Book Worm & more

One of the modern masters of terrifying creatures and urban myth, Hunter Shea has quickly become one of my hands down favorite authors in recent years.  I’ve had the privilege of reading and reviewing a number of his incredibly terrifying and fantastically gory tales.  This time around I’ve introduced his uniquely intricate writing style and depth of imagination to a younger generation and invited 18-year-old fellow book worm, writer, and horror enthusiast Elayna Martinez to join me in reviewing Hunter Shea’s The Jersey Devil.

Elayna:

The Jersey Devil by Hunter Shea is a new school take on a well known urban legend. In southern New Jersey, Pine Barrens to be exact the Jersey Devil comes into contact with the head of the Willet family. Boompa Willet is seen as crazy when people started getting attacked by a unknown force and he blames it on the Jersey Devil. But it all comes to a head when a music festival is announced and is said to be held inside the forest, leaving a lot of young lives at risk. The Willet family must make a choice; end the Devil or let the people die. 

At the beginning of the book, the writing was a slow start, but as the suspense and the horror of the story sped up it became one of the best new horror stories that I’ve read. Shea’s writing is very detail oriented, sometimes losing sight of the storyline, but always maintains a very natural flow to a story; leaving nothing to the imagination. Everything from a speech impediment to the way the leaves caught the light, every detail is perfectly exposed. And while he is what would be considered a “new horror” author, Hunter Shea brings a very original and interesting spin on an old legend. Something in his writing brings a legend feel to the whole book, almost like it would be natural to hear “The Jersey Devil” read by a campfire, making it a perfect book for horror fanatics and the average person alike.

Jen:

As always, Hunter Shea has brought readers horror gold.  The Jersey Devil perfectly illustrates Shea’s particular writing style, vividly helping readers to envision each terrifying moment the characters face.  Many readers will already be familiar with the legend of the Jersey Devil, possibly one of the more well-known and intimidating creatures to ever invade your imagination.  Nothing will prepare you, however, for the depth of Shea’s creativity.  Don’t wait to pick up your own copy of Hunter Shea’s The Jersey Devil, and be prepared to cower under your covers in fear!

A war is coming. There is no way to prevent it. The only thing for certain is that there will be one loser. . .and one winner. WIZARD’S RISE (A Severed Empire Novel)

For over two hundred years the Rye Empire enforced drastic measures outlawing the use of magic. To avoid capture a handful of remaining Wizards escaped royal persecution and made it into hiding. Shortly after the decree the empire crumbled, but the laws remained in place. . .

The Mountain King’s ambitions of becoming the next Emperor will be realized. With forced help from an enslaved sorceress, he will stop at nothing until he achieves his dreams. The easiest path to victory can be obtained by retrieving buried talismans. With those enchanted items in his possession he can summon the Wizards, steal, and harness their power.

In an effort to save the Old Empire from a growing, sinister magic, seventeen-year-old farmboy Mykal and five friends begin a desperate journey. They must collect the talismans before the Mountain King. Their trek will force Mykal to face fears, and accept truths he’d never known existed. There isn’t much time. A war is coming.

Their chances of winning will depend on whether they succeed or not. If they fail, a terrible darkness will steal the light from the Grey Ashland Realm. . .forever.

 I’m generally not a huge fan of fantasy but, I’m always willing to try something new, as was the case with Phillip Tomasso’s Wizard’s Rise.  While it took me a little bit to really get immersed in the story and to get to know the characters, overall I think that this is a good turnout for fantasy fans. The story follows young farmboy Mykal on a perilous adventure in an effort to stop the upcoming war. Throughout the tale Mykal learns more about his family, his own role as a powerful wizard.  Mykal and readers get to experience the adventure together as Mykal’s powers develop more with each task and talisman they must find.  

As seems to be the case with many fantasy books there are some moments where there is a lot of descriptive detail of places and things that at times distracted me a bit from the story.  The momentum of the tale builds extremely well, leaving the reader much more engrossed in the story by the end of the book.  The one real downside for me was that this book is not a standalone tale and ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.  Be prepared to keep an eye out for more from Tomasso in this series to follow the rest of Mykal’s adventure.

Overall, this was a fairly solid read for a genre that is generally not my personal taste.  If you’re a fantasy fan, be sure to check out Wizard’s Rise and let me know what you think!

Purchase Links~

Amazon

To find out more information about Mirror Matter Press, visit their

website

Phillip Tomasso is the award-winning author of over 17 novels. He began his career writing mystery and suspense novels in 2000. Since, he has gone on to publish books in a wide variety of genres, including Horror, Young Adult, Science Fiction, and Fantasy.

His first short story was published in 1995, and he was paid a penny a word. It was an 8,000-word western.

However, it being a Canadian publication—and at a time, when the U.S. dollar was worth more—his check was for just under $40. It was a great starting point, and has been selling regularly since then.

Although not a full-time writer, Tomasso works a full-time job as well. After 19 years at Kodak as an employment law paralegal, he’s spent the last six plus years a Fire/EMS Dispatcher for 9-1-1. He works the midnight shift, First Platoon, and has found the hours conducive to his creativity.

Tomasso prefers to both read books in the same genres he writes. He has been inspired by the likes of Walter Mosley, the entire Easy Rawlins series. Anything by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Robin Cook, John Saul, Warren Hammond, Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind, Charlie Huston’s Joe Pitt novels, and Jim Butcher’s Dresden series. Just to name a few!

Tomasso lives in Rochester, NY with his 3 kids—who are not little any longer. Aside from reading and writing, Tomasso plays guitar, and is an self-admitted horrible singer. He is always at work on a next novel.

For more information, visit Tomasso’s website.

Praise for Phillip Tomasso~

“This is different … confident, addictive storytelling, great characters, and an intriguing plot. You’ll read it fast but remember it for a long time. ” —Lee Child, best-selling author of One Shot and the Jack Reacher series

“(Tomasso) takes the standard fare of the private investigator genre and adds twists and turns to make it anything but standard. Tomasso’s writing is crisp and clear … thoroughly enjoyable.” —Joseph Nassise, author of Internal Games and King of the Dead

“Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is one of my all time favorite adventure yarns . . . Tomasso has managed to preserve Stevenson’s characters and pacing as the story enters this terrifying new adventure into the land of the living dead.  I hadn’t counted on loving this story as much as I did, but it surprised me and delighted me and terrified me every time I turned the page.  Great adventure, great thrills, and a terrifying glimpse into the jaws of death.  Highly recommended!” –Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Dog Days and Plague of the Undead

Will Burgess is used to hard knocks. Abandoned by his father, son of a drug-addicted mother, and charged with raising his six-year-old sister, Will has far more to worry about than most high school freshmen. To make matters worse, Mia Samuels, the girl of Will’s dreams, is dating his worst enemy, the most sadistic upperclassman at Shadeland High. Will’s troubles, however, are just beginning.

Because one of the nation’s most notorious criminals—the Moonlight Killer—has escaped from prison and is headed straight toward Will’s hometown. And something else is lurking in Savage Hollow, the forest surrounding Will’s rundown house. Something ancient and infinitely evil. When the worst storm of the decade descends on Shadeland, Will and his friends must confront unfathomable horrors. Everyone Will loves—his mother, his little sister, Mia, and his friends—will be threatened.

And very few of them will escape with their lives.

 Jonathan Janz is a true master of horror who kills it with Children of the Dark!  This was a great offering for horror fans of all ages.  While the main character is a teenage boy, the tale is still so delightfully written to appeal to adults as well.  Janz has created in depth characters, which are easy for readers to connect with on an emotional level.  This works wonderfully so that readers will care about what happens to the characters and root for them to live.  

However, I think that the true beauty of this tale is the balance Janz utilizes between the horrors that can be found in life and human nature with the terror of supernatural creatures.  With truly despicable characters like teenage bullies, abusive and neglectful parents, indifferent and incompetent law enforcement, and the worst, a cannibalistic serial killer, there are plenty of opportunities to root for death.  And such glorious deaths they are!  Children of the Dark will not disappoint horror fans with a taste for blood and gore.

Children of the Dark is an incredible read and one I strongly recommend to all of my horror fans out there!  Whether you want to root for the good guys to survive or the dredges of humanity to die, there’s a little something there for everyone.  This is definitely a must-read from beginning to end. I guarantee, you won’t be able to put it down!

Purchase:

Amazon

Also, check out Sinister Grin Press Website

Jonathan Janz grew up between a dark forest and a graveyard, and in a way, that explains everything. Brian Keene named his debut novel The Sorrows “the best horror novel of 2012.” The Library Journal deemed his follow-up, House of Skin, “reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Peter Straub’s Ghost Story.”

2013 saw the publication of his novel of vampirism and demonic possession The Darkest Lullaby, as well as his serialized horror novel Savage Species. Of Savage Species, Publishers Weekly said, “Fans of old-school splatterpunk horror–Janz cites Richard Laymon as an influence, and it shows–will find much to relish.” Jonathan’s Kindle Worlds novel Bloodshot: Kingdom of Shadows marked his first foray into the superhero/action genre.

Jack Ketchum called his vampire western Dust Devils a “Rousing-good weird western,” and his sequel to The Sorrows (Castle of Sorrows) was selected one of 2014’s top three novels by Pod of Horror. 2015 saw the release of The Nightmare Girl, which prompted Pod of Horror to call Jonathan “Horror’s Next Big Thing.” 2015 also saw the release of Wolf Land, which Publishers Weekly called “gruesome yet entertaining gorefest” with “an impressive and bloody climax.” He has also written four novellas (Exorcist Road, The Clearing of Travis Coble, Old Order, and Witching Hour Theatre) and several short stories.

His primary interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children, and though he realizes that every author’s wife and children are wonderful and amazing, in this case the cliché happens to be true. You can learn more about Jonathan at www.jonathanjanz.com. You can also find him on Facebook, via @jonathanjanz on Twitter, or on his Goodreads and Amazon author pages.

Praise for Children of the Dark

“Jonathan Janz brings us a vicious tale of terror with the innocence of youth in a coming of age tale that should surely make Stephen King smile.” – Dave, Beneath the Underground

“Jonathan Janz has written the next definitive coming-of-age horror novel that is sure to be mentioned alongside those that came before it. Be on the right side of history and read it now, before it becomes a classic.” –Patrick Lacey, author of A Debt to be Paid

Praise for Jonathan Janz

“Janz is the literary love child of Richard Laymon and Jack Ketchum (with a little Joe Lansdale DNA in the mix), with all the terror that implies. Try him out. You won’t be disappointed.” -Pod of Horror

“One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade. Janz is one of my new favorites.” –Brian Keene, best-selling author

Summer has just begun, and fear is in season.

School’s out, and the faculty at Fairington Elementary School are free for the summer. Emily Young can’t deny her attraction to Aaron Jackson, the Ed Tech from her classroom, but she’s afraid of being hurt again. Meanwhile, Aaron is determined not to let his phobia of drowning prevent him from enjoying the sun and the sand of Maine’s best beach town.

But they’re about to learn real fear. Fairington is home to a monster. Phys Ed teacher Matt Holmes has more to offer the ladies than a perfect smile. He’s a killer and he’s got his sights set on Emily.

Who at Fairington will conquer their fears? And who will fall to a psychopath’s hellbent rage?

Fear is something that we all face in our lives, in one way or another.  In Things We Fear the talented Glenn Rolfe explores different types of fear and how his characters struggle to face and deal with their fears.  His characters are well-developed and relatable to the reader.  School teacher Emily deals with her avoidance of potential relationships for fear of being hurt again as she gets to know Ed Tech Aaron better.  Aaron, on the other hand, spends his summers at the beach, struggling and forcing himself to face his phobia of drowning, stemming from a childhood accident.  While these two characters work to face their fears, they must also face the depraved evil of Phys Ed teacher Matt, a serial killer who loves to create fear in his victims.  Rolfe’s foray into the warped mind of a serial killer gives readers a new and thrilling look at the wickedness and fear to be found in humanity.

This is a fascinating tale that instantly drew me into the seemingly normal lives of Rolfe’s characters. Things We Fear is an incredible balance between facing your fears and the horrors found in those who live to create fear in those around them. I was completely enthralled with both the story and characters from the beginning and couldn’t put the book down. Rolfe displays an incredible talent in creating characters with which his readers can identify.  This was an excellent read and one I definitely recommend to all.  Overall, Rolfe shows us that sometimes there is more to fear than fear itself.

Purchase Things We Fear

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Samhain

"Glenn Rolfe is an author, singer, songwriter and all around fun loving guy from the haunted woods of New England. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, and continues his education in the world of horror by devouring the novels of Stephen King and Richard Laymon.

He and his wife, Meghan, have three children, Ruby, Ramona, and Axl. He is grateful to be loved despite his weirdness.

He is the author the novellas, Abram’s Bridge, Boom Town, and his latest, Things We Fear (March, 2016), the short fiction collection, Slush, and the novels The Haunted Halls and Blood and Rain (October 2015). His first novella collection, Where Nightmares Begin, will also be released in March 2016. His next book, Chasing Ghosts, will be coming by 2017.

He is hard at work on many more. Stay tuned!

Praise for Things We Fear

"Things We Fear is a compulsively readable tale of obsession and dark suspense, with one of the creepiest villains I've encountered in recent years." -- Tim Waggoner, author of The Way of All Flesh

"Glenn Rolfe's new thriller is addictive. A quick, compelling read. Rolfe creates tension with a minimal amount of words. His characters are so well-drawn they come alive (before they die)." -- Duncan Ralston, author of Salvage

"Fast paced and tense, with one of the most interesting monsters I've read about in recent times." -- Patrick Lacey, author of A Debt to Be Paid

"Glenn Rolfe is quickly establishing a name for himself as one of a number of excellent new writers to ensure the horror genre is kept alive and well. His previous books – Abram’s Bridge, Boom Town and Blood and Rain – have also served to show the extensive breadth of his imagination and Things We Fear carries on that trend. Quite simply, each story is fresh, new, exciting, and unpredictable." -- Catherine Cavendish, author of Dark Avenging Angel

"In this frighteningly real look at true horror, Rolfe manages to up the ante of tension while balancing genuinely heartbreaking moments, while showcasing his talent for creating unforgettable characters placed in equally unforgettable moments." -- David, Beneath The Underground

Some call them ghost sharks, the oldest and strangest looking creatures in the sea. Marine biologist Brad Whitley has studied chimaera fish all his life. He thought he knew everything about them. He was wrong.

Warming ocean temperatures free legions of prehistoric chimaera fish from their methane ice suspended animation. Now, in a corner of the Bermuda Triangle, the ocean waters run red.

The 400 million year old massive killing machines know no mercy, destroying everything in their path. It will take Whitley, his climatologist ex-wife and the entire US Navy to stop them in the bloodiest battle ever seen on the high seas.

___________

Hunter Shea has struck gold again with his newest foray into the world of terrifying creatures, They Rise!  Shea demonstrates his incredible ability to grasp the deepest, darkest fears of his readers and bring them to petrifying reality.  This is a fast paced, white-knuckled horror ride. Every moment keeps this reader gripped in terror, disgust and fascination.  They Rise is filled with incredible moments of both suspense and gore.  

The characters and their scientific knowledge are both realistic and engaging.  However, it’s the chimera fish that really steal the show. These creatures are vividly described and terrifying in their viciousness and lethality.  Their capability for such massive destruction, especially on something as frail as the human body, is the stuff that nightmares are made of.  The sheer amount death and vivid descriptions will keep readers enthralled to see what happens next.  They Rise is a ghastly gorefest and I couldn’t have asked for more!  Fans of terrifying creatures definitely shouldn’t miss this one!  

Purchase They Rise

Amazon

Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card for joining this tour! Get extra entries for social media follows, but get extra extra entries for signing up for his newsletter and five extra entries if you review They Rise and send the link to Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, at [email protected]!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjMx/?

Hunter Shea is the product of a childhood weaned on The Night Stalker, The Twilight Zone and In Search Of. He doesn't just write about the paranormal - he actively seeks out the things that scare the hell out of people and experiences them for himself.

Publishers Weekly named The Montauk Monster one of the best reads of the summer in 2014, and his follow up novel, Hell Hole, was named best horror novel of the year on several prestigious horror sites. Cemetery Dance had this to say about his apocalyptic thriller, Tortures of the Damned - "A terrifying read that left me wanting more. I absolutely devoured this book!"

Hunter is an amateur cryptozoologist, having written wild, fictional tales about Bigfoot, The Montauk Monster, The Dover Demon and many new creatures to come. Copies of his books, The Montauk Monster and The Dover Demon, are currently on display in the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, ME.

He wrote his first novel with the express desire to work only with editor Don D'Auria at Dorchester (Leisure Horror). He submitted his novel to Don and only Don, unagented, placed on the slush pile. He is proof that dedicated writers can be rescued from no man's land. He now works with Don, along with several other agents and publishers, having published over ten books in just four years.

Hunter is proud to be be one half of the Monster Men video podcast, along with his partner in crime, Jack Campisi. It is one of the most watched horror video podcasts in the world. Monster Men is a light-hearted approach to dark subjects. Hunter and Jack explore real life hauntings, monsters, movies, books and everything under the horror sun. They often interview authors, crytid and ghost hunters, directors and anyone else living in the horror lane.

Living with his wonderful family and two cats, he's happy to be close enough to New York City to get Gray's Papaya hot dogs when the craving hits. His daughters have also gotten the horror bug, assisting him with research, story ideas and illustrations that can be seen in magazines such as Dark Dossier.

You can follow his travails at www.huntershea.com, sign-up for his newsletter, or follow in on Facebook and Twitter.

Praise for Hunter Shea

“This wholly enthralling hulk of a summer beach read is redolent of sunscreen and nostalgia, recalling mass market horror tales of yore by John Saul, Dean Koontz, and Peter Benchley.” — Publishers Weekly — Voted one of the best reads of summer, on The Montauk Monster

“Bloody good read!  This guy knows his monsters!”- Eric S Brown, author of Bigfoot War and Boggy Creek: The Legend is True, on Swamp Monster Massacre

There’s no escaping your past. Especially when it wants revenge.

Grant Marlowe hoped taking his family to their mountain cabin for Christmas would reunite them after his alcoholic past had torn them apart, but it only puts them into a life and death struggle.  On Christmas Eve, a stranger from Grant’s past invades the vacation home and takes his wife and children hostage. His agenda is simple—make Grant suffer the same torment that Grant’s drunken antics have caused him. Now Grant must confront his demons head on and fight for his family’s lives. Because this man has nothing left to lose. The only thing keeping him alive is misery—Grant’s misery.

With Desolation, Kristopher Rufty has brought readers a tale brimming with a swirling whirlwind of human emotion.  We see all of the horrific results of a tragic accident caused by one’s man’s irresponsibility, from both sides of the coin.  While Grant and his family struggle to put their lives back together we also get glimpses inside of the rage and grief stricken mind of Dennis following the loss of his own family.  Rufty brings the horror to be found in such tragedy to a graphic and heart-wrenching life.  

The characters are perfectly realistic in all of their flaws, as we see them in their worst moments. While Grant and his family struggle with the horror of his mistakes and the tragic results, there are also small moments of hope that life may go on.  With Grant we have a character that although he’s trying to cope with what he’d done, even tragedy doesn’t change some of the inherent flaws in his character. Throughout the tale we see moments of his inability to move beyond his own selfish needs and desires. Meanwhile, we see how Dennis is unable to deal with the reality of his loss and attempt to move on with his life. Instead, we see how sometimes the human mind obsesses and turns truly dark as Dennis becomes consumed with an overwhelming need for revenge.

Overall, this was a completely fascinating story which kept me gripped tightly in the emotional turmoil of the characters and events.  While I definitely love my supernatural horror, there is nothing more truly terrifying than the darkness and brutality that can be found in the dredges of humanity. Kristopher Rufty’s Desolation is a must read for horror fans!

PURCHASE

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Desolation-Kristopher-Rufty/dp/1619233096/

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/desolation-kristopher-rufty/1122582601?ean=9781619233096

Samhain

https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5684/desolation

Giveaway

We have a lot of books to giveaway from Krist! We have two audio books, Oak Hollow and Pillowface in one link. In the second link we have a signed print copy of The Lurking Season and two e-books, Vampire of Plainfield and Bigfoot Beach. Winners are chosen random via rafflecopter and are given choice of prize of order pulled. Any questions on raffle, please e-mail Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, at [email protected]

Link for audio book giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjI5/?

Link for print/e-book giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjMw/?

Kristopher Rufty lives in North Carolina with his wife, three children, and the zoo they call their pets. He’s written various books, including The Vampire of Plainfield, Jagger, The Lurkers, The Lurking Season, The Skin Show, Pillowface, Proud Parents, and more, plus a slew of horror screenplays. He has also written and directed the independent horror films Psycho Holocaust, Rags, and Wicked Wood. If he goes more than two days without writing, he becomes very irritable and hard to be around, which is why he’s sent to his desk without supper often.

Praise for Kristopher Rufty

“Kristopher Rufty is the demented reincarnation of Richard Laymon!” --Jeff Strand

 “A Dark Autumn is a wild gender role reversal of ‘I Spit On Your Grave,’ with gonzo nods to Norman Bates and ‘Friday The 13th’ thrown in for good measure. Kristopher Rufty delivers the goods yet again.” --Bryan Smith, author of Kayla Undead and The Late Night Horror Show

 “A creepy, gripping tale of horror. And it’s got one of the best death scenes I’ve read in a long time!” --Jeff Strand, author of Pressure and Dweller

 “A powerhouse debut novel. Rufty’s prose will suck you in and hold you prisoner!” --Ronald Malfi, author of Floating Staircase and Snow

An unholy predator on the prowl!

The small town of Lakeview offers little excitement for Duane, Savannah, and their friends. They’re about to endure their ten-year high school reunion when their lives are shattered by the arrival of an ancient, vengeful evil. 

The werewolf.

The first attack leaves seven dead and four wounded. And though the beast remains on the loose and eager to spill more blood, the sleepy town is about to face an even greater terror. Because the four victims of the werewolf’s fury are changing. They’re experiencing unholy desires and unimaginable cravings. They’ll prey on the innocent. They’ll act on their basest desires. Soon, they’ll plunge the entire town into a nightmare. Lakeview is about to become Wolf Land. 

I have to be honest, while I thought the synopsis sounded really good a part of me definitely expected this to be just another one of your typical werewolf tales.  I’m thrilled to say that I couldn’t have been more wrong!  Wolf Land is a thrilling and in depth tale that delves into the lives and experiences of a group of truly fascinating characters.  While there is a wealth of blood and gore to be found in the attacks (as we all love) I found the struggles and experiences of the characters to be the true gem of the story.  With different lives, personalities, and experiences, each character processes the transformations that they are facing in different ways.  It enhances previously unrealized characteristics in each of them.  In addition, with the variety of characters in this story, there is definitely some element for everyone to relate to in one way or another.

As for the bloody, wonderfully gory attacks throughout the story, these are beautifully written.  Janz has created such a vivid tale that you can almost see, smell and feel the viscera as the characters try to survive.

Overall, Wolf Land is a perfectly written tale that will hold you in its viciously furry grip from start to finish.  This is a must have book that I will reread over and over again with joy!

PURCHASE:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Land-Jonathan-Janz/dp/1619231166

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wolf-land-jonathan-janz/1122266491

Samhain

https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5624/wolf-land

GIVEAWAY!

Enter to win ONE (1) print copy signed by Jonathan Janz of WOLF LAND! Click the link to enter. There are several things you can do to get multiple entries each day. Forward any questions to Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, at [email protected].

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjI2/?

Jonathan Janz grew up between a dark forest and a graveyard, and in a way, that explains everything. Brian Keene named his debut novel The Sorrows "the best horror novel of 2012." The Library Journal deemed his follow-up, House of Skin, "reminiscent of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House and Peter Straub's Ghost Story."

2013 saw the publication of his novel of vampirism and demonic possession The Darkest Lullaby, as well as his serialized horror novel Savage Species. Of Savage Species, Publishers Weekly said, "Fans of old-school splatterpunk horror--Janz cites Richard Laymon as an influence, and it shows--will find much to relish." Jonathan's Kindle Worlds novel Bloodshot: Kingdom of Shadows marked his first foray into the superhero/action genre.

Jack Ketchum called his vampire western Dust Devils a "Rousing-good weird western," and his sequel to The Sorrows (Castle of Sorrows) was selected one of 2014's top three novels by Pod of Horror. 2015 saw the release of The Nightmare Girl, which prompted Pod of Horror to call Jonathan "Horror's Next Big Thing." His newest release is Wolf Land, which Publishers Weekly called “gruesome yet entertaining gorefest” with “an impressive and bloody climax.” He has also written four novellas (Exorcist Road, The Clearing of Travis Coble, Old Order, and Witching Hour Theatre) and several short stories.

His primary interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children, and though he realizes that every author's wife and children are wonderful and amazing, in this case the cliché happens to be true. You can learn more about Jonathan at www.jonathanjanz.com. You can also find him on Facebook, via @jonathanjanz on Twitter, or on his Goodreads and Amazon author pages.

"One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade. Janz is one of my new favorites." –Brian Keene, best-selling author

“It’s the best of its kind I’ve read in years, such that I’d call it “The Quintessential Haunted House Novel.” You’ve taken the old school traditions of the form which readers want and then have injected modern style, characters, and macabre, hard-edged mayhem into the guts of the story. THAT’S the way to do it, my friend!”-Author Edward Lee on HOUSE OF SKIN

“Jonathan Janz is one of the rare horror novelists who can touch your heart while chilling your spine. His work offers incisive characters, sharp dialogue, and more scares than a deserted graveyard after midnight. If you haven’t read his fiction, you’re missing out on one the best new voices in the genre.” –Tim Waggoner Reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Peter Straub’s Ghost Story, this should please readers who appreciate a good haunting.” —The Library Journal

“Jonathan Janz is one of the rare horror novelists who can touch your heart while chilling your spine. His work offers incisive characters, sharp dialogue, and more scares than a deserted graveyard after midnight. If you haven’t read his fiction, you’re missing out on one the best new voices in the genre.” –Tim Waggoner, author

“A 10-year high school reunion is the catalyst for lots of furry, toothy scares in this gruesome yet entertaining gorefest.” –Publishers Weekly

"Probably the best werewolf novel I've read in a decade."- Pete Kahle, author of The Specimen

"If you like werewolves, you will think you have died and gone to heaven. Highly recommended." -Confessions of a Reviewer

"This fast-paced read was a frenzy of carnality in epic proportions. Visceral and surreal, Janz has outdone himself with this newest title." -Nikki, Horror After Dark

"For years now, the werewolf has been hijacked by the shifter romance genre. Well, Jonathan Janz has claimed a bloody morsel back for the horror genre!" -2 Book Lovers Reviews

"Janz is the literary love child of Richard Laymon and Jack Ketchum (with a little Joe Lansdale DNA in the mix), with all the terror that implies. Try him out. You won't be disappointed." -Pod of Horror

Nowhere to run!

Gillian Foster is desperate. She received a very strange letter in the mail not long ago. Since then, she’s been seeing shadowy figures everywhere. Coming for her. Frantic to find a safe place, she leaves home with her daughter Meg, only to find there is no way to outrun her pursuers.

Twenty years later, Gillian has been admitted to Hawthorne Psychiatric Facility. Meg receives a similar letter and is hunted by an unseen force. Is Meg also mentally ill, or are these creatures real? And if so, was her mother right all those years ago? Is there no place to hide?

This is the first book for author Patrick Lacey and he did not disappoint!  A Debt to Be Paid is a fascinating tale that flirts with that line between what is supernatural and what is mental illness. It delves into the possibility that perhaps those who see what we believe are simply paranoid hallucinations may actually be perceiving supernatural forces that only a few can see.  Lacey’s shadowy figures are wonderfully eerie and will leave you shivering at each little perceived movement in the night.  

The characters are interesting and relatable for readers.  Meg’s struggle, not only with the terror the shadowy figures bring but, in realizing that her mother was never crazy adds great depth to both her character and the story.  The seemingly innocuous method that Lacey’s creatures use to draw in their victims is definitely a unique and clever idea.  Overall, Patrick Lacey’s A Debt to Be Paid is a horrifically wonderful read and I can’t wait to see what his mind brings us next!

PURCHASE:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Debt-be-Paid-Patrick-Lacey-ebook/dp/B00Y05TVLU

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-debt-to-be-paid-patrick-lacey/1121969541

Samhain Publishing: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5558/a-debt-to-be-paid

In 1992, as Los Angeles begins to simmer in the heat of racial injustices, one dark man appears everywhere, spreading his message of race war. At the same time, Paul Souther, a homeless drunk, joins a strange group of outsiders. Some black and some white, they all carry the weight of broken lives and lost faith. They are all drawn to LA, for the arrival of a child, impossibly carried by Mary Prince, a sterile porn star.

Through back roads and freeways everyone is pulled into LA and Mary's side just as the baby is born. None of them have any idea that the city is a ticking bomb of anger. As riots explode, the mysterious man reveals himself to be an ancient, dark spirit using the rage of the people to stoke his own, literal, fires. He demands Mary’s child as sacrifice to keep the city, and perhaps the nation from burning. It falls to Paul, a faithless man, and a drunk with blood on his own hands, to make the impossible choice between the child and the city, and to save the people he has come to care about.

The Red Highway was a fascinating foray into the mind of author Robert E. Dunn.  While the storyline itself is fantastic, it’s the in-depth, unique characters that this tale offers that were truly the highlight for me.  The flaws of both Mary and Paul make them relatable characters that the reader can connect with.  Each must face their own demons and struggles to have a chance at doing what is right.   Dunn has written a tale that grasps the reader tight in its shadowy grip.  He has also created a sense of relatable realism to the tale by utilizing the familiar racial and social tensions as well as the violence that permeated 1992 Los Angeles, something with which the majority of readers will be familiar.  Dunn’s descriptive talents weave a tale in which readers will find themselves immersed in, with every moment so easily viewed in the mind’s eye.  Overall, The Red Highway is a story that will hold readers enthralled until the final page!

Purchase:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/The-Red-Highway-Robert-Dunn-ebook/dp/B0158WMEOE

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-red-highway-robert-e-dunn/1122623132

Necro Publications

http://necropublications.myshopify.com/collections/the-red-highway-by-robert-e-dunn/products/the-red-highway-by-robert-e-dunn

Giveaway!!!

Enter for your chance to win either a copy of The Red Highway, Behind the Darkness, or a print of the beautiful cover artwork from The Red Highway done by Erik Wilson! You can do multiple things each day to gain more entries! Just click the rafflecopter link. Forward any questions to Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, at [email protected].

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjI3/

Robert E. Dunn was born an army brat and grew up in the Missouri Ozarks. He wrote his first book at age eleven, stealing, or novelizing, as he called it at the time, the storyline of a Jack Kirby comic book.

His college course of study, philosophy, religion, theatre, and film/TV communications, left him qualified only to be a televangelist. When that didn’t work out, he turned to them mostly, honest work of video production. Over several years he produced everything from documentaries, to training films and his favorite, travelogues. Still always writing for the joy of it he returned to writing horror and fantasy fiction for publication after the turn of the century. It seemed like a good time for change even if the changes were not always his choice.

He lives in Kansas City with three daughters, a young grandson, and an old dog. He tweets sometimes as @WritingDead but makes no promises how interesting those little posts will be.

Praise for The Red Highway

“The Red Highway is not one of the best books that I’ve read so far this year, or that I’ve read in a long time…it’s one of the best books that I’ve ever read!  It was an incredible read, one that has so many layers that I was completely enthralled with the story.” –2 Book Lovers Reviews

Dark servants clash!

 Medieval maiden Beate, who’s grieving over the mysterious evisceration of her best friend, Gisela, must escape a Bavarian castle under siege by sadistic creatures.

 Standing in her way—beyond towering walls and crossbow-toting guards—are Saint Nicholas’s demonic helper, Krampus, and Frau Perchta, a belly-slitting hag who prowls the countryside during First Night festivities to punish naughty teens.

Beate wants out. Krampus and Frau Perchta want in, determined to breach the castle to snag their prey. Beate has no idea why these monsters want her, but she must use her wits to save herself from horrors both human and inhuman—lest she wind up like Gisela.

Twelfth Krampus Night is a horrifically thrilling read!  This is a tale that grips the reader from the start and doesn’t let up until the end. While a good portion of the story follows the innocent young Beate it’s the characters of Frau Perchta and Krampus who you will find yourself rooting for.  Although vicious and foul, it’s hard not to love characters whose sole purpose is to punish people for their wicked deeds, especially when the characters are so beautifully written.  Personally, my favorite part of the book was that the targets of Frau Perchta and Krampus are left unknown until the end.  It offers readers the chance to attempt to work out who the true bad guys of the story really are.  Matt Manochio has gifted horror fans with the perfect blend of horror, gore, and morals this holiday season!  This will make a perfect holiday gift for those special horror fans in your life!  

Purchase Twelfth Krampus Night

 Amazon

Barnes and Noble

 Samhain Horror

 Giveaway

 Test your luck and enter to see if you’ll win a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of The Dark Servant (Matt’s Krampus book from 2014).  Anyone can enter and you can enter multiple times per day in various ways.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjI4/?

Matt Manochio was born in 1975 in New Jersey and graduated from The University of Delaware in 1997 with a history/journalism degree. He spent the majority of his 13-year newspaper career at the Daily Record in Morris County, New Jersey, where he won multiple New Jersey Press Association Awards for his reporting.

He wrote about one of his passions, rock ‘n’ roll giants AC/DC, for USA Today and considers that the highlight of his journalism career. He left newspapers in 2011 for safer employment.

His debut novel, The Dark Servant, was published with Samhain Horror in November of 2014. His second novel, Sentinels, was release November 2015, just prior to Twelfth Krampus Night in December 2015. He currently lives in New Jersey with his son.

 Praise for Matt Manochio

“This is a macabre, dark tale with a timeless quality about it. An atmospheric landscape, complete with Bavarian castle; characters that could have stepped out from your worst nightmares. It kept me thoroughly and enjoyably entertained in a dark, scary way. Full marks!” –Cat Cavendish, Author of The Dark Avenging Angel

 “Twelfth Krampus Night is an enjoyable read and a strong horror story. Manochio is a very strong writer and his talent is evident in this novel.  I easily slid into the world that Manochio creates and was fascinated by Frau Perchta and Krampus.” –Minneapolis Examiner.com

 “The Dark Servant is everything a thriller should be–eerie, original and utterly engrossing!” — Wendy Corsi Staub, New York Times bestselling author

 “Beautifully crafted and expertly plotted, Matt Manochio’s The Dark Servant has taken an esoteric fairy tale from before Christ and sets it in the modern world of media-saturated teenagers–creating a clockwork mechanism of terror that blends Freddy Krueger with the Brothers Grimm!” — Jay Bonansinga, New York Times bestselling author

 “Matt Manochio is a writer who’ll be thrilling us for many books to come.”  — Jim DeFelice, New York Times bestselling author

 “Matt Manochio has taken a very rare fairytale and turned it into a real page-turner. Matt has constructed a very real and believable force in Krampus and has given it a real journalistic twist, and he has gained a fan in me!” — David L. Golemon, New York Times bestselling author

 “In The Dark Servant, Matt Manochio has taken the tantalizing roots of Middle Europe’s folklore and crafted a completely genuine modern American horror story. … I fell for this story right away. Matt Manochio is a natural born storyteller.” — Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author

 “Could there be a dark side to Santa? And if so, what would he do to those kids who were naughty? Matt Manochio provides the nail-biting answer with The Dark Servant.” — John Everson, Bram Stoker Award-winning author

The Apocalypse has come to the Sugar Hill mental asylum. 

He’s the hospital’s newest, and most notorious, patient—a paranoid schizophrenic who sees humanity’s dark side.

Luckily he’s in good hands. Dr. Eli Alpert has a talent for healing tortured souls. And his protégé is working on a cure for schizophrenia, a drug that returns patients to their former selves. But unforeseen side effects are starting to emerge. Forcing prior traumas to the surface. Setting inner demons free.

Monsters have been unleashed inside the Sugar Hill mental asylum. They don’t have fangs or claws. They look just like you or me.

 We Are Monsters is our first foray into the mind of Brian Kirk and what a wonderfully twisted adventure it is.  Kirk has created a world that brings the hidden horrors of the human mind to harsh, terrifying reality.  The line of good and evil, reality and chaos blurs so seamlessly in this tale.  Kirk’s characters are well developed and we’re offered intriguing insights into their experiences and the life events that make each person who they are.  

The moments that occur outside of reality as we understand it, are extremely vivid and realistic. The hallucinations and psychotic episodes are completely fascinating.  Brian Kirk has written an incredible tale which begs the question, what is psychosis?  Is there truly a line between who is sane and who is not?  Are we all crazy in some way?  Kirk’s understanding of the human psyche and its intricacies creates a thought provoking and terrifying adventure for his readers.  This is an incredible read that you will not want to miss!

PURCHASE:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Monsters-Brian-Kirk/dp/1619229803/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/we-are-monsters-brian-kirk/1121694935?ean=9781619229808

Samhain

https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5494/we-are-monsters

Giveaway!!!

Click the rafflecopter link below and enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card from Brian Kirk! You can perform several tasks for entering each day here or at each stop that posts the giveaway link. Best of luck!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjI1/?

Brian Kirk lives in Atlanta with his beautiful wife and rambunctious identical twin boys. He works as a freelance writer in addition to writing fiction, and is currently working on the second book in a planned trilogy. We Are Monsters is his debut release. Feel free to connect with him online. Don't worry, he only kills his characters.

See more about Brian at: http://briankirkblog.com/ 

Follow Brian on Facebook and Twitter. He's found on Twitter at @Brian_Kirk and looks forward to connecting with you.

Praise for We Are Monsters

These are no ordinary killers.

They don't distinguish between good and evil. They just kill. South Carolina's a ruthless place after the Civil War. And when Sheriff's Deputy Noah Chandler finds seven Ku Klux Klansmen and two Northern soldiers massacred along a road, he cannot imagine who would murder these two diametrically opposed forces.

When a surviving Klansman babbles about wraiths, and is later murdered inside a heavily guarded jail cell, Noah realizes something sinister stalks his town. He believes a freed slave who's trying to protect his farm from a merciless land baron can help unmask the killers. Soon Noah will have to personally confront the things good men must do to protect their loved ones from evil.

First of all, let me say that I was really excited about this book when I first read the synopsis because it brings two of my loves together: history and horror.  I’m thrilled to say that Matt Manochio’s Sentinels did not disappoint!  Set in the post-Civil War South, Sentinels highlights not the horrors and civil unrest that our country faced as people tried to rebuild.  Manochio brings the emotional and political struggles of those who have returned home after war to life.  Sentinels shows us the world from two perspectives: that of Noah Chandler, a southern son who fought for the North, and Toby Jenkins, a freedman who is now the proud owner of a successful farm.  When Toby’s farm becomes the target of an evil white man’s greed, all hell breaks out in their little corner of the world.  

Like Noah, the reader is left to try and figure out who or what could have massacred so many men in such a brutal way.  There are some definite fantastic moments of gore during the mysterious attacks and to be found in the aftermath.  Manochio is a master of vivid descriptions that truly bring his tale to life.  The settings, characters and events (while supernatural) are rich with detail and a realistic quality that demonstrates his understanding of the era.  Through it all, this is a story that brings to light the question of what would a man do to protect those he loves.  Sentinels is a powerful tale that will both haunt and inspire the reader, a definite must-read!    

PURCHASE:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Sentinels-Matt-Manochio/dp/1619230984

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sentinels-matt-manochio/1122273970?ean=9781619230989#productInfoTabs

Samhain

https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5622/sentinels

Matt Manochio was born in 1975 in New Jersey and graduated from The University of Delaware in 1997 with a history/journalism degree.

He spent the majority of his 13-year newspaper career at the Daily Record in Morris County, New Jersey, where he won multiple New Jersey Press Association Awards for his reporting. He wrote about one of his passions, rock 'n' roll giants AC/DC, for USA Today and considers that the highlight of his journalism career.

He left newspapers in 2011 for safer employment, and currently lives in New Jersey with his son.

Praise for Matt Manochio

"Matt Manochio is a natural born storyteller." -Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Savage Dead

"A real page turner. Matt Manochio has gained a fan in me!" -David L. Golemon, New York Times bestselling author of the Event Group Thriller series, on The Dark Servant

It’s been a while since I’ve delved into a good supernatural/crime tale so I was extremely excited to check out Jason Parent’s Seeing Evil…

Fate in plain sight.

Major Crimes Detective Samantha Reilly prefers to work alone—she’s seen as a maverick, and she still struggles privately with the death of her partner. The only person who ever sees her softer side is Michael Turcotte, a teenager she’s known since she rescued him eleven years ago from the aftermath of his parents’ murder-suicide.

In foster care since his parents’ death, Michael is a loner who tries to fly under the bullies’ radar, but a violent assault triggers a disturbing ability to view people’s dark futures. No one believes his first vision means anything, though—not even Sam Reilly. When reality mimics his prediction, however, Sam isn’t the only one to take notice. A strange girl named Tessa Masterson asks Michael about her future, and what he sees sends him back to Sam—is Tessa victim or perpetrator?

Tessa’s tangled secrets draw Michael and Sam inexorably into a deadly conflict. Sam relies on Michael, but his only advantage is the visions he never asked for. As they track a cold and calculating killer, one misstep could turn the hunters into prey.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Seeing Evil is without a doubt one of my favorite books that I’ve read in recent years.  While the story does feature a hint of the supernatural with Michael’s newfound psychic ability, it’s his illustration of the capacity for evil and depravity that can be found in humanity where this tale truly excels.  As if the brutality of what one human can do to another isn’t enough, there’s an added horror in what someone like young Tessa must survive in living with a monster like her stepfather.  

While we don’t get to go too in depth into Sam’s character, the story focuses wonderfully on the young characters, Michael and Tessa.  Michael, while a loner who has struggled growing up in the foster care system, still exhibits a great deal of morality and an urge to help others.  Although under great emotional stress himself, between his life and the horrific images he now sees in his mind, he does what he can, even when reluctant, to save lives.  The young Tessa, struggles both physically and emotionally with her life, surviving one day at a time, hoping for an eventual end to her suffering. Both of these characters are wonderfully developed and demonstrate Parent’s understanding of the human psyche. For those of you who like a bit of gore, Seeing Evil does not disappoint, between its moments of torture and murder.  

Overall, Jason Parent’s Seeing Evil will not disappoint and will likely leave you wanting more!  Parent holds you in his diabolical grip from the beginning and never lets go.  This was the first time I’ve read his work and I can definitely count myself as a new fan!

PURCHASE:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Evil-Jason-Parent/dp/1940215498

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seeing-evil-jason-parent/1122319614http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seeing-evil-jason-parent/1122319614

Red Adept Publishing

http://redadeptpublishing.com/#!/Seeing-Evil-by-Jason-Parent/p/49303160/category=12051051

Giveaway!!!

Sign up to enter to win one of five books from Jason Parent! There is one print copy of Seeing Evil, one print copy of Bad Apples 2 collection, 1 e-book of What Hides Within, and one e-book of Dead Roses. All winners get Seeing Evil bookmarks! Random draw chooses winner. First name drawn receives first prize, and so on. Any giveaway questions may be forwarded to Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, [email protected].

Enter to win at the link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjIz/?

I know it’s been a while since I’ve reviewed anything not strictly “horror” but this time around I have a special treat.  Still in the spirit of the Halloween season…I bring you the supernatural with a bit of a romantic bent.  Now, just a note, these tales by Xavier Axelson feature male/male relationships. If that’s not for you, then feel free to move along.  Personally I find the expressions of a deep and abiding love to be a beautiful thing in any tale and these are no exception.  So if you’re still with me, and I hope you are, read on….

What does one say when they realize their child is gone? Better yet, what does one say when that child returns, but is different?

This is the question Pryor must ask himself after his daughter, Lily, is dragged into the woods by a wolf and her body is never found. It isn't until he sees a wolf in the woods with eyes that resemble Lily's that he feels hope. And then something is whispered from deep within the woods, a promise for him to see Lily again.

One day...

But which day and for how long?

And then Pryor meets Ned, a silversmith who brings out desires that Pryor hasn't felt in years and helps him hatch a plan to keep Lily with him.

Now the question isn't about how much time Pryor will have with Lily, it's about how far he'll go to keep her with him.

Lily was my introduction into the literary world of Xavier Axelson and I was intrigued from the first words.  Axelson’s grasp and expression of the wealth of human emotions that Pryor experiences are a living, tangible thing.  From his overwhelming grief to acceptance and learning to live again, Axelson has created a powerful glimpse into the life of those who have loved and lost.  There is an incredible depth of passion between Pryor and Ned, which adds a depth of intimacy and connection between these characters.  While this is a supernatural tale, there is minimal focus on supernatural elements but rather a focus on the emotional and mental aspects of those left behind to move on with life.  Overall, he has written an intriguing tale that wonderfully illustrates that sometimes no matter how much you love something, you have to let it go. 

PURCHASE:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Lily-Xavier-Axelson-ebook/dp/B00KME5SWO/

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lily-xavier-axelson/1108474208?ean=2940149327850

Seventh Window Publications

http://www.seventhwindow.com/paranormal/29-lily-ebook-9780989606035.html

With Earthly Concerns we see the internal struggle of Anson, who has previously had his heart broken by Barrett and yet still sets aside the emotional pain he faces in helping someone in need.  Like Lily we see a character who is facing the grief and emotional upheaval of the loss of a child to supernatural means.  Here, however, the focus is on the psychic Anson and his experiences as he searches for answers in the disappearance of young Hillary.  His psychic visions and sensations are fascinating and drive the tale.  Through the emotionally and supernaturally perilous situation that the characters face, the ultimate moral of this tale is that sometimes in life you get a second chance to make things right and to be happy.

 Overall, both of these stories offer readers a look inside the mental and emotional struggles that we all face in life. These are wonderful tales of life and love to be found, even amidst the grief and pain that life and tragedy can bring.

PURCHASE:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Earthly-Concerns-Xavier-Axelson-ebook/dp/B007JCCC0I

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/earthly-concerns-xavier-axelson/1109480565

Seventh Window Publications

http://www.seventhwindow.com/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath=&products_id=42

Xavier Axelson is a writer and columnist living in Los Angeles. Xavier's work has been featured in various erotic and horror anthologies. Longer written works include The Incident, Velvet, and Lily. Xavier covers Fringe Culture for the Los Angeles Examiner. Connect with Xavier on his website at www.xavieraxelson.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/xaviersaxel and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/XaviersAxel.

Praise for Xavier Axelson’s work

“This book was an excellent short read.  It has a little bit of everything.  Lost love, tragedy, paranormal beings, and the hint at a second chance.”  Close Encounters with the Night Kind  “I really liked the psychic element to the story, sometimes in books that just isn't done very well or done in a very cliché way, but I found it came across very well in this read.”  Book Devotee Reviews “Axelson writes from the emotions and in doing so he draws the reader in. It is close to impossible not to react to his stories.”  Reviews by Amos Lassen

Giveaway!!!

Enter to win either a copy of Lily (2 e-book format to giveaway) or a copy of Earthly Concerns (2 e-book format to giveaway). Anyone may enter. Questions can be referred to Erin Al-Mehairi, Publicist, Hook of a Book Media, [email protected].

Enter at this link:

The king of terrifying creatures is back!

The Dover Demon is real…and it has returned.

In 1977, Sam Brogna and his friends came upon a terrifying, alien creature on a deserted country road. What they witnessed was so bizarre, so chilling, they swore their silence. But their lives were changed forever.

Decades later, the town of Dover has been hit by a massive blizzard. Sam’s son, Nicky, is drawn to search for the infamous cryptid, only to disappear into the bowels of a secret underground lair. The Dover Demon is far deadlier than anyone could have believed. And there are many of them. Can Sam and his reunited friends rescue Nicky and battle a race of creatures so powerful, so sinister, that history itself has been shaped by their secretive presence?

 Hunter Shea is a master at creating tales that will leave readers frightened by the mysterious bumps heard in the dead of night and The Dover Demon is no exception.  The story is based and wonderfully inspired by the claimed sightings of the famous cryptid in Dover during 1977.  If you’re unfamiliar with the legend (as I was), fear not!  Shea has done a fantastic job of embedding the events and real life accounts into the heart of the tale.  Just to catch you up a little bit…the Dover Demon is a mysterious cryptid seen by a number of eyewitnesses in separate encounters in Dover, Massachusetts over 2 days in April of 1977.  Eyewitnesses described a terrifying creature similar in appearance to the “classic” imagery of the alien creatures known as “greys.”  Now that you’re a little caught up…let’s talk about Shea’s Dover Demon!

Hunter Shea has struck gold again with his incredible descriptive imagination and his understanding of the human psyche.  His cryptids are terrifying and described in such rich detail that you’ll see them behind your eyes every time you close your eyes.  However, I think the best aspect of the story is definitely in the development of his characters.  The struggle that Sam and his friends face in dealing with their terrifying encounter as teenagers will strike a chord with readers, whether pretending it never happened to becoming obsessed with trying to find the truth.  Shea has created a tangible sense of terror and psychological trauma that they face upon the return of the nightmare from their youth. Every sense will be tingling with the vision, sounds and scents of being deep in the cryptids’ lair.  This book definitely has something for every fan of “creature” horror.

**Spoiler Alert**

Now, normally I try really hard to avoid including any spoilers in my reviews.  However, I have to say that there is one element that I truly love about Hunter Shea’s “monster” books.  As a true fan of mystery, monsters and myth…in the end, it’s the terror that wins. Humanity will not triumph, the monster will always return.  

Overall, The Dover Demon is a gripping tale of perfectly disgusting terror.  No matter the subject matter, Hunter Shea always strikes gold!

PURCHASE:

Amazon - 

http://www.amazon.com/Dover-Demon-Hunter-Shea/dp/1619230976/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1442958162&sr=1-1

 Barnes and Noble - 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dover-demon-hunter-shea/1121969552?ean=9781619230972

 Samhain - 

https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5560/the-dover-demon

GIVEAWAY!!

On this tour, win one signed print copy of The Dover Demon if you are in the U.S.! Just sign-up at the Rafflecopter link below:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjIx/?

Hunter Shea is the author of the novels The Montauk Monster, Tortures of the Damned, Sinister Entity, Forest of Shadows, Swamp Monster Massacre, Evil Eternal,  and The Dover Demon. His stories have appeared in numerous magazines, including Dark Moon Digest, Morpheus Tales, and the Cemetery Dance anthology, Shocklines : Fresh Voices in Terror. He’s currently working on or completed a few more manuscripts set to come.

His obsession with all things horrific has led him to real life exploration of the paranormal, interviews with exorcists and other things that would keep most people awake with the lights on.

Hunter is proud to be be one half of the Monster Men video podcast, along with his partner in crime, Jack Campisi. It is one of the most watched horror video podcasts in the world. Monster Men is a light hearted approach to dark subjects. Hunter and Jack explore real life hauntings, monsters, movies, books and everything under the horror sun. They often interview authors, cryptid and ghost hunters, directors, and anyone else living in the horror lane.

He lives in New York with his family and vindictive cat. He waits with Biblical patience for the Mets to win a World Series. You can read about his latest travails and communicate with him at www.huntershea.com or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Praise for Hunter Shea~

 “This wholly enthralling hulk of a summer beach read is redolent of sunscreen and nostalgia, recalling mass market horror tales of yore by John Saul, Dean Koontz, and Peter Benchley.” — Publishers Weekly — Voted one of the best reads of summer, on The Montauk Monster

The Halloween season is upon us and what better way to celebrate than with the wonderfully horrific Blood and Rain by Samhain horror author Glenn Rolfe?  

The light of a full moon reveals many secrets.

Gilson Creek, Maine. A safe, rural community. Summer is here. School is out and the warm waters of Emerson Lake await. But one man's terrible secret will unleash a nightmare straight off the silver screen. Under the full moon, a night of terror and death re-awakens horrors long sleeping. Sheriff Joe Fischer, a man fighting for the safety of his daughter, his sanity and his community, must confront the sins of his past. Can Sheriff Fischer set Gilson Creek free from the beast hiding in its shadows, or will a small town die under a curse it can't even comprehend? One night can-and will-change everything.

Glenn Rolfe is quickly proving that he is a master at knowing what horror fans want.  Blood and Rain is   a tension-filled wild ride of fear and gore, reminiscent of greats such as Stephen King. The tale starts out with a gripping introduction to the vicious monstrosity that has returned to terrorize this small town.  The characters are well written and the dialogue flows easily between characters.  Rolfe demonstrates his understanding of the human psyche with the mental and emotional struggle that Sheriff Joe Fischer faces while trying to keep the town’s secrets while still protecting it.  However, it is without a doubt in the visceral attacks of the werewolf and the ensuing fear where Rolfe truly shines.  The carnage of each ensuing attack is so descriptively perfect that the reader can easily envision the horror behind his or her closed eyes.  

While I’ve previously read Rolfe’s Boom Town and Slush, and loved both, he has outdone himself with Blood and Rain.  If you’re a fan of blood and gore and the howlish delights of werewolves, this is a definite must read that may just leave you howling at the next full moon!

PURCHASE NOW!

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Rain-Glenn-Rolfe/dp/1619229854/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443335652&sr=8-1&keywords=blood+and+rain

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-and-rain-glenn-rolfe/1122198363?ean=9781619229853#productInfoTabs

Samhain

https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5587/blood-and-rain

Giveaway!!!

For a chance to win a print copy of Glenn Rolfe’s short story collection, Slush, or a chance to win your choice of any of his titles in e-book format, go to the link below for the Rafflecopter sign-up. Good luck! The print copy is only good for those in the United States. Questions can be referred to Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, at hookofabook(at)hotmail(dot)com.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/231aa30b22/?

Glenn Rolfe is an author, singer, songwriter and all around fun loving guy from the haunted woods of New England. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, and continues his education in the world of horror by devouring the novels of Stephen King and Richard Laymon. He and his wife, Meghan, have three children, Ruby, Ramona, and Axl. He is grateful to be loved despite his weirdness. He is the author the novellas, Abram's Bridge, Boom Town, and the forthcoming, Things We Fear (March, 2016), the short fiction collection, Slush, and the novels The Haunted Halls and Blood and Rain (October 2015). His first novella collection, Where Nightmares Begin, will be released in March, 2016. He is hard at work on many more. Stay tuned!

Find Glenn Rolfe at: http://glennrolfe.com/ as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Praise - 

“Wow! Easily one of the best werewolf books I’ve ever read.” – Hunter Shea, author of Tortures of the Damned and The Dover Demon

“Some good ‘ol fashion violence and gore…” – Jason Parent, author of Seeing Evil

The incredible Hunter Shea is back with yet another mind-bending tale of terror!  Tortures of the Damned, an apocalyptic tale which follows the Padilla family and their neighbors when an unknown terrorist attack takes place in Yonkers. An EMP blast takes out all electronic devices cutting off all contact with the outside world while chemical weapons kill and contaminate every living thing within their reach.  The Padilla family are lucky that their neighbor Buck and his girlfriend have a secure bomb shelter which allows them to survive the initial attack.  However, as Tortures of the Damned shows us, sometimes the survivors are the truly damned.

When two members of their group become ill from initial exposure to the chemical weapons it becomes imperative to seek any outside medical help or supplies they can find. On their first trek out, however, Daniel and Buck discover the true horrors left in the outside world.  A ravenous horde of rats follow them back to their shelter and the attack forces the group to abandon their relative safety. The survivors are forced to face the horrors of the sick and dying humanity as well as the roaming, viciously savage beasts that all animal life has become.  Can these survivors face the horror that awaits them and stay alive?

Hunter Shea has delivered yet another gripping masterpiece of horror!  This is an action packed tale that will keep you riveted to the edge of your seat as you follow the family through the hell that life has become. Shea perfectly illustrates the human condition, showcasing how love, loyalty and friendship are sometimes the only things that can keep us hanging on by a thread, even in the most hellish conditions.  The emotional struggles and fraying of the survivors’ nerves are incredibly realistic and bring an added sense of connection for the reader.  One thing that Shea always does exceptionally well is to bring the reader gory, gooey, horrific moments of terror and Tortures of the Damned is no exception!  There are some truly beautiful moments of gore for horror fans to relish.  This is definitely a book that I will be happy to read again and again!

PURCHASE!

You can purchase Tortures of the Damned in mass market paperback at more retail stores nationwide, as well as bookstores, both independent and chain.

You can also buy online at:

Amazon-

http://www.amazon.com/Tortures-Damned-Hunter-Shea/dp/0786034777

Barnes and Noble-

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tortures-of-the-damned-hunter-shea/1120138038?ean=9780786034772

Giveaway!

One signed book from Hunter Shea of winner’s choice (or e-book) and a bookmark.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjIw/?

Hunter Shea is the author of the novels The Montauk Monster, Sinister Entity, Forest of Shadows, Swamp Monster Massacre, and Evil Eternal. His stories have appeared in numerous magazines, including Dark Moon Digest, Morpheus Tales and the Cemetery Dance anthology,  

Shocklines : Fresh Voices in Terror.

His obsession with all things horrific has led him to real life exploration of the paranormal, interviews with exorcists and other things that would keep most people awake with the lights on. He lives in New York with his family and vindictive cat. He waits with Biblical patience for the Mets to win a World Series. You can read about his latest travails and communicate with him at www.huntershea.com.

Praise-