One thing I love about the Dark Fiction community, is that there is always such a variety in readers out there. Some want quiet horror, others want creature features and still others want the most extreme of the extreme. Which brings us to today’s 3Q’s guest.

Aron Beauregard has cultivated a dedicated fan base of the last number of years and knowing what his readers want, he continues to deliver the goods.

Welcome, Aron!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Aron: I don’t have a specific daily goal. Some days I may write thousands of words, other days I may not even write. However, I work on something “writing related” every day. It could be editing, marketing, horror store related duties, or reader interaction. Even just pondering a potential new story idea or the characters that might fit into it is important. There is always something to do if you want to continue treading water while in pursuit of your dreams.

Steve: If you started a series and for some reason had to have another author finish it, who would you choose?

Aron: It’s easy to get really dreamy on this question. Would I love for Clive Barker or Brian Keene to finish a series with me? Of course. But I also think that people you’re familiar with and gel well with are probably the more realistic selection. I’ve worked with Daniel J. Volpe a few times now. Neither of us ever seem to get stuck in the mud while creating. It also helps to have a friendship and understanding of the person. Our stories and ideas complement each other well, so I think Dan is the easy and most realistic choice for me.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Aron: My latest release is titled “The Cuck.” It’s about a pair of men who, on a drunken whim, decide to answer a back-page sex ad. The repercussion they garner as a result leads to what I believe is some of my creepiest writing to date. Additionally, some readers have informed me that the book as ruined their sex lives!

Steve: Bonus Question! If they made a movie about your life, what actor or actress would you suggest they get to play you?

Aron: I really like actor Marc Senter. He played Ray Pye in Jack Ketchem’s film adaptation of his book “The Lost.” I think he’s a criminally underrated actor, but more importantly, he plays a great weirdo!

Very cool! Thank you, Aron for doing this!

For those who want to discover more of his work, click the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Aron-Beauregard/e/B07RWS59JT

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AronHorror

Website: https://www.abhorror.com/

Title: If It Bleeds

Author: Stephen King

Release date: April 21st, 2020

Lately, it seems to be in style to bash Stephen King, or rip on his work. No author is above criticism, it’s the reality of writing something you love and releasing it into the public void, but if you spend any time on any social media platforms, you’ll see the King hate.

2022 marks, what I think, is at least my 32nd year of reading his work. I don’t know if I started when I was eight but I’m pretty confident I was at least nine when I borrowed one of his books from our neighbor, Patti, and I’ve been hooked ever since. For many, many years, based on my remoteness and limited access too, he was the only author I really ever read that was horror. Peter Straub joined in, after I read The Talisman, but for the most part, I was limited.

No matter whether you enjoy King or not, one thing you can’t accuse him of is sitting back and resting as he’s getting older. His output is equal to, if not higher than, a lot of Indie authors and he’s opened a ton of doors for so many things in the horror world.

All of this is to say – while he is one to never be hurting for reviews – I still wanted to review this collection of novellas for two reasons. Number 1 – there are some out there who’ve still not read any of his work and this might entice them. Number 2 – as ridiculously arrogant as this sounds (good grief, I can’t believe I’m even typing this!!) there are two or three of you out there who read all of my reviews and would be genuinely curious as to what my thoughts were.

Let’s dive in!

What I liked: One thing King is renowned for is his ability to draw you in with his tried and true writing voice. It’s phenomenal. Much like my own favorite authors (Pyper, Nevill, Moncrieff, Sodergren etc) you’re instantly transported into his world and the characters and locations are vibrant and alive.

The first story is ‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone.’ This story is classic King. The story follows a young kid who unknowingly befriends a reclusive billionaire. They strike up an unlikely friendship and each bringing something unique to the other’s life. The second half is a paranormal rollercoaster. I found it unique that the story itself would’ve been one of the best short stories I’d ever read, even before the ‘shift,’ which is testament to King’s versatility.

Up next was ‘The Life of Chuck.’ King throws us for a loop with a story told in reverse over three acts. It was a unique spin on following a singular character and the opening piece, with a doomsday secondary story was really well done.

The third novella was the title piece, ‘If It Bleeds.’ This story was the reason I delayed reading this novella and the collection. This one is a sequel story to ‘The Outsider,’ and follows Holly Gibney after the events and during a new occurrence. You need to read that first to really follow along, which is why I held off. I, personally, actually really enjoy Holly’s character. I know she’s a sticking point for many folks, but I dig her and always want to root for her. This one was the weakest of the four – which I’ll discuss shortly, but still super engaging.

Lastly was ‘Rat.’ The novella follows a man who has an idea for a novel fall into his lap and he has to chase it. His previous attempt was a colossal failure, but this time he knows it’ll be different. So, with his family’s blessing, he heads to the family cabin to get it onto paper ASAP. King does a phenomenal job of telling this story, and much like ‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,’ this one would’ve been stellar even without any paranormal/supernatural occurrences.

What I didn’t like: As I mentioned previously – for me the title story was the one that fell flat compared to the others. Saying that – I still really enjoyed it – but, I think it would’ve been better as a whole novel. A lot is covered in this novella, which led to the dreaded “quick finale” occurring. A lot of build up for a few paragraphs that finished off the danger. In ‘The Outsider,’ the final battle was drawn out and really well done, so in comparison, this one felt stunted and over far too quickly. It does open up the potential for a really intriguing follow up, so we’ll see if the reported next Holly Gibney book follows this path or not.

Why you should buy this: If you’re a long-time constant reader, you’ll already have this on your shelf (or your Kindle or both), and it’ll just be a matter of time until you read it. Much like every novella King produces, the story is really engaging and the writing voice shines through. If you’re new to the King world, you could read three of the four novellas and find an author who has been delivering some dark goods for fifty years. King will remain an auto buy for me and his storytelling still makes me a happy reader.

4/5

Usually, usually, the title of each 3Q’s has to do with one of the answers or releases that the author has released. Not this time. This time – it has to do with how this 3Q’s went down. When I asked B.P. is she was interested in doing one – she replied that she had been hoping I would ask and had been trying to decide on who her favorite wrestler was – for the Bonus Question!! Well… The fav wrestler question was one of three bonus questions I had for SEASON 1!!! And now, in Season 2 – I have three other random bonus questions!! So, I wonder if, when Gregory opened up the email, she cursed my name and shook an angry fist in the air towards Canada!?!?

No matter – I’m super excited to have B.P. join me today for this fun 3Q’s!

Welcome, B.P.!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

B.P.: Thank you for having me Steve!

I work part-time and I have two days per week ostensibly put aside for writing, although as you can imagine normal chores around the house tend to eat them up a bit.

I don’t have a regular routine or word count; and how fast I write depends on the story. I find early drafting is a slog, but as the narrative pulls together the process gets faster and more exciting. Which means that writing a novel starts out a real bummer, then later gets offset by how enjoyable things are once they start ticking along. I’m also a chronic drafter – I could draft forever if there wasn’t a requirement to stop and publish. Heaven is going to be just a long perfect draft unspooling off the side of the table and across the floor as the sun comes through the window for the cat to sleep in, and my mug of coffee stays eternally hot.

Weirdly, I’ve found that waiting is one of the most important aspects of writing. Once I think a story is finished, I set it aside and work on something else for a month or so. When I can finally come back with a fresh eye the mistakes and bum notes suddenly seem so obvious, and I can give it a final polish.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

B.P.: That’s a tough question! Most of the fictional worlds and series I’ve loved have been because they blew my mind in ways I’ve never thought of writing myself, they just seem so far beyond my abilities.

That being said, if we imagine limitless talent then the world I’d most like to write a story for is Catherynne M Valente’s Palimpsest. For those who haven’t read it yet, the mysterious city of Palimpsest has been sealed away from the ordinary world for years. Seekers wishing to live in this land of wonders must follow maps etched into their own and strangers’ skins, half awake and half dreaming. It’s such a luxurious, beautiful novel that’s unflinching and yet forgiving of human weakness, and the call to action at the end was so lovely it made me burst into tears. I want to be able to write stories that make other people feel like that someday.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

B.P.: In June this year I had the pleasure of releasing my first audiobook, in collaboration the very excellent Ed of One-stop Audiobook. Flora & Jim the audiobook is an all new way to experience the frozen glacial apocalypse as poor Jim struggles to keep his young daughter Flora alive against monsters, nightmares, the dangerous prospect of love, and worst of all, their past. Being an audiobook you can enjoy the end of the world on your way to work, pretend snow-dogs are chasing you as you exercise, or forage along with Jim as you do your chores.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

B.P.: I have a few signed books that are special to me, but my MOST cherished book has to be my limited Folio Edition of Tristan Alice Nieto’s Imago. It’s an exquisite and haunting sci-fi/horror masterpiece about resurrection and existence, where every word and moment are crafted just so.

Amazing!

Thank you so much, B.P.!

To find more of her work – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/BP-Gregory/e/B009JWF4K6/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BP_Gregory

Website: https://www.bpgregory.com/

Got another special edition of the 3Q’s today! To celebrate the recent release of ‘Bridge of Souls’ co-written with Sandy DeLuca, Greg F. Gifune kindly stopped by!

Greg is a phenomenal writer and one who has become known as a master of the macabre!

Please, welcome Greg!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Greg: I generally work from about seven in the morning until around four or five, depending on how it’s flowing, Monday through Friday. Some of that time involves handling promotional things or taking meetings, business phone calls and written interviews, that kind of thing, but most of those hours are spent writing, taking notes or doing research. Sometimes I’ll work weekends too if I’m in the groove and don’t want to interrupt that, and now and then if I’m really locked in I’ll work until very late at night. On the writing specifically, I learned a long time ago to never force it, even if I’m on a deadline. So I don’t write specific amounts or pay any attention to word counts or any of that. I’m more concerned with producing good work, regardless of the amount on any given day. Some days it flows and some days it’s like pulling teeth. My objective is to come away with solid work, whether it’s a sentence or ten pages.

Steve: Which other author would you most like to see win a prestigious writing award?

Greg: I’m probably the last guy you want to ask. While there are plenty of other writers I respect, strongly support and love to see succeed, I don’t support awards in the arts and never have. Most hold zero interest for me, and in my opinion, have virtually nothing to do with writing. A few years ago I received a couple reader choice awards, and those mean a lot to me because they came directly (and exclusively) from the readers, not organizations, but in terms of organizations and their awards, I have no interest, and after 20+ years in this business it’s quite clear they have no interest in me either. So it works out.

Journalstone Direct: https://journalstone.com/bookstore/the-gypsy-moths/

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Greg: My newest releases are THE GYPSY MOTHS, a novel published by Journalstone, VELVET ELVIS, released by Down & Out Books and BRIDGE OF SOULS, my second collaborative novel with friend and colleague, author Sandy DeLuca, also published by Journalstone. My novel SAVAGES was just reissued as well, from Cemetery Dance Publications. You can find them and my other titles wherever you get your books. I have another original novel coming soon from CD I can’t discuss publicly just yet, and several other projects in the works both in the novel and TV/film areas, but none I can talk about right now.

Journalstone Direct: https://journalstone.com/bookstore/bridge-of-souls/

Steve: Bonus Question! You wake up in a comic book. What is your comic book character and what is your super power?

Greg: I’ll go with Conan, no super powers necessary.

Excellent choice! Thank you so much, Greg!

To discover more of Greg’s work – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Greg-F-Gifune/e/B002NWV4G2

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregFGifune

Website: https://gregfgifune.wordpress.com/

Today’s 3Q’s is a fun one friends!

Alan Baxter is a writer who I’ve always found to deliver high-octane releases, while keeping things dark and mysterious. He’s a fantastic short-story writer as well as an accomplished long-fiction releaser and on the heels of his next opus, Alan was kind enough to answer the 3Q’s!

Welcome, Alan!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Alan: I have a mainly three-pronged life – writing, teaching kung fu, and parenting. Parenting is the most important, of course. My wife – who’s an artist – and I split that fairly evenly. Some days she’s in the studio and I write, other days I’m in “the cave” and she parents. Weekends are together time as much as possible. Otherwise, my only fixed commitment is when kung fu and qi gong classes are on. Those times aren’t negotiable, but everything else is. I mostly write during school hours throughout the week. I don’t believe in hitting arbitrary word counts. Sometimes on a first draft I might write 5,000 words a day, sometimes I might spend the day doing research, updating my website, working on a pitch, editing someone else’s work… it’s all being a writer to me. I also mentor people with autism, so that takes several hours a week.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

Alan: I’m not entirely sure I would want to… I mean, I’d love to get a chance to write an official Batman story. It would be crazy fun to write in the Star Wars universe, or the Alien universe. But I don’t think I’d ever want to write in a particular author’s world. That’s what they’re best at – I want to write my stories.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Alan: The newest one is a novel called SALLOW BEND out now through Cemetery Dance Publications. It’s the story of a small town where two teenagers go missing. The entire town turns out to find them, which they do, but that’s only the start of the trouble. The girls don’t come back alone. It’s a small-town folk horror, and my first full-length novel since 2018’s DEVOURING DARK so I’m really excited about it. Weirdness, carnivals, strange deaths, something evil in the woods… Booklist just said about it: “the unceasingly intensifying dread quickly escalates from unsettling to terrifying” So that’s pretty exciting!

Cemetery Dance Direct Link:

https://www.cemeterydance.com/sallow-bend-alan-baxter.html

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

Alan: You mean one I wrote or one I own? I wrote a novel for my kid and only our family has read it. I’ve promised I won’t ever publish it, so that’s pretty special. Otherwise, probably my favourite novel is Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show. That’s close to a perfect book for me. And as for a book that’s an artefact, I have a first edition of “The History of Magic” by Eliphas Levi which is a bit of a treasure.

Very cool! Thank you so much for doing this Alan and best of luck with the launch!

For more information and to discover more of Alan’s work – check the links!

Website: https://www.alanbaxteronline.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alan-Baxter/e/B002BOBQFQ/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlanBaxter

Another fun one today friends!

Erik Hanson has been churning out some really dark fiction as of late, so it made perfect sense to invite him over and have a quick chat!

Welcome, Erik!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Erik: The fact that I have a young daughter makes it impossible to write the same time every day. As for word counts, I don’t have a specific number in mind. In the past, I would write until my back or head hurt and then marvel at the amount of words I produced. Nowadays, I just write in chunks. Sometimes it could be 300 words; other times, it might be 1,800.

Steve: You win the lottery and the only condition is that you need to fund another author’s book to be made into a movie. What book would you choose to be filmed?

Erik: While J.W. Ocker is gaining mega-traction in the genre, I would order someone to adapt his middle grade horror book called THE SMASHED MAN OF DREAD END. It would appeal to kids and adults. Furthermore, it would give a director lots of creative visuals to play with. I am shocked that it hasn’t been nabbed yet.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Erik: WICKED BLOOD from Demain Publishing is my latest novella. Everyone should read it if they like fast-paced horror with loads of family dysfunction. Also, it can be read in a single sitting. Most readers have said so.

Steve: Bonus Question! If you could be an extra on any TV show, which one would it have been and why?

Erik: My brother used to live and act in Hollywood, so the joy of being an extra has been drained out of me since I have stepped on a few sets. It’s depressing because a lot of the magic is removed once you see actors do tons of takes in fake spaces. That said, I would love to be on the set of STRANGER THINGS. Even though the latest season got off to a slow start, the last three episodes were incredible. I feel like a writer could learn a lot by being on a set with that much creative energy in the air. I’m a pretty straightforward writer, so it would amuse me to be around that blend of sci-fi horror.

Awesome! Thank you so much, Erik!

Check the links below to discover more of his work!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/E-C-Hanson/e/B08TVW89Z8/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ECHanson21

Is there a hardworking woman in dark fiction than Candace Nola? Between her website duties (which is insane), her writing, her editing and her social media work, Candace is go-go-go!

So, naturally, it made sense for me to bother her and take some of that time so she could answer the 3Q’s!!! Ha!

Welcome Candace!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Candace: During the week, I write after my day job, so typically each evening from 7pm to about 1am. My writing time incorporates all associated writing activities so editing jobs, magazine tasks for the House of Stitched, Patreon posts, my website updates, and interviews, plus work on my own stories. Word count by day, not really, I typically hit about 1800-2200 words a day with more on the weekends. I can usually hit 12K-15K in a good weekend.

Steve: You win the lottery, and the only condition is that you need to fund another author’s book to be made into a movie. What book would you choose to be filmed?

Candace: There are so many that I would choose, but currently, Winterset Hollow by Jon Durham. I absolutely loved this book, and a movie would be incredible. The Eater of Gods by Dan Franklin would be a very close second for this requirement.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Candace: My newest release is Bishop. Erin Rogers and her daughter Casey have been missing in the Alaskan wilderness for five days. Troy Spencer is determined to find his sister and niece at any cost. Once there, a local tells Troy about a loner, Bishop, a man shrouded in secrets, who may be his only hope.

As Troy sets out to find the mysterious Bishop, Casey is lost in the woods, alone and frightened, seeking help for her gravely injured mother. But she is not alone, something ancient stalks these forested trails, something evil that hungers for fresh blood.

Steve: Bonus Question: If you could be an extra on any TV show, which one would it have been and why?

Candace: Supernatural, hands-down, my absolute favorite show of all time. Why? Because Sam and Dean….and it’s a great storyline. Demons, angels, and everything in-between.

Very cool! Thank you so much, Candace!

To find out more about Candace – check the links!

Website: https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Candace-Nola/e/B07YYW4T7N/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/candace_nola

So, since I’ve been doing this awesome 3Q’s stuff, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing so many different authors – all at varying stages of their writing journey. One thing that became clear, was that most readers of this feature wanted me to stay doing one a day. I think that works best, but once in a while a special case needs to be made. Additionally, you may notice that fancy 3Q’s logo there. That’s courtesy of one, Bo Chappell. Bo sent me this and said to use it as I saw fit. My own 3Q’s logo’s may be rudimentary and ‘poorly’ made, but that is the entire point haha! The punk ethic of DIY. But – this logo is gorgeous and I decided it’ll be utilized for the 3Q’s Specials and today is the first one.

Gwendolyn Kiste is a 3-time Bram Stoker Award Winning Author who is just about to drop her newest novel ‘Reluctant Immortals.’ The synopsis is great (which we’ll share in a minute), but Gwendolyn has always been super kind and supportive of myself, so I wanted to make sure I shared some of that love back, especially as her newest drops.

So, please, do welcome Gwendolyn!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

GK: My writing time is basically a new adventure every day. I’m more likely to write in the evening, but especially if I’m on deadline, I could be working at literally any time, even three in the morning. I’m personally not a fan of hitting a specific word count; when I’ve tried to use that approach, I feel like I’m writing more in terms of a number than in terms of quality. Then I just have more editing to do on the other side. So I try to keep it open and see where each day leads me. Creativity can be such a mysterious process, and I really enjoy allowing my writing to develop in a way that feels organic to me.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

GK: So my forthcoming novel, Reluctant Immortals, is actually a retelling/sequel of both Dracula and Jane Eyre. I’ve been a fan of classic gothic horror ever since I was a kid, so returning to these two beloved books and reworking them in a more modern way was such a great time. I love the characters from those books, and it was fun to spend time with them.

In terms of a fictional world that I haven’t yet written in, I very much want to do a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray. There’s such a rich subtext in that story, and there haven’t been enough, if any, feminist reworkings of it, so I feel like that would be such an interesting direction to take it.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

GK: I feel like I’ve been screaming from the rooftops for weeks about it, but in case anyone hasn’t heard yet, my new novel, Reluctant Immortals, is due out with Saga Press on August 23rd! It follows Lucy Westenra from Dracula and Bertha Antoinetta Mason from Jane Eyre as they battle Dracula and Edward Rochester. It’s groovy, it’s gothic, and it’s all about female empowerment. It’s also an homage to Hammer horror films and that whole era of classic horror cinema, so it’s definitely a love letter to everything I—and so many other fans—love about the genre.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

GK: Definitely. It would have to be We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. That book, more than any other, makes me feel less alone. Merricat Blackwood is such a fantastic character, and her voice is so vivid and unforgettable. I’m happy to exist in a world where that novel was written. For anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of reading it yet, I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s such a perfect example of a slow-burn gothic horror novel. It’s as delightful as it is diabolical, and nobody does weird and whimsical quite like Shirley Jackson.

Great choice! I think this has been the most popular answer to this question by a long shot!

Thank you so much, Gwendolyn for doing this and best of luck with the launch!

To find more of her amazing work – as always – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gwendolyn-Kiste/e/B00QXGAIUC

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GwendolynKiste

Website: http://www.gwendolynkiste.com/

Today’s 3Q’s edition is a double blast-o-rama from two fantastic writers! When I reached out to Samantha to see if she’d be up to do a 3Q’s, she suggested that her and Bryan (who’re currently collaborating on Beleth Station, two paired horror novellas set in the same deranged Pennsylvania town and set to be released first by Thunderstorm Books as a limited hardcover and then a wider release in ebook and paperback) take part in a dual one. I said – ABSOLUTELY!

So, please do welcome Samantha and Bryan!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
Samantha: My writing time varies from day to day. I don’t have a routine and I don’t care about a daily word count quota. My excitement and interest in what I’m writing dictates how much and when I do it. I guess the story calls the shots.
Bryan: I tend to write in the late hours, the wee hours of the early morning, when the outside world is still and quiet and distractions are at a minimum. I can write at other times and sometimes do, but I always default to those late hours. If I’m working full bore on a project that’s going well, I always hope to hit at least 1,000 words a day.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?
Samantha: This is an odd hypothetical for me to consider as I’m singularly focused on writing my own stories. If I had to pick something off the top of my head, it would probably be intriguing to write something in the world of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick.
Bryan: I’m not too interested in working in the fictional universes of other prose writers. About the closest comparable thing is that I think it would be fun to do tie-in work related to certain media properties. For instance, I’d love to write an original Friday The 13th novel, only with the freedom to go absolutely wild with it in ways the franchise never approaches with the movies. I actually wrote a couple of Friday The 13th novels when I was very young, which I later destroyed. They were what I suppose would be described as fan fiction now, but it would be cool to do it for real.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Samantha: My latest release is Waif, a novella from Grindhouse Press, which came out in December 2021. Library catalogs list it as being about bisexual women, gangs, pornography, plastic surgery, and rich people. It’s not uncommon for people to say they read it in one sitting, and that they’ve never read anything quite like it. If you like fast reads, disturbing themes, complex characters, and enjoy a lot of frank sexual philosophizing—grab a copy and go for the ride.

Bryan: My latest release is Burning Down The Night, a novel from Grindhouse Press. It’s a Gen X comedic crime thriller set in 1994. I wanted to write about an era that’s kind of lost to time now, but once was a massive focus of media punditry. The days of grunge rock, the slacker ethos, heroin chic, when not giving a fuck about anything and lack of ambition was considered strangely cool. It’s a mindset that feels so alien in 2022, but I remember it so well and lived a lot of it. So this book is my fictional meditation on that. But it’s also fast-paced, entertaining, and hilarious, so everyone should definitely buy it right now.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?
Samantha: Yes. There have been many books throughout my life which have had a tremendous impact on me. Usually, the level of impact is contextual—specific to the time and experience of my life at the point I discovered the book. I’ve kept these books over the years and as life goes on, it’s the memory of that first discovery—almost like a recollection of falling in love—that tends to spur me to revisit them. One that I’ve revisited lately is an old copy of The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe. The introspective, lonely (and often romantic) musings of the narrator deeply spoke to me. It was a kind of impenetrable melancholia that made me feel seen at the time. Upon rereading the text recently, I was able to see all of my old annotations in the margins… and in a way, reconnect with my younger self.

Bryan: The Stand by Stephen King and Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter Thompson. I’ve read both countless times, especially the latter, if only because it’s much shorter than the former. I prefer the originally published somewhat “shorter” version of The Stand to this day. It may not be King’s preferred version, but I feel the flow of it is just better than the unexpurgated edition.

Man, this was a ton of fun! Thank you Bryan and Samantha for both doing this and best of luck with the release!

To find more of Samantha’s work;

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Samantha-Kolesnik/e/B081S4ZNNC

Twitter: https://twitter.com/samkolesnik

Website: https://www.samanthakolesnik.com/

To discover more of Bryan’s work;

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bryan-Smith/e/B001JS7EQA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bryan_D_Smith

Website: https://www.bryansmithauthor.com/

Title: Roser Park

Author: Wendy Dalrymple

Release date: October 1st, 2022

Firstly, huge thanks to Wendy for reaching out regarding her novella ‘Roser Park,’ and sending me a digital ARC.

I’m a sucker for ‘somethings not right in this house’ stories and reading the synopsis had me intrigued. A housesitting gig that goes sideways always gives the author the means to go in crazy directions, but also sets the reader up for anything, really anything, to happen. From there, you get to go along for the ride.

What I liked: The story is fairly straight forward. A female college student needs some cash, applies for a position, and gets it. Dalrymple adds a few wrinkles into the plot: our character is a 37-year-old divorced female, the house she’s going to be watching is an old house from a well-to-do neighborhood and the old couple are creepy as hell when she meets them.

Of course, a number of things happen that have her second-guessing her decision to housesit, but the all too real fact of getting paid big cash keeps her pushing forward. Even as things go missing, things go bump in the night and the handsome landscaper next door seemingly is always there when she needs help.

I did race through this one, wanting to know where things were going to go, even after figuring most of it out around the time a vet visit is required and more odd things occur.

This one’s will be a read that I think will hook most folks in hard and keep them pinned to the page until its over.

What I didn’t like: I actually think I would’ve liked this one substantially more if there was no paranormal interference at all. If it had been a straight thriller/psychological thriller, I think it would’ve been more engaging for the storyline instead of the lack of character depth we get overall.

One big issue that really bugged me was the way the main character acted. She’s described as a 37-year-old woman, getting back on her feet and going back to school. Yet, whenever anything happens, she responds more like a 15 year old babysitter. Over and over and over again.

When things get really bad, at one point, she finally gets ahold of the home owners who say they’ll cover her costs and double her rate and hang up. And our character is just fine with that and doesn’t care about all of the horrible events that have occurred previously. It was infuriating for this reader.

Why you should buy this: At the end of the day, this is a solid, if not familiar, novella, with a storyline that raced along. Don’t go in expecting huge plotlines or in depth backstories. Instead, go in, knowing you’ll be able to read this in a single sitting and just enjoy the ride. Dalrymple will make you want to root for our main character, even if she frequently makes annoyingly jarring decisions.

3/5