The Synopsis: It is October 1885, and Marie Maecott seems to be the only one who knows what has happened to her daughter, Celeste. She is angry that no one else understands her daughter’s condition, as any mother would be. Then one chill night, groundskeeper for Heathridge Cemetery, Jacob Willis, tells her a dark secret in his family’s past that just may hold the key to her problem.
Marie will need to set off on a journey to find out–one in which she will discover terrible parts of herself–parts that would have been better off left buried. And some are going to find out the truth of the timeless adage: it is best not to come between a mother and her child.
The Review: Sleeping Celeste is a brisk gothic horror tale that’s firmly focused on blind obsession. The main character, Marie (whom we follow through six chapters, each sporting a date as their title, and trough her first-person narrative), is absolutely devastated after the loss of her four-year-old daughter, Celeste. However, while Celeste appears to all to have died, Marie is convinced – absolutely dead certain – that the girl has simply fallen into a deep sleep and won’t even stop to entertain the idea that she’s anything other than stubborn. Much of Marie’s refusal to accept Celeste’s obvious condition stems from guilt; a twisted, shocking guilt that turns the entire tale on its head and really goes a long way in showing just how depraved Marie is regarding her daughter. Marie is driven to near madness at the thought of Celeste being buried under the ground so her dutiful and devoted husband, John, arranges to have the girl displayed above ground in a special sarcophagus, one that contains a little window so Marie can gaze upon and touch her daughter’s face day after day.
In time, Marie’s obsession only grows. She stays with Celeste around the clock, waiting for the day when she will surely awaken, and reminiscences about her childhood, one that saw Marie watch over her daughter like a hawk and go to questionable lengths to placate the girl when Marie was indulging her vices with a local dreamboat. It’s during her nightly vigils over Celeste that Marie meets Jacob Willis, the resident groundskeeper, who tells her a terrifying story of his Aunt Tress, a witch-like pariah who may hold the key to awakening Celeste through her black magic. Marie is unperturbed by Jacob’s horrific stories of mewling, zombie-like cats since she’s certain Celeste will retain her true personality since she’s not really dead; all Marie needs is a suitable sacrifice, a morbid incantation, and the will to try and awaken her beloved daughter.
I absolutely loved this book. It’s like Pet Sematary (King, 1983) meets Edgar Allan Poe! The way the author constructs her language and descriptions, using archaic inflections and capturing the mood of the era, is admirable and I loved how short and sharp the tale was. It was such an enjoyable read and the author does a fantastic job of making you sympathise with Marie and then begin to question her sanity, before turning her into a tragic figure who’s turned to deception and murder to reunite with her daughter. Marie’s grief is palpable; she’s so tormented that she eats dirt, wishes to kill herself, and is later haunted by visions and nightmares that reflect both her guilt and her heinous actions. Marie’s fascination with Celeste speaks to the blinkered tragedy of losing a loved one; Marie will do anything, brave any danger, for a way to awaken her but cannot entertain the thought that her daughter is dead because to admit that would be to admit her culpability, and this is all wonderfully realised in the shocking and gory ending!
My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Great Stuff
If you’re interested in checking out Sleeping Celeste, and to learn more about Alana K. Drex and her journey as an author, visit the links at the top of the page.
The Synopsis: Following the drastic events of The Blood of the Lion, the dark and thought-provoking epic high fantasy continues with more world building and far more magic. War is on the horizon and a new empire is rising.
King Morei made the ultimate sacrifice to win the battle against Diemon, but the consequences are more than he is prepared for. A plague has struck the city of Geral, but its cause is diabolical, and the consequences are devastating. The citizens are desperate for an answer, but when rumors ensnare Morei in the cause for the city’s downfall, the king’s control slips further.
Syra has one goal: to reach the Infernol, a secret organization committed to preparing the Vorelians against the resurrection of the Lirallian Empire, once ruled by the most powerful Energy Harvester in history, capable of manipulating volatile forces. But destiny has other plans and Syra must face the truth of her heritage, even if it costs her everything.
Across the Ashen Sea, Cyrus finds himself in East Razan, the ancient city of Eiyrặl. He’s promised answers by the king himself, but curiosity forces Cyrus to question what he is told. What he finds will force him to make a choice: become the Dragon Rider he is destined to be or continue to run.
The Gods are growing restless…and the dead will rise.
The Review: As you can probably guess from the title, The Mark of the Damned is the second in C.D. McKenna’s high fantasy epic, The Vorelian Saga. If you haven’t read the first book, The Blood of the Lion, then you absolutely should as it’s quite the thrilling fantasy piece and basically every character, event, and plot point of The Mark of the Damned builds upon what happened in the first book and directly references it. While the book doesn’t contain a dedicated opening chapter to catch new readers up on the first book, the omniscient narrator and the characters recap key events throughout the story, especially in catching others up with what happened and explaining how they got to where they are, so I’d say it’s conceivable that you could start here if you wanted to but you’d be missing out on a really good fantasy story if you did that. I’ve read a fair number of indie books and C.D. McKenna is easily the most impressive in terms of her scope, enthusiasm, and presentation; like its predecessor, The Mark of the Damned features gorgeous artwork, an absolutely stunning hardback edition, and is bolstered by maps of the fictional regions of Sorréle, Diyrặ, and Eiyrặl, which is frankly above and beyond the call of duty for an indie publication. The Mark of the Damned also includes a helpful addendum that explains certain terms used in the book to help readers pronounce the name and learn more about the locations, Gods, and mythology of The Vorelian Saga, which is a fantastic addition.
If you’re a fan of epic, high fantasy books then you’re in for a treat here! The Mark of the Damned is split into two distinct parts and clocks in at around thirty titled chapters, which is already massively impressive. Luckily, the chapters are very easy to digest and, as much as it’s a cliché to say, the book is a real page turner; at no point was I bored and finding myself getting lost or frustrated or confused and this is a big deal for me when it comes to fantasy. The author continues to do a wonderful job of fleshing out this fictional fantasy world, touching upon terms and mythology and describing locations in a concise and imaginative way. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, this is a world that has “moved on” somewhat; magic, to use layman’s terms, exists but is sporadic, harnessed only by those who are particularly attuned to different elemental and supernatural “energy”, and the world is largely comprised of God-fearing people. Our three main characters are all able to manipulate energy in some way, but they’re either poorly trained, confused by it, or on the precipice of being consumed by it; they’re also all largely agnostic or have reason to curse the Gods and each discovers throughout this story that the Gods are not only real, but are playing an active role in shaping their destinies. Indeed, while the book skips over a central battle that ended the first book and reflects on the ramifications this has on the troubled “Demon King” Morei, there’s a definite sense that a larger conflict is looming, one which the three main characters will play a central role, and the focus of The Mark of the Damned is exploring how the characters react to being swept up by their unavoidable fates.
As ever, we follow three main characters: the aforementioned Demon King, Morei; the Dragon Rider, Cyrus, and his trusty winged companion Sozar; and Syra, a young woman cursed to defend the legendary “Demon Killer” blade. Each are compelling in their own right and embark on entirely separate adventures in this book; their quest lines converge in a thematic and tangential way, but they’re not directly interacting with each other just yet as it’s clear that the author is building towards a dramatic conflict between the three. Cyrus still edges the other two out as my favourite; a loner by nature, persecuted for his silver eyes and unique bond with Sozar, he flees to a new land in search of answers to his heritage and finds himself the guest of King Kyllian. The kingdom of Razan are in awe of him and his dragon and treat him as a treasured guest, but not only does this make Cyrus almost as uncomfortable as his self-imposed isolation, there are strange things afoot in Razan. Cyrus finds his welcome strained when he becomes close to Kyllian’s daughter, Princess Zorya, an outspoken young woman who is torn between her duties to her father and kingdom and wanting a life of her own where she’s not forced to marry some dimwit prince. A natural recluse and wary of strangers, Cyrus is immensely uncomfortable in Razan and his suspicions that Kyllian is hiding things from him about his past and his people only increase as his story progresses, leading to some startling revelations and him having to choose between a life on the run, hounded by all, or living up to his stature as a Dragon Rider. As much as I enjoyed Cyrus’s arc, I was a little disappointed by how little Sozar factors into this story; the dragon spends almost the entirety of the book resting in the courtyard and conversing telepathically with Cyrus rather than taking an active role, but that’s just a me thing as a big dragon fan and I still really enjoyed their relationship and trust in one another.
Like Cyrus, Syra is also on the run; she really went through an ordeal in the last book, being betrayed and watching those closest to her die, so she’s naturally quite guilt-ridden and burdened by her losses, similar to Cyrus. Syra is surrounded by a handful of allies who assist her, though she constantly fears for their safety and keeps them at arm’s length to avoid hurting them by association. Her paranoia is only exacerbated when her party is joined by Zarek, one of the mysterious and semi-supernatural Guardians of Death, an order who assisted and then betrayed Syra in the last book and who are duty-bound to protect her since her destiny is irrevocably tied to their home, the chaotic “Soul Realm”. While Cyrus is inclined to run away from his destiny, Syra actively denies and decries it; she feels an immense sense of obligation to safeguard the legendary Demon Killer but is constantly cursing the Gods for putting such a burden on her. Her only choice in this second book is the stay on the move and under the radar to avoid attention, but she cannot outrun the gaze of the malevolent Dark God Sekar. Sekar was an ominous and elusive figure in the first book but steps to the forefront here, especially in his interactions with Syra that not only fundamentally change her forever but also reveal him to be a complex individual. Until now, we’ve only heard his name being cursed, his image being stricken from idols of the Gods, but here we learn a lot about him from his own mouth and see that he’s as much a victim as any of the other characters. It’s fascinating stuff and adds to Syra’s harrowing arc in this book; Zarek is unrelenting in his training of her, and she really has to go through a lot of physical, mental, and emotional abuse to prepare her for her greater destiny as the fabled “Light Bringer”.
Sekar’s influence also extends to Morei, my second favourite of the main characters. Morei was already regarded with fear and suspicion after murdering his parents but the kingdom of Geral are even more suspicious of him after he gives in to his destructive “Dark Energy” to defend the city and then a deadly plague, Cu’cel, sweeps through Geral, afflicting and killing countless people. Even Morei is infected, which doesn’t help his standing, and he’s both distraught and enraged to find that the people he’s fought so hard to protect regard him as nothing more than a monster. Morei’s story is mainly centred on him desperately studying old texts to find a cure for the plague and win back the favour of his people, his passionate and tumultuous relationship with Queen Emerald, and him being forced to name a successor and step into a background role so that Geral has a hope of surviving. There’s a real sense that Morei genuinely cares for his people; he goes out amongst them, is deeply pained by their suffering, and is willing to step aside from an official position all to keep them safe and is constantly infuriated by the way his council treats him and that people always assume the worst of him. There is precedent to this, however; while Morei is a complex character who resists his dark temptations as much as possible, his rage is legendary and he is often cold and threatening towards even his closest allies if it means shielding them from harm or if they question his power. Morei is easily the most conflicted and volatile of the three characters and the nexus point through which they’re all connected as he met Cyrus once and regrets treating him so badly and learns of Syra and the blade she carries, which I’m sure will be important in a future story. He’s the living embodiment of a scapegoat for his people, who blame every atrocity on him not matter what he does, yet he does everything he can to see Geral prosper, even if it means unleashing his destructive Dark Energy and inherent bloodlust. While Morei doesn’t leave the confines of Geral, his surroundings are noticeably different thanks to the plague and his descent into darkness is a crucial element of the book; the author is going to great lengths to humanise and justify Morei’s turn to the dark for a greater purpose, I’m sure, and it’s really engaging seeing him walk this fine line between politics and outright tyranny.
The Mark of the Damned really is an epic, sprawling tale and yet the writing is so crisp and so refined that it never feels overwhelming. This is a very character-driven story; there are sporadic bursts of action, gore, and spicy sexual encounters throughout the book but it’s very much focused on expanding upon the three main characters and edging them closer towards their seemingly preordained fates. In this regard, it’s not necessarily bigger than the last book (though the author does expand the lore out to encompass new lands and people) or more action-packed, but instead maintains the same commitment to character, plot, and lore building. There’s so much that is touched upon and not dwelled on, creating a sense of mystery and sowing the seeds for future stories, and other elements that are told to us but through unreliable perspectives. Stories of the Soul Realm, Sekar’s narrative, even the tales spun by Kyllian are all largely subjective and this perfectly ties into the book’s themes of trust and fate. Each character shares a lot of similarities, more than they would care to admit, but has vastly different core personalities that make their chapters distinct and engaging in their own way while still tying into the overall enjoyment of the plot. Make no mistake about it, this is a hell of a tome but don’t be intimidated; C.D. McKenna is a beautiful wordsmith and I was engaged with the story from page one so I would absolutely recommend stepping back into the world of The Vorelian Saga and strapping in for an epic ride!
My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Fantastic
If you’re interested in checking out The Mark of the Damned: The Vorelian Saga #2, and to learn more about C.D. McKenna and her journey as an author, visit the links at the top of the page.
1. First, introduce yourself a bit. What is your name (or pen name) and where are you from?
My name is Miranda Armstadt. I was born a US citizen in Europe, when my father was with the US State Department, and primarily grew up in New York City, but I’ve lived all over the US.
2.Next, tell us a bit about your most recent work. Is this your first published book? What is it about and what genre would you classify it as?
My debut (and currently only published) novel is Cut Back to Life —it’s Romantic Suspense/Contemporary Romance, with a very adult twist. It follows a celebrated L.A. neurosurgeon and an A-list actress whose long Hollywood career has just about peaked. They meet when she requires back surgery, and a dark tale of her past unfolds along with their relationship.
3. Tell us a bit about your main character; what are they like, how did they come about, and what are some of their strengths and weaknesses?
The two protagonists are Anna Porter, the movie star, and Dr. Mark Scofield, a revered neurosurgeon who has many of Hollywood’s elite as his patients. We also have the antagonist, Roger Niles, a British personal trainer with a very dark side, who is Anna’s live-in boyfriend/trainer as the story begins.
Anna is a survivor, first and foremost. She has defied all odds to become a star and remain at the top of the Hollywood food chain for five decades. She is also quite fragile—both emotionally and physically—and we find out more about that as the story progresses.
Mark Scofield is a very disciplined, talented surgeon. He’s never rocked the boat or defied society’s rules—until Anna Porter shakes his world to its core. He comes from a very staid background, and now, late in life, has to decide if he wants to remain on the straight and narrow path, or find his personal joy. There’s a lot at stake for him in making this decision.
Roger Niles has also survived a tough and lonely childhood. Being a trainer, he’s very buff and good-looking and has learned to take advantage of his clients’ insecurities. But his own inner demons will meet him head-on as the story progresses.
4. What was your hardest scene to write in this (or any) book?
I don’t want to give away the plot, so I won’t say. But because we are dealing with complex characters and their difficult backgrounds, a lot of painful situations come to light as these three find their lives entangled.
5.Did you go the traditional route when publishing your book or did you choose to self-publish?
I self-published Cut Back to Life.
6. What would you say is the most difficult part of your writing journey and what advice would you give to other writers?
For me, reviewing the final proofs of the formatted galley were excruciating, and I worked as a news editor and am used to paying attention to detail. But knowing this was it and that any mistakes overlooked would be there forever, that’s a lot of pressure, and you are looking at minutiae ad nauseum.
As far as advice: you have to want to do it for yourself. Not for money or glory or fame. If those things come, fantastic. But it’s like show business (which I also have a background in): maybe one percent reach those heights. Write because you have a story you want to tell, and then tell it the best way you know how.
7. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I am now at work on my second novel—it’s historical fiction, so not even remotely related to my first novel. I don’t preclude the possibility of doing connected works down the line, but not at this time.
8. Who are some of your favourite authors, what are some of your favourite books, and what inspired you to become a writer in the first place?
I was raised largely on classics, from Shakespeare to Tolstoy to Austen and Dickens (who all certainly rank among my favorites). Although I always wrote, I never saw myself as a fiction writer. I was a news editor for many years. Cut Back to Life was inspired by a major personal life event, and now fiction writing is my full-time career.
9. What would you say has been the best way to market your books?
I don’t think there is one way to market. It’s very competitive out there now—more so than at any time in history—so you need to be creative, multi-pronged, assiduous, patient, and mostly: realistic.
10.Are there any tropes, clichés, or writing styles that you dislike and, if so, what are they and why?
I am not a fan of rules of writing, other than to use grammar correctly, unless it’s dialogue or perspective of a character in your story who you consciously create with a particular regional, educational, or cultural articulation.
11. Do you read reviews of your book and, if so, how do you handle negative feedback?
I have read my reviews, yes. And overall, they’ve been four and five stars. But I don’t think reviews, and the way in which Amazon’s policy allows for “ratings” without reviews, are reflective of the writer’s work. Neither good nor bad reviews are the absolute truth. So honestly, you have to take it all with a grain of salt, in my opinion.
12. What are some of your quirks as a writer? Do you like to plot everything out or do you prefer to just “wing it” and see where the story takes you? Do you listen to music when writing and, if so, what do you listen to?
I am, it seems, a rare writer who likes to create in absolute silence. I don’t like any distractions when I am writing, so no music. As far as plotting vs. pantsing (as they call it, namely, winging it): to me, it’s like a road trip. Have some hotel reservations and destinations mapped out, but don’t be afraid to go off-road or change directions as you travel. With a major epic novel like the one I am now in my fourth year of researching and writing, you can be sure there have been many changes along the way. All for the better, I hope.
13. What is the best advice you’ve ever had when it comes to writing and what advice would you give to new writers?
Writing is like singing: you need to have an inner ear for it. To how words flow, to phrasing, to storyline, all of it. If you are entirely dependent on outside feedback as to whether or not your story or writing is “good,” in my mind, anyway, you are in the wrong line of work. Writing is a very solitary profession. Of course, we all need constructive criticism and input. But you also need to know when not to look for input.
14. What’s next for you? Are you currently working on any new books or stories?
Yes, as I mentioned earlier, I am now working on a historical fiction novel. It’s a World War II/Cold War thriller, based loosely on my father’s time with the US State Department in Central Europe during the early to mid-1950s. But it’s about much more than espionage and intelligence. It spans a century of a Jewish-American family’s secrets and struggles, which come to light when a third-generation newscaster discovers many things she never knew about her predecessors.
15. Finally, feel free to plug your social media, website, and links to Amazon, GoodReads, and other relevant sites below, and detail any current offers available for your book/s:
Bert S. Lechner, author of the The Roots Grow Into the Earth stories
– First, introduce yourself a bit. What is your name (or pen name) and where are you from?
Hi! My name is Bert S. Lechner and I’m a cosmic horror author on the autism spectrum from the Bay Area, CA.
–Next, tell us a bit about your most recent work. Is this your first published book? What is it about and what genre would you classify it as?
My most recent book is a cosmic horror novelette, Joanne’s Vault. It’s the third book in my series of cosmic horror stories, The Roots Grow Into the Earth, all set in a shared universe of dark magic and cosmic nightmares. Joanne’s Vault is about the protector of a vault of occult items, hidden away for the safety of others. Faced with a malicious presence in the dark of night she finds herself in a position where she must come to terms with the monster she harbors within herself, bound in enchanted tattoos, in order to save herself and the innocents brought into the crossfire.
– What was your hardest scene to write in this (or any) book?
The hardest scene for me to write so far in any book has been the ending of my first book, Interstate. It was a culminating moment in the book, a major reveal, and, most of all, a painful moment for the protagonist that I really did not want to put down on paper.
– Did you go the traditional route when publishing your book or did you choose to self-publish?
I chose to self publish my work! It’s been a fulfilling adventure to learn how to publish and market my work, even if it’s been an incredible challenge.
– What would you say is the most difficult part of your writing journey and what advice would you give to other writers?
The most difficult part of my journey to become an author has been my experience as a survivor of domestic abuse and the challenges of recovering from the trauma that abuse brings with it. My dream of writing as a career was something my abuser dismissed, belittled, and shot down early on in our relationship, demanding instead that I take on work that would pay enough for her to pursue her own artistic endeavors. Experiencing this early discouragement, and the continuing abuse I experienced, very much killed my desire to write or be a writer for a long time. After the relationship ended it took a long period of recovery to build my writing back up. Despite the challenge, pulling myself through that difficult time has ended up becoming a source of strength for me and has very much forged me into the author I am today.
From this experience I think the best advice to aspiring writers I can give is this: don’t let someone tell you you can’t be an author. Don’t let someone use pessimistic odds of success to discourage you. Don’t let someone say you’ve got to stick to writing as a hobby if your ambition tells you you want more than that. If writing is something that sets your core alight with inspiration and joy, and you find yourself with an opportunity to strike forth and put your art out in front of the world, give it a try.
– Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
My series, The Roots Grow Into the Earth, is my first foray into a larger universe that I’ve been developing for nearly 20 years. I have so many stories to tell from this setting, and many of the characters I’ve written about so far are characters I want to explore further in other short stories and novels.
– Who are some of your favourite authors, what are some of your favourite books, and what inspired you to become a writer in the first place?
Stephen King is a huge inspiration for how and what I write, as is Neil Gaiman. HP Lovecraft’s works have also had an influence on the kind of horror I pursue, but he’s not an author that I look up to. It’s hard to pick a favorite book, but among my favorites are the Dark Tower series, Salem’s Lot, Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarilion.
As for what inspired me to write in the first place, I can’t really place it. I’ve consistently had a vibrant sense of creativity throughout my, and after pursuing other forms of art that didn’t quite click I sort of just fell into putting my imagination onto paper and found out that I liked it.
– What would you say has been the best way to market your books?
Instagram has been great for finding readers and spreading the word. I also use Reddit, Tumbr, Facebook and Discord servers as places to talk about my work. From my minimal experience as a marketer it seems two good practices include casting your promotions across a wide net of social media networks and having an awareness of what keywords are most likely to get your work in front of an audience that will love it.
– Do you read reviews of your book and, if so, how do you handle negative feedback?
I still have only a small number of reviews, but the review I appreciate the most has been the one for my book The Wall, which included constructive criticism of some grammar challenges I’ve run into.
– What are some of your quirks as a writer? Do you like to plot everything out or do you prefer to just “wing it” and see where the story takes you? Do you listen to music when writing and, if so, what do you listen to?
I spend a lot of time running through sentences in my head, working them over like dough to find the right way to get the sort of prose I prefer. A lot of my stories start out as titles, or single thoughts that sound cool. Joanne’s Vault was inspired by a dream, as is another story in my todo list. I do have a hard time with outlines, though, so most of my work is absolutely written by winging it and seeing where it ends up.
– What is the best advice you’ve ever had when it comes to writing and what advice would you give to new writers?
It’s been said by many people many times, but the first big piece of advice I can give is to just write if you want to write: even if it’s just one sentence a day, getting that habit started is the best thing you can do to unleash your own avalanche of creativity.
– What’s next for you? Are you currently working on any new books or stories?
I have a wealth of ideas for what to write, but for now I’m focusing on finishing the stories that will comprise my current series in progress. For The Roots Grow Into the Earth, I have three more novelette length stories planned. I’m hoping to have a paperback collection out in October which contains my existing works, the planned novelettes, and a few bonus smaller stories.
– Finally, feel free to plug your social media, website, and links to Amazon, GoodReads, and other relevant sites below, and detail any current offers available for your book/s:
The Synopsis: When Harry Peck kills a chicken, he never expects the scratching under the floorboards. Or the awful clucking coming from the darkness. As the haunting gets worse, it becomes clear what the chicken wants. It wants Harry dead. It wants his soul.
Can the mysterious Vegan Shaman save Harry? Or will his soul be devoured like … well, chicken?
The Review: The Haunting of Harry Peck is a brisk horror novella that jumps between the present day, where we follow the titular Harry Peck, and numerous events in the past that are the subject on ongoing superstition and debate, such as the mysterious event at Roanoke that left a colony devoid of life with only the word “Croatoan” left behind, the legendary demon barber of Fleet Street, and even Australia’s Great Emu War. If, like me, you have very little or perhaps no knowledge of these strange events, don’t worry; the writer does a great job of setting the stage, letting you get to know a few key characters, and then going absolutely bonkers with the book’s primary theme of animals returning from the grave for vengeance. This is the situation poor Harry Peck finds himself in; encouraged by his Uncle John to “man up” and take the life of a random, innocent chicken, Harry finds himself immediately haunted by the fowl’s vengeful spirit in a series of ghastly happenings that really give the story a bizarre edge. A masterful balance of comedy, horror, and homage to horror films, the chicken’s ruthless spirit is a combination of a spirit, wraith, and poltergeist (or should that be “poultry-geist”?), emerging from walls, televisions, targeting Harry’s crotch whenever it bursts to unlife, and leaving him frantic for any kind of solution.
Harry’s first thought is to turn to veganism to try and appease the spirit, but when this fails he’s forced to put his faith in the mysterious “Vegan Shaman”, an enigmatic man with experience of similar hauntings who forms a fast bond with the unfortunate Harry and leads him on a journey of self-discovery and resolution to his torment. This is all intercut with the aforementioned flashbacks in which other unjustly killed animals return to take a bloody revenge; emus, raccoons, and rats are all featured, and the gory details are presented unapologetically throughout each incident. I wasn’t expecting this time jump and went into the book expecting simply to follow Harry’s unfortunate situation, so I was pleasantly surprised by the time and effort taken by the author to establish exactly why these animals are returning to take their revenge and why Harry has been so horribly targeted by his malicious chicken. The concept is very intriguing and the book’s message is clear and present throughout: cruelty to animals is inhumane and carries a heavy toll, though obviously this message is taken to a horrific extreme with even the consumption of meat or the use of products such as shampoo that may contain or have been tested on animals being enough to evoke the chicken’s wrath, but it was certainly an entertaining read from start to finish. While it’s only a short tale, the author rounds out Harry’s character nicely, giving him quirks and a bit of a backstory that make him very relatable, and I found the gory imagery and horror tropes evoked to be both familiar and imaginative, so I’d absolutely recommend The Haunting of Harry Peck to fans of the genre or as a pallet cleanser between longer reads.
My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Great Stuff
If you’re interested in checking out The Haunting of Harry Peck, and to learn more about David-Jack Fletcher and his journey as an author, visit the links at the top of the page.
1. First, introduce yourself a bit. What is your name (or pen name) and where are you from?
My pen name is Sirius, although most people call me Star outside of writing. I am from North Carolina and I currently live near Greenville (ECU territory for any who might not be familiar). Before 2020, I lived in Greensboro for eight years.
2.Next, tell us a bit about your most recent work. Is this your first published book? What is it about and what genre would you classify it as?
The next book I have coming out is Condemned, which is book three of an ongoing series entitled The Draonir Saga. It is preceded by Uncrowned and Partitioned, which both came out in 2022. I would classify it as dark fantasy, a blend of gothic storytelling with a clear love for the fantasy of manners genre woven throughout. I have always preferred focusing on the characters, their relationships with each other, intrigue, and politics over action sequences or quests. I put a lot of value into creating atmosphere and beautiful prose that resonates with the reader while staying genuine to the characters and the world around them.
3. Tell us a bit about your main character; what are they like, how did they come about, and what are some of their strengths and weaknesses?
Pharun Mahtrador is definitely the main character of this particular series. On the surface he is a lot of things – he is very beautiful, he is clever, and he is mean. Even to those who know him intimately it is never easy to tell what he is thinking. He is enigmatic and oftentimes aloof – it makes it easy to believe that he does not care. He can be flippant and downright cruel. Of course, when he looks at himself, he sees someone who feels too much. There is a vast disconnect between how he feels and how he presents – everyone sees him as cold, he sees himself as keeping the world at a distance because there are too many emotions brimming up at once, and too much pain that he has to keep stuffed down. He does not sleep well, he has nightmares about the things that happened to him when he was young. He masks often – he is very good at being charming and at imitating social graces. He knows the ins-and-outs of high society very well, but when he is alone or in the company of the very few he keeps close, he is often straight-faced with a dry sense of humor and he is easily irritated. He definitely holds himself in very high regard and considers himself more intelligent than most, so when he finds someone he feels “understands” him, he becomes obsessed and he ends up running them into the ground – “breaking” someone and destroying them is the only way he can maintain superiority, but it is not always what he wants to do. Sometimes, he wants a genuine connection, he just does not know how to get it. He does not know how to stop taking advantage of people. He needs to be told how, but that does not mean he will follow the rules, either. I am very close to Pharun, and we share a lot of similarities. I think if anything he absorbs a lot of my insecurities, and we both feel very out of place. We both have a lot to prove, and we are both ruthlessly ambitious. One thing about Pharun is that he never gives up, especially when he has his mind set on what he wants to pursue, and sometimes that is to his detriment.
4. What was your hardest scene to write in this (or any) book?
The hardest scenes for me to write in any given work are the sex scenes. I add them if they come about in the narrative naturally, but I do not go out of my way to insert them, and I often find myself doing a lot of second-guessing when I write them. I’m not sure why, because I used to enjoy writing them a lot more. I think they just don’t interest me very much. I get a lot more out of tense dialogue and climactic betrayals.
5.Did you go the traditional route when publishing your book or did you choose to self-publish?
The Draonir Saga is self-published. My next book in a totally separate series, Swallow You Whole, is coming out in September and it will be through Curious Corvid Publishing. With the Draonir Saga, I wanted it to look a certain way and feel a certain way, and I was not ready to relinquish control. I love how it looks and feels now, even though there is always room for improvement. I also did not want to put myself through the wringer with sending it out to agents and publishing houses, because while I love the story and I love its writing, I was really insecure about how it would sell because the entire story is queer, the entire cast is queer, and the subject matter is dark. At the time (this was way before I found CCP), I had not been in the industry in a few years and was not sure if people even wanted my story, although I wanted nothing more than to share it. Being a queer, nonbinary writer trying to find a seat at the table of genres typically dominated by cisgender men has been difficult to say the least. If the Draonir Saga was to be picked up down the road by a publishing house, I would still want a lot of say in how it was packaged and presented.
6. What would you say is the most difficult part of your writing journey and what advice would you give to other writers?
The most difficult part has been giving myself grace. I am a prolific writer and an ambitious personality, and between those two things I find it difficult to “check out” even for an afternoon. I am not good at giving myself days off, and the wheels are constantly turning in my brain. All I ever do and think about links back to my writing in some way, it seems. So, if I were to give advice to other writers, it would be to let yourself have a down day. Do not push yourself into burnout, and also never give up. Pursue what you want, because success will start to find you when you do.
7. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I like to build a body of work with connections between each book. Even within Swallow You Whole’s universe, there are a few small references that can be linked back to the Draonir Saga. I have been experimenting more with standalone works and short stories, but for the most part everything connects. Everyone lives together in my head anyway, so it does not make much sense to try and separate them entirely.
8. Who are some of your favourite authors, what are some of your favourite books, and what inspired you to become a writer in the first place?
Some of my favorite authors – I definitely love Ellen Kushner, I feel I always say that first and foremost. She established the fantasy of manners genre and she is a queer writer, so I look up to her a great deal. Her writing is lush and gorgeous and her characters are so near to my heart. Another author is Megan Whalen Turner – I feel she gets overlooked a lot because most of her early books are geared towards a younger audience. I did discover her when I was sixteen, so I suppose I was the target audience at the time – but King of Attolia is still my favorite book, and everything she has released since then has felt like it has “grown up” with me. I will never stop loving her books. I am also, of course, in love with Anne Rice. I feel like that goes without saying. Her work has inspired me above and beyond in too many ways to list. I love Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens, and Victor Hugo with all my heart. Not to lump the classics together, but I would be remiss not to mention their influence. There are dozens more, but these are my all-time favorites.
I have been writing since I can remember, so I do not know what inspired me or compelled me to become an author. It just seemed the natural step. This is what I want to do, this is what I love to do. I have always had stories to tell, I have known so many of these characters for a long time. There was never really an option for me to do anything else. Writing is where my passion lies. I have flip-flopped through career options, especially when I was in college, but the idea was always “this…AND, or this, TO SUPPORT writing”.
9. What would you say has been the best way to market your books?
So far, word and mouth and in-person events have done the most for me. TikTok and Instagram algorithms are absolutely necessary tools, but they are so difficult to crack, at least for me (and especially promoting queer content, a lot of algorithms bury it). Online marketing leaves me frustrated more often than not. I prefer in-person encounters, I prefer connecting with the reader on that level, and I prefer putting a physical copy in their hands.
10.Are there any tropes, clichés, or writing styles that you dislike and, if so, what are they and why?
I greatly dislike first person, I cannot read it, and I don’t know why. If writing is too short and choppy, if the sentences are too simple and broken up and lack rich or offbeat description, I cannot invest in the story.
11. Do you read reviews of your book and, if so, how do you handle negative feedback?
I do read my reviews sometimes, but I have come to learn that reviews are for other readers, and not for the writer. Bad reviews can sting, and I will still read them because I am not immune to criticism. I like to know what other people are thinking (and I find reasons for disliking something can be just as interesting as for why they might like it). I have been writing and publishing for a long time, so I am not immune to feeling hurt, but I do have a pretty thick skin.
12. What are some of your quirks as a writer? Do you like to plot everything out or do you prefer to just “wing it” and see where the story takes you? Do you listen to music when writing and, if so, what do you listen to?
I used to think I was more of a “wing it” person, but I think that is just because I know the story so well (I have rehashed The Draonir Saga in so many ways over the years) that I never felt the need to write it all down each time I started to type. Nowadays, I give myself at least a loose outline (my memory has also gotten exponentially worse and I try to minimize the risk of plot holes). I love to listen to Classical music (sometimes overlapping with ocean or fireplace sounds) when writing, but I have a separate Spotify playlist of different songs to listen to when I am not writing to keep me inspired and connected with the characters.
13. What is the best advice you’ve ever had when it comes to writing and what advice would you give to new writers?
The whole “you can edit a bad page, but you can’t edit a blank one”. I repeat that religiously when someone tells me that they don’t know where to start. I am bad at handing out advice most of the time because my theory has always been “Just start. Do it, see where it takes you.” If you can’t make yourself begin because you’re waiting for the perfect circumstances, they will never come. I taught myself to write almost anywhere even if it was just to get out a small idea to return to later. A lot of things I’ve written when I’m out of my ideal environment have been dross, and that’s okay. Come back to it, sometimes you just have to make yourself do it to begin with.
14. What’s next for you? Are you currently working on any new books or stories?
With Condemned and Swallow You Whole coming out this year, I am currently working on Hawthorne, a novella that takes place in the Draonir Saga timeline that is separate from the main story – and I have two novellas I am trying to find a home for, a Dracula-inspired retelling called Rising Sun Over the Devil’s Nest and a vampire hunter story entitled These Bleak Atrocities. I hope to write more novellas and short stories this year, and explore more magazines and anthology opportunities.
15. Finally, feel free to plug your social media, website, and links to Amazon, GoodReads, and other relevant sites below, and detail any current offers available for your book/s:
E.C. Hanson, author of Fake Somebodies/Real Nobodies and more
– First, introduce yourself a bit. What is your name (or pen name) and where are you from?
E.C. Hanson. I grew up in Monroe, CT. I relocated to Salem, Mass in the fall.
–Next, tell us a bit about your most recent work. Is this your first published book? What is it about and what genre would you classify it as?
Fake Somebodies/Real Nobodies. It is a collection of previously published stories. Although I tossed in a couple of new tales.
– What was your hardest scene to write in this (or any) book?
I am in final edits on a novella. There is a scene involving the act of suicide. I want to honor the reality of such a difficult moment and, if nothing else, capture some degree of truth. It means too much to me to get it wrong.
– Did you go the traditional route when publishing your book or did you choose to self-publish?
My first two books were with publishers. But I self-published this one to gain some new perspective on the entire process. I have to say that I love it.
– What would you say is the most difficult part of your writing journey and what advice would you give to other writers?
The best advice I can give is to write and read something every day. It could be one poem. It could be notes for a synopsis. It could be the drafting of a cover letter. If you take one step daily, you will eventually have some degree of success.
– Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I am about to finish a novella called The Clairvoyant. It is a spinoff novella from the main storyline in my debut collection called All Things Deadly (Salem Stories). It is too early to tell whether or not I will continue with the Frost family. But I had some unfinished business.
– Who are some of your favourite authors, what are some of your favourite books, and what inspired you to become a writer in the first place?
Sylvia Plath, Saul Bellow, Ernest Hemingway, Francine Prose. None of them are horror writers, haha. I took a playwriting elective in college. A day or two after I started the course, the professor said, “You should do this.”
– What would you say has been the best way to market your books?
Oh man. I try to promote the work of others. I really do. More than myself at times. But you have to hustle. Contact libraries and bookstores about events. Reach out to those that do podcasts. Swing away over and over. Someone is bound to say yes.
–Are there any tropes, clichés, or writing styles that you dislike and, if so, what are they and why?
I don’t like flowery language. I like spare prose that gets to the point and keeps the narrative moving.
– Do you read reviews of your book and, if so, how do you handle negative feedback?
I do. I am seriously grateful to anyone that tries one of my books. They gave their time. The only criticisms I dislike towards my work (or that of others) is when they say, “I could write something so much better than this.” Fine. Not debating it. But that’s a vague review. Put your work out there then. In this day and age, you can get your work out there for many to see. Put yourself in the firing line and then reflect on how you review a book. If someone says they hate my characters, prose, and dialogue, I would be fine with it. Why? Because it was strictly about the contents of the book. My work isn’t for everyone. I accept that.
– What are some of your quirks as a writer? Do you like to plot everything out or do you prefer to just “wing it” and see where the story takes you? Do you listen to music when writing and, if so, what do you listen to?
My background in playwriting allows me to wing it. But I like to make a scene list and then drift towards or away from that. It’s a light framework, so to speak.
– What is the best advice you’ve ever had when it comes to writing and what advice would you give to new writers?
Write and share. Write and share. There are so many writers that are better than me and they are afraid of trying/sharing their material with the world. Some might hate your work, but a few here and there might be inspired by it. Those people are worth it in my eyes.
– What’s next for you? Are you currently working on any new books or stories?
I hope to release The Clairvoyant. Also, I wrote a book with Mark Towse called Mischief Night. We are currently trying to land a publisher.
15. Finally, feel free to plug your social media, website, and links to Amazon, GoodReads, and other relevant sites below, and detail any current offers available for your book/s:
Auctor Trevel, author of The Blood Red Snowman, The Maze’s Aumlet, and more
1. First, introduce yourself a bit. What is your name (or pen name) and where are you from?
My name is Auctor Trevel and I am primarily an independent author who specializes in horror, dark comedy, and dark urban fantasy. I am based in the United States.
2.Next, tell us a bit about your most recent work. Is this your first published book? What is it about and what genre would you classify it as?
The Blood Red Snowman And Other Horror Flash Fiction is my tenth book and my second short digital eBook work sold on Amazon (the others being Preyed and the short science-fiction horror story Afflicted, which is currently on Fictionate and about to be released in a collection). I decided to publish The Blood Red Snowman as horror-based flash fiction that goes no longer than a page, and I decided to publish it to commemorate the fact that I have been self publishing for ten years (my first book was The Maze’s Amulet in 2012) and that contests I sent the horror flash fiction to at the time was not accepted in contests I submitted to. Other short works I submitted to so far have been to Indellible, which primarily publishes superhero prose and comics.
3. Tell us a bit about your main character; what are they like, how did they come about, and what are some of their strengths and weaknesses?
Given The Blood Red Snowman is a horror flash fiction collection, the main characters are varied. Some of them survive the bite-sized horror they are featured in, but many don’t get so lucky. If I were to talk about a main character, it would be Elza del Toro from The Maze’s Amulet. She is a terminally ill war vet cursed with a magical illness and relies on a green amulet to survive. Her greatest weakness is her illness but her greatest strength is facing adversity thrown at her without flinching.
4. What was your hardest scene to write in this (or any) book?
The hardest scenes were in The Maze’s Amulet, as they were the most grim but also the most emotional, especially the ending that I won’t spoil here.
5.Did you go the traditional route when publishing your book or did you choose to self-publish?
For all my books, especially The Blood Red Snowman, I went the self-published route because I like having control of my work and had creative freedom to edit and modify whenever I need to. I am not against traditional publishing and might go into it in the future, but self-publishing allows a great chunk of freedom but also a ton of responsibility.
6. What would you say is the most difficult part of your writing journey and what advice would you give to other writers?
The most difficult part would be the marketing and also finding yourself as an author. Part of me wish I held off publishing my early works because I was using a different name and was not sure how to present myself. My recommendation to starting writers is not to immediately market yourself after you finish your first book. Play around with different genres and formats, and market yourself as you authentically are and with a name you are comfortable with.
7. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
For now, I want each book to stand on their own. I’m not against building a body of work with connections but given that I play around with a lot of different genres, each work is almost guaranteed to be its own.
8. Who are some of your favourite authors, what are some of your favourite books, and what inspired you to become a writer in the first place?
Mark Z. Danielewski, Richard Matheson, Stephen King, John Scalzi, Neil Gaiman, Paolo Bacigalupi, J.R.R. Tolkien, Anne Rice, Laurell K. Hamilton, H.P. Lovecraft, Koushun Takami, Abe Kobo, Richard Wright, Alan Moore, and even people in other mediums in films and video games like Frank Miller, Shinji Mikami, Hideo Kojima, H.R. Giger, Salvador Dali, Jordan Peele, Jhonen Vasquez, Gary Larson, Bill Watterson, Kohta Hirano, Takaski Miike, Ryuhei Kitamura, and John Landis. I could go on forever about the influences! R.L. Stine was the first author to convince me to write, and to go in the horror direction when I first started reading chapter books as a young boy. Regarding favorite books, they include House of Leaves, Neverwhere, American Psycho, Interview with the Vampire, Old Man’s War, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I Am Legend, Dracula, Battle Royale, and Moby Dick.
9. What would you say has been the best way to market your books?
I like presenting excerpts and I have taken advantage of online-based programs like Canva to help these excerpts pop and show readers what these books each. I feel it is important to show readers what the books are like, and not just showing the flashy covers. I also compose shorter bite-sized pieces of darkly humorous and horror texts to entertain readers and help them consider if they would like to buy my books. The most important part is creating a platform that they are willing to visit often.
10.Are there any tropes, clichés, or writing styles that you dislike and, if so, what are they and why?
I hate damsels in distress, I hate “chosen one” narratives, and as much as I like Dungeons & Dragons and works by Tolkien and some of the high fantasy greats, I am sick and tired of the medieval fantasy genre being overused. I feel there is not a whole lot of risks being taken with writing creatively regarding world building, especially in the self-publishing arena.
11. Do you read reviews of your book and, if so, how do you handle negative feedback?
I do not respond to negative feedback. If someone dislikes my book, it is what it is. If I see a book I just released with a three star rating, I just continue selling it. I used to be happy about good reviews at one point but if someone points out something they did not like in a book, I pay attention and see what I can learn from the experience.
12. What are some of your quirks as a writer? Do you like to plot everything out or do you prefer to just “wing it” and see where the story takes you? Do you listen to music when writing and, if so, what do you listen to?
I am a “wing it” person and make multiple drafts of chapters and short pieces. If I did outline, I don’t follow it to the letter and I found the outlining process-at least the conventional method-to be rigid and hindering. I also confess I’m still figuring out my processes as a writer and willing to learn new tricks and techniques. I almost always listen to music and/or a podcast when writing as it helps put me into a “zone” where I can concentrate on the manuscript. The music I listen to comprises of rock, metal, industrial, hip hop, trip hop, electronica, jazz, alternative, and film and video game soundtracks.
13. What is the best advice you’ve ever had when it comes to writing and what advice would you give to new writers?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and don’t give in to perfectionism.
14. What’s next for you? Are you currently working on any new books or stories?
I am currently working on a superhero noir serial and a spiritual successor to The Maze’s Amulet. I am also starring in the independent zombie web series Dead Legion, which premiered on Amazon Prime on January 13th, 2023.
15. Finally, feel free to plug your social media, website, and links to Amazon, GoodReads, and other relevant sites below, and detail any current offers available for your book/s:
J L Grice, author of Forbidden and the Dominated series
– First, introduce yourself a bit. What is your name (or pen name) and where are you from?
I am J L Grice, and I am from East Yorkshire, in the UK.
– Next, tell us a bit about your most recent work. Is this your first published book? What is it about and what genre would you classify it as?
My most recent published work is my novella Forbidden. This is my fourth book. It is about a university student whose grades are falling. Her professor notices and he offers to help by giving her a live-in job at his house as a cleaner. The problem is she is smitten with him. The book is forbidden romance.
– Tell us a bit about your main character; what are they like, how did they come about, and what are some of their strengths and weaknesses?
Imogen is one of the main characters in Forbidden. She is a strong character that isn’t afraid to let people know what she thinks. Imogen came about because I wanted someone who was a match for Grey, the main male character. Imogen is loyal, strong, feisty and bright (even though she thinks she isn’t) Imogen is jealous, she can sometimes be childish and quite impulsive.
– What was your hardest scene to write in this (or any) book?
The hardest scene to write was the rape scene. Being a survivor of sexual assault, and rape this was extremely hard to write.
– Do you read reviews of your book and, if so, how do you handle negative feedback?
I read my reviews. Usually I ignore it, but if it is constructive I take it in to consideration.
– What’s next for you? Are you currently working on any new books or stories?
I am working on a horror/ thriller book. I hope to get it finished sometime this year.
– Finally, feel free to plug your social media, website, and links to Amazon, GoodReads, and other relevant sites below, and detail any current offers available for your book/s:
The Synopsis: All Eric wanted was to tell the right story . . . the perfect story.
Eric has one chance to prove himself with his publishing firm. With a jealous and bitter boss, the author has one goal: to outdo himself and prove that the company is nothing without him. A best seller, Eric is in talks for one of his works to be adapted to a TV series. To the public eye, Eric has it all together.
But the once popular writer has demons, and plenty of them. He’s got a rocky past and has recently moved into a foreclosed home. Struggling for motivation, Eric has a deadline to meet and if he doesn’t meet it, he’ll lose everything.
When a doll shows up on his front porch, dirty and broken, Eric decides to keep it. After all, it may have inspiration he needs to write the story he’s always wanted to tell.
But every choice has consequences. And Eric is about to learn what happens when you let the demons in.
The Review: The Perfect Story: The Tales of Lily is a brisk horror novella from noted high-fantasy author C.D. McKenna. It’s the story Of Eric Chaplin, a pretty successful author of psychological thrillers, who is facing a strict deadline for his next story. Having achieved what many authors can only dream of,a literary agent, publisher, and publishing team, and with a possible television adaptation on the horizon, Eric should be riding high but he’s struggling to find the time to write. Normally a very well organised and reliable individual, his life has fallen apart a bit in the last year; his house is a mess, dirty plates are piling up, and he’s medication for his crippling headaches and to curb the voices in his head.
For Eric, writing is a way to give those voices an outlet; his antipsychotics keep him stable, but his writing is his chance to be creative. While some, like his nosy neighbour Ms. Tatum, disapprove of the dark subject matter of his works, it’s proven successful, but that success comes with the additional pressure to live up to expectations. Faced with constant interruptions from his publishing team, advanced deadlines, and distractions from food, television, and even unpacking, Eric’s life takes a turn for the truly bizarre when a mysterious and creepy doll arrives on his doorstep and refuses to leave no matter how often he tosses it out. Creepy dolls are a bit of a cliché in horror and have been done to death; but, while the author doesn’t do too much new with the doll, which Eric comes to name Lily, she does masterfully associate the doll’s unsettling nature with Eric’s degenerating mental state and stifling procrastination. Thanks to Eric being on antipsychotics, a side effect of which is noted to be hallucinations, it’s never truly clear whether Lily is actually possessed by a malevolent spirit or if it’s all in Eric’s head as another elaborate excuse not to get to writing.
Soon, Eric is tormented by gruesome dreams, and this is where the author’s horror chops really shine; dismembered bodies, ominous messages, and an alluring, if ghastly, female figure torment Eric’s dreams and soon spill over into his waking day. However, he finds himself reinvigorated by these experiences rather than terrified; he comes to care for the doll, to carry it with him, to have it near to fuel his creativity, neglecting his personal hygiene, appointments, and well-being to bash out this one perfect story. At around fifty pages, The Perfect Story: The Tale of Lily is easy to get through in one sitting and full of fun imagery, anecdotes, and represents a snapshot of the pressure and difficulty that comes from being a writer. It’s hard to stay focused and motivated even without a possessed doll watching your every move, and there’s a subtext here that really had me thinking the more I read. Not just on the surface level with questions regarding Eric’s mental stability but questioning whether the horrible things he’s written about are somehow avenging themselves against him. Ultimately, the author opted for a monstrous twist at the end but still managed to keep Lily’s true nature a mystery. While, as I say, the haunted doll cliché has been overdone, Lily is really more of an ancillary player to the greater troubles weighing down on Eric and becomes something of an allegory for procrastination and self-doubt, which makes The Perfect Story: The Tales of Lily an enthralling read that I highly recommend.
My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Fantastic
If you’re interested in checking out The Perfect Story: The Tales of Lily, and to learn more about C.D. McKenna and her journey as an author, visit the links at the top of the page.
Dr. K's Waiting Room 
You must be logged in to post a comment.