Blog Archives
A Struggle Between Two Worlds
Kevin Matthew Hayes’s A Struggle Between Two Worlds is a bold and heartfelt space war epic that follows Lieutenant Jaxon, a pilot caught between duty and despair in a solar system torn apart by conflict. The story begins with heart-thumping battles above the moons of Mars, shifts into tense debriefings aboard a massive carrier, and spirals into a deeply human story about faith, loyalty, and survival. It’s part space opera, part war journal, and part meditation on what it means to keep going when everything you care about seems to be slipping away.
The writing doesn’t waste time. It throws you straight into the action with vivid detail and the silence of space pressing in from every side. The dialogue feels natural, even when it’s clipped and military, and that helps ground the futuristic setting in real emotion. There’s something lonely about it all, a kind of quiet heartbreak that runs under the explosions and heroics. I could feel Jaxon’s exhaustion, his doubt, and his fear. I also admired the author’s balance between world-building and humanity. The space battles are cinematic, but what lingered with me were the small moments like Jaxon’s conversations with Quincey, the call home to his wife and daughter, and the silence after loss. Those pieces hit hard.
Sometimes the technical talk about ships and missiles drags on a bit, and there are places where the dialogue leans heavy on old war clichés. But even then, it fits the characters. These are soldiers trying to stay sane, clinging to ritual and bravado to mask their fear. The pacing slows in the middle, but the emotional punch makes up for it. I also liked how Hayes doesn’t glamorize war. The battles are terrifying, not triumphant. Every victory feels costly. By the end, when Jaxon faces Markov one last time, it’s not about pride or revenge, it’s about finishing what can’t be escaped. That ending stayed with me. It felt raw and real.
This book would be perfect for readers who love classic military sci-fi or flight stories that dig into the human heart behind the machinery. Fans of Top Gun, Battlestar Galactica, or The Expanse will find a lot to love here. I’d also recommend it to anyone who wants an action story that still remembers what it feels like to be afraid, hopeful, and deeply, painfully human. A Struggle Between Two Worlds isn’t just about space, it’s about the fight we all face between faith and despair, and the small, stubborn will to keep flying anyway.
Pages: 35 | ASIN: B0FRW5JRRQ
It Was a Wild Time
Ethan Tucker’s Job follows an ex-soldier turned reluctant lawman who is tasked with tracking down a dangerous outlaw and his mission is complicated by old friends, new enemies, and his own inner demons. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I grew up in central and south Florida and I often heard stories from long ago about lawless towns like Pine Level or wild cattle towns. When I decided to write a western style story, I thought 1850s Florida would be a great setting. It may not be as romanticized as the Old West, but I liked it and it helped serve the main theme of the story. It was a wild time and I couldn’t think of a better place for Ethan to get into trouble while fighting his past.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
It depends. Ethan Tucker’s Job explores temptation and whether people can really change. I used the wild south Florida frontier as a test for Ethan. It was his opportunity to prove to himself and others that he could change, if he desired. It’s that inner struggle that the character deals with that makes for great fiction.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I think one of the biggest themes explored in this story is the fact that everyone can change if they are willing to do so. Take Ethan Tucker for example. He spent a good portion of his younger years in the wilds of south Florida. He enjoyed his lifestyle where he was fighting Indians, gambling and drinking in cattle towns where there was little to no law, and he often proved how tough he was through duels. Sometime after the Second Seminole War, Ethan returned to Tallahassee and tried to settle down, but his past continued to catch up with him in the years leading up to the Third Seminole War. When he again returns to south Florida to pursue Alaster Conley, Ethan has the opportunity to prove to himself, and others, that he has changed when he is tempted to revert to his old ways throughout the story.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I venture far out of 1850s Florida in my next book, A Struggle Between Two Worlds. It takes place in the near future and it has been a lot of fun planning. I would like to have it out some time in July or August. I will keep everyone updated on my socials.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Website
Ethan Tucker’s Job
Ethan Tucker’s Job is a gripping historical novel that plunges readers into the heart of 19th-century Florida. The book follows Ethan Tucker, a rugged ex-soldier turned reluctant lawman, as he is strong-armed into tracking down a dangerous outlaw, Alaster Conley. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America, Ethan’s journey is more than just a manhunt—it’s a deeply personal struggle between duty, morality, and the ghosts of his past. As he ventures deeper into the Florida frontier, his mission to bring Conley to justice is complicated by old friends, new enemies, and his own inner demons.
What really stood out to me about Ethan Tucker’s Job is the way Hayes writes action. The book opens with a cinematic, tension-filled scene at a saloon that immediately sets the tone. The shootouts are quick and brutal, the betrayals sting, and the quiet moments carry the weight of a life hard-lived. Hayes does a great job making the world feel real without bogging it down with unnecessary descriptions. The dialogue, especially between Ethan and his former militia buddy, Aiden Sage, crackles with life and keeps the pacing tight. It’s also refreshing to see historical fiction set in Florida’s wild frontier, a setting that isn’t as overdone as the classic Western landscapes of Texas or Arizona.
Some of the book’s emotional beats hit harder than others. Ethan’s struggle with his wife, Faith, is one of the more compelling aspects of the novel. The tension between them is palpable—her disappointment, his regret, and the deep frustration that they can’t seem to bridge the gap between them. The scene where Faith shoves his old pepperbox pistol back into his hands, basically telling him that he’s never going to change, hit me hard. It’s raw, and it’s one of the moments that make Ethan more than just a tough-guy soldier.
Ethan Tucker’s Job is a great read for fans of historical fiction, Westerns, and action-packed storytelling. If you love morally complex protagonists, intense gunfights, and a setting that feels alive with history, this book is definitely worth picking up. It’s gritty, well-paced, and carries just the right amount of heart to make it stick with you after you’ve turned the last page.
Page: 96 | ASIN : B0DYGDKP7Q
Turned Them Into Monsters
Reckonings follows a college student seeking a carefree night at a Halloween party who must confront a rising tide of the undead and the haunting shadows of her past. Were there any particular books or films that influenced the tone and style of Reckonings?
There were a few films that influenced “Reckonings.” The western references come from the film “Near Dark.” I think this film has a great story line and its well done. I had a little fun with the truck explosion scene. That was a quick reference to several 80’s films. I’ve had several readers take guesses at the films being referenced. They are having fun with it. So far, all of their guesses have been correct.
When I write the All Hallows’ Eve Tales, I try to base them loosely on legends I heard growing up. In “Reckonings,” I used the Casket Girls from New Orleans. In reality, these were women, often young girls, who were brought to New Orleans from France to be married off to men in the French colony. They often came in different groups. According to the legend, several vampires managed to penetrate the city in one of these groups.
How did you approach developing Jessica’s emotional arc alongside the supernatural horror elements?
We’re always tempted between doing the right and wrong things. It’s a conflict everyone faces every day even if it seems unfair. Each of the vampires had a grudge, or reckoning, which Antonia used against them and turned them into monsters. Each of these vampires obviously gave in and made the wrong choice. Jessica at one point could have easily given in and went to their side. But she didn’t, even with all the wrongs that had been done to her. She made the right choice therefore she is the bigger person.
How did you balance the fast-paced action with the deeper, introspective moments to keep readers both thrilled and emotionally engaged?
When I started the “All Hallows’ Eve Tales” series, I wanted to make a series of short stories. I knew I would need to cover a lot of ground in a limited amount of time. In “Reckonigs,” I try to give each character their moment so the reader can learn about their pasts and struggles. In between all of this, Jessica and her friends are facing their own struggle (fighting to survive) throughout the course of the story.
The theme of unresolved trauma is central to Jessica’s journey. What message were you hoping to convey through her confrontation with both inner and outer demons?
I think we all face demons every day. Some more than others. It’s a constant struggle, but you can’t give up. If you give in, it could make you a monster.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website | Spring
Local Legends
The Beast of Talbotton follows a man as he returns to the town he ran from years ago who now has to face the ramifications of his past choices while the town deals with werewolf attacks. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story opens with David leading cavalry into Talbotton during the American Civil War. I thought the Civil War would be a great metaphor for David. While the nation was tearing itself apart, David was tearing himself apart internally with constant flashbacks to his past mistakes in town.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
I think what intrigues me about the horror and paranormal genres is the mystery surrounding local legends I heard growing up. The Beast of Talbotton is loosely based on a werewolf legend that took place in Talbotton, Georgia. From the first time I learned about it, I always wondered what started the legend. Did someone see a wild animal that they could not identify? Was this just an accusation to smear someone? Or was there something we truly can’t explain? Like many legends, who knows what really happened.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main theme I explored in this book was what happens if you don’t confront problems quickly. If David had spoken up about how he truly felt about his arranged marriage to Elizabeth, things would have never escalated to the point that they did at the conclusion of the story. Sure, his father and Elizabeth’s father would have been angry with him, but everyone would have moved on quickly and the horrible events that take place throughout the story would have never occurred.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
I’m still working on the outline for my next book in the series. I plan for it to involve ghosts and deal with subjects such as greed. It should be out by next October.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Spring | Amazon
Readers seeking chills and thrills to go along with their Southern Gothic historical novel will find just that in this intense tale of tragic star-crossed lovers and a werewolf stalking a town.
In Talbotton, Georgia, American Civil War soldier David Cantwell scorned marriage for true love-and now must confront the monstrous consequences of his choice.
Furred and fanged terror grips the night as a werewolf attacking his cavalry leads to dark secrets being revealed. By choosing love, has Cantwell doomed himself and others?
A supernatural story during the American Civil War that perfectly blends Southern Gothic and monster legends, The Beast of Talbotton makes for a one-of-a-kind pulse-pounding adventure for fans of history and horror alike.
Recipient of the Literary Titan’s Book Award in October 2024.
Searching for the Origins of Halloween
Facing Demons: An All-Hallows’ Eve Tale follows the town constable who is approached by a young girl accusing an esteemed family of being involved in witchcraft, leading to an investigation that reveals a darker truth. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I enjoy watching horror films each year in October and I’m a big fan of the “Halloween” franchise. I was up late one night watching AMC and they had “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” airing. I had never seen the film before because many of my friends told me it wasn’t that great. I decided to watch it and I thought the concept was very interesting. After it caught my interest, I began researching the origins of Halloween which go back to the ancient Celts. I thought if I set the prologue in Ireland and used some aspects of Samhain, it would be a great way to pay homage to the ancient roots of Halloween even though much of it is still debated to this day.
Was there a reason why you chose this location as the backdrops for your story?
When I write the stories for the “All Hallows’ Eve Tales” series, I try to base them on old legends that I heard growing up. Most of the time, my stories are loosely based so I can take liberties with the storyline. In regards to “Facing Demons,” the story is loosely based on South Carolina’s forgotten witch trials which occurred almost 100 years after the Salem Witch Trials. Several of the towns I use in the story reference the final case of witchcraft in South Carolina. In this case, a woman from Chesterfield named Barbara Powers was accused of witchcraft around 1813-1814.
What draws you to the horror genre and makes it ripe for you to write such a great mystery story in it?
I think what drew me to the horror genre was the mystery surrounding local legends in the Southeast. For example, “The Beast of Talbotton” is loosely based on a werewolf legend that took place in Talbotton, Georgia. From the first time I learned about it, I always wondered what started the legend. Did someone see a wild animal that they could not identify? Was this just an accusation to smear someone? Or was there something we truly can’t explain? I tried to portray the same thing in “Facing Demons.” If a magical or mysterious event occurred, I wanted a possible rational explanation as well. Like many mysteries, who knows what really happened.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m currently working on a western-style story that takes place in south Florida in the 1850s. It involves outlaws, gunmen, soldiers on assignment from the Florida Militia, and the wilds of south Florida in an era sometime around the 3rd Seminole War and just before the American Civil War. I’m hoping to have it out in 2-3 months. I’m also working on a new addition to the “All Hallows’ Eve Tales” series which will be released by next October.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website | Spring | Book Review
At the start of the nineteenth century, a girl approaches the town’s constable, William, and accuses the powerful O’Neill family of witchcraft. She is quickly dismissed, but Bridget, a bright nurse and William’s love interest, soon convinces him that the girl is telling the truth. An investigation commences, and William and Bridget join forces to unravel the mystery.
As they navigate the increasingly sinister facts, the duo finds out what evil is. They are soon forced to keep secrets to stay safe…only to learn that others will pay the price. Confronting their own terrors, William and Bridget discover that not everything is what it seems-sometimes, it’s darker.
This haunting story revels in our fears and the strange things we can’t explain.
Recipient of the Literary Titan’s Book Award in October 2024.
LITERARY TITAN 