Virtual Book Tour: The Family That Finds us by Phoenix Blackwood

 Good morning everyone! Please welcome author Phoenix Blackwood to Full Moon Dreaming!  They are here today to talk about their new release, The Family That Finds Us. Phoenix will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning! To find the other stops on their tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

THE FAMILY THAT FINDS US

Phoenix Blackwood

 

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GENRE:  LGBTQIA+ Coming of Age

 

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BLURB:

 

Phee hides her secrets well, until they become too much to bear. Her biggest secret is one she’s kept even from herself. Her longest-kept secret is one that hurts her every day. Her final secret is one that will set her free.

 

In a school that doesn’t accept them, Phee, Theo, and Alex fight for a community close to their hearts. The community desperately needs the trio to help the rest of them leave the shadows without fear of violence and discrimination. Through some heroic activism, the three push the school officials to their limits — forcing them to act — for better or worse.

 

For Phee, the fight for a place where she can be herself doesn’t stop when she gets home. The strain of taking care of her alcoholic and abusive mother threatens to break Phee away from her family bond forever. Her mother can go from a messy drunk to an angry one in an instant, turning Phee’s home life from an obligation to a war zone.

 

Theo’s house offers respite to Phee. With compassion scarce in her life, Alex and Theo are Phee’s light in the dark. They protect and cherish her. At Theo’s, Phee is free to be herself and explore her identity safely — her chosen family ready to catch her if she falls. That’s what family does, how family finds us when we feel lost and alone.

 

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EXCERPT:

 

 

“No!” I screamed, flailing against her as she pinned me down with one arm and cut with the other, lock after lock of black hair falling to the ground and into the sink.

 

Tears came next, as I fought the futile fight to get her to stop. I shrieked, begging for her to stop, but she just kept going, until there was nothing left. Just jagged tufts of hair sticking straight up from my scalp. She let go of me, throwing the scissors back into the drawer and slamming it shut without a word. She looked at me with the most haunting gaze I’d ever seen out of her, shook her head, and then walked into her room, slamming her door behind her. My knees grew weak, and I fell to the ground, clutching the discarded chunks of my hair that lay strewn about the floor. My wails could’ve been heard a block away. I’d found two things I liked about myself last night, and now one of them was gone.

 

Eventually, I dragged myself into my room, picking up my phone and texting Theo through my tears to come get me. Not even ten minutes later, there was a knock at the apartment door. I was still crying as I opened it to watch Theo’s face morph in horror as they caught sight of me.

 

“Oh my god, Phee, what did she do?”

 

I shook my head, staring down at the floor as tears fell from my face. Theo wrapped their arms around me, and I choked out, “She was sober.”

 

Theo rubbed my back for a minute, then guided me towards my room, “C’mon, get your stuff. You’re gonna stay at my house.” I grabbed the discarded makeup from my floor and stuffed it into a duffel bag, along with a couple changes of clothes. Then, I grabbed my backpack and solemnly followed Theo out the door, locking it behind me.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Born and raised in New England, Phoenix has always been a creative – whether it’s painting or writing. From a very young age, Phoenix has envisioned and created characters, writing them into existence and exploring them through visual arts. Having graduated to first-time short story author, Phoenix is embarking on a journey towards novel writing as they finally bring characters they’ve known for years into the world. Phoenix is neurodiverse and intersex and hopes to bring more representation to both topics with their writing. They believe in creating relatable characters that people can find themselves in and empathize with.

 

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Family-That-Finds-Us-ebook/dp/B0CQVC7WQ3/ref=sr_1_1

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1.    What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?

So here’s the thing, I’m a HOPELESS romantic. It’s not super well showcased in The Family that Finds Us, as the only couple in the story really is Theo and Alex, and their relationship is pretty well explored in the previous two books. I’m not a “big, extravagant gestures” type of person, I’m more drawn to the little things that a partner might remember about you – things that show they’ve paid attention to you. If I tell my partner I’ve had a tough day at work, and they welcome me home with a new warm, soft blanket (there will never be too many) and my favorite movie picked out on the TV, that’s as romantic as it gets. If they bring me something they made or something they found because it made them think of me, that thing is going on my shelf forever. If they read my favorite book so that we can talk about it, it’s an incredible gesture of love.

 

2.    When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

My stories are incredibly character driven, so that’s usually where I start. There’s usually a premise to this character, but everything hinges on how the character navigates the situation. What do they need, what do they want, where are they going? It’s their journey and we’re just along for the ride. Maybe there’s a witch who lives in a swamp that everyone’s afraid of – the classic tale. But what was the witch’s life been like? What adventures has she been on? Why is everyone so afraid of her, what happened? Any of these answers create their own story and how it goes depends on how the witch navigates these scenarios.

3.    Who’s your favorite horror villain and why?

Hands down, Alessa from Silent Hill. Her character does a beautiful job of showcasing the effects of trauma and being villainized and misunderstood. I honestly don’t even think she’s really the villain in the movie, although she is posed as one throughout the story. The rage she feels and revenge she enacts on the town is a direct result of the way they handled her trauma, and the way they treated her afterwards. She’s honestly a beautiful revenge fantasy in a character, and hey, sometimes we just need that.

4.    Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?

Audrey Hepburn if we’re going purely on looks, but in her life’s work and legacy I definitely crush hard on Virgina Woolf. A bipolar, queer writer that did amazing things for the world of literature, I love her work and she definitely shaped some of the way that I write.

5.    Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?

I think it depends on what part of the world we’re talking about. There’s definitely parts of the world that aren’t ready to hear the stories I’ve already written, and plan to write. I don’t particularly care about those parts, if I’m being blunt, as it’s mainly close minded individuals who use many crutches as an excuse to hate. They’re definitely not ready to hear about a queer foster child that falls in love with their best friend. But another part of the world is, and that’s the part I want to be there for. The struggling teen that doesn’t understand the feelings they’re having and have nowhere to turn, the adult that knows their child is different but doesn’t know how to help them, and even the adult queer who is firm in their identity but wants to see stories with people like them. Those are the people I’m writing for, and I think they’re ready for whatever I have to say.

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Saturday is Horror Day #160 - Poor Things, Dead Shack

 Poor Things

Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) is a brilliant and scarred scientist who discovers a woman (Emma Stone) who has just drowned herself. To his horror, he discovers she is pregnant. In an unorthodox move, he removes the brain of the infant and transplants it into the woman, saving her life. He names her Bella, and watches as she must re-develop from an infant, despite having the body of a grown woman. Godwin's assistant Max (Ramy Youssef) falls in love with Bella and they become engaged. All is well until Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) comes along, and leads Bella down paths she has never imagined, opening the world to her.

Poor Things is a creative re-imagining of the Frankenstein story. In this case, the scientist is the one with 

scars, the result of his father's direct experimentation upon his son. The cinematography is very lovely and well done, the acting superb, especially Mark Ruffalo as the villain Wedderburn. And yet... and yet... I found myself very disturbed because at the end of the day, Bella, despite having a woman's body, had the mind of a child, so what happened felt... wrong.  I just couldn't help but feel disturbed that she was having sex.

Be warned, there is a ton of sex in this movie. A TON OF SEX. I understand what the director was going for. The independence of women, the ability to control their own sex lives, to not need men to control them. I don't have a problem with the prostitution aspect, that doesn't bother me. It's just the idea that intellectually and emotionally, Bella is a child. Maturity does not happen that quickly. Plus, although many will disagree, I didn't see Emma Stone's performance as the tour de force some have suggested it was. I thought her performance rather awkward at times, and stiff. I would never watch this again, spend another two and a half hours on it. It's a matter of taste. Poor Things was just not to mine. I'll give this film 3 Stars.

Dead Shack

Jason (Matthew Nelson-Mahood) is invited to go camping with his friend Colin's (Gabriel LaBelle) family, including Colin's sister Summer (Lizzie Boys), their dad Roger (Donavan Stinson) and Roger's girlfriend Lisa (Valerie Tian). They end up in a cheap cabin in the middle of nowhere. The teens are pretty free to do as they want while the so-called adults get drunk. They wander through the woods and discover what appears to be an abandoned house, with a lot of junk cars on the property. But there is more here than meets the eye as they quickly discover this neighbor (Lauren Holly) is definitely not the neighborly type.

This film combines horror and humor in a tale of cannibals and zombies. It has some funny moments, 

including the drunken father who is too focused on drinking, his young girlfriend, and being his kid's friend to be the leader they need in a crisis. One has to wonder how Lauren Holly ended p here in a suit that's a cross between dominatrix and welder, but that's anyone's guess. Maybe she is friends with the director or something. Not the best, not the worst, but not a complete waste of time either. It's only 81 minutes, and I'm fine with that. I'll give this film 3 Stars.

Wednesday Briefs: Dracula #9 (3.1)

  Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

While keeping an eye on the village blacksmith to keep him from finding out about Dracula and his wife, Avram converses with his friend, Father Gunther. But something isn't quite right and Avram knows it. See what's going on in this week's chapter of Dracula. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they're up to. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Dracula #9 (3.1)

Gunther fell silent. Tendrils of anxiety wrapped about Avram’s heart.  Why was it beating so fast? Something was wrong. and whatever it was it was about to get worse. Someone dropped a glass, which shattered, and he visibly flinched at the explosion.

 This was no time to panic, and no time to borrow trouble. He forced himself to take deep breaths. Maybe he should step outside for a moment. He needed to think, but without all the noise. He glanced across the room. Bogdan was still there. One less worry.

He started to rise, but Gunther’s hand on his coat sleeve stopped him. His friend leaned across the table, speaking in a low voice that necessitated Avram’s full attention. “I’m afraid they’re beginning to talk, Avram.”

“Who is? What do you mean?” He slid back into his chair and moved it closer, keeping a suspicious eye on their nearest neighbors, although he didn’t think that’s who he meant. Whatever Gunther was about to say, though, he knew it wouldn’t be good.

The tavern door blew open unexpectedly. Avram jumped again, then reprimanded himself for his skittishness as one of the villagers entered and slammed it shut behind him. All sound ceased for a split second. “Watch out for the stafi,” the newcomer announced before joining Bogdan’s table.

Avram shivered. Not because he believed in the Romanian equivalent of the Irish banshee, but he knew these people did… and more. He turned his attention back to Gunther.

“I mean the people of the village. They notice things, some of them. Such as how young Dracula looks. Still”

“How young he looks? He is young,” Avram bluffed. “How old do you think he is? Older than me, yes, but…” He gave up that losing argument before it was even truly begun. Despite his many years of existence—Avram wasn’t even sure how old the vampire was, to be honest—he looked to be no older than a man in his thirties, while Avram was already forty.  A well-preserved forty, to be sure.

His lips had turned suddenly dry. He picked up his ale and drank. How was he going to explain this?

“Some of the older people still remember his father and they say he looks exactly like him.”

“Is that surprising, that a son should look like his father?”  Of course that wasn’t true. Dracula’s father died centuries ago, none of them had ever seen him. And of course, Dracula resembled his “father”, as he was both father and son. How else to explain his many years as lord and master of the castle other than by changing his name on a regular basis so the villagers would not suspect his actual longevity? His ruse had worked for many ears. This was not good.

Calm down and listen. He lightly strummed his fingers across the brim of his hat on the table before him and waited.

“Avram, you’ve been my friend ever since we were little. I understand that you feel you owe him a debt. He took you in after your parents died. He’s been like a father to you, when most of the village turned its back on you.”

“Not your parents,” Avram pointed out. “Or you. Your family has been nothing but good to me. And things here have improved.” He ran one hand through his too curly black hair, the bane of his existence. ”Mostly.” Some people could never forgive him for being Jewish.  “And yes, I do owe Dracula my life. I don’t know how I would have survived without him. So please can we have no more of this nonsense?” In his heart, Avram knew he should hear more, learn what was being said. But he was suddenly more afraid than before that something truly bad was about to happen and he could do nothing to stop it.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt because of him.” Gunther paused, as if searching for the right words. What, was there something worse than what he’d already said? Avram grew more apprehensive as silence stretched between them, until at last, the words were spoken. “The old stories are being revived.”

Scheiss.

Avram didn’t bother to ask which stories Gunther meant. He knew only too well.

“Old wives’ tales, nothing more.” His lies fell limply onto the table between them like wounded birds… or bats.  Perhaps it was time to go abroad. There were women in other countries who would love nothing more than to see their favorite Count once more… women with money, which they badly needed. Not to mention, there was a certain Parisian publisher who was waiting for more material of the erotic kind that Avram wrote so well, even if Dracula did take the credit for his writing. That was a practicality, since it was easier to sell his books if people thought they were being written by a mysterious handsome nobleman than by a Jew.

“I’ve known you for a long time, Avram. You’re my best friend and I would do anything for you. Are you in any danger?”

The question caught Avram by surprise. Danger? Him? “From what?” His hand stilled on the hat brim, his brow furrowed as he met his friend’s gaze.

“I think you know what.” Gunther patted Avram’s hand. “You’re a good man, a very loyal friend. I just worry for you, that’s all. Worried that you’ve given your allegiance to someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

Avram forced a chuckle he was far from feeling. “I appreciate the sentiment, Gunther. I think you are a good man too, perhaps a little naïve. I mean, to believe such tales?” He clucked his tongue and shook his head, as if to dismiss the very idea.

“What are you saying about my wife?” An angry roar rose above the hubbub of the alehouse. All heads turned toward the source of the disturbance. It was Bogdan, who else?

Avram had a bad feeling all hell was about to break loose.

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

J Ray Lamb

 

 

Saturday is Horror Day #159 - Saw X

 Saw X

John Kramer's (Tobin Bell) cancer isn't getting any better. He attends a support group made up of fellow cancer patients. A few months later, he runs into one of them, Henry (Michael Beach) who tells him a miraculous story - he is in remission. And he owes it all to a doctor he found on the internet, Cecilia Pederson (Synnove Macody Lund) whose father is a world-renowned surgeon. John begins to see hope where none existed before and contacts Cecilia. Shortly after, he is on his way to Mexico City.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is, and this is no exception, as John discovers to his horror. But these people made a serious mistake when they decided to scam John Kramer.

The latest installment in the Saw franchise takes place some years before, when John is still alive. I was glad to see him actually back in the picture. Once I realized he'd been duped, I knew he would get revenge as only John can. And justice.

The devices are just as complicated and gory as ever. So many people were involved in this plot, but John is fair. If someone passes his test, they go free, as we've witnessed in the past. He gets Amanda  (Shawnee Smith) to help him, but I confess to being distracted by her strange haircut. We get to see and hear Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) but only briefly.

This was everything I'd hoped for and more. I was really impressed by the writing and character development. The next Saw is coming out in September and takes place right after this one. I'm looking forward to seeing that. I'll give this film 4.5 Stars

Wednesday Briefs: Dracula #9 (3.1)

  Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

While keeping an eye on the village blacksmith to keep him from finding out about Dracula and his wife, Avram converses with his friend, Father Gunther. But something isn't quite right and Avram knows it. See what's going on in this week's chapter of Dracula. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they're up to. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Dracula #9 (3.1)

Gunther fell silent. Tendrils of anxiety wrapped about Avram’s heart.  Why was it beating so fast? Something was wrong. and whatever it was it was about to get worse. Someone dropped a glass, which shattered, and he visibly flinched at the explosion.

 This was no time to panic, and no time to borrow trouble. He forced himself to take deep breaths. Maybe he should step outside for a moment. He needed to think, but without all the noise. He glanced across the room. Bogdan was still there. One less worry.

He started to rise, but Gunther’s hand on his coat sleeve stopped him. His friend leaned across the table, speaking in a low voice that necessitated Avram’s full attention. “I’m afraid they’re beginning to talk, Avram.”

“Who is? What do you mean?” He slid back into his chair and moved it closer, keeping a suspicious eye on their nearest neighbors, although he didn’t think that’s who he meant. Whatever Gunther was about to say, though, he knew it wouldn’t be good.

The tavern door blew open unexpectedly. Avram jumped again, then reprimanded himself for his skittishness as one of the villagers entered and slammed it shut behind him. All sound ceased for a split second. “Watch out for the stafi,” the newcomer announced before joining Bogdan’s table.

Avram shivered. Not because he believed in the Romanian equivalent of the Irish banshee, but he knew these people did… and more. He turned his attention back to Gunther.

“I mean the people of the village. They notice things, some of them. Such as how young Dracula looks. Still”

“How young he looks? He is young,” Avram bluffed. “How old do you think he is? Older than me, yes, but…” He gave up that losing argument before it was even truly begun. Despite his many years of existence—Avram wasn’t even sure how old the vampire was, to be honest—he looked to be no older than a man in his thirties, while Avram was already forty.  A well-preserved forty, to be sure.

His lips had turned suddenly dry. He picked up his ale and drank. How was he going to explain this?

“Some of the older people still remember his father and they say he looks exactly like him.”

“Is that surprising, that a son should look like his father?”  Of course that wasn’t true. Dracula’s father died centuries ago, none of them had ever seen him. And of course, Dracula resembled his “father”, as he was both father and son. How else to explain his many years as lord and master of the castle other than by changing his name on a regular basis so the villagers would not suspect his actual longevity? His ruse had worked for many ears. This was not good.

Calm down and listen. He lightly strummed his fingers across the brim of his hat on the table before him and waited.

“Avram, you’ve been my friend ever since we were little. I understand that you feel you owe him a debt. He took you in after your parents died. He’s been like a father to you, when most of the village turned its back on you.”

“Not your parents,” Avram pointed out. “Or you. Your family has been nothing but good to me. And things here have improved.” He ran one hand through his too curly black hair, the bane of his existence. ”Mostly.” Some people could never forgive him for being Jewish.  “And yes, I do owe Dracula my life. I don’t know how I would have survived without him. So please can we have no more of this nonsense?” In his heart, Avram knew he should hear more, learn what was being said. But he was suddenly more afraid than before that something truly bad was about to happen and he could do nothing to stop it.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt because of him.” Gunther paused, as if searching for the right words. What, was there something worse than what he’d already said? Avram grew more apprehensive as silence stretched between them, until at last, the words were spoken. “The old stories are being revived.”

Scheiss.

Avram didn’t bother to ask which stories Gunther meant. He knew only too well.

“Old wives’ tales, nothing more.” His lies fell limply onto the table between them like wounded birds… or bats.  Perhaps it was time to go abroad. There were women in other countries who would love nothing more than to see their favorite Count once more… women with money, which they badly needed. Not to mention, there was a certain Parisian publisher who was waiting for more material of the erotic kind that Avram wrote so well, even if Dracula did take the credit for his writing. That was a practicality, since it was easier to sell his books if people thought they were being written by a mysterious handsome nobleman than by a Jew.

“I’ve known you for a long time, Avram. You’re my best friend and I would do anything for you. Are you in any danger?”

The question caught Avram by surprise. Danger? Him? “From what?” His hand stilled on the hat brim, his brow furrowed as he met his friend’s gaze.

“I think you know what.” Gunther patted Avram’s hand. “You’re a good man, a very loyal friend. I just worry for you, that’s all. Worried that you’ve given your allegiance to someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

Avram forced a chuckle he was far from feeling. “I appreciate the sentiment, Gunther. I think you are a good man too, perhaps a little naïve. I mean, to believe such tales?” He clucked his tongue and shook his head, as if to dismiss the very idea.

“What are you saying about my wife?” An angry roar rose above the hubbub of the alehouse. All heads turned toward the source of the disturbance. It was Bogdan, who else?

Avram had a bad feeling all hell was about to break loose.

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

J Ray Lamb

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Spy x Family, Vol 11 by Tatsuya Endo

 

Spy x Family, Vol 11        

Author: Tatsuya Endo

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: March 19, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/comedy manga/208 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Loid Forger, aka Twilight, has a cover as a psychiatrist at a local hospital where he is loved by patients and staff alike. But there is one man who does not care for Loid at all – Chief Medical Director, Gerald Gorey.  Fiona, aka Nightfall, points out that Gorey is not only envious of Loid, but he has also been grumbling about him. This could be bad. Loid has to do his best to make the director look more competent than he himself is, which will be no easy task!

Yor Forger, aka Thorn Princess, comes up against an opponent who calls himself Steel-Gut Gullickson! She takes him down but hurts her hands in the process! She gives her family a cover story about a fire door. With unfortunate timing, Yuri Briar unexpectedly has the day off and comes to spend it with his sister. Alarmed at her injuries, he berates Loid that he has to help her (although he always does).  Yuri is determined to hold a competition – him against Loid – to prove which of them is more useful to Yor.

The Red Circus is an extremist group who have largely disbanded. But rumors have arisen that the leader is back in the country. What could they be up to? Meanwhile, some of the classes at Eden Academy are taking a field trip to the Berlint Museum, including Anya’s class. Having read Loid’s mind regarding his relationship with his Chief Medical Director, Anya determines to apply those techniques to Damien Desmond, aka Sy-on Boy.  But these plans go awry when terrorists board the bus and take it over!  Loid is out of town on assignment, and Anya has no way of contacting Yor. The terrorists know exactly who they’ve kidnapped, and they plan to make use of who these kids’ parents are! Things don’t look good for Anya and Sy-on Boy and the other kids!

I just love this series so much! In the first story, poor Loid has to mask his usual brilliance in order to keep the peace, no easy task! The second story made me laugh, with Yuri competing with Loid to help Yor (and he is just no competition for him). The last story is the best, with Anya using her abilities as an empath to her advantage so she can remain calm in a crisis, which the others mistake for her having nerves of steel. Whatever works, right? If you like the manga, you’ll like the anime. I just ordered Season 1 on Blu Ray.  I have pre-ordered the next volume and hope there will be more after that. At some point, I expect all the secrets to come out. At that point, they can create a whole new crime-fighting Forger family, not to mention I believe the Forgers will become a real family and not just a pretend one.

 

Saturday is Horror Day #158 - The Other Side of the Door

 The Other Side of the Door

Sarah's (Sarah Wayne Callies) world collapses when her young son Oliver (Logan Creran) dies in an accident. She's having a difficult time accepting what happened, despite the best efforts of her loving husband Michael (Jeremy Sisto) and her daughter Lucy (Sofia Rosinsky). They live in India, having fallen in love with the country while searching for antiques for their business and relocated there. Sarah's housekeeper Piki (Suchitra Pillai), knowing how devastated Maria is, tells her that there is a way in which she can communicate with Oliver one last time, in order to get closure. But she warns Maria that there are strict rules that have to be follow. Whatever happens, she tells her, do not open the door.

Despite the warnings, Maria can't help herself, and she opens the door. Has Oliver really returned? And what will the consequences of her actions be?

This wasn't a bad film, and I think it could have been better, having a different twist on horror. But it 

wasn't great either. I think one of the problems is that the underutilized Jeremy Sisto (whom I really like) overshadows the main actress. I think this movie might resonate more with parents, who can identify with the grief of losing a child and wanting to see that child so badly you'd disobey the rules to do so. I admit I didn't see the ending coming either. I'll give this movie E for effort and 3 Stars