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10 Questions With… Frank Ferrari!

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After reading With Time to Kill, (and loving it might I add!) I was very lucky to be given the chance to ask the author a few questions.

Firstly I’d like to thank Frank for taking the time to answer my questions, I still always get a buzz when an author agrees to one of these posts!

Without further ado I give you 10 questions with Frank Ferrari!

Q: What hit me first when reading With Time to Kill was how unique the story felt. Where did the inspiration for the series come from? You must like some science fiction yourself? My favourite even got a mention… I’m a massive Stargate fan. Did you find blending the genres together difficult or did it slot nicely?

Initially, With Time to Kill was supposed to be a short story about a guy who, after obtaining the ability to travel back in time, kills everybody who stood between him and his ambitions. He was going to be a corporate type (probably influenced by the environment I was working in back then!) and he was going to be very unlikeable. But I intended to make the story funny. I wanted it to be really dark humour, and the way the guy’s kills evolved was going to be ridiculous. For instance, I saw a scene in my mind in which his thirst for blood had reached such a high level that a person who jumped in front of him in the queue at Starbucks or Costa or something would become his victim.

As I say, it was supposed to be a short story – a little project to get me back into the swing of writing, having been away from it for a number of years.

Then, during a trip to the local supermarket with my wife, I spotted a guy perusing the flowers. A few days later, having forgotten to pick up something or other, my wife and I went back to that same supermarket, and there he was! The same guy checking out the flowers again. I don’t know who he was – have probably walked past him in the street several times since then – but what made me recognise him from one day to the other was his uniform: he was a local bus driver. In the car on the way home, I made a comment to my wife saying, ‘Imagine that guy has become obsessed with one of his passengers, and he’s trying to find the perfect bunch of flowers to leave at her doorstep…’

My wife literally shivered and said, ‘Ugh! That’s creepy!’

And that’s when I knew my story had to evolve. So, in essence, the inspiration was two ideas that came together to make something altogether different.

I really like science fiction – I was, once upon a time, a scientist myself! I lean more towards the works of Michael Crichton and Blake Crouch over the likes of Stargate and Babylon 5, however. In saying that, I thoroughly enjoyed Cixin Liu’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy (the first of which is The Three-Body Problem). I have never read such a vast, expansive story.

Blending the sci-fi element into what is essentially a Scottish crime tale just sort of happened! To begin with, I thought I was writing a science fiction story, but as I got to know the characters and I watched them develop, I knew the police had to get involved somehow. 

Q. What has surprised you the most since becoming a published author? I know there’s hurdles along the way but has anything good really stood out?

It’s a lot harder than I realised it would be! Like countless others, I read everything I could find about publishing a novel. Eventually, I settled on the self-publishing route for With Time to Kill and its successors. Legend has it, unless you’ve got 25k followers, or your name is James Patterson, traditional publishers will leave the bulk of promotion up to the author, all the while taking a healthy slice of the royalties. I figured – as many before me have – that if I’m going to have to promote my books myself, I might as well keep as much of the royalties as I possibly can. Flipping the switch from storyteller to marketer/salesperson is very difficult, though. Despite having a decade’s experience in pharmaceutical sales and marketing, I have not yet mastered this side of publishing.

Q. What motivates you to keep writing? I mean, what keeps it exciting? Do you lock yourself away for hours at a time? How do you avoid any writing slumps?

I write full time and have done so since day one. I was made redundant from my previous career and took the opportunity to explore my lifelong dream of writing. That first day in which I didn’t need to go to the office, or log onto the company Teams account, I sat behind my desk at home at 8:30am and I started writing. I wrote like it was a full-time 40+ hour job, and I’ve done so ever since. Keeping that routine has helped me avoid any slumps (so far!). In terms of what keeps it exciting, that part’s easy: I love writing, and the way I do it (see my answer below!) keeps me hooked.

Q. It must take a while to flesh out your ideas/timeline? I was really struck by how well you humanised the characters.. Did you do many rewrites? Do you outline the story in full or let the story lead you?

I’m glad the characters in With Time to Kill resonated with you. I firmly believe the best stories are the ones driven by how you feel about the characters. Plot is fine, but if you don’t feel something about the characters, it just isn’t the same.

My writing process blends the two approaches (outlining, and being led by the story). I often have certain points or places where the story must go, but how we get there, and what occurs along the way, is all organic. That’s what keeps it exciting for me – often it’s like I’m discovering the story as a reader would at the same time as I’m writing it.

When the day’s writing is done, I go over it in my head while out with the dog or making dinner, then at night I think about what’s going to happen next as I drift off to sleep. That helps me hit the pages running the following day. Once the first draft is complete, I let it sit for a while – a few weeks at least – and I go do something else. When I come back to it, I read through, then give it a comprehensive rewrite, fixing plot holes or inconsistencies, etc. When that’s done, I pass the draft to my wife, and we both read it through. She comes back to me with points and suggestions that invariably make the story better, and I implement those. After another read through, it’s ready for the professional eyes of my editor. After another few weeks, I incorporate his comments and suggestions, and then – after a final full read – it’s ready for wider consumption.

Q. I know I’m new to the series (I’ll make amends for that quickly!!) Do you think your writing evolved over the course of the series? Did you learn any lessons along the way?

My writing has definitely evolved. The editor I work with now was not the one who worked on With Time to Kill, but I’ve since gone back and incorporated his teachings into it. He taught me many things. For example, anyone reading the With Time to Kill books will see there’s some humour in them. Sometimes, in the early drafts, the jokes didn’t sit well amongst the darker goings-on around the characters. That’s one thing I’ve learned to manage. It’s perfectly okay to be funny, but there’s a time and a place! Upon reading The Last Trip for Good (the final instalment of the With Time to Kill trilogy) my editor said: ‘the writing has come on in leaps and bounds since the first manuscript I saw’, which showed me how far I had come.

Q. Were there any messages you were trying to get across to the reader through your words? It’s a fascinating idea to think about what we would do if we had the power to influence the past.. Did you expect it to be as thought-provoking as it is? 

As I started writing, I didn’t for one moment think I was going to come out with anything worthy of deep thought! I just wanted to write a story that, initially, was supposed to get me back into the groove. Later, it became an exercise in whether I could write a novel-length manuscript. As the story evolved, however, I found myself absorbed by the characters. What started as a pretty one-dimensional killer became a more complex, broken soul who, in order to realistically do the things he does, had to be the kind of person who could be nudged by outside influences. I became fascinated by Garry. He’s this morally blank canvas who, after a lifetime of loneliness, is suddenly caught between two opposing influences – one overwhelmingly ‘good’, and one very much not good! I suppose the question I wanted to answer was: what would drive somebody to kill in order to improve their life? With Time to Kill and its siblings is my answer!

Q. I can’t do one of these posts without asking you about how you feel about reviews? Do you take much notice? 

I’m supposed to say: ‘Nah, I don’t pay attention to reviews. Reading is incredibly subjective, and one person’s five stars is another’s zero stars…’ but I’m human! Of course I notice, especially in these early days. Pleasantly, most reviews for my books have been positive, which is a massive confidence boost. If I had to pick a favourite Amazon review for With Time to Kill, it would have to be one from a lady in the US, who expected something very different… She wrote: 

‘A psychological thriller that became part science fiction. I was so annoyed as I do not like sci-fi, I almost stopped reading. Glad I stuck with it. Turned into a fairly enjoyable read.’ And she gave it five stars! The fact that this avid psychological thriller reader was, in the end, convinced by a Scottish crime/sci-fi mash-up made me very happy indeed!

On top of that, seeing the feedback from people like yourself – and others with a similarly significant presence in the social book world – is very humbling. You, and others, have shown me that my books can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those of more established writers, and that makes it all worthwhile.

Q. One of the things I find the hardest about loving books is there’s so much out there. How have you found promotion? Do you enjoy the whole social side?

Good promotion is the Holy Grail – everybody’s searching for it, but it’s the hardest thing to find. There’s also a danger with it: every writer gets bombarded with emails and messages from so-called ‘experts’ in book marketing, all promising to get your book ‘the attention it deserves’. For a price, of course. It’s all absolute nonsense, and any aspiring writer reading this should take heed: these people will take your money and give you nothing of value in return. The truth is: there is no magic bullet. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. We just need to stay resilient and keep trying.

I haven’t been great at the social media side of things. My time always seems to be taken up by writing the next book, editing the previous one, studying with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) as I’m currently doing, all while learning how to be a dad! I need to invest more time into social media and I have a list of videos/posts that I want to create (one video series is going to be defining some of the more Scottish terms in the With Time to Kill trilogy for non-Scottish readers).

In addition, blogs like this one, where indie authors are given a fair chance, are so valuable – on behalf of writers everywhere, thank you!

Q: Do you read a lot yourself? If so, what have you been reading or what genre do you go to?

I read every day, right before bed. Always have done. I like lots of different genres and, as is the case with music, I tend to fall in love with a writer/artist rather than any particular genre. For instance, my favourite author is Stephen King, although I wouldn’t class myself as a ‘horror’ fan. I recently read his Dark Tower series for the third time, and loved it just as much as the first. I also read ‘Salem’s Lot for the first time not long ago. It’s out-and-out horror but, man, some of the writing in that novel is just beautiful!

I also recently read John Grisham’s The Guardians, Karin Slaughter’s This is Why We Lied, and I’m currently reading The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci (the first of his works I’ve read).

Other writers I really like are John Marrs (anything by him is well worth a read), Blake Crouch (he’s got grounded sci-fi down to an art), JD Kirk (a fellow Scot and master of crime fiction), Andrew Mayne (his Theo Cray/Jessica Blackwood books are brilliant), and I’m a real sucker for the dystopian classics – Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We, and of course George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Q. I really need to know… What’s next? What can we expect to see from you?

A few weeks ago, I finished the first draft of my next novel, which is unrelated to the With Time to Kill trilogy. It’s a tale of found family and rebellion set amidst a bleak, totalitarian dystopia. It came from an idea that has been knocking around in my head for over a decade, but always felt too big for me to tackle. The first draft needs a lot of work, but I’m pleased with the story and it’s going to spawn more books – probably a trilogy or quadrilogy, we’ll see. I’m letting it sit for now while I complete my accreditation with the CIEP, but I hope to have news about later in the year.

As regards the With Time to Kill trilogy, the covers are getting a bit of a facelift/revamp, bringing them more in keeping with the Scottish crime genre, so watch this space!

About the author.

Frank Ferrari is a Scottish writer of speculative fiction, where science fiction collides with suspense and intrigue, and memorable characters lead you through dark, thrilling atmospheres. He is the author of With Time to Kill and its sequel The Dying of the Light, as well as Water of Sorrow, co-written with his late father.

Educated in science, Frank was a bench chemist, then spent over a decade working in the commercial pharmaceutical industry before returning to the passion that had gripped him as a child: writing stories. After years of short fiction, he turned to novel-writing during a difficult period in his life, finding therapy and purpose in the process. Out of that challenge, With Time to Kill was born.

Frank writes because he loves to read, and he seeks to offer readers the same escape and immersion that books have always given him. Originally from Perthshire and now living in the Borders – settings that feature in some of his novels – he finds inspiration in the landscapes around him. When not writing, he can often be found walking the hills and forests with his dog, or enjoying time with his wife and young daughter.

Want to know more about Frank and his books? Why not visit https://frankferrari.com/

With Time to Kill by Frank Ferrari – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing With Time to Kill by Frank Ferrari.

Here’s the blurb

Everyone deserves a second chance, but how far would you go for one?

In the gritty streets of Edinburgh, one man is about to find out. Garry Plumb has always been invisible – a solitary data analyst haunted by a childhood of cruelty and a life defined by aching loneliness. But when a colleague’s sister is murdered, Garry’s world cracks open. A chance encounter with the enigmatic Billy Blunt introduces him to a secret that defies reality: a living device capable of sending its holder back in time, offering the chance to rewrite the past and reshape the present.

As Garry steps into his own history, he discovers the intoxicating power of righting old wrongs and erasing the scars of trauma. But with every change he makes, the line between justice and vengeance blurs.

Meanwhile, Detective Chief Inspector John Waters is closing in on a chilling pattern of murders, his investigation threatening to expose secrets that were never meant to be unearthed.

With Time to Kill: Book One is a gripping blend of psychological suspense and speculative fiction, exploring the price of redemption and the darkness that can grow in the shadows of regret. For fans of dark thrillers and mind-bending time travel, this is a story about the choices that define us, and the consequences we can never outrun.

Review

Billed as a blend of psychological thriller and Scottish crime noir you had me hooked already. Then add a splash of dark sci-fi.. Colour me intrigued! 

Garry hasn’t had the best of upbringings, no father and a mother who simply tolerated him (to a point).. He doesnt find making connections easy.. Introverted and closed..but he’s managed to find a way to survive..but not thrive.. He’s more or less invisible..

He dreams of being more.. Finding love..Finding friendship..Little does Garry know friendship is on its way to find him.

Garry is a creature of comfort and order so when he’s finally noticed by someone that person knows exactly how to contact him.. A little note left on his favourite seat.. An invite to meet..an action that will have lasting effects..

At the same time we start learning of some gruesome crimes being committed in the area.. Even one of Garry’s colleagues is affected.. The police we learn don’t have any clues but could it be a serial killer?

Now we meet Billy..Billy sees a little of himself in Garry and he wants nothing more than to mould Garry.. He’s got plans.. And secrets..

This is where the sci-fi edge comes in…Billy has a way to change the past. I won’t spoil the “how” but I felt it was a really clever way to give the sci-fi edge and the whole idea of how they can travel back  in time, the constraints around it.. Wow..

As Garry travels to the past to better his future he changes himself.. He’s more confident.. But there’s always factors in his life getting in the way of his true potential…or that’s at least what Billy is thinking as he leads Garry along.. Pushing him further and further down a dark trajectory.

All the while the police are struggling as more victims are found and there’s something linking them..

As the story hits its conclusion Billy’s true nature is revealed.. His whole plan rumbled.. But how can Garry sort this mess out.. And can he even forgive himself for the things he’s done.. Even if some of them seem fairly justified..time will tell.

I loved the plot, it pulled me in from the first page. Garry is likable and the author does a great job of making the reader feel empathy towards Garry as he goes down his dark journey.

The whole time travel edge really made you think.. What would you do for the greater good? And where do you draw the line?

With Time to Kill is a smart story, it gives so much more than the standard crime thriller and is the perfect read for fans of crime stories but especially those looking for something a little different.. It’s got a spark but It’s dark and gritty.. The whole mash of genre’s mixed to perfection.

I couldn’t be happier with my choice in book and knowing there’s a couple more stories in the series.. Yeah I’ll be getting on them soon for sure! That ending… It leaves possibilities open to Garry so I’m keen to see where the author takes him.

The easiest of 5* I’ll probably ever give.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

BLOG TOUR – Timewaif & The Roman Road by Deborah Lyon

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Timewaif & The Roman Road by Deborah Lyon.

Here’s the blurb

Twelve-year-old Tim Wainwright, growing up on the west coast of Cumbria, struggles with his mum’s intense grief after the death of his dad and the constant taunting of village bullies. Only his best friend Annie brings any fun to his life.

Fleeing his tormentors after school one day, he finds a hidden cave in the sea cliffs. Once inside, Tim leaps through an enchanted hopscotch board to emerge into a very different Cumbria… two thousand years in the past.

This is an ancient land of Romans and Britons under the rule of Emperor Hadrian. Tim soon realises he must navigate a totally different culture, facing adventures which challenge not only his resilience and wits to the limit but even risk his very life.

Will he ever get back to his own time, his mum and Annie? And does he even really want to?

Join Tim on his rip-roaring adventure exploring Roman life in the wilds of ancient Britain, the first in the Timewaif series of historical novels set throughout the ages for children to enjoy.

Review

Timewaif & The Roman Road is aimed at the younger audience, around 9 – 11 years old but is a very fun read for an adult too. I love anything to do with the Romans and wanted to see if the author could bring some passion and excitement for the period for younger readers.

Focusing on that side first.. wow.. there’s some much detail packed in.. little nuggets of info to captivate the readers mind. I couldn’t help but feel if I’d had stories given to me when I was younger like this my love of history would be even stronger.. its just so effortlessly interesting and immersive.

The other thing I love about this time of genre aimed is typically they deal with some personal issues too, to help the younger mind see these things and hopefully help them process their won feelings. Timewaif & The Roman Road ticked that box beautifully. Tim the main character has some issues at home, his mother hasn’t been well and has had her own issues leaving Tim to kind of grow up himself. As we all know growing up isn’t always easy and we see Tim’s struggles

This was such a fun and entertaining read even though it’s aimed for a younger reader but even the struggles Tim faced were handled in a sensitive and thoughtful way making it even better for me, having two young kids myself… helps me remember how they might be feel in certain situations as we see things though different eyes.

Nice fun 5 star read!

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Tempted yet?

Why not head to Goodreads or Amazon to find out more!

Who is Deborah Lyon?

Deborah Lyon has lived in Cumbria for nearly 20 years, having previously worked in London where she enjoyed a successful career in corporate communications. A lifelong lover of the Lake District, Deborah moved north to raise her blended family of four children by Windermere, where she lives with her husband, Gez, two golden retrievers, a Border terrier, and guinea pigs.

Her debut title, Lake District Unlocked, a children’s travel guide to Cumbria, was published in 2010. A graduate of Oxford University with a degree in English and French Literature, Deborah also holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Lancaster University. She draws inspiration from the region’s history and folklore, with the idea for Timewaif & The Roman Road sparked by an inscription on a Roman tombstone and a walk through a ruined felltop fort.

When she isn’t writing, Deborah runs a holiday-let business and enjoys exploring the landscapes that inspire her work, with over 170 Wainwright summits under her belt.

Where can you find them?

Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/timewaifbooks/
Websitehttps://timewaif.com/

Why not follow the tour..

Flash Gordon – War Of The Citadels by David Hagberg – Review

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Today I’m going to be reviewing War of the Citadels book 2 in the Flash Gordon series by David Hagberg.

Here’s the blurb

Sent on a rescue mission by the leaders of the planet Earth, Flash Gordon and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov find themselves involved in an intricate war plan which threatens the existence of the entire universe. Each step they take propels them further into the complex plots and counterplots of two warring worlds.

Review

This is the 2nd instalment in the series by David Hagberg. In the 1st instalment we learned of the ⁰reappearance of the Interstellar Exploration ship GOODHOPE.. with it’s crew all found dead. The ship had been launched 200 years prior and Zarkov was tasked with discovering what had happened aboard ship when suddenly the drive spools and our heroes are whisked away across the galaxy to a distant planet.

We soon learned of a war that has raged for thousands of years that could impact everyone..Flash, Zarkov and Dale decide to help.

While on the planet a ship from Citadel II appears.. the enemy..and all hell breaks loose.. they’re more advanced than first thought and this could mean the end of Citadel I and our heroes.

One hope remains.. The creators of Citadel I came from a planet called Centrus. The location of this planet has remained secret.. for everyone’s sake.. but they may still be alive, or at the very least have technology that can save them. Zarkov soon finds a way to locate Centrus and sets off in search of something to help them in their quest.

As with the previous instalment the author throws in some great twists alone the way leaving the reader wondering what the hell is going on.. gripped.. and excited..It’s not all smooth sailing and sometimes you can be left wondering who actually are the good guys in this? Is Flash backing the right team? Is this to save people or will it simply cause the war to continue?

Overall a really exciting read..I’m really enjoying the series. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get around to reading them.

If you can pick up a copy I highly recommend you do..old school SyFy.. what’s not to love!

5/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon. I also highly recommend AbeBooks if you want to find a copy :)

An English King by Gabriel Stein – Review

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Reviewing as a hobby means sometimes I forget to read books I really want to as I take on too many review requests.

During this year I’ll still take on requests but I’m going to focus more heavily on my own reading pile.. I’ve some brilliant books just waiting to be picked up.

Next up being An English King by Gabriel Stein.

Here’s the blurb

Gerne – Historical Fiction

Constantinopolis. 1096.

Sometimes the enemy comes from within.

Edmund has fought the Normans most of his life – at Hastings under King Harold of England, and later in Greece as a soldier in the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Emperor.

His dream is to lead an army of battle-hardened warriors back home and expel the Normans from England.

With the Empire finally at peace, Edmund feels that the time has arrived to fulfil his duty and avenge his king.

But there are rumours of a new threat. Large hosts of armed Latins – westerners – are marching towards the city, brandishing the sign of the Cross. One of the Crusader leaders is Bohemond of Taranto.

England will have to wait, while Edmund is tasked by his Emperor with a delicate and dangerous assignment: find out if Bohemond is friend or enemy. And if he is an enemy – stop him.

Edmund’s assignment will take him through Anatolia. Battles and sieges await.

The Varangian’s strength – and spirit – will be tested like never before.

Review

An English King is book 2 in The Varangian Series. I very much enjoyed the 1st instalment so I was looking forward to this one.. did it disappoint..not in the slightest!

We are back with Edmund and the Varangian guard.. this time he’s no fresh recruit.. he’s a seasoned warrior and life is looking good for him.. he still dreams of a return to England but he has a family now who rely on him.

A new threat arrives.. the issue is they aren’t really an enemy… it’s the Crusaders.. the problem is they will pass through the Emperor’s land..someone needs to make sure they behave themselves.

As they pass through the Emperor agrees to send in his own troops to support the effort.. the upside for him means he can hopefully reclaim lands long lost to the Empire. The downside for Edmund means he’s tasked with going along with Bohemond of Taranto…. Enemies once… can he be trusted now?

There’s battles aplenty.. treachery.. and loyalty when you least expect it and it will test Edmund to the fullest.

While fighting physically Edmund is also dealing with the mental side of things.. he’s been part of the Empire now for a long time.. will he ever go home.. does he want to.. will it be the place he remembers.. it’s an internal struggle for him. Edmund will need to put these thoughts on hold if he’s going to make it back in one piece.

The battle sequences were detailed and exciting to read. I really felt immersed in Edmund’s world.

As the battles continue the stress begins to show and loyalty is tested..without the Emperors presence the Crusaders trust starts to wane… how long can Edmund and the Emperor’s men keep everyone on the same side.

While An English King is a work of fiction it’s very detailed and shows a keen interest in the subject matter.. this adds to the tale..it’s what sucks you in.

If you are looking for an interesting and exciting historical fiction read you could a lot worse than this. A beautifully brutal tale at times.. showing the stress Edmund is under … it’s a slow burner..it’s all about the build up but when the action really hits it’s cracking! For me it’s all about the development of Edmund as his place in the Empire is solidified.

4/5 Stars!

To find out more head to GoodreadsorAmazon.

Flash Gordon – Massacre In The 22nd Century by David Hagberg – Review

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One of my aims in 2020 is to focus more on the books I want to read rather than just review requests. I’ve found myself being snowed under so much with requests that I’ve got a cupboard full of forgotten books.. well no more 😊

Today I’m going to be reviewing Flash Gordon – Massacre In The 22nd Century by David Hagberg.

To give you a little background into my choice of story I’ve had a few Flash novels in my collection for years… I used to be part of the local Scout group who held regular jumble sales.. I wasn’t a big reader but I loved books.. the covers attracted my eyes and at the time I would be paying around 10p for a book.

I remember quite vividly those days, I used to help out at the jumble sales by sorting the clothes that had fallen on to the floor.. When I got a bit sick of that I’d pester my mam for some change to do some bargain hunting myself and it was either toys, bric-a-brac or books that took my fancy. I remember spending around £5 and having bags of things to take home. My mam didn’t mind I don’t think. We weren’t exactly poor but we couldn’t waste money either so I made the most of my time at the jumble sales.

I remember I picked up a Flash Gordon book.. I loved the cover.. It was book 3 of the series but thought for 10p why not. That book has lived with me ever since. A few years ago when I started reading regularly I looked into buying the rest of that series of books which even ended up with me buying a few online from America.. I might not have read any of the books but when I commit I commit fully.

Here’s the blurb

Sent on a mission to investigate the mysterious reappearance of the Interstellar Exploration ship GOODHOPE, Colonel Flash Gordon and his companions, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov discover much more than they had bargained for. Stranded in deep space, the trio find themselves drawn against their will into a war of worlds which has lasted thousands of years…and which threatens the very existence of the planet Earth.

So here we are.. after around nearly 20 years here’s my review!
Review

Massacre In The 22nd Century is the first in a 6 part series by David Hagberg.

An interstellar starship arrives home to Earth..the issue is this ship departed 200 years ago and was presumed lost.

No one is answering onboard, Hans Zarkov is enlisted to gain entry onto the spaceship to investigate what was happened since he’s an expert on older technology. Dale and Flash are going along for the ride.

What they find onboard will change their lives forever and will catapult them into a war which has been going on for thousands of years..will they ever make it back to Earth?

Quite honestly the plot of this book blew my mind.. It was fantastic! Detailed and well structured but overall utterly fascinating and the ending left me In no doubt I’ll be reading the entire series. I was hooked from chapter 1!

Characters wise I loved Flash and Zarkov.. Dale’s a little bit annoying when she ignores what’s asked of her.. she’s impulsive.. hopefully as the series continues, she will start to work better with them as Flash/Zarkov accept her as part of the team.

As the story continues it setups the series perfectly.. it gives you just enough to grab you.. suck you in.. masterfully securing my attention.. so much so I’ve started book 2 already.

What Massacre In The 22nd Century shows me is that a good story will stand up to the test of time.. this story was written 5 years before I was born but still effortlessly consumed me.

Old school science fiction and I loved it!

5/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads!

If you fancy a copy why not try Ebay or AbeBooks 🙂

Christmas Gone Crazy by Jamie Adams – Review

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Next up on David’s Book Blurg I’m reviewing Christmas Gone Crazy by Jamie Adams.

Here’s the blurb

A weirdly sweet Christmas tale about two twenty-somethings who find themselves on a Christmas mission in the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland.

Review

I know it’s not Christmas but we all need a little Christmas cheer don’t we?

A reporter is tasked with heading to the Swiss Alps to look into reports of someone claiming to be Jesus.. while there things take a turn with a surprising ending that left me wondering what could happen next..

For me this short tale was about a miracle..anything can happen.. when you least expect it.. and leaves it up to the reader as to what they want to believe.. was this just coincidence or did the stranger claiming to be Jesus play a part? I’ll guess we will never know.

The tale is short at just over 20 pages and is a fun read that kept my interest. Perfect if you’ve not got a lot of time and fancy a quick read.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

4/5 Stars.

David’s Book Blurg’s Top Choices for 2019

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Ok.. so there’s still time for some last minute gifts so I want to share my top picks! These are just some of the books I’ve read/listened to this year! Click the pictures to head to Amazon to have a look in detail!

  1. Are you an audiobook fan? If so you’ve got to get Lucia by Steven A McKay. It’s a gut wrenching slaves tale set in Roman times.51cHfw39UnL._SX342_
  2. Fancy a delicious new mystery novel? then look no further than No Stone Unturned by Pam Lecky. (Currently at the bargain price of £0.99 on Kindle!)46203408._SY475_
  3. Do you like a police procedural kind of novel and like flawed leads? Well The Silent Dead by Keith Nixon is the book for you.47969376._SY475_
  4. Enjoy a bit of Science Fiction without the word count? Take a look at The Bastard Cadre by Lee Carlon!415GhUysFtL
  5. Like a bit of a historical read.. ever heard of the Hittites? look no further than Empires of Bronze by Gordon Doherty.51Odsq2iUkL
  6. Not quite sure what you are after? Fancy more than one book? Well why not get a boxset of goodness? Check out forged in Fire, a set which includes books by authors Prue Batten, Simon Turney and Gordon Doherty 5168XFNxseL

 

There’s so many good books out there.. these are just a few of the hundreds i’d happily recommend so do check out my reviews and see if anything takes your fancy.

Do get in touch and let me know what book gifts you give and receive this year 🙂

The Many Blessings of Rejection as a Writer – Guest Post by Ike Pius

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I arrived at the bridge but couldn’t find the strength to jump. How did I get there?  

Let me tell you my story.

Inspiration struck in 2015, and so I wrote a short story. I wrote to several online journals,  and then I finally got a chance with a British based online magazine to publish my story serially. The first episode was a hit and so I discovered that I might have made an error. Bomber Boy deserved to be more than a chapter in another person’s book. After some thinking, I decided to publish it online as an eBook. A very interesting story, it was loosely based on the true events of December 25, 2008, in which a young Nigerian man had boarded a plane bound for the United States of America with a bomb in his underwear. His intentions were clear:  blow up the plane, send the 300 people on board to hell.

I was sure that it would become a hit, just as it was well accepted in the British magazine.  I excitedly  hit the publish button expecting to see my book become a best seller, and my name rise to fame. I thought maybe I could win the Pulitzer!

I was wrong! I quickly learned that if you are going to make any sales you need to do a lot of publicity, and one way to do so is to have good reviews on your book.  I started the process of requesting for reviews. That was how my problems started.

The World Loves to Hate

In my searching, I came across a certain American woman who owns a popular blog. Her name is Karen. As the stars would have it she works at the particular Airline where my story was taken from. As a matter of fact it seems that she was quite involved in the sad event from which my story is derived. She had first-hand information about it. I was very happy that she agreed to read my book, and write a review.

It was a disaster! She hated my book so much that she spent all her time calling out even the slightest spelling and punctuation errors. The review was so one sided that it did not see a single positive side in the book it was all about. This woman bashed everything about my book; from the disclaimer I put at the beginning to the way I ended the story. Even though the book was clearly marked ‘Fiction,’  she said my work did not tally with the details of the original event, and put up the ONLY 2 star review on my book page till date.  (Just google Bomber Boy: Ike Pius her review is quite prominent. ) She made it quite clear that she considered me and my book a nuisance.

At about the same time another American woman reviewer from whom I requested a review wrote that my book was just an attempt to humanize a extremist. She said that I had no talent, and that I was sympathetic to extremists and  their actions. She said this even though I included an Afterword at the back of my book, in which I condemned violence in all forms, and called for more sense from Africa which has become a battleground. I do not believe she even got to the Afterword. She probably saw an African writing a book, and decided to put him in his place. If you google Bomber Boy: Ike Pius you can find her damning review.

Those two reviews have probably killed  my chances of successfully marketing that book.

I was Knocked out Cold 

Bashing an Author’s writing work is an act of evil. It brings feelings of frustration, dejection, and can even bring extreme depression. In my particular case I stopped promoting my book on twitter and facebook, and I did not even write as little as an essay for months at a stretch. To put it simply I stopped being an Author. I stopped being alive.  I wanted to die.  That was how I got to rock bottom as I stated at the beginning of this article.

But something happened that brought me back to life.

Karen, the first  reviewer I mentioned at the beginning, basking in her success in killing my chances on Amazon, then came back to another book marketing website (GoodReads) to repeat the patriotic action. SHE DID  THIS AFTER THE PERIOD OF ABOUT 2 LONG YEARS. I did not ask her to do this, and neither did she ask or notify me. Apparently, she just searched for my book on Goodreads, and said to her self: ‘shoot it down again.’

What Hit the Reset Button on my Brain?

To be honest it was pure rage! I was so angry when I saw her peddling her hate again on goodreads that I did not even realize that I was up and doing again. As electric shock therapy can revive a comatose brain, so was I resuscitated.  I saw that I could fight back if I really wanted to, and so here I am- fighting!

Their words have not only sparked my brain into activity, but they have unwittingly given me a story to tell. The rocks that have been thrown at me have now become the steps upon which I climb to become a better writer-a greater writer.

To add icing on the cake, I now consider myself qualified to give words of encouragement to younger ones who might have experienced the pain of rejection for the first time. I do exactly that in the next paragraph.

Keep Pushing, don’t Let them Win

To tell you the truth, I think it takes a lot to become successful as a Black person in almost any field of endeavor. You have to work extra hard! You have to put in the extra effort just to get a chance to show your abilities.

This could sometimes mean writing more job applications, submitting more contract proposals, going to more casting auditions, attending more dress rehearsals, and doing more practice sessions. But the extra work can make you better.

I tell people that I have written more review requests than I can count, and that I have been ignored or rejected well over 100 times-to be modest. This has made me more sensitive to the few opportunities that I have got, and I have been able to build solid working relationships with the few people who have been responsive.

I can confidently tell you that chances will come, and if you seize your moment, you can make it. There is nothing in this world that you cannot achieve if you do not give up.

The Most Important Part of My Story 

If I had given up then you would not be reading this post now. I firmly believe that the information contained here will be useful to somebody somewhere. Who knows, it could even save someone’s career.

Furthermore, by not giving up I have met many kind Authors and Reviewers, some  of whom have taken a stand with me basically because they have been disgusted by the actions of my detractors.

I have received many words of encouragement from many fine people all around the world, and now I have recovered my dignity and refueled my ambition.

A Summary of my Story

How has rejection been a positive thing for me?

It has inspired me, no, forced me to become a better writer. As a result writing has become for me a real, and profitable venture.

It has forced me to reach out, and to network more with readers and reviewers and now I better understand what readers appreciate.

It has made me more socially aware, more conscious of what is going on in the world.

About the Author : Ike Pius is an Author who wants to feature on every blog in the world. I ask that you read the most touching story I have ever written: When I Went to Hell https://onelovespace.wordpress.com/2017/05/05/when-i-went-to-hell/

Twitter – @IkePius

Snowbound (Malykant Mysteries Book 8) by Charlotte E. English – Review

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Next up on David’s Book Blurg I’m reviewing Snowbound book 8 in the Malykant Mysteries by Charlotte E. English.

Here’s the blurb

Genre – Fantasy.

Detective. Judge. Executioner.

Konrad Savast is the Malykant: the most secret servant of the God of Death. His job? To track down the foulest of murderers and bring them to The Malykt’s Justice. No mercy. No quarter.

Konrad may be finished with the coven at Divoro — but are they finished with him? Outside the gates of Ekamet, a new ice-palace has arisen, its grisly contents aimed squarely at the Malykant. Its message is clear: interference with the necromancers’ aims will not be tolerated.

Forced to return to Divoro, Konrad does so with trepidation — for murderers tend to run away from the Malykant, not towards. What dark purpose does the coven have in mind, and is he walking straight into a trap?

Review

To say Charlotte E. English has been prolific with the releases would be an understatement so I’m a little behind but catching up fast.

Longevity isn’t something easy to achieve in my opinion.. it takes a fantastic imagination to keep tales fresh and interesting.. Charlotte E. English knows the recipe well and serves up another delicious read.

If you aren’t familiar with the series it follows Konrad Savast.. he’s the Malykant.. he’s one person you hope you’ll never meet..his job is to deliver justice for those murdered.. and if you are unlucky to be on the wrong side of him it’s a lifetime of pain that awaits you.

The series has been developing at pace and Snowbound is linked heavily with the last book in the series The House At Divoro, so please do read the books in order otherwise it won’t make much sense.

Forced to return to Divoro Konrad is set for an out-of-body experience which has you gripping the edge of the seat. This tale shows how vulnerable Konrad really is… his Malykant powers can’t always save him.

For me this books screams character development as Nanda, the inspector and Tasha come to the foreground to save Konrad, this enabled the author to explore relationship dynamics but also have a little bit of fun with Konrad who is quite powerless for once.

Snowbound is another cracking tale. The page length is short at less than 150 pages but the author’s style fits perfectly, effortlessly packing in so much yet keeping the flow natural rather than forced. I’m always surprised how much plot the author can fit in within a few pages.

Dark and humorous is the only way to describe this series and Konrad’s serpents Ootapi and Eetapi epitomise the series, they always put a smile of my face.. the back and forth with Konrad is just a delight to read.

It’s another 5/5 stars for Charlotte E. English.. once again proving she’s the Queen of the short story.

Look out for my review of book 9 in the series The Zolin Conspiracy shortly!

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads.