This time around, my novel creeped me out.
When I wrote Dreamwalker, I wanted to set it in a location that emphasized the
duality that the main character, Pete Holm, lives in. I’d read about Atlantic
City and how the promise of casinos hadn’t created the promised city-wide
rejuvenation. Atlantic Avenue divided the city, separating the glitter of the
high-rise hotels from the poverty of the rundown residential areas. The
location seemed perfect.
I’d never been to Atlantic City, or
Philadelphia, another location in the book. But MapQuest is amazing, and I used
grids of the streets to flesh out my fantasy versions. Pete takes a bus, so I
Googled the bus station locations and schedules just to make sure such places
existed.
After the second draft of the story
was completed, I had a free weekend in Maryland and decided to visit these
places I’d so casually created based on a few thin facts. I headed to Atlantic
City, hoping I could work in some real-life observations to the story.
I drove through the city and went
into shock. Locations I’d created in my mind’s eye were here in real life,
almost doorframe for doorframe. The restaurant Pete works in, the rundown
homes, the decaying basketball court. It didn’t feel like I was exploring
someplace new, it felt like I was returning to someplace familiar.
In the late afternoon, I drove to
Philadelphia, taking the same route my character takes when he tries to find
the identity of the girlfriend in his dreams. In the city, I followed my
invented route to her fictional hospice. There was no hospice, but there was a
doctor’s office with an entrance that looked just as I’d imagined the hospice’s
did. It gave me chills.
Dreamwalker is about a college
student who enters an alternate reality when he dreams. Did I enter some
alternate subconscious reality when I invented the locations for my book? I
don’t know. If I could, it would sure make writing the next novel much easier.
Dreamwalker is the sixth novel that Russell James has published with Samhain
Horror under legendary horror editor Don D’Auria!
Dreamwalker Synopsis
Two
realities. One hope.
What if you lived in
two worlds, and could die in either? Pete Holm can. He is a dreamwalker,
able to travel to the realm of dreams, including the devastated world of Twin
Moon City, where an evil voodoo spirit holds living souls in terror with his
army of the walking dead.
In the waking world,
drug lord Jean St. Croix knows only the power of the dreamwalker can stop him,
so St. Croix vows Pete must die.
Pete is the only hope
to rescue the lost souls in Twin Moon City…unless St. Croix kills him first.
Can anyone survive when two realities collide?
Get your copy today!
GoodReads:
Amazon:
Samhain
Horror:
Barnes and
Noble:
Giveaways
1) Open reviewer giveaway: Anyone who
reviews Dreamwalker on Amazon and one other site like GoodReads, etc. and sends
Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, their links to hookofabook@hotmail.com will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card. This contest
ends on Feb. 28, 2015.
2) Rafflecoper giveaway for two copies
of Russell’s previous books. Two winners will each win one of two books, Black Magic and Dark Inspiration. US only, no international shipping. Must use a
valid email that you can be reached by. By entering the giveaway, you consent
to allow Russell to have your email for very infrequent newsletter updates. Contest
ends Feb. 28, 2015.
Other contest questions can be referred to Erin Al-Mehairi,
publicist, Hook of a Book Media at hookofabook@hotmail.com.
Praise for Russell R. James
“James has a talent for combining
action-packed vignettes into a powerful, fast-paced whole.”—Library Journal on Black Magic
(Five Stars, A Night Owl Top Pick) “I loved the story so much that I’m eagerly waiting to read more from him. He carefully and very intricately wove his storyline to have elements of mystery and suspense throughout. I now have a new favorite book I’ll read over and over again.”
—Night Owl Reviews on Dark Inspiration
“The book had me at the edge of my seat. The writing is so vivid I even jumped a few times. If you're a fan of the genre, love ghosts and are drawn to the supernatural, then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book!”
—Long and Short Reviews on Dark Inspiration
Russell R. James, Biography
Russell James grew up on Long Island, New York and spent too much time watching Chiller, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and The Twilight Zone, despite his parents' warnings. Bookshelves full of Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe didn't make things better. He graduated from Cornell University and the University of Central Florida.
After a tour flying helicopters with the U.S. Army, he now spins twisted tales best read in daylight. He has written the paranormal thrillers Dark Inspiration, Sacrifice, Black Magic, Dark Vengeance, and Dreamwalker. He has two horror short story collections, Tales from Beyond and Deeper into Darkness. His next novel, Q Island, releases in 2015.
His wife reads what he writes, rolls her eyes, and says "There is something seriously wrong with you."
Visit his website at www.russellrjames.com and read some free short stories.
He and his wife share their home in
sunny Florida with two cats.
To find out more about Russell R. James, please visit his Website or follow him on Facebook! Join him on Twitter, @RRJames14. Also, feel free to drop him at a line at rrj@russellrjames.com.
To find out more about Russell R. James, please visit his Website or follow him on Facebook! Join him on Twitter, @RRJames14. Also, feel free to drop him at a line at rrj@russellrjames.com.
