David Niall Wilson

The thing I love about horror stories is how they can creep me out and get my mind racing in a million different directions trying to figure out what’s happening. When I close the book, I can return to my relatively calm, peaceful life. But I can’t with this new novella, When You Leave I Disappear, by David Niall Wilson, because this horror story won’t leave my head!

Bestselling author Andrea Simmons is tired of writing her popular series about an investigative journalist in the genre show more of romantic suspense. Her partner, Jen, encourages her to explore alternatives to ignite her creativity. Andrea performs a Google Search for ‘writing prompts,’ and what she finds is life-altering.

This novella is outstanding in the realm of creativity. I knew very little when I started reading, and I quickly learned that I had no idea what was going to happen next as I turned each page. I’ve never read a story structured like this one. The overall novella has a story, and within it are short stories. I had to give up trying to figure out what was happening and just enjoy the ride. I’m impressed with how well everything in the story worked. A lot of people assume that the horror genre is gory. This novella is scary, freaky, and suspenseful, but it’s not gory. It’s a perfect read as we enter the spooky reading season.

I am grateful to David Niall Wilson, who gave me the opportunity to read and review this new novella. I hope others enjoy it as much as I have.

I have photos and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog show less

I have read a number of books based on roleplaying games in the past, starting with the (in)famous Dragonlance Chronicles. As a credulous gradeschool child, I thought they were great books, but when I got older I quickly realized my standards had not been well-formed at the time. I ultimately came to the conclusion, through the experience of reading many more books based on roleplaying games (and movies), that all these books were essentially just "professional fanfic" -- unexciting show more contrivances focused on the superficial qualities of their contexts, betraying the quality of the source materials when there was any to betray, leaving the reader thinking they're actually good if they rise to the pathetic level of "not as awful as most professional fanfic". This book was the first I have read that challenged that notion.

David Niall Wilson managed to make an unrepentant and ruthless egotist, afflicted by a deep-seated obsession with an overriding goal, into a compelling antihero that somehow managed to make me into a believer in his self-assigned mission, urging him on to victory after reprehensible victory against incredible odds. Wilson conveyed the compulsion of the main character so vibrantly that the reader, for a time, might share it with the heartless bloodsucker who drove the plot. This, at the heart of it, might be the real genius of Wilson's "The Grail's Covenant" trilogy: the exceedingly rare, brilliantly executed example of how a forceful personality on the printed page can drive the plot so monomaniacally that there is no room for things to just happen to him the way they do in more passive-aggressive writing such as is found in pop-fiction like the Harry Potter series. The author's talent for often succinct, never laboriously long, always evocative description adds great weight to the positive experience of reading this book, as well.

As the opening salvo in a new series, To Sift Through Bitter Ashes was truly remarkable, and even more so when one considers this was accomplished within the constraints of a "professional fanfic" genre. show less

First, I must say that if you're looking for a purely Lovecraftian collection, this may not be the book for you, despite the subtitle. If you're in the mood for a good, solid collection of weird/horror tales, a handful of which are very Lovecraftian but certainly not all, then I highly recommend this book.

The first story struck me as rather slight, but, after that, I was treated to some top-notch horror stories. As with all collections, there are some tales that I liked better than others. show more However, since I enjoyed 12 out of the 13 tales, it's somewhat difficult to pick favorites. If I had to choose three particularly standout stories, they would be:

"Death Did Not Become Him" : Wilson collaborated with Patricia Macomber to produce this excellent Sherlock Holmes/Lovecraft Mythos mashup. It's a very unsettling tale and great for fans of Holmes and Lovecraft. Of particular interest is the fact that Watson is Holmes' client in this one.

"Cockroach Suckers": This amusing and eerie story is a joy to read. A fruit stand owner is approached by his best buddy, who suggests a plan to bring in more business, with decidedly unsettling results.

"The Call of Distant Shores": This story is, unquestionably, a masterpiece and the best in the book. It's a melancholy and disturbing tale about the nature of memory, and going home again, and dealing with loss. An absolute knockout. show less

Review copy

If you're a news junky, or if you have had any exposure to the headlines over the last few months, you've likely heard Kelly Anne Conway cite a nonexistent “Bowling Green massacre” to justify President Trump's travel ban. or Donald Trump implying Frederick Douglass was alive, and of course the infamous 'alternative facts" comment. Well mix them all together, change the names to protect the guilty and you get Remember Bowling Green: The Adventures of Frederick Douglass - Time show more Traveler (An Alternative History Novel Book 1).

Ronald Krump, has come to Bowling Green, Kentucky and he says he's there to "make Bowling Green Awesome." His right-hand man, Race Scanlan, is there to do his dirty work and blame it all on the outsiders whose presence is the result of the community's "Sanctuary City" status. Throw in Barbie Conroy to throw a spin on what's going on and I'm sure you have a good idea of where this is going.

There are elements of Remembering Bowling Green which remind me of Bill and Ted's Excellent adventure as Frederick Douglass and Walt (who has done his fair share of drugs) travel through time trying to stop Krump.

Remembering Bowling Green is no literary masterpiece, but it's not meant to be. But, it does poke fun at our 45th President with a rip-roaring story of greed, corruption, and let's not forget a time traveling Frederick Douglass. And there is actually a modicum of truth mixed into this farcical tale. BTW, 80% of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the ACLU.

Needless to say, this book may not be for everyone, particularly if you are a Trump supporter, but seeing how there are fewer of those every day that shouldn't impact sales.

Recommended.

Remember Bowling Green: The Adventures of Frederick Douglass - Time Traveler (An Alternative History Novel Book 1) is published by Crossroad Press and is available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats. And don't forget, 80% of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the ACLU.

From the authors' bio...

David Nialls Wilson was born in a very small town in Illinois. David lives in a nice, new house now where everything mostly works, He's married to his co-author, Patricia Lee Macomber, and have three boys and two girls. He's sold a small pile of novels and published over 150 short stories. David is the recipient of the Bram Stoker Award for poetry, which he shares with co-authors Mark McLaughlin and Rain Graves, and a second Stoker for his short story "The Gentle Brush of Wings." He's been President of the Horror Writer's Association, and is an active member of both SFWA and the newer International Thriller Writer's Association.

Patricia Lee Macomber is the former editor-in-chief of ChiZine. She has been published in "Cemetery Dance" magazine and such anthologies as Shadows Over Baker Street, Little Red Riding Hood In the Big Bad City, and Dark Arts. Along with her husband, David Niall Wilson, she has written An Unkindness of Ravens and Stargate Atlantis: Brimstone. Her first solo release, Zombie A Love Story is now available. Currently, she lives in North Carolina with her husband, David, and their children. show less