Fictional Tendencies

Sometimes we need a reset. We need to step away from the lives we’ve created for ourselves and just run, or ride. Feel the crisp winter air on our face. Feel the faintest of icicles form in your lungs. Lick your chapped lips, they aren’t chapped enough. Enjoy the sun, when it decides to come out of hiding from behind the clouds.

Getting outside and away from civilization, even if you aren’t too far away, should be a requirement for the living. People who enjoy nature seem to be more relaxed, more centered and overall appear to be genuinely nicer people.

Fresh air clears the head, so does exercise. I rode twenty miles today. I haven’t done that for close to a year. Sure I’m sore, but it’s the good type of sore. I took a few photographs Watched a Bald Eagle eat a meal. Watched a Crow watch it’s brother or sister get eaten by the Bald Eagle and also try to get a bite as well. I watched the waters rise and paused to reflect.

And when all was said in a done I was humbled by a gust of wind.

Thanks for reading.

Road to Moonlight City Drive

I’ve been a part of a writer’s group on Facebook called Fiction Writing for close to a year now. I’ve been quietly observing the group and its Administrators, one of which is a Mr. Brian Paone. Does the name sound familiar to you? If it does, that’s great. If it doesn’t, don’t worry, it didn’t sound familiar to me and to some degree – even though I know of him – it still doesn’t.

Brian is what I would consider a creative force to be reckoned with. On top of being an Administrator for Fiction Writing he has his own website and blog (Brian Paone), he’s a musician and he’s a published Author. He makes time for his creative endeavors – and the chaos that’s included – all while supporting and taking care of his family. If interested, you can read more about Brian in his blog.

Before I go too far off on this tangent; like I mentioned, I was quietly observing Fiction Writing and the Facebook group and taking notes, one of the notes I took from Brian was to support your fellow writer. Now, I thought for a long time on this. Sure, I’m the guy that goes to the book store and judges books by their cover and buys them. I risk it all for the unknown. Most are failures, meaning they weren’t as entertaining as I had hoped. The books. And Brian being a creative force, was on my radar. Mostly out of curiosity. Here’s this guy providing advice but is he any good? (And yes, I’m well aware I’m being judgmental for being someone who has several story ideas collecting dust.)

So being the supportive guy that I am, I “Liked” and “Followed” Brian Paone’s Author Facebook page. I’ll say this now, because I haven’t stated it yet, I don’t know Brian and have never had any interaction with him other than my creepy Facebook peeks into what’s going on in his literary world. In my feed two weeks ago I see a new post on his Author page, he’s sharing an article from his blog about the one year anniversary of Moonlight City Drive , its origins and what lead him to write a sequel. He caught my attention, can this be good, the book Moonlight City Drive? Does it constitute a sequel? I just reading four books so why not take a shot on the unknown. Let’s see what this is about.

The Review and Conclusion

Private Eye Hank Smith get’s the case of the century when a Mrs. Eva Covington walks into his office stating that she knows who the Boulevard Killer is. The events that unfold throughout the pages of Moonlight City Drive require the aid of whisky, the love of a good woman and the help and loyalty of unlikely friends. I won’t spoil the story as I believe it’s worth reading.

Moonlight City Drive at it’s best can be compared to an Elmore Leonard novel, and at its worst, is some B-Movie Noir kitsch that might find a cult following  on Mystery Science Theatre 3000 or Elvira’s Movie Macabre, or a show of that ilk. And don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a bad thing. What Brian Paone does with Moonlight City Drive is wonderful as it allowed me, the reader, to suspend any disbelief and dive into the world he created.

Does Moonlight City Drive constitute a sequel? Or even more importantly, does is there enough mojo here to create a trilogy? Personally, I don’t think so. I was quite content where the book ended. Again, I won’t spoil anything as I think the story is worth reading, but at the end of the book I smiled at the destination of the  journey Smith had taken.

Does a sequel makes sense? Yes, yes it does. Does the story in Moonlight City Drive constitute a trilogy? Only time and the end of the second book in the Moonlight City Drive Trilogy will tell.

If you’re currently in between books, I would recommend Moonlight City Drive, it’s worth every penny of the $9.99 I spent. I read it over the course of a weekend and spent about three and a half hours total reading time. Pick it up and enjoy. I’m glad I did.

Thanks for reading.