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Literary Titan Book Awards March 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 imagination of these talented authors.
Gold Award Winners
Silver Award Winners
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Ash and Gold
Ash and Gold by Lydia R. Outland is a haunting urban fantasy novel following the story of a daughter who was cursed in the guise of a blessing to never actually die. She is born again and again, in search of her mother and the mystical city, and destroys everything in her wake. Buggy, our protagonist, is oblivious to all of these ominous past occurrences and wants to enjoy a normal life. Suddenly she finds herself surrounded by two men who change the course of her life.
This fast-paced story is filled with intriguing supernatural elements that feel separate yet all come together to create a complex storyline. The author includes a lot of details to flesh out the world the character inhabits and creates a backdrop that balances between grim and ominous, but in either case the author ensures that readers are well acquainted with the world by the time the strange gets stranger.
The eerie narrative of the story remains constant throughout the book ensuring a steady flow of paranormal things being exposed. The author also explores the relationship between friends and family through the interactions of characters, which I think is an much more engaging way to convey information. We are given plenty of background on the protagonist to understand her, but I felt that supporting characters were not given as much room to develop, making this more of a character study rather than an ensemble story.
I would love to read more about the story of Waverley, if the author decides to explore it more in this series because I thought it was a very interesting aspect. This book explores another world completely dependent on the consciousness of the characters, which is fascinating.
There is also an LGBTQ relationship in the background of the story which neither seems like a forceful inclusion in the story nor ignores the importance of it. These small tidbits are mixed seamlessly into the story giving the book an authentic and fresh atmosphere, even amongst the metaphysical elements.
The writing style of the author makes the story much more memorable and interesting to read as well. I thought this book was super addictive. There is a proficient literary flow to the story that shows the authors talent with telling a story punctuated by intrigue that keeps readers constantly engaged.
Ash and Gold is an enthralling urban fantasy story that slowly takes readers into a mystery that is fascinating if not complex. This is a spellbinding occult fiction story that will appeal to readers looking for a cerebral and haunting novel.
Pages: 550 | ASIN : B09NW8JV42
Pray Lied Eve 3
The short story is the most unique of all the genres as it can pack a punch like no other narrative. Whether it delivers humor, mystery, or drama, the short story holds something for every reader. When it comes to horror, however, the short story takes on an entirely different look and has the power to captivate readers, lead them down a rapidly spiraling rabbit hole, and leave them breathless by the story’s end. Nowhere is there a better example of this than in Pray Lied Eve: Short Tales of the Untoward, by Lydia Peever.
Author, Lydia Peever, has handed readers a collection of short stories steeped in horror and the macabre. Each of Peever’s shorts features a unique take on the horror genre. The author leads readers down a path filled with shocking discoveries, long-hidden mysteries, and abrupt and unexpected endings.
For the most part, Peever’s stories have endings that hit hard and seem to come out of a dark and foreboding left field. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Short stories are meant to be savored, and many of Peever’s beg for immediate rereads. This is one collection readers will find themselves coming back to time and time again.
My favorite among Peever’s stories has to be “Grave Marginalia.” I love the fact that it is set in a library and the very books themselves seem to play a sinister role in the strange and unsettling events taking place before the characters’ very eyes. This was one of those stories I stopped and poured over once more before reading the rest of the book.
In addition, Peever breaks down the origins of each of the stories for readers. I enjoy hearing about the thought process behind an author’s work and find it interesting to see how their stories originated. I appreciated this little addition to the conclusion of the book.
Pray Lied Eve: Short Tales of the Untoward is a spellbinding collection for horror fans that enjoy gruesome scenes and vividly frightening imagery. Anyone looking for quick reads that feel like spine-chilling rides on the most horrifying of rollercoaster rides will find the thrill they are seeking in Peever’s work.
Pages: 57 | ASIN : B00BPAFBHG
Stories That Are So Crazy
Taylor Mill Horror follows the terrifying true story of a family that buys a real haunted house. Why was this an important book for you to write?
We all hear wild ghost stories and claims. Stories that are so crazy we believe they could never be true. Prior to staying in this home I laughed at claims such as paranormal earthquakes and extreme poltergeist activity. The two weeks we spent in this home forever changed my life and outlook. I now realize that there are things that go on in the world that we will never be able to understand and explain. Things so frightening, we refuse to believe in them. I felt like I owed it to all those who I once thought were making up all these claims to write this book. I wanted to let others know that they are not the only ones who may be going through these things and ultimately that they are not crazy.
As you stayed in the house while researching this book, what were the scariest and the funniest thing that happened?
The scariest thing that had happened was easily the paranormal earthquake. Despite seeing things fly across the room or figures pass by, nothing will even come close to that night. While lying in the bed a loud almost mechanical sound resonated from the house, as if an engine were reving up. Shortly after the house began shaking violently causing things to fly off of the walls and shelves. At this moment, I was fully convinced that I was going to die that night in that home.
After about a week in the home we were so sleep deprived that we tried to find the humor in anything just to stay sane. Whenever we would hear odd noises or things would happen, we would explain them away in the most ridiculous ways possible. For example; the trashcan in the kitchen that had flown across the room a few times was obviously possessed by the spirit of a raccoon who was looking for a late night snack. We did anything we could to share some laughs and make light of what was a stressful situation.
How did you get interested in paranormal activity and haunted houses?
The biggest question in life is What happens after we die? I am a very critical and analytical thinker who needs to see proof before I can form an opinion. From movies to television and books we are told so many different stories about what lurks in the beyond. I simply wanted to set out and see if I could answer this ultimate life question.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on a completely fiction based horror novel. This novel is based off of a recurring nightmare that I have had ever since I was a child. Unlike Taylor Mill Horror, not only is it fiction it is also meant to scare the reader. This is a much more fast paced, horrifying and gruesome novel. I am hoping to release it in October of 2022.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
With the help of a priest and two paranormal investigators, Sam and his family began a battle with the unseen forces attempting to drive them from their home. They discovered the house was infested with a demonic presence. The events and dark energies were altering the emotions of the residents to the point they questioned their own sanity. When the team uncovers strange connections, Sam must ask what brought him to this home in the first place. Could a force beyond comprehension have been at work in drawing the family to that specific property? Discover the true events revealed through interviews and eyewitness accounts for the first time in the pages of Taylor Mill Horror. Written by the team who spent two weeks amidst the horrors and the man who lived it all firsthand, this is an account like no other. Taylor Mill Horror will immerse readers in a story they will never forget, made even more chilling for its status as non-fiction.
Literary Titan Book Awards February 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 imagination of these talented authors.
Gold Award Winners
Trust and Confidence – The 1998 Battle Between the Secret Service and Ken Starr by Jim Lichtman
Silver Award Winners
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
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