Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "maria-haskins"

Odin's Eye by Maria Haskins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was captivated by the cover of this book and when I read about the author's inspiration for the title and cover on her blog I was intrigued. Maria Haskins' writing definitely fits into the literary fiction genre. These are stories that are to be savoured. There is a depth to the tales that can only be fully appreciated by taking time to really read and digest every sentence, every nuance. Each sentence is skillfully crafted.

One of this writer's strengths is that she is able to describe something so succinctly and with such precision that everything she writes becomes a picture in the mind of the reader. Her stories show a deep understanding of the human condition.

All the stories are science fiction and are set in the near or distant future. They are set on different planets, different worlds. The characters are so well depicted and seem like real people telling their tale. We see things through their eyes, we feel their fear and sense their concerns.

These twelve stories will make you think about what could happen if science became so advanced that we were able to travel easily through time and space.

All of the stories transported me to different times and strange new worlds and each one contains insightful observations about life and people. The stand out story for me was 'Lost and Found', a tale about an astronaut, who is the only survivor after a crash, waiting to be rescued. That one is just perfect, in my opinion. It would make a great movie or short film.

Other favourites include 'Bethel', an expertly crafted story about the prisons of the future and what they might be like; 'Life Line' that will make you think about the concept of reality and what it actually is; and 'The Child', a very interesting tale about choices and the repercussions.

All the stories are brilliant and I'm glad to have discovered such a talented writer.

Take a trip into the future with these twelve short stories. You won't be disappointed.



View all my reviews

It's already June. Oh well, they say time flies when you're having fun, so I must have been having a lot of fun :)

I thought I would take the opportunity for a mid-year look back at some of my favourite reads of 2015.

In no particular order, here are a few I'd recommend if you're currently searching for your next read.



Eli's Coming by Darcia Helle

Excerpt from my review: "...a supernatural thriller with elements of fantasy and suspense. [...] When we meet Eli he is at a kind of crossroads in his life because he has found love but there is a dark secret that he is keeping and something that could threaten his new love and also his own life. The secret is slowly and steadily revealed as the story unfolds and his past comes back to find him.

I really enjoyed Eli's Coming. The dark fantasy element is fascinating. I'm pleased that this is the first in the series and am looking forward to the next book!"

Amazon links:

US: http://www.amazon.com/Elis-Coming-Cha...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elis-Coming-C...




Living the Dream by Tim Baker

Excerpt from my review: "This book had me hooked from the start and kept me interested throughout. It's a fun and fast-paced read with lots of surprising twists and turns. [...] The book revolves around a series of strange recurring dreams that many of the characters have been having. [...] It's a complex tale involving many different characters and the author did a fantastic job with it. This would make a great movie!"

Amazon links:

US: http://www.amazon.com/Living-Dream-Ti...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Dream-...







Easy Target by Jenny Hilborne

Excerpt from my review: "This is book two in a series, but I had not read book one and still enjoyed it immensely. I like the fast-paced style of the author's writing. [...] In this novel, Lucinda Fitchett or "Fitch" as she is known, has no recollection of events one evening after waking up in her own flat not sure how she got there after a night out. She has a very troubled past and is wary when contacted by someone who says he knows what happened to her. Fitch is determined to find out the truth [...] an action packed crime thriller that will keep you guessing until the end."

Amazon links:

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Target-I...
US: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Target-Ins...





Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity Missive One

Excerpt from my review: "First in a series, in this 'weird' story, we're introduced to Henry Darling and follow him on his first adventure. [...] It kept me hooked from the start and it's wonderfully imaginative. Henry has been through an experience that changed him and now he collects oddities. His wife and his unlikely friend Brett are his companions and helpers. This is a truly unique story from a talented writer. [...] If you haven't read any of this author's work, 'Weird' would be a great place to start."

Amazon links:

US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...





The Cestus Concern by Mat Nastos

Excerpt from my review: "This is a fantastic book. It kept me hooked from the start. I loved the humourous interaction between Mal and his best friend Zuz.

Mal wakes up to find he's a cyborg and has no memory of the past 11 months of his life. In his quest to find out the truth he has to battle many government agents and man-made adversaries. It's a rollercoaster ride from page 1 with scene after scene of action packed adventure."

Amazon links:

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Cestus-Co...
US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Cestus-Conc...





Dreams of a Calico Mouse: The Poems of Dorien Grey

Excerpt from my review: "Dorien Grey's "Dreams of a Calico Mouse" is the perfect example of the type of modern poetry that I enjoy. It's almost storytelling but in verse, and it contains heartfelt messages. The themes in this collection include: love, old age, regret, and dreams. A couple of the poems made me chuckle, and then there were a couple of them that nearly made me cry. All of them kept me interested and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. This is an accomplished collection of all types of poetry including some haiku."

Amazon links:

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J...




Odin's Eye

Excerpt from my review: "Maria Haskins' writing definitely fits into the literary fiction genre. These are stories that are to be savoured. There is a depth to the tales that can only be fully appreciated by taking time to really read and digest every sentence, every nuance. Each sentence is skillfully crafted. [...] All the stories are science fiction and are set in the near or distant future. They are set on different planets, different worlds. The characters are so well depicted and seem like real people telling their tale. We see things through their eyes, we feel their fear and sense their concerns. [...] The stand out story for me was 'Lost and Found', a tale about an astronaut, who is the only survivor after a crash, waiting to be rescued. That one is just perfect, in my opinion. It would make a great movie or short film."

Amazon links:

US: http://www.amazon.com/Odins-Eye-Maria...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Odins-Eye-Mar...

I've discovered some talented authors this year and also read some new books by some of my favourite authors.

In no particular order, here are some of my favourite books from this year:
(they may not all have been published in 2015 but are books that I read this year)




Eli's Coming, by Darcia Helle

From one of my favourite authors, the first in a series. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elis-Coming-C...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Elis-Coming-Cha...



The Smell Of Paprika, by James Everington

I enjoyed the first four books in this series. It's a weird fantasy tale. There are strange characters and even stranger goings-on. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, and would definitely recommend the stories.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quarantined-C...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Quarantined-Cit...



Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity Missive One, by Julie Elizabeth Powell

Another series I have enjoyed this year. I'm looking forward to more "weird" stories about Henry Ian Darling :)

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Henry-D...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Weird-Henry-Dar...



The Cestus Concern, by Mat Nastos

Again, this is the first book in a series. I am looking forward to finding time to reading more by this author.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cestus-Concer...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Cestus-Concern-...



Living the Dream, by Tim Baker

I read the first two books from this series this year and enjoyed them. I have some other books by this author on my Kindle and am looking forward to reading more of his work.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Dream-...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Living-Dream-Ti...



Dreams of a Calico Mouse: The Poems of Dorien Grey

If you like poetry, I'd highly recommend this collection.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dreams-Calico...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Calico-M...



Those Pesky Rabbits, by Ciara Flood

If you're looking for a good book to read to children, this one's great. My nieces and nephew (age range 4 years - 8 years) absolutely love the book.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Those-Pesky-R...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Those-Pesky-Rab...



Odin's Eye, by Maria Haskins

This is one of the new authors I discovered this year. She also writes poetry and has a new collection which I'm reading at the moment. She's joining us for book 5 of the Mind's Eye series.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Odins-Eye-Mar...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Odins-Eye-Maria...



Daddy's Glove, by Thomma Lyn Grindstaff

I've read quite a few of Thomma Lyn Grindstaff short stories this year and enjoyed them all. This is another author that I've invited to join us for book 5 of the Mind's Eye series.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daddys-Glove-...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Daddys-Glove-Th...



Easy Target, by Jenny Hilborne

An engaging, suspenseful thriller. Although the second book in the series, I enjoyed reading it even though I haven't yet read the first one.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Target-J...

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Target-Jen...

------------------------------------

Those are my top picks of 2015.

I must also mention the two Mind's Eye series books that were released this year.
Triptychs and Tales From The Cacao Tree.








I contributed short stories to those anthologies. There are stories from many talented writers, including Darcia Helle , Julie Elizabeth Powell,Lisette Brodey, Eden Baylee, Jason McIntyre, and J. Michael Radcliffe. There are also poems from Ben Ditmars and Helle Gade. Well worth reading.

Triptychs:
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Triptychs-Min...
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Triptychs-Minds...

Tales From The Cacao Tree
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-From-Ca...
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Tales-From-Caca...

Lost And Found - A Short Story From Odin's Eye by Maria Haskins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


'Lost and Found' is a tale about an astronaut, who is the only survivor after a crash, waiting to be rescued. It would make a great movie or short film. It's full of suspense and Maria Haskins writes so eloquently. I read this story as part of her short story collection Odin's Eye. Lost and Found was one of the stand-out stories for me in that collection. This would be the perfect story to read as an introduction to Maria Haskins' work. If you like science fiction, you'll love this story, and even if you don't usually read science fiction I'd recommend this short story.



View all my reviews

Cuts & Collected Poems 1989 - 2015 by Maria Haskins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Cuts & Collected Poems is a collection of poetry by Maria Haskins. Two of the books in the collection were originally written and published in Swedish, and recently translated by the author into English. That feat in itself is exceptional. I found myself wondering how she managed to keep the meaning and emotion in the older poetry, but somehow she has done just that.

All of the poetry is extremely evocative and thought-provoking. I would find myself reading certain lines and actually seeing the action in my head, and then other lines would make me wonder what she meant by that, and this would lead to all sorts of interesting imagery. It's clear that the first book, Cuts—which is the author's most recent poetry book and the first one written in English—is a collection written by a seasoned poet. She is someone who can make the reader feel emotions by just changing the way she constructs a sentence. One of the poems, I can't remember which now, brought a tear to my eye.

The older poetry, written mostly when she was a teenager, is full of passion and angst. There is a lot of dark imagery and you can almost feel the turmoil of a young girl still trying to come to terms with certain emotions and feelings.

This strikes me as a very personal collection of poetry, and it seems almost as if the author uses poetry to untangle the thoughts in her mind and bring clarity.

Cuts & Collected Poems is well worth reading and will take you inside the author's mind. Reading these poems is like venturing into a new world where everything is not quite as it seems.



View all my reviews

Maria Haskins is a very talented writer and poet. She's also a translator. I met her online ages ago but didn't know she was a writer. Like me, she's mad about music and has a music blog Real Rock and Roll. I first came across her because of the music promotion she was doing. Then last year she published her collection of short stories Odin's Eye. It's a brilliant collection of science fiction short stories. I went on to read her poetry book, Cuts & Collected Poems 1989 - 2015, and now I'm a big fan of her work. Whether it's short stories or poetry, Maria is one of those writers who keeps the reader hooked from the first page. She's joined us for book five in the Mind's Eye series (to be published soon), and I currently blog with Maria and Darcia Helle on the Real Rock and Roll blog, and also the new sister-site, Soundwaves Review. Maria has become a good friend.


INTERVIEW WITH MARIA HASKINS



Hello, Maria! Thanks for visiting me here. Please introduce yourself.

I’m a writer and translator, born in Sweden but living in Canada since the early 1990s. My debut as a writer is lost in the prehistoric mists of time, but did happen in Sweden. Eventually I switched to writing in English, and these days I write mainly science fiction, fantasy and poetry.




Where does your inspiration come from?

Everywhere and nowhere. Sometimes a story starts with an opening line that just pops into my head, or with an idea like a “what if…”, or sometimes it starts with a character. It’s always different. Some of my best story ideas come to me when I’m walking the dog. Something about walking just seems to bring them out.


What 3 pieces of advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Read a lot. Both the classics, and new works by new writers. I know that gets said a lot, but it’s very true: writers need to be readers. Also: write a bit every day, or at least write with regularity. Inspiration often won’t come until you sit down, even if it feels like you’re just slogging through things at times. Finally: be open to learning and changing and improving: try new things, read new things, write things you maybe didn’t think you could write. If nothing else, you might have some fun and learn what doesn’t work for you.

Great advice.

Tell us about your latest book.

I’ve got short stories coming out in two new anthologies this year. Two of them are in the next Mind’s Eye series, which I am very excited about, and I also have a new short story in the anthology ‘Tales From Alternate Earths’ from Inklings Press. That last one is a new thing for me: alternate history with a definite science fiction flavor. It’s the first time I’ve done an alternate history story so that’s really exciting.



Last year I self-published two books. One is a collection of science fiction short stories called "Odin’s Eye". The other is a sort of poetry-anthology called "Cuts & Collected Poems 1989-2015" which was a very interesting project for me. It includes one new collection of poetry (the first one I’ve written in English rather than Swedish), and also translations of my three previously published Swedish collections of poetry.

Do you have a preferred writing space?

My desk. It’s a messy desk and sort of in the middle of the house, but it’s the place where I can concentrate the best. Recently I’ve also done some writing “on the move”, bringing a laptop with me when the kids have activities, and that’s been a lot of fun too. I can actually get writing done away from my desk, which is a new discovery for me.

LOL I used to be like that. When I first started writing, I only ever wrote while in bed, late at night, and for ages thought that was the only place I'd be able to write. But I've found that I can write pretty much anywhere nowadays.

What’s your favourite genre to read?

Fantasy and science fiction for sure, or more broadly what’s called “speculative fiction”. Those have been my favoured genres ever since I was a child.

What genre do you write in?

I write mainly science fiction and fantasy, often with a darker tone, and poetry.

Apart from writing, what are your favourite pastimes?

Reading is one favourite for sure. I also love hiking and walking in the woods, and I love cooking and eating! Travel is something I also love, though I don’t do as much of it now as when I was younger.

What’s your favourite book, and why is it your favourite?

That would have to be The Lord of the Rings, because that’s the book I’ve re-read the most times of any book, ever. I just love the depth of it: that sense of entering another world and wanting to stay there.

Which social media sites can you most often be found on?

I’m very active on Twitter and Facebook . I also have an Instagram account (@mariahaskins), though I’m not as active there. I also blog on my website: https://mariahaskins.wordpress.com/


If you could invite 3 writers (past or present) to dinner, who would you invite and what would you cook?

Oh my… choices, choices... I’d invite Ursula K. Le Guin because I love her writing SO much. Umberto Eco, because he was such an amazing writer and had so many interesting thoughts on literature and the world. And then I’d invite Kai Ashante Wilson: he is a newer writer and I love his work (‘The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps’, for example), but he is not active on social media so I’d love to just talk science fiction and fantasy with him. As for food, I’d make it a potluck barbecue with lots of good beer, wine, steaks, corn on the cob, prawns, salad, and fresh strawberries for dessert. And… now I’m hungry!

Ha, ha! Now I'm hungry too!

Thanks for answering my questions, Maria!

************************************

Author links:

Website/blog: https://mariahaskins.wordpress.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Maria-Haskins/e...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MariaHaskins
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariahaskins...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahaskins

August 9th is National Book Lovers Day.

To celebrate, I've picked 10 of my favourite books (by independent authors). I hope you will read at least one of them. If you do, and if you like the book/s, please think about leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon, or anywhere else. Reviews help authors. Without authors there would be no books and there would be no National Book Lovers Day.

So, for all you bibliophiles out there, here are some suggested reads.

1. Darcia Helle's - Eli's Coming



I could have picked any one of Darcia Helle's books. She's a very talented author and I'd recommend all her books. Eli's Coming is her latest novel. It's a supernatural thriller with elements of dark fantasy and suspense, full of thrills, humour, and believable characters.

2. The Guardian's Apprentice, by J. Michael Radcliffe.



I'm a big fan of J. Michael Radcliffe's books. He is a brilliant fantasy author. If you like dark fantasy, with dragons, other worlds, magic, etc. I'd highly recommend any of his books.

3. Living the Dream, by Tim Baker



I've read a few of Tim Baker's books and have enjoyed them all. He is a talented writer whose books are skillfully written, full of suspense, adventure, and humour. He's one of my favourite authors and I always know that when I pick up a Tim Baker book I'm going to enjoy it.

4. Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity Missive One, by Julie Elizabeth Powell



As with all the authors I've mentioned so far, I could have chosen any one of Julie Elizabeth Powell's books to recommend. She's a prolific writer who has a boundless imagination and always surprises me with her books. She's very inventive and creative with her writing, experimenting with all sorts of genres. "Weird" is her latest series of books, which is excellent.

5. Odin's Eye, by Maria Haskins



If you're a science fiction fan you'll love Maria Haskins' short story collection. Maria is a very talented author. She also writes poetry. With Maria's writing, I can always tell how much effort has gone into making sure every sentence says exactly the right thing, and her writing evokes imagery and emotion. It's a joy to read.

6. Nocturnal Embers, by Helle Gade



If you like poetry, you'll love Helle Gade's books. Her poetry is from the heart and full of passion. I'd recommend any one of her collections of poetry.


7. You Wish..., by Terry Tyler



Terry Tyler is another one of those talented authors who always produces quality fiction. Whenever I pick up one of her books, I know that I'll get lost in the story. "You Wish" was the first one of her books that I read and it made me a fan.

8. Crooked Moon, by Lisette Brodey



Again, I could have picked any one of Lisette Brodey's books. She is another author who likes to experiment with different styles and genres. I've enjoyed all of her books. "Crooked Moon" is a favourite of mine.

9. What Tim Knows, and other stories, by Wendy Janes



I recently discovered this author's writing and am glad I did. She writes beautifully, and this short story collection is full of realistic characters and true-to-life tales that will make you think.

10. Rock'n'Roll Suicide, By Geoffrey D. West



A great crime thriller. This book is the first in a series, and I would highly recommend the whole series. Geoffrey West also writes great short stories.

Please feel free to recommend any of your favourite books by independent authors, in the comments below :)

Tales From Alternate Earths by Daniel M Bensen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book. I've never read these types of stories before but one of my favourite authors, Maria Haskins, has a story featured in it so I was eager to read it.

I admit to being a bit confused when I read the first story, wondering whether this was a book about different types of worlds as the title suggests "Alternate Earths", but when I got to the end of the story and the author's note explained the idea behind it, I realised what a brilliant tale it was. Very cleverly written and thought-provoking.

All the stories in this collection will make you wonder. The authors have imagined what our world would have been like had certain things happened or not happened. For example, if a meteorite had landed in a different place.

As with all anthologies, it is a bit of a mixed bag and there were stories that I enjoyed more than others because of the writing style and content. My favourites included "Stargazing on Oxford Street", "The Secret War", and "Tunguska". All the stories are well worth reading and will appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction as well as speculative fiction.



View all my reviews

I'm pleased to announce that book 5 in the Mind's Eye series has just been published on Amazon Kindle!


Book description:

We are more than what we say
And less than what we wish

Living together, separately,
United by division

Connected, disconnected
Oh, People Are Strange

*12 Stories and 7 poems, inspired by 19 photographs*



I have contributed 2 new short stories to the anthology, "Sand and Water" and "Somewhere In Time".

These two stories are among the 'strangest' I have ever written, which I think goes well with the title "People Are Strange" :)

As with all the books in the series, all the stories and poems in the anthology were inspired by photographs.

The photos for People Are Strange were provided by Martin David Porter and Helle Gade. The photo for the front cover is by Kim Stapf and there is a poem inspired by that photo also in the collection.

The cover design is by Julie Elizabeth Powell.

Other short stories in People Are Strange were contributed by Darcia Helle, J. Michael Radcliffe, Julie Elizabeth Powell (whose names you'll recognise from books 1-4 of the series). Two new writers joined us for People Are Strange: Maria Haskins and Thomma Lyn Grindstaff. I invited them because I love their writing!

The poems in this collection are by Helle Gade and Ben Ditmars.

I've read this book and have to say I think it's one of the best that we've published so far in the series. There's something magical about it. There are so many interesting stories and thought-provoking poems.

Get your copy on Amazon:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01L...
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/...
Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B01L...
Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B01L...
Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B01L...
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01L...
Amazon NL: https://www.amazon.nl/gp/product/B01L...
Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B01L...
Amazon MX: https://www.amazon.com.mx/gp/product/...
Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B...
Amazon BR: https://www.amazon.com.br/gp/product/...

It's nearly Halloween, so maybe you're looking for some creepy fiction to read...

Here are some suggestions. All of them have some kind of paranormal/supernatural elements to the story, and all are very entertaining.

13, by Julie Elizabeth Powell



About the book:

What is found within the depths of the human soul? Does wickedness linger, as if the Devil’s thumb is ready to pluck the strings of certain choices? And with the strumming, just how far will Evil spread?

13 is the story of random souls pitted against the tragedy of the modern world. What is their connection, if any? Nameless; are these mere humans whose weaknesses force them to commit heinous crimes, or demons under the skin, aware of their sins yet indifferent to the outcome?

Will they decipher the unknown and make it out alive?


Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/13-Julie-Eliza...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Julie-Eli...

***********************

Signal Failure, by David Wailing




About the book:

It’s four in the morning and Emily is heading home on a London Underground train. But the Night Tube is running slow tonight – delays caused by a signal failure, as usual.

The train stops again, stuck in a tunnel between Tube stations. And then the lights go off. The motors cut out. Silence from the driver.

All the doors slide open at the same time, exposing the passengers to the tunnel.

To let them out?

Or to let something in?

Signal Failure is a 12,000-word short story set in the London Underground. It is a standalone story and also a prelude to the forthcoming novel "Under".

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Signal-Failure...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Signal-Failu...

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Just Plain Weird, by Tom Upton



About the book:

Travis MacDuff has always led an uneventful life. His greatest concern was making the high school football, until an odd girl moves in next store, a girl whose secrets threaten not only his existence but the existence of everyone on the planet.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Plain-Wei...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Plain-W...

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Into The Light, by Darcia Helle



About the book:

Max Paddington refuses to go into the light until he finds his killer. This presents a dilemma, since Max is even less competent as a spirit than he was as a live person. No one sees or hears him and he can't manage to get anywhere or do anything on his own.

Joe Cavelli is a private investigator, living an ordinary life. Then one day he walks across a parking lot, gets yelled at by a ghost, and his life only gets stranger from there.

Max and Joe team up to find Max's killer. In the process, they form an unlikely friendship and change each other's lives in ways they never expected.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Into-The-Light...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Into-The-Lig...

*******************************

Lost And Found - A Short Story From Odin's Eye, by Maria Haskins



Somewhere in the vast depths of space, a mission has gone horribly wrong. Now a woman is trapped all alone on an alien planet with nothing but her pain and her harrowing memories. At least, she thought she was alone... Lost And Found is a chilling and evocative science fiction short story from Maria Haskins' book Odin's Eye

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-Sho...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Found-S...

**********************************

The Hyde Hotel, by various authors



About the book:

The Hyde Hotel Welcomes You...
The Hyde Hotel looks almost exactly as you'd expect it to: a faceless, budget hotel in a grey city you are just passing through. A hotel aimed at people travelling alone, a hotel where you know so little about your fellow guests that they could be anyone... and where, perhaps, so could you. But sometimes things are hiding in plain sight, and not everyone who stays at The Hyde gets a good night's sleep... Featuring stories about the guests and staff of The Hyde Hotel from James Everington, Simon Bestwick, Ray Cluley, Alex Davis, Cate Gardner, V H Leslie, Alison Littlewood, Amelia Mangan, S P Miskowski, Iain Rowan, Mark West and the editors.
Enjoy your stay.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Hyde-Hotel-Jam...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyde-Hotel-J...

*****************************

Mystical High, by Lisette Brodey



About the book:

In Mystekal, a small, dying town in the Southern California desert, only 75 students attend the old, sometimes creepy high school dubbed “Mystical High,” where strange things have been known to happen. Jessie Dalworth and Jinxsy Patterson are juniors and lifelong best friends. At home, Jessie deals with the pain of an absentee mother who has abandoned the family for the lure of Hollywood; Jinxsy contends with a 17th “birthday present” she never wanted or expected.

Meanwhile, at school, the unexplained activity begins to escalate when Jinxsy keeps seeing a long-haired guy in the hallway checking her out. Jessie can’t see him, but her younger brother, River, can.

Then, in English class, a stapler mysteriously flies off teacher Eve Carrow’s desk, hitting a student in the face who has just mouthed off to her. The beloved teacher is in the unenviable position of having her brute of a father as principal, so she hates sending any student to his office. As Principal Ernest Carrow begins to terrorize Eve and others more openly, something or someone unseen decides that it’s payback time.

School is getting stranger, and Jinxsy and Jessie are faced with mind-boggling changes in their home lives that complicate everything. When a string of shocking events expose explosive secrets, decades-long mysteries are finally revealed.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/MYSTICAL-HIGH-...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MYSTICAL-HIG...

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I'll finish off by mentioning a couple of my own novels that have a paranormal theme:

The Spider and Haunted






You can find more details about those and my other books/stories on my website: http://www.mariasavva.com

Enjoy Halloween!