After being attacked while in the forest, a man fights the beast within for control over his mind and body in Tainted by P.J. Marshman

Alex has had nightmares for as long as he can remember – dark images of death that plague his sleep but vanish when he wakes. When he’s with his friends on vacation, he’s viciously attacked in a remote mountain forest. The attack awakens something inside him, a hungry creature from his horrid nightmares. Alex must suppress this beast within, or his friends may be the only thing that satisfy his new hunger.

The author has worked on the manuscript for several years, and is even devoloping a screenplay based on it. The narrative is nice and creepy, moving quickly as it promises scares to come. Go check out Tainted on Inkshares now!

<– Go back to the list of Inkshares previews

Help me kickstart my writing career and get a great sci-fi novel!

Far Flung, my sci-fi epic that’s in the Top 50 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, is in funding now.

Support this story, and I will write a preview for any work you want to promote! Be sure to read the preview chapters & tell me what you think. 

Nightmares intertwine with reality for the heroine of Daughter of the Mara by Alexandra Bittner.

Jayashree Atkinson is constantly surrounded by dreams even while awake, and is locked away for five years for a crime she doesn’t remember. Now she is finally free from the psychiatric hospital where she feared she would spend her entire life. Thanks to a mysterious stranger who broke into her hospital, she knows that she is a mara – the living embodiment of a nightmare.

She begins to learn what it means to be a mara, as she controls her dreams and faces enemies in the waking world. She will have to confront the mother who abandoned her as well as other mara as she tries to learn who and what she is.

Reviewers praise the dark descriptions of the nightmares that surround Jayashree, as well as the complex narrative that follows her journey of self-discovery amidst her struggles against unknown evils. The preview chapters are deeply intriquing as Jayashree deals with both dark visions and skepticism from the doctors around her. Be sure to check out Daughter of the Mara on Amazon and learn more about her dark journey. 

<– Go back to the list of Inkshares previews

Help me kickstart my writing career and get a great sci-fi novel!

Far Flung, my sci-fi epic that’s in the Top 50 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, is in funding now.

Support this story, and I will write a preview for any work you want to promote! Be sure to read the preview chapters & tell me what you think. 

The Wolf in the Woods is an anthology of terror by Benjamin Gray that is in the running for the horror contest.

This book promises to be a creepy anthology of flash fiction and short stories with creepy themes. Wishes with terrible prices, journeys that never end, a computer game that acts against its creator’s wishes – the stories vary in genre, but each promises to have a dark twist.

Anthologies can be a tough sell, but when they promise unusual premises and creeping terror, it’s hard not to be drawn in. The three preview stories available already show a good, crisp narrative with good characters and storytelling. Be sure to check it out on Inkshares!

<– Go back to the list of Inkshares previews

Help me kickstart my writing career and get a great sci-fi novel!

Far Flung, my sci-fi epic that’s in the Top 50 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, is in funding now.

Support this story, and I will write a preview for any work you want to promote! Be sure to read the preview chapters & tell me what you think. 

In The Sulphur Cure by Barry Brennessel, an artist who lost everything in the Great Depression searches for the brother he thought was lost in the Great War.

This book is a bit different from the other Inkshares books I’m previewing – The Sulphur Cure was written and published before going on Inkshares for the Launch Pad competition, but this contest should get a bigger audience for the author.

The story follows Vincent Rhodes, an artist who lost his family fortune in the Great Depression, as he receives letters from his brother Theo. Theo went missing in the Great War, so Vincent leaves Brooklyn, following clues in the letters to solve the mystery and find his brother. His search takes him to New England, but the eclectic residents of a decaying resort known as The Sulphur Cure have dark secrets of their own.

Rhodes is an intriguing character from the start, and I really appreciate the simple, compelling narrative of the chapters I’ve read so far. Be sure to check it out on Inkshares and Amazon!

<– Go back to the list of Inkshares previews

Help me kickstart my writing career and get a great sci-fi novel!

Far Flung, my sci-fi epic that’s in the Top 50 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, is in funding now.

Support this story, and I will write a preview for any work you want to promote! Be sure to read the preview chapters & tell me what you think. 

In The Valentine Saga: Innocence by Brendon Udy, a young woman emerges from a fallout bunker after spending 24 years with only a humanoid robot for company.

Nina Valentine lives in a fallout shelter with only one friend, her robot Bob. After 24 years, Nina is ready to break out to the surface, but when she does, she finds the remains of a global war with aliens. As she and Bob search for answers, they discover that the war never truly ended.

Nina is a likable character from the start – smart, brave, and witty. The narrative moves quickly, and promises an enjoyable adventure to come. Check it out on  Inkshares now!

<– Go back to the list of Inkshares previews

Help me kickstart my writing career and get a great sci-fi novel!

Far Flung, my sci-fi epic that’s in the Top 50 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, is in funding now.

Support this story, and I will write a preview for any work you want to promote! Be sure to read the preview chapters & tell me what you think. 

A fantasy allegory for the cycle of abuse, Borehole Bazaar by Kendra Namednil is a very different dark fantasy.

The story follows the royal bodyguard Ptielieren after he has fled his privileged life to protect his land. He and his companions are assaulted by ferocious creatures and captured by bugbears to serve as pets for their cubs. A harrowing survival story follows, as they can neither run away or fight back.

Reviewers praise the exploration of abusive relationships and the darkly detailed narrative. You can find out more about this upcoming book on the Inkshares page here!

<– Go back to the list of Inkshares previews

Help me kickstart my writing career and get a great sci-fi novel!

Far Flung, my sci-fi epic that’s in the Top 50 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, is in funding now.

Support this story, and I will write a preview for any work you want to promote! Be sure to read the preview chapters & tell me what you think. 

Magic returns, bringing with it chaos and destruction in The Seventh Age by Rick Heinz

The first in a planned series of urban fantasy novels, The Seventh Age: Dawn follows Mike Auburn as he deals with visions of the walking dead as he seeks evidence of the afterlife. He discovers a plot to bring magic back and demons and unleash them onto an unsuspecting world.

The tone is the best part right from the start – with the action set in Chicago and a darkly sardonic narrator, it’s hard not to compare it to the Dresden Files. The narrative quickly finds its own darkly comedic voice, though, as the story follows a twisted path into a dark conspiracy. Seventh Age: Dawn can be ordered at Inkshares or at Amazon now!

<– Go back to the list of Inkshares previews

Help me kickstart my writing career and get a great sci-fi novel!

Far Flung, my sci-fi epic that’s in the Top 50 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, is in funding now.

Be sure to read the preview chapters & tell me what you think. Support this story, and I will write a preview for any work you want to promote!

In Crow’s Gambit by Patrick Tebbe, aliens invade Earth and shut down all forms of flight – satellites, planes, and rockets.

The premise of Crow’s Gambit is intriguing, with alien invaders blocking all flight on Earth. Airliners and anything that flies is destroyed, with no explanation from the mysterious Slyph aliens. The story follows Cassie, a drone pilot who flies low and fast to avoid human laws and alien weapons. Cassie is approached by an eccentric billionaire with a dream of reclaiming the skies. Hoever, there are forces on Earth that benefit from the status quo, and no one is certain how the aliens will react.

I thought the premise was really interesting as an examination of the impact of avionics on human history and culture. It sounds like it’ll be a thrilling read! You can preorder Crow’s Gambit at Inkshares here.

<– Go back to the list of Inkshares previews

Help me kickstart my writing career and get a great sci-fi novel!

Far Flung, my sci-fi epic that’s in the Top 50 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, is in funding now.

Be sure to read the preview chapters & tell me what you think! Consider supporting the campaign – your support will help me put this in the hands of readers everywhere!

Sunshine is Forever by Kyle T. Cowan is a darkly comic take on depression.

How can an author handle the sensitive topics of teen depression and suicide? It’s a tough road to follow for any writer, but Cowan’s narrative strikes a balance between dark humor and deep respect for the tough issues facing teens. In a narrative reminiscent of The Catcher in the Rye, Hunter details his life in Camp Sunshine, a rehab center for depressed teens. He meets Corin, a beautiful and mysterious girl with a plan to break out of the camp. He has to choose between following Corin and escaping, or staying to finish the therapy he has begun.

I love the preview chapters a lot, as I found this book resonates with much of my memory of teenage years. Reviewers also appreciated the satire and brutal honesty of the tale. You can get Sunshine is Forever at Amazon or at its original Inkshares page.

<– Go back to the list of Inkshares previews

Help me kickstart my writing career and get a great sci-fi novel!

Far Flung, my sci-fi epic that’s in the Top 50 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, is in funding now.

Be sure to read the preview chapters & tell me what you think! Consider supporting the campaign – your support will help me put this in the hands of readers everywhere!