Interview with Elizabeth Svigar

Available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AM5B5S

Briefly describe your journey in writing your first book. 

The idea for the book came to me on a long drive through the woods. I’ve been a longtime reader of folk tales and love the story of Baba Yaga. I thought she’d be a great character to modernize and bring into a contemporary fantasy. Then of course if you have Baba Yaga, you have to have a Vasilisa, so that’s how the character of Samantha came about.  The other characters arrived as I wrote, several based on character archetypes. Abby is the quintessential troubled heroine. Dr. Dante came to me as a blend of Heathcliff, who is one of my absolute favorite literary characters, and Erik from the Phantom of the Opera.  I didn’t have a “bad guy” for a long time, then a major news story hit that seemed to me to have mythological proportions in terms of someone committing evil acts. I’m curious to see if any readers will figure it out. All in all, the book took me two years, and I wrote and rewrote it several times.

Did you query agents or traditional publishers before publishing on Amazon?

I queried about five agents and one publisher.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish?

 Querying was too time consuming, with the possibility of little payoff. I did a lot of soul-searching, asking myself why I was writing. The bottom line was that I write because I love it, because it’s therapeutic for me, and because I would like to share what I do with other people. I’m not in it to try to become a bestseller or anything like that. I just want it to be out there for people to read.

Did you design your cover art?  If not, would you care to share your graphic designer’s information? How involved were you during the creative process for your cover?

Victorine from the Kindle Boards designed my cover. She did quite a lovely job.

How did you feel when you got your first sale?  Are you pleased with sales so far?

I was happy, but nervous that someone was going to be reading my work. Until then it’s well protected, safe! Some will love it, some will hate it, and it’s time to detach from that and continue writing. I am pleased and surprised with sales so far as it has done better than I expected. Of course one would always like to see more.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey.

Edit, edit, edit, and edit again! You’re really publishing. People will read it.

What kinds of social media [twitter, facebook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner attention for your book(s)?

I’ve been working hard to submit my book to several reviewers’ blogs. I also promoted on Facebook, and I’m a newbie but a regular on the Kindle Boards.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

It’s on sale at Barnes and Noble, formatted for the Nook.

What’s next for you?

I’ve been working on a futuristic YA dystopian about the Internet, where everyone can instantly do a search on everyone else, and there’s no privacy. It relates to cyber-bullying, and also the way the Internet can become Big Brother. It’s called The Web. I hope to have it finished not too long in the future. And I want to revisit Sam, Abby and Xenith from qi soon as well. I envision this current project to be a three-book series.

Interview with Chris Redding

Available:
http://www.sinfulmomentspress.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Incendiary

Briefly describe your journey in writing your first book.

I’ve been writing since I was ten years old. I wrote a story about a lady with lots of cats that garnered me an “A” and the attention of my classmates. Positive attention for once. I didn’t start writing seriously for publication until I was pregnant with my second son more than twelve years ago. I wrote a few books that shall remain nameless and not read. I wrote my first published book, The Drinking Game, and actually had a critique group.  They helped me improve it immensely. I revised it one more time before I submitted it to Wings ePress.  They accepted it and the rest is, well not history, but certainly my history.

What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher? 

I knew several people who had been VERY happy with Wings ePress. One of them Cris Anson, was always effusive about her experience there. Her reaction, among others’, convinced me to try them out.

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will publish directly for Kindle?

 I have several things going on right now. I have Corpse Whisperer out on Kindle and with Smashwords, which means it is also available on other E-readers such as the iPad and Nook.  Corpse Whisperer was initially published by a publisher that decided to close. I was able to get my rights back and use the edited version to upload to Kindle.  To me it has already been vetted.

Incendiary will be published electronically December 15 and in print in the Spring. Lachesis is a small publisher which has big plans.  Not sure if you consider that a traditional contract.  I see the industry growing and changing so much that what was traditional even five years ago is just one of many ways to get your book published.

A View to a Kilt will be out in 2011 with Echelon Press another small press with big plans. They have the same idea, publish electronically first, then print.

What kinds of social media [twitter, facebook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner attention for your book(s)?

You name it I am doing it. I am on:

Myspace www.myspace.com/chrisreddingauthor

Facebook www.facebook.com/chrisreddingauthor

I blog at: http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com (I often host authors here.)

My Twitter addy is www.twitter.com/chrisredding.

Feel free to follow me.

I also hang out sometimes on the Kindle Boards. I’ve learned a lot there.

Lastly, my website is: www.chrisreddingauthor.com

What’s next for you?

Whew! What isn’t. Next year I am unveiling a new writing workshop called Layering: It isn’t Just for Cakes with www.writersonlineclasses.com. They’ve been very supportive and have challenged me to create a workshop beyond my initial one, Show Up Naked:Writing the Male POV. I will also do two deconstructing workshops for www.savvyauthors.com.  One will focus on Legally Blonde and the other will cover Sweet Home Alabama, both movies with Reese Witherspoon. I also have plans on finishing another book, but not sure whether it will be a romantic comedy or another romantic suspense.

Thanks for having me today. You saw my link above. If you want to contact me: chrisreddingauthor@yahoo.com

You can buy Corpse Whisperer at Amazon

 and here:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31033

 www.myspace.com/chrisreddingauthor

Review of TAKE THE MONKEYS AND RUN by Karen Cantwell

4 out of 5 stars

I won a copy of this book in a contest.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Ms. Cantwell has a distinctive voice that I absolutely loved.  Without giving away any spoilers, I found this story to be reminiscent of a humorous, action-adventure movie made back in the nineties especially the circumstances involving the husband and his job.

Take the Monkeys and Run follows the antics of 45 year-old suburban soccer Mom, Barbara Marr.  Her life is falling apart.  Her husband has decided that he needs some space and has moved out.  Barbara wavers between falling apart and dissolving into tears or being stoic like her idol, Lt. Ripley, from the Alien movies.  Her life becomes more complicated when she finds monkeys in the trees on her property.  Barbara decides that she needs some distraction from her marital woes and decides to do some detective work and find out where those monkeys came from.

She involves two of her girlfriends in the mystery and an old boyfriend from her past shows up to lend her a helping hand and that doesn’t sit too well with her husband, Howard.  Ms. Cantwell has a flair for dialogue and there were many laugh out loud moments with Barbara.  Of course, things go from bad to worse and Barbara finds herself thrown into unlikely situations with some unsavory characters.  This book is predictable, but that doesn’t take away any of the enjoyment of reading it.  Take the Monkeys and Run is an absolute delight and I hope that Ms. Cantwell plans on writing many more adventures for our heroine, Barbara Marr.  Highly recommended.

 

Book Giveaway - SWITCHED by Amanda Hocking

Paranormal author Amanda HockingNhas graciously decided to offer a paperback copy of her book, Switched to one lucky winner.


To enter the contest for a chance to win a copy of the book, just click "follow" this blog [after the panel discussions section in the side bar] and then leave your email address in the comments section by Thursday, Dec. 23 at midnight.  You can also enter if you're already following the blog.  Everyone is eligible to enter. The winner will be notified by email.  Good luck all!


Book Blurb:
"Switched - the first book in the Trylle Trilogy...

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It wasn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right.

With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

Amazon Reviews:

5 stars from Jenn: I previously read Amanda's 'My Blood Approves' series, and loved them. Let me say that the description for this book doesn't give it justice. I was a little hestitant to read it, knowing it was about trolls. I was completely captured with the prelude. I read this book within 24 hours and I can't wait to start 'Torn'. 'Switched' has brought me to a whole different world..and I love it! I suspense between Wendy and Finn is exciting, nothing makes you want something more when you can't have it.

5 stars from Christi: I was really nervous when I found out this book was about trolls. Because when you think of trolls you think nasty, dirty, ugly and deformed monsters.You think of children books and fairy tales. I never thought a book about Trolls would grab and keep my attention but that's exactly what this book did. It was mysterious and fascinating in all the right places. Everyone should give this book a try! You will not be disappointed that you did. I hope the second book comes out very soon because that ending left me wanting more!

Author Bio:

Amanda Hocking is a lifelong Minnesotan obsessed with John Hughes and Jim Henson. In between making collages and drinking too much Red Bull, she writes young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She's the author of the vampire series My Blood Approves, the Trylle Trilogy, and the zombie novel Hollowland.

Connect with Amanda Online:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/amanda_hocking

My blog: http://amandahocking.blogspot.com/

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/amandahockingfans

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/amanda_hocking

Fellow Blogger, Kristen Lamb

Today I was reading some tweets and came across one from Kristen Lamb directing me to her blog.  What a great site.  Kristen is the author of WE ARE NOT ALONE: The Writers Guide to Social Media. You can read her blog here, Warrior Writer Blog.  The Warrior Writer Blog is dedicated to teaching authors tactics to survive and thrive in the new paradigm of publishing.


There are great links like:

Blogging Part 2 - Don't Feed the Trolls

Blogging Part 1 - Meeting the Bright Idea Fairy then Shoot Her

Now who doesn't like post titles like that.  There is a lot of great information on her site and I certainly plan on scrolling through it.  Thanks Kristen for tweeting today!

Review of FORBIDDEN THE STARS by Valmore Daniels

Available from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XT5S4S

 3.5 stars out of 5

I received a review copy from the author.

This book is an ambitious story weaving multiple storylines at once.  There is Michael Sanderson, President of Canada Corp’s Space Mining Division; Justine Turner, the first female astronaut who pilots Orcus 1 to Pluto; 10 year-old Alex Manez; the criminal base of operations on Luna and the legend of Kulkulkan, the Mayan god of the sun, the oceans, the earth and the sky.  Maybe, a little too ambitious.

Alex Manez travels with his parents on a survey mission to the asteroid Macklin’s Rock in the Sol System.  This should have been a routine mission, but tragedy strikes and his parents are killed in an explosion.  This is no ordinary explosion, but one that will change space exploration for mankind.  The asteroid disappears only to reappear four hours later in a Plutonian orbit; the first instance of FTL aided by a mysterious element named Kinemet.  Young Alex survives the FTL travel, but his exposure to kinetic element fundamentally changes him.  Justine and her crew who were currently serving on a mission to Pluto rescue him.  She must abandon her mission on Pluto to bring Alex back to Earth.

I wanted to bond with Alex and everything that he must be feeling, but the author keeps Alex at bay keeping him distant and aloof from every overture that Justine makes to befriend him.  We do get to know Justine better, a woman who lost everything in her personal life, because of her unfailing dedication to her career.  From the moment Justine rescues Alex, however, she develops an over protectiveness toward the young boy.  This is where Mr. Daniels gets it right.  I felt that I knew Justine and could understand the reasons why she made the decisions she did in her life.

Not being a scientist, I found myself skipping over many of scientific descriptions and explanations.  These don’t interest me, but this is in no way a reflection on Mr. Daniels who obviously did an enormous amount of research for this book.  I prefer to know more about people in the story – their motivations, desires, and dreams.

Without giving away any spoilers, there are many events in this book that keep the action moving.  All of the storylines came together and I finished the book within a week.  It was an enjoyable read and I have no problem recommending this book to fans of science fiction.

And the Winner Is...

The winner of the paperback copy of CAMEO THE ASSASSIN is:

Carol N Wong

Congratulations Carol!  You will be hearing directly from Dawn about receiving your book.  Thanks to everyone who entered.

Next week is the highly anticipated book giveaway from best-selling author Amanda Hocking.  Be sure to  come back on Monday and enter to win her book, SWITCHED.

Happy Reading!

Today's Sponsor: THE USURPER by Cliff Ball

Ever wonder what would happen if our worst fears were realized and we elected someone who was willing to destroy the USA, even if he was destroyed himself? The Usurper is that novel. It is a fictional account of what would happen if the Soviet Union and KGB were given the chance to take down the United States from within. They use the American political system, education system, terrorism, and commit environmental disasters to achieve these goals.

The Soviet Union and the KGB refuse to let the purging of communists in the United States as awhole by Senator Joe McCarthy, and the House Un-American Activities Committee, deter them. Soviet Premier Khrushchev authorizes the KGB to embark on an ambitious, decades long plan to destroy the United States from within through the corruption of American politicians, the American education system, terrorism, and environmental disasters. Gary Jackson, the main character, is the fulfillment of the KGB plan to destroy the United States from within. They raise him from birth to hate everything about the United States, indoctrinate him, and introduce him to terrorists across the world, where the KGB dictates all terrorist attacks. When Gary is a teenager, he is sent to the United States to assimilate and begin his mission. Nothing will deter his goals of completely and utterly destroying the United States.

When the Soviet Union dissolves, he is given a choice, and he decides to continue with the mission. A terrorist organization ends up filling in the gap left by the absent KGB, and they, together with Gary, conspire to destroy everyone in the United States who doesn't agree with them.

Links to buy:

https://www.createspace.com/3469577

http://www.amazon.com/The-Usurper-ebook/dp/B003VP9VVK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Usurper/dp/B003VP9VVK

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18734

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Usurper/Cliff-Ball/e/9781452429205

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-usurper/id382529518?mt=11

Reviews/comments:

"A cold-blooded, Clancy-esque political thriller; The Usurper is sure to entertain." --Nurture Your Books - nurtureyourbooks.com/?p=919

"I just finished reading The Usurper and enjoyed the book. I love the concept of this book and the ending caught me totally off guard. The Usurper is a quick read. There are many correlations with the real world that most of us can relate to. If only they had turned out differently. The book smacks of conspiracy theories. Who knows, this book could possibly be one of those that, in a few years, will make us wonder, "How did the author get so close to the truth?" -- J.C. Phelps

"The Usurper is not usually my favourite type of novel but Cliff Ball really surprised me. This is a very fast-paced, action-packed book once you get past the first few chapters. I think what impressed me the most was Ball's very accurate depiction of the power of indoctrination. In many ways it was a rather chilling view of what 'could have been'. If you like political thrillers then I highly recommend it." -- Tracey Alley

Author Bio:

Cliff Ball, is 36, single, and lives in Texas. Has a BA in English, and is hoping to pursue a MA in Creative Writing from University of North Texas. Has three novels on the market, The Usurper, Out of Time, and Shattered Earth. Won 3rd in a short story contest through Creative Writing in high school. Works as a freelance copy-editor.

Relevant links:

Author website: http://cliffball.webs.com

Author blog: http://cliff1974.wordpress.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cliff_ball

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cliff.ball.author

Excerpt from Chapter 4:

"Do you know who else is enemy of the people?” asked Putin.

“The enemy is anyone who questions the word of the government. They must be destroyed; nobody can be spared if they disagree,”

“You know who is one of your enemies, Gary?” asked al Hussein.

“No, who?”

“One of your enemies is your mother. She doesn't agree with the government controlling peoples' lives, and she thinks terrorism to control the people is bad. What do you think we should do with her, Gary?” asked Putin.

“My mother is an enemy? But, she could be on our side,” Gary innocently said.

“We've talked about this before, Gary, and you know what you must do,”

“But… but…. I don‟t want to do this,”

“Yes, I know, but she will destroy all that we are working for, and all of your future hopes and dreams. Again, I ask you, what should we do to people like her?”

Gary sighed, gulped a couple of times, and said, “The enemy has to die as an example to others not to think for themselves and do what they want. If my mother is an enemy, she must die,”

“Correct response. We need to go visit your mother to see that she is no longer a threat. Let's go, Gary.” ordered Putin.

A few minutes later, the trio arrived at the house Gary and his mother lived in. They went inside, where Ann was in the kitchen cooking dinner, she heard them come in, went to meet them, saw her son, and went to hug him, but, Gary didn't hug her back, so she asked, “What‟s wrong?”

“You are the enemy, you must be destroyed.”

PAID ADVERTISEMENT.  Please support our sponsor:

FRUGAL EREADER by Elizabeth Brown

Today I would like to invite fellow blogger Elizabeth Brown who maintains Frugal eReader to stop by and talk about her blog.

Elizabeth – Thank you so much for inviting me to take part in your wonderful blog and letting me introduce my blog and myself to your readers!

Deb – It’s my pleasure.  A few months ago you created The Frugal eReader, a blog designed to feature “Frugal Finds Under Nine for the Kindle.” Can you tell us about how you came up with the idea, and why you decided to start it?

Elizabeth - Of course! I’ve always been an avid reader, and this summer I finally purchased my very first eReader as soon as the third generation Kindle was announced. However as many others know, the wait was actually about a month for it to be released and shipped. During this torturous time I familiarized myself with the Amazon’s Kindle store as well as the discussion forums. I was spending a lot of time searching for eBooks that I’d want to download to my new Kindle… and discovering that there are thousands of eBooks that come at a great value. After a couple weeks, I figured that I couldn’t possibly be the only one doing all of this.  I then decided to create a place so that others didn’t have to worry about spending a lot of time and effort searching for great books at low prices. My goal was to create a place for Kindle and book lovers to discover new eBooks and authors, and to read more, read often and read frugally!

Deb – What does The Frugal eReader include?

Elizabeth - The Frugal eReader is dedicated to featuring Frugal Finds Under Nine ~ eBooks available on the Kindle from traditionally published as well as self-published authors that are under nine dollars. Many of the featured eBooks are as low as $0.99 (if not free J), all are under $9.00, and nearly every genre is included. I post every day, and feature special weekly posts three days a week. These weekly posts include “Monday’s Three: Under Nine, Under Five, and Under One,” “Frugal Freebie Wednesday,” and “Top Five Under Five Friday.” I have expanded The Frugal eReader to include Frugal eGames for the Kindle, as well as appropriate Amazon announcements related to the Kindle. Each and every post can easily be found through the multiple labels or the search box on the blog. For those who always have their Kindle at their side, the Frugal eReader is also available to be automatically delivered wirelessly ~ so a Frugal Find is never missed!

Deb - Many self-published authors have been featured on your blog, myself included, and you have now started to accept daily sponsorships. Can you talk about the different components in more detail for those who may not have been aware of them?

Elizabeth – While creating The Frugal eReader, I have had the opportunity to discover the community of self-published authors. The Kindle has enabled writers to realize the dream of becoming an author in a whole new way, and I truly find it courageous and inspiring!  I’ve experienced such a warm reception, and enjoy featuring the works of these authors to help them gain exposure to all of the readers out there.

Along with the daily-featured posts and special weekly posts, I have started monthly author interviews. I invite authors for an interview after I have personally read one of their novels. These interviews are the sole post of the day, and are usually coupled with a giveaway for the readers of The Frugal eReader.

I’ve recently created two other components for The Frugal eReader in support of the author community: daily sponsorships and daily banner advertisement space. The daily sponsorships allow one author to be highlighted at the beginning of the day with details about and links to their chosen novel. That novel is spotlighted as “A Frugal Find from Today’s Sponsor” at the top of the blog for the entire day, and the author’s banner is also featured under “Today is Sponsored By” for the entire day. The author’s sponsorship post lives on the blog forever under the “TFER Sponsors” label. I’ve also decided to replace my original ads with authors’ full size banners to promote a novel (or novels) in a highly visible space for an entire day.

For additional details on submitting a novel for a featured post, please visit the “Contact and Submissions” page of The Frugal eReader. More details about the new sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available on the “Become a Sponsor/Advertise” page.

Deb - Can readers and authors interact with you and The Frugal eReader through any other outlets besides directly through your blog (http://www.thefrugalereader.com)?

Elizabeth – Absolutely! I’m very active on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Frugal-eReader/101086513289732) and love interacting with fellow readers, bloggers, and authors on twitter (http://twitter.com/frugalereader). I’ve recently added The Frugal eReader to the NetworkedBlogs community, and discuss anything Kindle over at the Kindle discussion forums on Amazon (Elizabeth Brown). Of course, I can always be reached via email at etrubrown@thefrugalereader.com!

Deb – I wish you the best with The Frugal eReader.  You offer a great service to authors and I’m sure they appreciate all your hard work.

Elizabeth – I appreciate you inviting me to be a guest on your blog today, Debra ~ Thank you again!  As I continue with The Frugal eReader, I hope that it carries forward as a resourceful and positive place for readers and authors alike!

Today's Sponsor: BORROWED TIME by Maureen Miller

Available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Borrowed-Time-ebook/dp/B004E3X9CK

An accident on a frozen highway brings two strangers together. 

Brian Morrison has no recollection of what placed him on that icy stretch hundreds of miles from home.  In his line of business, memory loss was unacceptable and accountability was crucial.  Despite a nagging sense that his assignment was incomplete, he was infatuated with the woman that knelt above him seconds before unconsciousness staked its claim. 

Upon her parents’ death, Emily Brennan became the sole guardian of her brilliant, yet eccentric brother.  Her devotion to protect him from a world that shunned the abnormal made her do the unthinkable.  One of many faceless engineers for a government-funded marine facility, Emily Brennan gained a face when she stole designs from National Marine Dynamics…and now she was on the run.

Only an hour from the promise of safety, Emily witnesses the car behind her spin out of control on an icy stretch of highway. Fear dictated that she should flee, but the body slumped on the shoulder of the road appealed to her humanity. 

Emily and Brian are two strangers thrown together by an errant patch of ice.  Would the truths of their identities tear them apart or would they unite in battle against an egomaniac that threatened the safety of innocent civilians.

Excerpt from Borrowed Time:

And with the curiosity and awe of a child, Emily crossed that concrete floor as if it were frozen, as if she were on top of an ice-crusted surface on some faraway planet.  She approached the mammoth craft suspended by metal scaffolding like a creature of the sea, imprisoned, wanting nothing more than to be immersed in the life-sustaining ocean.

Mesmerized, Emily began to pace the perimeter, studying the fine details of craftsmanship.  The vessel looked like an enormous silver manta, with its eyes formed by the bank of windows at the forward nose.  The body of the ship flowed in aerodynamic waves as if even in these metal shackles it was gliding silently through the water, leaving the faintest of wakes.

Emily dared to step closer and stare up at the smooth, black underbelly.  From this perspective she felt just as she had as a child in the Museum of Natural History, staring up at the blue whale suspended from the ceiling of the Hall of Ocean Life.  She had felt so diminutive, like a tiny spec of plankton that would be inhaled without thought.

The Hyperion was wider than that blue whale, but about the same length.  It was made of a material that sparkled like black onyx.  She walked for a span beneath it, but returned to Brian with a sense of urgency.

“You want to go inside.” He nodded, resigned.

Author Bio: 

Maureen A. Miller is the author of several romantic suspense novels, including the Golden Heart nominated, WIDOW’S TALE.  This spring, Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital print, will be releasing her latest romantic suspense, ENDLESS NIGHT.

A programmer with too many airport layovers, Maureen spent that time creating stories to keep her mind off the overhead announcers.  Those days of travel are over, but the stories never went away.  Her next endeavor is off her ‘beaten path’ and embarking into romantic adventure with a thriller in the Guatemalan jungle. 

If you would like to learn more about Maureen A. Miller’s books, please stop by www.maureenamiller.com

PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Please support our sponsor:

Book Giveaway - CAMEO THE ASSASSIN by Dawn McCullough-White

Author Dawn McCullough-White has graciously decided to offer her book, Cameo the Assassin, as a giveaway today on my blog.  

To enter the contest for a chance to win a paperback copy of the book, just click "follow" this blog [after the interviews section in the side bar] and then leave your email address in the comments section by Friday, December 17 at midnight.  You can also enter if you're already following the blog.  Everyone is eligible to enter. The winner will be notified by email.  Good luck all!

Book blurb:

~Sometimes the anti-hero is the only hero you can find.

Scarred and jaded Cameo is one of the most formidable assassins in the employ of the Association. She moves from one mission to the next as long as the alcohol keeps flowing, until the day she meets two dashing highwaymen who unwittingly throw in with the dangerous and otherworldly Cameo. But that's really where the story begins... 

5.0 out of 5 stars Hits the Mark, August 21, 2010

By 

Richard E. Jackson (New Rochelle, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Cameo the Assassin (Book One) (Kindle Edition)

Late last night, I finished Cameo the Assassin. I would have posted a review earlier but I needed some sleep and time to pull my thoughts together.

This is one of those books that rewards the reader for paying attention. From start to finish, there is a lot going. There is no point where the story drags. Its pace is smooth. The plot is in constant motion, driven by the characters.

The characters especially Cameo are complex and detailed. Each one has a past and background that plays a part in the story adding depth to it. There are characters that you will love, some that you will hate and a couple that will be a mystery to you. They are all men and women of action. For the most part, they do not sit around waiting for something to happen.

Dawn provides the perfect setting for her characters. It's not a safe or savory place. It's a place filled with danger. Here nobles employ assassins to accomplish what politics and bribery could not. Violence can erupt at anytime. Several times during the story, I was surprised. Like the characters, I was unprepared for what the world threw at me.

All of these factors made Cameo the Assassin enjoyable read for me. I recommend this book especially to those looking for a darker story.

Author bio:

Dawn McCullough-White writes mainly dark fantasy and horror. Her novels tend to favor the use of anti-authority anti-heroes as the main characters, most commonly with a strong, female protagonist.