Category Archives: Interviews

Where’s Your Karma 1-4 by Mark Nistor-reviews & interview

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Where’s Your Karma 1-4 by Mark Nistor-reviews & interview

CHALLENGING KARMA
(Where’s Your Karma 1)
by Mark Nistor
Genre: adult, contemporary, police, thriller

ebook only 99¢-> Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 1, 2024

A harmless inquiry by Declan ignites a multi-state crime spree. “Aren’t these challenges boring? We should try something new.”

Oscar eases forward, stating, “The ultimate crime.”

Rich beyond imagination, the four friends find the freedom they covet. Freedom from predictable lives has never cost this much. The murderous game they create turns against them with unforeseen outcomes. Of the four, Oscar Lloyd’s past conquests are unmatched. Detectives Ray Rix and newcomer Castor Jain try deciphering cryptic letters the rich men send as a game requirement.

Unknown to the detectives, the original four, and a network of innocent accomplices, there’s a second game of death lurking nearby. Changes in Oscar’s life keep him distracted. A distraction he has wanted his whole life, but it causes him to never recognize he is core to both game outcomes being a success. Secondary cryptic letters keep law enforcement confused until a simple question during a reporter’s scrum opens the door.

The games converge with differing intentions. The vigilante strives to make ‘Challenging Karma’ worth the chances taken. Law enforcement has the same goal of death but wants the state to administer the sentence.

Three parties, all qualify as protagonists or antagonists, seek death. Who gets a second chance at living a best life? And who is the mastermind behind the vigilante’s game?

••••••

REVIEW: CHALLENGING KARMA is the first instalment in Mark Nistor’s contemporary, adult WHERE’S YOUR KARMA, psychological police thriller.

Told from several third person perspectives , following numerous intersecting paths CHALLENGING KARMA focuses on a consummate game of murder. Four wealthy businessmen known as the four Cornerstones are bored, and the ultimate high blends murder with intrigue in an abstract game of winner takes all, a game predicated upon four letters, four innocuous clues, a local politician, corruption, vengeance, ketamine and the high of the kill. As LA Detective Ray Rix works diligently to solve the crime, similarities to a past case emerge; bodies amass, as the game becomes more daring and deadly, a serial killer bent on vengeance lies in wait, staking out his next pawn-the perfect killer, the perfect murder.

The world building is complex, detailed, somewhat confusing at times, and meticulous in its’ presentation. As the paths converge, a pattern emerges, a suspect drawn, and the ultimate game of cat and mouse ends The clues are cryptic; the characters are dubious and unethical; the search for the truth never reveals the reality of a new player in the game.

CHALLENGING KARMA is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, wealth and madness. The premise is comprehensive, multi-layered and intriguing; the character are diverse, unconventional and determined.

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SURVIVING KARMA
(Where’s Your Karma 2)
by Mark Nistor
Genre: adult, contemporary, police, thriller

ebook only. $1.99 -> Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 8, 2024

So, day one after release from a wrongful murder conviction. Now what?

Pin joins forces with a criminal mastermind to execute his revenge needs. While Police Officers disappear, solo agendas cause fractures in their bond.

Use of informants to gain advantages rises to three groups when detectives join the maverick team mates. Once these troublesome informants jump from one handler to another, Pin deviates from the planned revenge.

One such jumper offers detectives a mixed bag of secrets. Identities come out of hiding, causing extreme consequences when mistakes become beacons of light.

However, one deadly underestimation of a person’s character alters the universe forever.

•••••••

REVIEW: SURVIVING KARMA is the second instalment in Mark Nistor’s contemporary, adult WHERE’S YOUR KARMA psychological police thriller. SURVIVING KARMA can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but for backstory and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several third person perspectives SURVIVING KARMA focuses on the hunt for a killer. Someone is targeting members of the LAPD. A new informant who specializes in computer gaming is the only person able to trace the movements and possible motive but with his wife on protection duty, detective Ray Rix finds himself on a solo journey that may cost him his life. Someone else may be aiding the unknown suspect, someone who is getting close to the LAPD.

Once again, the world building is detailed but easy to follow as vengeance is the ultimate motive for a perceived betrayal by the LAPD. As real life imitates art, the reality of the situation can be viewed behind a gaming console for the world to see, until they no longer are able.

The diverse secondary and supporting characters are energetic and desperate, determined and dogged. From officers, informants and FBI Agents, family, witnesses and gangbangers, the tenacity of a desperate man threatens the lives of the LAPD, vengeance against an officer for destroying his life.

SURVIVING KARMA is a dark, gritty and dramatic story of betrayal and vengeance, madness and murder, obsession and delusion, friendships and survival that is reminiscent of the television series The Wire™ with the action, characters, and story telling.

________

INHERITING KARMA
(Where’s Your Karma 3)
by Mark Nistor
Genre: adult, contemporary, police, thriller

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 19, 2025

One oversight is all it took to turn hunters against him. Legal documents record his real name as Wilson O’Reilly instead of Forrest Clay, but his involvement with Ricky Topin going rogue brightens the already dual personality spotlight. Two criminal accomplices vie for attention over the one true love Wilson has ever experienced, a cop.

Once word spread of his link to Topin’s murderous rage, hiding in plain sight no longer became a possibility. Or just maybe? A boss to one, partner to another, and enemy to the third person, O’Reilly weaves his circumstances toward a solution. Although for him to walk the streets again, past friends may die, organizations receive new leadership, and cops become targets.

Although fluid, the first seed planted is to use his onetime lovers, position against her. A simple warning of an assassination attempt piques interest until the offspring of a former gangster ‘Inherits Karma’ from his father. One kill shot setting the stage for O’Reilly to regain the blessings of freedom.

Stuck in quicksand, law enforcement takes the case, international. Thrilling mind games culminate in a three-minute window, where survival becomes a scene of chaos.

••••••

REVIEW: INHERITING KARMA is the third instalment in Mark Nistor’s contemporary, adult WHERE’S YOUR KARMA psychological, police thriller. INHERITING KARMA can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but for backstory and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order.

Told from various third person perspectives, following a number of intersecting pathways INHERITING KARMA follows in the wake of several murders, and the shooting of another police officer, all connected by a common thread linked back to Ricky Topin’s murder spree (Surviving Karma 2), and the revelation about mad man disguised as a determined journalist who is taking aim, one betrayal at a time. The need for revenge is strong, and a previous killing rampage was but the precipice upon which to build a cause.

The world building is, once again, complex and multi-layered with gang bangers, street slang and double talk constantly going round and round, and a host of characters with aliases, dual identities, nicknames, and a determination to take control. As the police continue to look for an assassin who hides behind the anonymity of his work, everyone becomes a target for sins of the past, and the prevailing theories become more convoluted and dark, including the possibility of a second shooter.

There is another large , diverse and extensive cast of colorful and often questionable secondary and supporting characters many of whom we have met in the previous instalments. From members of the LAPD , FBI to informants, gang bangers, rock stars, drug dealers, politicians, and wanna-bes, the atypical and disparate collection of players is wide ranging and often requires a spreadsheet to keep track.

INHERITING KARMA is a story of betrayal and revenge, power and control, murder and mayhem. The premise is dark, gritty, dramatic with a colorful and embellished descriptive presentation and delivery. The characters are diverse, animated and often unconventional. INHERITING KARMA ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned

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RECIPROCATING KARMA
(Where’s Your Karma 4)
by Mark Nistor
Genre: adult, contemporary, police, thriller

Amazon.com /  Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 10, 2025

Two parties; each with similar targets, but differing ideas for delivering consequences to those who hide under the law’s banner.

Karma has found new proxies to hunt for thirst quenching payback. Anything less than twelve deliveries designates one hunter’s failure. While the second hunter feeds off the twelve to find a killer’s roadmap. Intentional meetings provide opportunity. One such meeting brings with it a twelve-event plan.

Tag teaming during preparations, a vigilante starts a solo adventure toward finding participants to fulfill the ‘Twelve Sins of Retribution.’ Oscar Lloyd, long since being removed from Karma’s stable of hunters, fathered the initial sinner. His deeds created revenge seeking sinner, Ricky Topin.

Topin’s own sins, more momentous but still a failed quest for payback, resulted in his Karma stable banishment? Karma’s newest vigilante hunter parallels a third quest with a high-profile case.

Under the radar of distracted detectives, the plan appears as genius. Until a family member of a Topin victim arrives in Los Angeles for another of those intentional, meet and greets.

The need for revenge double dips into the vigilante’s pool of the yet to be punished, guilty accomplices.

Two sets of hunters roam the dark streets of the cement jungle, ‘Reciprocating Karma’ along the way. When the standoff occurs, which side remains in the Karma stable?

••••••

REVIEW: RECIPROCATING KARMA is the fourth instalment in Mark Nistor’s contemporary, adult WHERE’S YOUR KARMA psychological police thriller focusing on the investigations of the LAPD. RECIPROCATING KARMA should not be read as a stand alone as the events of the current timeline are as of a direct result of the previous three instalments .

Told from several third person perspectives RECIPROCATING KARMA focuses on the need for vengeance in the wake of several murders committed by Ricky Topin (Challenging Karma), a felon released in the wake new evidence that purportedly proved he was not responsible for a previous crime. A list of twelve sins, a series of bombings directed at the LAPD, the murder and assassination of several people connected to the original killer, all culminate in the wake of the arrival of a new player; a journalist who is not; and a family determined to uncover the truth.

Once again, the world building is complex, elaborate and slowly unfolds until the ultimate climax and a twist to the story. From law enforcement attorneys, gang bangers, journalists, families, friends, and a pair of deficient podcasters, the story unfolds to reveal a convoluted, gnarled and bumpy path towards resolution and reveal. Double speak is prevalent, street slang and innuendo are callously yet cautiously thrown about.

Again, there is a large and diverse cast of colorful, questionable and determined secondary and supporting characters many of whom have differing theories, dedicated ideas about the who and why, but not all are looking for the same result or verdict.

RECIPROCATING KARMA is a riveting, detailed and intricately woven tale of revenge and murder, power and control, family and conviction. The premise is dark, gritty and dramatic; the characters are numerous, determined, and dynamic.

Copies supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC:  Hi Mark, and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of ‘RECIPROCATING KARMA’ book four in your ‘Where’s Your Karma?’ series.

We would like to start with some background information. Please tell us something about yourself?

Social Media: Goodreads /Website/ Instagram/

Mark: A born and raised Canadian. I’ve lived most of my 56 years in Saskatchewan. I’ve also lived in the Lower Mainland area of Vancouver. While in Vancouver, I learned I don’t like large cities.

The first time my imagination found ink was in a Video, Television, Production course. My intent started as a behind-the-scenes type professional. However, my first script blew the instructor out of the water. That cursed me as he deemed me an oddball because I didn’t write, edit, direct shows, or organize my sets based on what I thought he wanted. A month in, and I directed every second class.

The first draft of ‘Challenging Karma’ started as a two-page script for an upcoming movie. I believe I called it “A Cop’s Duty!” A midterm exam was to adapt any prior script into a ten-page short story for submission. Thirty years later I finished it, thinking it’d be a onetime, keep my promise experience.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Mark: I always loved being around the adults to hear stories of their growing-up days. Now kids may stay with adults, but in the seventies, I remember as long as I sat close to a particular uncle I could watch.

Their stories could have been exaggerated. But the way they spoke with such detail, and held their listeners in anticipation—that’s what lit the fire to my storytelling.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter in writing and publishing your stories?

Mark: Since finishing ‘Challenging Karma’ I’ve learned so much about the entire industry. Going in, I expected the actual writing to be the toughest part. I now find that to be the least stressful part. Editing, marketing, designing, begging for a sliver of recognition is a real eye-opener.

TRC: Please tell us something about the premise of ‘RECIPROCATING KARMA’

Mark: Epiphanies play a huge role in the development of my stories. I started writing the third book, ‘Inheriting Karma’ but realized while writing a chapter that this would be a unique storyline for a new book. Since ‘Challenging Karma’ I guess I can say I write two books at once.

In ‘Reciprocating Karma’ detectives Ray Rix and Castor Jain work the ‘Inheriting Karma’ case without knowing a second killer lurks. Because the timelines are parallel, the detectives’ distraction opens the door for other characters to investigate the ‘Reciprocating Karma’ crimes.

‘Reciprocating Karma’ is unique as a debate starter. Like an 80s movie, Christmas-themed or not?

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning ‘RECIPROCATING KARMA’?

Mark: I’m sure my editor is sick of me asking, but I know my story too well. I’m not sure if enough information exists for readers to know why a certain character is in the story. If anything, I have a better understanding of the hardships the people living on LA’s Skid Row face.

I’ve researched everything from police call signs to destroyed buildings in the Northridge earthquake. In ‘Reciprocating Karma’ people may recognize street names. Specifics of martial arts fighting. A struggling reporter’s lifestyle. Problems faced when traveling the open seas. Or a seldom-used tactic to free a criminal from charges.

I research based on comments the reader may say: I’ve done that, or I’ve been there, or that’s so true.

TRC: Is any of the premises/series based in reality or fact?

Mark: In theory, no. But the theme of karma itself opens the door to my stories mimicking reality. Boiled down, a person could connect the four books with ease. A serial killer discovered. An innocent convicted because of his proximity to the dead. A secondary criminal organization takes advantage of the wrongful conviction. And finally, a separate person turns vigilante seeking revenge for the dead.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Mark: I’m not putting a limit on numbers. I guess it ends when the inside voice stops yelling at me about new storylines. There’re so many karma events, this series could keep growing after I’ve left this planet.

Will the same characters be central in each successive installment, or a new leading character as the focus of each book?

Mark: Characters come and go throughout my stories. I believe this keeps the theme fresh. Books three and four are examples of this premise. Characters cross over but only play a key role in one book.

TRC: Can each installment be read as a standalone, or are they all interconnected?

Mark: Now the wannabe politician arrives.

I’ve asked my editor the same question. Both our answers are similar. If the reader understands going in that the book is part of a series with events of the past taking place, yes, they’re standalone.

But to understand the entire theme of karma and its future repercussions, the first book provides key information. Especially in future releases where I go back in time to before the serial killer strikes.

TRC: Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of mystery and suspense. How do you keep the storyline believable? Where do you think some authors fail?

Mark: I believe storytellers in the age before the internet, faced a tougher time in giving their stories a realistic feel. I can’t speak too much about why authors fail, but I know for me I write based on where I got my start. Writing for television production. I write as if I’m telling a local news story. All fiction comes from the imagination of the writer, but as mentioned earlier, adding a bird, or street location that is known provides a revelation opportunity.

I feel readers read everything, including current event news articles. Serial killers, overturned convictions, the mafia, and revenge killers exist all over the internet. Throw in karma and chaos erupts.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Mark: I do. Covers are a puzzle piece to beckon a reader, intriguing them enough to explore inside.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Mark: The characters guide the story. I use a lot of characters to make the story more realistic. As in life, random events affect people differently. A simple dog barking might send someone into the fetal position while drawing another’s glance. Adaptive characters keep the suspense alive.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writers fail in this endeavor?

Mark: I think this is a struggle that every writer hopes to conquer. My first struggles were because I knew every detail. I couldn’t understand how the reader didn’t know why a character hated the word deserve.

That is until a professional editor slapped the smile of pride off my face. The Super Bowl was live. I opened the edited document, seeing more-red on my computer than Chiefs on the field.

My wife would say I laugh when she or others cry during certain movies. I didn’t see how a person knowing it’s fake still cries. I’m proud to say I’ve written a storyline that has now made people cry. My stories include strong women, so having one such woman crumble to the unimaginable, forces a reaction from the reader.

The reader needs to see the possibility or say to themselves, I can see Glen going into hysterics because he thinks he’s dying from poison.

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Mark: No! However, my musical tastes supply a lot of character traits. Since I’ve started writing more stories, I’ve noticed myself being more of a people watcher. Not in a creepy way, but I’ll see someone’s laugh and I’ll try to describe it. Or someone with a limp, I’ll make up the story behind the limp.

I’ve had family members say they can’t see family traits in my characters. That is until I remind them of Glen’s stained shirt, Francois’ kitchen creations, or Ray’s not buying anything new for himself.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Mark: That we are all famous, with bulging bank accounts. Speaking for myself, success comes from having people like you (Sandy) acknowledge my stories. I’ll never be rich, but my primary goal is leaving a legacy for my daughter. Something for her to be proud of. Selling one book makes it real for me.

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, knows about you?

Mark: If a cat, I would have three of my nine lives left.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Mark: Promo for ‘Reciprocating Karma’ I’m halfway through a first draft for book five (name for now ‘Creating Karma’) and ten chapters into number six (leaning toward ‘Hibernating Karma’)

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Mark: To your readers, I’m always open to hearing how karma touches lives. Reach out at marknistor.com; who knows, maybe the forehead dent from stepping on a rake finds a chapter?

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food—Salad with a side of Steak & Potatoes.

Favorite Dessert—Cherry Pie.

Favorite TV Show—Jack Bauer in 24.

Last Movie You Saw—Wonder.

Dark or Milk Chocolate—Milk Chocolate.

Secret Celebrity Crush—Haven’t seen her forever but Diane Lane.

Last Vacation Destination—Las Vegas.

Do you have any pets? Dog lover! Actually, I lost my buddy Milo last year. He is the inspiration behind Castor’s dog, Mud. Our new boy ‘Louie’ is quite the handful.

Last book you’ve read—Maybe music is a bigger influence; Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach bio.

TRC: Thank you, Mark, for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of ‘RECIPROCATING KARMA’ we wish you all the best.

Mark: Thank you, Sandy, and The Reading Café for the opportunity to share my comfort zone explosion.

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THE INN BETWEEN by Wendra Colleen-review & interview

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THE INN BETWEEN by Wendra Colleen-review & interview

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 31, 2025

Teenagers J.T. and Sylvia have no memory of dying, only how much they hate each other. Trapped at The Inn Between, a B&B of the afterlife, they have nine days to discover how they died. If they solve the mystery, they can choose to evolve; if they don’t, they will be reborn with their memories wiped, destined to die young again.

In the realm of the living, Dr. Jillian Flaggerty, a young, newly minted parapsychologist, suppresses her childhood ability to rescue earthbound ghosts. She wants to avoid another trip to an institution and succeed in her first job. On a ghostly visit to Earth, J.T. realizes that only Jillian can see and hear him and begs for her help. Jillian denies J.T.’s existence until she uncovers a personal connection to the teen ghosts. Then Jillian has to choose between saving souls or her sanity as time winds down for J.T. and Sylvia to reconcile their differences, face the truth of their deaths, and avoid being reborn.

If you’re looking for an escape like Cemetery Boys, Neverworld Wake, and The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts with a dash of The Good Place, don’t wait to read this high-stakes supernatural novel.

•••••••

REVIEW: “The Inn Between” by Wendra Colleen sounded like an intriguing read!

The concept of two teenagers, J.T. and Sylvia, stuck in a liminal space where they have to confront their past and each other was an interesting premise. The stakes are high, if they can’t figure out how they died, they face the grim fate of being reborn with no memories, doomed to repeat their short lives. (Not something I’d read before, and it pulled me in.)

The setting of a B&B in the afterlife provides a unique backdrop.

It allows not only of the characters’ shared history and conflicts but also gives the story a somewhat cozy yet eerie atmosphere. (Not quite the Bates hotel eerie though 😝)

The dynamic between J.T. and Sylvia, who already dislike each other, adds tension and drama. As they navigate their circumstances, they learn to cooperate, and ultimately understand what led to their deaths (and maybe an understanding of their lives!)

Dr. Jillian Flaggerty’s character adds yet another layer. As someone with a parapsychological background who has suppressed her abilities, her almost (for me) represents the struggle between accepting one’s true self and societies expectations. The fact that she initially denies J.T.’s existence until she discovers their connection introduces an interesting twist.

Overall, the blend of supernatural elements, character development, and a race against time creates a compelling story that raises questions about life, death, and what it truly means to reconcile with one’s past.

I won’t say I loved it. But what I will say, is that it stayed with me for a few days.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

TRC: Hi Wendra and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of THE INN BETWEEN.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Goodreads/Amazon Author/Website/The Reading Cafe/

Wendra: It sounds impressive to say I have a doctorate in experimental psychology and deployed to the Iraq War as a civilian, but bottom line, I am unconventional, an outcast, really, like many of my characters. I never fit in anywhere, which is why I adopted the motto, “Embrace Your Weirdness,” which is on my website and the banner on my newsletter. While I started writing when I was in grade school, I’ve taken huge breaks throughout my life and didn’t really take it seriously until nearly two decades ago. By seriously I mean pursuing it as a profession, not a hobby. And I will fully admit that screenwriting is my first love. The high structure (e.g., on page five, there MUST be an inciting incident) and focus on dialogue totally resonates with my strengths, but I found out that making it as a screenwriter was far harder than making it as a novelist. So I taught myself how to write short stories and then novels, the latter being the heaviest lift next to getting my doctorate!!

TRC:Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Wendra: While both my parents are big readers, I’m quite sure it hearing my mother pound on her typewriter (yes, typewriter!) far into the night after working a day job greatly influenced me. She had an agent, she was traditionally published, and she always had the magazine Poets & Writers everywhere! She’s now in her 90s and only recently has taken a break from writing. But, I will add that this influence was not conscious. The desire to write just grew over time. When I was in a horrible period between graduating with my doctorate and being unemployed because it was during the dot com bust, I started writing for TV shows that I liked to keep my spirits up. In MS Word (as opposed to Final Draft)! I was stunned at how much joy that brought me, but it also taught me a valuable lesson: I was only able to write episodes for shows like THAT 70S SHOW and THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN because the writers had done such an excellent job of developing the characters. All I had to do was come up with an interesting situation and they almost wrote themselves. I did let a family friend who is a professional novelist and screenwriter see the THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN spec, and he was impressed. That was also very encouraging. I have an original musical screenplay that someday might see the light of day, who knows!

TRC:What challenges or difficulties have you encountered writing and publishing?

Wendra: Teaching myself how to write a novel (which, as one learns, is a constant evolution) took years, I can’t lie. It was SO hard, but it did force my brain to stop thinking in terms of short stories or screenplays, which come much more naturally to me. If anyone is wondering why I didn’t pursue an MFA, it’s because I already had three degrees. I didn’t want any more loans. And, many writers I admired, like Ray Bradbury, never pursued a traditional degree of any kind. I knew it was possible to learn on your own.

Becoming indie (self-published) has been almost as hard as learning how to write novels! I think I opened sixteen new accounts the year I put out my first book, which I wrote so long ago. You cannot do enough research on the time and cost it will take to be indie. I queried three books before I decided to go indie, and to be honest, I never thought I would go that route. I was hard core “traditional publishing or bust!” However, I think the defining moment came when an agent requested all three of my books and summarily rejected all of them. But then she said this: “But be sure to send me your fourth book!” That was it. Something in me changed when she said this. I was just done waiting for my career to start. My aim is to put out a book a year, which is slow for an indie, but given a demanding day job, I don’t want to pressure myself more than that. It’s also why my newsletter remains monthly so far.

Lastly, I’ve been extremely challenged to make audio books. I took a course, my husband built the soundproof room by converting a closet, and I actually have fully recorded book 1, but there are technical things that I still can’t complete, even with the help of the course. I will finish it, but know that using equipment to do audio books or podcasting is far beyond having a dynamic personality; you need to get comfortable with the technology. It’s another journey.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise THE INN BETWEEN?

Wendra: It’s about two teen enemies who find themselves stuck at The Inn Between, a B&B of the afterlife. They have nine days to uncover how they died or they will be reborn, destined to die young all over again. The only person who can help? A young, ghost-denying parapsychologist back on Earth. Does the afterlife suck or what?

TRC: Do you have plans for a series involving the characters, and if so, how many books do you have planned?

Wendra: I leave every book open with the potential for a sequel, but so far I keep writing new books. However, they do have themes of the afterlife, inhuman creatures (monsters, demons, superheroes), magical powers, or a mix of these. After The Inn Between, I have one more book that is ready to be published, but in the meantime, I’m getting beta feedback on book four and five. I’m just starting book six. I did write a sequel to my first book, Evil Was a Child Once, so if there ever is (cough) a groundswell of demand, I would go back to that and polish it. I also have a tentative sequel in mind following book three, again, if I felt there was sufficient demand. It would be much lighter, more comedic, than book three, though there is significant humor already in the third book. My books keep getting funnier so I think that’s a good sign that I’m doing something right in my life!

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning THE INN BETWEEN series?

Wendra: Because of the pandemic, I was able to conduct a lot of research in a matter of months and was querying by the following year. This was much faster than my first book. Of course, now I’m trying to research, write, draft, and polish all in ONE YEAR, which is intimidating, but by Goddess, I want to do it. In fact, here is my goal, really: I want to get to the point that I can repeat, and mean it, the quote from Quentin Tarantino about his experience penning Inglourious Basterds: “I’m just taking notes.” I don’t recall where I heard this quote, but I was immediately impacted and knew that was the level I wanted to reach.

TRC: Are any of the characters based on real people or people in your life?

Wendra: My first thought was no, but then oh wait, I suddenly recalled that I did have a sense of someone in mind for the Reverend Mather (Evil’s father) in Evil Was a Child Once, my first book. And physically, the spiritual mentor Mr. Hill in The Inn Between definitely looks like someone I knew. Both of these inspirations were professors from grad school. I had one really bad mentor in my master’s program that I still hope to turn into a fantastic villain. Talk about writing itself. But the main characters? Nah, purely from my head, even if some of their experiences might come from my own background.

TRC: Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of involving the paranormal. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you believe some author’s fail?

Wendra: I’m sure I do fail at times, but I hope it’s minimal. I think believability requires significant research that then informs a lot of detail, even if it’s a concept you invent. I’ve read a lot about the afterlife, including how scholars study it. There is a completely fictional concept in the nuclear holocaust novel Swan Song by Robert McCammon called Job’s Mask that he described it in such detail and so realistically that I actually googled it to see if it was inspired by something genuine. You’ll laugh that I did that if you read it, but it shows what a talented author he is!

What takes me out of the story is when writers violate their own rules, i.e., no one can see the ghost and then suddenly they can, without explanation, or a person has certain magical powers and then they can do almost anything. The latter is what has made me avoid a lot of superhero films—they start off rather authentically and then the hero/heroine gradually seems to have the power to do anything. And then that’s boring for me.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Wendra: I think within your genre, yes. That is, someone who prefers military science fiction isn’t going to be drawn to any of my covers, but if they like paranormal literature, they absolutely might be. Given all the research on how much the physical appearance of humans influences us, I think the cover of a book probably has significant impact with respect to first impressions, at the least. First impressions are always critical, though they are not the sole criteria that drive a purchase, of course.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Wendra: Both. Absolutely both. I think every author has experienced the delight of being surprised when a character does something unexpected, something that might even change the plot.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Wendra: For me, I have to experience what my characters are experiencing. If I’m not worried, fearful, or angry in scenes that are supposed to evoke that, I’m doing something wrong. Also, I often can “see” things play out visually, a product of being a screenwriter at heart. If I can’t “see” it, it’s often the wrong call in the scene.

TRC:Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Wendra: Listening to almost entirely John Williams’ movie scores is my reward while I write. I don’t let myself listen to music while I’m developing the plot or characters; only when I’m actually writing the novel. I can’t listen to anything with lyrics and John Williams’ scores are particularly inspiring because of my desire to write screenplays (and see them produced). However, I’ve never noticed his scores influencing my writing, only making the writing process much, much more enjoyable. My heart still breaks when I recall that he has retired!!

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Wendra:The idea that we only write when inspired. This is an old one but one I repeatedly dispel. To be a successful writer, you have to write a lot, NOT just when you’re inspired. I would write every day if I weren’t indie and having to deal with so many other things like marketing and typeface and teasers. So I settle for trying to write MOST days, but ideally, every single day that I can. That’s what works for me, though I know that doesn’t work for everyone.

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Wendra: I’m such an extravert and so confessional in my newsletter that there is probably very little anyone does not know about me, LOL!

TRC: On what are you currently working? Do you have plans for a new series?

Wendra: I’m getting feedback chapter by chapter on book four each month and revising accordingly, planning on sending my sister book five because I finally wrote a book I think she might like and be my target audience for, but I’ve started book six in recent months. It’s still very nascent, but if the stars align, I’d like a draft zero before 2026. For me, it’s all about draft zero. Then I know it will happen. Book six came from a dream. I don’t recall what happened, but I saw the title, “Beth & The World of Demons” in my head when I awoke and thought, “Hm, I’d like to know what that’s about!” So I started writing to figure out what it could mean.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Wendra: I don’t know if this will ever be my fate, but I have a good friend who makes six figures writing several indie books a year. She does it full time, which is not possible for most of us, but I mention her as an example of someone who is far more successful than many of my traditionally published friends who have to wait years to see one book appear on the shelves and then they still don’t make any money past the few thousand they got for their advance. Plus, they don’t own their work, they still have to do a lot of the same marketing I do, and the traditionally publishing industry is so unstable that many authors are on their second, third, or fourth agent. So, my point: going indie can work. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.

Also, I really don’t like social media but love doing my newsletter. It’s not long, but you get book reviews and tales of the supernatural. You can sign up by scrolling down the page at my website, wendracolleen.com, or you can email me at wendracolleen@wendracolleen.com and I’m happy to add you.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – anything with sugar.

Favorite Dessert – ANYTHING WITH SUGAR 

Favorite TV Show – STRANGER THINGS but ONLY Seasons 1-3. Yes, I watched Season 4 and while I have read enough about the Duffer Brothers to understand that Season 4 is actually what they have always wanted to do, oh my. I like the more subtle creepiness of the first three seasons BY FAR. Season 4 was actually traumatizing.

Last Movie You Saw – The 1990 film PARENTHOOD. I watch it every summer, no joke. My ultimate feel-good flick!!

Dark or Milk Chocolate – I prefer milk, but due to health issues, I have to eat only dark. Ugh. I eat very little of it and only 70% dark because anything stronger makes me gaaaaaggg….

Secret Celebrity Crush- Jason Mamoa, but it is no secret! But my first crush was Daniel Day Lewis. Fortunately, I married someone who has a lot of similar features to DDL so I no longer needed to crush on him!

Last Vacation Destination – England! Our last vacation was 2017 and it was wonderful!!

Do you have any pets? – My three rescue dogs rule my life. You should see my house. Or, better yet, don’t ever come to my house without three days warning.

Last book you read – I decided to pick up on old one called The Midnight Club by Christopher Pike. It was very good, but the blurb was misleading, FYI – this book was very well done, but it had little to do with the supernatural, which is why I chose to read it.

TRC: Thank you Wendra for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of THE INN BETWEEN. We wish you all the best.

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Glow Trap (Clay Wolfe 6) by Matt Cost-review & interview

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GLOW TRAP (Clay Wolfe / Port Essex Mystery 6) by Matt Cost-review and interview

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 13, 2025

What happens when a spy, a retired thief, and a person in the witness relocation program end up in the same coastal Maine town? Nothing, unless a man using an alias washes up on shore and threatens to tear the idyllic nature of said town apart at the seams.

The gang is back together in the deadliest game yet. Westy, the former Navy SEAL, Murphy the IRA member turned clammer, Cloutier the newspaper editor, and the foul-mouthed Crystal all join together to root out the insidious evil lurking in the belly of Port Essex.

Meanwhile, the romance between Clay and Baylee deepens, leading him to consider proposing. This thought process is propelled forward by her near-death experience. Will their love have a happy ending?

Clay Wolfe, Baylee Baker, the gang, and Port Essex become embroiled in their hottest and deadliest mystery yet. Will the spies, informants, and thieves be exposed in time before the killers can finish the job that they have begun?

•••••••

REVIEW: GLOW TRAP is the sixth and final instalment in Matt Cost’s contemporary, adult CLAY WOLFE / PORT ESSEX MYSTERY suspense series focusing on thirty-seven year old, former homicide detective turned private investigator Clay Wolfe, his girlfriend and partner Baylee Baker, and his intrepid team of undercover operatives and amateur sleuths. GLOW TRAP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from numerous omniscient third person perspectives GLOW TRAP follows several intersecting pathways when PI Clay Wolfe is asked to locate a missing landscaper whose side-gig as a drug dealer may have cost him his life; and a contracted investigation into the supposed drowning of a man whose fear of the water is no match for murderous intent. From Russian spies and double agents, to CIA operatives, questionable law enforcement and retired criminals, Clay Wolfe finds himself a target when the past comes full circle, reminding Clay that everything and everyone is not whom they appear to be.

The world building is detailed and complex as Clay Wolfe encounters a ghost from the past, a ghost he never knew existed in the here and now. Believing the good guy always wins, Clay, Baylee and the gang discover crime often pays but with the help of your friends, payment can be swift and steep. Trust is constrained as deceit and pretense threaten any semblance of peace for the people of Port Essex.

GLOW TRAP is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, murder and obsession, power and control, friendships and love. The premise is fascinating, compelling and thought-provoking ; the characters are numerous, familiar, dogged and tenacious.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Wolfe Trap
Mind Trap
Mouse Trap
Cosmic Trap
Pirate Trap

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

TRC: Hi Matt and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of GLOW TRAP the sixth and final instalment in your Clay Wolfe / Port Essex Mystery series.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow: Goodreads / Website  / Facebook/

Matt Cost: I write histories and mysteries. Glow Trap is my eighteenth published book. Fifteen of them are part of four different series. The Mainely Mysteries, Clay Wolfe Trap series, the Brooklyn 8 Ballo series, and the Chronicles of Max Creed. Three are stand-alone historical fiction.

TRC:Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Matt Cost: My parents instilled a love of reading. Early favourites were the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Encyclopaedia Brown, and the Great Brain. These evolved into Louis L’Amour, Stephen King, Elmore Leonard, Robert Parker, and Carl Hiaasen.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties have you encountered writing and publishing?

Matt Cost: I’ve spent thirty years honing my craft in writing and that is just putting the work in and getting better. Once the writing is good enough, it can be very difficult to find an agent or publisher. And once that hurdle has been cleared, you still must market and promote to get your book out there. It is a grind, day in and day out, but it is a grind that I truly enjoy.

TRC:Would you please tell us something about the premise of GLOW TRAP and the Clay Wolfe/ Port Essex Mystery Series?

Matt Cost: The premise of GLOW TRAP was reading about a retired spy community living in a coastal Maine town. The idea is that when people leave the CIA and other agencies such as that, it is nice to go where others have lived the same life as you. So, I had thoughts of capitalizing on that. Unfortunately, Tess Gerritsen beat me to the punch with “Spy Coast”. I tweaked the idea to a retired spy, a former art thief, and a member of the WITSEC program, all of who’d banded together in the small coastal Maine town of Port Essex. When a man washes up dead on the rocks of town, Clay Wolfe and Baylee Baker are pulled into the fray to investigate, and all sorts of complications follow.

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning GLOW TRAP or The Clay Wolfe / Port Essex series?

Matt Cost: A lot of work goes into the initial book of a series, in this case, WOLFE TRAP. The creation of character descriptions, backstories, idiosyncrasies, speech, relationships, and whatnot is a major piece in the creation of a book. Luckily, a lot of that work has been done for the ensuing books. Research can be great or small. For MIND TRAP, I went down many rabbit holes concerning cults. I’d no idea how many, how powerful, how large—the cults of the world are. For MOUSE TRAP, I had to learn about genome editing, or the technology of CRISPR that allows scientists to change the DNA of babies in the embryo stage to cure disease, but also to change eye color, and possibly make them bigger, stronger, and smarter. COSMIC TRAP was learning about UAPs. A congressional task force has been appointed to investigate the excess of unexplained aerial phenomena that daily takes place in the skies. Their findings so far? There is something up there, but we don’t know what. PIRATE TRAP? Pirates of course. And GLOW TRAP got me into the CIA, spies, the witness relocation program, and so much more that I found to be fascinating.

TRC:Is any of the premise based in reality or fact?

Matt Cost: As mentioned, there is truly a coastal Maine town with a retired spy population. I just built on that to wonder where wealthy thieves who were never caught ended up as well as people in WITSEC. These are three categories of dangerous people living under the radar in our communities. Interesting fodder for a book.

TRC:Are any of the characters based on real people or people in your life?

Matt Cost: I use pieces of people to create my characters, but no one person is a real person in my life. Dogs? That is a different story. Frank and Flash both have real counterparts who live in my house.

TRC:Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of mystery and suspense. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you believe some author’s fail?

Matt Cost: The adage that truth is stranger than fiction is extremely true. Some of my biggest difficulties are putting real events in the book and then realizing that they are so far-fetched that the reader will lose faith in the story, and I have to dampen them down.

TRC:Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Matt Cost: I do. It is the first impression that a reader gets, whether in the bookstore or online, and something about it has to grab the reader to then read the description, and then hopefully, browse a page before deciding that the book is for them.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Matt Cost: The characters absolutely lead me. That is one of the beautiful pieces of writing a series, because the protagonist and other regulars become family. At certain points, I must close the laptop and go for a dog walk in the woods and let the characters speak to me and let me know what they would do in certain situations. Then, I return, and am ready to go under their direction and supervision.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Matt Cost: It is absolutely crucial to make the characters in the story real. That reality includes flaws as well as strengths, emotions and backstories, and the living embodiment of a human being who can be loved and hated. Then, these people have to be thrown into situations that evoke fear, happiness, anger, frustration, and other emotional turbulences to bring the reader skidding into the power of the story.

TRC:Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Matt Cost: I write in my living room with my headphones on listening to cool jazz music. It walls me off from reality and allows me to enter my writing world, but I have no comprehension of the music being played.

TRC:What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Matt Cost: That we are making a ton of money. Only a few of us are. The rest are grinding it out.

TRC:What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Matt Cost: I enjoyed acting in school before sports made me quit that pursuit.

TRC:On what are you currently working? Do you have plans for a new series?

Matt Cost: I am writing the third book in my Chronicles of Max Creed. There is another series under contract with Level Best Books, the Jazz Jones & January Queen historical mysteries. The first book, 1955, will be out in October of 2026. And I am shopping around the debut of another series called BOB CHICAGO INVESTIGATES.

TRC:Would you like to add anything else?

Matt Cost:Thanks for inviting me onto your site and for your loyal reviews of my books!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: English muffin pizza.

OMG-best food ever !!!

Favorite Dessert: Tiramisu.

Favorite TV Show: Rockford Files.

Last Movie You Saw: Happy Gilmore 2.

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark.

Secret Celebrity Crush: Jodi Foster.

Last Vacation Destination: North Carolina.

Do you have any pets? Four dogs.

Last book you read: King of Ashes.

TRC:Thank you Matt for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of GLOW TRAP and the Clay Wolfe/ Port Essex series. We wish you all the best.

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Moonlight Justice by Nala Nicole-review & guest post

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Moonlight Justice by Nala Nicole-review & guest post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 31, 2025

Will Bella Hayes deliver justice or succumb to the darkness within?

Bella, a woman born on the moon, possesses extraordinary strength tied to the lunar cycle. By day, she is Detective Bella Hayes, a quiet observer of the law’s failures. By night, under the moon’s glow, she becomes something more—something not of this world. As her power surges, so does her thirst for justice.

When Radcliff escapes yet another trial unscathed, Bella and her partner Detective Mark Calloway, teams up with Lucas, her only friend at the Roguehaven Police unit, and tech genius, to pursue him into The Deep, the city’s haunting underground ruins. As she battles Radcliff’s henchmen, navigates a web of betrayal, and confronts her own inner demons.

••••••

REVIEW: This book is a mix of paranormal and crime drama.

We follow Detective Bella Hayes, a woman born under the mesmerizing glow of the moon, whose strength/speed and stamina is intertwined with its phases.

Nala Nicole crafts a really good story that delves into justice/inner darkness, and the quest for truth.

Bella is a captivating character, showing both the strength and vulnerability that comes with her supernatural abilities. As a daytime detective, she observes the failures of the law, but by night, (the lunar light) awakens a fierceness within her, which makes her into a relentless avenger. This duality makes Bella a richly layered character, whose journey reflects not only her battles against external enemies like Radcliff a slippery and manipulative antagonist but also her internal struggles.

The supporting characters add to the story, particularly Detective Mark Calloway and Lucas, the tech savvy ally. Their banter and teamwork against Radcliff’s henchmen provide an engaging dynamic that balances action with emotional moments. The author weaves themes of friendship and loyalty, really well, I had moments where I did laugh (not the best place when your on a packed train 😝)

The Deep, an underground paradise turned nightmarish ruin. Is the setting for not only the final battle (which was awesome by the way) but for Radcliff to build his empire….

The pace of the novel is set at a constant pace.

The writing is vivid and thought provoking, and at times I could see myself in, the urban landscape and the eerie ambiance of The Deep. The pull of the moon and its changing phases mirrored Bella’s evolving psyche and we watch as she grapples with the darker aspects of her nature.

While the plot builds toward an electrifying climax, it also raised a question about justice and the implications of vengeance. Bella’s journey of self discovery and her confrontation with personal demons make the story really come to life. The definitions of right and wrong, and what cost to you if you take justice into your own hands.

In conclusion, *Moonlight Justice* is a captivating read that successfully mixes fantasy elements with a crime storyline.

Nala Nicole has created a compelling world where the line between justice and vengeance becomes increasingly blurred, and where Bella’s strength is tested against both external threats and internal conflicts.

Fans of urban fantasy and thrilling detective tales will find themselves enthralled by Bella’s journey, eager to uncover the next twist in her pursuit of justice.

This is absolute must read.

Copy supplied for review

🦋 Reviewed by Julie B

Believability in Paranormal and Fantasy Storylines: Anchoring the Unreal in the Real

By Nala Nicole

Fantasy and paranormal fiction stretch the limits of imagination—but even in a world of supernatural strength, a city’s propensity for crime, and moon-born heroines, one thing remains essential: believability. Without it, readers disconnect. They might enjoy the spectacle, but they won’t feel it. And feeling, ultimately, is what drives a story home.

Take my novel, Moonlight Justice, as a prime example. The protagonist, Bella Hayes, was born on the moon and draws her strength from the lunar cycle. That premise alone pushes genre boundaries—but what makes it work is how grounded the rest of the narrative is, in my opinion, of course. Bella isn’t just a super-powered woman chasing justice; she’s a detective who sees the system fail time and again. Her frustration is human. Her thirst for justice is relatable. And her transformation under the moonlight? It becomes symbolic, not just fantastical.

Believability in paranormal/fantasy fiction hinges on a few key elements:

1. Emotional Realism

No matter how far-fetched a power or setting may be, the character’s emotions must ring true. Bella’s internal struggle—between justice and vengeance, law and instinct—is deeply human. Readers don’t need to have lunar-powered strength to understand the pain of watching someone like Radcliff escape justice again and again. Her desire to become something more is believable because it taps into a common yearning: to reclaim power in a broken world.

2. Consistent Worldbuilding

In Moonlight Justice, Roguehaven isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a breathing, crumbling city with layers, secrets, and a haunting underbelly known as The Deep. The setting supports the supernatural without overwhelming it. The city’s darkness mirrors Bella’s own, giving context to her powers. When readers see Bella and her team—Detective Mark Calloway and tech genius Lucas—descend into the underworld to hunt Radcliff, they’re not just watching an action scene. They’re immersed in a fully-realized world with rules, danger, and stakes.

3. Flawed, Layered Characters

No fantasy hero should be invincible. Bella Hayes is powerful, yes, but she’s also emotionally bruised, morally conflicted, and haunted by the lines she’s willing to cross. Her flaws make her relatable. Readers believe in her journey because they see the cost of her choices. That tension—justice versus darkness—is what drives the plot and keeps readers invested.

4. Purposeful Supernatural Elements

Powers should mean something. Bella’s connection to the moon isn’t just a gimmick—it’s a metaphor for cycles, control, and change. Her strength surges under moonlight, but so does her rage. The paranormal element adds stakes to the emotional arc. It elevates the story without replacing the character’s humanity.

In the end, Moonlight Justice succeeds not because it has powers and underground lairs, but because it respects the core of storytelling: truth. In fantasy and paranormal fiction, believability doesn’t come from realism—it comes from resonance. When readers see themselves in the struggle, the magic becomes real.

Social Media: Facebook / Amazon Author/ Goodreads/

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Missing in Miskatonic / Murder in the Monashee Mountains by JP Behrens

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MISSING IN MISKATONIC / MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS (Travis Daniels Investigations 1 & 2) by JP Behrens-reviews & interview

MISSING IN MISKATONIC
Travis Daniels Investigation 1
by JP Behrens
Genre: adult, supernatural, thriller
Release Date: August 23, 2024

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Step into the shadowed streets of 1928 Arkham, where Miskatonic University holds secrets darker than the night.

In this supernatural thriller reminiscent of Raymond Chandler and H.P. Lovecraft, Private Detective Travis Daniels is thrust into a harrowing investigation when a young woman disappears without a trace. As Daniels delves deeper into the labyrinthine mysteries of the storied New England city, he uncovers a web of sinister cults, ancient rituals, and eldritch horrors that threaten not only his own sanity but the fabric of reality itself.

Set against a city steeped in occult lore and clandestine experiments, Missing in Miskatonic blends elements of hard-boiled detective fiction with chilling supernatural encounters. Daniels navigates treacherous alliances and confronts malevolent entities lurking in the shadows, all while racing against time to unravel the truth behind the girl’s disappearance.

•••••

REVIEW: MISSING IN MISKATONIC is the first instalment and novella in JP Behrens’ historical adult TRAVIS DANIELS INVESTIGATIONS dark, supernatural thriller series.

Told from first person perspective (Travis) MISSING IN MISKATONIC follows PI Travis Daniels as he is tasked with locating a young college student Leslie Owens. The year is 1928, and Travis Daniels has been offered a large amount of money by a man who may or may not be human, to find a young woman who has disappeared without a trace but the deeper Travis Daniels digs, the stranger the trail of evidence becomes. From the horrific to the supernatural, Travis Daniels must come to terms with creatures that stand in his way, as the small town of Miskatonic hides its’ secrets behind the doom and gloom of horror.

With a nod to the fictional institutions and occult world developed by author H.P. Lovecraft, the world building is dark and gritty as PI Travis Daniels ventures into a world of demons and monsters in the search for a woman who may or may not want to be found. Searching the libraries for information, Daniels discovers a world he knows nothing about but a world that is on the brink of destruction and chaos.

Travis Daniels is a no-nonsense, practical hardened PI who has been thrown to the proverbial wolves and the malevolent supernatural creatures of nightmares. MISSING IN MISKATONIC is a dramatic and edgy story of the occult -ends on a cliff hanger, you have been warned

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

______

MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS
Travis Daniels Investigation 2
by JP Behrens
Genre: adult, historical, supernatural, thriller

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Release Date July 11, 2025

After barely escaping the haunted streets of Arkham and Miskatonic University, Travis Daniels is on the run with his ward, Leslie Owens. Seeking refuge in the remote woods of Monashee Mountain, their lives take another dark turn when they witness a brutal, savage murder. Now, they’re thrust into a web of deceit, danger, and old grudges as they are drawn into a conflict between warring factions in the small town of Tonasket.

Travis must navigate the escalating tension between the town’s residents, the Native American tribes, and the ancient, shadowy creatures that dwell in the wilderness. The clock is ticking as dangerous rivalries between Sasquatch and werewolves threaten to erupt, and the local logging operations are sabotaged by forces more sinister than anyone can imagine.

As Travis works to uncover the truth behind the murder, he must decide who he can trust before it’s too late. With danger closing in, only one thing is certain: the truth will come at a cost.

•••••

REVIEW: MURDER IN MONASHEE MOUNTAINS is the second instalment in JP Behrens’ historical adult TRAVIS DANIELS INVESTIGATIONS dark, supernatural thriller focusing on PI Travis Daniels. MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion. MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS, set in 1929, picks up approximately one year after the events of book one MISSING IN MISKATONIC. If you have not read book one, there may be spoilers in my review

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including racism, discrimination and stereotyping, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers

Told from first person (Travis) and omniscient third person (Leslie) MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS finds PI Travis Daniels, and his companion Leslie Ward on the run, desperate to stay ahead of the people they left behind in Arkham Massachusetts, Travis and Leslie, once again, find themselves front and centre in another supernatural mystery but this time involving the possibility of were-wolves, sasquatch, magic and Indigenous lore, as they are the only witnesses to a possible murder involving the creatures of mythology and fiction. A logging company is ravaging the lands once held by the Indigenous peoples, and someone or something is taking steps to stop the destruction of the Earth before it is too late.

The world building follows Travis and Leslie as they are pulled into an investigation involving superstition, discrimination, magic and murder. Reflecting the ongoing tragedy of indigenous lands appropriation , MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS focuses on capitalism, a fight for survival, freedom and rights.

MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, magic and violence, discrimination and bigotry. The premise is dark, dramatic and intense; the characters are desperate, determined and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi JP and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release MURDER IN MONASHEE MOUNTAINS

JP: Thanks for having me. It’s really exciting to see this next chapter in the Travis Daniels Series hit the shelves. Hopefully, everyone will enjoy it and be ready for book 3 which I’m currently working on.

TRC:We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow me on my new Patreon, https://patreon.com/JPBehrens, for updates, check-ins, exclusive short stories, and other works. 

JP: I’m pretty boring, honestly. I spend my days reading and writing. I practice kung fu, run errands, and play video games when my daily writing routine is done. I wish my life was a little more exciting to I had something to say when asked this, but it’s probably for the best. If I had too much going on, I’d never get words on the page.

TRC:Who or what influenced your career in writing?

JP: As I’ve grown as a writer, the list of influences grows. I first started out wanting to write DragonLance books because of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Eventually, I branched out in my reading and discovered Bradbury, Vonnegut, Twain, etc. More recently, I’ve been steeping my brain in Haruki Murakami and other international writers. I still read a lot of American Literature, but if I want to get better and, maybe, inspired the next generation, I need to keep striving to improve my work. You can’t get better within an echo chamber of cultural influences.

The other element that has influenced my writing is the role-playing game (RPG) genre of video games. I played Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and more growing up. I still play many of those series today. I love the sweeping stories told throughout the games and having to explore those worlds. When someone asks me about my love of games, I always explain that, for me, video games are just interactive novels. I care about the story more than the mechanics and graphics; though, if those aspects of the game are quality, it serves to enhance the overall experience.

TRC:Who are some of your favorite authors of the supernatural genre?

JP: Well, there’s the big one, Stephen King. I loved Poe from a very early age and once or twice tried to emulate his work. It did not turn out well.

Today, I read all over the place. I loved Slade House by David Mitchell and hope to write a similar kind of haunted house story in the future. The Haunting of Hill House is another great haunted house book. Junji Ito writes and draws some out-there stories that are always fun to read. Victor LaValle never disappoints. I’m not sure if he counts as supernatural, but Bradbury has a knack for writing stories that haunt you long after you’ve finished them.

There are of course many more like Kafka, Lovecraft, Barker, Matheson, Bloch, Straub, McCammon, etc., but there is a finite number of hours and so many great books to read.

JP: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first book? This series?

The biggest challenge I had publishing my first book was not having the experience and skill to recognize how terrible it was! I tried for almost a year trying to get that mess picked up and eventually trunked it and moved on. Over time, my writing improved and I wrote several short stories that found homes in various anthologies which led to Portrait of a Nuclear Family getting published.

Once I have that first book out, I went through all my old projects and found a short story titles, “The Case of Leslie Owens,” and took some scissors to it. I was left with maybe half a page on solid writing and began developing it into a novella. Since it has a deep Lovecraftian root to it, I wanted to try and launch it at NecronomiCon in Providence, RI. I approached Crystal Lake Publishing, asked very politely, and they agreed to help me pull it off. They were also interested in supporting the series, so now I’m locked into delivering one a year for as long as people keep buying it or it comes to a natural end.

TRC : Would you please tell us something about the premise of MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS and the TRAVIS DANIELS INVESTIGATION series?

JP: The TRAVIS DANIELS INVESTIGATIONS series follows the titular detective as he encounters cases that devolve into crimes involving supernatural powers. The first in the series, MISSING IN MISKATONIC, begins with Daniels coming off one job to be hired to find a missing girl. The case sends him to Arkham, MA and Miskatonic University where he comes face to face with elder gods, cultists, and malformed creatures beyond conventional description.

MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS begins almost a year later while Daniels is on the run after the events of MISKATONIC. He stumbles across a murder and is swept up into a number of feuds between Canadian Sasquatch, Native America Werewolves, Native America Tribes, local townspeople, and a greedy lumber baron. He needs to solve the murder before fighting breaks out and whole towns are wiped off the map.

TRC:What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning MURDER IN MONASHEE MOUNTAINS?

JP: MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS was way more research than I’ve ever done. First, it takes place in real towns in Washington State. That required many phone calls and emails to local historical societies to get old photos, maps, news clippings, etc. They were wonderful and I wouldn’t have been able to include the level of detail without their assistance. I may have needed to invent some towns, which I wanted to avoid.

The other research intensive aspect of the book, and the reason I didn’t want to start inventing places, is the story features legitimate Native America tribes who exist through to today. The history of their reservation and how it was shrunk by the federal government is one of the many catalysts pressuring the characters in the book. I wanted to be both careful and respectful to their culture so I did quite a bit of research by reaching out to anyone within the tribe who could help me along. I even contacted one of the many people working to keep their native language alive. There are several words and phrases throughout MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS that are true to their language and I’ve includes a glossary and pronunciation guide for readers. I take a lot of pride in how much work I did in this book, but I think I’ll be sticking to fictional towns in the future.

TRC:Did you always plan to have a supernatural element to the series?

JP: Yes, always. I wanted to write a hard-boiled detective story with a main character who starts out a skeptic, is confronted by the supernatural, and adapts. Regardless of his ability to adapt, he will never embrace it and actively avoids getting involved. Of course, there will always be a reason he is forced to.

TRC:How many books do you have planned for the series?

JP: As many as I can possibly write and sell. You keep buying and reading them, I’ll keep writing them.

TRC:How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing believability or content?

JP: That’s a touchY tightrope to walk. I know many authors use a myriad of different techniques, but I try to stick to a couple I find useful. The first is The Hero’s Journey. It’s a lovely foundation to ensure you hit certain guideposts in your story but also allows for the freedom to still find your own path and write, what you can only hope are, original stories.

The second technique I use is called, “However, Therefore.” I found this while watching a video where Trey Parker and Matt Stone were discussing how they build each episode of SOUTH PARK. They call it something different, but I like my title better.
It’s essentially a way of ensuring cause and effect throughout your story. i.e. Sam walked down the street. HOWEVER A man in black clothes, his face covered in shadows turned the corner in front of him. THEREFORE Sam attempted to cross to the other side of the road. HOWEVER The strange man followed him. THEREFORE Sam stopped in the middle of the street. HOWEVER The man stopped opposite Sam and continued to approach. Etc.

This allows for a writer to create a smooth sequence of events that are both unpredictable and maintain believability.

TRC:Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of mystery and suspense involving the supernatural. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you think some author’s fail?

JP: Beyond using the “However, Therefore,” technique, I try to avoid my characters discovering unearned abilities or easy outs. They need to work and suffer for their victories.

Authors tend to fail in this when they don’t consider the cause and effect of what they are writing or giving their heroes too much power. Stories only succeed when they have an obvious conflict where the hero winning is against the odds. If our main character miraculously learns a skill necessary for victory at the last second without struggling to master it, what’s the point? As a reader, I want to see the characters struggle and persevere, not just stumble on the solution. Well, unless you’re writing a comedy, stumbling is part of the genre.

TRC:Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

JP: Absolutely! I’ve been selling my books at conventions and shows and I’m still shocked by how many people comment on my covers and mention how the cover “looked intriguing,” so they picked it up and read the back. Your cover is often the book’s first chance to make an impression with a perspective reader.

TRC:When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

JP: I tend to lean more on the side of the writer directs the characters. While I’m writing, I may start feeling a groove between two characters having a conversation that starts to go off the rails of my intended arc. When that happens I look at whether it’s interesting or not.

If so, I keep going and see where it’s heading. I can always find a way to bring it all back to where I want. Sometimes I discover a fun solution to a problem I’d been mulling over for a bit.

If the conversation is boring, I delete back to the point it when sideways and fix it. As the author, I’m in charge of what’s happening. I tend to maintain a rough plot and always keep in mind the next road sign in the journey. My characters have a small amount of latitude to explore side roads, but they are still going to end up where I want them to be.

TRC:The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

JP: This is a tricky one. I tend to employ a kind of Method Acting while writing intense scenes. I try to put myself in the character’s headspace and see what the most likely reaction is going to be. Being neurodivergent, I don’t always react in the expected ways, so I have trusted beta readers who know to keep an eye out this.

One of the most difficult elements of writing, in my opinion, is emotional resonance. Writers tend to fail at it because they aren’t thinking about it, don’t know to work for it, don’t have the words yet, or solely focused of plot. It takes practice and intention to address it.

TRC:Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

JP: I do listen to music. It doesn’t effect my writing, characters, or pace. I use it to stay focused. If I don’t have music on in the background, my subconscious mind will wander and I don’t get as much done.

TRC:What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

JP: That we are all rich or that we are actively looking for stories to write that aren’t our own.

To make a living as an author on only your words is extremely difficult, especially in a world that doesn’t value art as much as it once did. Back in the 60’s and 70’s, one could make a decent living writing short stories. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. quit his day job when he worked out if he sold just four short stories a year, he would match his current salary. There is no way that is true of today, not even if you sell regularly to the top paying venues.

Most writers scrape out a living until they get a lucky break and their book gets picked up for a movie or television series. Not even then, sometimes. It’s a lot of work and takes a lot of support from loved ones. I wouldn’t be writing as much as I do without my wife’s constant faith in me.

And no, I’m sure your idea is wonderful, but I have more than enough of my own. I always say they should go and write their own book.

No one is going to tell your story better than you provided you put the work in.

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

JP: Very little, honestly. I’m an open book and will answer damn near any question with the unfiltered truth. I find it stressful to edit myself in conversations which is one reason I will often take a back seat to many group discussions in social situations. When I’m working at a convention, either behind my table or on a panel, I present as very extroverted. In reality, I want to curl up in the corner and disappear. The constant worry I’ll make a fool of myself nags at my mind all the time. If you see me at the bar after the vendor hall is closed and the panels are done, I am lost. I have no idea how to act with confidence in that social situation.

TRC:On what are you currently working?

JP: I am editing the first book in a young/new adult fantasy series. Sorry, but there is no romance in it. If you ever read it, you’ll understand a romantic subplot would be highly problematic. It does explore the nature of friendship, though.

Also, I’m finishing up the rough draft of an urban fantasy novel while starting book three of the TRAVIS DANIELS INVESTIGATIONS series. After that will be a dark fantasy horror novel. I have a full plate.

Then there is my Patreon! I do a weekly check-in that is free for those who join. I’m trying to build a community there where we can all celebrate our successes as creators. For the paid membership, I post one short story, one chapters in an ongoing thriller novel, one craft article, and whatever else I feel like writing per month. I am obsessed with making sure I give anyone who pays me value for their money.

I started the Patreon because when I left all Meta platforms, I wanted to maintain the relationships I had with several of my readers.

TRC:Would you like to add anything else?

JP: I don’t think so! This is a very thorough interview. I only hope that those who read my work are open to following me across genres. My work spans several different genres mainly because I get bored easily. Hopefully, readers will start looking for the next JP Behrens book rather than the next horror novel, sci-fi novel, or next Travis Daniels. If my work helps reader expand their interests, then I’ll achieved one of the many goals I have for myself and my work.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food–Pizza or Cheeseburger (I told you all I’m BASIC!)

Favorite Dessert–Brownie Sundae

Favorite TV Show–Babylon 5

Favorite Sport –eSports

Last Movie You Saw–Thunderbolts*

Dark or Milk Chocolate–Milk Chocolate

Secret Celebrity Crush–Katie Holmes

Last Vacation Destination–Disney

Do you have any pets?–One cat, one goldfish, and exploring a dog.

Last book you read–JOURNEY TO THE WEST by Wu Cheng’en

TRC:Thank you JP for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of MURDER IN THE MONASHEE MOUNTAINS. We wish you all the best.

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Ripped Into (Stuart Finlay 1) by Jack Chandler-review & interview

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Ripped Into (Stuart Finlay 1) by Jack Chandler-review & interview

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 1, 2025

As a private investigator, Fin has built a successful career by reuniting families with their lost runaways. His latest case is sixteen-year-old Sarah, who vanished the night her home burned to the ground, leaving him with nothing to go on but a photograph and newspaper article.

Everyone Fin approaches – from classmates to the police – is unwilling to talk about the missing girl, and independent witnesses with no incentive to lie are corroborating stories that can’t possibly be true.

Who the hell is this girl?

As Fin fights to discover the truth, he finds himself sucked into an unforgiving world of violence and sexual obsession. The price of saving both Sarah and himself may end up being the exposure of his own painful past and the secrets he has fought long and hard to suppress.

••••••

REVIEW: RIPPED INTO is the first instalment in Jack Chandler’s contemporary, adult STUART FINLAY suspense, thriller series focusing on twenty-nine year old, private investigator Stuart Finlay.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Stuart Finlay, RIPPED INTO follows former British soldier turned PI Stuart Finlay as he is tasked with finding a missing sixteen year old girl. Approximately one year earlier, following a deadly fire at her home, sixteen year old Sarah Matthews disappeared without a trace, and in the ensuing time, law enforcement stalled in their search for the truth. Fast forward to present day wherein PI Stuart ‘Fin’ Finlay has been contracted to locate the missing young woman, a young woman who does not want to be found but all is not as it appears to be, and our hero finds himself with a target on his back, and the people he loves on the run or in hiding in the face of threats against everyone involved.

The world building focuses on the hunt for s missing girl, and the search for the truth. There is more to the story of the missing girl than Fin could have ever imagined, including several people willing to kill to get their hands on a young woman who is nowhere to be found but Fin has acquired some information and power over the people who want him dead, power that will keep him alive, if only for a short time.Stuart Finlay is not the perfect hero but he is a man determined to protect the people he loves

The colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Fin’s girlfriend of two years Gail, and pub owner, Fin’s friend George. The requisite evil has many faces.

RIPPED INTO is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, obsession and madness, and dysfunctional family value. The premise is dramatic, dark, edgy and suspenseful; the characters are desperate, determined, dangerous and lost. The overall conflict has yet to be resolved-the story continues in book two 13 CHANCES.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi Jack and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of RIPPED INTO.

Jack Chandler: Thank you 😉

TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Social Media: Website / Amazon Author Page/ Goodreads/ Facebook/ Bookbub/

Jack Chandler: I was born in Wales and travelled both with my family and later alone. As a child, we had three years in Hong Kong, where my parents’ relationship broke down. We then had to return to England. In 1995, after working in a bank (which I found utterly soul destroying), I left for Australia to find myself again. It took six weeks, but it worked. When I came back, my father was in Hong Kong, where he lived out the rest of his days. My mum had gone to Puerto Rico, as her third year in her university course as a mature student. And my brother had moved to Japan. My boyfriend, now husband, had gone to Germany for an 18-month contract. I followed him and we’re still there now (these contracts have a habit of getting extended). We are now married with two fantastic boys (I might be slightly biased there) who are now beginning to find their way in the world. I have never been happier than I am at this time in my life.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Jack Chandler: I always found reading to be a bit of a chore – turns out I was just reading the wrong stuff. I discovered Harlan Coben and his writing style is so relaxed and easy to read – extremely accessible. Not pages and pages of blocks of description and yet you always know where you are and who you’re with. He writes very concisely. Pure genius.

I then discovered Jericho Writers an organisation designed to help authors learn the craft and industry, to find agents and publishers, and to work out which path is right for them. I learned more from them in the first year than I did the ten years previously searching the web. I’ve just come back from their Festival of Writing event and I always leave there with my brain racing with all I’ve learned, but also with an enthusiasm and need to write (and sleep!), as well as a bunch of new writing buddies. Solid advice from them and hearing about other authors experiences with trad publishers, helped me finally decide on self-publishing as my path.

Through Jericho, I discovered David Gaughran’s site who is incredibly knowledgeable on self-publishing, and so very generous with the information he just gives away for free.
And then of course, I discovered Mark Dawson’s courses with Learn Self-Publishing, which I’m still working my way through.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing this story?

The main one was trying to get it out there. I sent it to all publishers that would accept submissions – this was back in the day when you had to post them. Got nowhere. Wrote some more. I went to the Frankfurt book fair and submited directly there. Got nothing. Wrote some more. Things changed – the big four started gobbling up the smaller publishing houses and now there were fewer places that would accept direct submissions. I emailed my submissions to agents and publishers. Got nowhere.

In the end, just wanting the book out there, I self-published in 2012 (under a different name). I had no idea what I was doing, and I didn’t do any publicity. Keywords and categories were lost on me. The book landed into a void but a few friends bought it. I hadn’t planned on a sequel, but then my readers asked for it (which was lovely and surprising).

The sequel was self-published in 2016 (under a different name). Throughout, I kept trying for publishers and agents. Needing to try something different and with a story knocking around in my head that was desperate to get out, my first romantasy was self-published in 2018.

I found Jericho Writers in 2019 and learned I was doing everything wrong! Two years in, my kids were getting older, I had more free time, and Jericho announced their flagship course UNWC (now Ultimate Novel Writing Program). I’d passed on the course the previous year, but this time I decided I was going to take this writing thing seriously. It was (for me) an expensive course, but the only one I’d found that would let me work on my own work-in-progress rather than doing exercises each week through short stories or poems or plays – things I wasn’t interested in. I took down all my books.

I then wrote a children’s story designed for German children wanting to learn English (published in 2021) – so it was very basic English and it sold to a traditional publisher in Germany. They were very fair with me, but at the end of the day, I sold the story, and it no longer felt like mine. Edits were made which I wasn’t given the opportunity to approve. The cover was chosen. The illustrator was chosen. The publishing house did nothing wrong, but the industry isn’t exactly set up to make the author the king in this. We are the bottom rung of the ladder, or at least, that’s how it felt. I’d only been working on “Bubbles: the Story of a little cat” for a year. I wasn’t hugely invested in it, but it still stung when I realised it’s no longer mine. I couldn’t lose that level of control over these characters I’ve been living with in my head for years. I love these characters. I didn’t want to be told, “sorry, this character has to go” or “we’re going to change the title to…” or “thank you for the input on the cover, but we’re going to go another way.”

I didn’t want to lose control. Sophie Flynn from Jericho told me that self-publishing isn’t a second choice. It’s a hell of a lot of work. If you’re going to do it, you have to want it. Harry Bingham, founder of Jericho, said in one of his webinars that he’d had to buy his rights back when he felt his book hadn’t been properly presented or marketed, and it had cost him 10,000 (pounds or dollars, I can’t remember now) to do so. It seemed insane to me to have to buy back my story.

Then an author friend of mine had a heart-breaking experience with a publishing house and that was it. Traditional publishing just isn’t for me. I wanted the control over the cover, the blurb, the manuscript, the characters, the ads, promotions, even the marketing (the part I dreaded). I did Jericho Writers Self-Edit course in 2022 with the goddess Debi Alper, who teaches the course. Then I started raiding David Gaughran’s site – his course ‘Starting from zero’ is free and so incredibly helpful. I set myself a deadline of May 1st this year, and started learning how to make my own website, how to set up a mailing list, and how to make it all work – I am so out of my comfort zone right now, I can’t begin to tell you.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of RIPPED INTO?

Jack Chandler: Gladly.

The pitch:
The job is risky but simple: Find the girl. Get her out. Bring her home. Easy.
But the girl won’t cooperate.
The killers who had her want her back.
And now they know where Fin lives…

The blurb:
As a private investigator, Fin has built a successful career by reuniting families with their lost runaways. Then a stranger appears at his door with a cash-filled envelope and a newspaper clipping. The man’s stepdaughter, sixteen-year-old Sarah Matthews, disappeared a year ago after emptying her mother’s bank account, and allegedly torching her family home.

Now her stepfather wants Fin to find her, but everyone Fin approaches – from classmates to the police – is unwilling to talk about the missing girl, and independent witnesses with no incentive to lie are corroborating stories that can’t possibly be true.

Who the hell is this girl?

As Fin fights to discover the truth, he finds himself sucked into an unforgiving world of violence and sexual obsession that becomes more deadly with each revelation.

A British fast-paced action thriller with shocking plot twists and compelling characters. Don’t miss the heart-pounding first book in the Stuart Finlay thriller series. Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben, Robert Crais, and David Baldacci.

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning RIPPED INTO?

Jack Chandler: I actually started writing this in my teens with little or no plotting. Just scenes were coming into my head and a story developed. I can’t remember when I actually started, but I know aged 13 or 14, I went to the local police station and started asking questions to a very concerned officer who wanted to know I really wasn’t going to try any of this!

TRC: Is any of the premise based in reality or fact?

Jack Chandler: Elements for sure. There are parts of my life in there, snippets from people I’ve known. You can’t write in a vacuum. Most of it comes from you, and it can be intensely personal stuff, but if you don’t feel it, the reader won’t either.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Jack Chandler: The sequel, 13 Chances, is due out before the end of August. I don’t have an exact date yet – I’ve just sent it off to my editor and it really depends on what she says when I get it back! The first drafts of books 3 and 4 are already written. I haven’t yet thought past that, but I think I’d also like to re-write my romantasy book and get that out there too…

TRC: Do you have a regular love interest planned for your hero?

Jack Chandler: Yes. My hero, Fin, is in love with his girlfriend Gail, and the books all follow their relationship with its highs and lows. He’s very good at reading people, but a bit crap at reading Gail – or maybe his mind is protecting him from what he sees! They have a lot to sort out between the two of them!

TRC: Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of mystery and suspense. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you think some author’s fail?

Jack Chandler: You have to bring the reader with you. Everything I write about are things that have happened, will happen, and continue to happen. They’re all grounded in reality. And they have a natural progression. The motivations of characters are clear and stated. And every character has a motivation and method that clashes with every other character. It doesn’t all have to be hanging from a cable car with your fingers cramping. But if you have one character wanting something desperately – where success or failure seriously influences their life or the lives of those he loves – and the other character wanting if not needing the exact opposite with the outcome being equally as important to them, then you have a believable and desperate conflict and two characters with everything to lose. Be consistent with your character, and readers can relate. If you don’t do that, then readers are less willing to take the journey with you.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Jack Chandler: Yes! And I really hope so! Mine was an unusual choice. I bucked the trend a little by not wanting it dark or gloomy and not going for the neon colours in the text that seem to be popular. Also, several people believe having your main character on the front cover now is a bit passe. I don’t care. This self-publishing lark is taking a lot of effort and if I’m going to give it my all, then I’m going to do it my way. I chose a cover I loved. It’s colourful, attractive, still with a hint of doom, and my main character is front and centre. Jem Butcher designed it for me, and I believe he’s done the perfect job.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Jack Chandler: Both. I create the world, give them a space to play in. Then I make something happen. How the characters react to that is sometimes planned, but sometimes they go their own way. Two of the chapters in Ripped Into I typed with my hands in a cold sweat thinking ‘what are you doing? Get out of there!’ The character didn’t listen and the chapters, I think/hope read well. It is an absolute gift when the characters take over. It sounds insane to non-authors, I know, but I really am a very happy, well-adjusted person. Ask any other author you know, and they’ll tell you the same. The characters come alive and when they do, it is bliss.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavour?

Jack Chandler: You need empathy. In the trade it’s called ‘save the cat’ after the very famous book with that title. Readers will get on board with a character they can understand. Even if that character is bad or mean or juicily horrible. Once you understand them, you know their motivations, you can see how they are the hero in their own story, and you can empathise. It doesn’t work if random things happen and there is no explanation or motivation for any of it – say, you have a serial killer without any exploration as to why they do what they do, then it becomes much harder to suspend disbelief and get lost in that world.

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Jack Chandler: Definitely not. Can’t focus on the two at once.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Jack Chandler: That we’re in control of the story. And that writing a book is easy. Like most creative pastimes, it is hard and a tough industry. If you can step away from it, do. Those of us who write, do so because we have to. We can’t not write. I’m miserable if I don’t write. It’s like playtime for the brain. If you can take it or leave it, leave it. Save yourself. It’s too late for the rest of us!

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Jack Chandler: I’m congenitally anosmic – that means I was born with no sense of smell. I seem to be the first in my family, but I’ve handed it down to my kids, so in our house we make up 75% of the population (not including the cat). Out in the world, 1% of the population is anosmic. Only 1% of that 1% are congenitally anosmic – that’s why you probably haven’t heard of it before.

TRC: I think we all learned something new today !

Jack Chandler: And also, my parents messy divorce was written as a backdrop to a thriller (thankfully no longer in print) written by a colleague of my father’s. He had ringside tickets to everything and it’s all out there in black and white in the novel. He did change our names. The divorce happened in 1980. The book came out in 1995, I think. My mum and I found out about it in 2013, but all her friends knew about it. I don’t know if my father ever knew. It is bizarre reading about parties and events played out on the pages of someone else’s novel. And to be fair, the story is quite incredible, if you didn’t know it was true, you might find it far-fetched.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Jack Chandler: I’ve just sent off the sequel to Ripped Into (13 Chances) to my editor. She should get back to me within two-three weeks. I’m working on a German translation of Ripped Into, which I need to prepare the cover for and find out how to publish and link to the English versions.

Pre Order 13 CHANCES: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Release Date: September 1, 2025

I have a webinar, much like this interview, where I will be a guest speaker along with some other authors later this month.I’ve applied to a company that produces (non-AI) audiobooks and I’m waiting to hear back from them within the month, hopefully.

And I’ve just attended the Self-publishing Live conference and Jericho Writers Festival of Writing, both of which have left me a huge list of action points of things to do or improve. Once all that is done, I’ll finish the edits for 13 Chances and get that out in the world, and then get to work on book3 in the series. And at some point, I should probably get some housework done and try to rescue the garden…

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Jack Chandler: Just a huge thank you to you for this opportunity. I don’t have a big publishing house to help me through any of this, and it’s fantastic that you’re happy to interview me as a proud self-published author. Ripped Into became a Hot New Release within 5 days of publication and a #1 Amazon Bestseller within 13 days. I still can’t believe any of that is true! It’s support from people like you that have helped make this happen.

Also, I sell character names in my book to raise money for charity. These characters are what I call ‘Innocent Bystanders’ – they are people the hero interviews or who gives him clues. They are not baddies and not victims. The charity of my choice is TallShips.org who give children from difficult backgrounds a chance to prove to themselves what their worth is, so that no matter what they’re told or how they’re put down in their lives, they KNOW they are wonderful. TallShips.org does amazing work. If any of your readers are interested in having their name, or the name of an impossible-to-buy-for friend, in the book, please get in touch – there’s still time to be in 13 Chances, but there aren’t many spaces available

Here’s the APPLICATION LINK

Oh, and if you would like a free story, please head over to my website for a FREE book which gives you some background on my main character, Fin.

CLICK HERE for a FREE Jack Chandler story

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Salmon stirfry

Favorite Dessert – chocolate brownie or mousse

Favorite TV Show – Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip AND Firefly (sorry, couldn’t choose between them)

Last Movie You Saw – The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Milk, no doubt

Secret Celebrity Crush – Chris Hemsworth (I mean, come on, that’s a given!)

Last Vacation Destination – Stubai Valley, Austria

Do you have any pets? – a wonderful 17-year-old cat who we’ve now had for almost 8 years. He was treated badly in his kittenhood and consequently has some peculiar quirks but is the most loving animal ever.

Last book you read – currently reading ‘Two Horses’ by Susan Ivarr – an excellent book aimed at those women who used to read horsey books as a teen and grew up to find there is nothing in the market for them. I’ve never been a particularly horsey person myself, but I’m getting swept up into the story including the horsey elements, and I have a secret crush on the luscious Calum!!!

TRC: Thank you Jack for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of RIPPED INTO. We wish you all the best.

Jack Chandler: Thank you so much!

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Jack Palmer: A New Order by Dan Batchelor-review & guest post

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Jack Palmer: A New Order by Dan Batchelor-review & guest post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /  B&N PAPER /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 24, 2025

Planet Earth has existed for 4.5 billion years
For 200,000 of those years, humans have been the apex species
That is all about to change…

Jack Palmer had seen the movies: when aliens invade, humans will come together to save the world.

But when an alien species delivers a message to Earth, that humans have been considered worthy enough to know the secrets beyond their own star, an event that was supposed to make history only alters it forever.

An occasion that was meant to answer questions only raises more.

But one question is stuck in Jack Palmer’s head…

Why did this happen?

•••••

REVIEW: JACK PALMER: A NEW ORDER is the first instalment in Dan Batchelor’s young adult ,sci-fi series focusing on the invasion of Earth by an extraterrestrial race.

Told from first person perspective (Jack Palmer) A NEW ORDER follows in the aftermath of the invasion of Earth by an alien race. A few weeks earlier, NASA made contact with an alien species, and in the interim prepared for their introduction to the human world but all did not go according to plan, and as only humans will do, appeared to have destroyed any possibility of a peaceful cohabitation. Resisters were eliminated, the survivors were enslaved and imprisoned, and the people of Earth find themselves working for a species they know nothing about. Three years later, one of Jack’s friends goes missing and is presumed dead, and the now eighteen year old Jack Palmer finds himself the confident of one of the Elders, a being who is willing to reveal all, with the help of our story line hero.

The world building focuses on the invasion of Earth by a species who are determined to rule absolutely. From a peaceful introduction to a potential for war, humanity is about to find themselves enslaved by an alien civilization who are resolute and single-minded in their need to take control.

The secondary and supporting characters including several alien beings who have all assigned themselves human names. We are introduced to several of Jack Palmer’s family members and school friends, Michael Anderson, and alien commander Dr. Lewis.

JACK PALMER: A NEW ORDER is a young adult sci-fi story line about power and control, betrayal and vengeance. The premise is interesting and entertaining but reads like a middle-grade story with childlike characters, language and text. The characters are numerous as the remaining humans are ordered to rebuild a world that is no longer their own. JACK PALMER: A NEW ORDER ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

My name is Dan Batchelor, I am 34 and a teacher. I have had an interesting journey into getting my story – Jack Palmer: A New Order – published so thought I would share the brief version!

I began thinking of the concept whilst working in a sales and marketing job back in 2012. Whilst lying in my bed, after a long (and boring day) my mind began to wonder and I asked myself ‘How would humans react to the news aliens existed?’

This started out as a question, which grew into a thought, then a story and finally to an obsession. 

Although my background is not in literature- reading, film and being creative have always been a passion of mine and I decided to give it a go. 

Over the next couple of years, I changed career into teaching and my writing slowed down, however I knew I would always come back to it. Finally, I finished my first draft and shared the story with very close family to help edit (I am dyslexic so knew I would need help). Writing fiction can be quite vulnerable and, like anyone would be, I was nervous about the feedback. However, my confidence grew after my twin brother was quoted saying ‘It’s better than I thought it would be,’ which is the best review it could get! 

I think the voice of my title character – Jack Palmer – is relatable to many people. The book is Science Fiction (based on Earth), however the story is rooted in the believable, but also playful. There are elements of the unknown in a real world setting, which I believe will keep the reader engaged.

It tells the story of a traumatic life changing event unfolding slowly through the eyes of an everyday person. I believe readers will find it easy to connect with the different characters and their interrelationships for which I have taken inspiration from people in my own life.

Despite being proud of the story, I didn’t realise (naively) how difficult it would be to get published. I had to get used to hearing no, or more often than not, nothing at all. But, 13 years after the idea began, I am finally here and in June this year Jack Palmer will be out in the wild for everyone to enjoy! 

The reason I wanted to share my story for was a number of reasons:

1. Don’t put yourself in a box, I studied sports science at university and never thought I could be a published author – if you’ve got an idea just go for it – you never know, it might be good!

2. I’m dyslexic and although I am very proud of the book, as a teacher, I also hope my journey into getting a published book might motivate others in my position or, at the very least, give them the confidence to try. 

I hope you get a chance to enjoy Jack Palmer: A New Order.

Preorders and information can be found here:

www.jackpalmerseries.co.uk

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Jackal (Destiny’s Enforcers MC 3) by April D Berry-review

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Jackal (Destiny’s Enforcers MC: Atlanta 3) by April D Berry-review & interview

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 30, 2025

Opposites attract. But is attraction enough?

Jackal’s been a nomad for years, but proud to call himself part of Destiny’s Enforcers. When his long-time friend and president of the Atlanta chapter was assassinated, he immediately goes to help find who did it and support the club. Falling for someone was the last thing on his mind.

Shivana finds herself in the right place at the wrong time when she goes to visit her old friend. After a harrowing ordeal and having to jump into action to save her friend’s man once they discovered she was a doctor, she decided to stick around a while longer. The idea of a new state and a new start excites her. Not to mention, she has her eye on one of the bikers at the clubhouse.

Jackal can’t help the undeniable attraction to Shivana but being so much older than her and just a roughneck biker, he believes she’s better off leaving town and tries to keep her at arm’s length. But Shivana is ready to start fresh, and she doesn’t see what a little fun with the older, and gorgeous biker, would hurt.

When a new revelation about who may have killed the president come to light, tensions run high and the future of the club, and its members, is at stake. He will do anything to keep her safe, but he can’t seem to resist the young doctor. But can she really be with him, and part of this dangerous life?

•••••

REVIEW: JACKAL is the third instalment in April D Berry’s contemporary, adult DESTINY’S ENFORCERS MC: ATLANTA erotic, MC romance series. This is forty-seven year old nomad turned MC enforcer Jacob aka Jackal, and thirty year old Dr. Shivana Raja’s story line. JACKAL can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Shivana and Jackal) JACKAL follows in the wake of a betrayal by one of their own. Jacob aka Jackal is a nomad but the recent death of the club’s enforcer finds Jackal on the precipice of becoming a full-fledged member of the Destiny’s Enforcers MC, and the possibility of claiming the woman with whom he will fall in love. Dr. Shivana Raja hasn’t left the compound since her rescue , a rescue that has made Shivana an honorary member of the ol’ ladies club but her attraction to Jackal comes with a caveat-Jackal believes he will never settle down, and Shivana proposes a friends with benefits relationship until he is gone . As the club continues to search for the man who betrayed family and friends, the planning of a wedding takes center stage as the MC prepare to hunt down the killer of one of their own.

The relationship between Jackal and Shivana is one of immediate attraction but Jackal doesn’t expect to put down roots until an offer from the MC forces Jackal to make a decision about his future. Shivana is determined to prove she is worthy of Jackal’s friendship and love, only to realize Jackal may have fallen first. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense without the use of over the top,sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar and energetic secondary and supporting characters including the previous story lines couples, and members of the Destiny’s Enforcers MC, as well as the return of Mama Hen, and Bratva member Nikolai Petrov Jr. Once again, the requisite evil has many faces.

JACKAL is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, jealousy and madness, acceptance and love. The premise is gritty and dramatic; the romance is limited but seductive; the characters are charismatic and determined.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Falcon
Eagle

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi April and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release JACKAL.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Social Media: Goodreads/ Facebook/ Bluesky Social/ Website /Amazon Author Page/ Instagram/

April: I’m a steamy romance author that got a later start. I’m a bit of a mood reader, so it makes sense that I also am a bit of a mood writer! I was born and raised in GA, am married, and have two teens (send help).

TRC:Who or what influenced your career in writing?

April: So many things and people. I will say, I’ve been a writer since I was able to hold a pencil but I let life and preconceived notions from others that writing is a hobby, not a career, keep me from pursuing it. Then I thought I’d missed the boat. That was until I went down an Outlander rabbit hole and learned that Diana Gabaldon was 36 when she wrote the first of that series. I was 38 at the time and thought, “Oh my gosh, it’s not too late! I can still do it!” My hubby told me to go for it and he we are, over four years and sixteen books later!

TRC:What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing this story?

April: This is an MC series, but my writing style is very character driven. I really have to work at adding the expected action and even violence that readers have of this genre. I have a great team behind me that gives me valuable feedback but honors my style and that helps, but I still always wonder, “Was it enough?”

TRC:Would you please tell us something about the premise of JACKAL?

April: Jackal is book three of my DEMC series. The series follows a plot of betrayal and a bit of suspense as the club tries to find who assassinated their president. In the meantime, these women who have never been around bikers in any capacity swoop in and chaos usually ensues. Jackal is one of the longstanding members of the national club who was a nomad but ends up being patched into Atlanta. A younger, and particularly sassy, doctor was introduced in book two and she decides to stick around for some excitement. Definitely opposites attract and there’s a bit of an age gap (30/47). She thinks she wants a fling, he thinks she too good for that life. And while they work that out, they are encountered with even more questions and hurdles in finding out what happened to their president.

TRC:What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning JACKAL?

April: I don’t plot which is probably not the best tactic for a series (lol) but it’s my process. Like I said before, I’m very character driven so I let them lead the way. My brain usually knows what’s supposed to happen, and I do know who the ultimate bad guy is so I just write until I fill in the gaps. I have a little experience with some clubs, but also have an “insider” that helps me with the overall lifestyle to keep it somewhat realistic. Of course, I take a few liberties to fit the story and keep it exciting. And for any of the “medical” moments, my alter ego is in that field and one of my team members is also a nurse and that helps.

TRC:How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing believability or content?

April: Sowing even a tiny seed of doubt can make the readers second guess what they think. Also, if there is a bit of predictability, I don’t mind really because it’s more about the execution of whatever is happening. I will say, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the wrong guesses at the bad guys! Some I didn’t even intend to plant as potential villains but somehow they still came off that way.

TRC: JACKAL is the third instalment in the Destiny’s Enforcers MC series, how many books do you have planned ?

April: For the main series, book four will wrap up this storyline. However, there will be stories with other members in the series, but they’ll be more standalone focused. Then we move onto the Bristol chapter which is mentioned in book one, and will be brought up again in book four. Lots of folks have asked when Lynx gets a story, and I believe his will be the first of the new chapter.

TRC: Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of mystery and suspense. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you think some author’s fail?

April: I love some crazy action and out there events, so I can’t say I’ve seen a lot of failures as long as it all ties up in the end. My process is to create enough to pass the possibility not probability check. Like would this really happen? Maybe not. But COULD it happen…absolutely. Also, even if something seems super far out there as long as you circle back and explain the why in a way that makes sense for the plot/character, I’ll allow it (lol).

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

April: Absolutely. I have a variety of covers and different books and the bare man chest outsell the rest by FAR! I am about to put bare man chests on my romcoms! But I think the MC covers depict what you’re getting and match the genre, so readers know what’s about to go down.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

April: The characters lead the way. I just write down the stuff they do while yelling at them, crying, and shaking my head a lot!

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

April: There’s so many ways. It’s one of the reasons I write in first person. I feel like I pull readers into the emotions much easier that way when I exhibit what’s going through the characters mind and how their body reacts. However, I’ve read some great third person stories that get me in a chokehold! It’s been said a million times but showing vs telling is a biggie that can knock a reader off the page, so I try to be careful about that.

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

April: Yes, and it absolutely influences me and the characters. When I look over my most played songs during drafting, I’m always like, “Oh yeah. This all makes sense now.” I like a lot of rock, and classic rock is my fav followed by alternative.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

April: That we have lots of money or look by business-professionals while we write. I’m a hobbit and dress as such.

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

April: I’m kind of an open book. I think most folks would be surprised to know that I am actually super shy and I guess an extroverted introvert. Social media and being in person are very different!

TRC: On what are you currently working?

April: I am drafting book one of my Royal Bastards submission that’s due out in August!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

April: Just how much I truly adore my readers. I can’t be an author without them, and their support means the world to me.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food–Mexican

Favorite Dessert–Brusters Ice Cream

Favorite TV Show-Outlander

Favorite Sport-Braves Baseball!

Last Movie You Saw-Thunderbolts (so good)

Dark or Milk Chocolate-chocolate lol

Secret Celebrity Crush-Stevie Nicks

Last Vacation Destination-PCB (annual family thing)

Do you have any pets? Bruno (doggie), Ginger and Luna (kitties)

Last book you read-Hell Bent by Roux Cantrell (excellent read)

TRC: Thank you April for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of JACKAL We wish you all the best.-

April: THANK YOU SO MUCH!

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