Review of The Battle.

The Battle (The Four, Series) by

Margaret Millmore

Reviewed by R. Murry

If you like morphing of humans into werewolves and vampires feeding, then The Four, Series is for you.  Those readers who shun away from reading about hearts being extract from bodies and heads being ripped off humans and non-humans should jump right in and enjoy themselves.  The Battle is much more.

“…today will be the beginning of the end of mankind, as we know it…,” noted the leader of the Dark Ones, while in the middle of a predicament.  This is the underlining story of the novel.  Who will control the world – good or evil?

Yes, this theme will be used many times more, because of popular demand.  Ms. Millmore’s twist on this ancient story is well written using modern intelligence devices that make the story seem plausible.  Most of her characters are ageless with strength of a bodybuilder.  A few are intelligent humans who understand what would happen if evil prevailed and help in fighting The Battle.

The Battle is fought around the world.  However, ancient command posts are the center of concern for both sides.  A major part of the plot is that The Four and their comrades have never seen the leader of the Dark Ones or know of his whereabouts.  There are many sub plots that will entertain the reader – battles won and lost by the warriors on both sides of the line.

All in all, I had an enjoyable read for a non-believer.  If you are a believer, the series should be started with The Beginning, Book 1.  It’s fast pace and introduces you to The Four.  However, The Battle stands alone as a read.

If you’re a non-believer in this genre, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Margaret’s links are below in her interview:

Review of The Beginning

Margaret A. Millmore, 

Author of The Four Series – Books I through III: 

The Beginning – Book I

The Change – Book II

The Battle – Book III

Questions by Roy Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself? 

I’m a native Californian, and have lived in San Francisco since 1991 with my husband Bryan. I’m the author of 4 books; Doppelganger Experiment and Books I through III of The Four Series.

Were you inspired by someone or something? 

I take inspiration from everything I experience on a daily basis. However my early literary loves were CS Lewis, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King.

Can you tell us about your book?

The Four Series: They do exist and they always have. They live, love, and work among us and they are part of us. But they are different too, they are stronger and they live longer. They are the topic of many books, movies and myths, but their existence remains a secret, not everyone would accept them. And like us, they have those that are simply evil. Keeping these evil ones under control is the price they must pay to continue the lives they love. They must protect their human brethren from the Dark Ones, those that would rather kill than preserve.

Century after century the good battled the Dark Ones, always prevailing and preserving the lives of their beloved humans. In the 17^th century, two powerful Dark leaders emerged, they organized their forces and a bitter war ensued. It was a fight to the death and the good thought they’d won. Four warriors led the battle, four warriors whose strength was beyond anything they knew, four warriors whose legacy had to be protected…

The good formed a consortium and with the help of a powerful sorcerer, a spell was cast; a spell that would follow the warriors’ lineage in case their power was needed again. The warriors are long dead, but their heirs are not, and now they must fight. The Dark Ones have re-emerged, they are more powerful, more resourceful and they want to control mankind and the world.

The Beginning-Book I: Clare had an ideal life. She lived in the perfect little town, had a great family and four of the best friends in the world.  She also had nightmares, nightmares that plagued her for almost a decade. But these are not ordinary nightmares; they are premonitions, warnings of what is to come and what she will become.

She discovers that she isn't alone in these vile dreams; her friends are having them too. They are dreaming of their ancestors and their own future...  The discovery of their destiny and the future they must embrace is shocking and terrifying.

The Change-Book II:  Knowing that your life will change forever, that you will change forever is just part of what the Four must endure. Now they must leave their home and their families to journey to the fortress deep in the Tatra Mountains.  Clare, Sal, Sam, Collin and Kate will need to learn all they can to battle the Dark Ones and to survive the change and the inevitable loss of those they love. With the help of Charlie, the Elders and the community of vampires and werewolves throughout the world they hope to discover who is behind the Dark Ones and what their nefarious plans are for humanity.

The Battle-Book III: With the discovery of the Dark Ones’ leader and the powerful nature of his forces, the Four begin the battle they were destined for. They discover the full extent of their strengths and the strength of their vampire, werewolf and human brethren. But with each victory, they experience loss and although they may win the battle, the war would never be over.

What genre best fits for the book? 

The Four Series doesn’t exactly fall under one genre, initially it was a suspense/thriller, but because I do love vampires and werewolves, I decided to throw that in as well. It wasn’t my intention to make it suitable for young adults; however the series has appealed to both adults and young adults.

Are you working on something new at the moment? 

I’ve decided to try something new with The Four Series; I’d like to involve the readers in the creation of Book IV. I would love to hear what you, the reader, want to see happen in the next book. I’m holding a Reader’s Challenge which will run for the months of June and July 2013, submissions can be made via margaret@margaretmillmore.com – Every idea will be considered carefully and five winners will be chosen. Winners will be announced on September 10, 2013. Full details are available on my website at www.margaretmillmore.com

Where can people go to read your work? 

All of my work is available at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Millmore/e/B005ME8QTQ) as well as other major on-line retailers. For more information, visit: www.margaretmillmore.com

Do you have anything to add? 

I do hope you enjoy the series and would love to hear from the readers regarding their thoughts and ideas for continuation of the adventures of The Four.

Review of The Blues Detective

The Blues Detective

Written by Andrew Peters

Reviewed by R. Murry

“…Any Blues related problem in the City of Obesity ends up at my door.” Notes the Blues Detective in one of his crime breaking solutions to a case

that comes through his Memphis office door.  A musician by night and a sleuth by day is how it’s played in a southern tone – soft and mellow - cool.

His name is Otis King and he is a crime solver who is by far the most uncomplicated human to be a crime buster: he drinks; he eats; he fornicates; and he solves problems. Music is his passion and because of that he gets the coolest and strangest crimes to solve. Some of which are not crimes at all. They are just misunderstandings that this Welshman demurs over.

The Blues Detective cases are short but sweet.  Andrew’s writing keeps your attention and imagination in the game. He’ll use a short phrases like “I re-trouser.  I ask my questions.”  You laugh and understand what he meant by putting it at that precise moment.  His paragraphs are short and sometimes a word or two.  You'll get the meaning when Otis says “I open an eye.” and moves on to “A mistake.”

Mr. Peter’s Otis King is the person telling the collection of tales that will have you laughing and thinking – did he say that?  Unfortunately, there are only ten cases to be solved in this book.  I’ll keep it in my Kindle and I'll go back and read a case or two when I need a little fun time.

Andrew Peter’s off the wall interview is below.  Have some fun and read it too.

Where can people go to read Andrew's work?

I have about ten things available now, short story collections, novellas and novels and they can all be found on my Amazon author page.

http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Peters/e/B008PDVKBM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AndrewPeters/e/B008PDVKBM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1  

Interview with Andrew Peters

Interview with Andrew Peters

Author of The Blues Detective

Questions: R. Murry

Hello, Roy...nice to be here in your elegant, spacious home. Beer will be fine...maybe some nachos? Now, what can I tell you?

Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Much of it is classified, but I can give some details. I was born sometime last century to two members of the South Welsh nobility, but decided to renounce my title and make my own way in the world. I have worked unsuccessfully, as a banker, educator of juvenile criminals, agent of the Welsh Secret Service, guitarist and singer, and am currently jobless and penniless in a small Spanish village, where I am treated with kindness and pity.

Do you remember the first story you wrote?                                                          I I do, despite being drunk at the time. It was called first draft (no really) and I wrote it on June 26^th 2012

Were you inspired by someone or something?                                                   Red wine and an all-consuming hatred of my ex.

What do you like about writing a story?                                                         Mostly getting the chance to murder all the people I hate in nasty ways without incurring the displeasure of the police. And of course the many millions of dollars I am currently making from them

Can you tell us about your book?                                                                       The one featured here is “The Blues Detective” which was the first one I unleashed back in July. I'd originally planned to write a book of unrelated short stories, and the first story in this book would have been in there. I kept thinking of new ideas for this character, so he ended up in a book of his own. It's all about a Welsh Bluesman who arrives in Memphis to make it big. Sadly he only makes it small, so needs to works as a detective solving Blues-related cases.

Otis King is the name he uses, and he's pretty much the antidote to the tough guy PI, since he avoids trouble and hates violence. Rather like if Raymond Chandler's books had been written by Damon Runyon & PG Wodehouse … though not as good.

What genre best fits for the book?                                                                  Welsh noir-light Blues crime fiction humor

Are you working on something new at the moment?                                           Not at the moment...the voices in my head are silent. Perhaps they are waiting until Amazon sells all my existing stuff.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
Not really, I've only been writing stories for ten months, so it would be arrogant to start dispensing much advice. There's no shortage of it out there. Maybe improve your story-telling abilities, perhaps trying to writing a 500 page novel might not be your best option if you can't hold someone's interest for 5 minutes with a story in a bar.

Where can people go to read your work?
I have about ten things available now, short story collections, novellas and novels and they can all be found on my Amazon author page.

http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Peters/e/B008PDVKBM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AndrewPeters/e/B008PDVKBM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Do you have anything to add?
Apart from begging people to buy all my stories immediately.  Just that I have enjoyed your hospitality...thanks for inviting me round. Sorry about the mess.

Review of The Hand of Yemanja

Review of The Hand of Yemanja

Written by Claudio Tapia

Reviewed by R. Murry

Today is Mother’s Day 2013 in America and the novel I just finished was about the migration of a strong woman, someone’s mother, to the Americas.  The fate that she traveled to by leaving her identity behind in Europe is the crux of this character driven novel by Claudio Tapia, a migrant himself.

Lydia, just Lydia, a single woman, travels into the unknown. She, like many adventures going west to find one’s fortune, encounters events that bring out her real character.  This innate being that was there but was not tested because of a shelter background – being a woman in a man’s European world in the 1900s.

Although this is fiction, well written I might add, Lydia's character is made real by the detailed way Claudio presents her side of the equation of the novel’s events of arriving in a strange country, that she is looking forward to.  The arrival sets the tone of this unpredictable story.  People are met in the first encounters on ship and upon docking that change Lydia’s life and others near her for every.

Lydia is redefining herself and the young native girl she takes under her wing when arriving in America.  Their relationship is intertwined - Lydia being the saint and Edmilce the follower.  Their relationship comes together because of a man and ends that way.  Not because they are both in love with him, Paxi, but because fate deemed it that way.  And no one runs from fate.

There is much going on with the three main characters. It would be unkind of me to not let the reader enjoy this adventure on his own by giving out details.

Mr. Claudio Tapia has presented his case for the historical novel with a colorful geographical background to boot.  He has written a book to enjoy because of its flawed characters that come alive on the written page and an adventure that is also plausible.

Claudio's interview and links are below: http://
bit.ly/1oDEfUE

Interview with Claudio Tapia

Interview with Claudio Tapia                               

Author of The Hand of Yemanja

Questions by R. Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I was born in Chile but exiled with my family after the coup in 1973. I was raised in the Netherlands and in the United States. Although I live in Amsterdam at the moment – and consider myself to be Dutch in many ways, I could just as easily call myself Chilean or American. That I write in English is due only to the fact that I developed these skills whilst living in the US. Other than that, I’d like to see myself as something of ‘world-citizen’

Do you remember the first story you wrote?

As a teenager in Texas, in the mid-eighties, I was playing in bands and I began to experiment with poetry and song writing. You could say that the first time I felt the need to communicate anything to the outside world; it was in the form of a song.

During this same period, something significant happened in my life – nothing too heavy - but it required me to reflect a lot. That’s when for the first time I planted myself behind my father’s typewriter to fictionalize my situation in order to make sense of it. I kept at it day and night for three months!

Were you inspired by someone or something?

This event in my life made me realise that writing was something I had in me and that it would develop into something important – and that eventually I would write a book.

I have always liked reading, but it wasn’t until I read Henry Miller in my mid-teens that I really began to see it as an art, a very powerful thing.

What do you like about writing a story?

It is the art of lying! You first find a way to transport yourself to an imaginary place and then you realize – or should realize – that you are able to pull others to it as well.

Can you tell us about your book?

Not long after the turn of the twentieth century, a child, my father’s grandmother, travelled from Italy to South America, a part of the biggest migration to the Americas the world had ever seen. For some reason, very little is known about this lady and whom I can only remember from the time I was a small child myself. From family I did learn she had become a midwife at some point, played some on the stock market and ended up leaving a modest fortune at the time of her death in the early seventies. This provided me with the basis and the opportunity to let fiction take over. And the fact that there is no one in the family, furthermore, who can really explain to me how she exactly managed to accumulate all the assets she left behind, was ultimately the void that got filled by this book.

What genre best fits for the book?

Historical fiction – though in no way I would consider it to be a historical document. I would rather label it as a character-driven novel set in a specific period in history.

Are you working on something new at the moment?

I just signed up with a literary agent that will start promoting the book into different markets to sell the translation rights. The idea is to have the sequel finished by the fall of 2014.

Last year I won a prize at the Amsterdam Film Institute and Museum with an experiment, in which I combined my narrated work with music and (lost) archive film footage. This put me on path of ‘Lit-Cinema’, which I am now expanding and developing and will sometime in the future I hope will become a new literary form or product - be made available via mobile apps.

You can find the Lit-Cinema series from the book on my website; http://claudiotapia.com/lit-cinema/

and samples of other work on YouTube;

http://www.youtube.com/user/claudiotapiafiction

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

You know you are a writer, because writing has always been there, pulling at you. One day you may feel like there is a book missing on your shelve and there is nothing on Amazon either, which you care to really invest in. That’s the moment you will have a DUTY - to write THAT book. It will need to be written, regardless whether it ever gets published or if anyone ever reads it even.

Be your own audience, and if what you’ve written is worth reading, it will find its way.

Don’t panic, just keep writing.

Where can people go to read your work?

The Hand of Yemanja is available via all on-line retailers, like Amazon.com, Smashwords.com and Barnes and Noble. You can also get them at www.blackrosewriting.com.

Do you have anything to add?

I believe that these are exciting times. New technology has brought great new opportunities - for writers and publishers alike.

Enjoy!

Review of The Fall of the Empire

Review of

The Fall of the Empire                 

Written by

Zoe Saadia

Reviewed by R. Murry

Most of my readers know that I’m an ex-Green Beret and have been exposed to unconventional warfare and hand-hand combat.  Where Ms. Saadia acquired this information, only she knows.  She did her research, and her battle scenes come alive on the written page.  One of the Warlords is praised for his unusual way of setting up a fight that will commence in an unconventional way, leading to many victories.  

However, the story is not about warfare – its backdrop.   It’s about people, trying to stay alive in the turmoil they had no control over. A young lady of sixteen wants to avenge the death of her family and is in the process of solving it when interrupted by force bigger than her.

A young trader, who has feelings for the slave girl, is put in a position where his allegiance is opposite to that of the girl unbeknown to him.  Each becomes spies for opposing the army of warriors.  This is what propels the story forward.

Battles are fought hand to hand.  The firm with moral purpose survives in the story.  They believe that the gods are helping them, but it’s their inner strength that moves them forward.  Zoe’s has written characters who show their feelings on their sleeve so to speak.

Zoe’s young lady is the strongest of all the characters with a moral goal.  Her strength is noticed by an invading Warlord who helps her to move towards her goal to the point that he is in awe of her uncommon beauty with physical and inner strength. He noticed that she is not a slave and he was right.  You’ll have to read the book to see what she really is.

Zoe Saadia prose is well written and will keep you wanting to know – What next?  It’s a delightful tale.  Something you shouldn’t miss.

Purchase at: http://
amzn.to/1mQr4N2

http://http://amzn.to/1mQr4N2