Sorry everyone I had this to post at 3:00 AM this morning but it didn't post and I only found out now!
MJ Preston- Author and Artist at Large
MJ Preston is considered by his neighbours to be a bit on the eccentric side. He never puts up Christmas lights, yet during Halloween his yard is adorned with, gravestones, severed limbs, chainsaw wielding maniacs and giant spiders.
An ardent fan of the horror genre, he has been writing since he was a kid. In his early 20's he wrote film reviews for his hometown paper and while serving in the military he penned articles for more than few military newspapers.
In 1999 he founded the newsgroup Canadian Veterans' Alliance which championed the rights of wounded soldiers. This caught the eye of politicians and news media which landed him on the CBC's talk show TALK TV with Anne Petre.
In late 2009 he decided to dust off a half-finished manuscript he started well over a decade before. Originally written on an Olivetti typewriter the manuscript titled: THE EQUINOX came to life and was published in July of 2011.
Along with writing MJ Preston is also an artist using the computer as his canvas and creating digital art that is.. You guessed it, somewhat on the macabre side. From floating mystical orbs, to hungry intestinal eating ghouls, MJ Preston wields the virtual paintbrush of a proverbial madman.
He states, "I like to look at the darker side of human nature, pick at the things that bother us and see what lies beneath the surface."
Living in Canada, MJ Preston is now working on his second novel and producing a graphic series he calls: The Fourth Horseman.
Like a demented child, he waits excitedly for October 31st.
His websites are: http://mjpreston.net http://mjpreston.ca
Links to MJ Prestons Websites-Blogs-Videography-Artwork
MJ Preston – The Equinox
This site is dedicated to the novel the equinox and includes video, artwork and information about the novel. Included in this site is a pictorial called The Dark Gallery which holds a large cache of artwork created by MJ Preston during the writing of THE EQUINOX.
The Black Galleries
Featuring the dark artwork of MJ Preston and a blog known as the Sketchbook Memoirs
The Dark World of MJ Preston
A relatively new blog where MJ muses about his writing and the characters he writes about.
MJ Preston’s Youtube Channel
Videos created by MJ Preston that feature trailers for the Novel and animations and artwork relating to the book. All of the video found on the youtube channel can be accessed through MJ Preston – The Equinox
MJ Preston’s Facebook
MJ Preston on Twitter
I am so excited to have MJ Preston here to to talk about Why Fear is Good in a guest post here on Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews.
MJ is currrently touring to promote his new book The Equinox.
Thanks so much Entangled Publishing for connecting us on this blog tour!
Please take it away MJ!
FEAR IS GOOD
By MJ Preston
What terrifies you? Is it the idea of walking through a graveyard late at night? Or maybe a feeling, when you are alone in dank underground parking lot, that you are being watched by someone or something? Everybody has a bogey man, a dark fear that causes your body to produce adrenaline, thus elevating your heartbeat.
When I was 17, which is a long bloody time ago, I conjured up my worst fears and stared into the abyss. It was the most horrifying, altering moment of my life and it would be my rite of passage into manhood. On the evening in question, I fell into an altered state of paranoia where reality warped and my friends became enemies. I looked into the void, saw death waiting, and I thought I would never make it back.
In writing this it is obvious that I did come back and escape the cold lifeless fingers of death, but not before they brushed against my cheek. Three decades later I am still reminded that just beyond the realm of comfort there exists a place we all fear. I know where mine is and I'm sure that all of you reading this know where yours.
And yet many of us still want to be afraid.
Why is that?
Because sometimes being afraid is a good way to remind us that we are alive.
When I set out to write THE EQUINOX I did not really analyze the elements of the story or consider that aside from its paranormal overtures, we are faced with that which terrifies us on a daily basis.
In our midst walk chameleons, skin-walkers, that do not change physically as in my book, but they are just as nefarious. We tell our children, "don't talk to strangers." because we know these predators walk among us.
There are unseen creatures that move through us, sometimes turning our cells against one another and converting healthy tissue into dark matter that begins to cannibalize and destroy us. This fear we call cancer, and it is a theme also explored in Equinox.
Why do you suppose we gravitate toward horror? Is it to forget that which truly terrifies us? Is it easier to face down a ten foot monster that craves to gorge on your lower intestinal tract instead of accepting that some lunatic might be considering strapping on a vest filled with C4 and nails?
I like to think of reading as escape. When I read, I surrender to the guiding hand of the storyteller, who in turn leads me through a labyrinth where I know there may be something unexpected waiting for me to turn the corner.
I now offer my hand to you. If you take it I promise to lead you along an unchartered path enveloped in dark secrets. I can't promise you that I will not take every opportunity to drag you out of your comfort zone, but I solemnly swear that when the cold sweats subside and the shaking relents you can take solace in the fact that I really did this for you.
What are you waiting for? Take my hand.
The Equinox
A Novel of Horror by MJ Preston
Book Description:
It has existed for centuries.
A dark curse held captive by ancient ritual, a creature of insatiable hunger possessing the ability to change shape at will. During spring and fall equinox it would break through the walls separating our worlds to feed.
Now it walks among us unrestrained and very hungry.
Banished from the Chocktee Nation and obsessed with vengeance, Daniel Blackbird has been chasing the “Walker” across North America for over 14 years. Bearing a scar from his first encounter, he feels the abomination's telepathic pull and is drawn in whatever direction it moves, but it always seems to be one step ahead of him.
Until now!
Over a thousand miles away residents of the prairie town of Thomasville are trying to come to terms with unspeakable crimes.
In a race against time, Blackbird sets out for the prairie town which, as the Equinox approaches, is destined to become a killing ground where cultures and worlds will collide.
The Equinox is available through following distributors
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/MJPreston
https://www.createspace.com/3627368
http://www.amazon.com/The Equinox
Giveaway Rules
Giveaway is a digital ebook copy of The Equinox in any of the 3 formats: epub, Kindle, pdf (readers choice).
To enter the giveaway please leave a meaningful comment with your e-mail, thanks!
Open internationally!
3 comments:
This is a great post, and as I am currently reading The Equinox, I can only assure your audiences that this book is amazing. I am about halfway through and I have been kept entertained to no end and Mj has a way with storytelling that is fresh and would give any seasoned author a run for their money.
Majot kudos ;)
Great post.
I think we gravitate towards horror as a way to face down our demons and to be scared- on our terms. We can always walk away from a movie or put down the book- in real life we can't and through fiction we gain a sense of control over our fears and the true horror of the world around us.
Sounds like this book would be awesomely horrifying, sign me up
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