BLAZING OWL PRESS NEWSLETTER: NUMBER SIX

 

Halloween, or Samhain, as it is commonly known, is the top topic for this week's newsletter. How could it be otherwise?

By the time I was nine years old, I had read everything ever written by Edgar Allan Poe. Obviously, I was a huge horror fan. Then and now, I read many horror books by many authors. It was in my blood for sure.

Before the days of television (yes, I'm that old) I listened to some of the great radio shows like Inner Sanctum, Suspense, Lights Out, and many more. I was introduced to many delightful episodes of these shows before I had turned five. Many more great shows and episodes can be found at:

https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/entertainment/scary-old-time-radio-shows/ 

When I was in high school, I would rush home from school and turn on Zacherley, The Cool Ghoul, on our television while I was getting ready to go to work He was a cult figure with not only the high school gang but adults, as well. A fixture of the Shock Theater fame, he was a huge celebrity in the 1950s and 1960s. Playing the host known as Roland, he introduced me to many of the great horror shows of that time. He even had a hit record, Dinner With Drac.

Some of the great movies I loved in the fifties and sixties were Them, Creature From The Black Lagoon, The Fly, Godzilla, The Thing, House On Haunted Hill, The Mummy, The Blob, all the Frankenstein movies, The Invisible Man, Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, and House Of Wax, as well as all the Werewolf and Dracula films. 

Of course, that wasn't the end of my horror movie watching. Every decade since then, I've always been able to find more and more great movies.

I've been fortunate enough to meet some great authors and actors at a number of horror conventions around the country. New York City, Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Atlanta, Cheyenne, and more. If you get the chance to attend any of these in your area, I suggest you do so. 

Before I go into some books that I happen to like, let it be said once again that these are books that I like and suggest. That doesn't mean that every reader will feel the same way. I always read a sample of a book before I purchase it. That's my method for picking out books. I'm reading one now that a famous author suggested highly. It's an okay book, but I wouldn't rank it as high as many other books I've read. My sentiments.

So, here are some horror books that I enjoyed:

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A Jar Of Fingers (The Complicated Life Of Deegie Tibbs): By C.L. Hernandez

www.amazon.com/Fingers-Complicated-Life-Deegie-Tibbs-ebook/dp/B09GB51XRX/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=0J0Gp&content-id=amzn1.sym.f76d456a-cb0d-44de-b7b0-670c26ce80ba&pf_rd_p=f76d456a-cb0d-44de-b7b0-670c26ce80ba&pf_rd_r=130-8314316-2671401&pd_rd_wg=mG60x&pd_rd_r=c98316f3-2d1f-49b9-bc7b-53eee6060cba&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

Deegie is an independent young witch with a lot going on—maybe too much. She has a funky little shop full of magical items, and a tendency to cast crazy spells whenever the mood strikes her. But when her boyfriend and her traitorous next-door neighbor get together, she takes swift revenge and goes off to live in the back of her overcrowded bus, and not for the first time.

So when the strange old house on the other side of town goes on sale, she’s the first one to snatch it up. Complete with ghosts in the walls, a murderous history, and a basement filled with impossible things, like a jar of human fingers . . . and its very own demon.

Deegie’s going to need all her magical skills and inspired spell-casting—and some help from her slightly mad friends—to satisfy the ghosts and send the demon back where it belongs.

Don’t miss the next two books in the series: The Witch War of Fiddlehead Creek and Seven Deadly Ghosts!

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A great read by C.L. Hernandez! Don't miss.

Blaze McRob

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BLOOD SPATTER: BY TERRI DELCAMPO & BLAZE MCROB

https://www.amazon.com/BLOOD-SPATTER-Blaze-McRob-ebook/dp/B0161Z7KJG/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1461090609&sr=8-10&keywords=blazing+owl+press#nav-subnav

Blood Spatter, a collection of horror stories by Terri DelCampo and Blaze McRob, is the perfect Halloween read. There are some gory little gritties hiding within its pages. This was the first book for Blazing Owl Press, and Terri and I are pretty proud of it.

Hit the above link and read our ample free sample section. You will see what we have to offer you. I'm up to my usual snarky shenanigans right off the bat.

We hope you take us up on our Samhain offering. We'll keep the candy bowl filled and the light will be on as you hop up on the porch for a little Trick or Tweet. Don't slip on the blood spatter. With Terri and I, Halloween lasts the entire year.

Blaze McRob

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Book description:

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 ZACK PARTIES WITH BLAZE ON SAMHAIN NIGHT.

 THE LUST DEVIL FINDS HIS VIRGIN TIGHT.

HEADLESS NATIVE ON A QUEST.

GOLDIE HAS A PIG-OUT FEST.

THE ATLAS IS NO PLACE FOR SOME DOCS.

GREED DEVILS THE HUMAN SPECIES MOCK.

THE HANFS OF JERSERY ARE A MYSTERY.

WITCH HAZEL HATES SLOTHS THROUGH HISTORY.

MEET MR. JACK ON DEVIL NIGHT.

FIGS GIVE NUDISTS QUITE A FRIGHT.

BALTHOR CLAIMS HIS VIRGIN BRIDE.

DOLORES ENVIES YOU YOUR HIDE.

DANNY LOOKS OUT FOR HIS NAMESAKES.

GIANT PUMPKIN ANGER WAKES.

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Cover art and poetry description by Terri Delcampo.

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Ghost In The Machine: By Bruce Lockhart 2nd

https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Machine-Bruce-Lockhart-2nd-ebook/dp/B0737WTDW9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498699160&sr=8-1&keywords=bruce+lockhart+2nd

Ghost In The Machine, by Bruce Lockhart 2nd,  is a fantastic short story you won't want to miss! Bruce is one of my favorite horror authors! I have suggested a number of his books for you to read in the past, once even saying one of his stories was a literary masterpiece. If you think I'm blowing smoke up your ass, just read the free sample for this great story on Amazon. I know you'll hit the buy button.

I tried to leave a review on Amazon, but it appears that they are getting a bit finicky about who they allow to post reviews. Their new rules are that a reviewer has to have purchased at least $50.00 worth of merchandise in the last year, using a valid debit or credit card. I purchased Ghost In The Machine, but I used an Amazon card that I bought. All my books bought on Amazon have been bought using Amazon cards. Untold hundreds of dollars over the years. It seems strange that Amazon won't recognize their own cards as being valid for reviews. At any rate, here is my review:

5 out of 5 stars!

Another Literary Gem by Bruce Lockhart 2nd!

Ghost In The Machine is a short story of thirty-seven pages by Bruce Lockhart 2nd. This exemplary   tale grows with each word. I have read many of Bruce's books, and I always know I'm in for a treat. The one thing I don't know is where and when he will deliver the finishing blow. He never fails to tease you with his poetic prose before administering a gloriously satisfying finish. This story is acceptable and fantastic reading for teens, YA readers, and adults. Everyone can get in on the fun.

I have a science background, and Bruce did more than satisfy me with this story. Things that he mentions could happen. His characters' names are great. Black-spit is my favorite. And, I get personal satisfaction in the part where he helps an Autism patient with horrible speech problems being able to talk and communicate well. All this from his wonderful machine.

This tale is a gem to read, my friends. I guarantee it!

Blaze McRob

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Since I wrote the above review, Bruce has expanded his great story. Now he has even more bang for the buck. Gotta love that!

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BOOK REVIEW FOR - THE LAST VAMPIRE; BY KATHRYN MEYER GRIFFITH

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Vampire-Kathryn-Meyer-Griffith-ebook/dp/B0163P4EWU/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1460221853&sr=1-5&keywords=the+last+vampire

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. The Last Vampire, by Kathryn Meyer Griffith, is my favorite end-days novel. I can't recommend it highly enough. Check out my review below.

Blaze McRob

Book description:

Emma Bloodworth once had a normal life, a loving husband and two children, a cat, a good job in the city, and she was happy. Then, for her, everything changed…as the world ended. The earthquakes, the global floods and the devastating fires arrived first. The human race, displaced and panicked, at first fled, migrating to any place there was food and shelter. Then the worldwide plague arrived with its waves of death. And as mankind suffered and died out, vampires, their numbers dwindling from the same sickness, struggled and fought fiercely among themselves to survive in a world where there weren’t enough humans left to feed upon. As the months went by the vampires become fewer, more desperate and ruthless. Emma, as the world disintegrated around her, found herself alone, the old life she’d known, her family and friends all dead…and fighting off an unnatural hunger as she became one of the undead. Defying her unwanted destiny she was determined to resist the increasing bloodlust, the need to kill and feed on human blood, of losing her humanity, for as long as she could bear it, but she was so hungry, and the night, the wolves, called. And then she met Matthew and was no longer alone…but could the love she felt for him protect him from her hunger; could her love protect him from the other vampires?

Vampire With A Difference,

By Robert C. Nelson

Edit Review

Delete Review

This review is from: The Last Vampire: Author's New Revised Edition (Kindle Edition)

Too often, vampires are either the horrific beasts of old or the new romantic heart throbs. I prefer the nasty buggers. This novel certainly has those, but it also comes up with an entirely different concept which personalizes the protagonist and endears her to your heart. Without destroying the story for you, when you blend this in with the other horrific aspects of the world taking place, it becomes riveting, drawing you in to see where the author is going to take us next. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there would be new twists and turns. My kind of novel! I read roughly 100 novels a year. The Last Vampire is at the top of my list.

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DENISE N. TAPSCOTT: WOMAN IN HORROR

Read my Woman In Horror post for Denise N. Tapscott at

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/2590679537329315308

    

and find out some great things about this fantastic author. I'm going to have to put up some more information about her since she has a brand-new book out. She's a busy young lady and keeps active in many aspects of the horror genre. Keep your peepers open for more about Denise.

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That's it for this week. More is on the way. 

Happy reading.

Blaze McRob  

BLAZING OWL PRESS NEWSLETTER: NUMBER FIVE

 

This week's newsletter will cover the benefits of reading. I write a lot, but I also read a lot. I always have. As a writer, I find it especially helpful. Reading relaxes me and puts me in a proper frame of mind to pound out my stories on the keys of my computer. However, I never try to steal the styles of the authors whose books I am reading. No two authors write the same. Write your story. You'll be glad you did, and so will your readers.

I write in many different genres and genre blends. The books I read also follow that pattern. Lately, I've been reading a lot of detective mysteries, both old and new. Next year, I'll be writing another crime thriller and love getting inspired by the authors I've been reading, as well as others I'm sure to find along the way. 

My local library has a used book sale going on right now, and I've been finding some real gems. I'll be sharing them with you in my newsletters. Another great thing about used book sales is the fact that, once you're done reading them, you can recycle them by sharing them with your friends, hospices, VAs, and more. It's the right thing to do. 

Of course, I do keep a number of reference books next to my right arm in my reading nook. Books like these are always a must save. Plus, I have many authors' signed books that I definitely won't give up. 

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Don't Cheat Your Readers: A Blast From The Past 

I was going through an author's Amazon author page to check out some of his books. A friend of mine had suggested he wrote well. As I always do, I went to the free sample that Amazon has. The novel I was looking at was decent. However, when I clicked on to the short stories, they were a whole different ballgame. They were awful. You might think the short tales were written earlier in the author's career and were not as polished as the newer writing. The shorts were actually written after the novel. It was obvious to me that they were not professionally edited. Even the book descriptions were not error-free. Wow!

So, what was going on with this author? Besides the fact he took no pains to publish a decent short story, it told me he was totally unprofessional. The novel had an editor. It wasn't completely error free, but it was interesting and held my attention. I wound up not purchasing any books by this guy. My feeling was that the editor for the novel got stuck doing a lot of re-writes instead of merely doing edits. I'm sorry. I cannot accept buying such worthless tripe.

It's obvious that I'm not easily attracted to just any book or author. I can overlook some mechanical errors, but not a ton of them.

Another thing that irritates me is reading terribly written website or Facebook posts. If an author doesn't care enough to use capital letters on Facebook, it shows me they are lazy. If posts have misspellings, comma splices, and more, I see red flags. Show professionalism, people. If you write like a third grader don't expect many people to latch onto your latest and greatest story. Once again, you're showing you just don't give a damn.

I know this last election cycle totally sucked. It was certainly okay for authors to write their views. Hell, I wrote some. But, check out your sources. Even reputable newspapers and magazines get a few things wrong. Never accept a friend's post as being the truth unless you check it out. And if you did goof, acknowledge the fact. Shit happens. Some authors are afraid to alienate prospective readers. Don't be. They'll know you're honest when they read your tales. Also, by all means, use real life horror in your stories. By getting the evil out of your soul and sharing it with the world, there will be more room for the good things in there. One trap I suggest you stay away from is being suckered into other people's rants. I might read some, shake my head, and even laugh some at the stupidity, but I don't comment on other people's Facebook posts anymore. I don't have the time. I'll post some of my views on my author page and regular page, but their page belongs to them.

Always stay true to yourself when you write. Write your story, at your pace. Just because Stephen King writes long novels doesn't mean you should. Some readers aren't crazy about a ton of back-story at the beginning of a book. Me? I have to be hooked within the first page or so, by the end of the first chapter at the least. My wife does not agree with me. But that's the beauty of writing: different readers like different things. Write for yourself. You'll attract fans.

My last item contains a pet peeve that really causes my typing fingers to wish they could wring some necks. If I buy an author's book and review it, I don't want that author to immediately tell me they have another book out and would I review that one too. The skies turn dark, lightning flashes, and my trigger finger wishes it was ready to go into action. My answer is a resounding, "Fuck no!" Yes, I know writers like reviews, but don't grovel at my feet. On the other hand, there are some authors I like so much that I tell them to let me know when they have a new book out. I buy them and gladly leave a review.

I hope some folks get some value out of this post. Thanks for reading.

Blaze McRob

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This week's Woman In Horror is Nicole Storey. Go to

www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/7076659011474797370

and read my post about this fascinating lady.

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TERRI DELCAMPO'S REVIEW FOR "WITCH HUNT: HISTORY OF A PERSECUTION" WRITTEN BY NIGEL CAWTHORNE

https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Hunt-Persecution-Nigel-Cawthorne-ebook/dp/B006K5QZVC?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_rdp_product

Terri DelCampo's book review for Witch Hunt: History Of A Persecution, written by Nigel Cawthorne, is below. This is a non-fiction book that will put some horror in your soul. Evil done under the pretense of religion is still evil. In fact, some of the worst horror known to man has been perpetrated because of so-called righteous people trying to spread their beliefs.

Blaze McRob

Book description:

When bigotry and power-mania take control, disaster always follows for ordinary people – even when the power is wielded by the Church. Witchcraft, of course, was seen as devil-worship. Those accused – over 100,000 people, mainly women, between 1450 and 1750 – were subjected to the most bestial tortures and usually executed. Witch Hunt examines the real facts of this persecution and the religious hysteria that inspired it, tracing it back to its source. It tracks its wildfire-spread across Europe and the US until scientific reason began to challenge old beliefs and it began its long-awaited decline.

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the squeamish, but should be read by everyone.,

By Terri DelCampo

Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Witch Hunt: The History of a Persecution (Kindle Edition)

It's been a priceless researching tool for me as a horror writer. But more than that, the story of how viciously people were persecuted during the witch hunts, described in detail made me realize how glad I am to have been born in the century I was. I recommend this book highly.

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I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. More to come soon.

Blaze McRob

BLAZING OWL PRESS NEWSLETTER: NUMBER FOUR

 

This newsletter comes a bit late. Hurricane Helene decided to pay a visit to my town. The horrific winds and rain uprooted many huge trees in the area and did significant damage to homes, businesses, and roads. Needless to say, the power and internet were down for some time.  

Don't take this as a whining post. It's not. My wife and I certainly had some annoying moments, but we came through it just fine. We learned a few things from our experience and want to pass them on.

First of all, we are preppers. Not fringe type ones. Simply people who like to be ready in case stuff happens. We had plenty of canned goods on hand to eat and some freeze-dried food which we never had to touch. Some of the food in our freezer and fridge was edible. Yes, we lost some, but not a lot. The fact that we had a butane camp stove was invaluable. Not only for food. I was able to have my two mugs of coffee in the morning. Plus, we were able to read in the dark with our clip-on reading lights. That gave us the opportunity to catch up on some reading and writing. 

We had flashlights and batteries to help us get around in the dark. The only thing we didn't have was battery powered fans. As soon as the power returned, we ordered and received some. It was rather hot in the apartment. 

So, I would suggest that to weather out a storm, so to speak, that a few commonsense things be done. Keep a ready source of food, canned and freeze-dried on hand. Have battery operated fans and heaters, if it's cold. Make sure you have radios on hand. Butane camp stoves are great to have. Stock up on your medication. Stay off roads whenever possible: not only to avoid dangerous driving conditions but to stay out of the way of emergency vehicles. Have a good supply of bottled water on hand. You'll need it. Read a few preppers magazines and books. 

If the emergency alert people tell you to leave the area, do it. Keep a bug-out bag handy in your car. You might just need it. 

Another big plus is to restock your emergency equipment after an event. Add in things you wished you had along the last time (such as the battery-operated fans I mentioned before). The way the weather patterns are changing, no area is completely safe anymore. Be as prepared as you can. Think ahead.

Blaze

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My Woman In Horror post this week is for Suzie Lockhart. It's from a few years back. I'll be posting some new postings for her soon. She's still an active lady.

Here's the link;

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/4052035503536380394

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https://www.amazon.com/Space-Crazy-Dars-Adventures-Book-ebook/dp/B006Q9M6CE/ref=cm_cr_othr_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Take a look at the book review I did a while back for Space Crazy, by K. Rowe. I love this fantastic novel!

Blaze McRob

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Book description:

     The Ontarrin Galaxy is a rough and tumble place. Young Dar Meltom knows this for fact. As the half breed offspring of an incredibly unlikely joining between an Earthling male and a Satiren female, he knows what fighting is all about. Having spent his childhood on Erotis 3 getting into fights because he was different, Dar’s only solace comes from watching the stars. He’s crazy about them. He dreams about them, and secretly wishes he could be among them.

     His mother, Denrika, knows her son is at a disadvantage. Living in a purebred society, his chances for getting a job after he graduates school are slim. Until one day, a large alien strolls into the general store where she works. His name is Gwog, and he’s captain of the space freighter Cunik. Little does he know, Denrika will convince him that he needs another crew member—a seventeen-year-old half breed with his head in the stars.

     Dar joins the crew of the Cunik and quickly learns that space life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. After being on board only a few days, he’s stricken with Skrinnian fever and nearly dies. Gwog and Karnis nurse him back to health, and then he learns more important lessons about death, pirates, love, and the value of the friends he’s made. Until such time as he’s on his own, Dar absorbs everything Gwog teaches him. Then, one night, a game of Sirrixian poker changes his life forever…

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5 out of 5 stars

Space Crazy Rocks!

By Robert C. Nelson on January 21, 2012

Format: Kindle Edition

K. Rowe is my FAVORITE writer of sci-fi! Wham! The lady knows how to spin an in and out of this world tale that is funny, sexy, intriguing, and filled with suspense and battle scenes. Dar Melton, the hero in this tale, is a young man who has been picked on because of the fact he is different: half earthling and half Satiren. Even in the outer reaches of the universe, bullies exist, and they pick on people just because they're not the same as them.

But Dar's mother hopes to change all of that and give her son a chance in an unfair world. At the young age of 17, he joins up with the crew of a space freighter and becomes a man; and a proud warrior.

That's all I can say without ruining the story for you, but if you love a great action-packed sci-fi tale, grab this story and the ones to come in the series.

Oh, yeah! It doesn't get any better than this!

P.S.

This Robert Nelson guy is actually me.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HSNB6YJ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

Hearse Full of Verse, by Blaze McRob, is now available for your reading pleasure. This book is dedicated to aficionados of offbeat poetry. There is nothing in this collection that might be considered mainstream. After all, I must maintain my rather crusty image. 

The book description below is quite apt for the occasion:

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Rhymes will take you into Hell

Blazin' Bard McRob do tell

Many's the night we'll lie awake

After verse hearse ride we take.

Come along for horror trip

Blaze pledges screams from you he'll rip.

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I must thank Terri DelCampo for the most scintillating cover art. I find the black and yellow to create just the right ambiance.

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Happy reading!

Blaze McRob

BLAZING OWL PRESS NEWSLETTER: NUMBER THREE

 

Another week. Another newsletter. This time around, I'll start out by adding to my last post. 

I've discovered another hitch that occurs when an author goes with a publisher, large or small. Sometimes, the publisher will remove either the paper version or the eBook from the market. Sometimes both. If a writer is counting on receiving paper books to sell at book signings and they no longer exist, they're up the creek without a paddle. Not having an eBook copy for sale is also troubling. You lose either way. This has happened to many authors I know. Heck, it's happened to me. At one time I sold a lot of books in bars using my buy a book and receive a free beer routine. I sold a lot of books that way. Of course, I got my books at a reduced price, thus I was able to pass the savings to my customers. It was a win/win for everyone. Of course, the books have to be on hand. This is simply another thing that writers need to consider. Don't get screwed. 

With all the merging going on with the so-called big boys, nothing is safe there. Once again, I speak from experience. I'll never publish with them anymore. Nor will I go with smaller presses. I've mentioned this before. This is up to every author, of course. 

Another possibility exists with online books available to be read by patrons of libraries. I've sold some like that. However, sometimes one can wind up in an area where books in certain genres are not readily accepted. I've moved to an area like that. I live in Bible Belt Georgia. There aren't as many horror fans here as I encountered in Wyoming. However, I do write in many genres and intend to explore the possibilities. My library uses Overdrive which is one of the bigger purveyors of eBooks. And yes, one can get money for this. I'm going to a local author book signing on Saturday and I'll ask some authors I know if they take advantage of this. I'll let you know if I come up with anything to pass on.

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I see a lot of authors who go the Amazon Kindle Unlimited route. I tried it for a very short time and didn't like it. Going wide is the way to go in my estimation. Putting all your eggs in one basket isn't smart. For example, in Canada Kobo books are big. Just saying.

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Since my last newsletter, I've stopped posting on X/Twitter. Why? There's too much garbage being passed around there. Yes, I stayed out of the arguments and all, but there are a lot of things I just can't condone there anymore. I know it will kill me as far as the algorithms go, but I feel I don't want my conscience to be sullied by a billionaire's ravings. Enough said about that.

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My Woman In horror this week is Cindy Keen Reynders. Go to

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/7306249698646264836

and read the post there. She writes great horror and detective tales. You don't want to miss out on her great offerings.

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https://www.amazon.com/Even-Hell-Has-Standards-Pride-ebook/dp/B00JI9OH6M/ref=cm_rdp_product_img

I have a book review I wrote a while back for Even Hell Has Standards: Pride, written by Chantal Noordeloos. Chantal has a wonderful way with words. She brings you into her stories in a most delightful way. Make sure you check out this great book as well as her other tales of horror. They are all great.

Blaze McRob

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Book description:

Sometimes life brings out the worst in a person, but Adolf Zakerny was born for evil. After a life of torment and murder, all in the name of Hell, it’s time for Zakerny to take his place amongst the demons. Will the blood he spilled appease the charismatic Lord of Hell, or will Zakerny’s Pride come to a fall?

‘Pride’ is the first of seven short stories in the ‘Even Hell Has Standards’ series, where Chantal Noordeloos takes the reader through the darker side of human nature, and it’s road to redemption. This is Hell as you’ve never seen it before.

Robert C. Nelson

5.0 out of 5 starsDon't Believe In Hell? You Will Now!

April 24, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Chantal Noordeloos has come up with the perfect tale for those who do not believe in Hell. Her story is filled with plenty of gore and sadism, but it is the psychological horror which comes to the fore-front. Take one truly evil human, Adolf - even her choice of a name for the antagonist in this romp through the worst of what an entity could possibly foist upon his fellow humans is perfect - add pride which exceeds no known limits, mix well, and wham! We are blessed with a story which will most likely have theologians shaking their heads, wagging fingers, and spouting venom when perhaps they might see that maybe, just maybe, Chantal has hit upon something . . . something which could possibly be.

Am I saying the Gospel According To Chantal Noordeloos is true? Of course not. This is a fiction tale of horror, and the author is not bandying about any new dogma. What she does do, as any great author does, is open the reader's mind to the possibility of truth within the story. By creating a story line which appears to be reasonable, the reader is drawn into its intricate meanderings of what is to happen next to this man Adolf, a man who fears no one and is truly not repentant for his sins.

Does Adolf win? Does Satan win? Or does God win? Oh, me lads and lassies, that is not for me to say. Read this great story and get carried away within conceptual beliefs you may have never heard before. This book pushes the limits, but in the most delightful of ways.

Are you tired of fluff? Do you wish to read a thinking person's story, yet one filled with a telling and hypnotic spell? Chantal Noordeloos has written what you are looking for. Embrace the words of a master at her craft.

Even Hell Has Standards: Pride, will not let you down!

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The art piece for this week is the cover art for That Bobbie Kid, a gritty book I wrote a while back. Terri DelCampo's artwork explains what the book is about. This is her number one book for positive comments for cover art.

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JUST WRITE

I posted this on my website a while back. It's still good advice I believe. In this post, I added what Terri DelCampo has to say about the subject. I hope you pick up a few pointers.                                                 

Do you want to be an author? Just write. Easy peasy. You don't have the time? Horseshit. We all have time. I worked at many jobs at the same time, not having a day off for nine years. I still wrote. I wanted to, so I did it. In twenty-something years, I wrote and had some seventy-five ghostwritten novels published.

There are many moments you can use as writing time. Get up early and write. Do you work at a desk job? Write at lunch while you're eating. Carry a little notebook or tape recorder and take notes. Put the notes together and you'll have a story. Write at the end of the day when the kids are asleep. I think you can see a pattern here.

Why am I writing this now? Simple. Some folks have been bombarding me about how they want to be a writer but can't find the time. Writing takes no time. If you want to get published and sell some books, that's a different matter. This quickie post is not about that. More to come about that later, as with other articles I have written about it in the past.

Prioritize. If you don't want to be a writer, then don't write. If you do: write.

If you're still reading my discourse, and you want to be a writer, you're in luck. I'm finished. Time for you to write. I want to see your books bandied about so I can tell the world about them.

Happy writing.

Blaze McRob

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 I love this scene from Finding Forrester. Excellent movie for aspiring writers, or even writers who need a motivation nudge.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLBEFvMkQCo This scene epitomizes how I feel about writing. If you're a writer, you write. Simple as that. I never go anywhere without paper and pen. Period. Don't even need a computer or typewriter. Pen and paper. Simple. In the house, in the car, on the beach, anywhere. From the time I was eleven. No matter what was going on in my life, I wrote. Because I am and always have been a writer.

Reasons that people give you for not writing are bullshit. I got up at 4:30 in the morning when my kids were very little and wrote 6 screenplays that way. Later when I worked for my husband's plumbing business and still had kids to raise, I stayed up until midnight and one in the morning. Wrote my first two novels that way. Then I worked full-time after my separation and divorce and wrote my third novel by not flopping on the sofa and watching TV when I got home from work.

After my car accident and being rendered disabled, I began self-publishing my magazine Owl's Eye View online, and last year I self-published my seven novels, three novellas, multiple short story collections, and Best Of collections from the magazine columns on Kindle (some 30 books). There's time. Carpe Diem, people. Or Carpe Noctem. Just don't carpe bullshit excuses. Just write!

Terri DelCampo

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That's it for this week! Hope you enjoyed this newsletter.

Blaze

BLAZING OWL PRESS NEWSLETTER: NUMBER TWO

We're back again for our second newsletter. This week I'll start out with a question.

I've noticed that a large number of writers I engaged with over the years are no longer around. I realize that much has changed in the publishing business, but many people have seemingly just given up. Did they simply lose interest in writing? Some authors told me they simply got tired of the wonky website crap. I eased off on certain posts of mine because it seemed to me that a lot of people were in attack mode and got downright nasty. My reaction was to simply ignore them and stick to sharing stuff about fellow authors. Even at that, I'd get some people telling me on my own posts that I was wrong. Idiocy. After a while, I realized I didn't have to respond back to them. For the most part, that did the trick. I don't think there's any one solution to handling this. It is what it is. Some people are like that. Others aren't.

Unfortunately, others were ponied up to a press which went under and didn't get their rights back so they could republish their books. Of course, this would leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth. Read the fine print on your contract when you sign on the dotted line. Make sure the rights belong to you. I always have, and I'm certainly happy I followed my instincts. The position I'm in now is a good one. I write what I want to write, when I want to write it. I like being in charge of my work.

To get back to the part about civility, here's a post I wrote a while back about it.

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I tend to get highly agitated by some people. I don’t mind folks having a difference of opinion from mine. That’s their right. But for them to get rude is an entirely different thing.

There are a lot of inconsiderate people popping up in the various groups on Facebook and elsewhere lately. I'm concerned mainly with writers groups. As an example, one author posted her book cover of a soon to be published novel. This should have been a happy time for her, right? It wasn't. Some guy blasted her over it saying it was horrible. I remembered him posting other things of the like in the past. He's rather opinioned, rude, and it seems he sells book covers. Hmm. I checked his credentials and didn't think his covers were all that good. My opinion, of course. Other authors said the same thing. Their covers were also not worth bragging about in my eyes. They were not horrible, but not great either. One guy liked the cover the woman had. Me? I also liked the cover. Obviously, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Unless you just wish to bring someone down, that is.

The same thing can be found with people finding flaws with formatting, editing, and much more. People come out of the woodwork to attack their peers. Wow! Why? No one is perfect. Remember that. As a rule of thumb, read the free sample on Amazon for a book and base your decision on that.

I am an editor as well as an author. As such, I see some great work and some that is lacking. Thank goodness I don't have to tell individuals when their work is not up to par. Another person handles that part. When I review a book for someone, I only give 5Star or 4Star reviews. If the work doesn't warrant such, I don't bother to leave a review. If the author knows I've read the book and asks me about it, I'll tell her/him in private. Yes, I get some authors who tell me I'm wrong, but I don't care. They asked, and I told them.

Another thing that irritates me are people with high noses who have won many awards and try to lord it over the authors they consider to be beneath them. Sorry, people. I read for the content and not the celebrity. In fact, there are many authors who people love that I just can't get into. Their tastes; my tastes. No one is right or wrong. Also, there is still some stigma attached to self-published authors and their books. There shouldn't be. A good book is a good book. Plain and simple. We don't need gatekeepers anymore. Those days are over.

I suggest that if you want to say something to help out a fellow author that you do it in private and do it in a constructive manner. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut. There's too much negativity in this world today.

One of my author friends was attacked by about one hundred people who objected to the cover of her book and said some vile things online. I won’t mention the author or explain the cover, but these retards stepped over the line with their threats and insults. This was from supposedly God-fearing people on some agenda. We don’t need attacks from these self-righteous clowns.

Another thing that came to my attention was a major attack on a large Facebook group. This is supposedly a responsible group which is not tolerant of writers being slammed because of color, sexual preference, for being anti or pro religion, or gender equality. You get the idea. Everyone appeared to be after everyone else. It got to be quite infantile before it was over. And, for a writers group, there were many illiterate people. That’s another thing I get angry with. If an author posts something, they should put up one with no incorrect words or misspellings. I look at that and never bother to buy their books.

Thank you for reading this.

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My artist this week is Peggy Szasz. She is a master with quilt art. Because Facebook and I don't play nice with each other when it comes to sharing pictures, I'm sending you a link to her Facebook page where you can see some of her stupendous quilts. You'll love them!

https://www.facebook.com/peggy.szasz 

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My Woman In Horror Post this week is a very interesting one where I interviewed JD Phillips. Take a read. I'm sure you'll enjoy what this lady has to say.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/5501000319026198085

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Romantic Shadows is this week's pick of books published by Blazing owl Press. It's a special book for Terri Delcampo and me.

https://books2read.com/u/31rapl

Romantic Shadows, by Terri DelCampo and Blaze McRob, is a collection published by Blazing Owl Press on our wedding anniversary back in 2016. We eased up a bit on our usual horror fare and wrote some romance-themed short stories and poems. Yes, there are certainly elements of horror contained within, but that is not all we present in this tome. Lovers are reunited in magical ways, the Dance Of Love soothes yearning hearts, and much more.

We hope you enjoy the softer side of horror we share with you here.

Blaze McRob

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True love drowned by stormy seas?

Nun and lover brought to knees.

Wig transforms a broken girl.

Lady killed by shrapnel hurled.

Lambada's passion warms the soul.

Tears in heaven are wrath's toll.

Like seeks like when soulmates meet.

Poe's adoring shadow greets.

Will child be mother's resurrection?

Powwow lovers pose for perfection.

Artists' souls joined with paint eternal.

Chilesa's life raft is infernal.

Moon beams and lovers dream – forever

All in this tome – a dark romance endeavor.

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Cover art and poem above done by Terri DelCampo

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https://www.amazon.com/Gothic-Revival-Carson-Buckingham/dp/0692219412?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g7RgD5C-EZJ8aqF7vyPxcHsbVYaY8CVEHGDG9fG6UwEr8PUpS7Vxk0DMMO9F-Yun9VFwwxRv81Sw9aRXtt85-A0C6CVUU0yGu9PBwbkgRvAJ5IZvu0Phl_1UbXOBqZ0hFOylA6zgcfeavDJCZ6PCn-FSgHGr53Iwx0WaozAgsggW7g5UDtULmZLroaz11Fiu15t0hY830535Ig7-wzA_JU6pQw7Njqg-oEBb_cySME8.LH5aW2defAAzsk1Q6h9gmjZA5HNo3kU-5vJNSvRg_BU&dib_tag=AUTHOR

Here's my book review for Gothic Revival, by Carson Buckingham. This is a great novel!

Blaze McRob

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Book description:

Alex and Leo Renfield are a husband and wife contractor team who’ve recently moved to the village of Woodhaven, Connecticut to escape the chaos of life in New York. Pretty close to broke, they meet Theodora Hamilton, a somewhat unsavory and odd individual, who offers them an astronomical amount of money to repaint the first floor of her family home.

But along with the huge paycheck comes a set of unsettling rules that must be followed explicitly if they are to accept the offer; one of which is they must reside on the property having no direct contact with the outside world until the job is complete.

Is Theodora Hamilton just an eccentric woman with a peculiar way of doing things, or is there a more sinister agenda that Alex and Leo are unaware of? What exactly does she have in store for this down-on-their-luck couple who have no choice but to accept the offer and the strange requirements that come along with it?

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5.0 out of 5 stars Gothic Revival Is Carson Buckingham's Masterpiece!,

By Robert C. Nelson

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This review is from: Gothic Revival (Kindle Edition)

Gothic Revival, by Carson Buckingham, is the author's best work to date. One would think a 536 page novel would have some slow, drawn-out sections, but not for Carson. She is a master at Gothic story-telling and knows how to keep the story moving.

I am particularly impressed by the fact there is no elaborate over-description involved. To me, that is boring. Give me some action; some psychological horror. Carson gives the reader all the description she/he needs without describing every useless tid-bit a reader doesn't want to know.

How does she do this? Through her skillful use of dialogue. Too many authors are totally without dialogue skills. Carson could write a non-fiction book on the subject. But then again, anyone who reads Gothic Revival will see what I'm talking about. Her dialogue is written the way people actually talk. Fancy the concept! She has hit upon a secret so simple that it eludes far too many authors.

Now I come to a part of Carson's writing that I really enjoy. Her sense of humor. What, you ask, humor in Gothic horror? You betcha. Once more, Master Carson Buckingham comes riding along on her trusty steed and delivers the right amount of humor at the perfect time. Superb!

Take dialogue unmatched by any author past or present, add in humor, suspense, romance, and a foreboding creepy feeling polishing it all off, and you have Carson Buckingham.

You will notice my review does not tell you the details of the story. Yikes! Why do that? Read the description and the free sample for that. I'm here to tell you about the author's skills. Of that, Carson has many. Besides, I wanted to blurt out some goodies, but that would have been a spoiler. Not my style.

Gothic Revival is a masterpiece!

 

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That's it for this week! I hope everyone got something out of this newsletter.

Blaze McRob

BLAZING OWL PRESS NEWSLETTER: NUMBER ONE

 

This is the first newsletter for Blazing Owl Press. We'll be running it weekly on our press website and on Patreon. It won't be only exclusive to books and articles by Terri DelCampo and Blaze McRob. We'll be sharing the great stuff that many other great authors, artists, and more are doing. Also, we're not limiting the newsletter to the horror genre only. I hope you'll find some fantastic people to add to your must-follow list.

I want everyone to know right off the bat that this is not a newsletter that will delve into politics or religion. Maybe, just maybe, some of what we believe may be in some of our writings. Or not. Fiction can be a tricky mother.

This newsletter will be divided into many segments. The past, present, and future. Here it comes.

Blaze 

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Many authors believe that Amazon is the only game in town. It's not. While they're the big boys of the publishing industry, they're not the only ones. Neither do I believe that the Big Five is the way to go. I've had books published by big name publishers before, and I'll never do it again. An author loses control of their work with them, I believe. Also, if you're an indie author, you get a bigger piece of the pie. A novel author friend of mine was only getting 7&1/2 % for each book sold. That's crap.

Me? All my new writing is being done on Patreon now. That's the way it will be for the remainder of 2024. Perhaps longer. My account there is https://www.patreon.com/Blaze_McRob

Draft2Digital is another good option if you wish to go wide. https://www.draft2digital.com/

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Here's a link to a Woman In Horror post I wrote for Dona Fox a while back. She is a superb master of the craft.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/5072061380251534006

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Terri DelCampo has been doing some great artwork, not only for our book covers, but for Fine Art America and local places in the city we live in. Here is one of her many pieces.

https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/1566935780010902067

These are some cute critters!

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Peg the Egg: An Introductory Resource to Allergens, Allergies & Anaphylaxis

by Amy L Marley

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=amy+marley&i=stripbooks&crid=22GAP4XP43CGU&sprefix=amy+marley%2Cstripbooks%2C90&ref=nb_sb_noss

Peg the Egg is an introductory resource for kids of all ages to read with their parents, families, teachers, carers or specialists.

Information is presented with photographic illustrations to ensure there is no room for "make-believe".

A clear reminder that allergies are REAL. Reactions are REAL 

Each of us is at different stages and plays various roles along the allergy journey, a journey nobody processes in precisely the same way. With that in mind, Pete the Peanut is a resource that is designed to dip in and out of as opportunities along their unique relationship living with allergies are presented. 

While there is no one size fits all approach, the most important thing we can do is to educate our children with as much information as we possibly can. Bearing in mind each child's individual readiness to absorb and use while navigating their worlds and their lives. Expanding their understanding and assessing their personal risks as they experience, grow and learn, not only for themselves but for others around them too. 

We can't allergy-proof the world but we can use our voices and share information as a powerful way to expand the awareness of allergies. In doing so, we empower children living with allergies to self-advocate in a world filled with distractions. 

You'll love reading this cute book written about a serious matter. Amy does a great job explaining about food allergies. It is a must read!

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LIVING GREEN: WHY SILENT SPRING, BY RACHEL CARSON, IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOOK TO READ: BY BLAZE MCROB

Painting by Vi Huntley-Franck

Today, I’m going to suggest a great book to read for those of you concerned with pollution, climate change, and being a responsible human. I’ll be adding in more as my Living Green series continues.

I’ll start with the book that started it all off for environmentalists everywhere. Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson.

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Spring-Rachel-Carson-ebook/dp/B004H1UELS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PR4AL4QSG5CZ&keywords=silent+spring+rachel+carson&qid=1644716283&s=books&sprefix=silent%2Cstripbooks%2C95&sr=1-1

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was first published in three serialized excerpts in the New Yorker in June of 1962. The book appeared in September of that year and the outcry that followed its publication forced the banning of DDT and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. Carson’s passionate concern for the future of our planet reverberated powerfully throughout the world, and her eloquent book was instrumental in launching the environmental movement. It is without question one of the landmark books of the twentieth century. 

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Silent Spring, released in 1962, offered the first shattering look at widespread ecological degradation and touched off an environmental awareness that still exists. Rachel Carson's book focused on the poisons from insecticides, weed killers, and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture, a practice that led to dangerous chemicals to the food source. Carson argued that those chemicals were more dangerous than radiation and that for the first time in history, humans were exposed to chemicals that stayed in their systems from birth to death. Presented with thorough documentation, the book opened more than a few eyes about the dangers of the modern world and stands today as a landmark work. --This text refers to an alternate kindle edition edition.

First published by Houghton Mifflin in 1962, Silent Spring alerted a large audience to the environmental and human dangers of indiscriminate use of pesticides, spurring revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. “Silent Spring became a runaway bestseller, with international reverberations . . . [It is] well crafted, fearless and succinct . . . Even if she had not inspired a generation of activists, Carson would prevail as one of the greatest nature writers in American letters” (Peter Matthiessen, for Time’s 100 Most Influential People of the Century).

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This is a great book which should be read by every person on the planet. We must not allow giant industries to pollute at will, solely for the purpose of making money. When Rachel Carson wrote this book, she was attacked mercilessly by the killer barons who couldn't care less if untold numbers of people died because of their greed. She fought these people to the grave. Read her book and learn what true dedication to a cause is all about.

Blaze McRob 

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Here's a post I did a while back. I believe it's still relevant today.

WRITING IS EASY

Writing Is Easy! What, you ask? How can writing possibly be easy? Writing is one word after another. That's it. There's nothing difficult about that.

Someone in the back is shaking their head, thinking that I'm an idiot. No problem with that. That's his right. He can even leave the room and I won't care.

Ah, you ask. "What are the words?" Again: simple. Put a picture in your head of the story you want to write. Write about that picture. If you have no story in your mind, forget about writing. Writing is easy, but only if you have a tale to spin. I get one simple thought in my brain, many times a sentence, or even a single word. Wham! Go from there.

As an example: in an upcoming novel, I think about my garage. I sleep in the garage because my wife is a bitch. The start of the picture in the gray matter is forming. Other senses come into play. Mice pitter-patter around and they make me think of rats from 'Nam. A presence forms, cutting off my air supply; a moldy stench surrounds it. This is not the first time this has happened, but this time . . . this time something is different. What? It talks to me this time. It never has before.

See what I mean? One word, garage, got into my mind and horror surrounds me. No build up needed. Pure action from the beginning.

Some people will rebel against what I'm saying next. Do not outline! It kills the flow of your story.

Let your tale roll unfettered and free. I never know how my stories will end. That's the fun of writing. Let your story people determine the outcome.

Do not worry about perfection in your first draft. Just write a story that flows. Don't worry about anything else. Hemingway said the first draft of anything is shit. He was right. So concentrate on the story first, and then polish in your next drafts.

Now, your story is done, and a grand tale it is. Except for one thing. It sucks! The story itself is great, but it needs some serious editing. Comma splices abound. There's not enough white space. You have over-used words; you are redundant. Mark in chapter one is Matthew in chapter ten.

Now what? You work on your edits first. Don't annoy your friends and ask them to be beta readers. Do the job yourself. Read your story out loud as you edit. That will help with your commas. Over and over again, do your edits. When you are satisfied you have a good story, send it to an editor. An author is too close to her/his own story to do it justice in the final edits.

Okay, I'm sure many of you have heard the old beta reader thing over and over again from friends. They are not editors. Hire an editor. There are many good ones out there and they will not all gouge you. Many have great rates.

If you are going to self-publish, get a great cover artist. Don't go half-ass here. It is very important. Also, consider doing books with interior art scattered about. It is impressive, and a lot of Publishers are doing it.

Have someone who knows what they are doing, do your formatting. Make certain you check everything out before you publish your tale.

Happy writing to everyone!

Blaze

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Next week I'll add in more of the great authors I know, more articles, and more art. Let me know what else you want me to write. 

Thank you for reading.

Blaze McRob

  

THURSDAY DELIGHT: BOOK REVIEW FOR - MEET ME IN MAINE - BY SUSANNE LEIST

 

https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Me-Maine-Book-Harbor-ebook/dp/B0972C155B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TWB6FLYR3Q5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JlXMSdoLxxPC1YxIN6E52EVOwVlsLez_WjeoJeTOre1G-aLz7OrUfgt9kl0zPDe5g1kPZASsKqsZb7gWbrEMHToHRpDa1L-OALfMXVI9MafNn_sqmnkeEUCzezHUWNVfya4sISpbNfs1D0_NiZd0sF3GOqCQmGtrbqb6kkQdpMLdxFw6tr7DQ_p8rC6Zu5InZGdaSEtGfsX740G1P6E5BA.NcCQfsNPue4yrmgApHaYSrqgAppnuZmBG1Ik8FIEYgg&dib_tag=se&keywords=meet+me+in+maine&qid=1721329492&s=books&sprefix=meet+me+in+maine%2Cstripbooks%2C94&sr=1-1

This is my book review for Meet Me In Maine: Book One of The Blue Harbor Series, by Susanne Leist.

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Book description:

Elizabeth Reading and Scarlett Harding travel to Blue Harbor, Maine, hoping to find a bed-and-breakfast to buy and a peaceful town. What they discover instead is much more sinister…

When they visit the local ice cream parlor, a man rushes through the doorway, clutching his throat and dying in a pool of blood. Chief Lively and two men, David Hunt and Logan Rayne, interrogate Elizabeth and Scarlett. Elizabeth stares at the dashing, blue-eyed David, stunned she agreed to a date with him just hours ago.

Elizabeth wants to pack her bags and visit other harbor towns, but Scarlett insists on keeping their appointment. They fall in love with the quaint bed-and-breakfast and sign the papers a few days later.

Once they settle into the inn, strange incidents plague Blue Harbor. At Scarlett’s date with Jonathan Hale, the charming ice cream parlor owner, a woman’s head explodes at the next table. A suspicious explosion rocks the harbor, destroying boats and part of the dock. Their fears mount as an intruder breaks into the inn.

The curse placed by the Penobscot Indians on the original settlers and descendants of Blue Harbor has returned with a violent twist.

Have Elizabeth and Scarlett put their lives in danger by dating two of Blue Harbor’s descendants? Should they sell the inn or stay and fight the curse alongside David, Logan, and Jonathan?

*****

Five stars from Blaze McRob!

I love the state of Maine, and I'm fascinated with Penobscot Indian lore, so it was quite a natural thing for me to purchase Meet Me In Maine. The more I read, the more I was pulled into the story. Blue Harbor, the locale where the story unfurls, is a charming little town, but is also a cursed town filled with many mysteries. I very much enjoyed the fast-paced action that Susanne Leist brought into this novel. From start to finish, chaos reigned. My kind of story!

Elizabeth and Scarlett have to battle back against murders, explosions, a wonky police chief who constantly gets in the way of solving crimes, and much more. I don't want to get too explicit with my descriptions because they will take away from your reading enjoyment. There are many what the hell moments in this novel. Just when you think you have everything figured out, you find out you're wrong again. 

Anything can and does happen in this tome, so don't start reading with the idea you'll chip away at any clues that might line your reading pathway. I certainly never expected to read most of what was spread out before me.

If you like fast-paced, suspense, horror, mystery, and paranormal tales, with romance thrown in for good measure, you'll be sure to enjoy Meet Me In Maine. 

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From Susanne Leist:

A career in writing has been an enormous leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. However, I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. I write every day and have even tried my hand at poetry. So don’t let anyone tell you it’s too late in life to try something different. It is never too late to follow your heart.

THE DEAD GAME SERIES brings fantasy and surrealism to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. In addition, it offers vampires and a touch of romance to spice the motley mix.

MEET ME IN MAINE, the first book in THE BLUE HARBOR SERIES, provides the backdrop for murder, mystery, and romance in a seaside town. Love falters and flourishes as the residents fight the persistent evil plaguing their small-town lives.

Sit back, put up your feet, and let me bring mystery and romance to your lives.

PARLIAMENT - BY TERRI DELCAMPO

 

https://www.amazon.com/Parliament-Terri-DelCampo-ebook/dp/B00OF86A7A/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2GBRW03JE15GA&keywords=terri+delcampo&qid=1641565785&s=books&sprefix=terri+delcampo%2Cstripbooks%2C83&sr=1-6

Terri DelCampo has brought many tales written by her to Blazing Owl Press. I'm sure readers have noticed we have many books here. Most of these are Terri's. I might catch up in time, but, for now, she is the champ. Parliament is one of those books, a frightening novel blending non-fiction with fiction. Sometimes that happens. This story is one of those. There is legend; there is lore; there is horror.

This is one of Terri's best works.

Enjoy.

Blaze McRob

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Book description:

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The battle for good and evil begins,

With Hildeberta and Peter, God knows who wins.

In the Abbey House the legacy starts.

Hexenprozesse broke millions of hearts.

Owl's Nest was waiting the witches knew,

Deep in their souls so away they flew.

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Terri has a generous free sample on Amazon you can read that will, most certainly, entice you to read the entire novel. I have included a portion of it below.

Happy reading!

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Samantha Liesel Bauer's in flight to do list only contained two items: Catch up on journal entries and sleep. 

She rarely allowed her journal entries to lapse, but the last couple of days had been so hectic with her birthday, graduation, and passing-the-bar celebrations, she'd had precious little time for sleep, let alone writing.  So she considered the eight hour flight to Germany a gift from the Sandman. 

Before using it to write a word, Sam stared at the pen, half of a solid gold pen and pencil set she'd received from her parents to commemorate her graduation in May from Harvard Law, top of her class, Suma Cum Laude, with job offers out the wazoo including one full partnership, all of which she readily declined in favor of her own agenda. 

That agenda had begun with immediately sitting for the Delaware Bar exam in July and passing it with flying colors, which is why her grad party had been held in late August along with her birthday celebration last week-end. 

"Samantha Liesel Bauer Esquire, PhD" winked up at her from the barrel of the pen, and brought a smile to her lips as she congratulated herself for double-majoring and going for the PhD in comparative religion, which would come in handy considering the brand of law she planned on pursuing.  Civil Rights Law, especially pertaining to the rights of women and children had been close to her heart since her birth eighteen years ago. 

The smile also reflected her joyous memory of the blowout grad/18th birthday party that had lasted the entire three-day holiday week-end at her parents' modest home on Screech Owl Circle in Owl's Nest, Delaware.

She imagined pretty soon she would be able to buy them a mansion, once she finished her business in Germany.  She also imagined that they would not accept.  They loved their little house in Owl's Nest, their hometown, hell, the hometown of all of her ancestors since they'd immigrated to the New World from Germany in the late 1600's. 

They might like a condo on Owl's Lookout, overlooking the Delaware, though, she wrote into her journal, then wrote her reconsideration: probably wouldn't be able to blast them out of the house in which they'd raised her.  The only thing they loved almost as much as Sam was Owl's Nest and all the memories attached to the home they'd made for her. 

Of course her childhood, in the traditional sense had been brief and unique.  When she'd been bored out of her mind already in kindergarten, already reading and fully comprehending at a fourth grade level, her parents decided to home school her with excellent tutors, who were not intimidated by gifted pupils who were smarter than they. 

Unlike her kindergarten teacher who flat out didn't know what to do with Sam's 'disruptive behavior.'  Her parents had collected her and her things from the classroom after a conference in the principal's office one afternoon, only a month into the kindergarten year. 

"Samantha is bright to say the least, extremely precocious.  So bright that she heckles the teacher throughout the day, correcting her grammar, challenging the plots and morals of the stories she reads to the class, creating better endings for them, completing assignments within moments to sit bored waiting for the rest of her classmates to catch up.  We could bump her up a grade, but the first grade curriculum isn't much more advanced than kindergarten's."

So the principal handed Sam and Claudia a piece of paper with a list of tutors and programs that might fit Samantha's needs a lot better than a kindergarten class that she was almost smart enough to teach herself. 

At age ten Samantha had taken a walk through Owl's Nest to the elementary school, found Ms. Willow, the kindergarten teacher, and apologized for having been so rude.  Ms. Willow smiled and laughed.  "That's very nice of you, Samantha, and I guess in all fairness I should apologize right back to you for boring you to pieces."

"Maybe the writers of some of those lame, condescending stories you read should be the ones to apologize," Sam suggested, smiling and Ms. Willow laughed heartily and nodded in agreement. 

"You have a good point; some of them are positively mind-numbing, aren't they?  So any suggestions?  War and Peace? Gatsby? The Shining?" 

Sam's turn to laugh as she'd forged a friendship right then and there with Ms. Willow, who'd attended her graduation party last week-end, a mere eight years after that conversation in the kindergarten room of Owl's Nest Elementary School. 

Sam smiled, scribbling furiously in her journal about that wild-ass party. All of Owl's Nest had been there in one form or another, the whole front and back yards of her parents' house had been full of people (not to mention Owls in the trees that dotted the yard, including those of her ancestral line all the way back to her great, great, great-grandparents Samuel and Liesel, after whom she'd been named.

She pulled Samuel's gold watch out of her pocket, that had been her birthday present from Sam and Liesel (who had presented it to her outside, beneath the elm tree where they perched in Owl form) the night before her party. 

******

Terri DelCampo is the founding editor and writer of Owl's Eye View Magazine, founding partner/writer/editor at Blazing Owl Press, author of 35+ novels, short story collections, children's collections, poetry collections, and multiple individual short stories available right here on Amazon. She pens Broken Old Broad Blogs, is a contributing writer for multiple horror anthologies, freelances poetry as well as non-fiction articles and essays. Terri is an ongoing competitor and winner of NaNoWriMo and Critters/Preditors & Editors Awards.

Terri is married to horror writer Blaze McRob and in 2015 they founded Blazing Owl Press where she is a very hands-on partner. Her duties at BOP include editing, producing book covers, and of course writing.

If you look up write-a-holic in the dictionary, Terri's picture is there.