I'm Not Guilty: The Case of Ted Bundy (The Development of the Violent Mind Book 1), by Al Carlisle

I'm Not Guilty: The Case of Ted Bundy (The Development of the Violent Mind Book 1), by Al Carlisle is a raw look into the mind of Ted Bundy.  When I received the book, I expected it to be another story of Ted Bundy and the author's viewpoint of how the famed serial killer thinks.

I was wrong.

Instead, the reader is treated with actual conversations and interviews between Ted Bundy and Dr Al Carlisle Ph.D. The reader is taken on an emotional journey through Ted Bundy's life from his preteen years up until his time in prison.  At times, the reader begins to fees empathy with Bundy, but is quickly reminded of the sick and twisted nature of his mind.

Dr. Al Carlisle Ph.D. is not your normal author that writes about the mind of a serial killer.  Instead, he was fortunate to meet Ted Bundy face-to-face and get to know the man behind the murders.  His first hand account of Ted Bundy's revealed reasoning and feelings about the crime is honest and raw.

As an individual that is studying to become a psychologist, I took my time reading I'm Not Guilty and took many notes on the questions and interaction that Dr. Al Carlisle enacted.  I thought I would finish the book in a week, but here I am a couple of months later, and I am just now getting around to the review.

There is a lot of information to soak in, and the details can make the weak stomached individuals squirm, but the read is well worth it.

I recommend I'm Not Guilty: The Case of Ted Bundy (The Development of the Violent Mind Book 1) to anyone that real horror, psychological thrillers, or just an overall good read!

Dale-A-Palooza: The End of an Era, a Final Goodbye

Normally I post book reviews on this blog, but I felt it fitting to post about Dale-A-Palooza here because it is the final chapter in a story that will never be recreated. 

Tonight, a celebration of life and a reunion of non -blood family took place in honor of Mr. Dale Hamel.  Dale was the kindest and most generous man that I have ever met.  He was a a giver of opportunity to those that otherwise might not have fit in.  He was a scholar in his own right, guiding others toward a path of success via the lessons he learned in life and from his own past failures.  He was a father figure to those that needed that support.  He was a friend to everyone, even those that didn't know they needed a friend.  Dale was all of these things and so much more.

Unfortunately, Dale-A-Palooza could not occur within the club that he built from nothing to the sanctuary that it had become before closing unexpectedly.  However, we were lucky enough to hold it at another location that bears the same name as the club.  The turn out and the mood was all but unknown before it began, but we knew that it would be a good time regardless. 

From the first notes that Rumble Strip played, a surreal feeling hovered over the event.  Somehow, the feeling that I was back in the club with all the regulars had returned.  The mood, the feel, the chatter, the faces, the everything was exactly like Club Landing used to be.  The feeling continued into Ultrafab's performance, then into Blammo's set, and finally int Sam Goodie's set. From beginning until the end, it was like the old days had never gone. 

Despite the familiarity, the welcoming of friends, and the heart pounding music, there was one piece missing from the complex puzzle.  Yet, in an eery way, you could tell that the piece was there, hiding in a corner, smiling from ear to ear. 

We may be closing the pages on the book of Club Landing, but honoring Dale with a night in his honor was the perfect way. 

Thank you to all that came out to experience the event.  Thank you to the Hamel's for orchestrating the event and allowing this to happen.  Thank you to all of the volunteers that helped along the way. Thank you to the bands and members of other bands that stepped in.

Most of all, thank you Dale.  You are missed, you are loved, and you are a part of everyone that attended and wanted to attend.  You touched so many people in so many ways. The era may have come to an end, but your impact is everlasting.

It Won't be much longer: Final Reverie - releasing soon!

It won't be long now until Final Reverie is released by J. Ellington Ashton Press. I cannot wait to share the adventures of Chij and Franklyn with all of you. Until then, here is a small excerpt:

“Can you imagine living your life in a box, staring at a box, and clicking little buttons that are shaped like boxes?” said Franklyn. “Not I,” said Chij. “Anyway, if all of the technology was still here I would not be having this conversation with you. I would probably be chained to a tree and drinking from a bowl.” “That is probably true, but that is how things were back then. Can you imagine the period between the demise of technology and the emergence of magic? I heard that a lot of people went crazy and few survived,” said Franklyn. They mused how the humans coped once the dust had settled, as the land renewed itself over the course of years, ushering forth a new age as the devolution caused by the now rotting machines was finally unhindered. How they managed to adjust as magic emerged too, and gained control of the land as the people readjusted their lifestyles, forcing them to rely less on their mechanical crutches. Most of all they wondered about the interaction between man and beast, as they became vocal and intellectual equals in the new world, and how they learned to rely on one another as something other than pet and master."

 This book has been in my head for quite some time.  I feared, at one point, that I would never finish it and the tale would be kept secret within my head until the end of my time.  However, I decided to see what would happen after the 2013 NaNoWriMo event.  Somehow I managed to finish the book in that time.  It was rough and missing quite a bit of detail, but the first draft was complete!  I went back through, from beginning to end, and added about 10,000 more words. I was completely ecstatic with my progress.  

As I said above, it won't be long now until Final Reverie makes its way into the hands of the fans.  I hope to start on the second book soon.  The working title is Salient Reverie and it will be be another labor of love.

Stay tuned for my toddler's book, which is being worked on now, "The ABC's of Zombie Friendship" which will also be released by JEA Press.

Final Reverie Cover Reveal!

As many know, I am currently working on my first novel, titled "Final Reverie".  I received the final cover artwork a couple of days ago and could not be more excited about the way it turned out! 

Before I get into the book itself, I need to give a huge thank you to artist David McGlumphy, he did an outstanding job.  His top notch communication and desire to gather my input was unsurpassed.  I didn't know what to expect, but he ensured I was informed throughout the process.  This cover will undoubtedly draw attention to the story within!

Final Reverie is the story of two adolescent boys, one human and one wolf.  Due to a reemergence of magic upon the world, the powers of good and evil were quickly thrown off balance.  An evil incarnate, Nafets, works on emerging form a subterranean prison while the boys, Chij and Franklyn, are tasked with the mission to destroy him. However, Atrin - a beast with a similar but more nefarious mission plans on stealing their thunder. 

Final Reverie is the first of three books, told in reverse order, in the Reverie series.  The second book is still in the works and will tell the story prior to Final Reverie, reintroducing us to characters from within. 

I want to give a thank you to everyone at J. Ellington Ashton Press for the kindness and support that they provided through this process.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but I never expected such a supportive family of writers and artists!

Review: Max Booth III's FISH: An Erotic Horror Short Story

From the moment I first loaded FISH into my Kindle app, something smelled funny.  Despite the aromatic warning, I couldn't resist continuing onward through the digital pages, ignoring my best judgment, and experiencing Max's fulfilling release of creative juices once finished. 

"When a boy, desperate for sex, finally finds a lover, he gives himself to her completely, body and soul. She will ensure that he does anything necessary to protect her, and their family..."

Honestly, I thought that this would be a mere lustful teenage love story riddled with a twist somewhere near the end.  I should have known better with an author like Mr. Booth III involved.  This is one of the most disgustingly beautiful short stories I have read in quite a while, and would recommend it to anyone with an extra 99 cents in their bank account.  Hell, charge your Kindle reader battery and shorten that electric or heat bill by a dollar.  This read is worth a month without unnecessary luxuries; the cavemen didn't need such extravagant wants, why do we?

In all seriousness, Max Booth III is a fantastic writer and well deserving of praise for his works; short and long.  His dedication to the craft of writing, and to his fans, is only equated by a select few.  Dare I say he is one of my literary heroes? (Or is that creepy and stalker-ish?)  Regardless, Max is quite talented and this short story samples his abundant talent within.