Interview with Maureen McMahon, Author of “Shadows in the Mist”

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INTRODUCINGMAUREEN MCMAHON

Maureen McMahon was born and raised in Michigan but now lives in coastal Victoria, Australia. Likened in style to Mary Stewart and Barbara Michaels, she has published several novels, anthologies, and short fiction pieces. A graduate of Western Michigan University, and honored as one of eleven noteworthy alumni, she has worked as a freelance journalist and as a staff writer for various magazines. She has taught creative writing locally in both the U.S. and Australia and has taught online via her website as well as Writer’s Digest’s online school. Maureen finds inspiration and support from

her husband, two children, her cats, and her Labradors. “I enjoy writing a mystery that incorporates romance and a hint of paranormal.

THE INTERVIEW

Can you tell us a little about your background?

I was born and raised in a small town in Michigan, USA. At the age of thirty, I decided to…

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Things Old and Forgotten

Blurb:

A man keeping King Arthur’s dream of Camelot alive.
A Robin Hood battling in a drastically different Sherwood.
A young man facing eternity in the desert.
A genteel southern lady besting a powerful order of genies.
A woman meeting her father decades after his death.

These are but a few of the intriguing tales waiting to be discovered in Things Old and Forgotten. Prepare to be transported to realms of folklore and legend, where magic and wonder linger around every corner, and fantastic possibilities are limited only by imagination.

My Take:

I love good short stories. Mae Clair’s stories are above good. The author has compiled a collection of great short fiction that will interest anybody who enjoys well-told tales—no matter your favorite genre.

Clair shows wonderful skill in folklore and literary stories. Her narrative voices are compelling, honest, and believable. It’s always a joyous occasion when we readers find an author new to us, offering originality in their work. I have become a fan of Mae Clair and look forward to reading more from her body of work.

Among my personal favorites contained in this collection are Desert White, Robin of Sherwood, Miss Lily Makes a Wish, and Father’s Day.  If you enjoy masterful storytelling in the short form, this is one you should have in your library.

Grab a copy of Things Old and Forgotten

The Thing About Kevin

Blurb:

Jacob Radner returns to his suburban Chicago roots to bury his departed father. The family is all there—except for older brother Kevin. Thirty-seven years earlier, Kevin Radner walked out the front door and vanished. Will this prodigal son return and finally make peace with the ghost of his mobster father? As the patriarch’s body is lowered into the earth, long-hidden family secrets become uncovered: a former girlfriend, a child born out of wedlock and adopted out, a mother willfully blind to the sins of the father. In this novella, author Beem Weeks examines the notion that sometimes those closest to us are the very ones we should fear most.

My Take:

This one blew me away at the end. The story is a dark reminiscing by POV character Jacob Radner, who returns home to bury his mob-connected father. Kevin, the long-absent older brother, is expected to return for the funeral. As Jacob re-connects with family and old friends, secrets are spilled and tensions run high. This is a well-executed thriller that hooked me from the very beginning. Twists and turns leading into dark corners didn’t prepare me for that stunning ending. My only complaint is the length. It’s a short read that really deserves a full-length novel. Beem Weeks is a favorite of mine. This story is one of his best. A five-star read that I must have on that desert island.

Grab a copy of The Thing About Kevin 

No One Here Gets Out Alive

Blurb:

Here is Jim Morrison in all his complexity-singer, philosopher, poet, delinquent-the brilliant, charismatic, and obsessed seeker who rejected authority in any form, the explorer who probed “the bounds of reality to see what would happen…” Seven years in the writing, this definitive biography is the work of two men whose empathy and experience with Jim Morrison uniquely prepared them to recount this modern tragedy: Jerry Hopkins, whose famous Presley biography, Elvis, was inspired by Morrison’s suggestion, and Danny Sugerman, confidant of and aide to the Doors. With an afterword by Michael McClure.

My Take:

This book is the one that is most responsible for the myth of Jim Morrison. Much of what has been written here by Danny Sugerman has been refuted by the surviving members of The Doors. Sugerman worked for the band, but that doesn’t mean he was there for all those mythical moments for which he writes. The book is a nice time capsule of the mid- to late 1960s. It captures the vibes, the scene, the emotions, the energy, and the hope. This is where Jim becomes the Lizard King, a shaman who has possibly staged his own death. A million conspiracy theories have been spawned from this book. I don’t believe Jim Morrison faked his death. He’s gone. But I’ve read this biography many times over the years. I enjoy it the way I enjoy a good novel. I would still have a copy with me on that island.

Scenes of a Reclusive Writer & Reader of Mumbai: Essays

Blurb:

“I am a recluse and I love books more than I love people.” – So begins Fiza Pathan, the self-proclaimed Reclusive Writer and Reader of Mumbai. In this charming collection of personal essays, Fiza recalls important phases of her life, along with the books she was reading at the time and where she read them. Revealed along the way are Fiza’s personal struggles, from the father who didn’t want a girl child to the years she believed she wanted to be a nun to the college friends who shamed her for gaining weight.

Her greatest victories are found here as well, among them the publication of her first story, the request to autograph her most popular book by an author she admired, the start of her own publishing company, and the acquisition of her very own office-cum-writing hut. Within her stories, you’ll meet Fiza’s beloved Mama, editorial partner (and uncle) Blaise, many other uncles and aunts, the librarians of her youth, and plenty of book salesman. All the people who have helped Fiza along her path to books, books, and more books. You’ll also take a taxi with Narayan, Fiza’s “Man Friday,” to visit her favorite haunts, from libraries to kiosks to boutiques to vendors who pile their offerings on the sides of the road, and you’ll learn the plots of her favorite comics, religious writings, medical thrillers, horror stories, activist writings, and so much more.

Fiza believes that every one of the books she has read has helped her become the person – and the writer – she was meant to become. Scenes of a Reclusive Writer & Reader of Mumbai is her life in books!

My Take:

I loved this collection of essays. The author shares so many interesting snapshots from her life while growing up in India. I am fascinated with cultures from around the world, and this book feeds my imagination.

This collection contains some of the best-crafted stories I’ve ever read from an indie author. Fiza Pathan is as skilled as they come. I give this book five stars because of its ability to pull the reader in and feel what Pathan herself may have felt during these documented situations. Her father rejected her because she is not the son he wanted.  But with the help of her mother, uncles, and many other close family members and friends, this talented writer has become so much more than she herself may even realize. I look forward to reading some of the other works by this author.

Grab a copy of Scenes of a Reclusive Writer & Reader of Mumbai: Essays

 

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Strange Hwy: Short Stories

Blurb:

If you ever find yourself on the Strange Hwy—don’t turn around. Don’t panic. Just. Keep. Going. You never know what you’ll find.
You’ll see magic at the fingertips of an autistic young man,
•A teen girl’s afternoon, lifetime of loss.
•A winged man, an angel? Demon—?
•Mother’s recognition, peace to daughter.
•Danny’s death, stifled secrets.
•Black man’s music, guitar transforms boy.
•Dead brother, open confession.
•First love, supernatural?—family becomes whole!
You can exit the Strange Hwy, and come back any time you want.
See, now you know the way in, don’t be a stranger.

My Take:

I am a super fan of this author. Beem Weeks just has a magical way of telling a story. Strange Hwy: Short Stories is another brilliant collection. Each story captures characters engaged in the simple act of living life. But these stories do not go where you believe they are heading. There is a twist at the end of most of these tales.

I am still amazed that this wonderful writer is not yet a household name among those who love to read well-told stories. Weeks covers multiple genres, offering a little something for all tastes. His characters are vivid and breathing and living. They will remain with you long after you set the book down.

This collection, much like his Slivers of Life collection, is a quick read. If you have ten minutes to kill, there’s a story in this book that will help you do just that. I finished the entire book in a few hours.

I’m still waiting on the Jazz Baby movie. And there are several of his short stories that would play beautifully on the silver screen. Come on, Hollywood. Enough with the sequels and the reboots. Here is a master storyteller just waiting to be discovered.

Grab a copy of Strange Hwy: Short Stories

 

The Outsiders

Blurb:

No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he’s got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends—true friends who would do anything for him, like Johnny and Two-Bit. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on “greasers” like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect—until the night someone takes things too far.

The Outsiders is a dramatic and enduring work of fiction that laid the groundwork for the YA genre. S. E. Hinton’s classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was first published.

My Take:

This is the first novel I ever read more than once. To date, I think I’ve read The Outsiders four times. Unlike many others, I found the movie to be a disappointment. I read the book multiple times before the film adaptation made it to the big screen. The story remained in tact, sure, but the actors portraying the characters resembled little of the images my mind conjured. These were young Hollywood pretty boys up on the screen. In my mind, these were boys with scars on their faces, the rough life etched into their pores.

The book itself is a fantastic story. Sure, this is a YA novel, but anybody can enjoy the tale S. E. Hinton has woven. If all you know of this book is the movie, you really need to grab a copy and discover one of the great stories that transcends generations and eras. At 180 pages, it’s a great way to kill a few hours.

Grab a copy of The Outsiders

Gates of Erebus: Dark Paranormal Short Stories

Blurb:

Gates of Erebus: Dark Paranormal Short Stories is a collaboration of some of the best indie authors from around the world. All proceeds from sales of this anthology will be donated to a global charity. Our first charity is Reading is Fundamental.

Herein are the tales of a mother condemned for witchcraft; a demon who shows up in the oddest of places; a soldier who leaves you wondering who really is the monster; a crumbling mutant and a would-be assassin; a murderous imp and a story darker than a murderer’s heart; one man’s escape from Hell and the hell hounds that pursue him; a house haunted by more than just ghosts; a supernatural race born to keep the world of good and evil in balance; the devolution of the human race; and Death takes a wife.
Dream Weaver Novels has gathered some of the world’s best indie authors to bring you this dark anthology. So, grab your hot chocolate (or coffee) and your fuzzy warm blanket, and sit back and relax with these tales of horror…oh, you might want to check the locks on all your doors and windows first!

My Take:

This is an incredible collection of dark, haunting, short stories by some skillful storytellers. And the fact that all the writers collaborating here are indie authors. They do the indie world proud. There are monsters and vampires and those who dabble in witchcraft. The darkness seeps from each page, spooking and daring the reader to continue on.

There’s a recipe for chicken soup that can conjure a demon—but once that demon appears, it cannot return to hell without taking a soul along.

A person sentenced to death for the charge of practicing witchcraft. But who ie the innocent one here, accused or accuser?

A bloody murderer meets his own demise, and readers will be surprised how it all plays out.

The skill level here is well above average. Some of these tales verge on brilliance. Beem Weeks, my favorite indie author, contributed a fantastic piece called Demons. This dark tale centers on two young girls who find the courage to camp out on Halloween night in an abandoned farmhouse that thirty years earlier had been the site of a brutal mass murder. With Ouija board in hand, the two girls begin their search for the ghosts of the family that had died in the house. What they found was something even more sinister than the departed looking for revenge.

Most of the stories contained here are worthy of readers attention. If the dark and unknown are things that tantalize you, get Gates of Erebus today. Simply a fun and spooky read.

Grab a copy of Gates of Erebus: Dark Paranormal Short Stories

Fantasy Patch

Blurb:

Picture This! Danté Roenik creates ad campaigns, reveling in the fine art of rendering his concepts on million-dollar canvasses financed by big-budget clients. Intoxicated by the sheer power of directing public opinion, he dares wage war against the conglomerate behind a worldwide anti-depressant increasingly associated with sporadic violence. To juxtapose his images with reality, he enlists a mixed palette of business tycoons, his fiancée/attorney, a team of corporate-spy soldiers of fortune, one resurgent news anchor, and the best TV-production crew in Chicago. But the sharp lines dividing perception from truth begin to blur when the darker motives shaping mass media come to light. Forced to re-examine the ethics of designer pharmacology, Danté is painted into a corner, his future about to be erased as patients die, clients lie, and unhealthy doses of murder prove too hard to swallow. Too late to whitewash the stain of deceit, Danté must decide who deserves to appear in his picture, the true subject an unfinished self-portrait way past its own deadline. It’s not what you see, not what you get . . . But all you could ever imagine. Let Danté show you how . . . With a Fantasy Patch!

My Take:

Fantasy Patch by author Stephen Geez is another of the few indie books I really enjoyed. This is the second Geez novel I’ve read. The previous one, while an excellent story, could be a little slow at times. However, this one is all action from the get-go. Geez is a skilled storyteller, to be sure. He’s also brilliant at creating believable characters that really jump off the page.

Mr. Geez adds elements from the real world into his story, and makes it seem as if Danté Roenik is somebody we’ve seen on the evening news, exposing the evil deeds of Big Pharma and the corporate empires. If you enjoy action, intrigue, and reality in your stories, get this book.

Grab a copy of Fantasy Patch

Crazy From the Heat

Blurb:

‘I WAS THERE WITH THESE TWO GIRLS ONCE; THEY WERE STRIPPERS. THEY SAID ‘DAVE, WE’D LIKE YOU TO GO UPSTAIRS, THE TWO OF US, WITH YOU. ‘ SO I SAID, ‘OKAY’. IT WAS AUGUST, AND IT WAS HOT AND SWEATY AND HUMID, AND WE COMMENCED TO DELIVER THE GROCERIES AT 138 BEATS PER MINUTE OR MORE. ONE OF THE GIRLS HAD $1500 IN SINGLES AND FIVES AND TENS, HER END-OF-THE-WEEK TIPS AND PAY AND EVERYTHING IN HER G-STRING. NOBODY NOTICED, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE G-STRING CAME UNDONE — WELL, I NOTICED — NOBODY NOTICED THE MONEY, LIKE, FLOATING AROUND. I WOKE UP AT SOME POINT AROUND DAWN, THE TWO OF THEM WERE ASLEEP, AND ALL THREE OF US WERE COVERED WITH MONEY, EVERY SQUARE INCH OF SKIN HAD A DOLLAR BILL PASTED TO IT — THERE WAS NOTHING BUT. THE WHOLE BED WAS COVERED WITH BILLS. OUR BODIES WERE COVERED WITH BILLS. THERE WAS BILLS IN MY UNDERWEAR. TAKE A LITTLE PICTURE OF THAT. ‘ So begins perhaps the ultimate rock autobiography. Throughout the late-seventies and eighties Van Halen were the archetypal American rock group. Whats more they were also the highest paid band in the history of show business, taking a cool $1 million for a night’s work at a festival in 1983 and making the Guiness Book of Records.

My Take:

I’m a big fan of rock and roll memoirs. They are always entertaining for one reason or another. Diamond David Lee Roth does not disappoint. This is a no-holds-barred look into the 1980’s hedonistic culture that once populated the pages of magazines like Circus and Hit Parader.

Roth, known for his rapid-fire linguistic reportage, shares snippets of his time traveling the globe both with and without the mighty Van Halen. From a glimpse into the childhood that formed the man, to his tumultuous years in one of the biggest bands ever, to his alone time, away from the rock and roll life, traveling through the jungles of South America, Dave lets us have just a peek into his wild and crazy world.

This is a fun read, to be sure. The only downside is, he barely scratches the surface when discussing studio time with Van Halen. As a fan of their music, I really hoped to learn more about the creative process of this amazing band. Overall, I recommend this book—especially if you’re looking for a few good laughs from the Diamond one.

Grab a copy of Crazy From the Heat