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Simon's Phantom Blog

Simon's Phantom Blog

I love to write paranormal fantasy novels and also review other authors' books, help promote and become lifelong friends. 

Reblogged
Phantom Bigfoot's Editing Tips

Good morning all Booklikers. Today I'm going to discuss the dreaded POV. Due to certain limited POV novels published over the last 20 or so years, us poor Indies have been forced by editors to limit our POVs to 1 per chapter. This rule is so debilitating and quite honestly no longer the norm. The big authors never stick to it, so why should we? I stick to 1 simple rule -  don't mix POV. Can't get more simple than that. So write multiple POVs in a chapter, so long as they are identifiable.

 

Do not mix POV even if writing omniscient POV ie She stepped out of the house and searched up and down the street for him. She couldn’t see him hiding behind a tree across the street. He watched her with murderous intent. A - never write what a person can’t see and B He is another POV which should be another paragraph. When in a character POV do not input another character’s thoughts until you come out of that first POV. Separate with a new paragraph by introducing the new character in action first then dialog and thoughts.

Reblogged from Simon's Phantom Blog
Phantom Bigfoot's Editing Tips

Good morning all Booklikers. Today I'm going to discuss the dreaded POV. Due to certain limited POV novels published over the last 20 or so years, us poor Indies have been forced by editors to limit our POVs to 1 per chapter. This rule is so debilitating and quite honestly no longer the norm. The big authors never stick to it, so why should we? I stick to 1 simple rule -  don't mix POV. Can't get more simple than that. So write multiple POVs in a chapter, so long as they are identifiable.

 

Do not mix POV even if writing omniscient POV ie She stepped out of the house and searched up and down the street for him. She couldn’t see him hiding behind a tree across the street. He watched her with murderous intent. A - never write what a person can’t see and B He is another POV which should be another paragraph. When in a character POV do not input another character’s thoughts until you come out of that first POV. Separate with a new paragraph by introducing the new character in action first then dialog and thoughts.

Reblogged
10 Ways to get more eyeballs on your posts

10 ways to get more eyeballs on your posts

Reblogged from Lisa's Book Corner
Quote
Murder Most Deadly - Simon Okill
"Did he detect a hint of blackmail? Yeah, she was trying to blackmail him into really marrying her. One thing he detested was a blackmailer, unless he was the one doing the blackmailing".
Review Reblogged
5 Stars
A small book that hides a big secret
The Manuscript I The Secret - Blanca Miosi, Norma Beredjiklian

 

As a writer, a book titled ‘The Manuscript’ will always be intriguing to me, and Blanca Miosi’s book did not disappoint me. From the very beginning you are thrown in at the deep end and have many questions that make you keep reading.

The writer protagonist of the book, Nicholas, is having trouble writing. And right in cue, a strange man gives him a magical manuscript of sorts. It is unclear what the magic is, but Nicholas becomes fascinated by the content of the manuscript to the point that he has to go and pursue the story, no matter at what cost.

The novel flows well, and the changes in point of view narration add layers of complexity to the book, and make us feel closer to the characters, a complex array of people, from all walks of life and different corners of the world. Business corporations, Mafia, Colombia cartels, Nazi concentration camps’ experiments, writers block, love triangles, genetics…all have a part to play in this novel that’s deceptively simple. Fictional situations mix with well-known historical characters and create a compelling narrative that will leave you wanting more.

I’ve read many books and one can’t help but guess what will come next. Believe me, I tried, but the book kept going in unexpected directions.

Well-paced, with a great story, likeable main characters and some fantastic minor ones, a great dose of intrigue (and some magic) it is not surprising it was a best-seller in its Spanish version. I’d be surprised if the English version doesn’t do even better.

Reblogged from Just Olga and her books
Review Reblogged
5 Stars
Excellent
Murder Most Deadly - Simon Okill

"Murder Most Deadly" by Simon Okill is a fun-filled horror story that will have you in stitches. Just like the publicity for this story promises, there is a distinct hint of Hammer Horror in this, although better plotting and characters that are a little more evolved than Hammer occasionally delivered.
Set in Cornwall, which has its own history of ghosts and spook, the story centers around the Bianca and her boyfriend, failed Magician Maldini, who soon turns into an enemy. This murderous and thrilling mayhem will scare you as well as it entertains and keeps you at the edge of your seat. Okill has a unique talent for combining hilarious fun with darker elements and proves that genre crossing can work.
A truly great read and a must for fans of hammer, horror and dark comedies.

Reblogged from christophffischer
Review
5 Stars
Murder Most Deadly
Murder Most Deadly - Simon Okill

Murder Most Deadly is a horror comedy in the style of such classics as Carry On, Monty Python, Blackadder all wrapped in Hammer House. So if you are looking for a raunchy read full of jaw-dropping special effects and hideous humour then read on or better still download a copy. Each character has their voice so unique and written by themselves. They are earthy locals with the goods to match.
Bianca Penhale has kept her dark secret hidden from all her fans for far too long. The pressure valve finally blows releasing a chain of horror in her delightful Cornish fishing village. She has to use her dark side to fend off all manner of horror creatures not to mention vindictive ghosts and witch's spells.
This book does not take itself seriously and would make splash on your bookshelf, so expect to get messy. Very highly recommended for all lovers of horror fantasy.

Hello everyone at Booklikes from Simon Okill

Just introducing myself as an author reader reviewer editor proofreader and formatter. Wow, that was a load. Great to meet you all and I am looking forward to having fun here. Hope you all friend me and become one happy family. Have a great day everyone.

http://simonokill.booklikes.com

Quote
"Nobody knows anything" said William Goldman
Review
5 Stars
Shadow Born
Shadow Born - Kyra Dune
Shadow Born (Time of Shadows #1) by Kyra Dune is an enchanting fantasy of castles, kings and intrigue in the royal court. Mix that with a hero destined to do the Gods' bidding and you have a sure fire winner and this certainly fits the bill.
The king of Phalindros has the kingdom thrust upon him due to both his older brothers having died. He is a reluctant royal and therefore unsuited to the role. His mother is domineering. His wife is an ice maiden and nothing else seems to help him. But there is something dark out there, something that frightens him.
Clayden is the chosen one who can relate to the Gods. They warn him of a terrible war on the horizon, a war that would devastate the land and all who live upon it. He must summon the courage to deal with the Gods and help the king prepare for what seems inevitable.
The narrative is in keeping with the setting of a fantasy kingdom and the characters are well fleshed out and engaging all the way to the goosebump ending.
FIVE STARS for this fantasy and very highly recommended.
Review
5 Stars
Frozen Time: Series One
Frozen Time: Series One - Peter  and  Pattimari Cacciolfi
Frozen Time (Series One) by Pattimari Sheets Cacciolfi is an ingenious teen thriller come scifi action adventure. It has everything - digs in Egypt that reminded me of Raiders - ancient artefact with strange powers like Stargate - and most of all, sheer energy to enthral the reader with this book's unique premise. The characters are all believable and well fleshed out and develop as the story evolves from adventure to vigilantism to addiction with power.
Teenager Timmy finds a strange orb with a set of buttons. He keeps it from his mother and father and discovers he can stop time with a press of a button. This comes in handy when he witnesses horrific crimes, stops time an saves the victims. But with every press of a button, Timmy slowly changes from awestruck teenager to ruthless vigilante and so slides down the slippery slope into hell.
The author uses everything at her disposal to describe the orb effect the psychology and makeup, unrelenting need, unquenchable thirst for power and sadly money. I will stop time here before I open up a Pandora's Box of spoilers.
Suffice to say this thrilling scifi adventure is a must read and very highly recommended.
Review
5 Stars
Red Light
Red Light - Graham Masterton
Red Light by Graham Masterton is a masterfully written gorefest detective thriller the likes of which not even this reader could have imagined. The attention to detail, brilliantly described characters, the noir feel in grimy wet streets, sex trafficking, all add up to an explosion to the senses. And the author knows how to use all us readers' senses so be warned there are some stomach-churning murder scenes that took my breath away, I had to close my mouth to stop the flies buzzing in and pinch my nose on several occasions.
Our heroine, Katy Maguire, is back to investigate a brutal execution-style murder in the red light district (squeamish close your eyes), but she is left with a dilemma - so what if someone is cleaning her streets of sex-trafficking scum? Let them sweep the city of its filth. But the killings don't stop as The Avenging Angel continues and it's here that Graham excels by letting the reader inside a vigilante's head and make us understand why. Relentless, unforgiving, brutal, sadistic to the extreme and yet the author makes us feel for the avenger and even agree with the motives.
This novel is brilliant beyond comparison with any other serial killer thriller and a must rad for all fans of slick, grimy crime thrillers with a hard edge.
Review
5 Stars
Chaos Is Come Again
Chaos Is Come Again - John Dolan, Fiona  Quinn
Chaos Is Come Again by John Dolan & Fiona Quinn is like no other book I have read. They say two minds are better than one and this book goes way beyond that. Both authors are superb and have combined to create this masterpiece of adult romance/drama with lashings of humour and murder mystery.
The characters are suitably quirky with more problems than Kafka and Dostoyevsky combined. Each character is so richly interwoven into the insane plot that this reader could not wait to get back to them when another character took over.
We have Sean who hears voices in his head, telling him to do all sorts of weird stuff.
Travis is a coke addicted author with a hate-mail list longer than the Eiffel Tower.
His agent is the downtrodden Avery with a sick mother and is having an addictive echat with Sean.
Teagan is so delightfully deranged in her sexual pursuit of Sean who wants none of it, so say the voices in his head.
And then we have Goose, Sean's co-worker at a coffee shop who reckons he can catch a serial killer named Angel.
Stir the pot slowly then bring to the boil and watch the mayhem and mirth froth over the rim and scald your privates.
FIVE STARS for this adult drama like no other and destined to become a bestseller worldwide - oh so highly recommended.
Review
5 Stars
Prince Lestat
Prince Lestat - Anne Rice
Prince Lestat by Anne Rice took my breath away and I want it back, please, Anne Rice. Okay I’m a vampire lover and drink these books like blood wine, but never in my wildest dreams or nightmares did I expect the author to concoct such a heady blood cocktail as this novel. Now I want more! It is so good I am re-reading the previous instalments to catch those lesser characters so prominently used in this hopefully not final chapter. The author has excelled to the point this reader is smitten with Anne Rice’s luxurious writing style that uses poetic phrases one chapter then short sharp shock treatment when the action clicks into overdrive. A true master craftsman at work here.

The story is truly global and wonderfully historic, encompassing all the rich textures and tastes of far off lands, bringing a sense of romance where none exists. The author creates a mystery - The Voice - a somewhat sinister and insidious invasion into vampires’ minds. The Voice tells the older vampires to go on a witch-finder general spree to burn alive all the younger bloodsuckers. These scenes are fearsome and there is gallons of gore to satisfy all those bloodthirsty vamp fans out there. Where is the Voice coming from? What is its ultimate purpose? Here lies the mystery of the novel.

And the star of the show is Lestat who gets to show every emotion imaginable, compassion, forgiveness which might make him weak by vampire standards but actually increases his strength of character. There are plenty of opportunities for Lestat to show his true vampire self, the brutality, cruelty with such a ruthless glee for blood. This makes him superior above all his peers. This also makes Prince Lestat a superior vampire novel in every way.

This reader would like to thank Anne Rice for giving the genre new life with such dexterity of penmanship. I am so in love with vampire novels of this calibre and was hooked the moment this series was born back in the seventies. In fact, Anne Rice inspired me to write my own vampire series and forevermore I am grateful for such a fine author. Let the blood flow.
Review
5 Stars
My Deja Vu Lover
My Deja Vu Lover - Phoebe Matthews
My Deja Vu Lover by Phoebe Matthews is a refreshing change to the usual paranormal romance that this reader found enthralling, delightful, captivating and so well-written.
April has recurring flashbacks to previous lifetimes where she falls in love then loses him to tragedy. She feels doomed never to love again until she meets HIM in her now lifetime. Can she hold onto her dream lover or will, as her previous attempts show, she lose him yet again.
The author manages a balance between what is real and what might have been real with consummate skill. Well done Phoebe Matthews for injecting much-needed originality into a popular genre drowned in creature sex.
5Stars and a must read for all paranormal romance fans. Highly recommended.
Review
5 Stars
A Suitcase Mystery
A Suitcase Mystery - Ned Stevens, Steven Nedelton
A Suitcase Mystery by Ned Stevens is a Cold War espionage thriller that rattles along at a good rate of knots. The story starts in Latvia as WWII is closing down. Russians invade and take over where the Germans left off in much the same style. Young Ben investigates the local coal mine now used to store gold and other precious items stolen by the new invaders. Although he is caught, he manages to wheedle his way out with a suitcase.
The reader is propelled to the early sixties when Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton is released. Ben grows up and becomes a boxer. His poverty days have been left behind, but that suitcase comes back to haunt him. Secret agents want what is inside that case, something that looks harmless but is in fact a time bomb of information, and the clock has run its course.
Ben's family suffer greatly as a result of this much coveted item. Spies pop out of the woodwork and do what spies do best. Now the FBI get involved in this complicate case full of twists to satisfy all spy novel enthusiasts.
5 Stars and highly recommended.