THE WRITHING SKIES by Betty Rocksteady

THE WRITHING SKIES by Betty Rocksteady

Publish date September 25th 2018

Published by Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing

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(from the book description)

The sky is hungry!

 Glowing lights and figures in tattered robes force Sarah from her apartment. Outside, phosphorescent creatures infiltrate her every orifice. They want to know everything, especially the things she would rather forget.

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Something happened while reading THE WRITING SKIES. I sat down with the intent of reading a few chapters before bed, but then suddenly it was 3am and I was on the last page. Where had the time gone, and why did I have this thought rolling around in my head, "What the hell did I just read?"

Now I mean that in the most positive of ways. It's raw, it's scary, it's very trippy and very, very gooey.

This is the first story I have read by author Betty Rocksteady and it makes me ask, "Where have you been all my life!". From the first page, the story is off and running. There is no build up, no fluff pages of intros and backgrounds, we start right into the action. The paranoid, manic thoughts of the main character Sarah. She is already on edge, something is happening that she cannot explain, everything is just wrong. The world around her has changed, mysterious figures surround her every move. And the sky... just don't look at the sky. What could be happening, and how can it tie in with her boyfriend Derek, and an event best left unsaid.

The tension, anxiety and overall unease increase  tenfold as the story progresses. Three characters traverse this strange world, each fully believable. No special powers, no feeling that they will save the day. All are equally lost in both the world and their own minds and slowly changing bodies. This is a horror story, but there are no jump scares here, no giant monsters chasing our heroine around. This is a story built on dread, and it is ever building. You feel on edge with every page turn. What Betty does give us is plenty of body horror. Parts not meant for the squeamish. There is blood, there is ooze and some things that are just downright hard to explain.

And to top everything off, Betty Rocksteady has included 20 original black and white illustrations throughout the book.

THE WRITHING SKIES has everything a horror reader wants. Unparalleled atmosphere, constantly building dread and unease, believable characters and an ending that will kick you in the teeth.

You can pre-order the book HERE.

To learn more about Betty Rocksteady please visit her website HERE.

And to learn about more titles available from the publisher, visit their website,
Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing.


(I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review)

Interview with JUSTIN M. WOODWARD

Interview with JUSTIN M. WOODWARD

Today I am joined by Justin M Woodward, author of The Variant, Candy and Tamer Animals. Justin, thank you for making some time in your schedule for this interview.

-- Thanks for having me, Jim!

You have released 3 books in the last 2 years, 2 of them within a month of each other just this summer. What kind of writing routine do you try to keep to?

-- I wish I had a writing routine to speak of! I'm certainly not THAT fast of a writer. I try to write when I have spare time. I work an average of 45 hours a week, plus I've got the two kids (my four year old is surgically attached to me when I'm home) so a lot of nights for an hour or so before bed I'm left asking myself 'Do I write, or do I read?' I will say this, though, in regards to releasing two books so close together. TAMER ANIMALS was actually finished in the fall of 2017. Candy was written directly afterwards as a weekly serial and then published around the same time.

Did you have any major inspirations that helped you get into writing?

-- When I was a kid I used to beg my babysitter to help me write a novel. I told her 'I'll tell you what to say, and you'll write it down.' Unfortunately, we decided to part ways due to creative differences. When I got older (mid-twenties) a buddy of mine, Jim Goffio, wrote and self-published a novel called HOUSE OF THE HOLY which I enjoyed very much. We talked about the process and I decided I would give it a go. A year later, THE VARIANT was released.

All three of your books have been very different in theme and structure. Which one did you enjoy working on the most?

-- Definitely CANDY. Though it was tedious trying to release a chapter every Saturday (some weeks I was writing the installment an hour before I released it) I loved that much-needed kick in the ass that book provided to get me working. Plus, CANDY is just so much fun.

Candy was unique in that it was told with the voice and perspective of a

teenage girl. Did this create any writing challenges for you?

-- The short answer—no. I just really didn't feel like I had to go very far out of my way to make CANDY seem real and believable. It just came naturally to me, I guess. It might also help that aside from sex, CANDY is basically me, haha. I'm very much a cynical smartass.

Your latest novel, Tamer Animals is a coming of age/backwoods horror. It also introduced us to The Goat Man. Many fans of the book have asked, will we see the Goat Man again?

-- I'll have to talk it over with him.

There are many authors who say they do not read reviews of their books. Do you read the reviews of your works and do you find that they help or hinder you in your continued writing?

-- Those many authors are flat out lying. Every author reads reviews. As far as whether they help or hinder, it all depends on the type of review. If a reviewer gives specific, legitimate reasons why they did (or didn't) like a book, that can be helpful. But, like most art, writing is subjective. Unless a reviewer is mad about some sort of error they found in a book (haven't had this be the case, just using as an example) then I really don't bother myself too much with what they thought. I would say also that positive reviews help a writer to determine which path to take with their next book (or not) if they are a writer who cares about that sort of thing (I'm not). I told you I was a cynical smartass!

Your are very active on social media, posting every day on your Facebook Fan Page (Justin M. Woodward Fan Club). Do you find that social media is important for authors today?

-- Unless your book magically makes its way on to the New York Times Bestseller list, social media is crucial to all authors these days. We can't all be Stephen King, unfortunately. I'm very thankful for the fans (and friends) I've made on social media. I would take it a step further, however, and warn other authors that it works both ways. If you're an asshole on the internet, I'm not going to read your book. It's a double-edged sword. I try to be as real and cool as I can with people. But I've found that social media can also help steer me AWAY from certain people's work.

I know that you are friends with fellow author J.Z. Foster. You have had some entertaining exchanges on social media. So here is your chance, what do you really think of J.Z. ?

-- Horrible person, decent writer. (I'm just kidding of course, he's a great writer.)

Before you go I do have to ask if you have any new projects in the works that you might be able to give us a hint about?

-- Sure, why not. I've just finished a round of short stories that were submitted to various places and I find myself staring at some (nearly) blank slates wondering what's next. Also, I was busy working on the release of the audio books for THE VARIANT, CANDY, and TAMER ANIMALS. I've started and stopped many things that I will eventually pick up later. For right now, I'm working on a novel that has been bouncing around my head for years, begging to be written which I haven't mentioned anywhere else yet. It will be part psychological thriller, part forbidden love story (I know, shock!) and as always, it will be dark. Its title is: WATER THE FLOWERS.

Justin, thank again for your time, it has been great talking to you. I look forward to reading more of your works in the future.

-- Thanks, Jim, any time!

Justin also asked me announce that starting today the TAMER ANIMALS e-book is now on sale for only .99 for the next five days. Now is your chance to pick up this truly frightening book at an amazing price.

I will also be giving away 3 e-book copies of TAMER ANIMALS. To enter to win one just visit
 One-Legged Reviews on Facebook and post a comment on the Giveaway post. Winners will be picked at random on Monday.

And for even more Justin Woodward fun, tomorrow Justin and fellow author Jay Sigler (TRAIN THOUGHTS) will be on Spilling Ink Live from 7pm to 8pm CDT. You can visit the event page HERE.

All of Justin's book are available now in print, e-book and audio book on AMAZON.

THE VARIANT          CANDY         TAMER ANIMALS


You can read my past reviews of CANDY and TAMER ANIMALS .....HERE and HERE.

12 GAUGE: SONGS FROM A STREET SWEEPER by Dustin LaValley

12 GAUGE: SONGS FROM A STREET SWEEPER by Dustin LaValley

Published July 1st 2018

Published by Sinister Grin Press

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(from the book description)

(12 Gauge) Songs from A Street Sweeper includes three white-knuckled novellas.

Spinner
A prison escapee leads law enforcement on a chase through the Adirondack Mountains, where they encounter a reclusive elderly man with a dark secret.

H/armed
An ultra-violent satirical commentary on societal norms, cliques, and obedience.

The Deceived
A criminal pair invade the home of the wrong man on the wrong day.

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12 GAUGE: SONGS FROM A STREET SWEEPER is a collection of 3 novella length stories that all have one thing in common, lots and lots of blood.

Dustin LaValley gives us stories that feel real, that could happen in the real world. That is what I think is the scariest part of all the tales. He shows us that we humans are the most violent creatures around. 

The first novella, Spinner is my favorite of the bunch. It has a great noir crime thriller feel to it with a very dark twist. An escaped killer and his girlfriend are loose in the Adirondack Mountains and on the run from the police. But they will soon learn that they are not the scariest monsters loose in these woods. This is your classic cops in pursuit of the escapee story. Like all the stories in this collection, Dustin does not shy away from the blood and gore. The pursuit takes them through the mountains to a shocking and unexpected conclusion. These are well built characters, just enough info is given to flesh them out and make them believable. The story never lulls and the little connections made between characters is great.

The second novella, H/armed was my least favorite of the three. This is an all-out gore fest in the fashion of Battle Royale or The Belko Experiment. People are trapped in a department store and meant to fight to the death, all under the watchful eye of The Director. The participants are divided into teams, The Sore Thumbs (gamers), Black Lights (stoners), Rodeos (cowboys), Cocoa Beans (hipsters) and so on. There are a lot of characters introduced in this short story, and no where near enough time to flesh any of them out. Another thing I did not care for is the responses the author has given some of the characters. He takes the stoner/gamer/hipster arch types to the very extreme. To the point that a hipster in the moment of being chased by a killer has time to critique a bad shirt, or the gamers only defense being karate moves they learn from Street Fighter. The premise of the story plays out good, but there needed to be less characters running around and maybe less tongue-in-cheek portrayals of some of the groups. I do have to say that this story does have one hell of a soundtrack.

The last novella, The Deceived is a great little character driven thriller. Only three people interact throughout the whole story. A young couple pays a visit to a unsuspecting man. Their intentions are not good from the start; they have just entered a home, and a situation way out of their understanding.
We do not get much background into these characters, but that is OK. This is an "in the moment" story. We don't need to know their past, just what is happening now. And like the stories that come before it, there is violence, there is blood and there is terror. Three people, one claustrophobic house and no way out, make a very thrilling and fast-paced story.

Overall this is a great collection that will appeal to many readers. Dustin weaves some excellent stories that span the gap between noir thriller and outright horror.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review)


You can purchase 12 GAUGE: SONGS FROM A STREET SWEEPER on AMAZON.

To see more books published by Sinister Grin Press, make sure to visit their WEBSITE.

THE ZOMBIE WHO CRIED HUMAN by Brian James Freeman and Glenn Chadbourne

THE ZOMBIE WHO CRIED HUMAN

Story by Brian James Freeman

Pictures by Glenn Chadbourne

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I received this in the mail today from Cemetery Dance and wanted to take a few minutes to talk about it. I know it is not my usual kind of book to review, but I read through this very quickly and just really enjoyed it.

Based on the old fable of "The boy who cried wolf", this retelling takes place in a world where Zombies are the norm and humans are either wild or kept as livestock. Yes, I know this doesn't really sound like a kids book, but it is. 

Brian's interpretation of the story will appeal to kids and adults alike. The family, consisting of Papa Zombie, Mama Zombie and Boy Zombie live on the outskirts of Romero Town and raise humans to be sold at market. One day when Papa and Mama Zombie shamble to another town, Boy Zombie is left to tend the herd with his trusty Zombie Dog Rex. As the classic fable plays out, Boy Zombie tricks the local town zombies by yelling "humans, humans are here". But what happens when wild humans really show up? Will Zombie Boy ever learn his lesson?

What really brings this story to life, or should I say undead life, is the amazing artwork of Glenn Chadbourne. Glenn has done art for many CD books in the past. The art tells a tale all its own. Each page will jump out at you with detail, always slightly askew, mixing the grays and whites of the Zombie family with more vibrant colors for clothing, scenery and the humans, of course. 

Here is a little sample

This book is stated as being the first book in the "Friendly Little Monsters" series. 

It will be interesting to see which fable Cemetery Dance takes on next.

This is definitely a fun book to read to your kids, and will bring the "kid" out of any adult who reads it.

THE ZOMBIE WHO CRIED HUMAN has been printed in three editions.

The softcover paperback can be purchased on AMAZON.

A trade hardcover and a signed/slipcased hardcover can be ordered HERE.

To learn more about CEMETERY DANCE PUBLICATIONS visit their WEBSITE.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW edited by Matt Hayward and Doug Murano

WELCOME TO THE SHOW - 17 Horror Stories -- One Legendary Venue

Edited by Doug Murano

Publish Date: August 3rd 2018

Published by Crystal Lake Publishing

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(from the book description)

We all know the cliche Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll. Now, add demons, other dimensions, monsters, revenge, human sacrifice, and a dash of the truly inexplicable. This is the story of the (fictional) San Francisco music venue, The Shantyman.

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I have read several anthologies so far this year, and hands down WELCOME TO THE SHOW has been the best. Doug Murano has pulled together a who's-who of the top writers around today to weave an unforgettable narrative around the fictional showroom, The Shantyman.

This collection of 17 unique stories has something for everyone. Ghosts, demons, time travel, vampires, curses, rips in the fabric of space,,,it is all here. You might think, "how can all these types of stories fit together?". Well they do, and terrifically at that. Each story seems to build off the one before it. Every story either begins or ends at The Shantyman, a venue that has hosted many of Rock n Roll's elite through the years. A place that has a notorious history for strange events, starting in the early parts of our century and into the near future.

Let's take a look at the stories that are on stage at The Shantyman.

What Sort of Rube by Alan M. Clark
One of the earliest tales of The Shantyman. A warning is given to a musician, but will he heed it in time to save his life?

Night and Day and In Between by Jonathan Janz
A private eye gets more than he bargained for when he tracks a missing girl to The Shantyman.

In The Winter of No Love by John Skipp
1969 in San Fransisco. One girl's journey is about to change in ways she never expected.

Wolf with Diamond Eyes by Patrick Lacey
What happened at Harpie's last show, and how does it tie into their last album, a soundtrack to The Wolf with Diamond Eyes.

Pilgrimage by Bryan Smith
Three friends learn that time and space work differently in the shadow of The Shantyman.

A Tongue Like Fire by Rachel Autumn Deering
Hexx, a singer with a dark message, gets more from an interview than she expected.

Master of Beyond by Glenn Rolfe
Ouiji boards are never a good idea, especially at The Shantyman.

Dark Stage by Matt Hayward
Fred is ready to retire from The Shantyman. That is, until he encounters a man in black on open-mic night.

Open Mic Night by Kelli Owens
Can the legendary "27 club" be true. Some of  the biggest rockers in history all died at age 27. One visitor to The Shantyman may be involved.

Beat The Past by Matt Serafini
Moira and Pete at at The Shantyman to see Brainpan, a band that disappeared after their last concert 10 years ago. Pete's perception of the world around him is about to change.

True Starmen by Max Booth III
A strange podcast with an even stranger audience is about to take place at The Shantyman.

Just To Be Seen by Somer Canon
A girl, a musician, and a kiss. A young fan would do anything for the artist she loves.

Parody by Jeff Strand
Zany Chester longed for his chance to make it big. The stage of The Shantyman was just the place.

Ascending by Robert Ford
Nazir thought he would be meeting the girl of his dreams in San Francisco. Sometimes a promise of love is hard to keep.

The Southern Thing by Adam Cesare
A super fan of the Southern Rock band The Truckers wishes he was a more "authentic" fan. An encounter at The Shantyman just might give him that chance.

Running Free by Brian Keene
A Made Man is dying from cancer, but that is not the way he wants to go out. A visit to The Shantyman might be what the doctor ordered.

Just a quick word about this story. If you are a fan of Brian Keene this story will be a stand out for you. Brian brings his own mythology into that of The Shantyman. A key character from Brian's mythos makes an appearance and several other works are referenced. Also several characters from earlier stories in this anthology pop in to say hi.

and last, but definitely not least....

We Sang In Darkness by Mary SanGiovanni
Mary SanGiovanni closes out this anthology with a tale about what would happen if music broke the world. Some friends visit The Shantyman one last time and find a frightening surprise.

You can read through this entire book and not think that you are reading a collection of various stories. Each one builds off the last. Events carry over and are mentioned in other stories.  The Shantyman is not just a building, it is a living, breathing entity that pulls all these tales together.

My hat is off to Doug Murano for putting together this amazing collection of work and to Crystal Lake Publishing who is quickly becoming the go-to publisher for top-notch anthologies. (Lost Highways, C.H.U.D. Lives, Behold and more)

So pull on your leather jacket, grab a beer and push your way through the crowd. The show at The Shantyman is about to begin and you will want to be in the front row.

You can pre-order WELCOME TO THE SHOW on AMAZON.

To learn more about Crystal Lake Publishing and their other fine books, make sure to check them out HERE.

MANIFEST RECALL by Alan Baxter

MANIFEST RECALL by Alan Baxter

Published June 26th 2018

Published by Grey Matter Press

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(from the book description)

Following a psychotic break, Eli Carver finds himself on the run, behind the wheel of a car that’s not his own, and in the company of a terrified woman he doesn’t know. As layers of ugly truth are peeled back and dark secrets are revealed, the duo find themselves in a struggle for survival when they unravel a mystery that pits them against the most dangerous forces in their lives.

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Eli Carver is a very troubled man. He knows he is not a good man, but his memory if fragmented and he cannot quite remember where he is or who he is with. This is the beginning of MANIFEST RECALL.

 To keep with my non-spoiler reviews promise, I cannot get to much into explaining the story for fear of accidentally revealing a story element. Just know that this is a gritty crime thriller with equal parts Goodfellows and Momento. It is a story of one mans battle with memory, grief, regret, self-deception and revenge. A man literally "haunted" by his past.

The cast of characters is kept small. Even though Eli is a bad man. you cannot help rooting for him as the story progresses. A true anti-hero who will do what needs to be done by any means necessary. The story is well paced and will keep the reader guessing on what could possibly be reveled next.

Alan Baxter has pulled no punches as he delivers a riveting story that unravels in a somewhat non-linear style, leading to a violent and bloody end.

MANIFEST RECALL is a top-notch crime thriller with a touch of the supernatural and a whole lot of bullets.

You can purchase MANIFEST RECALL in ebook and print on AMAZON.

To learn more about Alan Baxter and his other works visit HERE.

To see more release from GREY MATTER PRESS visit HERE.

THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER is coming soon!

THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER by Jonathan Janz is a pulse-pounding tale of supernatural horror, destined to be on everyone's top 10 lists this year.

Full review and an interview with the author himself coming next month.

Releasing this September from Flame Tree Press.

You can pre-order THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER on AMAZON.