Writing, reading, and visitors from faraway
"Wait this isn't chapter 63 of Ephraim Godwin."
Okay, so you are looking for the next chapter(s) of The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles. So am I. This week has been a whirlwind of activity and I honestly had no idea today was Wednesday...I know how that sounds but what can I say? My mother traveled from Kentucky to see everyone and get a taste of Texas weather and meet her new Grand-puppy; it's been so long since we had visitors I forgot how long getting ready takes.
She made the trip with little incident and it's nice to see family start getting back together. Hopefully, we are moving in the right direction. So instead of Ephraim coming out today, I will have the next few chapters out on Friday. And today I want to share some good news.
First, the Independent Book Review has released my 2nd novel's review on their site. They are a wonderful asset to the Independent writer, and I suggest you visit their site if you like to read. They are a fountain of information on books covering a large number of topics and genres. They also reviewed The Shadow Within, and you can check it out here. Below you can find the whole review, or you can read it on their site here...
Some things are better left undiscovered.
by Alexandria Ducksworth
Sam is a single waitress in charge of taking care of her little brother (Kenny) after their mother’s death. Life is average for the two siblings in their small Kentucky town. Sam makes her ends meet working at a local diner while Kenny attempts to improve his social life in the Boy Scouts. All seems normal.
But soon, Kenny and his troops disappear during a forest expedition. Losing her mother is one thing, now Sam might lose her brother too. She joins a search party desperate to find the missing scouts, unaware of the dark secret waiting for them.
Eric Butler’s The Pope Lick Massacre is a bold take on a cryptid monster based on Southern legends. In Louisville, Kentucky stands the old Pope Lick trestle bridge where the infamous Goatman haunts the area. Some say the ax-wielding monster can mimic voices and hypnotize people. Curious visitors have died on this bridge. Not by the Goatman himself (they say), but from train-related accidents. It’s really interesting how Butler manages to bring this cryptid legend to life.
If you love horror and cryptozoology, you’ll get a kick out of this book. There are plenty of bigfoot and UFO stories out there, but not many about the Pope Lick Goatman. Butler delivers suspense in each chapter of his book, and there are plot twists hiding where you least expect them.
And yet, the terrorizing monster in this book isn’t the only monster you should be worried about. Tobias, for example, is the town’s pastor, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This shady character is associated with murder, lust, and criminal associates. Tobias is the living example that not all monsters have horns, and I enjoyed this subtle inclusion from Butler.
The only missing element in this book for me is Sam’s character depth. You’ll follow her to the end of the story and hope for the best, but we really only know one layer of her. She’s a waitress, a big sister, and a former athlete. While reading, I longed to know her real motivation to go through the blood, sweat, and tears for Kenny. What internal force made her face her fears? Prove she could be a better caretaker than her mother?
Overall though, The Pope Lick Massacre is a bold, brutal horror story that’ll remain in your mind long after you read it. Legend trippers may be especially interested in checking this out, but here’s your warning: This book is not for the faint of heart. The title says it all; it is as violent as you’d expect.
This is the type of book you read while you’re in the comfort of your home during a lightning storm. And I know one thing for sure: it’ll encourage you to stay far away from the woods, especially near Pope Lick Creek.
Reviews are coming in from readers on both books, and I wanted to share another awesome review for The Pope Lick Massacre by reader Sureshot
5.0 out of 5 stars The Butler did it!
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2020
First off, let me say, this is how it’s done. Butler’s style is unrestrained and unapologetic. And that’s what a good horror story needs. I was into this book in no time and found it hard to put down. If you want a tense horror story that will actually scare you, check out this independent author.
There is not a ton of description to hack through. Butler stuck mostly to the characters and their interactions, sparing the reader a lot of filler. I still felt like I was there, on the trail with them. I didn’t find myself skimming a lot, like I so often have to do reading mainstream horror novels. The descriptions he did use were graphic and stuck in my mind. That wouldn’t have happened had I been skimming page after page about the color of the leaves or reading a ton of unnecessary detail about each character’s life.
If I was to compare him to a mainstream author, I’d say Richard Laymon, who also pulled no punches in his writing.
I won’t go too much into the ending of this book, other than to say I loved it. This is my first Butler book. It will not be my last.
You can find the book here...
New on Netflix...and worth the watch if you like Will Ferrell. This movie has the feel of many of his movies, and there's nothing wrong with that. It has a Pitch Perfect 2 vibe and is filled with fun songs sung by people acting very seriously. Not sure if Rachel McAdams actually sings her songs or is just lip sinking but the voice is incredible. Will Ferrell is funny, but you've seen this character before...but maybe not with an Icelandic accent. Lots of big names actors and cameos make the movie fun to watch.
Thanks again for your patience and expect to see the next chapters Friday morning. Until then I recommend you check out The Irving Fontaine Adventures on Amazon Kindle Unlimited. You can find the first one, The Skin Walkers here.
The newest one, To Stare Death in the Eyes can be found here. Each story is self-contained but a part of Irving Fontaine's story overall.
Here also is the link to Ephraim Godwin's introduction. Originally written for a short story contest, the idea has blossomed to over 50000 words and 62 chapters. Soon to be moved over to Kindle, this is a chance to read the first meeting between the central characters or to go back and enjoy seeing where the adventure all started. Click here to see more.