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Memoirs of a Household Demon
Memoirs of a Household Demon is the story of Yuriel, a mid-tier demon tasked with corrupting a modern-day slacker named Paul Meechum. What begins as a humorous tale of vices, laziness, and divine rivalry soon turns into something deeper. Through poker games in attic hideouts and spiritual face-offs with a pompous guardian angel named “Goldie,” Yuriel gradually becomes entangled in a neighborhood full of more meaning than he bargained for, especially when he starts spying on a neighboring family whose love and strength challenge everything he thought he knew about his place in the world.
The writing in this book is a blast. It’s quick, snappy, and sharp as a whip. The banter between Yuriel and Goldie had me laughing more than once, and the absurdity of demons playing poker with eternal punishment on the line was pure genius. But what surprised me most was how fast the tone could shift from jokes about weed brownies to scenes so tender and raw they made my chest ache. The author manages this emotional rollercoaster with a light touch, never getting preachy, never losing the humor, but letting the heart sneak up on you. It’s rare to see a story so funny yet so genuinely moving.
The real power here lies in the ideas. The book plays with spiritual themes like heaven, hell, purpose, and redemption, but it doesn’t hand you easy answers. Yuriel, who starts as a sarcastic, jaded trickster, slowly changes just by watching a family love each other well. He doesn’t suddenly become a saint, but he’s clearly haunted by the good he sees. I felt that. I’ve been there. Sometimes, witnessing real love or real faith shakes you more than any lecture ever could. And the contrast between his rowdy chaos and the quiet strength of the Torres family hit me hard.
Memoirs of a Household Demon is perfect for anyone who likes their humor laced with soul. It’s a great fit for fans of Neil Gaiman or Good Omens, or for readers who want a story that blends the ridiculous with the divine. If you’ve ever wondered whether a demon could find redemption or if you just need a good laugh with a punch of meaning, you should read this book.
Pages: 337 | ASIN : B0DNR6CN42
A Curious Interviewer
Interview With a Sinner follows a professional mourner who meets a demi-goddess who is looking for someone to interview about humanity in their quest to create a new civilization. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Growing up Christian, I have heard so many interesting philosophical debates about the nature of worship and questioning why a benevolent Creator would allow awful circumstances to plague the innocent. So I started thinking how I would do any better while still granting people free will to act as disorderly as they want. It became a headache to ponder. All my random musings and speculations took form in Marigold, who could be a curious interviewer to some degenerates in this story. It wouldn’t have been interesting if she questioned saintly or righteous individuals, after all. They might have all the answers. Scoundrels like us have to be creative with our conjectures.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
Morality, definitely. It can be boring to follow virtuous people we would like to be, and despise villains who represent everything we detest in society. But great fiction can provoke you to sympathize with the worst or even feel they’re relatable. Nothing was harder for me than to write the scenes of Hollace with her sexual temptations, but it was an exercise in showing the humanity of even the most shameful and perverse, and that her guilt pushed her to otherwise be as helpful and caring as possible for the outcasts. People who are horrible to each other can become friends, and deadly rivalries can sometimes dip into playful banter.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It was essential for me to introduce as many theological concepts as possible for the debates. From Judgment to reincarnation, to what happens to the morally erratic if the world ends and they have to be sent to either Heaven or Hell. Also the rationale behind atheism or those who are content being agnostic. The book was never meant to pick a side or even truly confirm if Marigold is what she claims to be. Life itself is ambiguous and that was the theme behind every single question arising.
I found this novel to be a cutting piece of satire. What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your novel?
Artistic endeavors are a big part. That some aggrandize the idea of violence, death, or suicide for the sake of art, and I’m hoping this book kind of deflates that notion and makes apparent that such things in real life are gruesome, messy, and never convey an “artistic message.” Like how the snuff filmmakers brag their production company transcends the mere butchering of people, even though that’s the gist of it. We tend to insert superfluous ideas and meanings into our undertakings to pretend they’re something grander than they are, especially if our deeds are reprehensible. To rationalize a killing, there was an understandable motive. To justify discrimination, there’s a ridiculous “moralistic” excuse. There’s an illusion of “destiny.” Sometimes people who spout about their destiny are the scariest to me.
Thank you so much for your time and exploration of my debut novel.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Amazon
Interview with a Sinner
Interview With a Sinner by M.M. White presents a compelling narrative that intertwines the life of Hollace, a professional mourner, with the curious quest of Marigold, a diminutive demi-goddess seeking to build her own civilization. Hollace’s job involves mourning at the graves of the unloved, a task she performs with detached professionalism. Her routine is disrupted when Marigold approaches her with an extraordinary proposition: to be the human subject of her research on creating a new civilization, with the aim of avoiding plagiarism from God’s own work. This encounter marks the beginning of a week filled with bizarre and unpredictable events for Hollace and an educational journey for Marigold.
M.M. White’s novel starts with an intriguing premise that quickly spirals into a whirlwind of chaos by the second chapter, maintaining a tone of unrelenting unpredictability throughout. The rapid introduction of characters from Hollace’s world, including some less savory individuals, sets a frantic pace. The narrative is peppered with absurd and disturbing encounters, contributing to the book’s overall sense of madness. Amidst the chaos, Marigold conducts interviews with Hollace and her acquaintances, delving into profound discussions on topics such as existence, free will, and morality. These conversations are among the highlights of the novel, offering thought-provoking insights into spirituality and the human condition. While Marigold’s role as an observer rather than an active participant in many instances does not detract from her mission, it adds an interesting layer to the narrative. This book is not for the faint-hearted. It is crude and provocative, featuring controversial and disturbing elements such as snuff films, discarded infants, illicit sexual encounters, and a sentient tumor worshiped by a cult. These elements are recurrent and form key parts of the plot, challenging the reader’s comfort zones. Marigold witnesses a broad spectrum of human behavior, where characters often do the right things for the wrong reasons, or vice versa, revealing glimpses of their inherent decency amidst the depravity.
Ultimately, the novel escalates to a bizarre and unexpected conclusion, leaving the characters profoundly changed. Despite its raw and unsettling content, Interview With a Sinner provides a unique exploration of human nature and spirituality, making it a thought-provoking read for those who can handle its more extreme aspects.
Pages: 199 | ASIN : B0D5DKXFBL
Lofty Ambitions
In Elliefant’s Graveyard, a rookie police officer’s journey home to honor her family leads her directly into a mystery when she begins to suspect a tragic accident is actually murder. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Heather Prendergast arrived out of the blue. After writing four legal thrillers drawing on my background at the sharp end of the music industry, I wanted a new challenge and scoped out a dark psychological thriller. It was going to be one of those shiver-down-the-spine hair-on-end Scandi-noir style novels that were so much in vogue. But then the project was hijacked in the very first paragraph by what was intended as the most minor of incidental characters – a young woman police officer roped in to assist a grizzled detective investigating a suspicious death. This young, pretty, posh, ambitious PC leapt off the page and wrestled the entire darn book out of my hands – she wouldn’t, wouldn’t, wouldn’t take no for an answer. It was her book, she said. Like it or not like it. And so Heather Prendergast – Prendergast of The Yard – was born and refused to be stuffed back into the inkwell. And so inanity followed insanity. When searching for a suitable description for Baby Caspar – don’t worry, you’ll meet him – the word ‘plumpenormous’ sprang to mind. Having let the genie out of the bottle, the text demanded wordplay. More . . . more . . . more. Mind you, it took a greying of the hair to revise to the point where the wordplay melded seamlessly into the narrative.
I must admit, I was gobsmackered with the response. Jaded hacks who normally rushed off to wash their hair when I timidly asked them to cast an eye over a draft emailed me the next day wanting more. The constant refrain was, “What does Heather do next?” So I decided to find out and wrote two sequels. Goodness greatness me, what an ambitious young lady. It’s just a shame that her deductive abilities don’t measure up to her lofty ambitions.
The Prendergast of The Yard casebooks are a fun read. Almost without exception, the response is that the reader has never read anything like it. More than a few have compared Heather’s adventures to a modern-day Alice in Wonderland. Maybe. Maybe not. Because the bottom line is, Heather is Heather. Unique.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
Heather’s final standoff with a psychopathic murderer and her bungled attempt to free his hostage
What was the hardest part about writing a murder mystery story; where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
It’s all in the plotting
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
There are two Prendergast of the Yard sequels ready to go
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Elliefant’s Graveyard – The Curious Case of the Throatslit Man
In Elliefant’s Graveyard: The Curious Case of the Throatslit Man, E.M. Thompson masterfully crafts a murder mystery set against the backdrop of a drought-stricken mill town rife with corruption. Heather Prendergast, a determined rookie police officer, suspects that a couple’s tragic deaths are not mere accidents but murders. Her quest for the truth leads her to Huddshire Moor, a town shrouded in secrets. Simultaneously, Ellie Fantoni is grieving the devastating loss of her close family members. In a poignant final tribute, she travels to Huddshire, her parents’ hometown, to lay their ashes to rest. Unbeknownst to Ellie, her journey to honor her family will intertwine with a deeper mystery surrounding their deaths.
Thompson’s novel is a standout in the murder mystery genre, enriched by clever wordplay, puns, and alliteration that inject humor and vividly depict the unfolding events and characters. The dialogue skillfully balances intensity with moments of levity, bringing depth to the well-rounded characters. While Prendergast’s investigative skills sometimes leave her oblivious to obvious clues, her tenacity keeps readers engaged. Ellie’s character, with her heartfelt grief and determination, resonates deeply, evoking empathy for her plight. The plot twist is a remarkable surprise, revealing the lengths to which individuals will go to conceal crimes driven by greed. This twist not only shocks but also illuminates the darker motivations that fuel the story’s intrigue.
Elliefant’s Graveyard is a compelling read, offering a blend of suspense, emotional depth, and unexpected humor. E.M. Thompson’s deft storytelling makes it a must-read for fans of the murder mystery genre, delivering a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
Pages: 339 | ASIN : B0D5BND48M
Characters Dealing With A Disability
Good Looking follows blind twin brothers as they navigate both college and the complex relationship they have with a classmate who is attracted to people with disabilities. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but the idea came to me in a dream. I had a very vivid dream that was basically the opening scene of Nick and Nate trying to buy beer. I knew right then that these were amazing characters who deserved their own novel. I wrote the first five pages or so right away, but then it took another eleven years before I went back and turned it into a full-length novel because I was writing some other books first.
Do you have a favorite character in this novel? What makes him/her enjoyable to write for?
I love all my characters equally, haha. I try to include character quirks, interests, and other details based on real people I know, to add depth, believability, and relatability. My favorite scenes to write are the funny ones. I have to admit, I did enjoy Abby’s sarcastic, judgy asides. I tried to add as much understated satire as I could because while college life is great fun, it’s also so ridiculous, and everyone does some stupid things they would never do when they’re older.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It’s really important to me to represent disability and sexuality positively. I wanted to tell a story about characters dealing with a disability in a matter-of-fact way, that’s not melodrama, a tear-jerker, or what some people call “inspiration porn.” I also wanted to show how most people with disabilities exist in a community of other disabled people, not as one single character, which is often how they are portrayed in novels. The other major theme is coming out, learning to accept yourself and others, and how difficult that can be for people with different types of sexual attraction.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I mainly write historical fiction, so I am returning to that for my next book. I write very slowly, so no promises!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | LucyMayLennox | Amazon
Abby: That guy in Abby’s lit class is just her type, not only because he’s sweet and gorgeous, but because he’s blind. Abby is a devotee—she’s attracted to people with disabilities. But after her ex rejected her when she came out to him, she’s scared to reveal the truth of her attraction. How can she tell Nick he’s not her first blind boyfriend?
At a big Midwestern state university in the 1990s, Nick and Abby stumble towards adulthood, through awkward parties, regrettable flirtations, frantic cramming, and poorly planned road trips. It’s college life in all its exciting, raunchy, disgusting, hilarious glory, set to a 90s alt-rock soundtrack.
The Gods Who Want To Die
In The Gods Who Want To Die, the protagonist, Shelly, a seemingly ordinary mother of three, grapples with a harrowing dilemma: her unwavering devotion to a cult-like group versus the well-being of her family. The narrative delves deep into the psyche of a woman torn between her beliefs and her familial responsibilities, further complicated by a tragic incident that sees her prioritize the cult’s demands over her own children and husband.
The author, Luke McCamley, skillfully weaves a tale that explores the intricate dynamics within a family and offers a poignant commentary on the impact of cults on individual morals and choices. Readers are initially challenged by the story’s complexity, a testament to McCamley’s layered and detailed writing style. However, this initial complexity soon gives way to clarity, enhancing the reader’s engagement with the narrative. The novel’s portrayal of cult influence is both insightful and unsettling, highlighting how individuals can be swayed by extreme ideologies, even at the expense of their most cherished relationships. The detailed depiction of characters, themes, and settings enriches the narrative, creating a vivid and immersive experience for the reader.
The Gods Who Want To Die is a compelling read for those intrigued by psychological thrillers and the dark, often unexplored, corners of human psychology. Its unique writing style and intricate plot make it a standout choice for readers interested in exploring the depths of human conviction and the consequences of extreme belief systems.
Pages 386 | ASIN : B0CFC452CS
Zany Humor and Absolute Seriousness
Meteor Mags: Permanent Crescent and Other Tales follows a space pirate on a mission to save a dying moon that she may have had a part in destroying. What was the inspiration for this collection of stories?
The main idea in Permanent Crescent is Mags’ ongoing evolution from a rogue pirate on the fringes of society into a leader who can advance social change and affect the course of human history. Given her reckless nature and obvious anger-management problems, that’s not something that comes easily to her. So we see how she brings new people into her crew to help her advance her idealistic and seemingly unrealistic goals—and all the challenges that come along with that, especially since some of those people were once her enemies and rivals.
Although I like for every “episode” to feel like a self-contained story with a fast-paced adventure that confronts some new kind of science-fiction madness, mystery, or horrifying monster, I also think of myself as Mags’ biographer and want all the stories to connect in a larger narrative about her unique and interesting life.
And, as you point out, we explore how some of her problems are ones she created or are unintended consequences of her existence. That theme will continue in the next book.
Tell us a little about how you developed the character of Mags. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma, or something else?
It actually started with a tragedy. A year before I started the series, I lost someone special to me. I wasn’t dealing with it very well, so I created Meteor Mags as a tribute to her, to honor her memory and the creativity we shared. Mags is named after her, shares her love of piracy, and embodies the same kind of hard-edged self-determination I admired so much about her—combined with a softer and more caring side that not everyone got to see, but only those closest to her.
But I’m a huge science-fiction geek, too, so it made sense to take that kind of character and put her in a space-based setting, and send her off on ill-advised adventures with her totally awesome cat. And so, Meteor Mags was born! I’ve discussed this all in much more detail in my book of essays, Virtually Yours: A Meteor Mags Memoir about the origin and creation of the character, and what she means to me.
Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
The mix of zany humor and absolute seriousness owes a lot to one of my favorite comic-book series: Nexus by Mike Baron and Steve Rude, with Paul Smith. Science-fiction comics such as Alien Legion and Jim Starlin’s Dreadstar also played a huge role in how I approach telling a story with an ensemble cast of rebels and adventurers in space. When I started the series, I envisioned it as just a handful of short comic-book stories, but I can’t draw sequential art to save my life—so I did it in prose, and Mags quickly took on a life of her own.
As for the concept of pirates as not just criminals but a multicultural labor rebellion against capitalist oppression—that was heavily influenced by Marcus Rediker’s brilliant book, Villains of All Nations. The idea that these outlaws would try to build a utopian micro-society comes from the chapter “Of Captain Mission” in A General History of the Pyrates.
The historical research I did on the classical Atlantic pirates really comes through in the story “Hang My Body on the Pier” which concludes the first omnibus and tells how one of Mags’ ancestors rose to power in the early 1700s. It’s a bit of historical fiction in an ostensibly sci-fi series, but it’s one of my favorites. The episode “One Last Night on Death World” in Permanent Crescent is a follow-up to that story—again, with a lot of historical fiction and research going into it.
Do you have more space pirate stories featuring Mags to share with readers, or are you working on a different story?
Oh, there are so many more Meteor Mags adventures to tell! I’ve been posting drafts of new stories on my blog at MarsWillSendNoMore.com, with plans to publish another collection in 2024. If you’re new to the series, everything that happened before Permanent Crescent is collected in Meteor Mags: Omnibus Edition and Meteor Mags: The Second Omnibus. Together, the omnibuses are well over a thousand pages with a total of thirty stories plus illustrations, poems, song lyrics, and even a mini-comic. There’s enough anarchy, asteroids, and excessive ammunition to keep even the most voracious reader busy for quite some time!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Author Blog | Amazon
Permanent Crescent: The Moon is about to die, and it’s all Mags’ fault. Join a hell-raising space pirate and her indestructible calico cat as they confront a lunar death cult whose alien leader plans to take his revenge on humanity by destroying Earth’s ancient satellite.
Odonata’s Revenge: Mags faces double trouble when an alien menace and an ex-mercenary converge on Ceres to end the pirate’s life and steal her secret technology.
Infinite Spaces: Mags and her crew discover signals emanating from the depths of the subterranean ocean on Ceres and risk their lives in uncharted waters to find the source. What they find makes Mags reconsider her role in humanity’s evolution and the final fate of her universe.
Farewell Tour: A band of telepathic octopuses and their interspecies friends bring a message of liberation to the solar system one last time. Mags and Patches fight to rescue them from the forces of law and order.
One Last Night on Death World: On the last night of Gramma’s life, Mags takes her drinking at a west-coast bar to shoot pool and have fun. Between games of billiards, they discuss the future of the solar system and reminisce about their past, revealing details about Gramma’s childhood, her relationship with her piratical mother, and the development of GravGen technology.
Pieces of Eight: Mags and her friends in Small Flowers return to Earth to seek a new home for the dying octopuses, but what they find is not at all what they expected.
Might be unsuitable for children and other carbon-based life.
LITERARY TITAN 