I’m really pretty psyched about this — I’d asked Timothy C. Ward if he’d be willing to review “Slices” for me if I sent him a copy, and he said that he would, sure — but that his reading list was so stacked right now, he wouldn’t be able to get to it immediately.  No worries, I told him, and sent him a copy anyway.

Turns out that he read at least the first story, and he liked it so much that he’s starting a new column on his blog just to spotlight short stories, and mine was the first he’s reviewed!

“The premise of a hypochondriac mom turning a whole city on its head is layered with intrigue and suspense, as her son tries to figure out how to stop a plague that might or might not really be happening. Michael’s details and present tense first person create a tactile experience of the chaos to come when people start getting sick. Great psychological horror like this puts the reader in terrifying circumstances where one has to get a little dirty in order to survive. I really enjoyed seeing the character arc in motion, and was completely engaged to discovering the solution to his epic problem. The mythos of his mother’s powers creates layers within the story that make this a story you can read over and over. The ending is perfect, and keeps you wanting more.”

You should definitely go check out the rest of the review at his site — he asked me a few questions about the story, and you can read my answers there, and listen to the exclusive audio excerpt he managed to sweet-talk me into doing.  (Creepy piano music in the background is courtesy of Kevin McLeod.)

If you haven’t had a chance to read “Cold Season” yet, and this review talks you into it — since it’s the very first story in “Slices,” you can read it for free by downloading the Kindle sample of the book.  Just go to the Amazon listing and look for the box on the right that says “Try it free.”

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