I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman searching for her father and his supernatural unit in the wake of the deadly withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan discovers the deadly force they unleashed to stop the violent attacks by the Taliban in author Craig DiLouie’s “Djinn: A War on Terror Supernatural Thriller”.
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The Synopsis
In the violent aftermath of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, a photojournalist arrives to learn the fate of the Witch Doctors, a fabled Army occult warfare unit. Holly believes her father, reported missing in action, ran this mysterious outfit that sought to weaponize black magic to win the War on Terror.
As the Taliban advances and the national government crumbles, Holly makes a harrowing journey into the deep desert to an abandoned base, which houses a terrifying secret. There, along with a group of American ex-soldiers, themselves cursed, she will face the ancient evil the Witch Doctors unleashed…
The terrors that live in the world of the djinn. The horrors that lurk in war itself.
A modern thriller, Djinn reimagines the witch for the War on Terror era, taking the reader on a journey into the heart of darkness that is both human and supernatural.
The Review
This was such a compelling and memorable horror thriller. The vast amount of culture and detail that went into bringing both modern-day Afghanistan and the “War on Terror” to life with the ancient mythology and world-building surrounding the Djinn, witches, and faith overall was thrilling to see come to life. The imagery the author infused into the writing really allowed the setting and chilling nature of the Djinn to come to life on the page.
The evolution of Holly as a character, from her hard-hitting journalism and the strength to plunge into the depths of war-torn Afghanistan to the respect she comes to have for the people and their culture and the bravery she shows facing this terrifying threat made her a remarkable protagonist to really root for. The character interactions that help drive this narrative forward and the commentary that the plot makes on things like America’s hand in what has happened to the country, the line between morality and cultural differences, and the impact that war has on people, in general, made this a brilliant story to get lost in.
The Verdict
Haunting, compelling, and entertaining, author Craig DiLouie’s “Djinn” is a must-read horror thriller of 2023. The unique setting and cultural development of this narrative, as well as the attention to detail and the collective work by the characters in this story, will have readers hanging onto the author’s every word. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Craig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A college professor must revisit the terrors of his childhood after the passing of his father and the return of his older sister and rediscover a hidden world beyond what we thought possible in author Mike Robinson’s “Walking the Dusk”.
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The Synopsis
“Hey.”
With that one word, uttered in the dead of night, young Charlie’s life veers down a dark and unbelievable road.
Some thirty years later, Dr. Charles Barry teaches physics at a small California college. Only in dreams do those childhood events reach him: the strange presence in the house, the otherworldly visits and the shadow over his beloved older sister, Megan, whose troubled inward life he could only glimpse.
That is, until his father dies, and Megan, now an artistic wanderer, comes back into his life. With her come memories of unearthly creatures, a predatory entity and a harrowing trek behind the walls of the known cosmos, toward places of the alien and seemingly impossible, in order to save the very essence of his sister.
Now, caught once more by the same forces, Charles returns to those places in the hopes of setting certain things right—and to keep Megan from slipping away forever.
With Walking the Dusk, Mike Robinson delivers a contemporary Dantean vision, one of both sweepingly surreal vistas and intimate bonds, a mind-and-genre-warping journey into the twin infinities of the universe within, and the universe without.
The Review
This was such an engaging, complex, and mesmerizing read. The author did a fantastic job of world-building this narrative’s setting, taking readers back and forth between the past and the present in a kaleidoscope of rushing emotions and painful memories. The layers of mystery the author delves into when discovering the complexities of the history that are shared between the protagonist Charlie and his sister Megan make their relationship such an integral part of the story.
To me, the heart of this narrative rested in the almost poetic imagery of the author’s writing style and the rich character dynamics that helped elevate the more fantastic and horror-driven elements of the narrative. The pacing allowed readers to see the psychological and emotional pitfalls of the past building between these siblings and underscored the chaos that would soon follow, but it was the dynamic between Charlie and Megan, the painful journey of a brother desperate to save his sister, not only resonated with me as an older brother but gave the fantasy and horror elements a more grounded foundation to be built off of.
The Verdict
Memorable, engaging, and heartfelt, author Mike Robinson’s “Walking the Dusk” is a must-read occult horror meets fantasy and metaphysics novel. The twists and turns in the narrative, and the journey that Charlie goes on, reminding me of a blend between Stephen King and Peter Straub’s Black House, Dante’s Inferno, and the character development of Robin William’s Peter Pan in Hook, made this story shine brightly, and the reader will find themselves drawn to this narrative time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mike Robinson is the award-winning author of multiple speculative fiction novels and dozens of short stories which have appeared in the likes of 2019’s American Gothic Fantasy anthology, Storyteller Magazine, A Woman Unbecoming, Underland Arcana and more. He has received honors from Writers of the Future, Publishers Weekly’s BookLife Contest, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Maxy Awards and others, and is also the editor of J.P. Barnett’s popular, award-winning “Lorestalker” series.
In between, he hikes (often with his two dogs), swims, draws, tries to learn the didgeridoo and, yes, has even been known to actually write a screenplay or two, some of which have received their own notices.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Barbara Rubel shares the journey to help a bereaved family overcome the tragic loss of a family member due to suicide in the book “But I Didn’t Say Goodbye: Helping Families After a Suicide”.
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The Synopsis
But I Didn’t Say Goodbye: Helping Families After a Suicide tells the story of a bereaved family and how each member copes with their traumatic loss. As a suicide loss survivor, the author wrote the story with the entire family in mind. It is written through the eyes of a child, spouse, parents, siblings and friends. We are all impacted by suicide and the chapters explore how everyone grieves in their own way. You will understand how to make meaning in loss and ways to experience personal growth. The chapters focus on a family from the day of the suicide to the anniversary one year later. At the end of each chapter, there are follow-up questions to explore your own loss.
The Review
This is a compelling and heartbreaking revelation. The discussion surrounding the topic of suicide has not always been easy to communicate, and while our understanding of this heartbreaking event has evolved and grown as more information has come to light, the pain that comes with this turn of events does little to take away the pain and suffering that comes to those who are left to pick up the pieces afterward. The author’s connection to this topic and the emotional way she connects to the reader and the subjects of this book made this a gripping book to get lost in.
The balance of support and informational guidance that the book provides to readers was so remarkable to read about. The amount of research and insight that the author poured into the book helped to elevate the more emotional and inspiring moments to help families and loved ones overcome the tragedy and grief that this event brings with it. The relatability of the author’s own experiences and work allows the reader to feel connected and understood, as so many families feel lost or isolated in the wake of this tragedy, and the author does a remarkable job of making them feel heard.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and compelling, author Barbara Rubel’s “But I Didn’t Say Goodbye” is a must-read nonfiction book on grief and the pain of losing someone to suicide. The way the author tackles trauma and explores both sides of the conversation, the psychological aspect of what brought their loved one to that place so that family members could try to find closure and process the grief that they in turn endured, made this an engaging and well-written book that you won’t be able to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Three weeks prior to Barbara Rubel giving birth to triplets, her father died by suicide. The story of his death was featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary, Fatal Mistakes: Families shattered by suicide, narrated by Mariette Hartley. As a thanatologist, Barbara wrote But I Didn’t Say Goodbye for suicide loss survivors, like herself. Barbara hopes that the 2020 third edition of her book brings survivors comfort and helps them see that they are not alone. She is truly sorry for your loss. Barbara received a BS in psychology and a MA in community health, with a concentration in thanatology. She is a board-certified expert in traumatic stress, and a diplomate with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Visit her website at griefworkcenter.com
I know I’m addressing you by your maiden name. Don’t panic. You’re not in the midst of a divorce. Your marriage is strong, even with the craziness of trying to wrangle five children, but in ten years, this is the name you will be using hundreds of times a week. There’s a good reason for it, one that I’m sure will shock you, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Recently, you celebrated a big milestone—turning forty. I know it sounds old right now, but this is the best decade of your life. Some big changes are coming your way, and you’re about to accomplish something you didn’t realize or even know you wanted to do.
Your thirties were a rollercoaster. You were a bundle of nervous energy. A third pregnancy, the loss of beloved family members, a painful divorce, falling in love all over again, another marriage, and becoming a stepmother to two small children. But good news, you have a full and happy nest, though the decade is a blur of soccer games, carpool runs, homework, and never-ending trips to the grocery store. Feeding a household of seven can be exhausting. But you will start changing in your forties. Don’t get me wrong, you will still do all those things, but know this. Those little birds will fly away. Sooner than you think, and your realization of that fact sets you on a path that will change your life.
Now here’s another “don’t panic” moment, around forty-five, you’re going to have a little mid-life crisis. Don’t freak out. You won’t buy an expensive car or alter your appearance, though you will be going to the salon more often because your hair color will betray you, and you’ll start to question your choices.
What have I accomplished with my life other than being a wife and mother? When my children are gone, who will I be?
This will be on a continuous loop in your mind, and on your worst days, you’ll start regretting your decision to leave that corporate job to raise those wonderful, infuriating children. Most people would say to ignore that inner voice, but I’m telling you to listen to it because it will propel you into something unimaginable.
After reevaluating your life, you’ll start journaling. That lasts about a week because you’ll hate it. Then, you’ll do something extraordinary —you’ll develop a character, getting to know her through your imagination. You’ll spend countless hours with her, developing her backstory, creating her world, and fleshing out her fears. You’ll laugh, cry, and grow with her, and before you know it, you’ll type the words…THE END. Hope, you write a book! I know you’ve not written anything longer than an email since college, but somehow, you turned that mini-midlife crisis into a novel that will be published by Red Adept, with the audio rights being sold to Blackstone. Oh. And they make you change your name, but that’s okay because Cummiskey is hard to spell and Gibbs was your name first.
Now in your fifties, your days are filled with writing, and it’s wonderful. You need it as much as you need tennis. Don’t worry, you still play multiple times a week even though you’ll have three knee surgeries in the next ten years. It’s okay, you have a great orthopedist. Every day you’re surrounded by a warm and welcoming community of writers and readers. You’ll also be the host of a monthly Facebook Live program for over 5,000 bibliophiles and start a podcast. I’ll explain what that is later.
The next ten years will define you. Enjoy every second of it. And remember, you’re never too old to follow your dreams.
P.S. Your two stepchildren will ask you to officially adopt them on Christmas morning in 2020. You’ll cry your eyes out.
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Synopsis (from Amazon):
Penny Crenshaw’s divorce and her husband’s swift remarriage to a much younger woman have been hot topics around Atlanta’s social circles. After a year of enduring the cruel gossip, Penny leaps from the frying pan into the fire by heading back to Kentucky to settle her grandmother’s estate.
Reluctantly, Penny travels to her hometown of Camden, knowing she will be stirring up all the ghosts from her turbulent childhood. But not all her problems stem from a dysfunctional family.
One of Penny’s greatest sources of pain lives just down the street: Bradley Hitchens, her childhood best friend, the keeper of her darkest secrets, and the boy who shattered her heart.
As Penny struggles with sorting through her grandmother’s house and her own memories, a colorful group of friends drifts back into her life, reminding her of the unique warmth, fellowship, and romance that only the Bluegrass state can provide. Now that fate has forced Penny back, she must either let go of the scars of her past or risk losing a second chance at love.
Hope Gibbs grew up in rural Scottsville, Kentucky. As the daughter of an English teacher, she was raised to value the importance of good storytelling from an early age. Today, she’s an avid reader of women’s fiction. Drawn to multi-generational family sagas, relationship issues, and the complexities of being a woman, she translates those themes into her own writing.
Hope lives in Tennessee with her husband and her persnickety Shih Tzu, Harley. She is also the mother of five. In her downtime, she loves playing tennis, poring over old church cookbooks, singing karaoke, curling up on her favorite chair with a book, and playing board games. Hope has a B.A. from Western Kentucky University and is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association.
“In Where the Grass Grows Blue, Hope Gibbs examines Penny Crenshaw’s journey to pick up the pieces and begin again after divorce. But this mother of three sons soon learns that if she wants to move forward, she’ll have to first go back to the start. Readers will enjoy this fast-paced southern story about second-chances, lifelong friendships, and the healing power of forgiveness.”–Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials
“Where The Grass Grows Blue hit me in all the right places. Young lovers separated by a misunderstanding reunite twenty years later, only to discover that although their love never faded, their choices are insurmountable. Or are they? Gibbs skillfully weaves the dark side of life with the beauty of a love that has only grown stronger over time. Keep an eye on this author–she is one to watch!”–Barbara Conrey, USA Today Bestselling Author of Nowhere Near Goodbye
“Hope Gibbs’ debut, Where the Grass Grows Blue, is worthy of taking its place among true Southern fiction novels where the banter is witty and the women are true steel magnolias. It’s a delightful, engaging story about following your heart.”–Grace Sammon, Award-Winning Author ofThe Eves, and host of The Storytellers
“Where the Grass Grows Blue is the most authentic and endearing book I’ve read in ages. Penny’s difficult and heartbreaking rural background in Kentucky (the Bluegrass state) and her high society life in Atlanta could not be more different. But when she can’t hide from her past anymore, her life comes full circle. I think Penny is my new fictional best friend. There were times I wanted to read quickly to see how everything unfolds, but this story is to be savored. Don’t rush this Southern gem.”–Cindy Dorminy, author of The Foster Wife and In a Jam
“Hope Gibbs drops the reader into a colorful, southern, small-town setting where Penny Crenshaw—a divorced mother with a tumultuous childhood—is desperate to outrun her past. Where The Grass Grows Blue is one woman’s story of perseverance despite her painful past. A story of small-town living and second chances, romance and resilience, friendship and forgiveness. One you’ll think of long after you turn the last page.”–Jill Hannah Anderson, Author of A Life Unraveled, The To-Hell-And-Back Club, and Crazy Little Town Called Love
“Where The Grass Grows Blue is an evocative story with a Southern flair about going back to the place that brought so much pain for a second chance at love and redefining oneself. This is one you’ll fall in love with.”–Donna Norman-Carbone, Author of All That Is Sacred
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Author Interview
On writing:
How did you do research for your book?
Where the Grass Grows Blue is set in Kentucky, where I was born and raised, so I was comfortable with most topics—food, dialogue, and setting. But I did write in flashbacks and had to study pop culture during those decades so as to not get the year wrong. I also had to do some serious research into genetic diseases, as they are a plot point for my protagonist.
Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?
The hardest to write by far was the main character, Penny. She is a complicated and sometimes frustrating character by design.
The easiest was Bradley, her love interest. I might have developed a literary crush on him while writing.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
I want to bring the charm of the South to a wider community of readers. It’s my goal to immerse them in the culture, food, and characters, so I look around my surroundings or dig back to my upbringing to find inspiration.
What advice would you give budding writers?
In the words of Nike, “Just do it!” You’ll never know unless you try. Of course, there are going to be bumps, sometimes mountains, along the way, but if you believe in yourself, your voice, and find the right support system, you can make it happen too.
Your book is set in Kentucky. Have you ever been there?
I was born and raised in the Bluegrass State. I still consider it home, though I’ve been gone for decades.
If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be?
Penny’s best friend, Dakota. She is a truth-teller and doesn’t worry about what anyone thinks of her. She’s also fiercely loyal.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
I was a stay-at-home mother of five for twenty-five years. A few years ago, I started re-evaluating my life. At that point, it hit me. My children would soon be leaving for college. So I started “journaling” on a laptop. That lasted about a week before I noticed I wasn’t writing about my feelings or goals—I was creating a character. Now that my children are grown, I’m writing full-time. But that’s only one part of my “writing life.” I’m also a tour guide for Bookish Road Trip, an upbeat community of book lovers, authors, and bibliophiles. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram, and on their website. I’m in charge of the Author Take the Wheel program.
How long have you been writing?
I started about five years ago. It’s been a wonderful creative outlet.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
Of course. Music has been a huge part of my creative process. It really inspires me and allows my mind to go places, creating new worlds. Also, running and exercise helps. Some of my best ideas happen when I work out.
What is your next project?
I’m almost finished with my second book, Ashes to Ashes. It’s an upmarket fiction book, set in the South, of course, that focuses on a tight-knit group of women whose world is rocked after the unexpected death of their dear friend, Ellen, under mysterious circumstances. But before they can even process their grief, they stumble across a web of secrets and lies, unraveling Ellen’s perfect life—the one she tried so hard to project to the outside world. Now they must rely on each other to find out who the real Ellen Foster was while grappling with the idea that they never really knew her at all.
What genre do you write in?
Women’s fiction and contemporary romance. But my third book will be historical fiction because it’s set in the early 1970s. I don’t want to be boxed into one genre.
What is the last great book you’ve read?
On Gin Lane by Brooke Lea Foster. I can’t tell you how much I loved that book.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
“The author’s writing was like paint on a canvas, creating a vibrant picture of life in Kentucky, so much so that I was easily transported there.” Reader Views review.
If your book were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
This is fun! Because it has dual timelines (flashbacks to the 70s and 80s and a “current” timeline set in 2009), I would have to cast young and older actors.
For the adult Penny, Elizabeth Olsen would be the perfect choice and for the younger version, circa 1985–89, it would absolutely be Sadie Sink. The adult Bradley? It’s Henry Cavill all the way with Tanner Buchanan taking the younger role.
As for Ruby Ray, Penny’s beloved grandmother, she would be played by Laura Dern (in the 1970s flashback) and Diane Ladd as the older Ruby Ray. They are two of my favorite actresses of all time and they are mother and daughter.
And finally, Dakota, Penny’s best friend with a salty tongue, would be played by Rashida Jones while Margo Martindale would make a fine Miss Paulette, Camden, Kentucky’s premier town gossip.
Maybe I should be a casting agent!
If your book were made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?
It’s funny you should ask. I literally made a playlist for this book as I was writing it. Whenever I was in the car or exercising, I listened to it over and over again.
Name by Goo Goo Dolls
American Girl by Tom Petty
Heaven by Brian Adams
When the Roll is Called Up Yonder by Johnny Cash
Cruel Summer by Bananarama
Let It Be Me by Ray LaMontagne
Feels Like Home by Edwina Hayes
The Promise by Tracy Chapman
Fix You by Coldplay
All That You Are by Goo Goo Dolls
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book?
The biggest challenge was deciding where to start. To be honest with you, I had no idea what I was doing. I spent about three and a half years writing, rewriting, and editing my novel, Where the Grass Grows Blue completely by myself. This was the first book I had ever written, so there was a lot of trial and error involved.
What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
Write, write, write. It’s the only way to get better. Also, I suggest joining writing groups. I’m a member of the WFWA (Women’s Fiction Writers Association). It’s been a wealth of knowledge and has connected me to so many authors and aspiring writers, who are the most generous people on the planet with their time and advice.
Which authors inspired you to write?
Elin Hilderbrand. She’s the reason I started writing in the first place. I adore her. I even traveled to Nantucket last fall with a group of girlfriends to have the Elin “experience.” It was an absolute blast, plus I met her! On my website, you can find a blog post I wrote about that trip.
On rituals:
Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?
Since I can write anywhere, I grab whatever is available, but I am partial to milk chocolate and coffee. If I’m craving salt, Pringles and popcorn are my go-to foods.
Where do you write?
When I started writing, I was a busy mother with four children at home and one in college. Every free moment, I wrote when I had the chance. In the beginning, it was usually after dinner, when my children were busy with homework and my kitchen was clean. But that only got me so far. With a house full of active children who played multiple sports, I took every “free” opportunity I could get. I started toting around my laptop to basketball, football, lacrosse, and soccer games when there was a break in the action in case something struck me.
Do you write every day?
Yes.
What is your writing schedule?
I don’t have a “schedule” per se. I write whenever I can find the time.
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
Not for Where the Grass Grows Blue, but for my third book, Tobacco Road, I plotted it out by hand.
Fun stuff:
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
I’d rather be transported to the future instead.
Favorite travel spot?
Sea Island, Georgia. It’s my happy place.
Favorite dessert?
That’s so hard! I have an incorrigible sweet tooth. I love crème brulee, but I’m also a sucker for a good old-fashioned peach cobbler with tons of ice cream.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
The Age of Innocence
Gone Girl
Any book on how to survive on a deserted island. If nothing else, I am practical.
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you?
A car literally ran into my house, missing me by inches. There were skid marks in my foyer. That was certainly a weird day.
Any hobbies?
I’m a tennis player. I’m currently on seven teams. Wait, did you ask if I had an obsession?
If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?
I’m proof that it’s never too late to follow a dream.
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix.
What is your theme song?
My Life by Billy Joel or the Theme Song to Rudy…I’m short but determined.
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Easy. Making my grandmother’s bunny cakes every Easter. She taught me, and now I’ve passed it down to my daughter. I’ve made hundreds of them since I was a little girl.
What song is currently playing on a loop in your head?
The Promise by Tracy Chapman. It reminds me of Penny and Bradley’s story.
What is your go-to breakfast item?
One scrambled egg, black coffee, and skim milk. I LOVE milk.
What is the oldest item of clothing you own?
My navy blue Kentucky sweatshirt that’s over three decades old…but it’s still holding up. I wear it weekly, no matter the season.
Tell us about your longest friendship.
I met her on the first day of first grade. She’s still one of my dearest friends, after forty-six years.
Who was your childhood celebrity crush?
Jason Bateman, hands down. Still not a bad choice today.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The lines between reality and chaos bend when a young man seeking to meet his girlfriend’s family decides to film their antics in author G.S. Gerry’s “Hysterical Hangouts and The Hindlegs”.
The Synopsis
What happens when families stop being polite and start being real?
In a world where reality is stranger than fiction, Viktor Sniperbone’s inspired idea takes you on a hilarious wild ride filled with near-death antics, secrets, and the crazy dynamics of one unforgettable family.
Meet Viktor Sniperbone, a guy who seems to have it all — youth, good health, independence, and a promising future. But something’s missing. When he meets Mandi Hindleg, the woman of his dreams, his life takes an unexpected turn.
They’ve only been dating for six months, and yet Viktor is convinced she’s “the one”. The only hurdle? Meeting Mandi’s quirky family, the Hindlegs.
Viktor then hatches a crazy plan to secretly film the Hindleg family, capturing their real-life drama like you’ve never seen before. Get ready for an uncut, authentic reality show that will redefine the literary game and leave an indelible mark.
As family members shed their polite facades and embrace their true selves, hilarity ensues and a wild rollercoaster of events awaits. Experience the erratic highs and lows, the stomach-aching laughter, as Viktor navigates the Hindlegs’ very own unpredictable make-shift reality TV.
Will his audacious endeavor lead to discovery, chaos, or a revelation that changes everything?
Step into a realm where reality blurs with entertainment as you immerse yourself in “Hysterical Hangouts With The Hindlegs” — award-winning author G. S. Gerry’s groundbreaking concept — and embrace a wild ride of madness, fast-paced comedy, and jaw-dropping revelations.
Scroll up, click on “Buy Now with 1-Click” and grab your copy today!
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The Review
This was quite an enjoyable and engaging read. The approach to satire and parody work that the author has become known for seeps through instantly in this book, crafting a tremendous story that sees the evolution of a young man in love dealing with the demented antics of his girlfriend’s family. The imagery and tension that the book builds into the novel are perfectly paired with the humor and sarcastic dialogue that drives the characters forward.
To me, it was the themes that this satire embodied that made the novel come to life. The way the author delves into not only our obsession with reality TV through the protagonist’s filming of his encounters with the family, but the dynamics that play between romantic partners and one’s family and all the drama that ensues, made this story really pop and come alive on the page.
The Verdict
Memorable, entertaining, and thoughtful, author G.S. Gerry’s “Hysterical Hangouts with the Hindlegs” is a must-read satire read. The twists and turns that the narrative takes and the engaging way the author tackles the human experience both on a public scale and in private made this a truly compelling read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on September 22nd, 2023!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
G. S. Gerry is the award-winning author of Meth Murder & Amazon. He writes literary nonfiction books that are quirky and utterly unique, jam-packed with humor, suspense, satire and more. He is a father of 5, Navy veteran, cybersecurity expert, and tattoo enthusiast. He is Mastering Experiences Through Humor and writing wrongs along the way. Gerry’s original writing style has been compared to the likes of Hunter S. Thompson and Lemony Snicket. Gerry grew up in the world of books working for his father’s book bindery business when he was just a child. Little did he know the literary universe had something more in store for his life.
G. S. Gerry’s creations offer an escape from life’s harsh realities by providing a hilarious perspective in turning lemons into lemonade. Constructing a world where the unbelievable seems made up and yet, oddly relatable. Gerry’s visionary approach towards life, laughter and entertainment bridges comedy and originality with memorable creations, leaving no stone unturned to help others laugh their way to a better today.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Dianne Corbeau shares an honest and painful story of her battle to regain her sobriety in the book “Six Days in Detox”.
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The Synopsis
This memoir is a compelling story about a woman who picks up alcohol after twenty-six years of sobriety. And returns to a mental institution to begin her journey back into the beginnings of recovery. The story is a hard look at what goes on internally and externally inside of Dianne as she gives it her all to survive the battle for her life. The fast-paced read is relentless and unforgiving at times, yet it brings you the fragility of the human spirit.
The Review
This was a heartfelt and honest read that depicted the author’s internal struggle to find sobriety once again after relapsing after over two decades. The author not only shares her story with complete honesty and an almost poetic yet painful reality but balances her story out with the ways in which mental health and addiction can go hand in hand, one often leading to the other and the need to maintain both sobriety and clear mental health is vital to a person’s survival.
Yet the other half of this book rested in the author’s honest look at the practices of the medical center/rehab that she found herself in. The ways in which people approach both addiction and mental health are crucial to a person’s recovery, and the flippant and authoritative approach that some locations take with their patients is a detrimental path that leads to many painful experiences, all of which the author outlines in her book. The imagery and haunting nature of the book that the writing brings to life really captured the emotional and mentally draining nature of the author’s personal experiences.
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The Verdict
Chilling, emotional, and thoughtfully written, author Dianne Corbeau’s “Six Days in Detox” is a must-read memoir and nonfiction read. The fast-paced story and the gripping story of the author’s experiences both internally and externally were both shocking and engaging to read. The emotional weight of the author’s experiences and the open-ended ending to the author’s book will resonate with so many who are also struggling with sobriety and mental health struggles, and provide a desire to improve and engage with others to get the help they need. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Good day lovely readers! Thank you for joining me. I am M.D. Grimm and I am here to promote my newest release, “A Priest, a Plague, and a Prophecy.” This is a single title involving a sweet man who enjoys food, plants, and books, and the manly (secretly sweet) orc warrior who falls in love with him. I am thrilled to finally publish this story. I finished it as the dreaded virus ramped up and decided to shelve it since it involves a plague. But the plague is an off-page impetus to certain events later in the book. Rest assured this is a sweet, low(er)-angst, no-sexy-times-but-lots-of-snuggles, sort of story. Elias is ace but wants romance, and Gurrkk is just the orc to give that to him!
Let’s meet the man—or orc—of the hour, Gurrkk.
ME: Welcome back lovely readers! Thanks for joining me for another interview. This time with Gurrkk, the orc in the relationship. We’ve fed him and strapped him down so he can’t leave.
GURRKK: I bet I can break ropes.
ME: Please don’t. Now—
GURRKK: (wiggles and yanks at ropes) I can do it.
ME: But we don’t want you to. Please stop. Now, when you first met Elias, what did you think? Was it love at first sight?
GURRKK: (still straining against ropes, growling) Nah. He smell nice and no run me through with sword. And he feed me. And get me out of trap. He save my life.
ME: When did you realize you were in love with him? (whispers) Stop trying to break the ropes!
GURRKK: When we hide in his room with bed. Slept on bed. And bathed together.
ME: Oh, uh, right. Let’s move on—
GURRKK: He was shy. No touch. (grins) He not shy now.
ME: Right. About your clan—
(Gurrkk snaps the rope off one arm and bends to use his teeth and claws on the other)
ME: Seriously, Gurrkk, please stop. I only have a few more questions. All these people came to see you and—
GURRKK (muffled by rope) I almost ‘ave it! I will win contest.
ME: There is no contest! I just needed you to sit still for—
(Gurrkk tears free of rope and jumps to his feet, waving his hands in the air.)
GURRKK: Did it! I WIN.
ME: Good lord.
GURRKK: Where is prize?
ME: There is no prize. There’s no contest!
GURRKK: (sounding sad) No prize? But I win.
ELIAS: (off screen) Just give him something please! Or he’ll pout for the rest of the day.
ME: For the love of… here, take my last chocolate bar.
GURRKK: (cruelly snatches bar) Chocolate.
ELIAS: (off screen) What do we say, Gurrkk?
GURRKK: (mumbles) T’ank ‘ou.
ME: (sighs) You’re welcome. Can we get back to the questions now?
GURRKK: (looking puzzled) Questions?
ME: Yes. The reason we’re here.
GURRKK: I thought it was for contest.
ELIAS: (off screen) Stop playing with her, Gurrkk!
GURRKK: (smirks)
ME: Get out. Just get out. Smart ass.
GURRKK: Chocolate good. (exits)
ME: Now I really need alcohol.
I am currently working hard on the final draft of the next The Shifter Chronicles. This will be book 16 (!), and will revisit the couple from book two, Love is a Whirlwind. This one is Blood of the Whirlwind, and I hope to have it ready for a January 2024 release.
As for this year, I have book 9 of The Stones of Power, Jade: First and Last available for preorder, due out in July 2023, and the first book in my Sisters of Song duology, titled Song of Flames will hopefully be ready by October. Flames will be a mmf involving two dragon mates and the woman thief who steals their hearts (instead of their treasure).
More information on my catalog can be found at my website. (Make sure to sign up for my newsletter!)
I hope you stay safe and healthy, and may dragons guard your dreams,
M.D. Grimm
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M.D. Grimm has a new MM fantasy romance out (ace, bi, demi): A Priest, a Plague, and a Prophecy. And there’s a giveaway.
“Orcs are the answer but what is the question?”
Elias is a priest at the Temple of the Divine Sibyl. When he becomes lost in the woods after his brother’s hunting party abandons him, it’s just his luck that he’d stumble upon an angry orc caught in a trap. Unable to stomach the suffering of others, Elias throws self-preservation to the wind and frees the orc. Then Gurrkk—that’s a name?—ends up leading him to safety.
Gurrkk finds himself rather smitten by the sweet, awkward human. He’s always been fascinated with his people’s sworn enemy, and now he has a life debt to fulfill to maintain his honor.
Hiding an orc among the temple’s crypts wouldn’t have been Elias’s first choice but Gurrkk is stubborn about leaving. As they learn each other’s languages and spend more time together, Elias realizes they’ve become friends… and maybe more. And when the dying sibyl gives her last prophecy, Elias knows it wasn’t chance that brought them together, it was the gods.
But why?
This is a sweet, ace romance, so no sexy times, but plenty of snuggles and cuddles!
Elias closed his eyes and clasped his hands under his chin, sending a fervent prayer to the gods, asking for a sign. Any sign that would lead him home. Seconds passed. Minutes. He cracked open one eye to look around. Seeing nothing, he glared and set his fists on his hips.
So much for divine intervention.
“I’m one of your priests, and you don’t give me the time of day,” he mumbled as he set off down the left-hand path.
He was hungry again.
Even as he was contemplating the pros and cons of eating one of his last apples, he stumbled around a thick tree before halting in shock.
An orc sat on the ground, his greenish-gold skin glistening with sweat and his coal-black eyes glaring with menace. He was almost bald, except for a spiky strip of green hair running from his forehead to the back of his skull. The lack of hair accentuated his large ears that moved independently of each other. Two pronounced fangs jutted up from his lower jaw, which was square and blunt, and more sharp teeth showed when he growled.
Elias stayed frozen, taking in the long black tunic cinched at the waist by a gold cord. The short sleeves were trimmed with gold thread, baring muscled arms. The stately garb struck Elias, making him wonder as to the status of the orc. Did they have hierarchy as humans did? The tunic ended around his knees, leaving the rest of his muscled legs bare. Also, this orc wasn’t of monstrous size, so he couldn’t be of the mountain variety. He was certainly taller and broader than Elias, but also leaner, corded with muscle, like that big cat Elias had spotted earlier. And his face was… not horrible. Brutish and sharp but not hideous or even ugly. Those illustrators of tomes really set out to depict orcs as the most horrific creatures ever to grace the earth.
The urge to run made his palms grow damp and his breath to quicken. Not that he could run for more than a few steps before wheezing because he was so damn out of shape, and why the hell didn’t he train with his brother? I’m going to die, I’m going to die….
Then his gaze traveled down to the reason the orc was sitting on the ground and not eating his face. Vicious steel jaws had the orc by the ankle, piercing deeply into his flesh. The jaws were attached to a chain that was buried into to the earth. The fact the orc hadn’t freed himself meant this was one of the trick jaws. One specifically made for capturing orcs. The scoured earth around the chain proved that the orc had tried to dig himself free but clearly hadn’t succeeded. His ankle was a mess of torn flesh and caked blood, and only then did Elias notice the buzz of flies.
How long had he been sitting there, in pain? In fear?
Sympathy rose with anger not far behind. Elias and the orc stared at each other, and Elias found himself stepping closer without consciously deciding his actions. The orc growled deeper, eyes narrowed in warning. Elias stopped again, wondering what he was doing. This was an orc! The enemy! The beasts that kept trying to take their lands. Attius’s tirades whirled through his mind even as the battle songs about marauding orcs jangled in his memory.
He’d never joined in. He’d never had anything personal against orcs. He never thought one way or another about them. Fighting them wasn’t a part of his world. Most of his life had been spent ensconced in the Temple of the Divine Sibyl, which was safely behind fortified stone walls and separated from the general populace of the city.
He was sheltered and he knew it. To see such ugly pain in another living creature struck him to the core. That was one of the reasons he didn’t eat meat. He couldn’t reconcile killing just to feed himself when there were plenty of other things to consume if he simply looked.
At that moment, this orc was no different than any other wild animal caught in a trap. And would he let such a creature die so horribly? No, he would not.
Taking a deep breath, and with more courage than he would profess to have, Elias crouched before slowly pushing off his pack. He kept his eyes on the orc and opened the top flap before tilting it to show the orc that it only held medicines, plant samples, parchment, and ink.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said gently. “Can you understand me?”
The orc made no indication either way. He continued to growl and glare.
“I want to help you.” Elias took the one weapon he had, a long dagger, and showed the orc the blade before tossing it away. The orc stopped growling and blinked in apparent surprise. Elias shuffled closer on his knees, keeping his demeanor as non-threatening as possible. He almost snorted—as if a soft priest like him could be threatening. He kept speaking in low tones as he would to a frightened animal. He kept his pack held out in front of him, hoping the harmless items would convince the orc he wasn’t a hunter.
The orc’s large nostrils flared, and he squinted into the bag. He must have smelled the remaining apples, the plant samples, and the few healing ointments Elias carried with him everywhere. Elias set the bag within easy reach of the orc just in case he wanted to investigate. Then he took a good look at the steel jaws and winced.
The orc didn’t wear shoes, his sturdy, rough feet tough enough not to need them. His nails were more like claws, almost identical to those on his fingers. The trap would have been covered, and he’d stepped directly onto the triggering mechanism. The blades had barely missed his foot to cut into his ankle, probably scraping against the bones and tendons.
Elias took a moment to fight nausea.
“Damn. Once I free your leg it’s going to bleed profusely. I have to wrap it fast and tight.” He glanced up and met the orc’s eyes. Grim determination stared back at him and Elias blinked. “You do understand me.”
Author Bio
M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!).
Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!). After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier.
Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
Well, I spent most of my adult life as a neurosurgeon, practicing first in the Army and then at big academic medical centers. In my job, I had to write a lot for all sorts of reasons—patient care, research, education, administration, and the like. And several years ago, I became interested in burnout in healthcare workers and co-wrote three books on the subject with a clinical psychologist friend of mine. But, I always found writing non-fiction to be laborious and restrictive. Then, I retired from clinical neurosurgery and immediately felt liberated and driven to write fictional works. And I have to say, I’m enjoying the heck out of it. Perhaps it’s the freedom to go anywhere I like, create any scenario I like, color well outside of the lines.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
Through the several decades I practiced neurosurgery, I always tried to bring as many interested parties as possible into my world and show them the ropes. I would routinely bring learners of all levels into the operating rooms and ICU’s and trauma bays—graduate students, undergrads, high school students, and other “civilians.” There was an endless stream of people who wanted to get a peek behind the curtains. So, when I finally had a bit of time on my hands, I decided to write about it—hoping to continue to shine light on that world. But straight-up descriptions felt too didactic, too sterile. Weaving it into a fictional story, however, seemed more promising. It allowed me to explore related feelings and reactions to it—get into the emotional underbelly of it. And to really plumb the humanity of it all. And, I thought it might prove more immersive, more palpable, more real for the reader—put the scalpel into their hands, allow them to wield the screaming high speed cranial drill, have them try to stop the bleeding deep in the patients brain.
Also, a major fictional thread in the story is a paranormal one. I was raised by a Scottish mother and grandmother and they were ardent believers in ghosts, both routinely relating their own interactions with the undead. So, I have always had a fondness for ghost stories and I figured that one might merge well with an exploration of the neurosurgical world.
Finally, I am very interested in the impact healthcare has on the psyche of its providers. It is a tense and frenetic world, and I wanted to portray how the wheels might come off on an over-dedicated provider who cannot find a way to step away from the fray, even for a moment.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Oh, I’d love to open up many channels of consideration for them. The fragility of life. Science vs spirituality. The cost of doing good. What comes after life. The possibility of entities that science can’t define (ghosts, angels, etc). The dedication of so many caregivers. The medically miraculous time we live in. The power of love. The need for work and communication in a marriage. The need to support one another through periods of crisis. The importance of friends.
Ultimately, a message that came through to me as I wrote the book was that life is so darned fragile, that arbitrary personal disaster can happen to any of us any minute of any day, and that we should thus remember to enjoy, cherish, and celebrate every minute of the miracle of life and those we share it with. Make the most of every second, for it truly could be our last.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
As I noted earlier, I was bathed in the paranormal throughout my childhood. And when I wasn’t hearing ghost stories from the Scottish side of my family, I was reading them. But I think a career of spending so much around the dead and the dying drew me in deeper. I started thinking about how if there was a world of ghosts and spirits, and they were somehow inclined to reach out to the living, perhaps their first candidates would be the people who spend so much time near the transition zone, the bridge—if you will—between life and death. Doctors, nurses. Those who populate the ICU’s, operating rooms, and emergency rooms of our major medical centers.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
Well, the main protagonist, neurosurgeon Ryan Brenan can’t see the damage his workaholism is doing to his marriage, his family, and his own psyche. He is unable to step away from his work for even a minute, even during his brief periods at home. I would want to discuss with him whether this was making him happy. Whether he believed it made him a better doctor or might actually be compromising his ability to care for his patients. Whether he felt it was sustainable. Whether he believed he could look back at the end of his life and be happy with his choices. Whether it was realistic for him to see himself as the soul driver of quality on his team. What kind of lessons he was giving to all the learners around him (and his children) about how they should conduct their professional lives.
I would also like to explore with him whether, in the end, he believed the ghosts were real. And the implications of his answer.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I was hoping you would clue me in on this one! A lot of Facebook friends tell me they can’t wait to read the book. I spent a fair amount of time and effort on Twitter but it somehow closed down my original account so I had to start up new one and don’t have thousands of followers. But, I felt waves of interest in my literary posts there anyway. I am currently planning out some related videos for Tik Tok, You Tube, and the like. We’ll see.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
I think writing is likely very personal. So, I suppose, I would advise finding one’s own routines, rhythms, inspirations etc. I resonated with some of Stephen King’s advice. That is to read a lot. And write a lot. And let the story take me where it wants to go. Personally, I tend to spill out onto the page – verbal dysentery, if you will. With only a roughly sketched overall structure. Then, I edit and rewrite like crazy. Over and over again. Cut a lot. Save some for other stories. Keep editing and rewriting. This book started at 260,000 words (it’s now 100,000). I’m lucky, I enjoy editing/rewriting. But I get that others are super careful writers. Each sentence is well crafted. Each word is carefully chosen. Not many rewrites needed. More power to them. Do it! But that isn’t me.
Then, I suppose, I would recommend writing for oneself, not a market. I know this is not very original. And that I am not depending on writing for a livelihood. But if one can write for oneself with no real eye on pleasing people, I have to believe that it will make, and keep, writing genuine, and fun. Super fun. A blast. It allows for maximum creativity. And opens up all sorts of channels in one’s own mind. New discoveries about oneself and about the world around us await around every corner. And we are free to explore them.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
A YA soccer novel is written and is in about the twentieth rewrite. No ghosts. But fun. And I have the opening chapters of a dystopian novel—hopefully with a new angle—written.
What I would really like to get into, now that the pandemic is kind of over, is meeting with, and discussing a wealth of topics with interested readers and learners. I’m willing to sit down with any book club, reading group, class, organization, club, professional group, etc. and take on any subject raised by the book or that is in my wheelhouse of expertise or quasi-expertise (or no expertise at all!). We can certainly meet on zoom (yuch) or preferably, in person. Subjects I might be able to shine some light on include:
Burnout, wellness/resilience, work-life balance, psychological distress, peak performance, death and dying, the bravery and grace of the sick and injured, ghosts, the paranormal, the interface of science and religion/spirituality, leading a full life, music, exercise, health, why kindness matters, living simply and sustainably, critical communications, breaking bad news, critical thinking, gratitude and humor in life, why burnout is often self-inflicted, team sports, sports injuries, soccer, reading, writing fiction, ideas for books and stories, research, reading scientific literature, Neuroscience (wide range of topics – e.g. concussions, spine injuries, Parkinsons Disease, brain tumors, strokes, brain surgery, spina bifida, brain infections, head injury, hydrocephalus, seizures, etc.), history of medicine, the healthcare universe, healthcare careers, healthcare socioeconomics, medical ethics, medical education and education in general, applying to professional schools, advocacy, the medical legal world, compassionate care, life in medicine, facing serious illness, and more.
In addition, I swore that I would teach myself the bagpipes. So, here we go!
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About the Author
Gary Simonds practiced the full breadth of neurosurgery for decades in the US Army, Geisinger Clinic, and as the Chief of Neurosurgery at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. He has performed thousands of highly complex procedures on adults and children and cared for tens of thousands of patients. In addition to his expertise in neurosurgery and the neurosciences, he is interest in an array of related subjects including: medical ethics, medical socioeconomics, humanism, doctor patient interactions, patient advocacy, and burnout and psychological distress in healthcare workers. He has co-authored with Clinical Psychologist Wayne Sotile three non-fiction books on burnout and resilience in healthcare workers and has recently written a related award-winning novel, Death’s Pale Flag. Gary stepped away from clinical neurosurgery in 2020 but still teaches undergraduates and medical students at Virginia Tech. He lives in Black Mountain NC in a log cabin with wife, Cindy, and border collie, Hamish, and is excited to connect with his readers and interested parties over a range of subjects.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
Now and then, JFK comes to someone in a dream and says: “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.” It’s a command, you see, not just commentary.
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What inspired you to write your book?
We live with the possibility of sudden violence from other humans. Violence can be “random” in the sense that the victim doesn’t deserve it and has done nothing to attract it, but at the same time it may not be random in the sense that the perpetrator has motivations and drops observable clues by which others may predict their behavior. Anyway, I was thinking about how workplaces are generally unequipped to handle this. I was also thinking about how someone’s identity — not only their personality, but the social categories they belong to — can affect that type of experience and interaction.
What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
The novel is long, and it has a unique structure. Reading the whole thing, or at least large parts of it, is key to the learning experience I hope people will have. As Lev reflects: “Reading becomes a ‘novel’ when we notice we must grant our time.” This novel is about a couple thousand things, so each reader will have a different takeaway. Potentials are there. We don’t exhaust our possible personal takeaways from any book until we spend a lot of time with it. The question then may become: Why read this book and not another? My answer there: Most people have never read a novel narrated by a transgender character written by a transgender author. I, as author, chose to give the opportunity for an extended experience, and the reader (if they grant their time), can accept that opportunity. It may take a couple more hours to read Most Famous Short Film of All Time than it would take to read a novel with fewer pages or faster story pacing. Some of what can be learned or felt here is different than what’s offered by a book that’s shorter or a book that isn’t trans. A meta-question, then, is why we grant our time to some books and not others. There isn’t a universal answer. My novel keeps hitting its own brakes, prompting the reader to answer that question privately for themselves. It asks: Why are you here? Why don’t you read something else instead? What do you want to gain? Will spending more time here help you find it? Would you be more likely to gain an understanding from this novel if it were shorter and spoke more directly? Why does any learning require time?
What drew you into this particular genre?
Lev reflects, “Reading becomes a ‘novel’ when we notice we must grant our time,” and on the very next page he says: “’Invento el género,’ Unamuno says of his own work; I invent the genre. Or gender, if you are so disposed.”
If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
Lev exchanges words with his boss, and the boss may have power to change the situation, but the boss never really listens or cares. Lev spends a lot of time wishing he could talk to his friend Stanley, and Stanley does care and engage, but he speaks in riddles without yielding up a lot of actionable information. His friend Aparna, by contrast, tends to speak more directly. If I wanted to ask one character for general information or advice—information about me, more so than about them—I’d take all that in mind. But if I wanted to know more about the other character? I suppose one conversation that might kindle a motor is with 1962 JFK, when he shows up in Lev’s dream in 2015. “We’re having a conversation, JFK and I,” Lev says. The first thing Lev asks JFK is: “How terrible am I?” JFK helps himself to Lev’s whiskey and is impressed by Lev’s apartment, and he says Lev can be his vice president. It’s more of a command than an offer. We never find out why he says that. (Although there are hints, having to do with the life cycle of cicadas, and perhaps with something Stanley says to Lev a year later about what’s “tel-evidente.” Readers can make what they like of it.) If I could pick a conversation to have, I’d be in the room with JFK and Lev, and I’d extend the dream a minute longer. I’d assume the dream-version of JFK has a fictional reality that is equal to Lev’s fictional reality, and I’d ask JFK why he appears to Lev in this dream.
What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
In the past, I’ve connected with many people on Twitter. Unfortunately, one month after my novel’s publication, Twitter’s ownership changed, and Twitter itself changed. The man who bought Twitter for $44 billion — a massive overpayment — did so, by a common interpretation, because he has a personal vendetta against all trans people. When I talk about the importance of reading books by trans authors that are about the ways trans people experience and respond to structural power and to individual threats, this is part of what I mean. Anyway, Twitter was a good exercise for me in short-form communication, but I’m better at long-form writing, so these days I’m focusing on blogging on Medium. I’d recommend that writers try a paid membership there for a solid opportunity to read and engage in substantive ways, on a website where the human and algorithmic curation gives us a real chance.
What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Find other writers whose opinion you’d value, and ask them to read your work. Make a fair trade. Reciprocate by reading their work, or else pay them, so you can get real feedback. Listen to the feedback. Make 90% of those changes. When an editor tells me I ought to change something, my default assumption is that they are correct. My experience working through a long list of marked-up passages is that my original wording is right only 10% of the time. Also, I prefer to reach out to one reader at a time so I can make changes and send the improved draft to the next reader. That assumes I’m prepared to iterate and wait for each person’s response separately. The calendar has to cooperate. For a novel, since each professional reader usually needs at least a month of turnaround time, this process takes a year or more. The advantage of taking so much time to edit the novel is that meanwhile I’ll grow as a person and my personal growth will guide the novel. Novels take time. “All novels are about time,” Lev says.
What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I’ll be at the AWP conference in Seattle in March 2023. I’m enjoying writing online articles on Medium, and I’m doing a five-year anniversary update to one of my nonfiction books.
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About the Author
Tucker Lieberman is the author of the nonfiction Painting Dragons, Bad Fire, andTen Past Noon, as well as a bilingual poetry collection, Enkidu Is Dead and Not Dead / Enkidu está muerto y no lo está, recognized as a finalist in the 2020 Grayson Books Poetry Contest and nominated for the 2022 Elgin Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association.
His essay on a horror film appears in It Came From the Closet (Feminist Press, 2022). He’s contributed to three anthologies recognized by Lambda Literary: Balancing on the Mechitza (North Atlantic Books, 2011 Lambda winner), Letters For My Brothers (Wilgefortis, 2012 Lambda finalist), and Trans-Galactic Bike Ride (Microcosm, 2021 Lambda finalist). His flash fiction was recognized in the 2019 STORGY Magazine Flash Fiction Competition.
His husband is the science fiction writer Arturo Serrano, author of To Climates Unknown (2021) and contributor to the Hugo-winning blog nerds of a feather, flock together. They live in Bogotá, Colombia.
