REVIEW and INTERVIEW
A Trinity of Wicked Tales
Volume One: Jilted Love
Volume One: Jilted Love
by Kyla Ross
Kyla Ross, author of A Trinity of Wicked Tales Volume One: Jilted Love, stops by today for an interview and to share an excerpt from her book. You can also read my review.
Description
Desperation. Suspicion. Selfishness.
In this collection of dark tales lives will be savagely twisted, inner demons will be reawakened and deception will reign supreme. A quest for a fix turns bloody for two heroin addicts as their vicious endeavors land them into a gruesome pitfall. A marketing executive and car salesmen are deceived by the ones they love. Armed with rage, they set out to slaughter those responsible.
Excerpt from "Irises"
She was losing control of her love life once again, and what was more important than that? Natalie began to rock back and forth, her hip rubbing against the granite counter top. She tried to take control of her breathing, but this proved unsuccessful. She began to sob uncontrollably.
Natalie pushed herself away from the counter and hurried into the living room, where her smartphone rested on the suede love seat. She snatched it up and called Jason as she made her way back into the kitchen. No answer. Natalie threw her phone into the granite kitchen wall. The stone took the phone and smashed it to pieces.
Natalie began to pace back and forth from counter to counter, digging the heels of her bare feet into the marble tile.
“I vowed to never let a fucking man make me lose my mind again!” she yelled. Natalie grabbed the bottle of wine and shoved the spout against her lips. She desperately sucked the remaining liquid down her throat, nearly drowning herself in her haste. She looked at the sterling silver wall clock. 11:19.
She slammed the bottle on the counter. She opened her hands and rested them on her face, then pulled them down slowly, swiping away the tears and smeared mascara. Her blood pressure continued to rise as her body shook. She felt a jolt of anxiety and confusion go through her chest. She took another deep breath and abruptly exhaled. She looked around the kitchen.
He would risk all of this, she thought.
She smiled maniacally, her eyes gleaming. She tilted the knife, concentrating on the streaks of mascara running down her cheek, the eyeliner that covered small segments between her eyelashes and eyelids; most of it had been washed away. She admired her deep green eyes and the red lock that rested upon the side of her perfectly round shaped face. Her self-loathing was interrupted when she heard keys enter the keyhole of the front door. She briskly walked to the front door to see Jason enter. He reeked of irises.
[Want more? Click below to read another excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
"Deranged characters. Deception and twisted horror. Three dark tales with murderous endings. I enjoyed this book, look forward to vol. 2." ~ Rita Hyland
"It was good. The first story made my mouth drop. The second story, had me like wow. Yes I loved it, no joke. It was like I can picture the events happening in the story. The last one was out cold." ~ Lula Farris
"It was an awesome collection of short stories. I loved the suspense that the author gave, it was really chilling which makes it more fun to read. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves gruesome short stories. Read this compilation." ~ KyraLowry
"I enjoyed every twist and turn in each of the short stories in A Trinity of Wicked Tales: Jilted Love. The author was tasteful in painting a wonderful picture of each character and developing their personalities throughout each story. I look forward to Volume 2 and what the future holds in the rest of these wonderful stories!" ~ Britney U
"I really loved the complexities that came with the characters. It made them more than just fictional characters but instead real people that you could encounter in day to day life. It's also kind of terrifying the things we'd do for love and in A Trinity of Wicked Tales Ms. Ross explores those terrifying possibilities." ~ Amber
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
This is a collection of three short stories dealing with the subject of jilted love. They are cautionary tales of what can go wrong when love isn't reciprocated.
In "Junk for Two", two junkies will do anything for their next fix.
In "Iris", a young woman's obsession turns deadly.
In "Phil", when a man's life falls apart, he resorts to drastic measures.
Overall, the writing is good, but there are some clumsily phrased sentences that you need to read twice in order to ascertain their intended meanings. There are also too many unnecessary physical descriptions (especially in relation to eye color) and a few editing errors. Still, these are three interesting stories of obsession with unexpected endings. I look forward to seeing the author further develop her craft in the next volume.
Warnings: coarse language, graphic violence, sex scenes.
Interview With the Author
Author Kyla Ross joins me today to discuss her book of short stories, A Trinity of Wicked Tales Volume One: Jilted Love.
For what age group do you recommend your book?
Adult, mature readers.
What sparked the idea for this book?
Real life issues. I was having a really hard time with family and career. Then I found a grey hair. I had to write the thoughts out that I kept trapped inside for a decade. I had to make it happen.
Which comes first? The character's story or the plot?
The characters' stories mean everything. Their ideology of a fair and humble life are delusional. They ruin others in the process. It's fun seeing their stories from them.
What was the hardest part to write in this book?
It was my first literary fiction piece. So everything was a little challenging. I come from a technical background. So the transition wasn't as easy I thought it would be.
How do you hope this book affects its readers?
Think about how things could be worse when you're having a tough time. Appreciate those loyal people who support you. And make sure you know the one you devote yourself to. This is hard because you can be with someone for decades and not know them. But never ignore the signs.
How long did it take you to write this book?
Five months.
What is your writing routine?
I write whenever I feel inspired, which is often. Even when I'm driving, I pitch ideas to myself. I always have a notebook.
How did you get your book published?
I self-published it.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Keep writing, take constructive criticism. Look to be better at you craft and commit to the long run. It's a fun ride.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Reading is cool. I love music, so I blast that in my car and house.
What does your family think of your writing?
My family enjoys my writing. Mom thinks it's a little dark but she appreciates it. My siblings and family member love the book and are very proud.
Please tell us a bit about your childhood.
I grew up in Detroit. Not the most lavish life, but I had really good friends. We moved a lot. I was a shy kid so finding a friend and keeping them for a long time was a custom for me. I'm the oldest of six so there was never a solo moment for me until college. I had a lot of stress on my shoulders but it was worth it. I am very, very close to my siblings.
Did you like to read when you were a child?
Yes! I thought books were an amazing escape. My aunt used to work at a science and engineering library and we spent a ton of time with her. I pretended to understand what I was reading every time. Though I didn't understand what I was reading, I couldn't help it. I loved the books for being books full of things I didn't understand. It was fun for me. And of course there was the Goosebumps series, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, anything the Reading Rainbow discussed. I was always a bookworm.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A long time ago, but I was having a love affair with biochemistry, so I set it aside. I picked it up when my mom told me to stop doubting myself and that I owe it to myself to 'fail'. She said it will be okay. Just try. And I did, and I'm enjoying every moment of it.
Did your childhood experiences influence your writing?
Yes and no. Growing up in Detroit, I saw and heard things that were both terrifying and refreshing. It was real life. The horrible things that people do to each other is nothing that we should pretend doesn't happen. It does. Nowadays, things don't surprise me. I guess my hard outer shell makes it a little easy to get graphic in my writing.
Which writers have influenced you the most?
I love Sam Sisavath! I read tons of writers but right now he's at the top of my list. I'm getting into Richard Laymon and am liking what I'm reading. Stephen King is an amazing author as well. Lately, I've been reading indie author books, so my top 3 changes often.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I do hear from readers of my book and free flash fiction. They say they really enjoyed the thrill and the twist I provide. The graphic scenes were enough to make some people tell me I scared the hell out of them. It's all positive. It's fun to talk with them on social media. Their interest keeps me going.
What can we look forward to from you in the future?
Wow. Where to start? I have a Romantic Suspense/Erotic Thriller coming out this summer (a novel). A Trinity of Wicked Tales Volume Two will be out in October, and I publish free flash fiction monthly. I'm doing some guest posts, some of my work will be narrated on a podcast. I am also aiming to publish a horror novella this year.
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by today, Kyla. Anything else you would like to add?
Happy reading everybody!
About the Author
Kyla Ross is a horror, thriller, and dark fiction writer from Detroit, Michigan. She posts suspense and horror flash fiction on her blog biweekly and is the author of a collection of gruesome suspenseful short stories titled A Trinity of Wicked Tales Volume One: Jilted Love. Her first erotic thriller novel, When We Swing, will be released in June 2017.
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