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Michael In Hell Review on Horror Web

Created from a short story I wrote in 1973, Michael In Hell has a long history. I sent the story to Issac Asimov, and I was shocked when he actually wrote back to tell me he liked it and I should turn it into a novel. I did twenty years later. In 1995, I signed on with AEI a new agency in Los Angeles, along with author Steve Alten (MEG). Michael made it to a final marketing meeting at Bantam, where it was rejected (they had one opening slot) in favor of a famous writer because I was an unknown. Close but no cigar. Other majors rejected it because it was too bizarre and brutal during one of the periodic violence in media purges.

The Vietnam combat in the novel is in part from my experience. Several incidents are based on events that happened during Operation Shelbyville and Operation Ballistic Charge during late 1967 in Quang Nam Province. Of the 14,000 Marines killed in Vietnam, 10,000 died in Quang Nam Province. It would have made Dante's Hell seem like Disneyland.
The novel scares women for some reason beyond my understanding. My wife read it while we were going together and told her family she could possible be in love with a serial killer. Most readers report nightmares, loss of sleep and uneasy feelings. In a previous version, Brian Knight, Walt Hicks, and Tim Pratt added great reviews. This new version has picked up great reviews so far from Hellnotes, Monster Librarian, the University of Cincinnati, and the latest is from Zombie Brat at Horror Web, which was a pleasant surprise. The review link is below.
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Comments

  1. Anonymous9:29 PM

    Hi, a group of authors are taking action against the publisher of this book, as they notoriously do not pay royalties. I'm contacting you here because it is the only place I have found your contact info. To contact me, please visit my blog and email me through my profile info. Thanks:
    http://pilgrimcanon.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown8:49 AM

    This comment from anonymous is a ploy to get possible readers to visit her website. Why doesn't she just advertise instead of trying to slander a publisher she knows nothing about.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11:58 AM

    I enjoyed the book Michael in Hell. I work at Good Samaritian Hospital in Cincinnati, and a co-worker(Cheryl) lent me the book. It was great!!! Very descriptive and definitely a page turner...Couldn't put the book down in time to get sleep;I was late to work both days it took me to read it! Can't wait to read more of your work!!

    Cincinnati
    Karen-

    ReplyDelete

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