MoonDustWriter Thursday - Featuring Author Claude Bouchard

                    I met Claude Bouchard on Twitter almost a year ago. What amazed me about Claude was he had 50,000 + followers but he added me and commented back to me. When I told him I would be interested in reading his book Vigilante, he sent me a copy to read. With all the people Claude knows, he could have blown me off or sent me spam - He didn't, he never has. Over the year, I have enjoyed getting to know Claude, his wife and his writing cohort Luke Romyn.  Claude continues to be well liked in the Social Media spectrum; one indicator the  110,000 + Twitter followers. Claude lives in Montreal and is either writing, clowning around on-line, or enjoying art, music...

You have to know this about me as a reader; I don't consider a book a novel until it is either a tome (it has to be at least 1000 pages of classic literature) or from the first chapter the book and I are one. Claude's books ( all New York Times Best Sellers caliber) come with a magnet included (free of charge.)

Vigilante (book one of an on-going crime/ suspense series),  pulls the reader into a complex situation. Characters are seeking a solution to crimes that are rampant in the beautiful, vibrant metropolis of Montreal.  I liken this involved scenario to juggling. One ball is the bad guys (i.e.the bottom of the food chain  - drug lords, serial killers, the guys who savor daily mayhem), the second ball is the Vigilante ( a man who in six months has killed more than a dozen bad guys and no one has a clue who this hero/albeit criminal is) ball three is the police force (represented by Lieutenant McCall of Montreal Special Homicide Task Force who is torn by law and order and providing safety to his city).

Claude manages to keep all these balls up in the air at one time. I think his side line may be as a magician; he has the ability to use a slight of hand type writing that keeps the reader distracted.  I was captivated by Vigilante's story line until the end and stared, mouth agape for ten minutes at the conclusion.
*
Yes- Claude Bouchard is a master of the written word.
**
Vigilante would fit perfectly on that list of hard to buy for people on your holiday shopping list and don't forget one for you.

Vigilante is Claude's first published novel followed by The Consultant, Mind Games, The Homeless Killer (all part of the Barry/McCall series).
He is presently working on 6 Hours 42 Minutes and Asylum.


Claude is represented by Tribe Literary Agency which represents several class acts: Luke Romyn, Michael Balkind, Lou Riddell, and Bob Kuykendall. If you have a manucript in the making, Tribe Lit is an excellent choice. 

Contact Claude on his website  
on Twitter @Ceebee308
Claude's books are available on Amazon. Additional book ordering information is available.

Dustus Friday - John Locke Book Review

John Locke Book Review

My friend Dustus is off and he kindly gave me an extra day to play with. I’ve wanted to feature not only poets on my site but people that I believe are noteworthy in the writing community. I will be doing book reviews once to twice a month on Thursdays.  If you are a fiction writer of any length and genre, please drop me a line at moondustwriter@gmail.com

There are many fiction writers I have met in the past year who are what I consider New York Times Best Seller material. My friend John Locke is one of them. John amazingly has only been writing for three years. He has five fictions published and is working on number six. He supports other writers and is a generous humanitarian. I have experienced his generosity first hand. About four months ago, John read that I am working for the special needs community and asked how he could help our non-profit. Next thing, we received a gift for our organization - for children! Thanks again John!

John has always loved reading, writing,and  telling stories but he was too busy with life and his business to put effort into serious writing. I’m glad that three years ago John decided to write. We have been missing out.

 
When I asked John what his goal as a writer is he told me: “I'm not trying to write the Great American Novel, I just want to entertain my readers.  I like to take a serious or semi-serious situation and blast it with zany characters and laugh-out-loud dialogue.  I want to shock my readers, but I also want to make them laugh.  I work really hard on the pacing of my books, with the goal that my readers will fly through them and complete them in one or two sittings.”

Here's a must read for your reading list: Saving Rachel by John Locke.

If you like a fast paced, not sure where it's taking you read, then I promise you have the right book. I picked the book up and read it straight through; I'm like that- if a book is good- what's the point of putting it down. John has not only developed interesting characters and a riveting crime story line, but he's also created the kind of story where you want to psycho analyze the characters. I need to read it again just to analyze the intricacies of the characters.

What doesn't this book have: doesn't have a walk in the park - no sorry there is a twist with a walk in the park; the beautiful knock-out - well he has her but this beauty is not what she seems;  hmm avarice, the double cross is there too.  I'm trying to think what it doesn't have. There's no granny driving a model T! If I say much more, I will start giving away the plot.

 If you like suspense, drama, humor - you'll enjoy Saving Rachel!

My suggestion go on Amazon and buy the Kindle version or like me get the paperback version.

Other Novels by John Locke: Lethal People, Lethal Experiment, Now and Then, Wish List, and Follow the Stone is in the writing stages.

Want to know what’s on my wish list for reading?

John's on Twitter @DonovanCreed