Archive for the ‘Horror’ Category

	Paperback: 168 pages Merry Blacksmith Press (August 1, 2012) English ISBN-10: 615677819 ISBN-13: 978-0615677811	Order book here:
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Synopsis:

A journey in short story format through Dante’s 9 circles of hell.

Review

This book wasn’t quite what I expected. When I read about people in the 9 circles of Hell, I was thinking of their punishment at that level. This seemed to be a collection of short stories of people living in the here and now going through one of the circles of hell. That put a bit of a different and interesting twist on the story.

For the bad: Some of these short stories felt incomplete. Some of the stories felt rushed for the ending. Other stories felt like they were more assignments for a writing workshop than polished stories.

For the good: The stories were well written and kept my attention. Some thought, due to content, might trigger unpleasant memories in readers. Some felt familiar such as Resurrection Mary but still came across as entertaining.

For a quick read over the Halloween season, I’d say grab a copy of this if you’re a fan of quick bizarre stories. For age rating, I’d say definitely older teens or adults. If you purchase a copy, be sure and stop by and let us know what you think.

About the Author

Connie graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in English and Journalism, but she began writing for her hometown (Independence, Iowa) newspaper at the age of 10 and was Editor-in-Chief of her high school newspaper. She continued her education, including a Ferner/Hearst Journalism Scholarship and a Freshman Merit Scholarship at Iowa, and then at Berkeley, WIU, NIU and the University of Chicago. Connie holds a Masters (+30) in English, Journalism and Education. Her career path led to teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts (Silvis, Illinois) and teaching writing at 6 IA/IL colleges or universities, including a class teaching film at Black Hawk Junior College. She then established the second Sylvan Learning Center in the state of Iowa and a Prometric Testing site, in conjunction with ETS of Princeton, NJ. She has taught writing and literature classes at all 6 IA/IL Quad City colleges.

A life-long film buff, Connie began reviewing for the Quad City Times newspaper (Davenport, IA) in the ’70s and continued reviewing into the ’80s. She also reviewed books for the Times and interviewed local celebrities for the (Moline, IL) Daily Dispatch and wrote humor columns for Metro East and the (Rock Island, IL) Reminder.

Connie left the labor of love reviewing film when she founded the first of two businesses in 1987, Sylvan Learning Center #3301, and her second business, a Prometric Testing Center (Bettendorf, IA), in 1995. Both businesses and two children kept her busy during the years 1987 – 2002, but, since selling the two successful businesses she founded and served as CEO, she has produced 10 books in 9 years. An active voting member of HWA (Horror Writers’ Association) Connie’s novel Out of Time was released in December of 2009 by Lachesis, and several other solo projects are in the works (see BOOKS section).

Connie lives in East Moline, Illinois with husband Craig and in Chicago, Illinois, where her son, Scott and daughter-in-law Jessica and their newborn twins Elise and Ava reside. Her daughter, Stacey, a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, has been living and working in Australia since February of 2012.

In addition to HWA, she is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Professional Society for Women Educators, IEA/ NEA, IWPA (Illinois Women’s Press Association), AWP (American Writing Program), MWC (Midwest Writing Center) and MWA (Midwest Writing Association). She maintains her own blog (www.weeklywilson.com) and was named 2008 Content Producer of the Year for the 400,000 member Associated Content blog for her on-the-spot reporting of the 2008 Presidential campaign, fodder for her next nonfiction book. She covers film, television and politics for Yahoo as a featured contributor.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Teddy at Virtual Authors Book Tour for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Print Length: 224 pages Publisher: Rock Bottom Books; First edition (June 29, 2012) English	Order book here:

Characters:

Mike McMahon – Chief of Police.
Sharon Dupont – Rookie cop, partners with Mike.

Review

Strange things keep happening in Paskagankee.   This time around Mike McMahon and his partner Sharon DuPont are called upon to solve the disappearance of Earl Manning.  They are also brought into a story on the theft of a magical Native American stone.  This stone allows the possessor to bring back and control the dead, a zombie puppet or what’s called a Revenant.

It’s difficult to tell too much of this story out of my desire not to spoil things for readers.  I will say like it’s previous encarnation, Paskagankee, I found this one delightful in it’s darkness and the depraved characters the author is willing to come up with.  If there were one complain it’s that some of the events happened possibly too quickly compared to what we see in the opening of the book.  Certain parts seemed a little rushed and anti-climatic.

If I were to rate it, I’d say older teens and adults due to the content and language.  If you are a fan of zombie stories, or horror stories in general pick this one up.  Be sure and come by to tell us what you think.  With the Season of Ghoblins and Ghouls quickly approaching, this would be a great story to read on the chilly Halloween night.  And if you happen to hear a knock on the door while reading it, it’s probably just somebody l0oking for Candy.

About the Author

Allan Leverone is the author of the Amazon bestselling thriller, THE LONELY MILE (StoneHouse Ink), and the thrillers, FINAL VECTOR (Medallion Press) and PASKAGANKEE (StoneGate Ink), as well as the horror novellas DARKNESS FALLS and HEARTLESS(Delirium Books). Allan is a 2012 Derringer Award winner as well as a 2011 Pushcart Prize nominee. His short fiction has been featured in Needle: A Magazine of Noir, A Twist of Noir, Shroud Magazine, Morpheus Tales, Mysterical-e and many other print and online magazines, as well as numerous anthologies. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife Sue, three children, one beautiful granddaughter and a cat who has used up eight lives. Connect with Allan at www.allanleverone.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter, @AllanLeverone.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to at Molly – Partners in Crime for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Paperback: 278 pages Imajin Books (March 22, 2011) English ISBN-10: 098663106X ISBN-13: 978-0986631061	Order book here:
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Characters:

The Fog – Child Kidnapper
Sadie O’Connell – Mother going through marital and drinking problems.
Sam O’Connell – 5 Year old son of Sadie.
Leah Winters – Sadie’s best friend.
Philip O’Connell – Husband to Sadie, their marriage is fractured.

Synopsis:

As a parent how would you react if your child was kidnapped. What would you do if you were forced to allow it to happen. That is what happens with Sadie O’Connell one night when she enters her son’s bedroom and finds him in the arms of serial kidnapper the Fog. A fight ensues, Sadie is injured, and The Fog with gun pressed against Sam’s neck threatens to send him back to her in pieces if she tells the cops what he looks like.

Review

This was an emotionally driven tale. At some points you think it’s a tale of a mother’s love, at other times a thriller, and still other times a supernatural tale. There were times with the character of Sadie that I wanted to slap the snot out of her, and other times I felt really sad for her.

The characters are very well crafted, they draw out the intended emotions, and there are many twists and turns in the storyline as the pages are turned. It’s not quite like any other book I’ve read, so it’s hard to say if you like x author you’ll like this, but if you’re a fan of dramatic stories, thrillers or the like, then pick this up. I think you’ll really enjoy it. It was my first time reading something from this author, but she’ll definitely bring me back for more of her writing.

If I’d write it, I’d say for extremely adult situations, some language, and violence that it would be rated PG-13 or above. Definitely not for younger or more immature readers.

About the Author

Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian author, whose is best known for Whale Song, which is now available in its third edition, the 2010 ebook edition.

Whale Song, an emotional mystery that explores controversial issues like assisted suicide, school bullies and racism, has captured the attention of numerous film companies. A screenplay, which Cheryl wrote with co-writer Alison Neuman, was completed in 2006, along with a movie treatment.

Cheryl is now in negotiations with a respected film producer/director.

The 2007 paperback edition of Whale Song went out of print as of February 1, 2009. All rights have been returned to the author.

In 2009, Cheryl branched off into romance with her debut romantic suspense Lancelot’s Lady, which will be released as an ebook in late September 2010. Since romance is a different genre from Cheryl’s usual suspense/thrillers and YA, she wrote Lancelot’s Lady under the pen name of Cherish D’Angelo. Lancelot’s Lady was a semi-finalist in the Dorchester Publishing Next Best Celler contest hosted by Textnovel. It also won an Editor’s Choice award from Textnovel in 2010.

A novelette of suspense titled Remote Control was released in ebook edition in July 2010; and a collection of stories titled Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories is slated for release in August 2010.

In September 2005, Cheryl’s gripping action-packed techno-thriller The River was released. This carefully researched novel explores the mysterious Nahanni River area, nanotechnology and man’s obsession with longevity. The River has been compared to works by Michael Crichton, James Patterson, Dean Koontz and Dan Brown.

Cheryl is also the author of the 2004 “sizzling psychic suspense” Divine Intervention, a ‘psi-fi’ suspense thriller (or paranormal romance) that has been compared to works by authors such as Iris Johansen, Kay Hooper and Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb’s ‘In Death’ series.

All of these novels have made Amazon.com’s bestsellers list.

In 2006, Cheryl Kaye Tardif participated in a hilarious new TV series ‘A Total Write-Off’, hosted by comedian Barbara North. In 2004, Cheryl was nominated for the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award. In 2003, she wrote a public service announcement for a racial harmony campaign. Her PSA script, One Voice ~ One World, placed third and was produced and aired on cable channels in Alberta.

Cheryl has not only held hundreds of book signings, she has organized multi-author signings, held a virtual book tour and taught others how to do their own, and she has presented at conferences in Canada and the US. Cheryl is known amongst her peers for her creativity and knowledge regarding book marketing, and in 2009 she embarked on a new venture as a Book Marketing Coach. She is a member of various social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, AmazonConnect and Chapters Online Community.

Cheryl has been interviewed by numerous TV and radio stations in Canada and the US, and she has been featured in a variety of newspapers and magazines in both countries. According to photojournalist, Heather Andrews Miller, who interviewed the author for a Real Estate Weekly article, Cheryl is a “gem in the literary world”. And according to Graham Hicks of the Edmonton Sun, “Cheryl Kaye Tardif specializes in mile-a-minute pot-boiler mysteries, usually set in Western Canadian locales.”

As a teen, Cheryl was a journalist with a weekly newspaper column. Years later, she completed a course in Journalism and Short Story Writing and graduated with Highest Honors. She has worked as a motivational speaker for a respected international company, written material for a number of companies, and worked as a consultant in telemarketing, sales and promotion. But writing fiction with passion and vision is her dream.

Cheryl has completed her next novel, Children of the Fog, a terrifying suspense that asks, “how far are you willing to go for your child?” She has also completed Divine Justice, the second in the Divine mystery series, and has started another thriller, plus a YA novel, Finding Bliss, the first novel to be written on the iPhone 3G using the Notes application.

Born in Vancouver, BC, Cheryl Kaye Tardif was a “military brat” and a “military wife” who has lived all across Canada and in Bermuda. Now residing in Edmonton, AB, with her husband Marc, daughter Jessica and the family dog, she is an author that Booklist calls “a big hit in Canada…a name to reckon with south of the border”.

Cheryl is a member of the following associations:

• Authors Guild
• Canadian Authors Association
• Crime Writers of Canada
• Romance Writers of America
• Writers Guild of Alberta

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Author for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Publisher: StoneGate Ink; 1 edition (January 27, 2012) Language: English	Order e-book here:

Characters:

Synopsis:

Mike McMahon – Chief of Police.
Sharon Dupont – Rookie cop, partners with Mike.
Kenneth Dye – Professor of Native American Studies at Maine University.

Review
.
An ancient Indian Curse. A monster bent on revenge. Body parts strung hither and yon. This book had everything you could want in a good horror story. The story concerns Mike McMahon newly hired chief of Police. He assigns Sharon Dupont to be his partner and show him the ropes. On his first day he’s drawn into a murder. Then another.

Professor Kenneth Dye from the nearby University contacts Mike and tells him about an ancient curse in Paskagankee. The curse involves the murder of a young Indian woman and her child by Puritans. This attack is actually shown as the opening of the book.

The bodies start to pile up, and it’s tried to be explained away as a wild animal attack. The FBI is called in and does their own investigation concluding that it’s a bear. But Mike doesn’t believe a bear could be doing the damage this is doing.

This book was full of suspense and kept me glued to the storyline. I really began liking some of the characters, not liking others. I also enjoyed the ride trying to figure out how they were going to end up stopping the creature. In the end it was a very satisfying horror story, and makes me want to read more of Mr. Leverone’s novels, particulary any of this genre.

I’d give it a PG or R rating for blood, gore, violence, and language. But if you are a fan of horror, grab this book, crawl into bed, and pull the sheets tight. And don’t worry about that scratching at the window. After all, it’s probably just the cat.

About the Author

Allan Leverone is the author of the Amazon bestselling thriller, THE LONELY MILE (StoneHouse Ink), and the thrillers, FINAL VECTOR (Medallion Press) and PASKAGANKEE (StoneGate Ink), as well as the horror novellas DARKNESS FALLS and HEARTLESS(Delirium Books). Allan is a 2012 Derringer Award winner as well as a 2011 Pushcart Prize nominee. His short fiction has been featured in Needle: A Magazine of Noir, A Twist of Noir, Shroud Magazine, Morpheus Tales, Mysterical-e and many other print and online magazines, as well as numerous anthologies. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife Sue, three children, one beautiful granddaughter and a cat who has used up eight lives. Connect with Allan at www.allanleverone.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter, @AllanLeverone.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Molly at Partners in Crime Tours for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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Today we are pleased to review two short stories by Joel Andre. Mr. Andre is currently on tour with Partners in Crime. This time he has two books, Brutal and Perfection.

Review

I found the primary character in this book to be very dark, but very real. I could tell there were real emotions behind his actions, and I truly felt the fear that Mr. Andre tried to create on the page. The story was very brief, but left me wanting much more. There were loose ends, and I felt that this was just the first chapter in a much broader overall story. With the plot that goes on, this would definitely be aimed at the young adult/adult market. I think it would definitely be NC-17. But for a horror story, it really grabbed me and kept me there.

Synopsis:

One dark and warm October night in the heart of Arizona, a group of friends are out for an evening of fun. It was a night for celebration, and to draw them away from the world.

As they drink the night away, a dark and handsome stranger watches them in the distance. His observations going unnoticed as the girls focus on their own conversation.

Too drunk to make it home on their own, the stranger offers the group a ride home in his taxi. Reluctantly, the girls agree.

What follows is a dark and brutal act of revenge decades in the making.

Review

This story while equally brutal in it’s telling, struck me as more along the lines of a more horrific outer limits or twlight zone. Like Brutal, Mr. Andre leaves you at the end of the story wanting and desiring more. I want to know what the story is behind these people, I want to know why they are doing what they are doing, and yes, in a strange twisted way, I want to see what else they have in store for people.

Again, I’d give this one a young adults/adults rating of NC-17 just due to the overall content of the story. Both stories can easily be read in one sitting, but you might want to leave the light on afterwards.

Synopsis:

Carol and Tammy Long have fought a constant battle with their weight all their lives. When a stranger on the television offers an amazing new diet plan with a weight loss success rate of 100 percent, Tammy feels like it was an answer to their prayers.

As the pair ventures off to the Verde Valley Weight Loss Clinic things start to take a darker turn. The owner Kathy Black gives them a new take on the classic idea of perfection.

Now, placed in a medical facility where they are constantly monitored, the women learn there is something wrong with perfection.

About the Author

Joel M. Andre was born January 13, 1981. At a young age he was fascinated with the written word. It was at fourteen that Poe blew his mind, and Andre began to dabble with darker poetry.

Between the years of 1999 and 2007 Joel was featured in various poetry anthologies and publications. In 2008 he released his first collection,Pray the Rain Never EndsImage Blocked.

Knowing there was something deeper and darker inside of his soul, Joel decided to take a stab at commercialism. Releasing the dark tongue in cheek, A Death at the North PoleImage Blocked, created a dark world among the death of Kris Kringle. Ultimately providing a tale of redemption.

October of 2008 saw Joel release his second book, Kill 4 MeImage Blocked. A tale in which a woman is haunted by a vengeful spirit through text messages and instant messaging.

Taking some time off and doing a lot of soul searching, Joel took things in a new direction and dabbled in the Fantasy Genre with, The Pentacle of Light. The tale dealing with five major races battling for control of Earth, and the acceptance of their God.

Finally, after missing his detective Lauren Bruni, he released the book The Return in October 2009, this time moving the action from the North Pole and placing it in the small Arizona community he was raised in.

Andre’s latest book is The Black Chronicles: Cry of the Fallen about a dead man who seeks revenge on the woman that tormented him in peaceful Northern Arizona.

Currently, he resides in Chandler, AZ.
You can visit his website at www.joelmandre.info

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	Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: CreateSpace (August 21, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 1453782745 ISBN-13: 978-1453782743	Order book here:
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Characters
Lauren Bruni
Miguel Sanchez

Synopsis:

All around her Lauren Bruni is faced with destruction. Her marriage has ended, and her professional life is at the breaking point. For Lauren, this is only the beginning of her pain.

In the small town of Cottonwood, AZ everything seems to be headed in the same direction. A serial killer is on the loose, and his trail of victims holds no connection. His rampage escalates and becomes far more brutal with each murder he commits.

As Lauren attempts to prevent her own life from collapsing down around her she must stop a killer with supernatural strength. But there is something far more sinister in the works than she could ever imagine. In the end it is up to Lauren to make the ultimate sacrifice to save a community from the purest form of evil.

Review:

I enjoyed this book. I really wasn’t prepared for the turn it took into horror and paranormal mystery. But it was an enjoyable spin. The characters were well drawn out and very dimensional. The author managed to convey enough about the different characters, even the victims, to make the reader care about them and their fate.

Some of the scenes were very intense, and the imagery put me in mind of something I would have seen in a Ray Harryhausen movie, particularly in the graveyard scene.  Other scenes were reminiscent of The Lawnmower Man or other paranormal movies, particular the scene in the new house. 

If you like horror or dark paranormal mysteries, then I definitely recommend this book. As usual, I’d recommend it for older readers due to adult language, situations, and violent imagery.  It’s hard to say too much about this, because it would distract from the ride that the author takes you on, but I’ll just say purchase the book, and go for your own ride.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

About the Author

Joel M. Andre was born January 13, 1981. At a young age he was fascinated with the written word. It was at fourteen that Poe blew his mind, and Andre began to dabble with darker poetry. Between the years of 1999 and 2007, Joel was featured in various poetry anthologies and publications. In 2008 he released his first collection, “Pray the Rain Never Ends”. Knowing there was something deeper and darker inside of his soul, Joel decided to take a stab at commercialism. Releasing the dark, tongue in cheek, “A Death at the North Pole”, created a dark world that resulted from the death of Kris Kringle. Ultimately, it proved to be a tale of redemption. October of 2008 saw Joel release his second book, “Kill 4 Me.” This was a tale that found Casey Dwyer being haunted by a spirit through text messages, and instant messaging. It was far more brutal than anything he had released before. Taking some time off and doing a lot of soul searching, Joel took things in a new direction and dabbled in the Fantasy Genre with, “The Pentacle of Light”. This tale dealt with five major races battling for control of Earth, and the acceptance of their God. As times continue to change, so does the tales he has to tell. This October he will bring back Lauren Bruni in a prequel, and come 2011 there will be the next book in his Fantasy series “The Pentacle of Light”. Currently, he resides in Arizona.

Tour Participants:

July 25: Character Interview~April @ Cafe of Dreams Book Reviews
July 26: Guest Post ~Roseanne @ http://roseannedowellauthor.blogspot.com/
July 27: Review~Giovanni@Gelati’s Scoop
August 1: Review~Michael@ The Book Shelf Review
August 4: Guest Post~Nicole@ Tribute Books Blog
August 5: Character Guest Post~Charlotte@ ckvolnek.com
August 8: Review~Stacey@ The Write To Make A Living
August 11: Guest Post~Cheryl@A Good Day To Read
August 11: Interview~Cheryl@The Book Connection
August 12: Guest Post and Review~Darlene@Darlene’s Book Nook
August 15: Review~Laurie@Lauriehere.blogspot.com
August 16: Review~Stephanie O @Romancing The Book
August 17: Review~Molly@Reviews By Molly
August 18: Review~Cheryl@ A Good Day To Read
August 18: Spotlight~Cheryl@Books, Products, And More
August19: Review~Dave@blog.elenchera.com
August 22: Interview~Blog Talk Radio’s G-Zone
August 24: Review~Rick@Rhodes Review
August 25: Interview~ Chris@Chrisreddding.blogspot.com
August 25: Review~Cindy@Oodles Of Books

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Molly at Partners In Crime tours for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Grand Central: November 1, 2010 Language: English ISBN-10: 0446555991 ISBN-13: 978-0446555999	Order book here:
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Chararacters:

Jeremiah Falls – A man struggling with an inner beast.
Hylic Kirillov – Russian Mercenary
Skog – Main antagonist trying to bring about the end of the world.
Amala Dhul-Nun Al-Misri – Interpreter. Takes care of Jeremiah when he’s injured.
Nathan Falls – Jeremiah’s Father
Atticus Falls – Jeremiah’s Grandfather

Synopsis:

In 1644 Jeremiah Falls and his father are leading the normal Puritan life. They are out tending their fields when his father is attacked by a creature neither have seen before. His father was killed, and the creature is injured and runs off. Later Nathan returns from the dead, kills his wife and injures Jeremiah. Jeremiah is turned into a creature of the Night. His grandfather helps him control this new blood thirsty beast raging within him. He spends the next 150 years learning from Indian neighbors as well as knowledge gained from books. Through this self-study he learns about a black rock that may set free him.

Review:

This book was full of action and adventure. It was written similar to the style of King Solomon’s Mines and Indiana Jones but with a vampire. The author covers a lot of history though in a fictional content. The history spans everything from the birth of mankind to the 1790s. One of the interesting aspects is how the author ties biblical concepts into the story to explain vampires..

If you are a fan of historical fiction, and like vampire tales, then I think you’d like this book. It’s not for you viewers, definitely older teens/adults, but was a nicely written action/adventure/historical book. There were some issues, such as Jeremiah always finding extra power within himself, but I took that as an analogy that just when time looks dark, if we push just a little harder we can overcome..

All in all a very interesting story that kept me interested from page 1 all the way to the end of the story..

*Thanks* goes out to Brad at Hachette Book Group for a review copy and also for giveaway copies. You can enter our giveaway here

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Paperback: 156 pages Publisher: Admit One Literary Theme Park Press (September 30, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0615402801 ISBN-13: 978-0615402802	Order book here:

This book is a series of short stories set around Disney World. The stories range from a woman obsessed with buying Disney paraphernalia, some of which might be haunted, to a woman haunted by the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse. While there are at times mild language, the whole book puts me in mind of Goosebumps, or similar books. While they might be scary for very young viewers, I think they’d find their appropriate age group in 13 and above. And I think fans of Disney would definitely enjoy these haunted tales.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Ms. Schoonover for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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We’ve been given the opportunity to interview David Fingerman. David is the author of numerous short stories. He’s currently doing a blog tour to promote his new book, Edging Past Reality. This is a book of a collection of his short stories. You can see our review, here. David has worked almost 20 years in the Hennepin County Court System. We’d like to thank David for taking the time to answer some of our questions.

Rhodes Review: Who are some of the writers you enjoy? Books?

David Fingerman: Harlan Ellison is my favorite writer, and I’ll read whatever he puts out.  A friend of mine recently turned me on to Christopher Moore and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying his books.  I also love reading Walter Mosley, Neil Gaiman, John Meaney, Stuart Kaminsky, just to name a few.  As far as individual books – “City of Thieves” by David Benioff and “31 Hours” by Masha Hamilton are two of my recent favorites.

 Rhodes Review: How do you get your inspiration/muse to write?

David Fingerman: Usually it’s just a voice in my head telling me to get to work.  I’m very fortunate in that I’m now doing what I’ve always wanted to do – write full time.  That’s pretty much all the inspiration I need.  All-in-all, I can’t imagine not writing.

Rhodes Review: How do you come up with Story Ideas?

David Fingerman: I’ve been blessed, or maybe cursed, with a very overactive imagination.  I can overhear a snippet of conversation, or look at anything mundane, like a car rolling through a stop sign, and think ‘What if . . .?’  My imagination will take it from there.

Rhodes Review: How did you get interested in writing for this genre?

David Fingerman: I’ve always had a love for horror and an avid (or morbid) curiosity for the unknown.  Plus, I’m kinda lazy and hate doing research.  Horror and speculative fiction come straight from the imagination.  There’s not a whole lot of verification that needs to be done.  That being said, I just finished writing a mystery which needed a lot of research.  I guess I’m expanding my horizons.

Rhodes Review: What is the hardest part of writing for you?

David Fingerman: The discipline.  Even though I’m doing what I love to do, there are still days I’m just not in the mood to write and I have to force myself to do so.  I compare it to exercising – if you let it slide it’s very hard to get back into it again.  On the not so much about writing, but publishing aspect – marketing is very difficult for me.  I really dislike having to sell myself, but it’s a necessity if you want to get your work out there.

Rhodes Review: What’s the best thing about being an author?

David Fingerman: I love the solitude.  I’ve heard that some writers get lonely – not me.  I’m not really a ‘people’ person and not having to answer phones or deal with people face-to-face on a daily basis is wonderful.  I also love that the only person I have to answer to is me. 

Rhodes Review: What advice would you give aspiring authors?

David Fingerman: More important than anything is to write every day.  Then join a writers group.  If there’s not one in your area – start one.  The man who started one of the writers’ groups I regularly attend told me that for about three months he sat for two hours alone or with maybe one to two others before writers started showing up.  Now it averages about fifteen people per meeting and often there is not enough time to get everybody in who wants to read.

Rhodes Review: What is your current writing project?

David Fingerman: I’m working on a horror novel and also just started a suspense/thriller novel.

David, Once again thank you for taking the time to talk to us. You can visit David at his website

You can read a review of Edging Past Reality by clicking here.

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	Paperback: 263 pages Publisher: Two Harbors Press (November 14, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1935097075 ISBN-13: 978-1935097075	Order from here:

Have you ever watched The Twilight Zone or Night Gallery. If so, you’d be the type who would probably enjoy David Fingerman’s Edging Past Reality. This books is a collection of short stories. It’s divided into four sections. There is Too Young to know better, Old Enough to know better, Is this a mid life Crisis, and Senior Moments. Each section of stories deals with people in that specific category.

Some of my personal favorites were:

• Marty’s Toy -  A boy’s toy seems to have a mind of it’s own.
• Grandpa’s Watch – A pocket watch has a curious connection to a young boy and his grandfather.
• The Scream Box – Ever wanted to go in a room and scream, this presents customers at a bar with that opportunity, but will they get the relief they want.
• Anybody got a Smoke – A man dies and goes to Heaven where he’s given everything he wants.
• Edging Past Reality – A Man’s Life seems to be changing beyond his control. Sometimes with good, sometimes bad consequences.
• The Blue Light – A man checks into a secluded motel late one night.
• The Perfect Jury – A tale of jury duty, talk about your nightmares.
• The Last Patch of Wilderness – A cautionary tale about damaging the environment.
• The Verdict’s In – For this story, think American Idol meets Judge Judy.

With each story, there were twists and turns I never expected. Mr. Fingerman sets you up to think the story is going one way, then throws a curve ball at you. While I had my favorites, I have to say I really enjoyed all the stories. Each had a different feel to it, and as a collection, it was very good.

If you like Suspense, Horror, or stories with strange twists, then definitely pick up this book. I think you’d enjoy it. Most of the stories were 3-10 pages long, which made it a good book for reading right before bedtime. Some stories has stronger language or situations, so I’d recommend it only for older teens (17+) or adults. You can visit Mr. Fingerman’s site here.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Brandi at BK Walker Book Services and David for a review copy of this book.

Please See our Interview with David here.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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