YURI by Steve Stred

YURI by Steve Stred

Publish date October 1st 2018

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(from book description)

 As a bitter winter stretches on, Yuri decides to leave the family farm and seek employment in the City. Hired by the mysterious owner of the mines Mr. Petrov, Yuri is excited to move into the man's mansion. But not all is what it appears, and soon Yuri realizes not everyone is his friend.

Yuri is a harrowing tale of what ends people would go to for family and for fortune. Just remember the key to surviving; Don't eat the stew.

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Steve Stred is on a roll. Just over two weeks ago he released the very  entertaining WAGON BUDDY, today he releases another novella, YURI.

YURI is a period piece. It is never quite stated where and when it is taking place, but from reading I would place it in Russia during the late 1800s or early 1900s. YURI is a tale of a young man dealing with loss. Winter has lasted over 2 years and the family farm is in ruins. Both his parents are gone and he is forced to head to the city to find work. Little does he know that the wonderful job he is offered will lead him down a dark and horrifying path. 

As with WAGON BUDDY, the author has written a very believable and fleshed out character. Yuri is the underdog, finally getting his break and making more money than he ever has, but at what cost. The sense of dread that the author creates as Yuri slowly learns more and more about his surrounding is almost palpable. Yuri is a good man, thrust into a situation beyond his control. You will root for him and also at times want to kick him in the ass. (you will see what I mean as you read the story, come on Yuri don't do that!)

The first half of the novella is all character driven, we learn about Yuri, his new boss Mr. Petrov and some other supporting characters, and about the house itself. It is in the 2nd half that all hell breaks loose. Dark secrets come to the service and oh my does the blood flow. The author does not hold back on the blood and gore, tho it is not just put in for shock value. Each scene of bloodshed has purpose to the story. It all accumulates in a brutal confrontation and shocking climax.

Yuri is a well written and very enjoyable novella. I recommend this novella highly and please make sure to check out Steve Stred"s other great books.

You can purchase YURI in print and Ebook on AMAZON.

You can learn more about STEVE STRED and is other works at his WEBSITE.

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

THE HORROR COLLECTION: GOLD EDITION

http://www.kevinjkennedy.co.uk/

Edited by Becky Narron & Kevin J. Kennedy

Publish date (ebook) September 28th 2018

(print edition at later date)

Published by KJK Publishing

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The first book in a new series of mini-anthologies brought to you by KJK Publishing.

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Just one week after the release of COLLECTED CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORTS VOL.II, KJK Publishing unleashes another anthology book. 

This anthology consists of 6 stories. Unlike the last collection, this anthology has no set theme. All the stories range in topic and scope. Kevin J. Kennedy has once again pulled togther some amazing talent to fill the pages. 

Let's take a look inside.

THE PAPERBOY by Amy Cross

One womans obsession with her paperboy boy could lead to a much darker and horrifying truth.

THE MAN WHO LOST PARADISE by J.C. Michael

An addict finds a ay to cheat damnation, but what he must do to stay on this plane could be worse than his final fate.

This is really a great story. It's a horror story, but also a look at the downfall and loss caused by addiction.

THE SEPTEMBER LAMENTS OF ANNALEIGH by Matthew Brockmeyer

A backwoods family living in the mountains keep a dark and monstrous secret in their animal pens. 

FLESH by Kevin J Kennedy

What more could you ask for, Subterranean Dwellers vs Zombies. 'nuff said!

AT PEACE NOW by Lex H. Jones

A Beast is loose in Heaven and it's path of destruction will effect both the living and the dead.

GHOST TRAIN by Mike Duke

Years ago there was a horrible train accident that left a small town in shock. Now four friends venture out to see the fabled Ghost Train as it travels it's ill-fated route. 

Another great story. This is a coming of age story type story reminiscent of Stranger Things or Stand By Me. The author keeps the tension rolling and closes the story with a bang.

This was an overall entertaining collection and at 133 pages makes for a nice weekend read. I look forward to the next installment of this new mini-anthology series.

You can purchase THE HORROR COLLECTION: GOLD EDITION on AMAZON.

You can learn more about Kevin J Kennedy and all the great books from KJK Publishing by visiting HERE.

END OF THE ROAD by Brian Keene

END OF THE ROAD by Brian Keene

Publish date estimated 2018

Published by Cemetery Dance

This is a Limited Edition Hardcover, so I wanted to include the edition specifications as stated from the publisher.

• Limited to just 750 signed and hand-numbered copies
• Personally signed by the author on a unique signature page
• Printed on 60# acid-free paper
• Bound in full-cloth with colored head and tail bands
• Featuring hot foil stamping on the front boards and spine
• Printed and bound with full-color endpapers
• Smyth sewn to create a more durable binding
• Wrapped in a full-color dust jacket
• Limited ONE TIME printing of this special edition
• Retail price just $40!

 SPECIAL BONUS ITEM WITH PURCHASE!
Every copy of this book purchased on CemeteryDance.com will include a FREE special bonus Limited Edition chapbook, On the Road with Brian Keene by John Urbancik.

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(from the book description)

"My name is Brian Keene. I'm a writer by trade and a road warrior by heart. Neither of these things are wise career or life choices. The tolls add up.

Over the last twenty years, things have changed. Book tours have changed, publishing has changed, bookselling has changed, conventions have changed, horror fiction—and the horror genre—have changed. I've changed, too.

The only things that haven't changed are writing and the road. They stay the same. The words we type today are the past tomorrow. Everything is connected like the highways on a map are connected. This holds true for the history of our genre, as well.

I rode into town twenty years ago. Now I'm riding out. You're all coming with me..."

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This could be the shortest review ever. It can be summed up in 5 words, "You must read this book!"

End Of The Road is a collection of columns of the same name that Brian Keene wrote for Cemetery Dance Online from May 2016 to February 2017. These columns chronicled his travels as he set out on his Farewell But Not Really Tour. The tour lasted from May till December and Brian criss-crossed the US signing books and meeting fans.

Brian Keene is a master of horror, but if you have not taken the time to read his non-fiction books, then you are missing some of his greatest works. From Sympathy For The Devil and Running With The Devil to Other Words and Trigger Warning, these are Keene at his best.

I can say that I have read every book Brian Keene has written. A new copy of White Fire sits on my shelf next to my copy of No Rest For The Wicked. End Of the Road is a beast all its own. Brian shares everything with his readers as he travels the US. Now this is not just a travelogue, but he does give some great guided tours, it is his views on the publishing industry, loss of friends, health scares, family and so much more. He does not hold anything back. As you read you can feel his pain and sadness as he talks about the loss of J.F Gonzalez and Tom Piccirilli. Share his happiness as he meets old friends, old and new fans and the special times he gets to spend with his family amongst the busy schedule. You get a passenger seat view of a man who was almost pushed to the edge, and his journey back with the help of his friends, family, fans and maybe even a few pushes from beyond.

One thing Brian has no trouble doing is speaking his mind. He shares his thoughts on the state of the horror industry and bookselling in general. The fall of the big chain stores and how important the independent stores are. Not many people, much less someone who is in the public eye, would share so much personal time with their readers. Brain dealt with depression, sadness, loss and the pressure of the road, and takes us along on every long road and lonely hotel room.

Even if you have never read a Brian Keene book (shame on you) this book will give you an inside look at the man behind the stories. If you are an author, especially a new author, you need to read this so that you understand what has gone before.

I could go on and on writing about this book, but I will leave it with the same statement I made at the beginning....YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.

(review was done from an ARC of the book received from Cemetery Dance Publication)



As of this writing there are still copies of the Signed Hardcover available at CEMETERY DANCE.

UPDATE: As of 8pm the book now appears to be sold out on the website.

You can keep up to date on Brian Keene at BrianKeene.com .

You can also join The Official Brian Keene Fan Group on FACEBOOK.

COLLECTED CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORTS VOL.II presented by Kevin J. Kennedy

COLLECTED CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORTS VOL.II presented by Kevin J. Kennedy

Edited by Brandy Yassa

Publish date September 21st 2018 (ebook)
(Print coming at later date.)

Published by KJK Publishing

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(from the book description)

Some people love Christmas for religious reasons, others prefer it for the food, drink and parties, but for some other people, it’s just another time of year to get up to mischief. This anthology is filled with tales of not-so-happy Christmases, tales that they don’t want to tell you about in the movies or songs.

It’s time to break out your new Christmas slippers, rip open a box of chocolates and pour yourself a drink. Lock your doors and get comfy. You’re in for one helluva ride.

Merry Christmas from all of us!

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 Yes, Yes. I know that it is not even Halloween yet and I'm reading a Christmas themed anthology. If you really think about it, Santa is one of the first truly frightening figures we are confronted with as  children. How many kids have sat screaming on that jolly man's lap as a parent tries to distract them for that o-so-perfect Santa picture for the holidays.

This collection contains 22 stories of Christmas terror. A majority of the stories give us varying views of Santa, which are expected, but none of them disappoint. We see Santa as a demon, an alien, a beast and everything in between. The other stories revolve around the season itself. There is something for everyone here.

Lets take a quick look at what's inside.

Christmas Lunch by Amy Cross

Frau Perchta by Suzanne Fox

Duende by Christina Bergling

A Noel In Black by Matthew Brockmeyer

The Mall Santa by Christopher Motz

The Yuletide Butcher by Mike Duke

The Ghost of Christmas Party Past by C.S. Anderson

Twas The Night Before Christmas by Matt Hickman

The Kringle by Peter Oliver Wonder

Ho Ho Hollow by Mark Cassell

How The Witch Stole Yuletide by James Matthew Buyers

Sugar Vision by Sara Tantlinger

The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy by Steven Stacy

Something in the Stocking by P. Mattern

Black Eye Friday by J.C. Michael

Christmas In Hell by Kevin J. Kennedy

Santa Clause Comes At Night by Andrew Lennon

Catching Santa by Michael A. Arnzen

Christmas Curse by Weston Kincade

Weihnachtstag by Mark Fleming

Secret Santa by Veronica Smith

The Joys of Christmas by Lisa Morton


That is a lot of Holiday horror. There are a few stories that really stood out for me.

 Duende by Christina Bergling finally shows us how evil those Elf On The Shelf dolls really are.

 A Noel In Black by Matthew Brockmeyer is what happens when someone puts acid in your eggnog. This story takes you on a wild, trippy ride.

The Yuletide Butcher by Mike Duke is a crime thriller with a dark twist. I read this and right away had to tell Mike that he got me with this one. You will know what I mean when you read the story.

The Mall Santa by Christopher Motz and The Kringle by Peter Oliver Wonder are my favorites of the Santa-based stories. The Mall Santa is just in-your-face scary, while The Kringle takes place in the not so distant future and paints Santa in a whole new light.

All the included stories are great, and at $1.59 for the ebook, this will be this most economical Christmas gift you will ever buy.

So pull your blanket tight and get ready for the Holidays. After reading COLLECTED CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORTS VOL.II you will never look at Santa the same way again.



You can purchase COLLECTED CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORTS VOL.II on AMAZON.

You can learn more about Kevin J Kennedy and all the great books from KJK Publishing by visiting HERE.

WAGON BUDDY by Steve Stred

WAGON BUDDY by Steve Stred

Publish date September 15th 2018

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(from the book description)

What if your imaginary friend turned out to be real? And not a person at all?

Wagon Buddy tells the tale of a man and his creature, his only friend, who time and time again comes to his aide.
But what happens when you can’t control the creature anymore?

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It's the weekend and the busy work week is over. Perfect time to pick up a book and relax. If you would like a novella that you can sit on the porch and read in a couple hours, then I have a good one for you.

WAGON BUDDY by Steve Stred is a 93 page novella that feels like a much bigger story. Steve has crafted a story that barrels along at break-neck speed. The tale follows Scott from childhood to adult life. Scott has a hard life, bullied as a child, unappreciated as an adult. But he has one thing that makes him feel better, his imaginary friend, his Wagon Buddy. The Wagon Buddy appears to Scott one day when he was young. A tale creature dressed in black with a mask covering his face. Through the years Scott's friend helps him with problems, but is he helping or plunging Scott into death and horror.

You should know going in that there is not much joy in this story. Scott is the target of some truly horrible bullies throughout his life. Fleeting happiness always gives way to despair. The only constant he has is his Wagon Buddy. The author builds the whole story just around these two characters. Scott is just a normal kid trying to make it through school and later adult life. He is a very believable character and your heart breaks for him as you read. The creature is handled perfectly. He is given the smallest of back story, never revealing his true name or nature. Just happy to be Scott's Wagon Buddy. The author does not hold back on the blood and gore, but does not saturate the story with it. 

If there is one complaint I have about WAGON BUDDY, is that it was over too soon. I wanted the story to continue. Hopefully Steve will revisit these characters again.

You can purchase WAGON BUDDY in print and Ebook on AMAZON. 

You can learn more about STEVE STRED and is other works at his WEBSITE.

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

Guest Post by JONATHAN JANZ

Today Jonathan is posting on One-Legged Reviews.
So without further ado, let's welcome Jonathan Janz.

Casting The Siren and the Specter

Does every author do it? I don’t know, but I suspect I’m not the only author who envisions who might play his fictional characters should one of his stories get adapted into movie form. In the past I’ve chosen performers ranging from Chris Evans to Don Cheadle to Elizabeth Olsen—and that’s just limiting myself to Marvel films! Even though I wait until the novel is done before casting my characters—most of the time, the characters in my head are not represented by famous faces during the writing process—I do end up assigning performers to the characters eventually while I daydream of their adaptions.  

So what about my new novel, The Siren and the Specter? There are many characters in the book with what I would call “juicy” roles, from the intelligent but troubled David Caine to the rapacious, neglectful Honey Shelby. So without further ado, here are six roles and the actors/actresses I’d like to play them:

David Caine: Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook)

This is a perfect match. Cooper is the right age, he’s certainly the right physical type, and he’s exactly the sort of person we can imagine having done bad things but wanting to atone for them. In a perfect world, he’d play this role, and I believe he’d be magnificent.

Jessica Greene: Amy Adams (Arrival)

Jessica is the female lead of the story, even though she doesn’t appear for a goodly way into the tale. She’s mysterious, smart, sassy, and attractive, all adjectives I’d ascribe to Ms. Adams.

Sheriff Georgia Harkless: Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures)

Ms. Spencer is supremely talented and is somehow able to convey a mixture of kindness and toughness simultaneously. As the sheriff of this tale, she would absolutely rock. There are a couple of scenes specifically that I imagine her nailing like no other actress could.

Ralph Hooper: Robert Forster (Jackie Brown)

Ralph is cantankerous, smart, funny, but oddly fragile despite his façade. Forster is the right age and the right kind of actor to bring this complex set of characteristics to life.

Honey Shelby: Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road)

This is one of the juiciest roles, and it would take an actress willing and able to make the shocking believable. Ms. Theron is also funny when she wants to be, and though much of what Honey Shelby does is decidedly unfunny, utilizing an actress with a sense of humor might help leaven some of the wretchedness of the character. 

  

Anna Spalding: Hope Quattrocki (Recovery)

A small but crucial role, Anna helps form the emotional core of the story, and you’d need a fabulous actress in order to make an indelible impression in a limited amount of screen time. One such actress is Hope Quattrocki, who will make her feature film debut this year in Recovery (starring alongside Mike Starr, of Goodfellas and Dumb and Dumber fame). Ms. Quattrocki also happens to be my children’s babysitter, my former student, and the symbolic fourth Janz child, so having her in my movie would be a thrill. 

Interview with JONATHAN JANZ

Hello Jonathan. Thank you for giving me some time out of your busy schedule to do this interview for One-Legged Reviews.

You have written over 15 books and numerous short stories, and have become a inspiration for many new authors. Who was your inspiration when you started writing.

 My inspiration to begin reading back when I was a painfully insecure fourteen-year-old was Stephen King. The inspiration for my disastrous first attempt at writing a novel at age eighteen was Stephen King. Along the way, there have many attempts and failures, but the one common denominator has been Stephen King's insistent implicit inspiration. It makes me sound like a loon, but I always go back to how he made me feel as a reader then and now and how powerfully the urge is inside me to help others feel the same way. So...yeah. Stephen King.

 You are pretty prolific when it comes to releasing books. How hard is it to balance family and work and still have time to write.

 Here I'm going to reference another one of my favorite writers, Mr. Joe R. Lansdale. Joe pretty much says that if you want to be a writer, you'll make time for it. I believe that. That means making sacrifices. When I have the chance, I'm with my family. I spend a good deal of time as a teacher. But if I'm not doing those two things, you can bet I'm writing, reading, or editing. That means I don't watch TV, don't hang out with friends, don't play video games by myself, and I don't spend afternoons on the golf course. I'm not suggesting this is health or right for everyone, but it's how I make it work. I write because I want to and because I'd probably die if I didn't. As Joe says, you make the time for the things that matter to you.

 I know that many fans, including myself, are excited for the re-release of many of your out of print books. For many newer readers this will be the first time they will be able to read these older books.

 Yes! I'm so excited about this! It has been interesting going back through the manuscripts and reacquainting myself with these novels. I'm a different writer now that I was in 2012, but I'm still proud of what I wrote back then. I can't wait for folks to get a look at these eight backlist titles, which were published between 2012 and 2015. They represent some of my favorite stories.

 Every author has one book that they wrote that will always be their favorite. Which book is that for you?

 Of my currently published works, I'd say CHILDREN OF THE DARK, THE NIGHTMARE GIRL, and WOLF LAND would probably be at the top. This sounds like salesmanship, but the truth is, I like all the new stuff I have coming even more. THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER, THE DARK GAME, NIGHTMARE WORLD, THE DISMEMBERED, CHILDREN OF THE DARK 2, and my current work-in-progress, MARLA, are all stories that are better than what I've written before. That makes me very excited about the future.

 Many authors use a "non de plum" when writing. Dallas Mayr was Jack Ketchum and Stephen King used Richard Bachman. What was the inspiration for Jonathan Janz?

 As a teacher, I want to be very careful about my reputation. The vast majority of people would celebrate the fact that I put into practice everything I teach and would be delighted that I'm a novelist as well as a teacher. However, I also worried, early in my career, that there would be people who'd conflate the stories with the person, hence the creation of the nickname. My actual first name is Jonathan, so that part was easy; the Janz is my mother's maiden name, so using it was a way to honor my grandma and grandpa, who helped raise me and who have been instrumental in my life.

 This September we will see the release of your newest novel, The Siren and the Specter. Many early reviews are calling it one of the top books of the year. Can you tell us a little about it.

 Yes, the early word has been amazing. Becky Spratford, writing for the Library Journal, said it really well: "A terrifying tale about a haunted house and the deeply haunted man who is challenged to spend a month there." In addition to the supernatural elements of the plot, the book is about how people use others' innocence against them, the corruption of that innocence, and the possibility of redemption even when redemption seems impossible. I love the book and hope others do too.

 At the time of this interview we are only 2 weeks away from the Annual Scares That Care Convention. Is there anyone you are looking forward to meeting this year.

 So many! Here are just a few: Dan Padavona, Rio Youers, Elizabeth Massie, and Christopher Golden. Dan and Rio have become online friends, so I'm excited to interact in person. I've been a fan of Elizabeth's since I read "Abed," which is one of the most powerful stories written in the past twenty years. I've known of Christopher for a long time, but I'm just now starting to read him. SOULLESS is his zombie novel from a few years back, and at about 25% in, I can confidently state that he is an outstanding writer who deserves all his success. It'll be great to meet him and Elizabeth.

 Speaking of conventions. Any plans to possibly return to HorrorHound Indy. It is right in your backyard. 

 I'd like to. It gets complicated because of my kids' schedules. If they have something going on during a weekend, I want to be there for that. So...not yet, but eventually, yes, I'd love to get back to HorrorHound.

 I could not do an interview without bringing up Old Order. This is one of your earlier stories and probably has some of the most outrageous 1 star reviews because people mistook it for an Amish romance book. What did you think when those started rolling in?

 Hah! Yes. That was a notorious moment in my early career. I think the best part about it is the fact that I can laugh about it now. And who would've thought it? I would have guessed that aficionados of Amish romance would have eaten up a twisted thriller about a thief, sex, and murder.

 Thank you again for your time and I look forward to the release of The Siren and The Specter and for what you have waiting in the wings for us all in the future.

 Thank you for having me on, Jim. It has been a blast getting to know you online, and I'm proud to call you a friend.


You can order THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER in ebook and print on AMAZON.

Make sure to stop by Jonathanjanz.com for more information on the author and his works. And take a moment to sign up for his newsletter while you are there.