Blog Archives
The Departure Point
Good for the Soul follows a former prime minister forced out of seclusion and back into the spotlight and a troubled priest facing off against a criminal overlord. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My first novel – Paths Not Yet Taken – was written as a standalone story, but the overwhelmingly positive response from my readers invariably included requests (and occasionally demands!) to learn more about the future of the main characters. Having decided to turn one book into a series, it made sense to develop the established plot and themes and to pick up on world events that has occurred in the intervening period.
No matter how much madness dominates our news channels and affects our daily lives, I am always hopeful that humanity’s ability to respond and to overcome trials and tribulations will eventually prevail. Good For The Soul gave me the opportunity to visualise how that might look, whilst having a laugh at the expense of politicians and the oligarchy at the same time.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing, or did it come out organically as you were writing?
I had a very good idea of the tone of the novel. Life is a mix of the heart-rending, the heartwarming, tragedy, and humour and I hope I’ve reflected that throughout the book. In terms of direction? Well, I knew the departure point and where I wanted to arrive. Let’s just say the journey was as much an adventure for me as it is for the reader – and I loved every second of it!
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
Community and family are very important to many people. I remember vividly how the townsfolk of Warrington came together after the bombing in March 1993, which killed two young boys and injured 56 others who were just out shopping. People in other parts of the UK and Ireland no doubt had similar experiences and felt the same kind of togetherness in that period of violence. I wanted to show how divisive acts can bring people closer together. I also wanted to explore how far people would go in order to protect those they love; what they would sacrifice and what lines they would cross in order to achieve their goal.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next book should be published towards the end of this year. It covers the growth and development of the Path Finder movement, which starts to find its feet in Good For The Soul, and the threat it poses to the current world order. As with the first two books, there will be a significant amount of satirical humour, but this time it will be accompanied by illegal border crossings, half-crazy presidents, and the occasional tornado.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Threads | Amazon
Six months after assisting the UK’s missing prime minister and avoiding two assassination attempts on the same day, Simon Pope is on holiday with friends, trying to cheer up a man who finds retirement depressing. But Pope also has a secret mission, which requires him to remain unobtrusive. He must assess whether specific individuals in the small Irish town of Clonbrinny are in mortal danger from a criminal overlord.
Failing miserably to maintain the desired low profile, Pope and his group become embroiled in events outside their control and discover all is not as it seems.
Perceptions dissolve, revealing a far more dangerous reality.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Andrew Blackwell’s self-imposed media silence has made him more popular than ever. His Path Finder philosophy generates global intrigue and excitement, despite nobody knowing what it is – including him.
When a secret conference on Ireland’s west coast goes badly wrong, Blackwell must evade a media manhunt and return to London, relying on old friends and new acquaintances for help.
Subsequent events and a meeting of minds raise the tantalising prospect of an unlikely collaboration, creating the foundation of a movement that could transform the world.
Good For The Soul is the second book in the Path Finder series and follows on from the award-winning Paths Not Yet Taken.
A Disturbing Warning
Control Spark follows a recently dumped man who takes a trip to Egypt, where a trinket he purchased at the airport transports him to the pyramids, and he encounters an ancient power that gives him the ability to manipulate matter. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The premise for the book started around the true story of a Genius Russian child Boriska Kipriyanovich who amazed scientists back in the nineties with his knowledge of the cosmos, what made him unusual though was he claimed he was the reincarnation of a Martian and he had a disturbing warning for mankind about their impending doom. Boriska offered hope though, he claimed a secret was hidden inside the Great Pyramids of Giza that could save mankind, it is pretty nailed on he was just a very smart kid messing with people, but I ran with that idea and created Control Spark from it.
This book has some amazing creatures. What was your favorite character to create and write for?
My favourite creature to write was The Mop, I loved starting with a mundane household object and then adding layers to it as we progress through the story.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main theme that I wanted to get across was the idea that the Universe and all of reality could just think themselves into existence. You ask the question, how can something come from nothing? I propose that it cannot, but an idea can come from nothing, and something can come from an idea.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I literally just finished it last week. It’s with my editor now and should be published next week, the last week of November. Saint Frank And The Dragon is a fantasy book and a spoof parody of Saint George And The Dragon.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook | X (Twitter) | Amazon
Second! If particles are everywhere all at once until they are observed, then why do we all see the same thing when we observe them, who is doing that, it can’t be us or we would all see something different, who or what controls what particles become when we look at them?
Nigal is about to discover the answer to that question when he stumbles across a secret that’s been hidden under the great pyramids for thousands of years, a discovery that throws his, and everyone else’s life into utter chaos!
Grimmer Revisionist Fairy Tales, Fables, and Nursery Rhymes
Remember those cherished childhood moments, listening to bedtime stories filled with classic fairy tales, fables, and nursery rhymes? Perhaps you’ve even read these timeless tales to your own kids. Now imagine taking those beloved stories, throwing out the rulebook, and infusing them with modern twists, witty humor, and a dash of cheeky irreverence.
Grimmer Revisionist Fairy Tales, Fables, and Nursery Rhymes by Marissa Carter is a delightful blend of styles, presenting fairy tales and fables with a twist. The nursery rhymes might start off sweet but could suddenly veer into snarky commentary or transform into entirely different stories. Along the way, you’ll encounter clever nods to pop culture, movies, books, politics, and even a bit of quantum physics (because, why not?). It’s as if someone turned your grandma’s storybook inside out and sprinkled it with a generous dose of mischief. Get ready to laugh because this isn’t your childhood fairy tale collection—and that’s exactly what makes it so much fun. Marissa Carter has crafted a hilarious adult take on well-known nursery rhymes. This book is definitely not for children, but it’s perfect for parents looking for a good laugh. Each story is funnier than the last, and the new spin on the fable/fairy tale genre is incredibly entertaining. Carter provides unique commentary with each story, offering readers insights into how we as a society view and absorb the themes of these iconic tales. The fast-paced nature of each fable, combined with modern-day story elements like the internet and television, makes it easy to devour these stories. The imaginative use of imagery brings these tales to life on the page. From parenting techniques and anger management to higher education, the wealth of modern themes breathes fresh air into these traditional stories.
Grimmer Revisionist Fairy Tales, Fables, and Nursery Rhymes takes familiar fairy tales, fables, and nursery rhymes and puts a comedic, new-age spin on them. While it’s definitely not for children, it’s a must-read for adults who appreciate humor and wit. This brilliant collection turns well-known stories on their heads, offering twists to the morals or even the absence of them altogether. The relatability of these stories as an adult and their inappropriately funny nature make for a truly enjoyable read.
Pages: 92 | ASIN : B08KPN2SJB
It No Longer Surprised Me
The Little Handbook for Navigationally Challenged Cidiots shares common driving offenses with humorous terms and phrases describing bad driving habits. What inspired you to write this book?
My inspiration to write this book stemmed from my own personal experiences on the roadways and highways, having seen and experienced every single offense and type of driver that I mention in the book. When you’re in the center of it all, you get to see all kinds of crazy road blunders and highway flubs. So, why not write about it?
What is a common bad driving habit you run into on your commutes?
One of the most common are the cut-offs. There’s always that cidiot who thinks it’s smart to cut you off so they can make a turn or exit. They are known as the Bully-Turn Bandit and the Boomerang. I see this on a daily basis, until it no longer surprises me.
What is a piece of advice you would give to a new driver?
The best advice I can give any new driver is to brace themselves and beware. It’s important that they master having eyes not only for themselves on the road, but for the cidiots that they will encounter on a daily basis. If they understand and know what to look for, they may be better able to avoid having an accident. However, no driving scenario will ever prepare a person to be perfect and 100% accident-free on the road, but it could lessen the chances of a person either causing an accident or becoming a victim of an accident.
Do you plan to write other books with the same humorous perspective?
I am currently working on another humor book. So stay tuned.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook
The Little Handbook for Navigationally Challenged Cidiots – Book Trailer
Filled with hundreds of common driving offenses, this gut-wrenching funny handbook features hilariously, jaw dropping terms and phrases describing some of the nastiest driving habits you or another cidiot have engaged in almost every day on the highways and byways. Inside, you’ll find “The Motor Mouth Motorist” who suffers from road rage, “The Para Lane Bluffer” who can’t decide if they want to merge with oncoming traffic until the last second, “The Eye Shadow Bandit” who thinks she’s skilled enough to drive at high speeds while applying makeup in the car mirror, and many more epic adventures of daily cidiot driving habits that are far too many to list here. Whether you’re the culprit or the victim of cidiot driving, The Little Handbook for Navigationally Challenged Cidiots will have you laughing, pouring tears, and showing off your enriched cidiot vocabulary.
Some Kind of Grotesque Thriller/Parody
Victoria Ray Author Interview
Sophia von X follows Sabina, who goes on vacation when things quickly go awry, and she’s caught in the middle of an archaeological conspiracy. What was the inspiration for the setup of this thrilling story?
The icon of Christ Pantocrator inspired me. I remember, I bought a history journal, and there it was – an article about Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, describing in detail a famous mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. I thought it would be fun to write a story about this place. I have never been to Istanbul, but other members of my family have visited it, so it was beneficial. I sketched the plot in one day.
Also, I rarely work on big pieces of fiction, but decided to try it, and write a full-length novel, some kind of grotesque thriller/parody on different books and movies. I wanted it to be ‘fast’ like a John Wick movie, but also packed with a lot of female heroes like in Charlie’s Angels, and with a sprinkle of religious conspiracy like in Dan Brown’s books. A taste of everything in one story.
Sabina is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some ideas that drove her character development?
At first, I tried to write a story about the robbery, but I changed my mind. I created a Sicilian woman who takes a paid leave from her job at university and goes on a vacation with the purpose of visiting a newly discovered tomb of Christianity. The idea was to make the reader wonder, all the time, who she really is. We should remember that life is a mystery, and absolutely anything can happen to us along the road, at any moment… Maybe now?
Of course, Sabina changes because of unusual circumstances, but she is also the one who makes decisions. She is (both) a good guy and a villain. She is broken and the one who breaks. She is the woman and the boss. She is the lover and the hater. She is strong and weak. She is a complex character, but I’m not focusing on her feelings or problems. This is not a psychological thriller; this book is about action and fun.
The word that describes my writing the best is the word random. I do not explain much; I prefer readers to make the necessary connections by themselves, and most important – to think and imagine. I believe this is the primary purpose of reading. If I tell you everything, then what is the point?
I enjoyed the mysteries embedded in the story. Did you plan these, or did they develop organically while writing?
I planned the birthmark story, the twelfth page, and Sabina’s stop at the dig. I needed Thomas von Essen as the ‘slide-character,’ who is involving her in the illegal criminal activity.
I changed the ending a week before publishing, by killing more people. I saved the protagonist’s life, though.
I planted a couple of hooks because I have a ‘hidden’ villain in the team of four. The identity of this person will be revealed at the end of the story.
What is the next novel that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m usually writing short stories; that’s why my next book is a collection of surreal humor, mystery, and satirical stories. It will be available in June 2020: as ebook and paperback.
At the end of this year, I’ll focus on Book 2 in my young adult absurdist fantasy series Child of Illusion.
My next big novel is a psychological thriller, Almost Faithful. Hopefully, it will be published in 2021. Here’s the blurb of the story:
- Perth, Australia.
- Two ordinary families.
- Three different women.
- One obsessive man.
Margo and Barry are living the perfect life. They’re happily married (or so it seems), working great jobs, and traveling the world. Ellen and David have it all – the looks, the big house by the beach, a successful business, a grown-up daughter, Marie. But underneath, each couple is in crisis, and there is only one cause. His name is Charlie…
Charlie is a widower with an autistic son. A man with exceptional acting skills, struggling to forget his painful past. A man who is not ready to let go, who is breaking two families and destroying their trust.
Out of options and with their backs against the wall, Margo, Ellen and Marie discover that murder isn’t a tool reserved only for criminals.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![Sophia von X by [Victoria Ray, H. M. Belsve]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41erd-J4lxL.jpg)
It was supposed to be a vacation, the trip to a newly discovered tomb of Jesus…
When Sabina Ferrara was driving to Bingerbruck, Germany, she was hoping to put a painful marriage behind her. Certain unforeseen events turned against her and during a visit to Christ’s tomb, she is meeting Thomas von Essen – a dangerous thief, who is hiding behind the name of a decent family, pretending that he is a famous archaeologist. Against her will, Sabina is dragged into the middle of the stealing of biblical artifacts, killings, and shootings. She ended up attracting the attention of an unknown enemy from Jerusalem, a wicked man called Papa Zen. A powerful mogul who knows too much about Sabina and her mysterious birthmark. She is the one he was looking for so long…
12 lost pages from the Bible
Car chasing, guns, and fights
Yakuza and Ndrangheta families
Palermo, Istanbul, Jerusalem
Deaths, tears, broken hearts
Sophia von X is a story of violence and obsession, secrets and tragedy, lies, hate, and love.
LITERARY TITAN 