Welcome to BookBlokes book blog, today I'm joined by author Wayne Simmons.

Belfast born, Wayne Simmons, loitered with intent around the genre scene for some years before publication of his debut novel in 2008.

Wayne’s work has since been published in the UK, Austria, Germany, Spain, Turkey and North America. His bestselling zombie novel, FLU, was serialised by Sirius XM’s Book Radio.

He’s a regular contributor to Skin Deep Tattoo Magazine and co-hosts extreme metal show, Doom N’ Gloom. He has his own podcast, HACK, and co-produces the Scardiff Horror Expo.

Wayne currently lives in Wales with his ghoulfiend and a Jack Russel terrier called Dita.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I had just watched the Dawn of the Dead remake at the cinema and it really awakened my love of horror and zombie horror in particular. So, I jumped online looking for some zombie novels to dive into and up popped David Moody’s Infected Books website. I downloaded his first Autumn book (it was available as a free pdf or something – this was before Kindle) and tore into it. Man, that book was exactly what I needed. Great characters, accessible writing and, perhaps most importantly, a UK setting. I thought about how an apocalyptic horror would look set in my native Northern Ireland and set about writing Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I’ve no idea, to be honest. Probably from my own life experience or (very) exaggerated versions of such. The characters are familiar to me when I write them. They have to be or the whole thing would fall apart. As to who they are or what they want from me, I guess that’s what drives the whole process. I write in a very freestyle way but the story is always dictated by the characters.

Who is your favourite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I’m going to give you two. In horror, it would be David Moody for the reasons I’ve already cited. He’s the master of writing extraordinary stories featuring ordinary, everyday people. I also read a lot of crime and in that genre, Lawrence Block’s the man. He’s got such a crisp, clean way with prose and, again, he nails it with the characters. I’m a big fan of his Scudder series. 

Of your books, which was the most enjoyable to write and why?

Probably the latest one, The Girl in the Basement, because it’s the shortest and took the least amount of time. Ha! Nah, but I did enjoy writing that one. I think I am at my best when writing in transit. Scribbling into a notepad on the train or bus. The Girl in the Basement was mostly written like that. Started it on the Megabus coming back from a book signing I’d done with Dave Moody. Wrote a huge chunk of it while waiting at the laundrettes. Plastic Jesus was another one written like that: this time, written on the train going to and from work. It really brings the old pulp writer out in me, writing like that!  

Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us?

Just about to release a new one, actually: Voodoo Child, a slasher horror co-written with another good writer friend of mine, Andre Duza. We’ll be launching it at our first official Infected Books event on Friday 30th October at Waterstones New Street in Birmingham (more details: www.infectedbooks.co.uk). Moody will be there too and maybe some other special guests to be announced nearer the time, who knows? Either way, it would be great to see some Book Blokes and Blokettes there. 

"The dead don't talk. I don't know why." But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a certain measure of talent at the Pico Mundo Grill and rapturously in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Stormy Llewellyn.

Maybe he has a gift, maybe it's a curse, Odd has never been sure, but he tries to do his best by the silent souls who seek him out. Sometimes they want justice, and Odd's otherworldly tips to Pico Mundo's sympathetic police chief, Wyatt Porter, can solve a crime. Occasionally they can prevent one. But this time it's different.

A mysterious man comes to town with a voracious appetite, a filing cabinet stuffed with information on the world's worst killers, and a pack of hyena-like shades following him wherever he goes. Who the man is and what he wants, not even Odd's deceased informants can tell him. His most ominous clue is a page ripped from a day-by-day calendar for August 15.

Today is August 14

In less than twenty-four hours, Pico Mundo will awaken to a day of catastrophe. As evil coils under the searing desert sun, Odd travels through the shifting prisms of his world, struggling to avert a looming cataclysm with the aid of his soul mate and an unlikely community of allies that includes the King of Rock 'n' Roll. His account of two shattering days when past and present, fate and destiny converge is the stuff of our worst nightmares, and a testament by which to live: sanely if not safely, with courage, humor, and a full heart that even in the darkness must persevere.

My Review

The second Dean Koontz book I have read after ‘The City’. Both books are comparable in that they follow the recollections of young men, both of whom find themselves racing against time in order to prevent some unknown but devastating event. The narrative and dialogue again is exquisite and Koontz’s way with words is almost poetic and his ability to paint settings and interesting characters into the minds of his readers is awe-inspiring.

Odd Thomas is a likable character with great depth, glimpses into his background and upbringing make you care for Odd’s wellbeing and how his story will progress. Odd is a 20 year old fry cook with a troubled background who is in possession of a curse or gift, depending on how you would perceive such an ability. Odd has the ability to see the dead. Through Odd these spirits use him to carry out justice or final wishes in order for them to leave the realm of the living and meet whatever lies after. There are also those spirits that are unable to leave this world as they cannot accept death or because they enjoyed life so much. There are many comical situations within the book between Odd and the dead, the light-hearted narrative tone in the beginning help you imagine Odd and his personality as well as his outlook on life and his gift. He is both a likable young man who is popular with many of the girls in his town, Pico Mundo. However, Odd’s heart belongs to Stormy Llewellyn, his soul mate. He knows she is his soul mate because they were told of this fact by a carnival fortune telling machine and the both have matching birth marks. Odds infatuation with Stormy is evident throughout and their relationship is admirable.

Odd also has visions or snippets of the future, he also has the ability to see what he calls Bodachs, these disturbing creature feed on both misery and death. It is because of a nightmarish vision and the appearance of scores of Bodachs that stir Odd’s suspicions of one peculiar individual, Bob Robertson. Further investigation reveals sinister intentions but without enough information and the prime suspect’s disappearance Odd has to piece together clues in order to pin point the location of an impending mass murder.

This book is now a favourite of mine, not only because of Koontz’ writing style, his ability to bring eccentric characters and settings to life or the likable nature of the main protagonist but also, because of a plot filled with twists and turns, never a dull moment and an ending so shocking and devastating it will be one I will remember for a long time. This book has made me a massive fan of Koontz and I look forward to reading more of Odd’s adventures. I cannot recommended this book highly enough. Now to start book two, Forever Odd.

The first novel of James Herbert, The Rats was an immediate hardcover and paperback bestselling sensation that spawned two sequels. Simultaneously praised for is reinvention of horror as more immediate and graphic, and derided for its gratuitous violence and non-literary writing, The Rats nevertheless raised serious issues about government response to horror, particularly when the horror happens to lower-class citizens.

My Review

If you’re the type of person with a strong stomach, who enjoys reading gruesome violence and relishes a fast paced read then The Rats by James Herbert is the book for you. There were moments of violence in this book that were so sickening and horrid that I had to take regular breaks to overcome the shock of what I had read.

Full of horrifying scenes depicting vicious, gory and bloody violence by mutant rats, who no longer fear their larger human neighbours but instead have acquired a taste for them. Nothing is safe from the voracious hunger and intelligent nature of this new breed of rats and their ability to attack anywhere is frightening. Not only do the rip and tear using teeth and claw in their massive numbers but anyone bitten can expect to die within 24 hours.

Harris is a teacher who is local to the area of east London, an area which has witnessed first-hand the terrifying nature of these new rats and when one of his pupils becomes a victim he is thrust into the frontline in the battle against the rats before they take over the whole of London. Although his character doesn’t have the much depth, as is the case with all the characters in the book, it doesn’t take away from the story, it isn’t character driven in my opinion and instead focuses more upon the suspense and horrifying action. There are small introductions throughout of new characters but these cease to develop any further than a few pages and instead become part of the rat’s insatiable diet in bloody and vicious deaths.

What I also like about this book is, although first published in 1974, a lot of the subject matter is relevant today, the deprivation and lack of public services due to budget cuts, causing some areas to fall into squalor making them great habitats and hunting grounds for the deadly mutated rats. All in all a fast, fun read, I wouldn’t recommend this as something to read whilst eating but a definite recommended read.

Welcome to BookBlokes book blog, today I'm joined by author Adam J. Watts. Adam's first foray into writing is his debut book, 'The Moral Compass' which I have had the pleasure of reading, you can see my review here. 

Adam J. Watts is a child of the eighties and currently lives in his hometown of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. He has an aspiration to travel one day, but for the time being, there's no place like home!

Just like his current fictional protagonist, Adam's journey towards writing was a winding one. With two University degrees and a background in design / teaching, the creator of the Samuel Beasley story has certainly kept himself busy.

In what spare time comes his way Adam enjoys acting, sports, going to the cinema and reading the work of other authors. He is also nurturing the notion of world domination, but this may have to wait as the weather forecast for tomorrow looks a little dubious!

My interview with author Adam J. Watts

What inspired you to write your first book?

For as long as I can remember, the power and appeal of the written word has been of great interest to me. During my formative years I was fortunate to have an enthusiastic English teacher and this - coupled with a vivid imagination - resulted in the work you (hopefully) read today.

Taking the next step came simply because I believed it to be time to 'test the water' and see if others enjoyed my ideas as much as I do!

Where do you get the information and ideas for your books?

Play fair. That's two questions in one!

Okay, with regard to information: there is no substitute for research. I try to be as thorough as possible when it comes to merging fiction with fact and utilise a variety of techniques / mediums. My predominant sources include factual books and journals, the Internet and filmed documentaries.

My ideas are a completely different kettle of fish... Some come to me quickly, others need to be nurtured and teased out of their hiding place like a timid, but potent creature.

All I know, is that it pays to have a pen and paper handy (or a 'notepad' app on your phone) no matter where you are!

Who is your favourite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Favourite author is a tough one, as I try not to narrow down my options in that way. I genuinely believe that the next book I read could be the best. At least that way I keep an open mind and don't shun the work of a potentially great (if all-be-it undiscovered) author, in favour of a tried and tested formula.

It would be wrong to single anyone out, but there are some professional writers out there that appear - in my humble opinion - to have lost sight of what is important. There may be many reasons to write, but money shouldn't be one of them. An author driven by profit margins, cannot realise their true potential. Their creative vision is ultimately blinkered by the pound signs in their eyes and the more story-tellers I see selling their soul, the sadder I feel about the book market of today...

Consider this a rallying speech to all those beautiful readers out there. Don't buy blindly. Bring back the days when we bought books because the back cover 'blurb' beckoned to us. Look beyond the name and play the game. Check out the first few pages and allow yourself to be lured further in.

Give us an insight into your main character, Seb. What does he do that is so special?

It's funny that you should ask that, because anything and everything Seb does comes naturally. He doesn't see himself as special. In fact, quite the opposite... Everyone he has known and cared about has been caught in the crossfire of his conflicts.

A highly-valued commodity, hunted by those who wish to harvest his abilities, Seb is a human being robbed of the ability to feel emotion. He is a man on a mission...

Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us?

I'm currently pushing as hard as I can with Book Two: Moral Dilemma. It is my (literary) priority to complete the trilogy and I will do so, as quickly as time and other unavoidable commitments permit.

To give my readers a brief idea of what to expect, the second instalment considers the political scene during both the sixties and the eighties. Seb see himself venturing down a particular path, driven by what he believes to be correct.

Along the way he encounters a few familiar faces and is presented with a series of choices that will undoubtedly shape the course of history.

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The world was told a story about that fateful afternoon in Texas, but who was really calling the shots?

Two crusaders, twenty years apart. One common denominator.

"Welcome to Compass gentlemen... A true bearing for us all."

I'd like to thank Adam for the time to answer my questions and I look forward to reading more of Samuel Beasley's adventures.

Below is an interview with Penistone FM's Catherine Rannus.

The city changed my life and showed me that the world is deeply mysterious. I need to tell you about her and some terrible things and wonderful things and amazing things that happened . . . and how I am still haunted by them. Including one night when I died and woke and lived again.

Here is the riveting, soul-stirring story of Jonah Kirk, son of an exceptional singer, grandson of a formidable “piano man,” a musical prodigy beginning to explore his own gifts when he crosses a group of extremely dangerous people, with shattering consequences. Set in a more innocent time not so long ago, The City encompasses a lifetime but unfolds over three extraordinary, heart-racing years of tribulation and triumph, in which Jonah first grasps the electrifying power of music and art, of enduring friendship, of everyday heroes.

The unforgettable saga of a young man coming of age within a remarkable family, and a shimmering portrait of the world that shaped him, The City is a novel that speaks to everyone, a dazzling realization of the evergreen dreams we all share. Brilliantly illumined by magic dark and light, it’s a place where enchantment and malice entwine, courage and honor are found in the most unexpected quarters, and the way forward lies buried deep inside the heart.

My Review

A touching and heart breaking story, beautifully told in the narrative voice of Jonah Kirk. Koontz’s The City had me both captivated and on the brink of tears with a plot that was intricately woven and suspenseful throughout.

The book begins by informing the reader that it is Jonah who is retelling a story from his past. We learn that Jonah is from a remarkable family on one side and has a selfish father on the other. Jonah’s mother is a talented singer who falls hard on luck with work and has to subsidise her wage by working at Woolworths. Jonah adores his mother and it’s easy to see why, hardworking and supportive of Jonah throughout. Jonah’s Grandfather is also musically talented and plays the piano having the “best left hand in the business”. It’s because of this that Jonah wants to play the piano yet his father has his objections. This part of the book is where Koontz adds a little of the supernatural and Jonah is visited by a woman who takes on the name Mrs Pearl, she describes herself as the city made human so that she can walk amongst her inhabitants. She takes a liking and interest in Jonah and gifts him visions of the future through vivid and frightening dreams full of violence and suffering. The meaning of the visions is a mystery until the devastating and thrilling final stages of the book.

This is a book which left me guessing throughout, numerous times I thought to myself “what am I reading?” However this did not deter me from continuing, Koontz’s writing and the mystery within the stories plot kept me hooked. The introduction of some intriguing characters that appear in Jonah’s visions and the promise of a major life changing event for Jonah and company meant I had to find out how it would conclude. There are characters in this story that are easy to like and care about, the people Jonah surrounds himself with are all great especially Mr Yoshida who quickly became a favourite character. Mr Yoshida is one resourceful and caring man, he and Jonah start to have suspicions of a new inhabitant at the apartment block where they live and someone who has appeared in Jonah’s nightmare vision.  Jonah and Mr Yoshida, who calls upon his contacts from his days in Manawa, try to unravel the mystery and intentions of this potentially dangerous individual.

The first 50% of this book, although brilliantly written was slow and this might put some people off. However, had I taken this quitters approach I wouldn’t have experienced a catastrophic event through Jonas eyes and I wouldn’t have been so touched by a heartbreakingly shocking ending that had this bloke on the brink of tears. I also know now that the small snippets of information and events throughout the three year recollection of Jonah make the ending all the more shocking. The book culminates with feats of courage and terror and the conclusion is surprising and brilliant, a highly recommended read.

As far back as anyone can remember Guy has been an introverted creature, with an insatiable appetite for knowledge, and a sardonic sense of humour. 

Throughout a childhood in London spent watching cold war propaganda gems such as He Man, an adolescence confined in various institutions, and a career that has encompassed stints in academic research and the sports industry, Guy has been a keen if somewhat cynical social observer. 

Humour of the sardonic variety is a reoccurring theme in all Guy’s writing. His first novel, Charles Middleworth, is an insightful tale of the unexpected. The protagonist in his second novel, the satirical black comedy Necropolis, is, like the author, a darkly humorous individual - though, unlike the author, he is a psychopath.

Guy is a dedicated blogger and an avid reader. Reviews of the books he has read can be found in the review section of his blog.

1. What inspired you to write your first book? 

I was inspired to write Charles Middleworth because I was interested in the banal versus the metaphysical/unexplainable.  The main character Adrian, an actuary, leads a mundane, technologically obsessed existence until unexplainable events lead him to question his understanding of the World.  This was a fascinating idea to explore, at least I thought so. 

2. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I get my ideas from my imagination and from my own experiences.  My sardonic nature in combination with my experience in the public sector, interest in the death business and love of satire provided the foundation for my second novel, Necropolis.  As for information, I like to think I possess a certain amount of knowledge, and fortunately for me I am living in the Internet age, as otherwise I don't know what I would do.  I conducted a lot of the research for both Charles Middleworth and Necropolis on the Internet, and also utilised my limited research skills to do some interviews and questionnaires.

3. Who is your favourite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

That is a difficult question Martin.  To date I would have to say my favourite authors are John Steinbeck and Bret Easton Ellis.  I know you said author not authors, but that is my final answer.  Steinbeck is the master of character development in my opinion, and I hope that I have learnt. something from his writing.  With regards Bret Easton Ellis, I really enjoyed his earlier books, particularly Less Than Zero and American Psycho. I was less enamoured with Lunar Park, the only one of his more recent works I have read.  I appreciate Ellis's stream of consciousness style, satirical observations and cultural references.

4. What inspired you to write Necropolis?

I have always been fascinated by psychopaths/sociopaths and satire.   Necropolis seemed like the perfect platform to combine these two interests.  A Burials and Cemeteries department in a local council was an ideal environment for a black comedy that would appeal to readers with a mordant wit, at least this was my reasoning behind the idea for Necropolis.

5. Was it difficult to imagine the world from the perspective of a psychopath?

No, it was rather easy to imagine the world from the perspective of a psychopath, but perhaps I shouldn't be admitting that.

6. Can we expect to see more of Dyson? 

That is a difficult question to answer Martin.  I don't have any immediate plans to write a sequel, but it is possible that I will feel quite differently about the matter in a few years time. 

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Set in seventeenth century Amsterdam-a city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religion-a masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition of Emma Donoghue, Sarah Waters, and Sarah Dunant.

"There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed…"

On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office-leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.

But Nella's world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist-an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .

Johannes' gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand-and fear-the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?

Enchanting, beautiful, and exquisitely suspenseful, The Miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth.

My Review

Having read many amazing books this year, I decided that I was going to broaden my horizons and try something that I might not normally read. After trolling goodreads for a possible candidate I came across a book The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. Having won the ‘Waterstones book of the year award for 2014’ I thought I would give it a try.

I have to say I have mixed feelings about this book. For me, the first fifty percent of the book was very slow going. Although, as it neared the conclusion the book did pick up the pace, I’m not sure if that compensated for such a slow start. The main character Petronella or, Nella for short, was a complicated individual. At first she seemed somewhat naïve and girlish to me but by the end she had transitioned into a character that was wise and compassionate beyond her years. What I wasn’t convinced of was how fast the transformation in Nella’s character took place, especially when under the stress of the circumstances she found herself subject to.

I admire that the writer has explored some important topics in the Miniaturist with homophobia, equal rights and religious hypocrisy as some key themes but I don’t want to write spoilers by going into too much detail surrounding them. When considering the three central themes running throughout this book, I don’t know if the book was long enough to tackle them properly or possibly telling the story from the first person narrative restricted the exploration of them.

I understand character development advances the narrative of a novel but the way the characters’ developed or revealed themselves in The Miniaturist left me a little unconvinced by them as whole. For example, Johannes, was wise, composed and immensely private therefore the unbelievably silly and reckless way he behaves toward the end of the novel seemed too unreal. I had the same problem with Otto, and Marin, who seemed too intelligent and level-headed for her actions.     

Another thing I struggled with when reading this book was what I was supposed to take away from it. When I finished reading, I couldn’t help but feel that there was some profound message, possibly attached to the miniaturist, wound like a coiled snake, twisting into, out of and around the plot. My problem was that this particular snake was just too slippery for my grip. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for subliminal messages hidden within an intricate story for a perceptive reader to identify, resulting in a complimentary pat on the back at the end of the novel at your Sherlock-esque detective skills, that end-of-book feel good feeling. Unfortunately, I didn’t get that from The Miniaturist and I came away feeling a little stupid, attaching various philosophical standpoints to the story to try and work out what it all meant, none of which hit the nail on the head.

Overall the book is incredibly well-written, the setting and historical knowledge was also impressive but it’s possible I ventured a little too far out of my comfort zone for this book. 

‘I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that.’

There are books you can’t stop reading, which keep you up all night.

There are books which let us into the hidden parts of life and make them vividly real.

There are books which, because of the sheer skill with which every word is chosen, linger in your mind for days.

The Shock of the Fall is all of these books.

The Shock of the Fall is an extraordinary portrait of one man’s descent into mental illness. It is a brave and groundbreaking novel from one of the most exciting new voices in fiction.

My Review

When I finished reading The Shock of the Fall, I put down the book and glanced over the title appraisingly, instantly the word ‘Shock’ leapt out from cover page and smacked me around the face. ‘Shock’ like shockwave, like aftershock,  like the ripples that reverberate through time after a cataclysmic event, the kind that move everyone in one way or another, from the inner-circle to the outer-rings . Never was there a title that touched the story so deeply (but if you can think of any you’d like to discuss, let’s get the conversational juices flowing below.)

Having familial experience of the struggles that mental health issues can cause, I found this book to be both touching and profound. The main protagonist of this book, Matt, is troubled by the death of his brother during a family holiday when he is young added to this he is also grappling with schizophrenia. The death is a mystery but it is not, we know that Matt’s brother has died, we have a good sense that he died accidentally but when told through the prism of Matt’s muddled thoughts, it is still a mystery to the reader until the point of revelation. Conversely, it seems many of the events surrounding Simon’s death are also a mystery to Matt. Occasionally Matt can go off on tangents, assumes the reader has knowledge of things they couldn’t possibly know of, repeat himself and give contradicting accounts. Despite this, I resist the temptation to refer to Matt as an unreliable narrator because, for all intents and purposes I feel that Matt is as reliable a narrator as he can be and therein lays the beauty of the novel. It provides a peephole into the world of someone suffering from schizophrenia, an occasionally disjointed and confusing read and, in that, it is exactly what it is intended to be.

What I really liked about this novel was the interplay between the supporting characters and Matt, the way that each individual seemed to have their own way of coping with both ‘the shock of the fall’ and the struggles that can arise with mental illness. Sometimes Matt can be quick to anger or express irrational frustration with people who are trying to help, both can be symptoms of mental illness and add realism to the story. I found the character Nanny particularly endearing, to me she was Matts anchor during his periods of stormy seas.

Another notable feature of this book is the way that it uses fonts to add realism, for example, when Matt is utilising his typewriter or writing a letter the font makes this obvious, sometimes it felt like I was reading personal notes than reading a book. I’m aware many writers use this technique but there was something engrossing about the way the typewriter (so important to Matt) pulled the character from the page when the type font was used.

I won’t spoil the story by delving into too much detail during this review, but I will end with this, I couldn’t put this book down and read at every chance I had. I would absolutely recommend this book to readers of adult fiction.