Meet The Best Selling Thriller / Mystery Author- Kristina Stanley!! #amreading #thriller #mystery

 

 

Kristina Stanley Author Photo.jpgIt’s the 25th of the month, taking centre stage we have another great author, a best selling one at that all the way from Canada! I’m thrilled to have her here let’s not waste anytime, let’s get into it and learn Kristina’s style….

Hello nice to meet you! Tell us a bit about you where are you from and other than writing what else do you enjoy?

Hi Kim,

Thanks for having me.  I currently live in British Colombia, Canada and am avid skier and sailor, but writing is my passion.

I write the Stone Mountain Mystery series. DESCENT, BLAZE, and AVALANCHE are published by Imajin Books. LOOK THE OTHER WAY, my latest novel, was released August 1st.

Kim: Nice to have you here ma’am.

How did you start writing? What was your inspiration to create?

Late one night in Unteruhldingen, Germany I was reading MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU by Mary Higgins Clark. The opening—a woman trapped in a grave. Darkness and silence surround her, and she doesn’t know where she is. I can still see her fingers clawing at the edges of the coffin.

Tucked in my bed, I knew a driver would arrive at 4 a.m. to carry me to the Zurich airport for a flight to London, England. The sensible thing to do was sleep. But I couldn’t. I turned pages until the car arrived. I was exhausted, bleary eyed and excited. At that moment I knew I wanted to write something that forced a person to read and to forget about life for a while.

When I finally started my first novel, I’d been living in a ski resort for five years. Skiing is one of my passions and seemed the obvious topic.

Kim: wow, it’s so great when you find a writer that does that to you. I had  the same experience, the first romantic suspense I ever read was by Jackie Collins. Them pages turned, and Lord knows I was way too young to be reading about that kind of stuff... here I am over ten years later writing that genre. This is great to hear.

What genre do you enjoy reading?

I’m addicted to mysteries. I read one or two a week.

Are you a “plotter” or a fly by the seat of your pants “pantster” as a writer?

I am so a “panster.” I spent years developing spread sheets to help me rewrite my drafts so they were structurally sound. Finally I got so fed up with the cumbersome process that I created a company, Fictionary.co, and developed Fictionary to help me. It’s recently been released, so other writers can benefit. The goal is to help writers turn a first draft into a story readers love.

Fictionary is a game-changing online tool for fiction writers with a first draft. Fictionary guides writers through an automated, big-picture edit with a deep focus on story structure, not on the words. Think characters, plot, and settings.

Kim: yes you told me about this I remember I must go and take a look. Thanks for reminding me.

What are you working on now? What will you release next?

I’m rewriting the first draft of EVOLUTION. I’m using Fictionary to do that.  As soon as I finish, I’ll start work on the sequel. I plan to join Nanowrimo in November to get 50,000 words written.

Kim: Good luck, my Nanowrimo was a no no this time, third time lucky I hope. I’ll be joining you in November.

So… where can we get your books?

All my books are available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Kristina-Stanley/e/B0106J097I

What does “success” look like to you? When would you say “damn, I’ve made it baby!”

I try for little successes rather than big ones. If I wrote 1,000 words before breakfast, that’s success. If I ran 5 kilometres after I wrote, that’s success. Did I make my husband laugh? Another success. I believe it’s the little things that make a lifetime of happiness instead of trying for that big one.

Kim: very grounded. I’d love to know how you felt the day you woke up a best selling author, honestly?

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book

You know the saying, write what you know? I believe it should be write what you love. I write about skiing, so imagine how fun it is to research that? For AVALANCHE, I spent hours with the avalanche forecaster at a ski resort.  For LOOK THE OTHER WAY, I lived on a sailboat in the Bahamas. That novel takes place – yup you guessed it – in the Bahamas on a sailboat.

Kim: Bahamas?? … Nice. I like location stories * opens up Amazon to take a look.*

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Sometimes. I’d rather take feedback from beta readers when I still have a chance to make changes. Once the book is published, there’s not much I can to. I’ll admit I read the 5 starts reviews just to make myself feel good. Who doesn’t like a little ego boost once in a while?

Kim: Guilty, in all areas. For me I guess not so much ego but knowing you did a good job.

Do you Google yourself?

I have Google alerts set up for my name.  I found out my novel, DESENT, had been released in Germany. The German version, ABWEARTS, was out on Amazon before my publisher told me it had been released. That was a fun moment.

Kim: Okay, seems like this Google alert is a winner then? Another author this month mentioned they too have an alert. *Pouts in deep thought.*

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Having other authors as friends is tremendously important. I’ve developed friendships with authors who write in same genre as I do, so they are great people to trade beta-reading services with.

Kim: agreed, or even writing buddies.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

I can write a first draft in about three months if I write six days a week. Then it takes me another few months to rewrite and edit, and that’s before any proofreading is done. This month I’m using Fictionary for my big-picture edit of EVOLUTION. This will speed up my editing and rewriting process.

Which one of your characters is your favourite and why?

My favourite character is always the protagonist I’m currently writing.

Pick one a one time “Bestselling author” or an author with longevity what would you rather?

Longevity!  Writing makes me happy, so I want a lifetime of it!

Kim: Good answer! Same here.

And that’s a wrap people. Great to have so many authors from different parts of the world here. A real diverse month too in terms of genre. I hope you all enjoyed meeting Kristina. Connect with her below.

Author site  www.KristinaStanley.com

Twitter:         

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/KristinaStanley.Author/

 

LTOW Front Cover.png

SUBMERGED BENEATH THE DEPTHS IS A SEA OF SECRETS…

A year after her Uncle Bobby mysteriously disappears in the turquoise waters surrounding the Bahamas, Shannon Payne joins her grieving aunt to trace Bobby’s last voyage. Shannon hopes the serenity of the sea might help her recover from a devastating breakup with her fiancé.

Sailing the 38-foot catamaran, A Dog’s Cat, is Captain Jake Hunter, a disillusioned cop who has sworn off women. While Shannon tries to resist her growing attraction to the rugged captain, she uncovers dark truths about her uncle’s death that might send them all to the depths.

If you’re an author and you’d like a feature contact me here.

 

meet-the-author

monthly features

Meet The Author – T. D Edwards YA, Urban, Fantasy Author #amreading #fantasy #fiction #chicargo

Tdedwards1

It’s the 25th of the month, time for Meet The Author. Here’s one of the three great authors I have lined up for you this month. T. D Edwards all the way from none other than Chi-Town Chicago in the USA. A state I’ve never been to, but heard so much about. T.D Edwards is my first YA author I have featured, I’m wasting no time let’s get into it! Let’s get to know T.D’ Edwards’ style….

Hello nice to meet you! Tell us a bit about you where are you from and other than writing what else do you enjoy?

Hi! I’m from Chicago, IL, and other than writing, I enjoy reading and listening to music. Outside of my writing career, I’m a licensed professional counselor.

Kim: Oh, clever lady. Nice to meet you.

What genre do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy reading paranormal fantasy, suspense, thriller, and horror, and I’m a fan of YA literature.

Kim: Snap, we enjoy the same. You like suspense and thriller, stick around you’re in good company on this blog.

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

I published my first book in 2009, and it was a very valuable learning experience, to say the least. At the time, I was so excited to publish that I didn’t spend enough time making sure the book had been edited enough. When I finally realized how much more work should have been put into that book, I took it off the market. I can only hope the only copies around now are owned by forgiving family and friends who can accept that I didn’t know what I was doing back then!

That first book definitely led to a change in my writing process. Not only am I much better at making writing flow more smoothly, but I’m much better at editing now as well. In fact, my favorite part of the writing process has become editing. I think a lot of writers hate editing, but for me, it’s the best part. Giving “birth” to a new book is the hard part; shaping the book into something I’m satisfied with is the rewarding part.

Lastly, I learned a great deal about vanity publishers and the traps they set for inexperienced authors. Needless to say, I’m a lot more careful now!

Kim: *sighes* girl, I feel your pain. Good learning curve though. Yes the first one is like giving birth I’ve said it so many times “slow and painful in places.” But it breaks you in for the next one… just like actual child birth.

So you’ve published a series—what is the series about?

I’m publishing a YA urban fantasy trilogy that has psychological and supernatural elements. The series (Lunacy) follows Kory Diffoten through his turbulent final year of high school, where suspicious events leave him questioning his sanity. As the series progresses, he discovers the truth behind these unusual events, how they involve him, and how they impact the person he is becoming.

What was it like creating back-to-back stories that link?

It’s been fascinating creating a series. Initially, I hadn’t intended on making a series out of Lunacy. However, I kept adding things to the story, and discovering so many twists and turns that I felt it would be too much for one book. So I eventually figured out how to divide it into smaller, more manageable segments.

Although it’s been fun, I think it will be a while before I embark on another series. I’m interested in creating more stand-alone novels. There are so many book series out there these days, especially in YA literature. I find it overwhelming, and a little frustrating, to be honest. My To-Read list has grown out of control! I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve picked up a good book, only to begrudgingly realize it was part of a series and that the additional books would end up on my to-read list indefinitely. I don’t want to create that kind of frustration for readers, and feel a little guilty as it is for doing so with the Lunacy series, especially since my #1 beta read, my sister, was quite vocal about her frustration in realizing Lunacy was a series!

I think good stand-alone books have become undervalued and underappreciated in today’s series-obsessed society.

Kim: Hmm interesting view on this, I have mainly always read stand-alone books the only series I really ever read was Fifty Shades of Grey (don’t judge me, I liked it, leave the poor woman alone so what if her writing is “simple” it was entertaining). 

Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? If you could, what genre would you like to dabble in?

Yes! I would love to dabble in different genres. In fact, I did just that with the release of my latest novel, The Peculiar Case of the Lakewoods. It is a hybrid of a few genres—mixing in a bit of a detective mystery with a horror story, in a format that is part epistolary novel (i.e. told through letters, diary/journal entries, etc). Needless to say, it was a very ambitious project for me! But I was overall pleased and surprised with the outcome, and I’m eagerly awaiting more feedback on it—whether good or bad.

I’d love to one day write something in the genre of magical-realism because I love how whimsical those stories can be. I’m just waiting for inspiration to strike. Dystopian fiction is another genre I’d like to try someday soon. I’ve had ideas about dystopian-like societies for a while now, so maybe that’s what I will dabble in next. Who knows.

What has been your proudest moment as an author?

For me, the proudest moments are when I get good reviews from someone who isn’t a friend or family member! It makes me feel that perhaps my writing is decent after all. I love writing something that someone else genuinely enjoys.

Kim: *Nods her head*, well done you! And I know the feeling well, it never leaves you. Sometimes it’s hard to believe someone read and enjoyed your creation that much. Good job.

Was there ever a time you wanted to pick up your laptop, and then launch it out the window with frustration?

Only when the Internet is running slow, or my music isn’t playing properly!

Kim: Hmm cool as a cucumber! Nothing fazes you while writing.

Are you a “plotter” or a fly by the seat of your pants, “pantster,” as a writer?

I’m a plotter who usually gets caught off guard and winds of pantsing my way through!

Kim: Thank the Lord, we still exist. Most authors I’ve featured lean towards panster… I blame Stephen King for putting that one out there.

Every writer has a word(s) that they always slip-up on when they write, then slap their forehead when they notice their typo. For me it’s further and farther, exit or exists—but hey, I’m over it now.  Do you have a word(s) that make you go, “Blah, go away! Not another damn typo!”

 I usually get caught-up on “past” and “passed.” And I’m always trying to figure out whether it’s more respectable to use “leaped” or “leapt.” And I thoroughly hate when words literally have two spellings—like “accidentally” and “accidently.”

The English language is so complicated! I’m convinced that anyone claiming to have perfect grammar or perfect mastery of this language is outright lying, or too naïve to know otherwise!

Kim: Sweet baby Jesus… wait, wait there’s two spellings? I better check that out myself! *Avoids eye contact.*

What three tips would you give any aspiring writer?

1). Keep writing.

2). Read a lot, across multiple genres.

3). Learn to distinguish good writing from bad writing.

And for a bonus: Learn, period. As often as you can. Random knowledge can be the key to escaping writer’s block!

Kim: Great advice.

What are you working on now? What will you release next?

Lunacy Shared, Book 2 of the Lunacy series, is my next release. After that, I’ll start preparing Book 3, Lunatic, with the intention (and hope) of releasing it in 2018. Then it will be time to start paying more attention to the various book ideas that have been constantly floating through my head. Hopefully, I can explore them more in depth this year during NaNoWriMo.

So… where can we get your books?

Lunacy’s Core: https://www.amazon.com/Lunacys-Core-T-D-Edwards-ebook/dp/B017ANWY08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499884912&sr=8-1&keywords=lunacy%27s+core

The Peculiar Case of the Lakewoods: https://www.amazon.com/Peculiar-Case-Lakewoods-T-D-Edwards-ebook/dp/B071VJTWL9/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1499885484&sr=1-1&keywords=the+peculiar+case+of+the+lakewoods

Lunacy Shared (pre-order): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071WQ5Q5G/ref=series_rw_dp_sw

Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

I think big egos hurt in any field. No matter how good you think you are, you could always be better. Anyone who doesn’t accept this is bound to stagnate. As a writer, however, you do need thick skin, because everyone isn’t always going to like what you produce. Plus, it takes a lot of bravery to put something that you’ve worked so hard on out in the open for everyone to critique. There’s a difference between having thick skin and a big ego though. Being a writer requires being brave, but humble.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Yes! I haven’t gotten many reviews at this point, and fortunately, what I’ve received thus far have been good. I know bad reviews will come eventually though. I think I’m good at distinguishing between when a reviewer is being malicious for the heck of it, and when constructive criticism is being given. So I will try to be mindful of this whenever I inevitably get that first bad review.

Kim: Totally… you can tell a whine and bitch, from the stuff you need to take on board. 

What was your hardest scene to write?

The ending scenes of The Peculiar Case of the Lakewoods comes to mind. I don’t want to give away too much about the book, but I was aiming to write it in a way that allowed the events of the story to be interpreted in two different ways. I never wanted one possibility to overshadow the other because I want readers to decide for themselves which side they believed is accurate. It was a tricky balance to maintain, particularly at the end.

What’s your favourite book and why?

I’m going to cheat and say the whole Harry Potter series, although Deathly Hallows was my favorite of the series since I felt each subsequent book was better than the last.

What attracted you to write in your genre?

Like most authors, I write the kind of things I would like to read.

Do you ever get nervous over how people will view your work?

Definitely! Don’t we all? I’m always torn between desperately wanting people to read my work, but then being positively terrified when I know someone is actually reading my work. It doesn’t quite make sense, but I think that’s just the nature of being an author. We’re strange people.

Kim: It makes a lot of sense! That’s how I felt when I co-wrote Lisa Vanacilli,  in It Was The First Time I Killed A Man.  A lesbian (explicit) serial killer, in an accent so far removed from my own. I had no idea how people would take her even though I love her!

And that’s a wrap people! It’s a pleasure to have so much diversity in Meet The Author. Let’s wish T. D Edwards well with her work. Connect with her below.

 

Life apart from her twin, Matilda, isn’t easy for Charlotte Lakewood. On the other hand, life with Matilda wasn’t exactly easy either. In more ways than the obvious, Charlotte always felt the two of them were too close for comfort, which especially presented problems when she was regularly blamed for her sister’s disturbing antics.

Upon starting college, Charlotte finally feels free from her sister’s clutches. The freedom is short-lived though, when she returns home over summer break only to become the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Even though Charlotte experiences occasional black-outs, she’s sure she would remember if she hurt someone. Hence, she has a terrible feeling Matilda may be the real culprit. The only problem is that Matilda has been dead for nearly three years…

Things quickly spiral out of Charlotte’s control when she is summoned for questioning by Detective Mallone and search warrants lead authorities to some of the most private details of the Lakewood family’s lives through diaries, stolen mail, and notes from the family therapist. With Matilda possibly reaching from beyond the grave and long-lost secrets having troubling consequences, Detective Mallone soon learns that the circumstances surrounding the Lakewood family are just as terrifying as they are peculiar.

Part epistolary novel, The Peculiar Case of the Lakewoods is a psychological and supernatural thriller about a family’s unusual history, the consequences of their darkest secrets, and the lives caught in the chaos.

If you’re an author and you’d like a feature or read and review contact me here.

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monthly features

Meet The Author: Jack Binding- Dark Humour, Horror Author #amreading #horror #british

Jack

It’s the 25th of the month and boy am I glad to spotlight this British author. He is super talented and I loved his book of short stories Pills. You can read my review here. Jack’s style sits well with me personally as a reader, I get him and his work. It’s dark, it’s raw, and not for the faint hearted.  Inspired by the main man Stephen King himself. I could not keep a straight face during this interview it was an absolute pleasure to  meet him. Let’s get to know Mr. Binding’s style… let’s get into it!

Hello nice to meet you! Tell us a bit about you where are you from and other than writing what else do you enjoy?

Hello. My name is Jack and technically, I’m from Slough (where The Office is set). But I moved to Southampton when I was three years old. Okay if I say Southampton? Does that count? I live in Sydney now, though. Maybe I should say I’m from Sydney. I move around a lot. Restless.

Other than writing I enjoy creating music and watching on repeat that scene in Spring Breakers where a gold-toothed James Franco sings Britney.

Kim: Britney? You don’t look like the “type” *eyes Jack closely.*

How did you start writing? What was your inspiration to create?

I’ve always written in one form or another. Lyrics, diaries, death threats. This is just a natural progression. There is no single inspiration to create, it’s just something I have to do. Whether it be music, writing or whatever. I go crazy if I can’t create.

Kim: Hmm know the feeling.

Who is your favourite author, is there anyone out there that inspires you?

Although it’s hard to pin down one author, as I’m answering this question, it’s JG Ballard.

Other than his excellent short stories, I’m a particular fan of the urban dystopia in his later works such as Super Cannes and Cocaine Nights.

What genre do you enjoy reading?

Anything, as long as it’s good. Horror, obviously. And dark fiction like Bret Easton Ellis. Just finished reading his wonderful Lunar Park.

I love science fiction, too. I grew up reading Asimov and have a real fondness for the genre.

Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? If you could what genre would you like to dabble in?

Although I market myself as a horror writer (pigeonholing is a necessary evil in order to find the right audience), I actually don’t set out to write horror. I always come at writing new stories from the psychological point of view. I write a lot in the first person – I like to be in the character’s head. Sometimes, however, that process isn’t too good for my own sanity.

I have thought about writing erotic romance under a pseudonym as I’m not shy about writing a sex scene, but at the moment it’s nothing more than an idea. (Or is it? Perhaps I have an entire series of erotic novels out there..?)

Kim: *wide eyes* reeeeeeeeeeally? You’re the second male author I’ve interviewed who has entertained writing romance. Go for it, I imagine your style of romance would be … err… hmmm dark maybe?  *Narrows her eyes* wait, wait.. what’s this about erotica and pseudonyms?? If you’ve got an anthology of erotica out there Jack, you better spill the beans! We wanna know… details please.

Was there ever a time you wanted to pick up your laptop, and then launch it out the window with frustration?

Maybe whilst editing the short story Breeders. There was a great, creepy tale in there, but I had a hellish time trying to pull it out. It was a very painful experience. It’s one of the longest stories in Pills. Did I succeed it making it good? Let me know.

Kim: Ya did good kiddo, I loved all of Pills… until the bitter end.

Are you a “plotter” or a fly by the seat of your pants “pantster” as a writer?

I used to meticulously plot, but I find that for me it leads to contrived situations and I often force my characters to do something that doesn’t fit with their personas. So now I have a vague plot, but I let my characters dictate how I get from A to B. It’s more natural that way. If that alters the plot, so be it.

Am I the only one who gets hung up on commas? Do they make you go blah! when you’re writing?

I don’t, know what you mean.

Kim: *shakes head*  me neither I, don’t, have, no, problems with commas :).

Every writer has a word(s) that they always slip up on when they write, then slap their forehead when they notice their typo. For me it’s further and farther exit or exists-  but hey I’m over it now.  Do you have a word (s) that make you go blah! Go away not another damn typo.

No, my spelling is perfect and their is nothing wrong with my grammar.

Kim: *Pouts shrugs shoulders* sure, same hear my speling and grammar, is excellant.  🙂 Who needs an editor?

What three tips would you give any aspiring writer?

If you’re pissed off, channel it to drive your plot or your characters.

Don’t write for your audience, write for yourself. If you don’t like what you’ve written, chances are nobody else will.

Take chances. That murder scene too violent? Fuck it. Leave it in there. Don’t be afraid to offend people.

Kim: * heart pounds, OMG. Did he just say what I’m thinking*…. Ahem, okay, thanks Jack great advice there. 🙂

What are you working on now? What will you release next?

I’m working on a very dark thriller right now which has the nastiest villain I have ever created. It also has a clear protagonist, which is unusual for me, because I tend to steer away from writing good guys. Can’t relate to them. It’s on draft two, although I suspect there will be many more drafts before it’s fit for public consumption.

So… where can we get your books?

Amazon! Everything’s available on Kindle. Here’s the link to my US author page:

https://www.amazon.com/Jack-Binding/e/B01M1YNRMB/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_5?qid=1496988813&sr=8-5

Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

I’m not gonna lie, I have a huge ego. To be able to write something – something that will most likely be very personal – and put it out there for strangers to read (and the inevitably judge) takes guts. There’s a fine line between delusion and confidence, however, so being self-critical is also very important. Luckily for me, everything I’ve written is fucking brilliant and it’s only a matter of time before the awards deals start rolling in and I can dine out on movie rights with my new celebrity mates.

Kim: Erm, I guess the short answer is .. no?

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

My writing tends to stem from personal experience, so I don’t need to research much. I only tend to research medical things like how to best dismember the body of a dog with rigarmortis.

Kim: *Avoids eye contact.* Thanks Jack, I think. 

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Thankfully most reviews tend to be positive. But bad reviews don’t bother me. I actually like that something I’ve written has elicited an emotion in someone so strong they feel compelled to document it on Amazon or Goodreads or whatever. Bring it on. Haters gonna hate, to quote modern poet, Taylor Swift.

Kim: Haha that’s a sure thing just like tax and death, it will happen. Them haters gonna hate. 

What was your hardest scene to write?

There’s a short story in Pills called Sleeping Pills, and there’s something awful that happens to the narrator near the end. I don’t want to spoil it here, but that was the hardest scene I’ve had to write. It was very personal and upsetting. Had to get drunk in order to finish it.

Kim: Sleeping Pills is a deep story and one of my favourites. 

Do you Google yourself?

I have a Google Alert set up for “Jack Binding”.

Kim: *shakes her head* you’re too much Jack, seriously?

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

I am a solitary beast.

Kim: Ha more like Billy No Mates. 🙂

What would you like readers to know?

Deep down I’m actually an okay guy. Honestly.

Kim: Raises an eyebrow to readers… have you read Pills yet? You  be the judge of that one. Just kidding.

What’s your favourite movie?

It changes every week. Sometimes it’s Candyman – the most underrated horror movie of all time. Sublime story and wonderful gothic Philip Glass score. Sometimes it’s Withnail and I, because that was basically my life for about three years. And sometimes it’s White Chicks, because … well, why not?

What’s your favourite book and why?

England Made Me by Graham Greene. I first finished it on a train between Reading and Basingstoke and burst into tears in the carriage. It has had the same effect on me every time I’ve read it since. Heart breaking. Underrated classic.

Where would you like to travel to and why?

I’m fortunate enough to have travelled extensively, but the one place that sticks in my mind is Lake Garda in Italy. Exquisite scenery, food and people. I will buy an apartment there when I sell the rights for Dot Matrix to Hollywood.

Kim: Dot Matrix is an excellent story!! I could see that in a movie. Great characters.

Tell us about how you develop your characters?

My characters develop themselves. I let them run with it.

Which one of your characters is your favourite and why?

There’s a strange old lady called Mags, who pops in and out of the short stories in Pills. She’s my favourite. Sad old woman who has lived for years and has seen so much she has to resort to some very dark things to get her kicks.

If you could do it all again would you change anything?

I’d have grown a moustache in my early twenties.

Pick one a one time “Bestselling author” or an author with longevity what would you rather?

Either, as long as something I write strikes a chord with people.

And that’s a wrap people, I strongly suggest you grab a copy of Pills, it’s a great introduction to what this author is about, really entertaining. But brace yourself it is over eighteen reading for sure. I’m a fan! Can’t wait for the next anthology to land on Amazon.

Pills-Kindle (1)

Jack Binding’s Pills splices gritty realism with surreal imagery and otherworldly dread.

From the vicious high fashion horror of FMM (The Devils Wears Prada via Bret Easton Ellis-esque debauchery) to the stark, unsettling heartbreak of Sleeping Pills, Binding takes the reader on a journey through the secret parts of London that few people ever visit.

Influenced by writers such as Stephen King, Martin Amis and JG Ballard, there’s Cronenberg-inspired body horror, creepy kids (and their creepier parents), death, love (often unrequited), seedy massage parlours and late nights fuelled with lust and narcotics.

With overarching themes and characters, the 18 short stories in Pills can be read either as a whole enjoyed as stand-alone tales.

 

Read my review of Pills  here

Connect with Jack here

Author site: https://jackjbinding.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jjbinding

Twitter:     https://twitter.com/jack_binding/

If  you’re an author and you’d like a feature contact me here:

Wk #3 Volume 2: Chainsaw Ridge- A Short story (Blood, Sex, Gore + More) #kdsuspsense #amwriting #horror

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18+ Reading! Adult Content Alert.

Chainsaw Ridge

Author One Scene One

“Alice!”

The voice is a blend of husky and shrill, like nails on a chalkboard. Alice cringes at the sound of it.

“Alice.” It repeats. “You better answer me, dammit!”

“Yes, daddy.”

The rickety steel framed bed creaks as Alice rolls onto her side. She’s cradled by the dip in the overly used and extremely stained mattress, that she’s been sleeping on for nearly twenty years. The same bed she slept in as a toddler. A waft of her uncleansed flesh floats into the air with her movements. The sour pinch of the smell wins its competition with the week old garbage pile to her side. Alice mozies to the window of her bedroom to let some breeze in, as she listens to her crippled father’s voice. She knows full well what’s coming.

“My babies are starvin’, get yer fat ass out there and feed em’.”

“M’kay, daddy.”

“We’re runnin’ low on chow,” he shouts through the thin wall separating them. “It’s time ya’ go ta’ town and pick up some feed.”

“‘M’kay, daddy.”

Alice answers his barking orders, completely numb to what the request entails.

“Well, get to it! An’ make it snappy. I wanna’ watch ya’ prep the meat before dark.”

“Yes sir.”

Alice’s nose pleads for the fresh earthy scent of the white oak forest that she can see in the distance. That luxury is denied, and only the rotten smell of her father’s pig farm bites into her room. They grunt and pop their jaws searching their large shit filled pens for dinner. Directly below Alice’s window, everything about the hogs gave her nightmares. Especially what they’re fed. She complies with her father’s wishes either way.

At a very young age, Alice was taught exactly how much a pig can consume. Teeth, bone, everything. They don’t even shit it out the evidence, their bodies absorb every last bit. After a while the horrid screams of her father’s victims became nothing but routine, a familiar sound fighting its way through the forced emotionless fog of her brain. The farm is secluded, miles from Chicago where the homeless pickens have always been abundant. She learned to tune out the screams very well… Until his accident…

Alice was there when her daddy crashed, and so was the middle aged man knocked out in the back seat of the pickup. The man happened to be twice her size, so she had to take extreme measures to get the job done. It was the very day her father passed down his legacy, and the first day of his new life bound to the restraints of a wheelchair.

The sounds of that day are what playback consistently in Alice’s head. Her daddy was trapped in the truck, smashed at the waist, and the stranger had been tossed out through the front window. Alice withstood the roll completely unscathed, leaving her to clean up the mess her daddy had started. The squeals of the tires and the crunch of metal and glass were nothing compared to what came after they rolled.

“Do it, Alice.”

His voice was younger then. Still husky, but with less scratch.

“You have to kill him, Alice! Do it! Do it before he wakes up!”

Alice was only thirteen at the time. Her hands shook as she squeezed her body out of the broken glass of the truck’s windshield. In a panic she searched through the chaos of scattered shards as they glistened in the summer sun. Thousands of tiny shining chunks covered everything from the back of the truck that had been tossed out all over the pavement. Alice ran to a shovel, only to be shut down by the voice.

“You’re too small for that! Use your fuckin’ head!”

Alice dropped the shovel, her body froze. She didn’t want to do it, but knew it was up to her. They lived on a very remote place, but they couldn’t risk being seen nonetheless. She also knew that if the stranger woke up, he’d likely get away. Although Alice was very large for her age, and strong, she was still much smaller than the man. A sharp jaggedy chain shimmered in the sun, calling to her. Alice shook her head, afraid of her own thoughts.

“Do it Alice!”

Hesitantly she reached for it, her meaty fingers gripped tightly around the handle of her daddy’s chainsaw. The pit of her stomach screamed out in horror. I can’t do it, she thought, I’m not ready yet. He yelled even louder from inside the smashed truck bed while she stood staring at the stranger. Mute.

“Just fuckin’ do it, Alice!”

“Daddy I…”

“Do it now, before he fuckin’ wakes up!”

Alice swallowed the lump in her throat and pulled the chainsaw’s rope. She was no stranger to the tool having used it on the farm often, yet it still took her shaking arm a few tries. The buzz of the saw cut in and out, struggling its way to life. Rununununun, Runununununun.

“Do it!”

Finally the chainsaw’s roar became steady. Alice made her way to the man, her weapon vibrating both arms as she griped it with every bit of strength she could muster. With ease, the saw chewed through the man’s flesh like butter. Scarlet chunks painted Alice’s face with a splat. She closed her mouth to keep the taste out, and wiped the wet pieces of him from her eyes with the long sleeve of her once floral print dress. Without missing a beat she went back to work. As soon as his head rolled away from his body she held the loud running saw to his middle.

The pieces of him had to be small enough for her to carry by herself. Her daddy’s voice bounded over the destruction of her running metal weapon. Chewed up chunks of intestines spilled onto the pavement, like bloody heaps of broken rope.

“Do it!”

As Alice remembers the sounds of that day, she stares at her daddy’s pigs. It’s a new bunch of animals. Most of the hogs that had eaten her first kill are now dead. Sliced into the bacon that fills the old power sucking freezer in their dank dirty basement.There’s only one of those particular hogs left. Alice recognizes this very pig because she watched the oval black spot on top of its back, as it chewed through the skull of that man’s severed head. Each bite with a crunch. It was a tiny piglet then, now it’s gray and aged.

“Alice!”

His voice again cut through her.

“Yeah, daddy?”

“I said make it fuckin’ snappy!”

Author Two Scene Two

Alice sighed, and cut her eyes at her dad’s voice. He was a mean old bastard, her daddy. Never one to show any compassion to anyone. All he cared about were his fat pigs. She remembered in her childhood, when he was not wheelchair bound, that he’d slept with them on the hay  in the barn, right under her window. As if it were normal for folk to do that. When her mom was alive Alice swore that’s what turned her crazy. An unloving husband more interested in intercourse …. With pigs. She shuddered at the thought, and sight of it. She remembered well the day she walked in on him with his pants around his ankles, humping a pig in the ass she felt disgusted. She ran out the barn screaming and confused, not sure what to make of it all. She reasoned with herself the best thing to do was to tell Mom. She laughed as she sat by the window with her grubby shawl wrapped over her shoulders, rocking in her chair, chain smoking on a cigarette.

“Get used to it baby girl, that’s your father for you.”

Was all her mom said. In a flat unmoved tone. Gathering herself together and shaking off the early memories of her childhood. Alice walked over to the cracked mirror on the wall. She took a deep look at herself. For a woman of twenty three years old she looked nothing like her peers. Compared to all the other women her age Alice was a state. She wore her wavy dark brown hair in two French braids always, her eyebrows were unattended to, they looked more like caterpillars crawling across her face, rather than a set of threaded and plucked neat brows. Her skin was grey with lack of sunshine and vitamin D, she hardly left the house. It also had a slight dirty look to it. She was far from fashionable, even if her father had the money for her to buy the latest trends, the mean tight fisted old bastard  probably would never allow it. She donned a plain gray sundress, no matter the weather come rain or sunshine. Her dirty off white ankle socks completed her look of an unkept woman, clearly poverty stricken. On her feet a pair of worn brown sandals. Alice looked a woman trapped in a timewarp.

“I’m on my way Daddy.” She called over her shoulder as she tore her eyes from her reflection.

“Good, like I said hurry the fuck up, they’re hungry and so am I.”

The sound of his voice penetrating through the walls stuck Alice differently this time, instead of fear she felt annoyance at his demanding, unappreciative ways. She waited on him hand and foot since he became wheelchair bound. How does he thank her? … He did’nt that’s the messed up thing about it. After she pulled him from that truck and saved his life, not to mention kept his ass out of prison by disposing of the stranger’s body, he had not once thanked her.

***

As Alice made her way down the dirt gravel road from her house then took a left. She headed toward the town center. It was winter and the days had become chilly, she felt it as she pulled her worn cardigan tighter around her. The chill bit through her  to the core of her bones. With her bare legs and low ankle socks she had no protection from the chilly air.

Alice looked around her as if seeing her neighborhood for the first time, through a new set of eyes. How had life just slipped away so quickly? The years just rolled into one since her mom passed away. “Natural causes” the Dr. said, Alice found it hard to believe. Her mama was crazy yes, but apart from a slightly disturbed mind she was fit and well. It had crossed her mind that maybe, just maybe her dad had something to do with her death and “natural causes.”

She pushed the thought away as she spotted Bill up ahead.

“Hey Alice, what-chaya doin’?”

“Nothin’”

“Don’t look like nothin’ ta’ me.” Bill said as he ran over to her and stepped in line with her pace.

“I’m headin’ to town.”

“What for? An’ you walkin’ all that way?”

“Yeah, I’m walkin’”

“What for though, what ya need over there?”

“Chow.”

“Oh them damn pigs. You mean ta tell me ya father’s still got ‘em?”

“Yeah Bill, I swear he loves them more than me.”

“That’s too bad.”

“Hmm.” Was all Alice could say. Numb to any emotion regarding her dad.

“What-do- ya say we take a lil’ walk in the woods on the way?”

“Not today Bill, I gotta get going.”

“Oh C’mon, Alice… You love our walks in the woods.”

Bill took Alice’s hand and led her off the dirt road toward the woods. He was hard already at the thought of slamming Alice up against the trees. One thing he liked about Alice was she was an easy goer. She never talked much, not the intelligent type. She spread her legs and that’s all she needed to do, that was good enough for him. She liked to get fucked and had no problem with servicing two even three men in the woods at a time. Often, he wondered what caused her to be so mute and unemotional when it came to sexual relations. She seemed unfazed by it all. Alice stopped in her tracks and pulled her hand from his.

“Bill not today, I really gotta go.”

“It won’t take long, let’s go.”

Alice gave in with a sigh, she saw the twinkle in Bill’s eye as the smiled and walked ahead. She followed behind him into the depths of the woods.

***

Bill wasted no time as he grabbed Alice’s hair and bent her over. He pulled the hem of her dirty dress up, and pulled her panties to one side. Alice held onto the tree for dear life as he slammed into her. Her mind went blank as he thrust in and out of her from behind, grunting and moaning. He slowed himself down to hold back his climax, and slipped out of her. He spun her around and put her back against the tree, he looked down at her with a smirk on his face. Bill was far from handsome. He had dirty blond hair cut short, a wide forehead with a thick nose. She never focused on his looks when they were intimate in the woods. In fact, she never focused on any of the men’s looks she allowed to have their way with her. For her sex allowed her to not think or feel. All though at least someone, anyone paid attention to her during the one on one sessions, or many three or foursomes she had with the town’s men.

“Ya ganna treat me nicely today Alice, maybe suck me off a bit?.”

“Hmm, maybe.”

“Maybe, that’s not what I wanna hear.” Bill retorted as he pulled down Alice’s zipper at the back of her dress and slid it over her shoulders. She was braless, as always. Her full breasts fell out and greeted him. Bill massaged over her breasts roughly as he stared down at her. The air was now so chilly he could see his own breath as he spoke, the sight of Alice’s nipples hardening against to cool air hardened him more. He gave into temptation and lowered his mouth to her right breast, he took her nipple in his mouth and began to enjoy her. Alice tipped her head back and let out a slight moan. Her back arched against the tree as she allowed him to take her into his mouth deeper.

Bill’s hand travelled south, it made it’s way between her legs. He forced her thighs open, and slide his middle finger inside her. He felt her slickness as he finger fucked her into heaven. Alice’s eyes rolled back as she bit her her lip, Bill slid in a second finger and fucked her within an inch of her life up against the tree, as he nibbled and enjoyed her breasts at the same time. Alice panted and breathed heavy but that’s all he’d ever get from her.

For Alice secretly, this time things felt different with Bill. She felt a sense of satisfaction from the way his fingers worked her insides. Usually, her body would react in it’s normal way and she would become moist at his touch, however her internal feelings were always still numb. It was like her body had it’s own mind. Today she felt alive internally.

“Do I make you feel good Alice?”

“Hmm”

“You like that?”

“Hmm.”

Bill laughed at Alice’s response, or lack of it. He up’ed his game a little, he removed his hands from between her thighs, then dropped to his knees. With the hem of her dress pulled up she was on show for him, all of her. Without a second thought he leaned into her and put his mouth between her thighs to taste her slickness.

“Ohhhh.”

Alice lost herself control, for the first time she became verbally expressive.

Bill, got off on the reaction he caused from the usually mute Alice. He buried his head between her legs, and with his mouth set to work. He’d never given Alice head before, he usually saved that for girls that actually meant something. He’d had enough of Alice’s distant mute reactions, she now became a challenge sexually to get her to react to his touch.He pulled back to tease her and looked up at her. Alice smiled down at him, with a very satisfied look on her face.

Alice slid down the tree onto the wet grass. She spread her legs for Bill. For a moment Bill stood in front of her, and stared at her mound inviting him in. Alice, slid her hand between her leg and started to masterbate herself in a vicious way, Bill dropped to his knees. He gladly obliged and continued to service her with his mouth. As he dipped in and out of her with his tongue, and licked slowly and sofly the tip of her clitorious Alice foundled her own breasts. He watched in excitement as she squeezed, pinched and played with herself.

Bill felt like he was going to explode in his pants. He was more eager to explode on her arse.

“Get up, turn around.”

“Hmm.”

“Alice, you heard me get up and turn around c’mon I gotta go soon.”

Alice did as she was told and moved onto all fours. With her arse in the air he entered her from behind and pumped away until he exploded…. On her bare arse.

***

“Alice, Alice I’ve been waitin’ over one Goddamn hour for you. Where ya’ been?

“Nowhere Daddy.”

“Nowhere, don’t fuckin’ lie to me.”

Alice stood frozen at the entrance of the house. The musty smell of the house was drowned out by her fear. It  ran deeply through her had, she really been gone that long? Bill took her by surprise today, she never knew he could do what he did with his mouth, at twenty three years old she had no real girlfriends to learn from, and men never offered to do that before. She heard her dad wheeling his chair into the hallway. He stopped opposite her.

“Where you been?”

“No where Daddy–”

“Well that’s not the right fuckin’ answer is it? I sent you to town for the Goddamn chow and some food, ya come back here and tell me ya been nowhere? After ya been gone a fuckin’ hour?”

“I got it Daddy I got it, well I got the food but forgot the chow I’ll go back.”

Alice’s dad slowly wheeled his chair closer to her, his face twisted into a mean scowl. He he picked up a wooden stick that was within reach as he rolled forward. Pointing in Alice’s direction he began to curse her.

“You… you little bitch, ya forgot ma’ damn chow.”

“Daddy please no, don’t, not the stick, it hurts.”

“Hurts? Hurts? I’ll show you what fuckin’ hurts means.”

“Aww Daddy no, no please.”

“What… what is that? What the fuck is that smell? Alice ya smell even more disgustin’ than usual. Have you been in the woods again. Fuckin’ boys again?”

“No Daddy.”

“No Daddy.”  

He mocked in a whining voice.

“Slut!”

Alice felt the full throttle of her dad’s anger as he beat her with the wooden stick that came loose from the stair banister. It had sat in the corner of the hallway for months.

“Daddy no, please.”

A flashback of all the times Alice had walked the two miles to town in rain, snow, and anything inbetween came flooding back to her. Her anger built over the way her dad treated her mother, causing her to lose her mind.

“You, you you pervert fuckin’ pigs in the barn, you deserve to be in a wheelchair. After all I’ve done for you this is how you thank me.”

“Alice you better watch… your… mouth.” Tom responded as he beat her three times to punctuate his words.

“Fuck you! You freak.”

Before Alice could even live to regret her actions her dad was overturned on the hard dirty wood floor of the hallway. She yanked the stick from his hand with such a force his chair overturned. Tom’s face moulded from anger to fear in the space of seconds as Alice took control. He looked up at his only daughter as she stood above him. The rise and fall of her chest and deep breathing was enough to let him know, his luck had ran out when it came to bullying Alice. She pointed the wooden stick at him as she spoke down to him.

“Now,you are going to be taught a little lesson, Daddy dear.”

“Alice, you don’t know what you’re doin’. I’m your father.”

“Haha father!” Alice threw her head back mocking him with laughter. “You would not know how to be a father if it jumped up and spat in ya ugly face!”

“Alice, c’mon now.” Tom pleaded as he started to attempt to crawl away from her with his hands.

“Where do you think, you’re going?”

Alice pulled back her arms in the style of a baseball player and struck her father across the back.

Wack!

“ Awww! Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttt! Alice for God Sake will you get me off the floor?”

“No, it’s time you learned a little lesson of your own, you shit for brains piss poor excuse of a husband and father. Wait here, oh sorry I forgot YOU’RE A FUCKIN’ INVALID YOU CAN’T MOVE!”

Alice let out a roar of laughter as she swung the bat back and beat her father around the head, face, ribs and groin area. Blood splattered all over her and the walls of the narrow damp infested hallway. Just like it had all those years ago he made her saw off that poor stranger’s head. She heard every crack of a bone, pop of of his skull and brake of his jaw. She loved it. It felt rejuvenated, after all the years of his bullshit.

“Alice, please, don’t do this please I’m–”

“Shut up! Just Shut up”

Wack!

“Awww fuck me Alice, Jesus, ya can’t do this” Tom strained to speak his slurred words through a cracked jaw.

“Poor mama, the poor woman lost her damn mind over you ya piece a-shit. Treated her like dirt, when really you were the dirty, a pig fucking dirt-bag at that. Take that ya bastard.

Wack!

Just like that, Tom’s lights went out. He was gone. Bloody, barely recognisable and in Alice’s eyes pathetic looking. For fun, she hitched up her skirt and pisssed all over him.

“There, that’ll teach you, Daddy.”

Pulling the hem of her dress down she stomped into her Daddy’s barn.

***

It was tough but she did it, she managed to drag her father’s lifeless and bloody body through the back door, out into the dark late evening and into the barn. There she placed down some sheets of plastic her father had left around and dumped him on top. Already covered in blood, that had matted her French braided hair, and smeared itself all over her face and hands. There she stood, in the barn with the pigs going wild to her left. Hungry and acting like savages in their cage at the smell of fresh blood.

Ruuuum rummmmmmm! Rummmm rummmmm!

Alice lifted her father’s chainsaw with a lot more ease than she did when she was thirteen, She sliced down on his thigh just above his knee, with a smile of pleasure a crack of laughter rang out as she watched her dad’s left leg fall away from his body. Into the wee hours of the night, Alice chopped up her father into bite sized chunks and fed his sorry ass to his beloved pigs. The devoured him, every last bone.

***

Five Years Later:

Alice stood at the window  and watched for Billy as he returned home. She listened out for his nosey truck making it’s way up the dirt road. She recentreed her mind to the present day, after she relived her night in the barn five years ago. The night she drummed up a theory about her father’s disappearance, once she fed him to the pigs and cleaned up. Word around town was, he had a terrible “freak accident” and must have fell into the river, as he hit a rock with his wheelchair, while he took an early morning “stroll” by the creek, before she woke up. Well, at least that’s what the police thought after they found his wheel chair overturned by the creek,with no one’s prints on but his.

Alice took a deep breath and looked down at her husband’s shirt. He’d been at it again, a smudged lipstick mark was on his collar. She never cared for lipstick and cosmetics, Alice was not that kind of woman, she never mastered the art of beautifying one’s self. For two months she had restrained herself and not caused a fuss or her suspicions about Billy and his floozy. She felt lucky to have Billy, he stuck by her after her father had his “accident”, and she was all alone. They got married six months after her dad disappeared, while no children had appeared yet she was hopeful, but that would be ruined with another woman in the picture. Of late Billy seemed distant, and uninterested. Secretly her inner voice said to her, if he comes home again smelling of perfume, or with makeup on his shirt, he’d meet a terrible fate in the barn just like her dad did.

Right on cue, Billy pulled up outside the house and jumped out his truck. Alice grit her teeth, narrowed her eyes into a frown, then moulded her face into the loving welcoming wife. She hid his shirt in her closet and made her way downstairs to the front door. It swung open just as she reached the bottom.

“Hey Billy, how was your day?” Alice greeted him in her most friendly, loving wifey voice.

“Ah same old, just work, work, work what’s for dinner.”

Alice narrowed her eyes, as she watched he walked past, he smelt of cheap perfume. She followed him with her gaze as he made his way into the kitchen.

“ Dinner? Oh… something reaaaaaaal special baby, just you wait and see.”

 

Left open for part two! 🙂

updated-telling-tales-weekly-challenege-kim-didi53

 

Thank you for all the votes for the writing prompts, Didi and I are always so appreciative for participation, comments, likes and voting.  I’ve NEVER wrote a horror story in my life, so this was a challenge and experience so thanks for the votes for this gory prompt! We both got so busy this week we forgot to announce the winning writing prompt. LOL. We promise this week we won’t … do write with us using the prompts. We’d love to see your stories.

This Is How Kim & Didi’s Suspenseful Collection Works!

We never discuss beforehand how a story should go or who writes what. It’s a surprise for each other to see how their story ends, or what lands in their inbox to finish off.

This interactive writing challenge is simple and insanely creative. It’s a group effort and we are so glad to have you join in the writing fun!!  I hope you’re ready to challenge us by choosing which prompts we can transform into stellar suspense!  Give us your best shot!  You vote on our weekly prompt, and we provide the entertainment. It’s that simple!  The super easy steps are as follows:

STEP ONE: Every Wednesday we’ll post a voting poll with a few prompts to choose from.
STEP TWO: With the click of a button, you cast your vote on a prompt. (voting will stay open for three days.) Once the winning prompt is announced you can join us and write a story too. Use #kdsuspense to link in.
STEP THREE: READ AND ENJOY!  Every week on the following Tuesday we will post the short story that transformed from the very winning prompt.

Read Previous Stories Here!

The Suspenseful Collection: Volume One, by Kim Knight & Didi Oviatt ~ 4.5 Stars

I quote “holy chilli peppers” LOL I love that response from a reader. Thank you for this review I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your time and effort. Good ending to my day, just on my way to bed. Thank you.

By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff's avatarBy Hook Or By Book

35653723Thanks to the authors for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

135 Pages

Synopsis: A suspenseful novel with a twist. Eight short stories, by two suspense authors, from diverse backgrounds. From opposite sides of the Atlantic these stories have been created. One author started the tale and the other ended it. No discussion, no pre-planning, but yet their stories are seamless. With just creativity and the use of writing prompts, to craft one tale, with two different authors. This anthology of suspenseful, fast paced and engaging tales covers multiple genres. There is a story for everyone!

updated-telling-tales-weekly-challenege-kim-didi53

The Suspenseful Collection is a collaboration between two of our fellow bloggers, Didi Oviatt and Kim Knight. They’ve been created from their readers votes. There are two things that really make this collection of eight short stories stand out. The first is the multiple genres that are…

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Job contract with CONSCIOUS TALK MAGAZINE!

You’re so welcome Jina, welcome to the family.

Jina Bazzar's avatarJina S. Bazzar

Hello Everyone!

I’ve landed a job with Conscious Talk Magazine(CTM)

Conscious Talk Magazine

Isn’t that great?

I’ve just signed a contract with Conscious Talk Magazine and am now, officially, a magazine writer. I will be writing in the ‘Writer’s life’ column and in the ‘Health and well being’ column.

Thank you, Kim Knight, for this wonderful opportunity.

I have been unemployed for the past  six years, but to be fair, I’ve only just started searching for something, now that my youngest has turned three.

But wait, there are still openings. Want to become a writer for Conscious Talk Magazine? Check the recruitment banner below and get in touch with Kim, our chief editor.

recruitment banner

The first edition will be launched on August 30th. Don’t forget to come and check it out. I’ll be sending out links to remind you all!

Like us on Facebook: @conscioustalkmag
Follow…

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A short teaser for you all

Samantha Scott Author's avatarCalling all romance lovers!

Here is a short, very short excerpt for you all.  Is Jeremy her Mr. Darcy?  Book coming soon.  #AN Accidental Love

Startled by a voice.

“Who doesn’t know poetry?”  Of course, it’s Jeremy giving me a quizzical look.

“Shit! Jeremy, you scared me.  I was just thinking of a guy and about poetry.  That’s all.   Do you recite poetry at all Jeremy?”  I’m curious so why not ask.

“Poetry’s for pansies.  Sorry Manz didn’t mean to kill your subject, but no, I don’t do poetry.”  He kisses my temple, wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me in for a great big hug.  God, he does give great hugs.  He is so much larger than I, the warmth he sends out, the protective hug.  Shake out of it, it’s just a hug.  However, I do enjoy his hug a bit longer.  I feel his mouth move close to my ear.

“Let’s go kick some parade ass!”  He says and the moment…

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The Editor’s Life: Oh Boy! What Fun. #amwriting

Editor of Magazine

A new online, diverse magazine launching in August 2017. We aim to be in print too! http://www.conscioustalkmag.com

It’s been a week of the usual crazy days being mama and family life, writer and doing short stories, book reviewer and reading, and now editor! But a very productive week. Over at CTM we’re now a team of eleven strong writing warriors, preparing for launch day! All the columns I want to feature in the magazine are covered, apart from LGBT. Which is sad, but I am on a mission to allocate the column to a talented writer, I’m still recruiting. My other areas are covered, but I’d like a good few writers working on each section. Especially the Men’s Corner and Sport section, so I’m still considering submissions for areas.

We’re on social media now too you can catch us on Facebook, if you want to give us a like @conscioustalkmag and Twitter if you want to Tweet and follow us @conscious_talk. 

My days and evenings have been spent reading all the submissions from writers, I’m actually really touched and surprised at the response rate to the recruitment campaign! Some submissions have been poor of course and to be expected, some have been excellent and some have been mind blowing! So mind blowing it has led me to open up a new column, Conscious Poems. The team are international UK, Brazil, and even as far as Africa and the Middle East. This I’m so pleased about. The team are also super talented.

What have I learned?

Time management is key, even more as an editor than writer I think.

It’s not just about how good someone writes, it’s about the overall attitude of the person when it comes to building a team.

How to write a  snappy team brief with direction, so everyone knows what they are doing.

Sometimes, a writer may not be perfect. However, there might be a lot of passion in their work and you can see the potential.  Don’t be the editor to shun them with that f*ck off rejection letter, help them to develop maybe even give them a chance.

How to give balanced constructive feedback to someone you don’t know well,  and don’t  have a full idea of what they are capable of. (As you’ve never read their work before).

 

I better get back to my inbox! Have a wonderful Thursday!

 

 

 

 

Throw Back Thursday, Who Remembers This One? Wow 1996!#spicegirls #throwbackthursday#girlpower @OfficialMelB @MelanieCmusic

I’m British and proud of it, these ladies were the first major girl group from the UK. I LOVED them back in the early 90s. ( I think as a grown woman in her thirties I kind-a still do 🙂 ). As a teenager just leaving school when this came out, they taught me about “girl power,” way before the likes of Destiny’s Child came along. This is my favourite Spice Girl song. A great mix of  British pop and R’nB from the 90s. The video is pretty cool too.

My favourite band members are Mel C Sporty Spice, she was the real voice, and attitude of the group. I also like M B’s outrageous style. Go Mel C and Mel B! Ladies dust off your 90’s dance moves, and get ready to sing out with the Spice Girls. This  Thursday I’m throwing it back with some old school girl power.