Brian Moreland-August Featured Author-The Devil's Woods-August 1 - August 31, 2025 > Likes and Comments
Welcome, Brian! Looking forward to reading this book! :) It will actually be reread for me as I read it long time ago but things are fuzzy now so this will be a treat to reread it and ask you questions. :)
This looks amazing, thank you Marie for setting this up and big thanks to Brian for being back, we fricken love you here with us, thank you kindly for taking the time to hang with this lil book loving bunch :)
Almost August! Also so ready for fall, warm weather is not my forte.
You had me at Canada. I'll get my copy shortly and join you all.
Thank you, Marie, I appreciate the warm welcome and the re-read. I'm excited to be back for another Nightmares and Dreamscapes group read. I'll be checking in throughout the month of August.
Kasia wrote: "This looks amazing, thank you Marie for setting this up and big thanks to Brian for being back, we fricken love you here with us, thank you kindly for taking the time to hang with this lil book lov..."Thanks Kasia, I'm happy to be back with you guys for my third novel.
Jeffrey wrote: "You had me at Canada. I'll get my copy shortly and join you all."Canada is one of my favorite countries for all its natural beauty, history, culture, and people. I've set multiple books there, even though I'm from Texas.
Brianna wrote: "Can’t wait!"I look forward to your questions if you have any.
Graeme wrote: "Just purchased on Kindle. Count me in."Thank you, Graeme!
Brian wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "You had me at Canada. I'll get my copy shortly and join you all."Canada is one of my favorite countries for all its natural beauty, history, culture, and people. I've set multiple..."
Same, I only spend 10 days there a few years ago but I think about it like every week haha.
Thank you for being here Brian, I already started :)
Jeffrey wrote: "You had me at Canada. I'll get my copy shortly and join you all."Wahoo my favorite Jeffrey is here, awesome sauce.
Graeme wrote: "Just purchased on Kindle. Count me in."Yessss, ok this will be a great month, so happy you're joining us Graeme.
Brianna wrote: "Can’t wait!"Aww I smiled ear to ear when I saw your post, so glad you're here with us this month! :)
I will throw out the first question Brian. :) The cover of the book is so creepy and what originally drew me to the book when I first read it. How did you come up with the cover idea Brian and how did this story come about?
Thank you to everyone joining us on this group read with Brian! This is going to be a blast! :)
Graeme wrote: "Just purchased on Kindle. Count me in."Me too!
Marie wrote: "I will throw out the first question Brian. :) The cover of the book is so creepy and what originally drew me to the book when I first read it. How did you come up with the cover idea Brian and ho..."
Marie, I'm glad you found the cover 'creepy'. It's based on a setting that's in the story. You'll eventually see it when Kyle and Eric find the place. I actually designed the artwork for that cover myself. My original publisher of this book, Samhain, asked me to submit ideas for what I thought might work on the cover. So, using my Photoshop skills, I created a mock cover and submitted that as a visual idea to pass on to their cover designer. The publisher told me they decided use my artwork instead. The novel sold well, so I used the artwork again when I re-released the book. I only changed the fonts.
Sooo, I was about to ask a (stupid) question around how you came to write about forests if you live in Texas… however, Google informs me that “ Texas boasts the most forest acreage in the U.S. outside of Alaska, with 59 million acres. These forests range from pine timberlands in the east to mountain forests in the west, with live oak mottes, mesquite, and juniper woodlands in the south and central regions” This is a mind blowing concept for me on my little Scottish island!So my question becomes: if Texas has so many great forests, what special quality made you set your book in Canada? Do you have an affinity to Cree first nation / British Columbia?
Favourite quote so far: Chapter 1 (view spoiler) After reading the preface, I’m thinking, possible ‘tongue in cheek’ subtitle? Anyway, it made me chuckle and I’m still grinning.Also, still hoping Scout is going to be ok. (Or else!)
@Anne, southeast Texas has the most beautiful pine trees, but then again I’m biased 😂
Brianna wrote: "@Anne, southeast Texas has the most beautiful pine trees, but then again I’m biased 😂"Ooh yes! Found some great photos! I love pine trees
Annerlee wrote: "Sooo, I was about to ask a (stupid) question around how you came to write about forests if you live in Texas… however, Google informs me that “ Texas boasts the most forest acreage in the U.S. outs..."Hey Annerlee, I appreciate the question. When I first wrote an early version of this novel, I was 19 and in college. While the pine forests in East Texas are beautiful, I wanted to set my story outside of Texas in deep wilderness with mountains. I originally set the small logging town and reservation in Colorado not far from Boulder. I went camping in the woods there to do research and ran into many other campers and hikers in the wilderness. The area in the Colorado Rockies I explored wasn't isolated enough, so I moved the story to Canada and my main characters to living in Seattle. I just love the British Columbia region so it was fun to write a story set there.
I have an affinity for many First Nation cultures. I chose Cree characters for this story because they were in British Columbia.
Brian wrote: "Marie wrote: "I will throw out the first question Brian. :) The cover of the book is so creepy and what originally drew me to the book when I first read it. How did you come up with the cover ide..."
I think that is cool with the publisher using your own artwork for the cover. :) You did an awesome job! :)
I am about 8% into the story. I had forgot how creepy the book starts out. I sit in the dark while reading this book as I have it on my kindle and I just fell into the story with everything else disappearing around me. I got spooked out my skin when my cat jumped up onto my chair while I was reading it! LOL
Marie wrote: "I am about 8% into the story. I had forgot how creepy the book starts out. I sit in the dark while reading this book as I have it on my kindle and I just fell into the story with everything else di..."Well said, Marie.
I'm into Chapter 1 now. I'm intrigued to see how this is going to play out.
Marie wrote: "I am about 8% into the story. I had forgot how creepy the book starts out. I sit in the dark while reading this book as I have it on my kindle and I just fell into the story with everything else di..."Funny, I love that your cat helped with the jump scares.
Brian wrote: "Marie wrote: "I am about 8% into the story. I had forgot how creepy the book starts out. I sit in the dark while reading this book as I have it on my kindle and I just fell into the story with ever...Funny, I love that your cat helped with the jump scares."
It is not the first time either as she did it once before when I was reading a creepy book and that time I came out of my chair! LOL
So another question Brian.The Cree nation in British Columbia. Did you have to do a lot of research for this book on the Cree? Did you have to go deep into their history - folklore - customs, etc.?
I did quite a bit of research for the book, for the Cree characters and the Danish people of Hagen's Cove. I mostly did internet research and read what I could find about their history and customs in books, enough to get a feel for my characters. Some of the folklore I invented for this story.
I am about 22% into the book. I had forgot a lot of stuff that happens in this story. (view spoiler)
Marie wrote: "I am about 22% into the book. I had forgot a lot of stuff that happens in this story. I’m just past there too.
(view spoiler)
Really enjoying the story so far. The noises in the woods have me intrigued and I’m wondering whether the author’s abilities may give him some insight into whatever it is they’re up against.
I really appreciate how distinct all the characters are even thought a few of them share the same last name, that's' very impressive, I'm loving this book and sorry Im behind but had some down time today so finally reading, 10% in and I don't want to read anything else at the moment.
Kasia wrote: "I really appreciate how distinct all the characters are even thought a few of them share the same last name, that's' very impressive.."Actually, it IS impressive. I’m renowned for forgetting names, but I’m having no difficulty in remembering who is who, because everyone is so well defined
Annerlee wrote: "Kasia wrote: "I really appreciate how distinct all the characters are even thought a few of them share the same last name, that's' very impressive.."Actually, it IS impressive. I’m renowned for f..."
Yes I agree :) Also character development can trump the plot for me when done well but I'm loving what I'm reading here, everyone is already a person in my head as I'm navigating through the story.
Bought my copy today, sorry I’m late to the party lol. But I’m excited to get started 😁
Brianna wrote: "Bought my copy today, sorry I’m late to the party lol. But I’m excited to get started 😁"The party is always on :) I've enjoyed it during some quiet time today while my real boss fell asleep on his indoor swing.
Brianna wrote: "Bought my copy today, sorry I’m late to the party lol. But I’m excited to get started 😁"Hi Brianna, thank you for buying a copy and welcome to the party.
I am 27% in now. I am reading slow to absorb everything. Everything is still a mystery. Even though I read this book about 8 years ago my memory didn't retain much of nothing. lol That is what happens I think when you read tons of books so really it is like reading this for the first time and trying to figure things out. :)
Brianna wrote: "Bought my copy today, sorry I’m late to the party lol. But I’m excited to get started 😁"We are always in party mode! lol :) Welcome to the party - did you wear your party pants? lol :)
Marie wrote: "I am 27% in now. I am reading slow to absorb everything. Everything is still a mystery. Even though I read this book about 8 years ago my memory didn't retain much of nothing. lol That is what happ..."Marie, I'm glad your memory didn't retain what happens so the plot is a mystery for the second reading. I have that same experience with old horror and thriller movies I re-watch years later. LOL
Brian wrote: "Marie wrote: "I am 27% in now. I am reading slow to absorb everything. Everything is still a mystery. Even though I read this book about 8 years ago my memory didn't retain much of nothing. lol Tha..."I am happy I didn't retain anything either! lol I am like that with old movies too. If it has been a long time since I have seen them I will forget parts of them.
Brian wrote: "Marie wrote: "I am 27% in now. I am reading slow to absorb everything. Everything is still a mystery. Even though I read this book about 8 years ago my memory didn't retain much of nothing. lol Tha..."Plot twist, it was the butler :P
I forget too and then I feel so guilty, now I read really slowly and it helps a bit, but re-reads are also awesome.
@Marie I absolutely did! They’re stretchy for all the snacks 😂
Been smashed by IRL stuff... hope to get to this tonight.
Synopsis of story:
Fear wears many skins.
Deep within the Canadian wilderness, people have been disappearing for over a century. There is a place the locals call "the Devil's Woods," but to speak of it will only bring the devil to your door. It is a place so evil that even animals avoid it.
When their father's expedition team goes missing, Kyle Elkheart and his brother and sister return to the abandoned Cree Indian reservation where they were born. Kyle can see ghosts that haunt the woods surrounding the village--and they seem to be trying to warn him. The search for their father will lead Kyle and his siblings to the dark heart of the legendary forest, where their mission will quickly become a fight for survival.
Goodreads Author Profile of Brian Moreland:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Amazon link to buy the book:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
(The book is also on Kindle Unlimited).
Please welcome author, Brian Moreland!