VBT: Chasing the Dragon

 

GENRE: Vigilante Crime Thriller/Horror

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BLURB:

A town on its knees, dread's bony fingers wrapping around its throat and squeezing, death

rattles soon to follow.

Drugs, filth, and a lack of human decency are starving it of hope.

Introducing Simon Dooley, our trauma-driven wannabe superhero, the relentless voice of his

dead mother pleading with him to "end the chaos." Dressed in a leotard and armed only with a

dozen dog poop bags, Simon's plight will find him falling in love and going head to head with the

seediest characters walking the streets.

The town needed a hero... it got Reformo.

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 EXCERPT

“This doesn’t have to happen.” I hold my hands out, declaring myself weapon-free. “You could

turn your life around. We could unite, start teaching kids about the harmful effects of drugs and

clean up these streets. What do you say?”

“Look, I don’t know who the fuck you are, Mister, but I see you ain’t right in the head. But mental

or not, you can’t come on my patch and expect not to get shanked.”

Moonlight falls across his face, picking up the few hairs across his lip. Jesus Christ, how old is

he? “It’s not too late,” I say. “This town can be good again. We could start a youth centre. Get

funding from the council and buy a table tennis table.”

“You’re off your rocker, mate.” He tosses the knife between his hands, finishing with an

impressive spin. “That might keep you happy down at the local funny farm, but folks can see

angels with the stuff I sell.”

“I just want some order.”

“Well, you’re in the wrong place, mate.” He stares me down, flexing his jaw muscles. “Now, you

have two options here: run like the wind, or have that lovely leotard cut to shreds.”

“It’s not a leotard.”

This time, I move first, feigning to the left but attacking from the right. Bum Fluff tries to alter

course, but it’s too late, the knife cutting through the air, the blade missing my side by nothing

more than an inch. We come together, the flurry of hairs on his lip dancing on the breeze.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

* Did you use any of your own experience as inspiration?

Haha. Yes. It’s me on the pages of this book: the same upbringing as Simon, the same claustrophobic

and uncomfortable environment, all dictated by my iron-fisted mother. If I left crumbs on the counter or a

cup next to the sink without washing it, my life would not be worth living. And God forbid if someone

parked outside our house or started playing loud music. In those cases, the day, possibly week, would be

ruined. My mother even uttered the words, "When will the chaos end?" at one point, thus the multiple

references in the story. The Reformo connection is all about the fantasy world I often escaped to. Writing

this was incredibly cathartic and therapeutic.

* On average, how long does the writing process take?

.

I’ve written 185 short stories, 15 novellas, and two novels. A short story can take anywhere from a week

to three weeks. Novellas usually take me a solid two to three months. Novels edge into the five to six-

month territory.

* When did you realize you wanted a career in writing?

I was a late starter. I’m 50 now and have been writing for a little over five years. As an eighties kid, the

arts were pretty much frowned upon, so I took what I thought was the safe route, graduating with a

degree in mathematics. I then spent much of my adult life working a job I hated, drinking most nights to

numb myself. Much like Simon’s mother’s voice, the words of my old English teacher often haunted me

when the lights went out. “You should pursue this. You have real potential.” I think my wife got sick of me

bringing it up in conversation and, in no unpleasant terms, told me to get my finger out and write

something. The rest is history. As soon as I stepped foot in magic world, I knew there was no return.

* If you weren't an author, what other career paths would you have taken?

Unfortunately, I’m not a full-time author. I work for a family-owned lifestyle magazine these days. To be

fair, it’s a pretty good job. They frequently let me loose on articles and editorials. It’s not magic world,

though.

I have no idea about other career paths. These days, I only want to write.

.* Out of the characters that you created, who is your favorite?

It's a tough one to call. I love Reformo, and I think readers will, too. He's flawed and trying his best, just

like the rest of us. I'm also a big fan of Nana, my debut novella and a risky foray into the world of old-

people horror. Nana loves her family and would do anything to protect it. Anything. That project excited

me as I wanted to dig beneath the watery peepers and gummy smiles of old people. They all look so

innocent and precious, but we know appearances can be deceptive. And everyone has skeletons in the

closet.

* What advice would you give to someone looking to be a writer?

Practice. A lot. Lock yourself in a room and get rid of the bile. My first stories were awful, but after three

decades of doing nothing creative, that's hardly surprising. You'll also be a product of influences. That's

okay, but you must find your voice. The only way to do that is to write your heart out and dig deep. And

write for fun, not to tick boxes. The rest will follow. And don't listen to too much advice; it can be

overwhelming and stifling. Jeez, I could talk for days on this subject.

* What kind of research (if any) was required for any of your books?

Minimal. I don't write historical fiction; I write horror and generally deal with the unknown. My research is

the places I've been, the people I've interacted with, the smells in the air that carry a nostalgic sucker

punch.

*How long after you finish a book do you start another one?

Previously, it’s been no more than four weeks. My next gap will be considerably longer.

Website

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GIVEAWAY 

The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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