Mystery – Venom!
About the Author
About the Author
The novel was given Honorable Mention in 2020 Writer’s Digest eBook Awards.
A robot possessing unique artificial intelligence and human awareness, André 1 tells the story of his creation and “growing up” in his inventor’s family. Often humorously fumbling in his interactions with people, André analyzes his experiences, attempting to understand the faults and foibles of human personality. Accompanied by his girlfriend, Dr. Margaret 13, a droid physician of his own creation, André achieves a position as translator and self-appointed mendacity-monitor to the American President and strives to save humans from themselves.
“André’s Reboot is an intriguing speculative fiction novel that brings a fresh perspective to many reader’s actual fears. Successful speculative fiction tends to provide insight into reality by slightly shifting the premise or introducing a new aspect. André,who I realize to be a highly intelligent, anthropomorphized robot serves as that new aspect that provides distance to a reality worth observing.
The novel works on many levels. One would be irony, like when André’s hired to alert the president of lies, yet mostly alerts him of his own lies during meetings. Moments like this were funny and entertaining. Another would be empathy, for Steve Coleman does a stellar job building each character and connecting the reader through points of empathy — Billy refusing André’s phone call was a particular point of tension.
Also, the believability of the plot builds credit for Coleman, since many authors would tend to rely on the reader’s real-world experience of a particularly satirical character, yet Coleman expertly builds the president within the confines of the novel. This allows the president’s antics to be readily believable and build naturally through the novel as a character rather than a political caricature.
All together, Coleman did well to ground his imagination and not stretch any aspects beyond the willing suspension of belief available. – Judge, 7thAnnual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Ebook Awards
A resident of Birmingham, Steve Coleman earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Duke University and a Master of Arts in English from University of Alabama. Formerly a naval officer, a high school teacher, owner of a company, and a commercial real estate broker, Coleman retired in 2009 and now enjoys sailing, writing and landscape painting. He has authored biographies and histories of local interest, magazine articles, novels and poetry. His story, “The Meanest Man in Pickens County,” was the first place (state) winner in the 2013 Hackney Literary Awards for short stories. He has published two other novels: The Navigator: A Perilous Passage, Evasion at Sea and The Navigator II: Irish Revenge. For more information, please visit my website: http://www.captstevestories.com and http://www.andretherobot.com.
Passionate Oversights – A True Crime Story” is about a man’s involvement with a girl he meets on Craig’s List.
It is only after he travels out of state and moves in with her, that he finds out about her dark secret. She is a Black Widow woman in disguise.
Suffering at the hands of a sadistic lover is only the beginning. He is arrested for a heinous crime, even though he is innocent. Physical and emotional abuse from a corrupt judicial system could possibly lead to his death. Through this journey, the reader discovers how one man used every single ounce of his being to survive.
This is a story of domestic abuse from a male point of view and is a must-read for anyone considering an internet based romance. Order “Passionate Oversights” today from Amazon, KOBO or Barnes and Noble.
Charles Massie, the oldest of four children, grew up in upstate New York. After finishing high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served a total of six years at various ports around the world. Returning to civilian life, he continued his education at Syracuse University. Upon graduation, he worked for a number of engineering firms before finding his calling in the sales field.
Having an entrepreneurial spirit, he decided to go off on his own and has been instrumental in overseeing such companies as Massie Engineering Associates, InfoTech Consulting, LLC, and CaterCats Catering. The call of creative expression has always been in the background of his life and over the years, he has submitted articles and stories to Twilight Zone Magazine, Readers Digest, Analog Publications and others.
His hobbies, when he is not writing, include progressive rock music, computers and other toys, traveling and enjoying the gifts that he has been blessed with. He loves animals, humor, exotic cars and practicing random acts of kindness.
He lives in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and New York State and maintains his website at: http://www.charleswmassie.com
Author Interview:
What inspired you to become a writer?
Over about 30 years, I submitted articles to publications like Redbook, Readers Digest and Twilight Zone magazines. In 2011 I decided to try my hand at writing a novel. The rest is history because I now have authored true crime, young adult, comedy and cookbooks.
What did you do before you became a published author?
I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering but my most recent employment was as CEO of an Information Technology company. I am now retired and writing fills my need to be active.
Is there anything you found particularly challenging about writing?
A long time ago, someone told me to just put my fingers on the keys and start typing; not caring about the output. I have found that sometimes I cannot come up with anything to write about, and this trick works every time.
Who are your cover designers?
I design every cover for my books. I have a background in promotion and feel this is a talent that suits me well at this time.
What authors are your inspiration?
I like to read a lot of different authors. John Grisham and Robert R. McGammon are two of my favorites. I also read Patricia Cromwell, James Patterson and Nora Roberts.
What advice would you give any newbie author or anyone that wants to pick up writing?
JUST START. Everything can be fixed at a later date, but that means nothing, if you don’t have anything to work with. Also, you have to write something everyday. It can be a story outline, a paragraph or several chapters; but you need to start first.
A Public Library Association 2019 regional award winner
No-nonsense rookie paralegal Naomi Manymules pauses on a lakeside clifftop to enjoy a moonlit moment and hears someone swimming far below. When something loudly shatters the quiet – firecrackers, maybe? – she heads for home. The next day she learns that a lifelong friend is now a prime murder suspect, because her sleazy, abusive husband has turned up naked and dead in a boat on the lake. When her friend can offer only a coyote as her alibi, the police aren’t inclined to look much further. Undaunted, Naomi and her new boss, Grant Carson, launch an investigation of their own. With wicked humor and a big helping of snark, they navigate through a colorful assortment of petty criminals, surly teenagers, prominent locals, likable polygamists, and a big-city mobster or two. It’s only a matter of time before they become targets themselves.
“An enjoyably twisty mystery with appealing characters and a vivid setting” Kirkus Reviews
“The writing here is clever, crisp, and consistent.” Critic’s Report, Book Life
J. & D. Burges are an award-winning husband-and-wife writing team. Having lived for many years on the edge of the Navajo Nation, they write with cheerful authority about open spaces, big lakes, and the unique mix of cultures captured in their Sage Landing stories. Coyote Alibi is a Public Library Association 2019 regional winner in fiction.
Their mysteries are now hatched in a cottage in the woods near a lake. It’s a great place to plot light-hearted homicides, capers, scams, and other fictional mischief. When they’re not doing that or working out, they might be dancing a foxtrot or tango. There’s also some knitting and woodworking going on.
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