This was a wild ride right from the beginning.  In the first pages there’s action, mystery, thrills, and suspense, and it doesn’t let up from there.  Gabe is a very complex, and talented character with bipolar disorder.  He’s also the son of a mobster, and he has a noble mission.  Gabe’s disorder plays a key part in his actions, and the way the rest of the cast interacts with him.  The story is told from many different points of view, and this really helped pronounce the empathy for some of the characters.   I felt like there was a lot of dialogue, but that’s not a bad thing.   In fact, all the dialogue felt passionate, and their voices were authentic in tone.   It was easy to hear the voices saying the words written, and that of course assisted in drawing me into the story. This was a fun first installment to what I’m assuming will be a continuing series.   Recommended to people who enjoy mob style stories like The Sopranos .   Looking forward to the next installment!      The M

I've decided my first post of the year is going to be a sweet one!   This definitely is not the healthiest of posts, but I’m going to level with the both of you on how I keep my focus.  When I sit down to write, I tend to have a package of a certain sweet snack by my side.  I call them, “Thinking Cookies.”  Don’t laugh.  We all have that snack that we really believe helps up think and work, mine just happens to be a cookie.  Why is this I wonder?  Why do we tend to think better while we are nibbling (or sometimes scarfing) away on a treat?  Maybe it’s a comfort thing.  Luckily, science has shown us that it’s really just the sugars and fats increasing the dopamine levels in my brain, thus making it easier for me to focus on the characters in my stories, and all of their secrets.  So, do I really like cookies, or do I just like the dopamine?  It’s probably not worth thinking about—Nah, I like cookies, and they make me happy.  I function better, and I write better, when I’m happy.  Si

Well, that’s another year in the books.  Another twelve months have come and gone.  Where did it go so fast, and what have we to show for it?  It’s been a challenging year.   And judging by the number of posts I’ve made to this blog this year (only 11), it doesn’t look like I’ve been very productive either.   Well, I promise you, I’ve been doing my best.   The year started off very positive.   The Blue Hole had been out for a month or so, and it was gaining traction.   The promotions I had chosen to run were working well, and the few reviews that were trickling in were just the kind of positive reinforcement I needed to push forward on my third book.   All was looking very good.   Then I got the urge to throw the book away my work in progress and start over, and about mid-year, that’s exactly what I did.   Trying to sort out if this book was even worth taking a second stab distracted me from continuing to promote The Blue Hole and The Gouge.   It also kept me from checking in on my s

Vicky Ball’s second book, much like her first, tackles some challenging and unfortunate situations that we tend to overlook, or ignore.   Using her main character, Maddie, as a vessel, the author masterfully captured the feeling of growing up in an alcoholic home and feeling like there is nowhere turn and nowhere to run.  Then, a small glimmer of hope, something to grasp onto and fight for is dropped into Maddie’s life in the form of a family she never knew she had.  But when Maddie goes in search for this hope, she doesn't find exactly what she expected.   I really enjoyed the way the story moved fast and the way that the characters spoke with one another in a very real way.  I did have some trouble resonating with the characters at the beginning, but I attribute that mostly to the fact that the target audience is more teen/young adult, which I am not.  However, once the majority of introductions were completed, I was completely drawn in and could not put it down.  Well done! Aban

Well, it is officially happening!  You will soon be able to enjoy The Gouge in audio book format!  I just finished a zoom meeting with a wonderful audio book producer, Raymond Holdridge II, and we've worked out all the expected kinks, as well as a plan to work with unforeseen circumstances.  Right now, our plan is to have to file available on Amazon and Audible by the end of the year, shortly followed by availability on I-tunes! Obviously, I am completely stoked about this news and that this step is finally being taken.  If you follow me at all, you probably know I've been looking into ways to convert my book into audio for some time, but I have been running into one road block after another.  I feel truly blessed to have been able to fall into contact with great people with similar goals!   I'll share more information about the progression, and availability of this product as I have it!  Just wanted to share the news!  Have a great day!  Keep reading...and listening!

The Perfect Kill Club, By:  Martin McGregor This was an interesting short read with a great premise.  In my opinion, time travel is a tricky topic to write since it’s almost always going to have at least one plot hole, but McGregor did a stand-up job.  My only complaint would be that the ending felt a little rushed, and I wasn’t convinced of some of the characters motives.  Still a fun read with a good mix of science fiction and slasher/gore based horror. The Perfect Kill Club is enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited Program, so you can download it and read it for free if you have subscription.  Check it out here:   The Perfect Kill Club on Amazon . Happy reading!