Demons, Sorcery and Romance - Confronting the Demon by Ciara Ballintyne

The gates to hell are thrown wide when Alloran is betrayed by his best friend, Ladanyon, and framed for forbidden magic. He is hunted by the guards and the wizards both, tormented by the gruesome murder of his friends and loved ones, and crippled by fear for the living.
Now Alloran must face his demons, or damn the woman he loves.
Also featuring bonus short story 'A Magical Melody'
Genre - High Fantasy (17+)
Length - 110 pages
Published - September 24th

October 12th Indie-Vengeance Day Special!

Amazon Kindle - US $2.99 99¢ | UK £1.93 £0.77

Trade Paperback - Amazon US | Amazon UK

What early readers are saying about the novella

"Ballintyne gives wonderful descriptions and I found myself becoming lost in the magic of her words in a picturesque world with every turned page" Bella Doerres

 

"The power-packed action will leave you breathless and the eerie suspense will make you chomp on your own nails, beware!" Satarupa

 

"With imagination and detail that paints a full scene for the mind’s eye, Ciara takes us on a short but exciting journey into a world of magic, love and demons from hell." Miranda Wood of DustyKatt's Stuff Reviews

 

"I actually enjoyed a good fantasy novel that didn’t take days and days to read, but still offered the opportunity to get caught up in its world and story." - Tracy Riva Global eBook Awards Judge

In honour of Indie-Vengeance Day Ciara Ballintyne is offering up “Confronting a Demon” for the sale price of 99¢ On October 12^th after more than a year of planning, more than a dozen bestselling indie authors from around the globe (seriously!) will gather in Dallas, Texas for an once-in-a-lifetime signing and meet-the-author event; Indie-Vengeance Day. Come join authors from the U.S, Canada and Australia and meet some of the most notable and recognized writers in the indie author movement.

JOIN THE FACEBOOK PARTY!

 

Alloran huddled in the shadows of the alley mouth across from the west gate, watching the guards search every man and woman leaving the city of Ehsan. He sweltered within the confines of his light dust cloak. The hood concealed his face, and a few days worth of stubble blurred the shape of his jaw. Anything to make him that much harder to recognise. Unfortunately, he couldn’t hide his indigo wizard eyes from another wizard or a sorceress, though a spell concealed their colour from normal vision.

A queue of backed-up traffic wound out of sight along the Avenue of Falling Stars. Travelers, merchants, and farmers waited with resigned patience. Seven hells, after three months, the delays were normal. Surely, they’d give up soon. Will they? For such a heinous crime…. It was not a thought he liked to dwell on. He slouched to hide his unusual height, and squinted at the mailed guards. They represented a minor inconvenience. The quartet of three wizards and one sorceress, though, were entirely different. There’d be no escaping their notice, even though the soldiers might be fooled. Almost involuntarily, his gaze flicked to the castle–not the king’s castle in the central district but the wizards’. Perched atop the mountain overshadowing the city, its turrets clawed the sky. Home, once. Now he hid from it like a beetle scuttling away from the sun. Only enough luck to fill the seven celestial levels kept him safe. The wizards stood as the guards inspected each traveler and allowed passage. One, in linen shirt and leather pants with a sword on his hip, spoke companionably to the guard nearest him. The silk-swathed sorceress gazed down the street towards Alloran, or perhaps past him, with eyes that were yellow or purple, the mark of a woman of power. Easing back into the shadows slowly enough to avoid attracting attention, he headed to the square where Dek and the unfinished statue would be waiting. A peaceful lassitude crept over Alloran at the thought of the statue. Three months ago, the notion of hacking a statue out of a lump of rock would have been distasteful, to say the least. Now, the act of creation gave him a refuge that he couldn’t find anywhere else. Stripping off the cloak, he tramped through the back alleys, his boots squelching through something he didn’t care to examine too closely. Summer heat left the narrow streets ripe with the stench of rotting garbage. The muck would take weeks to clean from his boots, assuming he wouldn't have to traipse through the same decomposing food tomorrow. But he knew better. He heaved a sigh for the soft leather half-boots he’d favoured in another life. Of course, they’d be ruined even faster than the heavy work boots. Oh for a clean street. In the past, he’d waded knee-deep through any kind of muck as long as an answer lay on the other side. Two lives ago, that had been. Now, he did it in the hope of prolonging his pathetic existence one more day. A tangled pile of crates blocked most of the alley. When he squeezed between the stack and the alley wall, the splintered wood scratched the stiff canvas of his smock and snagged his stonemason’s mallet. It was impossible to avoid the rubbish piled between wall and crates, and he wrinkled his nose at the stench. If only he could take the main streets, kept clean by an army of royal sweepers, but they’d be watching for him there and at the gates. No one at the citadel would expect to find him in this stinking back alley. No, not him. Not the man of silks and velvets. As he slipped through the narrowest point, the crates shifted, allowing him a glimpse into the middle of the pile. An eye stared back at him. A fixed and glazed eye.

 

Ciara Ballintyne was born in 1981 in Sydney, Australia, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, one masochistic cat, and one cat with a god complex.

She holds degrees in law and accounting, and has been a practicing financial services lawyer since 2004. She is both an idealist and a cynic.

She started reading epic fantasy at the age of nine, when she kidnapped Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings from her father. Another two years passed before she began her first attempts at the craft of writing. Confronting the Demon is her debut book.

She enjoys horse-riding, and speculation about taking over the world. If she could choose to be anything it would be a dragon, but instead she shares more in common with Dr. Gregory House of House. M.D.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

a Rafflecopter giveaway    

The Finishing Fairies is hosting a full two-week virtual book tour for "Confronting the Demon" by Ciara Ballintye is now accepting tour hosts. We are looking for Reviews, Guest Posts, Interviews and a few limited special spots available.

The tour will be taking place on Monday through Friday; 12-3 through 12-13, just in time to fill those Christmas e-socks ;)

If you are interested in participating please GO HERE and FILL THE FORM.

Hosted By:

 

A Book Every Man Should Read - eLoves me eLoves Me Not by L.A. Johannesson

You know you've read a good book when it changes the way you look at the world. I don't think that was L.A. Johannesson's purpose for writing this book. In fact, I'm fairly certain I'm not even her target demographic. Nonetheless, I feel I am a slightly different person now that I've read this book.

SYNPOSIS

The synopsis is simple. Kayte is a successful business women married to her job rather than a man. She decides it's time to change that and, at the prodding of a friend, tries online dating. 

From this starting point, the novel takes on a journey of personal discovery as Kayte discovers what she wants and doesn't want in her life.

At it’s heart eLoves me Eloves me not is a simple “chick flick” in book form. Think of it like Bridget Jones Diary (one of my personal all-time favorites). 

A strong successful woman looking for love in all the wrong places discovers what is truly important in life and happens to find love along the way.

WHY IT WORKS

What eloves me, eloves me not does so well is put you completely in the mind of lead character Kayte. I felt I was inside a woman's mind. For that reason alone, this is a book every man should read.

Johannesson has a crystal-clear writing voice that helps the reader live inside Kayte's mind. There are no car chases nor are they any alien invasions. What rests at the center of eloves me, eloves me not is a journey to connect in a digital age. Kayte also learns online dating is not magic.  She comes to realize that the mystery of how we find the love of our lives remains that: a mystery. There is something beyond our control, an element that shows up with it is ready, not when it is summoned.

Kayte is a wonderful character, instantly likeable and relatable. She is a wizard at her job. She excels under pressure and helps others do the same. Her only issue in life is that she’s alone. She wants to have success in romance the way she’s had success in business. And that is actually the problem. She deals with finding a romantic partner the same way she deals with a business problem. She puts a plan in place and executes it. She tries to “fix” the problem of being single.

One of my favorite part is this section where she talks herself into an impossible relationship:

When I read this my first thought was “Dear lord, she’s insane.” Then I realized that, in my youth, I had similar delusions. Kayte's real growth starts when she realizes this.

How does it end? Read and find out.

THE AUTHOR

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet L.A. Johannesson. Months ago, while looking for an editor for Council of Peacocks, she popped out of nowhere. She offered affordable assistance and some wonderful insights that strengthened the novel considerably. We’ve communicated several times since then. I also met her in Toronto for Word on the Street (see video). She radiates warmth and joy like few people I’ve met, truly the sort of person I’d love to sit and have a glass (or two) of wine with.

LINKS:

L.A. Johannesson's Official Website
L.A. Johannesson on Goodreads
eLoves Me eLoves Me Not on Amazon.com
eLoves Me eLoves Me Not on Amazon.ca
eLoves Me eLoves Me Not on Amazon.co.uk

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Hope to Weary Horror Fans - The Shepherd by NY Times Best Selling Author Travis Luedke #asmsg

Travis Luedke's The Shepherd offers hope to horror fans weary of the pale, recycled horror populating the current market.

One of the coolest things as a reader is finding a new author and watching him grow. In the 80's, I was was lucky enough to discover Dean Koontz before he hit it big. I watched as he improved with each novel until he became the household name he is today.

I get the sense that Travis Luedke is on the same path.

The Shepherd is his newest novel and it is definitely his strongest. The plot is tightly woven, wasting no space on unnecessary filler.

The lead character, Mike Evans, has a crystal clear voice. Readers will get a sense of his personality from the first page. He's 16 from a less-than-ideal home who meets a mysterious young girl named Nadia who changes his life. There is more to Nadia than meets the eye. There is a twist in the middle which I won't spoil for you. Thankfully, unlike so many other writers, Luedke does not bash you over the head with clues. The secret is fun and completely obvious only upon reflection. Much like the twist in The Sixth Sense, I was expecting the story to go one way. Then it went somewhere completely different.

I couldn't be happier.


The Shepherd reminds me very much of a good Richard Laymon story. If you're a horror fan and not familiar with Richard Laymon, I strongly recommend you check him out.

Laymon was called "Stephen King without a conscious" (The Only Known TV Interview with Richard Laymon). Dean Koontz said of Laymon "No one writes like Laymon, and you're going to have a good time with anything he writes." When Richard Laymon was at his best, he mixed sexuality, tension, and the supernatural better than anyone else.

Travis Luedke is a fine successor to Laymon although he never devolves in to the pure pornography Laymon was prone to. Instead, he delivers one of the best horror novels in recent history.

This is Luedke's 5th published novel. If he continues to improve his craft at this pace, I'm very excited to see where he will take us in the future.

Link: Richard Laymon Official Website

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Echo's Song - Song Lyrics Based on a Character in Council of Peacocks by Aaron Gillis

I was able to coerce some good friends of mine, musicians, to write a song based on one of my favorite characters in my novel Council of Peacocks. They're still ironing out the music but I thought I would share the lyrics with you.

Working Title - Echo's Song

And it's hard to keep your head up
To keep your lips from trembling near the cup
To know that your love won't be returned
To live your life preparing to be burned

She thinks about when she was young
Slow of mind and quick of tongue
She should have known better than this
Life can't be based on a kiss

Chorus
Wishes are made on stars
And love is built on scars
Sometimes those stars are sateliites
Sometimes scars make love right

The places she's seen have changed her
And her memories become a blur
She's worried she remembers things wrong
The blurriness makes her feel less strong

Repeat Chorus

Bridge

Regrets come packaged with love
They are not something to be disposed of
They help make us the people we are
We need to accept the people we are

Repeat Chorus

Outro: Repeat X 8
Wishes made on satellites still make me feel alright

Copyright 2013 Aaron Gillis.
Follow him on twitter here: Aaron Gillis

In my dream cast of a movie, Emelia Clarke would play Echo. I would love to see her a bit more kick ass on Game of Thrones. I also think she's a much better brunette than a blonde. But what do I know.

Emelia Clarke

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Celebrating Small Victories: Council of Peacocks Free Oct 2-5 #kindle #freebook

Yesterday I received a wonderful surprise. A wonderful review that made me giddy from someone I didn't know.

Here's a summary of what she said.

"If the reader isn't willing to invest time and pay close attention to details, this probably isn't the tale for you. It is definitely your loss if you don't want to invest that initial bit of patience, because the book is definitely a winner once the pieces start to fall into place.

Joseph Murphy is an author worth watching. Council of Peacocks is an original story in a genre begging for a taste of originality. Murphy writes in a vein similar to the older works of Stephen King. His writing is intense, creative, and imaginative. It has themes of fantasy, horror, mystery, and romance all commingled in a delightful smorgasbord of literary genius."

For the full review click here: Review by Michelle S. Willms Sept 26, 2013
OR View the review on her blog

Who I envision playing Wisdom in the movie version of Council of Peacocks

To celebrate this awesome review and the end of enrollment in KDP Select, I'm making Council of Peacocks free for the rest of this week, from Oct 2-5.

If you've ever considered getting Council of Peacocks, now's the time. Grab a copy and, if you're so inclined, let me know what you think about it. Here's a sample of what others have said.

BLURBS

"Its X-MEN meets CLASH OF THE TITANS directed by Quentin Tarantino."

Travis Luedke, author of the Nightlife Series

"I can't wait for the next in the series."

Drako, author of the Dragon Hunter Series

"I found this book incredibly enjoyable, and having already read through it twice, I am still finding new areas to enjoy. In absolute honesty, I cannot wait for the second book to be released."

Louis K Writer, Blogger at Words of Wisdom

"The Council of Peacocks has it all, epic battles, conspiracy theories, romance, and a great story line. The first page will suck you into a complex and unpredictable, page-turning plot." Tiffany Huson

For more reviews check out Council of Peacocks on Goodreads.

Lastly, a huge thank you to everyone who has read and enjoyed the book. It means more to me than you'll ever know.

Joseph Murphy Oct 1, 2013

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

A Fallen Hero Rises - My Second Novel is Ready for Beta Reading

Today I finished the "last" of my revisions on my second novel,  A Fallen Hero Rises. Last is in quotations because I know there's lots of work ahead but there's nothing else I can do to improve it.

What it needs now is fresh eyes. So it's off to beta readers. After that, more revisions. After those revisions are made, it's off to an editor and a proofreader (two very different things).

This is the second book I've completed in less than a year. And I'm well on my way with my third book (the sequel to Council of Peacocks). My writing process is getting much faster, more efficient. There is no better way to improve your creativity than to keep creating.

I also have to work on the synopsis of A Fallen Hero Rises. In some ways, that's the most annoying part of the writing process. Trying to summarize an entire books in a few paragraphs does not come naturally to me.So, what you'll see below is my first attempt. I'm sure it will be updated.

SYNOPSIS - A FALLEN HERO RISES

Tadgh Dooley wakes up on the planet Maghe Sihre with no memory of how he got there. He’s wounded, near death, in the care of a monastic group called the Brotherhood of Tyche. But he has more than that to worry about. The way he came to Maghe Sihre created a crack in an interdimensional prison called the Void. And something fell out of the Void: a powerful artifact called The Sword of Kassandra.

Tadgh is also more powerful than he suspects. He is Fod Sel-Onde, born with the ability to warp the fabric of reality.  Every time he uses his ability, the Void cracks open further.  If it cracks too much, the prisoners will slip out.  The results could be catastrophic.

Can Tadgh gain control over his power before it's too late? And what does the appearance of the Sword of Kassandra mean for the people of Maghe Sihre?

A Fallen Hero Rises is written for high school age and above. Tadgh is gay. I mention that only because I know some people have issues. This is not a gay novel. It's a fantasy novel in which one of the characters just so happens to be gay.

Why did I include a gay character? My first thought is: that's a stupid question. Gay people exist in the real world. Why shouldn't they exist in fiction. Then I calm down and say he needs to be gay because it's important for the story I need to tell.

To quote one of my heroes, Jane Espenson:

Click here to pick up my first book, Council of Peacocks on Amazon.

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review: Deadly Election by Arthur Crandon is a Strong, Believable Novel

Deadly Election by Arthur Crandon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a perfect example of how a good rewrite can greatly improve a book.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. The first time through, however, I noticed very significant grammar errors and weaknesses in the plot. I informed the author of my concerns. To his credit, he said he'd heard similar critiques from others. He let me know he was in contact with an editor and would be reworking the novel.I told him I would reserve my review until after reading the new edition. I'm glad I did.

SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS

Three young and innocent youths awake one day in their remote village in the Northern Philippines. They could not know that the events of the day would change their lives, more than that - it would end their lives.

The day started well – breakfast, preparing for a fishing trip, the anticipation of an exciting day out – maybe with a good meal at the end of it. Along the way, they find a fortune - enough to keep them all in riches for many lifetimes.  Their naive misjudgments bring about their downfall – and start a chain of events that will change the course of history for the small South East Asian nation.

Within days, more lives will be lost and fortunes will change hands. A chain of consequences has been started which will spread like a spiders web and end in tragedy for many and triumph for a few

WHY IT WORKS

Deadly Election, in its current form, is a strong novel. It is based on real events and reads like non-fiction. That means it is very believable.

In the rewrite, the character of Chloe was greatly enhanced. She gives us a very human and relatively untainted view of this crime-filled, seedy world.

A word of caution: this is a very adult novel. There are graphic depictions of violence and violations.

IN CONCLUSION

I feel very privileged to have seen the novel in both iterations. If Arthur Crandon continues to grow like this, we can expect very good things from him in the future.

View all my reviews

Links:

Arthur Crandon on Twitter
Buy Deadly Election on Amazon

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review Black Hull - How to Completely Ruin a Book with Bad Dialogue

Black Hull by Joseph A. Turkot

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. I really wanted to like it. The cover was amazing. The book blurb about a man stuck on a ship being sucked into a black hole was fascinating.

Unfortunately, the book has almost nothing to do with the book blurb. That interesting lead in takes up less than a chapter before the book unravels in a random series of encounters that lead nowhere.

WHY I DIDN'T LIKE IT

My main critique of Black Hull is how it deals with dialogue. Many chapters have large, extended sections without a line of exposition, description, or dialogue markers. They are all dialogue. Not even a “he said”. This makes it very difficult for the reader to follow who is saying what. It also left me very unattached to the characters because it was difficult to create a visual image of them or the action.

For example:

Chapter 17

“At the T-Jump?”

“Yup.”

“How long?”

“Couple of days.”

“And how long after until you’ll reach Utopia?”

“I don’t know. Could be a month. I’ve got to stop off to do dad’s transfer.”

“Who’ll do that?”

“Cheapest? A droid on the West Rail Sector.”

This section goes on like this for several pages. What it’s missing is something to help the reader get a clear visual of who is saying what and what are they doing as they say it. Writers need to create a mental movie in the mind of the reader. This book fails to do that.

On a formatting note, there was no table of contents. This is a very helpful feature in ebooks and is an easy fix the author should consider.

IN CONCLUSION

I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, it would need a massive rewrite before I could give it anything but a one star.

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Ramping Up Tension - What I Learned from The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

RAMPING UP TENSION

I love thrillers. In preparing for a rewrite on my upcoming novel Beyond the Black Sea I'm surrounding myself with action-packed mysteries. 

I've watched the first 2 seasons of Homeland and the first 6 seasons of 24. Most recently, I finished reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. 

I want to learn the best (and the worst) ways to increase the "page turner" aspect of fiction.

WHAT WORKS IN THE LOST SYMBOL

The entire first act is wonderful. One of the easiest ways to increase tension is by creating deadlines. 

Dan Brown does in books what 24 does on television: everything happens in one day. There's also a real sense that there will be dire consequences if the hero doesn't move quickly enough. Reader feels like they are racing against the clock. 

This is very different than the sprawling epic fantasies of Tolkien, Jordan and Sanderson. Those stories take place over several weeks or months in dozens of different locations. Thrillers limit time and location.

Another easy way to ramp up tension is careful placement of your pauses. Breaking your chapters in the middle of action forces readers to move on to the next chapter. Make the end of each chapter a mini-cliffhanger to push the reader forward. Be cautious, however. Do this too often and you will exhaust your audience. Everyone needs a break once in a while.

What is a Cliffhanger

LINK: Examples of Effective Cliffhangers

Jack Bauer from 24

Another thing that works is the character of Robert Langdon. He is instantly likable. There are easy ways to make the reader relate to your character. One is making them very good at their job. Another is making them the victim of undeserved persecution. Dan Brown does both with Langdon. 

The CIA character Sato is completely unreasonable and out to get Langdon. This makes us hate her and cheer on Langdon. We want him to get away from her but Dan Brown doesn't make it easy.

The same thing happens in 24. Jack Bauer is likeable because he has the worst luck on the planet. The poor guy just can't catch a break. He's the best there is at what he does but the universe seems out to get him. 

WHAT DOESN'T WORK IN THE LOST SYMBOL

A few weeks ago I did one of those online surveys to determine which famous writer my prose is most like. It said I wrote like Dan Brown. I loved his first two books but never got around to the last two. I decided to check them out.

When I did, I realized I really DID write like Dan Brown. That includes all the things my editors and beta readers disliked. The Lost Symbol switches POVs constantly, sometimes in the middle of a scene. 

It reads like a novelization of a movie focusing more on the "scene" than characters. It helped me realize the downside of constantly changing POVs. I really didn't care about any of the characters. We never spend enough time with them to become interested. The only important thing is the story...which is a big no-no. I want to write character-driven stories. 

The ending was also a little flat. The big "reveal" of Mal'akh was a yawn. It was too obvious 1/2 way through the book who he was. If you want a believable, tense mystery you can't beat people over the head with sledgehammer-like clues. Even worse, when I learned the "secret" Mal'akh has been searching for, I wanted to throw my book. It was a complete let down after a very strong start.

WHAT I LEARNED

To ramp up the tension, use carefully placed breaks in the action. End chapters on small cliffhangers to push the reader forward.

Limit your scope. Keep time, location, and POVs limited to increase the sense of claustrophobia and intensity. Make your characters likable by making them good at what they do. Then put them in a situation in which they are unfairly treated, persecuted, or surround them with ever-increasing danger.

LINKS:

Three Key Questions to Ramp Up Your Story’s Mojo

Writing Tips - 3 Ways to Ramp Up the Tension in Your Writing

Transcripts - Writing Excuses 8.15: Narrative Rhythm (Transcript) which discusses Dan Brown

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review: The Nightlife: Paris & Why I Literally Screamed at the End

Synopsis (From Amazon)

Vampire master Michelle, and her slave, Aaron Pilan, leave the heartbreak of Vegas for a new start in Paris. 

Aaron’s mistakes in Vegas make him question everything he knows about Michelle, and the prospect of a long, lonely future with her.

Michelle answers his demands by opening her heart and soul to him. 

Their minds intertwine and Aaron relives her dark, gritty tale of survival in the ravages of war-torn Paris under the German occupation.

But they are not alone in Paris. An investigator has shadowed them from Vegas, seeking the unique gifts of Michelle’s blood. 

  
He hunts the vampires, attacking them at their most vulnerable time. Michelle and Aaron face death and worse – separation.

The Good

 Nightlife: Paris is the third book in a series focused on vampires Aaron Pilan and Michelle. It is, by far, the best written of the series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books. The third blew my mind.

It grabbed me from the first page. However, makes The Nightlife: Paris so engaging is the reveal of Michelle's back story. Luedke changes Point of View to first person. We see the world through Michelle's eyes as she meets the monster who turns her into a vampire. Her past mixes brutality and hope, violation and eroticism. We see Michelle's humanity and monstrosity. We pity her, cheer for her,and scream at her for bad decisions.

Hyperbole drives me mental. I hate reading reviews like "Best book ever written" and "Just as Good as Tolkien."  I don't believe them. However, I realized halfway through The Nightlife: Paris that this was indeed one of the best written vampire books I've ever read. I have no problem putting it side by side with Interview with a Vampire and I Am Legend. It truly is that good.

See Also: Review of Nightlife: New York and Nightlife: Las Vegas

The Bad

When I finished reading The Nightlife: Paris I LITERALLY screamed. I was having so much fun with the book I couldn't believe it was over. The new book is scheduled for release in September. That's too far away for my liking.

Conclusion

Buy this book and read it. Buy it now.


Links:
Buy The Nightlife: Paris on Amazon.ca or Amazon.com
The Nightlife: Paris on Goodreads
Travis Luedke on Smashwords
The Nightlife: Paris on the Sony Reader Store
The Nightlife: Paris on iTunes
The Nightlife Official Blog

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Writers and Mental Illness

For the past week my OCD has been completely out of control.

There are many sorts of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Mine, thankfully, is not focused on germs. I'm an organizer. I'm compelled to refold everything in the linen closet, straighten the fridge, recategorize my music collection, or alphabetize my library.

Once I start an activity, any activity, it is almost impossible for me to stop. This is wonderful when that activity is writing or editing. But last week I had nothing to focus on.

10 Celebrities Who Suffer from OCD

Without the "distraction" is writing, my compulsive behavior is focused on everything else. I

Megan Fox Reportedly Suffers from OCD

spent 10 hours working in Photoshop on a map for my next novel. Ten hours without so much as a washroom break. My hand seized several times. In fact, my muscles are still sore from it days later. The crazy reason why I didn't stop: a little voice in my head kept saying:

"What if you died tonight?  You can't leave this unfinished just in case."
I knew it was stupid. Completely irrational. I argued with my craziness saying "Stop after the water features are done." Then it got worse.

I turned to Netflix. I started Season 2 of the series 24 at 8:00 p.m. I didn't stop until 10:00 a.m. the next morning. I probably wouldn't have stopped then but my fiance gave me a look...so I napped for a few hours.

Compulsion isn't always a bad thing. Most of the time it actually works in my favor. I keep working on things long after everyone else would have stopped. It makes me a great employee and a very dedicated writer. I can spend hours writing or editing to get a scene just right. As long as I have a goal my compulsion doesn't get in the way of a normal, healthy life. Most of the time.

Dan Wells - Contributor to Writing Excuses

A few months ago I listened to a great podcast, Writing Excuses 8.8: Writing and Personal Health. All of the writers discussed their mental health issues. It helped me realize I wasn't alone. So what can I do about it? I refuse to take drugs to solve this type of problem. I think society in general is too over-drugged. I'm more in favor of cognitive retraining which is why I'm writing this post.

A few days ago I listened to a song on the radio: Who Can it Be Now by Men at Work. It got me really thinking about mental health. I come from a creative family who also have history of mental illness. My mother had paranoid delusions and frequently suffered from hallucinations. My father was diagnosed as bipolar with sociopathic tendencies years ago but, as far as I know, has never taken medication.

Maybe acknowledging and sharing my unhealthy behavior will help alleviate it.

Links:

List of Famous Authors with Mental Illness
Creativity 'closely entwined with mental illness'
Women Writers and their Mental Health
Writers Have Higher Risk of Mental Illness: Study
Dan Wells on Depression

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