"Fool In The Ring" - Cover Reveal

Following on from the release of the Paperback version of "The Unwilling Recruit" last month worked has continued on the sequel.

John Hunts' journey into the unknown continues in the second book in the series "Fool In The Ring".

For those that have read Book 1 the release of "Fool In The Ring" has been eagerly anticipated.  Now I am at last in a position to whet peoples appetite with a sneak peak at the cover of Book 2.

The book itself will be released in Hardback format on 24th July.  Between now and then watch this space for further posts and more information about the story.

For those of you who haven't yet read Book 1, now is the time to start!!

"The Unwilling Recruit" Paperback release Date.

Well, it's been a while since I posted anything on here.  As usual we have all been busy behind the scenes and managing the day challenges that life always seems to bring with it.

Over recent months I have been exploring a number of new and very different creative avenues which, over the fullness of time, I will be detailing here.

In the meantime, however, I have new information to bring you all regarding my novel "The Unwilling Recruit" . It is finally time to offer the story in paperback format to an unsuspecting world.

The paperback version will be released on May 8th, however it is available NOW for PRE-ORDER.
Better than that though, it is also currently available with a 33% DISCOUNT from Barnes & Noble, so follow the links below and grab your copy now!!

Barnes & Noble - 33% discount

Amazon

First Promotional Blog Tour

It's been a while since I posted anything here, but, as usual, that just means that I have been beavering away in the background.

So, let's start with an up-date on reviews.  "The Unwilling Recruit" is still collecting positive reviews so I thought it would be nice to thank those responsible and to show you all what is being said.

The first review comes all the way from Australia.

"A great novel.  Good to see depth of characters that are easily visualised and a fast paced story.  Only wishing it was longer, looking forward to the follow up ... congratulations John.  If this is novel number one, you have great things to come.  Best of luck ..."

Martin Degg (4 stars)

The second review comes from another UK based author who's book I will soon be reviewing.

"Loved the book...it left me with a whetted appetite.  A number of questions to be answered, just leave me wanting the next book AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

David McCluskey (4 stars).

Thanks very much guys for taking the time to share your opinions.

Now onto the next bit of news.  I will be taking part in a seven day Blog Tour with "The Unwilling Recruit" which will run from 9th - 16th November.  This is a new and exciting direction for me and it will be very interesting to see what various book bloggers and critics think of my little offering.

The tour has been organised by the wonderful Tami Adams through her company Magic of Books Promotions .   Thank you Tami for being so patient with me.

I will be posting up-dates and schedules on her as they become available so keep watching.  With luck it will be an interesting and fruitful end to 2017.

To purchase your copy of "The Unwilling Recruit"
CLICK HERE

First Ten Reviews for "The Unwilling Recruit"

So "The Unwilling Recruit" has reached, what for me is a bit of a benchmark.  The first 10 reviews on Amazon are in.

This probably doesn't sound like a lot to anyone else, but I feel it is a noteworthy achievement.

What makes this even more pleasing is that 9 of the ten reviews are 5 star.  As always, I am going to share with you the latest reviews.

Darylyn writes :

"The Unwilling Recruit is a thrill a minute page turner.  Great summer read.  Can't wait for more!"

While

Amanda Rose writes :

"Very enjoyable read, once started I could not put it down.  Brilliantly written the descriptive text immerses you into the suspense from the beginning through to the end of the first book.  Eagerly awaiting second instalment.  This supernatural thriller is a must read!"

So, there you have it.  Thank you both for taking the time to share your views with myself and the public at large.  I am so pleased that you enjoyed my story.

To get your copy of "The Unwilling Recruit"

in Hardback or Kindle

CLICK HERE

Mental Health and Art

I have a tendency to be a very private person, revealing the more personal aspects of my life and personality only to selected individuals.  Over recent years this aspect of my nature has gradually changed and I have developed a more open policy.  This post is a case in point.

As far back as I can remember I have always felt that I thought differently to everyone else and my degree of emotional control has always been tenuous at best.  I experienced wild and unpredictable bouts of both depression and mania as a child and teenager, all of which made me very difficult for my parents to either understand or control.

As the years progressed, this aspect of my nature drove me to make some incredibly poor choices in my life and I was generally not a very nice person to know.  Ultimately I suffered a number of severe break-downs and numerous serious suicide attempts.

Ultimately I survived and approximately 15 years ago (when I was around 35), following my last major breakdown, I was diagnosed with Bi-polar disorder.  Finally my world started to make sense.

So why am I telling you this?

Well, I don't believe there should be any stigma in mental illness and I have never had an issue with telling those around me of my condition.  Why should I?  It is, after all, a part of who I am and, if I expect people to interact with me in anything like an effective manner then I believe this information is useful for them to have.

I refuse medication for my condition and have learnt over the years how best to control this aspect of my mentality and use it's quirks to my benefit.  This is why I write and sing and paint.  There are times when my mental state is perfectly suited to these endeavours and during those times I work, and work hard.  At other times when my  mind refuses to function in a satisfactory way, I simply avoid these pursuits and retreat from the world until these periods have passed.

This strategy has allowed me to be very productive and, in some small way, successful.

I am writing this piece to illustrate the importance of awareness and acceptance for individuals like myself.  We have as much to offer this world as anyone else, we just need to find a different way of doing things and we should be allowed to explore that without stigma and/or prejudice.

There is an organisation which i support and am a member of in the UK.  It is called "Mind" .

They are a national charity that supports and champions those with Mental Health issues.

This year they have a competition running, looking for art that expresses the "Workings of My Mind".  I chose to enter a piece of artwork into this competition and I am very proud to say that, although the competition is still running, my entry is one of a number that has been chosen to help promote the competition and, by association, the charity itself.

I hope that this little revelation of mine helps, in some small way, those who are struggling with their own mental health.

I painted this a number of years ago immediately following my last major nervous break-down.  It was a time of incredible darkness and despair for me, yet from it sprang a wealth of creativity which only now sees its real use.

Never give up.  There is always a path through the darkness and the light will always wait for you to reach it.

Book Review - "The Newton Prophecies"

Well, here we are again with another book review.


Born in New Hampshire and currently residing there with his family, Keith is working on his third novel featuring Michael DiBianco.  "The Newton Prophecies" represents the first novel in this series.

Michael DiBianco, physicist, professor and best-selling author has his life turned completely on its head following an unexpected visit from the FBI.  Dragged into a world of secrets and deception, Michael must fight for his own survival and, perhaps even the survival of the world.

“The Newton Prophecies” delivers an action-packed thriller in the best traditions of the genre.  It is an incredibly fast-paced novel with twists and turns a plenty.  Steeped in intricate details, it is clear that the author has invested a great deal of time researching the elements necessary to weave this fascinating plot.

If you think “Dan Brown on steroids”, then you won’t be too far off the mark.  Having said that I found myself, at times, thinking back to old Dennis Wheatley stories I used to read as a teenager and I think, while this does not necessarily contain the same supernatural elements that used to feature in Wheatleys’ work there is, nevertheless, a valid and worthwhile comparison to be drawn here.

All in all, this is a great novel and it is going to be interesting to see where Keith Katsikas takes his protagonist next.

I am rating this novel 4/5

"The Newton Prophecies" is currently available in Paperback

and Kindle versions from Amazon.com

To purchase your copy CLICK HERE

Latest Review

A new review is in for "The Unwilling Recruit" is in and it is another 5 star rating!!

To say that I am happy would be an understatement.

True to form, I feel I have to share it with you, so read on!

John Evans is an absolute natural, holding you on pins from the very start of this debut novel!  The plot and character development couldn't possibly be any better as this thrilling novel unfolds!  Evans leaves little to the imagination as he consummates each detailed scene with gripping hooks and knee jerking suspense.

The Unwilling Recruit is the perfect marriage between suspense/thriller & supernatural/horror.  I must say, Evans is a natural mystery writer - a true quill master.  

While this book is told from a second person perspective, it keeps the perfect pace.  I found it difficult to put it down as I scrolled from one page to the next.

If you enjoy the suspense of Koontz and the horrors of King, look no further.  John Evans is sure to be your next favourite author!

-Micah Richards, author of the "Touched By Darkness" saga.

As always, if you want to check out for yourself what all the fuss is about, 

"The Unwilling Recruit" is available now in Hardback and Kindle versions

from Amazon.

To Purchase your copy

CLICK HERE

What's Next?

So, my first novel has been published in Hardback and Kindle versions thanks to the wonderful team at TopShelf Publishing.  

It is being very well received thus far, gaining some excellent reviews from the UK, USA and even as far afield as China.  And, long may this situation continue.

So, the real question now is, what happens next?

Not being one to rest on my laurels', work continues at a fairly steady pace.  As you may have noticed I have begun writing a few selected book reviews, and there will be more of those coming in the very near future.

What people really want to know, however, is, what is happening with book 2?  

Well, in all honesty, I finished the initial draft of Book 2 over a year ago.  It will be titled "Fool In The Ring" and is already set for release around July 2018.  Of course between now and then there is a lot of work still to do both by myself and by my publisher.  Between now and the end of the year we hope to have the cover design and all of the major editing completed and I intend to keep you up-dated with our progress on that front as information becomes available.

Of course, writing continues and I am well over a quarter of the way into writing my first draft of book 3.  I hope to have that completed by the end of November this year which will then allow me to fully devote the rest of this year to the completion of book 2.

So, for my fans out there, rest assured, the adventures of John Hunt will and are continuing well into the foreseeable future.

Thank you all for your ongoing support.

The Unwilling Recruit

AVAILABLE NOW

CLICK HERE

Book Review - "Touched By Darkness"

Well here I am again with another book review.  This one is by Micah Richards, an Alabama born author whose personal philosophy is;

"You should dream and dream big.  You never know, your dreams may

be the fuel that inspires others to keep moving forwards."

Micah is currently represented by TopShelf Publishing.

So, without further ado, let's press on with the review.

Touched By Darkness

“Touched By Darkness” follows the story of Chris Blevins, a young and very successful anchor man for a local news station in the apparently quiet island town of Edisto.  Everything in Chris’s life is going exactly to plan primarily due to his own hard work and dedication.  At least that is how it appears on the surface.  Edisto, however harbours some dark and disturbing secrets and as Chris gradually becomes aware of these, his entire ordered life begins to spiral out of control.

This is the first novel of a proposed series and, as such it sets the scene fairly well.  Told from a first person perspective, the author draws the reader into the dark world of the supernatural with an easy, uncomplicated style.  I won’t be giving much away by telling you that the key supernatural elements are Vampires and werewolves.  This is not, however, a “Twilight” wannabe tale.  No “sparkly” vampires here.  Micah manages to present some strong traditional folklore mingled with some clever modern twists.

The story is well structured and progresses at a good, solid pace that maintains reader interest.  Descriptive elements are well written from Chris’ perspective and the picture presented to the reader is clear and uncluttered.

On the whole I found this to be a solid opening for what promises to be an entertaining trilogy.  Fans of the genre looking for something new and fresh, this is definitely something you should cast your eye over.

I am rating this novel 4/5

Micah is currently working on the sequel to this - "Touched By Darkness: Shadows of My Soul"

I look forward to continuing the story.

"Touched By Darkness" is currently available in both Hardback and

E-book versions from Amazon.com

To purchase your copy  CLICK HERE 

E-Book Availability !

As you all should know by now my novel The Unwilling Recruit was released yesterday.  It should have been released in both hardback and e-book formats at this time.  However, there has been a technical issue with Amazon.  This is unfortunate, but it has delayed availability of the e-book version on Amazon.  The hardback version is still available there however.  This issue has been corrected and the e-book version will be available within the next few weeks.

For those of you who prefer to obtain e-book/kindle versions of my novel, don't worry.  There are other outlets where this version is available now.  The links below will direct you to the three other outlets where the e-book version of my novel can be obtained.


To purchase from:

Barnes & Noble   -   CLICK HERE

Kobo   -   CLICK HERE

Apple iTunes   -   CLICK HERE


So there you have it.  Of course if you still prefer a hardcopy then that is available from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

To purchase the hardback version

CLICK HERE

Happy reading to you all, and please, don't forget to leave a review.

Released !!

Well the time is finally here!!

"The Unwilling Recruit" is now available in Hardback from Amazon.com.  The e-book version will be available shortly, while the paperback version is set to be released in February.

For anyone that is interested I have a limited stock of Hardback copies available which I will sign and include a personal message.  Please contact me directly if you want more details of this offer.

A number of books have already been sold and even read, and people seem to be enjoying them which is very gratifying.  Some of those individuals have left reviews on the TopShelf website.  I would be really grateful if those readers would kindly place a review on Amazon as well.  Please use the following link for this:

"The Unwilling Recruit" - Review Link

For those of you who have read the novel and not yet left a review, now is the time to do so.  You can use the same link already provided for this purpose.  Please remember this will only take a few minutes of your time but, for us struggling authors, reviews are our life blood.

On a final note.  If you have not yet got yourself a copy, then get out there and change that.

GET YOUR COPY HERE !!

Book Review - Connor Candlish - A Man of Freedom

Recently I was asked to review a novel penned by a fellow author and good friend and I thought, why not?

The author in question is Dan Tobias Lewis-Dayle, an actor and writer based in Stoke-on-Trent.  Dan has been writing for some time now, originally beginning with a four book fantasy/sci-fi series collectively known as the "Auriala Chronicles" .

Now he has ventured down a new literary path, namely erotic fiction.  Currently set to release his third novel in the latest series I have returned to the beginning with book one.

So here it is:

"Connor Candlish - A Man Of Freedom"

There are a few points I need to make at the outset.  To begin with, this is not a genre I would normally read, it is an erotic novel and the sexual content is very graphic.  While I am no prude, this is not generally the material I would choose to read.  The second issue I have with this novel is the editing.  I really feel that the whole thing could have really benefited from a more robust editing process.

Now, having said all of that, let’s look at the book itself.  Connor Candlish is a man with a libido that most men (and probably a few women) would kill for and he is definitely not afraid to use it.  Following the death of his family he decided to follow his dream of becoming a holiday rep, but the experience presents him with challenges and dangers he never expected to face.

The book is written in the first person from Connors’ perspective.  Again this is not a style I usually like to read but, despite that I did find myself getting wrapped up in the intricacies of Connors’ world.  The pace of the book is excellent and this is largely due to the snappy writing style.  The story is engaging and involving and the main protagonist is a character that you know you should hate, but somehow you don’t want to.  There is a sense of tragedy in the story that was unexpected and added a depth that, for me, made the whole thing stand out.

Although this is an erotic novel and there is a lot of sex contained within those steamy pages, I was very gratified to find that there was a genuinely well-conceived and intriguing story.

As I read this novel I found that quite often it put me in mind of the series of sex comedies from the mid 1970’s.  The “Confessions….” Series of films (of which there were four) were based on a series of books of the same titles written by Christopher Wood.  Although I have never read those novels I can easily imagine that they would read something like this.

For lovers of this genre I would recommend picking this book up so long as you are prepared to experience more than mere titillation.

So there you have it.  If you want to take a look at what Dan is doing then go and check out his blog page HERE 

Latest Review

I always find it interesting reading the reviews that people leave after reading my novel "The Unwilling Recruit".  I am, however, in the fortunate position of not having received a bad review so far.  This is not a situation I expect to last.  There is no possible way that I can expect my work to resonate with everyone who reads it.  I will, however have as much respect for poor reviews as I do for the good ones.  Ultimately I have to accept that and appreciate that those who write a poor review have taken just as much time and effort to share their thoughts with me as those who write good ones, and I have just as much to learn from them.

So, on to the reason for this post.  As you might have guessed by now, I received a new review today, and I thought I'd share it with you.

"A book that is full of weird and wonderful surprises.  A gripping

story from cover to cover, a very dark and mysterious, action-packed

read.If you are interested in all things dark and unexpected and even

if not, this book is definitely well worth the read.  Definitely not what

I was expecting which made it all the more enjoyable!  Thank you

and well done John!  Can't wait for the next instalment."

Aimee Shenton.

Thank you Aimee.  I am so glad you enjoyed it and incredibly thankful that you took the time to share your experiences.

AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ORDER

CLICK HERE

The Unwilling Recruit - Excerpt Reading

As the time rapidly approaches for the release day of "The Unwilling Recruit" it seemed right that I provide you with a little more than just images and words.

With that thought in mind my publisher, TopShelf Publishing thought it best that I read an excerpt from the novel in question.  This is a great idea in general, although it does have one disadvantage, you guys have to put up with seeing my ugly mug for a while.  I guess it's a cross you'll all just have to bear.

I would really like to thank my good friend Jacqui Dunn for taking time out of her busy schedule to help me with the filming for this piece, and also Keith Katsikas for some truly stellar editing work.  You guys are both stars.

So here it is, I hope you enjoy it.

"The Unwilling Recruit"

Available for pre-order now.

CLICK HERE

Latest reviews.

For any author reviews are the life blood of their craft.  It provides a direct connection to their audience and lets the author know if their work is resonating correctly with the intended targets.

More than that, however, reviews are our validation.  There is nothing better than the feeling you get when you receive a five star review from a happy reader.

I have been very fortunate to have received some truly excellent reviews for "The Unwilling Recruit" .  I am incredibly thankful and humbled by, and for, the thoughts and opinions my audience thus far has chosen to share with me.  Your praise and your enjoyment of my efforts make the whole process worthwhile.

I wanted to share the latest review with you all.  It comes from a gentleman by the name of Jon Land .  He is a USA Today best-selling author with over 25 novels to his name already.  I am extremely grateful that he took the time to read my offering and this is what he had to say about "The Unwilling Recruit" :

"The Unwilling Recruit serves up a terrifying foray into

the supernatural, offering a perfect blend of science and

superstition.  John Evans' crafts his debut effort with the

polish and verve of a much more seasoned hand, proving

himself a master storyteller right out of the box.  A must

read for fans of John Farris, Robert R. McCammon

and even the master himself, Stephen King."

Thank you Jon.  

Available now for pre-order from Amazon

CLICK HERE

Final cover reveal.

So it has been some time now since I have posted anything here and you could all be forgiven for believing that the lack of posts is indicative of a lack of progress on my novel "The Unwilling Recruit" .

Nothing could be farther from the truth.  There has been a huge amount of activity going on "behind then scenes", as it were.  The amazing team at TopShelf Publishing have been working tirelessly these past months.  The novel has been edited to within an inch of its life now and we all believe we finally have the product ready to put before you, the public.

The first step towards that is the amazing cover that the extremely talented Keith Katsikas has designed for me.

So, here you are folks.  I really hope you like this first look at the new and much improved novel (I know I do).

Available now for PRE-ORDER at

Amazon

New Release Date.

It's been a while since I posted anything here. In truth it's been a challenging few months for me on both a personal and professional front.

As you will have probably gathered, the original release date for "The Unwilling Recruit" has passed and the novel is still not available.  Well for reasons too numerous and convoluted to go into a decision was made between my publisher and myself to push back the release into the new year.

So, now the new official release date for my novel will be May 2nd 2017 and I would like to take this opportunity to assure my supporters that this date will not change and to offer my sincerest apologies for the delay.

Thank you all for your continued support.

A Superb New Resource for Independent Authors

	"TopShelf Magazine truly lives up to its name. An objective, incisive, and insightful journal focused on helping bookstores and libraries thrive. TopShelf offers a polished professionalism that rivals the trades and is a must read for booksellers looking for ways to broaden their market and boost sales, as well as authors and professionals looking to keep their finger on the pulse of the bricks-and-mortar book industry." ~ Jon Land USA Today bestselling author of over 37 novels.
WANT YOUR BOOK SEEN BY THOUSANDS OF BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES? TopShelf Magazine is a monthly buyers' guide for booksellers. Our highly selective vetting process showcases the best books from today's market, making TopShelf the most trusted source for news, reviews, and resources. We provide bookstores and libraries with the tools needed to help their business expand markets and increase revenue. TopShelf Magazine is delivered FREE to bookstores and libraries all across the continental United States and is available FREE to anyone (including non-U.S. residents, booksellers, and libraries) in digital form, and in print for just the cost of shipping and handling. It is our dedication to providing excellent marketing advice, trustworthy reviews, and connections with hundreds of invaluable resources that keeps booksellers and librarians coming back, and, which makes TopShelf Magazine an amazing place for authors to get noticed. There is no better place for your books to be listed. Even better, TopShelf Magazine includes web, email, and social media marketing with every listing, no matter your budget. So you know your books are being seen by bookstores, libraries, and hundreds-of-thousands of readers throughout our growing network, where we send daily messages to hundreds-of-thousands of opt-in recipients.
TopShelf Magazine | Advertise | Become an Affiliate | Testimonials Copyright 2016 TopShelf Indie Authors & Books, LLC

Editing - What to expect.

Having just completed the editing on my first novel "The Unwilling Recruit" I felt it was appropriate to share my experiences of this little publishing adventure so far.

In all honesty the experience wasn't as painful as I had imagined, although it did have its moments.  The whole process began with a nerve-wracking wait while a group of individuals I did not know sifted through my manuscript.  I did not know these people, we had never met, so I had no way to predict how they would respond to my little creation.  How much would they want to change?  Was I going to be looking at months of re-writing to bring the manuscript into line with their vision?  If so, how much of my own work would be left at the end of the process?

These questions weighed quite heavily on me during this waiting period.  Please keep in mind, at this point I was a complete novice when it came to both publishers and editors.  This was the first outing for me into the field of traditional publishing.  What was I getting into?

On the whole, and with hindsight, I would have to say that, for the most part, my fears were unfounded.  My publisher has turned out to be a very pleasant and understanding individual and the editors have been very generous with their comments on my manuscript.  Am I lucky in this regard?  I don't know.  I have no yardstick by which to measure these people or this publishing house.  What I can say is that I am, currently very happy here and, if things continue in this vein, I foresee a long and potentially fruitful relationship.

So, what have I actually had to do?

It goes without saying there were a lot of errors within the manuscript.  A whole host of typos and grammar issues were highlighted and seeing all of that red pen across my manuscript was, admittedly, a little discouraging at first.  Ultimately though, these were all elements that could be fixed quickly with very little fuss.

One thing I did not expect however, was the language issues.  I am an Englishman writing in my own language as you would expect.  My publisher is American.  It never occurred to me that our two countries would perceive and use the same language so differently. Words that I considered common use were virtually unheard of across the pond while their alternatives I considered at times to be "clunky" and ugly.  To say there were a lot of discussions between us on this issue would be an understatement.  Ultimately however, this is the core of this little article.

I honestly feel I am fortunate to have the relationship with my publisher that I currently enjoy.  We have been able to rationally, and at times, even with humour, discuss the numerous vocabulary choices within my manuscript.  I have had to recognise that my publisher was trying to ensure my work would be accessible to the widest audience possible.  Similarly my publisher was more than willing to accept my need to retain what I believed to be a level of artistic integrity to my work.  Somewhere during the course of our numerous conversations I honestly feel a good compromise was reached.  In the end I would estimate approximately seventy-five percent of the editors suggestions were taken on board.  Of the remaining twenty-five percent I think there was an even split between elements I insisted remained unchanged and elements where I accepted the need for change but was unhappy with the alternative suggested so created a third, entirely new option.

At the end of the entire process, I firmly believe that I have a vastly improved manuscript and, most importantly, one which I am happy to attach my name to when it is brought before the public.

I am not sure this would have been possible without the relationship I have garnered with my publisher.  I now find myself in the position of really looking forward to the official release date for my novel on November 15th 2016.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER

Book Review

I finally managed to get a book reviewer to take a look at my first novel "An Unwilling Recruit" .  It was well worth the wait and all the effort.  Here is a little taste of what she had to say:

"Within the first few pages I was instantly drawn to the characters, and soon as eager as John to discover exactly what had occurred, and why he was suddenly so unique."

If you'd like to know more then please go and read the full review at Darrienia: The Forgotten Legacies Series ~ K.J. Simmill

Or better yet, buy the book HERE.