Interview with Christopher and Kris Hawkins Creators of One Buck Horror

Interview with Christopher and Kris Hawkins Creators of One Buck Horror

Today I am interviewing Christopher and Kris Hawkins, a husband wife team that, created One Buck Horror. Welcome to my world of Insanity.


1. What led you both to create One Buck Horror?

Well, we're both horror fans and avid readers. Chris is a writer who deals with web technology in his other life. Kris is super-organized and great at finding quality stories. It seemed like a great way to bring all that experience together into a single project. And once we saw how quickly the market for ebooks was growing, we knew we had an opportunity to bring some great horror fiction to a mass audience. From there, it all just sort of fell into place.


2. Has there ever been a story you had to turn away not because it was a bad story, but because it was too twisted?

I don't know that we've ever turned down a story for being too twisted, but we have turned down a lot of perfectly good stories because they weren't quite right for our publication. We have a pretty specific vibe we're going for with One Buck Horror, and it makes us really picky.


3. What has been the most rewarding experience for you both doing One Buck Horror?

The most rewarding thing has been working with such a great group of writers, and being able to give them some of the exposure they deserve. We've gotten some great response so far from our readers as well, and being able to connect the two groups has been really exciting.


4. What is each of your favorite stories out of all three volumes?

That's a little like asking us which of our two children we like best! It's really hard to say, and on any given day, we might give a different answer. There are definitely a few that stand out, but we'd rather let the readers pick their own favorites.


5. Which type of horror do you both prefer, the subtle, sneak up on you type, or the in your face blood and gore from the start?

Well, there's definitely a place for both in One Buck Horror. What really matters is that the story is written effectively, and that it's scary. Blood and gore are fine, as long as they serve the story, though we probably lean a bit toward the "sneak up on you" stories. But approach matters less than substance, and good stories will rise to the top no matter what.


6. What scares you?

Spiders. Clowns. The Chupacabra. Congress. Doll parts. Country music. Snooki. The list goes on and on...


7. I see One Buck Zombies is in the works. Want to tell us about it?

Well, it's chock-full of zombies and only costs a buck! What more can we say? All kidding aside, we have some great stories in that book, and they're all fairly unique takes on the zombie genre. We think our fans are going to love it!


8. What are you looking for in contributing authors?

We're looking for stories that grab onto you right from the beginning, whether that's by scaring us right in the first few sentences, or by presenting compelling characters, or by putting us into an irresistible setting. Too many horror stories are a long, slow wind-up to a scary twist that comes in the last few pages, which is hard to pull off in a horror anthology when the reader know that something scary is going to happen eventually. The best stories command the reader's attention right away, and don't let go even after they're finished.


9. What's the best advice you can give someone who wants to be a horror writer?

Read everything you can, and not just horror. If all you read is horror, then your stories will look just like everything that's come before. Immerse yourself in different genres and different styles. Let them all inform your writing, and create something that's truly unique.



10. Has One Buck Horror brought you both closer together as husband and wife?

It definitely has. Working together is a challenge, but it's a lot of fun, and we hope to continue doing it for a long time.


Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

One Buck Horror Volume One Review

Title: One Buck Horror Volume One
Publisher: Coronis Publishing













Okay, I admit it. I wasn’t sure I was going to like One Buck Horror. I mean come on how good could an anthology be that is only a buck? I was pleasantly surprised to find it was great. I got way more than a dollars worth!

All the stories are well written, well edited, and enjoyable. I had to sleep with the lights on! The book was so good in fact I am making sure to acknowledge each story in Volume one. Volume two and three will come in another review.   


One buck horror vol. 1

Jenny’s house-
This story is very short! Like a 5 minute read, but well written. It’s supposed to be from a young child’s point of view and I think the author captured a child like way of telling the story.

A Lullaby for Caliban- My absolute favorite of all the stories in the book! I didn’t see the twist at the end, which is how I like a good story.

Last Nephew- A good make you think type story. I was caught up in it and think the scariest thing about it was the things left unknown.

The cornfield- This is another one of the stories that surprised me in the end. I enjoyed this story. It’ll pop in my head every time I’m in a cornfield from now on.

The Gingermen- This one was quite different than most short horror stories. It’s the kind of story that the scariness sneaks up on you well after you finish reading it.

All of the stories are fast paced (under three-thousand words). I liked the speed of each story as it kept me on the edge of my seat. The surprise endings were spectacular. I don’t know how Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins were able to gather so many great writers, but they did it.

I am comfortable recommending this book to most horror fans. If you like a lot of detail this may not be your book. Remember the stories are three-thousand words or less. This is a great book that will leave you trembling.

I received this book free to review, but all opinions are honest and my own.

Weirder Than Marshmallows review

 Written by: Dan Fog
Compiled and edited by: Deborah Carney,
Publisher: Night Fire Publications
















About the book:

“Ignorance, lack of common sense, and downright inhuman stupidity run rampant in this country and around the world. I watch people, and I hear stories, and they beg, beg, beg to be mocked and ridiculed. So I created a forum for people to do that.”

Weirder Than Marshmallows showcases tales of stupidity and ignorance in the hopes of making people laugh.“People can submit the bare details,” said Fogg. “I’ll turn it into a story, sticking to the facts they give me and adding my own commentary.”

This book is a hilarious look at stupidity. When I say hilarious I mean people were looking at me because I was laughing so hard. There were some serious parts that seemed almost to take away from what I thought was a "humor themed" book, but I was quickly drawn back in. Overall this was a really good book. I read it in about an hour and plan to go back and reread it again.

Weirder Than Marshmallows is a compilation of a mans experiences dealing with...well stupidity. At times I sat laughing, shaking my head saying this can't be for real, but it is. You actually learn a lot about the author through his notes. He is honest and funny in this book and you can read the type of person he was through his words. He totally seemed like someone I would have gotten along with well.

I was never one to read book dedications so I was a bit caught off guard at he end and actually felt a strong tug of my heart. I strongly suggest if you are the emotional type like me read the dedications!

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh. I was in a bad mood when I started to read Weirder Than Marshmallows and afterwards I had permagrin. Take the time to read this book and you'll never look at lighter fluid the same.

As a special limited offer, if readers purchase Weirder than Marshmallows for the Kindle and they forward me their receipt at dc@nightfirepublications.com we will send them a special Scentsy Pumpkin Marshmallow Scent Circle. 

To find out more Click here

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Hermie, a Common Caterpillar By Max Lucado

                         

 

              "Hermie, a Common Caterpillar"

                            by Max Lucado

                                     Review

By Max Lucado 

    Published by Thomas Nelson

Max Lucado created a beautiful children's book for kids 4 to seven years old, though the message is great for all ages. You are perfect just the way God made you.

The illustrations in Hermie, A Common Caterpillar are bright and vibrant. The characters are very cute and appealing to children. The facial features of the bugs are priceless. You can really see what each character is feeling.

The story is well written so young children can read and enjoy this story. None of the words are too big and it doesn't talk down to readers.

I love the message in this book. You are perfect just the way you are and Gods not finished with you yet. What a wonderful thing to remember when we get down on ourselves. This book will teach children they are not at all common, but extraordinary because God has made them just the way they should be. It also reinforces prayer with children. This

I would recommend this book to any children. It's a perfect bedtime story or to give a child who isn't feeling to good about who they are.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in AdvertisingDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze®.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.”

                                                   

Has God Spoken -Hank Hanegraaff Review

              Has God Spoken -Hank Hanegraaff
                                        Review

 

Title: Has God Spoken?

Author: Hank Hanegraaff

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 30, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0849919703

ISBN-13: 978-0849919701

Has God spoken?

The answer is… In this book.

Hank Hanegraaff’s book is out to prove to skeptics and atheist that the Bible is the work and words of God. There are 4 main points in this book spelled out in an acronym Manuscripts, Archaeology, Prophecy, Statistic. Are today's bibles the truth or have they been twisted and changed over the centuries? Is there physical proof? The prophecies, were they accurate? The importance of proper biblical interpretation.

Has God spoken is easy to understand. It’s Hank Hanegraff’s use of acronyms that makes it comprehensible. I enjoyed this book and set it on my read again shelf, even though Hank Hanegraff got his point across he first time.

At first glance I thought the book would be long and boring. It was in fact the complete opposite. I found it to be intriguing and kept me turning the pages.  I always liked to think I had a good grasp on the Bible, but I never really knew how to respond when someone questioned biblical stories. I know how to respond now. MAPS (One of Hank Hanegraaf’s acronyms) taught me. .

I really enjoyed the biblical archeology in this book. I am a huge fan of the Naked Archaeologist so this is a topic I am huge on. I think Mr. Hanegraff did a great job pointing out the physical proof of bible stories. This book was well researched and well written.

I would recommend this book to people who are new Christian’s, those who question, and believers alike. I think just about anyone who reads it would find it interesting and captivating just like I did.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

             

Meet the teen star's in Ally Azzarelli's books! Plus a giveaway

"Being able to put together books for fans to read and collect is such an amazing feeling. Here I am writing about a performer's dream to become a star while living out my dream - delivering fans their story through my writing."
-Ally Azzarelli

Want your kids to meet their favorite stars like Selina Gomez, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Lautner? Ally Azzarelli makes this possible with her books. Your kids will love learning about the lives of the stars they follow.


Even children who hate to read will pick up a book about their favorite stars. These biographies will help kids to see that stars are just like them. They are real people who have real hopes and dreams.

Ally grew up collecting anything she could about her favorite stars and now her childhood hobby has turned into her creating these collectibles for a new generation. She is no stranger to writing about celebrities, she was the associate editor for SuperTeen magazine for several years. She's interviewed tons of stars and now is sharing their stories through these books.

If your kids love Wizards of Waverly Place, Justin Bieber, or Twilight, they'll love these books too. They'd make great birthday or Christmas gifts. If your kids are anything like mine they'll be reading these books with their friends and talking about them at the dinner table.  


The Selena Gomez biography is a beautiful 48 page hard cover book with a glossary in the back to help younger readers with words they might not know.  
Visit Ally's
TO BUY: Click here

To win a author signed copy of the Selena Gomez book:


These books are a must have for young fans. Ally has graciously  autographed a copy of her Selena Gomez book to give away to one lucky reader Leave a comment for each entry. If it's worth two leave two comments etc. Mandatory: Follow Ally's twitter
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Meet Author Neil Ostroff

Today I welcome Neil Ostroff into the interview seat. He's the author of thriller novels for adults and teens. I am honored to be able to delve into the world of a fellow thriller writer.


Neil, tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Pennsylvania and spent my summers in Key Largo Florida. I’ve been writing since as long as I can remember. I graduated from Elmira College with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy/Critical Thinking. Briefly, I wrote psychological evaluations for the Elmira, NY courts. My science fiction and fantasy stories have appeared in numerous presses, zines, and websites. I am an avid boater, gardener, and poker player when not working on my novels.

You have a new book coming out. Give us some of the details.

It’s called INSECTLAND and it’s geared toward middle graders, especially boys, but girls will like it, too. Here is the back cover description:

Be frightened! Be very, very frightened! Tiny, dragon-like creatures hidden in our homes will harm us. They will shrink us to the size of rice, enslave us, and turn our world into their own lethal military base. But there is hope. Legions of robotic insects intent on stopping them have recruited high school student Dan Larson to help. Thrust into danger on an alien planet, Dan risks everything in a desperate attempt to prevent an epic battle that could change the balance of power in the galaxy forever.

I also have an adult literary newly out called DROP OUT. Here is a quick summary of that one:

The room was sparse and dimly lit with the flickering of strawberry-scented candles. Power was out. It had been nearly a decade since Nathan had stood inside someone’s home; since that tragic day when he lost everything that ever mattered to him. Outside, a hurricane sounded like it was beating palm trees against the earth. Nathan didn’t know the woman who’d rescued him from the throes of the deadly storm, but he would soon enough. Her name is Miriam and she is about to change everything he ever thought about the meaning of life and what lies beyond. Nathan will discover that the strength of love can piece his shattered world back together and heal wounds that cut deep into his soul. But he never figured the perils he and Miriam were about to face by knowing the most horrible knowledge that one can know.

Your book "Frost Proof" looks intriguing. What was your inspiration behind this story?

The main character in the book, Cody Larson, was born out of numerous abnormal psychology classes that I took while earning my BA. I wanted to create a character who was wholly evil, but put a logic to that evil. I wanted him to believe that his horrendous acts had meaning and then build a story around that. Introducing the innocence and predicament of major character, Niles Goodman into the story really takes that concept to the edge.

Do you have an emotional connection to any of your characters?

I think every writer has a bond with their characters and that some part of the writer is in them. I was once asked which book that I’ve written I like the best and I answered, all of them equally. A book is like a child to a writer. You love them all with the same intensity but in different ways.

I see you have also written for teenagers. Do you find it more difficult than writing for adults?

A teenager wants action and something interesting to happen in a story. But that’s tough to do when you’re competing against the distractions of video games and the internet. Writing for adults can be more fun because I can use dirty words and write graphic scenes. But I love writing for either genre the same.

You say in your profile " I wrote psychological evaluations for the Elmira, NY courts, examining character profiles and emotional motivation.". Did this experience help you write better characters?

Absolutely! Spending countless hours observing dysfunctional families certainly inspired many of my most fearsome characters. Also, watching the interaction between people who have done horrible things to each other really helped my learn how to describe emotions and how people hide them.

What do you love most and hate most about the writing process?

Simple. I love writing that first draft and then reading the final page of a completed manuscript. Everything else in between is obsessive, adrenaline-jacked terror.

Any advice for new authors just starting out?

Keep at it. The world is changing and technology is allowing for writers to market and promote their work around the world. A good story will always sell. So write a good story.

Out of all your books, which is your favorite?

Again, that’s like asking me to name a favorite child. I think my best book in terms of pure story is a noir thriller called DEGENERATES. My weirdest is a noir thriller called, PULP. And my favorite to write would have to be my newly released adult literary, DROP OUT.

Where do you see your writing career in ten years?

I have a lot of books coming out and a lot of ideas for more. I’d like to see myself with fifty or so published books. I’d spend my days sitting on a dock or on a boat in the Florida Keys promoting with my wireless tablet and collecting royalty payments. That would be the ideal. 

Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. I look forward to reading all of your work. Insectland sounds like something my son would love. There isn't nearly enough books for boys that age! I know we'll all be hearing great things about you real soon and you'll be on your boat in the Florida Keys.




         


To learn more about Neil Ostroff:Click here
To buy his books Click here

An Interview and freebie with Author Elizabeth Reyes

Meet Elizabeth Reyes and score a free ebook

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
Lets see. I was born and raised in California. I still reside in California but it was only about 7 years ago that I moved to the High Desert which now allows me to experience each season very profoundly. From the scorching summers to the snuggly winter snows. I've gotta say I really like it. 

I'm a full time stay-home mom to my 2 teenage kids Mark and Megan and have been married for 17 years now to my wonderful husband Mark. I've been writing since I was a teen but only until a year ago did I decide to share my writing with the world. I do believe that God willing I'll be writing and sharing for the rest of my life. I have SO many stories in me!  


2. Do people in your life inspire your characters?
Absolutely. I can't say that any one of my characters is based on any one person I know but I do take many of the more interesting characteristics of several people I know and put them all together to create one very unique and in some cases very flawed characters. 


3. I was reading the sneak peek of Romero on your blog. I have to say it sounds great. Can you tell us a little about the book?
Funny you'd ask. When I first created the character of Romero he was meant to be the funny sidekick. Like you asked before, I knew who he was and where I had got bits of his personality and his story but I never thought I'd be telling it in it entirety.  It wasn't until Always Been Mine was released that I began to receive emails and PM's from readers who were interested in reading the entire story of Romero and Izzy. At first I responded with "no I don't plan on writing his story." But with each email I kept receiving, his story began to grow to the point where I'd wake up thinking about certain scenes. So I decided I had to write it. His story is a little different than the rest of my Moreno's, but if the ladies like rip roaring Alpha's boy are they in for a treat! =)   After Romero will be the last in the series Making You Mine -- the story of the oldest Moreno brother Sal. 


4. I hear Judy Blume was a childhood favorite. I think many of us have read "Are You There God, It's Me Margret". What other authors or books influenced you over the years?
Oh my goodness. Me and my childhood friends still text each other once and a while "Are you there God it's me Margaret" lol Yes Judy Blume was a huge inspiration. Over the years there's been many. Believe it or not James Patterson has been an influence in my love for page turners. His thrillers have kept me up late in the evening and I've always aspired to write that kind of read. The kind you just can't put down. Then there's Lori Foster and all her Alpha Males. I think I've read just about ALL her books and pressed them against my chest sighing when I was done. As of late Simone Elkeles, Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols are just a few of my favorites. 


5. What do you feel was the hardest part of writing your books?
The beginning and the end. =/  I usually have the Main story and all the explosive climaxes in my head before I even start the book. I don't even start writing a story unless I have some idea about the overall theme.  But the first chapter which is supposed to hook the reader and the ending chapters which I strive to leave the reader satisfied and feel it was worth reading the entire thing (and staying up late to do so)  are my hardest to write. I literally obsess over them. 



6. Any advice for writers just starting out?
I can only speak for writing in the Indie world since I've never even tried going the traditional route. Most importantly be ready. Join critique groups or have a critique partner. I thought I was ready about six years ago, then joined an incredibly helpful online critique group called Critique Circle which helped me see the light. I was so not ready but I learned so much from them and am eternally grateful. Second get an editor. I learned the hard way it's impossible to edit your own work and its so very important to put out your very best work out there.  Get a good cover. I can't express how important this is. No matter how many times you hear you can't judge a book by it's cover trust me people do! Get a thick skin because you will NEVER please everyone, so as good as your book may be there will always be someone who HATES it. Remember to expect to get a 1 star "this book was terrible!" at some time in your career, maybe more than once. If you don't when it does happen you will waste hours away sitting at home soothing your bruised ego over a glass of wine. Not that I've ever done this. Ahem!  Seek out book bloggers/reviewers. It is hands down the best exposure out there. Write a lot but read even more. And more than anything if this is really your dream, never EVER give up! 


7. You mentioned you have a freebie available. Can you tell my readers where they can get your book "Forever Mine" to download free?
Yes it's only temporary so get it now! You can download it for free on Amazon, B&N and smashwords. If you don't have a kindle or Nook you can always download the apps for free on your PC or smartphone and read the book that way. It's the first in the Moreno Brothers series and hopefully you'll be hooked! =D

Thanks so much for having me, Stephanie! 

To purchase Books by Elizabeth Reyes: http://thebeginings-elirey.blogspot.com/

To get a free Ebook from Elizabeth Reyes: http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Mine-Moreno-Brothers-ebook/dp/B00427ZI2C