Lonely House

We’re off into horror land with today’s plug for ‘Lonely House.’

This book started off as an idea for a film script. In fact, if you were to analyse it, you would see that it follows a classic four-act film structure. 1) Set up leading to twist, 2) Dealing with the twist leading to a story-changing revelation, 3) Dealing with the consequences leading to a crisis and climax, and 4) Resolving it all. As I like to put it: Act one, there is no problem. Act two, what is this problem? Act three, how do we deal with it? Act four, dealing with it. Or, if you will excuse me, your basic four-act film story or novel in this case, looks like this:

• Chilling
• Wtf?
• No, seriously, mate, WTF!
• Phew (or not)

It is also written mainly in the present tense to bring the reader right into the horror – and it does get a bit bloody in places. The story takes place in an unspecified location but, if you’re brave enough to make it to the end, the last scene is set in Dymchurch on the Kent coast.

Lonely House

“How much horror can one friendship endure?”

Drover and Pete are two hopeful drifters looking for a better life. Desperate for food, they break into an isolated house deep in a forest. There they accidentally shoot an old man just as the rest of his family arrive for a birthday gathering.

Under intense suspicion from the family, the boys attempt to cover up the accident. But they are not the only ones keeping a murderous secret. Mistrust and deception unearth a primaeval ritual as the lies give way to a terrifying truth.

With time running out and a deadly force closing in, Drover and Pete’s survival rests on the strength of their friendship, but they must face some horrific choices in order to stay alive.

“Loved this book from start to finish. A real page-turner with twists and turns all the way. How James comes up with these stories amazes me. Horror, mystery and a degree of sadness. Who will come out on top. Keep reading.” Joan West

“James tantalises you by just releasing enough information on each character to keep you wanting to know more about each of them. He has mastered that technique of forcing you to start the next chapter as you really care what happens to these people – some you want to stay with you, others you may want to kill. This excellent story has a very satisfactory outcome – depending on your moral compass.” Derek Stephen

The Witching

And so to The Witchling. This is my most recent publication, and it follows on from ‘The Saddling.’

I am thinking about a part three and part four and making this a series of novels set in my imaginary village on Romney Marsh. The Saddling has a set of subtle themes: Winter solstice, the water element, self-discovery and family history. The Witchling also has subtle themes: Summer solstice, the fire element, self-acceptance and, again, family history. Saddling is about a willing sacrifice, The Witchling is about the burning of a witch. You don’t have to have read Saddling to follow the story, but it helps if you have.

The Witchling

“The sins of our ancestors have committed us to the flames.”

Saddling is cursed and dying. The village will be lost unless someone burns at the stake on solstice morning. Six months after the life-changing events of The Saddling, Tom Carey must solve the witchling mystery and risk his life to save his lover.

Mystery and action combine in a sweltering thriller set on the Romney Marshes. The main characters return, you will meet new ones, but is William Blacklocks really dead? That’s just one of the mysteries to be solved as the story hits the parched ground running and doesn’t let up until the fire-pile is lit. The question is, who will burn to save Saddling?

“I have been waiting eagerly for the release of this book, having so enjoyed The Saddling. I read it in one sitting, ignoring other stuff I should have done. And I’m so glad I did. I was in the village by chapter 2, straight into the story, willing the characters to do as they should. A great read, it might even be better than The Saddling? You’ll have to read it to find out, but I think you won’t be disappointed!” Amazon review.

Symi Saturday Photos

To give you a well-earned break from me going on about my books, today we return to our regular service, providing you with a set of photos taken on Symi over the past months. I will be back on Monday when the book talk will take us to darker places, mysteries and horror…

Remotely and Honestly

Apparently, one of my most endearing characters is the mysterious wonder-worker, Miss P. She made her first appearance in a book called ‘Remotely’, and later she is found in a novella, ‘Honestly.’ Actually, in timeline terms, Honestly comes first, but you can read them in either order. I am currently working on a new Miss P story, ‘Unforgivable’ or ‘Unforgivably’, I’ve not decided yet. I intended to have each Miss P title as an adverb. Tomorrow, I’m going to put up the first chapter of ‘Unforgivable’ for you to take a look at. I should mention that it is draft one and unedited/proofed, but I’m sure you can overlook that. Meanwhile, here’s the info on the other two Miss P stories.

Remotely

Britain’s newest and most pointless TV talent competition is coming to Middlestone-On-Sea. ‘So You Think We’re Remotely Interested?’ has taken Friday night viewers by storm as it streams live variety shows from remote, provincial theatres across Britain. The theatre with the most audience votes wins regeneration and revival, and lord knows, Middlestone-on-Sea needs both. The dying seaside backwater rests its hopes on the performance of two ex-best friends, gay Gary and straight Stag.

The visiting celebrity judge, the mysterious and timeless Miss P, knows that for all to be well, they must mend their broken friendship. But there is no success without trial. She magically swaps Gary and Stag into each other’s bodies. Secrets are learned, comedy ensues, and yet the community remains divided.

Rifts must be healed, differences accepted, and bodies swapped back before the season grand finale in four days’ time otherwise Middlestone will lose everything.

“A really laugh out loud kind of holiday book. I used to live in the area that the author did and can totally connect with his train of thoughts about people. This book is a really fun easy read, James Collins should turn this into a mini series …I am a great advocate of his books and look forward to the next one please….” Amazon review

You don’t have to wait any longer because here’s Honestly (Kindle only, but it is only $0.99)

Honestly

Having cured Shakespeare of writer’s block, Miss P finds herself in the 20th century attending to a similar problem in a small fishing village. The timeless and slightly magical Miss P knows that the only way to solve the problem is to cause a friendship, and the only way to do that is to cause the whole village to speak honestly. As you can imagine, comedy ensues.

“I read Honestly in one sitting whilst on the train from Newcastle to Halifax. The characters were well thought out and when they suddenly started to tell the truth their antics were hilarious. The vicar was my favourite and I would love to meet him. Also makes you think about how we treat people because we put them into compartments without seeing the individual. Am ready for my next James Collins novel.” Amazon review.

Well, it might take me a while, but ‘Unforgivably’ is taking shape. There’s a preview coming tomorrow.

Symi Books (3)

Now then, if you like a bit of a treasure hunt adventure, comedy, Symi history and reading books where you might recognise certain people and places, you should like ‘Jason and the Sargonauts.’

Jason and the Sargonauts

A mysterious iron chest arrived on the island of Symi, Greece in 1882 and was immediately hidden for its own safety.

121 years later and Jason is working as a holiday rep for SARGO holidays. When his grandmother turns up as one of his guests, she brings with her a locked cigarette case, left to Jason by his recently departed grandfather and given to him on Symi in 1944. The case is opened and reveals a piece of music, but the music is not what it seems, and Jason and his small group of pensioners soon realise that they have stumbled on a secret that has been kept hidden on Symi all these years. A secret both dangerous and valuable.

“This is Dan Brown meets Whitehall Farce with a bit of education about Symi’s history thrown in for good measure. Set on the Greek island of Symi, it’s a fast paced whodunnit with lots of laughs and loads of page turning moments. Yes, it was hard to put down. This book deserves a large audience and stands up there with the best novels about contemporary Greece.” Amazon review

Tomorrow, in our book tour, we leave Symi and set off on another mysterious adventure…