About the Author:
As a boy, Joseph Spencer immersed himself
in the deductive logic of Sherlock Holmes, the heroic crime fighting of Batman
and Spider-Man, and a taste for the tragic with dramas from poets like
Shakespeare and Homer.
Before Joseph took to spinning his own
tales, he pursued a career in print sports journalism, graduating summa cum
laude from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He covered such events as
NASCAR’s Subway 500 race in Martinsville, the NBA Draft Camp in Chicago, the Junior College
World Series, and Minor League Baseball’s Midwest League All-Star Game during a
ten-year career throughout the Midwest.
Now, he works as an emergency telecommunications specialist with an Illinois
police department. The combination of years of writing experience with a
background working with law enforcement professionals gave rise to his writing
aspirations.
Joseph was married to Dr. Amy (Waggoner)
Spencer, an accomplished veterinary doctor, on March 14, 2012. He received word his debut novel was accepted by
his publisher, Damnation Books, the next day. Joseph is hard at work on the rest
of the series. Book 2 – Wrage
– was released June 1,
2013. The Spencer family
enjoys reading Charlaine Harris, George R.R. Martin, Mary Janice Davidson, and
most paranormal stories. The Spencers also enjoy quoting movie lines from “The
Princess Bride”, “Rain Man”, “Bridesmaids”, and “Office Space.”
Connect & Socialize
with Joe!
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How long have you been writing?
I worked for ten years as a print journalist in large regional daily newspapers in Peoria, Il., Decatur, Il., Burlington, Iowa, and Grand Junction, Colo. I covered such events as NASCAR’s Subway 500 race in Martinsville, Va., the NBA Draft Camp in Chicago, the Junior College World Series, and Minor League Baseball’s Midwest League All-Star Game. I also won an award for outstanding writer of the year by the Colorado Tennis Association.
How long have you been a published author?
My first book, Grim, came out in the fall of 2012, so I’m still relatively new to fiction writing. I’m trying to learn and entertain at the same time. I’ve had some great feedback from reviewers.
What titles do you have available?
I’ve only written the two books in the Sons of Darkness series – Grim and Wrage.
What made you choose the subject of this book?
Wrage explores the Faustian theme of wanting something different for your life. Several characters strike deals they may end up regretting to see their schemes and obsessions realized. This novel also expands its universe of supernatural characters which were inspired in part by mythology and one of my favorite TV shows, Supernatural. Critics of my first novel in The Sons of Darkness series Grim expressed some dissatisfaction that there wasn’t more redemption for the characters involved, and I think they will find this story a little more to their liking.
Do you have any new titles coming soon?
I’m working on the third book of my Sons of Darkness series, Malice. It will follow a bad boy rocker, Malice Madsen, who is loosely patterned after Marilyn Manson. Each son represents one of the seven deadly sins so Malice will represent pride. I’m also working on a side project outside of the series in which a small town girl with big city dreams gets conned into a human trafficking ring. I don’t think people realize how large of a problem this is inside the United States.
What is your favourite genre and why?
Crime fiction is my favorite because I enjoyed stories about Sherlock Holmes as a child and I’ve always found it exciting to try to figure out a crime with the detective since that time.
What, to you, is the most exciting part of the writing process?
I enjoy letting my characters dictate to me how certain scenes play out. I’m more of a pantser than an intricate plotter. I’ve got a definite plan of starting and ending points for scenes, but sometimes the characters take the middle and run with them in a different place than where I originally thought.
If you could co-author a book with anyone, who would you choose and why?
I’d choose James Rollins. I met him in Chicago at a book convention without being a reader of his. I gave his books a chance because he was a great guy and I enjoyed the synopsis on the book jacket. I’m glad I did because he’s become one of my favorite writers. He blends science with action and teaches you so much.
Where can readers find you on the web?
My site is www.josephbspencer.com
I’m also on Twitter at @josephspencer00
Here is a link to me on my publisher’s site:
http://damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615729777
Here is my Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Wrage-Joseph-Spencer/dp/161572978X/
Here are links to my video trailers on YouTube:
Grim - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJMdOhL-Qrg
Wrage - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Z-ECZw3AE
Sometimes the toughest fight lies within yourself.
As more dark secrets come to light, the
battle for souls pushes Prairieville to the brink of war in the living and
supernatural realms.
Jeff Wrage swears a blood oath to Abaddon,
the supernatural avenger of murder victims, to hunt the crooked cop who
butchered his wife. Jeff wonders whether he can be the executioner Abaddon
requires. Their pact throws the supernatural realm in chaos and threatens to
trigger an apocalyptic fight for control of the afterlife between the Sons of
Darkness and Sons of Light foretold in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Orlando Marino sees the death of Cyrus
Black as his opportunity to restore the Marino family's stronghold in
Prairieville’s organized crime scene and become a mob kingpin. He unleashes a
plague, turning its victims into mindless followers. Cyrus' heir is busy rooting
out a traitor and is unable to stop the coming turf war in the realm of
man.
The fate of all rests with Homicide
Detective Anna Duke, who steps into the shoes of her mentor while coming to
terms with unrequited love. As she tries to clear the fallen hero's name, she
takes on a case where corpses go missing. Her new partner is reported dead. She
learns the truth about her true identity and uncovers a trail of secrets
questioning her tragic past. She journeys to avert the destruction of all
creation.
Purchase your copy:
AMAZON | DAMNATION BOOKS
Title: Wrage
Author: Joseph Spencer
Publisher:
Damnation Books LLC (June 1, 2013)
Genre: Occult Crime
Thriller
Pages: 214
Language: English
ISBN-10:
161572978X
ISBN-13: 978-1615729784
Sometimes the toughest fight lies within yourself.
As more dark secrets come to light, the battle for souls pushes Prairieville
to the brink of war in the living and supernatural realms.
Jeff Wrage swears a blood oath to Abaddon, the supernatural avenger of murder
victims, to hunt the crooked cop who butchered his wife. Jeff wonders whether he
can be the executioner Abaddon requires. Their pact throws the supernatural
realm in chaos and threatens to trigger an apocalyptic fight for control of the
afterlife between the Sons of Darkness and Sons of Light foretold in the Dead
Sea Scrolls.
Orlando Marino sees the death of Cyrus Black as his opportunity to restore
the Marino family's stronghold in Prairieville’s organized crime scene and
become a mob kingpin. He unleashes a plague, turning its victims into mindless
followers. Cyrus' heir is busy rooting out a traitor and is unable to stop the
coming turf war in the realm of man.
The fate of all rests with Homicide Detective Anna Duke, who steps into the
shoes of her mentor while coming to terms with unrequited love. As she tries to
clear the fallen hero's name, she takes on a case where corpses go missing. Her
new partner is reported dead. She learns the truth about her true identity and
uncovers a trail of secrets questioning her tragic past. She journeys to avert
the destruction of all creation.
Book Excerpt:
“What do I have to do? I didn’t know rules before I did the ritual,” Jeff cowered into a ball, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. It was definitely the weirdest conversation he’d ever had, considering he was talking to himself or whatever was inside of him now.
“My terms are simple,” Abaddon rumbled, once again speaking to Jeff through
his own lips. “You must avenge the lives of the wrongful dead by killing those
who robbed them of their rightful place in the afterlife. After I’ve collected
the souls you’ve punished, I’ll help you avenge your wife. I’ll help you kill
Christopher Sinks.”
Jeff’s eyes searched his suddenly glowing skin looking for answers. “What if
I can’t kill for you? I’ve never hurt anyone. I don’t know how I’d do something
like that.”
The beastly laugh once again rattled his chest so hard his ribs hurt. “Don’t
worry, boy. I’ll show you. Let me see if I can convince you. Hear the plea of
the souls stuck in limbo, waiting for judgment against their murderers.” Jeff’s
hands were forced toward each other. A thunderous clap echoed when they met
together. The wound on his right palm reopened and drops of blood littered the
ground.
Immediately, loud rustling noises surrounded Jeff on all sides. Clumps of
dirt in front of graves everywhere shook and collapsed. Pale, glowing hands
clawed out of their disturbed burial plots. The bony hands reached out toward
the sky, fighting to be free of their earthly bonds. Gradually, heads, torsos
and full bodies climbed out of the overturned soil. Some were only skeletons,
while other corpses growled as they inched closer, sagging, rotting flesh
dripped blood, dirt and worms to the ground with every step. Some were
dismembered. Some were riddled with bullet holes. Others bled from gashes in
their sides, stomachs and necks. All of them had a blinding light poking out of
the cracks and crags of their rotting flesh. They reached out toward him. None
of their mouths moved. Yet, an otherworldly buzz of whispers filled the air. The
uncovered corpses seemed to be chanting.
“We’re the wrongful dead,” they whispered. “We’re robbed of our eternal bed.
Our souls mark the evil deeds. Punish those with bloodthirsty needs. Kill the
ones who took our eternity. Kill them and set us free.”
Book Trailer:
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Thank you so much for hosting Joe today, Denyse! Looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteA weird phone call that said i was going to die in so many hours. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDelete