7 Questions for Mark Carver

Mark Carver is the author of The Age of Apollyon. Following the summary of his book, I hit him with seven questions to give you some insight into his work and life.

Summary: Notre-Dame Cathedral lies in ruins. The mangled corpses of the possessed are scattered in the shadows beneath the pulverized Gothic towers. This is the aftermath of the Manifestation....Satan has revealed himself to the world, which falls trembling at his feet. Religious genocide sweeps Europe and Asia, and the world's greatest fortresses of faith are smashed to the ground. The New World and Australia become safe havens for refugees fleeing Lucifer's wrath. Heaven remains silent. The followers of Christ cry out: Where is God? Patric Bourdon believes in himself. He claims to be a member of the Church of Satan, but in reality, it is his own hedonism that drives him. His zealous and pregnant fiancée waits patiently for him to "man up" and take responsibility for his impending family, but the lure of drugs and debauchery proves too strong....Until Patric receives a command that he cannot refuse. Tourec, his self-righteous half-brother, has begun a campaign of terrorism against the forces of darkness. The Church of Satan is paralyzed with fear as Tourec and his band of rogue assassins seek vengeance for the evils that Lucifer has wrought upon the earth, and Patric is commanded to seek out and neutralize his brother by any means necessary....Or his fiancée and unborn child shall perish.

A thrilling blend of action, horror, and tense family drama soaked in ultra-bleak Gothic atmosphere and saturated with somber religious iconography, THE AGE OF APOLLYON seeks not only to entertain, but also to illuminate the burning question of our time: why does God allow evil (and evil men) to rule the world? THE AGE OF APOLLYON blasts through the sanctuaries of the world's greatest cathedrals, from the majesty of the Vatican where the Voice of Satan sits upon the papal throne to the ruins of Paris where the darkest nightmares of blasphemous perversion are summoned. It is a sweeping story of vengeance, redemption, sacrifice, and sorrow that will plunge to the depths of mankind's depravity, but also offers hope for heaven's mercy. THE AGE OF APOLLYON will shock and thrill those who enter its world...and this is just the beginning....

And now for the interview:

Give us a brief introduction about yourself. I'm an American currently living in China with my wife and son. I teach English classes at a Chinese university. My interests include art, tattoos, heavy metal, cathedrals, a cold beer, and of course, reading and writing.

Tell us about your writing. What genre(s) do you specialize in? I've been writing stories of all kinds since I was a little kid, but I've always been drawn to sci-fi, action/adventure, and horror. I like to infuse all the elements that I enjoy reading into my own writing. I'm a sucker for intense dramatic atmosphere and melodrama, and I try to make my writing moody and engrossing. I also enjoying writing about characters that are unlikable and even repulsive. I see it as a challenge: to make readers loathe a character but still feel compelled to read about them.

Who are your favorite authors? I pretty much only read classics. I rarely pick up a book that is less than one hundred years old, though I do enjoy some modern authors. Anything from the Gothic, American Romantic, and Victorian eras suit me just fine, but I also enjoy intense psychological stories, regardless of genre or era. Lord of the Flies by William Golding is my favorite book.

What inspires you to write? I like writing what I would want to read. I get most of my inspiration from music and movies. I am a very visual writer and I try to replicate what I see in my mind through words. I listen to a lot of bombastic music like death and doom metal, and this helps put me in the mood to write. I love action movies that are explosive and over-the-top, so I seek to combine rip-roaring action with atmospheric creepiness. This is the direction that my writing is going now, but I'm sure my inspiration will change when I branch out into other genres.

Describe your writing process. The time of day doesn't matter, but I have to be alone, either at home or in my office. I usually listen to heavy metal music, and I like to drink beer or green tea. I find my best bursts of creativity happen after I've watched a TV program or movie.

Any upcoming projects?  The Age of Apollyon just came out this month, but I'm already 2/3rds finished with the sequel, called Black Sun. There will be a total of three books, and I expect to finish Black Sun early next year. I have a few ideas in my head that are just waiting to pop out, and I'm pretty good about keeping a steady writing rhythm, so I hope to crank out at least one book a year. You'll just have to wait and see.

Where can we find you and your books?

The Age of Apollyon on Amazon:

 http://www.amazon.com/The-Age-of-Apollyon-ebook/dp/B009LU10ZY

The Age of Apollyon on Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-age-of-apollyon-mark-carver/1112037360

Official website: http://theageofapollyon.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Age-of-Apollyon/205771869521077

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ageofapollyon

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14744280-the-age-of-apollyon

You can add me as a friend on Facebook too!

When do you get to Reprisal?

Can't help but feel a little melancholy. The final chapter of Reprisal is now available. It has been a long ride. The confrontation between Eddie and the Shadow is at hand. After this, I am going to take a break. I need to get some perspective, but then I will be back with Severed and some other surprises.

Trestle Press presents Sam Lang’s Reprisal, a digital short story series.
Reprisal is a dying town built on secrets and haunted by a mysterious shadow since its beginnings.
Eddie Newport must survive one night in this town with his oldest friend as a bus full of escaped murderers breaks down on Main Street.
Eddie and the Chief had a meeting with the Mayor. Five murderers boarded a bus for a routine transfer. The town is empty, everyone went to the Holidome for a weekend getaway.
The town is empty, except for the Shadow.
In the final chapter of Reprisal, what should have been a simple, uneventful weekend has turned into chaos. The body count is escalating and Eddie has nowhere to hide.
Eddie, Arizona, the Chief, the convicts and the Shadow are about to collide at the Intersection of Atonement.

Get it today for $0.99 - http://goo.gl/LNnDf

Get on the Bus

Do you know when you get to Reprisal?

Vengeance Rides the Bus

Chapter Eight of Reprisal

Better hurry because the bus is heading out. A short jaunt down the highway and some unsuspecting prisoners will be in Reprisal. Someone, or something, is waiting for them. Mix into that, the story of two women. Both in love. Both with very different ideas of what love is.

What's that up ahead? A sign reads, "Welcome to Reprisal. Population: Dwindling."

Reprisal is a dying town built on secrets and haunted by a mysterious shadow since its beginnings.

Eddie Newport must survive one night in this town with his oldest friend as a bus full of escaped murderes breaks down on Main Street.

Vengeance is on this bus. The prison transport leaves the dark history of the prison behind with a surprise. There is a substitute guard on board. No one called about the last minute change, but that doesn't stop the bus from heading down the highway.

In a very short time, they cross the town limit of Reprisal. Then the Shadow begins its work. Things are complicated when Eddie unexpectedly meets Arizona, the girl he stood up at his high school prom.

Reprisal, Chapter Eight: Vengeance Rides the Bus - available now from Trestle Press for $0.99 - http://tinyurl.com/c9lnlrp

That's what horror stories are made of...

Reprisal

Chapter 6

Sugar and Snails

Trestle Press releases the next chapter of Reprisal. In Sugar and Snails, little girls are made from sugar and spice. Little boys from puppy dog tails and slimy snails. Danny Lurton is an odd combination of sugar and snails. Maybe Danny could have been a TV game show host in a different life, but in this one, things turned out for the worst. Destined to spend the rest of his life a prisoner, Danny is visited by his child victims while waiting to board the bus.

For those that have been patient, there is one more convict next month. After that, hell is gonna break loose!

Here we go again!

Chapter 6 of Reprisal, Sugar and Snails, will be released this week. My publisher, Trestle Press, is also starting another great sale this week. If you haven't started Reprisal yet, you can get all 6 volumes for the price of 3!

Starting today, Saturday January 14^th through Sunday, January 22, 2012, Trestle Press will be having a BUY ONE TITLE GET ONE TITLE FREE SALE !!

All of our titles are part of this sale, all of our authors will be participating in it, and all you have to do is when you purchase one of our stories send us the proof of purchase and we will be happy to send you the title of your choice that is of equal value.

You can email us in one of three ways; send the proof of purchase by email to one of the following:

-the authors of the titles you purchased and get your free titles directly from them.

-Trestle Press: trestlepress@gmail.com

-Giovanni Gelati:gelati.giovanni@gmail.com

We have a wealth of talented authors at Trestle Press and there are many great stories to discover and read. As the week goes on there will be a few surprises thrown into this sale, so please stay tuned to our website: www.trestlepresspublishing.com or your favorite authors’ websites or blogs.

Feel free to follow us at our website for all the upcoming news and events surrounding all of the Trestle Press authors as they create more Best-Selling novels, novellas, short stories and series for you to follow and enjoy.

We hope that you will join us and our authors as we make our journey and try to blaze a new trail in this wide open world of publishing. Without you all is for naught; for everything we do, we do for you the reader!

Have fun and happy reading!!     

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

Start Your Engines

The newest installment of Reprisal from Trestle Press is available now!

Chapter Four

She'll Get Your Engine Started

Along with that comes an exciting new cover design for the whole series, thanks to Giovanni Gelati.

I would love to hear any feedback on the covers.

For a bit about the story...

This chapter focuses on another of the inmates. His name is David Lent and like the others, he is a murderer. But does his punishment fit his crime? David lived a lonely life, even though he was married. Certain revelations change everything he knows and pushes him to the edge. By the end of this chapter, you may be asking if David truly was a bad man.

Each chapter of Reprisal is availble in eBook for $0.99 each. If you haven't started the series yet, I would be happy to send you Chapter One for free to get your engine started. Message me on Facebook or email me: SamLangAuthor@gmail.com

Thanks for visiting



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.

The G-Man Reviews Shadow Boxing

Maybe this is out of character for me, but I am grateful to read these kinds of reviews about my writing.

Giovani Gelati says, "I know as a reader, sooner or later he is going to drop the anvil on my head."

Please read his full review HERE: http://gelatisscoop.blogspot.com/2011/09/sam-lang-shadow-boxing-volume-3-of.html

And you can get the stories by scanning the codes below:

3 - Shadow Boxing

2 - The Impeccant

1 - Making Plans, Making Memories

Chapter 3 is here for the taking

Have you been behaving yourself?

In case you have, here's a fresh opportunity to misbehave.

The newest chapter of Reprisal is available now from Trestle Press. In Shadow Boxing, the story takes a little turn...for the worse. Travelling that lonely stretch of road out of Reprisal to the west will lead you to the Edgar King penitentiary. This is where Chapter 3 begins. This is your chance to meet some truly nasty people.

Or are they really that bad?

Over the next several chapters, dear readers, you will get to know five convicted killers and something of their lives that led them to this point.

Decide for yourself what makes someone good or bad. Do the lives we lead and the lies we live define us?

For you technically adept people, here is your QR code:



Something for you...

On the verge of Chapter 3: Shadow Boxing, Reprisal is going to start getting under your skin. In addition to that, The Two Johns with Giovanni Gelati from the Author's Lab Collaboration series is going to be coming your way.

If you haven't started on Reprisal yet, Trestle Press has come up with a very simple way for you cell phone readers to start at the beginning. All you have to do is scan these QR codes with your prefered QR app. Then you will have both chapters for $0.99 each or you will have sold your soul to Trestle. Either one works for me....

Chapter 1: Making Plans, Making Memories

Chapter 2: The Impeccant

The Impeccant Gets 5-Stars

Darren Sant strikes again! He read Chapter 2: The Impeccant and says he is "well and truly hooked now!"

Get Reprisal: The Impeccant for $0.99 on Kindle. The series is available exclusively from Trestle Press.

Read the full review on Daz's Short Book Review to find out why you need to get started on this series. If not, I may come visit you in your dreams....

Review for Making Plans, Making Memories

British author of everything from crime/noir to humor and biography, Darren Sant had some excellent things to say about the first chapter of Reprisal.

After reading Making Plans, Making Memories, Mr. Sant said, "I found Reprisal to be well written and the author’s strength seems to be in creating good characters."

Read the full review on Goodreads.

Great Review for Book Two

Giovanni Gelati of Gelati's Scoop says, "Sam Lang delivers an amazing second installment to his Reprisal series ".

Read the full review HERE.

Get the second chapter of Reprisal for ONLY 99 Cents!



It Has Arrived

Chapter 2 of Reprisal, The Impeccant, is now available for $0.99 from Trestle Press through Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Noble Nook.

The ill-fated story of the town of Reprisal continues as Eddie and Chief Canton clear out the town for the impending bus arrival. Come, get to know Eddie a little better. Find out what he knows about dark secrets and a Shadow that has survived too long in Reprisal.

Don't get too comfortable with this chapter though, I'm saving some particullarly nasty things for later.

You can also get a FREE autographed cover of either chapter at Kindlegraph!

Creeping up on you...

The G-Man over at Trestle Press released the excellent cover to Chapter 2 of Reprisal. This installment is called "The Impeccant".

I'll wait while you open a new tab to look it up on dictionary.com.

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..

...

....

.....

Okay, got it? Good, let's move on.

In this chapter, preparations are made to evacuate the town proper. Maybe Chief Canton is being overzealous or maybe he has incredible foresight. Either way, the town of Reprisal is going to be empty when that bus gets there.

In the meantime, sit back and watch the parade.

It's Quiet....Too Quiet

I've suddenly realized I haven't been making any noise. That happens sometimes, I go quiet. Little things, like talking to the outside world, tend to slip off the radar.

Then if I do grab your attention, what would you have me say?

I can tell you the next chapter of Reprisal is coming quickly. Hopefully by now, you've met Eddie and the police chief. The next chapter will introduce you to some more of the oddly assorted townsfolk.

I call these first two chapters The Impeccant. Look it up. Things start off a little slow, but I drop a few nice tidbits. When we get to the third chapter, we switch to the part I call The Ravin. There's another word-of-the-day for you to find on dictionary.com. Things will start to get a little messy.

What else can I say? I've got a few other things in the works. Gearing up for my turn on the Author's Lab. People are going to get hurt in that one. I'm also putting together some new one-shots: vampires, inter-dimensional laundry machines and baseball.

Give me some time, something's bound to catch your attention.

First review of Making Plans, Making Memories

Giovanni Gelati calls the first installment of Reprisal "one of the best [debuts] I have read..."

Check out his full review HERE on Gelati's Scoop.

Or go straight to Amazon and get it on Kindle HERE.

First Post

Finished reading the draft of the first installment for Reprisal. Sent back a few final edits to Trestle Press. Looks like tomorrow will be publication day.

If you are curious, Reprisal came to me in a dream, as most of my stories do. With that said, you should surmise that I have rather disturbing dreams on occassion. I don't remember specifically when, but I believe I completed the first draft in 2006. The story started a little before that and you can see undertones of the public state of mind. The mention of terrorists gave a framework to the events of one horrible night in that desolate town.

I think the town of Reprisal would exist maybe in Northeast Texas, or maybe Mississippi, not too far south to keep it from snowing. Mostly, I find it situated in the chimerical plane of my subconcious. I know there is a long, lonely stretch of road that leads back to the abandoned (and possibly haunted) Edgar King Federal prison. The townsfolk like to think the other way leads to an interstate, safety, rationality. If I took my readers down that way, I suspect it would be a dangerous trip and probably not end up anywhere near the interstate.

Reprisal and its inhabitants could be found in our world, but let's not go looking for them shall we?