Twisted Tales of Deceit is the first installment in the Beyond the Chamber Door series. Featuring three tales (The Calculated Desolation of Hope, Somnium, & Knickerbocker) chronicling an evil influence on the human psyche, tipping our hands into the engagement of what is most horrifying; our dastardly, human deeds steeped in self-destruction, desperation and the loss of dreams. Metaphorical warnings have been constructed inside these pages to reflect the everyday signs the universe provides under the guise of reflective light that return to mirror how evil tempts our hand so to not fulfill the dreams of the soul. Our doubts, our sadness, our indecisions rooted in fear, are toiled with by the presence of imps bent on hatred and in need of our nightmares to survive. Here, the human spirit is dripped like honey, tasteful to the dark corridors of human malevolence and taken advantage by the corrupt and seamlessly endless parade other worldly dimensions have on what should be our earthly utopia, creating rage in the cosmic hedonism of jealousy.
Excerpt
“Jim?” Charlie said. “Jim are you there?”
He stared into the mirror, hoping Jimmy would talk. But the room was too bright, and Charlie remembered that Jimmy liked the dark, so he turned off the light, lit a candle which he placed on the sink by the mirror, which started to waver, like a stone dropped into water causes circular ripples.
“There you are,” Charlie said and smiled. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come.”
“Charlie,” Jimmy said. “I grow tired of you. You bore me too much with these dreams of yours you never do anything about. Wouldn’t it be better if you forgot about it? Went and took up a trade career, something where you don’t have to dream so big? I don’t want you to have to be disappointed.”
“But we’ve come so far, we can’t give up just yet.”
Jimmy touched his forehead shaking his head. “I just don’t know Charlie, you don’t seem like you want it enough. Like you’d do anything to have it. Don’t you know that dreams remain dreams unless you do something to capture them in your hand.”
“But I do…I write and read all the time, go to classes like I’m supposed to…”
“Class? Charlie really, schools where you hide not venture forth. Oh Lord Charlie you’re such a fool. Such a damn fool! I feel I’m wasting my time with you…and it’s been such a long road helping you.”
“But the lady,” Charlie said. “Remember the lady, the fortune teller, she said I’d make it if I passed the test…”
Interview
Tell us about your book, what inspired it?
Twisted Tales of Deceit is the first book in a series I’ve titled, Beyond the Chamber Door. All installments will feature a multi genre blend of stand-alone stories. This first installment features three stories, The Calculated Desolation of Hope, Sominium and Knickerbocker. The Calculated Desolation of Hope was inspired by a dream I had a few years ago. The story features an innocent and naïve protagonist who becomes locked in a house controlled by demons and wolves who use video games and hallucinogens to keep their victims locked in the house. Somnium was inspired by my day dreaming antics during school; in fact the opening scene in the story is a direct reflection of daydreaming. The story involves the main character, Charlie, who talks to an imp in his mirror named Jimmy who dangles Charlie’s dreams to lead him into darkness. Knickerbocker is a reimagining of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hallow, and is the featured story in this installment. I grew up in Sleepy Hallow and Irving’s tale always had a profound effect. I wanted to write a story that included the Headless Horseman but paid homage to the original tale. I used a modern twist to drive the story, namely addiction and the addiction treatment industry, for which I have been a part of for more than ten years. I like to reflect current society in my stories, utilizing dark themes as metaphors to drive messages and warning of evil influences and divine inspiration.
What are your future ambitions?
The second installment, Presenting the Marriage of Kelli Anne and Gerri Denemer, is scheduled for release November 11th. There will be at least nine books in this series. Although each installment is a stand-alone story, with each book a pattern will emerge that reflects a journey through multiple lives spent in darkness and overcoming character defects to drive an evolutionary deliverance into the light. I am also currently writing a second series, The Indigo Trials, a dystopian science fiction trilogy that is a spin off from book three in Beyond the Chamber Door, The Rose. The Rose is a meditation practice used by alchemists and a useful tool when battling alien vampires at the tail end of World War III. As far as future ambitions, keep reflecting and keep writing and never stop. My hope is that the full body of work will have a strong impact on the reader allowing time to reflect on personal circumstances and hardships through spiritual eyes. I don’t need to be famous, but I hope the body of work will be.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing since I was a child. I wrote my first book in sixth grade and numerous stories before that. I’ve always known I was a writer. I enjoy creating new lives, different worlds and alternate universes.
What are the 3 books that inspired your work/career?
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein tops this list. I love the multiple themes she takes on in this novel. Man vs. man, man vs society, man vs God and man vs himself. It’s a novel that inspires blending themes of light and dark and the dark hearts of human beings and society.
Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. He’s the master of prose and my favorite all time author. This book inspired me to write conscientiously, drawing the reader into the writer’s world. It’s not only critical to deliver appropriate prose but also to create a vibration within the written word that the reader can feel.
Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. She’s awesome. I often wonder if James Cameron got the idea for the ending scene for Titanic from this book. The two seem to fit together all too perfectly. The book inspires great endings. That moment when the final sentence is read and the book is closed that drives a sensation similar to “My soul was just enriched.”
Do you listen to music when you're writing?
ALWAYS! Music drives the content I’m writing about. Depending on the story or even the particular scene, there’s a song to go along with it that helps to drive the emotion I’m attempting to capture. It could be anywhere from 1980’s love ballads to Pink Floyd to 90’s grunge. For instance, my second book, A Billion Tiny Moments In Time, was written entirely while listening to one song, Procol Harum’s Whiter Shade of Pale. The books central theme is about dying, death immortality and loss so the song fit perfectly with the story. Sometimes I’ll still get caught up on one particular song but as the story changes additional songs always present themselves.
What do you think of “trailers” for books?
There’s a trailer for my first book, Indifference. It’s out there on youtube if you’d like to check it out. I find book trailers a bit strange, honestly. Not that they are without a place. It’s a commercial of course but I’m not sure if I’ll do any more of them since they put images in the readers mind that I believe is better for the reader to imagine on their own.
Anything else you might want to add?
Yes, thank you Edgars Books for hosting and thank you for reading this post, it’s greatly appreciated. I’m on facebook and twitter a lot so definitely follow me @pdalleva_author for updates on new releases for future installments.
Thanks...
P.D. Alleva is an author, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist specializing in trauma, addiction and mental health. He is the author of several books, including fiction novels, Indifference and A Billion Tiny Moments In Time…, Seriously Twisted; These Gods of Darkness (Poetry), Let Your Soul Evolve (1st and 2nd ed), and Spiritual Growth Therapy: Philosophy, Practices and Mindfulness Workbook (non-fiction). He has developed behavioral protocols for addiction and mental health and teaches mindfulness, Buddhist meditations and manifestation techniques to his patients as a means and alternative to using pharmaceuticals. Go to spiritualgrowththerapy.com to learn more. Mr. Alleva offers a special discount on his video tutorials for his readers, so please use Promo Code 7474 for a special 90% discount. He is currently in private practice with his wife, Lisa. He lives with his wife and children in Boca Raton, Florida.
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Giveaway
P.D. Alleva will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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