Book Covers: Room by Joe Knetter

This is a recurring series about books I have read by people I have met.

I have written several times about Joe Knetter and Sarah French.  They are two of my favorite people and favorite interview subjects.  They are talented, interesting and fun.  I like to call them the first couple of horror.
Joe was kind enough to send me a copy of his latest book "Room" over the holidays.  I did not promise him any review, nor did he ask for one.  I am just putting that out there to further illustrate that this review was totally unsolicited and is just me presenting an interesting book to anyone reading this.
"Room" is not Joe's first book, but it is the first one of his I have read.  It will not be the last.  As a matter of fact, I already contacted Joe to tell him I would be purchasing his other books at the next convention when I see him.
I had no real idea what to expect when I started reading "Room."  It is always tricky discussing a book written by someone I know.  I guess if I didn't like it, I would just avoid writing anything about it.
Fortunately, I absolutely enjoyed "Room."  It is a collection of eight short stories, all filled with violence, gore, horror and other things to keep you reading and to keep you up at night.  The stories are not connected, except by basic genre.  Each one is fresh and different.  There is no predictable pattern to the stories.  While I sensed a couple of the endings, I was also way wrong on most of them.  While the stories are not predictable, they do make sense.  The endings do not come from left field (unless there is a solid reason).
What I am trying to say is that Joe has a winner here.  The stories grab your attention and hold it throughout. It is realistic horror fiction.  I enjoyed each story and was not disappointed with any part of the book.
"Room" gets an "A" from me, as I wrote in my review on Amazon.  You can learn more about Joe Knetter, "Room" and his other books at JoeKnetter.com.  You can also see him at many conventions across the country.  If you get his book, tell him Johngy sent you.  Just be warned.  Do not ask him about his infamous tattoo!

Joe Knetter, me and Sarah French in Schaumburg, IL-November 2012.

Book Covers:Will Lavender & Obedience-Part 2

Yesterday, I posted the first part of my Q&A with first-time author Will Lavender. Lavender's Obedience is a fast-paced labyrinth of a book. Reality is the key and is often questioned. One thing that is not questioned is that the book is a major success and one of my favorites.
I wondered if Lavender considered other endings for Obedience?
Yes. Obedience was going to be a straightforward thriller, where the events occurred, just as the mysterious professor claims they did. However, as I got into the novel and began how trippy and borderline surreal it was, I knew I had to fit the ending on accordingly. It has been a bit controversial; some people hate it, others love it. What I really wanted to do was write an ending that would be memorable. I love the mystery/thriller genre, but I am not fond of a lot of endings. Even my favorite novels have endings that just sort of happen: "The killer was this guy...no it was this guy! The end." I wanted to go all out and try to tie everything together in a way that would make the reader feel something--even if it was fury. I think I did that. At least I hope I did.
Finally, I had to ask for a hint about Dominance, Lavender's second and forthcoming novel. Dominance is the story of an unusual literature course and the search for a reclusive novelist. While watching one of my favorite television shows--Forensic Files--one night, I began to think about the set-up of my next novel. I thought about a college course taught by a convicted murderer. The murder would have to be brilliant, and of course the class would have to be taught via satellite. I wondered what this murderer would do if given the chance to teach the class, what lengths would he go to to talk about himself and his crimes. Of course, the class is not what it seems, nor is the brilliant professor...and the students themselves find that they are not really taking a literature class at all but are attempting to solves a decades-old murder by decoding clues their professor gives them.
I really appreciate Will Lavender taking time to answer my questions. I encourage everyone to check out Lavender's site and definitely read Obedience!