Hello and welcome to another 3Q’s! Today we have a great guest, author Shawn Burgess. Shawn has always been super supportive and having read the first two books in his current series, I can say, he’s also a great writer.

Welcome, Shawn!

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?

Shawn: First off, thank you for asking me to participate in this. It’s been such a pleasure getting to know you over these past few years.

Having two boys and a full-time job forces me to be creative on carving out writing time. When I wrote my debut, it was while I was traveling for work, using every spare moment on planes and in hotel rooms to work on my manuscript. When Covid-19 hit, everything changed. The travel came to an abrupt stop. I was on constant video calls during the day. My kids were doing remote learning from home. Things were chaotic. I had to come up with a new strategy. I now write from around 10PM – 2AM. It’s quiet then, and I can drift into my fantasy worlds uninterrupted, without sacrificing family or work time. The only thing being sacrificed these days is sleep.

I don’t focus all that much on word count. I’m more concerned with quality output. The better the first draft I complete, the less headaches fixing things later.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a character you could write about forever?

Shawn: I definitely have some favorites. Detective Holt, Brady Palmer, Brooks Raker and the boys, Latravious Wadlow, Samantha Mellinger, Lady Zuuva. I guess I just named a slew of my central characters, but then again, it’s like trying to pick a favorite child.

I find that I enjoy writing my malevolent characters as much as my protagonists. I tend to have a healthy cast of characters, probably because of my affinity for killing them. I think I’d ultimately get bored of writing the same characters forever. I want my characters to grow/evolve in some way, and aside from the ancillary character development through dialogue and such, once that character growth is done, their purpose on the page probably is too.

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

Shawn: My newest release, Ghosts of Grief Hollow, is technically unreleased at this point, but the cover work is being completed now, and release dates will soon be set in stone. I’m really proud of and excited about this story. It’s the sequel to my debut The Tear Collector.
Written during the height of the pandemic, I think a lot of what I and others felt at the time bleeds through onto the page, the uncertainty, fear of the unknown, suspense of the moment, the frenetic pace of events, the realization of our own powerlessness and seeming insignificance at times. It’s the darkest thing that I’ve ever written, but also hopeful. Friendship, love, family, duty. I hope those aspects burn just as brightly as the chills and thrills. But more specifically, for any readers that like swift moving dark thrillers, complex tales, twists and turns, stories about blood curses, and small-town horror, this one might be for you.

Steve: I’ve read Ghosts of Grief Hollow and it is fantastic! Can’t wait to see it released. Bonus question! Did you have a favorite wrestler as a kid?

Shawn: I was an Ultimate Warrior kid. Nothing like tying some thin fabric straps around your puny biceps to emulate the unattainable. Too bad they’re more like tourniquets without the muscular frame to support them. So that dream died rather quickly as I lost feeling in my fingers.

Awesome! Thank you so much, Shawn!

Check the links and follow Shawn for updates on his reading journey!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shawn-Burgess/e/B07ZHPPVR3/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShawnBinjax

Website: shawnburgessauthor.com

Title: Moonfellows

Author: Danger Slater

Release date: July 20, 2022

Huge thanks to Danger for sending me a digital review copy of his newest novella, ‘Moonfellows.’

Have you read Danger Slater before?

For those who have, you’ll be in for a treat. With his last release, ‘Impossible James,’ Slater had shown a continued progression with his story-crafting – a maturity of story with an immaturity of events, if that makes sense.

For those who haven’t, you’re also in for a treat.

‘Moonfellows’ is the next progression to that and showcases Slater’s brilliant and insightful prose alongside his comedic and bitingly-quick sarcasm. I say that as a reader who doesn’t actually enjoy humor in his horror. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind some good natured banter between characters, but Slater is equal parts laughs and equal parts introspection. But that’s what sets Danger apart. He has that rare ability to push past your own reservations and grab you by the throat and scream ‘JUST READ IT!’ Another way of putting it – Slater is the rap group at the heavy metal show. The one that looks out of place on the lineup card but puts on one of the best performances of the day.

What I liked: Condensed version of what goes on – a group of people in 1906 are kidnapped by the US Government and forced to fly to the moon to look for a rare stone. They crash and are forgotten about.

That’s all I’ll give you. Because this book is so much more. To paraphrase Donkey from Shrek – “this book has layers. Like an onion.” We have a Brainiac scientist cobbling together ways to contact earth. We have an arrogant and utterly ridiculous Captain attempting to lead the crew but fail over and over. But at its heart, and the main character, is our Gravedigger. The one whom longs to return to his wife and daughter. Who looks at the earth below and wonders if they’re looking at the moon above.

Slater (admittedly in the afterword) throws any real science out the door and just has fun and the readers are all the better for that. This is a case where you absolutely need to have complete suspension of reality, but honestly, if you’re buying this book off the synopsis or have read Danger before, you understand that already.

The ending to this book is sweet, sublime and so, so beautiful. It’s an odd thing to think and even to type, especially when you think back to the slugs and the craziness and the explosions and betrayals. But it shows just how attuned Slater is to the storyline that weaves its way through the weirdness and keeps the book grounded in emotions.

What I didn’t like: Look, I said it before – I just don’t dig humor when reading dark fiction. I don’t know why, always have. I try and push myself out of my comfort zone and just let it happen. But, if you’re someone who struggles with it mightily, then be warned – there is a lot of ridiculousness in here. If you’re not sure, maybe head to Slater’s Twitter profile and read through his tweets. If not a single one makes your solid-as-stone face twitch into a smile, probably pass.

Why you should buy this: I wasn’t sure how this book would work for me. This was either going to be a solid, out-of-the-park homerun or a swing and a miss. That’s often how I find most Bizarro reads, but with this one, Slater crushed it off a T-Ball stand. The heartbeat of the story is rock solid, the characters are fun, infuriating and entertaining, but the themes and layers that get peeled back are picture-perfect divine and that’s truly why you should read this. Slater is a treasure and with each new release he shows us more and more that he is one of the greats.

5/5

Bringing you a very special 3Q’s today! I’ve been trying really hard to only post one 3Q a day, but with the launch of Tim Lebbon’s newest novel, ‘The Last Storm,’ I was approached by Jim at GNOH to see about helping to make this launch special! This novel is phenomenal and, while I’ve really loved Tim’s work that I’ve read up to this point, ‘The Last Storm’ is his best thing yet!

So, please do welcome, Tim Lebbon!

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?

Tim: My writing day is pretty much a standard work day, and that’s left over from having kids at home and a wife who works. The kids have grown up and pretty much gone now, and my wife’s worked from home since the start of Covid, but it’s a habit now, and I stick to it. So up, meditate, work out (sometimes), breakfast, then I usually work about 9am til 5 or 6 pm. That often includes a break for a run or bike ride, and I’ll often work in the evening with Zooms, emails or phone calls. As for word count, if I’m on a novel I aim for 1500-2000 words per day, but I’m not too troubled if I don’t hit that.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a favorite character you’ve written?

Tim: Wow, tough one! I’m very fond of both Ally and Jude in The Silence, because in many ways they were a reflection of my kids when I was writing that novel. Their relationship bled into it––one of love, but also friendly bickering. And Ally especially I got to know very well, because writing a character who was deaf, from her POV, was a really tough call. I did a lot of research, and my editor who’d been deaf for the first few years of her life said it worked out well. So I guess I’ll always have a particular fondness for Ally.

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

Tim: The Last Storm is a climate change horror/thriller about a North America suffering from drought and famine, and a family of rainmakers who might have the power to save it. But their power also brings horror, and they have to make tough, painful, and horrific choices. I think it’s my best novel to date, and many people who’ve read it agree. I love it so much because of the troubled family dynamic at its core, one that really holds the novel together. I hope you’ll check it out!

Steve: Bonus question time! What is your favorite album?

Tim: Angel Dust by Faith No More.

Awesome, thank you so much, Tim!

As always – clink the links!

Website: https://www.timlebbon.net/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tim-Lebbon/e/B001IU0D3U/

Twitter: @timlebbon

HOLA! HOLA! HOLA! Welcome to today’s 3Q’s!

Today we got an author who likes to write short stories and novels that are dark, dirty and will make you squirm.

That’s right! Today let’s welcome Brian Bowyer!

Welcome, Brian!

Steve: What does your writing time look like?
Brian: Hi, Steve! Thanks for having me on! I walk for one hour every day, and write on my phone the entire time.

Steve: Do you try and write at the same time each day?
Brian: Yes. I sleep from six a.m. until ten a.m., and write from eleven until noon.

Steve: Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
Brian: No, but I usually generate between one and two thousand words, which is plenty, in my opinion. If you only write a thousand words a day, that’s 365,000 words in a year—the equivalent of either six 60,000-word novels or twelve 30,000-word novellas in one year.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a character you could write about forever?
Brian: Several: Tina, Jinx, and Leo from ROAD NARROWS; Gretchen, Amelia, and Jacob from FLESH REHEARSAL; Vivian, Sierra, and Zoey from AUTUMN GOTHIC. And of course some of the characters from my forthcoming vampire novel.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Brian: My newest release is a horror novel called AUTUMN GOTHIC that’s filled with romance, serial killers, torture, ritual sacrifice, death metal, a haunted house, corpse disposal, and more. I think anyone looking for a fun read will get a kick out of it, at least. I know I did while writing it!

Steve: Bonus question! Did you have a favorite wrestler as a kid?

Brian: No, but my favorite boxer was Marvin Hagler.

Thanks again for having me, Steve! I hope you’re doing well.

Most welcome, Brian!

To find more of Brian’s work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brian-Bowyer/e/B005O52URM

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BBowyerAuthor

YOOOO! Hey, friends! Got another fun one here today and of course, a double bonus – her book just dropped recently!

Let’s welcome……….. drum roll………

Katie Marie!

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?

Katie: I organize my writing time to be at the same time each day, at least in principle. I write in the mornings as that’s when I’m at my best. My energy levels only go down as the day goes on. Plus, it always helps to start the day off doing something I enjoy.

I try to write each day, expect Sundays, as that’s my day off.

I tend not to set myself word count targets, that kind of pressure does me no favours. Instead, I set myself less distinct targets, like a chapter a day, or a draft of a short story a day, etc.

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

Katie: I’d love to write something set in Stephen King’s Maine, Derry in particular. I love the multi-layer horror he puts into his work, how the setting itself takes on a life of its own and becomes an intrinsic part of the story. Derry is a seriously messed up town and I’d love to pop some characters there and see what happens.

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

Katie: My newest release is my novella A Man in Winter, which tells the story of Arthur, whose life was devastated by the brutal murder of his wife, must come to terms with his diagnosis of dementia. He moves into a new home at a retirement community, and shortly after, has his life turned upside down again when his wife’s ghost visits him and sends him on a quest to find her killer so her spirit can move on. With his family and his doctor concerned that his dementia is advancing, will he be able to solve the murder before his independence is permanently restricted?

A Man in Winter examines the horrors of isolation, dementia, loss, and the ghosts that come back to haunt us.

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

Katie: It’s so difficult to pick just one! There are so many that I hold dear for a variety of reasons.

But at a push, I would probably say The Thief of Always by Clive Barker.

This was a book my mum read to me when I was small. She loved reading and would always do the character voices when reading to me. Her reading this to me is where I can pinpoint my love of horror and reading coming from.

Fantastic! Excellent choice!

As always – if you want to discover more about Katie – check the links!

Website: https://katiemariewriter.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatieMarieWrite

Title: While You Sleep

Author: Caillou Pettis

Release date: March 8th, 2022

Huge thanks to Caillou for reaching out to me over on IG and sending me a digital ARC. I’m constantly trying my best to fit in new to me authors as well as authors who’ve not got a lot of ratings/reviews posted on GR and/or Amazon.

‘While You Sleep’ intrigued me, because of the consistent location aspect. Much like King does with his work, and recently Josh Malerman with ‘Goblin’ (which I still need to read) and Alan Baxter’s fantastic Gulp novellas, there’s something about a constant connection in dark fiction that seems to grab and hold a reader’s mind.

This one is made up of ten stories, all interconnected based on taking place in the town of Newryst. The stories are of varying lengths, though the majority of them are short and snappy. I’d guess 3-5k words. It featured one longer story, but for the most part, I think you’d be able to consume this in a single sitting.

What I liked: For a debut collection, there are some really strong stories in here. Some of them fall into “tried and true” plotlines, but in dark fiction, that’s a given at this point. As I said in a different review for a book recently – it’s really about what the author can do with that narrative that matters.

In this case the highlights for me were;

• ‘Birthday Bumps’ – our character, Gavin, wakes up confused on his birthday and things spiral
• ‘He’ll Be Back’ – the best story of the batch in my opinion – two boys have a sleep over and inadvertently notice something in the backyard. Great stuff.
• ‘The Antique Store’ – the longest story in the collection, this one was a ton of fun. I’ll actually leave it there, not wanting to give anything away.
• ‘Webs’ – a well done, quick story that went in some fun directions.

I would gather these stories were written separately over time and ultimately combined and edited to work for this collection. I say this because the stories that seem more polished and as though Pettis grew as a writer are the ones that had the best ‘readibility’ and the ones that had my interest the most.

What I didn’t like: As mentioned, the ones that seemed more realized really grabbed me. A few felt as though they were either written a while ago and not as matured/polished or were written by a writer not as sure of themselves. I wasn’t a fan of the writing voice in ‘While We Sleep’ or ‘Paralysis’ which bummed me out because the idea’s in both were great. Those stories read more like we were being given directions to find a store, not reading a story that unraveled in front of us.

Why you should buy this: I think this is a great addition to people’s TBR’s if they’re fans of collections set in a single location. Pettis has some really fun ideas that he delivers to us and the characters felt solid which really created engaging events.

Overall, a solid collection, but as always reader mileage may vary!

3/5

 

Title: Slattery Falls

Author: Brennan Lafaro

Release date: Originally released July 18th, 2021, re-released May 7th, 2022

Huge thanks to Brennan for sending this my way.

When this was first released through Silver Shamrock, I was simply too swamped to accept an ARC – passing on the offer. Brennan’s always been a super nice guy to interact with and connect with, so when he offered up the ARC’s in advance of the sequel coming out, I reached out. Truth be told – I should’ve already purchased this, but sometimes those things slip through the cracks.

I went into this fairly blind, other than knowing it revolved around ghost hunters, which had my interest.

What I liked: The strength of this novella is rooted in Lafaro’s short, snappy chapters and engaging writing. Let’s face it (and I mean ZERO offense here), but the plot isn’t brand new. Because of that, it’s always up to the author to keep the reader guessing and engaged and Lafaro’s prose does just that.

The story follows two friends, Travis and Josh, who connect and decide to investigate haunted houses in their spare time. Along the way, Josh’s cousin, Elsie, joins the crew and the trio continue investigating places. One particular house offers up some horrors and because of that, they stop – but get drawn in years later.

The set up is solid, but it’s the second half that really takes off. Travis and Elsie are now married and keep in touch with Josh. When he says he’s figured out the ‘how,’ ‘who’ and ‘why’ of that last place, they reconvene and strike out, ready to put the hauntings to rest.

The characters are fantastic here and they really do feel like people you’ve known your entire life. The banter is great and even when the feces hits the fan blades, Lafaro keeps the dialogue solid and entertaining.

The ending gives us the emotional gut punch you’d expect in a story like this and while I’m not 100% certain what a sequel will entail, I’m super intrigued to see where we go.

What I didn’t like: I’m all about suspension of belief – that’s half the battle with paranormal/supernatural stories – but I did find it a bit far-fetched that Josh discovered this old journal/diary that had all of this back story. I’m saying that because I don’t believe it’s a spoiler – it’s a fairly typical plot point for ghost hunting/research stories. It was necessary yes – but it was almost a little too convenient.

Why you should buy this: An incredibly solid novella (which I believe was also his debut release), Lafaro played on his strengths by keeping the pace the entire time and keeping the reader guessing. The results work really well to create a horrifying story, one that could be read in a single reading or slowly digested over a few days. Great stuff and I’m keen to see where book two goes!

4/5

Today’s guest is a fantastic author, great friend and all around rabble-rouser! That’s right, it’s fellow Canuck, Duncan Ralston!

Welcome, Duncan!

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?

Duncan: Hey, thanks for asking! I tend to work evenings so I write most mornings, on weekends as well if I’m able. I don’t tend to have a word count but I’ll generally stop if I’ve hit 2 or 3k before I have to start getting ready for work.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a character you could write about forever?

Duncan: I guess my favorite character would have to be a tie between Ben Laramie and Rex Garrote from Ghostland. I had a hell of a lot of fun writing Garrote, who’s kinda of gleefully evil. I put a lot of myself as a kid into Ben so I wanted to be sure I played fair with him and Lillian (his best friend) throughout the trilogy.

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

Duncan: My latest novel is Gross Out, which is in part a soft sequel to what has become my most popular release, Woom. Gross Out is about a horror convention where all the writers and critics and fans have ulterior motives for being there, some of them not very nice. In a way I kind of felt like it was the bastard offspring of Palahniuk’s Haunted and King’s Needful Things… in the sense that everyone has an axe to grind with another of the guests. If nothing else you should read it if you’re a fan of Woom, since it features a return of Shyla and Angel at the Lonely Motel.

Steve: Bonus question! Do you have a favorite album?

Duncan: Impossible question, sorry!

Steve note – because Duncan was a knob and wouldn’t choose a fav album, I’ve chosen one from his personal collection – Californication from The Red Hot Chili Peppers! I know Duncan loves RHCP a ton, ever since he met them at Woodstock… true story?

Thanks so much, Duncan!

To find more from Duncan, check the links;

Twitter: https://twitter.com/userbits

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Duncan-Ralston/e/B00F23Y41Q/

Website: duncanralston.com

Hello! In the past we’ve had a few authors who also did cover design. For today’s guest, we have an author who is also a publisher! Please welcome, Tim!

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?

Tim: I learned years ago that if I didn’t establish an official writing schedule, then my output was very hit and miss. Nowadays, Wednesday evenings and Saturday and Sunday mornings are official writing times. I either go someplace to write, or I shut the door on my home office. At this point, the family knows what those days represent and what I’m doing. Additionally, I can usually pepper in time to write here and there throughout the week. Which seems to be more often now that the kids are grown and no longer need (nor want) my attention. As for word count, I gave up on tracking that years ago. I get in what I can and try to be happy with the progress.

Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a favorite character you’ve written?

Tim: I have two. Both are supporting characters who may get the main protagonist treatment at some point. One would be Dallas Tipsword from Blackened. He’s the teenage protag’s boss and friend, a sixty-two-year-old Vietnam vet with a salt and pepper ponytail and beard to match with an affinity for tie-dye t-shirts and flipflops. He’s got a cutting sense of humor and a heart of gold. The second would be Claudia Forrester from The Opening. She’s one half of a husband-and-wife paranormal investigative team. She’s sharp, witty, and sarcastic. She likes to play up the goth look while working, but enjoys lounging in sweats and an oversized t-shirt just as well.

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

Tim: The Opening is my latest, a paranormal novel that takes place in an old theater. Due to financial reasons, the original owner has lost the property and proceeds to torch himself on the theater’s front steps. Now the new owner has renovated the place, yet the aura of tragedy continues to hang over the theater. Add strange phenomena to the mix, keeping customers even further at bay, and the new owner must call in a husband-and-wife paranormal investigative team. Together, the three of them with the help of a local journalist, start digging into the happenings at the theater. But can anything prepare them for the dark secrets they discover? Fans of the paranormal and interesting characters should read this book.

Steve: Bonus Question! What is your favorite album?

Tim: Asking a music lover to choose their ONE favorite album is like asking them to tell their life story using only one word. It’s not possible. I’ve picked up a favorite at different stages of my life and have been carrying them all with me. There isn’t one I’d want to go to a desert island without. At most, I can narrow it down to five: Shout at the Devil by Motley Crue, Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers, LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS by Thirty Seconds To Mars, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles, and the score to Legends of the Fall by James Horner. I could easily expand this list, but I’ve already cheated enough, so…

Thank you so much, Tim!

To find more awesome work from Tim, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tim-McWhorter/e/B00J22DF9K/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tim_McWhorter

Website: timmcwhorter.com

Ok, I’m going to level with you. You see that bright and shiny RED 3Q’s logo I made (yeah it’s horribly amateurish but that’s the point. This is DIY and I wanted a punk DIY logo to fit!), well the red is supposed to signify the start of season two of 3Q’s! BUT – the reality is – when I reached out to start inviting people to season two, some of them had pressing release dates and as you know – I’m here to support and encourage and promote!

Today’s author was one such invitee who mentioned in his reply that he actually had a new release dropping TODAY! JULY 14th! So, I decided I’d post it today and try and draw some eyes his way and to his work!

As you all know – 3Q’s features three questions and a fun fourth and for season two we got some new ones to keep those reading these guessing!

So, without further wait – welcome, Daniel Volpe!

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?

Volpe: Most of my writing is done between 5 am and 6 am. I’m an early bird, and I always allocate some time on weekday mornings to write. I will occasionally write on the weekends, but that’s usually if the family is away. I don’t have a daily word count limit, but my rough goal is around 20k monthly.

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

Volpe: I think an author that has a similar style to mine and would really fall into my work would have to be Brian Keene. Our styles are simple, pure storytelling, without a lot of flourish and fluff. Just straight-up, pulpy horror that’s going to entertain.

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

Volpe: My newest release, PLASTIC MONSTERS, is a story about a woman obsessed with beauty and the lengths she’s willing to go to achieve it. It also follows a disgraced plastic surgeon, who wants one last hurrah. It really plays on our society and the pressure we put on young women to obtain this unrealistic goal of “beauty”. It’s available on Amazon in ebook, paperback, and hardcover, with signed copies coming soon to danieljvolpehorror.com.

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

Volpe: If someone was foolish enough to spend money telling a story about my life, I’d have to pick Shia LaBeouf as my actor. He has range and just the right level of instability to play.

Awesome! Thank you so much, Daniel! All the best with launch day!

To find more goodies, check the link!

Website: danieljvolpehorror.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DJVolpeHorror

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7455706.Daniel_Volpe