Monday, August 20, 2018

Other Side of Writers: #Horror #Mystery Author Robert Walker

It's Monday! That means it's time for another post sharing things you might not know about different authors.

 (* Read the first post on Mary Cunningham and her family genealogy.) 



 Today I welcome hugely prolific author Robert W. Walker, who's written everything from historical novels to thrillers, medical thrillers and more, plus horror--make that lots of horror! He's now working on his -- 81st!! -- book. 

He continues to expand his series, including two new additions to his historical, Chicago-based Inspector Alastair Ransom series, City of Lies (Book 4) and City of Serpents (Book 5). The books in order are: City for Ransom, Shadows in the White City, City of the Absent, City of Lies, City of Serpents, and Titanic 2012.


About City of Lies:
It is 1896 in Chicago, which means it has been three years since Inspector Alastair Ransom beat the charge of murder of a cleric, but his enemies have been working behind the scenes to hang him for the very same crime. Such a thing may appear impossible given double-jeopardy laws, but the Chicago Archdiocese and other powerful groups want Ransom's head. He's behind bars, but he is  soon badly needed on a case involving mutilated torsos; that is headless, limbless bodies that have been brutally ripped apart. With the help of Jane Tewes, her daughter, Gabby, Dr. Christian Fenger, Philo Keane, and Henry Bosch, the trusted people around him,, Ransom begins to put the pieces together. Pieces that include a mutilated tattoo, the nature of the rips and tears to the flesh, strange activity at the Chicago shipyards, the local taverns, the race track, and the streets of Chicago in 1896.

About City of Serpents

The loss of his snitch, Henry Bosch, does more to soften Ransom than even Ransom could have imagined. However, by the end of the story to catch Bosch's killer or killers, Ransom himself is implicated in as series of murders, and going to trial for a third time on such charges holds no charm for either Alastair or his lover, Dr. Jane Tewes. 


 He also has reissued his historic/horror-tinged humor urban legend-based Chicaghosts, Old Fart Squad novella series. The latest and new release is the "creepy-crawly" The Heads Have Eyes (book 4). The series starts with Gone Gorilla, and continues with The Monster Pit (book 2) and Goatbusters (book 3). (If you love puns, horror and old Chicago, these are for you!)

When a new strain of 'smart' spiders emerge in Chicago known as Chi-racnids, heads will roll, as these parasitic spiders make babies inside humans. Specifically inside human heads, until the weight of the growing horde inside the skull becomes too heavy for the brain stem and spinal cord to support. The four 'horsemen' of the Old Fart Squad, led by Retired Detective Aubrey Hamilton are faced with their strangest case ever, one that involves a growing number of citizens succumbing to the Spider Plague of 2018. When spiders destroy a perfectly good hot fudge sundae, it is too much for the Old Fart Squad. They go after the enemy with liquid nitrogen and fire.

How did you start writing?

I began writing as early as 7th grade, doing short stories and bad poetry, but began my first novel in my junior year of high school and completing It in my senior year. The novel got into the hands of a recruiter for Northwestern University, which then got me a full scholarship to the university out of inner-city Wells High School.


I quickly went into Education as my major, knowing I wanted to teach to support my writing, but I soon learned that I loved teaching as well as writing. I graduated with a BS in Secondary Education with an English emphasis and a lot of art classes and literature classes as well as psych, soc, anthropology, and a smattering of all I could get to help me as a writer.

What else do you do besides write? 

I have taught in various places as I have moved from Chicago to Northern NY, to Florida, and now in West Virginia, and am currently teaching at WV State University. I teach, what else, writing classes. And I've been at WVSU as an adjunct professor of English for a decade.


I also teach college credit courses in a local high school for students who are college bound. They earn three credit hours toward their degree before starting at the university.

I also am a substitute teacher with the local Job Corps, which is a federally funded school for trades. Students at the Corps work toward becoming electricians, carpenters, HVAC experts, Office Administration and such, but they also must obtain their high school diplomas. For most of these students from around the country, this is a last chance to get on the right path toward a good end. Many in the program are in their twenties and coming out  of inner-city circumstances where opportunities are limited.

What are your other interests or hobbies?


I enjoy walking my dog, Scout, alias Put-Put, and of course reading is my main hobby, much of which gets used in my novels. I am also an avid film buff of sorts. Love bio pics and historical films, WWII films, and classic westerns. I don't particularly collect anything, including moss or dust, as am always reinventing myself, so to speak. 

Books or Movies? 


I am a huge film bug. I love great classics from High Noon and The Train to horror classics like Night of the Hunter and the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I also grew up on TV terror with One Step Beyond, Outer Limits, and The Twilight Zone. All of which influenced me greatly.


However, I was even more influenced by books such as Lord of the Flies, Brave New World, 1984, Animal Farm and all the works of Hawthorne and Mark Twain. More than any other author, Twain touched me and made me want to be as versatile an author as he was. My first novel, Daniel Webster Jackson & the Wrong Way Railroad, was in total emulation and imitation and influence of Mark Twain from whom I learned my first lessons for doing the episodic drama.



* Visit Rob at his website for more info on his books.


Rob, thanks for stopping by and for the fun! It's always a pleasure!



Friday, August 17, 2018

New Review! Lizzie Borden, #Zombie Hunter 2 @ Boundless Book Reviews!



Thanks to Stormi @ Boundless Book Reviews for the great 5-star review of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2: The Axe Will Fall.

In part, " This book was awesome just like the first. It's hard to review and not drop a bunch of spoilers. I'll just say that its detailed and action packed. The ending was really thrilling and it seemed like, maybe, it will be leading to another book. If so I can't wait to read it!"

Fun to see what someone thinks of a sequel, especially when they read the first book and liked it!
 .
* Book link - Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2

** And don't forget! Book 1 - Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter is on sale to Aug. 21!


Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Blog Tour: Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper #adventure


Today I welcome author Fiona Ingram, who's sharing about her new kids' adventure book, The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper - Book 3 in the Chronicles of Stone series.


About the Book:
  
A plane crash! Lost in the jungle! Hunted by their old enemy, will Adam, Justin, and Kim survive long enough to find the Third Stone of Power? With only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, the kids make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the lost city of stone gods, where the Stone of Power might be located. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task.

Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?

Who doesn't love learning about or visiting somewhere new? She's got some great points about writing and travel!

   Writing about different places and countries for kids 
   By Fiona Ingram


    In writing about real locations, I felt very fortunate that I had been able to visit Egypt with my two young nephews prior to writing my first middle-grade adventure, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab. How does one recreate for readers, especially young readers, the sense of ‘being’ in a place? Top of the list is, of course, actually going to the particular location.
    Location is not just a geographical point on a world map. It’s a mixture of sights, sounds, smells, sensations, tastes, and the ambiance or atmosphere that comes with its people, history, culture, architecture, and art. The trick in getting young readers to enjoy an adventure in a different place or country is to help them experience it with all their senses. Since I modeled my heroes on my two nephews, it was important for me to get a feel for how two boys would react in such a foreign (and potentially dangerous) environment.
    I bought quite a few miniatures that really helped me recreate the haggling scene in the Egyptian market at Esna, and these brought back the sounds and smells of people, incense, food, spices, and much more. The air was hot and dry. The taste of the food was unforgettable. Do you know the best olives and cucumbers are found in Egypt? The crisp, cool, almost sweet taste of a cucumber so juicy and refreshing that one just wants to gobble the whole thing down. The tart tang of a black olive on your tongue … spicy yet so tasty that one or two are just not enough. Kids always want to know what the heroes ate or drank during the adventure and this is important, so I have included lots of foodie details in all my books.
    Book 2: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur was also quite an easy adventure to describe because I have visited both England and Scotland and was able to clearly describe the different atmosphere, temperatures very much cooler than Egypt, and the old cities, the stone castles, the air of mystery and intrigue that surrounded this adventure. I had already spent a few amazing weeks in Scotland, researching old castles. Ask me anything about castles … with or without drawbridges, moats, portcullises, battlements … you name it, I visited it. Finally, I settled upon the fabulous, fairytale setting of Dunrobin Castle, for me an exquisite vision, as the setting for Book Two.
    Book Three: The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper takes place in Mexico, Central America, and although I would have loved the reality of an actual location, this is when I had to rely on secondary sources available. For authors not able to travel, secondary advice includes guidebooks, travel blogs, Google Earth, interviews with experts, and (very importantly) research. These options shouldn’t be considered second best in any way because even though one may be fortunate enough to make a trip, there is hard work to be done when putting a story on paper.
    I read books by modern day explorers about their jungle escapades and got a real feeling for just how hot, humid, dangerous and intense the jungle atmosphere is. Absolutely exhausting to slog through the almost impenetrable foliage.  Civilization might be a quick plane trip away, but when you’re deep in the jungle, there’s no quick route out of it. Fortunately for me, I had the help of two experts, both of Mexican origin, to guide me in all my descriptions.
    Any location is unique and there is pressure upon the author to describe it using all five senses so that readers can relate to it, enjoy it, and believe in it. Young readers always ask the most intriguing questions—the how, who, why, when, what, and where—and I think I have covered all my bases so far in these adventures!    



About the Author:
Fiona Ingram is a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, she was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked her new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with her mother and two young nephews. The Chronicles of the Stone series includes, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and The Search for the Stone of Excalibur (book 2). Find out more at her Facebook page, TwitterBlog or on GoodReads


TOUR STOPS:

Today @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning with coffee than a muffin? Grab your cup of morning brew and join us today when we celebrate the launch of Fiona Ingram's book, The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper.  You can read our interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book. http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

August 14th @ Write Like Crazy
Make sure you stop by Mary Jo's blog Write Like Crazy where Fiona Ingram talks about why your child doesn't like reading and how to fix this. http://www.writelikecrazy.com

August 15th @ Girl Zombie Authors
Come by Christine's blog where Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on writing about different places for kids. https://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com/

August 16th @ Jessica Samuel's Blog
Come by Jessica's blog today where Fiona Ingram talks about how to transform your non-reader into a reader. https://jessicasamuelsauthor.com/

August 19th @ Madeline Sharples' Blog
Stop by Madeline's blog today where author Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts with young writers on writing and creating characters. http://madelinesharples.com/

August 20th @ Mari's #JournalingPower Blog
Stop by Mari's blog where author Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on developing characters that children will relate to. https://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog

August 20th @ Bairn's Bard
Stop by Rebecca's blog Bairn's Bard today where you can read a post by Fiona Ingram's daughter and also you can read about Rebecca's thoughts on the book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper.

August 21st @ Cover2Cover Blog
Stop by Steph's Cover2Cover where you can read Fiona Ingram's blog post about choosing books for your kids. http://cover2coverblog.blogspot.com/

August 22nd @ Look to the Western Sky
Come by Margo Dill's blog Look to the Western Sky where Fiona Ingram writes about her experiences fostering (and later adopting) an illiterate African child who is now a lovely young woman who loves reading. http://margoldill.com/

August 22nd @ A New Look on Books
Come by Rae's blog where Fiona Ingram writes about the joy of writing for children.

August 26th @ Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi
Come by Karen's blog where Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on how to encourage your kids to start writing. http://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/

August 27th @ Mommy Daze: Say What??
Stop by Ashley's blog where Fiona Ingram talks about helping kids read better with homeschooling. A must read as school is about to start! https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

August 27th @ Rebecca Whitman's Blog
Come by Rebecca's blog where you can read Fiona Ingram's post about using computers to improve reading skills. https://rebeccawhitman.wordpress.com

August 28th @ Jennifer's Deals
Stop by Jennifer's blog where she shares what she her thoughts about Fiona Ingram's incredible middle grade adventure book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. https://www.jennifers-deals2.com/

August 30th @ Story Teller Alley
Visit Veronica's blog and check out her thoughts on the book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. http://storytelleralley.com/blog

August 31st @ Mommy Daze: Say What??
Make sure you stop by Ashley's blog again where she shares her thoughts on Fiona Ingram's book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

August 31st @ Rebecca Whitman's Blog
Stop by Rebecca's blog again where you can read Fiona Ingram's post about writing a children series. https://rebeccawhitman.wordpress.com/

September 1st @ Cathy C. Hall's Blog
Visit Cathy's blog today where Fiona Ingram shares the top ten things you never knew about Mexico! https://c-c-hall.com/

September 2nd @ Break Even Books
Come by Erik's blog Break Even Books where Fiona Ingram talks about how to make your books both enjoyable and educational. https://breakevenbooks.com/

September 3rd @ Beverly A. Baird's Blog
Join us over at Beverly A. Barid's blog where author Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on developing a children's series. http://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com

September 4th @ Cathy C. Hall's Blog
Make sure to come by Cathy's blog again where she shares her thoughts on Fiona Ingram's book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. https://c-c-hall.com/

September 5th @ Jill Sheet's Blog
Come by Jill's blog today where Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on writing for children.

September 5th @ Ali's Bookshelf
Stop by Ali's blog where Fiona Ingram talks about whether books can help children cope with life.

September 7th @ Beverly A. Baird's Blog
Join us at Beverly's blog again for her thoughts on Fiona Ingram's adventurous book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. http://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com

September 7th @ Anthony Avina's Blog
Stop by Anthony's Blog where you can read Fiona Ingram's post about why a book series is so good for non-readers. https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

September 9th @ Anthony Avina's Blog
Make sure to check out Anthony's blog again where you can read his thoughts on Fiona Ingram's book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

September 10th @ Misadventures with Andi
Come by Andi's blog where you can read Fiona Ingram's post about why children love reading about other countries and cultures. https://misadventureswithandi.com/

September 10th @ Whitman's Academics
Stop by Rebecca's blog where Fiona Ingram's talks about turning a non-reader into a reader. https://whitmansacademics.wordpress.com/

September 12th@ Coffee with Lacey
Stop by Lacey's blog where she reviews Fiona Ingram's book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com

September 13th @ Coffee With Lacey
Be sure to stop by again when Lacey interviews author Fiona Ingram and chats about her newest book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com

September 14th @ World of My Imagination
Come by Nicole's blog where she shares her opinion about Fiona Ingram's middle grade fiction book The Temple of the Crystal  Timekeeper. http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com

September 15th @ Story Teller Alley
Stop by Veronica's blog Story Teller Alley to read Fiona Ingram's post on how she came about to write the series The Chronicles of the Stone. http://storytelleralley.com/blog


Wow! SciFi Fantasy Bargains!

Super sale of a great selection of 61 SciFi and Fantasy books - Aug. 15-31! 
See the Art of the Arcane page!






Includes: Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter (Kindle on sale 8/14-21) BUY: https://www.amazon.com/Lizzie-Borden-Zombie-Hunter-Verstraete-ebook/dp/B07CN71RFG/

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Lizzie Borden Sale!

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter is on sale!


   
  
* I followed the crimes and the trial, along with offering an entirely different solution to the crime, in my book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter. (new 2nd edition & new cover!) ** 
** On sale starting at 99 cents today August 14 to Aug. 21. - 
UK: On sale Aug. 14-17.  **




* Read what happens next  -  (I will have this book on sale after the first sale is over.)

The story continues in Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2: The Axe Will Fall...  After the trial and being acquitted of murder, Lizzie thought her life would be "normal' again, but can it? When her sister, Emma, is caught up in the latest zombie outbreak, Lizzie has no choice but to pick up her axe again...

Monday, August 13, 2018

This Week: What's Up?

It's County Fair week for me, so I'll be busy there. If you're curious at all, I'll likely be posting photos and results around late in the week at my other blog, https://candidcanine.blogspot.com.

Coming up on the blog Here:  

Weds, 8/15: 



Here's an interesting post about travel writing and a great-sounding kid's adventure series by author Fiona Ingram.









Thurs, 8/16:  

* What if Lizzie Borden had a reason to kill that no one suspected? What if her father and stepmother had turned into.... zombies? 
    Get it now! Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter will be on sale from 8/16-8/21 for 99 cents and $1.99. I could use your reviews please! Even a line or two helps!

* I'll add more if anything else comes up! 



Saturday, August 11, 2018

Lizzie! Legend of Lizzie Borden Movie Poster

The official movie poster for the Lizzie - The Legend of Lizzie Borden movie with Chloe Sevigny as Lizzie and Kristen Stewart as Bridget Sullivan. See details and trailer


Friday, August 10, 2018

New Review: Lizzie Borden, #Zombie Hunter 2 at KRL! Contest!


 A new review of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2: The Axe Will Fall is up at the King's River Life's blog - HERE. There's also a contest to win a signed, print copy!

Thanks to Terrance McArthur, Fresno, CA librarian who also reviewed the first book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter and The Haunting of Dr. Bowen. I'm happy that he seems to like reading about Lizzie and zombies!

Part of quote:  "Why do I like Verstraete’s take on the zombie hordes? Purpose and individuality. 

Their (Lizzie and Pierre's) investigations into who is behind the latest invasion takes them back to places where they had faced peril, and into parts of town they had never gone.

Will they quell this shambling tide, or will they be swept up in it, infected like the creatures they hunted? There is class warfare, capitalism gone wild, and family guilt. What a combo!"


Thursday, August 9, 2018

George Romero Interview at Variety #zombies




There's a previously unavailable interview from 1972 with Night of the Living Dead director George Romero HERE on Variety.  (Movie poster, 1968) 

Check out the movie's original trailer:




Tuesday, August 7, 2018

August #Mystery #SciFi #Thriller #Zombie Reading List!

Where, oh where, is summer going? I was so looking forward to it and now... I already saw Halloween, and Christmas stuff in the stores!!! But... don't forget to make time for a new, fun book!





Dark Fantasy - Horror


Lilith - Blood Ink, Dana Fredsti, (Preorder, Releases Nov. 6) - Having killed her last producer, stuntwoman Lee Striga's next film shoot takes her to the voodoo-soaked bayous and haunted back alleys of New Orleans, where sinister supernatural figures stalk the streets. In a dark corner of the French Quarter, an arcane tattoo artist is using his clients in rituals that will open an inter-dimensional gateway for a demon god from beyond the stars.


Ghosts

Ghosts of the Sea Moon, Saga of the Outer Islands Book 1, A.F. Stewart - In the Outer Islands, gods and magic rule the ocean. Under the command of Captain Rafe Morrow, the crew of the Celestial Jewel ferry souls to the After World and defend the seas from monsters. The survival of the living and dead hinge on the courage and cunning of a beleaguered captain and his motley crew of men and ghosts. What he doesn’t know is that her threat is part of a larger game. That an ancient, black-winged malevolence is using them all as pawns…

Mystery


 Deal with the Devil, Elaine Viets - Collection of short stories with Viets' witty humor and stories featuring her heroines from her Death Investigator and Dead End Jobs series, plus short mysteries that won the Agatha and Anthony awards. (Hardback and paperback.)

Glitter Bomb, A Scrapbooking Mystery, Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran  (Pre-Order, Releases Oct. 2) - An exploding Mardi Gras float is looking more like murder, and  scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand's ex is looking more like a suspect than a victim.

The Doll Maker, Jack the Ripper was just the beginning (Scott Carson Novel Book 2), Robert Crawford In 1889 New York, 22 year-old Scott Carson retreats to his parents’ basement on 69th Street. Unwilling to venture back into the world, the reclusive engineering genius is still licking his wounds after winning his final battle with Jack the Ripper and trying to reassemble his shattered psyche. Now he, his friend and a pioneering female urban explorer chase an ingenious and elusive serial killer who is murdering little girls and turning them into human dolls.

Medical - Psychological - Spy Thriller

 

Dead On Instinct: Dr. Jessica Coran, FBI (Instinct Series Book 15), Robert W. Walker A strange case takes Dr. Jessica Coran and her team on a seventy-foot dive off the Coast of Nantucket Island to do a crime scene investigation inside a sunken yacht, the Promises Fulfilled. Within the eerie confines of the underwater sepulcher, Jessica and the others discover more questions than answers. More questions mount as there is no evidence on how the ship went down, and later, on autopsy, Jessica discovers no one on board had saltwater in their lungs. They did not die of drowning, but were dead before the ship went under.  (See how the series began in Killer Instinct, Book 1)

Net Impact, A Dick Thornby Thriller Book 1, Donald J. Bingle - When a young computer expert back at the Philadelphia headquarters for The Subsidiary, an international espionage agency created in the aftermath of 9/11, discovers that the bad guys are involved in a vast conspiracy. Dick is forced to partner with the espionage neophyte to battle evil on multiple fronts, leading to a final confrontation that incorporates real-world conspiracy theories and cutting-edge technology. In the end, Dick can save his partner, save his marriage, save his son, or save the world, but he can't do it all.  
 (Continue the story - Wet Work, A Dick Thornby Thriller Book 2 ) 

Pretty Ugly Lies, Pamela Crane - Jo's daughter is abducted, forcing her to unravel her dark past. Four women's lives intersect - and one of them is about to snap.


SciFi - Fantasy



 Fenzig's Fortune: A Gnome's Tale, Jean Rabe When Fenzighan “Fenzig” Wiznagrik broke into the King’s treasure chamber, he expected to come out with sacks of gems and gold. Instead, he is captured red-handed, and the young gnome thinks his life has come to an end. King Erlgrane offers to spare Fenzig … (Love the cover!!)



* SFF Book Bonanza - Great assortment of books on Kindle Unlimited and on sale for August!

Supernatural Suspense
The Shadow Files: Limited Edition Collection of Supernatural Suspense Novels, Rosemary Johns  and others (Pre-Order, Releases Aug. 7) -  Vampires, relics, Tomb Raiders adventures and more from over 20 noted authors. 


Zombies


Broken Lands, Jonathan Maberry (Hardcover, releases Dec. 18) -  A return to the Rot & Ruin world with a new series! Gabriella "Gutsy" Gomez faces a world where the dead, even her own mother, return, while Benny Imura, his gang, and Captain Joe Ledger find a wild new world beyond their fortified town as they explore new territory in search of a cure.



Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, C. A. Verstraete - August 4th marks the anniversary of the day Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and killed her father and stepmother in 1892. Did she have another reason to do it?  (Lizzie picks up her axe again in the sequel, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2: The Axe Will Fall.)

  Zombie Escape, E.E. Isherwood - 10 Million Zombies. 3 Survivors. 1 Cure. The world of zombies has reached a tipping point. The cure is out there, but can it be unlocked before the number of infected swells beyond counting?