Guest Post from B.R. Stateham - a writer you should read

A Different Kind of Hero

I write a short story series about an atypical hit man. Atypical in that he does things you least expect from a professional killer. And it is this unexpected, unanticipated quirk in the man's personality which I want to discuss briefly. Specifically I want to discuss three stories I am particularly fond of.

In particular, the three stories found in the Call Me Smitty; Something Deadly

The hitman calls himself Smitty. He has eyes as dark as the center point of a black hole. He moves through the night like a sulking nightmare. And when he strikes . . . oh, mama! But the point is this; is Smitty just a hit man? Or is he something else?

'Heroes' come in all sizes, shapes and disguises. As an aficionado of the hard boiled/noir story we all are looking for that certain character, that certain individual that captures our attention and holds it permanently. Smitty does that. And the three stories in the series installment pictured here is an excellent set of examples to substantiate my claims. Let me briefly describe each:

In the opening story entitled Something Deadly a hood decides to wipe out a cop and his entire family. Kill them all while the family sleeps in their own beds. Smitty is informed of this coming deed from a friend. The 'friend' is a fellow hood who worries about what the reaction from the police will be if one of their own and his family is wiped out in such a brutal fashion.

Smitty decides to intervene. So picture a black, moonless night. Picture a house in suburbia littered with children's toys and the comfort of a house filled with love. Picture a madman in the middle of the house with a fireman's axe in his hand. Picture the madman about to enter one of the children's bedrooms. Picture Smitty coming between the madman and the slumbering child. A herculean struggle of bulging muscles and soft grunts between madman and killer. And all through this a small child sucking his thumb and dragging behind him his teddy bear watches the silent struggles while standing in the hallway.

In Goodbye, David Smitty appears miraculously and plucks a young mother and her tiny children off of a dark street corner in a driving rain. The mother is terrified. Her husband is planning to kill her. She is fleeing from his murderous intent--but she is young. Frightened. With no one to turn to.

But Smitty finds them. Smitty whisks them off to safety---and, in the end, Smitty settles the issue with the woman's husband in a fashion that can only be something Smitty would do.

In I'll Take Care Of It Smitty is hired by a mob boss to kill a cop and his family. Yes, it is a variation of the first story. But uniquely different. Smitty says he'll 'take care of it.' He knows the mob boss doesn't believe him and sends a second group of killers out to do the job--and get rid of Smitty in the process. What happens next is typically Smitty.


I am very proud of these stories. Especially the first one. The first one shows a range and depth of emotional responses rarely seen in these kind of stories. The same thing can be said with the second story. And the third . . . . in fact, in all of Smitty stories.

Smitty is a different kind of critter. He deserves to find fans who enjoy rooting for a different kind of hero.

http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Intent-Call-Smitty-ebook/dp/B004UN55XU

The Harbinger of Horror

Today heralds the onset of Trestle Press's month-long celebration: Harbinger of Horror.

Giovanni and the gang at Trestle Press have tons of great stories lined up for this Halloween month and most of them are coming at you for $0.99 each.

There is a chill in the air and it won't be long until it starts getting darker earlier. Time to start thinking about staying indoors, hiding under a cozy blanket and scaring the batteries out of your Kindle.

Why not start with something close to my heart? Reprisal is my tale of a bus load of convicted murderers heading toward a nearly deserted town. Find out what happens when they get off the bus and discover why a mysterious Shadow is lurking in the dark.

These three are available now:

Chapter One: Making Plans, Making Memories

Chapter Two: The Impeccant

Chapter Three: Shadow Boxing

Chapter Four: She'll Get Your Engine Started will be one of my three releases with the Harbinger.

You can also pick up my turn in the Author's Lab series: The Two Johns.

I am also teaming with Darren Sant (you've heard of this talented chap and his Tales of the Longcroft Estate) to bring you Severed: In The Beginning...

Darren and I are developing this apocalyptic tale of zombies with an eye on turning it into a character-driven series.

Although Halloween is my favorite holiday, this month is not all about me. Expect to see some other great releases.

Paul D. Brazill's Drunk on the Moon

Currently, this series about an ex-cop, turned werewolf, turned private eye has four installments available. Check out my post HERE to get your fangs wet. Then check out the powerhouse line-up in this series: Julia Madeleine, Allan Leverone, and B. R. Stateham.

Cody Toye gives us murderous clones in the most recent Author's Lab collaboration: Clone Zone.

Mina's Daughter starts off The Harker Chronicles by re-introducing us to the surviving characters of Bram Stoker's Dracula in this steampunk series from S. L. Schmitz.

And William Tooker delivered Volume Two of Slouching Towards Bethlehem in September. Get your hands on Black Betty to discover The Death With a Thousand Faces.

Bear in mind, everything above is what's available right now. It's the things you don't see...in the dark corner of your closet...under your bed....at the back of the garage with the blinking overhead flourescents...that are coming to get you. Trestle seems to be well stocked with masters of the macabre and they are about to unleash them on you, the unsuspecting reader.

In addition to Severed, here is another treat you can look forward to in the Harbinger line-up:

The G-Man himself will come forth with his first "Zombedy" (Zombie-Comedy) in a special Halloween edition of his ongoing Bocce extravaganza: Holy Chrome Bocce Ball Beach Bloodbath!

Put Trestle Press in your Amazon toolbar so you don't miss a horrifying word of the Harbinger of Horror.

Growling with Satisfaction

I have now finished the first four stories from Paul D. Brazill's Drunk on the Moon series and, to gaudily use a pun, this is one with teeth.

The conecpt, an ex-cop turned werewolf turned P.I., is fresh and fun. Yes, I slipped "werewolf" in there. If you don't already know the premise, Roman Dalton was a detective in The City until he was bitten. Since then, he splits his time between being a private investigator and single-handedly trying to put Jack Daniels out of business.

This is classic noir stuff. Moody settings, bad-tempered people and lots of grit and grunge. The City is as much a character as the people. And the thing that piqued my interest was the supernatural does not stop with a single werewolf. There is a Haitian voodoo gangster, an alien and let's not forget the zombie strippers, but no vampires yet.

Let's talk about the tales one at a time, shall we?

Drunk on the Moon - Paul D. Brazill sets the tone with the initial story. He gives us a glimpse of how Roman came to be and establishes the prime hangout, Duffy's Bar. He points out all the major players. He names a few unique locales. But that is not the draw of this installment. This one is all about the words. Brazill spins a silky web of metaphors, phrases and descriptions that drip with artistic skill. His words don't simply put you in the story; you feel, taste, touch, smell everything right along with seeing it in your mind's eye.

Fear the Night - Julia Madeleine takes Roman all the way to Quebec. Unfortunately, Roman can not leave his troubles behind. Full moons are unavoidable. Madeleine reminds us that being a werewolf is not Roman's only problem. He struggles with morality and fights the bottle. He is human. To me, that's what makes a story. If the character isn't relatable then it doesn't matter what he does.

The Darke Affair - Allan Leverone hits all the key elements and delivers more of the trademark Roman Dalton. The story is direct and concise. Roman faces off once again with Ton Ton Phillipe, the Haitian voodoo gangster. The fun in this one is Agent Darke. Leverone introduces a mysterious new character, both humorous and frightening. I for one would like to see Agent Darke return, if he survives.

Insatiable - B.R. Stateham brings the fourth installment with excellent force. He has a style that I would call "old school". Maybe that's not exactly right, but he definitely has an understanding of the genre and seems to have gotten inside series creator Brazill's head. His word choice and descriptions are masterful. Without giving away the end, I could not help picturing Anthony Hopkins conversing with the main character. I have not mentioned Ivan Walker from the previous stories, but he should be mentioned here. Stateham really develops the relationship between Roman and his former partner. Ivan is taken from being a cutout on the police force that slips Roman the occassional lead to a friend with a history and continued compassion for Roman's situation. I try not to play favorites, but this may be it (so far).

So those are the four stories currently available. There are three more well underway. I have the privilege of adding to this enthralling tapestry, but that is down the road a bit. In the meantime, I shall continue to read and enjoy what the other exciting authors have to say about Roman and his plight.

In the meantime, why not give my own series a shot? The first three chapters of Reprisal are now available: Making Plans, Making Memories; The Impeccant; and Shadow Boxing. Trestle Press is still doing the Buy One Get One, so send me your proof of purchase to any of the stories and I will send you a story for FREE.

Don't worry, I will have some nasty treats for you for Halloween as well. Be looking over your shoulder for the next chapter of Reprisal, Severed with Darren Sant, and maybe one more surprise.