The first new review of A Life of Death was just posted by book critic and YA book blogger Samantha Weck. It’s always a pleasure to read reviews from readers who truly enjoyed the book. Although I got the impression that Samantha was a pretty big fan of romance, she seemed to think the minor romance in this paranormal mystery was perfect. It’s great to see that the book even appeals to readers with somewhat different interests. To read Samantha’s thoughts on book 1 of A Life of Death and many more great reads, her blog samthebookaholic is a wonderful place to stop by.
 
Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

Avid reader and writer Ana Torres just ranked Strange Circumstances as a 5-star paranormal short-story collection this week, just in time for the Thanksgiving Giveaway. Here’s what she had to say:

What a collection of stories. It has so many good stories I just can’t pick one, so I pick all of them. I loved it more since it was paranormal, the read I love… There is a story for everyone in here, from magic, mysteries, science, just too much to list. You just have to read this. You will not be disappointed. You will keep reading to the end and really enjoy the way it was written. An awesome job to the authors. I truly recommend this book to buy if you are unsure what you want to read. It has it all.

I was given a free copy in place for a free review… Thank You, it was truly enjoyable. I will re-read it again.

Book Summary:
The future’s a gamble. Few people know what they really want, and those that reach it often find that it isn’t what they expected. Strange Circumstances is an anthology of stories exploring the predictability of fate and destiny… or rather their unpredictability.

In the twelve twisted tales and fifteen flash-fiction pieces, Strange Circumstances explores the boundaries of our universe to see what lurks in the unknown, hidden within the mysteries of science, magic, extraterrestrials, religion and the paranormal. Amid celebrities who hit their peak and vanish, a tree that grows up from the floor of a moving train car, unspeakable conspiracy, monstrous espionage, and wicked sorcery, there is something within these pages for anyone who enjoys dark tales and twists of every sort.

Co-written by Weston Kincade, David Chrisley, and Marshall J. Stephens, this is one opportunity you don’t want to miss. Normally $2.99, this turkey day and Black Friday get your copy of Strange Circumstances free on Amazon. Question fate and destiny while enjoying exciting, twisted tales of fantasy.

Post-Giveaway Report:
I am happy to report that during the giveaway Strange Circumstances made it to #20 in fiction anthologies and #24 in fantasy short stories and anthologies. Enjoy the free copies, and I hope the remaining weekend holiday is excellent.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

Great new review of Salvation, Book 2 in the Altered Realities series. David King, a very astute UK book blogger and reviewer at An Eclectic Bookshelf, read and just reviewed Salvation, saying, “As with the first novel, there is an enjoyable blend of Science Fiction and Fantasy throughout the story with alternate dimensions, vampires and psychic powers all being utilized in an entertaining manner. The fast paced action sequences also really keep the fun factor high which is complemented by some interesting and varied worlds.”

For the entire review, and to see what other great reads David recommends, visit An Eclectic Bookshelf. To get your own e-copy of Salvation, and Invisible Dawn if you haven’t yet read it, they are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Sony, Kobo, and most e-book retail sites. On many, Invisible Dawn is even free.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

I am happy to announce that Ailyn, book blogger for Piece of My Mind, a YA book review site, has been reading A Life of Death. Just this morning she posted this 5-star review of Episode 1. Her book reviews can be found on Amazon, Goodreads, and other sites beyond just the blog. I’m glad she’s enjoying it and hope others do too.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

After a slight delay, I am happy to announce earlier this week Episode 8 of my young adult paranormal mystery series, A Life of Death, was released through Books of the Dead Press. This is the second episode of Book 2, The Golden Bulls, taking Homicide Detective Alex Drummond, his friend Jessie, and readers to Washington DC in order to unmask a serial killer. Ritualistic burnings and ancient Egypt await as Alex gets into the minds of the killer’s victims.

Episode 8 Synopsis:
Welcome to Weston Kincade’s A Life of Death: 8. A coming-of-age, paranormal mystery.

This is PART EIGHT of an ongoing series. Every two weeks a new episode will be released with no end in sight.

Here’s the synopsis:

Alex meets up with an old friend, Jessie Arturo. The two join forces as Alex’s hunch seems to have stalled. Irene Harris is certainly guilty of arson and murder, but is she their serial killer? While scouting, Jessie ropes Alex into his big-city life as a construction worker, introducing his old high school friend to the local area and people, but who would have thought so much death could linger at the fringes of city life? Will Alex be able to focus and catch the killer who has haunted Tranquil Heights for more than a dozen years? Do the ghosts and victims of Washington deserve his attention any less? 

 The book is available on Amazon and Smashwords. It will also soon be available at most other e-book retailers.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances


Today we have a special guest, author Donna Tellum. Her debut novel Heart of the Assassin was released just last month. I was privileged to get a first look at the book prior to its release when Donna contacted me at WAKE Editing about an edit.  Here is my review of Heart of the Assassin:
Heart of the Assassin is a thrilling tale of one woman’s troubled, murderous past and the gruesome career choice it leads her to—professional assassination. However, being a hit man, or woman, isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when Erica Drago is thrust into the difficult dilemma between seeking retribution for her family’s vicious murder and keeping the man she loves.

Fans of La Femme Nikita and The Bourne Identity will love this heart-thumping story. I look forward to reading more from Donna Tellum.

After the release I had a chance to ask Donna a few questions, and here’s what she had to say:
Weston: Thanks for giving me the chance to tell people about the new release. I’m sure readers will love it, but one question has been tickling the back of my mind. Was this always intended to be a series, or did you realize once you started writing that it needed to be one? 
Donna: By the middle of chapter 2, I realized Erica Drago’s story could go on indefinitely. The story in my head was too big for one book, and it had to be a series.
Weston: It’s always a rush when that happens, isn’t it? Kind of daunting, too. Does your inspiration ever come from people you know, and have they ever figured it out?
Donna: Yes and No. The characters are composites of people I have met and know well.  But no one has figured out who they are… so far.
Weston: Some of those characters can certainly be gruesome. Let’s hope no friends in particular see themselves in those antagonists when they read your book. Now, which authors would you say have been the biggest influence on your writing?
Donna: Arthur Conan Doyle, Poe, Hammet, Ludlum, and LaClaire.
Weston: That’s quite a list with some real hard hitters. I can certainly see A.C. Doyle’s influence. The similarities to Sherlock Holmes are evident, but Heart of the Assassin is much faster paced. So, what does a typical day of writing for you involve?
Donna: Discipline is key.  I set a time to start writing and limit the session to up to four or five hours each day with the weekends off, just like any other job.
Weston: That’s certainly the way to do it, although it can be hard finding the motivation at times I’m sure. Speaking of motivation, if interest in making Heart of the Assassin into a movie were expressed, I’m sure that would make it easier. If your book were to be made into a movie, who would you like to direct it?
Weston: I could certainly see Liman. He did a great job with The Bourne Identity and the rest of the series. While The Fifth Element was quite different, Besson did a bang-up job on it. Who do you see starring in the movie version of your book?
Weston: Those are quite the choices. I loved Morena in Serenity, and her natural look is exactly as I pictured in your book. Rooney was great in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but given the choice I’d prefer to see Morena as Erica Drago. As we’re finishing up here, if you could only give aspiring writers one piece of advice, what would it be?
Donna: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Get an editor. Get some honest beta readers who will tell you the truth as to where the holes are or where your script is lacking. 
Weston: Too true. That added help is invaluable. I appreciate you taking the time to visit with us today, Donna, and I encourage everyone to grab a copy of Heart of the Assassin. It’s available on Amazon.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances


Before I begin let me first alleviate some concerns by saying, no this is not some phallic reference to Harry Potter. It’s a children’s book collection for Christ’s sake. Those of you who initially thought such a horrible thing—you know who you are—shame on you!
So, what’s this article about?
Finding writing success for young adult books.
In quidditch, Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Firebolt both set his competition aflame, sometimes literally with the help of his friends. The broomsticks are symbolic of everything he stands for: freedom, success, humanity, and magic. Magic is key here, simply because what J.K. Rowling accomplished was just that. Her success can be broken into 5 simple points.
1) Write about themes everyone in your target audience encounters.
HARRY POTTER: Themes like love, friendship, and good vs. evil are prevalent throughout the series and universal in humanity. However, a darker issue lies at the heart of the books: dealing with death.
A LIFE OF DEATH: Although of a completely different genre, my A Life of Death series utilizes many horrors that ultimately relate to this same theme. However, Alex Drummond, the main character, takes this a step further, not only attempting to cope with death in his own life but reliving the murders of those around him.
2) Draw from personal experience and explore your own emotions.
HARRY POTTER: J.K. Rowling drew from her experiences with love, poverty, a troubled marriage, problems at home, and the death of her mother. We see each of these in characters like Harry Potter with his troubled home life, Ron Weasley’s poverty-stricken family, and Hermione Granger’s feelings of isolation.
A LIFE OF DEATH: Approach your story with an understanding that the lessons within the tale must be drawn from personal experience, research, and then build off them. In A Life of Death, I pulled from my past and the stories confided in me about death, abuse, alcoholism, depression, isolation, then finally self-reliance and discovery. Impart what you know, helping your young readers feel the same joy and pain.
3) Develop believable characters with realistic dialogue.
HARRY POTTER: Rowling’s characters are alive in the minds of millions of readers. Their dialogue is realistic, short and stunted when necessary, and informal, like people actually speak. Potter could be the neighbor next door. Ron is like a friend from school. Even Severus Snape is a multilayered character you could pass on the sidewalk any day of the week. And Malfoy… well his actions and statements make him out to be the character we all love to hate.
A LIFE OF DEATH: Alex is the troubled teenager slouched in the back of class wearing a heavy metal t-shirt and jeans—the one who just wants to get out and stop by his one place of salvation, his father’s grave, before heading home to another hell. His words are indicative of a boy his age. Conversations when flirting with Paige, his school crush, or fighting with his siblings are just like you see in everyday life, often curt or apathetic. At other moments his speech may linger or be hesitant depending on the scene. Just make it real.
4) Tell a story people connect with, and leave them feeling fulfilled.
HARRY POTTER: Each book of Harry Potter’s story ends with a culmination of events, successfully overcoming Lord Voldemort and forcing him back temporarily—but at a cost. There is almost never a resolution in life without paying the piper. It might be the death of a friend or loved one like James and Lilly Potter, Cedric Diggory, or the suffering of Jenny Weasley.
A LIFE OF DEATH: Alex’s father was killed by a drunk driver. Overcoming this and succeeding when confronted by realistic villains like his stepfather Steve McCullin, known throughout as the drunk, can be accomplished. Unfortunately Charon, the ferryman of the dead, always requires payment in full. It is the same when writing a memorable ending. Suffering must be endured for success to be achieved.
5) Great villains are the true embodiment of humanity’s vile characteristics. Make yours memorable.
HARRY POTTER: Lord Voldemort is supreme and the worst possible evil known to man… or muggle. His partially formed characteristics make him inhuman, but he’s close enough to send shivers down your spine. His clothes cloak him in mystery, and his actions speak louder than words. Murder is committed at a whim without conscience. What’s worse is until the end, Malfoy appears to be Voldemort reincarnated. Now that’s a villain.
A LIFE OF DEATH: The main antagonist in A Life of Death is human and revealed early as Alex’s stepfather. He is the embodiment of evil possible within all of us, carrying out his sins as a result of his dependency on drink. Mystery about his past exists throughout the novel, being revealed slowly. The reader often wonders how much humanity remains in his soul, as with Voldemort.
To find out more about J.K. Rowling’s experiences, watch Oprah’s interview. The series is great, but the keys to the literary kingdom are out there for all writers to use and abuse. Now it’s your turn. Take Harry’s quidditch broomstick and succeed where so many have failed.
For more information about my series, A Life of Death, you can pick up your e-copy on Amazon.com and most e-book retailers. A free serialized audiobook of book 1 can also be found as podcasts on iTunes and through Podiobooks.com.
In addition to being published through Books of the Dead Press, Weston Kincade teaches English, writing, and edits novels professionally through WAKE Editing. To find out more, visit Weston’s blog or follow him on twitter @WestonKincade.

 

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

The last week has been an exciting one with Books of the Dead Press. Roy Daley, the proprietor of Books of the Dead, recently attended a comic book convention, garnering a great deal of interest in all of our books. He was hard at work. We appreciate you getting out there, Roy.
 
 In addition, the Books of the Dead blog is about to hit the quarter-million hits mark. On top of that, one of my editing client’s books, Mark Matthews, which was also picked up by Books of the Dead, was just released in print – see On the Lips of Children. To find out more about his writing, visit with him at Running, Writing, and Chasing the Dragon.

In celebration, all Books of the Dead e-publications will be priced at $.99 cents on Amazon.com for the entire week, Monday – Friday. Just follow this link for a list of all Books of the Dead Press e-books on Amazon.com. Of course, the free episodes of A Life of Death will remain just that – free. Some of the others e-books are also free, so if you are into the paranormal, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, horror, and the like, take advantage of these great deals on quality books. I personally enjoyed On the Lips of Children, Mountain Home, Discoredia, Running Home, The Bell Witch, and so many more I can’t name them all. Even the late Gary Brandner’s renowned trilogy of The Howling books will be on sale.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

This is going to make me sound a little old to some and a little young to others, but “when I was young, I walked uphill to school… in the snow… both ways.” Just kidding, but really, I did suddenly feel old when I heard that one of the literary staples of my youth passed away last week at only 66 years old. It was October 1, the day the US government stalled, almost as though shuddering as he passed.
I grew up with Tom Clancy’s novels and movies like Patriot Games and The Hunt for Red October. He wrote 17 New York Times best sellers, and I enjoyed playing Rainbow Six and many other games based on military strategy and scenarios from Clancy’s novels. While not a huge military buff, his influence on my childhood simply due to the far-reaching success in his craft is clear. Today, his is a household name.

From the beginning, his books were controversial due to his revelations about submarines and other military technology. However, more often than not the technology was already widely known throughout the world, or Clancy’s imagination and reality simply coincided. When asked about the incidents in an interview with the New York Times, he replied, “I’ve made up stuff that’s turned out to be real, that’s the spooky part.”  
Imagination has no boundaries, but I guess we are all limited by the role we play in life. In the end, death claims every one of us. We have but our role to play. Old Billy Shakespeare phrased it, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
I will always remember the events in my life that seemingly coincided with Tom’s contributions. As a writer and a fellow believer in the freedom of information, I know the role he played in life demonstrated the honorable characters and people who exist in this world. They were symbolic in the war between good and evil as his thrilling tales were spun with each continuing line. Growing up with his books by my side, I would like to think that my sense of justice and moral code of ethics were at least partially imparted by his archetypical American heroes.
As a fond farewell, I’d like to say, “Thanks, Tom. Well played. I’m sorry to see the curtain closing so soon, but farewell and good luck.”
However you look at the world, I believe Tom Clancy’s simple take on life should be adopted by everyone, “The good old days are now.”

In essence, “Carpe Diem…” Seize the Day.

For a full biography of Tom Clancy, try Biography.com.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, A Life of Death collection of novels, and Strange Circumstances



I am happy to announce another surprise author interview, this time with British author JC Michael, whose debut horror novel Discorediawas just released through Books of the Dead Press. It is a very well developed and horrifying tale. Reading through the events in the story almost felt like the strobe lights of the raves and pill-popping dancers’ mindsets were shared with the reader throughout. It was certainly an entertaining and exciting tale.
Here’s the short summary:
As the year draws to a close a mysterious stranger makes a proposition to club owner, Warren Charlton. It’s a deal involving a brand new drug called Pandemonium.

The good news: the drug is free.
The bad news: it comes at a heavy price, promising much but delivering far more.

Euphoria and ecstasy. Death and depravity. All come together, at Discoredia.

What other authors are saying:
“J.C. Michael’s brilliant novel, Discoredia, is a literal trip into the abyss echoing with the screams of those classic movies from the 80s where the big bad was bigger than life, unrepentantly evil, and no one was safe. By the time Michael’s 200 beat-per-minute pandemonium kicks in it’s too late to do anything but keep rolling and pray you make it to the last track.”
~ Bracken MacLeod, author of Mountain Home

“J. C. Michael’s Discoredia is the ballroom blitz from Hell. Michael’s novel of sex, drugs, music and evil pulls you in seductively, then turns the amp up to 11. With a silky, snaky style reminiscent of Clive Barker, Michael weaves a tale that takes recreational drug use to a whole new, terrifying level. The book moves at a terrific pace, to the THUMP THUMP THUMP of dance music. And all the time, in the background, there is an elegant, sophisticated evil DJing the entire rave.”
~ John F.D. Taff, author of Little Deaths

“Fantastic. Epic. I’ve done a lot of drugs, and wrote my share of stories, but never have they both danced together in the darkness such as in Discoredia.”
~Mark Matthews, author of On the Lips of Children
My review:
I was blown away. Discorediais a story of humanity, depravity, and living sin, shoving all else by the wayside. I read it in just a couple days and felt somewhat torn. Part of me wished to help the main characters, but almost all are littered with the flaws of humanity, some worse than others. A nagging part of me even rejoiced at each character’s horrifying experiences. This tale isn’t for the weak hearted or those whose sanity might be teetering. With a writing style and flare all his own, J.C. Michael has rewritten history and the possibilities of the universe. Don’t miss the excitement of this heart-thumping tale, but look out for those purple-flecked panda pills.
Author, JC Michael
As you can see, I enjoyed the read. It’s great to have Mr. Michael with us today.
WK: Welcome, JC. It’s good to have you. Now, I’m sure you are excited to have your debut novel out and in readers’ hands. What’s your inspiration for writing?
JC: My inspiration comes from a lot of places, but mainly it’s the fact that I’m often making up stories and coming up with plots in my head, with writing providing a release for those thoughts and ideas.
WK: I can certainly understand that. Those ideas and characters rattle around in my head sometimes like inmates trying to get out. It’ll drive a man insane. So what made you write Discoredia?
JC: It was a challenge from my wife (girlfriend at that point). She was studying for a Performing Arts degree, which brought quite a creative atmosphere to our home life, and I also had a habit of saying “It would have been better if…” after reading a book or watching a movie. The result was a challenge that if I thought I could do any better, then I should give it a go, and I readily accepted. I wound up with a 90,000+ word novel.
WK: LOL. That’s an interesting start. Competitions and challenges have motivated some of the greatest authors throughout history: Mary Shelly, Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and so many others. Hopefully you’ve just started down a similar path. Do you have any favorite authors?
JC: Stephen King has to be my favorite, but I also enjoy James Herbert and Clive Barker.
WK: Those are certainly some whose works I’ve enjoyed reading. On a slightly different topic, does your inspiration ever come from people you know?
JC: Character-wise yes. I don’t exactly create characters based on specific people, but I bring in bits and pieces of various people I know.
WK: That’s hard to resist sometimes. Real people are often intriguing and more astounding than any fictional character we could come up with—that’s for sure. So, while not writing, what do you enjoy doing?
JC: Spending time with my family and fairly run-of-the-mill stuff like movies, video games, and watching the football (soccer for American readers) on T.V. I’m a big Manchester United fan.
WK: Speaking of Manchester United, I have often seen drunken brawls portrayed on television by Manchester United fans, probably from movies like Eurotrip, Snatchand Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. (Correct me if I’m thinking of the wrong movies.) Do you have a celebration activity or something you like to do when you finish a novel? I hope it doesn’t involve too much destruction.
JC: I’m not sure about Snatch and Lock Stock, but I do know The Football Factory and Green Street are movies about hooliganism. However, I never truly feel that the novel is “finished” as I’m always likely to tinker with it and be looking to improve it. I suppose publication is the point where I view the novel as “finished” and I’ll be celebrating that with a glass of whisky, and a toast to my publisher.
WK: I’m sure he’d appreciate it. Maybe you can even name a character in your next book after him. Speaking of—how do you choose character names, and are they important?
JC: They’re not random, but they’re not overly important. Having said that, once a character has a name it would be weird to change it.
WK: I can understand that. Attempting to change a character’s identity mid-book would almost seem traumatizing. Additionally, in my opinion there’s a feel to a name sometimes. Think about your character Warren Charlton. The name itself seems to exude an aura of authority to my ear, even before we meet him. Sometimes when testing names for characters, I go through them like a shopping trip through Dillard’s, trying each one on like it were a new sports jacket. I’m sure you went through plenty when coming up with characters early in your writing. Do you remember the plot of the first thing you ever wrote?
JC: I wrote a story at primary school where two alien races were in a battle and every few lines another bunch of aliens would turn up in their spaceships, and turn the tide of the battle. The teacher read it out to the class and pretended it was from a real book.
WK: Wow! Well that was nice of her. I’m sure it helped motivate you to write more, or did you just try to impress her for the rest of the year by wearing some fancy cologne? In that line of thought, do you have a favorite game, cologne, or anything that you just can’t live without?
JC: Hardcore music and Manchester United.
WK: Since we’ve now travelled back into the early days of your childhood, let me pry a bit more. What was the first thing you remember reading?
JC: I’ve no idea, but “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” was a childhood favorite according to my dad.
WK: Ha-ha! I’m sure my parents might say something similar. I don’t know which book it might be, maybe “Where’s Waldo” or something. Now, which do you prefer as a reader, e-book or paper?
JC: Traditional dead tree for me. I read a lot on the I-Phone at the moment, but given the choice I’d opt for a real book as I stare at a computer screen all day at work.
WK: My sentiments exactly. It’s hard to beat a good traditional book, but when it comes to pocketbook comfort and accessing a huge library of books easily, I find the convenience factor very difficult to overlook. Seeing how Discoredia has just been released, this might be a bit of a ways off, but if your book were made into a movie, who would you like to direct and star in it?
JC: Discoredia is very much a “British” book, and I’d like it to keep that feel. Christopher Lee would make a great Woodrose, in the early part of the novel, and director-wise maybe Neil Marshall (The Descent / Dog Soldiers).
WK: I’m sure that would be a very exciting movie, and you certainly can’t go wrong with Christopher Lee. He’d do a heck of a good job as Woodrose. Let me know when it’s in the works. I’d love to see it come to fruition. Thanks for coming, JC. And good luck with Manchester United!
JC Michael’s debut novel Discorediais available for the astounding price of $3.99, a great deal for hours of thrilling reading. Pick it up on Amazonor one of many other e-book retailers.
To find out more about JC Michael’s upcoming releases, visit his webpage.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the Altered Realities series, the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances