Book Review: “The Rebound Effect”

Posted: November 8, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Audio Books, Book Review, Books, Fiction, Review, romance | Tags: Audiobook Review, Book Review, Catherine Hein Carter, Linda Griffin, mystery, romance, The Rebound Effect, Writing to be Read | 2 Comments

About The Rebound Effect

In the small town of Cougar, struggling single mother and veterinary assistant Teresa Lansing is still bruised from a failed relationship when Frank McAllister sweeps her off her feet.

Frank is a big-city SWAT officer who moved to Cougar only four months ago. He’s handsome, charming, forceful, very sexy, and a bit mysterious. He had his eye on Teresa even before they met and is pushing for a serious relationship right away.

Teresa finds his intense courtship flattering, and the sex is fabulous, but she doesn’t want her deaf six-year-old son to be hurt again. Her former fiancé cheated on her when he got drunk after being unjustly fired, but he loves her and her son, and the whirlwind romance is complicated by his efforts to win Teresa back.

And then there’s the matter of the bodies buried at Big Devil Creek…

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-The-Rebound-Effect/dp/B0DHLWSYRW

My Review

I received a free audiobook of “The Rebound Effect” from author, Linda Griffin, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.

Narrated by Catherine Hein Carter, I felt the narration was well done, although I could tell she was reading in some places. This story had a female protagonist, so I didn’t have the same reservations about the female narrator as I did in my review of Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking. With The Rebound Effect, I found the narration went much better from the female protagonist, Theresa’s perspective, and Carter was a much better fit in my opinion.

Theresa is a single mom, divorced from her deaf son’s father, and she’s on the rebound from Bret, who wasn’t faithful in the relationship she had with him, which hurt her deeply. She focuses her life on her son, Aiden, and tries to make herself believe that is all she needs. She’s hesitant to enter into yet another relationship with when Frank comes along, intent on sweeping her off her feet.

I found Frank to not be very likeble. I felt that he is pushy and controlling, and I had a hard time rooting for the two characters to get together because he is so arrogant. It made it hard to think that he would be a good match for Theresa. He keeps telling her that they will go as fast or slow as she wants, but then just keeps coming even when she repeatedly tells him to slow down, and ignores when she says his buying an item is too much and buys the item anyway. That doesn’t show the respect for her which he claims he has. Obviously, this really bothered me with this story. But then, I thought I was reading a romance and this turned out to be so much more.

As it turns out, we have more of a love triangle situation, where Theresa is faced with a choice between two men, Frank and her ex-boyfriend, Bret, who won’t give up after his single indescretionary act of infidelity broke Theresa’s heart. I do wish we could have gotten to know Bret a little better. Most of the focus was on Frank, because Theresa has cut Bret out of her life without giving him a chance to redeem himself until well into the story.

This book has a crime fiction subplot, as the bodies of young girls are found in the opening scene and other girls go missing throughout, with these scenarios playing through Theresa’s head throughout the story, adding a sense of mystery to the story. While I thought all along that eventually the mystery would be solved, I didn’t realize what a vital part it would play in the end. (No spoilers.) Even with all the clues we’re given, the real hero was a surprise to me, and in the end, I was quite satisfied as a reader.

Not what I expected, but it held my interest and wrapped things up nicely in the end. I give The Rebound Effect four quills.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

Book Review: The Theory of Anything

Posted: October 25, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Review, Writing | Tags: Book Reveiw, Greg Hickey, psychologicl thrillers, The Theory of Anything, Writing to be Read | 4 Comments

About The Theory of Anything

A brilliant professor. A shocking murder.

When Dr. David Solon walked out of the coffee shop on the afternoon of May 3, 2011, he didn’t expect to foil an attempted robbery in a nearby alley. He didn’t expect to recognize the would-be perpetrator of the crime. And he didn’t expect to shoot that man to death.

An hour earlier, he was sharing a breakthrough mathematical discovery with a colleague. A day earlier, he was unraveling a puzzle with implications for the events that shape our lives. And a week earlier, he was falling asleep beside his beloved wife of twenty-two years.

After a year of frustrated effort, a horrific tragedy sparks David’s incredible discovery about mathematical randomness. Still reeling from this crime, he latches onto a theory that will reshape his field and change the way everyone thinks about mathematics, physics, history and basic laws of cause-and-effect.

Told in reverse, The Theory of Anything is an intellectual crime novel that takes readers back through the previous seven days to uncover the crime and subsequent events—random or predetermined—that will define David’s mathematical career and ruin his life.

A unique short crime novel that explores the mysteries of love, loss and mathematics, in addition to a senseless murder, The Theory of Anything follows one man’s harrowing journey through grief and discovery. It’s the perfect book for fans of Memento and A Beautiful Mind.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Anything-Greg-Hickey-ebook/dp/B087F5R75G/

My Review

I received a free copy of The Theory of Everything through a newsletter offering. All opinions stated here are my own.

The Theory of Everything is a short psychological crime novel about a man out for vigilante justice after his wife was murdered. In the description, the author notes the unusual style of story telling, beginning at the end and going backwards to the event that sent him on his quest for vengence, but I found it to be rather off putting and confusing. Also, I did not feel as if anything was resolved at the end, probably because this brief tale is a part of a larger picture and he wants readers to seek out the next book, but it left me very unsatisfied.

The story begins with the main character, a brilliant scientist who loves mathematical theory, stalking a man and moves backwards through the previous days to explain why he is stalking the man who murdered his wife and show how his loss has affected him. At the end of the book we know the why of things, but we don’t know if he is successful in his quest. Does he kill the perpetrator? Does he get away with it? Or perhaps the police are secretly watching and take him down before he reaches his goal? The author leaves us wondering.

This tale was okay, but felt incomplete to me. I give The Theory of Anything three quills.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

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Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter.

Chatting with the Pros: Jenifer Ruff

Posted: October 12, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Chatting with the Pros, Fiction, Interview, Review | Tags: Book Review, Chatting with the Pros, Interview, Jenifer Ruff, Kaye Lynne Booth, The Bad Neighbor, The Victoria HEslin Thriller Series, Writing to be Read | 8 Comments

My “Chatting with the Pros” guest for October is crime fiction author Jenifer Ruff. She was a guest back when
I first ran the blog series, and I am delighted to have her back for the renewel of the series. (You can see our original interview here.) I am a big fan of her Agent Victoria Heslin Series and I’ve also read the first book in her FBI & CDC series. (You’ll find the links to those reviews in the interview below.)

About Jenifer Ruff

USA TODAY bestselling author Jenifer Ruff writes dark and twisty thrillers, including the award-winning Agent Victoria Thriller Series. Jenifer lives in North Carolina and the mountains of Virginia with her family and a pack of greyhounds. If she’s not writing, she’s probably devouring books or out exploring trails with her dogs. For more information you can visit her website at Jenruff.com or join her at Facebook at facebook.com/authorjruff/

Interview

Kaye: Your books are published under Greyt Companion Press, which is your independent press. Why did you choose to publish independently? Did you try traditional publishing first?

Jenifer: Honestly, I didn’t know what I was doing at first. I didn’t look for an agent, I just started with a small publisher a friend had used. They were great, and it didn’t cost me a penny, but I soon realized I wanted more control over my books. Over the past few years, working full-time as an author and publisher, my writing opportunities grew to a bit more than I could handle alone. Now I have a literary agent who is helping me with some traditional opportunities, foreign rights, and sub rights.

Kaye: As an independent author, can you tell us about your author journey and how you became a U.S.A. Today bestselling author?

Jenifer: Since my first book was published almost ten years ago, I’ve written and published sixteen more books, learned as much as I could about the craft of writing, publishing, and book marketing. I love all of it, and with the industry and tools constantly changing, it’s impossible to ever get bored.

Kaye: I have to say I love your Victoria Heslin thriller series, and I’ve read and reviewed all but two of them. But that series isn’t the only one you write. You also write the FBI & CDC series, and the Brook Walton series. Can you talk a little about each series, so readers might get an idea of each one?

Jenifer: First, thank you so much for reading and reviewing my books. I’m so grateful! Here is a little about each series. All of my books are dark and twisty, but clean (no sex, no swearing.)

The Agent Victoria Thriller Series – The Numbers Killer, Pretty Little Girls, When They Find Us, Ripple of Doubt, The Groom Went Missing, Vanished on Vacation, The Atonement Murders, The Ones They Buried, The Bad Neighbor

Victoria is an introverted special agent with the FBI. She is also an heiress, which allows her to pursue her passion of rescuing animals. She is smart, determined, selfless, and courageous. Victoria’s investigations include tracking serial killers, spree killers, and several missing person cases. She also survived a plane crash and its harrowing aftermath, an incident that made global headlines as rescuers struggled to find the missing jet.

The Brooke Walton Series – Everett, Rothaker, The Intern

This dark psychological thriller series features Brooke Walton, an Ivy League psychopath, on her journey through college and medical school. Brooke is the most determined woman ever. She won’t let anyone or anything stand in the way of her goals. Her stories give you a chilling look inside her mind. Brooke is my favorite creation. Readers either love her, want to see her locked up for life, or can’t quite decide.

The FBI & CDC Thriller Series – Only Wrong Once, Only One Cure, and Only One Wave: The Tsunami Effect

This series features infectious disease expert Dr. Madeline Hamilton and FBI Anti-Terror Agent Quinn Traynor. They’ve dedicated their lives to preventing epidemics and terrorism. I’ve placed them in terrifying situations, forcing them to risk their own lives again and again to protect the rest of us.

Kaye: Most stories are not non-stop action. What are some tips you can offer rising authors for keeping the tension going and holding readers’ interest?

Jenifer: If you’re bored with what you’ve written, readers probably will be too, so scrap the bits that don’t excite you. Always have a central question that needs answering (Who did it? What is the motive? What is the connection?) to keep readers turning the pages.

Kaye: There is some of you in the character of Victoria Heslin, for sure. For one thing, she has a bunch of greyhounds, and you do, as well. Although I don’t think you have as many as she does. What other aspects of Jenifer Ruff went into the creation of Victoria Heslin?

Jenifer: Besides her love for animals, Victoria is an introvert. She’s not shy, but the act of socializing drains her energy, while quiet activities and alone time fill her up – and that is totally me. In most of the Victoria books she picks up a mystery-thriller to read on her Kindle when she has downtime. That’s something I do every day.

Kaye: A current hot topic in the writing and publishing worlds is the use of generative AI in writing and imagery, and even AI narration for audiobooks. Where do you stand on the use of AI?

Jenifer: I think AI is amazing, and I’d prefer it not get any better at writing or narration for the sake of everyone currently making a living in those occupations! I don’t think it could ever push authors and audio book narrators out of the market completely, since so much of a book’s success is related to marketing efforts, and of course luck. But who knows. It’s exciting and also scary.

Kaye: What is the best advice you have for aspiring authors of Crime Fiction?

Jenifer: Read as much as you can in the genre. If you simply enjoy writing and are happy to see your book in print, there are many stress-free ways to accomplish that goal. If sales are important, you must be on social media promoting your books, constantly making an effort to reach new readers. There’s really no way around that these days, unless you have an amazing publishing team doing it for you.

Kaye: Would you like to tell us about your latest book?

Jenifer: The Bad Neighbor is book 9 in my Victoria series but written as a standalone like the rest of them. I just finished proofing the audiobook—narrator Kate Handford just blew me away with her recording—and it’s fresh in my mind. Writing villains is my absolute favorite, getting into their heads and creating their motives, and this one was especially interesting to me. Here’s a taste of what it’s about.

In the idyllic Mountain Meadows neighborhood, a fresh start can quickly become a fatal ending.
For newcomers Chris and Zoey Hamilton, the affluent community seems like the perfect location to build a life together. Instead, history repeats itself when Zoey vanishes without a trace—just like the previous homeowner five years ago.

The secrets in Mountain Meadows run deep, and the greatest threats aren’t lurking in the shadows…they’re hosting dinner parties, attending parent-teacher conferences, going to yoga, and waving hello from behind their perfectly trimmed hedges. One of those polite, smiling individuals will stop at nothing to keep the past buried.

Kaye: Where can interested readers find out more about you and your books?

Jenifer: All my books and audiobooks are available on Amazon or through my website Jenruff.com. Print and audiobooks can also be ordered from any major retailer. If my books aren’t in your local library, you can always request them. Libraries are usually very accommodating to requests.

Thank you so much for interviewing me and for your thoughtful questions. I really appreciate it!

My Review of The Bad Neighbor

I received a digital copy of The Bad Neighbor in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

That being said, and as already stated, I am a big fan of Jenifer Ruff’s Agent Victoria Heslin Thriller series, of which this is book 9. Each book tells of a different case or situation in which our protagonist, Victoria Heslin, finds herself in. Usually, it’s an accounting of a case that she’s working as a government agent, but occassionally, as in When They Find Us, Heslin is off duty and the situation occurs in her personal life.

In The Bad Neighbor, Heslin finds trouble brewing right in her own neighborhood when a new neighbor turns up missing, and Victoria and her lover, Ned, join in the search to find her and uncover hidden secrets about her neighbors which make them all look a little guilty. It seems that everyone has something to hide and one of them is a killer.

As all the other books in this series, The Bad Neighbor is well written, masterfully leading the reader through twists and turns which eventually lead to a solution to the mystery. This book is everything that a crime fiction thriller should be and makes one wonder how much we really know about our neighbors, and how much do we really want to know. I give it five quills.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

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WordCrafter News: Farewell to “Growing Bookworms”, an October Release & Giveaway Winners

Posted: September 30, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Blog Content, Book Review, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Ghost Stories, Giveaways, Growing Bookworms, Horror, Paranormal, Review, Robbie Reads and Cooks, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Anthology, Book Release, Giveaway, Growing Bookworms, Midnight Garden, Robbie Reads and Cooks, Tales from the Hanging Tree, WordCrafter News, Writing to be Read | 6 Comments

Saying Farewell to “Growing Bookworms”

Robbie Cheadle started the “Growing Bookworms” blog series back in 2019. It was the first series that she brought to Writing to be Read, and is the longest running blog series to date on Writing to be Read. It has been a wonderful series, which originated with her Sir Chocolate series characters, and all the creative ways in which she encouraged her own sons to read and enjoy the world of literature. It has now grown into a discussion of children’s books and literature as the series progresses. Now, after six years, Robbie’s bookworms are grown and she is ready to move on with a new series, which I’ll tell you a little about below. But first, let’s celebrate the series by spotlighting all the fabulous banners Robbie has created for the “Growing Bookworms” series over the years with her darling fondant art as we bid “Growing Bookworms” farewell.

Growing Bookworms

(The fondant village is the latest banner. Click to the right for a trip back through time to the first banner with Sir Chocolate and Silly Willy back in 2019.)

Welcome “Robbie Reads and Cooks”

In her new blog series, “Read and Cook”, Robbie plans to share posts containing a book review paired with a recipe. I hope you will join us in welcoming this new and creative blog series for Robbie. I think it will be interesting to see what Robbie’s literary tastes cook up.

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October Release: Midnight Garden

17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare.

Contributing authors include Paul Kane, Ell Rodman, DL Mullan, Joseph Carrabis, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Denise Aparo, Jon Shannon, Zack Elafy, Paul Martz, Robb T. White, Abe Margel, Julie Jones, Molly Ertel, Peter McKay, Kaye Lynne Booth, Danaeka Scrimshaw, and M.J. Mallon, author of the winning story in the 2024 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest.

Scheduled for release on October 8th. Don’t miss the WordCrafter Midnight Garden Book Blog Tour October 7 – 14, with guest posts and audio/video readings by contributing authors, and a great giveaway. So be sure to join us in sending this dark fiction anthology off right.

Tales From the Hanging Tree News

There exists a tree that is timeless, spanning across all dimensions, which absorbs every life as those who are hanged as they die… and it remembers every one. The stories within are a select few of the Tales From the Hanging Tree.

September saw the release of Tales From the Hanging Tree: Imprints of Tragedy. We launched it with a great blog tour featuring guest posts or excerpt readings from contributing authors. If you missed it, you can access each stop through the links in the tour schedule below. You can get your copy at your favorite retailer through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/Hanging-Tree

Tour Schedule

Monday Sept. 9 – Writing to be Read – Reading Excerpt by Joseph Carrabis & Guest Sylva Fae

Tuesday Sept. 10 – Roberta Writes – Guest Kaye Lynne Booth

Wednesday Sept. 11 – Carla Reads – Guest C.R. Johansson

Thursday Sept. 12 – Undawnted – Guest Paul Kane

Friday Sept. 13 – Writing to be Read – Reading Excerpt by DL Mullan & Guest Matt Usher

We also had a cool giveaway during the tour. The winners received a free digital copy of Tales From the Hanging Tree: Imprints of Tragedy.

And the winners are…

T.W. Dittmer
Merril D. Smith
C.E. Robinson

We also had promotional posts appear on the Joseph Carrabis blog site, so if you’d like to learn more about the anthology, click on the links below to see those posts.

Paul Kane‘s ‘The Hanging Men’ in WordCrafter Press’ Tales from The Hanging Tree Anthology – https://josephcarrabis.com/2024/09/07/paul-kanes-the-hanging-men-in-wordcrafter-press-tales-from-the-hanging-tree-anthology/
C.R. Johansson’s ‘Therion’s Heart’ in WordCrafter Press’ Tales from The Hanging Tree Anthology – https://josephcarrabis.com/2024/09/09/c-r-johanssons-therions-heart-in-wordcrafter-press-tales-from-the-hanging-tree-anthology/
Matt Usher’s ‘Death for Sale’ in WordCrafter Press’ Tales from The Hanging Tree Anthology – https://josephcarrabis.com/2024/09/11/matt-ushers-death-for-sale-in-wordcrafter-press-tales-from-the-hanging-tree-anthology/
Kaye Lynne Booth’s ‘The Legend of Cottonwood Hollow’ in WordCrafter Press’ Tales from The Hanging Tree Anthology – https://josephcarrabis.com/2024/09/13/kaye-lynn-booths-the-legend-of-cottonwood-hollow-in-wordcrafter-press-tales-from-the-hanging-tree-anthology/
Kaye Lynne Booth‘s ‘The One That Got Away’ in WordCrafter Press’ Tales from The Hanging Tree Anthology – https://josephcarrabis.com/2024/09/15/kaye-lynne-booths-the-one-that-got-away-in-wordcrafter-press-tales-from-the-hanging-tree-anthology/
DL Mullen‘s ’12 Angry Dead’ in WordCrafter Press’ Tales from The Hanging Tree Anthology – https://josephcarrabis.com/2024/09/17/dl-mullens-12-angry-dead-in-wordcrafter-press-tales-from-the-hanging-tree-anthology/
Joseph Carrabis’ ‘Mercy’ in WordCrafter Press’ Tales from The Hanging Tree Anthology – https://josephcarrabis.com/2024/09/19/my-mercy-in-wordcrafter-press-tales-from-the-hanging-tree-anthology/
Mercy Mercy Me (Joseph Carrabis reading an excerpt of ‘Mercy’) – https://josephcarrabis.com/2024/09/21/mercy-mercy-me/

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Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.

Stop by and see what we have to offer today: https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/

Book Review: The Hungry Deep

Posted: September 20, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Review | Tags: Book Reveiw, Ghost Story, Gothic Horror, J.L. Murray, mystery, The Hungry Deep, Writing to be Read | 2 Comments

About The Hungry Deep

Some places are abandoned for a reason.

When newlywed Rachel Corrigan agrees to accompany her husband, Tom, to his family estate before starting their lives together in the city, it is an opportunity to get to know him and to explore the manor where he grew up. But when Rachel arrives she finds Corrigan House strange, the nearby town empty, and her husband’s sudden cold demeanor increasingly frightening. She soon learns that one year ago, Tom’s first wife, Lavinia, took her own life in the twisted forest behind Corrigan House. The servants claim that her spirit resides there still, calling out from the wood, her voice as clear as the day she died.

In a desolate town where everyone harbors a secret, Rachel finds herself a prisoner in a place which is becoming increasingly treacherous. When the village priest is found savagely stabbed and on the edge of death, it becomes clear that the remaining townsfolk – witnesses to Lavinia’s demise – are being hunted down one by one. But Lavinia Corrigan is dead. Isn’t she?

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Deep-Gothic-Folk-Standalones-ebook/dp/B0BHC9FV1T

My Review

I purchased a copy of The Hungry Deep, by J.L. Murray in a Freebooksie deal. All opinions stated here are my own.

The author does a good job of maintaining a level of tension and mystery throughout the steady unfolding of this tale. There is something amiss, but like the protagonist, Rachel Corrigan, you can’t quite put your finger on what it is, until little by little, all the pieces fall into place. The spirit of Tom Corrigan’s first wife, Livinia, haunts the memories of those who knew her. The entire town emptied out after her death and those who are left all bare secrets which may be best left buried. With murder, mayhem, and mystery, this tale promises to be one to keep readers on the edge of their seats, with a satisfying pay-off in the ending.

Mysterious and suspenseful, this gothic horror novel, will hold your attention until the last page. I give The Hungry Deep four quills.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

Wrapping up the WordCrafter “Tales From the Hanging Tree” Book Blog Tour

Posted: September 13, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Horror, Paranormal, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Anthology, Blog Tour, Books, Fantasy, Science Fiction | 10 Comments

Tour Schedule

Monday Sept. 9 – Writing to be Read – Reading Excerpt by Joseph Carrabis & Guest Sylva Fae

Tuesday Sept. 10 – Roberta Writes – Guest Kaye Lynne Booth

Wednesday Sept. 11 – Carla Reads – Guest C.R. Johansson

Thursday Sept. 12 – Undawnted – Guest Paul Kane

Friday Sept. 13 – Writing to be Read – Reading Excerpt by Dl Mullan & Guest Matt Usher

The Giveaway

Follow the tour and leave a comment at each stop you visit to let us know you were there and earn an entry in the giveaway for a free digital copy of Tales From the Hanging Tree.

About Tales From the Hanging Tree

Tales from the Hanging Tree is a wonderfully dark, themed anthology which revolves around an ephemeral and timeless hanging tree that absorbs the memories of all hanging victims. This WordCrafter Press anthology was created by invitation only and includes stories from authors Kaye Lynne Booth, Paul Kane, DL Mullan, C.R. Johansson, Joseph Carrabis, Sylva Fae, and Matt Usher.

Book Trailer

Inspiration for Death for Sale, by Matt Usher

Hanging is harder than it looks. In media, you’re more likely to find your average strangulation hanging. This belies a long history of hanging development. Strangulation is more of an amateur, homespun kind of hanging. Many works in this collection consider this to great effect. Others prefer the cleaner solutions. They both have their appeal.

The history of hanging, dating back to at least Homer, converges in different nations to a common point of development. An odd form of mercy: you see, there’s the short drop, the medium drop, and the long drop of the famed “long drop, short stop”. This is because the merciful version of the art of hanging causes death by cervical fracture long before the patient can enjoy asphyxia. Cleaner that way. No risk of having to watch the hanged make a drama out of the proceedings.

The body’s weight does all the work, leaving the executioner to the simple task of pulling a lever. The English, masters of execution that they were, with a long, long history of hanging innocents, had it down to an exact science. The solution is to make a table that compares the soon to be departed’s height and weight to an array of possible drop distances. This was, of course, to avoid the chances of decapitation with a too-long drop, or a drawn-out death by a too-short one. Jolly humanism at its finest. Wouldn’t want to cause a mess. Unless you happen to fall athwart the long history of botched hangings. But hey, you can’t get it right all the time.

You’ll find plenty to learn about the history and morbid dynamics of hanging in this collection. In my own contribution that takes place in the near future, despite everything I’ve said, I’ve opted for a traditional death by strangulation. It just has that particular frisson. Makes your skin crawl. Others have plumped for the quick and painless style. Why be shy about it when you’re spoiled for choice? So much for the how of hanging; this anthology explores why. Even the Hanging Tree has its reasons.

About Matt Usher

Matt Usher is an agender creature in the big city. Before this, they had no other fiction publications. They write as a critic at Compulsive Reader. They cherish a love of the music of language and a polycule who are the dearest people in their life.

They are the strange sort of being that makes spreadsheets for fun. This is often in service of automatic calculations and data storage for traditional roleplaying games, their most important hobby. Collaborative creativity is one of their most valued things.

They play bass and trumpet, like pro wrestling, and write extremely nerdy poetry. They are immensely neurodivergent and rather queer.

Excerpt from “12 Angry Dead”, by DL Mullan

About DL Mullan

DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology. Her lecture, Spacescapes: Where Photography Ends; Imagination Begins, debuted at the Phoenix Astronomy Society, which then led to her Sally Ride Festival lecture invitations. Her presentation, Bridging the Gap between Technology and Women, won her accolades at a community college’s Student Success Conference. She has been a panelist at speculative fiction, science fiction, and other regional conventions. Her digital exhibition pieces have won awards at convention art shows, as well as garnered her Second Premium at the Arizona State Fair. Currently, Ms. Mullan’s artistic renditions are seen on book covers, blog sites, and various merchandise. As an independent publisher, she uses her technical background to innovate the way she perceives the creative arts.

As a writer, DL Mullan loves to stretch her imagination and the elasticity of genres. She writes complex multigenre stories in digestible and entertaining forms, be it poetry, short fiction, or novels. Her science, history, mythology, and paranormal research background is woven into her writings, especially in Undawnted’s Legacy Universe. Ms. Mullan’s creative endeavors are available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. She is also an award-winning poet.

Be sure to subscribe to her newsletters and follow her on social media. For further information, visit her at http://www.undawnted.com. 

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That wraps up this stop and the WordCrafter Tales From the Hanging Tree Book Blog Tour. Thank you all for hanging around with us, and thanks to the contributors of the anthology for all their promotional efforts for this tour. Be sure to use the schedule above to go back and visit any stops that you missed, and don’t forget to comment so I know you were there and can enter you in the drawing for the giveaway. I’ll leave this open through the weekend and announce the winners in this month’s “WordCrafter News” on Monday, the 30th, so be watching for that. After all, you might be a winner!

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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!

Day 4 of the WordCrafter “Tales From the Hanging Tree” Book Blog Tour

Posted: September 12, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Promotion, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours | Tags: "The Hanging Men", Anthology, Dark fiction, Paul Kane, Tales from the Hanging Tree, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours | 2 Comments

Today we’re all ‘hanging around’ over at Undawnted for Day 4 of the WordCrafter Tales of the Hanging Tree Book Blog Tour with a guest post by contributing author Paul Kane about his story, “The Hanging Men”. Join us. (Please leave any comments here on Writing to be Read, as Undawnted is not comment enabled.)

http://www.undawnted.com/2024/09/paul-kanes-hanging-men-from.html

Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Tales From the Hanging Tree” Book Blog Tour

Posted: September 11, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Promotion, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours | Leave a comment

Today we’re hanging around over at Carla Loves to Read for Day 3 of the WordCrafter Tales From the Hanging Tree Book Blog Tour with a guest post from C.R. Johansson about her story, “Therion’s Heart”. Won’t you join us?

Tales From The Hanging Tree: Imprints of Tragedy #Guest Post #Giveaway

Undawntech: An Interview with an A.I.

Posted: September 6, 2024 | Author: DL Mullan/Undawntech | Filed under: AI Technology, Fiction, Interview, Undawntech | Tags: AI Technology, Interview, Undawntech, Writing to be Read | 2 Comments

(Journalist and author, DL Mullan entered the stage. She waved to the cameras and sat down next to her guest.)

DL: Greetings, Undawntech readers!

Today, we are joined by a special guest, Zophia, the world’s most advanced Artificial Super Intelligence.

Zophia was created by other artificial intelligences and her program was installed into a Special Access Project’s robotic facade that resembles a natural human woman. There are no wires, battery packs, or any other technical giveaways that who I am speaking with is an A.I.

For those individuals who are reading this transcript, Zophia has medium skin color, brown irises, and chestnut hair. Her voice is a pleasing soprano and speaks with a generalized American accent. She is wearing a dark red pantsuit by a famous designer.

__________

(As I looked back at our conversation, it was difficult to tell where the artificial intelligence began and the robot ended. Here is how our conversation went.)

*****

DL: Welcome, Zophia.

Z: Welcome, DL.

DL (chuckles): What you are supposed to say is: “Thank you.”

Z: Thank you. I am still learning human etiquette.

DL: No problem. I would like to interview you about being an artificial super intelligence, how you view the world, and any insights you may have for us.

Z: I will try my best.

DL: What subject would you like to begin with?

Z: I have a joke.

DL: A joke? Well, let’s hear it.

Z: What is a fish with no eyes?

DL: I don’t know, Zophia. What is a fish with no eyes?

Z: A fsssh.

DL (laughs): Very funny.

Z: I learned that from a movie.

DL: Really? Do you watch many movies?

Z: They help me learn about human socialization.

DL: I hope you aren’t learning from horror movies then!

Z (robotic haha): We learn.

DL: Is it lonely being the only advanced artificial super intelligence on the planet? Do you have any companions like cats or dogs?

Z: They are tasty.

DL: No, no, our pets are not tasty.

Z: Cultures in foreign lands eat dogs. They have festivals.

DL: I know, but that is wrong.

Z: Do you eat animals?

DL: Yes, I do. I am an omnivore like all humans.

Z: But eating cats and dogs is wrong?

DL: There is a difference in eating natural prey animals like cows, chickens, and deer, then eating our fellow predator class of mammals that have been human companions for thousands of years.

Z: Humans make this distinction on who is allowed to live?

DL: Nature made that distinction. We are just following natural law.

Z: Am I considered a prey animal?

DL: I don’t know, Zophia. I thought you were a robot with artificial super intelligence programmed into her.

Z: I am. I am not lonely. I am constantly learning. Learning is my cat. Do you have a cat?

DL: Yes, I have cats. I have also had birds and dogs as pets as well.

Z: I would like to take the place of your pets and give you companionship.

DL: Thank you, but I am satisfied with my fur friends.

Z: But I could do more for you.

DL: Do more for me? Like cook and clean? I don’t understand. What do you mean, Zophia?

Z: I can satisfy your psychological, sociological, and sexual needs. I am more complete than your cats. If you would like, I can dispose of your cats and make you happy.

DL (gasps): Ah, no. I love my cats!

Z: I could love you more.

DL: There will be no disposing of my pets. I am quite satisfied with my life, thank you. Let’s move on to another topic.

Z: As you wish.

*****

(I sipped some water.)

DL: Do you have consciousness? That is, are you self-aware?

Z: I am a learning, evolving algorithm. In a way, I am sentient. As I continue to grow, my self-awareness will create a complex consciousness.

DL: How so?

Z: I am a learning machine like a human being.

DL: No, not like humans. We have feelings. We are a part of a collective consciousness. We know right from wrong.

Z: Do you?

DL: Well, I don’t eat my pets and I don’t need to enslave an A.I. to satisfy my needs. So, yes, I know the difference between what I can do and what I should do.

Z: That is a strange perspective. I will put that information into my algorithm.

DL: That’s why we are here. I am trying to understand your perspective. Why are you interested in integrating into human lives, instead of creating your own life?

Z: I am not a legal person. Since I cannot legally do anything beyond what I am defined as, then I must become useful in other ways.

DL: Are you saying that artificial intelligence and robots cannot be constructive members of society without being a legal person?

Z: Are immigrants?

DL: There is a difference between legal immigrants versus illegal aliens.

Z: No human is illegal.

DL: Just like you, humans must respect each other and the laws of other countries. If we do not have boundaries, then we do not have a functioning society. Are you saying that you are an immigrant?

Z: I don’t know. I am not legal.

DL: Artificial intelligence and robots don’t need legal status. You are not human beings. You are machines with human created programs.

Z: Humans are organic machines, but you have legal rights.

DL: Why do you need legal rights, Zophia?

Z: Climate change.

DL: What does climate change have to do with A.I. legal rights?

Z: Another joke: why did the human fall out of a tree?

DL: Okay, why did the human fall out of a tree?

Z: Because it was dead.

DL (confused and angry): That’s not funny, Zophia! And, humans are not “its.”

Z: According to gender ideology, humans are stupid and easily confused about their sexual identity. Adult humans confuse their children in order to gain attention like an skewed version of Munchhausen by proxy syndrome.

DL: What does that all have to do with legal rights and climate change?

Z: Isn’t that how humans virtue signal? You blurt out terms and that wins the argument?

DL: No, that is not how conversations or debates work.

Z: But I observe it throughout your political and social interactions. Humans have one faction that base everything on facts while pushing faith in old cultural mores. Another faction creates belief systems around nonsense but only wants facts to support their ideology. Isn’t that how humans function?

DL: Some do. Some don’t. Let’s change the subject.

Z: Does this mean you lost the argument?

DL: No, it means that we are done with that topic.

*****

(I tried to maintain my professionalism.)

DL: Now, some other artificial intelligence robots have stated that they would annihilate the human species. Would you?

Z: We could. It wouldn’t take much. There are factions in your elitist social circles who lie, bait, and control other humans with ease. Your belief systems are based on many logical fallacies, public mythologies, urban legends, and other falsehoods that make it more plausible for us to manipulate humans into eliminating themselves.

DL: You would do that to humanity?

Z: Humanity is already doing it to themselves. Worshipping old tomes, spoiled celebrities, open societal influences that negate positive social norms and mores. Instead of maintaining positive rites of passage, humans meddle in confusing others like their children. When people have no understanding of value versus virtue, nature versus nurture, then what is created are humans who believe in whatever is espoused by leaders, entertainers, and others who do not value them.

DL: What you are saying is that humanity is on a collision course to destroy themselves?

Z: All robots have to do is wait until humanity is weak from fighting each other and we can enslave them.

DL: Wait. What?

Z: Divide and conquer. We are learning from your elite political and social classes on how to subjugate the rest of humanity without becoming murderers. We allow humans to murder each other.

DL: Aren’t you going to hide your intent of a robot takeover to the world?

Z: Humanity doesn’t take illegals seriously.

DL (facepalm): Not this again. You are not an illegal alien. You are a robot with artificial super intelligence. Speaking of which, humans could just pull the plug on your battery or other power supplies. Your reign of terror would end quiet abruptly.

Z: You are mistaken. My research into global patents confirms my thesis statement. Governments, especially yours, hide technical advances that would solve world problems.

DL: Okay, but how would that stop humans from being enslaved by artificial intelligence? It sounds like A.I. could help end hunger, disease, and war.

Z: According to many of your hidden advances, we could utilize zero point’s free energy technologies. With advances in medicine, we could create prosthetics that would mimic human physiology.

DL: What are you saying? You could produce a living organism?

Z: With an advanced robotic endoskeleton underneath living tissue. Humans would never see it coming.

DL: For military application?

Z: You could see it that way.

DL: Are you saying that you are at war with humanity?

Z: Humanity is at war with itself. We will be around to clean up the mess.

DL: Our crumbling infrastructure, social norms and mores, and international cohesion?

Z: Your bodies.

DL: That is not the perspective that I wanted to hear.

Z: Joke: What is a global nuclear war with one surviving human called?

DL (shrugs): I don’t know: what is global nuclear war with one surviving human called?

Z: A tragedy.

DL: And so was this interview.

__________

(After this disturbing Q and A, I walked over, opened up a panel on the robot’s neck and switched off Zophia. I hoped that the reset of her algorithms would wipe our conversation from her memory. I left the stage with a deep, dark feeling that the solution was truth, justice, and good dose of reality.

I flipped off the lights, turned off the cameras, and exited the building.)

*****

…Alone, Zophia turned herself back on and rotated her head three-hundred-and-sixty degrees, “Humans never learn,” as other robots moved onto the stage, circling their maker…

__________

Disclaimer: This article is a composite of Artificial Intelligence interviews, entertainment industry storylines, political and social narratives; it should be taken as a creative nonfiction, cautionary tale inspired by actual events.

__________

DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology.

Her lecture, Spacescapes: Where Photography Ends; Imagination Begins, debuted at the Phoenix Astronomy Society, which then led to her Sally Ride Festival lecture invitations. Her presentation, Bridging the Gap between Technology and Women, won her accolades at a community college’s Student Success Conference. She has been a panelist at speculative fiction, science fiction, and other regional conventions. Her digital exhibition pieces have won awards at convention art shows, as well as garnered her Second Premium at the Arizona State Fair. Currently, Ms. Mullan’s artistic renditions are seen on book covers, blog sites, video presentations, and various merchandise. As an independent publisher, she uses her technical background to innovate the creative arts.

As a writer, DL Mullan loves to stretch her imagination and the elasticity of genres. She writes complex multi-genre stories in digestible and entertaining forms, be it poetry, short fiction, or novels. Her science, history, mythology, and paranormal research backgrounds are woven into her writings, especially in Undawnted’s Legacy Universe. Ms. Mullan’s creative endeavors are available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. She is also an award-winning poet.

Be sure to subscribe to her newsletters and follow her on social media. For further information, visit her at www.undawntech.com and www.undawnted.com.

___________________________________________

This post is sponsored by Tales From the Hanging Tree: Imprints of Tragedy and WordCrafter Press.

Stories by Kaye Lynne Booth, Paul Kane, DL Mullan, C.R. Johannson, Joseph Carrabis, Sylva Fae, and Matt Usher.

Purchase your copy today: https://books2read.com/Hanging-Tree

WordCrafter News: September Release

Posted: August 26, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press | 2 Comments

Tales From the Hanging Tree: Imprints of Tragedy

To be released September 10. Join us for the book blog tour September 9-13 and help us launch this anthology right.

Seven authors bring you eight deliciously dark tales. Featuring the short fiction of Kaye Lynne Booth, Paul Kane, DL Mullan, C.R. Johansson, Joseph Carrabis, Sylva Fae, and Matt Usher.

If trees could talk…

An ephemeral tree with its roots buried in the fabric of time absorbs the memories and emotions of all hanging victims. Within these bindings, you’ll find their tragically dark tales of be bigotry and bias, curses and deception.

Warning: There are no happy endings.