanity. A journey of self-discovery, friendship, love, and heartache along with engaging and lovable characters.
Dark Thoughts
Manson Digby is suffering from amnesia. He remembers waking up in a cemetery but barely knows his name. He doesn’t have any friends except Father Alvarez and Detective Jones. He sets out to find out what really happened to him as he is plagued by anger and dark thoughts of killing those he runs into. Father Alvarez has him convinced that he is there to help him start over on a path of good. But then there’s Lucy, a dark and evil beauty that Manson just can’t get enough of. Manson begins to question who he really is and if these dark dreams are real? Manson begins to have supernatural experiences and starts to think he may not be crazy after all.
Dark Thoughts by Shawn Van Horn is a chilling horror novel that is intriguing right from the first chapter. The author will have you questioning if Manson really is the victim in this situation or if he is pure evil? The sharp descriptions set the haunting scenes well, with attention to details that create a thick atmosphere that feels like a character in itself. With eerie religious undertones and frightening supernatural elements the story gave me the same feeling the movie End of Days did when I watched it many years ago.
Readers will be immersed in the story and enthralled with the mystery of who Manson is and why he is so drawn to Lucy. I appreciated that the author doesn’t spoon-feed the reader the information; instead, it’s slowly revealed to the reader throughout the story; ensuring the tension and intrigue slowly build; like in Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden novels. The action is intense, and there are scenes of blood and gore, but it doesn’t overpower the thought-provoking core of the novel.
Dark Thoughts is a gripping occult horror novel. Readers will be drawn into the mysterious world that Manson lives in and be taken on a thrilling and suspenseful journey as he discovers the truth about himself and the world around him. I highly recommend this dark and intriguing read, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Pages: 299 | ASIN : B0B94S13F9
The Pilgrimage of Death
Vandella follows a young girl with cancer who exchanges her soul for her grandmother’s and takes a supernatural journey through the world of the undead. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Actually, the main inspiration for the story was a near-death experience of my grandfather. In his “dream” he traveled to the hereafter and experienced the Pilgrimage of Death I describe in the book, but a woman halted his journey alleging “his time was not due yet” but she warned him, it will, in fourteen days. And when the term fulfilled, my grandfather died. If interested, you can read the whole story in my author blog: https://yourlastdesire.com/vandella-what-the-novel-is-about/
Maia has many ups and downs in life before embarking on this adventure into the world of the undead. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
In the world of the undead, I wanted Maia to face an exponential version of her fears in real life, as a metaphor of how our subconscious perceive them. Maia’s story is not a tale of an extraordinary protagonist doing incredible things, but rather about a commoner pushing herself to overcome the extraordinary obstacles in her way. I wanted the “escapist” nature of the fantasy in Vandella to be used as a journey of introspection for Maia to find herself at the end.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Self-sacrifice as the purest form of love. Learning to find happiness despite problems, not because their absence. And the beauty found in the evanescence of life, were the main themes driving the story of the novel.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Currently I’m working in Vandella’s sequel titled “Resilience” which will hit shelves in 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
¿Cuánto estás dispuesta a sacrificar por aquellos que amas?
Dejada en orfandad en medio de circunstancias misteriosas y criada por su abuela, Maia cree que ha dejado su trágico pasado atrás. Ahora, siendo una joven soñadora de diecisiete años, Maia anhela encontrar el amor verdadero con su amor platónico de la preparatoria cuando recibe la espantosa noticia de que su Cáncer, que había estado en remisión durante mucho tiempo, ha regresado, no solo para fastidiar sus planes románticos, sino para arruinar toda su vida.
Una noche, durante su estancia en el hospital, Maia recibe la visita de un peculiar joven que le confiesa que está a punto de reclamar el alma de su amada abuela. Pero Maia le ofrece su alma a cambio y se une al atractivo heraldo de la muerte en una odisea hacia el más allá. El vertiginoso viaje lleva a Maia y su cautivador acompañante de un elaborado baile a un viaje en una locomotora de vapor que surca los cielos, a una casa de campo embrujada, al fondo de un lago y otros lugares mágicos. Ambos se enfrentan a obstáculos fuera de este mundo mientras Maia intenta salvar a su único pariente y determinar si hay alguna esperanza para su alma atormentada.
Literary Titan Gold Book Award October 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Gold Award Recipients
Captive Attraction by Patricia Crumpler
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award October 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Silver Award Recipients
MacGregor’s Final Battle by Joe Clark
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Taiwan Butterfly
Taiwan Butterfly follows a British missionary who comes into possession of a powerful Tibetan grimoire called ‘The Book of the Butterfly’. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Taiwan Butterfly is the second installment of a series I am writing called The Book of The Butterfly. The prequel will be released later, which details the adventures of the main character Jonathan Woods and his travels around Asia as he searches for occult material. Something Jonathan has been obsessed about since a teenager. The beginning of Taiwan Butterfly picks up from the ending of the first novel ‘Book of the Butterfly.’ I released the second book first, ‘Taiwan Butterfly’ because it deals with death and resurrection. I am an English teacher and recently had a young twelve-year-old private English student of mine pass away from a childhood stroke. She had been my student since she was five years old. So I released Taiwan Butterfly first as a tribute to her and with a wish that it could be true.
Jonathan Woods is an interesting character that was fun to follow. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Jonathan Woods is a composite character formed from Indiana Jones, Merlin, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Three of my favorite fictional characters. All I had to do then was imagine what such a character would be like and do.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The death of someone we love and how it affects our belief in life was what I wanted to explore. I wanted to say that life is precious, and we should cherish it. Too many books and entertainment glorify death and the killing of people for fun or without hesitation. I find it very sad that people disrespect life so much. We are only here once on this earth. We will never be here again. Respect life and love it while you can. That’s what Taiwan Butterfly is about.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m multi-tasking on that one! I am writing four books at the same time. First to be released will be a gothic-horror story called ‘Formosan Vampire’ in mid-July 2023. The second will be a political thriller called ‘The Illuminati’ regarding a secret world order that has been controlling everything happening in the world, both good and bad. The third will be the prequel to ‘Taiwan Butterfly’. And the fourth is a sci-fi epic called ‘Conquest of our Forefathers’ about an ancient alien race that created an experimental lifeform and placed it on planet Earth to see what would happen. The human race is that experiment! Then, after a break, I will write the prequel to ‘Legend Blade’, my first novel that was published in 2021.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
LITERARY TITAN 