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. 

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!