Podcast Interview – Haunted Nights Live
Earlier today I was interviewed about Painless for the Haunted Nights Live podcast, part of the Authors On Air network on Blog Talk Radio. Thank you to hosts Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross!
Blog
Medical Thriller Giveaway! Three Books at Once, Including PAINLESS!
I’m excited to announce a special multi-author giveaway with some fellow medical thriller books!
The Books
Painless
By Me!
The debut psychological-horror novel from author Marty Thornley is a page-turning ride, a front row seat to a clinical trial gone horribly wrong.
For Greg Owens, this was supposed to be a chance to end years of back pain and escape his reliance on pain pills. If it all worked out, he could maybe even get back the life he left behind as the pills took control.
Instead, as the patients are cured of their physical pain, they encounter a different sort of pain building inside them – obsessive thoughts, depression, self-destruction. The side-effects grow worse, and the suspense ratchets tighter. The patients want answers and violent revenge, setting them on a collision course with a crazed doctor, determined to protect his life’s obsession.
Joshua and The Shadow of Death
By Gary McPherson
Joshua Zeev is a man obsessed with solving the mystery of the berserker syndrome. Meet Harold Brown, a man who has exhibited berserker tendencies not seen since the Viking age. Together, the two have become close friends as Joshua has helped Harold through his childhood and into adulthood.
Both men’s lives are thrown into chaos when Harold’s father, and Joshua’s best friend, Richard commits suicide. Although Richard leaves behind a note insinuating it was an act of sacrifice and not depression, Joshua blames himself for not seeing the signs of Richard’s distress.
Journey with the two men through the shadow of death as they seek to uncover the truth about Richard’s death. Guilt, grief, obsession, greed, love, and forgiveness await these men as they attempt to find the reasons behind Richard’s suicide, and discover the path back into the light.
Coma Dreams
By N. Lawrence Mann
A follow-up to the critically acclaimed suspense novel, Full Breach, N. Lawrence Mann unleashes the second installment of the Blue Warp series.
Struggling with inner demons after the loss of his child, Retired Air Force Colonel Brett Stafford is in search of missing pieces in his life when he is involved in a single-car accident and slips into a coma for six months. Using his newfound—and unrefined—ability to heal, Brennen Reynolds attempts to revive the colonel on the day his life support is to be terminated. Brennen is only partially successful, as the person awoken is not Colonel Stafford. He may look the same, but this colonel is dangerous. Brutal killings occur when the new entity escapes from a New England rehabilitation center and vanishes into the waking world. Pressured by time, Brennen and his friends must try to piece together what went wrong and how to reverse the process before further tragedies occur and the colonel loses himself forever.
How to Enter
Enter to win the New Year New Giveaway by:
1) Share the graphic below with #medicalthriller, let us know what you love about the medical thriller genre, and remember to share the contest link: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6046a9ec5/
2) Head to the Rafflecopter link – https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6046a9ec5/ and follow my fellow authors for extra entries (each individual follow through the Rafflecopter link is 1 entry, so you can enter multiple times by following each author on their platforms!)
If you haven’t gotten the chance to read them all, then what better way than winning them all at once??
The entry period runs January 2-31, 2019. Good luck!
Follow Us All for updates :
Gary McPherson
- Website blog: https://gmacwriter.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmacwriter/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gmacwriter
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/659577.Gary_McPherson
Lawrence Mann
- Website blog: https://www.nlawrencemann.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NLawrenceMann/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nlawrencemann
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nlawrencemann/
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17653346.N_Lawrence_Mann
Marty Thornley
Painless Blog Tour
For the next couple weeks, Painless will be making the rounds on a blog tour, thanks to the incredible help of Xpresso Book Tours – http://xpressobooktours.com. If you have a book to promote, I highly recommend them! 
What is a blog tour you ask? Each day, a few new sites will be posting reviews, excerpts, and interviews to promote Painless. There is also a giveaway, with a chance to win a $25 Amazon card and a signed copy of… you guessed it… PAINLESS!
Here is the schedule for the tour. Check it out and enter for a chance to win!
October 29th
–Rainy Days and Pajamas >> Excerpt
–Writers and Authors >> Guest post
–Declarations of a Fangirl >> Excerpt
–Book Reviews by Steph >> Review
–Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author >> Excerpt
October 30th
–The Page Unbound >> Excerpt
–Lost in a Book >> Interview
–Crack A Book Cafe >> Guest post
October 31st
–Book Sniffers Anonymous >> Excerpt
–Evermore Books >> Top 10 List
–United Indie Book Blog >> Review
–Dauntless Books and Penguins >> Review
November 1st
–Bookish Girls Blog >> Excerpt
–The Avid Reader >> Review
–My Books-My World >> Top 10 List
November 2nd
–The BookWorm Drinketh >> Review
–everywhere and nowhere >> Guest post
–Chi Town Book Girl >> Review
–Viviana MacKade >> Guest post
November 5th
–Pink Fluffy Hearts >> Interview
–Dani the Bookaholic >> Excerpt
–From the TBR Pile >> Review
–Bel’s Book Blog >> Review
November 6th
–fundinmental >> Review
–I Smell Sheep >> Top 10 List
–Cranky TBC >> Review
–Blushing babes are up all night >> Excerpt
November 7th
–The Bibliovett >> Excerpt
–Pagefuls >> Excerpt
–Just Books >> Review
–Jazzy Book Reviews >> Review
November 8th
–Shari Sakurai >> Review
–Little Bookish Thoughts >> Review
–The Voluptuous Book Diva >> Review
–Finding Magic In Books >> Excerpt
–The Phantom Paragrapher >> Review
November 9th
–The poetry hub >> Review
–Movies, Shows, & Books >> Review
–3 degrees of fiction >> Review
–My Life Loves and Passion >> Top 10 List
–Zooloo Book blog >> Review
A Soundtrack for PAINLESS
Introduction
I listened to a lot of music while I wrote PAINLESS. Most of the list below was part of that — some of it played many, many times. Other songs have connections to the personal side of this story, which I have yet to fully explain publicly.
For those who have only seen the artwork and brief mentions of the story, all I will say for now is that this is not just a fun horror tale but a very meaningful story for me, with difficult personal and family history intertwined.
Also, as it turns out, a lot my favorite music fit the story well. So I hope you’ll listen and read along. I’ve included links to the full lyrics and excerpts of the bits that meant the most to me.
For those that have read the book, I’d love to hear what it might have added to the experience!
How to listen
The Lyrics
SOAD – Toxicity – https://genius.com/1938163
Looking at life through the eyes of a tire hub
Eating seeds as a pastime activity
The toxicity of our city, of our city
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On? – https://genius.com/Marvin-gaye-whats-going-on-lyrics
Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
Alice In Chains – Would? – https://genius.com/Alice-in-chains-would-lyrics
Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way
Am I wrong?
Have I run too far to get home?
Have I gone?
Left you here alone
Am I wrong?
Have I run too far to get home? Yeah
Have I gone?
Left you here alone
If I would, could you?
Black Crowes – She Talks to Angels – https://genius.com/The-black-crowes-she-talks-to-angels-lyrics
She never mentions the word “addiction”
In certain company
Yes, she’ll tell you she’s an orphan
After you meet her family
Yeah, she gives a smile when the pain come
The pain gonna make everything alright
Faith No More – Take This Bottle – https://genius.com/Faith-no-more-take-this-bottle-lyrics
Cuz I done wrong
And I’m a little afraid
I ain’t too strong
And this ain’t easy to say:
Take this bottle
Take this bottle
And just walk away – the both of you
And let me feel the pain – I’ve done to you
The Smashing Pumpkins – This Time – https://genius.com/Smashing-pumpkins-this-time-lyrics
For every chemical
You trade a piece of your soul
With no return
And who you think you know
Doesn’t know you at all
Their drain is needless
AC / DC – Gimme A Bullet – https://genius.com/Ac-dc-gimme-a-bullet-lyrics
Oh, she hit me low
Said, “Now you go your way, I’ll go mine”
And that’s the start
Doctor, doctor
Ain’t no cure
For the pain in my heart
Don’t need no drink
Don’t need no drugs
Don’t need no sympathy
Sooner or later
Send me a bill
For what she’s doin’ to me
Stone Temple Pilots – Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart – https://genius.com/Stone-temple-pilots-trippin-on-a-hole-in-a-paper-heart-lyrics
Let go
It’s harder holding on
One more trip and I’ll be gone
So keep your head up
Keep it on
Just a whisper
I’ll be gone
I am I am
I said I’m not myself
But i’m not dead and I’m not for sale
Amy Winehouse – Rehab – https://genius.com/Amy-winehouse-rehab-lyrics
The man said “Why do you think you here?”
I said I got no idea
I’m gonna, I’m gonna lose my baby
So I always keep a bottle near
He said “I just think you’re depressed”
This me “Yeah, baby, and the rest”
Nina Simone – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – https://genius.com/Nina-simone-dont-let-me-be-misunderstood-lyrics
Sometimes I find myself alone regretting
Some little foolish thing
Some simple thing that I’ve done
I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood
Johnny Cash – Personal Jesus – https://genius.com/Johnny-cash-personal-jesus-lyrics
Feeling unknown
And you’re all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
I’ll make you a believer
I will deliver
You know I’m a forgiver
Reach out and touch faith
Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood – https://genius.com/Motley-crue-dr-feelgood-lyrics
Let him soothe your soul, just take his hand
(Dr. Feelgood)
Some people call him an evil man
(Dr. Feelgood)
Let him introduce himself real good
(Dr. Feelgood)
He’s the only one they call Feelgood
Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb – https://genius.com/Pink-floyd-comfortably-numb-lyrics
Come on (come on), now
I hear you’re feeling down
Well I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again
Relax
I need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?
Okay
Just a little pin prick [ding]
There’ll be no more “AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
But you may feel a little sick
Can you stand up?
I do believe it’s working, good
That’ll keep you going through the show
Come on, it’s time to go
Nine Inch Nails – Hurt – https://genius.com/Nine-inch-nails-hurt-lyrics
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that’s real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
Nirvana – Lithium
https://genius.com/Nirvana-lithium-lyrics
I’m so happy ’cause today I found my friends
They’re in my head
I’m so ugly, that’s okay, ’cause so are you
I like it, I’m not gonna crack
I miss you, I’m not gonna crack
I love you, I’m not gonna crack
I killed you, I’m not gonna crack
Bryan Adams – Cuts Like A Knife – https://genius.com/Bryan-adams-cuts-like-a-knife-lyrics
I took it all for granted
But how was I to know
That you’d be letting go
Now it cuts like a knife
But it feels so right
Yeah! It cuts like a knife
Oh, but it feels so right
Soundgarden – Fell On Black Days – https://genius.com/Soundgarden-fell-on-black-days-lyrics
Whatsoever I feared
Has come to life
Whatsoever I’ve fought off
Became my life
Just when every day
Seemed to greet me with a smile
Sunspots have faded
And now, I’m doing time
Now, I’m doing time
How would I know
That this could be my fate?
How would I know
That this could be my fate?
AC / DC – D.T. – https://genius.com/Ac-dc-dt-lyrics
Instrumental
The acronym D.T. stands for Delirium Tremens,
which is an effect of alcohol withdrawal,
more commonly known as “The Shakes”.
John Mellencamp – Hurts So Good – https://genius.com/John-mellencamp-hurts-so-good-lyrics
Come on girl now it’s you
Sink your teeth right through my bones, baby
Let’s see what we can do
Come on and make it a
Hurt so good
Come on baby make it hurt so good
Sometimes love don’t feel like it should
You make it hurt so good
Alice In Chains – Down in a Hole – https://genius.com/Alice-in-chains-down-in-a-hole-lyrics
Down in a hole, feeling so small
Down in a hole, losing my soul
Down in a hole, feeling so small
Down in a hole, out of control
I’d like to fly
But my wings have been so denied
Soundgarden – The Day I Tried To Live – https://genius.com/Soundgarden-the-day-i-tried-to-live-lyrics
I woke the same as any other day
Except a voice was in my head
It said, “Seize the day, pull the trigger
Drop the blade and watch the rolling heads”
Singing, one more time around might do it
One more time around might make it
One more time around might do it
One more time around I might make it
Jimi Hendrix – Manic Depression – https://genius.com/The-jimi-hendrix-experience-manic-depression-lyrics
Feeling, sweet feeling
Drops from my fingers, fingers
Manic depression is catching my soul
Metallica – Sad But True
https://genius.com/Metallica-sad-but-true-lyrics
I’m your dream, make you real
I’m your eyes when you must steal
I’m your pain when you can’t feel
Sad but true
I’m your truth, telling lies
I’m your recent alibis
I’m inside, open your eyes
I’m you
Sad but true
Radiohead – The National Anthem – https://genius.com/Radiohead-the-national-anthem-lyrics
Everyone
Everyone is so near
Everyone has got the fear
It’s holding on
Stone Temple Pilots – Wet My Bed – https://genius.com/Stone-temple-pilots-wet-my-bed-lyrics
Please think for me
I can’t bear to
I’ll just lie here for a while
Wet myself, wet my bed
Stone Temple Pilots – Wicked Garden – https://genius.com/Stone-temple-pilots-wicked-garden-lyrics
Can you feel pain inside?
Can you love?
Can you cry?
I wanna run through your wicked garden
Heard that’s the place to find you
Cause I’m alive
So alive now
Out of the dark that blinds you
Soundgarden – Blow Up the Outside World – https://genius.com/Soundgarden-blow-up-the-outside-world-lyrics
I’ve given everything I need
I’d give you everything I own
I’d give in if it could at least be ours alone
I’ve given everything I could
To blow it to hell and gone
Burrow down in and
Blow up the outside
Blow up the outside world
REM – Everybody Hurts – https://genius.com/Rem-everybody-hurts-lyrics
When your day is night alone (Hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go (Hold on)
If you think you’ve had too much
Of this life, well, hang on
‘Cause everybody hurts
Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come – https://genius.com/Sam-cooke-a-change-is-gonna-come-lyrics
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin’ me
Back down on my knees
There been times when I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Prince – Let’s Go Crazy – https://genius.com/Prince-and-the-revolution-lets-go-crazy-lyrics
Dr. Everything’ll-Be-Alright
Will make everything go wrong
Pills and thrills and daffodils will kill
Hang tough children
He’s coming
He’s coming
Coming
Tool – Sober – https://genius.com/Tool-sober-lyrics
Tool does not allow streaming of any kind, so could not make the Spotify Playlist. Please watch…
I am just a worthless liar
I am just an imbecile
I will only complicate you
Trust in me and fall as well
I will find a center in you
I will chew it up and leave
Trust me, trust me, trust me, trust me, trust me!
Why can’t we not be sober?
I just want to start things over
Why can’t we sleep forever?
I just want to start this over
Meet The Author Event – Holmes Public Library – Halifax, MA
Over the weekend, I held my first ever “Meet the Author” event at the Holmes Public Library in Halifax, MA. It marked the start of promotion for my psychological horror novel, PAINLESS. I wasn’t sure what kind of turnout to expect, but I certainly did not expect to have an audience of over 20!
While it was mostly friends and family, there were also a good number of people who knew nothing about me or the book and attended anyway. Since most of the attendees had not yet read the book, the discussion centered around a quick description of the story and why I wrote it.
I was happy to find that everyone was eager to ask interesting questions. I’ll detail a few highlights below. I don’t have the exact quotes but these were some topics that stuck out to me.
Q: “What was your character’s motivation?” (Referring to Dr. Menta, the mad scientist of a doctor). Answer: I don’t like to explain too much, especially about a character that has questionable morals and motives (to put it nicely). But the prologue gives some clues.
Q: “Was this a one-off project or am I now interested in continuing to write more?” Answer: Definitely not a one-off project. I’m working on an outline of a story that would end up being a series of three books.
Q: “Do you write about local towns, areas, etc… People seem to enjoy reading about locations they know.” Answer: In general, yes. All my future ideas are going to be set in a fictional version of a town like Plympton and Halifax. The location of PAINLESS is purposely never mentioned, so it could be anywhere.
Q: “What were your influences?” Answer: I am much more influenced by films. Hitchcock, David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick to name a few. PAINLESS would be very much along the lines of a David Cronenberg “body horror” film. As far as writing I can really only name Stephen King and Harlen Coben (which I FORGOT to mention at the event!) as at least inspiration, if not an influence. With this being my first novel, I don’t know if I’ve defined a style enough to name any influences for style.
PAINLESS now available on Paperback, Kindle, and Goodreads!
Paperback and Kindle
I am happy to announce that PAINLESS is now available on both paperback and Kindle, through Amazon!
Once a book is listed, the author also gets to claim an author page and link to all their books.
Pretty cool!
Goodreads
I found out that as soon as a book is available on Kindle, it can show up in Goodreads. (Actually it took a day or two, but pretty quick!)
If you don’t know about Goodreads, it is a site for book lovers to track what they are reading, what they want to read, and write reviews of books once they are done.
The book gets a page where you can see everyone who has read or reviewed it within Goodreads.
And, like Amazon, you get an author page:
It lets you add a bio, some pictures, answer some “Ask The Author” questions, and Goodreads users can follow you as an author. You might notice in the shot, I have a whole 3 followers! (Okay, one of them is me).
The end of the beginning…
This is at least the 5th relaunching of my web presence. I’m not talking just redesigns of the different sites I’ve had over the years (which were aplenty). I’m talking total rethinking and redoing and rebranding and rewebonizing.
The last couple years have ushered in many changes for me; personally, professionally, and creatively.
So it is time. Time to start anew.
Time to end the beginning of things and start to begin again.