Layton Green "The Egyptian"

I am noticing a trend here, each of Layton Green’s titles have two words in them. First there was “The Summoner” and now “The Egyptian”. Personally I don’t really care; I just enjoy the main character in both, the Dominic Grey, wait that was three words. Okay enough joking around. Layton Green’s novels are infused with common things, science, extremes, and action. A nice formula. There seems to be no middle ground.. What his formula does equate to is a read that flows all downhill and very quickly at that. I for one am a fan. Layton Green was nice enough to stop by The G-ZONE, my blogtalk radio show, here is the link for that discussion:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatisscoop/2011/08/26/layton-green-pamela-cory-stop-by-for-our-tgif-show
“The Egyptian” synopsis:
“ At a mausoleum in Cairo’s most notorious cemetery, a mercenary receives a package containing a silver test tube suspended in hydraulic stasis.
An investigative reporter tracking rogue biomedical companies is terrified by the appearance of a mummified man outside her Manhattan apartment.
A Bulgarian scientist who dabbles in the occult makes a startling discovery in his underground laboratory.
These seemingly separate events collide when Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, are hired by the CEO of an Egyptian biomedical firm to locate stolen research integral to the company’s new life extension product. However, after witnessing the slaughter of a team of scientists by the remnants of a dangerous cult thought long abandoned, Grey and Viktor turn from pursuers to pursued.
From the gleaming corridors of visionary laboratories to the cobblestone alleys of Eastern Europe to a lost oasis in the Sahara, Grey and Viktor must sift through science and myth to uncover the truth behind the Egyptian and his sinister biotech – before that truth kills them”

Davis Bunn “Lion of Babylon”

Bethany House is the publisher of this novel and they do an excellent job of producing a rich, multi-layered story. I have not had the pleasure of reading a Davis Bunn novel before, but very quickly I have become a fan of his writing. “Lion of Babylon” is a look at Iraq and Iran through the eyes and hearts of a variety of characters painting a picture that is surreal, consuming and confusing. The viewpoints hop around from character to character and give all sides of the dilemmas that plague the region. I was consistently amazed at how Bunn was able to go from character to character delivering such insight and wisdom from all sides of the events from the US service men to the Iraqi’s and also some Iranians, men and women alike. He also was able to infuse it with religious themes that just fit like a glove into the plotline that he executed so well. I do not hesitate to suggest this novel for reading; it is hard to put down.
Here is the synopsis:
“Marc Royce works for the State Department on special assignments, most of them rather routine, until two CIA operatives go missing in Iraq—kidnapped by Taliban forces bent on generating chaos in the region. Two others also drop out of sight—a high-placed Iraqi civilian and an American woman providing humanitarian aid. Are the disappearances linked? Rumors circulate in a whirl of misinformation.
Marc must unravel the truth in a covert operation requiring utmost secrecy—from both the Americans and the insurgents. But even more secret than the undercover operation is the underground dialogue taking place between sworn enemies. Will the ultimate Reconciler between ancient enemies, current foes, and fanatical religious factions be heard? “

Karen Anna Vogel “Wedding Season-Volume 2 Amish Knitting Circle”

Just because I read plenty of digital short stories , novellas and full length novels that have plenty of horror, thriller , suspense, death and mayhem undertones does not mean that I can’t take a back seat from that and enjoy a nice wholesome read on the Amish folks I so do enjoy. Okay, I like their cooking, but so many other people.
Karen Anna Vogel’s writing for me is unique and has a viewpoint and narrative that I have come to quickly enjoy. Her take on the “Plain” people is poignant and very respectful. I love the definitions at the beginning of the read and the recipes at the end. They add a very nice touch to the installments of this digital short story series and for me add to it like a nice frame. The characters she has created seem all too real, they seem to just flow from her, and as a reader that just seems to draw me in more and more deeper into the universe. I just love it. “Wedding Season” is a gem and a peach of a read. If I could, instead of stars, I would give this 5 whoopee or shoo- fly pies out of five, but I don’t think Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, or Goodreads would change that for me. Get your Amish on and give this series a try, it will win you over very quickly.
Here is the synopsis of the “Wedding Season- Volume 2 of Amish Knitting Circle”:
“A Trestle Press original digital short story series…Amish Knitting Circle…Volume 2…Wedding Season
It’s been three weeks since Granny Weaver started her knitting circle to knit shawls for tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri. She had a hunch that women spun together, like her wool, would be stronger too. At the first circle, Ruth was missing and Granny knew why. Her husband, Luke, was isolating her again. Maryann didn’t come because of her ongoing fatigue. Fannie came, but Granny almost fainted when her widowed son, Roman, seemed to show interest in this twenty-one year old. Granny wanted him to notice his old sweetheart, Lizzie, but he barely gave her a passing look; all his attention went to Fannie.
It’s Mid-November now, and wedding season is in full swing. Emotions surface in everyone as they see vows exchanged between two people in love. Some are reminiscing over their own wonderful marriages, while others are plowing through this season with dread. The happiness around them only magnifies that fact they’re in an unhappy marriage or lonely, being single. How can the women help each other as they’re spun tighter together in a knitting circle?
This series, available every three weeks, will cover an Amish year. We’ll see women open up at the knitting circle, their hearts encouraged, as they face trials and every day pleasures…together.”

Barry Eisler “The Detachment”

I am a huge of Barry Eisler’s work, I make no bones about it, and so I am going to keep it short. In this novel he tackles many things, melding the thoughts and feelings of four different killers, four different Alpha males, four totally different viewpoints and even more agendas in this novel and he does it seamlessly. The read is taunt, moving and intense. It was hard to separate myself from the read until I finished it.
I was fortunate enough to interview Barry Eisler on my blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE. Here is the link for the interview:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatisscoop/2011/09/15/barry-eisler-and-david-hoof-are-in-the-house-1
Here is the synopsis for you:
“John Rain is back. And “the most charismatic assassin since James Bond” (San Francisco Chronicle) is up against his most formidable enemy yet: the nexus of political, military, media, and corporate factions known only as the Oligarchy.
When legendary black ops veteran Colonel Scott “Hort” Horton tracks Rain down in Tokyo, Rain can’t resist the offer: a multi-million dollar payday for the “natural causes” demise of three ultra-high-profile targets who are dangerously close to launching a coup in America.
But the opposition on this job is going to be too much for even Rain to pull it off alone. He’ll need a detachment of other deniable irregulars: his partner, the former Marine sniper, Dox. Ben Treven, a covert operator with ambivalent motives and conflicted loyalties. And Larison, a man with a hair trigger and a secret he’ll kill to protect.
From the shadowy backstreets of Tokyo and Vienna, to the deceptive glitz and glamour of Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and finally to a Washington, D.C. in a permanent state of war, these four lone wolf killers will have to survive presidential hit teams, secret CIA prisons, and a national security state as obsessed with guarding its own secrets as it is with invading the privacy of the populace.
But first, they’ll have to survive each other.”

Pat Lawrence, author of “Jarred into Being” Q&A

What is the title of your book? Jarred Into Being
What is your book about?
After the tragic death of her parents, Eva Lange must battle for her freedom; indeed, her very life. Fleeing her aunt's abuser, she falls prey to a murderous drug lord and his wife in their luxurious lair of lust. Using her wits, beauty, and sexuality to save herself and break the bonds of captivity and degradation, Eva struggles against corruption and powerful political forces to reclaim her independence and save the life of the man she loves.

Why did you decide to write it?
We wanted to write the type of novel that we ourselves enjoy reading: a taut, suspense-filled, roller coaster of a read that keeps you turning pages until you reach The End.
What types of readers will be interested in your book?
Anyone who enjoys fast paced, exciting fiction with a strong protagonist and convincing, fully drawn supporting characters will enjoy this book.

What is special about your book? What differentiates it from other books in the same category?
Our main character’s physical beauty is both a curse to her and her ultimate salvation. Eva is preyed upon because of her desirability, and she learns to use that same attribute unapologetically to free herself and assert her total independence

Have you published any other books? Do you plan to publish more?
We do plan to publish more novels; in fact, our second one is already underway. We have previously penned Murder Mysteries and a two act comedy play, Squirrels In The Attic.

A.J. Scudiere Guest Post

A.J. Scudiere will be my guest on The G-ZONE Weds. Sept. 28th @12pm EST. Here is a little something to get the ball rolling before the interview:
The writing of a thriller is just as much of a puzzle as the story itself is . . .
When I started writing God’s Eye, I already knew how the story would go. I knew which character was the demon and which was the angel. I knew what Katharine would have to go through to find her way and what the path she eventually chose would be. But I didn’t always know how it would play out.
Writers often talk about how their characters take over and dictate what happens and how books take on a life of their own. I find that to certainly be true. In God’s Eye, Katharine’s life is disrupted by strange happenings that make her think she’s losing her mind. When she realizes that she’s a pawn in an old and ugly battle between a demon and an angel, she starts to believe insanity is the better option. The worst part is – though she knows who is after her and that she’ll have to make a choice – she can’t tell good from evil. So how can she choose?
To me, the work of the book isn’t in the writing, but in paying attention to the ‘what to tell when’. If you – the reader – can figure it all out too soon, the thrill is nearly gone. If you can’t figure it out at all, then where’s the joy in that?
Though the work is in figuring out what clues to put into the story and when, that’s also where the fun is. It’s part of why I love writing so much. To start, I have a two-fold plan for each book: I want you to be able to turn pages and just enjoy it but I also want you to have more if you want it. There are uncountable clues that are buried in each of my books that will help you solve the puzzle. And though you’ll get the answer at the end, not all of the clues will be pointed out.
The best books give you what you came for. In a thriller, what you came for is a surprise. If you can see the ending too early, there’s no suspense. And if you don’t have enough information, then you can get confused or frustrated with the author. There’s definitely an art to writing suspense. I find that thriller readers are usually smart . . . and that the best suspense novels acknowledge that intelligence.
I write for everyone who loves an edge-of-your-seat puzzle and for everyone who ever wondered if Margaret Atwood intentionally named the main character in The Handmaid’s Tale “Offred”. (The handmaids are identified by the red they wear and are named for the man they belong to. Atwood’s lead is both “Of-Fred” and “Off-Red”.) I always loved that dichotomy and include unspoken pieces like that in all my books. For example, if you check the meanings of my lead character’s name in God’s Eye – she’s Katharine Geryon – you find out some interesting things about her. And at the end of the book, you’ll learn something interesting about the cover, too.

My goal as a writer is not just to keep you up into the wee hours, but to give you enough information to solve the puzzle and also enough to make you doubt yourself. You, the reader, should mirror the main character . . . you get to go on Katharine’s ride with her, from the safety of your big comfy chair, late at night, with those little noises just beyond what the light illuminates, and with a growing concern about what lurks on the other side of the dark.
God’s Eye releases on Oct 1st
Resonance and Vengeance are both available in paperback, all e-reader formats, and AudioMovies.

Submissions: Do you have any?

Sunday, Sunday , Sunday. How are you doing? Good day to all. I come to you once again as we here at Trestle Press are gearing up for an amazing three month period of promotions: “Harbinger of Horror”, “Thanksgiving Thriller Feast” and last but not least ”Santa’s Goodie Sack Full O’Multi –Genre Madness!”.
I think that you can see by the titles of the promotions we are looking to have some fun with this. The key here is to have quality digital short stories, novella’s, and full length novels for our readers to devour.
We are looking for authors of all genres that feel they have the right stuff, they have the goods, and they can be what every reader is looking for: a responsive author that has them in mind read after read. If you feel you can deliver that, time after time, then contact me. I am interested in talking to you. We have a very ambitious publishing schedule to close out the year. Do you want to be part of that?
gelati.giovanni@gmail.com
trestlepress@gmail.com

Michael Brandman “Killing The Blues” A Jesse Stone Novel

I think like many fans saddened by the passing of Robert Parker, we were left with a question in our heads. Is this franchise going to be carried on and if so by whom? I have included Michael Brandman’s bio after the synopsis so if you have not heard of the author or his creds, now you do. I have to admit and have done so many times that I am a huge fan of Parker’s and his many franchises. Jesse Stone, the king of dialogue, is one of my favorites. I saw that this was set for release and I was of two minds. Can they pull it off, can they even come close, and where are they going to this universe that I enjoy so much called Paradise?
The answers came for me rather quickly. I carefully read the jacket and the new author’s bio. I liked that they chose him to do this. I need to say this even though I am a book reviewer. I enjoy Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone; he carries it off pretty well. So when you mix the two, the writer that puts the words into Tom Selleck’s mouth and drives the television action with just the written word, how much closer can you get than to someone like Michael Brandman that has been inside of Robert Parker’s head and carried it off so many times in another media. I was happy, not euphoric, but happy. Now what is between the covers?
I saw a pattern and an agenda here. Was I happy with all of it? No. I was happy I was getting something that was as close to the original as possible, almost but not quite, but then again the guy that invented the brand, the universe, is no longer here. Let’s face facts, as readers and consumers, something was going to change, the visceral feel, that sameness, the fabric of the whole thing, there are a few new wrinkles in it. Are they all bad? No. I was happy to get the read in on a set of characters that I enjoy and hold dear. I think maybe too many “reviewers” took things a bit too seriously when they penned their reviews. A new sheriff is in town, and I am going to guess that includes a new direction and new media tie in as both are being written by the same guy. My question to you as a reader is, do you think that it is good for the same person to have control over both the written work as well as the visual one? Do you think that this franchise would be better carried off by having a different author?
Here is the synopsis and the author’s bio:
“Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone returns in a brilliant new addition to the New York Times-bestselling series.
Paradise, Massachusetts, is preparing for the summer tourist season when a string of car thefts disturbs what is usually a quiet time in town. In a sudden escalation of violence, the thefts become murder, and chief of police Jesse Stone finds himself facing one of the toughest cases of his career. Pressure from the town politicians only increases when another crime wave puts residents on edge. Jesse confronts a personal dilemma as well: a burgeoning relationship with a young PR executive, whose plans to turn Paradise into a summertime concert destination may have her running afoul of the law.

When a mysterious figure from Jesse's past arrives in town, memories of his last troubled days as a cop in L.A. threaten his ability to keep order in Paradise-especially when it appears that the stranger is out for revenge.
About the Author
Robert B. Parker was the author of more than fifty books. He died in January 2010.
Michael Brandman is uniquely qualified to carry the Jesse Stone series into the future. An award-winning producer of more than thirty motion pictures, he collaborated with Robert B. Parker on more than a dozen of them. Together they wrote the screenplay for Tom Selleck's TNT movie Monte Walsh. Brandman produced and Parker wrote three Spenser films for A&E, and their collaboration continued with the Jesse Stone TV movies currently broadcast on CBS. Brandman lives in California.”
Check out the newest releases from Trestle Press: April Pohren ”Welcome to the Land of Insanity” , Angelique LaFontaine & Eddie Frantom ”Thirty -1: Salvation”, B.R. Stateham ”Insatiable” from the “Drunk on the Moon” series by Paul D. Brazill, David Hoof ”Sharpshooter”, Karen Anna Vogel “The Amish Knitting Circle”, Lisa Taylor “Shana Black: The Invention” , Mark Cooper “Infection” ,Mark Cooper “How I met Your Mother: First Date”, De Miller “12 Steps” volume 2 of the “One” series by Mark Miller, Sam Lang “Reprisal: Shadow Boxing” volume 3, Michelle Vasquez “’Til Death Do Us Part”, Darren Sant ”Community Spirit” volume 2 of “The Tales of the Longcroft Estates”, J.E. Seymour “Pale Horse”, Tom Sumner “All I wanted was a Haircut #5”, Jeffrey Martin & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Forsaken”, CQ Scafidi “Time Couriers” (Barnes & Noble’s Nook version), Darren Sant “Flashes of Revenge”,S.L. Schmidtz “Mina’s Daughter…The Harker Chronicles, Vol.1”, Chantal Boudreau “Weird,Wicked & Wonderful: Technopathy ,Volume 2”, Werner Lind & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Mrs. G’s Vampires” , Sam Lang & Giovanni Gelati “Two John’s” from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series.

T.L. Cooper guest post: review of “Sharpshooter” by David Hoof

Sharpshooter by David L. Hoof brought one word to mind repeatedly as I read it: unflinching. The characters were bold, brash, and at times almost too real. The setting was harsh and cold yet beautiful. The story was unapologetic in its examination of human behavior and attitudes. And, all this lead me back to the word unflinching. Hoof's characters' words were often far from politically correct and often made this reader flinch or squirm in her seat yet it depicted the characters' attitudes without question. The characters in the book are deeply flawed but likeable on some level. As the investigation into the murder of Jeb Holloway, political candidate, evolves, the reader is left to wonder if they really care who killed him even as curiosity drives them to find out. When two seemingly less important citizens are killed, the reader must wonder why their deaths are more disturbing than that of the politician's. The reader will also be torn between wanting the rekindled romance between the Red, the deputy, and Molly, the reporter, to work and to disintegrate even while wanting to know more about it. While, at times, the characters in Sharpshooter seem almost like caricatures even to one another, at other times, they seem like old friends the reader wishes to invite over for a nice leisurely dinner. Sharpshooter's unflinching examination of the prejudices people hold in their hearts, the wrongs remembered for generations, and the ambivalence that permeates people's daily lives grabs the reader and won't let go in an intriguing and layered murder mystery.
T. L. Cooper
Author of All She Ever Wanted
www.tlcooper.com
www.writewithtlc.tlcooper.com

Harlan Coben "Shelter"

I enjoy a good YA novel on occasion, I mean who doesn’t? It breaks things up a bit, gives a little more life to the reading week and who knows what quirky things may pop up in them. This though my friends,”Shelter”, is just a great read period; I do not care what label you wish to slap on this. I do not know how he does it, novel, after novel after novel, but Harlan Coben delivers another intense, fun read. The author says he had a blast writing this, well I had a ton of fun reading it, just flat out did not want to stop; I devoured all at one sitting. When I was done, I was a bit upset with myself for not savoring it a bit more, not drawing it out a little, because I do not know when I will be getting the chance to read another of his works again.
Harlan Coben really gets it with the kids. I can speak from experience having been one many moons ago but also having eight kids. I loved this time in our children’s lives and he hits the clique, clumsy thing right on the head. The Freaks, geeks, jocks, outcasts, they all have a place in the order of things. The character of Mickey is great. His surrounding cast excellent, the prose was right on, and the amount of care and consideration he showed with each character was evident; I loved it. One other thing that really stood out for me was he left enough mystery about each character for future installments, he did not answer or reveal all with this origin tale, great, because I want more, much more. Now if I can just get him on my blogtalk radio show, hmmmm……..
Here is the synopsis:
“A young adult debut from internationally bestselling author Harlan Coben
Mickey Bolitar's year can't get much worse. After witnessing his father's death and sending his mom to rehab, he's forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch high schools.
A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey's train-wreck of a life is finally improving until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley's trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn't who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey's father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury - and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.
First introduced to readers in Harlan Coben's latest adult novel, Live Wire, Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his uncle Myron, and eager to go to any length to save the people he cares about. With this new series, Coben introduces an entirely new generation of fans to the masterful plotting and wry humor that have made him an award-winning, internationally bestselling, and beloved author.

Sam Lang “Shadow Boxing” Volume 3 of the “Reprisal” series

I’ll admit until maybe 4 or 5 months ago I was not really into the horror genre. I think my basic hang-up was the gore, the blood and guts, the over simplification of the action; basically it left nothing to my imagination, I like my imagination, sorry. I feel that a good writer no matter what genre I am reading can and should leave a little something for me to think about, a little bit unsaid, a little bit for me to consider to draw me in a bit and be a captive in his or her universe. I don’t think I am alone in this reading philosophy. This is part of the reason why I am enjoying Sam Lang so much; he knows how to ramp up the tension, build a story and for that matter a series.
“Shadow Boxing” is the third installment of the Reprisal series. The other two installments in the series are “Making Plans, Making Memories” and “Impeccant”. The series will be running on a three to four week cycle. Reprisal is a town, one that is dying, drying up, becoming nothing but a vacant shell, or is it? Sam Lang uses metaphors and mixes emotions like he is baking a really good batch of brownies, adding a little bit here and there, trying to make sure he gets all the lumps out of the batter before he burns the batch, on purpose, that is the horror part. I know as a reader, sooner or later he is going to drop the anvil on my head. The dry sense of humor, the way he twists and bends the action, ramps up the tension, and builds his suspense is what makes the read for me. He uses me against me as I read and I love it. Sam Lang knows horror, my suggestion is to get into this now, if you haven’t, just go back to numero uno and get caught up, QUICKLY, this is a series you will enjoy downloading.
Here is the synopsis of “Shadow Boxing”:
“Reprisal is a dying town built on secrets and haunted by a mysterious shadow since its beginnings.
Eddie Newport must survive one night in this town with his oldest friend as a bus full of escaped murderers breaks down on Main Street.
In Shadow Boxing, events are set in motion for the prison transfer. Devin “De’Light” Lighter is a tough kid who thinks he has learned something about the true nature of power. When something out of the shadows speaks to him, he learns there may be more power in words than in action.”
Check out the newest releases from Trestle Press: April Pohren ”Welcome to the Land of Insanity” , Angelique LaFontaine & Eddie Frantom ”Thirty -1: Salvation”, B.R. Stateham ”Insatiable” from the “Drunk on the Moon” series by Paul D. Brazill, David Hoof ”Sharpshooter”, Karen Anna Vogel “The Amish Knitting Circle”, Lisa Taylor “Shana Black: The Invention” , Mark Cooper “Infection” ,Mark Cooper “How I met Your Mother: First Date”, De Miller “12 Steps” volume 2 of the “One” series by Mark Miller, Sam Lang “Reprisal: Shadow Boxing” volume 3, Michelle Vasquez “’Til Death Do Us Part”, Darren Sant ”Community Spirit” volume 2 of “The Tales of the Longcroft Estates”, J.E. Seymour “Pale Horse”, Tom Sumner “All I wanted was a Haircut #5”, Jeffrey Martin & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Forsaken”, CQ Scafidi “Time Couriers” (Barnes & Noble’s Nook version), Darren Sant “Flashes of Revenge”,S.L. Schmidtz “Mina’s Daughter…The Harker Chronicles: The Wolf Vol.1”, Chantal Boudreau “Weird,Wicked & Wonderful: Technopathy ,Volume 2”, Werner Lind & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Mrs. G’s Vampires”

William Tooker “Black Betty” volume 2 of the “Slouching Towards Bethlehem “Series

Horror anyone? William Tooker knows his horror; that is evident from the first few paragraphs of this story. “Black Betty” is the second installment of the “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” series and continues the storyline in the most gruesome way. I like to hear about when people are harvesting things, usually that is good right? You harvest crops, etc, but what are they harvesting in “Black Betty”? I don’t think it is hay and apples.
“Black Betty” delves deep into the minds and souls of the people William Tooker has placed in this universe, a very tense, distorted universe. I have become attached to his wording, his carefully choices of language in his prose and the rich descriptive nature of his work. It is disturbing yet captivating at the same time. Tooker is able to paint an all too real picture of a time and place I do not think many of us would like to be, yet he makes it interesting and inviting to read. That for me is the kicker and the reason I am following this skilled author. If you haven’t had a chance to get a read on this series yet the first installment is titled “Bad Angels”. Get in on the ground floor, and enjoy yourself, very uncomfortably.
Here is the synopsis:
“Wade and Eliza were through. The love was gone and the fighting was non-stop. Desperate as they were to get away from each other neither of them was ready for how they would finally part. The death with a thousand faces had reached up from the Downs to harvest yet another victim. Heart broken and driven by revenge one of them would come face to face with the otherworldly terrors lurking in the Downs and eye to eye with the remorseless Black Betty.”
Check out the newest releases from Trestle Press: April Pohren ”Welcome to the Land of Insanity” , Angelique LaFontaine & Eddie Frantom ”Thirty -1: Salvation”, B.R. Stateham ”Insatiable” from the “Drunk on the Moon” series by Paul D. Brazill, David Hoof ”Sharpshooter”, Karen Anna Vogel “The Amish Knitting Circle”, Lisa Taylor “Shana Black: The Invention” , Mark Cooper “Infection” ,Mark Cooper “How I met Your Mother: First Date”, De Miller “12 Steps” volume 2 of the “One” series by Mark Miller, Sam Lang “Reprisal: Shadow Boxing” volume 3, Michelle Vasquez “’Til Death Do Us Part”, Darren Sant ”Community Spirit” volume 2 of “The Tales of the Longcroft Estates”, J.E. Seymour “Pale Horse”, Tom Sumner “All I wanted was a Haircut #5”, Jeffrey Martin & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Forsaken”, CQ Scafidi “Time Couriers” (Barnes & Noble’s Nook version), Darren Sant “Flashes of Revenge”,S.L. Schmidtz “Mina’s Daughter…The Harker Chronicles: The Wolf Vol.1”, Chantal Boudreau “Weird,Wicked & Wonderful: Technopathy ,Volume 2”, Werner Lind & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Mrs. G’s Vampires”

Harry Houdinin: a Guest Post by C.E.L. Welsch

This essay appears at the end of C.E.L. Welsh's latest work, Coffeyville, a Harry Houdini Novella, and discusses the author's love for the subject matter:
“The Story Behind The Story: Coffeyville, a Harry Houdini Novella
I am a retired magician. Actually, that may be stretching things on a few technicalities; yes, I have been paid to perform magic, and thus could have been considered a pro, but my skills never eclipsed the mildly talented. It has been years since I’ve handed out one of my “Christopher Welsh : Magician For Hire” business cards. However, the waning of my career as a magician never dampened my love for magic. I’d say it’s the writer in me, always fascinated by the stories that good magic acts tell—and let’s face it, there are few stories that can top Houdini stories.
Okay, sure, some have said the man was more showman than magician, and that he certainly focused on escape acts more than magic. But those folks are picking nits. Houdini was a magician at his core, and I’ll fight anyone who says different (with silk scarves and foam rabbits.)
I am the author of the Harry Houdini graphic novel by Campfire Comics; my first published work, and one of my most proud. During the research portion of writing the script I read the most amazing book, “The Secret Life of Houdini. The making of American’s first superhero.” I knew my fair share of Houdini stories, but I was not prepared for the motherlode represented in this book. Houdini the Scamp, Houdini the Oathmaker, Houdini the Diplomat, Houdini the Spy...Houdini the Wounded
It was in this book I learned of Coffeyville And What Happened There. Really, it was no more than a half a page of text, but it opened up reams of story in my head. “Why didn’t I know about this?” I asked the book in outrage. Well, as I mentioned, what I didn’t know about Houdini far outstripped what I did know. Luckily, the book knew plenty, as did a few of my buddies who were REAL experts on the Master Mystifier. All together we managed to put the script together, and Hey-Presto! I had a great story published.
Fast forward to 2011. I finally got around to writing the story that had been marinating since I first read that Houdini had carried around a spent bullet in his hand from 1897 on. I wanted to tell the Coffeyville story, and while it is plenty interesting on it’s own, I could not resist having Erich using the events of his past to pull off a trick that no one else could do. Inspired, I set out researching once more, and, as before, stumbled across more and more bits of Houdini’s life that were new to me. Buster Keaton was in Coffeyville, traveling with the Dr. Hill show as a babe? No way! Houdini’s beloved dog Charlie died in 1911, the year I had settled on for the ‘current’ time line of the story? Sad...but interesting! Coffeyville was the stage where the infamous Dalton gang played their final act, just years before Houdini’s tale? Wow!

And so on.
This was the first time I wrote a tale that takes place in two different years, and, not sure how to go about it, I jumped in and wrote all of the Coffeyville scenes first. I then wrote all of the New York scenes, guided a bit by the inherent pacing of the first part, and then wove the two together. I must say, I’m pleased with how it turned out.
What’s next
I could write Houdini stories endlessly. There are so many to tell. HH is arguably the most famous magician in the world, and his incredibly rich life turns up the most story seeds...but there are so many other fascinating magicians who have stories of their own! The next story I want to tell is of one Billy Robinson, an American magician who found fame only after completely hiding himself in plain sight, transforming himself into a Chinese classical magician named Chung Ling Soo! And then there is the time Jean Robert-Houdin stopped a war by pretending his powers were the real deal! And then...
I like this format, taking an already-interesting historical tale from a magician’s life and mixing it up with a bit of fiction. Stay tuned and let’s see what I come up with next.”
Check out the newest releases from Trestle Press: April Pohren ”Welcome to the Land of Insanity” , Angelique LaFontaine & Eddie Frantom ”Thirty -1: Salvation”, B.R. Stateham ”Insatiable” from the “Drunk on the Moon” series by Paul D. Brazill, David Hoof ”Sharpshooter”, Karen Anna Vogel “The Amish Knitting Circle”, Lisa Taylor “Shana Black: The Invention” , Mark Cooper “Infection” ,Mark Cooper “How I met Your Mother: First Date”, De Miller “12 Steps” volume 2 of the “One” series by Mark Miller, Sam Lang “Reprisal: Shadow Boxing” volume 3, Michelle Vasquez “’Til Death Do Us Part”, Darren Sant ”Community Spirit” volume 2 of “The Tales of the Longcroft Estates”, J.E. Seymour “Pale Horse”, Tom Sumner “All I wanted was a Haircut #5”, Jeffrey Martin & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Forsaken”, CQ Scafidi “Time Couriers” (Barnes & Noble’s Nook version), Darren Sant “Flashes of Revenge”,S.L. Schmidtz “Mina’s Daughter…The Harker Chronicles: The Wolf Vol.1”, Chantal Boudreau “Weird,Wicked & Wonderful: Technopathy ,Volume 2”, Werner Lind & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Mrs. G’s Vampires”

David Hoof "Sharpshooter"

Brilliant, yes, I just wrote brilliant. Have I caught your attention yet? “Sharpshooter” by David Hoof is an amazing novel, flat out mesmerizing from the first page to the last. His style is totally unique; his gift of prose writing phenomenal, and this novel just is one intense read. I am going out a limb here and saying that this maybe one of, if not the best novels, I have read this year. Yes, that is how strongly I feel about the work this author has turned out here.
David Hoof has done all the usual here with characters, plotline execution, etc, etc., but where he stands out is his originality and writing. He paints an amazing picture to create a universe that I did not want to leave. The rich content, the vivid descriptions, the smallest detail was not left to chance in this novel. I could see hear and feel the entire thing. Not too bad for a reader that is deaf and has glasses you can see to the moon with. I highly recommend this novel, and you can bet this going to be included in my list of top novels for this year. David Hoof will be my guest on September 15th on my blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE, right after Barry Eisler comes on at 12pmEST.Mark that down on your calendar; these are to interviews that are not to be missed.
Here is what you will get with “Sharpshooter”:
“The Holloway family began grabbing up land and making serious enemies in Montana even before the Battle of Little Bighorn, but there was no payback until Senate candidate Jeb Holloway was found dead in his pickup in a lonely draw on his ranch. Using a Sharps buffalo rifle firing an antique slug, the killer seems to have stepped out time, then vanished. Local sheriff Redfawn Kravitz has plenty of suspects, but when their alibis emerge, the case gets muddier, nastier and no closer to a solution. “

DAVID HOOF IS ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED AND VERSATILE MASTERS OF THE WRITER'S CRAFT.IN THE LAST THREE YEARS , HE HAS TURNED OUT AN AWARD-WINNING WHODUNIT, LITTLE GODS AND A SIDE-SPLITTING CAPER NOVEL TRIPLE JEOPARDY (BOTH STILL IN PRINT IN CASE YOU MISSED THEM). NOW HOOF RETURNS TO THE SUSPENSE GENRE, HIS MASTERY OF WHICH WAS SHOWN IN THE INTERNATIONALLY BEST-SELLING "SPIKE HALLOCK" SERIES, WITH A WESTERN-THRILLER FEATURING RED KRAVITZ, A NEW HERO WHOSE ORIGINALITY AND PERSISTENCE RENDER HIS NARRATIVE GRIPPING FROM THE FIRST PAGE.
Praise for “Sharpshooter”:
"SHARPSHOOTER" IS A TOP-NOTCH THRILLER WHICH SHOULD CONTAIN THE CAVEAT:" DON'T START
READING THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE NO PLACE TO BE TOMORROW MORNING''.
--DON GASTWIRTH,
former editor, Yale Literary Magazine

"Sharpshooter, in the spirit of all great Westerns, seamlessly fuses past, present and future, reminding us that place is defined as much by geography as it is by time."
- Nicholas Croce, The Croce Agency

Check out the newest releases from Trestle Press: April Pohren ”Welcome to the Land of Insanity” , Angelique LaFontaine & Eddie Frantom ”Thirty -1: Salvation”, B.R. Stateham ”Insatiable” from the “Drunk on the Moon” series by Paul D. Brazill, David Hoof ”Sharpshooter”, Karen Anna Vogel “The Amish Knitting Circle”, Lisa Taylor “Shana Black: The Invention” , Mark Cooper “Infection” ,Mark Cooper “How I met Your Mother: First Date”, De Miller “12 Steps” volume 2 of the “One” series by Mark Miller, Sam Lang “Reprisal: Shadow Boxing” volume 3, Michelle Vasquez “’Til Death Do Us Part”, Darren Sant ”Community Spirit” volume 2 of “The Tales of the Longcroft Estates”, J.E. Seymour “Pale Horse”, Tom Sumner “All I wanted was a Haircut #5”, Jeffrey Martin & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Forsaken”, CQ Scafidi “Time Couriers” (Barnes & Noble’s Nook version), Darren Sant “Flashes of Revenge”,S.L. Schmidtz “Mina’s Daughter…The Harker Chronicles: The Wolf Vol.1”, Chantal Boudreau “Weird,Wicked & Wonderful: Technopathy ,Volume 2”, Werner Lind & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Mrs. G’s Vampires”

BOCCE, THE G-MAN, CHARLESTON BOCCE LEAGUE AND THE G-ZONE

I don’t know if you know this or not, but I love bocce! I love to play it and I also enjoy watching others enjoy it. Two digital short stories have poured out of my laptop and gone out into the world, published by Trestle Press called: “I Have Chrome Balls, Don’t You? And the sequel to it “Holy Chrome Bocce Balls on Fire!” To take that a bit further, wait did I just say I am going to take something further, what a surprise, let me finish… To take it a bit further I have begun forming relationships with bocce leagues all over this great land of ours, from sea to shining sea. I will be featuring the Charleston Bocce league first, besides today’s guest post they will be guests on my blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE, on Weds Sept 14th @ 12pm EST. There motto is, are you ready,: “If you have the time , we have the balls.” Do I think the time on the blogtalk will be interesting, fun and informative? I should say so. Tune in; get the spirit, bocce baby! Here is a little something the Charleston Bocce League sent me to get us warmed up:
“Just days after Hurricane Irene swept across our shores The Charleston Bocce League ventured out to Folly Beach to commence their semi finals and finals for the season’s Championship Tournament! Upon arriving at the beach it was all too clear that a major storm had just passed. The water line was up to the dunes and there were patches of dune grass strewn throughout the beach. Where used to lie 12 inches of deep soft white sand had been washed away and replaced by a hard, unforgiving black grit. The ocean was still churning, murky at best, with gray foaming white caps. The clouds were dark and rain felt imminent. What used to be blue skies, white beaches and a bluish-green ocean was transformed into a muddled mixture of grays. Clearly the mood was set for the final leg of the tournament.

First up in the semi-finals was our 2nd season team Coach and K-Dog (Paul Stevens & Kevin Ward) currently the 4th place seed entering the tournament taking on the 1st place seed and freshman team Balls to the Vol (Aaron Alexander & Slim). After the first couple of rounds Coach and K-Dog had a commanding lead up 3-0. But Balls to the Vol weren’t going to roll over and play dead. They fought back and took the lead with some impressive ball skills. A few unfortunate tosses by Coach and K-Dog were all it took to seal their fate as Balls to the Vol advanced to the finals.

Concurrently, the second leg of the semi-finals was being battled out by 2nd place seed and freshman team Bocce Bros (Matthew Johnson & Zach Carichiuta) taking on the 6th place seed and 2nd season team Bocce and Bullwinkle (Katie & Adam Webb). Unbeknownst to either team was the bocce battle that was about to ensue! Bocce and Bullwinkle, being the only coed team in the semi-finals, had something to prove. After two rounds Bocce and Bullwinkle were able to squeak a 2-1 lead, but it wouldn’t last long. Bocce Bros battled right back to take the lead at 3-2. Then some impressive skills and a good turn of luck lead by Katie gave Bocce and Bullwinkle a commanding 6-3 lead (playing to 7). Bocce Bros had other plans however. A few key rounds with some defensive maneuvering and great tosses breathed new life into this game. After what must have been a 45 minute battle the Bocce Bros were able to take the lead and then the win with a 8-6 final score moving on to the finals!

The battle for 3rd place between Coach and K-Dog & Bocce and Bullwinkle was short and to the point. Bocce and Bullwinkle still pumping with adrenaline and fuming from their loss made short work of Coach and K-Dog. With 4 points in round 1 and 3 in round two Bocce and Bullwinkle secured 3rd with a commanding 7-0 win.

The sun was setting as the finals began between Balls to the Vol and the Bocce Bros. It was a great spectacle to watch! Here were the two teams that rightfully belonged in the finals. Neither team had missed a single match out of the 42 played throughout the season and neither team dropped below the top 3 for the season. It was truly a battle between the best and both were out to prove a point. The name of the game with these two teams is the long ball. If they had a motto it could be “go long or go home”.

Balls to the Vol started out strong and after only a few rounds had a 3-0 lead. The Bocce Bros weren’t going to go out without a fight though. They fought hard and threw well to take the third round with a single point bringing the score to 3-1. Balls to the Vol wasn’t having it though and made the last two rounds game changers. You know it’s truly impressive to see these two teams toss a 107mm ball what must have been 30 plus yards at a target the size of a golf ball and land within 6 inches of it time and time again! But that’s exactly what happened and Balls to the Vol showed a commanding presence with the last few rounds to close out the match with a 7-1 victory!

Loggerhead’s Beach Grill, this year’s league sponsor, hosted the award ceremony and the end of the year celebration. Balls to the Vol took the 1st place trophy along with $300 prize money and ensured that the Charleston Bocce League Championship Trophy stayed another season on Folly Beach! Bocce Bros took the 2nd place trophy and $200 prize money followed by Bocce and Bullwinkle in 3rd place with $100. Also honored was The Good, The Bad, The Bocce (Vanessa During & Chad Garrett) for the Baddest Ballers and Bocce Said She Was 18 Officer (Will Phillips & Bart Smith) for best team name! All in all it was a great end to another successful season for the Charleston Bocce League!

Karen Anna Vogel "The Amish Knitting Circle" Volume 1

My husband said I had to do this one, he knows how much I enjoy these types of stories. Up to this point the only types of Amish stories I have been able to find were full length novels. When he told me this is a brand new short story series, I was very happy to read it. I had not heard of this author before, but she instantly won me over with her definitions in the beginning and her recipe at the end; I just loved the little touches she added.
The story in between is the best part though. Karen Anna Vogel has me hooked on her knitting circle of Amish characters. She has put a reality to this fiction that makes her characters believable, tangible, and engrossing. The story seemed to be just the right size and I enjoyed that, a nice jolt of what I enjoy to read, Amish fiction, but in a new age style, a digital short story, who would have thought? I can hardly wait for the next one; I am anxious to see what develops with each of her characters. This promises to be a great new series!
This is the first installment in the series so here is the synopsis and a little bit about Karen Anna Vogel:
“Granny Weaver is praying for five women in her Old Order Amish community in Smicksburg, PA., but nothing seems to be happening. Spinning wool one day she ponders the fact that fibers wrapped around each other make a yarn that’s hard to break. Maybe the women she sees unraveling need to be spun together so they don’t break.
So Granny starts a knitting circle to make items for tornado victims in Joplin, MO. She invites Maryann who looks too tired and needs a break from her eight children. Ella seems mighty down since a doctor told her she can’t have children. Emma feels she’ll never get married because of her weight. Ruth has been depressed since the day she got married and won’t tell anyone why. Elizabeth never married to take care of her handicapped father, but others suspects she has a broken heart over a broken courtship.
Over the course of a year these women open up at the knitting circle. Their hearts are encouraged, being knit together in love as they face trials and troubles…together.”
About Karen Anna Vogel:
A trusted English friend among Amish in Western PA and Western NY, my four grown children call me an ‘Amish Addict.’ My husband of thirty years shares my addiction. Our Old Order Amish friends have taken us back to a time when life was slower. Slow enough to enjoy our faith, family and friends. Slow enough to make me relax and join a knitting circle and learn to spin wool. Wanting to share what I’ve learned from these gentle people led me to write Amish fiction. I’m represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency and blog under Amish Crossings: http://karenannavogel.blogspot.com/ Member of Pittsburgh East Scribes and ACFW.”
Check out the newest releases from Trestle Press: April Pohren ”Welcome to the Land of Insanity” , Angelique LaFontaine & Eddie Frantom ”Thirty -1: Salvation”, B.R. Stateham ”Insatiable” from the “Drunk on the Moon” series by Paul D. Brazill, David Hoof ”Sharpshooter”, Karen Anna Vogel “The Amish Knitting Circle”, Lisa Taylor “Shana Black: The Invention” , Mark Cooper “Infection” ,Mark Cooper “How I met Your Mother: First Date”, De Miller “12 Steps” volume 2 of the “One” series by Mark Miller, Sam Lang “Reprisal: Shadow Boxing” volume 3, Michelle Vasquez “’Til Death Do Us Part”, Darren Sant ”Community Spirit” volume 2 of “The Tales of the Longcroft Estates”, J.E. Seymour “Pale Horse”, Tom Sumner “All I wanted was a Haircut #5”, Jeffrey Martin & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Forsaken”, CQ Scafidi “Time Couriers” (Barnes & Noble’s Nook version), Darren Sant “Flashes of Revenge”,S.L. Schmidtz “Mina’s Daughter…The Harker Chronicles: The Wolf Vol.1”, Chantal Boudreau “Weird,Wicked & Wonderful: Technopathy ,Volume 2”, Werner Lind & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Mrs. G’s Vampires”

Barry Eisler and a Full Week of Fun On The G-ZONE

I have a blogtalk radio show; I call it The G-ZONE, and this week there is going to be plenty of fun for just about everybody. The line-up this week goes from Christian based authors to bocce to graphic novels to one of the book industries currently most talked about authors, a Titan in the thriller/action/suspense genre, Barry Eisler( I am a huge fan if you didn’t know). Without further ado, here is the lineup for the week all times are EST:
Monday: Brian Goins 12pm
Tuesday: Darren Sant 2pm- he has two new releases to add to his Amazon Kindle Top 100 Best- seller “A Good Day”(The Longcroft Estates series Vol.1), “Community Spirit” (also part of The Longcroft Estates series, it is vol.2) and “Flashes of Revenge” a flash fiction anthology.
Wednesday- Charleston Bocce League 12pm- I am forming relationships with bocce leagues all across this great land of ours. Bocce is an excellent family sport and great fun. Their motto is : “If you have the time…we have the balls.” I love it! But the question needs to be asked do they play with Chrome Balls also? We will find out.
Thursday- a Twin bill of fun – Barry Eisler at 12pm. We will be discussing his new release “The Detachment” as well as many other things. After we finish chatting with Barry Eisler we will have David Hoof step into the The G-Zone. We will be discussing his newest release “Sharpshooter” and what he has on the horizon after that.
Friday- David Doub 12pm- I love graphic novels and we will be discussing them with David.
I think that does it for this week. If you have any questions for the authors ,feel free to email them to me, message me on whatever social network you find me, or call in and be part of the fun, why not? Here is the number for the show to call into and my email address:
1-949-270-5955
gelati.giovanni@gmail.com
Check out the newest releases from Trestle Press: April Pohren ”Welcome to the Land of Insanity” , Angelique LaFontaine & Eddie Frantom ”Thirty -1: Salvation”, B.R. Stateham ”Insatiable” from the “Drunk on the Moon” series by Paul D. Brazill, David Hoof ”Sharpshooter”, Karen Anna Vogel “The Amish Knitting Circle”, Lisa Taylor “Shana Black: The Invention” , Mark Cooper “Infection” ,Mark Cooper “How I met Your Mother: First Date”, De Miller “12 Steps” volume 2 of the “One” series by Mark Miller, Sam Lang “Reprisal: Shadow Boxing” volume 3, Michelle Vasquez “’Til Death Do Us Part”, Darren Sant ”Community Spirit” volume 2 of “The Tales of the Longcroft Estates”, J.E. Seymour “Pale Horse”, Tom Sumner “All I wanted was a Haircut #5”, Jeffrey Martin & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Forsaken”, CQ Scafidi “Time Couriers” (Barnes & Noble’s Nook version), Darren Sant “Flashes of Revenge”,S.L. Schmidtz “Mina’s Daughter…The Harker Chronicles: The Wolf Vol.1”, Chantal Boudreau “Weird,Wicked & Wonderful: Technopathy ,Volume 2”, Werner Lind & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Mrs. G’s Vampires”

“12 Steps” Mark Miller’s “One” series by De Miller

I have purposely put two posts in total opposite together today; I like themes, and these are extremes. Let me stop right there before I break out into my cover of a Billy Joel song. From the first words I have read of this series, “One”, I was pretty much sucked into it. Why? I love the genuineness of it, the feelings laid bare, the core and essence of it. I have come to understand the intent and the desire of the creator of this series, Mark Miller. He has no desire to bring anyone in that is preachy, that looks down from a pulpit, which is casting out lightning bolts to smite down the unbelievers.
To my understanding not only are different faiths going to be showcased in this series, but also forms of thought. This is not a religious series, but a series that is looking to tap into the mind, the soul, the core of your being. The lineup of future author’s is pretty diverse, spanning many different faiths, educational backgrounds and writing styles. “12 Steps” is the second installment of this series, get this on your radar and into your ereading device, the reads are well worth the $.99 investment, consider it a Do-It –Yourself improvement project expense that keeps giving back.
Before I go, here is the synopsis:
“Mark Miller’s “One” is a spiritual anthology examining True-Life experiences of Authors and their Faith. As the series evolves, expect to discover what it means to have faith, no matter what that faith is and no matter where the authors live. Remember that we are all part of this One World.
In story two, De Miller tells something of his life growing up and compares it to his new existence as a Born Again Christian. He has strong influences from both his mother and father that shaped his whole life. After forty years, he is learning something new. “
Check out the newest releases from Trestle Press: April Pohren ”Welcome to the Land of Insanity” , Angelique LaFontaine & Eddie Frantom ”Thirty -1: Salvation”, B.R. Stateham ”Insatiable” from the “Drunk on the Moon” series by Paul D. Brazill, David Hoof ”Sharpshooter”, Karen Anna Vogel “The Amish Knitting Circle”, Lisa Taylor “Shana Black: The Invention” , Mark Cooper “Infection” ,Mark Cooper “How I met Your Mother: First Date”, De Miller “12 Steps” volume 2 of the “One” series by Mark Miller, Sam Lang “Reprisal: Shadow Boxing” volume 3, Michelle Vasquez “’Til Death Do Us Part”, Darren Sant ”Community Spirit” volume 2 of “The Tales of the Longcroft Estates”, J.E. Seymour “Pale Horse”, Tom Sumner “All I wanted was a Haircut #5”, Jeffrey Martin & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Forsaken”, CQ Scafidi “Time Couriers” (Barnes & Noble’s Nook version), Darren Sant “Flashes of Revenge”,S.L. Schmidtz “Mina’s Daughter…The Harker Chronicles: The Wolf Vol.1”, Chantal Boudreau “Weird,Wicked & Wonderful: Technopathy ,Volume 2”, Werner Lind & Giovanni Gelati from The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series “Mrs. G’s Vampires”