Tag: George Veck

Ogwen Blues by George Veck Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A toxic family dynamic threatens to burst in an explosive way in author George Veck’s “Ogwen Blues”.

The Synopsis

Fifty-year-old football referee Colin Tudur has endured a pitiful, people-pleasing existence up in the mountains of north Wales. But his time has come! Now finally chasing his dream, he quits his steady job and commits to full-time training, itching for promotion to the Welsh Premier League and the chance to ref on S4C. But such selfishness far from serves his parasitic, coercive wife Clare and stepson Dale, who have long grown dependent on his salary.

Now thwarted in his pursuit of freedom by North Wales’ second-home owner induced housing shortage, twenty-year-old Dale’s forced to wallow in the family’s toxic, co-dependent bubble. Someone’s bound to break…

Hard hitting and fiercely raw, Ogwen Blues charts their plight to thrive in an area starved of adequate opportunities.

The Review

A genuinely compelling and thought-provoking read, author George Veck once again captures the raw, visceral, and emotional tidal wave that often overpowers everyday people in harsh living environments. The culture and social aspects of life in Northern Wales are skewed by the toxicity of this family dynamic and the chilling nature of the drug trade and life lived immersed fully into the world of drugs. The author creatively weaves the tension and heavy atmosphere into the narrative, allowing the painful memories and layers of the family’s toxic history to manifest and bloom naturally on the page.

The heart of this narrative is in the character development and powerful themes the author explores. The narrative allows the reader to look behind the curtain of life in Northern Wales and glimpse the dysfunction within this family unit. The raw, nearly overwhelming nature of human cruelty and the viciousness of drug use skillfully bring this story to new heights and allow the reader to explore the complex depths of human relationships and the cruel nature of life itself.

The Verdict

Memorable, honest, and gritty, author George Veck’s “Ogwen Blues’ is a must-read suspense thriller. The seamless blend of action, drama, and suspense will keep readers invested in the developing story, and the emotional rollercoaster that these characters find themselves on will make the chilling events of the narrative stay with readers long after that final page. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Born in Hastings but raised in North Wales, George mostly writes gritty crime fiction set in Wales.

His inspiration partly derives from political greed, and the plights of those who suffer as a result; whether that’s from mental health issues our criminally underfunded health system won’t treat, housing shortages, domestic abuse, or living in crippling poverty without hope.

As of 2024 George has published six books. Dark domestic thriller Belabour is his latest.

Interview with Author George Veck

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I got into writing at the same time as acting, mostly so I could write short films to produce. I loved it so much that I moved to Cardiff and studied for a Master’s degree in screenwriting, before adapting my screenplays into books.   

2) What inspired you to write your book?

Belabour is inspired by the atrocities of domestic abuse, how it seems to be everywhere you turn. Until 2015, when new laws were introduced in the UK criminalizing controlling and coercive behaviour, the vast majority of proprietors got away with it, even when reported. This book you could say is anger spilling over having witnessed this repeatedly happen, while the victim’s lives sometimes never recover.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

Hopefully, current proprietors of domestic abuse take a long hard look in the mirror and see the horror they inflict from a victim’s side. If it helps victims, former or present, process their trauma in any way, then that’d be great too.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I’ve always appreciated books and films that take pride in portraying realism. Domestic drama is as relatable as it gets.  

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5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

X has been helpful, as has Instagram and Reddit at times. Goodreads stands out. 

6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

The most obvious tip is to write every day, even if it’s for just half an hour. But mainly try and enjoy every step, celebrate ALL of your wins and landmarks along the way, and don’t let anyone take the joy that made you start away.                                                                                                                                        

7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I have a few books in the planning stage. My next release will likely be a comedy-drama called A Sanction A Day: an anthology charting a desperate British town’s struggles with unemployment and homelessness.

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About the Author

Born in Hastings but raised in North Wales, George mostly writes gritty crime fiction set in Wales.

His inspiration partly derives from political greed, and the plights of those who suffer as a result; whether that’s from mental health issues our criminally underfunded health system won’t treat, housing shortages, domestic abuse, or living in crippling poverty without hope.

As of 2024 George has published six books. Dark domestic thriller Belabour is his latest.

Spurious Scrapper by George Veck Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Trigger warnings – Self-harm, drug use, profanity & violence.

A young man living on the fringes of society attempts to steer a straight laced new tenant towards his ways of thinking, with disastrous results in author George Veck’s “Spurious Scrapper”.

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The Synopsis

Chrissy’s parties never stop in the profitable confines of his locally renowned trap house. Fuelled by North Wales’ lack of prosperity, his aimless cretin entourage are dragged along for a parasitic, rampant ride, rinsing the deprived town’s insatiable addicts of their spare change.

When Sam, a naïve, straight-edged student moves in and jeopardizes this anarchic way of life, Chrissy stops at nothing to get him onside. Never did he envisage the tragic consequences…

Such short-term brazen gain has long tarnished Chrissy’s local reputation; tight-knit communities sometimes forgive, but rarely forget. Aching to escape this pit-hole existence is great, but being allowed to execute change is a privilege only some get.

The Review

This is a truly gritty, haunting, and engaging read. The author expertly weaves together a story of chaos and drama, delving into a dark and realistic depiction of what addiction and life in a university can be like. The imagery in the author’s writing style brings this lifestyle to the forefront, delving into the shocking realizations and raw language that readers often find themselves confronting in these characters. 

The author achieved both dark humor and harrowing life experiences within one narrative. The overwhelming feeling of intensity and the raw look into drug culture, not only in general but in particular in a university setting, allowed the reader to see through the eyes of these realistic characters. The added depth of a revenge story and the consequences others must pay for one’s mistakes made the reader feel the shock and awe this particular story brought.

The Verdict

Author George Veck’s “Spurious Scrapper” is a must-read vigilante justice meets crime thriller and drama novel that is shocking, honest, and gripping. The thought-provoking look into the mindset of characters like Chrissy and the evolution, or at times devolution, of these individuals allows the reader to get a firmer idea of what tragedy is waiting for those who are sadly immersed in the underbelly of the drug world. The haunting ending will stay with readers long after it ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Born in Hastings but raised in North Wales, George mostly writes gritty crime fiction set in Wales.

His inspiration partly derives from political greed, and the plights of those who suffer as a result; whether that’s from mental health issues our criminally underfunded health system won’t treat, housing shortages, domestic abuse, or living in crippling poverty without hope.

As of 2024 George has published six books. Dark domestic thriller Belabour is his latest.

Interview with Author George Veck

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing? 

I was born in Hastings but grew up in North West Wales, mainly living rurally. I started writing when I got the urge out of nowhere to learn how to write screenplays, slowly after getting tired of struggling to get any of these made or funded – other than those that could be done on a micro budget – I decided to give it a go converting some of them into novels. One of which became my first novel One Visit‘.  

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

A lot of my own experiences of living in poverty, seeing people routinely being let down by the system, and different mental health issues I’ve both suffered and seen others suffer with. 

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

That if you see signs of abusive parenting, even if said parents appear like respectable people through glib charm then do everything possible to help those children before their well-being becomes permanently affected. Also hopefully they’ll take away and have sympathy for the riveting affect and trauma of having your house taken over by drug dealers.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I love the raw nature of kitchen sink drama and have always found books/films that portray poverty in a relatable way fascinating. Having a way of highlighting often misunderstood stigmas around mental health and addiction while being able to hopefully contribute in some way also drew me to this genre. 

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5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Both Instagram and Facebook are decent. Facebook’s litany of different book sharing groups are invaluable, especially when you have a free promotion on. Reddit is especially good as well when a free promotion is on your book. 

6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Don’t get beaten down by your first draft and its imperfections. That was the hardest thing for me to get over before going through the process enough to be able to power through the first draft while aiming for momentum more than perfection.

7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I am nearly through the first draft of my second novel Spurious Scrapper, a revenge drama also set in rural north west Wales. Once that is finished, I aim to write a novel comprised of a few short stories loosely intertwined and set in North Wales, all centring around the inequality of modern-day Tory induced poverty.  

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About the Author

I grew up in rural North West Wales, where hardships and a lack of opportunities spurred my passion for tackling tough subjects, such as poverty, addiction and mental health. Currently studying a masters degree in screenwriting at the University of South Wales, I’ve written and directed three short films. One Visit was the first feature-length screenplay I ever wrote, and through the exposure of this novel, I hope to garner interest and funding to turn it into a film one day. For news regarding my future novels and films, follow @vecks_gems_productions on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/vecks_gems_productions

One Visit by George Veck Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews3 Comments

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

TRIGGER WARNING: SCENES OF DRUG ABUSE AND SEXUAL ABUSE OCCUR IN THIS NOVEL. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

A young man hoping to keep his brother out of the care system must contend with an abusive father, a former acquaintance turned drug dealer and his own addiction in author George Veck’s “One Visit”.

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The Synopsis

In sleepy, rural North Wales, Frankie Gibbs, a recently laid off, aimless twenty-year-old on Universal Credit, wants nothing more than to keep his younger brother out of the care system. He single-handedly takes this upon himself while their alcoholic, cocaine-addict, single-parent father, Guy Gibbs, heaps misery on their lives through systematic abuse and his never-ending wild parties. After Guy is sent to prison, Frankie is coerced into opening his home to Justin, an acquaintance from his school days now turned drug dealer, while his own addiction and self-worth spiral beyond recognition.

The Review

This was a truly gritty, dark, and twisted crime drama. The author expertly weaves together a heartbreaking tale that examines the impact that drug addiction, abuse, and toxic family relationships can have on people. The haunting imagery and chilling atmosphere capture the grim setting and cinematic, almost indie-film quality of the novel.

The aspects of this narrative that really stood out were the heartbreaking character developments of this novel and the emphasis the author put on capturing the surrounding culture and tone of the people around the main cast of characters. The exploration of Wales in general and both the terminology and culture that exists within their community was fascinating for a U.S. reader to explore, while the traumatic road these characters travel down feels both relatable and emotional all at once.

The Verdict

Thought-provoking, shocking, and engaging, author George Veck’s “One Visit” is a must-read crime drama. The horrors that the protagonist and his brother endure as the narrative descends further and further into chaos hone in on the growing problem of drug abuse and violence as a whole around the world, and will speak to readers on a very distinct level. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

I grew up in rural North West Wales, where hardships and a lack of opportunities spurred my passion for tackling tough subjects, such as poverty, addiction and mental health. Currently studying a masters degree in screenwriting at the University of South Wales, I’ve written and directed three short films. One Visit was the first feature-length screenplay I ever wrote, and through the exposure of this novel, I hope to garner interest and funding to turn it into a film one day. For news regarding my future novels and films, follow @vecks_gems_productions on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/vecks_gems_productions