Afterglow for the afterlife, a review

I boasted about my first review for Above Haldis Notch in my recent newsletter, but in case you don't subscribe, I'm boasting here too. It comes from Janet K. Brennan, publisher, author, and international book critic. Yes!

When Janet agreed to read and review my novel, she cautioned that she's always truthful in her reviews. If the novel doesn't glow, neither will the review. That frankness is what makes a reviewer credible, but it can make an authors nervous. Thankfully, I didn't have to be nervous long. Janet completed Above Haldis Notch quickly, and her review of my afterlife thriller not only glows, it leaves me with an afterglow.

If you love science fiction thrillers, and who doesn't, you are going to love Keith Pyeatt's "Above Haldis Notch." Set in a strange, rural Vermont village, author Pyeatt's characters come to life from the very first page to the last. A New England girl myself, I kept looking for those wonderful little colloquialisms that New Englanders are born knowing from the cradle to the grave, and I was not disappointed.

Pyeatt's "Horror with a Heart" thriller has all of the essentials of a brilliant, spine chilling mystery story that kept me turning the pages waiting for a hint as to how this saga was going to end. As in all good mysteries, the author shadows the villain, leaving drops of bread crumbs along the way to the ending of the book. He also dances through some deeply spiritual questions concerning life after death without the macabre as a partner. I found myself taking his warm and believable family, Grandmother Ady, their faithful dog, Sled as well as their quirky neighbors to bed with me each night.

Jenna, Pyeatt's protagonist, is a titillating and believable character, a welcomed breath of fresh air compared to so many of the other characters in spiritual/horror novels I have read. I also appreciated the fact that in this fright - bending story, once the "monster" is revealed, author Pyeatt clearly demonstrates just how hopelessly evil the antagonist is, and this reader's hope that redemption will not be part of the plot.

Keith Pyeatt writes not only in Technicolor but in 3D. Can I look forward a sequel?

The review is posted, along with some of Janet K. Brennan's other reviews, on her JB Stillwater website.

And the winner is...

My flash fiction offering/poll/contest/challenge is over, and I announced the contest winner and the poll results in today's Horror with Heart Newsletter #10.1 - The Valentine Addendum. This was a lot of fun for me and, I hope, for my subscribers. Thanks to all who entered or took interest. If you're curious, CLICK HERE to view the online version of today's addendum.

And Happy Valentine's Day!

My flash fiction / contest / newsletter extravaganza!

I had loads of fun writing my Horror with Heart Newsletter #10, the "Daeva's Turn" issue. I started by writing a flash fiction Valentine story, Horror with Heart style. Then I wrote four alternate endings, turned it into a poll, a challenge, and a contest to win one of my ebooks. I'm also sharing some exciting news about my next Horror with Heart novel.

So if you're in the mood for a little flash fiction and fun, and you don't already subscribe to my newsletter, I invite you to view "Daeva's Turn" online by CLICKING HERE.

If you want to enter the contest to win a free ebook, you need to be a Horror with Heart Newsletter subscriber. It's easy to become one and even easier to unsubscribe if you change your mind later (there's an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every newsletter). Find the gold box to the right under the "HWH Newsletter" heading, enter your email address and your name, and click submit.