Gabriel Church knows you can’t take a life without first understanding just how feeble life is, how tentative and weak it stands alone. If you desire murder, you hold a life in your hand. Whether you release it to grant life or grip tighter to end it, it is at your command and discretion. Gabriel is a serial killer with a story he wants told. Christian Maxwell studied abnormal psychology in college but chose instead to focus on a career in writing. His background comes in handy when he thinks of writing about a serial killer. He can’t think of anyone more qualified to write the story of Gabriel Lee Church, and do so in the murderer’s own words. It’s been done before, but never with a killer who has yet to be captured or convicted. There was never anything more than a gentleman’s understanding between the two men that Christian would record Gabriel’s life story. The killer did not ask for his complicity in any crimes, nor did he ever ask for his silence. Christian’s interest in the man, though, is fast becoming something more than academic. When the writer and his subject become unexpected friends and then lovers, the question remains: What is Gabriel’s endgame . . . and why does he want his story told?
I was contacted by Rodd and asked to consider reviewing his M/M Romantic Thriller. So I read the synopsis of the book and immediately hopped over to Amazon to purchase myself a copy. Yes, even though he requested me to read/review the book and would supply me with a copy for an unbiased review, I decided this book was worth having in paperback. FYI: Paper books are my drug of choice.
Besides the book summary, which drew me like a moth to a flame, I found the cover eye catching in a “gross but I can’t stop staring” sort of way. Comparison – People who can’t help but drive slowly by a wreck and gawk at emergency personnel working on the carnage, attempting to glimpse what is happening; mouth agape.
Yup, that was me in a nutshell.
Anywho…….
Anywho…….
As a fan of Criminal Minds, I like to figure out what makes people tick. Why they do the things they do. Rodd gave brilliant insight into the mind of a serial killer and the person (man in this case) who fell in love with one.
But along the journey, I found myself growing bored with the slow pace of the tale which I can only describe as a dry, written documentary.
I must reiterate though, Rodd demonstrated remarkably well the lure a killer has over its prey.
As for the ending….. not what I expected but not everything can be like you see on tv. HEA don’t always exist.
But along the journey, I found myself growing bored with the slow pace of the tale which I can only describe as a dry, written documentary.
I must reiterate though, Rodd demonstrated remarkably well the lure a killer has over its prey.
As for the ending….. not what I expected but not everything can be like you see on tv. HEA don’t always exist.
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤
1. Welcome, Rodd Clark. For
those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the
readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?
those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the
readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?
(RC) I
started writing when I was a young boy.
I remember writing my first book by 16, titled ‘Non-existence Plus’ it
was riddled with errors and never saw the published light. But it was a labor of love
none-the-less. I became published quite
recently, feeling that need to mark one more item off my bucket list. It was a M/M mystery Titled “Short Ride to Hell” and since I really
connected with my main character the next two books of his story quickly
followed suit. I found a few publishers
interested in the series but being committed and with contracts already signed
I decided to write another book out of my usual genre and found myself enjoying
the character of Gabriel Church. So I
submitted the new book to another publisher and when the book began to take off
I decided to do a series dedicated to him and his unique story. I have issues with letting go of my
characters sometimes. Not that it
bothers me, as long as readers feel the same way.
started writing when I was a young boy.
I remember writing my first book by 16, titled ‘Non-existence Plus’ it
was riddled with errors and never saw the published light. But it was a labor of love
none-the-less. I became published quite
recently, feeling that need to mark one more item off my bucket list. It was a M/M mystery Titled “Short Ride to Hell” and since I really
connected with my main character the next two books of his story quickly
followed suit. I found a few publishers
interested in the series but being committed and with contracts already signed
I decided to write another book out of my usual genre and found myself enjoying
the character of Gabriel Church. So I
submitted the new book to another publisher and when the book began to take off
I decided to do a series dedicated to him and his unique story. I have issues with letting go of my
characters sometimes. Not that it
bothers me, as long as readers feel the same way.
2. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
(RC) Interesting
question, I tell myself that writer’s block is just that point when your
characters are simply fighting to jump beyond the page and breath. But it is difficult maintaining a schedule of
writing every day when you must also commit to the promotional aspects of
publishing and marketing. If I encounter
a block I know this is life just telling me that I need to work that area during
the break.
question, I tell myself that writer’s block is just that point when your
characters are simply fighting to jump beyond the page and breath. But it is difficult maintaining a schedule of
writing every day when you must also commit to the promotional aspects of
publishing and marketing. If I encounter
a block I know this is life just telling me that I need to work that area during
the break.
3. Contrary to what some people
envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not
for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing,
how do you spend your time?
envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not
for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing,
how do you spend your time?
(RC) To be
honest there is a serious absence of glitz and glam in my life. I spend a lot of my time with animals. And I have a menagerie of pets to occupy any
free time, which is a rarity. My dogs
and cats are a source of both joy as well as troublesome pains in the ass. But as a child I saw myself being a writer
and being surrounded by animals, so at least this much came true. But even as I write these words, I have cats
and dogs that are looking at me with sour scowls which tell me it’s nearly
feeding time once again.
honest there is a serious absence of glitz and glam in my life. I spend a lot of my time with animals. And I have a menagerie of pets to occupy any
free time, which is a rarity. My dogs
and cats are a source of both joy as well as troublesome pains in the ass. But as a child I saw myself being a writer
and being surrounded by animals, so at least this much came true. But even as I write these words, I have cats
and dogs that are looking at me with sour scowls which tell me it’s nearly
feeding time once again.
4. I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you
write? If so, what are their thoughts?
write? If so, what are their thoughts?
(RC) I rarely
admit to being a writer. Although I have
friends who know how I spend my days, I imagine few could actually name a title
for one of my books. This shows how much
they are interested in me and not what I do in my secret world in front of a
computer screen. And I guess I kinda
enjoy that. I am proud to acknowledge my successes, but for a writer who hangs
with mostly non-readers, I can always be assured they know I am nothing
special, just one of the guys hanging in the gang. But between you and me, it is fun when I run
across another writer and we find ourselves slipping from the crowd to talk
about things like writer’s block and marketing ideas, or conversing on where
our next adventures might take us and what people we might develop as our
guides.
admit to being a writer. Although I have
friends who know how I spend my days, I imagine few could actually name a title
for one of my books. This shows how much
they are interested in me and not what I do in my secret world in front of a
computer screen. And I guess I kinda
enjoy that. I am proud to acknowledge my successes, but for a writer who hangs
with mostly non-readers, I can always be assured they know I am nothing
special, just one of the guys hanging in the gang. But between you and me, it is fun when I run
across another writer and we find ourselves slipping from the crowd to talk
about things like writer’s block and marketing ideas, or conversing on where
our next adventures might take us and what people we might develop as our
guides.
5. Will you share with us your all-time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top
ten.
ten.
(RC) Naturally I have favorites and enjoy the greats like John le
Carre’, Stephen King, Ken Follett, J. R. R. Tolkien and countless others. But recently I think I enjoy discovering new
faces. The ones I know to be cresting
the horizon of the literary illuminati very soon. For me it’s like unearthing some half-buried trinket
left discarded in the sand then pulling it out only to find out how it shines
and offers great value for many to appreciate. The recent authors whom I’ve
found are in the ranks of writers like Allen Renfro, Lee Thomas, Erin O’Quinn,
Marshall Thornton, Dorien Grey and William Kowalski. Though all are from different genres, they
all bring something special to the table and I’m utterly amazed at the talented
people working in the field these days.
I am forever grateful to join their league and I try very hard to
emulate them in any way possible.
Carre’, Stephen King, Ken Follett, J. R. R. Tolkien and countless others. But recently I think I enjoy discovering new
faces. The ones I know to be cresting
the horizon of the literary illuminati very soon. For me it’s like unearthing some half-buried trinket
left discarded in the sand then pulling it out only to find out how it shines
and offers great value for many to appreciate. The recent authors whom I’ve
found are in the ranks of writers like Allen Renfro, Lee Thomas, Erin O’Quinn,
Marshall Thornton, Dorien Grey and William Kowalski. Though all are from different genres, they
all bring something special to the table and I’m utterly amazed at the talented
people working in the field these days.
I am forever grateful to join their league and I try very hard to
emulate them in any way possible.
6. If you could choose one book to
go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
(RC) I
would love to see “Rubble and the
Wreckage” hit the silver screen, and I could easily imagine the New Zealand
actor Antony Starr playing the lead role of Gabriel Church. He is best known for his Cinemax series Banshee, as I hope your audience may be
familiar with. I can say with a shy,
coquettish grin that I think he is the epitome of the character of Church. He is both dashing and rough (and in all the
right areas). He represents the raw
masculinity in that character I envisioned, and I have to confess to infusing
his beautiful image inside my skull whenever I am writing about Gabriel in a
book or an interview such as this one. I
think he could easily portray the duality and show both the sensually flawed
nature as well as the morally twisted leanings of a serial killer in love. It is these traits which made him such an
inspiration to this humble writer.
would love to see “Rubble and the
Wreckage” hit the silver screen, and I could easily imagine the New Zealand
actor Antony Starr playing the lead role of Gabriel Church. He is best known for his Cinemax series Banshee, as I hope your audience may be
familiar with. I can say with a shy,
coquettish grin that I think he is the epitome of the character of Church. He is both dashing and rough (and in all the
right areas). He represents the raw
masculinity in that character I envisioned, and I have to confess to infusing
his beautiful image inside my skull whenever I am writing about Gabriel in a
book or an interview such as this one. I
think he could easily portray the duality and show both the sensually flawed
nature as well as the morally twisted leanings of a serial killer in love. It is these traits which made him such an
inspiration to this humble writer.
7. Would you care to tell us what
you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just
whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just
whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
(RC) I am
working the edits for book two in the Gabriel Church Tales at the moment. Readers have expressed an interest in seeing
more on the two main characters and the relationship Church has with his pseudo
lover, Christian Maxwell. I was pleased
to continue the story because as I have stated, letting go is sometimes a
challenge for me. The book is titled “Behold a Pale Rider” and takes a deeper
study into the men picking up shortly after the conclusion of Rubble and the
Wreckage. I am also attempting to work
the third book in the series but trying to force myself into closing the
chapter on these characters. Though this
prospect saddens me more than it rightly should.
working the edits for book two in the Gabriel Church Tales at the moment. Readers have expressed an interest in seeing
more on the two main characters and the relationship Church has with his pseudo
lover, Christian Maxwell. I was pleased
to continue the story because as I have stated, letting go is sometimes a
challenge for me. The book is titled “Behold a Pale Rider” and takes a deeper
study into the men picking up shortly after the conclusion of Rubble and the
Wreckage. I am also attempting to work
the third book in the series but trying to force myself into closing the
chapter on these characters. Though this
prospect saddens me more than it rightly should.
8. Where can we find your stories, and is there a particular reading order?
(RC) I
have recently pulled my Brantley Colton Mysteries series from their original
publishers and should be moving them to a new house for a re-release very soon. All books should be available at most online
vendors, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, Google Play I Books, Oyster…. Hopefully they will be in brick and mortar
stores one day real soon. If readers are
interested in M/M mysteries with a dark edge then I might begin with “Short Ride to Hell”, where we first are
introduced to Brantley Colton and his unusual circumstance. He moves into book two in “A Cache of Killers” and ends in “No Place for the Wicked”. I should be releasing them with my current
publisher soon. I tried to write each
book as a stand-alone novel, but reading them in that sequence works best. For the Gabriel Church Tales, book one
published by Driven Press and begins in “Rubble
and the Wreckage” and travels into “Behold
a Pale Rider”, as I stated with the same publishers Driven Press. Hopefully by next year readers will see the
conclusion of Church’s tales in what is tentatively titled “Dominion- at the brink of sadness”. Yes, that title has some ominous overtones,
and I hope offers some insight to the resolutions. But one can never be too
certain. Because you can’t judge a book
by its cover or its title alone, am I right?
have recently pulled my Brantley Colton Mysteries series from their original
publishers and should be moving them to a new house for a re-release very soon. All books should be available at most online
vendors, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, Google Play I Books, Oyster…. Hopefully they will be in brick and mortar
stores one day real soon. If readers are
interested in M/M mysteries with a dark edge then I might begin with “Short Ride to Hell”, where we first are
introduced to Brantley Colton and his unusual circumstance. He moves into book two in “A Cache of Killers” and ends in “No Place for the Wicked”. I should be releasing them with my current
publisher soon. I tried to write each
book as a stand-alone novel, but reading them in that sequence works best. For the Gabriel Church Tales, book one
published by Driven Press and begins in “Rubble
and the Wreckage” and travels into “Behold
a Pale Rider”, as I stated with the same publishers Driven Press. Hopefully by next year readers will see the
conclusion of Church’s tales in what is tentatively titled “Dominion- at the brink of sadness”. Yes, that title has some ominous overtones,
and I hope offers some insight to the resolutions. But one can never be too
certain. Because you can’t judge a book
by its cover or its title alone, am I right?
9. Would you please share how your
present and future fans can contact you?
present and future fans can contact you?
(RC) Well
I suppose since we live in a world of social media I have to include some of
the sites where you can find me. I am always eager to speak to fans and other
writers, so reach out and say hello, I will always respond and thank you for
your visit.
I suppose since we live in a world of social media I have to include some of
the sites where you can find me. I am always eager to speak to fans and other
writers, so reach out and say hello, I will always respond and thank you for
your visit.
10. Before we conclude this
enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The
stage is all yours.
enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The
stage is all yours.
(RC) I
appreciate the soapbox time, truly I do.
And since asked I’d like to remind readers how much their individual
reviews mean to authors professionally.
If the book stirred some emotional
twinge you hadn’t expected or made you reconsider a previously held viewpoint, then
it’s important that you stop and offer a note in the review sections, as on
GoodReads or Amazon or Kobo. Even the
briefest of notes, good or bad, allows the author to know they made an impact. And I value the less than stellar reviews as
much as great ones, fortunately I have fewer than I expected. They allow me to see what fans want more of,
albeit more erotically charged situations or better characters they can relate
too. My writing has been considered dark and at times disturbing, but I myself
enjoy seeing what the reader has gathered from the work and I’ve made some good
friends along the way during the process as readers reached out to privately on
social media and email comments. I would
like to build a fan base, as all authors do, and it starts with someone making
a connection and showing they first read the book. So enjoy then stop by and offer your comments
and suggestions. They mean a great deal
to the writer, I kid you not.
appreciate the soapbox time, truly I do.
And since asked I’d like to remind readers how much their individual
reviews mean to authors professionally.
If the book stirred some emotional
twinge you hadn’t expected or made you reconsider a previously held viewpoint, then
it’s important that you stop and offer a note in the review sections, as on
GoodReads or Amazon or Kobo. Even the
briefest of notes, good or bad, allows the author to know they made an impact. And I value the less than stellar reviews as
much as great ones, fortunately I have fewer than I expected. They allow me to see what fans want more of,
albeit more erotically charged situations or better characters they can relate
too. My writing has been considered dark and at times disturbing, but I myself
enjoy seeing what the reader has gathered from the work and I’ve made some good
friends along the way during the process as readers reached out to privately on
social media and email comments. I would
like to build a fan base, as all authors do, and it starts with someone making
a connection and showing they first read the book. So enjoy then stop by and offer your comments
and suggestions. They mean a great deal
to the writer, I kid you not.
Ladies and Gents, I hope you enjoyed my interview with Rodd Clark. If
you have any questions or comments for Rodd, by
all means, leave him a message below. Thank you in advance for your visit!
you have any questions or comments for Rodd, by
all means, leave him a message below. Thank you in advance for your visit!
