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First of all, this was an enjoyable read. A book that I found myself hooked on, reading through it in only two days. The characters were rich and fully realized, the dialogue was snappy, and the plot moved along at a steady crescendo. That being said, I have some issues with this novel. This first one is an issue I have with many science fiction tales (please note that I did not say hard science fiction stories). The issue involves time, especially the passage thereof when it

I am currently reading Boltguns and Duct Tape (Spaceship Mechanic Book 1) by Jamie McFarlane. It is a science fiction, fish-out-of-water (sort of), comedy adventure involving a sharp-witted, fast-thinking protagonist, Rix Banner, who, because of an ad on a billboard in late 1940s Wisconsin, agrees to fix a spaceship stranded on Earth. This book presents itself as the first in a series, and, if I enjoy this book as much as I think I will, I anticipate the next chapter when i

As I mentioned when I first began reading this book, I enjoy reading biographies/autobiographies/memoirs that focus on a specific time or event in the subject's life. Crowe, here, focused on his later teenage years, when he graduated early from high school and became a rock and roll journalist. Many of the chapters and events in this memoir, including following bands like Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers Band, The Who, and profiling artists like David Bowie, seemed episodic,

A group of college friends and I get together once a week on Zoom to discuss a film we've decided to watch. This week, we will be watching Silverado , a western released in 1985. I'll give my thoughts after we discuss it.

I am currently reading The Uncool , a memoir by Cameron Crowe, who is better known as a filmmaker. I always enjoy reading memoirs that place specific emphasis on only a part of the subject's life. Here, it would seem, a coming-of-age reflection and the making of his film, Almost Famous , are the main foci.

To me, Charlie Huston has never shied away from violence, especially violence that shocks and disturbs the reader. He did so in Caught Stealing, and he did so in the previous Joe Pitt Casebook Novels. To say the least, the violence in his books is not for the faint of heart. But the violence is significant. In the case of Joe Pitt in this book, again, he finds himself aching, bruised, bloody, and close to death, making questionable choices all along the way. I won't give spoi

I am currently reading Half the Blood of Brooklyn: A Novel (Joe Pitt Casebooks Book 3) by Charlie Huston. It is a vampire tale set in New York City, with a flawed, arrogant anti-hero as its main character and narrator. I especially admire the unique use of dialogue punctuation that Huston employs here.

This is a fascinating history chronicling the origins and the roller coaster history of LSD, from its initial ambitions to the inevitable illegality, to the new chance it has recently undergone to finally attain medical applications. The author has his own personal stake in this concept—his mother has Alzheimer's. All in all, an informative read written in a very user-friendly style. I highly recommend it.

This is a fun heist story, and the exotic setting, which acts as a character in its own right, indeed adds flavor. The main character, Eddie Dare, is as sympathetic as he is flawed. There is also a sizable ensemble of supporting characters.

I always love a good heist story! https://www.amazon.com/BIG-MANGO-Jake-Needham-ebook/dp/B006CSC1BU/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4SR41RARRS83&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jwbfNdL3ebfxi-3Lk3xNMVS7feektUmutFq8AszoWVk0GX7xn-nR5pBN_yZTSYDtpxKWJHSXWuIXj48BlwQ8BEr3JTC_RimJqPxCHByw5C7IhZQ4ZoaXo0cAdjNGNvSVas1qiOnOJwnKiHaaBr0Ff-L4peEbseJqD7sm1HVqSd7PPZwWy1OI_3QjhvmgIcsrzj0lUIGZOKYK18fP2vVsH-KrKKco2nZVTq-FNza80BY.FKrs1YQTxNY6b6FVEhPzOW7Uc4axquA6To_8IShUaNk&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+big+mango&qid=1762904924&s=dig

I am so excited about this! Two of my short stories will appear in this anthology. These will be the first of many published pieces to come! https://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Blood-vol-Vampyr-Hegemony-ebook/dp/B0FXV7B521/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KELPX6AQTQWR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-iNiqU31HXY5kdtMi6XdV9lD-Uq2lqka9sY5Zt2ZhtQ.hfvRx3S8S4nlSX4PlMd-3tJa0zEGVP21VcsPioSpD6A&dib_tag=se&keywords=drawing+blood+brian+mckinley&qid=1762881026&s=books&sprefix=drawing+blood+brian+mckinley%2Cstripbooks%2C149

Recently, I submitted a chapter from Soul Eaters—Book Two of The Ecto-Files to one of my writers groups, and the biggest, or most popular, critique I received was that I used too many words to illustrate scenes, characters, places and the like. One of the goals I try to achieve when I write a chapter, aside from checking off the boxes in the scene card, is that I should have at least 3,000 words for it to be considered a full chapter. I know that this seems a trivial goal, b

I am currently reading Thief of Night (The Charlatan Duology Book 2) by Holly Black. I'll share my thoughts on this work when I'm finished reading. https://www.amazon.com/Thief-Night-Charlatan-Duology-Book-ebook/dp/B0DVQZWY4G/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34OE8EXVH49J8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MFUNPcdlAno3Ac7zU4MsIPYxSykEQ9Brs0YVA51E1nrK6_XBuzAMdcmJJxRJAAdP-83ByDP0Ue-wwju7KVgwsNAwwQXa63oh0cKx-I-4LbS10Hiwsx4AjLZVaLZn3Z4JjRWaA_Wt1X0GGuv1j_Ok_ZkRLpKtX0PRJxFzsYCtpekgJksfj-LF6gk0lotPtbe4A6g9IvH59sggojW

I just finished Long Lost (Myron Bolitar Book 9) by Harlan Coben, and I always marvel at how he creates his twisting plots, his chilling villains, and his connections to world events and issues. I've read this series once before, and I've returned to it, always enjoying the snarkiness of the narrator and the belly-busting laughs. I am on to reading Thief of Night (The Charlatan Duology Book 2) by Holly Black.

I usually read over 100 books a year, which mostly includes mysteries and urban fantasies. I've always felt that writing is mimicry, and that I can find inspirations from the books I read, the shows I binge-watch, and the films I see. I read the urban fantasies to look for new ideas for the worlds I create. I read mysteries mostly for the mechanics of the genre, making sure that my stories and books, which are both framed as urban fantasies and mysteries, have strong clear el

I am reading Long Lost (Myron Bolitar Book 9) by Harlan Coben. It's a mystery/suspense. novel. Below is the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TMCF0G?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_8&storeType=ebooks&qid=1754251713&sr=1-2