Review: Deep Within, by Charles Day

Deep Within, by Bram Stoker nominated author Charles Day, is a a well written tale of psychological dimensions.  I expected nothing but greatness based on what I read in The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief and The Adventures of Kyle McGerrt :  Hunt for the Ghoulish Bartender.  I was not disappointed in the least as Charles Day pulled out another instant classic.

Before I continue, I will apologize for taking so long to publish the review.  Prior to reading Deep Within I read another book that took place in a similar setting.  It was still quite fresh in my mind and I wanted to give some space in between to ensure one did not influence the other.  I am glad I did.

Although I have never met Charles Day, I have interacted with him on Social Media.  He has become somewhat of a literary hero of mine and he continues to impress me with his sincere demeanor and stand up values. I can see a lot of his personality within his writing, which brings a beautiful level of depth to his works. He puts everything he has into his work and it shows.

"When a mad psychologist decides to tap into the human mind, what he creates may be darker than anyone may ever know. As the creature begins to take physical form in our world, a group of childhood misfits set out to stop the bloodshed before all hell breaks loose."

Deep Within takes us  on a journey into the inner walls of a psyche ward.  In many books of similar themes we see the darker side of the institution.  However, Charles provides us with a delicate balance between our perception of such institutions and reality; providing us with the horrific in between.  The characters within feel real and dynamic and the situations and environment are well crafted. 

Each chapter is rather short, allowing even the busiest reader the opportunity to experience the tale in small portions and pick it up again when time allows.  I urge anyone with a love for psychological horror, emotional fear, and surprises around every corner to pick up their copy today!  Of course, after you read it, please leave a review and tell the world what you loved about Deep Within!

Review: Evil Jester Presents

I originally shared "Evil Jester Presents" with everyone when they were still hoping to raise the funds to make this horror filled graphic novel a reality.  As I shared back then, the folks at Evil Jester Comics not only reached their goal, but exceeded it.

Today, after driving an hour and a half home from work due to slippery roads and snail paced traffic, I found that my copy of the ling awaited comic was sitting upon my laptop waiting for me to dig in.  Carefully, I opened the envelope and gasped at the beauty of the cover.  I have collected a lot of comics in my time, and never have I seen such a breathe taking front cover.  I had seen pictures on the internet, especially Facebook, but to have it in my hands was an experience all its own.

Inside, I found that the stories and art were just as astounding.  Leading with Jack Ketchum's "The Box" introduced us to the level of work that "Evil Jester Presents" has in store for us.  I was immediately intrigued and felt a lump in my throat when finished.  It was scary, yet carried a heavy dose of emotion to play upon my fears.  Joe McKinney's "Swallowed" was not only visually stunning, both in words and pictures, but left me wanting more, in a good way.  I would love to see an entire comic built around his story alone.  "Small World", by William F. Nolan is a heart wrenching post apocalyptic tale of one man's survival.  It also reminded me to fear my kids when the apocalypse rears its ugly head.  Finally, "Like Part of the Family", by Jonathan Mayberry, rounds out the four tales with a new spin on the classic monsters.

Although the four authors are the shining stars within the pages, we cannot forget those that are hidden within the credits.  Eduardo Alpuente (Art Consultant), Joseph Siglio (Designer), Felix Ruiz (Logo & Title Design), Richard P. Clark (Front Cover Art), Aric Sundquist (Staff Writer and Reader), Charles Day (Publisher), and Taylor Grant (Publisher and Deaditor-in-Chief, Art Director, and Staff Writer), were all just as essential to the debut issue of Evil Jester Presents, and earn an applause all the same. 

If you are a fan of Horror, Art, Comics, or just a good story, click the picture below to order your copy today!

Evil Jester Presents: The Wait is Over!

Since the initial announcement, I have been anxiously awaiting the debut of "Evil Jester Presents" the debut comic from Evil Jester Comics.  Although the wait was long, the team over at Grant-Day Media has kept their fans up to date on the progress while keeping the excitement fresh in our minds.  All until the below post was updated all over Facebook:

"THE WAIT IS OVER. Evil Jester Comics is proud to present our first full color, gorgeously illustrated comic book! Featuring terrifying tales by an ALL-STAR LINE UP, including New York Times Bestselling author Jonathan Maberry, International Bestselling author William F. Nolan, Bestselling author Jack Ketchum, and Bram Stoker Award Winning author Joe McKinney. With beautiful artwork by Marvel/DC/Dark Horse artists including Richard P. Clark, Felix Ruiz, Beni Lobel and more. Officially on sale at our website: http://www.eviljestercomics.com/! Find out why Evil Jester Presents is one of the most talked about indie horror comics of the year."

With names such as Jack Ketchum, William F. Nolan, and Joe McKinney, not only will the debut issue surely become a sought after collector's item, but also the start of a new error in horror comics.  We have seen the Golden Age,the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, the Atomic Era, and the Modern Age take the comic book industry by storm.  Not since the Silver Age have we seen the emergence of fantastical horror stories overtake the colorful pages of our favorite comics. In this new Crimson Age, Evil Jester Presents is sure to bring horror comics back to their reign where they will once again send shivers down the spines of those that dare flip through the pages under the dark blankets by the light of an LED flashlight.

To those that brave the fiends within the pages, be warned about the Evil Jester.  His handshake may be firm, his gaze may seem sincere, but within that hollow skull resides the power to take you on an unforgettable journey through his horrific world, where the dead live and the living die.  But don't let that scare you, just take along your favorite melee weapon and don't forget to double tap.  I am sure you will be fine! 

Guest Spot On The Evil Jester Podcast

Last night I had the honor of being a guest on The Evil Jester Podcast, with host Charles Day, his minion The Evil Jester.  The other guests were the amazing Bram Stoker Award winning Joe McKinney and the always entertaining Bill Zombie Zak Snider.

In the chat room, it was a blast chatting with Taylor Grant and Tommy B. Smith.

We chatted a little about ourselves and what we have been working on, but a good deal of the discussion was centered around our writing methods.  To outline, or not to outline, that was the question.  When you have a spare hour, be sure to give the show a listen and share your writing methods in the comments below. 

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Literacy and Our Youth Spotlight

When I started writing, I really did not know which direction my stories would take.  Horror has always been my preferred writing method, but I also enjoy Sci-Fi and Fantasy just as much.  So, when I started taking courses at the Institute of children's Literature, I did so to refine my writing skills.  Little did I know that I would actually want to write for children/young adults.  However, now that I have graduated from the course, I find that my style is not defined by one genre.

My current publications are all in the horror genre, although my first published story, "Game Over" published in 31 more nights of Halloween by Rainstorm Press, is more a a young adult horror story.  My first book, assuming a publishing company accepts it, will be a young adult fantasy adventure.  The story pays a little homage to my favorite video game series titled "Final Fantasy".  It was kind of a scary thought to try something that was not my norm.  I really was not sure where to start, but the Institute of children's Literature helped me out with it. 

I also have a fantastic support group made up of many writers from various backgrounds.  Seeing them update their works, share their progress, and just talking to some of them has made me realize that I can write in any genre that I feel comfortable with.  One of those writer friends is Charles Day.

Charles Day is the Bram Stoker nominated creator of "The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief".  His dedication and passion to his artform is truly amazing and admirable.  His newly released book, "The Hunt for the Ghoulish Bartender" is another testament to dedication to his craft.  Charles is not only an acclaimed author, but also owner of multiple publishing companies, such as Hidden Thoughts Press, Evil Jester Press, Evil Jester Comics, and more.

An admirable aspect of Charles Day's passion for writing is his involvement outside of the writing community.  Charles works diligently to reach out to the Young Adult readers to bring excitement back to what I have heard called a "lost art".  In fact, some kids that I have spoken too would rather wait for the movie than read the book.  Sadly, they don't realize that an unsold book does not lead to a movie production.  Charles' outreach to the young readers, and future authors, is helping the literary arts keep its momentum in our culture. 

We need more people like Charles day on our culture, people that believe in our children and are dedicated to educate them and mentor them towards their dreams and goals.  If you are a parent, share your story below about how you help your children to enjoy the literary world.  What books are their favorites?  Do you rely on the highly acclaimed releases, or have you found the hidden gems of the small presses?

If you, or anyone you know, is interested in finding a fantastic book for a young adult to read, click the links below to find both of Charles' young adult novels.  Don't forget to check out some of the Evil Jester Press publications for yourself, I highly recommend Inheritance by Joe McKinney (linked below).