Category: Writing Techniques

Edge of Collapse

On By dotluvs2writeIn Cultural and Political, Fiction Writing, humanity, Life, News Events, reading, Reviews, Writing TechniquesLeave a comment

Since my newest book, Relics of Life, is dystopian in nature, and it’s a new genre for me. I’d decided to read some books I thought were close to what I’ve written or along those lines.

This is when I discovered the Edge of Collapse book series by Kyla Stone. It’s considered post-apocalyptic fiction, but I found it somewhat similar to my book.

So, this is my idea of a book review.

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Book’s blurb:

In the middle of the coldest winter on record, an EMP destroys the nation’s power grid.


No electricity. No cars or phones. Worst of all: No heat. The country is plunged into instant chaos. 

But for twenty-six-year-old Hannah Sheridan, it’s the best day of her life. For the last five years, she’s been the captive of a sadistic psychopath—until the EMP releases the lock of her prison.

Battered but not broken, she emerges from her underground cell into a hostile winter landscape with no way to call for help, no vehicle that will drive, armed with nothing but the clothes on her back and her own determination to survive.

Cynical loner and ex-soldier Liam Coleman is headed nowhere fast. He believed he was prepared for any disaster—until the EMP took everything he’d ever cared about in a matter of seconds.

Two hundred frozen, perilous miles stand between them and their destination in rural Michigan. The lack of power, desperate people, and the treacherous elements aren’t the only threats, for Hannah’s captor isn’t about to let her go. He will hunt her to the end of the world and beyond. 

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First off, the author hooked me in immediately by the first page. I’m big on writing style. It’s the first thing I notice and makes my decisions on whether I’ll read the book or not.

So, obviously, I noticed Stone’s writing style when I peeked inside the book on Amazon. Ordered it and received it a couple of days later.

The characters in Edge of Collapse, Chao Rising, Edge of Madness, Edge of Darkness, and Edge of Anarchy (the one I’m currently reading after reading the others), are realistic, well-defined, and show the human condition, which I appreciate.

I was happy to see that the author had made a good effort in carving out the characters. I wasn’t sure that would happen since the storyline seemed to be plot driven. Nevertheless, the characters move it along as well, which I appreciate.

The only thing that is bothering me is the violence. I’m not one who’s ever been able to stomach much violence, especially graphic types, and especially if it were in a movie. And this book definitely has several very disturbing scenes. However, I think the author needed to show these things to give the reader an idea how desperate and chaotic the towns and cities in which the characters live or wander through are dealing with.

Funny, when I looked up the book, there was a note that said the violence was rated PG-13. Wow. I’ve not seen many new movies, and it seems the violence level has gone up quite a bit. I’ve gotten into the habit of skimming over or skipping the truly gruesome parts (well, they are to me!) and still know what has happened in those terrifying scenes.

I’m able to skim over such scenes in a book but would never be able to watch it in a movie or TV show. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about that.

In any case, the books are definitely good, chilling, mind-tingling thriller level. I like the protagonists as well. The antagonists are well-developed and three-dimensional, which is always good. You can understand how some of them ended up the way they did.

There are seven books in the series, and I’m on Book Four.

I give the first three books I’ve finished five stars and highly recommend them.

And if you are already familiar with Kyla Stone’s Edge of Collapse series, I’ll let you know my book, Relics of Life, is similar as pertaining to the state of the country/towns and people trying to navigate through the oppression and dangers, although a bit less violent.

So you may want to pick up a copy of Relics of Life on IngramSpark, Amazon, or B&N.

Hope you found this info interesting, and perhaps you’ve found a new series to read!

All the better.

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DO NOT Self-Publish Without Doing THIS

On By dotluvs2writeIn art, Beauty, Fiction Writing, Marketing, Musings, Publishing, reading, Reviews, Writing TechniquesLeave a comment

I wrote about this particular issue a few years back. But since I just saw an example of this thirty minutes ago, I felt compelled to reiterate it in this post. Besides, a reminder never hurts.

As an author, you must be aware and concerned about what products you put out, because they represent you and your talent.

Therefore, it is ESSENTIAL that an author obtains professional services in publishing her book(s).

Unless you are a professional editor, formatter, and book designer, you will need these services.

Even if you are quite adept at grammar and spelling and syntax. Hire a professional editor.

The same goes for formatting your books and for a book cover.

You want your work to be the BEST it can be. POLISHED, BEAUTIFUL, EYE-CATCHING, READABLE.

It is important for you as an author to do this, because all of these creative efforts are a reflection of who you are and what talent you hold.

In closing, please DO NOT publish you book BEFORE acquiring professionals.

It doesn’t help those who do put in all that effort for superbly finished products. With so many books out there and so many self-published books, let’s make all authors look good by putting out the best product possible for our readers.

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Another One Pending…

On By dotluvs2writeIn Beauty, Cultural and Political, Fiction Writing, humanity, Inspirational, Life, Marketing, News Events, Publishing, Religious, Writing TechniquesLeave a comment

Friends,

I hope to have my new novel, Relics of Life, out by sometime in the summer. God willing!

Blurb:

The world is in turmoil from Russia to the United States.                                    

Monks Sergius and Herman from a monastery in Russia are sent to the United States to find a saint’s prophetic writings and a small piece of the Cross of Christ that went missing during Stalin’s reign but were then smuggled into America in 1978.                                    

Quiet introvert Stephanie Jenkins and her son and mother live in a town in Virginia, during a pinnacle era where the American Empire is in decline, proven by prolific mass shootings, a third world war raging, and the economy teetering on total collapse. Stephanie must face all the harrowing events falling down upon her and her family, and loss of connection with each other.                                    

The monks’ search takes them to Fairview, Virginia, Stephanie’s home town. Stephanie encounters the monks at her church in the midst of a world gone mad. She discovers why they’ve come and shares their interests. The relics may be their only hope in saving themselves and the broken world.                                    

Stay tuned!

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