Tiffany’s Twisted Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Christopher Tran
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Michael has a lot to cope with this summer. With his mother dead, he lives with his father and brother. Sadly, his father is dying of cancer, and for Michael, his father’s illness overrules the happiness that graduation should bring.

Michael has had a crush on Tiffany for a long time. She shows interest in him and, surprised, Michael can’t believe his luck. However, Tiffany isn’t quite right. Saying she’s sick and twisted is an understatement, but love is blind, and Michael can’t see what’s right in front of his face. His friends try and make him see that his new girlfriend is as crazy as a loon, but Michael isn’t having any of it…

Tiffany has scores to settle. She seeks justice for her mother’s death—and stops at nothing to get it. Her schemes are atrocious and involve heartache and death. She is insane! Though her antics are shocking, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Life sought to sling her a bad lot, and Tiffany works through it in the best way her whacky mind knows how. She feels she’s entitled to kill people, after all.

Michael’s friends strive to prove that Tiffany Tabor is twisted. Will Michael accept the truth, or will Tiffany wreak havoc on more unsuspecting victims? Why has Tiffany chosen Michael as her boyfriend? And who is the hooded freak who aids her every crime? What is it about the past that joins Tiffany and Michael?

A tense scene at the end makes the heart beat faster and the mind question how some people can and actually have acted in the same manner as Tiffany.

Weird! She’s just so weird!

The Sound Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Stan Grimes
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Alien ‘orange-hatters’ have come to town, and their intentions don’t look promising. What are they up to? Why is their location shrouded in secrecy and heavily guarded? How come the town mayor doesn’t seem phased by their presence? In fact, half the town is unperturbed by the orange-hatters. And what has Endwell Inc. got to do with it?

Larson Bash intends to find out just what’s going on. Unfortunately, the orange-hatters don’t take kindly to his snooping. Larson creates a newspaper with the sole purpose of showcasing the orange-hatters and their activities. Someone—the aliens’ leader? The mayor?—decides that Larson needs to be quiet…for good.

Orange-hatters visit Larson’s home and destroy it—and his wife. Despite his massive loss, Larson has no choice but to flee for his life and takes residence at his newspaper office. Sinister occurrences plague his days, and his assistant, Josie, and Larson’s dog, Jonas, stick it out together.

An unknown man attempts to kill them, and Larson’s insurance man proves to be anything but an insurance agent. As the heat gets hotter, Larson, Josie, and Jonas are forced to escape—to a place riddled with more orange-hatters.

Imagine living somewhere where anyone wearing a hat is a suspect. Who do you trust? Orange-hatters don’t have any tops to their heads, and Larson can’t just walk up to random people and demand that they remove their hat. With terror as their best friend, the trio, along with Josie’s sister, Tempest, and a fellow they meet along the way, must overcome all odds to survive.

Will they find out exactly what is going on? Why do spacecrafts suck up animals? What do the aliens want? And just what is Wasp Whiteman up to?

A highly enjoyable read with an excellent main and thrilling sub-plots. The Sound kept me spellbound, and I read it in two sittings. I closed the book at bedtime, and the first thing I did in the morning was open it to finish.

A great read.

Beyond Gehenna: Tour of Duty Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Scott Leddy
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Elgin Thomas has been brought up by his mother, a woman who believes in the paranormal. Elgin’s aunt also dabbles in the occult, and the young boy suffers terrible nightmares that follow him to adulthood. After impregnating his girlfriend, he joins the army to focus on something other than what his life was prior to the war.

Selected for a secret mission, Elgin finds himself the leader of a band of soldiers. They have to infiltrate the enemy’s leaders and bring them down. Struggling through the Vietnamese scrublands proves difficult, and the band of soldiers diminishes. However, Elgin, along with his trusted friend, Scout, stumble upon an unused temple, where Elgin finds an artefact that is invaluable on their travels.

A creepy crow follows Elgin, turning up every now and then, making sure Elgin is aware of its presence. Is the crow a portent? Or is it spying on him? Elgin senses the latter. Faced with a monumental decision during his time in Vietnam, Elgin soon realises things about himself. At one time, he didn’t think himself capable of killing…

At his journey’s end, I was left a little bereft. I had grown to like Elgin as the book progressed, had come to know him, in a sense. Closing the book was almost like losing a much loved friend. However, I was excited to learn that Elgin’s story doesn’t end there. Book two is on the way, leaving me a very happy camper!

Syndrome Wild Child Publishing

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Author: James Patrick Riser
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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The latest in a string of murders ensures Fred Peters is kept in employment. A crime scene photographer, you’d think his job would wear him down, considering the pictures he has to take. But you’d be wrong. Fred takes macabre pleasure in snapping murder victims. He takes loving your job to a whole new level. Creepy and strange, Fred has something more sinister awaiting him. He’s about to get closer to the victims than he ever thought possible…

Cid and his girlfriend, Shay, move in together—alone. Living with Shay’s mother has been testing. Cid has a habit that he has hidden from Shay—one he can’t seem to break. Cid is a “cutter”. How is he involved in the recent killings?

Malevolent forces join to orchestrate the lives of Fred and Cid, bringing them together in an exciting climax. If you like horror, Syndrome will slake your thirst for the macabre. Well enjoyed by this reader. My only gripe is that I wish it had been longer.

Under the Stone Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Matthew Babcock
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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They Were Kids Who Played with Dolls

A family outing ends in tragedy, but can little Ian work out exactly what’s happened? Told from a child’s perspective, They Were Kids Who Played with Dolls deals with how we see things as children. Listening to snatches of conversation and seeing glimpses of events only tell us half the story. Just as well, for the tragedy would be too much for Ian to bear at such a young age. A well-crafted tale that explains all as well as giving reader a peek back into childhood, where boys race toys down the stream and breathe in the warm summer air.

An enjoyable tale that brought nostalgia, a smile, and a longing to shove away the trials of adulthood and become a child again—just for the day.

Pizza Joint

Mickey receives a phone call from a girl asking him to meet her. Her voice captivates him, and he jumps on his bike and pedals like a professional rider to the meeting point. The bike ride scene portrays a balmy American day, showing the neighbours, the sights, the nostalgia of childhood, where only your dreams and destination is important.

At the school dance, a new boy makes an appearance. Feelings of inferiority are dealt with here with good skill. I remember feeling like that! Mr. Babcock not only shows the dance setting, but also adds small touches that zipped me back to my youth with startling speed.

Under the Stone

A plague of crows descend on the town, wreaking havoc. On this day, Wyatt promises his fiancée, Maggie, that he will tell her father of their engagement. Wyatt goes to the arranged meeting place, but Maggie’s father doesn’t appear to have shown.

Weaved throughout are snippets of other townsfolk and how the crow plague affects their life. I felt a sense of intertwining here; of how our lives are linked to others, even if only by gossamer threads. A good look into the human psyche. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Reservations

Wade takes his daughter, Lindsey, out for a road trip. He hasn’t done this before—not without his wife. Lindsey needs to pee, and Wade is left with a dilemma. Can he take her into the men’s room, possibly scarring the little girl for life? Or should he stop somewhere and ask a female to help him out?

Wade stops, and the story unfolds. He encounters a strange shutterbug and an Indian. Both unnerve him, and Lindsey still needs to pee. Pressure mounts. Will Wade accept the assistance of the sinister Inidian?

A good look into the human mind here. The lives of others interweave with Wade’s. Mr. Babcock has a great way of showing how one person’s actions affects others. So far, the tales have deeper meaning than is first apparent.

Meer, Tarn, Water, Fell

Once again, Mr. Babcock has penned a tale that encompasses many people. The actions of one woman lays down the basis for the lives of others. Who knew that years later her secret would return?

Vincent has the urge to tell his ex wife how she made him feel all those years ago when she left him.

Hilde, Vincent’s ex wife, wants to smooth things over, to explain, to…

And Tilde—just who is she? She travels far to find out her true identity, not knowing that her appearance will send shock waves through the people that she seeks—for very different reasons.

I especially liked the scene on the bus where Tilde converses with the bus driver. I was transported right along with her. A gripping tale that flicks between each character, Meer, Tarn, Water, Fell is my favourite out of a very good bunch of tales.

Summary

There are writers that can write. There are writers that can write but also have a flair for it, a talent, an obvious love of the written word. Mr. Babcock has the latter. Highly recommended.

How to Avoid Writers’ Hell: Vols 1 and 2 Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Faith Bicknell-Brown
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Faith Bicknell-Brown has shared some of her knowledge of the world of publishing and writing. With concise points on how to spruce up your manuscript, send it to publishers, and her sharp wit, Ms. Bicknell-Brown’s How to Avoid Writers’ Hell vols 1 & 2 gave me an insight I had previously been unaware of.

As a reader, I had always thought writers sent out their books and if they were good enough they got published. Only recently have I become aware of how much editing goes into books. After reading Ms. Bicknell-Brown’s books, I have also had my eyes opened to just how complex—said from a reader-only point of view—the publishing industry is. I found learning about how to format manuscripts interesting. The tips on what to include (or not) in your manuscript enlightened me further.

I learned some interesting things—and I don’t write. So if you’re serious about the craft of writing, I would strongly recommend buying these How-To books. They could just save your blushes!

Tennessee Waltz in the Park and Visiting Donna Dee Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Zinnia Hope
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Tennessee Waltz in the Park

Lily has pined for the love of her life, Jason, for many decades. Cruelly parted at the beginning of their relationship, the two lovers went their separate ways and lived their lives as best they could. Lily’s present life—a life living quite rough—as an elderly woman is shown beautifully. Rich imagery and a vivid sense of being in Lily’s world enveloped me as I read—to the point that I forgot I was reading.

Zinnia Hope spins a poignant tale, one that made me think about life and how it can pass us by from the spiteful actions of another. The ending made my eyes well up, and the writing itself is stunning.

Visiting Donna Dee

Arnold Cuttshaver has spent most of his life behind bars. But did he commit the crime for which he was imprisoned? Upon leaving jail, he starts work at a small book store, living in one of the apartments above.

Regina lives in the other apartment and also works at the store, showing Arnold the ropes and learning much about the old man as their relationship gains a more stable footing. Regina learns not to take people at face value.

The town gets flooded, forcing the prickly Arnold and the forthright Regina to spend time with one another, trapped inside the book store. Arnold opens up and shares some of his life with the young woman.

With a sad ending—again, my eyes welled—Zinnia Hope has a unique way of transporting this reader right into the world of the characters. I love the images she produces, her exceptional way with words.

A great e-book—even greater because it contains two stories.

Beckoned Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Ronald Scala
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Nick’s love of alcohol drove a wedge between him and his wife, Margot. Or did it?

Nick is a regular guy—he likes a beer or two, visiting his local to watch the latest game, and plodding along his path of life. Since separating from his wife and moving into his own place, Nick’s world is one of working and looking after his daughter, Marissa, on designated weekends. However, something from the past has been lurking inside Nick for years, only he didn’t realise it until Margot contacts him with an unusual request to meet up.

Margot has unearthed a fantastical chunk of information while researching for her job. That information starts to make much sense to Margot, and she realises that it had a profound effect on the deterioration of her marriage to Nick. She meets with Nick and begins to explain her findings.

As bizarre as it may seem, Margot’s findings revealed a spiritual being that wreaks havoc, murder, and mayhem within a certain mile span of the area in which Margot and Nick live. As a young courting couple, they unknowingly stumbled into the spirit’s domain, and ever since, the spirit has infiltrated their minds, manipulating them to do its bidding.

Nick suffers from visions—quick snap images that assail him while driving for his job in the region of the spirit’s realm. The closer he gets to Clarion, the worse the visions are. A spooky ‘pull’ passes through Nick, and he has to stave off the urge to commit horrendous acts. Luckily, armed with Margot’s knowledge, Nick is conscious of what the spirit is trying to do.

However, to rid themselves of the demon, Margot and Nick must revisit a place from their past where it all began. Will the couple defeat the spirit? And can they save their relationship at the same time?

I enjoyed Beckoned immensely. Nick’s character explores the change of his personality over the years and how he comes to terms with things he did in the past that he isn’t proud of. He realises that his actions, though aided by the spirit, weren’t good ones and, as his love for Margot is rekindled, Nick’s urge to save himself, his wife, and his young teenage daughter from the demon’s clutches is a battle that I joined in wholeheartedly. With fascinating facts and a plot that thickens with each page turned, Mr. Scala has written a tale that I won’t forget in a hurry. Excellent!

Seasons of the Brittle Harvest, Vol 1: Prairie Frost Wild Child Publishing

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Author: James Cheetham
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Terry and Suzanne are two strangers thrown together. Terry, on his way home from the US to Canada, meets Suzanne in exceptional circumstances. Together, they fly a small plane in an attempt to flee the madness that has overtaken the world. A ‘virus’ has been spreading—a virus that kills, yet allows the dead to come alive again, to wreak havoc on the living as zombies.

However, the plane crashes, and Terry and Suzanne must find a place of safety or risk becoming zombies themselves. They happen upon a small farm. Glenn, the farmer, seems reticent to allow them entry into his home at first. And who can blame him? He has endured untold horrors since the viral outbreak.

The threesome form a bond and realise that they must leave Glenn’s farm and find a safer place, for the wandering dead make their presence felt in more ways than one… Terry’s urge to find his wife and children overrides his own safety. Suzanne’s need to assuage inner demons is a difficult task. And Glenn must learn to accept that his previous actions before meeting Terry and Suzanne were ones he had to take—he had no choice.

With the greatest snow storm that the trio have ever experienced swirling around them, they make their way to Terry’s home. His empty home… Survival instinct kicks in, and all three people must come to terms with who they are, what their lives had been like, and what their lives will become. Fighting to stay alive, with supplies running out fast, they must acknowledge that the world as they knew it has changed beyond all recognition and venture into the unknown in their attempt to reach a zombie-free sanctuary.

Cabin fever sits waiting to claim the trio in its web of insanity, while the weather connives to keep them indoors. However, cabin fever and the elements didn’t bargain on human survival instinct being so strong, and the threesome venture outside with determined bravery.

Will Terry find his family? Will Suzanne combat OCD? Will Glenn ever forgive himself for his past actions?

A fabulous read that chilled my bones at times—a fantastic exploration into three people’s personalities and how they coped with a world gone mad, while attempting to stave off the insanity that lurks at every turn. Prairie Frost is a must read for all horror enthusiasts. I really do recommend this book. An excellent look into the human psyche, the kind of look that made me examine what I would do in such a situation. And the zombies! Marvellous! They are weird, quirky, frightening and, at times, endearing. Mr. Cheetham pens a fine tale, in my opinion. Bravo, sir!

Cruising the Green of Second Avenue, Vol 2, Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Walter Giersbach
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Story 1: Sound of Music, Revised

Jake is introduced to Ellen and embarks on a relationship with her. She takes up quite a bit of his time, and he finds himself growing more attached to her. Imagine his upset when she disappears from his life. Jake’s friend informs him that something terrible has befallen Ellen. However, that isn’t quite the truth, though Jake feels that maybe the original tale of Ellen’s disappearance might have been easier to bear…

Story 2: Straight Charlie and the Really Normal Woman

Charlie is a less than average looking fellow: boring, bland, forgettable. He meets what he calls a ‘normal’ woman, Amelia, an artist. Charlie informs Jake that when he makes love to Amelia she won’t have the lights on. What is she hiding, Charlie wants to know? Curiosity killed the cat springs to mind with this tale!

Story 3: Eighty Beatty and the Mirror

Eighty Beatty is a street bum. He collects books in a quest to learn all about life and the world. A mishap makes him see that life isn’t always found between the pages. An enjoyable tale.

Story 4: Fame Takes the Celluloid Kid to Task

Frank is upset that buildings featured in the many films he has watched are going to be torn down. He hatches a plan to save the buildings and writes a book, complete with photographs, to show how magnificent they are and what a mistake it would be to lose them. However, his plan doesn’t quite work out as he expected.

Story 5: Bewitched by the Babe at Bloomingdale’s

While in Bloomingdale’s, Charlie explains his theory on attracting women to his friend, Jake. A woman, Noelle, listens to their conversation and joins in. Jake leaves Charlie in Noelle’s company and later hears how well Charlie got along with her.

Poor Charlie—he has a very big surprise lurking round the corner…

My favourite story of the book. Hilarious.

Story 6: The Ghost on the IND Line

Sammy’s wife, Sarah, has her fortune told at a party. A secret from her past resurfaces, and Sammy and Jake try their best to lay Sarah’s fears to rest once and for all. A great scene involving two police officers had me laughing out loud. A wonderful, poignant tale.

Story 7: Pre-Apocalyptic Motorcycle Mama

God bless mothers, but sometimes they can be a little overbearing. Klein’s mother, Roberta, comes visiting. She gusts into his personal space like an unwelcome bout of gas. Klein attempts to grin and bear it, but comes close to losing his temper. Roberta douses his ire with a revelation, and Jake realises that reaching age thirty isn’t the end of his life. A somewhat sad tale that made me count my blessings.

Story 8: Nordstrom and the Art of Love

Jake finds his envy levels tested when an old flame, Theo, dates his boss, John. Jake plots to put a spanner in the works (he still has feelings for Theo), though fate steps in and adds its own bag of tools to the mix.

The emotion of envy is shown well in this tale. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Story 9: Looking for a New Job

Down in the dumps at the possibility of losing his job, Jake returns home to find a couple of youths accosting his neighbour, Clarice. Jake wants to get to know Clarice better, but she seems distant. Why, I asked. A clever twist in the tale explained all. Another tale with a sad tinge, and yet again I counted my blessings.

Story 10: The Hostage Release Gang Cheats Death

Time passes; friends that were once so close drift apart with their roads of life taking different directions. Jake meets up with Allen, and they agree to gather the old gang together for old time’s sake. In each other’s company once more, there is one person that Jake wants to see above all the others. But, will she turn up?

A sweet tale of the past and present and how love does sometimes burn brightly despite years of separation.

Summary: Cruising the Green of Second Avenue, Volume Two, allowed me to revisit everyone from Volume one. I slipped back into Jake’s life easily, feeling as though I knew them all—good character development, an easy voice, and funny lines saw to that. Once again, a brilliant set of short stories that involve everyone in Jake’s life. Here’s hoping there is a Volume Three.

Cruising the Green of Second Avenue Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Walter Giersbach
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Story 1: Frank Cassidy and the Canarsie Chick

Frank is someone others see as an easy target for their jokes. He doesn’t have much luck with women either. One day, he meets Ramona. Ramona buries him in the sand on the beach with hilarious consequences.

Fun line: Frank should have had girls on him like rats fighting over a bagel.

Story 2: The Kid’s Got Smarts

Benny has a high IQ. Unfortunately, this doesn’t run to knowing what to do with the opposite sex. Benny needs advice, and he takes it—literally.

Fave line: One January afternoon, I sat at home when it was cold enough to freeze your words in mid-air.

Story 3: Laura Lard Takes no Prisoners

Allen loves overweight women. He has always been attracted to them, seeing their personalities rather than what they look like. He falls in love, and his bride-to-be, Laura, has a surprise for him when he meets her at the church.

Fun line: Laura Lardner had enough confidence in her image to make the cosmetics sales ladies at Bloomingdales wet their panties.

Story 4: The Man Who Put the Sin in Cynic

Carl’s a cynic. He has a caustic barb for every occasion. When his name starts cropping up in the newspaper, his life is about to change. For better or worse? Read and find out!

Fun line: Carl was pushing forty, and his hair was receding faster than the Jersey shoreline.

Story 5: Klein Comes Back Abashed

Klein and Chung seem a mis-matched couple. However, there’s something about the saying ‘opposites attract’.

Great visual: The guy splayed out over the steps had a face full of beard and wild black hair escaping from the red, white and blue bandanna tied around his head.

Story 6: Sarah, My Donna, and Child

Sammy and Sarah appear to be going through a rough patch in their marriage. Sammy says things without thinking. His barbs hurt his wife. Things are set to turn around when Sarah finds something to occupy her time—something for herself alone. But when she manoeuvres things to help Sammy, his reaction isn’t quite what she’d envisaged.

Fun line: It was just that she was plain as a doorknob and had the personality of a floor mat.

Story 7: Sharon Finds Her Voice

Sharon’s accent isn’t what you’d call nice. She’s got a harsh brogue on her that might make you wince if you heard it. A frightening twist of fate in the health department changes all that, and Sharon finds herself with an altogether different voice…

Cool visual: and his eyelids popped up and down like a Venetian blind.

Story 8: Astroturfing Benjamin’s Books

Benjamin’s novel isn’t selling as well as it could. A fan reader, Starla, lends him a hand and orchestrates more sales than Benjamin could wish for. Has Starla done him a favour, or was his life better before she came along?

Fun line: It was more than okay to Benjamin, who would’ve had moths in his wallet if it hadn’t been for Meredith’s paycheck.

Story 9: Donna Writes a Love Contract

Donna explains how her son was conceived. Her tale is an eye-opener and made me wary of school teachers!

Great visual: but I still needed to pry loose one bit of truth—one question that stuck in my teeth like a piece of popcorn after the theater lights came up.

Summary: Cruising the Green of Second Avenue is a collection of stories that introduces many different characters that intertwine in each story. A thoroughly enjoyable book, read in one sitting. Too hard to put down. Too hard to accept that it was over when the last page had been read. I felt lost once finished. The characters are so real that you become friends with them while reading. Still, all is not lost. I hear there are other volumes—something I’m eagerly looking forward to!

The Thorazine Mirrorball Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Jack Maeby
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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James Avery—street name Jimmy Mack—has been in a mental institution for the past two years. The drug, Thorazine, was used to control his depression, and Jimmy has learned that though Thorazine helped him in his darkest moments, it didn’t take the problem away. However, newly ‘released’, he is able to return to the love of his life—music.

Jimmy plays the saxophone—can also play the organ and piano pretty well too—and accepts the offer of a job from Mr.Cleveland to play the organ in a band he manages. Despite the money being good, the main lure for Jimmy was the chance to spend time in the company of the female singer, the rather lovely Yvonne—stage name ‘Bubbles’. Yvonne has something about her that stirs Jimmy’s previously dormant libido, though Mr. Maeby doesn’t dwell on this fact in an erotic manner.

Jimmy joins the band and soon realises that maybe he should have hung around with his old pal Tommy Laidlaw instead. Laidlaw is an amusing character that shines from the page. Jimmy’s friendship with Laidlaw, though based on their mutual addictions, is solid. So, when things take a turn for the worst, when people start getting murdered and the blame falls solely on Jimmy, who else would he turn to but his good buddy?

A thriller of exciting proportions, The Thorazine Mirrorball will have you reading as quickly as you can to find out what happens next. Running from the police—and the real killer—brings a question to Jimmy’s mind: How can he really be sure he didn’t kill those people? After all, his memory isn’t what it used to be—the drugs saw to that…

The ending chapters are heart-thumpingly fast paced. Everything falls into place, and the killer and their reasons for committing murder become apparent. Yes, I had an idea of a certain person’s involvement, but I didn’t guess who the main perpetrator was—and guessing who aided in the killings didn’t spoil the read.

Not only a thriller, The Thorazine Mirrorball has light and dark humour smattered throughout. A brilliantly penned novel, one I’m glad I read. Mr. Maeby has a distinct voice that drew me into the read immediately, making me think that Jimmy was telling me his story right there and then.

Fabulous!

Oh, Ragnarok Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Gabriel Llanas
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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He is one strange man. He believes he has the power to change the world. Stalking victims, he removes a part of their body while they are still alive, believing that their essence, their very soul, will remain in the body part for when he passes it along to someone else. Yes, you heard right! I told you, this guy is WEIRD.Sarah is a psychic. She senses something, sees a vision and means to find out what it means… She’s drawn into His strange world, and finds her life dramatically changed as she follows his trail. She meets Carlos, who joins forces with her. Together, they work to find out just who He is and what he’s up to. Never would they have envisaged a war between gods.

He grows ever weirder throughout the book. His ‘children’ are more than mere children… Fantastical beasts inhabit the pages of Oh, Ragnarok, ones that I’m glad don’t exist for real.

Oh, Ragnarok starts off seeming like a thriller, but it swiftly changes into something more twisty, more interesting. Fantasy? I loved the way the tale swung from one genre to another.

Excitement, weirdness, good writing. Bravo, Mr. Llanas!

The Writing on the Wall Wild Child Publishing

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Author: James Goodman
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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The Writing on the Wall really does bring it home that there are some seriously weird people in this world. Beezle is one of them. He believes that by killing people, he is pleasing gods. Gods that preside over public restrooms. Sounds insane, right? But there must be some people out there that do believe in these kinds of things, otherwise our mental institutions wouldn’t be so full…

Beezle leaves a trail of scrawled messages in public restrooms for a young man, Dennis, to find. He met Dennis in a bar and tried to impress his beliefs upon him. Poor Dennis thought he’d just met an odd man. He had no idea just how odd Beezle was.

And off we’re taken on a fantastically crazy ride. The Writing on the Wall made me wonder about people, look at them differently. Shudder at the thought of living in a mind like Beezle’s. And I also sat on the edge of my seat, leaned a little closer to the monitor when Dennis was suspected of being the killer. I wanted to scream at the policemen, “It isn’t him, you jerks!”

So did I enjoy The Writing on the Wall? You bet I did. I haven’t read such a creepy, grippingly weird tale in a long time. Superb!

Weirdly Wild Child Publishing

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Authors: Multiple
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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C.T.Adams & Cathy Clamp

Those That Won’t be Missed

Father Patrick visits those unfortunate enough to be in an extended care facility. While taking a cigarette break during visits, a woman, Francie, joins him. Francie visits her sister at the facility. After the electricity shuts off, Father Patrick finds himself in a terrifying position. His faith tested, he has to make a difficult decision. One that will change the rest of his life.

An excellent read. Pulled into the story from the first word, the voice is the clincher. It was almost as if Father Patrick was telling me this tale. For real. Superb delivery. I’ll be searching out more from C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp.

Faith Bicknell-Brown

Little Karen

Harland’s wife, Karen, has died. Harland has to come to terms with her death and, after leaving the funeral and returning to the home they shared, memories if their time together filters through. Harland’s grief is palpable when he wakes the next morning and realises that Karen is really dead. After all, it’s easy to kid yourself a loved one has just gone away for a little while. The writing here is superb.

With a twist involving a Mourning Dove, this tale brought a tear to my eye, but also gave me hope that death is not the end. Wonderful!

The Violin’s Cry

Dawn sets off on a journey to visit Buddy Alljoy, a man who crafts violins. Dawn’s a journalist, and Buddy’s story would make good reading. Touched by the fact that Buddy’s wife is wheelchair-bound and can’t speak properly, Dawn settles down and listens to what Buddy has to say.

That short blurb there doesn’t do this tale justice. A charming story with a poignant twist, this one also made me cry. Excellent!

The 63rd President

A different feel this time, proving Ms. Bicknell-Brown can spin yarns in different voices and genres easily.

Forty-four years ago, Marshall fled an invasion on earth with his Pap. He has a small chest containing things that remind him of his past. Memories of his parents linger in his mind. Upon finding something inside a lost time capsule, Marshall faces truths that will change his life forever.

An intriguing tale, well written. Hugely enjoyable.

Uncle Willy’s Cure

William looks old. Ancient. He sits in a wheelchair while his sister, Victoria, pushes him along. Yet Victoria is a child and, despite appearances, so is William. To prevent questions from strangers, they name William ‘Uncle Willy’. Mama and Papa have taken William and Victoria out on a day trip. William is eager to visit a fountain, one that may, or may not change his life…

Lovely wording, Uncle Willy’s Cure is a tale that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the last word.

Collecting Data

Transported back in time with this tale, back to a place where people are beheaded for their crimes. Denise observes an execution, but she has a reason for loitering at such events… A brilliant short tale that sated my lust for the macabre—excellent twist.

James Cheetham

The Beekeeper

One of my favourite tales of the whole collection, The Beekeeper delves into the mind of a dying man. A stubborn man who, in his younger days, ruled his household in a strict manner. With his wife no longer living, The Beekeeper is cared for by his daughter. A daughter whom he failed to express his feelings for. She needs her father to tell her just once that she is loved—and has reasons for wanting to hear those precious words.

A literary feel to this one, and immensely enjoyable if you like tales with a deeper meaning. With a hint of creepiness and otherwordly-ness (is that even a word?), I’ll remember this tale forever. It must be PMT or something, as this one made me cry like a snotty kid. Brilliant! Not brilliant that I cried and snotted, but a brilliant tale.

Marva Dasef

The Country Faire

Oh! Much delight with this one. Gritty, to the point, the voice in this story is punchy and spot on for the subject matter. MC has an unfortunate incident happen at the country faire. One that she insists on correcting year after year…

Payback is a bitch.

This tale got my evil side going. Yeah, now where’s my knife…?

The Hunter

Oh! I cannot contain myself now. Another punchy tale by Ms. Dasef. Creepy, goosebump inducing… He is one weird fellow. He stalks women to sate his strange desires. Yet his reign of terror must come to an end. An end he, and me as a reader, wasn’t expecting.

*nods head. Damn cool story.*

Coward

Gina suffers abuse. However, it seems she enjoys it. Or does she? Confused and unsure as to what she really wants, Coward explores one woman’s hurt soul and troubled mind. A tale that smacks you in the face.

*walks off with a black eye…*

Heather’s Pain

Heather is only thirty. But she’s ill and on medication. Mother comes to visit Heather on a regular basis. She lets herself in. It saves Heather having to get up to open the door, you see. And what with her bad back, well… So when Heather’s door opens, she fully expects Mother to be her visitor…

Heather! You naughty girl! And Mother? Oh my…

M.E Ellis

The Game

A killer who uses the colours of a Rubik’s cube. Unique, original, and a short tale that packs a punch, leaving the reader gasping for breath at the end. Oh, the horror in the colour red!

Serenity Sea

The terror involved in caring for another for far too long is evident in this macabre tale. Oh, not the love of another, no, no! The care of wiping one’s nose, feeding their hungry mouth, and snapping to finally receive the care that the caregiver deserves.

This story is eloquently written and weaves the horror in a most literary way.

The Stanza

M.E Ellis brings yet another killer to her collection of Weirdly tales. This time the murderer focuses on a prostitute. I have to say that the images alone inspire revulsion and disgust within the reader. The prostitute loses her life, but the killer’s thoughts and descriptions of her as he prepares to snuff out her light are enough to inspire nightmares let alone the actual story line!

Maurice’s Job

Colours play yet another theme in this grand and creepy tale, but flowers are thrown into the mix. Maurice has an odd preoccupation with the funeral home that will make you think twice about ever going to another viewing again.

A Thousand For One

This is my favourite tale from M.E Ellis. Take a mortician, Death, and the fact that there has been a barter and you’re pulled into a macabre world that is both darkly amusing and soul tugging. Loved this tale!

You Shall be Heard

This is a super short story that will bring a tear to your eye. Young people can tell you what hurts them if you only take a moment to pay attention.

Manhunt

This is a brief glimpse into a crime scene. Who is seeing this scene? The reader…or the killer? You decide.

Bernita Harris

Stone Child

Lillie is a Talent. She is able to feel and see things that normal people can’t. She’s called in to help investigate a crime. A child has gone missing. Lillie hates those cases, but, despite that aversion, she visits the place where the child was abducted—with the sole intention of finding her.

Her usual partner, John Thresher, is unable to assist her, so Lillie pairs up with a charming man, Will Smith. Together they meet the child’s father, an unsavoury character, and search the surrounding area. Lillie sees things, and those things lead her to what she seeks.

A haunting tale in some ways, Stone Child has many aspects that I admired. I loved the introduction of people/beings other than humans—plausible ones at that—and the whole ‘feel’ of the piece. Strong voice, very well written, I enjoyed this story a lot. Fabulous!

Stacia Helman

Anya

Enter demons! Oh yeah, if you like demons, devils, or anything sinister, Anya is the tale for you.

Carly, a downtrodden, used and abused woman, is married to Mitch, a hateful pig who I could quite happily have stabbed. She finds out she is pregnant and, despite knowing Mitch will go absolutely crazy, she cannot bear to think of taking a life and getting an abortion. Note my last sentence—she can’t bear the thought of taking a life…

Mitch does indeed go crazy and hurts Carly so badly that she loses consciousness. But Carly wakes up as a completely different woman. One who has to wreak revenge on everyone who has committed terrible actions. I won’t reveal how she changes or why, but just know that the thought of taking a life isn’t quite so daunting to Carly now, and that, dear reader, was the ironic twist in this tale. Superb!

Lion Irons

Double Omega

Samantha has just started university. Shown the ropes by the weird Barbra Grove, Samantha decides that she would like to join the house of Omega for the time she’s at uni. After all, the Omega girls are slim and pretty. The Omega girls represent everything Samantha wants for herself. However, things aren’t quite as they seem, and Samantha finds herself in a frightening, yet compelling situation…

A fine tale. Well written, Lion Irons captured my attention right from the start. Despite the strangeness, there are a couple of humorous lines in Double Omega. But don’t think the laughter will last long. The sinister aspect will turn your mirth into fear.

Great!

Rae Lindley

A Day in the Life of Simplicity

A touch of Sci-Fi, anyone? Oh, yes. Being transported to the future is just what the doctor ordered sometimes.

Lyn is a cop in a world where everything is monitored. Even your thoughts. Your body mass. Pregnancy is not allowed—unless the government say so. So when Lyn finds out she is pregnant, she wonders how the hell this can be. And worries about it, for she knows what the penalty is should her pregnancy be discovered. And being a cop doesn’t help matters.

This tale has a wicked twist—a cruel one for Lyn, but an exciting one for this reader. My heart thudded loudly for a few minutes while reading, and I felt for Lyn, while at the same time hating the government. I actually shuddered, wondering just what our futures do hold, and if Big Brother really does come to pass in the centuries to come, I’ll be glad I’m not here to suffer the consequences of that large eye watching me.

Rosa Orrore

Know It All

Sarah’s brother, Richard, enters the House of the Lost Souls. Terrified that he won’t come out again—for no one ever does—and appalled that her parents follow Richard’s lead, Sarah is momentarily freaked out about what she should do. Coming to the decision that she must join her family, Sarah enters the house with the determination to get her family out again, and keep them safe.

However, the house has other ideas…

I’m telling you, some of the lines in Know It All creeped me out. It didn’t help that I read it at night, all alone. Stark images sprang into my head, and I don’t mind admitting to being scared. Just a little. Honestly, I’m tough. I can cope with horror. Yeah…

Amanda Tieman

The Surprise

Jason gets off work and drops his daughter off at a birthday party. His wife, Maggie, went off the rails a couple of years ago and ended up in a mental facility. For the first time in a while, Jason has time to himself. He goes home with the intention of making pizza, having a shower, and chilling out.

However, a news report on the TV unsettles him, and the events that occur on a night that should have been relaxing, changes his life forever. Maggie is one crazy woman, and she has scores to settle. The Surprise gave me the jitters. Crazy folk always do.

The Sickness

Alex takes her dog, Xander, camping. She enjoys sleeping out under the stars, getting away from every day life. Yet the woods hold a secret. The woods harbour a being that decides to acquaint itself with Alex.

Returning home, Alex notices changes in herself. Like the fact she devours raw meat without thinking anything of it. Determined to work out what’s happened to her, she does some research—and that research brings startling results.

Do you like werewolves? If so, The Sickness is the tale for you. Hoooooowwwwl!

Summary

An absolutely fantastic set of tales. I have nothing bad to say about any of them. Weirdly gave me everything it promised and more. Strange, odd, scary, whacky, creepy. Top notch writing. I’ll be recommending this to anyone and everyone. Stunning!

Impressions Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Matthew Babcock
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Allan Douglas is a lovely man who just wants to do the right thing in life. He marries Mandie Hendershot, and they have a daughter. They name her Rebecca Ruth. Though Mandie’s family are a little pushy and set in their ways, Allan tries to fit in with their way of life. It seems, at times, that the Hendershots would prefer not to have outsiders in their family, and some of their actions made me wince with embarrassment for Allan.

A couple of years roll by, and Rebecca Ruth seems to be acting a little violently. Allan, obviously perturbed by her behaviour, wonders whether Rebecca has picked up her traits from watching her auntie Rory. Rory—who, let me tell you, is a despicable creature who I hated—mistreats her own two children. The Hendershots don’t seem worried by her actions, and Rory’s children continue to be treated quite appallingly by their mother.

Allan can’t bear the way they are treated and asks himself whether it would be right for him to intervene. He knows the Hendershots would undoubtedly gang up on him and protect Rory, but Allan’s conscience keeps nagging…

Allan decides to write a letter to Rory, only to find someone else has written on the pad before him. The previous letter writer pressed down quite hard with the pen, leaving an impression. An impression that Allan reads, giving him completely the wrong idea.

I loved the way Impressions went from past to present. The way Allan and Mandie met was a smile-inducing scene. There are magnificent touches throughout the book. The ending of the book had a brilliant ironic twist. I feel privileged to have read sun fine penmanship. A book I will never forget, Impressions has certainly left a lasting one on me.

The Immortal Soul Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Mack Mani
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Paul and Shaun, private detectives, usually find business slows down during the winter months. Though never totally. There are always people who go missing…

An elderly woman, Caroll Tooley, visits their office with hopes that the detectives can find a young man, Adam, who lodged with her. He left a note for Caroll two weeks previously. And she hasn’t seen him since. Caroll also produces a small pouch containing what looks like ash—Adam’s pouch.

Though Paul feels Adam isn’t ‘missing’ as such, he agrees to visit Caroll’s house to search Adam’s room for any possible clues. He finds a notebook…

The search for Adam begins. Paul and Shaun are thrown into a web of intrigue. A fire breaks out where a gathering of youths had been in attendance. All that remains of them are their teeth. Also, Caroll’s home is set ablaze. Who did this?

A man who calls himself Father was my favourite character. Sinister, weird, and obviously whacko, he feels sure he is able to eventually rule the world based on what he has discovered.

Will Paul and Shaun find Adam? Will they be able to stop Father in his tracks? A journey across the globe and a final scene that had me on the edge of my seat ensued. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Well penned, with excellent atmosphere and pace, I’ll definitely be looking out for Mack Mani in the future.

Odd Pursuits Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Robert Castle
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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At first, it seemed strange to be reading a story about the description of a bed. However, in Dennis’s Bed, it soon becomes clear that the bed is not all we are made aware of. Quite a sinister little tale here. I enjoyed its weirdness! Dennis’s Bed is the opening tale to a set of short stories.

In The Heart Keeps Twitching, it took me a few paragraphs to understand just what I was reading about. Another bizarre tale that I couldn’t help getting engrossed in. Ben and Stella are clocks! This clever tale shows what is seen of a relationship between the clock’s owners (if clocks could think and speak etc.). Honestly, strange, but oddly alluring.

The Sphinx ponders the mystery of things that go missing. Which brings to mind the question: However much I make sure all the socks go into the washing machine in pairs, one goes missing. I place something in my knick-knack jar, make a conscious effort to make myself realise it’s in there, yet go back later and it’s gone. How is that? A tale where a young boy is convinced something strange is afoot when the pennies from his jar go missing. After all, he muses, there are missing people, The Bermuda Triangle, that swipes large objects such as boats and planes away. So why does a Penny Pincher seem so ludicrous?

Victoria Falls: A clever flash fiction with a twist at the end. I really enjoyed this one, possibly my favourite of the whole bunch.

The National Shame is an amusing concept. This tale starts off as a letter from an editor to an author. The editor, instead of just writing out a rejection, decides to explain, very fully, why the story was rejected. He goes on to explain all about his break-up with his girlfriend. I felt quite sorry for the editor until his attitude changed towards the end of the letter. Quite clever, Mr Castle, to ensure we feel sorrow for the chap only to make us hate him, want to smack the smugness out of him. Or, perhaps that’s just me…

Why Anyone Would Care is a dialogue heavy tale which flows nicely. I found myself smiling, as Mr Castle has obviously mastered the art of how people really do speak. As the dialogue is the main feature, I was gratified that the layout of this tale didn’t use speech marks, which would have littered up the pages. Of course, this would irritate me in tales where ‘normal’ amounts of dialogue are used, but in this case, it worked.

All in all, Odd Pursuits is a collection of tales that gets you thinking. Some tales are set out unlike the ‘usual publications’ which was refreshing and fitted the stories, somehow. There are many more stories in Odd Pursuits than I have mentioned here. These ones just happened to be my favourites.

Good work, Mr Castle!

Quits: Book 2: Devils (2nd review) Wild Child Publishing

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Author: M.E Ellis
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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There is a lot going on in the mind of Wayne Thomas… and some of it might even be real. Quits: Book 2: Devils opens the window and lets us look inside the mind of a man who has been ‘out of sorts’ since the age of seventeen.

All the people that surround Wayne in one form or another do indeed exist. They inhabit the very universe Wayne inhabits himself, even if within that time and space substance is often questionable by us as readers, while we spend our time under the impression that we have our own lives propped up and permanently stable, our sanity moving steadily forward, our perception forever switched to cruise control.

Lets talk about that then, shall we?

We all live under some pretty big assumptions, don’t we? We assume our lives are blessed with normality and that we are, for the most part, good, law abiding people whose minds are immune to an occasional slip or fall. Yet we all witness the life before us and around us from a single perspective, that being our own.

As much as I want to agree with you on the green hue of the grass we both lay on outside, as the yellow sun shines down upon our youthful skin, there are no guarantees we both see that same color of green, or that the temperature you feel from that sun is the same as the heat I feel.

So where does that leave us?

I wonder what author M.E. Ellis would have to say about such possibilities. Would we agree on the color of my eyes or the scent of say…canned peas (which I will pass on at dinner by the way…it’s nothing personal, really. Though you may want to consider passing on those canned peas too; at least until you’re done reading Quits: Book 2).

We may agree on the texture of the tiny green balls and perhaps even the olive hue once out of the can, but the taste may simply be too misleading and even worse, disturbing. I suppose what we don’t know won’t hurt us, right? Even if poor Wayne does.

Quits: Book 2: Devils will keep the reader debating whether to protect Wayne from those demons that seem to span his perspective on the universe we all seemingly share, or put the poor bugger out of his terrible misery and save him from his meager existence.

With Quits: Book 1: Demons, the first book in the series, I silently scolded Wayne with displeasure. Quits 2 may have you cheering for him to finally get better and move on. It seems upon reintroduction to the man in question, he may very well prove us—the righteous—all so very wrong. And dare we judge? Wayne may very well be on his way to recuperation, which gives those of us who are so certain we walk the straight and narrow halls of sanity a chance for us to say ‘Good for him’ as we secretly pat ourselves on the back for not having to deal with such lack of control in the first place.

Rehabilitation…

Then again, let’s not be too hasty! While we pat ourselves on the back we may fail to really get Wayne’s side of the story. What would he say if given the chance? I’m guessing…

‘Take a walk down the corridors of my mind.’

The question is: Would you want to wander off the beaten track? Is it worth it to stray outside the righteous normality we embrace as we assume it embraces us back? Or are we truly, no matter how many people we call friends and family, alone in this world, this mind, this universe, because our perspective forces isolation upon us. Isn’t that what death is? Isolation from the living? We hide the dying away, we shoo the mentally insane off our righteous path. Have a relationship with God, but don’t let anybody catch you talking to him because there is always room at the Klinter Institute, and Wayne might very well be your unassuming roommate. Just thought you should know…

Quits: Book 2 has a psychedelic quality to it. It’s like Helen Keller meets Timothy Leary in rehab for a match of tug o’ war with Wayne’s mind. Like any contest, sooner or later somebody must win…the question, however, is not who the winner finally is, but if Wayne can avoid being a sore loser. The contest itself may very well be pointless unless you live and view life from behind Wayne’s eyes, something M.E. knows how to portray rather well. I wonder if she eats canned peas willingly, or like a spoiled child simply spits them back out.

I suppose just as we did as kids we can force the nasty taste of the food we don’t like right down our throats and avoid dealing with the horrible taste and displeasure. If only we could do that with the low points of our lives. If only…but then, what if there were simply too many and we could not swallow fast enough? We would choke of course, and then we would die.

We’ve all heard the stories of people in public places who die in restaurant washrooms because they excuse themselves from the table in order to avoid the humiliation. They wave a hand that they are fine and walk off to the toilet smiling while a piece of steak lodges itself in their windpipe. Nobody wants to admit in that moment that they are about to go insane…they are about to panic. So they put on a façade and they pay the consequences, not unlike Wayne in Quits: Book 2: Devils, really. He fools everybody into thinking he’s finally alright –then again, this is only one perspective, and who am I to say what you should really believe?

Quits: Book 2: Devils is a imposing read, and not surprisingly, a fast one too. After all, it’s like riding a runaway train while already aware that the track is somewhat warped somewhere down the line. After all, it was somewhat warped prior to you getting on that train and you knew that…but you climbed aboard anyway….

I give Quits: Book 2: Devils 5 flute glasses…all of which will help greatly the next time I open a can of green peas for dinner. If I must swallow them, I will close my eyes, take a sip, and wash them awful peas straight down…

Voodoo Sunrise

Quits Book 2: Devils Wild Child Publishing

Quits Book 2: Devils was chosen by two reviewers. Second review due shortly.

REVIEWED BY:

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Author: M.E Ellis
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

Having reviewed All About Brenda, I went and purchased Pervalism and Quits, Book 1, Demons. As Quits 1 had already been reviewed, I was glad to see Quits 2 in the blurb bank and opted to review it.

Wayne’s back and, though not yet quite on his feet, he’s getting there. If, however, you thought him being confined to a wheelchair and lisping hopelessly would subdue him, you didn’t reckon on his feverish brain vomits. And, if at any time you think you know what’s going on during this novel, think again. (I encountered the same feelings while reading Quits 1.)

We’re first reintroduced to Wayne as he’s opening up to Jen, his new therapist at the Klinter Institute and someone he comes to idolise and rely on for his Ribena fix. He’s as contradictory as ever: sympathetic, tragic, prone to flights of fancy. In short—from what I have gleaned from her other books—a classic M.E Ellis character. He’s just as funny (maybe we shouldn’t laugh at his lisp, but it’s hilarious damn it! We can always say it’s the comic timing of the dialogue) and dizzying as in the first book. Dizzying because you’re never quite sure of things, never quite sure when his next tangential thought will smack you square in the gob. Yes, Wayne’s mind is a haunted place, his brain liable to fly off into the ether, his every thought tormented by his mother’s clichéd sayings so she hangs, like a spectre, around every mental corner.

Quits 2 follows the same format as the first book, showing Wayne’s present beside his horrible past with his mother, Mags, and his stepfather, Scott. Scott is a truly awful human being, glorying in every torment he can inflict on the young Wayne. Mags seems to me to be more complex. Though just as horrible as Scott, there is something deeply tragic in her, like there was once some potential for her to love Wayne which is now lost. Something, at some point, has eaten her soul. We never quite see it, but we feel it.

We follow Wayne as he explores his past, trying to rid himself of his devils, to let Scott die in his mind and crumble into dust so he can get on with his own life. But are the hurts too raw? Was Wayne’s childhood simply too appalling to come to terms with? How can he go on living with its burden? These questions and more will be swilling round your head at the end, evidence of the book’s social pertinence.

A redemptive thread weaves throughout Quits 2. Its subtitle is Devils, after all. These devils are metaphoric, haunting Wayne’s mind, and also literal, haunting his past, not to mention his present. There are angels too, every so often. But you’ll have to read it to find out about all that. It’s a shame I can’t reveal more because the end ties things up and in a way that makes the story’s most poignant and relevant point about Wayne’s situation. But doing that would do the book and its potential readers a disservice.

It’s difficult to know exactly what Quits 2 is. It’s not horror, although at times it’s horrible. It’s definitely psychological, but that doesn’t quite sum it up totally. It’s a fantasy at times, but at others all too real. Like many worthwhile things it simply can’t be categorised, and I can think of no greater praise.

Dark Roads Wild Child Publishing

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Author: J.G. Craig
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Dark Roads

An incredibly full novella, rich in visuals, Dark Roads is a story about passengers on a bus that breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Strange events occur, things don’t quite add up, and everyone on the bus finds themselves facing their greatest fears…

Brenda is travelling with her small son. Veronica Player, star of the small stage, finds the breakdown of the bus highly irritating. Michael and Christine, a married couple, show us that sometimes familiarity breeds contempt. We meet John, and also some teenagers.

After the passengers realise the bus isn’t going anywhere, their only course of action is to get off and walk to the nearest town. It becomes apparent that a leader is needed. John assumes the role. Some passengers aren’t too happy about that…

The passengers happen upon a cottage. Oddities are in evidence, but nevertheless, everyone goes inside. Certain passengers will wish they hadn’t… They walk to a village and are alarmed to find it appears deserted. Nothing seems quite right—surreal, weird, but they continue in their quest to find help. Again, some passengers are forced to face their deepest fears here, and I must say they are shown incredibly well. I felt uneasy while reading. J.G. Craig was able to get right under my skin with his penmanship. If I were in the same situation as these passengers, I would undoubtedly do the same things as they did—every one of the characters in Dark Roads are real; everyday people. You may want to bite your fingernails at this point, or hide behind a pillow.

The scene in the church was especially well done. Brilliant wording and fantastic visuals sprang to my mind—an instant creepy movie in my head. Bonds begin to form between the passengers; cracks appear in those bonds… Who harbours ill thoughts and feelings? Who is to be trusted? What the hell will happen next, and to whom? My eyes flicked from one side of the page to the other here; riveting reading!

The climax of Dark Roads isn’t one I expected, which showed me that J.G Craig is a wonderful web-spinner. I loved the ending, even if it wasn’t what I wanted, and it gave me serious pause for thought about life in general. It is so very fleeting.

A highly enjoyable read. I recommend it for anyone who likes a creepy yet thought-provoking read. Some admirable wording in this story. Damn fine author, in my opinion.

The Boy in the Grey Tracksuit

A shorter work here, this tale gets right into the mind of Frank, a man who is on medication. After splitting from his wife, he found himself on a downward spiral. His thoughts swirl round and round in his head—it’s a wonder he hasn’t gone insane…

A newspaper article catches Frank’s attention. Something is familiar about it, something he struggles to comprehend. However, his mind doesn’t let him remember, and Frank finds himself pondering once again.

What is reality? What is in his mind? Frank’s sure he can work it out if he just thinks hard enough. But—I didn’t see the end coming, didn’t suspect a thing. I’ve read a lot of fiction and regard myself as one of those readers who can work out exactly what is going to happen. That’s twice now that J. G. Craig has swung the tale in the opposite direction to where I imagined it would go, twice that I’ve had to stop and have a think. And twice that I’ve been stunned with the outcome. The Boy in the Grey Tracksuit actually caused me to hold my hand up to my mouth after I gasped near the ending. How many writers can make you do that? Not many.

I am a fan. Stunning work.

Pervalism Wild Child Publishing

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Author: M.E Ellis
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Everybody say hello to John Brookes. Come on then, sit down, have a drink and enjoy his polite conversation. If you see a twitch in his eye ignore it, it could not possibly be a sign he is annoyed by you. You are a nice person in fact, everybody likes you, right?

It’s getting late now– let him walk you home. Throw that odd feeling lodged in the back of your mind to the wind and reconfirm the fact that bad things happen to other people, they do not happen to you. You in fact are a good person. You give to charity, you volunteer at the church. Everybody loves you…

Everybody say hello to John Brookes and consider his calm demeanour. Readjust your instinctual feeling society has caused you to ignore because he has a wonderful wife and a kind and well-mannered son. He keeps a steady job, he socializes amongst the villagers…

Scary isn’t it? You all know I’m hinting that John isn’t quite right but I also know you folks out there are all quite convinced you could pick a cold blooded murderer out of a crowd. You would be on him like sweat on a greenhouse window. You are so sure of yourself. You are so convinced you know better, know your neighbours, know your limits… You’re so wrong, my friends.

Everybody say hello to John Brookes. Ignore the bag of wet clothes he carries under his arm. Ignore the way his lip quivers at the mention of those departed or how his eye flutters when one brings up his mother’s name. Ignore his past when he picks and chooses what he is willing to chat about. His cat, the birds, the bugs…

Everybody say hello to John Brookes. Let him alone with your children– he is a pillar of society. Let him alone with your secrets because like everybody else, he respects you. You demand respect, after all. Everybody likes you. You are a good neighbour, a kind soul. Who would want to hurt you? You would see it coming. You would know if the man living next door was up to no good.

Everybody say hello to John Brookes. The good neighbour, the friendly man on the street. The conscientious worker in the office. The good guy who’s maybe a little strange at times…but you would know…

John Brookes is all around us. He lives next door to your child’s elementary school. He delivers your mail. He fixes your car, he marries you in a wedding fit for a princess.

M.E. Ellis drives this point home with an uneasiness that will have your stomach churning but you will read on because you want to know. You want to see all the reasons you would not let such a horrific thing happen to you. You want to convince yourself that somehow, you are smarter than John Brookes. You will outwit him when he comes a knocking. I hate to disappoint you but if old John knows you’re on to him…he has already moved on, past you, and is hunting down your best friend instead.

Everybody say hello to John Brookes, wave casually, smile cautiously, but never, ever turn your back. Stay near your porch, and when he is out of view, lock your door and stay inside.

This book is a nightmare one should read humbly because none of us are immune to a man like John Brookes. He is one of an army and he walks as they all do, amongst us.

Pervalism is a twisted nightmare of domestic and social proportions and should not be read but studied. Pervalism gets the whole damn bottle of champagne because you can’t fight a man like John Brookes off with a flute glass, you need something with some weight, some kick…

Excellent and incredible work Ms. Ellis…damn…

Everybody say hello to John Brookes…

Ironhorse Rider Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Adelle Laudan
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

Shane is devastated by the loss of his wife, Kelly, to a motorcycle accident. He fears the house they shared and the many reminders of their life together will bring too much pain, so he sets off on his motorbike to come to terms with his grief.

After a couple of nights sleeping out under the stars, he happens upon an Indian Micmac camp. Welcomed by the chief, Grey Owl, Shane learns about life on an Indian reservation. The chief’s daughter, Tia, stirs something inside him, and Shane has to wrestle with the guilt he feels from the growing feelings he has towards Tia, when his wife has so recently died.

Yearning to stay true to Kelly’s memory, Shane tells himself that he’ll come to terms with her passing while at the camp and then move on. However, fate steps in and Shane is presented with a dilemma. Tia’s husband died recently and Grey Owl has arranged for her to marry fellow Indian, Raven. Tia is distraught at the idea—she feels she’ll never love anyone like she did her husband.

With Tia and Shane both struggling with the feelings they have for one another (though they haven’t told each other about them), and also the burden of guilt about their deceased partners, Shane feels an urge to tell Grey Owl that Tia marrying Raven is wrong.

Raven is a nasty man, prefers his own company to that of others, and has an air about him that made me want to poke his eyes out. The thought of Tia spending the rest of her life with him made me quite sad.

Grey Owl issues a challenge for Tia’s hand. Though Shane wasn’t prepared for such a challenge, he is willing to do it, and wants to win, so that Tia can choose her own destiny.

A charming tale that shows just because someone dies, it doesn’t mean they have gone completely…

4 flutes.

Quits Wild Child Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

And a half!

Author:M.E Ellis
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

Have any of you met M.E. Ellis? If so, can you send me her picture so I know what she looks like? If I should meet her in a dark alley I want to know her description ahead of time so that I have the common sense to run like hell should she be looking me over in some awkward or offbeat way. I’ll just bet the fresh odour of pee that lingers during such a meeting will more than likely be my own.

I imagine M.E. Ellis as one of those harmless looking people, the kind you never at first suspect like O.J. (M.E. a strange coincidence?) Simpson. Or perhaps she has successfully hidden far below the fabric of society, deeper than any of us could ever comprehend. A strong personality not unlike John Wayne Gacy, a man who dressed like a fun loving clown by day whilst stealing the lives of young men by night.

I’ve just finished M.E Ellis’ book Quits. The title may allude to some of the plotlines in this book but rest assured it does not allude to what any reader would call it once their noses are firmly planted between the pages.

Quits takes us into the mind of a man called Wayne who seemingly leads a normal if not tedious life. He maintains a job and a house while he longs for a woman with whom he can spend his time. Women, however, are not simple creatures and Wayne’s past only enhances this very personal and complicated claim. So Wayne sets out to try a little experiment. It is soon after that we realize poor Wayne’s cheese may have slipped off his cracker.

Enter Harmony, the atypical woman Wayne tends to cluster together when referring to the more complicated of the species. A young woman, perhaps eighteen, self-centred and cell phone savvy; Harmony seeps the essence of a conclusion Wayne drew years earlier about the catty creatures that make up the fairer sex. Harmony is about to become Wayne’s experiment in conditioning, and the story that follows will make the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up, that is, if Wayne hasn’t already shaved it off.

The story is violent but so is life and so was Wayne’s childhood. The story is graphic but so is the six o’clock news and this is why I found this story so riveting. It was real and the characters were believable. Wayne is bad but Wayne is also a tarnished soul and as a reader I could sense this about him. Even when he was doing terrible things to Harmony, he did them with regret and guilt, and M.E Ellis makes sure the reader is aware of this without the reader being aware she is making sure. Now that is good writing.

I came to care for Wayne in all his predisposed habits of ugliness. There was a goodness to him, in him, pushing its way out amidst a racing mind and a tattered thought process, and I must admit– I fell for the poor guy while I prayed for Barb’s…I mean…Harmony’s safety.

If you have read this far and have already concluded with your ever so impressive intellect just how Quits is going to end, you might want to readjust your recliner and get comfortable because the twists are coming and you aren’t going to see them until they are upon you. That’s about the time you may want to turn another light on and make sure M.E Ellis isn’t standing in your tub behind the shower curtain donning makeup and a fat round clown nose. Even if you can’t see her face, I guarantee you, she’s grinning…

I loved this book, it appealed to me because it flowed. You become the third person inside Wayne’s house of horror and you sigh because beyond that front door, as hard as it is to explain, there rests a compassion amidst the pain, while a love resides in the confusion. Just be prepared when the end comes because things aren’t always as they seem.

I am giving Quits four and a half flute glasses and I’ll tell you the only reason why it didn’t receive five. I wanted this book to go on. I wanted to delve deeper into Wayne’s mind and understand him because I was stuck caring about him. I felt like staying a little while, I felt like putting my feet up and simply observing his chaos, but before I knew it, it was over. I wish it was twice as long. This is the only complaint I have. There is so much more Wayne must share with me before I can be fully satisfied.

I wonder then, while M.E Ellis dons her John Wayne Gacy clown makeup tonight, if in the back of her own mind, her own Wayne is waiting to spin right out of control just one more time. Hey now everyone, wouldn’tthatbesomething?

Fade to Pale Wild Child Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: James Cheetham
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

Rita is a troubled woman, there’s no two ways about it. Her family have left her, her mother was less than motherly, she has an over-reliance on pills and she’s been fighting her particular mental demons since before she can remember. Now things are coming to a head: the nightmares are escalating, her dream family home is about to be sold, the demons are peeking their heads above the water and secrets are about to be let loose.

This is a remarkably assured novel which delves, with some exquisitely vivid writing, into very dark and very, very interesting areas of the human psyche. I’m resisting outlining any more of the plot because it’s best left to unfold as you read. And unfold it does, with grace and fluidity, opening up Rita’s mind to us as it goes.

There’s a lot of perceptive psychological writing in this novel, but it never seems tiresome or academic. I particularly loved the use of the beach and water. I love it whenever they are used in this context, to represent the unconscious. It has been done a few times before, but that fact simply highlights the validity of the symbolism. Their use allows for some wonderful images and resonances: Rita finding sand in the corner of her eyes each morning; her lips and throat often dry and chapped as though encrusted with salt. So the water and sand become central to the story, linking dreams and reality, memory and trauma, the sleep in Rita’s eyes and the salty tears on her cheeks. It also gives extra weight to Rita’s watery dreams (which are vivid enough on their own), and ties them tightly to the plot as they become more entangled with reality, giving rise to some disorientating moments. So, as a lover of weird stuff this was hog’s heaven for me.

There are also some interesting philosophical moments in the book, not least Rita’s Grandma’s views on life and the meaning of it all:

“If we took life as it was: nothing more than a big old coffee break from a deep dark coal mine where the blackness went on forever and without any other option no matter how hard we argued, we would cherish every breath up here in the sunlight.”

The eloquence here though is forever balanced by Rita, who can’t seem to see the sunlight for the darkness, however hard she tries.

I wouldn’t say the book is faultless. A couple of times during Rita’s childhood I didn’t quite believe she was as young as I was meant to, mainly because of some of the wordage used. I was also a bit unsure about the ending for reasons it’s difficult to go into here without revealing too much. That’s not to say anything was spoiled for me, it just made me examine my own views, which I suppose is a good thing in itself. And there’s always things that you’re going to come up against when you’re dealing with bold and penetrating work like this.

Regardless, the end result was intriguing and stimulating, leaving me with images resonating and ideas floating about long after the last line. I personally can relate to a lot of the feelings and thoughts in this book, the fact that the author has managed to weave such things so eloquently into the plot really is something for him to be very proud of.

Oh, did I mention it was scary? Freakishly so at times with some deliciously disturbing and surreal scenes, often making me think of the paintings of Francis Bacon and the films of Japanese gothic horror maestros Hideo Nakata and Takashi Miike.

All in all this is quite an achievement, a book which manages to be psychologically acute and entertaining, dark and inspiring, deeply personal and universally appealing all at the same time.

Five Flutes.

Bad Things Wild Child Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

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Author: J.G.Craig
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

 

This weekend I had the opportunity to read J.G. Craig’s ‘Bad Things’, a story about a boy named Donnie Philips and his father, Carl, a single parent coping with a life once perfect but now spinning out of control.

Donnie is blind, but the doctors think there may be hope and in the next day or so, the truth will be known. The hope of a single father: His only child will once again be able to not only feel the love his dad has for him, but see it with his own eyes too.

As Carl holds his breath and works on some outstanding obligations on what is supposed to be a quiet night sucking back a few beers, that night soon takes a turn for the down right bizarre.

The literal monster in the closet begins a long evening of strange visions and fears as Donnie and Carl are driven out of their home by a force hell-bent on tearing flesh and bone. Carl, a father determined to hold onto all he has left in his life, goes into self- preservation mode, scheming a plan to keep them both alive while trying to understand why this is happening to them in the first place. He struggles to believe what he saw with his own eyes and for a moment is thankful; his blind son–who’s eyes are still covered in bandages–did not have to witness the ugliness of the creature that infiltrated their house seemingly straight out of peculiar nightmares…

The terror continues as Carl is treated to further horrors, some so terrifying they drive him into hysterics as he struggles to keep their car on the road. Death is side-swiped this time and the only thing damaged is two automobiles, Carl’s, and the stranger, the woman he unfortunately forces off the road. Fate can work in peculiar ways…

The stranger’s name is Laura and before she knows or understands why, she is swept into Carl and Donnie’s life and taken for a ride most would never, ever forget, even if they wanted to.

Laura has a wisdom about her that Carl, though not fully accepting of, can at least appreciate in such trying times. She is a blessing from out of nowhere and it isn’t long before the two strangers form a relationship of trust and experience as they make their way to Donnie’s Grandmother Sadie’s house. The home where Chrissie, Donnie’s deceased mother, spent her own youth.

At Sadie’s home, Carl hopes to find solace but the nightmarish situation continues as he tries desperately to protect his son from the ever-present evil that seems to surround them in forms of monstrous images and visions born from where? They still aren’t sure.

Carl, dealing with his own emotions, reaches into his past and finds his own tragedies packed loosely away in the back of his mind. Are the answers to all these strange occurrences laying there for him to rediscover? Does the safety of four people now hiding in Sadie’s house depend on Carl and his forgotten memories now flooding him with concern and guilt?

I won’t give much more away because I have to admit I was truly surprised by the ending that followed. There is no better feeling than thinking you’re going one way only to realize that the once obvious destination is nowhere to be seen. It is rather refreshing and I can truly appreciate that in a writer.

Though some of the terrors in Bad Things were predictable and not uncommon in horror themes, J.G. Craig drifts at times into writing wonderful prose that is nothing short of poetic. Lines such as: ‘Like a newborn nightmare unsure of its abilities’… or comparing the humming of streetlights to mind easing familiarity– (The humming streetlights: ‘they’re like my old comfort blanket’ a metaphor perhaps only someone without eyesight can fully appreciate.

Bad Things was a pleasure to read and the ending more than made up for an occasional wander off the beaten path. I truly believe J.G Craig will not be wandering out of our literal nightmares any time soon. Feel free to stay in mine as long as you want, sir…just keep me guessing with those impressive surprise endings.

3 Flute Glasses and a shot of Voodoo Sunrise to wash it down…

Shutterbug Wild Child Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

Author: Daniel I. Russell
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

Jess Stevenson is more than unhappy to be having her photograph taken. Aged sixteen, she isn’t into wearing frilly dresses anymore, but her mother, Georgina, insists she does. A trip to the Harry Beacon Photography Studio is set to change Jess’ life forever…

Georgina discovers just what went on in the studio and, without telling anyone of her plans she vows to wreak revenge on Mr. Beacon with drastic results.

Jess and her father pick up the scattered pieces of their life and along with mourning Georgina, they try as best they can to find normalcy. Things are set to change, however, when photographs of Jess start being delivered to her flat.

Who is sending these photos? The case regarding Georgina and Harry Beacon made big news. Has some deranged member of the public decided to play games with Jess?

With twists and turns that will have your butt glued to your seat and your eyes riveted on the page, Shutterbug is a must read for all horror enthusiasts. I enjoyed this tale a great deal, and will look for more of Daniel I. Russell’s work.

Great visuals, superb delivery, this is one read you don’t want to miss out on!

Favourite image:

He held his other hand to his throat, trying to keep it closed.

Shudder!

Favourite line:

Skittering pictures meandered through her mind, racing off each time she tried to grasp one and hold it down.

Soul Haven Wild Child Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

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Author: Sonja Baines
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

 

Renata Bowers is working the desk at the police station. A trampy guy is brought in by Renata’s fellow police officer, Brady. Usually, she has to sign the perps in. On this occasion, Brady decided that protocol didn’t need to be followed. He had a beef with the perp, one he intended to follow up on.

Brady is a total pig. I hated him. He beats up the perp. Renata, disgusted by what she witnesses, chooses to tell her Captain about it, only to be brushed off and basically told to keep her mouth shut… Twists and turns abound!

The perp haunts Renata’s mind, and she finds herself thinking about him time and time again. Poking into his file, she finds out things about him that she could never have envisaged… The next time she brings up his file it’s been locked. What is going on?

Soul Haven is a place for the homeless to find a safe bed for the night. Renata discovers the perp there, and also finds out he has a stronger link with Soul Haven than just sleeping there the odd night.

The perp, Kale (be prepared to swoon at this guy, ladies!), mourns the loss of his wife. She had died in horrific circumstances, and Kale has promised himself he’ll find out who killed her. An offer of doing just that comes his way, and he accepts the challenge.

In a whirlwind of fine writing, great twists and a fast-paced plot, Ms. Baines has created one hell of a magnificent story. The last third of this book literally had my heart racing. I read as quickly as my eyes would allow, because once you get 2/3 into the book, I guarantee you won’t want to put it down.

A romantic thriller, and oh my is Kale a gent that you wish was your very own. I would and will recommend this to other readers.

Sometimes a simply great author comes along and knocks your socks off. Sonja Baines is one of them. I’m sitting here with bare feet.

Decimate Wild Child Publishing

REVIEWED BY:

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Author: Various
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

REVIEW:

 

Author: M.E Ellis
Story 1: The Walk of Freedom

From the first line this story whacked me in the face with spousal abuse. A woman, beaten once too often, finds the courage to leave her husband. Unable to settle, she hatches a plan of revenge. Written with a literary feel (bonus!), the pain of the woman, and her later act of revenge, comes across in a startling manner.

Story 2: A Face of Memories

A young man, with the appearance of one much older, continually returns to the place where his mother was killed by his step-father. With stark images, this tale made me wince a couple of times.  I would say Ms. Ellis writes harsh reality very well. A longer work by this author is something I would like to read.

Author: Phaedra Torres
Story 3: Blackout

Lewis witnessed what happened to a young girl. Shutting it out of his mind, as the terror of it proved too much to bear, the detective leading the case suggests he should try talking to