Powderfinger & Wyndwrayth by Keller Yeats - Book Tour + Giveaway
Powderfinger
Nick Swann Investigates Book 1
by Keller Yeats
Genre:
Horror
Horror
"Powderfinger" is a present-day scary horror story set mainly on the decrepit,
abandoned but soon to be redeveloped, bank of an old canal between
two towns. It centres on an old tar works known as Raven's Gate. Nick
Swann is a world weary mid-forties widower and Assistant Probation
Warden at St Joseph's Hostel for young male criminals, situated
overlooking the canal and Raven's Gate. A woman is brutally killed on
the bank opposite the Hostel on a night when Nick is on duty. Nick
believes his lads had nothing to do with it, though consequently Nick
is suspended for issuing too many late passes at once. Then another
woman is killed and Nick becomes drawn into discovering the culprit.
He works with DCI Findlay and DS Deacon as the murder toll rises.
Together with help from his old friends Alan and Hugo, Nick's
research uncovers a long series of similar murders in the same area,
stretching back through the centuries. "Powderfinger" as
the killer is dubbed, appears to be some kind of ancient mellifluous,
malevolent, murderous being that attacks anyone it considers to be
disturbing its peace and quiet. Eventually, as the story climaxes,
Findlay, Deacon, Nick and Alan set a trap to lure "Powderfinger"
to his doom and rid the area of this beast once and for all. Yet,
traps can swing both ways.
abandoned but soon to be redeveloped, bank of an old canal between
two towns. It centres on an old tar works known as Raven's Gate. Nick
Swann is a world weary mid-forties widower and Assistant Probation
Warden at St Joseph's Hostel for young male criminals, situated
overlooking the canal and Raven's Gate. A woman is brutally killed on
the bank opposite the Hostel on a night when Nick is on duty. Nick
believes his lads had nothing to do with it, though consequently Nick
is suspended for issuing too many late passes at once. Then another
woman is killed and Nick becomes drawn into discovering the culprit.
He works with DCI Findlay and DS Deacon as the murder toll rises.
Together with help from his old friends Alan and Hugo, Nick's
research uncovers a long series of similar murders in the same area,
stretching back through the centuries. "Powderfinger" as
the killer is dubbed, appears to be some kind of ancient mellifluous,
malevolent, murderous being that attacks anyone it considers to be
disturbing its peace and quiet. Eventually, as the story climaxes,
Findlay, Deacon, Nick and Alan set a trap to lure "Powderfinger"
to his doom and rid the area of this beast once and for all. Yet,
traps can swing both ways.
Wyndwrayth
Nick Swann Investigates Book 2
This is the second horror novel in the Nick Swann series. This scary story
finds Nick now living in an old stone farmhouse on the lonely and
mysterious shores of Llyn Isaf, in Wales. He becomes intrigued by its
mist-covered lake island, Ynys Y Niwl and its dark, ancient and long
deserted mansion, Wyndwrayth.
finds Nick now living in an old stone farmhouse on the lonely and
mysterious shores of Llyn Isaf, in Wales. He becomes intrigued by its
mist-covered lake island, Ynys Y Niwl and its dark, ancient and long
deserted mansion, Wyndwrayth.
Its moldering edifice holds many secrets and treasures, some of which
draw Nick and his old friend Alan, into dangerous realms. Death
stalks the island and as the dangerous spectral figures of The Millar
of Souls, The Paladin and Gideon reveal themselves, it becomes
increasingly difficult to discern between reality and dreams.
draw Nick and his old friend Alan, into dangerous realms. Death
stalks the island and as the dangerous spectral figures of The Millar
of Souls, The Paladin and Gideon reveal themselves, it becomes
increasingly difficult to discern between reality and dreams.
As the death toll rises, Nick finds himself, along with his new partner,
Wendy and her Wolf, Mir embroiled in a struggle not just to maintain
sanity but to stay alive.
Wendy and her Wolf, Mir embroiled in a struggle not just to maintain
sanity but to stay alive.
What
are your top 10 favorite books/authors?
In
no particular order:
Lord
of the Rings & The Hobbit.
13th
Valley.
Saigon.
Exodus.
Breakfast
of Champions.
God
Bless You Mr. Rosewater.
The
Stand.
A
Mouthful of Sugar.
The
Big Green Science Book.
What
book do you think everyone should read?
Lord
of the Rings.
How
long have you been writing?
Since
I first held a pen!
Do
the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you
as you write?
Apart
from Nick Swann, all my characters arrived as I, or they, told the story.
What
kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
I
usually do some geographical and historical research relating to the idea of
the book before I start to write. I find
this can be inspirational for the development of the story. I will often create a map of the area and in
the case of Wyndwrayth, a diagram of the house.
I find that these help to keep me physically located within my imagined
world. In addition, I continue to
research as I write as required by the developing story.
Do
you see writing as a career?
Of
course!
What
do you think about the current publishing market?
It’s
a crowded market for sure. The established large publishing houses seem to like
to play safe with already established authors or celebrity ghost written pulp.
It is very hard for an unknown writer, no matter how talented, to gain their
recognition or even attract an agent.
However, the internet and epublishing has opened the market to
self-publishing and boutique publishing houses which offer alternatives. New
ways of reaching the reader have opened up and continue to do so, this can
offer ways for interesting stories and authors to rise in recognition and
sales. Once an author generates sufficient interest from the public they may
find it easier to gain an agent and publishing house of repute.
Do
you read yourself and if so what is your favourite genre?
I
find that my reading tastes change with time. Whilst I have always enjoyed some
adventure or fantasy, I have always gravitated towards stories based in fact. I
have a long-lasting fascination for stories based around factual wars, such as
WW1, WW2 or Vietnam.
Do
you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I
like to have music on whilst I write, just quietly in the background. Music is very important to me and I have many
playlists on my iPod. I like to create
and play a long playlist that sets the mood of the book. I will then play it
only when I write.
Do
you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
Whilst
I may begin an outline plan or sketch an idea when writing a novel, I like to
concentrate on one story at a time.
If
you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you
choose?
God
Bless You Mr. Rosewater.
Pen
or type writer or computer?
Computer.
Tell
us about a favourite character from a book.
I
liked Stuart Redman in Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’. I found his ‘everyman’ character very
appealing and believable.
What
made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?
Firstly,
the pleasure I got from reading and then the pleasure people expressed in
reading my words. I received a lot of encouragement from these readers to write
and yes, it was the right decision.
Advice
you would give new authors?
Sick
at it, believe in yourself and get a good editor who understands what you are
trying to achieve.
Describe
your writing style.
Direct
and contemporary.
What
makes a good story?
An
interesting, original story, well-constructed with believable characters and
scenarios. I think believability is very important, particularly when writing
horror, fantasy or science fiction.
What
are you currently reading?
Nothing. I prefer to immerse myself in my own story
when I am writing.
What
are common traps for aspiring writers?
Not
creating a plan, however sketchy, of a novel. Getting bogged down in
unnecessary detail or perfect prose in the first draft, this is what future
drafts are for. Not using a good editor.
What
is your writing Kryptonite?
Music
and coffee.
Do
you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I
write stories I would like to read. Original ideas!
If
you could tell your younger writing-self anything, what would it be?
Stick
at it, hone your writing skills, challenge yourself and don’t get sidetracked.
What’s
the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
He,he!
Lack of personal experience!
How
long on average does it take you to write a book?
Eighteen
months to two years between published novels, dependent upon length.
Do
you believe in writer’s block?
Not
at all.
Keller Yeats is a writer with a love of history and music. He has written
several published articles about rock music and several unpublished
short stories. He drew upon his years of experience working as a
Probation Warden, for his first published novel, "Powderfinger."
A horror story with a supernatural twist. "Wyndwrayth" is
his second novel in this Nick Swann researches and investigates
series, with more to come. In addition, he is a published graphic
artist and a qualified, though no longer practicing, jewellery maker
and designer. He now lives together with his wife, a Siberian Husky,
a Welsh Collie and three cats, in a cottage by the sea in Anglesey.
several published articles about rock music and several unpublished
short stories. He drew upon his years of experience working as a
Probation Warden, for his first published novel, "Powderfinger."
A horror story with a supernatural twist. "Wyndwrayth" is
his second novel in this Nick Swann researches and investigates
series, with more to come. In addition, he is a published graphic
artist and a qualified, though no longer practicing, jewellery maker
and designer. He now lives together with his wife, a Siberian Husky,
a Welsh Collie and three cats, in a cottage by the sea in Anglesey.
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