Blog Archives
Spit
Spit is an unrelenting thriller set against the backdrop of modern-day Louisville, Kentucky, where danger and intrigue pulse through every turn of its narrative. Author Thomas Chicago crafts a story that masterfully intertwines human drama, suspense, and supernatural elements. The book opens with the grandeur of a prestigious ceremony at the Doubletree Hilton Ballroom, only to spiral into a world of deeply buried secrets, crime, and mystifying forces that keep readers gripped from the first page. The plot centers around Wayne Longoria, a high school principal with a complicated past, and his entanglements that shift between personal honor and scandalous mysteries. What starts as a celebration of achievement soon unveils a shadowy world brimming with tension and moral complexity. The narrative’s burst of pace and continuous surprises ensures there’s never a moment of lull.
Chicago’s writing is evocative and bold, balancing bursts of vivid descriptions with moments of introspection. The characters are compellingly flawed, from the enigmatic Jessica to the forceful Juanita, whose shadowy motives drive much of the suspense. Dialogue is used effectively to reveal inner turmoils and propel the action forward, creating a rich tapestry of emotions and stakes.
Yet, Spit isn’t merely a thriller. It delves into themes of redemption, the impact of trauma, and the ways in which our past choices haunt or transform us. There is a sense of palpable urgency throughout, accentuated by supernatural undercurrents that keep the narrative layered and thought-provoking. While the plot is labyrinthine and sometimes shockingly intense, Chicago excels in keeping the reader on edge, blending elements of horror with hard-hitting reality. The intersections of personal and paranormal create a wholly unique experience, making this novel a standout in the genre. This book is a gripping yet unsettling thriller that doesn’t shy away from pushing boundaries, including explicit scenes that are vividly depicted.
The narrative includes mature content, with detailed descriptions of sexual interactions and violent encounters that are central to the plot’s tension and dark themes. Some scenes, notably involving inappropriate relationships and power dynamics, may be disturbing to sensitive readers. The book’s exploration of these troubling aspects serves to heighten the stakes and moral complexity but, I feel, can be somewhat difficult to digest.
For those who crave a story rich in unpredictability and emotional depth, Spit-Chicago is a must-read, offering a journey that is as harrowing as it is unforgettable.
Pages: 238 | ASIN : B0DH5VDWPS
Magical Girls and Time Travel
Jackie and the Magical Guys follows a sixteen-year-old girl who travels back in time to prevent an apocalypse and accidentally turns a group of men into girls with magical abilities. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This question is bringing me back decades ago in a good way! It all started when my babysitter introduced me to the great Rumiko Takahashi and her various works. So I grew up watching and reading Ranma 1/2, a very popular gender-bender series in Japan. Rumiko Takahashi is also the creative genius behind Inu-Yasha. I’m a big Rumiko Takahashi fan. It’s a secret I’m struggling to keep. Shh.
Speaking of secrets, it’s not a big one that I was a shy and geeky first-generation Laotian-American, and I didn’t have many friends growing up. As a result, I spent a lot of time with my sister Amone, and we immersed ourselves in the world of books. Countless times, Amone and I would be dropped off at Waldenbooks while my mom wandered to nearby stores in the mall. So my sister and I would sit down in a corner somewhere and read stacks of Viz and Tokyopop manga (and later purchased some of course when we saved up enough money). We absolutely devoured Inu-Yasha, and later one day when we went home, we discovered the first episode of Inu-Yasha airing on Adult Swim… And. We. Flipped. Our. Lids! We screeched like Ranma being dunked in cold water for the first time, and my mom thought we went rabid. She wasn’t aware that we should’ve been diagnosed with Rumiko Takahashi fan-fluenza.
Rumiko Takahashi’s body of work brought me so much joy in my childhood that I started daydreaming about creating my own stories. I usually start with “what if” questions when anything sparks my imagination. What if I combined gender bending with magical girls and time travel? Blend the concept with fast-paced, frenetic energy, and rapid-fire dialogue like a 90’s cartoon? But what if I threw in the trademark cheesy “90’s kids” American superhero quips? Perhaps with an extra dose of cringe? (Maybe that was a contribution as to why I didn’t have many friends when I was young…) Those 90’s jokes are pure nostalgia for me. So you’ll notice a lot of that flavored in Jackie and the Magical Guys.
My humor may not be for everyone, but you’re all invited to it! So get your charcuterie boards ready because I’m bringing the cheese.
How long did it take you to imagine, draft, and write the world your characters live in?
This story has been brewing for what feels like a lifetime… It was a constant companion in my mind, and Jackie and the Magical Guys evolved and grew with me over the years. Then when it finally demanded to be put on paper almost a decade ago, I would scribble ideas into a notebook whenever I had breaks between work. Sometimes I would even write on random scraps of paper. The story evolved even further.
Moments I had at a quiet coffee shop were sparse, but I was happy when I could finally sit down and start writing the script. Once I started, it was like the characters just took over. Their voices, banter, and silly quirks manifested into words. It was one of those rare times when writing felt more like I was building castles in a sandbox than clocking into work. That was just about a decade ago, and it’s still one of the most fun experiences I’ve had with a script.
Very quickly after that, I had the finished story, and the art from Hamons for volume one was all set. The files were collecting dust in my computer for a while and were unread by the public, but it took a nudge from a very kind and supportive colleague to finally turn it into a physical reality. Thanks to them, and the amazing folks who backed my crowdfunding campaign, I was able to bring Jackie and the guys to life. And seeing readers dive into it, laugh, and even re-read it–that’s the best kind of reward. Even if Jackie and the Magical Guys makes just one person smile, it’s all worth it.
The artwork in your book is fantastic. What was the collaboration process like with illustrator Hamons?
Working with the very talented Hamons was like a creative mind sync. He just got the rhythm of the story right from the start. He had a knack for nailing character expressions that cranked up the humor all the way up. Hamons understood the goofiness of Jackie and the rest of the gang straight away. His style is a blend of anime and DC cartoons like Young Justice with his own dynamic energy and flair. He totally embraced the zany, out-there vibe of the story right away, and I have so much gratitude for him. He actually created the animated trailer ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwShlOGisG0 ), and he drew it frame by frame. I am very grateful to have worked with him.
Can we look forward to a second installment of Jackie’s adventures? What are you currently working on?
That’s a most definite yes! I hope to continue sharing Jackie’s journey with everyone as long as you all would have me. I stare at you through your screen with hopefully doe eyes and not like a spirit from The Conjuring.
There are two other projects I have permission to announce. The first is a Laos-inspired supernatural fantasy comic called Vongfai written by Nor Sanavongsay and me and illustrated by Lanna Souvanny. Such an accomplished group–wow! I am delighted and grateful to be writing with Nor and help contribute my experiences as a child of Laotian refugee parents to the story he created. Vongfai represents our rich Southeast Asian culture, and we are excited to weave this tapestry for the younger generation. We will be sharing samples of the comic at Los Angeles Comic Con later this year.
If you’re interested in feasting your eyes upon a zombie comic book, I am also thrilled to reveal that I am part of the Descendants of the Undead team led by Ken Foree who plays the protagonist in George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. This is the mailing list for the zombie comic if your curiosity has been piqued.
But of course, there are other fun projects in the works. In the meantime, I hope to see you around comic conventions on the West Coast!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this interview!
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Meet sixteen-year-old Jackie, a girl from the future who has never felt more like the embodiment of failure when her brilliant scientist mother sends her a hundred years into the past to prevent the end of the world—because Jackie is pretty much the only person left alive to do so. But Jackie has never done fieldwork in her life or researched what the world full of viral memes and online trolls was like. And she doesn’t need the mounting pressure of finding strong female warriors that will save the planet when she can’t even find her own dignity.
But “failure” takes on a whole new meaning when, out of desperation, Jackie uses the super soldier serum on four disgruntled guys instead, transforming them into magical girls. And now they refuse to help her because not only do they have to worry about growing a mustache but growing an hourglass figure as well. So what’s a simple girl with a team of gender-swapped boys to do?
Jackie and the Magical Guys
Jackie and the Magical Guys, by Amy Linsamouth, is a captivating blend of humor, action, and surprising twists. The story follows Jackie, a 16-year-old from a dystopian future, who is sent back in time by her brilliant mother to prevent an apocalypse. Unfamiliar with the world of viral memes and internet culture, Jackie must form a team of female warriors to save humanity. In an unexpected turn, she accidentally turns four reluctant men into magical girls using a super soldier serum. This creates a unique and entertaining narrative that explores whether Jackie can turn this accident into a success.
Linsamouth delivers a dynamic story that immediately draws readers in with its fast-paced action, avoiding lengthy expositions that often slow down other narratives. The characters are well-developed, each with distinct personalities that add depth and humor to the story. The concept of transforming four men into magical girls is both hilarious and refreshing, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as they adapt to their new identities. While there are differences between the cover art and the interior illustrations, this contrast adds an intriguing layer to the experience. The cover’s bright, chibi-like style suggests a lighthearted tone, which makes the darker, graphic novel-like interior art an exciting surprise. This juxtaposition enriches the narrative, making it more compelling. The brisk pace of the story keeps readers engaged, and although it sometimes transitions quickly between events, this rapid progression maintains a lively and dynamic feel.
Jackie and the Magical Guys is an inventive and engaging story with plenty of potential. It masterfully combines humor, action, and darker themes, offering a unique twist on the magical girl genre. The cliffhanger ending leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next volume, excited to see how the story and characters will evolve. For those who enjoy fast-paced, humorous tales with a touch of the bizarre, this comic is definitely worth exploring.
Pages: 120 | ASIN : B0D8V7ZMKQ
I Still Wish I Could Fly
There is no Shrimp…and Other Lies My Mother Told Me is a collection of creative stories and alternative truths that you were told as a child by your Mother. What inspired you to share these with the world?
I’m a criminal justice professor and one of the classes that I teach is juvenile justice. Among the topics we discuss in that class are drug delinquency and gangs. While talking about those topics, I ask students to discuss their experiences with D.A.R.E. or other drug prevention programs they experienced in their youth as well as positive influences in their lives—for example, parents, teachers, peers, etc. I also share my own personal experiences related to those topics. One example I like to give is how my mom and Pee-Wee Herman were two positive influences in my life and the major factors in keeping me drug free to this day. Every now and then, I’d find myself sharing stories from my childhood, often times involving mom and dad, in relation to the topic of juvenile justice. So one day I thought to myself: “Wouldn’t it be fun to share these stories with the world?” That was the impetus for creating There is No Shrimp… And Other Lies My Mother Told Me. FYI: The Pee-Wee Herman anti-drug story is featured in the book.
What was the creative process like working with illustrator Yamawe?
I live in the U.S. Yamawe lives in the Philippines. Needless to say, our creative collaboration is very much a long-distance relationship, but one that’s very much a success. In brief, I write the scripts, she does the artwork, we go through rounds of revisions, and then I make the final edits and send the pages off to the printers.
Getting to this point and publishing There is No Shrimp… And Other Lies My Mother Told Me, as well as Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher, was a four-year endeavor. We both have “real” jobs, so it was a challenge juggling full-time jobs and our other commitments in addition to this side project/hobby of ours. I knew early on that I wanted to release these stories about mom as a graphic novel as opposed to just words on pages… although there’s certainly nothing wrong with the latter option, it wasn’t the approach I wanted to take. I consider myself a fairly decent artist—not great, but decent—however, I’m very much old school; a pen and paper are still my tools of choice. Yamawe, who’s well-versed in both traditional and digital media, is an amazing artist and illustrates in a style that I felt was the perfect fit for my stories. I’m just glad that Yamawe decided to come along with me on this creative journey, because I couldn’t have done it without her. She has been such a joy to work with!
What is one of your favorite stories your mom told you, and what one do you wish was actually true?
If you’ve read There is No Shrimp… And Other Lies My Mother Told Me, you definitely know how much of a creative thinker and truth stretcher my mom is. Of all the lies or “alternative truths” my mom told me when I was a kid, my favorite one would have to be the one that the title of the book is based on: That there was no shrimp in my food. When I was younger, I hated shrimp. Not necessarily because they tasted bad, but because they looked like little aliens, like the ones in the Alien movies starring Sigourney Weaver. Those movies terrified me as a kid, and thus, shrimp did as well. Mom, wanting me to eat shrimp, because it was “good for me,” would always sneak tiny bits of shrimp into my food but tell me that there wasn’t any shrimp in the food. Long story short, I love shrimp now, and I have mom to thank for that.
One of the lies that mom told me that I wish was actually true is that if you keep jumping off a bed with a cape on your shoulders that you’ll eventually be able to fly like Superman. To this day, I still wish I could fly.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on the second volume of Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher: An Autobiographical Manga and a sequel to There is No Shrimp, tentatively titled Dad vs. The World. The first book continues Kenny’s arcade exploits as he continues to liberate plushies trapped in those claw machines. But this time around, his twin sisters, Jinny and Sammy, are tagging along with him on his UFO-catching adventures! The latter book will focus on more of my childhood stories. However, the main character of the book, as you can probably guess from the title, will be my dad… although my mom and her penchant for stretching and manipulating the truth will make cameo appearances in some of the stories. I am delighted to be partnering with Yamawe again for this “second season” of my autobiographical manga. We hope to release the next two books in the Life Lessons series within the next year or two, so stay tuned!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
If you’ve read Kenny’s autobiographical manga and webtoon series, Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher, you’ve gained some insight into his quirky adult life and UFO-catching adventures. But have you ever wondered what your favorite UFO catcher was like as a kid? Wonder no more as you flashback to Kenny’s childhood and meet the person who shaped many of his unique perspectives on life… his mom!
Why are shrimp so terrifying? How are babies really made? What is the secret to superhuman flight? Discover the answers to these questions and more in UFO Catcher Ken Presents: There is No Shrimp… And Other Lies My Mother Told Me, a compilation of “alternative facts” a loving mother told her naïve and gullible son.
To rescue all the plushies!
Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher is a collection of stories and life lessons that you gained from your days in the local arcade and the people you met. What inspired you to write this book?
There were several inspirations for writing this book. First and foremost is my mother who once told me: “Your life is weird. You should write a book.” As the old saying goes, mother knows best. So I ended up writing a book. Whether it’s a good book or not, I’ll leave that to the readers to decide.
Second, the process of writing my doctoral dissertation was an indirect inspiration for me to write this book. My final year of grad school was spent either couped up in my room or in the library plugging away at my dissertation. The writing process was obviously not a 24/7 affair and I did take breaks every now and again. During those breaks from dissertation writing or number crunching my research data, I found myself typing, handwriting, and even doodling random stories and anecdotes from my life. Some of those random stories eventually became the basis for Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher. Random fun fact: The original working title for the book was Weird Things, echoing my mom’s comment that my life is “weird.”
Third, while I was living in Japan and South Korea, my favorite pastime was hanging out in arcades, mostly playing retro video games and of course, crane games—or as they’re referred to in Japan, “UFO catchers.” I actually got pretty good at them, and soon my newfound hobby became an obsession and life mission of sorts: To rescue all the plushies! This is a major reason why the setting of the story is an arcade.
Fourth, being an otaku—and proud of it!—and having grown up an avid viewer of Japanese anime and manga, I knew I wanted to take more of a creative approach to my memoir. So instead of just writing words on a page, I reached out to a friend of mine whose artistic skills far surpass mine, and we partnered up to create an autobiographical manga… although this book is only the first part of a multi-volume series that I have planned. There are more stories and life lessons to come!
Lastly, I had a desire to share with others some of the important lessons I learned in life, while encouraging others to reflect on the lessons learned from their own life experiences.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
I identify as both a Christian and as a Buddhist, and as my pastor once told me, the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. That being said, I obviously don’t know with 100% certainty if God is out there and what happens after we reach our end of days. Do we reincarnate? Do we become ghosts? Do we become star stuff? Do we go to heaven or hell… or somewhere else? Or do we simply cease to be? What I do believe in though is that things do happen for a reason, and that there are signs and omens in our lives that attempt to push us in the right direction or detour us from going the wrong way. The question is: Do we notice those signs, and if we do, do we follow them or ignore them?
To get to the point, the hardest thing for me to write about in this first volume of Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher wasn’t any particular story or lesson, but how to portray the signs in my life. In the end, I took some creative license for this memoir and chose to personify those signs and portents in the form of a guardian spirit named Somi who attempts to guide the main character in the right direction and steer him away from taking a course of action that he’d regret. However, as we can see in the story, Somi often fails in her mission… mostly in part to Kenny ignoring her.
Whether my guardian spirit is actually out there and if her name is indeed Somi, I don’t know. But I like to think that there’s someone or something watching over me.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
I’ve received a lot of valuable advice from many different people when I was growing up. One that still sticks with me today is the focus of the lesson featured in the final story of the book, a Chinese proverb that my grandfather often told me: 忍得一时之氣，免得百日之忧, or in English, “If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape one-hundred days of sorrow.”
Needless to say, my hothead got me into a lot of trouble and regrettable situations in my younger days. The climax of Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher is a perfect example of that. Although there are still times when my blood will boil in certain situations, I do my best to remember my grandpa’s words and to remain calm and collected, using my logic and my heart, instead of my rage and my fists, to resolve conflicts.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
The entirety of the story, with the exception of the epilogue, takes place entirely in an arcade, and the lessons the protagonist learns come about from him playing those arcade crane games and his interactions with others in the arcade. It’s a fairly simplistic story, but with what I believe are some valuable life lessons that the protagonist shares through his inner monologue that can be attributable to various situations and circumstances, and that people from all walks of life can appreciate and connect with. I hope that readers will be able to connect with the life lessons I’ve learned—and I have many more to share in the next volume of Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher—while reflecting on the important lessons in their own lives.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Kenny Loui is a Ph.D. student, university professor, and self-proclaimed “UFO Catcher.” This is the story of Kenny’s experiences playing arcade UFO catchers, “rescuing” cute plush dolls trapped inside claw machines, while “capturing” important life lessons along the way… Like Aesop’s Fables, but with a modern-day twist (and an awesome 80’s soundtrack)! Based on a true story.
This graphic novel collects all stories originally published in Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher #1-3 and features bonus content including extended scenes, an epilogue, BGM-enhanced stories, and character sketch art.
Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher
Kenny Loui, an individual with a Ph.D. who spends his days at the local arcade, is not your typical hero. Instead, his mission in life is to rescue as many plush animals as possible from the claw machines that keep them captive. Throughout his journey, Kenny shares with the reader many valuable life lessons he has learned along the way. However, when someone threatens the tranquility of the arcade, how will Kenny choose to defend his neighborhood oasis?
Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher by Kenny Loui is a surprising and delightful slice-of-life manga that exceeded my expectations. Initially anticipating a gritty account of UFO chasing and local horror, I was pleasantly surprised to find a charming story about a man’s efforts to rescue plushies while sharing wisdom with others. Each chapter is an “episode” in which Kenny demonstrates the significance of perseverance, kindness, and patience through his fight to liberate the plushies. The art by Yamawe is outstanding, with each panel bursting with life and vibrant color and the cute plushies adding their unique magic to the tale. This manga would make an excellent comedy anime, and I eagerly anticipate the next installment of Kenny’s exciting exploits.
Life Lessons of a UFO Catcher is a whimsical autobiographical story with charming art, sage advice, and an entertaining narrative. It’s an excellent choice for a rainy day read, containing mild language, mild violence, and mild fan service, and is recommended for middle-grade readers and up. This delightful tale of one man’s mission to rescue plushies is perfect for fans of slice-of-life anime and comedic, light-hearted adventures.
Pages: 150 | ASIN : B0B9KD2G4W
VALOR TALE: DISENTHRALL
![VALOR TALE: DISENTHRALL, VOLUME I by [David Earl Williams III, Marcell James, Michel Hillebrand, Ramon Manuel Ochoa Lopez, Azkaryu D., Michael Nguyen]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41vhln5fYvL.jpg)
Valor Tale Disenthrall (Volume I) by David Earl Williams III, is an enthralling and action-packed LitRPG novel, where we find ourselves in a parallel Earth, in the city of Mesovilla, Capital of the Helix Province. It is not your typical book, this reminds me of a Dungeons and Dragons game with detailed and intriguing characters and a wildly imaginative story. This book was able to transport me back to the days when I used to play D&D and the wild fantasy stories that developed organically.
Author David Earl Williams captures the readers attention from the first introduction of his main character, Dew Wilder, leader of the modern Robinhood rag tags, called Aurora Blade. Dew, a former Elite warrior who served in the Great civil war the country went through, has now taken up arms against the government who oppresses civilians for their own greed.
While reading the story, I went through so many emotions. I laughed, I was saddened at the tragic tales of our characters and how they work hard to stand against the government. They have the essence of true freedom fighters. I love a story with rebels who take up arms, who choose the right side, and therefore, I found Valor Tale very enjoyable.
One of the best aspects of this story is the great art depictions. Right from the start, we are introduced to the main cast of the story, each of them has their own personality, background likes and dislikes. As we move along the story, the chapters are filled with beautiful panels of art, from places, robots to monsters, each panel is very detailed and I actually spent a lot of time studying them. As an avid manga reader I really appreciated the art. The story telling is really great and the panels tie everything up in a neat package.
While I enjoyed the story, I’m a reader who enjoys the gritty details and I would have liked more time spent in the middle of the fight scenes and action, where now I feel like we skip the juiciest pieces of the action.
My favorite character is Lorenzo, who is amazing and obsessed with his stamp collection. Every time he came into the scene I laughed. Moreover, I really want to know what is the deal with the government’s cheese!
This is a thrilling graphic novel with a unique story and an entertaining execution that makes this young adult fantasy novel fun to read from beginning to end.
Pages: 168 | ASIN: B08GHQR6KY
Cursed with Immense Powers
Demon Heart follows a a cop in Osaka who must hide the fact that she’s a demon hybrid while stopping a fanatic from acquiring an ancient artifact. What was the inspiration behind the idea for this suspenseful novel?
There were three important factors that contributed to the creation of this novel. The first was the exposure to the Japanese animation and cinema after my immigration to the United States in 1987. I am a great fan of the movies of Akira Kurosawa and also a great fan of Japanese anime, which is very beautifully made and with great attention to detail and emotional realism. My second inspiration came from the exposure to the Japanese customs and traditions as well as a unique way of thinking. Japan is the most technologically advanced country in the world and yet it is deeply rooted in old traditions. I admire their hard work, their designs and their great emphasis on personal honor and respect of people and nature. The third reason for the creation of this book was my strong and enduring friendship with my beautiful Japanese female friend, a young lady whom I met in college. My main character Naoko Kitamura is partly based on her character and her looks, and she is very beautiful!
Naoko Kitamura’s lineage and background were immensely interesting. How did you develop her background and what were some aspects that were important for you to focus on?
In my character design of Naoko Kitamura I made a reference to the formula followed by the writers and artists of Japanese manga and American graphic novels. This formula is simple. If you are an extraordinary person, it’s very hard for you to live an ordinary life. This is true of all superheroes, and Naoko Kitamura can be definitely classified as one. In developing her background and human-demonic lineage, I wanted to present her as a unique creature of both worlds, material and spiritual, a being of darkness and light blessed and cursed with immense powers and capability for great destruction. At the same time, I wanted her to take responsibility for everything she does. Since Naoko is Japanese, she does receive guidance and wisdom from her demonic ancestral memory and her mother, who is herself a demon hybrid. I wanted to present my protagonist as a strong, intelligent and independent woman and yet vulnerable both emotionally and physically, even if she can recover from almost any injury.
Osaka Japan is beautifully detailed in this story. What kind of research did you undertake to ensure things were accurate?
It is very important for every writer to get things right, especially if he or she is writing about another culture and people that represent that culture. A full year of intense and fascinating research went into creation of this novel. I wanted to understand not only how the modern japan works but to understand the intricacies of the Japanese mindset, their philosophy, history and their attitude toward life and death. I explored everything from food to movies to Japanese novels as well as interviews of my Japanese friends and study of books about Japan written by both academics and travelers, as well as fiction writers who studied Japanese culture and shared their findings with the world. Working on research for this novel was a great fun and a labor of love. I often try to place myself in my protagonist’s shoes and visualize their thoughts and actions to achieve the best literary as well as cinematic effect.
Do you have more stories planned that include Naoko?
Yes, I do have more stories planned for my demon hybrid protagonist Naoko Kitamura. Demon Heart is the first novel of the trilogy, which I plan to gradually introduce to our readers in the near future. Sometimes it is hard to determine whether or not the story would have a continuation. To make the series featuring a single main protagonist required a large amount of material to work with. I ended the Demon Heart novel with a scene that would hint on Naoko’s continuing adventures and a new life and a new identity that she would have to assume after making a heroic sacrifice to save her city from destruction. In the following novels, Naoko Kitamura will once again rise to defend her country and people she loves not just on the national but international scale. To my readers I would like to stay tuned for the more upcoming adventures of Naoko. One thing I would like to add is that she will return!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon
Living in modern-day Japan, Naoko Kitamura has a dark secret she must hide from her family and friends. She is a demon hybrid, a descendant from an ancient union between a samurai and a female demon. Possessing awesome powers that manifest in times of danger, Naoko tries to maintain the balance of her demonic powers and her human soul while concealing her terrifying potential. But being extraordinary, she cannot live an ordinary life.
With her demon awakening as a result of a brutal assault, Naoko seeks a personal challenge in life after experiencing love and personal tragedy. Choosing a career as a police officer, she is thrust into a secret war between powerful corporations, the underworld, and a fanatical environmentalist organization. Old and new enemies arise to alter the future of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Sworn to protect Japan against its enemies, Naoko fights her battles in a world where ancient magic will point the way to her country’s destruction or salvation. . . .
LITERARY TITAN 